Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Mary Alloway (b. circa ? - d.?)
MSA SC 5496-050647
War of 1812 Claimant, Queen Anne's County, Maryland, 1828

Biography:

Mary Alloway was a property owner who lived in Kent Island, Queen Anne's County, Maryland. Alloway was not married, but she was the mother of nine children Benjamin, Joseph, Ann, Jacob, Susanna, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah Ann, and Thomas Tolson. Jacob Tolson of Queen Anne's County, MD was the father of Mary Alloway's children. When Tolson died in 1810 he appointed Alloway as the executor of his last will and testament. In his will he left his home to Mary Alloway for the benefit of their children. 

On August 15, 1814, British Forces took possession of Kent Island. While there they plundered the homes of locals living on the island taking away slaves, tobacco, livestock, and household items. During this time an enslaved woman, Priscilla Clayton, working on Alloway's property, escaped to the British. The British also took from Mary Alloway, nine sheep, sixty head of geese, one steer, a featherbed, a desk, a walnut dining table, a large trunk, two linen and one woolen wheel, a broad ax, two sets of carpenters tools, one pair of flat irons, one pair of steelyards, two barrels of corn, four turkeys, one pine chest, and a frying pan. 

Following the war Maryland property owners submitted claims to the Department of State seeking reperations for any losses they incurred to the British including slaves, tobacco, livestock, household items, and destroyed property. If they could prove that their enslaved person was carried off or ran to the British they would be compensated $280 for each individual no longer in their possession. Mary Alloway submitted a claim for the loss of Priscilla Clayton. However, another Queen Anne's County resident Jacob Tolson also submitted a claim for the same enslaved woman. Tolson was Priscilla's rightful owner who hired out the enslaved woman to Alloway. Mary Alloway's claim was rejected and the award money was given to Jacob Tolson's heirs. 


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