USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > Annapolis > Annals of Annapolis : comprising sundry notices of that old city from the period of the first settlements in its vicinity in the year 1649, until the war of 1812 ; together with various incidents in the history of Maryland, derived from early records, public documents, and other sources ; with an appendix, containing a number of letters from General Washington, and other distinguished persons, which letters have never been published before > Part 11
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'Lloyd Dulany, William Cooke, James Tilghman, Anthony Stewart, William Steuart, Charles Steuart, David Steuart, Jonathan Pinkney, William Tuck, Thomas Sparrow, John Green, James Brice, George Gordon, John Chalmers, John Anderson, John Uns- , worth, James Taylor, William Cayton, George Ran- ken, Robert Moor, Jonathan Parker, Brite Seleven, John Varndel, John Annis, Robert Ridge, Robert Nixon, Thomas Kirby, Williams Edwards, Robert Lambert, William Eddis, John Clapham, Elie Val- lette, Robert Buchanan, William Noke, James Brooks, Richard Murrow, John Brown, John Hepburn, Colin Campbell, Nathaniel Ross, William Niven, James Kingsbury, James Barnes, John Sands, James Wil- liams, Joseph Williams, John Howard, William Mun- roe, John D. Jaquet, John Norris, John Steele, N. Maccubbin, Shoem. Thomas Hammond, Thomas Pi- pier, Thomas Neal, William Tonry, James McKenzie, Nicholas Minsky, Martin Water, John Warren, Wil- liam Chambers, James Clarke, Denton Jacques, Joseph Dowson, Thomas Macken, Richard Burland, Dan. Dulany, of Dan., R. Molleson, Robert Couden, William Aikman, George French, John Parker, Archi- bald Smith, Thomas Bonner, Matthias Mae, Alexander
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McDonald, David Crinnig, John Timmis, David Atchi- son, James Maynard, William Harrison, Robert Kirk- land, William Ashton, Robert Morrison, Charles Bry- an, John Haragan, Hugh Hendley, Richard Thompson, Reverdy Ghiselin, Charles Marckel, John Randall, William Stiff, James Mitchel, Charles Roberts, Samuel Skingle, Thomas Stiff, Henry Jackson, William De- venith, James Hackman, Charles Barber, John Evitts, James Maw, Jordan Steiger, Joseph Richards, Ed- ward Owens, Thomas Pryse, J. Wilkinson, Robert Key, Lewis Jones, William Willatt, John King, Wil- liam Prew, Thomas Towson, William Howard, John Donaldson, Dan. Dulany, of Walter, William Wor- thington, Thomas B. Hodgkin, William Wilkins, Tho- mas French, Joseph Selby, William Gordon, Thomas Hyde, John Maconochie, Philip Thomas Lee, John Ball, Samuel Owens, Samuel Ball, Thomas Braith- waite, James Murray, Richard Mackubin, Michael Wallace, William Hyde, Nathan Hammond, Peter Psalter, Joseph Browing, Thomas Hincks, Lewis Neth, Edward Dogan, J. H. Anderson, Richard Burt, Henry Horsley, Cornelius Fenton, Richard Addams, George Ranken, senior, Edward Wilmot, Robert Lang, George Nicholson, Benjamin Spriggs, John Horton, Charles Wright, Constantine Bull, Amos Edmons, Henry Si- bell, Joshua Cross, John Woolford, Sam. H. Howard, Oliver Weeden, Alexander Finlater, Con. McCarty, Jonathan Simpson.'
Brig Peggy Stewart .- On Saturday the 15th of October, 1774, the brig Peggy Stewart arrived at Annapolis from London, with servants and a quantity of goods, among which were seventeen packages, containing two thousand three hundred and twenty
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pounds of tea, consigned to Thomas Charles Williams and company, merchants, in Annapolis.
This intended importation was immediately disco- vered, and the citizens were summoned to a general meeting. On examination, it appeared, that Messrs. Williams had, on this occasion, imported a larger quantity of that detestable plant, as it was then termed, than by any former opportunity; and that Mr. An- thony Stewart, the proprietor of the vessel, had paid the duties thereon ; though he was not in any manner concerned in the shipment of the tea. This being deemed a submission to the contested claim of the British parliament, very severe censures were passed on the parties concerned, and a general spirit of resent- ment appeared to have predominated. After several modes of proceeding had been proposed and discussed, it was determined to appoint a committee to attend the vessel, and prevent the landing of the tea, until the sense of the country could be fully ascertained. The ensuing Wednesday was appointed for that purpose, and proper measures were pursued to give the neces- sary information.
Mr. Stewart, apprehensive of the consequences likely to ensue, solicited a previous meeting of the citizens on the following Monday, trusting that, by timely submission, measures might be taken to prevent the assembling of so numerous a body as were ex- pected to come in from the county, from whom he had much to fear, with respect to his person and property.
At this meeting it was proposed by some, that Messrs. Stewart and Williams, who were desirous to make atonement for the offence they had committed,
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might be permitted to land and burn the tea, in any place that should be appointed for that purpose.
This motion was, however, strongly opposed by others, who insisted on matters remaining as they were, until the time appointed for the county meet- ing, in order that a more public acknowledgment and satisfaction might be made.
Mr. Stewart, with a view to moderate the resent- ment which his conduct had occasioned, distributed the following hand-bill and affidavit, which were also publicly read, but without any apparent effect in his favour.
'To the gentlemen of the committee, the citizens of Annapolis, and the inhabitants of Anne Arundel county.
'Gentlemen : I find by a hand-bill, that you are requested to meet to take into consideration what is proper to be done with the tea, the property of Tho- mas C. Williams and Co., now on board the brig Peggy Stewart, and finding my conduct censured for having paid the duty on that tea to the collector, I take the liberty to present a plain narrative of the part I have acted therein, and the motives by which I was actuated. Deeply interested as I am in the peace and harmony of this country, no man would be further than myself from taking any steps to dis- turb them. I am not in the least connected with any thing that relates merely to the importation, indeed so cautious have I been of infringing in the least, any of the resolutions of America, that I did not order a single farthing's worth of goods by that ves- sel, though I could have done it on such easy terms as to freight and shipping charges, much less should 14
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I have thought of ordering any tea, after the distur- bance which the importation of that article had occa- sioned on the continent. When the brig arrived, the captain informed me she was very leaky, and that the sooner she was unloaded the better.
'I told him to enter his vessel, but not the tea, which I found, on inquiry of the collector, could not be done. Under these circumstances, the brig leaky, and fifty-three souls on board, where they had been near three months, I thought myself bound, both in humanity and prudence, to enter the vessel, and leave the destination of the tea to the committee.
'The impropriety of securing the duty did not then occur to me, neither did I know the tea would be suffered to be lodged as a security for the payment. I had nothing in view but to save the vessel from a seizure, and of having an opportunity of releas- ing the passengers from a long and disagreeable con- finement.
'The duty on tea has been paid hitherto, both in Virginia and Maryland, by every importer of goods, in this case I am not the importer. If I have erred in my part of the transaction, I declare, upon my honour, it is without the least intention ; I have in- fringed no rules prescribed by the general resolutions of this province. It happened, unluckily, that the tea was put on board of captain Jackson's brig, in the manner as will be seen by the annexed affidavit, and it can be incontestably proved, the captain refused taking tea on board.
'Mr. Williams was in London when the tea was shipped, and must have known that many merchants had refused to ship that article. I have only to add,
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that I am sincerely sorry for my conduct on this occa- sion, which has been the cause of so much uneasiness, and freely submit it to your candid consideration.
'I am, gentlemen, 'Your most humble servant, 'ANTHONY STEWART.
'Annapolis, Oct. 17, 1774.'
'AFFIDAVIT .- Captain Richard Jackson, master of the brig Peggy Stewart, deposeth and saith,
'That immediately after the landing of his cargo in London, he applied for, and obtained a general permit from the custom-house, to receive India and other goods on board for exportation ; and (as is always customary in such cases,) gave security, and took an oath not to re-land the same in any part of Great Britain. But having great reason to believe, any importation of tea would be unfavourably received in America, he was fully determined, and had resolved not to receive any on board ; and publickly on the Exchange of London, in the month of July, refused to receive tea, which was offered to be shipped by Kelley, Lott and Co. This deponent further saith, that by the method of shipping goods from London, tea may be put on board any ship, without the knowledge of the master. All goods are examined at the custom-house, and sent by the shipper, in lighters, on board the ship, with only a common bill expressing the parcels, and not the quan- tities contained, or the qualities of them ; these are received by the mate of the ship, who gives a receipt on the lighter-bill, which is again returned to the ship- per, and the master signs his bills of lading at London, by the lighter-bill, specifying the parcels, without knowing the contents, and clears out the ship at the
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custom-house with merchandize, without knowing or mentioning of what nature.
'The cockets containing the particulars of each parcel, are sent by the officers of the customs at Lon- don, to the custom-house at Gravesend, and there > lodged to be called for by the captain or master of the ship on his passage to sea. In this manner the goods shipped in the Peggy Stewart, were received on board. And this deponent further saith, that he saw Thomas Charles Williams, to whom the tea is con- signed, and Amos Hayton, who shipped the same, frequently in London, neither of whom ever mentioned to him their intention of shipping any ; that he did not know of any tea being on board, until after he had received his cockets at Gravesend, and that he would not have received the same had he known thereof. RICH. JACKSON.'
'Sworn before me this 17th Oct., 1774,
PHIL. THOS. LEE.'
On Wednesday, the appearance, agreeably to expec- tation, was numerous, and the delegated committee were attended by Messrs. A. Stewart and Williams, who acknowledged the impropriety of their proceed- ing, and signed the paper, of which the following is a copy :
"We James Williams, Joseph Williams, and An- thony Stewart, do severally acknowledge, that we have committed a most daring insult, and act of the most pernicious tendency to the liberties of America ; we the said Williams's, in importing the tea, and said Stewart, in paying the duty thereon, and thereby de- servedly incurred the displeasure of the people now
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convened, and all others interested in the preservation of the constitutional rights and liberties of North America, do ask pardon for the same ; and we solemnly declare, for the future, that we never will infringe any resolution formed by the people, for the salvation of their rights, nor will we do any act that may be inju- rious to the liberties of the people, and to shew our desire of living in amity with the friends of America, we request this meeting, or as many as may choose to attend, to be present at any place where the people shall appoint, and we will there commit to the flames, or otherwise destroy, as the people may choose, the detestable article, which has been the cause of this our misconduct.
ANTHONY STEWART, JOSEPH WILLIAMS, JAMES WILLIAMS.'
Mr. Stewart, on account of what was deemed a cheerful and ready compliance with an unconstitu- tional act of the British legislature, was particularly obnoxious, and though he publicly read his recanta- tion, expressed in the most submissive terms, there were some who were warmly disposed to present him with a suit of tar and feathers. Others were in favour of the destruction of the brig, which had imported the hateful commodity, whilst many others declared, that the paper signed by the offenders, with their unex- torted consent to burn the tea, was a sufficient punish- ment and satisfaction. But to determine this point with certainty, it was proposed and assented to, that a division should take place on the following question ; Whether the vessel should or should not be destroyed ?
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When it was carried in the negative by a considerable majority ; the citizens in general, appearing averse to violent measures. But as the minority were chiefly persons who resided at a distance from Annapolis, as some of them had great influence in their neigh- bourhood, and intimated a determined resolution to proceed to the utmost extremities, the instant they could collect sufficient numbers to support them, Mr. Stewart was induced by the advice of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Esquire, and from an anxious desire to preserve the public tranquillity, as well as to secure his own personal safety, to propose setting fire him- self to the vessel, which being immediately assented to, he instantly repaired on board, accompanied by several gentlemen who thought it necessary to attend him, and having directed her to be run aground, near the wind-mill point, he made a sacrifice of his valu- able property, and in a few hours the brig, with her sails, cordage, and every appurtenance, was effec- tually burnt .*
Mr. McMahon in his history of Maryland, says, in reference to the affair of the Peggy Stewart-'the tea burning at Boston has acquired renown, as an act of unexampled daring at that day in the defence of Ame- rican liberties, but the tea burning at Annapolis, which occurred in the ensuing fall, far surpasses it in the apparent deliberation and utter carelessness of con- cealment, attending the bold measures which led to its accomplishment.' 'This instance, in its manifes- tation of public feeling, is of a character with those which occurred in other parts of the province, and 1
* Eddis' Letters.
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they evince the prevalence throughout it, of the most determined and resistless opposition to the measures of the English government.'
CHAPTER VI.
Tea Burning in Frederick County-The Citizens of Annapolis or- ganized into Military Companies-Proceedings of the Baltimore Committee of Observation-The ship Totness, with salt on board, burnt just below Annapolis-General Charles Lee-Massachusetts' Colony-Lord Viscount Barrington-Addresses-Gen. Burgoyne- and Gen. Lee-Council of Safety-Chart of the Harbour of Anna- polis-Appropriation to fortify the City-Fortifications-Slaughter Houses-Certain Citizens ordered to leave the City-Colonel John Weems before the Committee of Safety-Their proceedings there- on-Captures in the Chesapeake, by Capt. Nicholson, of the ship Defence-Offers Battle to Otter sloop of War-Balls prohibited throughout the Province-A Declaration of the Delegates of Mary- land-Meeting of the Associations of the City of Annapolis-Their Proceedings-Maryland Troops leave Annapolis for Philadelphia- Letters from Philadelphia-Appeal to Maryland-Responded to- Battle on Long Island-Maryland Troops-Major Gist-Maryland Officers made prisoners at Long Island-Thomas Johnson, jr. Esq. Governor of Maryland-British Ships of War pass up the Bay- Gov. Johnson's Proclamation-Mr. Griffith-Baltimore Troops- Battle of Brandywine-General . Smallwood-Colonel Smith-Fort Mifflin-Surrender of General Burgoyne-Count Pulaski-Battle of Monmouth-Letter from Commodore Grason to Gov. Johnson- Battle at the Capes-Winter of 1780-Chesapeake crossed by carts and carriages-Baron de Kalb-Battle of Camden-The Baron wounded-His death-Congress voted a Monument to his memory-To be erected in Annapolis-Inscription for the Monu- . ment-Extracts of Letters relative to the Battle of Camden-Mary- land Troops-Battle of the Cowpens-Col. Howard-Maryland Troops-British Sloops of War off Annapolis-General Lafayette. drives them down the Bay-Meeting of the citizens of Annapolis- To consider the Acts of Assembly-For the Emission of Money
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Bills-Their Proceedings-Militia Assembled at Annapolis-Bri- tish Fleet arrives before York-Troops landed-Maryland Regi- ment marches from Annapolis to join the Southern Army-The Recruiting Service-Gen. Smallwood-The Fourth Maryland Re- giment marches from Annapolis to join the Marquis de la Fayette- The French Fleet, &c. at Annapolis-From the Head of Elk- The French Army arrives from the North about the same time, on their way to Virginia-Battle of Eutaw-Extract of a Letter from Camp-Col. Howard-Maryland and Virginia Troops-Officers killed and wounded at Eutaw-Surrender of Lord Cornwallis- Rejoicing at Annapolis.
TEA BURNING in Frederick county, (taken from the Maryland Gazette, Dec. 22, 1774.
'The committee for the upper part of Frederick county, Maryland, having met at Elizabeth Town,* on the 26th of November, which was the day ap- pointed for the delivery of John Parks' chest of tea, in consequence of his agreement published in the Maryland Journal of the 16th ult.
'After a demand was made of the same, Mr. Parks offered a chest of tea, found on a certain Andrew Gibson's plantation, Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, by the committee for that place, which tea he declared was the same he promised to deliver.
"The committee are sorry to say that they have great reason to believe, and indeed with almost a certainty, that the said chest of tea was in Cumber- land county at the time Parks said upon oath it was at Christen Bridge.
'After mature deliberation, the committee were of' opinion, that John Parks should go with his hat off, and lighted torches in his hands, and set fire to the tea, which he accordingly did, and the same was
* Now Hagerstown, in Washington county, Maryland.
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consumed to ashes, amongst the acclamations of a numerous body of people. The committee were also of opinion that no further intercourse should be had with the said Parks. Every friend to liberty is re- quested to pay due attention to the same.
'Voted, the thanks of this committee to that of Cumberland county, for their prudent and spirited behaviour upon this occasion.
'Signed by order of the committee.
'JOHN STULL, President.
'N. B. The populace thought the measures adopted by the committee were inadequate to the transgression, and satisfied themselves by breaking his door and windows.'
'ANNAPOLIS, December 22, 1774.
'In compliance with the recommendation of the deputies of the several counties of this province, at their late convention, to such of the gentlemen, free- holders, and other freemen of this province, as are from sixteen to fifty years of age, to form themselves into companies, and to chuse their officers ; on Satur- day last a number of the citizens met, and chose their officers agreeably to the recommendation; the com- panies are composed of all ranks of men in this city, gentlemen of the first fortunes are common soldiers ; this example, it is not doubted, will be followed by every town and county in this province.
'It is said that there are a sufficient number of citi- zens to form another company, which it is hoped will be immediately done.'
'BALTIMORE, April 19th, 1775.'
1775.
Extracts from the proceedings of the Balti- more committee of observation.
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'Committee Chamber, April 3, 1775.
'Information being made to the committee that a few individuals, inhabitants of this town, have of late worn pistols or private arms, alleging in justification of their conduct,
'That a motion had been made in the committee to sacrifice some of the persons in this town, who differed from them, or were averse to the public measures now carrying on in this province ; and that they wore arms against any such attempts.'
'The committee, to remove any prejudice that may be taken by the public against them, and to prevent the ill effects of such false and injurious reports, if circulated without contradiction, do solemnly declare, that no such motion was ever made, or any entry A relative to the same, minuted in their proceedings. few members of the committee were of opinion, that the names of such persons, who upon application, had refused to contribute for the purchase of arms and ammunition, should be published, but even this mea- sure was over-ruled in the committee as improper at that time.
'Our meetings have been held in public, nor has any person who thought fit to attend, ever been excluded. Our records are free and open for inspection.
'From the public we receive our authority, not by personal solicitation, but a free and voluntary choice, to that tribunal we submit our actions.
'Although we have uniformly persevered, and are determined to persevere in carrying into execution the association and measures of the congress, yet in no instance have we exceeded the line pointed out by that assembly, and our provincial assembly : and ab-
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horring every idea of proscription, the committee call upon the persons who have circulated the aforesaid report, to disclose the author.
('A true extract from the minutes.)
'R. ALEXANDER, Sec.'
'April 15th, 1775.
'The committee of observation for Baltimore county, reflecting on the many mischiefs and disorders, usually attending the fairs held at Baltimore town, and willing in all things, strictly to observe the regulations of the continental congress, who in their eighth resolution, have advised to discountenance and discourage every species of extravagance and dissipation, especially horse-racing, cock-fighting, &c., have unanimously resolved to recommend it to the good people of this county, and do hereby earnestly request, that they will not themselves nor will suffer any of their families to attend, or in any wise encourage the approaching fair at Baltimore town; and all persons are desired not to erect booths, or in any manner prepare for holding the said fair.
'We are persuaded the inhabitants of the town in particular will see the propriety of this measure, and the necessity of enforcing it, as the fairs have been a nuisance long before complained of by them, as serving no other purpose than debauching the morals of their children and servants, affording an opportunity for perpetrating thefts, encouraging riots, drunkenness, gaming, and the vilest immoralities.
'SAM. PURVIANCE, Jun., Chairman.' 'April 18th, 1775.
'The chairman of the committee for Baltimore county
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has this day received from Mr. John Veazey, £306 5s. Od., being the very generous donation of Cecil county, for the relief of the distressed inhabitants of Boston.'
'ANNAPOLIS, July 20th, 1775.
'The ship 'Totness,' captain Harding, belonging to Mr. Gildard, of Liverpool, having on board a cargo of salt and dry goods, in coming up the bay, ran aground near the three Islands at the mouth of West river ; upon this the committee immediately met, and after consideration, determined she should proceed on to Baltimore, her intended port, but before she could get off, highly resenting so daring an infringe- ment of the continental association, a number of people met, went on board, and set her on fire.'
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The following handsome compliment to general Charles Lee, by the congress of the Massachusetts colony, is inserted here, in respect to the memory of that accomplished gentleman and distinguished officer. General Lee, up to the 22d of June, 1775, was an officer in the British army, on half pay. On that day he addressed a letter to Lord Viscount Barrington, secretary of war, in which he said,-
'Although I can by no means subscribe to the opinion of divers people in the world, that an officer on half pay is to be considered in service, yet I think it a point of delicacy to pay a deference to this opinion erroneous and absurd as it is. I therefore apprize your lordship in the most public and solemn manner, that I do renounce my half pay from the date hereof. At the same time, I beg to assure your lordship that whenever it shall please his majesty to call me forth to
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any honourable service against the natural hereditary enemies of our country, or in defence of his just rights and dignity, no man will obey the righteous summons with more zeal and alacrity than myself ; but the pre- sent measures seem to me so absolutely subversive of the rights and liberties of every individual subject, so destructive to the whole empire at large, and ultimately so ruinous to his majesty's own person, dignity, and family, that I think myself obliged in conscience as a citizen, Englishman, and soldier of a free State, to exert my utmost to defeat them.'
'CAMBRIDGE, July 6th, 1775.
'To the honourable Charles Lee, Esq., major-gene- ral of the continental army.
'Sir : The congress of the Massachusetts colony, possessed of the fullest evidence of your attachment to the rights of mankind, and regard to the distresses which America in general, and this colony in particu- lar, are involved in, by the impolitic, wicked and tyrannic system, adopted by administration, and pur- sued with relentless and savage fury, do with pleasure embrace this opportunity to express the great satisfac- tion and gratitude they feel on your appointment as a major-general in the American army.
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