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Background
Here J. Solis Cohen certifies the death of a former slave in Philadelphia, identifying him as a “Contraband”: a legally complicated and politically fraught designation indicating a “self-emancipated” human chattel who, as the Union armies moved in the South, rushed toward the advancing troops, there to join the ranks of their liberators. These “contrabands of war” could not, by terms of The Act Prohibiting the Return of Slaves, passed by Congress in March of 1862, be returned to their owners, but for most of the contrabands, true emancipation did not come until the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery was ratified in late 1865.
David Harkless, the “Contraband of War” whose death is recorded here, was about 57 years old; married, but his family was in (presumably Confederate) Virginia; his death was due to unknown causes.
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IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE.
1. Name of Deceased, David Harkless -
2. Colour, Black
3. Sex, Male
4 Age, about 57
5. Married or Single, Married (a Contraband, family in Va-)
6. Date of Death, March 17th 1864
7. Cause of Death, P Unknown
J.SOLIS COHEN M. D.
Residence, 723 Brown St
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UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE, IN RELATION TO DECEASED.
8. Occupation,
9. Place of Birth,
10. When a Minor, } Name of Father,
Name of Mother,
11. Ward,
12. Street and Number,
13. Date of Burial,
14. Place of Burial,
______________________________ UNDERTAKER
Residence, __________________________________
THIS CONSTITUTES ONE CERTIFICATE. TO BE RETURNED TO THE HEALTH OFFICE, ON SATURDAY
OF EACH WEEK, BEFORE 12 M.
