confiscated
Melon Market Speculation?
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 16, 1863:
Violating a Market ordinance.
–Barbers McDonald, Catherine Welsh, and Margaret Sullivan, three Irish women, were fined $5 for buying watermelons in the market to sell again. The melons were also confiscated.
Well, at least the three women did not get sold into “absolute slavery” for their offense. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 14, 1863:
Free negroes at Auction.
–By virtue of an order of the Hustings Court of the city of Richmond I will sell on Monday next, the 14th inst, (that being Court day,) in front of the City Hall, at 10 o’clock A M, Patrick Coleman and Job Green, free negroes, convicted by said Court of grand larceny and ordered to be sold into absolute slavery. Also, an old man named John, committed to jail for going at large and ordered to be sold.
Thomas U Dudley,
Serg’t City of Richmond
the watermelon constant (Charleston market, 1866)
The image of the watermelon is from wpclipart
