Richard Sothoron (of Richard)

By his father’s will of 1782 inherited Sothorons Desire; and with brother John "...my mill and what land the mill stands upon, and all lands that are necessary for the mill use, to wit Long Look for come at Last, part of Sothorons Desire, and Seagby..;" and personalty. With brother John was executor of will, and as such was a defendant in action by Jonathan Anderson. See father’s Notes.

See father’s Notes for record of service in 6^th Battalion of Militia in 1776.

Was administered the Oath of Allegiance by Henry Tubman, 1778 (see father’s Notes for full text).

** Land records - Maryland

Surveyed for Richard Sothoron of St. Mary’s Co., Sothorons Luck, 31 acres, by virtue of special warrant out of Land Office dated 7 April 1788. A triangular lot, lies on the north side of Sothorons Desire. (Survey # 421, St. Mary’s Co., 1788.04.23)

Publication of List of Unpatented Certificates, which by new State law will have certificates destroyed of titles not pursued promptly. Includes Sothoron’s Luck, surveyed for Richard Sothoron on April 3, 1788 (31 acres) (St. Mary’s Beacon :3, Reported 1858.10.28)

Recorded at request of buyers. John Swann & Elizabeth his wife, Joseph Swann & Agnes his wife, Seth Barton & Sarah Emerson his wife, May Maxwell & Mary Maxwell, all of Baltimore Town, five of the daughters and co-heirs of George Maxwell of Charles Co. deceased sell to Richard Sothoron, Benjamin Sothoron, John Johnson Sothoron & Ann his wife of St. Mary’s Co.; and to Jonathan Anderson & Mary his wife, Levin Sothoron & Rebecca his wife, James Briscoe & Elizabeth his wife of Charles Co.. John Sothoron late of Charles Co. had on 20 January 1789 agreed to purchase from John Swann & Elizabeth his wife, Helen Maxwell (now Helen Tabbs, wife to Barton Tabbs St. Mary’s Co.), Agnes Maxwell (now Agnes Swann wife to Joseph Swann), Sarah Emerson Maxwell (now Barton), John Campbell & Marion his wife, May Maxwell the tract called Maxwell's seat, 487 ½ acres at £2.16 per acre. Sothoron died intestate and left Richard Sothoron, Benjamin Sothoron, Ann Sothoron wife of John Johnson Sothoron, Mary Anderson wife of Jonathan Anderson, Rebecca Sothoron wife of Levin Sothoron and Elizabeth Briscoe wife of James Briscoe his legal heirs and representatives. £975 paid for 5/7 undivided parts of said tract. Witness: J. Campbell, Jas. Bryden. (K#4:282, Charles Co., 1791.01.27, Recorded 1791.06.25)

Deed recorded at request of buyer. Barton Tabbs & Helen his wife of St. Mary’s Co. (Helen is daughter & heir to George Maxwell late of St. Mary’s Co.) sell to Richard Sothoron, Benjamin Sothoron, John Johnson Sothoron & Ann his wife of St. Mary’s Co.; and to Jonathan Anderson & Mary his wife, Levin Sothoron & Rebecca his wife, James Briscoe & Elizabeth his wife of Charles Co.; for £195 sell 1/7 undivided part of Maxwell's Seat. Witness: Vernon Hebb, John Abell. (K#4:292, Charles Co., 1791.04.07, Recorded 1791.08.15)

Deed recordation requested by buyer. John Campbell & Marion his wife of Charles Co. sell to Richard Sothoron, Benjamin Sothoron, John Johnson Sothoron & Ann his wife of St. Mary’s Co.; and to Jonathan Anderson & Mary his wife, Levin Sothoron & Rebecca his wife, James Briscoe & Elizabeth his wife of Charles Co.. For £195 they sell their 1/7 undivided part of Maxwell's Seat. Witness: B. Fendall, Benjamin Contee. (K#4:297, Charles Co., 1791.08.20, Recorded 1791.08.30)

Indenture recorded at request of buyer. Richard Sothoron, Benjamin Sothoron, John Johnson Sothoron & Ann his wife of St. Mary’s Co. sell to John Campbell of Charles Co., for £500, three sixths undivided parts of Maxwell's Seat. Witness: William Kilgour, Thomas Bond. (K#4:302, Charles Co., 1791.08.20, Recorded 1791.09.08)

** Tax Assessment - Richard Sothoron of Richard, Upper Resurrection Hundred, St. Mary’s Co., MD (Fenwick*)

1793-96 Assessement. Slaves: 9; 20 oz. Plate 8.6.8. Lands: Sothorons Desire, 125 acres; Sothorons Venture, 27 acres; Long Looked For Come At Last, 1 ½ acres; Leysby, 1 ½ acres. Personal: 69.10.0. Total: 484.6.8.

1801 Assessment (heirs). Lands: Sothorons Desire & Seagsby, 155 acres. Personal: 124.0.0. Total 637.0.0.

1806 Assessment (heirs). Richard Sothoron of Rd. hrs. Lands: Sothorons Desire & Seagsby, 155 acres. Personal: 124.0.0. Total 637.0.0. 

** Wife & family - Maryland

Richard Sothoron, Jr. was born in 1763. (Gilliams*)

Richard Sothoron Jr. (1763-1794), son of Richard (died 1782), married this year to Catherine. (Wilson*, 1781)

Benjamin Sothoron, orphan of Samuel Sothoron deceased, above the age of fourteen years, comes into court & makes choice of Richard Sothoron (of Richard) for his guardian, who being present in court accepts the same. Richard Carns and James Burroughs securitys. Penalty £500 current money. Bond taken. (Fenwick* {Proc Orphans Court :46}, St. Mary’s Co., 1782.03)

Richard Southean married Catherine Southean. Ceremony by Rev. George H. Worsley, Rector of Port Tobacco Parish. (Brumbaugh* 2:496, Charles Co., 1783.10.15)

** Census schedule - St. Mary’s Co., Maryland

1790 Census (1790.08.02) pg 109, Richard Sothoron, Jr.

1798 List of Slave Holders, Upper Resurrection Hundred: Richard Sothoron (son of Richard) - 13 slaves (Carothers*)

** Activities as witness, surety, appraiser & legal representative - Maryland

With brother John was surety to sister Elizabeth as administrix of her husband Thomas Gerard Slye’s estate (see his Notes).

Was administrator of brother John’s estate. As such was defendant of action by Henry Anderson, claiming tardiness in settlement of estate (see brother John’s Notes).

** Will & estate - Maryland

Will of Richard Sothoron . Lands left to wife Catherine during her life and widowcy. All lands pass to son William at her death or remarriage, except for land inherited from brother John, which is to be sold with proceeds divided amongst heirs. If William dead or without heir, lands to be divided between the 3 daughters. Nephew Benjamin, son of deceased brother Samuel, to be heir if no others alive. Daughters Clarissa, Harriet, Ann. Executors: wife Catherine & friend Henry Tubman Sr. Test: Richard Lyon, William Brameail, Jonathan Brameail.

- Henry Tubman renounced executorship, 23 May 1794. (Wills JJ#2:88, St. Mary’s Co., 1794.03.19, Proved 1794.05.23)

On petition of Benjamin Sothoron (who was one of the securitys of Catherine Executrix of Richard deceased) setting forth that his apprehensive that the said executor is wasting the estate of the said deceased and therefore prays that citation may issue against the said executrix and her husband Hooper Broom to give counter security - Granted Citation issued. (Fenwick* {Proc Orphans Court :262}, St. Mary’s Co., 1797.06)

Account of Richard Sothoron late of St. Mary’s Co., by Catherine Sothoron his executrix.

- Estate accounted for 342 oz. plate, £816.9.6

- Payments & Disbursements allowed, 53.11.3

- Balance due & distributable 342 oz. plate, 816.9.6

- To deceased’s daughter Clarissa Sothoron, 1 Negro man £50, one bed & furniture for same £10, 60.0.0

- To deceased’s daughter Harriet Sothoron, 1 Negro man £50, one bed & furniture for same, £10, 60.0.0

- To deceased’s daughter Ann Sothoron, 1 Negro woman £45, one bed with furniture for same, £10, 55.0.0

- To son William Sothoron 1 Negro woman £10, 10.0.0

- Residue to widow during her single life, then to be divided equally among survivors of William, Clarissa, Harriet & Ann. (Distributions {MSA WK-298-1}:139, St. Mary’s Co., 1799.07.31)

Orphans Court of St. Mary’s Co, Md; sale of lands, per will of Richd Sothoron, by which I am appt’d trustee; land devised by said will to Clarissa, Harriot & Ann Sothoron, dghts of the said Richd Sothoron - Samuel Morton, Trustee. (Dixon*, 1821-1823.:41, St. Mary’s Co., Reported 1821.05.05)

On application of Alex’ Kilgour atty’ for ____(blank)____ Ordered that subpoena issue for Saml’ Morton trustee for the sale of ___(blank)___ Sothorons real estate to show cause why he has not made a report of his proceedings. (Proc Orphans Court :224, St. Mary’s Co., 1824.02)

** Miscellaneous - Maryland

Henry G. Sothoron replaced Richard Sothoron as vestryman, the latter becoming warden of the new Church. Pews in the new church were auctioned: Jane, John & Samuel Sothoron bought #8; Henry G. Sothoron & Thomas Bond bought #20; Richard, Samuel & Richard Jr. Sothoron bought #24. (MD Hist Mag 31:28, All Faith Parish, St. Mary’s Co.,1769.03.27)

Each Hundred separated into Divisions. Division 2 of Upper Resurrection Hundred specifically excludes public roads through lands of Col. John H. Sothoron, which alone make up Division 6. The 4th Division runs from Cooksey's Swamp to Indian Creek Bridge, also by Richard Sothoron's till it intersects Cool Spring Road. (County Road Book, 1802-1853. {MSA 18,578}, St. Mary’s Co.,1802)