1820-09-10 Sale / Promise to Manumit: Fanny Pursue
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-01837
- Source
-
Quitclaim deed for Fanny Pursue, sold by the English family to Rowland Jones, with intent to manumit
-
Quitclaim deed for Fanny Pursue, sold by the English family to Rowland Jones, with intent to manumit. Archival location: Burlington County Historical Society. Allinson Collection (MSS 9). Box 2, Folder 2: Joseph English.
- Event Description
-
Fanny Pursue, a 21-year-old black woman, was sold in Burlington, New Jersey, in the fall of 1820, to Rowland Jones for the nominal price of 50 cents with the explicit agreement that Rowland Jones would manumit her as soon as practicable. The sellers were a group of siblings—children of Mercy English. The sale documents indicate that Mercy English was Fanny Pursue's owner before Mercy English died, and Mercy's children inherited Fanny. The following group of siblings and in-laws signed the bill of sale on September 10, 1820: Joseph English, John English, Amy West née English and her husband George West, Sarah Ellet née English and her husband John Ellet. Subsequently, their brother Elisha N. English signed a separate bill of sale on December 15, 1820, to release his portion of the claim to Fanny Pursue's services. Both documents mentioned the price of 50 cents, and it is not entirely clear whether the full price Rowland Jones paid for Fanny Pursue's freedom was 50 cents or whether different siblings each collected 50 cents. In either case, the price can be considered nominal.
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Transcript of the source document:
"Know all Men by these Presents that we
Joseph English John English George West and
Amy his Wife late Amy English John Ellet and
Sarah his Wife late Sarah English do for the
Consideration that Rowland Jones shall well
and truly and as speedily as he can effect the
same Emancipate Manumit and set free our
Slave Fanney Pursue as well also as for the
sum of Fifty cents to us paid or secured to be
paid have and do bargain and sell unto the
said Rowland Jones of the City of Burlington
his Executors Administrators & Assigns all
our right title Interest Property Claim and
Demand whatever in and to the said Fanny
Pursue a Colourd Woman aged twenty one
Years of Age. The said Fanny having been brought
up and resided with our Mother Mercy English
until the time of her Decease. To have and
to hold the said Fanny Pursue to him the Said Rowland
Jones his Executors Administrators & Assigns
until the said Manumission shall be
effected as aforesaid and not for his own private
emolument or advantage in anywise whatsoever
And we do hereby for ourselves our Heirs Exrs
& Administrators remise release & forever quit Claim
all our right & Interest in the Said Colourd Woman
Named Fanny Pursue above described or to any services
to be performed by her. In Witness whereof
we have hereunto set our Hands & Seals this tenth Day
of the Ninth Month Anno Domini 1820—
Joseph English
John English
George West
Amy West
John Ellet
Sarah E Ellet
Sealed & Delivered }
in the Presence of }
Wm Allinson
Robert Thomas
Whereas I, Elisha N. English brother to the within named Joseph and
John English, and Amy West & Sarah Ellet, have and hold a right & Claim
to the personal Services of Fanny Pursue, the coloured woman within named, aged
twenty one years, similar to the right and claim which my said brothers & Sisters
have by the within Bill of Sale disposed of and relinquished to Rowland Jones of
the City of Burlington, for the purposes in the Bill of Sale expressed — I do therefore
in cooperation with them, and in order to effect through Rowland Jones the manumission
of the said Fanny Pursue, and for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty
cents to me paid, the receipt whereof I acknowledge — Have and do grant, bargain
and sell unto the said Rowland Jones his executors, administrators, and assigns, all
my right, title, interest, property, claim and demand in and to the person and Services
of the within said named Fanny Pursue, To hold to him the said Rowland Jones,
his executors, administrators and assigns, the said Fanny Pursue, untill he shall be
able to emancipate, manumit and set free in a legal manner, and not for his own
benefit and emolument in any wise howsoever — And I do hereby, for myself, my
heirs, executors & administrators, remise, release and forever quit claim all my right and
claim whatsoever to the Person and Services of the said Fanny Pursue — In witness
whereof I have hereunto set my hand: and Seal this Fifteenth day of december
A.D. 1820.
Elisha N. English [seal]
Witnesses Present—
Omer Jackson
John W Brown
[verso]
Bill of Sale
Fanny Pursue
a col Woman
1820" - Event Type
- Sale
- Promise to Manumit
- Date
- September 10, 1820 – December 15, 1820
- Location of Event
- Burlington
- Primary Participants
-
Fanny Pursue (b. ca. 1799)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04768
Role: Sold Person
Age: 21
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Mercy English (1752-1820)
Verbatim description from source:
"Fanny Pursue a Colourd Woman aged twenty one Years of Age. The said Fanny having been brought up and resided with our Mother Mercy English until the time of her Decease." - Additional Participants
-
Mercy English (1752-1820)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04769
Role: Enslaver, DeceasedRowland Jones (1778-1867)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04781
Role: BuyerJoseph English
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04770
Role: SellerJohn English
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04771
Role: SellerAmy English West
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04773
Role: SellerGeorge West
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04775
Role: SellerSarah English Ellet
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04774
Role: SellerJohn Ellet
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04776
Role: SellerElisha N. English
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04772
Role: Seller - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker