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John Brown

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:7,500.00 - 8,500.00 USD
John Brown

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Auction Date:2016 Nov 09 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
ALS, one page, 7.75 x 10, October 28, 1848. Letter to Willis A. Hodges, an African-American abolitionist in Franklin County, New York. In full (spelling and grammar retained): “I have just returned home & on my way at Troy I bought 5 Barrels of Pork & 5 Barrels of Flour. Three Barrels of the Pork & three barrels of the flour are directed to yourself care of Colvin & Allen, Port Kent. The other two Barrels of Pork & of Flour I have sent to Timbucto. I wish you so to divide with the different families as to make all as happy & comfortable as possible. I think that the Pork & Flour will be at Port Kent before you get thir but you can find out by sending to Colvin & Allen. You will have the freight to pay from Troy as I had not sufficient funds with me to pay it. You must try & make your money reach now until Spring as I have now paid out quite a sum in the different ways. I shall expect to hear from you soon how you all get along, & whether you get the provisions all safe.” Addressed on the integral address leaf in Brown’s hand. In good to very good condition, with scattered light staining and soiling, and extensive archival repairs and reinforcements to separated folds and area of paper loss.

Brown references Timbuctoo, New Jersey, a small settlement of free-born blacks and former slaves founded in 1820 with the support of local Quakers. Hodges had been born free in Virginia but forced to flee the state after being accused of forging manumission papers. In 1848, the year of this letter, he settled a community called ‘Blacksville’ in upstate New York on two hundred acres given to him by noted abolitionist Gerrit Smith. This letter demonstrates Brown’s commitment to the abolitionist cause, supporting these two important free black communities using his own funds. A supremely desirable, historically significant letter penned as Brown became increasingly active within the abolitionist movement.