Thomas Bladen (1698-1780)
MSA SC 3520-90
Biography:
BORN: in 1698 in Maryland; eldest son.
NATIVE: second generation.
RESIDED: in England from at least 1712 until 1742; Annapolis,
Anne Arundel County, 1742-1747; England, 1747 until death.
FATHER: William Bladen (1670-1718).
MOTHER: Anne, daughter of Garrett Van Swearingen and wife
Mary Smith.
SISTER: Anne, who married Benjamin Tasker (Ca. 1690-1768).
NEPHEW: Benjamin Tasker, Jr. (1720/21-1760).
NIECES: Ann Tasker (?-1816), who married Samuel Ogle (1694-1752);
Rebecca Tasker (1724-?). who married Daniel Dulany, Jr. (1722-1797).
MARRIED: On July 14, 1737, Barbara,
daughter of Sir Theodore Janssen (ca. 1658-1748), immigrated from France
to England in 1680, naturalized in 1685, became a baronet in 1714, and
wife Willianisa (?-1731); granddaughter of Sir Robert Henley, M.P. Her
brothers included Abraham (?-1765); Henry (?- 1766); Stephen Theodore (?-1777).
lord mayor of London; and William (?-ca. 1740/41). principal secretary
of Maryland from February 1732/33 until death. Her sisters were Mary (?-1748),
who married Charles Calvert, 5th Lord Baltimore (1699-1751); and others
whose names are unknown. Her nephews were Frederick Calvert, 6th Lord Baltimore
(1731/32-1771); Benedict Calvert (ca. 1724-1788). Her niece was Caroline
Calvert, who married Robert Eden (1741-1784).
DAUGHTERS: Harriet (?-1821), who married on March 3, 1767,
William Anne Capel, fourth earl of Essex (1732-1799); Barbara, who married
on August 31, 1773, Gen. Henry St. John (1738-1818).
EDUCATION: attended schools in England.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican; mother’s family was Catholic.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., 1720; Esq., 1744;
a member of a family prominent in both England and Maryland.
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: officeholder; land speculator.
PROVINCIAL OFFICES: governor, 1742-1746/47 (commissioned
April 1742, sworn in August 1742; dismissed from office by October 1746
because he was “tactless and quarrelsome”; served until his successor was
sworn in March 1746/47); surveyor general, Western Shore, 1742-1746; chancellor,
1742-1746/47.
MILITARY SERVICE: colonel, period of service unknown.
OUT OF COLONY SERVICE: M.P., Steyning, England, 1727-1734,
Ashburton, Devonshire, England, 1735-1741.
WEALTH DURING LIFETIME.
LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: at least 6,955 acres in Charles,
Baltimore, and Cecil counties (remaining from at least 16,000 acres in
those counties, plus additional acreage in Anne Arundel and Queen Anne’s
counties that were inherited from his father; sold 8,870 acres, 1720-1724).
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH:
received warrants for ca. 7,400 acres in Prince George’s and Frederick
counties. He patented 854 acres of these warrants himself, but sold the
certificates for 3,691 acres to others who patented them. The certificates
for 2,814 acres remained unpatented. While in Maryland Bladen sold at least
6,850 acres inherited from his father, plus about 1,000 acres in Frederick
and Anne Arundel counties that he had obtained by patent and purchase.
DIED: in 1780 in England.
LAND AT DEATH: 80 acres in Charles County and land in Baltimore
County that was confiscated by the state in 1782; holdings in England are
unknown.
Source: Papenfuse, Edward C., et al. A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789, Vol. I, A-H. (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979), 135-136.
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