Abda Duce-Ginnings was born in 1673. His mother, Hannah Duce, was raped by two white men, John Ginnings, and William Hadwell. Because Hannah was enslaved at the time by James Richards, her assailants were not charged with rape. Instead, they and Hannah were charged and convicted of fornication. The judge gave each of the three a choice to pay a fine or submit to a public whipping. Hannah, an enslaved woman, could not pay the fine, so she was publicly whipped. When her son, Abda, was born, he was given the surname of one of his mother’s assailants.
In 1703, Abda Duce-Ginnings sued in court for his manumission. He argued that his mother’s assault, his white parentage, and his status as a Christian, warranted his freedom. His wife, Lydia, testified at the hearing. The court granted his freedom. Shortly after he was freed, Lydia gave birth to their son, Joseph. Hannah did not live to see her son gain his freedom. Abda died in 1709. His son Joseph would go on to own property and have a family of his own.
