Chapter 14

A Path to Peace

After the victory at Yorktown in 1781 the tide of the war shifted, and an American victory seemed inevitable. Many British soldiers prepared to leave New York the following year. Thousands of formerly enslaved Black people also went to Canada to receive their promised freedom from the British. During this evacuation, Liss showed up at Robert’s shop, asking him to re-purchase her so she could remain in New York. At this time Liss was about three months pregnant. Robert agreed, and when Liss began living in his household he paid his father £70 as compensation for her value.