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Slaves, chained together in a coffle, are paraded through the streets of Washington D.C. on their way to the slave market. Detail from a larger print in the Library of Congress.

A series of pages exploring
various aspects of slavery in Pennsylvania

 

 

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Miscellaneous Data

The items and data on this page do not fit into the format of other pages on this Web site, which is a listing of slaves according to slaveholder. These items do not list a specific slaveholder, yet contain valuable or fascinating data about individual slaves, slave culture or life. As with the other pages, sources are listed and a link is provided to a separate source page which provides information about that source and where it may be found.

 

 

Enslavement Data

  • Name: Betsy, wife of Prince Frederick
    Date of item: October 8, 1783
    Location: Reading, Berks County
    Item: Notice of imprisonment of suspected fugitive slaves
    Details/Text: "Reading, September 29, 1783.
    Committed this day, in the Goal of the county of Berks, The following Negroe Men, viz. POMPEY BELL, speaks good English, about 24 years of age, says he lived in Newark…; the other named PRINCE FREDERICK, says he belonged to Doctor Bonat of Newark, and became a freeman, …: A Mulattoe Woman, who calls herself BETSY, says she was born in Paxton, Lancaster county, and that she was free; is about 24 years of age, and married to Negroe Prince Frederick. Any person that owns said Negroes and Mulattoe Woman, or either of them, as slaves or servants, are desired to apply, prove their property, in four weeks from the date hereof, pay costs, and take them away, otherwise they will be sold to discharge the same, by
    PHILIP KREMER, Sheriff."
    Notes:  Without papers proving their freedom, these persons face imminent sale into slavery, regardless of their true status.
    Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, October 8, 1783

  • Name: Bristol ("Negro Bristol")
    Date of item: October 1786
    Location: Harrisburg
    Item: Court Order--punishment for burglary
    Details/Text: "Dauphin County --October 1786
    Republica vs Negro Bristol -- Convicted of Burglary
    The Court do direct that the said Negro Bristol be employed in the repairing and cleaning of the Streets of the town and in the making, and repairing of the other highways within the County of Dauphin in the digging and quarrying of Stones in sawing of fire wood and in digging removing or levelling Earth and in all or any of the labors as in such manner and for such time as shall be found convenient."
    Notes:  It is not known if Bristol is a free African American or an enslaved person.
    Source: Records of the (Pennsylvania) Supreme Court, page 329.

  • Name: Caton, Ned
    Date of item: 27 November 1797
    Location: Harrisburg / Dauphin County
    Item: Court Order--pardon granted
    Details/Text: "A pardon was granted to Ned Caton (a Negro), convicted of Larceny, in Dauphin County."  The pardon was listed in the published Pennsylvania Archives, Ninth Series, 1797.
    Notes:  It is not known if Ned Caton is a free African American or an enslaved person.
    Source:  "Pennsylvania Archives--Ninth Series--1791," at http://mhrising.com/Pardons/1797.htm, accessed 16 October 2006.

Slavery Advertisements

From the Oracle of Dauphin, Harrisburg, PA:

A NEGRO FOR SALE

A healthy stout negro wench, about thirty-three years of age.  She is excellent for cooking, washing, and any kind of house or kitchen work, and understands feeding cattle, and any work necessary on a farm.  For terms apply to the Printer.

(Oracle of Dauphin, February 1795, as transcribed in Egle's Notes and Queries, LVIII, page 445.)

From the Pennsylvania Republican, Harrisburg, PA:

FOR SALE

THE time of a young NEGRO WENCH, who has about five years to serve. Inquire of the printer.
October 3, 1815.

(Pennsylvania Republican, October 24, 1815)

FOR SALE

A healthy young Black Girl.
Who has between ten and eleven years to serve and is now between 17 and 18 years of age.  Enquire of the editor.
November 18, 1817.

(Harrisburg Republican, November 18, 1817)

 

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