| State | Maryland |
|---|---|
| County (Primary) | Dorchester |
| Other Counties | Somerset |
| Family Name | Buley |
| Family History Notes | Stephen Buley, born say 1733, was head of a household of a black male 40-50 years old in the 1776 census for Straights Hundred of Dorchester County with a black woman 30-40, a black boy 10-16, 3 black boys under 10, a black girl 10-16 and a black girl under 10 [Carothers, 1776 Census of Maryland]. He was head of a Dorchester County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [MD:682]. He was probably the husband of Fortune Beuley, born about 1746, whose son Jesse obtained a certificate of freedom in Dorchester County on 25 September 1816. They were probably the parents of i. Job, born about 1755, enlisted in the 3d Maryland Regiment on 8 April 1782: residence Cambridge, age 27 years, 5'7-1/2" high, stout, black complexion, form of hair: wool [NARA, M881, https://www.fold3.com/image/17229501; M246, roll 34, frame 433 of 587]. ii. George, born about 1761, a soldier who enlisted in the Revolution in Dorchester County, appeared in Dorchester County court at the age of 72 years on 9 April 1833 and applied for a pension for his services in the Revolution. He stated that he was born in Prince George's County about 1761 and was living in Dorchester County when he entered the service at East New Market for 9 months on 10 March 1781. His widow Grace Bewley, aged 59, "a free Colored woman," was residing in Baltimore on 10 July 1855 when she applied for a widow's pension. She stated that they were married on 18 June 1824 by a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Cambridge, Dorchester County, and her maiden name was Grace Cromwell. Her husband died on 15 August 1836. Her brother Shadrack Cromwell, aged 80, stated that she died on 1 March 1872 [NARA, W.27576, M804, https://www.fold3.com/image/12028637]. iii. Jesse, born about 1766, head of a Dorchester County household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [MD:691]. He obtained a certificate of freedom in Dorchester County on 25 September 1816: of a chesnut colour ... raised in Dorchester County and was born free and is the son of Fortune Beuley who was also born free, aged about 50 years [Certificates of Freedom for Negroes, 1806-64, 34]. iv. Henry, head of a Dorchester County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [MD:663]. Another member of the family was i. Ralph, born about 1794, a 48-year-old farmer from Somerset County who emigrated to Liberia aboard the Lafayette in 1832 with Nelly (40), Charlotte (22), Ann (14), Polly Ellen (10), Isaac James (6) and John Thomas Buly [https://www.fold3.com/image/46670387]. |
| Additional Notes | – |
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[Author (if known)], Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg), [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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