Thomas Contee (–1811) of "Brookefield", near Nottingham, Prince George's County, Maryland, was an American patriot who held the rank of colonel, militia man, politician, planter.

Early life

Thomas Contee was born at "Brookefield" in

Prince George's County, Maryland ) , demonym = Prince Georgian , ZIP codes = 20607–20774 , area codes = 240, 301 , founded date = April 23 , founded year = 1696 , named for = Prince George of Denmark , leader_title = Executive , leader_name = Angela D. Alsobroo ...

around 1729 to Alexander Contee (1693–1740) and Jane Brooke (1702–1779).

Family

Contee married Sarah Fendall (1732–1793) in 1751 in Charles County, Maryland. They resided at "Brookefield", which is now called "The Valley", near Nottingham, Prince George's Co., Maryland. Sarah (Fendall) Contee (1732–1793), was the daughter of Benjamin Fendall I, Esq. (1708–1764) and first wife, Eleanor Lee (1710–1759). Sarah was born February 7, 1732, at " Potomoe", Charles County., Maryland. Sarah was described as a very beautiful woman with a wealth of golden hair; Contee left a portrait which reveals a mild, handsome face, powdered hair, ruffled shirt and stock.Warfield, J. D., p265 ''The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties Maryland''
Retrieved August 2, 2010 Contee inherited through his mother, the estate "Brookefield", the original home of his ancestor, Maj. Thomas Brooke, Sr., Esq. (1632–1676). Contee was a merchant by 1764, and was an attorney in fact for William Molleson, of London, England in 1766. He was engaged in a tobacco trade business with Capt. Fielder Bowie (ca. 1745–1794), which imported large quantities of goods until the firm disbanded in 1775. Contee had management of a store at Pig Point in Bristol in southern Anne Arundel County from 1772 to 1775, and was an agent for his sons Alexander and Benjamin, in Nottingham, and Upper Marlboro.

Children

# Alexander Contee (1752–1810), who never married. # Capt. Benjamin Contee, Rev., Hon. (1755–1815), who married

Sarah Russell Lee Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch and prophetess, a major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a pious ...

(1766–1810), daughter of Philip Thomas Lee (1736–1778) and Ann Russell (d. 1777). # Eleanor Lee Contee (1758–1786), who married Dr. Michael Wallace, Jr., Esq. (1749–1794). #

Jane Contee Jane may refer to: * Jane (given name), a feminine given name * Jane (surname), related to the given name Film and television * ''Jane'' (1915 film), a silent comedy film directed by Frank Lloyd * ''Jane'' (2016 film), a South Korean drama fil ...

(1761–1825), who married William Worthington (1747–1820). #

Sarah Contee Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch and prophetess, a major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a pious ...

(1767–1844), who married David Slater (ca. 1763).

Revolutionary War

During the Revolutionary period he took a conspicuous position. He was chairman of various meetings of the citizens in Marlboro, was member of the

House of Burgesses (Maryland) The House of Burgesses was the elected representative element of the Virginia General Assembly, the legislative body of the Colony of Virginia. With the creation of the House of Burgesses in 1642, the General Assembly, which had been established ...

, a delegate to the first convention held at Annapolis in 1770, and was one of the signers of the Declaration of Association of Freeman of Maryland in 1775. In September of the same year he was elected to the

Committee of Observation In the American Revolution, committees of correspondence, committees of inspection (also known as committees of observation), and committees of safety were different local committees of Patriots that became a shadow government; they took control ...

. Too old for active duty, Contee in 1776 was commissioned a Major of Militia by the Council of Safety and instructed to inspect the newly raised troops and to aid in the equipment of the volunteer forces. In November 1776, he was elected a member of the Council of Safety which continued to act until March 20, 1777, when the new state government was organized. He was sent to Philadelphia to confer with the

Continental Congress The Continental Congress was a series of legislative bodies, with some executive function, for thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America, and the newly declared United States just before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War. ...

as to the proper organization of the army and the general plans for defense. Contee also served as Chairman of the Patuxent Associators.

Public service

Contee was elected to the state legislature and for many years was chairman of the Republican Party in Prince George's County. Contee was a vestryman for St. Pauls's Parish, Prince George's County. In 1811, at the time of his death, Contee had amassed in Prince George's, Baltimore, and Frederick counties, 4 lots in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, plus in Kentucky. His estate was valued at $9,167.75, including 19 slaves, books, and silver. A picture of Col. Contee shows a mild, handsome face and powdered hair. According to the 1790 census, Contee owned 25 slaves. Contee' older sister Jane Hanson, married John Hanson (1721–1783), of "Mulberry Grove", who some say was the first President of the United States. On November 5, 1781, he was elected by a large majority, President of the Congress and in 1782, as head of the new nation, issued letters of marque to prey upon the British Commerce. These commissions were signed "John Hanson, President"; from which fact he is spoken of as the first President of the United States.

Ancestry

His mother was the daughter of Col. Thomas Brooke, Jr., Hon. (1660–1730) of "

Brookefield Brookefield is a neighbourhood of Bangalore. Established in the late 19th century as a settlement for the Eurasians of Bangalore. It is a wealthy area, with high real estate prices and relatively new commercial roads such as ITPL road. IT C ...

", President of Maryland and his second wife,

Barbara Dent Barbara may refer to: People * Barbara (given name) * Barbara (painter) (1915–2002), pseudonym of Olga Biglieri, Italian futurist painter * Barbara (singer) (1930–1997), French singer * Barbara Popović (born 2000), also known mononymously ...

(1676–1754). Col. Thomas Brooke, Jr., was the son of Maj. Thomas Brooke, Sr., Esq. (1632–1676), of "

", and Eleanor (Hatton) Darnall (1642–1745), who married secondly Col. Henry Darnall, Sr. (1645–1711). His father was the son of Dr. Peter Contee (d. 1714), of

Barnstaple Barnstaple ( or ) is a river-port town in North Devon, England, at the River Taw's lowest crossing point before the Bristol Channel. From the 14th century, it was licensed to export wool and won great wealth. Later it imported Irish wool, bu ...

, Devonshire, England, and his first wife Catherine. Peter immigrated in about 1703 and resided in Charles County, before taking up permanent residence in Prince George's County. Peter was a surgeon, and married secondly, Francis (?) Hopkins. Francis was the widow of Capt. William Hopkins (d. 1702). Peter Contee was the son of Adolphe de Conti and his wife Grace. Adolphe was a Huguenot who immigrated to England from France during the reign of Louis XIII, King of France (1601–1643). The motto under his Arms in Guild Hall, London is, "pour dieu et mon roi" ("for God and my king"). His father was born in April 1693, in Barnstaple, Devonshire, England. He immigrated around 1703, and resided in Charles County about 1720. He joined his uncle, Col. John Contee (d. 1708), who though married twice, had no children, and whose will provided liberally for Alexander. Alexander was a prosperous merchant at Nottingham Prince George's Co., Clerk of the Court; and from 1720 to 1724, member of the Lower House of the General Assembly. He was a vestryman of St. Paul's Parish. He married about 1720, Jane Brooke. Jane inherited a portion of "Brookefield", her father's estate. "Brookefield", also known as "The Valley", and was located near Nottingham in Prince George's County. At the time of his death on December 24, 1740, Alexander had amassed at least of land, and his estate was valued at 1,613.2.11 pounds sterling, plus 3,827.19.8 pounds current money. This included 32 slaves, 2 servants, books, and clerk's writing equipment. Alexander's will contained a heraldic shield only, with a chevron on which are charges and beasts in dexter, middle and sinister chief and middle base. The arms of the Conte of Montulle, Normandy, contain a chevron and three mullets described as "Azure chevron or between three mullets or". The Contees came to Maryland from England, but they were of French descent Huguenots, who emigrated to Barnstable, in Devonshire, to escape the religious persecutions which culminated in the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The name originally de Conti, appears among the French nobility from a very early date. As far back as 1375, Isabella, dame de Conti, married Colard de Mailly. Their great granddaughter married in 1551, Louis I, Prince de Conde, a cadet of the Bourbons who ascended the French throne in the person of Henry IV, King of France and Navare (1553–1610). The second son of this latter marriage, Francois de Bourbon, was Prince de Conti, but had no issue and the title was revived from Armand de Bourbon, a cadet of the great Conde but expired for lack of male issue. The Vicomte de Conti arms are identical with those of the Rochelle family and also with those of the Marquis de Graviers, Comte de Noirant (of Normandy) and Baron de Conti (of Orange).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Contee, Thomas People from Nottingham, Maryland Members of the Maryland House of Delegates Maryland militiamen in the American Revolution Fendall family People of colonial Maryland People of Maryland in the American Revolution American planters 1729 births 1811 deaths 18th-century American politicians American slave owners Contee family