John Casor facts for kids

John Casor was an African man living in the Virginia Colony in the 1600s. In 1655, he became the first person of African descent in the American colonies to be declared a slave for life by a court. This important case helped shape the future of slavery in America.

Later, in 1662, Virginia passed a law stating that children born to enslaved mothers would also be enslaved. This was different from English law, which usually based a child's status on their father. By 1699, Virginia made it very difficult for free Black people to live in the colony.

Early Virginia and Servitude

In the 1600s, there were only about 300 people of African origin in the Virginia Colony. This was about 1% of the total population. The first group of about 20 Africans arrived in Jamestown in 1619. They came as indentured servants. This meant they worked for a certain number of years to pay for their trip to Virginia. After their work time was finished, they were given land. This allowed them to grow crops like tobacco.

Historians still discuss exactly when slavery officially began in the colonies. At first, many Africans were treated like indentured servants. However, English law gave rights to English subjects. People from other countries, like Africans, were often not given the same protections.

Anthony Johnson's Story

Anthony Johnson was an African man who arrived in Virginia in 1621 as an indentured servant. After earning his freedom, he moved to Northampton County. He became a successful farmer and landowner. He owned a large amount of land and even had his own indentured servants. He was one of the first known African landowners in the colony.

The Casor Court Case

In 1653, John Casor, an African man who worked for Anthony Johnson, said his time as an indentured servant was over. He believed he should be free. Casor said that Johnson told him he didn't have an indenture contract. Casor then left Johnson and went to work for Robert Parker, an English colonist.

Anthony Johnson did not agree that Casor was free. In 1654, Johnson sued Robert Parker in court. Johnson claimed Parker was keeping his "Negro servant, John Casor." Johnson said he had Casor for life.

On March 8, 1655, the court in Northampton County made an important decision. The court ruled that Robert Parker was unfairly keeping John Casor from Anthony Johnson. The court ordered John Casor to return to Anthony Johnson's service. This ruling meant that John Casor was declared a slave for life.

Slavery Laws Develop

The court's decision in the Casor case was a big step. It showed that courts could support the idea of someone being a slave for life. It also meant that free Black people could own slaves of their own race.

Over time, more laws were made about African servants. Courts decided that because Africans were not considered "Englishmen," they did not have the same rights under English law.

In 1662, Virginia passed a new law. This law stated that children born to enslaved women would also be enslaved. This was a major change. Under English law, a child's status usually followed the father. But this new law, called partus sequitur ventrem, meant that if a mother was enslaved, her children would also be enslaved, no matter who the father was.

By the end of the 1600s, many Africans were brought to the colonies as slaves by European traders. This was to meet the growing need for workers. In 1699, Virginia passed another law. This law ordered almost all free Black people to leave the colony. This made it even clearer that most people of African descent in the colony were considered slaves.

Another important case happened in 1640 with a man named John Punch. He was an African indentured servant who ran away with two white indentured servants. When they were caught, all three were punished. However, John Punch was sentenced to serve for the rest of his life, while the white servants only had their service extended. This case is often seen as one of the first times that different punishments were given based on race for indentured servants.

See also

• Indentured servitude in Virginia
• John Punch
• Freedom suit
• List of slaves