Each state would have had its own procedures for freeing slaves. However, the VA laws have been abstracted in "Black Laws of Virginia," by June Purcell Guild. 1723 Chapter IV. No Negro or Indian slave shall be set free upon any pretense whatsoever, except for some meritorious service to be adjudged by the governor. 1782 Chapter XXI. It is lawful for any person by last will or other instrument in writing, sealed and witnessed, to emancipate his slaves. Other laws had been passed which required indentured servants be issued Certificates of Freedom. The county courts extended this requirement to emancipated slaves upon proof of emancipation. They were subject to jail if they did not carry this paper. 1793 Chapter 22. Free Negroes or mulattos shall be registered and numbered in a book to be keep by the town clerk...... Annually the Negro shall be delivered a copy for twenty-five cents. A penalty is fixed for employing a Negro without a certificate; the Negro may be committed to jail. Every free Negro shall once in every three years obtain a new certificate. The book states that many did not register unless their original papers were lost. This was basically the law until the Civil War.

Notice though, that among numerous other similar incidents, a master set a slave free as early as 1678 by providing that the man serve 10 years after arrival in VA from Boston, after which the slave "...was to be a Free Man (to) go wherever he pleaseth....". Then too, none other than Arthur Jordan of Surry permitted two slaves, John and Isabell Daule, to purchase their freedom in 1669. So while later law (18th century) attempted to prohibit the freedom, there were no small number working and moving about VA and both the North and South. And, don't forget that issue of freed slaves were free, as well. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: <Rbsgenealogy@cs.com> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2001 1:26 PM Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] Manumission of Slaves in VA | Each state would have had its own procedures for freeing slaves. However, the | VA laws have been abstracted in "Black Laws of Virginia," by June Purcell | Guild. | | 1723 Chapter IV. No Negro or Indian slave shall be set free upon any pretense | whatsoever, except for some meritorious service to be adjudged by the | governor. | | 1782 Chapter XXI. It is lawful for any person by last will or other | instrument in writing, sealed and witnessed, to emancipate his slaves. | | Other laws had been passed which required indentured servants be issued | Certificates of Freedom. The county courts extended this requirement to | emancipated slaves upon proof of emancipation. They were subject to jail if | they did not carry this paper. | | 1793 Chapter 22. Free Negroes or mulattos shall be registered and numbered in | a book to be keep by the town clerk...... Annually the Negro shall be | delivered a copy for twenty-five cents. A penalty is fixed for employing a | Negro without a certificate; the Negro may be committed to jail. Every free | Negro shall once in every three years obtain a new certificate. | | The book states that many did not register unless their original papers were | lost. | | This was basically the law until the Civil War. | | | | ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== | USGenWeb Archives Census Project | http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/census/ | | | ============================== | Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 | Source for Family History Online. Go to: | http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetr ial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB |