Hi Listers, Isn't that a great word? I just learned it, it means freeing of slaves. Well, my query is for any legal types out there who might tell me how to find out what the papers were like that were given to freed slaves by their masters before emancipation? Where would a master go to obtain these papers. My ancesters were in TN about 1861 and freed their 12 slaves. He couldn't just write a note "to whom it may concern", could he? Thanks for your help Marilou