| State | Maryland |
|---|---|
| County (Primary) | Somerset |
| Other Counties | New Castle, Worcester |
| Family Name | Cambridge |
| Family History Notes | Anne Hunt, born say 1694, was the servant of Mr. Robert Nearn/ Nairn, merchant of Coventry Parish, on 2 June 1713 when she admitted in Somerset County court that she had a child by a "Negroe." The court ordered that she receive thirty lashes and that her master give security to return her to court to be sold for seven years at the completion of her indenture. Her master Robert Nearn purchased her unnamed son for thirty one years [Judicial Record 1711-13, 283-4]. Ann was apparently the mother of 2 i. William Cambridge, born about 1713. 2. William1 Cambridge Hunt, born about 1713, was called William Cambridge when he was taxable in the Pocomoke Hundred, Somerset County household of Robert Nairn in 1727 and 1728: called Will and taxable in James Nairn's Pocomoke household from 1730 to 1743: called William Cambridge in 1730 and 1743, called either "Will" or "Cambridge" in the intervening years [List of Taxables]. He was called William Hunt Cambridge when he was granted a patent of 50 acres in Worcester County called "William's Choice" in 1752 which he expanded to 128 acres in 1754 (called William Cambridge Stuart). He was called "William Cambridge a Molatto" in 1783 when he was taxable in Acquango Hundred, Worcester County, on 128 acres, called "William's Choice enlarged" [MSA S1437, p.2]. He called himself William Cambridge Hunt (making his mark) in his 11 March 1784 Worcester County will, proved 5 January 1787, by which he left his plantation to his wife Esther during her widowhood and then to son Levin, or to son George if Levin died before attaining the age of twenty-one. He also left his daughter Leah a feather bed, furniture and a place and materials to build a house and divided some of his possessions among "all my children" [WB JW 13:109-11]. His widow Esther sold and released "William's Choice" for 30 pounds on 9 March 1798 [DB S:286-7]. Their children were i. Leah, born say 1763. ii. Levin, born say 1765, called himself a "free Mollater" on 25 March 1794 when he and George Cambridge gave bond of 30 pounds to support the illegitimate child Peggy who he had by Mary Blake in Worcester County in November 1790 [DB P:301]. He called himself "Levin Cambridge (alias Hunt)" on 24 April 1795 when he sold (signing) the 128 acres of land he received by his father's will to Charles Godfrey for about 11 pounds and then repurchased the land from Godfrey for the same price on 25 December the same year. He mortgaged the property to James Bowdoin Robins on 4 November 1796 for 50 pounds and then completed the sale to Samuel Handy, Sr., on 6 April 1798 [DB Q:172-3; R:56, 374; S:284]. iii. George, born say 1767, head of a Bracken County, Kentucky household of 3 "free colored" in 1830, in the same county as William Cambridge, born before 1776, who was head of a household of 4 "free colored." iv. ?Charles, "Negro" taxable in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County in 1789, in Mispillion Hundred in 1797, and head of a Mispillion Hundred household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [DE:76]. He died before 6 May 1806 when his widow Mary gave up her right to administer his estate. The estate was valued at $201 [DSA, RG 3545, Reel 31, frames 521-4]. v. ?Isaac, head of a New Castle County, Delaware household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [DE:301]. vi. ?William2, died about 1806 when the inventory of his estate was recorded in Kent County, Delaware [Inventories 1806-12]. |
| 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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