Grace
Enslaved by John and Elizabeth Rodgers
Grace was 6 months old when John Rodgers bought her and her 35-year-old mother, Nance, from Arthur McCann on July 14, 1781. As a 14-year-old working at this tavern, she would have been very busy. Some of that work included helping to grow, harvest, preserve, and cook food, take care of travelers, tend livestock, and clean and mend clothes for the members of the Rodgers family and their other slaves.
The last known mention of Grace in the historical record is in Elizabeth Rodgers’ 1816 estate inventory. Grace, 37 years old, is listed with her unnamed daughter and six other enslaved individuals.
Associated Keepers
Biographical Information
Born:
January 1781, location unknown
Parents:
Nance (mother)
Spouse:
Marital status unknown
Children:
Unknown
Lived:
Susquehanna Hundred, Harford County, MD;
Lower Susquehanna Ferry, Cecil County, MD;
Havre de Grace, Harford County, MD
Died:
Death date and location unknown
Additional Information
Source Information
Primary Sources
October 6, 1780
Cecil County Court grants license to John Rogers to keep a Tavern at Susquehanna Lower Ferry.
Cecil County Court (Court Minutes, 1777-1784). Pg. 75. MSA C635-2
July 14, 1781
35 year old enslaved woman Nance and her six month old daughter is purchased by John Rodgers from Arthur McCann.
Chancery Court. Chancery Papers. John Rodgers vs. Richard Dallam and Arthur McCann.
MSA S512-4392-1. Folders 4270-1 to 4270-6
June 15, 1791
Cecil County Court grants license to John Rogers to keep Tavern at Susquehanna Lower Ferry. The Court also grants John Rogers a license to keep Ferry at Susquehanna Lower Ferry.
Cecil County Court (Court Minutes, 1791-1794). MSA 635-5. Pages in book not numbered
May 24, 1794
14 year Grace is listed on an inventory of the goods and chattles of John Rodgers.
Cecil County Court Register of Wills (Inventories, 1791-1795) Vol. 10, pg. 419. Film Reel: CR34676-1. MSA CM335-14
November 4, 1816
37 year old Grace and her unnamed female child are listed with six other enslaved individuals on an inventory of the goods and chattles of Elizabeth Rodgers.
Harford County Register of Wills (Inventories, 1815-1820). Pg.257-258. Film: WK834-835-1. MSA CM570-7
