William tells the story of how he became the guardian of a child, Lily, whose mother Barbara was a "colored woman." When Lily’s mother, Barbara, died, Lily was given to Judy, Archer Alexander’s wife, to care for. But when Judy died, Archer asked William to care for Lily, which he did. Then William learned that Lily had an older sister, Lizzie, who was in the care of Colonel John Balfour. Colonel Balfour asked William to become legal guardians for both girls, which he did. Colonel Balfour gave William US Bonds to help pay for the girls’ care. William is asking General Sherman to ask his brother John Sherman, Secretary of the Treasury, to help get the money from the bonds so he can use it for care of the girls. William also states that Archer Alexander has been in his service since 1863 when he gave him protection under authority of Provost Marshall. He also says Archer Alexander was the “original of the kneeling slave in the Lincoln Emancipation group by Thomas Ball.” William Greenleaf Eliot to Gen. Sherman.
This newspaper advertisement, placed by Henry Shaw, promises a $300 reward for the capture of Sarah and $100 for her son, both of whom Henry Shaw enslaved. Sarah is a "mulatto woman" about twenty years of age, "of medium height, slender, consumptive make, and bad teeth, some of which have been gold plugged in front," and her son is "four years old, a strong, hearty looking child, with curly hair, and a shade darker than the woman."
This document details the legal proceedings of a fugitive enslavement case in St. Louis, Missouri, dated October 21, 1850. Presided over by Judge Alexander Hamilton, the case involves the escape of an enslaved man named Bill, who fled from the enslaver Andrew G. Gist in the spring of 1850. The record provides a description of Bill and certifies his status as an enslaved man under Missouri law, as well as the legal steps taken by Gist to reclaim him under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
Receipt from bounty hunter, Bernard Lynch to Henry Shaw itemizing costs incurred boarding captive enslaved persons, Sarah and Esther. Costs incurred arresting Esther and her subsequent sale to John D. Fondren of Vicksburg for a total of $350. Dated July 30th, 1855
Receipt of payment to bounty hunter, Bernard Lynch, on behalf of Mr. Moreland and Shaw 20 dollar each for information, tracking, and return of their escaped slaves (assumed to be Sarah and her child). Dated June 17th, 1854 and signed by a S. Meloin. The document itself doesn't seem to mention Sarah or her child's name.
Receipt from bounty hunter Benard Lynch for $100 to Henry Shaw itemizing costs incurred capturing enslaved person, Esther in Illinois and returning her to Saint Louis. Dated May 21st, 1855.
This is a purchase receipt for Henry Shaw, paying for the newspaper advertisement of John and Mary Meachum's Trustee's sale of property. The cost was $15.00. The purchase was submitted to the newspaper *St. Louis New Era* Office, to C.G. Ramsey (assumed to be Charles G. Ramsey, the owner of the St. Louis New Era Newspaper) and Geo. Brownfield.
Alphonse Netmore (or Wetmore) is the Justice.
Charles G. Ramsey, a prominent newspaper publisher at the time, provided the affidavit.
The trustee's sale of property to John and Mary Meachum is being published in the newspaper titled 'St. Louis New Era'.
This is a newspaper advertisement of the Trustees' Sale of John and Mary Meachum's property in 1842, due to their inability to pay off the loan from Henry Shaw. The advertisement describes the location of property.
A memorandum dated 1 May 1840 for a two-year extension of the $2750.00 loan agreement between John Berry Meachum and Henry Shaw was issued on 1 February 1839. The memorandum states that Meachum paid the interest on the loan from February 1st, 1839.
Loan agreement for $2750.00 between John Berry Meachum and Henry Shaw, 1 February 1839 with interest. Describes that Shaw received interest of fifteen months in the back.
Letter from Johnson Hellen, enslaver, to William Greenleaf Eliot, which included a stipulation for Virginia’s freedom from enslavement at age twenty-five. Additional note by Eliot states Virginia was emancipated and married William Parks, handyman. Johnson Hellen was from Washington City.
This is a declaration of bankruptcy by John Berry Meachum, dated 10 June 1842. The hearing date is dated 10 September 1842. James Hannon (?) is the clerk; Wm. Milburn (?) is the commissioner; N. M. Garseho (?) is the assignee.
Glasgow Weekly Times describes that nine enslaved people attempted to escape "under the guide of the abolitionists," and that five were captured, but others "succeeded in getting off." The newspaper account also regrettably mentions that the "decoyers" were not captured.
Deed of trust & notice of affidavit of the trustees' sale of property on St. Louis New Era (newspaper). Mentions that the advertisement of the property would be displayed in the newspaper for five weeks and five days, from July 16th, 1842 to August 19th.
This document, dated July 14, 1836, records the manumission of two Black enslaved persons, Julienne and Marguerite, by the enslaver Lambert Jacob in St. Louis, Missouri. Julienne, aged thirty-eight, and her six-year-old daughter, Marguerite, were previously adjudicated to Lambert Jacob as part of the succession of Marie Jean Dardenne in Iberville Parish, Louisiana. Jacob granted their freedom with the condition that they would serve him during his lifetime. The deed was formally acknowledged in the St. Louis Circuit Court, marking the legal release of Julienne and Marguerite from slavery, except for the lifetime service clause imposed by Jacob.
This document, dated December 3, 1845, records the emancipation of Samuel, a 38-year-old Black man, by Louis A. LaBeaume, Theodore LaBeaume, Louis T. LaBeaume, Edmund LaBeaume, Laura LaBeaume, and Peter E. Blow—enslavers in St. Louis, Missouri. The deed officially grants Samuel his freedom, declaring him manumitted and released from all servitude to the LaBeaume family and their heirs. The document also mentions a nominal payment of one dollar, symbolizing the legal transaction.
Deed of Emancipation for Peter Ware by Victoire Labadie, widow of Sylvestre Labadie, St. Louis, Missouri, January 19, 1853. Victoire Labadie formally emancipated Peter, a Black man aged about forty-four years, marking him free from enslavement. The document describes Peter's physical features, including a mark on the back of his neck and a mole on the left side of his nose.
Deed of Emancipation for Eliza, a Black woman approximately twenty-nine years old, by John Cavender, St. Louis, Missouri, November 17, 1845. The deed, acknowledged in the St. Louis Circuit Court, formally grants Eliza her freedom, releasing her from all servitude to Cavender and his heirs. Eliza, who is described as being about five feet four or five inches tall, was purchased by Cavender in 1838 from the enslaver William Baf.
This is a copy of the Daily Dispatch on 1855-05-29 that describes the escape of five enslaved people in Alton, Illinois, which presumably points to Mary Meachum's attempted escape of nine enslaved people across the Mississippi River, among whom five were captured.
A bond of indemnity presented to Eliot by John A Kassin/Kasson stating that Eliot paid Kassin/Kasson $600.00 to purchase Lydia, an enslaved woman, in order to set her free.
Bill of sale for the purchase of enslaved person Sarah and her infant child by Henry Shaw for the sum of 500 dollars. As the Probate Court of St. Louis on 1850-09-07, aid order Marshall Brotherton administrator of Eliza Brown declared.
This is a bill of sale for the purchase of an enslaved person named Jim by Henry Shaw. Henry Shaw purchased from the previous enslaver of Jim, now deceased, John J. Brown. Shaw bid $1010, which, being the highest, allowed him to purchase the enslaved person Jim. Marshall Brotherton(?) acted as the administrator. This ruling was made in the December Term 1851 of the Probate Court of the County of St. Louis, State of Missouri.
