William Rumsey (218)

William Rumsey (c.1730–January 1777) was a landowner, businessmen, slaveholder, and public officeholder, and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1768. Born in Cecil County to an affluent family, a youthful Rumsey inherited his family’s considerable estate--a farm of 600 acres, a great house with 30 rooms, and enslaved families--when his father died in 1742. Rumsey continued to grow the landholding and business that his father began, expanding his interests to Fredericktown, Charlestown, and counted a brewery among his portfolio of growing investments. While not radical in terms of American Independence, he signed Annapolis’ Non-Importation Agreement in 1769, and in 1776, was elected to serve as Cecil County’s delegate to the Provincial Convention at Annapolis. Elected to serve on the Council of Safety later that year, he declined by explaining his community’s welfare, safety, and his business interests, demanded his attention. Whether events would have eventually galvanized Rumsey to action, history will never know. He died unexpectedly in 1777, the rare victim of an errant bullet fired fired by an honor guard at a military funeral. His children inherited his considerable estate. (PI)