Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Nathaniel Washington (b. circa ? - d. circa ?)
MSA SC 5496-050816
War of 1812 Claimant, St. Mary's County, Maryland

Biography:

Nathaniel Washington was a slave holder who lived in St. Mary's County, Maryland. Washington married Margaret Hawkins, daughter of George F. and Susanna Hawkins. Washington held up to eleven enslaved people at this farm in St. Mary's County. The slaves were Sandy, Casandra, Grigg, Moll, Mary Ann, Jim,  Kitty, Charlotte, Will, Boucher, and Grigg.  

During the War of 1812, an enslaved man William Carter alias Bill, escaped from Nathaniel Washington. On July 20, 1814, British captain Joseph Nourse landed at the home of John C. Ashcomb. From there, the British marched to a barn where tobacco was deposited. The barn was burned by the British who were accompanied by five enslaved people. Among them was Washington's enslaved man Bill Carter. The remainder belonged to two of his neighbors. When the group finished burning the barn they retreated to the river. On the way to the river is where Nathaniel Washington saw the five slaves and asked them what they were doing with the British. In order to change the minds of the five slaves, Washington advised them to return to their owners and if not the British would likely carry them to the West Indies or the Spaniards and sold.


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