Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Rev. Joseph Chain (b. ? - d. circa 1834)
MSA SC 5496-51924
Barber, Merchant, and Preacher

Biography: 

The Rev. Joseph Chain was a long-time resident of Easton, Maryland and a prominent member of Easton's African-American community. Records and newspaper articles state that he was of East Indian origin and was a slave of Dr. Lewis S. Le Claire of Baltimore County before being manumitted.1

Chain was married to a woman named Leah sometime before 1806. The earliest record of Chain's residency in Easton and his marriage to Leah appears in the November 4, 1806 issue of the Republican Star where he is named as an accomplice to Leah's attempt to escape from slavery. The advertisement was placed by Solomon Lowe of Talbot County and states "Solomon Lowe, Talb. Co., offers a reward for negro woman Lear, 19-20 yrs; supposed to be in company with her husband Joseph Caine, an East Indian who speaks French and has for some time res. in Easton; her mother lives near Del. line."2 The runaway attempt was apparently unsuccessful but Chain was eventually able to purchase his wife's freedom for one-hundred and fifty dollars in 1810.3

Chain was also involved in the purchase of another slave's freedom. In 1824, Chain and Lemuel Toomey of Talbot County purchased a slave named Flora and her daughter Julian from Howes Goldsborough of  Baltimore County.4 In 1827, Chain sells Flora, Julian, and a one-year old child named Hester to Lemuel Toomey.5

Chain was a successful barber and merchant until he became insolvent and his properties were sold in 1830. Early newspaper articles indicate that Chain leased his barber shop in a building that was formerly occupied by Robert Spencer.6 Newspaper advertisements show that he sold an assortment of items that included: perfumes, hair brushes, walking canes, ale, beer, cider, fruit, porter, and terrapins.  In 1823, he purchased a lot  from William Harrison, Jr. that was situated opposite of the Easton Hotel.7 He operated his business there until his properties were seized by his creditors and sold at Sheriff's Sale in 1830.8

Chain was also an active religious leader in Easton's African-American community and a founder of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. In 1820, he was admitted as local preacher at the Baltimore Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Church.9 Typically local preachers are supervised by itinerate preachers in the Methodist system, however, from 1818-1849 the Baltimore Annual Conference was unable to appoint an itinerate preacher to serve the Eastern Shore so local preachers like Chain were largely responsible for meeting the religious needs of the community.10 Chain's status as a freeholder permitted the congregation to purchase a church building in 1827 that was deeded to Chain.11 Unfortunately, the church building was seized by Chain's creditors and sold at Sheriff's Sale  in 1830 when his other properties were seized.12 However, James Parrott, the clerk of the Court of Appeals, was sympathetic to the members of Bethel Church.13 He purchased the property at auction and sold it to the trustees of the church.14

Chain's death was reported in 1834 at the Philadelphia Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Church where he may have moved to live with his son Joseph.15

1. GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Laws), 1821, Chapter 22, [MSA S966-153].

2. "Twenty Dollar Reward," Republican Star or Eastern Shore General Advertiser, November 6, 1806, 3. 

3. TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Land Records) 1809-1811 JL 34, p. 0296 [MSA CE 90-37]. 

4. TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Land Records) 1823-1825 JL 45, p. 0032 [MSA CE 90-48].

5. TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Land Records) 1827-1828 JL 47, p. 0065 [MSA CE 90-50].

6.  "Joseph Chain, Hair-Dresser," Republican Star and General Advertiser, January 14, 1817, 3.

7. TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Land Records) 1822-1823 JL 44, p. 0395 [MSA CE 90-47].

8. "Sheriff's Sale," Republican Star and General Advertiser, July, 27, 1830, 3.

9. Daniel Payne, History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, (Nashville: Publishing House of the A. M. E. Sunday School Union, 1891), 19.

10. James Handy, Scraps of African Methodist Episcopal History, (Philadelphia: A. M. E. Book Concern, 1902) 343, 355. 

11. Brief Church History of Bethel AME Church, Easton, TA, 1818-1900 [MSA 2562].

12. "Sheriff's Sale," Republican Star and General Advertiser, July, 27, 1830, 3.

13. Brief Church History of Bethel AME Church, Easton, TA, 1818-1900 [MSA 2562].

14. TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Land Records) 1830-1831 JL 49, p. 0401 [MSA CE 90-52].

15. Daniel Payne, History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, (Nashville: Publishing House of the A. M. E. Sunday School Union, 1891), 101.


Written by Christian Savage, Research Intern, 2014.

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