| Notes |
- William Steuart was born in 1754 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, the fourth son of slave plantation owner and politician George H. Steuart. He was raised at Dodon, the family plantation on the South River, near Annapolis, Maryland.
Career
As a young man Steuart served as clerk to the two Judges of the Land Office, his father George H. Steuart and Benedict Swingate Calvert, who was the illegitimate son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, the third Proprietor Governor of Maryland. The Steuart family's interests were closely linked to those of the ruling Calvert family, and in 1770 there was a disagreement between the upper and lower houses in the Maryland Assembly over the size of fees to be collected by the Land Office. After collecting fees that were larger than those designated by the lower house, Steuart was jailed. In response to this Governor Robert Eden prorogued the assembly, freed Steuart, and removed him from the assembly's jurisdiction. The question of proprietarial fees was to cause considerable discontent among Marylanders during the years immediately preceding the American Revolution.
Revolutionary War
Steuart's family was divided by the Revolution. His father George H. Steuart was a Loyalist politician who, as an ally of the ruling Calvert family, had benefited from substantial political patronage. In addition Steuart held estates in both Maryland and Scotland and, at the outbreak of war, forced to make a choice between loyalty to the Crown and backing the Revolution, he sailed to Scotland, saying that he "could not turn rebel in his old age", and pragmatically dividing his property between his sons. William Steuart accompanied his father to Scotland in 1775 and returned to Maryland after the war was over.
Despite this, according to the memoirs of his nephew Richard Sprigg Steuart, William Steuart was sympathetic to Revolutionary cause. "Uncle William was mild and conciliatory, rather Republican, but with too much respect for his father to say much".
After the end of the war, Steuart inherited the family estate of Dodon, on the South River, near Annapolis, Maryland. He was a founder member of the Maryland Jockey Club, re-established after the war's end on Saturday, March 1, 1783, at Mr Mann's tavern in Annapolis. Club rules were set down including that the plate given by the club should be run on the first Tuesday of November, at Annapolis, that the prize money should be "sixty guineas", and that the annual subscription should be "three guineas".
The 1800 census shows William residing with himself and two other adult males with 62 slaves.
William Steuart died unmarried, leaving a substantial estate in land and slaves which was apportioned among his surviving family members. His will left detailed instructions on which family members would inherit the substantial Steuart estates in Maryland. According to the memoirs of his nephew Richard Sprigg Steuart "The fifth of my grandfather's children was William, also a bachelor, [who] left a very large landed property and numerous slaves. He was our good old "Uncle Billy".
He is buried at the family estate of Dodon on the South River, near Annapolis.
(Wikipedia, edited to remove biased santizing language regarding slavery)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Steuart_(planter)
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Will of William Steuart
Dated 18 Apr 1831, Probated 6 Nov 1838
James Steuart(brother of William) - note that Wm. is leaving property to his family instead of to him (by his own request)
· George Hume Steuart of Baltimore
o All lands in Anne Arundel County on both sides of the road from London Town to South River Church and extending as far west as public road from Muddy Creek at South River Church to “Harwood’s Milk House”
§ Includes plate, furniture, horses, cattle, sheep, hogs & farm stock excludes negroes
· Richard Sprigg Steuart
o 3 Farms in Anne Arundel County, lying contiguous to each other, including:
§ Doden (440 acres)
§ Obligation (400 acres)
§ Bridge Hill (660 acres) currently occupied by nephew Edward H. Steuart
§ Includes all furniture, horses, cattle, sheep, hogs and farm stock; implements of agriculture & personal property of all types excluding negroes
· George Calvert Steuart (living at Doden)
o Farm on the east side of the South River called Aberdeen (340 acres) *note - entailed on nephew, William Steuart, on his death.
o All the negroes and other personal property now in his possession on the condition that he use it all to support his 2 children, Eliza Ann and Charles Steuart
§ May not alienate (free?) or dispose of said negroes, unless by last will/testament, otherwise, negroes and “their increase” (i.e., children) shall be passed by will to Eliza Ann and Charles upon George’s death.
§ VOID if they contest the will or if Richard S. Steuart not given Doden within 6 months.
· Benedict Steuart [black sheep?]
o Yearly allowance of $200 throughout his life [note: inflation calculator says this is equivalent to $5,696.28 in 2021]
§ Must release all claims against Wm. Steuart or void.
§ Must give up all claims to negroes once owned by him but now owned by Wm.
[look for bail-out/court records/land transfers]
· William Steuart (son of nephew, Charles Steuart)
o Farm called Aberdeen, upon the death of George Calvert Steuart
o ½-claim against Benedict
o ½ Negroes once owned by Benedict but now owned by William
· Other sons of Charles Steuart [black sheep #2?] (except William): large claim of ~$5000 which was held against their father Charles. Void if Charles puts in a claim. [Note: equivalent to $142,407 in 2021]
· Edward H. Steuartand his present wife (residing at Bridge Hill):
o Tracts of land in Calvert County purchased from Judge Wilkinson of approx. 1,080 acres for their natural lives and that of the widow/widower in trust for their children.
o Executor to pay what is owed for said land ASAP so that it is unencumbered by debt.
o Including all negroes currently in possession of Edward, ½ of negroes once owned by Benedict (to be passed to wife if she outlives him)
o ½ of claim against Benedict (to be passed to wife if she outlives him)
o To Charles and William Steuart (sons of Edward) and to their heirs “as tenants in common” once they reach age 21; if Edward dies before they reach 21, rents/income from that land shall be applied to support the children
§ Any claim against their father, Edward (void if any claim made by Edward or his family)
§ Bridge Hill must be given up to Richard S. Steuart within 6 months.
§ Wife of Edward must “relinquish all her right of Dower of in and to any and every tract or part of tract of land whereof her husband was seized during her coverture and which now belongs to me.” [note: coverture is the legal term that basically means all things that were owned by Edward’s wife, became the property of Edward upon their marriage; I’m going out on a limb and guessing that Bridge Hill was part of her dowery, but that William must have bailed them out or something and thereby became the owner of Bridge Hill.]
· Manumit and set free slaves, Paul and Charles, sons of Hannah, formerly belonging to my brother David (died 1814). Executor charged with executing/acknowledging a deed of manumission to them [There are 2 Hannah’s on the 1864 Slave Census - Hannah Sparrow, would have been 26 at the time of William’s Death; Hannah Serricks/Sorrick would have been only 9 - perhaps Hannah Sparrow is named for her mother? - look for recording of manumission?]
· George Hume Steuart of Baltimore = Executor
o Give all the rest, residue & remainder of estate not already bequeathed; can sell in whole or in part.
o Must pay $20,000 [$569,628 in 2021] (divided equally) to his nieces, Sophia Delprat (paid to and held and invested by her brothers, Richard Sprigg and George Hume, with principal and interest reverting to her and to be used without any “hindrance or molestation of her present or future husband,” to be divided amongst her children up on her death), Henrietta Thorndike, Elizabeth Calvert and infant son of his deceased niece Margaret Latrobe (to be paid to & held by Richard and George, invested w/ interest added to principal and to be used for his raising and education; if he dies before age 21 without children, then trust reverts to James Steuart (brother and father of all these nephews and nieces).
· After all debts and legacies paid, nephew Frisby Tilghmanand niece, Susan Hollidayeach get $5,000 [$142,407 in 2021].
· All the rest, residue and remainders not already disposed of to George Hume Steuart and Richard Sprigg Steuart (divided equally)
· George has 2 years to settle the estate/pay out. If he dies or resigns, Richard becomes executor
Codicil (6 Nov 1834)
· To George Hume Steuart- all land recently purchased from Mrs. Margret Brogden (who inherited from her brother James McCullock on his death) near London Town and also any lot or lots in London Town to which Wm. May be entitled also all personal property of every description (except negroes) that may be on said lands.
· To Richard Sprigg Steuart- all that tract of land called Fingall (400 acres +/-) lying contiguous to the lands aforesaid given to Richard and also all the property of every description (except negroes) which may be on the lands.
· Remainder of negroes dived amongst nephews, share and share alike (except those spoken of in will as having formerly belonged to Benedict Steuart and Edward H. Steuart, and those granted freedom)
George Hume Received:
All the lands on both sides of the road to London Town, extending as far west as Muddy Creek at South River Church and Harwood Milkhouse
Lands recently purchased from Mrs. Margret Brogden near London Town
Any lots in London Town
Plus all property on that land (minus negroes)
Remainder of estate once divided/dispersed
Research: Land transfers to identify land owned by William Steuart in and near London Town.
Richard Sprigg Received:
Total of approximately 1,900 acres
Doden
Bridge Hill
Obligation
Fingall
Plus all property on those farms (minus negroes)
Research: Find location of Fingall, locate boundaries of each farm to compare to today.
George Calvert Steuart Received:
Aberdeen - 340 acres , on the east side of the South River (entailed on his nephew, William, upon his death)
All the Negroes currently in his possession [note: he was living at Dodon at the time of William’s Death]
Research: Find location of Aberdeen. Still standing? New name? Look up Slave Census for Aberdeen; 2021 update - likely on the east side of the South River where you’ll find Aberdeen Creek. Currently developed into housing, update research to see if an old house is there.
Benedict Steuart Received:
Must leave Aberdeen (see above)
To receive $200/year throughout his lifetime (approx. $5,700 in 2021)
Research: Where did Benedict end up? Find any liens against him by William or land purchases, etc.
William Steuart Received
½-claim against Benedict
½ negroes at Aberdeen
Aberdeen, upon the death of uncle George Calvert Steuart
Other Sons of Charles Steuart (except William) Received:
*2 other sons, Capt. George Biscoe Steuart (1817-1881) and Charles Calvert Steuart (1819-1896)*
$5000 which was held against their father , void if Charles puts in a claim. NOTE: Charles died in 1836, after the last will/codicil was written, but before William himself died.
Estimated for inflation = $142,407 in 2021
Edward H Steuart and his present wife Received
1080 Acres in Calvert County - held in trust for children
All negroes currently in possession of Edward H. (BRIDGE HILL SLAVES)
½ of negroes once owned by Benedict
½ claim against Benedict
Charles and William (sons of Edward) become tenants in common of land at age 21
OTHER NOTES:
George Hume Steuart named executor
George and Richard Sprigg split remainder of estate not already disposed of
CODICIL states that the rest of the negroes (those from Aberdeen, Dodon and Bridge Hill already willed away) were split equally between Richard Sprigg and George Hume:
“I also give and bequeat to my said nephews, share and share alike all my negroes except those spoken of in my will as having formerly belonged to Benedict Steuart, and Edward H. Steuart, and which negroes, I desire shall go as directed in my aforesaid will…”
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1754 - 1838 (84 years)
