William Hockton alias William Whiddenton
MSA SC 5496-50937
War of 1812 Refugee, Calvert County, Maryland
Biography:
William Hockton alias William Whiddenton, was an enslaved man
who was owned by William Whittington of Calvert County. He was the son
of Judy Hoxton an enslaved woman. In 1814, William Hockton escaped from
Whittington's farm in Friendship, Maryland. When he left he did not let
his mother know he was going off with the British. At the time of his
escape Hockton was 21 years of age and valued at $500. He was carried
by British vessels to Nova Scotia. Upon his arrival, Hockton was in
very poor health. However, he was taken in by a man named Dr. Boggs,
who took him into his service and nursed him back to health. In
1816, Hockton wrote a letter to his mother, which was addressed to
Annapolis cabinet maker, Washington G. Tuck. The letter was intercepted
by his former master and later used as evidence in a claim for
indemnity under the Treaty of Ghent.
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