Anne (Key) Taney
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Anne Charlton (Key) Taney (1783 - 1855)

Anne Charlton Taney formerly Key
Born in Frederick, Maryland, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Daughter of and
Sister of and
Wife of — married 7 Jun 1806 in Tera Rubra, Frederick County, Marylandmap
Mother of
Died at age 72 in Baltimore, Marylandmap
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Profile last modified | Created 1 Aug 2014
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Contents

Biography

1783 Early Years

Anne Arnold Phoebe Charlton Key was born on 13 June 1783 in Frederick County, Maryland.[1] She was described as beautiful, with a "bright mind and womanly graces."[2]

1806 Marriage to Roger Brooke Taney

On a visit to Annapolis, Maryland, her brother, Francis Scott Key, introduced her to a friend of his from law school - a young lawyer named Roger Brooke Taney. Roger soon moved to Frederick and began courting Anne. She and Roger married on 7 June 1806[3] at Terra Rubra, her parents' plantation, located north of Toms Creek in Frederick County, Maryland.[4]

Anne and Roger lived in Frederick, Maryland for 17 years, and this is where her first six children were born. Her only son, Augustus, died before he was three years old in 1818. In 1823, the family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. Her youngest daughter, Alice was born there in 1827 - the same year that her husband was appointed Attorney-General of Maryland.[5]

Anne and Roger had a very long and happy marriage. Roger wrote to her frequently when he was away from home on business. In his many letters he shared with her the details of his public business, his belief in God, and his loneliness when away from her and his children. On their 46th wedding anniversary, Roger wrote her the following letter:[6]

Washington, January 7, 1852
I cannot, my dearest wife, suffer the 7th of January to pass without renewing to you the pledges of love which I made to you on the 7th of January forty-six years ago. And although I am sensible that in that long period I have done many things that I ought not to have done, yet in constant affection to you I have never wavered – never being insensible how much I owe to you – and now pledge to you again a love as true and sincere as I offered on the 7th of January, 1806, and ever shall be
Your affectionate husband,
R.B. Taney.

Family Ties

Anne and Roger maintained close ties with Anne's family. They enjoyed frequent family reunions with her brother's family and her parents, John Ross Key and Anna Charlton Key, at Terra Rubra.[7][8] In the summer, the Taney family would sometimes retreat to the country to visit Anne's cousin, Arthur Shaaff. He was a leader of the Frederick Bar who lived in Arcadia, Maryland, a short distance from Frederick.[9]

They maintained close ties with Roger's family as well. Roger's mother moved in with them during the War of 1812, and remained with them until she died in 1814.

Faith

Anne was Anglican and Roger was a devout Roman Catholic.[10] They reconciled religious differences by agreeing that their sons would be raised as Catholics, and their daughters as Anglicans.[11]

War of 1812

In 1814, Francis Key and his family resided in Georgetown. Francis was a volunteer in the Light Artillery during the War of 1812, serving to defend the capital following the British burning of Washington, DC and the subsequent the raid on Alexandria, Virginia in August 1814. His wife, Polly, refused to leave their home while her husband was in danger. Believing that the British would make a marauding attack on Georgetown, Anne was very anxious about the fate of her brother’s family. She was concerned that by remaining in Georgetown, his family would be placed in great and useless peril. She asked her husband to go to Georgetown and persuade her sister-in-law to come away with her children and stay with them in Frederick, or with her parents at Terra Rubra. A few days after Roger reached Georgetown, Francis left on a mission approved by President James Madison to procure the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured by the British. Polly and their children returned to Frederick with Roger, and then went on to Terra Rubra, where they remained until Francis returned.[12]

Slavery and People of Color

On 31 July 1810, Anne made a sworn statement concerning Robert Toogood Patterson. [13]

Anne Phoebe Taney [ ] oath -- that she has known Robert Togood or Robert Patterson as he calls himself about fourteen or fifteen years ago. -- He was apprentice to her Father John Ross Key in Frederick County about five miles from Taney Town to the Blacksmiths business -- Her said father there kept in smiths shop on his farm -- The said Robert continued with this Deponents Father until his time was out which this Deponent believes was for about four or five years This deponent always understood in the family that the said Robert was Freeborn -- that he was one of the Toogood family adjudged to be free -- being the son of Selby Toogood whom this Deponent has frequently seen -- & understood to have obtained his freedom by petition to some court of this State -- The said Robert is about thirty years of age, a dark mulatto, about five feet ten inches high stout made stoops in the shoulders and has now a defect in his left eye but how long he has had it this Deponent does not know, and as for the last nine or ten years this Deponent has not seen Robert very often -- Sworn before Thomas B. Jones State of Maryland Fred Coty to wit I WR Clk. FCC. do hereby certify that Robert Toogood or Robert Patterson about 30 years of age a dark mulatto about 5 feet 10 inches high stout made stoops in the shoulders has a defect in the left eye Hath been proved to my satisfaction to have been free born That he has been an apprentice to Mr John Ross Key of the said Coty to learn the blacksmith trade and that his term of servitude is expired And I further certify that the said R Toogood or R Patterson is the same person who now applies for this Certificate and being free ought to be permitted to pass and repass he behaving himself will Given under my hand and the seal of Frederick County Court the 31. day of July 1810. William Ritchie Clerk Robt. Toogood Afft & Cert

1855 Death

Anne died in Baltimore County, Maryland on 29 September 1855 from complications of a stroke. Her youngest daughter, Alice, died the next day from yellow fever.[14]

Children

Anne gave birth to seven children:[15]

  1. Ann Arnold Taney
  2. Elizabeth Maynadier Taney
  3. Ellen Mary Taney
  4. Augustus Brooke Taney
  5. Sophia Brooke Taney
  6. Maria Key Taney
  7. Alice Carroll Taney

Sources

  1. ↑ Source: #S1
  2. ↑ Source: #S2
  3. ↑ Source: #S4
  4. ↑ Source: #S1
  5. ↑ Source: #S5
  6. ↑ Source: #S2 page 316
  7. ↑ Source: #S2
  8. ↑ Source: #S6
  9. ↑ Source: #S2
  10. ↑ Source: #S6
  11. ↑ Source: #S1
  12. ↑ Source: #S2 pages 109-113
  13. ↑ The Papers of Roger B. Taney. Sworn Statement of Anne Taney concerning the Status of Robert Toogood Patterson Accessed 9 November 2022 jhd
  14. ↑ Source: #S5
  15. ↑ Source: #S1




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Day-1904 Jack Day
Key-3335 and Key-1451 appear to represent the same person because: Clearly the same person, same husband. Where data diverge, Key-1451 is the better sourced.
posted by Jack Day

Featured National Park champion connections: Anne is 12 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 19 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 13 degrees from George Catlin, 13 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 21 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 15 degrees from George Grinnell, 22 degrees from Anton Kröller, 15 degrees from Stephen Mather, 19 degrees from Kara McKean, 16 degrees from John Muir, 14 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 22 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.

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Categories: Fredericktown, Maryland | Terra Rubra Plantation