The Saber and Scroll Journal Volume 9, Number 1, Summer (June) 2020 | Page 22

The Saber
Herkimer Home State His
included the stipulation that “my negro
slaves, Dick, Sam, and Mary to be well
used in their ages in remembrance of
good and faithful service—should they
be misused such to be taken from my
brother George by my executors.” 5 As
a result of the experience of the Palatines
in a position of servitude, there
was a different view of slavery in which
there was a willingness to free enslaved
persons without the fear of violent retaliation,
especially if their treatment
violated what was considered fair. This
sentiment was not widely shared; Cooper
expressed his distaste for slavery;
but shared the concerns of many of his
contemporaries regarding the threat of
slave rebellions or violence perpetrated
by freed slaves.
Until the eighteenth century, the
image of Africans was generally positive.
They were farmers and cattle-breeders;
they had industries, arts, and crafts,
governments, and commerce. In ad-
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