A Letter for Trim

Transcription:

We the subscribers being called on by a Black Boy about 17 years old by the Name of Trim Who informed us that he was free Born in the Cape and one day standing on the shore several sailors and soldiers belonging to a Vessel then lying Near took hold of him and by four carreyed [sic] him on board said Vessel and Brought him to this City and the Captain of said Vessel as he was informed sold him to Isaac Reyh about Two years ago With Whom he had lived Ever since and that now the said Reyh was a going to send him to the West indies.  We then went to the said Issac and asked him if he owned the said Boy he said he did and that he Bought him in this place of the above named Captain and gave him sixty pounds for him but that the boy was Runaway and was not good for anything that he did not set any store by him and that we might have him if we pleased.  We then told him the boy was free he then Reply again and said that he did not want him that he had got another Boy and Did not Care what became of him the said Boy Trim that we might have him and if we would give him anything for him well, if not we might have him for nothing we then told him that the Boy was free and as he did not set any store by him there would not be any Difficulty about him so we Parted and told the Boy that no one would trouble him that he might Bind himself to anybody to learn a trade that would take him, Which we thought would be the best thing he could do for himself.  

Williet Seaman

Jacob Mold

New York

October

1795