The Sale of Enslaved People on the Square in Franklin

Tonight the "Fuller Story" initiative took a big step forward at a work group meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen here in Franklin, Tennessee.  A group of four community members are working to have four historic markers and a statue installed on the town square to help tell a more inclusive history.  One of those markers relates to the slave sales that once occurred in our town - including many at our town square.  

When you drive into Franklin today and see the cute boutiques and well-manicured park at the center of the square, its hard to imagine the history that is not represented. There are historic markers telling some of the history, but not all.  At one time the center of Franklin's historic square was the site of a horror almost too difficult to understand.  Men, women and children were brought to town in order to sell them - or in some cases rent them.  Town leaders and city officials were intimately involved in this horrific practice.  The Clerk of the County Court took people as collateral on loans and then sold them when the deal went badly.  Sometimes people were sold to satisfy debts owed on an estate when someone died.  

Below is a collection of just some of the ads and notices I have collected demonstrating the ways in which people - men, women and children - were sold, bartered, and traded on our town square. 

On Monday, February 15, 1813, "likely young negroes [people]" were sold "to the highest bidder, at the court house in the town of Franklin." The court house referred to would have been a previous court house building sited at the center of the square where the Confederate monument sits today. The people being sold had been enslaved by Sally L. R. Gray and were "sold for cash in hand."

Nashville Whig Wednesday, January 20, 1813

Another aspect of slavery that occurred at the Court House was registering of deeds.  Much as people today register the title to their cars and homes, deeds of sale for enslaved people were registered in the courthouse at the center of the square.  

On December 8, 1813, a bill of sale was registered between Martin Adams, of Davidson County, Tennessee, who sold to William Hope, of Williamson County, Tennessee, the following people: Rose (about 22 years old), Billy (aged 2 months), Tom (aged 5 years), Nancy (aged 13 years), and Sealey (aged 3 years). Williamson County, Tennessee, Will Book 2, p. 77. [file 136]

Below is an example of a deed of sale for a 13-year-old boy named Lijah in Brentwood in August 1822.

Aug 8,1822, Bill of Sale for Elijah
Hendley Stone to John Holt, Brentwood, Tennessee

Often, enslaved people were distributed during probate proceedings following their enslaver's death. These divisions often resulted in separations of family members. During the April Session of the Williamson County Court in 1821, people enslaved by Thomas Adkins were divided among his family members. Those enslaved were named Darcas, Sam, Jack, Catherine, Bagby, James, John, Wat, Harriet, Booker, and Susannah. Williamson County, Tennessee, Will Book 3, p. 242. [file 158]

On January 28, 1832, "three or four likely and valuable [people]" were sold "at the Court House in Franklin.  The sale was "made expressly for the purpose of raising money to pay the debts" of Thomas Figuers to Thomas Pankey. Again, this sale took place at the courthouse located at the center of the square.

Western Weekly Review
January 13 1832

One year later, on April 2, 1833 Gilbert Marshall "exposed to public sale . . . on the public square in the town of Franklin, a negro slave named Caroline, about 9 years old."  It does not appear that she was sold with her parents or siblings.  This sale likely separated her from her family.

Western Weekly Review
March 8, 1833

One month later, on Saturday, March 23, 1833, Joseph Wallace sold "to the highest bidder . . . at the courthouse in the town of Franklin . . . One negro man named Giles" and some household goods.

Western Weekly Review
March 8, 1833

The very next month, on April 28th, 1833, "by virtue of an order of the worshipful court of Pleas and Quarter sessions for the County of Williamson" Meredith P. Gentry sold  "at the courthouse in the town of Franklin . . . a negro man aged 25 years named Harry." Harry had been enslaved by Thomas Gentry.

Western Weekly Review
April 5, 1833

Sometimes, enslaved people were ordered by the Court in Franklin to be sold in Nashville - likely because the seller (often the Court itself - as in the case below) could fetch a higher monetary price.  In April 1842, the Clerk and Master of the Williamson County Court ordered that "between 20 and 30 Negroes of different ages, etc" were to be sold "at the Market house in Nashville the following September.

Mon__Aug_15, 1842

In another case, on January 2, 1844, "the following [people]: Patsey, Sarah, Mariah, James and Patsey" were ordered to be sold "at the courthouse in Nashville for cash."

The_Tennessean_Fri__Dec_15__1843

The Chancery Court at Franklin at its April Term, 1845 issued two decrees ordering the sale of two groups of people to be "expose[d] to public sale at the Market house in Nashville".  First, on May 26, 1845, three people, "Frank, Bill and Jim" were to be sold. Next, on May 27, 1845, five people "named Celia, Lilly, Andrew, Calvin and Eliza" were to be sold.

The_Tennessean_Fri__May_16__1845

Not all of the sales of enslaved people were advertised in newspapers.  Sometimes they were advertised using handbills posted around town.  Unfortunately, nearly all of the handbills advertising the sale of people in Williamson County - which would be of great help to historians and genealogists - were not retained.  However, sometimes information about the content of those listing can be found in probate records.  The document below is an example.

"On January 2, 1854 the following slaves were sold at public auction on the public square in Franklin, Tennessee

• Tina and her children to Samuel Patton for $1,200
• John to James Fleaster for $1,170
• Patty? to James Fleaster for $940
• David to John C. Bostick for $1,160
• Isabel to John C. Bostick for $935
• Lavinia to John C. Bostick for $1030
• Sam to Y?W.? Redmond for $910
• Camial? to YW Redmond for $770
• Bird to YW Redmond for $560

 January 2, 1854 the following slaves were sold at public auction on the public square in Franklin, Tennessee

Below is the only example of a handbill poster that I have found advertising the sale of enslaved people in Williamson County.  On January 7, 1856, Sam, Felix, Phillis, Mary, Andy, and Martha were sold "at public sale, on the public square in Franklin." This sale was - like all the others - entirely legal and administered by the County Clerk and Master.

Chancery Sale of Slaves in Franklin
January 7, 1856

On Saturday, August 23, 1856, on the public square in Franklin, "a Negro Girl, named Della" was sold in a Constable's Sale to satisfy debts of F. M. Williams and James Cunningham in favor of Lyons & Co., a Nashville store. Della was sold to the highest bidder. [The (Franklin, Tenn.) Western Weekly Review, Aug._, 1856.]

Nashville Union and American
Sunday, Oct 5, 1856, page 4

Registering of deeds and sales of enslaved people happened right up until the eve of the Civil War.  In 1858, almost certainly using the labor of enslaved laborers, a new courthouse was constructed on the edge of the square. 

Slave sales and business related to them continued at this new site. This deed dated August 7, 1858 documents the purchase by Thomas Holt of Jane (23 years old) and her two children Molly (2 years old) and John (one week old). 

Deed of Sale for Jane, Molly and John
August 7, 1858

This is just a small sampling of some of the types of documents I have uncovered that are related to the sale of enslaved human beings in the square in Franklin. They span nearly the full 60+ years of Williamson County and Franklin's formal existence before the Civil War began.  And they demonstrate the variety of ways in which our most prominent public spaces and our most significant public building - the very seat of our city and county government - were the hub of this immoral practice.  The fact that not a single historic marker takes notice of the fact that in just one year 12,000 human beings were held in bondage in this County - that they were bought, sold and even killed on our town square - is shameful and it is long past time for that wrong to be righted.