William Bruce Sothoron

MARRIED, on Thurs. morning, the 5th inst. [5 Mar 1835], by the Rev. John T. Johnston, WILLIAM B. SOTHORON, Esq., of St. Mary's Co., Md., to Miss ANN WHITE, of Alexandria. (Alexandria Gazette :3, Reported 11 Mar 1835)

** Census schedules & directories

1840 Federal Census (1840.06.01) Milingham District, Prince George's Co., MD - Pg 38, William B. Sothoron.

1850 Federal Census (1850.06.01, Recorded 1850.07.20) Ward 6, Washington, DC - pg 70B, Ln 18, 371/377

- William B. Sothoron - 45 year old male merchant, born in Maryland. Real property valued at $250.

- Ann  “ - 40 year old female, born in MD

- Henrietta “ - 14 year old female , born in MD, attended school within the year.

- Mary White, a 60 year old female, born in VA

(Color” was blank for all these entries)

Sothoron, W.B., dry goods & grocery, corner L s and 3 e (Washington Directory*, 1853)

Wm. H. Southern, grocer, 352 L s, Washington. (Washington Directory*, 1854)

Wm. W. Southern, grocery, 17 Cap e, Washington (Washington Directory*, 1856)

1860 Federal Slave Schedule (1860.06.01, Recorded 1860.08.29) District 8, Prince George’s Co., MD - Pg 34, Ln 30. W. B. Sothoron has 4 slaves: 30 year old male; females aged 24, 4 & 2 years.

1860 Federal Census (1860.06.01, Recorded 1860.08.30) District 8 (Aquasco), Prince George’s Co., MD - Pg 552, Ln 30, 412/412

- Wm. B. Sothoron - 55 year old male planter, born in Md, personal property valued at $1,200.

- Mary White - 80 year old female, born in Va.

- H.M. Sasscer - 24 year old female, born in Md.

- Wm. T. Sasscer - 4 year old male, born in D.C.

- Benjamin Bates - 22 year old male laborer, born in Md, cannot read & write.

- Peter Bowling - 19 year old black male laborer.

- Ann Sothoron - 53 year old female planter, born in Va. Real property valued at $1,000; personal property at $100.

(“Color” was blank except as otherwise indicated)

** Land records - St. Mary’s Co., MD

Indenture of 3 December 1835 between William B. Sothoron of St. Mary's Co., MD & Horatio Canter of Charles Co., MD. For $3,000 Sothoron conveys Truman's Lot, Littlesworth, Bruce's Neglect & part of Sothoron's Hills, about 300 acres in all. James F. Sothoron certifies said lands were conveyed by him to William, signed by Jas. F. Sothoron & witnessed by Charles C. Egerton & Geo. Slye. Recorded 5 April 1836. (St. Mary's Co., MD Land Records JH#10:411)

Indenture of 25 Oct 1835 between James F. Sothoron & William B. Sothoron, both of St. Mary's Co., MD. For $100 James conveys all of "Sothoron's Hills or Sothoron Supply" lying in St. Mary's Co., MD & in the possession of said William, about 27 1/2 acres. Signed by Jas. F. Sothoron, witnessed by Charles C. Egerton & Geo. Slye. Certified 28 Oct 1835, recorded 5 April 1836. (St. Mary's Co., MD Land Records, JH#10:410)

William B. Sothoron of St. Mary’s Co. deeds to Horatio Canter of Charles Co. for $3,000 his interest in Truman's Lot, Littleworth, Bruce's Neglect & part of Sothoron's Hills, 300 acres in all. (Abstracts F#1{StM#3A}:303, 1835.12.03, Recorded 1836.04.05)

William B. Sothoron of Prince George's Co., MD, for $800, conveys to William N. Burch of same county goods & chattels: sorrel horse; bay horse; blue horse; 4 red cows; 2 black & white cows; 2 yoke of black & red oxen; one yoke of white & black; 3 black bulls; one black & white bull; 2 red bulls; one ox cart & chains; crop of tobacco of years 1843 & 1844; 20 bbls. corn; one dozen land bottom chains; one bureau & one clock; all household furniture & farming implements now in the farm & dwelling house occupied by said Sothoron; all other goods & chattels now remaining on premises. Sothoron gave Burch a spoon at time of deal to confirm same.  Signed by W.B. Sothoron, witnessed by Henry Jones. Certified 8 April 1845, recorded 26 April 1845. (Prince George's Co., MD Land Records JBB#4:118)

William B. Sothoron of Prince George's Co., MD for $500 conveys to L. H. & William H. Earley of same county the following goods: one yoke red work oxen; one red buffalow (sic) oxen; one white work oxen; 2 yoke unborke black oxen; 2 red & white cows; 2 black & white cows; tobacco & crop of corn; corp of oats; crop of rye. One red & white cow was delivered to Earley to confirm the deal on 12 July 1845. Signed W.B. Sothoron, witnessed by Rd. A. Hyde. Certified same date, recorded 19 July 1845. Margin notation: "Examined & delivered to Grantee 13 Jany 1846." (Prince George's Co., MD Land Records JBB#4:219)

Stamp $0.50. William B. Sothoron of Prince George's Co., MD, for $900 paid by Mary White of same county, sells the following: all corn & tobacco now growing on place rented by John Club from Sothoron, being 1/3 of each; one sorrel horse; one black mare; 5 hogs; 3 calves; 4 yoke of oxen; 3 heifers; one ox card & gear; other farming utensils; one clock; all household & kitchen furniture in grantors house. One table spoon already given to cement  the deal. Signed by W.B. Sothoron on 25 Sept 1846, witnessed by Rd. A. Hyde. Certified same date, recorded 13 Oct 1846. (Prince George's Co., MD Land Records JBB#4:606)

Indenture of 24 October 1846 between William B. Sothoron; and John L. Waring & John T. Rawlings of same county. Sothoron by note dated 21 October 1846 bound unto William N. Burch for $200 to be paid 1 January 1848. Waring & Rawlings are to be security of said note. To indemnify them Sothoron conveys for $5 & the following: one sorrel horse; one black mare; one blue horse; 3 yoke of oxen; one pair of bull yearlings; 5 milch cows; 5 heifers; crops of tobacco & corn made in 1846; one ox cart; 3 oxen yokes & chains. Signed by W.B. Sothoron, witnessed by R. A. Hyde. Certified same date, recorded 11 Nov 1846. (Prince George's Co., MD Land Records JBB#4:638)

** Activities as surety & witness - Maryland

Will of Samuel Suit.

- Brother Samuel Suit, cousins Elkanah B. Broadley & Ann Suit.

- Cousin Ann Suit to have land where testator lives, “Burroughs Gift,” during her life. Then half to brother Samuel & other half divided between nieces & nephews: James Llewellin Herbert, Wm. Uriah Herbert, Ann Herbert, Susanna Catherine Herbert & Priscilla Herbert. Exec: Ann Suit. Witnesses: Samuel Keech, Wm. L. Edwards, Wm. B. Sothoron. (Reno(4)* :61{Wills JF#1:157}, St. Mary’s Co., 1826.03.28, Proved 1826.09.02)

Was a witness to the 1828 will of Molly Sothoron (see her Notes).

** Miscellaneous

James Morton's List for 1828 includes credits for William Sothoron, Henry Sothoron, William H. Sothoron & William B. Sothoron. (Treasurer's Account {MSA M227, M258}:Unnumbered, Trinity Parish)

William B. Sothoron served as a juror in a coroner’s inquest of the death of Negro George, a slave of Samuel Keech. Died by the visitation of god while under the influence he fell in a ditch of water and there by suffocated. (Knott* :6 {St. Mary’s Co. Court - Coroner’s Inquests}, 1831.08.04)

William B. Sothoron was a juror in a coroner’s inquest regarding Philip Davis, “...taken at Mrs. Elizabeth Burroughs house. Excessive intemperance.” (Knott* :6 {St. Mary’s Co. Court - Coroner’s Inquests}, 1832.01.15)

William B. Sothoron recorded as overseer of public roads in division 2, Upper Resurrection Hundred, through 1834. (St. Mary’s Co. Road Book {MSA 18,578}, 1833)

W. B. Sotheron, grocer, L and P streets, Navy Yard, was one of several places designated as depots (Sub-Post Offices) for the reception of letters. (The Daily Globe :Supplement, Washington, DC, Recorded 1854.03.14)

Named in death notices of wife & daughter (see their Notes).