Bill of Sale for Enslaved Girl Edny from J. Vanderveer to Mr. Ellison
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Not requestable
Scope and Content
The Bill of Sale for Enslaved Girl Edny from J. Vanderveer to Mr. Ellison, dated July 1, 1858, is a handwritten receipt documenting the sale of Edny, a sixteen-year-old enslaved girl, by J. Vanderveer to a Mr. Ellison. Edny’s monetary value is documented as $550.00; payments were made to Vanderveer in five installments. The note details a guarantee of Edny’s health, namely her eyesight.
Dates
- Creation: 1858 July 1
Creator
- Vanderveer, J. (Person)
Access Restrictions
Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Bio/Historical Note
The document, dated July 1, 1858, describes Edny simply as a “Negro Girl…aged about sixteen years.” As such, Edny was likely born into slavery at or around 1842. Her monetary value, as established by enslaver J. Vanderveer, was $550.00. As this bill of sale documents, Edny was then sold to a Mr. Ellison. No further information is available about Edny or her enslavers.
Extent
0.08 cubic feet (1 legal folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Bill of Sale for Enslaved Girl Edny from J. Vanderveer to Mr. Ellison, July 1, 1858, consists of a single hand-written receipt documenting the monetary value and sale of an enslaved girl by enslaver J. Vanderveer to a Mr. Ellison.
Arrangement
One document housed in a legal folder.
Acquisition Information
James Madison University Special Collections Library acquired this document at auction from Cohasco, Inc in January 2016.
- Title
- A Guide to the Bill of Sale for Enslaved Girl Edny from J. Vanderveer to Mr. Ellison, July 1, 1858
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Dillon Thomas
- Date
- October 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2020-06-02: Language/collection title concerning slavery and centering Edny was updated.
- 2020-10-08: Further updated to reflect decolonial language as well as identify enslavers and enslaved person in collection and folder title.
Repository Details
Part of the James Madison University Libraries Special Collections Repository
820 Madison Drive
MSC 1706
Harrisonburg Virginia 22807
(540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu