Skip to main content

Free negroes desiring to be slaves, 1847

About

About
Free Negroes

Media Items

Media Items
Media Items
ItemID
wmsl046
IDEntry
7702
Creator
Torch Light
Date
1847-01-11
Collection Location
Washington County Free Library
Coverage
Western Maryland, 1800-1864
Body

Free Negroes.

The News of week before last, furnishes us the following bit of information, to which we call especial attention :

Some two or three weeks ago there came to this place from the adjoining County of Franklin, two negroes, man and wife, named JOHN and CATHARINE McDANIEL. Upon their arrival, they appeared before an officer and desired to be disposed of according to the provisions of a law of this State which prohibits the entrance of free negroes from an adjoining State under the penalty of being sold as slaves. Upon being questioned as to whether they were aware of the existence of this law before leaving the free soil of Pennsylvania, they replied that they were, and that they came with the express view of being sold into slavery under its provision, for, in their own words, they “would rather be slaves in Maryland than freeman in Pennsylvania”

They were accordingly taken into custody, duly advertised, and on Saturday last sold by the Sheriff at public sale.