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St. Maries Citty Militiaman Ancient and Honourable Order of the Followers of Calvert’s Black and Gold in the New World

St. Maries Citty, Ancient and Chief Seat of Government of the Lord Baltimore’s proprietarie Colony of Mary-Land, 1634-1694 Number 316, December, 2012-2013 Editor: Ernest J. Willoughby

PLAN TO ATTEND THE WINTER BUSINESS MEETING

We will hold our winter business and planning meeting for the coming activity year on Saturday, January 19 at 10:30 AM in the Visitor Center auditorium at Historic St. Mary’s City. Please come prepared to discuss plans for events and activities, and various other business matters that may require attention. Our backup date in case of inclement weather on January 19 will be Saturday, February 16. Please send Ernie any agenda items you would like to have discussed. He will send out more specific information as we get nearer the date of the meeting.

THE CALLAWAYS HAVE MOVED TO A NEW ADDRESS

On December 1, 2012, Tom and Gloria Callaway, our organization’s long-time leaders and mentors, moved from their house near the entrance to Skyline Drive in Front Royal, VA to a retirement and assisted living community, The Southerlands, in Front Royal. Both have been ailing for several years, and have recently been in the hospital off and on.

When Gloria has a chance, she will let us know how to contact them directly. Until then, we can direct communications to them at The Southerlands, 600 Mount View Street, Front Royal, VA 22630, telephone 540-636-2800, or toll free 800-286-6005.

BOOK REVIEWS

The Plundering Time: Maryland and the English Civil War 1645-1646, by Timothy B. Riordan, Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, 144 pages (2004). Reviewed by Ruth Zalonis

“Ingle’s actions struck like a wedge on a fault line that separated Catholic Royalists and Protestant Parliamentarians… If that fissure had not already existed…Ingle would be remembered only as a disgruntled ship’s captain.”

This book by Dr. Timothy Riordan of Historic St. Mary’s City, focuses on the rebellion incited by Richard Ingle in the year 1645. In order to understand how an outsider fomented rebellion against the government of the Lord Baltimore, it is necessary to understand the political and religious backdrop against which the rebellion was played out. Dr. Riordan does so with clarity

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and completeness. It is evident that he reviewed and analyzed mountains of sources to create a coherent story.

For members of the St. Maries Militia, the book will be a revelation. It gives real insight into the actual “Catholic” nature of the colony at its founding, not being what we may have come to believe. For example, one would expect the Jesuits and Lord Baltimore to have had a close alliance. From the beginning, their relationship was antagonistic related both to their religious activities and their corporate land ownership. The Jesuits expected to have rights to act as those who lived in Catholic countries on the Continent. Alas, this was never to be. The Lord Baltimore struggled under the continuous need to make Maryland conform to the laws of England related to religion for fear of having his charter revoked. Catholics were instructed to practice their faith in private.

The Militia will also find of interest the functions and actions of the St. Mary’s Militia in the 17th century. Though we know that technically all males between 16 and 60 were to serve in the militia and turn out at musters, on many occasions the militia was a group of reluctant soldiers, an ineffective fighting force, or refused altogether when called out to campaign. An example was Giles Brent’s aborted expedition against the Susquehannocks in 1642. However, to their credit, the citizens that Governor Leonard Calvert recruited in 1646 did help him to re-establish Lord Baltimore’s rule.

Now, let us return to the events that set off the spark of The Plundering Time. Not only were there religious and political factors, but the credit economy based on pounds of tobacco, created a continuous stream of litigation: suit and counter-suit. Litigation created personal grudges and wishes for reprisal. The events between Ingle and the government of Lord Baltimore in 1645 were not the first time trade, religion and politics collided with this highly irascible individual.

It is well known that the government in early Maryland was predominantly Catholic and the populace predominantly Protestant. The government consisted of Maryland’s proprietor the second Lord Baltimore, Cecil Calvert, (who stayed in England), and his appointed agent in Maryland, who from its founding was his brother, Leonard Calvert. In addition, there was the colony’s secretary, John Lewgar, and a commission appointed by the Lord Baltimore which varied in number and members over the years. Examples were Thomas Cornwaleys and Giles Brent. The Lord Baltimore planned a manorial system of rent-paying tenants and large land owners, a medieval system already in decline in England.

Into this tinder box came Richard Ingle in the summer of 1645, irascible as ever. As one of the chief traders of the Chesapeake tobacco trade, Ingle was well known. Ingle was a rabid Parliamentarian. Compromise had always been reached in the past since both parties were dependent on the other. Trade was the lifeline of Maryland which had no manufacturing base and Ingle made his living in the tobacco trade. In the summer of 1645, however, relations boiled to froth.

The event that probably tipped the scale was that Cecil Calvert had obtained a commission from the King to seize ships that were loyal to Parliament. However, this applied only in Virginia and Gov. Leonard Calvert had proclaimed free trade in Maryland. At the same time, Ingle had

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obtained from Parliament a letter of marque to seize ships that sailed from Royalist ports or had other evidence of being Royalist.

The preponderance of evidence is that Richard Ingle did not sail from England in 1645 with the intent to plunder Maryland. More likely, when he became aware, on a stop in Virginia, of the commission from the King, he became enraged and formed his plan at that time. Arriving at St. Mary’s, Ingle found a Dutch ship, The Looking Glass, at anchor. This ship was flying both the Dutch and English flags, the custom to proclaim neutral shipping. Ingle took umbrage and seized The Looking Glass, feeling that it was covertly Royalist. He then landed with his force and those others in the colony with whom he had secretly communicated. His first action was to plunder the home of his erstwhile Catholic friend and supporter, Thomas Cornwaleys, down to removing the door fastenings. Ingle had planned for a force from Virginia under William Claiborne to join him, but this assistance failed to materialize. The base of rebel incursions became Pope’s Fort, the former home of the governor, which Leonard Calvert deeded to Nathaniel Pope. Leonard Calvert, whom Ingle hoped to capture, had left the colony prior to the time of the invasion, a blow for Ingle. The besieged government continued to hold out through the summer of 1645, centered at Thomas’ Fort, probably the home of the Brents.

Ingle then sailed back to England with his prize, The Looking Glass, but things did not go well. Under his letter of marque, the seized shipping had to be turned over to the Admiralty Court prior to his obtaining any profits. The preponderance of evidence showed that Maryland was not in a state of rebellion against Parliament, that Ingle had attacked The Looking Glass without adequate provocation, and that free trade was the law of the land. Worse still, there was testimony given that Ingle had destroyed ships papers, stolen some items and remarked some hogsheads of tobacco with his mark, all of which was strictly forbidden. Ingle lost his case and appealed.

In Ingle’s appeal case, John Lewgar testified that there had been no resistance from Marylanders until the plundering began. Ingle was again denied. “Things had gone terribly wrong for Richard Ingle (p. 249).”

Meanwhile, Leonard Calvert, who had preceded Ingle to England prior to the rebellion, was trying to get a ship back to Maryland. He was not able to return until December 1646 and recruited an armed force. However, always an able politician and diplomat, Calvert also brought a general pardon for all who would submit to Lord Baltimore’s authority. Further, his soldiers were not permitted to pillage.

Leonard Calvert quickly re-convened the Assembly of the interim government of Governor Edward Hill. By whom Hill was appointed remains a matter of conjecture. Hill stated that he was appointed by none other than Leonard Calvert but the evidence is far from conclusive. Because of Calvert’s conciliatory approach, peace returned to Maryland. Leonard Calvert’s untimely death in the summer of 1647 created another crisis for the Lord Baltimore, a matter which will be taken up shortly. Thomas Greene was appointed governor by Leonard Calvert on his death-bed.

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The devastating economic and demographic consequences of the Plundering Time were not over, however, and were devastating to the personal fortune of Lord Baltimore. Maryland was seriously depopulated. In addition, the King had been captured. The Proprietor’s charter was in danger. Lord Baltimore, a Royalist, needed to change with the times and so he did.

The Lord Baltimore desperately needed new colonists. Since previous efforts to induce large numbers of Catholics to emigrate had failed, he turned to Protestant dissenters (called Independents) in Virginia, who were persona non grata to Governor Berkeley of Virginia, a strict Anglican. This policy was effective in repopulation, but had future negative consequences for the proprietor later in the century.

Concurrently, Calvert’s continued efforts to make Maryland conform to English law regarding religion, was now particularly pressing in order to induce the dissenters to settle there. The Lord Proprietor chose William Stone, a Protestant from Virginia, as governor. The passage of the Act Concerning Religion by the Maryland Assembly, Dr. Riordan argues, was not primarily passed to provide freedom of conscience for Catholics, which it did, but to reassure dissenters. It was noted that no re-settlement occurred until after the Act was passed. Thus ends this chapter of Maryland’s history.

To sum up, Dr. Riordan notes: “One thing that this study has made clear is that Maryland history cannot be viewed in isolation. It may have taken eight or ten weeks for news to travel to the New World, but the colonists were aware of what was going on at home and shared the same prejudices and political grudges that most Englishmen did… What makes Maryland’s experience unique was that the conflict between Royalist and Roundhead was recast into the mold of religious intolerance…events were quickly translated into existing conflicts between Catholics and Protestants (p. 329).” Plundering Time, 1645-1646 is available at the Shop at Farthing’s Ordinary and is worth the attention of members of our organization.

Cecil Calvert, Second Lord Baltimore and proprietor of Maryland

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Leonard Calvert, first Governor of Maryland

Jordan’s Point, Virginia: Archaeology in Perspective, Prehistoric to Modern Times, by Martha McCartney, published by University of Virginia Press (2011), Distributed by The Virginia Department of Historic Resources, 144 pages, ISBN 9780615455402. Reviewed by Joseph Garber.

Jordan’s Point, Virginia is a narrative about Samuel Jordan’s plantation, and is a great primer and resource on survival of early 17th century English colonists along the lower James River. McCartney indicates that no one was killed at “Jordan’s Journey”, another name for Jordan’s Point during the surprise Indian attack of 1622. Jordan’s Point was a rallying base for seven other plantations looking for safe haven after the massacre of 1622. Jordan’s Point received survivors from neighboring plantations such as Berkeley.

McCartney describes the physical inventory of Captain George Thorpe (1576-1622). Thorpe, once a Privy councilor to James I, was a major mover with The Society of Berkeley Plantation. In the early 1990’s, Virginia Commonwealth University archaeologists exhumed a body in the traditional east-west orientation with a hexagonal and gable-topped coffin. In 1622, the Indians mutilated Thorpe’s remains. We must believe these remains to be of Thorpe at Berkeley plantation, who put his life on the line by killing his mastiffs, or great English hunting dogs, to proselytize his faith to them. Martha McCartney blends the details of the efforts of VCU’s archaeological team. They found several burials including even the silver threads in their clothing indicating their societal rankings. McCartney’s book is priced at $14.95. She describes Samuel Jordan, ancient planter, a contemporary of Sir Thomas Gates and Sir Thomas Dale, and all his landholdings. But, the book covers the whole 17th century.

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On the lower James, at Jordan’s Point the diet included pork and 46% beef. Fish was limited, and venison was occasionally eaten. Dr. Owlsley, forensic archaeologist, adds great details to McCartney’s book for understanding the diets that these English ate even as children.

All the scholars of St. Marie’s Citty Militia would benefit from the details of McCartney’s book. It is a great resource for re-enactors or living history volunteers. At the 400th anniversary of Jamestown’s founding (2007), McCartney published Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers 1607- 1635, an enormous compilation of First Families of Virginia. She also wrote the book for the national park on Jamestown: An American Legacy, 2003.

THE EDITOR’S PAGE

Your editor reminds you that he is looking for short articles, announcements, and items of interest pertaining to our St. Maries Citty Militia and to Maryland and other English colonies of the 17th century. If you have anything that you would like to see in The Militiaman, send it in! By e-mail: [email protected]; by postal service: 18335 Hartman Drive, Lexington Park, MD 20653

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