Collection: Stoddert Family papers | Archival Collections

The Stoddert family of Virginia and Maryland traces its history to Richard Parker, the Virginia judge at the trial of abolitionist John Brown, and General William Smallwood, a Revolutionary War soldier from Charles County, Maryland. The collection contains family correspondence, legal documents, and genealogies of various families connected to the Stodderts. It also includes material related to West Hatton, the Stoddert family home in Charles County; the trial of abolitionist John Brown; and a 1906 "colored" wedding in Winchester, Virginia.

Dates

1797-1939
Majority of material found within 1895-1908

Use and Access to Collection

This collection is open for research.

Duplication and Copyright Information

Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.

Extent

38 Items

Additional Description

Scope and Content of Collection

The Stoddert Family papers span the years 1797 through 1939 with the bulk of the material dating between 1895 and 1908. The collection contains family correspondence, legal documents, and genealogies of various families connected to the Stodderts. Subjects covered include brief histories of the family members copied from several different sources; "West Hatton," the Stoddert family home in Charles County, Maryland; the trial of abolitionist John Brown presided over by Judge Richard Parker; and a 1906 "colored" wedding in Winchester, Virginia.

Family History

The Stoddert family of Virginia and Maryland traces its history to Richard Parker, the Virginia judge at the trial of abolitionist John Brown, and General William Smallwood, a Revolutionary War soldier from Charles County, Maryland.

Margaret Parker McCormick Stoddert (1858-1917) was the daughter of William Adams McCormick (1814-1893) and Charlotte Foushee Parker (1825-1875). Charlotte Parker was the daughter of Richard Elliot Parker (1783-1840) of Westmoreland County, Virginia, and Elizabeth H. Foushee (1786-1859) of Richmond, Virginia. Elizabeth H. Foushee was the sister of Richard Parker (1810-1893), the judge at the 1863 trail of John Brown.

Margaret Stoddert's husband, William Truman Stoddert (1854-1885), was the son of Elizabeth Stoddert (born 1836) and Robert Bowie (1821-1860) of Maryland. William Truman Stoddert's name was officially changed from Robert William Bowie to William Truman Stoddert in 1864, presumably to continue the Stoddert family name. Elizabeth Stoddert Bowie's great-uncle was Benjamin Stoddert (1751-1812), the Secretary of the Navy under President George Washington. Her great-grandmother, Lucy H. Smallwood Stoddert (1733-1768), was the sister of General William Smallwood, who served in the Continental Army and later was a governor of Maryland.

Elizabeth Love Stoddert (born 1880), the daughter of Margaret and William Truman Stoddert, married Foster Reader (born 1879). She inherited the Stoddert family home "West Hatton," in Charles County, Maryland, in 1908.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into three series:

Series 1: Correspondence
Series 2: Legal Documents
Series 3: Genealogical Records

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

This collection was separated from the Paul Dennis Brown Family papers which were donated to the University of Maryland Libraries in 1978 by Margaret Brown Klapthor and Mary Brown Moore, daughters of Paul Dennis Brown.

Processing Information

The materials have been placed in acid-free folders and stored in acid-free boxes.

Topics

Administrative Information

Title: Guide to the Stoddert Family papers
Status: Completed
Author: Processed by Terry Ann Sayler.
Date: 2008-06-16
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: English
Script of description: Code for undetermined script
Language of description note: Finding aid written in English

Library Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives

http://www.lib.umd.edu/special

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
Hornbake Library
4130 Campus Drive
College Park Maryland 20742
301-405-9212
askhornbake@umd.edu

Stoddert Family papers

Dates

Use and Access to Collection

Duplication and Copyright Information

Extent

Additional Description

Scope and Content of Collection

Family History

Arrangement

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

Processing Information

Topics

Administrative Information

Library Details

Library Details

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