Emanuel Driggus facts for kids

Emanuel Driggus (born around the 1620s, died 1673) and his wife Frances were an Atlantic Creole couple who lived in Virginia during the mid-1600s. They were enslaved people in the Chesapeake Bay Colony. The name Driggus probably came from the Portuguese name Rodrigues. Emanuel was born in a Portuguese colony called Ndongo, which is in modern-day Angola. Other early Africans in Virginia, like John Graweere and Angela, also came from Ndongo.

Early Life and Family

Emanuel and Frances first appear in historical records in 1640. They were sold to a man named Captain Francis Potts. At that time, they made a special agreement for two of their children to work for a limited time. This was called an indenture, meaning they would be free after a certain period. However, Emanuel and Frances had other children who were born into slavery, which meant they were not free.

In 1657, Captain Potts sold two of their children, Thomas and Ann Driggus. He did this to pay off some of his own personal debts. This shows how difficult life was for enslaved families, as they could be separated at any time.

Gaining Freedom

Emanuel Driggus gained his freedom in 1658, after Captain Potts passed away. By this time, Emanuel's first wife, Frances, had died, and he had remarried. Even though he was free, he continued to care for his children who were still enslaved from his first marriage. Before he died in 1673, he left a horse to his daughters, Francy and Jane. This was a valuable gift at the time and showed his love and care for his family.

A Family's Legacy

Emanuel's son, Thomas Driggus, eventually married a free Black woman. This was very important because, in Virginia law, children inherited their mother's status. This rule was called partus sequitur ventrem. It meant that if a mother was free, her children were also born free. If a mother was enslaved, her children were born into slavery.

This law was officially adopted in Virginia in 1662. It played a big part in how chattel slavery grew. Chattel slavery meant that enslaved people were treated as property, like animals or objects, and could be bought and sold. This principle was later used in many other colonies and states after the American Revolutionary War. Because Thomas's wife was free, their children were born free, continuing the family's journey towards freedom.