Handwritten legal document, 7.75 x 12, Lawrence County, Alabama, outlining conditions for "the hire of two negro women," dated February 16, 1840. In August of 1619, slavery was first introduced in Jamestown, one year before the Pilgrims landed. The practice grew at a rampant rate throughout the agricultural South, and the status of "slave" quickly became legally recognized. It would take over 200 years of bloody revolts, legal acts and finally, the Civil War, until the Thirteenth Amendment was passed in 1865, officially abolishing slavery and acts of involuntary servitude. In this document, a different kind of transaction is being outlined: "We command you to take the bodies of" four listed men to "safely keep, so that you have their bodies before the Judge of our next Circuit Court, to be holden for said County, at the Court-House in the town of Moulton on the third Monday in March next to answer George ORagland in a plea of Breach of covenant to the plaintiffs damage Four Hundred dollars...," signed at the conclusion by Teste, John M Jackson, Clerk. Penned on verso: "One hundred and eighty three dollars for the hire of two negro women viz Critty andamp; Judy in that year and also to furnish said negroes each with two comfortable suits of clothes to wit one suit of summer clothing andamp; one of winter clothing woolen also a blanket each...," signed at the conclusion by Wm. Caaper. Includes additional lengthy notes and some calculations, and signifies, "Recorded in Book W. Page 238." In good condition, with three horizontal mailing folds, a small hole and a two small separations along the topmost fold, scattered tearing along the edges and wrinkling towards the bottom half, uniform toning with scattered areas of discoloration, and mild show-through from ink on verso.

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