"There remain belonging to us only four old slave servants:" Fr. Procurator to Robert C. Brooke and Joseph J. Jones, October 23, 1840

"There remain belonging to us only four old slave servants:" Fr. Procurator to Robert C. Brooke and Joseph J. Jones, October 23, 1840

Slaves--United States--Economic conditions; Jesuits--Missions; Jesuits--History--19th century

In response to an inquiry on the state of the White Marsh Plantation, the Procurator of the Maryland Province informs the Assessors for Prince George's Co. that the property that remains in their estate includes "four old slave servants, 1 man & 3 women, all disabled & above the age of 70."

Maryland Province Archives, Society of Jesus

Georgetown Slavery Archive

1840-12-14

Adam Rothman, Elsa Barraza Mendoza, Transcription by Hillary MacKinlay

Maryland Province Jesuits

GSA353

PDF

English

Manuscript

GSA354

[page 281]

[October 12, 1840, to Robt C. Brooke & Joseph J. Jones, Assessor for Prince George’s Co., in Upper Marlboro]

I beg leave to be excused for not acknowledging sooner yr letter 2d inst having made a short absence from home.

The object of said letter being to require information about the Whitemarsh Estate in order to proceed in the new assessmt intrusted to yr care, I answer, that: as to the real property, no part or parcel of land having been either sold, or purchased in Prince George’s Co since the last assessmt the quantity is the same as was then recorded. And as to the personal property

[page 282]

It is all belonging to the 4 tenants to whom the land is rented. There remain belonging to us only four old slave servants 1 man & 3 women, all disabled & above the age of 70. The 2 Priests, who live in the house close by the Church, have their 2 horses to visit their congon besides a very old one & 3 cows for the use of their family. The Revd Ed. McCarthy, who is here on a visit considers that the whole household, furniture, of every article taxable, is not worth more than $140 or 150.

Manuscript