J. Callahan
MSA SC 5496-39060
Property Owner, Talbot County, Maryland
Biography:
Joseph Callahan was a property owner in Talbot County, Maryland. His ownership of slaves was rather limited, as according to slave assessment records in 1840, he had a total of eight. The total value of the slaves was listed as $755. According to Joseph Callahan's inventory in 1844, his personal property was valued at $1,708.57. There were three slaves that appeared in his inventory and one of those was Isaac, who was listed in the assessment record and also made an escape attempt. The three slaves were valued at $750.
In 1839, Callahan purchased a 200 acre tract of land known as "Nobles Meadows" that was located in the Chapel District of Talbot County. He purchased the land for $250. In 1840, he sold the same tract of land for $335 to Francis Counsell. In 1843, Callahan purchased a tract of land known as "Clover Hill" for $1,262.
On May 16, 1842, five of his slaves departed his farm in an escape attempt. Callahan placed an advertisement in the Easton Gazette on May 21, 1842 offering a $500 reward for the return of his property. The five escapees included a mother and her four children. These slaves were clearly mentioned, as per the slave assessment records, with their values and correct ages that match from 1840 and 1842. The $500 reward was guaranteed if the slaves were taken out of the state and $250 if they were taken within the state and lodged in the Centreville jail. The mother's name was Maria and according to the slave assessment, her name reads "Mariah" and she was 43 years old. The four sons were John (24 years old), Perry (22 years old), Isaac (19 years old), and Thomas (17 years old). The eldest son, John was described by Callahan with distinctive attributes as his "right foot is disfigured from the cut of an axe and also a scar over one of his eyes." It was clear that this family was seeking freedom as they plotted to escape from slavery. According to the slave assessment records, the four sons were all valued at $125 each. Callahan was losing a significant amount of money when they escaped, which prompted him to place an advertisement in the newspaper.
In 1844, not long after placing
the runaway advertisement,
Joseph Callahan died without leaving a will, which caused the majority
of his estate to be up for sale. According to the account of
sales
records for 1844-1845, the majority of his family were able to purchase
his personal property.
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