Free Man of Color Owns 15 Slaves, Pike County, GA Legal Document

2pp, measuring 7.875" x 12.375", Pike County, Georgia, dated August 19, 1850. A legal document from Georgia confirming the ownership of several slaves by a freed person of color. Reading in part: "…Grief Cook a free person of color of said County is possessed of & claims to have purchased & acquired the following slaves to wit…" listing: Milly - 45, Benjamin - 27, Jim Anderson- 21, Albert - 19, Randolph - 17, Lewis - 15, Nancy - 13, Charles - 12, Mary - 11, John - 10, Sarah - 9, Harriet - 8, William - 7, Thomas - 5, and Milly - 2. The document goes on, "the said Grief Cook such free person of color of the legal title of said slaves of by a conveyance to some white person or persons of such legal title reserving to the said Grief Cook said free person of color the beneficial interests therein by trusts either written or parol [sic] by will testament or deed or by contract agreement or stipulation either written or parol [sic] securing or attempting to secure to the said Grief Cook…" Signed at the conclusion by two lawyers on behalf of John Lee, the Informer. With docketing on verso, reading: "Notice to Mr. Wiley E. Mangham Clerk Court Ordinary…Entree 257." The document has flattened folds, light toning, and a few spots of soiling. Overall very good.

In the Antebellum Period, most freed blacks either bought their freedom, were born free, or had been previous indentured servants who had been freed. Others were also freed in their masters' wills or had been granted freedom due to loyal service. Although their lives were still limited by discriminatory laws, freed African Americans, especially in the North, could still become active participants in American society. Of these freed people, a very small number even owned slaves. The majority of these slaves purchased were relatives who were later set free themselves, but in some cases, there were a handful of free blacks who purchased and operated slave-holding plantations in Louisiana, Virginia, and South Carolina.

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.

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