The Maryland State Archives Online is constantly changing, which can be confusing for users but more often presents new opportunities for research without leaving home. Today I want to draw your attention to the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland database. Now expanded and easier to use, this database includes more than 300,000 names of people both black and white. It searches Census records from 1776-1880, and 26 additional categories of records, including runaway ads, chattel records (sales of slaves), manumissions, slave jails, accommodations docket (fees for housing runaways), and assessment records (assessments of slaves in estate inventories). Most of the records are from 1830-1880. The database provides basic information, sometimes a description of the person, the name of the owner, and a full citation to the Maryland State Archives (MSA) Record Series from which the information has been transcribed.
Runaway ads can be extremely important sources of information. Slaveholders provide the most complete information about a slave when in it is their interest to do so, so the ads often include personal characteristics and skills, as well as full name, appearance, height, and distinguishing marks. They also include speculation about where the runaway might be headed, and most often that is back to where they came from or where they have family members. Browsing the ads for runaways from Magruder plantations, I’ve learned that one man likes to dress well; that another is a good carpenter; that a woman is an excellent cook; that another woman talks too much; that another man had been free to hire himself out in Washington City, but had recently disappeared, probably headed for Baltimore and then to Pennsylvania and freedom.
Good luck in your search.
Magruder's Landing 
My ancestors were the early settlers of Maryland the Merrikin family John married to Christian originally from Midddlesex and Lincolnshire, Hugh Anne and Joshua and they lived at Scotland, Merrikin point and other places called Merrikin and scotchers creek as time went on the family had slaves Ruth and Fletcher and several others. I was shocked when I found out but sadly at that time in history people did have slaves . I would repent on behalf of the Merriken family for having slaves and for anything that harmed them or anything untoward and also say how sorry I am.
God bless Rev Elaine Glover nee Merrikin
Although not necessary because it was not your fault, greatly appreciated that someone still feels bad that some people were enslaved because of their race.
I am trying to find information on Issac Ollifield Swain born 1855. Trying to find his parents. Lived in Bellegrove, Allehany, Cumberland Maryland. He was later adopted by Nathan T. Trail.
Hi Linda. Did you post your query here b/c you believe there’s a connection to the Magruder family?
Trying to find out any info on my 2nd greatgrandmother who was born at Dam#4 and lived in Williamsport Md most of her life. My understanding is that she was an enslaved person and names I have connected with her are Anderson Tucker Chose/Chase.. I think she was enslaved by the Holman Family. According to oral history that her freedom was bought by my greatgreat grandfather Horace and they were married in 1827 in Berkley Virginia. Any tips on how to locate her would be wonderful. Thank you
Hi Cynthia. I would only (potentially) have information about people connected to Magruders and those they were related to. For researching black ancestors in Maryland I highly recommend Reclaiming Kin, a blog by Robyn Smith. She is an outstanding genealogist who specializes in Maryland. It’s a teaching blog, where you can learn how to do it (*and do it right*). I have learned a lot from her over the years. One of the tabs on the home page is “start here” and that’s what I recommend. Good luck! https://reclaimingkin.com/