Chronicles of Colonial Maryland, with Illustrations

IP ill mm i^Hil lip I ••-:.»•. :.-::,;:H 2 13-'" 975. M^L T36c 1198617 GENEALOGY COLLECTION ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02229 0313 V >tJ : ^o^S?5v CHRONICLES OF COLONIAL MARYLAND WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY JAMES WALTER THOMAS Member of the Maryland Historical Society THE EDDY PRESS CORPORATION CUMBERLAND, MD. Copyright 1913 James Walter Thomas All rights reserved 1198817 PREFACE TPHIS work may be classified as an historical review of Maryland, anterior to and during the American Revolution, though its Author be- stows upon it the more modest title— Chronicles of Colonial Maryland. His chief object has been to explore and develop historic fields which have hitherto either|been wholly neglected, or have received but scant notice at the hands of historians. This does not apply to the first chapter, the object of which was to re-locate a cherished landmark, "once known, but forgotten"—the historic island of Saint Clement's—and thus rescue from oblivion, the spot consecrated as the first landing place of the Maryland colonists; as well, also, to identify the exact point of landing at the place of its permanent settlement. The Author, while conscious of the laborious research and painstaking care bestowed upon it, fully realizes that a work, so largely one of original research, is inevitably not without imperfections. In submitting it, therefore, to the public, he does so with the assuring hope that the learned and generous will appreciate the difficulties attending the undertaking, and will accord consideration and justice to the motive which animated this humble tribute to his native State. J. W. T. Cumberland, Maryland, March 27th, 1913. — Contents CHAPTER I. PLACE OF LANDING OF THE MARYLAND COLONISTS. Place of first landing named Saint Clement's—Impressions of the Colonists on seeing the Country—First Mass celebrated in Maryland Identity of Saint Clement's Island rescued—Place of Permanent Settle- ment selected—Place of Landing identified—View of—Name bestowed on first Maryland Town—Natives—Origin of certain Indian Names, 9-18 CHAPTER II. THE FIRST CAPITAL OF MARYLAND. Location—Beauties of Situation—Baltimore's Instructions concerning it Character of Improvements Fort Saint Mary's—Location of — — — principal Streets—Lots, and Houses—State House—Jail "Old Mul- berry"—Copley Vault—Taverns—First Water —Mill—Roman Catholic Church—Protestant Church—Baltimore's Home 'The Castle".. 19-47 CHAPTER III. the first capital of Maryland—Continued. First General Assembly—Organization of—Early struggles for political freedom—Character of Legislation—Ingle's Rebellion—Religious freedom—Death of Governor Leonard Calvert—Life and character of His Descendants—Battle of the Severn—Puritan reign—Fendall's Rebel- lion—Effort to have Capital removed—Maryland Coin—Protestant Rev- olution—Royal Government—Removal of Capital—Downfall of Saint Mary's—Calvert Monument—An historic spot 48-68 CHAPTER IV. RELIGIOUS TOLERATION IN COLONIAL MARYLAND. Religious Toleration established from the date of the settlement A Cornerstone on which the state was founded—Its Rigid Enforce- ment—Maryland the first home of—The Act concerning Religion Its scope and purpose—How passed—The Religious Toleration of Rhode Island—Roger Williams, its supposed patron 69-76 — CHAPTER V. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN COLONIAL MARYLAND. It fell to the destiny of Maryland to work out this great problem How it was accomplished—Baltimore encountered the opposition of his church—How he met it—Had no confidence in Jesuits—A great principle in political economy and in the development of civiliza- tion 77-82 CHAPTER VI. LAND TENURE OF COLONIAL MARYLAND. Maryland a Palatine—Rights and Powers of a Court Palatine Character of Tenure—-How Land could be obtained—To whom, and in what quantity granted—Nature of the grants—Statutes of Mortmain —Remnants of Feudal Tenure—Fealty—Escheats—Fines—Relief—Quit- rents—The latter a large source of revenue to Proprietary—Difficulties in their payment—Confiscation of Proprietary rights—Contest among Heirs of last Proprietary—Curious data from Land Office 83-99 CHAPTER VII LAND TENURE OF COLONIAL MARYLAND. Methods of transferring Land—Livery of Seisen—Indentures Deeds of Conveyance—Acknowledgments—Descent of Land—Manors Primogeniture—Entailment—Influence in shaping Institutions, and hab- its of people—Its tendency aristocratic 100-1 10 CHAPTER VIII JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF COLONIAL MARYLAND. Gradual development of the system—Justices of the Peace—County Court—Manorial Courts—Prerogative Court—Chancery Court—Admir- alty Court—Assize Courts 111-136 CHAPTER IX. JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF COLONIAL MARYLAND. Provincial Court—Origin of—Justices of—Jurisdiction of—Chief Judicial Tribunal—Court of Appeals—Appeal to King and Council Early Reports—Characteristics of Provincial Judiciary 137-153 CHAPTER X. CHARACTERISTICS OF MARYLAND ESTABLISHMENT. Protestant Episcopal Church in Early Maryland—Became established Church—Nature of Establishment—Parishes—English ecclesias- tical law not in force—Induction, its uses and abuses—Church tax Contest over—Abolished—Glebes—Church Wardens—Clerks — Regis- trars 154-189 — CHAPTER XL some of Maryland's early churches. Division of Province into Parishes—Number in each County—Wil- liam and Mary Parish—King and Queen—All Faith—Saint Andrew's Prince George's—Marriage Records of Latter—Newtown Church—Saint Inigoe's—Saint Joseph's— Sacred Heart—Saint Aloysius—Saint John's, 190-222 CHAPTER XII. THE GREAT SEAL OF MARYLAND AND HER FLAG. Great Seal unique—Heraldic in design—Description of—Those in use before the Revolution—Those after—Lesser Seals at arms—Impres- sions of on Money—Present Great Seal—Origin of Flag—Design of— Early uses of—Beauty of—Great Seal of United States—Origin of The Stars and Stripes 22.2-237 CHAPTER XIII. FORCE AND VALUE OF THE MARYLAND LINE IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Formation of the Maryland Line—Well appointed and organized- Commanded by Colonel William Smallwood—Maryland Rifle Com- panies—Maryland Line ordered to New York—Made part of the Divis- ion of Brigadier-General Stirling—In Battle of Long Island—Its Hero- ism—Its terrific charges—Saved the American Army—Covered Wash- ington's Retreat from Long Island—At advance posts at Harlem— Or- dered to cover retreat from New York, after failure of other troops— In battles of Harlem and White Plains—Destruction of enemy by Mary- land and Virginia riflemen at Fort Washington—Maryland Line covered Washington's retreat through New Jersey—Crossed the Delaware with Washington—In battles of Trenton and Princeton—Badly thinned and shattered by end of the season. CAMPAIGN OF 1 777. The Maryland Line re-enforced and increased to eight battalions Divided into two brigades—Commanded by Brigadier-General Small- wood and Brigadier-General De Boore—Part of General Sullivan's Division— In Battle of Brandywine—In Battle of Germantown—Drove British Light Infantry from the field—In winter quarters under Small- wood, at Wilmington to protect the State of Delaware—Captured val- uable prizes. CAMPAIGN OF 1778. Maryland Line again re-enforced—In Battle of Monmouth—Held back enemy until Washington could form—Ordered up to secure the day—Marched to Middlebrook to protect the State of New Jersey. —— CAMPAIGN OF 1779- Maryland's quota for campaign of 1779—Depreciation in currency compelled General Smallwood to ask that better provision be made for support of the Maryland Line—Ordered to Elizabethtown, New Jersey Major Stewart of Maryland Line in capture of Stony Point—The Maryland Line at Paulus Hook (Jersey City) —Formed right wing of army at Morristown. CAMPAIGN OF 1780. Maryland asked to furnish 1400 additional men—Maryland Line sent South to re-enforce Southern department, under General Baron DeKalb—Its passage through Maryland—The folly of Gate's line of march—Battle of Camden—Terrific charge of—Whole British force brought against it—Flight of Gates—Fall of DeKalb—Loss to line heavy —Smallwood in command—Gist hurried to Maryland for recruits. CAMPAIGN OF I781. General Nathaniel Greene superseded Gates in command of South- ern department—Smallwood promoted to Major-General—Was retained as second in command—The Maryland Line under command of Colonel Otho Holland Williams—The Maryland Line at the battle of Camden Colonel John Eager Howard a hero—Greene's masterly retreat—Wil- liam's splendid strategy in covering it—Battle of Guilford Court House —Other strongholds of the South—Eutaw Springs—Maryland Line charges the Buff's—Desperate struggle—Won the admiration of the enemy—Smallwood in Virginia with Lafayette—Yorktown—Maryland line turns its face homeward—Disbanded—An essential factor in the war for Independence—Justly treated by a grateful State .... 238-302 CHAPTER XIV. THE WESTERN RESERVE AND MARYLAND'S PART IN IT. A vast domain—Grasping claims of Virginia, New York, Connec- ticut and Massachusetts—Maryland rose to the occasion—Her position towards it—Resolute way in which she pursued it—Her claim ultimately sustained—An immense folkland thus obtained for the new Confeder- ation—Its acquisition speedily led to far-reaching results—Cornerstone of the American Republic 303-314 CHAPTER XV CHRONICLES OF SAINT MARY'S COUNTY. Oldest County organization—Theatre of Maryland's early struggles —Beauties of—Resources of—Boundary of—Early civil divisions County seat—Other early towns— Ports of Entry—Roads—First mail route—Historic value of Will Records—Traditions—Early School Sys- tem—Charlotte Hall—Revolution—Civil Officers 3i5"347 CHAPTER XVI. CHRONICLES OF SAINT MARY'S COUNTY. Historic places—Character of improvements—Governor Calvert's Manors—Cross Manor—Mattapany—Susquehanna—Sotterly—Fenwick's Manor—De La Brooke—Trent Hall—The Plains—Calvert side of Pa- tuxent—Deep Falls—Bashford—Notley Hall—Brambly — Bushwood — Saint Clement's Manor—Tudor Hall—Portobello 348-377 APPENDIX. Letter, 1799, giving account of opening of "Copley Vault," at Saint Mary's City—Topographical Map of Maryland's First Capital, showing location of principal lots and house 379-381 Illustrations Page Chancellor's Point 17 Saint Mary's Bluff, site of First State House 29 Maryland's First State House 31 Great Seal of Maryland under the Proprietary Government...

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