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1
KENT COUNTY MARYLAND
Lang
HISTORY
OF
L.C.
KENT COUNTY
MARYLAND
1630-1916
By FRED. G. USILTON
-
154266A
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€
a
INTRODUCTION
The superintendent of the schools of Kent County, Prof. J. L. Smyth, in his long experience as a teacher and in his present position, feeling the great need of some historical data concerning our home county of Kent and its county town, Chestertown, requested the writer to compile this book, which is here presented to the public. It is hoped that it may, at least, be the foundation, or incentive, for someone to produce a book, with other data dis- covered and other facts recovered from the dim ages of the past.
In the completion of this volume, "The History of Kent County, Maryland," we realized the enor- mity of the task when we began. Impressed, how- ever, with the great need of some record in book form of even a few of Kent's historical facts, we have undertaken this work. It is based on a careful study of the means at hand and of persistent effort in exhuming facts contained in books, newspapers and articles by various writers. Among the latter to whom we are indebted are: Percy G. Skirven, who contributed the chapter on the old Court House, Caulk's Field and some P. E. Church his- tory ; Hanson's family history, Hon. James Alfred Pearce, files of the Kent News, Mrs. Harriett Hill, Swepson Earle, who furnished us six pictures of old homes, and others whom we regard as authority on the subjects discussed.
"There is nothing," says a well-known writer, "that solidifies and strengthens a nation like read-
ing the nation's history, whether that history is re- corded in books, or embodied in customs, institu- tions, and monuments." It also is true as regards a county. Not to know what has been transacted within our own borders in former times is to be always a child. If no use is made of the labors and happenings of past ages, we must remain always in the infancy of knowledge.
Kent, as a county, is rich in precious historical gems, and the object of this book is to present in a clear, connected and authentic manner some of these events. The author has had three chief objects in view-accuracy of statement, simplicity of style, im- partiality of treatment.
It has been written in the midst of a busy life, but if it shall give to the future generations a rea- son to feel proud of this "Garden of Eden," and also preserve the noted events in its life from extinction, then our labor will not be in vain.
FREDERICK G. USILTON.
CONTENTS
Chapter. Page.
1. Events leading up to the founding of Kent County. 15
2. The Isle of Kent. 24
3. The County of Kent .. 29
4. Tench Tilghman's ride through Kent .. 33
5. The battle of Caulk's Field 41
6. Burning of Georgetown and story of Kitty Knight. 64
7. Freedom of religious thought and worship-An- cient Shrewsbury. 72
8. Old St. Paul's Church, built in 1713. 78
9. Emmanuel Protestant Episcopal Church - Where the name originated .. 85
10. The Friends' Meeting House. 88
11. Methodist records-Catholic Church-First Sunday School-Colored Churches. 92
12. Schools, public and private-Founding of Washing- ton College 103
13. Records of first sailing vessel and early steamboat- ing on Chester-The first railroad. 114
14. Financial institutions and their official boards .. 123
15. First military organization-Musical organizations 129
16. Kent in the War of 1812-14. 138
17. Four United States Senators from Kent-Other
notable men 140
18. Old records showing transfers of land in old Kent. 147
19. Some weather records of other days. 157
20. Women vote in Still Pond, first place in State 160
21. Some records on the farm. 162
22. Old-time Christmas in Kent .. 169
23. Chestertown-The County Town-Its early history 173 24. "The White House" Farm, on a part of which Ches- tertown stands 179
25. Throwing tea overboard in the Chestertown har- bor-Plays-Racing events-Novel ordinances ... 182
26. The noted Chester Bridge-Lovers and fishermen- Some noted events .. 190
27. Notable houses in Chestertown - Newspapers -
First hotels 197
28. Rock Hall-Its early history-Great oyster centre. 205 29. A noted resort-Tolchester Beach-Founded 1877 .. 212 30. Fish Hall, Betterton's first house-A lonely place .. 217 31. Shell banks made by Indians-Happy council places 220 32. "Monomac"-An Indian tale. . 225
33. Some recollections-Old residenters-Kent's silver mine-Vote on local option-A great prize fight- Negro superstition -- Crow Hill. 229
34. The old Court House 241
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
Circuit Court.
HON. ALBERT CONSTABLE,
Chief Judge.
HON. W. H. ADKINS,
Associate Judge.
HON. P. B. HOPPER,
Associate Judge.
A. PARKS RASIN, Clerk.
J. THOMAS HADDAWAY, Sheriff; MARK PERKINS, deputy. Terms of Court: Third Monday in April and third Mon- day in October for Jury terms.
Orphans' Court.
JOHN H. SIMPERS, EDWARD A. SCOTT, J. HENRY THOMPSON,
Chief Judge. Associate Judge. Associate Judge.
OTHER OFFICIALS.
Police Justices.
R. HYNSON ROGERS, W. H. SCHWATKA,
Chestertown. Rock Hall.
Notaries Public.
COLIN F. DUYER,
HARRY C. COLEMAN,
EBEN F. PERKINS,
S. P. TOWNSHEND, JAMES W. CROUCH, J. RAYMOND SIMPERS, J. W. CLARK,
Chestertown. Chestertown.
Chestertown.
Chestertown.
Chestertown.
Chestertown. Still Pond.
Justices of Peace.
S. E. BURGESS, G. C. TOWNSEND, J. M. SUTTON, VERNON M. BARNETT,
R. C. MORGAN, J. H. KELLY, H. M. MASSEY,
Rock Hall. Millington. Betterton.
Chestertown.
Galena. Still Pond. Massey.
Register of Wills. L. B. RUSSELL, JR., Deputy.
ROBERT R. HILL.
Treasurer.
HOWARD F. OWENS,
OLLIE ESTES, Deputy.
9
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
County Commissioners. CAREY W. REINHART, President. JOHN N. BENNETT, JOHN C. WOOD. SAMUEL HICKS, Clerk.
OLIN S. DAVIS,
T. B. CREW,
School Board. JOHN P. AHERN, President.
JOHN D. URIE,
C. ROMIE SKIRVEN.
Almshouse Board.
HARRY T. RASH, LOUIS E. SMITH,
HENRY B. RASIN, M. WILBER THOMAS, THOMAS W. TREW.
State's Attorney.
HARRISON W. VICKERS.
TOWN OFFICIALS. Commissioners.
GEORGE R. ROUSE,
R. GROOME PARKS, EsQ., Attorney.
SAMUEL E. COOPER, Day Bailiff.
BEVERLY HYLAND, Night Bailiff.
U. S. Senators From Maryland.
BLAIR LEE, JOHN WALTER SMITH.
County Representatives in State Legislature.
HENRY BROWN,
HARRY WILLIS,
HERBERT URIE,
Senator.
House of Delegates.
House of Delegates.
Coroner.
DR. FRANK B. HINES,
Chestertown.
Member Board of Managers Eastern Shore Hospital. W. W. BECK, EsQ., Chestertown.
Bureau of Immigration. HARRY C. WILLIS, Chairman, Worton.
WILLIAM L. FOWLER, ROBERT MOFFETT.
10
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
Supervisors of Elections.
GEORGE R. RASIN,
C. FRANK CROW,
JOHN C. DAVIS,
Kennedyville. Worton. Chestertown. W. F. RUSSELL. JR., Clerk.
State Tax Commission.
L. W. WICKES,
OWEN C. SMITH,
Member of Board. Supervisor of Assessments.
Lodge Directory.
P. O. S. of A. No. 34 meets every Tuesday evening in Fraternal Hall.
P. O. S. of A. No. 87 meets every Tuesday evening in Culp Building.
Daughters of America No. 58 meet every Monday eve- ning in Fraternal Hall.
Jr. O. U. A. M. No. 177 meets every Wednesday in Fra- ternal Hall.
Loyal Order of Moose No. 1496 meets every Friday night in Westcott Building.
Modern Woodmen of America No. 8745 meet second and fourth Friday evenings in Fraternal Hall.
Chester Lodge No. 115, A. F. & A. M., meets first and third Wednesday evenings in Lyceum Theatre Building.
Red Men meet every Thursday evening in Fraternal Hall. Heptasophs meet first and third Friday evenings of each month in Fraternal Hall.
TRANSPORTATION LINES.
Train Schedule.
Train leaves Chestertown at 7.37 A. M. for Baltimore and Philadelphia, connecting north and south, every day except Sunday. Returning, train reaches here 11.02 A. M. In the afternoon train leaves at 2.53, returning at 7.03 P. M. On Sunday train leaves at 3.55 P. M., returning at 7.28 P. M.
Boat Schedule.
Boat leaves Chestertown for Baltimore at 7 A. M. Mon- day, Wednesday and Friday, arriving in Baltimore at 1 P. M. Returning, leaves Baltimore at 1 A. M., arriving in Chestertown at 7 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Auto Lines connect with day boat at Tolchester and with train at Elkton.
11
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
DISTANCES IN KENT.
Chestertown to-
Chestertown to-
Worton
5.0 miles.
Pomona 4.0 miles.
Lynch
6.0
Fairlee 6.0 66
Kennedyville 8.2 66
Crumpton 9.0 66
Still Pond. 9.4
Chesterville 10.7
Millington 13.6
Tolchester 11.6 66
Galena
15.6 66
Rock Hall. 12.4
Masseys 17.1
Sandtown 13.0
Georgetown 17.1
Betterton 12.5
66
Sassafras 20.9 66
POPULATION OF KENT COUNTY, CENSUS OF 1910.
District 1-Masseys, including Galena and Milling-
ton towns
3,342
Galena town
262
Millington town
399
District 2-Kennedyville
2,391
District 3-Worton or Betterton, including Betterton town
2,041
Betterton town
308
District 4-Chestertown, including Chestertown
2,941
Chestertown town
2,735
District 5-Edesville, including Rock Hall town Rock Hall town
781
District 6-Fairlee
1,700
District 7-Pomona
1,335
16,957
The population of Kent County in 1900 was 18,786.
ALTITUDES IN KENT.
Chestertown 22 feet. Sassafras 34 feet.
Blacks 80 Millington 27
Still Pond 70 66 Edesville 24
Masseys 64 66
Georgetown 5
66
ROADS IN KENT.
The Kent County Commissioners give the road mileage as follows: First District and Second District, each 120 miles; Third District, 85 miles; Fourth District, 60 miles; Fifth District, 100 miles; total, 480 miles.
3,207
12
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
REGISTERED VOTE OF KENT COUNTY, 1915.
Dist.
Prec.
Dem.
Rep.
co Proh.
Prog.
Ind.
6 3 9 se Dec.
272
113
385
2.
232
133
4
250
125
375
2.1.
155
130
4
1
174
116
290
2.
169
143
2
·
. . .
3
212
92
304
2.
135
110
1
.
1
4
159
92
251
4. 1.
232
206
5
. .
7
269
181
450
5. 1.
345
95
5
10
408
47
455
2
254
104
. .
·
6.
183
231
1
1
7.
148
184
2
2
3
184
155
339
Totals .. 2505 1682
9
17
14
50 2843 1434
4277
. .
2
198
118
316
3. 1.
194
104
1
2
.
. .
11
238
98
336
2.
210
111
1
3
.
2
. . .
275
85
360
204
212
416
. .
TOTAL ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY IN KENT COUNTY, 1916.
Real and Personal, $9,477,889.00.
Ordinary Business Corporations, $24,118.69.
Bonds and Securities, $501,966.64.
White
Col'd.
Total
1. 1.
248
131
KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
BY FRANK H. RUTH, GALENA.
With the dawning of creation, when the earth began to roll Through the mazes of countless planets, with the Master in control ; When its broad expanse of verdure turned its face first toward the sun, There was just one little corner that he straight pronounced well done.
There the undulating acres spread themselves in vast array, With their sparkling streams of nectar lost in clouds of silver spray ; There the sleepy knoll and dingle were the essence of delight, And the murmur of the breezes crooned the glory of His might.
'Twas a pleasing land ecstatic, just where heaven touched the heath, Where the green and gold of nature intermingled in a wreath Thro' the woodlands bold and stately, where they crowned the verdant shore Of dark meandering rivers now replete with mystic lore.
It was just the spot ideal, where the son of man might roam With thrills of wild abandon 'neath the blue empyrean dome ; Where he saw in rich profusion all the earth had to display, In one gorgeous panorama like the charms of Mosellay.
'Twas the masterpiece primeval, of the great creative God ; Once the rendezvous of angels, when its heather was untrod. "The hidden soul of harmony," where the lotus brewed its spice, In lordly, proud magnificence stood the world's lone paradise.
Now that favored land elysian to our vision yet appears, As the ages turn their pages after twice ten thousand years ; "Tis the same today as ever-still a land of sweet content, Still the pearl to which man's pleasure has affixed the name of Kent.
Ah! those perfumes so delicious where the living roses blow, Where the moons are more effulgent, where the suns more kindly glow, Where her solitudes will lull you into dreams of Eden's bow'r, And a world of wonders greet you in the cycle of an hour.
Yes, she blooms today as ever in her robes of green and gold, Whilst the splendors of her raiment will remain for aye untold ; 'Tis to see this "Isle of Beauty," feel her ozone in your veins, Feel the tingle of enchantment as you scan her fair domain.
Then you'll realize what blessings are about you to enjoy, Not a shadow of disquiet to discourage or annoy ;
Here you'll see man's art has failed him to enhance one single charm, And the dream of life has centered 'bout "an old Kent County farm."
'Bout her bayous, coves and meadows-'bout each pebble on her strand- 'Bout the wind scarped bluffs and headlands where the Chester laves her sand, Where the moonglades are idyllic, where the loveleis entrance, Where the whole is an oasis and a perfect necromance.
'Tis the scene of joys exquisite, lulling life's sojourn away, Blissful rhapsodies of pleasure in an endless roundelay Lull the soul to dreamy fancy, into reverie and muse- Oh, ye gods! what have you better to enthrall man-to enthuse ?
Seek sequestered vale and mountain, tread the globe from pole to pole, Not one spot like "Old Kent County" has the charm to reach the soul. "Tis the bourne at which, men marvel, 'tis the one supremely blest, 'Tis the "fairest of ten thousand" and of God's creation-BEST.
.
: .
CHESTER RIVER SCENE, NEAR CHESTERTOWN, MD.
15
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
CHAPTER I.
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FOUNDING OF KENT COUNTY.
Blood Shed and Dissensions-Claiborne Wins Good Will of Indians-Jealousy of Ownership Between Virginia and Maryland-The Old Desire For More Territory Plainly Seen.
The Virginia colony was jealous of Maryland chiefly for three reasons. First, Maryland had once been a part of the territory of Virginia; secondly, Maryland was ruled by Catholics, while Virginia was Protestant; thirdly, the commercial rights and privileges of Maryland were much greater than those of Virginia. Thus for a time Maryland's sister colony and nearest neighbor unfortunately became her worst enemy. The Virginians were represented by William Claiborne, their Secretary of State. This man, not unjustly called the evil genius of Maryland, was the prime mover of mischief from first to last, and devoted all the energies of his un- usually determined and persevering nature to the task of ruining the Maryland colony. For twenty years his influence seriously affected Maryland his- tory, and more than once nearly brought about the colony's destruction.
Claiborne's opportunity came in the following manner. Coming over to Virginia in 1621 as sur- veyor, his force of character brought him rapidly into notice, and at the time of the settlement on the St. Mary's he was Secretary of State for Virginia
16
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
and a member of the Governor's Council. He began to engage to some extent in the fur trade with the Indians. In this he was so successful as to induce a firm of London merchants to employ him as a special agent or partner in the business of trading with the Indians. Claiborne then established a post on Kent Island, in the Chesapeake Bay, for this purpose, and obtained licenses to trade; but he did not secure any grant of land. A few dwellings were erected, which were paid for by the London merchants, Cloberry and Company. To complete the claim of Virginia, it should be noted also that Palmer's Island had been occupied by traders, and trading expeditions had been conducted by Henry Fleet, John Pory, and possibly other Virginians. The Maryland charter spoke of the country as "hitherto uncultivated"; but this was descriptive merely, and not a condition of the grant, and if it had been, the traders had not settled or cultivated the country.
The instructions of the proprietary regarding Claiborne were very generous. Acting according to these instructions, Governor Calvert notified Clai- borne that his post was within the limits of Mary- land. He was given to understand that he would be welcome to the land he had occupied, but that he must acknowledge the authority of Lord Balti- more, and hold the land from him and not from Virginia. Claiborne, on receiving this notice, asked the Virginia Council what he should do. Their answer was, that they wondered at his asking such a question ; could there be any more reason for giv- ing up Kent Island than any other part of Virginia?
17
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
Thus Claiborne made his own cause and that of Virginia one, and feeling sure of support now, he returned an answer to Governor Calvert in which he utterly refused to acknowledge the authority of Maryland and Lord Baltimore.
THE DISPUTE LEADS TO BLOODSHED.
The proprietary's instructions provided that if Claiborne should refuse to acknowledge the jurisdic- tion of Maryland, he was to be undisturbed for a year. But trouble soon arose. The Indians, hitherto so friendly and sociable, became cold and reserved- a change which alarmed the people greatly. On investigation, Claiborne was charged with telling lies to the Indians for the purpose of stirring them up against the Marylanders, but in justice it must be said that when the Indians were questioned in his presence they declared that he had never done anything to prejudice them against the people of Maryland.
But there was trouble of a more serious nature when a vessel of Claiborne's, under the command of Thomas Smith, was seized in the Patuxent river for trading without a license in Maryland waters. In return, Claiborne fitted out an armed vessel, the Cockatrice, under the command of Lieutenant Ratcliffe Warren, which he sent out with orders to capture any Maryland vessel that might be met. When news of these mighty doings came to the ears of Governor Calvert, he promptly armed and sent out two vessels, the St. Mar- garet and the St. Helen, under the command of Captain Thomas Cornwallis. "The two expeditions
18
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
met at the mouth of the Pocomoke on April 23d, and then and there was fought the first naval battle on the inland waters of America." Several men were killed and wounded on both sides, Lieutenant War- ren being among the killed, and the Cockatrice sur- rendered. A second fight took place a few days later, in which Thomas Smith commanded the vessel of Claiborne, resulting in more bloodshed.
THE CAPTURE OF KENT ISLAND.
For a time Claiborne remained in undisturbed possession of Kent Island. But his affairs presently took on a different color, for his London partners, Cloberry and Company, became dissatisfied with his management, and sent out an agent named George Evelin to take charge of their property. Claiborne tried hard to induce Evelin to promise not to give up the island to the Marylanders, but could not suc- ceed. Hle then went to England and engaged in a lawsuit with the London merchants who had em- ployed him. Evelin went to St. Mary's, after a time, and there he heard the other side of the story, and was fully convinced of the right of Maryland's claim to the island. On his return, he called the people together and explained the situation to them, and Lord Baltimore's authority was recognized. Gov- ernor Calvert then appointed Evelin commander of the island.
But the matter was not yet settled. A number of persons were arrested for debts owed to Cloberry and Company, and Thomas Smith (the same who had already taken part against the Marylanders) and John Butler (a brother-in-law of Claiborne) used
19
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
every opportunity to stir up dissatisfaction. The matter finally amounted to a rebellion, and Governor Calvert, after several warnings, proceeded to the island himself, with a body of armed men, to offer a little more forcible persuasion. The attack was a complete surprise, and Smith and Butler were captured. The Maryland flag was first used in this battle and was known as Baltimore's flag. The Governor then offered to pardon all others who would come in at once and submit themselves to the government of Maryland, "whereupon," says Gover- nor Calvert, in a letter to his brother, the proprie- tary, "the whole ileand came in and submitted them- selves." Smith was tried before the Assembly on charges of piracy and murder, was convicted and sentenced to death; Butler, not being accused of crimes so serious, and having shown a better dispo- sition, was pardoned by the Governor and afterward came to hold office in the province.
In England the final blow was now struck against the cause of Claiborne. The quarrel over Kent Island had been referred to the Board of Commis- sioners for the Plantations (a body having charge of colonial affairs), and they decided that as Lord Baltimore had a grant from the King of England, while Claiborne had merely a trading license, the title was undoubtedly with the former. This was due to the fact that Virginia had forfeited its rights to all territory and it was within the King's right to grant to whomsoever he chose any part of the land that had been within the Virginia Company's jurisdiction.
20
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
Claiborne refused to submit to the Lord's Pro- prietary's demand, and in September, 1634, he was forced to withdraw, and fled to Virginia; he was attainted and his property confiscated. Governor Harvey refused to surrender him to the authorities of Maryland or to protect him, but, under the pre- tense of high respect for the King's license, sent him to England, with the witnesses, to await the royal pleasure. Claiborne never forgot or forgave this conduct of the authorities of Virginia, and brought it bitterly to their remembrance in 1652.
Claiborne went to England a bitter, vindictive and unrelenting enemy to the Lord Proprietary. He petitioned the King for a confirmation of his former license to trade, for a grant of other lands adjoining Kent Island, and the power to govern them. The King, influenced by Sir William Alex- ander, his Secretary for Scotland, and one of Clai- borne's associates in the license, issued the order. The matter was finally adjudicated, in April, 1638, and determined "that the right to all the territory, within which Claiborne's settlements were made, was vested in Lord Baltimore."
The next year, as an humble supplicant, he begged of the Governor and Council of Maryland the resti- tution of his confiscated property. This was sternly and harshly denied. Failing in this, in 1644, he instigated the Indians to make war upon the colony. As soon as peace was restored to the afflicted people, he associated himself with Richard Ingle, a pro- claimed "traitor to the King," excited and led a re- bellion against the Proprietary's government, and actually drove the Governor out of the colony. For
21
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
more than a year he held possession of the govern- ment, during which time valuable records of the province were lost or destroyed.
The Governor, Leonard Calvert, did not long sur- vive his restoration. He died at St. Mary's the 9th day of June, 1647. Among his last acts, and pe- culiarly interesting to us, was the reconstruction of the government of Kent Island.
After this, when King Charles had been beheaded (30th January, 1649), and the Commonwealth was established, the irrepressible Claiborne, with Fuller and others, was commissioned, in September, 1651, by Cromwell's Council of State, to subjugate the province whence he had been lately driven as a rebel. They were empowered "to reduce and govern the colonies within the Chesapeake Bay." Here was a fine and open field for Claiborne to glut his ven- geance, and he was swift to avail himself of the opportunity. Never did a towering hawk more eagerly swoop upon a poor, mousing owl than did Claiborne, straight as an arrow from a bow, seek and find his quarry. He paid his respects first to Virginia-performed his agreeable task of "reduc- tion" neatly, cleanly and expeditiously. Then, like a falcon, he plumed his feathers, and in March, 1652, borne upon the wings of the wind, pounced upon St. Mary's. He treated Governor Stone with insolent indignity, violently seized upon his commission, and deposed him from office.
Claiborne, then, the 29th of March, appointed a council, of which Robert Brooke was made presi- dent and acting Governor, took possession of the records, and abolished the authority of the Proprie-
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