Browse Items (82 total)
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Hiring out agreement for Henry, 1805
Hiring out between Winslow Parker and Adam Beatty for an enslaved man named Henry. -
Hiring out agreement for an enslaved woman named Clara, 29 December 1807
Hiring out agreement for an enslaved woman named Clara, stating which clothes Beatty needed to supply and that she can be given up if proven to be with child. -
Promissory note for the purchase of Juda and her two children, 29 November 1808
Promissory note from Adam Beatty to Henry Plummer for the purchase of an enslaved woman, Juda, and her two children. -
Letter from Valentine Meriwether to Arthur Campbell, 24 March 1802
Discusses purchasing land at the Falls of the Ohio and payments made for it using money or enslaved people. -
Deposition on land dispute, circa 1800-1820
A legal record documenting a land ownership dispute. Includes discussion of enslaved Black people, aged sixteen to twenty-six. -
Letter discussing slavery, 31 January 1806
Letter discussing the hiring out of enslaved persons over the Christmas holiday. Letter includes the names of the enslaved individuals. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 4 February 1802
William Clark writes his brother Jonathan from Redstone Landing [present Brownsville, Pennsylvania] on the Monongahela River updating him on the status of the trip moving Jonathan's enslaved people and some household goods and animals from Spotsylvania County, Virginia, to Jefferson County, Kentucky, ahead of Jonathan's family moving there later in the year. He provides specific information on the difficulties and costs encountered regarding the roads, weather, and enslaved people. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 2 July 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan that they have arrived in St. Louis. On the way, the woman he enslaved named Nancy [half sister of York] lost her child, and Ben [possibly formerly enslaved by Clark family] his horse. He has hired out most of his enslaved people. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 5 October 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis relating news about the fort [Fort Osage] he has built up the Missouri and a treaty he negotiated with the Osage Nation. He is overwhelmed with official business. He very much wants to engage in mercantile business with John Hite Clark. He reviews possible opportunities in St. Louis for John Sullivan who is there. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 9 November 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis discussing his frustrations with two Black men he enslaved, York and Scipio. He reports on conditions in St. Louis, various individuals, and investments in lead mining and saltmaking in the region. Reports that Meriwether Lewis was installed as master of the local Masonic lodge.Tags Enslaved people; lead; Letters; masonry; Meriwether Lewis; Missouri; salt; stocks; William Clark; York -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 22 and 24 November 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan a lengthy letter from St. Louis regarding foreign affairs, politics, Native American affairs, and land investment and resources such as lead mining and salt springs. He has placed some the people he enslaved and one indentured person Ben Gee/McGee (formerly enslaved) to work in various ways or what he intends to do regarding them, including York and Scipio. Discusses selling land owned by their brother George and some William owns and some of the proceeds benefitting George. Reviews prices of livestock and goods locally and reiterates his desire to enter into business with his nephew John. Reports on the state of Julia's health and Meriwether Lewis' plans to go to Philadelphia to finish the expedition history. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 17 December 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis describing an incident in which John Sullivan overreacted in a meeting with officials and ruined his chances for a lucrative position. Clark returns to the topic of York, stating he had intended to punish him but Meriwether Lewis persuaded him to hire him out in Kentucky instead. Clark hopes he will learn the error of his ways and must "give over that wife of his" in Kentucky. His wife was enslaved by someone else in the Louisville area. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 2 January 1809
William Clark writes his brother Jonathan Clark from St. Louis reporting domestic and local news. Shares how Julia is faring and describes the new quarters they have moved to. He expresses his frustrations with the people he enslaved, relating his opinion of enslaved Black people. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 21 January 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis announcing the birth of a son - Meriwether Lewis Clark. He reports how Julia and the baby are doing. He also reports on paying for a midwife for his enslaved woman Easter, who he has punished for bad behavior. He lists some other of his enslaved people he has punished and worries that Jonathan will think he has become a severe master, but he assures him he has not. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, ca. 1 March 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis informing him he has invested in the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company, is acting as an agent for the government's Native American trade factory system, and the trouble he is having with several of his enslaved persons and the punishment he is meting out. Julia requests seeds be sent to her because the rats have eaten all of hers. He keeps no copies of the letters he writes to him. -
Letter from William Clark to Edmund Clark, 15 April 1809
Clark writes his brother Edmund from St. Louis, Missouri, reporting general news regarding the town and some of its inhabitants. He comments on the status of their nephews Benjamin O'Fallon, there with him in St. Louis, and his brother, John O'Fallon, in school in Lexington, Kentucky. He updates Edmund regarding the status of their interest in the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company and their planned mercantile business venture, and on Native American affairs both up the Missouri and the Mississippi. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 28 May 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis, Missouri, regarding plans to travel east for a visit in the fall and their likely route. He reports how Julia and Lewis are doing, including Lewis being vaccinated with the cowpox and his reaction to being bathed. Sends regrets of George Rogers Clark's situation and hopes he will continue to recover. Talks of York's return to St. Louis from Kentucky and his continued bad attitude, punishment, and possible plans regarding him, and an enslaved woman Priscilla giving birth to a stillborn child and her little boy getting accidently scalded. He provides an update on the most recent news regarding Native American affairs and possible hostilities. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 22 July 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis regarding his enslaved man York, the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company, furs and peltries belonging to the government as part of the Indian trade factory system, and the route he might take in the fall eastward to Kentucky and Virginia. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 26 August 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis, Missouri, reporting the distressing situation Meriwether Lewis is in regarding the government and his personal affairs. Clark believes all will work out. He is disgusted with York and wishes Jonathan to do with him as he wishes upon his arrival in Louisville - hire him out or sell him. Relays that Julia is in poor health, thinks family have rather forgotten them, but anticipates much joy in their upcoming visit. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 16 September 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis shortly before setting out on their trip eastward. He has concluded Native American trade business and will turn matters over to Frederick Bates in his absence. The Secretary of War William Eustis has given him more responsibilities and directed him to remove agents and other Indian department employees appointed by Meriwether Lewis. To do so is disagreeable to him. A man convicted of murder is to be hanged today and the town is full of people.