The Great Charleston Slave Sale
 Newspaper Article advertising the Slave Sale, from Charleston Courier, 1835 | |
| Date | February 24, 1835 |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Type | Largest known single sale of Slaves in U.S. History |
| Organized by | Jervey, Waring & White |
| Participants | James Jervey, Morton Waring, Alonzo White |
The Great Charleston Slave Sale or the John Ball Jr. Estate Slave Auction was a slave auction held in Charleston, South Carolina, by the firm Jervey, Waring & White. The firm sold six hundred enslaved Africans at market and made US$222,800 (equivalent to $6,953,516 in 2025).[1] Currently, it is the largest known single sale of slaves in U.S. History.
Background
In 1834 a wealthy planter by the name of John Ball Jr. died, leaving behind a vast estate. His heirs did not want his estate, so much of it was put up for public auction, being given to Jervey, Waring & White to sell.[2]
The Slave Sale
The slave auction was held on February 24, 1835, at 24 Broad Street in Charleston. The firm sold the six hundred enslaved africans at market and made US$222,800 (equivalent to $6,953,516 in 2025). Ball's heir Ann Ball bought 215 of the 600 for US$79,855 (equivalent to $2,492,249 in 2025).[3]
Legacy
Today at the location of the auction, a memorial plaque has been erected, commemorating the significance of what happened. Today the event is felt deeply by local African-American communities who feel the recently unearthed event strikes a chord with their struggles today. Its newfound significance and place above that of the “weeping time” auction, gave reason to remember it.[4]
References
- ↑ "New Plaque Recognizes Nation's Largest Sale of Enslaved People". College of Charleston Today. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Charleston Adds Historical Marker to Remember Largest Known U.S. Slave Sale". ProPublica. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Jervey, Waring & White slave sale (1835)". Charleston City Paper / Avery Research Center. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Plaque planned for Broad Street slave traders' building". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved March 26, 2026.