Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)
Mary Smith
MSA SC 5496-50848
War of 1812 Refugee, Calvert County, Maryland
Biography:
Mary
Smith was an enslaved woman who was owned by Elizabeth Ballard of
Calvert County, Maryland. She had four siblings Adam Green, Sarah
Stewart, Eve Ford and Phillis Green, who were all owned by Elizabeth
Ballard. Mary was the wife of Ben Smith an enslaved man who was owned
by Richard T. Hall. Mary and Ben had a daughter Sophia Smith who was
also owned by Ballard.
America went to war with Great
Britain in 1812. However, the war didn't come to Maryland until the
following year. As a result of the British placing a blockade on
American waterways, many slaves in Maryland were able to flee from
their homes. In 1814 British Admiral Alexander Cochrane issued a
proclamation offering immediate emancipation to any person wanting to
take up arms with the British military or relocate to a British
territory. More than 700 slaves would escaped during this time. In June
of 1814, Mary Smith escaped with her family to British ships lying in
the Patuxent River at Lower Marlboro. Mary's brother Adam Green and her
brother in law Charles Stewart came to the home of Elizabeth Ballard
accompanied by British soldiers to rescue their family members. Mary
carried her young daughter Sophia with her to the British Ships. Her
husband Ben also escaped from his master during this time. The war
ended when the Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814.
After
the war, Maryland slaveholders filed claims seeking compensation for
the loss of their property, including slaves, tobacco, livestock, and
household items. A commission was formed through the Department of
State to handle the
claims. It was decided by the commission that property owners in
Maryland and Virginia would receive $280 for each slave that was lost
to the British. Levin W. Ballard filed a claim with the Department of
State as acting executor of his mother Elizabeth Ballard. The
commission awarded Elizabeth Ballard $3,640 for the loss of thirteen
slaves.
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