Browse Items (41 total)
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Iron Link
Small circular iron ring that was most likely part of a bigger link of chain. This link was found in a Kentucky basement said to hold enslaved people. It is an example of the type of restraints used on those in bondage and a stark reminder of the inhumane conditions enslavers forced upon those they enslaved. By 1800, there were more than 40,000 enslaved men and women living on the Kentucky frontier. -
Portrait of Jemima Pearsall Castleman
Jemima Pearsall Castleman married Johannes "Lewis" Castleman in Frederick, Virginia, in 1765, when she was approximately fifteen years of age. She was the mother of eight children that were born between 1770 and 1797. She came to the frontier with her husband sometime between 1787 and 1800. They lived on a farm along Clear Creek in Woodford County that included a tannery and a distillery that made apple brandy. The Castlemans enslaved ten persons in 1810 and eighteen persons in 1819. -
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, 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, 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, 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, 10 December 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis continuing a discussion of a planned partnership in a store between himself based in St. Louis and Jonathan's son John Hite Clark based in Louisville. He also further discusses estate matters and difficulties stemming from their late brother-in-law Charles M. Thruston. He regrets the falling out between him and the man he enslaved, York. He does not agree with York that he deserves to be freed. Julia again requests sage from her "Kentucky mother." Clark has been in council all day with a forty-man Winnebago delegation from the Upper Mississippi. -
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, 21 July 1808
William Clark writes to his brother Jonathan Clark from St. Louis about business and missing family. He shortly will be traveling up the Missouri River with about 80 militia to build a fort [Fort Osage]. He has been much pestered by Native American affairs, and four of these American Indians being on trial for murder. He lists work that his enslaved people are doing and states that almost all of them have been "troublesome" and he has been "obliged" to whip most of them. Their behavior/attitudes have improved since. Julia asks that "old mama Clark" send her some dried garden herbs, especially thyme and sage, as none is to be gotten in St. Louis. -
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, 6-7 June 1808
William Clark writes his brother Jonathan Clark while on his boat at the mouth of the Tradewater River traveling down the Ohio River, moving to St. Louis. He has visited their brother Edmund in that neighborhood. Tells of Philes, a woman he enslaved, dying. Continuing the letter on June 7, he reports that Dr. [Richard] Brown's courtship of Ann Anderson has failed. He has sent York and some of his other enslaved persons overland with Joseph Charles to Kaskaskia. He has received word that Lieutenant Nathaniel Pryor is waiting for him with about twenty men and two boats at the mouth of the Ohio to assist their ascent of the Mississippi.Tags boats; death; Enslaved people; Letters; love; Military; Mississippi River; Missouri; Ohio River; romance; William Clark -
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. -
Will of Annie Christian (copy), 10 October 1789
Will and codicil of Annie Christian, handwritten copy. -
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. -
Will of Samuel Pottenger, 1794
Will of Captain Samuel Pottenger of Pottenger's Creek in Nelson County. The will specifies dispersal of enslaved people and land among his family. -
Bill of sale for a Prudence and her child Matilda, 1819
Bill of sale for an enslaved woman named Prudence and her child Matilda. -
William Meriwether estate inventory, 1815
List of land, dwelling houses, and number of enslaved people in the estate of William Meriwether. Lists fifteen people that he enslaved and their age ranges. -
Note for payment for advertising sale of enslaved woman, November 9, 1813
Note for payment for advertising sale of enslaved woman, November 9, 1813 -
Bill of sale for Fran, 21 December 1795
Bill of sale for an enslaved girl named Fan. -
Hiring out agreement, 13 January 1825
Hiring out agreement between Charles W. Thruston and John J. Jacob for an enslaved girl named Mary, 12 years old.