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Jonathan Plowman Jr. (1717–1795) was a spy and a
privateer A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...
during the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
. His spying activities were as part of a group of Revolutionaries who reported on
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
troop movements. After the war broke out and trade with
Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
was halted, Plowman and other merchants of
Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
became privateers. They took their merchant ships and sent them out to raid and plunder British commerce enriching themselves and Baltimore. His resistance to
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
rule began earlier than that when, as a prominent merchant in Baltimore, Jonathan Plowman Jr. signed the non-importation agreement along with other merchants throughout the 13 colonies in a united effort to resisted
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
taxation and abuses. His sons fought the British redcoats on the battlefield as members of both the regular army and the Maryland Militia. Jonathan Plowman Jr's many accomplishments ranged from a town commissioner member,Maryland Online Archives Volume 203 page 68
/ref> an attorney, and justice of the peace.Maryland Online Archives, Volume 63 page 428
/ref> He was also a Freemason and a
developer Developer may refer to: Computers * Software developer, a person or organization who develop programs/applications * Video game developer, a person or business involved in video game development, the process of designing and creating games * Web d ...
laying out streets and lots and having the land added to Baltimore. Most of all he was a successful merchant, and owned at least one ship named ''Pokomoke'' and trading in goods including
indentured servant Indentured servitude is a form of labor in which a person is contracted to work without salary for a specific number of years. The contract, called an "indenture", may be entered "voluntarily" for purported eventual compensation or debt repaymen ...
s. Plowman's own father was shipped to the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
at age 12 as an indentured servant. Jonathan Plowman Jr. became a member of the town commission of
Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
,
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
, prior to and served during the
American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...
. Many references to Jonathan Plowman may be found in the Maryland Archives, as he participated in town business and ran afoul of the British more than once. Jonathan Plowman Jr. usually signed "Jon" Plowman on documents such as the records of the many
indentured servant Indentured servitude is a form of labor in which a person is contracted to work without salary for a specific number of years. The contract, called an "indenture", may be entered "voluntarily" for purported eventual compensation or debt repaymen ...
s he imported to the Americas.National Park Service
/ref>


Father's arrival in America

January 27, 1701 (1700 O.S.), Liverpool, England a young 12-year-old Jonathan Plowman of
Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...
,
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
found himself boarding the ship ''Robert and Elizabeth'' as an
indentured servant Indentured servitude is a form of labor in which a person is contracted to work without salary for a specific number of years. The contract, called an "indenture", may be entered "voluntarily" for purported eventual compensation or debt repaymen ...
the ship's captain known as a 'Master' was Ralph Williamson. The ship was bound for Jamestown, Virginia. Records from Jamestown, Virginia do not record his landing there. It wasn't uncommon for ships to not sale out of every single indentured servant and so the ship would move on to other colonial cities such as Baltimore, Maryland. At age 12 he may not have been a very attractive indentured servant. The next record of Jonathan Plowman Sr. is in Baltimore County, Maryland. Once in Baltimore County he met Ann Stevenson Vickory, a widow two years younger than him who also was born in
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. She had a young son named Richard Stevenson Vickory(bef 1711-1737) from her first marriage to John Vickory then deceased. They were married in February 1713 O.S. (1714 N.S.).Genforum Plowman
/ref> One year later on February 22, 1714 O.S. (1715 N.S.)they had their first child together, a daughter named Rachael Plowman who would go on to marry her cousin Richard King Stevenson. On February 25, 1716 O.S. (1717 N.S.) their son and subject of this article Jonathan Plowman was born. A third child, a son named John Vickory Plowman, was born about 1718. On March 30, 1747 at age 59 Jonathan Plowman Sr. died. By this time Jonathan Plowman had started his own business as a merchant in the newly created town of Baltimore established in 1729. (''Note: Dates marked O.S. for Old Style are from the
Julian calendar The Julian calendar, proposed by Roman consul Julius Caesar in 46 BC, was a reform of the Roman calendar. It took effect on , by edict. It was designed with the aid of Greek mathematicians and astronomers such as Sosigenes of Alexandr ...
which applies for dates before September 1752. Our current
Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar. The principal change was to space leap years dif ...
system for dates after September 1752 when Britain and its colonies around the world adopted it is translated for dates predating this by N.S. or new style.'')


Early life

Jonathan Jr. was born in 1717, the same year a law of
prejudice Prejudice can be an affective feeling towards a person based on their perceived group membership. The word is often used to refer to a preconceived (usually unfavourable) evaluation or classification of another person based on that person's per ...
was passed imposing a
tax A tax is a compulsory financial charge or some other type of levy imposed on a taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a governmental organization in order to fund government spending and various public expenditures (regional, local, or n ...
of £20 shilling tax per Irish servant called Papist. The sole purpose of the law was to limit Irish immigrants, but Jonathan Plowman obviously was not influenced by this since his best friend and business partner Dr. John Stevenson was born in Ireland. By age 11 (1728) Jonathan Plowman was most likely sent out by his parents to kill squirrels and
crow A crow is a bird of the genus '' Corvus'', or more broadly a synonym for all of ''Corvus''. Crows are generally black in colour. The word "crow" is used as part of the common name of many species. The related term "raven" is not pinned scientifica ...
s. The local
government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is ...
, in an effort to encourage the elimination of animals considered pests, including
wolves The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, and gray wolves, as popularly un ...
, squirrels and crows, required every taxable person to produce three scalps or crow's heads to the justice of the peace or be taxed 2 pounds of
tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...
per missing scalp. By age 12 (1729) Jonathan would witness the founding of the town of
Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
on the northern side of the Patapsco River. divided into 60 lots and divided by streets. He may have even been picking out where he would put his merchant business some day. At age 13 he would have gotten to witness the construction of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the
church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * C ...
where 10 years later he would marry.


Maryland Militia service

In the mid-1760s at nearly 40 years of age he participated in the Maryland Militia. In the Maryland archives appears a request to pay Jonathan Plowman for his service on the Frontier dated January 20, 1767. This would be at the time right after the French and Indian War during a time when the Indians AKA Native Americans were quite upset over the loss of their ally the French. There were countless skirmishes between English colonist and the Natives.


Marriage and children

In August 1740 Jonathan Plowman married Elizabeth Crull at St. Paul's Church in Baltimore. St. Paul's was at the time the church in Baltimore where one would go to have a big public wedding. The church, which is still standing, was located on the highest point overlooking the harbor and was described as a "choice piece of property". Nine years later, and two years after the death of his father, Jonathan Plowman and Elizabeth had their joy restored with the birth of their first child, Stevenson Plowman, on June 27, 1749. His best friend was Dr. John Stevenson and his mother's maiden was also Stevenson, but no relation is thought to exist. Several more sons would follow starting two years later on September 24, 1751, when James Plowman was born. James would go on to serve in the Revolution in the Hand in Hand 4th Battalion 33rd class for the state of Maryland. Three years later, on February 13, 1754, Jonathan III named for his father and grandfather was born. A couple years later, Richard Plowman was born on December 23, 1756. Richard also served during the Revolutionary War as an
Ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...
belonging to the Soldiers Delight Battalion of the Militia in
Baltimore County Baltimore County ( , locally: or ) is the third-most populous county in the U.S. state of Maryland and is part of the Baltimore metropolitan area. Baltimore County (which partially surrounds, though does not include, the independent City of ...
. Some 2½ years later on March 12, 1759 another son was born whom they named Edward Plowman. Sometime later at an unknown date they would see the birth of their youngest son John, named for his uncle, and finally the birth of their only girl Sarah.


Merchant and land developer

During the 1750s and 1760s Jonathan Plowman and Dr. John Stevenson were the leading suppliers of indentured servants to Hampton Mansion. Through the 1750s and 1760s Jonathan Plowman signed "Jon Plowman" on the receipts of the many indentured servants that arrived in America from
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. In the book "History of Baltimore City and County" it refers to Jonathan Plowman calling him a "variety store-keep" Besides the merchant business, he also did land deals. His brother John Plowman was also involved in some of these land deals as well as having his own land deals. Stevenson was the best friend and had the same last name as Jonathan Plowman's mother. Stevenson did not arrive in America until 1734 at age 16 from
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. Ann Vickory Stevenson, Jonathan Plowman's mother, was born in
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
in 1690. There is a slight outside chance they would be related, but it can't be substantiated.


Charitable works including donation of land for church

Jonathan Plowman, a God-fearing man and devout Christian as most were in that time, donated land to establish a church near Baltimore. The Particular Baptist Gunpowder Church was established after the donation of this land on February 27, 1770. Jonathan Plowman conveyed to
pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...
John Davis, John Whitaker and Samuel Lane,
Particular Baptist Reformed Baptists (sometimes known as Particular Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists) are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation). The first Calvinist Baptist church was formed in the 1630s. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith w ...
s, a parcel of land, containing , for the sole use of a meeting house for the worship of God, forever. This fact was recounted in an act the state of
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
passed on January 22, 1829 to incorporate Particular Baptist Gunpowder Church in Baltimore County. In the 1850s Jonathan Plowman's grandson Joshua Plowman member of Black Rock Particular Baptist Church was appointed as one of the
trustee Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, is a synonym for anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility to ...
s to oversee the sale of the land which Jonathan Plowman Jr. had donated to build the Particular Baptist Gunpowder Church. The church meeting house had fallen down and the congregation broken up and all the appointed trustees were dead. Maryland legislator approved an act to allow the take over by Black Rock Baptist Church the nearest church of the same faith to sell the property and use the funds from the sale for its own needs. On July 16, 1763, Plowman and others organized a lottery to raise 510 pounds for completing the
market Market is a term used to describe concepts such as: *Market (economics), system in which parties engage in transactions according to supply and demand *Market economy *Marketplace, a physical marketplace or public market Geography *Märket, an ...
house, buy two
fire engine A fire engine (also known in some places as a fire truck or fire lorry) is a road vehicle (usually a truck) that functions as a firefighting apparatus. The primary purposes of a fire engine include transporting firefighters and water to an ...
s and a parcel of land to enlarge the
wharf A wharf, quay (, also ), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more berths (mooring locatio ...
and build a new one. In April 1767, Jonathan Plowman was part of a mission of mercy. French citizens living in the town of Fredrick town and having been neutral during the
French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the ...
now found themselves persecuted by their British neighbors. The 200 men, women and mostly children wanted to leave for French settlements on the
Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it fl ...
. They did not have the means to pay for the trip. The ships ''Virgin'' and ''Pocomoke'' owned by Jonathan Plowman and Peter Hulbert were used on the voyage to transport the 200 passengers and baggage. The voyage was publicly funded as a mission of mercy. The text does not identify which ship belonged to Jonathan Plowman and which to Peter Hulbert.


Baltimore town commissioner

In 1773, Plowman was appointed a town commissioner as part of a bigger deal to add of land on the east and southeast side of the then borders of the town of Baltimore. :The commissioners of the said Baltimore-town, and Jonathan Plowman, Isaac Vanbebber, and John Deaver, who are hereby appointed commissioners for the purposes herein mentioned, or the major part of them, do, with the consent of the proprietors of the said eighty acres of land or thereabouts, by virtue of this act, at any time they shall see convenient before the twentieth day of October next, cause the said eighty acres of land or thereabouts, to be
surveyed Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the land, terrestrial Two-dimensional space#In geometry, two-dimensional or Three-dimensional space#In Euclidean geometry, three-dimensional positions of ...
, and laid out into lots, streets, lanes and alleys, in such manner as to them shall seem convenient; and any person or persons that shall build or improve on the said eighty acres of land or thereabouts, after the same shall be laid out into lots, as by former laws relating to the said town are directed, and purchase the same from the proprietor or proprietors.


His personal conflict with the British

Plowman is listed among the bachelors of Baltimore Town age twenty five and older, who were taxed by the Maryland Assembly to pay for the
French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the ...
. On June 22, 1769, Jonathan Plowman was one of the signers of Maryland's Resolution of Non-Importation, in which he and other merchants like him promised, along with other colonies, to avoid importing items that were being taxed by
Act of Parliament Acts of Parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of law passed by the Legislature, legislative body of a jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of ...
, for the purpose of raising a revenue in America. With few exceptions, they were to avoid purchasing most things listed as from
Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
or
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
except for those produced and manufactured in
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. In October 1770 the
Maryland General Assembly The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland that convenes within the State House in Annapolis. It is a bicameral body: the upper chamber, the Maryland Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber ...
in Annapolis ordered the arrest of Jonathan Plowman and several others for failing to show up to explain why they signed a petition that was offensive to the Assembly. The petition was against the enactment of a law to hold Baltimore's election in the town of Joppa.
Smallpox Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by variola virus (often called smallpox virus) which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (WHO) c ...
was raging in Baltimore, so instead of delaying or taking other measures insuring the right to vote, the Assembly instead moved the election for Baltimore away from Baltimore. Many would therefore be unable to vote for their own town's government. The Assembly decided to swing around its power and ordered all the signers to come to Annapolis to explain their signatures on what they called a "false and scandalous Petition that reflected on the Honour, Justice and Impartiality of the House and highly derogatory of its Rights and Privileges." One decided to go and say "not me I was in
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
at the time," while another said he was in bed sick and the wife brought the petition for his signature and signed it because others had signed it first. Jonathan Plowman apparently did not go, at least not at the time ordered and what happened to this warrant is still being investigated by a genealogist, but we do know that he would continue on to yet another confrontation with Britain and have George Washington's help.


George Washington helps Jonathan Plowman

In 1771 the British would take one of Jonathan's ships for an infraction most likely involving the importation of items that hadn't been "stamp" taxed or one of the many items the British prohibited the colony's to import or export.
George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...
was asked to intercede on Jonathan Plowman Jr's behalf by the Honorable Daniel Dulany Esq, who had been mayor of Annapolis from 1764-1765. The letter to Neil Jameson reads: Original copy of the letter may be seen at http://memory.loc.gov/mss/mgw/mgw8a/124/0000/0011.jpg


Justice of the peace

Another passage found in the Maryland archives tells the story of Robert Moreton, a customs/tax collector. Apparently the merchants of Baltimore did not like the fact that he seized the cargo and ship ''Speedwell''. The story is that the ship ''Speedwell'' came up from Turk Islands and apparently against Moreton's order began to unload, because of the merchant's insistence to get the goods ashore. Moreton then informed the Captain that he had just forfeited the ship and cargo and went to Annapolis to file the papers. Upon Moreton's return a great number of merchants and masters of vessels came down to the boat with clubs and staves with intention to kill, and on that night tarred and feathered two men, who occasionally worked with Moreton, and brought them to Moreton's door with torches in their hands, and made them damn all custom house officers. At the same time the mob broke the door down, broke the windows, and forced Mrs. Moreton to take them all over the house and cellar to see if they could find Mr. Moreton. They searched every house for Moreton with their faces being black'd and disguised in sailors' jackets and trousers, but most of them were the principal merchants in Baltimore and
Fells Point Fell's Point is a historic waterfront neighborhood in southeastern Baltimore, Maryland. It was established around 1763 along the north shore of the Baltimore Harbor and the Northwest Branch of the Patapsco River. The area has many antique, music, ...
. When they could not find Moreton, they beat a drum and played a fife up to town, beating the men all the way there, and then they tied one to the stern of a boat and towed him along until he was nearly drowned. On Friday April 30, 1773 Mrs. Moreton dispatched a letter by a messenger to Annapolis which upon receipt in the evening of the same day Moreton saw the Governor, filling him in, and praying his protection and support. The Governor gave him a letter addressed to "Mr. Plowman a Merchant and a Justice of the Peace at Baltimore –" The Mob assembled again on May 1, 1773 set on burning down the house. A gentleman took pity and argued not to hurt the wife and innocent children so they put aside their intentions, but they did decide to tar and feather that man and drag him through the water instead. Moreton did return to Baltimore, but because his house was being watched Moreton went to a friend's home outside town who hid him. Mrs. Morton sent for Jonathan Plowman, and gave him the letter written by the Governor. Jonathan Plowman went to the coffee house and read it to the town. Afterwards Mr. Plowman returned with several others and told her that her husband could come home. But she told her husband not to since people still looked for him even forcing the Marshal to come look for him because they would tar and feather him if he didn't. Mr. Moreton fled to Boston, but then missed a court date to testify against one John Pitts for shooting Mr. Ross the gaoler. A side note is that his best friend and business partner Dr. John Stevenson was also an appointed justice of the peace.


Revolution

July 29, 1776 most likely included town commissioner Jonathan "Jon" Plowman with his boys, who were old enough for military service, listening to the reading of the
Declaration of Independence A declaration of independence or declaration of statehood or proclamation of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of th ...
when it arrived in Baltimore and was read to the town. His boys went to serve James in the regulars and Richard with the
Militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
. Stevenson, Jonathan III and Edward surely served as well being of age. Congress assembled in
Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
on 26 December of this year because the capital,
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
, was in British Hands. Historians have recorded that the Merchants of Baltimore including Jonathan Plowman Jr. made their ships into privateers and enriched them and the town with the spoils of British commerce. It must have felt good to get revenge for the 1771 seizure of his ship by the British. By 1778 the colonists of Baltimore gathered to sign a declaration of allegiance to the
United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...
. Jonathan Plowman signed proudly as did his sons on hand. Some were away serving the cause and names were simply written in; now the DAR ( Daughters of the Revolution) won't accept this as proof of service. This same year many factories were established in and around the Baltimore area to provide the goods that the merchants like Plowman could no longer get from abroad and had been prohibited from making in the Americas by the British. Life for merchants such as Jonathan Plowman was hard, with a requirement to register their ships in Annapolis before leaving or arriving in Baltimore. In 1780 they finally rectified this hardship with a Customs Office in Baltimore. In September 1781, General
George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...
passed through Baltimore, on his way to Yorktown; on which occasion the town was illuminated, and an address presented on behalf of the citizens. Jonathan Plowman and his fellow merchants stepped in again when, on the march south,
Lafayette Lafayette or La Fayette may refer to: People * Lafayette (name), a list of people with the surname Lafayette or La Fayette or the given name Lafayette * House of La Fayette, a French noble family ** Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757� ...
's detachment passed through so destitute that a £2000 credit from the merchants was given to obtain clothing for them on Lafayette's account. The ladies were, as usual, active in the matter, and the detachment was soon comfortably clad. On February 6, 1782 Richard Plowman Ensign, belonging to the Soldiers Delight Battalion of Militia in Baltimore County, along with others were on hand at the assembly to collect the Battalion's pay. On April 21, 1783, a suspension of hostilities with Great Britain was celebrated by all.


The family after the war

1783 tax rolls for Baltimore show how well Jonathan Plowman and his family were doing. All were listed in the BA Pipe Creek Hundred. Twenty-four-year-old son Edward owned in the aptly named Plowman's Park. Thirty-two-year-old son James owned in Jonathan's Meadow. Son John owned in Plowman's Fancy. Son Jonathan Plowman III, 29, owned and Jonathan Plowman himself owned also in Plowman's Park. Seems to show that many of his sons had gone into the family business of developing land.Maryland Online Archives Son Richard would show up in Pennsylvania's tax records owning in 1789 in Huntingdon County.Pennsylvania Online Archives From 1800 on more of the family would move to Pennsylvania as well spreading across
Huntingdon Huntingdon is a market town in the Huntingdonshire district in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was given its town charter by King John in 1205. It was the county town of the historic county of Huntingdonshire. Oliver Cromwell was born there ...
, Blair and Bedford County, most living in or near the cities of Altoona and Holidaysburg. Many descendants still live there. Thomas Price Plowman would move to Kansas and had nieces and nephews follow later as well. Some family members remained in Baltimore and would fight to defend the town from the British once again during the War of 1812. The 1790 census finds four Plowman heads of household all living in the Patapsco lower hundred. Sons Edward, James, and Jonathan Plowman III who is misidentified as an Also Jonathan Plowman is listed as a head of household. Jonathan Plowman died at age 78 in October 1795.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plowman, Jonathan American revolutionaries 1717 births 1795 deaths People of Maryland in the American Revolution People of colonial Maryland American privateers