1791-11-21 Sale / Promise to Manumit: Tubel Leake

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01969
Source
Sale agreement and payment receipts: Jack Leake purchases the freedom of his sons, Tubel and George, from the Leake family

Sale agreement and payment receipts: Jack Leake purchases the freedom of his sons, Tubel and George, from the Leake family. Archival location: Cumberland County Historical Society. Archive File L5.1.
Event Description
On 21 November 1791, a recently liberated Black man named Jack Leake signed an agreement to buy the freedom of his son Tubel from the white Leake family of Deerfield, Cumberland County. The document refers to Tubel as a "black boy," but his age is not listed. Note that this agreement refers to Jack and Tubel by first name only, but other documents that mention Jack indicate that he and his Black family took on the last name Leake.

Jack had been previously enslaved by Nathan Leake and his wife, Hannah Fithian Leake. Jack had been set at liberty by Nathan's will when Nathan died in 1790. Jack then proceeded to buy the freedom of his family members, starting with Tubel. Jack signed the purchase agreement with Hannah Fithian Leake (Nathan Leake's widow) and David Leake (Nathan Leake's son), who were the executors for the estate of Nathan Leake. Witnesses to the agreement were Levi Leake and Joseph Reeves.

Jack agreed to pay 20 pounds total for Tubel's freedom. On the day of the original agreement, 21 November 1791, Jack paid a portion of the price: 11 pounds 7 shillings and 6 pence. The agreement stipulated that Tubel would go to live with Jack immediately, and Jack would be financially responsible for supporting Tubel going forward. The remainder of the freedom purchase price would be due within twelve months.

On 18 April 1793, Jack obtained a receipt showing that he paid the remaining portion of the purchase price: 8 pounds 12 shillings and 6 pence, making 20 pounds in total paid to the Leake estate. The receipt was signed by Hannah Fithian Leake and David Leake, with Levi Leake and Aaron Leake acting as witnesses.

A note at the bottom of the document indicated that it was given to Levi Leake for safekeeping.

See also the related sale event for Jack's son George.

Transcript of the source document:

"November, the, 21 – 1791. This article witnesseth Hannah Leake exetrix & David Leake exe'tor of the last will and testament of Nathan Leake, Esq. Dec'd. Witness that we had sold to Jack, formerly the slave of Nathan Leake, Esq. Dec'd, a black boy nam'd Tubel the son of s'd Jack for the consideration of twenty pounds gold or silver money the receit of eleven pounds seven shillings & six pence we do hereby acknowledge and the remainder of the above s'd Twenty pounds viz– eight pounds twelve shillings & six pence he the above s'd Jack doth Covenant & Agree to pay in twelve months from the date of this article. But if the above s'd Jack shall chose to return the boy viz Tubel to the above s'd Hannah Leake, David Leake or their heirs, executors or administrators then the above s’d Hannah Leake and David Leake doth covenant and agree to return the above sum of eleven pounds seven shillings & six pence to the above s’d Jack, or his heirs & also pay and allow lawful interest for the same & to release to him the payment of the remainder of the Twenty pounds. But if the above s’d Jack shall chose to keep the s’d Boy & shall well and truly pay the remainder of the above s’d Twenty pounds viz eight pounds twelve shillings & six pence at the expiration of the s’d term of time viz in twelve months then the s’d Hannah Leake & David Leake Doth bind themselves their heirs executors & administrators to make unto the above s’d Jack or his heirs executors or administrators a good & sufficient Bill of Sale for the above s’d Boy viz Tubel & the s’d Jack Doth covenant & agree to keep the s’d boy at his own expense for the above s’d twelve months. But if the s’d Jack or his heirs executors or administrators should fail to pay the eight pounds twelve shillings & six pence then the s’d Boy Tubel is to be returned to the above s’d Hannah Leake & David Leake to them their heirs or executors or administrators & the above s’d sum of eleven pounds seven shillings & six pence is to be returned to the s’d Jack his heirs executors or administrators with lawfull interest for the same.

In witness whereof the parties have set their hands & affixed their seals the Day and year above written.
Hannah Leake [seal]
Jack ~ his mark [seal]

Witness
Levi Leake
Joseph Reeves


Received the 18th Day of April 1793 of the within named Jack eight pounds twelve shillings and six pence, lawful money of the State of New Jersey in full of the purchase money of the within named Tubel. We say received by our hands and seals.

In Witness
Hannah Leake [seal]
David Leake [seal]

Witnesses,
Aaron Leake
Levi Leake"
Event Type
Sale
Promise to Manumit
Keywords
Freedom purchase
Date
November 21, 1791 – April 18, 1793
Location of Event
Deerfield
Preceding Event
1790-12-20 Will (of Nathan Leake): Jack Leake
Following Event
1793-04-18 Sale / Manumission: George Leake
1799-06-14 Manumission: Hannah Leake
1810-06-27 Term Indenture / Promise to Manumit: John Leake
1814-03-21 Term Indenture: Thomas Leake
Primary Participants

Jack Leake
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04423
Role: Buyer
Age category: Adult
Status: Free
Verbatim description from source:
"Jack, formerly the slave of Nathan Leake, Esq. Dec'd"

Tubel Leake
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04426
Role: Sold Person
Age category: Child
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Hannah Fithian Leake (1742-1824)
- David Leake (1764-1804)
Verbatim description from source:
"black boy nam'd Tubel the son of s'd Jack"
Additional Participants

Hannah Fithian Leake (1742-1824)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04421
Role: Enslaver, Seller

David Leake (1764-1804)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04422
Role: Enslaver, Seller

Nathan Leake (1728-1790)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04424
Role: Former Enslaver Mentioned
Comment: deceased

Levi Leake
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05474
Role: Witness

Joseph Reeves
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05475
Role: Witness

Aaron Leake
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05476
Role: Witness
Record Contributor
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event