John Young
MSA SC 5496-51005
War of 1812 Refugee, St. Mary's County, Maryland, 1814
Biography:
John Young lived on Sotterley Plantation in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, as one of John R. Plater’s slaves. At age 14, John escaped from Sotterley between July 22 and July 25, 1814 by boarding the Frigate Severn in the Patuxent River. John was one of 49 slaves to escape from Sotterley during the war of 1812 and one of 44 slaves to escape via the Frigate Severn. Eight other slaves that escaped Sotterley share his surname including Catherine S. Young, Crowley Young, Daniel Young, Henry Young, Mary Ann Young, Mary (Molly)Young, and Prince Young, who all escaped aboard the Severn, and Peregrine Young, who escaped aboard the Loire.1
1. Claim of John Rousby Plater, St. Mary's County,
Case #310, Case Files Ca. 1814-28, 3.5 ft., entry 190, Record Group 76,
National Archives, College Park.
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