Slaveholders Listed on this Page
- Jackson, John (Enslaved persons listed: Rachel)
- Keller, Daniel (Enslaved persons listed: Ellen, Lewis Henry)
- Kennedy, John (Enslaved persons listed: Betsy, Maria)
- Lane, Presley Carr (Enslaved persons listed: Rachel)
- Laughlin, Hugh (Enslaved persons listed: Priscilla born 1794, Lucy, Jane, Bill, Dinah, Jim, Priscilla born 1814)
- Laughlin, John (Enslaved persons listed: Jacob)
- Lecky, Thomas (Enslaved persons listed: Priscilla, Rebecca, Solomon, Jane, William)
- Long, Alexander (Enslaved persons listed: Nancy, Harry, Eowan, Joy or ?)
- Long, Andrew (Enslaved persons listed: Aggy)
- Long, Robert (Enslaved persons listed: Alford)
- Lynch, James (Enslaved persons listed: Hannah, Jacob, Samuel, Isaac, Young)
- Lynn, Andrew, Colonel (Enslaved persons listed: Frank, Poll, Sam)
- Lyon, John (Enslaved persons listed: Jane Sabel)
- Marchand, Daniel, Dr. (Enslaved persons listed: Becky, Isaac)
- McClean, Alexander, Col. (Enslaved persons listed: Harry, James, Nelly, Jacob, Isaac)
- McClean, Robert (Enslaved persons listed: Jack)
- McClelland, John (Enslaved persons listed: Jack)
- McFarland, John, Major (Enslaved persons listed: Charles)
- McGruder, Hezekiah, Captain (Enslaved persons listed: Benjamin, Leah, Jeremiah, Anna, Sarah, Henry Fitz Edward, Charles Fitz Edward, Susanna, Priscilla, Robert, Rebecca, Jamima)
- Meason, Catherine (Enslaved persons listed: Harry, Marcia)
- Meason, Isaac (Enslaved persons listed: Jean, Maria, Lindsay, Violet, Henry, Nelson, Clarissa)
- Meason, Isaac, Jr. (Enslaved persons listed: Rachel, Lewis, Clarissa, John, Harry, Patrick, Phineas)
- Miller, Israel (Enslaved persons listed: Alfred)
- Miller, John (Enslaved persons listed: Charles, James Bruce)
- Miller, William (Enslaved persons listed: Charles)
- Mitchell, Nathaniel (Enslaved persons listed: Prissila, Lewis)
- Moore, John (Enslaved persons listed: Dick, Tom)
- Moore, Mary (Enslaved persons listed: Loos, Tarry)
- Moore, Robert D., Dr. (Enslaved persons listed: Rosana)
- Moreland, William Jr. (Enslaved persons listed: Sam)
- Murphy, Anne (Enslaved persons listed: Jerry)
- Murphy, Jacob (Enslaved persons listed: Venus, Dina, Nel, Peter, Emma, Ben)
Enslavement Data
- Slaveholder Name: Jackson, John
City or Township: Union Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Miller
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel
Sex: Female
Age: Ten days old at registration
Date of Birth: 10 December 1791
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Negro Child"
Notes:
Date of Record: 20 December 1791
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Slaveholder Name: Keller, Daniel
City or Township: Menallen Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Ironmaster
Notes: Husband of Sarah Douglass, daughter of Ephraim Douglass.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Ellen
Sex: Female
Age: Ten days old at registration
Date of Birth: 16 February 1811
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Mulatto Girl"
Notes: Text of registration: "Daniel Keller of Manallen Township in the County of Fayette, Iron master, returns for entry to the Clerk of the Peace of Fayette County a Mulatto Girl named Ellen who was born on the sixteenth day of February last past Dan Keller / June 20th, 1811 Sworn and subscribed before me Richard William Lane Clerk of the Peace"
Date of Record: 20 June 1811
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Lewis Henry
Sex: Male
Age: Four months old at registration
Date of Birth: 02 August 1813
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro male child"
Notes: Son of Peg. Text of registration: "Daniel Keller Iron Master of Menallen Township Fayette County returns for registry to the Clerk of the peace of said County a negro male child named Lewis Henry (the son of Peg) who was born the second day of August Eighteen hundred and thirteen -- returned the twenty fourth day of December Eighteen hundred and thirteen Daniel Keller / Sworn & subscribed 24th Decr. 1813 Cor R W Lane Clerk"
Date of Record: 24 December 1813
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Kennedy, John
City or Township: Uniontown
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Attorney-at-law; Judge
Notes: Lived 1774-1846. Born in Cumberland County, son of Thomas Kennedy. He married and moved to Uniontown circa 1798. Governor George Wold appointed Kennedy to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1830 where he served until his death in 1846.
In 1826, Kennedy represented slaveholder John Miller of Washington County in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Miller was being sued by two of his enslaved men, Alfred Dwilling and George Woods, who challenged their enslavement because their mother was not a lifetime slave and therefore their enslavement violated the spirit of the 1780 Gradual Abolition Act. The judges ruled against Miller in the landmark ruling Miller v Dwilling, which settled the question of whether children of mothers who were registered as term slaves (nslaved to age 28) could themselves be registered as term slaves.
Once appointed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Kennedy sided in his decisions with the interests of slaveholders in the commonwealth and upheld term slavery within Pennsylvania. See "Urie v. Johnston, 3 Pen. & W. 212 (Pa. 1831)" and "Hamilton v. Commonwealth, 3 Pen. & W. 142 (Pa. 1831)," at the University of Pennsylvania's "Free State Slavery & Bound Labor Project," https://freestateslaveryproject.com/.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Betsy
Sex: Female
Age: A female of childbearing age in July 1813.
Date of Birth: Not known, but after 1785 based upon her stated status of enslaved to age 28.
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe woman"
Notes: Mother of Maria, below, who was born in July 1813 and registered by Kennedy in December 1813.
Date of Record: 09 December 1813
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Maria
Sex: Female
Age: Five months old at registration
Date of Birth: July 1813 (see notes)
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe female child"
Notes: Daughter of Betsey, a slave to age 28. Text of registration: "John Kennedy of the borough of Union Town in fayette county and state of Pennsylvania, attorney at Law, returns for registry a negroe female child named Maria born in the month of July Anno Domini eighteen hundred and thirteen of a negroe woman named Betsy, the servant of the said John until she shall arrive at the age of twenty eight years -- dated Dec 9th 1813 John Kennedy / Sworn & subscribed the 9th Decr 1813 Coram R W Lane Clerk}"
At no place in the return is the exact date of birth for Maria recorded. This omission is in violation of the requirements of the law and would likely invalidate Maria's enslavement if challenged in court. It is unusual that an attorney would make this mistake and that the clerk would accept the return as written.
Date of Record: 09 December 1813
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Lane, Presley Carr
City or Township: Bullskin Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Politician
Notes: Moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania from Virginia in 1787. Served in the Pennsylvania State Senate between 1794-1798 and 1802-1816. Moved to Kentucky circa 1818.
Source: Library of the Senate of Pennsylvania, "Member Biography: Presley Carr Lane, Sr.," https://www.library.pasen.gov/people/member-biography?id=4906, accessed 13 May 2026.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel
Sex: Female
Age: Five months old at registration
Date of Birth: 22 February 1795
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Negro Child"
Notes:
Date of Record: 05 August 1795
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Laughlin, Hugh
City or Township: Menallen Township (1795); Redstone Township (1801)
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Esquire
Notes: See pre-1783 enslavement records of John Hugh, filed in Westmoreland County.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Priscilla
Sex: Female
Age: Four months old at registration
Date of Birth: 15 November 1794
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Mulatto child"
Notes: Return made by John Laughlin for Hugh Laughlin
Date of Record: 21 March 1795
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Lucy
Sex: Female
Age: Four months old at registration
Date of Birth: 20 October 1800
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Negro child"
Notes: Text of return: "Hugh Laughlin of Redstone Township Esquire returns to be recorded one female Negro child named Lucy born the 20th day of October 1800 / Hugh Laughlin / Sworn to Subscribed / 17th April 1801 Cor."
Date of Record: 17 April 1801
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jane
Sex: Female
Age: Five months old at registration
Date of Birth: 10 March 1803
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Negro child"
Notes: Text of return: "Hugh Laughlin of Redstone Township Fayette County Esquire Returns to be recorded one female Negro child named Jane born the tenth day of March 1803. Hugh Laughlin / Sworn to and subscribed 17th day of August 1803 Coram Ephraim Douglass."
Date of Record: 17 August 1803
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Bill
Sex: Male
Age: Six months old at registration
Date of Birth: 16 June 1804
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male negro child"
Notes: Text of return: "Hugh Laughlin of Redstone Township Fayette County, Esquire, returns to be recorded one male negro child named Bill born 16th day of June 1804 Hugh Laughlin / Sworn to & subscribed 14th December 1804 Corm Ephraim Douglass"
Date of Record: 14 December 1804
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Dinah
Sex: Female
Age: Five months old at registration
Date of Birth: 16 May 1806
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Mulatto Child"
Notes: Text of return: "Hugh Laughlin Esqr of Redstone Township Fayette County returns to be recorded a female Mulatto Child named Dinah, born the 16th day of May 1806. Hugh Laughlin / Sworn to and subscribed 16th Octr 1806 Coram Ephraim Douglass"
Date of Record: 16 October 1806
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jim
Sex: Male
Age: Three months old at registration
Date of Birth: 11 January 1813
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Mulatto Male Child"
Notes: Text of return and registration:
Fayette County in the State of Pennsylvania}
Ss And not to wit on the twentyfourth day of April in the year 1813 Hugh Laughlin Esquire of Redstone Township in said County returns to the Clerk of the peace of said County for registry a Mulatto Male Child named Jim born on the eleventh day of January eighteen hundred and thirteen
Hugh Laughlin (seal)
Sworn & subscribed
the 24th April 1813
Coram me}
Richard William Lane
Clerk of the peace
Date of Record: 24 April 1813
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Priscilla
Sex: Female
Age: Five months old at registration
Date of Birth: 09 November 1814
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Molatto child"
Notes: Text of return: "Hugh Laughlin Esquire of Redstone Township in the County of Fayette Farmer returns to the Clerk of the peace for registry a female Molatto child named Priscilla born the ninth day of November Eighteen hundred and fourteen -- Returned the twelfth day of April Eighteen hundred and fifteen / Hugh Laughlin"
The scanned record here appears to be only the return written by Laughlin. There is no added notation from Clerk Lane stating that Laughlin was sworn to the truth of the return. However the reverse of the return shows a file notation in Lane's handwriting stating "Registry of Priscilla / Hugh Laughlin."
Date of Record: 12 April 1815
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Laughlin, John
City or Township: Springhill Township and Menallen Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: Died in 1800. The History of Fayette County, by Franklin Ellis (1882) describes Laughlin's slaveholding in beneficient terms, falling for the then popular notion that slaveholding was socially acceptable as long as slaveholders were kind and generous to the people they enslaved. Ellis notes on page 726:
Laughlin was a bachelor, a farmer of some enterprise, and employed slave labor almost exclusively...He had been an excellent master to his slaves, and in his will left to each one a substantial reminder of his thoughtful care. Laughlin was not only a kindly-disposed and gentle master to his servants, he was an earnest and faithful worshipper at the Dunlap's Creek Church, despite the fact that he was not a member thereof.
See pre-1783 enslavement records of John Laughlin, filed in Westmoreland County.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jacob
Sex: Male
Age: Six months old at registration
Date of Birth: 05 January 1790
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: Negro
Notes: Return made by Hugh Laughlin for John Laughlin
Date of Record: June 1790
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 29 January 2025.
- Slaveholder Name: Lecky, Thomas
City or Township: Washington Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: "Mason and bricklayer," farmer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Priscilla
Sex: Female
Age: Described as a woman. Of childbearing age in May 1818
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro Woman"
Notes: Mother of William, born in May 1818 (see below).
Date of Record: "Filed & Entered 15th June 1818" (per clerk's file note)
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rebecca
Sex: Female
Age: Five months old at registration
Date of Birth: 12 January 1812
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female negro child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Thomas Lecky of Washington Township in Fayette County Mason and Bricklayer returns for registry to the Clerk of the peace of said County a female negro child born the twelfth day of January in the year eighteen hundred and twelve named Rebecca. Sworn and subscribed the fifteenth day of June 1812 before me / Thomas Lecky / Richard William Lane Clerk"
Date of Record: 15 June 1812
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 29 January 2025.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Solomon
Sex: Male
Age: Twelve days old at registration
Date of Birth: 28 October 1813
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro male child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Thomas Lackey of Washington Township in the County of Fayette, Farmer, returns, to be recorded, a negro male child named Solomon, born the 28th day of October 1813. Returned 9th November 1813 Thomas Lecky / Sworn & subscribed to the 9th November 1813 Coram Richard William Lane Clerk"
Date of Record: 09 November 1813
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jane
Sex: Female
Age: Two months old at registration
Date of Birth: 02 December 1815
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female negro child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Thomas Leckey of Washington Township in the County of Fayette Stone Mason returns to the Clerk of the peace for registry on the twelfth day of February one thousand eight hundred and Sixteen a female negro Child born on the second day of December Eighteen hundred and fifteen named Jane / Thomas Lecky / Sworn & subscribed 12th Feby. 1816 Cor R W Lane Clk"
Date of Record: 12 February 1816
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: William
Sex: Male
Age: Two weeks old at registration
Date of Birth: 28 May 1818
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male negro child"
Notes: Son of Priscilla. Text of registration: "Thomas Lackey of Washington township in Fayette county and State of pennsylvania Farmer has in his possession a male negro child named William born the 28th May 1818 of a Negro Woman named Priscilla a servant until twenty eight years of age the estate of the said Thomas Lackey and deliver this statement to the Clerk of the peace of the county aforesaid to be recorded agreeably to the provisions of an act of Assembly passed March 29th 1788 / Thomas Lecky / Sworn coram me John StClair Prothy"
Date of Record: "Filed & Entered 15th June 1818" (per clerk's file note)
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Long, Alexander
City or Township: Tyrone Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Nancy
Sex: Female
Age: Two months old at registration
Date of Birth: "Middle of October 1790"
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: Negro
Notes:
Date of Record: 14 December 1790
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 29 January 2025.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Harry
Sex: Male
Age: Four months old at registration
Date of Birth: 07 November 1792
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male Negro Child"
Notes:
Date of Record: 19 March 1793
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 29 January 2025.
- Enslaved Person's Name: (?)oy (writing unclear)
Sex: Female
Age: Six months old at registration
Date of Birth: 30 July 1807
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "a female mulatto child"
Notes: Long's residence for this return shows as Menallen Township.
Date of Record: 20 January 1808
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon;
- Enslaved Person's Name: Eowan
Sex: Male
Age: One month old at registration
Date of Birth: 19 February 1810
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro Male Child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Alexander Long of Tyrone Township in Fayette County Farmer returns to the Clerk of the Peace to be recorded, one negro Male Child named Eowan, born on the nineteenth day of February 1810 Alexr. Long / Sworn & subscribed 16th March 1810 Coram Richard William Lane Clerk of the peace"
Date of Record: 16 March 1810
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives;
- Slaveholder Name: Long, Andrew
City or Township: Springhill Township;
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Aggy (see notes)
Sex: Female
Age: Six months old at registration
Date of Birth: 30 July 1807
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Mulato Child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Andrew Long of Springhill Township in the County of Fayette farmer returns for Registry A female [undecipherable word crossed out] Mulato Child named Aggy Aged five months & Nineteen days She was born 30th July AD 1807 Andw. Long. / Sworn to & subscribed 20th Jany 1808 Coram Ephraim Douglass Clk"
The child's name is written in between lines and is partially obscured by the up-strokes of letters from the line below. Dixon transcribed this name as "?oy." The JATR database transcribes it as "Pegy." At issue is the first letter of the name. It most appears as an "A" and is nearly identical to the A that begins the enslaver's first name (Andrew) written at the beginning of the return.
Date of Record: 20 January 1808
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives;
- Slaveholder Name: Long, Robert
City or Township: Springhill Township;
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Sickle maker
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Alford
Sex: Male
Age: Two months old at registration
Date of Birth: 24 or 25 January 1808
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Mulattoe Boy"
Notes: Text of registration:
Robert Long of Springhill Township Fayette County and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Sickle Maker Returns to Ephraim Douglass Esquire Clerk of the Peace of the County aforesaid -- One Mulattoe Boy named "Alford" Born on the twenty fourth or twenty fifth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eight -- to be Recorded &c.
Robert Long
Sworn & subscribed 31st March 1808
Coram Ephraim Douglass Clerk
Date of Record: 31 March 1808
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives;
- Slaveholder Name: Lynch, James
City or Township: Washington Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: See pre-1783 enslavement records of James Lynch, filed in Westmoreland County.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Hannah
Sex: Female
Age: Age not given in document, but of childbearing age in 1786 and described as a "woman."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe woman"
Notes: Mother of Jacob, born circa early1786, recorded below.
Date of Record: 08 January 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jacob
Sex: Male
Age: "About three years of age"
Date of Birth: 1786
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe boy"
Notes: Text of return:
Jacob A Negroe boy of about three years of age, born in Washington Township in Fayette County Where his master now lives, of a Negroe woman named Hannah the property of the Subscriber.
Wintess my hand the 8th day of January 1789.
James Lynch
Date of Record: 08 January 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Samuel
Sex: Male
Age: A few weeks old when registered
Date of Birth: 28 April 1797
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male Negroe child"
Notes:
Date of Record: 17 May 1797
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac
Sex: Male
Age: Six months old when registered
Date of Birth: 05 July 1799
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro Male Child"
Notes: Text of record: "James Lynch, Farmer of Washington Township Fayette County enters a Negro Male Child born on the fifth day of July last past named "Isaac," to be Recorded -- James Lynch / Sworn & subscribed 4th January 1800 cor Ephraim Douglass"
Date of Record: 04 January 1800
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Young
Sex: Male
Age: Six months old when registered
Date of Birth: 07 June 1801
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male negro child"
Notes: Text of record: "James Lynch of Washington Township Fayette County Farmer returns to be recorded one male negro child named Young born the 7th day of June 1801. / Sarah Lynch / Sworn to subscribed 4th October 1801 before Ephraim Douglass" Note the return was made by and sworn to by Sarah Lynch for James Lynch.
Date of Record: 04 October 1801
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Lynn, Andrew, Colonel
City or Township: Menallen Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: See pre-1783 enslavement records of Col. Andrew Lynn, filed in Westmoreland County.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Frank
Sex: Female (per 1789 registration: "a girl")
Age: Five years old at time of registration
Date of Birth: "born near the end of June 1783"
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "a girl"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 March 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Poll
Sex: Female
Age: Three years old at time of registration
Date of Birth: December 1785
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "a girl"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 March 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sam
Sex: Male
Age: Nearly five months old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 02 May 1789
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "a boy"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 29 January 2025.
- Slaveholder Name: Lyon, John
City or Township: Uniontown
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Attorney-at-Law
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jane Sabel
Sex: Female
Age: "Aged four months and three days" at time of registration
Date of Birth: 13 October 1812
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female negroe Child"
Notes: Text of registration:
I John Lyon Attorney at Law of Union Town Fayette County return for Registry a female negroe Child named Jane Sabel aged four months and three days having been born on the thirteenth day of October last -- 16 Feby 1813
Fayette County ss On the 16th. Feby 1813 the above named John Lyon being sworn as the law directs saith that the facts above stated are true
Jno Lyon
Sworn & subscribed
before
Richard W Lane
Clerk
Date of Record: 16 February 1813
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Marchand, Daniel, Dr.
City or Township: Uniontown
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Doctor
Notes: Lived 1773-1822. Dr. Daniel Marchand had a medical practice in Washington Township and about 1803 relocated to Uniontown.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Becky
Sex: Female
Age: Described as a "woman," and of childbearing age in February 1820.
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro woman"
Notes: Mother of Isaac, born February 1820 (below).
Date of Record: 01 March 1820
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac
Sex: Male
Age: Several days old when registered
Date of Birth: 24 or 25 February 1820
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Mulatto male child"
Notes: Son of Becky. Text of registration: "Dr. Daniel Marchand of Fayette county residing in Union Borough returns for registry to the clerk of the Sessions of said county a mulatto male child named Isaac born on the twenty fourth or twenty fifth day of February AD eighteen hundred and Twenty of a negro woman called Becky a servant until She arrives at the age of twenty eight years / Daniel Marchand. / Sworn and subscribed 1st March 1820 Coram / John StClair"
Date of Record: 01 March 1820
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: McClean, Alexander, Colonel
City or Township: Uniontown
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Surveyor, Lawyer (1799), Recorder of Deeds (1803)
Notes: Assisted Mason and Dixon in running the Mason-Dixon line between Pennsylvania and Maryland. With Col. Andrew Porter, assisted in surveying and runing the line establishing Pennsylvania's western border up to Erie. Brother of Moses McClean of Adams County.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Harry
Sex: Male
Age: about 7 years old
Date of Birth: 28 December 1789
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: Negro
Notes: Registered by McClean as the son of Sal, "a slave."
Date of Record: 29 December 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 29 January 2025.
- Enslaved Person's Name: James
Sex: Male
Age: Six months old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 11 October 1795 "on the Morning of"
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male Negroe Child"
Notes:
Date of Record: 09 April 1796
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 29 January 2025.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Nelly
Sex: Female
Age: Six months old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 04 July 1798
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe Female Child"
Notes: Return text notes "born on the evening of the fourth day of July one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight"
Date of Record: 04 January 1799
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jacob
Sex: Male
Age: Six months old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 07 June 1800, 9 PM
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro Male Child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Alexander MClean of Union Town Register &c. Returns to the prothonotary of Fayette County to be Recorded, a Negro Male Child named Jacob born on the Seventh day of June last, about nine a Clock P.M. / 5th Decr. 1800 Alexander MClean / Sworn to 5th Decr. 1800 Cor. Ephraim Douglass"
Date of Record: 05 December 1800
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 29 January 2025.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac
Sex: Male
Age: Five months old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 13 August 1802
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: Negro
Notes: McClean reported his occupation as "Deputy Surveyor, Register of Wills, and Recorder of Deeds for Fayette Co." Text of registration:
Alexander MClean of Union Town Fayette County and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Deputy Surveyor, Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds in and for said County; Returns to Ephraim Douglass Esquire Prothonotary of said County A Negroe Male Child named Isaac born on the thirteenth day of August last past -- to be Recorded.
Alexander MClean
12th January 1803.
Sworn to the same day
Ephraim Douglass
Date of Record: 12 January 1803
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 29 January 2025.
- Slaveholder Name: McClean, Robert
City or Township: German Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jack
Sex: Male
Age: About six months old when registered
Date of Birth: 05 May 1798
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description:"Male Negro child"
Notes:
Date of Record: 03 November 1798
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: McClelland, John
City or Township: Franklin Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: See McClelland's earlier registration of enslaved persons in Westmoreland County.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jack
Sex: Male
Age: About five months old when registered
Date of Birth: May 1790
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: Negro
Notes:
Date of Record: 12 October 1790
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 29 January 2025.
- Slaveholder Name: McFarland, John, Major
City or Township: Springhill Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: "Major of Militia"
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Charles
Sex: Male
Age: Six months old
Date of Birth: 07 June 1794
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male Negro Child"
Notes:
Date of Record: 05 December 1794
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: McGruder, Hezekiah, Captain
City or Township: Washington Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation:
Notes: Lived circa 1750-1788. See McGruder's earlier registration of enslaved persons in Westmoreland County, which includes the mothers of some of the enslaved children listed below. The 1789 return of children born to women enslaved by McGruder was made by his estate executrix and mother-in-law Margaret Hutton nee Goe.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Benjamin
Sex: Male
Age: about 7 years old
Date of Birth: 01 January 1781
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description:
Notes: Son of "Rachel, a slave." Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, of Washington Twp."
Date of Record: 1788 (record 328)
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Leah
Sex: Female
Age: about 5 years old
Date of Birth: 26 May 1783
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description:
Notes: Daughter of "Rachel, a slave." Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, of Washington Twp."
Date of Record: 1788 (record 329)
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jeremiah
Sex: Male
Age: about 5 years old
Date of Birth: 30 December 1783
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description:
Notes: Son of "Hannah, a slave." Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, of Washington Twp."
Date of Record: 1788 (record 330)
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Anna
Sex: Female
Age: about 2 years old
Date of Birth: 10 May 1786
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description:
Notes: Daughter of "Hannah, a slave." Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, of Washington Twp."
Date of Record: 1788 (record 331)
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
Sex: Female
Age: Old enough to bear children in 1783
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Mulatto Slave"
Notes: Mother of Henry Fitz Edward, born May 1783, and Charles Fitz Edward, born September 1785. Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, returned by Margaret Hutton, of Washington Twp, Executrix,"
Date of Record: 05 February 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Henry Fitz Edward
Sex: Male
Age: about 6 years old
Date of Birth: 10 May 1783
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description:
Notes: Son of "Sarah, a mulatto slave." Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, returned by Margaret Hutton, of Washington Twp, Executrix,"
Date of Record: 05 February 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Charles Fitz Edward
Sex: Male
Age: about 4 years old
Date of Birth: 17 September 1785
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description:
Notes: Son of "Sarah, a mulatto slave." Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, returned by Margaret Hutton, of Washington Twp, Executrix,"
Date of Record: 05 February 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Susanna
Sex: Female
Age: Old enough to bear children in 1783
Date of Birth: Not known (possibly 1763, see notes)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Slave"
Notes: Mother of Priscilla, born December 1783, Robert, born December 1785, twin daughters Rebecca and Jamima, born 30 June 1788, and twins Daniel and Esther, born June 1790 in the household of Margaret Hutton. Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, returned by Margaret Hutton, of Washington Twp, Executrix," This is probably the same enslaved woman registered as a slave for life by Margaret Hutton in Westmoreland County in 1782.
Date of Record: 05 February 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Priscilla
Sex: Female
Age: about 5 years old
Date of Birth: 29 December 1783
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description:
Notes: Daughter of "Susanna, a slave." Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, returned by Margaret Hutton, of Washington Twp, Executrix,"
Date of Record: 05 February 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Robert
Sex: Male
Age: about 3 years old
Date of Birth: 25 December 1785
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description:
Notes: Son of "Susanna, a slave." Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, returned by Margaret Hutton, of Washington Twp, Executrix,"
Date of Record: 05 February 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rebecca
Sex: Female
Age: about 8 months old
Date of Birth: 30 June 1788
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: Twin of Jamima, below
Notes: Twin daughter of "Susanna, a slave." Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, returned by Margaret Hutton, of Washington Twp, Executrix,"
Date of Record: 05 February 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jamima
Sex: Female
Age: about 8 months old
Date of Birth: 30 June 1788
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: Twin of Rebecca, above
Notes: Twin daughter of "Susanna, a slave." Return of "Capt. H. Magruder, deceased, returned by Margaret Hutton, of Washington Twp, Executrix,"
Date of Record: 05 February 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Slaveholder Name: Meason, Catherine, nee Harrison
City or Township: Dunbar Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Widow
Notes: Wife of Isaac Meason. She inherited two enslaved people upon his death in 1818.
Source: Evelyn Abraham, "Isaac Meason, the First Ironmaster West of the Alleghenies," The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 1 (March 1937), pp 41-49.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Harry
Sex: Male
Age: Fifty-six years old at time of inheritance
Date of Birth: c 1762
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro slave"
Notes: Upon the death of Isaac Meason, his wife Catherine "Received one-third of the entire income from the estate, plus one thousand dollars per year as her dower right; half the mansion house; and the gardens, furniture, cows, a horse, and two negro slaves, Harry and Marcia." Harry was registered by her husband in Westmoreland County in December 1782 at age 20.
Date of Record: 1818
Source: Evelyn Abraham, "Isaac Meason, the First Ironmaster West of the Alleghenies," The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 1 (March 1937), pp 41-49.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Marcia
Sex: Female
Age: Age not given in the source
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Not known
Description: "Negro slave"
Notes: Upon the death of Isaac Meason, his wife Catherine "Received one-third of the entire income from the estate, plus one thousand dollars per year as her dower right; half the mansion house; and the gardens, furniture, cows, a horse, and two negro slaves, Harry and Marcia." This quote is from a secondary source. It is possible the female's name was actually Maria, who was born in 1805 and registered by Isaac Meason at Brownsville (see below).
Date of Record: 1818
Source: Evelyn Abraham, "Isaac Meason, the First Ironmaster West of the Alleghenies," The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 1 (March 1937), pp 41-49.
- Slaveholder Name: Meason, Isaac, Colonel
City or Township: Dunbar Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Ironmaster, Farmer (1806 registration of Maria), Judge
Notes: Lived 1747 - 1818. Husband of Catherine Harrison. Father of Isaac Meason, Jr. Born in Virginia and moved to western Pennsylvania in 1771. He acquired land in Fayette County in 1775. Built Mount Vernon Furnace, also called Jacob's Creek Furnace and Alliance Iron Works, in Bullskin Township. Father-in-law of James Ashman and Jacob Murphy. See also Isaac Meason's registrations of enslaved persons in Westmoreland County.
Source: "Biographical / Historical," Isaac Meason Ledger and Mount Vernon Furnace Records, 1798-1825, AIS.2016.08a, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System; Evelyn Abraham, "Isaac Meason, the First Ironmaster West of the Alleghenies," The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 1 (March 1937), pp 41-49.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jean
Sex: Female
Age: Of childbearing age in October 1816
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Servant for life"
Notes: Mother of Nelson (below), born October 1816. Text of registration return for Nelson: "Isaac Meason Esquire of Dunbar Township in the County of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania Ironmaster returns to the Clerk of the peace of said County for registry a negro male child named Nelson born (of Jean a Servant of the said Isaac Meason for and during her natural life) on the twentyninth day of October Eighteen hundred and sixteen returned the 18th day of December Eighteen hundred and sixteen. / Isaac Meason /Sworn & subscribed the 18th Dec. 1816 Before me R W Lane Clerk"
Isaac Meason registered his slaves for life in 1782, when this territory was Westmoreland County. Jean is not among those persons registered in 1782 by Meason, an indication she was acquired at a later date. Jean may also be the child of Clarissa, born in April 1818 (see notes for that child, below).
Date of Record: 18 December 1816
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Maria
Sex: Female
Age: "Aged three months and twenty one days" as of the date of the return, April 1, 1806
Date of Birth: 10 December 1805
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe Girl"
Notes: Text of registration return:
Isaac Meason of Dunbar Township in the County of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania farmer returns for Entry to the Clerk of the peace of said County a Negroe Girl named Maria aged three months and twenty one days April 1st 1806
Sworn to & subscribed the same day Coram
Ephraim Douglass
March 1 / Feby. 2 / Jany. 3 / Decr. 10th 1805.
Returns were legally required to include the exact date of birth for the child being registered. Meason's return here specified only her age in months and days. To make it legal, Douglass made notes at the bottom of the page, counting backwards to arrive at an exact date, which is noted in the final line.
Date of Record: 01 April 1806
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Lindsay
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged two months and twenty eight days" as of the date of the return, December 26, 1807
Date of Birth: 28 August 1807
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe boy"
Notes: Text of registration return: "Isaac Meason of Dunbar Township in the County of Fayette Ironmaster, returns for entry to the Clerk of the peace of the said County a Negroe boy named Lindsay aged two months and twenty eight days -- born the 28th day of August 1807. Isaac Meason / Sworn to and subscribed 26 Decr. 1807 Coram"
Because Pennsylvania law required the enslaver to include the actual date of birth of the child being registered, and not the child's age, the written age was struck out, probably by the Prothonotary, Ephraim Douglass, as a precaution.
Date of Record: 26 December 1807
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Violet
Sex: Female
Age: "aged forty seven days" at time of registration
Date of Birth: 23 September 1809
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe Girl"
Notes: Text of registration return: "Isaac Meason of Dunbar Township in the County of Fayette, farmer returns for entry to the Clerk of the sessions peace of said County a Negroe Girl named Violet aged forty seven days having been born on the twenty third of September 1809 -- to the best of his knowledge -- Novr the 22nd 1809 Isaac Meason / Sworn & subscribed Cor. R W Lane Clerk"
Note that Meason includes the knowledge qualifier "to the best of his knowledge" after stating the date of Violet's birth.
Date of Record: 22 November 1809
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Henry
Sex: Male
Age: Two months old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 30 January 1814
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro male child"
Notes: Text of registration return: "Isaac Meason, of Dunbar Township in the County of Fayette, Ironmaster, returns for Registry to the Clerk of the Peace, a Negro male child, born thirtieth January Eighteen hundred & fifteen named Henry -- Returned Eleventh April, Eighteen Hundred & fifteen. -- Isaac Meason / Sworn & Subscribed Cor R. W. Lane"
Date of Record: 11 April 1815
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Nelson
Sex: Male
Age: Two months old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 29 October 1816
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro male child"
Notes: Son of Jean. Text of registration return: "Isaac Meason Esquire of Dunbar Township in the County of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania Ironmaster returns to the Clerk of the peace of said County for registry a negro male child named Nelson born (of Jean a Servant of the said Isaac Meason for and during her natural life) on the twentyninth day of October Eighteen hundred and sixteen returned the 18th day of December Eighteen hundred and sixteen. / Isaac Meason /Sworn & subscribed the 18th Dec. 1816 Before me R W Lane Clerk"
Date of Record: 18 December 1816
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Clarissa
Sex: Female
Age: Twelve days old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 30 April 1818
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female child" (text of return); "Negro child" (Clerk's file notes)
Notes: Daughter of Jane. Text of return and registration made by Isaac Meason, Jr., as executor of Isaac Meason's estate:
Isaac Meason of the town of New Haven in Fayette County & State of Pennsylvania Iron Master, Executor of the last Will & testament of Isaac Meason late of Dunbar Township, in the County & State aforesaid Iron master, deceased, has in this possession as Executor aforesaid a female child named Clarissa, born the 30th day of April last past of a negroe woman named Jane a slave for life and belonging to the estate of the said Isaac Meason deceased, & delivering this statement to the Clerk of the peace of the County aforesaid to be recorded agreeable to teh provisions of and act of Assembly passed march 29th 1788. -- Given under my hand the 12th May, 1818
Isaac Meason
Executor of Isaac Meason deceased --
Isaac Meason executor above named upon his solemn oath doth say that the facts contained in the foregoing statement are true. --
Isaac Meason Executor
12 May, 1818
Sworn & Subscribed Cor me
John St. Clair Prothy
Isaac Meason, Jr. reported the name of Clarissa's mother as Jane. Is it possible her mother was actually Jean, who was also the mother of Nelson, born in October 1816 in his father's household.
Date of Record: 12 May 1818
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Meason, Isaac, Jr.
City or Township: New Haven, Dunbar Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Ironmaster
Notes: Born 1779. Son of ironmaster Isaac Meason. Isaac Meason, Jr. was executor of his father's estate in 1818.
Source: Evelyn Abraham, "Isaac Meason, the First Ironmaster West of the Alleghenies," The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 1 (March 1937), pp 41-49.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel
Sex: Female
Age: Of childbearing age in December 1818
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Woman"
Notes: Mother of Phineas, born in late December 1818 (see below).
Date of Record: 04 May 1819
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Lewis
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged twenty-four days" as of the date of the return, January 22, 1811.
Date of Birth: 29 December 1810
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe male child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Isaac Meason, Jr. of the Town of New-haven, in the Township of Dunbar, & county of Fayette, Iron-master, returns for Registry a Negroe male child, named Lewis born the twenty-ninth day of December, eighteen hundred & ten, & aged twenty-four days. Isaac Meason, Jr. 22d January 1811. / Sworn & subscribed the 22d Jany. 1811 Coram me Richard William Lane Clerk of the peace"
Date of Record: 22 January 1811
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Clarissa
Sex: Female
Age: "aged at the date of these presence, four months & three days"
Date of Birth: 14 July 1812
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe female child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Isaac Meason, Jr. of New haven, Dunbar Township, & County of Fayette, Iron-master, returns for Registry, a Negroe female child, named Clarissa, born the fourteenth of July Eighteen hundred & twelve, & aged at the date of these presence [presents], four months & three days. -- 17 Novr. 1812. Isaac Meason, Jr. / Sworn & subscribed before R W Lane"
The file notation on reverse of this return, written by the county clerk Richard Lane, identifies the child as "Carissa," but Meason's handwritten return clearly identifies her as "Clarissa."
Date of Record: 17 November 1812
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: John
Sex: Male
Age: One month old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 30 October 1813
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro male child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Isaac Meason Junior Esquire of Dunbar Township in Fayette County Iron Master returns for registry to the Clerk of the peace of Fayette County a negro male child named John born the thirtieth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirteen and returned the ninth day of December 1813 eighteen hundred and thirteen Isaac Meason Jr / Sworn & subscribed the 9th Decr. 1813 R W Lane"
Date of Record: 09 December 1813
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Harry
Sex: Male
Age: Three months old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 04 April 1815
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe male child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Isaac Meason Jr of Dunbar Township Fayette County & State of Pennsylvania Iron master, returns for Registry a Negroe male child born the fourth of April Eighteen hundred & fifteen, & named Harry. Isaac Meason Jr. / Sworn & Subscribed the 6th day of July 1815 Coram R W Lane Clerk"
Date of Record: 06 July 1815
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Patrick
Sex: Male
Age: Five months old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 05 March 1817
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male negro child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Isaac Meason Jr Esq. Ironmaster of New haven in Dunbar Township in Fayette County returns to the Clerk of the Peace of said County for registry a male negro child named Patrick born the fifth day of March Eighteen hundred & seventeen returned the fifteenth day of August Eighteen hundred and seventeen. / Isaac Meason Jr. / Sworn 15 August 1817 R. W. Lane"
Date of Record: 15 August 1817
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Phineas
Sex: Male
Age: Four months old at time of registration
Date of Birth: 29 December 1818
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro male child"
Notes: Son of Rachel. Text of registration: "Isaac Meason Esq. Iron Master of Dunbar Township Fayette county returns for registry to the clerk of the Peace of said county a negro male child named Phineas born the 29th of December 1818 of a woman named Rachel a servant until 28 years of age / Isaac Meason / Sworn and subscribed the 4th day of May 1819 Coram Ben. Barton for Clerk"
Date of Record: 04 May 1819
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Miller, Israel
City or Township: Redstone Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Merchant
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Alfred
Sex: Male
Age: Four months old when registered
Date of Birth: 02 April 1816
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Mulato Male Child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Israel Miller of Redstone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Merchant Returns for registry a mulato Male Child named Alfred, born 2d day of April 1816 -- returned 21st August 1816 Israel Miller / Affirmed & subscribed 21st August 1816 before Henry Lane for R W Lane "
Date of Record: 21 August 1816
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Miller, John
City or Township: Union Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Tanner
Notes: Died in Illinois in 1840.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Charles
Sex: Male
Age: Two months old when registered
Date of Birth: 15 February 1810
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male negro child"
Notes: Text of registration: "John Miller of Union Township in Fayette County and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tanner, Returns to the Clerk of the peace of the said County to be Registered a male negro child named Charles Born on the fifteenth day of February one thousand Eight Hundred and ten John Miller / Sworn & subscribed 5th day of May 1810 Cor R W Lane"
Date of Record: 05 May 1810
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: James Bruce
Sex: Male
Age: Two months old when registered
Date of Birth: February 1814
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Mulato male child"
Notes: Text of registration:
John Miller of Union Town in Fayette County in the State of Pennsylvania Tanner, returns for registry to the Clerk of the peace of said County a mulato male child named "James Bruce["] born in the Month of February in the year eighteen hundred and fourteen
Returned the sixth day of April AD 1814
John Miller
Sworn & subscribed the 6th April 1814
Richard William Lane Clerk &
Lane's file notation identifies Miller as "John Miller Esqr." Miller did not specify an exact date of birth for James Bruce, returning only "born in the Month of February," which is in violation of the registration requirements set by law.
Date of Record: 06 April 1814
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: MIller, William
City or Township: Dunbar Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Charles
Sex: Male
Age: One month old when registered
Date of Birth: 30 October 1816
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro male Child"
Notes: Text of registration: "William Miller Farmer of Dunbar Township, Fayette County and State of Pennsylvania returns for registry a negro male Child named Charles born the thirtieth day of October one thousand eight hundred and Sixteen and returned the twenty ninth day of November AD 1816 -- / Sworn and Subscribed before me this 29th day of November 1816 -- R W Lane} William Miller"
Date of Record: 29 November 1816
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Mitchell, Nathaniel
City or Township: Uniontown
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Blacksmith
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Prissila
Sex: Female
Age: Three months old when registered
Date of Birth: 27 February 1815
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro female child"
Notes: Text of registration: "Nathaniel Mitchell of Union Town in the County of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania Black Smith Returns for Register to the Clerk of the peace a Negro female Child Named Prissila Born the twentyseventh day of February Eighteen hundred and fifteen Returned the thirtyfirst day of May the Same year Nathl. Mitchel / Affirmed & subscribed the 31st May 1815 Cor R W Lance Clerk"
Date of Record: 31 May 1815
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Lewis
Sex: Male
Age: Four months old when registered
Date of Birth: 09 June 1817
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male negro child"
Notes: Text of registration:
Fayette County in the State of Pennsylvania}
Ss Nathaniel Mitchell of the Borough of Union in said County Blacksmith returns to the Clerk of the peace for registry a male negro child born the ninth day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & seventeen and named Lewis -- returned the seventh day of October Eighteen hundred & seventeen
Nath. Mitchel
Sworn & subscribed 7th Oct 1817. Coram
Richard W Lane
Clerk of the peace
Date of Record: 07 October 1817
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: Moore, John
City or Township: Menallen Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Wheelwright
Notes: Lived circa 1750-1788. See McGruder's earlier registration of enslaved persons in Westmoreland County.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Dick
Sex: Male
Age: Two years old
Date of Birth: 21 February 1787
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: Negro
Notes:
Date of Record: 30 March 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
Sex: Male
Age: One month old
Date of Birth: 20 February 1789
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description:
Notes:
Date of Record: 30 March 1789
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Slaveholder Name: Moore, Mary
City or Township: Springhill Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Widow
Notes: .
- Enslaved Person's Name: Loos
Sex: Female
Age: Five months old at registration
Date of Birth: 05 October 1789
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: Negro, "a female child"
Notes: Return made by Aaron Moore for Widow Moore.
Date of Record: 08 March 1790
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Tarry
Sex: Female
Age: Five months old at registration
Date of Birth: 06 or 07 June 1792
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Negroe child"
Notes:
Date of Record: 26 November 1792
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Slaveholder Name: Moore, Robert D., Dr.
City or Township: Connellsville, Bullskin Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: "Practitioner of Physick and Surgery"
Notes: .
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rosana
Sex: Female
Age: Six months old at registration
Date of Birth: 27 February 1815
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female negro child"
Notes: Text of return: "Robert D. Moore of Connellville in Bullskin Township Fayette County and State of Pennsylvania practitioner of physick and surgery returns for registry to the Clerk of the peace of said County a female negro child named Rosana born the twenty seventh day of February Eighteen hundred and fifteen returned the twenty third day of August Eighteen hundred and fifteen / Robert D Moore / Sworn & subscribed 23 August 1815 Before Richard W Lane Clk of the peace"
Date of Record: 23 August 1815
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Slaveholder Name: Moreland, William Jr.
City or Township: Tyrone Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Blacksmith
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sam
Sex: Male
Age: Almost two months old at registration
Date of Birth: 24 February 1812
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe male child"
Notes: Text of registration:
William Moreland Junior of Tyrone Township in the County of Fayette Blacksmith, returns to the Clerk of the peace for registry, one negroe male child, born the twenty fourth day of February Anno Domini 1812. Returned the 15th day of April in the Same year. Named Sam.
William Moreland
Sworn & subscribed
the 15th April 1812}
coram
Richard William Lane
Clerk of the peace
Date of Record: 15 April 1812
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Slaveholder Name: Murphy, Anne
City or Township: Union Township
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Widow
Notes: Came to Fayette County from near Baltimore circa 1785, "bringing some slaves with her." (Hadden) Murphy (also spelled Murphey on same document} signed her return for Jerry with a "mark" instead of a signature. Mother of Jacob Murphy and Nancy (Ann) Stevens.
Source: James Hadden, A history of Uniontown : The County Seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Uniontown, PA, 1913, p. 225.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jerry
Sex: Male
Age: Four months old at registration
Date of Birth: 18 January 1795
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Male Negro child"
Notes: Murphy (also spelled Murphey on same document} signed her return for Jerry with a "mark" instead of a written signature.
Date of Record: 16 May 1795
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives, transcribed by G.D. Dixon.
- Slaveholder Name: Murphy, Jacob
City or Township: Franklin Township (1798) Dunbar Township (1801)
County: Fayette County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: Son of Anne Murphy. Married a daughter of Col. Isaac Meason.
Source: James Hadden, A history of Uniontown : The County Seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Uniontown, PA, 1913, p. 225.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Venus
Sex: Female
Age: Four months old at registration
Date of Birth: 04 July 1798
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Mulatto Girl"
Notes: Text of return:
Jacob Murphy of Franklin Township Fayette County Farmer returns for Entry a Female Mulatto Girl named Venus of the age of four months and Twenty days to the best of his knowledge born the 4th day of July 1798
Jacob Murphey
To Ephraim Douglass Esqr
Prothonotary
Sworn to and Subscribed 24th
Nov. 1798 Coram.
Ephraim Douglass
In the text of the return, handwritten by Murphy, above, the words "born the 4th day of July 1798" were inserted in the distinct handwriting of Prothonotary Ephraim Douglass. The intent of the insertion would be to ensure the return was legally valid by including a specific date of birth for the child, instead of only Murphy's statement about the enslaved child's age.
Date of Record: 24 November 1798
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Dina
Sex: Female
Age: Four months old at registration
Date of Birth: 15 January 1801
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Negroe Child"
Notes: Text of return:
Jacob Murphy of Dunbar Township Fayette County, Farmer, returns for Record a female Negroe Child named Dina aged four months born the 15th day of January 1801
May 15th 1801
Jacob Murphey
Sworn to & subscribed
15th May 1801 Coram
Ephraim Douglass
Both surname spellings, "Murphy" and "Murphey" appear in this document.
Date of Record: 15 May 1801
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Nel
Sex: Female
Age: Three months old at registration
Date of Birth: 03 February 1803
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Mulatto Child"
Notes: Text of return:
Jacob Murphy of Dunbar Township farmer returns to the Clerk of the Peace of Fayette County to be recorded a female Mulatto Child named Nel aged three months and seventeen days -- born 3d Feby 1803 --
May 21st 1803
Jacob Murphey
Sworn & subscribed 21 May 1803
Coram Ephraim Douglass.
Both surname spellings, "Murphy" and "Murphey" appear in this document.
Date of Record: 21 May 1803
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Peter
Sex: Male
Age: Four months old at registration
Date of Birth: 22 May 1805
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Female Mulatto Child"
Notes: Text of return:
Jacob Murphy of Dunbar Township in the County of Fayette & State of Pennsylvania, farmer returns for entry to the Clerk of the peace of the said County a negroe Boy named Peter aged four months and nine days
Jacob Murphey October 1, 1805
born 22 May 1805 [this line in a different handwriting]
Both surname spellings, "Murphy" and "Murphey" appear in this document.
Date of Record: 01 October 1805
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Emma
Sex: Female
Age: Four months old at registration
Date of Birth: 25 February 1809
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negro girl"
Notes: File notes on back of return: "Jacob Murphy / Registry negro girl / 43 / Filed & entered 25th June 1809" Text of return: "Jacob Murphy of Dunbar Township (farmer) returns to the Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions to be registered a negro girl named Emma born the twenty fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine / Jacob Murphy / Sworn & subscribed to the 25th June 1809 / Coram / Richard William Lane Clerk of the peace"
Date of Record: 25 June 1809
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Ben
Sex: Male
Age: Five months old at registration
Date of Birth: 25 November 1811
Status: Enslaved to age 28
Description: "Negroe male child"
Notes: Text of return: "Jacob Murphey of Dunbar Township in the County of Fayette Farmer returns to the Clerk of the peace for registry, one negroe male child born the twenty fifth day of November Anno Domini 1811. Returned the 27th day of April A.D. 1812 named Ben. Jacob Murphey / Sworn & subscribed the 27th April 1812} Coram Richard W Lane Clerk"
Date of Record: 27 April 1812
Source: "Birth Records for Negroes and Mulattoes, 1788-1826," Fayette County, Pennnsylvania Prothonotary Records, RG-47 Birth Records for the County Governments, Pennsylania State Archives.
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