THOMAS PORTER SLAVE TRADE BUTTON IN VERY GOOD CONDITION

THOMAS PORTER SLAVE TRADE BUTTON IN VERY GOOD CONDITION

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$175.00

Quantity Available: 9

Item Code: 2026-335

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

Very good condition slave trade button made of copper alloy, bearing on the face “TP,” the mark of Thomas Porter II (1790-1857), with a manufacturer’s “quality” mark on reverse. This specimen was recovered in Coastal Georgia. We believe these buttons date to the early to mid-19th century when Porter was very active in trading enslaved people.

Thomas Porter’s father made a fortune in cotton planting in British Guyana, owning at least three plantations on his own (and at least one other in partnership,) which he passed to his sons Thomas II and Henry in 1800. After emancipation of slaves Guyana in 1834, they received compensation for more than 1,000 slaves between them. They seem to have engaged in slave trading as well and are said to have operated out of Barbados in the West Indies, sending slaves into the U.S. via Charleston. Several different patterns of Porter slave buttons are known and buttons with “HP” initials are thought to be those of his brother Henry. There is some debate whether the buttons were simply placed on the garments of a slave owned by Porter personally, but the number found and recovery sites in the U.S. would indicate they were used on stock clothing supplied to victims of Porter’s trade in preparation for their sale at auction.

We have several of these buttons available. All pieces are in very good condition, but some pieces may or may not have a shank intact.  [cla][ph:L]

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