USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > A history of Anne Arundel County in Maryland : adapted for use in the schools of the county > Part 2
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6. During the balance of the year, while the English and Indians lived together, according to their agreement, great concord prevailed. The natives went every day with the settlers to hunt for deer and turkeys, which, when they had caught, for they were more expert at hunting than the colonists, they either gave to the English, or else sold for knives or beads and similar articles. The Indians also supplied the settlers with fish. These simple-minded natives allowed their women and children to act as domestics in the homes of the settlers. This harmony, though interrupted at times in a minor manner, was never broken to the extent of a war-the Marylanders and the native Indians never coming to open hostilities against each other. Supplied in this ample manner by the native products of this land of plenty, in addition, the colonists had thoughtfully brought a store of Indian corn from the Barbadoes, where they had landed, as well as they had provided at home a stock of flour and bread. They, as intended, had arrived in Maryland at
PARAGRAPH 4. (4) What was the first act of the Governor ? (b) What other work was done by the settlers ? () From whom did the Governor receive a friendly visit ? (d) Give what happened at an entertainment on board the ship.
PARAGRAPH 5. (a) What did they do in order to impress the Indians with respect for the settlers ? (b) What advice did the chiefs of Patuxent and Yoammoco give the other Indians ? (c) What was the speech that the king of Patuxent made ?
PARAGRAPH 6. (a) In what way did the Indians and English live with each other ? (b) Was there ever open warfare between the Indians and the Marylanders ? (c) To whom did the Mary- landers export corn that they had raised ?
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A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
the mild and planting season, and, putting their crop of corn in the ground, had such an abundant yield that they had not only enough for themselves, but were able to export a quantity to New England in exchange for fish and other provisions.
7. The beautiful period of love and friendship between the settlers and the Indians was rudely interrupted by false insinuations circulated by Captain William Clayborne and his adherents, amongst them Captain Henry Fleete, who had been the guide of Gov. Calvert in his visit to the King of the Patuxent. Misled by the evil counsels of Clayborne, Captain Fleete became very hostile to the settlers, and excited the anger of the Indians against the colonists by all the means in his power. The enmity of Clayborne himself was created by his claim to the Isle of Kent and to another settlement that he had made at the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Clayborne held a license from the Government of Virginia to traffic with the Indians, and, by virtue of this privilege, had made these settlements and claimed the soil by the powers granted in his license. Lord Baltimore resisted these claims, and gave orders in September, 1634, that, if Clayborne would not submit to his government, he should be seized and punished.
8. The Indians, believing the statements of Clayborne that the new settlers were Spaniards and enemies of the English, suddenly withdrew themselves from St. Mary's. The colonists were then engaged in erecting comfortable houses for themselves ; but, alarmed at the change in the conduct of the Indians, they ceased work on their homes, and began the erection of a fort for their defence. This took them six weeks, when they returned to build their own houses. In a very brief time the Indians became convinced of the deception that had been practiced upon them, and repaired again to the company of their friends at St. Mary's.
9. Clayborne determined to maintain his claims by force. Early in 1635, he . issued his special warrant to Ratcliffe Warren to seize and capture any of the vessels belonging to the colonists or government of St. Mary's. An armed pinnace, under this commission, was fitted ont, and manned with fourteen men, amongst whom was " Thomas Smith, gentleman," who seems to have been second in com- mand. The government of St. Mary's equipped two armed pinnaces, which set sail under the command of Captain Thomas Cornwallis, one of Governor Calvert's Councillors. The two hostile forces met in April or May, 1635, in either the Pocomoke or Wighcomoco river, where a battle ensued between them. Clayborne's men fired the first shot, and Cornwallis immediately returned the fire. William Ashmore, one of the St. Mary's men, was killed, and Lientenant Warren and two of his men lost their lives in this onset, probably, the first naval action between Englishmen in America. Thomas Smith, in 1638, was tried before the Assembly for the part he had taken in the battle, and condemned to death, but the records do
PAKAGRAPH 7. (@) How and by whom was the friendliness between the English and Indians interrupted ? (b) By what authority did Clayborne lay claim to the Isle of Kent ?
PARAGRAPH 8. () How did the Indians act ? 1b) How did the settlers act ? (e) How long was it before the Indians were convinced ot the deception practiced upon them ?
PARAGRAPH 9. (2) What did Clayborne determine to do ? (b) What did he issue and to whom ? (c) What action did the goverment take ? (d) What happened when the hostile forces met ? (e) What was the result of the trial of Thomas Smith ? (f) What became of Clayborne ?
THE STATE HOUSE AT ANNAPOLIS. Erected in 1772-the third one on the same site.
THE PUBLIC LAORAKA 1
7.22. 4
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A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
not show that the sentence was carried out. Clayborne, in the meantime, had fled to England, Governor Harvey of Virginia, having refused to deliver him to the Maryland authorities, thinking it proper to send him to England with his witnesses.
10. Minute directions had been given by Lord Baltimore as to the terms on which he would grant land to adventurers in Maryland. These conditions were that every first adventurer, who brought five men, aged between sixteen and fifty years, into the Province, in the year 1633, should have the grant of two thousand acres of land unto him and his heirs forever, for the yearly rent of four hundred pounds of good wheat. Every adventurer who brought less than five into the Province, should have a hundred acres for himself, one hundred for his wife if he brought one, and for and in respect to every servant, and fifty acres for every child under sixteen years, for the rent of ten pounds of wheat yearly for every fifty acres. Every adventurer who came in the years 1634 and 1635, who brought ten men, for every ten men he was to have a grant of two thousand acres, under the yearly rent of six hundred pounds of good wheat, and those who brought less than ten were to have a hundred acres for himself, his wife, for every servant, and fifty acres for every child under sixteen years, at the yearly rent of seventy pounds of wheat for every fifty acres. Every adventurer, after the year 1635, was to receive for every five men transported, one thousand acres of land, at the yearly rent of twenty shillings, to be paid in the com- modities of the country, and any one who transported less than five was to have a hundred acres for himself, his wife, for every man servant, and fifty acres for every child under sixteen years of age, and for every maid under forty years, fifty acres, at the yearly rent of twelve pence per acre. Grants of one, two and three thousand acres were to be erected and created into manors. The records of the Manor Court, established upon one of these ancient Maryland manors, still remains. Indeed, it is thought, with good grounds for the belief, that it was Lord Baltimore's intention to create a Maryland hereditary aristocraey by means of these manorial grants and the lords of the manors.
11. By these conditions, on which land was granted to the settlers, the title of the land was held in fee by the freeholders, and was to be theirs, their heirs, or assigns forever, so long as the holders paid the nominal annual rent demanded of them. This safe title to their land fostered the spirit of independence inherent in the breasts of Englishmen, and gave security and protection to the property of the settlers. Under the manorial grants a number of manors were erected. Amongst these the Manor of St. Clements, with Thomas Gerrard as its loid ; the Manor of Evelin, with George Evelin as its lord ; the Manor of Great Oak, with Marmaduke Selden as its lord ; the Manor of Eastern Neck, with James Rinngold as its lord ; and the Manors of Kent Island and of the Susquehanna, in Cecil County, with Giles Brent as their lord.
PARAGRAPH 10. (a) What were the conditions under which settlers obtained land from Lord Baltimore ? (b) What was Lord Baltimore's intention in creating manors ?
PARAGRAPH 11. (a) What was the title of the land held by the settlers ? (b) Name some of the manors ereeted in Maryland, and names of the Lords?
A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
CHAPTER THIRD.
THE ERECTION OF SAINT MARY'S AND KENT COUNTIES.
I. Clothed with legislative rights, the Free Men of Maryland, the second year following the settlement of the Province, 1635, met in General Assembly. Unfor- fortunately what was transacted in this Assembly has been lost to posterity. The Legislature was determined to have been illegally called, and this will account for no care being taken to preserve the records, as they were of no legal value. The first lawful Session of the General Assembly of Maryland began on the 25th day of January, 1637, (old style.) The Legislature then met as one body, -the Governor, the Conneillors, and the Freemen composing it. All the Freemen of the Province were summoned to this Assembly, and had, under penalty of fine, to appear either in person or by proxy. Captain Thomas Cornwallis held fifty-four voices, or proxies, Captain Evelin, of Kent, had forty-eight, and the President of the General Assembly, Governor Calvert, held thirty-eight votes. At this Assembly the Freemen of Maryland exhibited that spirit of independence and determination to maintain their rights that have always characterized their deliberations. Lord Baltimore had forwarded a number of laws for the General Assembly to consider. This body, in turn, propounded and prepared a number of laws to be presented to the Lord Balti- more, denying and destroying forever the Proprietary's claim, that he, alone, had the right to originate laws, and that the Freemen had only the power to veto or assent to them.
2. The first official record of the name of St. Mary's county is that found in the commission given to John Lewger, the trusty councillor of the Governor, and Secretary of the Province. It was dated at St. Mary's, on January 24, 1637, and authorized him to be a conservator of the peace in the County of St. Maries.
3. Five days after the commission was given to John Lewger, one was executed for James Baldridge, as sheriff and coroner of St. Mary's County. The bond that Baldridge gave to well and duly execute the office of sheriff was "one thousand pound weight of good merchantable tobacco." Although, in the order of antiquity, St. Mary's county has been, from a very early date in the annals of the Province, acknowledged and recognized to be the oldest county, yet twenty-five days before the first commission was issued to an officer of that county, John Lewger, one was issued to George Evelin, as Commander of the Isle of Kent, and giving him
PARAGRAPH 1. (@) When did the Legislature meet, and where ? (b) When did the first legal Legislature meet and where ? (e) Name some of the members and the number of proxies, or votes that they had ? (d) What claim of Lord Baltimore's did this body destroy forever ?
PARAGRAPH 2. () Where is the first official record of the name of St. Mary's found ?
PARAGRAPH 3. (a) What commission appears on the records ahead of the name of St Mary's ?
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A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
authority to choose six of the inhabitants of the Island to advise and consult in all matters of importance, and power to call Courts, award process, and to hear and determine all manner of canses, civil and criminal, happening in the Island. Robert Vanghan, on the 5th day of January, 1637, was made high constable of the hundred of St. Clements. On February 9, 1637, Robert Philpot, William Coxe and Thomas Allen were commissioned as conservators of the peace for the Isle of Kent.
4. Although St. Mary's County had actual and official existence, it was not until 1695, by chapter 13 of the Acts of that Session, that the boundaries of St. Mary's were definitely settled, and these bonnds were confirmed and ratified by the Act of 1704, chapter 92, which enacted "that St. Mary's County shall begin at Point Look Ont, and extend up the Potomac River to the lower side of Bird's Creek, and so, over by a straight line drawn from the head of the main branch of the said Bird's Creek, to the head of Indian Creek in Patnxent River, including all that land lying between Patuxent and Potomac Rivers, from the lower part of the said two creeks and branches of Bird's and Indian's Creek by the line aforesaid, and by Point Look Out."
5. Kent County, the second county in honorable antiquity amongst the counties of Maryland, bore the same relation to the counties of the Eastern Shore, that St. Mary's did to the Western-it was the neclens around which the other counties formed. Like St. Mary's, its limits were not defined at its establishment, and only were they declared when it became necessary, after many years, because other counties had been formed around and from them. Indeed, the name of county was not applied to Kent in the earliest records, and, in the roll of members of the General Assembly of 1637, only one member is recorded as representing a county, James Baldridge, the sheriff of St. Mary's, who is recorded as "Sheriff of St. Mary's County." The other Free Men came as councillors of the Governor, as representatives of hundreds, by virtue of their own personal right, or by the proxies of other freemen. Robert Evelin appeared as Commander of the Isle of Kent, and the title of county is not used in connection with any representative who appeared from Kent.
6. It was not until 1706 that Kent County had its boundaries established. The Act of that session enacted that the lines of Kent County should be : "On the north, Sassafras River from the bay to the south end of Long Horse Bridge, lying over the head of the said river, and thence a straight line, drawn east and by sonth, to the exterior bounds of the Province; on the east, by the lines of the Province, until they intersect the southern line ; on the south, a line beginning on the bay with Chester River, and running with the same to a branch called Sewell's
PARAGRAPH 4. (a) In what year were the actual boundaries of St. Mary's definitely settled ? (b) On what river is St. Mary's County ?
PARAGRAPH 5. (4) What is the second county in antiquity in Maryland ? (b) By what name was it first represented in the Legislature ?
PARAGRAPH 6. (a) In what year did Kent county have its boundaries established ? (b) What bay and rivers form part of the boundaries of Kent County ?
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A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
Branch, and with that to its head, and thence, by a due east line to the eastern bounds of the Province ; on the west the bay."
CHAPTER FOURTH.
LIFE AMONGST THE EARLY SETTLERS OF MARYLAND.
1. The broad and benign policy of Lord Baltimore attracted, early in the history of the colony, men of wealth, learning and station, while the laborer, the mechanic and the artizan were also amongst its first adventurers. The professions were represented in the lawyer, the soldier, the physician and the surveyor, whilst the trades and crafts numbered in its membership the farmer, the planter, the barber, the carpenter, and the ship-builder.
2. Owing to the absence of a legislative body, there was no code of law in operation in the colony until 1637, and then, when the Assembly had rejected the body of laws sent over to them by Lord Baltimore, it was suggested by Captain Corn- wallis, a member of the Assembly of 1637, that the Legislature declare that the law of England was to be applied as far as applicable, and it was, finally, suggested that military law be enforced for the sake of good government. Notwithstanding the want of statutory law, the Province had great internal peace, and, after the Session of 1637, justices of the peace, commanders of districts, and sheriffs were commis- sioned and Courts established for the enforcement of rights, the conservation of justice, and the adjudication of canses.
3. The Assembly of 1637 having rejected the body of Laws, drawn up in England, and transmitted by his Lordship in order to be passed by the Provincial Legislature, the Assembly appointed a Committee to prepare a Draft of Laws to be propounded to his Lordship for his Assent, and the Legislature agreed to forty- two acts. They were never enacted into Laws, nor are even copies of them, nor of those sent over by his Lordship, to be found amongst the records of the Province. The titles of the bills which the Assembly proposed are still extant, and they show the mind and spirit that moved the founders of the State of Maryland. Amongst these proposed acts were : A bill for dividing the Province ; a bill for Bounding of
PARAGRAPH 1. () Whom did the policy of Lord Baltimore attract to the Province ?
PARAGRAPH 2. (a) Owing to the absence of the Legislative hody, what appears not to have been in operation until 1637? (b) Notwithstanding the want of a code of laws, what was the state of the colony ? (e) Who were commissioned after the Session of 1637 ?
PARAGRAPH 3. (a) How many acts did the Legislature of 1637 agree to? (b) Name some of the proposed acts ? (c) Did Lord Baltimore agree to them ?
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A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
Manors; bills to assign, people and support Manors ; a bill for settling of the Glebe ; a bill for Baronies ; a bill for assigning of Freeholds ; a bill for Building of a Town; a bill for ereeting a Fort; a bill for planting corn ; a bill for restraint of liquors ; a bill for military Discipline; a bill for the Assurance of the titles of land ; a bill for the liberties of the People ; a bill for swearing allegiance to our Sovereign ; bills for the descending of land and for the suecession of goods of a deceased intestate ; bills for probate of Wills ; touching General Assemblies ; for the punish- ment of all Servants ; for Corn Measures ; for fees ; for payment of Forfeitures ; for Treasons ; for Capital Offences ; for allowing Clergy for some capital offences; for the arbitrary punishment of enormous offences ; for the punishment of lesser crimes, and closing the list with a bill for the Support of the Lord Proprietary.
4. The dispute between Lord Baltimore and William Clayborne was settled by the Commissioners of Trade in England, on the 4th of April, 1638. The judgment of the Commissioners was "that the lands in question absolutely belonged to Lord Baltimore, and that no plantation, or trade with the Indians, ought to be allowed, within the limits of his patent, without his permission ; that, with regard to the violenees complained of, no cause for any relief appeared, but that both parties should be left to the ordinary course of justice." A few months later, in July, 1638, by the assistance of Sir William Alexander, his patron in the business, Clayborne procured a royal order to Lord Baltimore commanding him to allow Clayborne and his agents or patrons to enjoy their possessions, and be safe in their persons and goods, till the cause referred should be decided. The order is supposed to have been a restraining order only until the case had been decided by the Lord Commis- sioners who, at that time, had not given publication to their judgment of April. When Loud Baltimore received the order, he said he would wait on the king, and give him perfect satisfaction. This, we may presume, was done, as Lord Baltimore was finally confirmed in all his rights in Maryland.
5. Lord Baltimore's settlement of the colony of Maryland cost him, for the first two years, forty thousand pounds sterling, and he was able to recoup a thou- sand pounds of this expenditure in seizing the pipe-staves that, in a co-partnership agreement with William Cloberry and David Morehead, of London, Clayborne had cut on Kent Island. The early colonists, of both Virginia and Maryland, were, also, industriously engaged in trade with the Indians, and with enterprizing effort supplied themselves with conck or cockle shells, which passed current as money, with the Indians. The shells were wrought and perforated to be strung on strings, and being highly polished and of variegated colors, were used as ornaments to the person, and was partienlarly agreeable to the female sex, as necklaces and bracelets of pearl were to the belles of Europe. Maryland began its planting with corn and tobacco, and, in the absence, of either paper or metal money, tobacco soon became the currency of the country, and the standard of valnes.
PARAGRAPH 4. (a) When was the dispute between Lord Baltimore and Clayborne settled ? (b) To whom did the Commissioners of Trade say the lands in question belonged ?
PARAGRAPH 5. (a) What did Lord Baltimore's settlement of the colony cost him in the first two years ? (b) What were the colonists engaged in ? (r) With what did they supply themselves ? (d) What were these shells used for by the Indians ? (e) What became the currency in Maryland ?
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A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
6. The justice and equity with which the goverment of Lord Baltimore was administered, and its strict care to prevent religious dissensions is shown in an incident that occurred in 1638. A proclamation had been issued, prohibiting "all unseasonable disputations in point of religion, tending to the disturbance of the public peace and quiet of the colony, and to the opening of faction in religion.' Captain Cornwalleys had some servants who were Protestants. They lived in the same house with William Lewis, a zealous Catholic, under whose charge the servants were. It happened, not improbably with an obvious intention that Lewis should have the benefit of it, that Francis Gray and Robert Sedgrave, two of these Protes- tant servants of Captain Cornwallis, were reading, aloud, Mr. Smith's Sermons, a Protestant work. William Lewis came through the room. Supposing they were reading the book for him to hear, particularly some offensive passages in it-"that the pope was anti-Christ, and the Jesuits anti-Christian ministers," Lewis retorted "that it was a falsehood, and came from the devil, as all lies did, and he would prove it ; and that all Protestant ministers were ministers of the devil," and Lewis, thereupon, forbade the two from reading that book any more. The servants prepared a petition that Lewis alleged they had intended to be presented by them to Sir William Harvey, the Governor of Virginia, Gov. Harvey being a Protestant, as soon as they had procured the signatures of all the Protestants in Maryland. The servants denied this, but said it was to be presented to the Governor of Maryland. The sentiment of the petition was a complaint against Lewis for his abuse of the. Protestant ministers, and his refusal to permit them either to keep or read, in any house, any book which appertained to their religion. Before the petitioners had time to present their memorial for redress, Lewis gave information of the document to Captain Cornwallis, who presented the matter to Secretary Lewger, who ordered the parties, with their witnesses, to be brought before himself and Captain Corn- wallis. The petition was delivered to Captain Cornwallis, and the parties bound over with two sureties to answer at the next Court. In the absence of a witness the servants' cases were deferred ; but the Secretary gave his opinion that Lewis, for his " offensive speeches and unseasonable disputations in point of religion, contrary to a publie proclamation to prohibit all such disputes," should be fined 500 pounds of tobacco, and to remain in the sheriff's custody until he found sufficient securities for his good behaviour in time to come.
7. The gentle and generous spirit that pervaded the Commonwealth in that most fruitful source of dissension-the religious question-was further exemplified and encouraged by the request of Fathers White and Altham, which petition was granted, to be excused from the obligation to attend the Assembly as Free Men. This wise discretion eliminated all suspicion of priesteraft from the government of the Province, and accentuated Lord Baltimore's instructions that Catholics should not be offensive to Protestants. Indeed, so broad was the charity and knightly the
PARAGRAPH 6. (@) What proclamation had been issued ? (b) Who was arrested for violating this proclamation ? (c) For what cause ? (d) What was the judgment of the Court against Lewis? PARAGRAPH 7. (4) How was the gentle and generous spirit that pervaded the commonwealth
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