I have now seen a number of further responses that have been sent directly to me. When I have pursued the leads offered me I shall post a summary back to the list. It is clear that the emancipation on 4 July 1827 WAS substantive, but it is also clear that there is some mystery about those who remained unfree. -- John Weiss <[log in to unmask]> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Researching the four thousand Black Americans who took their freedom in the War of 1812