Manuscript bill of sale, one page, executed at Lyme, New London County, Colony of Connecticut, November 13, 1767. For the sum of thirty-seven pounds lawful money, Joseph Colt of Lyme sells to Capt. Elisha Miller of the same town, his heirs and assigns, a girl named Clowe, about nine and a half years old. Colt binds himself, his executors and administrators to warrant and defend title to her against all lawful claims "During the term of Naturel Life" — the language of sale into lifetime bondage. Signed "Joseph Colt," with the remnant of a red wax seal at right; witnessed at lower left by James Brockway (given name read from a cursive abbreviation). The word "Seven" is interlined above "Thirty" in the writer's hand, fixing the price at thirty-seven pounds.

TRANSCRIPTION (original spelling retained) Know all men by these presents that Joseph Colt of Lym In the County of New London In Colony of Connecticut In Consideration of the Sum of Thirty [interlined: Seven] Pound Lawful money to me in Hand paide by Cap.t Elishar Miller of Sd. Lyme the Receipt whereof to ful Content and Sattesfacon I the Sd. Joseph Colt do Hear Acknowledge and do there fore Burgen and Sell Convay and Confarm unto the Sd. Cp.t Elishar Miller His Heairs and asigns one Neger Gal named Clowe: Aged abought Nine Year and a half I the Sd. Joseph Colt do promis for my Self and ares Executors and administrators to Warrant and Defend the Said Negor unto the Sd. Cap.t Elishar Miller His Heairs and asines against all Lawfurl Clame Dureng the tarm of Naturel Life In Witness Whereof I the Sd. Joseph Colt Have Hear unto Sett my Hand and Seal this 13 Day of November AD 1767 Joseph Colt [seal]

Witness: James Brockway

Slavery was lawful throughout colonial New England, and on the eve of the Revolution Connecticut held the largest enslaved population in the region, with New London County — tied to the West Indies trade and home to large coastal farms — carrying the heaviest concentration. Connecticut's Gradual Abolition Act of 1784 applied only to children born after March 1 of that year, who were to be freed at twenty-five; a girl of about nine and a half in 1767 fell wholly outside its terms, and slavery was not finally abolished in the state until 1848. The name Clowe is most likely a phonetic rendering of Chloe, a name frequently given to enslaved women in eighteenth-century New England. Documents recording an enslaved child by name and age in a New England town are an uncommon survival and a direct primary record of northern colonial slavery, a history long overshadowed by that of the South.

CONDITION

Single sheet of period rag paper, approximately 7 3/4 x 8 in. Even toning with scattered foxing and staining, original horizontal and vertical folds with a small hole at the lower fold junction, edge chipping, and irregular losses along the lower edge, none affecting the text or signatures. Red wax seal remnant at right of the signature. Ink remains dark and the text fully legible throughout.  [ss] [ph:L]

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