The Claiming Freedom project highlights the stories of freedom seekers during the Revolutionary Era and coincides with the 250th commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. While previous scholarship on the Underground Railroad was mostly focused on the 19th century, this project has an emphasis on the story of freedom seekers during the 18th century, and demonstrates that the ideal of freedom written about in the Declaration of Independence was the ideal of all Americans. Discover the stories below organized by the state, freedom seeker, and year the event occurred.
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Pennsylvania: Cato, 1748Cato was a mid-18th century freedom seeker who was enslaved by renowned silversmith Philip Syng
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Pennsylvania: Cuff Dix, 1775-1776Cuff Dix may have joined British forces after Lord Dunmore's Proclamation
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Virginia: Group, 1775Six individuals - Harry, Lewis, Aaron, Matthew, Dick, and Joe all escaped together as a group on November 26, 1775
Tom Copper and Great Dismal Marronage
This article features the little known story of the elusive Tom Copper, who plotted a rebellion within the Great Dismal Swamp
Last updated: May 6, 2024