Hartshorns were known on infrequent occasions to
have been slave owners. In the two known instances, the slaves were freed
before the onset of the Civil War. Efforts are currently being made to
document their Hartshorn roots.
Louis (aka Lewis) and Margaret HARTSHORN were born into slavery circa
1816 in Virginia, possibly in Alexandria, in what is now suburban DC. They
were allowed to buy their freedom circa 1860, and they then removed
to Buchanan Co., near St. Joseph, Missouri, where they lived the
rest of their lives. They had in all twelve children (as yet, names not
known, except one). Louis predeceased Margaret who lived until 1907 and
was buried in St. Joseph, MO. One of their daughters has been identified
as Margaret, who married a Hawkins.
REGISTRATION NO. 1355, Vol. 2, p. 436-437, Manumission recorded 24 Nov 1835: Samuel STOTT in consideration of $150, manumits George HARTSHORN, who is 10 yrs old.
The notes following the registration state that D.C. Marriage Registers list the marriage of George HARTSHORN to Sarah MIDDLETON on 3 Jan 1848...[1850 census for Ward 1] (Vol. 1, folio 13) lists George, age 25, a hackman, Sarah, age 29, Charles, age 12, Abel, age 5, Sarah CLAGHORN, age 10, and Charles MIDDLETON, age 25 - all described as mulatto...[1860 census for Ward 1] (Vol. 1, p. 361) lists George, age 30, a hackman, Sarah, age 36, John, age 14, and Michael, age 9 months - none designated as black or mulatto. George Francis HARTSHORN's will, probated in 1868, lists heirs as his mother Sarah H. HARTSHORN, and his wife Sarah G. HARTSHORN.
REGISTRATION NO. 1383, Vol. 2, p. 453, Manumission, recorded 12 April 1836: Jacob "HARTSHORNE" [HARTSHORN], in consideration of five dollars, manumits his wife Sarah HARTSHORN, who is about forty years old, and his children Martha, John and Cornelia. (marked with X) No notes following.
[Source: District of Columbia Free Negro Registers 1821-1861,
by Dorothy S. Provine, 1996, Heritage Books, Inc.]
A possible clue as to the slave owner of the original black Hartshorns follows:
William Hartshorne, son of Hugh and Hannah (Pattison) Hartshorn was born in June, 1742, probably in Burlington county, New Jersey. He was married to Susannah Saunders at the Philadelphia Meeting House (Quaker) on 8 Oct. 1767. He was quite well to do and was probably the William Hartshorne that was partners with Joseph Saunders, his father-in-law in the store, Saunders & Hartshorne in Philadelphia.
He and Susannah had eight children, most of whom became successful in business. Son, Peter, was known to have traveled to Europe twice.
William Hartshorne moved from Philadelphia to Alexandria, Va. before the Revolutionary War and was said to have been a close friend of George Washington and served as his private secretary for a time. He was received by the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Quakers) 3 Mar 1760 from the Burlington MM. He was dismissed for joining the army in 1777.
Land grants that were made to William Hartshorn in Virginia for his
Revolutionary service were:
Land Office Treasury Warrant # 1564, 8 May 1783 - 129 acres on Hughs
River, Wood County
Land Office Treasury Warrant # 1664, 8 May 1783 - 40 acres on Hughs
River, South Fork, Wood County (both tracts deeded to a Dr. Ross on 1 Feb
1802).
The 1790 federal census records a William Hartshorne with "10 whites and 2 blacks". Resided in Fairfax County, Virginia.
His wife, a Quaker at her death, died 26 Oct. 1801 in Alexandria, VA. He died 13 Oct. 1816. His will was dated 7 Oct 1813. It is extensive and the abstraction reads as follows:
(Book L, pg 202-206) Proved 16 May 1818 and certified 18 May. In
it, all eight children are named. The executors are all the sons and sons-in-law.
They relinquished their executorships (Robert, 23 Jan 1818 in Halifax,
Va; William, Joseph and Peter, 3 Jan 1818 in Baltimore, Md.; Pattison,
Jr., 15 Jan 1818 in Clermont Co., Ohio. The sons-in-law relinquished their
executorships (undated) in favor of William Hartshorne Miller as petitioner-administrator).
Provisions of the will included:
1. All just debts be paid.
2. Household furniture and wearing apparel to wife Susanna.
3. Real estate to be sold to discharge debts if personal estate
not sufficient; remainder to be divided into nine equal shares. Interest
from 1/9 to widow during lifetime; balance to eight children and sons-in-law.
Susanna's 1/9 to remaining heirs upon her death.
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The identity of another family in the area that were slave owners is discovered in the will of John Hartshorne of Kent County, Delaware.
Abstracted, it reads:
HARTSHORNE, John. Will. Made June 10, 1795. Heirs: wife [Mary, from
admin. acct.]; son George. Executor George Walton. Witnesses: Edward Miller,
John Patten, Levi Lister. Codicil, June 11, 1795. Probated July 8, 1795.[Delaware
Archives, Vol. A22, pages 208-210; Register of Wills,
Liber N, folios 124-125.
Note: Arch. vol A22, page 210 shows that Mary Hartshorne, the widow,
later married Daniel Walker.]
The will, in its entirety, reads:
I, John Hartshorne of Montgomery, in the State of Delaware, being now in a sick and languishing condition, but of sound and disposing memory and understanding, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say,
1st. I direct that my negro man Joe be set free and discharged
at the end of the term of seven years from and after my decease. With respect
to my negro woman Poll, my will is that she be discharged and set free
as soon as her youngest son shall have attained the age of seven years.
My boy Jack, now nearly six years old, I direct to be set free at the age
of twenty six years--my negro girl, Patiner, I order to be set free at
the age of twenty six years--My negro boy Sam I order to be discharged
from service when he shall have reached the age of twenty one years.
Anyone with knowledge of any families of black Hartshorns is urged
to contact
Robert B. Stepto.
Derick S. Hartshorn
1204 4th Street Drive, SE
Conover, NC 28613-1827
