James (Jim) Kennerly

“James (Jim) Kennerly”. n.d, WashU & Slavery, accessed February 11, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.wustl.edu/s/washu-slavery/item/59623

Alternate Name

Jim

Description

Jim Kennerly was sold to Henry Shaw at an auction held at the St. Louis courthouse on January 1, 1852 when he was about 25-30 years old, as part of the estate of his deceased enslaver Lewellyn Brown. He was part of a group of enslaved people who attempted escape on May 21, 1855, at the site known today as the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing. They crossed the Mississippi River to Illinois only to find bounty hunters lying in wait to capture them. Jim Kennerly was able to evade capture along with a few others, as there is no record of him being captured and resold. The 1852 bill of sale for Jim written in ink shows a later update written in pencil that states he “ran away May 1855.”

Bio

Jim Kennerly was sold at an auction held at the south door of the St. Louis courthouse on January 1, 1852 when he was about 25-30 years old, as part of the estate of his deceased enslaver Lewellyn Brown.xix Shaw purchased Jim Kennerly for $1,010, the money divided among Brown’s heirs, the same heirs of Eliza Brown and John Brown who had auctioned Sarah and her child, and Esther and her children. He was part of a group of enslaved people who attempted escape on May 21, 1855, at the site known today as the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing. They crossed the Mississippi River to Illinois only to find bounty hunters lying in wait to capture them. Jim Kennerly was able to evade capture along with a few others, as there is no record of him being captured and resold. The 1852 bill of sale for Jim written in ink shows a later update written in pencil that states he “ran away May 1855.”

Birth Date

1822 – 1827

Sex

Male

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