Bill of Sale of York, slave aged 6, to Nathanial Ellmaker

Handwritten by seller Thomas Skiles of Salisbury Twp. This document dated December 9, 1782, records the sale of a six-year-old slave boy named York for the sum of 81 pounds, 10 shillings (about $400). The buyer is Nathaniel Ellmaker of Earl Twp., a prominent Lancaster County legislator. A much later note states that York served his time with George Kinzer, son-in-law of Ellmaker, and was under the care of William Penn Kinzer at the time of his death in 1845. W.P. Kinzer was a store owner in Gap. This document demonstrates the fact that slaves were not only sold in Lancaster County but were commonly inherited by family members.