Here's a question for the broader discussion. When I was doing the research for the Kelley Brothers of Lancaster/Northumberland article, and the Lancaster County Estates 1835-1865 project in general, a common theme developed. The few wills emancipating slaves would usually say "to move a Northern state that will accept them" and "or go Liberia."

Some of them did go to Liberia and others are never heard from again in the county records (This includes Northumberland County as well as Lancaster County.)

Hence the question: what were the "free" states laws regarding blacks who had been emancipated from Virginia or other slave states?

Craig Kilby
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