From When and It's Purpose

The proclamation dated from November 7, 1775 and was issued on board a British warship off Norfolk, Virginia (Thane, 107). Because of royal governor and Scottish aristocrat John Murray, Earl of Dunmore was able to offer the first important emancipation of slave and servant labor in British America. This grew out of Dunmore’s efforts to counter an attack in the capital of Williamsburg caused by the patriot militia early in the spring of 1775. At this time he threatened multiple times to free and give slaves weap to defend the royal government. By the time he retreated offshore he was already gathering slaves. As a result, his November proclamation commanding Virginians to support the king or be judged as traitors now finally offered freedom to all slaves and indentured servants belonging to rebels and able to possess arms for the crown. The proclamation declared Virginia in a state of rebellion and placed the colony under martial law. But the most offensive part of the document was the section that offered freedom to slaves and forces if they were willing to bear arms and fight for the British. Shortly after, hundreds of slaves and families had joined him. They enrolled in what Dunmore named his “Ethiopian Regiment.” Here he formed most of the royal troops that began defeating patriot forces. Although, suddenly they were hit by disease and were attacked. Finally, they chose to evacuate the Chesapeake Region to head for New York in August 1776 (Blackpast, Johnson).