1868-1872 Pair of Cuban Government Manuscripts Relating to Injured Black Slaves in Matanzas
12101On offer are a pair of manuscript documents that discuss complications with Black slaves, one being a decree of emancipation and several notes about a 60-year-old female slave with a leg problem, and one being a note about a male slave who fractured his hand.
The first document is a content-packed four pages written about a 60-year-old female Black slave who has a “compromised leg” and therefore requires emancipation. There are eight separate entries about this slave, all signed by different officials, relating to this slave’s emancipation. Ultimately, freedom is granted on the final page, and this slave is emancipated. Each entry about this issue is accompanied by a signature and most have stamp of the department the official works with.
The second document also relates to an injured Black slave. Ramon is the slave of Los Senores Carrillo, and this manuscript document informs the government of Matanzas that Ramon fractured his hand in a "trapiche" ( a mill of wooden rollers for squeezing juice out of fruit). It is signed by Manuel Chamochin and stamped from Santa Ana, Cuba.
Taken together, these documents provide insight into how injured Black slaves were both spoken about and managed in late 19th century Cuba as slavery was ever so slowly being abolished.
Cuba had a great need for inexpensive labour to support their sugar industry. While America and Britain signed a treaty in 1814 to abolish the African slave trade, it took many years for complete global abolition. The African slave trade was not ended in Cuba until 1886, despite it being formally abolished in 1867 (Yun & Laremont, 2001). During the Chinese coolie trade (1847-1874) African slaves often worked alongside Chinese indentured labourers.
The first document measures approx 12x8.5 inches. It is a single folio sheet folded in half. Writing in ink on four pages. Exhibits age toning, bends and creases and minor tears at vertical fold. Spanish language, legible. G. The second document measures approx 8x6 inches. It is a single page with writing in ink on the recto. Exhibits age toning and minor tears and folds at all edges. Spanish Language. Highly legible. G
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