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Not all the Negroes who lived in the South in the early days of America's colonization were slaves. Old county records show that as far back as 1660, when no slave could own anything legally or dictate how his property should be used after death, Negroes made wills.

A number who were brought in as slaves or born into slavery bought their own freedom; others were freed by their owners for some conspicuous service; some who were not slaves bound themselves out as indentured servants and never regained their freedom from owners who feared that free Negroes might become a disturbing influence among the slaves.

These freedmen had to face many hardships because they lacked the protection of laws. Numbers of them went back to slavery voluntarily and sold themselves to masters of their own choice rather than endure the perils of freedom (15).

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