An uncle of VMI Cadet (later Confederate Colonel) Charles Edward  
Lightfoot, of Culpeper, Virginia, freed his slaves after his death in  
the mid 1850's . . . much to the chagrin of his nephew and his  
nephew's widowed mother.

The uncle's will not only freed his slaves, but provided that his  
property be sold and funds provided for the freed slaves to live,  
" . . . as if they had always been free."

According to a memoir by a desendant of one of the freed slaves,  a  
cottage industry grew up shortly thereafter, finding slaves who could  
claim a connection to the family and cash in on the deal.

Lightfoot, devastated, had to find a job after graduation.  Became a  
teacher . . . first at his own school in Culpeper . . . then at  
Hillsborough Military Academy in NC.

The uncle was a lawyer.

I'd love to correspond with ANY of the Culpeper Lightfoots  . . . or  
anyone else who has more on this, or access to unpublished Lightfoot  
materials.

Best,

Dan


On Apr 30, 2008, at 10:07 AM, Jessica Carter wrote:
>> How many of the wealthiest slaveowners freed their
>> slaves? Joseph Mayo, the Randolph, Pleasant and
> Carter
>> families come to mind since they freed a total of
> well
>> over a thousand slaves. But the were just religious
>> fanatics who thought all men are created equal.
>> Paul
>
> George Washington freed his slaves in his will, though
> he didn't (and couldn't) free the Custis dower slaves,
> which caused major problems when the Washington slaves
> were manumitted.
>
> Jessica
>
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