Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Rhea, Jonathan, 1758-1815 [Manumission of a mulatto slave named Benjamin Harkimon (or Harkinson)]

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00340 Author/Creator: Rhea, Jonathan, 1758-1815 Place Written: Trenton, New Jersey Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 13 April 1813 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; 32 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Sends John B. Timberlake, bursar of the frigate United States commanded by Commodore Decatur, an official document freeing thirty-three-year-old Harkimon (or Harkinson), who was aboard the United States, with the stipulation that Harkimon pay $200. Notarized by James Linn, "one of the Masters of the Court of Chancery of the State of New Jersey." Written on the same paper as a letter to Timberlake introducing the document. Contains a red wax seal.

Rhea, Jonathan, fl. 1813
Linn, James, 1749-1821
Timberlake, John B., 1777-1828
Harkimon, Benjamin, fl. 1813

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources