Hagar
(b. ? - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-51601
Slave Pardoned for Crime in Queen Anne's County, Maryland
Biography:
Negro Hagar was a female slave born in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. She was considered a "spinster" and the slave "of a certain Joseph Nicholson, Junior." 1 On August 13, 1773, Hagar allegedly assaulted William Rooke "with an intent to Kill and Murder him." 2 She was accused of holding a hoe in both her hands and struck him "upon the Head" and "upon the left Arm." 3 Rooke had suffered a head wound "of the Length of Two Inches and of the Depth of Half an Inch." 4 The wound of his left arm was "of the length of three inches and of the Depth of half an Inch." 5
For the attempted murder of William Rooke, Negro Hagar was convicted of the crime by John Brown and other justices of the Queen Anne's County Court on August 23, 1773. 6 It was decided, however, that Negro Hagar be pardoned for her crime and that she would not "suffer any Corporal Punishment." 7 Hagar was officially pardoned nearly a month later on September 22, 1773. 8 She was pardoned because the justices saw that she was "a proper Object of our Mercy." 9 It's unknown as to why she was deemed to be an object of mercy within the court system, but she was able to be saved from corporal punishment.
Endnotes:
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2012.
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