John Brown (b. 1821 - d.
1861)
MSA SC 5496-51284
Accomplice to slave flight, Queen Anne's County, Maryland, 1856
Biography:
"Enticing Slaves Off" states that Brown had "told Elliott's servants that he had persuaded a dozen slaves in Kent County to abscond, and that they all were successful."
Rough Minutes, QA - 2/1/4/38, May Term
John Brown was a free African-American who worked as a farm laborer while living in the Howard District of Anne Arundel County. In May of 1856 he stood trial for enticing and persuading three slaves--Martha Ann, Alfred Kelly, and Levi Elliott--to runaway from their owner, John S. Elliott of Queen Anne's County. In each case, the only state witnesses called were the respective slave and Elliott. In no case did the defense call a witness for Brown. The jury found Brown guilty on each indictment and on May 13, 1856 Judge Philemon B. Hopper sentenced Brown to eighteen years (six for each conviction) in the Maryland Penitentiary.
However Brown did not live to see the end of his sentence. Penitentiary records state that Brown died on Monday, June 10, 1861 of a "pistol shot by officers," but provide no further details. But the Baltimore Sun reported that on Friday, June 7th Brown "became impudent." As a result, Warden Isaac G. Roberts attempted to punish him, at which time Brown assaulted Roberts with a razor, "inflicting several wounds." The article then states Brown was apprehended and thrown into a cell "after proper punishment." A June 12th Sun article reported that Brown had died on Monday, June 10th as a result of a gun shot wound, leaving uncertain if the shot was fired as "proper punishment" on Friday, June 7th or at a later time.
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