^{Col. Robert Hanson was the possible uncle of Mary Hanson who possibly married Bayne's cousin, William Smallwood (the subject of an extensive narrative on this web site).  Bayne's son, General William Smallwood, played a major role in the conduct of the Revolution.  The Smallwood family was heavily involved in the planting and sale of tobacco, and the Hanson family was probably also involved.  Both families lived in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland.} 

^{In some of the documents contained in the Maryland Archives - General Assembly, Col. Hanson and Bayne Smallwood are the only delegates representing Charles County 5.  In some documents, other names are also mentioned, including John Courts and William Middleton.  The Courts and Middleton names are familiar to Smallwood researchers, as some of them married into these families.}

Hansons on the list include a John and Samuel Hanson.  It is not known which Hansons these were, but other North Carolina records indicate there were no Hansons living in the same counties that our Smallwoods lived.

His grandson, Alexander Contee Hanson, carried on his grandfather's tradition of public service.  He served as a U.S. Representative and a U.S. Senator, as a member of the Federalist Party.

BIOGRAPHY
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HANSON, John, (1715 - 1783)
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HANSON, John, (grandfather of Alexander Contee Hanson), a Delegate from Maryland; born at Mulberry Grove, near Port Tobacco, Charles County, Md., April 3, 1715; pursued an academic course; engaged in agricultural pursuits; member of the State house of delegates for nine terms; member of the State senate 1757-1773; moved to Frederick County in 1773; delegate to the General Congress at Annapolis in 1774; treasurer of Frederick County in 1775; member of the Maryland convention of 1775; Member of the Continental Congress 1780-1782; elected President of the Continental Congress on November 5, 1781; signer of the Articles of Confederation of the United States; died at the residence of his nephew at Oxon Hill, Prince Georges County, Md., November 22, 1783

SMALLWOOD STATE PARK
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/smallwoodhistory.html
Smallwood State Park is a memorial to the life and public service of William Smallwood, a Revolutionary War officer, Governor of Maryland, and a member of the colonial tidewater aristocracy. Smallwood's plantation house has been restored and furnished in the manner of the early Federal period of American history and is open to the public.

William Smallwood was born in 1732. His family was wealthy and active in the political affairs of colonial Maryland. Bayne Smallwood, his father, was a Charles County delegate to the Maryland Assembly and a justice of the Charles County Court. In private life Bayne was a merchant and tobacco planter. He owned a large tract of land on the Potomac River called Mattawoman Plantation.

William's public career began in the early 1760's upon his election to the Assembly. During the decade and a half that he sat in the Assembly, William Smallwood served on a number of important committees and gained a reputation for decisive leadership. As Bayne Smallwood grew older William took over management of the family estate. He built his own house in 1760. As with all planters in tidewater Maryland and Virginia, the Smallwoods' cash crop was tobacco. But they also raised other crops and livestock to feed their family, servants and slaves.

SMALLWOOD'S BATTALION
William Smallwood's tenure in the Assembly spanned the period of the growing colonial resistance to British imperial policy that led to the Revolution. The colonial assemblies were focal points of resistance, and Smallwood was an active advocate of the anti-British position. Upon the outbreak of hostilities (in the mid-1770's) Smallwood took command of the first full strength Maryland battalion to join the Continental Army.

Smallwood's battalion reached the theater of action in time to play a key role in the Battle of Long Island, August 26, 1776. Thanks to a valiant rear guard action by the Maryland and Delaware troops, Washington's routed army narrowly avoided destruction. Smallwood's troops continued in active service throughout the following autumn, as Washington was forced to retreat slowly from New York. At the Battle of White Plains Smallwood received a bad wound in action that gained him a promotion to Brigadier General.

Although separated from his troops and not actually involved in the fighting, Smallwood was included in a blanket statement of thanks voted by Congress to the Maryland and Delaware lines because of the key role he played in keeping the American army together after the defeat. He was also promoted to Major General, the highest rank attained by a Marylander in Continental service. Unfortunately, Smallwood had difficulties getting along with his fellow officers. This resulted in his recall to Maryland to serve as a recruiting and supply officer.

Following the Revolution, Smallwood returned to his Charles County plantation. In 1785 the state legislature elected him Governor. He served in that office until 1788 and played an important role in Maryland's ratification of the Federal Constitution. In 1791 Smallwood was elected to the State Senate and the Senate promptly chose him its presiding officer.