Slavery Collection, 1709-1864

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series I, Samuel and William Vernon, 1756-1799; Brothers Samuel and William Vernon were business partners involved in the triangular trade that sent rum from Rhode Island to Africa, bought slaves in Africa to sell in the West Indies or in the southern colonies, and brought molasses back to Rhode Island. See the Dictionary of American Biography entry on William Vernon for further information about his role in American politics and other business interests.

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series II, Gardner and Dean, 1771-1807; This series contains correspondence and business papers of the Rhode Island slave trading firm of Gardner and Dean.

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series III, Material relating to slavery in Kentucky, 1785-1864; These estate inventories, deeds of gift, deeds of manumission, bills and receipts of sale, ranging in date from 1785 to 1864, are all from Kentucky, and most are from Lincoln or Fayette Counties. These items were arranged chronologically because one piece often served two different, if related, functions. See attached calendar for further information.

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series IV, E. H. Stokes, 1859-1862 and undated

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series V, Correspondence, 1766-1895; Arranged alphabetically by last name of sender. The correspondence series includes letters from, among others, eminent abolitionists such as Theodore Weld, Gerrit Smith and Angelina Grimke. There are letters to the printers of the Lewes Journal and The Diary regarding the abolition of the slave trade signed "Atticus." Two items refer to the same court case concerning Jack, a slave sentenced to death for stealing from his master. Both the master, Hugh Hopewell of Saint Mary's County, Maryland, and his friend Colonel Fitzhugh wrote to the Governor of Maryland asking for mercy for Jack, stating that because of his value as a slave and his sincere remorse for the crime, he should not be put to death. Also of note is a letter written by an unidentified black man apologizing to his uncle for marrying a white woman, which can be found in the "Letters Unsigned" folder.

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series VI, Manifests, 1812-1855; Arranged chronologically. These manifests list "Negroes", "Mulattos", and persons of color taken aboard various vessels to be transported, mostly from Alexandria, Va., to be sold or disposed of as slaves. These documents list the slave's name, sex, age, height, color, owner or shipper's name and place of residence, and the consignee's name and place of residence.

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series VII, Legal Documents, 1709-1858 and undated; This series includes a large number of birth certificates of children born into slavery, as well as depositions, petitions, indentures, deeds of manumission, and estate inventories and property appraisals.

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series VIII, Financial Documents, 1726-1862, and undated

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series IX, Poetry, 1823 and undated; One poem is entitled, "On the death of an African slave," signed Elihu, Dec. 11, 1823 and is addressed to Alden Spooner, Brooklyn, headed, "For the Long Island Star." The first lines read: "Well, old Free-born is dead! and his servitude oe'r/ Let the winds bear his corpse to the African shoreâ?¦" The other poem, addressed to the Rev. W. McLain, is untitled, unsigned and undated. The last stanza reads: "'Tho' the African, sir, may seem very fur/ to some 'cause he's sable --I thinks/ in the great chain of brothers, he's near, and dear sir!!/ should be treated as one of the lynx."

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series X, Memoranda, 1790, 1791, 1799, 1800, 1855 and undated; This series includes, among other things, what appear to be notes for newspaper advertisements and articles. Items are from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Rhode Island and New York. Also one document in French, dated Philadelphia, September 5, 1791 listing the population of the states and the number of slaves in each state.

: Slavery Collection, 1709-1864. Series XI, Clippings, 1718-1899 and undated; This series includes assorted advertisements for rewards for return of runaway slaves, most unattributable to particular newspapers.

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