Slaveholders Listed on this Page
- Sausay, Abraham (Enslaved persons: John Hosler)
- Shannon, Joseph (Enslaved persons: One unnamed female child and two unnamed teenaged boys)
- Snider, John (Enslaved persons: George Garlin, Frank, Daniel Meadad, Jack Sprout, James Graves, Jack, un-named boy)
- Speer, Alexander (Enslaved persons: Unnamed woman and two male children, Hannah)
- Sterett, Cairns (Enslaved persons: Unnamed boy)
- Stover, Jacob (Enslaved persons: Unnamed male)
- Thompson, Samuel (Enslaved persons: Fan)
- White, Alexander (Enslaved persons: Heck, Sall, George Mitchell, Pompey, Eleanor Troy, Tom, Sambo, Hannah)
- White, Elizabeth Lettice (Enslaved persons: Un-named person[s])
Enslavement Data
- Slaveholder Name: Sausay, Abraham
City or Township: Chambersburg
County: Franklin
Occupation: County Jailer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: John Hosler
Sex: Male
Age: "about 24 or 25 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1791 or 1792
Status: jailed in Chambersburg as a suspected escaped slave
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Hosler was captured and jailed in September 1815. The text of Jailer Sausay's January 1816 advertisement is below:
A supposed Runaway.
WAS committed to the jail of Franklin county, (Pa) on the 13th of September last.
JOHN HOSLER,
A Negro Man, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, about 24 or 25 years of age, stout made, very active on his feet, has a mark on the shin bone of his right leg, he says occasioned by the kick of a horse, a small mark upon his left arm near the hand, on the under part. No doubt he has changed his name, as he is very artful and will not tell his master's name nor where he came from.
ABRAHAM SAUSAY, Jailor.
Chambersburg, Jan. 2, 1816.
The editor of the Winchester Gazette will please insert the above three weeks and send his account to this office for payment.
Date of Record: 02 January 1816
Source: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 16 January 1816.
- Slaveholder Name: Shannon, Joseph
City or Township: Montgomery Township
County: Franklin
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: Died in 1805 and three enslaved children were sold at public auction as part of the settlement of his estate.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Unnamed male
Sex: Male
Age: Between 15 and 17 years old
Date of Birth: circa 1788 to 1790
Status: Slave to age 28
Description: "Negro Boy"
Notes: Slaveholder Joseph Shannon died in 1805, resulting in the public auction of this teenaged boy. The text of the public auction advertisement is below:
To be Sold,
BY PUBLIC VENDUE,
ON Thursday the 14th of March, at the late dwelling house of Joseph Shannon, deceased, late of Montgomery township, the following property, viz. Two Negro Boys, from 15 to 17 years of age, & a Negro Girl about 12, to serve until they are 28 -- Horses, Cows, Hogs, and Sheep, a Plantation Wagon, Barley, Rye and Oats by the bushel, Grain in the ground, Farming Utensils, and Household Furniture, together with other articles too tedious to enumerate. The credit of the vendue will be made known on the day of the sale.
MARTHA SHANNON, Administrtrix.
JOHN STERRETT, JAMES IRWIN, Administrators.
February 25, 1805.
N.B. All persons having any demands against said estate, are requested to bring in their accounts, properly attested, on the 15th of March next, for settlement.
Date of Record: 25 February 1805. This ad ran through 12 March 1805.
Source: Franklin Repository, 12 March 1805.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Unnamed male
Sex: Male
Age: Between 15 and 17 years old
Date of Birth: circa 1788 to 1790
Status: Slave to age 28
Description: "Negro Boy"
Notes: Slaveholder Joseph Shannon died in 1805, resulting in the public auction of this teenaged boy. See above for the text of the public auction advertisement.
Record: 25 February 1805. This ad ran through 12 March 1805.
Source: Franklin Repository, 12 March 1805.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Unnamed girl
Sex: Female
Age: About 12 years old
Date of Birth: circa 1793
Status: Slave to age 28
Description: "Negro Girl"
Notes: Slaveholder Joseph Shannon died in 1805, resulting in the public auction of this female child. See above for the text of the public auction advertisement.
Date of Record: 25 February 1805. This ad ran through 12 March 1805.
Source: Franklin Repository, 12 March 1805.
- Slaveholder Name: Snider, John
City or Township: Chambersburg
County: Franklin
Occupation: County Jailer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: George Garlin
Sex: Male
Age: Age not given in description, but described as a "man"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Jailed as suspected escaped slave
Description: "Negro man"
Notes: Jailer Snider's advertisement:
WAS committed to the jail of Franklin county, as a runaway, on the 28th day of August last, a negro man, who calls himself George Garlin, about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, is somewhat bow-legged, has a good countenance, and large lips. He says he belongs to Mr. John Ferriss, of Charles City county, Old Virginia, near Woodson's ferry, on James' River -- that he left his master about the 9th of July last. His owner is desired to come forward, and relieve him, or he will be discharged agreeably to law.
JOHN SNIDER, Jailor.
September 16, 1805.
Date of Record: 16 September 1805
Sources: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 17 September 1805.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Frank
Sex: Male
Age: "35 years or upwards of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1771 or earlier
Status: Jailed as suspected escaped slave
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Jailer Snider's advertisement:
A Negro Man,
Who calls himself Frank, was committed to the jail of Franklin county, on the 14th inst. on suspicion of being a Runaway. He says he worked last with a Mr. John Barntranck, in Lancaster Town, Maryland -- He is straight made, very black, has a flat nose, is bow leged, 35 years or upwards of age, 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high. He had on and with him when committed to my custody, a white roundabout, blue pantaloons, two pair of course shoes, two linen shirts, with some other articles.
JOHN SNIDER, Jailor.
Chambersburg, Jan. 20, 1806.
Date of Record: 20 January 1806
Sources: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 21 January 1806.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Daniel Meadad
Sex: Male
Age: "near 50 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1756
Status: Jailed as suspected escaped slave
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Traveling with a teenaged white boy and captured in Franklin County as suspected escaped slaves or servants. Supposedly formerly owned by Able Teackle of Eastern Shore, Maryland:
Notice.
WAS committed to the Jail of Franklin county, on the 14th inst. on suspicion of being runaways, a White Boy and a Negro Man.
The Negro is near 50 years of age, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, has a small scar across his nose, is pretty stout built, and cannot or will not speak, but apparently can hear; he had on a tow linen shirt and trowsers.
The white boy calls himself Levin Planter, -- he is about 14 or 15 years of age, of a very dark complexion, slender made, and is very pert with the tongue. He says the negro's name is Daniel Meadad -- that they formerly were servants to a Mr. Able Teackle, who removed from the Eastern shore (M.) to Pittsburg, where he died, and that they are now on their way to Baltimore. They have in their possession certificates or passes, signed "Thomas Cooper," which certify the same. Their master or masters are requested to come forward and take them out, or they will be liberated agreeably to law.
JOHN SNIDER, Jailor.
Chambersburg, July 21, 1806.
Abel Upshur Teackle was born in 1765 to Levin Teackle and Anne Arbuckle in Accomack County, Virginia. The "Register of Free Negroes for Accomack County, Virginia" lists an Abram Medad (surname Teackle entered but crossed out and "Medad" written above, born about the year 1780, with the notation "Emancipated by deed of Levin Teackle, now of record in Accomack County." On the same page are listed "Levin Medad," born in 1793 and "Harry Medad," born in 1807, both born free in Accomack County, Virginia. All three men (Levin, Harry and Abram) also are noted as having scars on the tops of their right or left hands." In an earlier entry, Leah Medad (no birth listed) was also listed as being emancipated by Levin Teackle. There is a clear connection between the Teackle family, some descendants of whom were associated with Worcester County, Maryland, and the free Black Medad family. Abel Teackle is documented as selling 148 acres in Worcester County, Maryland to Charles Hammond in April 1805. This would be shortly before the jailed pair reported moving to Pittsburgh with him, prior to being capturedd. Further research is needed.
Date of Record: 21 July 1806
Sources: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 05 August 1806; "Register of free negroes, 1785-1863," Accomack County, Virginia, manuscript on film, Virginia State Library, Richmond, VA; "Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, 1666-1810," Compiled by Ruth T. Dryden, 1987.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jack Sprout
Sex: Male
Age: "about 22 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1784
Status: Jailed as suspected escaped slave
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Jailer Snider's advertisement:
WAS COMMITTED
TO the jail of Franklin county, on suspicion of being a runaway, on the 2d instant, a Negro Man, who calls himself JACK SPROUT, and says he lately lived in Loudon county, Virginia, with a Mr. John Keith.
He is about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, to appearance about 22 years of age, is very black, has a large flat nose, has a smiling countenance, and is rather of a slender make. His master is requested to come forward and take him out, or he will be discharged according to law.
JOHN SNIDER, Jailor.
Chambersburg, Sept. 8, 1806.
Date of Record: 08 September 1806
Sources: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 09 September 1806.
- Enslaved Person's Name: James Graves
Sex: Male
Age: "about 26 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1781
Status: Jailed as suspected escaped slave
Description: "Negro man"
Notes: Jailer Snider's advertisement:
WAS committed to the jail of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on the 13th of December last, as a runaway, a Negro man, who calls himself James Graves, about 26 years of age, about 5 feet 6 inches high, has a mark of a cut on the top of his left hand, and a mark, which he says was occasioned by the bite of a stud horse, on his left cheek; is stout and well made. He says he belongs to a Mr. Henry Gagekill, who lives near Orange Court house, in Virginia, and that he ran away a short time before last harvest. His master is requested to come forward and take him out, otherwise he will be discharged as the law directs.
JOHN SNIDER, Jailor.
Jan. 24, 1807.
Date of Record: 24 January 1807
Sources: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 27 January 1807.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jack
Sex: Male
Age: "about 36 or 47 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1770 or 1771 (first description)
Status: Jailed as suspected escaped slave and broke out of jail
Description: "Negro"
Notes: Jack was captured in Franklin County and jailed in Chambersburg on April 29, 1807. Notice placed by Jailer Snider in the local newspaper:
NOTICE.
WAS committed to the jail of Franklin county, on the 29th of April last, on suspicion of being a runaway, a Negro man who calls himself Jack, he is about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, very black; when spoken to any way cross, has a very surly look; has a scar on the top of his right hand; is about 36 or 37 years of age, and is pretty slim made.
If not taken out before the 11th day of August next, he will be discharged as the law directs.
JOHN SNIDER, JAILOR.
Chambersburg, May 25, 1807
The date for his discharge, August 11, came and went and Jack was still being held in the local jail. On September 21, Jack, along with three other men, broke out of the jail. Snider believed that Jack stayed with another inmate, a German man named Volentine Schmeltzer, after the escape. Below is a partial transcription of Jailer Snider's advertisement listing escaped prisoners:
BROKE out of the jail of Franklin county, in the night of the 21st inst. the following prisoners -- viz.
VOLENTINE SCHMELTZER, confined for debt -- he is a short thickset fellow, about 45 or 50 years of age, full fac'd, of a brown complexion, has a large and strong beard, and is a German -- he had on and took with him, a blue surtout coat, a blue straight bodied coat, a suit of striped cotton nankeen, a fine hat, shoes and stockings, and a blanket. He has a family living at Zanesville, in the state of Ohio, where it is expected he will make for.
JACK, a Negro, confined on suspicion of being a runaway -- about 35 or 40 years of age, about 5 feet 10 or 11 inches high, is very black, slender made, and has a scar on the back of his left hand -- he had on and took with him, one blue coat, and one white do. one great coat, with a velvet cape, and bound or edged with worsted binding. It is supposed that JACK is in company with Schmeltzer.
JOHN SNIDER, Jailor.
Chambersburg, Sept, 22d, 1807.
Jack broke out of jail and Snider assumed Jack and Volentine Schmeltzer were traveling together. Other prisoners were listed and described in this listing but only Schmeltzer is included along with the description of Jack since Schmeltzer has a connection to Jack.
Dates of Records: 25 May, 22 September 1807
Sources: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 26 May, 06 October 1807.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Name not given in ad
Sex: Male
Age: Age not given but described as a "boy" with 13 years to serve. Probably fifteen years old.
Date of Birth: circa 1802, if enslaved for the standard 28 years.
Status: Slave for a term of years, with 13 years remaining in term.
Description: "Mulatto Boy"
Notes: Advertised to be sold by public auction on August 20, 1817. Full text of property sale below:
To be Sold,
By Public Vendue,
ON Wednesday the 20th inst. on the premises, in the Borough of Chambersburg.
One Lot of Ground, situate on the south side of Market street, on which is erected two Dwelling Houses, both 2 stories high, well plastered, painted and some rooms papered, with a complete Kitchen and a Bake oven in the same, a good pump at the kitchen door, a complete brick Spring House, a good Stable, and a number of fruit trees on the lot. Space has been left for a large front building on lot.
Also, one back Lot, situate near the above and the creek, 84 by 92 feet, well fenced, and in a high state of cultivation.
Also, at the same time and place, 50 acres of Land lying on the Baltimore Turnpike Road, 8 miles from Chambersburg.
ALSO,
The time of a Mulatto Boy, who has about 13 years to serve.
As the subscriber intends to leave this county, the above property will be sold low, and an advantageous credit will be given. Good titles will be given the purchasers.
JOHN SNIDER.
Chambersburg, August 12, 1817.
Date of Record: 12 August 1817
Sources: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 12 August 1817.
- Slaveholder Name: Speer, Alexander
City or Township: "Near the Cove Gap," Peter's Township
County: Franklin
Occupation:
Notes: Cove Gap is also the birthplace of US President James Buchanan.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Female
Age: "about twenty-four years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1772
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro Wench"
Notes: This woman and two young boys were offered for sale in an ad that also advertised the sale of a tavern. It is not clear if there is a connection to the former tavern proprietor, Peter Whitesides. Text of sale ad:
(At the bottom of an ad to sell Peter Whitesides' tavern on the square in Mercersburg:)
Also for Sale a stout healthy Negro Wench, a slave for life, and two boys held as servants agreeable to law, one about six and the other four years old, both stout and healthy of their age. For terms apply to the subscriber living near the Cove Gap.
ALEXANDER SPEER.
N.B. The Negro Wench is about twenty-four years of age.
Peters Township, March 15, 1796.
Date of Record: 15 March 1796
Source: The Chambersburg Gazette, 17 March 1796.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: "four years old"
Date of Birth: circa 1792
Status: Slave to the age of 28
Description: "Negro boy"
Notes: A woman and two young boys were offered for sale in an ad that also advertised the sale of a tavern. It is not clear if there is a connection to the former tavern proprietor, Peter Whitesides. See above for the text of the sale ad.
Date of Record: 15 March 1796
Source: The Chambersburg Gazette, 17 March 1796.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: "about six" (years old)
Date of Birth: circa 1790
Status: Slave to the age of 28
Description: "Negro boy"
Notes: A woman and two young boys were offered for sale in an ad that also advertised the sale of a tavern. It is not clear if there is a connection to the former tavern proprietor, Peter Whitesides. See above for the text of the sale ad.
Date of Record: 15 March 1796
Source: The Chambersburg Gazette, 17 March 1796.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Hannah
Sex: Female
Age: Age not indicated in document, but described as a "girl."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Not determined
Description: "Black Girl"
Notes: Alexander Speer bequeathed Hannah to his wife Elizabeth. His estate inventory contained 1 "Negro Girl" valued at £45.
Date of Records: 26 March 1799
Source: "The Last Will and Testament of Alexander Speer," written 02 May 1798, proved 26 March 1799. "Inventory of the Estate of Alexr Speer Decd, filed 26 March 99." Both documents at Franklin County Archives, online at https://lfweb.franklincountypa.gov/WebLinkArchives/Browse.aspx?id=6487402&dbid=0&repo=FranklinCounty8&cr=1, accessed 15 August 2024.
- Slaveholder Name: Sterett, Cairns
City or Township: Loudon town
County: Franklin
Occupation:
Notes: See also the listings for Cairns Sterret on the Cumberland County page.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Not given; described as "bound boy"
Date of Birth:
Status: Slave for a term of years; 11-12 years yet to serve
Description: "Bound Black Boy"
Notes: Auctioned off on December 5, 1816 to settle estate of Cairns Sterett. The text of the public auction advertisement is below:
To be Sold,
By public Vendue,
ON Thursday the 5th of December, at the dwelling house of Cairns Sterett, late of Loudon town, deceased,
THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY:
ONE Horse and a Cow, with a variety of Household and Kitchen Furniture, consisting of Desks, Drawers, Cupboards, and Cupboard Furniture; Chairs, Beds and Bedding, Table Linen, Sheeting and Carpeting; a Silver Watch, with a number of other articles too tedious to enumerate.
ALSO,
At the same time a bound BLACK BOY, who has between 11 and 12 years to serve. The sale to begin at 10 o'clock on said day, when due attendance and reasonable credit will be given by
WM. HUSTON.
WM. STERETT, Adm'rs
Nov. 26, 1816
Date of Record: 26 November
Source: Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, PA), 03 December 1816.
- Slaveholder Name: Stover, Jacob
City or Township: Antrim Township
County: Franklin
Occupation: Farmer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Not given; described as "boy" but may be as old as 24 years.
Date of Birth: If enslaved for the typical 28 years, birth year would be about 1792.
Status: Slave for a term of years; four years yet to serve
Description: "Negro Boy"
Notes: Advertised for private sale in February 1816, at bottom of ad for the public auction of Stover's property. The text of the public auction advertisement and private sale notice is below:
PUBLIC SALE.
Will be exposed to Public Sale, on Thursday, the 7th day of March next, at the Dwelling house of the subscriber in Antrim township, Franklin county, on Conococheague Creek, five miles from Green Castle, one from Col. Josiah Price's and eight from Hagers Town:
THE Plantation on which the subscriber lives, containing about two hundred acres, a great part of which is bottom land, the rest slate and sandstone; on the premises are two Dwelling houses and two Barns, and other out houses, three never failing springs, and two orchards. The land will be sold together or separate in lots of ten, fifty or one hundred acres, &c. as may best suit the purchaser. Also, Horses, Cows, young Cattle, Sheep and Hogs;
Grain in the ground, Corn and Oats by the Bushel, Waggons, Ploughs and Harrows, Bedsteads, Tables, Chairs, Bee Hives, Windmill, ten plate Stove, Potatoes by the bushel, and many other articles too numerous to insert. Sale to commence at 9 o'clock, when attendance and a credit of nine months will be given on all sums above five dollars.
JACOB STOVER.
Feb. 27
N.B. The time of a Negro Boy who has about four years to serve will be offered at private sale. J.S.
Date of Record: 27 February 1816.
Source: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 27 February 1816.
- Slaveholder Name: Thompson, Samuel
City or Township: Peters Township
County: Franklin
Occupation: Innkeeper (1796)
Notes: The 1796 tax return for Peter's Township lists Samuel Thompson as an innkeeper
- Enslaved Person's Name: Fan
Sex: Female
Age: "between 26 & 27 years of age"
Date of Birth: Circa 1788 or 1789
Status: Escaped; self-emancipated February 1815
Description: "Negro Wench"
Notes: Fan escaped from Thompson on February 1, 1815. Thompson waited for nearly two months before placing the following ad in the local newspaper:
4 Dollars Reward.
RAN away from the subscriber, about the first of February last,
A Negro Wench, named FAN,
between 26 & 27 years of age, & stout made -- was dressed in linsey woolsey, but had a variety of other clothing with her. The above reward will be given for lodging her in the jail of Franklin county, or delivering her to the subscriber.
SAMUEL THOMPSON.
Peters Township, March 21.
Date of Record: 26 November
Source: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 04 April 1815.
- Slaveholder Name: White, Alexander
City or Township: Peters Township, Montgomery Township
County: Franklin County (Cumberland County at time of 1780 Registrations)
Occupation: Farmer, Blacksmith
Notes: White died in May 1785, bequeathing enslaved people Sall, Tom, Hannah, Heck, George and Pomp to his wife and children as noted below. He also added this following stipulation to his will: "Item, It is my will that if Any of the Negroe slaves before willed shall die before their or any of their several Masters or Mistresses as herein named or are arrived at years of Maturity then in that case the survivors shall equally contribute to the Amount of Forty pounds to them whose Negroe is dead they allowing their own proportion of the same and also that my wife contribute her part."
Source: Will of Alexander White of Montgomery Township, Franklin County, 02 May 1785, proved 31 May 1785. Franklin County Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Heck
Slave Sex: Male
Age: 28 years old at Registration (1780).
Date of Birth: circa 1752
Status: Slave for life; manumitted per will of Alexander White in 1797 at age 45.
Description: "Negro"
Notes: Registered in October 1780 by Alexander White at Carlisle. Bequeathed to son Matthew White: "Item, I leave and bequeath to my well beloved son Matthew White my Negroe man named Heck for and enduring the full term of Twelve years after my Descease and at the Expiration thereof it is my will that he go out free with Usual freedom dues, as in the case of white Servants."
Date of Record: 19 October 1780 (Registration in Carlisle); 02 May 1785 (Will of Alexander White)
Source: 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; Will of Alexander White of Montgomery Township, Franklin County, 02 May 1785, proved 31 May 1785. Franklin County Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sall
Slave Sex: Female
Age: 27 years old at Registration (1780).
Date of Birth: circa 1753
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro"
Notes: Registered in October 1780 by Alexander White at Carlisle. Bequeathed by Alexander White to his wife Jean White per his May 1785 will: "I also leave and bequeath to my well beloved wife before named [Jean White], my Negroe woman Sall."
Date of Record: 19 October 1780 (Registration in Carlisle); 02 May 1785 (Will of Alexander White)
Source: 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; Will of Alexander White of Montgomery Township, Franklin County, 02 May 1785, proved 31 May 1785. Franklin County Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: George Mitchell
Slave Sex: Male
Age: 8 years old at Registration (1780).
Date of Birth: circa 1772
Status: Slave for life;
Description: "Mulatto"
Notes: Registered in October 1780 by Alexander White at Carlisle. Bequeathed by Alexander White per his May 1785 will to his minor son Alexander: "Item, I leave and bequeath to my well beloved son Alexander White my Malatta slave Gorge." This enslaved person later ended up with Matthew White in Butler County.
Date of Record: 19 October 1780 (Registration in Carlisle); 02 May 1785 (Will of Alexander White)
Source: 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; Will of Alexander White of Montgomery Township, Franklin County, 02 May 1785, proved 31 May 1785. Franklin County Archives; History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. R. C. Brown Co. 1895, page 68;
- Enslaved Person's Name: Pompey
Slave Sex: Male
Age: not determined
Date of Birth: prior to 1785
Status: Not determined
Slave Description: "Negro boy"
Notes: Does not appear in the 1780 slave registration lists for Cumberland County. Bequeathed by Alexander White to his minor son James per his May 1785 will: "Item, I leave and bequeath to my well beloved son James White my Negroe boy Pomp." Pompey later appears with James' older brother Matthew White in Butler County.
Date of Record: 02 May 1785 (Will of Alexander White)
Source: Will of Alexander White of Montgomery Township, Franklin County, 02 May 1785, proved 31 May 1785. Franklin County Archives; History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. R. C. Brown Co. 1895, page 68.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Eleanor Troy a.k.a. "Black Nell"
Slave Sex: Female
Age: Six years old at Registration (1780); Age reported as 45 years old in tax records of 1821
Date of Birth: circa 1774
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro" (Registration); "female slave" (1821 tax records)
Notes: Registered in October 1780 by Alexander White at Carlisle. Per a township history, ownership of Eleanor Troy passed from Alexander White, of Franklin County, to his son Matthew White, who settled in Butler County circa 1799 and then to Anna Galbraith, wife of Alexander Galbraith. Eleanor was a long time member of the Associate Reformed Church, of Butler, and died on March 11, 1857. She was buried on the farm of Moses Thompson, in Centre Township.
Eleanor is found in the 1850 census for North Butler Township, Butler County, living with Joseph and Jane Galbraith and their five children. She is listed as "Nelly Troy," age 76, female, Black, born in Pennsylvania. It seems probable she was born in Peters Township, modern day Franklin County.
Date of Record: 19 October 1780 (Registration in Carlisle); 1850 census of North Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, page 84.
Source: 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; History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. R. C. Brown Co. 1895, page 68.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
Slave Sex: Male
Age: 4 years old at Registration (1780).
Date of Birth: circa 1776
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro," "Negroe boy"
Notes: Registered in October 1780 by Alexander White at Carlisle. Bequeathed by Alexander White to his daughter Barbara, per his May 1785 will: "Item, I leave and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Barbara White my Negroe boy called Tom."
Date of Record: 19 October 1780 (Registration in Carlisle); 02 May 1785 (Will of Alexander White)
Source: 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; Will of Alexander White of Montgomery Township, Franklin County, 02 May 1785, proved 31 May 1785. Franklin County Archives.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sambo
Slave Sex: Male
Age: 2 years old at Registration (1780).
Date of Birth: circa 1778
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro"
Notes: Registered in October 1780 by Alexander White at Carlisle. This person does not appear in the May 1785 last will and testament of Alexander White.
Date of Record: 19 October 1780 (Registration in Carlisle);
Source: 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: Hannah
Slave Sex: Female
Age: Described only as a "little wench."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Not determined
Description: "Little Negoe wench"
Notes: Bequeathed by Alexander White to his daughter Elisabeth, per his May 1785 will: "Item, I leave and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Elisabeth White my little Negroe wench Hannah."
Date of Record: 02 May 1785 (Will of Alexander White)
Source: Will of Alexander White of Montgomery Township, Franklin County, 02 May 1785, proved 31 May 1785. Franklin County Archives.
- Slaveholder Name: White, Elizabeth Lettice
Slaveholder Location: Franklin County
Slaveholder Notes: Born about 1761 in Lurgan Township, Cumberland County (later Franklin County). Wife of Edward White. In 1786 her father, James W. McKibben, Sr., bequeathed to her and her sister "all of his negroes and household goods."
- Enslaved Person's Name: No name recorded
Age: Not known
Slave Sex: Not known
Date of Birth: Not known
Description: "Negroe"
Status: Not determined
Notes: Bequeathed by James McKibben, Sr. to his daughter Elizabeth Lettice White in 1786.
Date of Record 1786
Source: Ancestors of Everett "Skeets" Wilhite.
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