The Ridgely Slaves 1829

All information on this page is copyright (c) R. Kent Lancaster.
Used with permission.

        The following list of Ridgely slaves in 1829-30 is extracted from the documents which settled Gov. Charles C . Ridgely's will. By a codicil to that will, the Governor freed immediately all his female slaves between the ages of 25 and 45 and all males between 28 and 45. Children under two could follow mothers into freedom. By Maryland law, slaves over 45 could not be freed, and the Governor provided that they not be sold but be taken care of and rewarded for their labor by his heirs. Slaves, and their future increase, who were younger than the stipulated ages were to be freed when they reached those ages. There was discussion among the heirs about selling these younger slaves and dividing the profits, but they chose instead to divide them among themselves in accordance with the Governor's wishes and to keep them until their period of servitude was over.

        'Eval-' below means evaluation in dollars of individual slaves set by the executors of Ridgely's will or by their appointed administrators.

        The 'Where 1829' column is an attempt to place the individual in geography at the time the Governor's will became effective. The very large number designated 'hamp' for Hampton, obviously includes many on satellite farms, in the town house, etc. 'Forge' indicates just that; whether it includes some furnace workers is unclear at present. 'Hanson' designates those under the control of daughter Rebecca Hanson, who, estranged from her husband, had control of a number of the Governor's slaves. 'WM' includes those resident at White Marsh Farm. 'JH?' includes slaves who were apparently on loan to James Howard, widower of another daughter. Two slaves, for unknown reasons, were at Perry Hall a nearby property with strong connections to the Ridgelys, and one was at 'Grace's Quarters'.

        Symbols in the 'Whence' column indicate: F=freed; H=Rebecca Hanson, who as a special heiress was permitted to keep those over- and under-aged slaves she held; A=absconded; D=Died since Ridgely's death; C=child under 2 years allowed to follow mother into freedom; DR= David Ridgely, the younger son who inherited the White Marsh farm and an existing slave force; 1/2=slaves of the Ridgely forge industry, half of whom were to go to David Ridgely, half to the residuary heirs (we have as yet no evidence of the division of that group among the heirs.) Finally, those slaves who were underage or overage for manumission in 1829 went to the residuary heirs who were the governor's other daughters (or their husbands operating for them):

R - to a residuary heir but which heir uncertain
HC - Mrs. Harry D. G. Carroll
JC - Mrs. James Carroll
CD - Mrs. Charles S. W. Dorsey
CH - Mrs. Henry Banning Chew
GH - Mrs. George Howard
JH - Mrs. James Howard
WH - Mrs. Stevenson White


Ages: The basis for the ages given is a set of recently cataloged documents at Hampton, Accession 183, the Gene White Papers. No ages are given in the formal administrative ac-counts and heretofore it has been impossible to separate the old from the young slaves. The Hampton documents have been enhanced by use of manumission papers. When the two are in conflict over the age of a slave, the record from the manumission papers, as official documents, has been used. Children under 2 who were permitted to accompany freed mothers have been given the arbitrary mean age of 1 unless there was conflicting information. No ages have been found for twenty-five slaves at White Marsh, nine with Mrs. Hanson, nine at the Hampton complex, one at Perry Hall (an estate in the extended family), one at 'Mrs. Cockey's', and two named in the division papers but whose whereabouts is unknown.

Free: The dates in this column are the dates manumission became or should have become effective. For most of the adults dated 1829 manumission certificates are registered. The children, marked C, permitted to accompany parents are dated 1829 although technically they would not be free until they reached the requisite ages noted above. They were, however, out of Ridgely control. F-or those under age, the dates are projected according to age and sex. The first entry, Adam, for example, was 25 in 1829 and should have been 28 in 1832 and free by the provisions of the governor's will. To determine whether the governor's intentions were carried out will take extensive research in the papers of all of his children, if those papers exist.

Sources: Hampton National Historical Site, Accession 183; Maryland Hall of Records Baltimore County Register of Wills, Certificates of Freedom, 1806-30, liber WB A, and White Papers, Baltimore County Probate Record, 1829-32, Charles Carnan Ridgely estate summary, MDHR M 4697.

Name

Sex

Eval

Where 1829

Whence

Age 1829

Free

Adam

m

300

JH?

HC

25

1832

*Amy(Anny?)

f

-

hamp

HC

13

1841

Anderson,Jim

m

75

hamp

HC

4

1853

Anderson,Kiz

f

100

hamp

F

36

1829

Anderson,Lloyd

m

100

hamp

HC

6

1851

Anderson,Peter

m

150

hamp

HC

9

1848

Anderson,Sam

m

300

hamp

F

34

1829

Anderson,Susan

f

20

hamp

C

1

1829

Ann

f

200

JH?

F

36

1829

Anna

f

200

hamp

HC

22

1832

Anne

f

20

hamp

H

6

1848

Anny (or Amy?)

f

20

forge

A

50

Aquilla,Eliza's

m

5

hamp

WH

1

1856

Ashburn,Godfrey

m

150

hamp

F

42

1829

Ashman,Mary

f

125

hamp

F

42

1829

Batty,Ephraim

m

250

hamp

JH

17

1840

Batty,George

m

50

hamp

JH

54

Batty,Hett

f

120

hamp

F

41

1829

Batty,Jim

m

250

hamp

JH

17

1840

Batty,Louisa

f

20

hamp

C

1

1829

Batty,Maria

f

50

hamp

JH

3

1851

Batty,Pol

f

200

hamp

JH

16

1838

Batty,Sall

f

50

hamp

JH?

16

1838

Batty,Sally

f

200

hamp

F?

18?

1829

Batty,Sam

m

150

hamp

JH

10

1847

Benn

m

300

hamp

CD

17

1840

Betsy

f

5

Hanson

H

6

1848

Betty

f

70

JH?

CD

6

1848

Bill

m

100

hamp

1/2

9

1848

*Bill,Ann's

m

-

?

R

1

1856

*Bill,Keziah's

m

-

?

R

4

1853

Bill,Milly's

m

100

WH

WH

7

1840

Blackson,Abram

m

300

hamp

F

?

1829

Blackson,Phebe

f

120

forge

1/2

40

?

Boston,Charity

f

200

hamp

JC

32

?

Bowie,John

m

300

?

F

38

1829

Brice,Herculus

m

300

?

F

38

1829

Brown,Anne

f

150

Hanson

F

26

1829

Brown,BigBett

f

100

Hanson

F

42

1829

Brown,Caroline

f

40

WM

DR

4

1850

Brown,Ellen

f

200

WM

F

29

1829

Brown,Joe

m

150

forge

F

45

1829

Brown,Julia

f

30

WM

DR

2

1852

Brown,Nat

m

60

hamp

JC

55

Brown,Sam

m

150

hamp

CD

54

Brown,Sophia

f

15

WM

C

1

1829

Burley,Grace

f

5

WM

C

1

1829

Burley,Jane

f

30

WM

DR

Burley,Linda

f

40

WM

DR

Burley,Osburn

m

150

WM

DR

Burly,Rachel

f

200

WM

F

32

1829

*Bussy,Lucy

f

-

forge

JC

20

1834

Bussy,Nat

m

300

forge

1/2

25

1832

Caroline

f

100

forge

1/2

14

1840

Carter,YellowJake

m

300

?

F

38

1829

Charles

m

20

forge

1/2

1.5

1855

Charles

m

150

Hanson

H

13

1844

*Charles,Cass'

m

-

?

JC

13

1844

Charlott,Little

f

150

forge

1/2

20

1834

Chase,Austin

m

10

hamp

WH

76

*Child,Charity's

?

-

?

JC

--

*Child,KJohnson's

?

-

?

JH

--

Claggett,Ben

m

25

hamp

HC

65

Coats,Bob

m

300

hamp

F

34

1829

Coats,Jerry

m

300

hamp

F

36

1829

Coats,Jim

m

20

hamp

C

1

1829

Coats,Lyd

f?

150

hamp

F

29

1829

Coats,Matthew

m

75

hamp

CD

4

1853

Cole,Nance

f

200

?

F

30

1829

Coney,Jenny

f

10

hamp

GH

55

Cony,Will

m

350

hamp

F

33

1829

Cotes,Nancy

f

40

Hanson

F

30

1829

Cromwell,OldBetty

f

-

hamp

CH

80

Cromwell,Harriet

f

200

hamp

F

25

1829

Cromwell,John

m

300

hamp

F

40

1829

Cromwell,Harriet's John

m

5

hamp

C

1

1829

Cromwell,Richard

m

250

WM

F

38

1829

Cromwell,Sophia

f

70

WM

DR

5

1849

Cromwell,Stephen

m

300

hamp

F

38

1829

Cumberland

m

5

hamp

JH

72

Cummins,Aaron

m

30

WM

DR

Cummins,Charlotte

f

75

WM

DR

Cummins,Eliza

f

200

WM

DR

Cummins,Fanny

f

100

WM

F

40

1829

Cummins,Henry

m

30

WM

DR

2

1855

Cummins,Isaac

m

150

WM

DR

Cummins,John

m

15

WM

C

1

1829

Cummins,Juliet

f

200

WM

DR

Cummins,Libby

f

200

WM

DR

Cummins,Liddy

f

20

WM

C

1

1829

Cummins,Phebe

f

200

WM

DR

16

1838

Cummins,Rebecca

f

100

WM

DR

40

?

Cummins,Rebecca

f

75

WM

F

1829

Cummins,Simon

m

100

WM

DR

Cummins,Wesley

m

40

WM

DR

Dan

m

100

forge

1/2

7

1850

Dan,Milly's

m

100

?

GH

7

1850

Daniel

m

120

JH?

HC

10

1838

David

m

300

hamp

R

25

1832

*David,Lame

m

-

hamp

CD

80

Denah

f

200

JH?

HC

24

1830

Derry,Jake

m

225

hamp

JH?

46

Dianah,Henry's

f

30

JH?

HC

24

1830

Dick

m

120

JH?

CH

10

1847

Eliza

f

200

hamp

WH

23

1831

Eliza,Lucy's

f

30

hamp

C

2

1829

Ellen

f

200

Hanson

H

Ellen,Lucy's

f

100

hamp

WH

1

1853

Ellen,Sarah's

f

40

hamp

HC

4

1850

Emanuel(Black)

m

250

hamp

JC

20

1837

Fanny,Milly's

f

100

hamp

R

9

1845

Fell,Jim

m

50

hamp

GH

60

Fisher,(Willliams?) Ary

f

50

forge

F

?

1829

Fisher,Dick

m

120

JH?

CH

10

1847

Fisher,Peg

f

30

hamp

1/2

50

Flurry,Jim

m

120

forge

1/2

55

Gabriel

m

300

hamp

CH

28

1830

Gabriel,John

m

200

forge

F

41

1829

Gabriel,Phill

m

300

forge

1/2

23

1834

George

m

100

forge

1/2

8

1849

George

m

200

JH?

JC

17

1840

George,Milly's

m

100

hamp

GH

12

1845

George,Sall's

m

150

hamp

JH

13

1844

Green,Frank

m

150

forge

F

42

1829

Green,Lyly

f

200

hamp

CD

17

1837

Groover,Bett

f

150

?

JH

14

1840

Hale?,Shade

m

200

?

R

45

Hannah

f

0

forge

1/2

60

Hannah(Daniels)

f

150

?

JC

16

1838

Harriet,Betty's

f

200

hamp

WH

8

1846

Harris,Dan

m

100

forge

F

40

1829

Heath,Henry

m

250

hamp

WH

16

1841

*Henny,Sarah's

f

-

?

JH

7

1847

*Henry,Dinah's

m

30

?

R

2

1855

Henry,Keziah's

m

50

hamp

WH

6

1851

Henry,Phebe's

m

20

hamp

CH

4

1853

Henry,Rachel's 1845--

m

150

hamp

CD

12

Hester

f

75

forge

1/2

8

1846

Hogan?,Elisha Milly's

m

150

hamp

HC

12

1845

Hoggins,Harford Harry

m

300

hamp

F

43

1829

Horner,Abram

m

300

hamp

F

28

1829

Howard,Dark

f

20

hamp

F

25

1829

Howard,Isaac

m

300

forge

F

36

1829

Howard,Jim

m

300

hamp

F

1829

Howard,Joshua

m

300

hamp

F

25

1829

Howard,Keziah, Dark's

f

100

hamp

JC

9

1845

Howard,Peg,Dark's

f

70

hamp

R

Howard,Sam

m

20

hamp

CH

70

Howard,Sam

m

300

forge

1/2

20

1837

Isabella,Eliza's

f

40

hamp

WH

Jackson,Nat

m

300

forge

1/2

23

1834

Jackson,Toby

m

20

forge

1/2

55

Jake,Keziah's

m

150

hamp

GH

12

1845

Jameson,Nat

m

300

forge

F

30

1829

James,Rachel's

m

100

hamp

CD

7

1850

Jamison,George

m

250

WM

F

37

1829

Jane

f

30

hamp

CH

22

1832

Jemmy,Bosley's

m

0

?

JC

81

Jim,Bett's

m

20

hamp

CD

4

1853

Jim,Cass

m

200

hamp

GH

16

1841

Jim,Jenny's

m

225

hamp

JC

25

1832

*Jim,Phoebe's

m

-

?

R

1

1856

John

m

300

hamp

F

40

1829

John

m

250

Hanson

H

12

1845

John

m

275

hamp

WH

26

1831

John

m

25

forge

1/2

2

1855

John,Airey's

m

150

hamp

CH

12

1845

John,Bett's

m

100

hamp

JC

6

1851

John,Luce's

m

25

hamp

R

5

1852

John,Sarah's

m

15

hamp

C

1

1829

Johnson?,Henry

m

200

forge

F

?

1829

Johnson,(Bussey), Bill, Jr.

m

200

hamp

C

15

1829

Johnson,(Bussey), Bill, Sr.

m

300

hamp

F

43

1829

Johnson,Charles

m

300

forge

1/2

23

1834

Johnson,Eliza

f

10

PerryH

R

Johnson,Jake

m

150

hamp

HC

14

1843

Johnson,John

m

300

hamp

F

1829

Johnson,John,lit.

m

5

hamp

R

?

Johnson,Kitty

f

200

PerryH

JH?

24

1830

Johnson,Lucy

f

200

hamp

R

Johnson,Mary,lit.

f

5

hamp

C

1

1829

Johnson,Priss

f

100

forge

1/2

10

1844

Johnson,Richard

m

40

PerryH

R

4

1853

Johnson,Sarah

f

150

hamp

F

26

1859

Johnson,Tom,little

m

20

hamp

C

1

1829

Judy

f

200

JH?

WH

18

1836

Juliana

f

20

Hanson

H

Ketty,Hannah's

f

30

hamp

CH

6

1848

Knight,Great Betty

f

100

hamp

F

42

1829

Lee, Mingo

m

60

WM

DR

Lee,Betsy

f

100

WM

DR

Lee,Debby

f

120

WM

F

38

1829

Lee,John

m

150

WM

DR

Lee,Liddy

f

30

WM

DR

Lee,Louisa

f

75

WM

DR

5

1849

Lee,Margaret

f

5

WM

C

1

1829

Lee,Mary (Lactaw)

f

200

WM

F

30

1829

Lee,Nancy

f

75

WM

DR

Lee,Sophia

f

70

WM

DR

Leggit,Peg

f

120

Hanson

F

42

1829

Letty

f

200

hamp

HC

18

1836

Levi,Nance's

m

100

hamp

D

6

1851

Lloyd

m

300

forge

CD?

23

1834

Lock,Stephen

m

225

hamp

CH

48

Louisa

f

200

JH?

CD

15

1839

Louisa

f

40

Hanson

H

Luce

f

70

forge

1/2

5

1849

Luce,Black

f

50

forge

46

Lueazer,Luce's

f

5

?

C

1

1829

Lysh

m

300

forge

1/2

23

1834

Maria

f

75

forge

1/2

10

1844

Maria

f

75

Hanson

H

Maria

f

200

Hanson

H

Mariah,Keziah's

f

80

hamp

GH

1847

Martin,Eliza

f

75

WM

DR

Martin,Harriet

f

40

WM

DR

3

1851

Martin,Lewes

m

300

forge?

1/2

22

1835

Mary

f

30

forge

HC?

3

1851

Mary

f

200

Hanson

H

11

1843

Mary,Ann's

f

30

hamp

HC

3

1851

Mary,Betty's

f

50

hamp

CH

11

1843

Mary,Henr[n?]y's

f

40

hamp

R

4

1850

Matilda

f

75

hamp

WH

9

1845

Meads,Bob

m

225

hamp

WH

46

Meads,Sam

m

30

hamp

HC

59

*Michael?,Peggy

m

-

?

JH

50

*Mill,Nancy's

f

-

?

CD

12

1842

Milly

f

75

forge

1/2

6

1848

Moore,Alex

m

250

WM

DR

Moore,Ephraim

m

100

WM

DR

Moore,Mary

f

200

WM

DR

Moses

m

200

forge

F

46

1829

Moses,Keziah's

m

100

hamp

WH

7

1850

Nance

f

100

forge

1/2

12

1842

Nance,Harriett's

f

30

hamp

?

3

1851

Nance,Yellow

f

200

hamp

F

25

1829

Nancy,

f

40

Hanson

H

*Nancy

f

80

?

R

7

1847

Nell,Amy's

f

30

JH?

JH

3

1851

Nell,Dinah's

f

40

JH?

WH

4

1850

Nelly

f

30

JH?

WH

50

Nevit,Bill

m

50

hamp

F

41

1829

Nick

m

50

forge

1/2

58

Nick,Ary's

m

100

hamp

CH

7

1850

Norris,Henny

f

200

hamp

F

32

1829

Norris,Nance,Hennys

f

20

hamp

C

1

1829

Norris,Saul(Sol)

m

300

hamp

F

36

1829

Peggy

f

0

?

JC?

7

1847

Peggy

f

0

?

JH

50

Phill,Hannah's

m

20

hamp

R

*Phoebe,Hannah's

f

-

hamp?

CD

3

1851

Pinkney,Cassy

f

30

WM

DR

2

1852

Polly

f

30

hamp

HC

59

Polly,Sal's

f

100

hamp

GH

11

1843

Potter,Ann,Millys

f

70

hamp

CD

6

1848

Potter,Anny

f

200

hamp

CH

20

1834

Priss,Milly's

f

75

hamp

GH

10

Rachel

f

150

JH?

CD

47

Rachel

f

50

hamp

CH

4

1850

*Rachel

f

150

?

JH

16

1838

Rachel,Gr.Betty's

f

40

hamp

R

4

1850

Rachel,Juliet's

f

20

hamp

CD

1

1853

Richardson,Vach

m

100

hamp

JC

55

Rogers.Sam

m

300

forge

1/2

24

1833

Rogers,Charles

m

300

forge

1/2

18

1839

*Rogers,Harry

m

-

?

1/2

60

Roney,Jack

m

15

hamp

CH

64

Russell,Anthony

m

200

hamp

F

28

1829

Sall

f

50

hamp

GH

48

Sall,BigMilly's

f

20

hamp

?

8

1846

Sam,Milly's(Sall?)

m

20

hamp

GH

8

1849

Sam,Rachel's

m

200

hamp

CD

16

1841

Santy

m

300

forge

1/2

24

1833

Sarah

f

20

JH?

1/2

50

*Scott,Anthony

m

-

forge

1/2

60

Shade,Young

m

50

JH?

CH

4

1853

Sheredine, Yellow Henry

m

250

?

F

35

1829

Sheredine,John

m

175

?

F

43

1829

Sheredine,Juliet

f

200

hamp

CD

25

1830

Sheridine,-Milly

f

200

forge

F

30

1829

Sheridine,Rezin

m

300

hamp

F

37

1829

Sims,Simon

m

300

hamp

F

34

1829

Singleton?,Betsy

f

5

Hanson

H

Smith,Abraham

m

150

WM

F

36

1829

Smith,Cassy

f

15

WM

C

1

1829

Smith,Doll

f

0

forge

1/2

32

1829

Smith,Emmanuel

m

300

hamp

GH

24

1833

Smith,Henry

m

200

?

F

41

1829

Smith,Joe

m

20

hamp

F

43

1829

Smith,JohnHenry

m

30

WM

DR

2

1855

Smith,Joshua

m

40

WM

DR

3

1854

Smith,(Williams?) Luce Yellow

f

100

forge

F

35

1829

Smith,Mariah

f

80

WM

DR

5

1849

Smith,Mary

f

200

WM

F

26

1829

Smith,Nance's

m

120

hamp

R

12

1845

Smith,Phill

m

300

forge

F

33

1829

Smith,Toby

m

20

forge

1/2

55

Smith,Tom

m

200

forge

F

31

1829

Sophia

f

150

JH?

CH

14

1840

Spencer,Beck

f

150

hamp

F

28

1829

Spencer,Bett(Bill?)

f

20

hamp

R

2

1852

Susan

f

200

Hanson

H

Susan,Betty's

f

130

hamp

CH

14

1840

Talbot,Bill (Goodwin)

m

50

forge?

GH

54

Tamar,Milly's

f

70

hamp

D

6

1848

Taylor?,Rachel

f

100

forge

1/2

12

1842

Thompson,Davy

m

40

hamp

R

--

Thompson,Rose

f

-

?

CD

80

Toby

m

100

forge

1/2

9

1848

Toby

f

20

Hanson

H

Tom,Henny's

m

50

hamp

JC

6

1851

Toogood,John

m

300

hamp

F

35

1829

Towson, Charles

m

150

Hanson

H

Towson,Charles,

m

20

forge

1/2

Towson,Jim,Cass's

m

200

hamp

R

Travit,Keziah

f

-

?

GH

16

1838

Washington, Tom

m

300

hamp

F

28

1829

Wesley

m

150

hamp

WH

15

1842

Wicks?,Ben

m

300

forge

1/2

24

1833

Wicks,CeliaKeziahs

f

130

hamp

JC

14

1840

Wicks,Harriet Keziah's

f

200

hamp

R

17

1837

Wicks,Jake

m

300

hamp

F

42

1829

Wicks,Keziah

f

50

hamp

F

39

1829

Williams,Alexander (Elick)

m

275

hamp

F

40

1829

Williams,Big Charlotte

f

50

hamp?

F

25

1829

Williams,Hannah

f

200

?

f

28

1829

Williams,Hannah's Fanny

f

5

?

C

*William,Keziah's

m

-

hamp

GH

4

1853

Williams,Babtist

m

150

hamp

F

43

1829

Williams,Bill

m

150

hamp

JH

14

1843

Williams,Bob

m

125

hamp

GH

19

1838

Williams,Charles

m

300

WM

DR

Williams,Grace

f

20

WM

DR

Williams,Luce

f

200

forge

F

31

1829

Williams,Nelson

m

200

hamp

JC

17

1840

Williams,Sarah

f

200

?

F

33

1829

Williams,SophLuce's

f

100

hamp

HC

16

1838

Williams,Venus

f

30

WM

F

?

Wilson,Bateman

m

15

hamp

GH

58

Wilson,David

m

300

hamp

R

25

1832

Wilson,LameDavis

m

-

hamp

80

Wilson,Isaac

m

300

hamp

F

34

1829

*?ahahs?

?

-

?

R

3

?

All information on this page is copyright (c) R. Kent Lancaster.
Used with permission.


Note: This web page was recovered from the cached pages on the Internet Archive.  It was available until some time after 2007.  The information below is the original author and creation identification.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 22-Dec-2004 09:39:26 Eastern Standard Time
http://www.nps.gov/archive/hamp/ridgelyslaves1829.htm
Author: William Blair Curtis
E-mail:
The park's Superintendent