Slavery had been officially abolished in the…

Slavery had been officially abolished in the majority of the British Empire on August 1, 1834, buit in practical terms only slaves below the age of six had been freed as all slaves over the age of six had been redesignated as "apprentices.”

Apprentices were to continue to serve their former owners for a period after the abolition of slavery, though the length of time they served depended on which of the three classes of apprentice they were.

The first class of apprentices are former slaves who "in their State of Slavery were usually employed in Agriculture, or in the Manufacture of Colonial Produce or otherwise, upon Lands belonging to their Owners".

The second class of apprentices are former slaves who "in their State of Slavery were usually employed in Agriculture, or in the Manufacture of Colonial Produce or otherwise, upon Lands not belonging to their Owners".

The third class of apprentices is composed of all former slaves "not included within either of the Two preceding Classes.”

Apprentices within the third class are released from their apprenticeships on August 1, 1838.

The remaining apprentices within the first and second classes will be released from their apprenticeships on August 1, 1840.