Franklin County Miscellaneous Data

Index of Persons Listed On This Page:

1. Negro George sentenced to death
2. Ann Smallwood is a free woman
3. Moses, whose parents live in Mercersburg

The Data

 

• Name  George
  Details  Sentenced to death for rape, 1793:  "November 22: Commanded the Sheriff of Franklin Co. to execute sentence of death on 18 January 1794 upon Negro George convicted at Chambersburg, Franklin Co. of Rape."  The notation was listed in the published Pennsylvania Archives, Ninth Series, 1793.
  Source      Marsha Hoffman Rising, "Pennsylvania Archives--Ninth Series--1791," at http://mhrising.com/Pardons/1793.htm accessed 16 October 2006.


 

• Name  Ann Smallwood
  Details  Sold by Edward W. Doyle of Concord, Franklin County, Pennsysylvania, to James Shoaf of Williamsport, Maryland. However Shoaf believes she is actually a free person. Text of public notice, below:

  Notice to the Public.
  Whereas Edward W. Doyle, of the Town of Concord, County of Franklin, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 19th day of March 1821, assigned, for value received, all his right title, Interest and Claim in and to a negro woman, by the name of "Ann Smallwood;" which negro woman in said assignment, appears to have been gifted to him by Henry Spalding of Frederick County and State of Maryland. And whereas the said Edward W. Doyle by his Bill of sale, dated on the day, month and year aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum of Two hundred Dollars, sold the said "Ann Smallwood" unto James Shoaf of the Town of Williamsport, in the County of Washington and State of Maryland; -- and further whereas I the said James Shoaf gave unto the said Edward W. Doyle, a Note for the payment of the above amount, in Tobacco. -- I do hereby forwarn any person or persons from taking an assignment of said Note, as I am determined not to pay the same, unless by due course of Law, as I am informed the said "Ann Smallwood" is a free woman.
  JAMES SHOAF.
  Williamsport, July 17th, 1821

  In a letter to the Franklin Republican newspaper, dated October 1, 1821, Edward Doyle defended his sale of Ann Smallwood, noting that she had been a slave of Henry Spalding, Esq., of Frederick County Maryland. He included a statement from Francis W. Spalding, son of Henry, that said: "I do certify, that Ann Smallwood was a Slave for life to my father, Henry Spalding. In 1809 he gave her to his daughter and Edw'd W. Doyle, said Ann was about four years old." Doyle contends, in his letter, that by Pennsylvania law, upon being brought into Pennsylvania, Ann's enslavement status would change to enslavement until age 28, and because she was 16 at the time of the sale to James Shoaf, she was therefore not a free woman. The Franklin Republican correctly points out that Doyle was incorrect on Pennsylvania law, and as soon as Ann Smallwood was brought to Pennsylvania, she did indeed become a free woman.
  
  Finally, in December of that year, a letter was published in the Franklin Republican ostensibly written by Ann Smallwood asserting that she was safe from "cowhiding" as she was "nearly out of [Doyle's] reach, being pleasantly situated on the banks of the Potomac from under the lash of my old taskmaster." Whether actually written by her or not, it was clearly intended as a political attack on Doyle by the editors of the paper.
  Sources   Franklin Repository, 24 July 1821, page 1; Franklin Republican, 09 October 1821, page 3; Franklin Republican,
25 December 1821, page 3.

 

• Name  Moses
  Details  Eighteen-year-old Moses was enslaved by William Chaney near Funkstown, Washington County, Maryland. He escaped from Chaney on Saturday, February 16, 1822, wearing only his work clothes. Chaney knew that Moses' parents were both living in Mercersburg and he believed the young man was headed there.

  25 Dollars Reward.
  RAN AWAY from the subscriber, livng near Funkstown, Washington county, Maryland, on Saturday the 16th inst. a Negro Boy, named
  MOSES,
  about 18 years of age, upwards of five feet high, slender made, yellow complexion, speaks slow and has a down look when spoken to by a white man, one of his feet is inclined outwards considerably, and he walks somewhat lame.
  His clothing consisted of drab home made fulled linsey roundabout and trowsers, a striped linsey jacket, a wool hat about half worn, and coarse shoes also about half worn. The above reward will be given for said runaway, if taken out of the county, and all reasonable expenses paid if brought home; or ten dollars if taken in county, and secured so that I get him again.
  Wm. CHANEY.
  February 19.
  N.B. It is supposed the above runaway has made for the neighborhood of Mercersburg, Pa. where his father and mother live.

  Notes Funkstown is about twenty miles from Mercersburg. It would be a full day's walk to the northwest following the Mercersburg Road, which runs through the middle of Hagerstown. A person wanting to avoid being seen would likely divert arount Hagerstown, adding several hours to the walk. For someone who "walks somewhat lame" due to a limb condition, this trip could be quite arduous.
  Sources  Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, PA), 26 February 1822.