A Colonial Governor in Maryland
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AND / iJ GAR b A COLONIAL GOVERNOR IN MARYLAND ' A COLONIAL GOVERNOR IN MARYLAND HORATIO SHARPE AND HIS TIMES 1753-1773 BY LADY EDGAR ' AUTHOR OF ' TEN YEARS OF UPPER CANADA AND ' LIFE OF GENERAL BROCK (Mukert of Canada Serie») WITH ILLUSTRATIONS LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON NEW YORK, BOMBAY, AND CALCUTTA 1912 — UMVFKH!" ' OF CALIFORNIA - .r,\ la BARBARA ' He lived just on the verge of that old world from which we are drifting away so swiftly. ' He was familiar with many varieties of men and fortune. ' His lot brought him into contact with personages of whom we read only in books, whose voices I almost fancy I hear as I read the yellow pages written scores of years since. ' To the best of my ability I have endeavoured to revivify the bygone times and people. With what success the task has been accomplished, with what profit or amusement to himself, the kind reader will please to determine.' The Virginians. IN OKE.T •RITAIN. PREFACE In August 1753, Colonel Horatio Sharpe, late of His Majesty's 20th Regiment, crossed the Atlantic to take the governor- ship of the province of Maryland under the sixth and last Lord Baltimore. Accompanied by his young secretary, John Ridout, he arrived at Annapolis, the capital of Mary- land, just before the breaking out of the final war with the French in America. He reigned as governor for sixteen years, and remained in the province until 1773. That period covered some of the most eventful days in colonial history. Although Horatio Sharpe may be considered a character of minor importance in that great drama which was being played on the American Continent, yet his career is distinctly interesting, not only from his personal character, but also by reason of the points of contact between his life and the lives of his great contemporaries. He was eminently a man of his time, and a study of his career serves to illumine a most fascinating period. The materials for this sketch have been taken from the Sharpe correspondence, from contemporary newspapers, and from private sources. If letters have been largely drawn upon, it is because, as Cardinal Newman says, ' Not only for the interest of a biography, but for the arriving at the inside of things, the publication of letters is the true method.' —A CONTENTS CHAPTER I Annapolis and Horatio Sharpe I'AOE Arrival of Horatio Sharpe—His proclamation as Governor—Anna- polis in 1753 — Its English characteristics—Schools— Race- course—Theatre — Ballroom — Manners — The Council — Its 1 members— Description of Governor's entertainments . CHAPTER II Annapolis and Fort Necessity Government House, Annapolis—The Ohio Company—French aggres- sion—Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia—Difficulties with as- semblies—Confederation of colonies—Congress at Albany Benjamin Franklin's proposal —Fort at junction of the Alle- ghany and Monongahela— George Washington in command Coulon de Jumonville— Fort Necessity—Capitulation— George Washington blamed . .11 CHAPTER III Braddock's Arrival Sharpe's commission—Colonel Fitzhugh—Letter to the Secretary of State—Sharpe's plans —Washington resigns commission— question of rank—Tour of inspection—Sharpe superseded in command—General Braddock—Letter from Sir Thomas Robin- son—Troops raised in Maryland—Military expenses— Sharpe proposes a stamp duty—Conciliation of Indians—Wampum belts—Arrival of Sir John St. Clair—Joins Sharpe at Wills' Creek—Down the Potowmac in a canoe—Arrival of Braddock —Chain of French forts—English forts—Meeting of governors . 23 ——— x A COLONIAL GOVERNOR IN MARYLAND CHAPTER IV Braddock's Defeat PAGE Question of taxation—General Braddock's indignation—Horatio Sharpe's difficulties — A troublesome assembly — The Upper House—Braddock's plans—Expedition to Fort Duquesne George Washington —Benjamin Franklin — Warning from Bradstreet — Letter from Calvert — News from Braddock — News from England—The French fleet—State of province Indian depredations—News from the front—First tidings of disaster—Naval successes—Letter from Innes— Letter from Lieutenant Orme—Braddock's death—The Governor goes to Fort Cumberland— Panic of troops —Sharpe's account—Colonel Dunbar—Militia called out ..... 42 CHAPTER V Shirley, Commander-in-Chief, 1755 Governor Shirley — Story of Louisbourg — Pepperell — Shirley at Oswego—Plans for winter—Lake George—Dieskau—Johnson's victory—Rejoicing in England—Troubles in Maryland—Fort Cumberland—George Washington—Indian outrages—Terror in Annapolis—Monckton in Acadia—Takes three forts—Naval affairs —Council of war—New York, 1755—Sir Charles Hardy —Letter from Sharpe—Shirley's delay—Death of his son Shirley's plan of campaign—Approved of by council . 64 CHAPTER VI Acadia and Maryland The Acadian exiles—In Nova Scotia—French or English—Oath of allegiance — The crisis—Beau Sejour — Colonel Monckton Governor Shirley—Governor Lawrence—John Winslow—Sen- tence of banishment—Anguish of Acadians—Their deportation —Acadians in Maryland—Their treatment —Mr. Callister Nemesis—Story of Le Blanc and Munier . .83 —— CONTENTS xi CHAPTER VII Shirley's Recall fagi; Sharpe to Sir Charles Hardy—New commander-in-chief—The Earl of Loudoun—Swiss officers —German emigrants—Indians in Maryland—Scalping parties — Letters to Gazette — Forts on frontiers—George Washington—A gentleman of merit—John Winslow—Sir William Johnson— Shirley's failure—Montcalm —De Levis — Sir John St. Clair—His discontent— Colonel Bradstreet—His success— Condition of Maryland—Arrival of Webb and Abercrombie — Letter from Shirley — Anecdotes from Franklin— Shirley's fate—Pennsylvania . .94 CHAPTER VIII Loudoun's Arrival Friction between provincials and regulars—Montcalm and Oswego —Who was to blame ?—Death of Sharpe's brother—Pitt Secre- tary of State—Troops for America—The Sharpe family—Gregory Sharpe—Anecdote—News from Europe—Battle of Prague Coalition ministry—Loudoun's plan of campaign, 1757—Sir John St. Clair—Louisbourg—Failure of Loudoun—Franklin's anecdote—Fort William Henry—Montcalm and De Levis —Fall of the fort—Indian massacre .... 106 CHAPTER IX The Cherokees French sovereignty—Population—Cherokees offer services to Eng- ush—Letter to Sharpe—Wahachy of Keeway—Ridout and Wolstenholme sent as envoys—Their account of mission Indian scalps—Wampum belts—Wahachy's speech . .123 CHAPTER X Loudoun's Recall Sharpe's troublesome assembly—No supplies granted—Lord Lou- doun's letter—Sharpe to Calvert—Proposal of taxation—Lord ———— xii A COLONIAL GOVERNOR IN MARYLAND PAGE Colville —Sir John St. Clair—Governor Dinwiddie—Quarter- ing of troops—Great dissatisfaction—Colonel Haldimand—His letter to Sharpe—Lord Loudoun's recall—Abercrombie succeeds —Calvert to Sharpe—Colonel Amherst—Expedition to Louis- bourg—Sir John St. Clair to Sharpe—Fort Duquesne Brigadier Forbes—Sharpe's action—George Washington Colonel Bouquet—Forbes's campaign—Boscawen's fleet—Am- herst and Wolfe—Lake George . .136 CHAPTER XI TlCONDEROGA—LODISBOURG Abercrombie's campaign—His troops—July 1798—Lake George Lord Howe—His death—Carillon—Montcalm's defence—Aber- crombie's orders—Disastrous defeat—Louisbourg—Amherst and Wolfe—Victory—Loudoun's triumph—Abercrombie's re- call — Amherst succeeds — Colonel Bradstreet — Takes Fort Frontenac—Bouquet's road—Convention with Indians—Forbes occupies Fort Duquesne . .150 CHAPTER XII TlCONDEROGA—OSWEGO—NIAGARA—QUEBEC Pitt's instructions — Amherst's work — Governor Sharpe — No supplies voted for army—Death of Forbes—Stanwix succeeds Amherst to Sharpe —Campaign of 1759—Governor Denny Ticonderoga—Letter from Amherst—Haldimand and Oswego —Prideaux and Niagara — Death of Prideaux — Sir William Johnson succeeds—Takes Fort Niagara—The St. Lawrence Quebec—James Wolfe—Letter in Gazette—London dispatches —Death of Montcalm and Wolfe—Quebec taken . .162 CHAPTER XIII 1759-1760 Affairs in Maryland—The church —Letter from ex-governor Din- widdie to Sharpe—Condition of France—Murray and De Levis —Quebec—The second siege—English on defensive—Waiting —— CONTENTS xiii PAGK for succour—French or English—An English ship—Amherst's plans—His descent of the St. Lawrence—Junction of English —Montreal—Vaudreuil surrenders—General Murray—Jeffrey —Amherst . .176 CHAPTER XIV 1760-1765 Sharpe and Lord Baltimore—Whitehall—Story of Woodcarver— Secretary Ridout—Appointment to King's Council—Jealousy in province—Letter from Calvert—News from London—Pitt's resignation — George in. — Interview with Calvert — His Majesty's opinion of Sharpe—The assembly of Maryland Calvert's scheme—Sharpe's answer—Peace of Paris, 1763 Unrest in colonies—Pontiac—Bouquet and Fort Pitt—Treaty with Indians—Boundary question—Mason and Dixon's line Presents from Lord Baltimore—His character . .188 CHAPTER XV The Stamp Act A new cabinet in England—Lord Grenville chief—The Stamp Act —Storms in America—Mr. Hood—Mr. Mowbray—The Vir- ginians—Convention of assembly—Dispatches from England Death of Secretary Calvert—Hamersley succeeds—His letter to Sharpe—Parliamentary report—Pitt's speech—Lord Camden —Lord Mansfield—The chancellor— Repeal of Stamp Act . 207 CHAPTER XVI Repeal of Stamp Act, 1766-1768 Enthusiasm in America—Statue for Chatham—Portrait of Camden —Address from assemblies to King—Presented by Lord Bal- timore—The liberty lottery—Sale of lands—Rockingham's administration ends 1766—Pitt's return—Townshend's plan —The Revenue Act—Sharpe and convict ships—Story of a convict—Episcopacy in America—A Maryland parson—Rev. Bennett Allen—Another type—Rev. Jonathan Boucher . 225 —A xiv A COLONIAL GOVERNOR IN MARYLAND CHAPTER XVII Last Years in Maryland, 1768-1773 PAGE The Revenue Act—Excitement in America—Pennsylvania