Only slaves whose masters had fled won freedom under Polverel’s decree.

Evidence

Polverel explained that loyal “cultivators”—that is, the plantation slaves—also deserved rewards. While those whose masters were still in the colony would remain slaves, those whose masters had fled, but who nevertheless had continued to work on their plantations, were declared free. — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 558