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Biography

Layton was an anti-slavery attorney in Georgetown, Delaware. After stepping down from the Delaware Supreme Court, he re-entered private practice in 1844. Layton handled many “freedom petition” cases, manumission settlements, and other transactions for African-Americans.

Scope and Content

Along with records of his broader legal practice, his accounts list dates, the principals involved, their legal opponents, resulting trials, and costs. 53 African-Americans are named.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Preferred Citation

Caleb Sipple Layton legal account book (MS 377), University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.

Processing Information

Machine-readable finding aid created by Elizabeth A. Newsom.

Related Material

Related materials in Special Collections include MS 362, a list of slaves, possibly for auction; MS 263, a bill of sale for a child named Jasson; and MS 364, the free paper for Michael Badeau.

Bibliography

Demaratus, DeEtta, The force of a feather : the search for a lost story of slavery and freedom, Salt Lake City : University of Utah Press, c2002.

Swann-Wright, Dianne, A way out of no way : claiming family and freedom in the new South, Charlottesville : University of Virginia Press, 2002.

Bruce, Philip Alexander, The plantation Negro as a freeman; observations on his character, condition, and prospects in Virginia, Williamstown, Mass., Corner House Publishers, 1970.

Williams, William Henry, Slavery and freedom in Delaware, 1639-1865, Wilmington, Del. : SR Books, 1996.