Waters asked:
"Understand where I am coming from on this one?
tw/waters"
=============================
Waters, no sorry, I don't see it that way.

If a "person of color" is listed on a Free Population Census Schedule by name prior to 1870 it is taken that they were NOT still enslaved at that time. Of course, there may be exceptions to that rule.

As for enslaved persons "hiring out" ... it is my understanding that they (slave) probably did not normally have much to say as to that process. I have read where some formerly enslaved persons were able to purchase their freedom from money earned while plying their various skills AFTER the master had been compensated for their work. Again, this is more than likley the rule, with exceptions.

So I don't consider Slave and Staff as being synonomous (sp).

~Art