The Gantt Family
Julia Gantt, mother of
Benjamin, was the daughter of Patrick and Rachel Gantt. She was born between 1859[i]
and 1864[ii]
in Maryland, as were her parents. As with her husband Daniel, the month of
birth was shown as “unknown” on the 1900 census[iii]
and no day of birth was uncovered during research. Once again, we could assume Julia was born into
slavery as no month was reported on the census.
The Gantt family lived
in Election District 2 of Calvert County, Maryland. Julia’s father was Patrick
Gantt born about 1822 in Maryland,[iv]
to parents also from Maryland.[v] Rachel, her mother, was born about 1824 in
Maryland,[vi]
also to parents from Maryland.[vii] Four children were found in the census
records, two boys and two girls: Thomas, Alexander, Sarah, and Julia. The
eldest child, Thomas, was born in Maryland about 1849[viii]
placing Rachel and Patrick’s union most likely in the mid to late 1840s. No marriage records were located for Patrick
and Rachel (whose maiden name was also not located).
The surname Gantt has
ties to a colonial Maryland family. Many former slaves, but not all, took the
surname of their former master when they were freed.[ix] The Gantt family of southern Maryland begun
with Thomas and Ann Gantt who immigrated to Maryland c. 1654.[x]
The name is still a predominate one in Calvert, Prince George, Charles, and St.
Marys counties.
 |
| 1880 census for Patrick Gantt. Next-door is his son Thomas and his family. 1880. United States. District 3, Calvert County, Maryland. ED 37. p. 15(written). http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 February 2018 |
Neither Patrick or
Rachel were located on the 1900 census, leading to the conclusion they died
between the 1880 and 1900 censuses.
Without the 1890 census, or a death certificate, the window of time
cannot be decreased. No tombstones were found either in Calvert, or the
surrounding Counties, nor in Baltimore. Also, no death cards were found for
either in the Vital Records Index at the Maryland State Archives.[xi]
[i] Census.
1870. United States. District 2, Calvert County, Maryland. Roll: M593_581. p.
63(written). http://www.ancestry.com
: accessed 6 February 2018.
[ii] Census.
1910. United States. Baltimore (City), Maryland. ED 276. p. 7B (written). http://www.ancestry.com
: accessed 6 February 2018.
[iii] Census.
1900. United States. Baltimore (City), Maryland. ED 235. p. 156A (stamped). http://www.ancestry.com
: accessed 6 February 2018.
[v] Census.
1880. United States. District 3, Calvert County, Maryland. ED 37. p.
15(written). http://www.ancestry.com
: accessed 6 February 2018.
[vi] Census.
1870. United States. District 2, Calvert County, Maryland. Roll: M593_581. p.
63(written). http://www.ancestry.com
: accessed 6 February 2018.
[vii] Census.
1880. United States. District 3, Calvert County, Maryland. ED 37. p.
15(written). http://www.ancestry.com
: accessed 6 February 2018.
[viii] Census.
1870. United States. District 2, Calvert County, Maryland. Roll: M593_581. p.
63(written). http://www.ancestry.com
: accessed 6 February 2018. Census.
1880. United States. District 3, Calvert County, Maryland. ED 37. p.
15(written). http://www.ancestry.com
: accessed 6 February 2018
[ix] Facing
History and Ourselves. Changing Names:
Races in US History. https://www.facinghistory.org/reconstruction-era/changing-names
: accessed 28 February 2018.
[x] Barnes,
Robert William. (2007) Colonial Families
of Maryland: Bound and Determined to Succeed. Baltimore, Maryland:
Clearfield Company. p.96.
[xi] The Maryland
State Archives. Maryland State Archives
Vital Records Indexing Project. http://vitalrec.msa.maryland.gov
: accessed 10 February 2018.
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