Java Farm Plantation, Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Date: About 1819 [unknown]
Location: Anne Arundel, Maryland, United States
Surnames/tags: Contee Slavery Black_Heritage

US Black Heritage Index of Plantations

Biography

John Contee purchased the Sparrow's Rest property and mansion from Dennis Boyd in 1819. In 1828 it was re-surveyed and the name was legally changed to Java. After John died his widow divided the Java plantation for her sons, Charles Snowden Contee, and Richard Contee.^[1] Charles was given the portion of the property with the house. He kept the name Java Farm. His brother, Richard, was given the other half and he called his portion the Contee Farm.^[2]

John Contee's probate inventory also mentioned the Java Plantation along with the names, ages, and values of the slaves who resided there.^[3]

Plantation Owners

• John Contee
• Charles Snowden Contee, son
• Richard Contee, son

For more information please see:

• the Slaves of John Contee

Sources

1. ↑ Wills 1698-1921 ; index 1698-1948: "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999"
   Catalog: Wills 1698-1921 ; index 1698-1948 Liber TT no. 1 1808-1833 Liber PC no. 1 1833-1854
   Image path: Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999 > Prince George's > Wills 1833-1854 vol PC > image 74 of 284
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GT1L-28V (accessed 8 April 2023)
   • • 1839 will of John Contee
2. ↑ Contee Mansion Talk and Walk https://serceducationvolunteers.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/contee-mansion-talk-and-walk1.pdf
   • Richard continued to live on the farm until 1859. After that it was occupied by tenants. Both Contee sons had about 40 slaves.
3. ↑ Inventories: "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999"
   Catalog: Inventories Liber PC no. 4 1839-1844 Liber JH no. 1 1844-1848
   Image path: Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999 > Prince George's > Inventory accounts 1839-1844 vol 4 > image 19 of 251
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GTYL-Q1R (accessed 8 April 2023)
   • 1840 probate inventory p.132 right column