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15 Most Expensive Slaves Ever Sold in American History

Trista July 12, 2025 9 min

3. Sally Johnson: The $2,500 Enslaved Woman

slave manifest2 — This ship’s manifest, dated 29 October 1836, lists “Two Slaves,” Sally Johnson age 39, and Sophy Johnson age 17, and the name of their shipper, Henry Harding. The document indicates that the women are being taken from the “Port of Alexandria in the District of Alexandria for the purpose of being sold or disposed of as Slaves, or to be held to service or labour.” Source: *Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Collected Materials, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Family Papers, LONG 27930* / NPS

Sally Johnson’s sale stands out in the historical record, as she was purchased for a remarkable $2,500. Her youthful age, domestic skills, and childbearing potential contributed significantly to her high price. Enslaved women of reproductive age were often appraised not only for their labor but for their ability to increase slaveholders’ wealth through childbirth. Sally’s case, documented in auction records, highlights the specific, often deeply personal factors that could elevate an individual’s value far beyond the average.