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Bill of Sale for Enslaved Man, Woman, and 18-Month-Old Child, Essex County, NJ (1836)

Bills of Sale

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Northern Slavery In NJ, Unbelievable Sale Includes 18mo Old Baby Cato! 1p, measuring 8" x 9.75", Essex County, New Jersey, dated July 28, 1836. A rare documentation of slavery being upheld in a northern state, just twenty-five years before the outbreak of the Civil War. The bill records the sale of a man and a woman into slavery, as well as baby boy. On verso, the document is labeled as "Bill of Sale of Negro Man &amp; Woman in New Jersey 1836." Reading in part: "…I, William P. Ackerman of Acquackanonk County of Essex and State of New Jersey per and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and twenty dollars Lawful money to me…do grant bargain sell and deliver unto the said John A Post a black man named Will aged about fifty years and also a black woman named Flore aged about thirty five years the same to have and to hold during their natural lives…also a black male servant child named Cato of the age one year and six months the same to have and hold as a servant until he shall arrive to the age of twenty five years when by Law he becomes free…" With a small seal at the lower right, to the right of Ackerman's signature. The document has flattened folds, with separations and small tears at the edges. Uneven lower edge. Light edge toning and minor foxing throughout. After the American Revolution, the state of New Jersey banned the importation of slaves in 1788, and passed a law for the gradual abolition of slavery in 1804. Children born to slaves after July 4, 1804 were made to serve lengthy apprenticeships in service of their mothers' owners. Despite the fact that by the 1830s, slavery was on the decline, African Americans still made up 6% of the state's population. The Gradual Abolition Act of 1804 did not guarantee that a slave born after 1804 would gain their freedom, and slaveholders would regularly sell children to southern states before the slaves reached the age at which they were to be freed. It was not until 1846 that New Jersey abolished slavery, but it qualified that those who were born before the passage of the law were considered indentured servants "apprenticed for life". Slavery did not truly end in the state until the end of the Civil War and the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment. This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses. WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE

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About This Project

Source: University Archives https://www.universityarchives.com/auction-lot/northern-slavery-in-nj-unbelievable-sale-includes_D704EB08F8 Northern Slavery In NJ, Unbelievable Sale Includes 18mo Old Baby Cato! 1p, measuring 8" x 9.75", Essex County, New Jersey, dated July 28, 1836. A rare documentation of slavery being upheld in a northern state, just twenty-five years before the outbreak of the Civil War. The bill records the sale of a man and a woman into slavery, as well as baby boy. On verso, the document is labeled as "Bill of Sale of Negro Man & Woman in New Jersey 1836." Reading in part: "…I, William P. Ackerman of Acquackanonk County of Essex and State of New Jersey per and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and twenty dollars Lawful money to me…do grant bargain sell and deliver unto the said John A Post a black man named Will aged about fifty years and also a black woman named Flore aged about thirty five years the same to have and to hold during their natural lives…also a black male servant child named Cato of the age one year and six months the same to have and hold as a servant until he shall arrive to the age of twenty five years when by Law he becomes free…" With a small seal at the lower right, to the right of Ackerman's signature. The document has flattened folds, with separations and small tears at the edges. Uneven lower edge. Light edge toning and minor foxing throughout. After the American Revolution, the state of New Jersey banned the importation of slaves in 1788, and passed a law for the gradual abolition of slavery in 1804. Children born to slaves after July 4, 1804 were made to serve lengthy apprenticeships in service of their mothers' owners. Despite the fact that by the 1830s, slavery was on the decline, African Americans still made up 6% of the state's population. The Gradual Abolition Act of 1804 did not guarantee that a slave born after 1804 would gain their freedom, and slaveholders would regularly sell children to southern states before the slaves reached the age at which they were to be freed. It was not until 1846 that New Jersey abolished slavery, but it qualified that those who were born before the passage of the law were considered indentured servants "apprenticed for life". Slavery did not truly end in the state until the end of the Civil War and the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment.

Collection: University Archives — Bill of Sale Search

Time Period: Pre-1865 (Slavery Era)

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