FREEDOM LOST By the late 1700s the institution of slavery was declining in Delaware and there was a dramatic growth in the state's free black population. Demand for slave labor in the Deep South continued to grow and large numbers of free blacks were kidnapped and sent south via networks operated by criminal gangs. The Abolition Society of Delaware and men like Thomas Garrett worked tirelessly against the practice, but Delaware's black residents continued to live in fear for their freedom until the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865. This memorial is dedicated to the victims of this enterprise and those who fought against it. DELAWARE PUBLIC ARCHIVES - 2004 NCC-128 Submitted by @lampbane