This blog post is one of a series that explores the lives of the people enslaved by the Sasscer family, who lived south of Upper Marlboro in Prince George’s County, MD. The primary estate for the family was named Pleasant Hills and additional posts about the people can be found under the category “Pleasant Hills”.
Historic American Buildings Survey, Creator, and Catherine C Lavoie, Boucher, Jack E, photographer. Pleasant Hills,Croom Station Road, Upper Marlboro, Prince George’s County, MD. Prince George’s County Maryland Upper Marlboro, 1933. Documentation Compiled After. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/md1231/.
Dora Stewart was 70 years old when he was emancipated in 1864 by the Maryland Constitution. He had been enslaved by the Sasscer family since at least 1821 when he was listed in the inventory for William Sasscer’s estate, where he was valued at $500. His inferred wife, Mary and his children were also enslaved by the Sasscer family. In the 1870 census, Dora and many of his family and those enslaved by the Sasscer’s were still living on the lands of Pleasant Hills. Dora’s occupation was recorded as a servant, suggesting that he continued to work for the Sasscer family, cleaning and repairing their dwelling plantation. His wife, Mary, is not listed in the census records, which suggests she died before 1870 and Dora is not listed in the 1880 census which suggests he died between 1870 and 1880.
John Henry Stewart & Harriet Ann Thomas
John Henry is the oldest identified son of Dora Stewart. He and his wife, Harriet Ann Thomas, lived with Dora and their two daughters on the Sasscer land after emancipation.
Based on the Slave Statistics, Harriet was most likely enslaved by the estate of Mary M. Warring. Her estate was managed by John H. Waring after her death in the 1850s.
John Henry continued to work the land, while both Ann and Dora worked as servants. In both census, he listed near the residence of Henrietta (Sasscer) Hill, Zadock’ daughter and her husband, William I Hill. By 1900, his wife, Harriet is listed as a widow in the census. Harriet Ann Stewart, Dora’s daughter-in-law, died in 1907 and her death certificate was completed by her son-in-law who listed her father as Stephen Thomas. They had seven children, six of which have been identified in the census records and four of which died prior to the 1900 census.
The 1900 & 1910 census recorded “Number of Years married” and the 1900 Census recorded “Mother of how many children” and “Number of children still living”
additional families from Pleasant Hills
Doradie Stewart and Rebecca Caroline Deville
This blog post is one of a series that explores the lives of the people enslaved by the Sasscer family, who lived south of Upper Marlboro in Prince George’s County, MD. The primary estate for the family was named Pleasant Hills and additional posts about the people can be found under the category “Pleasant Hills”.…
Ariana Stewart and Pinkney Brown
This blog post is one of a series that explores the lives of the people enslaved by the Sasscer family, who lived south of Upper Marlboro in Prince George’s County, MD. The primary estate for the family was named Pleasant Hills and additional posts about the people can be found under the category “Pleasant Hills”.
Addison Stewart and Caroline Stewart
This blog post is one of a series that explores the lives of the people enslaved by the Sasscer family, who lived south of Upper Marlboro in Prince George’s County, MD. The primary estate for the family was named Pleasant Hills and additional posts about the people can be found under the category “Pleasant Hills”.
stories of Then 