William Williams trying to buy wife and child
February 28, 1831
Oxon Hill February 28th 1831
Some time in the fawl 1829 William Williams a coloured Man apply,d to me [inserted] wishing to purchase his wife from me Silvey and Child, I told him I would take $150 dollars from him altho I could get $200 dollars the said William agreed to give the $150 observing he had been hired to Mr. Thomas C Duvall I think 8 or 9 years and Mr. Duvall would pay me the money for him - in a short time Mr. Duvall paid me $150 dollars and I gave Mr. Duvall a bill of Sale but always thought the sale was made to William Williams and Mr. Duvall was the purchaser for him. Mr. Duvall was with me last Saturday and applyd to me for a second bill of sale stating the mice of something had destroyed the first I without hesitation gave him the second still thinking the Woman and Child would be transfered to William Williams the Coloured Man by Mr. Duvall
Thomas Berry
Some time in the fawl 1829 William Williams a coloured Man apply,d to me [inserted] wishing to purchase his wife from me Silvey and Child, I told him I would take $150 dollars from him altho I could get $200 dollars the said William agreed to give the $150 observing he had been hired to Mr. Thomas C Duvall I think 8 or 9 years and Mr. Duvall would pay me the money for him - in a short time Mr. Duvall paid me $150 dollars and I gave Mr. Duvall a bill of Sale but always thought the sale was made to William Williams and Mr. Duvall was the purchaser for him. Mr. Duvall was with me last Saturday and applyd to me for a second bill of sale stating the mice of something had destroyed the first I without hesitation gave him the second still thinking the Woman and Child would be transfered to William Williams the Coloured Man by Mr. Duvall
Thomas Berry