Pay from CSA for Death of Slave, South Carolina Physician Supports Planter’s Effort to Obtain 

This affidavit by Dr. William L. Pou certifies that Tom, a slave owned by Joel Bishop, contracted typhoid dysentery while working on the Confederate fortifications on the South Carolina coast in the summer of 1862 and died from the disease. Pou valued the slave at $1,200.

The Union Navy had captured Port Royal, Hilton Head, and Beaufort, South Carolina by November 1861, and the area, approximately fifty miles southwest of Charleston, became an important supply base and foothold on the southeast coast for Union forces. By the summer of 1862, Union forces began moving northeast toward Charleston, and Confederate authorities requisitioned slaves from South Carolina planters to build earthwork defenses on James Island, south of Charleston and other areas along the coast to defend against a threatened Union invasion. Joel Bishop's slave Tom was one of those who worked on the coastal fortifications, but he contracted typhoid fever, an infectious bacterial disease for which the fatality rates in the 1860s could reach 60 percent.

[SLAVERY.] Autograph Document Signed, Affidavit by Dr. William L. Pou, March 20, 1863, Orangeburg District, South Carolina. 1 p., 7.75" x 6.75". Expected folds; partial file note on verso; very good.

Complete Transcript
St. Matthews Parish / Orangeburg Dist. S.C.
    I do hereby certify that I was called to see Tom (Slave) property of Joel Butler on the 14th of June 1862, found him ill with Typhoid Dysentery, said slave having just returned the day before from working on the fortifications on the coast, and from the progress the disease had made, must have been contracted at least two weeks previous, and therefore must necessarily have been contracted while in the employment of the Government on the coast. On the 23rd of June 1862 said Slave died from Typhoid dysentery at the residence of said Joel Butler in St. Matthews Parish, O. D. I think said slave (Tom) was worth Twelve Hundred Dollars.
                                                                            Wm L. Pou M.D.
                                                                            March 20, 1863.
                                                                            St. Matthews Parish, Orangeburg District S.C.

William L. Pou (1829-1917) was born in South Carolina. He graduated from the Medical College of South Carolina in Charleston in 1852. In 1859, he married Emma Catherine Wannamaker (1839-1927), and they had at least two children. He died in St. Matthews Parish, Calhoun County, South Carolina.

Joel Butler (1807-1868) was born in South Carolina. In 1850, he was a planter in Orangeburg District, and he owned 59 slaves. By 1860, Butler owned 96 slaves in Orangeburg District.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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