Moses Roper: Escape from Slavery Paper - Accession 872 - M392 (443)

Authors

Slavery
Michael Melone
Following Moses Roper: A Progress Report

Files

Identifier

Accession 872 - M392 (443)

Inclusive Dates

1994

Restrictions

Open under the rules and regulations of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections

Collection Size

27 pieces

Language

English;

Historical Note

Moses Roper was a mulatto slave born in Caswell County, North Carolina to his master, Henry Roper and his slave mother, Nancy. After he was seven years old he was exchanged to another master and eventually was exchanged or sold to another 17 or more masters in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. He had a particularly harsh master by the name of John Gooch of Chester County, South Carolina. Moses attempted to escape several times during these years before he successfully made his way from Florida to New York in 1834. He made his way to England and was educated there and wrote of his experiences as a slave and of his escape.

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of photocopies of maps, deeds, wills, and supporting material concerning a paper written by Winthrop student Michael Melone for Dr. Dorothy Thompson’s African-American Literature class titled “Following Moses Roper: A Progress Report” concerning the book titled A Narrative of the Adventures and Escape of Moses Roper from American Slavery by Moses Roper. The student’s paper includes references to documents that prove Moses Roper’s accounts and claims concerning the people and places he encountered in North and South Carolina between 1828 and 1830.

Moses Roper was a mulatto slave born in Caswell County, North Carolina to his master, Henry Roper and his slave mother, Nancy. After he was seven years old he was exchanged to another master and eventually was exchanged or sold to another 17 or more masters in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. He had a particularly harsh master by the name of John Gooch of Chester County, South Carolina. Moses attempted to escape several times during these years before he successfully made his way from Florida to New York in 1934. He made his way to England and was educated there and wrote of his experiences as a slave and of his escape.

Provenance

Moses Roper: Escape from Slavery Paper was donated to the Archives on February 20 1995 by Michael Melone.

Copyright

For information concerning copyright please contact the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University.

Finding Aid Citation

Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections, Winthrop University, "Moses Roper: Escape from Slavery Paper - Accession 872 - M392 (443)". Finding Aid 607.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/manuscriptcollection_findingaids/607