Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Davy (b. ? - d. 1764)
MSA SC 5496-51571
Slave in Queen Anne's County, Maryland

Biography:

    Negro Davy grew up as a slave in Queen Anne’s County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.  Davy was owned by William Hemsley1, a property owner in Queen Anne's County.  Negro Davy’s life changed when he was arrested for a murder that occurred on June 23, 1764. 2  He would stand trial within the County Court where “twelve jurors good and lawfull men of the county” would make a ruling on the 26th of June. 3 According to the Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, Negro Davy was convicted and the “Justices of Queen Anns County Court had on the fourth Tuesday in June last passed Sentence of Death upon the said Negro for a certain Murder.” 4

    According to the criminal record documenting the case, Negro Davy was “late of Queen Ann’s County Labourer the Proper Slave of a Certain William Hemsley Gentlemen, not having the fear of God before his Eyes, but being moved and seduced by the Instigation of the Devil” on the 23rd day of June. 5

    The criminal record states that Negro Davy “did make an assault, and that he the said Negro Davy with the blade of a pair of sheep shears of the value of six pound sorting money.” 6  Furthermore, John Seville was stabbed on “the left side under the breast” with a “breadth of one inch and one half, and of the depth of seven inches.” 7  This stabbing caused the instant death of John Seville.  

    Negro Davy pleaded guilty to the murder and the jury also found him guilty based on the testimony and evidence.  The court sentence was as follows: Negro Davy was to “be taken to the jail from whence he came, from thence carried to the Place of Execution, there to be hanged up by the neck until he be dead and so forth.” 8

    The July 5, 1764 issue of the Maryland Gazette gives information about John Seville.  It states that “John Sevil, an Overseer; who died instantly on receiving his Wound.” 9  With John Seville being an overseer, he could have been murdered for various reasons.  It's possible that he was a harsh overseer toward slaves or he could have been in the way of an escape attempt by Negro Davy.  

    A commission record from July 20, 1764 shows that Negro Davy's execution was to be “on Wednesday the 25th instant.” 10  After only five days, Negro Davy was executed by the county.  Being found guilty of murder in the colonial period usually resulted in not only the death penalty, but also either gibbeting or quartering. 11

    Since his slave was condemned to death, William Hemsley would have been compensated for his lose.  Chapter 7 of the Acts of 1737 reads “slaves condemned to death for a crime shall be valued by the courts.  That amount shall be paid by the Treasurer of the Western Shore or Eastern Shore to the master or owner.” 12  The Queen Anne’s County Judgment Records show the valuation of the slave.  This record states, “Negro Davy, the Slave of William Hemsley convicted of murdering John Sevil is by the Court valued at forty pounds current Money of Maryland.” 13  For the lose of his slave, Hemsley was due forty pounds current money of Maryland from the Treasurer on the Eastern Shore.
Endnotes:

1. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1726-1786. Negro Davy. July 20, 1764. Folio 201. MdHR Number 4010-1. MSA S1080-1.

2. QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COURT (Criminal Record) Negro Davy. 1759-1766. Folio 266. MdHR Number 8848. MSA C1387-2.

3. Ibid.

4. ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE. Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769.  Volume 32, Page 96.

5. QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COURT (Criminal Record) Negro Davy. 1759-1766, Folio 266.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. Ibid.

9. "Annapolis, July 5." Maryland Gazette. 1764 July 5.

10. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1726-1786. Negro Davy. July 20, 1764. Folio 201.

11. C. Ashley Ellefson. Seven Hangmen of Colonial Maryland. (Cortland, New York, 2009), 116-117.

12. ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE, Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1737-1740, Vol. 40, Ch. VII, pg. 93, 94.

13. QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COURT (Judgment Record) 1764. Negro David. June Court 1764. Folio 101. MdHR Number 8839. MSA C1416-25.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2012.

Return to Davy's Introductory Page


 
 
 


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.

Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
© Copyright November 05, 2012 Maryland State Archives