[SLAVERY] 1836 Slave Hire to be Returned on Christmas

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Day 2: Early & Historic Americana

By Fleischer's Auctions

Oct 10, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-10-10 09:00:00 2025-10-10 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Day 2: Early & Historic Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-2-early-historic-americana-19250
Day one of Fleischer's 2025 Fall Premier auction includes early American artifacts, documents, signatures, ephemera, and weaponry. Rare material relating to African American history is featured, as well as fine examples of antique photography. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

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• Lot Description

  Manuscript document signed by John Johnston Jr. and John Johnston [Sr.]. N.p., 28 December 1835. 1 page, 7 3/8 x 5 1/2 in. Docketed to verso. 

   

  A rare slave hire document that specifies the clothing he was to be equipped with. While slave hire documents and receipts indicating clothing for slaves are known, it is rare to have such specificity in what clothes a slave would be provided with. Though not specified in the main text, the docketing indicates that the subject, Phill, was hired as a butler. 

   

  The document reads, in part, that the Johnstons "promise to pay...Charles Button...as the administrator of Penelope L. Blackmore the just and full sum of twenty five dollars for the hire of negro boy Phill to be returned on the 25th day of December 1836. Clothed as follows with two pair of summer trousers, one pair of shoes at harvest in the fall with a full suit of honor made by order this day and one pair of hose with stockings with a hat and blanket." 

   

  [Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs] [African Americana, African American History, Black History, Slavery, Enslavement, Abolition, Emancipation] 

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