Matthew Ashby facts for kids

Matthew Ashby was born in York County, Virginia, in 1727. He is a special example of someone who successfully gained freedom from slavery and indentured servitude. Even though his mother was an indentured servant and his father was a slave, Matthew was born free. This was because, at that time, Virginia law said that children had the same legal status as their mothers.

Matthew Ashby's Early Life and Work

Matthew Ashby lived and worked near Williamsburg, Virginia. He had several jobs, including being a carter (someone who drives a cart) and a carpenter (someone who builds with wood). He even delivered messages for the government, working for the governor at the time, Governor Botetourt.

Indentured Servitude and Possessions

Even though Matthew was born free, he was still an indentured servant until he was 31 years old. This meant he had to work for someone for a set period. However, Matthew was able to own many things that most slaves or servants could not. These included a silver watch, supplies for making candles, special tea boards, and books. This showed how successful he was.

Matthew Ashby's Family and Fight for Freedom

Matthew Ashby married a woman named Ann. Ann was a slave who belonged to a bricklayer named Samuel Spurr. Matthew and Ann had two children, a son named John and a daughter named Mary.

Education and Buying Freedom

John and Mary went to the Bray school, which was connected to the College of William and Mary. A teacher named Ms. Anne Wager taught them about the Church of England and other subjects. Because Matthew was a free man, he was able to buy his wife and children from Samuel Spurr. He paid £150, which was a lot of money back then.

Petitioning for Full Freedom

Even after buying his family, Matthew still had to ask the government to make them officially free. He stood before a group of leaders called the council. Matthew told them that his wife, Ann, had always been loyal and hardworking. He also said that his children deserved to be free.

The council thought about what Matthew said. They agreed with him, and in 1769, his wife and children were officially granted their freedom.

Matthew Ashby's Legacy of Freedom

Just two years after his family gained their freedom, Matthew Ashby passed away in 1771 from a heart disease. He left his family behind, but he had done something amazing. He had successfully freed them from slavery. He also left behind a good amount of money and property, much more than the average indentured servant or slave would have had. Matthew Ashby's life shows how one person could fight for and win freedom for their family during a difficult time in history.