Slavery and Property Transfer in Louisiana, Autograph Letter Referencing Enslaved Individuals, 1842

Enslaved People

Manuscripts & Autographs

Brady, W.L. Autograph letter signed, 17 December 1842, documenting the treatment of enslaved individuals as transferable property within the antebellum South, with direct relevance to the study of slavery, labor control, and regional movement along the Red River in Louisiana. Addressed to Elijah Sutton of Springfield, the letter discusses arrangements concerning “the negroes and all his things,” indicating their inclusion among goods to be moved or transferred under the direction of a Captain Ker. One individual, identified as John, is singled out for separate handling, suggesting distinctions in labor roles or personal arrangements within enslaved groups. The correspondence also references logistical planning tied to travel and relocation, including the statement that “the negroes and things will be left with Mr. Francis Headen at the Post Office,” situating enslaved people within networks of exchange, storage, and movement that structured plantation economies.

Brady, W.L. Autograph letter signed. 17 December 1842. One page, approximately 8 x 10 inches, addressed to Elijah Sutton of Springfield. The letter includes references to Captain Ker, the Red River region of Louisiana, and arrangements for the transfer of enslaved individuals and personal property, reflecting routine administrative communication within slaveholding systems. A faint blindstamp is present at the upper left.

Single manuscript letter with toning and fold creases; text clear and legible; overall very good condition. A primary-source document illustrating the language and mechanisms through which enslaved people were managed and relocated in the antebellum American South.

Item #18574

Price: $580.00