How did some slaves earn money in the pre Civil War in the United States to purchase their freedom?

by cokenewbie12

Since they are slaves and are unpaid, where would they get the money to purchase their freedom? And was there anything stopping a master from just taking the money and keeping them enslaved since they are his "property"?

Georgy_K_Zhukov

I've written about the peculium (Property held by enslaved persons) in the American South before in this older answer which you will likely find of interest.