Freestone County, Texas
Bill of Sale


[William Elliott of Rusk Co., TX purchased slaves from Harmon and Margaret Ward
  of Freestone Co., TX. in 1859. 
 Source: Deed Book N of Rusk Co., TX pg. 47-48]


The State of Texas, County of Rusk } Know all men by these presents that we, 
Harmon Ward and Margaret Ward, his wife, both of the county of Freestone and 
state aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand dollars to 
us in hand paid by William Elliot of the County of Rusk and state aforesaid the, 
receipt of which we do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained, sold, and 
released and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, and release unto the said 
William Elliot, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns a certain negro 
woman, a slave for life, mulatto complexion, age nineteen years, named Victoria. 
To have to hold the said negro woman Victoria as a slave forever. And we, the 
said Harmon Ward and Margaret Ward, his wife, for ourselves, our heirs, executors, 
administrators, and assigns, the said negro woman Victoria unto the said William 
Elliott, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns against us, the said 
Harmon Ward and Margaret Ward, his wife, our heirs, executors, administrators, 
and assigns against [any] and every person or persons whatever claiming or to 
claim the same, shall and will warrant and forever defend. By these presents we 
warrant the said negro woman Victoria to the sound in body and mind. In witness 
whereof, we have hereunto set out hands and affixed our seals, using scrawls for 
seals, this, the 12th day of September A. D. 1859. signed, sealed and delivered 
in presence of L. D. Stevens, W. B. Reed. Harmon Ward {Seal}. Margret Ward {Seal}. 
The State of Texas, County of Rusk } Before me, L. D. Stevens, a Notary Public 
in and for Rusk County and state aforesaid, personally appeared Harmon Ward and 
Margaret Ward, his wife, parties to the foregoing bill of sale bearing date 
September the 12th, 1859, and who acknowledged that they signed, sealed and 
delivered the same for the purposes and considerations therein expressed. And the 
said Margaret Ward, having been examined by me privily and apart from her husband, 
and having the same fully explained to her, she, the said Margaret Ward, 
acknowledged the same to be her act and deed, and declared that she had willingly 
signed, sealed and delivered the same, and that she wished no retract it. (LS) 
To certify which, I hereto sign my name and affix my official seal of office at 
office in the town of Mount Enterprise this, the 12th day of September A. D. 1859. 
L. D. Stevens, Notary Public, Rusk County, Texas. Endorsement. Harmon Ward and 
Margaret Ward, bill of sale to William Elliott. Filed for record November 21st, 
1859 at 9 o'clock A. M. Perry G. Whetstone, Clerk, County Court, Rusk County.