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sl8

(13,584 posts)
Thu Nov 28, 2019, 06:31 AM Nov 2019

On November 28, 1777, two slaves were freed.

What I wouldn't give to interview Capt. Allen and Ms. Mattis. Did he expect the emancipation to be respected in the new country? Did she?

From http://brittlebooks.library.illinois.edu/brittlebooks_open/Books2010-07/vermhi0001collec/vermhi0001collecv00001/vermhi0001collecv00001.pdf


Among the persons taken by Captain Allen, fleeing Nov. 28. from Ticonderoga to Canada, was Dinah Mattis, a colored slave, with her infant child, and Captain Allen "being conscientious that it was not right in the sight of God to keep slaves," gave her a deed of emancipation, which is now found on record in the town clerk's office in Bennington. The following is a verbatim copy:

HEAD QUARTERS, Pollet, 28th November, 1777.
To whom it may concern know ye

Whereas Dinah Mattis, a negro woman with Nancy her child
of two months old was taken prisoner on Lake Champlain with
the British troops somewhere near Col. Gillinner's patten the
twelfth day of instant November by a scout under my command,
and according to a resolve passed by the honorable the Continen-
tal Congress that all prizes belong to the captivators thereof-
therefore she and her child became the just property of the capti-
vators thereof-I being conscientious that it is not right in the
sight of God to keep slaves--I therefore obtaining leave of the de-
tachment under my command to give her and her child their free-
dom--I do therefore give the said Dinah Mattis and Nancy her
child their freedom to pass and repass any where through the
United States of America with her behaving as becometh, and to
trade and to traffic for herself and child as though she was born
free without being molested by any person or persons-In wit-
ness whereunto I have set my hand or subscribed my name.
EBENEZER ALLEN, Capt.

BENNINGTON, Town Clerk's Office, July 26, 1870.
I certify that the foregoing is truly copied from Book No. 3 of
said town records, recorded by Moses Robinson when town clerk.
D. F. SQUIRES, Town Clerk.


[...]




Incidentally, if anyone is interested in Vermont's history with slavery, while searching for the above passage, I found this review of a new book regarding slavery in early Vermont:

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/uvm-slavery-study-challenges-vermonts-abolitionist-rep/Content?oid=2296191

UVM Slavery Study Challenges Vermont's Abolitionist Rep
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On November 28, 1777, two slaves were freed. (Original Post) sl8 Nov 2019 OP
Wow - what a find! calimary Nov 2019 #1
Thanks. sl8 Nov 2019 #3
K/R Thanks for sharing this good news document appalachiablue Nov 2019 #2

calimary

(80,700 posts)
1. Wow - what a find!
Thu Nov 28, 2019, 08:37 AM
Nov 2019

Lots of things to be thankful for, today.

Like this here DU, where these little gems can be found and shared.

sl8

(13,584 posts)
3. Thanks.
Thu Nov 28, 2019, 04:38 PM
Nov 2019

Richard Ketchum ended his book, Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War, with that passage.

I read the book years ago, but that particular passage has stuck with me.

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