Basil Hatton (b. 1760 - d. 1840)
MSA SC 5496-005736
War of 1812 Claimant, Prince George's County, Maryland
Biography:
Basil Hatton was born in August 8, 1760 in Prince George's County, MD to Joseph and Mary Hatton. Hatton was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Hatton lived near Broad Creek in Prince George's County, MD. In 1800, Basil Hatton purchased a tract of land called Frankland from Thomas Digges in Prince George's County. Hatton then purchased two tracts of land, Boarman's Content and Rich Hills, from Joseph Hatton June 2, 1803. However, by the end of the month Basil Hatton sold the two tracts of land back to Joseph Hatton. Hatton then purchased land from Upton Bruce of Allegany County who was the appointed trustee of Thomas Claggett. The land which was situated in Piscataway was sold for three pounds per acre.
Basil Hatton owned a sizeable enslaved labor force at his Prince George's County property. Basil inherited at least five of his slaves, Charles, Lidia, James, Alexander, and Meshach, through the will of his uncle Nathaniel Hatton. During the War of 1812, Hatton's enslaved man James Colbert fled to the British ships lying along the shore's of the Potomac River. When James Colbert escaped in September of 1814, he was carried accepted on to British vessels that were near Fort Washington. From Maryland, James was taken to the Port of St. George's Island in Bermuda. When the war was over many Maryland slave owners submitted claims for the loss of their property. Basil Hatton submitted his claim to the Department of State to receive reparations for the loss of James Colbert.
A few years after the war Basil Hatton manumitted two mulatto slaves Catherine and John Oden in 1817. Catherine and John Oden were brother and sister. In 1821, Hatton's enslaved woman Minty was arrested for stealing sundry articles of clothing from Raphael C. Edelin. In May of 1825, an enslaved mulatto woman Fanny escaped from Hatton's home. When Fanny fled she left behind two children and was believed to be lurking around nearby Washington, DC. Hatton offered a $75 reward for the return of Fanny. In 1834, Hatton sold five of his enslaved people to Jonathan Jauney. Basil Hatton's enslaved man Isaac Dent ran away April 7, 1835. However, Dent was captured and placed in the Baltimore City and County Jail.
Basil Hatton died August 5, 1840 in Prince George's County, MD at the age of 80.
Following his death, Hattons livestock was sold at public auction near Broad Creek in the aforesaid county.
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