Nicholas H. Green
Anne Arundel County Court Clerk, 1851-1865
MSA SC 3520-13115
Biography:
Nicholas Harwood Green is a fine example of how so many who have held this office have been related to each other. He was the grandson of Nicholas Harwood who attended the Maryland Constitutional Convention in 1776-7 and served as Clerk of the Court from 1777-1810. Harwood's daughter, Mary, married one William S. Green, Esq. who began service as Clerk of the Court just after Harwood's term. Nicholas H. Green, born in 1808, was the first son of William and Mary Green.1 Nicholas was also a distant cousin of both Sprigg Harwood who served as Clerk for nearly thrity years and of Dr. George Wells who served as Clerk from 1895-1918.2
Green served as the Secretary of the Elk-Ridge Railroad Company since its creation in the first half of the nineteenth century.3 He wed his cousin Mary Augusta Harwood on May 4, 1832.4 Together they had several children: William, Richard, Nicholas, Louis, Edwin (who died in infancy), Augusta, Frank, Agnes, Harry, and Mary. Nicholas H. Green, Jr. developed his father's interest in law and became an important attorney in Annapolis, eventually earning a posittion as a judge for Anne Arundel County.
In November of 1851 Green defeated the incumbent Whig candidate Joseph H. Nicholson for the position of Clerk of the Court. He retired from the Elk-Ridge Railroad before his commissioning the following month.5 He was elected every six years, according to the Baltimore Weekly Sun, "by a decided majority" due to his exceeding popularity in the county.6
On August 19, 1865 Green died while still in office. A special election held soon after his death resulted in the initial victory of Sprigg Harwood, which his opponent George Gambrill contested. He left a will for his family, but his wife and sons renunciated it and requested that Nicholas Hammond, Esq. be the new executor.7 The Estate Docket shows an estimated value of Green's property at $4515.02, including furniture, silverware, various books and maps, and some stock holdings.8
Biographical Profile-
Born - 1808
Family - grandson of Nicholas Harwood who attended the MD Consitutional Convention in 1776-7 and served as Clerk of the Court for Anne Arundel County from 1777-1810; N. Harwood's daughter Mary married William S. Green, Esq. who served as Clerk of the Court for AA Co from 1810-1845; Nicholas H. Green was their first son (Baltimore Weekly Sun, Warfield)
Education -
Occupation - Secretary, Elk-Ridge Railroad Company since its creation; w/ respect of anyone doing business w/ RR (MD Republican)
Married - resided with wife Mary Augusta Harwood, his cousin, in Annapolis; they were wed on May 4, 1832 (McIntire)
Children - William, Richard, Nicholas, Louis, Edwin (died in infancy), Augusta, Frank, Agnes, Harry, Mary
Political Highlights -
1851, Clerk of Court - election in November vs. incumbent Whig candidate Joseph H. Nicholson; retires Elk-Ridge RR to be commissioned in December (MD Republican); re-elected every six years by "a decided majority" (Baltimore Weekly Sun); "universally known and exceedingly popular in AA Co" (Baltimore Weekly Sun)
Death - August 19, 1865 (Baltimore Weekly Sun) while still in office; special election held soon after his death in which Sprigg Harwood received the most votes; estimated value of property at death: $4515.02 - furniture, silverware, various books/maps, some stock holdings; his wife and sons renunciated the will which he created
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