Search Results: Slavery from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

This noted New Hampshire abolitionist, civil leader and merchant (part owner of a handful of ships) served in the state legislature (1825-28, 1830) and as president of the Portsmouth Temperance Society and the American Peace Society (1841-46); he founded the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane, worked at the U.S. Patent Office (1854-66), and penned page-turners such as "Outline of a System of Mechanical Philosophy" (1851), "Arithmetical Calculations of the Elements of the Orbit of the Moon" (1855) and "Studies of the Earth" (1860). ANS, 1p, 7 3/4" X 9 3/4", Portsmouth, NH, 25 January 1841. Addressed to John R. French (1819-90, publisher, editor, North Carolina congressman). Near fine. As a young man, French published and co-edited the journal of the New Hampshire Anti-Slavery Society, one of the first anti-slavery newspapers out of New Hampshire's capital city of Concord -- and in this letter the newly-named American Peace Society president sends French (as "Agent for the 'Herald of Freedom'") "three… Read More

This American merchant made his fortune in slave trading and privateering, later becoming one of the major financiers of the early industrial revolution; in politics he was a devout Federalist, serving in the Massachusetts legislature and in 1820 as a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention. ALS, 1p + integral address leaf, 7¼" X 8 3/4", Beverly, MA, 7 June 1799. Addressed to Messrs. Davenport & Tucker. Near fine. Faint original folds. Thorndyke tells these Boston commission merchants that "your favr of yesterday has this moment come to hand, since I had the pleasure of seeing your Mr. T. we determined to [load?] our Sugum [sorghum] on board Our Own Ship," and also notes "If your Coffee is as good as I Expect to find it by the Samples (which have not yet come to hand) I will give 29 Cents Custom [?] Wt. & pay the Cash in 10 days from the delivery..." Boldly penned and signed in full. Integral address leaf in another hand, with docket in margin. Nice example of routine horse trading… Read More

Confidant of Missouri pioneer Jonathan Bryan (1759-1846) of the noted St. Charles family whose relatives included their neighbor Daniel Boone. DS, 1p, 7½" X 12", St. Charles County, MO, 1847 February 2. Near fine. Acknowledgment that Tuter, who signs himself as "Administrator of the Estate of Johnathan Bryan," has had a writ of replevin made out and issued to the St. Charles sheriff, Edward C. Cunningham (1809-65), for delivery to an unnamed offender. The writ seeks to recover the following property apparently wrongfully taken from Jonathan Bryan's estate: "one negro man a Slave named Heney one Two horse waggon and one pair of Briches Two Black horses one Lorrel horse with bold face one walnut Cupboard one clock one Bureau one bedstead and bedding one walnut Table one Trunk one Bible...." In other words, everything but the kitchen sink. Signed at the conclusion by Tater (in his definitely untutored hand). Tales of slaves are found in the Bryan family lore, such as: "Mrs. Jonathan Bryan, a kinswoman… Read More