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Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION--NEW YORK.) 'Personally appeared before me the Subscriber. . ." David Cock, a black man. Manuscript document a 'Recognizance Bond' for siring a bastard child. Small 4to, 8-1/4 x 8 inches, docketed on the reverse. Signed by the Justice, Solomon Wooden. Queens County, New York, 1807
An interesting legal document. Cock is accused of having gotten Esther, a black woman pregnant. The resulting male child, a 'bastard' became the responsibility of the State of New York. This burden on the state was estimated at $200.00, a considerable sum and probably inflated at that in 1808. David Cock's brother Moses also appeared with him, and both made a promise to pay the money back to the state by the month of June, some six months later or forfeit all of their goods and chattel.
