Contact August 4, 1776 Brown, Nicholas 1729-1791 creator Brown, John 1722-1787 signer Brown, Joseph 1730-1803 signer Brown, Moses 1738-1836 signer riu Providence, RI 1776-08-14 eng 2 p. The Brown family's enterprises included a chandlery, where spermaceti, oil harvested from the headmatter of whales, was manufactured into bright-burning, smokeless candles. Labor demands in the chandlery fluctuated with the season, and the Brown's often relied on slaves to supplement the workforce of free laborers. Moses Brown's decision to manumit his slaves in 1773 disrupted this arrangement. In this contract, dated August 4, 1776, the four Brown brothers agreed not to employ slaves at the works, except during peak periods, when necessary to get the stock out. In such cases, the four brothers agreed, Moses could supply his quota of additional workers with free rather than enslaved laborers. University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice 17 http://dl.lib.brown.edu/slaveryandjustice BFBR 338-11-8/14/76 1157640414312694contractsNo Copyright - United StatesCollection is open for research.