USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > A history of Anne Arundel County in Maryland : adapted for use in the schools of the county > Part 14
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8. The last tribe of Indians to visit Annapolis lived on the Potomac River. Their tribal connection is even unknown to ns. They exchanged their lands with the Calvert family for lands in Baltimore County, where game was more plentiful, and, as the white population advanced, they retired to the Susquehanna. The Eastern Shore Indians continued to visit Annapolis, and, as late as 1840, there were some few inhabitants still living in Annapolis, who remembered the visits of King Abraham, and his Queen, Sarah.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIFTH.
THE THREE STATE HOUSES IN ANNAPOLIS.
1. The most historic building in the county of Anne Arundel is the State House in Annapolis. The present one was built in 1772. It was preceded by two others. The first one was built in 1696. This building had a brief and tragie history. On the journal of the House of July 13th, 1699, it is recorded, " that, on Thursday, July 13th, about four or five of the clock in the afternoon, a violent flash of lightning broke into the State House at Annapolis-the House of Delegates being there sitting, which instantly killed Mr. James Cranford, one of the members, of Calvert county, and hurt and wounded several other members, and shattered and
PARAGRAPH 7. (a) What do the Indians of Maryland present? (b) What has perished from the memory of man? (c) What single exception exists as to the connection of the Indians with the waters of the county?
PARAGRAPH S. (a) Who were the last Indians to visit Annapolis? (b) With whom did they exchange their lands? (4) To what section did they retire? (d) What Indians continued to visit Annapolis?
PARAGRAPH 1. (a) What is the most historie building in Annapolis? (b) When was the present
The Campus of St. John's-Northeast View.
THE NEW ICKE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AUTOR, LEMAX AND 1. DEA COLADA ; ONI
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broke most part of the doors and window cases belonging to the said house, and sett ye said State House on fire in one of the upper Chambers, and several other damages ; but the fire was presently quenched by the diligence and industry of his Excellency, Nathaniel Blackstone, his majesty's governor." In 1704, this State House was burned down, but from what cause the fire originated neither the records nor tradition have preserved.
2. The second State House was finished in 1706, and stood where the present State House now stands. It was in the form of an oblong square, entered by a hall, opposite to the door of which were the judges' seats ; and, on either side, were rooms for the juries to retire, for this building seems to have been used as a Court House as well as a State House. It was a neat brick building, Over the judges' seat was a full length portrait of Queen Anne. A handsome cupalo surmounted the building, and was surrounded by balustrades and furnished with seats for those who desired to view the scenery presented from its dome. On the north of this State House an armory was built, in which the arms of the Province were arranged, and when the room was lighted up by the wooden gilt chandelier, the reflection from the arms produced a most brilliant effect. Portraits of Queen Anne and Lord Baltimore hung in this room, which was often used as a ball room. On the west of the State House stood the famous King William's school. On the east the present Council Chamber, for the meeting of the Governor and his Council, was built about the year 1697.
3. In 1769, the Legislature appropriated seven thousand pounds sterling to build the present State House. The foundation stone was laid on the 28th of March, 1772, by Gov. Eden. In 1773, a copper roof was put on the State House, and in 1775 a violent equinoctional storm tore off this roof. The dome of the State House was not added until after the Revolutionary War. The entire height of the State House is 200 feet from base to spire, and it stands on an elevation 58 feet above sea-level. Its magnificent site, its simple architecture, gives it a lofty and majestic appearance, that has, in all periods, excited the admiration of strangers and citizens alike. The main building is of brick, and the dome of wood. From time to time changes were made in the north-west side of the exterior of the building, the latest being the addition ordered by the Legislature of 1902, in order to accom- modate the General Assembly. The universal opinion is that the addition has materially affected the beauty and granduer of the oldl State House which is endeared to all lovers of American patriotism by the noted events that have occurred within its walls-Washington having resigned his military commission in the Senate Chamber there December 23rd, 1783 ; the treaty of peace with Great Britian that
one built? (c) By how many State Houses was it preceded? (d) What was the history of the first one?
PARAGRAPH 2. (@) When was the second State House finished? (b) What was a form of it? (c) Can you describe this building? (d) What portraits hung in this room? (e) What famous school stood on the west of this State House?
PARAGRAPH 3. (a) What appropriation did the Legislature make in 1769? (b) When was the foundation stone of the present State House laid and by whom? (c) When was the dome added? (d) What is the entire height of the State House? (e) What does its magnificent site and simple
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made the Colonies free and independent States, having been ratified there, and the Convention of 1786, that led to the greater Convention of 1787, that made us a more perfect union of States was held in this building. The building is rendered especially sacred to Marylanders, because, over and over again, the Maryland General Assembly, on its site, valiantly battled for the rights of the people when assailed by the Crown or the proprietary.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIXTH.
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
1. The first record of the establishment of a school in Anne Arundel County is that of King William's School, at Annapolis, which was erected in the year 1696, by an Act of the Legislature, and through subscriptions by members of the Assembly and others. It was established to educate youths in "Latin, Greek, writing and the like," and its faculty consisted of one Master, one usher and one Writing-Master or seribe. This and other schools created by the act were denomi- nated " free schools." Up to this period whatever of education was given in Anne Arundel was of a private nature, and no record of it remains.
2. In 1723, the Legislature passed an Act establishing one school in every county in the Province, and seven Commissioners were appointed for each county, who were called Visitors, and who were to have the authority over the county schools. The seven visitors for Anne Arundel were :- Rev. M. Joseph Colbatch, rector of All Hallows' Parish, Col. Samuel Young, William Lock, Captain Daniel Moriartee, Charles Hammond, Richard Warfield, John Beale. Donations of public monies were made to support these schools. This system of public schools con- tinued down to the Revolutionary war, the original act, establishing them, being amended from time to time.
3. In addition to these public schools there were private Academies and institu- tions of learnings in Annapolis and in the county. The Catholics, though ostensibly debarred by law from keeping or teaching school, nevertheless established them,
architecture give it? (f) What noted events have taken place in the Senate Chamber of the present State House? (g) What makes the building especially sacred to Marylanders?
PARAGRAPH 1. What is the first record of the establishment of a school in Anne Arundel? (b) For what was it established? (c) What was it and other schools established by the act of 1696 called? (d) Up to this period what had been the nature of education in Anne Arundel?
PARAGRAPH 2. (a) What did the Legislature of 1723 pass? (b) Who were appointed to govern the schools? (c) Who were the visitors to the Anne Arundel Schools? (d) To what time did this system of public schools continue?
PARAGRAPH 3. (u) What other institutions of learning were in the county and Annapolis besides
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and one of these was kept, in 1752, by James Elston, a Catholic, about six miles from Annapolis. Elston accommodated his theological teachings to the require- ments of his patrons, stating that he would educate such of the people's children in the Catholic religion as approved of it, and such as did not he would educate in the Protestant way. The desire for learning in Annapolis brought private educators to the city, and one of these, William Clayton, announced through the Gazette, that " the Subscriber having, by a great Application, acquired a reasonable knowledge of the English Grammar, he professes to Teach the same at the Free School of Annapolis. Those Parents who cannot afford their sons spending several years in the learning of Greek and Latin, may, by this Proposal, procure to them the only Benefit commonly expected from these Languages. The Learning of their own : Besides, their daughters can as easily enjoy the same Advantage. As he does not take upon himself to Teach English Pronunciation, (which will be Taught, as usual, by Mr. Wilmot) he hopes no judicious Person will make any Objections to his being a Foreigner ; and that, as his Proposal is of a self-evident Advantage to Youth, he will meet with good Encouragement. His terms are very moderate, being only Thirty Shillings, additional to what is allowed Mr. Wilmot. N. B. This will make no Alteration to the Price given me for Teaching French, Latin and Greek."
4. Learning in the country was attended in its acquisition with the dangers incident to the yet unconquered wilderness. On the north side of the Severn, near the mouth of the south bank of the Magothy, was a great forest of five hundred acres. Past this deep wood the children of Mr. Richard Moss had to pass to go to school. One morning, led by James, the elder of the group, as the children were on their way to school, as they opened a gate on the public road, they saw a bear feeding a short distance away. Grasping the youngest child by the hand, James ran back home all the way, a mile and a half, nearly exhausting the smallest of the group, to tell of the presence of bruin. Mr. Moss summoned his colored hands and they proceeded to the place where the bear was, and killed him. This was about, or in, the year 1754.
5. In 1785, St. John's College was opened. It succeeded to the Library and property of King William's School, and, like its predecessor, diffused the benefits of liberal learning throughout the county of Anne Arundel, as well as contribu- ting to the cause of education in the State and nation. Many of its graduates have done splendid work in the service of the State, and not a few in that of the country at large. William Pinkney, the celebrated diplomat, was a student at King William's School, and Reverdy Johnson, statesman and lawyer, and Francis Scott Key, author of The Star-Spangled Banner, graduated at St. John's.
public schools? (b) Who, though debarred by law, kept a school about six miles from Annapolis? (c) In what manner did Elston propose to teach on religious questions? (d) What did William Clayton announce in the Gazette?
PARAGRAPH 4. (a) With what was the acquisition of learning attended in the county? (b) What incident occurred to the children of Mr. Richard Moss, of North Severn, while on their way to school? (c) What did Mr. Moss do? (d) What year was this?
PARAGRAPH 5. (a) When was St. John's College opened? (b) To what did it succeed? (c) Who was scholar at King William's School and who were at St. John's who acquired great fame?
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6. After the American Revolution, a legislative act was required as each new school house was asked by the patrons. The State enlarged, from Session to Session, the system of appropriating revenues from special sources to sustain the public schools as had been inaugurated in colonial times. Anne Arundel was one of the first counties to obtain a special Act to enable it to give education to those children whose parents could not afford them the means of instruction. To this system was added that of absolute local district government. Each school district in a county was given control of its schools, the election of its teachers and trustees, and the settlement of the rate of school taxes. Only tax-payers could vote at these ineetings. These assemblages became polls where antagonistic factions waged per- sonal or political warfare for supremacy and for the management of the schools.
7. By the Constitution of 1864, an elaborate system of general public educa- tion, under one head, was adopted. The present system is a modification of that one. The whole public instruction of the State is new, with the exception of that of the City of Baltimore, which has a separate system, under the general manage- ment of the State Board of Education, with local Boards, called School Commis- sioners, appointed by the Governor, in the several counties of the State, which have the direct control of their county schools. The Board of County School Commis- sioners in Anne Arundel consists of William S. Crisp, Robert Murray, and George T. Melvin. Henry Randall Wallace is the County School Examiner.
8. The serious difficulty in the present school system of the county is the large number of colored children for whom Anne Arundel is expected to provide education. The parents of the children are not, in any degree commensurate with the expense of the school taxes, tax-payers, so that the burden is thrown upon the white tax-payers to support both the white and colored schools. The tax-pavers do not feel able to support both classes of schools as the conditions require, and yet the county cannot afford to let the colored people grow up in ignorance.
PARAGRAPH 6. (a) What was required after the Revolution when patrons needed a new school house? (b) What did the State enlarge from Session to Session? (e) What county was one of the first to obtain a special act to give education to children whose parents had not the means to educate them? (d) What was added to this system? (e) Who voted to settle the rate of the public school tax ?:
PARAGRAPH 7. (a) What was adopted by the Constitution of 1864? (b) In whose hands now is the whole public instruction of the State, save in the City of Baltimore? (c) Who compose, at present, the Board of County School Commissioners in Anne Arundel? (d) What is the serions difficulty in the present school system in Anne Arundel? (c) What can the county not afford?
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THE POSTOFFICE, ANNAPOLIS.
WOODWARD HIALL, ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.
THE NEWYORK PUBLICA
ABl OA LENDY AND
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CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVENTH.
TOWNS IN ANNE ARUNDEL.
FRIENDSHIP.
1. The village of Friendship, in the Eighth Election District of Anne Arundel county, was founded by Isaac Simmons, in the year 1804. It is located one mile east of a cove called "Chew's Cove," leading into Herring Bay, and thence to the Chesapeake. It is 22 miles south of Annapolis, in north latitude 38 degrees, and 34 minutes, and west longitude 75 degrees, and 9 minutes, and lies on the post road from Annapolis to St. Leonard's Town, and a cross road from the Bay to the Patuxent River. Tradition tells that this place was once a public field in the olden times, for various kinds of sports. A reputation for the iniquity of the locality has been also preserved. About the year 1785, David Weems, a devout man, procured subscriptions, and built a house on the site of the place, and this to this day is called " Weems's Preaching House." In 1804, Isaac Simmons selected Friendship as his place of abode, bought a piece of ground, built several small cottages, for the accommodation of mechanics, and suitable shops to work in, and to follow his ocen- pation. Mr. Simmons purchased more ground, both in 1805 and in 1806, each plot being near the old meeting house. In 1806, Samuel Gott built a house and entered into the mercantile business. The Methodists in 1806, sent two ministers to the Calvert Circuit, which included Friendship in it. Their names were Eli Towne and Thomas Curran. After preaching in 1807, Mr. Towne was taken ill, and received great kindness from the villagers, but refused to leave the place where he lay-the floor. The next morning he arose much better, and thereupon gave the name of "Friendship" to the little hamlet. "Greenhead " was at one time a local name of the place. Mr. Towne was the first minister to spend a night in the village.
2. The first United States mail arrived in the hamlet on March 3rd, 1807, directed to Friendship-Samuel Gott, postmaster. In the year 1825, the Rev. R. S. D. Jones was made the Methodist minister, and he found added to the original cottages, dwellings by Samuel Wood, Wm. P. Hardesty, Dr. Benj. Carr and Robert Griffith, a dwelling and a store-house. There were also other buildings, the names of whose owners are now lost. Henry Childs also had a store in the place. Rev. Louis Sutton also had a store. William Urquhart was the Tavern Keeper of the village, and John S. Ward and Thomas Crane, the shoemakers, and Eli Weedon, the tailor, John Wise was the blacksmith.
PARAGRAPH I. (a) Where is the village of Friendship? (b) By whom was it founded? (c) Who secured funds in 1785 and built a preaching house in the place? (d) Who gave the name of Friend- ship to the place?
PARAGRAPH 2. (a) When did the first mail arrive iu Friendship?
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3. An Academy was commenced in the village, but it soon closed, and John W. Wood bought the house. The Nat Turner insurrection in South Hampton County, Va., in 1831, caused great excitement in this and other sections, and a military com- pany was formed at Friendship, with Cephas Simmons, Captain. The Governor sent the Company a lot of flint muskets as weapons, and other accontrements. The organization was continued for several years. A Temperance Sermon was preached in the village on March 4, 1832, by the Rev. Nicholas J. Watkins, and a Temper- ance society organized. The old frame church was sold, in 1833, and a new brick one built. During the first week after its dedication, on Wednesday evening, when the Rev. Zackariah Jordan was preaching, and the church was well-lighted by the lamps in the gallery and pulpit, they were suddenly dimmed and the Church was filled with a reddish haze, similar to that sometimes seen about the moon. The preacher in the pulpit appeared as if surrounded by a blaze of fire. The scene was most wonderful. Men, not given to demonstrations, fell off their seats and others shouted aloud. It made a powerful impression upon those who witnessed this remarkable spectacle.
4. In 1843, a number of citizens organized a lyceum and debating society, and on July 4, 1844, a joint celebration of the debating and temperance societies was held, and it was an occasion of much patriotic demonstration. The village of Friend- ship now numbers about 200 inhabitants. Friendship is beautifully located in a picturesque country, in the centre of a busy people, and still deserves its cognomen by the genuine hospitality and courtesy of its inhabitants.
JAMESTOWN.
5. Jamestown, formerly known as Scrabbletown, is located on the broad and beautiful Road River. The first house was built in it by Captain Daniel Ball, about the year 1840. The town received its original name from this incident :- William McCarter came to pay a visit to his friend Ball. The place was then such a wilderness that McCarter was many hours wandering about the locality trying to find his friend's house. When, towards evening, he did locate the house, he announced that " I've been serabbling about here all day trying to find you." The name of the village was changed about five years since to Jamestown. There is no historie or local significance in the name. There are about a hundred inhabitants in the village.
LONDONTOWN.
6. One of the most ambitious, abortive efforts of the early settlers of Anne Arundel to establish a town was on the south bank of South River, about four miles from its mouth. This section was settled in 1650, Richard Beard receiving
PARAGRAPH 3. (a) What caused great excitement in Friendship? (b) What was then formed in the village? (c) What phenomenon occurred at the dedication of the new briek church in Friend- ship in 1833?
PARAGRAPH 4. (a) How many inhabitants has Friendship? (b) How is the village situated? PARAGRAPH 5. (@) When, where, and how was Jamestown settled?
PARAGRAPH 6. (@) When was Londontown settled? Can you name some of its early settlers?
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the first grant of land. He had a lot of ground surveyed . for him called Poplar Neck, Jannary 6, 1650, on the south side of South River. On the same day, George Puddington had "Puddington " on the same side of South River surveyed for him. January 21, 1651, William Burgess had " Burgess " surveyed, and October 21, 1652, Elin Brown had a track surveyed that he afterward assigned to John Brewer. The name of Londontown was not known until 1684, when Thomas Linthienm asked for a certificate for lot 33 in Londontown. The year before, 1683, under Act of Assembly, vessels were allowed to load and unload on Colonel Burgess's land on South River. This was Londontown. In 1703, Col. Henry Ridgely had a lot in Londontown, which he sold to David Macklefresh, and Richard Welsh owned one in Londontown about the same time. From that period to 1740, amongst the owners of lots in Londontown, were William Mackubin, Elinore Rumney, Richard Snowden, Elizabeth Carpenter, Thomas Dunep, Patrick Sympson, Elizabeth Mitchell, Samnel Peale, Anthony Bale, Thomas Gassaway, John Duvall, John Baldwin, William Chapman, Benjamin Freeman, Richard Moore, Richard Hill, Ellis Davis, John Burgess, James Carroll, William Claflin, John Lewis, William Wootten, James Mount, May Moore, Samuel Moole, William Peale, John Gassaway, Josiah Lowgood, Richard Jones, Jr., James Dick, Elizabeth Peale and Elizabeth Merrick. They represented an excellent class of citizens. Col. William Burgess was a great man in this community. He was its leader, and while the town did not have the standing of Annapolis, yet it had sufficient means to warrant, when it was first proposed for the King to quarter troops on this Province, because the Lower House would not vote war supplies for the French and Indian War to please His Majesty, that Londontown was to have one, while Annapolis was to have four com- panies. In the end Annapolis had five companies quartered upon its citizens, and New London, or Londontown, did not have any sent to it.
BROOKLYN.
7. Brooklyn is situated in the Fifth Election District of Anne Arundel County, and lies on the southwest bank of Patapsco River. This town owes its origin to the Patapsco Company that was incorporated by the Maryland Legislature in 1853. The company was authorized to buy and sell land in Anne Arundel County. A prospective town was laid out in lots and a plat of it made with streets, avenues and a public square. When Mr. R. W. Templeman came into the employ of the Patapsco Company in 1857, he found a small map of the place in the office of the company, from which a larger plat was made, and the coming city was named either by him, he states, or some one else-"Brooklyn." This title was, undoubtedly, given the new town on account of its proximity to Baltimore, with a river separating it, as was situated the greater Brooklyn to the city of New York. In a few years the South Baltimore Harbor and Improvement Company bought out the rights of the Patapsco Company, and proceeded to develop Brooklyn. Amongst the earliest purchasers of lots in Brooklyn, were Conrad Stoll, in 1856 ; Adam Gischel, in 1857 ;
PARAGRAPH 7. (a) Where is Brooklyn situated? (b) How was it settled, and by whom?
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Samuel G. Acton, in 1857; A. Grothy, in 1858; Jacob F. Hooter, in 1860; John T. McPherson, in 1862. Curtis Bay is a development on the south of Brooklyn about two miles. Many manufacturing establishments are located there. Mason- ville is a small village lying between Curtis Bay and Brooklyn. Curtis Bar is located at the mouth of Curtis Creek. This locality is also known as South Balti- more. The section, comprised in the territory from Brooklyn to Curtis Bay. is a growing and enterprising one, and now numbers four or five thousand inhabitants. None of these towns are incorporated.
ODENTON.
8. Odenton is a village of two hundred inhabitants lying in the Fourth Election District of Anne Arundel, fourteen miles northwest of Annapolis, at the intersec- tion of the Baltimore and Potomac and the Annapolis, Washington and Baltimore Railroads. Its origin was due to the building of the Baltimore and Potomac Rail- road and its intersection with the Annapolis, Washington and Baltimore Road. The new station on the Potomac Road was named Odenton after Governor Oden Bowie, then the president of the Potomac Railroad. Mr. Peter Watts who owned the land through which the railroad passed, built the first house in the new town, and opened a general merchandise store. The railroad was built in 1867, and the town began immediately to develop.
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