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Breaking chains : slavery on trial in the Oregon Territory
2013
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Summary
When they were brought to Oregon in 1844, Missouri slaves Robin and Polly Holmes and their children were promised freedom in exchange for helping develop their owner's Willamette Valley farm. However, Nathaniel Ford, an influential settler and legislator, kept them in bondage until 1850, even then refusing to free their children. Holmes took his former master to court and, in the face of enormous odds, won the case in 1853.

In Breaking Chains , R. Gregory Nokes tells the story of the only slavery case adjudicated in Oregon's pre-Civil War courts--Holmes v. Ford. Through the lens of this landmark case, Nokes explores the historical context of racism in Oregon and the West, reminding readers that there actually were slaves in Oregon, though relatively few in number.

Drawing on the court record, Nokes offers an intimate account of the relationship between a slave and his master from the slave's point of view. He also explores the experiences of other slaves in early Oregon, examining attitudes toward race and revealing contradictions in the state's history. Oregon was the only free state admitted to the union with a voter-approved constitutional clause banning African Americans and, despite the prohibition of slavery in the state, many in Oregon tolerated it and supported politicians who advocated for slavery, including Oregon's first territorial governor.

Breaking Chains sheds light on a somber part of Oregon's history, bringing the story of slavery in Oregon to a broader audience. The book will appeal to readers interested in Pacific Northwest history and in the history of slavery in the United States.
Table of Contents
Prologuep. xi
Timeline: Dates and Eventsp. xvi
First Slavesp. 1
The Good Life in Missourip. 3
The Lure of Oregonp. 11
On the Trailp. 20
Freedom Delayedp. 29
Oregon's Dixiep. 31
Land and More Landp. 37
The Applegate Trailp. 41
Oregon's "Lash Law"p. 47
The Cockstock Affairp. 53
Gold Miners and Slavesp. 64
"My Children Held as Slaves"p. 72
Holmes vs. Ford, Day-by-Dayp. 75
Ford's Secret Strategyp. 86
Enter Judge Williamsp. 90
Reuben Shipleyp. 96
They Weren't Alonep. 98
An Army Slavep. 112
The Free State Letterp. 116
Let Voters Decidep. 121
The Great Slavery Non-Debatep. 127
"Consecrate!!!" Oregon for Whitesp. 137
Voters Do Decidep. 139
A Voice for Equalityp. 149
Reuben and Mary Janep. 153
Who Was Reuben Ficklin?p. 157
Mary Jane's Final Trialp. 161
Slaveholders' Last Standp. 164
Moving Onp. 172
Epiloguep. 183
Acknowledgmentsp. 184
Appendix IHenkles and Wyattsp. 186
Appendix IISlaves in Oregonp. 189
Notesp. 191
Bibliographyp. 215
Indexp. 221
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