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

Record Detail

Record #33 from Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg)

State Maryland
County (Primary) Somerset
Other Counties Worcester, Kent
Family Name Farmer
Family History Notes 1. William1 Farmer, born say 1711, was a "Mallato" taxable in the Pocomoke Hundred, Somerset County, Maryland household of widow Elizabeth Davis from 1727 to 1733, taxable in Daniel Wells' Bogerternorton household in 1734 and in the Pocomoke Hundred household of Isaac Morris in 1738 [List of Taxables]. He may have been the William Farmer who was sued by Archibald Smith in Kent County, Delaware court but not found by the sheriff in August 1727 [DSA, RG 3815.031, 1722-1732, frames 170, 171] and he may have been the William Farmer who was taxable in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, in 1768 and in Dover Hundred in 1772 [RG 3535, Kent County Levy List, 1768-84, frames 10, 151, 159] and he may have been the father of i. John1, born say 1740. ii. William2, born say 1745. 2. John1 Farmer, born say 1740, was taxable in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, in 1768 and in Dover Hundred from 1772 to 1779 when he was listed without assessed tax [RG 3535, Kent County Levy List, 1768-84, frames 10, 151, 159, 222, 303, 345, 374]. He died before 29 February 1785 when administration on his estate was granted to Thomas Nixon, Esq., and James McClement [RG 3545, roll 74]. He may have been the father of i. John, born say 1761, a "free Negro" taxable in Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, in 1782 and taxable there in 1783 and 1784, taxable in Little Creek Hundred in 1787 and 1788, taxable in Murderkill Hundred in 1789 and 1791, taxable in Little Creek Hundred in 1792 and 1794, a "Mulatoe" taxable in Little Creek Hundred in 1797 and 1798 [RG 3535, Kent County Levy List, 1768-84, frames 550, 595, 628; 1785-96, frames 71, 74, 106, 147; 230, 267, 337; 1797-8, frame 473, 483], head of a Mispillion Hundred household of 7 "other free" in 1800 [DE:105]. ii. Nancy, head of a Caroline County household of 9 "other free" in 1810 [MD:188]. iii. Adam, born say 1777, a "Mulatto" or "Negro" single man, taxable in Little Creek Hundred in 1798 and 1800 [RG 3535, Kent County Levy List, 1797-98, frames 473, 482; 1800-2, frame 326]. He married Betty Buck, 16 October 1805 Sussex County bond, John Calloway bondsman [DSA, Marriage Records 16:36]. 3. William2 Farmer, born say 1745, was taxable in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, Delaware in 1768, called William Farmer, Jr. and taxable in Murderkill Hundred from 1770 to 1786, listed as a "free Negro" in 1782 [RG 3535, Kent County Levy List, 1768-84, frames 10, 80, 188, 281, 300, 345, 374, 457, 508, 544, 550, 595, 628; 1785-1796, frames 11, 52]. He was a "Negro" living on 100 acres of land belonging to Vincent Lockerman, Jr., deceased, on 13 December 1793 when the annual rent of the land was valued at 22 pounds [Brewer, Kent County Guardian Accounts, Houston to McBride (v.4), 147]. He was head of a Mispillion Hundred household of 7 "other free" in 1800 [DE:111]. He may have been the father of i. William3, born say 1767, called Wm Farmer Junr when he was taxable in Murderkill Hundred in 1786, in Little Creek Hundred in 1787 and 1788, and in Murderkill Hundred in 1789, perhaps the William Farmer who was taxable in Murderkill Hundred in 1791, a "Mulatto" taxable in Little Creek Hundred in 1798, taxable in Mispillion Hundred in 1798 [RG 3535, Kent County Levy List, 1785-97, frames 52, 74, 106, 147, 230; 1797-8, frames 473, 478]. Their descendants in Delaware were i. Abel, born 1776-1794, head of a Dagsboro Hundred, Sussex County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:372]. ii. Gilbert, born 1794-1806, head of a Little Creek Hundred, Kent County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:24].
Additional Notes

If you are citing this record, please use the following format:

[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.

Pinned records can be viewed at any time by clicking the More menu in the top right corner of the page, then selecting My Pinned Records.