From Enslavement
  to Freedom
   
Black man in colonial clothing chopping wood.

A series of pages exploring
various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania

Enslavement in Kent County, Delaware Colony

Slaveholders Listed on this Page

  1. Colegate, Richard (Enslaved persons: James Wenyam)
  2. Wild, Thomas (Enslaved persons: Willis Brown)

Enslavement Data

  • Slaveholder Name: Colegate, Richard
    Town or Hundred:
    County: Kent County
    Occupation:
    Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: James Wenyam
      Age: "about 37 Years of Age"
      Sex: Male
      Date of Birth: circa 1709
      Description: "Molatto Man"
      Status: Slave for life; self emancipated July 1746
      Notes: Wenyam escaped from Colegate on July 2, 1746. Colegate placed the following escape notice in Pennsylvania newspapers:
      Philadelphia, July 31, 1746.
      RUN away the 2d of July from Richard Colegate, of Kent County on Delaware, a Molatto Man, named James Wenyam, of middle Stature, about 37 Years of Age, has a red Beard, a Scar on one Knee: Had on when he went away, a Kersey Jacket, a Pair of plain Breeches, a Tow Shirt, and a Felt Hat. He swore when he went away to a Negro Man, whom he wanted to go with him, that he had often been in the back Woods with his Master, and that he would go to the French and Indians, and fight for them.
      Whoever secures the said Molatto Man, and give Notice thereof to his Master, or to Abraham Gooding, Esq; or to the High Sheriff of Newcastle County, so that his Master may have him again, shall have Three Pounds Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by
      RICHARD COLEGATE.
      Date of Record 31 July 1746
      Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 07 August 1746.

  • Slaveholder Name: Wild, Thomas
    Town or Hundred: Dover
    County: Kent County
    Occupation: Jailer
    Notes:

    1. Enslaved Person's Name: Willis Brown
      Age: Age not specified in escape notice, but probably an adult man
      Sex: Male
      Date of Birth: Not known
      Description: "Mulatto"
      Status: Not determined; escaped from Dover jail
      Notes: William Brown escaped from the Dover jail on January 2, 1776. Jailer Wild placed the following escape notice in Pennsylvania newspapers:
      TWENTY SHILLINGS REWARD.
      BROKE out of Dover gaol, in Kent County on Delaware, the 2d of January last, a certain WILLIS BROWN, (Mulatto) who passes under the character of a parson and doctor, very talkative, he is about five feet seven or eight inches high; had on when he went away, a brown great coat, a light coloured jacket with sleeves, an old pair of blue trowsers, an old pair of shoes and a hat.
      Whoever takes up the said Willis Brown and secures him in any of his Majesty's gaols, so that the subscriber may get him again, shall have the above reward, paid by
      THOMAS WILD, Gaoler.
      Date of Record 26 February 1776
      Source: Pennsylvania Packet, 26 February 1776.

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