Slaveholders listed on this page
- Galbreath, James (Slaves listed: Joseph)
- Gallaugher, Elizabeth (Slaves listed: Cuff, Benebo, Sambo)
- Gelchrist, John "The Younger" (Slaves listed: Andrew, Margaret, Leah)
- Getz, Martin (Slaves listed: un-named girl)
- Gilchrist, John (Slaves listed: Rachel, Tobb)
- Gilchrist, Robert (Slaves listed: Dick)
- Goodman, Simon (Slaves listed: Elmer George)
- Graydon, Alexander (Slaves listed: one unnamed person)
- Green, Timothy (Slaves listed: Jam, two unnamed "negro wenches," an unnamed negro male child)
- Grim, David (Slaves listed: Nedd)
- Grubb, Curtis (Slaves listed: Jenny, Abe, Fanny, Sarah)
- Grubb, Curtis, Sr. (Slaves listed: Isaac)
- Grubb, Jacob (Slaves listed: Jacob, Rachel)
- Hall, Henry (Slaves listed: one unnamed person)
- Hamilton, J. E. (Slaves listed: Lancaster)
- Hanna, John A. (Slaves listed: Sarah, Rose)
- Harbinson, Adam (Slaves listed: Elijah, Dinah)
- Harris, John, Jr. (Slaves listed: Jack, Isaac, Franck)
- Harris, John Sr. (Slaves listed: Hercules, Toni, Cherida)
- Harris, Robert (Slaves listed: Luce)
- Hay, William (Slaves listed: Dembigh, Phillis, unnamed male child, unnamed female infant, Phillis(2))
- Hayes, Patrick (Slaves listed: Tob, John Martin, Sam, unnamed male)
- Hayes, Robert (Slaves listed: Nell)
- Hays, David (Slaves listed: Bet)
- Hays, Nancy (McAllister) (Slaves listed: Poll)
- Hays, Pat (Slaves listed: Thomas Martin, Peter, Robert Martin)
- Hays, Robert (Slaves listed: Rose)
- Hiester, Daniel (Slaves listed: Henry, Grace)
- Hollenback, John (Slaves listed: Bess)
- Hughes, Leroy (Slaves listed: Middleton Garret)
- Hunt, Benjamin (Slaves listed: Katy)
- Hunt, Elizabeth (Slaves listed: Joseph)
- Ireland, David (Slaves listed: one unnamed slave)
- Irvine, William M. (Slaves listed: Ann, Harriet)
- Irwin, John (Slaves listed: one unnamed person)
- Job, Mary (Slaves listed: Nel)
- Johnson, Alexander (Slaves listed: Jack)
- Jordan, B. (Slaves listed: William Jones)
Enslavement Data
- Owner's Name: Galbreath, james
Owner's Township: Derry
Owner's County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of advertisement)
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Slave Name: Joseph
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): Age not given, but described as a man.
Slave Description: "Negroe man"
Date of Registry or Record: 3 July 1755
Slave Memo: Status: Captured Suspected Runaway slave. Galbreath placed the following ad to locate the owner: "THERE is in the custody of James Galbreath, of Derry Township, Lancaster county, a runaway Negroe man, nam'd Joseph, mark'd with the small-pox. Any person, proving his property to said Negroe man, may have him again, paying charges. JAMES GALBREATH."
Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 3 July 1755
- Owner's Surname: Gallaugher
Owner's First Name: Elizabeth
Owner's Township: Paxtang
Owner's County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of registration)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 72
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Cuff
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 25
Date of Registry or Record: 10/12/1780
Slave Memo: Status: "Slave during life." Registered
as a "Negroe Man" at Lancaster.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Counter: 73
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Benebo or Benibo
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): 36
Date of Registry or Record: 10/12/1780
Slave Memo: Status: "Slave during life." Registered
as a "Negroe Woman" at Lancaster.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Counter: 74
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Sambo
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 08
Date of Registry or Record: 10/12/1780
Slave Memo: Status: "Slave during life." Registered
as a "Negroe Boy" at Lancaster.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Owner's Surname: Gelchrist
Owner's First Name: John "the younger"
Owner's City:
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 178
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Andrew
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 179
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Margaret
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 177
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Leah
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Getz
Owner's First Name: Martin
Owner's City: Halifax
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name:
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): 14
Date of Registry or Record: June 18, 1816
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: 50
- Owner's Surname: Gilchrist
Owner's First Name: John
Owner's City:
Owner's Location: "Paxtang Township" in original 1780 Registrations;
Lower Paxton in 1800 list.
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's Occupation: Farmer
Owner--Memo: In the July 1800 list of slaves in Lower Paxton
Township, Gilchrist's surname is misspelled "Gilgrist."
- Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Rachel
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): "about 21 or thereabouts"
Slave Date of Birth: 1759 (calculated)
Date of Registry or Record: October 05, 1780
Slave Status: "Slave during life"
Slave Memo: Described in 1780 Slave Registration as "Negro
Wench."
Source: Slaves in Lancaster
County in 1780
- Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Tobb
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 36
Slave Date of Birth: 1764 (calculated)
Date of Registry or Record: July 1800
Slave Status: Slave for life
Slave Memo: Tobb was not registered by Gilchrist in 1780,
indicating that he bought or acquired the slave sometime after
that year.
Source: Tax Lists, Inhabitants
and Slaves, 1800, 1807
- Owner's Surname: Gilchrist
Owner's First Name: Robert
Owner's Township: Paxton
Owner's County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of registration)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation: Farmer
Owner--Memo: Gilchrist apparently traveled to Lancaster along
with two other local men to register slaves. The county clerk
recorded their slaves as follows: "John Wiggins, Robert
Gilchrist, farmers, and Richard McGuire, blacksmith, of Paxton T,
enters as owners" Nance, Negroe Wench, about nine years of age,
slave during life; Dick, Negroe Boy, about seven years of age, slave
for life; Tob, Negroe Man, eighteen years of age, slave during life,
and Peet, Negroe Boy, ten years of age, slave during life.
The clerk did not indicate who owned which slaves, but it was
customary to list slaves by descending age, males first, followed
by females in descending age order. Using that custom as
an indicator, it was possible to make a guess as to who held which
slaves.
- Counter: 61
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Dick
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 07
Date of Registry or Record: 10/12/1780
Slave Memo: Status: Slave for life. Described at registration
as "Negroe Boy." Registered at Lancaster.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Owner's Surname: Goodman
Owner's First Name: Simon
Owner's City:
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Cumberland
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: "Former resident of Harrisburg."
- Counter: 339
Slave Surname, if known: George
Slave Given Name: Elmer
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Graydon
Owner's First Name: Alexander
Owner's City: Harrisburg
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: Pennsylvania
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: This was Captain Alexander Graydon,
veteran of the Revolutionary War. He was captured at Fort Washington,
New York in 1776, was paroled and did not rejoin the army. He
moved to Harrisburg after the war. Uncle of Alexander Graydon,
the abolitionist, of Harrisburg, PA and later Indianapolis, IN.
- Slave Surname, if known: Not known
Slave Given Name: Not known
Slave Sex: Not known
Slave Age (Years): Not known, but between 12 and
50, in 1798.
Date of Registry or Record: 1798
Slave Memo: Enumerated in the 1798 U.S. Direct Tax, "General
List of Slaves Owned, or superintended, on the first day of October,
1798, within the third assessment fourth division, State of Pennsylvania."
Source: 1798 U.S. Direct Tax
- Owner's Surname: Green
Owner's First Name: Timothy
Owner's Township: Hanover
Owner's County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of registration)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: Green also registered the slaves of Robert
Sturgeon, a miller in Paxton Township, acting as his attorney.
- Counter: 84
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Jam
Slave Gender: Male
Slave Age (Years): about 35 years old at registration
Date of Registry or Record: 10/23/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe
Man," about 35 years of age, a "slave during life."
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Counter: 85
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Not recorded
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): about 33 years old at registration
Date of Registry or Record: 10/23/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe
Wench," about 33 years of age, a "slave during life."
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780
- Counter: 86
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: not recorded
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): about 8 years old at registration
Date of Registry or Record: 10/23/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe
Wench," about 8 years of age, a "slave during life."
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780
- Counter: 87
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: not recorded
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): about 3 years old at registration
Date of Registry or Record: 10/23/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe
male child," about 3 years of age, a "slave during
life."
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780
- Owner's Surname: Grim
Owner's First Name: David
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Londonderry
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 235
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Nedd
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Grubb
Owner's First Name: Curtis
Owner's City:
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation: Iron Master
Owner--Memo: Registered by John W. Kittara for Curtis Grubb.
Some listings are for Curtis Grubb, deceased. This is probably the
same person as Curtis Grubb, Sr. See also the listings for the Grubb family in Lancaster County and Lebanon County. In his will, dated March 18, 1788 and proved February 19, 1789, Curtis Grubb leaves a "negro wench" to his wife Ann.
- Counter: 207
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Jenny
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years):
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 208
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Abe
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28. Registered by John
W. Kitarra for Curtis Grubb.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 251
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Fanny
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): .5
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28. Actual age at registration
"about seven months." Registered by J.W.Kittera for Curtis Grubb, deceased.
Date of Registry or Record: 5/17/1790
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 252
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Sarah
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): .5
Date of Registry or Record: 5/18/1790
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28. Registered by J.W.Kittera
for Curtis Grubb, deceased.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Grubb
Owner's First Name: Curtis, Sr.
Owner's City:
Owner's Township:
Owner's County:
Owner's State:
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: See also, "Grubb,
Curtis"
- Counter: 303
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Isaac
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28. Registered by R.
Kelker, Jr., for Curtis Grubb, Sr., deceased.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Grubb
Owner's First Name: Jacob
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Lebanon
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: Registered by Samuel Sinclair for Jacob Grubb
in Lebanon Township, then part of Dauphin County. These listings
are duplicated on the Lebanon
County page.
- Counter: 175
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Jacob
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28. Registered by Samuel
Sinclair for Jacob Grubb in Lebanon Township, then part of Dauphin
County.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 176
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Rachel
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28. Registered by Samuel
Sinclair for Jacob Grubb in Lebanon Township, then part of Dauphin
County.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Hall
Owner's First Name: Henry
Owner's City: Harrisburg
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: Pennsylvania
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Slave Surname, if known: Not known
Slave Given Name: Not known
Slave Sex: Not known
Slave Age (Years): Not known, but between 12 and
50, in 1798.
Date of Registry or Record: 1798
Slave Memo: Enumerated in the 1798 U.S. Direct Tax, "General
List of Slaves Owned, or superintended, on the first day of October,
1798, within the third assessment fourth division, State of Pennsylvania."
Source: 1798 U.S. Direct Tax
- Owner's Surname: Hamilton
Owner's First Name: J.E.
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Londonderry
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 290
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Lancaster
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Hanna
Owner's First Name: John A.
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Paxton
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: 1762-1805. Husband of Mary Hanna (daughter of John
Harris, Jr.); Revolutionary War general; delegate to the convention
that ratified the Constitution; Pennsylvania state legislator; U.S.
Congressman. (Source 41) The
1798 U.S. Direct Tax shows one slave "above the age of 12 and
under the age of 50" for John A. Hanna, then living in Harrisburg.
(Source 42)
- Counter: 173
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Sarah
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 248
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Rose
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Harbinson
Owner's First Name: Adam
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: West Hanover
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 242
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Elijah
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 243
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Dinah
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Harris
Owner's First Name: John (Sr.)
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Paxton
Owner's County: Dauphin (modern designation)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: Pioneer from, Yorkshire, England, who established
Harris' Ferry at modern day Harrisburg. Father of John Harris Jr.,
founder of Harrisburg.
- Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Hercules
Slave Gender: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Record: 1746 (will of John Harris)
Slave Memo: Hercules is perhaps the best known, and to
some people the only known, slave from Dauphin County. He
figures prominently in the story of the attempted burning of
John Harris by hostile Native Americans. According to the story,
John Harris refused to sell rum to a passing party of Native
Americans returning from the south on a raiding expedition because
they were already intoxicated. Angered, the raiders seized Harris
and tied him to a nearby mulberry tree on the riverbank, intending
to burn him. His Negro slave Hercules, seeing what was happening,
went to a friendly neighboring tribe and brought back help. The
friendly Native Americans freed Harris from the unruly raiders,
and Harris, grateful to Hercules, immediately manumitted him.
The story of the attempted burning, and the role played by Hercules,
may be apocryphal. No first person account by Harris of the event
exists. Several local historians have documented changes in the
story over the decades, including the addition of Hercules to
the story about the middle of the 19th century. Hercules was
a real person, however, and a slave to John Harris. Harris
stipulated in his will, dated November 22, 1746, that Hercules
was to be set free and was to be allowed to live on some of the
land near the river that he willed to his son William Harris.
The account books of John Harris, Jr. show the following entries
relating to Hercules, all of which seem to support the contention
that Hercules was a free person by the time of these entries:
"July 13th, 1754. Black Hercules Dr.
to sundrys, 28, 18s, 5d.
Settled and clear.
Mem'd'm. That Hercules worked for me abt. one year, w'ch
is in Part of my Acco't, the old Book tells the time.
Sept'r 8th, 1761, 1 lb Powder & 2 lb Shott for Hercules,
4:8. 6 Kerby Hooks, for Hercules, 1:6.
Sept'r 25, 1773. Cash p'd Hercules, at twice, 2:6." (William
Henry Egle, "The Rescuer of John Harris," Notes
and Queries VIII, Annual Volume 1900, page 38.)
Hercules died sometime after 1766, which was the last documented
mention that he was alive. He was buried in an African
American burial ground at Mulberry Street but his remains and
those of others buried there were moved when construction of
a school house at that site uncovered the graves.
Other Sources:
- George P. Donehoo, Harrisburg, The City Beautiful,
Romantic and Historic, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1927,
Pages 44-46.
- Watson's Annals of Philadelphia And Pennsylvania,
Volume 2, "Harrisburg," 1857. Note: Watson's does not mention
Hercules by name, but refers to Harris' " faithful old black
man."
- "Copy of Will of John Harris Decd, 1873." Official
copy of the will, dated November 22, 1746, from Lancaster
County Will Book B, p. 542. The official copy is in
the archives of the Historical Society of Dauphin County,
Harrisburg.
- Slave Given Name: Toni
Slave Gender: Male
Slave Age (Years): ? (described as "Negro boy")
Date of Record: 1746 (will of John Harris)
Slave Memo: Bequeathed by John Harris to his son
William. The line in the will of John Harris reads; "I
give and devise unto my said son William the tract of land which
I purchased of James Allcorn,...& also the negro Boy called
Toni."
Source: "Copy of Will of John Harris Decd,
1873." Official copy of the will, dated November 22,
1746, from Lancaster County Will Book B, p. 542. The official
copy is in the archives of the Historical Society of Dauphin
County, Harrisburg.
- Slave Given Name: Cherida
Slave Gender: Female
Slave Age (Years): ? (described as "Negro girl")
Date of Record: 1746 (will of John Harris)
Slave Memo: Bequeathed by John Harris to his daughter
Elizabeth Finley. The line in the will of John Harris reads; "...unto
my daughter Elizabeth Finley,...& I leave [??] the negro
girl called Cherida."
Source: "Copy of Will of John Harris Decd,
1873." Official copy of the will, dated November 22,
1746, from Lancaster County Will Book B, p. 542. The official
copy is in the archives of the Historical Society of Dauphin
County, Harrisburg.
- Slave Given Name: Not named
Slave Gender: Not known
Slave Age (Years): Not yet born (see notes)
Date of Record: 1746 (will of John Harris)
Slave Memo: The yet to be born child of his pregnant
female slave was bequeathed by John Harris to his daughter Esther. The
line in the will of John Harris reads; "...unto my
daughter Esther,...I leave her the child whereof the negro Woman
is now pregnant."
Source: "Copy of Will of John Harris Decd,
1873." Official copy of the will, dated November 22,
1746, from Lancaster County Will Book B, p. 542. The official
copy is in the archives of the Historical Society of Dauphin
County, Harrisburg.
- Owner's Surname: Harris
Owner's First Name: John (Jr.)
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Paxtang
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation: Yoeman
Owner--Memo: Son of John Harris, Sr., proprietor of Harris'
Ferry, for whom the city of Harrisburg is named. Born and died in
Harrisburg, 1726-1791. Founder of the city of Harrisburg. In 1766
he built the stone house which stands today as the Harris-Cameron
Mansion, on South Front Street in Harrisburg.
- Counter: 46
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Jack
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 48
Date of Registry or Record: 10/9/1780
Slave Memo: Status: Slave for life. Born circa 1732.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780
- Counter: 47
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Isaac
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 16
Date of Registry or Record: 10/9/1780
Slave Memo: "Aged 16 years last August." Status:
Slave for life. Born August 1764.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780
- Counter: 48
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Franck
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 14
Date of Registry or Record: 10/9/1780
Slave Memo: "Aged 14 years last May." Status:
Slave for life. Born May 1766. Frank died 04 November
1839 in the Dauphin County Poorhouse. His obituary appeared
in The Liberator, which attributed the Reporter as
its source. The obituary says Frank "was manumitted
by the late Mr. Adam Orth,
of Lebanon (then Dauphin) County." This seems to indicate
the Frank was sold or otherwise transferred to Orth sometime
after the death of John Harris in 1791.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 ; The Liberator,
22 November 1839.
- Owner's Surname: Harris
Owner's First Name: Robert
Owner's City: Harrisburg
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: Grandson of John Harris, Sr. Born and died in
Harrisburg, 1768-1851. Brother to Mary Hanna, wife of General John
A. Hanna.
- Counter: 355
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Luce
Slave Gender: Undetermined
Slave Age (Years): ?
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Date of Registry or Record:
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Hay
Owner's First Name: William
Owner's Township: Londonderry
Owner's County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of 1780 registration)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation: Farmer
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 126
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Dembigh
Slave Gender: Female
Slave Age (Years): 26
Date of Registry or Record: 10/27/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe
Woman," 26 years old, a "slave for life."
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Counter: 128
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Phillis
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): 14
Date of Registry or Record: 10/27/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe
Girl," 14 years old, a "slave for life."
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Counter: 129
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Not recorded
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 03
Date of Registry or Record: 10/27/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as "A mulatto
boy aged 3 years, name unknown, a servant untill 31 years, bought
of James Crouch." Status:
Slave to age 31.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Slave Given Name: Not recorded
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): 18 months old at registration
Date of Registry or Record: 10/27/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as "A girl aged
18 months, a servant till 31 years, lately bought of James
Crouch." Status: Slave to age 31.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Counter: 127
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Phillis
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): 18
Date of Registry or Record: 10/27/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe
Woman," 18 years old, a "slave for life."
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Owner's Surname: Hayes
Owner's First Name: Robert
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Londonderry
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: Surname also spelled Hays. Died 1809. Egle's Notes
and Queries reports "Hays, Robert, an old and respectable
resident of Derry Township, died on Tuesday, June 6, 1809, aged 76
years." (Source: William Henry Egle, "Dauphin County
Burials IV" in Notes and Queries XXI, page 123.)
- Counter: 254
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Nell
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28. In his will, dated
May 26, 1809 and proved May 16, 1809, Robert Hays leaves his "negro
wench Nell" to his wife Margaret, and then to his daughter Margaret.
("Slaves and Indentured Servants in
Dauphin County Wills")
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Hays
Owner's First Name: David
Owner's Township: Londonderry
Owner's County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of 1780 registration)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: Co-registered with James Campbell
- Counter: 139
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Bet
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): 12
Date of Registry or Record: 10/31/1780
Slave Memo: Status: Slave for life. Registered at Lancaster
as a "Negroe Girl," 12 years old, "a slave."
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Owner's Surname: Hays or Hayes
Owner's First Name: Patrick, also registered as Pat
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Londonderry
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation: Farmer
Owner--Memo: Husband of Nancy
(McAllister), who was the daughter of Richard
McAllister of Hanover, York County, and sister to Archibald
McAllister. In August 1795, Nancy's father Richard died, bequeathing
to her the "negro girl" Poll. No additional information is known
about Poll.
- Counter: 266
Slave Surname, if known: Martin
Slave Given Name: Thomas
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 299
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Peter
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 310
Slave Surname, if known: Martin
Slave Given Name: Robert
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 340
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Ande Harriet
Slave Gender: Undetermined
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Counter: 152
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Grace
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): about 30 years old at registration
Date of Registry or Record: 10/31/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe
Wench," age about 30 years, a "slave for life."
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Counter: 153
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Violet
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): about 3 years old at registration
Date of Registry or Record: 10/31/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe
Child," age about 3 years, a "slave for life."
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Counter: 154
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Toby
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): "age about 4 months old"
Date of Registry or Record: 10/31/1780
Slave Memo: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe Child," age about 4 months, a "slave for life."
Source: Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Counter: 232
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Tob
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously Registered Slaves
- Counter: 288
Slave Surname, if known: Martin
Slave Given Name: John
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28. Owner's surname was
spelled Hayes.
Source: Children of Previously Registered Slaves
- Counter: 291
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Sam
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28. Owner's surname was
spelled Hayes.
Source: Children of Previously Registered Slaves
- Counter: 391
Slave Surname, if known: ?
Slave Given Name: ?
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 19
Date of Registry or Record: 1/23/1799
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28. Offered for sale
on January 9, 1799. Owner's surname was spelled Hayes. Text of
advertisement:
For Sale, A STOUT, healthy NEGRO MAN, aged 19 years, and has 9 years to serve; he is well acquainted with all kinds of Farming Work, and possesses a very obliging disposition. He has had the small-pox, measles and whooping-cough--and is sold for no other reason than the want of employment. For terms apply to the subscriber in Londonderry township, Dauphin county.
PATRICK HAYES. January 9, 1799.
Source: The Oracle of Dauphin, and Harrisburgh Advertiser, January 23, 1799
- Owner's Surname: Hays
Owner's First Name: Robert
Owner's Township: Londonderry
Owner's County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of 1780 registration)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 155
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Rose
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): 13
Date of Registry or Record: 10/31/1780
Slave Memo: Status: Slave for life. Registered at Lancaster
as a "Negroe Wench," 13 years of age.
Sources: Register of Negro
and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Owner's Surname: Hiester
Owner's First Name: Daniel
Owner's City: Reading
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Berks
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 256
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Henry
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age: Four months old at Registration.
Date of Registry or Record: 5/7/1791
Slave Memo: Original source text: "Harrisburg, May
7, 1791--Sir:
Please to register on records according to law, a male negro
child named Henry, born on or about the 8th day of January last,
born in the county of Dauphin at the house of John Maye: the
mother's name is Grace (Father Unknown).
The mother owned by me.
Daniel Hiester of Reading, Berks county." Status: Slave to age 28.
- Counter: 257
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Grace
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record: 5/7/1791
Slave Memo: The mother of Henry,
registered by same owner (see record #234). Henry was born in
Dauphin County. Mother's status is unknown.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Hollenback
Owner's First Name: John
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Paxton
Owner's County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of 1780 registration)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation: Unknown
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 112
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Bess
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): about 17 years of age at registration
Date of Registry or Record: 10/25/1780
Slave Memo: Status: Slave for life. Registered at
Lancaster as a "Negro Woman," aged about 17 years.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Owner's Surname: Hughes
Owner's First Name: Leroy
Owner's City:
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Frederick
Owner's State: MA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: A Maryland slaveholder advertising for a runaway slave in the Harrisburg newspapers.
- Counter: 364
Slave Surname, if known: Garret
Slave Given Name: Middleton
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 32
Date of Registry or Record: 4/24/1800
Slave Memo: Text of ad: "Fifty Dollars Reward. Runaway
Slave from Frederick Co. Md.----near Frederick Town on night
of Tuesday 22nd inst. Negro man 32 yrs named 'Mid' but calls
himself Middleton Garret. It is supposed some free person has
Taken him off. Leroy Hughes, Fred. County, Md., April 24, 1800."
Source: The Farmer's Instructor,
and Harrisburgh Courant, May 28, 1800
- Owner's Surname: Hunt
Owner's First Name: Benjamin
Owner's City: Harrisburg
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation: Physician
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 226
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Katy
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Hunt
Owner's First Name: Elizabeth
Owner's City: Harrisburg
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: The 1798 U.S. Direct Tax shows one slave "above the age of 12 and under the age of 50" for Elizabeth Hunt, then living in Harrisburg. (Source 42)
- Counter: 282
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Joseph
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Ireland
Owner's First Name: David
Owner's Township: Upper Paxton
Owner's County: Dauphin (then Lancaster)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: Ireland did not register any slaves in Lancaster County in 1780. If he was assessed for one slave in 1780, he
may have moved or sold the slave prior to the deadline for registration.
- Slave Given Name: Not recorded
Slave Sex: Not recorded
Slave Age (Years): ? (taxable slaves were usually considered those between 12 and 60 years of age)
Date of Registry or Record: 1780
Slave Memo: Tax return for 1780 report one slave owned by David Ireland of the Lower District of Upper Paxtang
Township.
Source: Luther Reily Kelker, History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Vol.
I (New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907) p. 437.
- Owner's Surname: Irvine
Owner's First Name: William M.
Owner's City: Harrisburg
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation: Attorney-at-Law
Owner--Memo:
- Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Ann
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): Of childbearing age in 1818.
Date of Registry or Record: 16 June 1819 (calculated from
registration text, below)
Slave Memo: Listed as "Negro Servant" to William
N. Irvine, in his registration for the birth of her daughter,
Harriet.
Source: Text of slave registration
provided by William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan,
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Slave Records, 1788-1825, Finding
Aid: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/clementsmss/umich-wcl-M-230dau?byte=5697307;focusrgn=scopecontent;subview=standard;view=reslist
- Counter: 353
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Harriet
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): Age 5 months and 29 days at registration
in Harrisburg.
Date of Registry or Record: 16 June 1819 (calculated from
registration text, below)
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28; born 7 November 1818.
Mother's name is Ann, slave of William M. Irvine. Text of slave
registration:
Be it remembered that on the Seventeenth day of
April A.D. 1819 William N. Irvine, Esq. Attorney at Law...maketh
return on Oath that a female Mullatto child was born by his
Negro Servant Ann, on the seventeenth day of November 1818
and that the said female child is called Harriet, is now living
and has been supported by the said William and is of the age
of 5 months and twenty-nine days.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves ; Text of slave registration provided by
William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Dauphin
County, Pennsylvania, Slave Records, 1788-1825, Finding Aid: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/clementsmss/umich-wcl-M-230dau?byte=5697307;focusrgn=scopecontent;subview=standard;view=reslist
- Owner's Surname: Irwin
Owner's First Name: John
Owner's City: Harrisburg
Owner's Township:
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: Pennsylvania
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Slave Surname, if known: Not known
Slave Given Name: Not known
Slave Sex: Not known
Slave Age (Years): Not known, but between 12 and
50, in 1798.
Date of Registry or Record: 1798
Slave Memo: Enumerated in the 1798 U.S. Direct Tax, "General List of Slaves Owned, or superintended, on the first day of October, 1798, within the third assessment fourth division, State of Pennsylvania."
Source: 1798 U.S. Direct Tax
- Owner's Surname: Job
Owner's First Name: Mary
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Paxton
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 241
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Nel
Slave Sex: Female
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Registry or Record:
Slave Memo: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: Children of Previously
Registered Slaves
- Owner's Surname: Johnson
Owner's First Name: Alexander
Owner's Township: Paxtang Township
Owner's County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of registration)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation: Farmer
Owner--Memo:
- Counter: 59
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Jack
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 12
Date of Registry or Record: October 10, 1780
Slave Memo: Status: "Slave during life." Described
at registrations as "Negro Boy." Registered at
Lancaster.
Source: Register of Negro and
Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780 | "Slaves
in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Owner's Surname: Jordan
Owner's First Name: B.
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Swatara
Owner's County: Dauphin
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo:
- Slave Surname, if known: Jones
Slave Given Name: William
Slave Sex: Male
Slave Age (Years): 17a
Slave Date of Birth: 1803 (calculated)
Date of Registry or Record: April 14, 1820
Slave Memo: Ran away in 1820. Text of runaway ad:
"One Cent Reward.
Ran away from the subscriber, living in Swatara township, Dauphin county, a black indented servant boy, named WILLIAM JONES,
About seventeen years of age, stout made, has no particular mark. The above reward, but no expenses, will be given to any person who may return said boy to
B. Jordan.
April 14, 1820."
Source: Harrisburg Republican, April
28, 1820.
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