Pegg 1

Pegg, a colored woman, was originally a slave to Abraham Vandegriff, of Bucks County, in Pennsylvania, who, by his will, left her to John Harrison, of Point-no-Point, with directions that he should manumit her at the age of twenty years. He left John Harrison his executor, who bound Pegg to Christian Hess, of the city of Philadelphia, for the term of ten years. After she had remained some years in his service, he sold her to James Collins; he sold her to John Bishop, who took her to Virginia and sold her to David Welton, of Hardy County; he sold her to George Reynolds, of Berkley County, who sold her to Casper Rinker, of Frederick County, by whom she was held as a slave. After remaining some time with him he made an attempt to transport her to the south for sale, for which purpose he took her to Winchester; but Pegg becoming apprized of his intentions, refused to go, and as he was taking her through that town, about 9 o’clock at night, she laid hold of a post in the street, and cried murder as loud as she could. Fortunately for Pegg, this happened to be opposite the door of a respectable lawyer, by the name of Joseph Sexton, who, upon hearing the cry of murder, immediately went to the door to investigate the cause. Pegg stated her case and implored his assistance; at which Rinker became greatly enraged, and urged his right to take her where he pleased; alleging that she was his slave. But Pegg was so clear and circumstantial in her narrative, that Sexton had the woman committed to prison until the case could be enquired into. The next morning he sent for Jonathan Wright, who resided a short distance from town, and who was known to be a prominent and active friend of the colored people. Upon going to Winchester, he, accompanied by Joseph Sexton, called at the prison and conversed with Pegg, who soon satisfied them that she was a free woman. Jonathan Wright was a 138minister in the Society of Friends, and had been to Philadelphia not long before this event, on a religious visit, and had become acquainted with many friends in that city. He addressed a letter to James Pemberton, ² detailing Pegg’s history, as he received it from her own mouth. This letter was dated in the 11th month, 1798, and was handed to Thomas Harrison, Secretary to the Acting Committee of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery &c.; who undertook to defend Pegg in her just claim to freedom. Christian Hess, her former master, had removed to the city of Burlington, New Jersey, and two of the committee were appointed to wait upon him–he exhibited her indenture, which had been duly executed before Lewis Wiess, Esq., a magistrate of Philadelphia, dated 12th of January, 1789, binding her to Hess for the term of ten years; but it did not appear that a manumission had been executed by John Harrison, agreeably to the will of Abraham Vandegriff; whereupon application was made to Harrison, and he accordingly executed a manumission dated 12th month 3d, 1798; and Frederic Beatez, a well known scriviner, and Thomas Harrison, both of the city of Philadelphia, subscribed their names to it as witnesses.