Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Glasgow (b. ? - d. 1767)
MSA SC 5496-51888 
Slave Hanged for Crime in Dorchester County, Maryland

Biography:

    Negro Glasgow, as he was referred to in colonial terminology, was born a slave in Dorchester County, Maryland. There are no known records telling us the age of Glasgow. As a slave, Glasgow performed duties as a "laborour" for Benjamin Keene.1 Glasgow recieved a death sentence for "attempting to Poison a certain Negro Man named Quomony the Slave of William Ennals of Dorchester County."2 On April 6, 1767, a death warrant was issued "for the Execution of Negro Glasgow."3 His execution was to take place on Wednesday, May 6, 1767, the same day as Negro Toby, another slave of William Ennals.4 Glasgow became a victim of colonial justice where many people were executed for various crimes that ranged from murder to passing counterfeit money.5 In Maryland, from 1726-1775, 146 out of 268 people who were hanged for their crimes were Negro or mulatto slaves.6

Endnotes:

1. ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE. Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769. Negro Glasgow. Volume 32. Page 188.

2. Ibid.

3. GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL (Commission Record) 1726-1786. Negro Glasgow. April 6, 1767. Page 215. Location: 02/26/03/010. MdHR Number: 4010-1. MSA S1080-1.

4. ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE. Negro Glasgow. Volume 32. Page 188.

5. C. Ashley Ellefson. Seven Hangmen of Colonial Maryland (Cortland, New York, 2009), 19.

6. Ibid.

Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2013.

Return to Glasgow's Introductory Page


 
 
 


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