Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Daniel (b. ? - d. 1768)
MSA SC 5496-51594
Slave in Dorchester County, Maryland

Biography:

     Negro Daniel was born a slave in Dorchester County, Maryland.  As a slave, Daniel was owned by James Adams, a property owner in the county. 1  On February 15, 1768, Daniel had allegedly committed a breaking and entering crime. 2  According to the court records, Daniel broke into the store house of Clement Baley. 3  Daniel had stolen "three pairs of Calamans Shoes of the Value of eight shillings current money of Maryland each pair of the said shoes two Testaments of the value of two shillings current Money of Maryland each of the said Testaments nine pair of Shoe Buckles of the Value of one shilling current Money of Maryland each pair of the said Buckles forty yards of Ribbon of the Value of three pounds current Money of Maryland three thousand Pins of the Value of six shillings current Money of Maryland two thread laces of the Value of one penny current Money of Maryland each of the said Laces the goods & chattels of the said Clement Baley." 4    

    Daniel was taken to court under the custody of Robert Harrison, Sheriff of the county. 5  A jury of "twelve jurors good & lawful Men of the County" were called upon to give a verdict in the case against Negro Daniel. 6  The jurors concluded that "Negro Daniel is guilty of the Felony (burglary and breaking and entering)" in which he was indicted for. 7  Daniel was ordered to be taken to a prison, and from there he was to go to his "place of execution" to be "hanged by the Neck until he be Dead." 8  Daniel was valued by the court at "fifty pounds Current Money," which was to be paid to James Adams. 9  The act for "more Effectual Punishment," reads "when any Slave shall be Condemned to Suffer Death that such slave shall be Valued by the Justices of Assize or Either of them then Present or County Court according to the best of their Knowledge which said whole Value shall be paid by the Treasurer of the Respective Shoare." 10  By law, the slave owner was entitled to a reimbursement if their slave was condemned to death. 

    Negro Daniel was convicted of felony on August 31, 1768. 11  According to the Maryland Gazette on September 8, 1768, Daniel's death warrant was confirmed after he was convicted of felony. 12  Burglary and breaking and entering in the 18th century almost always resulted in a hanging.  Many people were executed in colonial Maryland for various crimes that ranged from murder to passing counterfeit money. 13  From 1726-1775, 268 people were hanged for their crimes. 14  Of those 268 people, 146 were Negro or mulatto slaves. 15 Negro Daniel was one of those 146 slaves as he was hanged on Friday, September 9, 1768. 16    

Endnotes:

1. MARYLAND STATE PAPERS (Series A) 1715-1783. Executive Papers: Petitions, Proclamations, and Pardons. Negro Daniel, 1768. MdHR Number 9911. MSA S1004-298. Page 2.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid., 1.

7. Ibid., 3.

8. Ibid., 4.

9. Ibid.

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

11. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1726-1786. Negro Daniel. September 9, 1768. Folio 219. MdHR Number 4010-1. MSA S1080-1.

12. "Annapolis, September 8." Maryland Gazette. 1768 September 08.

13. Ellefson, C. Ashley. Seven Hangmen of Colonial Maryland. Cortland, New York, 2009, 19.

14. Ibid.

15. Ibid.

16. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1726-1786. Negro Daniel. September 9, 1768. Folio 219.
     ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE, Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769, Vol. 32, pg. 247.

Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2012.

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