Forrest family manuscript collection

The Forrest family resided across Maryland, including in Baltimore and Finksburg. Moreau Forrest grew up in Montgomery County at Chateau Blanc. He attended University of Maryland Medical School and graduated in 1826. He married Mary Leeke Dashiell Robinson in 1835. Mary was born to Mary Leeke and Captain Henry Dashiell in 1808 and grew up in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore City.

Mary had been previously been married to Matthew Robinson, a ship captain, who died in 1833. They had several children together. Mary’s son with Robinson, Matthew, began studying at New Ark College, in 1834, which later became University of Delaware.

In 1841, Moreau, Mary, and their youngest children moved to Finksburg where Moreau worked as a general physician for patients in Carroll and Baltimore Counties. Moreau eventually gave up his medical practice and was appointed United States Marshal for the State of Maryland in 1844. He often traveled to the Western states for his work and was involved in the George P. Reed versus Samuel Carusi copyright case. He was a marshal until 1850, and he died in 1852 in California.

Mary and Moreau’s son, Moreau Forrest, 1841-1866, also had a distinguished career. He attended the United States Naval Academy. During the Civil War, Moreau fought for the Union cause. He was reassigned to the Mississippi River Squadron and commanded the U.S.S. General Thomas. The steamship patrolled the Tennessee River to prevent interference with General William Tecumseh Sherman’s march on Atlanta, Georgia, and engaged in several battles with Confederate forces. He died shortly after the end of the war in 1866 but was well-remembered for his service to the United States.