1850 Census - African Americans in Dauphin County

Portsmouth, Lower Swatara Township

Laid out in 1809 as "Harbortown" by George Fisher, son of the founder of Middletown, this small community prospered as a result of its favorable situation.  Fisher located the town on the Susquehanna River at the mouth of the Swatara Creek.  It was a transportation hub, as the Pennsylvania Canal, the Union Canal and the Harrisburg-Lancaster Railroad all intersected here, and a ferry across the Susquehanna River connected it to York County.  The name was changed to Portsmouth in 1814, and this small town quickly attracted industries that took advantage of the abundant water power and available shipping routes. 

Industries in Portsmouth included flour mills, blast furnaces, an iron foundry and saw mills. Businesses and accommodations related to the canal and railroad, and their workers, provided jobs. Portsmouth filled many of those jobs with African American workers. In 1850, out of a total population of 882 persons, 138 were African American, according to census records. That is a higher percentage of African American residents than is found in Harrisburg Borough at this time. Among the African American residents providing services were barbers Isaac Gilbert and Nicholas Taylor. Freeman Henry was a carpenter, and Harriet Hughes and Priscilla Williams found employment in Jeremiah Youtz' hotel. Other African American men, despite having no occupation listed by the census taker, probably found ample work in the canal boat basins or as laborers for the railroad or canal lines.

In 1857 Portsmouth and some adjoining land was merged with the Borough of Middletown.

Sources: "Community - History - The Story of Middletown," Middletown Borough, 60 West Emaus Street, Middletown, PA 17057. http://www.middletownborough.com/Community/history/historic_story.asp Accessed December 14, 2004. The Chronicles of Middletown, C. H. Hutchinson, 1906.

1850 Census Data

• Ambers, Catharine E.
  description: 17/F/B
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: "Cannot read and write." Living in the household of Taylor, Nicholas, barber (see listing).

• Anderson, John
  visitation (house/family): 48/51
  description (age/sex/color): 35/M/M
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 176B
  other members in household:
  • Christianna Anderson
    description: 30/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Cannot read and write."
  • Ann Anderson
    description: 9/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • David Anderson
    description: 6/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Mary Ellen Anderson
    description: 3/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Amanda Anderson
    description: 3 mos./F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • John Snowden
    description: 34/M/B
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes:

• Bird, John
  visitation (house/family): 128/142
  description (age/sex/color): 50/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 182B
  other members in household:
  • Charlotte Bird
    description: 40/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Ellenna Bird
    description: 10/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Ettley Bird
    description: 9/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Attended school within the year."
  • Robert L. Bird
    description: 18/M/M
    occupation: Farmer
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Brown, John
  visitation (house/family): 39/43
  description (age/sex/color): 37/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned: 400
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: "Cannot read and write."
  census page: 176A
  other members in household:
  • Lydia Brown
    description: 23/F/M
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes: "Cannot read and write."
  • Rachel A. Brown
    description: 5/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • A. Elizabeth Brown
    description: 1/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Rebecca Rollings
    description: 21/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Jacob More
    description: 5/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Brown, Rachel
  description: 70/F/M
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes: Living in the household of Gibbs, Jonathan (see listing).

• Clark, Mary
  visitation (house/family): 41/45
  description (age/sex/color): 40/F/M
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 176A
  other members in household:
  • Sarah Clark
    description: 14/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Attended school within the year."
  • Martha Jane Clark
    description: 16/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Attended school within the year."
  • Henry J. Clark
    description: 12/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Attended school within the year."
  • William Harrison
    description: 10/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Attended school within the year."
  • Catharine Harrison
    description: 7/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Attended school within the year."
  • George Washington
    description: 5/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Attended school within the year."
  • Herman A. Washington
    description: 3/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • James Edward
    description: 1/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Collins, Ann
  description: 56/F/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Gibbs, Jonathan (see listing).

• Collins, Edward A.
  description: 14/M/B
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes: Living in the household of Queen, Simon (see listing).

• Collins, William
  visitation (house/family): 127/141
  description (age/sex/color): 28/M/M
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 182A
  other members in household:
  • Sarah S. Collins
    description: 24/F/W
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • John Putman
    description: 6/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Edward, James
  description: 1/M/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Infant living in the household of Clark, Mary (see listing).

• Freeman, Henry
  visitation (house/family): 88/102
  description (age/sex/color): 50/M/B
  occupation: Carpenter
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: "Jersey"
  notes:
  census page: 180A
  other members in household:
  • Maria Scoggins
    description: 47/F/M
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes:
  • Susan Harris
    description: 7/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Galey, John
  visitation (house/family): 132/148
  description (age/sex/color): 25/M/B
  occupation: Farmer
  value of real estate owned: 200
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 182B
  other members in household:
  • Hannah Galey
    description: 15/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Mary Ann Galey
    description: 25/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Joseph Galey
    description: 9/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Sarah Ann Galey
    description: 7/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Gibbs, Jonathan
  visitation (house/family): 43/45
  description (age/sex/color): 36/M/M
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned: 250
  place of birth: Delaware
  notes:
  census page: 176A
  other members in household:
  • Caroline Gibbs
    description: 39/F/M
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes:
  • Rachel People
    description: 24/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • John Woodward
    description: 18/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Isaac Gibbs
    description: 2/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Ann Collins
    description: 56/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Rachel Brown
    description: 70/F/M
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes:

• Gibson, Henrietta
  description: 32/F/M
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes: Living in the household of Quarry, Benjamin I. (see listing).

• Gilbert, Isaac
  visitation (house/family): 82/96
  description (age/sex/color): 28/M/B
  occupation: Barber
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 179B
  other members in household:
  • Elizabeth Gilbert
    description: 22/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Isaac Gilbert
    description: 8 mos./M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • George Thomas
    description: 7/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Gooding, William H.
  visitation (house/family): 96/108
  description (age/sex/color): 23/M/B
  occupation:
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: "Cannot read and write."
  census page:
  other members in household:
  • Marinda Gooding
    description: 24/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • William Thomas
    description: 33/F/B
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes:

• Green, Elizabeth E.
  description: 8/F/B
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Taylor, Nicholas, barber (see listing).

• Haldeman, John
  description: 4/M/B
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Child living in the household of Weeks, John (see listing).

• Hargoh, Ann Jane
  description: 45/F/B
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes: Living in the household of Taylor, Nicholas, barber (see listing).

• Harris, Susan
  description: 7/F/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Child living in the household of Freeman, Henry, carpenter (see listing).

• Harrison, William
  description: 10/M/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: "Attended school within the year." Living in the household of Clark, Mary (see listing).
• Catharine Harrison
  description: 7/F/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: "Attended school within the year."

• Hile, Lewis
  visitation (house/family): 83/97
  description (age/sex/color): 23/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 179B
  other members in household:
  • Catharine Hile
    description: 23/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Martha Jane Hile
    description: 6/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Christianna Hile
    description: 4/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Fanny Stewart
    description: 17/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Hughes, Harriet
  visitation (house/family): 81/95
  description (age/sex/color): 21/F/B
  occupation: (none listed) Probably a hotel worker
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Enumerated at the inn of Jeremiah Youtz.
  census page: 179B
  other African Americans in household: Priscilla Williams

• Hughes, Henry
  description: 24/M/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Weeks, John (see listing).
• Elizabeth Chink Hughes
  description: 22/F/B
  place of birth: Virginia
  notes: "Cannot read and write."

• Hughes, John
  visitation (house/family): 45/47
  description (age/sex/color): 30/M/M
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 176B
  other members in household:
  • Elizabeth Hughes
    description: 28/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Attended school within the year."
  • Leonard Hughes
    description: 11/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Samuel Hughes
    description: 7/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Thomas Hughes
    description: 5/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Theodore Hughes
    description: 3/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Catharine Hughes
    description: 10/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Ruth Stanton
    description: 60/F/M
    place of birth: Unknown
    notes:
  • Thomas Stanton
    description: 20/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Husley, Jessie
  description: 19/M/B
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Weeks, John (see listing).

• James, Rebecca
  description: 9 mos./F/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Infant living with Myers, Sarah A. (see listing).

• Johnston, Charles
  visitation (house/family): 40/44
  description (age/sex/color): 29/M/M
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Virginia
  notes:
  census page: 176A
  other members in household:
  • Mary A. Johnston
    description: 31/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Lorele, Elizabeth
  description: 17/F/B
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Weeks, John (see listing).

• Lorrett, James
  visitation (house/family): 129/143
  description (age/sex/color): 34/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned: 200
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 182B
  other members in household:
  • Susan Lorrett
    description: 40/F/B
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes:
  • Simon Lorrett
    description: 4/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Francis Lorrett
    description: 80/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Cannot read and write."
  • Henry Lorrett
    description: 11/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • George Lorrett
    description: 7/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Lum, Emanuel
  visitation (house/family): 42/45
  description (age/sex/color): 28/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned: 250
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 176A
  other members in household:
  • Cornelia Lum
    description: 27/F/M
    place of birth: Virginia
    notes:
  • Benjamin Lum
    description: 6/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • William G. Lum
    description: 4/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • James E. Lum
    description: 2/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Lum, Thomas J.
  visitation (house/family): 85/99
  description (age/sex/color): 21/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 180A
  other members in household:
  • Leta Lum
    description: 60/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Mole, Mary
  visitation (house/family): 34/38
  description (age/sex/color): 28/F/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: "Cannot read and write." Enumerated in the household of John A. Gross, grocer, in the dwelling of Henry Gross, merchant.
  census page: 175B
• More, Jacob
  description: 5/M/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Child living in the household of Brown, John. (see listing)

• Myers, Sarah A.
  visitation (house/family): 49/52
  description (age/sex/color): 19/F/M
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 176B
  other members in household:
  • Sarah Myers
    description: 2/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Rebecca James
    description: 9 mos./F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• People, Rachel
  description: 24/F/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Gibbs, Jonathan (see listing).

• Porter, Amanda
  description: 4/F/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Child living in the household of Randles, Robert (see listing).

• Putman, John
  description: 6/M/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Child living in the household of Collins, William (see listing).

• Quarry, Benjamin I.
  visitation (house/family): 98/110
  description (age/sex/color): 34/M/M
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: "Cannot read and write."
  census page: 180B
  other members in household:
  • Sarah Ann Sharp
    description: 33/F/W
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Henrietta Gibson
    description: 32/F/M
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes:
  • Mary Sanders
    description: 30/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Queen, Simon
  visitation (house/family): 89/103
  description (age/sex/color): 84/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes:
  census page: 180A
  other members in household:
  • Mary Ann Shorter
    description: 26/F/B
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes:
  • Edward A. Collins
    description: 14/M/B
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes:
  • Robert W. Shorter
    description: 3/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Randles, Robert
  visitation (house/family): 44/46
  description (age/sex/color): 60/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes:
  census page: 176A-176B
  other members in household:
  • Margaret Randles
    description: 24/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Rebecca Randles
    description: 29/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Catharine Randles
    description: 20/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Solomon Randles
    description: 18/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Eleazer Randles
    description: 14/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Elijah Randles
    description: 10/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Joseph C. Randles
    description: 6/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Attended school within the year."
  • Amanda Porter
    description: 4/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Ratcliff, James
  visitation (house/family): 86/100
  description (age/sex/color): 53/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: "Cannot read and write."
  census page: 180A
  other members in household:
  • Nancy Ratcliff
    description: 29/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • David Ratcliff
    description: 13/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Rachel Ratcliff
    description: 9/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Samuel Ratcliff
    description: 7/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • James Ratcliff
    description: 3/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Jacob Ratcliff
    description: 4 mos./M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
• Rollings, Rebecca
  description: 21/F/B
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Brown, John (see listing).

• Sanders, Mary
  description: 30/F/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Quarry, Benjamin I. (see listing).

• Scoggins, Maria
  description: 47/F/M
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes: Living in the household of Freeman, Henry, carpenter (see listing).

• Shorter, Mary Ann
  description: 26/F/B
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes: Living in the household of Queen, Simon (see listing).
• Robert W. Shorter
  description: 3/M/B
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:

• Shultz, Adam
  visitation (house/family): 87/101
  description (age/sex/color): 28/M/M
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: "Cannot read and write."
  census page: 180A
  other members in household:
  • Eliza Shultz
    description: 22/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Cannot read and write."
  • Ann M. Schultz
    description: 2/F/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Snowden, John
  description: 34/M/B
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes: Living in the household of Anderson, John (see listing).

• Stanton, Ruth
  description: 60/F/M
  place of birth: Unknown
  notes: Living with the family of Hughes, John (see listing).
• Thomas Stanton
  description: 20/M/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:

• Stewart, Fanny
  description: 17/F/B
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Hile, Lewis (see listing).

• Taylor, Nicholas
  visitation (house/family): 84/98
  description (age/sex/color): 40/M/B
  occupation: Barber
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes: "Cannot read and write."
  census page: 179B
  other members in household:
  • Mary Taylor
    description: 21/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Catharine E. Ambers
    description: 17/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Cannot read and write."
  • Elizabeth E. Green
    description: 8/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Benjamin A. Taylor
    description: 1/M/B
    place of birth:
    notes:
  • Ann Jane Hargoh
    description: 45/F/B
    place of birth: Maryland
    notes:

• Thomas, George
  description: 7/M/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Gilbert, Isaac, barber (see listing).

• Thomas, Sarah
  visitation (house/family): 90/103
  description (age/sex/color): 39/F/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 180A
  other members in household:
  • Isaac Thomas
    description: 16/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Melkiah Thomas
    description: 11/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Bartemus Thomas
    description: 7/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Andrew Thomas
    description: 3/M/B
    place of birth:
    notes:

• Thomas, William
  description: 33/F/B
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes: Living in the household of Gooding, William H. (see listing).

• Washington, George
  description: 5/M/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: "Attended school within the year." Children living in the household of Clark, Mary (see listing).
• Herman A. Washington
  description: 3/M/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:

• Weeks, John
  visitation (house/family): 99/111
  description (age/sex/color): 59/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned: 400
  place of birth: Maryland
  notes:
  census page: 180B
  other members in household:
  • Hannah Weeks
    description: 30/F/B
    place of birth: Delaware
    notes:
  • Mark Weeks
    description: 23/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Isaac Weeks
    description: 21/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Cannot read and write."
  • John Moles Weeks
    description: 8/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • John Haldeman
    description: 4/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Elizabeth Lorele
    description: 17/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Jessie Husley
    description: 19/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Henry Hughes
    description: 24/M/M
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Elizabeth Chink Hughes
    description: 22/F/B
    place of birth: Virginia
    notes: "Cannot read and write."

• Williams, James
  visitation (house/family): 21/104
  description (age/sex/color): 50/M/B
  occupation: (none listed)
  value of real estate owned:
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes:
  census page: 180A
  other members in household:
  • Maria Williams
    description: 29/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes: "Cannot read and write."
  • Joseph Williams
    description: 16/M/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Pricilla Williams
    description: 14/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:
  • Virginia Williams
    description: 2/F/B
    place of birth: Pennsylvania
    notes:

• Williams, Priscilla
  visitation (house/family): 81/95
  description (age/sex/color): 15/F/B
  occupation: (none listed) Probably a hotel worker
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Enumerated at the inn of Jeremiah Youtz. "Attended school within the year."
  census page: 179B
  other African Americans in household: Hughes, Harriet

• Woodward, John
  description: 18/M/M
  place of birth: Pennsylvania
  notes: Living in the household of Gibbs, Jonathan (see listing).

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