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Deed of sale for an enslaved man named Pierre

African American Museum

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    Object Details

    Written by

    John French Coffey, born 1826

    Subject of

    Christian Mehle
    Magdalena Doll Mehle
    Hortaire Inbau, 1829 - 1877
    Mary Jane Williams Inbau
    James Roberts

    Description

    This deed of sale records the sale of an enslaved man named Pierre (born 1835) by Christian Mehle of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana and Hortaire Inbau to James Roberts, both of New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 8, 1860. The deed is both pre-printed and handwritten ink on paper. The deed is notarized and witnessed by John French Coffey. Pierre was twenty-five years old and was sold for $1,300.00. The deed covers four (4) pages. The wives of the sellers, Magdalena Doll Mehle and Mary Jane Williams Inbau, were also required to release ownership claims over Pierre. The end of the document lists the names of those persons who signed the original deed of sale as this is a copy kept by the notary. Yellow-tinted paper is attached to the deed with string along the left side. Text handwritten in ink on a portion of one page identifies the sellers, buyer, name of the enslaved person sold, and the notary.

    Transcription Center Status

    Transcribed by digital volunteers

    Credit Line

    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Liljenquist Family Collection

    Date

    December 8, 1860

    Object number

    2015.222.1

    Restrictions & Rights

    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

    Type

    bills of sale

    Medium

    ink on paper

    Dimensions

    H x W: 14 × 8 1/2 in. (35.6 × 21.6 cm)

    Place made

    New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

    See more items in

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

    Collection title

    Liljenquist Family Collection

    Classification

    Slavery and Freedom Objects
    Documents and Manuscripts

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Business
    Domestic slave trade
    Law
    Men
    Slavery

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd537d4c5f7-d1c2-4333-aa61-3d20da46b71f

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2015.222.1

    Discover More

    Louisiana tourist-style stamp.

    Explore America: Louisiana

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