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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC00502 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents Relating to 1857 |
| Title | Appointment of George L. Stearns, Samuel Cabot Jr. and William H. Russell as trustees |
| Date | 14 April 1857 |
| Author | Brown, John (1800-1859) |
| Additional authors | Russell, Thomas (fl. 1857) |
| Document Type | Business and financial document; Legal document |
| Content Description | Appoints George L. Stearns, Samuel Cabot Jr. and William H. Russell as "trustees to hold all funds and other personal property now in my hands...in my behalf for the aid of the free state cause in Kansas." This is to take effect only if Brown becomes unable to administer these funds himself. Written, witnessed and signed by Thomas Russell. Russell was a judge, and while he supported Brown, he was not as prominent as some of Brown's other supporters, which is why his house was chosen as a hiding place. Written while Brown was hiding in Russell's house. Having heard that a United States Marshall was headed to New England to arrest him, Brown took refuge in Russell's house for a number of days. Anticipating his possible arrest, he appointed these trustees. During this stay he received $7,000 from George L. Stearns to continue the fight for a free Kansas. It was most likely this gift that encouraged him to write this document. |
| Subjects | African American History John Brown African American History Abolition Slavery Law Finance Bleeding Kansas |
| People | Brown, John (1800-1859) Russell, Thomas (fl. 1857) Stearns, George Luther (1809-1867) Russell, William Huntington (1809-1885) Cabot, Samuel (1784-1863) |
| Place written | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Theme | African Americans; Slavery & Abolition; Law |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |