Written by
Coffey, John French, born 1826
Subject of
Briggs, Martha A., American, born 1830
Roberts, James
Kennett, Blood & Co., American
Date
March 30, 1861
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 12 3/8 × 7 7/8 in. (31.4 × 20 cm)
Description
This handwritten deed of sale records the purchase of an enslaved boy aged seventeen named John (born 1844) sold by Martha A. Briggs to James Roberts for $1,150.00 in order to pay off a note of $1,200.00 owed by Briggs to H. S. Blood. The paper is folded along the left side, with the terms of the sale and paying of debt written on the front and interior pages. The final page includes the date, seller, buyer, and name of the enslaved handwritten down the middle. The sale was witnessed and recorded by notary John F. Coffey, whose seal is embossed into the paper near the list of names of original signatures. The seal features a pelican inside a circular frame with the text around the rim reading "J. F. COFFEY NOTARY PUBLIC / PARISH OF ORLEANS".
Transcription Center Status
Transcription Available
Place made
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Liljenquist Family Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Manuscripts
Type
bills of sale
Topic
Business
Domestic slave trade
Law
Men
Slavery
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Liljenquist Family Collection
Object number
2015.222.5
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd510a549cd-e103-47f2-bf9d-4bb89f3f5d40

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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