Background
The son of a black slave and a white indentured servant, he was born free under Virginia law, which at the time gave children the legal status of their mothers.
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Matthew Ashby
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He is a notable and rare example of the successful escape from slavery and indentured servitude. Ashby worked around the Williamsburg area as a carter and carpenter. He was also known to deliver messages for the state, working for Governor Botetourt.
Although he himself was indentured until the age of 31, by law, he managed to acquire many things that were well out of the realm of the average slave or servant, including a silver watch, candle making supplies, tea boards, and books
Matthew married Ann, a slave of the bricklayer, Samuel Spurr. They had two children named John and Mary, who attended the Bray school affiliated with the College of William and Mary.
The council deliberated and found that they agreed with his proposal and his family was granted their freedom in 1769. Two years later Ashby died of a heart disease, leaving his family alone.
Having freed his family from slavery and amassing a sizable estate with monetary value well above the average indentured servant or slave.
