I have also heard, on Dr. Gates' - Harvard history professor- show on PBS,
that if the mother was free, then the offspring was free. Some indentured
servants in the early 1700's may have had a slave 'lover'. 
A case study was done on his show. 
There may have been a law passed in 1851 in Virginia to prohibit freeing of
slaves. This may have been in reprisal against the allowance of the free
states in the west. Kansas, etc. South Carolina may not have been the only
state to harbor a bunch of hotheads, as some in the Virginia legislature
were. 
JP Adams
Texas


-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Craig Kilby
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 6:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: status of children born of slave mothers in 1858

Paul,

I am confused by this statement of yours. There are plenty of manumissions
in Virginia long before 1851. Think even Thomas Jefferson's will for
example, Or Robert "Councilor" Carter in 1791, to use just two more well
know cases. Unless manumission is different than emancipation.

Craig

On May 29, 2012, at 4:28 PM, Finkelman, Paul <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> The master could manumit the child (but not in VA after 1851 except by act
of the legislature for "meritorious service" which of course was not an
option for an infant).


______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html

______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html