Breaking Chains: Slavery on Trial in the Oregon Territory

by R. Gregory Nokes

When they were brought to Oregon in 1844, Missouri slaves Robin and Polly Holmes and their children were promised freedom in exchange for helping develop their owner’s Willamette Valley farm. However, Nathaniel Ford, an influential settler and legislator, kept them in bondage until 1850, even then refusing to free their children. Holmes took his former master to court and, in the face of enormous odds, won the case in 1853.

In Breaking Chains , R. Gregory Nokes tells the story of the only slavery case adjudicated in Oregon’s pre-Civil War courts—Holmes v. Ford. Through the lens of this landmark case, Nokes explores the historical context of racism in Oregon and the West, reminding readers that there actually were slaves in Oregon, though relatively few in number.

Drawing on the court record, Nokes offers an intimate account of the relationship between a slave and his master from the slave’s point of view. He also explores the experiences of other slaves in early Oregon, examining attitudes toward race and revealing contradictions in the state’s history. Oregon was the only free state admitted to the union with a voter-approved constitutional clause banning African Americans and, despite the prohibition of slavery in the state, many in Oregon tolerated it and supported politicians who advocated for slavery, including Oregon’s first territorial governor.

Breaking Chains sheds light on a somber part of Oregon’s history, bringing the story of slavery in Oregon to a broader audience. The book will appeal to readers interested in Pacific Northwest history and in the history of slavery in the United States.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

R. Gregory Nokes graduated from Willamette University with a BA and attended Harvard University as a Nieman Fellow. He travelled the world as a reporter and editor with The Associated Press and The Oregonian. Since retiring from journalism in 2003 he has embarked on a second career as a writer and lecturer on the Chinese experience in the Pacific Northwest in the late 19th century. He and his wife, Candise, live in West Linn, Oregon. "

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book about African Americans attempting to survive in state of Oregon's at its infancy. This is a case about a slave brought to Oregon on the promise of gaining freedom once his work in the new land was completed. He gained his freedom, but three of his children were kept as slaves. This is the only slavery case adjudicated in Oregon. The Oregon State constitution did not allow for slaves in Oregon, but there was no mechanism to guarantee its non existence. Oregonians did not like the slave society, slaves were black, ergo they wrote into their constitution that blacks are not allowed to enter the state........... The author can trace his ancestors in Oregon to the 1850's and makes the family connection to the plot revealing.
It's a good book covering additional sub plots/ individuals.
It does not put Oregon's race relations in a good light. Racism was rampant both among the farmers and Oregon's political elite.
Not a pretty picture, but a good read to those interested in Oregon's unfiltered history............

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew Oregon had a racist past, but was not aware of the amount of support there was for slavery among powerful men in the Oregon Territory. One heartbreaking story chronicles the legal efforts of Robin Holmes to free his children in the 1850s. Slavery was not legal in the Oregon Territory at that time, but the reality was somewhat different. Holme's case dragged on for 15 months with the outcome murky the whole time.

Nokes uses contemporary records to bring us the actual words of the men who wrote Oregon's constitution. Much of it is not a pretty picture.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of Oregon history, but have never read anything about the first blacks in the state. This was a very engaging read. I think we all tend to think that, of course there was no slavery in Oregon which entered the Union as a free state, and, of course, everyone was in agreement with that. But it turns out it was far more complicated than that. This is a well-researched, well-written book about an overlooked chapter in Oregon history.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first slaves came to Oregon by wagon train or ship in the 1840's. Nokes carefully enumerates those slaves and their owners through decades of legislative battle over slavery and the (non)rights of blacks. Those in power were primarily advocates of slavery, including Governor Lane (who ran as VP against Lincoln). Our now progressive state has a checkered past. This is a story that needs to be told in our schools.

[Elizabeth Brookbank · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. So, this has some good history about slavery and the treatment of black people in the Pacific Northwest that is rarely taught or discussed and that all Oregonians (all Americans, really) should know. Unfortunately, the book is not well put together (the organization is confusing and frustrating, too much time spent on the least interesting parts, etc) and the author's writing does not manage to make the subject engaging.

[E.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nokes fills in and enlightens large holes in the early history of the Oregon Territory. As Oregonians, I think we are often smug about how progressive we are now and have collectively forgotten how the state has a long and troubled history, when it comes to equality. This is a must read for any Oregonian.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well written and researched, this book investigates the issue of slavery in the territory, and in the State of Oregon. Nokes, a long-time journalist, again breaks little-known history and brings it to the current-day consciousness.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a multi-generational Oregonian trying to learn about my own history of oppression and white privilege. Things that surprised me in this book:

1) That Oregon had slavery in it’s history at all. This was obviously not taught to me in school. I was taught that we were never a slave state; we were Union state. While this is true technically, it is blatantly false at the roots/during our time as a territory. My recollection of learning about the Oregon Trail was during the 4th grade when we learned the basics: timelines of the 1st expeditions, where the wagons started, some of the difficulties settlers faced, etc. I do not recall ever learning anything about POC on the trail- that they were there, the things they helped to accomplish along the way/once they arrived, their ongoing slavery once they arrived here (in a supposedly free territory) or the wrongs they continued to endure despite the law of the land.

2) That we had an exclusion law in our history from 1844-1926. That we are the only state in the union to have an exclusion clause in their constitution (1859). That the exclusion clause became null in 1866 yet we kept it in our constitution until 1926!!! WTF?! Our privileged white ancestors didn’t want anything to do with slavery (per popular vote), BUT they also didn’t want anything to do with African Americans period. Out of sight, out of mind. Remove that bad taste in our mouths completely so we don’t have to think about it anymore. The absolute height of white privilege. I always wondered growing up here why there were so few African Americans around. Well, it is pretty clear to me now!! How is this information not taught in schools?

3) That we had some real pricks running our state government from day 1. These guys didn’t even care what the people of Oregon wanted (by popular vote). They cared only about themselves: their “property”, their comfort, their political power, their wealth, etc. All of this was at the expense of others' lives, others' rights & the law. Plus, there are so many things, places, etc. named after these assholes. That should be changed IMO.

[Lindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book about Oregon’s nasty racist past is definitely needed. But the story may Be better told by someone whose lineage is marked by the consequences of blatant racism rather than one sometimes considered a favored son in Oregon through family connections at the states major newspaper. The author’s base appears to be is in the wealthy enclave of West Linn. where he lives with his third wife, Candy. He touts ties to the Oregon Historical Society of which he is a member? That might help when it comes to getting word out about his writing.
But the Society would do well to cultivate more black writers if it’s sincere about uncovering its broken past. This doesn’t do it. Instead, what we have here is an alarming study in cultural appropriation . This is not this guys story to tell!. It’s not going to dig deep into the lives of young children cruelly separated from their birth families, and then abandoned with the complicity of the white man’s “understanding wife.“ Outcomes of blatant misogyny, theft of land and wanton degradation of spirit get short shrift.
Recent news out of Oregon suggests a day of reckoning looms?
A legacy of unchecked cruelty can cost dearly?
This is an easy comfortable read. Too comfortable.
















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[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not too many books on this uncomfortable historical fact about Oregon. We like to think ourselves progressive, but the truth remains we were barely a non-slave State and certainly a racist one that did discourage people of color moving here. The names of our roads, institutional buildings, even County names are identified as people we probably would rather not honor. Well researched and written with an incredible personal prologue.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people are not aware of the dark history of racism in Oregon tracing all the way back to before Oregon became a state. Although slavery was outlawed in Oregon, black people were singled out and barred from even moving to the state at points during the early years. A good introduction to the history of black people in Oregon.

[Elaine Tronic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written history about slavery in Oregon and the attitudes toward slavery.

I liked the mix of quoting original source documents and narrative description.

I appreciate that the author wanted to present a comprehensive history, but it was sometimes tough to keep track of all the minor Oregon politicians.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important historical information; a bit of a slog.

[Suzanne Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Educational.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gregory Nokes's latest Oregon history book is well-researched, interestingly written. He has shed light on the little-known story of slaves in Oregon and discriminatory laws against African Americans in the early days of settlement up to and after the Civil War. His book certainly filled in gaps in my knowledge of Oregon's sullied past. And there were surprises.

Delays in Oregon's territorial status and in statehood were caused by the uncertainties of whether or not to allow slavery. Political turmoil over the legality of slavery in new territories as well as proposed new states raged not only at the national level, but also in Oregon itself. Many Oregon leaders in the new territory, as well as the first territorial governor Joseph Lane had sympathies to the south, and several owned slaves. Early on, slavery was prohibited in the Oregon territory, but many pioneers who migrated to the territory in the 1840's and 50's brought slaves with them. The prohibition against slavery was not well enforced. Many times during its territorial days, laws excluding blacks from settling in Oregon were enacted, revoked, re-enacted. The uncertainty over the status kept many free blacks and former slaves from settling in Oregon, but in a few cases, black settlers arrived at advantageous times, became free and were able to purchase property and make a life for their families.

The author recounted the political ups and downs of discriminatory laws and Oregon's progress toward statehood. In a few cases, the finer points of political arguments were hard to follow and a bit boring. But I enjoyed the personal stories of people who came to Oregon as slaves and succeeded despite enduring great hardships caused by uncertainties of status and citizenship. One couple who had arrived in Oregon as slaves waited even longer than the time limit allowed to hold slaves in the territory, but were finally freed. However, their three children were not freed, and they fought bitter odds over several years to have their custody case heard in court. It was the only time slavery was "on trial" in the Oregon territory, and amazingly, the former slaves won their case.

Other surprising facts: Delegates to the first constitutional convention proposing statehood in 1857 were sharply divided on the issue of slavery. Wisely, the issue was presented to the voters at large (all white men) separately from the constitution itself. The constitution was approved, and the voters said 'no' to slavery by over 3 to 1. Despite the southern leanings of President Buchanan and others, Oregon was finally admitted to the U.S. as a free state. In 1866 the Oregon legislature ratified the 14th Amendemnt to the Constitution extending citizen and equal protection under the law to African Americans. In 1868, the Oregon legislature withdrew their ratification of the amendment, but the law had already taken effect nationally. It took the Oregon legislature nearly a century to re-ratify the 14th amendment-- in 1973. And it wasn't until 1959 that the Oregon legislature approved the 15th Amendment extending voting rights to African Americans,90 years after it was included in the U.S. Constitution.

[Faye Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breaking Chains is well-researched and provides much-needed information about Oregon's attitudes and legislation about African-Americans prior to the 20th century, most of which were clearly discriminatory and racist.Though the Oregon constitution explicitly forbade slave-holding, some slaveholders brought slaves with them anyway, and for awhile laws existed that even excluded black people from living in the state under penalty of corporal punishment. For years black children were not permitted to attend schools with white children. In spite of the odds against them, some African-Americans not only stayed and survived, but settled and thrived, becoming successful landowners and businessmen. Nokes recounts the case of one man, an illiterate former slave, who successfully sued and won his case against his former owner who was holding his three children in a state of servitude. Every school should include this book in its curriculum; however, I gave it three stars (really I meant 3.5) instead of four because much of the material was rather dry reading. It might be a little hard going for kids in school. That does not mean they shouldn't read it, or have the material in it presented to them by an enthusiastic teacher. It encouraged me to want to read more about this period of Oregon's past, and Nokes provides good source material with which to do that which,in itself, is enough to recommend the book.

[Carolyn Lind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book and weep if you consider yourself a progressive Oregonian today. Nokes exposes Oregon's dark side in history; one not found in current textbooks. Oregon did join the Union as a free state, but it was the only free state admitted with an exclusion clause in its constitution that forbade emigration of African Americans to the state.

Racism continued even after slaves became legally free following the Civil War. The 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and the 14th Amendment extending citizenship and equal protection put an end to Oregon's exclusion law, but the law remained in Oregon's constitution.

In 1868, Oregon's ratification of the 14th Amendment was withdrawn and a senator from Lane County argued that granting citizenship would "place the inferior races upon an equality with the superior." The 14th Amendment was not re-ratified until 1973.

The 15th Amendment giving African Americans the right to vote was not approved until 1959, ninety years after it was issued to the states for ratification.

This book sheds much light on Oregon's troubled racist history through the lives and stories of a variety of African Americans as well as historical facts. Oregon history taught in our schools is not complete without including this troubling racist history we would like to deny. We need to acknowledge the past if we are to break the last chains of racism.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gregory Nokes writes a detailed history of slavery in Oregon and fills in some huge gaps in our collective understanding of the issue. Like most Oregonians, I imagine, I grew up proud (and maybe a little smug) that Oregon was always a free state. On the other hand, I also knew that Oregon has very few African-Americans relative even to other western states.

While Oregon was always technically a free state, slaveholders did bring slaves into the Territory and keep them as slaves. There was simultaneously a clause excluding African-Americans from residing in the state; the clause was rarely enforced. In addition, the Constitutional Convention was sharply divided on the issue of slavery and the vote was embarrassingly close. The constitution did include an exclusion clause that was never enforced but was probably a deterrant to African-Americans. Racism was rampant and ugly.

The heart of the book is a discussion of a court case filed by a freed slave against his former master in order to reclaim 3 of his children (several other children had been sold before the family left Missouri). The freed slave won the case, a fact I find amazing after reading about what that took.

I found the book tedious to read and overly detailed, but it illuminates some important and sad history.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book details an important part of Oregon's history that is not well-known, and for that, I recommend every Oregonian read it. It's not that this is completely unknown history, it's just been forgotten -- that Oregon could easily have become a slave state due to its early leaders being pro-slavery, that slaves did indeed exist in Oregon despite the state's law against slavery, that despite outlawing slavery, Oregon also had an exclusion law saying new blacks couldn't settle here. Sad and embarrassing stuff, but important to remember for how it influences much of today's political and racial climate in Oregon.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a slog. I wouldn't have read it except that I felt obligated because it was chosen for my book group. It tells more than I ever wanted to know about slavery in Oregon just before the Civil War. There wasn't much of it, but slavery was a very hot issue, particularly among the men who were responsible for creating the state's constitution. Some of the author's ancestors were involved. The story features a former slave who had been promised his freedom for helping with the wagon train that brought him and his owner to the Territory and helping his owner set up a farm. The owner reneged, and the slave sued for his freedom successfully.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information in the book holds special interest to me as an Oregon native. Names of towns and roads and buildings at U of O here become people, and history that I had learned at school was expanded.

The author sometimes in the absence of historical record assumes feelings or tries to fill in blanks in a manner that comes off as a little patronizing, for which I nearly downgraded this review. However, reading other reviews there are many people who had no idea about some of the uglier parts of Oregon's history, and Nokes has provided a service by providing that information.

[Linny · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of slavery here and one black man's legal case against owner to regain his children - which he won. Exclusion laws here, insight into the first leaders, their reason for keeping blacks out - many farmers came here from Missouri, couldn't complete with commerce from East if slaves here. Effects on why OR still a white state. MY objection to book is the repetition, but Greg's talk to book group excellent.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the writing is dry, the history of slavery and early black settlers in Oregon is an important history to tell and Nokes does a thorough job. It's no small feat with contemporary accounts of inconsistent and unreliable nature. What I appreciated the most was that Nokes tried his best to squeeze as much narrative biography as possible for each of the early black residents, to honor their lives and stories.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating Oregon history. This is a part of our states history that was not covered when I was in school...doubt that it is today either! Well written. Recommended to anyone interested in learning more about the real west.

[David Kessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a family history than anything else. The actual trial which the protagonist lost resulted in freedom of the parents and children.
The only slave trial to ever take place in the State of Oregon.
It took place prior to the Civil War. Recommend reading the 'good parts' of the book.

[Mariejkt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful book on history of the Oregon trail and Oregon history that is not told in school but needs to be.

[Maya B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story to read about slavery in the Midwest. I gave 3 stars because the execution of the story was just ok