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| John Somerville 1723-1788 |
In 1753 he married Susanna Clarke 1720-1780 d/o Colonel George Clarke, a planter on the Potomac River in St Mary's County, Maryland. After Clarke's death, John bought out the other heirs' interest in the Clarke plantation "Bloomsbury."
John died 21 Dec 1788 at Bloomsbury plantation in St Mary's County, Maryland.
He and Susanna had the following children:
- John Somerville 1754-1806 married Mary Goodloe
- William Somerville 1755-1806 married Elizabeth Anna Hebb
- Margaret Somerville 1756-
- George Clark Somerville 1758-1791 never married
Enslaved - We know of at least one of John Sr's enslaved. Giles Butler was born about 1770 maybe in Maryland. Giles was freed by John Sr and in 1800 he was the head of household of 7 other free persons of color. [Free African Americans of Maryland and Delaware from Colonial Period to 1810 by Paul Heinegg.] By 6 Aug 1810 Giles was living in Eastern Precincts, Baltimore, Maryland with 4 other free persons of color. [1810 Federal Census]
John Somerville II, son of John I and Susannah, was born 6 Dec 1754 at Bloomsbury, St Mary's County, Maryland and died 18 Nov 1806 at Bloomsbury Estate, Granville County, North Carolina. He married Mary Goodloe 1763-1838.
John II and Mary's children:
- John Somerville III 1780-1831
- Susan / Susanna Somerville 1782-1842 md Eaton
- James Somerville 1784-1854
- William Somerville 1786-1802
- George Clark Somerville 1787-1824
- Alexander Somerville 1790-1798
- Robert Vivian Somerville 1794-1813
Note: See separate blog post for information on John Somerville II's family and enslaved.
William Somerville, son of John I and Susannah, was born 25 Dec 1755 at Bloomsbury plantation, St Mary's County, Maryland and died 29 Dec 1806 at Mulberry Fields plantation, St Mary's County, Maryland. He married Elizabeth Anna Hebb 1770-1792, the daughter of Capt Vernon Hebb of Porto Bello 1743-1796 and Anna Hopewell 1745-1820.
William and Elizabeth Anna's children:
- Elizabeth Somerville 1781-1802 married George Plater IV
- William Clarke Somerville 1790-1826 never married
- Henry Vernon Somerville 1792-1837 married Rebecca M Tierman
1790 Census St Mary's County MD William Somerville
108 Slaves
1793-1794 Maryland Assessment St Mary's County, MD William Somerville
105 Slaves
1800 Census St Mary's County, MD William Somerville
125 Slaves
1801 Maryland Assessment St Mary's County, MD William Somerville
125 Slaves
1806 Property at death St Mary's County, MD William Somerville
180 Slaves, 154 ox plate, bank stock, cotton both spun and picked, 5,810 acres including a grist mill and mill land.
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| Mulberry Fields Plantation, Valley Lee, MD |
Elizabeth Somerville, daughter of William Somerville, was born 7 Dec 1781 St Mary's County, Maryland. On 22 Mar 1798 she married George Plater IV who was born 21 Sep 1766 at Sotterley plantation, St Mary's County, Maryland and died 1802 at Sotterley plantation. George is the son of George Plater, Governor of Maryland, 1735-1792 and Elizabeth Anne Rousby 1747-1789. George IV inherited the Sotterley plantaton from his father; he and Elizabeth made it their home. [Sotterley is now an historic site.]
1790 Census St Mary's County, MD George Plater IV
93 Slaves
1800 Census St Mary's County, MD George Plater IV
46 Slaves
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| Sotterley Plantation, Hollywood, MD |
Note: 1814 George's brother, John Rousby Plater, made a claim for the loss of Enslaved: "Negroes seduced and carried away by the Commander of the British Fleet laying in the Patuxent River Maryland in the months of July, July and September 1814 during the late war with Great Britain." The Treaty of Ghent signed Dec 1814 called for compensation for unreturned property. In Nov 1826 the British agreed to pay claims for slaves taken away.
Sworn June 23, 1821 Men and Boys, Ages, Value in $
Stephen Courcey 37 600
Abraham Wood 12 350
Jesse Wood 33 500
Crowley Young 18 500
John Young 14 -
Daniel Young 12 -
Henry Young 13 -
James Thomas 48 450
John Seale 50 450
John Seale Jr 17 550 House Servant
William Hammer 12 350
Isaac Hammer 9 250
Mathew Courcey 8 150
James 6 225
Benjamin Seale 5 220
Francis Hammer 3 200
Prince Young 60 100
Peter Campbell 55 100
Lewis Munroe 26 600 House Servant
Gerard Munroe 14 500
Richard Munroe 5 225
Lewis Munroe 3 150
20 in number: $7480
Women and children Ages Value in $
Susannah Courcey 40 300
Maria Seale 44 300
[illegible] Hammer 28 350
Sophia Seale 15 375
Maria Seale 17 375
Frankey Seale 20 375
Maria Wood 10 250
Henny Williams 50 200
Mary Young (Molly) 35 350
Catherine Young 20 375
Elizabeth Hammer 18 200
Tenny Merritt 46 450 A Good Cook
Louisa Thomas 1 50
Mary Hammer 1 50
Patty Seale 1 50
Peggy Seale 8 200
Ester Seale 4 150
Peggy Courcey 14 50
Mary Ann Young 9 150
Grace Munroe 27 400 Cook
Ester Munroe 7 150
Kitty Munroe 2 100
22 in number: $5250
In addition to the above list of 44 for which Captain Nourse of his Britianic Majesty's ship the Severn gave a certificate assuring of their being on board his ship 27 July 1814, the following Negro Men were taken and carried away by Captain Brown of the Frigate Loire in June 1814:
Peregrine Young 20 700 A most valuable servant
Ignatius Seale 19 500 Blacksmith
James Bowie 20 600
Joseph Wood 22 550
Cornelius 25 550
[Source: Maryland State Archives]
William Clarke Somerville, son of William Somerville and Elizabeth Anna Hebb, was born 25 Mar 1790 at Mulberry Fields plantation in St Mary's County, Maryland. He died 5 Jan 1826 in Courpalay, Seine-et-Marne, France and is buried on the estate of Marquie de Lafayette. He never married.
In 1806 he inherited Mulberry Fields plantation from his father. In 1822 he purchased Sotterley Plantation from his nephew George Plater V and later that year purchased Stratford Hall (Robert E Lee's childhood home) from Henry Lee.
William was appointed by President John Quincy Adams as ambassador to Sweden and Norway on 9 Mar 1825. In August of the same year President Adams appointed him Political and Commercial Agent to Greece. When he traveled there in Sep 1825 he left a caretaker and his enslaved at Stratford Hall.
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| Stratford Hall, Stratford, VA |
Before War of 1812 Maryland William C Somerville
48 Slaves
1821 Applied to the General Assembly to removed 2 of his enslaved, George and Jacob, from the District of Columbia to St Mary's County, MD, "for his use and benefit.."
1826 Death of William C Somerville - in his will he left detailed instructions for the gradual manumission of his slaves and provisions for one, Jacob, to immediately purchase his freedom for $150. William's sole heir and the executor of his estate was his brother, Henry Vernon Somerville.
After his death only a caretaker and a few enslaved remained at Stratford Hall. It is assumed his brother eventually moved the rest to his property in Maryland.
Will of William Clarke Somerville - written 20 Dec 1825 Manumission of Enslaved
William He bequeathed under the clause "all my property real and persona ," all my property real and persona," Stratford Hall and its furnishings and the greater portion of his other properties to his brother, Henry Vernon Somerville of Bloomsbury, near Baltimore. Bernard M Carter of Shirley, VA was one of the witnesses to the will.
Clause:
" ... That as the existence of Slavery is an evil I deprecate and wish to mitigate as far as is consistent with justice to my brother, that he shall set free my negro slaves after they shall have served the periods hereinafter specified. All those over 35 when they shall have attained the age of 42 -- all between 25 and 30 when they are 36 -- all between 15 and 20 when they are 32 -- and all under 15 when they shall (the males) attain the age of 28 and (the females) 25.
N.B.Jacob that I bought is not to be included in the above, but in justice to the others must pay partly for himself, he must pay the sum of $150 to my brother, and this I interpret it literally.... I am so weak from bad health that it is painful for me to write...suppose he is prepared to do, as he wanted to pay $100 in part before I left home.
It is my wish and request of my Brother that he shall see that the negroes are never ill treated and that he shall render their situation as comfortable as he can..."
Note: William's brother, Henry, lost Stratford Hall because he didn't deal with the estate in a timely fashion. No mention in court documents (regarding his loss of Stratford Hall) of the enslaved, but some furnishings were sold at auction.
Henry Vernon Somerville, son of William Somerville and Elizabeth Anna Hebb, was born 2 March 1792 at Mulberry Fields plantation in St Mary's County, Maryland and died 26 Aug 1837 at Bloomsbury plantation, St Mary's County, Maryland. On 26 Dec 1815 he married Rebecca Tiernan 1799-1863.
Rebecca Tiernan is the daughter of Luke Tiernan 1757 County Meath, Ireland -1839 Baltimore and Nancy Ann Owen 1776-1841. Luke was a founding member and in 1839 the treasurer of the Maryland Branch of the African Colonization Society whose purpose was to return African Americans to Africa. The Maryland State Colonization Society was responsible for founding the Republic of Maryland in West Africa, a short lived independent state that in was annexed by Liberia in the 1850's. The goal of the Society was "to be a remedy for slavery," such that "slavery would cease in the state by the full consent of those interested."
Children of Henry V Somerville and Rebecca Tiernan:
- William Tiernan Somerville 1816-1857
- Ann Rebecca Somerville 1820-1847
- James Hopewell Somerville 1822-1850
- Henry Vernon Somerville II 1824-1860
- Agnes Somerville 1826-1861 md Shields
- William Clarke Somerville 1827-1848
- Charles Tiernan Somerville 1829-1858
- Elizabeth Somerville 1831-1846
- Robert Coleman Brien Somerville 1833-1854
- Joseph Fowler Somerville 1835-1859
1810 Census Potomac, MD Henry Somerville
No Enslaved
1820 Census Election District 5 Dorchester MD Henry Somerville
7 Slaves: 1 M under 14, 1 M 14-25, 1 M 26-44, 1 M 45+, 2 F under 14, 1 F 26-44
1828 Runaways
In April 1828 runaways John and James caught, jailed, released to Henry V Somerville
1830 Census Baltimore, MD Henry Somerville
91 Slaves: 20 M under 10, 16 M 10-23, 7 M 24-35, 8 M 36-54, 1 M 55-99, 19 F under 10, 8 F 10-23, 6 F 24-35, 4 F 36-54, 1 F 55-99
1836 Runaways
Ads placed for 2 runaways, Thomas age 35 and Abraham age 35 by Henry V Somerville in Baltimore and Virginia newspapers.
1840 Census District 1 Baltimore MD Rebecca Somerville, widow of Henry
6 Free Colored Persons: 3 Males 36-54, 3 Females 36-54
21 Slaves: 7 M under 10, 2 M 10-23, 1 M 55-99, 6 F under 10, 3 F 10-23, 2 F 24-35
** 1850 Census Dist 2 St Mary's County MD - African American Family Dwelling 611 Family 622
Butler, Thomas 66, Black, Farmer, RE $80, born St Mary's County
wife Milly 67, Black, born St Mary's County
Somerville, Wm N 26, Mulatto, Laborer, born St Mary's County
Somerville, Eliza A 25, Black, born St Mary's County
Somerville, Henry 27, Black, Laborer, born St Mary's County
Some could be enslaved bequeathed to him by his father. I suspect those sent in 1830 and after are probably those that first were enslaved by William C Somerville and then bequeathed to Henry. Henry received 180 enslaved from William. (See portion of William's will above which gives specific instructions for manumission dates. There was NO instruction for anyone to be sold.)
Note: I believe there are family groups in these lists.
27 Nov 1819 Baltimore to NOLA - (Enslaved) Amie, F, age 17, 5'4" tall, Black. Shipper is David Williamson of Baltimore. Amie is consigned to Henry V Somerville at New Orleans. On ship Franklin.
27 Nov 1819 Baltimore to NOLA - Henry V Somerville, owner, is on board the Franklin with 25 Enslaved to be sold:
- Stephen, M, 45, 5'10" tall, Black
- Nanny, F 35, 5'1 1/2" tall, Black
- Infant, M, 12 months old, Black
- Harriett, F 76, 5'2" tall, Dark Mulatto
- Jenny, girl, 11, 4'6" tall, Black
- Appy, F, child, 4, Black
- Isaac, M, 29, [illegible] Mulatto
- Sara, F, 45, [illegible], Black
- Geny, girl, 15, 5' tall, Dark Mulatto
- John, boy, 8, [illegible] Black
- Ransby, M, child, 4, 3' tall, Dark Mulatto
- Phil, M, of [illegible] 30, [illegible], Mulatto
- Biby, F, 28, 5'5" tall, Black
- Infant, F, 4 months, Dark Mulatto
- Nancy, F, 4, 3'1" tall, Mulatto
- Jerry, M, 2, 2' tall, Dark Mulatto
- Nat, M, 21, 5'6" tall, Black
- Charles, M 30, 5' 3" tall, Black
- Rosey, F, child, [illegible] 3' tall, Black
- Henry, M, 12, [illegible], Black
- [illegible], M, 45, Black
- Adam, M, 34, Black
- Lewis, M, 14, 5'6" tall, Dark Mulatto
- Tom, M, 30, 5' 11" tall, Black
- Harry, M, 16, 5' 5" tall, Black
- Anne Somerville, F, 27, Black
- William Henry Somerville, M, 1, Black
- Tom, M, 46, 5' 10" tall, Dark Copper
- Ronsby, M, 19, 5' 8 1/2" tall, Dark Copper
- William, M, 15, 5' 2" tall, Mulatto
- Lewis, M 33, 5' 7" tall, Dark Copper
- Joe, M, 17, 5' 3"tall, Mulatto
- Ann Eliza, F, 17, 4' tall, Dark Copper
- Henrietta, female, 18 mos, 1' tall, Black
- Nancy, F 55, 5' 1 1/2", Black
- Ann, F, 18, 5'4", Black
- Infant, F, Mulatto
- Sally, F, 52, 5'4", Dark Copper
- Harriett, F, 33, 5'2", Dark Copper
- Rosey, F, 19, 5'2", Dark Copper
- Infant child, M, Dark Copper
- Alexander, M, 2, Black
- Sarah, F 23, 5', Black
- Henrietta, F, 4, Dark Copper
- Jane, F 26,5'1", Dark Copper
- Rachael, F, 6, Dark Copper
- Louisa, F, 6, Dark Copper
- Hannah, F, 16, 5'3", Dark Copper
- Ambrose, M, 7, 4', Dark Copper
- Sarah Jr, F, 14, 5'1", Dark Copper
- Mary, F, 32, 5'5", Dark Copper
- William, M, 6, 3'9", Dark Copper
- Eliza, F, 2, Dark Copper
- Simeon, M, 22, 5'6 1/2", Dark Copper
- Charles, M, 48, 5'8" Black
- Jack Sampson, M, 70, 5'2 1/2", Dark Copper
- Adam, M, 50, 5'6" Black
- Grace, F, 71, 5', Dark Copper
- John, M, 18, 5'1", Black
- Wm Henry, M, 12, 4' 8 1/2", Dark Copper
- John Wilkes, M, 12, 8 1/2", Dark Copper
- Ambrose, M, 56, 5' 3", Dark Copper
- Henry, M, 22, 5'4", Black
- [illegible]atter or _attson, M, 37, 5', Black
- Jess, M, 26, 5'7", Dark Copper
- Jim, M, 25, 5'7 1/2", Black
- Susan, F, 28, 5'2", Black
- Caroline, F 25, 5' 1/2", Black
- Mary Ann, F, 2, Dark Copper
- Infant, F, Black
- Jacob Somerville, M, 32, Black
- George H Somerville, M, 7, Yellow
- James B Somerville, M, 6 months old, Yellow
- Sally Somerville, F, 32, Black
- Ann Somerville, F, 5, Yellow
[Note: the Certificates of Freedom for persons named Somerville who were free born are in a separate blog post.]
30 May 1832 - slave Nancy Young, age 24, dark Mulatto, 4' 11", daughter of negro woman Betty who was sold to Joseph Harris. Freed by Joseph Harris by Bill of Sale from Henry V Somerville devisee of William C Somerville dated and recorded 3 Apr 1830 to Joseph Harris for a term of years.
6 Dec 1837 - slave Tracey, age 38, freed by last will and testament of William C Somerville
28 Nov 1839 - slave Sommerset Somerville, age 53, Yellow complexion, 5' 4". of Baltimore City, raised in St Mary's County. Freed by last will and testament of William C Somerville. Witness: Benjamin G Harris.
15 May 1840 - slave Betty, age 47, of Baltimore City, freed by last will and testament of William C Somerville. Raised in St Mary's County, MD. Witness: Benjamin G Harris.
15 May 1840 - slave Dianna Blakistone, age 52, Dark complexion, 5' 2". Scars: Has a long scar above the left eye, a large scar upon the shinbone of the left leg, has lost one of the front lower and upper teeth, has a bone breeder upon the middle finger of the left hand from which she has lost two bones. Freed by Joseph Harris by virtue of a Bill of Sale dated 3 Apr 1830 from Henry V Somerville devisee of William C Somerville.
5 Jan 1842 - free born Peter Somerville freed by last will and testament of William C Somerville
1 June 1844 - slave Jane Young, age 27, Yellow complexion, 4'1". Scars: two small moles near each other on the left side of her neck, has one other on the same side a little above the others and has a small mole on her temple near the corner of the right eye, has a scar on her right arm occasioned by a burn. Freed by Joseph Harris by Bill of Sale from Henry V Somerville devisee of William C Somerville to Joseph Harris on 3 Apr 1830. Witness: J Harris
1 June 1844 - slave Henry Blakistone, age 28, 5'3". [records refer to them as female; name might be Henny] Scars: Has a mole on her left cheek bone, has a small mole on the first and second joint of the forefinger of the left hand, has a small mole on the inside of her left hand on the first joint of her thumb, has a small scar on her right wrist. Freed by Joseph Harris by Bill of Sale from Henry V Somerville devisee of William C Somerville to Joseph Harris on 3 Apr 1830. Witness: J Harris
1 June 1844 - slave Robert Young, age 28, Dark complexion. Freed by a certain Henry V. Somerville, devisee of Wm. C. Somerville deceased by virtue of a bill of sale from Henry V. Somerville, devisee of William C. Somerville dated and recorded 3 April 1830 to Joseph Harris
1 June 1844 - slave Robert Young, age 29, Chestnut complexion, 5'5". Scars: Has a scar on his left arm about one and one quarter inches long from the cut of an axe, has a scar about one inch above the left eyebrow, two deep wrinkles extending across the forehead. Freed by Joseph Harris by Bill of Sale from Henry V Somerville devisee of William C Somerville to Joseph Harris on 3 Apr 1830. Witness: J Harris
23 Oct 1844 - slave Kizza Somerville, age 52, 5' 3". Scars: Has a scar on the back of her right hand occasioned by the bite of a dog, has a flesh mole on her back about the size of a five cent piece, has a dark spot on the inside of her right leg, has a spot on the inside of her right arm. Freed by Henry G S Key by virtue of Bill of Sale dated 2 Apr 1830 from Henry V Somerville devisee of William C Somerville, deceased. Witness: H G S Key
20 Mar 1845 - slave William Tinney, age 31, 5' 5". Scars: Has phelm on his right eye, has two scars on the under lip, has a scar on the left side of the forehead near the hair, has a scar on the left side of the head, has a scar on the right elbow occasioned by the shot of a gun, has a scar on the left thumb. Freed by Henry G S Key by virtue of Bill of Sale dated 2 Apr 1830 from Henry V Somerville devisee of William C Somerville to H G S Key.
15 Apr 1846 - slave Mary Eliza Somerville, age 15, 5' tall. Scars: Has a small mole on the palm of her right hand, two small scars on her forehead, has a small flesh mole on the left side of her nose and has several small spots under the out corner of her left eye. Turned 15 years of age on 15 Dec 1845 - manumitted and set free 9 Apr 1846 by deed of manumission recorded in St Mary's County court.
6 Feb 1847 - slave Celia Somerville, age 26, Chestnut complexion, 4' 11". Freed by Joseph Harris by virtue of a Bill of Sale from Henry V Somerville devisee of William C Somerville to Joseph Harris on 3 Apr 1830.
25 Aug 1848 - slave George Finny, age 28, Chestnut complexion, 5' 7". Scars: Has a scar on the back of his right hand, the little finger of the left hand a little crooked, several small moles near his left eye, has a scar on the inside of his left ankle. Freed by Henry G S Key by virtue of Bill of Sale from Henry V Somerville devisee of William C Somerville to H G S Key.
7 Nov 1849 - slave Maria Somerville, age 26, Bright complexion, 5'7". Scars: Has a small dark spot near the corner of the right eye, scar on finger next to thumb on right hand occasioned by a burn. Freed by Mary Watts. Manumitted by virtue of a Bill of Sale.
7 Nov 1849 - slave Thomas R Somerville, age 3, Dark copper complexion, 2' 11". Scar on right knee bone. Freed by Mary Watts. Manumitted by virtue of a Bill of Sale.
7 Nov 1849 - slave Sarah Ann Somerville, age 6, Bright complexion, 3' 5". Scar on calf of right leg occasioned by a burn. Freed by Mary Watts. Manumitted by virtue of a Bill of Sale.
15 Oct 1850 - free born Sally Somerville freed by last will and testament of William C Somerville
8 Dec 1853 - slave John Young, age 30, Bright complexion, 5' 10". Scars: Has three scars on his left leg just below his knee, has a scar on the left side of his head, has a scar on the second finger of his right hand just across the joint, has lost one of his front teeth. Freed by Henry G S Key by virtue of Bill of Sale from Henry V Somerville devisee of William C Somerville to H G S Key dated 2 Apr 1830.
2 June 1858 - free born Henny Somerville freed by last will and testament of William C Somerville
19 Oct 1860 - slave or FPOC Lucy Somerville, age 55, Dark copper complexion, 5' 3". Scars: Has a scar just under the right eye, lost all her teeth except two upper front and ten lower front teeth. At the age of 11 Lucy was left free when she arrived at the age of 33 under the last will and testament of Rebecca Watts made 16 Jan 1816. Witness: George R Clocker
Wilmer 40
Agnes 33
Emma 10
Charles
B J Porter 39 bMS Overseer
W S Cole 34 bMS Overseer
2 Slaves: M 30, M 18
Long story involving Ben, FPOC, feeding his horse from Shields corn supply and not working. Clear that Shields doesn't live here and Marshall runs the place for him. Maybe his father's old place: Fish Pond Plantation. But this is G B Shields, yet Wilmer is involved. GB is in Europe.
Charles Tiernan Somerville, son of Henry V Somerville and Rebecca Tiernan, was born 8 Nov 1829 and died 23 Jul 1858 both in Maryland.
4 Slaves: F 17 Mulatto, M 2 Mulatto, F 19 Mulatto, F 16 Mulatto
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