St. Peter's Cathedral in Wilmington, New Castle County, DE served parts of Chester County PA before parishes were established there. Most of these are Delaware records; those for Chester County are noted.

"Catholic Parish Registers - Diocese of Wilmington," LDS microfilm # 1846653. This is a translation into English done by a priest in the 1980's. He notes that the earliest records are in French. The translator has reproduced the marginal notes, and notes at the end of entries, that mention the person's race. He has entered the data into a register with boxes for name, date of birth, date and place of baptism, name of father, maiden name of mother, and sponsors. So the
words "born," "baptized," etc. are supplied by me, as is the form of the date.

The area served by St. Peter's included the industrial complex that the Duponts and others had built. Both owners and workers appear in the register. The sacramental records suggest something of the nature of the interrelationships among the owner families, their slaves, and the free blacks.

Baptisms, 4/1796 - 5/1834

"Negro" ----------, Michele Marie Age 20. Baptized 15 Oct 1797. Manumission also granted on the same day. Slave of Lally de Neuveville. Sponsors: Michel de la Neuveville, Elizabeth Garesché.

Daughter of André Noël - Marie Zoé Marianne - born 5 Apr 1800, baptized 27 July 1800
daughter of André, a free Negro, and Laurette, his wife, a mulatto. Sponsors: Mr. Dumont LaGrange, Marie Louise.

Jeanne Noël, born 20 Apr 1811, baptized 20 May 1811. Parents André Noël, Laurette Noël. Sponsors: Germain Noël, Marie Louise. [Note: there is no designation of Jeanne's race.]

Elenor Norman. Place of birth: Bethel Twp., Delaware Co., PA. Baptized privately 5 Oct 1813. Father: Edward Norman. Mother: Susan Paschal. Sponsors: Kato, Valentine. "All blacks."

Daniel Brinkley (black) Born in Philadelphia. 9 years old. Baptism: Eden Park. Father: Daniel Brinkley. Mother: Christiana Connor. "blacks"

Jane Davis Born in Eden Park, 1815. Baptized 25 August 1815. Father: Moses Davis. Mother: Rachel ______. Sponsor: Juliette Bauduy.

Marie Louise Noël, born in Wilmington, 14 Mar 1817. Baptized privately 30 Mar 1817. Ceremonies supplied 6 July 1817. Father: André Noël. Mother Laurette Noël. Sponsors: Rev. P. Kenny, Mary Charlot.

Henry (black) Born Wilmington, 23 June 1817. Father: Gerard. Mother: Lucy. Sponsor: Henrietta. Note: "All black. Mr. O. Horsey's family."

******* Laurette Noël served as a proxy sponsor at the baptism of William Horsey, son of Outerbridge Horsey and Elizabeth Lee, in place of Miss Mary Ringgold.

Marriages, 10/1797 - 1/1834

William Barrett, Margaret Woodley. 5 March 1829.
[Also in the space for the bride's name is the word "africanus." This is masculine and singular. It is the wrong form of the word to designate the race of both, or the race of the bride alone. The original record should be consulted to be sure it was not placed in the wrong box by the translator.]