Henry Hatton
MSA SC 5496-016103
Property owner, Prince George's County, Maryland
Biography:
Henry D. Hatton, born in 1818, was a slave owner who lived in the Piscataway district of Prince George's County, MD during the 1800s. According to the Martenet Atlas of Maryland of 1861, Hatton is found living near Fort Washington by Swann and Piscataway Creeks. Hatton's father, Henry Hatton Sr. is found listed in the 1833 Tax Assesment for Prince George's County with 72 slaves valued at $15,145 total. Henry D. Hatton Jr. was bequeathed 11 slaves, 3 males, 6 females, and 2 infants by his father's will dated 15 November 1824.
While living on the plantation near Swann Creek, Hatton suffered from 6 runaway slaves between the years of 1833 and 1846. The advertisments placed by Henry Hatton provided a full description of each runaway, including age, height, build, clothing worn, family in the area, and possible reasons for the escape (many were supposedly unprovoked and must have been aided by others to run away). Gassaway chose to make his escape towards freedom on Christmas Day, 1831 with a forged freedom pass of sorts who apparently pretended to be religious by singing hymns. Hanson was advertised as a runaway in 1833, last seen on a vessel for Alexandria City in Washington D.C. Judson, ran away in 1835 after being away for 17 months, and again on Easter Sunday, 1841, via the Potomac River, after a visit with his wife who stayed on William Lyle Jr.'s plantation a few miles away. Washington Bransome was about 20 years old when he first fled from Henry D. Hatton in December 1845, described as missing toes and having badly burnt arms from an incident when he was an infant. Washington was well equipt with a cotton shirt with buttons, new cassinet roundabouts, wooden brogan shoes, and a new glazed cap. Apparently Washington was captured but escaped again while being transported to Hatton's plantation because in April 1846, another advertisment was placed stating he was still at large.
The 1850 Census places Henry D. Hatton, his wife Mary (age 26) and his
family in the Piscataway district holding 24 slaves, 13 females and 11
males. In 1860, the Hattons are still in the 5th district of Piscataway,
and increased their slave holdings by one female. Although his name
does not appear in either the 1870 or 1880 census, his will dated 28 August
1894 distributed his land holdings amongst his 4 daughters and 1 son, which
he occupied until his death later that year.
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