Born Free and Emancipated

People of African descent found the indentured servitude period change in 1662 with an act to the General Assembly whereas the institution of slavery advanced to a life of servitude based on the status of the mother giving birth to a child (free born or enslaved). By 1723, the legislation outlawed all emancipations except for meritorious act or deed. In 1782 Virginia’s legislature declared it lawful to emancipate an enslaved person by will or other instrument in writing. Emancipations are recorded in Fauquier’s Will, Deeds, and Minute Order Books. In 1793 the legislation decreed that all free Negroes or mulattos were to be registered and numbered in a book kept by the town clerk. The registers were to specify age, name, color, status, and by whom they were emancipated.