Mary Harrison
Tavern Keeper
1765-1771
Mary likely took over running the Susquehanna Ferry and the tavern after the death of her 2nd husband in 1765. In an advertisement published in the Maryland Gazette newspaper on April 2, 1772, Samuel Thomas refers to the ferry as “commonly called Harrison’s Ferry.” Mary inherited all of her husband’s real and personal estate after his death. This included the following enslaved people:
Charles, about 40 years old | Sarah, about 7 years old |
Catto, about 15 years old | Charles, about 5 years old |
Sarah, about 50 years old | Bram, about 40 years old |
Esther & young child | Jack, age unknown, so he was simply listed as old |
Moll, about 12 years old |
|
Mary also inherited a 5-year-old ferry boat. The first official record of Mary receiving a tavern license in her own name is in 1771 because surviving Cecil County Court records begin in 1770.
By the time Mary died in 1777, she lived on 224 acres of land (a legacy), owned a number of livestock, and her estate was valued at £2,922.16.4 (including slaves) compared to her husband’s estate valued at £790.5.2 in 1765 (including slaves). She continued to own Charles, Sarah, Esther, Moll, and Bram. Additional slaves included:
Bill, age 12 years old | Bett, age 10 years old |
Sam, age 7 years old | Abigail, age 10 years old |
Dick, age 4 years old | Assey, age 7 years old |
Tower, a boy, age 3 years old | Dina, age 4 years old |
Seld, a girl, age 17 years old | Polly, age 2 years old |
Nan, age 14 years old | Hess, a girl, age 1.5 years old |
Associated Workers
Biographical Information
Born:
Unknown
Parents:
Unknown
Spouse:
Gilbert Crockett (1st husband, b. unknown, d. ca. 10/1740, m. 1727)
James Harrison (2nd husband, b. unknown, d. ca.10/1765, m. bef. 1744)
Children:
sons Samuel Crockett, Dr. Benjamin Crockett, Gilbert Crockett
grandchildren Benjamin, John, Sarah and Gilbert Crockett (children of Dr. Benjamin Crockett),
grandchildren Gilbert, Samuel, and Benjamin Crockette (sons of Gilbert Crockett and wives Ann and Elizabeth)
Lived:
1748/9-1772 Susquehanna Lower Ferry (Cecil County, MD)
Died:
1777 in Cecil County, MD
Additional Information
Religion: Quaker, possibly converting to the Episcopal Church of England by marriage to James Harrison
Information Sources
Primary Sources
1727
Mary Chew marries Gilbert Crockett who died by 12/28/1744. His estate administrated by wife Mary and James Harrison.
Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759 by Robert Barnes. Pub by Genealogical Publishing Co. Baltimore, MD 1996. Page 145
November 6, 1740
Inventory of Gilbert Crockett recorded in Baltimore County Register of Wills. Mary Crockett is administrator.
BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Inventories), 1666-1969
CM155 Vol.6 (1732-1749) Pg. 30. https://guide.msa.maryland.gov/pages/item.aspx?ID=CM155-6
March 19, 1744
Recorded in the Monthly Meeting Minutes of East Nottingham:
Mary Crockett widow of Gilbert Crockett Deceased Hath Lately Marr[ie]d out of the Society of Friends this Meet[in]g therefore appts. John White & Thomas Brown to Labour w[i]th her In order that she may by Senceable Of her Error & that she may come to the Mo[nt]hy Meet[in]g to condemn the Same
U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935. Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Digitized page 205 of 516. Accessed via Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2189/records/1607216171
April 16, 1744
Recorded in the Monthly Meeting Minutes of East Nottingham:
The friends app[lie]d. To Treat & Labour w[i]th Mary Harrison the Widow of Gilbert Crockett have so done & she being here produced a paper under her hand but tho. Not condeming her out going on marriage to satissfaction w[ich] Is Left under consideration
U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935. PA Chester Nottingham Monthly Meeting
Minutes, 1730- 1756. Digitized pg. 206 of 516. Accessed via Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2189/records/1607216176?tid=&pid=&queryId=4c034319-5770-47eb-b625-8e9116d1e543&_phsrc=uek823&_phstart=successSource
1748/9
Mary Harrison appears as a witness to the Will of James Numbers, Planter, in Cecil County, MD.
Abstracts of Wills by Carson Gibb. Abstracted from PREROGATIVE COURT (Wills) MSA S538 Liber 27, 1748-1750. Accessed via Maryland State Archives website at https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/stagser/s500/s538/html/s538-27.html
November 21, 1763
Mary Harrison appointed sole executor of husband James Harrison's estate in his will. Mary inherits all of his real and personal estate except that left to the Reverend John Hamilton who receives £25 two years after James' death and also one hogshead of cider. Witnesses Richard Thomas, Phenis Chew, and Elizabeth Nelson. Will is attested to on 1/7/1764.
Maryland Prerogative Court, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1777. Wills, Vol 31-32, 1760-1764. Accessed via Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9068/records/410493?tid=&pid=&queryId=2b2e748a-cf48-4cc6-b28f-6b300addfb80&_phsrc=uek731&_phstart=successSource
1764
Mary Harrison posts bond to be administrator of James Harrison's estate.
Cecil County Court, Register of Wills, Administration Bond. Vol. 3, pg. 128.
September 27, 1764
An ad appears in the Maryland Gazette newspaper for the sale of property located on teh Susquehanna River in Cecil County called Jackson's Plantation foermerly rented by James Harrison now in the tenure of Widow [Mary] Harrison.
Maryland Gazette, Sept. 27, 1764. Pg. 1
Accessed via Newspapers.com at https://www.newspapers.com/image/41039007/
October 30, 1765
Inventory of James Harrison
Cecil County Court, Register of Wills, Inventories, 1763-1769. Vol. 5, pg. 192
November 2, 1777
Mary Harrison will probated. Samuel (son) and John Crockett (grandson) are executors. Numerous Crockett children, grandchildren and their parents are listed. No Harrison relations listed.
Cecil County Register of Wills, Wills, 01777-1780. Liber C.C. no.3, pg.38. MSA Citation: CM363-3. Accessed via Maryland State Archives Website https://pve.msa.maryland.gov/pages/viewer.aspx?rwkpuJZT7gdKJllJILOVgR3On5E4r0fDtfWWL+P5fS8DmaBJhk5OCu6gzpASOL1F1KBAehW15xxJ9ipUbhOQKA=%3d
1777
Samuel and John Crockett post bond to administer Mary Harrison's estate.
Cecil County Register of Wills, Administration Bonds. Vol. 5, pg. 22.
January 4, 1778
Inventory of Mary Harrison's estate.
Cecil County Court, Register of Wills, Inventories. Vol. 7, pg. 20
