| State | Maryland |
|---|---|
| County (Primary) | Talbot |
| Other Counties | Sussex |
| Family Name | Dobson |
| Family History Notes | 1. Margaret Dobson, born say 1722, the white servant of Nicholas Goldsborough of St. Peter's Parish, confessed to the Talbot County court in November 1742 that she had a child by a "Negroe." The court ordered her sold for seven years and bound her daughter Diana, born 6 May 1742, to her master until the age of thirty-one. In March 1744/5 she was sold for a second term of seven years, and the court bound her "Mulatto" son James to her master until the age of thirty-one. She was living in St. Michaels Parish on 20 October 1747 when she was convicted of having her son Jethro by a "Negro" [Judgment Record 1742, 293; 1744-5, 238-9; Criminal Record 1747-50, n.p.]. She was the mother of 2 i. Diana, born 6 May 1742. ii. James, born in 1745, head of a Talbot County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [MD:507]. iii. Jethro, born about January 1747, nine months old on 20 October 1747 when he was sold to Nicholas Benson for the 4 pounds which was due to him for keeping Jethro for the first nine months of his life [Judgment Record 1747-50, n.p]. 2. Diana Dobson, born 6 May 1742, was the servant of Nicholas Goldsborough, Sr., in November 1764 when she was convicted by the Talbot County court of having two illegitimate children [Criminal Record 1761-7, 311-3]. She may have been the mother of i. Abram, head of a Talbot County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [MD:537]. ii. Benjamin, born before 1776, head of a Sussex County, Delaware household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [DE:444] and 5 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:324]. They were probably the ancestors of i. Isaac, born about 1766, manumitted by Archelus Price of Talbot County on 16 August 1808, obtained a certificate of freedom on 29 September 1812: a Mullatto Man ... named Isaac Dobson who is now about 46 years of age, 5 feet 5 3/4 in. high ... set free by him the said Archelus Price on the 16 August 1808 [Certificates of Freedom 1807-28, 40]. |
| Additional Notes | – |
If you are citing this record, please use the following format:
[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.
Pinned records can be viewed at any time by clicking the More menu in the top right corner of the page, then selecting My Pinned Records.