African Nova Scotians in the Age of Slavery and Abolition

Matthew Harris, farmer, of Pictou records the sale of his slave 'Abram' to Matthew Archibald, tanner, of Truro. The sale price is £ 50. Abram, about 12 years old, was the child of Harris's slave in his former house in Maryland.

Matthew Harris was born at Philadelphia in 1735 and died at Pictou in 1819. He and his family settled near Pictou in 1769, two years after his brother Dr. John Harris settled at Pictou on the Philadelphia grant. Matthew Archibald was a New England Planter. He was born in Londonderry Ireland in 1745, and came from Londonderry, New Hampshire to Nova Scotia in 1762. He was member of the Assembly for Truro Township, 1785-1799.

Date: 29 July 1779

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives  Colchester County register of deeds volume 1 page 468 (microfilm 17438)