| State | Virginia |
|---|---|
| County (Primary) | Northampton |
| Other Counties | Worcester, Somerset |
| Family Name | George |
| Family History Notes | The George family originated in Virginia with Peter George who was the "Negro" slave of Nathaniel Littleton of Northampton County in 1640. See the Virginia section of this web site for the entire George history. About 1676 Peter received his freedom from Captain Francis Pigot on the promise to pay 10,000 pounds of tobacco. He completed the last payment in 1682 [DW&c 1680-92, 53, cited by Deal, Race and Class, 444]. He must have been a free man when he was a witness to the will of King Tony, "Negro," proved 28 February 1677/8 [Orders 1674-79, 247]. In 1679 he rented land near Emmanuel Driggers [OW 1683-9, 150-1]. In March 1687/8 he was duped into thinking that "free Negroes should be slaves againe" by one of his white neighbors, Robert Candlin. He left all his household goods and livestock with Candlin and fled to Somerset County, Maryland, with his neighbor, Sarah Driggers, and several other unidentified free African Americans. He was called Peter George of Wiccocomoco Hundred Negro" on 23 April 1688 when he posted 5 pounds surety and he and (his wife?) Mary George were witnesses in a Somerset County court case for "Sarah Driggers Negro woman wife of Thomas Driggers Negro" [Archives of Maryland 91:47]. Perhaps (his wife?) Mary was Mary Rodriggus whose Northampton County tax was paid by the parish in 1674 [DW 1664-74, 273]. He and Sarah Driggers returned to Northampton County about three years later and successfully sued Candlin's widow for the recovery of his livestock [OW 1689-98, 106, 115-116]. Likely descendants in Maryland were i. America, head of a Worcester County household of 6 "other free" in 1790 and 15 "other free" in 1800 (called George America Negro) [MD:735]. He made a deed of manumission in Worcester County on 13 January 1800 by which he set free a "certain Negro woman called Jib" [DB T:43]. ii. Martha, head of a Kent County household of 6 "other free" in 1800 [MD:161]. iii. America2, head of a Worcester County household of 6 "other free" in 1800 (called George America) [DE:718]. iv. Patience, Negro head of a Worcester County household of 6 "other free" in 1800 [MD:725]. v. Betty, Negro head of a Worcester County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [DE:718]. vi. Mary, head of a Worcester County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [MD:738]. |
| 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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