Joseph Coolidge’s Power of Attorney to Thomas Jefferson Randolph for Disposition of Sally Cottrell Cole
Know all men by these presents, that I Joseph Coolidge jr of Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for divers good causes and considerations, have made constituted and appointed, and by these presents do make constitute and appoint, Thomas Jefferson Randolph of Albemarle Cy.— in the Commonwealth1 of Virginia my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my name, and for my own proper use and behoof, to take the charge and management of my slave, Sally, of about thirty five years of age, mulattoand should he think proper so to do, to sell and dispose of or to hire out my said slave, on such terms and in such manner as he may think proper, and to execute such bill of sale, agreement or other writing as may be necessary and legal for the purposes aforesaid, or either of them; and to receive such sum or sums as may become payable on account thereof, and receipts and acquittances to make for and in my name and behalf; and to do all other lawful acts and things whatsoever concerning the premises as fully and in every respect as I myself might or could do were I personally present at the doing thereof; hereby confirming and by these presents allowing whatsoever my said attorney shall in my name lawfully do or cause to be done in and about the premises, by virtue of these presents.In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty seventh day of June and year eighteen hundred and twenty five.
Geo. S Bulfinch
District of Columbia
Washington County
Personally appeared before me the subscriber, Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, on this twenty seventh day of June and year eighteen hundred and twenty five, Joseph Coolidge Jr. the person in the foregoing power of attorney named, and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be his act and deed, according to the true intent and meaning thereof.
sally was Sally Cottrell Cole (ca. 1800–1875), enslaved lady’s maid to Ellen W. Randolph at Monticello. Following the marriage between Randolph and Joseph Coolidge in May 1825, the legal ownership of Sally transferred to Joseph Coolidge. Thomas Jefferson Randolph, acting on Coolidge’s behalf, sold Sally Cottrell to Thomas Hewitt Key, a University of Virginia professor, for $400. Sally then served as lady’s maid to Sarah Troward Key and nurse to the couple’s infant daughter. Key intended ultimately to free Sally, but upon his resignation from the university, Sally moved to the household of John Patten Emmet, another University of Virginia professor. By 1828 she was working on her own as a seamstress and nurse. She married Reuben Cole in 1846 and lived in Charlottesville, Virginia, until her death (Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 26-27 June 1825; Cornelia J. Randolph to Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge, 13 July 1825, Virginia J. Randolph Trist to Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge, 4 Dec. 1825, Mary J. Randolph to Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge, 29 July 1827 [ViU: Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge Correspondence]; Documents in negotiation with Thomas H. Key, 21 July 1827 [DLC: Nicholas Philip Trist Papers]; Mary J. Randolph to Virginia J. Randolph Trist, 25 July 1831 [NcU: Southern Historical Collection, Nicholas Philip Trist Papers]; Marriage Contract between Sally Cottrell and Reuben Cole, 21 Nov. 1846 [Albemarle County Deed Book, 44:400–1]; Maplewood Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia).