While researching Spear family lines in North Carolina, I came across this bill of sale in the probates and inventories of Surry County. Since all parties were living, I’m not sure why it was filed there, but it might be of interest to other Spear researchers.
It’s always disheartening to come across these documents, but it’s even sadder that the enslaved was a young eleven year old boy and the sale was finalized on Christmas Eve.
Henry Spear was likely the brother of my husband’s ancestor, Benjamin Spear. If so, Henry was born around 1760.
Source: North Carolina Probate Records, Surry County
Accounts, Inventories, Sales 1784-1809, Pages 40-41
FamilySearch
This Indenture made the 24th day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and Ninty-four, between Charles Hunt of the County of Surry and Stat of North Carolina of the one part and Henry Speer of the County & State aforesaid of the other part, witnesseth that the said Henry Speer hath this day bargained, sold, & delivered unto the said Charles Hunt a certain negro boy by the name of Ned about eleven years old for and in consideration of the sum of Eighty-two pounds ten Shillings current money of the State aforesaid in hand paid by the said Charley Hunt the receipt where of the said Henry Speer doth herby acknowledge to have and to hold free and clear from the lawful claim or claims of all persons whatsoever and further doth hereby warrant the said negro boy to be sound and well and free frm any impediment whatever for the true and faithful performance of the above. I hereby (bing?) myself, my Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns to the Charles Hunt his Heirs and Assigns. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above within. H. Speer (seal)
Done before,
H. Yong
J. Hunt
North Carolina Surry County February Term 1795
The within Bill of Sale from Henry Speer to Charles Hunt was proved by the oath of John Hunt a Subscribing Witness thereto and ordered to be recorded at large.
Recorded accordingly by P. Jo Williams CC