On View
Slavery and Freedom Gallery
Exhibition
Slavery and Freedom
Issued by
Ashby, Champion, British, born 1648
Subject of
Royal African Company, British, 1672 - 1821
Signed by
Ashby, Champion, British, born 1648
Date
1691
Medium
ink on paper, wax
Dimensions
H x W (folded): 12 7/8 × 8 1/8 in. (32.7 × 20.6 cm)
H x W (sheet): 12 7/8 × 16 1/4 in. (32.7 × 41.3 cm)
Caption
The Royal Africa Company, chartered in 1672 by the English government, engaged in trade in gold and enslaved men, women and children in western Africa. This stock certificate demonstrates the investment in the company that provided the greatest number of enslaved persons to the British colonies.
Description
Stock option certificate from the Royal African Company. The document is handwritten in ink on one page of a bifolio sheet and discusses the transfer of stock shares from Champion Ashby to Thomas Louws (possibly Lowes or Loews). The document begins: [In consideration of Twenty guineys received of Thomas Louws of London XXX I Champion Ashby of London Esquire Do oblige my self [sic] my heires [sic] Execs & Adms to transferr or cause to be ~/~ transferred unto the said Thomas Louws ~ his Execs Adms or ~ assignes Two hundred pounds of the present credit in the Joint Stock of the Royal Affrican [sic] Company of England ...] At the bottom right is the signature and red wax seal of Champion Ashby. At the bottom left is
[Sealed & Delivered / In the presence of / John Holker / Wm Thorowgood]. On the verso, at the top horizontal center is written: From 3d Aug / to 3d Sept } 1691 / Champion Ashby, Esq. / obligacon [sic] to Tho Loews to deliver / him 200 Afr. Stock paying 200 in 1 month / Void]. There is a circular watermark just below and to the right of "Void."
Transcription Center Status
Transcription Available
Place made
London, England, United Kingdom, Europe
Place depicted
West Africa, Africa
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Manuscripts
Type
stock certificates
Topic
Africa
Business
Commerce
Finance
International affairs
Law
Slavery
Trans Atlantic slave trade
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Seymour Schulich--Canada
Object number
2017.101
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd58966651c-0c7b-413c-a794-1a851e5578d5

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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