Enslavement in Pennsylvania

Cumberland County Septennial Census of 1807

Listing of Enslaved Persons

The State of Pennsylvania took an enumeration of taxable inhabitants every seven years. Known as the Septennial Census, this enumeration also listed slaves in each county, by township, for some of the years. The amount of information on the slaves varies greatly. Some townships list the names of the slaves, others give only age and sex. Some townships include the descriptions "negro" or "mulatto". Slaveholders were not named in this census for this county. Note that Perry County was created from Cumberland County in 1820, therefore modern day Perry County townships are included here.

The ages of enslaved persons in this census are generally higher than in the 1800 census and fewer are listed. This is to be expected as the 1780 Gradual Abolition law began to take effect. Below each township heading is a transcript of the wording in the original document, with the original spellings. My notes and comments are in parentheses. Commas separate the data which was under appropriate headings on the census form. Those headings were "Names," "Sex," "Colour" and "Ages."

Townships Listed

Spellings are preserved from the original document.
  Allen | Southampton | Toboyne
Carlisle | Middleton | West Pennsbro
East Pennsbro | Shippensburgh | Dickinson
Tyrone
Statistics | Source

Enslavement Data

Allen Township

1. Isaac, a Man, Negro, 33 Years of Age
2. Mingo, a Man, Negro, 41 Years of Age
3. Dick, a Man, Negro, 37 Years of Age
4. Luce, a Woman, Mulatoe, 37 Years of Age
5. Jean, a Woman, Mulatoe, 35 Years of Age
6. Hannah, a Woman, Negro, 25 Years of Age

Borough of Carlisle

1. Dolly, A Woman, Mulatoe Slave, About 35 Years
2. Mila, A Woman, Negro Slave, About 30 Years
3. Philis Parks, A Woman, Negroe Slave, About 50 Years
4. Dolly, A Woman, Negroe Slave, About 60 Years
5. Sue or Susan, A Woman, Mulatoe Slave, About 44 Years
6. Joe or Joseph, A Man, Negroe Slave, About 50 Years

East Pennsbro Township

1. Hannah, A Woman, Negroe, 50 Years
2. Dina, A Woman, Negroe, 30 Years
3. Jenny, A Woman, Negroe, 60 Years
4. Sall, A Woman, Negroe, 65 Years
5. Dick, A Man, Negroe, 26 Years
6. Dine, A Woman, Negroe, 30 Years
7. Beck, A Woman, Negroe, 25 Years
8. Hanna, A Woman, Negroe, (age unreadable, original damaged)
9. Sarah, A Woman, Negroe, 28 Years

Dickinson Township

1. (No name returned), A Man, Negroe, 27 Years
2. (No name returned), A Woman, Negroe, 30Years

Southampton Township

1. Dunmore, A Man, Negro, 35 Years
2. Eanis, A Man, Negro, 28 Years
3. Phillis, A Woman, Negro, 35 Years

Middleton Township

1. Jack, A Man, Negro, About 40 Years
2. Fanny, A Woman, Negro, About 38 Years

Shippensburgh

1. (No name returned), Woman, 29 Years
2. (No name returned), Man, 53 Years
3. (No name returned), Woman, 51 Years
4. (No name returned), Woman, 45 Years
5. (No name returned), Man, 40 Years
6. (No name returned), Woman, 52 Years
7. (No name returned), Man, 46 Years
8. (No name returned), Man, 40 Years

Tyrone Township

1. Mary, A Woman, --, 50 Years
2. Frank, A Man, --, 24 Years
3. Rachel, A Woman, --, 33 Years
4. Thomas, A Man, --, 35 Years

Toboyne Township

1. Bob, A Man, Negro, 31 Years
2. Rachel, A Woman, Negro, 70 Years

West Pennsbro Township

1. (No name returned), A Man, Negro, (age unreadable, original torn)
2. (No name returned), A Man, Negro, 40 Years

Total

Statistics

Source: County Treasurer Tax Lists, 1807, (1 Volume); Roll No. 1, Reel No. 2971; MG262--General Microfilm Collection, Pennsylvania Septennial Census Returns, Cumberland County, 1807. Microfilm in the Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg Pennsylvania.