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

Record Detail

Record #83 from Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg)

State Virginia
County (Primary) Accomack
Other Counties Sussex, Kent
Family Name Salmons/Sammons
Family History Notes 1. Jane Salman/ Salmond, born say 1683, was the indentured servant of Francis Makemie on 3 December 1701 when she was presented by the Accomack County, Virginia court for having an illegitimate "Mullatto" child. On 2 March 1702/3 she testified that "Peter Negro belonging to the sd Makemie" was the father of her child. She was convicted again of "haveing a basterd Child borne of her body begat by a Negro" on 4 October 1704, 5 June 1706, and on 4 May 1707. The court ordered that she be sold to pay her fine [Orders 1697-1703, 122a, 126a, 140a; 1703-9, 35a, 66, 72, 107a, 114]. She was probably the ancestor of 2 i. Joseph, born say 1747. 3 ii. Benjamin1, born say 1748. 4 iii. Solomon, born say 1750. 2. Joseph Salmons/ Sammons, born say 1747, was taxable in Indian River, Sussex County, Delaware, in 1770, 1774, and 1777. He and his wife, Ann, registered the 14 December 1772 birth of their daughter Nela at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 101]. He was a "Melatto" taxable in Broadkiln Hundred in 1788. In 1789 he was listed as an Indian River delinquent taxpayer with the notation that he had paid in Broadkiln Hundred and he was also listed as a "Melatto" in the list for Broadkiln in 1789 (called Joseph Salmon). In 1800 he was called Joseph Sammons, head of a Delaware household of 7 "other free" [DE:328]. He was the father of i. Nela, born 14 December 1772, baptized 13 June 1773. 3. Benjamin1 Salmons/Sammons, say 1748, was taxable in Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware, in 1770, in Little Creek in 1777, in Nanticoke Hundred in 1787 and 1789 (with Benjamin Sammons, Jr.), and a delinquent taxpayer in Little Creek Hundred in 1790. In 1796 he was taxable on 50 acres in Little Creek. He was head of a Sussex County, Delaware household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [DE:343] and 11 in 1810 [DE:363]. He may have been the Benjamin Salmons who died before 31 March 1812 when (his wife?) Pruda Salmons was granted administration on his Sussex County estate which was valued at $182. After payment of debts, she and his thirteen children divided the balance of $76.42 [DSA, RG 4545.009, reel 217, frames 154-160]. He may have been the father of i. Benjamin2, born 1776-1794, head of an Indian River Hundred, Sussex County household of 6 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:220]. 4. Solomon Sammons, born say 1750, was taxable on the southside of Broadkiln Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware, in 1770 and a "Molat" taxable on 50 acres in Little Creek Hundred in 1796. He received a certificate for 4 acres in Sussex County in 1795 [DB 20:11]. He was head of a Sussex County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [DE:343]. He may have been the Solomon Sammons who married Jinny Veezy on 19 January 1784 at Lewes and Coolspring Presbyterian Church [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 131]. He may have been the father of i. William2, head of a Sussex County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [DE:368]. Other members of the Salmons/ Sammons family in Delaware were: i. Isaac1 Sammons, born say 1760, taxable in Indian River in 1789. He was head of a Broadkiln Hundred, Sussex County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [DE:328] and 8 in 1810 [DE:374]. ii. Isaac2, Jr., born say 1769, taxable in Indian River Hundred in 1789, head of a Sussex County household of 8 "other free" in 1810 [DE:375]. iii. Eli, born say 1770, taxable in Broadkiln Hundred in 1790, a "Mul." taxable in Broadkiln in 1791, and head of a New Castle County household of 12 "other free" in 1800, called "Elihu Sammons & Co. N. (Negro)" [DE:154]. iv. William1, head of a Sussex County, Delaware household of 10 "other free" in 1810 [DE:375] v. John, head of a Dagsboro Hundred, Sussex County household of 7 "other free" in 1800 [DE:424] and 6 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:380]. vi. Nathan, head of a Delaware household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [DE:106] and 8 "free colored" in Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, in 1820 [DE:7]. vii. James1, born before 1776, head of a Dagsboro Hundred, Sussex County household of 7 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:372]. viii. Moses, head of an Indian River Hundred, Sussex County household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [DE:437]. ix. Cyrus, head of a Sussex County household of 8 "other free" in 1810 [DE:467]. x. Benjamin3, born 1776-1794, head of an Indian River Hundred, Sussex County household of 6 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:212]. xi. Zachariah, born 1776-1794, head of Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:230]. xii. James2, born 1776-1794, head of an Indian River Hundred, Sussex County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:208]. xiii. Henry1, born before 1776, head of a Dover Hundred household of 5 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:32]. xiv. Henry2, born 1776-1794, head of a Mispillion Hundred, Kent County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:71].
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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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