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A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 705   View pdf image (33K)
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BIOGRAPHIES ROU

2; Security and Defense 2; absent from the 3rd
to 5th sessions while in England). OTHER PRO-
VINCIAL OFFICE: collector of Patuxent, 1676-1684.
LOCAL OFFICE: sheriff, Calvert County, 1669-1674.

STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES: Strong Whig

sentiments in the 1680s. His conflicts with the
proprietor began by 1678/79. By 1681, Baltimore
termed Rousby an "insolvent and knavish col-
lector" and sought his removal from office. His
intensified opposition culminated in Rousby's
murder by George Talbot (?-?), president of the
Council, and said to be a cousin of Lord Balti-
more. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. LAND AT FIRST

ELECTION: ca. 1,950 acres in Kent, St. Mary's
(later became Prince George's), and Calvert (later
became St. Mary's) counties (acquired 300 acres
through marriage, 1,650 acres by patent). SIG-
NIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELEC-
TION AND DEATH: patented 500 acres in Kent (now
Queen Anne's) County in 1679; purchased 500
acres in Somerset County in 1681. WEALTH AT
DEATH. DIED: on October 31, 1684, on board His
Majesty's ketch, the Quaker, having been fatally
stabbed during an argument with George Talbot
(?-?). He was buried at his plantation, "Susque-
hana Point," in Calvert (later became St. Mary's)
County. PERSONAL PROPERTY: His estate was in-
cluded in the inventory of his brother John Rousby
(?-1685/86), with "noe distinction made" be-
tween the assets of the two. LAND: 2,950 acres in
St. Mary's (later became Prince George's), Kent
(later became Queen Anne's), Kent, Somerset,
and Calvert (later became St. Mary's) counties.

ROUSBY, JOHN (?-1685/86). BORN: in England;
younger son. IMMIGRATED: probably by 1666, as
a free adult with his brother. RESIDED: in Calvert
County; in Talbot County by 1679; probably re-
turned to Calvert (later became St. Mary's) County
after the death of his brother Christopher Rousby
(?-1684) on October 31, 1684. FAMILY BACK-
GROUND. BROTHERS: Christopher Rousby (?-1684);
William, a London grocer. MARRIED by October
1677 Barbara (?-by 1697), daughter of Henry
Morgan (ca. 1616-1663) and stepdaughter of Jon-
athan Sybray (?-1684). Her sister was Frances
(?-1698), who married Peter Sayer (Sawyer).
Barbara subsequently married Richard Smith (?-
1714), son of Richard Smith (?-ca. 1690). CHIL-
DREN. SON: John Rousby (1685-1744). DAUGH-
TERS: Gertrude; Elizabeth (1682-1740), who
married Richard Bennett (1667-1749), son of
Richard Bennett (ca. 1639-1667). PRIVATE CA-
REER. EDUCATION: literate, perhaps attended one

of the Inns of Court. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION.
Protestant. SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Mr.,
by 1681; Gent., by his death. OCCUPATIONAL
PROFILE: attorney, admitted to the Provincial
Court, 1670, Talbot County Court, 1679; factor
to Frances Allen of Kingston upon Hull, 1675/
76; planter. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERV-
ICE: Lower House, Talbot County, 1681-1682
(elected to the 3rd session of the 1676-1682 As-
sembly; Accounts 4), 1682-1684 (Trade 1,2; Laws

3). OTHER PROVINCIAL OFFICE: clerk, Upper

House, 1671. MILITARY SERVICE: colonel, by 1671.
STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES: enjoyed pro-
prietary favor until he and his brother increas-
ingly opposed Lord Baltimore's government in
the late 1670s and early 1680s. WEALTH DURING

LIFETIME. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 2,270 acres

in Talbot and Kent counties (1,470 acres acquired
through marriage; 800 acres by patent in Talbot
(now Queen Anne's) County in 1679). SIGNIFI-
CANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELEC-
TION AND DEATH: inherited 1,300 acres from his
brother in Somerset, Talbot (later became Queen
Anne's), and Calvert (later became St. Mary's)
counties, 1684. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: on Feb-
ruary 1, 1685/86, upon his return from England
aboard the ship Baltimore as it arrived at the
mouth of the Patuxent River. PERSONAL PROP-
ERTY. TEV, at least £1,678.9.2, plus 31,780 pounds
of tobacco (including 4 slaves and 8 servants, 144
oz. plate, and a parcel of books worth £20.0.0 at
his Calvert County plantation; 6 slaves and 4 serv-
ants at his plantation on the Eastern Shore; and
one-sixteenth part of Harris' Ship listed at "Pi-
ney Hill"). His inventory included the estate of
Christopher Rousby (?-1684), with "noe distinc-
tion made" between the assets of the two broth-
ers. LAND: ca. 3,400 acres in Talbot, Calvert (now
St. Mary's), Somerset, and Kent counties.

ROUSBY, JOHN (1685-1744). BORN: in 1685,
probably in Calvert County; only son. NATIVE:
second generation. RESIDED: in Calvert County.

FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: John Rousby (?-

1685/86). STEPFATHER: Richard Smith (?-1714),
son of Richard Smith (?-ca. 1690). MOTHER: Bar-
bara (?-by 1697), daughter of Henry Morgan (ca.
1614-1663), stepdaughter of Jonathan Sybray (?-
1684). UNCLE: Christopher Rousby (?-1684). HALF
BROTHER: Walter Smith (ca. 1693-1748). STEP-
BROTHERS: Richard Smith; Charles Somerset Smith
(1698-1738). SISTERS: Gertrude; Elizabeth (1682-
1740), who married Richard Bennett (1667-1749),
son of Richard Bennett (ca. 1639-1667). HALF

705



 

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A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 705   View pdf image (33K)
 Jump to  
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