Four of John Hanson and Margaret Vasa's sons came to America from Sweden and settled in Maryland.
Andrew Hanson (1618, married Annika Weeks)
Randolph Hanson
William Hanson
John Hanson (1630)
On May 4, 1657 William Hanson swore in court that Robert Robins accused William Heard of having an illicit sexual relationship.
Herde you Rogue, you Swived your Sister from tree, to tree, and I will have you to the Court
The first European settlements in Maryland were made in 1634 when English settlers created a permanent colony.
From Colonial Mansions of Maryland and Delaware by John Martin Hammond
The Hanson family is traced to Roger de Rastrick who, in 1251, was seated at Rastrick in the County of Halifax, England. The family name of to-day originated in 1330, when John de Rastrick of the seventh generation from the founder assumed the name Hanson, a diminutive of Henry's son, and signed himself John Hanson to a deed in 1337.
John Hanson, of London, of the fifteenth generation, while making a summer tour of Sweden fell in love with and married Margaret Vasa, granddaughter of Gustavus Vasa, and connection of the famous Gustavus Adolphus, of Sweden. He had a son who was reared by the latter, at a suitable age entered the army, served with credit, rose to the rank of colonel, and fell at Luetzen, November 16, 1632, with his sovereign, whom he was attempting to defend.
This son left four children: Andrew, Randall or Randolph, William, and John, who were taken under the immediate protection of the royal family of Sweden, and in August, 1642, were sent to the New World in the care of Col. John Printz, Governor of New Sweden, on the Delaware.
The family in this country has given many strong men, especially during the days which led up to, and concluded, the Revolution.
Of the four sons above mentioned, Andrew, the eldest, settled on Kent Island, Maryland, in 1653, and died there in 1655, leaving a wife and five children: Hans, Frederick, Katherine, Margaret, and a posthumous child, Barbara.
Randolph, the second of the four, was a bold and ambitious man, according to the chronicles of the day. He went to St. Mary's, the seat of the government of Maryland, to carve out his fortunes with his sword, and was a conspicuous figure in those troublous times. His daughter Barbara married Thomas Hatton, Gentleman, a grandnephew of Sir Christopher Hatton, of Hatton Hall, England, Lord High Chancellor of England and famous courtier of the circle of Queen Elizabeth.
William, the third son, accompanied Randolph to St. Mary's, but returned to Kent Island, where he died in 1684, leaving only his "loving wife Alice."
Colonel John, the youngest son, removed to Maryland in 1653, and, after a short sojourn on Kent Island, went to St. Mary's. Finally, about 1656, he settled in Charles County, where he lived until his death. In his will, dated December 12, 1713, he styles himself "a planter of Charles County," and mentions seven children, forming a lusty line of descent—Robert, Benjamin, Mary (the wife of the Rev. William Maconchie), Anne, Sarah, John, and Samuel.
Many young healthy people died in colonial Maryland due to outbreaks of malaria and yellow fever.
Estate inventories give us a glance into the home life of Colonial Americans.
from Old Kent: The Eastern Shore of Maryland by George A Hanson
Robert Hanson, eldest son of Col. John Hanson, represented Charles County in the Legislature of Maryland in the sessions of 1719, 20, 28, 32, 34, 39 and 1740. In his Will, dated in 1746, and admitted to probate in 1748, he mentions his child., viz.,
Samuel,
William,
Dorothy,
Mary,
Sarah,
Violetta, and
Benjamin Hanson.
He bequeathed to his grandson Robert Hanson (the son of his son Samuel Hanson, and his wife Mary Hanson) a tract of land called Betty's Delight, which the testator says, was "left me by the Will of my father, John Hanson."
Thomas Corker obtained a patent for 200 acres of Betty's Delight in 1671.
Corker sold part to Clement Theobald in 1675.
Clement's son, John Theobald, left it to his son, William Theobald. It was then in Baltimore County. John Hanson acquired 100 acres in 1676 and left them to his son
Robert.
In 1746, Robert Hanson left it to his grandson Robert Hanson (son of Samuel Hanson).
It was common for bequests to include wearing apparel.
Ancestral Records and Portraits: A Compilation from the Archives, Volume 2
by Colonial Dames of America.
John Hanson, the youngest of the four sons of Colonel John Hanson, of the
Swedish Army, was born in Sweden about 1630. After a short sojourn on Kent
Island, he finally settled in Charles County about 1655-6 where he died
1713.
He married Mary, the daughter of Thomas Hussey, who was Justice for
Charles County, Maryland., 1672.
Colonel Samuel Hanson, second son, born in Charles County, Md., 1685, and died 1740, was Burgess for Charles County 1716 to 1728, Commissary 1734, and Clerk of the Provincial Court 1739.
He married Elizabeth (1689-1764), the daughter of Colonel Walter Story (1666-1726, the son of Walter Story, [Sr.] a settler, and Elizabeth his wife), a Magistrate for Charles County, 1696.
from The First American Republic 1774-1789 by Thomas Patrick Choriton
...Samuel [Hanson] was born around 1684 in Port Tobacco Hundred, Charles County, Maryland. At the age of 22, Samuel Hanson married Elizabeth Story Warren, a recent widow. She was a truly remarkable woman who not only gave birth to ten children but also survived her husband by twenty-four years. Their youngest son, the future President [of the first American Republic], was born at Mulberry Grove, Port Tobacco Parish on April 3, 1721.
In 1716 and again in 1728, Samuel Hanson represented Charles County in the Maryland State Legislature. He also succeeded his oldest brother Robert as High Sheriff of Charles County in 1719 and later became the county's Deputy Commissary. By the time of of Samuel Hanson's death in October 1740, he had acquired at least 1,031 acres of land. ..
West Virginia and its People, Volume 3 by Thomas Condit Miller, Hu Maxwell
Samuel, son of John Hanson, was born in Charles county, Maryland; his will was dated October 22, 1740. He represented Charles county in the colonial legislature in 1716 and 1728, served as commissary in 1734, and as clerk in 1739. He married Elizabeth.
Children: Walter [Hanson], married Hoskins;
William; Samuel
John, born 1715, died November 22, 1783, president of Continental Congress, November 5, 1781, married Jane Contee;
Elizabeth, married Benjamin Douglas;
Charity;
Jane, married Daniel Jenifer;
Chloe, married Philip Briscoe;
another daughter, married David Stone.
1642-1753 Rent Rolls
Charles County, Maryland Hundred
Port Tobacco: Rent Roll page/Sequence: 407-199:
Hansonton:
600 acres; Possession of - 600 Acres - Hanson, Robert:
Surveyed for Robert Hanson, 11 May 1726,
adjoining to a tract of land called Cockers Hog Hole, now in possession of the said Robert Hanson and one other tract called Simpson's Delight, beginning at a bounded White Oak.:
Other Tracts Mentioned: Cockers Hog Hole;
Simpson's Delight;
277 acres Mathew Barnes from Robert Hanson;
30 Jan 1746,
Richard Hanson & Wife from Robert Hanson;
14 Nov 1746
Samuel Hanson, Chas. Co., 22 Oct. 1740, 5 Mar. 1740.
To son Samuel, 140 a., Greens Inheritance & 35 a., Addn. to Hereford.
To son John, Hereford& residue of Addn. to Hereford.
To dau. Elizabeth Douglas; grdau. Eleanor, d/o Benj. & Eliz. Douglass; & son Walter (overseer) & daus. Charity, Joan, Chloe, & Jane.
To son Wm., Little Wood, & 203 a., Wilkinsons Throne at death of his mother.
Wf. Eliz., exx., Little Worth & 203 a., Wilkinsons Throne.
Son-in-law Benjamin Douglass & his wf. to be guardians of Wm., afsd
Wit. Rev. Theophilus Swift & Joseph & Sarah Trines.
1642-1753 Rent Rolls Charles County, Maryland Hundred -
Port Tobacco: Rent Roll page/Sequence: 308-43:
Cockers Hog Hole:
100 acres; Possession of - 100 Acres -
Hanson, Robert: Surveyed for 2 Jan 1670 for Thomas Cocker
in the woods on the West side Port Tobacco Creek at a bound tree of the land of Alexander Simpson.:
Conveyance notes -
100 Acres -
Philip Lynes from Clement Theobald; 11 Jan 1674,
Rent rolls were lists of landowners showing whether they had paid their annual quit-rents to the Crown. A quick-rent was a feudal remnant and was paid by a freeholder in lieu of services that might otherwise have been required.
Charles County Court Records, March 1741/2 Court, Liber T#2, Page 320
At last Jun Charles County Court, Commission issued to Thomas Stone, Samuel Hanson, William Hanson, & David Stone, Gent, to examine witnesses touching the bounds of a tract of land in Charles County called Coffers Chance, in the possession of Matthew Coffer. . .
Capt, Matthew Barnes, age about 72, declares that about 16 years ago, he was present when John Coffer proved a marked hickory standing on the side of a valley, where the deponent now lays his hand, to be the 1st bound tree of a tract of land called Coffers Chance, which probate this deponent understood was taken by the then Sher. by order of the Provincial Court in a matter of controversy between William Hoskins and Daniel Bryan relating to a tract of land called St. Bridgets.
Colo. Robert Hanson, age about 62, says that 15-16 years ago, he heard John Coffer being sworn on a resurvey of a tract of land called St. Bridgets, then in controversy between William Hoskins and Daniel Bryan, declares that his mother showed him a bounded hickory standing on the side of a valley, and said to him, boy, this is the beginning tree of thy land, which tree is the same tree mentioned in Capt. Matthew Barns' deposition.
Francis Adams, age about 64, declares that a bounded white oak near a fork of Logg Swamp whereon he now lays his hand, was showed him by John Coffer to be a bounded tree of the sd coffer's land.
In contracts and pleadings usually people and things mentioned before are designated by the term said (sd ) for clarity.
Aforesaid (afd, afsd, aforesd ) means it was already mentioned.
A gentleman had no title, but descended from an aristocratic family, was of the landed gentry, and had a coat of arms.
Tobacco is a native American herb that is cultivated for its leaves which are prepared for smoking, chewing or snuff. In parts of colonial America, it was used as money. Tobacco plantations in the colonial south fueled the need for enslaving people.
Rent rolls were lists of landowners showing whether they had paid their annual quit-rents to the Crown. A quick-rent was a feudal remnant and was paid by a freeholder in lieu of services that might otherwise have been required.
Charles County Court Records,
August 1742 Court, Liber T#2, Page 421
Pursuant to an order of last Mar Charles County Court, Commission issued to examine witnesses touching the bounds of 2 tracts of land, the one called Corkers Hogghole, the other called Habberdeventure, and part of one other tract called Bettys Delight, lying in Charles County, in the possession of Colo. Robert Hanson, as follows:
To Thomas Stone, William Eilbeck, Matthew Stone, and Richard Gambra of Charles County.
Whereas Robert Hanson, seized of the 2 tracts of land and part of a tract, as afd, did, on Mar 9, in the 27th year of our Dominion, prefer his petition to Charles County Court, before Gustavus Brown, Gent, and his associates, for Commission to examine witnesses, to prove and perpetuate the memory of the bounds of the sd tracts of land. . .
The deposition of William Theobalds, age about 45, who declares that about 35 years ago, this deponent was in company with Colo. Robert Hanson and Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkins, who at that time held a tract of land called Sympsons Delight, adjoining to a tract of land called Corkers Hogghole, belonging to the afd Colo. Robert Hanson,
and that sd Hanson and Hawkins set up a locust post on a yellow gravelly knoll where it was then said a bounded oak belonging to each of the sd tracts formerly stood, which sd knoll is at the foot of a hill near the corn field fence of the sd deponent, and is the place where he now stands, and further declares that the sd post was put up by the consent of the afd Hanson and Hawkins.
The deposition of Charles Byrn, aged about 56, who declares that about 35 years ago, being at that time a servant to Colo. Robert Hanson, be brought a locust post to the place mentioned in the deposition of William Theobalds, and that it was placed in the afd place by the consent of Colo. Robert Hanson and Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkins, and further, this deponent declares that he brought the post to the above mentioned place, and there fixed it, as a boundary as he understood at that time, between the afd Colo. Robert Hanson and Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkins.
The deposition of Capt. Matthew Barnes, aged about 73, who declares that about 17-18 years ago, being upon a survey between this deponent and William Theobalds, Colo. Hanson being Surveyor, and Dr. Daniel Jenefer, being then in Company, running the land in dispute between this sd deponent and sd William Theobalds, they came to the place where this deponent now is, where was a bounded oak cut down, the 2nd bound tree of Betty's Delight, belonging to Colo. Robert Hanson, being upon the side of a ridge, and at that time the sd Colo. Robert Hanson and Dr. Daniel Jenefer agreed to mark a white oak, which is now standing and stands about 4 feet from the root of the original bound tree, the sd Dr. Daniel Jenefer being possessed of a tract of land adjoining to the dBetty's Delight.
William Theobalds, age about 45, declares that he was present at the time and place with the abovesd Capt. Matthew Barnes, and declares that he saw the above mentioned white oak, bounded for the 2nd bound tree of Bettys Delight, and by the consent of Colo. Robert Hanson and Dr. Daniel Jenefer, who was then possessed of a tract adjoining to Bettys Delight.
John Burgess, age about 23, declares that about 4 years ago, he and his father, Benjamin Burgess, riding together, showed him a bounded white oak, where this deponent is now at, and told him it was a bound tree of Colo. Robert Hanson of the land which sd Hanson bought of John Lambeth, standing upon a plain on the west side of Piscattoway road.
Samuel Burgess, aged about 36, declares that about 17-18 years ago, his father, Benjamin Burgess, showed this deponent the bounded tree he is now at, being the tree mentioned in John Burgess' oath, to be the bound tree of John Lambeth, and adjoining to a tract of land belonging to Mr. William Newman, which sd land is now in possession of Mr. Richard Tarvin.
Joseph Pulluffus, aged about 65, declares that about 40 years ago, this deponent, being a servant to Mr. John Hanson, father to Colo. Robert Hanson, the sd John Hanson showed this deponent a bounded red oak standing at the foot of a hill now in the plantation of the sd Colo. Robert Hanson, whereon the sd John Hanson formerly dwelled and near to William Theobalds' dwelling plantation, and told this deponent it was a bounded tree of his land whereon he then dwelled, being the tree he now lays his hand upon, and further, he says that sd John Hanson forbid him to cut it down, and has heard it by several others called the sd Hanson's bound tree.
Charles County is in south central Maryland and was created in 1658. The first settlers were mainly English tobacco planters, their indentured servants and enslaved people. Many of of the settlers were Roman Catholic.
The county, as originally laid out, also included parts of present
day Calvert, Prince George's and St. Mary's Counties.
