Series 1, Register of enslaved women and their children who were born after 1780, is a compilation of papers filed by holders of enslaved persons that show date; name and place of residence of slaveholder; name of mother (usually an enslaved person) and child; date of birth; sex of child; age when the child will be freed; official seal and signatures; and date when filed.
17 folders, 89 items, 648 pages to scan, .25 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0240_Ser01
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Copies of MG0240, Series 1, Folders 1-9 are also on microfilm in the Research Center Library (Drawer 3, sec. 2, #206) and bound (326 R294p Oversized)
Black History Collection (MG0240) https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/2b3d42c6-a313-4ebc-966f-516114048136
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Black History Collection (MG0240), Object ID, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL. Date accessed (day, month, year).
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, these items reflect the racial prejudices and actions of the era. In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact research@lancasterhistory.org prior to visit. Restricted access for the Mayor's Register of Coloured Persons found in Series 2, Folder 2: Use transcript in Folder 3 or microfilm.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish. There is no fee for publication of items in MG0240_Ser01.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-240, Series 1
Classification
MG0240
Description Level
Series
Custodial History
Processed prior to 1997 and updated from 2007-present. Added to database on 10 January 2022.
Digitization of this document was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 202010016624, 2020-2023.
This collection contains papers and local government records related to Black history in Lancaster County, including an index to Lancaster County's register of enslaved persons, Mayor's Register of Coloured Persons or Negro Entry Book, and a biographical account of Rev. James William Charles Pennington. There are official records for enslaved persons and their children in Lancaster County, as well as freemen within Lancaster City. The collection also contains a manumission paper from the state of Virginia, a certificate for free persons of color, and letters from anit-slavery societies.
System of Arrangement
Series 1 consists of the "Slave Registers," official county records registering enslaved women and their children after 1780.
Series 2 contains the "Mayor's Register of Coloured Persons," a manumission paper, correspondence, and other records.
1 box, 33 folders, 128 items, 1,178 pages to scan, .5 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0240
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Black History Collection (MG0240) https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/2b3d42c6-a313-4ebc-966f-516114048136
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Black History Collection (MG0240), Object ID, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL. Date accessed (day, month, year).
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, this collection reflects the racial prejudices and actions of the era. In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact research@lancasterhistory.org prior to visit. Restricted access for the Mayor's Register of Coloured Persons found in Series 2, Folder 2: Use transcript in Folder 3 or microfilm.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-240
Classification
MG0240
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
The collection was formerly called "The Slave Records of Lancaster County Collection." Name changed to "African American Records Collection" and arrangement changed on 13 June 2007. Name changed again in 2022 to "Black History Collection."
Smedley & Son Prospect Mills Day Book C contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on, an itemized list of their profits and expenses, an index of sales and where they are found, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling corn, wheat, bran, oats, and flour, as well as sawing boards, turning trundle posts, and rejoining carriage shafts. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages and transportation costs.
Admin/Biographical History
Joel Smedley was born in 1799 to parents Joseph Smedley and Rebecca Lewis Smedley. Joel married Martha Wildman and fathered six children including Charles, Mary, John, Lewis, Anne, and Ellwood. Joel inherited the mill from his father in 1833 and expanded it by building a sorghum factory. Joel died in 1872.
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org for permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Account Book of Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill, Book A, Little Britain Township, Fulton Twp.
Description
Account Book of Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill, Book "A", Little Britain Township, Fulton Township.
Contains 225 leaves that are paginated, and a 10 page index of clients made by the book owner by cutting the page margins, and writing index tabs on the remaing margins.
Front cover has an "A" carved on it.
Front 2 leaves were incorporated into the index and end 2 leaves were used to continue accounting.
Book references itemized lists of profits and expenses, the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include items such as employee wages, transportation costs, and a pair of new shoes.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card.
Insert 2 - One book marker and six loose sheets.
o Item 1 Yellow Join the Great American Smoke book marker rom the Lancaster County Unit American Cancer Society.
o Item 2 Six pieces of paper with names and calculations.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card
Jeremiah Brown was born 1750, descended from Joshua Brown. He received his father’s mill in 1775. Jeremiah’s business became quite prosperous and with the help of other prominent figures in Lancaster County, he helped establish the Farmers Bank of Lancaster. Jeremiah’s fathered several children including the honorable Judge Jeremiah Brown and Slater Brown, later leaving the mill to Slater. At the time of his death in 1831, he was thought to be one of the largest stockholders, if not the largest, of the Farmers Bank of Lancaster at 1,000 shares.
Book is intact, cover shows signs of red rot, front and back cover, as well as the spine, have pieces that have worn off, front and back covers have water damage as well as several front and back pages.
Tab "CD" on index page is missing "D".
Object ID
MG0963_F009
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill account book "B" Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Description
Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill account book "B" Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Contains 200 pages, plus a 12 page index of clients and what pages they appear on.
Front cover has a "B" written on it.
"LEDGER" is printed on spine.
BAck cover inside has an "X" written on it.
Book references itemized list of profits and expenses, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, transportation costs, and dry goods such as salt.
This account book also contains several sections of estate planning for multiple individuals.
o Jeremiah Brown records his will and what his children are to inherit from his estate on pg. 1.
o Jeremiah Brown later records a detailed list of what he gave to his daughter Sarah as she married Timothy Hanes on pg. 10.
o Vincent King estate on pg. 102
o Richard Stedman real estate on pg. 104.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card and "The Book Haven" description.
Insert 2 - Nine account loose pieces of paper and a note dated 1814 outlining the transition of the mill from Jeremiah to his son Slater that was found on pg. 171.
Insert 3 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 4 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 5 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 6 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 7 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 8 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card and "The Book Haven" description card
Jeremiah Brown was born 1750, descended from Joshua Brown. He received his father’s mill in 1775. Jeremiah’s business became quite prosperous and with the help of other prominent figures in Lancaster County, he helped establish the Farmers Bank of Lancaster. Jeremiah’s fathered several children including the honorable Judge Jeremiah Brown and Slater Brown, later leaving the mill to Slater. At the time of his death in 1831, he was thought to be one of the largest stockholders, if not the largest, of the Farmers Bank of Lancaster at 1,000 shares.
Book is in poor condition. Front and back covers are unattached with most of the leather worn off. Spine is completely worn through at places. Paper has foxing and some pages have water damage. Nine pages are unattached. Index tabs A-B, C-D, N-O, W-X and W-Z are missing.
There is no page 2. Pages 201 to 206 are not paginated.
Object ID
MG0963_F010
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Edmond is recorded as "Black Edmond"
Hannah is recorded as "Black Hannah"
Patrick is recorded as "Black Patrick"
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Account book of Slater Brown, Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Description
Account book of Slater Brown, Little Britain Township, Fulton Township.
Contains 197 paginated pages with verticle column lines, plus a 22 page front index and a 22 page up-side-down back index (blank), the tabs of both indexes were cut from the book pages. Also, 3 unpaginated leaves in front of the back index have account information from 1818, 1819 and 1821, plus 9 blank unpaginated in front of the back index.
Front Cover - Inside: "EARLY 19TH CENTURY; GRIST MILL LEDGER OF; SLAYTER BROWN, SON OF;THE QUAKER LEADER; JEREMIAH BROWN OF; PEACH BOTTOM" is written on bottom half.
Front Leaves: Are a 21 tabbed page index. The back sides of each tab are blank.
End Leaves: Are a 20 page tabbed index, The tabs are upside down and the pages are blank.
Back Cover - "Ledger A" is written on the outside of the back cover, back contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on.
Book references an itemized list of client profits and expenses, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, clover seed, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, transportation costs, and rent. The last page of the account book lists the work done at the schoolhouse in 1818 by helpers Peter and James. Three pressed ferns were also found within the account book (Pages. 1, 19, & 130).
Insert 1 - Blue donor card and 2 page Biographical sheets.
Son of Jeremiah Brown and brother of Judge Jeremiah Brown, Slater Brown was born in 1787 and inherited his father's mill in 1820. After continuing to grow the family mill and business, Slater died in 1855, leaving the mill to his son, Jeremiah Brown Jr.
Binding is damaged, top of back cover is not attached and top of spine has worn to the pages, cover has red rot; the last 33 pages are not attached at the top half of the pages.
Page in front of the back index is missing the bottom ~1".
Object ID
MG0963_F012
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Habeas Corpus paper of Letitia Kenady (Habeas 1814 F025)
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Slater Brown has a writ of habeas corpus against him from Letitia Kennedy.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Account Book of Slater Brown form Little Britain Township and Fulton Township
Description
Account Book of Slater Brown’s gristmill book D, from Little Britain Township and Fulton Township.
Contains 219 paginated ruled leaves with vertical column lines, plus 1 end leaf that is not paginated, and an 20 page index of clients, the last page of which has account information only.
Front Cover: "D." written in black on outside at top; inside has "ISAAC P. COOK" sold by book stamp. Inside cover is marbleized.
Back Cover - Inside cover is marbleized
Spine - "LEDGER" is stamped on the spine and the letter D was written at 3 places.
Front leaves - 2 leaves. The first leaf is marbleized on one side and has x'ed out 2 lines at the top.; second leaf has "Slater Brown Bern?" written on one side.
Back leaf - Only one that is marbleized on one side.
The letter "D" in written in black on the front cover and three times on the spine.
Book references an itemized list of customers profits and expenses, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, clover seed, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, transportation costs, and rent.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card.
Insert 2 - 8 loose sheets, 3 are small pieces of paper.
Admin/Biographical History
From Donor Card:
Son of Jeremiah Brown and brother of Judge Jeremiah Brown, Slater Brown was born in 1787 and inherited his father's mill in 1820. After continuing to grow the family mill and business, Slater died in 1855, leaving the mill to his son, Jeremiah Brown Jr.
Book cover is damaged but intact. Red rot of cover and spine is present and the leather has worn to the base at places on the edges. Spine has separated at the top rear seam. Spine had "LEDGER" printed on it and what appears to be a vertical 1/2" burn mark at the top.
The following stamp in on the inside cover.
SOLD BY
ISAAC P. COOK,
BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER,
No. 37 Market street,, Baltimore,
Where a general assortment of
Books and Stationary may be
obtained at low prices.
Orders thankfully received.
The front and back page have separated from the spine. Pages are in good condition, except pages 212 through 218, that have a 6 inch section of lower edges roughly worn. This is minor damage.
Object ID
MG0963_F014
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Slater Brown has a writ of habeas corpus against him from Letitia Kennedy.
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Account book of Slater Brown’s gristmill store (from 1815-1835).
Contains 86 paginated ruled leaves with vertical column lines. Additionally there are 123 blank unpaginated ruled leaves with vertical column lines following page 86. In addition, there is a 22 page tabbed index and 4 front leaves (blank) and 3 end leaves (blank).
Spine - "Ledger A" and "LG&Co" written, and, "LEDGER" stamped on spine.
Book references an index of clients and what pages they appear on, an itemized list of their profits and expenses, and an agreement between Neal Hambleton and John J. Poole. The profits range from unspecified ‘merchandise’ and ‘sundry accounts.’ The recorded expenses include employee wages and sundry accounts.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card.
Insert 2 - 2 page handwritten agreement between Neal Hambleton and John J. Poole with a 3/4" embossed stamp in the upper left corner containing picture of a government building with "CONGRESS" above it and "CAREW CO" below it.
Insert 3 - 11 loose sheets.
Admin/Biographical History
From Donor Card:
Son of Jeremiah Brown and brother of Judge Jeremiah Brown, Slater Brown was born in 1787 and inherited his father's mill in 1820. After continuing to grow the family mill and business, Slater died in 1855, leaving the mill to his son, Jeremiah Brown Jr.
Binding intact with front page no attached. Red rot on cover.
Back Cover - Outside as burn mark ~ 6" long at the top.
First page is unattached.
Object ID
MG0963_F013
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Slater Brown has a writ of habeas corpus against him from Letitia Kennedy. Habeas 1814 F025.
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Additional Notes
See Allied Materials.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
William Brown’s blacksmith account from Fulton Township
Contains 119 paginated leaves plus 5 end unpaginated pages, and a 2 page index.
Front Cover - Outside: "William Brown" written upside down; Inside: ""LEDGER OF WILLIAM BROWN; BLACKSMITH, QUAKER; FULTON TWNSHP; $175--/Sum" written at top and miscellaneous account information on rest of cover.
Spine has a faint "13" written on it.
Back Cover - Inside: Has miscellaneous account information.
Front 2 leafs - First leaf is an index; second leaf has account information.
The book references an itemized list of profits and expenses. The profits list ranges from selling steel shoes, hinges, smithing tongs, nails, chains, steel point shears as well as listing out repairs made to equipment and carriages. The recorded expenses for the mill include cloth, steel from Baltimore, and goat milk.
Insert 1 - A donor card and "The Book Haven" description.
Insert 2 - Right cover front corner of book cover.
Insert 3 - Three sheets pieces.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card
William Brown was a Quaker and a blacksmith, probably from Fulton Township.
Book is intact. Front cover missing upper right corner (4" diagonal measurement). Front and back covers heavily worn on edges.
Spine has red rot.
Front inside cover is peeling.
Page 36: Bottom 2" are torn off.
Page 120 has been torn out.
Object ID
MG0963_F011
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
