Speaker: Diane L. Richard
One would think that if someone “freed” a slave via their will, their dying declaration would always be honored, but, unfortunately, you would be quite mistaken. Manumissions were rare in the pre-Civil War south due to very restrictive laws. In this presentation we’ll explore: (1) What Manumission is; (2) Manumission Laws of NC through time; (3) Challenges of Manumitting a Slave; (4) Quakers and the Freeing of Slaves; and (5) the Odyssey of Rachel. In 1782, Rachel was seemingly freed by her owner’s will, but it wasn’t until about 1800 that she and her children were actually freed and assumed a new surname. In this talk we’ll learn about the jurisdictions, entities, and parties involved in freeing Rachel and how the overall process played out.
Virtual, free, and open to all. Please join us by registering at:
Note: Songs of the Enslaved and Downtrodden with Mary Dobbin Williams has been rescheduled to June 27th