Portland Manor Plantation, Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Anne Arundel, Maryland, United States
Surnames/tags: Darnall Slavery

Plantation Index

Contents 1 History 1.1 Owners 1.2 Manumitted Slaves 1.3 Slaves 2 Sources

History

Portland Manor,^[1] a property in colonial Maryland, originally held 2000 acres. In 1697-1699 Col. Henry Darnall I received a grant of 1099 acres from his brother-in law and cousin, Charles Calvert, 3rd Lord of Baltimore. The house was built about 1699 and the land stayed in the Darnall family for at least 5 generations. About 1827-28 the plantation was sold by Bennett Darnall's sons to Claudius F. LeGrand.^[2] And a portion of the property was either sold or inherited by the Estep family.^[3] It began with Richard Estep, son and executor of his mother of Eleanor Lyles Estep estate. It stayed in the Estep family with his niece Eleanor Maria Estep Lyles inheriting it in 1849.^[4]

Owners

The following owned all or parts of Portland Manor:^[3]

• Col. Henry Darnall I, given to him by Charles Calvert
• Philip Darnall, son of Col. Henry Darnall, he dwelt upon Portland Manor until his death which was before his father died.^[5]
• Henry Darnall, son of Philip and grandson of Col. Henry Darnall I, a portion of Portland Manor given to him by at his grandfather's death^[5]
• Philip Darnall, Henry Darnall's brother, a portion of Portland Manor given to him at his grandfather's death^[5]
• John Darnall, grandson of Col. Henry Darnall I, and cousin to the above brothers Philip and Henry, a portion of Portland Manor given to him at his grandfather's death. John later sold his portion of Portland Manor to the brothers.^[6]
• Richard Darnall, brother of Bennett Darnall, a portion of Portland Manor given to him by his father Henry^[7] which Richard passed to his brother Bennett Darnall at his death.^[8]
• Bennett Darnall, son of the above Henry Darnall, given a portion of Portland Manor by his uncle Philip Darnall and his brother Richard Darnall.^[6]
• Nicholas Darnall, formerly enslaved, son of Bennett Darnall and his slave Susanna, given a portion of Portland Manor in his father's will^[9]
• Henry Darnall, formerly enslaved, son of Bennett Darnall and his slave Susanna, given a portion of Portland Manor in his father's will^[9]

When Bennett Darnall died he left his estate to his formerly enslaved sons, Nicholas and Henry. The will stated his sons William and Philip, also formerly enslaved, were to receive part of Portland Manor as well. However Bennett then changed his will and gave the latter sons the property of Portland Landing.^[10] Although they were all legally manumitted in 1805, in 1827 there was a court case over their inheritance rights and their legal right to sell the property because of their history of being enslaved.^[2][11]

Manumitted Slaves

In 1805 these enslaved persons were manumitted by Bennett Darnall:

• Elizabeth David, wife of William David^[12]
• Deborah David, child of William David and Elizabeth
• Elizabeth David, child of William David and Elizabeth
• Ann David, child of William David and Elizabeth

• Benjamin David^[13]
• David^[14]

These are the sons of Bennett Darnall, manumitted in 1805:^[15]

• William Darnall
• Henry Darnall
• Philip Darnall
• Nicholas Darnall

Slaves

The list of the enslaved in Bennett Darnall's estate in 1814:^[16]

• John age 40, $300
• Frank age 60, $50
• Paul age 55, $80
• Toney age 55, $100
• Jack age 35, $350
• Nathan age 50, $125
• Peter age 32, $350
• Peter age 25 (lame), $300
• Toney age 25, $350
• Nicholas age 45, $225
• Daniel age 60 (infirm), $30
• Michael (carpenter) age 40, $350
• Thomas (carpenter) age 57, $200
• James (carpenter) age 45, $300
• Dick (carpenter) age 25, $450
• Charles age 23, $375
• Bob age 17, $375
• Frank age 40, $300
• Sam (carpenter) age 45, $300
• Jarvice (carpenter) age 45, $300
• Phill age 22, $400
• Nat Joice (shoemaker) age 40 (lame), $200
• John age 13, $250
• George about 12, $250
• Peter age 14, $250
• Billy (sickly) age 22, $50
• Benjamin age 12, $225
• Frank age 5, $100

At this point the list begins to group together some families:

• Tish age 22, $200
• Nell age 8, $100
• Nancy age 5, $60
• Judy age 3, $40

• Debb age 16, $250

• Nell age 40, $125
• Bill age 5, $100

• Nell & child Hannah inft age 25, $225
• Esther (subject to fits) age 11, $100
• Sam age 9, $160
• Tom age 7, $140
• Davy age 5, $100
• Nell age 3, $50
• Barbara age 65, $10
• Esther age 16, $250
• Nancy age 14, $200
• Mary age 7, $100
• Flora age 6, $80
• Clem a boy, age 3, $75
• Dick sickly age 6, $5

• Betsy age 20, $225
• Patty age 6, $80
• Ann age 3, age $50
• Margaret age 1, $25

• Naney age 22, $225
• Nancy age 18, $225
• Mary age 65, $10

• Polly age 24, $200
• Michael age 8, $150
• Minta age 6, $100
• Dick age 4, $60
• Frank age 2, $45
• Henry age 2, $35

• Judy age 40, $125

• Rachel age 30 $150
• John age 8, $175
• Jerry age 5, $100
• Ned age 3, $65
• Lucy age 1, $30

• Margaret age 55, $50
• Dick age 10, $200

• Deborah age 30, $150
• Andrew age 4, $60
• Nacy age 8 mos, $30

• Bridget aged about 35 years, $140
• Aaron age 8, $175
• Sarah age 6, $100
• Jane age 2, $35

• Cate age 40, $130
• Rachel (asthmatic) age 11, $100
• James age 3, $65

• Nancy age 40, $100
• Sucky age 7, $100
• Tish age 6, $100
• Sam age 4, $65
• Jerry age 2, $45

• Clare age 30, $150
• Tom (asthmatic) 8, $100
• Peter age 6, $100
• Priss age 1, $30

• Polly age 35 (Kings Evie?), $80
• Lucy age 70, $10
• Ben age 70, $5
• James age 25, $400
• Robert age 25, $400
• Sam age 21, $400
• Ned age 23, $400
• Nicholas age 35, $400

• Milly age 23, $225
• Criss age 6, $80
• Bill age 4, $80
• Hossce age 2, $35

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Manor
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} https://www.google.com/books/edition/Reports_of_Cases_Argued_and_Decided_in_t/bpADAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bennett+Darnall+d.1814&pg=PA555&printsec=frontcover
   • p.662 LeGrand vs. Darnall
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Portland Manor https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/AnneArundel/AA-253.pdf
   • History of Portland Manor p.13
4. ↑ Probate records: "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999"
   Catalog: Probate records
   Image path: Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999 > Anne Arundel > Wills 1841-1868 vol 41 > image 47 of 430
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GTRH-82D (accessed 20 May 2022)
   • 1849 will of William C. Lyles, Anne Arundel Co, MD, Bk BEG 1-41, p.82
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Will books: "Will books"
   Catalog: Will books Wills v.13 1710-1714
   Film number: 007737517 > image 118 of 388
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C914-VSJW-3 (accessed 19 May 2022)
   • 1711 will of Col. Henry Darnall
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999: "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999"
   Catalog: Wills, 1777-1912 [Anne Arundel County, Maryland] Wills Liber EV no. 1 v. 33 1777-1779 Liber TG no. 1 v. 34 1780-1786 Liber THH no. 2 v. 35 1787 Liber JG no. 1 v. 36 1788-1797
   Image path: Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999 > Anne Arundel > Wills 1780-1786 vol 34 > image 165 of 178
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9T5G-8KH (accessed 17 May 2022)
   • executor for his uncle's will
7. ↑ Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999: "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999"
   Catalog: Wills, 1777-1912 [Anne Arundel County, Maryland] Wills Liber EV no. 1 v. 33 1777-1779 Liber TG no. 1 v. 34 1780-1786 Liber THH no. 2 v. 35 1787 Liber JG no. 1 v. 36 1788-1797
   Image path: Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999 > Anne Arundel > Wills 1780-1786 vol 34 > image 36 of 178
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GT5G-D9M (accessed 19 May 2022)
   • 1782 will of Henry Darnall
8. ↑ Maryland, Anne Arundel County, probate records: "Maryland, Anne Arundel County, probate records"
   Catalog: Maryland, Anne Arundel County, probate records MD Anne Arundel County Wills, Original C155-2, Coa to For, 1 Jan 1777–31 Dec 1820
   Film number: 105200449 > image 202 of 641
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS12-Z97W-W (accessed 19 May 2022)
   • 1818 will of Richard Darnall
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999: "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999"
   Catalog: Wills, 1777-1912 [Anne Arundel County, Maryland] Wills Liber JG no. 2 v. 37 1797-1813 Liber JG no. 1 v. 38 1813-1820
   Image path: Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999 > Anne Arundel > Wills 1813-1820 vol 38 > image 23 of 123
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GTR7-FBB (accessed 19 May 2022)
   • 1814 will of Bennett Darnall, Anne Arundel Co, MD, Book JG 1 Vol 38 p.42
10. ↑ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/secret/famous/darnall.html
11. ↑ http://library.uncg.edu/slavery/petitions/results.aspx?s=3&sid=339&lRec=20886025&lastset=450&perpag=25
12. ↑ Legacy of Slavery in Maryland http://slavery2.msa.maryland.gov/pages/Search.aspx
    • Date manumitted: 1805-04-29, Date recorded: 1805-05-03, Entry: 198, Item: 1, Notes: Elizabeth is William David's wife and their three children are Deborah, Elizabeth, and Ann; all future increase will also be free. Witnessed by Samuel Harrison and Sayers James Bennett.
    Series: C109
13. ↑ Legacy of Slavery in Maryland http://slavery2.msa.maryland.gov/pages/Search.aspx
    • Date manumitted: 1805-05-06, Date recorded: 1805-05-06, Entry: 200, Item: 1, Notes: Witnessed by Sam. Harrison and William Drury; immediate, also all future increase is free. Series: C109
14. ↑ Legacy of Slavery in Maryland http://slavery2.msa.maryland.gov/pages/Search.aspx
    • Date manumitted: 1805-05-06, Date recorded: 1805-05-06, Entry: 200, Item: 1, Notes: Witnessed by Sam. Harrison and William Drury; immediate, also all future increase is free. Series: C109
15. ↑ Legacy of Slavery in Maryland http://slavery2.msa.maryland.gov/pages/Search.aspx
    • Date manumitted: 1805-05-06, Date recorded: 1805-05-06, Entry: 200, Item: 1, Notes: Witnessed by Sam. Harrison and William Drury; immediate, also all future increase is free. Series: C109
16. ↑ Inventories 1777-1941 ; index 1777-1893: "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999"
    Catalog: Inventories 1777-1941 ; index 1777-1893 Liber JG 1808-1813 Liber JG 1813-1816
    Image path: Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999 > Anne Arundel > Inventories 1813-1816 > image 52 of 269
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9TR9-984P (accessed 19 May 2022)
    • 22 Feb 1814, Anne Arundel Co, MD, Bennett Darnall estate inventory, Liber JG 1813-1816 p.95-99