Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 material

Material relating to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, particularly to the cases of Thomas Sims and Shadrach Minkins, both enslaved persons who self-emancipated and were later captured in Boston. The material documents efforts by U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts Charles Devens Jr. to recover expenses incurred during the extradition of Sims and during prosecutions against those who were charged with helping Minkins escape from jail.

Items include: Millard Fillmore letter to Elisha Whittlesey, 1853 March 3 (letter signed, 2 pages and docket); Elisha Whittlesey letter to Charles Devens Jr., 1853 March 8 (contemporary copy, 2 pages and docket); two bills for expenses to Charles Devens Jr., received by clerk of District Court of the U.S., Massachusetts District, 1853 January 1 (1 page and docket) and approximately 1853 January (1 page and docket); abstract of compensation to Charles Devens Jr., approximately 1853 January (printed form, filled in, 1 page and docket); Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 printed copy (3 pages, with manuscript notations); Elisha Whittlesey letter to Franklin Pierce, 1854 March 15 (autograph letter signed, two pages and docket, signed by Pierce); abstracts of compensation, payments to guards in October 1850, 1851 April, includes lists of names of guards with payment amounts and signatures (2 items, 1 page each and docket).