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

Record Detail

Record #92 from Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg)

State Maryland
County (Primary) Dorchester
Other Counties
Family Name Stanley
Family History Notes 1. Mary Stanley, born say 1708, a "Spinster" of Great Choptank Parish, Dorchester County, confessed on 12 November 1728 that she had a "Molatto" child by a "Negro." The court ordered her sold as a servant for seven years after the completion of her indenture [Judgments 1728-9, 84]. She was probably the ancestor of 2 i. Jane, born about 1748. 3 ii. James1, born say 1760. iii. George, born say 1761, head of a Dorchester County household of 1 "other free" in 1790. On 25 February 1792 he manumitted three slaves he purchased from Daniel Parker: Rachel to be free immediately, Leah Standly to be free at sixteen and Jonathan Standly to be free at twenty-one [DB HD 6:428]. Perhaps he was deceased in 1800 when Rachel Standley was head of a Dorchester County household of 6 "other free" [MD:686]. 4 iv. Salady, born say 1762. v. Sophia, born say 1763, purchased a forty-year-old "Negro" man named Jerry then in her possession by Dorchester County deed from Elizabeth Ennalls for 50 pounds on 27 May 1799 and set him free [DB HD-15:18, 23]. vi. Ezekiel1, head of a Dorchester County household of 4 "other free" in 1790 and 8 in 1800 [MD:726]. vii. Ezekiel2, head of a Dorchester County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [MD:736]. He mortgaged 30 head of sheep, 4 cows, 5 heifers, 3 mares, a horse, 3 colts and 15 hogs for $300 on 15 August 1814 [DB ER-3:123]. viii.Robert2, head of a Dorchester County household of 3 "other free" and a slave in 1800 [MD:725] and 8 "free colored" in 1830. On 13 March 1798 he manumitted his wife Easter and her daughter Easter whom he had purchased from Daniel Parker [DB HD-12:607]. ix. Ailse, head of a Dorchester County household of 2 "free Negroes & Mulatto females" in 1790. x. Elizabeth, head of a Bohemia, Cecil County household of 1 "other free" in 1790. 5 xi. John, born about 1771. xii. Draper, born about 1774, obtained a certificate of freedom in Dorchester County on 17 September 1807: of a Chesnut Colour ... born free ... aged about 33 years. xiii. Joseph, manumitted his "negro woman" Alce Pendergrass by Dorchester County deed on 17 October 1805. He purchased 12 acres in Dorchester County called Turkey Swamp from Joseph Ennalls on 3 February 1808 [DB HD-23:112; 24:577]. xiv. Levin, born about 1782, obtained a certificate of freedom in Dorchester County on 15 June 1807: copper colour ... born free ... aged about 25 years. xv. William, a "free Mulatto," bound himself to serve David Harvey of Dorchester County for three years on 1 August 1802 [DB HD-20:92]. xvi. Harriet Hopkins, born about 1800, obtained a certificate of freedom in Dorchester County on 24 August 1836: of a chesnut colour ... born free ... daughter of Betsey Stanley who was also born free, aged about 36 years [Certificates of Freedom for Negroes 1806-64, 4, 5, 106]. 2. Jane Stanley, born about 1748, was a "Molatta" woman with ten years to serve on 5 January 1769 when she was listed inventory of the Dorchester County estate of James Hodson with a five-year-old "Molatta" boy bound until the age of thirty-one [Prerogative Inventories, 311-4]. She may have been the mother of 6 i. Robert1, born say 1764. ii. Sall, a "Mulatto" girl valued at 20 pounds in the 3 September 1772 Dorchester County estate of William Langrell [Prerogative Inventories 105:410-11]. 3. James1 Stanley, born say 1760, was head of a Dorchester County household of 6 "other free" in 1790, 7 in 1800 [MD:686], and 7 in 1810 (called James, Sr.) [MD:402]. He and his wife Rachel were the parents of i. Esther, born about 1800, obtained a certificate of freedom in Dorchester County on 26 July 1830: Dark complected ... raised in Dorchester County and is the Daughter of Rachel and James Stanley, about 30 years of age [Certificates of Freedom for Negroes 1806-64, 67]. 4. Salady Stanley, born about 1756, was probably identical to the "Negro Boy named Salady" who still had seven years to serve when he was listed in the 7 June 1770 Dorchester County estate of Edward Smith [Prerogative Inventories 105:144]. He was a "coloured man" who enlisted in the 4th Maryland Regiment on 4 September 1781 and was discharged at Fredericktown at the end of the war. He appeared in Dorchester County court on 4 April 1821 to apply for a pension, stating that he was about sixty-seven, had served for three years and had nine people in his family including his wife Sally (aged thirty years), son Charles (aged twelve), son Garretson (aged ten), daughter Sally (aged nine), Mary (aged seven), Priscilla (aged six), son Jim (aged five years) and son Joe (aged three years). He died on 31 November 1831. Charles Cornish testified on 15 August 1853 that Saladda was in the Revolution, that his wife died on 15 August 1853, and that he assisted in her burial. Garrison Stanley, "free negro," was granted administration on the estate of Sarah Stanley, "free Negress," on 12 August 1857. He filed for the widow's pension of Sarah and included a statement from Matthew Dixon, an "old Negro man" aged one hundred and three, that her maiden name was Blake and that they were married by and Episcopalian mininster in Cambridge on 25 December 1792 [NARA, R.10057, M804, https://www.fold3.com/image/16260520, accessed 10 October 2015]. He was head of a Dorchester County household of 1 "Free Negro or Mulatto" over 16 and 5 slaves in 1790 [MD:439] and 5 "other free" in 1800 [MD:657]. His children were i. Charles. ii. Garretson. iii. Sally. iv. Joe. v. Mary. vi. Priscilla. vii. James2. 5. John Stanley, born about 1771, obtained a certificate of freedom in Dorchester County on 21 August 1810: of a yellowish colour ... born free, raised in Dorchester County, aged about 39 years [Certificates of Freedom for Negroes 1806-64, 14]. He was head of a Dorchester County household of 3 "free colored" in 1830. He and his wife Sally were the parents of i. John, born about 1811, obtained a certificate of freedom in Dorchester County on 15 May 1832: of a chesnut colour ... free born and is the son of John and Sally Stanley who were also free born, aged about 21 years [Certificates of Freedom for Negroes 1806-64, 83]. He was probably the John Stanley whose request for free papers so that he could trade in Baltimore was recorded in Dorchester County court on 4 May 1832 [Court Papers 1743-1846, MSA C695-1]. 6. Robert1 Stanley, born say 1764, was a "Mulatto" boy valued at 20 pounds in the Dorchester County inventory of William Langrell on 3 September 1772 [Prerogative Inventories 109:410-11]. He was head of a Dorchester County household of 3 "other free" in 1790 and 9 "other free" and a slave in 1800 [MD:736]. He purchased and manumitted "negro woman" Dianna from Hannah Hodson for 50 pounds by Dorchester County deed on 29 December 1798 and purchased "negro woman" Rhoda and her children Hannah and Ben from William Whittington for 18 pounds on 4 January 1799. He may have been deceased on 22 June 1805 when (his wife?) Dinah Stanley purchased a "Negro girl Nancy Standley" by Dorchester County deed from Hannah Robertson and manumitted nineteen-year-old Nancy Stanly on 29 November 1810 [DB HD 14:385-9; 21-723; 23:48; ER 3:606]. He may have been the father of i. Nancy, born about 1792, obtained a certificate of freedom in Dorchester County on 22 December 1815: of a chesnut colour...raised by Robert Stanley and manumitted by Dinah Stanley on the 19 December 1816, aged about 24 years [Certificates of Freedom for Negroes 1806-64, 30].
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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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