The actual date of Joshua Mudd’s
birth is unknown. Several clues can put
us in the ballpark. On 18 May 1750,
Joshua Mudd was mentioned in a petition submitted by his mother in reference to
his father’s estate (I have not seen the record – only an abstract – and do not
known the context for Joshua Mudd’s identification in this document). So, Joshua Mudd was born before May 1750
(there was no other Joshua Mudd known to have lived at this time). The marriage date of Joshua Mudd’s parents is
hopelessly unknown (which could help determine the earliest date of his birth). His father Thomas Boarman Mudd’s birth date
is estimated at 1707 to 1709 and his mother Sophia Mudd’s birth date is estimated to have been between 1725 and 1730. Therefore, the
earliest they could have married was in the early 1740s though more than likely
closer to 1745. In March 1747 Sophia
Mudd was presented in court as having birthed a baseborn child - better known now as a child out of
wedlock. We can only assume that Sophia Mudd was unmarried in 1747 and had a child with Thomas Boarman Mudd (or some other man) prior to
their eventual marriage. Knowing only one other
child that came from the Thomas Boarman Mudd – Sophia Mudd union (Ann Mudd –
from a 1769 document in a deed which she identified her daughter Ann Mudd),
this baseborn child was likely in reference to the birth of Joshua
Mudd (or if not, then Joshua Mudd was born after 1747). With this information, I therefore think it
obvious that Joshua Mudd was born between 1747 and 1750.
Very little is known of Joshua
Mudd’s early life. He received some education (he signed his full name later on documents). His mother Sophia Mudd-Mudd was left a widow
and Joshua Mudd probably had little or no memory of his father. The widow Sophia apparently did not remarry
(she was known as Sophia Mudd throughout the next 50 years). She appeared in several documents as “Sophia Mudd” and died between 1797 and 1801 as “Sophia
Mudd.” Oddly, nothing is known of her whereabouts after 1750, though it is presumed she was living in Charles County. She and her children (Joshua and Ann) may have lived with her extended family during
this time (her father lived until 1756 when he passed away). Her mother was alive in 1760 and some family
histories propose she was still alive in 1781 (unknown source, her particular location also unknown). Also unknown is what happened to Thomas
Boarman Mudd’s land after his death in 1750.
Were Sophia Mudd and her children living on that land (or did the debts from his estate force a
loss of those assets) or did they live with Sophia Mudd’s family (possibly with
a brother – Clement Mudd or John Mudd)?
Thomas Stone plantation house built at Port
Tobacco in 1771
The first known record for Joshua
Mudd was a 10 January 1772 Charles County Land Record. Joshua Mudd witnessed a deed along with John Harbin
and Mary Mudd (her mark, unknown relation but probably the widow of his uncle Clement Mudd which would make this Mary Mudd his Aunt Mary Mudd). The deed was
between Mary Pidgeon (Mary Hagan-Pidgeon) and George Keith Sr. for a "negroe" woman named Charity for which Keith paid 4,000 pounds of tobacco. Joshua Mudd's next appearance in Maryland records was a
1775 census identifying him as heading a household in Bryan Hundred, Charles
County, Maryland. Bryan Hundred was
further recognized as a "Hundred" in Durham Parish. Hundreds were like electoral districts today,
defined then as servicing 100 families or large enough to raise an army of 100
men. As the population grew, new Hundreds were formed. Generally, each hundred
had a sheriff and a county justice of the peace. Parishes formed around the hundreds and
provided churches and chapels of ease (smaller churches) in which parishioners
could worship. In 1775, the parishes and
hundreds found in Charles County were (in comparison to 1696):
Nothing is known of a Bryan
Hundred though Bryantown Hundred was well known. However, Bryantown Hundred was not close to
Durham Parish. I wonder if Bryan Hundred
was a shorter version of Bryantown Hundred (this would make since as three years
later he was found in Bryantown Hundred). I think the parish for this Bryan Hundred was misidentified and should have been Trinity Parish.
Thomas Ridgate house built at
Port Tobacco prior to 1775
1775 was a big year for American Colonists. Just to the north of Maryland, colonial representatives were fighting for American Colony rights which ended up being the start of the
American Revolution. Eventual British boycotts of tobacco
certainly hurt the Maryland economy and we can only wonder if it was a
difficult decision for tobacco planters about whom to support during the war – England (which would keep the tobacco
economy thriving) or the American Colony (which could alleviate the terrible
taxes). In the end Joshua Mudd appeared
to side with his home, the American Colonies.
In 1777, Joshua Mudd was a corporal in Captain John Thomas’ Charles
County Militia company (others known to be in this company were Clement
Gardiner, whose children married into the Smith family, the same that Joshua
Mudd would marry into). This company was
a part of the 12th Battalion consisting of many other Charles County militia
companies. Later in 1778, Joshua Mudd
was living in the Bryantown Hundred region (Revolutionary Patriots of Charles
County MD) and took the Oath of Allegiance, also called the Fidelity Oath
(Maryland census). Every male 18 or
older was forced to take an oath renouncing the King of England and pledging
allegiance to the revolutionary government of Maryland. These oaths were administered by magistrates in 1778 prior to March 1.
In February 1778, Joshua Mudd
made material contributions to the Patriotic cause, in addition to verbal and
physical offerings. According to
Revolutionary Patriots of Charles County Maryland, he contributed clothing for use by the Charles County militia. Ramping
up his patriotic activity, Joshua Mudd became a Deputy Sheriff in Charles
County (Revolutionary Patriots of Charles County MD), which in one sense could
have been easier than war service since many men were away serving in assorted military companies. On the other hand, he certainly
would have had dealings with those who were against the cause (Tories) and who had not taken
the Oath of Allegiance.
During 1778, there were other
Mudd families living in Bryantown Hundred – Henry Mudd, Thomas Henry Mudd, Bennett
Mudd, Ignatius Mudd, John Mudd, Richard Mudd, and another Henry Mudd. These were all double first and second
cousins, family who was related through Joshua Mudd’s father AND mother. These Mudds descended through Henry Mudd, whose family settled just north of Bryantown on land known as Boarman’s Reserve
and Devil’s Nest. The possible location
of Joshua Mudd in 1778 was on or near a tract of land known as Sharpe in north Charles County near Mattawoman Creek (he
purchased land there in 1786, see map below).
As the Revolutionary War raged to
the north and south of Maryland, Joshua Mudd became more active in county court
activities. In November 1779, he was a
pledge and security for John Southwell as part of a Circuit Court case between
William Hays and John Southwell. Also in about 1779 Joshua Mudd is thought to have entered into matrimony (two oldest children in 1800 were
16 to 25 which would make them at the latest born 1782 and 1784, also the first
Joshua Mudd child estimated birth about 1780 so marriage in or just before 1780,
marriage no earlier than 1777 as wife Ann Smith was identified as single in her
father’s 1777 will). His marriage was to
Ann Smith, the daughter of Benjamin Smith and Mary (most report her surname as Neale but it also
could have been Clements; Joshua Mudd's wife is often known as Ann Neale Smith but I have not
seen any evidence of this form of her name). Ann Smith was the
fourth child of Benjamin and Mary Smith (according to the Benjamin Smith
will). Charles Smith, the eldest sibling of Ann Smith, was not yet 21 in 1777 (according to the Benjamin Smith will) and if he was 20,
then the fourth child Ann must have been about age 15 and therefore born about 1762 at the earliest (this would make sense since her last child was born 1807 which would make Ann
Smith-Mudd about 45 at that time – the end of her child bearing years).
Father-in-law Benjamin Smith was
the previous owner of a tract of land called Sharpe, located at Mattawoman
Creek near the road from Port Tobacco to Piscataway. Sharpe was divided between Benjamin Smith’s
children after his death in 1777 (Charles Smith, John Baptist Smith, and Lewis
Gonzaga Smith) and soon after a part passed from his son John Baptist Smith to
Joshua Mudd, the son-in-law of Benjamin Smith.
Ann Smith’s mother was deceased before 1771 (assorted family histories report this) and her father had
remarried Mary Clements who was named in the Benjamin Smith 1777 will.
10 Jun 1777 Benjamin Smith's will
To my wife MARY SMITH during her natural
life - three fourth parts of all my land, to be laid off as she shall choose,
in consideration of her tender care of my children.
Also, after payment of my debts, I give [MARY
SMITH] one third of my personal estate
The other two thirds give to my 6
children, CHARLES SMITH, MARY SMITH, JANE SMITH, ANNA SMITH, JNO BAPTIST SMITH,
and LEWIS GONZAGOE SMITH.
To my son CHARLES SMITH - the other fourth
part of my lands on his arriving at age 21.
To my sons CHARLES SMITH, JOHN BAPTIST
SMITH, and LEWIS GONZAGOE SMITH - the three fourths of my lands devised to my
wife (during her life), to be equally divided between them.
To my sons JOHN BAPTIST SMITH and LEWIS
GONZAGOE SMITH - the fourth part of my lands, to be equally divided between
them, devised to my son Charles, in case Charles should die before age 21 and
without lawful issue. have agreed with James Macattee, son of James, for a
parcel of land called the Two friends, containing 40 acres, and received part
of the consideration expressed in his bond, On his paying the balance due on said
bond, 1 give that land to said James Macattee, which land is not to be taken to
be included in the above devises to my wife and children.
Executors: my wife Mary Smith and son
Charles Smith.
Signed Mar 21, 1777 - Benjamin Smith.
Wit - Josias Beall, Samuel Hamilton,
Archibald Johnston.
The will of Benjamin Smith, deceased, was
proved on Jun 10, 1777 by the oath of witnesses Hamilton and Johnstone.
On Jun 10, 1777 came Charles Smith, one of the executors appointed by the will of Benjamin Smith, late of CC, and renounced his right to the executorship.
On Jun 10, 1777 came Charles Smith, one of the executors appointed by the will of Benjamin Smith, late of CC, and renounced his right to the executorship.
Therefore on the same day, Letters
Testamentary were granted to Mary Smith, executrix, and the bond with her
securities John Clements of Francis and Leonard Hamilton, both of CC) in the
sum of 3000 £
Appraisers: Peter Dent & William
Stone.
On Sep 6, 1777, the inventory was
appraised, amounting to 92-1/2 £ 10 shillings 10 pence.
Sep 26, 1787 - received an additional
inventory amounting to 114 £ 4 shillings 0 pence.
Charles County MD Will Book 1777-1780;
Page 25.
Bills of exchange for the redemption of bills of credit were extended to Charles County residents near the end of the Revolutionary War. Thomas Harwood, the Commissioner of Loan Officer, extended a bill of exchange, presumably for his service (probably retribution for material contributions) to Joshua Mudd on 22 May 1780.
After the conclusion of the
Revolutionary War in 1781, Joshua Mudd was still contributing to the American
independence cause. On 14 June 1782, the
Maryland Treasurer was ordered to pay Joshua Mudd 8 pounds, 12 shillings. The payment was to be delivered to Lieutenant
Charles Beavin of the 6th Regiment who was to pay Joshua Mudd. The money was distributed according to the
Act of Emission of Bills and Credit.
Less than a year later, the Treasurer was ordered to
again compensate Joshua Mudd. This time, on 27 January 1783, the payment was for 39 pounds, 5 shillings, 11 pence in an “adjustment of the
debts due for this state.” This was
likely reimbursement for supplies contributed to soldiers during the Revolution
years. Also, Maryland paid individuals
to contribute toward the protection of shorelines where marauding privateers
were plundering and burning plantations in the few years after the war. Maryland organized forces to protect the
shoreline and this payment may have had something to do with that protection.
Purple – Sharpe, located at Mattawoman Swamp near the road (red) from
Port Tobacco to Piscataway, also Pickly located on Laurel Branch.
Purple – Strife, located at Mattawoman Swamp on the road (red) from
Port Tobacco to Piscataway.
Green – Friendship, located at Mattawoman Creek/Swamp at Piney Branch
and near Laurel Branch.
Brown – White Marsh at the headwaters of the Zekiah Swamp.
Joshua Mudd appeared in the 1783
Maryland tax assessment when a special tax was assessed to support the American war effort. Many Mudds appeared on this tax assessment
and the information provided is very useful in identifying the location of early
Mudds. Joshua Mudd was taxed on 104
acres but his land was not identified by name, as many were. By district and page number, he lived closest to Mary Mudd, widow of his mother’s deceased brother Clement Mudd
who was living west of Bryantown on the west side of Zekiah Swamp (a tract
called Wight’s Forest). Joshua Mudd's land was
also close to one tract owned by his first cousin (once removed) Bennett Mudd,
whose land on Laurel Branch was at Mattawoman Creek near the road from Port
Tobacco to Piscataway.
At only about 37 years of age,
Joshua Mudd had already found himself in a bit of legal dispute with John
Beavin of Charles County. Prior to 1782,
Beavin claimed Joshua Mudd had somehow wronged Beavin’s father-in-law out of a
sum of money during the collection of public dues. An actual dispute ensued, probably brought on
by Beavin’s father-in-law. This is an
interesting situation considering Joshua Mudd was supposed to have received
some payment from the state through a Lieutenant Charles Beavin in June
1782. In August 1784, Joshua Mudd had
Joshua Sanders depose Edward Boarman, Esquire.
The deposition focused on an August 1782 day when Boarman was overtaken
riding to County Court. Beavin told
Boarman he was going to make Mudd pay for the wrong. Joshua Mudd must have been at the deposition
since there appears to have been a question from Mudd asking about his own
character. Boarman replied that “he
never knew or heard of anything amiss of [Joshua Mudd] until he heard John
Beavin accuse him…but always understood and believed that he supported a good
character” (this deposition was not filed until 10 December 1787 – nothing has
been seen further on this “situation”).
Gustavus Brown built Rose Hill on
the Betty’s Delight tract about 1783
Joshua Mudd and neighbor Thomas
Jameson witnessed a bond in which Joseph Edelen promised Nicholas Sirlott 150
acres in Charles County. The bond was recorded 24 November 1785
On 22 July 1786, Joshua Mudd’s
brother-in-law John Baptist Smith signed a court document appointing Joshua
Mudd his attorney to handle Smith’s financial affairs (pay creditors and debts). Joshua Mudd, as attorney, was also able to
receive payments (money, tobacco, bonds, and bills) that were due to
Smith. On the same day, Joshua Mudd gave
bond to John Baptist Mudd for 50 pounds, the total compensation for land Mudd
was to receive from Smith. Smith vowed
to void the bond if Joshua Mudd carried out the Smith financial affairs fully
as attorney. The land Joshua Mudd
received was part of the larger Sharpe tract John Baptist Smith had received
from his father. John Baptist Smith also
sold Joshua Mudd, on the same day, four Negroes (Henry, Bess, Scisley, and
Sophia) for 5,000 pounds of crop tobacco.
Later in 1786 (26 October), a
written receipt was made between Charles Smith and Joshua Mudd. Mudd paid Smith for 201 ¼ acre tract called
Pickley that Charles Smith had previously purchased from Daniel Jenifer (it was
previously owned by Francis Wynne). The
official grant of this land was issued by the Land Office in September 1788.
These men were more than family,
they were close friends. John Baptist
Smith called his brother-in-law Joshua Mudd, in the record, “my trusty
friend.” Family for these two men had
recently dwindled, their bond likely growing.
Joshua Mudd’s uncle Clement Mudd died in 1780 leaving only one blood
uncle on his mother’s side of the family.
From county records, or lack of, a close connection to his father’s
family did not seem to have existed.
This would not be surprising since Joshua Mudd’s father died when he was
just an infant and he probably was raised by his mother and her family.
88 3/4 acres in 1788
Joshua Mudd added a small tract
of land to his growing assets. He had
purchased 100 acres on 16 May 1785 but when it was surveyed on 20 December
1786, only 88 ¾ acres were available.
The survey was accepted by the state of Maryland on 19 October 1787
followed by the issue of a patent in Joshua Mudd’s name on 14 February 1788. He called this tract White Marsh (what would
later be sold and end up belonging to Dr. Samuel Mudd). While Joshua Mudd waited for this patent to
arrive, he also made another land purchase.
Joshua Mudd, recognized as a planter of Charles County, bought 41 acres
from William Tyler for 75 pounds. The
tract was a small section of land called New Little Wood Forrest and was
purchased on 17 December 1787. According
to the 1783 Charles County tax assessment, William Tyler owned 500 acres called
Littlewood Forrest, located in the 4th district, presumably near Joshua Mudd of
the 4th district.
August 1788 – Brother in law
Charles Smith wrote his will and acknowledged a prior promise to sell his
portion of Sharpe to Joshua Mudd.
Charles Smith was living on this tract, one he had purchased in part
from his father and another part from his mother.
“To said Joshua Mudd the said
part of a tract called Sharpe and also all of my right to land now in
possession of Mrs. Mary Jenkins [his mother] as aforesaid on condition he pays
for the use of my estate if the balance that may appreciate to be due for said
lands at prices aforesaid (30 shillings per acre). If Joshua does not accept these terms, my
executrix [Mary Smith] may sell the whole of either my real or personal estate
she thinks most beneficial.”
After Charles Smith’s death in
late 1788 or early 1789, Charles County Sheriff Thomas A. Dyson, working on the
authority of the Charles County court, began to levy the goods of Charles
Smith. The April 1789 court determined
that a 70 acre tract of land, part of the larger Sharpe tract, was to be sold. It took some time to arrange the sale but on
22 November 1791, the land was advertised to the highest bidder. Joshua Mudd, who Charles Smith had wanted to
receive the land, must not have agreed to the terms of Smith’s will, namely the
price Joshua Mudd was to pay for the land.
Joshua Mudd was at the Sharpe tract on 12 January 1792 and was the
highest bidder at 85 pounds (originally offered Mudd for no less than 30
shillings per acre in the Smith will).
The sale was confirmed in August 1792 court.
11 April 1789 – Joshua Mudd of
Charles County sold Josias Beall of Prince George County a 100 acre tract known
as Pickly. The land was located in
Charles County on Laurel Branch and Joshua Mudd received 300 pounds
14 November 1789 – John Brooke, a
planter in Charles County, sold Joshua Mudd three Negroes named Clem, Tom, and
Gerard. The payment for these men who
would work the plantation of Joshua Mudd was 5,462 pounds of “new, inspected
crop tobacco.”
The first United States Census
was taken in 1790. The records of that
census have survived intact and report some interesting information on Joshua
Mudd and his family who were living in Charles County, Maryland. Joshua Mudd and his wife Ann Smith-Mudd had a
small family, having begun about 10 years before. There appear to have been four children alive
in 1790 – three boys and one girl (3 male under 16 and 2 total females, birth
dates based on assorted documents but mainly the 1800 census). There were surely one or more but as was the
norm, many illnesses and accidents took young children:
1. Joshua Mudd, born about 1780
2. Francis Lewis Mudd, born about 1783
3. Benjamin Smith Mudd, born about 1785
4. Louisa Jane Mudd, born about 1788
There were others in the 1790
Joshua Mudd household. One was a male
over 16 years of age, probably a relative in the Mudd family or the Smith
family. This also could have been a farm
laborer. Twelve slaves worked the Joshua
Mudd plantation. Joshua Mudd’s mother
Sophia Mudd, still alive (according to 1801 document) in 1790, was not a member
of Joshua Mudd’s household. She could
have been living with one of her sibling’s families or her daughter Ann.
3 July 1790 – Acceptance of
indulgence offer to state debtors in Charles County – Joshua Mudd, Ignatius
Gardiner, and John Gardiner
21 July 1790 – Acceptance of
indulgence offer to state debtors in Charles County – Henry Mudd, Roswell Mudd,
and Ignatius Gardiner
26 July 1790 – Acceptance of
indulgence offer to state debtors in Charles County – Joshua Mudd, Roswell,
Mudd, and Henry Mudd
26 July 1790 – Acceptance of
indulgence offer to state debtors in Charles County – Henry Mudd Jr., Roswell
Mudd, and Mary Mudd
29 July 1790 – Writing of consent
complete on 26 July, included the names of Henry Mudd Jr., Joshua Mudd, and Roswell/Boswell
Mudd
6 April 1792 – Samuel Clements
Sr. named Joshua Mudd and Samuel Clements Jr. his securities to make good on a
court settlement Henry Marbury had against Samuel Clements Sr. Samuel Clements Sr. also acknowledged that he
would pay Joshua Mudd 900 pounds of tobacco due to him by 1 January 1793. The document also states that Samuel Clements Sr. is giving Mudd and Clements Jr. certain
goods to cover the court settlement - 1 gray gelding, 1 cow and calf, 2 feather
beds & furniture, 1 iron pot, 1 Dutch oven, 4 flag chairs.
25 July 1792 – Joshua Mudd, a planter of Charles County, sold Basil
Green several items for 2,260 pounds of tobacco. These “items” included 2 cows, 1 yearling, 1
calf, 2 horses, 1 mare, 2 beds and furniture, 1 table, 1 chest, a man’s saddle,
and…a Negro woman named Cate.
15 May 1793 – Nathaniel Hagan of Charles County sold Joshua Mudd of
Charles County several items. This deed
was acknowledged, recorded, and certified in Prince Georges County. The items Joshua Mudd received, for 67
pounds, 8 shillings, were 3 draft horses, 7 hogs, 7 black cattle, 5 sheep, 4 feather
beds and furniture, 1 leather trunk, 1 chest, 6 flag chairs, 2 pewter dishes, 2
pewter basins, 6 pewter plates, 1 table, and two Negro boys named Will and
Peter.
3 August 1793 – The widow of
brother-in-law Charles Smith sold Joshua Mudd another portion of the tract
known as Sharpe. This was a part that
had previously been in the possession of father-in-law’s widow Mary Jenkins
(who married William Jenkins). By this
time, mother-in-law Mary Jenkins was deceased which is how the land ended up in
the possession of Charles Smith’s widow.
8 August 1793 – Joshua Mudd and
neighbor Hezekiah Johnson signed the inventory of Charles Beale, decease, who
had been a Charles County resident. The
valued Beale’s negro 16 year old boy, a 19 year old negro woman and her 4 month
old child at 277 pounds, 15 shillings, 11 pence.
8 August 1793 – Joshua Mudd and
neighbor Hezekiah Johnson signed the inventory of Charles Beale, deceased, who
was another neighbor.
19 August 1793 – Joshua Mudd
received a land patent known as The Tryangle.
This tract was identified as 9 acres and also 1 rod, 8 perches. Furthermore, the land was identified as
vacant land adjoining White’s Forrest and Reuden.
7 July 1795 – Joshua Mudd
received a land patent known as Miles Hard Bargain. The tract consisted of 77 ½ acres and was in
the Zekiah Manor reserve adjoining Jenkin’s Purchase. Miles Hard Bargain was originally surveyed 8
January 1787 for Joseph Miles and then later sold to Joshua Mudd 11 May 1795.
11 November 1796 – Joshua Mudd
was a surety in a Charles County guardian bond.
Asa Langham was likely left an orphan and was afterwards appointed to a
kinsman named Moses Langham, who became his official guardian.
By 1799, many Maryland residents
were living in south Louisiana. This
southwest movement seemed strange since these immigrants would have left the
comfort and safety of Maryland for the unknown and often unsafe Louisiana. However, Louisiana had a lot to offer,
especially for Maryland residents.
Available land was abundant and cheap in comparison to property in
Maryland. Maryland inheritance laws
provided mainly for the eldest male child which left many young males with
little opportunity to prosper. An
abolitionist presence was growing in many parts of Maryland even though the
economy and personal success was dependent on slave labor. Louisiana offered a location where concern
for slaves was not an issue. Maryland
farmers could maintain greater personal property value since slaves were less
valuable to a growing number of Marylanders.
And around the turn of the century, Maryland Catholics were beginning to
feel religious persecution.
Prior to 1803, Louisiana was
under the influence and rule of the Spanish, which meant the population was
predominantly Catholic. For Maryland
Catholics, this would have offered motivation for a southern move. In the 1790s, the American population was
only 1 to 2 percent Catholic and in Maryland (considered the center of
Catholicism in America), Catholics made up only somewhere around 30 percent of
the population. Louisiana could be a
location to practice their Catholic religion without fear of oppression. Even after the Louisiana Purchase in 1804,
Catholics made up a majority of the Louisiana inhabitants, especially in south
Louisiana where the Catholic Acadians had settled in the previous few decades.
One early Maryland immigrant to
Louisiana was Charles Smith, first cousin to Ann Smith-Mudd. He was in St. Landry Parish by 1799 (claimed
300 acres on east side of Bayou Borbeau near Grand Coteau from Spanish
government starting in September 1799) and possibly as early as 1795 (his
father died in Frederick County, Maryland in 1794). Soon to follow would be several of his
brothers – Joseph Leonard Smith, Benjamin Aloysius Smith, and Dr. Raphael
Smith. These men all originated from St.
Mary’s County, Maryland. They left from
Port Tobacco and sailed to New Orleans.
Once there, they journeyed up the Mississippi River and then up the Red
River to Washington, Louisiana. From
Washington, they traveled via wagons and foot to St. Landry’s Parish. Grand Coteau was the center of the St.
Landry’s Parish community and the location offered school, supplies, and most
importantly – a strong Catholic church.
Smith became affluent and ran a successful sugar cane plantation. He was instrumental in the formation of the
Catholic Church in Grande Coteau and contributed land for assorted Catholic
endeavors.
Port Tobacco District north of the Port Tobacco town in 1800
Joshua Mudd was about 53 years
old in 1800 (Male greater than 45) and his family and plantation had continued to
prosper. They were recorded as living at
Port Tobacco (the largest town and parish and therefore most of the area would
have been from that location), Charles County, Maryland. Joshua Mudd’s wife Ann Smith-Mudd (female
greater than 45) ran the plantation house and was raising a total of nine
children. An unknown number of children
had died prematurely. The live children
were:
1. Joshua Mudd (male 16 to 25), born about
1780
2. Francis Lewis Mudd (male 16 to 25), born
about 1783
3. Benjamin Smith Mudd (male 10 to 15), born
about 1785
4. Louisa Jane Mudd (female 10 to 15), born
about 15 March 1786
5. Clement Azarias Mudd (male 10 to 15), born about
1788
6. Mariah Ann Mudd (female 0-9), born about
1791
7. Michael Mudd (male 0 to 9), born 1793
8. Balthazar Xavier Mudd (male 0 to 9), born
about 1794
9. Susanna Praxedes Mudd (female 0 to 9), born
16 September 1796
As in 1790, the Joshua Mudd
plantation was the home to an older male over 45 years of age, either a family
member or farm laborer. The number of
slaves in the past ten years had increased from 12 to 18 which probably meant
the plantation had several slave quarters near the main house. The plantation was located next door to
several Smallwood families, McPhersons, Hannons, Beales, Edelens, John Robey,
Francis Cox, Walter Clements, Hezekiah Johnson, and his uncle Jeremiah Mudd
(his father’s brother).
1801 – Joshua Mudd took Jereboam
Beachamp and John Smith to court in Charles County. This had something to do with the estate of
Joshua Mudd’s mother Sophia Mudd. Her
name was used as Sophia Mudd and therefore, unless she married another Mudd,
she was a widow for nearly 50 years.
Assorted descendants report the death of Sophia Mudd as 1797. I have yet to see a document that reveals her
death as that date though it could easily exist. Until I see proof, that date is merely
presumed.
Joshua Mudd was involved with Jereboam
Beachamp once again in 1801. John Smith,
George Summers, and George Davis of Prince Georges County sold Thomas Mudd of
Washington County, Kentucky a “parcel of negroes” on 26 February 1801. These negroes (a woman named Jane, her
daughter Linder, a woman named Allalujah, and a woman named Rachel) actually
had been in the possession of Ann Edelen, formerly Ann Mudd, and therefore
probably did not actually pass to Thomas Mudd.
Jereboam Beachamp was Thomas Mudd’s attorney who took care of his
affairs in Maryland. Beachamp was also
the administrator of the Ann Edelen (of Prince Georges County) estate (possibly
while acting as attorney of Thomas Mudd).
Then on 13 October 1801, Beachamp (as attorney for Thomas Mudd) sold
this parcel of negroes, actual four total, to Joshua Mudd for $400. Joshua Mudd had actually been in possession
of the negroes at the time of Ann Edelen’s death but they were passed to
Beachamp 17 February until the sale was finalized. The connection between Thomas Mudd, Ann
Mudd-Edelen, and Joshua Mudd is unknown.
12 January 1804 – Joshua Mudd
bought a negro man from William Guy in Charles County, Maryland.
Maryland Catholic families
continued to migrate to Louisiana in the early 1800s. By 1804, two brothers of Charles Smith had
arrived in the same area of Louisiana.
These two men, Benjamin Aloysius Smith and Dr. Raphael Smith, first
cousins of Ann Smith-Mudd, each claimed one league square on the Bayou Caomen
in the Prairie Nezpique. They purchased
the land for 100 dollars from a Native American called Celestine Le Tortue,
chief of the Attakapas tribe about two or three months before September 1804
(when the deed of sale was presented to the commandant of Opelousas). The land
was described as encompassing the Attakapas village at the Island of Woods (now
known as the Island of Lacasine). The
village extended the entire island, or about two leagues, and the principal
settlements were at the upper end, where the Smith claimed the land. The Attakapas chief died about 1799 after
which Celestine Le Tortue became chief and moved the village inhabitants to the
Attakapas village on the Nementou River.
1804 – In 1804, the will of John
Baptist Smith was probated in Prince Georges County. He was the brother of Joshua Mudd’s wife and
at one time lived in Charles County. His
will revealed that he was a mariner and hence, may have died at sea. There did not seem to be a wife or offspring
and Joshua Mudd was named as executor of the will.
As members of a large family,
many of the Mudd children left Maryland for Louisiana, like many of their
mother’s double first cousins. Those who
left Maryland for Louisiana are presented in red text (Joseph Smith emigration
unclear, Francis Mudd immigrated to Missouri)
22 July 1807 – Joshua Mudd placed
an advertisement in the Maryland Gazette newspaper that read
“Ten Dollar Reward. Ran away from Joseph
Boarman (of Raphael) living on Matawoman, Charles County, state of Maryland, on
Sunday, the 12th instant, Negro Isaac, the property of Joshua Mudd, living near
the same place, and hired of him to the end of the year. He had a pass to Alexandria to sell a few
articles. Isaac is about 23 years old, 5
feet 6 or 7 inches, very black, a scar over one of his eyes, rings in his ears
and wears his wool sometimes platted.
Had on a striped country wove waistcoat, brown linen shirt, Russia duck
trousers and a fur’d hat. The above
reward will be given to any person for apprehending and delivering him to
Joshua Mudd or Joseph Boarman (of Raphael) or Eight Dollars for confirming him
in the jail of Alexandria, including what the law allows. All masters of vessels and others are
forewarned against harboring or carrying off said fellow at their peril, July
22.”
July 1809 – The Maryland Gazette
reported in the 5 July 1809 issue a case involving Joshua Mudd. Joshua Mudd was the plaintiff, bringing a
complaint to court again John Brooke and Michael Taney. Mudd obtained a decree against Michael Taney,
the administrator of Reverend Joseph Doyne’s estate. Doyne’s will provided for John Brooke, who
owed Joshua Mudd a debt. Since the debt
had not been paid, Mudd complained to the court and requested repayment from
Brooke’s distributed share of the Doyne estate.
Brooke resided in Georgia and the court ordered this notice to be advertised
in the Maryland Gazette for three issues (5 July, 12 July, and 19 July) as
notice for Brooke to appear in court before 5 December 1807 to defend
himself. The result of this case is
unknown. Brooke had previously sold to Joshua Mudd slaves in 1789 when Brooke
was living in Charles County.
Prior to 1810, one of Joshua
Mudd’s sons followed the trail blazed by many Maryland families and kin. Benjamin Smith Mudd arrived in St. Landry’s
Parish and became a member of the Catholic community and congregation at Grande
Coteau. The town was originally called
St. Charles for Benjamin Smith Mudd’s first cousin once removed – Charles
Smith. Smith gave contributions and intense
interest toward building the town and Catholic church there. Benjamin Smith Mudd married a Mary Eleanor
Smith prior to 1810. This Mary Smith is
reported to have been born in 1764 (nearly 20 years older than Benjamin) and
the daughter of Walter Smith. This is
unlikely since her birth according to the 1830 and 1840 census is 1781 to
1790. I believe she may have been the
daughter of one of the Leonard Smith sons (Charles, Joseph, Benjamin, or
Raphael) that were in the Grande Coteau area before 1810. The marriage would make sense since as they
were both at Grande Coteau, though they would have been second cousins (not
unheard of). Benjamin Smith Mudd’s first
child was born prior to 1810 (according to the census) and then one born in
late 1810 there in Grande Coteau (biography of Louisa Aloysia Mudd).
1810 – Joshua Mudd received land
in Charles County from John and Ann Higdon
In 1810, Joshua Mudd was still a
resident of Charles County, Maryland. He
was listed as white male age greater than 45 (actually about 63 years
old). His wife Ann was also greater than
45. Six children were living in the
Joshua Mudd home:
1.
Clement
Azarias Mudd (male 16-25), born about 1788
2.
Michael
Mudd (male 16-25), born 1793
3.
Balthazar
Xavier Mudd (male 10-15), born about 1795
4.
Susanna
Praxedes Mudd (female 10-15), born 16 September 1796
5.
John
Baptist Mudd (male 0-9), born 20 July 1804
6.
Sylvester
Leopold Mudd (male 0-9), born 1 March 1807
Several of the children had set
out on their own or had begun their own families:
1.
Joshua Mudd, about 30 years old, married
Catherine Acton 24 March 1810 at St. Thomas Church in Charles County (not a
head of household in 1810)
2.
Francis Lewis Mudd, about 27 years old, married
just before 1810 and was living next door to his father in 1810 with a young
wife and no children
3.
Benjamin Smith Mudd, about 25 years old, (reportedly
married Mary Eleanor Smith before 1810 in Maryland), likely in Opelousas
Parish, Louisiana in 1810 (1WM 16-25 and also 2 WM >45, 1WM 0-9, and 1WF
10-15)
4.
Louisa Jane Mudd, about 24 years old, unknown
location in 1810 (would marry John Jameson between 1810 and 1813 and Baker
Sylvester Jameson in May 1815)
5.
Mariah Jane Mudd, about 19 years old, unknown
location in 1810 (would marry John Aloysius Nobles Edelen in 1814 at Prince
Georges County)
There was another white female
above the age of 45 living in the Joshua Mudd home. Since his mother Sophia Mudd had died 1797 to
1801 and Ann Neal Smith-Mudd’s parents were both deceased, this female is
unknown. The Joshua Mudd home and
plantation were served by a total of 27 slaves in 1810.
Over the previous decade, Britain
had implemented a policy to board all sailing vessels searching for their own
deserters. The harassment of American
trade vessels progressed and American crews were commonly seized and falsely
identified as British. Finally,
President James Madison and the American Congress issued a declaration of war
against England in the summer of 1812.
Much of the war activity throughout 1812 occurred along the Canada
border resulting in a British strong hold.
Feeling confident, British troops were mobilized south along the
coast. The destination, the Chesapeake
Bay.
Targeting the annoying privateers
around Baltimore, the British blockaded much of the eastern seaboard, focusing
on the Chesapeake region. In March 1813,
British frigates charged up river, landed on the Maryland shores, and launched
sorties inland. In July 1813, Charles
County men were called to serve in the 43rd Regiment of Maryland militia to
protect Port Tobacco. Joshua Mudd’s
children volunteered with distinction - Joshua Mudd Jr. was a lieutenant,
Francis Lewis Mudd an ensign, Michael Mudd and Balthazar Xavier as
privates. Most of the ground activities
throughout the summer 1812 were skirmishes in and around Cecil County and then
Queen Anne’s County, where the British encamped for the fall and winter. The Mudds were discharged in August
1813. No clear victor was evident on the
east coast. However, American forces
flexed their muscles in the west and gained victories. This, combined with Napoleon’s defeat in Europe,
led to 15,000 additional British troops to America, centering on Maryland as a
staging ground to defeat Baltimore and Washington.
Joshua Mudd is reported to have
died 15 September 1813 in Charles County, Maryland (unknown source) with the
British encamped just over the Charles County line. He was between 63 to 66 years of age. His will was probated in the Charles County
court on 12 October 1813 (will has not been seen).
In April 1814, Britain offered
Maryland slaves emancipation if they enlisted with the British Army. The Maryland militia was called upon to help
prepare earthworks around Baltimore and defend it and Washington from
invasion. On 1 June 1814, there was a
Navy engagement at Cedar Point, St. Mary’s County. Several skirmishes occurred in counties near
Charles County and then on 20 June 1814, a skirmish ensued at Benedict, Charles
County. So, in July, the Mudds and their
negihbors were again called to serve in the same militia regiment. Yet another skirmish occurred in Chaptico,
St. Mary’s County where British regulars looted the town. The Mudds militia company was stationed at
Camp Yates. The British set up again in
Charles County to prepare the assault of Washington in August 1814. Their movement went through Prince Georges
County where the Americans were defeated in the Battle of Bladensburg (where
Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner) followed shortly by the
destruction of Washington. By September
1814, the British were attacking Baltimore but retreated by mid-month ending
the 1814 campaign and by late December, ending the war for good with the Treaty
of Ghent. The Mudds were active with the
militia during the entire summer of 1814.
On 11 March 1819, Ann Smith-Mudd
was appointed the guardian of her minor children John Baptist Mudd and
Sylvester Leopold Mudd (the document states Lietperd Mudd and that he was 12
years old). Since the male head of
household (Joshua Mudd) was dead, the courts required a guardian to be
appointed. The courts assigned a
majority of the legal power to males and so, Charles County had previously
appointed older brothers Balthazar Xavier Mudd and Michael Mudd the sureties
for Ann Smith-Mudd in December 1818 (from Guardian Court in Charles
County). Even as mother and guardian,
Ann Smith-Mudd had limited power over her husband’s estate. In and before 1823, Ann Smith-Mudd made
multiple accountings to the Charles County court as guardian of her minor children. These accountings dealt with using proceeds
from Joshua Mudd’s estate to cover schooling, boarding, and clothing for
Sylvester Leopold Mudd (his record has been seen, one account provided $63.48
for Sylvester Leopold Mudd) and probably also John Baptist Mudd.
Ann Smith-Mudd lived on a 270
acre Charles County tract in 1818. This
was land she was assigned as her dower right following her husband Joshua
Mudd’s death. On 21 October 1818, her
sons Francis Lewis Mudd, Clement Azarias Mudd, and Balthazar Xavier Mudd, all
living in Charles County, sold their mother’s land to their brother-in-law John
Aloysius Nobles Edelen for $970. Since
this land was basically sold to her daughter, one must surmise that she
continued to live on this land in her home.
The Edelen’s were residents of Prince Georges County at this time and
probably purchased the land to help the Mudd children and/or as an Edelen
investment.
Another record reported that the
dower right of Ann Smith-Mudd, from her husband’s estate, was sold to Townley
Robey before 1820. This land was identified
as 272 acres and included tracts known as Sharpe, Strife, a portion of
Friendship, Costley’s Addition, and Smallwood’s Palace. The record also reports Townley Robey sold
the 272 acres to John Aloysius Nobles Edelen, Ann Smith-Mudd’s son-in-law of
Prince Georges County, on 11 March 1820.
In the 1820 census, Ann
Smith-Mudd was a widow living in District 3, Charles County, Maryland. She was older than 45 with what appeared to
be four male children under 44 and two female children under 25.
1.
Clement
Azarias Mudd (male 26-44), born about 1788 (maybe not as he should have been in
Louisiana according to Louisiana deeds)
2.
Balthazar
Xavier Mudd (male 18-25), born about 1795
3.
Susanna
Praxedes Mudd (female 16-25), born 16 September 1796
4.
John
Baptist Mudd (male 10-15), born 20 July 1804
5.
Sylvester
Leopold Mudd (male 10-15), born 1 March 1807
6.
(unknown
female 0-9)
There was an unknown white female
other than Ann in the household (older than 44). A total of six household members were working
in agriculture, attempting to maintain a large plantation that had been headed
by Joshua Mudd until his death seven years before in 1813. A majority of the plantation labor was
completed by a slave labor totaling 19.
Close by lived Ann Smith-Mudd’s three children and their young families
– Joshua Mudd (called Josiah in the census), Michael Mudd, and Francis Lewis
Mudd. Families living nearby were families
with surnames such as Smallwood, Berry, Gardiner, Dixon, Edelen, Willet and
many others.
Ann Smith-Mudd, still a widow was
taken to court by Basil Browning. Her son
Francis Lewis Mudd, who had married before 1810 and lived next to his mother,
was also named as a plaintiff with his widowed mother. The case was dated August 1821 and
formalized merely as “injunction against execution of judgment.”
Ann Smith-Mudd appeared to remain
a widow and died in 1827. This date has
been reported by descendants and I have not seen the record. Benjamin Smith Mudd, the son of deceased Ann
Smith-Mudd, assigned the widow’s dower for the land of Joshua Mudd to John
Aloysius Nobles Edelen, resident of Charles County. The assignment was made by Mudd’s attorney
Peter Hatton on 29 January 1829 which means that Benjamin Smith Mudd was not in
Charles County. Edelen probably needed
the assignment as he had a buyer for the land (amount of land or description
unknown) as once he obtained the clear deed, he sold the land on the same day
to Sylvester Francis Gardiner of Charles County for $2000.
