Nassau, Bahamas, Caribbean, North and Central America
Cultural Place:
England, Europe
Date:
February 8, 1799
Caption:
This is a Bahamian bill of sale for two enslaved individuals, Trim and Flora. The seller, James Stevens notes that the buyer, John Addison will benefit from Flora’s future “increase,” a term enslavers used to value unborn children of slaves.
Description:
A partially typed, partially handwritten Bahamian bill of sale for [a certain negroe man slave named Trim] and a [negroe woman slave named Flora]. Trim and Flora were sold to John Addison from J. James Stevens on February 8, 1799 on the Bahamian Island of Nassau. The middle of the bill includes language on [the future issue and increase] of Flora. The bottom is signed by witnesses Dan Sutherland, John Stevens and the seller, James Stevens.
On the upper portion of the back of the document, James Stevens has confirmed that John Addison received the document on February 8th 1799 and [John Addison note of hand for the within payable in six weeks]. James Stevens has signed his name below this statement.
The lower portion of the back of the document has a short summary of the sale of Trim and Flora by James Stevens to John Addison for 220 British pounds.
The document has four distinct horizontal crease lines showing it has been folded into fourths. The outer edges of the fourths are torn and deteriorating.
