Slaveholders Listed on this Page
- Dearmond, Richard (Enslaved persons listed: Rachel; Venus; Joseph; Tom; Dina; Samuel)
- Detweiler, David (Enslaved persons listed: Emilin)
- Dickey, William (Enslaved persons listed: Bett)
- Didding, John (Enslaved persons listed: George Dillin)
- Dorrance, Henry B. (Enslaved persons listed: Mark)
- Duncan, James (Enslaved persons listed: Betty; Sam Roach)
- Duncan, Jean (Enslaved persons listed: Betty)
- Duncan, John (Enslaved persons listed: Crist)
- Eisenhower, John (Enslaved persons listed: Hectir)
- Elder, David (Enslaved persons listed: York)
- Elder, John (Enslaved persons listed: William)
- Elder, Joshua (Enslaved persons listed: Peter; Rachel; Clarey; Jane; Richard; un-named male; Jack; Pero; Gin; Susanna; Silvia; Charles)
- Elder, Robert (Enslaved persons listed: un-named male)
- Elder, Thomas (Enslaved persons listed: Lydia; Henry)
- Elen, David (Enslaved persons listed: Ruth)
- Espy, Josiah (Enslaved persons listed: Sarah)
- Ferguson, David (Enslaved persons listed: Will; Amelia; Peter; Gibe; Derry; Lucy)
- Fisher, George (Enslaved persons listed: Hannah)
- Forster, James (Enslaved persons listed: Sam)
- Forster, John (Enslaved persons listed: Ambrose)
- Foster, John (Enslaved persons listed: Charlotte)
- Fox, John (Enslaved persons listed: Eve)
- Frazer, William (Enslaved persons listed: Jane; Charlotte; Ruth)
- French, John (Enslaved persons listed: Lonon)
- Fulton, Joseph (Enslaved persons listed: Abigal, Jack)
- Fulton, William (Enslaved persons listed: Dirick)
Enslavement Data
Slaveholder's Name: Dearmond, Richard
Township: West Hanover
County: Dauphin
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: Dearmond traveled with James Wilson on October 12, 1780 to Lancaster to register their slaves. The clerk recorded "Dearmond, Richard & James Wilson of Hanover township, farmers, enter as owners" Tom, Negroe Man, about 20 years of age, slave during life; Dina, Negroe Wench, about 20 years of age, slave during life; Samuel, Negroe Boy, about one year old, slave during life; London, Negroe Man, about 23 years of age, slave during life; Sip, Negroe Wench, about 22 years of age, slave during life and Hege, Negroe Girl, about four years old, slave for 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 a guide, it is possible to determine who held which slaves.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel Thomas
Sex: Female
Age: Five years old at Registration
Date of Birth: August 1783
Description: "Negro" (Description provided at 1789 Registration)
Date of Record: 25 March 1789
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28. The Harrisburg 1821 Registry of African Americans listed Rachel Thomas, aged 42, who was "brought up by Mr. Dearmon and Sarved her time with Jary Rees." Since she was registered in 1789 as the child of a slave, born in 1783, so it seems she overestimated her own age when she reported her age to the registry. At some point, Dearmond sold Rachel to
Jeremiah Rees, of Harrisburg. Rachel Thomas is listed on page 3 of the 1821 Register, living "at Mr. Daugherty['s]" with a 5-year-old child.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"; "Harrisburg Registry of Free African Americans, 1821-1826," Archives of the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 17 February 2025.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Venus
Sex: Female
Age: Three years old at Registration
Date of Birth: June 1785
Description: Negro
Date of Record: 25 March 1789
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 17 February 2025.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Joseph
Sex: Male
Age: Seventeen months old at Registration
Date of Birth: October 1787
Description: Negro
Date of Record: 25 March 1789
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 17 February 2025.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
Sex: Male
Age: about 20 years old at registration (1780), but described as 28 years old in June 1786 runaway ad.
Date of Birth: circa 1760 (Registration); circa 1758 (Escape ad)
Description: "Negroe Man"
Date of Record: 12 October 1780
Notes: Status: "Slave during life." Described as "Negroe Man," registered at Lancaster. Tom ran away in June 1786. Dearmond placed the following advertisement to recapture him:
Eight Dollars Reward.
Ran-Away on the 26th inst., a Negro Man, named Tom, about 28 years of age, had on and took with him, one blue coat, one white ditto, two cotton jackets, one pair corduroy breeches, and one pair leather ditto, one fine shirt ruffled at the breast, two course ditto, one pair trowsers, two pair stockings, had a down look, pitted with the small pox, & wears a queue.
Whoever takes up and secures said Negro, so that his master may have him again, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges paid, by me,
Richard Dearmond.
Hanover Township, Dauphin Co. June 27th, 1786.
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780" | Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, 24 July 1786.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Dina
Sex: Female
Age: about 20 years old at registration
Date of Birth: circa 1760
Description: "Negroe Wench"
Date of Record: 12 October 1780
Notes: Status: "Slave during life." Described as "Negroe Wench," registered at Lancaster.
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Samuel
Sex: Male
Age: about one year old at registration; ran away at 17 years old.
Date of Birth: circa 1779
Description: "Negroe Boy"
Date of Record: 12 October 1780
Notes: Status: "Slave during life." Described as "Negroe Boy," registered at Lancaster.
Notes: Samuel escaped from Dearmond on Sunday, June 5th, 1796. When Dearmond was unable to find him, he placed an ad at the end of June in the Philadelphia newspaper, The United States Gazette, which had a circulation throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
Twenty Dollars Reward.
RAN away from the Subscriber, living near Harrisburgh, county of Dauphin, and State of Pennsylvania, on Sunday, 5th inst. A NEGRO MAN, named SAM, about 17 or 18 years of age, 5 feet, 7 or 8 inches high; has no particular mark, but apt to look down when charged with a fault. Had on and took away, a home-made cloth coat, and overalls of the same, striped jean jacket, felt hat, almost new, calf skin shoes, and white shirt.
The above reward will be paid to any person who will secure said negro in any goal, so that his master may hear of the same, and reasonable charges paid, if brought home to
RICHARD DEARMOND.
June 29
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"; The United States Gazette (Philadelphia, PA), 02 July 1796, page 2.
- Slaveholder's Name: Detweiler, David
Township: Derry
County: Dauphin
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: The clerk recorded Detweiler's name as "David Dedwiler."
- Enslaved Person's Name: Emilin or Emilia
Sex: Female
Age: Four months old at Registration
Date of Birth: 21 September 1807
Description: Negro
Date of Record: 02 February 1808
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28. Professor Young transcribes this person's name as "Emilia" in the JATR database. County historian Kelker transcribes her name as "Emilin."
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 17 February 2025.
- Slaveholder's Name: Dickey, William
Township: Paxtang
County: Dauphin
Occupation: Farmer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Bett
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Date of Birth: circa 1758
Description: "Mulatto Woman"
Date of Record: 25 October 1780
Notes: Registered at Lancaster as a "Mulatto Woman," 22 years old., a "slave during life."
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Slaveholder's Name: Didding, John
Township: Susquehanna Township
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes:
Enslaved Person's Name: George Dillin
Sex: Male
Age: "between the age of 16 and 17"
Date of Record: 19 March 1842
Notes: George Dillin escaped from Didding on Saturday, March 12, 1842. Didding placed the following advertisement in local newspapers to recover him:
One Dollar Reward!
RANAWAY from the subscriber, living in Susquehanna township, Dauphin county, on Saturday the 12th inst., A BRIGHT MULATTO BOY, named George Dillin. Said boy was between the age of 16 and 17, and had on when he went away a frock coat, brush hat, (nearly new) Cassinett pants, and brown cloth vest.
Whoever takes up said boy, and returns him to the subscriber, shall receive the above reward -- but no charges will be allowed.
JOHN DIDDING.
March 19
Sources: The Keystone (Harrisburg, PA), 23 March 1842.
- Slaveholder's Name: Dorrance, Henry B.
City or Town: Halifax
County: Dauphin
Occupation: Physician
Notes: Dorrance's occupation is established with the following advertisement from the Harrisburg Republican, September 17, 1816:
Dr. Henry B. Dorrance,
Having recently removed to the town of Halifax, takes this method to inform the public, that he will promptly comply with their calls in his professional business, viz. practice of physic, surgery and midwifery. A share of public patronage will be thankfully received and gratefully acknowledged.
Halifax; August 27, 1816.
Microfilm of the Harrisburg Republican, Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Dorrance was active in county politics in the 1820s, and in 1821 paid for and hosted a large July 4 picnic on Stewart's Island, near Halifax. (Harrisburg Chronicle, 16 July 1821.)
- Enslaved Person's Name: Mark
Sex: Male
Age: Five months old at Registration
Date of Birth: 07 June 1820
Description: Mulatto
Date of Record: 24 November 1820
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"; Young, Cory James. "A Just and True Return: Pennsylvania’s Surviving County Slave Registries, 1780-1826." Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation 3, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.25971/QS08-YE30. Accessed 17 February 2025.
- Slaveholder's Name: Duncan, James
Location: Paxton Township
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes: By the time his enslaved man Sam Roach escaped in 1794, Sam's ownership had changed to Benjamin Duncan.
James Duncan is buried in Newside Cemetery, Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Betty
Sex: Female
Age: aged 21 at registration
Slave Date of Birth: 1759 (calculated)
Date of Record: 23 October 1780
Slave Status: Registered in 1780 at Lancaster as Bett, a "Negroe Woman," 21 years of age, "a slave."
Notes: In July 1800, Betty is listed with slaveholder Jean Duncan of Lower Paxton Township.
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sam Roach
Sex: Male
Age: Aged 3 years at registration; escaped at age 17.
Date of Record: 12 Octobber 1780
Notes: Registered at Lancaster as Sam, a "Negroe Boy, three years of age, "a slave." Sam escaped on December 19, 1794. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, January 7, 1795) He was subsequently captured and committed to the Chester County jail in early 1795. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 6, 1795)
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Slaveholder's Name: Duncan, Jean
Location: Lower Paxton Township
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Betty
Sex: Female
Age: 40 (see notes for Betty, held by James Duncan, above)
Date of Birth: 1760 (calculated) (see notes for Betty, held by James Duncan, above)
Date of Record: July 1800
Status: Slave for life
Notes: In October 1780, Betty was registered as a slave for life by slaveholder James Duncan of "Paxtang" Township.
Source:Tax Lists, Inhabitants and Slaves, 1800, 1807
| "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Slaveholder's Name: Duncan, John
Location:
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes: Died October, 1788. Husband of Ann.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Crist
Sex: Male
Age: Not known
Date of Birth: Not known
Date of Record: October 25, 1788
Status: Not determined
Notes: In his will, dated June 1788 and proved October 25, 1788, John Duncan left his "slave Crist" to his grandson-in-law David Ritchey.
Source:"Slaves and Indentured Servants in Dauphin County Wills"
- Slaveholder's Name: Eisenhower, John
City or Town:
Township:
County: Dauphin
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: Son of Michael and Esther Eisenhower. Buried in Wenrich's Cemetery, Lower Paxton Township. Died June 21, 1861.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Hectir (Hector)
Sex: Male
Age:
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Not determined.
From Wenrich's Records: "Hectir was the name of his slave. He could ride or drive the oxen. Very often he would ride on, over to Caspar Heckerts home in Heckert's Gap. He is buried at Caspar Heckarts home. 'He loved nature, fields woods sky, night lightening and thunder.' "
Source: Wenrich's Records, page 43
- Slaveholder's Name: Elder, David
City or Town: Harrisburg
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: York
Sex: Male
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Slaveholder's Name: Elder, John
City or Town: Annville
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: William
Sex: Male
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Slaveholder's Name: Elder, Joshua
City or Town: Harrisburg
Township: Paxtang Township, Lancaster County (1780)
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes: More on Joshua Elder, including an image of a slave sale advertisement.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Peter
Sex: Male
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Rachel
Sex: Female
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Clarey
Sex: Undetermined
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jane
Sex: Female
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Richard
Sex: Male
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: ? (possibly the enslaved child Peter, above)
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Date of Record: 16 January 1808
Notes: Status: A slave to age 28. Offered for sale in early 1808. Click here for an image of that ad.
Source: The Oracle of Dauphin, January 16, 1808
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jack
Sex: Male
Age: 36
Date of Record: 23 October 1780
Notes: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe Man," 36 years of age, "a slave."
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780
- Enslaved Person's Name: Pero or Abraham
Sex: Male
Age: 29 (age recorded at Registration);
Date of Record: 23 October 1780 (Registration); 5 September 1780 (Bucks County Jailer's ad);
Notes: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe Man," 29 years of age, "a slave, now absent." Egle lists this enslaved man's name as "Pero." He escaped from Elder along with the enslaved woman of Mary Smith, in June of 1780, several months before Elder registered him, and Elder noted his absence on the registration. Elder, along with slaveholder Mary Smith, published the following escape notice in early August of 1780, prior to registrations:
One Hundred Dollars Reward.
RAN AWAY from the subscriber living in Paxton township, Lancaster county, on the 18th of June last, two Negroes, a Man and a Woman; the man is a fat chunky fellow, about thirty years of age: The Woman is about 23 years of age, and of a small size. It is needless to describe their cloathing, as they have more with them than they can wear at one time, and each of them a blanket. Whoever takes up said Negroes, so that the onwer many have them again, shall have the above reward for each, and reasonable charges paid by
JOSHUA ELDER, or
MARY SMITH.
In late August, 1780, both Pero and Susannah were captured in Bucks County and placed in the jail at Newtown. They gave different names when jailed, but eventually told the jailer the names their enslavers knew them by. The jailer's ad is below:
Newtown, Bucks county, September 5, 1780.
WAS committed to my custody on the twenty-seventh of August, a NEGROE MAN, who was committed by the name of ABRAHAM, but now says his name is PERO, about twenty-seven years of age, five feet six or seven inches high, speaks Dutch and broken English, but a good deal on the Negroe tongue. He says he belongs to George Elder, a Magistrate in or near Paxton.
Likewise a NEGROE WENCH, who was committed by the name of BETTY, but confesses her name to be SUSANNAH, about twenty three years of age, speaks Dutch and broken English. She says she belongs to the Widow Smith, or her son Samuel Smith, near the same place. The Man says he was bought out of New Jersey, the Wench out of Esopus, in the State of New York. But their confession was with so much reluctance, and speaking bad English, that no exact description can be given of the place they came from. The owners are desired to come, pay charges, and take them away.
JAMES GREGG, Goaler.
Because of Pero's thick accent, Jailer Gregg misheard "George Elder" for Joshua Elder or possibly "Josh Elder." Note also that Pero said Elder purchased him out of New Jersey. Pero seems to have been headed toward New Jersey, ending up in Newtown, only six miles from the border.
Elder and Smith must have seen Jailer Gregg's ad, because they traveled to Newtown to get the pair. Smith seems to have successfully returned to Paxton Township with Susannah, but Elder could not so easily hold on to Pero. On the 22nd of September, Joshua Elder reported that he lost Pero at Stedtler's (Stetler's) Tavern in what is now Trappe, Montgomery County. He described the newly escaped man as "a Negroe man...about 28 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches high," traveling with "a great bundle of clothes tied up in a blanket." Elder offered two hundred dollars reward for Pero's return. But he had not yet recovered him by late October of that year, when he went to Lancaster to register the man, as he registered him as "a slave, now absent."
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780 | The Pennsylvania Packet, 06 August 1780 | The Pennsylvania Gazette, 27 September 1780 | Dunlap and Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser, 30 September 1780.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Gin
Sex: Female
Age: 19
Date of Record: 23 October 1780
Notes: Status: Slave for life. Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe Woman," 19 years of age, "a slave."
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780
- Enslaved Person's Name: Susanna
Sex: Female
Age: 2 years old at registration
Date of Record: 23 October 1780
Notes: Status: Slave for life. Registered at Lancaster as a "Mulatto Girl," 2 years of age, "a slave."
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780
- Enslaved Person's Name: Silvia
Sex: Female
Age: 6 months old at registration
Date of Record: 23 October 1780
Notes: Status: Slave for life. Registered at Lancaster as a "Negro Girl," 6 months of age, "a slave."
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780
- Enslaved Person's Name: Charles
Sex: Male
Age: 40
Date of Record: January 11, 1805
Notes: Status: Slave for life. Ran away on November 5th, 1804. Text of runaway notice, from the Lancaster Journal, January 11, 1805:
RAN-AWAY FROM the subscriber living in Harrisburgh, on the 5th of November last, a negro man, named CHARLES, forty years old, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, a stout made fellow, has some scores down his cheeks common to the Guinea negroes, and is fond of strong liquor. He went off in a drunken frolick, and took with him only his wearing clothes, which were an old blue cloth coat with large metal buttons, broad striped swansdown jacket, coarse shirt and trowsers, half worn shoes, yarn stockings, and a good fur hat.
Whoever takes up and secures said runaway in any jail, so that his master can get him again, shall be entitled to FIFTEEN DOLLARS reward, and reasonable charges paid, by JOSHUA ELDER. January 11.
Of particular interest in the advertisement above is the statement "has some scores down his cheeks common to the Guinea negroes." This evidence of tribal scarification markings is rare in this time and place.
Charles was captured, but escaped again, this time on October 19, 1806. Charles planned better, taking more clothing and a faked pass. Elder placed the following ad, which elaborates on the cheek scars:
RAN AWAY
FROM the subscriber, living in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, on Sunday night the 19th instant, a negro man named CHARLES, about 40 years of age, about 5 feet 9 inches high, stout made, has three scores down each cheek, common to African negroes, is fond of whiskey, and when drunk very talkative, speaks through his nose. had on and took with him, a blue coating great coat with velvet cape, a light coloured fustian roundabout jacket, four or five under jackets, and as many shirts, trowsers and stockings of each, a good fur hat and new pair of shoes. Whoever takes up said negro and secures him so that his master may have him again, shall receive THIRTY DOLLARS reward, and reasonable charges paid by
Joshua Elder.
N.B. It is supposed he will change his name, as he was detected about 12 miles from home the second night after he went away, when he produced a pass.
Oct 31
It is possible that Charles was again captured. Two years later, Elder advertised for sale an enslaved man of about his age. Slaveholders frequently sold enslaved persons who made repeated escape attempts.
Sources: 97, also United States Gazette, 20 November 1806, page 4.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Name not given in source
Sex: Male
Age: 40
Date of Record: 18 October 1808
Notes: Status: Slave for life. Offered for sale on October 18, 1808.
Source: 47
- Slaveholder's Name: Elder, Robert
Township: Swatara
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Name not given in source
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Date of Record: July 08, 1808
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28. Offered for sale in July, 1808.
Source: 48
- Slaveholder's Name: Elder, Thomas
City or Town: Harrisburg
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Lydia
Sex: Female
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Henry
Sex: Male
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Slaveholder's Name: Elen, David
Owner's Location: Halifax
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes: Surname may be a misspelling of Allen?
- Enslaved Person's Name: Ruth
Sex: Female
Age: 13
Date of Record: 1807
Slave Date of Birth: 1794 (calculated)
Slave Status: Slave to age 28
Notes: Listed in an 1807 list of slaves in Halifax, Dauphin County as follows: "Ruth a Molattoe age 13, female, owner David Elen."
Source: Tax Lists, Inhabitants and Slaves, 1800, 1807
- Slaveholder's Name: Espy, Josiah
Owner's Location: Lower Paxton Township
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sarah
Sex: Female
Age: 60
Date of Record: July 1800
Slave Date of Birth: 1740 (calculated)
Slave Status: Not Determined
Notes:
Source: Tax Lists, Inhabitants and Slaves, 1800, 1807
- Slaveholder's Name: Ferguson, David
Township: West Hanover
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Will
Sex: Male
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Amelia
Sex: Female
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Peter
Sex: Male
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Gibe
Sex: Undetermined
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Derry
Sex: Male
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Lucy
Sex: Female
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Slaveholder's Name: Fisher, George
City or Town: Middletown
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes: Egle identifies Fisher as the Founder of Middletown. Although a Quaker, Fisher held on to his slave Hannah, not manumitting her during his lifetime, but providing for her manumission in his will. For a photo of the Pennsylvania state historical marker honoring Fisher, click here.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Hannah
Sex: Female
Age: ?
Date of Record: February 22, 1777
Notes: Status: Manumitted in 1781. From the will of George Fisher: "Item. I do order and hereby declare that my Negro Wench called Hannah be Immediately set free after my decease, and that my Executors do pay her out of my Estate during her life the Annual Sum of Six pounds lawful money aforesaid." The will was dated 22 February, 1777. Fisher died in October, 1781.
Source: Egle, "Notes and Queries," Third Series, Volume 1, page 18.
- Slaveholder's Name: Forster, James
Township: Londonderry
County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at the time of the 1780 registration)
Occupation:
Notes: James Forster's enslaved person was registered at Lancaster on November 1, 1780 "by his attorney William Hay of the same place [Londonderry Township]." On that same day, Hay also registered two enslaved people for William Moore of Londonderry Township.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sam
Sex: Male
Age: 17
Date of Record: 01 November 1780
Notes: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe Man," 17 years old, a "slave during life."
Source:"Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Slaveholder's Name: Forster, John
Township: Paxton
County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of registration)
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Ambrose
Sex: Male
Age: 24
Date of Record: September 21, 1780
Notes: Status: Slave for life. Described as "Negro Man" in registration. Registered in Lancaster.
Source:"Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Slaveholder's Name: Foster, John
Township: Susquehanna
County: Dauphin
Occupation: Unknown
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Charlotte
Sex: Female
Age: 22a
Date of Record: May 5, 1820
Notes: Status: Runaway
Source: 51
- Slaveholder's Name: Fox, John
Township: Derry
County: Dauphin
Occupation: Unknown
Notes: Two John Fox's were enumerated during the 1807 Septennial Census; John Fox was listed as an innkeeper and the other, John Fox Jr., did not have an occupation listed.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Eve
Sex: Female
Age: 45
Date of Record: 1807
Notes: Status: Undetermined. This was the only slave recorded in the township during the 1807 Septennial Census.
Source: 40
- Slaveholder's Name: Frazer, William
Township: Londonderry
County: Dauphin
Occupation:
Notes: Surname also spelled Frazier in some records. Lived circa 1763-January 1816.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jane
Sex: Female
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Charlotte
Sex: Female
Age: ?
Date of Record:
Notes: Status: Slave to age 28.
Source: "Children of Previously Registered Slaves"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Ruth
Sex: Female
Age: "Girl"
Date of Birth:
Description: "Mulatto girl"
Status: Enslaved for a term of years; self-emancipated 1816
Date of Record: February 16, 1816
Notes: With the death of William Frazier imminent, Ruth was given leave to "hunt another master." She did not return after Frazer's death in January, and the administrator of Frazier's estate placed the following escape notice in local newspapers when he could not locate her in order to settle the estate:
Fifteen Dollars Reward.
A MULATTO girl named RUTH, belonging to the estate of William Frazer, of Londonderry township, Dauphin county, deceased, having procured a pass in order to hunt another master, went to Middletown, stopped at Mr. M'Cord's, innkeeper, staid there some weeks, and after the death of Mr. Frazer, being sent for, it appears she had gone away from said M'Cord's about two weeks ago. There is no doubt but she has her indenture, and will endeavor to prove she is free. She is a stout girl, and is some what reel-footed: took her clothes with her.
Whoever takes up said mulatto and returns her to William Hamilton, administrator of said estate, or secures her in the jail of this county, shall have the above reward and other reasonable expenses paid, by
William Hamilton, Adm'r.
Feb 6, 1816.
N.B. Possibly she has gone into York county.
Source: Pennsylvania Republican, 06 February 1816. 49
- Slaveholder's Name: French, John
Township: Hanover
County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at the time of the 1780 registration)
Occupation: Farmer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Lonon (London?)
Sex: Male
Age: about 24 years old at registration
Date of Record: 01 November 1780
Notes: Name possibly a misspelling of "London?" Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe Man, age about 24 years, a slave for life."
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Slaveholder's Name: Fulton, Joseph
Township: Paxtang
County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of 1780 registration)
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: In his will, dated January 21, 1787 and proved May 25, 1787, Joseph Fulton leaves one "negro boy" to his brother Richard, and after Richard to his son Richard. Fulton leaves a second "negro boy" to his nephew Richard Wallace. "Slaves and Indentured Servants in Dauphin County Wills"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Jack
Sex: Male
Age: 2 years old at registration
Date of Record: 26 October 1780
Notes: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe Boy," 2 years old, a "slave for life."
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Enslaved Person's Name: Abigal
Sex: Female
Age: "about 29 years" at registration
Date of Record: 26 October 1780
Notes: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe Wench, about 29 years old," a "slave for life."
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
- Slaveholder's Name: Fulton, William
Township: Paxtang
County: Dauphin (Lancaster, at time of 1780 registration)
Occupation: Farmer
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Dirick
Sex: Male
Age: "age about10 years"
Date of Record: 26 October 1780
Notes: Registered at Lancaster as a "Negroe Boy, age about 10 years," a "slave for life."
Sources: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves and Servants, 1780." | "Slaves in Lancaster County in 1780"
|
Enslavement
