Thomas Contee

Thomas Contee (1729–1811) of "Brookefield", near Nottingham, Prince George's County, Maryland. An American patriot who held the rank of colonel, militia man, politician, planter.

Thomas married Sarah Fendall (1732–1793) in 1751 in Charles County, Maryland. Thomas and Sarah resided at "Brookefield", which is now called "The Valley", near Nottingham, Prince George's Co., Maryland.

Sarah (Fendall) Contee (1732–1793), was the daughter of Benjamin Fendall I, Esq. (1708–1764) and first wife, Eleanor Lee (1710–1759). Sarah was born February 7, 1732 at "Potomoe", Charles County., Maryland. Sarah was described as a very beautiful woman with a wealth of golden hair; Thomas Contee left a portrait which reveals a mild, handsome face, powdered hair, ruffled shirt and stock.

Thomas inherited through his mother, the estate "Brookefield", the original home of his ancestor, Maj. Thomas Brooke, Sr., Esq. (1632–1676). Thomas was a merchant by 1764, and was an attorney in fact for William Molleson, of London, England in 1766. He was engaged in a tobacco trade business with Capt. Fielder Bowie (ca. 1745–1794), which imported large quantities of goods until the firm disbanded in 1775. Thomas had management of a store at Pig Point in Bristol in southern Anne Arundel County from 1772–1775, and was an agent for his sons Alexander and Benjamin, in Nottingham, and Upper Marlboro.

During the Revolutionary period he took a conspicuous position. He was chairman of various meetings of the citizens in Marlboro, was member of the House of Burgesses (Maryland), a delegate to the first convention held at Annapolis in 1770, and was one of the signers of the Declaration of Association of Freeman of Maryland in 1775. In September of the same year he was elected to the Committee of Observation. Too old for active duty, Thomas in 1776 was commissioned a Major of Militia by the Council of Safety and instructed to inspect the newly raised troops and to aid in the equipment of the volunteer forces. In November 1776, he was elected a member of the Council of Safety which continued to act until March 20, 1777, when the new state government was organized. He was sent to Philadelphia to confer with the Continental Congress as to the proper organization of the army and the general plans for defense. Thomas also served as Chairman of the Patuxent Associators.

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