Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Christopher Columbus Conaway (b. circa 1823 - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-51929

Biography:

Christopher Columbus Conaway was born sometime around the year 1823 in Dorchester County, Maryland. His mother, Harriet was the slave of Levin and Lydia Hodson. According to the account of their son, Dr. Levin Hodson, in 1833 the slaves belonging to the Hodsons were divided by William H. Yates and future governor Thomas Holliday Hicks.1 The division probably served to distribute the family's slaves among Levin and Lydia's children. Columbus became the slave of Dr. Levin Hodson and his wife Mary Jane Howard Hodson.2 

Columbus left the Hodson household for his family's house, which was located nearby, on the evening of Saturday, April 16, 1864.3 He never returned to his master's home. Hodson wrote that he was supposed to return on Monday morning, "as usual," and instead he had begun to work for a man named Fuller, who most likely paid Columbus wages.4 

In 1870 Columbus Conway was living with his wife, Jane, and their six children, William (b. 1850), Harriet (b. 1855), Algernon (b. 1853), Mahala (b. 1859), Robert (b. 1863), and Martine (b. 1865).5 Columbus and Jane lived in District 2 of Dorchester County-- the same district as Columbus' former owner, Dr. Levin Hodson.

Conaway's life underwent significant changes over the next ten years. On May 31, 1877, he married Kisa (also spelled Kiziah) Dickerson6-- what happened to his previous wife, Jane, is unclear. By 1880 the two were living in Linkwood, Dorchester County with four children, Columbus (b. 1853), Robert N. (b. 1863), Martinia (b. 1865), and a stepson named James Smith (b. 1853).7 

In 1880 Columbus' son, Algernon, lived nearby with his wife, Sarah I Conoway, and their three daughters in the household of Samuel Braushaun, a white farmer.8 Algernon's sister, Mahala, was a neighbor, living with her husband, David L Waters and their son, Columbus.9

It is unknown when Columbus Conaway died and where he was buried. 
1. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (Levin Hodson Collection) Levin Hodson diary and ledger 1838-1845, MSA SC 2765.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU (Census Record, MD) 1870. "Columbus Conaway." District 2, Dorchester, Maryland.

6. Marriage Records, Dorchester, License Book No. 4, p. 104.

7. UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU (Census Record, MD) 1880. "Columbus Conaway." Linkwood, Dorchester, Maryland.

8. UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU (Census Record, MD) 1880. "Algernon Conaway." Linwood, Dorchester, Maryland.

9. Ibid.
Researched and written by Emily Huebner, 2014.

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