The First Emancipation Proclamation in America, courtesy Lord Dunmore

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The first Emancipation Proclamation in America that offered freedom to slaves and their enrollment as soldiers was not made by Abraham Lincoln. It was made by Lord Dunmore, the British governor of Virginia, during the Revolutionary War. As noted at the website Study the Past.com,

John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore had been the British Governor of New York from 1770 until 1771. In September of 1771 he served as governor of the Virginia colony until just before the Revolutionary War began in June of 1775.

In April 1775, Dunmore had threatened to free Virginia's slaves in order to utilize them in the royal forces. There were scores of them that had already joined the Loyalist cause. Many in the colonies believed that Dunmore had formed some sort of secret alliance with the enslaved population and were enraged. Eventually Dunmore felt threatened by the growing resentment and civil unrest in the colonies and fled to safety in Williamsburg where he took refuge on the HMS Fowey on June 8, 1775.

In November 1775, Lord Dunmore issued a proclamation which officially offered freedom to the colonists' slaves. Those that were able to cross British lines would be liberated in return for military service in the royal army. Most of the colonists were troubled by the announcement. In many communities the whites were outnumbered by the slaves and there was fear of an insurrection. Dunmore not only planned for civil unrest, but anticipated that many colonists would abandon the Continental Army and return home to protect their property.

Dunmore did not issue what could be called a general emancipation order. Rather, it was more of a manumission proclamation, offering freedom to slaves who joined the British army. This is the text:

By His Excellency the Right Honorable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, His Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of VIRGINIA, and Vice Admiral of the same.

A PROCLAMATION
As I have ever entertained Hopes, that an Accommodation might have taken Place between GREAT-BRITAIN and this Colony, without being compelled by my Duty to this most disagreeable but now absolutely necessary Step, rendered so by a Body of armed Men unlawfully assembled, firing on His MAJESTY'S Tenders, and the formation of an Army, and that Army now on their March to attack his MAJESTY'S Troops and destroy the well disposed subjects of the Colony.

To defeat such treasonable Purposes, and that all such Traitors, and their Abettors, may be brought to Justice, and that the Peace, and good Order of this Colony may be again restored, which the ordinary Course of the Civil Law is unable to effect; I have thought fit to issue this my Proclamation, hereby declaring, that until the aforesaid good Purpose can be obtained, I do in Virtue of the Power and Authority to ME given, by His MAJESTY, determine to execute Martial Law, and cause the same to be executed throughout this Colony: and to end that

the Peace and good Order may the sooner be restored, I do require every Person capable of bearing Arms, to resort to His MAJESTY'S STANDARD, or be looked upon as Traitors to His MAJESTY'S Crown and Government, and thereby become liable to the Penalty the Law inflicts upon such Offenses; such as forfeiture of Life, confiscation of Lands, &. &. And I do hereby further declare all indented Servants, Negroes, or others, (appertaining to Rebels,) free that are able and willing to bear Arms, they joining His MAJESTY'S Troops as soon as may be, foe the more speedily reducing this Colony to a proper Sense of their Duty, to His MAJESTY'S Crown and Dignity.

I do further order, and require, all His MAJESTY'S Liege Subjects, to retain their Quitrents, or any other Taxes due or that may become due, in their own Custody, till such a Time as Peace may be again restored to this at present most unhappy Country, or demanded of them for their former salutary Purposes, by Officers properly authorized to receive the same.

GIVEN under my Hand on board the Ship WILLIAM by Norfolk, the 7th Day of November in the SIXTEENTH Year of His MAJESTY'S Reign.
DUNMORE
(GOD save the KING.)

****

This was the response from Virginians:

Text of Virginia Congress Declaration

Virginia, Dec. 14, 1775.

By the Representatives of the People of the Colony and Dominion of VIRGINIA, assembled in GENERAL CONVENTION

A DECLARATION

WHEREAS lord Dunmore, by his proclamation, dated on board the ship William, off Norfolk, the 7th day of November 1775, hath offered freedom to such able-bodied slaves as are willing to join him, and take up arms, against the good people of this colony, giving thereby encouragement to a general insurrection, which may induce a necessity of inflicting the severest punishments upon those unhappy people, already deluded by his base and insidious arts; and whereas, by an act of the General Assembly now in force in this colony, it is enacted, that all negro or other slaves, conspiring to rebel or make insurrection, shall suffer death, and be excluded all benefit of clergy :

We think it proper to declare, that all slaves who have been, or shall be seduced, by his lordship's proclamation, or other arts, to desert their masters' service, and take up arms against the inhabitants of this colony, shall be liable to such punishment as shall hereafter be directed by the General Convention. And to that end all such, who have taken this unlawful and wicked step, may return in safety to their duty, and escape the punishment due to their crimes, we hereby promise pardon to them, they surrendering themselves to Col. William Woodford, or any other commander of our troops, and not appearing in arms after the publication hereof. And we do farther earnestly recommend it to all humane and benevolent persons in this colony to explain and make known this our offer of mercy to those unfortunate people.

EDMUND PENDLETON, president.
 
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