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Boston 10th July 1788
Sir
I'm now to Inform you that Jube
Came to my House last fryday Evening said
he was Going to his Master Joshua, but has
Concluded for the present to stay where he is
I shall endeavour to Keep him until I
Hear from you, but as you Know his
Disposition if he should[?] Incline to go. I
Have no Authority to Keep him
Your Huml Servt
Gilbert W. Speakman
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When Elizabeth Freeman ("Mum Bett"), a slave in Sheffield, Massachusetts, successfully sued for her freedom in 1781, she set gears in motion for challenging the existence of slavery in Massachusetts and declaring it unconstitutional, but the institution was never officially abolished in this state. When Gilbert Speakman wrote to Aaron Willard in 1788 about the slave Jube's intentions to leave his master, the legal issues regarding the institution of slavery in Massachusetts were still murky and confusing. It appears that Jube had left his "Master Joshua", considered retuning to him, but changed his mind and chose to remain with Speakman. Aaron Willard was reminded that if Jube decided to move on, Speakman would try to convince Jube to stay but Speakman no longer had any "authority" to retain Jube or return him to "Master Joshua".
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Letter to Aaron Willard regarding slave
author Gilbert W.[arner] Speakman |
date Jul 10, 1788 |
location Boston, Massachusetts |
height 8.5" |
width 6.5" |
process/materials manuscript, paper, ink |
item type Personal Documents/Letter |
accession # #L04.069 |
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