Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

James Steward
MSA SC 5496-51871
War of 1812 Refugee, Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Biography:

Tom alias James “Jim” Steward was an enslaved man who belonged to Frederick Grammar of Anne Arundel County. On the evening of October 20, 1814, James Steward  and another enslaved man James Hall, escaped from Grammar's home situated in a neighbirhood situated between the Severn and Magothy rivers. The two slaves went on board British vessels of war that were lying in the Chesapeake Bay. Two slaves who belonged to Grammar's neighbor Henry Duvall and his mother Jemima also escaped on the same night. While in possession of the British, James Steward deserted the vessel while it was anchored at the Bay of Mobile in March 1814. Sadly, Jim was captured and came under the possession of Col. Gilbert C. Russell. Jim was held as a slave by Col. Russell, who was making arrangements to either return him to his owner or make a purchase. Russell placed an ad in the Baltimore Patriot on April 8, 1814 notifying Maryland slave owners that "Negro Tom" had deserted a British Ship. At the bottom of the newspaper ad, Col. Russell stated that he wished to purchase 30 or 40 Negroes. Negro Tom, after much interrogation admitted to Col. Russell that his real name was James Steward and that he was owned by Frederick Grammar of Annapolis, MD. Following Jim Steward's admission, Col. Russell wrote a letter to Frederick Grammar stating that he would like to purchase his enslaved man, but he would return him if that was his wish. Col. Russell also said that Jim wished to be purchased by him and remain in Alabama, as he had married one of his enslaved women.

Frederick Grammar agreed to sell Jim  to Col. Russell, but died April 20, 1817, before the transaction was made. Grammar’s son John, along with Henry E. Mayer and Horatio Ridout, were the executors of Grammar's estate. The executors followed through with the previous arrangements and received a payment of $550 through John Crowell, agent for Col. Russell for the purchase of James Steward. Following the War of 1812, Maryland slave owners submitted claims under the Treaty of Ghent which would grant them $260 for every slave that they lost to the British during the war. Grammar’s executors submitted a claim to the Board of Commissioners regarding the escape of James Steward and James Hall. They were not awarded money for the loss of Jim Steward because he was sold to Col. Russell. However, they were awarded $260 for the loss of Jim Hall, who died at the attack on Fort Bowyer while in possession of British forces.

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