Deed of sale for an enslaved man named Cato

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.

This deed of sale has pre-printed and handwritten text that records the purchase of an enslaved man named Cato (born 1819) sold by J. P. Lapier of Pointe Coupee, Louisiana, an agent for C. E. Girardy & Co. to James Roberts of Jefferson City, Louisiana, for $800.00 on April 28, 1859. Cato is described as being around forty years of age and was "sold as having run away." The paper is folded in half along the left side with the reverse of the open sheet (interior pages when folded) blank. On the back of the folded page is handwritten text in ink identifying the date, seller, buyer, and enslaved person.

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