Slaveholders Listed On This Page
- Anderson, Joshua (Enslaved persons listed: Charley)
- Armstrong, William (Enslaved persons listed: Ned)
- Backhoun, Richard (Enslaved persons listed: Mary, Amelia, Jane)
- Bailey, John (Enslaved persons listed: Joseph, Luce)
- Barclay, Thomas (Enslaved persons listed: Flora, Jem, Henrietta, Betty, Harry, Jess, Ben, Pompey, Rent, Prince)
- Barnsley, John (Enslaved persons listed: Peg, Pat)
- Barr, Adam (Enslaved persons listed: Sam, John Solomon, Catharine, Rachel)
- Beaks, Samuel (Enslaved persons listed: Quam)
- Beans, Isaac (Enslaved persons listed: Bet, Stephen, Poll)
- Benezet, Samuel (Enslaved persons listed: Richard, Lydia Highgate)
- Benezett, Anne (Enslaved persons listed: Cuffee Merrijac)
- Benezet, James (Enslaved persons listed: Abraham, Latitia (b. 1733), Simon (b. 1742), Sarah, Lidia, Simon (b. 1786), Andrew (b. 1760), Rachel, Cuffe, Isaac, Andrew (b. 1792), Latitia [b. 1790])
- Bennett, Isaac (Enslaved persons listed: Tom, Amos, Sarah, Anthony, Sam)
- Bennet, Jacob (Enslaved persons listed: Adam, John)
- Bennet, John (Enslaved persons listed: Joseph, Anthony Limehouse)
- Bennet, William (Northampton Twp.) (Enslaved persons listed: Ben, Harry, Dinah, Sarah)
- Bennet, William (Buckingham Twp.) (Enslaved persons listed: Peter, Joseph, Elizabeth, Samson)
- Bering, Ann (Enslaved persons listed: Rolla, Norah, Elirna)
- Biles, Hannah (Enslaved persons listed: Sam, Belinda, Dinah, Nat)
- Bisonett, Charles (Enslaved persons listed: Cato, Nance)
- Bolton, Isaac (Enslaved persons listed: Dinah, Berry, Cate, Daffane, Phillis)
- Boyd, James (Enslaved persons listed: William, Aaron, Isaac, Benjamin, Nancy, Cinthya, Flora, James, Harry)
- Bready, Ann (Enslaved persons listed: Dine)
- Britton, Abraham (Enslaved persons listed: Rachel)
- Britton, Richard, also Richard Britain (Enslaved persons listed: James or Jemmy)
- Brown, Joseph (Enslaved persons listed: Bob)
- Bryan, William (Enslaved persons listed: Phillis)
- Buckman, James (Enslaved persons listed: George)
- Burton, Anthony (Enslaved persons listed: Ruth, Nancy, Susan, Peter, Hannah, Cole, Doll)
About The Data
Each listing represents a record of one
Black enslaved person or indentured servant (more on terminology below). The
list is sorted alphabetically according to the owner's surname. I felt
that this order would be the most useful for several reasons. It groups
slaves together who would have lived with the same owner, and increases
the likelihood of finding persons related to each other. Records of
slave surnames are rare, many being identified only through their given
name. You can search this listing for a specific slave given name by
using your browser's Find feature.
Dates of birth for the slaves, unless
specified in the original documents, have been calculated by
subtracting their given age from the date of the record. Very often,
their ages as reported in the original records are given as approximations
(such as "about 25 years of age"), indicated by a lower
case a following their age. The term Status refers to
the slave's relative freedom. Unless specified otherwise, slaves served "for
life" prior to Pennsylvania's Gradual Emancipation
Act of 1780. Children born to slave mothers after the passage of
that legislation were to serve until age 28, which was much of their
productive lives.
The term Description refers to the
main description of the slave as given in the original source (including misspellings). This is often a means by which enslaved persons were categorized according to race and relative age. Source numbers correspond to the accompanying list of sources used
in compiling these records.
Terminology, and Other Notes
The terms "slave" and "servant" were often
used interchangeably, especially in the earliest years of the time
period covered in this study. After the Gradual
Emancipation Act of 1780 was passed in Pennsylvania, the term "servant" frequently
came to mean either someone in indentured servitude or someone employed
by the head of the household. The passage from slave to servant was
often indistinct for many Blacks, many of whom remained with their
former owners after being legally emancipated. For simplicity, the term "slave" is used to represent all people who were
in bondage, even though some records list them as "servants."
The locations listed for the slaveholders, especially City
or Township are greatly mixed, and represent the location listed
in the original record. As township boundaries shifted and new townships
and counties were created, the original listing may be misleading.
Enslavement Data
- Slaveholder Name: Anderson, Joshua
City or Township: Lower Makefield
Occupation: Farmer
Slaveholder Notes: Anderson's first name was unreadable on the microfilm copy due to damage to the original document. From other sources, I believe that his first name was Joshua. - Editor
- Enslaved Person's Name: Charley
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 1758 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Armstrong, William
City or Township: Hilltown Township
Occupation: Tanner
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Ned
Sex: Male
Age: "about 19 or 20 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1760 to 1761
Status: Slave for life; self-emancipated June 1780
Description: "Negroe man"
Notes: Ned escaped from Armstrong on June 22, 1780. Armstrong placed the following escape ad and offer of reward in the Pennsylvania Packet newspaper:
Five HALF JOES Reward, or the Exchange.
RAN AWAY from the subscriber, living in Hill Town township, Bucks county, last Thursday afternoon the 22d inst. (June) a Negroe man named NED, of a yellowish complexion, about 19 or 20 years of age, by trade a tanner; He had on and took with him a tow linen shirt and trowsers, a pair of shoes without buckles; and is supposed to have taken a Gold Watch, made in London, No. 157. Whoever takes up said Negroe, and secures him in any gaol, so that his master may get him agian, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges, paid by
WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, Tanner. June 24.
Date of Record: 24 June 1780
Source: Pennsylvania Packet, 27 June 1780.
- Slaveholder Name: Backhoun, Richard
City or Township: Durham
Occupation:
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Mary
Sex: Female
Age: 40
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Amelia
Sex: Female
Age: 14
Date of Birth: 1766 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jane
Sex: Female
Age: 42
Date of Birth: 1738 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Bailey, John
City or Township: Tinicum
Occupation: Farmer
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Joseph
Sex: Male
Age: -
Date of Birth: 1796-August 16
Status: Slave to age 28
Description: Mulatto
Source: 72
Date of Record: February 08, 1797
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Luce
Sex: Female
Age: -
Date of Birth: 1790-June 15
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: September 16, 1790
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Barclay, Thomas
City or Township: Falls Township
Occupation:
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Flora
Sex: Female
Age: 09
Date of Birth: 1771 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jem
Sex: Male
Age: 35
Date of Birth: 1745 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Henrietta
Sex: Female
Age: 02 Years and 06 Months
Date of Birth: 1778 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Hannah
Sex: Female
Age: 30
Date of Birth: 1750 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Betty
Sex: Female
Age: 60
Date of Birth: 1720 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Harry
Sex: Male
Age: 01
Date of Birth: 1779 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jess
Sex: Male
Age: 04
Date of Birth: 1776 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Ben
Sex: Male
Age: 30
Date of Birth: 1750 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Pompey
Sex: Male
Age: 16
Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rent
Sex: Male
Age: 14
Date of Birth: 1766 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Prince
Sex: Male
Age: 32
Date of Birth: 1748 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Barnsley, John
City or Township: Bristol
Occupation:
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Peg
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 1758 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Pat
Sex: Female
Age: 02
Date of Birth: 1778 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Barr, Adam
City or Township: Buckingham
Occupation: Farmer
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sam
Sex: Male
Age: 01 Year and 03 Months
Date of Birth: 1779 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Solomon, John
Sex: Male
Age: ?
Date of Birth: ?
Status: "A Slave for 10 Years."
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes: No age is returned in the 1780 Registration for this
person.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Catharine
Sex: Female
Age: 29
Date of Birth: 1751 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel
Sex: Female
Age: 05 Years and 06 Months
Date of Birth: 1775 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Beaks, Samuel
City or Township: "Delaware Falls" (possibly now Lower Makefield Township?)
Occupation: Farmer
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Quam
Sex: Male
Age: "aged about 22 Years"
Date of Birth: circa 1700
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Quam went away from Samuel Beaks in company with Benjamin Hillyard, a white blacksmith indented to neighbor William Hunt, who placed the escape ad below. The ad makes an assumption that Quam did not leave Beaks' plantation voluntarily, but it does not hint at why that might have been the case:
RUN away from William Hunt of Bucks County, a Servant Man named Benjamin Hillyard, a Blacksmith, aged about 25 Years. Pretty lusty and tall, with a grey Broadcloth Coat, and a brown Home-spun Drugget Coat, an Ozenbrig Jacket, Leather Breeches, with Glass Buttons, black Stockings with round-toed Shoos, wearing a Wig or Cap, having no Hair on.
And the said Hillyard hath stolen or taken with him a lusty well-set Negro Man, belonging to Samuel Beaks, called Quam, aged about 22 Years, having on a brown short Kersey Coat with Horn Buttons, a fine red-striped Vest and Breeches, grey Stockings; Castor Hat and Garlicks Shirt, having his Right Hand burnt, between his Fore Finger and Thum when a Child. Whoever can take up the said Servant Man and Negro, and secure them so that their said Masters may have them, and gives notice to their said Masters, shall have Three Pounds current Money paid them, By
William Hunt, and Samuel Beaks.
Delaware Falls, June 17, 1722.
Beaks recovered Quam at some point after he went off with Hillyard. However about one year later, Quam again escaped from Beaks, this time in company with three white indentured servant men from other farms. The ad below says the white servants "have taken [Quam] with them." As this is the second instance of escape, It is probable that Quam left voluntarily and was not "stolen or taken" as the ad from one year prior suggested.
RUN away the 2d of this Instant June, from Robert Harris and William Hunt, at the Falls in Bucks County in Pennsylvania, Two Servant Men, the one named John Bealey, he is a tall Man, swarthy Complexion, dark short hair, wears a black and white Kersey Coat, homespun Shirt and Drawers, yearn Stockings and Pumps. The other named David Reeves a short well set fellow fresh Complexion light hair, wears a Blue Gray Druget Coat, strip'd Jacket home spun shirt and Drawers, yearn stockings & round to'd shooes, he is a Husbandman, Run away at the same time from Samuell Bonham of Trent Town in west Jersey, a servant man named Charles Brown a middle siz'd man fresh Complexion, light Brown hair, wears an old Snuff coloured Jacket, Leather Breeches with Brass buttons bluish stockings, new round to'd shooes, by trade a Baker, they have taken with them a Negro man named Quam belonging to Samuell Beaks of the Falls in Bucks County, he is a Lusty well sett fellow wears a black and white Kirsey Coat, Osinbrigs Jacket and drawers, home spun shirt and round to'd shooes, they are all about the age of Nineteen or Twenty (they are supposed to have taken Guns with them) Whosoever secures the said Servants or either of them so that their said Masters may have them again shall have a Pistole reward for each and Reasonable Charges paid by their said Masters.
Date of Record: 17 June 1722 (first escape); 06 June 1723 (second escape)
Source: The American Weekly Mercury (Philadelphia), 14-17 June 1722; 06 June 1723.
- Slaveholder Name: Beans, Isaac
City or Township: Warminster
Occupation: Farmer
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Bet
Sex: Female
Age: 01
Date of Birth: 1788-March 30
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: March 25, 1789
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Stephen
Sex: Male
Age: 12
Date of Birth: 1768 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: Mulatto
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Poll
Sex: Female
Age: 16
Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: Mulatto
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Benezet, Samuel
City or Township:
Occupation:
Slaveholder Notes: Administrator of the goods and chattels of James Benezet of Bensalem Twp.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Richard
Sex: Male
Age: 15
Date of Birth: 1765 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Highgate, Lydia
Sex: Female
Age: 27 or 28
Date of Birth: 1773 or 1774 (calculated)
Status: Manumitted
Description: Negro Woman
Source: 72
Date of Record: September 01, 1801
Notes: Partial text of manumission papers: "Samuel Benezet, administrator of the goods and chattels. of James Benezet," late of Bensalem Township, "with the advice and consent of my mother Ann Benezet and my sisters Ann and Jane Benezet, have manumitted, and set free my Negro Woman named Lydia Highgate aged between twenty seven and twenty eight years." For Lydia's 1780 Registration, see "Benizet, James."
- Slaveholder Name: Benezet, Anne
City or Township: Bensalem
Occupation:
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Merrijac, Cuffee
Sex: Male
Age: 26 Years and 6 Months
Date of Birth: 1786-February (calculated)
Status: Manumitted
Description: Negro
Source: 72
Date of Record: August 31, 1812
Notes: Manumission papers also list Jane Benezett as an owner. For an example of the full text of manumission papers, see Garret Beard, slave of Gilliam Cornell of Northampton Twp.
- Slaveholder Name: Benezet, James
City or Township: Bensalem
Occupation: Yeoman
Slaveholder Notes: Also lists occupation as farmer on some registrations. See also Samuel Benezet, "administrator of the goods and chattels... of James Benizet," late of Bensalem Township, and also James Benezet, Philadelphia.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Abraham
Sex: Male
Age: 09
Date of Birth: 1771 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Latitia
Sex: Female
Age: 47
Date of Birth: 1733 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Simon
Sex: Male
Age: 38
Date of Birth: 1742 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
Sex: Female
Age: 16
Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Lidia
Sex: Female
Age: 07
Date of Birth: 1773 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes: Apparently manumitted in 1801 by Samuel Benezet as administrator of James Benizet's estate. Her surname is Highgate, according to that document.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Simon
Sex: Male
Age: 02
Date of Birth: 1786-May 05
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: February 09, 1789
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Andrew
Sex: Male
Age: 20
Date of Birth: 1760 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel
Sex: Female
Age: -
Date of Birth: 1788-May 11
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: February 09, 1789
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Cuffe
Sex: Male
Age: 05
Date of Birth: 1783-December 21
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: February 23, 1789
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac
Sex: Male
Age: 07
Date of Birth: 1782-February 11
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: February 09, 1789
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Andrew
Sex: Male
Age: -
Date of Birth: 1792-June 14
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: November 19, 1792
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Latitia
Sex: Female
Age: -
Date of Birth: 1790-November 07
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: February 06, 1791
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Bennet, Jacob
City or Township: Northampton
Occupation: Yeoman
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Adam
Sex: Male
Age: 16
Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: John
Sex: Male
Age: 30
Date of Birth: 1750 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Bennet, John
City or Township: Northampton
Occupation: Yeoman
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Joseph
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 1758 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Limehouse, Anthony
Sex: Male
Age: 25
Date of Birth: 1755 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Bennet, William
City or Township: Northampton
Occupation: Blacksmith
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Ben
Sex: Male
Age: 06
Date of Birth: 1774 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Harry
Sex: Male
Age: 08
Date of Birth: 1772 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Dinah
Sex: Female
Age: 11
Date of Birth: 1769 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
Sex: Female
Age: 13
Date of Birth: 1767 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Bennet, William
(2)
City or Township: Buckingham
Occupation: Tavernkeeper
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Peter
Sex: Male
Age: 35
Date of Birth: 1745 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Joseph
Sex: Male
Age: 04
Date of Birth: 1776 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Elizabeth
Sex: Female
Age: 24
Date of Birth: 1756 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Samson
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 1758 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Bennett, Isaac
City or Township: Northampton
Occupation: Farmer
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
Sex: Male
Age: 33
Date of Birth: 1747 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Amos
Sex: Male
Age: -
Date of Birth: 1793-November 10
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: April 29, 1794
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
Sex: Female
Age: -
Date of Birth: 1795-August 01
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: January 19, 1796
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Anthony
Sex: Male
Age: 20
Date of Birth: 1760 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sam
Sex: Male
Age: 11
Date of Birth: 1769 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Bering, Ann
City or Township: Doylestown Township
Occupation:
Slaveholder Notes: Manumission papers note: "late of Charleston,
S.C. & now of Doylestown Township, Bucks Co." Due to the
ban on bringing slaves into Pennsylvania from other states, Ann Bering
manumitted her slaves on the condition that they remain in servitude
until age 28. This is one of the practices that the Pennsylvania
Abolition Society was working to prevent, and actively opposed in court.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rolla
Sex: Male
Age: 06
Date of Birth: 1818 (calculated)
Status: Indentured to age 28 (see notes)
Description: Negro Boy
Source: 72
Date of Record: December 09, 1824
Notes: Manumitted from slavery December 09, 1824 on condition
that he bind himself by indenture until the age of 28. Partial
text of manumission papers: "hereby manumit and set free from Slavery
my Negro Girls viz Elirna Aged 10 Years and Norah aged 8 years
and also my Negro Boy named Rolla aged 6 years. On condition here
after that they do forthwith bind themselves by indenture to serve
me, my executors, administrators or assigns until they shall respectfuly
attain the age of twenty Eight years."
These papers were dated 09 December, 1824 but not recorded until
13 August, 1830.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Norah
Sex: Female
Age: 08
Date of Birth: 1816 (calculated)
Status: Indentured to age 28 (see notes)
Description: Negro Girl
Source: 72
Date of Record: December 09, 1824
Notes: Manumitted from slavery December 09, 1824 on condition
that she bind herself by indenture until the age of 28. Partial
text of manumission papers: "hereby manumit and set free from Slavery
my Negro Girls viz Elirna Aged 10 Years and Norah aged 8 years
and also my Negro Boy named Rolla aged 6 years. On condition here
after that they do forthwith bind themselves by indenture to serve
me, my executors, administrators or assigns until they shall respectfuly
attain the age of twenty Eight years."
These papers were dated 09 December, 1824 but not recorded until
13 August, 1830.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Elirna
Sex: Female
Age: 10
Date of Birth: 1814 (calculated)
Status: Indentured to 28 (see notes)
Description: Negro Girl
Source: 72
Date of Record: December 09, 1824
Notes: Manumitted from slavery December 09, 1824 on condition that she bind herself by indenture until the age of 28. Partial text of manumission papers: "hereby manumit and set free from Slavery my Negro Girls viz Elirna Aged 10 Years and Norah aged 8 years and also my Negro Boy named Rolla aged 6 years. On condition here after that they do forthwith bind themselves by indenture to serve me, my executors, administrators or assigns until they shall respectfuly attain the age of twenty Eight years."
These papers were dated 09 December, 1824 but not recorded until 13 August, 1830.
- Slaveholder Name: Biles, Hannah
City or Township:
Occupation: Widow
Slaveholder Notes: 1780 Registration has the note: "Returned as the Property of Hannah Biles Widow of Langhorne Biles decd. Charlotte Biles, Nance Biles & Becky Biles who subscribed the Return." The return was registered in the name of Becky Biles.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sam
Sex: Male
Age: 36
Date of Birth: 1744 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Belinda
Sex: Female
Age: 05
Date of Birth: 1775 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Dinah
Sex: Female
Age: 28
Date of Birth: 1752 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Nat
Sex: Male
Age: 09
Date of Birth: 1771 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
Slaveholder Name: Bisonett, Charles
City or Township: Bristol Borough
Occupation: Innholder
Slaveholder Notes: Surname is also spelled "Bessonett."
- Enslaved Person's Name: Cato
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 1758 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Nance
Sex: Female
Age: 01
Date of Birth: 1788-February
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: March 27, 1789
Notes:
Slaveholder Name: Bolton, Isaac
City or Township: Southampton Township
Occupation: Farmer, "pelts monger"
Slaveholder Notes: Lived circa 1697-1775. Established a family estate in Bucks County known as Bolton Farm.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Dinah
Sex: Female
Age: Age not given in source, but described as a "woman."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: Negro woman
Notes: From the 1775 estate inventory of Isaac Bolton: "To a negro woman, named Dinah, £100 0 0"
Date of Record: 1775
Source: Joseph C. Martindale, M.D., A History of the Townships of Byberry and Moreland in Philadelphia, Pa, Philadelphia, 1901, pp. 257-258.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Berry
Sex: Male
Age: Age not given in source, but described as a "man."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: Negro man
Notes: From the 1775 estate inventory of Isaac Bolton: "To a negro man, called Berry, £67 10 0"
Date of Record: 1775
Source: Joseph C. Martindale, M.D., A History of the Townships of Byberry and Moreland in Philadelphia, Pa, Philadelphia, 1901, pp. 257-258.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Cate
Sex: Female
Age: Age not given in source, but described as a "woman."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: Negro woman
Notes: From the 1775 estate inventory of Isaac Bolton: "To a negro woman, named Cate, £35 0 0"
Date of Record: 1775
Source: Joseph C. Martindale, M.D., A History of the Townships of Byberry and Moreland in Philadelphia, Pa, Philadelphia, 1901, pp. 257-258.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Daffane
Sex: Female
Age: Age not given in source, but described as a "woman."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: Negro woman
Notes: From the 1775 estate inventory of Isaac Bolton: "To a negro woman, named Daffane, £45 0 0"
Date of Record: 1775
Source: Joseph C. Martindale, M.D., A History of the Townships of Byberry and Moreland in Philadelphia, Pa, Philadelphia, 1901, pp. 257-258.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Phillis
Sex: Female
Age: Age not given in source, but described as a "garle" [girl].
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: Negro garle
Notes: From the 1775 estate inventory of Isaac Bolton: "To a negro garle, named Phillis, £22 0 0"
Date of Record: 1775
Source: Joseph C. Martindale, M.D., A History of the Townships of Byberry and Moreland in Philadelphia, Pa, Philadelphia, 1901, pp. 257-258.
- Slaveholder Name: Boyd, James
City or Township: Middletown
Occupation: Minister
Slaveholder Notes: In the 1802 registration, Boyd reports his location as Newtown.
- Enslaved Person's Name: William
Sex: Male
Age: -
Date of Birth: 1789-May 01
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: October 14, 1789
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Aaron
Sex: Male
Age: 05
Date of Birth: 1775 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac
Sex: Male
Age: 02
Date of Birth: 1786-April 03
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: March 25, 1789
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Benjamin
Sex: Male
Age: 05
Date of Birth: 1784-March 27
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: March 25, 1789
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Nancy
Sex: Female
Age: 06
Date of Birth: 1782-October 08
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: March 25, 1789
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Cinthya
Sex: Female
Age: -
Date of Birth: 1801-September 02
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: February 27, 1802
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Flora
Sex: Female
Age: 25
Date of Birth: 1755 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: James
Sex: Male
Age: 02 years and 08 Months
Date of Birth: 1777 or 1778 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Harry
Sex: Male
Age: 53
Date of Birth: 1727 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Bready, Ann
City or Township: Warwick
Occupation:
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Dine
Sex: Female
Age: 10
Date of Birth: 1770 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Britton, Abraham
City or Township: Bristol
Occupation:
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel
Sex: Female
Age: 18
Date of Birth: 1762 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Britain, Richard, also spelled Richard Britton
City or Township: Middletown Township, Four Lane Ends
County: Bucks County
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: James, a.k.a. Jemmy
Sex: Male
Age: Described as "Middle age"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life -- Self-emancipated June 1759
Description: "Negro man"
Notes: Escaped from Britain in June 1759. Text of escape ads placed by Britain -- note the different wording, names and spellings in each:
Run away from Richard Britain of the Four lane ends, a negro man named JAMES, middle age, 6 feet high, well set and streight limb'd has one small leg, and speaks broken English, had on when he went away an old beaver hat, a light blue home spun coat, red jacket and breeches and a pair of spotted stockings, with old shoes. Whoever takes up and secures the said negro in any gaol, so that his master may have him again shall have three pounds reward and reasonable charges paid by
RICHARD BRITAIN
RUN away on the the 9th ult. from Richard Britton, in Middletown Township, Bucks County, a Negroe Man, named Jemmy, 6 Feet high, strait limbed, small legs, kicks forward, a Scar in each Temple, a Hole in each Ear, and scars cut on each Arm; Had on a pale blue homespun Cloth Coat, red Flannel Jacket and Breeches, and old Beaver Hat. He speaks broken English; he understands making of Corn Baskets, and it si supposed he will go about to sell them. Whoever takes up and secures the said Negroe, so as his Master may have him again, shall have Three Pounds
James/Jemmy has "a Scar in each Temple, a Hole in each Ear, and scars cut on each Arm," telltale body modifications of some African cultures.
Dates of Records: 28 June 1759 and 26 July 1759
Sources: The Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, 28 June 1759; The Pennsylvania Gazette, 26 July 1759
- Slaveholder Name: Brown, Joseph
City or Township: Bristol
Occupation:
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Bob
Sex: Male
Age: 36
Date of Birth: 1744 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Bryan, William
City or Township: Plumstead
Occupation: Farmer
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Phillis
Sex: Female
Age: -
Date of Birth: 1794-January 11
Status: Slave to age 28
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: June 02, 1794
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Buckman, James
City or Township: Newtown
Occupation: Farmer
Slaveholder Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: George
Sex: Male
Age: 13
Date of Birth: 1767 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description:
Source: 72
Date of Record: 1780
Notes:
- Slaveholder Name: Burton, Anthony
City or Township: Bristol Township
Occupation:
Slaveholder Notes: Burton manumitted the following seven enslaved persons on April 05, 1788.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Ruth
Sex: Female
Age: 13
Date of Birth: 1775 (calculated)
Status: Manumitted
Description: Negro
Source: 72
Date of Record: April 05, 1788
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Nancy
Sex: Female
Age: 27
Date of Birth: 1761 (calculated)
Status: Manumitted
Description: Negro
Source: 72
Date of Record: April 05, 1788
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Susan
Sex: Female
Age: 24
Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
Status: Manumitted
Description: Negro
Source: 72
Date of Record: April 05, 1788
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Peter
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 1766 (calculated)
Status: Manumitted
Description: Negro
Source: 72
Date of Record: April 05, 1788
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Hannah
Sex: Female
Age: 15
Date of Birth: 1773 (calculated)
Status: Manumitted
Description: Negro
Source: 72
Date of Record: April 05, 1788
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Cole
Sex: Male
Age: 05
Date of Birth: 1783 (calculated)
Status: Manumitted
Description: Negro
Source: 72
Date of Record: April 05, 1788
Notes: Gender is presumed from name.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Doll
Sex: Female
Age: 19
Date of Birth: 1769 (calculated)
Status: Manumitted
Description: Negro
Source: 72
Date of Record: April 05, 1788
Notes:
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