Enslaved Boy Bill of Sale

Details

Descriptive Terms

bills of sale
ink
paper (fiber product)
Record, Sales
Bill of Sale
Bill of Sale

Label

This bill of sale concerns a boy named Mink, who was enslaved in Albany, New York, by Jacob DeFreest (1737-1804). DeFreest's death prompted his son and son-in-law, William and David, to handle the dispersal of his estate, which included the sale of "a Negro boy named Mink aged twelve years" to Derrick I. Venderheyden (1759-1821) of Troy, New York. Per the terms of the sale, Venderheyden was "to have and to hold" Mink for fourteen years, and that Venderheyden and his heirs would "[warrant] and [defend]" Mink "from all persons or Towns" while he was in their household. The sale is signed and witnessed on May 18, 1804.

This was standard language used in legal documents pertaining to the sale of enslaved men and women of color in the early nineteenth-century Northeast. New York's Gradual Emancipation Law of 1799 freed children in born in the state after July 4, 1799, but only when women reached the age of twenty-five and men, twenty-eight. Those born before 1799 were redefined as indentured servants, but with no pre-determined end to their indenture.

Born in 1792, Mink's legal status had shifted from enslaved youth to indentured servant when he was sold to Venderheyden; yet, by the terms of the Gradual Emancipation Law, he would have effectively remained enslaved by the Venderheyden family for the rest of his life. By stipulating that Mink would stay with Venderheyden and his heirs until he turned twenty-six, the DeFreest family did what they could to ensure that Mink would eventually be emancipated.

Unfortunately, this took longer than anticipated. Venderheyden's probate inventory in 1821 specifically references his "negro man" Mink, and transferred ownership of Mink to wife Rachel, adding a codicil to bequeath the enslaved man to their son, John. Mink was emancipated between 1820 and 1830, when he appears in the census independent of the Vanderheyden family. By that time, the New York Legislature had updated its Gradual Emancipation Law to guarantee the total abolition of slavery by 1827. New York State census records in the ensuing years refer to free men of color named Mink, including a "Minky Jackson," but Historic New England lacks conclusive proof of Mink's whereabouts after his emancipation.

There is no documentation indicating why Henry Davis Sleeper owned this piece and whether he procured it himself or it was given to him as a gift. It is one of the only framed historical documents in his collection at Beauport that is matted with information contextualizing the document. The lettering was done by Christopher J. Kroger of Troy, NY in 1889, 85 years after the original bill was written and 26 years after Mink's death. It is unknown why this information was later added. Also of note is that Mink's death date is listed quite prominently and listed with a non-existent date of November 31st, 1863. These anomalies raise a multitude of questions and interpretations. The prominent death date could have been used as a reminder that Mink was a real living and breathing person and the bill of sale a contemplative reminder as to the dehumanizing horrors of slavery. It could have been displayed as a conversation piece or kitsch connected to the non-existent November 31st label. It could also be based on subtle or casual racism and a bill of sale for an enslaved person something interesting to collect along with the "Noble Chief" and "Mammy" iconography that are displayed in the rest of the house. Regardless, this piece presents interesting challenges because there is a wide spectrum of potential interpretations with no clear answer.

Associated Person

DeFreest, Jacob
Defreest, William
Venderheyden, Derrick I.

Associated Building

Original to Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House (Gloucester, Mass.),

People and Organizations

Mink

DeFreest, Jacob
Defreest, William
Venderheyden, Derrick I.

Maker

Unknown

Dimensions

19 1/8 x 15 1/8 x 5/8 (HxWxD) (inches)

Credit Line

Gift of Constance McCann Betts, Helena Woolworth Guest and Frasier W. McCann

Accession Number

1942.4121

Places

New York state (United States)