Historic Slave Lease Agreement. This item is over 158 years old. This is the first time we have seen a slave lease agreement and believe this to be quite rare. The document reads as follows: On or befoire the 25th December 1851, We or either of us promis to pay or cause to be paid to the esicutors (executors) of Chas. T. Harris Dec'd or agent the full sum of Seventy dollars current money it being for the hire of thier negros Patsy, Mary and Fredrick from the 1st January 1851 till the 25 December 1851. We further bind ourselves to furnish Patsy three suits of clothes, two summer and one winter the _________ of the latter to be of yarn cloth + all of good material + in due time, one good blanket, bonnet, stockings, two pair of good shoes. Mary + Fredrick to have two suits of good clothes one winter the other summer one pair of good shoes Each, cap + bonnet + blanket for Many one pair of socks for each. We further promis to treat said slaves humanely during time of hire + retrun them to said esicutors (or agent) on the 25 Dec, 1851. As witness our hands and seals this 1851 J.B. Hall - Seal Nathan Vestal - Seal
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