[ENSLAVEMENT & ABOLITION]. Partly-printed "List of Taxable Property within the District of James D. Tennille Commissioner of the Revenue in the County of Prince William for the year 1848." Prince William County, Virginia, [1849].

17pp, approx. 16 1/2 x 14 in., string binding (rolled, chipping and tears at edges, particularly heavy and affecting text on pages 1-2, some dampstaining). Each page of document identifies "Person Chargeable with Tax," followed by columns indicating taxable property including "Slaves above 16 years of age" and "Slaves above 12 years of age." List is arranged in alphabetical order by last name.

Enslavers were taxed on the state, county, and city levels before the Civil War. Commissioner of the Revenue James D. Tennille (1797-1868) was engaged in Prince William County politics for decades serving in a variety of roles including on the Committee of Vigilance. He was also an enslaver. This document lists him on page 16 as enslaving one slave above 16 years of age. An illustrative document demonstrating the way in which enslaved persons were valued as property, as well as the divisions between the planter class and the non-enslaving citizens of Virginia.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.