Tag Archives: Addison Stewart

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”.

Identified children of Dora and Mary Stewart from the 1867 Slave Statistics, 1870 & 1880 Census, and Index of Marriage Licenses, Prince George’s County, Maryland 1777-1886

Addison Stewart is the second oldest son of Dora and Mary Stewart. Addison was enslaved by the Sasscers, while his wife and son were living elsewhere. Their marriage was recognized in 1870; the marriage license lists his wife as Caroline Stewart, leaving ambiguity as to what her maiden name was. The PG Slave statistics do not list a Caroline Stewart nor a Nathan Stewart

Birth years calculated from the 1870 Census

In 1870, Addison and his family are living with the other Stewarts, working the Sasscer land. Addison is a farm hand while Caroline, his wife, is listed as “keeping house”. Unlike the other wives of the Stewart family, who are listed as servants. This suggests the possibility that Caroline provided child care while the others worked in the fields and the house. In 1880, Addison is still working the land, though it appears he moved away from the Sasscer lands to an estate closer to the Patuxent River. He is listed in the census as living near Richard B. B. Chew who held lands along the river. Addison is neighbored with another person identified as being enslaved by the Sasscers, Tom Beall.

By 1880, Addison has become injured, though the extents of his injuries are unclear. The census taker marked that he was “maimed, crippled or bedridden” while also marking his occupation as “farm hand”. This suggests that despite the injury, Addison still worked the fields; his wife Caroline, is still listed as “keeping house”. In the 1890s, Addison is listed as an “out-pensioner” in the Prince George’s Enquirer and Marlboro Advertiser; an “out-pensioner” received direct payment support from the County, as opposed to being housed in the county poor-house. They were typically granted to individuals deemed “too old, crippled or young to work”. More information about this can be found on the Maryland State Archives page. This suggests that Addison’s injury prevented him from working over time. He died in 1904 from a cerebral hemorrhage, his occupation still listed as a “Farm Hand”.

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”.

Dora Stewart and John Henry 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”.…

Dora Stewart and John Henry 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”.

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.

Identified children of Dora and Mary Stewart from the 1867 Slave Statistics, 1870 & 1880 Census, and Index of Marriage Licenses, Prince George’s County, Maryland 1777-1886

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.

Family recreated based on information provided in 1900-1910 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

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”.