Black History
1830 BUYING THE GEORGIA GOVERNOR A SLAVE !
January 11th, 1830-Dated, Superb Black History & Slavery Content, Partly-Printed Legal Document Signed, “Wm. Adams” as a Dealer in Slaves, City of Savannah, Georgia, Regarding the Official Agent’s Purchase of a Slave for The Governor and State of Georgia, with Warrantee, Choice Very Fine.
This very rare, superb content, and quite extraordinary Partly-Printed Document is 1 page, measuring 13” x 7.75” (Legal folio), at Savannah, Georgia. Lightly folded, this impressive, boldly black printed Document is upon period wove paper. It is extremely clean and sharp in appearance, having rich brown signatures and manuscript portions that are easy to read and a tiny thin spot between two lines of text. Here, William Adams sells a Slave for the sum of $400 to “F. M. Stone, Agent for purchasing Negroes for the State of Georgia, appointed by his Excellency the Governor of said State...” (George R. Gilmer (1790-1859), a Two-time Georgia Governor during the 1830s). The Superb Content reads as follows, in full:

"Georgia, City of Savannah. -- Know all Men by these Presents, -- That I, Wm. Adams of the State of Georgia for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred Dollars to me in hand paid by F. M. Stone, (Agent for purchasing Negroes for the State of Georgia, appointed by his Excellency the Governor of said State, under and by virtue of an Act of the General Assembly of said State, passed December 1829,) at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge: have granted, bargained, sold and delivered, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and deliver unto the GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA for the time being and his successors in office, a male slave named Jesse aged Twenty five of black complexion and 5 Feet 8 Inches high. To have and to hold the said slave unto the Governor of the State of Georgia for the time being and his successors in office, for ever.

And I do warrant the said slave to be of good character and constitution. And I for myself, my heirs executors and administrators, the said slave unto his Excellency the Governor of the State of Georgia, for the time being, and his successors in office, against me, my heirs, executors, and administrators, and against all and every other person and persons whomsoever shall and will WARRANT, and FOREVER DEFEND by these presents.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January 1830. -- SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED, BEFORE M. Myers Noty Pub -- Wm. Adams"

Additionally, there is a Handwritten notation below signature, at bottom, “ Rec’d Savannah 11 Jan’y 1830 of F. M. Stone Agent for the sum of four hundred dollars being the consideration paid for Jesse. Witness M. Myers NP -- Wm Adams.” Docket on the blank reverse reads, “Bills of Sale for Scipio and Jesse -- 11 Jan’y 1830 -- Recorded.”

This is the very first example of this important Slavery Sale Form for the State Agent of Georgia we have ever encountered. Apparently there were two Slaves purchased, each with a separate Form and Warrantee. This is a truly remarkable Black History related Document, showing an official act of the Purchase of Negro Slave for the State of Georgia, on behalf of the Governor of Georgia!
George R. Gilmer (1790-1859), was a Two-time Georgia Governor during the 1830s, is best known for his successful efforts to remove the Cherokees from the state. He was also a state legislator, a U.S. congressman, and an army officer during the War of 1812 (1812-15). At various times in his life, Gilmer also served as a teacher, an author, a historian, a lawyer, and a trustee of the University of Georgia. Gilmer County, in the north Georgia mountains, is named in his honor.