BLACK AMERICANA CIRCA 1842 Will OF SLAVE OWNER

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BLACK AMERICANA CIRCA 1842 Will OF SLAVE OWNER

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Sold Date: 03/28/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

This is a rare and historical hand written "Last Will And Testament Of A Man Named Samuel Whitfield Of Wright County Virginia". Dated June 1842. This Will consist of 3 large 8xll inch pages, and is finely written and very clear to read. Each page has writing on both sides. It also comes with a typed letter from the original owner, with history of this will which reads, "I FOUND THIS AS A KID WORKING IN MY GRANDFATHERS PRINTING SHOP. IT'S DATED JUNE 1842. IT SHOWS AND TELLS HOW SLAVES WERE PASSED ONTO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AFTER A DEATH. AND EVEN SOLD TO BUYERS OUTSIDE OF THE FAMILY. MANY SLAVE FAMILYS WERE BROKEN UP THIS WAY, NEVER BEING ABLE TO SEE ONE ANOTHER AGAIN. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE WAYS HOW NAMES OF SLAVES WERE CHANGED BY THIER NEW OWNERS". According to the most recent owner, who purchased this years ago from the original owner. This Will was involved with a book. I have no idea what book it is, but this will is one of the most moving I have ever read. It gives one a glimpse of history, and the cruelity of the slave trade. Almost the entire will is based on what will happen to Samuel Whitfield's slaves after his death. Listing many of the names of his slaves, what they will inherit, and who will they be givin, emancipated, or sold to after his death. Even the children of his slaves. Whitfield talks of compassion for a blind slave named Eliza, and talks of her care and for her to have comfort in her life. This is a long intensive written will, and I tried my best to show in the photographs, much of the written words. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A 5 DAY AUCTION THANKYOU