slaveryto
freedom
Study Areas
Warrants for Slave Removals, Adams County, Pennsylvania
Compiled by Debra McCauslin
Singleton Burgee, Frederick Co, MD, claims James Campbell, 1828
Be it remembered that on the fourteenth
day of June eighteen hundred and twenty-eight Singleton Burgee, of
Frederick County in the state of Maryland brought before the
subscriber one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas for said
county a dark mulatto man called James Campbell, 5 ft 6 in high, 30
years old, has a scar on his hand and acknowledged himself to be the
slave of said Burgess-To whom an order was granted on the same day
for his removal according to law Given my hand and seal this 16th
day of June 1828. M McClean.
William Clagett, Prince
George Co, MD, claims Henry, 1828
Be it remembered that on the fourteenth day of October Eighteen
hundred and twenty eight, William Clagett of Prince George County in
the state of Maryland brought before the subscriber one of the
Judges of the Court of Common Please for said County by virtue of a
warrant issued by Justice Baugher- A Negro man called Henry,
eighteen years of age, five feel high-dark colour , satisfactory
evidence being had, that said Henry owed service to the said Mr.
Clagett in a Warrant for removal was granted according to law. Given
under my hand.
Roger Johnston,
Frederick Co, MD, claims Isaac Thomas, 1828
Be it remembered that on this thirteenth day of June A. D. 1828
Benjamin Beal, the legally authorized Agent of Roger Johnston of
Frederick County Maryland, brought before me one of the Judges of
the Court of Common Pleas for said County, Negro Isaac Thomas who
says he is the property of said Johnston-he is fifty years of age 5
feet 8 inched high dark complexion-had a wart on one side of his
face- I have therefore granted a warrant of removal to the said
Benjamin Beals according to law. Given under my hand.
Frederick Dorsey,
Washington Co, MD, claims Jonas Poyer, 1828
Twenty seventh day of May Eighteen hundred and twenty eight, Doc.
Frederick Dorsey of Washington County in the state of Maryland,
obtained from the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of
Common Please, for said county a warrant of removal for his Negro
slave Jonas Poyer, light colored-stout male, about five feet ten
inches in height, supposed to be twenty five years of age- Given
under my hand and seal this fifth day of June eighteen hundred and
twenty eight. M McClean
Walter C. Winston,
Culpepper Co, VA, claims Edmund, 1829
Whereas Walter C. Winston of Culpepper County in the state of
Virginia hath this day in pursuance of a warrant granted by the
subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said
County-brought before me Negro Edmund-who acknowledged he was the
slave of said Winston. He is dark color, five feet five inches high
between twenty five and thirty years of age-bends forward in
walking-has a large scar on the inside of his right wrist- A warrant
for his removal was therefore granted to said owner conformably to
the act of assembly in such case made and provided. Given under my
hand and seal this ? day of May 1829.
Benjamin Murdock,
Frederick Co, MD, claims Caleb, 1828
Be it remembered that on this thirteenth day of June eighteen
hundred and twenty-eight William Kingsbury, the properly authorized
agent of Benjamin Murdock of Frederick County Maryland, brought
before me one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the
county, Negro Caleb who says he is the slave of said Murdock-forty
years of age, 5 ft 8 or 9 inches high, dark yellow complexion. I
have granted a warrant of removal to the said Wm. Kingsbury
according to law.
William P. Mills,
Baltimore Co, MD, claims Mary
Granted a warrant to Wm. P. Mills of Baltimore County Maryland for
the removal of Negro Mary about 18 or 19 years old-Middle statue and
a lively gait-she acknowledged the ownership of said Mills. Given my
hand and seal this day M McClean
Michael Blessing,
Frederick Co, MD, claims a Mulatto Man, 1830
I hereby certify that on the 2nd day of June 1830 agreeably to the
provision of an act for the recovery of Fugative Slaves I have
Granted a Warrant for the removal of a Mulatto Man who acknowledged
himself to be the slave of Michael Blessing of Frederick County
Maryland to whom the warrant was granted . He is 27 years of age,
about 5 feet 3 inches high stout make said Blessing giving evidence
with the acknowledgement of said slave.
Elisha Howard, Frederick
Co, MD, claims Garret, 1827
Appeared before me the subscriber one of the judges of the court of
Common Pleas for said county Elisha Howard of Carroll man or
Frederick county state of Maryland who on his solumn oath doth say
that he believes his negro man Garret whom he holds to labour in
said state has escaped into Pennsylvania and that he has reason to
suspect that he is now in the hands of said County of Adams. And
thus identifies this person twenty five years of age stout make,
dark mulatto and that he absconded about the first of Nov. last.
Elisha Howard
Sworn and subscribed before me this 10th day of March 1827
Nimrod Owings, Frederick
Co, MD, claims Negro Jim and Ephraim Valentine, 1834
State of Negro Jim & Ephraim Valentine
Warrant to ask constable to apprehend a pair of slaves on the ask of
Nimrod Owings of the county of Frederick in the state of Maryland,
who is the owner of the said slaves.
I certify that the above is a copy of the record in the above case
as entered in my docket, which my hand eight seal at Gettysburg the
4th day of June 1834. Lampkin L. King
George Shiess,
Washington Co, MD, claims Harry Lucket, 1827
On application of George Shiess of Washington County in the state of
Maryland (near Lightersburg) on evidence of his Oath Warrant granted
by Amos Maginly Esq. a Justice of the Peace to Harry Lucket (a man
of color) whom he claims as a slave. Said Harry is described to be
about twenty two years of age five feet four or six inches high,
stutters when spoken to, has a down look hat on, when went away a
drab coat pantaloons and vest of . Witness my hand the 19th day of
December 1827 agreeably to ac of Assembly paper March 25, 1827.
A. Maginly
Sarah Ellsy of Loudoun
Co, VA, claims George, 1828
Whereas John Jsh of London County Virginia, the regularly authorized
agent of Sarah Ellsy of the County and state aforesaid, hath this
day procured from the subscriber, one of the Judges of the court of
Common Pleas for said County, a warrant for the removal of Negro
George, who acknowledges himself to be the slave of the said Sarah
Ellsey. He is black, about 5 feet 8 in high, slim make, between the
ages of 20 & 26 years, Given my hand and seal this 12th day of June
1828. M McClean
Prisoners Charles
Valentine, runaway from William Willing, Baltimore;
Rachel, servant of Elizabeth Dunwoody, 1808
Editor s Note- This was found among the removal warrants
(Calendar of Prisoners)
To the honorable Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Adams
County A calendar of the Prisoners now in confirmation in Publick
Jail. Charles Valentine a runaway affirmative from Wm. Willing
Baltimore. Rachel a Black Girl on suspicion of having mixed arsnech
with sugar with intent to take away the life of Elizabeth Dunwoody
her late mistress. August 15, 1808
Adams County researcher and historian Debra McCauslin contributed this data, compiled from microfilm at the Adams County Courthouse, as an aid for other researchers. She may be contacted through her website, For the Cause Productions (www.gettysburghistories.com). Ms. McCauslin has also written a book about the Yellow Hill community in Butler Township, Adams County, Reconstructing the Past: Puzzle of a Lost Community, for sale at her website.