John Costin (b. ? - d.
1784)
MSA SC 5496-51752
Property Owner, Queen Anne's County, Maryland
Biography:
John Costin was a Queen Anne's County slaveholder and property owner from Tuckahoe, a district bordering Caroline County. He married Elizabeth Clayland, and following his death in 1784 she remarried and removed herself and her slave Adam to Delaware, initiating the series of events that led Adam to unsuccessfully petition for his freedom in 1789.
John Costin held at least four properties or tracts in the Tuckahoe District. In 1783, one year before his death, Costin owned 364 acres and 10 slaves; he owned two males between the ages of 14 and 45, two females between 14 and 36, two males and females between 8 and 14, one male over 45, and three males and females under age 8.1 Adam's age is unknown but he is likely one these unnamed male slaves. A 1778 land record between Costin, his wife Elizabeth, and his mother-in-law suggests ones of these females slaves was named "Nann."2 Altogether the slaves had an assessed value of £395.
Records indicate that Costin speculated on land in southeastern Queen Anne's County. In 1774 he purchased the "lands and Tenements with Apprentenances" of a 125 acre tract called Abbington for £187 only to sell it four years later to Richard Hall for £500.3,4 On February 15, 1779 he purchased a 400 acre partial moiety tract called "Timber Land" or "Timber Neck" from Rachel Chetham for £1010 only to sell it back the following day for £204, 10 schillings and 6 pence.5,6 According to the 1783 tax assessment he resumed ownership of 160 acres of Timber Neck with a yearly tax of £20 while James Clayland, who managed the remaining 240 acres for Chetham's heirs, was taxed £17, 6 schillings.7 Since the 1783 assessment factored houses, buildings, improvements, and advantageous circumstances of the land, Costin's higher taxation suggests his land and the property on it were were more valuable.
Costin's March 1784 will named Elizabeth the executrix and bequeathed the plantation Kendal to her. The remaining lands were allocated to his unmarried daughters. His adult daughters Susannah and Hannah acquired Timber Neck or Timber Land and a portion of Coursey's Addition. His daughters Ann and Sarah, who were not yet sixteen when the will was written, received all rents and profits of unallocated lands.8 In 1785 his widow Elizabeth moved to Wilmington, Delaware, taking her slave Adam with her, and married Joseph Tomlinson.9 Elizabeth and Joseph had a daughter named Elizabeth Clayland Tomlinson, whose son was the popular composer, Stephen Collins Foster.10
Sources:
1. GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF DELEGATES (Assessment Record) 1783 QA, Tuckahoe District: Wye and Tuckahoe Hundreds, p. 28 [MSA S1161-82]Return to John Costin's Introductory Page
Researched and written by Alex Champion, 2013
|
Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
|