Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/508

408 of the State and Nation. Thus the cause of justice and human freedom often advances by reason of the dangers and necessities of society, rather than by the principles which should actuate men and society. Barrington enlisted a number of slaves, but their names cannot be easily identified. Among them were Jack Allin, Prince Allin, Dick Allen, Cato Bannister, Pero Bicknell, Scipio Freeman, Prince Ingraham, Joseph Sochorose, Prince Tiffany, Pomp Watson, and Prince Watson. Scipio Freeman is buried at the Allin burial ground, and his grave was honored with a Revolutionary patriot marker in November, 1895.

In 1783 the Quakers petitioned for the complete abolition of slavery in Rhode Island, and in 1784 the act was passed which forever abolished human bondage, and bade the slave go forth to freedom, guaranteed and secured in part by their own labors and sacrifices.

In this connection it is proper to mention the system of apprenticeship common in earlier days, by which young men and women were bound to masters for fixed terms, for the learning of trades, or for various forms of manual service. It will be of interest to preserve an "Indenture," made in 1783, which was the usual form of "binding out" of that day.

The following receipt records the sale of a slave to Thomas Allin:

Swansy, Aprill ye 11 day 1718 then received of Mr. Thomas Allin the sum of fifteen pounds and six pence being in part of payment for A neagro boy Cal'd Shaxper I say received by me

£15, 0s., 6p.