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Early Washington, D.C., Law & Family

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Queen Family Network

Many members of the Queen family petitioned for their freedom in courts in Maryland and Washington, D.C., based upon their descent from a free woman. They had varying degrees of success. For further information on the Queens and their legal battles, see The Timing of Queen v. Hepburn: An exploration of African American Networks in the Early Republic.

Mina Queen

Mina Queen was the great-granddaughter of Mary Queen, although through which line is uncertain. She is most likely one of the granddaughters of Nanny Cooper (or Phillis). Her daughter Louisa is named in Queen v. Hepburn.

Priscilla Queen

Priscilla Queen was a descendant of Mary Queen, through which line is uncertain. It is most likely through one of the daughters of Nanny Cooper or Phillis.

Hester Queen

Hester Queen was a descendant of Mary Queen, through which line is uncertain. It is most likely through one of the daughters of Nanny Cooper or Phillis.

Alexis Queen

Alexis Queen is a descendent of Mary Queen, through which line is uncertain. It is most likely through one of the daughters of Nanny Cooper or Phillis.

Nancy Queen

Three descendents of Mary Queen named Nancy petitioned for freedom against Jesuit priests. It is uncertain which line they are descended through.

Queens freed in 1796

In 1796, several descendants of Phillis Queen and Nanny Cooper were freed by freedom suits filed in Prince George's County court.2 Their exact lineage is unknown.

Susanna Queen

In his will dated February 12, 1810, Rev. John Ashton, a Jesuit priest at White Marsh, left a tract of land in Charles County, Maryland to the children of Susanna Queen: "I bequeath to a youth called Charles Queen and to his sister Elizabeth Queen the children of Susanna Queen the unalienated part of a tract of land called Litchfield Englarged lying in Charles County whereon they now live with all the stock of Horses, Hogs, Cattle, and utensils of every kind found thereon at my death together with the Tobacco Grain and property of every description." The Queen siblings were also to receive a number of enslaved persons.4 It is unknown through which line they descend, though most likely through one of the daughters of Nanny Cooper or Phillis.

We believe Susanna Queen is Sucky Queen, whose relationship with Ashton was the subject of controversy within the Jesuit order and the enslaved families of White Marsh. Ashton was accused in 1787 of an illicit sexual relationship with Sucky Queen and of fathering two of her children.

Mima Allen née Queen(?)

It is possible that Mima Queen—born 1755, the daughter of Nanny Cooper—was transferred to the neighboring plantation of Daniel Clarke, where she had four children with a man enslaved by the Clarke family.

Monica

Monica was enslaved by a John Hepburn, who sold her and her family to Samuel Hamilton. She may be a possibility for the mother of the Mina Queen that filed against John Hepburn. It is possible that Mina was born after the date of the 1796 deed where this information is found. Both Monica's name and the names of her children reflect a possible Queen heritage.

Michael Queen

Michael Queen was likely a descendant of Mary Queen; his children's names correspond to other members of the Queen family. He lived on the Belair Road in north Baltimore, near St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Queen also owned property at Middle River Station on the Philadelphia, Wilmington, & Baltimore Railroad, and he worked for the railroad for 44 years.

Priscilla Queen

There is a Priscilla Queen listed among the 77 enslaved persons captured aboard The Pearl. In 1848, a large group of men, women, and children attempted to flee Washington, D.C., for the free state of New Jersey, but the ship was eventually captured in the Chesapeake Bay. It is possible that this Priscilla is the daughter of Priscilla Queen or one of the other 1810 petitioners.

Footnotes

1. Unless otherwise specified, all information for the descendants of Mary Queen in this particular tree originates from the John Lewis Small Book, Box 29, Folder 2, Maryland Province Archives, Society of Jesus, Georgetown University Manuscripts. Mary Queen's burial date is found in the Bohemia Day & Ledger Book, 1735-1761, p. 117, Maryland Province Archives, Society of Jesus, Georgetown University Manuscripts. [back]

2. This group of Queens successfully petitioned for their freedom from Jesuit priest John Ashton in Prince George's County Court (Docket), 1722-1851, April 1796, MSA C1203-43, MdHR 5848-1, Maryland State Archives. [back]

3. David petitioned for freedom in Harford County, Md. as the son of Nanny Cooper. Nanny identified herself as the "daughter of Henny, who was the daughter of Nanny who was the Daughter of Mary Queen." Nanny Queen and David Queen v. Sylvester Boarman, Harford County Court, 1794, Historical Society of Harford County. [back]

4. Revd. John Ashton's Will, April Term 1816, p460, Charles County Register of Wills (Wills), 1808-1871, HBBH 13, MdHR 7294, Maryland State Archives. [back]

5. The details of Mima Allen and her children comes from the certificates in Prince George's County Court (Certificates of Freedom), 1806-1829, Volume 762, MSA CM 1182-1, Maryland State Archives. [back]

6. Information on Monica and her family can be found in John Hepburn to Samuel Hamilton, June 28, 1796, Prince George's County Maryland, Land Records, JRM No. 4 p. 461, Maryland State Archives. Also in a suit against John Hepburn in Prince George's County Docket Books, MSA, C1203-45 (April 1797), January 9, 1797, and C1203-46 (September 1797). [back]

7. Michael Queen's Obituary, Baltimore Sun, 22 August 1887, p4; Library of Congress Geography & Maps Division, Microfilm Roll 23, Anne Arundel County, City of Baltimore, Year 1878. The names and dates for Michael Queen and his family are pulled from the United States Federal Censuses for Baltimore, Md. in the years 1850, 1870, and 1880 unless otherwise indicated. [back]

8. Records for St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Baltimore County, Md. [back]

9. Hillary Russell. "The Operation of the Underground Railroad in Washington, D.C., c. 1800-1860." The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and the National Park Service, July 2001. [back]