Slave Liberation Research

A document from 1818 lists belongings of a deceased black woman, Matilda. In 1795 she was the first freed slave on Shelter Island, NY. More than 100 items are listed, including the home she built, furniture, coats, stockings, quilts & more. #BlackHistory #Slavery #NewYork

A Civil War pass was issued by Fort Albany in 1864 in Arlington, VA that granted permission to Thomas Harris, noted as “Cold” (Colored), to travel to Falls Church, VA. He was shipping a cargo load that included sugar, bacon, iron, sash and bush feed. #CivilWar #Slavery

Today, #July4th we went to historic Old Town Alexandria near Washington, D.C. and saw the former home of Moses Hepburn Sr. During the slavery era, he was one of the wealthiest local Free Blacks. The 1830 census says he was a slave owner of 2 servants. #History #BlackHistory

We hosted a great exhibit today about Black slave owners on this #Juneteenth weekend in Alexandria, VA.

In 1865, the estate of the slave master who owned slave Henry Weeden received $100 for letting Mr. Weeden go free and join Maryland’s 39th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops in the #CivilWar. At least 180,000 African Americans served in the Union Army. #Slavery #History #War

In 1798 a free Black man named James Seaburry, of Riverhead, NY (Long Island), agreed to a legal contract that freed his enslaved girlfriend, Darkis, by paying her owner $50. Slavery didn’t end in NY until 1827. #History #Slavery #BlackHistory #FBA

A great reenactment of Frederick Douglas’ occurred at a history memorabilia show in South Boston, VA on Saturday. #BlackHistory

On the last day of Black History Month, we displayed this Black Slave Owner exhibit at a history memorabilia show in South Boston, VA. #BlackHistoryMonth #Slavery #History

A controversial, yet true aspect of American history, is the Black Slave Owner, which is the subject of this traveling historical exhibit. #BlackHistoryMonth

Video footage I recorded of the Thomas Day House in Milton, NC. He was a Black slave owner who owned 14 slaves. #History #UShistory #Slavery #BlackSlaveOwners youtu.be/u-n9dR7vNxk?si=B5_v…

Some Black Americans were forced to leave the U.S. during the slavery era. A document from 1856 says newly freed slave, Jacob Stith, must leave Kentucky (Where he was born) and go to Liberia in Africa, at the request of his former slave owner.  #BlackHistory #Slavery #ADOS

In 1870 Joseph Rainey, a former slave who eventually gained freedom, became the first African American to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented a district in South Carolina. #Juneteenth2025 #Juneteenth

A freedman’s contract from 1868 set the employment terms for 6 former slaves to work on land owned by A.G. Rogers of Holmes County, MS. #juneteenth2025 #Juneteenth

A court document from 1863 says Elliott Creekmore, a slave owner in Camden County, NC, sought restitution for the loss of his 2 runaway slaves, Tom & John, who escaped North and found freedom in Union Army-occupied Norfolk, VA. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryMonth2025 #History

A maritime document, from 1813, lists sailors from Philadelphia, including 5 free African American crewmen (“black” and “mulatto”) on a voyage from Philadelphia to Cape Henry in the slave state of Virginia. #BlackHistory #Slavery #AmericanHistory #Maritime #Sailing

During the slavery era, free blacks Joseph L. Williams & Ellen Hawkins, were married in Baltimore, MD on July 5, 1865. The cost of the marriage license was $4.50. #BlackHistory #Slavery #History

In 1805, an enslaved boy named Wil, was sold in Brooklyn, NY and purchased by slave owner Peter Dwyer. The document was signed and authorized by Samuel Hubbard, a member of an influential family in Brooklyn at the time. #Slavery #BlackHistory #Brooklyn #History #AmericanHistory

Just received my copy of Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities, by Prithi Kanakamedala and published by @NYUpress. Tremendous research here! #Brooklyn #BlackHistory #Slavery

Amid slavery, in 1821, a certificate of freedom for Christopher Ran, proved he was a free African American in Troy, NY. It also says he was born free to free parents in Connecticut. #BlackHistory #History #NewYork