A fresh look at Revolutionary War enrollment records in Charles County, Maryland, in 1776-1777 begs the question of whether there were two Benjamin Maddoxes of similar age in the same county at the time. Benjamin Maddoxes appear in two separate companies, highlighted below. If they’re distinguishable, it could open new genealogical pathways down the line – and maybe help us document the father of our ancestor Benjamin Maddox (1776-1855).

But it’s possible that the two Benjamins are the same man. If one of the units was part of the all-volunteer Continental Army, then the same Benjamin Maddox could have appeared on the volunteer unit’s roll as well as the roll for his obligatory militia service.

Captain Francis Mastin’s militia company, Charles County, Maryland, enlisted on 19 March 1776:

• Noah Maddocks (enlisted on 27 July 1776)
• Samuell Maddox (enlisted on 27 July 1776)
• William Maddox
• Ignatious Maddox [enrolled on 8 August 1776; died in January 1777 in illness according to his will, possibly after fighting in the January 1777 Battle of Princeton.]
• In 1776 this company included Maddox relative Humphrey Posey (misspelled “Dossy” on later records) as a Corporal. By 1781 Posey was promoted to Ensign. Benjamin Maddox (I)’s daughter Mary was the wife of Humphrey Posey.  Benjamin Maddox (II), brother-in-law, was the executor of Humphrey Posey’s will in 1784.

Captain Francis Mastin’s militia company, 26th Battalion, Charles County, Maryland, enrolled in 1777 (originally a voluntary unit in 1776, this would now include compulsory enrollees):

• Saml. Madox (enlisted on 27 July 1776)
• Rhody Maddox
• George Maddox
• Benj. Maddox
• James Maddox
• Jno. Maddox
• Leonard Maddox
• Noah Maddox (enlisted on 27 July 1776)
• In addition to these Maddoxes, numerous related families were enrolled in Mastin’s company, including Poseys, Lucketts, Woodwards, and Speakes. Humphrey Posey may be misspelled as “Nehmp: Posey” on later records. Samuel Luckett was a Lieutenant.

Captain Walter Hanson’s militia company, 12th Battalion, Charles County, Maryland, enrolled in 1777:

• Benjamin Maddox
• Cornelius Maddox
• In addition to these Maddoxes, a few Luckitts were enrolled in Captain Hanson’s company.

Captain Robert Sinnett’s militia company, 26th Battalion, Charles County, Maryland, enrolled in 1777:

• Thos. Maddox

Captain Jno. Hanson’s militia company, 12th Battalion, Charles County, Maryland, enrolled in 1777:

• Henry Maddocke
• Notley Maddocke (a later report of Musters of Maryland Troops, Vol. 3, indicates Notley Maddox died of wounds on 16 September 1778 while in the Third Regiment)

Captain John Thomas’s militia company, 12th Battalion, Charles County, Maryland, enrolled in 1777:

• Nathan Maddox

Return of the drafts from Charles County who were drafted the 11th and 12th June, 1781:

• Allison Maddox (son of Ignatius Maddox; buried in Maddox Cemetery in Woodbridge, Va.)

These lists are not perfect and are not all-inclusive. For example, we know based on separate records that our relative Walter Maddox served in the company of a Captain John Courts Jones, part of the Princess Ann Battalion mustered in Somerset County (according to the National Archives, John Courts Jones of Charles County, Md., was a planter who began the Revolution as a second lieutenant in the 1st Maryland Battalion of the Flying Camp and ended the war as a captain, serving as aide-de-camp to Maj. Gen. William Smallwood from 1779 to 1783). The regiment was mostly recruited from the western counties of Maryland. Walter enlisted on 9 March 1777 and was killed in action at Monmouth on 28 June 1778.

Another Maddox, Thomas Maddux Jr., served as a Second Lieutenant in Captain John Jones’ company, part of the Princess Ann Battalion, mustered in Somerset County.

Source: The Maryland Militia in the Revolutionary War, Heritage Books, 2006, pp. 100; 112; 158-164.