Bill
I can give you some first hand info on Slavery pre 1755 in Frederick Co VA.
I have researched the MORGAN family for years and part of what I write about Thomas Morgan 1702 - 1774 follows:
In the evidence gathered for the Hite v. Fairfax land suit, it is stated that he arrived in 1735 and purchased land that was originally in the Van Meter Grant. Jost Hite recruited the first settlers from the southern and western townships in Chester County Pennsylvania. In his deposition in 1770 for that suit, Thomas states he purchased 450 acres on the Shenandoah referred to in the court case as Arnold's Branch tract. (That land is presently located to the north of Route 7, 3 miles west of the Shenandoah River on Wheat Spring Branch.) On November 2, 1749, he sold that land for 120 pounds, for which he took a negro named Jack* for sixty some odd pounds and a wagon at twenty pounds and the rest to be paid in cash. He states he is a blacksmith, and the farm contains a house, outhouse, grist mill, and fruit trees. There is no statement that his wife relinquished her dower; therefore at this time he was a widower. He remarries and moves with his family and married sons to Lunenburg County, Virginia. He is listed as a tithable in 1750. In 1755 he purchases 620 acres in the newly formed Bedford County, (a copy of that grant is on file in the Virginia State Archives). This grant is located in the present area of Moneta, Virginia. He continues to purchase land; June 1763, 243 acres; June 1763, 396 acres; September 1764, 400 acres in Bedford County.
Just a thought, as I have not checked this out -- but in the Hite v. Fairfax transcript there may be more mention of slaves. I don't know where you are located, but the Fairfax County Library has a copy of that land suit.
If you need further information, please let me know.
Phebe Morgan
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