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Lynchburg slave smallpox document, 1836, Accession #11294, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
The Special Collections Department purchased this item from Cohasco, Inc., on March 26, 1997.
Issued by Lynchburg mayor Pleaseants Labby (1836-1837) under authority of the town council, this November 13, 1836 document orders a male slave (property of a resident named Reynolds) infected with smallpox be taken to the house of M. Davis [Dr. Micajah Davis, Jr.?] for treatment. The document is directed to town sergeant Henry Dunnington for enforcement; it also attests the slave's medical expenses will be paid by the town. A typescript is appended to this guide.
Corporation of Lynchburg to wit
Whereas the small-pox has broke out within the
corporation aforesaid on a negro man slave the
property of Reynolds of
I do hereby, (by the advice and consent
of a quorum of the alderman of sd [said] corporation)
in the name of the commonwealth
command you to have the sd [said] negro conveyed
to the house of M. Davis, it being in
of retired situation and to furnish all things
necessary for the comfort and cure of sd [said] negro
which sd [said] expence shall be pd [paid] by the
[common-hall?] of the sd [said] corporation according
to law Given under my hand
& seal 13 Nov 1836
P. Labby, Mayor
To H. Dunnington Sergt [Sergeant]