Known Information
The 1910-1920 Census lists the place of residence for George and Mary Wedge as near Upper Marlboro, MD. Their death certificates list their place of residence as Browns, MD
Sources
1930 Census
1930; Census Place: Mellwood, Prince George, Maryland; Page: 2B | ancestry.com
Benjamin Wedge was born in 1888; he was one of the younger sons of George and Mary Elizabeth Wedge. In 1910, he is recorded living in his parents’ household, age 22 and already widowed. He has his own young son, that he named after himself, age 1. By 1920, he has remarried; He, his wife, Julia, and his son, Benjamin are living with his parents. Both the 1910 and the 1920 household are located near Upper Marlboro, MD.
In 1925, Benjamin was the informant for his mother’s death certificate. The place of residence was lists as Browns, MD. Browns is a small farming town northeast of Upper Marlboro and its own distinct community from Upper Marlboro. George Wedge, who died in 1924, died as a result of a kick to the head by a horse.
In 1930, Ben is in Browns Md. The size of the community appears to be small as the census enumerator specifically wrote the name of town next to the entries. Five families are listed on page 1B; four families are listed on page 2A and two on page 2B, for a total of 11 families. Robert Brown owns land worth $10,000 and William Marr owns land worth $5,000. Eight of the families rented their farms. Wedge’s monthly rent was $400, which when compared to the other Black tenant farmers suggested he worked a larger parcel of land, as some of the families’ rent were $100 and 150. It was still small compared to the white tenant farmers whose rent was $3,000 and $1500.
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