Stone, Thomas, 1743-1787

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Thomas Stone (1743 – October 5, 1787) was an American Founding Father, planter, politician, and lawyer who signed the United States Declaration of Independence as a delegate for Maryland. He later worked on the committee that formed the Articles of Confederation in 1777. He acted as president of Congress for a short time in 1784. Stone was a member of the Maryland Senate from 1777 to 1780 and again from 1781 to 1787.

Born at Poynton Manor in Charles County, Maryland, Stone was educated by a Scottish school-master and later studied law at the office of Thomas Johnson. He was admitted to the Bar in 1764 and set up practice in Frederick Maryland. He was a prosperous landowner and moderately successful lawyer. As the American Revolution neared, Stone joined the Committee of correspondence for Charles County. From 1774 to 1776, he was a member of Maryland's Annapolis Convention. In 1775, the convention sent Stone as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was re-elected and attended regularly for several years. On May 15, 1776, he voted in favor of drafting a declaration of independence, in spite of restrictions from the Maryland convention that prevented their delegates from supporting it. In June the restriction was lifted, so Maryland's delegates were free to vote for Independence.

After Stone signed the Declaration of Independence, he declined future appointment to the Congress, except for part of 1784, when the meetings were at Annapolis. Stone accepted election to the Maryland Senate from 1779 until 1785, at first in order to promote the Articles of Confederation, which Maryland was the last state to approve. He gave up the practice of law to care for his sick wife and their growing children. As her health continued to decline, he gradually withdrew from public life. After his wife's death in 1787, he became depressed and died less than four months later in Alexandria, Virginia. Stone was buried at his plantation home, which still stands.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Sir Hans Sloane, Baronet: Original correspondence, chronologically arranged: 17th-18th centt.includes:ff. 1-26 b Mary Somerset, wife of Henry, 1st Duke of Beaufort: Letters to Sir H. Sloane: n.d.ff. 27-33 John Sommers, Baron Sommers; Lord Chancel... British Library
creatorOf Gwathmey collection, 1708-1852 University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Stone family papers, 1730-1863 (bulk 1770-1800). Library of Congress
referencedIn Vol. vi. Jan.-Nov. 1776.Sir John Mcpherson, Member of the Council, afterwards Governor-General of India: Letters to W. Hastings: 1772-1786.Sir Elijah Impey, Chief Justice of Bengal: Correspondence with W. Hastings: 1775-1808.Thomas Goddard, General: ... British Library
referencedIn Henry A. Willard II Collection, 1743-1888, (bulk 1770-1840) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Stone, Thomas, 1743-1787. Letter to Matthew Tilghman, 1776 September 4. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952,. Signers of the Declaration of Independence autograph collection, 1756-1818. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Vol. CCCCXVI (ff. 423). 11-31 July 1846.includes:f. 1 Charles Alexander, son of Alexander, self-styled Earl of Stirling: Letter to Sir R. Peel: 1846.f. 5 Madame E-Baudier, of Paris: Letter to Sir R. Peel: 1846.: Fr.f. 7 Mrs Mary Anne Hamilton,... British Library
referencedIn Vol. X. (IX. ff. 420). 1 May-15 June, 1799.includes:ff. 1, 11, 13, 6-69, 85, 91 , 107-113, 131, 133, 141, 146-149, 63, 165, 168, 170, 220, 295, 297 Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge: Correspondence with Lord Nelson: 1797 -1800. ff. 5, 54-58, 87, 93, 13... British Library
creatorOf Stone, Thomas, 1743-1787. AD, 1786 November 9 : [s.l.]. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Signers collection, 1770-1826. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Stone, Thomas, 1743-1787. AL, [1786], Annapolis, to Michael Stone. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Letters and documents of signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1750-1933. Houghton Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Houghton Library printed book provenance file, R-Z and unidentified Houghton Library
referencedIn CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS, Bart., P.R.S., mainly relating to his estate at Revesby, co. Lincoln, and the surrounding district; 16 Apr. 1790-10 Oct. 1812, n.d. Some copies and autogr. drafts of letters from him are included. Names ... British Library
creatorOf Stone, Thomas, 1743-1787. ALS, 1783 Dec. 3, to Walter Stone. Rosenbach Museum & Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Ellis, George B. person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Hargraves, George. person
associatedWith Houghton Library. person
associatedWith Hubbard, John, collector. person
nieceOrNephewOf Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas, 1723-1790 person
associatedWith Longacre, James Barton, 1794-1869. person
memberOf Maryland. General Assembly. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952, person
sibling of Stone, John Hoskins, 1745-1804. person
sibling of Stone, Michael Jenifer, 1747-1812, person
associatedWith Stone, Walter. person
associatedWith Tilghman, Matthew, person
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
associatedWith Willard, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1902- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Frederick MD US
Annapolis MD US
Alexandria VA US
Charles County MD US
Port Tobacco MD US
Subject
Agriculture
Paper money
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Lawyers
Planter
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1743

Death 1787-10-05

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

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