Vol. 23 • July 2016 For the Members of the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture at Salisbury University uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu The Haynie Brothers Thompson Retires from Salisbury University: Dr. G. Ray Thompson Reflects on His Life and Career on Delmarva Day Book Discovery: The Thomas A. Spence History of Salisbury, MD Store Ledger of Snow Hill, Maryland, 1838-1839 EDWARD H. N ABB RESEARCH CENTER In a Word FOR DELMARVA HISTORY & C ULTURE Submissions 1101 Camden Ave. By Dr. G. Ray Thompson Salisbury, Maryland 21801 The Nabb Research Center is always phone: 410-543-6312 s I edge toward interested in articles on the history, fax: 410-677-5067 retirement and culture or heritage of the Delmarva [email protected] A my last days as region. If you or anyone you know is www.salisbury.edu/nabb director of the Nabb interested in writing for Shoreline , please Center, I’m pausing to The Nabb Board say thanks to the many send material, proposals, suggestions or Michael Hitch, Chair comments to the attention of the Salisbury, MD people in the region and throughout the country “Newsletter Editor” as follows: Constance Strott, Vice-Chair Salisbury, MD who have supported the Nabb Research Center Jefferson Boyer, Acting Secretary Nabb Center with your Whitehaven, MD donations, volunteerism, Salisbury University Mindie Burgoyne well-thought out and 1101 Camden Ave. Marion Station, MD researched articles on Dr. G. Ray Thompson Salisbury, MD 21801-6860 Aleta Davis the history and culture of Delmarva, and, most of Salisbury, MD Or by email to [email protected]. all, for your ever-continuing support of the Nabb Charles Emery Please include the words “Newsletter Mardela Springs, MD vision in very public ways with your time, talent Charles Fithian and treasure. Editor” in the subject line. Dover, DE Since the Center’s inception, there hasn’t Margaret Genvert been a deviation from the mission which we set – Salisbury, MD to educate our students and the broader Hours & Closings Randolph George Marion, MD community and to provide a continuing conduit READING ROOM HOURS: Laura Kerbin for research into Delmarva’s diverse past. From Monday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Onancock, VA the first, the Nabb Center has served as a Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Katie Matthews laboratory for those who wish to study the multi- Berlin, MD faceted history of our area. We also have CLOSINGS: Russell McCabe continued as a repository of ever-increasing Milton, DE historical records and artifacts of our area. July 18-August 24 Eleanor Mulligan Salisbury, MD On a daily basis, you have supported us by September 5 Gary Outten bringing us your records and artifacts. These November 23-25 Pocomoke City, MD materials have been used by students to December TBD-January 2 Dan Parsons understand the development and growth of the Laurel, DE Eastern Shore. Coupled with our in-house Sandra Quillin Somerset County, and a study of an 1830s Bishopville, MD students and our extra-mural researchers, have come scholars from across the country (and ledger from Worcester County round out this Elizabeth Ragan issue of Shoreline . Salisbury, MD Europe) to mine the resources of the Nabb Just as I am moving into a new phase of Anthony Sarbanes Center in their scholarly research. You – our Salisbury, MD readers and supporters – have regularly assisted life – retirement – so the Center is on the move. By late August, the Nabb Research Center will Diane Savage our efforts to bring more of our great history to Berlin, MD light. Not only have you seen the vision of the be housed on main campus on the fourth floor Kathryn Washburn of the Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Westover, MD Center, but you have regularly supported it with your funds, even in difficult financial times. Commons. Its treasure trove of documents and John Wilson artifacts is being transferred from our east Salisbury, MD Without you the Nabb Center would not have campus location to the Guerrieri Academic William Wilson been able to survive. You have valued us as we Salisbury, MD have in turn valued you for your many, many types Commons, where you will clearly see the Members Emeritus of on-going support. For all this I am grateful. support provided by benefactors whose names E. Niel Carey appear throughout the Center. Again, I am Ellicott City, MD In this issue of Shoreline , as usual, we offer most appreciative of the wonderful support you G. Ray Thompson you a variety of articles written by students, staff Salisbury, MD and yourselves. Each of these articles have provided throughout the past 35 years. Your frequent letters, smiles and conversations, Bert Thornton demonstrates a part of that microcosm of what Frederick, MD makes up Delmarva. Articles from the story of as well as your documents and artifacts, have Robert Withey allowed this Center to grow to the status is has Cape Coral, FL the journey of a young African-American from his service as a Civil War soldier to serving as a achieved today. Gordon Wood Years ago, our University administration Oceanview, DE successful regional minister, to articles on our likened the Center to the crown jewel of our Dr. Creston S. Long, Director recent fundraiser at historic Finney House on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The continuing history University. Today the “luster” of that jewel of Salisbury is always a favorite. Articles on the continues to shine bright as another generation Henry family and its wide-spread social and of researchers mine the oldest continuous political connections, the Haynie brothers of records in British-speaking America right here on Delmarva. 2 Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture Contents… 4 . .History of Salisbury, MD 11 . .Volunteer Corner 12 . .The Haynie Brothers 4 14 . .Day Book Discovery: The Thomas A. Spence Store Ledger History of Salisbury, MD of Snow Hill, Maryland, 1838-1839 18 . .Rev. Alfred R. Shockley 19 . .Thompson Retires from Salisbury University: Dr. G. Ray Thompson Reflects on His Life and Career on Delmarva 22 . .Evening at Finney House 18 24 . .Spotlight on Donors Rev. Alfred R. Shockley 25 . .Francis J. Henry 26 . .Upcoming Events and Exhibits 27 . .Donors & Members 25 Volume 23 • July 2016 Francis J. Henry Director, Creston Long. Access Archivist, Leslie McRoberts. Administrative Assistant , Donna T. Messick. Archival Assistant, Barbara Weiss. Curator, Janie Kreines . Graduate Assistants , Joel Henry and Artura Jackson. Receptionist , Pilar Burton. Research Assistant , T. Aaron Horner. SU Archivist, Ian Post. This issue and back issues of Shoreline may be purchased for $15 each. Please contact us at 410-543-6312 or by email at [email protected]. for details. ©2016 Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture at Salisbury University. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Any views or opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the individual authors and do not represent those of the Nabb Center or Salisbury University. Shoreline is published by the Nabb Research Center, 1101 Camden Ave., Salisbury University, MD, 21801. Printed in the USA by the Publications Office, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD. SU is an Equal Opportunity/AA/Title IX university and provides reasonable accommodation given sufficient notice to the University office or staff sponsoring the event or program. For more information regarding SU’s policies and procedures, please visit www.salisbury.edu/equity. at Salisbury University 3 uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu History of Salisbury, MD By John E. Jacob Jr. This third installment of the unpublished manuscript Founding and Now to the 4 acres on the north side of the mill pond left to Early History of Salisbury , 1730-1867 by the late John E. Jacob Jr. Mary Venables. Mary was still single on 24 October 1786 when of Salisbury, MD contains Chapters VI-VII. her brother John conveyed the land in Worcester to Dr. James Houston, because he excepted the 4 acres from that deed. I CHAPTER VI • 1784-1799 believe that Mary became the second wife of Jesse Fooks, had The Post-Revolutionary Years one child, James, and then died. There is no conveyance by her On the national scene, this chapter covers the years of the in the Worcester land records. If she married Jesse, he would Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention, the have acquired a life estate for his life by virtue of his marriage. adoption of the Constitution and the years of the Washington Jesse did convey the tract shown on the 1817 plat of Salisbury as presidency. Locally, on the economic front, Salisbury endured a “James Fooks old field” to his son, James, reserving a life estate severe depression, a period in which there was no national for himself. James already had the remainder interest in the 4 currency. Finally, under Hamilton’s administration of the acres as his mother’s heir, but the deed gave him the exclusive Treasury, the assumption of state debt, the formation of a interest in the other land around it. James was the executor of national bank and the stabilization of the currency became a his father’s will but received nothing under it, because other reality and the depression ended. provisions had been made for him. In 1801, the trustees for Colonel Peter Chaille conveyed to The Vanishing Venables Jesse Fooks and James the property called Race Ground, which The Venables family poses a mystery. The will of William was the patent name for the land John Venables had sold to Dr. Venables Sr. was detailed and explicit. It is the next generation James Houston. This deed brought title of the two tracts together.