Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Bett Pone (b. ? - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-51600
Slave Pardoned for Crime in Talbot County, Maryland

Biography:

     Negro Bett Pone was born a slave in Talbot County, Maryland. 1  Her slave owner was Henrietta Maria Goldsborough, a widow from Talbot County. 2  On May 10, 1760, Bett Pone allegedly attempted to and "conspire and attempt with Poison and poisinous venamus and virulent Powder, Mixtures and other Poisinous...ingredients and matters put and mixt in and with certain Food and Victuals to wit Cream, Milk small hemming boild Bacon & boild salades." 3  She allegedly mixed the ingredients into the food and victuals of "a certain David Robinson of the same county Planter." 4  After consuming the food and victuals, Robinson became "sick and lanquished." 5  James Nichols decided to send Bett Pone to the Court House before the Justices of Talbot County "to answer unto all such Matters and Things as then and there shall be objected agst (against) her." 6  

    The jurors presiding over the case gave Bett Pone a guilty verdict, but Bett Pone felt she was not guilty of the crime.  The court in November of 1760 ordered Bett Pone "go from hence (court) to the Place from whence She came (prison) and from thence to be carried to the Place of Execution and there to be hanged by the Neck till She be dead." 7  From the Talbot County Criminal Judgment record, it appears two other slaves were involved in the alleged poisoning of David Robinson. 8  These slaves were Negro Buckinfield and Negro Pung who were both ruled not guilty and acquitted of the charges. 9  

      According to the conviction report given in at a Council held at the City of Annapolis, Robinson was Bett Pone's overseer. 10  On March 10, 1761, at the same Council, the justices recommended Bett Pone "as a proper Object of his Excellency's Mercy, and ordered Pardon which issued accordingly." 11  Bett Pone was officially pardoned for attempting to poison her overseer, David Robinson, but there is a possibility this could have been a conspiracy to poison David Robinson.  However, sufficient evidence was not produced to convict the three slaves.

Endnotes:

1. TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Criminal Record) 1755-1761. Negro Bett Pone. Folio 374-376. MdHR Number 9080. MSA C1857-4. 

2. Ibid. 

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Criminal Record) 1755-1761. Negro Buckinfield and Negro Pung. Folio 376-379. MdHR Number 9080. MSA C1857-4. 

9. Ibid.

10. ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE. Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. Vol. 31, pg. 423, 438.

11. Ibid.

Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2012.

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