"RETURN OF THE TAXABLE PROPERTY OF HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP, FEBRUARY 10TH 1789, ROBERT FLEMING| ROBERT MCKEE| ROBERT TAYLOR" WITH COLUMNS FOR "SERVANTS," "NEGROES & MULATTOE SLAVES," "NEGROES"
Hempfield, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania: 1789. Folio leaves, folded to oblong 7.5" x 9." Plain wraps with manuscript title [detached but present]. [44] pp, including: [1-title], 35 hand-paginated with entries, [1-tally page], and 1-assessors' certification], [6] blank. Toned, some splitting along spine folds, light chipping at edges. Good+.
In March 1780 Pennsylvania enacted "An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery," requiring "That all persons, as well Negroes and Mulattoes as others, who shall be born within this state from and after the passing of this act, shall not be deemed and considered as servants for life, or slaves; and that all servitude for life, or slavery of children, in consequence of the slavery of their mothers, in the case of all children born within this state, from and after the passing of this act as aforesaid, shall be, and hereby is utterly taken away, extinguished and for ever abolished." Persons born in Slavery before the date of the Act would remain as slaves.
This inventory of taxable property is a Who's Who of Hempfield Township in western Pennsylvania, consisting of an alphabetical list of the heads of households for the township. Each entry includes the number of servants under columns headed "Negro & Mulatto Slaves" or "Negroes"; land by deed, warrant, or location; improvements; number of horses, horned cattle, mills, stills, houses/lots, and outlots; and value of the property in pounds, shillings, and pence.
Several entries have "Single Man" written across the first few columns. The total taxable property in this return is £12850.3.9. Five entries have a "1" under the "Negroes" column, including: William Perry, Esq.; James Guthry who notes F 30; Alexander McDowall; David D.P. Marchant; Christian Rhodabough who notes 1-30. Other entries have an "X" in the "Negroes" column. The assessor is listed on the last page as Robert Flemman; Robert McKee [1771-1850] and Robert Taylor are his assistants.
"Hempfield's early settlers were Germans from southeastern Pennsylvania. The name Hempfield was taken from Hempfield Township in Lancaster County, which was formed in 1729 as an English place name. Hempfield Township in Lancaster County derived their name from the production of hemp. In 1818 Lancaster County divided Hempfield Township into East and West Hempfield. The settlers from Lancaster County that came to this area gave the same name to our Township where some of the early settlers had resided. Agriculture was the base for the settlers in the early days. The Township was known for the stills and distilleries where farmers refined the substantial grain output." ["Naming & Establishing Hempfield Township", accessed at official website of Hempfield Township, 25 February 2025.]
Two notable individuals listed are Henry Aleshouse [1757-1837] and Michael Huffnagle [1753-1819]. Aleshouse was Captain of the Continental Army from 1776-1780 and prisoner of war during his service; Major in the Pennsylvania Militia in 1783; member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1802-1805, 1812-15, 1817-1818; and Pennsylvania State Senate from 1819-1826. Huffnagle was prothonotary for Westmoreland County, Captain in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment during the Revolutionary War, one of the first lawyers admitted to the Westmoreland County bar, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions, and Clerk of the Orphan's Court, and Agent for Forfeited Estates.
Of the slave owners, Dr. David [Marchant] Marchand [1746-1809] was a Captain in the American Revolution, local doctor, and founder of the first hospital west of the Allegheny Mountains; William Perry, Esq. [1745-1793] was a sheriff of Westmoreland County from about 1777-1789, Treasurer of Westmoreland County from 1783-1788, County Sheriff in 1779, and Captain of a company of rangers with the Westmoreland Militia.
Some of the surnames listed are: Alesworth, Aultman, Berger, Brisby, Beer, Barnheart, Bell, Campbell, Condon, Cough, Crookshank, Clingahsmith, Davison, Errit, Fullerton, Jenkins, Kimble, McCurdey, Russell, Robison, Shotts, Shull, Taylor, Turner, Wagley, Waterson, Yokey, and others. Item #40544
Price: $2,750.00