Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Reading - 18C American Woman with a Book

1779 Ralph Earl (American artist, 1751-1801) Mary Ann Carpenter Mrs Thompson Foster holding a book

George Washington’s will freed all his slaves at his death in 1799. Less familiar is this provision: “The negroes thus bound are (by their masters & mistresses) to be taught to read & write & to be brought up to some useful occupation.”