Description:

JOHN BRANCH (1782–1863) U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, the 19th Governor of the state of North Carolina, and was the sixth and last territorial governor of Florida. Branch resigned as Jackson's Secretary of the Navy as a result of the "Petticoat Scandal" incited by the wife of John C. Calhoun. Fascinating letter sent to Branch by one "Robert W. Williams", 3pp. 4to., Tallahassee, Jan. 25, 1835 discussing slave prices and asking the future governor of Florida to help him locate salve families for sale. Williams first discusses prices obtained for cotton sold by Branch, continuing: "...Col. Gamble...purchased of Messrs. Reid & Parish, their negroes, consisting of 34 in number, in families, at an average price of five hundred dollars cash in hand...[which] R & P purchased two years ago...at an average price of $250...The northern slave holding states will be inundated this spring and next summer, with negro buyers from Florida...I have some expectation of selling to Col. Gamble...will you...make some inquiry as to the possibility of purchasing negroes in families, in number, from 20 to 100 - at an average price of $300..." Seal tear costs a few letters of text, else very good.

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July 31, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000