SOLD SOLD SOLD 1762 Negro Ownership of Court Plea Parsons vs Wood by COL / Chief Justice Charles Pinckney
Signed by attorney (later Colonel) Charles Pinckney for Sarah Wood and attorney James Parsons representing himself is this plea regarding ownership of Negro slaves. It is easily read. The lower portion is missing. However; you have the fanciful signature of James Parsons and Colonel Charles Pinckney; later Chief Justice. I believe strongly this is “Charles” and not “Charles Cotesworth”. “Charles Cotesworth” usually signed as C. C. Pinckney or Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.
Please research to determine. The below references should be sufficient. It can be handled with normal care. Measures 8 inches wide by 9.25 on long side and 6.125 on short side.
Colonel Charles Pinckney https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel_Charles_Pinckney (March 7, 1732 - September 22, 1782); a prominent South Carolina lawyer and planter, and the father of Governor Charles Pinckney. He was also a Chief Justice.
James Parsons about 1728 at https://www.wikitree.com/genealogy/PARSONS My guess is that he was what we would call today a File Clerk who worked for the Court. To be in that position he had to almost certainly have been a lawyer (attorney).
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was a Revolutionary War veteran, and South Carolina delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was a slave owner at one time owning 250. He later was in favor of abolishing slavery; however, without emancipation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Cotesworth_Pinckney
Pinckney Family History http://www.history1700s.com/index.php/articles/8-biography/618-the-pinckneys-of-south-carolina.html Pinckney names may be distinguished as follows: Thomas Pinckney, the founder of Pinckney name in South Carolina; Charles Pinckney, lawyer and the Chief Justice; Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, the Ambassador and candidate for the Presidency; Thomas Pinckney, General in the War of 1812; Charles Pinckney, the democrat; and Henry Laurens Pinckney, editor and author.