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From: <>
Subject: [NYSUFFOL] Between Slavery and Freedom
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 12:19:39 EDT

Dear Suffolk-Rootsers, etc.,


In its (sort of) regularly scheduled Tuesday LI history segment, today's
NEWSDAY (page A29) has a story (the first 5 paragraphs appear after my
signature) about the NYS law that took effect on the Fourth of July, 1799,
when an entire generation of black children on Long Island and across the
state were born in a twilight zone between slave and free. The new law
declared them to be the freeborn children of slave mothers.

But there was a catch. Though freeborn, these children were required by the
law to serve their mother's master, unless he "abandoned" them. They were
bound in the manner of indentured servants, men until age 28, women, 25. New
York State would then pay some $2 a month for board and maintenance. But,
abandonment was a bit more profitable ...

A slaveholder could also "abandon" the children of a slave a year after their
birth. This made the children paupers, subject to being bound out by the town
overseers of the poor, who could use state money of up to $3.50 a month per
child to support them. Since the law did not prohibit the overseers of the
poor from binding children out to the same slavemaster who had abandoned
them, masters could be paid up to $3.50 a month for every child born to one
of their slaves.


For all those Suffolk-Rootsers who wish to see the entire story but can not
access the web, please eMail me directly and I will then eMail the entire
story to you.


Sincerely,

Walter Greenspan


LONG ISLAND OUR PAST
Between Slavery and Freedom
New York's gradual abolition of slavery left children of slaves in an awkward
situation
-- by George DeWan

BEGINNING on the Fourth of July, 1799, an entire generation of black children
on Long Island and across the state were born in a twilight zone between
slave and free.

A new state law declared them to be the freeborn children of slave mothers.

In some cases, we even know their names. First names, at least. This is no
small accomplishment, since, more often than not, slaves and their children
were born in anonymity and were buried in unmarked graves.

The 1799 state law, however, titled "An Act for the Gradual Abolition of
Slavery," required record keeping. So we can go to places like the State
Archives in Albany and see firsthand evidence of a shameful chapter in our
past.

For example, Betty was born in North Hempstead on March 13, 1800, the
daughter of a black slave named Suke, who was owned by Daniel Whitehead
Kissam.

The following year, Suke had another child, Jeffery. Even though their mother
was a slave, these children were born free, according to the law.

06/06/2000 - Tuesday - Page A 29

Copyright © Newsday, Inc.

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