Mary SLIDER ²

  General Notes:

It is often reported that Mary Slider was transported to America after being convicted of prostitution. As the Proceedings of the Old Bailey clearly demonstrate (see Event 1), she was instead convicted of petty larceny.

It's possible the prostitution story came about because Mary did have children out of wedlock and was charged with bastardy (see Event 3). It's unclear what precipitated the bastardy action. Mary seemed to have gotten a free pass on the birth of her son, Christopher, born 18 Jul 1827, and maybe even Esther, born 3 Apr 1729, her daughter by Peter. Was there perhaps a second child (Thomas?) born out of wedlock to Mary and Peter, sometime before the bastardy charges were filed in Jun 1730? (Note that Esther was born at the beginning of 1729 under the Old Style dating system, while Peter (II), born 5 Feb 1732, was born at the end of 1732, so that there was nearly a 4 year gap between Esther's date of birth and Peter (II)'s date of birth -- plenty of time for an intervening child.) Regardless, perhaps the authorities did not like the trend and brought charges so as to persuade Peter and Mary to marry or face fines and a requirement that Peter post bond to insure the illegitimate child did not become a public charge. Whatever the reason, it seems their marriage on 27 Oct 1730 mooted this case.

  Research Notes:

See the Research Note for Peter Majors for information about Mary's son, Christopher Slyder/Slider, who was born out of wedlock on 18 Jul 1727.

  Death Notes:

Although it is not known exactly when Mary died, query whether her son, Elias, would have been described as an "orphan of Peter Majors" and bound out to John Simkins in Mar 1750/1, if she had not also been dead by then.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Court: 1726, London, Middlesex, England. ³

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey
2 Mar 1726 Session (2 Mar 1726 through 7 Mar 1726)
Trial of Mary Slider
Ref: t17260302-72

Mary Slider was indicted for stealing two shirts and a laced head, which were the goods of Thomas Shelton. It is unclear whether the theft occurred on 25 Jan 1726 or whether that was the date she was indicted. At the 2 Mar 1726 session of the Old Bailey, she was convicted of theft of property worth 10d (10 pence), which was considered a part guilty verdict, which in turn must have meant she had been charged with the theft of property worth more than 1s (1 shilling, which equaled 12 pence). She was thus subject to the lesser penalties associated with petty larceny: fine, whipping or transportation. She was sentenced to transportation. (Of the trials held that session, 7 were sentenced to death, 6 were sentenced to have their hand burnt, 7 were sentenced to be whipped, 65 were sentenced to transportation, and 1 was sentenced to one year's imprisonment.)

2. Emigration: 1726, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. ^{4 5}

Mary Slider was recorded as having been sentenced to transportation in May 1726, as having been transported from London in Jun 1726 on the Loyal Margaret, and as having arrived, per the landing certificate, in Annapolis in Oct 1726. (Since the Proceedings of the Old Bailey show she was sentenced to transportation in Mar 1726, the May date must have been just an implementing order.)

[The second cited source says she was registered, i.e. listed in the landing certificate, in Dec 1726.]

3. Court: 1730, Baltimore County, Maryland. ⁵

Mary Slider was charged with bastardy in Baltimore County at the Jun 1730 Court and her case was presented at the August 1730 Court. Neither the child nor the father was named in the proceeding. The disposition of the case is not given.

Mary married Peter MAJORS on 27 Oct 1730 in Baltimore County, Maryland.^{2 6} (Peter MAJORS died by Mar 1750/51 in Baltimore County, Maryland ^{7 8}.)