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forty-five years, or males under twenty-one, or females under eighteen, to be supported by the person liberating them, or out of his estate.** May 1782. c. 21. The act of manumission may be performed either by will, or by deed, under the hand and seal of the party, acknowledged by him, or proved by two witnesses in the court of the county where he resides. There is reason to believe that great numbers have been emancipated since the passing of this act. By the census of 1791 it appears that the number of free Negroes, mulattoes and Indians in Virginia, was then 12,866. It would be a large allowance, to suppose that there were 1800 free Negroes and mulattoes in Virginia when the act took effect; so that upwards of ten thousand must have been indebted to it for their freedom.[1] The number of Indians and their descendants in Virginia
- ↑ There are more free Negroes and mulattoes in Virginia alone, than are to be found in the four New-England states, and Vermont in addition to them. The progress of emancipation in this state is therefore much greater than our Eastern brethren may at first suppose. There are only 1087 free Negroes and mulattoes in the States of New-York, New-Jersey and Pennsylvania, more, than in Virginia. Those who, take a subject in the gross, have little idea of the result of an exact scrutiny. Out of 20,348 inhabitants on
