Slaves of Thomas Johnson, Maryland

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Fredrick, Maryland
Surnames/tags: Johnson Slavery black_heritage

Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Property 1.2 Slaves 1.3 Tax Records 2 Sources

Introduction

Thomas Johnson (1732-1819), governor of Maryland from March 1777 until November 1779, was the owner of the Catoctin Furnace, an historically important iron furnace developed just shy of the American Revolution, which produced a variety of iron products, including cannonballs, during the War. (See the Catoctin Furnace Patterson Project for more information).

"For many years, operations at Catoctin Furnace relied on the labor of enslaved Africans and African Americans. At least 271 enslaved and an unknown number of free African Americans worked at Catoctin and its surrounding village, performing a host of highly skilled labor roles.
A cemetery was found on the property from an excavation that occurred in 1979. Interred in the Catoctin Furnace African American Cemetery were more than 100 free and enslaved individuals who labored at the furnace between 1774 and 1850." ^[1]

Property

Johnson's estate, Rose Hill, used enslaved labor. He gave Rose Hill to Johnson's daughter, Ann, and son-in-law, John Grahame, who continued the practice.^[2]

Slaves

Census Records

According to census records, Johnson held 38 enslaved people in 1790^[3], and 50 enslaved people in 1800.^[4]

Named Enslaved persons

1. Benedict, a runaway.

"St. Leonard’s Creek, Calvert county, June 10, 1775. Ran away from subscriber, on the 17th of May, a lusty country-born negro man, called Benedict, about 32 years old, 6 feet high, very talkative, has a scar on his upper lip, and longer wool than usual: he had on when he went away, a country cloth waistcoat and breeches, and an iron collar. Whoever takes up the said negro, and delivers him to the subscriber at St Leonard’s creek, Thomas Johnson, jun, at Annapolis, or James Johnson, in Frederick county, shall receive eight dollars reward. THO. JOHNSON, sen."^[5]

Tax Records

From the Maryland Archives, 1782 tax list of property. ^[6]The following unnamed slaves and their values:

• 3 males and females under age 8, $30
• 2 males and females 8yrs to 14 yrs, $50
• 1 male 14 yrs to 45 yrs, $70
• 2 Females 14 yrs - 36 yrs, $120
• 2 males above 45/females above 36, $20

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.aaas.org/news/ancient-dna-reveals-legacy-african-americans-catoctin-furnace-maryland#:~:text=For%20many%20years%2C%20operations%20at,of%20highly%20skilled%20labor%20roles.
2. ↑ https://emilieamt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Slavery-at-Rose-Hill-Manor-Frederick.pdf
3. ↑ 1790 Census: "1790 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; First Census of the United States, 1790.; Year: 1790; Census Place: Frederick, Maryland; Series: M637; Roll: 3; Page: 203; Family History Library Film: 0568143
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5058 #118034 (accessed 26 October 2023)
   Thomas, Esqr Johnson Esquire in Frederick, Maryland.
4. ↑ 1800 Census: "1800 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1800; Census Place: Frederick, Frederick, Maryland; Series: M32; Roll: 10; Page: 148; Image: 156; Family History Library Film: 193663
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7590 #96021 (accessed 26 October 2023)
   Thomas Johnson in Frederick, Frederick, Maryland.
5. ↑ Maryland State Archives, Governor Thomas Johnson File
6. ↑ https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/000700/000743/tif/chart.tif

• See also: Catoctin Furnace African American Cemetery