Aquila Giles’ manumission deed to free Hannah and her daughter Abigail exemplifies the complex and often cruel negotiations surrounding slavery in Northern states, highlighting the limits placed even on those freed.
The newly digitized manumission records reveal that the plight of enslaved individuals in the North was as harrowing as in the South, with many remaining unfree despite manumission.
These manumission documents not only illustrate the reluctance of white New Yorkers to abolish slavery but also highlight the courageous actions of African Americans in their struggle for freedom.
The New-York Manumission Society played a pivotal role in providing legal support for individual manumission cases, showcasing the societal push against the institution of slavery.
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