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A series of pages exploring
various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania

Bucks County, Pennsylvania Slaveholders P - S

Slaveholders Listed On This Page

  1. Parsons, George (Enslaved persons: Tony, Ishmail, Elizabeth, Richard, Isaac, Tom)
  2. Patterson, Nicholas (Enslaved persons: Tone, Jean, Mark, Eff, Jack)
  3. Pennington, John (Enslaved persons: Isaac, Fanny)
  4. Praul, Elizabeth (Enslaved persons: Margaret)
  5. Praul, John (Enslaved persons: Jude, Jack, Suk, Cato, Sam, Nan)
  6. Price, Smith (Enslaved persons: Esther)
  7. Ramsay, Hugh (Enslaved persons: Jupiter)
  8. Ramsay, John (Enslaved persons: Matt, Patt, Peter, Hannah, Sall)
  9. Ramsay, Robert (Enslaved persons: Solomon)
  10. Ramsay, Thomas (Enslaved persons: Bett)
  11. Ramsay, William (Enslaved persons: Richard, John)
  12. Richardson, ? (Enslaved persons: Hagar)
  13. Riche, Thomas (Enslaved persons: Jame, Jane, Chrissy, Silvia, Luce, Isaac, Bell, Clementina, Melora, Amoreh, Peg, Emilia, Matilda, Fidelia, Phill, Jamaica, Jack, Ann, Dinah)
  14. Roberts, Elizabeth (Enslaved persons: unnamed "Negro boy")
  15. Roberts, Jonathan (Enslaved persons: Amos)
  16. Roberts, William (Enslaved persons: Derry)
  17. Robinson, Bob (Enslaved persons: Nance Cook, Jack)
  18. Rodman, John (Enslaved persons: Un-named man)
  19. Rodman, William (Enslaved persons: Rosetta Grant, Edmund Grant, Fanny Grant, Phillis, Leon, Holland, Maria, Rose, Mary, Phillis, Sal, Plymouth, Caesar, Pegg, Rose)
  20. Ruckman, James (Enslaved persons: Un-named female child)
  21. Rue, Richard (Enslaved persons: Ishmael, Robert, Hannah, Isaac, Tom, Sarah, Cuffey, Phillip)
  22. Sackett, Joseph (Enslaved persons: Cornwell)
  23. Severns, Daniel (Enslaved persons: Nell, Jem, John)
  24. Severns, Joseph (Enslaved persons: Un-named teenaged boy)
  25. Shiwell, Robert (Enslaved persons: Jess, Feno, Jamaica)
  26. Shull, Tobias (Enslaved persons: Tom)
  27. Siddon, Anthony (Enslaved persons: Pompey)
  28. Siddon, John (Enslaved persons: Jem)
  29. Spear, Phebe (Enslaved persons: Tom)
  30. Stewart, Robert (Enslaved persons: Pero)
  31. Stewart, Thomas (Enslaved persons: Florence)
  32. Stillwell, Richard (Enslaved persons: Phoebe, Tom)
  33. Strickland, Amos (Enslaved persons: Charles, John Cuffee, unnamed woman and child)
  34. Strickland, Margaret (Enslaved persons: Ish, Nance, Han)
  35. Swift, John (Enslaved persons: Bell, Lewis, Nell, Brinah, Belinda [born 1720], Juliana, Jack, Belinda [born 1788], Caesar, Charlotte, Isaac)

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: Parsons, George
    City or Township: Northampton
    Occupation:
    Slaveholder Notes: The property of George Parsons was advertised for sale by the Bucks County Sheriff. The description of the estate includes "a negroe man:"
    Newtown, Bucks county, April 7, 1786.
    BY virtue of a writ of venditioni exponas to me directed, will be exposed to public Sale, on the premises, on TUESDAY, the second day of May next, at one o'clock in the afternoon, a certain Messuage, Plantation, and Tract of Land, situate in Northampton township, containing about 180 acres, be the same more or less; having thereon a good two story stone house, good barn, &c. Also will be sold at the same time and place, winter grain in the ground, horses, cows, waggon and gears, feather beds, case of drawers, tables, chairs, plough and harrow, two copper stills; also a negroe man. All late the property of George Parsons. Seized and taken in execution, and to be sold, by
    WILLIAM ROBERTS, Sheriff.
    Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 12, 1786

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Tony
      Sex: Male
      Age: 9 Months old at Registration
      Date of Birth: 1779 or 1780 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Ishmail
      Sex: Male
      Age: 31
      Date of Birth: 1749 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: Elizabeth
      Sex: Female
      Age: 25
      Date of Birth: 1755 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    4. Enslaved Person's Name: Richard
      Sex: Male
      Age: 07
      Date of Birth: 1773 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    5. Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac
      Sex: Male
      Age: 03
      Date of Birth: 1777 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    6. Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
      Sex: Male
      Age: 05
      Date of Birth: 1775 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Patterson, Nicholas
    City or Township: Tinicum
    Occupation:
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Tone
      Sex: Male
      Age: 26
      Date of Birth: 1754 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Jean
      Sex: Female
      Age: 24
      Date of Birth: 1756 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: Mark
      Sex: Male
      Age: 11
      Date of Birth: 1769 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    4. Enslaved Person's Name: Eff
      Sex: Female
      Age: 04
      Date of Birth: 1776 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    5. Enslaved Person's Name: Jack
      Sex: Male
      Age: 02
      Date of Birth: 1778 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Pennington, John
    City or Township: New Britain
    Occupation: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac
      Sex: Male
      Age: 02
      Date of Birth: 1787-January 11
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: January 20, 1789
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Fanny
      Sex: Female
      Age: -
      Date of Birth: 1789-January 20
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: January 20, 1789
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Praul, Elizabeth
    City or Township:
    Occupation:
    Slaveholder Notes: 1780 Registration notes: "Wife of Peter Praul. Returned by her on Account of the Incapacity of her Husband, He being struck with the Palsy."

    1. Slave Name: Margaret
      Sex: Female
      Age: 16
      Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Praul, John
    City or Township:
    Occupation:
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Jude
      Sex: Female
      Age: 06
      Date of Birth: 1774 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Jack
      Sex: Male
      Age: 35
      Date of Birth: 1745 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: Suk
      Sex: Female
      Age: 00 Years and 03 Months
      Date of Birth: 1780 (calculated)
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes: Status is not specified in registration, but due to her age, should be as listed, until age 28.

    4. Enslaved Person's Name: Cato
      Sex: Male
      Age: 38
      Date of Birth: 1742 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    5. Enslaved Person's Name: Sam
      Sex: Male
      Age: 03
      Date of Birth: 1777 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    6. Enslaved Person's Name: Nan
      Sex: Female
      Age: 32
      Date of Birth: 1748 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Price, Smith
    City or Township: Plumstead
    Occupation: "Store keeper"
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Esther
      Sex: Female
      Age: "about twenty three years of Age"
      Date of Birth: circa 1764
      Status: Manumitted in 1787
      Description: "Negro"
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: May 23, 1787
      Notes: Partial text of manumission papers: "Manumate and set free my Negroe Slave Named Esther about twenty three years of Age."

  • Slaveholder Name: Ramsay, Hugh
    City or Township: Warwick
    Occupation: Mill operator. In 1790 removed to Chester County and in 1791 became a Tavern owner (Stone Tavern).
    Slaveholder Notes: Husband of Jane Ramsey. Died 1825.

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Jupiter
      Sex: Male
      Age: 33
      Date of Birth: 1747 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Ramsay, John
    City or Township: Warwick
    Occupation: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Slave Name: Matt
      Sex: Female
      Age: 44
      Date of Birth: 1736 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Patt
      Sex: Female
      Age: 08
      Date of Birth: 1772 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: Peter
      Sex: Male
      Age: 06
      Date of Birth: 1774 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    4. Enslaved Person's Name: Hannah
      Sex: Female
      Age: 02
      Date of Birth: 1778 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    5. Enslaved Person's Name: Sall
      Sex: Female
      Age: -
      Date of Birth: 1789-January 07
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: June 09, 1789
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Ramsay, Robert
    City or Township: Tinicum
    Occupation:: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Solomon
      Sex: Male
      Age: 16
      Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Ramsay, Thomas
    City or Township: Tinicum
    Occupation::
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Slave Name: Bett
      Sex: Female
      Age: 16
      Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Ramsay, William
    City or Township: Warwick
    Occupation:: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Slave Name: Richard
      Sex: Male
      Age: 06
      Date of Birth: 1782-August 01
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: March 31, 1789
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: John
      Sex: Male
      Age: 28
      Date of Birth: 1752 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Richardson, ?
    City or Township: Falls
    Occupation::
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Slave Name: Hagar
      Sex: Female
      Age: 08 Years and 05 Months
      Date of Birth: 1772 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Riche, Thomas In some records as Thomas Ricke)
    City or Township: Falls Township
    Occupation:: Merchant
    Slaveholder Notes: Largest slaveholder, by number of slaves registered, in Bucks County. Riche was a merchant who sold slaves as part of his inventory (see Pennsylvania Slave Merchants)/ See also his list of persons enslaved in Philadelphia.

    1. Slave Name: Jame
      Sex: Male
      Age: 60
      Date of Birth: 1720 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Jane
      Sex: Female
      Age: 10
      Date of Birth: 1770 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: Chrissy
      Sex: Female
      Age: 00 Years and 06 Months
      Date of Birth: 1780 (calculated)
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:
      Status: is presumed from the registered age, which indicates she was probably born after the March 01 1780 cut-off date for slaves for life.

    4. Enslaved Person's Name: Silvia
      Sex: Female
      Age: 30
      Date of Birth: 1750 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    5. Enslaved Person's Name: Luce
      Sex: Female
      Age: 09
      Date of Birth: 1771 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    6. Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac
      Sex: Male
      Age: 12
      Date of Birth: 1768 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    7. Enslaved Person's Name: Bell
      Sex: Female
      Age: 07
      Date of Birth: 1773 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    8. Enslaved Person's Name: Clementina
      Sex: Female
      Age: 02
      Date of Birth: 1778 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    9. Enslaved Person's Name: Melora
      Sex: Female
      Age: 26
      Date of Birth: 1754 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    10. Enslaved Person's Name: Amoreh
      Sex: Female
      Age: 01 Year and 06 Months
      Date of Birth: 1779 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    11. Enslaved Person's Name: Peg
      Sex: Female
      Age: 13
      Date of Birth: 1767 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    12. Enslaved Person's Name: Emilia
      Sex: Female
      Age: 07
      Date of Birth: 1773 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    13. Enslaved Person's Name: Matilda
      Sex: Female
      Age: 05
      Date of Birth: 1775 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    14. Enslaved Person's Name: Fidelia
      Sex: Female
      Age: 06
      Date of Birth: 1774 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    15. Enslaved Person's Name: Phill a.k.a. Philip Potter
      Sex: Male
      Age: 40 (Note: the age reported in the runaway ad may be more accurate)
      Date of Birth: 1740 (calculated from registration); or 1743 (calculated from runaway ad)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description: "Negro man"
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves | New Jersey Gazetteer, April 1779
      Date of Record: Registration: 1780; reported run away: 2 April 1779
      Notes: Ran away in March 1778, but was apparently recovered by the time of registration in 1780. Text of runaway ad:
      RAN AWAY the 6th of March last, from the subscriber living in Bucks county, in the state of Pennsylvania, a negro man, who calls himself Philip Potter; a likely well set fellow, about 36 years old, has a remarkable mole on the corner of his right eye.  Had on when he went off, a dark homespun coattee, red waistcoat and buckskin breeches, dark homespun stockings; but having others with him may change them.  Whoever takes up the said negro and secures him in Newtown gaol, or delivers him to his master, shall receive One Hundred Dollars reward, as witness my hand this 2d of April, 1779, THOMAS RICHE.
      N.B. Whoever apprehends the above described fellow, must be upon their guard, or he will escape from them.

    16. Enslaved Person's Name: Jamaica
      Sex: Male
      Age: 40
      Date of Birth: 1740 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    17. Enslaved Person's Name: Jack
      Sex: Male
      Age: 23
      Date of Birth: 1757 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    18. Enslaved Person's Name: Ann
      Sex: Female
      Age: 53
      Date of Birth: 1727 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    19. Enslaved Person's Name: Dinah
      Sex: Female
      Age: 28
      Date of Birth: 1752 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

      1800 Bucks County advertisement to sell an enslaved boy.

  • Slaveholder Name: Roberts, Elizabeth
    City or Township: Attleborough, or Four Lanes End (modern day Langhorne)
    Occupation::
    Slaveholder Notes: Placed advertisement to sell a house and four acres in Attleborough, also "The Time of a healthy stout NEGRO BOY for sale," with directions to inquire on the premises.

    1. Slave Name: Not named
      Sex: Male
      Age: Age not given, described as "Negro Boy"
      Date of Birth: Not known
      Status: Term slave
      Description: "Negro Boy"
      Source: Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia), 07 August 1800, page 1.
      Date of Record: Advertisement dated 28 July 1800
      Notes: Offered for sale in July 1800 as follows: "N.B. The Time of a healthy stout NEGRO BOY for sale--Enquire as above."

  • Slaveholder Name: Roberts, Jonathan
    City or Township: Warwick
    Occupation::
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Slave Name: Amos
      Sex: Male
      Age: 19a
      Date of Birth: 1775 (calculated)
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description: Negro Man
      Source: 86
      Date of Record: May 07, 1794
      Notes: Escaped April 29, 1794. Described in the runaway ad as "five feet eight inches high, a well set stout made fellow, a little stoop shouldered when he walks." His status was described as "indented," which may or may not refer to the status "slave to age 28."

  • Slaveholder Name: Roberts, William
    City or Township: New Britain
    Occupation:: Yeoman
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Derry
      Sex: Male
      Age: 34
      Date of Birth: 1746 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Robinson, Bob
    City or Township: Bedminster
    Occupation:: Yeoman
    Slaveholder Notes: Slave Jack registered in 1789 by Thomas Wright, attorney of Bob Robinson. In the 1780 Registration, he is listed as Robert Robinson.
    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Nance Cook
      Sex: Female
      Age: 18
      Date of Birth: 1762 (calculated)
      Status: Slave to age 31
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes: 1780 Registration notes: "to serve till 31 Years of Age."

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Jack
      Sex: Male
      Age: 10
      Date of Birth: 1779-October
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: March 10, 1789
      Notes: Late registration. By law this slave probably should have been emancipated after the deadline in 1780.

  • Slaveholder Name: Rodman, John
    City or Township:
    Occupation::
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Slave Name: Name not provided in ad
      Sex: Male
      Age: "about 50 years of age"
      Date of Birth: circa 1706
      Status: Slave for life -- captured runaway
      Description: "Negroe man"
      Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 23 September 1756
      Date of Record: 24 August 1756
      Notes: Captured and jailed in Lancaster County. Jailer John Clark placed the following ad:
      Lancaster, August 24, 1756.
      NOW in the goal of this county, a Negroe man, who says he belongs to Mr. John Rodman, in Bucks county, he is a little short fellow, about 50 years of age. These are to desire his master to come or send for him, otherwise he will be sold for his fees in four weeks after the above date, by
      JOHN CLARK, goaler.

  • Slaveholder Name: Rodman, William
    City or Township: Bensalem
    Occupation: Yeoman
    Slaveholder Notes: Rodman also lists his occupation as "gentleman" on some registrations and "farmer" on others.

    Rodman's slave ownership is mentioned in Quaker Middletown Monthly Meeting Minutes, July 08, 1777:
    "The following Friends still persist in hold slaves: Jonathan Willett, Joseph Thornton, John Jenks, and William Rodman [the latter having it under consideration]"
    And: "5/3/1778 - William Rodman disowned for holding slaves and participating as a judge in matters relating to War." (Source: 90)

    1. Slave Name: Rosetta Grant
      Sex: Female
      Age: 2 years old at registration.
      Date of Birth: 1786-February 10
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description: "Negro Woman" (from manumission document)
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: Registration:  January 21, 1789; Manumission: June 24, 1809
      Notes: Partial text of manumission papers: "Manumit and set free, discharge from my service and abandon agreeably to law a Negro Woman Named Rosetta Grant aged between twenty three and twenty four years and also her female child Fanny and her Male child Edmund."

    2. Slave Name: Edmund Grant
      Sex: Male
      Age: Age not specified in manumission papers; described as a "child"
      Date of Birth: Not known
      Status: Manumitted in 1809
      Description: "Male Child"
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: June 24, 1809
      Notes: Partial text of manumission papers: "Manumit and set free, discharge from my service and abandon agreeably to law a Negro Woman Named Rosetta Grant aged between twenty three and twenty four years and also her female child Fanny and her Male child Edmund."

    3. Slave Name: Fanny Grant
      Sex: Female
      Age: Age not specified in manumission papers; described as a "child"
      Date of Birth: Not known
      Status: Manumitted in 1809
      Description: "Female Child"
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: June 24, 1809
      Notes: Partial text of manumission papers: "Manumit and set free, discharge from my service and abandon agreeably to law a Negro Woman Named Rosetta Grant aged between twenty three and twenty four years and also her female child Fanny and her Male child Edmund."

    4. Enslaved Person's Name: Phillis
      Sex: Female
      Age: -
      Date of Birth: 1792-May 31
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: September 17, 1792
      Notes:

    5. Enslaved Person's Name: Leon
      Sex: Male
      Age: 10
      Date of Birth: 1770 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    6. Enslaved Person's Name: Holland
      Sex: Male
      Age: 07
      Date of Birth: 1781-December 06
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: January 21, 1789
      Notes:

    7. Enslaved Person's Name: Maria
      Sex: Female
      Age: 04
      Date of Birth: 1784-March 22
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: January 21, 1789
      Notes:

    8. Enslaved Person's Name: Rose
      Sex: Female
      Age: 75
      Date of Birth: 1705 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    9. Enslaved Person's Name: Mary
      Sex: Female
      Age: 50
      Date of Birth: 1730 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    10. Enslaved Person's Name: Phillis
      Sex: Female
      Age: 35
      Date of Birth: 1745 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    11. Enslaved Person's Name: Sall
      Sex: Female
      Age: 18
      Date of Birth: 1762 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    12. Enslaved Person's Name: Plymouth
      Sex: Male
      Age: 06
      Date of Birth: 1774 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    13. Enslaved Person's Name: Caesar
      Sex: Male
      Age: 01
      Date of Birth: 1779-December 06
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes: Exact date of birth is noted in 1780 Registration.

    14. Enslaved Person's Name: Pegg
      Sex: Female
      Age: 01
      Date of Birth: 1788-February 27
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: January 21, 1789
      Notes:

    15. Enslaved Person's Name: Rose
      Sex: Female
      Age: 22
      Date of Birth: 1758 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Ruckman, James
    City or Township: Plumstead
    Occupation::
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: ?
      Sex: Female
      Age: 09
      Date of Birth: 1771 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes: No name returned on 1780 Registration.

  • Slaveholder Name: Rue, Richard
    City or Township: Bensalem
    Occupation:: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Ishmael
      Sex: Male
      Age: 14
      Date of Birth: 1766 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Robert
      Sex: Male
      Age: 06
      Date of Birth: 1782-November 10
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: March 16, 1789
      Notes:

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: Hannah
      Sex: Female
      Age: 44
      Date of Birth: 1736 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    4. Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac
      Sex: Male
      Age: 18
      Date of Birth: 1762 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    5. Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
      Sex: Male
      Age: 50
      Date of Birth: 1730 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    6. Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
      Sex: Female
      Age: 16
      Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    7. Enslaved Person's Name: Cuffey
      Sex: Male
      Age: 12
      Date of Birth: 1768 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    8. Enslaved Person's Name: Phillip
      Sex: Male
      Age: 11
      Date of Birth: 1769 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Sackett, Joseph
    City or Township: Wrightstown
    Occupation:: Yeoman
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Cornwell
      Sex: Male
      Age: 32
      Date of Birth: 1748 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Severns, Daniel
    City or Township: Bensalem
    Occupation: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Nell
      Sex: Female
      Age: 09
      Date of Birth: 1771 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Jem
      Sex: Male
      Age: -
      Date of Birth: 1792-February 25
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: August 14, 1792
      Notes:

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: John
      Sex: Male
      Age: -
      Date of Birth: 1794-February 13
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description: Mulatto
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: August 11, 1794
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Severns, Joseph
    City or Township: Bensalem
    Occupation: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes: Enslaved teenaged boy sold as part of his estate.

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Name not given in ad
      Sex: Male
      Age: "between 14 and 15 years of age"
      Date of Birth: 1761 or 1762
      Status: Slave for life
      Description: "Negroe Boy"
      Notes: Offered for sale in September 1776 to settle the estate of Joseph Severns. Text of ad:
      TO BE SOLD by the subscribers, a likely Negroe BOY, between 14 and 15 years of age, is a compleat farmer for his age, remarkable strong and healthy and has had the small pox; he is sold for no fault whatsoever, but is a part of the estate of Joseph Severns deceas'd, for further particulars enquire of Benjamin Severns in Bensalem, Bucks county, near the new Presbyterian Church.
      JOHN and BENJAMIN SEVERNS, Administrators.
      Bucks County, September 14, 1776.
      Date of Record: 14 September 1776
      Source: The Pennsylvania Ledger, or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Weekly Advertiser, 28 September 1776.

  • Slaveholder Name: Shiwell, Robert
    City or Township: New Britain
    Occupation:: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Jess
      Sex: Male
      Age: 09
      Date of Birth: 1771 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Feno
      Sex: Male
      Age: -
      Date of Birth: 1794-October 15
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: April 14, 1795
      Notes:

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: Jamaica
      Sex: Male
      Age: 20
      Date of Birth: 1760 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Shull, Tobias
    City or Township: New Britain
    Occupation::
    Slaveholder Notes:  Shull was a "Bucks County Associator," serving in the New Britain Company during the Revolution.

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
      Sex: Male
      Age: ? "man"
      Date of Birth: ?
      Status: Runaway
      Description: Negro Man
      Source: 77  (full text of two different ads)
      Date of Record: December 31, 1778
      Notes: Ran away on December 20, 1778. Described in the runaway ad as "well made, about six feet high...He has a fiddle with him, and plays with his left hand." He had been recently bought from William Brown of Ten Mile Run in New Jersey.

  • Slaveholder Name: Siddon, Anthony
    City or Township: Newtown Township
    Occupation:: Jailer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Slave Name: Pompey
      Sex: Male
      Age: ? "man"
      Date of Birth: ?
      Status: Captured Runaway
      Description: "Negroe Fellow"
      Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 23 May 1765.
      Date of Record: May 14, 1765
      Notes: Captured and jailed in Newtown jail as a suspected runaway slave. Jailer Siddon placed the following ad to notify his owner:
      NOW in Newtown Goal, Bucks County, a certain Negroe Fellow, who calls himself Pompey, and says he belongs to Ebenezer Applegate, near Allen Town, in East New-Jersey. His Master is desired to fetch him away in two Weeks from the Date hereof, or he will be sold for his Charges.
      May 14, 1765, ANTHONY SIDDON, Goaler.

  • Slaveholder Name: Siddon, John
    City or Township: Newtown Township
    Occupation:: Jailer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Slave Name: Jem
      Sex: Male
      Age: Age not mentioned in ad
      Date of Birth: Not known
      Status: Captured Runaway
      Description: "Negroe"
      Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 27 July 1769.
      Date of Record: 22 July 1769
      Notes: Captured and jailed in Newtown jail as a suspected runaway slave. Jailer Siddon placed the following ad to notify his owner:
      Newtown, Bucks County, July 22, 1769.
      WAS committed to the goal of this county, a certain Negroe, named JEM, and says he belongs to one Daniel Hughes of Frederick county, Maryland; his master is hereby desired to come, pay his charges, and take him away.
      JOHN SIDDON, Goaler.

  • Slaveholder Name: Spear, Phebe
    City or Township: Northampton
    Occupation::
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
      Sex: Male
      Age: 20
      Date of Birth: 1760 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Stewart, Robert
    City or Township: Tinicum
    Occupation:: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Pero
      Sex: Male
      Age: 11 Years and 6 Months
      Date of Birth: 1769 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Stewart, Thomas
    City or Township: Tinicum
    Occupation:: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Slave Name: Florence
      Sex: Female
      Age: 12
      Date of Birth: 1768 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description: Mulatto
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Stillwell, Richard
    City or Township: Lower Makefield
    Occupation:: Farmer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Phoebe
      Sex: Female
      Age: 07
      Date of Birth: 1773 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description: Mulatto
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes: 1780 Registration notes: "A Mollattoe Slave for Life."

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
      Sex: Male
      Age: 09
      Date of Birth: 1771 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Strickland, Amos
    City or Township: Newtown
    Occupation:: Jailer
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Slave Name: Charles
      Sex: Male
      Age: 24a
      Date of Birth: 1716 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description: "Negro Man"
      Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 20, May 11, 1738
      Date of Record: April 20, 1738
      Notes: Ran away in April 1738. Text of runaway ad placed by Amos Strickland to recover him:
      RUN away on the 18th Inst. from Amos Strickland, of Newtown in Bucks County, a Negro Man, named Charles, aged about 24 Years, of middle Stature, well set, does not talk good English, on one of his Ankles is a large Scar, and his Feet having been frozen he walks a little crippling: Had on an old Castor Hat, a linnen Cap with Callico Border, a dirty colour'd Kersey Jacket, Leather Breeches stitch'd with 3 Seams along the Knees, a homespun Shirt, yarn Stockings footed, strong Shoes with Hobnails in them. He pretends to be a Tanner. Whoever takes up and secures the said Negro, so that he may be had again, shall have Forty Shillings Reward and reasonable Charges paid by Amos Strickland.

    2. Slave Name: John Cuffee
      Sex: Male
      Age: "aged about Twenty-six years"
      Date of Birth: circa 1721
      Status: Suspected runaway slave
      Description: "Negroe Man"
      Source: Pennsylvania Gazette, 29 October 1747.
      Date of Record: 29 October 1747
      Notes: Captured and jailed in Newtown, Bucks County. Text of runaway ad placed by Sheriff Amos Strickland to find his owner:
      Philadelphia, Octob. 29, 1747.
      TAken up and committed to Newtown-goal in Bucks county, on suspicion of running away, a Negroe man nam'd John Cuffee, aged about Twenty-six years, has a blemish in the right eye, mark'd very much with scars on each side his face, and all over his forehead, has a light colour'd broadcloth surtout coat, with mohair buttons. He says he did belong to one John Harding, master of a ship from Madeira to Patapsco in Maryland, and that his master was shot in the voyage by a Spanish Privateer. Any person that can claim a property to the said Negroe, is hereby desir'd to come and pay charges, and take him away.
      AMOS STRICKLAND, sheriff.
      John Cuffee is described by Strickland as having substantial tribal scarification markings: "Mark'd very much with scars on each side his face, and all over his forehead." The description matches that of a fugitive slave from Maryland, as in the ad below. The below ad states Cuffee ran away on November 27, 1747, a month after he was jailed in Newtown. He may have been returned to Smith and escaped again:
      Philadelphia, December 3, 1747.
      RUN away on 27th of November, from David Smith, living in Worcester county, Maryland, a Negro man, named Cuffee, is much scarrifi'd on each side of his face, and all over his forehead, has a blemish over his right eye, and aged about 26 years; Had on when he went away, a scarlet broadcloth greatcoat, and a lightish brown coloured surtout coat, a blue pair of broad cloth breeches, new shoes, Thread stockings, with large clocks, and an old felt hat. Whoever takes up and secures said Negro, so that his master, Thomas Muir, or the subscriber may have him again, shall have Ten-shillings reward, besides what the law allows, paid by
      DAVID SMITH.

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: Not named in ad
      Sex: Female
      Age: "woman"
      Date of Birth: prior to 1751
      Status: Slave for life
      Description: "Negroe woman"
      Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 1 August 1751
      Date of Record: 01 August 1751
      Notes: Offered for sale, along with her child, in August 1751: "To be sold by said Strickland, a lusty Negroe woman and child."

  • Slaveholder Name: Strickland, Margaret
    City or Township: Newtown
    Occupation::
    Slaveholder Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Ish
      Sex: Male
      Age: 24
      Date of Birth: 1756 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Nance
      Sex: Female
      Age: 22
      Date of Birth: 1758 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: Han
      Sex: Female
      Age: 20
      Date of Birth: 1760 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

  • Slaveholder Name: Swift, John
    City or Township: Bensalem
    Occupation:: Gentleman
    Slaveholder Notes: Also lists his occupation as farmer on some registrations.

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Bill
      Sex: Male
      Age: 20
      Date of Birth: 1760 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    2. Enslaved Person's Name: Lewis
      Sex: Male
      Age: 25
      Date of Birth: 1755 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    3. Enslaved Person's Name: Nell
      Sex: Female
      Age: 21
      Date of Birth: 1759 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    4. Enslaved Person's Name: Brinah
      Sex: Female
      Age: 16
      Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    5. Enslaved Person's Name: Belinda
      Sex: Female
      Age: 60
      Date of Birth: 1720 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    6. Enslaved Person's Name: Juliana
      Sex: Female
      Age: 2 years old
      Date of Birth: 1786-October 20
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: January 23, 1789
      Notes:

    7. Enslaved Person's Name: Jack
      Sex: Male
      Age: ?
      Date of Birth: ?
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    8. Enslaved Person's Name: Belinda
      Sex: Female
      Age: about 6 months old
      Date of Birth: 1788-June 25
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source:
      Date of Record: January 23, 1789
      Notes:

    9. Enslaved Person's Name: Caesar
      Sex: Male
      Age: 36
      Date of Birth: 1744 (calculated)
      Status: Slave for life
      Description:
      Source: Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: 1780
      Notes:

    10. Enslaved Person's Name: Charlotte
      Sex: Female
      Age: about three months old at registration -
      Date of Birth: 1794-December 04
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source: 72
      Date of Record: March 12, 1795
      Notes:

    11. Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac
      Sex: Male
      Age: about one month old at registration
      Date of Birth: 1791-October 20
      Status: Slave to age 28
      Description:
      Source:
      Bucks County Register of Slaves
      Date of Record: November 16, 1791
      Notes:

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