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

1 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 352, June 2016 Editor: Ernest J. Willoughby MILITIA MEMBERS HELP CELEBRATE MAY DAY AT HISTORIC ST. MARY’S CITY On Saturday, May 7, Scott, Julie, Alan, and Max Bradbury, and Ernie and Paula Willoughby came in 17th century dress to participate in the festivities for May Day at Historic St. Mary’s City. The weather was pleasant, and visitors had various 17th century activities and games to participate in. A BRIEF MILITARY HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF MARYLAND 1634- 1707 By Lee Offen (continued from the April and May issues.) By 1664 the assembly voted to tax inhabitants of the colony to allow for purchase of arms and ammunition for defense of the colony, with those arms to be stored at county magazines. Charles Calvert the governor provided 250 muskets as well as swords and belts for the county arsenals that same year. Weapons could be pressed, or confiscated from owners, into county or colony service if required in an emergency. The system of the colony providing arms and ammunition to the colonial militia remained in place well into the 18th century. The Susquehannock war with the Seneca spilled over into Maryland with several colonists killed and war declared on the Seneca in June 1664. By 1674 Maryland’s position with respect to the Susquehannocks had changed and peace was made with the Seneca, recognizing their victory over the Susquehannock, causing a break down in relations with the Susquehannocks. In 1675 an expedition consisting of a regiment of horse, with five troops of fifty men each was raised to attack the Susquehannock Fort. The expedition was commanded by MAJ Thomas Truman. The expedition was conducted in coordination with a force from Virginia commanded by COL John Washington. Once at the fort on 26 Sep 1675, five Susquehannock leaders left the fort to meet with the Marylanders and Virginians. When a detachment of rangers under CPT John Allen arrived at the fort with the bodies of dead settlers, the Susquehannock leaders were executed. The Maryland and Virginia forces then besieged the fort for six weeks until the Susquehannock completely evacuated of the fort at night killing 2 several sentries as they left. MAJ Truman was brought up on charges of murder but the lower house of the colonial assembly refused to permit his execution and after a brief time in jail he was released. Thomas Notley was made Governor in 1676. In Sept 1676 a rebellion occurred in Calvert County, with sixty men refusing orders to disarm and disband until confronted by MAJ Henry Jowles and a company of militia. The reason for the rebellion is unknown but can be suggested by ongoing complaints against the proprietary government about excessive taxation, advancement of Catholicism, Catholic favoritism, and a groundless accusation that Lord Baltimore was conspiring with French and Indians to kill Protestants. That same year, an expedition was raised to attack the Nanticokes to be commanded by COL William Coleborne, but there is no record of the outcome of this expedition. Charles Calvert became governor in 1679. In 1681, the same concerns and groundless rumors that caused a revolt in 1676 with the added twist of an Irish army being invited to Maryland to wipe out the Protestants led to the arrest of two prominent member of the colony spreading the rumors, former Governor Josias Fendall and CPT John Coode. Their arrest did nothing to stop the rumors and CPT George Godfrey organized a militia company in Charles County to march to St Mary’s to free them. Godfrey’s attempt failed and he was charged with banishment. Fendall was banished as well and Coode was freed with a warning. In 1684 a council of deputy governors ruled Maryland on behalf of the minor child Benedict Calvert until 1689. In November of 1688 William of Orange landed in England beginning a period of revolution, instability, uncertainty and war in Britain and the colonies. The colonies were waiting for a decree from the new monarchs, William and Mary in the spring of 1689 and this decree was lost on its way to Maryland. By April 1689 an “Association in arms for the defense of the Protestant Religion and for asserting the rights of King William and Queen Mary to the province of Maryland “ was formed. In July a seven hundred man army under CPT John Coode, COL Henry Jowles and MAJ John Campbell claiming it was necessary to overthrow the proprietary government because “the Papists had invited the Northern Indians to come down and cut off the Protestants” in August, a complete fabrication. Colonel William Digges attempted to defend the State House at St Mary’s City with one hundred men and surrendered after a short fire fight. COLHenry Darnel and MAJ Nicholas Sewall tried to put together a relief force but were only able to assemble a force of about one hundred and fifty men and were unable to challenge Coode’s force. Darnell and Sewell withdrew to Mattapany and surrendered on 1 August 1689. Coode and the “Associators” ruled Maryland until 1692. In 1690 a company under CPT Gabriel Towson led a company raised to strengthen Albany, NY during King William’s War from 1690 to 1697. In 1692 Sir Lionel Copley arrived as the first Royal Governor of Maryland. His first assembly established the Church of England as the church of the colony. Copley died in 1692 and Sir Thomas Lawrence and Sir Edmund Andros briefly followed as Governors. 3 In 1693 three forts were constructed to defend the western frontier of the colony from Native Americans, one in Charles County, one in Anne Arundel County and another near the falls of the Patapsco River. CPT John Addison and COL Nicholas Greenberry constructed the forts with pressed labor and each of the forts were garrisoned by nine militiamen and four Native Americans. In July 1694 Francis Nicholson became Governor of Maryland and moved the capital from St Mary’s City to Ann-Arundel Town, now Annapolis, in 1695. He was succeeded by Nathaniel Blackiston until 1704. John Seymour became Governor in 1704 until 1709. In 1705 Richard Clarke was accused of leading an attempted uprising of indentured servants, Indians and slaves which was put down with the ringleaders disappearing after seizing a ship. Identified Military Units and Commanders St. Mary’s County (established 1634) 1634-47 LTG Leonard Calvert, Maryland Militia Commander 1642 St Mary’s and Kent Counties, CPT William Brainthwaite’s Militia Company 1643 CPT Thomas Cornwallis’ expedition 1645 CPT William Stone’s Militia Company 1646 CPT Nathaniel Pope’s Expedition against Kent Island 1646-1652 CPT John Price, commander of Ft Inigoe 1647 Captain General Thomas Green, Commander Maryland Militia 1647 COL John Price’s expedition against the Nanticoke and Wickomick 1647-50 COL John Price, Militia Commander 1650 COL Thomas Dent, Militia Commander 1652-75 CPT Thomas Cornwallis’ Militia Company 1654-57 CPT Josais Fendall’s Militia Company 1654-55 CPT Richard Hodskeys’ Militia Company 1654-55 CPT John Sly’s Militia Company 1655 COL William Stone, Proprietary Force Commander 1655 CPT William Evans’ Militia Company 1655 CPT Nicholas Gwither’s Militia Company 1658 Major General Edward Gibbon, Maryland Militia Commander 1658-59 COL William Evans, Militia Commander 1658-65 CPT George Reed’s Militia Company 1660-61 LTG Phillip Calvert, Commander of the Maryland Militia 1661 CPT Odber’s Company at Susquehannock Fort (St Mary’s, Kent, Charles, Calvert, Ann Arundel) 1661-75 LTG Charles Calvert, Commander of the Maryland Militia 1661 CPT John Collier’s Militia Company 1664 CPT Luke Gardiner’s Militia Company 1674 COL John Jarboe, Militia Commander 1675 CPT Gerrard Sly’s Ranger’s 1676-79 CPT Henry Jowles’ Militia Company 4 1675 MAJ Thomas Truman’s Expedition against the Susquehannocks (St Mary’s and Calvert) 1676 CPT John Pierce, Captain of the Guard at Matapenny Sewall, Governor’s residence and arsenal, 1666-1684 1676-1679 CPT John Coode’s Militia Company 1677-78 COL John Douglas, Militia Commander (St. Mary’s and Charles) 1678-81 COL William Calvert, Militia Foot Commander 1678-82 CPT Justinian Gerard’s Militia Company 1679-88 St. Mary’s Guard 1680 CPT William Diggs’ Militia Company 1689-90 COL John Coode, Commander of Maryland 1689 CPT Edward Greenhald’s Company of Militia Horse 1689 CPT John Payne’s Company of Militia Foot 1694 CPT Edward Greenhald’s Company of Militia Foot 1694-1705 COL Sir Thomas Lawrence’s Militia Regiment of Foot (St., Mary’s and Ann Arundel) 1695 COL Henry Jowles, Militia Commander Kent County (established 1642) 1642-44 CPT Giles Brent, Kent Island Military Commander 1645-1660 CPT Robert Vaughn, Kent Island Military Commander 1648 CPT Peter Knight’s Company (in rebellion against Proprietary) 1652-58 COL Phillip Conner, Military Commander 1652-54 CPT William Fuller’s expedition to the Eastern Shore 1658-61 CPT Thomas Bradnox’s Militia Company on Kent Island 1662 CPT William Leed’s Militia Company 1668-69 CPT John Vicaris, Military Commander 1677 CPT Philemon Lloyd’s Militia Troop of Horse 1681 CPT William Lawrence’s Militia Company 1681 COL Philemon Lloyd, Commander of Militia Horse (Kent, Talbot and Cecil) 1687-1694 COL Henry Coursey, Militia Commander 1689 CPT Edward, Sweatnams’ Militia Company 1689 CPT Cornelius Comegys’ Militia Company 1689 CPT John Hynson’s Militia Company 1689 CPT William Pierce’s Militia Company of Foot 1690 CPT John Derricuts’ Militia Company 1692 CPT John Hawkins’ Militia Company 1694-1701 COL Codd St.

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