Fr. Ambrose Maréchal hires out Joseph from Bohemia Plantation, 1796

Fr. Ambrose Maréchal hires out Joseph from Bohemia Plantation, 1796

Slavery; Slave labor; Hire; Leases; Master and Servant

These articles of agreement describe the terms on which Joseph, an enslaved man at Bohemia plantation, in Cecil County Maryland, was hired out by Fr. Ambrose Maréchal to James O'Donald for more than 6 years.

Fr. Maréchal resided at Bohemia from 1792 to 1799. In 1817, he was consecrated as the third Archbishop of Baltimore.

Maryland Province Archives

Georgetown Slavery Archive

1796

Elsa Barraza Mendoza

Maryland Province Archive, Society of Jesus

PDF

English

Manuscript

GSA259

I Amb. Mareshal, having hired unto James O’donald, a negro man named Joseph, during the space of six years, in consideration of ten pounds Maryland’s currency per annum the first three years, and of fourteen pounds per annum the last three years; and having moreover in a lease written among ourselves, determined that the said James O’donald should pay every year of the term twelve pounds in order to make the yearly rent of every thing leased out to him a round sum; yet upon further consideration, and in order to take away all matter of different, I do hereby agree that a deduction of two pounds shall be made from the yearly rent fixed on our lease the two first years of the term, and that the total sum of two pounds shall be added to the said yearly rent the last three years of the said term.

            Done on the first of February the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety six.

Amb. Mareshal

James ODonald

[Signatures]

 

Witnesses present
J. Tessier
Johan O Donald