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 3TIMATES OF THE VALUE 
 OF SLAVES, 1815 
 
 REPRINTED FROM THE 
 
 VOL. XIX., NO. 4 ' JULY, 1914 
 
 V 
 
\ 
 
[Reprinted from The American Historical Review Vol. XIX., No. 4, July, 1914.] 
 
 DOCUMENTS 
 
 Estimates of the Value of Slaves, 18 15 
 
 Systematic exhibits of prices of slaves, in books readily acces- 
 sible, are not too common. Students of the economics of slavery 
 may, therefore, have use for the following documents. They are 
 derived from the papers of the arbitration commission under Article 
 I. of the treaty of Ghent, preserved in the Bureau of Rolls and 
 Library in the Department of State in Washington. 
 
 During the War of 1812 the naval and land forces of Great Britain 
 came into possession of a considerable number of slaves, in some 
 cases captured in predatory excursions, in other cases voluntary 
 fugitives or slaves encouraged into flight by British action, such as 
 Admiral Cochrane's proclamation of April 2, 1814.^ 
 
 Article I. of the treaty of Ghent provided that : " All territory, 
 places and possessions whatsoever, taken by either party from the 
 other during the war, or which may be taken after the signing of 
 this treaty, excepting only the islands hereinafter mentioned, shall 
 be restored without delay, and without causing any destruction or 
 carrying away any of the artillery or other public property originally 
 captured in the said forts or places, and which shall remain therein 
 upon the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty, or any slaves 
 or other private property." Valiant efforts were made by the 
 British government to maintain that the limitation expressed by the 
 words "originally captured in the said forts or places, and which 
 shall remain therein upon the exchange of the ratifications of this 
 treaty ", applied quite as much to " any slaves or other private prop- 
 erty" as to "any of the artillery or other public property". But 
 the position was maintained with difficulty, especially as it was 
 matter of record that in the conferences at Ghent the limiting clause 
 had been, presumably not without significant reason, transferred 
 from the end of the sentence to the position it finally held in the 
 treaty; and the Emperor Alexander, chosen arbitrator under the 
 provisions of the convention of 1818, had (1822) no difficultv in 
 deciding the grammatical question in favor of the United States. 
 The convention of 1822, concluded in pursuance of this arbitra- 
 
 1 N lies' Register, VI. 242. 
 
 (813) 
 
8 1 4 Documents 
 
 tion and award, provided for two processes of settlement of the 
 compensation to be paid by Great Britain: first, the ascertainment 
 of an average value to be allowed as compensation for each slave 
 for which indemnification might be due; secondly, the examination 
 of individual claims. The convention (Art. II.) provided that each 
 government should for these double purposes appoint one com- 
 missioner and one arbitrator. For the first-named purpose the four, 
 sitting as a board, were conjointly " to examine the testimony which 
 shall be produced under the authority of the President of the United 
 States, together with such other competent testimony as they may 
 see cause to require or allow, going to prove the true value of slaves 
 at the period of the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty of 
 Ghent ", and upon the evidence so obtained to '' agree upon and fix 
 the average value ". With the provision for the determination of 
 individual cases we are not now concerned ; after hopeless disagree- 
 ment Great Britain in 1827 substituted the payment of a lump sum.^ 
 The board of commissioners and arbitrators for ascertaining 
 the average value of the slaves began its meetings in Washington on 
 August 25, 1823. As commissioner on the part of the United 
 States, President Alonroe had appointed Langdon Cheves, one of 
 the foremost public men of South Carolina, who in 1814-1815 had 
 been speaker of the federal House of Representatives, but was at 
 this time resident in Philadelphia, where he had till lately been 
 president of the United States Bank ; as arbitrator, Henry Seawell 
 of North Carolina, formerly a justice of the superior court of that 
 state. On the part of Great Britain, the commissioner was George 
 Jackson, brother of Francis James Jackson ("Copenhagen Jack- 
 son"), the arbitrator John McTavish. James Baker was chosen 
 as secretary, Charles IManly of North Carolina (afterward gover- 
 nor of that state) clerk. The President's son-in-law, George Hay, 
 was made agent for the United States. On August 29, 1823, imme- 
 diately after the first session of the board, the chief clerk of the De- 
 partment of State,"''Daniel Brent, wrote to the attorneys of the 
 United States for the districts of Maryland, Virginia, North Caro- 
 lina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, East Tennessee, West 
 Tennessee, Louis4ana, Mississippi, and Alabama a circular letter 
 asking their aid in collecting material as to the average value of 
 slaves in 1815, and enclosed the following extract from a letter of 
 Hay to the Secretary of State, dated Washington, August 28, 1823 : 
 
 2 The history of all the proceedings pursuant upon the difference as to Art. 
 I. of the treaty of Ghent is related in Moore's International Arbitrations, I. 
 350-390. 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves, 1815 8 1 5 
 
 To obviate as far as possible every difficulty on this important point 
 (the average value of slaves), I beg leave to suggest to your considera- 
 tion the propriety of addressing a letter to such officers of the govern- 
 ment of the United States in the several states and districts that have 
 an interest in this question, as you may select, requiring their aid in 
 procuring from intelligent and respectable men, the evidence which will 
 be brought out, by answering the following interrogatories : 
 
 1. What according to the best evidence that you can form is the 
 average value of slaves in this state? 
 
 2. What is the average value of a slave in that part of the state 
 in which your [«c] slaves were lost, and carried off by the British 
 forces during the late war? 
 
 What was the average value of a male slave between 15 and 45 years 
 of age, and of a female slave between the same period? 
 
 The board held various sessions in 1823 and 1824. The British 
 evidence, a digest of which is presented under XIX. below, con- 
 sisted in a systematic mass of data from country court-houses. This 
 evidence the Americans endeavored to invalidate by arguments 
 which will be seen in certain of the documents and by evidence col- 
 lected in response to Brent's circular. The moderate amount pre- 
 sented below, relating chiefly to Maryland and North Carolina, 
 seems to be all that is now preserved, though by act of March 2, 
 1827,3 the records of this joint commission were transferred to the 
 custody of that which was instituted in 1827, and from that com- 
 mission should have passed, with the papers of the latter, to the 
 custody of the Department of State. 
 
 I. The U. S. Attorney for Maryland to the Secretary of State. 
 
 Balto. Octr 29th, 1823 
 Sir, 
 
 Enclosed I send you the Certificates of three gentlemen relative to 
 the value of slaves.* This business could have been finished long ago 
 but for the indisposition of Mr Forrest who at last only' sent me his 
 own attestation. The other two were procured by me this day, they 
 are both men of great respectability and entirely disinterested. 
 
 I have the honor to be 
 ^ with high respect 
 
 yr obt Sevt 
 Elias Glenn 
 The Honor. John Quincy Adams 
 Secretary of State 
 
 II. Julius Forrest to the U. S. Attorney .for Maryland. 
 
 Previous to the appearance of the British vessells in our waters 
 (Chesapk.) Slaves were at a much higher value in the quarter whence 
 they were taken off than in other parts of the State — and it was owing 
 
 ^Statutes at Large, IV. 219. 
 
 4 The three documents enclosed are the three which follow, from J. Forrest 
 and B. M. Hodges, and a third from Daniel Kent, identical with the latter. 
 
 AM. HIST. REV., VOL. XIX. — 53. 
 
8 1 6 Documents 
 
 to the circumstance of their being so taken off that they fell in value 
 during the war. Sales returned to the orphans Court and the Assessors 
 books during the period referd. to have been examined, but I found that 
 a correct valuation could not be affixed from either of these sources — 
 property sold under the order of the orphans Court (and more particu- 
 larly negroes) are very generally purchased by the family or friends; 
 who are not opposed by other bidders, when their wish to purchase is 
 thus made known. 
 
 As to the Assessors books, it is well understood that property is 
 never assessed to its real value — sometimes two thirds and frequently 
 not more than a half. 
 
 The method which I adopted was to get the value of each slave on a 
 plantation in different quarters, and take the average. 
 
 Julius Forrest 
 
 Octbr the 13th, 1823 
 
 1. " What, according to the best estimate that you can form, is the 
 average, value of a slave in this state?" 
 
 2. " What is the average value of a slave in that part of the state 
 from which slaves were lost, and carried off by the British forces during 
 the late War?" 
 
 3. "What is the average value of a male slave between fifteen and 
 forty five years of age, and of a female slave between the same 
 periods? " 
 
 Ans. I. Three hundred and seventy five dolls. 
 2d. Three hundred and fifty dolls. 
 
 3d. Four hundred and fifty dolls of males between fifteen and 
 forty five — and, Two hundred and fifty of females be- 
 tween the same periods. 
 Such is the " best estimate " that I can form in answer to the above 
 interrogatories. 
 
 Julius Forrest 
 Upper Marlbro 
 
 Octbr the 13th, 1823 
 
 III. Benjamin M. Hodges to the U. S. Attorney for Maryland. 
 
 Interrogatories. 
 
 1. What according to the best estimate you can form, is the average 
 value of a slave in this State. 
 
 2. What is the average value of a slave in that part of the State 
 from which slaves were lost, and carried off by the British forces during 
 the late war. 
 
 3. What is the average value of a male slave between fifteen and 
 forty five years of age, and of a female slave between the same periods. 
 
 Answers. 
 
 To the first interrogatory I answer that the average value of a 
 slave in this State at this time of the description mentioned in the third 
 interrogatory to wit, male slaves are worth from four hundred and 
 fifty .to five hundred dollars, and female slaves from two hundred and 
 fifty to three hundred dollars. 
 
 To the second Interrogatory I answer that the average value of a 
 slave in that part of the State from which slaves were lost and carried 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves^ i8i^ 8 1 7 
 
 ofif by the British forces during the late war is about what is stated in 
 the first interrogatory — the answer to which has relation to that part 
 of the state from which negroes were taken. 
 
 To the third Interrogatory I answer that the average value of a 
 male slave between fifteen and forty five years of age on the seven- 
 teenth of February eighteen hundred and fifteen was from three hun- 
 dred to three hundred and fifty dollars— And of a female slave at the 
 same period from two hundred to two hundred and fifty dollars. At 
 the end however of the year eighteen hundred and fifteen and eighteen 
 hundred and sixteen slaves of this description rose to nearly double the 
 above amount. 
 
 Benj. M. Hodges 
 October 29th, 1823 
 
 IV. T. H. Wilkinson to the Governor of Maryland. 
 
 Calvert County^ 
 
 Feby loth, 1824 
 Dear Sir ^ 
 
 I hope you will pardon me for not attending earlier to the request 
 contained in your letter to me on the subject of the value of negroes 
 in this county in the years 1813, 1814, and 1815. I was unavoidably 
 prevented from attending to this business for some time and when my 
 attention was turned to it I found it necessary to delay still longer my 
 answer for want of evidence on which to found a correct opinion, which 
 evidence I had calculated on procuring from the Orphans Court records 
 of this county, but on examining the appraisements and sales as re- 
 turned in the Registers office I found generally so very wide a differ- 
 ence between the sales and appraisements that I could take neither as a 
 correct source of information. The appraisements seemed generally to 
 have been returned at less than the real value of the negroes, sales were 
 usually made on a long credit and therefore the negroes often sold for 
 much more than their actual value. On refering to the County Clercks 
 office and examining the schedules and appraisements as returned by the 
 sheriff of negrous taken in execution during the time mentioned in 
 your letter I found that I could procure no very correct information 
 from them, as these appraisements seemed to have been made with less 
 regard to the real value of negrous than those returned into the 
 Registers office. I then thought it would be best to trace as far as I 
 could actual sales of Negrous in this county about the time you allude 
 to, and from the most diligent enquiry as to actual sales in different parts 
 of this county during the years 1813, 1814, and 181 5 I have made up 
 my opinion that during those three years the real average cash price 
 for negro men was about $350 and for negro women about $200 
 
 With much respect 
 
 I am si[^onj] 
 
 your \torn'\ 
 
 T. H. Wilkinson 
 \_Address:'\ Samuel Stevens Jr. Esqr. 
 Governor of Md. 
 Annapolis 
 5 The letter is postmarked Lower Marlborough. 
 
5 
 
 to 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 
 15 
 
 15 
 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 
 40 
 
 40 
 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 
 60 
 
 5 to 10 
 
 175 
 
 10 15 
 
 250 
 
 15 30 
 
 300 
 
 30 40 
 
 250 
 
 40 50 
 
 150 
 
 50 upwards 
 
 100 
 
 8 1 8 Documents 
 
 V. The Delegates from Charles County to the Governor of 
 
 Maryland. 
 
 Annapolis Feby. loth, 1824 
 To his Excellency the Governor of Maryland 
 Sn, 
 In compliance with a request contained in your Excellencys com- 
 munication of last week, in which you desire us to give the average 
 value of Negroes in Charles County during the years 1813, 14 and 15 — 
 have to state, that from an examination of appraisements of property of 
 deceased persons in said County during said years as returned to the 
 Orphans Court, find the following to be the result — 
 
 Males from i to 5 yrs $ 90 females from i to 5 yrs $ 75 
 
 200 
 275 
 350 
 300 
 200 
 
 150 
 
 60 upwards 100 
 According to the appraisements of Mechanics we think 33I pr. Cent 
 may be added on to them according to their respective ages. 
 We have the Honour to be 
 Yrs, etc., 
 
 Walter M. Millar 
 Thomas Rogerson 
 John Edelen 
 R. Garner 
 {Endorsement :'\ The Delegates from Charles County 
 respecting the valuation of Slaves 
 
 VI. Thomas Culbreth*^ to the Governor of Maryland. 
 
 Hillsborough [Md.] Feby 21 1824. 
 Sir, 
 
 Your letter of the 29 Deer, requesting me " to state the real average 
 value of Slaves in Caroline County during the years 1813, 1814 and 
 1 81 5" did not come to my hands untill a few days past, owing I sup- 
 pose to its being directed to Denton my former place of residence. This 
 circumstance will account for the apparent neglect of your communica- 
 tion. Although there are many Gentlemen of your and my acquaint- 
 ance better qualified to give you the desired information, none could do 
 it with more cheerfulness than myself. 
 
 Slaves in this County and I beleive generally upon this Shore'' have 
 always had two Prices, Viz a neighbourhood or domestic and a foreign 
 or Southern price. The domestic Price has generally been about a 
 third less than the foreign and sometimes the diffeVence amounts to 
 onehalf. 
 
 During the Several years mentioned and for one or two succeeding, 
 
 6 Representative in Congress from Maryland 1817— 1821. 
 
 7 The Eastern Shore of Maryland, i. e., the portion of the state east of 
 Chesapeake Bay. 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves, i8i^ 819 
 
 Slaves were unusually high, particularly in the l'^'"-^ year named and in 
 1816 their foreign Price was greatly beyond a*- ^rage of previous and 
 succeeding years. The domestic Price of oiaves is more Stationary 
 than the foreign, indeed it varies but very little at any time. 
 
 The foregoing observations I have deemed necessary to a correct 
 understanding of the subject and of my direct reply to your request. 
 
 During the period mentioned according to my best recollection I 
 think Adult Male Slaves generally brought when sold for any of the 
 Southern States an average of about $500. Those that were Young and 
 healthy brought more and the older ones less. Females brought from a 
 fourth to a third less than Males. Male Slaves between 14 and 21 
 years were and are of about equal average Value with Adults and the 
 same may be Said of females from 10 to 16. All ages below 14 for 
 Males and 10 for females would average from a third to half of the 
 price of adults. 
 
 The domestic or neighbourhood Price was little if any above half 
 the foregoing at any time, and the foreign Price previous to the period 
 named and subsequent to year 1817 was and has been about on an 
 average one third less. 
 
 I have the honor to be with 
 
 great respect your Excellency's 
 Obt. Sert.— 
 
 ThO : CULBRETH 
 
 Vn. The U. S. Attorney for North Carolina to the 
 Secretary of State. 
 
 Raleigh Oct 14th 1823 
 Honbl. John Q. Adams 
 Sir 
 In performance of the request contained in Mr Daniel Brents letter 
 of the 29th of August last I have addressed queries to a number of the 
 most respectable gentlemen in this state conversant with the value of 
 Slaves, and I herewith hand you all the answers which have come to 
 hand. I regret much that the short notice I had, has prevented my 
 receiving only a very small part of the evidence I had a right to expect. 
 In addition to which many of our wealthy slave holders are absent at 
 this season of the year; should I receive other answers to the inter- 
 rogatories I will send them on in the hope that they may come to hand 
 in season. 
 
 I have the honour to be 
 
 Very Respectfully 
 Yours 
 T P Devereux 
 
 Dist Atto. 
 
 VIII. J. BURGWYN TO THE U. S. ATTORNEY FOR NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Newbern N. C. Septr 1823 
 Sir, 
 
 I am in receipt your favor 9th. Inst and proceed to reply to your 
 several queries as follows. 
 
 Qy. 1st. "What, according to the best estimate that you can form 
 is the average value of a Slave in this State?" — I answer, three hun- 
 dred Dollars. 
 
820 Documents 
 
 2nd. " What is the average value of a Slave in that part of the 
 State from which Slaves were carried off and lost by the British forces, 
 during the late war ? " — I answer, Three hundred Dollars. 
 
 3rd. " What is the average value of a Male Slave between fifteen and 
 forty five years of age and of a female Slave between the same 
 periods?" — I answer, four hundred Dollars for the Male, and three 
 hundred for the female. 
 
 During the late war I was frequently in different parts of the 
 State and particularly on the Sea Coast. My opinion is formed from 
 actual sales within my knowledge, 
 
 Respectflly 
 
 Yr. Obt. St. 
 
 J. BURGWYN 
 
 S^Address:!, Thos. P. Devereux Esqr Dist. Atty. 
 Raleigh. 
 
 IX. Thomas Wynns® to the Same. 
 
 WiNTON Septr 24 1823 
 Sir 
 
 Your letter of the 9th Instant came safe to hand, in which you 
 propose certain questions to be answered as if put in February 17th 
 1815. I have stated the questions below with my answers on the sub- 
 ject according to the best of my information, ist What according to 
 the best estimate that you can form is the average value of Slaves in 
 this State — Answer, the average value of Slaves in this State in my 
 opinion was $250. 2d What is the average value of a Slave in that 
 part of the State from which Slaves were lost and carried off by the 
 british forces during the late war — Answer, I do not now recollect that 
 any Slaves were carried off by the British forces during the late war. 
 3d What is the average value of a male Slave between fifteen and forty 
 five years of age and of a female Slave between the same period — An- 
 swer, the average value of a male Slave between fifteen and forty five 
 years of age was about $400 and of a female Slave between the same 
 period from $275 to 300. 
 
 I herewith send to you my answers to the questions proposed to me 
 which I have no doubt will get to hand in proper time 
 
 I am with respect 
 
 Your most obedient 
 
 Thos. Wynns 
 
 X. William B. Meares^ to the Same. 
 
 W^iLMiNGTON Septr. I2th, 1823 
 Sir, 
 
 Yours of 9th. Inst, is Reed. In answer to your ist. question, "What 
 was the average value of Slaves in No. Ca. on the 17th Febr. 1815?" 
 I answer two hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 In answer to your 2nd. question, " What was the average value of a 
 Slave in that part of No. Ca. from which slaves were taken by the 
 
 8 State senator 22, years ; representative in Congress from North Carolina 
 1801-1807; councillor of state 1818-1825. Winton is in Hertford County. 
 
 9 Member of the N. C. House of Commons from Wilmington in 1818 and 
 1819; state senator from New Hanover County 1828-1830. 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves, i8 1^ 821 
 
 British forces?" I say the foregoing valuation is taken from prices on 
 the sea board, and I do not believe that on the 17th Febr. 1815 there 
 was any material difference in the value of slaves throughout No. Ca. 
 During the War, they were higher in the Western Section of the State, 
 than in the Eastern; after the war they became higher on the sea-board 
 than in the Western Section of the State. 
 
 In answer to your 3rd. question, " What was the average value of a 
 male slave between fifteen and forty five years of age on the 17th Febr. 
 1817, and a female slave between the same periods"? I answer the 
 average value at that time of Male Slaves between those ages was four 
 hundred and fifteen dollars, and of females two hundred and fifty five 
 dollars. 
 
 The above valuations are fixed from purchases actually made by 
 myself at fair sales about that time. 
 
 Yours Resply. 
 
 Wm. B. Meares 
 Thos. P. Devereux Esqr. 
 
 XL Francis Hawks^° to the Same. 
 
 Newbern Sept 29th 1823 
 Thomas P. Devereux Esq: 
 Sir 
 Yours of the 9th instant was duly received and should have had a 
 more prompt answer, had the subject to which you directed my atten- 
 tion been familiar to me — that not being the case I took time to inform 
 myself by Consulting others who I know had been engaged in the pur- 
 chase and sale of Slaves. The result of my enquiries would lead me to 
 say in answer to your first question, That the average value of a Slave 
 in this State is two hundred and fifty dollars. To your second question 
 I deem it necessary only to say, that no Slaves were carried off by the 
 British forces, from this part of the State during the late War. And in 
 answer to your third question, I should say that the average value of a 
 Male slave between fifteen and forty five years of age is three hundred 
 and fifty dollars, and of a female slave between the same periods two 
 hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 very respectfully 
 
 Your obt. Servant 
 
 Frans. Hawks 
 
 XIL J. Manly to the Same. 
 
 Newbern October i, 1823. 
 S\r 
 
 In reply to your letter of 9th September I have the honor to answer, 
 that in February 181 5, a male slave, a field hand (without a trade) was 
 worth Five hundred and fifty dollars. A female Slave (a field hand) 
 was worth Four hundred dollars. Taking the slaves families or gangs, 
 a large proportion of aged and infirm and children are included — the 
 average value of Slaves in this State in Feby. 181 5, I think was two 
 hundred seventy five dollars. I consider this a fair average for every 
 part of the State. At the same time the average value of a male Slave 
 between 15 and 45 years of age, was Four hundred and fifty dollars: 
 
 10 Collector of customs at Newbern. 
 
822 Docu7nents 
 
 and of a female Slave between the same ages, Three hundred and 
 fifty dollars. 
 
 Respectfully 
 
 Your obedt Servt. 
 
 J. Manly. 
 Thomas P. Devereux Esquire 
 
 XIII. David Clark to the Same. 
 
 Scotland Neck^i ist October 1823 
 Thomas P. Devereux Esquire 
 Dear Sir 
 I have received your Letter of the 6th. Ulto — should have answered 
 sooner but wished to get the opinion of some Gentlemen as to the ques- 
 tions you requested me to answer. 
 
 I St. What according to the best estimate that you can form is the 
 average Value of a Slave in this State — 
 
 Answer — Two Hundred and fifty to Two hundred and Seventy five 
 Dollars. 
 
 2d. What is the average Value of a Slave in that part of the State 
 from which Negroes were lost and carried off by the British Forces 
 during the late War — 
 
 Answer — I do not know as to any Negroes being carried off by the 
 British Forces from this State, but believe the Value in the Counties 
 near the Sea Cost generally less than the middle part of the State— 
 they are frequently brought from the former to the latter for sale, but 
 never from the latter to the former. Average price — Two Hundred and 
 Fifty Dollars. 
 
 3. What is the average Value of a Male Slave between Fifteen 
 and Forty Five years of age and a Female Slave between the same 
 periods — 
 
 Answer — Average Value of IMale Four hundred and Twenty five 
 Dollars. Average Value of Female Slave Two hundred and Seventy 
 five Dollars. 
 
 Answered as if questions put on the 17th February 1815. I have 
 answered the questions stated by you, from the best information I have 
 been able to obtain. . . .^- 
 
 Yours respectfully 
 
 David Clark 
 
 XIV. A. Moore to the Same. 
 
 Hillsborough 2d October 1823 
 Sir, 
 
 As matters of fact is better than any ones opinion I have been look- 
 ing among my papers for Memorandum that would ascertain the value 
 of Slaves in the year 1815 in the District in which I lived (Wilmington) ; 
 having failed however in my search, you must take my judgment. 
 
 Take 25 Negroes together in families, and I should say they were 
 worth $280 each, at any time during the year 181 5. 
 
 The average value of a male slave would be (from 15 to 45 years of 
 age) $500, an[d] of a female slave $325. 
 
 II Scotland Neck is in Halifax County. David Clark was postmaster there. 
 12 The remainder of the letter is irrelevant. 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves, i8i^ 823 
 
 As the Enemy never landed within the District, no slaves were lost 
 by them, that I ever heard of. 
 
 Respectfully your Obt. Sevt. 
 
 A. IMOORE 
 
 T. P. Devereux Esqr. 
 
 XV. Thomas Cowan to the Same. 
 
 Wilmington North Carolina Octo. 2d, 1823. 
 T. P. Deveriux Esquire 
 Sir, 
 
 Your favor of the 9th. Ult. has been duly received, and a reply to the 
 several Interrogatives propounded by you, would have been made at an 
 earlier period, had it not been, that I was desirous to consult with a 
 gentlemen who was not in Town, and who from his Official situation 
 was well acquainted with the Value of Negroes about the 17th day of 
 Feby A D. 1 817, 
 
 I have copied the Interrogatories, and given you as correct an 
 answer as my Knowledge of the value of negroes afforded, assisted by 
 others who were well informed on the subject. 
 
 Int. ist. What according to the best estimate you can form is the 
 average Value of a Slave in this State? 
 
 Answer. The Average Value of Slaves in this Section of North 
 Carolina, was three hundred dollars. I have known a gang of Negroes 
 sold at that rate. 
 
 Intero: 2d. What is the average Value of a Slave, in that part of 
 the State, from which Slaves were lost and carried off by the British 
 forces during the late war? 
 
 Answer, I know of no slaves that were carried off from this place 
 or its Vacinity, by the British forces during the late war. I believe the 
 Value of Slaves on the whole sea coast of North Carolina is about 
 the same. 
 
 Inter. 3d. What is the average Value of a male Slave between 15 
 and 45 years of age, and of a female Slave between the same period? 
 
 Answer. The average Value of a male Slave between the ages of 15 
 and 45 years was five hundred dollars. There are many instances of 
 their selling at a much higher rate, where they are remarkable for their 
 good Character, or are tradesmen. The Value of a female Slave be- 
 tween the same ages was three hundred and fifty dollars 
 
 I am Sir 
 
 Very Respectfully 
 
 Your Obdt Servt. 
 Thomas Cowan 
 
 X^^I. J. Wellborn^^ to the Same. 
 
 Mount trial^ Wilkes [Co.] 
 
 No. Ca. octobr. 4th 1823 
 Sir 
 
 In answer to the following questions 
 
 1st What according to the best Estimate you can form of the average 
 value of a Slave in this State and In the Month of February A. D 181 5 
 
 13 The signature might be J. or T. Wellborn, but is in all probability that of 
 James Wellborn, who represented Wilkes in the state senate 2-] years of the 
 period 1795-1834. 
 
824 Documents 
 
 Answear at that time the average Value of Slaves between the age 
 of fifteen and forty five would have been about four hundred dollars 
 but in a short time after the above Period the average value would 
 have been at least Six hundred Dollars 
 
 2nd What was the average value of a Slave in that part of the 
 State from which Slaves were lost and carried away by the British 
 forces during the last war 
 
 Answer from the best Estimate I Can form the average Value was 
 about three hundred and fifty to three hundred and seventy five dollars 
 
 3rd What was the average value of a Male Slave between fifteen 
 and forty five years of age and of female Slaves between the Same 
 periods 
 
 Answer at the time above stated the average value of Male Slaves 
 of the ages stated in the question was from three hundred and fifty to 
 four hundred Dollars and the average Value of female Slaves of the 
 same ages was from three hundred to three hundred and fifty dollars 
 
 J. Wellborn 
 Thos. P. Devereux Esqr. Dist. Attor 
 
 The Same to the Same.^* 
 Sir 
 
 agreeable to your request I have Endeavoured to answer the ques- 
 tions requested by you according to the best Information I then and \s\c'\ 
 possessed. I bought and Sold Some. I Sold one boy about twelve or 
 fourteen years old for $400. I gave three hundred for him near the 
 Sea board but in the latter part of the year 1815 the Same Negroe would 
 have Sold for five hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 I am Sir with due respect your Obt. Servant 
 
 J. Wellborn 
 
 XVII. George L. Davidson to the Same. 
 
 Iredell County^^ 12 October 1823 
 Sir 
 
 I receivd your note of the 25 Sept by last mail and hasten to answer 
 the Questions proposed. 
 
 The value of male Slaves from fifteen to fourty five years of age; 
 was in 181 5 about $500, female slaves of the same age about $300 to 
 $350, boys from 10 to 15 years old from $300 to $400, Girls of the same 
 age from $200 to $250. those were the prices of such as were sold, 
 which were not generally of the first quality, I think Negroes of good 
 report could have been sold at an advanced price, the above prices will 
 apply to purchases made in the eastern part of N Carolina from that to 
 Norfolk in Virginia and as far North as Washington City and on the 
 eastern shore of Maryland which Negroes could have been sold in South 
 Carolina in the spring of 1815 for the follwing prices (vs) males from 
 15 to 45 from $700 to $800 Dollars, females of the same age from $500 
 to $600, boys from 10 to 15 years old from $500 to $600, Girls from 10 
 
 14 This letter, postmarked Wilkesborough, N. C, was found inside that which 
 precedes. 
 
 15 The letter is postmarked Statesville. George L. Davidson represented 
 Iredell in the House of Commons 1803-1811, and in the state senate in 1824 
 and 1825. 
 
Estwtates of the Value of Slaves, 1S15 825 
 
 to 15 from $300 to 400 Dollars, the above prices are taken from pur- 
 chases and sales of that year. I am Dr Sir 
 
 Yours Respectfully 
 
 Geo. L. Davidsox 
 
 XVIII. Draft of Affidavit by Hayne and Hamilton.^^ 
 
 Robert Y. Hayne, James Hamilton Junr., 
 
 Representatives in the Congress of the United States, being- duly sworn 
 say that they have been long residents of the State of South Carolina, — 
 that they are well acquainted with the proceedings of Courts having 
 the controul and superintendance of the Estates of deceased persons, — 
 and also well acquainted with the modes and circumstances under which 
 the usual appraisements of the Estates of deceased persons are made, 
 and with the manner and circumstances under which Slaves are usually 
 sold, — That with respect to Appraisements of Slaves, belonging to the 
 Estates of deceased persons, the valuation is usually considerably below 
 their real value, and seldom exceeds the price which such Slaves would 
 bring if brought to a forced sale under the most unfavourable circum- 
 stances. That such appraisements are not considered either in Law or 
 in fact as shewing the true value of such Slaves, and is generally con- 
 sidered merely as a form, and the valuation is not in Law binding either 
 on the heirs, executors ,or creditors, all of whom are permitted in legal 
 proceedings to prove the actual value of such Slaves. With respect to 
 the Sales of Estates, usually made for the purpose of effecting a division 
 among the heirs, it is a common practice to permit the widow and chil- 
 dren to purchase Slaves at a nominal or very low price, and even where 
 such sales are made for the payment of debts it is very usual if the 
 Estate be not totally insolvent, to put up large families in one lot, by 
 which means the price is greatly diminished. The sale of Slaves be- 
 longing to the Estates of deceased persons would not in general there- 
 fore afford a safe rule of estimating their true value, as such sales would 
 most commonly be much below that value. 
 
 With respect to sales by Marshals, Sheriffs, and other officers of the 
 Law, we would say that such sales are always forced and are almost 
 invariably far below their true market value. In addition to the other 
 circumstances which materially lessen the prices at such sales, the title 
 is never warranted, and purchasers are reluctant to engage in such 
 speculations. 
 
 In South Carolina the practice is to sell Slaves on certain terms, 
 which are considered fair and reasonable, and whenever these terms are 
 departed from, the sale is considered as forced and the property never 
 
 16 This document is endorsed as having accompanied a letter from Cheves 
 of April 8, 1S24, to the Secretary of State. In that letter Cheves declares that 
 the American testimony in reply to the British (see the digest of the latter in the 
 next document) " will probably consist of general affidavits which shall prove that 
 such testimony, as we suppose will be adduced by the other side, is not to be 
 relied upon ". The present time, when Congress is in session, will be a good one 
 in which to secure such affidavits. " Accompanying this letter you will receive 
 a sketch of an affidavit which two of the most respectable members from So. 
 Carolina have been so obliging as to furnish me, at my request, and which they 
 are willing to make themselves and believe their Colleagues will also make. I 
 offer this by way of example." 
 
826 Documents 
 
 brings its true value. Sheriffs and Marshals sales — all sales, at an un- 
 favorable season, or in an unfavorable place, are considered as jorced 
 salcs,—^n^ yet such sales will be found to exceed the Appraisements in 
 general. 
 
 On the whole the deponents do not hesitate to declare their decided 
 and firm belief that, according to the custom in South Carolina, no 
 sound reliance whatever is to be had on the appraisements of deceased 
 persons Estates,— or on Sheriffs or Marshals sales, — or on any sales 
 which could be considered as jorced, all of which would be consider- 
 ably below the true market value of such Slaves, — and they firmly be- 
 lieve that the same circumstances exist in every Slave holding State 
 in the Union. 
 
 RoBT. Y. Hayne 
 J. Hamilton Jun 
 Washington 8th April 1824. 
 
 XIX. Digest of the British Evidence. 
 
 Digest of Evidence Offered by the British Government on 2Qth June 
 1824.^' 
 
 Georgia. Documents No. i To 5. 
 No. I. Contains 
 
 1st. A list of Sales of Negros made in Chatham County Geo. 
 between ist Deer. 1814 and 15th May 1815 extracted from the Superior 
 Court of the County. The list contains 130 Slaves. Amt: of Sales 
 $44,667. Average $343. — This list appears to have been furnished by 
 extracting the contents of the Conveyances from the Sellers to the 
 Purchasers which were recorded in the Registry of the County, And 
 the list has the following " Remarks " written thereon by the Ofificer 
 granting it. " Nohe of the conveyances herein referred to contain any 
 mention of the Ages of the Negros, — it is not common in such con- 
 veyances in this State to insert the Ages and indeed it is never done 
 unless it be for some specific object." 
 
 Of these Slaves it appears that 64 were sold to one person and 
 connected with these papers there is the following " remark " by the 
 Officer granting the Document. " The Ages of these negros are not 
 mentioned in the Deed, but there were many children and very old 
 negros among them." 
 
 2ndly. A Statement of the Division of the Estate of a deceased 
 person among the Heirs or Representatives made on 17th January 
 181 5 by Commissioners appointed by an Order of the Court of Chatham 
 County having Jurisdiction in such cases. The list contains 118 Slaves. 
 Value $36,375. Average $308. — The Document contains the following 
 " Remark " of the Officer granting it. " This Document contains the 
 Value of Negros from the Age of Six months to that of 75 Years and 
 having been Valued by three gentlemen of very high respectability and 
 correct judgment under Oath renders it better evidence of the Value of 
 such property than is to be found in Ordinary Bills of Sale." 
 
 3rdly. A " list of Sales and Appraisements of Slaves made in 
 Chatham County, Georgia, between 15th Jan: 1815 and ist May 1815 by 
 Order of the Court of Ordinary of said County." No. of Slaves 14. 
 
 17 Endorsed as having accompanied a letter of July 3. 1824, from Cheves and 
 Seawell to the Secretary of State. 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves, i8i^ 827 
 
 Value $4215. Average $307. The Officer granting this Document, in 
 certifying it, says, " I also certify that all the records of this office were 
 not in possession of the Clerk during the period above specified, but that 
 they were at the City of Augusta to which place they were removed by 
 Order of the Justices of the Inferior sitting as a Court of Ordinary for 
 safe keeping, and that during the time aforesaid little or no business 
 was done in this Office, the whole Country being under Arms and until 
 about the 20th March 1815 the papers and records were not brought 
 from Augusta." 
 No. 2. Contains 
 
 ist. "a list of the Appraisement of Slaves made in Richmond 
 Co: Geo., between ist Nov. 1814 and 31st JNIay 1815 by Order of the 
 Court of Ordinary." This list contains 42 Slaves. Value $9675. 
 Average $230. 
 
 2dly. " List of the Sales of Xegros recorded in the Records of 
 the Superior Court of the County of Richmond Georgia, between ist 
 Septer. 1814. and ist August 1815." 8 Slaves. Value, $2600. Average 
 $325- — the Officer granting this document remarks that it is a correct 
 account of the Amount of Sales of five Negros sold by Geo: Walton 
 to John Wilson on the 23rd June 1815, the Account of the Amount of 
 Sales of two sold by Francis Gregory to Elizabeth Riley on the 23rd 
 Sept. 1814, and the account of One sold by A. Woolfolk to John H. 
 Mann 7th July 181 5," but he gives no Certificate that these contain 
 either the whole of the Sales or a fair selection of them, and it is re- 
 markable that the whole number is only 8, and the period almost a Year. 
 No. 3. Contains 
 
 1st. Appraisements of Sales by Order of the Court of Ordinary 
 of Camden County Georgia, between 17th Deer. 1814 and 17th April 
 181 5. Number of Slaves 47. Value $10,235. Average $217. 
 
 2dly. A list of Sales of Slaves from the Records of the same Co. 
 between ist Feb. 1814. and 29th May 1815. Number of Slaves 5. 
 Value $1775. Average $355. 
 No. 4. Contains 
 
 List of " Sales and Appraisements " by Order of the Court of 
 Ordinary for Liberty Co. between 7th Deer. 1814 and the 29th March 
 181 5. Viz. 129 Slaves, Value $29,025, Average $225. I Slave, Do. 
 300, Do. $300. This Slave is stated to have been sold at private Sale. 
 37 Slaves, Value $9075. Average $245. 
 No. 5. Contains 
 
 List of Sales by the Marshall of the U. States for Georgia, be- 
 tween 3rd May 1814 and ist Augt. 1815. 199 Slaves. Value $47,981. 
 Average $241. This list probably contains a number of the Slaves 
 enumerated in the first Paper of No. I. and both exhibit apparent 
 inaccuracy. 
 
 Recapitulation of Averages. 
 No. I. 130 Slaves. Value $ 44,667 
 
 No. 2. 
 No. 3. 
 
 118 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 36,375 
 
 14 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 4.215 
 
 42 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 9-675 
 
 8 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 2,600 
 
 47 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 10.235 
 
 5 
 
 Do. 
 
 Do. 
 
 1,775 
 
828 Documents 
 
 No. 4. 129 Do. Do. 29,025 
 
 I Do. Do. 300 
 
 37 Do. Do. 9,075 
 
 No. 5. 199 Do. Do. 47,981 
 
 Tot. — 730 Do. Do. $195,923. Average $268. 
 
 Louisiana. No. i to 5. 
 No. I. Contains 
 
 1st. A list certified by a Notary (Ph: Pedesclaux) of Sales of 
 Slaves in 1814. No. Slaves 192. Value $104,201. Average $542. 
 
 2ndly. A like list certified by the same Notary of Sales in 1815. 
 No. Slaves 256. Value $130,209. Average $508. 
 No. 2 Consists 
 
 1st. of a List certified by a Notary (Carlisle Pollock) of Sales of 
 Slaves in 1814. No. Slaves 17. Value $7175. Average $422. 
 
 2ndly. A like List certified by the same Notary of Sales in 1815. 
 No. Slaves 29. Value $13,621. Average $470. 
 No. 3. Consists. 
 
 1st. of a list certified by G. R. Stringer Notary Public, of Sales 
 of Negros from ist May 1814 to 31st Deer, same Year. No. Slaves 
 89. Value $38,785. Average $435- 
 
 2ndly. A like list certified by same Notary, of Sales in all 1815. 
 No. Slaves 202. Value $82,336. Average $407. 
 
 No. 4. List of the Sales of Slaves made by the Sheriff of the 
 Parish of New Orleans between ist Deer. 1814 and the 25th July 181 5. 
 No. Slaves 42. Value $13,620. Average $324. The Sheriff in giving 
 this List annexed the following Certificates. 
 
 " I am of Opinion that the Value stated by Mr. C. Pollock's 
 declaration is correct generally allowing that the Slaves were sold as 
 they certainly were, on moderate credits, and some times for Cash. 
 
 " The Sales, however made by me as Shff. of the Parish of New 
 Orleans, during the last ten or Eleven Years differ Very materially 
 from the Value Mentioned above; between the 23rd Deer. 1813 and 
 the Deer. 1814 I sold 33 Slaves principally new imported Africans 
 forfeited to the State, which averaged only $350, and from the latter 
 period to the 25th July 1815 I sold 37 Slaves for $12,825, averaging 
 $346 Among which were 12 newly imported Africans. The price of the 
 Africans was very low, as the Sale was unpopular and few were willing 
 to encourage such sales : the Creole Slaves and those acclimated were 
 as must be expected at Sheriff's Sales such as could not be readily sold 
 at private sale for want of good qualities. 
 
 " At the Sale of Plantations belonging to deceased persons, the 
 Slaves were sold to other Planters at about fifty pr. Cent more than the 
 prices ever obtained at Sheriff's Sales where Tradesmen and Carters 
 are never sold unless of bad characters : the same is to be observed of 
 Female Slaves possessing good characters and talents, who are always 
 sought after by monied purchasers. 
 
 " It may be well to mention the result of the sale of the Cargo of 
 the Brig Juana Sigunda, which consisted of 124 prime Africans of all 
 ages, say from 7 to 30 Years and of both Sexes, sold on 30th July 1818 
 for the sum of $95,254, payable One tenth in Cash, and the balance on 
 the 31st March 1819, making an Average of $768. 
 
 (Signed) G. W. Morg.\n 
 
 Shff." 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves, 1815 
 
 829 
 
 "Final Certificate given at the request of Mr. Wm. Woodville Agent." 
 " I certify that I have deemed it essential to annex the preceding 
 copy of a former Certificate, to the extract from the Books of Sheriff's 
 Sales of Slaves made by me between ist Deer. 1814 and the 25th July 
 1815 in order to preserve consistency between the said extract and the 
 former Certificate: And that without such certificate I cannot consent to 
 give the extract aforesaid. 
 
 " Witness my hand and Seal 
 at the City of New Orleans 
 this I2th day of May 1824. 
 
 Signed) G. W. AIorgan 
 
 Shff " 
 No. 5. List of Appraisements and Sales made in the Parish of New 
 Orleans, in the State of Louisiana between ist Deer. 1814 and the 5th 
 May 1815 by Order of the Court of Probates. No. Slaves 82. Value 
 $40,950. Average $500. 
 
 Recapitulation of Averages. 
 
 No. I. Slaves 192. Value $104,201 
 " 130,209 
 
 7,175 
 13,621 
 38,786 
 82,336 
 " 13,620 
 
 40,950 
 
 
 256 
 
 No. 2 ' 
 
 17 
 
 
 29 
 
 No. 3 
 
 89 
 
 
 ' 202 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 42 
 
 No. 5. ' 
 
 82 
 
 909 
 
 $430,898 Average $474 
 
 Maryland. No. i to 8. 
 No. I. consists of 
 
 1st. "Extracts taken from Inventories and Accounts of Sales 
 filed in the Register of Wills' Office in Ann Arundel Co. between 15th 
 Jan: 1815. and 15th March 1815." No. Slaves 159. Value $24,261. 
 Average $152. 
 
 No. 2 consists of 
 
 1st. "Extracts of Accounts of Sales of personal property sold 
 between 15th Jan: and 15th March 1815." No. Slaves 10. Value $2570. 
 Average $257. 
 
 2dly. " Extracts from Inventories of personal property appraised 
 between 15th Jan: and 15th March 1815." No. Slaves 31. Value $5195- 
 Average $167. 
 
 Among the Extracts from Inventories is an Inventory of the 
 property of Thomas Gorsuch of which a copy follows. — 
 
 " Inventory of Thos. Gorsuch's property appraised the 28th Feby. 
 1815. 
 
 " One black man named Peter $100 
 
 One black woman named Poll 100 
 
 One black woman named Sarah 200 
 
 One black boy named Nathaniel 400 
 
 $800^' 
 
830 Documents 
 
 Among the Extracts from Sales is an Account of Sales of the 
 same property, of which a Copy follows. — 
 
 " From the Account of Sales of Thomas Gorsuch of La. which 
 appears to have been sold the 3rd March 181 5. 
 
 " One Negro Man, Peter $ 250 
 
 One Negro Woman Poll, 189 
 
 One Negro Girl Sarah 215 
 
 One Negro Boy, Nathan 685 
 
 $1339" 
 
 The Sales are $I339 
 
 The Inventory 800 
 
 Difference in 4 Slaves, $ 539 
 
 No. 3. is " A list of Negros appraised and sold in Prince George's 
 Co. between 15th Jan: and 15th March 1815 as appears by returns to 
 the Orphan's Court for said County." No. Slaves 79. Value $16,131. 
 Average $204. 
 
 No. 4. is " A List of Negros taken from the Inventories of the per- 
 sonal estate of Thomas Parran and Elias Wolf ; and Account of Sales 
 of part of the Negros belonging to the Estate of John Beckett." 
 
 1st. Inventories and Appraisements. No. Slaves 23. Value 
 $3097. Average $134. 
 
 2nd. Sales. No. Slaves 4. Value $1010. Average $252. 
 
 The difference between Appraisements and sales is here again 
 manifest. — 
 
 No. 5. "A List of Slaves appraised between the 15th Jan: and 15th 
 March 1815 belonging to the Estates of deceased persons in St. Mary's 
 Co." No. Slaves 35. Value $7208. Average $206. 
 
 No. 6. " A List of Negros returned in the several Inventories. 
 Sales, etc. etc. in the Register of Will's Office for Dorchester Co. be- 
 tween 15th Jan: and 15th March 1815". 
 
 1st. Inventories and Appraisements. No. Slaves 41. Value 
 $5764. Average $140. ggi"One Slave "A Young lad" is appraised at 
 12 cents. 
 
 2nd. Sales. No. Slaves 15. Value $2802. Average $182. 
 No. 7. Inventories and Appraisements and Sales in Talbot Co. be- 
 tween 14th Novr. 1814. and nth May 181 5. 
 
 1st. Inventories and appraisements. No. Slaves 80. Value $12.- 
 831. Average $160. 
 
 2nd. Sales. No. Slaves 8. Value $1001. Average $125. 
 No. 8. " A List of Slaves included in Inventories and Sales re- 
 turned to the Office of the Register of Somerset Co. from 15th Jan: 
 to 15th March 181 5." 
 
 ist. Appraisements. No. Slaves 11. Value $1950. Average 
 
 2nd. Sales. Of the same Slaves, $2130. Average $193. 
 
 Recapitulation of Averages. 
 
 No. I. Slaves 159. Value $24,261 
 
 No. 2. " ID " 2,570 
 
 31 " 5.195 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves, i8ij 831 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Slaves 
 
 79 
 
 Y?i 
 
 ue $16,131 
 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 " 
 
 22> 
 
 
 3,097 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 4 
 
 
 1,010 
 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 " 
 
 35 
 
 
 7,208 
 
 
 No. 6. 
 
 it 
 
 41 
 15 
 
 
 5,764 
 2,802 
 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 u 
 
 80 
 
 
 12,831 
 
 
 
 it 
 
 8 
 
 
 1,001 
 
 
 No. 8. 
 
 
 II 
 
 
 1,950 
 
 
 
 
 II 
 
 2,130 
 
 
 
 
 507 
 
 
 $85,950. 
 
 Average $167. 
 
 In this Recapitulation there is no discrimination between Ap- 
 praisements and Sales. The Lists contain in several instances Appraise- 
 ments and Sales of Negros who have but a few Years and even but a 
 few months to serve and who ought not to be brought into the Average. 
 
 District of Columbia. Nos. i and 2. 
 
 No. I. "List of the Sales and Appraisements of Slaves made by 
 Order of the Orphan's Court of Washington Co. in the District of 
 Columbia between 21st Jan: and 3rd Alarcli 1815." No. Slaves 31. 
 Value $6950. Average $223. 
 
 It does not appear that any of those contained in this list were 
 sold. 
 
 No. 2. ■* A List of Sales and appraisements of Slaves made by 
 Order of the Orphan's Court of the Co. of Alexandria, D. C. between 
 the 19th Deer. 1814 and the 23rd March 1815." No. Slaves 37. Value 
 $9200. Average $248. 
 
 This List apparently contains appraisements only, — there are in- 
 deed 6 said to be sold, but the prices seem to be those at which they were 
 appraised. 
 
 Recapitulation. 
 
 Slaves 31. Value $ 6,920 
 Zy_ 9.200 
 
 68 $16,120. Average $234 
 
 South Carolina. No. i to p. and Legislative Report. 
 
 No. I. Are Appraisements made in iMarion District on the 20th 
 Feby. 181 5. No. Slaves 8. Value $2300. Average $287. 
 
 No. 2. List of Appraisements of Slaves made in Charleston District, 
 betw^een 15th Jan: 1815 and 15th March 1815 by Order of the Court 
 of Ordinary. No. Slaves 393. Value $111,565. Average $284. 
 
 No. 3. Like list of Appraisements between the same periods in 
 Beaufort District. No. Slaves 10. Value $3600. Average $360. 
 
 No. 4. Like list of Appraisements between the same periods in 
 Colleton District. No. Slaves 100. Value $28,910. Average $289. 
 
 No. 5. List of a like Appraisement made on 2nd March 1815 in 
 Kershaw District. No. Slaves 41. Value $12,730. Average $310. 
 
 No. 6. Like list of Sales and Appraisements made between 15th 
 Jan: and 15th March 1815 in Richland District. 
 
 1st. Appraisements. No. Slaves 2. Value $840. Average $420 
 2. Sales. No. Slaves 2. Value $942. Average $471. 
 
 AM. HIST. REV., VOL. XIX. — 54. 
 
832 Documents 
 
 No. 7. Like list of Sales and Appraisements between 15th Jan: 
 and 15th March 181 5 in Edgefield District. 
 
 1st. Appraisements. No. Slaves 23. Value $6292. Average 
 
 $273- 
 
 2nd. Sales. No. Slaves 8. Value $2271. Average $284. 
 
 No. 8. 
 
 1st. A letter from Wm. Payne and Son, Auctioneers, Charleston 
 So. Ca. to James G. Moodie dated 23rd April 1823 in the following 
 words. 
 
 "On examining our Sales Book for 1815 we find the Average 
 prices of Negros for that year as follows, Viz. — 
 
 For men prime field hands from 20 to 45 years about $425 
 
 For Wenches Do 20 to 40 350 
 
 Boys and Girls 12 to 15 250 — 300 
 
 Children in proportion. 
 
 " We never keep any Account of the Ages of Negros we sell. 
 
 "In 1815 there were but few Sales of Negros owing to the low 
 price they sold at and the sales that were made were principally cash 
 Sales, so that the above may be considered as Cash prices." 
 
 2nd. A Certificate dated 29th April 1823, from F. G. Delesseline, 
 Sheriff of Charleston District, giving the following Statement of Sales 
 from the Books of the Sheriff's Ofifice. 
 
 6th March 1815. 93 Slaves sold for $30,080. Average 323 
 3d April 1815. 100 Do. 48,335. Do. 483. 
 
 No. 9. Affidavit of Thomas Milliken Auctioneer, Charleston, So Ca. 
 dated loth May 1824, of Sales between 22nd Novr. 1814 and 24th Jan: 
 1815. No. Slaves 13. Value $3695. Average $284. 
 
 Also A Newspaper (New York Evening Post of 26th Jan: 1824) 
 stating a Report of a Special Committee of the Legislature of So. Caro- 
 lina averaging all the Slaves of the State at $300 p. head. 
 
 
 
 
 Recapitulation. 
 
 No. 
 
 I. 
 
 Slaves 
 
 8. 
 
 Value $ 2,300 
 
 No. 
 
 2. 
 
 
 393 
 
 111.565 
 
 
 3- 
 
 
 10 
 
 3.600 
 
 
 4- 
 
 
 100 
 
 28,910 
 
 
 5- 
 
 
 41 
 
 12,730 
 
 
 6. 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 840 
 
 942 
 
 
 7- 
 
 
 23 
 
 8 
 
 6,292 
 2,271 
 
 
 8. 
 
 
 93 
 100 
 
 30,080 
 48,335 
 
 
 9- 
 
 
 13 
 
 793 
 
 3.695 
 $251,560. 
 
 Average $317. 
 Average of the Committee of the Legislature $300. 
 
 Virginia: No. i to 11. 
 
 No. I. "A list of Negros inventoried and appraised or sold at public 
 Auction between 9th May 1814 and the 5th Deer. 1815" in the County 
 of Stafford. No. Slaves 57. Value $14,790. Average $259. 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves, 1815 
 
 No. 2. " A list of Slaves appraised in the County of Westmoreland 
 at the following dates." 4th Jan: 1815 and 7th March 1815. No. 
 Slaves 17. Value $3450. Average $203. 
 
 No. 3. "A list of Slaves appraised in the County of Richmond at 
 the following dates". 6th March 1815. No. Slaves 21. Value $4415. 
 Average $210. 
 
 No. 4. "A list of Negros inventoried and appraised in Essex Co. 
 Va, by Order of the Court between 15th Jan: and 15th March 1815." 
 No. Slaves 88. Value $21,883. Average $248. 
 
 No. 5. " List of Negros appraised in Northumberland Co. Va, by 
 Order of the Co. Court"— iSth Feb. 1815. and 13th March 1815. No. 
 Slaves 6. Value $925. Average $154. 
 
 No. 6. " List of Sales and appraisements of Negros made between 
 the 15th Jan: 1815 and 15th March 1815 in Lancaster Co. Va by Order 
 of the Court." No. Slaves 16. \^alue $3972. Average $248. 
 
 No. 7. " List of Sales and Appraisements of Negros made between 
 15th Jan. 19 1 5 and the 15th March 181 5 in the County of York Va." 
 No. Slaves 19. Value $4475. Average $246. 
 
 No. 8. " List of Sales and Appraisements of Negros made in Nor- 
 folk Co. Va. between 15th Jan: and 15th ]March 1815 by Order of the 
 County Court." No. Slaves 28. Value $8,103. Average $290. 
 
 No. 9. " Extract from the List of Appraisements and Accounts of 
 Sales of Negros made in Nansemond Co: Va. between 15th Jan: 1815 
 and the 15th March 1815 by Order of the County Court." No. Slaves 
 36. Value $70,034. Average $167. 
 
 No. 10. " Sales of Negros at Buck's Auction Room, Eredericksburg, 
 Va during the year 1815." No. Slaves 14. Value $4119. Average $294. 
 
 No. II. Certificate of Peyton Mason IMerchant of Petersburg, Va. 
 of the purchase of Slaves by him in 1814 and 1815. No. Slaves 10. 
 Value $2125. Average $212. 
 
 g@°" Of these Slaves 7 were under 15 Years of Age. If the Ages 
 of these be considered and the resulting Average and the Average of No. 
 10 be compared with the Averages of .-Appraisements, the incorrectness 
 of the latter will be further displayed. 
 
 No. 
 
 
 
 Re 
 
 capitulation. 
 
 
 I. 
 
 Slaves 
 
 57- 
 
 Value $14,790 
 
 
 2. 
 
 
 17 
 
 3450 
 
 
 3- 
 
 
 21 
 
 4,415 
 
 
 4- 
 
 
 88 
 
 21.883 
 
 
 5- 
 
 
 6 
 
 925 
 
 
 6. 
 
 
 16 
 
 3-972 
 
 
 7- 
 
 
 19 
 
 4,475 
 
 
 8. 
 
 
 28 
 
 8,103 
 
 
 9- 
 
 
 36 
 
 7.034 
 
 
 10. 
 
 
 14 
 
 4,119 
 
 
 II. 
 
 
 10 
 
 2.125 
 
 
 
 
 312 
 
 $75,291- 
 
 Average $241 
 
 No. I. 
 
 North Carolina No. i to 6. 
 List of the Sales and appraisements of Negros made be- 
 
 tween the 15th Jan: 1815. and 15th ]\Iarch 1815 by Order of the Co. 
 Court of Hertford Co. N. C." No. Slaves 7. Value $2298. Average 
 $328. 
 
834 Documents 
 
 No. 2. "A list of the Valuation of Negros made between 15th Jan: 
 1815 and 15th March 1815 by Order of the County Court of Northamp- 
 ton." No. Slaves 5. Value $1574- Average $314. 
 
 No. 3. " List of Sales and Appraisements of Negros made between 
 15th Jan: 1815 and 15th March 1815 by Order of the County Court 
 of Halifax." No. Slaves 3. Value $1210. Average $403. 
 
 No. 4. " List of Sales and appraisements of Negros made in Frank- 
 lin Co. between loth Jan: and 20th March 1815 by Order of the Co. 
 Court." No. Slaves 105. Value $24,690. Average $234. / 
 
 No. 5. "List of the Sales of Negros made between 15th Jan: 1815 f 
 
 and 15th March 1815 by Order of Wake Co: Court." No. Slaves 17. \ 
 
 Value $4844. Average $285. ^> 
 
 No. 6. " List of sales and appraisements of Negros made between 
 15th Feb. 1815 and 15th March 1815 by Order of the County Court of 
 Cumberland." No. Slaves 20. Value $5810. Average $290. 
 
 No. 
 
 
 
 Recapitulation. 
 
 
 I. 
 
 Slaves 
 
 7- 
 
 Value $ 2,298 
 
 
 2. 
 
 
 5 
 
 I. .574 
 
 
 3- 
 
 
 3 
 
 " 1,210 
 
 
 4- 
 
 
 105 
 
 " 24,690 
 
 
 5- 
 
 
 17 
 
 4,844 
 
 
 6. 
 
 
 20 
 
 ^7 
 
 5,810 
 
 
 
 $40,426. 
 
 Average $257 
 
 Mississippi. No. i.^^ 
 
 " List of the Sales and Appraisements of Slaves made in Adams 
 Co. in the Mississippi Territory, between 19th Deer. 1814 and the 28th 
 June 1 81 5 by Order of the Orp[h]an's Court of said County." No. 
 Slaves 197. Value $56,730. Average $288. 
 
 " Tho' the Caption of this List includes Sales there are, in fact, 
 no sales, but altogether Appraisements. This is also true in effect in 
 relation to other lists from other States. And in all cases where the 
 Contrast is presented, it is discoverable the Appraisements are below 
 even the Sales of Estates of deceased persons, and Sheriffs and Mar- 
 shall's sales, 'tho' these last are always made at great disadvantage and 
 for less than the value [of the] property. 
 
 Delazvare No. i to 5. 
 
 No. I. "List of the Appraisements of Slaves made by Order of the 
 Register for the Probate of Wills etc. for the County of New-Castle, 
 Del. between 17th Deer. 1814 and 17th April 1815. No. Slaves 19. 
 Value $1960. Average $103. 
 
 No. 2. " List of the Sales and Appraisements of Slaves made by 
 Order of the Register of Wills etc. of Kent Co. Del. between 15th 
 Novr. 1814 and 15th May 1815." No. Slaves 20. Value $3224. Aver- 
 age $161. 
 
 No. 3. " List of Sales and Appraisements of Slaves made by Order 
 of the Register of Wills, etc. of Sussex Co. between 15th Nov. 1814 
 and 15th May 1815." No. Slaves 39. Value $4,356. Average $111. 
 
 18 " It will appear that they have drawn testimony from two States (Dela- 
 ware and Mississippi), from which no claims have heretofore been presented." 
 Cheves and Seawell to Adams, July 3, 1824. 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves, i8ij 835 
 
 ]\Iany of the Slaves in the forgoing Certificates were bound to 
 servitude but for a Term of Years, which in many instances was short 
 Quer. What is the Law of Delaware relative to Emancipation. 
 
 Recapitulation. 
 
 No. I. Slaves 19. Value $1,960 
 
 2. " 20 " 3,224 
 
 3. "39 \ _4^ 
 
 78 $9,540. Average $122. 
 
 General average of the several States. 
 
 Georgia $ 268 
 
 Louisiana 474 
 
 Maryland 167 
 
 District of Columbia 234 
 
 So. Carolina 317 
 
 Virginia 241 
 
 No. Carolina 257 
 
 Mississippi 288 
 
 Delaware 122 , 
 
 9/ $ 236 8 ' 
 
 Average — $ 263 
 
 XX. Averages from the Claims. 
 
 Averages deduced from the evidence accompanying the Claims.^^ 
 
 States Number of Value Averages. 
 
 Slaves 
 
 Georgia 779 $429,615 $ 551 
 
 Louisiana 224 236,300 1,048 
 
 So. Carolina 4 2.450 612 
 
 Maryland 546 186,905 342 
 
 Alexandria 2 1,100 550 
 
 Alabama 13 7,800 600 
 
 Virginia 1195 396,048 331 
 
 7/ 4^034^ 
 General Average — $ 576 
 
 XXL Cheves and Seawell to the Secretary of State. 
 
 Washington City 13 Sepr. 1824 
 Sir, 
 
 We have the honor to inform you that the Board of Commissioners 
 under the Convention of St. Petersburg, on Saturday last, the nth 
 instant, unanimously agreed upon and fixed the average value of Slaves, 
 under the 2d article of that Convention. The accompanying paper 
 
 19 Marked D, and endorsed as having accompanied a letter of July 3, 1824, 
 from Cheves and Seawell to the Secretary of State. On this and the table just 
 preceding, Cheves and Seawell in that letter remark to Adams, " You have here- 
 with a Statement, marked D, of the averages resulting from the direct proof of 
 value which accompanys the respective claims, and you have the averages result- 
 ing from the British testimony annexed to the accompanying digest of it, 
 marked A ". 
 
836 Documents 
 
 marked (A)-" contains an extract from the Protocol of that day which 
 furnishes the details of this act of the Board. This agreement was the 
 result of a very laborious examination of the Testimony and a number 
 of informal Conferences, the particulars of which as they were not 
 binding on either side, except in the formal act in which they resulted, 
 we believe it to be unnecessary to state. 
 
 In the discussion of the question we were very much embarrassed 
 by two circumstances. The ist was the difficulty of sustaining, under 
 the terms of the Convention, a construction which should authorize 
 several averages, ^^ which was resisted by the British Commissioners, 
 for although it was urged upon them, that the claims were most numer- 
 ous from those states where Slaves were least valuable and therefore 
 that a General average would be injurious to Great Britain, they re- 
 plied by expressing their conviction that these could not be substantiated. 
 The 2d was the want of evidence on our part to controvert the accuracy 
 and credibility of the British proof deduced from public sales and ap- 
 praisements. In answer to our arguments impugning this testimony 
 they replied that the fair and necessary presumption was that proof 
 deduced from Sales and appraisements made by order or under the 
 authority of our own Judicial Tribunals, was the very best proof that 
 could be adduced and that they could not admit, nor could the umpire 
 be authorized in admitting if the question should be brought before him, 
 any impeachment of such testimony unless it were sustained by satis- 
 factory evidence, of which, they alleged correctly, there was none before 
 them. This was certainly unanswerable reasoning and the knowledge 
 on our part that it sustained a false proposition did not afford us the 
 least relief. 
 
 With the American testimony you are of course fully acquainted. Of 
 the British testimony the paper (B)-- exhibits a brief analysis. These 
 circumstances had necessarily an influence on our decision. We will 
 not add that we were led to apprehend great delays in case of a refer- 
 ence to the umpire, because we believe it will appear highly probable, on 
 referring to the Convention, that had the question gone before him. a 
 single average must have been the result, which would have been prac- 
 tically so very unjust, that we might perhaps have been induced to yield 
 even more than we did, to have avoided it, had it been necessary; nor did 
 we entertain the least hope, that the Minister of the Mediating Power, 
 near the United States,-^ a stranger to our Institutions and unacquainted 
 with the value of this species of property, varying in different portions 
 of the Country in a degree so surprizing as to be almost incredible, 
 would with the imperfect proofs before the Board, have agreed to a 
 greater average than the medium of the several averages agreed upon, 
 which is no less than $416. There is another circumstance which it is 
 very material to regard in considering the principal portion of the 
 American testimony. We, of course, mean the claimants' proof. The 
 circumstance is this, the resulting averages of this proof are very 
 much swelled by the descriptions of Slaves taken away, an unusuallv 
 large portion of these having been of prime character, But, whether 
 
 20 Given in substance in Moore, I. 370: for Louisiana $580, for Alabama, 
 Georgia, and South Carolina $390, for Maryland, Virginia, and the other states 
 $280. 
 
 21 As distinguished from one general average. 
 
 22 No. XXI. below. 
 
 23 Baron Tuyll, Russian minister. 
 
Estimates of the Value of Slaves, i8i^ 837 
 
 correctly or not was not for us to determine, the Convention does not 
 require nor authorize the Board or the umpire to estabHsh the vahie of 
 the Slaves taken away but " the true value of Slaves at the period of 
 the exchange of the ratifications of the Treaty of Ghent." 
 
 The average for Louisiana is the lowest when compared wi[th] the 
 claimants proof, yet we can not help believing that these Claimants have 
 been peculiarly fortunate in the settlement of the actual average fixed 
 for their cases, because, in any other course, they would probably have 
 been governed by a single average considerably below that of which 
 they will now enjoy the benefit. Besides even the naming of an 
 average closely approximating to that which the claimants proof 
 exhibited for this state, vizt. $1055, would scarcely have been tolerated; 
 and the Idea of establishing any thing like it must be deemed pre- 
 posterous. 
 
 The Claimants proof from Georgia established an average of $550. 
 The like proof from Alabama and So. Carolina was, by the British Com- 
 missioners, put out of view nor could we oppose this course, because it 
 was formed in the case of the last named State on claims for only four 
 Slaves and in that of the former for only thirteen. If then the claim- 
 ants proof from Georgia be compared with the British proof as well 
 as all the other proof in relation to these States, it will appear that our 
 compromise for Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, was a good one. 
 It is only necessary to say in relation to Maryland and Virginia that the 
 proof of the claimants gave a joint average for these two states of 
 $338, while the British proof gave a like average of only $220, giving 
 an average, if these proofs be amalgamated, of $279, while that fixed is 
 $280 and only $58 less than the utmost claim. 
 
 We were informed of no other claims than those from the above 
 mentioned states and thought that all contingent claims from other 
 states, if any, might, without material hazard, be embraced under the 
 average for Maryland and Virginia. 
 
 On the whole we are ourselves entirely satisfied with the result upon, 
 the fullest examination and the maturest deliberation and have only to 
 hope that it may be equally satisfactory to the Government and that it 
 may be acceptable to the claimants generally; for it would be idle to 
 hope that it will be satisfactory to all. 
 
 We have the honor to be, Sir, 
 
 With great respect, 
 
 Your Obt Servants 
 
 Langdon Cheves 
 Henry Seawell 
 The Honorable 
 
 John Quincy Adams 
 Secretary of State, 
 Washington City, 
 
8.:i8 
 
 Documents 
 
 XXII. Averages estimated by the British Commissioners. 
 (B) British Averages.-* 
 
 States 
 
 Maryland 
 
 Virginia 
 
 South Carolina . 
 
 Georgia 
 
 Louisiana 
 
 Sales 
 
 173 
 267 
 302 
 294 
 467 
 
 Appraisements 
 
 195 
 
 245 
 249 
 
 255 
 475 
 
 Averages 
 
 184 \ 
 256 f 
 275 \ 
 274) 
 471 
 
 Joint Averages 
 
 220 
 
 275 
 
 < 
 
 24 Paper marked B, and endorsed as accompanying Cheves and Seawall's letter 
 of September 13, 1824, no. XX., above. 
 
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011 932 562 6 
 
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 pennulii 
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