List of largest slave sales in the United States
This is a list of largest slave sales in the United States, as measured by number of people listed for sale at one time, usually all derived from the same plantation or network of plantations due to death or debt of owner. Note: In compensation for advertising the sale, housing the "product" prior to the auction, and managing the transactions, traders typically took 2.5% of the sales.
Sale | Number of people listed | Start Date | Location | Owner(s) | Trader | Est. total value | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Ball Jr. estate auction | 600 | February 2, 1835 | Charleston, South Carolina | John Ball Jr. | Jervey, Waring & White | US$222,800 (equivalent to $6,320,333 in 2022) | Ball's heir Ann Ball bought 215 of the 600 for US$79,855 (equivalent to $2,265,306 in 2022) |
Joseph Bond estate auction | 566 | January 3, 1860 | Albany, Georgia | Joseph Bond | US$580,150 (equivalent to $18,895,700 in 2022) | ||
Great Slave Auction | 436 | March 2, 1859 | Savannah, Georgia | Pierce Mease Butler | Joseph Bryan | US$303,850 (equivalent to $9,896,507 in 2022) |