Virginia makes slavery hereditary
Virginia law declares that a child's status follows the mother, making slavery inheritable and permanent.
Key figures
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The web
Connections to other moments, systems, and investigations — the links rarely drawn together.
- led to (incoming)·EventElizabeth Key wins her freedom
Key won her freedom through her English father; six years later Virginia tied status to the mother instead, closing that path.
- led to (incoming)·PersonElizabeth Key
Key won her freedom through her father; Virginia responded by tying status to the mother, closing that path.
- led to (incoming)·EventJohn Punch sentenced to lifetime servitude
Punch's lifetime sentence in 1640 foreshadowed the 1662 law making slavery hereditary through the mother.
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Key won her freedom through her English father; six years later Virginia tied status to the mother instead, closing that path.
Key won her freedom through her father; Virginia responded by tying status to the mother, closing that path.
Punch's lifetime sentence in 1640 foreshadowed the 1662 law making slavery hereditary through the mother.