County of Henderson Before me, Jeff E. Thompson, Clerk of the County Court of said County this day personally appeared John Bowman to my knowledge whose name appears as Grantor to the above and within Bill of Sale from the said Bowman to James Coltharp and of date January 1^st A.D. 1863 and hereto annexed and acknowledged to me that he signed sealed and delivered the same for the purposes and considerations therein contained and expressed as witness my hand and seal of office at office in the town of Athens on this the 1^st day of January A.D. 1863. Jeff E. Thompson

Clk. Co. Ct. He Co.

The State of Texas

County of Henderson Before me, Jeff E. Thompson, Clerk of the County Court of said County do hereby certify that the within and foregoing bill of sale or writing from John Bowman to James Coltharp of date Jan. 1^st 1863 was filed in my office for record on the 1^st day of Jan. 1863 at 2 o'clock P.M. and by me duly recorded in book N. Record of Deeds on pages 617 & 618 on this January 3^rd 1863 at 1 o'clock P.M. In testimony of which I hereto set my hand and seal of office on this the day and date last above written. Jeff E. Thompson

Clk. Co. Ct. He Co.

The State of Texas

County of Henderson Know all men by these presents that I John Bowman of said State and County for and in consideration of the sum of seventeen hundred dollars to me paid by James Coltharp the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged have given, granted, bargained, sold and delivered and by these presents do give, grant, bargain, sell and deliver to the said James Coltharp one Negro man named Mack about twenty nine years old of black complexion together with all the right title and interest that I have in and to said Negro and I do hereby bind myself, execute and (torn) and heirs to forever warrant and defend the title to said Negro man to said James Coltharp, his heirs and assigns forever and also to warrant the said Negro man to be sound in body and mind and a slave for life as witness my hand and seal, using a scrawl for seal, this 1^st day of January A.D. 1863 signed sealed and delivered

in presence of: John Bowman {seal}

Jeff E. Thompson

A.S. Griffith

On folded outside length:

John Bowman

To {Bill of Sale

James Coltharp

Filed in my office

For record on this

1^st day of January

A.D. 1863 at 2 o'clock P.M.

Jeff E. Thompson

Clk Co Ct He Co

Click on the link below to see the actual document, you must have a pdf file reader.

Jan 1, 1863 - Bill of Sale for Slave named Mack - pdf file

Thanks to Rick Featherston for this piece of history.