Thomas Stockett (b. 1691
- d. 1762)
MSA SC 5496-51577
Property Owner, Anne
Arundel County, Maryland
Biography:
Thomas Stockett was a planter1 and a property owner around London Town. He was the grandson of Captain Thomas and Mary Stockett.2 His father, Thomas Stockett (b. 1667 - d. 1732) married Mary Sprigg in 1689.3 They had Thomas on November 18, 1691 and his sister, Elinor, on December 8, 1693.4 Elinor married Richard Williams in 1709.5
Mary Stockett (nee Sprigg) died in 1693 and Thomas Stockett, Sr. married Damaris Welch in 1700.6 They had two sons, Lewis (b. 1724)7 and Benjamin (b. 1715),8 and nine daughters, Priscilla (b. 1700),9 Mary (b. 1704),10 Elizabeth (b. 1706),11 Susanna (b. 1709),12 Francis (b. 1711),13 Sarah (b. 1713),14 Ann (b. 1717),15 Rachel (b. 1719),16 and Catherine (b.1721).17
There is a possibility that Thomas Stockett, Sr. and Thomas Stockett, Jr. were not on excellent terms. When Stockett, Sr. died in 1732, he left his son Thomas five shillings and his daughter, Elinor, one silver tankard and four silver spoons that belonged to her mother, Mary.18 Whereas, his other sons, Benjamin and Lewis, inherited his land, some of his daughters inherited slaves, and his wife, Demaris, and daughters received one third of his property.19 However, when one looks at Thomas Stockett, Sr.'s inventory, it is only valued at about 81 pounds, 13 shillings, and 14 pence.20 Thus, five shillings is not as small an amount as it might seem at first. Yet, Thomas Stockett, Jr. was the eldest son and, unlike his half brothers, he did not receive any land from his father.
Thomas Stockett, Jr. married Elizabeth Larkin (b. 1700) on August 19, 1732.21 They had one son, Thomas, on July 14, 1733.22 He married a woman named Ann(e). They had two sons: Thomas William Stockett (b. 1761)23 and John Dockwoa Stockett (b. 1763).24
Elizabeth Stockett (nee Larkin) died on November 1, 1736.25 In 1748, Thomas Stockett married a woman named Elizabeth Noble.26 They had two children: Thomas Noble (b. July 12, 1747) and Mary Elizabeth (b. March 28, 1752).27
Thomas Stockett Jr. first appears in the land records from the Anne Arundel County Court when he purchases eighty acres of "Obligation" from his father in 1716.28 As part of the deed, his father still retained use of the houses and access to the timber.29
In 1718, Edward Savory of London made Stockett his attorney in 1718.30
In 1730, Thomas Stockett, Jr. purchased a portion of Larkins Hill from Thomas Larkin and his wife Elizabeth.31 His wife, Elizabeth Larkin, married Thomas Stockett, Jr. after her husband, Thomas Larkin, died in 1731.32
In 1738, Stockett stated that he had in his possession the notes of Thomas Larkin from his stint as clerk for the surveyors of London Town.33 Larkin "was an continued to be Clerk of the Commisioners Appointed by Act of Assembly for the Laying out and Surveying the Lotts and Land in London Town from the time of his appointment in that Office until his death."34
In 1742, Stockett purchased part of "Taillors Choice" from John Taillor.35 In the same year, he sold John Gassaway part of "The Triangle"36 and Richard Harwood a parcel of land called "Taillors Hole."37
Thomas Stockett, Jr. owned at least 31 slaves (to see a complete list, click here).38 One of his slaves, Page, ran away in August 1749.39 In Stockett's inventory taken in 1763, a young man named Page was listed.40 Page was about 19 years old when he ran away41 and in 1763, he would have been 33 years old, which is not necessarily "young" in the eighteenth century. However, Page is not a common name, so it is possible that the Page in the inventory is the same as the man who ran away in 1749. Ultimately, it is not known exactly what happened to Page.
Thomas Stockett, Jr. died in 1762. His inventory was valued at 1368 pounds, 17 shillings, and 8 pence.42 He left two hundred acres of Taillors Choice to his son, Thomas.31 Thomas also received his "wearing Clothes."43
The remaining part of Taillors Choice went to his son, Thomas Noble. He also left 80 acres of Obligation and 48 acres of Larkins Hill to Thomas Noble.44 Thomas Noble also received his father's "Surveing Instruments and Books anyways relating to the Mathematicks or Latin and Greek Language or Tongues."45
He bequeathed to his daughter, Mary Elizabeth, a slave girl named Phobe and a slave boy named Gahaza, as well as six silver tea spoons.46
He left his wife, Elizabeth, his silver watch and seal.47 His wife also was to retain possession of their "dwelling House, tho the Land is left to... Thomas Noble."48 As his widow, Elizabeth received one third of the estate. The rest of his estate was then equally divided between his three children.49
Researched and written by Sarah Hartge, 2012.
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