Mar 21, 2013 - Sale 2308

Sale 2308 - Lot 20

Price Realized: $ 510
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 600 - $ 800
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION--NURSING.) 'To Negro Jude for nursing the smallpocks (sic) at Mr. Knights for 25 days. . . Small piece of paper, written on both sides, witnessed and signed by Mr. Knight, and by Jude with an 'X.' Baltimore, 1798

Additional Details

A most unusual receipt for services rendered by 'Negro Jude' for looking after the Knight family during an outbreak of small-pox, paid by Mr. Buchanan a third party and possibly Judy's owner. Baltimore was among the very first cities to begin using Edward Jenner's 'vaccination' against the dread disease in 1798, the year of this receipt. It impossible to know whether or not Negro nurse Jude was looking after a family that had been inoculated or not. But the fact that she would expose herself for four pounds thirteen shillings and nine pence speaks to her need. Maryland at this time had some of the most relaxed laws regarding slaves. However, in1831, after Nat Turner led a bloody rebellion of slaves, Maryland's laws became the harshest in the country.