"Those sent to work in town often had some input in their choice of master and some, like Frederick Douglass, were allowed to live on their own upon surrender of satisfactory wages." [1]
That was probably far from the norm in the 1830's. Frederick Douglass was no less in bondage though.
Later in life, Mr. Douglass said:
"[E]xperience demonstrates that there may be a slavery of wages only a little less galling and crushing in its effects than chattel slavery, and that this slavery of wages must go down with the other". [2]
"Frederick Douglass was an African-American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement[.]" [3]
That was probably far from the norm in the 1830's. Frederick Douglass was no less in bondage though.
Later in life, Mr. Douglass said:
"[E]xperience demonstrates that there may be a slavery of wages only a little less galling and crushing in its effects than chattel slavery, and that this slavery of wages must go down with the other". [2]
"Frederick Douglass was an African-American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement[.]" [3]
(upvoted you)
[1] http://books.google.com/books?id=jI4euhKoEaEC&pg=PA65
[2] http://books.google.com/books?id=nOt7au3N8FUC&pg=PA676
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass