State of Maryland, Alleghany County, ss.
William McNair, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and saith, it is about twelve years ago when he was employed as an overseer by Upton Bruce, son of Norman Bruce, who then lived with his father on the farm at Pipe creek, of which he then had the management, his father giving it into his hands, and that among the lads under his direction, was one of a very bright colour, like a very dark white man, and plainly shewed the mixture and as descending from white and black parents; that among the female slaves was one called Phillis, who acknowledged this boy as her child, and no doubt could be of the fact, and was so universally known by the whole family and neighbourhood. His mother was a dark mulatto, and his father, as was well understood, was Andrew Ware, who I knew well. This boy was as much a slave to Mr. Bruce as any other he had, and no doubt was suggested to the contrary, that ever I heard, nor was his origin or birth questioned ; that he is by guess five feet seven inches high, rather slender made, his hair rather curly, and his age, to the best of this deponent’s knowledge, is now about thirty years ; that he understood he made some agreement with his master, by which he was suffered to go at large ; and the last time this deponent recollects to have seen him was driving a team on the Baltimore road, between six and seven years ago ; that he then passed by the name of Romulus, and this deponent understood he afterwards took to the sea.
WILLIAM McNAIR.
The within sworn to this 17th day of July, 1807, before me one of the justices of the peace for Alleghany county aforesaid.
ANDREW BRUCE.
State of Maryland, Alleghany County, to wit :
I hereby certify, that Andrew Bruce, Esquire, before whom, the depositions hereto annexed appear to have been taken, and who has thereto subscribed his name, was at the time of taking and signing the same, one of the state. of Maryland justices, of the peace, in and for Alleghany county aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and to all his acts as such, due faith and credit is and ought to be given as well in courts of justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of Alleghany county court, this eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seven, and thirtysecond year of the Independence of the United States of America.
JOHN LYNN,
Clerk of Alleghany county.
State of Maryland, Alleghany County, ss.
Sarah Lewis being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, dcposeth and saith, that she lived many years in Frederick county, of this state ; that she lived in the neighbourhood of Norman Bruce’s family, was well acquainted there; and that among his servants she well recollects having noticed a very bright mulatto child, approaching nearer to white than any midatto she ever saw; that at the time she first noticed this child, he was about four or five years old ; that his birth or origin she never heard doubted, his being the child of Phillis, a dark mulatto woman, (slave to Norman Bruce, who lived on Pipe creek) by Andrew Ware, a white man ; that she knew the said child from that time until he grew up, and reached near the age of twenty; that during that time he remained in the family of the said Bruce as his slave, upon the same footing and treated as his other slaves; that when he grew up he was not a large man, being spare, a round or flattish face; that he must now be about thirty years of age or upwards; that then he passed and was called by the name of Romulus ; that his mother had a daughter by the same father, as was acknowledged, and as appeared from her colour and resemblance to her brother. lit. left the service of his master by his permission or some agreement, I suppose, and as I understood afterwards went to sea.
Her
SARAH x LEWIS.
mark.
Sworn to this 17th day of July, 1807, before me, one of the justices of the peace for Alleghany county aforesaid.
ANDREW BRUCE.
Siate of Maryland, Alleghany County, to wit:
William Bruce being sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and saith, that about the age of twelve years he went to Frederick county, and lived with his uncle, Norman Bruce, on Pipe creek, for several years, going occasionally to school; that among the other servants, he well remembers a remarkably bright mulatto boy, or he might pass for a very dark, swarthy white one. This boy I always understood was the son of a slave, named Phillis, by a white man called Andrew Ware. I never heard to the contrary, nor can I doubt it, the boy acknowledging this Phillis as his mother, and she receiving him as her child, and it was so admitted and understood by the whole family and neighbourhood. I knew this boy for several years afterwards, and until he grew up. He was in height about five feet five or six inches, his hair dark and somewhat curly, and his make thin. He went by the name of Romulus, and I know of no particular mark to distinguish him except a scar on one of his thumbs, I think occasioned by a bite in some fight he had ; and is now I suppose about twenty-eight or thirty years of age. And further this deponent saith not.
WILLIAM BRUCE.
Sworn and subscribed to this 18th day of July, 1807, before
GEORGE RIZER.
Very interesting facts here. Good article.