Land indenture document transferring land from Gerrit Smith to John Bics

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A land indenture document transferring land from Gerrit Smith to John Bics or Bice, a possibly formerly enslaved man, for the sum of one dollar. The document contains printed and handwritten text, both in black ink, on both sides of a single sheet of off-white paper. The beginning states [THIS INDENTURE, made the First day of September / one thousand eight hundred and forty six between Gerrit Smith of Petersboro, Sate of New York, of the first part, and John Bics(?) / of the town of Madison, and the County of Madison, / State aforesaid, of the second part. / Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, in consideratin of one dollar and of his desire to have all share in the means of subsistence and happiness, which a bountiful God has provided for all, has granted, sold, and quit claimed, to the said party of the second part...]. The document is signed by Smith at the bottom, next to a green seal mark. The reverse side contains a printed and handwritten statement signed by [E. Holmes Judge Co. Courts / [illegible] his court] on the middle third of the document. The bottom third contains handwritten text. The document was previously folded into thirds.

Catalog date

September 1, 1846

Recorded places

Madison, Madison County, New York, United States, North and Central America; Peterboro, Madison County, New York, United States, North and Central America; Essex County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Recorded subjects

African American; Antislavery; Free communities of color; Race relations; Self-liberation; Slavery; U.S. History, 1815-1861

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