[ENSLAVEMENT]. Pair of letters from N. Henry R. DAWSON to his uncle regarding slaves. 1850.

DAWSON, N. Henry R. ALS to his uncle John H. Dawson, Esq. of New Orleans. Carlowville, [AL], 1 January 1850.

3 pages, on bifolium, 6 3/4 x 8 7/8 in. Address panel on terminal leaf.

Dawson discusses finances with his uncle, including the status of some family-owned slaves. In part: "I have hired out our negroes at $75 round[?], men & women, including their infants. The carpenters are also hired. Richard to Mr. Rimple for the year at $250. George for a time, at $25 per month. The whole amt of hire will be near upon $1200.00. This will be enough to pay the expenses of the family & have a balance for other purposes. I have noticed what you say about the prices of negroes & your opinion about my disposal of them. I have concluded not to sell Martha & her two daughters, I was offered $1100 cash. In the opinions of good advisers, this is too little, so I have hired them out. I hope however to sell Gunner & family - wife, & two children if I can at a reasonably fair price and apply the proceeds to the payment of Uncle Octavius' mortgage."

DAWSON, N. Henry R. ALS to the same recipient. Cahawba, [AL], 20 February 1850.

3 pages, on bifolium, 6 3/4 x 8 7/8 in. Address panel on terminal leaf.

Dawson discusses business and finances in this letter as well, with a brief mention of the death of an enslaved man named Pompey: "I heard from home today - all were well. Mr. Smith's Pompey is dead - he died in Mobile."

He then reports on the status of some legal cases. In part: "Only one of our cases (Memphis Walsh & Co) was tried - and it gives me much pleasure to inform you that, the decisions of the Chancellor is in our favor. The same principle of Law will apply to the other cases, and I hope that at the term of the Court in June, we will be freed from further litigation. Then for a new start in Arkansas."

Nathaniel Henry Rhodes Dawson (1829-1895) was a lawyer and politician who served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, and was appointed the third US Commissioner of Education, serving under Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison from 1886-1889.

Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Ephemeral Americana and Historical Documents

Both letters creased along folds, with some losses due to clipping along right edge of integral leaf. Occasional spots and stains throughout.

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American Historical Ephemera & Photography, including African Americana

[ENSLAVEMENT]. Pair of letters from N. Henry R. DAWSON to his uncle regarding slaves. 1850.

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