A statewide tax assessment was taken in 1783. The tax assessment record details the structures, number of inhabitants, slaves, livestock, and personal property for taxation purposes. The East New Market area was part of the Middle District Hundred, which combined the Tranquakin Hundred and Little Choptank Hundred.
In 1783 the sole properties that comprised present day East New Market were owned by John Anderton and James Sulivane and leased by William Trippe (a small lot from Anderton).
See the 1783 Tax Assessment Analysis for a detailed analysis of the possible current and former locations of the structures detailed in the tax records below.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true list of all the
property in the middle district consisting of Transquakin & Little
Choptank Hundreds except my own property taken and assessed by me
Witness my hand this_ day of June Anno Dom 1783
John Marshall Assr. Middle District
Commission of the Tax - Robt Harrison, Henry Hooper, Joseph Ennalls.
John Anderton -
Anderton owned 344 acres described as "Adventure Desire at Bath, resurveyed on Bath" (Anderton's Desire). He also owned 6 adjoining acres described as part of "Cathergenia at Bath" (Carthagena). In 1783, the following improvements were on the combined 350 acres : 1 brick dwelling, 1 brick kitchen, 1 brick quarter, 1 brick mill house, 2 frame barns, 5 logged houses, 1 little house, and 1 good garden & orchard. The land was situated inland with 200 acres arable and 150 acres wooded. The soil was poor sandy & clay and the value was 525£.
Anderton also owned 50 acres known as both Buck land (Buckland) and Debate Inlarged (Debate Enlarged). In 1783, the following structures were on this land: 1 good frame dwelling house, 1 brick kitchen, 3 logged houses, 1 logged dwelling house & store house, 1 granary, 1 smith shop, and 1 old garden. The land was situated in New Market, with 46 arable acres, and 4 acres of meadow. The soil is clay and the value was 300£.
Anderton also owned 321 acres called Lecomptes Ramble. This land was about 2 miles southeast of present day East New Market. 1 old framed dwelling house, and 1 logged house was on this land in 1783.
In 1783, 3 white inhabitants lived on Anderton's properties as did 7 slaves under age 8, 4 slaves age 8 to 14, 7 male slaves age 14 to 45, 1 female slave age 14 to 36, and 2 old slaves (males over 45 & females over 36). Two of the slaves were infirm. Anderton had 14 horses, 31 black cattle, and 92£ of other property.
James Sulivane -
Sulivane owned the New Market tract which contained 897 3/4 acres in 1783. The following improvements were on the tract: 1 framed dwelling house, 4 small houses, 1 carriage house, 1 brick house, 4 logged houses, and 2 orchards. The land was situated in New Market. The soil was clay with 450 arable acres, and 447 3/4 wooded acres. The value was 1200£.
Sulivane also owned 100 acres called Littleton's Last Shift. This property was described as situated in New Market, but was actually a mile or two south of the present day town. There were no structures on this property. The soil was clay, 40 acres were arable, and 60 acres were wooded. The value was 100£.
Sulivane also owned 20 more acres called Addition to York which adjoined the south part of his New Market tract. There were no structures on this property. The soil was clay and all 20 acres were arable.
In 1783, 9 white inhabitants lived on Sulivane's New Market tract as did 9 slaves under age 8, 3 slaves age 8 to 14, 5 male slaves age 14 to 45, 3 female slave age 14 to 36, and 5 old slaves (males over 45 & females over 36). Sulivane had 19 horses, 34 black cattle, and 244£ of other property.
William Trippe -
In 1780 Trippe began leasing a small lot in New Market from John Anderton. A deed describes the lot as 30 feet by 100 feet beginning at the southeast corner of an Anderton dwelling house. Trippe owned other land in Dorchester County and Talbot County, so noting the inhabitants would not be useful for analyzing this small lot in New Market. The lot in New Market had 1 small old framed house. Trippe may have operated a store at this location.
Nearby
Nearby, John Hutcherson owned land that is now part of the East New Market depot area and the east part of Railroad Avenue. Col. John Dickerson owned land just east of New Market stretching from the back edge of the lots on the west side of Main Street all the way to Secretary. Theophilus Marshall owned land southeast of New Market. John Marshall also owned land southeast of New Market, but since he compiled the 1783 assessment list for the Middle District Hundred, he was not allowed to assess his own property.
Col. John Dickinson -
Dickinson owned a 640 acre part of Carthageny (Carthagena), 10 acres of Andertons Desire at Bath for a total of 650 acres. On his land, he had 1 brick dwelling house, 1 old frame kitchen, 3 old quarters, 2 stables, and a garden. The land was situated on Secretary Creek with 200 arable acres, 400 wooded acres, and 50 acres of marsh. The soil was sandy and the value of the property is 812£.
8 white inhabitants lived on Dickinson's property as did 9 slaves under age 8, 11 slaves age 8 to 14, 4 male slaves age 14 to 45, 8 female slaves age 14 to 36, and 7 old slaves (males over 45 & females over 36). Dickinson had 11 horses, 21 black cattle, and 68£ of other property.
John Hutchinson -
Hutchinson owed 377 acres called Ridgeland (Ridgyland). On this land was 1 old frame dwelling house. The land was situated inland near New Market with sandy clay soil.
7 white inhabitants lived on Hutcherson's property along with 2 male slaves age 14 to 45. Hutchinson had 4 horses, 8 black cattle, and 10£ of other property.
Theophilus Marshall -
Marshall owned a 36 3/4 acre part of Cartheginia. On this land were old 2 logged houses. The property is situated inland with 10 arable acres, and 26 3/4 wooded acres. It has clay soil and is valued at 27£. He also owned 26 wooded acres called Marshall's Venture and 189 1/4 wooded acres called Marshall's Chance. No structures were on these properties.
4 white inhabitants lived on Marshall's property along with 1 male slaves age 14 to 45 and 1 older slave. Marshall had 3 horses, 1 black cattle, and 25£ of other property.
An index with limited data for the 1783 Assessment Record for Dorchester County is available online from the Maryland State Archives.