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David Deas (mayor)

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David Deas
12th Mayor of Charleston
In office
1802–1803
Preceded byJohn Ward
Succeeded byJohn Drayton
Personal details
Born1771
Died1822
Charleston, South Carolina
SpouseMary Sommers
The Humphry Sommers House at 128 Tradd St., Charleston, South Carolina was built by the father-in-law of David Deas in about 1772 and acquired by David Deas upon his marriage to Mary Sommers.

David Deas was the twelfth intendant of Charleston, South Carolina, serving from 1802 to 1803.

His father, David Deas, and uncle, John Deas were reportedly the third largest slave traders in the US. Both hailed from Leith, Scotland. John Deas sailed for the Providence of South Carolina on January 28, 1749, where he joined his elder brother, David.

He was elected on September 1, 1800, to a first term as a warden (city council member) for Charleston, South Carolina.[1] He married Mary Sommers on October 16, 1800.[2] He was elected intendant in September 1802.[3] Deas implemented a quarantine of ships having been to New York City to prevent the spread of a contagious fever to Charleston in September and October 1803.[4] In 1803 he began serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives where he, among other things, sought to repeal part of the Negro Act providing that slaves could be imported for free.[5][6] His death in 1822 is recorded in the return of interments in the City of Charleston as suicide.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The following gentlemen were elected Wardens . . ". The Carolina Gazette. Charleston, South Carolina. September 4, 1800. p. 1. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  2. ^ "Married, on Thursday evening . . ". The Carolina Gazette. Charleston, South Carolina. October 23, 1800. p. 3. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  3. ^ "David Deas, esq., is elected . . ". Federal Gazette. Baltimore, Maryland. September 29, 1802. p. 3. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  4. ^ "Whereas the health of the inhabitants . . ". City Gazette & Daily Advertiser. Charleston, South Carolina. October 5, 1803. p. 4. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  5. ^ "Mr. David Deas, . . ". Republican Star, or, Eastern Shore General Advertiser. Easton, Maryland. December 27, 1803. p. 3. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "Columbia, (SC) December 6". Washington Federalist. Columbia, South Carolina. December 30, 1803. p. 3. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  7. ^ South Carolina, Charleston City Death Records, 1821-1926. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia
Preceded by Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina
1802–1803
Succeeded by