Joseph Cowman (b. 1694 - d. 1753)
MSA SC 5496-51564
Property Owner, Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Biography:

Joseph Cowman was a Quaker who lived near West River. Cowman was both a merchant¹ and a mariner.² He was born in 1694³ in Great Britain. He was once a member of the Monthly Meeting of Parslow Cragg in Cumberland, Great Britain.⁴ 

Cowman first appears in Anne Arundel County around 1720 when he gave notice that he was exporting tobacco at a rate of seven pounds sterling.⁵ He was commander of the ship Champion, anchored in the West River, and was transporting tobacco across the Atlantic Ocean to Joseph Adams, a merchant in London.⁶ The rate at which tobacco was shipped per pound varied from six to seven pounds sterling. These rates that Cowman published appeared in the Anne Arundel County Court land records from 1720 until 1728.⁷ 

It appears that Cowman started acquiring land in 1729 when he bought a tract called "Loyds Tryangle," located in Anne Arundel County, from Edward Carter of Bath County, North Carolina.⁸ He bought and mortgaged several tracts of land in deeds with men such as John Roberts,⁹ Richard Briant,¹⁰ Dr. Richard Hill,¹¹ Richard Snowden,¹² Francis Gartrell,¹³ Richard Tydings,¹⁴ Stephen Warman,¹⁵ and Thomas Larkin.¹⁶ 

Joseph Cowman married Sarah Hill, widow of Henry Hill,¹⁷ on the 5th day of the 1st month (March) in 1723/4 at West River Meeting House.^18* They had at least four children: Joseph (b. 8th day of 8th month, 1732),^19* Ann (b. 1st day of 8th month, 1733),^20* Mary (b. 24th day of 12th month, 1735),^21* and John (b. 24th day of 4th month, 1737).^22*

In 1724, Henry Hill, father-in-law to Sarah Cowman (nee Hill), paid Joseph and Sarah Cowman 200 pounds from the estate of his son, Henry Hill. Henry Hill Jr. died intestate, meaning he died without a legal will, and without sons, so his personal estate would automatically go to his brothers and sisters.²³ However, Henry Hill, out of his "love and affection" for her, wanted Sarah Cowman to have a portion of that estate.²⁴ He explicitly stated in the deed that his other children could not fight the decision he made to give the Cowmans 200 pounds.²⁵ 

Joseph Cowman owned at least 28 slaves. Three of them, Stephney, Pleasance, and Ned, he purchased from William Sellman, a planter, in 1746.²⁶ He bought Will from James Welsh, a planter, in 1749.²⁷ These four slaves do not appear on his inventory or in his will, so it is not known what happened to them. 

According to his inventory, Cowman owned Caeser, Daniel, Philon, London, Sammy, London, Caeser, Jamaica, Dominae, Phillandor, Pompoy, Harry, Dominae, Joney, Bess, Nana, Easter, Mott, Rose, Grace, Casey, Lucy, Sall, and Lilly and her 2 month old child.²⁸ 

In his will, Cowman bequeathed to his wife, Sarah, one of the men named Caesar and a woman called Lilly. He bequeathed to his eldest son, Joseph, the slaves named Daniel, Bess, and Sall. He bequeathed to his other son, John, the slaves named Phillip (possibly the same boy as Philon or Phillandor), London (possibly the younger London as he was referred to as "Negro lad" in the will), and Lucy.²⁹ 

Cowman bequeathed to his daughter, Ann, the slaves named Nanny (possibly the same woman as Nana) and Dominick (possibly the same as one of the boys referred to as Dominae in his inventory). He bequeathed to his other daughter, Mary, the slaves named Ester (possibly the same as Easter) and Pompry (possibly the same as Pompoy).³⁰ 

At age 59, Joseph Cowman died of dropsy on October 3, 1753.³¹ He was interred at West River Meeting House. In the Maryland Gazette, Cowman was described as "a Gentleman remarkable for his friendly Hospitality and many other good Qualities."³²

Researched and written by Sarah Hartge, 2012.

 
 
 

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