25
●
SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.)
To the Sheriff of Warren County. Partially
Printed Document, accomplished by hand.
A Warrant to Arrest “Jesse Mason, (a
man of Colour) for deserting his Wife & Children and for cohabiting with a slave.” Single
sheet, 6
1
⁄
4
x 8
1
⁄
4
inches, printed on both sides with docketing on the reverse.
Warren County, N.C., 4 August, 1809
[600/800]
An interesting case wherein it appears that Jesse Mason, a free black was cheating on his wife
with a slave woman. The law of North Carolina, and indeed all of the states were hard on men
who abandoned their wives—not entirely for moralistic reasons. The fear was that the wife and
children would then become wards of the state and cost the taxpayers money for their support.
26
●
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION—NEW YORK.)
Three Certificates of
Freedom, for Peter Garritson and Benjaman Davis.
three Partially printed docu-
ments, accomplished by hand; two of them for one person. Each approximately 6
1
⁄
2
x 8
1
⁄
2
inches; some splits, and wear along the edges. Signed by Peter Mesier.
SHOULD BE SEEN
New York City, 1811
[800/1,200]
Three certificates of freedom, two for one individual named Peter Garritson, described as black
and from Esopus, New York, in Ulster County; the other for Benjamin Davis, described a s
“black or mulatto” from New Utrecht also in upstate New York. Sojourner Truth was born
Isabella Baumfree in upstate Ulster County. In 1800, there were nearly 16,000 slaves in
New York State. All three are signed by Peter Mesier, clerk and merchant.
25
26
I...,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24 26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,...310