Enslavement
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A page from the 1780 Cumberland County, Pennsylvania register of enslaved persons.

A series of pages exploring
various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania

Enslavement in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Jailer Notices and Items Concerning Enslaved and Free African Americans

Published jailer notices provide information on local, state and out of state African Americans arrested and committed to the county jail as suspected escaped slaves. Enslavers of such persons, seeing the notices in regional newspapers, were expected to come to the jail, provide proof of ownership, and pay the costs associated with keeping, feeding, advertising, and filling out paperwork on the captured esapee.

Jailer Notices

  • Names: Abraham and Richard
    Date of item: 26 December 1793
    Location: Greensburg
    Item: Jailed as suspected escaped slaves from Ohio County in Virginia and from Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
    Details/Text: "Was committed to the Jail of Westmoreland county, a Negro MAN who callsl himself ABRAHAM, says he ran away from a James Caldwell, of Ohio county. He appears to be upwards of 40 years old, and was once in this jail before, at which time he said he had ran away from near Baltimore.
    Also, a young Negro Man who calls himself RICHARD, and says he belongs to Thomas Clare, of Fayette county. The owners are desired to come, pay charges, and take them away.
    TIMOTHY BUELL, Jailor.
    Greensburgh, Dec. 26, 1793."
    Notes: Abraham claimed he was from Ohio County in Virginia (modern day West Virginia).
    Source: Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, 18 January 1794.

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