Hello,

I have been researching my family in the southern states,of Va, NC, and Ga. I recently started researching my husbands family (Bateast) in Cape May, NJ. I was so surprised to see so many FPOC in 1860. I was fortunate to have located his family, however, I can not locate the slaveowner in the 1860 or 1850 census. I did find a John Batiste in 1840. My question is, was there a great difference in time with emancipating slaves,between northern and southern states.