Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Sampson Gross
MSA SC 5496-51068
War of 1812 Refugee, Calvert County, Maryland

Biography:

Sampson Gross was the son of Daniel and Betty Gross. Sampson and his parents were the enslaved property of John Wood of Calvert County, Maryland. Sampson was the oldest child of Daniel and Betty and had two siblings, Gabe and London. In the summer of 1814, three armed men from the British fleet came to the home of John Wood where Sampson Gross was being hidden. The British soldiers demanded that Wood's slaves be turned over and swore that "if they were not delivered to them immediately they would blow the house to hell in a moment." Sampson, Daniel, Bet, London, and Gabe were carried away and taken aboard a barge which carried the family to the British fleet lying in the Patuxent River. At this time Sampson was only 4 years of age. Sampson Gross' and his family were taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia where they settled. 

Following the war, slave owners from Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and Louisiana submitted claims to the Department of State to recieve compensation for the loss of their property. Maryland claims were for enslaved people, destroyed property, tobacco, livestock, and household items. John Wood filed a claim in 1828 to be compensated for the loss of his slaves. Maryland slave owners were paid $280 per slave that they lost to the British during the War of 1812. John Wood received $1400 for the loss of his five slaves. 


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