Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Mingo (b. ? - d. 1742/3)
MSA SC 5496-51891 
Slave Hanged for Crime in Kent County, Maryland

Biography:

    Negro Mingo, as he was referred to in colonial terminology, was born a slave in Kent County, Maryland.1 There are no known records giving an age for Mingo. As a slave, he was owned by Joseph Durding.2 On January 10, 1742/3, a Special court convicted Mingo on a felony charge.3 Twelve days later, on January 22, the court issued a death warrant "for the Execution of Negro Mingo."4 The exact crime is unknown, but he was convicted for "felony." The execution was to be on "Wednesday the 3d February."5 However, February 3, 1742 was a Thursday, not Wednesday. Mingo became a victim of colonial justice where many people were executed for various crimes that ranged from murder to passing counterfeit money.6 In Maryland, from 1726-1775, 146 out of 268 people who were hanged for their crimes were Negro or mulatto slaves.7

Endnotes:

1. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1726-1786. Negro Mingo. January 22, 1742/3. Page 215. Location: 02/26/03/010. MdHR Number: 4010-1. MSA S1080-1.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Ellefson, C. Ashley. Seven Hangmen of Colonial Maryland (Cortland, New York, 2009), 19.

7. Ibid.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2013. 

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