freedom is worth fighting for: billy and james. freedom is worth fighting for. what choices did the...
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Freedom is Worth Fighting For:Billy and James
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Freedom is worth fighting for.
What choices did the Revolutionary War in Virginia create for enslaved African Americans?
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Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
Dunmore’s
Proclamation
John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, State Art Collection, Library of Virginia.
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From the Proclamation• I do…determine to execute martial Law…and to the End that Peace and good Order may the sooner be restored, I do require every Person capable of bearing Arms to resort to his Majesty's STANDARD, or be looked upon as Traitors to his Majesty's Crown and Government …
• And I do hereby further declare all indentured Servants, Negroes, or others, (appertaining to Rebels) free, that are able and willing to bear Arms, they joining his Majesty's Troops …
Standard: flag
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Image courtesy of the Library of Virginia
Petition of Mann Page on Behalf of Billy
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From Billy’s Petition (Excerpted and Reworded)
To the honorable the Speaker & Gentlemen of the House of Delegates, The Petition of Mann Page…humbly shows, that Billy, alias Will alias William, a Mulatto Slave…was condemned to die for Treason by the…Court of Prince William County; but upon [hearing of the case]…Thomas Jefferson Esquire the then Governor of Virginia, [issued] a Reprieve…for the…Slave 'till the last Day of the present Month. Your Petitioner [understands] that a Pardon for Treason can only be granted by the Legislature, begs that he may be heard before a Committee on Behalf of the said Slave. Citation: Legislative Petitions, Prince William Co., n.d., Received June 7, 1781], Record Group 78, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Reprieve: delay punishment
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James's Petition to the General Assembly
Image courtesy of the Library of Virginia
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From James’s Petition (Excerpted and Reworded)
To the honorable the Speaker & gentlemen of the general Assembly,The petition of James (a slave belonging to Will: Armistead of New Kent county) humbly shows: That your petitioner [believing in the] right which all mankind have to Freedom, notwithstanding his own state of bondage, [wanting] to serve this Country…did, during the [Revolutionary War, with] the permission of his master, [go to serve with] the Marquiss Lafayette: [While] serving the Marquiss he often [at great danger to himself went to] the British Camp…at different times your petitioner conveyed [letters] from the Marquiss into the enemies lines, of the most secret & important kind; the possession of which if discovered on him would have most certainly endangered the life of your petitioner: …[James followed commands] with cheerfulness & fidelity, [unlike many other slaves.]…your petitioner [attaches a letter from] the Marquiss Lafayette… [James] humbly [asks] that he may be granted that Freedom, which he [believes] he has [helped] to establish; & which he hopes always to prove himself worthy of: [he also requests that] his present master…shall be [paid] for the loss of a valuable workman…Citation: Legislative Petition for James, Slave Belonging to William Armistead, November 30, 1786, Box 179, Folder 10, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Fidelity: faithfulness