Harry (b. ? - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-51607
Slave Pardoned for Crime in Dorchester County, Maryland
Biography:
Negro Harry was born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland. 1 As a slave, Harry was owned by Roger Woolford and performed duties as a "labourer." 2 On January 10, 1774, Harry was charged with the alleged offenses of breaking and entering and theft. 3 The evidence presented involved Harry allegedly breaking and entering the "Store House of a certain John Nixon." 4 He was accused of stealing the following items: "ten yards of White Linen of the Value of Two Shillings and eight pence Current Money...Fourteen Yards of White Linen of the Value of Two Shillings Current Money...one Hat of the Value of Fifteen Shillings Current Money, two Hats of the Value of Twelve Shillings Current Money...& Forty three yards of Oznabrigs of the Value of ten pence Current Money." 5
The case became a true bill, meaning Harry's bill of indictment was endorsed by a grand jury. Since the case was endorsed by a grand jury, they decided there was sufficient evidence against Harry to force a trial. Robertson Stevens, Esq.,6 the sheriff of Dorchester County, placed Harry in his custody while the court would decide his fate. Harry pleaded "not guilty" to the crime and "put himself upon his Country." 7 Robertson Stevens, Esq. was summoned to find twelve men to serve as a petit jury in the case. After hearing the evidence presented against Harry, the jury issued a guilty verdict in the case. 8 Harry was then sentenced to be "hanged by the Neck until he be dead." 9
The "Justices of Dorchester County" valued Harry at "Forty Pounds Current Money." 10 By law, Roger Woolford, Harry's slave owner, was entitled to receive that amount as a reimbursement for the loss of his slave. 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." 11 The reimbursement was to be paid to "the Master or Owner of such Slave in Case the said Slave shall be Actually Executed." 12
After being convicted of the crime "on the Second Tuesday in March" in 1774, Harry was pardoned one month later in April. 13 Harry was officially pardoned on April 22, 1774 for the crime he allegedly committed. 14 Harry was pardoned on the condition that he "transport himself or cause himself to be transported out of this our province within forty days from the date hereof (April 22, 1774) and never to return again." 15 If Harry failed to meet that condition, the pardon would be "void." 16 He was pardoned for the crime because he was declared "a proper object of our (the Council reviewing the case) Mercy." 17 It's unknown why he was chosen as an object of mercy, but as a result, Harry did not have to "suffer any Corporal punishment." 18
Endnotes:
2. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
12. Ibid., 94.
13. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1774-1776. JB J. April 22, 1774. Negro Harry.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2012.
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