A Tale of Two Advertisements

 A wealth of history can lie in the most mundane of sources . . .

        CASH SALE OF SLAVES.

ON WEDNESDAY, the 27th day of the present month, I will sell, at New Kent Court House, publicly, to the highest bidder, for cash, between twenty and thirty very likely slaves. The sale will be made under a decree of the Superior Court of Chancery for the Richmond Circuit, pronounced on the 31st day of March, 1846, in the case of "Semple, &c., vs. Christian and others." Said sale will be made by me, as Commissioner for that purpose, appointed, in said decree.         JOHN B. CHRISTIAN.

May 7-ctds

-Richmond Enquirer, 15 May 1846

         50 Dollars Reward !

RAN  AWAY from the subscriber, at New Kent Court house. on the 27th day of May, 1846, a Negro Woman named JUDY. The said slave is about 23 years of age, five feet one or two inches high, and very black. She was purchased by the subscriber, at New Kent Court-house, on the 27th day May, 1846, and sold by John B. Christian, Esq., as Commissioner, under a decree of the Chancery Court of Richmond, in the case of Semple vs. Christian and others. I will give $50 for the apprehension and delivery of said girl to me, in Richmond.

Having to reason to believe that she is harbored between New Kent C.H. and Williamsburg, by a white man, I will give, in addition to the above reward, $50 for such information as will convict the offender.

Nov. 9 -cwtf             JOHN J. TOLER.

-Richmond Enquirer, 18 January 1848


You will notice that Judy escaped from the auction itself and that John Toler was still running ads a year and a half after Judy made her run for freedom.

Sold at Auction 1835

                               Brought to Jail

  In LAGRANGE, Troup county, GA. on the 3d October inst. two negro men of the following description viz: EDMUND,  about 25 years of age about 5 feet 7 inches high, stout built, black complexion, has lost two of his upper front teeth, of African descent. Says that he belongs to Mr. Vinson Carr, cotton planter, who resides 50 miles above Bayou Sayra on the Mississippi river in Louisiana, and that he was raised in Charleston, S.C. and carried to Louisiana two or three years since by a Mr. Harry Boynan, and sold to a Mr. Nettles, who sold him again to the aforesaid Vinson Carr, the he run away some time about the 1st of May last. The other boy, WILLIAM, is about thirty years of age, 5 feet, 4 inches high, stout built, rather light complexion and somewhat bow-legged. says that he belongs to Alexander Humphries, who is a sugar Planter, residing in Louisiana, but does not know what county, his master lives on the River, that he was raised in New Kent county Virginia, and was sold at auction in Richmond, in March 1835, to his present master and shipped to New Orleans. The owners of said negroes are requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges and take them away.
Oct. 13.                      AARON WILKS, Jailor

-from the Columbus, Georgia Enquirer, October 20, 1836-March 2, 1837.

LaGrange lies in the middle of Troup county along the Alabama line