I represent Adelaide Vidal, a free negra woman born in Louisiana. In 1802 in New Orleans, I purchased my freedom from my master, Nicolas Maria Vidal, a former Spanish military governor of Louisana. As I purchased my freedom for the same amount he paid for me, a condition of my manumission was to serve the daughters of Euphrosina Hinnard for six years (Euphrosine Hinnard was a free woman of color; an inheritance dispute between the Vidal women and the Spanish government would later spark the infamous “Vidal affair” between Andrew Jackson and Spanish Governor Jose Maria Callava.)
At the time of the 1820 census of Pensacola, I was 49 years old, a widow, and I made my living as a seamstress. There were 7 other members of my household, 6 of whom are probably my children, but there is one negra woman of 38 years who is too old to be my daughter – her relationship to me is not specified.