| State | Delaware |
|---|---|
| County (Primary) | Kent |
| Other Counties | Caroline |
| Family Name | Trusty |
| Family History Notes | Members of the Trusty family, perhaps children of Wealthy Gibbs or (her daughter?) Rachel Gibbs, were 1 i. William, born say 1745. 2 ii. Stephen, born 28 March 1755. iii. Rebecca, head of a taxable household in the Upper District of Queen Anne's County in 1783 [Assessment of 1783, MSA S1437, p.9], head of a Queen Anne's County household of 6 "other free" in 1790. iv.Joseph, (no race indicated) owed 6 pounds to the Kent County estate of William Comegys on 13 June 1764 [Prerogative Inventories 84:11]. He was head of a Kent County, Maryland household of 6 "other free" in 1800 [MD:155], and a New Castle County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [DE:223]. v. Michael, head of a Kent County, Maryland household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [MD:155] and 8 in 1810 [MD:858]. vi. John, head of a Kent County, Maryland household of 2 "other free" in 1800 [MD:155] and 8 in New Castle County in 1810 [DE:299]. 1. William Trusty, born say 1745, called himself William Gibbs, "one of the Free Negroes and Heirs or Legatees of John Gibbs," when he sold 12-1/2 acres, called Killmannings Plains, by Forge Road in Queen Anne's County to William Clark on 18 June 1768 [DB RT-H:266]. On 9 February 1767 he called himself "William Trusty, otherwise called William Gibbs of Kent County in Delaware" when he sold to Richard Jeffereys, "free Negroe formerly servant to John Willson of Kent County in Maryland," for 10 pounds whatever remaining interest he had in 12-1/2 acres called Kilmannin's Plain sold by him to William Clark [DB RT-H:56-7]. He was a "N." taxable in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, in 1789 [Delaware Archvies RG 3535, Tax Assessments 1727-1850, frame 138], a "Negro" head of a Kent County, Maryland household of 4 "other free" in 1790, head of a Duck Creek Hundred, Kent County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [DE:4]. He may have been the father of i. Abraham, a "free Negro" taxable in Dover Hundred of Kent County, Delaware, in 1785 and 1786 [RG 3535, Assessment List 1727-1850, frames 10, 46]. ii. Richard1, born before 1776, a "free Negro" taxable in Dover Hundred of Kent County, Delaware, in 1788 [Assessment List 1727-1850, frame 108], head of a St. Jones Hundred, Kent County household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [DE:44] and 2 "free colored" in Duck Creek Hundred, Kent County, Delaware in 1820 [DE:38]. iii. Mary, "N." head of a Duck Creek, Kent County household of 1 "other free" in 1800 [DE:8]. iv. Jacob, head of a Duck Creek Hundred, Kent County, Delaware household of 13 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:52]. 2. Stephen Trusty, born free 28 March 1755, was head of a Caroline County household of 3 "other free" in 1790. He purchased 80-1/2 acres called Sansborough in Caroline County from Colonel William Whitely for 300 pounds on 18 October 1799. He was called a miller in the 20 March 1801 Caroline County deed by which he mortgaged (signing) this land to Whitely for 363 pounds. He sold this land to George Turner on 31 July 1804 for 565 pounds [DB G:322; I:40-1]. He was head of a Kent County, Maryland household of 8 "other free" in 1810 [MD:858] and 5 "free colored" in Dover Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, in 1820 [DE:41]. He obtained a certificate of freedom in Caroline County on 27 July 1818: molatto man Stephen Trusty senior free born 63 years of age the twenty eighth day of March last molatto complexion...resided about twenty eight years in Caroline County [Certificates of Freedom 1807-1827, p. 113]. He may have been the ancestor of i. Priscilla, born 19 January 1798, obtained a certificate of freedom in Caroline County on 19 October 1816: molatto woman...free born light complexion raised in Caroline County [Certificates of Freedom 1807-1827, pp. 90-1]. ii. Jonathan, born 13 October 1800, obtained a certificate of freedom in Caroline County on 27 July 1818: free born molatto lad 18 years of age...born and raised in Caroline bright molatto complexion [Certificates of Freedom 1807-27, pp. 113-4]. iii. Henry, born 27 August 1801, obtained a certificate of freedom in Caroline County on 27 July 1818: free born [Certificates of Freedom 1807-1827, p. 114]. iv. Sarah, born 22 December 1803, obtained a certificate of freedom in Caroline County on 27 July 1818: born free...molatto girl [Certificates of Freedom 1807-1827, pp. 114-5]. v. Alice, born 2 April 1806, obtained a certificate of freedom in Caroline County on 27 July 1818: molatto complextion [Certificates of Freedom 1807-1827, p. 115]. vi. Stephen, born 4 July 1807, obtained a certificate of freedom in Caroline County on 27 July 1818: molatto complextion born in Caroline County [Certificates of Freedom 1807-1827, pp. 116-7]. vii. William, born 25 September 1810, obtained a certificate of freedom in Caroline County on 27 July 1818: free born molatto boy [Certificates of Freedom 1807-1827, pp. 116]. viii. DeWitt Clinton, born 15 December 1812, obtained a certificate of freedom in Caroline County on 27 July 1818: molatto boy [Certificates of Freedom 1807-1827, pp. 117]. ix. Joseph, born 25 March 1815, obtained a certificate of freedom in Caroline County on 27 July 1818: free born...molatto complexion [Certificates of Freedom 1807-1827, pp. 118]. |
| 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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