Cabell County's EMPIRE FOR FREEDOM, The Manumission of Sampson Sanders Slaves [Paperback]

Carrie Eldridge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

This is a study of the empire a western Virginia built in order to have enough money to free all his slaves. The story tracts both the black and white familes across the early American frontier at the close of the American Revolution. The pinnacle of the story comes with the manumission of more than 50 people and is concluded by looking at their life in freedom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This project had its origins several years ago when I was doing research on the evolution of slavery in Cabell County. About ten years ago, I introduced the story to Ms. Carrie Eldridge who took the material and ran with it! Ms. Eldridge, a noted local cartographer and historical geographer, has traveled extensively in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Michigan in compiling this wonderful historical account.

Sampson Sanders was an exceptional individual. Not only was he the wealthiest landowner in Cabell County, Virginia, but he was also the master of fifty-one slaves. Placed within the top 2.7% of Southern slave holders, he became even more unique when he manumitted all the slaves upon his death. Sanders provided the slaves with the means and the land required to start a new life as free men and women in Cass County, Michigan. This was indeed remarkable for a man who never purchased or sold a slave nor hired an overseer.

Perhaps, however, the most unique and significant aspect of the story of Sampson Sanders is the nearly complete record and history of his slaves. Tracing their history back to Hannah, the family matriarch, Ms. Eldridge has reconstructed a continuous history of a African-American family from 1780 to the present! One of the major assets of this book and a real value to historians and the interested lay public is found in the extensive appendices and impressive bibliography. The resource materials cited herein give the reader real insight into the "underside" of history.

In conclusion, this work provides a unique perspective of not only life on a Mid-Ohio Valley Antebellum plantation; but thanks to the patience and persistence of Ms, Eldridge, an even rarer view of the history and evolution of an African-American family. -- Dr. Alan B. Gould, Executive Director, The John Deaver Drinko Academy for American Political Institutions and Civic Culture, Marshall University, Huntington, WV.

About the Author

Carrie Eldridge, a former educator, is a historical geographer with 20 years experience in local history information. A frequent lecturer, she has been included in "Who's Who in the Midwest" for her work in preserving historical information. With 30 titles of abstracted materials,2 gazetteers, 6 maps and 2 atlases to her credit, "Cabell County's EMPIRE FOR FREEDOM,The Manumission of Sampson Sanders Slaves" is the culmination of several years of research.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: John Deaver Drinko Academy for American Political Institution and Civic Culture, Marshall University (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891607049
• ISBN-13: 978-1891607042
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,543,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.