The Price of Freedom: Slavery and Manumission in Baltimore and Early National Maryland

253 Pages·2014·23.097 MB·English

by  T. Stephen Whitman

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
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THE
PRICE OF
FREEDOM
SLAVERY AND MANUMISSION IN BALTIMORE
AND EARLY NATIONAL MARYLAND
T. Stephen Whitman
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY
Publication of this volume was made possible in part by a grant
from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Copyright 1997 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine College, Berea College, Centre
College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Club Historical Society, Georgetown College,
Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University,
Morehead State University, Murray State University,
Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University,
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,
and Western Kentucky University.
All rights reserved
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Whitman, T. Stephen, 1950-
The price of freedom : slavery and manumission in Baltimore and
early national Maryland I T. Stephen Whitman.
p. em.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8131-5554-8
1. Slavery-Maryland. 2. Slavery-Maryland-Baltimore.
3. Slaves-Emancipation-Maryland. 4. Slaves-Emancipation
Maryland-Baltimore. 5. Maryland-History. 6. Maryland-Race
relations. 7. Baltimore (Md.)-History. 8. Baltimore (Md.)-Race
relations. I. Title.
E445.M3W45 1997
975.2'00496-dc20 96-27386
This book is printed on acid
To Dorothy]. and Aaron T. Whitman
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CONTENTS
List of Illustrations and Maps ix
List of Tables xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
1
SLAVERY IN EARLY NATIONAL BALTIMORE
AND RURAL MARYLAND 8
2
INDUSTRIAL SLAVERY IN BALTIMORE 33
3
THE BLACK DRIVE FOR AUTONOMY AND
MASTERS' RESPONSES 6r
4
MANUMISSION AND THE
TRANSFORMATION OF SLAVERY 93
5
FREE BLACK FAMILY STRATEGIES FOR GAINING FREEDOM rr9
6
POLITICAL-ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND FREE BLACKS 140
Conclusions 158
Appendix A: Baltimore Slaveholders, 1790-1820 167
Appendix B: Occupational Categories 170
Appendix C: Sale Prices of Term Slaves and Slaves for Life 175
Notes 178
Bibliography 216
Index 233
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ILLUSTRATIONS
1. BUSINESS CARD OF MARYLAND
CHEMICAL WORKS, 1828 44
2. FARDY AND AULD'S SHIPYARD, 1854 59
3. BROADSIDE, 1810 ro6
4. BROADSIDE, 1825 ro7
5. BALTIMORE STREET, 1811 146
MAPS
1. STATE OF MARYLAND, 1794 34
2. CITY AND ENVIRONS OF BALTIMORE, 1801 38