I wonder why people who freed their slaves are "religious fanatics" and southern ministers who wrote sermons on how Christianity allowed for slaveholding were not "religious fanatics." The Pleasants family members who freed their slaves were pretty run-of-the-mill Quakers. John and Henry Laurens of South Carolina freed their slaves for political reasons. Paul Finkelman President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law and Public Policy Albany Law School 80 New Scotland Avenue Albany, New York 12208-3494 518-445-3386 [log in to unmask] >>> [log in to unmask] 04/30/08 10:07 AM >>> > 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 ______________________________________ 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