Freedom Affidavits Collection, 1839-1840 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of two freedom affidavits from Frederick County, Maryland. The first affidavit, dated December 14, 1839, attests that Davis Richardson "made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that he knows Sarah Ann Praut the negro woman … and that she is free born and has always passed as such." The second affidavit, dated February 25, 1840, attests that Thomas Sappington "made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that Andrew Crane the negro man … is the identical negro who was manumitted by Francis B. Sappington on the 23d January 1832." Both were sworn before Ezra Dadysman, a justice of the peace of Frederick County, Maryland.

Biographical/Historical Context:

Starting in 1805, free Blacks in Maryland were required to record proof of their free status in the county court in order to receive a certificate of freedom. Freedom affidavits documented a witness swearing under oath before a justice of the peace that the individual was born free or was the same person manumitted in another legal document. The individual would then receive a certificate of freedom for identification purposes from the county clerk or register of wills after supplying evidence such as a freedom affidavit and having related legal documentation verified, if applicable.

Acquisition Source: The documents, in the Library's Lincoln Room collection, were previously cataloged 326.973 P89d and 326.973 C852d and were acquired by the Library in 1970 or earlier. The collection was previously erroneously titled "Slave Identification Papers." It was retitled in 2024.