Timeline of Baltimore The following is a timeline of the history of the city of of land along southern shore of Patapsco River of Baltimore, Maryland, United States previous “Ann Arundell” [antique spelling]), along with future additional Howard, Carroll, and Kent This is an incomplete list that may never Counties (south to Chester River). Officeholder be able to satisfy particular standards for of Sheriff for Baltimore County first designated in completeness. You can help by expanding it legal papers from the General Assembly. with reliably sourced entries. • 1661 – First court sits for Baltimore County, meet- ing at Capt. Thomas Howell’s place in what is now modern Cecil County. 1 17th century • Charles Gorsuch, a Quaker patents 50 acres of land on narrow jagged peninsula which juts out into the Patapsco River, between what is • 1608 – Captain John Smith sails up Chesapeake Bay (later by the 18th century) called the North- and records first description of area that would be- west Branch to the north and the Middle come future site of Baltimore, then a hunting ground and Ferry Branches to the south and south- for local American Indians. Smith sails up and west, ending in “Whetstone Point” (includ- records in his map and journal “a river not inhab- ing future old “South Baltimore” areas with ited yet navigable”, which he names the “Bolus Flu” Federal Hill, Locust Point, Riverside neigh- – Indian who hunt in the region call it the “Patap- borhoods, Spring Gardens, Ferry Bar and Fort sco”. McHenry). He promises to pay Lord Balti- • 1632 – Charter to Colony granted by King Charles more, Cecilius Calvert, 61 pounds sterling per I of England to George Calvert (1579–1632), First year for the use of the land. Lord Baltimore. • David Jones hires Peter Carroll to survey 380 acres along the stream which is later named • 1634 – The Ark and The Dove, ships of the sec- "Jones Falls" in his honor. He built a house ond Lord Baltimore Cecilius Calvert's (1605–1675) and is said to be future Baltimore’s first settler. colonizing expedition, lands March 25th (later cel- ebrated as “Maryland Day” – official state holi- • 1663 – Alexander Mountenay patented land named day) at Blakistone Island (later St. Clement’s), later “Mountenay’s Neck” along the Harford Run stream, at St. Mary’s City, where they establish a capi- (where Central Avenue is now paved over in old tal in future St. Mary’s County bringing first Eu- East Baltimore’s Jonestown, later known Old Town ropean and African settlers to the future colony of neighborhoods such as “Little Italy” are located) and the Province of Maryland, with his brother Leonard which is later sold and resurveyed to William Fell. Calvert (1606–1647), sent as first Governor. • Land is also patented along Curtis Bay and • 1650 – “Ann Arundell” County “erected” Curtis Creek southwest off the lower Patapsco (founded/established) further north along western River estuary in future adjoining northern shore of Chesapeake Bay of older original English Anne Arundel County and southern Baltimore settlements in southern Maryland near St. Mary’s City, (after 1919 Annexation) to Paul Kin- City along the Potomac River. Named for Ann sey naming it “Curtis’s Neck” and followed in Arundell (1615–1649). Eventually this county will 1679, by his friend George Yates nearby with border southern Baltimore City and County along a grant called “Denchworth”, although there Patapsco River's southern shore. is no person of a family of the name “Curtis” appearing in the Province’s early land records • 1659 – Baltimore County “erected” (which is also applied to the previously named (founded/established) in the northeast section “Broad Creek”). of Province, north of new “Ann Arundell” County. Includes what is now Baltimore City, Baltimore • 1664 – Capt. Thomas Todd purchases land at North County, Harford and Cecil Counties (and northern Point, end of the “Patapsco Neck” peninsula (in portions just south a few miles from high points southeastern Baltimore County), between the Back 1 2 2 18TH CENTURY River and the Patapsco, followed by John Boring, 2 18th century merchant in 1679. 2.1 1700s–1740s • 1668 – Thomas Cole takes up 550 acres of prop- erty named “Cole’s Harbor” in future site of north- • 1704 – Provincial law requires that enough trees be ern Baltimore Town (from Harford Run on the cut down to widen the main roads to twenty feet and east to future Howard Street on the west and to that roads be marked. Marking system consists of Madison Street in the north) and combines with cutting slashes in tree trunks: one vertical slash on a “Todd’s Range” along the “Basin’s” (later Inner Har- road leading to a church and three horizontal lines, bor) waterfront, when later sold to James Todd two close together and one a bit higher on roads lead- with later owners being Daniel Carroll ["I – the ing to a county courthouse. first"], (1696−1751), and Charles Carroll of An- napolis (1702−1782) who assembled and bought al- • 1706 – Port of Baltimore established as an autho- most 1,000 acres in 1696. rized for shipping of tobacco and other products by colonial General Assembly of the Province of Mary- • “Timber Neck” parcel stretching along future land for the upper Chesapeake Bay region at the Howard, Paca and Eutaw Streets, patented by head of the Patapsco River's Northwest Branch, in John Howard, ancestor to later famous scion “The Basin” (now called "Inner Harbor"), west of and Revolutionary War military officer, John inlet and small island at the mouth of the "Jones Eager Howard (1752–1827). Falls" stream and “Harford Run” (later covered by Central Avenue in the 19th century) further to the • 1673/74 – Cecil County formed from northeastern east, both of which flow from the north, and a small portion of Baltimore County and temporarily in- stream flowing from the west, later called “Uhler’s cludes future Kent County on upper Eastern Shore. Run”. Situated below the jagged cliff heights (later known after 1788 as "Federal Hill") to the south • 1683 – First mention in records for Baltimore which overlook the protected harbor which has a County of a “county seat” with a “port of entry” des- twelve-foot depth, enough for ocean-going sailing ignated by the Maryland General Assembly on the ships, along a narrow peninsula (old South Balti- Bush River, later called “Old Baltimore” (in future more) leading to Whetstone Point. Although only a Harford County). few ships make anchor the first years by Whetstone Point, it never grows into a town as did deeper an- • 1692 – “Patapsco Hundred” Parish of the estab- chorages further upstream at future Fells Point and lished (official) Church of England in the colo- Baltimore Town. nial Province of Maryland established for Baltimore County near Colgate Creek (near modern site of the • 1711 – Charles Carroll of Annapolis, (XXX- Dundalk and Sea Girt Marine Terminals of the Port XXXX), sells 31 acres to Jonathan Hanson who of Baltimore), on the “Patapsco Neck” peninsula erects a mill, probably the first along the Jones Falls of southeastern Baltimore County along the north in the vicinity of the intersection with later-day Hol- shore of the lower Patapsco River. Later Parish liday Street. is named as St. Paul’s Church or Parish (of the • “Anglican” Church) with small log building erected. 1715 – General Assembly of Maryland authorizes One of the authorized “Original Thirty” parishes convening of a Court to serve the growing num- designated in the Province. Later parish church bers of residents – farmers, merchants, mechanics, moves in 1730 to newly founded Baltimore Town shipbuilders in northeastern Maryland which is now on the headwaters of “The Basin” of the Patapsco called "Baltimore County", since 1659 and sets four River's Northwest Branch. After several previous sessions per year for the Court on the first Tuesday sites purchased and later discarded in the Town, of March, June, August and November. final location is chosen at present Lot #19 of the • 1723 – Capt. Robert North takes up residence in 1730 “Original Survey” bounded by Forest Street the County and is one of the original lot owners. He (future North Charles Street), New Church Lane commands the ship “Content " which he carries in (later East Lexington Street), future East Saratoga freight this year. Street, and future St. Paul’s Lane (modern St. Paul Street/Place/Preston Gardens). Lot perched on edge • 1726 – Richard Gist lays out future port community of jagged cliff to east overlooking old southwest- for Edward Fell originally called “Fell’s Prospect” ward loop of Jones Falls where first brick church and surveys three dwellings, several tobacco houses, building in town (of later three successor structures) an orchard and a mill – Jonathan Hanson’s. Fell is completed in 1739, with surrounding cemetery. builds a store, and the area eventually came to be Oldest church and congregation in greater Baltimore called "Fell’s Point". Edward Fell’s brother William, area and one of the oldest in state. a carpenter arrives from Lancashire, England in 2.1 1700s–1740s 3 1730 and purchases 100 acres named “Copus Har- South Charles and West Lombard Sts.). Water- bor” at “Long Island Point” (vicinity of modern Lan- front shoreline with first wharves located along wa- caster Street, near Philpot Street – east of Jones terfront of the “Basin” (later Inner Harbor) at Ger- Falls mouth – today’s "Harbor East and new de- man and Water Streets (at approximate site of mod- velopments at “Harbor Point” in 2013) and builds ern Redwood/Water Streets – three blocks further house and shipyard. north of modern (2013) shoreline/"Harborplace”). “Steiger’s Meadow” (northeast of town) and “Har- • 1728 – John Cockey (whose brother Thomas pur- rison’s Marsh” (east of town) were along the west chased property in “Limestone Valley” on the York bank of the Jones Falls stream to the east of new Road up in central Baltimore County giving his Town.