Latest / Creating America / Episode 9: Voices of Freedom | Enslaved Petitions & Early Abolition in Revolutionary America

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Episode 9: Voices of Freedom | Enslaved Petitions & Early Abolition in Revolutionary America · Creating America

• Welcome to the Creating America Podcast, the documents and speeches that shaped the United States I’m Will Sarris. I’m an actor and media professional and I’ve always loved the study of history. I was thinking about the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States recently, ad I realized that often I know ABOUT various speeches and documents that shaped the history of the US, but had often never actually read them. And I thought that likely many of you were in the same place. In addition, many of these texts were meant to be heard more than read (especially in the cast of speeches), since many people were illiterate. And I’m a voice actor I hope I can not only bring you the text of the document or speech, but make it come alive. So what I want to do is simply read to you these speeches and documents. Many of them are well known, others only known by name, and others almost entirely forgotten in the public consciousness. Some are inspirational, others will probably shock you. A few quick things before we get going. I’m interested in and have studied history over my lifetime, but I am not a historian. So while I will provide some context for each speech or document, I will offer little commentary other than to point you to respected historians who can give some insight every once in a while. Additionally, I’m a white man. Many of the documents and speeches were written by white men. However I want to try to bring in other diverse voices as we go. The country has always benefited from a diversity of opinions, and that should be reflected here. So, I’ve tried to somewhat organize this chronologically, however I’m sure I will miss things that many of you think are relevant or that I simply don’t know exist. That’s ok! Contact me and I’ll try to bring in those texts as well as we go . The email address is CreatingAmericaPod@gmail.com. It is my hope that as you listen to these documents and speeches you will gain an appreciation of what our country was, what it is, and what it hopes to be. As I say in the introduction, I would like to bring into this podcast documents and speeches by voices that are not just the wealthy white men we have mainly been hearing from. America then, though not as much as later, was a diverse place with people hailing from many countries and backgrounds. And, importantly, it was a place where almost universally slavery was legal. In the southern states especially slavery was a common, ugly part of the economy. As we have heard, often the founders wrote or spoke about throwing off the chains of slavery from Britian. This didn’t square well with their actions in enslaving Africans, a point many British writers and speakers made. Notably Edmund Burke, the Scottish firebrand and member of the British Parliament, proposed a bill to ban slaveholders from being able to sit in the House of Commons and proposed a gradual emancipation program. He said slavery was “a weed that grows on every soil” and “When slavery is established in any part of the world, those who are free are by far the most proud and jealous of their freedom". In the colonies (later States) the African slave population was well aware of the rhetoric of freedom vs. slavery being spoken and written. And they had their own thoughts and ideas. In Massachusetts a group of four enslaved men in Taunton drafted a letter in April 1773, on behalf of their fellow enslaved people in the province, requesting their freedom and the opportunity to return to Africa. This was part of a larger organized campaign by black petitioners in the Boston area. BOSTON, APRIL 20th, 1773. SIR, THE efforts made by the legislative of this province in their last sessions to free themselves from slavery, gave us, who are in that deplorable state, a high degree of satisfacton. We expect great things from men who have made such a noble stand against the designs of their fellow-men to enslave them. We cannot but wish and hope Sir, that you will have the same grand object, we mean civil and religious liberty, in view in your next session. The divine spirit of freedom, seems to fire every humane breast on this continent, except such as are bribed to assist in executing the execrable plan. WE are very sensible that it would be highly detrimental to our present masters, if we were allowed to demand all that of right belongs to us for past services; this we disclaim. Even the Spaniards, who have not those sublime ideas of freedom that English men have, are conscious that they have no right to all services of their fellow men, we mean the Africans, whom they have purchased with their money; therefore they allow them one day in a week to work for themselve, to enable them to earn money to purchase the residue of their time, which they have a right to demand in such portions as they are able to pay for (a due appraizment of their services being first made, which always stands at the purchase money.) We do not pretend to dictate to you Sir, or to the honorable Assembly, of which you are a member : We acknowledge our obligations to you for what you have already done, but as the people of this province seem to be actuated by the principles of equity and justice, we cannot but expect your house will again take our deplorable case into serious consideration, and give us that ample relief which, as men, we have a natural right to. BUT since the wise and righteous governor of the universe, has permitted our fellow men to make us slaves, we bow in submission to him, and determine to behave in such a manner, as that we may have reason to expect the divine approbation of, and assistance in, our peaceable and lawful attempts to gain our freedom. WE are willing to submit to such regulations and laws, as may be made relative to us, until we leave the province, which we determine to do as soon as we can from our joynt labours procure money to transport ourselves to some part of the coast of Africa, where we propose a settlement. We are very desirous that you should have instructions relative to us, from your town, therefore we pray you to communicate this letter to them, and ask this favor for us. In behalf of our fellow slaves in this province, And by order of their Committee. PETER BESTES, SAMBO FREEMAN, FELIX HOLBROOK, CHESTER JOIE. For the REPRESENTATIVE of the town of Taunton. In 1779 19 individuals of African decent sent a four-page handwritten petition to the New Hampshire Council and House of Representatives to abolish slavery in the state. One signer was Prince Whipple, an enslaved aide, bodyguard, and soldier to General William Whipple, Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Prince Whipple was present in Philadelphia with his enslaver during the Second Continental Congress when he likely heard the ideas of freedom being discussed throughout the city and within the Whipple household of Philadelphia around the time of the signing of the Declaration. The petition was written, presented, and eventually dismissed as being ill-timed while the nation was at war with Britain. Prince Whipple and four other men were eventually manumitted, while the fourteen other signers died as enslaved individuals until posthumously 233 years later in March 2013, Senator Martha Fuller Clark resubmitted the petition and it was unanimously passed in the New Hampshire Senate to free the 14 men. State of New Hampshire To The Honble the Council and House of representative of said State now sitting at Exeter in and for said State The Petition of Nero Brewster, Pharaoh Rogers, Romeo Rindges, Cato Newmarch, Cesar Garrish, Zebulon Gardner, Quam Sherburne, Samuel Wentworth, Will Clarkson, Jack Odiorne, Cipio Hubbard, Seneca Hall, Peter Warner, Cato Warner, Pharoah Shores, Winsor Moffatt, Garrett Colton, Kittindge Tuckerman, Peter Warner, Prince Whipple, Natives of Africa now forcibly detained in Slavery in said State most Humbly Sheweth That the God of Nature gave them Life and freedom upon the Terms of the most perfect Equality with other men, That Freedom is an inherent Right of the human Species, not to be surrendered but by Consent for the Sake of social Life; That private or publick Tyranny and Slavery are alike detestable to Minds, conscious of the capable Dignity of human Nature; that in Power and authority of Individuals, derived solely from a Principle of Coercion, against the Will of Individuals, and to dispose of their Persons and Properties, consists the compleatist Idea of private and political Slavery; That all men being ameniable to the Deity for the ill Improvement of the Blessings of his Providence, They hold themselves in Duty bound, strenuously to exert every Faculty of their Minds, to obtain that Blessing of Freedom which they are justly entitled to from the Donation of the beneficient Creator; That thro’ Ignorance and brutish Violence of their native Countrymen, and by sinister Designs of others, (who ought to have taught them better) and by the avarice of both, They, while but Children, and incapable of Self-Defence, whose Infancy might have prompted Protection, were seized, imprisoned, and transported from their native Country, where, (Tho’ Ignorance and Inchristianity prevailed) They were born free to a Country, where (tho’ Knowledge, Christianity and Freedom, are their Boast) They are compelled, and their unhappy Posterity, to drag on their Lives in miserable Servitude. – Thus, often is the Parent’s Cheek wet for the Lots of a Child, torn by the cruel hand of Violence from her aking Bosom! Thus, often, and in vain, is the Infant’s Sigh, for the nurturing Care of it’s bereaved Parent! and thus, do the Ties of Nature and Blood, become Victims, to cherish the Vanity and Luxury of a Fellow-Mortal! Can this be Right? Forbid it gracious Heaven! Permit again your humble Slaves to lay before this Honorable assembly, some of those grievances which they daily experience and feel; Tho’ Fortune hath dealt out our portions with rugged hand, yet hath she smiled in the Disposal of our Persons to those who claim us as their Property; of them, as Masters, we do not complain: But, from what Authority They assume the Power to dispose of our Lives, Freedom and Property, we would wish to know; Is it from the sacred Volumes of Christianity? There we believe it is not to be found! but here hath the cruel hand of Slavery made us incompetent Judges, hence Knowledge is hid from our Minds! Is it from the Volumes of the Laws? Of these also Slaves can not be Judges, but those we are told are founded in Reason and Justice; it cannot be found there! Is it from the Volumes of Nature? No. Here we can read with others! of this Knowledge, Slavery cannot wholly deprive us; Here, we know that we ought to be free agents! Here, we feel the Dignity of Human Nature! Here, we feel the Passions and Desires of men, tho’ check’d by the Rod of Slavery! Here, we feel a Just Equality! Here, we know that the God of Nature made us free! Is their authority assumed from Custom? if so, Let that Custom be abolished, which is not founded in Nature, Reason nor Religion. Should the Humanity and Benevolence of this Honorable Assembly restore us to that State of Liberty of which we have been so long deprived, We conceive that those, who are our present Masters, will not be Sufferers by our Liberation, as we have most of us spent our whole Strength and the Prime of our Lives in their Service; And as Freedom inspires a noble Confidence, and gives the Mind an Emulation to vie in the noblest Efforts of Interprize, and as Justice and Humanity are the Result of your Deliberations, we fondly Hope that the Eye of Pity and the Heart of Justice may commiserate our Situation and put us upon the Equality of Freemen, and give us an opportunity of evincing to the World our Love of Freedom, by exerting ourselves in her Cause, in opposing the Efforts of Tyranny and Oppression over the Country in which we ourselves have been so injuriously enslaved. Therefore, your humble Slaves most devoutly Pray, for the Sake of injured Liberty, for the Sake of Justice, Humanity, and the Rights of Mankind; for the Honour of Religion, and by all that is dear, that your Honours would graciously interpose in our Behalf, and enact such Laws and Regulations as in your Wisdom you may think proper, whereby we may regain our Liberty and be rank’d in the Class of free agents, and that the Name of Slave may not more be heard in a Land gloriously contending for the Sweets of Freedom; And your humble Slaves as in Duty bound will ever Pray. Portsmouth, Nov. 12, 1779. In 1780 the Pennsylvania Assembly passed the Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery into law. It was the first of several legislative enactments to abolish slavery in the United States between 1780 and 1804. The act did not free anyone immediately instead stated “every Negro and Mulatto child born within the state after the passing of the Act would be free upon reaching age twenty-eight.” The act required that enslavers register the names of those that they enslaved within a six-month timeframe and if not, the enslaved would be freed. Enslavers disregard for the registration deadline became the impetus for several enslaved people to sue for their freedom, such as in a groundbreaking Pennsylvania Supreme Court case, Respublica v. Negroe Betsey (1789). George Washington, while president between 1789 and 1797, attempted to bypass the six-month registration deadline by repeatedly rotating enslaved people between his Mt. Vernon and Philadelphia residences to keep them enslaved. When we contemplate our Abhorence of that Condition to which the Arms and Tyranny of Great Britain were exerted to reduce us, when we look back on the Variety of Dangers to which we have been exposed, and how miraculously our Wants in many Instances have been supplied and our Deliverances wrought, when even Hope and human fortitude have become unequal to the Conflict; we are unavoidably led to a serious and grateful Sense of the manifold Blessings which we have undeservedly received from the hand of that Being from whom every good and perfect Gift cometh. Impressed with these Ideas we conceive that it is our duty, and we rejoice that it is in our Power, to extend a Portion of that freedom to others, which hath been extended to us; and a Release from that State of Thraldom, to which we ourselves were tyrannically doomed, and from which we have now every Prospect of being delivered. It is not for us to enquire, why, in the Creation of Mankind, the Inhabitants of the several parts of the Earth, were distinguished by a difference in Feature or Complexion. It is sufficient to know that all are the Work of an Almighty Hand, We find in the distribution of the human Species, that the most fertile, as well as the most barren parts of the Earth are inhabited by Men of Complexions different from ours and from each other, from whence we may reasonably as well as religiously infer, that he, who placed them in their various Situations, hath extended equally his Care and Protection to all, and that it becometh not us to counteract his Mercies. We esteem a peculiar Blessing granted to us, that we are enabled this Day to add one more Step to universal Civilization by removing as much as possible the Sorrows of those, who have lived in undeserved Bondage, and from which by the assumed Authority of the Kings of Britain, no effectual legal Relief could be obtained. Weaned by a long Course of Experience from those narrow Prejudices and Partialities we had imbibed, we find our Hearts enlarged with Kindness and Benevolence towards Men of all Conditions and Nations; and we conceive ourselves at this particular Period extraordinarily called upon by the Blessings which we have received, to manifest the Sincerity of our Profession and to give a substantial Proof of our Gratitude. And whereas, the Condition of those Persons who have heretofore been denominated Negroe and Mulatto Slaves, has been attended with Circumstances which not only deprived them of the common Blessings that they were by Nature entitled to, but has cast them into the deepest Afflictions by an unnatural Separation and Sale of Husband and Wife from each other, and from their Children; an Injury the greatness of which can only be conceived, by supposing that we were in the same unhappy Case. In Justice therefore to Persons so unhappily circumstanced and who, having no Prospect before them whereon they may rest their Sorrows and their hopes have no reasonable Inducement to render that Service to Society, which they otherwise might; and also ingrateful Commemoration of our own happy Deliverance, from that State of unconditional Submission, to which we were doomed by the Tyranny of Britain. Be it enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met and by the Authority of the same, That all Persons, as well Negroes, and Mulattos, as others, who shall be born within this State, from and after the Passing of this Act, shall not be deemed and considered as Servants for Life or Slaves; and that all Servitude for Life or Slavery of Children in Consequence of the Slavery of their Mothers, in the Case of all Children born within this State from and after the passing of this Act as aforesaid, shall be, an hereby is, utterly taken away, extinguished and for ever abolished. Provided always and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Negroe and Mulatto Child born within this State after the passing of this Act as aforesaid, who would in Case this Act had not been made, have been born a Servant for Years or life or a Slave, shall be deemed to be and shall be, by Virtue of this Act the Servant of such person or his or her Assigns, who would in such Case have been entitled to the Service of such Child until such Child shall attain unto the Age of twenty eight Years, in the manner and on the Conditions whereon Servants bound by Indenture for four Years are or may be retained and holden; and shall be liable to like Correction and punishment, and intitled to like Relief in case he or she be evilly treated by his or her master or Mistress; and to like Freedom dues and other Privileges as Servants bound by Indenture for Four Years are or may be intitled unless the Person to whom the Service of any such Child Shall belong, shall abandon his or her Claim to the same, in which Case the Overseers of the Poor of the City Township or District, respectively where such Child shall be so abandoned, shall by Indenture bind out every Child so abandoned as an Apprentice for a Time not exceeding the Age herein before limited for the Service of such Children. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Person who is or shall be the Owner of any Negroe or Mulatto Slave or Servant for life or till the Age of thirty one Years, now within this State, or his lawful Attorney shall on or before the said first day of November next, deliver or cause to be delivered in Writing to the Clerk of the Peace of the County or to the Clerk of the Court of Record of the City of Philadelphia, in which he or she shall respectively inhabit, the Name and Sirname and Occupation or Profession of such Owner, and the Name of the County and Township District or Ward where he or she resideth, and also the Name and Names of any such Slave and Slaves and Servant and Servants for Life or till the Age of thirty one Years together with their Ages and Sexes severally and respectively set forth and annexed, by such Person owned or statedly employed, and then being within this State in order to ascertain and distinguish the Slaves and Servants for Life and Years till the Age of thirty one Years within this State who shall be such on the said first day of November next, from all other persons, which particulars shall by said Clerk of the Sessions and Clerk of said City Court be entered in Books to be provided for that Purpose by the said Clerks; and that no Negroe or Mulatto now within this State shall from and after the said first day of November by deemed a slave or Servant for life or till the Age of thirty one Years unless his or her name shall be entered as aforesaid on such Record except such Negroe and Mulatto Slaves and Servants as are hereinafter excepted; the said Clerk to be entitled to a fee of Two Dollars for each Slave or Servant so entered as aforesaid, from the Treasurer of the County to be allowed to him in his Accounts. Provided always, That any Person in whom the Ownership or Right to the Service of any Negro or Mulatto shall be vested at the passing of this Act, other than such as are herein before excepted, his or her Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns, and all and every of them severally Shall be liable to the Overseers of the Poor of the City, Township or District to which any such Negroe or Mulatto shall become chargeable, for such necessary Expence, with Costs of Suit thereon, as such Overseers may be put to through the Neglect of the Owner, Master or Mistress of such Negroe or Mulatto, notwithstanding the Name and other descriptions of such Negroe or Mulatto shall not be entered and recorded as aforesaid; unless his or her Master or Owner shall before such Slave or Servant attain his or her twenty eighth Year execute and record in the proper County, a deed or Instrument securing to such Slave or Servant his or her Freedom. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Offences and Crimes of Negroes and Mulattos as well as Slaves and Servants and Freemen, shall be enquired of, adjudged, corrected and punished in like manner as the Offences and Crimes of the other Inhabitants of this State are and shall be enquired of adjudged, corrected and punished, and not otherwise except that a Slave shall not be admitted to bear Witness agaist [sic] a Freeman. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in all Cases wherein Sentence of Death shall be pronounced against a Slave, the Jury before whom he or she shall be tried shall appraise and declare the Value of such Slave, and in Case Such Sentence be executed, the Court shall make an Order on the State Treasurer payable to the Owner for the same and for the Costs of Prosecution, but in Case of a Remission or Mitigation for the Costs only. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Reward for taking up runaway and absconding Negroe and Mulatto Slaves and Servants and the Penalties for enticing away, dealing with, or harbouring, concealing or employing Negroe and Mulatto Slaves and Servants shall be the same, and shall be recovered in like manner, as in Case of Servants bound for Four Years. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Man or Woman of any Nation or Colour, except the Negroes or Mulattoes who shall be registered as aforesaid shall at any time hereafter be deemed, adjudged or holden, within the Territories of this Commonwealth, as Slaves or Servants for Life, but as freemen and Freewomen; and except the domestic Slaves attending upon Delegates in Congress from the other American States, foreign Ministers and Consuls, and persons passing through or sojourning in this State, and not becoming resident therein; and Seamen employed in Ships, not belonging to any Inhabitant of this State nor employed in any Ship owned by any such Inhabitant, Provided such domestic Slaves be not aliened or sold to any Inhabitant, nor (except in the Case of Members of Congress, foreign Ministers and Consuls) retained in this State longer than six Months. Provided always and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act nor any thing in it contained shall not give any Relief or Shelter to any absconding or Runaway Negroe or Mulatto Slave or Servant, who has absented himself or shall absent himself from his or her Owner, Master or Mistress, residing in any other State or Country, but such Owner, Master or Mistress, shall have like Right and Aid to demand, claim and take away his Slave or Servant, as he might have had in Case this Act had not been made. And that all Negroe and Mulatto Slaves, now owned, and heretofore resident in this State, who have absented themselves, or been clandestinely carried away, or who may be employed abroad as Seamen, and have not returned or been brought back to their Owners, Masters or Mistresses, before the passing of this Act may within five Years be registered as effectually, as is ordered by this Act concerning those who are now within the State, on producing such Slave, before any two Justices of the Peace, and satisfying the said Justices by due Proof, of the former Residence, absconding, taking away, or Absence of such Slave as aforesaid; who thereupon shall direct and order the said Slave to be entered on the Record as aforesaid. And Whereas Attempts may be made to evade this Act, by introducing into this State, Negroes and Mulattos, bound by Covenant to serve for long and unreasonable Terms of Years, if the same be not prevented. Be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Covenant of personal Servitude or Apprenticeship whatsoever shall be valid or binding on a Negroe or Mulatto for a longer Time than Seven Years; unless such Servant or Apprentice were at the Commencement of such Servitude or Apprenticeship under the Age of Twenty one Years; in which Case such Negroe or Mulatto may be holden as a Servant or Apprentice respectively, according to the Covenant, as the Case shall be, until he or she shall attain the Age of twenty eight Years but no longer. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That an Act of Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania passed in the Year one thousand seven hundred and five, intitled "An Act for the Trial of Negroes;" and another Act of Assembly of the said Province passed in the Year one thousand seven hundred and twenty five intitled "An Act for "the better regulating of Negroes in this Province;" and another Act of Assembly of the said Province passed in the Year one thousand seven hundred and sixty one intitled "An Act for laying a Duty on Negroe and Mulatto Slaves imported into this Province" and also another Act of Assembly of the said Province, passed in the Year one thousand seven hundred and seventy three, intitled "An Act for making perpetual An Act for laying a duty on Negroe and Mulatto "Slaves imported into this Province and for laying an additional "Duty on said Slaves;" shall be and are hereby repealed annulled and made void. John Bayard, Speaker Enacted into a Law at Philadelphia on Wednesday the first day of March, Anno Domini One thousand seven hundred Eighty Thomas Paine, Clerk of the General Assembly Often when talking about the founders and the contradictions between advocating freedom and keeping slaves people will say “well, they were of their time” or “Everyone did it, it was just part of the culture” or something to that effect. It is important that we never lose sight of the fact that while slavery was legal and common, there were many voices, including those of the enslaved people themselves, who were loudly pointing out those contradictions and pushing for emancipation and freedom. Thanks for listening to this episode of Creating America, the documents and speeches that shaped the United States. I’m Will Sarris, your host and narrator. This show is written and produced by me. If you like this podcast, please subscribe and rate the show and share it with your friends. I’ve also started a Patreon, patreon.com/williamsarris, where you can support this project, which is something I do on my own time. Anything you can contribute is appreciated! If you’d like to send in a comment or request that I read a speech or document you think I missed, the email is CreatingAmericaPod@gmail.com. You can find the show on social media by searching CreatingAmerica, and you can find me there too. If you want to know more about what I do professionally, visit my website williamsarris.net. Till next time! Copyright 2026 William Sarris All rights reserved.