| Research and Educational Projects at the Maryland State Archives |
|
| 5496_cs_PG_fugi |
|
|
| Contact the Department of Special Collections for location. |
Case Studies: Prince George's County
Fugitives
Benjamin Duckett (sc5496 - 8398)
WILL THE REAL ZACHARIAH BERRY PLEASE STAND UP? Ben Duckett fled in 1856 from one Zachariah Berry of Washington. This is problematic on several fronts. First the "of Washington" designation is confusing. He was obviously resident in P.G. County -- he says as much in the run ad -- in fact in subsequent ads for other runaways from an owner believed to be the same (see explanation below) be describes his locale as "Belmont," perhaps a tract of land or manor/plantation.
Ducket either spoke with a heavy southern accent (Maryland vintage, of course), or he spoke with some sort of speech impediment. Whatever the cause, the interviewer at the Philadelphia Vigilance Committee who recorded his story, as was custom upon the arrival of fugitives, struggle to put on paper the words that came from Duckett's mouth. Thus, when asked his owners name, Duckett's response was spelled "Sicke Perry," a corruption of "Zach Berry." When asked where he had lived, Belmont -- a locale associated with Berry, was spelled "Bell Mountain" (a Maryland boy like myself, however, has little trouble seeing what was lost in the translation).
As for the problem posed by "of Washington" attached to Zachariah Berry, whatever its meaning, it is an obvious attempt to distinguish himself for the at least two other contemporary PG slaveowners (and maybe even one free black) named "Zachariah Berry". Two generally go by the suffixes "Sr." and "Jr.," respectively as they are father and son. Both are identified as being in Bladensburg District.
The "Zachariah Berry of Washington," or simply "of W," or sometimes no designation at all is consistently identified as a "nr. Upper Marlboro," or "nr. the Brick Church" (St. Barnabas on Church Road), or "of the Forest of Prince George's." All of these most likely refer to the same plantation, perhaps called "Belmont."
In census records for 1850 -- the enumeration preceding Ben Duckett's flight -- three men named "Zachariah Berry" are found. Two identify themselves as "Sr." and "Jr." and are enumerated in Bladensburg. The third, a 25 year old head-of-household, with whom the population schedule lists only one other person (a 35 year old free black, Peter Generie), but for whom the slave schedule counts 12 enslaved blacks, is list as a resident of Queen Anne District, consistent with all descriptions of the "of W," etc. person.
Two runaway advertisments, one for "Betsy" (Marlboro Gazette 6/28/1854)and another for "Hannah Dikes" (also Marlboro Gazette 6/28/1854) clarify that Zachariah Berry, the subscriber in each, is neither "Zach Berry, Sr," nor "Zach Berry, Jr."
I am therefore satisfied that this is the man from whom Ben Duckett fled in Sept. 1856. He fled from Berry's Church Road plantation, in the Forest of Prince George's County.
|
