Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

James (Maccubbin) Carroll (1761-1832)
MSA SC 3520-212

Biography
Born: James Maccunnin on December 8, 1761, in St. Anne's Parish, Anne Arundel County; fourth son.
Native: at least fourth generation.
Resided: in Annapolis until at least 1787; Baltimore County until death.
Died: on January 27, 1832, probably at "Mt. Clare," Baltimore County.
Additional Comments: In accordance with conditions specified in the will of his uncle Charles Carroll, Barrister (1723-1783), James changed his surname to "Carroll" by act of the Assembly, 1783.

Family Background
Father: Nicholas Maccubbin (1709-1787), of Annapolis, a merchant; son of Zachariah Maccubbin and wife Susanna Nicholson.
Mother: Mary Clare, daughter of Charles Carroll (1691-1755).
Uncle: Charles Carroll, Barrister (1723- 1783).
Brothers:
Nicholas (Maccubbin) Carroll (1750/51-1812), who married Ann (?-by 1839), daughter of Thomas Jennings (ca. 1736-1796); John Henry (1754-?); Charles (1756-?), who married Sarah Allen; and Samuel (1763-by 1784).
Sisters: Mary Clare (1749-1806), who married John Brice (1738-1820); Susanna (1757-?), who married Nicholas Lingan.
Married: in December 1787 Sophia (1772-1816), daughter of Harry Dorsey Gough (ca. 1745-1808) and wife Prudence Carnan (?-1822); niece of Charles Ridgely, of "Hampton" (1760-1829), governor of Maryland, 1816-1819.

Children
Sons: James, Jr.; Charles Ridgely; Harry Dorsey (1793-?), who married Elizabeth Ridgely (1797-1828); and John Gough (1811-1817).
Daughters: Prudence Gough.

Private Career
Education: literate.
Religious Affiliation: Anglican.
Social Status and Activities: Mr., 1783; Esq., 1791.
Occupational Profile: planter; owned mills on his "Mt. Clare" property in Baltimore County.

Public Career
Legislative Service: House of Delegates, Anne Arundel County, 1787-1788 (Laws to Expire 1); Senate, Western Shore, Term of 1786-1791: 1788 (elected on November 12, 1788 to fill vacancy; qualified on November 20, 1788), 1789, 1790; House of Delegates, Baltimore County, 1796, 1797 (speaker; resigned on November 13, 1797), 1798, 1799.
Other State Office: associate justice, Third District Court, February 1792-May 1792 (resigned).
Local Office:
justice, Baltimore County, 1795-at least 1800; St. Paul's Parish Vestry, Baltimore County, in office 1803-1813.

Wealth During Lifetime
Land at First Election: 1,289 acres in Anne Arundel County and 1 lot in Annapolis (inherited from his father, 1787), plus rights to ca. 1,000 acres in Baltimore County ("Mt. Clare," inherited from his uncle subject to his aunt's life estate in the property).
Significant Changes in Land Between First Election and Death: received the rights to a large number of lots and buildings in Baltimore City through his wife's inheritance as the only child of her father, 1808. Also inherited ca. 400 acres in Baltimore City from his mother-in-law, 1822. Cleared his title to "Mt. Clare" and patented it in his own name, 1812. Shortly before his death, Carroll made agreements to sell his Anne Arundel County land.

Wealth at Death
Personal Property: total estate value, $10,569.41 current money (including 19 slaves); final balance, $3,660.24 current money.
Land: ca. 1,400 acres in Baltimore County and Baltimore City, including city lots leased out to others.

Source: Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al., eds, A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789. Vol. I: A-H. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979, 268.


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