(SLAVERY) Ledger documenting the Hire of Negroes from the es

Sale 2663 - Lot 401

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(SLAVERY.) Ledger documenting the "Hire of Negroes" from the estate of a Georgia planter. [68] manuscript pages. Quarto, 7½ x 6 inches, original ¼ calf, worn; several leaves detached, water damage to rear with some loss to "Hire of Negroes" pages, a few leaves excised or trimmed. Georgia, 1835-1844

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Farmer Charles Wornum (1785-1834) of Jones County, GA left several enslaved people in his estate. Rather than divide them among his minor children, they were hired out to provide income for the estate. The ledger includes 8 pages of lists of "Negro Hire" from 1835 through 1844. The first list has 18 named slaves; 4 were leased by the estate back to the widow Nancy Warnum, with the others leased to a variety of farmers for a total of about $1000 per year. Their numbers decrease in 1840, as they are sold or died. From 1841 to 1844 we find only 5 entries each year, for Marian, Daniel, Ellen, Tony, and Phillis, hired to various farmers.

A page of accounts for "Minors of C. Warnum" has several entries relating to the enslaved people from 1836 to 1840, including "Dr. Litefoot's ac't for Negro Job," "Lowther's Negro woman fees," "Old Phillis fees to Tempy & Anna," "Loss on taking back Esther hired," and "Expenses for moving Negroes."