See also Sarah Young, Clement Young, George Young, Rosette & Peter Dodson, Samuel Green.
Since Henry Nicols refers to Maria as a negro girl rather than woman in his Will, she is thought to have been relatively young at the time. Perhaps she was to gain her freedom at a certain age, such as 16 or 21. Henry Nicols freed several slaves in his Will. The item that frees Maria is followed by another item that frees George. Later in the Will, we learn that George is a child of Sarah Young. Perhaps Maria is also a child of Sarah Young.
1 THH 27 - 15 March 1832 / 21 March 1832 - Will of Henry
Nicols
Item - I give and bequeath unto Emily A. Green, daughter of Nathanial E.
Green, negro girl Maria to serve her until the first day of January
1841, who shall then be free.
Searching the 1850 Census in Dorchester County for a black woman named Maria who was born between 1810 and 1830, several possibilities were found. Some of the more likely possibilities were Ann Maria (b. 1827), wife of Stephen Camper; Maria (b. 1815), wife of Joe Cephus; Maria (b. 1824), wife of Charles Hughes; and Maria (b. 1810), wife of Robert Stanley. Some of the negroes listed in the Will of Henry Nicols lived near and were associated with the Camper, Cephus, Hughes, and Stanley families.
2 WJ 114 - 20 August 1844 - Sarah Young, Rossett M Dodson & Peter Dodson, her husband, Clem Young & Rossett, his wife, and George Young to Jeffry Stanley, William Parker, Clem Young, Richard Moore, Peter Dodson, Charles Hughes, and Samuel Green, Trustees for the colored peoples Methodist Episcopal Church for East New Market...
Charles Hughes lived on property near Creamery Road in East New Market. This is near some of the land that Sarah Young was bequeathed. The Camper, Cephus, and Stanley families also lived nearby. However, Stephen Camper, Joe Cephus, and Robert Stanley were not individuals known to be specifically associated with the local area. In addition, Maria, the wife of Charles Hughes would have been about 16 years old on the 1st of January 1841.
The data provided is far from conclusive that the Maria mentioned in the Will of Henry Nicols is the daughter of Sarah Young and/or is the wife of Charles Hughes. However, these conclusions are a "best guess" at this time considering the limited information available.
1850 Census, Dorchester County, 7 September 1850 Dwelling #1222, Household #1225 name age color occupation place of birth Charles Hughes 35 black laborer Maryland Maria 26 black Maryland W.H. 6 black Maryland John 5 black Maryland Sarah 4 black Maryland Charlesinca 3 black Maryland Josephine 2 black Maryland Nancy 1m black Maryland
1852-1864 Tax Record - Dorchester County
Charles Hughes
house & lot 5 1/2 acres $150
Since Maria is not listed with Charles Hughes in the 1860 Census, she likely passed away before 1860. She may have died in childbirth when Cyrus/Silas was born in 1858.
1860 Census, Dorchester County Dwelling #741, Household #706 name age color occupation place of birth Charles Hughes 40 black laborer Maryland Ann Hughes 13 black Maryland John Hughes 19 black Maryland Harrison Hughes 5 black Maryland Cyrus Hughes 2 black Maryland
1867-1876 Tax Record - Dorchester County
Charles Hughes (colored)
1869 - part of Carthagenia 9 acres $180
1870 Census, Dorchester County Dwelling #336, Household #246 name age color occupation place of birth Charles Hughes 53 black laborer Maryland Nina Hughes 18 black Maryland Silas Hughes 17 black laborer Maryland Harrison Hughes 15 black laborer Maryland
1876 Tax Record - Dorchester County
Charles Hughes (colored)
Dwelling house & lot in ENM 5 acres - $250
2 hogs - $10, 1 bed & H furniture $25
Total $285
1880 Census, Dorchester County name age color occupation birth father mother Charles Hughes 55 black farmer Maryland MD MD Nina Hughes 30 black Maryland MD MD John E. Hughes 9 black Maryland MD MD Ella E. Hughes 4 black Maryland MD MD Robinson Thornton 35 black Virginia VA VA