Mar 27, 2014 - Sale 2342

Sale 2342 - Lot 96

Price Realized: $ 6,250
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) MONCURE, JOHN. "Expense Account," ledger kept by a private banker. Tall, folio ledger, Over 150 pages, written in a couple of hands, generally quite readable. Contemporary quarter calf and marbled paper-covered boards; joints started but firm; paper evenly toned. Fredericksburg, Virginia, circa 1830's

Additional Details

An exceptional piece for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the number of entries that deal with slaves and slavery. The man who kept this ledger seems to have functioned as some sort of private banker. The Moncures are part of the larger Glassell family of Virginia. One entry filling a couple of pages is of special interest; It deals with Rachel Morgan: "cash advanced to you for purchase of your grandchildren and the right to these children is vested in me until Rachel pays me the principal and interest I have advanced and then they are to have their freedom and a bill of sale is to be executed as Rachel may direct. The right to Rachel is also vested in me at this time, but she has long since returned me the money I paid for her and therefore is entitled to her freedom. . ." There are many others: Cash for mending servants shoes, William Fitzhugh for Negro hire, Fanny Judge for services as midwife with your servant Matilda, Cupid Duff to pay for shoes, Frances Dumas your agent sent from Alabama to this country for your slaves Reuben, Daniel, Matilda and child. This was advanced to him for his expenses to Alabama. There are nearly sixty such entries, most having to do with hires and clothing, with a number for doctor's bills. An excellent genealogical resource.