Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History & Culture Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva's Black History

Record Detail

Record #27 from Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg)

State Maryland
County (Primary) Somerset
Other Counties
Family Name Donaldson
Family History Notes 1. Sarah Donalson, born say 1734, the spinster servant of Abigail Wilson, admitted to the Somerset County court in March 1757 that she was guilty of "Inordinate Copulation" by having a child by a slave the prior month. The court ordered that she be sold for seven years and bound her daughter Sarah to James Wilson until the age of thirty-one. In June 1763 she confessed that she had a "Negro Bastard" child by "Negro Bristo," a slave of Elizabeth Waters, and the court bound their daughter Rhoda to James Wilson for thirty-one years and ordered Sarah to be sold for seven years after the completion of her service [Judicial Record 1757-60, 2-3]. She was the mother of i. Rhoda, born 20 December 1762. 2 ii. ?Bridget, born say 1752. iii. Sarah, born February 1757. 2. Bridget Donaldson, born say 1752, the "free Mulatto" servant of James Wilson, admitted to the Somerset County court that she had a child by a "Negro slave." The court ordered her sold for seven years and sold her son Levin to her master until the age of thirty-one [Judicial Record 1769-72, 139]. She was the mother of i. Levin, born in 1770.
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[Author (if known)], Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg), [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.

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