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Al Sharpton's Family Ties

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By Bonnie Goldstein
Posted Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at 2:18 PM ET

Today's Hot Document (below and on the following two pages) was written 146 years ago. A type of deed transfer called an "indenture," it allowed a South Carolinian named Alexander Sharpton to pay off the debts left by his deceased son, one Jefferson Sharpton of Liberty County, Fla. Jefferson had left behind a wife and four boys, all under 18, and Alexander wanted to relieve his daughter-in-law and grandsons from financial straits. To that end, the document instructs Alexander's son-in-law, Joe Talley, to supervise the retirement of Jefferson's financial obligations by renting out the "property herein after mentioned:" four enslaved humans.

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Alexander Sharpton Sr. … hereby grants and conveys unto the said Joseph B. Talley the following described negroes, to wit Coleman aged 25 years, Biddy, 22 years old, Harrison, about 4 years, and Bachus, aged about 8 years, together with the future issue increase of the said female slaves. To have and to hold the said negro slaves … upon the trust and subject to the covenants and agreements herein after mentioned, … to reserve all hires of the said slaves until the debts of the Estate of their father Jefferson M. Sharpton are paid and discharged.

Once Alexander's youngest orphaned grandson reaches 21, the conveyance sets forth, the sons of Jefferson may divide the property "share and share alike." The document makes no mention of Julia Thurmond Sharpton, the young widow whose sons inherited the slaves. Years later, a distant cousin of hers, Strom Thurmond, was elected senator from South Carolina on a segregationist platform. (Julia's grandfather was Strom's great-great-great-grandfather.) A few decades after that, the great-grandson of the conveyed slave Coleman emerged as the political entrepreneur, talk-show personality, and presidential candidate Rev. Al Sharpton.

The fate of another enslaved family was altered the same day in a follow-on document (Pages 2 and 3). In an indenture between Alexander and his daughter Sarah, the elderly slave owner "doth give, grant, sell and confirm" to his surviving child four additional humans, Lewis, Rachel, 4-year-old May, and baby Jack.

Alexander Sharpton Sr. as well for in consideration of the natural love and affection which he has and bears for his daughter, … doth give, grant, sell and confirm unto the said Sarah Talley and her heirs, lawfully begotten by her intermarriage with Joseph Talley and their assigns, forever the following described negro slaves, to wit Lewis aged 35 years, Rachel 22, May 4, [and] Jack one year of age, and the future increase of said female slaves … to the only proper use and behest of the said Sarah Talley and her heirs and assigns forever.

Thanks to www.ancestry.com for providing the documents. The genealogy Web site collaborated with the New York Daily News to trace Sharpton's roots. The paper reported that Coleman, who took the last name of the slave owners when he was emancipated, married a woman named Millie and had at least 8 children with her, including Rev. Sharpton's future grandfather. The fate of Biddy, Harrison, Bachus and the other family transferred to Florida with them is unknown.

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