Rinaldo Johnson (b. circa 1755 - d. 1811)
MSA SC 5496-050749
War of 1812 Claimant, Prince George's County, Maryland, 1828
Biography:
Rinaldo Johnson was born about 1755 to Thomas and Anne (Riston) Johnson of Pleasant Grove in Baltimore, MD.1Johnson was an attorney who had served in the Maryland House of Delegates.2 Johnson who came from an established family enjoyed many of the comforts of time. He commissioned Charles Willson Peale to paint portraits of his parents and a miniature of himself in 1788.3 The portraits were completed by Peale at the Johnson family home Pleasant Grove. Johnson first married Rebecca Truman in Prince George's County on February 4, 1779.4 Ten years later, Rinaldo Johnson married Ann Eilbeck Mason, the daughter of George Mason and his wife Ann Eilbeck of Gunston Hall plantation in Virginia, February 4, 1789.5 The wedding took place at Gunston Hall.6 At the time Johnson was heavily indebted to the State of Maryland. In 1782, he became bounded to the state as security for Thomas Williams, Collector of the Tax in Prince George's County.7 Johnson's father in law, George Mason, wanted to be sure that his daughters possessions would not be held as liable and subject to pay off the debts of her husband.8 Mason would draw up a marriage contract that protected the possessions of his daughter, Ann Mason Johnson which was signed by himself, Ann, his son George Mason, Jr., and Rinaldo Johnson.9 Ann and Rinaldo went on to have three children, Thomas, Ann, and Sarah.10 The family lived in Aquasco, MD where they farmed and owned slaves.11
Rinaldo Johnson owned a sizeable slave labor force, which consisted of slaves that belonged to his wife Ann E. Johnson. There were at least 49 enslaved people who lived and worked on Johnson's property.12 In 1890, Johnson's slave man, Tom, was arrested as a runaway and committed to the jail in St. Mary's County, MD.13 In 1793, Johnson's slave Nace, who he believed was able to secure freedom papers, escaped from his employ.14
Rinaldo Johnson died November 12, 1811 and was buried at Pleasnt Green in a vault.15 Johnson never manumitted any of his slaves on his own accord. Johnnson's slave Fanny Butler was manumitted by a judgement against him by the late General Court of the Western Shore.16 Fanny recieved her certificate of freedom in Prince George's County, July 23, 1812.17 In 1814, three enslaved men Barnett, Bill, and Charles, whom belonged to Rinaldo Johnson escaped from his wife Ann.18 Johnson, had also been a large planter in the county, and held numerous hogsheads of tobacco at the Magruders Ferry tobacco warehouse.19 His tobacco continued to be stored at the warehouse following his death. In 1814, the warehouse was destroyed when the British burned it took some of the tobacco in its possession, including that which belonged to Rinaldo Johnson.20
Mrs. Johnson, wanting to be compensated for the loss of the slaves, submitted a claim for reparations following the war.21 The legal representatives of the late Rinaldo and Ann E. Johnson, filed a petition for the indemnity for tobacco destroyed by the British in 1814.22 The claim for the tobacco was rejected on the grounds that relief could only be offered for the loss of real property. However, Johnson's widow was compensated $280 for the loss of Barnett, Bill, and Charles.23 By 1817, 49 enslaved people who belonged to the late Rinaldo Johnson were sold by order of the Orphan's Court.24 Johnson's brother in law, General John Mason, purchased some of the slaves.25
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