Name/Title
Letter from Pierre Van Cortlandt to Philip Van Cortlandt, n.d.Entry/Object ID
HHV 002.30Description
Letter from Pierre Van Cortlandt to Philip Van CortlandtSubject
Selling Ishmael, Charles, Tom and GeorgeSubject Person/Organization
Pierre Van Cortlandt (1721-1814), Philip Van Cortlandt (1749-1831), Ishmael (enslaved), Tom (enslaved), Charles (enslaved), George (enslaved)Subject Place
* Untyped Subject Place
Manor of CortlandtContext
Slavery. Plan to sell Ishmael, Charles, Tom and George.Collection
Van Cortlandt Manuscript CollectionTranscription
Dr Son Philip
Should you go to town Soon you can tell Mr Watts that he Can have Ismael the price is 8o£ I am determined to dispose of him pr first opportunity Your Mother tells me She Cannot have the trouble and anxiety another year with the blacks, I Know that She is the Slave to Slaves and all that is Raised here Is Only to Support them I there fore Think it I my duty to Seek peace with is not to be had In a family of Unruly disobedient wicked Servants who practice only wickedness, I Intend to Sell Charls and Tom also but will not Sell Tom to you if you will Sell George Ill give you Charls In his Stead, I propose putting out this farm On the best terms I can which Will help Support me and Your mother I wish you all happiness And am your
Affectionate Father
Pierre Van Cortlandt
[Endorsed]
P.V.C. Esqr.
Subject to Sell. Ishmael
1789Other Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
Former NumberOther Number
V 1777Research Notes
Notes
We cannot know how many enslaved men or boys named Ishmael worked for Pierre Van Cortlandt. If the "Ishmael" referenced here is the same man manumitted by the descendants of Van Cortlandt in 1814 (see HHV 002.25), then he was not sold (away from his wife, Sib and child, Abby) as this letter suggests. No other men are manumitted by the terms of the 1814 document, however.
