Bill of sale for Mark for $20 until he turns 25

Bill of sale for Mark for $20 until he turns 25

James Neilson (1784-1862) sells a black man named Mark to Abraham Veghte for a term of five years for $20. Mark is a 20-year-old slave for a term, and he will serve his new master until he reaches age 25 in the year 1843. Mark will then attain the legal age of manumission per New Jersey law.

[Mark was the son of Ambo and Mark Harris, born in 1818. See related birth record for Mark. Mark's first master, John Neilson (1745-1833), died when Mark was 15 years old, and Mark became the property of John Neilson's son James Neilson (1784-1862).]

1838-12-16

English

Know all men by these presents that I James
Neilson of the county of Middlesex and State of New
Jersey have and by these presents do grant bargain
& sell and transfer unto Abraham Veghte of the
county of Somerset and state aforesaid all right
with and intrust in and to the services of a certain
Negro servant named Mark for and until he arrives
at the age of twenty five years which will be in
the month of July A. D. 1843 & I hereby covenant in
consideration of Twenty dollars to me in hand paid
by the said Abraham as the price of the said bargain
sale & transfer that I have full right to transfer &
sell the service of said servant for the price aforesaid
& I hereby put the said Abraham in possession of
said services by delivery to him
And the said Abraham hereby covenants
& agrees to & with the said terms that he
will indemnify & save harmless the said James from
all cash & charges that may arise if at any time
hereafter the said Mark shall become chargeable
In without whereof we have hereunto set
our hands & seals this 16th day of Dec. 1838
Witness present -
A.S. Neilson

James Neilson
Abrm Veghte

Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries

Neilson Family Papers, 1768-1908 (MC 933)

Box 4, Folder 45: J & J Neilson - Papers relating to purchase of slaves