Thomas H. Harbin (b. 1833- d. 1885) MSA SC 5496-018954 Property owner, Piscataway, Prince George’s County, Maryland
Thomas H. Harbin was a slave owner in Prince George’s County during the antebellum period. Thomas Henry Harbin was born in Bryantown, Charles County on August 25, 1833 to Walter and Catherine Harbin. During the 1850’s Harbin moved from Charles County to Prince Georges County. Tom Harbin married his cousin Mary Stewart in Washington on October 2, 1855. Together they had one son named James T. Harbin. Mary Stewart died sometime before 1860, leaving Harbin a single parent.
Thomas Harbin was commissioned to be the postmaster for Bryantown on December 27, 1854. Harbin lived in Piscataway Village, where he was the proprietor of a hotel, Harbin House which later became the Piscataway Tavern. In 1859, Harbin placed a runaway ad for his slave Joe Thomas. The 1860 slave schedule list Harbin as having only two slaves. In 1861, Thomas Harbin sold his hotel to George H. Hunter and Walter P. Griffin.
Thomas Harbin was a Confederate Spy who was involved in the plot to kidnap President Lincoln. Harbin reported directly to Jefferson Davis and used the alias Thomas Wilson during his time as a spy for the Confederates. The Baltimore American published the confession of George Atzerodt on July 9, 1865. Atzerodt admitted to Tom Harbin’s involvement in the conspiracy to kidnap the president. In 1869 the newspaper published a more in depth version of Atzerodt’s confession, listing Harbin as a co-conspirator. Harbin was never charged with the crime.
Harbin returned to Washington, DC during the late 1860’s where he worked as a desk clerk at the National Hotel. He married Ella Creed and together they had two children Mary Blanche, and George. In 1885 George Alfred Townsend (GATH), had an interview with Harbin which was published in the Cincinatti Enquirer on April 18, 1892. In the interview, Harbin admits to his involvement with the Lincoln Assassination plot and how he came to meet John Wilkes Booth. Thomas Harbin died in Washington on November 18, 1885 and is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
The text below is that of a confession made by George A. Atzerodt on May 1, 1865 to Maryland Provost Marshal James McPhail.
The confession is jumbled and rather confusing, but what emerges is Atzerodt’s admission of willingness to participate in the plan to kidnap
Lincoln, but also his insistence that he played no role in the assassination conspiracy. The confession is noteworthy also for its suggestion
that Dr. Samuel Mudd played a significant role in the conspiracy. The confession, based on defense attorney W. E. Doster’s objection,
James Wood sometimes called Mosby boarded with Mrs. Murray an Irish woman on the corner of 9 & F St. in a three story house, front on the upper end of the P.O. and South End of Patent Office – with basement entrance on the left side going up 9th St. from Avenue. He was a little over six feet, black hair, smooth round face, gray coat black pants, & spring coat mixed with white & gray. Saw him last time on Friday evening about 5 o’ck with Booth. He sent for letters to the post office with James Hall. He was brought from New York. Surratt told me so. He said he had been a prisoner in Balte, near the depot. He was arrested for whipping a negro woman. Mosby was Wood’s nick name – did not know him by any other name than mentioned. Gust. Powell now arrested in Old Capitol was one of the party. He went also by name of Gustavus Spencer, Surratt and Spencer came from Richmond, together just after it had fallen.James Donaldson, a low chunky man about 23 or 24 years of age, small-potted, dark complexion (not very) deep plain black suit; only saw him one time & this was Wednesday previous to the murder, he was having an interview with Booth and told him to meet him on Friday eve & he replied he would and left and went up Penn. Avenue towards the Treasury building. I was under the impression he came on with Booth.
The Saml. Thomas registered on the morning of the 15th April at Penn Hotel, I met on my way to hotel, he was an entire Stranger to me. I left the Hotel alone on the morning of 15th of April. A Lieut. in room No. 51 will prove this. Surratt bought a boat from Dick Smoot & James Brawner living about Port Tobacco, for which they paid $300.00 and was to give one hundred Dolls. extra for taking care of it till wanted. Booth told me that Mrs. Surratt went to Surrattsville to get out the guns (Two Carbines) which had been taken to that place by Herold. This was Friday. The carriage was hired at Howard’s.
I same a man named Weightman who boarded at Surratt’s at Post Office. he told me he had to go down the Country with Mrs. Surratt. This was on Friday, Also.
I am certain Dr. Mudd knew all about it, as Booth sent (as he told me) liquors & provisions for the trip with the President to Richmond, about two weeks before the murder to Dr. Mudd’s.
Herold came to the Kirkwood House, same evening for me to go to see Booth. I went with Herold & saw Booth. He then said he was going to kill the President and Wood , the Secy. of State. I did not believe him. This occurred in the evening about 7 1/2 o’clock. It was dark. I took a room at Kirkwood’s. Both Herold & I went to the room left Herold’s coat, knife, & pistol in room and never again returned to it. Booth said during the day that the thing had failed and proposed to go to Richmond & open the theatre. I am not certain but I think I stayed one night at Kirkwood’s (Thursday) we were to try and get papers to Richmond from Mr. Johnson.
Booth spoke of getting the papers. He would get them out of the Theatre. Wood & Booth were apparently confidential with each other. Plenty of parties in Charles County knew of the kidnapping affair.
One of the men named Charles Yates, knew all about it, he went to Richmond during the winter he was to row the Presdt & party over.
Thos. Holborn was to meet us on the road and help in the kidnapping. Bailey & Barnes knew nothing of the affair unless Booth told Bailey & he told Barnes. Booth had met Bailey on “C” St. with me. I did not meet Booth or any other of the party in Baltimore on or about the 31 of March.
I was intended to give assistance to the kidnapping. They come to Port Tobacco (Surratt & Booth) several times and brought me to Washington. The pistol given me I sold or received a loan on it Saturday morng after the murder from John Caldwick at Matthews & Wells, Store, High St. Georgetown. The knife I threw away just above Mrs. Canby’s boarding house the night of the murder about 11 o’clock when I took my horse to stable. I had the horse out to help to take the President. I did not believe he was going to be killed, although Booth had said so. After I heard of the murder I run about the city like a crazy man.
I have not seen Arnold for some time, but saw O’Laughlen on Thursday evening, on the Avenue at Saloon near U.S. Hotel. He told me he was going to see Booth.
Wood did not go on the street in day time for fear of arrest. When he first came to Washington he boarded at Surratt’s. This was in Feby. He (Wood) went with Booth last of February to N. York.
Booth we understood paid the way. I know nothing about Canada. Wood told me he had horses in Virginia. Saml. Arnold and Mike O’Laughlen ought to know where the horses and pistols were bought.
Sam and Mike have a buggy and horse kept at stable in rear of Theatre. Booth had several horses at same place. I think the horses property was in Surratt’s name. I sold one of the horses & paid part of the money to Booth and part to Herold, who said he would see Booth about it. The saddle and bridle belonging to Booth is at Penn House, where I left it. I overheard Booth when in conversation with Wood say, That he visited a chambermaid at Seward’s House & that she was pretty. He said he had a great mind to give her his diamond pin. Herold talked about powders & medicines on Friday night at Mrs. Condby’s. Wood, Herold, Booth, and myself were present. This was a meeting place because Wood could not go out for fear of arrest.
Kate Thompson or Kate Brown, as she was known by both names, put up at National & was well known at Penn House. She knew all about the affair. Surratt went to Richd with her last March and Gust. Howell made a trip with her to same place. This woman is about twenty yrs of age, good looking and well dressed. Black hair and eyes, round face from South Carolina & a widow.
Miss Thompson or Brown had two large light trunks, one much larger than the other. Young Weightman at Surratts’ ought to know about this woman. This remark made by me in Baltimore on the 31 of March alluded to blockade running & privateering altogether & Booth said he had money to buy a steamer & wanted me to go in it.
Booth said he had met a party in N. York who would get the Prest. certain. They were going to mine the end of the pres. House, near the War Dept. They knew an entrance to accomplish it through. Spoke about getting friends of the Presdt. to get up an entertainment & they would mix it in, have a serenade & thus get at the Presdt. & party.
Booth said if he did not get him quick the N. York crowd would. Booth knew the New York party apparently be a sign. He saw Booth give some kind of sign to two parties on the Avenue who he said were from New York. My Uncle Mr. Richter and family in Monty. Co. Md. knew nothing about the affair either before or after the occurrence & never suspected me of any thing wrong as I was in the habit of visiting and working in the neighborhood & staying with him. My father formerly owned part of the property now owned by Richter. Finis.