The below people all received their certificates giving the surname Somerville and all were in St Mary's County, Maryland. [note: there are other African Americans named Somerville who received their certificates in other Maryland counties.]
I believe that due to their Somerville surname and location that most of the below people are connected to Henry Vernon Somerville, his brother William C Somerville, and/or their father William Somerville. These men were enslavers of large numbers of African Americans and the only Somerville men living in St Mary's County, Maryland at this time. [See related blog post on the Somerville family and their enslaved - including wills and manumissions.]
30 Nov 1819 Nancy Somerville age 21 Free Born.
Complexion: Bright
Height: 4'11"
Notes: Daughter of Henny
Page: 53
Scars: A little marked with the small pox in the face, has a blue mole on the upper lip and one near the right corner of her under lip, has a scar across the wrist of the left hand
30 Nov 1819 Kitty Somerville age 23 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'4"
Notes: Daughter of Henny
Page: 53
Scars: Very much marked with the small pox in the face
21 Apr 1821 William Henry Somervile age 14 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'1"
Notes: Son of Henrietta
Page: 57
Scars: Has no visible scars except a small mole on the left breast
21 Apr 1821 Elizabeth Clarke/Alloway Somerville female age 22 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'4"
Notes: Note says "being the daughter of the above"; entry is below William Henry Somerville who is the son of Henrietta
Page: 57
Scars: Has a small scar under the corner of her left eye
8 June 1821 Harriot Somerville age 18 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'2"
Notes: Daughter of Catherine Somerville
Page: 57
Scars: Has a scar between his shoulders occasioned by a burn
14 Dec 1825 Peggy Somerville age 25 Free Born
Complexion: Bright
Height: 5'4"
Page: 69
Scars: Has small scars on her wrists and hands occasioned by burns and a large scar on her right wrist also occasioned by a burn, a scar on the back of her neck occasioned by have been cupped
Witness: John Thornton
16 Oct 1827 Henry Somerville age 21 Free Born.
Complexion: Black
Height: 5'10"
Notes: Son of Monica Somerville who was set free by George Somerville; Square full face, short hair, thick lips and lisps when speaking, stout and well made
Page: 74
Witness: Perry Cassell
30 Dec 1828 George Somerville age 24 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'4"
Notes: Son of Jenny Somerville
Page: 79
Scars: Has a small scar over his right eye, a large scar on his right arm from scalding and each of his middle fingers on his right hand are scarred and injured at the ends on nails thereof
Witness: Thomas Lynch, Sen
30 Dec 1828 Peter Somerville age 24 Free Born.
Complexion: Black
Height: 5'9"
Page: 128
Scars: Large scar upon his left foot near the joints of his toes
Witness: John Herbert and Thos. W. Morgan
16 July 1830 John Somerville age 24 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'7"
Notes: Son of Lydia Somerville
Page: 86
Scars: Has a large scar on his right arm occasioned by a burn and extending to and along the upper part of his thumb, has a large scar on his right leg near and a little below the shin bone, a scar on the outside of said leg, several scars generally small on his
Witness: Jas. Davies
7 Mar 1831 Henry Somerville age 32 Free Born
Height: 5'8"
Notes: The left thumb a little stiff
Page: 88
Scars: Has a scar on the right elbow occasioned by a burn, had the smallpox, and a scar on the end of the fore finger of the left hand
Witness: Jno. Walton
21 May 1831 Ann Somerville age 19 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'2"
Notes: Daughter of Kitty Somerville
Page: 89
Scars: Has a scar on the inside corner of the right eyebrow
6 Mar 1832 William Henry Somerville age 21 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'10"
Page: 93
Scars: Scar upon his breast about two inches and a half long, five scars upon his right knee and scar above and one below on the right side of the knee, a scar on the left side of the left knee
Witness: Joseph Bean
29 May 1832 Jane Somerville age 28 Free Born
Complexion: Dark
Height: 4'11 .25"
Notes: Raised in Baltimore County
Page: 206
Scars: Two scars on the throat
Witness: Margaret S. Laty
30 May 1832 Susan Somerville age 24 Free Born, Baltimore City.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'3 .5"
Notes: Raised in Baltimore County
Page: 228
Scars: No notable marks or scars
Witness: Elizabeth Walker
6 July 1832 Ann Somerville age 20 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 4'10"
Notes: Has good teeth
Page: 97
Scars: The middle of her right hand is a little stiff which was occasioned by the loss of some of the bone
Witness: Hz. R. Wright
29 Jan 1833 Peter Somerville age 28 Free Born
Complexion: Light
Height: 5'8"
Page: 97
Scars: Scar on the nose nearly between his eyebrows, has several scars on his hands, and one on the little finger of the left hand that extends lengthways and is between the first and second joint
Witness: Jno. Walton
8 Apr 1834 John Somerville age 30 Free Born
Complexion: Dark
Height: 6'3"
Page: 102
Scars: Has a scar on the joint of his wrist and a scar on the insdie of his thumb on his left hand occasioned by a burn, has a scar occasioned by a burn on the inside of the calf of his left leg
Witness: Jno. Greenwell
8 Apr 1834 Ann Maria Somerville age 20 Free Born. Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'8"
Page: 102
Scars: Has a scar on the joint of her left wrist and the little finger of her left hand crooked and the little finger of her right hand crooked
Witness: Jno. Greenwell
12 Apr 1834 Appalonia Somerville age 19 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'4"
Page: 103
Scars: Has as scar on the left eyebrow, has a scar on the left side of her face near the corner of her nose and is about two inches long, has a scar on her breast occasioned by a burn and has a flesh mole on her head
Witness: John Walton
12 Apr 1834 Samuel Somerville age 22 Free Born
Complexion: Light
Height: 5'10"
Page: 103
Scars: Has a scar between the 2nd and 3rd joint of the forefinger of his left hand, has a scar on the right side of his nose and has another scar under the right corner of his nose on his lip, has a scar on the left side of his upper lip, has a scar on his left
Witness: Jno. Walton
12 Apr 1834 Joseph Somerville age 26 free Born
Complexion: Light
Height: 5'8"
Page: 103
Scars: Has a scar about two inches long upon the forefinger of his right hand, has a scar on the end of the big toe of his right foot, has a small scar under his right eye and has a small scar on the left cheekbone
Witness: Jno. Walton
15 Apr 1834 Allaway Somerville age 18, female, Born free.
Complexion: Light
Height: 5'1"
Notes: Hair short, pleasant countenance when spoken to
Page: 104
Scars: Has two small scars between the first and second joint of her middle finger on the right hand and has a small scar on the right hand near the knuckle of her little finger
Witness: B. G. Cole
8 Nov 1837 Susan Anne Somerville age 17 Free born.
Complexion: Bright
Height: 5'5"
Page: 115
Scars: Has a small black mole at the right corner of her mouth, four on the left side of the nose, one above her left eyebrow, and one on her right cheek, has a scar on her right wrist and a scar on the left wrist about two inches long and has a small black mole
5 Oct 1838 George Somerville age 22 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'11"
Page: 117
Scars: Has a scar on the left side of his breast occasioned by a burn, has a small scar under his chin, the nail of the middle of the right hand injured and a small scar on the eyebrow over the left eye
Witness: Ja. Hammett
5 Jan 1842 Peter Somerville age 40 Free Born
Complexion: Dark Chestnut
Height: 5'9"
Notes: Little finger of the left hand stiff
Page: 127
Scars: Has a scar on the wrist of the left hand about one inch long, has a scar and a slit on the upper part of his right ear and has a scar on the right and lef tof his right eyebrow
Witness: Ch. L. W
1 May 1843 Susan Somerville age 30 Free Born
Complexion: Light
Height: 5'4"
Page: 128
Scars: Has a flesh mole on the back of her neck, has a flesh mark on the right jaw bone of a redish cast, has two scars on the right breast occasioned by a burn
Witness: Geo. Bean and B. G. Cole
1 May 1843 John Lewis Somerville age 30 Free Born
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'7"
Notes: Has a long head, thick parting lips
Page: 146
Scars: Small scar over the right eyebrow, a large scar on the instep of the left foot occasioned by the cut of an axe, a small scar on the lower part of the shin of the right leg
Witness: Jno. A. Camalier
3 Sep 1845 Robert Somerville age 21 Free Born
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'6"
Notes: Has a space between the upper front teeth and has a small flesh mole near the left corner of her mouth
Page: 134
Scars: Has a small scar on the inside of the right ankle bone, has a scar on the left thumb and one a little above it, has a scar across the first joint of the little finger of the left hand, has a mole in the inside of the left hand near the wrist
Witness: Cap. Turwell
28 Apr 1846 Mary Eleana Somerville age 20 Free born.
Complexion: Bright
Height: 5'4"
Notes: Long hair, pleasant countenance and fine teeth
Page: 137
Scars: Has a flesh mole on her breast bone and has one other on the back of her neck, has a small black mole at the out corner of her left eye, has a small scar on the left side of her chin, and has a flesh mole on each of her shoulders
Witness: Jno. D. Pery
3 Aug 1846 William N Somerville age 23 Free Born.
Complexion: Bright
Height: 5'5"
Notes: Regular teeth
Page: 137
Scars: Has a large scar on the back of his right hand covering the first and second joints of the fingers occasioned by a burn, has a defect in his right ear
Witness: Josh Collumber
21 Oct 1847 Jackson Somerville age 12 Free Born.
Height: 4'7"
Page: 141
Scars: Has a scar on his right knee and one across the calf of his right leg, has a small wart on his right hand, has a small black mole under the left cheek bone, has two small black moles one above and the other below the right corner of his nose
Witness: Thos. W. Morgan
21 Oct 1847 William Somerville age 13 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 4'6"
Notes: Long thick lips, short hair and good teeth
Page: 144
Scars: Has two scars on the back of his left hand near the thumb and forefinger and has a lump on the middle joint of little finger on the left hand, has a small scar at the corner of his right eye, small scar on the forefinger of his left hand
Witness: B. G. Harris [This is probably Benjamin G Harris]
21 Oct 1847 Charles Henry Somerville age 15 Free Born.
Complexion: Light
Height: 5'4"
Page: 141
Scars: Has a scar on the outside of his left ankle bone, three scars on each of his feet, has a small mole at the inside of the right eyebrow, a small scar on his nose, a small scar under the right eye, a small scar under his under lip, has three small scars on
Witness: Thos. W. Morgan
21 Oct 1847 Thomas Somerville age 16 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'6"
Scars: Has a scar just above the joint of the thumb of the left hand, a scar on the middle joint of the fore finger and little finger, a scar on the middle joint of the left hand occasioned by the cut of a reap hook.
25 Jan 1848 Thomas Somerville age 23 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'6"
Page: 143
Scars: Has several scars one on his forehead, one on his nose, one near his cheekbone, one on the right side of his face, one near his right ear about three quarters of an inch long and has two small scars near the right temple, has a scar between the first and
Witness: Wm. Nuthall
7 Nov 1849 Rosetta Somerville age 11 Free Born.
Complexion: Chestnut
Height: 4'3"
Notes: Hair short, thick lips, big nose and good teeth
Page: 144
Scars: Has a small scar at the left corner of her mouth, has a small scar on the forefinger of her right hand, has small dent on the right side of her face, near the corner of her mouth
Witness: B. G. Harris
7 Nov 1849 Susan Somerville age 27 Free Born
Complexion: Chestnut
Height: 5'1"
Notes: Fine white teeth, pleasing countenance, free spoken and short hair
Page: 123
Scars: Small scar on the right arm near the wrist occasioned by a burn, two scars on the left arm from vaccination
Witness: Peter Gough and Jo. Harris
3 Sep 1850 Ann Somerville age 17 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'2"
Notes: Thick lips, thick nose
Page: 151
Scars: Has several black spots on her left hand, has a small black scar near her left elbow, has a black mole on the first joint of the middle finger on the right hand, has a mole on her right foot near the joint of the big toe, has a speck on her right eye
Witness: James Braxton
15 Oct 1850 Sally Somerville age 41 Free Born
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'2"
Page: 153
Scars: Has a small scar on the left arm, has a scar near the right corner of her under lip, has a flesh mole on the right eye, and one near her nose on same side, has a flesh mark between her breast and has short hair
Witness: Joseph Morgan and Jas Spalding
23 Oct 1850 Henrietta Somerville age 15 Free Born.
Complexion: Dark
Height: 4'9"
Notes: has short hair, thick lips, flat nose and sharp face
Page: 154
Scars: Has a small scar on her forehead, has two small moles on the right side of her neck about two and one half inches apart, has a small mole on her under lip
Witness: Alex Howard
23 Oct 1850 Elizabeth Somerville age 15 Free Born.
Height: 4'10"
Notes: Short hair, thick lips, dimple on the right cheek, stout made, and good set of teeth
Page: 144
Scars: Has a mole on the upper lip under the left corner of her nose, has a small mole under the right corner of her left eye, has a small mole under the right eye and has a wart near the corner of her right upper eye lid has a mole on her right breastbone
Witness: B. G. Harris
9 Nov 1852 Peter Somerville age 34 Free Born
Complexion: Black
Height: 5'9"
Notes: Thick lips, rather a broad nose, white finger nails
Page: 164
Scars: Large Scar upon his left foot near the joints of his toes, several light spots on his neck
Witness: James Carbry
8 Dec 1853 Thomas Somerville age 30 Free Born
Complexion: Bright Copper
Height: 5'8"
Page: 148
Scars: Small black mole on the left cheek bone, has a large scar on the calf of his left leg, and has a small scar on the right side of his left knee bone.
Witness: James H. Saunders
31 Jan 1854 George Somerville age 31 Baltimore City, Free Born [says female]
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'11"
Notes: Raised in St. Mary's County
Page: 70
Scars: Scar on thumb, right
Witness: Thomas Hellin
18 Mar 1858 William Somerville age 26 Free Born
Complexion: Dark
Height: 5'5"
Notes: Speaks low and soft, long thin face, large eyes
Page: 11
Scars: Has a scar on his forehead just above the right eyebrow, has a scar on the wrist of the right hand on the under joint caused by a cut from a razor
Witness: Thomas L. Davis
2 June 1858 Henry Somerville age 46 Free Born
Complexion: Copper
Height: 5'1"
Notes: Speaks free; Note from B. G. Harris on the adjoining page 12A
Page: 12
Scars: Has a scar on the right hand between the joint where the thumb unites and the wrist joint, has a scar on the left arm just above the inner joint of the elbow caused by a bite, has lost two upper jaw teeth and one on the lower of the right side, has lost t
Witness: B. G. Harris
7 July 1858 William Somerville age 23 Free Born.
Complexion: Copper
Height: 5'5"
Notes: Speaks soft; Note from J. A. Jarboe to certify that William Somerville is free born on adjoining page 12A
Page: 12
Scars: Has a large scar on the shin of the left leg caused from a burn, has a large scar on the left thigh just about where the thigh bone unites with the hip
Witness: J. A. Jarboe
22 Sep 1860 Rebecca Somerville age 21 Free Born.
Complexion: Bright Mulatto
Height: 5'0"
Notes: Has a full set of teeth, full suit of dark brown hair
Page: 22
Scars: Some slight marks produced by burns on the right arm above the wrist
Witness: Lewis B. Peak
3 Oct 1860 Mary Ellen Somerville age 21 Free Born.
Complexion: Light Copper
Height: 5'2"
Notes: Round full face, talks slow
Page: 24
Scars: Has a small scar on the forehead about an inch above the eyebrows, has also a small scar on the back part of the wrist joint caused by a burn, has also a small scar on the upper joint of the middle finger of the right hand, has lost one of her upper jaw t
Witness: John A. Tanner
3 Oct 1860 Catharine Somerville age 22 Free born.
Complexion: Black
Height: 5'2"
Notes: Long face, thick lips
Page: 24
Scars: Has a small scar on the under part of the wrist extending a little up the arm, caused by a burn, has lost two upper jaw teeth on each side and two lower jaw teeth on each side
Witness: John A. Tanner
3 Oct 1860 James Robert Somerville age 24 Free Born.
Complexion: Bright Mulatto
Height: 5'7"
Notes: Round full face
Page: 23
Scars: Has a scar on the left knee on the inner edge of the cap of the knee caused by a burn, has a large scar on the upper part of the right arm a little below the shoulder joint caused by a burn, has lost one of his under jaw teeth on the right side
Witness: John A. Tanner
6 Oct 1860 James Robert Somerville age 22 Free Born.
Complexion: Black
Height: 5'2"
Notes: Speaks quickly
Page: 25
Scars: Has two scars on the upper part of the left arm near the shoulder caused by the bite of a dog, has also a scar on the left cheek just below the eye, caused by the kick of a horse
Witness: Joshua Stone
19 Oct 1860 Barton Somerville age 21 Free Born.
Complexion: Black
Height: 5'10"
Notes: Full set of teeth, quick spoken
Page: 27
Scars: Stiffness in the middle joint of the little finger of the left hand
Witness: George R. Clocke
19 Oct 1860 John Somerville age 23 Free born
Complexion: Black
Height: 6'1"
Notes: Thin face, heavy suit of hair
Page: 27
Scars: Has a large scar on the upper joint of the right thumb extending down towards the first joint, has lost one of his upper jaw teeth on the left side
Witness: George R. Clocke
1 Nov 1860 William Henry Somerville age 27 Free Born
Complexion: Black
Height: 5'2"
Notes: Talks just and quick, coarse heavy features
Page: 35
Scars: Has a scar on the left jaw, has a scar on the end of the little finger of the right hand, has a scar on the end of the left thumb, has two dark spots on the right shoulder and side of the neck
Witness: Wm. B. Goddard
2 Nov 1860 Elizabeth Somerville age 25 Free Born.
Complexion: Bright Mulatto
Height: 5'1"
Page: 39
Scars: Has a scar on the under part of the wrist of right hand, has a large dark mole on the right arm above the elbow, has a mole on the left jaw
Witness: John A. Sanner
Source: Maryland State Archives - Legacy of Slavery in Maryland.
