African American
Decatur County, GA, December 10, 1845; January 1, 1846
Georgia Requires Tavern Owners to Swear Not to Provide Liquor to Slaves or Free Blacks
Partially printed DS

[AFRICAN AMERICAN.]
- Jesse May, Partially Printed Document Signed with a Mark, Oath and Bond to Keep Tavern, December 10, 1845, Decatur County, Georgia. 1 p., 7.75" x 12.75". Light toning; very good.
- Thomas Harrison, Partially Printed Document Signed, Oath and Bond to Keep Tavern, January 1, 1846, Decatur County, Georgia. 1 p., 7.75" x 12.75". Light toning; very good.

Jesse May and Thomas Harrison signed this pair of oaths and bonds to keep taverns in Decatur County in southwestern Georgia during the year 1846. To comply with state law, they had to swear not to furnish any alcohol to free or enslaved African Americans without the permission of their guardians or owners.

Georgia had long prohibited the selling of liquor to enslaved African Americans. All three of Georgia's colonial slave codes explicitly banned selling or giving liquor to slaves. In 1808, the Georgia legislature passed an act that made providing liquor to slaves a criminal offense. In 1835, it barred the employment of slaves in a store, bar, or shop that sold spirituous liquors. An 1833 act required every free black person in the state to have a white legal guardian to represent him or her in all legal and civil matters.

Excerpt
"I do solemnly swear, That I will not, during the next succeeding twelve months, barter, give away, sell or furnish, to any slave or slaves, any measure or quantity of distilled or spirituous or intoxicating liquors, without the verbal or written consent of the owners or employers of such slave or slaves, or without the like consent of the guardian of any free persons of color; and do further swear, that I will not allow any other person to do so for me by my approbation, consent or knowledge, so help me God."

Jesse May (b. ca. 1807) was born in North Carolina. In 1850, he was a farmer in Decatur County, Georgia, where he lived with his wife Catherine, ten children, and two female slaves, ages 17 and 1.

Thomas Harrison (b. ca. 1796) was born in Georgia. In 1850, he was a farmer in Decatur County, Georgia, where he lived with his wife Nancy, ten children, and one 20-year-old male slave.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7.75" x 12.75"
  • Medium: Partially printed DS

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