1793-04-18 Sale / Manumission: George Leake
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-01970
- Source
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Sale agreement and payment receipts: Jack Leake purchases the freedom of his sons, Tubel and George, from the Leake family
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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 18 April 1793, a Black man named Jack obtained a receipt showing that he made the final payment to purchase the freedom of his son George from the white Leake family of Deerfield, Cumberland County. The amount paid on that day was 8 pounds 13 shillings and 7 pence. The receipt was signed by widow Hannah Fithian Leake and her son 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.
George's father, 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.
The original purchase agreement for George has not been found, but this receipt for his final payment was issued at the same time as the receipt for George's brother Tubel, and these receipts were attached to Tubel's full purchase agreement. Tubel's purchase agreement began on 21 November 1791 and stipulated that the price for Tubel would be 20 pounds to be paid in several installments. It can be inferred that arrangements for George's freedom would have been similar. See the related event for Tubel for more information about the purchase agreement.
Transcript of the source document:
"Also received the said 18th day of April 1793 of the above named Jack, eight pounds thirteen shillings and seven pence, lawful money of the State of New Jersey in gold & silver coins in full all Demands for the manumission, free and entire Liberty of George, the son of the said Jack from the date hereof.
In Witness whereof we have set our Hands and Seals.
Hannah Leake [seal]
David Leake [seal]
Witnesses,
Levi Leake
Aaron Leake
This Article is Committed to the care of Levi Leake" - Event Type
- Sale
- Manumission
- Keywords
- Freedom purchase
- Date
- April 18, 1793
- Location of Event
- Deerfield
- Preceding Event
- 1790-12-20 Will (of Nathan Leake): Jack Leake
- 1791-11-21 Sale / Promise to Manumit: Tubel Leake
- Following Event
- 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
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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"George Leake
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04427
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:
"George, the son of the said Jack" - Additional Participants
-
Hannah Fithian Leake (1742-1824)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04421
Role: Enslaver, SellerDavid Leake (1764-1804)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04422
Role: Enslaver, SellerNathan Leake (1728-1790)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04424
Role: Former Enslaver Mentioned
Comment: deceasedLevi Leake
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05474
Role: WitnessAaron Leake
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05476
Role: Witness - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker