Document for the sale of 25 African slaves aboard the brigantine Africa, owned by Jacob Rodrigues Rivera and Aaron Lopez.

Founder of Yeshuat Israel Congregation of Newport, Jacob Rodrigues Rivera (1717-89) and his enterprising son-in-law Aaron Lopez (1731-82) were Rhode Island merchants who engaged extensively in trans-Atlantic trade, importing merchandise from Africa to the West Indies and New England. They were among the few American Jews active in the slave trade. This document details the sale of 25 slaves, that is, what remained of “47 Slaves after deducting the Deceas'd.” The 25 slaves “Men Boys/ Women Girls” procured from the Windward Coast of Africa were purchased in Kingston by seven men. Abraham, the sales agent on behalf of Rivera and Lopez details here the purchase prices, deducting his commission and expenses. The remainder, for the owners, was some £471.