Items

• Property Sales – List of slaves sold from Samuel Chew's Cecil County plantations, 1812
  Found within a copy of "Samuel Chew's List of Sales for Benj. Chew, Esq." A comprehensive list of items sold from Samuel Chew's estate, including two pages listing the sales of slaves from Frisbey's Meadows, Great Plantation, and Rich Neck (images 5 & 6). Each line includes the slave's name, the name of the purchaser, and their price. There are a few lines indicating slaves not sold, such as Molly and Patty from Great Plantation, as well as "James" who was given to his mother. African American people mentioned: Frank, James, Bill, Perry, Ben, Solomon, Nicholas, Juliana, Sofhia (sp?), Lucy, Phoebe, Lemon, Abraham, Tom, Polly, Lydia, Emeline, Harriott, Susan, Nancy, Washington, James, John, William, James, Ephraim, "old Dick", Michael, Nat (sp?), Enoi, Henry, Philip, Aaron, Michael, Ben, Ro(sp?), Bill, Abraham, Sylvia, Judith's son (?), Jane, Eliza, Deana, Judith, Beck, Maria
• Correspondence from Benjamin Chew, Jr. (1758-1844) to William Barroll [re: farm in Kent Co., MD; various slaves--Phillis and children, Becky], 1809-1833
  References to farm in Kent County, MD and various enslaved people. Includes names and relationships of enslaved people, Phillis and Becky. African American people mentioned: Becky, Phillis, Phillis' children, and various others
• Samuel Chew (1737-1809) estate: Slaves, 1792-1812, undated
  Lists names, ages, relationships Lists names, ages, and relevant relationships or medical issues of enslaved people at Great Plantation, Rich Neck, Frisby Meadows, Chestertown, and Sassafras Farm, inventoried for sale after the death of Samuel Chew. African American people mentioned: Rich Neck- John, Dick, Mike, Matthias, Eneas, William, James, Ephraim, Heny, Philip, Mike, Aaron, Ben, Bill, Abraham, Silvie, Judithe, Jenny Anderson, Rose, Diane, Judithe, Beck, Marie, Harriot, Eliza Great Plantation- Mark, Stephen, Hank, Nicholas, Joseph, Frank, Abraham, Prince, Dick, Ned, Harry, Adam, Bill, Harry, Jacob, Phillis, Molly, Pat, Clant (sp?), Jenny & female child, Amey, Nancy, Harriott, Jenny, Betsy, Jim Frisby Meadows- James, Frank, Bill, Penny or Peggy, Abram, Barnet, Tom, Ben, Solomon, John, Isaac, Jonathan, Mick, Washington, James, Thomas, Lemon, Phoebe, Lucy, Nancy, Fanny & her child, Polly, Harriott, Juliana, Rachael, Susan, Ann, Henry, Phoebe, Sophie, Maria, Margaret, Lydia, Emmeline and multiple informal lists with titles such as "Negroes from my farm", with overlap
• Samuel Chew (1737-1809) correspondence: Slave's pass, 1796
  Written and signed by Benjamin Chew and Samuel Chew for an enslaved man named Michael to carry on his search for enslaved people who had escaped. The note implies that all who returned willingly would not be punished. African American people mentioned: Negro Michael
• Samuel Chew (1737-1809) correspondence to unknown [re: the punishment of slave Mark by "your overseer"], n.d.
  A letter from Samuel Chew to an unknown overseer, discussing enslaved man Mark's request of Samuel to intervene on his behalf to avoid punishment by whip after missing a cattle feeding. African American people mentioned: Mark
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) April 25, 1805
  Discusses enslaved man Joe's letter requesting to go to Baltimore, stating that the only way he would agree is if Joe's wife's owner, Mr. Hollingsworth, purchases Joe as well. He asks his uncle what the "proper sum to ask for him" is. African American people mentioned: ​​​​​​​Joe
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) January 30, 1805
  Mentions Benjamin's "man from Germantown" African American people mentioned: "man from Germantown" [unclear race]
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) December 10, 1805
  Letter notes "Your man Richard" and "Receiving your letter by Dick"; unclear if an enslaved person. African American people mentioned: Richard/Dick [unclear race]
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) September 8, 1805
  Written from Cliveden, mentions Yellow Fever and removal of all family from their Third Street residence "except the Blacks who did not choose to move." Specifically, the outbreak was in Southwark where there was a high population of Black folk at this time, perhaps explaining why some chose not to leave the city. African American people mentioned: Black people at the 3rd Street property in Philadelphia
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) April 6, 1806
  Mentions travelling to Chester Town and making arrangements for plantations on Langford's Bay. African American people mentioned: None mentioned
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) April 20, 1807
  Mentions death of Nelly. African American people mentioned: Old Nelly (aka Mother Nelly from item 18428)
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) April 15, 1807
  Benjamin writes to his uncle, describing the death of Mother Nelly from a stroke at 59 years old, calling Drs. Wistar & Kuhn to attend to her. The family is sincerely affected by the loss. African American people mentioned: Mother Nelly & Sarah the Cook
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) December 22, 1807
  Benjamin discusses concern for situation of, and securing places for, "my Black People". Names two women, Teeny and Phillis, and children. Includes discussion of sending Phillis' 12-year-old daughter to William Pearce to provide childcare. African American people mentioned: Teeny, Phillis, Phillis' 4 children including 12-year-old daughter 
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) January 8, 1808
  Discusses stock loss and securing places for men named Tom and Joe. Mentions the Embargo Act (passed December 1807, affecting placement of slaves.) African American people mentioned: Tom & Joe
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) May 6, 1808
  Discusses "Servant Girl Sal" and payment to Billy Pearce. The letter suggests that Sal, a 12-year-old girl belonging to the Chew family, is currently working for Billy Pearce, and he does not want to return her until the end of the year. African American people mentioned: "Servant girl Sal"
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) October 24, 1808
  List of names written on the outside of the letter, likely of enslaved people. African American people mentioned: Jerry, Moses, Harry, Charles, Jacob, Emory
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) January 6, 1809
  Discusses the unsettled situation of "Benjamin's Black People". Mentions proposed wages and clothing costs. African American people mentioned: Black Tom, Joseph, & Phillis
• Letter from Benjamin Chew Jr. to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) April 7, 1809
  Asks for "Direction in respect to the two Blacks…." African American people mentioned: Two Blacks
• Letter from Benjamin Chew to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) August 6, 1798
  Benjamin writes "This will probably be the last day I or any of my Family, except the blacks I have behind, shall revisit the City." African American people mentioned: Blacks in Philadelphia 
• Letter from Benjamin Chew to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) May 26, 1803
  References to overseer Berry discussing "Negro Man called Jacob…had run away some years ago from Rich Neck." Refers to time spent in Goal [jail]. African American people mentioned: Jacob
• Letter from Benjamin Chew to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) May 13, 1803
  Discusses the "Negroe who eloped with [Samuel Chew's] man Tom". Man returned of his own accord. African American people mentioned: Tom & man who ran away with Tom
• Letter from Benjamin Chew to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) June 9, 1803
  Mentions abolition society, enslaved man named Jacob and his wife. African American people mentioned: Jacob & Jacob's wife
• Letter from Benjamin Chew to Samuel Chew (1737-1809) March 8, 1804
  Mentions enslaved people in connection to Napolean's army. African American people mentioned: Unnamed enslaved people possibly in Napolean's army, upon his invasion of Paris
• Samuel Chew (1737-1809), bonds and agreements: Owen Crow agreement - Cecil County, MD plantation rental, 1792-1797
  Folder contains several agreements regarding disposition of the enslaved people at the plantation. Includes names of 46 enslaved people, medical bills, food rations, clothing, and punishment. African American people mentioned: 46 enslaved people including Stephen, Aaron, Mark, Jacob, James, Samuel, Dick, Michaux, Ben, another Samuel, Ephraim, Will, Bill, Buck, Jenny, Robert, Liam, Phillis, Jude, Silvia, Arthur, Bob, another Jenny, Amey, George, Jack, Tom, Dick (or Keith), Bill (or Dell), Hash (or Hank), Meg (sp?), Frank, Abby, Charles, John, Benjamin, Christian, Rose (sp?), Rachael, Sal, Rosie (sp?), and a few other whose names are illegible 
• Notice of property sales at Frisby's Meadow, Cecil County MD, November 6th, 1809
  Broadside notification describing farm equipment and animals for sale, of late Samuel Chew. Also describes sale of "service of a considerable number of Black People, men, women and children, so as however not to separate families, and provided the situation be acceptable to the Blacks themselves." African American people mentioned: Enslaved community at Frisby's Meadows