Rezin Shaw (b. circa 1775 - d. 1849)
MSA SC 5496-009487
Property Owner, Montgomery County, Maryland
Biography:
Rezin Shaw was born c. 1775 in Maryland to unknown parents. Rezin Shaw married Maria Ann Crim (b. 1777) in Montgomery County, MD on January 31, 1799. Rezin and Maria were the parents of Deborah (b. 1800 ), Harriet (b. 1802), Elbert (b. 1806), Elizabeth (b. 1808), Isaiah (b. 1811), Louisa (b. 1818), Nicholas, and Eliza. In 1830, Rezin Shaw moved his family to a home in Montgomery County called Quaint Acres, which was located on part of an original land tract called Easy Purchase located near Colesville. Shaw purchased the property from Robert P. Dunlop (trustee for David Peter, deceased), August 9, 1830. Shaw also owned a second farm which was located south of the Quaint Acres homestead.
Rezin Shaw owned a small group of slaves. When the 1820 Census was taken Shaw owned twelve slaves total, including four males and eight females. In 1826 Shaw manumitted his slave girl Siller who was thirty-eight years old. Two of Shaw's slaves ran away from his employ and he placed ads in the Baltimore Sun and the Daily National Intelligencer newspapers. In 1841, Rezin Shaw placed an ad for his slave boy William Owens (Owings), who ran away from Shaws residence near Colesville. Owens was nineteen when he left Rezin Shaws plantation the morning of April 19, 1841. A year later another of Shaws slaves ran away from his property. A woman named Charlotte Owens (Owings), alias Charity Owens, ran away July 31, 1842, taking her daughter Frances Louisa with her. Charlotte Owens is probably a relative to William Owens. In November 1842, William Owens was captured and jailed at the Baltimore City and County Jail. He was admitted November 19th and was released the next day. William Owens was sold south to New Orleans, and was transported from Baltimore December 9, 1842 on Hope Hull Slatter's ship the Irad Ferry. Charlotte Owens was recaptured as well and is mentioned in Shaws last will and testament.
Rezin Shaw died April 24, 1849 in Montgomery County, MD. Shaws eldest son Elbert, was named executor of his last will and testament. In his will, dated March 12, 1849 Rezin Shaw left his farm, located near the Federal Meeting House, to his wife and single daughters, Deborah, Harriet and Elizabeth Ann. Shaw states in the will that there is a family burial ground on his property. The slaves of Rezin Shaw were divided amongst his wife and children in this will. Rezin Shaw left his slaves George, Lemuel, Charlotte, and Maria to his wife Maria Shaw. Shaw also gave to his son Elbert and daughter Eliza one slave each. The slaves given to Elbert and Eliza were not listed by name in Rezin Shaws' Will. In place of a slave Rezin Shaw gave his daughter Deborah $400. It is unclear why Shaw doesn't bequeath a slave to Deborah, but she dies in 1851 two years after her father. Shaws' daughter Harriet was bequeathed a slave girl named Mary and his other daughter Elizabeth Ann received a servant boy named Charles. Elbert Shaw also received an additional slave, named Elias, who was given to him by his father Rezin the first day of January. Shaw bequeathed to his son Isaiah his slave man Samuel and to his son Nicholas Smethen his slave man Stephen. Rezin Shaw does not mention his daughter Louisa because she is deceased at the time of his last will and testament.
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