Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Emmory Broom
MSA SC 5496-51190
War of 1812 Refugee, Saint Mary's County, Maryland

Biography:

Emmory Broom was an enslaved man who was owned by John Mackall, Jr. of Saint Mary's County, Maryland.1 Emmory was the son of an enslaved woman, Violet Broom.2 He had three siblings, Toby, Ephraim, and Mariah. Emmory's mother and siblings were all enslaved by Mackall.3 By 1813, Emmory and his siblings Ephraim and Mariah, were conveyed to James Mackall Broome.4 Broome was the husband of John Mackall's daughter, Margaret Mackall Broome.5  

In August of 1814, Emmory and his family escaped to British vessels lying in the Potomac River off the coast of St. George Island.6 The family escaped with other enslaved individuals who were owned by John Mackall, Jr. and James M. Broome. At the time of his escape, Emmory Broom was 19 years old.7 When he came into the protection of the British, Emmory enlisted with the Colonial Marines, a regiment of black soldiers who fought with the British military.8 He was a member of the third company of Colonial Marines, who were recruited in the Chesapeake.9 The war between the United States and Great Britain lasted until the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 2014.10 When the war was over those slaves who escaped were carried to various British territories. Emmory Broom settled on the island of Trinidad in the Third Company Village.11  

Following the war Maryland property owners filed claims with the Department of State, seeking compensation for the loss of property that was taken by the British. Among the property that was taken were tobacco, livestock, vessels, househould items and enslaved people. A commission was formed to handle the claims and decided that Maryland slave holders would be awarded $280.12  A claim was filed by James M. Broome for the loss of his slaves during the war.13 However, Broome died before the award money was paid to him.14 The commission that handled the claim determined that the money should be awarded to the representatives of John Mackall, Jr.15 Thomas Loker, son of Rebecca Mackall Loker and grandson of John Mackall, Jr. became the legal representative of his grandfather's estate and recipient of the $3,360 award.16

1.    ST. MARY'S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE TAX (Assessment Record, Slaves) 1804, [C1544-1]
2.    Claim of James M. Broome, St. Mary's County, Case No. 841, Case Files. Ca. 1814-28, entry 190, Record Group 76, National Archives, College Park.
3.    ibid.
4.    ST. MARY'S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE TAX (Assessment Record, Slaves) 1813, [C1544-2]
5.    Helen W. Ridgely, Historic Graves of Maryland and the District of Columbia. (New York: Grafton Press, 1908), 45.
6.    Claim of James M. Broome, St. Mary's County, Case No. 841, Case Files. Ca. 1814-28, entry 190, Record Group 76, National Archives, College Park.
7.    ibid.
8.    John McNish Weiss, The Merikens: Free Black American Settlers in Trinidad 1815-1816. (London, UK: McNish & Weiss, 2002), 32.
9.    ibid.
10.  Treaty of Ghent, 1814; International Treaties and Related Records, 1778-1974; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.
11.   John McNish Weiss, The Merikens, 32.
12.   Definitive List of Slaves and Property, compiled ca. 1827 - ca. 1828, entry 192, Record Group 76, National Archives, College Park, 1.
13.   Claim of James M. Broome, St. Mary's County, Case No. 841, Case Files. Ca. 1814-28, entry 190, Record Group 76, National Archives, College Park.
14.   Helen W. Ridgely, Historic Graves of Maryland and the District of Columbia, 45. James Mackall Broome died February 9, 1823.
15.   Claim of James M. Broome, St. Mary's County, Case No. 841, Case Files. Ca. 1814-28, entry 190, Record Group 76, National Archives, College Park.
16.   ibid.

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