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21

LUNENBURG, VIRGINIA.

Account of the sales of the estate of James

Buford, listing six slaves along with cattle, furniture etc.

Large folio sheet, folded to

form four tall 4to pages, written on three sides.

[Lunenburg?], 1797

[600/900]

A detailed and complex auction of all of the worldly goods of James Buford. The first six items

in the sale were Buford’s slaves, Tell, Sall, Kenner, Isaac, Sirius and Liddie. Bird Buford bought

Tell, the first and most expensive of the six slaves, and Isaac, another of the most expensive.

Other members of the Buford family bought cattle, etc. This type of public sale was usually the

result of heavy debt or the lack of a last will and testament.

22

NORTHWEST TERRITORY [OHIO.]

Partially printed document, accom-

plished by hand, wherein Dinah, a Free Negro sues Robert Worthington for $50

for “trespass vi et armis.”

Single long folio leaf, creases where folded; archival paper

repair to one of the folds; docketed on the reverse; paper lightly and evenly toned. Signed

by the court “Prothonotory,” Edw. Tiffin; red wax seal.

U.S. Territory, 30 June, 1800

[1,000/1,500]

A RARE INSTANCE WHEREIN A FREE BLACK WOMEN SUES FOR TRESPASS AND FALSE

IMPRISONMENT

,

IN A U

.

S

.

TERRITORY THAT WOULD SOON BECOME OHIO

.

“Trespass vi

et armis,” as stated here on the document, was a kind of lawsuit at common law called a tort.

The cause of action alleged a trespass upon person or property vi et armis, Latin for “by force.”

Mr. Worthington probably entered her home and tried to seize Dinah in order to sell her. An

ink abbreviation at the docket, “Cepi Corpus” is an indication from the sheriff that he has

made the arrest. The first time we have ever had such a document.

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