Deed of sale of an enslaved woman and child, Edgecombe County, North Carolina, 1829. [Library shelfmark: H.S.632 (3)]
This document states that planter Theophilus Parker, having successfully bid $278, owns Lettice and her child, Whinny.
Children born into slavery often were separated from their mothers.
While it is recorded that Parker's sons entered the Confederate States Army, the fate of Lettice and Whinny is unknown.
The document reads:
Know all men by these presents, that I, Spencer D Cotten, Trustee, of the county of Edgecombe and State of North-Carolina, of the one part, and Theophilus Parker of the county of Edgecombe of the other part, witnesseth: Whereas, by virtue of a Deed executed by Joseph Bell and Robert Joyner, of the county aforesaid, to Spencer D Cotten, for purposes therein contained, which is of record in the Register's office of said county, and by virtue of the same, I, the said Spencer D Cotten, after having advertised the same, proceeded to sell at the plantation of the said Joseph Bell the negroes therein contained, when Theophilus Parker appeared and bid the sum of two hundred and seventy eight dollars --- cents, for negro woman Lettice + child Whinny which was the last and highest bid: Now, for and in consideration of the sum of $278:00 dollars, in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the said Spencer D Cotten hath bargained and sold, and by these presents doth bargain and sell unto the said Theo Parker his heirs and assigns forever, negro Lettice + child Whinny to have and to hold the aforesaid negro Lettice + child Whinny to him the said Theo Parker and his heirs and assigns: And the said Spencer D Cotten, Trustee aforesaid, will warrant and defend the title against himself and his heirs forever. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 13th January, 1829.
[Signed Spencer D Cotten]
This item featured in our American Civil War display, 'Yankee cries and Rebel yells', at the Library from 21 January to 29 March 2015.