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slavery in pennsylvania

Dauphin County septennial census of 1800
listing of enslaved persons

The State of Pennsylvania took an enumeration of taxable inhabitants every seven years. Known as the Septennial Census, this enumeration also listed slaves in each county, by township, for some of the years. The amount of information on the slaves varies greatly. No names of slaveholders are given for Dauphin County in 1800 for this tax listing. Slaves are listed by township, and their sex and age are given.

Few slaves younger than 20 are listed, indicating that only the slaves born before November 1780 were enumerated, they being considered "Slaves for Life." Children of slaves born after that date were to be freed upon their 28th birthday, according to the Gradual Emancipation Act of 1780. These children, although held in bondage for 28 years, were officially called "servants," and often not counted in tax and census listings as slaves. There are some exceptions.

townships and areas with slaves listed
Middle Paxton Lower Paxton Harrisburg
Swatara West Hanover Derry, Hummelstown,
Port Royal
East Hanover Lebanon Annville
Statistics Londonderry Source

septennial census for 1807 -- Derry Township

Unfortunately only a small portion of the 1807 Septennial Census exists--that for Derry Township. In this portion, only one slave is listed.
1807 Septennial Census Slave Listings--Derry Township

 

Dauphin County, 1800

Middle Paxton Township Return to the TOP.
Slave Name Slave Gender Slave Age
Ish not listed 24
Nanc not listed 35
Rachael not listed 24

Lower Paxton Township Return to the TOP.
Number Slave Name Gender Age
1 Sambo M 60
2 Sarah F 60
3 Cuff M 44
4 Nance F 20
5 Peter M 24
6 Casteel M 27
7 Isaac M 20
8 Aff F 26
9 Tob M 36
10 Rachael F 36
11 Hagor F 24
12 Hector M 28
13 Nance F 25
14 Betty F 40
15 Ruth F 50
16 Nat M 60
17 Sally F 40
18 Nance F 35
19 Ambroce M 44
20 Eve F 41

Harrisburg Return to the TOP.
Number Slave Name Gender Age
1 Jack M 18
2 Charles M 32
3 Cato M 21
4 Sarah F 50
5 Jack M 24
6 Hega F 45
7 Caty F 20
8 Hanna F 2
9 Phillis F 32
10 Abigail F 21
11 Elenor F 42
12 Jack M 49

Swatara Township Return to the TOP.
Number Slave Name Gender Age
1 Charles M 26
2 Archy M 40
3 George M 25
4 John M 34
5 Jack M 20
6 Peter M 34
7 Phebe F 24
8 Lucy F 40
9 Mary F 48
10 Nance F 23

West Hanover Township Return to the TOP.
Number Slave Name Gender Age
1 Andrew M 50
2 Charles M 23
3 James M 35
4 Pompey M 28
5 Sam M 26
6 Abigail F 50
7 Barbara F 30
8 Dina F 21
9 Dina F 27
10 Dina F 23
11 Peggy F 26
12 Polly F 26
13 Jenny F 21
14 Sib F 21

Derry Township, Hummelstown and Port Royal Return to the TOP.
Number Slave Name Gender Age
1 Dina F 36
2 Dina F 24
3 Eve F 45
4 Suse F 42
5 Forgy M 24

East Hanover Township Return to the TOP.
Number Slave Name Gender Age
1 Dina F 21
2 Nance F 38

Lebanon Township Return to the TOP.
Number Slave Name Gender Age
1 Cato M 50
2 Dick M 40
3 Tony M 50
4 Abraham M 10
5 Isaac M 6
6 Beck F 50
7 Harriett F 2
8 Jane F 2

Anvil (Annville) Return to the TOP.
Number Slave Name Gender Age
1 Pompy M 20
2 Frank M 30

Londonderry Township Return to the TOP.
Number Slave Name Gender Age
1 Jonathan M 22
2 Violet Moore F 23
3 Polly Grimes F 22
4 Rosanna F 30
5 Nell F 8
6 Pink F 8
7 Jane F 2
8 Rachael F 30
9 Peggy F 40

statistics

Townships and towns with no slaves enumerated: Upper Paxton Township, Bethel, Jonestown, Stums Town, Heidleberg.
Total number of slaves in county: 85
Taxable enumerated heads of household in county: 3,982
Enumeration dated 10 November, 1800

Dauphin County, 1807 (portion)

Derry Township

1. Eve, Slave to Jno Fox, Age 45 yrs.

Note: There are two persons named John Fox in the 1807 listings for Derry Township. John Fox is listed as an innkeeper, and John Fox, Jr. is also listed as an innkeeper. Either one could be the owner of Eve.

source for this material

Septennial Census Returns, 1779-1863, Roll No. 2, Dauphin County, 1786-Franklin County, 1821. Reel No. 243, "Enumeration of the taxable Inhabitants and Slaves in the County of Dauphin." Microfilm in the Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA.

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