slavery in pennsylvania
Luzerne County tnt (this and that)
enslavement data
1778 Battle of Wyoming
Quocko, Slave of William Martin
"At Jenkins fort, about a mile above Wintermoot fort, were gathered the
families of John Jenkins, Capt. Stephen Harding, the Hadsalls, John Gardiner,
and others. On the morning of June 30, and before Capt. Hewitt's return,
Benjamin Harding, Stukely Harding, Stephen Harding, Jr., John Gardiner, and a
lad named Rogers, aged eleven, James Hadsall and his sons James and John, and
his sons-in-law Ebenezer Reynolds and Daniel Carr, together with Daniel Wallen
and a negro named Quocko, a servant of William Martin�twelve in all, went up the
river to Exeter to their farm labors. It is only known that Benjamin and Stukely
Harding took their guns with them, though some of the others may have had
theirs. The Hardings, with Gardiner and the boy Rogers, worked in the cornfield
of Stephen Harding, Jr.; the Hadsells and the others, part in Hadsall's
cornfield on the island, part in his tanyard, close at hand, on the mainland.
"Late in the afternoon two suspected tories approached these men at work and
offered to stand guard for them. This aroused suspicions, and Stephen Harding at
once went for the horses, and when he returned his companions had quit work and
started homeward, and he followed. On the way down was a deep, narrow ravine.
This spot is near the Baptist church, between that and the river. As they passed
this spot they were fired on; Benjamin and Stukely Harding were wounded. The
Indians now rushed upon them, and the men fought for their lives, but fell. Here
John Gardiner, having no arms, was taken prisoner. The dead Hardings had left
all about their mutilated bodies the abundant evidences of their unconquerable
bravery. In the meantime another party of Indians had captured James Hadsall,
his son-in- law Carr, and the negro, at the tannery. Those on the island came
off in canoes, and as they ascended the bank were ambushed and fired upon,
killing James Hadsell and wounding Reynolds, who fled with Wallen. The boy, John
Hadsell, had remained at the canoe, and, on hearing the firing, fled to the
woods. He was the first to arrive at the fort and give the awful news. The elder
Hadsell, Gardiner, Carr and the negro were taken up the creek two miles to the
Bailey farm, where Hadsall and the negro were put to death, horribly tortured to
give an evening's entertainment."
Source: Bradsby, H.C. History of Luzerne
County, Pennsylvania. S.B. Nelson & Co., 1893.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/luzerne/1893hist/ch4.htm,
accessed November 13, 2005.
1778 Battle of Wyoming
Gershom Prince, Killed in Battle
"Gershom Prince, though but a humble negro here when this was more
intensely slave territory than was ever Virginia, is entitled�well entitled�to
take his place among the immortals whose lives were a noble sacrifice to the
liberty of mankind. Prince went out in the line and, bravely fighting, fell, and
was with the silent heroes whose bones were left so long to bleach on the spot
thus consecrated by the blood of heroes. It is supposed Prince was born in New
England about 1733, and became a soldier in Capt. Israel Putnam's company, where
he came to know Capt. [p.371] Durkee (a lieutenant then), and came with him to
Wyoming. He was a soldier in the English army in 1762 in the war against Spain,
and when the Revolution broke out he joined Col. Christopher Green's colored
regiment, of Rhode Island. He was in the engagement at Red Bank in 1777, and
soon after this came here with Durkee, it is supposed somewhat as a servant. He
came post haste with Durkee, and at once went into the battle, and by his side
died. On his body was found his powder horn, and his hand had carved carefully
the following: 'Prince negro his hornm.' In another place, 'Garshom
Prince his hornm made at Crown Point Sept. ye 3rd day 1761.' A caution is
carved in a third place, 'Steal not this hornm.' He has, besides, given a
view of six buildings on his horn, one of which hangs out the swinging sign. He
has endeavored also to represent a water craft, but fearing it would not be
recognized as such, has carved over it the word 'vesel.' "
Source: Bradsby, H.C. History of Luzerne
County, Pennsylvania. S.B. Nelson & Co., 1893.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/luzerne/1893hist/ch12.htm,
accessed November 13, 2005.
Wilkes Barre
Slave of James Campbell, 1798
"Unhappy Accident at Wilkes Barre -
Tuesday last, as a black man in the service of James Campbell, was dressing flax
in a small out house, accompanied by an only son of Mr. Campbell, about six
years of age, in which he had a fire. By some means the fire communicated with
the flax which lay near the door, the Negro working on the opposite side of the
house and not perceiving the fire until it had taken such a hold that it was not
in his power to extinguish it, sprang through the flames and made out at the
door, thinking it possible to get the child out at the back side of the house!
All his attempts proved ineffectual, the fire spread so rapidly that, before he
was able to effect it, the building was in one entire flame, and shocking to
relate, the child expired in the braining ruins."
Source: Wilkes Barre Gazette &
Luzerne Advertiser, 30 January 1798. Transcribed by Wyoming County
(Pennsylvania) Historical Society,
http://www.rootsweb.com/~pawyomin/WBG1797.html, accessed November 13, 2005.
Runaway Slaves, 1799
"$2 Reward - Ran away from the subscriber on the 5th inst., a Negro
man named Paul, and a Negro wench named Point Dujour - any person who will take
up said Paul and deliver him to Bartholomew Laport, of Asylum - and said Point
Dujour unto James Wheeler of Blackwalnut Bottom, will be entitled to two dollars
reward and all reasonable charges paid. Any person who shall be found guilty of
having assisted the above Negroes in making their escape from his family or
harbouring them in their house, may depend upon being prosecuted as the law
directs. Buzard"
Source: Wilkes Barre Gazette & Luzerne
Advertiser, 29 November 1799. Transcribed by Wyoming County (Pennsylvania)
Historical Society,
http://www.rootsweb.com/~pawyomin/WBG1799.html, accessed November 13, 2005.
Britt, slave of Nathaniel Salmon
See the story of Britt, a runaway slave from New Jersey, on the
Northumberland County Miscellaneous items page.
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