February 2025 Program
Veiled Chapters of The Hampton Plantation
by Neicy DeShields-Moulton
Watch the recorded presentation here.
"Veiled Chapters of The Hampton Plantation" is more than just a presentation it is a history lesson; it is a journey of discovery, empathy, and reconciliation. By confronting the obscured narratives right in our backyards, Neicy seeks to deepen our understanding of the complexities of our shared heritage. She hopes to cultivate interest in genealogy among young people and communities, ensuring that these hidden chapters of history are finally brought to light.
About Neicy: Neicy DeShields-Moulton is a retired Computer Hardware Engineer with over 27 years of experience in genealogy. As a dedicated member of the African American Historical Society of Lancaster, PA, she also serves as a valued board member at The York County History Center and Museum in York, PA.
Beyond her professional achievements, Neicy is deeply passionate about genealogy and family history. She has delivered engaging presentations at various organizations and educational institutions across South Central Pennsylvania and Maryland. Neicy actively contributes to significant projects such as the "Emancipation Across Generations" initiative, where she is part of the heritage guide team. She has also collaborated with Hampton Plantation on the "Tracing Lives Through Slavery: Engaging Hallowed Ground" project and currently serves as a consultant on other related projects.
Program review by Becky Anstine:
Hampton Plantation is located in Baltimore County, Maryland, just north of Towson. From 1711 to 1943, seven generations of the Ridgley family lived on the plantation during that time. In 1711, Col. Henry Dabney received a grant for the land, and eventually the property was bought by Charles Ridgely (much of it being confiscated British property). By the time of his death in 1790, the plantation had over 25,000 acres encompassing commercial, industrial, agricultural activities, and a mansion of 24,000 square feet, with an ice house, stables, overseer’s house, slave and tenement quarters, and a dairy. Since Charles had no children, he left everything to his nephew, Charles Ridgely Carnan, on the condition that Charles change his name to Charles Carnan Ridgely. Carnan inherited a property that had many diverse streams of income. All of this was supported and made possible by a variety of individuals: British Prisoners of War, paid workers, both black and white indentured servants, and enslaved individuals, who worked from five years of age until their old age prevented them from working. When Carnan died in 1829, the ironworks closed, leaving the granary, dairy, orchards, and livestock to be tended to by the paid workers and enslaved people.
The Ridgely’s kept over 500 boxes worth of detailed records and accounts. The accounts listed Christmas gifts bought for the enslaved children and detailed descriptions of the workers, their health, physical characteristics, and occupations. Carnan’s will manumitted over 350 enslaved people with specific directions of how this was to be done. Females between 25-45 and their children under two, and males between 25-45 were manumitted. Anyone between the ages of 2 to 25 could not be freed, nor could anyone over the age of 45. Elderly and feeble individuals were to be taken care of and were allowed to remain on the property. The inventory of Carnan’s estate listed the enslaved individuals by where they were living, for example being the iron mill workers. Many of them were listed by a first and last name. Carnan’s will left property to his son, John, but no slaves. In order to keep the plantation going, it was necessary to purchase slaves from estate sales, other slave holders, or slave dealers. With the Emancipation of 1864, John had to hire workers to keep the plantation going. Over time the acreage was reduced through inheritances and financial reasons, until only 1000 acres remained. The Great Depression and WW II made it necessary for the family to sell the plantation in 1943 to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service.
In 2017, an Ethnographic Overview and Assessment was begun. The purpose of the study was to find and follow the lives of those emancipated in 1829. Using the inventory list, several individuals were selected to see if they could be followed down through the generations. Several York County families who had appeared in the lower part of the county around the 1830s matched the list of manumitted. Some of these individual surnames were Batty, Spencer, and Cummings. Neicy’s fourth great grandfather was a Batty. She contacted the researchers to see if there was any connection between her ancestors and Hampton Plantation. The search was being led by Cheryl LaRoche and they were able to establish that Neicy is descended from George Batty, an iron worker who was manumitted from Hampton. Cheryl made a trip to York County to see where the Batty families were buried and lived. Neicy has become involved with the various ongoing Hampton Plantation projects that are involved with this Historical Preservation and uncovering the stories of the enslaved people of Hampton.
For a more detailed history of Hampton Plantation and the complete Ethnographic Overview and Assessment documents, along with photos – visit the Hampton Plantation website: https://www.nps.gov/hamp/index.htm.
"Veiled Chapters of The Hampton Plantation" is more than just a presentation it is a history lesson; it is a journey of discovery, empathy, and reconciliation. By confronting the obscured narratives right in our backyards, Neicy seeks to deepen our understanding of the complexities of our shared heritage. She hopes to cultivate interest in genealogy among young people and communities, ensuring that these hidden chapters of history are finally brought to light.
About Neicy: Neicy DeShields-Moulton is a retired Computer Hardware Engineer with over 27 years of experience in genealogy. As a dedicated member of the African American Historical Society of Lancaster, PA, she also serves as a valued board member at The York County History Center and Museum in York, PA.
Beyond her professional achievements, Neicy is deeply passionate about genealogy and family history. She has delivered engaging presentations at various organizations and educational institutions across South Central Pennsylvania and Maryland. Neicy actively contributes to significant projects such as the "Emancipation Across Generations" initiative, where she is part of the heritage guide team. She has also collaborated with Hampton Plantation on the "Tracing Lives Through Slavery: Engaging Hallowed Ground" project and currently serves as a consultant on other related projects.
Program review by Becky Anstine:
Hampton Plantation is located in Baltimore County, Maryland, just north of Towson. From 1711 to 1943, seven generations of the Ridgley family lived on the plantation during that time. In 1711, Col. Henry Dabney received a grant for the land, and eventually the property was bought by Charles Ridgely (much of it being confiscated British property). By the time of his death in 1790, the plantation had over 25,000 acres encompassing commercial, industrial, agricultural activities, and a mansion of 24,000 square feet, with an ice house, stables, overseer’s house, slave and tenement quarters, and a dairy. Since Charles had no children, he left everything to his nephew, Charles Ridgely Carnan, on the condition that Charles change his name to Charles Carnan Ridgely. Carnan inherited a property that had many diverse streams of income. All of this was supported and made possible by a variety of individuals: British Prisoners of War, paid workers, both black and white indentured servants, and enslaved individuals, who worked from five years of age until their old age prevented them from working. When Carnan died in 1829, the ironworks closed, leaving the granary, dairy, orchards, and livestock to be tended to by the paid workers and enslaved people.
The Ridgely’s kept over 500 boxes worth of detailed records and accounts. The accounts listed Christmas gifts bought for the enslaved children and detailed descriptions of the workers, their health, physical characteristics, and occupations. Carnan’s will manumitted over 350 enslaved people with specific directions of how this was to be done. Females between 25-45 and their children under two, and males between 25-45 were manumitted. Anyone between the ages of 2 to 25 could not be freed, nor could anyone over the age of 45. Elderly and feeble individuals were to be taken care of and were allowed to remain on the property. The inventory of Carnan’s estate listed the enslaved individuals by where they were living, for example being the iron mill workers. Many of them were listed by a first and last name. Carnan’s will left property to his son, John, but no slaves. In order to keep the plantation going, it was necessary to purchase slaves from estate sales, other slave holders, or slave dealers. With the Emancipation of 1864, John had to hire workers to keep the plantation going. Over time the acreage was reduced through inheritances and financial reasons, until only 1000 acres remained. The Great Depression and WW II made it necessary for the family to sell the plantation in 1943 to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service.
In 2017, an Ethnographic Overview and Assessment was begun. The purpose of the study was to find and follow the lives of those emancipated in 1829. Using the inventory list, several individuals were selected to see if they could be followed down through the generations. Several York County families who had appeared in the lower part of the county around the 1830s matched the list of manumitted. Some of these individual surnames were Batty, Spencer, and Cummings. Neicy’s fourth great grandfather was a Batty. She contacted the researchers to see if there was any connection between her ancestors and Hampton Plantation. The search was being led by Cheryl LaRoche and they were able to establish that Neicy is descended from George Batty, an iron worker who was manumitted from Hampton. Cheryl made a trip to York County to see where the Batty families were buried and lived. Neicy has become involved with the various ongoing Hampton Plantation projects that are involved with this Historical Preservation and uncovering the stories of the enslaved people of Hampton.
For a more detailed history of Hampton Plantation and the complete Ethnographic Overview and Assessment documents, along with photos – visit the Hampton Plantation website: https://www.nps.gov/hamp/index.htm.