Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Richard Harwood (1738-1826)
MSA SC 3520-614

Biography:

BORN: on December 1, 1738, in All Hallow's Parish, Anne Arundel County; eldest son.
NATIVE: third generation.
RESIDED: in Rhode River Hundred, Anne Arundel County.

FAMILY BACKGROUND.
FATHER: Capt. Richard Harwood (?-1754), of West River, Anne Arundel County.
MOTHER: Ann (1719- 1804), daughter of Gassaway Watkins and wife Ann.
BROTHERS: Joseph (1739/40-died young); Gassaway (1741 -died young); Thomas Harwood, Jr., Esq. (1743-1804), of Annapolis, treasurer of the Western Shore from 1775 to 1804; John (1744-?); Samuel (1746-?); Nicholas (1748-?); William (1749-?); and Benjamin Harwood (1751-1826), treasurer of the Western Shore from 1804 to 1826.
SISTERS: Mary (1753-?); Elizabeth (1753-died young).
MARRIED: first, on February 3, 1767, Margaret (1746-?), daughter of Henry Hall (1702/3-1756). Her brothers were Edward (1735-?); Isaac (1737-?); Thomas Henry (1744-1788); and William (1748- ?). Her half brothers were Henry Hall (1727- 1770); John Hall (1729-1797). Her sisters were Elizabeth (1739-?); Mary (1752-1771); and Martha (1755-?). Her first cousin was Stephen West (1727-1790).
MARRIED: second, in 1806 Lucinda "Lucy", widow of John Battee (?-1803); daughter of Capt. Thomas Harwood and wife Rachel Sprigg (1733-1808). Lucinda was the granddaughter of Osborn Sprigg (ca. 1707-1749-50). She was the niece of Joseph Sprigg (1736-1800); Osborn Sprigg (ca. 1741-1815); and Thomas Sprigg (ca. 1747-1809).
CHILDREN. SONS: Richard Hall (?-1819), member of the Maryland House of Delegates in 1798. STEPSONS: Richard Battee; Thomas Battee; and John Osborn Battee. DAUGHTERS: Priscilla, who married in 1806 John Beale Weems (?-1814), son of John Weems (1727-1794); Rachel Sprigg. STEPDAUGHTERS. Henrietta Battee; Caroline Battee.

PRIVATE CAREER.
EDUCATION: literate.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican, All Hallow's Parish, Anne Arundel County.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., 1767.
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: planter.

PUBLIC CAREER.
LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Anne Arundel County, 1786-1787 (Grievances 1, 2), 1787-1788 (Elections 1), 1788, 1789, 1790, 1791-1792, 1792, 1793; Senate, Western Shore, Term of 1801-1806: 1801 (president), 1802 (president), 1803 (president), 1804 (president), 1805 (president).
LOCAL OFFICES: justice, Anne Arundel County, 1771-1782 (resigned); justice, Court of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol Delivery, Anne Arundel County, commissioned 1775; justice, Orphans' Court, Anne Arundel County, 1777-1782; commissioner of tax, Anne Arundel County, 1777-at least 1786; subscription officer, Continental Loan Office, Anne Arundel County, appointed 1779; sheriff, Anne Arundel County, in office 1782-1785, 1794-1797; All Hallow's Parish Vestry, Anne Arundel County, in office 1810.
JURY SERVICE juror, Anne Arundel County, served 1762, 1763, and 1765; grand juror, Anne Arundel County, served 1761, 1763, and 1764 (foreman).
MILITARY SERVICE lieutenent colonel, by May 1776; colonel, by 1783.

WEALTH DURING LIFETIME.
PERSONAL PROPERTY: assessed value £1,095.15.0, including 23 slaves and 21 oz. plate, 1783; 40 slaves, 1798. In the late 1790s Harwood was involved in litigation to collect debts owed to him and to have that money assigned to his creditors. In 1800 he mortgaged all of his property to his brother Benjamin to cover a debt of £2,993.0.0 and to insure future credit. The mortgage included 17 adult slaves, livestock, a plantation, and household equipment. When Harwood married Lucy Battee their marriage agreement specified that neither was responsible for the other's debts.
LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 877 acres in Anne Arundel County.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH, by 1798 Harwood owned 955 acres in Anne Arundel County, but the mortgage in 1800 assigned all of this land to his brother Benjamin.

WEALTH AT DEATH.
DIED: on February 21, 1826, in Anne Arundel County.
PERSONAL PROPERTY: inventory totaled $705.75, composed of cash and stock in both the Planter's Bank of Prince George's County and the South River Bridge Company.
LAND: probably none.

Source: Edward C. Papenfuse, et al. A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1634-1789. 2 volumes. (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979, 1985), 421, 946.  

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