Freedom papers of New Orleans (La.), 1832-1858. - Freedom papers of New Orleans (La.), 1832-1858.

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Title
Freedom papers of New Orleans (La.), 1832-1858.
Biographical Information
Names of free persons of color represented in these papers include: Maria (former slave of Lewis Banks, active 1854); Augustin Circe (former slave of D. Augustin, born approximately 1815); Claire Circe (former slave of D. Augustin, born approximately 1836); Andrew Beck (active 1856); William Garrett (active 1854); Andrew Jackson Keller (born approximately 1836); John Shelby (born approximately 1837); Jean Baptiste (a carpenter, born approximately 1821); Mary Forstall (a hairdresser, born approximately 1828); Caroline Johnson (former slave of Margaret Smith, active 1855); Joseph Devenport (a minister, born approximately 1804); Johnson, Richard Johnson (former slave of William M. Beal, born approximately 1784); Hester Johnson (former slave of William M. Beal, born approximately 1782); John B. Jourdan (former slave of William M. Beal, born approximately 1802); Louisa (former slave of William M. Beal, born approximately 1817); Charles (former slave of William M. Beal, born approximately 1823); John Jourdan (former slave of William M. Beal, born approximately 1825); Stephen W. Rogers (former slave of William M. Beal, born approximately 1796); Elizabeth Porrye (slave of Presley H. Craig, born approximately 1825); Henry Porrye (former slave of Presley H. Craig, born approximately 1840); Mary Porrye former slave of Presley H. Craig, born approximately 1843); Alexander (former slave of Phoebe Anderson, born approximately 1833); Phoebe Anderson (active 1857); Alexander Sterling (born approximately 1828); Louisa Bush (born approximately 1810); Amos Bush (born approximately 1824); Charles Hawkins (born approximately 1837); Jean (former slave of Adeline Davis, born approximately 1830); Thomas Jefferson Martin (active 1855); and Aurore (former slave of W. Pigniguy, active 1856).</br></br>John Shelby was born a free man of color in Springfield, Illinois in about 1837. In the fall of 1856, Shelby went to St. Louis to work on a steamboat traveling to New Orleans on the lower Mississippi River. When the boat docked in New Orleans and Shelby was found without his freedom papers after dark, an officer arrested Shelby. John Shelby then faced the serious possibility of being sold into slavery. A New Orleans lawyer named Benjamin F. Jonas petitioned President Abraham Lincoln and his law partner William Herndon to help in Shelby’s case after prior petitions proved unsuccessful. Lincoln and Herndon drafted funds and sent these to Jonas’ office in New Orleans. Within days of Jonas paying a fine of $69.30, Shelby won his release and returned to his mother’s home in Springfield.</br></br>William Henry Bissell (1811-1860) was a Republican and the 11th Governor of Illinois, and served as Governor from 1857 until his death.
Date Created
1832 - 1858
Description
This is an artificial collection comprised of various documents that provide evidence of the free status of individual persons in the city of New Orleans during the years 1832-1858. Among the items are certificates from public officials, copies of notarial acts, extracts from the Registers of Free People of Color maintained in the Mayor's Office, extracts from records in the Orleans Parish Conveyance Office, court judgments, and affidavits from private citizens.</br></br>Each of these documents identifies the free person and makes some reference to the source of her or his freedom. Some items include additional information, such as the person's occupation, relations, or name of former slaveholder.</br></br>Some items appear to have been carried as proof of freedom by the named individuals. Others may be record copies retained in the files of the issuing agency.</br></br>Items of note include two affidavits relating to the imprisonment of John Shelby, a free man of color of Springfield, Illinois. In a February 19, 1857 affidavit written by Illinois governor William Henry Bissell, Bissell provides evidence that Shelby, mistakenly imprisoned as a runaway slave, is indeed a free person of color, born and raised in Springfield, Illinois. Bissell goes on to detail the skin color of Shelby's parents and Shelby's physiognomy, describing him as ""...a very dark Mulatto, the white Blood scarcely perceptible."" A related affidavit, written by Thomas Moffett on 20 February 1857, further verifies that Shelby is a free man of color and expresses concern over Shelby’s condition after three months in prison. The earliest document in the collection, dated May 11, 1832, is an Act of Emancipation of Slaves by Doctor James Ritchie, Executor of William M. Beal's estate, which confirms Beal's intention of emancipating Richard Jackson (described as a griffe), his wife Hester, and their children: John B. Jourdan (described as a mulatto), Louisa (described as a griffe), Charles or ""Jefferson"" (described as a griffe), John, son of ""John B. Jourdan"" (described as a mulatto); and Stephen W. Rogers (described as a griffe).</br></br>Two documents discuss a free person of color having purchased their freedom through an agreement with their slave owner. These items include an 1854 act of freedom documenting that a slave named Marie paid to Louis Banks the sum of $150, entitling her to her freedom, and, an 1858 acknowledgment of freedom by Adeline Davis, now of Paris France, for Jean (described as a mulatto), who paid her a sum of $300 for his freedom.</br></br>Extracts from the Mayorality of New Orleans' Book of Records include records for the following free persons of color: Jean Baptiste (described as a mulatto and a carpenter), Andrew Jackson Keller (described as a quadroon and a brick mason), Mary Forstall (described as a mulattress and a hairdresser), Joseph Devenport (described as a griffe and a minister), and Estelle (described as a free girl).</br></br>Other items represented include an 1856 act of freedom signed by D. Augustin certifying that Augustin Circe (described as a 21 year old mulatto), son of his free mulatto house servant (Marie Circe), is a free person of color; a 24 February 1857 copy of the emancipation of Alexander (described as a mulatto man of 24 years) by his aunt Phoebe Anderson, his owner and a free woman of color; a 1854 certificate of freedom for Charles Hawkins (described as a mulatto boy of seventeen years) certifying he has proven his freedom before the court and is authorized to remain in the state and to pass; a testament given by three citizens of New Orleans that Thomas Jefferson Martin is a free person of color and has been for more than ten years; and a certificate of freedom for Aurore. Two items are in French.
Type of Resource
text
Size
23 items.
Language
English
Language
French
Source
New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana Division, City Archives & Special Collections, New Orleans, La., http://neworleanspubliclibrary.org/spec/speclist.htm/
Digital Collection
Revealing an Unknown Past: Free People of Color in Louisiana and the Lower Mississippi Valley
Repository Collection
Freedom papers of New Orleans (La.), MS 149, Louisiana Division, New Orleans Public Library.
Shelf Location
MS 149, Folder 1
Contact Information
To inquire about ordering copies of these images, email lsudiglib@lsu.edu See instructions for ordering reprints of this image here: http://www.lib.lsu.edu/special/services/duplication.html . Include the "Item URL" in your request.
Rights
Physical rights are retained by the LSU Special Collections. Copyright has expired and the item is therefore in the public domain. Permission to reproduce this image must be requested through the repository that holds the original.
Preferred Citation
Freedom papers of New Orleans (La.), 1854-1858. Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans Public Library.
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