Mareen Duvall the Younger's childhood

Mareen Duvall the Younger, son of Mareen Duvall the Emigrant and Susannah Brasseur, is a direct ancestor of Ellis Duvall.  He was born about 1680 (he swore in a deposition in 1726 that he was then 46 years of age) at "Middle Plantation", South River Hundred, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  His mother died when he was only 12 years of age.  His father soon remarried and there is substantial evidence that the children were not fond of their stepmother, Mary Stanton.  Soon after his marriage to Mary Stanton, Mareen Duvall the Emigrant died, leaving Mareen the Younger an orphan to be raised by his stepmother when he was only 14 years old.  It wasn't long before Mary Stanton remarried to the prominent Colonel Ridgely.  Mareen the Younger was clearly unhappy.  Only two years after his father's death, when he was about 16 years of age, he petitioned to have his guardian changed: 

"Murrene Duvall's Junr petition to choose his guardian . . . by Reason his ffather &



mother-in-law with whom he doth live do take little care for his proficiency in Learning,


and lesser of his plantation for his future good. And your petitionr was not admitted, neither


would the Court suffer him to have as much as Assurance of some satisfaction when he


comes of age, for the use of his plantation till then: ffor my Brother did proffer to give One


Thousand pounds of tobacco p Annum for the use of the plantation & would have had it


Recorded, but they Refused Audience, choosing rather that his ffather in law should wear


out Land without any benefit; likewise they threaten to have your petitioner whipt, if he


comes any more there. Therefore your Petr doth humbly desire your Excell to Grant him the


same privilege of your Clemency to Orphans tht others have, and to Admit & ordr he may


Choose his Brother John Duvall for his Guardian & your Petr shall ever pray."

Mareen the Younger was unsuccessful in his request, and Mary Stanton was appointed as his guardian until he was 18 years of age.  He was threatened not to petition the Governor's Council again. 

Mareen the Younger inherited from his father 300 acres of land known as "The Plaines".  Mareen the Younger became known as "Mareen of the Great Marsh" in order to distinguish him from his elder half brother, Mareen.

See Newman, "Mareen Duvall of Middle Plantation", pages 209 - 212