Hezekiah Davis Sr., 1760-Jan 29, 1834
Source:The History of Negro Servitude in Illinois: and of the slavery agitation in that state, 1719-1864 by N. Dwight Harris
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Appendix II
SPECIMEN COPIES OF SLAVE PAPERS.
I.The following Bill of Sale was found among the papers of Henry Eddy, lawyer, and editor of the "Illinois Gazette," and the "Illinois Emigrant," of Shawneetown, Illinois.It is now in the possession of Charles Carroll, Jr., Shawneetown, who is a near relative of Mr. Eddy.Mr. Carroll possesses several other interesting letters and papers bearing upon the subject of negoro servants, which were the former property of Mr. Eddy.The Bill of Sale here given in is written in fairly clear handwriting and signed by the same hand.It is attested by a Justice of Peace of Randolph County, but in the place of the seal, now so customery, there is only the word "Seal" written after each name and enclosed in a little circle.One would judge from this that bona fide seals were rare articles among the people and the Justices of Peace in Illinois in those pioneer days.The paper reads:
"Know all men by these presents that I, Hezekiah Davis, of the County of Jackson and Territory of (Illinois), have this day sold, and by these presents doth sell unto Samuel Cochran of the County of Randolph, of the Territory aforesaid, a certain negro girl named Jane, aged sixteen years, who indentured herself to me on the 26th day of August, 1816 for the term of fifty years before James Finney, Esq., Clerk of the County Court of Johnson County, for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars current money of United States to me in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and the said Sam'l Cochran therefore dischared, and do by these presents forever warrant and defend the title of said girl unto the said Sam'l Cochran his heirs and assigns for ever against the claim of myself, my heirs, administrators, or assigns, or any person claiming under me or them or any other person legally claiming the same.In witness where I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of August, 1817.(Signed)Hezekiah Davis.(Seal)
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Illinois Territory)
Randolph Co.)Personally appeared before me, the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, the aforesaid Jane and declared that she voluntarily of her own free will and accord consented to serve Samuel Cochrane for the term of forty years in lieu of the fifty ears which she was to serve said Davis.In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 20th day of August 1817.
(signed)Mathew Duncan(Seal)
I.Samuel Cochran, of Jackson County, State of Illinois, do by those presents acknowledge to have received of William Boon 400 dollars in full for the services of the above described negro, Jane.
August 22nd 1822
(Signed)Samuel Cochran.(Seal)