Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Joe (b. ? - d. 1752)
MSA SC 5496-51575
Slave in Talbot County, Maryland

Biography:

    Negro Joe grew up as a slave owned by Sarah Perkins in Talbot County, Maryland. 1  Joe committed the crime of burglary and felony after he allegedly broke into a storehouse and stole numerous items. 2  Crimes during the colonial period were often enforced to the highest level to deter others from committing the same crime.  Furthermore, Joe would face the death penalty if found guilty.
    
    The crime occurred on July 29, 1752 with the victims being Foster, Ellis, and Robert Cunliff. 3  Numerous expensive items stolen, including women’s silk stockings, thirty one China silk handkerchiefs, Irish linen, three brass shoe buckles, and other clothing related items. 4  Joe was brought to the Provincial Court and the case had enough evidence against him to support the indictment, making it a true bill or billa vera. 5

    According to the Proceedings of the Council of Maryland documenting the case, he was convicted of “Burglary and Felony” in September of 1752 as “the said Several Facts were fully proved.” 6  Because of those “facts”, a jury of “twelve good and lawfull men” found him guilty. 7  The September 28, 1752 issue of the Maryland Gazette notes that “a Negro Fellow named Joe, from the Eastern Shore, was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to die, for a Felony and Burglary.” 8  Negro Joe was given a trial and based upon the evidence he was found guilty.  9

    According to the judgment record, Joe was to be taken back to the Talbot County prison and then to the “gallows in Talbot County and the common place of execution of malefactors and there be hanged by the neck on the said Gallows till he be dead.” 10  The next month, on October 11, 1752, a death warrant was obtained for Joe. 11  According to the October 12, 1752 issue of the Maryland Gazette, Negro Joe was “to be executed in Talbot County, on Friday the 20th Instant.”  12

    Since he was hung, the court valued Joe “to the Sum of Fifty Pounds Current Money.” 13  This resulted in compensation for his slave owner, Sarah Perkins.  According to the Acts of 1737, Ch. 7, the value of the slave would be made by the court and the Treasurer of the Western Shore or Eastern Shore would pay the master or owner. 14

Endnotes:

1. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1726-1786. October 11, 1752. Folio 129. MdHR Number 4010-1. MSA S1080-1.

2. PROVINCIAL COURT (Judgment Record) Negro Joe. September Term 1752. Liber EI 14. Folio 580-581. MdHR Number 785-2. MSA S551-56.

3. Ibid., 580-581.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE. Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1732:1753. Volume 28, Pages 576.

7. PROVINCIAL COURT (Judgment Record) 1752, Page 581.

8. "Annapolis." Maryland Gazette. 1752 September 28.

9. PROVINCIAL COURT (Judgment Record) 1752, Page 581.

10.  Ibid.

11. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1726-1786, October 11, 1752, Folio 129.

12. "Annapolis." Maryland Gazette. 1752 October 12.

13. PROVINCIAL COURT (Judgment Record) 1752, Page 581.

14. ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE, Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1737-1740, Vol. 40, Ch. VII, pg. 93-94.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2012.

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