This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/25/2024
BAKER, Hilary (1746-1798). [WOODWARD, William Wallis (1770-1837), association]. Indentured Servant Contract Between Alexander Washington Sprowle and William Woodward. City of Philadelphia: Printed by Godfrey Deshong, July 31, 1797. Partially printed document indentured servant contract on laid paper, for a term of “Five years four months and twenty two days” in which Elizabeth Davis agrees to lodge and “mend” for Sprowle until Woodward takes him into his house. Signed at bottom left by Baker, and signed at bottom right by Sprowle and Davis. Two small wax seals with paper covers at bottom right. Approximately 13 x 8 ¼”. Upper margin neatly cut with a scalloped pattern, 1 horizontal and 2 vertical creases, toned, edgeworn with occasional chipping, and a few short tears. Very good. Baker was the abolitionist mayor of Philadelphia (1796-1798); he created Philadelphia’s first paid and uniformed police force and co-founded the Pennsylvania Abolition Society. Woodward was a printer, bookseller and stationer in Philadelphia; he specialized in religious works. One of his customers was Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), and letters between Woodward and Jefferson are in the National Archives.