Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Ann Sprigg (b. circa ? - d. 1816)
MSA SC 5496-050807
War of 1812 Claimant, Prince George's County, Maryland

Biography:

Ann "Nancy" Sprigg was born in Maryland to Edward Sprigg. It is unknown who her mother was. She lived in Prince George's County, approximately two miles from Upper Marlboro. Ann inherited her land from her father Edward Sprigg at his death in 1790. 

Ann like many of the people in her family owned slaves. She inherited many of them from her father Edward Sprigg. In 1806, Sprigg manumitted her enslaved man Chament, who was originally owned by her father. However, she continued to hold a large enslaved labor force. By 1810, Ann owned 69 enslaved people who lived and worked on her property. At that time she manumitted one other enslaved man, Aaron, who also previously belonged to her father. It is likely that Sprigg manumitted the two slaves because her father made provisions for them to be freed at a certain age.

America went to war with Britain in 1812. During the war, six enslaved people escaped from Ms. Sprigg's home in Prince George's County. On August 26 or 27, 1814 two of Sprigg's enslaved men Charles Stewart and Tom Belt or Blackstone fled from her home and went off to the British army. Sprigg's slave's went with the British on their retreat from Washington, DC. A slave woman Kitty Carroll and her infant child Henry Carroll, who both belonged to Sprigg were seen on board a British ship by Philip V. Weems who was taken prisoner by the British. Kitty was in the company of her husband George Carroll who escaped at the same time from his master Trueman Tyler. A second slave woman Maria Henson and her daughter Ann Henson also escaped from Sprigg. In addition to the loss of her slaves, four horses and a wagon, belonging to Ann Sprigg were impressed into the service of the United States.

In 1814, Ann Sprigg sold off her land in Prince George's County.  In September, she sold a portion of parcel's of land called Chaffy's Delight and Chaffy's Delight enlarged to William Beanes.  She also sold a tract of land called Cobreth's Lot to Charles Hill. After selling off her land Ann Sprigg relocated to Boone County, Kentucky. 

Ann Sprigg died in July 1816, in Boone County, Kentucky. In her will she left her estate to her cousins Sarah Canby and Israel T. Canby. Israel Canby was named the executor of her estate. Sarah Canby recieved 7 slaves, Nace, Mary, Cassa, Charles, Tobias, Jerry, and Cornelia and $2500. Her cousin Joseph Canby had a son Richard Sprigg Canby who she willed $3000 and her silver teapot and coffeepot. At her death Sprigg manumitted her slaves Lucy and her children, Pompey and Nell his wife and their children. She also made provisions for her slave Stephen, his wife Betty, and their children to be emancipatied five years after her death. Israel T. Canby recieved the residue of her estate including real and personal property. 

Following the War of 1812, property owners in Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and Louisiana submitted claims for the loss of their property to the British. Ann Sprigg's cousin, Israel T. Canby, filed a claim to recieve reperations for the loss of the six slaves who ran off to the British during the war. As the executor of the estate, Canby who lived in Indiana, would receive $280 for each of the slaves that escaped and never returned. At the time of the war Canby resided at the residence of Ann Sprigg and was familiar with her enslaved people.



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