Act of emancipation, signed by the famous statesman Thomas Hart Benton and his wife Elizabeth, emancipating their 41-year old slave Sarah after approximately 14 years of "long and faithful services.
"We, Thomas H. Benton & Elizabeth Benton, in consideration of long & faithful services, did, upwards of a year ago, set free the bearer, Sarah, a black woman, aged about forty one years, and our slave at that time; in confirmation of which we do now deliver this act of emancipation. The said Sarah was born in Virginia, in the family of Col. James McDowell, and came with us to the State of Missouri, in the year 1821, as our slave; she is an honest, sober and industrious woman, always a house servant, and is a good seamstress, washer & ironer. She was married some years ago to Daniel, formerly the slave of Mrs. Ann Benton, now belonging to W. Charles Cabanne, and is now his wife. Given under our hands & seals at St. Louis, this 5th day of November in the year 1835. Thomas H. Benton (Seal). Elizabeth Benton (Seal).
Also signed, sealed & in presence of three witnesses A. Rutland, Arthur L. Magenis, J. (Joshua).B. Brant. On verso signed by the Clerk, Archibald Gamble. Docketed "Filed 11 November, 1835" with the embossed "St. Louis Country Circuit Court Seal".
Thomas Hart Benton is one of the most famous citizens in the history of Missouri. At the time of this document Benton had been in Congress for 14 years. His wife, Elizabeth, was from a prominent Virginia family. There is a very interesting circular sidelight to this manumission. Sarah, the ex-slave referred to in this document was, from birth, the property of Elizabeth Benton’s father, Colonel James McDowell. Sarah’s husband, the slave named Daniel in the above document, had been the property of Mrs. Ann Benton, Thomas Hart Benton’s mother. According to the Dictionary of American Biography Benton’s "views on slavery ... materially changed. While in 1820 he had opposed all slavery restriction in Missouri by 1828 he had come to favour gradual abolition". During the battle to retain or repeal the prohibition of slavery contained in the Missouri Compromise, Benton led the fight to oppose repeal..

$5,000.00

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