Emancipation
Although the Virginia Assembly passed a manumission act in 1782 allowing for the freedom of any slave by his or her owner, James remained the property of William Armistead (A 1783 law specifically targeted at freeing slaves whose owners had used them as substitutes for army service in exchange for their liberty did not apply to James). However, in 1786, with the support of William Armistead (then a member of the House of Delegates) and carrying a 1784 testimonial of his service from the Marquis de Lafayette, James petitioned the Virginia Assembly for his freedom (The facsimile of the letter of commendation can be viewed on the Lafayette College website,). On January 9, 1787, the Virginia Assembly granted James' petition. It was at that time that he chose to add 'Armistead' and 'Lafayette' to his name, to honor the general.
He continued to live in New Kent County with his new wife, one son and several other children. He became a farmer and at one point owned three slaves. . By 1818 he applied to the state legislature for financial aid. He was granted $60 for present relief and $40 annual pension for his services in the Revolutionary War.
Read more about this topic: James Armistead
Famous quotes containing the word emancipation:
“In a seriously intended intellectual emancipation a person’s mute passions and cravings also hope to find their advantage.”
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—Mary E. Haggart, U.S. suffragist. As quoted in History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 4, ch. 3, by Susan B. Anthony and Ida Husted Harper (1902)