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Confession of Sharp: September 28, 1764

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Overview

Year:
1764
Contributor:
Sharp (creator)
Genre:
testimonials
Local ID:
BFBR 357-1-9/28/64
Extent:
2 p.

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Description

Abstract:
Confession of Sharp, a slave, to stealing a box of spermaceti candles from the Brown brothers' Fox Point candle works. Dated September 28, 1764, the document presents a host of interpretive problems. Given that Sharp was illiterate - the confession ends with a mark rather than a signature - the document was clearly written by someone else. As for the sentiments expressed, they likewise appear to have been imposed on Sharp by his owners, who treated the theft in distinctly moralistic terms. In the statement, Sharp not only pledges to make good any financial losses to his owners, but also asks "their Forgiveness in a most publick manner for the many Reflections I have cast on their Characters, thro this unhappy affair."

Content

Access Conditions

Rights
No Copyright - United States
Restrictions on Use
Collection is open for research.

Citation

Sharp, "Confession of Sharp: September 28, 1764 " (1764). Voyage of the Sally, Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:303698/

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    Confession of Sharp: September 28, 1764
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    Confession of Sharp: September 28, 1764
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