Felix's Petition for Freedom (January 6, 1773)
A 1773 request for freedom from slaves in Boston
Topic: Slavery and the American Revolution
Please study this document and answer the following questions.
This petition was written by a slave named Felix and sent on behalf of a group of Boston slaves to the governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, Thomas Hutchinson. In the midst of a growing clamor for colonial freedom and independence, the petitioners described their stark condition—"we have no Wives. No Children. We have no City. No Country"—and asked for their freedom. As you read the petition, consider what qualities they claimed to characterize African-American slaves. What concurrent political ideas of freedom and citizenship required just those qualities? What religious faith did the slaves claim to follow, and what consideration did they hope that claim would bring from the British government?
Province of the Massachusetts Bay To His Excellency Thomas Hutchinson, Esq; Governor; To The Honorable His Majesty's Council, and To the Honorable House of Representatives in General Court assembled at Boston, the 6th Day of January, 1773. The humble PETITION of many Slaves, living in the Town of Boston, and other Towns in the Province is this, namely That your Excellency and Honors, and the Honorable the Representatives would be pleased to take their unhappy State and Condition under your wise and just Consideration.
We desire to bless God, who loves Mankind, who sent his Son to die for their Salvation, and who is no respecter of Persons; that he hath lately put it into the Hearts of Multitudes on both Sides of the Water, to bear our Burthens, some of whom are Men of great Note and Influence; who have pleaded our Cause with Arguments which we hope will have their weight with this Honorable Court.
We presume not to dictate to your Excellency and Honors, being willing to rest our Cause on your Humanity and justice; yet would beg Leave to say a Word or two on the Subject. Although some of the Negroes are vicious, (who doubtless may be punished and restrained by the same Laws which are in Force against other of the King's Subjects) there are many others of a quite different Character, and who, if made free, would soon be able as well as willing to bear a Part in the Public Charges; many of them of good natural Parts, are discreet, sober, honest, and industrious; and may it not be said of many, that they are virtuous and religious, although their Condition is in itself so unfriendly to Religion, and every moral Virtue except Patience. How many of that Number have there been, and now are in this Province, who have had every Day of their Lives embittered with this most intollerable Reflection, That, let their Behaviour be what it will, neither they, nor their Children to all Generations, shall ever be able to do, or to possess and enjoy any Thing, no, not even Life itself, but in a Manner as the Beasts that perish.
We have no Property. We have no Wives. No Children. We have no City.No Country. But we have a Father in Heaven, and we are determined, as far as his Grace shall enable us, and as far as our degraded contemptuous Life will admit, to keep all his Commandments: Especially will we be obedient to our Masters, so long as God in his sovereign Providence shall suffer us to be holden in Bondage.
It would be impudent, if not presumptuous in us, to suggest to your Excellency and Honors any Law or Laws proper to be made, in relation to our unhappy State, which, although our greatest Unhappiness, is not our Fault; and this gives us great Encouragement to pray and hope for such Relief as is consistent with your Wisdom, justice, and Goodness.
We think Ourselves very happy, that we may thus address the Great and General Court of this Province, which great and good Court is to us, the best judge, under God, of what is wise, just and good.
We humbly beg Leave to add but this one Thing more: We pray for such Relief only, which by no Possibility can ever be productive of the least Wrong or Injury to our Masters; but to us will be as Life from the dead.
Signed,
FELIX
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Washington Returns Slaves to their Owners (October 25, 1781)
Washington's order recognizes slaves as property not human beings.
Topic: Slavery and the American Revolution
Please study this document and answer the following questions.
During the American Revolution, the British offered sanctuary and freedom to slaves who escaped and joined their forces. With this order, American General George Washington demanded the return of any slaves that were recaptured, including any that were subsequently put into service in the colonial army. Although African-Americans sought freedom through petitions to the new American government and through direct flight to the British, the new government and its army remained steadfast in their belief that slavery could not be ended while the fate of their new republic hung in the balance. Some revolutionary leaders, including Washington, eventually freed their slaves, but the institution of slavery did not fade away as some of them had hoped. Rather, it thrived in the expanding new nation.
After Orders, Headquarters near York, 25 October 1781.
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It having been represented that many Negroes and Mulattoes the property of Citizens of these States have concealed themselves on board the Ships in the harbor; that some still continue to attach themselves to British Officers and that others have attempted to impose themselves upon the officers of the French and American Armies as Freemen and to make their escapes in that manner, In order to prevent their succeeding in such practices All Officers of the Allied Army and other persons of every denomination concerned are directed not to suffer any such negroes or mulattoes to be retained in their Service but on the contrary to cause them to be delivered to the Guards which will be establish'd for their reception at one of the Redoubts in York and another in Gloucester. Mr. David Ross will have the superintendency and will give passes to enable them to return to their Masters or where that is not practicable will have directions to make other provision for them. Any Negroes or mulattoes who are free upon proving the same will be left to their own disposal. The Gentlemen of the American Army who have made return to the Orderly Office of negroes in their possession agreeably to the Order of the 9th. instant are desired to deliver them to the above mentioned Mr. David Ross this day or tomorrow.
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From George Washington, The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources 1745-1799, vol. 23, ed. John C. Fitzpatrick (Washington, DC: GPO, 1937), pp. 264-65.
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John Murray, Earl of Dunmore: A Proclamation (November, 14, 1775)
The British encouraged slaves to runaway from their masters in return for freedom.
Topic: Slavery and the American Revolution
Please study this document and answer the following questions.
Proclamation by John Dunmore
"By His Excellency the Right Honorable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE,
His MAJESTYS lieutenant and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of
VIRGINIA, and Vice Admiral of the same.
A PROCLAMATION.
AS I have ever entertained Hopes that an Accommodation might
have taken Place between GREAT-BRITAIN and this Colony, without being compelled
by my Duty to this most disagreeable but now absolutely necessary Step, rendered
so by a Body of armed Men unlawfully assembled, firing on His MAJESTYS Tenders,
and the formation of an Army, and that Army now on their March to attack His
MAJESTYS Troops and destroy the well disposed Subjects of this Colony. To
defeat such treasonable Purposes, and that till such Traitors, and their
Abetters, may be brought to Justice, and that the Peace, and good Order of this
Colony may be again restored, which the ordinary Course of the Civil Law is
unable to effect; I have thought fit to issue this my Proclamation, hereby
declaring, that until the aforesaid good Purposes can be obtained, I do in
Virtue of the Power and Authority to ME given, by His MAJESTY, determine to
execute Martial Law, and cause the same to be executed throughout this Colony:
and to the end that Peace and good Order may be the sooner be restored, I do
require every Person capable of bearing Arms, to resort to His MAJESTYS
STANDARD, or be looked upon as Traitors to His MAJESTYS Crown and Government,
and thereby become liable to the Penalty the Law inflicts upon such Offences;
such as forfeiture of Life, confiscation of Lands, &c. &c. 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
MAJESTYS Troops as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing this Colony
to a proper Sense of their Duty, to His MAJESTYS Crown and Dignity. I do
further order, and require, all His MAJESTYS Leige Subjects, to retain their
Quitrents, or any other Taxes due or that may become due, in their own Custody,
till such Time as Peace may be again restored to this at present most unhappy
Country, or demanded of them for their former salutary Purposes, by Officers
properly authorised to receive the same.
GIVEN under my Hand on board the Ship WILLIAM, off NORFOLK,
the 7th Day of NOVEMBER, in the SIXTEENTH Year of His MAJESTYS
Reign.
DUNMORE.
(GOD save the KING.)
| Reference : |
America: A Narrative History, 6th Edition, Chapter 5; Inventing America, Chapter 5; Give Me Liberty, Chapter 5
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Primary Source: Writings on African American Participation in the American Revolution (1781)
This collection of documents includes the reaction of white Virginians to Lord Dunmore's 1775 proclamation.
Topic: Slavery and the American Revolution
Please study this document and answer the following questions.
African Americans, both free and enslaved, served in the armies of both sides of the American Revolution and hoped to be served by it. It can be argued that they fought not so much to defend as to gain country and rights. The Earl of Dunmore tapped into that desire when he issued a call for servants and slaves to join the British army. Many responded, sneaking away to the British encampment in Norfolk, Virginia. Some survived soldiering and servitude with that army to gain their freedom at war's end. African Americans enlisted in the Continental Army as freemen, were enlisted into it as substitutes for white masters, or worked for it in auxiliary positions. Slaves whose masters allowed them to serve, and those who were used as substitutes, were to be freed when the war was over. Other slaves who endured the hard campaigns in such roles as servant, waggoner, and pioneer (performing engineering tasks such as ditch-digging) were not guaranteed freedom, though recognition of services rendered sometimes gained them that reward. Although the American forces had no problem with using blacks in ancillary roles, they did debate the propriety of arming and serving with them as soldiers. This controversy began with the creation of the American army and then rose and ebbed with the need for manpower (see Dummone's Proclamation). Furthermore, Anglo- and European-Americans recognized that revolutionary rhetoric could as easily be turned against them as slaveholders as against the king as despot. Many tried to refute the comparison by arguing that slaves were property. Others argued that the new nation must live up to its declared principles of liberty and equality for all.
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