Enslavement in Pennsylvania

Enslavement Data

• Slaveholder Name:  Brice, Rachel
  City or Township: 
  County: Greene
  Occupation:
  Notes:  

   

  1. Slave Names:  Sal
     Sex:   Female
     Slave Age:   not stated
     Slave Date of Birth:   prior to 1799
     Slave Status:   Slave to age 28
     Slave Description:  "Negro"
     Slave Notes:  Sal was born into slavery in Harrison County, Virginia and brought into Pennsylvania by being passed to a relative in this state.  While state law forbid the importation or inheritance of slaves, the Brice family got around this through the legal loophole of having Sal indentured to Rachel Brice until the age of 28.  This incident shows another of the many ways in which slavery was extended in this state beyond the time at which it might have otherwise died out.  See also the indenture of Moses to Thomas Hughes, below. Text of indenture:

     "This indenture made this fourth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand and seven hundred and ninety nine. Witnesseth that Benjamin J. Brice of Harrison County and State of Virginia hath bound and by these presents does bind Negro Sal (who was borne a Slave for life, and as such could still have been held by the said Brice in the State of Virginia) to Rachel Brice her heirs or assigns of Green County and State of Pennsylvania with her or them to dwell and to serve until she arrives at the full age of twenty eight years during all which times the said above mentioned Negro Sal shall faithfully serve her said mistress her heirs or assigns in all lawful commands according to the best of her power and ability and the said Rachel Brice doth on her part agree to find the said Negro Sal in everything suitable to her Station and to prevent her from becoming a publick charge during the time of her service in witness whereof the parties have hereunto set their hands and affixed their Seals the day & year above written.
     Signed Sealed & Delivered Benj. J. Brice (Seal)
     in presence of Rachel Brice (Seal)
     Rebeckah Hyde
     George Evans  Greene County ss.
     
     Benjm. J. Brice (Seal) and Rachel Brice each personally before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and
     for the said County and acknowledged the above Indenture to be their Act and deed and desire the same may be recorded as such. Given under my hand and seal this 4th of September 1799
     Samuel Hyde
     Recorded 7th March 1803.
     Examd., John Boreman Recorder"

     Date of Record:  Indenture dated 4 September 1799, recorded 7 March 1803
     Source:  "PA Probates," http://www.rootsweb.com/~afamer/PA_Probates.htm, accessed August 26, 2006.  Bill Davison has contributed all of the information to the PA Probates page of RootsWeb.

   
• Slaveholder Name:  Fletcher, William
  City or Township: Jefferson Borough
  County: Greene
  Occupation:
  Notes:  

   

  1. Slave Names:  Jarrot Rhoads
     Sex:   Male
     Slave Age:   "twenty-one years and over"
     Slave Date of Birth:   prior to 1802
     Slave Status:   Manumitted
     Slave Description:  "Negro boy"
     Slave Notes:  Text of manumission document:

     "Jefferson, May 20, 1823. Know all men by these presents:
     That I, William Fletcher, of the town of Jefferson, Greene County, Penn., from motives of humanity and benevolence, have this day manumitted, and do hereby manumit and set free from slavery during his natural life my negro boy, Jarrot Rhoads, he being now of the age of twenty-one years and over, and I do hereby relinquish forever all my right, claim, title and interest in the aforesaid Jarrot Rhoads, and any claim that I ever had or could have had to his labor or services in any wise whatever. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, the day and year first above written.
     WILLIAM FLETCHER.| EDWARD FLETCHER. THOMAS FLETCHER.
     
     "Greene County, ss. Personally came William Fletcher before me, a justice of the peace in and for said county, and acknowledged the above manumission to Jarrot Rhoads to be his act, deed, and desired the same might everywhere be received as such, and that the said Jarrott may pass and repass as a free man of color should he demean himself well. Acknowledged by me the 26th day of June, 1823. Witness my hand and seal.   WILLIAM KINCAID, JR.,  KENNOR S. BOREMAN, Rec."

     Date of Record:  20 May 1823
     Source:  Samuel P. Bates, History of Greene County, 1888, p. 519, citing Deed Book E, page 371.

   

• Slaveholder Name:  Hughes, Thomas
  City or Township: 
  County: Greene
  Occupation:  Farmer
  Notes:  

   

  1. Slave Names:  Moses
     Sex:   Male
     Slave Age:   "aged ten years"
     Slave Date of Birth:   September 1813
     Slave Status:   Slave to age 28
     Slave Description:  "Negro Boy"
     Slave Notes:  Moses was born into slavery in Fauquier County, Virginia and purchased, at age ten, by Thomas Hughes of Pennsylvania.  While state law forbid the importation or inheritance of slaves, Hughes got around this through the legal loophole of having Moses indentured until the age of 28.  Far from being an act of "philanthropy and benevolence," as stated in the indenture, this incident shows how slavery was extended in this state beyond the time at which it might have otherwise died out. See also the indenture of Sal, to Rachel Brice, above.  Text of indenture:

     "Know all men by these presents whereas Thomas Hughes of the County of Greene in the Commonwealth of Penna. lately purchased of William G. Yerby of Farquier [sic] County in the State of Virginia, a certain Negro Boy, a slave for life named Moses aged ten years in the month of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three. Now know ye that the said Thomas Hughes moved by philanthropy and benevolence towards the said Moses for this and divers good causes and valuable considerations doth by these presents release and acquit to the said Moses and grant to him all claim to the service of the said Moses, to which he would be entitled after the said Moses shall attain the age of twenty eight years, and as the particular day in September which the said Moses was born is not known by the said Thomas Hughes, the said Thomas Hughes releases, acquits and gives and remits to the said Moses all claim and title to the residue of the life time and all claim he has in the said Moses from and after the last day of August in the year 1841, after which day the said Moses shall be free from all claim of the said Thomas, who retains only the right to the said Moses or his services till the day last mentioned. In testimony whereof the said Thomas Hughes has to these presents set his hand and seal this 16 day of January 1824. Wm. Hays"

     Date of Record:  Indenture dated 16 January 1824
     Source:  "PA Probates," http://www.rootsweb.com/~afamer/PA_Probates.htm, accessed August 26, 2006.  Bill Davison has contributed all of the information to the PA Probates page of RootsWeb.

   

• Slaveholder Name:  Kennedy, David
  City or Township:
  County: Greene
  Occupation: Farmer
  Notes: 

   

  1. Slave Names:  Nasa McCurdy
     Sex:   Male
     Slave Age: 
     Slave Date of Birth:
     Slave Status:   Manumitted in 1797
     Slave Description: 
     Slave Notes:   Said to have fought in Revolutionary War.  Manumitted by Rachel Kennedy, widow of David, on 23 March 1797:

     To all People in the United States of America and elsewhere, I Rachel Kennedy Widow and Relict of David Kennedy late of the County of Greene in the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, sendeth Greeting, Whereas a certain Nasa McCurdy, who by the Laws of this State was born a Slave; and has hitherto been known and acknowledged to be the property of the said David and myself, has render'd many and signal services to our family beyond what we generally look'd for or expected from persons in his situation and circumstances; especially during the insanity of the said David; For which I have in return for those services, both verbally and in writing given him positive assurances that I wou'd at a certain period liberate him the said Nasa from his state of vassalage---. Now Know Ye that I the said Rachel Kennedy, as well for and in consideration of those services, and the promise and assurances, in consequence thereof, by me to him the said Nasa McCurdy made; as well as for the sum of one shilling by him to me in hand paid, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have remis'd, releas'd and forever quit claim, and by these presents do remise, release and forever quit claim unto the said Nasa McCurdy's person and services; and do for me, my Heirs Executors and Administrators, from henceforth for ever hereafter fully and finally acquit and discharge, him the said Nasa from Bondage and Vassalage under me or the Heirs of him the said David Kennedy, as fully and completely as tho' we had never any property in his person or service...For witness whereof I the said Rachel Kennedy have this present Release set my hand and afixt my seal this 23d day of March A. Dom. one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven.

     Additional Notes:  Nasa McCurdy Jr., son of Nasa Sr., led several families to resettle in Amherstberg, Ontario, an important Underground Railroad destination. (see a photo of Nasa McCurdy, Jr., here)
     Date of Record:  Recorded 21 April 1797
     Sources:  Marlene Branson, The Grinage and McCurdy Families of Southwestern Pennsylvania and their Canadian Connections: The Roots of Two Multi-racial Families in Greene County, Pennsylvania from the 1700's to the 1900's, cited on "Pearl Family," http://members.aol.com/beccabol/penn.htm, accessed August 26, 2006 | "Descendants of Nasa McCurdy," http://www.mccurdygroup.com/genealogy/mccurdy/pafg01.htm#1976, accessed August 27, 2006.
   
• Slaveholder Name:  Minor, John
  City or Township: Monongahela
  County: Greene
  Occupation: Farmer
  Notes:  Settler from Loudon County, Virginia

   

  1. Slave Names:  George
     Sex:   Male
     Slave Age:  not known
     Slave Date of Birth:   prior to 1764
     Slave Status:   Slave for life
     Slave Description:  "Negro servant lad"
     Slave Notes:  From a county history, the story of  John Minor's settlement in Monongahela Township:

     AS early as 1764, John Minor, a native of Loudon County, Virginia, came to the neighborhood of where is now Mapletown, on Whiteley Creek, Monongahela Township,...Mr. Evans, in his Tenth Centennial article, says, Minor "having built for himself a snug and cosy [sic] cabin and made other necessary improvements, went back to the land of Conococheaque the next year, and having married the sister of General Otho Williams, of Revolutionary renown, returned with his bride on horse-back to the land of his adoption. Perched up behind her all that long and rugged way sat George, the little negro servant lad. Otho, his first born babe, was rocked by George in a sugar trough, the rude cradle of the primitive life."

     Date of Record:   n/a
     Source:   Samuel P. Bates, History of Greene County, 1888, p. 520.
   
• Slaveholder Name:  Roach, Thomas
  City or Township: Cumberland
  County: Greene
  Occupation: Farmer
  Notes: 

   

  1. Slave Names:  Richard
     Sex:   Male
     Slave Age:  not known
     Slave Date of Birth:   Prior to 1801
     Slave Status:   Manumitted 1801
     Slave Description:  "Mulatto"
     Slave Notes:  Text of manumission document:

     Know all men by these presents that I Thomas Roach of the township of Cumberland County of Greene and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for divers good causes and consideration me - the said Thomas Roach hereunto moving, have liberated and discharged, and by these presents do liberate, discharge, and forever quit claim to all right interest or claim I have, or ever had in and to a certain Mulatto named Richard, so that thereafter for ever he may act transact and contract as another free man. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one.
     In presence of Henry Swan,  Greene County Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     Thomas Roach
     Ex Recorded 19 Nov 1801

     Date of Record:   14 November 1801
     Source:    "PA Probates," http://www.rootsweb.com/~afamer/PA_Probates.htm, accessed August 26, 2006. Bill Davison has contributed all of the information to the PA Probates page of RootsWeb.
      
   
• Slaveholder Name:  Swan, John
  City or Township: Cumberland
  County: Greene
  Occupation: Farmer
  Notes:  Settler from Virginia or Maryland

   

  1. Slave Names:  Not named in article
     Sex:   Various
     Slave Age:  Various
     Slave Date of Birth:   prior to 1768
     Slave Status:   Slaves for life
     Slave Description:  "Negro slaves"
     Slave Notes:  From a county history, the story of settlers from Virginia and Maryland who brought slaves into Greene County:

     "In the year 1768 John Swan, Jacob Vanmneter, Thomas Hughes and Thomas Guesse, came from the neighborhood of Redstone Fork, which seems to have been the first stopping place of the immigrants to this new country, and charmed by the rich bottom lands along Muddy Creek settled in the neighborhood of Carmichaels, in Cumberland Township...Swan taking his  negro slaves, a goodly number, which were probably the first human chattels brought into the county. Subsequently a number of families from Maryland and Virginia brought thither slaves."

     Date of Record:   n/a
     Source:   Samuel P. Bates, History of Greene County, 1888, p. 486.