Joseph Wood

During the War of 1812 he fought for the British and his freedom

(circa 1792 – )

Joseph Wood of St. Mary’s County was originally enslaved by John Rousby Plater at Sotterley. At the age of 22, Joseph was one of the 49 enslaved who escaped to British forces anchored in the Patuxent River during the War of 1812. For the duration of the war, the British offered freedom to any enslaved individual who made it to British lines.

In John Rousby Plater’s claim for reparations after the war, Joseph Wood was listed at 22 years of age and appraised at $600. In June of 1814, Joseph Wood and three other enslaved men escaped and boarded the British ship H.M.S. Lorie. These four men also helped others at Sotterley and the surrounding area escape to freedom in the summer of 1814.

Many who escaped to freedom also joined the British war effort. Joseph Wood supported the British by enrolling in the Colonial Marines. Following his service, Joseph was given land in Trinidad. Joseph was one of only two from the 49 who escaped from Sotterley to be given land following their service in the British forces.

Additional Resources

Maryland State Archives, Sotterley Plantation (Images of America) by Jeanne K. Pirtle.

Historic Sotterley, www.sotterley.org

The Slaves’ Gamble: Choosing Sides in the War of 1812: Smith, Gene Allen, St. Martin’s Press, 2013.