Re: Basil, Lawrence - MD, PA, OH
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In reply to:
Re: Basil, Lawrence - MD, PA, OH
Vivian McCarty 2/02/00
Vivian:
I have learned a great deal in the 2 days since I posted the info in the GenForum about the Pearls (Laurence, Basel & Daniel)from Frederick Co., MD, who werelisted as"free colored" in the 1820 & 1830 Greene Co, PA censuses.And I understand what you are correctly saying.Thank you for your reply.
This is my understanding, thus far:
This is not an incidentof having ONEBlack or Indian ancestor.Rather, this was a culture/race that evolved after apparently people from other countries came here very early....They mingled with the Indians and the early Blacks.There may not have been any BLACK at all or any INDIAN... or there could have been one or both...We will not know for sure.
These Pearls were of this culture/population,Frederick County, MD being a high population of these early Americans.And BEFORE the Slave trade began in earnest, these so-called Mulattos were somewhat equal in opportunity, which is why we see this "free colored"Pearl family owning a plantation.But when LABELS were assigned later, they were labeled "Free Colored"... Our Pearls were not slaves;they were just of this group of mixed bloods..or even just darker skinned people.... Probably the same as or similar to Melungeons ...
In general, we have thought of Mulattos as being light-skinned blacks but the term was used for anyone, even a child of an Indian and white.I just found out about Melungeons last year and I found on some of the censuses that they were labeled as Mulatto.
Our Laurence/Lawrence Pearl, didn't, as I first thought,take the name of a Master who freed him. Pearlwas already his name, as a member of the Pearl family who OWNED the plantation.He was not a slave.I am thinking that the brothers - Laurence, Basel & Daniel,in the 1820 & 1830 Greene Co PA censuses, areall children or grandchildren of theBasel who inherited the plantation from Robert in 1765.(Does anyone know???)
I would liketo hear from anyone elserelated to this Pearl family from Frederick Co., MD.
I see one (James Pearl)in the MD Will Index as early as 1686.
Online I see this about "Mulatto Robin" Perle:
http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/Palmer-Rustin.htmhttp://www.freeafricanamericans.com/Palmer-Rustin.htm
PERLE FAMILY
1. Robert Perle, born say 1700, was called "alias Malatto Robin" when he appeared in Prince George's County Court between 1728 and 1735. He sued John Bursh in March 1728, but the case was agreed between them before trial, and he was sued for 972 pounds of tobacco in June 1728. In November 1735 he petitioned the court deposing that the main road ran through his plantation and people riding through were always leaving the gate open. The court appointed a jury to view the road and make a decision [Court Record 1728-9, 52, 209, 220; 1734-5, 642]. He was apparently the father of
i. Daniel, born say 1720, a "Mullato," who married a white woman, Elizabeth Graves, before November 1742 when the Prince George's County Court presented her for the offense on information of Thomas Wilson and Edward Mobberly [Court Records 1742-3, 191].
(Vivian you have said this "Mulatto Robin" isthe ROBERT who died in 1765?)
Will Abstract: 1765
ROBERTPEARL: (Called Richard in one book, Robert in 2 others)
Richard Pearl of Frederick County.will dtd. 3 Sept, 1765, sick.
To son Daniel: negroes Lucy, Pegg, Rachel, Nann & Harry.
To son James:George, Bess, Liney, Bill, and Jeney.
To son Daniel: hosrse and my own lodging bed and furniture.
To Elizabeth Jarvis: corn, wheat, and tobacco each year, plus
one bed and furniture that is all in the chapell, cow, and 200 lbs. of pork
for two years.Remainder of stock among three sons; also crops in the
ground and cider, they letting the hands stay to finish it.
My dwelling PLANTATION to son BASELL.
To sons Charles and Thomas and daughters Ann MARSHALL and
Catherine Dean; 5 sh each.
Remainder to James & Basell, they also exec.
/x/Wit: William Botelor, Thomas Duckett, John Johnson, Thomas Johnson.
Proved 4 Oct 1765 by 4 wit.
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Is this next abstract the DANIEL above who is the son of ROBERT & the brother of BASELL?
Will Abstract: 1774
DANIEL PEARL, 5 Sep 1774; 15 Nov 1774 Frederick Co MD
To bro: Basil Pearl, Ex., 2 negroes, stock.
To dau: Ann Burgis, 5 shillings.
To 4 children: Joseph, Robert, Jeremiah and Sary Pearl, residue of estate
equally.
Son, Joseph Pearl, Ex.
Test: Thomas Johnson, Joseph Hill.
Negroes Nan & Rachel to be sold.
Boy Kitt to be set free at 21.
The boy Jack that was given to me by the court and delivered to me by my
mother, to my daughter, Sary Pearl.
Son, Joseph Pearl, exr.
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In the 1800 census for Allegheny Co MD, there is aBasel & Basel Pearl Jr.
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Basil Perrell m. Susanna Steel 27 Feb 1802
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My Laurence/Lawrence Pearl (Laurence Pearen in the marriage book, Montgomery Co MD), born 28 Oct 1793,Frederick Co, MD,marriedSusannah Nichols, 4 Oct 1814.
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I think this family might have been Catholic.Does anyone know?Are there any Church records?
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Did these "free-colored"have any kind of manumission papers?Was there a list of the "free colored"?
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Lawrence Pearl, married in 1814 when he was about 21,went to Greene Co., PA circa 1818.(As I said there is also a Basel & a Daniel Pearl.)By 1838, he and Susannah and children were in Morgan Co., OH.Near them in the subsequent censuses are members of the DEAVER family.They, too, were first in Frederick Co MD...Two of Lawrence Pearl's daughters married Deavers.I also see a Deaver listed as a participant in the undergound railway, I think in Ohio.
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After the death of Lawrence's wife, Susannah, Lawrence married Margaret MARSHALL Welch, b. MD, apparently a widow.That surname is mentioned earlier in the will of Robert Pearl.
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That is what I have so far.I would like very much to know who Lawrence's parents were,whether Daniel & Basel, also in PA,were his brothers, and ANYTHING else you would like to share about this family.
Has anyone tried to obtain info from the Maryland Archives?I am going to send an order soon.
More Replies:
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Re: Basil, Lawrence - MD, PA, OH
Linda (Noland) Layman 12/07/04