John Scrivener (b. circa 1780 - d. 1849)
MSA SC 5496-005739
War of 1812 Claimant, Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Biography:

    John Scrivener was born in Maryland about 1780, the son of Francis and Eleanor Scrivener.¹ When John's father died in 1797 he willed him a large portion of his property including his dwelling house Carter Bennett in Anne Arundel County.² Scrivener's plantation was located in Herring Bay, Anne Arundel County, MD where he owned slaves.³ He employed Levy Webb as the manager of his farm, which included acting as an overseer to Scrivener's slaves. During the War of 1812 the entrenchment between Scrivener's Plantation was used as barracks for the militia.⁴ Scrivener served in a company that was commanded by Thomas T. Simmon's.⁵ In October of 1814, British soldiers burned Scrivener's dwelling house and outhouse's because of their use as barracks.⁶ Around the same time two of Scrivener's male slaves, Jacob Carter and Brista Murdock, escaped from his plantation in the company of the British.⁷ Both slaves were valued at $400.

    Following the war, John Scrivener married Eliza Smith Boswell of Prince George's County on September 18, 1817.⁸ The couple were married at Nottingham in Prince George's County.⁹ The Scrivener's went on to have twelve children; John H., Sarah Jane, Samuel Wesley, William Boswell, Elizabeth Sydney, Elizabeth Ann, Frances George, James Edward, Mary Priscilla, Maria Louisa, Emily Augusta, and Rosa Matilda.¹⁰

    In 1828, John Scrivener filed a petition for the loss of property during the late war.¹¹ Levy Webb and other neighbors gave testimony in the petition to support Scrivener's claim. Scrivener was awarded $560 for the loss of his two slaves, but was denied compensation for the loss of his other property.¹² Over the years slaves continued to escape from Scrivener. The Maryland Republican published an advertisement in it's newspaper for a negro Elijah Cook who ran off  from John Scrivener in 1837.¹³ Elijah was described as having a scar on his face which was caused by a shot. Another slave, David Jackson, escaped from Scrivener in the same year, but was caught and jailed at the Baltimore City and County Jail.¹⁴ Jackson  was charged for having run away.

    John Scrivener died August 27, 1849, leaving his wife Elizabeth a widow with five minor children to care after.¹⁵ Elizabeth Scrivener applied for a pension following his death.¹⁶ Benjamin Carr and John T. Councilman were the executors of Scrivener's estate. Scrivener bequeathed the house where he resided to his wife and minor children and his slaves were divided amongst his sons William, Samuel, James, and Frances.¹⁷  At the death of his wife the house was to become the property of his son Frances Scrivener. John Scrivener left nothing but "a father's blessing" to his two daughters Sarah Jane Somerville and Eliza Ann Sullivan. Scrivener's son in law John H. Somerville, husband of Sarah Jane, was in debt to him at the time of his decease. Somerville was forced to mortgage his slaves, livestock, and other property to the executors of Scrivener's estate in order to settle the debt.¹⁸

^{2.    ibid.}

^{3.    Claim of John Scrivener, Anne Arundel County, Case #754, Case Files Ca. 1814-28, 3.5 ft., entry 190, Record Group 76, National Archives, College Park.}

^{4.    Agee, 59.}

^{5.    ibid, 58.}

^{6.    ibid.}

^{7.    Claim of John Scrivener, Anne Arundel County, Case #754, Case Files Ca. 1814-28, 3.5 ft., entry 190, Record Group 76, National Archives, College Park.}

^{8.    Agee, 59.}

^{9.    ibid.}

^{10.    Agee, 60.}

^{11.    Claim of John Rousby Plater, St. Mary's County, Case #310, Case Files Ca. 1814-28, 3.5 ft., entry 190, Record Group 76, National Archives, College Park.}

^{12.    ibid.}

^{13.    "$100 Reward, Maryland Republican, 07 February 1837.}

^{14.    MSA C 2064-2 BALTIMORE CITY AND COUNTY JAIL (Runaway Docket), 1836 - 18502/72/4/20, Docket #151.}

^{15.    Agee, 63.}

^{16.    ibid, 64.}

^{17.    ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Wills) 1847-1864, [MSA CM122-11], Liber BEG, Folio 86-88.} 

^{18.    ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY COURT (Chattel Records) Liber JHN 1, Folio 408 [MSA CM1356-3].}

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