to seek
freedom...

the Underground Railroad
in Central Pennsylvania

Adams County
 Runaway Slave Removal List

Warrants for Slave Removals, Adams County, Pennsylvania
(From microfilm at the Adams County Courthouse)
Compiled by Debra McCauslin
www.gettysburghistories.com

 
Singleton Burgee, Frederick Co, MD, claims James Campbell, 1828

Be it remembered that on the fourteenth day of June eighteen hundred and twenty-eight Singleton Burgee, of Frederick County in the state of Maryland brought before the subscriber one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas for said county a dark mulatto man called James Campbell, 5 ft 6 in high, 30 years old, has a scar on his hand and acknowledged himself to be the slave of said Burgess-To whom an order was granted on the same day for his removal according to law Given my hand and seal this 16th day of June 1828. M McClean

William Clagett, Prince George Co, MD, claims Henry, 1828

Be it remembered that on the fourteenth day of October Eighteen hundred and twenty eight, William Clagett of Prince George County in the state of Maryland brought before the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Please for said County by virtue of a warrant issued by Justice Baugher- A Negro man called Henry, eighteen years of age, five feel high-dark colour , satisfactory evidence being had, that said Henry owed service to the said Mr. Clagett in a Warrant for removal was granted according to law. Given under my hand…….

Roger Johnston, Frederick Co, MD, claims Isaac Thomas, 1828

Be it remembered that on this thirteenth day of June A. D. 1828 Benjamin Beal, the legally authorized Agent of Roger Johnston of Frederick County Maryland, brought before me one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, Negro Isaac Thomas who says he is the property of said Johnston-he is fifty years of age 5 feet 8 inched high dark complexion-had a wart on one side of his face- I have therefore granted a warrant of removal to the said Benjamin Beals according to law. Given thunder my hand….

Frederick Dorsey, Washington Co, MD, claims Jonas Poyer, 1828

Twenty seventh day of May Eighteen hundred and twenty eight, Doc. Frederick Dorsey of Washington County in the state of Maryland, obtained from the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Please, for said county a warrant of removal for his Negro slave Jonas Poyer, light colored-stout male, about five feet ten inches in height, supposed to be twenty five years of age- Given under my hand and seal this fifth day of June eighteen hundred and twenty eight. M McClean

Walter C. Winston, Culpepper Co, VA, claims Edmund, 1829

Whereas Walter C. Winston of Culpepper County in the state of Virginia hath this day in pursuance of a warrant granted by the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County-brought before me Negro Edmund-who acknowledged he was the slave of said Winston. He is dark color, five feet five inches high between twenty five and thirty years of age-bends forward in walking-has a large scar on the inside of his right wrist- A warrant for his removal was therefore granted to said owner conformably to the act of assembly in such case made and provided. Given under my hand and seal this ? day of May 1829.

Benjamin Murdock, Frederick Co, MD, claims Caleb, 1828

Be it remembered that on this thirteenth day of June eighteen hundred and twenty-eight William Kingsbury, the properly authorized agent of Benjamin Murdock of Frederick County Maryland, brought before me one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the county, Negro Caleb who says he is the slave of said Murdock-forty years of age, 5 ft 8 or 9 inches high, dark yellow complexion. I have granted a warrant of removal to the said Wm. Kingsbury according to law.

William P. Mills, Baltimore Co, MD, claims Mary

Granted a warrant to Wm. P. Mills of Baltimore County Maryland for the removal of Negro Mary about 18 or 19 years old-Middle statue and a lively gait-she acknowledged the ownership of said Mills. Given my hand and seal this day M McClean

Michael Blessing, Frederick Co, MD, claims a Mulatto Man, 1830

I hereby certify that on the 2nd day of June 1830 agreeably to the provision of an act for the recovery of Fugative Slaves I have Granted a Warrant for the removal of a Mulatto Man who acknowledged himself to be the slave of Michael Blessing of Frederick County Maryland to whom the warrant was granted . He is 27 years of age, about 5 feet 3 inches high stout make said Blessing giving evidence … with the acknowledgement of said slave.

Elisha Howard, Frederick Co, MD, claims Garret, 1827

Appeared before me the subscriber one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas for said county Elisha Howard of Carroll man or Frederick county state of Maryland who on his solumn oath doth say that he believes his negro man Garret whom he holds to labour in said state has escaped into Pennsylvania and that he has reason to suspect that he is now in the hands of said County of Adams. And thus identifies this person twenty five years of age stout make, dark mulatto and that he absconded about the first of Nov. last.
Elisha Howard
Sworn and subscribed before me this 10th day of March 1827

Nimrod Owings, Frederick Co, MD, claims Negro Jim and Ephraim Valentine, 1834

State of Negro Jim & Ephraim Valentine
Warrant to ask constable to apprehend a pair of slaves on the ask of Nimrod Owings of the county of Frederick in the state of Maryland, who is the owner of the said slaves.
I certify that the above is a copy of the record in the above case as entered in my docket, which my hand eight seal at Gettysburg the 4th day of June 1834. Lampkin L. King

George Shiess, Washington Co, MD, claims Harry Lucket, 1827

On application of George Shiess of Washington County in the state of Maryland (near Lightersburg) on evidence of his Oath Warrant granted by Amos Maginly Esq. a Justice of the Peace to Harry Lucket (a man of color) whom he claims as a slave. Said Harry is described to be about twenty two years of age five feet four or six inches high, stutters when spoken to, has a down look hat on, when went away a drab coat pantaloons and vest of …. Witness my hand the 19th day of December 1827 agreeably to ac of Assembly paper March 25, 1827.
A. Maginly

Sarah Ellsy of Loudoun Co, VA, claims George, 1828

Whereas John Jsh of London County Virginia, the regularly authorized agent of Sarah Ellsy of the County and state aforesaid, hath this day procured from the subscriber, one of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas for said County, a warrant for the removal of Negro George, who acknowledges himself to be the slave of the said Sarah Ellsey. He is black, about 5 feet 8 in high, slim make, between the ages of 20 & 26 years, Given my hand and seal this 12th day of June 1828. M McClean

Prisoners Charles Valentine, runaway from William Willing, Baltimore
Rachel, servant of Elizabeth Dunwoody, 1808

Editor’s Note- This was found among the removal warrants
(Calendar of Prisoners)
To the honorable Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Adams County—A calendar of the Prisoners now in confirmation in Publick Jail. Charles Valentine a runaway affirmative from Wm. Willing Baltimore. Rachel a Black Girl on suspicion of having mixed arsnech with sugar with intent to take away the life of Elizabeth Dunwoody her late mistress. August 15, 1808
 

Adams County researcher and historian Debra McCauslin contributed this file as an aid for other researchers.  She may be contacted by email at dmccauslin@state.pa.us or through her website, For the Cause Productions (www.gettysburghistories.com), or by writing to For the Cause Productions, 2699 Heidlersburg Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325, or by calling 717-528-8553.  Ms. McCauslin has also written a book about the Yellow Hill community in Butler Township, Adams County, Reconstructing the Past: Puzzle of a Lost Community, for sale at her website.