Slave register from MP detailing more than 2,000 servants sells for £635
SWNS The slavery registration files was owned by Philip John Miles
The slavery registration files record in haunting detail the slaves owned by Philip John Miles between 1817 and 1823, at his family's sugar plantation in Jamaica. The 200-year-old documents were discovered at a deceased estate - and were sold on June 2 for £635. And specialist Malcolm Claridge, of Greenslade Taylor Hunt auctioneers, said the documents were "very important". "We can't change history and turn back the clock to stop the slave trade, but these documents deserve to be aired as a reminder of what went on," said Mr Claridge.
We were called in to look at a deceased estate and I was going through some paperwork when I found these documents Malcolm Claridge
"By putting them up for auction we brought public attention to them." The 19th Century log details those 'owned' by the Miles family's sugar plantations in Hanover Parish, County of Cornwall and West Jamaica in 1817, 1820 and 1823 respectively. It details the names, ages and heritage as well as notes about whether they were a potential 'runaway'.
SWNS The 200-year-old documents were discovered at a deceased estate
It also has a column headed cause of death including 'worms, fever, drowning, consumption, child birth'. Mr Claridge said: "We were called in to look at a deceased estate and I was going through some paperwork when I found these documents. "At first I didn't realise what they were but then I put two and two together and it was a bit of a shock.
SWNS The documents were sold for £635
"There are ten pages and it is made up of three separate returns for different years." "The returns had to be filled in every three years and these were completed towards the end of the abolition of slavery as a way of stopping more slaves being introduced to the plantation." He added: "The importance of the hand-written documents is beyond doubt, but make very uneasy reading indeed.
Donald Trump's £250,000 Ferrari F340 supercar Thu, March 2, 2017 Donald Trump's 196mph Ferrari F340 supercar is to be auctioned off for £250,000 Play slideshow SWNS 1 of 9 2007 Ferrari F340 supercar
"Their sex, their colour, their age - eight days to 76 years - their creed, African or Creole, are all recorded." Mr Miles, born in 1774, was a Bristol merchant venturer and Member of Parliament who had around 2,200 slaves. He inherited the family wealth established by William Miles (1728-1803) who moved to Bristol from Herefordshire in his teens and became engaged in the sugar industry.
SWNS Mr Miles had around 2,200 slaves