The following information was found by a genealogy broker. He was selling it on Ebay under the title of “OLD 1858 CHESTERFIELD SC LETTER SLAVE STEALING & MURDER”. The letter is said to have fold lines, some stains, otherwise pretty good condition on old paper of good rag content. I believe this is the story my grandpa always tried to explain to our family.

I did make a copy of the first page of the letter off of Ebay, but I’m not showing that, because I could probably get in a lot of trouble, so I am retyping the information as it was sent to me.

OLD 1858 CHESTERFIELD SC LETTER SLAVE STEALING & MURDER

Full, two-page letter in dark brown ink on white paper 8 x 12”. School teacher’s letter written to his brother from Chesterfield District, South Carolina, describes a violent local incident in which a man confronted for STEALING AND SELLING A SLAVE, commits a brutal murder with a double barrel shotgun and fees from justice.

Partial excerpt of the letter follows:

“Chesterfield District, South Carolina 8 August 1858

Dear Brother,

I take this opportunity of answering your letter… [Describes family news, local marriages, and deaths in the neighboring area from SCARLET FEVER, DROPSY, AND TYPHOID FEVER].

RANSOM BLACKWELL STOLED A NEGRO last September and sold him to one Hughes a little west of here. Afterwards Hughes moved to Alabama. I believe it was the NEGRO BEING TRAILED OUT AND PROVEN. Hughes came back and described the man and it fell on Blackwell (you know he was easy described by his finger and scars on the face). He took a deputy from Camden came in search of Ransom and found him at one of his brother’s reaping wheat and told him all. He wanted his money back if he could not pay down make him sure of his money and he would let him off.

Blackwell told him to go home with him and he would make him satisfaction. He done so and BLACKWELL SHOT HIM WITH A DOUBLE BARREL GUN AND SAID IF HE HAD KNOWED THE FIRST LOAD WOULD KILLED HIM DEAD HE WOULD A PUT THE OTHER IN THE DEPUTY. The deputy put whip and left for Camden. This was seen by others, and when the inquest was held there was several hundred dollars missing from statements they found in the possession of Hughes. Blackwell has fled

From justice and it is said that Jas Dunn has gone off with him…

I commenced school again last Monday. I will have a very full school. Perhaps I will write a more satisfactory letter next time. My best wishes to you and Daniel & family.

Yours truly,

Edward Clark to Neill Crawford”

I was told that Hughes, the slave trader’s name was James J. Hughes.

Jas Dunn was the slave that was sold and then eventually fled with Ransom.

I wish I could buy the two-page letter, because there is probably a lot more information in it. If you are interested in buying it, please let me know and I will do my best to contact the man who is selling it. Thank you.