Abraham
(b. ? - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-51597
Slave Pardoned for Crime in Talbot County, Maryland
Biography:
Negro Abraham was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland. As a slave, he was owned by William Elston, a planter in Talbot County. 1 On August 23, 1762, Abraham, who was in his teens, allegedly "with force and Arms of his Malice prepence and forethought voluntarily and feloniously with a Coal Kindled with fire did attempt to burn and Destroy the Kitchen of a certain Thomas Hill of the same county (which said Kitchen then and there was a Dwelling house)." 2 A jury of twelve men were in the court in November 1762 to hear the case and give a verdict. 3 While awaiting the verdict of his trial, he was placed under the custody of Woolman Gibson, "Gentlemen high sheriff of Talbot County." 4
Abraham proclaimed to the court that he "is not thereof guilty and thereof good and evil pulleth himself upon the County." 5 Despite proclaiming his innocence in the November Court of 1762, Abraham was "to be taken from thence to the Publick prison of Talbot County, and from thence be Carried to the place of Execution and there be hanged by the neck until he be dead." 6 On November 27, 1762, a Mr. Rizdon Bozman wrote to Governor Horatio Sharpe, asking on behalf of the court to pardon Negro Abraham for his crime. 7 Bozman wanted the "records of their convictions ordered to be transmitted for your (Gov. Sharpe) inspection." 8
Bozman proclaimed that Abraham was "convicted on no other testimony" than that of his "own confessions, taken before a magistrate" and produced as evidence against him in his trial. 9 According to Bozman, the testimony against Abraham was not sufficient enough to convict him of the crime. Bozman was adament in the fact that "neither Hill, nor anyone else, was produced to declare, even any thing circumstantial against him, or why, or for what reason he was suspected and taken up; they are not well satisfied as to his guilt." 10 Under those circumstances and that of "his youth" (in his teen years), Bozman is asking Gov. Sharpe for him to be pardoned. 11 The letter from Risdon Bozman to Governor Sharpe worked on behalf of the court. At a Council held at the City of Annapolis on Wednesday, December 15, 1762, Negro Abraham was issued a pardon for the crime he allegedly committed. 12
Endnotes:
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2012.
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