| State | Maryland |
|---|---|
| County (Primary) | Somerset |
| Other Counties | Sussex |
| Family Name | Game |
| Family History Notes | 1. Sambo Game, born say 1670, was the slave of Peter Douty of Somerset County. While still a slave, Sambo may have had a child by a white woman named Mauldlin Magee. Her daughter Fortune Game/ Magee was the servant of Mrs. Mary Day on 15 June 1705 when the Somerset County court ordered her to serve Mrs. Day until the age of thirty-one, explaining that she was the "mulatto" daughter of Maudlin Magee who was married to George Magee at the time [Judicial Records 1702-5, 251]. Sambo and his wife Betty were "Negro" slaves freed by Peter Douty's 1709 Somerset County will. Douty also allowed them the use of his 150 acre plantation, called Paris, in the Nanticoke Hundred of Somerset County during their lives [Wills Liber 5:142; Land Records Liber CD:416]. They were free by 1713 when they petitioned the Somerset County court to allow Betty to be tax free [Liber AC:17]. He was called "Sambo Gam a Negro" when he was paid 5 pounds, 19 shillings by the executor of Peter Douty's estate [Prerogative Court Inventories and Accounts, Vol. 36B, 245]. He was taxable in Nanticoke Hundred, Somerset County, from 1724 to 1733, listed in a household adjoining Fortune Game in 1728. "Negro" Grace, a taxable in his household in 1724 and 1727, may have been his slave; and Robert Game, a taxable in his household in 1728, was probably his son. Patrick Makeala and Samuel Clark, who were probably white, were taxables in his household in 1727 [List of Taxables, 1724-33]. He probably died before 1735 when Betty paid quit rents on their land [Somerset County Debt Book 1734, 79; 1735, 47 cited by Davidson, Free Blacks on the lower Eastern Shore]. Sambo may have been the father of 2 i. Fortune Magee, born say 1687. 3 ii. Robert, born say 1710. 4 iii. Harry, born say 1720. 2. Fortune Game, born say 1687, was called Fortune Magee, the servant of Mrs. Mary Day, on 15 June 1705 when the Somerset County court ordered that she serve Mrs. Day until the age of thirty-one, explaining that she was the "mulatto" daughter of Maudlin Magee, a white woman living in Somerset County, Maryland who was married to George Magee at the time [Judicial Records 1702-5, 251]. In 1712 she bound her children, Ross, Sue, and Perlina to Mrs. Day [Judicial Records 1702-5, 251; 1711-3, 220]. She was called Fortune Game, a taxable head of a Nanticoke Hundred, Somerset County household from 1728 to 1735, with Betty Game in 1728 and 1731, and with Betty and Rose Game in 1733. She was the mother of 5 i. Rose, born March 1703. 6 ii. Sue Magee, born in April 1705. 7 iii. Perlina, born in April 1707. 8 iv. ?Betty, born say 1712. vi. ?Sarah Fortune, born say 1715. See the Fortune family history. v. ?Anville, born say 1722, taxable in Fortune Game's Nanticoke Hundred household in 1738 and 1740 and taxable in Isaac Bebbings' Nanticoke Hundred household in 1744. 3. Robert Game, born say 1710, was taxable in the Somerset County household of Sambo Game in 1728. He was head of his own Nanticoke Hundred, Somerset County household in 1733 with (his wife?) Ellender Game until 1749 and taxable by himself in 1750. He was in Murderkill Hundred, Delaware, when he made his September 1782 will, proved 17 October 1782. He left his wife Elizabeth his largest bed which was to go to her daughter Mary Lanthorn after her death and left his wife a cow which was to go to her daughter and Sarah Lanthorn (Lantern) after her death. His inventory included two mares, a colt and corn in the field [RG 3545, roll 82, frame 425; DB L-1, fol. 267-8]. Robert may have been the father of i. Levin1, born say 1740, convicted of murder in May 1767. Betty and Sarah Game/ Tompson/ Fortune testified against him. The Governor issued a death warrant for him on 13 June 1767 [Provincial Court Judgments, May Term 1767, 648-52; Archives of Maryland 32:200]. ii. Ephraim1, taxable in George Scott's Nanticoke Hundred household in 1759. He was a recruit from Dorchester County in the Revolutionary War on 25 July 1780 [Archives of Maryland 18:339]. iii. Henry2, head of a St. Mary's County, Maryland household of 3 "other free' in 1800 [MD:340]. 4. Harry1 Game, born say 1720, was probably identical to "Harry Negro," a taxable slave in the Nanticoke Hundred household of Priscilla Dashiell in 1738. He may have been related to Sambo Game since Priscilla Dashiell was one of Peter Douty's heirs [Land Records, Liber A-2, 150]. He was probably the "negro physician," "Doctor Harrey," whose services were advertised in the 7 November 1750 issue of the Maryland Gazette. He, called Henry (Doctor) Game, and his wife Rose were free before 10 August 1751 when they registered the birth of their son Daniel at Stepney Parish, Somerset County. They were taxable in Somerset County in 1752. In 1757 Harry purchased for 70 pounds a 150 acre plantation called Covington's Choice in Wicomico Hundred and petitioned the Somerset County court to have his slave, Tite, tax exempt [Land Records, Liber B:173; Judicial Records 1757-61, 18]. Harry left a will in 1781 naming his sons, Daniel and Jeremiah [Wills, Liber EB 1:144]. His children were i. Daniel, born 10 August 1751 in Stepney Parish [Wright, Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records, Book 3:42]. He sued Stephen Adams in 1785 in Somerset County for 12 pounds for "attending, curing and healing a negro woman slave of said Stephen of divers diseases and infirmities" [Judicial Record 1786-88, 87]. ii. Bridget, daughter of Doctor Henry and Rose Game, born 20 February 1754 [Wright, Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records, Book 3:42]. iii. Jeremiah, born say 1758, taxable on 60 acres of Covington's Choice in Rewastico, Wicomico Hundred, Somerset County in 1783. iv. ?Samuel, taxable on 55 acres of Covington's Choice in Rewastico, Wicomico Hundred in 1783 [MSA S1161-9-10, p.42]. 5. Ross/ Rose Game, born in March 1703, child of Fortune Game, a taxable in Fortune Game's Nanticoke Hundred household in 1733. She owed 9 pounds, 11 shillings to the estate of Day Scott of Somerset County on 8 September 1757 [Prerogative Inventories 77:42-44]. Her children, whose births were registered in Stepney Parish, Somerset County, were i. Joe Magee, a "molatto" bound by Rose Magee to Edward Rownds on 19 March 1722/3 [Judicial Record 1723-5, 3]. ii. Stephen Magee, born 25 June 1737, alias Game of Mulatto Rose or Rose Magee [Wright, Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records, Book 2:128]. He was head of a Queen Anne's County household of 3 "Blacks" in 1776 [Carothers, 1776 Census of Maryland, 143] and a "Free Mulatto" head of a Queen Anne's County, Maryland household of 2 "other free" in 1790. iii. Isaac1 Magee Game, born 25 June 1741, son of Mullato Rose or Rose Game alias Magee [Wright, Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records, Book 2:128]. He owed a shilling to the estate of Day Scott of Somerset County on 8 September 1757 [Prerogative Inventories 77:36-44]. He may have been identical to Sax Game, a taxable in Nanticoke Hundred in 1759. He was taxable in Little Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware, in 1777. 6. Sue Magee alias Game, born in April 1705, was a "mulatto" woman living in Somerset County, Maryland, from 1741 to 1754 when the births of her "mulatto" children, Belindor, Davey, James, Jenney, and Nelly Magee were registered at Stepney Parish. Her children were i. ?Ned, born say 1737, a "Mullatto" (no last name) with eleven months to serve when he was listed in the inventory of the Somerset County estate of Day Scott on 8 September 1757 [Prerogative Inventories 63:562-74]. ii. Belindor Magee, born September 1741, "otherwise Belinder Game dau of Mollatto Sue otherwise Sue Magee or Game." She was probably the "Mullatto" Belinda listed in the inventory of the Somerset County estate of Day Scott on 8 September 1757 with fourteen years to serve [Prerogative Inventories 63:562-74]. She may have been identical to "Blinda" (no last name) who was a taxable with Ephraim Game and James Right in George Scott's Nanticoke Hundred household in 1759. iii. Davey Magee, born 14 March 1745, "otherwise Davey Game son of mollato Sue otherwise Sue Magee or Game." He was probably the "Mullatto" David listed in the inventory of the Somerset County estate of Day Scott on 8 September 1757 with sixteen and one half years to serve [Prerogative Inventories 63:562-74]. iv. Janney Magee, born 13 October 1746, "otherwise Janney Game son of mollato Sue other wise Sue Magee or Game." v. James Magee, born 28 July 1750, "otherwise James Game son of mullato Sue other wise Sue Magee or Game." vi. Nelly Magee, born 9 _ , 1754, alias Game (dau of Mullato Sue) [Wright, Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records, Book 2:126; 3:42]. 7. Perlina Game, born in April 1707, was five years old "next April" in March 1712 when she was bound apprentice in Somerset County court. She was probably identical to "Ner Game," a taxable in Nanticoke Hundred in 1734 and to Polina Gam who was a taxable head of a Nanticoke Hundred, Somerset County household with Sarah Gam in 1759. She may have been the mother of 9 i. Sarah, born say 1730. 8. Betty Game, born say 1712, was taxable in Nanticoke Hundred, Somerset County, in the household of Fortune Game from 1728 to 1731. She had an illegitimate child in Stepney Parish on 1 September 1732 for which she received ten lashes. Stephen Winwright was her security for payment of the court costs [Judicial Record 1730-3, 262-3]. She was identical to Betty Fortune who was a taxable head of household in Nanticoke Hundred with (her daughter?) Fortune Fortune in 1757. On 22 October 1754 Betty Game purchased 50 acres called Georges Pleasure on the southside of the Nanticoke River in Somerset County from Day Scott for 5 pounds, and on 5 December 1772 Betty sold this land for 33 pounds [DB B:42-3; O:26-7]. By his 14 June 1753 Somerset County will, proved 17 August 1757, George Day Scott left Betty Fortune the 50 acre tract where she was then living if she paid the balance due [WB 1756-61, 58]. Bess Fortune owed 9 shillings to the Somerset County estate of Day Scott on 8 September 1757 [Prerogative Inventories 77:42-44]. Betty was probably one of "Two Women of a Dark Complection Live a the Head of Tippin(?)" listed by the constable as having refused to pay the discriminatory tax on free African American women in 1743. The constable reported further that "they are full as Dark as most Mallatos. They are of the Breed of old fortune and Robt. Game" [List of Taxables, 1743]. She was head of a taxable household in Little Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware in 1777 and 1790. She may have been the mother of i. George1 Game, born say 1733, taxable in Betty Game's household in Nanticoke Hundred in 1749. ii. "Negro Patience Thomson," a taxable in Betty Game's Nanticoke Hundred household in 1756, called Patience Game in 1783, taxable in Nanticoke Hundred [MSA S1161-9-10, p.45]. iii. ?Fortune Fortune, born say 1740, taxable in Betty Fortune's household in Nanticoke Hundred in 1757. iv. Levin2, taxable in Little Creek Hundred from 1777 to 1791. v. John Game, taxable in Indian River, Sussex County in 1789, called a "Mulato" in the list of delinquents: "not Settled anywhere," and taxable there in 1790 and 1791. 9. Sarah Game, born say 1730, was taxable in Perlina Game's Nanticoke Hundred, Somerset County household in 1759. She was living in Stepney Parish in March 1762 when she confessed to having a child by by an unnamed "Negro slave." The court sold her son Ephraim to her master George Scott for thirty-one years and ordered her master to return her to court at the completion of her indenture so she could be sold for seven years. In June 1762 Scott was the highest bidder for her servitude at 3,150 Pounds [Judicial Records 1760-3, 130b, 151]. She was the mother of a "Melatto" son Lovewell who was baptized at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church in Indian River Hundred in May 1770 [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex County, 100]. She had another illegitimate child in Stepney Parish before 15 March 1768 and paid a double fine to avoid naming the father [Judicial Records 1767-9, 70, 146]. She was head of a Little Creek Hundred, Sussex County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [DE:309] and 1 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:408].She was the mother of i. Ephraim2, born in January 1762. ii. Lovewell, baptized in May 1770. Other Delaware Game descendants were i. George2, an orphan bound by the Somerset County court until the age of twenty-one with his own consent as an apprentice to Mathias Hobbs to be a cordwainer in March 1763 [Judicial Records 1760-3, 198b]. He married Leah Noble, 6 December 1799 Worcester County, Maryland bond. He was head of a Little Creek Hundred, Sussex County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:410]. Leah may have been related to Mark Noble, head of a Kent County, Delaware household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [DE:17]. George Game "of Geo." (age 25) and Spenser Game "of Geo." (age 25) emigrated to Liberia from Somerset County aboard the ship Lafayette in 1832 [https://www.fold3.com/image/46670390]. ii. Isaac2, an orphan bound by the Somerset County court until the age of twenty-one with his own consent as an apprentice to Mathias Hobbs to be a cordwainer in March 1763 [Judicial Records 1760-3, 198b]. iii. Levin3, born 1776-1794, sold (signing) 50 acres called Pembertons Goodwill in Somerset County on 14 February 1818 for $50 [DB JD-3:336-7]. He was head of a Little Creek Hundred, Sussex County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:412], obtained a certificate of freedom in Somerset County on 27 May 1825: born free in Somerset County ... bright Mollatto Complexion ... about thirty nine years of age [Certificates of Freedom 1821-32, 48]. |
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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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