St. Louis Slave Pen

How was the slave pen used?

Notice by Bernard Lynch describing his policies toward enslaved people in his “care.” CREDIT (COURTESY: MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM)

It would have held enslaved people about to be sold at auction. It would also have served as a jail cell for free people of color who violated the curfews imposed by local black codes. “If I, even as a free black, could not get off the street, I would have to sign myself in to Bernard M. Lynch’s slave pen to escape the 39 lashes for a curfew violation,” da Silva said.

Slave auctions happened at least once a week, and were held outside of the Old Courthouse. Prices for enslaved people varied by age and gender, but Gordon said they would have cost between $750 and $1800, “a considerable sum of money at that time.”

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