USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > A history of Anne Arundel County in Maryland : adapted for use in the schools of the county > Part 20
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The next public use of it we find in Eddis' Letters was when the inhabitants assembled under it to determine whether, or not, persons who had not joined the association of patriots should be driven out of the colony.
In 1825, Gen. LaFayettee was entertained under it, and after that there are frequent mentions in the Maryland Gazette of Fourth of July celebrations taking place under its ample shade.
About 1840, several youths were playing under this tree with that very danger- ous, but frequent adjunct of juvenile sports-gunpowder. They had about two pounds of it. They placed it in the hollow of the tree, where it was ignited and exploded, setting fire to the grand old tree. The citizens of Annapolis repaired in force for its rescue, the firemen bringing out the city engine and deluging the tree with water. The boys' escapade was, no doubt, greatly denounced ; but the juve- niles had done better than their denouncers thought or the juveniles intended. The tree had fallen into a state of decay that threatened its life. The next year it put forth its branches with its youth renewed. The explosion had destroyed the worms that were gnawing away its vitals !
How long this monarch of a primeval forest has existed, none can tell. An octogenarian told me he remembers it in 1812-and it seemed as large then as now. If in 1652, it was of such imposing growth that it was selected as the scene of so important an event as the making of a treaty of peace by the Puritans with their savage foes, may we not infer it lived before Columbus saw America ? On the 30th of July, 1886, it was, two feet from the ground, twenty-nine feet, four inches in circumference, and stood about 150 feet high. One-third of the trunk is gone, and it is now boarded up. The body of the tree is a mere shell-a marvel how its life can be maintained and thousands of tulips bloom on its branches in their season.
Its identity with Eddis' Liberty Tree is preserved to us alone by tradition, but its use and size corroborate the truth of oral testimony.
PARAGRAPH 19. (@) Give an account of the Liberty Tree?
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WHITE JIALL.
20. White Hall was built by Gov. Horatio Sharpe, during his administration, who was Governor of Maryland, from 1753 to 1769. It is beautifully situated on a point of land making ont into the Chesapeake Bay, locally known as White Hall Bay. White Hall Creek bounds it on the west side and Meredith's Creek on the east. It is a peninsula of good, level land. The tract originally contained about a thousand acres. The house, still in excellent preservation, is built after the plan of an ancient castle, and when first seen looks as if an European villa had arisen sud- denly by the touch of Aladdin's lamp from the ground, so entirely ont of keeping is it with the modern buildings in that section. It is about seven miles from Annapolis. The house has hand carving throughout its entire structure, and the tradition is that a transported conviet, executed the work with the promise, that, when finished, he should have his freedom. On the breaking out of the Revolu- tion, Governor Sharpe went to England and left this handsome estate to his private secretary, John Ridont, and it continued in the Ridont family nutil 1896, when the house and a small part of the land were sold to Mrs. J. P. Story, of Washington, wife of Captain Story of the United States Army.
PRIMROSE.
21. Primrose, or Primrose Hill, lies about two miles from Annapolis, on the beautiful Spa. It is a fine specimen of the old colonial residences that adorned Anne Arundel. When it was built is unknown, but it was once in the possession of Richard Young, who was clerk of Calvert County, in 1740. He and his wife, Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Barbara Holdsworth of Calvert County, resided there.
THE WELCH MANSION.
22. This is the ancient residence at Londontown, now occupied as the County Alms House, and was built, tradition in the Welch family of Anne Arundel says, by one of its members.
OTHER ANCIENT BUILDINGS.
23. Jonas Green's residence, where he printed the Maryland Gazette, remains on Charles street, Annapolis. It is now occupied by his descendants.
Opposite the Green residence is the former home of William Pinkney, now occupied by Dr. George Wells. On West street, once called Cowpen Lane, stands a house, part of which now occupied in part by Mrs. Wm. H. Gassaway, that was once a tavern kept by Mrs. McClond, and was afterward the site of a circulating library kept by William Rind. Allen Quinn then became the owner, then Thomas Harris, and finally Chancellor John Johnson, who remodelled it.
The house opposite, owned by the MeParlin family, was once known as " Hunter's Tavern."
PARAGRAPH 20. (a) Where is White Hall?
PARAGRAPH 21. (a) Where is Primrose?
PARAGRAPH 22. (a) Where is the Welch Mansion?
PARAGRAPH 23. (a) What other ancient buildings are in Annapolis?
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CHAPTER FORTY-SIXTH.
THE LOST LANDMARKS OF ANNE ARUNDEL.
1. As the ancient monuments of the olden days that still remain, give Annapolis and Anne Arundel much of the interest that strangers and citizens feel in their honorable history, in that spirit, the antiquarian and the historian deplore the loss, by time, fire and the march of material improvement, real or visionary, of many of the landmarks that have made memorable the history of the county. Amongst these is all trace of The Ridge where the Legislature met in 1683; of Herington near West River; the old grist mill on the head of Broad Creek, South River, and the Fulling Mill, on Fulling Creek, South River, where the cloth was woven for the slaves of the Plantation for the ancient negroes. All the wind-mills of the county have disappeared save one, on West River, owned and operated by Thomas Mullen, a colored man. When there is grist to grind and the wind favora- ble, its great wings may be seen turning cheerily around grinding food for man and beast. Fifty years ago there remained one of these wind-mills in Annapolis, located on Franklin Hill, another on the Bay shore near Magothy River, and yet another on the banks of the Chesapeake, near Fair Haven. A stone mill, before the Revolutionary War, stood on Windmill Point, near where Fort Severn is located, which, in those ancient days, astonished the Annapolitans, by grinding ont in one hour, the wonderful amount of eight bushels of grain !
2. The City of Annapolis has lost many of its splendid monuments of its illus- trions past. One of these was the residence of the celebrated Daniel Dulany. This was located in the Naval Academy, and was pulled down in 1883. It stood on the site of Bancroft Hall. This colonial building was erected by John Duff, an architect, who settled in the country in 1728. It was occupied by the Dulany family from 1753 to 1808. It was then transferred to the War Department as part of the grounds of Fort Severn, and became the residence of the Commander of the Fort. When the Naval Academy was located at Annapolis, it was occupied as the home of the Superintendent of the institution. Another house destroyed by the march of improvement, was a fine colonial residence, situated on the brow of the hill opposite the State House, where School street and the State Circle join. This was built by William Steuart, grandfather of the late Gen. George H. Steuart, and was successively owned and occupied by Absalom Ridgely, a colonial merchant, and afterward by his son, Dr. John Ridgely, of the United States Navy. It was torn down in 1867, to make room for the present Governor's Mansion.
PARAGRAPH 1. (a) Name some of the ancient landmarks that have disappeared in Anne Arundel?
PARAGRAPH 2. («) Name some of the landmarks that have been destroyed in Annapolis?
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3. Annapolis has lost two of its Gubernatorial Residences. The first was located on what is now known as Hyde's Alley. Tradition bands it down as the residence of Gov. Nicholson, the first Governor to live in Annapolis. The records support this tradition, as Gov. Nicholson owned land in this locality. It was a long frame house, two-stories high, and was quite ambitious in architectural features for the period of its erection. The second-story was made by the old hip-roof of ancient days. It, in later times, became the property of Nicholas Brewer, Sr., and was, at one time, occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Richard Ridgely. This house was pulled down about a quarter of a century ago. The second Governor's house that has been pulled down was within the present limits of the Naval Academy, and was, for a long time, the Library Building of that institution. This was the resi- dence of the Governors of Maryland from 1753, beginning with Gov. Horatio Sharpe, down to 1867, ending with Gov. Thomas Swann. It was an elegant build- ing, and had many illustrions legends connected with it. Thomas Johnson, who nominated Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Armies, we may conelude, lived there, as he was for two years Governor of Maryland, and Wash- ington had been himself the guest of Gov. Eden in this Mansion when yet Mary- land was a colony of England. The first trace of ownership of this house is found in a deed, of June 1st, 1730, from Joshua George, of Cecil county, to Anasa, wife of Edmund Jennings. Gov. Sharpe rented the house, and Gov. Eden purchased it about 1768, and sent workmen from England to repair it. Governor Eden built the wings and the long-room. There are some living in Annapolis still who will readily recognize Mr. David Ridgely's description of it as it appeared in 1840 :
" This edifice has a handsome court and garden, extending, with the exception of an intervening lot, to water's edge. From the portieo, looking to the garden, a fine prospect regales the vision. The building consists of two stories, and presents an extensive front ; there are on the lower floor a large room on each side of the hall as von enter ; and several smaller ones ; the saloon, on the same floor, is nearly the length of the house. On each side of the edifice are commodious kitchens, carriage-house, and stables, with spacious lots. Towards the water, the building rises in the middle in a turreted shape. It stands detached from other structures, and is altogether a delightful and suitable mansion for the chief magistrate of our State."
By Aet 1866, Chap. 46, this house and grounds were sold to the United States Government for an addition to the Naval Academy.
4. Another colonial building was destroyed by fire in 1847. It was located on King George Street, Annapolis, and was the residence of Jeremiah T. Chase. The grounds on which it was located are now included within the boundaries of the Naval Academy. On Sunday, January 28th, 1800, a large and commodions build- ing, used as the Alms House, was burned. Recently, a small brick building, located
PARAGRAPH 3. (a) How many Gubernatorial residences has Annapolis lost? (b) Can you name where they stood? (c) Describe the one that was located in the Naval Academy grounds? PARAGRAPH 4. (a) What colonial building was destroyed by fire in 1747? (b) What in 1800?
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on Duke of Gloucester street, near St. Mary's Parochial School, was torn down. It was part of MeNamara's row, and was one of the most ancient houses in Annapolis. A large blockmaker's establishment once stood on the northwest corner of Green street. There were also several large frame buiklings on each side of Hanover street, now within the Naval Academy grounds, "as also," says Mr. Ridgely, "opposite the present ball-room. These were said to have belonged to the neutral French (Acadians), and was occupied by them during the war between the French and English colonies; they were also used as hospitals during our Revolution. Soon after that period they were pulled down on account of their dilapidated condition." " On the side," continnes the author just quoted, " of Mrs. Bowie's residence, in Church street, formerly stood the ' Three Blue Ball ' Tavern, which was kept by Mr. John Ball. This was the property of Mr. Stephen West, who remitted money in his own name, called 'Stephen West's money'" The old Coffee House, pulled down a few years since and once the residence of Dr. Dennis Claude, was erected by Stephen West. In this house the French officers during the Revolution were entertained, and on its wooden mantel-pieces some of them carved their names. These mantels adorn a house in Annapolis. The Coffee House was located on Church street, opposite Chancery lane.
5. The house in which the cashier of the Farmers National Bank of Annapolis now resides, was formerly a tavern kept by William Reynolds. This house has survived the changes of time. Near it was a quaint old building with a hip-roofe, that was pulled down within the last half century. Here was a stocking factory conducted by John Bail and Benjamin Beall. On Hyde Alley was a long low brick building that was used as a printing office, and, on the southeast corner of the Dock, stood a brick mill, yet in the recollection of many. This mill was the property of Jeremiah T. Hughes, editor of the Maryland Republican, and a very enterprising citizen. The first market-house was built in Annapolis in 1716, and was located near the State House hill.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVENTH.
THE ANCIENT BELIEF IN WITCHES AND APPARITIONS.
1. In the early days of the colony of Maryland a general belief in witches and apparitions was prevalent, although this credence, given to the unnatural, did not lead to the excesses that obtained elsewhere in the American plantations. One case
(c) Where did the Old Coffee House stand? (d) Who were entertained in the Coffee House during the Revolutionary War? (e) Where were the Acadians located?
PARAGRAPH 5. (a) Where was Reynolds Tavern?
PARAGRAPH 1. (a) What was the general belief in the early days? (b) Give a noted example of this belief?
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only, it appears, is recorded of an execution in Maryland for witchcraft. That there was a healthy reserve sentiment that the death penalty for alleged witchcraft was not to be inflicted, may be inferred from the merey extended to John Cowman, who was, in 1674-5, convicted at St. Mary's "upon the statute of the first of King James, of England, &c., for Witchcraft, Conjuration, Sorcery, or Enchantment used upon the Body of Elizabeth Goodale." He asked for a reprieve and stay of execu- tion. The Lower House of Assembly sent the petition, to the Governor, who, at the request of the Lower House, reprieved the condemned and stayed the execution, " Provided, that the Sheriff of St. Mary's County carry him to the Gallows, and that the rope being about his neck, it be there be made known to him how much he is Beholding to the Lower House of Assembly for Mediating and Interceding in his Behalf with the Lieut. General, and that he remain at the City of St. Maries to be Employed in Such Services as the Governour and the Conneil shall think fitt during the Pleasure of the Governor."
2. As late as the middle of the eighteenth century, the belief in the marvellous continued in this section. In its date of June 3, 1746, the Maryland Gazette, of Annapolis, published this item :- " The following article, having been transmitted with a desire to have it inserted in this paper, it is, therefore, without any altera- tion, submitted to the judgment of the people :
"' On Saturday, May 24, 1746, two men of repute, fishing off Kent Island' about four o'clock in the afternoon, the weather clear and calm, they saw, to their surprise, at a small distance, a man about five feet high, walking by them on the water, as if on dry land. He crossed over from Kent to Talbot county about the distance of four miles.'" If these men " of repute," saw this strange spectacle, it is now known that reflections from the clouds sometimes repeat, as seen by " the phantom " ship shown some years since on the bay, a natural scene in an unnatural way, and readily deceive those who give credence to ghostly appearances, into believing that they have seen something unnatural when it is merely a physical phenomenon.
3. When Kirkwell and Blackwell. ship-builders, of Annapolis, a century and a half ago, attempted to launch the staunch brig Lovely Nancy, the annalist of the times tells us, that when " she was on the stocks, and the day appointed to place her on her destined element, a large concourse of persons assembled to witness the launch, among whom was an old white woman named Sarah McDonald, who pro- fessed fortune telling, and was called a 'witch.' She was heard to remark, 'The Lovely Nancy will not see water to-day.' The brig moved finely at first, and, when expectation was at its height to see her glide into the water, she suddenly stopped, and could not be again moved on that day. This occurrence created much excite- ment amongst the spectators ; and Captain Slade and the sailors were so fully per- snaded that she had been ' bewitched,' that they resolved to duck the old woman. In the meantime she had disappeared from the crowd ; they kept up the search for two or three days, during which time she lay concealed in a house." The Lovely
PARAGRAPH 2. (@) How late did this belief in the marvellous continue?
PARAGRAPH 3. (#) What incident occurred at the launching of the Lovely Nancy? (b) How did Captain Slade and the sallors view it?
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Nancy did afterwards leave the stocks, and, it is reported, that she made several prosperous voyages.
4. The most miraculous performances and sensational powers were credited to those who possessed the art of witcheraft, distance being annihilated and labor dispensed with. Witches were credited with going from place to place in an incredible space of time, and one of their performances ignored entirely the laborious art of milking. The witch merely hung a towel out of her door at night, and, in the morning, she would wring from it the products of the dairy which had been during the night, in some occult manner, mysteriously extracted from the udders of her neighbor's cows, to the great detriment of the health of the cow who had been milked in this wonderful manner. Another witch was reported to have performed the marvellous feat of putting her hand through a window and of pulling her victim's hair without breaking the pane of glass.
5. Although the spread of education and the increase of intelligence, and the development of science has made belief in witchcraft, an absurdity in the minds of people generally, and has eradicated any common belief in the supernatural, yet there are a few in these later times who believe in the unnatural. Twenty-five years ago there was an eccentric character in Annapolis by the name of Thomas Murdock, whose "favorite phantom" was the making and applying of certain washes to wood and stone, the basal property of which was lime. His famous white-wash, he alleged, had such a penetrating power, that, as soon as the moistened brush touched even a granite boulder, the liquid went straight to the centre of the rock. Murdock was a firm believer in witches. White washing the cells of the great Brice Mansion one day, Murdock relates that he saw a stone behind which he knew there was money. He pulled out the door to the treasure-trove, and was convinced that he was on the path of the hidden wealth, when a spider, with a head as large as two double fists, came forth. Murdock alleges that he struck the deadly insect with the handle of his brush, and the huge spider bit off the end of the pole as nonchantly as though it were taking a quid of the weed. This extraordinary power, concluded Murdock, convinced him, that " the money was not for me, and I left."
In Murdock's day these recitals brought on him boisterous ridicule, for people were now too enlightened to be more than amused at such narratives.
6. Annapolis has had numerous miraculous traditions lingering about its ancient streets and stately mansions. One that has survived and still has believers in the verity of its vital character and existence is that of the "Headless Man," seen sometimes, the credulous and deceived alleged wandering along the shores, walking on the water, or inhabiting the streets of "the ancient city."
Mr. Thomas D. Chaney, of Eastport, just opposite Annapolis, still relates with dramatic effect his experience with this strange traditional character, which occurred nearly a quarter of a century ago. Mr. Chaney was then seventeen years
PARAGRAPH 4. (a) What powers were accredited to those who possessed the art of witchcraft? PARAGRAPH 5. (a) Notwithstanding the spread of education and the growth of intelligence what is the belief of a few?
PARAGRAPH 6. («.) What town has many miraculous traditions lingering about its ancient streets and stately mansions?
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old. It was in the fall of the year, when the October moon was full and shone with the brightness of a clear, unclouded night. The youth and the father, who were fishermen, had been engaged until near midnight arranging and packing their fish in the Annapolis Market. Shortly before finishing their work the father sent the son ahead to his home at Eastport, about a half-mile distant. Chaney started, and going down Compromise Street, at its foot took the shore line, along the priests property, to the Spa Bridge. Reaching the bridge. Chaney stooped down to go under the rail in the opening left there for foot passengers using the shore path. As Chaney raised up upon the bridge, he saw under the street lamp, near the brow of the hill, about a hundred yards distant, a man advancing. Thinking it was a friend, Chaney halted that the two might cross the bridge together. When the man, who was a tall person, dressed in black, reached a point distant about thirty feet from Chaney, he states he was surprised to find that the newcomer had no head. Instinctively Mr. Chaney was on the defensive against such an uneanny intruder upon his company ; but he had no weapon, even if it could be used against a creature who could live, move and have his being without the important organ of the head. Mr. Chaney was even deprived of going to the street to arm himself with a stone. for the headless man stood in the way. Mr. Chaney concluded to proceed to Eastport. He said in relating the incident, "At this time I had no fear. The moon was shining bright, and I could see the object clearly as I occasionally turned around to look at him, for he followed me at the same distance that he had maintained when I first found that he had no head. One thing struck me as strange. The planks of the bridge at that time were very loose, and I noticed that · while they rattled as I went, the man on my trail moved along with a noiseless step."
This procession continued for 200 yards, and until Chaney had reached the draw of the bridge. "Up to this moment," Mr. Chaney said, "I had no fear, and then I said to myself, 'I will see if you (meaning the man behind him) can run.' So I ran to the Eastport end of the bridge-about a hundred yards. When I reached the end of the bridge I turned around and saw the headless man standing at his accustomed distance that he had maintained in following me across the bridge -- about thirty feet. I was now frightened. (Chaney was then two short squares from his home.) I now began to run as fast as I could. As I turned Chesapeake Avenue the headless man was at my back with his hand over my shoulder. I ran home and bolted the gate without opening it, and went for my gun. As I came out of the house, my mother, who had been sitting up at the window waiting for my father and myself, hearing my movements, called to know what was the matter. I asked. 'Did you see that man ?' She replied that she had seen no one. When I returned to the gate, the headless man had disappeared."
7. Wise people, in this day, however sincere may be the statements of those who allege that they have seen. with natural eyes, the unnatural and disembodied spirits moving as if in the body pent, believe that the narrators have been deceived or have seen some physical phenomenon that can, or will vet, be explained by the discoveries of science.
PARAGRAPH 7. («) What do wise people now believe?
EE
School of Application for the Education of U. S. Marine Officers, and Quarters of the Marine Guard of the Naval Academy.
Sampson Row, Naval Academy.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LEMAX AND
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CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHTH.
PROGRESS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
1. Six years nearly have elapsed since, on April 24th, 1899, Admiral F. V. MeNair turned the first sod of the new Naval Academy. Ten years was the time allowed for the completion of the improvements, and eight millions was the sum proposed to be expended. The estimate of expenditures has now reached twenty millions, but no increase of the period of time for finishing the improvements has been suggested. Vast has been the work accomplished, and when the half score vears will expire, from the time the work began, it may confidently be expected that the new Naval Academy will be practically finished.
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