Feb 26, 2009 - Sale 2171

Sale 2171 - Lot 19

Price Realized: $ 3,120
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,500 - $ 2,500
FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM (SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) "Robert Jackson's Free Papers," "Rachel Jackson's Free Papers," a Deed of Emancipation and a Certificate of Freedom. Two folio sheets of vellum, 10 1/2x8 1/2 inches, written in a neat and readable hand; folded several times to form smaller square "packets." Fayette County, KY, 1845; 1846

Additional Details

A deed of Emancipation for Robert Jackson--"about 36 years of age, about five feet nine inches high, tolerably stout, and of a coper (sic) color." And, a Certificate of Freedom for Robert''s wife Rachel--"about 37 years old, five feet five inches high, spare make, and of a bright mulatto color." Robert and Rachel were freed by their owner, E. K. Sayre approximately one year apart. It seems that Rachel had been manumitted by Mr. Sayre three years earlier, but no official note regarding her freedom had been made of this to the court. The fact that one of the documents is a Deed of Emancipation and the other a Certificate of Freedom is of special note. The Certificate denotes manumission and in this case, Mr. Sayre had to put up a bond of $800 to guarantee that Rachel would not become a burden to the county. The former document, a Deed of Emancipation freed Robert and the court stated that since "Robert was not likely to become a county charge, no security was required." Both documents are signed by the judge and clerk.
These two documents freeing Robert and Rachel are accompanied by an agreement with E.K. Sayre for the rental of a piece of property, dated 1844. While in poor condition and in need of conservation, it is a touching part of the story of this couple and their struggle upward from slavery to freedom.