Elizabeth Key: Trailblazer in the Fight for Freedom
In the annals of American history, Elizabeth Key stands as a pioneering figure, engraving her name as the first person of African descent to sue for her freedom and emerge victorious.
Her extraordinary journey, which unfolded in the early 1600s, would set a precedent and pave the way for countless others seeking emancipation from the shackles of bondage.
A Life Shrouded in Uncertainty
Born in 1630 in Warwick, Virginia, to an enslaved African woman and a white planter named Thomas Key, Elizabeth’s fate was initially uncertain.
Labeled as an indentured servant due to the absence of established slave laws at the time, her path was further complicated by the societal norms and power structures that sought to dictate her existence.
“Key’s life began in Warwick, Virginia, in 1630. What would inevitably determine the course of her life was that she was born to a white man, Thomas Key, and an enslaved Black woman whose name is unknown,” historical accounts reveal.
A Pivotal Court Battle for Freedom
In 1655, Elizabeth’s journey took a dramatic turn when the heirs of Colonel John Mottram, her former master, sought to claim her and her son John as enslaved individuals, disregarding their indentured status.
Undeterred, Elizabeth, with the support of her partner William Grinstead, a former indentured servant turned lawyer, embarked on a groundbreaking legal battle.
The Triumph of Perseverance and Principle
Elizabeth’s case hinged on several crucial arguments, including her father’s status as a free Englishman, her prolonged indentured servitude beyond the agreed-upon term, and her baptism as a Christian – a factor that should have precluded her enslavement. Despite initial setbacks, her unwavering determination and the weight of her arguments ultimately prevailed.
“It appears to us that she is the daughter of Thomas Key by several Evidence. […] That by the Common Law the Child of a Woman slave begot by a freeman ought to be free. That she hath been long since Christened […] For these Reasons we conceive the said Elizabeth ought to be free,” declared the committee investigating her case.
On July 21, 1656, Elizabeth Key emerged victorious, securing freedom for herself and her son in a landmark ruling that would reverberate through the annals of history.
