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A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 485   View pdf image (33K)
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BIOGRAPHIES JEN

size of estate unknown. LAND: at least 1,746 acres,
and probably as much as 2,286 acres, plus 1 lot
in Port Tobacco, all in Charles County.

JENIFER (JENNIFER), DANIEL OF ST.
THOMAS (1723-1790). BORN: in 1723 in Charles
County. NATIVE: fourth generation. RESIDED: at
"Retreat," his home near Port Tobacco in Charles
County; Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, by
1766; in 1783 he was living in Annapolis on Lot
H; from ca. 1784 until his death he resided on his
800- acre plantation "Stepney" near the South
River, four miles from Annapolis. FAMILY BACK-
GROUND. FATHER: Dr. Daniel Jenifer (?-ca. 1729),
chirurgeon, of Charles County, the son of Daniel
of St. Thomas Jenifer (1672-1730), Gent., of St.
Mary's County. STEPFATHERS: John Theobalds;
Robert Whythill. MOTHER: Elizabeth Mason,
widow of John Rogers (?-1717), daughter of Robert
Mason (1653-1700) of St. Mary's County and wife
Susanna (?-ca. 1716). UNCLE: Matthew Mason (ca.
1689-ca. 1728/29). BROTHER: Daniel Jenifer (by
1729-1795). HALF BROTHERS: Richard Rogers;
John Rogers; and Rockham Rogers. SISTERS: Betty
(?-1791), who married by 1776 John Eden (ca.
1728-1775); Elizabeth (?-by 1778), who married
Col. David Stone (1709-1773); Ann, who mar-
ried Josias Adams; and Mary, who married by
1734 Robert Christie of London, England. NEPH-
EWS John Hoskins Stone (1750-1804); Michael
Jenifer Stone (1747-1812); and Thomas Stone
(1743-1787). OTHER KINSHIP: stepgrandmother,
Elizabeth Ashcom (?-ca. 1734), daughter of Na-
thaniel Ashcom of Calvert County; great-grand-
father, Daniel Jenifer (ca. 1637-ca. 1692); great-
uncles, John Osborne (?-1687) and William Whit-
tington (ca. 1650-1720). MARRIED never. CHIL-
DREN. Died without progeny. PRIVATE CAREER.
EDUCATION: Jenifer bequeathed all of his books
in French to his friend, James Madison, and the
rest of his library to his nephew, Michael Jenifer
Stone (1747-1812). RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: An-
glican, All Hallow's Parish, Anne Arundel County.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., by 1745;
Esq., by 1765; Hon., by 1790; lottery manager in
Annapolis, 1763. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: planter;
merchant by 1762. Jenifer held one share, valued
at £50.0.0 current money, and was a joint partner
with Robert J. Hood and his nephew Frederick
Stone in the firm of Hood, Stone & Company.
This share was later transferred to his niece Cath-
erine Stone Scott. Periodically during the 1760s
and 1770s Jenifer sold slaves with John Ridout

(1723-1797) and indentured servants with Rob-
ert Christie. He also advertised his own slaves for
hire and sale. In 1766 he sold salt from his ship
Jenifer at Annapolis. In 1784 he purchased one-
quarter share of the Baltimore Iron Works, prob-
ably for investment purposes only. PUBLIC CA-
REER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House,

Charles County, 1756-1757 (elected to the 4th
session of the 1754-1757 Assembly to fill va-
cancy; Bills of Credit 5); Upper House, 1771,1773-
1774 (Claims 1, Cv, 2, 3); Senate, Western Shore,
Term of 1776-1781: 1777 (president), 1777-1778
(president), 1778-1779 (president), 1779-1780
(president during the 1st and 2nd sessions; at-
tending Congress at beginning of the 3rd session;
reelected president on June 15, 1780), 1780-1781
(president during the 1st session; resigned as pres-
ident on January 29, 1781, because of illness).

OTHER PROVINCIAL/STATE OFFICES: appointed tO

a commission to settle the boundary dispute with
Pennsylvania and Delaware, which resulted in the
Mason-Dixon boundary settlement, 1760; justice.
Provincial Court, 1766-1773; (quorum, 1773);
appointed justice, Assize Court, Eastern Shore,
August 1767 and March 1768; appointed justice,
Assize Court, Western Shore, October 1768; ap-
pointed Rent Roll Keeper of the Western Shore,
March 1768; commissioner to review decree of
the commissary general, 1771, 1772; Council, 1771-
1776 (qualified on September 23, 1771); ap-
pointed chief agent escheater and receiver gen-
eral of rents, September 9, 1771; Councils of Safety,
Western Shore, 1st, 1775 (president), 2nd, 1776
(president), 3rd, 1776, 4th, 1776 (president), 5th,
1776-1777 (president); unsuccessful candidate for
governor of Maryland, 1782, 1785; served on the
joint commission of Maryland and Virginia to
settle the question of use and navigation of the
Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River, and the
Pocomoke River, with an agreement being reached
on March 28, 1785; appointed intendant of the
revenue, February 1, 1782, reappointed 1783-
1785; appointed agent for special purposes, April
20, 1786-resigned November 7, 1788 (the "spe-
cial purposes" were: a. to finish the transactions
and sales of the late intendant and commissioner
of confiscated British property; b. to treat with
the Indians for the purchase of their lands in Dor-
chester County; c. to procure final settlement on
other liquidated securities of the United States
by purchase or on contract by certain powers of
the governor and Council). LOCAL OFFICES: jus-
tice, Charles County, 1749-1764; appointed jus-

485



 

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A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 485   View pdf image (33K)
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