Commercialization of enslaved children in the parish of São Gonçalo dos Campos, Bahia (1860-1888)

Abstract

This article aims to reflect on the sale and trafficking of children who, in the 19th century, were enslaved by tobacco farmers in the parish of São Gonçalo dos Campos, located in the Brazilian state of Bahia. The theme is unique insofar as studies on the dynamics of the trade of enslaved children are still scarce. Nevertheless, we rescued the bibliographical discussion that, crossed with the evidence detected in documents relating the purchase and sale of slaves, allowed us to know children’s trade between 1860 and 1888. To elaborate the narratives, we used 287 deeds of purchase and sale, as well as 120 powers of attorney, in which we found that many children were subjected to the interprovincial traffic. The trade involved farmers, lawyers and traffickers, who operated the slave trade in the area, inside and outside the province.