In recognition of Black History Month, Chatham Community library will host a virtual program entitled, "McMasters' Will : The Scheme that Almost Freed Us", presented by Siler City native Calvin Dark. 

The presentation tells the story of Dark’s enslaved great-great-grandfather Aaron McMasters who lived on the Chatham/Randolph County line (Staley area). His enslaver, Simeon McMasters, promised to free him and his mother upon his death. Unable to meet the legal requirements for emancipation, Simeon sought the help of a controversial anti-slavery group called the North Carolina Manumission Society. Their solution was a scheme — using Simeon’s last will and testament — to get around the state’s emancipation laws. When the enslaver died, the scheme sparked a legal battle spread across Chatham, Randolph, Alamance, and Moore counties between the McMasters family, Quakers, Confederate officials, and a future governor of North Carolina. “McMasters’ Will” went all the way to the North Carolina Supreme Court.  But did Aaron McMasters and his mother ever receive their freedom?

A proud native of Siler City, Calvin Dark is a graduate of the NC School of Science & Mathematics and Duke University (Political Science & French), and Fulbright Scholar to Morocco. Calvin has served on the Board of Directors of Fulbright Association National Capital Chapter and is a proud member of the DukeDC Alumni community. 

Dark is a recognized researcher and author on African American history and has written numerous articles and essays appearing in the North Carolina Folklore Journal, the Journal of American Historians, Duke Magazine, among others. 

Registration is required and is available here: tinyurl.com/McMastersWill.

Funding is made possible with the generous support of the Friends of the Chatham Community Library.

This program is free and open to the public.