PACHESTE-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Kidnapped Scottish children
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 18:23:44 EST

I have found some info on the stolen children. I am copying it directly here.
I don't have any more info than what I'm sending. I hope this helps somebody
out there. Also, the spellings of the names, are, in some cases, a little odd
-- but they are copied as the court clerks wrote them down.

This was written by Mary Ann Nicholson, and it's titled "Stolen Children". It
was copied and sent to me, and looks like a chapter from a book, but there's
no reference to its origins. It begins with talking about the family that is
apparently responsible for transporting the children.

"Maurice and James TRENT were sons of William and Mary (BURGE) TRENT of
Inverness, Scotland, and nephews of Maurice Trent of Leith. All were
prosperous merchants, and in 1681 Maurice Trent of Leith had his namesake
nephew, mariner Maurice Trent of Philadelphia, Pa. handle some transactions
for him. (N. J. Archives, 1st series, vol 11:88) Trents owned ships and one
of them was the brigantine William & Mary under the command of William
Wrighton, which carried coal from Scotland and tobacco on its return voyage.
William Trent came to Philadelphia in 1682 and William PENN and James
LOGAN were known to invest in Trent's business ventures. Logan at one time
gently teased Penn in a letter about such investments, saying that Trent was
beginning to believe Penn was causing him to lose money and run into bad luck.
Penn was governor and Proprietor of Pennsylvania.
William Trent bought the 'most elegant mansion in Philadelphia' in 1703
and served the Governor's Council, Assembly, as a Supreme Judge and was a
member of the Church of England. In 1714 he bought land across the river in
New Jersey now known as Trenton, capital of the state, and served in the
Assembly there and as a judge and a colonel and as the first Chief Justice of
N. J. until his death in 1724 from a 'Fitt of the Apoplexy.' (N. J. Archives
11:88-89)
Son John died in 1757. Son Maurice, who had married James SANDILAND'S
(SANDERLAND'S) daughter Mary, died in 1730. Son James died in 1734; all died
in N. J. James Trent was called 'one of Philadelphia's most eminent
merchants.' While their deaths were thought to have been from natural causes
or 'common distempers', events of 1738 raised doubts.
Two Negro slaves who were servants of Trents were overheard encouraging
another to poison his master. They claimed to have caused the deaths of their
master William Trent and two of his sons and of his partner Thomas LAMBERT and
tow of his wives. One servant was found to have arsenic and a plant root on
his person, and all three were hanged. (Annals of Phila., J. F. Watson, 1843;
N. J. A. 11:524).
Maurice Trent had brought boys whom their buyers then took before the
Court of Quarter Sessions in Chester County, Pa. on October 3rd, 1693 to have
their ages and terms of indenture determined. All were to be free at the age
of twenty-one. The spelling of their names was subject to the ability and ear
of the recording clerk. Listed that day were: Alexander ROSS, Daniel
MACKDANIEL, James HERCULES, George LEACY, Alex MECANY, Magnis SIMSON, James
CANIDE and James DRIVER.
Before the court held in 9th month 1695 Maurice Trent had transported:
Andrew FRAISOR, James JOHNSON, Henry NICKOLS, Robert FLATT, John MACKELLFRAY,
John ROBBINSON.
On 7th month 14th 1697 some thirty children came before the Chester
Court. Four were girls and of these one was Mary ROYLE who with John
WILLIAMSON had been bought by Caleb PUSEY, a Quaker miller. Years later her
son said that his mother had been born in Scotland, and when about twelve to
fourteen years of age she was, with many others, forcibly taken, carried on
board a ship and sold in Pennsylvania.
On 21st July, 1697 James Trent sold five 'Scotch boys' to men of
Burlington County, N. J., where they were taken beofre that court to have
their ages and terms of serviec established they were: Daniel CAMRONE, George
DOUGLASS, George SLAITER, John YOUNG, and James HADDYARD.
On 14th December, 1697 thirteen children came before the Chester Court
with their terms of service reckoned from the 7th month, which must have been
the date of their arrival and sale. At that same court Alexander MICKENER had
his term extended because he had run away from his master and tried to kill
himself. Alexander MACLEENE'S master re-assigned this 'Scotch lad' to a man
in New Castle, Delaware."

More to come,

Robin

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