Selling Slaves to New York City Mayor Abraham de Peyster in 1714! Rare Northern Slavery Doc sadly bargaining "one negro boy named Jack and one negro wench named Kate"

This bond conveyed ownership of two African American slaves named Jack and Kate to Abraham de Peyster to secure a debt of £53 that Robert Hickman owed De Peyster. If Hickman paid the debt before May 1, the transfer was void. Otherwise, they would become De Peyster's permanent property to keep or to sell.

[AFRICAN AMERICAN.] Robert Hickman, Manuscript Document Signed, Bond for Slaves to Secure Debt to Abraham de Peyster, February 11, 1714, New York, New York. 3 pp., 8" x 12.75". Some edge tears, several vertical tears, but no significant loss of text; repairs to some edges; bold, dark text.

Excerpts
"now know yee that the Said Robert Hickman in Pursuance of the Sd Agreements and for and in Consideration of the said Summe of fifty and three Pounds Currant money aforesaid to him in hand Paid by ye Said Abraham DePeyster att and before the Ensealing and delivery hereoff the Receipt Whereof he the Said Robtt Hickman doth hereby Acknowledge hath bargained and Sold and by these ⅌Sents doth bargaine and Sell unto the Said Abraham DePeyster, one negro boy named Jack and one negro wench named Kate with all and Singelniar the Cloathes and Apparell to them or either of them belonging...."

"Provided always and these ⅌sents are upon this Condition that if the Said Robert Hickman his Exers and adminisrs and asignes Shall and doe well and truly Pay or cause to be Paid unto the Sd Abraham De Peyster his Exers, administrs and asignes ye aforesaid fifty and three Pounds att or before the Aforesaid first day of may now next ensuing the Date hereof then this ⅌sent bargane and sale to be void and of none effect Butt if Default be made in ye Payment of the Said fifty and three Pounds or any Part thereof att ye Aforesaid first Day of May Contrary to the form and effect of the Provision aforesaid, then this ⅌sent bargaine & Sale to stand in full force and effect, absoluteley for ever without any Redemption and that it shall from thence forth be Lawfull to and for the Said Abraham De Peyster his Exers admr and Assignes to Sell and Dispose of the Said bargained ⅌misses to for ye best advantage and out of the moneys arrising from the Sale thereof to satisfie and pay him or themselves the aforesaid fifty and three Pounds...."

Robert Hickman was a mariner and married Susannah De Forest (b. 1676) in 1703. He was admitted as a freeman or citizen of New York City in March 1705/1706. He served as a constable of the East Ward from October 1707 until departing the province in April 1708.

Abraham De Peyster (1657-1728) was born in New Amsterdam into the wealthy de Peyster merchant family. In 1691, New York Governor Henry Sloughter appointed De Peyster as mayor of New York City, a position he held until 1694. Under his administration, the city began providing public support for the poor. He also served as alderman, associate judge and later chief justice of the province's Supreme Court, president of the King's Council, and treasurer for the provinces of New York and New Jersey. In 1699, he donated part of his garden for the construction of a new city hall, later renamed Federal Hall, which became the first capitol of the United States and the site of George Washington's first inauguration. De Peyster married his second cousin Catharina de Peyster (1665-ca. 1734), and they had at least four children.

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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