Browse Items (77 total)
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Letter from James D. Breckinridge to Thomas Bodley, 19 February 1815
Letter in which James D. Breckinridge writes of his desire to purchase enslaved persons if they can be bought at the right price. -
Letter from John W. Hundley to David L. Ward, 19 March 1815
Letter to David L. Ward stating the need for more enslaved laborers at the saltworks. -
Letter from John W. Hundley to David L. Ward, 6 February 1815
Letter to David L. Ward discussing the capture of the freedom-seeking enslaved man, Bristoe. -
Letter from L. Lawes to William Lawes, 21 May 1812
In this letter to her brother, L. Lawes writes that their father sold their enslaved man, Gabe, for $280, stating that "slaves can be bought in New Orleans for cheaper than in Kentucky." Notes that they haven't purchased sugar or coffee because the Native Americans are doing a "great deal of mischief on the river." She states that many people have left their homes on the frontier and moved to Louisville because of the mischief, talks of drafts for volunteers for the militia, updates William on his brother and his marriage, and his hiring a substitute for the draft. She requests that he bring a nice pair of leather shoes and some sugar and coffee because it is cheaper where he is, and blue cloth for a coat for his father.
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Letter from Lemuel Wells to Charles Wells, 24 November 1827
Wells writes about trading along the Ohio River, the recent sale of one of his enslaved women named Hannah for $200, discusses current prices in Natchez and Nashville for apples, cider, flour, and other goods. Notes his location as “150 miles below the Falls” and promises to write again when he reaches Natchez.
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Letter from Nicholas Gautier to Etienne Gautier, 20 September 1812
Letter from Nicholas Gautier to his brother in which he describes farm life in Logan County, with descriptions of the multinational population, economy, education. Describes agricultural self-sufficiency and slavery. Talks of his inheritance and thanks his brother for sending vouchers of birth and family, and comments on his Americanization. -
Letter from Patrick Henry to William Christian, 25 February 1786
Henry writes Christian on various subjects including the navigation of the Mississippi, treaty negotiations with Spain, the scarcity of cash, and the cost of enslaved laborers. -
Letter from Thomas Scott, 10 January 1814
Scott writes about difficulties in hiring enslaved laborers. -
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 persons. -
Letter from Valentine Meriwether to his father at the Falls of the Ohio, 23 August 1787
In this letter to his father, Meriwether discusses settling estate debts, stating that is they are not settled satisfactorily, the family may have to leave the state (Virginia). He tells of moving the enslaved persons from the kitchen into their own cabin, states the value of enslaved people will go down and "will not sell for more than a third of what they're worth." States he "never wanted to go to Kentuck [sic] till now but I am sure I can't stay here." -
Letter from Walter Warfield to Alexander Scott Bullitt, 2 April 1793
Warfield writes thanking Bullitt for helping bring enslaved people to Kentucky and asking for advice on traveling to the region. -
Letter from William Clark to Edmund Clark, 25 December 1814
Letter from William Clark in St. Louis to his brother, Edmund Clark, in Louisville. Writes that he has drawn on him for sixty dollars for a sword and printing. Inquires about his health. Mentions his enslaved man, York. Notes "the prospect of Indian war is unfavourable to us and it may be proper to send my family to Kentucky or Tennessee. It is most probable to Kentucky in that case." -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 21 July 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan 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, 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 Graham to Arthur Campbell, 24 September 1786
This letter mentions freedom and free government. He states, "Could I forget that I was a free man or that I knew anything of the nature of a free government I should be happy but the remembrance of these adds to the horrors of slavery." -
Letter to John Corlis, 8 May 1816
Letter dicsusses enslaved persons working on a plantation. -
Linen and cotton sheet, circa 1820-1830
An 'M's & O's' patterned sheet made of linen and cotton. The family narratives for this linen sheet states that it was made in 1816 by Betsy Breckinridge Meredith, sister of John Breckinridge. Family narrative also states the flax was grown, spun, and woven by enslaved people on the Winton Plantation. Enslaved women and men were skilled spinners, weavers, and seamstress on the frontier. Their skilled labor made life easier and more comfortable for their enslavers. -
Linen Sheet, circa 1835
According to family narrative, this bed sheet was made by an enslaved weaver using flax that was grown on Dabney Carr Overton's farm in Fayette County, Kentucky. In 1830, Overton enslaved thirty-two persons, including twenty female children and adults. Enslaved women were skilled spinners, weavers, and seamstresses, whose skills provided comfort for the families that enslaved them. -
List of enslaved people in the Bibb household that were sent to Liberia, 1832
List of those enslaved by the Bibb family that were emancipated and sent to Liberia. This document lists the names and the dates they were born. -
List of enslaved people in the Bibb household, 1815
List of enslaved persons in the Bibb household, including their age range and "value."