Ann E. Johnson (b. 1755 - d. 1814)
MSA SC 5496-050748
War of 1812 Claimant, Prince George's County, Maryland, 1828

Biography:

    Ann Eilbeck Mason was born at a house in Dogue's Neck, Virginia on January 13, 1755 to George Mason of VA and his wife Ann Eilbeck of Charles County, MD.¹ Ann also affectionately known as Nancy, grew up at the Mason family home, Gunston Hall, in Mason Neck, Fairfax County, VA.² At a young age Ann received a slave woman Penny from her grandfather William Eilbeck.³ After the death of her mother Ann Mason in 1773, Nancy became mistress at Gunston Hall.⁴ In this capacity she acted as hostess to visitors at Gunston Hall.

She was courted by Rinaldo Johnson, of Baltimore, MD, who was a planter and lawyer. Rinaldo Johnson was the son of Thomas Johnson and Ann Riston of Pleasant Grove.⁵ Johnson, when he met Nancy, was heavily in debt to the state of Maryland.⁶ Her father George Mason being aware of this drafted a marriage contract, that would protect the real and personal property of his daughter Ann.⁷ Rinaldo Johnson, signed the contract agreeing that he would not meddle with or hold title to any of Ann's possessions that she held prior to their marriage.⁸ Ann Mason married Rinaldo Johnson of Baltimore, MD on February 4, 1789 in Prince George's County.⁹ The day of the wedding George Mason drafted another contract to protect the seventeen slaves that would be a part of the dowry that came with his daughter.¹⁰ The slaves that belonged to Ann in this contract were Lizzy, Nan, Bess, Frank, Lizzy, Dick, Chloe, Nancy, Margaret, Priss, Delia, Penny, Arecajah, Nace, Kate, William, and Sarah.¹¹ Ann and Rinaldo Johnson  resided in Aquasco, Prince George's County and had three children, Thomas, Ann, and Sarah.¹²

    When Ann Johnson's father, George Mason, died in 1792, he bequeathed to her certain slaves that he owned.¹³ George Mason who was always conflicted on the morality of slavery still continued to hold them in bondage until his death.¹⁴ Ann's husband became legally entitled to the slaves she received from the will because of their marriage. One of the slaves that Ann recieved through her fathers will was Negro Nell, who would eventually be sold because it was unclear of her enslaved status according to George Mason's will regarding Ann and Rinaldo Johnson's ownership.¹⁵ Nell was a valuable slave at Gunston Hall who was a favored midwife in the community surrounding the plantation.¹⁶ Following the sale of Negro Nell, Rinaldo Johnson, was to procure another slave woman of the same age for use by his wife Ann and their daughter, also named Ann Eilbeck Mason Johnson.¹⁷ Ann Johnson and her daughter recieved from Rinaldo a slave woman, Henna and her increase, that was already in his possession for their use.¹⁸ Henna had a daughter Betty age 4 and a son Bob age 9 months at the time she was given to Nancy and Ann Johnson.¹⁹

    By 1813, British forces who were at war with America placed a blockade on Maryland waterways.²⁰ Admiral Alexander Cochrane issued a proclamation in April of 1814 offering immediate emancipation to any person wishing to take up arms against American forces or who wished to resettle in a British territory.²¹ In August 1814, British troops on their return from Washington, landed at the house of Ann E. Johnson, and plundered her property.²² They took a silver plate and three enslaved men, Charles, Bill, and Barnett. Tobacco that belonged to her deceased husband Rinaldo was also confiscated by the British.²³ 

    Ann Eilbeck Mason Johnson died in 1814.²⁴ Years after the death of Ann E. Johnson, her heirs filed a claim for losses sustained during the War of 1812.²⁵ Although Ann's husband Rinaldo Johnson was deceased at the time the war broke out, his name was still tied to certain property such as tobacco which he kept at Magruders Ferry warehouse.²⁶ The heirs of Ann E. and Rinaldo Johnson filed a claim in 1828 for the loss of tobacco, slaves, and a silver plate.²⁷ The heirs were compensated $280 for each of the three slaves that escaped from Ann E. Johnson during the war of 1812.²⁸

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