Northwestern University Historian: I Warned The 1619 Project’s Author She Was Wrong About The Revolutionary War

[17th Miss Regt #8] And, of course, there is the inconvenient fact that from 1619 to 1642 there was no slavery in the English colonies in America. There was indentured servitude, but indentures could be worked off, yielding freedom. Slavery in the colonies did not exist until a crown court in Virginia decreed that a certain man (John Casor), up until then an indentured servant, owed his labor to the holder of his indenture (Anthony Johnson) for the rest of his life.
[chaosagent #26] And if I’m not mistaken, Anthony Johnson, was black.
[17th Miss Regt #28] Correct. And John Casor was white. So the first slave owner in the English colonies was a black man that owned a white man.

John Casor was a black African who was not a party to the lawsuit. The case was Anthony Johnson v. Robert Parker, decided March 8, 1655. The Court found, "Mr. Robert Parker most unjustly keepeth the said Negro from Anthony Johnson his master...."

Transcription from Original

The deposition of Captain Samuel Goldsmith taken (in open court) 8th of March Sayth, That beinge at the howse of Anthony Johnson Negro (about the beginninge of November last to receive a hogshead of tobacco) a Negro called John Casar came to this Deponent, and told him that hee came into Virginia for seaven or Eight yeares (per Indenture) And that hee had demanded his freedome of his master Anthony Johnson; And further said that Johnson had kept him his servant seaven yeares longer than hee ought, And desired that this deponent would see that hee might have noe wronge, whereupon your Deponent demanded of Anthony Johnson his Indenture, hee answered, hee never sawe any; The said Negro (John Casor) replyed, hee came for a certayne tyme and had an Indenture Anthony Johnson said hee never did see any But that hee had him for his life; Further this deponent saith That mr. Robert Parker and George Parker they knew that the said Negro had an Indenture (in on Mr. Carye hundred on the other side of the Baye) And the said Anthony Johnson did not tell the negro goe free The said John Casor would recover most of his Cowes of him; Then Anthony Johnson (as this deponent did suppose) was in a feare. Upon this his Sonne in lawe, his wife and his 2 sonnes perswaded the said Anthony Johnson to sett the said John Casor free. more saith not
Samuel Goldsmith
This daye Anthony Johnson Negro made his complaint to the Court against mr. Robert Parker and declared that hee deteyneth his servant John Casor negro (under pretence that the said Negro is a free man.) The Court seriously consideringe and maturely weighinge the premisses, doe fynde that the said Mr. Robert Parker most unjustly keepeth the said Negro from Anthony Johnson his master as appeareth by the deposition of Captain Samuel Goldsmith and many probably circumstances. It is therefore the Judgment of the Court and ordered That the said John Casor Negro forthwith returne unto the service of his said master Anthony Johnson, And that mr. Robert Parker make payment of all charge in the suit. also Execution.

Slave laws did not begin with Virginia. In 1641, Massachusetts enacted the first slave laws in the colonies.

In 1641, Governor John Winthrop, a slave owner himself, helped write the first law legalizing slavery in North America, the Massachusetts Bodies of Liberty, which the General Court passed on December 10, 1641.

1641: Massachusetts Body of Liberties

[excerpt]

LIBERTIES OF SERVANTS
85. If any servants shall flee from the Tiranny and crueltie of their masters to the howse of any freeman of the same Towne, they shall be there protected and susteyned till due order be taken for their relife. Provided due notice thereof be speedily given to their masters from whom they fled. And the next Assistant or Constable where the partie flying is harboured.
86. No servant shall be put of for above a yeare to any other neither in the life of their master nor after their death by their Executors or Administrators unlesse it be by consent of Authoritie assembled in some Court, or two Assistants.
87. If any man smite out the eye or tooth of his man servant, or maid servant, or otherwise mayme or much disfigure him, unlesse it be by meere casualtie, he shall let them goe free from his service. And shall have such further recompense as the Court shall allow him.
88. Servants that have served diligentlie and faithfully to the benefitt of their maisters seaven yeares, shall not be sent away emptie. And if any have bene unfaithfull, negligent or unprofitable in their service, notwithstanding the good usage of their maisters, they shall not be dismissed till they have made satisfaction according to the Judgement of Authoritie.
LIBERTIES OF FORREINERS AND STRANGERS
89. If any people of other Nations professing the true Christian Religion shall flee to us from the Tiranny or oppression of their persecutors, or from famyne, warres, or the like necessary and compulsarie cause, They shall be entertayned and succoured amongst us, according to that power and prudence god shall give us.
90. If any ships or other vessels, be it freind or enemy, shall suffer shipwrack upon our Coast, there shall be no violence or wrong offered to their persons or goods. But their persons shall be harboured, and relieved, and their goods preserved in safety till Authoritie may be certified thereof, and shall take further order therein.
91. There shall never be any bond slaverie villinage or Captivitie amongst us, unles it be lawfull Captives taken in just warres, and such strangers as willingly belie themselves or are sold to us. And these shall have all the liberties and Christian usages which the law of god established in Israell concerning such persons doeth morally require. This exempts none from servitude who shall be Judged thereto by Authoritie.

But whites did bring diseases to the new world.

It went both ways. When Europeans came to America, not much was expected of them their first year, as they had to become “seasoned” - that is, exposed to all the common diseases in the New World, and survive - went to a lecture recently, was told only 50% of new arrivals survived in early colonial America.

Good catch. lol

B S! I am old enough to have met the grandchildren of my ancestors. I KNOW THE TRUTH. Thousands of my Cherokee “family” DIED on that trail.

You need to brush up on reading comprehension. I did not in any way deny the forced exodus of Indians from Mississippi.

And, by the way, my English ancestors killed THOUSANDS of my Irish ancestors. They DIED. Does that give me the right to act like a prick, in other words, like you?

That is 100% exactly what I was saying! You need to learn how to read bubba! A prick is a male. I am a woman. Therefore I cannot be a prick. What is wrong with you? You are pretty new here. I probably joined FR before you were born!