Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

John Bond
MSA SC 3520-16523

Biography:

John Bond was a free black carpenter and farmer who lived near the town of Brookeville in Montgomery County, Maryland. He rented land from wealthy landowner and Brookeville resident Gerard Brooke between 1805 and 1812.1 The parcel of land that Bond lived on had an annual rent of $24. Bond paid his rent and acquired food and supplies by completing various carpentry projects for Gerard Brooke and other members of the Brookeville community. Some of his projects included constructing doors, gates, and windows for the Sandy Spring Meeting House and various homes in the area, as well as shingling roofs and other repairs. In 1810, Bond apprenticed his son, John Bond Jr., to Gerard Brooke for $52 a year, although the type of apprenticeship is unclear.2 That same year, Bond had seven people living with him on his rented land, who were likely either farmhands or family members.3

Bond rented land from Gerard Brooke until 1812. He likely remained in the immediate area, where he continued to complete carpentry and labor projects for Gerard Brooke and his son, Richard Brooke, until at least 1819.4 By August of the following year, Bond had nine free blacks living on his property. One person in Bond's household was engaged in manufacturing, likely at one of the mills or tanneries in Brookeville.5 It is likely that Bond remained in Montgomery County until his death.

Kyle Bacon, DAR Research Fellow, 2013

Notes:

  1. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (Mary Farquhar Green Collection) Account book of Gerard Brooke, 1802-1821 [MSA SC 566-1-98, 00/09/06/06]. Bond paid rent to Brooke between 1805 and 1812, and completed other various transactions until 1814.
  2. Ibid., March 1, 1810, agreement between Gerard Brooke and John Bond for John Bond Jr. to enter into an apprenticeship with Brooke.
  3. Third Census of the United States, 1810, Population Schedule, Montgomery, Maryland for John Bond, Roll M252.
  4. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (Mary Farquhar Green Collection) Account book of Richard Brooke, 1812-1822 [MSA SC 566-1-100, 00/09/06/05]. Bond exchanged both labor and cash for food and supplies from Richard Brooke between 1816 and 1819.
  5. Fourth Census of the United States, 1820, Population Schedule, Election District 1, Montgomery, Maryland for John Bond, Roll M33.

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