Seth Kaller, Inc.

Additional Images: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3 Image 4, Image 5

  Inventory# 20247 $3,500

1. Archibald Hood, manuscript affidavit signed ("A. Hood"), as former slave owner. Also signed by James Cathcart representing the church and James Elliott as Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. January 27, 1831, Fairfield District, SC. 1p. 13¼ x 16 in.

" Whereas it appears from a Letter Received from the Sheriff of Kaskaskia, Randolph County State of Illinois, that there is at this time in the Jail of Said County seven negroes...Archibald Hood...makes oath that he sent away said five negroes in November 1829 under the superintendance of James Kirkpatrick to the State of Illinois, in order that they might attain their freedom. Deponant further states that being advised that there is no need of their having any free papers when they got into said State, he gave them no other papers than something like a pass which would enable them to reach their point of Destination...it was, and is, his Bona fide, intention to Emancipate & set free the said five negroes & that no other person or persons whomsoever have any Right or Claim in Law, or Equity to said negroes. "

Hood's brother sent along a sixth slave, Simon, " that he might obtain his freedom also...the seventh child referred to...must have been Born after they left him... " An addendum to this document, signed by James Cathcart, attests that " the six negroes above alluded to were considered by the church to which said Hood & Deponant belongs to be free; Except that the Laws of this State would not permit their owners so to do... "

2. Ignatius Sprigg, manuscript document signed ("I Sprigg"), April 25, 1832, Randolph County, IL. 1p. 7¾ x 12¼ in.

" I Ignatius Sprigg Sheriff Randolph County do certify that seven negroes to wit Simon Hood and Hargar, Lucy & her two male children & one girl named Sealy, and that the said black persons were absent two years next November were apprehended as runaway slaves (delv'd unto my custody & by me) and committed to jail, and were advertised in the Kaskaskia democrat six weeks, in pursuance of law, and afterwards notice of the time & place of sale was given according to law, and the said negroes were thereafter sold... "

3. [court ruling] unsigned file copy of ruling, autograph documents, n.d. [probably circa April or May 1832], n.p. [probably Kaskaskia, Randolph County, IL]. 2 pp. 7 ¾ x 9½ in.

" In the matter of the application of Simon Hood, Hajar, for a certificate of their freedom ... the Court having heard and inspected [Sheriff Sprigg's certificate] and being fully satisfied of the truth of the facts therein stated do order that it be certified that the said Simon Hood, Hajar & c & c, have been committed to the custody of the Sheriff of Randolph County as runaways and duly advertised, and that they have been hired out from month to month for one year and that no owner has appeared and substantiated his claim to Said negroes, it is therefore ordered that the said Simon Hood, Hajar & c & c, shall be and are deemed free persons unless they shall be lawfully claimed by their proper owner or owners thereafter. "

A fascinating case of slaves being freed without the proper manumission documents, only to be arrested as runaway slaves in a free state, sold back into slavery, and eventually freed again.