Manuscripts Relating to Slavery

: [List of names associated with the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society]; Alphabetical list of ca. 530 names associated with the American Anti-Slavery Society.

: [Letter from Lysander Spooner to Gerrit Smith]; Eight-page letter from Lysander Spooner in Worcester [Massachusetts] to Gerrit Smith, dated July 5, 1849, describing his analysis of the United States Constitution in regards to slavery.

: [Report of valuation on the estate of Francis M. Hunt]; Two-page evaluation of the estate of Francis M. Hunt, prepared by appointed commissioners to determine the value and interest of his property, including "a negro slave named Willis worth $1,000." Signed by commissioners N. G. Tevis, Roy Stewart, and John S. Murphy. Note on back reads, "N. B. Collin, Guardian on Petition."

: [Signed petition for the Senate and House of Representatives]; Undated petition signed by c.150 Boston citizens arguring against the removal of Judge [Edward Greely] Loring in 1850 from his appointment as judge for forcing Anthony Burns to return back to slavery in the South.

: [Manuscript draft of a letter from Lysander Spooner to Gerrit Smith]; Manuscript draft of an eight-page letter from Lysander Spooner in Worcester [Massachusetts] to Gerrit Smith, dated July 5, 1849, describing his analysis of the United States Constitution in regards to slavery.

: [Pledge of money to Lysander Spooner]; Undated pledge of moneys to be paid to Lysander Spooner for "a review of Judge Kane's late decision, that the U.S. Courts have no constitutional right to punish for contempt without trial by jury." Signed by several prominent abolitionists, including Ellis Gray Loring, Francis Jackson, and Samuel E. Sewall.

: [Memorandum regarding United States slave populations]; One-page unsigned memorandum from Philadelphia showing number of slaves, general population, and congressional representatives divided by state. Includes statistics for the South Western Territory and North Western Territory.

: Memorandum taken from the Account of William Van Asstyn what Heiy [sic] is rid frome [sic] me & by whome this 1st day of April 1760; One-page list of accounts belonging to William Van Asstyn [Asten]. Includes list of four men identified as "negro."

: [Court verdicts regarding various cases]; Two-page undated court record of eleven cases relating to unremitted payments, giving prisoner's pleas and their verdicts. Damage on right side missing text.

: [Clippings, 1718-1899 and undated]; Assorted advertisements for sale of slaves, rewards for return of runaway slaves, the slave trade, and slavery in general, most unattributable to particular newspapers. Includes three engravings (two duplicated) of slave forts in Africa with captions, "The North Prospect of James Fort in the River Gambia," and "A View of Cape Coast Castle, with part of the Negro Town." Several advertisements are in manuscript form, and appear to be submissions for printing.

: [Draft of letter from Lysander Spooner to George Bradburn]; Manuscript draft of a four-page letter dated January 19, 1846, from Lysander Spooner Athol [Massachusetts] to George Bradburn in Boston [Massachusetts], asking Bardburn to solicit prominent names to sign a petition and then have the petition presented to the United States legislature.

: [Petition by inhabitants of Pennsylvania for effecting change in the Constitution for the abolition of slavery]; One-page petition, possibly dating from the 1830s, signed by eighteen inhabitants of Pennsylvania regarding the abolition of slavery. Many signatures illegible. Possibly a fragment of a larger petition.

: [Indenture of a negro boy named Primus]; Deed of indenture for "a Negro boy named Primus" for a term of three years to Walter Butler, who received the slave from his cousins John and Myndert Wempel.

: Arbiter of argument between Chambers [and] Mills; Arbitration of argument between Hugh Mills and Thomas Chambers, regarding payment for "a certain negro fellow named Emmanuel."

: [Letter from Lysander Spooner to George Bradburn]; Four-page letter dated January 19, 1846, from Lysander Spooner Athol [Massachusetts] to George Bradburn in Boston [Massachusetts], asking Bardburn to solicit prominent names to sign a petition and then have the petition presented to the United States legislature.

: [Letter from Lysander Spooner to Bradburn]; Four-page letter dated October 27, 1845, from Lysander Spooner in Athol [Massachusetts] to George Bradburn in Boston, discussing Supreme Court decisions related to slavery, the death of Spooner's mother, and the public reception of his book [The Unconstitutionality of Slavery].

: [Letter and envelope from Bela Marsh to Lysander Spooner]; One-page letter and envelope from Bela Marsh in Boston [Massachusetts] to Lysander Spooner in Worcester [Massachusetts], dated October 11, 1849, in which he forwards a transcription of Gerrit Smith's reply to Marsh's inquiry about distributing Spooner's book to United States lawyers.

: [Deposition of John Champneys]; Two-page deposition of John Champneys describing the circumstances surrounding charges of financial support for William Binnie [Junior], the "negro wench Jenny" and her children. Champneys purchased Jenny at "St. Augustine's when the whole property of Wm. [William] Binnie the Elder was sold" by John Martin. He subsequently gave Jenny to the infant son, William Binnie [Junior], by deed of gift. He objects to monetary charges placed against him by Mr. Quinby, the second husband of Binne Sr.'s widow, for "the board and maintenance of the child," from the time of marriage to his mother until the time of her death, when William Binne [Junior] was sent along with Jenny to reside with his Aunt. Additional note on verso shows that Fleetwood Armstrong, "on account of the valuable qualifications of the wench" has released William Binnie of all other charges.

: [Document regarding legal aspects of the Amistad revolt]; Unsigned six-page memoranda discussing legal aspects of the famous Amistad revolt of 1839. Includes reference to "the Act of March 3rd 1819."

: [Admission ticket to the Twenty-Fifth National Anti-Slavery Anniversary]; Admission ticket to the Twenty-Fifth National Anti-Slavery Anniversary, with Lysander Spooner's name in graphite on front.

: [Receipt for the sale of a negro man slave named Luak]; Bill of sale for a "negroe [sic] man slave named Qua" from John G. Jos. Barms. Appears to be drafted by an employee of Barms, Mr. James Amoss.

: [Draft of letter from L. Spooner to Bradburn]; Draft of an eight-page letter dated January 20, 1847, from [Lysander Spooner in Winchendon, Massachusetts] to George Bradburn discussing general news of the abolitionist movement and the progress of his writing of a work called "Poverty" and providing an article he hopes to have published "as the leading editorial in the American" in order to raise funds that will help publish and distribute his book.

: [Letter from Bela Marsh to Gerrit Smith and manuscript copy of Smith's reply]; Two-page letter from Bela Marsh in Boston, Massachusetts to Gerrit Smith, dated September 29, 1849, regarding a resolution to distribute Lysander Spooner's work, the Unconstitutionality of Slavery to lawyers. At end, manuscript copy of Smith's response, dated October 7, 1849, in Smith's hand.

: Members of the Independent Company of Cadets believed to have been on duty June 2d, 1854.; Four-page document consisting of ca. 90 names, including Thomas C. Amory, Francis Brinley, Christopher C. Holmes, Thomas P. Ruh, Joseph McKean Churchill, Ignatius S. Amory, Thomas B. Hall, Joseph S. Whitney, William A. Bangs, Aaron C. Baldwin.

: Money Pledge; Resolution by the American Anti-Slavery Society stating that members for the present year [undated] pledge the minimum sum of one dollar, and that their names be published weekly in the [National] Anti-Slavery Standard.

: [Receipt for hire of a female slave for four months]; Receipt for the "hire of a negroe [sic] woman for fore [sic] months" by William Hathaway from Joseph Pointer.

: [Letter from L. Spooner to Gerrit Smith]; Two-page letter from L. [Lysander] Spooner in Boston [Massachusetts] to Gerrit Smith dated January 1, 1861, in which he thanks Smith for his visit to Candada and disucsses other abolitionist news.

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