slaveryto
freedom
A series of pages exploring
various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania
Enslavement in Pennsylvania
Slaveholders Enumerated in Lancaster County Supply Tax List, 1779
Listing of Slaveholders, Extracted from the "Return of the Effective Supply Tax for the County of Lancaster, 1779."
The County of Lancaster's Supply tax list for 1779 was transcribed and edited for use in the official state publication titled simply Pennsylvania Archives. Editor and historian William Henry Egle edited the series, published in 1897, and it remains a vital original research tool. The "Return of the Effective Supply Tax for the County of Lancaster, 1779" follows several years of colonial tax lists in Volume 17. It provides a snapshot of slaveholding in the county the year prior to passage of the Gradual Abolition Act of 1780. The 1780 law required all slaveholders to travel to the county seat of Lancaster to register all Black persons held as slaves, so this 1779 list adds data to that which is provided a year later.
The transcribed information in the published list provides no details on the enslaved persons themselves. It merely reports the number of taxable enslaved persons held by the named propertyholder, along with numbers of acres owned, number of horses owned and number of cattle owned. If the property owner had a still or other valuable operation such as a sawmill, it was also noted. Unlike previous year's tax lists, the total assessed tax was not reported for the property owners. The Supply Tax was a wartime "resolve" from the Continental Congress to fund the war against Great Britain. Pennsylvania authorized the tax on 03 April 1779 and sent proceeds to Congress for the purchase of wartime supplies, muntions and other expenses. The Congress itself, per the Articles of Confederation, had no taxing authority.
The list below is extracted data and shows only those property holders that had at least one enslaved taxable person in the year 1779. While colonial tax lists created for the crown taxed a category of property described only as "servants," which presumably included white indentured labor, tax lists beginning with the revolution specifically enumerated property in "Negroes," and are therefore valuable sources of information on slaveholding. Excluded from that property category and not enumerated or taxed were enslaved persons younger than age 12 and older than age 60, and Black servants or other workers, bound or free. Only Black enslaved persons between the ages of 12 and 60, designated in the enumeration as "Negroes," were enumerated and taxed, along with acres of land, horses, and cattle.
Slaveholders in 1779 are listed below in the order published for their township of residence, roughly alphabetical by surname. Lancaster County in 1779 encompassed territory and townships that would, in 1785, form the counties of Dauphin and in 1813 Lebanon. Those counties are included in this list. The spelling of slaveholders' names below is mostly preserved from the original 1779 records with corrections occasionally noted and most abbreviations spelled out. Misspelling of surnames, possibly recorded phonetically by the enumerator, are common. It is formatted as Last name, First name, notes or occupation, and number of "Negroes."
Listing of Slaveholders
Bart Township
McDowel, Samuel, 1
Ramsey, John, 1
Smith, John, Rev., 1
Thompson, Mary, mill, 1
Work, Andrew, 2
Wilson, James, 1
Bethel Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported in Bethel Township in 1779.
Jones's Town [Jonestown] in Bethel Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported in Jonestown in 1779.
Stump's Town [Stumptown] in Bethel Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported in Stumptown in 1779.
Brecknock Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported in Brecknock Township in 1779.
Carnarvan [Caernarvon] Township
David, Nathaniel, cutter, 3
Evans, John, mill, 1
Evans, James, 4
Evans, Joshua, tanner, 7
Evans, Nathan, 1
Good, Robert, 3
Hudson, Nicklaus, 1
Hughes, Edward, 1
Jenkins, David, 3
Morgan, Thomas, 4
Old, James, 4
Cocalico Township
Houck, George, 1
Jones, John, 1
Weyteman, Christophel, 2
Colerain Township
Gailbraith, James, 2
Miller, Joseph, Esq'r, 1
McConnel, William, 1
Scot, John, 1
Wacul, Edward, 3
Conestoge [Conestoga] Township
Haberstick, Michall, 2
Derry Township
Conder, Joseph, 1
White, William, 2
Humbels Town [Hummelstown] in Derry Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported for this town in 1779.
Donegall [Donegal] Township
Anderson, Widow, 1
Anderson, James, Junior, 1
Bealey, John, Esq., 2
Craig, Robert, Esq., 1
Clingan, Thomas, 2
Cook, James, 1
Cook, David, 2
Galbreath, Bartram, 1
Lowrey, Alexander, 2
Middleton, John, 1
Work, James, 1
Witmore, Widow, 1
Drumore Township
Ankrim, Archibald, 2
Boyd, John, 2
Bigham, William, 3
Cooper, David, 1
Evians, John, 7
Eckman, John, 3 m.s. 1
Fleck, John, 3
Forker, Hugh, 2
Forker, James, tennant [tenant] to Jerret Huy, 2
Franck, Sebastian, tennent [tenant] to Chr. Hors, 1
Greer, James, 5
Harah, Widow, 2
King, Robert, 1
Knox, James & Son, 2
McElroy, John, 2
Maxwel, James, 1
Maxwel, Robert, 3
Moore, James, smith, 4
Morison, Samuel & James, 11
McTeave, William, 8
McCullough, George, 3
Mitchel, David, 1
Neel, Thomas, 1
Nilson, William, 4
Richy & Bigham, 2
Richy, William, Junior, 2
Reed, William, 3
Steel, William, (205 acres) 1
Steel, William, (0 acres), 1
Earl Township
No taxable enslaved persons returned for Earl Township for 1779.
Elizabeth Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported for Elizabeth Township in 1779.
Hanover Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported for Hanover Township in 1779.
Heidelberg Township
Bassler, Thomas, mill, 1
Shitz, Peter, 1
Wolfsperger, Philip, 1
Mayers Town [Myerstown], Newman's Town [Newmanstown], and Shefer's Town [Scheafferstown], all in Heidelberg Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported for any of these towns in 1779.
Hempfield Township
Moore, Widow, 1
Lampiter [Lampeter] Township
Crawford, Widow, 1
Crawford, James, 1
Kendrick, Henry, 1
Kennady, John, 6
Lancaster Borough
Atlee, William, Esq'r, 1
Briedenhard, Chris'th, shopkeeper, 1
Bausman, William, 2
Gratz, Michael, 1
Gothbert, Thomas, hatter, 1
Graffert, Philip, tavern, 1
Graffert, Christopher, shopkeeper, 1
Hamilton, Charles, shop, 2
Hoofnagel, Peter, attorney, 2
Hubley, John, Esq., 2
Henry, William, Esq., 1
Kittera, Thomas, tavernkeeper, 2
Lockhard, Joseas, merchant, 1
Miller, John, gunsmith, 1
Marshal, Christopher, 1
Mosser, John, 2
Moor, George, 1
Mosser, Michael, tanner, 2
Mosser, George, tanner, 2
Parr, William, 2
Reigart, Adam, Tavernkeeper, 2
Ross, George, Junior, 4
Ross, George, Senior, 1
Reigart, Stophel, 2
Sanderson, George, coppersmith, 2
Slough, Matthias, merchant, 4
Simon, Joseph, merchant, 4
Smith, Thomas, 2
Wertz, Christ, merchant, 2
Welty, Anthony, tavern, 1
Zanzinger, Paul, merchant, 2
Lancaster Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported for Lancaster Township in 1779.
Leacock Township
Anderson, Margret, 1
Bear, Andrew, 1
Eckert, George, 1
Ferree, Joel, 1
Ferree, Jacob, 3
Hamilton, James, 2
Porter, William, 2
Skiles, William, 1
Skiles, Widow, 1
Wilson, John, 2
Woods, Adam, 1
Woods, Thomas, 1
Watson, David, 2
Lebanon Township
Dehas, John Philip, 1
Grubb, Curtiss, 8
Orth, Adam, 1
Little Brittain [Little Britain] Township
Atchison, John, 2
Atchison, Widow, 1
Arbuckel, William, 2
Alison, John & Robert, 4
Braden, James, 1
Campel, Robert, 2
Caldwell, James, 1
Ewing, Patrick, 5
Ewing, George, 3
Frazer, Joseph, 3
Grub, Widow, 2
Gilchrist, James, 2
Gibson, William, 6
Korpman, Chris't, 2
Mongumry, William, 6
Porter, William, mill, 3
Scot, John, 2
Scot, Samuel, 1
Walker, James, 1
London Derry [Londonderry] Township
Brodly, Samuel, 1
Campbel, James, 1
Foster, James, 2
Hay, Patrick, 1
Logan, John, 2
McQuin, David, 2
McCallister, Archibald, 2
Manheim Township
Ditrich, Philip, 1
Graff, Sebastian, 1
Mannor [Manor] Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported in Manor Township in 1779.
Martick [Martic] Township
Clark, William, 3
Gibson, John, 3 m.s., 7
Hess, George, 2 m.s., 2
Law, Cornelius, 1
McLaughlin, George, 1
Mount Joy Township
Moorehead, James, 5
Moore, William, 1
Robison, Thomas, 15
Paxton Township
Awl, Jacob, Tanner, 2
Byers, James, 1
Burd, James, 1
Cavet, John, 1
Cox, Cornelius, Esq'r, 2
Clindinon, John, 2
Crouch, James, 3
Duncan, James, 1
Elder, Joshua, Esq'r, mill, 3
Foster, John, 1
Fulton, Joseph, 1
Gilchrist, Robert, 1
Gallacher, John, 2
Gilchrist, John, Junior, 1
Harris, John, 1
Hoover, Math's, 1
Kerr, William, 1
Mongomry, David, 1
Mongomry, Joseph, Rev., 2
Ritchy, David, 1
Simpson, Widow, 1
Smith, Mathew, Esq'r, 2
Middletown in Paxton Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported for Middletown in 1779.
Rapho Township
Little, Joseph, 1
Patterson, James, 1
Robinson, Samuel, 1
Manheim Town in Rapho Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported for Manheim in 1779.
Sadsbury Township
Gay, William, 1
Gay, William, Junior, 1
Heard, James, 1
Johnstone, John, 1
Irwin, Isaac, 1
Loughhead, James, 1
Taylor, James, 3
Vogan, William, 1
Walker, Joseph, 1
Williams, Robert, Junior, 1
Salsbury [Salisbury] Township
Armor, John, 1
Anderson, James, 1
Boyd, William, 1
Baker, Frederick, 1
Climson, John, 1
Climson, James, mill, 1
Douglass, James, Junior, mill, 1
Erwin, Thomas, 1
Erwin, Josiah, 1
Elmaker, Leonard, 2
Elliot, Mary, 1
Fullerton, William, 2
Hughs, James, mill, 1
Hamilton, William, 3
Hopkins, John, 2
Henderson, Math's, 1
Henderson, Archibald, 1
Johnston, Thomas, 1
McCally, James, 2
McCammont, James & Isaac, 1
McCurdy, Archibald, 2
McCullough, John, 1
Smith, Robert, Rev., 2
Sterret, James, 1
Whitehel, John, Esq'r, 1
Whitehill, John, Junior, 1
Wilson, John, 1
Strasburg Township
Ferre, Cornelius, 1
Huston, Daniel, 1
Kenny, James, 1
Mille, John, 1
Trout, Paul, 1
Wither, Michael, 2
Upper Paxtang [Upper Paxton] Township
Irland, David, 1
Wiconisco District of Upper Paxtang [Upper Paxton] Township
No taxable enslaved persons reported in Wiconisco District for 1779.
Warwick Township
Balmer, Michael, 1
Grubb, Peter, 2 f.s., 7
Old, William, forge, 2
Source
"Provincial Papers: Proprietary and State Tax Lists of the County of Lancaster, for the Years 1771, 1772, 1773, 1779 and 1782," Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Vol. 17, William Henry Egle, M.D. Editor, Harrisburg, PA 1897, pp. 489-685.