tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4750703629968856769.post200575682980933577..comments2024-01-04T23:19:19.695-05:00Comments on Free Blacks in Antebellum North Carolina: Laws and Lives of Free Blacks in North Carolina: 1715-1863Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09747662199492089159noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4750703629968856769.post-83227885998834280772010-11-09T22:53:11.770-05:002010-11-09T22:53:11.770-05:00@ W Gregory - sorry for not getting back to you ab...@ W Gregory - sorry for not getting back to you about this before. A person could actually be born free for one thing. Paul Heinegg has written extensively about free blacks in VA, NC, SC, MD, and DE (his website and book is at http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/). He points out in the introduction to the section about VA/NC/SC that early (1600s, early 1700s), maybe were born free as their mothers were white indentured servants rather than black slaves and back then, the status of freedom or slavery of the child depended on the status of the mother, not the father. If the mother was not a slave, but the father was, then the child was not a slave.<br /><br />Also, some who were free in N.C. (as well as other states) are descended from Africans who were brought over as indentured servants, not as slaves.<br /><br />Also, I know if one case where a white woman murdered her husband (white) and the only witness was one of their slaves. The court allowed her to testify (even though it was illegal for slaves to testify at the time) because she was the only witness to the murder. After her testimony, the court gave her, her freedom as well as the freedom of her unnamed children - this was probably to protect her from retribution by this woman's family for testifying against her - my opinion, but I could be wrong.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09747662199492089159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4750703629968856769.post-10888293299859288772010-07-08T13:42:32.826-05:002010-07-08T13:42:32.826-05:00In your opinion, how would (other than being freed...In your opinion, how would (other than being freed by a slave owner) a free person of color, become free to begin with? Love all the historical information that you've brought to your site! Thank you for that! Very informative!<br /><br />WilmaW Gregorynoreply@blogger.com