American Historical Ephemera & Photography, including African Americana

SAUNDERS, Orris Bucanan. ALS "O. B. Saunders" to John Slater of New Kent Co., VA. Buchanan County, MO, 1 January 1849.

2 pages, on bifolium. Address panel on terminal leaf.

Saunders addresses Slater as "Bro. Slater," likely because it appears from later context that Slater has married Saunders's sister. He begins by letting Slater know that he has sold an enslaved person apparently owned by Slater, named Burwell. He writes, "Now my Brother I have done the best I could for you. I sold Burwell before Seldon left for $650.00 and promised to give a good legal Bill of Sale for said Boy, but after receiving your letter, stating that men was [sic] sellin [sic] from 7 to 800 Dollars I made him pay $700 though he thought very hard of it..." He then requests that Slater send a bill of sale to Elisha and Zat[?] Todd, along with a guarantee and a statement as to Burwell's "soundness."

Saunders deals with additional financial matters before turning to his social life. He writes, "Myself James and Orvis expect to be iniciated [sic] in the order of the Sons of Temperance next Tuesday night at St. Joseph and oh may we all live worthy of profession you spoke of the reform in your county go on, I say go on, and soon the star of ricteousness [sic] will arise with splendor on our world and nations shall bless us..."

He ends the letter by sending love to many in Slater's vicinity, including "to all the children and servants," and a somewhat strange request that Slater will excuse the "blunders and bad spelling and let it not be exposed to publick [sic] inspecttion [sic] by my enemies..."

The Sons of Temperance was a fraternal group with a mutual aid component. The group advocated for abstinence and temperance, and also provided assistance for its members, including disability benefits. It was begun in 1842 in New York City, and spread from there. As the Sons gained in popularity, the group became known as a secret society, with passwords, grips, handshakes, and rituals of initiation and ceremony. The steps to join included a nomination, an investigation into one's life and character, and a secret ballot vote.

Orris Buchanan Saunders (1799-1851) was born in Charles City, Virginia and spent many years in that state, being married and having children in New Kent, before eventually moving to and purchasing land in Missouri. His sister, Fluvanna Saunders (1803-1877), was married to John Slater in 1820. John Slater (1795-1864), was listed as a farmer in the 1850 Federal Census, and owned more than 20 enslaved persons by 1860.