Toby (b. ? - d. 1767)
MSA SC 5496-51889
Slave Hanged for Crime in Dorchester County, Maryland
Biography:
Negro Toby was born a slave during the colonial period in Dorchester County, Maryland. There are no known records telling us the age of Toby. As a slave, Toby was a "labourer" and he was owned by William Ennals, a property owned in Dorchester County.1 On April 17, 1767, Toby was in the "Goal of Dorchester County under sentence of Death for a certain Felony and Burglary by him committed whence he was convict before Benjamin Keene, Esq. and others Justices of Dorchester County."2 Toby allegedly committed this crime on March 10, 1767.3 Toby was originally scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, May 6, 1767, the same day as Negro Glasgow, another slave of William Ennals, but "His Excellency was pleased to Grant a Reprieve on the 17th of April until his further pleasure should be known."4 Despite his conviction, Toby was granted a reprieve, possibly due to a lack of evidence.
However, on June 13, 1767, another death warrant was issued for Toby for "breaking upon and robbing the House of Wm. Ennalls."5 Toby allegedly stole "a Purse of the Value of five Shillings Current Money of Maryland, and also the Quantity of four hundred Spanish Milled Dollars of the Value of One hundred and twenty Pounds Current Money of Maryland."6 Toby became a victim of colonial justice where many people were executed for various crimes that ranged from murder to passing counterfeit money.7 In Maryland, from 1726-1775, 146 out of 268 people who were hanged for their crimes were Negro or mulatto slaves.8
Endnotes:
1. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1733-1773. Negro Toby. April 17, 1767. Page 200. Location: 02/26/03/013. MdHR Number: 4012-1. MSA S1080-4.2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
7. Ellefson, C. Ashley. Seven Hangmen of Colonial Maryland (Cortland, New York, 2009), 19.
8. Ibid.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2013.
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