Robert Carter III's Emancipation of Slaves

Nomini Hall Plantation

Click images to enlarge.

Robert Carter III (1728-1804), Emancipation of the Burke Family.

Written by Henry Robert Burke with some exerpts from the research of John Barden.

In 1791 Robert Carter III began the emancipation process for 500 slaves, the largest number of slaves emancipated by an individual slave owner in the history of the United States!

Carter’s emancipation included some of my ancestors: Mary (1704-?), Mary’s son Baptist Billy (1725-?) Baptist Billy’s wife Hannah (1732-?) and their daughter Winney Burke(1760-?) along with many of their relatives.

The decision by Robert Carter III to emancipate his slaves appears to baffle many historians. They seem baffled in part because they fail to recognize that Robert Carter III owned his half brother Baptist Billy, and over the course of Carter‘s life this brought on his remarkable decision. I could go further and speculate what most historians to date have failed to recognize; slave owners and slaves alike were human beings.

While Robert Carter III was indeed rich and privileged, he was not immune to the effects of tragedies. The circumstance that his father, Robert Carter II, and his grandfather, Robert “King” Carter, both died in 1732 when Robert Carter III was only four years old must be taken into consideration. Robert Carter III had no male full siblings; he was raised by his uncles, and this must have affected his views throughout his lifetime.

From reading the notes and diaries left by Robert Carter III, it is apparent that he had feeling for his slaves beyond the ordinary concerns of keeping them healthy so they could work. It is also apparent that his feelings for Baptist Billy went beyond that of a slave owner for his loyal slave. In fact Robert Carter III referred to Baptist Billy as his “black brother”!

Several instances in his notes, Robert Carter III spoke of his “black brother” Will or his “black brother” Billy. Baptist Billy was three years older that Robert Carter III, and they surely grew up together. In documents that Robert Carter prepared pending emancipating his slaves, Carter pointedly enumerated the children, and even some of the grandchildren of Baptist Billy. It was not common for slave owners to comment, at least in writing, about the paternal lineages of slave children. Even Carter only did this on a couple of instances in his emancipation documents. Was Carter telling us something? I think he was. I think Robert Carter III recognized Baptist Billy as his brother.

After a lifelong association with Baptist Billy, perhaps Robert Carter III came to realize that keeping his “black brother Billy” enslaved was inhumane. Also Carter must have reasoned that since his “black brother Billy” was human , then so were the other slaves he owned. At least this must be considered if one is to ask the question: “Why did Robert Carter III free 500 slaves?”. It is apparent to me that the blood relationship between Robert Carter III and Baptist Billy, perhaps combined with other factors such as religion and stress, may answer “why?” Robert Carter III emancipated 500 slaves seventy years before the Civil War.

Credit the following research to: John Randolph Barden PhD., 'Flushed with Notions of Freedom': The Growth and Emancipation of a Virginia Slave Community, 1732-1812. Department of History, Duke University.

(Order from: www.il.proquest.com)

Baptist Billy (Red letters are ancestors of Henry Robert Burke.)

"Baptist Billy" sometimes called "Black Brother Billy" [or] "Will", was born 1723 or 1724. [Baptist Billy the son of Mary, born 1703 or 1704 ? Mary, age 88 when residing at Leo in 1791. Henry Robert Burke insert]. Baptist Billy, residing at Leo in 1791, huband of Hannah , father of Mary Anne, Betty Robinson, Winny Burke, William Robinson, Jesse, Hannah; grandfather Micaijah Wyatt, and Nancy. Resided at Bull Run 1774. Tithable in Loudoun County 1760-85. Resided at Leo in 1788 and 1791. Exempt from taxes and levies after April 13, 1784. Frequent messenger between Bull Run and Nomony Hall, 1779-89. Over 45 years old in 1791. Possibly emancipated by deed proved in Westmoreland County Court on June 24th, 1794 (text not recorded--as in Barden original).

Hannah (from above), born 1733, one source suggests 1728, parents unknown. Wife of Baptist Billy, mother of Mary Ann, and possibly others. Residing at Bull Run in 1774. Tithable in Loudoun County, 1760-80. Residing at Leo in 1788 and 1791. Exempt from taxes and levies by 1788. Over 45 years old in 1791. Possibilty emancipated by deed proved in Westmoreland County Court on June 24, 1794.

Frances ("Frank") born 1728, parents unknown, grandmother of Micaijah Wyatt, and Lett. Resided at Bull Run 1774. Tithable in Loudoun County 1760-85. Resided at Leo in 1788 and 1791. Exempt from taxes and levies by 1788. Over 45 years old 1791. Possibly emancipated by deed proved in Westmoreland County Court on June 24, 1794.

Enoch Burke, b 1778. Son of Winney Burke. Resided at Leo 1788, 1791, 1796. Named in 1791 deed of emancipation. Scheduled for emancipation in 1800. Emancipated by deed dated Jan 6, 1800.

Harriet Burke, born ca. 1792-94, mulatto, ex Nomony Hall, certified as free by Benjamin Dawson, recorded in Fairfax County, 1826

James Burke born 1790 dark mulatto, son of Winney Burke, ex-slave at Nomony Hall. Certified as free in Fairfax County 1832.

Jesse Burke, born 1788 or 1789, dark mulatto, son of Winey Burke, ex-slave at Nomony Hall. Certified as free in Fairfax County, 1826; certificate reissued in Fairfax County, 1831, and again in Fairfax County in 1839.

James Burke, listed as Jesse Burke 1796 and later. Born 1789 or 1790, possibly earlier (1787 suggested, twin Henry, living at Leo 1788). Sons of Winny Burke, dark mulatto, at Leo 1791 and 1796. Named in 1791 deed of emancipation. Scheduled for emancipation 1812. Certified as free in Fairfax, 1816, 1831, 1839. Henry (Burke?--question mark in original).

"Harry" born 1789 or 1790, possibly 1787, Leo, 1788; Son Winny Burke, at Leo 1791 and 1796, named 1791 deed of emancipation. Scheduled for emancipation 1812

Nanny (Burke?--as original), also referred to as Nancy. Born 1785 or 1786, daughter of Winny Burke, resided at Leo 1788, 1791, 1796. Named 1791 deed of emancipation. Scheduled for emancipation in 1805, but name does not appear among those presented for freedom that year. (Possibly Winny Burke died in 1804.)

Nelly Burke, b. 1781, daughter of Winny Burke. Leo 1788, 1791, 1796. In 1791 deed of emancipation. Scheduled for emancipation 1800. Emancipated by deed dated Jan 6, 1800.

Micaijah Wyatt (Cajah, Cagey), born 1778. Son Frances, grandson of Baptist Billy, also of Frances. Residing at Leo, 1788, 1791, 1796. Named 1791 deed of emancipation. Scheduled for emancip. 1800. Emancipated by deed dated Jan 6, 1800.

[Joseph Burke, born 1800, dark mulatto, son of Winny Burke, ex-slave at Nomony Hall. Certified as free in Fairfax County, Virginia in 1826 and Prince William County, Virginia in 1854. Joseph Burke brought his family to Washington County, Ohio in November of 1854. Joseph Burke died in Newport Township, Washington County in January 1855. Joseph & Hannah Burke are ancestors of the Burke family in and from Washington County, Ohio. - This paragraph by Henry Robert Burke]

The First Emancipator

This book, written by Professor Andrew Levy, gives us some facinating details about Robert Carter III's personality and the way he managed his sprawling 78,000 acres of Tidewater Plantation complex. Levy gives excellent details about the changing additudes of slavery in the United States as it transformed from English Colonial rule.

Still I believe that Professor Levy missed something when he asks the question: "Why did Robert Carter III free his slaves at a time when other prominent slave owners chose not to do so?". I suggest you read this important book and draw your own conclusions.

Burke Family Genealogy

Nearly all African American Burke family of Washington County, Ohio, are descended from Joseph (1799-1855) and Hannah (Gaskins) Burke(1805-1889). They brought their family from Prince William County, Virginia to Washington County, Ohio in November 1854.

Joseph and Hannah were “born free” in Virginia at a time when the majority of African Americans in Virginia were still enslaved. The parents of both Joseph and Hannah were people enslaved to Robert Carter III who lived at Nomini Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia, but owned plantations in several Tidewater Virginia counties.

Robert Carter III owned 78,000 acres scattered across Tidewater Virginia, which consisted of sixteen separate plantations. Twelve of Carter’s plantations were named for the Zodiac: Aquarius, Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Pisces, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Taurus and Virgo; plus Nomini Hall, Coles Point, Old Ordinary and Mitchell’s Plantation. The 500 slaves owned by Robert Carter III were distributed and assigned to work on these plantations.

At the time they were emancipated, Baptist Billy and his family, which includes his daughter Winny Burke, were assigned to and lived on the Leo Plantation. Leo, Oatlands Plantation since 1804), is located at Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia.

Another document from Robert Carter's Emancipation that gives names and details of some slaves who were freed.

Joseph & Hannah Burke - Children

_______________________________________________

The Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society

Researching and Preserving Afro-American Family History

Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library

5201 Woodward Avenue - Detroit , Michigan 48202

Volume 12, Number 1, SEPTEMBER 1993.

"SEEKING PROGENY OF FREED SLAVES".

Actions BY CARTER ANTE-BELLUM MARVEL.

(JUDITH HAYNES, DAILY PRESS, APRIL 1993)

(SUBMITTED BY CELESTINE HOLLINGS)

It has been 209 years (2000) since Virginia plantation owner Robert Carter III did something so dramatic and so radical, that it still can take one's breath away! 70 years before the Civil War broke out, he "Emancipated" his 485 slaves. According to researcher Ira Berlin (in 1991), of the University of Maryland, so far nobody has come forward to say: "One of my ancestors was freed by Robert Carter. " Well I, Henry Robert Burke, am a descendant of Winny Burke, emancipated by Robert Carter III , and I have come forward!”

In the summer of 1991, after the hoopla marking the bicentennial of Carter's Emancipation of his slaves, historian John Barden thought the publicity would turn up at least a few living, breathing, descendant of a person who had been Carter's "absolute property. Maybe someone related to "Prince, son of Mary, who was 5 years old in 1791 and lived in Westmoreland County; or kinfolk of "black Judith", "great Judith", or "little Judith", "Baptist Billy", or "Bricklayer James".

All the names are listed, page after page of them, in a document at the Northumberland County Courthouse in Heathville, Virginia. Eight years after the end of the Revolutionary War, Carter announced in the document that he had - "for some time past been convinced that to hold people in slavery is contrary to the true principles of Religion and Justice."

Following the name is the person's age, and a code for his/her "place of abode." Carter owned 64,000 acres and there are 18 such places, designated by Roman numerals. He had land across northern Virginia from the Shenandoah River to Prince William and Fairfax counties, and down the Northern Neck.

His "Freedom Document" set up a gradual manumission, or emancipation process, based on the slaves' ages, and Carter notes that he had, with great care and attention, tried to arrive at a schedule which would be consent to law and with the least possible disadvantage to his fellow Citizens.

Never-the-less, Barden says, "There was one very interesting response from Frederick county, where an anonymous letter-writer, probably a planter who had a plantation adjacent to Carter's, wrote, and I'm paraphrasing; - that it is essential as if a man set fire to his own house realizing that his neighbor's house would also burn down as well. In other words,- "you are planting the spirit of liberty among the African-American population and it's just not going to stop with slaves."

Barden, a historian at Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens in New Bern, NC, has spent years studying Carter, who is the subject of Barden's doctoral dissertation. "Of all the things about this man, what is the most significant thing he ever did? I really believe that the emancipation was his most significant action. And perhaps it's one of the most significant actions in the history of Anglo-American and African-American relations!"

Carter had abandoned the Church of England to become a Baptist after having a vision of God, which commanded him to "free his slaves". He immediately set out to obey this directive, Barden says. He had enjoyed popular music and dancing, and had a fine collection of musical instruments that was the best in all of Virginia.

While Barden thinks Carter's manumission document was mostly a religious decision, given the recent revolt of the British colonies, "I think he realized that there was definitely a discrepancy between rhetoric of liberty and the reality of slavery in Virginia."

Carter's property of hundreds of slaves was acquired by inheritance and expanded by procreation. He was the grandson of Robert "King" Carter, probably the richest man in America before his death in 1736. "King" Carter outlived his son Robert Carter Jr., who died in 1728 when Robert III was 4 years old. Grandfather Robert "King" Carter raised Robert III, so the grandson became a principle heir to a large portion of "King's" property, including many of his slaves. "There is no evidence that Robert Carter III was a major purchaser of slaves," Barden says.

Barden says about the slaves, "I think nearly all of them did see freedom." Historical papers may give the impression that Carter's children were trying to subvert their father's schedule, but Barden thinks they simply were pressuring a trustee of the Carter estate to give a proper accounting. The emancipation process was still active years after Carter's death in 1804. When the slaves came before the court for review before emancipation, generally they were asked to state their names, Barden says, "and that's when we start to see family names and patterns emerging."

____________________

Plantation name changed from Leo to Oatlands!

Upon the death of Robert Carter III in 1804, a considerable part of the Leo Plantation was inherited by his son George Carter. George changed the name of his portion of Leo plantation from Leo to Oatlands.

Slaves that George Carter inherited from his father Robert Carter III were eventually freed by his father's will. Oatlands continued to operate with slave labor until slavery was abolished in 1865.

Mailing Address
Oatlands Plantation
20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane
Leesburg, VA 20175
Phone: 703-777-3174
Fax: 703-777-4427
Email: oatlands@erols.com
Web Site: www.oatlands.org

Driving Directions:
Oatlands is located six miles south from Leesburg on Route 15, approximately 40 minutes from Washington, DC. [From DC / Arlington] : I-66 West to Exit 67 (Dulles Airport) to 267 West (toll road) to Leesburg. Exit 1A then second right (15 South Warrenton). Oatlands front gates are five miles on the left. [From Fairfax] : Route 50 to Route 15 North at Gilbert's Corner. Turn right (north). Oatlands front gates are six miles on the right. [From Baltimore / Frederick] : I-70 West to Frederick. Route 15 South to Leesburg Route 15 bypass to 15 South Warrenton. Oatlands front gates are five miles on the left.