slavery in pennsylvania

greene county septennial census of 1800

The State of Pennsylvania took an enumeration of taxable inhabitants every seven years. Known as the Septennial Census, this enumeration also listed slaves in each county, by township, for some of the years. The amount of information on the slaves varies greatly by county. Greene County lists only the slaves' sex and age.

Few slaves younger than 20 are listed, indicating that only the slaves born before November 1780 were enumerated, they being considered "Slaves for Life." Children of slaves born after that date were to be freed upon their 28th birthday, according to the Gradual Emancipation Act of 1780. These children, although held in bondage for 28 years, were officially called "servants," and often not counted in tax and census listings as slaves. There are some exceptions.

Compare to the 1800 federal census returns for Greene County.

Slaves, 1800, By Township

Cumberland Township

1. No name returned, male slave, age 48
2. No name returned, male slave, age 24
3. No name returned, male slave, age 36
4. No name returned, male slave, age 23
5. No name returned, male slave, age 21
6. No name returned, male slave, age 47
7. No name returned, female slave, age 25
8. No name returned, female slave, age 30
9. No name returned, female slave, age 49

Greene Township

1. No name returned, male slave, age 22
2. No name returned, male slave, age 27
3. No name returned, female slave, age 52
4. No name returned, female slave, age 25
5. No name returned, female slave, age 19

Morgan Township

1. No name returned, male slave, age 35

Franklin Township

1. No name returned, female slave, age 26

No Township Specified

1. No name returned, male slave, age 22
2. No name returned, male slave, age 18
3. No name returned, female slave, age 48

Notes and Source

Totals--Males: 11 Females: 8
Total slaves enumerated: 19
Average (mean) age of all slaves listed: 31.42 years.
Date of Census: 29 November, 1800
Notes: Only those townships that returned listings for slaves are listed on this page.

Source: Septennial Census Returns, 1779-1863; Roll No. 3, Franklin County, 1828-Lancaster County, 1800. Reel No. 0244. Microfilm in the Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg PA.

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This page was updated on 11 July 2010.