Massachusetts Slave's Funeral in 1724 By Raph Waldo Emerson Ancestor

This sheet from an account book kept by merchant Cornelius Waldo details the expenses for the burial of "My Negro Man named Mingo." Expenses included 8 shillings for James Williams to dig the grave, toll the bell, and the use of the pall to take the body to the grave and 5 shillings for his maid Abigail Snoden to perform some service, perhaps preparing the body. Waldo also paid Benjamin Fitch £1 and 4 shillings for six pairs of wash leather gloves for the pallbearers at the funeral.

Wash-leather was a type of leather that had been treated to make it very absorbent and was usually made of sheepskin treated with oil. It was often used for dusting or as an absorbent lining in pockets or gloves.

Many of the other accounts on the page are for the purchase or sale of rum, molasses, and sugar.

[AFRICAN AMERICAN.] [Cornelius Waldo], Manuscript Document, Pages of Account Book, January – February 1724/1725, Boston, Massachusetts. 2 pp., 8" x 12.625". Some edge tears, general toning; foxing; bold, dark text.

Excerpts
"January 19th 1724/5"
"11 Expences £..13..
22 Paid James Williams for digging a Grave for my Negro }
man named Mingo, Toling the Bell twice & use of ye Pall } ..13..
8/ pd Abigail Snoden our maid 5/}"

"11 Expences Dr To Benjamin Fitch £1..4..
22 for 6 pr wash leather gloves gave Bearers &: at the ffuneral of my Negro1..4.."

Cornelius Waldo (1684-1753) was born in Dunstable, Massachusetts, as a twin to Cornelius Waldo and Faith Peck Jackson Waldo. In 1711, he married Faith Savage, with whom he had nine children. He became a prosperous merchant, distiller, and landowner with property in Boston, elsewhere in Massachusetts, and Maine. He may have been an apprentice to John Oulton with whom he formed a partnership in 1721 for selling imported wine. In 1722, he built a still house. In 1734, Waldo entered a partnership with his cousin Samuel Waldo, a slave trader. He also owned slaves himself. He was a relative of abolitionist Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882).

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 SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.