Enslaved People Held By Our Ancestors

William Richardson

Our 8th Great Grand-Parents William Richardson 1640–1697 and Elizabeth Ewen 1630–1704 held at least three enslaved people.

In his will dated 21 Dec 1691:

he gave his Daughter Sophia “one negro girl named Mary to be delivered to her when she shall attain the age of sixtee years of the day of her marriage..., ”.

He gave his “youngest son Joseph one negro boy called Cargoe to be delivered to him when he shall attain the age of nineteen”.

He gave hs grandson, “William Richardson one negro girl known by the name of Susan to be delivered for his use after” his wife’s decease.

John Chew Thomas

Our second cousin 7 removed John Chew Thomas, son of Samuel Thomas and Mary Thomas, became a slave holder when he married his half second cousin Mary Thomas. Even more interesting is that the parents of John Chew Thomas, Samuel Thomas and Mary Thomas were first cousins. Their fathers were brothers.

The Snowdens had slaves and when John Chew Thomas married Mary Snowden with her inherited slaves, the Quakers disowned John Chew Thomas. Mary Thomas inherited those slaves from her mother Mary Snowden.