Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

David (b. ? - d. 1767)
MSA SC 5496-51570
Slave in Talbot County, Maryland

Biography:

    During the colonial period around 1750, slave owners were quickly becoming cognizant of the fact that their slaves posed a threat to their lives.  One example was Negro David who grew up as a slave on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in Talbot County. 1  He was owned by Samuel Mullikan around the 1750s. 2

    David had attempted to murder Mullikan by poisoning him on September 1, 1766. 3  The case does not reference how Mullikan discovered the attempted poisoning.  However, according to the Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, there was “clear evidence” through Negro David’s “confession to several persons and before the Court and Jury on his Tryal, and the Testimony of a female slave.” 4  The female slave was “privy to his preparing a Dose Composed of Ground Poppies and other Ingredients which he supposed Poisonous with intent to give it to his master.” 5  Between the confessions and testimony, it left the Court and Jury “not the least Room to Doubt of the Guilt” of Negro David. 6  Thus, he was convicted in November of 1766 for attempting to poison his master. 7  
    
    A death warrant was placed for Negro David on December 24, 1766. 8  The commission record stated that the execution was “to be on Wednesday the 14th day of January next.” 9  On January 14, 1767, Negro David was hanged for the attempted poisoning of his master.  According to the criminal record, he was to "be carried to the place of execution and there be hanged by the Neck until he be dead." 10  Cases, such as this, struck fear in the slave owners, so they hoped that public hangings would further deter the slaves from acting against them.  

Endnotes:

1. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1726-1786. Negro David. December 24, 1766. Folio 214. MdHR Number 4010-1. MSA S1080-1.

2. Ibid.

3. TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Criminal Record) Negro David. November Court 1766. 1761-1767. MdHR Number 9081. MSA C1857-5. Folio 499.

4. ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE. Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769. Volume 32, Page 178-179.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Criminal Record) Negro David. November Court 1766. 1761-1767. Folio 499-500.

8. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1726-1786. Negro David. December 24, 1766. Folio 214.

9. Ibid.

10. TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Criminal Record) Negro David. November Court 1766. 1761-1767. Folio 500.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2012.

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