Birth and early life Joseph W. Postlewaite
free negro bond j.w. postlewaite
free negro bond j.w. postlewaite
not known postlewaite s life. when postlewaite moved st. louis, missouri still slave state, slavery declining in city @ time. 1850 1860, overall population of st. louis doubled in size, number of slaves decreased half. labor pool in st. louis expanded arrival of european immigrants, , need slaves diminished. affected free blacks well, deteriorating economic position. @ time, free colored required post bond license live in state of missouri. when postlewaite arrived in st. louis, @ age twenty-one, free man, applied bond. john b. sarpy, wealthy fur-trade executive signed bond, though postlewaite s relation sarpy s family unknown. postlewaite s bond notable because individuals signed bonds x, postlewaite signed bond himself, , signature of cultured individual. missouri lenient regard education of black residents, rarity slave state. availability of limited education black residents, along tradition of black musicians performing white audiences allowed postlewaite achieve success black musician during time.
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