Good Things Happen to Those Who Wait...

[L Verge]

As the mother of one daughter, I have survived about six "loves-of-my-life," one significant other arrangement, one marriage, and one divorce. We're now into another relationship (a good one, I believe), and this one came with historic benefits.

He comes from a very old Southern Maryland family with roots into the early-1700s. Several months ago, I was shown a nicely preserved manumission paper for a slave family in our county, dated 1839. My mouth fell open because I had never seen one outside of books.

My lower jaw then dropped to my knees when I was told that there were about fifty more of such papers stored in an old bag at his house. The earliest ones date to the 1790s, and the latest into the 1850s. All are in excellent condition and were found in the back of an old safe when the family was cleaning out their ancient country store. They all appear to be for Southern Maryland slaves.

At last Saturday's program at Surratt House, I showed Dr. Medford the one "sample," and her jaw dropped also - even further when I told her how many remain. She knows of no such collection existing and has promised to find experts to assist us in transcribing and digitizing these documents. I have not begged on bended knee yet, but you know where I would like them to be placed.