May ye 22 1734 Then I Samuel Kent of Suffeild
In holden for the Consideration of Eightynine
Pounds In Cash In hand Paid to me have Sold Set
over & Delivored to Capt Israel Williams of
Hatfeild a Certain Negro Girl named Kate
Ageed About Eight or Nine years wch I hereby
Engage for me my heirs Executors & Administrators
To warrant To him his heirs Executors & Administra
tors against the Lawful Claim Challenge or Demand
of Any Person or Persons Whosoever as wittness
My hand and Seal ye Day Abovesd –
Sign’d Seal’d & Delivd
In presence of
Elear Porter
Samll Kent
Oliver Partridge
John Pomroy
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Slavery existed throughout the colonies before the American Revolution. The relatively low numbers of slaves in New England compared to other colonies was not due to antislavery sentiments. Land and settlement patterns limited the growth of slavery in New England, but few if any colonists challenged the prevailing belief system regarding the institution. On May 22, 1734, Samuel Kent of Suffield, Massachusetts, sold "a Certain Negro Girl named Kate" to Israel Williams of Hatfield for "Eightynine Pounds in cash." The bill of sale states that Kate was about eight or nine years old on the date of sale. Israel Williams was typical of many New England slaveholders in purchasing a child rather than an adult. Children were considered to be easier to train and control and, it was hoped, might develop closer bonds of loyalty to their masters.