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bers who cited the great difficulty Congress would
have selecting a replacement, since only seven
states were then represented. Hanson decided to
remain as president contingent upon his reelection
as a delegate by the Maryland Assembly. On No-
vember 28, 1781, Maryland returned him as one of
her four delegates, and he continued as president
of Congress until November 4, 1782. STANDS ON
PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES: as part of the Maryland
congressional delegation he signed the Articles of
Confederation in 1781, causing their adoption and
closing a prolonged debate over the dispositon of
western lands that had at last been resolved to
Maryland's satisfaction. WEALTH DURING LIFE-
TIME. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 1,312 acres in
Charles County. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND
BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: by 1769
Hanson had sold all of his land in Charles County
and moved to Frederick County. During the next
ten years he purchased 223 acres in Frederick
County, took two 14-year leases on another 255
acres there, purchased 1 lot in Georgetown, Fred-
erick County (later Montgomery County), and at
least 2 lots in Frederick Town. In 1779 he pur-
chased part of a tract adjoining Frederick Town
for £4,000 current money, and divided it into lots,
possibly totaling 10 lots. Hanson sold 6 of these
lots for £4,008 current money between 1780 and
1781. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: on November 15,
1783, at the home of his nephew, Thomas Hanson,
at Oxon Hill, Prince George's County; buried at
Oxon Hill, Prince George's County. PERSONAL
PROPERTY: requested no appraisal of his estate; 11
slaves were mentioned in his will. LAND: probably
owned 223 acres and leased 255 acres, all in Fred-
erick County, plus at least 6 lots in Frederick
Town, Frederick County, and 1 lot in George-
town, Montgomery County.
HANSON, ROBERT (ca. 1680-1748). BORN: ca.
1680 in Port Tobacco Hundred, Charles County;
eldest son. NATIVE: at least second generation. RE-
SIDED in Charles County. FAMILY BACKGROUND.
FATHER: John Hanson (?-1714), of Charles
County; possibly an immigrant; planter. MOTHER:
Mary, daughter of Thomas Hussey, of Charles
County. BROTHERS: John (ca. 1681-1754), who
married Elizabeth Hussey, a widow; Benjamin (?-
1719); and Samuel Hanson (ca. 1685-1740). SIS-
TERS: Mary, who married first, Rev. William Ma-
conchie (1710-1742), and second, Theophilus
Swift; Anne (1692-?); and Sarah. MARRIED first,
by 1705 Benedicta. MARRIED second, ca. 1714
Mary (1692-1718), daughter of Philip Hoskins
(ca. 1650-1718). Her brothers were William
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(1690-1727); Philip, Jr. (1696-?); Oswald (1699-
1720); Bennett (1701-?); and Ballard (1703-?).
Her sisters were Benedicta (1679-1685); Jane
(1681-?); Benedicta (1685-?); Elizabeth (1687-?);
Margaret (1696-?); Mary Ann; and Martha (ca.
1705-?), who married Thomas Stone (1677-1727).
MARRIED third, ca. 1720/21 Dorothy, widow of
John Parry (?-171 9); daughter of Cornelius White.
MARRIED fourth, ca. 1727 Violetta, widow of Wil-
liam Hoskins (1690-1727); daughter of Francis
Harrison. MARRIED fifth, on April 14, 1747, Anne,
widow of John Maconchie. CHILDREN. SONS: Ro-
bert (?-1734); William (ca. 1717-1766), who mar-
ried Mary, daughter of Thomas Stone (1677-1727);
Samuel (1705-1749), who married Mary, daughter
of John Fendall (1674-1734); Benjamin; and Ro-
bert (?-1770). STEPSONS: Thomas Parry (Perry);
William Maconchie; and Alexander Maconchie.
DAUGHTERS: Dorothy (1721-1752), who married
Richard Harrison (?-1780); Mary, who married
Daniel Jenifer (?-1795); Sarah, who married Ge-
rard Fowke; and Violetta (?-1786). STEPDAUGH-
TERS: Elizabeth Hoskins (1721-1773), who mar-
ried Walter Hanson (1711/12-1794); Mary
Hoskins, who married first, John Cunningham,
and second, Mungo Muschett. PRIVATE CAREER.
EDUCATION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION:
Protestant. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: probably a
planter. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE:
Lower House, Charles County, 1719-1721/22
(Aggrievances 1), 1728-1731 (Elections 1-5),
1732-1734 (Elections 1-Cv), 1734/35-1737 (Elec-
tions 1, Cv, 2-4), 1738 (Elections; Arms and Am-
munition), 1739-1741 (Elections Cv-3; Arms and
Ammunition Cv-3). OTHER PROVINCIAL OFFICE:
justice, Provincial Court, commissioned 1741
(quorum, 1741). LOCAL OFFICES: sheriff, Charles
County, commissioned 1715; justice, Charles
County, at least by 1718-1748 (quorum, at least
by 1718-1748); justice, Court of Oyer and Ter-
miner and Gaol Delivery, Charles County, com-
missioned 1718, 1720, 1731, 1733, 1743, and 1744;
clerk, Port Tobacco Parish Vestry, Charles
County, in office 1722. JURY SERVICE: jury mem-
ber, Charles County Court, served in 1712. MILI-
TARY SERVICE: major, 1730; called "colonel,"
1738. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. LAND AT
FIRST ELECTION: at least 1,649 acres in Charles
County (including at least 100 acres inherited
from his father and 609 acres obtained through his
second marriage). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN
LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH:
purchased an additional 1,254 acres in Charles
County, plus 1 lot in Chandlertown, Charles
County, 1720-1746; sold 809 acres, 1720-1746;
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