African Americana

2pp, 7 15/16 x 12 5/8 in. (creasing at folds, pencil notations, light soil, possible rubbing or scraping to paper at first instance of "Thornton Kendall" as well as on "Thorton Ken--- on verso). 

A land indenture document "made the First day of September one thousand eight hundred and forty six between Gerrit Smith, of Peterboro, State of New York, of the first part, and Thornton Kendall of Newburgh, Orange County, State aforesaid, of the second part" transferring a 42-acre parcel of land in Essex County, New York, from Smith to Kendall for the sum of one dollar. Document is signed ("Gerrit Smith") and sealed by Smith. His signature is to the right of the name "'Thornton Kendall'" which appears to have been written in Smith's distinctive hand. Verso with a partly printed statement signed by "E. Holmes Judge Co. Courts / & Counsellor [sic] Sup. Court" verifying that Gerrit Smith had executed the within deed. "Thornton Kendall" appears again below the judge's statement.

Wealthy New York native Gerrit Smith was a social reformer, politician, philanthropist, and one of the most prominent figures in the abolitionist movement. He utilized his family's vast wealth to promote his progressive causes including acting as a financial backer to John Brown. Smith also embarked upon a massive effort to distribute his land to African Americans throughout New York state, possibly so that these freedmen would own at least $250 worth of property which would be enough to entitle them to vote under New York state law. In 1846, Smith transferred land from his family's extensive holdings in the Adirondacks to Thorton Kendall, and thousands of other African Americans and poor whites. "Thonton Kendell" is listed in the Receipt Book of Land Grants issued in 1846 from Gerrit Smith, held at the New York State Archives. As indicated on the indenture offered here, the receipt book identifies the parcel granted to Kendall as being 42 acres in Essex County, Township 12, part of Richard's Survey of the Old Military Tract. Thornton and his family can later be located in the 1850 US Federal Census which identifies "Thornton Kendall" as a 45-year old "mulatto" born in the District of Columbia and residing in Newburgh, Orange County, New York.

It is unclear why the name "Thornton Kendall" appears rubbed and potentially altered in the first instance, however, the second instance of the name alongside Gerrit Smith's signature appears to be in an unaltered state. "Thornton Kendall" on verso bears the similar indications of rubbing in part, but the letters "-dall" do appear unaltered. Given the addition of the name "Thornton Kendall" alongside Smith's signature - an addition not present on the sole 1 September 1846 indenture we located at the National Museum of African American History and Culture - we believe this document was originally intended for Kendall. Even with the alterations, this remains a scarce piece of African American historical ephemera.

RARE. The National Museum of African American History and Culture holds a similar indenture transferring land from Smith to "John Bics." The Gerrit Smith Papers held at the Special Collections Research Center of Syracuse University contain blank indenture forms made out in the name of Gerrit Smith. In 1990, M&S Rare Books offered a signed Smith land indenture dated 1837, but this transfer was not associated with the land grants later made by Smith to African Americans in the state of New York.