Bedford County, Pennsylvania Slaveholders A-W

Enslavement to freedom
	A series of pages exploring various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania Slaveholders A - Z

Slaveholders Listed on the Page

Agnew, James (Enslaved persons: Un-named boy)

Anderson, James (Enslaved persons: Rachel Barton, Thomas Barton, Bill Johnston)

Anderson, Dr. John (Enslaved persons: Mary, Sophia)

Ashman, George (Enslaved persons: Hercules, Negro Ned, Negro Simon, Negro Moses, Maria, Negro Dab, Phillip)

Barclay, Josiah E. (Enslaved persons: Clement Romanus)

Barndollar, Michael (Enslaved persons: Sall, Philis, Dina)

Barnhard, George P. (Enslaved persons: Jack Durr)

Bonnet, John (Enslaved persons: Patrick, Peter)

Buchannan, John (Enslaved persons: Sarah, Levinia)

Clugage, Francis (Enslaved persons: Dina)

Cryder, Michael (Enslaved persons: Rachel, Sam, George)

Davidson, Samuel (Enslaved persons: Phillis)

Dillon, Humphrey (Enslaved persons: Eliza Diggs, George, Betsy Diggs, Louisa Diggs, Charles, Tom)

Fletcher, Jacob (Enslaved persons: Milla, Buonaparte Johnston, Emory, John Henry)

Hare, Jacob (Enslaved persons: Unnamed young man)

Hartley, William (Enslaved persons: Mary Smith, ? Smith, Isaac Smith, Nancy Smith, Mary)

Holiday, William (Enslaved persons: Sall)

Johnson, Joshua (Enslaved persons: Fanny)

Lloyd, Henry (Enslaved persons: James, Jacob, Phillis, Leah, Sambo, Briget, Cubit)

McClain, Thomas B. (Enslaved persons: Jane, Charlotte, James)

Miley, Abraham (Enslaved persons: Joseph Killam)

Piper, John (Enslaved persons: Ben)

Proctor, William Jr. (Enslaved persons: Delia, Henry)

Reamer, Christian (Enslaved persons: Nancy, George)

Reiley, Martin (Enslaved persons: Sarah, Sarah Ann)

Reine, John (Enslaved persons: Sarah, William)

Reynolds, William (Enslaved persons: Hannah, Fanny, David Calahan, George Nors, Phina, Charles Brown)

Riddle, Samuel (Enslaved persons: Maria Dauphin)

Shannon, Robert (Enslaved persons: Betty, Sarah)

Shirley, John (Enslaved persons: Hannah, Sam)

Sides, Henry, Jailer (Enslaved persons: Thomas Watkins)

Walker, Judge Jonathan (Enslaved persons: Clara, Clarissa, Hannah)

Wallace, Ephraim (Enslaved persons: Jean)

Watson, Dr. William (Enslaved persons: Rachel Jameson, Henry, Sophia, Sarah, Charles Jamison, Jeremiah Jameson)

Woods, George (Enslaved persons: Prince)

Work, Andrew (Enslaved persons: Nancy, un-named child, George)

Enslavement Data

Slaveholder Name: Agnew, James
City or Township: McConnellsburg
County: Bedford County (modern day Fulton County)
Occupation:
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Name not given in ad
Sex: Male
Age: "16 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1799
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Negro Boy"
Notes: Offered for sale or exchange in September 1815. Text of ad is below:
A NEGRO BOY.
I will sell or exchange for a black girl, A NEGRO BOY, who is 16 years of age, & has to serve until he is 28 -- he is stout, smart & healthy.
JAMES AGNEW.
M'Connellsburg, Sept. 12, 1815.
Date of Record: 12 September 1815
Sources: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 12 September 1815.

Slaveholder Name: Anderson, James
City or Township: Napier Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel Barton
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1821
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "servant mullatto woman"
Notes: Mother of Thomas Barton, probably born several months prior to October, 1820, and Bill Johnston, "born about the 10th of October last (1821)." See below.
Date of Record: 14 March 1822
Sources: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children | Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Thomas Barton
Sex: Male
Age: Age not specified at Registration
Date of Birth: Not given in Registration. The law stipulated that children must be Registered within six months of their birth.
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Mulatto Male Child"
Notes: "born in twp aforesaid of Rachel Barton mulatto woman, and indented servant of the said James Anderson Esq."
Date of Record: 3 October 1820
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Bill Johnston
Sex: Male
Age: Five months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: "born about the 10th of October last (1821)."
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Male Mullato Child"
Notes: Daughter of Rachel Barton.
Date of Record: 14 March 1822
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children

Slaveholder Name: Anderson, Dr. John
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Physician
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Mary
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1821
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female negro servant"
Notes: Mother of Sophia, born 29 July, 1821. See below.
Date of Record: 26 January 1822
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: Sophia
Sex: Female
Age: Six months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 29 July, 1821
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female Mulatto child"
Notes: Daughter of Mary.
Date of Record: 26 January 1822
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children

Slaveholder Name: Ashman, George
City or Township: Shirley Township
County: edford County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Hercules
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged fifty four Years"
Date of Birth: 1726 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Negroe Ned
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged thirty Years"
Date of Birth: 1750 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Negroe Simon
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged seventeen Years"
Date of Birth: 1763 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Negroe Moses
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged thirteen Years"
Date of Birth: 1767 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Maria
Sex: Female
Age: "Aged forty Years"
Date of Birth: 1740 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Woman"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Negroe Dab
Sex: Not determined
Age: "Aged eight Years"
Date of Birth: 1772 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Phillip
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged two Years three Months and fifteen Days"
Date of Birth: 1778, July 16 (calculated)
Status: "a Slave for thirty one years"
Description: "Mulattoe Boy"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves

Slaveholder Name: Barclay, Josiah E.
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes: In the 1820 Census of Bedford Borough, Josiah E. Barclay is enumerated with one male "free colored person," aged 14-25, in his household. (Source: Rootsweb, "1820 PA Census: Bedford County, Bedford Borough," downloaded from the Internet 28 December, 2002. url: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/bedford/census/1820bedbor.txt) Note that the census of 1820 did not make a distinction between free Blacks and term slaves. It only enumerated as slaves those persons still being held to slavery for life.

Enslaved Person's Name: Clement Romanus (spelling of last name could be wrong--difficult to read handwriting)
Sex: Male
Age: "aged four Years and six months on the fifteenth day of this present month" (April 1824)
Date of Birth: 1819, October 15
Status: To be manumitted upon reaching age 28.
Description: "negro boy slave"
Notes: Text of manumission statement:
To all whom it may concern, be it Known that I, Josiah E. Barclay of Bedford County and State of Pennsylvania but at present in Allegany County in the State of Maryland for divers good causes and considerations me thereunto moving as also in further consideration of one dollar current money to me in hand paid do hereby release from Slavery liberate Manumit and set free after he shall arrive at the age of Twenty eight years my negro boy slave named Clement Romanus I do declare to be free, manumitted and discharged from all manner of servitude or services to me my Executors or administrators forever, after he shall arrive at the age of Twenty Eight years as above mentioned.
Josiah Barclay received legal possession of Clement from Mrs. Mary Murdock of Allegany County Maryland on the same day he filed manumission papers. Text of Bill of Sale:
Know all men by these presents that I John McNeill attorney in fact for Mrs. Mary Murdock late of Allegany County Maryland as will appear by a power of Attorney from said Mary Murdock to me bearing date the twenty fourth day of March Eighteen hundred and twenty four duly Executed and recorded among the records of Allegany County Court for the consideration of five dollars current money of the United States to me in hand paid by Josiah E. Barclay of Bedford County State of Pennsylvania the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge have as Attorney aforesaid granted bargain sold and delivered and by these presents do grant bargain sell and deliver unto the said Josiah E. Barclay one Negro boy slave named Clement Rismanus aged four Years and six months on the fifteenth day of this present month. To have and to hold the said negro boy Clement Rismanus unto the said Josiah E. Barclay his heirs and assigns forever.
Date of Records: 17 April 1824
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children

Slaveholder Name: Barndollar, Michael
City or Township:
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes: The registration for the slave Sall does not appear with the 1780 registrations, but is recorded 18 years later, and does not include the required age and name. It may have been added later, when Barndollar recorded the birth of Sall's daughter Philis, in 1798. If so, this is a clear violation of the law, and Sall should have been legally manumitted along with her daughter.

Enslaved Person's Name: Sall
Sex: Female
Age: Not known
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Not determined
Description: "Negro Girl"
Notes: Mother of Philis, born 11 November, 1797 and Dina, born 24 August, 1803.
Date of Record: 22 January, 1798
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Philis
Sex: Female
Age: Two months old at registration
Date of Birth: 11 November, 1797
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Negro Child"
Notes: Daughter of Sall. The Registration letter for Philis reads as follows:
These are to certifye that my Negro Woman Called Sall a slave had a child Born of her Body the Eleventh day of November last which child is a female and Named felis. (Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834)
Date of Record: 22 January, 1798
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Dina
Sex: Female
Age: Infant at Registration
Date of Birth: 1803, August 24
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Negro child"
Notes: Daughter of Sall. The Registration letter for Dina reads as follows:
"One Negro child born of Negro woman named Sall the Child named dina born the 24th day of August 1803."
Date of Record: 1804
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Barnhard, George P.
City or Township: Bethel Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: BR>Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Jack Durr
Sex: Male
Age: Not stated, but calculated to be about 24 (see slave notes)
Date of Birth: Probably about 1782, based upon the statement that he "has about four years to serve"
Status: Runaway
Description: "negro man"
Notes: Ran away the 28th of September, 1806. Text of Runaway advertisement placed by Barnhard:
Eight Dollars Reward
RAN away from the subscriber, living in Bethel township, Bedford county, on the 28th ult. a negro man named JACK DURR, about five feet six or seven inches high, slim made, pleasant countenance, plays on the fiddle tolerably well, and has about four years to serve. He formerly lived with Mr. John Diffenbaugh, in Snakespring valley, Bedford county.--Had on when he went away a new cotton cross-bar coatee, a white wool hat, a pair of half boots, and a pair of stripped cotton trousers.
--Whoever takes up and secures said runaway, so that the subscriber may get him again, shall receive the above reward, and all reasonable expences if brought home.
GEORGE P. BARNHARD.
October 13, 1806.
This advertisement ran through November 3, 1806. It is not known whether Barnhard ever recovered Durr.
Date of Record: October 13, 1806
Source: The Bedford Gazette, October 13, 1806 (Microfilm 3164, "Misc. Pennsylvania Newspapers, 1803-1815." Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg)

Slaveholder Name: Bonnet, John
City or Township: Bedford
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Innkeeper
Notes: The registration for the slaves Patrick and Peter were made by "Jean Bonnet." For an image of this letter of Registration, click here.

Enslaved Person's Name: Patrick
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged six years the last day of September 1788"
Date of Birth: 1782, September 30
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Mullato Boy"
Notes: The Registration letter for Patrick and Peter reads as follows:
To David Espy Esquire Clerk of the Peace of the County of Bedford
The Return of John Bonnet of the Township & County of Bedford Innholder Possessor of one Mullato Boy Named Patrick aged six years the last day of September 1788
Also one other Mullato Boy named Peter aged Four years the twenty second day of February 1789.
Please to record the above described Boys for Jean Bonnet 30th March 1789.
Date of Record: 30 March 1789
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Peter
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged Four years the twenty second day of February 1789"
Date of Birth: 1785, February 22
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Mullato Boy"
Notes:
Date of Record: 30 March 1789
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Buchannan, John
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes: Some original records spelled his surname as "Buchannon."

Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
Sex: Female
Age: 22 April, 1797 (calculated from the court documents filed by Martin Reiley and dated January 1819)
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "negro Woman," "servant"
Notes: Mother of William, born 12 September 1814 (and Registered by John Reine), and Levinia, born 15 August 1816. Buchannan sold Sarah to Martin Reiley on 13 June 1818.
Date of Record: 10 February 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Levinia
Sex: Female
Age: Six months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 1816, 15 August
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Male Negro Child"
Notes: "Daughter of Sarah, a negro woman servant of the said John Buchannon (at the time of the birth of the child aforesaid the said Sarah was the servant of John Reine."
Date of Record: 10 February 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Clugage, Francis
City or Township: Huntingdon Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Tavern keeper
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Dina
Sex: Female
Age: "About eight Years old"
Date of Birth: 1772 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Girl"
Notes: Text of Registration: "Huntingdon the 27^th Octb. 1780
Dear Sir
[word unreadable] I am informed all the Negroes ar to be Recorded against the first of Novbr. if it is so pray hasten a garl of mine Her name is Dina about Eight years old My caling I cant inform you." (Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834)
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves

Slaveholder Name: Cryder, Michael
City or Township: Huntingdon Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Miller
Notes: This is the first person listed in the slave entry book.

Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel
Sex: Female
Age: "About twenty five & a half Years old"
Date of Birth: 1755, April (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Wench"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Sam
Sex: Male
Age: "About four and a half years old"
Date of Birth: 1776, April (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Mulattoe Boy"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: George
Sex: Male
Age: "About one year old"
Date of Birth: 1779 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Mulattoe Boy"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves

Slaveholder Name: Davidson, Samuel
City or Township: Bedford Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Tanner
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Phillis
Sex: Female
Age: "Aged six years"
Date of Birth: 1774 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Girl"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves

Slaveholder Name: Dillon, Humphrey
City or Township: Borough of Bedford
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Eliza Diggs
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1822
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female Negro servant"
Notes: Mother of George, born 24 December, 1819, Betsy, "born the fifth day of April last (1822)," Louisa, born 10 July 1823, and Charles, born 23 August 1827. See below.
Date of Records: 13 April, 1820 (George), 1 June 1822 (Betsy), 6 December 1823 (Louisa), 1 January 1827 (Charles)
Sources: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children | Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: George
Sex: Male
Age: About four months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 1819, 24 December
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Male Mulatto Child"
Notes: "Son of Eliza, a negro woman servant" Born in the borough of Bedford.
Date of Record: 13 April 1820
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Betsy Diggs
Sex: Female
Age: Two months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: "born the fifth day of April last (1822)."
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female black child"
Notes: Daughter of Eliza Diggs.
Date of Record: 1 June 1822
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: Louisa Diggs
Sex: Female
Age: Five months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 10 July 1823
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female black child"
Notes: Daughter of Eliza Diggs.
Date of Record: 6 December 1823
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: Charles
Sex: Male
Age: Four months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 23 August, 1827
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male black child"
Notes: Son of Eliza Diggs.
Date of Record: 1 January, 1828
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
Sex: Male
Age: Not known--adult
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Negro man"
Notes: Dillon petitioned the court to add extra time to Tom's term of servitude to account for days that he ran away. The text of the petition is as follows:
To the honourable the Judges of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Bedford County now sitting of August Sessions A.D. 1814
The petition of Humphrey Dillon, master and owner of a negro man named Tom, Humbly Sheweth that the said negro Tom is the servant of your petitioner until his arrival at the age of twenty eight years and that the said term is yet unexpired--That the said servant hath frequently absented himself from the service of his said master for the space of one day and more, without cause first obtained for the same and that your petitioner hath sustained damages & expenses by such absences.
Your petitioner therefore prays the Court to increase the term of service of the said servant and to order such satisfaction to your petitioner for the damages and expenses by him sustained, as the Courts shall see meet.
Humphrey Dillon
3d August 1814 Read and the court order a Rule that the said Negro appear at the next Court of Quarter Sessions to shew cause if any he knows, why the prayer of this petitioner shall not be granted.
Date of Record: 3 August 1814
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Fletcher, Jacob
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Carpenter
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Milla
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1821
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female negro servant"
Notes: Mother of Buonaparte Johnston, born 5 April, 1816, Emory, born 8 August, 1821 and John Henry, born 1 April 1824. See below.
Date of Record: 1 December 1821
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: Buonaparte Johnston
Sex: Male
Age: Four months old at Registration
Date of Birth: 1816, April 5
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male Negro child"
Notes: Son of Milla; born in Bedford Borough
Date of Record: 27 August 1816
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Emory
Sex: Female
Age: Four months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 8 August, 1821
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female negro child"
Notes: Daughter of Milla.
Date of Record: 1 December 1821
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: John Henry
Sex: Male
Age: Five months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 1 April, 1824
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male negro child"
Notes: Son of Milla.
Date of Record: 4 September 1824
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children

Slaveholder Name: Hare, Jacob
City or Township: Hopewell Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Not named in ad
Sex: Male
Age: "about seventeen years old"
Date of Birth: circa 1757
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Fellow"
Notes: Escaped with a white man who provided two saddles horses. See runaway advertisement, below:
TEN POUNDS REWARD.
RAN AWAY from the subscriber, living in Hopewell township, Bedford county, a negro fellow about seventeen years old; had on a white coat and blue leggings, with stockings; he is supposed to have been enticed away by one ANTHONY MORNING TALER, who had on a green surtout, a light blue coat and blue waistcoat. He had with him a large black stallion and a large bay horse, each of them with saddles. Whoever confines the abovesaid persons in any gaol in this province, so that they may be brought to justice, shall have the above Reward, or FIFTY SHILLINGS for the negro alone, and reasonable charges, paid by
JACOB HARE.
Date of Record: 23 December 1774
Source: Pennsylvania Packet (Philadelphia), 23 December 1774.

Slaveholder Name: Hartley, William
City or Township: Providence Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Innkeeper
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Mary Smith
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1822
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female negro servant"
Notes: Mother of Smith, "born the night of the first day of March last (1822)," and Isaac Smith, born 11 September, 1824. See below.
Date of Records: (Smith) 31 August 1822, (Isaac Smith) 10 March, 1825
Sources: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children | Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Smith
Sex: Male
Age: Five months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: "born the night of the first day of March last (1822)."
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male negro child"
Notes: Son of Mary Smith.
Date of Record: 31 August1822
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: Isaac Smith
Sex: Male
Age: Six months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: "born 11 September last" (1824)
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male negro child"
Notes: Son of Mary Smith, "a female negro servant"
Date of Record: 10 March 1825
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Nancy Smith
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1817
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "negro woman servant"
Notes: Mother of Mary, born 4 July 1817
Date of Record: 30 December 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Mary
Sex: Female
Age: Five months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 1817, 4 July
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female Mulatto child"
Notes: Daughter of Nancy Smith, "a negro woman servant"
Date of Record: 30 December 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Holiday, William
City or Township: Providence Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: See the listing for William Holliday in Huntingdon County, for the children of Sall.

Enslaved Person's Name: Sall
Sex: Female
Age: "fourteen Years of Age"
Date of Birth: 1766 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Girl"
Notes: The original registration for Sall reads as follows: "Sir I cannot atend this Day for [word unreadable] is very Bad. My negro wench is of Record her name is Sall fourteen years of age." (source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834)
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves

Slaveholder Name: Johnson, Joshua
City or Township: Colerain Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Farmer and Justice of the Peace
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Fanny
Sex: Female
Age: "Aged one year the Eleventh day of June 1788"
Date of Birth: 1807, November 14
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female negro"
Notes: Born in Bethel Township
Date of Record: 31 March 1807
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Lloyd, Henry
City or Township: Huntingdon Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: Lloyd original 1780 Registration reads as follows:

To Mr. David Espy Co Clk
Sir I desire you wold be pleas^d To Enter my Negroes in your Dock^t. acording to the act of asembly
I have five Gown Negroes and two young ones to wit Molatoes. No more to [word unreadable] but remane yor Very humble svt.
Hen Lloyd
Huntingdon october 27 1780
Sambo about 50 James about 32 years
Jacob about 20 philis about 40
Leah a molatoe about 24
Briget about 2 years old
Cubit an infant 1 Day old

Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834 For an image of this letter of Registration, click here.

Enslaved Person's Name: James
Sex: Male
Age: "About thirty two Years old"
Date of Birth: 1748 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Jacob
Sex: Male
Age: "About twenty Years old"
Date of Birth: 1760 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Phillis
Sex: Female
Age: "About forty Years old"
Date of Birth: 1740 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Woman"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Leah
Sex: Female
Age: "About twenty one Years old"
Date of Birth: 1759 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Mulattoe Woman"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Sambo
Sex: Male
Age: "About fifty Years old"
Date of Birth: 1730 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Briget
Sex: Female
Age: "About two Years old"
Date of Birth: 1778 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Mulattoe Girl"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves
Enslaved Person's Name: Cubit
Sex: Male
Age: "About one Day old"
Date of Birth: 27 October, 1780
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Mulattoe Boy"
Notes:
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves

Slaveholder Name: McClain, Thomas B.
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Jane
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1814
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female Negro woman," "servant"
Notes: Mother of Charlotte, born 31 October 1814
Date of Record: 16 December 1814
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Charlotte
Sex: Female
Age: Infant at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 1814, 31 October
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female Negro child"
Notes: Daughter of Jane, "a female Negro woman, servant of the said Thomas"
Date of Record: 16 December 1814
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: James
Sex: Male
Age: Infant at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 1814, 22 November
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male Negro child"
Notes: Son of Milia, "a female Negro woman"
Date of Record: 16 December 1814
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Miley, Abraham
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Sheriff
Notes: As Bedford Sheriff, Abraham Miley was not a slaveholder, but his position required him to take charge of suspected escaped slaves and try to find their owners.

Enslaved Person's Name: Joseph Killam
Sex: Male
Age: "aged about 30 years"
Date of Birth: circa 1754
Status: Suspected runaway slave -- liable to be sold back into enslavement in July 1784.
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Captured in September 1783 on Allegheny Mountain and imprisoned in the Bedford jail. Sheriff Abraham Miley placed the following ad in a Philadelphia newspaper to find his owner:
WAS committed to my custody, in the gaol of Bedford county, in the month of September last, a Negro MAN who calls himself JOSEPH KILLAM, aged about 30 years, about 5 feet 9 inches high, speaks very bad English, was taken up on the Allegany mountain; he sometimes says one person is his master and at other times another, but it is supposed that his master lives in Maryland from some hints he has given. Notice is hereby given to his master or owner (if he has any) to come and pay charges and take him away, otherwise he will be sold out for his fees at the next July court, by
ABRAHAM MILEY, sheriff.
Bedford, March 26, 1784.
Date of Record: 26 March 1784
Source: Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet and General Advertiser (Philadelphia), 20 May 1784.

Slaveholder Name: Piper, John
City or Township: Providence Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: The Registration letter for Ben is marked "Col John Piper."

Enslaved Person's Name: Ben
Sex: Male
Age: "about twenty two Years Old"
Date of Birth: 1758 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
Notes: Text of Registration: "To David Espy Clerk of the Sessions of Bedford County
Oct 28 1780
Sir
Pleas to Record one Negroe Man of Myne Named Ben Aged about twenty two years Agreeable to An Act of Assembly in that last March and provided to oblidge. Sir your Humble Servt. John Piper farmer
Providence Township" (source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834)
Date of Record: 28 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves

Slaveholder Name: Proctor, William Jr.
City or Township: Bedford Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Delia
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1817
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "negro Woman," "servant"
Notes: Mother of Henry, born 7 September 1816
Date of Record: 28 January 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Henry
Sex: Male
Age: Four months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 1816, 7 September
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Male Negro Child"
Notes: Son of Delia, "a negro Woman--servant of the said William Proctor Jun."
Date of Record: 28 January 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Reamer, Christian
City or Township: Bedford Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Nancy
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1813
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "negro woman servant"
Notes: Mother of George, born 15 August 1815, and another child, name not known, born in 1813. Previously the servant of Andrew Work, who petitioned the court to have Nancy's time of servitude extended due to the birth of these two children.
Date of Record: 12 February 1816
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: George
Sex: Male
Age: Six months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 1815, 15 August
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Negro"
Notes: Son of Nancy, "a negro woman servant of the said Christian Reamer (at the time of the birth of said child the property of Andrew Work)"
Date of Record: 12 February 1816
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Reiley, Martin
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Merchant
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
Sex: Female
Age: 22 April, 1797 (calculated from the court documents dated January 1819)
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "negro woman servant"
Notes: Mother of William, born 12 September 1814 (and Registered by John Reine), and Levinia, born 15 August 1816 (and Registered by John Buchannan). Mother of Sarah Ann, born about 20 June 1818. Sarah was originally owned by John Reine. After the birth of her child Levinia she was sold to John Buchannan, who in turn, on 13 June 1818, sold her to Martin Reiley. Reiley petitioned the court for an extension of the time of Sarah's servitude as a consequence of the birth of the child Sarah Ann. Her pregnant condition could not have been a surprise to him, as she gave birth one week from the date of her purchase. The text of court documents are below:
Petition of Martin Reiley Jany 7 1819
January term, 1819
The petition of Martin Reiley of Bedford Borough respectfully sheweth, that your petitioner on the 13th day of June last purchased the time of servitude of a certain Negro wench, named Sarah, from John Buchannan, of said Borough, the said Negroe wench being bound by Indenture to serve until the 22^d day of April A.D. 1825--That the said Servant, being a Single woman and bound by Indenture aforesaid, on or about the 20^th day of June last had a bastard child, born of her body, which your petitioner was put to great loss and damages & c.
Reiley then asked for an addition to Sarah's term of servitude "as your Honour may think fit."
Date of Records: (Sarah Ann's Registration) 17 September 1818; (Quarter Session documents) January Term, 1819
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah Ann
Sex: Female
Age: Three months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: "born about the middle of the month of June" (1818) Later court documents name the day of the month as the 20th.
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female negro child"
Notes: Daughter of Sarah, "a negro woman servant"
Date of Record: 17 September 1818
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Reine, John
City or Township: Bedford Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
Sex: Female
Age: 22 April, 1797 (calculated from the court documents filed by Martin Reiley and dated January 1819)
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female Negro woman," "servant"
Notes: Mother of William, born 12 September 1814, and Levinia, born 15 August 1816 and registered by John Buchannan. When Buchannan registered Levinia in February 1817, he also noted that Sarah was now his servant. Buchannan later sold Sarah to Martin Reiley.
Date of Record: 20 December 1814
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: William
Sex: Male
Age: Infant at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 1814, 12 September
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male Mulatto child"
Notes: Son of Sarah, "a female Negro woman, servant of said Reine"
Date of Record: 20 December 1814
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Reynolds, William
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Merchant, Esquire
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Hannah
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1815
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "servant negro woman"
Notes: Mother of Fanny, born 18 April, 1815, David Calahan, born 20 September, 1817 and George Nors, born 26 February, 1821. See below.
Date of Records: (Fanny) 7 September 1815, (David Calahan) 4 March, 1818, (George) 26 July 1821
Sources: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children | Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Fanny
Sex: Female
Age: About five months old at Registration
Date of Birth: 1815, 18 April
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "fem Mulatto child"
Notes: Daughter of Hannah
Date of Record: 7 September 1815
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: David Calahan
Sex: Male
Age: About five months old at Registration
Date of Birth: 1817, 20 September
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male mulatto child"
Notes: Son of Hannah, a "negro woman servant"
Date of Record: 4 March 1818
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: George Nors
Sex: Male
Age: Five months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 26 February, 1821
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male negro child"
Notes: Son of Hannah.
Date of Record: 26 July 1821
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: Phina
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1823
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female negro servant"
Notes: Mother of Charles Brown, born 7 April, 1823. See below.
Date of Record: 4 September 1823
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: Charles Brown
Sex: Male
Age: Five months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 7 April, 1823
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male negro child"
Notes: Son of Phina.
Date of Record: 4 September 1823
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children

Slaveholder Name: Riddle, Samuel
City or Township:
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Maria Dauphin
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1818
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Manumitted 3 January, 1818
Description: "woman"
Notes: Wife of William Dauphin, who bought her freedom for $193.50, on money borrowed from John Schell, Junior. Text of manumission document:
I acknowledge to have received of William Dauphin the note of Mr. John Schell Jun for the sum of one hundred and ninety three dollars and fifty cents. Said John Schell Jun. agreed to pay for William Dauphin who is accountable for the same to Mr. Schell and in consideration whereof I do hereby release all claim which I had to the services of Maria the wife of the said William and do hereby declare her a free woman.
Date of Record: 3 January 1818
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children

Slaveholder Name: Shannon, Robert
City or Township: Bedford Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Innkeeper
Notes: A notice in The True American, Bedford, Pennsylvania, notes that Robert Shannon purchased the Golden Eagle Tavern on east Pitt Street in the borough (November 9, 1814).

Enslaved Person's Name: Betty
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1816
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "negro woman," "servant"
Notes: Mother of Sarah, born 30 October 1816
Date of Record: 24 March 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
Sex: Female
Age: Four months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 1816, 30 October
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female negro child"
Notes: Partial text of Registration: "Sarah a female negro child born the thirtieth day of October AD 1816 in the Borough & County aforesaid, daughter of Betty a negro woman servant of the said Robert Shannon."
Date of Record: 24 March 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Shirley, John
City or Township: Woodbury Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: The Old-Greenfield Township Historical Society notes that the Shirley family moved into Bedford County in or about the year 1785. (http://www.motherbedford.com/ogths3.htm)

Enslaved Person's Name: Hannah
Sex: Female
Age: "Aged one year the Eleventh day of June 1788"
Date of Birth: 1787, June 11
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Negro Girl"
Notes: The Registration letter for Hannah reads as follows:
"The Return of John Shirley Woodberry Township Farmer
One Negro Girl named Hannah Aged one year the Eleventh day of June 1788
31 March 1789."
Date of Record: 31 March 1789
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Sam
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged five Months the 19th of this month October"
Date of Birth: 1791, May 19
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Mulattoe Boy"
Notes: The Registration letter for Sam reads as follows:
"John Shirley of Woodberry Township Bedford County Returned that he is the Possessor of one Mulattoe Boy named Sam aged five Months the 19th of this month October."
Date of Record: 11 October 1791
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Sides, Henry
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation: County Jailer
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Thomas Watkins
Sex: Male
Age: Age not given in description, but described as a "man"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Claims to be free; jailed as a possible escaped slave
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Watkins was arrested in Bedford County as a suspected runaway slave and jailed in Bedford. Jailer Henry Sides placed the following advertisement to find his owner, "if he has any."
Advertisement.
WAS committed to the Jail of Bedford county, A NEGRO MAN, who calls himself Thomas Watkins, who says he is a freeman, and was kidnapped by a Kentucky trader, from whom he ran away. The owner of said negro, if he has any, is desired to come within four weeks from this date, otherwise he will be discharged.
HENRY SIDES, Jailor.
Bedford, Sept. 21st, 1802.
N.B. Positive proof will be required, from any person claiming said negro, that he is a slave, before he will be delivered up.
Watkins' claim of being a free man who was kidnapped must have been believable to Jailer Sides, whose advertisement noted that "positive proof" would be required before Sides would be given up. This is a statement very rarely seen in jailer ads holding suspected escaped slaves. If Sides held to the four-week deadline for any slaveholder to claim Watkins, only six more days remained before the man would be released.
Date of Record: 21 September 1802
Source: The Franklin Repository Weekly (Chambersburg, PA), 13 October 1802.

Slaveholder Name: Walker, Judge Jonathan
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation: President Judge of the Fourth Judicial District (Bedford, Huntingdon, Mifflin and Centre Counties)
Notes: Transferred to Bedford from Bellefonte in 1814. Father of Robert J. Walker, Governor of Kansas Territory, 1857.

Enslaved Person's Name: Clara
Sex: Female
Age: About two months old at Registration
Date of Birth: "Born on or about 21 August last" (1814)
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female mulattoe Child"
Notes: Daughter of Hannah, a "female mulattoe servant." Judge Walker successfully petitioned the court for a two year extension of the time of servitude for Clara's mother as a consequence of having given birth to this child. (See below)
Date of Record: 8 November 1814
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Clarissa
Sex: Female
Age: About four months old at Registration
Date of Birth: "Born on or about the third day of April 1817."
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female mulattoe child"
Notes: "Daughter of Hannah, a female Mulattoe Servant." Judge Walker successfully petitioned the court for a two year extension of the time of servitude for Clarissa's mother as a consequence of having given birth to this child. (See below). Text of Registration:
Jonathan Walker of the Town & Borough of Bedford President of the Court of Common Pleas in the fourth Circuit of Penn^a consisting of the Counties of Bedford, Huntingdon Mifflin & Centre delivers to Davin Mann
Jonathan Walker aforesaid enters with & returns to the Clerk aforesaid, Clarissa, a female mulatto child born on or about the third day of April 1817, daughter of Hannah, a female Mulatto Servant of the said Jonathan for the term of twenty eight years, which said female mulatto child called & named, Clarissa as aforesaid the said Jonathan claims as his servant until she arrives at the age of twenty eight years.
Date of Record: 30 August 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Hannah
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1814
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years (extended four additional years by court order)
Description: "negress wench" in court documents, and "female mulattoe servant" in the registration of her child, Clara.
Notes: Mother of Clara, a "female mulattoe child" born 21 August 1814. Mother of Clarissa, born 3 August, 1817. Hannah was purchased in 1812 from John Blair of Huntingdon County, for $72. Judge Walker successfully petitioned the court for a two year extension of the time of servitude for Hannah as a consequence of having given birth to Clara. He subsequently did the same thing following the birth of Clarissa. See the text of court documents, below:
Documents concerning the birth of Clara:
To the honable Judge of the court of Quarter Sessions--The Petition of the undersigned himself sheweth that some time in the year 1812 your petitioner purchased a negress wench in Huntingdon County of John Blair of the name of Hannah who was duly recorded as a servant to the age of 28 & paid the full price of $72 for the said wench to the said John Blair as trustee for W^m Galbraith. That the time of service of the said servant has not yet expired. That on or about the 21st day of August last the said Hannah being a single unmarried woman had a bastard female child which is still alive. Your petitioner therefore prays that an order may be made by your Honble court upon the said Hannah to appear forthwith in Court to show cause if any she hath why her time of Servitude should not be enlarged after the expiration of her time of Servitude aforesaid. Not exceeding two years nor less than one according to the provisions of the 7^th Section of an Act of the Gen^l assembly aforesaid of the 1st March 1780 printed in [word unreadable] Titles Fornication & Negroes, as a compensation to your Petitioner for the loss & damages he has sustained by [word unreadable] the said wench having born a bastard child in manner aforesaid in the time of her servitude aforesaid & your Petitioner as is duty bound will ever pray.
[signed] Jonathan Walker
5^th April 1815 petition read and Rule upon the said Hannah to appear forthwith to shew cause why the prayer of the petitioner should not be granted by the Court.
[signed by clerk]
April 6th 1815 the said negress appearing before the Court, On hearing the Court order & directs that the within named Negress, shall serve her said master for the time of two years in addition to her present term of service--by reason of the expences incurred, as stated in the within petition.
[signed by clerk]
Documents concerning the birth of Clarissa:
Petition of Jonathan Walker Esq. Nov 5 1817
November Sessions 1817
Asking for extension of time of servitude of Hannah.
(Extracts)
*Hannah was purchased in Huntingdon County in 1812, of John Blair, trustee for William Galbraith, for $72.
*The time of servitude of said Hannah had already been extended in April 1815 by two years by the court of Quarter Sessions.
*That said Hannah, "being a single & unmarried woman had a bastard female child called Clarissa."
Bedford County[.] Jonathan Walker Esq^r being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that he served the within copy of a rule of this Court on the within named Hanna, this day by reading the same to her--and further saith that he offered to furnish her with money to employ counsel--to which the said Hannah answered that she believed she would not come into Court that it was unnecessary. Sworn and subscribed in open Court Nov. 1817.
November 6^th 1817 on hearing the Court order & direct that the said Negress Hannah serve her said master the term of two years, in addition to her time."
Date of Records: (Clara) April Sessions, 1815; (Clarissa) November Sessions 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Wallace, Ephraim
City or Township: Belfast Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Tanner
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Jean
Sex: Female
Age: Six years and one month old at Registration
Date of Birth: 1783, February (calculated)
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Negro Girl"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 March 1789
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

Slaveholder Name: Watson, Dr. William
City or Township: Bedford Borough
County: Bedford County
Occupation: "Doctor of Medicine"
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel Jameson
Sex: Female
Age: Not known, but an adult in 1815
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Servant," "negro woman"
Notes: Mother of Henry, born 28 May, 1815, Sophia, born 27 June, 1817, Sarah, born in 1819, Charles Jamison, born 3 May, 1821, and Jeremiah, born 22 February, 1822. See below.
Date of Records: (Henry) 16 October 1815, (Sophia) 24 November 1817, (Sarah) 8 February, 1820, (Charles) 21 July 1821, (Jeremiah) 18 July 1823
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: Henry
Sex: Male
Age: About four months old at Registration
Date of Birth: 1815, 28 May
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "male Negro child"
Notes: "Son of Rachel," a "negro woman"
Date of Record: 16 October 1815
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Sophia
Sex: Female
Age: About five months old at Registration
Date of Birth: 1817, 27 June
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female negro child"
Notes: Born in the borough of Bedford. "Daughter of Rachel a negro woman servant"
Date of Record: 24 November 1817
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
Sex: Female
Age: About five months old at Registration
Date of Birth: "born in the autumn of 1819" (Note that this entry violates the law by not specifying an exact date of birth)
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "female negro child"
Notes: "Daughter of Rachel a negro woman servant"
Date of Record: 8 February 1820
Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
Enslaved Person's Name: Charles Jamison
Sex: Male
Age: Three months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 3 May, 1821
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Male Negro child"
Notes: Son of Rachel Jamison. Text of registration:
William Watson of the borough of Bedford in the County of Bedford and the State of Pennsylvania, Doctor of Medicine, Possessing a Male Negro child born on the 3^d day of May last, named Charles, Son of Rachel Jamison a Servant of the said Dr. Watson until the age of twenty eight Years--Enters the same with the Clerk of the Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the said County, agreeable to the Act of Assembly Passed the 29th March 1788 which said Child the said William Watson claims as his servant until he arrives at the age of twenty eight Years.
Date of Record: 21 July 1821
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children
Enslaved Person's Name: Jeremiah Jameson
Sex: Male
Age: Five months old at time of Registration
Date of Birth: 22 February, 1822
Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
Description: "Male Negro child"
Notes: Son of Rachel Jameson.
Date of Record: 18 July 1823
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Children

Slaveholder Name: Woods, George
City or Township: Bedford Town
County: Bedford County
Occupation: Attorney at Law
Notes:

Enslaved Person's Name: Prince
Sex: Male
Age: "Aged seventeen Years"
Date of Birth: 1763 (calculated)
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Boy"
Notes:
Date of Record: 31 October, 1780
Source: Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Record of Negro and Mulatto Slaves

Slaveholder Name: Work, Andrew
City or Township: Bedford Township
County: Bedford County
Occupation:
Notes:
1. Enslaved Person's Name: Nancy
  Sex: Female
  Age: Not known, but an adult in 1813
  Date of Birth: Not known
  Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
  Description: "negro woman servant"
  Notes: Mother of George, born 15 August 1815, and another child, name not known, born in 1813. Work petitioned the court to have Nancy's time of servitude extended due to the birth of these two children. Text of court documents are below:
  Petition of Andrew Work
  1st April 1816 petition read. Rule upon Negress to appear at next Court of Q.S. to shew cause why the time of her servitude should not be enlarged, same day continued till next Court.
  L. Riddle assigned as counsel for the negress.
  To the Honorable the Judges of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the peace in and the said County. The Petition of Andrew Work respectfully Sheweth a certain Negress Nance [word unreadable] until the age of 28 years the Servant of your Petitioner in the year 1813 had a Bastard child, that since the said year 1813 & during the time of her being a Servant as aforesaid [word unreadable] in the [several words unreadable--original document is heavily worn at the paper crease] on July last the said Nance had another Bastard child, which said Bastard children are still living, that the time of service of the said Nance has not yet expired.
  [signed] Andrew Work
  Ownership of Nancy seems to have been transferred to Christian Reamer at some point between August 1815 and the filing of these court petitions. The Registration for the child George, in February 1816 says "son of Nancy a negro woman servant of the said Christian Reamer (at the time of the birth of said child the property of Andrew Work)." Yet Work filed his petition on 1 April, 1816. Date of Record: 12 February 1816
  Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
2. Enslaved Person's Name: ???
  Sex: Not specified in court documents
  Age: About three years old at time of petition
  Date of Birth: 1813
  Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
  Description: "Bastard child"
  Notes: Child of Nancy. Andrew Work petitioned the court to extend Nancy's time of servitude due to the birth of this child and the child George, born in 1815.
  Date of Record: (court documents) 1 April 1816
  Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834
3. Enslaved Person's Name: George
  Sex: Male
  Age: Six months old at time of Registration
  Date of Birth: 1815, 15 August (note: the April 1816 petition places the month of birth for George in July)
  Status: Slave to the age of 28 years
  Description: "Negro"
  Notes: Born in McConnelsburgh; Registered in February 1816 by Christian Reamer. Son of Nancy, "a negro woman servant of the said Christian Reamer (at the time of the birth of said child the property of Andrew Work)"
  Date of Record: 12 February 1816
  Source: Bedford County Misc Slave Records Circa 1780-1834

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Bedford County, Pennsylvania Slaveholders A - Z

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