Identifier

NJS-SRC-00609

Source Type

Article

Item

Female Kidnappers (report from Blackbird, Delaware)

Headline

FEMALE KIDNAPPERS!!

Publication

Centinel of Freedom

Place of Publication

Newark

Date of Issue

9 June 1818

Page

3

Description

A report reprinted from the Delaware Gazette about two Black women who were kidnapping runaways and selling them back into slavery. The names of the women were Mary Bryan and Ann Brown. The article also implicated their husbands David Bryan and William Brown and three additional men named Captain Jim Clark, Thomas Caldwell, and Mr. Hayre.

Transcript

From the Delaware Gazette

FEMALE KIDNAPPERS!!

Two black women were arrested at Blackbird, New Castle county, Del. on Friday last, on a charge of selling or attempting to sell, a negro man and woman. They state their names to be Mary Bryan and Ann Brown—their husbands names David Bryan and William Brown, resident in Cherry Alley, Fifth street from Schuylkill, Philadelphia. It is said they are now in the vicinity of Lancaster, and endeavoring to decoy some runaways, & bring them to Delaware for sale. The women state that they have been engaged in this kind of traffic for several years, and have sold above a dozen to Capt. Jim Clark, a number to Thomas Caldwell, (in his lifetime) and to Mr. Hayre (Hayres Corner.) They are now in prison and will be sold.

Language

English

Keywords

kidnapping

Record Contributor

Jesse Bayker