To the Town Council of the Town of Portsmouth

Respected Councilmen

The purport of my writing to you at this time, is, to inform you, that I have in my possession, a Mulatto girl named Mariah, who by the Laws of this State is deemed my slave, which I wish you legally to manumit, that she may be her own free woman, and my estate not en-cumbered with her. Labouring under various infirmities and unable personally to attend upon you, do request the favor, that this communication may be tantamount to a verbal petition. And in order that you may be authentically informed of this my request, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th of November 1797 in presence of Joseph Taylor

Mary Lawton

Why was Mary Lawton releasing the mulatto slave at this time? Mary was a Quaker and during the Revolutionary aftermath Quakers began to petition the Rhode Island government to abolish slavery. The General Assembly of Rhode Island passed the Gradual Emancipation Act of 1784 that stipulated that children born to slaves would not remain slaves. Masters could free “manumit” healthy slaves between the ages of 21 and 40 without having the responsibility of supporting them.

Total slaves in Portsmouth from 1774 Inhabitants. “Indians” – 16. “Blacks” – 118.