,1''! ! , r \ ' I I \ ^h I )i h i msmm^it € v \ I (' .1 *, '■ fp f^^^ *H,- * "ill H (j 1 ' 1 I ! if i' i( |L^ mmM;¥mi'r: Plllll (M »;">'>'j ; f ... pi*) ' li \ t ,i i ■ i (ill li''^<. " ,M 'f i.ii i i " 'V, '' I 1 \ "oV* fj^ ^^0^ .^ ., _ ^ ^ <^^ ♦W;? .^ (V , " • » *o .^ ^^ <. h.^ '^p c"* *% %" f THE HISTORY OF CAROLINE COUNTY FEINTED BY The J. W. Stowell Printing Co. FEDERALSBURG, MD. HISTORY OF CAROLINE COUNTY MARYLAND FROM ITS BEGINNING Material Largely Contributed by the Teachers and Children of the County Revised and Supplemented by Laura C. Cochrane Lavinia R. Grouse Mrs. Wilsie S, Gibson A. May Thompson Edward M. Noble Of the Caroline County Schools h iS7 •p H47 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FEB241921 DOCUMENTS DIVISION To the Teachers and hundreds of Pupils in the schools of Caroline County who willingly secured data which is herein presented this volume is respectfully dedicated. INTRODUCTION. The colli iiiiial iuhmI of the children, teachers, and officers of oiu- public scliools liaviiig" some historical data conceniiiiu' llie lioiiie county of Caroline has led to the ])n))lishiii,ii' of tliis l)ook which is here presented to tlie pnblic. The constant neglect of a citiy.eiislii]) to compile facts concerniiii;' its growtli and history must inevitably lead to an almost total ignorance of the same and snbse- ([uently to a lack of ap])reciation of the local lieroes. Having read of the struggles of the colonial troops during the Revolutionary AVar, how many of us are con- scious of the fact that our county then only in its infancy furnished not only its quota of soldiers and sui)plies, but the leader of tlie troo]^s of the Eastern Shore — (Jolonel "William Richardson? Have we fully realizetl that the immortal Declara- tion of lnde])endence was made possible by just such as- semblages of (U'termined citizens as the one held in this county in June 1774? Has it ever occurred to us that our county furnished one subject of the cause for tlie War of 1812 — the im- pressment of American Seamen? Generally may it 1k' said that Caroline's worthies of tlie )»ast and present have held and still hohl an hon- ored ])lace among the leaders of the State. To give due credit to these is one valid reason for such a volume. Perhai)«, a more important reason, however, for such an effort is the necessity of the ]mihls in our schools ac- quiring a fundamental knowledge of the organization and earlier history of our county (1) to teach an appre- ciation of home and local environments and (2) to fur- nish a proper basis for state and national history. Assuredly, Caroline County has a rich liackground which adds dignity to the ])resent, for out of the early days step stately personages who a substance of facts gleaned from reliable sources by the ])upils, teach- ers, and officials of the ]mblic schools tlirongh talks with xi the older residents, eoiiiity officials, by means of old manuscripts, deeds, wills, newspapers, clmrcli and court records, and from tlie several volnmes of history and novels pertaining to onr county and state. Our appreciation is here extended to those princi- pals, teachers, and children of onr schools who have con- tributed material as well as to that large host of parents and friends who have answered the questions of children from day to day with such uniform courtesy and coop- eration. Especiallv are our thanks due to Capt. Chas. W. Wright, Edward T. Tubbs, Zebdial P. Steele, J. Kemp Stevens, James E. Hignutt, officials of the Clerk's office, and others who either through personal knowledge, memory, data or help of records aided us greatly in this publication. To the Editors of the County newspapers — Greens- boro Enterprise, Denton Journal, American Union, Federalshurr/ Courier and Caroline Sun, as well as to Swepson Earle, author of the Colonial Eastern Shore, we desire to acknowledge our gratitude for the use of valuable engravings and etchings loaned us. While conscious of the laborious efforts and pains- taking care bestowed, we fully realize that a work, so largely one of original research, is inevitably not with- out imperfections and some errors. In submitting it, therefore, to the public, it is with the hope that generous readers will ap])reciate the difficulties attending the un- dertaking and will accord consideration and justice to the motive which has animated this liumble trilbute. Edward M. Noble. Denton, Marvland, October 10, 1920. Xll SOURCES AND REFERENCES Consulted in the Preparation of TEE IIISTOBY OF CABOLINE COUNTY. Public Records: Congressional Library, Maiyland State Library, Maryland Land Record Office, Maryland Historical So- ciety, Enoch Pratt Library, Peabody Library, Land and Will Records of Caroline County, Land and Will Rec- ords of Dorchester County, Land and Will Records of Talbot County, Records of Bethesda Church, Preston; Tennessee Historical Society, Third Haven Meeting, Easton. Newspapers : MaiyUuul Gazette, Annapolis; Easton (Md.) Ga- zette; Denton Journal; American Union, Denton; The Pearl, Denton. Books and Pamphlets : American Archives, Washington ; Maryland Ar- chives; History of Maryland Conventions 1774-1776; Senate and House Journals, Annapolis ; Atlas Landhold- ers Assistant; McSherry's History of Maryland; Mak- ers of Methodism; Asbury's Journal; Hanson's History of Kent County; Tilgiiman's History of Tall)ot County; Earle's Colonial Eastern Shore; Wright's History of the Wright Family; Federal Census of 1790; The Tory Maid; Maryland Historical Magazine; Maryland in Prose and Poetrv. xiu XIV CONTENTS. Page 1. Formation of Caroline County 1 2. Organization of tlie County 3 3. Caroline County Courts 7 4. The Hundred — Election Districts 18 5. Land Grants 23 6. The Mason and Dixon Line 25 7. Roads, Ferries, Bridges, Fences and Gates 2S 8. Indians of the Eastern Shore 33 9. When Indians Lived in Our Land 41 10. Foreword to the Trial of Poh Poh Caquis 4 5 11. Erection of the Court House and Jail 50 12. Revolutionary Period 54 13. Carolines .Military Activities 70 14. Colonel William Richardson 7 6 15. Colonel William Whiteley 80 16. Matthew Driver 82 17. The Potters of Potters Landing 85 IS. Life in Caroline Following the Revolution 88 19. Early Brick Dwellings in Caroline 94 20. The Hughletts 100 21. William Frazier — Methodist Organizer 103 22. Early Churches and Societies 105 23. Caroline County Almshouses 120 24. When Tobacco was King 123 25. The Duel Between Dickinson and Jackson 126 26. War of 1812 129 2 7. Captain Joseph Richardson 133 28. Thomas Culbreth 134 29. Early Postal Service 137 30. The Plantation 139 31. Slavery 141 32. An Old Time Maryhind School (1S38) 152 XV 33. The Public Schools 1^6 34. Early Factories 165 35. The e i\ il War 168 36. .Marydel Vicinity 175 Tiie .Marydel Duel, Edinburgh 3 7. Henderson Locality 181 38. Goldsboro (Old Townj 187 Bridgetown, Bee Tree, Barcus 3ti. Moore's 191 40. Greensboro (Choptank Bridge) 194 Whiteley's and Lowe's 41. Burrsville (Punch Hall, Union Corner) 21S Central, Camp Grove 42. Denton (Pig Point, Edenton) 224 Carey's, Oaks, Willougnby's. Andersontown, Liden's, Hickman, Williston, Williamson's, The Bureau 4 3. Harmony ( Fowling Creek) 251 Grove, Laurel Grove, Friendship 44. Preston (Snow Hill) 256 Linchester, Choptank 45. Bethlehem 263 Smithson, Hubbard's 4 6. Federalsburg (North West Fork Bridge) 267 Hickory Hill, Nichols, Houston's Branch 4 7. Concord 281 Howard's, American Corners 48. Smithville and Community 284 Chestnut Grove, Nabb's 49. Hillsboro (Tuckahoe Bridge) 289 Thawley's, Tuckahoe Neck 50. Ridgely 289 Furman's Grove, The Plains 51. Spanish-American War 314 52. County Newspapers 316 53. The World War 320 54. The Floods of 1919 347 XVI FORMATION OF CAROLINE COUNTY. Up until 1774 there was no Caroline County. The land where we now live belonged to Dorchester and Queen Anne's counties. Large tracts were uncleared and roads poor. When people living here had business at court, they had to make a long, rough journey either to Cambridge or Queenstown. Far-seeing men decided to petition the General Assembly of the province to make a new county out of parts of Dorchester and (j)ueen Anne's, which they felt would result in a more rapid development of this section as well as ])rove a great personal convenience. The petition was granted (in 1774) creating the new county and giving to it the name of Caroline. This was in honor of Caroline Eden, a sister of Frederick Cal- vert, the last Lord Baltimore, and wife of Sir Robert Eden, then English governor of Maryland. The same Assembly provided that the new county be divided into hundreds. This was an English term for wliat we would call districts. A map given else- where in this history shows these divisions and you can readily find in which of the original hundreds you live. The Assembly also appointed seven commissioners for Caroline county, namely: Charles Dickinson, Ben- son Stainton, Thomas White, William Haskins, Richard Mason, Joshua Clark, and Nathaniel Potter. These men were to buy four acres of land at Pig Point (now Den- ton) have it surveyed and recorded in the county rec- ords. Upon this land the court house and jail were to be built. In the meanwhile, court was to be held at Melvill's Warehouse. This was a small settlement about a mile and a half above Pig Point, consisting of a tobacco ware- house, wharf, store, and a few houses. Elections were to be held there as well as other business transactions. As a result MelvilPs Landing, the temporary county- seat, became a place of considerable importance in the early history of Caroline. A prominent man at the Landing was James Barwick, who kept the inn, was jailor, provided the necessary rooms for court use, and kept the ferry which ran from Melvill's Warehouse to the causeway'opposite. An old store house belonging to Edward Lloyd of Talbot was rented for a jail. It was —1— evidently not in good condition, for the court ordered it ])nt in better reyjair by placing logs under the sills and that these logs be sunk in the ground. The warehouse was a more substantial brick structure built previous to 1763 situated a little back from the river. Here the great hogsheads of tobacco were received from planters, weighed, stamped and stored for shipment. The first session of court was held March 15, 1774 at Melvill's Warehouse. It continued being held there twice a year in March and October until 1777, when Bridgetown (now Greensboro) succeeded in having it moved there. Later, however, it was decided for the con- venience of pul)lic Imsiness, Melvill's Warehouse being- most central, that court be held there as usual. Not- withstanding this fact, records prove that sessions were held at Bridgetown in August and November of '78 and June, October, and November of '79. Feeling was strong concerning the permanent loca- tion of the county-seat. The peo])le in the upper part of the county insisted upon Bridgetown, while those in the lower section were quite as insistent for Pig Point. In 1785 a compromise was effected by the General Assembly authorizing the purchase of two acres of land at Mel- vill's Landing. Matthew Driver, the owner of the Brick House Farm which extended nearly to the Landing, promptly deeded the required amount' of land to the justices of the county to l3e used as a site for the court house and jail. All that happened Avithin the next five years regarding this compromise we do not know, but in 1790, all the l)elongings of the county court were moved to Pig Point. A house was rented there, and used until the completion of the court house about 1797, for the court sessions. —2— ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. /. Introduction. The early government of Maryland was modeled af- ter the Palatinate of Durham in England, with a few added "powers" which made the Governor scarcely less than a king. Of all the Colonial organs of government — The Hun- dred, tlie Manor etc. — the County had more functions and more powers than any other, especially in the execu- tive and judicial lines. 11. Why Carolinef What was the need that led to the organization of Carolinef The inland sections of Dorchester and Queen Anne Counties had developed and were now rich and productive. Trade as well as population had increased and as a whole this section had become somewhat prom- inent in the respective counties much on account of the fertile soil in this inland section. Crime too had increased, due in a great degree to the cosmopolitan nature of a new and rapidly growing population. The carrying of prisoners from this section to Queenstown in Queen Anne County or Cambridge in Dorchester County naturally became a problem. With these points in view. — 1 Needs of increased population, 2 Needs of increased trade, 3 Need for increased crime, a more central government began to be discussed. Then too because of distance and difficulties of trav- el in that day the right of suffrage was in a sense prac- tically denied many free-born citi^iens. Having in mind these needs of the people the colo- nists in tliis section presented a petition to the General Asseml)l\- of Maryland, which met at Annapolis, Nov. 1773, praying that the riglit to organize a new County be granted them. Below is given the Act passed by this Assembly. "WHEREAS, a considerable body of the inhabitants of Dor- chester and Queen Anne's Counties, by their petition of this General Assembly, have prayed that an Act may be passed for the division of the said counties, and for erecting a new one out of the parts —3— thereof; And whereas it appears to this General Assembly, that tlie erecting of a new county out of such parts of Dorchester and Queen-Anne's will conduce greatly \o the ease and convenience of the people thereof: Be it therefore enacted, by the right honor- able, the Lord Proprietary by and with the advice and consent of the Governor and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the authority of the same, that after the .Monday of the second Tuesday in March next such parts aforesaid two counties, Dor- chester and Queen-Anne's, as are contained within the bounds and limits following to wit: Beginning at a point on the north side of the mouth of Hunt- ing Creek in Dorchester County, and from thence running up and with the said Creek to the main road at James Murray's Mill, thence by that road by Saint Mary's Chapel Parish church to Northwest Fork Bridge, thence with the main road (that leads to Cannon's Ferry) to Nantieoke River, thence with said river to and with the exterior limits of Queen-Anne's County to intersect the main road that leads from Beaver-dam Causeway to Dovertown. in Kent Coun- ty upon Delaware, thence with the said road to Long Marsh, thence with said Marsh and stream of the branch of Tuckahoe Creek to Tuckahoe Bridge, thence with the said creek to Great Choptank River and with the said river to the first beginning at the month of Hunting Creek, shall be and is hereby erected in a new county by the name of Caroline County." The land approximately was as follows : From Queen Anne County that part of Caroline lying west of the Clioptank River. From Dorchester County that part of Caroline Countv lyino- east of the Choptank Riv- er with a somewhat indefinite boundary alona^ what is now the Delaware line. Of this section there was yet some question as to Marvland's valid title and probably for this reason the land was lars^ely uncleared. In addition to the two parts above c^iven Caroline has now a small portion of land — probably a few square rods — included within her boundaries that was in the early surveys a part of Tnlliot. III. Nauiiv.fl flip Count I/. The new county was named Caroline in honor of Caroline Calvert, sister of Frederick, last Lord Bal- timore, and wife of Robert Eden, last colonial governor of the Province of Maryland. IV. Completion of Orr/anization. While these enactments were all in 1773, the actual organization of the county did not take place until 1774 at whicli time it was necessary to make some changes in the Eastern boundary line as laid out by Assembly in 1773, owing to the fact that although a "map had been made and tlie "vistor" run by the surveyors completed yet the exact location of the "division" seemed indefi- nite in the minds of the le.s^islators. V. The Finances. The Assembly, too, in the Acts at time of organiza- tion secured to the county the greater part of the monies for a Court House. Besides authorizing assessments the following- was oi-dered by Assembly: • Some time prior to the organization of Caroline County tlie taxpayers of Dorcliester County were assessed for tlie purpose of constructing a Court House at Cambridge. Tlie taxpayers residing in that portion of Dorchester County which subsequently became a part of Caroline County, had been assessed in a similar manner, and paid to the commissioners of Dorchester County, 70,000 pounds of tobacco. When arrangements were made for organizing Caroline Coun- ty, the justices of Dorchester County were authorized to pay to the commissioners of Caroline County, 70.000 pounds of tobacco, this quantity to be credited to the taxpayers residing in that section of Caroline County which formerly was known as part of Dorchester County. The taxpayers of that section of Caroline County formerly a section of Queen-Anne's County, were assessed in proportion to the amount received from Dorchester County. This was to be placed to the credit of the previously mentioned former taxpayers of said section and to be used towards building the Court house and prison in Caroline." VI. Final Seal in p of Boundaries. The first difiiculty aliont boundaries has been men- tioned before — namely tlie Maryland-Delaware line. Be- side this, other chann'e^ were made in the line which sep- arates Caroline from Dorcliester. These changes were three in number and below we give them quoted from Wright. 1 Alteration of 1793. "The first alteration took place in 1793, when John Smoot, Eccleston Brown, and Thomas Nichols of Dorchester County, with James Summers and Edwai'd Wright Sr. of Caroline County were authorized to have a new bridge constructed to span the North- west Fork River, about 150 yards or 19 14 perches below the site of the old bridge that had been washed away; they were also to have the road (that led from Hunting Creek Church to Cannon's Ferry) altered, to traverse across the new bridge and thus annex to Caroline Countv a stretch of land formerly in Dorchester Coun- ty." 2 Alteration ol 1X7X. "The second and less important alteration was made during 1S78, in the dividing line and road leading from Hynson to Feder- alsburg, and it was in reference to straightening the road for a short distance between the lands of William A. Noble and S. Frank Pool residing in the opposite adjoining counties. The expense in- curred in making this alteration was borne by these two enterpris- ing gentlemen." —5— 3 Alteration of 1880. "The third and most important alteration of the boundary line occurred in IS SO. Early in that year each of the seventy voters of the section that was proposed for alteration, petitioned the General Assembly of Maryland, that vi^hereas Federalsburg standing upon the dividing line between Dorchester and Caroline County, hence causing divers difficulties; therefore the boundary line between these counties should be altered; beginning at a dividing line ap- proximately one and a half miles north-west of Federalsburg, be- tween the lands of Wm. H. Alburger and Mrs. Ann Noble; then with the same reversed through the lands of Robert McCrea, A. W. Flowers, and others, until the North-west fork of the Nanticoke River is reached then along the river to Miles' Run; along Miles' Run to the road leading from Johnson's Cross Roads to Fedjralr- burg." By this survey lands lying between the new and the old boundjiry became part of Caroline Comity. Then a census of all voters within this limit was taken. With one exception the voters were in favor of Alteration and as a final matter Caroline paid Dorchester $600 for the land. —6— CAROLINE COUNTY COURTS. /. Iniportaiice of Courts of that Day. As lias been mentioned the Palatinate of Durham was the model for Maryland government and accordin^;- ly much power was vested in the county unit — the court. The following list of court powers, of that day gives an idea of their jurisdiction. Coiut powers: 1 To divide Counties into Hundreds. 2 To appoint a constable once a year for eacli Hundred. 3 To divide the county into liighway precincts. 4 To appoint once a year an overseer for each highway pre- cinct. 5 To hear and consider petitions for new higliways. 6 To let contracts for keeping ferries. 7 To let contracts for erection and repair of county build- ings. 8 To appoint inspectors of weights and measures. (Later for toljacco. ) 9 To provide county with standards of weights and measures. 10 To require tobacco inspectors to render them accounts. 11 To remove inspectors from office for misbehavior. 12 To (through Justices) levy taxes. 13 To exempt paupers from poll tax. 14 To exempt superannuated slaves from tax. 15 To (through sheriff I collect taxes. 16. .To grant rights to keep ordinary. 17 To establish rates of ordinary as to eating, drinking, etc. 18 To advise sheriff as to day of election of "delegates." (The justices sat with sheriff during election.) 19 To (in some cases) direct the sheriff to sell insolvent debt- ors into servitude. 20 To pay annual prizes amounting to several thousand pounds of tobacco for the best pieces of linen manufactured in the county. 21 To train and organize Militia. 22 To (in cases of poverty) — a Bind out orphan children as apprentices. b Engage physicians for sick paupers. c Levy tax for the support of the poor and needy. II. Esfa])]is]nnfi the Courts. The same assembly — 1773 — which gave us Caroline, enacted various laws relative to the new County Courts. 1 The Assembly appointed seven Commissioners. 2 These Commissioners were authorized to purchase "A quantity of land, not exceeding four acres of land, at or adjoining Pig Point on the east side of the Choptank Riv- er, below Melvill's Warehouse." 3 The Justices of Caroline County were authorized to secure a place for court and gaol. 4 Ordered court to be held at Melvill's warehouse until Court and gaol at Pig Point were complete. —7— 5 Authorized Justices to levy a tobacco assessment sufficient to pay for land on which to build court house and gaol — plus 5 'a sheriffs fees for collecting. 6 The commissioners were authorized to contract and agree for the building of the Court house and gaol. ///. Placca of U aiding Court. 1 Melvill's Warehouse. March 17 74 to August 177 8. 2 Bridgetown (now Greensboro). August 17 78 to March 1780. 3 Melvill's Warehouse. March 17 8 to March 1790. 4 Pig Point (now Denton). March 17 9 to present. IV. Co II it at Melvill's Warehouse. By order of Assembly (1773) Melvill's Warehouse became the temporary county seat and court convened there for all trems from 1774 to 1778. The following is the oflicial record of the same. Ot)iU't oi'gaiiizatioii — -Maryland at a County Court of the Right Honorable Henry Harford, Esq. Absolute Lord and Proprietary of the province of .Maryland held for Caroline County at .Melvill's Warehouse in the County aforesaid, the third Tuesday in March, Anno Domini 17 74 beginning the 15 day of the said month and continued by several adjournments until the 17th day thereliy. Lordships, commission- ere and officers authorized and employed to hold the said court were Present The Worshipful Mr. Charies Dickinson Mr. Benson Stainton Mr. Thomas White Mr. William Haskins Mr. Richard Mason Mr. Joshua Clark Mr. Nathaniel Potter The said Lord Proprietary his Justices Wm. Hopper Esq. Sheriff George Fitzhugh, Clerk. The following commission and Writ of Dedimus Potestatem thereon indorsed to the Justices of Caroline County directed ar-:^ openly read (viz) the Right Honorable Henry Harford, Esq.; ab- solute Lord and Proprietary of the Province of Maryland to Rich- ard Lee, Benedict Calvert, Daniel Dulany, John Ridout, John Beale Boardley, George Stewart, William Fitzhughes. William Hayward, Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer, George Peter, Benjamin Ogle and Philip Thomas Lee, Esquires, Charles Dickinson, William Haskins, Thomas White, Richard Mason, Joshua Clark, Benson Stainton, Natlianiel Potter, William Richardson, and ilatthew Driver, Junior men of Caroline County, Gentlemen Greeting, Know ye, that we have assigned you and every one of you jointly and severally, our Justices to keep our peace within our County of Caroline and to do equal law and right to all the Kings subjects, rich and poor, ac- cording to the laws, customs and directions of the acts of Asisem.bly of this Province, so far forth as they provide, and where they are silent, according to the laws, statutes and reasonable customs of England, as made and practised within this Province for the con- servation of tlie peace, and quiet rule and government of the King's subjects within our said County, and to chastise and punish all or any persons offending against the said acts, laws, statutes and customs, or any of them, according to the directions thereof, and to call before you, or any of you, those who in our County aforesaid shall break our peace and misbehave themselves; to find sufficient security of the peace and good behaviour to us and the said subjects, and if they shall refuse to find such security that then you cause them to be committed into safe custody, until they shall "be delivered by due course of law from thence; also we have assigned you, and every three or more of you— (then an enumera- tion of all crimes and misdemeanors follows) and none others to be Judges. Also by these presents we do command the Sheriff of our said County of Caroline that at the several Courts to be held for our said county, he give his attendance and cause to come before you, or any three or more of you (as aforesaid) such and so many good and lawful men of his Bailiwick out of every hundred thereof, by whom the truth of the matter may be Tjetter known and inquired of. Lastly, you shall cause to be brought be- fore you at your said Courts, all Writs. Precepts, Process, and In- dictments to your Courts and Jurisdiction belonging, that the same may be inspected and by due course of law determined. Witness Robert Eden, Esq. Lieutenant General and Chief Governor of our said Province of Maryland, this twenty eight day of February, in the third year of our Dominion. Robert Eden. (Seal) Till-; first court marie appointments and issned Or- ders of Court but no '^ trials" Avere held until Aus^ust, 1774 at wliicli time the Commissioners and other officers were the same as those present in March. V. Court at Bridpetoivn {Greensboro). Troubles concerning the location of the seat of Jus- tice bep:an. Jealousy no doubt was the basis of the en- tire dissention. Durin.c; the Eevolutionary period the County Treasury had become depleted by general con- ditions as well as by the depreciation of currency so that the monies therein had almost reached zero. Wright sa3^s, ''Each year that this great and glorious conflict continued, depreciated Caroline's finances until they had almost if not quite reached the vanishing ])oint." With keen political acumen the Northern part of the County made a heroic effort to have the County Seat removed to Bridgetown (now Greensboro). The doA\m County poli- ticians offered vigorous opposition claiming that Eden- ton (now Denton) the place chosen by the 1773 Assem- bly was more centrally located and making protest against ''The Bridgeers" lacking dignity of name. The upper county retaliated in kind by reference to "Pig —9— Point" and the impropriety of the name Edenton be- cause of its relation to Governor Eden. And so the war waged. Mass meetings were held and committees from both sections with the fastest local craft obtainable flew "hither and to" across the bay to Annapolis trying to impress the law-makers of their needs. That they created some contention among the law-makers there is shown by the following enactments of 178G when: 1 "An Act was passed suspending the erection of pubHc buildings in Caroline, and a petition was presented to the Assem- bly, signed by many inhabitants of the County praying that the pub- lic building be erected at Choptank Bridge." 2 "A counter-petition signed by many other inhabitants of the County and preferred to the same Assembly prayed that the said building be erected at or near the center of the County." 3 "The Assembly then passed an Act deferring the erection of public building until the next Assembly, any law to the contrary notwithstanding." That Court convened in Bridgetown a number of times during this altercation is proven by the Court rec- ords. The orders are as follows : 1777 "The Court appoints Messers Richard Mason, Henry Downes, Thomas Hardcastle, Matthew Driver and Nathaniel Potter, or any three or more of them, to agree with so ne person or persons in Bridgetown, for a house to hold Court in; a good and safe tempo- rary place, and that the same be put in order, fit and proper for the purpose aforesaid, and that they return an account of the same to the next Court." 1778 Ordered by the Court that Caroline County Court be held at Bridgetown for the future. 1778 Ordered by the Court that the Sheriff remove the prisoners now in the publrc jail at Melvill's Warehouse to Bridgetown as said there shall be a jail fit to receive them. The Court minutes give the following dates on which Court "set" in Bridgetown, in Aug. 1778 and Nov. 1778, but at the November session the opposition to Greens- boro was so strong that the following order was passed: 1778 On motion to remove this iCourt from Bridgetown to Mel- vill's Warehouse from whence it was removed at March term. 1778. the Court on mature deliberation is of the opinion that the remov- al from Melvill's Warehouse iwas unwarranted by any power in the Court by the Act of Assembly for fixing a place of holding th'i Court, and that at the convenience of the public business, and as —10— .Melvill's Warehouse is most ceiUral, and the place appointed by the commissioners of the peace under the Act of Assembly en- titled 'An Act for the division of Dorchester and for eractins a new house by the name of Caroline" 'for transacting the public business for Caroline County and the public buildings wiiicii be erected; therefore it is reported that this Court be held there as usual, and the >Clerk is directed to make on his precepts return- able to that place, and the Commissioners of the peace witii re- spect to recognition aie delivered to attend to the eame. Court adjourned to meet at Melvill's AVareliouse, where the sessions of Dec, 1778 and Mar. 1779 were held. Then once more the "Bridgeers" gained tlie ruling pow- er and Court was once more removed to Bridgetown where it remained during the sessions of June 1779, Oct. 1779, and March 178(K The plan of holding Bridgetown Court has been in- definite but recently it has been established that at that period a Colonial Alms House stood on the east bank of the Choptank River, about one quarter of a mile above the present bridge and one hundred yards or more back from the river's bank, and here Bridgetown held lier Court. From 1780 to 1790 the contention was continued but finally with the true S|)irit of Democracy which was ever the inspiration of Caroline the matter was made an election issue and put before the citizens to be decided by ballot. The question was submitted to the sull'rage of tlie ])eople at the election of delegates to Assembly, 1790. Then Bridgetown met her final defeat for when the "count" was in the vote stood two to one in favor of Pig Point and made it the permanent seat of Justice. VI. Denton as County Seat. "BE IT ENACTED, That the clerk of Caroline County for the time being shall, at some convenient time before the first day of 'March next, remove, from Melvill's Warehouse, all the books, rolls, papers and other records, belonging to the said County Court, to Pig Point aforesaid, and there safely deposit, keep, and preserve the same in some convenient house and the justices of the said Court shall direct and cause a list of all the said records and books to be signed by the clerk of said county, and entered upan record among the proceedings of said county." The above Act of Assembly, 1790, officially provides for the passing of Melvill's Warehouse as County seat. This the Assembly further stated was done for the bene- fit of the people of the County. The Commissioners were directed to secure four acres of land at Edenton before June 1, 1791, on which a Court House and gaol were to be erected. These Commissioners were William —11— Eiehardsoii, Zabdiol Potter, Jos. Richardson, Peter Ecl- mondson, and Joshua Willis. Tliese men secured the four acres — practically same as now in use — by the "condemnatory" process and ])aid 30 sli. (a little more than $7) per acre for it. The Court was authorized to meet at Pig Point in sucli building as the Judges thought most convenient for lidding Court and elections. There is no authentic record of the place of meeting during the four years 1791 to 1794. Wright plans it at the old brick mansion which once stood near the present location of the Brick Hotel but there were some half dozen other houses in the town at that time which were equally suit- able for such meeting which may 1)e held as probable meeting places. VII. The First Court House. In locating the court house the law had also provid- ed the name Eden-Town but until tlie erection of tlie building, 1791, the place remained Pig Point in local parlance. Previoush^ when used, the name had been abbreviated to Edenton, now the E was drop])ed and hencefortli we have Denton. The Commissioners at this time, 1792, were Chris- topher Di'iver, William Robinson, Philemon Downes, Thomas Jjockerman, and Jos. Richardson, and through their energy the C^ourt House was begun in 1793. It was a brick building, colonial style, modelled after and much resembling Independence Hall, Philadelphia. Its build- er was Willijun Benson of Talbot Countv, and the total cost was i^ 1800. And. now having secured the building after 20 years of effort, true to the perversity of mankind, the office holders, in part, were both to take up their abode there. A law was enacted by the Assembly compelling Clerk, Register of Wills, and Sheriff as well as deputies to move into the Court House or within one quarter mile of the same before June 1, 1795 the penalty of refusal being a fine of £1.") current money. Needless to say tliey all com])lied with haste. VIII . Chaufjes of 1895. A century run was given the first Court building and during that time, without the building' withstood the ravages of time sliowing little sign of decay. Its perm- —12— auency bore testimoii}' to the builder as well as for the Commissioners of 1795. However, with the growth of the County, the citi- zens tlemanded a larger and more modern building, so in 1895 the old one was razed. For the new Court House Joseph II. Bernard of Greensboro was selected as Ar- chitect and Chairman of the building commission, con- sisting of Messrs. Wm. E. Lord, George M. Russum, Thos. L. Day, John W. Clark, Bayard Nichols, Alex. Noble, Thomas E. Green and Henry Irwin. This Com- mittee contracted with Slemmons & Lankford of Salis- bury, Md. to erect a brick building for the sum of $21,000 which stands today (1919) on the Denton Court House Green. The boundaries of the "green" have been somewhat changed since 1790 but the location remains the same. Someone has aptly said, "The once ancient looking Denton is no more but has passed •within the brief period of a score of years. In the substantial growth of Caroline's County town, it has done so conforming to the ideals of the townsmen that have not only built well, but have a knowledge of the value of civic pride in the rejuvenating of tan old town, or in building a new one." Oedees of Couet. /. Belated to Court. 1774 James Barwick agrees to Hnd a room to hold Court in, a room for the Clerk of this Court to the end of November Court, for which the Court agrees to allow him the quantity of one thousand pounds of tobacco to be levied at November meeting. 1774 The Court appointed Messrs Benson Staiuton and Richard Mason to try the Scales and Weights at Choptank Bridge and Mel- vill's Warehouse, and take an account oi what repairs are wanting to the said house, and report the same to Court. Ordered by the Court that James Barwick put the County jail in better repair than at present, by placing the logs, good and suf- ficient, under the sills of the same, that the logs be sunk in the ground and that he be paid and allowed for the same in the next levy. 1774 The Court appoints the several persons Constables for the en- suing year: Joshua Willis, of Great Choptank Hundred, Christo- pher Driver, for Bridgetown Hundred, James Cooper for Northwest Fork Hundred. Davis Robinson for Tuckahoe Hundred, and Solomon Mason for Choptank Hundred; WHEREUPON, the said Joshua Willis, Christopher Driver, James Cooper, David Robinson and Solomon Mason are qualified in open Court by taking the oaths of the government, the oath of constalble, subscribing the oath of ab- juration and repeating and signing the test. —13— John Cooper and Francis Stevens are appointed Sub^'Sheriffs who thereupon take the oaths to the government, oath of abjura- tion and repeats and signs the test. 1774 On application made by Messrs. Robert Goldsborougb, Thomas Goldsborough, James Tilghman, Nicholas Thomas, Jacob Moore, Ricliard Bassett, Solomon Wright, Matthew Browne, they are ad- mitted to practice as attorneys o£ this County, thereapon tiiey respectively take the oaiths of the government and the oath of at- torney, and subscribe the oath of abjuration and repeat and sign the test. 1774 The Court agrees to pay Edward Lloyd, Esq., the sum of five pounds current money in dollars at 7 snillings, 6 pence, (about $13) for the use of the old store house at Melville for the purpose of a jail for use in Caroline County until the end of November Court ne.xt, to be then levied. 1774 The Couit agrees to allow Johannah Bennett the sum of 4 shil- lings, 1 pence for keeping the Court House in class. 1774 Ordered by the Court that the clerk attend Melvill's Ware- house on Wednesdays every week, which day is by the Court ap- pointed office day. 1774 (Note the time these cases were pending, 1774-1782.) Webster Case: Richard Andrew, Pork, Special Bail. Judgment •against on award filed under the hands of Messrs. Nathaniel Hug'hes Potter, John Stevens and Zabdiel Potter, Arbitrators in the cause, that the plaintiff recover against t'ae said Defendant, the sum of six pounds, fifteen sliillings. Debt and two hundred nineteen pounds of tobacco and fourteen shillings and seven pence half penny, costs and charges. William Richardson, Clerk. 1774 Court fined Wm. Richardson, Clerk, 7 Vo shillings for not be- ing present at the time when Court ought to have been called. II. Orders Relating to Ordinaries. 1774 On application of William Haslett he is admitted to keep an ordinary and house of entertainment for one year at his house near Choptank Bridge on payment of 4£ ($20) current money of Maryland, (which John iCooper, sub-sheriff receives) for a license, whereupon the said William Haslett together with Matthew Bell and Matthew Driver, Jr., his securities, acknowledge themselves to owe and stand justly indebted unto the Rig'ht Honorable the Lord Proprietary of this province in the sum of 4 0£ current money of Maryland of their bodies, goods and chattels, lands and tene- ments, separately to be made and levied to the use of the said Lord Proprietary, his heirs and successors upon condition that if —14— tlie said Mr. Haslett shall keeip good rules and orders in. his Or- dinary at his dwelling house and do not suffer loose, idle or dis- orderly persons to tipple, game or commit any disorders or other irregularities in liis Ordinary and that he also will and truly ob- serve, fulHl and keep the several matters and things by an Act of Assembly entitled. An Act for licensing Ordinary keepers, hawkers, pedlers, and petty chapmone particularly specified and enjoined and in every respect conform himself thereto, then this recogni- zance to be void, otherwise of force. 1774 Utliei* licenses for keeping Ordinaries and lionses of entertainment were granted as follows : Levin Bell, near Tuckahoe Bridge; Eleanor Montgomery, at -Marshy Hope Bridge; John Fisher, on road from Choptank Bridge to Marshy Hope Bridge; James Barwick, at Melvill's Warehouse. In addition to the above list ordinaries were also licensed at the following places : Tnckahoe Bridge (Hills- boro), Murray's Hill (Linchester), Nine Bridges (Bridgetown), Potter's Mill (Williston), Chapel Branch (Piney Grove), Cross-Roads near Kingston (Smithson). Thns it will be seen that the county was well equip- ped with hotels to take care of the travellers on horse- back as well as provide liquid refreshments so common and cheap at that time. 1774 On application of Alexander Widougall (1774), he is license for one year as hawiker and pedlar on payment of four pounds money of Maryland (which John Cooper, sub Sheriff receives for a license). License delivered. Clerk records 4£ current money. The Court agree to the following rates of liquors (and tavern rates) until August Court of 1775: West India Rum 136. 4p. per gallon. Country Brandy 8s. per gallon. Strong Beer, Country Brewed 4s. per gallon. Every gill of 'New England Rum or Country Brandy with Mus- cavada sugar to make same into Punch and so pro rata 8p. Every Lemon or Seville Orange 6p. Hot Diet with small Beer or Cider Is. Cold Diet with Ditto lOp. Horse Stablage with sufficient fodder for one horse one night 6p. Oats and Indian Corn each 4s. per bu. III. Miscellaneous Orders. 1774 The following order is among the first of the Caro- line County Court: Henry Swigate of Caroline County came and prayed to have the mark of his son William Swigates liogs recorded, which is as follows; to wit: crop and under bitt in right ear and the left under sliced and a hole in it. —15— 17 74 The Court agrees to give James Barwick 2500 pounds of to- bacco on condition that he keep a public ferry from causeway op- posite to Melvill's landing, and keep the causeway and bridge in passable order until November Court next, to be then levied. 1774 Maryland Know all men by these presents that we Michael Lucas, Edward White and Jaco'b Rumbley Lpd. and County of Caroline, are held and bound unto his Lordship the Lord Proprie- tary, his heirs and successors in the full and just sum of ISOO pounds of tobacco, to be paid unto the said Lord Proprietary, for his heirs and successors. lo the payment will and true to be made and done we bind ourselves, and eacn of our heirs, executors and administrators jointly and severally and firmly by the present. Sealed with our own seal and dated this 2 6th day of December 17 7 4. The Condi- tions of the above obligations are such that if the above bound Michael Lucas shall truly and faithfully perform tne duty of In- spector at ,. Melvill's Warehouse according to the directions of the late account oif Assembly, in such case make and provide then the above obligations be void of full force and virtue in law. Michael Lucas (Seal) Edw. White (Seal) JACOB KU.MBLEY (SEAL) "Mr. Richard Mason delivers the annual value of Richard Lookerman's lands, which said annual \alue is as followeth, to wit: We the subscribers being duly appointed and sworn by Richard Mason, Esq., one of his Lordships' Justices of the peace for the count aforesaid, that we will to the best of our skill and judgment make a true estimation of lands and improvements belonging to said Richard LoiCkerman, a minor, and now under the guardian- ship of said William Tripp of Talbot County. As is to s.iy his part of Talson Manor said to be five hundred and eighty ifive acres. We therefore duly certify that on the second day of April 1774, we met on said lands and did find thereon: One dwelling house 251't. by 16ift. with a lOft. shed. A kitchen 25 ft. by 17 Vz ft. A smoke house 12 ft. by 12 ft. built of logs. A barn 25 ft. by 2 5 ft. A corn house 16 ft. by IS ft. A milk house 10 ft. by 6 ft. Two small hen houses. Two corn houses. A Garden 100 ft. square. An apple orchard of 6 5 trees. Four small English Walnut trees. A nursery of peaches, cherries, quinces and plums. About 4 acres cleared land, etc." The followiiio- item (Sept. 1775) is interesting in its pi'ovision. The Court binds William orphan son of William deceased, by the consent of his mother, to Henry until he obtains the age of twenty one years, he being twelve years old November twelfth next, to teach him the —16— trade of cart-wheelwright, and to find him in sufficient meat, drink, washing, lodging and clothing and at the expiration of his servi- tude to give him a suit of clothes of broadcloth or drugget, white Bhirt, a pair of shoes and stocking, a hat, a set of tools, a broad axe, a saw, a drawing knife, and three augers, one i/^ inch, one 1 inch and the third 1 Vi inches, two chisels, a gouge, a rule, a scale, and a pair of compasses and gives bond with Thomas Hard- Castle and Henry Sharpe his sureties, in the sum of forty pounds current money for due performance. At the December session of tlie Court an estimate of goods and chattels of Alford, deceased, included "One negro fellow named Peter aged 3 8 years, 4 8£; One negro woman named Phillis aged 44, 32£; One negro girl named Esther age 4, 20£." —17— THE HUNDRED— ELECTION DISTRICTS. /. hii loduct'wn. The Hundred is a division antedating the county, the town, the manor or the parisli. When the Angles and Saxons landed on English soil more than one thousand years ago, they formed bands of one-hundred for their protection and government. When the necessity arose in the colonies the early settlers adopted the Hundred as a civic division best suited to their isolated colonies. It was not in the same form as tliat of the Anglo-Saxon for the personal Hun- dred — one hundred families or one hundred soldiers — - was unknown here. Maryland's division was made geo- grapliically. The necessity for this civic division came with the issuing of legal writs to freemen to meet as representa- tives in Assembly. Thus you see Maryland's Hundred was originally a governmental district whose chief ex- ecutive was the constable. Later when counties were formed and writs of elec- tion were issued to the sheriff, instead of the constable of the Hundred, this division remained under the con- stable who attended to many civic duties in his division. II. Caroline's Hundreds. At the time when the Assembly granted the organi- zation of Caroline County, they also passed an act that the new county be divided into Hundreds. In accordance with this Act the November Court, 1774 divided the county into five hundreds as follows : 1 Fork Hundred beginning at the Northwest Fork Bridge and running with the main county road that divides Caroline County from Dorchester County, to Cannon's Ferry on the North East Fork (Nanticoke) River, and from the said Ferry up the said river and branch to the head thereof, and so round and as far as is inhabited by the people of the Province of Maryland until it intersects the head of the main branch of the Northwest Fork River, and then down the Northwest Fork Branch to the Northwest Fork Bridge. y/ 2 Great Choptank Hundred beginning at the mouth of Hunt- inig Creek and running up said creek to the bridge over James Mur- ray's Mill Dam and fioni thence with the main county road that divides Caroline County from Dorchester County to the North West Fork Bridge and from thence up the said North West Fork Branch to Marshy Hope Bridge and from thence with the main road that leads to Nathaniel Potter's Landing on Great Choptank River and from thence down the said river to the mouth of Hunting Creek. —18— - 3 Choptank Hundred beginning at Xatlianiel Bradley's in Choptank Hundred, and runs witli tlie first line to Tuckahoe Hun- dred, so as to include Francis Orrell's in Choptank Hundred and from thence up Choptank River, and the main branch of the said river to the Dover road and down with the said road to Long Marsh to the head of Tuckahoe Creek and down with the said creek to the said beginning. 4 Bridgetown Hundred beginning at Nathaniel Potter's land- ing on Great Choptank River and running from thence with the main county road that leads to Marshy-Hope Branch, and from the said branch up the said Northwest Fork branch and stream as far as is settled by the inhabitants of the Province of Maryland, and all around as settled as aforesaid, until it intersects the main branch of the head of Great Choptank River, and from thence down the said river branch to Nathaniel Potter's landing on Great Choptank River. 5 Tuckahoe Hundred beginning at Nathaniel Bradley's upon Tuckahoe Creek, and from thence with a straight line to Francis Orrell's on Charles Nichol's plantation on Choptank River, and down with the said river to Vincent Price's and up with Tuckahoe Creek to the said beginning. , The court also appointed in 1774 the followino- con- stables for the Hnndreds as below: Miscellaneous Ordois and Business of the Court: "The Court (1774) appoints Christopher Driver constable of Bridgetown Hundred. Joshua Willis of Great Choptank Hundred, James Cooper of Fork Hundred, and Solomon Mason of Choptank Hundred who respectively took the oath of Government, the oath of Constable, and subscribes the oath of abjuration and repeats and signs the test." Owing to the indefinite boundaries of the Fork Hun- dred a change was found necessary as Cannon's Ferry proved to be in Delaware. This change made the Fork Hundred so small that the part remaining was in 1776 incorporated in Great Choptank Hundred, Then the Great Choptank seemed large and unwield- ly for civic purposes, and again, in March, 1780, another change was made separating this Hundred into two parts. The Eastern part became Fork Hundred while the West- ern part retained the name of Great Choptank Hundred. While the names of many of the boundary places have been changed they may be identified by reference to the map of Hundreds. Election Districts. While the hundreds continued as subdivisions from 1774 to about 1800 all elections for county officers in Car- oline County and members of the Assembly of Maryland were held at the county seat, and every voter who had the required (|ualifications, fifty acres of land, or forty —19— MAP or CAROLINE COUNTY D0RIN6 THE PERIOD-1800-182 0. PPEIPARED FPOM RELIABLE SOURCES BY EDWARD M.NOBLE 5CALE-MILE5 LEGEND + CHURCH -H-5CHOOU © MILL □ waremousekTtobacco) >< BPIDGC HUNOPLD'5 P0UNDPIE5 X WHARVLS Z^ ALMSHOUSE COUNTY ROADS •TOWNS MIT[LtY5BUPG TALBOT COUNTY PUNCH • HALL .^PEAB50N-5 M.OELAWARL BRIDGETOWN ,HUNDREP WARSrtlYHOPL pounds sterling in money or personal property, who de- cided to vote was obliged to go there to exercise his rights, not by casting a Ijallot but viva voce; that is, tlie voters told the Judge or Judges of the election, the names of the persons for whom they proposed to vote. The Sheriff of the county was then judge of the election and made tl e official i eturns of the result. At some period of this method of elections, the polls w^ere kept open four days in succession for the convenience of voters who lived in remote parts of the county. Finding that the great inconvenience in getting to polling places kept many from voting, the General As- sembly in 1798 enacted a law dividing the counties of the state into election districts of which Caroline County was to possess three. The following year a commission named by the legislature divided Caroline County into the U])- per. Middle and Lower Election districts which super- seded the several hundreds then in existence. Greens- boro and Denton were the polling places for 1st and 2d districts while the ord or Lower district voted at flunting Creek. In 1805 the voting place of the ord dis- trict was removed to "The Walnut Trees" near Hynson and in 1816 returned to Hunting Creek. Harmony became the election place of the Tjower district in 1852, an lionor evidently coveted witli nmch eagerness. The Legislature of 1854 erected district No. 4 which included about all of the territory which is now embraced in the Federalsburg district. In 1861 the provision was made for dividing Elec- tion district one into two precincts but this Act was re- pealed the following year at which time the county was divided into 5 election districts with Henderson, Greens- boro, Denton, Harmony and Federalsburg as the respec- tive polling places. This arrangement continued until 1880 when tlie sixth or Hillsboro election district was organized. Preston which had been known for some time as Snow Hill became the voting place of the southern por- tion of the Fourth district in 1880 while Harmony con- tinued only as the polling place for the 1st precinct of said district. In 1894 the section around and including Ridgely having developed rapidly it w^as found necessary to erect the Seventh or Ridgely election district while at the same —21— session the Eiglitli district was formed from ]3arts of the 3rd, 4th and 5th districts and American Corners desig- nated as the polling place. Somewhat later the 3rd election district having be- come rather unwieldly for voting it was decided to di- vide the same into two polling precincts, an arrangement which still continues. -22— LAND GRANTS. Originally all of Caroline County which lies north and west of the Choptank River lay within the bounds of Kent. When Talbot county was organized from Kent about 1662 this territory was included. Again in 1707 this part of Caroline was again transferred when Queen Anne county was formed. Within 23 years after surveys began on Kent Is- land, Thomas Skillington of Talbot had a survey made on the east side of the Choptank River in the Frazier Flats section. This was about March l, 1663. Shortly thereafter surveys ,were made on Fowling and Hunting- Creeks as well as farther on up the river. Cedar Point the site of MelvilP'S W^arehouse and the first Court House was surveyed for John Edmonson of Talbot in 1665. Likewise were surveys made about the same time in the Oakland neighborhood then designated as the "Forest of Choptank" and the Marshy Hope section between Smithville and Federalsburg. As indicated elsewhere lands were taken up slowly north east of the Choptank because of the uncertainty of the state boun- dary line. On all lands granted in Maryland by tlie Loi^'d Pro- prietor to settlers in his province under his "condition of plantation," he I'eserved an interest in each grant and stipulated an annual land rent to be paid by the grantee for two purposes ; the first was to make the free- holders feel a bond of allegiance to his Lordship, and the second though small in separate changes, yet large in the aggregate, — was his source of personal revenue. The rent was about one shilling (25c) per year on each 50 acres of land granted. These rents called quit-rents were exacted by the Lord Proprietor's government and paid until 1776. Patent or I.aiid Grant, «tr How Land Wa« Originally Given Out By tli«' l^roprietoi'. Charles. Absolute Lord and Proprietor of the Provinces of Maryland and Avalon, Lord Baron of Baltimore, Etc. To the Persons to whom this Present shall come. Greetings in our Lord God Everlasting. KNOW YE, that Whereas in pursuance of our Instructions to our Govenor and Judge in Land Affairs for the Granting of our Back Lands on the Borders of this our Province, —23— bearing date the fourteenth day of June, Seventeen hundred and thirty three, and Registered in our Land Office, Henry Etinalls, deputy surveyor of the county of Dorchester, that by his certificate returned into our Land-Office certified, that he hath laid out for a certain Moore, of said county, a tract of land in said county, on our said borders containing one hundred and thirty acres of said county, a Tract called Calf Path, and for which land the said Moore has paid the sum of Two pounds, and nine pence half penny sterling. We therefore herelby Grant unto him, the said Moore all that the aforesaid Tract or Parcel of Laud called Calf Path, lying and being in the county aforesaid, and on our said Borders, beginning, (then follow a description of the land) according to the certificate of surveyor thereof, taken and returned into our Land- Office, bearing date nineteenth day of October, seventeen hundred and forty three, and there remaining, together with all Rights, Profits, Benefits and Phivileges thereunto belonging, Royal Mines excepted. TO HAVE AXD TO HOLD the same unto him, the said Moore, his heirs, and assigns, foreevr, to be h olden of us and our heirs, as of our Manor of Nanticoke in free and commons Soccage, by Fealty only for all manner of services. Yielding and paiyng therefore, yearly, unto us, and our heirs, at our receipt at our City fo St. Mary's the rent of five sihllimgs, three pence and half penny sterling, in silver or gold; and for a Ine upon every alienation of the said land, or and Part or Parcel thereof, one whole years rent, in silver or gold, or the full value thereof, in such commodities as we and our heirs, or such officer or officers as shall be appointed by us and our heirs, from time to time, to collect and receive the same, shall accept i ndis- charge thereof, at the choice o fus and our heirs, or such officer or officers, aforesaid; Provided that if the said sum for a fine or alien- ation, shal Inot be paid unto us and our heirs, or such officer or officers aforesaid, before such alienation, and the said alienation entered upon record either in the Provincial Court, or County Court where the same Parcel of land lieth, within one month next after alienation, then the said alienation shall be void and of no effect. GIVEN under our Great Seal of our said Province of Mary- land, this eighteenth day of March, Anno Dom. seventeen hundred and forty six. WITNESS our trusty and well-beloved Samuel Ogle, Esquire, Lieutenant General and chief Governor of our said Province of Maryland, Chancellor and Keeper o fthe Great Seal thereof. —24— THE MASON AND DIXON LINE. What is meant by this line ? Why does it concern Caroline County? Read and learn. The Mason and Dixon line with its stone markers is the visible record of the treaty made in a territorial war between Penn and Calvert in Colonial days. One historian says, "This di.-pnte had an even date almost with the ori.i;'inal grant to Lord Baltimore." Tliis o-rant it was held covered all the land from the 'AS" to the 40° parallels and extended to Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Snch being the case it included all the present state of Delaware as well as a strip 15. miles wide along the southern boun- dary line of Pennsylvania. In the present state of Delaware the Swedes settled first, then the Dutch wrested it from them. Later, in -25— 1682 a special grant was made from the Duke of York to William Penii giving liim the Delaware section. In 1685 this grant was duly confirmed. Proprietary Mary- land refused to submit so that up to the year 1732 there was ceaseless litigation as well as an occasional outrage along the border. Reverting to the earlier contention we find that in 1681 the "Three Lower Counties," (now Delaware) set- tled the northern boundary separating them from Penn- sylvania as follows: With New Castle for a centre and using a 12 mile radius the arc of a circle was drawn, the line thus made forming the northern boundary then as now. But the Maryland-Pennsylvania dispute continued and finally in 1750 it was settled by "map," but on real land the location of the boundary was indefinite. Both Penn's heirs, and Frederick, Lord Baltimore, wanted it settled in a manner that would last for all time. The following survey of the Eastern boundary was made lo- cating it definitely. Recognizing the 38° parallel as the Southern boun- dary of Maryland it was then decided to find on this the middle jDoint between Delaware and Chesapeake Bays and from this run a North line which should form a tan- gent with the New Castle "arc" at its most westerly point. This was done and the line forms the Eastern boundary of Caroline County as well as of the state. Many interesting facts are connected with the run- ning of tliis line by the surveyors, most of which are re- corded in a series of letters written by Gov. Sharpe of Maryland to Lord Baltimore. In a letter dated June 22, 1761, Gov. Sharpe states that the surveyors, running the Maryland-Delaware lin<"' from tlie "middle point" before mentioned found that on reaching a distance of 25 miles north they were unable to take further observations because tliey could find no star by which to set their transits. Moreover at the same time they l^ecame sickly with Maryland fever from having been so long a time in a dismal part of the coun- try abounding in swamps. [They were in the Hickman and Smithville section]. As a result of the letter the sur- ve\ors were ini-iructed to discontinue for a time. As a conclusion of the above, Sharpe writes Aug. 17, 1761 stating that on Aug. 9 t]ie surveyors, evidently re- covered from Malaria, were able to make observations -26— by Aliotli and the Polar Star, aceordiiigiy were pvoceed- iiii;' 11]) the peninsula witli the line, believing they would not again be interrupted until tliey reached Newcastle. On Sept. f) they found themselves 44 miles to the north and were hoping to reach Newcastle in October, but it was a case of hope deferred for again on October '2'2 Shar])e writes that they had been often interrupted by wet and cloudy weather and had not yet extended tlie line more than 77 miles but believe they lack only 5 or 6 miles of the distance necessary, hence, imagine the re- maining distance can be run in 10 or 12 days. The exact day of comi)letion is not given but the account states that, Nov. 12, 1761, the north and south line has been completed, and they are preparing the tangent ready for the west line. The fact of 12 days being necessary for the running of a 6 mile line shows the difficulty of the work at that time. Instruments were scarce, and less perfect than now and mayhap surveyors less expert. Moreover in this case the direction of extra work devolved on the sur- veyors. To proceed through the forest it was necessary to open a way. Tliis was done by cutting a roadway or ''vista" 8 yards wide along the line to be surveyed, as well as the setting of the stone line marks. While not connected directly Avith Caroline County it might be well to here mention the Mason and Dixon line as Maryland's Northern boundary. It was on this line that Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon put their personal work, and for them the entire line was named. Coming over in 1763, tliey had perhaps even more trials than the survevors of the North and South Line, for the Indians of Southern Pennsylvania added to their danger. Tlie East and West TJne began 15 miles south of Philadelphia, connecting with the North and South Line at its point of tangency with the Newcastle arc, west along the entire southern boundarv of Pennsylvania. And so the historic Mason and Dixon Line was run. It is marked from the ''middle point" to the Newcastle tangent and thence to the western limit of Pennsylvania by square mile stones, four successive having on one side M and on the otlier P, while on the fifth stone on the Maryland side has the coat of arms of the Baltimore's and the reverse side that of the Penn's. Such is the story of the Mason and Dixon Line wdiich someone has said, "Next to the Equator is the most widely known line in the world." —27— ROADS, FERRIES, BRIDGES, FENCES AND GATES. Roads. Even before the formation of Caroline County, roads and bridges lying within her bounds, had been pro- vided for by this Act passed in September 1704, which was for the benelit of the entire province. "WHEREAS it is tliought convenient, and very much for tlie benefit oi' tiie inhabitants of this province, that roads and paths be marlied, and the heads of rivers, creeiis and branches, be made passable. '•BE IT THEREFORE EXACTED, by the Queen's most excel- lent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of her Majesty's Governor, Council and Assembly of this province, and tlie authority of the same, that all public and main roads be hereafter cleared, and well grubbed, fit for traveling, twenty feet wide; and good and substantial bridges made over all heads of rivers, creeks, branches and swamps, where need shall require, at the discretion of the jus- tices of the county courts. AXD, for the better ascertaining what is or sliall be deemed public roads, be it LIKEWISE ENACTED, by the authority afore- said, that the justices of the county courts shall set down and as- certain in their records, once every year, what are the public roads of their respective counties, and appoint overseers of the same; and that no persons whatsoever shall alter or change any such public roads, without leave or license of the Governor or Council, or justices of the county courts, upon penalty of five hundred pounds of tobacco. AND, that all the roads that lead to any ferries, courthouse of any county, or to any church shall be marked on both sides of the road with two notches. And the roads that lead to any county Court house, shall have two notches on the trees on both sides of the road as aforesaid, and another notch a distance above the other two. And any road that leads to a church, shall be marked at the entrance into the same, and at the leaving any other road, with a slip cut down the face of the tree, near the ground. Any road leading to a ferry, and dividing from other public roads shall be marked with three notches of equal distance at the entrance into the same." In one of these Acts overseers of plantations were required to fell "all dead trees on each side of the main roads, whose limbs hang over the road, to prevent any danger that may happen by falling on travelers." In November 1798 the Assembly enacted that, "WHEREAS the present mode of repairing the public roads in Caroline County is found by experience to be expensive, and in- adequate to the purpose intended; and it has been found necessary that proper regulations should forthwith be made for keeping the roads of the said county in due repair; therefore, overseers, not exceeding five in any hundred, shall be appointed." "AND BE IT ENACTED, that it shall be the duty of the said overseers to keep all the public roads in the said county well and sufficiently cleared and grubbed, fit for traveling, twenty feet wide at the least, and to make and keep good and substantial bridges over all the heads of rivers, creeks, branches and swamps, where the same shall be necessary for the convenient and easy passage of travelers, with their wagons, carts, carriages, horses and cattle, and to remove all nuisances which may obstruct or annoy their passage, and well and sufficiently to causeway, all and singular such places in and upon the said roads as shall require the same, at the discretion and by the direction of the said justices; and for this purpose the said justices, or some one or more of them, in their respective neighborhoods, shall be and they are hereby auth- orized and required, from time to time, to superintend the making and repairing of the said roads, bridges and causeways, and to direct and advise the overseers in the execution of this Act." These overseers had the rio:ht when roads needed repair to call upon the inhabitants of the county for the necessary labor. Should those called refuse to go, they must send a sul)stitute or pay a fine of one dollar for each day's aliseuce. That there might be no shirking of \york the same fine \yas imposed if the person attending did not perform a reasonable amount of labor. The OAvn- ers or overseers of slaves were responsible for their at- tendance and work. An Act to build a lu'idge and o])en a road in Caro- line County. January, 1802. "WHEREAS it is represented to this General Assmbly, by the petition of sundry inhabitants of Caroline County, that they labor under many inconveniences for want of a bridge over a branch of the Northwest Fork River, at a place known by the name of The Old Bloomery. in said county, and a road to leiad from Douglasses mill across the said bridge, until it intersects the main road lead- ing from the Northwest Fork Bridge to Marshyhope bridge; and the prayer of the said petitioners appearing reasonable, therefore, BE IT ENACTED, by the Cxeneral Assembly of -Maryland, that George Collins, Charles Ross and James Houston, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners for the purpose of building and completing a new bridge at the same place where the old bridge now stands, over said branch, and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are hereby empowered to agree and contract with any person or persons, upon the best and cheapest terms they can, to finish and complete the said bridge in a good substantial and workman like manner." The one hundred and fifty dollars needed for build- ing the bridge was obtained through assessments. "AND BE IT ENACTED, that the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are hereby authorized and empowered, to lay —29— H P^ O K o H H O O w m >H J -30— out, open and clear, a road at the expense of the petitioners, or any part of them particularly interested therein, or any other persons who may voluntarily offer their assistance, not exceeding twenty four feet in width, to commence at or near Douglass mill afore- said, and to run from thence in the most convenient direction over the Old Bloomery, aforesaid, and through James Houston's lane, or by James Wright's mill, as the said commissioners, or a majority of them, may think most expedient, until it intersects the main road leading from the Northwest Pork bridge to Marshyhope, pro- vided, that the said road shall not go through the garden or meadow of any person or persons without his, her or their consent." Fer7~ies. In early Caroline Gonnty there were only three bridges of much size — the ones at Grreensboro, Federals- bnrg, and Hillsboro, hence the crossing of the Choptank River below Greensboro had to be made by ferries of which there were about four, as follows: From Melvill's Warehouse across to a point near the Dunning Farm, one from Denton across a little later, from Gilpin's Point to Prices' Landing (Tuckahoe Neck) and from Hog Island (l)eh3\v Dover Bridge) to the Talbot side. The Court appointed persons to keep these ferries and charge in accordance with the regulated amounts. Tobacco was for a while the chief article of payment as per the following: Court order of Talbot County in 1760: Ordered that if Deborah Nichols doth not keep sufficient boat and hands to transport the inhabitants of this coun- ty from Barker's Landing to Hog Island or from Hog Island to Barker's Landing, and give a good attendance to tlie said ferry that her allowance next November Court shall be reduced to one-half. (Allowance of 4000 lbs. of tobacco per year.) This amount was paid by the County in addition to the fees paid by everyone outside the county travelling by said ferry. The rates of non-residents in crossing the Denton Ferry in the year 1800 were as follows : Foot passen- gers 08c, horses 16c, two wheel carriage, liorse and pass- engers 35c, four wheel phaeton, horses and passengers 75c, black cattle r2c. Persons that owned land in the county l)ut not residing therein were not charged for fer- riage. Bridfjes. The three bridges in the County were evidently con- structed very early as evidenced bv some legislation con- cerning these structures as follows: —31— November, 1794. "WHEREAS the inhabitants of Talbot, Queen-Anne's and Caroline counties by their petition to this General Assembly have set forth that the bridge over Tuckahoe creek is in a ruinous and almost impassable condition and have in their petition stated their advantages that would result by the erection of a new bridge over said creek, about three hundred years below the place of the old bridge, and it appearing that by building the new bridge, as prayed for, and altering part of the public road as may be necessary so as to pass over the same, will siiorten the distance for travelers, and add to the convenience and advantage of the said three counties; And whereas the bridge heretofore built was done and kept up at the expense of the said three counties, the said petitioners have prayed for a new one to be erected, and that the sum of one hun- dred and fifty pounds may be levied on the said counties respec- tively for the purpose aforesaid; wherefore to carry the same into effect, BE IT EXACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland That for Talbot county John Roberts, for Queen-Anne's county Henry Pratt, for Caroline county Philemon Downes, shall be and they are hereby appointed commissioners, for the purpose of building and completing the said new bridge; and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are by this act authorized and empowered, as soon as it may be conveniently in their power, to cause the said new bridge to be built over the said creek, opposite a place former- ly known by the name of The Old Rolling House, lying on the east side of the said creek, which said new bridge shall he built and completed in the best and most sub- stantial manner it can for the money hereby to be granted; and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are by virtue of this act. fully authorized and empowered, as they in their discre- tion shall think best, to agree for the said work with a contractor or contractors, for the whole, or in parcels, or they may purchase materials and hire workmen and laborers to complete the said work; and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are also empowered to open and lay out, on the east side of said creek, from some fit and convenient part of the old road, a new road to lead to and across over the said new bridge to the Talbot side." An Act to erect a new brido^e over Great Choptank Eiver, in Caroline Connty, passed Jannary 15, 1808, "WHEREAS the old bridge over the Choptank river, at the village of Greensboro, in said county, is in a ruinous condition, and nearly impassable, and as it is found absolutely necessary that a Dew one be built at, or near, the place where the old one stands, therefore, BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, that George Reed, Nehemiah Townfiend and William Whitely be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners for the purpose of build- ing and completing the new bridge as aforesaid, at or near the place where the old one now stands; and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are by this Act employed to agree and contract with any person or persons, upon the best and cheapest terms, to finish and complete the said new bridge." In 1810 inhabitants of Talbot and Caroline counties living near Dover Ferry petitioned and Assembly "for —32— the convc'ineiu'O of the public" to incorporate a company for erectino- a In-ids^e over the Choptank river at that point. The bridge was bnilt and is commonly known as Dover Bridge. An Act to incor))orate a company for building a bridge over Choptank river at or near Denton Ferry (about 1812). "WHEREAS it is represented to this General Assembly, by the petition of sundry inhabitants of Caroline county, that the con- venience of the public would be greatly promoted by erecting a bridge over C hoptank river at, or near, Denton Feiry, and that sundry persons, by articles of voluntary association have contract- ed and agreed each with the other, to erect a bridge at the place aforesaid, and have subscribed and paid considerable sums of money towards the same, and prav that a law may pass to in- corporate the said association; and it appearing reasonable, there- fore, "iBE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of Maryland, that the subscribers or proprietors of shares for building said bridge, as well as those who may hereafter become stockholders, their successors and assigns shall be, and are hereby created and made a corporation and body politic, by the name and style of The Piesident and Directors of the Denton Bridge Company. "AXD BE IT EXACTED, that the capital stock of said Com- pany is hereby declared to be the sum of three thousand dollars, to be divided into six hundred shares of five dollars each." It seems that the Denton Bridge was not built for several years after 1812, prol)al)ly about 1820, until whicii time a ferry was used. In 1849 the people of the county tiring of the disad- vantages arising from a privately owned bridge, had the General Assembly enact a measure which provided for the Levy Courts buying and making it a public bridge. Soon after this it was either thoroughly overhauled or rebuilt and stood until about 1875 when the new iron bridge was erected. After many years of use and inconvenience on ac- count of the narrowness of the draw this bridge was in 1913 re|)laced by the modern concrete structure now in use. Felices and Gates. To protect the property in the county from damage done by live stock the General Assembly enacted, —33— "Tiiat from and after the first day of August 1824, corn fields, and ail grounds kept for enclosure in Dorchester and Caroline counties, shall be fenced, (here followed a description of fences re- quired) and if any live stock of any kind or description whatso- ever, s..all break into any person's enclosure, the same being of tue neignt and sufficiency aforesaid, then the owner or owners of such live stock shall be liable to make good all such damages to the owner or owners of such enclosure, as shall be found and awarded oy two or more judicious persons who may view the same under their oath or aflirmation, made before some justice of the peac ein said counties." AN ACT relating to gates on the public roads in Caroline Connt}^ BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of M'aryland, tiiat from and after the passage of this Act, it shall and may be lawful for any of the citizens of Caroline county to keep on the public roads in said county all such gates as are now erected on the public roads, foi their own private use and convenience, upon the express conditions following: all and every owner or owners of a gate or gates hung on good and sufficient iron hinges, and shall keep the same and that part of the said road which they occupy in good or- der and repair, so as to impede as little as possible persons travel- ing with carriages of pleasure or burden." "AND BE IT ENACTED, that if any person or persons after the passage of this Act, shall cut down, destroy, wilfully leave fixed open, or remove any of said gates, they shall, upon convic- tion theieof before a magistrate, forfeit and pay to the owner of such gate a sum not less than one, nor exceeding ten dollars for every such offence, to be recovered as small debts are out of court." "AND BE IT ENACTED, that if any slave shall cut down, de- stroy, injure, or wilfully leave fixed open, any gate upon the public roads, such slave shall be punished for every offence on conviction of a justice of the peace by the oath of one or more witnesses, by whipping on his or her back, in the discretion of the s\id justice, not exceeding for each offense the number of ten lashes; Provid- ed always, that the master or mistress of such slave, or any other person in their behalf, may redeem said slave so convicted from punishment by the payment of the fine to the owner or owners of such gate, imposed by this Act, upon free persons for like offenses." "AND BE IT BNACTE-D, that on all gates authorized by this Act to be keipt on the public roads, the owner or owners thereof shall pay annually a tax of one dollar for each and every gate by him, her or them kept on the public roads in said county." Gates on pnblic roads were abolislied between 1860- 1870. much to tlie relief of travelers. —34— INDIANS OF THE EASTERN SHORE. 7. Oil (/in. Whence came they? No written language exists to tell the story of their race and only a few specimens of ^'picture writing-" are preserved to tlirow light on the Indian's past, hence onr present day knowledge is based chiefly on legendary lore which like most traditions is not always authentic. The historians of early days would seem to have been possessed of vivid imaginations. Note for exam- ple the record of Captain John Smith who explored on the Eastern Shore in 1608. "They were noble warriors. One was like a giant the calf of whose leg was three- quarters of a yard about, and all the rest of his limbs so answered to that projiortion, that he seemed the good- liest man we ever beheld. His hair, the one side was long, the other shaved close, with a ridge on his crown like a cock's comb. His arrows were five-quarters long, headed with the splinters of a white crystall-like stone, in the form of a heart, an inch broad and an inch and a half more long. These he wore in a wolf's skin at his back for a quiver, his bow in one hand and his club in the other." Reading this we can only say "And there were giants in those days." //. Tribes. The chief tribe of the Eastern Shore was the Algon- quin. They covered a vast area and from them sprang the sub-tribes such as Delaware, Nanticoke, Choptank, etc. These tribes were shore Indians and lived by fish- ing. Generally speaking they were peace-loving, gentle, and noted for making and selling weapons, or bowls of soapstone to the neighboring tribes who prized them 'highly. The Delawares were the branch of the Algonquins from which sprang the Netego or Nanticokes and from this tribe the Nanticoke River gets its name. Indians figured extensively in Eastern Shore history because of all the Algonquins they were the most warlike. Their fighting spirit was probably developed in part both be- —35— fore and (luring- Colonial days tiii'ou,g-li frequent attacks on the Ali»-on(iuins by the fierce Siisquehannonghs, a branch of the more northern Six Nations which had Avantlered south from New York and Pennsylvania and bad become separated from their people. In colonial days these warlike Susquohannouo-hs not only massacred the whites but swooped down on the s^entle Algonquin tril)es with death dealing attacks. Again, in the heart of tlie savage might makes right. The Nanticokcs were the most numerous sub-tribe of the Algonqnins hence the desire for power may have de- veloped their savage instincts. This aggressiveness of the Nanticokes extended not only toward the weaker camps of their own people but reached out to the white man as later events will prove. III. Pollcii of Mari/laud. The policy of this colony as shown by the attitude of the Governors was one of "justice, moderation and kindness." Land acquired from the natives was, if pos- sible, paid for by giving hoes, broadcloth, axes, etc., thus maintaining })eaceful relations between the white and red men. Self protection, too, was a strong incentive on both sides. The Indians outnumbered the white settlers and this same justice, moderation and kindness was the best means of self-protection from the savage, while througli their friendship for the wdiites, the Algonquin ho]ied safety from the Susquehannough. The chief business relation between the whites and Indians was the bartering of "guns or ammunition for hides. To avoid any possible difficulty in trading with the Indians, a privilege was granted every white inhabitant of Dorchester County to trade with them without license, only at Captain Henry Trippe's house, in 1680. Pre- viously the Governor had issued special licenses to in- dividual traders who could go to the Indian camps and there trade, often selling them guns and annnunition, in violation of the trading regulations, which caused much trouble between colonists and the native Indians. This privilege w^as during the time when Caroline was in part included in Dorchester County. —36— IV. Indian Wars. Maryland as a whole was comparatively free froui Indian incursions and the history of the Eastern Shore gives record of only two organized expeditions to repel the savage, — one active and one incipient. They were as follows : The first expedition came in 1639 when various In- dian troubles on Eastern Shore led Lord Baltimore to send an expedition across the Bay. McSherry says, "The armament consisted of two pinnaces and a skiff iuanned with thirty good shot or marksmen who were drafted or pressed, and several volunteers. To equip and victual this force the Governor was under the ne- cessity of sending a shallop to Virginia to procure a su]>ply of arms, ammunition and food." The second or incipient expedition was 1642 when Indian outbreaks were rumored. The Nanticokes had planned to cross the bay to Western Shore and attack the white settlers there. (xovernor Calvert anticipated their actions and ap- pealed to the Governor of Virginia, to join him, as pre- viously, in raising a force of ap])roximately 200 men to repel tlie Indians. He also declared that we might call martial law% and establish a "dead-line" extending from the Pawtuxent River to the Potomac. Hearing of this preparation for their reception the Nanticokes w^eaken- ed and a truce was declared before active warfare be- gan. F. Conf'niua.Hon of Peace Policy. The original peace policy is shown throughout the remainder of this account. At Saint Mary's, April 13, 1669 tlie following act was ])assed for the "Continuance of jjeace with the protection of our neighbors and con- federate Indians at Choptank River." Charles Calvert, Esqi'ire, Governor. It being most just that Indians, tlie ancient inhabitants of this province, should have a convenient dwelling place in this their native country, free from the encroachments and oppression of the English, and more especially such who are in danger to be de- stroyed by their neighbor nations our enemies, and whereas Ababco Hatsawapp and Tequassimo have of late given large testimonies of their fidelity towards us in delivering up the murderers of Captain John Odber for which they are in danger to be cut off and destroy- ed by the Wiccomesses and their confederates, the Matwha Indians, Be it enacted that all the lands lying within a certain district shall -o/- be unto said Ababaco Hatsawapp and Tequassimo and the people under theii- government, under the yearly rent of six beaver skins, to be paid to the lord Proprietary of this province. VI, Treaties. There is recorded but oue official treaty with the Indians, namely, The Treaty With Nanticokes, 1704. "It is agreed upon tnat from this day forward there be an Inviolable peace and amity between the Right Honble and the Lord Propry of this Province and the Emperor on Nanticoke upon the articles hereafter in this treaty to be agreed upon to the worlds end to endure and taat all former acts of hostility and damages vvuatsoevei by either party sustained be buried in perpetual ob- livion. "Ihat the said Emperor of Nanticoke shall deliver up all In- dians tl. at shall come into his dominion that are, or shall be, ene- mies to the English and further that if any Indian subject to the said Emperor shall hereafter kill an English man that the said Emperor shall ibe oblidged to deliver such Indian up to the Gov- ernor of this Province as a prisoner. "Forasmuch as the English can not easily distinguish one In- dian from another, that no Indian shall come into any English- mans plantation painted and that all the Indians shall be bound to call aloud before they come within three hundred paces of any English mans cleared ground and lay down their arms whether Gunn, Bowes or Arrows or other weapons, for any English man that shall appear upon his call to take up, and in case no one ap- pears, that he shall leave his arms if he come nearer, and that af- terwards by calling aloud endeavour to give notice to the English of his nearer approach, and if any English man shall kill any In- dian that shall come unpainted and give such notice, and deliver up his arms as aforesaid, he shall die for it as well as an Indian that kills an English man, and in case the English and Indians meet in the woods accidentally every Indian shall be bound imme- diately to throw down his arms upon call, and in case any Indian so meeting an Englich man refuse to throw down his arms upon call shall be deemed as an enemy. "The privilege of hunting, crabing, fowling, and fishing shall be preserved to the Indians inviolable. "That every Indian that killeth or steleth an hog or calfe or other beast or any other goods shall undergo the same punish- ment that an English man doth for the same offence. the marke of Vnnacok Casimon." VII. Migration. By liarassino- the Nanticokes the Six Nations liad brought them into subjugation; also in a treaty with the white had stipulated that these Indians be permitted to leave Maryland. About 1750 the majority of the Nan- ticokes migrated north, carrying with them the bones of their fathers, as was their custom. Part of the tribe went to Canada West, near Lake Erie, part to Wyoming Valley. Pa., and part to Otsiningo (now Binghampton), New York. Following tills inioTatioii we find that in 1761 tliose Nanticokes in Wyoming Valley appealed through the Governor of Pennsylvania to Maryland for permission to return for a remnant of their tribe yet remaining in that state. The appeal was granted and the remaining Indians yjermitted to migrate. Tw^o appeals were made by Nanticokes for land monies. That part which had withdrawn to Canada West ])etitioned in 1852 through tlieir chief and heads- men, that the Maryland Assemblv grant them certain annuities for which tradition claimed had once been paid their tribe for land rights. The Maryland Assembly declared the claim faulty and the ])etition was denied. Again, we find in 1767 the Nanticokes from Otsinin- go. New York makino- a similar appeal through one Ug- den, Atty. In this case the aprteal was granted but not seeminglv for the amount asked, for the records add that. Sir William Johnson, England's chief Indian agent "made un the difference at the exr)ense of the Grown." So the Indians wandered away, lost their tribal identitv and were blighted by civilization. Then wdth all this in 1761 came small-pox. In the Nanticoke tribe alone from 1763 to 177o the warriors were reduced from 700 to 300. Soon all that was left on Eastern Shore to mark the home of the Red Man was their camp sites or the relics often found in field and forest. Till. MisceUcuneoiis. A further account of the Nanticoke Indians comes from one of their chiefs — White by name. "Every Indian being at liberty to pursue what occupation lie pleases, my ancestors, after the Lenape came into tlieir country, preferred seeking a livelihood by fishing and trapping along the rivers and bays to pursuing wild game in the forests; they there- fore detached themselves and soug'ht the most convenieit places for their puipose. In process of time they became very numerous, partly by natural increase, and partly in consequence of being join- ed by a number of the Lenape, and spread themselves over a tract of land and divided into separate bodies. The main branch of the Nanticokes proper were then living on what is now called the East- ern Shore of Maryland. At length the white people crowded sO' much upon them that they were obliged to seek another abode and as their grandfather, the Delaware, was himself retreating back in consequence of the great influx of the whites, they took the advice of the Mengroe (mingo's) and bent their course to the large flats of Wyoming, where they settled themselves, in sight of the Shawanos town, while others settled higher up the rives, even as high as Chemenk, (Shenango), and Shummunk, to which places they emigrated at the beginning of the French War. —39— ' Nothing," said Wliite, "equalled the decline of my tribe since the white people came into the country. They were destroy- ed, in part by disorders they brought with them, 'by the smallpox and by the free use oi spiritous liquors to which great numbers fell victims." "The Nanticoke, the Choptanks and the Metapeake Indians, descendents of the Delawares, were first seen along the bay shores of Talbot county by Captain John Smith and his exploring party from Virginia in 1608 and later by Clayboure and his trading party four or Hve years before Lord Baltimore's Colonists landed at Saint Mary's, near the mouth of Saint /Mary's river. They had a pecu- liar and sacred respect for their dead. The corpse was buried for some months and then exhumed and the bones carefully cleaned and placed in an 'Osuary,' called manto-kump, (Manito) with the local termination or rather signification, "place of the mystery spirit.' When their tribes moved from one place to another they carried the bones of their dead with them. When they emigrated, about the middle of the ISth century and settled in northern Penn- sylvania, they carried their sacred relics with them, in bags on their backs, and buried them near the present site of Towanda. The Indian name literally meant 'where we bury our dear.' " —40— WHEN INDIANS LIVED IN OUR LAND. When the C^alverts came to America there were two important families of Indians living within the territory granted tlieni. The Sns(|nehannonghs in the northern l)art of the colony belonging to the Iroquois family were fierce and warlike, while on what is now known as the Eastern Shore lived the Algonquins, of more peaceful disposition. The Nanticoke and Choptank tribes belong- ed to this family. They were tide water people living along the rivers which now bear their names. Although these Indians were traders rather than lighters, the Nanticokes on several occasions proved hostile to the settlers. The men of the C1io])tank and Xanticoke tribes were tall and handsome, but disfigured themselves with paint. The women were short and heavy, lacking the dignity of the men. Like other tribes their cheek bones were high, mouths and noses large, eyes black and beadlike. Such clothing as the men wore was made of finely dressed skins forming a mantle which hung from the shoulders and an apron about the waist. They adorned them- selves with as many chains of beads and shells as they could procure. Tlieir straight black hair was tied in a single lock and ornamented with feathers. In winter a decorated robe, leggins and mocassins were worn for ])rotection against the cold. The women wore short- sleeved tunics with leggins and mocassins in one, and the children's dress was much the same as their parents. Homes. The tents or wigwams of these Indians were made of young saplings set in the ground to form a circle with tlie flexible ends tied together to form a framework. This was covered with bark or skins. When fire was needed, it was built on the ground in the center of the tent. The wigwam held no furniture, a pile of leaves covered with straw serving as a bed. Except for sleeping purposes the wig'wam was seldom used, as the Indians lived almost entirely out of doors. The Chief's House. The chief's house, though much larger, was built of the same materials. Instead of the circular form it was oblong with holes cut in the sides for windows and an opening at the top to let out smoke from the fire. Grasses or rushes woven into curtains divided the interior. The only furniture consisted of —41— poles laid across four stakes driven in the ground, the whole being covered with leaves and skins and used as a bed, A strong stockade enclosed the chief's house, neighboring wigwams and council-fire around which the men gathered to discuss ])ublic matters and hold re- ligious ceremonies. Outside the villages the land was held in common. Each family had a plot to cultivate, the manual work be- ing done by the women and children, A part of each crop was for the chief, stored by him for personal use as well as for entertainment of guests and reserve in case of famine or siege. The main crops grown were corn, beans, tobacco, melons, and gourds. The men fished, trai)ped, and hunted small game. They also made weapons and bowls which were greatly prized by neighboring tribes who traded for them. The women, as in all savage races, were the burden bearers and real workers. With bones for needles and sinews for thread the}^ made the clothing for their families from skins they had carefully dressed. With wooden hoes they worked crops they had sown and later must harvest. When camp was to be moved, it was the women who car- ried the packs npon their willing backs while the men strode along with only their l)eloved bows and arrows as burdens. These red men were governed by a chief whose power was absolute over them and whose position was hereditary. Next in rank was a general who had charge of all expeditions, })eaceful or hostile. Such men as dis- tinguished themselves in council or battle were given the title of cockarouse. These men, with the chief, general, and medicine man formed the council of the tribe. The medicine man was looked upon as a person of great importance in the camp. His skill was supposed to be magical as well as medical. The Indians believed sickness a result of offending a spirit and part of their treatment consisted of pow-wowing, wild dancing, and gesticulation to appease the Evil One. Along with this herbs were used, while in case of wounds, the flesh was burned, Cereiiioules and Feast. In religious ceremonies, feasts and I'ites the medicine man again played a promi- nent part. These festivals were mostly in connection with seasonal changes, harvests, or return of migratory game. They were celebrated with dancing, singing, and — 12— feasting. Not until some time after tlie coming of tlie white men did these Indians indulge in any drink at their feasts except water sweetened wtih sugar — maple sap. In later years, drunkenness became prevalent among them as a result of trading valuable furs with the set- tlers for "fire water," as tliey called liquor. Tobacco was a sacred herb among the Indians and used only in the ceremonial pipe. In tlie council it was lighted by the chief who drew on it a few times, opened the subject for discussion, and passed the pipe to the Indian next in rank. He in turn puffed a while then gave his views on the matter. This was continued until the pipe had gone all around the fire and each man al- lowed an opportunity to ST)eak. Another use made of the pipe was to determine the attitude of visiting tribes. The chief after smoking it a while pat^sed it to the prin- cipal man of the visiting tribe. If he accepted the pipe and smoked it, his errand was understood to be friendly, but if he refused to smoke, it was a sign of trouble be- tween the tribes. The pipes were made of clay and dec- orated to suit the savage fancy. Several have been found in our county within recent years along with nu- merous stone hatchets, axes, and darts. Indian Money. One of the Indian means of ex- change was known as peak and consisted of small pieces of clam or mussel shell in purple or white. The purple was known as wampum-peak and had twice the value of the wliite. Rough bits of shell, rudely shaped, known as ''roenoke" was much less valuable. Both peak and roe- noke were strung and valued according to measure. The value of a vard of white peak was 9 pence (18c), in trade with the English; the purple, 18 pence (36 cents). Indian Warfare. The Indians in their attacks upon the settlers used the same form of warfare as when fight- ing their own race. Tliey delighted in surprise attacks and displayed great skill in this. When an attack was to be made, the chief and his warriors met in council and celebrated the coming events by dancing and pantomine of shooting, tomahawking and scalping of foes. After this they slipped from camp and travelled noiselessly to their destination. Often they went under cover of dark- ness, in single files, hiding behind trees until at a signal, they burst upon their victims with a war-hoop and be- gan their cruel slaughter. —43- There are in some of our commiuiities Indian stories and legends wliicli have been handed down for several generations, and while in this way have become idtered, still must have had some foundation in fact. One of these stories is of the kidnaping of a child near McCar- ty's Wharf, in lower Caroline. An infant boy, Richard Willoughby by name, was left alone in his home while his father and mother were engaged in some out-of-door work. An Indian crept up to the house and stob,' the child. It was not until after six weeks of searching by the distracted parents and neighbors that he was finally found in an Indian camp at Yellow Hill. Along Hog Greek the remains of an Indian camp and medicine pit were found a few years ago. Indian caves and a large burying ground were located near Blairtown. On the Caroline side at Reliance there was for seventy years a reservation belonging to the red- men. What is now Downes Wharf once bore the name of Indian Landing. On the old Lyford farm in Tuckahoe Neck bones and skulls of savages have been found. Perliaps some day you, too, may find a relic of those long-ago tribes and treasure it in memory of a fast van- ishing race. FOREWORD TO THE TRIAL OF POH POH CAQUIS. {Adapted fro) II the Mairi/Unid Archives). On the ISth day of December, 1682 Poll Poll Caquis, Indian of the Eastern Shore, Maryland came to 'the home of William Troth at Dover Bridge. Troth was absent from home but, the Indian being cold, Mrs. Troth permitted liini to sit by the tire. After an hour had passed Troth returned, accom- ])anied by John Slie])herd, a neighbor. A few minutes later as the Indian, Troth and Shepherd conversed to- gether Thomas Bnssey came to the door. As Troth turned to speak to Bnssey, Poh Poll Ca- quis seized his gun and fired directly at Troth, but fail- ing in this attacked him with his tomahawk, then ran away followed by Troth, She))herd and Bussey. Al- though he tinally escaped Poh Poh Caquis carried with him a load of buckshot from Troth's gun. Fearing further trouble, on Dec. 22, 1682 Troth went to the home of John Edmonson where Col. Phile- mon Lloyd, a member of the Governor's Council, was visiting, and made formal complaint against Poh Poh Caquis. Idoyd at once wrote to the Governor, and later when the Council met definite action was taken. At this meet- ing only four nicniljers of the Council were present, namelv : Tlie Hon. Col. Thomas ZaiHer, The Hon. Col. Vincent Lowe, The Hon. Col. William Burges, The Hon. Mr. John Darnali. The Council a]ipointed as a Special Commission ''to go examine and try" the case of Poh Poh Caquis the Honorable Henry Coursey, Esq. and the Honorable Col- onel Philemon IJoyd. The Hon. Henry Coursev, Esq., was President of the Commission wliicli met at Wve River, Talbot Co., March 5, 1683. Trial of Poh Poh Caquis. Scene, — Courthouse at Wye River. Mar. 5. 1683. Characters, —45— Special Commission. President, the Hon. Henry Coursey, Esq. Gov. Council the Hon. Philemon Lloyd. Secretary to President. White men. The Constable John Shepherd The Interpreter Thomas Bussey William Troth Indians. Poh Poh Cayuis Wasatwahau King Ababsco Weenakaman King Tequassimo Cha Cha Pohosse Wewohquak TRIAL. Pres. of Court. (Calls order) Tills body has convened today for the trial of one Poh Poh Caquls, Indian of the Eastern Shore, subject to Ahatsawak of Assoteaque. Will the constable bring the prisoner into Court. Constable. (Retires) (Returns immediately with Poh Poh Caquis.) Here he Is, Your Lordship. Pres. of Court. (Addressing assemblage.) Gentlemen, we nave before us today, in the Sub-^Court of King George in the Province of Maryland, a case of much In- terest to our Red brothers as well as the White man, — that of an Indian for an evil attack on his white brother. Red men, our Rt. Honorable Lord Proprietor gave you a convenient dwelling place free from the encroachment of the white man. It is the will of his Lordship, Gov. Charles Cal- vert that you have such a home. King Abasoo and King Tequassimo have In past times given testimony of their fidelity. Shall that fidelity be broken now ;' The charge is that Poh Poh Caquis has placed himself under the law of the Province of Maryland by atte^nptlng murder. The Secretary has the complaint as made by one William Troth to Colonel Piiilemon Lloyd, while at the home of John Edmonson. Dec. 2 2, 1682. Let the Secretary read the Indictment. 'Secretary to President. (Reads) About the ISth day of December (1682) came an Indian to my house about two o'clock in the afternoon. I, not being present in the house and the said Indian pretending to be cold, my wife bid him go to the fire and there he was about an houre. By this time my wife sent for me and when I came into the house the said Indian came from where he had been sitting by the fire and look'd upon me, but said not a word to me not I to him; then straight-way returned to the fire again. I went to where he was sitting by the fire with his Gunn standing by him. I spoke to him and said. "How Is Ketop". "Howan Pawmen kees", he replied In Delaware. Governor's Council. (Addressing Pres.) Your Lordship, may I address William Troth. (iPres. bows assent and Troth rises facing G. C.) (Addressing Troth) Do you affirm the truth of this in- dictment as read in part before this court. —46— William Troth. Your Lordship, I do. (Sits) Secretary of Pres. (reads) Juiin bhepiierd, sitting by the fire, said, "He tells me he is a Delaware Indian, and that there are two hundred Seuni- quox Indiana hard by," I said, "Pish, does thou believe him what he talks of. He lies." The Indian make answer he did not lie, for I should see them by and by. I made answer I would not see them if I could help it, but he said I should and forthwith fell ahollowing. Governor's Council. (Addressing Pres.) \ our Lordship is John Shepherd in Court? John Shepherd. (Rising) Yes Your Honor. Governor's Council. (Addressing Shepherd). Weie you present at the home of William Troth at the time referred to in indictment read'.' John Shepl erd. I was your Honor. Governor's Council Do you affirm the truth of the indictment as read. John Shepherd. I do your Honor. (Sits) Governor's Council. (To Sec.) Proceed. Secietary of President. Before I could speak any more words to him, comes to the doore Thomas Bussey. I turned me about to speake to the said Thomas: while my back was toward the Indian the said Indian made ready his Gunn; I presently turned about again and seeing the muzzle of the gunn towards me, I endeavored to get hold of it, but before I could she went off, and with the bonding of my body to get hold of the gun, the shott mist. When he saw he had done no execution he took to his Toma- hawke, and followed me about eight or ten yards; and when I saw he followed me I called for my gunn. and as soon as he heard me call for my gunn he ran and when he was about thirty yards from me I discharged my gun at him. (Sec. sits.) Governor's Council. (Addressing Assembley) Thomas Bussey, stand. Thos Bussey. (stands and bows.) Your Lordship. Governoi''s Council. (Addressing Bussey) W^ere you present on the 18th of December 16S2 when Poh Poh Caquis attacked William Troth as charged. Thos. Bussey. I was your Lordship. Governor's Council Thomas Bussey do you affirm that this accusation charg- ing Poh Poh Caquis with an attempt on the life of William Troth of Dover Bridge is true? Thos. Bussey. The charge is true Your Lordship. (Gov. Council and Bussey sits.) Pres. Of Court. The indictment has been read and its truth affirmed by these witnesses. Interpreter will you ask the prisoner why he denied his tribe, (^lock interpretation) Interreter. (To Pres. of Court.) The prisoner says he was drunk and knew not what he did. —47— Pres. of Court. (To interpreter.) Ask the prisoner wiiat defense he makes. (Mock interpretation) Interpretor. (To tne Pres. of Court.) The prisoner says lie was drunli otlierwise he would not have shot at William Troth or have done any mischief. Pres. of Court. (To Interpreter.) Tell the Indians that it is the English law that if a man do mischiet he must suffer. If drunkenness is an excuse tnen the English might make themselves drunk and kill Indians. (King Ababscoete confer with Interpreter.) Interpreter. (To Assembly.) King Ababsco says that an English man shott at three Indian boyes but they came home not hurt, soe took noe notice. 'Governor's Council. (Interrupting.) Tell him the English were not informed. If they had the English man should have suffered as the law prescribes in such cases. Pres. of Court. (Ignoring Council's words.) Tell the Indians we can remember several miscarriages of their people, for which tliey have not been punished but we came not here to call to mind old differences but rather expect they should be forgot on both sides; but now we have taken this prisoner in fact he ought to suffer. We desire to know whether they justify the prisoner. (Mock interpretation) Interpreter. They say they cannot justify the prisoner, neither did they come to excuse him. Pres. of tlie Court. Tell them that it is the custom of Christian Nations, that, if the peace is broken, he that doeth it must surely die, and this Indian by the law deserves death; but that the English are not desirous to exercise the rigour of the Lawe; there- fore Poh Poh Caquis shall be carried to the whipping post and have twenty lashes on his bare back. Interpreter. (After mock interpretation.) Your Lordship, the Indians consent and have commanded one of their great men, Weahquap to execute the judgment. (Constable, prisoner and Indians turn to leave.) Governor's Council. (With Emphasis) (Indians turn) Your Lordship the punishment is not sufficient. (Mock interpretation) Interpreter. King Ababsco and King Tequassimo engage their words for the prisoner's good behavior forever hereafter. Gov. Council. It is not enough. Poh Poh Caquis may, notwithstandin, doe further mischief. Troth's life may be in constant danger. In what custody will they keep him. (Pres. Order Interpretation.) Interpreter. Your Lordship, the Indians do not know how to secure him. They can say not more than Abatsawok had said form- erly, — that they left it to his Lordship. Pres. of Court. The order is given that Poh Poh Caquis receive twenty lashes on his bare back. This for his evil attack. Moreover for the future safety of the English the Court decrees that after this punishment Poh Poh Caauis be transported into some part beyond the sea, as a villian not fit to be trusted here without danger of having the peace broken. —48— The Constable may remove the prisoner and after We- wahquap hath executed the sentence, the sentence of twenty lashes on the bare back, Poh Poh Caquis may be delivered to the High Sheriff of St. Mary's. (Constable leads out Poh Poh Caquis followed by Indians. Conversation and handshaking among men.) Pres. of Court. The trial of Poh Poh Caquis being ended this Special Commission has fulfilled its duty and adjourns the Court. -49- CAROLINE COUNTY'S FIRST COURT HOUSE. ERECTION OF THE COURT HOUSE AND JAIL. Perhaps yon wonder why over twenty years elapsed l:)etween the formation of the county and the building of the court liouse. Here is the explanation as given in the records of the county court, General Assembly and Convention of Maryland of 1774-97. Just previous to the establishment of Caroline, Dor- chester county had levied a tax for the purpose of build- ing a court house at Cambridge. That part which had been ])aid by people living in the section included in Carolina (70,()()() ^.])s. of tobacco) was ordered to be giv- en to the new county. The inhabitants of the section taken from (Jueen Anne's were to be taxed in the same ))roportion (56,000 11 )s. of tobacco) and the monies there- from used for buildino' a court house at Pis' Point (now -50- Denton). Altiiuni;-li tliis seemed to assure the financial side of the undertaking, the dark days which were ahead for tlie entire colony caused a delay. With the outbreak of the Revolution, the Convention which now took the place of the late Assembly, suspended all levies until after the war, Dorchester's tobacco had been turned into paper money and at the close of the war its value had so depreciated that it was necessary to cause a new levy to be made upon the county for £1000. The com- missioners were ordered to "demand, sue for, recover, and receive all monies previously levied and collected and use it for the same purpose." ■ "^'*""ftf ^^ Qg.'^ToiM^ SECOND CAROLINE COUNTY JAIL PRECEDING PRESENT QNE. While this was l)eing- done and things again at a standstill, Bridgetown renewed her plea for the county seat. The compromise spoken of in the preceding chayv ter occurred at this time and four years ela})sed before further decision was reached in the matter. In 1790 it was finally decided that as the removal of court to Pig Point would be for the convenience and advantage of the inhabitants of the county the clerk should move the records, rolls, and books to that place and there, "safe- ly deposit, keep, and preserve the same in some conve- nient house" before March 1st, 1791. —51— New commissioners were at this time appointed as follows: William Richardson, Zebdiel Potter, Joseph Richardson, Peter Edmonson and Joslina Willis. These men were to purchase land, have it surveyed, laid out and plotted, collect all monies and tobacco previously levied, and contract for tlie erection of court house and jail. ( )n Ai)ril 27, 1791, they contracted with AVilliam Benson of Talbot county to build the court liousi'. Tlie orioinal contract called for €1300 current money, but later, Mr. Benson fiiiding this insufficient, an additional £500 was allowed. In 1797 the building was finally com- pleted and stood until 1895 a tribute to the persever- ance of the people of Caroline county and the splendid workmanship of Benson. I^pon the completion of the court house, monies which had been intended for use in buildino' the jail were entirely used. Thomas Hughlett, Zebdiel Potter, and Tlioma*^ Allen Sangston were appointed commissioners and authorized to levy a tax of £500 in the years 1797 and 1798 for the purpose of building- the prison. Not all of this money was needed, however, and the remain- der was used in building a causeway on the east and a wliarf on tlie west side of the Clioiitank at Denton. CAROLINE'S PRESENT COURT HOUSE. -52- —53— REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. The Militia. /. hitrnrlnrfinu. The story of the Militia of tlio Eastern Shore is the sto' y of the spirit of the times, and tliis cannot bo more clearly set forth than bv qnoting from a letter written Mav 1774, by a Mr. Eddie, officer of tlie English Govern- ment. "All America is in a flame: I hear strange language every day. The colonists are ripe for any measure that will tend to the preser- vation of what they call their national liberty. I enclose you the resolves of our citizens; they have caught the general contagion. Expresses are flying from province to province. It Is the universal opinion here, that the mother country cannot support a conten- tion with these settlements, if they abide steady to the letter and spirit of their association." All Maryland was aroused and Caroline Connty seemed imbued with even more than her quota of enthu- siasm, and she was amono; the first to respond to the call of the nation. Her militia, her minute men, her Flying Camp were the material outgrowth of her spirit of De- mocracy. II. Ori(/'ni of MiJifia. The Militia was a provincial organization of a very early date, an x\ct of General Assembly for such an or- ganization having been passed at their session in 1638. This Act provided that, under the direction of the Lieutenant General, "The captain of the military band shall use all power necessary, or conducing, in his direc- tion, to the safety and defense of the province." However at the opening of the Eevolutionary period the Militia was only a tentative organization and Caro- line as a county had no such military body of which we know. II J. CdroUiir's AwaJceuhifj. In all the colonies the English yoke was becoming heavy and as the spirit of Liberty spread abroad Mary- land joined the opposition to England's tyranny with "A stern determination to have it efficient." Then Caroline came to the fore-front in her state activities when the citizens in 1774 held a lar^e meeting at Melvill's Warehouse, on the 18th day of Jane, by ad- journment from the 8th of the same month, and passed the following resolutions, Charles Dickinson, Esq., chair- man : "1. Resolved, That the inhabitants of this country are by duty and inclination tirmly attached to his most sacred majesty, King George the Third, to whom we owe all due obedience and allegiance. "2. That it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that the Boston port act is principally grounded on the opposition made by the inhabitants of that town to the tea duty, that the said town of Boson is now suffering in the common cause of British America, and that it is the duty of every colony thereof to unite in the most effectual means of obtaining a repeal of the late act of parliament for shutting up the port of Boston. "3. That in the unanimous opinion of this meeting that if the colonies came into a joint resolution to forbear all importa- tions whatsoever from Great Britain, (except such articles as are absolutely necessary ) until the acts of parliament for shutting up the port of Boston, and for levying a duty in America for the ex- press purpose of raising a revenue, shall be repealed, it will be the means of preserving the liberties of North America. "Resolved, therefore. That the inhabitants of this county are disposed flrmly to unite with the inhabitants of this province and the other colonies of North America, in an association and agree- ment to forbear the importation of goods and merchandise from Great Britain, during the continuance of the said acts of parlia- ment (except such articles as may be judged proper to be excepted by a general association,) and that all orders for importation, (ex- cept the articles before excepted,) ought to cease. "i. That it is against the opinion of this meeting, that the colonies go into a general non-importation from, or non-exportation, to Great Britain, but should both, or either of these measures be adopted, they will acquiesce therein. "5. That it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that the courts of justice be kept open. But should a non-exportation agree- ment be generally come into, in that case it is the opinion of this meeting that the courts of justice be shut up. "6. That it is the opinion of the inhabitants of this county, that this province ought to break off all trade and dealings with that colony, province, or town, which shall refuse or decline to come into similar resolutions with a majority of the colonies. "7. That it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that delegates be appointed from this province to attend a general con- gress of delegates from the other colonies, at such time and place as shall be agreed on, in order to settle and establish a general plan of conduct for the important purposes aforementioned. "S. That Thomas White, William Richardson, Isaac Bradley, Nathaniel Potter, Benson Stainton, and Thomas Goldsborough. be a committee to attend a general meeting at Annapolis. And that —55— the same gentlemen, together with Charles Dickinson, Richard -Mason, Joshua Clark, Henry Dickinson, Dr. Wm. Molleson. Charles- Blair, Wm. Haskins, Philip Fiddleman, Wm. Hooper, the Rev. Samuel Keene, the Rev. Philip Walker, Henry Casson, and Bene- dict Brice, be a committee of correspondence to receive and answer all letters, and on any emergency, to call a general meeting and that any seven of the number have the power to act. "9. That this paper be considered as an instruction to the deputies nominated from this County to meet at the city of Annap- olis for the purpose of forming a general association, in which they are not to come into any engagement whatever, but upon con- dition that the colonies in general shall come into a similar measure. "10. That a copy of the proceedings be published in the MARYLAND GAZETTE, to evince to the world the sense they en- tertain of the invasion of their constitutional right and liberties. Signed, per order, "Henry Downes, Jr., Clerk." These resolutions show that the intent of the colo- nists was readjustment of differences, not war. They wanted trade relations changed, not the government. When however April 28, 1774 at 9 A. M. the blood-tid- ings from Lexington reached Annapolis war became a certainty in the minds of the Assembly, A letter sent to the State deputies of each county stating the savage massacre of a number of the inhabi- tants of Lexington, and the movement of the King's troops, numbering 1200, caused great alarm through the colonies ; therefore, it became necessar^^ to form some kind of a resistance. When the convention met at Annapolis in December a resolution was adopted, in substance as follows: On the eighth day of December, 1774, tlie deputies from each county met and resolved to form a militia of their respective counties. This militia was to be com- posed of the gentlemen, freeholders and other freemen. It was further recommended that all persons from six- teen to fifty years of age enroll and form themselves in- to companies of 68 men; to choose a captain, two lieuten- ants, an ensign, four sergeants, four corporals and one drummer for each company. These men were to use ev- ery means possible to make themselves masters of the military exercise. Each man was to be provided a good fire-lock and bayonet fixed thereon, one half pound of powder, two pounds of lead, and a cartouch box, or pow- der-horn, and a l)ag of ball, and be in readiness to act in any emergency. —56— At the same time it was recommended that the ''Committee" of each County raise a solicited subscrip- tion or voluntary gift of monies amounting in full to 10,000 pounds of which Caroline's allotment was 358 pounds. Under the direction of the Committees from the re- spective counties this money was to be used to purchase arms and annnunition for the use of such county. The resolves of the convention were immediately carried out; old and young enrolled with the greatest enthusiasm, and money, arms, and ammunition, were ev- erywlu're collected to meet the approaching crisis. Mary- land was girding herself for the struggle. It broke out in open conflict, just before the meeting of the conven- tion. To repress toryism, it was enacted that if any in- haliitants of the |)rovince should, after the 5th of August following, levy war against the United States or should adhere "to any person or persons l)earing arms or em- l)loyed in the service of Great Britain against the Unit- ed Colonies, or shall afford such persons, any aid or comfort, or shall give them, or any subject of Great Britain anv intelligence of the warlike preparations or designs of the United Colonies, such person on conviction thereof by a petit jury, after a presentment by a grand jury, in a court to be erected in this colony by the next convention, for the trial of such offenders, shall suffer death without benefit of clergy, and forfeit all estate wliicli he liad at the time of the com- mission of the crime, to be applied to the use of this col- ony, unless such convicted person shall be pardoned by the person or persons invested with the power of grant- ing pardon for such offences." While in all prol)ability the enrollment was not com- plete on the given date the records state that on Septem- ber 15, 1775, all persons within the province from six- teen to fifty, subscrilied, enrolled and pledged their wil- lingness to bear arms and march to such places within the province, when the convention, or the council of safe- ty commanded. The militia companies consisted of not more than 74 privates, nor less than 50; each captain of his militia was to submit a muster roll to the committee of Observation. This roll including captains, lieutenants, ensigns number of non-commissioned officers and n^lvates, was forward- -Di — ed to the Council of Safety, in order that all commissions might be issued in the name of the convention to these officers. The militia was to meet for exercise weekly; the commanding officer naming the place. Conditions fre- quently made it necessary that the commanding officer had to have his company divided and exercised at differ- ent places. It was necessary that the entire company be exercised once each month. Every non-commissioned officer and private of the minute-men and militia was to appear at his place of muster with liis firelock and other equipments in good order, and to diligently and obediently attend to all in- structions, and perform his exercise in arms as com- manded. In case he should not appear, or his firearms were not in good order, and having no legitimate excuse, he was subjected to a fine not exceeding the sum of five shillings in common money for everv such neglect. Such misbehavior was to be determined by the captain, lieu- tenants, and ensigns or any two of them. Every commissioned officer having no reasonable excuse and failing to perform his dutv according to his office and station, and for the refusal of duty, shall be fined a sum not to exceed 15 shillings of common mon- ey; such misbehavior to be adjudged by other field and commissioned officers, or n maTor r^art of them. The militia continued under the organization until the end of 1775 at which time material changes were made in the militarv arrangements. IV. Governvient. That the various enactments and organizations per- taining to the government mav be understood it might be well to speak of the governing l)()dies at the close of the provincial organization. There was a short period between the awakening of the people and the deposing of Robert Eden, last Colo- nial Governor, when Maryland was really under two gov- ernments. The General Assembly was not dissolved, yet the colony resenting their rule sent representatives to Annapolis and formed a "Convention" which first met Nov. 21, 1774. This date was the time of the actual de- posing of the Colonial Governor, although his power was gone even before this. It might be well to mention that —58— Governor Eden still remained in the jjrovince after the supremacy had been taken out of his hands by the con- vention. His easy and affable manner had caused no alarm; for sometime before the change in the governing power he had been apparently neutral. But certain let- ters were found addressed to him from Lord Dunmore, who was commanding a fleet in the Cbesapeake Bay, and was also prominent in stirring up the tories in the lower part of tlie province, asking Robert Eden to hold him- self in readiness to assist the Crown when occasion pre- sented itself. General Charles Lee, into whose hands the letters were placed, immediately forwarded same to the Council of Safety at Baltimore. As the convention was not in session, he advised that the person and pa- pers of Mr. Eden be at once secured. Captain Smith, company commander under Major Gist, was sent with a detachment of the Maryland regu- lars for that purpose. The convention afterAvards re- sented this proceeding and reprimanded Cai^tain Smith and ordered him to return to Baltimore. At the same time however, considering the presence of Governor Eden no longer consistant with the safety of the colony, resolved — "Tliat it be signified to the Governor, that he leave his province because the public safety and quiet, in the judgement of this convention is required, and that he is at full power of liberty to depart peaceably with his effects, and tliat a committee of five persons be appoint- ed to wait on tlie Governor and deliver him copies of the resolutions together with an address." The house voted on the above resolution; Caroline's vote was as follows: Mr. Richardson, affirmative; Mr. Dickinson, negative; Mr. Mason, negative. Governor Eden sailed on his majesty's ship Fowey, June 24, 1776. Detachments of militia were placed at convenient posts to prevent anv communication with the Fowey man of war together with the ship Defence, which tendered her down the bay to prevent as far as possible any plunder or attack. After taking tlie governing power out of the hands of the Governor it became necessary to give this power to some governing body; for this purpose a "Maryland Council of Safety" was chosen by ballot. It was com- posed of 16 persons, eight of whom resided on the west- ern shore and eight on the eastern shore. This body was to direct and regulate the operations of the minute- —59— men and militia, providing equipment, food, regulating their movements from place to place, and appointing and commissioning field officers, together with the regulation of the rank of all military officers. The Council more- over attended to all matters of state when the Conven- tion was not in session and had the power to call a special meeting of said Convention when they deemed it neces- sary. A Local Committee was formed called the "Commit- tee of Observation" whose duty it was to inspect (local- ly) and report to the Council of Safety on the conduct of any who were suspected of being disloyal, also to in- vestigate direct charges of disloyalty. The term of of- fice of members of this committee was one year, begin- ning on day of election. The committee of Observation in each county was held responsible for every able bodied man enrolling, and in case they found those who failed to enroll, their names were forwarded to the State convention which would adopt measures against such persons. It was further ordered that each committee of Ob- servation, as soon as convenient after their election should choose by ballot five members to act as a "Com- mittee of Correspondence" for their country between the State Council and other counties. One person was named on each committee to act as a treasurer; receiv- ing all sums of money wliich was given voluntarily ; this to be used in encouraging the building of manufactories of any kind for immediate relief in the counties and arm- ing and defending the country. Their number of elections is shown in the following: "In September 177.j, an election was held at the court houses of the counties for the purpose of electing new members to the committee of Observation. All freeholders in the province, and other freeman having a visible estate of 4 pounds sterling were qualified to vote." Thus we see that the "Convention" the "Council of Safety," the "Committee of Observation" together with sub-committees formed Maryland's governing body dur- ing the Revolutionary period. Though Caroline county's people were in the main loyal, and did all in their power to carry out the orders of the province, yet Tories and other y^aid agents of the British Government w^rought considerable dissatisfaction in the minds of many well-disposed persons as will be —60— understood from tlie following extracts from the Mary- land Archives. Caroline County Sept. 17tli, 17 76. Sir: Agreeably to the requisition of tlie Convention made to the field officers of this county, to endeavor to get a company made up to march to New Yorli, I thought it necessary to convene the 2 8th Battalion of Militia on Saturday last for that purpose, and after meeting in the usual field of parade, tiie several Companies were drawn up, e.xcept the Company under the command of Capt. John P'auntleroy. I then requested he would draw up his company, who made me for answer, that he had but a few officers in the field and that he .should not draw up under me as commander of the field. Capt. Fauntleroy's reasons for not joining the Battalion I do not certainly know, but after the Battalion were dismissed, I am credibly informed he endeavored to see who would join against me, for what purpose I do not know unless to treat me ill. As it appears to me, Sir, that he is a disobedient officer and possibly was I to overlook this injury to the common cause, it might prove to be bad consequence, besides under these circum- stances my person as well as character may not be altogether safe, and in order sir, that peace and harmony may again take place, I pray that a court marshal may be appointed by your board for the trial of Capt. Fauntleroy in order to find out what I am to be ac- cused with and that he or myself may meet with the instant de- merits we deserve. I am Sir nio.st obedt Hble 6ervt. Benson Stainton. (Proceedings of Court Martial.) Melvill's Warehouse Nov. 16, 1776. In pursuance to an order from the Council of Safety bearing date of ISth day of September last, for the trial of Capt. John Fauntleroy of the twenty eight Battalion of Militia for this State, I appointed the sixteenth day of November 17 76, for holding a Court ;\!artial for the purpose and gave notice of the time and place for holding said Court, to all Persons concerned. And there was present at the time and place, Vincent Price Nathaniel Potter Captains John' Mitchell Peter Richardson Henry Casson. Sr. And after fully hearing the allegations of Col. Benson Stain- ton and the evidence of both sides and considering the same, the Court gives judgment that Capt. John Fauntleroy pay five pounds current money for his offense and breach of duty. Mat. Driver, President. F. Beorgcnilzation of Militia. At the meeting of the Convention at Annapolis, Jan. 4, 1776, a reorganization of the militia was etfected. A committee had been previously appointed to "Consider what alterations and amendments necessary, in tlie regu- lations on tlie militia of this Province." —61— The report was in brief as follows: No minute men were to be hereafter enrolled; no companies of minute men were to be continued after the first day of the fol- lowing' March; all arms now in the possession of the '' minute men" to be delivered to the Committee of Ob- servation; every able bodied man between the ages of 16 and 50 (with a few exceptions) not yet enrolled in the militia nmst do so on or before March 1, 1776. Following was a list of fines, punishments etc. for delay or disobedience and a i)lan for ofticering the new organization. After this Convention the "minute men" and "Flying Camp" were disbanded and the entire soldiery became militia. The convention having been in session on Jan. 1, 1776 resolved that eight companies of troops, to consist of 68 privates under proper officers, to be formed into a battalion, and the remainder of the troops to ])e divided into companies of 100 men each. The following Caroline county officers were elected by ballot : East Battalion — Mr. William Richardson, col- onel ; Mr. Henry Dickinson, lieutenant-colonel; Mr. Wil- liam AVhitely, 1st major; Mr. Matthew Driver, 2nd major; Mr. John White, quartermaster. West Battalion — Mr. Philip Fiddeman, colonel ; Mr. Benson Stainton, lieutenant-colonel; Mr. Eichard Mason, 1st major; Mr. Henry Dowes, 2nd major ; Mr. Thos. Hardcastle, quarter- master. Pay of officers as follows : colonel $50 ; colonels expenses $30; lieutenant colonel $40, lieutenant-colonels expenses $20; major $33.33; captain $26; drummer and fifer $6; lieutenant $18; ensign $16; surgeons mate $20; sergeant $6.66; corporal $6; surgeon $40; chaplain $20; private $5.33 clerk to colonel $20; pay to other officers was regulated by the Council of Safety. That a ration consisting of one pound of beef, or three-quarters of a pound of pork, one pound of flour or bread per man per day, three pints of peas at six shill- ings per bushel per week, or other vegetables equivalent, one quart of Indian meal per week, a gill of vinegar and gill of molasses per man per day, a quart of cider, small beer or rum, per man per day, three pounds of candles for one hundred men per week, for guards ; twenty-four pounds of soft soap, or eight pounds of hard soap for one hundred men per week. Each captain was to enlist his own company and had the following instructions for enlisting men into the service : —62— 1. You are to enlist no man who is not able bodied, healthy, and a good marcher, nor such whose attachment to the liberties of America you have any cause to suspect. Young hearty robust men, who are tied by birth, or family connectioniS or property to this country; and are well practiced in the use of firearms, are by much to be preferred. 2. You are to have a great regard to moral character, sobri- ety in particular. 3. You are not to enlist any servant imported, nor, without the leave of the master, any apprentice. 4. Those who engage in the service shall be enlisted accord- ing to tlie form prescribed by this convention. A fiirtlier order indicating low finance was the fol- lowing : "To avoid a needless and insupportable expense, no person after the tenth day of May next, may wear any uniform at exercise, either in single companies or battalions, but hunting shirts, the cfFcers distinguishing themselves from the privates by different feathers, cockades, or the like as fancy may direct." VI. Mcetwf) the Needs of the War. The general idea of conservation along all lines seemed to be immediately taken up by the Convention. Early as the meeting of Dec. 8, 1774 we find the follow- ing recommendations : First, that the citizens increase tlieir flocks of sheep for the promotion of woolen manufacturing and to furth- er this tliey recommended that thereafter no sheep under four years of age be killed. The second recommendation was that the citizens in- crease the yn'oduction of linen and cotton by "plaating all they conveniently can" and recommend furthei' that speculators purchase no seed for exportation. Again in July, 1775 the Council of Safety found it necessary to discourage the killing of lambs, so that more wool might be realized ; also to enforce the produc- tion of flax. This year as well as the next two following, meant a period of great conservation on the i^art of the prov- ince. As stated before they were unprepared for war, not having meat, meal, clotliing, tents, firearms, or shoes for the soldiers ; there was apparently leather in the colo- nies but it was not made up into shoes, since much of tliis must be done by hand it was a very slow process. In 1777 the American Army was so greatly in need of clothing and blankets that collectors were aiij^ointed in eacli county to collect tliese necessities wlierever pos- sil)le. In Great Clioptank FTundred Josepli l^ichardson —63— was appointed SuperintGiident of Collections, The Gov- ernor and Council limited the prices to be paid as fol- lows : Blankets 13s ; a pair of shoes 30d ; a pair of stock- ings 3()d; a hat 30d; coarse woolens, fit for soldiers' coats, jackets or breeches -fi yd. wide 50d; linen, tit for soldiers' shirts, per yard, 16d. The food question was one of importance. How pro- cure rations for the soldiers ? Nathaniel Potter, whom we remember as one of the first Court justices of Caroline County, and who had bought and packed pork and beef for Caroline County companies under Col. Richardson was (1776) called u])on to procure, for the Province, all pork possible at 5 pounds sterling per hundred. The following letter written by Isaac McHard, (4)uartermaster to the Council of Safety, brings to us not only food conservation but the necessity of salt. Caroline County Dec. 30th, 1776. Gentlemen: I have contracted with Mr. Potter to buy me all the Pork that is to be had in the county. He had engaged to salt and barrel all that he could get and he thinks it necessary to have salt, there- fore hope you will order him fifty bushels, which quantity he thinks he will want. I have likewise engaged with Mr. James Seth. to get for me all the Pork in Talbot and Queen Anne's County if he should want a little salt I hope you will order him a little. I don't know that he will want it for he has contracted to deliver it at An- napolis if possibly he can get it there. If he can not get it there from the badness of the weather it must be) salted over here and barreled and brought to Annapolis in the spring. Your granting these orders for the salt will much oblige Gentlemen, Your hble. Servt. Isaac McHard. N.B. Mr. Crysale will see the salt measured and will take a re- ceipt from the Skipper for the Quantity. The scarcity of salt threatened the conservation of meat and must be secured for that purpose. Many free- holders Avere reported as having large supplies of it stored and this led to great dissatisfaction of the people in need of it. Searching parties were organized who went out to search for these stores. In one case Mr. Colston of Caroline having butcher- ed was in great need of salt; hearing that Mr. Chamber- lain of Plain Dealing Talbot, had 100 bushels stored he sent several times to buy it but each time the}^ refused to sell. At last Mr. Colston had his neighbors, seventeen in number, go with him carrying the money and their mus- kets. They asked again that the salt be sold them, if not to open the door of the house in which tlie salt was stor- ed. Mr. Chamberlain's wife being the only one at home opened the door of the house; there they found a consid- erable quantity. They ordered one of Mr. CUiamberlain's negroes to measure out IIY^ bu. for which they paid $35.00. Un their return home they wrote a letter to Mr. Chamberlain explaining the transaction and saying they would pay the price he asked. This matter was brought to tlie attention of the Council, which took inmiediate steps to secure oO bus. from Talbot and Dorchester coun- ties. War conditions led to other depredations, one of which with its attending civic troubles we give below: "In great desperation for want of salt, then so scarce, Capt. Richard Andiew and a number of men in November, 1776, entered and searched the dwelling house and outhouses of James Sullivane, looking for salt. As they found only five bushels they did not take any. Then they went to Col. James Murry's on Hunting Creek (now known as the Billup's farm) got the keys from Mrs. Murray and took fourteen and one half bushels of salt. They offered to pay for it, but Mrs. Murray refused payment; however they left $14. .50 in the house." To punish these disorderly ]jeople the Committee of Observation summoned witnesses and those active in tlie affair, but they did not appear and a hearing was set for tlie following Wednesday, and wholly unexpectedly they came headed by Captain Andrew with more than a hun- dred armed men. They were so disorderly that nothing could be done in the matter. They declared they would risk their lives in defense of their acts. An appeal was made to the Council of Safety to have Gen. Henry Hoop- er's brigade of militia sent to arrest them, but consider- ing the need of troops elsewhere and the urgent appeals made by the people on the Eastern Shore for salt, then so scarce that some families had not a pint in months," it seemed that the sending of a militia into a county to suppress local disturbances not regarded as disloyal acts, might lead to serious revolts at this critical period of the Revolutionary conflict. Scarcity of saltpetre too was giving the government much concern. It was a necessity. Powder must be pro- duced for the man behind the gun. As early as July, 1775 the Council of Safety found it necessary to encour- age the manufacture of saltpetre. To do this a sum not exceeding 1000 pounds common money was advanced on proper security for the erection of one or more saltpetre —65— works. This money was to be repaid in good mercliant- able saltpetre on or before October 1776. The manufac- turers were to be paid one half doHar per pound, this rate being fixed by the Council of Safety. At the same time a similar sum \vas offered for the erection and working of a powder-mill. Again on Dec. 27, 1775 the Convention appropriated 1700 pounds of common money, each county 100 pounds to be placed in the hands of a discreet and active person in each county, called a supervisor, to be used in procuring and setting u}) proper kettles, tubs and necessary utensils for the manufacture of rough nitre. That the supervisor show and explain to those who attend to the work the metiiod and process of making crude nitre. To encourage people throughout the county to make nitre they offered the rate of two shillings common monev per pound. The following process was recommended by the supervisors: place in o])en houses, or sheds admitting air, but exclud- ing the rain and sun, the stalks and trashy leaves of to- bacco, trodden straw, the sweepings of stables mixed with rich mold collected from floors of barns, and from time to time sprinkled with brine or water ; this collec- tion of various substances so as to occasion the fermen- tation and s])eedy putrefaction thereof; that the whole mass when properly decayed, may be dug, stirred up and tlioroughly blended and thus left without further damp- ing so loose and ligld as to attract readily and be more plentifully impregnated with nitre for future use. J\lr. Josliua Clark was supervisor for Caroline County. Anotlier necessity for the army was lead. This was conserved to the utmost. From the Archives of Mary- land, 1777, the following is quotel sliowing its scarcity. "I have been obliged to caU upon the inhabitants here for their Clock W^eights, and Window Weights; we wanted lead: and as we have here every conveniency for making cartridges and men that understand it I inteaid to. make up all our powder and get all the Lead that I can; We have tradesmen here that understand the making of every military article and they are all at work." Folh)vving in Council of Safety I'ecords are letters ]-elating to outfitting of soldiers. "Resolved that Chas. Beatley of Frederick be empowered to contract for the making and delivering of 650 good, substantial, proved mu.squets ']V2 feet in the barrel and of % of an inch in the bore: With good double bridle locks, black walnut or maple stocks, and plain strong brass mounting, bayonets with steel Ijlades, 17 inches long, steel ramrods, douWe screws, priming wires and brush- —66— es fitted thereto, with a pair of brass molds for every SO musquets, to cast 12, bullets on one side and on the other to cast shot of such size as the musquet will chamber three of them; for a sum not ex- ceeding $10.66 in bills of credit issued by the Resolutions of the last Convention." TV. Later Or(jmiizaiU)u of Militia. Ill 1777 tlie militia of Caroline County was continued in two battalions, one east of and the other west of the Clioptank River. In each battalion were eight compa- nies, and each company was made up of about 75 men. William AVhitely was commander-in-chief of the militia of the county — both battalions — and had the rank of Colonel. Matthew Driver was next in command as Lieutenant-Colonel and Nathaniel Potter served as Maj- or. Upon these men, evidently, devolved the important duty of prepariui*: plans for the enrollment of all able bodied men of military age, as well as being directly re- sponsible to the state Council of Safety for the execu- tion of all orders handed down from the Continental Congress and the State Council. After a close inspection of the names of eligibles, about 1200 men were found to compose the militia of this period. The location of the Captains and men of the various companies was about as follows : East LUdtation : 1st Company including the Harmony and American Cor- ner's section, Caj)tain Joseph Richardson; 2nd Coni])aiiy, Concord and Smitliville neighborhood. Captain John Mitchell; ord Company, Chestnut Grove and Federals- burg territory, Captain Nehemiah Andrew; 4th Coin]i- any, Preston Section, Captain Joseph Douglass; 5th Company, Friendship and linchester communities, Cap- tain Richard Andrew; 6th Company, Burrsville section, Captain John Stafford; 7th Company, Chilton, Garey's and Denton neighborhoods, Captain Andrew Fountain; 8th Company, Williston and Andersontown communities. Captain Shadrach Lyden. West Battalion : 1st Coni])any Boonsboro and Oakland regions. Captain William Hoop- er; 2nd Company, Lower Tuckahoe Neck section, Capt. Vincent Price ; 3rd Company, Hillsboro and Upper Tuck- alioe Neck, Capt. Henry Downes; 4th Com]iany, region around Greensboro, east side of river perhaps, Capt. William Haslett; 5th Company, territory around Greens- boro, toward Goldsboro and Bridgetown, Capt. Thomas Hughlett; 6th Com])any, along Tuckahoe Creek and —67— Bridgetown, Capt William Cliipley; 7tli Company, from Jackson 's residence near old Town Branch to the Cnl- bretli Section, north east of Goldsboro, Captain Samnel Jackson ; 8th Company from Castle Hall toward Bee Tree and Keene's Cross Roads, Capt. John Fanntleroy. As reported the East Side Battalion consisted of 615 men while in the West Batallion were 585 men. Somewhat later dnrino- the war Henry Dickinson enrolled for the connty a company of Light Horsemen, abont 15 in nnmber. However, there is no record of this Comi^any having gone into service. -68- jer-wheel, Flint, and Tinder m —69— CAROLINE'S MILITARY ACTIVITIES. In the same year that Caroline county was organ- ized England closed the port of Boston. This greatly incensed the colonists of Maryland, and the counties at once held meetings expressing their indignation at the proceeding. At Caroline's meeting (Melvill's Ware- house, June 18, 1774) resolutions were adopted of which we may well be proud. A full copy of those may be found elsewhere in this volume. The resolutions provided that delegates be appoint- ed from each colony to meet in a general congress to settle and establish a general plan of conduct. Other counties otTering the same resolutions, resulted in the Continental Congress, first proposed by Maryland, which met in Philadeli)lna, September 1774. The resolutions named Thos. Wliite, William Rich- ardson, Isaac Bradley, Nathaniel Bradley, Benson Stain- ton, and Tliomas Cxoldsborough as delegates to attend a general meeting of the province in Annapolis, which meeting, held December 8, authorized the organization of a well regulated militia to be in readiness to act in any emergency. A later meeting (April, '75) gave full pow- er to delegates for the Second Continental Congress to agree to all measures which they should deem neces- sary and effectual to obtain a redress of American griev- ances, and the province bound themselves to execute to the utmost of their power all resolutions thus adopted. It was during this convention that news reached the province of the massacre at Lexington. Maryland, ready to do her part, resolved to organize forty companies of minute-men to go to the assistance of her sister colo- nies should occasion arise. One of these companies was to be furnished by Caroline County. This company was to consist of strong, able-bodied men living conve- niently that they might be drilled together. The men were required to sign a contract expressing their will- ingness to bear arms and fight in their own and neigh- boring colonies at such time as the Council of Safety should connnand. Wliile we find no record of this com- pany being called into active service, we do know that they were organized and drilled for the emergency. The Council of Safety, formed July, 1775, was com- posed of sixteen men, eight of whom lived on either —70— shore of the province. The council was to direct and regulate the operations of the minute men and militia, provide equipment and food, re^ilate their movements, appoint and commission field officers, and regulate the rank of all military officers. During" the intermission of the Convention of Delegates, the council was to have authority to act in their place in case of emergency. Up until this time such fighting arms as were need- ed in the colony had been ])urcliased from England. That source being cut off, there was difficulty in procuring enough to supply the need. Men having firearms of their own used them, and to supply the remainder of the Minute Men, the Committee of Observation in each county collected those not in use until others could be provided by the province. This lack of equi])ment caus- ed considerable anxiety and delay in the organization and drilling of troops. In January, 177(), the convention decided for the better protection of the colony that additional militia be formed and that after March first the minute men be disorganized. In June of the same year Washington's appeal for more men was received and the Maryland Convention ordered the organization of a "flying camp" of 3405 men of the militia. These men, who were to serve with the militia of Pennsylvania and Delaware from Maryland fo New York inclusive, now became part of the regular army and agreed to serve until December first, unless previou-ly discharged by Congress. At this time William Richardson was colonel of the east battalion of the Caroline county militia and a mem- ber of the convention from the same county. In August, upon the resignation of James Kent as Colonel of the Eastern Shore Battalion of the Maryland Flying Camp, Richardson was chosen for this important commission. His battalion was composed of seven companies from the various counties with fi44 men in all. Captains of these companies were: John Deen and Jolm I ^]] rie_s — Queen Anne's. Greenbury Goldsl)orough — Talbot. Joseph Richardson and Pliilip Fiddeman — Caroline. Tliomps Burke — Dorchester. John Oblevee — Cecil. These officers were ordered by the Council to or- ganize and exercise their men and report to Colonel Richardson for marching orders. The colonel had or- —71 — ders to march liis companies to Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, there to join with other troops under the com- mand of General Smallwood. In enlisting their men, the captains were given these instructions : 1. You are to enlist no man who is not able bodied, healthy, and a good marcher, nor such whose attachment to the liberties of America you have any cause to suspect. Young, hearty robust men, who are tied by birth, or family connections or property to this country: and are well practised in the use of fire-arms, are by much to be preferred. 2. You are to have great regard to moral cnaracter, sobriety in particular. 3. You are not to enlist any servant imported, nor, without the leave of the master, any apprentice. 4. Those who engage in the service shall be enlisted accord- ing to the form prescribed by this convention. Their rations consisted of one pound of beef, or three quarters of a pound of pork, one pound of flour or bread per man per day, three pints of peas at six shillings per bushel per week, or other vegetables equivalent, one quart of Indian meal per week, a gill of vinegar and a gill of molasses per man per day, a quart of cider, small beer, or a gill of rum, per man per day, three pounds of can- dles for one hundred men per week, for guards; twenty-four pounds of soft soap, or eight pounds of hard soap for one hundred men per week. Lack of tents, clothing and fire-arms delayed the organization of troops. There w^as also difficulty in transporting the men and supplies, but on September 8, Colonel Richardson and his men joined the army at Eliz- abeth, New Jersey. On September 16, Richardson's regiment had a chance to prove their fighting ability. Three hundred of the British having appeared in the plains below the American position at Harlem Heights, Washington oj-- dered an attack. The British were reinforced with 700 men and to strengthen the American forces, Washing- ton ordered up Major Price with three of the Maryland Independent Companies, and Richardson's and Griffith's battalions of the flying camp. These men attacked with bayonet and drove the enemy from their position, pur- suing them until the general ordered their recall. (A full account of this encounter will be found in McSher- ry's History of Maryland, pages 204-210). Washington in his letter to Congress, dated Sep- tember 18, 1776, gives the following account of the charge of the ^Maryland soldiers: —72— "These troops charged the enemy with great intrepidity, and drove them from the wood into the plain, and were pushing them from thence, having silenced their fire in a great measure, when I judged it prudent to order a retreat, fearing the enemy, as I have since found was really the case, were sent in a large body to sup- port their party." Colonel Tench Tilgliman, one of AVashington's staff, in a letter from Harlem Heights, dated September 19th, 1776, says : "The general (Washington) finding they wanted support, or- dered over part of Colonel Griffith's and Colonel Richardson's Mary- land regiments, these troops, though young, charged with as much bravery as I can conceive; they gave two fires and then rushed right forward which drove the enemy from the wood into a buck- wheat held, from whence they letreated." General Washington, knowing that he conld rely npon the Marylander's in his army, often chose them for posts of danger. He evinced no want of confidence, and often acted as if in command of veteran troops whose resolution he had tried and on whom he could rely. They were the first who met face to face with fixed bayonets, the veteran legions of British regulars; and no troops poured out their blood more freely for the common cause than those of Maryland. No troops behaved more steadily. ''The gallantry of the Southern men," as the adjutant-general said, in speaking of these troops, "has inspired the whole army." On December 1, 1776 the flying camp was discharged in accordance with the agreement upon enlisting. Con- gress, realizing that men whose enlistments were for so brief a ])eriod would never become used to discii)line to the degree needed for firmness in action, decided to en- list men as regulaTs. The colonies agreed to this and Maryland at once started raising her quota of eight bat- talions. These reorganized troops became known as the "Maryland Line." From this time on to the close of the war it is im- possible to distinguish the military service of the men of the various counties. Wo find no evidence of the re- cruits of each county being in one company. It seems most probable that they were distributed as needed and old officers retained as far as possible. William "Richardson remained colonel of what be- came known as the 5tli Regiment of the Maryland Line, and was actively engaged in suppressing tory rebellions in the lower part of the Eastern Shore. These increas- —73— ing disturbances were partly caused by George III grant- ing pardon to any of his subjects who woukl join his forces and also by an organization known as The Asso- ciation of Loyalists of America. This association was authorized to employ "his majesty's faithful subjects for the purpose of annoying the sea coasts of the re- volted provinces, and distressing their trade." Large numbers of tories were enrolled on the Eastern Sbore who robbed and murdered the residents especially of Somerset, Worcester and Sussex county in Delaware. The families of men killed in the Continental Ser- vice were pensioned through the county court. One ex- ample is given here : Tne court orders that Susannah C , widow of William C who sometime since died in the Continental Service, be allowed for the support of her two children this year (1779) 30£ current money. A complete list of Caroline's Revolutionary soldiers has ne\'er been found. We give here the company that served under Captain Richardson in the flying camp. Although no enlistments of Captain Philip Fiddeman's company can be found, his company was raised and marched to Philadelphia. First Caroline C>)ni|»aii.v of the Eastei'ii Shore Battalion. Captain Joseph Richardson 1st. Lieutenant Thomas Wyer Lockerman 2nd. Lieutenant Levin Handy Ensign Philip Casson ( resigned ) Surgeon's Mate Zabdiel Potter PRIVATES. Andrew Price William Walker Thomas Comerford .John Hobbs Massy Fountain Ellis Thomas John Webb John Diragin (Duregin) William Brown Zadock Harvey John Kanahan Jarirs (or Jervis) Willis Edward Hardin Robert Waddle Perry Gannon James McQuallity John Needles Thomas Scoudrick William Hobbs William Allcock John McKinney John Ritchee (Richee) Silas Parrott William Sharp Michael Walker William Clark John Hughs Joseph Thomas Robert Thomas William Foster Zebdial Billiton John Froume Alex Robbs William Willin Cornelius Morris George aHndy Hughlett Conner Thomas Merrill —74— Isaac Duncan Thomas Vaine John Ford James Tannei* Benj. Caulk William Cook John Carter John Turner John Cohee John Vaine AVilliani Cooper Samuel Hopkins Elijah Taylor (Tyler) Elijah Clark Henry Willis ' John Thomas Andrew Willis John Ryan John Selby Martin John Reed James Haven William Dorman John Benston Charles Roach Fredrick Barnicassle William Hosier George Martin Jesse Parker Charles Richardson Isaac Broughten —75— COLONEL WILLIAM RICHARDSON. (1735-1825). (3f the many famous men in Caroline's early days none stand out more prominently than William Richard- son, for, besides his military activity durino- the Revolu- tion, to him more than anyone else Caroline owes her existence as a countv. .ap[ pj ii^jAW.^.M;kaj^^'«Tf ^isjg^^ DAIRY AT GILPIN'S POINT. (Richardson's home place.) William Richardson, ])orn 1735, was the son of Wil- liam and Ann Webb Richardson, (j)nakers of Tall)ot county, Imt in early manhood move- tomb of Caroline's most illustrious sol- dier are all that now remain at Gilpin Point to remind present Carolineans of her orii>inal sponsor. TOMB OF WILLIAM RICHARDSON. Gilpin Point. —79— COLONEL WILLIAM WHITELY. The time of William Wliitely's leaving- Delaware and coming to Maiylaml is not definitely known but w^e do know that when the first gun of the Revolution was fired, April 19, 1775 he was a citizen of Caroline County, well established, of some note and ready to take up arms in defense of his country. He at once became active in tlie military organiza- tion for the defense of his country and the subjugation of tories; and entered the Eastern Shore militia where he was immediately made Lieutenant. That he was probably in active service with the Maryland Line is shown by a report (1776) of Col. Wm. Richardson who says, — -"Col. Whitely will set off on Monday next and I hope will head the first Division of our Batallion at Philadelphia." His most important military position, however, was that of Commander-in-chief of the Militia of Caroline County. As Commander-in-chief it was his business to see that all male citizens between the ages of sixteen and fifty were enrolled in the militia and drilled for service. This position was much more important than would seem to us at the present day, and for a youth in his early twenties it was certainly a responsible one. His Revo- lutionary work continued in some capacity throughout the war and was productive of much good both for liis state and nation. After the close of the war he left the military field and soon became prominent in politics, taking part in the many meetings called at Hillsboro and Denton prior to the War of 1812. Among these was the remonstrance meeting held at Denton relative to the Chesapeake-Leop- ard trouble at which Whitely acted as chairman, and was voted a member of the Committee of Correspondence wliicli was *' Empowered by the meeting to represent Caroline in any subsequent measures taken by her sister counties in vindication of the national honor." Later he became (1811) senator from this district and was a co-worker with Culbreth. signing the remonstrance against the compensation Bill of 1816. iVlways a staunch Democrat, he continued for some time after this in local politics, acting as a member of Democratic Caucuses aud chairman of important com- —80— mittees, etc. ; but when a comparatively young' man he withdrew entirely from public life. While .si)eakini;' of William Whitely as a military man and a prominent citizen we must not forget to land him as a member of his innnediate vicinity. His wealth made liim a prominent figure of his day. His holdings included 1500 acres immediately surround- ing Whitelysburg, $30,000 in stocks as well as a number of minor possessions while the ownership of 30 pieces of solid silver table service indicates his mode of living. Yet he was a liberal supporter of all religious work, giving freely to such causes and with his family was a regular attendant of the Presbyterian Church then or- ganized in (Ireensboro. Of this church he was one of the founders as well as a member of the first Board of Trus- tees. His religion was practical as was evidenced by the readiness and generosity with which he extended a help- ing hand to his friends. Col. Whitely retiring entirely from ])ublic life at a comparatively early age, returned to Delaware from whence the family came, and there he died, Aug. 15, 1816 aged 63 years. He has gone! Death took him. The Whitely man- sion is gone, fire destroyed it many years ago. His tomb alone remains, a colonial structure in the Whitely bury- ing ground which marks his last resting place. The tomb is covered by a marlile slab inscribed with his name and a beautiful tribute. -81- WILLUW GROVE HOME OF MATTHEW DRIVER. Probably the best preserved example of Colonial architecture to be found in Caroline County is "The Willows," onetime home of Matthew Driver, situated in the Greensboro district and now owned by T. C. Hor- sey. One can scarcely enter its massive doorways or look at its colonial architecture without visioning the days when ''neisfhbors dropped in to spend a week or two." No definite date is given of the entrance of the Drivers into this territory, but in 1774 when the initial Court of our county was held, Matthew Driver had achieved enough prominence to be appointed Justice of this Court, then hehl at Melvill's warehouse. This position he retained during the years of the Revolution and in 1776, in jmrsuance of the order of the Council of Safetv he acted as president of a Court-Ma r- tial held at Melvill's Warehouse. June 24, 1777 he received his commission as Lieu- tenant-Colonel of Stafford's Company 14th Battalion of Militia in Caroline Countv, and later we find him cor- -82- responding' with the Council of Safety relative to ap- pointment of officers for a new Company of Militia in Caroline and signing himself as Matthew Driver, Com- mander of the 14th Battalion of Militia. That he was a man of means is shown by the fact of his ownerslii]) at the time of his death of six large tracts of land including Willow Grove, his home estate, over £2000 Stirling in money, 24 slaves, stock and oth- er valuable holdings. Little else is definitely known of him but as his rec- ord shows he was a typical gentleman of his day and left an unspotted name. -83- —84— THE POTTERS OF POTTERS LANDING. If you should visit Williston, the lari^e brick man- sion there would undoubtedly attract your attention. If you asked the history of the liouso and its owners, this is the story you would be told. About the middle of the eii^'hteenth century Zabdiel Potter, a sea cajjtain from Rhode Island, settled at this place, building for his honu' a small brick house. Beinsf an enterprising man, he soon nmde the place a point of commercial importance on the upper Choptank. In his honor the settlement became known as "Potter's Land- ing'." Boats bound for Baltimore left the Landing laden with cargoes of tobacco and on return trips brought such supplies as the colonists had to import. While on a sea voyage in 1761, Ca])tain Potter died leaving a widow and two sons. Nathaniel, the elder of the sons, inherited the home place known as P]iili])s Range. During the Revolution lie became a prominent tigure in the country. From 1774 to 1776 he served in the Maryland Conventions, was Justice of the Orphans' Court and first major in Staffords Company of Militia. In December '76, Isaac McHard, who was appointed to collect food supplies in the province, engaged Maj. Potter to collect, salt, and barrel all the pork he could procure for use in the army. So successful was Maj. Potter in this, that in '78 lie was appointed Caroline agent for jnirchasing provisions for the army. Two years after the close of the war he died leaving a wi.«.«» «. «.,-»»%«„,. !l! ^i-^ j« r • *« Flax, Fiax. Basket, ri^sx rteii-hsus —87— LIFE IN CAROLINE FOLLOWING THE REVOLU- TION. Some idea of the general condition of Caroline coun- ty following the Revolutionary War may be obtained from a survey of the Tax Record for the year 1783. At this time about one-third of the county was reported as being in a state of cultivation besides 66 acres of meadow land and the balance uncleared. The population was about two-fifths as large as at present, hence there was quite as much cleared land in proportion to the inhabi- tants then as now. Cleared farm land, on the average, was assessed at about $5 per acre, the wooded land about half as much. At this time there were recorded 290 slaves between {he ages of 8 and 14 years. These were assessed at £25 (about .+100 each). The 334 male slaves between the ages of 14 and 45 years were given a valuation of £70 ($300) each, while tlie 266 female slaves between 14 and 36 years of age were assessed at £60 ($250) each. In addition to slaves, the personal property assess- ed consisted of silver plate, horses, oxen, and black cat- tle. There were returned as assessed 3750 horses in the county and 7946 black cattle, besides considerable silver- ware. The total assessment of real and personal prop- erty amounted to £247,000 or slightly over $1,000,000. It is clear, however, that i)roperty was assessed very low then in com])arison with our modern idea of values. Without any intention of being personal a few of the largest individual assessments will, perhaps, give the reader a clearer idea of the larger land lioldings at that time. Tliomas Goldsborough, at ( )ld Town, was assessed with 1148 acres of land of which 400 acres were cleared. In addition a grist mill and personal propertv brought the total assessment to £2630, about $12,000. Thomas Hardcastle, at Castle Hall, about 1800 acres. Benjamin Silvester, Oakland, 1200 acres. William Whitely, 1500 acres. Henry Dickinson, 1800 acres. William Ennals, 2500 acres. William Frazier, 1400 acres. James Murrav, 2800 acres. Zabdiel Potter, 1012 acres. —88— William RicliaiMlsoii, 795 acres. It will be iiii(lei\st()0(l, of course, that the above nam- ed persons were among- the most prominent and weal- thy in the county at that time. The rate of taxation Avas about one eightieth (1/80) of the assessed value or $1.25 per hundred dollars. Before the lievolution tliere were in the county only about six or eight brick buildings. In the twenty years following the war, this number increased to approxi- mately thirty. The reason for this increase may be ex- plained in the following way. The early settlers in this section had been thrifty folk, working hard and living simply. Their labors had been rewarded by flourishing cro]js of tobacco which brought a splendid price in England. With the organi- zation of the county there was a natural im])etus to use this acquired wealth for the erection of more comfort- able and permanent dwellings, but the close-following war delayed these plans. With the close of the war, however, these people as citizens of a republic felt new power within themselves. The hard, thrifty lives, no longer necessary, men at once started to make such changes in their mode of living as their financial condi- tions warranted. The houses built during this ])eriod were substan- tially constructed and of similar design. The main build- ings, three stories higii with gabled roofs, had a lower wing built at the side wliich was sometimes of frame rather than brick. Tlie walls were about eighteen inch- es thick, the massive doors of diagonal timber. So sub- stantially constructed were these mansions, they might have been used as forts in time of seige. Many of them have nobly withstood their worst enemy. Father Time, but others have been forced to yield to other enemies — fire and neglect. To better preserve these worthy struc- tures, some of them have been covered with cement. Mv, Tublis, in his chapter on Caroline County in Co- lonial Eastern Shore, speaking of Cedarhurst and D-if- fin House, says what is true of all these dwellings: "The doors, mantles and interior woodwork of these houses speak eloquently of the consummate art of the olden-time carpen- ters and joiners." The broad winding stairways found in many of these houses are no less tributes to their makers' art. —89— With the completion of these tine homes a gay social life sprang np in the county. Such houses were well adapted to the house parties, dances, and quilting par- ties popular in the early 1800 's. In winter the social and political life at Annai)olis attracted many of the well-to-do people of the county, while in milder seasons fox-hunting, horse racing, and other outdoor s])orts were indulged in at home. But life was not all merry making. The ]jlanters, though they usually employed overseers, daily rode over their ])lantations to superintend the work of slaves in the fields, shops, and stables. On some of the planta- tions we find records of stores having been kept. The women, beside managing the household affairs, dii'ected the spinning, weaving, knitting, and making of slaves' clothes. The actual work was sometimes done by the slaves, but ofteuer l)y women living in the neighboring villages and on small farms. An old account book from a plantation store credits a certain widow with knitting 3 pairs of men's and 2 pairs of women's stockings and weaving .')0 yards of toe linen. The same widow is fur- ther credited "By making Billy's breeches." Tn the absence of pulilic schools, cliildren were taught WEAVING. —90— at home by their motliers or in small private schools on the plantations. When the boys were old enough they were sent away to school; the girls stayed at home, for folks in those days thought it better for them to be good housewives than scholars. The people during these years lived well. The smoke houses were filled with home-cured meats, while fertile fields supplied wheat, corn, and other necessary foodstuffs. The neighboring woods and rivers offered a supply of wild game, fish, crabs and oysters in season. From ])eaches and apples, pressed in copper stills, bran- dy was made. Wheat bread was not commonly used. Except in the wealthiest families, corn bread was the custom. John- ny cake, made of corn meal, and plate cake of wheat flour baked on wooden boards set upon the hearth, seem to have been the favorite breads of the time. Tradition has it that so weary did the people become of corn bread that gradually the wheat acreage increased. It is interesting to note the clothing worn by people of means at this time. The men wore tight fitting coats, cut to display their fancy waistcoats, knee breeches fast- ened with silver buckles, long light-colored silk hose, and low black shoes with silver buckles. For riding heavy boots replaced these shoes. Their soft linen shirts had pleated frills and were fastened at the wrist with silver buttons. The women, not to be outdone by the men, wore gay colored silks with narrow low-neck bodies and long full skirts. Their shoes were dainty, low cut pumps which sometimes boasted high red heels. Of such splendid ma- terial were the clothes of that time made and so lasting the styles, we often find single pieces or entire outfits willed from one generation to another. A simpler form of life was lived in the small frame houses dotting the villages and countryside. In these houses the kitcliens with tlieir broad fireplaces were the family living rooms. Over these fires the meals were cooked, near their warmth the spinning done, and by their clierry light during the long winter evenings the tired family rested after the labors of the day. These houses were meagerly furnished. Except for an odd piece or two, the furniture was made by the men of the family. Wooden or pewter plates, spoons and bowls were used upon the tables. The iron pots, ket- —91— ties, boiiiiiiy mortars, and eaiulle molds were so lii<>'lily prized as to be mentioned in the wills of their owners. Even n|)on the large ))hintations, cliina was rarely used until in later years. CANDLE MAKING. The clothing of these folk was coarse, especially in comparison with the silks and linens used by tlie proper- oiis planters' families. With the organization of Meth- odist societies, many of the women adopted the plain full dress and broad brimmed bonnets of that sect. It is from these sturdy ])eople tliat Caroline is large- ly p(>])nlated now. Many of the prominent old families have no lineal descendants living within her borders. Their former mansions are left to an uncertain fate, their family burying grounds unkept, their very names almost unknown. (An account of tlie ])olitical conditions about tliis period may be found under tlie Life of Thomas Cul- bretli, given elsewhere in this l)ook.) —92— "^^*;?sl -93— EARLY BRICK DWELLINGS IN CAROLINE. During the early period of Caroliii:^ county's his- tory there were a number of pretentious brick dwellings erected within her borders. Indeed somo even antedate the formation of the county, having been built previous to the Revolutionary War. Nearly all of these houses were designed alike — a large main building with a low wing extending at the side or rear. Tradition has it that the bricks used in their construction were brought here from England, but there is strong evidence against this being altogether true. In the first place, English bricks of that period were glazed and those used through- out the county were not; second, splendid bricks were made here, so it seems unlikely that with the feeling then existing between England and the colonies that the people of this 'province would engage in any unnecessary trade with the Mother Country. Near many of these houses, wide but shallow pits can still be seen from which large quantities of clay have been taken, undoubtedly for the purpose of making bricks. For the sake of pre- serving tlie bricks many of these houses were later cov- ered with cement. One of the oldest brick dwellings in Caroline county is the Frazier Flats house, the home of Captain William Frazier, located several miles below Preston on a tract of land known as Fraizer's Neck, The house, built previous to the Revohition, antedates even the county in which it stands. It is a spacious building of red brick, bearing fine examples of workmanship in its colonial doorway, staircase an\l cornices. Until within the past generation much of the original furniture remained in the mansion, bearing the name of a cabinet maker of Drury Lane, London. The Frazier house was one of eight similar houses built about that same period on the Eastern Shore. Poplar Grove, on the lower side of Skillington's Creek, not far from Frazier Flats, was one of the eight. It, like nearly all of the others of the group, has been com- pletely destroyed by fire. Willow Grove, the former home of Matthew Driver, is perhaps better known as the Brick House Farm, long in the possession of the Horsey family at Greensboro. The house, which is one of the most pretentious of the early homes in tbe county, is kept in splendid condition by both the owners and tenants. The interior is noted for its paneled stairway winding to the third floor, a masterpiece of workmanship. To visit this house as it stands today, more than a century after the death of its huihler, gives one an insight into the character of tlie man whose name figures so prominently in the records of early Caroline. While no carved stone marks his resting place, the house at Willow Grove remains a mon- ument to the memory of Matthew Driver. INTERIOR OF WILLOW GROVE HOME. Rol)ert llardcastle, who came to this county from Eughnid in 1748, settled in what was at that time (^)ueen Anne's county. Later with the organization of Caro- line, his lands were inchukMl within lier borders. At the Hardcastle Landing (later Brick Mill), on the west side of tlie Choptank nearly opposite Melvill's Landing lie erected a brick mill and dwelling. The mill was torn down about 1900 but the house is still standing. Castle Hall, just above Goldsboro, was built by Thomas Hardcastle, a son of Robert Hardcastle of Brick Mill Landing. Mr. Hardcastle, who was a master build- er in his dav, was delaved in the construction of the —95- house by the outbreak of the Revolution. From its com- pletion until within the present generation the house and farm remained in the Hardcastle family. An unusual type of house of a much later date may be found on the road leading from Brick Mill Landing to Boonsboro. It is a brick house covered with brown cement, with a tower-like design in one end. (Norman type). The house was built by a Mrs. Weatherby of Pennsylvania. It probably stands on or near the site of a former Hardcastle house, as in the rear of the dwell- ing is a burying ground with stones bearing the names of Edward and Marv Ann Hardcastle, both of whom died about 1840. Francis Sellers, largely responsible for the estab- lishment of Hillsboro Academy, was the original owner of the light sand-colored brick house still standing at Hillsboro. It was in this house that Jesse Lee, the famous Methodist itinerant, died while visiting the Sellers family. The house at Plain Dealing, about a half mile below Denton on the state road, was built in 1789 for a county alms house. Later it was purchased by Mr. Dukes, who remodeled it for a private dwelling. It is one of the two old Caroline houses which has been continuously occu- pied by descendants of their early owners. The second such house belonging to the Wright fam- ily is located between Federalsburg and Reliance. The land, granted to the Wrights by the English king for valuable services to his Majesty, lies in what is now Caroline, Dorchester and Sussex counties. The house having undergone changes by way of additions and re- pairs since its early days, is one of the best preserved of the old homes in the county. The Captain Joseph Richardson house built in 1835 on the Denton hill was one of the finest of the older homes in the county. Its interior woodwork was of mahogany and walnut, while sills at its windows and door were of marble. Sometime during its existence it was used as a hotel, but in 1851 while occupied as a pri- vate dwelling, was totally w^recked by fire. Daffin House in Tuckahoe Neck, built by Thomas Daffin in 1783, was the scene of many social gatherings in its early days. It is said that Andrew Jackson while visiting there met Charles Dickinson, a brother of his hostess, Avhom he later killed in a duel in Kentucky. A —96— ' -97— dungeon under the iiouse is shown visitors as liaving been the place where offending slaves were confined. In later years the property passed into the hands of Wil- liam H. Thawley and is commonly called at present "Thawley House." At some time during its existence it Jias been covered with a coat of cement, much of which has fallen oft'. While this gives the exterior rather a dilapidated look, the structure remains in splendid con- dition. Oak Lawn, in the Oakland district, was built by Benjamin Silvester in 1783 and bears his initials with that date upon one of its gables. The main building re- sembles the Frazier Flats house, but Oak Lawn has a long wing extending to the rear, evidently built for kitchens and servants quarters. Some time after the death of its owner it became the possession of Mrs. Mary Bourne, his granddaughter, but has now passed out of the Silvester family. Colonel William Whitely's home near Whitelysburg was burned about 1840. A well-marked family burying grcurd may still l:e seen on the farm. Colonel William Richardson's home at (lilinn's Point was burned many years ago. There seems to be a diversity of opinion as to whether or not it was a brick building. Li 1840, a large frame house was built ui)on the same sight by John Nichols but suft'ered a like fate as the Richardson house. Previous to 1760, a small brick house was built at Potter's Landing. Forty years later, William Potter, a grandson of the first owner, added a three story build- ing to it. Double porches and a cuijola which over- looked the Choptank were the distinguishing features of what from its completion has been known as the Potter Mansion. Marl)lehead and Cedarliurst. two brick houses near Oak Lawn, in their early days belonged to John Boon, the great grandfather of Clmrles (1. Dukes of Plain Deal- ing. -98— t^* --—^W-i -99- THE HUGHLETTS. The Hngbletts have figured largel.y both ijolitically and financially in Caroline County ever since the first William Hughlett, in 1759, arrived from Northumber- land County, Virginia, and settled near Greensboro (then in (^ueen Anne County). Thomas Hughlett, eldest son of this family, came into political prominence at the time of the organization of our present county by receiving the appointment as our first sheriff. Later he became coroner, then a mem- ber of the legislature. When the Revolutionary War broke out he entered Military service and was appointed a Captain of the Caroline C^ounty Militia and as such was active in the defense of his country, continuing in this service until the close of the war. In later years he was judge of the County Courts wliicli position he lield at the time of his death. His tomb bears the following inscription telling of his merit and worth : "In memory of Thomas Hughlett Esquire Son of William Hughlett and Mary, his wife, who departed this life on the 26 day of .March ISOo, in the GTiih year of his age. He was an affectionate husband, and tender par- ent, a kind master, a social and agreeable friend and an active industrious and enterprising citizen. He was honored by the free suffrage of his fellow citizens with the office of Sheriff of Carolina County then a delegate to the General Assembly of Maryland for many years. A justice of the Peace, and was at the time of his death one of the Associate Judges of the County Court. His integ- rity, justice and moderation has endeared his memory to the citi- zens of Caroline. Let his virtues be a stimulus to the descendants to preserve. The slothful will be covered with shame and none but those who persevere will reap the fruit of their labor.'" Thos. Hughlett 's eldest son, William Hughlett 2nd, was boi'n Sept. 9, 1769. While he held some positions of political ])referment, having been in 1816 elected to the Maryland senate and acted as president pro-tem of that body he had few aspirations in that direction. Because of his extensive land holdings, amounting to several thousand acres, he was better known in the agricultural world and was at one time a member of the '* Board of Trustees of the Maryland Agricultural So- ciety of the Eastern Shore." — 100— As landmarks sliowiiii;' the holdings of the second AVm. Hughlett we have the well known line of square stone markers each having the initials W. H. cut there- on while on a few are such inscriptions as "Last grant," "Skin Ridge," "Last bit," etc. The line of markers extends from near Milford, Delaware to Whitelysburg thence through Hughes Corner above Whitelysburg and on through the Maryland line to Greensboro, while in Talbot County almost the entire neck of Bolingbroke is spanned l)y these markers. On leaving Caroline this William llughlett removed to "AVarwick Manor" in Dorchester County near Secre- tary Creek. Later his home was at "Pleasant Valley" near Easton, where he died in 1845. His eldest son. Col. William R. Ilugldett of "Chan- cellors Point," was well known and highly esteemed. His daughter and grand-children are present residents of Greensboro, Caroline County, and of Talbot County, and end the long line of a well known and honorable fam- ily, whose residence in this section covers a ]jeriod of more than a centurv and a half. —101— O m N —102— WILLIAM FRAZIER— METHODIST ORGANIZER. In the year 1767, Sarah Frazier of Dorchester deed- ed to her eleven year old son a tract of land in that conn- ty known as Willenborong-h. Three years before, upon tile death of his father, Alexander Frazier, the boy liad inherited the home plantation with other tracts of land lying- between Skillino'ton's and Edmondson's creeks, frontinii,' on the Choptank river. With the formation of Caroline this land (al)ont 1400 acres in all) was includ- ed in the new countv and became known as Frazier 's Neck. The lionse u])on tlie liome plantation is still stand- ing" and its splendid structure carries out the tradition that it is one of eig'ht similar dwellings built on the Eastern Shore al)out seventeen hundred and fifty. Its splendid furniture was made in Tjondon and until a gen- eration ago many of the original ])ieces remained in the house. Of William Frazier 's life we know but little until in March, 1776 when he was connnissioned 3rd Lieuten- ant of the -Ith Independent Company of Maryland. In December of the same year he became 1st Lieutenant in Captain Dean's company of the 5th Regiment of the Maryland Flying Cam]). Later he was promoted to a captaincy in the militia. In March 1783 he became a Justice of the Caroline County Court, but William Fra- zier 's prominence in Caroline's affairs came neither thru his military or judicial career. He was a devoted fol- lower of John Wesley and as such was largely respon- sible for the organization of Methodist societies in the lower ])art of the county. In his home at Frazier 's Flats, the front room on the u]:)per floor was used as a meeting place and is known to-day as the ''Church Room." An outgrowth of this was Frazier 's Chapel, supposedly located on the present sits of Preston, Avhich later became Bethesda congregation aiid is now Preston Methodist Episcopal Church. To Frazier 's hos])itable home came Jesse Lee, the Methodist circuit rider, and later Francis Asbury on his annual trips from Massachusetts to~ Georgia rejoiced in the rest and companionship found there. In the latter 's joui'ual we find repeatedly such notes as these: —103— May, IS 01 — We had a long ride (from Cambridge) to William Frazier's through dust and excessive heat. It was hard to leave, loving souls, so we tarried until morning. April 1805. We came to brother Frazier's. The fierceness of the wind miide the Choptank impassable; we had to rest awhile, and need had I, being sore with hard service. In the family bnryino" ground at Frazier Flats two stone slabs may be seen bearing these inscriptions: ■ Captain William Frazier. Born 1756. Died 1807. Henrietta Maria Frazier. Died 1846, in the S4th year of her age. A nobler monument is erected to their memory in the form of Methodist churches scattered throughout lower Caroline which are the result of the patient labors of this good man and his wife. —10 EARLY CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES. The Episcopal Cliiircli and the Quaker Societies seem to have been the two reli,i>'ioiis sects that were ear- liest represented in wliat is now Caroline county terri- iovy. For more than fiftv vears before the county was or,i>-anized official accounts of the activities of these de- nominations have been recorded. The Episcopal Church. A large majority of the early settlers on the East- ern Shore came from England and as a natural conse- quence the Episcopal Church, being the Established Church of England, seems to have been at one time the strongest denomination along the shore. Parishes were laid out, chapels erected, and clergy brought from Eng- land. Upon the outbreak of the Revolution, however, these men who were bound by oath "to bo loyal and bear allegiance to the government of England," were forced to take the oath required by loyal colonists of Maryland or return to England. As most of them preferred the latter course, the churches and parishes were abandoned. Feeling ran so high in those days that the English church suffered neglect even at the hands of their vestries. Another reason for the decline of ]30wer was the opposition to the "forty pound tax." This was a poll tax of 40 pounds of tobacco for the support of the clergy, in a(hlition to such general taxes as were necessary for building and repairs of chapels. It was levied, irrespec- tive of creed, for the Established Church. The Decla- ration of Rights, adopted 1776, forbade all further as- sessments for the support of the minister, but gave the legislature power to impose a common tax for the sup- port of Christian religion in general. Everyone paying this tax was given the right to designate the denomina- tion to which his tax should be credited. So bitter had the people become in regard to the idea of a church tax that they greatly favored the Methodist societies who made no mention of a tax and whose minister received the very humble salary of sixty dollars a year. —105— St. John 's Parish. The Act of Assembly establishiiii^ St. John's Parish was passed in 1748, After ontlivini>' the territory taken in Qneen Anne 's and Talbot Connties and originally held by St. Panl's and St. Lnke's Parishes the line extended into wliat is now Caroline Connty and apparently in- cluded about all of the county west of the Choptauk River. At this time the parish church was standino- in Queen Anne's County near Tuckahoe Bridge (now Hills- boro). This church was evidently built considerably earlier, as a record in 1717 stated that 1100 lbs. of tobac- co was paid to Thos. Fisher for repairing the said church. In 1737 the edifice seems to have been attain re- paired and at this time enlarged. Rev. Mr, Cox, who appears to have l)een the first rector of St. John's Par- ish, remained until 1753, Shortly before the Revolution the three settlements at Tuckahoe Bridge (Hillsboro), Choptauk Bridge (Greensboro) and Nino Bridges (Bridgetown) seem to have been quite thriving and apparenth^ contended for the honor and advantage of having the main church and vestry house in which the rector was to live. The Ves- try decided in 1767, as a compromise apparently, that the parish church should be built on the road from Tuck- ahoe Bridge to Choptauk Bridge, and that a chapel should be built at Nine Bridges. Two acres of land for a church site were purchased from Edward Barwick for £10 ($50) at or near the present site of Ridgely. This site, however, was not used and the land was subsequent- ly offered for sale. The Assembly of 1768 authorized the erection of the main church at Tuckahoe Bridge and the chapel at Nine Bridges. Thomas Hardcastle, of Castle Hall, probably built the church at Bridgetown, as he received several payments from the vestry at various times. The bricks used in the building of this church were brought up the river to Choptauk Bridge as well as 1600 bushels of oyster shells used in furnishing lime and mortar. John McConigal agreed to build the brick chapel and parish house at Tuckalioe Bridge for £1075. At this time Rev, Thomas Aiken was rector of l)oth churches. About 1820 a visiting clergyman reported that the church both at Tuckahoe Bridge and Nine Bridges had —106— fallen into \nu] repair and the congregations greatly lessened owing to the intluence of ^lethodisni. Rev. Robert (loldsborongh in 184-4: settled in Ilills- boro and held services in the Academy there as well as at Bridgetown. Six vears later he was elected perma- nent rector and in ISo.") the corner stone of the yjresent chnreh in Ilills])oro was laid by Bishop Whitehead of Illinois, The bnilding was blown down in December following, but work was soon re-commenced and tlie church consecrated in 1858. Rev. G. F. Beaven took charge of the parish in 1857, succeeding Rev. Mr. (loldsborough. At this time the rector reported that the church at Greensboro had a good sized congregation. From a bequest of about $1000 by Mary Reed, tlie i)resent clinrcli at Greensboro was completed in 1875, St. Mary's White Chapel Parish. The population of Dorchester County having in- creased and expanded, it became necessary in 1725 to divide the Great Choptank Parish which included terri- tory now belonging to Caroline. A new parish was formed, known as St. Mary's White Chapel Parish. It included, beside a small part of Dorchester, all of what is now Caroline County, east of the Choptank. Thirty years later the Assembly authorized the erec- tion of a chapel in the parish. In the meanwhile, no doulit, services had been held within the parish, but this was the first consecrated building. The site selected was on the county road that now leads from Federal sburg to Hunting Creek, about two miles from Linchester. The chapel was used for church services until 1776 wlien it, like other such chapels was abandoned by clergy and vestry. Unused for many years, about 181:2 the building was torn down and the material divided amon.g people of the community, Benjamin and Henry Nichols, who assisted in razing the building, took as their share some of the bricks which may still be seen in a chimney of the house owned by the late Jasper Nichols, near Hynson. Part of the lot where the chapel stood was used as a burying ground and has been known for the last century as ''Church Old-Field," A broken marble slab, bearing the name of Sarah Haskins, is all that re- mains on this once sacred land, —107— -108— QUAKER SOCIETIES. A religiuus society known as (j)uakers, or Friends, was establishcMl in Eng'land in 1647. Later, because of persecution, many of their followers, forced to seek new homes, came to America. Maryland had been settled in the meanwhile to provide a refuge for the religiously oppressed of the Old World, and naturally received a large share of these wanderers. They were a quiet but sniistantial peo]tle avoiding all forms of display and livini;- simple, peaceful lives. The Friends did not claim to be a church but rather a "religious society." They employed no ministers but allowed members the privilege of s])eaking in their meet- ings when moved by the Spirit to do so. There were leaders in the Society who traveled about on horseback visiting the various meetings, but there was no salary attache'' to such services. The government of the So- ciety of Friends consisted of a center meeting to which preparatory meetings reported monthly. The center meeting was required to report to the quarterly meet- ing who in turn made its reports to a yearly meeting. These reports, which consist of marriage records, set- tlement of the estates of minors, accounts of monies col- lected, and other such matters, have been preserved and contain nnicli interesting and valuable information. Caroline county, in its early days, sent reports from its preparatory meetings to Third Haven Monthly Meet- ing at Easton. As the societies grew in strength, how- ever, a monthly meeting was established at North West Fork, with preparatory nu^etings at Marsh Creek and Greensboro. In 1797 the Nicholite Friends (so called because they were followers of Joseph Nichols) located in Caro- line County, Maryland. After existing as a separate society for twenty years, tinding that the vital and funda- mental ]j]'inciples of their society were similar to that of the Friends, concluded that a union might prove of mut- ual advantage, therefore applied, and were accepted as members of Third Haven Meeting. Tlieir rigid rules of discipline, esi^ecially in dress, being very objectionable to their young people, made them anxious for a little more liberty, — one of tlieir points of self-denial being in regard to wearing dyed —109— garments, and cultivating bright-colored flowers. Prior to the dissolntion of their society, they generously trans- ferreed to this meeting (Third Haven) their three meet- ing-houses in Caroline County, namely: Centre (near Preston), Tuckahoe Neck (near Denton) and Northwest Fork (now Pine Grove). About four hundred persons became incorporated with the society, though some af- terwards emigrated to Canada and the Western States. Among those who remained here were Elisha Dawson, Elizabeth Twiford, and James Harris, all ministers in much esteem. Dennis Kelley and family, Levin Pool and family, John Wright and family, Preston Godwin and family, Samuel Emerson and family, Wm. Maloney and family, AVillis Charles and family, Jonathan Shannalian and family, and Anthony Whitely, were some of the most prominent mend)ers who connected themselves witli this meeting. Friends. Tiie (L)uakers of Talbot county established in 1676 t]ie Third Haven Monthly Meeting at Easton. This was the center to which preparatory meetings throughout Talbot and Dorchester later made reports at regular intervals. One of the earliest of these meetings was held at Marshy Creek previous to the formation of Car- oline county. Later the meetings at Greensboro and North West Fork were established under Third Haven, but in 1799, North West Fork becoming a monthly meet- ing, l)oth Marshy Creek and Greensboro reported there. Marshy Creek Meeting. Among the records of the Third Haven Monthly Meeting in Easton we find in 1727 an account of Marshy Creek Meetings beings held regularly, but we do not find the date of their organization. Thirty years later Third Haveii ordered ''the several weekly meetings to pro- ceed to a collection to raise money to assist friends at Marshy Creek Meeting in the building of a new meeting house and to make a return of tlieir subscriptions to next monthly meeting." This indicates that there had been a meeting house there previous to that time, but we find no other record of its existence. The house, built with the money tluis collected, was a small fram.e l)uilding, ])lainly furnished, with a sliding partition —110— which separated the men and women during business meetings. It was erected on a half acre lot deeded iu 17G4 by William Haskins to William Edmonson near the jDresent site of Preston and used bv the Friends until 1849. At that time James Dixon deeded to the Trustees of the Society of Friends a piece of land located in what is now Preston for the small sum of $5. The meeting house built on this site is still standing and was used until the erection recently of a more modern brick structure ad- joining it. When the land was purchased at Preston we find records of the old building and land at Marsliy Creek being sold to the colored people for $100. The building was used by them as a Methodist Church until a few 3^ears ago when a new church was erectOvl on the oh I site. OLD FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, PRESTON. -Ill- North West Fork Meeting. Levin Wright and Mark Noble of North West Fork asked permission in 1794 to hohl Quaker meetings in their homes. This resulted in the organization of a pre- paratory meeting which in 1799 occupied the buihling previously used by the Nicholites at Federalsburg. In the same year a monthly meeting was established there with i)reparatory meetings at Marsh Creek and Greens- boro. In later years the meeting house was moved to Piney Grove, about two miles west of Federalsburg and enlarged to accommodate the increased attendance. Greensboro Friends. In 1795 the second Friends' Meeting House in Caro- line County was completed at Greensboro. The house stood on a half acre of land deeded by Batcheldor Chance to Thomas Hopkins and Edward Needles for £5. Part of the land was to be use acres) was deeded by William Wilson to Tristram Needles, and other trustees, for the use of the Society of Friends in consideration of £4, 10s. Besides being used as a meeting house, Eliza Hea- cock of Philadelphia held private school there about 1856. Her s|)lendid teaching ability and sterling char- acter built up a strong private school. Another well- known teacher of the school was Miss Rachel B. Sat- terthwaite, of Denton. Previous to the Civil War abolitionist meetings with speakers of national fame are said to have been lield in the meeting house. During the war. Northern troo]js used the grounds for a camping place and the house for barracks. The blue coats, worn and tired, would polite- ly withdraw on Sunday morning in order that the Friends might hold their meetings unmolested and some are said to have returned at times to attend the ser- vices. About 1890, for lack of funds, Neck Meeting House was abandoned as a place of worship. To protect the spot where his parents lie buried, Edward Tylor, a half brother of Miss Sattherthwaite, secured legislative en- actment to purchase the land about the meeting house and further protected the grounds by the erection of a substantial iron grating. —113— Ill a ]>oem of Miss Sattliertliwaite's she thus pays a final tribute to the iiieetiiii'' house: "And a sheltering place for the birds of the air May this house become, where once echoed prayer, But tlie Spirit of God is above lieat and frost And the echoes of prayer can never be lost. The life of a Christian for ages may gleam. Though his sect cannot wear Christ's coat without seam." (Written from material collected by Denton School.) The Nicholites. A very pious religious sect known as the Nicholite Friends had in the latter part of the eighteenth conturj'- quite a stronghold in that section of our county l>order- ing on the upper Northwest Fork river and Marshy Hope creek. The Nicholites first permanent place of public worship was in a meeting house erected en the banks of what is still known as Quaker Meeting House Branch, near the site of the old colored school at Fed- eralsburg. About 1817, the Nicholites were accepted as members of the Third Haven Meeting and generously transferred to this meeting their three meeting houses in Caroline, namely: Center (near Preston), Tuckahoe Neck (near Denton), and North West Fork (now Pine Grove). The Methodist Church. As early as 1771 we find evidence of the teachings of John Wesley having penetrated to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Freeborn Garretson, of Kent Circuit, seems to have been the first organizer of Methodist so- cieties in Carojjjie, having visited here about 1776. Lat- er, Jesse Lee and James Moore rode this circuit in tire- less efforts preaching and organizing new societies. Francis Asbury, the greatest Methodist itinerant, in his trips from Massachusetts to Georgia, frequently stop- peed at the homes of Captain Frazier, Major Mitchell and Henry Downes, all of this county. Referring to Asbury and other Methodist circuit riders, Scharf says : "The people, used to ill-read servicei^ and dull written ser- mons flo<]^ed to hear these marvelous preachers wno prayed with- oat book and preached without manuscript; who went on horee- —11.^- back to the people instead of waiting for these to come to them; who lived on $60 a year, and never said a word about advowsons and forty per poll, about personal livings and fat glebes." Extracts from Asbury's journal (1789-1813) prove his enthusiasm and tireless energy. A few which men- tion his visits to Caroline are given here : Nov. 23, 1TS9. Came through rain from Wye to Tuckahoe. Nov. 27, 17Sy. There was a good attendance at Choptank Bridge. I ordained 5 persons to the office of deacons. Dec. 179 0. The next day being rainy we had but 100 hearers at Tuckahoe, whereas we expected that had it heen a clear day we should have 500 or 600. I preached in the evening at Choptank Bridge to a few people. Dec. 1791. Attended Quarterly meeting at Greensboro, com- monly called Choptank Bridge. We had a strict and living love- feast and powerful testimonies. Oct. 1792. Thence we rode to Choptank, now Greensboro. .... 1795. Crossed Choptank River at Ennall's Ferry — 9 men, 3 horses and a carriage on board. July 1796. I rode to Greensboro through excessive heat. .... 1799. Preached at Tuckahoe. Held meeting in Wm. Frazier's dwelling house. 1803. James Moore exhorted at Easton. Asbury preached. Never was preacher more respected in Talbot than our brother Moore. May 1803. I came from Dorchester along to Major Mitchell's in Caroline. The wind was east, the evening cold and I unwell. At Denton I took to bed awhile. We continued on, however, and reached Choptank. 1813. A rapid ride brought us to Abraham Collins (near Concord) in Caroline. I preached at 3 o'clock and went home to dine with Peter T. Causey (near Smithville). For three years after having ridden Caroline cir- cuit Jesse Lee traveled with Asbury. While stationed in Annapolis he attended camp meeting at Tuckalioe (near Hillsboro) and there contracting a fatal fever died at Henry Sellers' home in Hillslioro, September 12, 1816. The first Methodist church in Denton was named for James Moore, of whom Asbury writes in his journal, and was known for many years as Moore's Chapel. The first Methodist chapels in the county were the outgrowth of meetings held in private homes. They were located at Tuckahoe Bridge (Hillsboro), Choptank Bridge (Greensboro) and near the present site of Pres- ton. These buildings, simple in design were rudely but substantially constructed by members of the various societies. The present Methodist Episcopal Churches at these places are results of these chapel meetings. —115— Moore's Chapel, All interesting' story is told of tlie origin of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Denton, bnt how authen- tic it may be we cannot say. A traveling minister Hear- ing the town on horseback decided to pass through the place singing and if invited to stop would take it as a sign that he should organize a meeting tliere. He car- ried out his |)laii and soon after entering the village was asked to alight. This he did, and true to his purpose, organized the first Methodist society in Denton. Moore's Chapel, previously referred to, was the first church ever built in Denton. It stood on the site of the Methodist burying ground behind the present M. E. church. In this building on March 2-1, 1816, James Moore, for whom the chapel was named, preached the first Methodist sermon ever preached in the town. MOORE'S CHAPEL. The entrance to the chapel was through a vestilnile, from which a stairway led to the gallery. This gallery was for the use of slaves, for at that time the colored people had no church of their own, but attended the same services as their master wlieii ])ermitted. After -116- service they would soinetiines sing as the white conoTo- gation passed out. The interior of this church, as all others of that time, was quite different from those of the present. Carpet was not used except on the floor of the pulpit and a runner up each aisle. The desk was narrow and so tall as to reach almost to the preacher's chin. The pews, narrow and straight, were uncomfort- able enough to keep even the sleepiest listener awake. In 1867 Moore's Chapel was moved and the present brick church built. The ohl chapel may still be seen, almost in ruins, on North Third Street, where for a. long- while it was used by the colored people as a church and later as their hall. (Material contrilmted by Denton School.) Concord Church. In 1804 John Mitchell, Isaac Collins, Sr., Horatio Short, Francis and James Sullivan were ti'ustees of the society then meeting at the home of Abraham C-ollins. These men, with the approval of the minister in charge, purchased from Mr. Collins 1 l/'20 acres of land for a meeting house site. The chapel was to be known as ''Concord" and from that time on the cross roads, too, have been called by the same name, apparently the only one ever given it. Twenty-five years later a y)ermanent building was erected and the old chapel passed out of existence as such, so far as is known. TjEe's Chapel. A barn on the farm of Mr. Freeborn Elwanger near Whitelysburg has an interesting history. In the latter part of the 18th century people living in that section l)y the name of Lee were instrumental in building a chapel on their land. The chapel was a small wooden building with hewn framework ])ut together by means of wooden pegs. The few nails used were made by the village blacksmith. Tlie cha])el was named for the Lee family and sometime during its existence as a church a member of that family served as its minister. Witli the growth of the neighborliood. Shepherd's Chapel succeeded the original one wliicli was moved to its present site and converted into a l)ai'n. (From material coiiti'il)uted by Lowe's Scliool. —117— St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church, (Denton.) Incomplete records show that previous to the or- ganization of Caroline as a comity, a Catholic mission existed in the vicinity of Denton. In the absence of a regular church building it is probable that services were held in private homes. From Bohemia Manor in Cecil and St. Joseph's Chapel in Talbot, Jesuit fathers came to serve the mission. Probably one of the earliest of these priests was Rev. Joseph Mosley, who served Old St. Joseph in 1787. In 1824 Benjamin Denny deeded to Ambrose Mar- shall, then Bishop of Maryland, an acre of land which was part of the tract known as Mt. Andrew. It was on this lot that the first Catholic church was erected, a lit- tle to the north of the present building. The date of the erection of the church is not known. In Captain William Richardson's will, dated 1831, four prints and the bust of Arch Bishop Carroll were ordered removed to the Cath- olic Church at Denton, there to be disposed of by the priest. This clearly indicates the erection of the build- ing some time previous to that date. Residents of Den- ton remember the building as being a rather pretentious one containing various pieces of imagery, busts and pic- tures, but bearing marks of old age. In 1890 when the present church was erected, the old building was torn down and some of its splendid white pine probably used in the new building. In 1845 Anastatia Rhodes of this county very gen- erously willed to Samuel Eccleston, the Archbishop of Baltimore, her splendid farm situated on the road be- tween Denton and Williston. He Avas to dispose of the land ''as best to promote the cause of the Holy Catholic religion in Caroline county especially for the support and good of the Catliolic church in Denton." The place, wliich is still known as the "Catholic Farm," was not sold until 1867 when its sale brought the sum of $2500. —118— —119— CAROLINE COUNTY ALMS HOUSES. For fourteen years after Caroline's organization we find the Court records filled with such items as these : Ordered by the court that Nancy P be allowed in next year's levy at the rate of 6 shillings for her support. Ordered that there be levied in the next levy the sum ot 20£ to James J for burying Rebecca S , finding coffin, sheet etc. Ordered by the court that 64 Lbs. tobacco a month be paid Mary B for support of Levi T now 3 years old. or- phan son of Sarah T now deceased. In spite of large sums thus granted for this use the poor in the county were not properly cared for. To remedy this, in November 1788 the General Assembly passed a law requiring that tliere be an alms and work house built at the general expense of the county. The justices were to assess and levy the sum of £300 cur- rent money in each year from 1789 to 1790 to meet this expense. An annual levy was to be made for the run- ning expense of the institution. AVilliam Whitely, Joseph Douglass, Thomas Hard- castle, Joshua Wallace and Henry Dowmes were appoint- ed trustees to purchase land and erect thereon suitable buildings for the institution. The land selected consist- ed of six acres of a tract known as Lloyd's Regulation about one half mile from Denton on the road which led to Potter's Landing (AVilliston). It was purchased from John Cooper and Michael Lucas for £18 current money. Of the original buildings we know little except that the main one was a splendidly built brick house surrounded by numerous smaller ones of frame. While the build- ings were being erected, the trustees were authorized to rent a house near the county seat for the reception of the poor and such vagrants as should be committed to tlieir charge. Tlie trustees were responsible for the good govern- ment of the alms and work houses. The poor were kept in the alms house and such as were able were compelled to work, while the work house lodged the vagrants, beg- gars, vagabonds and disorderly people of the county. They, too, were compelled to work and in case of misbe- havior were at one time subjected to ten lashes of the —120— whip. Later, however, this punishment was elian,<>'e(l to an extension of time in the institution. An overseer was appointed with a salary of i^75 an- nually beside food, fuel, and house room for himself and family. He kept a record of all ]jersons committed to his care, all expenses for their support, and such monies as he receiped from their labor. He was cdso respon- sible for the general management of the ])lace in the ab- sence of the trustees. Wlien a man or woman was connnitted to either house he was forced to wear u])on the shoulder of tlie right sleeve of his top garment a badge bearing the Ro- man letters P. C cut into red or l^lue cloth. There was a punishment for refusal to wear the badge and a fine for the overseer allowing any one to omit it. It was found necessary to make some provision for out-pensioners. These were people who could be cared for more conveniently in private homes than in a public institution. An allowance of not more than $30 annually was to be paid each of them and at no time was tlie num- ber of out-pensioners to exceed ten. Such or])lians as were committed to the poor house were, upon opportun- ity, bound out to tradesmen or inechanics who promised PRESENT ALMS HOUSE. — 121 — to feed, clothe, and lodge them as well as instruct them in their trade. In 1823 there was a general feeling in the county that there was not land enough at the Alms-house farm and that a larger tract, properly tilled, would be more satisfactory. Accordingly, the old property was sold at public auction for $505 to Mr, James Dukes and remod- eled by him for private use. The brick Iniilding, which is in excellent condition, is still owned by the heirs of the original purchaser. The land purchased for the new farm contained 325 acres, known as the George Garey Farm, the price paid being $2197, 58yo. Since that time some of the wooded land has been cleared, the timber sold and additional land purchased. —122- WHEN TOBACCO WAS KING. Tobacco played an important part in the early bus- iness transactions of our state. Dnrin,^ the Colonial pe- riod no other crop is so often mentioned in Maryland history. Scharf says, "The processes of i^overnment, society, and domestic life began and ended with tobacco. Laws were made more or less with reference to this sta- ple — to protect it, maintain its value in ))rice, and to en- hance its each exchang'cableness." In our county, as elsewhere, tobacco came to be used in place of money. Salaries and waives of every kind were paid in this currency, and if it were refused in pay- ment of any obli^'ation, the debt was absolved. It is in- teresting to know that one pound of tobacco would buy three pounds of beef, two pounds a fat pullet, and a hogs- head, when shipped to England, would provide a family with luxuries for a year. The culture of this crop was largely responsible for Maryland becoming a slave state. As the wealth of a man was estimated in his annual acreage of tobacco, it naturally became advantageous for the planters to have plenty of cheap labor. One slave could till with ease 6000 hills of tobacco and five acres of corn. Under pressure this amount was sometimes doubled, but it is generally recognized that the Maryland planters were not hard task-masters and usually owned sufficient slaves to prevent the necessity for extreme overwork. The early settlers were extravagant in everything they did and in notliing more so than in their abuse of the soil for the cultivation of tobacco. New lands proved to be best adapted for this crop and each season virgin soil was broken for its culture. Upon the used land other crops were planted but with no thought for the increase of its fertility. Gradually the land "wore out" and cereals took the place of the "weed" in the field, but never in commercial importance. During this period tobacco warehouses naturalh^ became places of considerable importance in the county. The one belonging to David Melvill became the most prominent because of its use as a temporary court house. Others were Hughlett's at Bridgetown (Greensboro) ; Richardson's at Gilpin Point; North West Fork at Fed- eralsburg*; and Hunting Creek, near Linchester. The —123— act authorizing the erection of the Bridgetown "Ware- house is typical of those which provided for the others in the county. It is interesting to note the articles nec- essary for inspecting the tobacco : ■•BE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of Maryland, That William Hughlett, of Caroline County, be and he is hereby author- ized to build at Bridgetown a warehouse, for containing and secur- ing tobacco offered for inspection, if in the judgment of tlie levy court of Caroline county, the erecting of such warehouse would pro- mote the public interest and convenience, and he, the said William Hughlett, or those claiming to hold under him, shall provide and keep constantly in repair, beams, screws, scales, weights, brands and marking irons, and all other things necessary for inspecting tohacco brought into the said warehouse for inspection; and the said warehouse, when erected and finished, shall be deemed a public warehouse, and the proprietor or proprietors thereof may demand, and snail be entitled to receive, one dollar for each hogshead of to- bacco inspected at the said warehouse, before such hogshead shall be removed, as a full compensation for the expense of erecting the said warehouse, and keeping the same in repair, and for the pro- viding of proper scales, weights, brands and marking irons, and all other things necessary for inspecting tobacco and for the payment of the salary or salaries to the inspector or inspectors of the said warehouse, as the proprietor or proprietors of the said warehouse shall agree to pay; and if any tobacco shall remain in the said warehouse above one year after inspection, the proprietor or pro- prietors of the said warehouse may demand, and shall be entitled to receive for each hogshead the further sum of twelve and one-half cents for every month thereafter." Of such value were the contents of these warehous- es that persons convicted of setting fire to one of tliem were condemned to suffer the penalty of deatli without benefit of clergj^ The vestrymen and church wardens of each parish were required to meet at their respective churches be- tween the first and tenth of September each year to nom- inate and recommend to the Grovernor two or four able and efficient planters well skilled in tobacco to act as inspectors for the warehouses within their parish. The certificates of recommendation thus made were forward- ed to the (xovernor who then made tlie appointments. The salaries for inspectors ranged from four to ten thousand pounds of tobacco annually. Each year these men filed witli the court their accounts. The following is a copy of - is an account of an unknown master giving freedom to four of his slaves. I am in possession of four negroes named", Sarah, Lucy, Eve, and Pompey and being desirous to give them aU their liberty in a legal manner therefore do discharge the said Sarah, from my ser- vice from the day and date thereof, and Lucy and Eve and Pompey shall be free when they arrive unto the age of twenty and one years of age and doth covenant and agree both for myself and for my heirs executors and administrators. Lucy was born on the fifteenth of August in the year 17 68; the said Eve was born on the 2 7 day of November 1768 and Pompey was born on the 1th day -f September in the year of 1772. Given under my hand and seal this nineteenth day of March in the year 1774. Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Jacob Boone. (Seal) Various items in regard to slaves which were brought up at court are here given. March 1776. On petition of Nathaniel Potter's negro Pompey, slave of the said Nathaniel Potter, is by the Court set levy-free for the future. November 17 76. On petition of Christopher Driver ordered that he be exempt from the payment of any public tax or levy for his old negro man Joseph, for the future. It was necessary for every colored person viven though free to make known to the clerk of the court his or her intention to leave the province for a stated time. To Joseph Richardson, Esq., Clerk of Caroline County Court. I the undersigned, a free negro of Caroline County, wish to visit the city of Philadelphia for the purpose of seeing my brother. By an Act of the Assembly, of this State, it is necessary my inten- tion of leaving this State should be known to you. It is my inten- tion to return here again within three days from this date. Given under my hand this 12th day of October IS 41. Joseph Bell. Test: Joshua Jump. The Clerk would then issue a certificate like the fol- lowing. State of Maryland, Caroline County, to wit: Whereas application has been made to me by a colored woman named Mahala Scott for a certificate of her freedom agreeably to the Act of Assembly in such case made and provided by which said —145— Act, free negroes and mulattoes are permitted to travel out of this state, upon the obtaining of a certificate of being free born, And wliereas also upon the oath of Sarah Williams, of Caroline County, that the said colored woman named Mahala Scott, for whom this certificate is made, was free born. I do therefore grant her said application and hereby certify that she is seventeen years of age, or thereabout, about five feet high, of a complexion nearly black, was born and raised in Caroline County, and has a large scar of a burn across her right wrist, and a scar of a cut on the inside of her right wrist-joint, another scar on her left cheek directly under the eye and no other notable mark or scar that I have discovered. In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the pub- lic seal of my office this 14th day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and twenty six. Richardson, Clerk of Caroline County Court. VI. Acts of Assembly. Ill 1822 laws regarding slaves were enacted as fol- lows : "BE IT ENACTED By the General Assembly of .Maryland, That from and after the first day of October, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, it shall be the duty of the con- stables in Worcester and Caroline counties, to arrest and bring before a justice of the peace, any slave or slaves that may be going at large and bring him, her or themselves within their respective hundreds, or who may not have a fixed home in the family or on the estate of his, her or their owner, or be hired with his, her or their owner." "AND BE IT ENACTED. That in all cases where a slave or slaves shall or may be brought before a justice of the peace under the provision of the first section of this act, if it appear to the sat- isfaction of the said justice of the peace, that said slave or slaves so arrested and brought before him, were going at large in viola- tion of an Act of Assembly passed in April session seventeen hun- dred and eighty seven entitled, An Act to prevent the inconveni- ences arising from slaves being permitted to act as free, and the supplements thereto, or of this Act, he shall forthwith issue an or- der to the constable who shall or may have brought the said slave or s^laves beiore him, to hire such slave or :'laves for the entire balance of the year in which they may have been arrested: and for each examination of slave,s had before him under this act, a justice of the peace shall be entitled to twenty-five cents, to be levied on the county as part of the county expenses for the ensuing year." "IBE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of .Alaryland. That all such parts of the act of Assembly passed at September session, seventeen hundred and twenty three, chapter fifteen, which directs punishment of negro or other slaves by cropping their ear, be and the same is hereby repealed." "AND be it enacted. That for the offense specified in the act thus repealed, punishment by whipping not exceeding thirty-nine stripes, shall be and is hereby substituted." —146— The following may serve to show conditions in part: In 1858 James Wheeler, a free colored man, living near Denton had acquired some real estate through his industrious efforts and being desirous of leaving same to his children at his death, had to have the Legislature authorize him to bequeath his property to his children at his death as in the case of white people. Without this law his children would not have secured his property by will. A few interesting extracts from wills probated in Caroline County are given as examples of the provision for slaves by their masters : Two old negroes named Bacchus and Silvey are to be taken good care of and well treated by my children. I direct that they shall never be sold or disposed of. I give and devise to all my negro slaves freedom, liberty and freedom. I give unto my negro man Essex, two acres of land during his life. I desire that my son shall receive but one shilling from my estate if he refuse to free all his slaves u,pon his becoming sixteen years of age. I give aird bequeath to my negro woman, named Esther, her youngest child named Judy, to her forever. I give unto my negro man Will a donation of five pounds cur- rent money per year. I give unto my son William, old Bet, whose life is to be made comfortable. CARL^The Last Slave. "Gone are the days, when my heart was young and gay. Gone are my friends from the cotton fields away; Gone from the earth, to a better land I know, I hear their gentle voices calling Old Black Joe." We found him sitting in the twilight, his eyes clear and bright for all his ninety years, Vet filled with dreams of the past. We had met his grand children at the door, hastening to some entertainment and the room was filled with the happy confusion of their outgoing. Cheerily he greeted us. Then by degrees we led him to talk of bygone days, — his days of bondage. Happily he spoke of them, of his home life, of his master, of to- bacco days in Maryland. Once when questioned he told —147— of the fear of being sold to the cotton plantations in Georgia. Then his eyes blazed with the fire of youth and his voice took on a different tone. Once more his mind turned to the happier vein of thought and told of driving old Massa to church in Greensboro, sitting outside under the rustling green trees, listening to the birds and bees until the service had ended. "Ah!" he said, "He was a good master." Quietly his voice wandered on telling of plantation life in Caroline and as the liglit in the room dimmed slowly, his gray head sank forward and he sat silent, with iais hands resting on his cane, dreaming of the past. We rose and passed out into the darkening night, leav- ing him there — the last representative of slavery days. "I'm coming, coming. For my head is bending low, I liear those gentle voices calling Old Black Joe." Feb. 21, 1919. T.aura Cochrane, After a visit to last slave in Greensboro. —148- TAVERN OF JOE JOHNSON. The Son-iii-Law oi' Patty Cannon. Slave Dealers, Altlio Maryland was a slave state, it is generally known that previons to the Civil War half of her people were opposed to slavery and public sentiment strong against the slave traffic, which, nevertheless, was car- ried on to some extent along the Maryland and Delaware peninsula. Chief among the dealers were Patty Can- non, Joe Johns(/n and Massy Fountain. Patty Cannon and Joe Johnson, her son-in-law, kept a tavern at Johnson's Cross Roads, now Reliance. The location was ideal for their nefarious i^nrpose, for the house was on the border of Sussex, Dorchester and Car- oline counties, twenty miles from a court house and ten from a town of any size. Under the strangely sloping roof of tliis liostelrv was a concealed o-arrct wliicli served —149- as a pen for captive slaves and free negroes who had been kidnapped to sell. Scattered about the counties, Patty Cannon had secret places where her agents col- lected victims. The poor negroes who were luckless enough to fall into her hands were sent to one of these hiding places until taken in charge by a southern trader, who to prevent any trouble arising during their deten- tion and journey handcuffed them together in what was known as a "cotfle." A force of men was employed to kidnap free negroes and indeed stories are told of the like disappearance of white people whose complexion resembled that of mulat- toes. "Aunt Patty," as she was commonly called, often assisted in this work and is credited with captur- ing men single handed, so great was her physical strength. She is still remembered by a few old people in the county as a short, thick-set woman with black hair and eyes, vivid coloring, and rather handsome in her cold, bold way. Joe Johnson was a staunch ally in all Patty's schemes. After having been captured in Delaware and flogged at the whipping post for some unlawful business, he confined his activities to Maryland. Not only were Patty Cannon and Joe Johnson ac- cused of illegal transactions in connection with the slave traffic, but other accusations such as robbing the mails, and killing travelers who stopped at the tavern and were suspected of having considerable money with them. Af- ter years of terrorizing the neighborhood, Patty Caimon was delivered b}^ the Maryland authorities to Delaware officials. Before the time for her trial, however, she died in Georgetowm Jail. This was supposed to be a great relief to many prominent people throughout the state, as in the course of a court trial they would un- doubtedly have been exposed as accomplices in some of her questionable transactions. Joe Johnson made his escape and no definite information was ever found as to his whereabouts. Massy Fountain, one of the prominent men in the Bridgetown community about 1820, was also a slave dealer. Tradition has it that he wa's one of Patty Can- non's crowd of kidnappers, but we find no proof of this and he was never accused of the other crimes of which she w^as instigator. Certain it is, however, that he bought and sold slaves. Maryland slave o^^mers, feeling —150— it a (lisgTace to deal openly for negroes, would secretly bring them to Fountain, who in turn would sell them to southern dealers. The cellar of the Fountain home was used as quarters for the darkies until convenient for the dealers to move'them south. This being "sold south in- to Georgia," as the slaves termed it, was the greatest terror of their lives. Fountain was a man of considerable means and owned large tracts of land in the county. He was one of the most influential men in upper Caroline, and great- ly feared in political affairs, until his death in 1864. His grave may still be seen in the Bridgetown church yard, just over the boundary line in Queen Anne's county. EARLY CORN SHELLER. -151- AN OLD TIME MARYLAND SCHOOL (1838). [The Orif/iiKiI ^Possum IhiUnir Scliool). The scliool was but a (luartcr of a mile distant from home; but to our childish fancies it was so far that moth- er .i»-ratined us by puttiuii,' up our dinners in a little bas- ket. Oidy bii>' Sister Retta could be entrusted with that presious basket, and Emma and I cast many interested fiances towards it as, hand in hand, and bearing' the books, slates, and inkstand, with goose quills to make pens, we proudly marched along the winding highway, under the leafless branches of the great white oaks which bordered the farther side. At last with a gathering grou]) of expectant child- ren, and youth of from five to twenty-one years of age, we stood before the o]icu door of the new school-house. Not that the word new descrilies the house; very far from it; but the school was new. The school-master was a new arrival in the neighborhood, and the house was newly and for the first time used for so noble a purpose. Will the reader believe it! The house was really a de- serted negro cabin, that stood l)y the highway side, near -152- Townseiid's Gross Roads, three miles from Dentoi!, t!ie county town. For an area of twenty-five sqnare miles between that town and the Delaware line, this was tlie only school, and this was started by a private subscrip- tion managed by my father. The Maryland law, at that time, liberally provided that if the people of a neighbor- hood would subscribe for the tuition of twelve scholars at five dollars eacli, then the State would furnish a like amount for the education of the same number of "char- ity sccholars." There were no public provisions for school houses, and whether there was house or scliool, depended altogether upon the character of the popula- tion that, amid rural mutations, might happen to gather in any given neighborhood. This new school and every school in tliat region for several years, was in a rented house. This particular house was built of logs, the interstices being filled with clay to keep out wind and rain. It was eighteen or twenty feet square, and about eight feet to the eaves ; with a door front and back, each opening outwards. Mid- way between the doors and the north end where stood the chimney, at a convenient height, part of the log was sawed out, the aperture being filled with a three-light lianging window, which, as occasion required, could be propped up for ventilation. Where the chimney stood was an aperture six feet wide and four feet high, into which the stone and mud walls of the fire-place were built to a height above where the blaze of the great log fire would usually reach ; and above that point the flue was made of logs and sticks, liberally daubed within of clay. At the south end of the house, in order to adapt it to its use as a literary insti- tution, almost an entire log had been removed. This apf rture was covered by a wide board, fastened by hing- es to the log above, and secured to that below l)y staple and hook. Like the sash before mentioned, this board was propT3ed up to admit needed light and fresh air. Just below this a|)erture was the writing desk, extending across the room against the wall. Here, alternately, the girls and boys made pot hooks and liangers with their goose quill pens, after the pattern set by the teacher; and finally graduated to the distinguished accomplish- ment of being able to draw a note of hand or receipt for ten dollars, good and lawful money of the United States of America, and to affix thereto their own real, written —153— signatures. The teacher "set the copies" during the noon hour ; but made and mended pens at all hours, when they happened to be presented for that purpose. Hence the name still so commonly applied to the pocketknife. It was not unusual to see the teacher dividing his time and attention between a page of Comly's spelling-book, where some sweating pupil was painfully struggling with the problems of orthography, and the quill he w^as slit- ting and whittling, meanwhile stealing an occasional mo- ment for a furtive glance about the schoolroom, to see that there was no pinching, or pin-sticking, or snicker- ing behind books or slates going on among the unruly urchins. In addition to the so-called writing-desk, the furni- ture of this schoolroom consisted of a desk and chair for the teacher, and three or four slab benches across the end of the room, next the writing-desk. In cold weather a bench was set near the great fire-place, and was occu- pied by alternate platoons of the shivering scholars to thaw themselves out. Three formidable hickory rods, of varying size and length, adapted to the sex and size of the culprits; and a pretty, little, red maple switch, suited to the esthetic tastes and tender sensibilities of the smaller urchins, completed the outfit. The entire curriculum of our school was covered by the three cab- alistic letters, R., R., R., understood to represent the three great sciences, Readin', Ritin' and 'Ritlimetic. The three G's, Grammer, Geography and Geometry, had then scarcely been dreamed of as ever possible to be taught in a country school. It was not until several years af- ter — not indeed until the renowned Chinquapin school- house had been built, over a mile away, on the road to Punch Hall, that we ever heard of such a study as Eng- lish Grammar or Geography. The primer, or rather a primer — for it mattered not what it was, so long as there were A, B, C's in it — was the text-book most in demand at Mr. Marshall's log cabin school. Rev. Robert W. Todd, D. D. -154— —155— THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I. Introduction. All event that we can always recall as contempora- neous with the war for Commercial Iiide])eiideiice is the establishment of our system of Free Education. Pre- vious to this time the various counties as well as the state had given much attention to the education of the young, the expense being provided by state appropria- tion plus private subscriptions. By this means learning had been disseminated extensively but the money was not sufficient nor the system efficient. //. Free Schools. The growing sentiment in every portion of the state favoring public education expressed itself through the General Assembly in 1812 by a feeble effort to raise enough money to establish at least one Free School in each count}'. The money for the support of these schools was to be raised by requiring the banks of the state to bind themselves to pay the sum of $20,000 on or before January 1, 1815. This sum to be paid annually was to be apportioned according to the capital stock actually paid in at the various banks. Other financial matters were in- volved in this act and the banks made a vigorous and temporarily successful fight against the whole measure. In 1813 the school matter again came to the front, By the enactment of this year the state required, not the payment of a specified sum per annum for schools, but instead, an annual tax of 20 cents on every $100 of cap- ital stock actually paid in. Connected with this were some other conditions relative to the Cumberland Tui'ii- pike. Any bank refusing to subscribe to the Act within six months forfeited their charter while those accepting guaranteed the renewal of their charter for a term of fifteen years. Denton promr-ttlv accepted and her Bank Charter was extended to 1835. This means of raising money was so successful that by December, 1816 at the meeting of the Assembly the sum was found sufficient for distribution to counties, and nine sensible and discreet men called Commissioners of the School Fund were appointed in each county. These men were to a])ply the ay^portionments in their respec- —156— tive counties as their judgment deemed best. Caroline's commissioners were Col. Wm. Potter, Richard Hughlett, Elisha Dawson, Thomas Goldsborough, William Hard- castle, Elijah Satterfield, AVillis Charles, Levi Dukes and Peter Willis. The same session of Assembly also made provision to turn over to the counties their respective shares of school money — said money to be paid to authorized rep- resentatives of the commissioners. To increase the school fund it was decided to arrange if practicable to draw a lottery for $50,000 each year for five years. When this commission of five had organized they were to give notice of an election to determine upon a site for a school-house and to decide whether it should be erected by voluntary contributions, or by a propor- tionate tax upon the assessable ])roperly of the section. As soon as a suitable school was built in any section, the justices of the levy court were apprised, and they in return gave a certificate of its establishment, which cer- tificate entitled them to their share of the school fund, pledged by the Act of Assembly, 1813. Notice was to be given of the opening of school, and all white children, especially orphans, were to be taught gratis in their respective districts, but not beyond the "Double Rule of Three" unless with the consent of the trustees. After the first year the trustees were to bo elected annually by voters of the respective districts, at an election held the first Monday in May. In 1821, five years after the opening of free schools, the Assembly took away all power and authority given to the Commissioners of School Fund l)y the Act of 1816, and vested it in the Justices of Orphans Court, ordering that all monies in the hands of Commissioners be turned over to the Justices. The Orphans Court was also em powered to appoint five Commissioners in each election District, who pointed out to the Court which schools in their respective districts were entitled to a part of that school fund which was to be annually apportioned. One third of the school money in each district was at the dis- position of the commissioners to be used directly for the education of orphans, or any children whose parents were unable to pay. In truth the prime idea in the estab- lishing of a state Free School Fund was to provide for this class of children and from this it later became known as the Charity or Free School Fund. —157— HOME ECONOMICS EXHIBIT. AGRICULTURAL DISPLAY. -158— To still further aid such children the legislature in 1823 made it obligatory on every college, academy, etc., receiving ''state aid" to give tuition to one charity scholar for each $100 received — giving both teaching and text books. We might here make mention of one Act which nev- er became active in Caroline County. In 1825 the Assem- bly made an enactment providing a State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who had almost unlimited powers. Tills law became eft'cctive only in the counties which adopted it. But six counties, including Caroline, re- jected it. III. Growth in Caroline. For the first thirty years of their existence free schools did not progress very rapidly, neither was the increase in numbers great in this county. However about 1830 a "boom" came, which was somewhat at the expense of Academies. Previous to this the Academies at Hillsboro and Denton had been receiving largely from the state but this fund was now withdrawn and ],)laced in the hands of the Orphan's Court to be distributed among located free schools. "At this time," it is said, "local interest in elementary education was at its zenith," and exemplifying this we find a number of free schools built from private means of large land owners. Again, in 1831 the Act relative to state donations to academies in- creased that fund in Caroline Co. to $800, the distribu- tion giving $250 to the Upper District, $300 to the Mid- dle District and $250 to the Lower District to be used entirely for Free Schools. At the same time a Com- mission was appointed to locate schools, particularly in sections without them. This Act was followed in 1832 by one providing that a sum not exceeding $100 be ap- propriated from the sur|)lus in the hands of Orphan's Court for the erection of a comfortable school-house on each site certified by Commission appointed in 1831 to locate new schools. The Constitutional Convention of 1851 might be de- scribed as a vigorous war of words, at the close of which the school question remained practically the same as at the beginning. However in 1852 the Legislature made progress and provided for the payment of several sums of money appropriated previously for the l)cnefit of Free Schools. —159— The adoption of the State School Law of 1865 did away with many troubles of the Caroline Legislators and seemed for a time to solve the problem of Education, by centralizing the administration. It gave a State Super- intendent of Public Instruction and Dr. Libertus Van Boklen was a])pointed to that office. Acting with him wa-^ a State Board of Education who jointly appointed one Commissioner for each of the four school districts of this County. Each Commissioner had entire control of the eight or nine schools in his district. He hired and discliarged teachers at will, distributed the text books for wliicli pupils must pay in advance, etc. In this school control the taxpayers were mere onlookers, tliougli through no fault of our officials who were very intelli- gent and earnest men. To this Board. Mr. William Stev- ens, of Denton, recently deceased was Clerk and Treas- nrer. The law of 1868 wrought another radical change in the management of the schools. The power was taken from the state and once more put in the hands of the people, the office of State Superintendent being abolish- ed. At the General Election, voters of each District vot- ed for one School Commissioner for that District. They also elected two School-House District Trustees. The Commissioner of the District made the third member of the Board of Trustees. This election was held annually on the first Saturday of May. The elective features of this law were repealed after one election had been held, and the appointment of School Commissioners made one of the duties of the Judges of the Circuit Court. Af- terwards, as at present, the Governor of the State was given the appointing power. For several years minority party representation was made compulsory but the School Law of 1916 tended to eliminate politics entirely and dared not even suggest any term connected there- with. The personnel of the County School Board in 1867 was as follows : Rev. Chas. B. Boynton, Dr. M. A. Booth, Mr. William S. Ridgely and Col. James E. Douglass. The new school law went into effect in 1868 and Col. James E. Douglass, Samuel I. Jarman and Robert H. Wilson became the new Board which in turn elected Rev. Geo. F. Beaven, Secretary and Examiner of the schools of the county, the first really provided by law. For several years Rev. Mr. Beaven, who was also rector —160— of the Episcopal cliurcli at Hillsboro, faithfully and well discharged his duties until he retired in 1882 and was succeeded by Prof. James Swann of Eidgely. The Board at this time consisted of John F. Dawson, E. E. Goslin, and Dr. Enoch George. Prof. Swann continued as Ex- aminer untiri886 when he was succeeded by M. Bates Stephens, who remained in office till 1900, when he be- came State Superintendent of Public Schools, and was succeeded in the county position by Prof. W. S. Grouse, who had been principal of the Denton High School. Until Dr. M. Bates Stephens became State Super- intendent in 1900, there had been no real head of the State School system since 1867. For a part of this time the principal of the State Normal School exercised some functions, though his authority was only nominal. At another time, S\ E. Fornum, State Institute Conductor, had some directing power. Realizing the inadequacy of the various scliool en- actments prior to 1916 to meet the needs of the times, a w^ell organized school law was that year passed, based upon a very careful and critical survey of our public school system by representative men from our state and experienced educators without. Caroline's early schools were of two classes, name- ly, small free schools promoted by ])rivate citizens of means, and Secondary schools or Academies wliich re- ceived State aid. Of the first class we will mention three: 1st— The Bloomery School— In 1798 James Wright, who was probably one of the Wright brothers elsewliere men- tioned, sold to several persons an acre of land a-nd pro- vided a house thereon to be used for a school, reserving unto himself and his heirs, one-twentieth of the rights of the school thereon esta^blished. The site of this school was near the present Bloomery Church. 2nd — Liden's Scliool — From the tract of land along the road from Andersontown to Smithville a building site was given by Deed in 1827 by Shadrach Liden. Thereon was erect- ed a building to serve as a house of worshi]) and a scliool for the community. 3rd — Chinquapin School — This l)uiMing stood on the road between Denton and Burrsville, and was ])rol)ably erected about 1840, as in the records of that time we find tlie deed of a site given bv Gove Saulsbury. 4th — Whiteley's School — This school had been start- ed l)efore 1825 by two men. Dr. William Whiteley and —161— Edward Carter, who built it for the needs of the neigh- borhood. This school was afterwards discontinued, then reopened later by Benjamin Whitely as will be explain- ed more fully elsewhere. Of the second class or Academies we have two, both so noted in their day as to be yet well known. 1st : The Old Hillsboro Academy. John Hardcastle, Jr. donated the land for a section called in the deed Hackett's Gardin^s^. The building was begun in 1797 and was originally intended only for a local school but with the passing of the School Act of 1798 it was incor- porated as a Secondary School. The erection seems to have been entirely from local subscription and much generosity in the matter of money is credited Francis Sellers. Later aid was received from the state. The curriculum first included the elementary studies but later the classics were included, until 1844, when it was made a ''Primary District." 2nd : Denton Academy. By Act of General Assem- bly, 1804, which supplemented Denton's Charter, one- fourth acre of land in the N. W. corner of the public square was set apart as a school site. Not until 1808 was there a centralized effort to build a school but at this time they were not successful in so doing. Legisla- tive annals show the frequent recurrence of Denton Academy legislation followed bv a "donation." Finally some time between 1840 and 1845 the building was com- pleted largely from accumulated state donations. IV. In Conclusion. Quoting directlv from Steele we might add, — Caro- line was among the foremost of the counties to establish a Secondary School a centurv ago; she was among the foremost in the eifort to establish Free Primary Schools on a practical basis, anterior to the adoption of the State school system ; she has been for vears, and is now, among the foremost in school enrollment according to popula- tion. She stands not verv far from the tor) in per cent, of pupils in and above sixth grade and she may be relied on to be in the vanguard of educational procession, and bearing her little part bravelv if the time ever comes and it seems to be coming wlien all the States will be banded into an educational system or union with national supervision. —162— It seems that public schools for colored children in onr county bei^an to be or,2;anized shortly after 1866 by virtue of a School Board resolution of that date which reads as follows : Resolved — that our Board appropriate the sum of one hundred dollars to each school for color- ed children that may be started in our county at such time as tlie Commissioner of the district where such school is to be located, shall report that the colored peo- ple of said locality are ready and willino- and able to raise such other sum or sums as shall be necessary for buildiino- a school house after such model as shall be fur- nished by onr Board. The first payment of public school tax to colored schools was made in 1869. A more complete description of the county's early schools may be seen in the sections assigned to the va- rious localities. —163— —16 EARLY FACTORIES. As soon as a cominiinity was formed in early Mary- land, a grist mill made its appearance, and these were the first manufactnring plants of the Colony. The early settlers conld make or import their clothing and furni- ture, prepare their food locally, but a necessary part to every establishment was an old grist miU, on the bank of a stream which furnished powder to turn its wheels. Of these early mills, Caroline county had its share and most of them are standing today, so well constructed were they, being chiefly of brick. Murray's Mill at Linchester is probably one of the first built and best known. Before the Revolutionary ,AVar this mill which had been established, |)erhaps, as early as 1670, belonged to Col. Jas. Murray and during the Revolutionary War ground Hour for the soldiers. Though rebuilt at \'arious times, a portion of the orig- inal structure still stands. Records show a lease of the Mill at Potter's Land- ing (Williston) in 1778 made between Nathaniel Potter and James White, both of this county. A part of the lease is here given: Nathaniel Potter "Doth grant and let that -Mill, on the head of Cokiases Creek, together with four acres of land, lying convenient to said Mill, with liberty of timber for use of said Mill, and dwelling house now built on said land, to have and to hold the said Mill and four acres of land, for and during the term of twelve years and every year therefore shall pay the full and just sum of 7£ 10s common circulating currency, and to grind the said Potter's grain, toll and hopper free, and boult (sift) the same for the use of his family: the aforesaid to be paid yearly on the first day of January and the said Mill and appurtenances thereon to be left in sufficient grinding repair." This mill ,seems to have been rebuilt by General Wm. Potter on a large scale which included the building of a heavy dam (now the state road) and the providing of a ship channel up to the mill. This .mill sfill oper- ates and is o^\med by W. C. Todd. The Brick Mill along the Choptank about three miles north of Denton w^as probably built by either Thomas Hardcastle or John, his son, both of these men being- great builders. The landing at this place was also well known in the early times, as it marked the turning ])oint of boats ill the rivei' and served as a sliipping centre for —165— a large territory roundabout. This mill was destroyed some years ago but the old brick house nearby still re- mains. Mills, some of them brick and still standing, were early established as follows : Bloomery Mill near Smith- 'ville; Fowling Creek (lower down the stream than the present site) ; Hog Creek, Anthony's Mill, Driver's Mill (now the water power plant of the Electric Lighting 'Co.), Nichols Mill (Knott's Mill near Hillsboro), Brad- ley's (now known as Crouse's), a mill at Old Town Branch which in 1782 was owned by Thomas Goldsbor- 'ough. Only a few years later appeared the up-and-down saw mill, several of which were located in the county on small water courses. These held sway for many years until su'pi)lanted a generation or two ago by steam saw mills. Tanneries were also quite numerous in the rural sections before 1830. The art of tanning had been in- troduced into America as early as 1630, the old process of using l)ark and lime being, of course, in general use. There were several reasons for the early growth of this industry — the great cost of imported leather, large quantity of cattle and hides, and cheapness of labor. While the process of tanning was very slow, the quality of the leather produced was much superior for endurance than is the product of our miodern manufac- tures where hides may be changed into so-called leather within 24 hours. As is to be expected, there was a tannery located in nearly every trading centre of the county at that time as at Greensboro, Hillsboro, Potter's Landing, near Hunting Creek, and the North West Fork. Some iron ore had been found in the county as early as 1780 and this together with the State law which en- couraged the establishing of iron foundaries, led to the starting of at least one or two plants in Caroline County. The Douglass brothers, who came from England about 1780 and located near Smithville, constructed the first foundry, perhaps. One of these men had learned the trade of iron master in his home country, which largely accounts for his undertaking here, no doubt. It seems likely that this plant was not continued very long 'on account of the poor quality of any ore that may have been found. —166— Very early, too, in the county some plow factories were erected — the more important ones, perhaps, being the one in Denton as described elsewhere and one near Beartown an earlv settlement located in the vicinity of iMt. Zion. Crude as must have been the products of these early enterprises when the metal parts of plows were prob- ably moiulded as one sin2:le piece of cast iron, this im- plement was much superior to the earlier plows and ipaved the way for the modern forms of plow machinery. Carding of wool for spinning, all of which had been heretofore done by hand in the home was given a fresh im]ietus when a machine for such a purpose was con- structed at Anthony's Mill near Denton, the same to be operated by water power. SOAP MAKING. -167- THE CIVIL WAR. Late ill the year 1860, the people of Caroline County were naturally much disturbed at the threatened Civil War and disunion by the secession of some of tlie South- ern States. Public sentiment divided the people into two classes, the larger, j^erhaps, being in favor of main- taining the Federal Union; the other class in favor of secession. Many people who had heretofore been friends were bitterly ojjposed to each other — some for the North — others for the South. This was the condition in Caro- line County when four companies of Union soldiers were enrolled in the four centres of the county. For some time our people felt the restrictions and great inconvenience of army regulations, though not much of the time under a military guard. Persons could not go to Baltimore, could not return home by boat with- out a pass from the Provost-marshal. As the war con- tinued, many men were deprived from voting at the gen- eral elections, unless they took the oath of "allegiance," which some refused to do. During this period also, a new Constitution was adopted by our state for the purpose of disfranchising those who in any way were in sympathy with, aided or abetted the soutliern cause. How could such a measure be passed when a majority of sentiment was against it is explained by Scharf's quotation from the Denton Jounuil of tliat time: ''In counting out the ballots in this district (Denton), but forty-seven votes appeared against the Constitution ; whereas eighty-nine voters whose names appear upon the poll-books, have certified and propose to swear, that they voted against the Con- stitution. Five others likewise signified." Fortunately this obnoxious document was set aside at tlie close of the War and a new one made. It is likely, too, that some of our citizens were inlDrisoned for a semblance of not be- ing strictly loyal to the Federal Union. Doubtless there was much needless inconvenience and annoyance arising from arbitrary acts of soldiers wlio exceeded their au- tliority wlieii sus])icions were aroused, but such seem to l>e the outcome of civil strife and nearly arwa3^s the ac- companying agents. The person, perhaps, most directly responsible for the unnecessary and unlawful acts of soldiers and guards —168— during the Civil War was not I^incoln, as many have sup- posed, but rather his Secretary of State — Win. H. Sew- ard, whose bigotry and un-democracy may be readily observed from his boastful remark to Lord Lyons: ''My Lord, I can touch a bell on my right hand, and order the arrest of a citizen of Ohio; I can touch it again, and or- der the arrest of a citizen of New York; and no power on earth except that of the President can release them. Can the Queen of England do as much?" Perhaps, several young men from our county with courage and strong feelings for "Southern Rights" went South and entered tlie Southern Army at the risk or sacrifice of their lives in defense of the |)rinciples they conscientiously entertained. Unfortunately we have been unable to secure the names of but two such 3^oung men — Messrs Alexander and Frank Gadd — brothers of our former Countian and well known citizen, Col. Luther H. Gadd. It was with much difficulty that these and other men from Maryland entered the Southern Army. Tlie Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay were well guarded to prevent just such happenings. The story is told of some men from Queen Anne county who had planned to drive down to the bay shore in Dorchester county and then take a boat to the Virginia Shore. To prevent suspicion while on their way through Caroline and Dorchester counties, they carried along some hunting dogs and whenever they found themselves watcluM^ did not hesitate to climb out of the wagon with their dogs and spend some time in rounding up the birds and rabbits in that section before proceeding on their way. On the 4th of August ]86"2 President Lincoln order- ed a di'aft of three hundred thousand militia for nine months, unless sooner discharged, and directed that if any state did not furnish its quota of these men, the de- ficiency of volunteers in that state would be made up by special or individual draft. Of this nundjer, Maryland was to furnish 19,000 men and Caroline County 304. As 231 county men had already volunteered into service, only 56 were required to be drafted after allowance was made for excess apportionment. The long-expected draft took place throughout the state on the 15tli of October 1862, after the enrollment had been completed. Those draw^i for service were notified to present themselves at the place of rendezvous within five days. Substitutes were —169— accepted in place of those unwilling to serve in person; and a lively business was done in that traffic, prices rang- ing from $200 to $600. Some of these substitutes, es- caping from the camp of instruction, sold their services over again. In 1864 another draft of 2000 men from the state was made and Caroline County likely furnished about thirty. Unf(n-tunately we have been unable to obtain a list of the drafted men from our county, though a conij^lete list of volunteers is given below. First Regiment, Eastern Shore Infantry. The First Eastern Shore Eegiment of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, was organized at Cambridge, Maryland, in September, 1861, to serve three years. On the expiration of the term of service of tlie regi- ment the original members (except veterans) were mus- tered out, and the organization, composed of veterans and recruits, retained in service until February 23, 1865, when it was consolidated with the 11th Regiment of In- fantry. Companies A, B, and C were recruited in Dorchester County, Companies D, E, F, and G in Caroline County, Company H in Talbot County, Company I at Baltimore City, and Company K in Somerset County. The 1st Eastern Shore Regiment of Infantry, im- mediately after its organization, was assigned to special duty on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In November, 1861, it formed a part of General Lockwood's Brigade in its expedition into and pacifi- cation of the Counties of Accomac and Northampton, the eastern shore counties of Virginia. Upon the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania by General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army in June 1863, the 1st Eastern Shore Reoiment of Infantry asked to be sent to the Army of tlie Potomac at the front, and, with General Lockwood's Brigade, the regiment was transported to Baltimore, and thence marched to the bat- tlefield of Gettysburg, which it readied on the morning of July 3, 1863, and immediately went into action with the 12th Army Corps on Culp's Hill, where it did good service. After tlie battle of Gettysburg the 1st Regiment, Eastern Shore Infantry, continued with the Army of —170— the Potomac until IjOo's Confederate Army was driven out of Maryland, when, after a brief duty on the upper Potomac, the regiment again returned to the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia, where it continued in the performance of special duty until its consolidation with the 11th Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volun- teers. During its term of service the 1st Regiment Eastern Shore Infantry, marched seven hundred and sixty (760) miles, was transported by rail two hundred and eighty- three (283) miles and by water one thousand three hun- dred and twenty-three (1323) miles. The death list of the 1st Regiment, Eastern Shore Infantry, during its term of service was as follows : Kill- ed in battle, nine (9) enlisted men; died of disease, wounds, etc., fifty-two (52) enlisted men; or an aggre- gate loss by death of sixty-one (61). Roster of Soldiers From Caroline County. Conipjuiy D. (Greensboro Section). Name Rank Wm. H, Comegys Captain afterward Lieut. Col. Jas. L. Clendening Richard H. Comegys Marcellus Jones Anderson, John Anderson, Wm. Anderson, Leven Adams, Wm. K. Baggs, Joseph Baynard, John W. Baggs, Andrew M. Boone. John W. Bickling, John S. Bickling, Wm. H. Bennett, John C. Baker, Wm. H. Cooper, James Carter, Wm. Connor, Wm. T. Commegys, John T. Commegys, Wm. J. Cooper, Isaac Cooper, John K. Colgan, Wm. B. C. Chance, Clement Carter, Jas. H. Cannon, John P. Cleaves, Thos. A. Carroll, Chas. E. Clendening, Robert N. Carter, Wm. Captain 1st Lieut. 2nd Lieut. Private Sergeant Private Draper, John W. Private Dukes, Geo. W. Davis, Wm. F. " Donovan, Henry J. Downs, Samuel Y. " Earickson, Thomas B. " Evans, Richard " Ford, Wm. H. Faulkner, Thos. " Gibson. Chas. W. Harper, Shadrach " Hariington, Thos. E. Musician Hubbard, N. Private Harper, James S. " Harper, Wm. " Heather, Theo. " Honey, James H. " Hobbs, Amos H. " Hall, James H. " Jones, Richard C. Corporal Jones, Samuel T. Private Jester, John H. " Kemp, John B. Sergeant Kirk, George W. Corporal Lecompt, John C. Sergeant Legar, George P. Corporal Lang, John Private Lucas, Edward M. " McKnett, John R. Corporal McClain, Wm. Private Mounticue, Robert H. " Mounticue, Wm. " Mounticue, John " —171— .Mounticue, Jas. Private McGee, Levi McCullougli, Thomas -McClerkin, Jas. Melson, Daniel H. " Melvin, Jacob " Miller, Augustus " McCann, Michael Murry, James " Noblett, Isaac " Outen, Warren " Parker. Geo. W. 1st Sergt. Poor, \Vm. E. Sergeant Pippin, Robert H. Private Porter, Robert W. Porter, Wni. E. Patrick, Noah Patrick, Wm. J. Rawlings, Wm. P. Roberts, Chas. H. Rawlings, Henry C. Shaw. James H. Shubrooks, Wm. J. Spry, Wm. G. Sloan, William C. Shaw. WMlliam Turner, Samuel Truitt. John West, William M. Wyatt, Elias Whitby. Nathaniel Wooters, John W. Williams, Benj. Company E. (Preston Section) Name Andrew Stafford Jas. R. Hooper Jesse W. Blades Andrew, Tilghman A. Andrew, John W. Arvey. John W. Andrew. George Blades, Eli K. Butler, Peter W. Blades, Thos. L. Bland, Geo. T. Brennan, Michael Beachamp, Batchelor Brumbly, Wm. T. Briddle, James Baker, Peter Butler, Wm. E. Corkran, Sol. R. Comaskey, Daniel Oannon, Jas. H. Cicil, George F. Cheezum. Wm. Covey. Joshua Cheezum. Charles H. Covey. Richard Carlisle, Alex. Christopher, Silas Carey, George T. Charles, Simon P. Conaway, William H. Carroll, Saulsbury Dukes, Geo. T. Dukes, Isaac P. Dean, Robert H. Dillon, James B. Dillon. Lewis J. Dean, Bennett A. Eaton, Wm. H. Frampton, Wm. E. Frampton, Chas. Fluharty, Daniel R. Goetchious, John Gootee, Kelly Rank Captain 2nd Lieut. Private Sergeant Private Corporal Private Sergeant Corporal Teamster Private H. Corporal Private Hutchinson, Wm. A. Hollis, Wm. H. Hammond, James R. Hutchinson, Chas. F. Holloway, Robt. J. Hollis. James M. Knox, Samuel F. Luer, S-amuel Lecompt, Benj. F. Legates. Wm. T. Lane, William Moore, Edward T. McNeeae, John Mason. William -Xiehols, Luke H. Nichols. Simon P. Patton. Wm. I. Perry. William E. Perry, Chas. W. Pool, Levin Patton, Joseph Potts, William Ross, Wm. H. Ross. Josiah B. Richardson. John T. Rose, Joseph Stewart, Wm. G. Tow-ers. Wesley Turner, Robt. H. Towers. Thos. P. Townsend. Alfred Townsend. Joshua Turner, Jas. H. Turner. John R. Trice, John W. Trice, Andrew ^I. Ternngton, Geo. Windsor. Wesley W. Walker, Robt. F. Wilson, Jas. V. Watson. William Waterman. Geo. Williamson. Warner Walker. Thomas Private Corporal Teamster Private Corporal Private Musician Private Sergeant Corporal Musician Private 1st Sergt. Private 1st Sergt. Corporal Private Musician Private Sergeant Private Corporal Private Corpora! Private —172— Oompjiiiy F. (DeutM)u Section), Name Thos. Numbers Jas. B. Austin Hobt. J. W. Garey Anderson, Wm. Andrew, Petter Andrew, Matthew .M. Andrewson, Geo. Atkinson, William W. Atkinson, Wm. Alberger, Nathan F. Andrew, Jas. E. Ayers, John H. Busteed, Richard M. Barkley, Andrew Barwick, John Beck, Josiah Brannock, Sam. C. Barnick, Jas. A. Butler, James H. Baker, Thos. P. Cooper, Nathaniel G. Cooper, Wm. W. Collison, Jos. A. Christopher, John E. Cooper, Sam'l. J. Cooper, John Conoway, Francis Dean, William T. Dickerson, Philip S. Eaton, John F. Flanagan. John Farley, John Gordon. Chas. L. Griffith. John H. Hammon, Thos. L. Harvey, Chai'les Hickson. Andrew Joiner, Robt. H. B. Kirkman, Isaac A. Lecompte, Alex. Long, Alex R. Love, Thomas Rank Captain 1st Lieut. 2nd Lieut. Private 1st Sergt. Corporal Private Sergeant Private Sergeant Corporal Private Corporal Private Corporal Private McNutt, Wm. Private Moore, John D. -McCaslin, Russell Y. Corporal Morgan, Wm. F. Private Morgan, George " McQuay, Chas. E. Maloney, John " Pinkine, Francis E. Pierce, Wm. M. " Porter, Joseph Pool, Daniel " Parker, Thos. H. ' Philips, Geo. W. Philips, Wm. " Philips, Peter D. Porter, Francis A. Roe, Thomas Robinson, Wni. E. Teamster Roe, Alex. Private See, James Sergeant Sorden, Robt. H. Private See, Dallas M. Corporal Sorden, Wm. T. Sergeant Sherwood, Geo. C. Corporal Scott, Hezekiah Private Stafford. Wm. P. Spenee, James H. " Syphers, Francis Scott, Aaron " Tharp, Phineas " Thomas, Samuel " Thomas, John R. " Thomas, Sam'l E. Voss, Holidav " Willis, Chas. H. Wothers, Jas. W. Wilson. James A. " Webber, Wm. T. Webber, Jas. T. Wothers. Daniel " Webber. Wm. S. Williams, Geo. W. <'