Correspondence, 1811-1826

Containers:

Box 1

Scope and content:

Includes eleven bills of sale for enslaved people: • George, 22 or 23, and Sam, about 7: From Harrison and Francis Hicks of Giles County, TN, to Clement Comer Clay of Huntsville, AL, for "one negro man, slave, of black complexion, twenty two or three years old, named George, and also one negro boy, slave, of dark complexion, about seven years old named Sam." For $1250. 1818 March 12. • Isaac, about 12: From Edmund Hardy and Fortundaus (?) S. Cook to Comer Clay, for one enslaved boy, "of black complexion, about twelve years old, named Isaac." For $700. 1818 June 08 • Dick, about 26: From Arthur F. Hopkins to Clement Comer Clay, for "a certain negro man, named Dick, about twenty six years old". For $900. 1819 June 01 • Hampton, about 13: From J. Willis Pope (?) of Hunstville, AL, to Clement C. Clay, for "a certain negro boy, about thirteen years old, of a yellowish complexion, named Hampton" for $500. 1820 March 03 • Dedun, about 15: From Colin Bishop of Madison County, AL, to Clement C. Clay for "a negro boy, named Dedun, of dark complexion, about fifteen years old." For $500. 1821 November 25 • Davy: Letter from C. Bishop in Huntsville, AL, to his father Wyatt Bishop, agreeing to sell "his man Davy" to "Judge Clay" for $500; says to tell Davy he won't be far from his wife. 1822 January 01. Wyatt Bishop added note on reverse affirming receipt of payment from a C.C. Clay • Treasy/Crecy, 30 or 31, and her children Jacob, 13, Aimy, 7, and Joe, 7 or 8 months: From William F. Withers to Clement C. Clay for "Treasy alias Crecy" "a negro woman of black complexion" age 30-31; Jacob "yellow" 13; Aimy, 7; Joe, 7-8 months old. For $1200. 1822 August 07. • Jacob, about 22: From William Clay, Jr to Clement C. Clay, for one enslaved man "Jacob, about twenty two years of age, and of a dark complexion." 1823 July 15 • Minerva, 30, and her son Stephen, about 1 year, and Celia, 32, and her son Abraham, 1 year: From John Grayson, Madison County, AL, to Clement C. Clay. For $794. 1825 January 24. • Garland, 19: From John Taylor and Jesse Mundy of Amherst County, VA, to Clement C. Clay, for a 19 year old man Garland, "black complexion." For $600. 1825 October 08. • Nanny, 38, and her children Nancy, 7, Jackson, 4, and Sampson, 2: From William F. Withers of Lauderdale County, AL, to Clement C. Clay, for Nanny about 38; and her three children, Nancy age 7, Jackson age 4 and Sampson age 2. For $1000. 1826 September 02.

Letters between family members also reference individual enslaved persons, particularly multiple letters from William Clay to his son Clement Comer Clay in 1823-1824 regarding someone named Cynthia requesting C.C. Clay send Crecy to her, and how this travel might take place. Also includes a letter to C.C. Clay from a George Mas(son?), 1818 July 05, regarding the likelihood of purchasing enslaved people and where it can best be accomplished.

Also includes other letters from and to C.C. Clay, Sr., regarding court business; letters from William Clay regarding court business, running of plantations, and hiring of and other matters related to enslaved people; and other family and professional letters.

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