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JOHNS, RICHARD (1649-1717). BORN: in 1649,
probably in either Wales or Bristol, England. IM-
MIGRATED: in 1669, as a free adult. RESIDED: at
"Angelica," Calvert County. MARRIED in 1676
Elizabeth (?-1715/16), widow of Thomas Spar-
row (?-1674), daughter of Hugh Kensey and wife
Margaret. CHILDREN. SONS: Abraham (1677-1707),
who married Margaret (?-1733), daughter of
Francis Hutchins (?-1698); Aquila (1679-1682);
Aquila (1684/85-1709/10), who married in 1704,
Mary Hosier (?-1762); Richard (1687-1719), who
married Priscilla (1690-?), daughter of Francis
Hutchins (?-1698); Kensey (1689-1729), who
married Elizabeth Chew (?-1726/27); and Isaac
(1692-1733/34), who married first, Ann Gallo-
way (?-1728), and second, Elizabeth. DAUGH-
TERS: Priscilla (1681/82-1725), who married
Robert Roberts (?-1750); Margaret (1683-1 7497
50), who married Gerard Hopkins; and Elizabeth
(1694-?), who married Henry Troth. PRIVATE CA-
REER. EDUCATION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIA-
TION: Quaker; convinced by George Fox in 1671;
leading figure in the Quaker community on the
Western Shore; corresponded frequently with
Friends in England; visited England in 1697 to
lobby against the establishment of the Anglican
church in Maryland. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE:
planter; merchant. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE
SERVICE. Lower House, Calvert County, 1694
(dismissed from the 1st session of the 1694-1697
Assembly because, as a Quaker, he was unable
to subscribe to the required oaths). STANDS ON
PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES: refused to take sides dur-
ing the Revolution of 1689 when the Associators
appealed to him to quell the opposition in Calvert
and Anne Arundel counties: strongly opposed
establishment of the Anglican church in Mary-
land. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. LAND AT FIRST
ELECTION: at least 1,387 acres in Calvert and Bal-
timore counties (patented in 1678 and 1685); ac-
quired additional land by purchase; gave 1,412
acres to sons and son-in-law before his death.
WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: on December 16, 1717,
in Calvert County. PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV,
at least £2,147.12.11 (including 44 slaves, plate
valued at £45.1.6. books). LAND: 2,361 acres in
Calvert and Talbot counties.
JOHNS, RICHARD (1748-1796). BORN: on No-
vember 14, 1748, in Calvert County; youngest
son. NATIVE, fourth generation. RESIDED: in Cal-
vert County; Talbot County by 1771 (lived in Dis-
trict 2 by 1783). FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER:
Benjamin Johns (1713/14-1750) of Calvert County,
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son of Kensey Johns (1689-1729) and wife Eliz-
abeth Chew (?-1726/27). MOTHER: Rachel (1723-
1748), daughter of George Harris (?-1738) of
Calvert County and wife Anna (?-1737/38).
BROTHERS: Kensey (1744-?); Benjamin (1746-
1791), a Talbot County cabinetmaker. FIRST
COUSIN: Elizabeth Johns, who married James
Tilghman (1743-1809). OTHER KINSHIP: Rich-
ard's great-grandfather was Richard Johns (1649-
1717). MARRIED first, by 1773, Mary, daughter of
Peter Comerford (?-1773) of Talbot County. Her
brothers were Henry; Thomas. Her sisters were
Rebecca, who married John Sherwood; Sarah,
who married (first name unknown) Loveday; and
Lucretia. MARRIED second, Margaret (?-by 1806).
CHILDREN. SON: Benjamin Franklin (1778-1797),
who left Maryland for Kentucky a few months
before his death. PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION:
literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Birthright
Quaker; both his mother's and father's families
were members of the Clifts Monthly Meeting,
Calvert County. Richard, however, swore the oath
of fidelity in 1778 and apparently allied himself
with the Anglicans of Talbot County. There is no
indication of his affiliation with the Quakers as
an adult. SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Esq.,
by 1771. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: planter, mer-
chant; co-owner with Edward Parkinson of a 30-
ton Sloop, 1786. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE
SERVICE: Lower House, Talbot County, 1779-
1780 (resigned during the 3rd session). LOCAL
OFFICES: justice, Talbot County, 1777-at least
1780, 1782-1789, 1795; justice, Orphans' Court,
Talbot County, 1779-at least 1780, 1782-1789;
agent to purchase provisions, Talbot County, ap-
pointed March 1779; St. Peter's Parish Vestry,
Talbot County, elected 1782, 1783; sheriff, Talbot
County, 1791-1794. MILITARY SERVICE: 1st lieu-
tenant, Hand in Hand Company, 4th Battalion,
Talbot County Militia, commissioned April 9, 1778;
captain, 4th Battalion, Talbot County Militia,
commissioned November 4, 1782. WEALTH DUR-
ING LIFETIME. PERSONAL PROPERTY: assessed value
£733.5.0, including 17 slaves and 21 oz. plate,
1783; 19 slaves, 1790. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION:
probably 250 acres in Talbot County (one-half of
a 500-acre tract purchased with Mowell Powell
in 1771; by first election probably had sold ail of
the 848 acres in Calvert County that he had in-
herited from his father). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH:
purchased 69 acres in 1783, 149 acres in 1787, and
180 acres by 17%, all in Talbot County; mort-
gaged ca. 200 acres in Talbot County, 1789.
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