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 2
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The following abridgment of the extracts from Fa- ther White, contains many particulars, which, though not of great importance, are interesting to the curious, having never before been published. His descriptions of various countries and their productions, which are very particular in the original, are in most cases omit- ted here. The paper from which these extracts were made, is in Latin, in the archives of the society of . Jesus, at Rome. It appears to have been written from the city of St. Mary's, within about a month after the
* The late Rev. William McSherry.
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arrival of the first vessels, probably in April, 1634. It is entitled,
'A Report of the Colony of the Lord Baron of Balti- more, in Maryland, near Virginia, in which the quality, nature and condition of the country and its many advantages and riches are described.
" There is a province near the English colony in Vir- ginia, which, in honour of Maria his queen, his majesty the king of England wished to be called Maryland, or the land of Mary.'
"This province his majesty, in his munificence, pre- sented to the lord Baron of Baltimore, in the month of June, 1632. This distinguished nobleman immediately resolved to settle a colony, with the particular intention of establishing the religion of the gospel and truth in that and the neighbouring country, where, as yet, the knowledge of the true God had never existed. He was encouraged in his enterprize by the favourable account of the country left by his worthy father, whose testimony, founded upon actual observation, was worthy of the utmost confidence, and was corroborated by the reports of others who had visited the same region, as well as by the published narrative of captain Smith, who first described it.' After alluding to the liberal conditions of settlement proposed by Lord Baltimore, Father White continues :
' The interests of religion constituted one of the first objects of Lord Baltimore, an object worthy indeed of christians, of angels, of Englishmen; than which, in all her ancient victories, Britain never achieved any thing more honourable.
' Behold those regions waiting for the harvest. They are prepared to receive the fruitful seed of the gospel.
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Messengers have been sent to procure suitable persons to preach the life-giving doctrine, and regenerate the natives in the sacred waters of baptism. There are those now living in this city, (St. Mary's) who saw ambassadors from the Indian nations to Jamestown in Virginia, sent there for the purpose of effecting these objects. May we not suppose that many thousands were brought into the fold of Christ in so glorious a work.'
After a glowing and minute description of the coun- try, with its trees, fruits and other productions, its rivers and the various kinds of fish, he proceeds to give the
'NARRATIVE OF THE VOYAGE TO MARYLAND.
'On the 22d of November, being St. Cæcilia's day, under the gentle influence of an eastern wind, we dropped down from the Isle of Wight.
'Having placed our ship under the protection of God, the Blessed Virgin Mother, St. Ignatius, and all the guardian angels of Maryland, we had progressed but a short distance, when we were obliged for the want of wind, to cast anchor off the fortress of Yarmouth, where we were welcomed by a salute. While lying here we were not without some apprehensions from our sailors, who began to murmur among themselves, alleging that they expected a messenger from land with letters : and because none arrived, they seem disposed to create delays. A kind providence put an end to our fears ; for during the night a strong but favourable wind sprang up, and our pinnace,* which appre-
* The pinnace appears to have been a sloop of forty tons, and was called 'The Dove'.'
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hended an attack from a French brig, that kept within a short distance of her, took advantage of the wind and put to sea. We, not willing to lose sight of her, followed her with all speed, and thus frustrated the evil designs of our sailors ; this was on the night of St. Clement's day, 23d of November. On the next morn- ing, about 10 o'clock, after receiving a second salute from the fort at Hurst, we were carried beyond the breakers at the extremity of the Isle of Wight, and narrowly escaped being driven on shore. Taking ad- vantage of a strong fair wind on that day and the next night, we left the western point of England, slacking sail, lest running ahead of the pinnace, she might fall into the hands of the pirates and Turks who then in- fested these seas. On the 24th of November, we made great headway until evening, when a violent storm arose, and our sloop being diffident of its strength, being only of 40 tons burden, hove to, and informed us that in case of danger, she would carry lights at her mast-head. We were in a well built ship* of 400 tons, as strong as iron and wood could make her, and our captain was one of great experience. The storm was so violent that we gave him the choice of returning to England or pursuing the voyage. His intrepidity and confidence in the untried powers of his ship, induced him to choose the latter. But in the middle of the night, in a boiling sea, we saw our sloop at a short dis- tance from us, showing two lights at her mast-head. Then, indeed, did we fear for her, and on losing sight of her we all supposed she had been swallowed up in the stormy sea. Six weeks elapsed before we again heard from her. But God had preserved her. Fear-
* ‹The Ark."
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ing that she could not survive the storm, she changed her course, and took refuge in the Scilly Isles. She afterwards sailed in pursuit of us, and we met at the Antilles. On the 27th and 28th, we made but little progress. On Friday 29th, a most dreadful storm arose, that made the most fearless men tremble for the result. Among the Catholics, however, it made prayer more frequent, vows were offered in honour of the B. V. Mother, and her immaculate conception, of St. Igna- tius, the patron Saint of Maryland, St. Michael and all the guardian angels. Each one prayed earnestly to expiate his sins through the sacrament of penance. For having unshipped her rudder, our vessel was tossed about at the mercy of the winds and waves. At first, I feared that the loss of our ship and death awaited me, but after spending some time in prayer and having declared to the Lord Jesus, and to his Holy Mother, St. Ignatius, and the protecting Angels of Maryland, that the purpose of this voyage was to pay honour to the blood of our Redeemer, by the con- version of barbarians, I arose with a firm confidence that through the mercy and goodness of God, we should escape the dangers that seemed to threaten our destruction. I had bowed myself down in prayer, during the greatest rage of the tempest, and, let the true God be glorified ! Scarcely had I finished, before the storm was ceasing.
'I felt myself imbued with a new spirit, and overspread with a flood of joy and admiration at the benevolence of God to the people of Maryland, to whom we were sent. Blessed forever be the merciful charities of our dear Redeemer. The remainder of the voyage, which lasted three months, was prosperous; our captain af-
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firmed that he never witnessed a more pleasant and happy one. The period of three months included the time we spent at the islands of the Antilles, but we were in fact only seven weeks and two days at sea.
'In sailing along the Spanish coasts we were appre- hensive of falling into the hands of the Turks, but we never met them. Having passed the pillars of Her- cules and the Madeira islands, we were able to scud before the wind with full sail. The winds are not va- riable in those regions, but always blow in a southwest direction, which was our exact course. At the dis- tance of about three leagues from us we descried three sail of vessels, the smallest of which appeared to be larger than ours. Fearing they were Turkish pirates we were careful to avoid them, though we prepared our vessel for action. But as they showed no disposition to engage us, we concluded they were merchantmen, bound for the fortunate islands, and as much afraid of us as we were of them.'
Father White, after some philosophical reasoning to account for the trade winds, some interesting descrip- tions of the tropical birds, and the flying fish, &c. &c. seen on their passage, remarks that, 'during the entire voyage no person was attacked with any disease ex- cept that at Christmas, wine having been freely distri- buted in honour of that festival, several drank of it im- moderately ; thirty persons were seized with a fever the next morning, of whom about twelve died shortly after ; of these two were Catholics, namely, Nicholas Fairfax and James Barefoot.'
The route taken by the pilgrims is described to have been by the Azores, and to Barbadoes, at which latter island they landed on the 5th of January, 1634, new
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style. Instead of the hospitable reception which they expected from the governor and inhabitants, who were English, Father White says, 'the governor and inhabi- tants plotted together to exact unreasonable prices for provisions and other necessary supplies.' From the great abundance of potatoes in the island, they received a wagon load gratis. At the time of the arrival of our pilgrims the slaves had rebelled, and determined to seize the first vessel that should arrive, but being dis- covered, the ringleaders were executed ; and, says the narrator, 'our vessel being the first that touched the shore, was the destined prize, and the very day we landed we found eighty men under arms, to check the startling danger.'
After describing the island of Barbadoes and its pro- ductions, the writer says, 'on the night of the 24th of January we weighed anchor, and passing the island of St. Lucia at noon on the following day, we arrived in the evening at an island inhabited by savages only. A rumour had been caught by our sailors, from some Frenchmen who had been shipwrecked, that this island contained an animal in whose forehead was a stone of uncommon brilliancy, called a carbuncle.' Father ~White dryly remarks, 'its author must answer for the truth of this report.' At dawn on the following day they reached Guadaloupe, and at noon arrived at Mont- serrat, inhabited by Irishmen driven from Virginia, on account of their profession of the Catholic faith.
Thence they sailed to another island, where they spent one day ; thence to St. Christophers, where they remained ten days, by the friendly invitation of the English governor and two captains, 'who were Catho- lics.' The governor of a French colony in the same
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island also welcomed them warmly. Father White continues : 'having at length weighed anchor hence, we pursued our voyage until we reached a point on the coast of Virginia, called 'Comfort,' on the 27th of Feb- ruary. We were under a good deal of dread from the unfriendliness of the English inhabitants of Virginia, to whom our colony had been an unwelcome theme. We brought, however, letters from the king and the high constable of England to the governor of the pro- vince, which contributed very much to appease their feelings, and to procure us future advantages. After receiving kind treatment for nine or ten days we set sail, and on the 3d of March, having arrived in the Chesapeake bay, we tacked to the north to reach the Potomac river, to which we gave the name of St. Gre- gory. We called the point which stands on the south St. Gregory,* that on the north St. Michaels,t in ho- nour of the choir of angels. A larger and more beau- tiful stream I never have seen. The Thames compar- ed with it is but a rivulet. Bounded on the sides by no marshes, it runs between solid and rising banks. On either side are splendid forests, not overgrown by weeds or briars ; you might drive a four-horse carriage, with the reins loose in your hands, through them. We. found the natives armed at the very mouth of the river. That night fires were blazing throughout the country, and as they had never seen so large a ship as ours, messengers were sent around to announce the arrival of a canoe as large as an island, and numbering as many men as the trees in a forest. . We passed on to the Heron Islands, so called from immense flocks of those birds. We touched at the first of them, which we
* Smith's Point.
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called St. Clements, on which, owing to its sloping banks, we could only land by fording. Here the maids who had landed to wash the clothes, were almost drowned by the upsetting of the boat. I lost a large portion of my linen-no small loss in this part of the world. This island abounds in cedar trees, sassafras, and all those herbs and flowers entering into the class of salads, and the walnut tree with a heavy shell, and a small but very delicious kernel. A scope of four hun- dred acres did not appear sufficient for our new plan- tation. We desired a place which might preclude the commerce of the river to strangers, and also the possi- bility of their infringing on our boundaries. This was the most narrow crossing of the river.'
'On the day of the annunciation of the B. V. Mary, (25th of March,) we first offered the sacrifice of the mass, never before done in this region of the world. After which, having raised on our shoulders an im- mense cross, which we had fashioned from a tree, and going in procession to the designated spot, assisted by the governor,* commissary, and other Catholics, we erected the trophy of Christ the Saviour, and humbly bent the knee in reverence during the devout recitation of the litany of the holy cross. Our governor, how- ever, having understood that the great chief of Pisca- taway was obeyed by many petty chiefs, determined to visit him, to explain the objects of our coming; that having conciliated his good will, our settlement might be more favourably regarded by the rest. Having, therefore, joined to our pinnace another, which he had procured in Virginia, and leaving the ship at anchor off St. Clements, retracing his course, he sailed up the
* Leonard Calvert.
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southern bank of the river. Finding the savages had fled into the interior, he proceeded to the village, which taking its name from the river is yet called Potomac. Here he found Archihu, the uncle and tutor of the king, who was yet a boy. The regency was in prudent and experienced hands. Father Altham, who accompa- nied the governor, (for I was detained with the bag- gage,) explained, by means of an interpreter, the truths of the Christian religion. The chief listened to him willingly, after acknowledging his own faults. Being informed that no hostile motives had brought us among them, but that feelings of benevolence prompted us to impart to them the advantages of civilization, and to open the path of Heaven to them, and to the more distant regions, he expressed himself not only well sa- tisfied, but very grateful at our arrival. The interpreter was from the Protestants of Virginia. As the Father could not explain every thing at once, he promised to return in a short time. 'I think,' said Archihu, 'that we should all eat of the same table; my young men will visit the hunting grounds for you, and all things shall be in common with us.' From hence we went to Piscataway, where all immediately flew to arms. About one hundred, armed with bows, were drawn up with their chief at their head. On learning our pacific in- tentions, laying aside his fears, the chief stepped into the pinnace, and on understanding our benevolent views in their regard, gave us liberty to settle in any part of his kingdom we might select. In the meantime, while the governor was on his journey to the emperor, the savages at St. Clements becoming more bold, mixed familiarly with our sentries. We were accustomed to keep up a patrol day and night, to protect our wood-
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cutters, and our vessel, which was now undergoing re- pairs, from any sudden attack. The natives expressed their surprise at the size of our vessel, and wondered what part of the earth produced a tree large enough to make such a boat ; for they thought that it, like an In- dian canoe, was hewn out of the trunk of a single tree. The report of our cannon struck them dumb with fear.'
'In his visit to the emperor, our governor carried with him as a companion, one Henry Fleet, a captain among the settlers in Virginia, a man much beloved by the natives, and skilled in the knowledge of their lan- guage and settlements. In the beginning he was very obliging to us, but being seduced by the malicious counsels of a certain Claiborne, he became very hos- tile, and in the most artful manner inflamed the minds of the natives against us. However, while he was our friend, he pointed out to our governor a suitable place for a settlement, than which a more heavenly and lovely spot Europe could not furnish. Having proceeded from St. Clements about nine leagues to the north, we glided into the mouth of a river, to which we gave the name of St. George.' This river flows from south to north about twenty miles before it loses, like the Thames, the salt water taste. In its mouth are two harbours, in which three hundred ships of the line could ride at anchor. We placed one of them under the protection of St. George, the other, more interior, under that of the B. V. Mary.'t
'On the left side of the river was the settlement of Yaocomico. We ascended on the right side, and hav-
* Now called St. Mary's river.
t This harbour must be either the mouth of what is now called St. George's river, or the entrance to St. Inigoe's creek.
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ing halted about a thousand paces from the shore, we selected a site for the city, to be designated by the name of St. Mary. And to avoid all imputation of in- jury and occasion of enmity, having given in payment hatchets, axes, hoes, and some yards of cloth, we bought from the king about thirty miles of that part of the coun- try now called Augusta Caroline.'*
'A fierce and warlike nation of savages called the Susquehannahs, particularly hostile to king Yaocomico, made frequent incursions into his territory and devas- tated his settlements. The inhabitants, through fear of these savages, were forced to seek other homes. This was the cause of our having so promptly ob- tained possession of that part of his kingdom: God, in his goodness, opening a path for his law and eternal light by these means. The natives emigrate here and there daily, leaving behind them the fields and clearings that surrounded their homes. It amounts almost to a miracle that savages, who but a few days before array- ed themselves in arms against us, should now with the meekness of the lamb throw themselves on our mercy, and deliver up every thing to us. Here the finger of God is evident, and doubtless Providence has some good in store for this nation. A few have been per- mitted to retain their dwellings for one year, but the lands are to be delivered free into our hands the next year.'
'The natives are tall and handsome in their persons, their skin is naturally of a copper colour, but they daub it over with red paint mixed with oil, to protect them from the flies.t This practice, which is decidedly more of a convenience than an ornament, gives them a hide-
* Now St. Mary's county.
t Moschettoes.
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ous appearance. They daub their faces with other co- lours, at one time sky blue, at another red, and occa- sionally in the most disgusting and terrific manner. Being deficient in beard, at least until late in life, they draw painted lines from the corners of their mouths to the ears, in imitation of it. The hair, which is gene- rally black, is tied around with a fillet, and drawn in a knot to the left ear, with the addition of any ornament in their possession which they consider valuable. Some wear as an ornament a copper plate with the figure of a fish engraved upon it, placed upon the forehead. Others wear necklaces of glass beads ; beads are es- teemed of less value by them, and do not answer the purposes of traffic so readily. They are dressed gene- rally in deer skins, or something of that nature, which hangs from the back in the fashion of a pallium, and is bound round the naval like an apron ; the rest of the body is naked. Boys and girls move about perfectly uncovered ; they tread on thorns and thistles, without sustaining injury, as if the soles of their feet were horn. Their arms are the bow and arrow, two cubits long, pointed with a piece of buckhorn, or sharp edged flint. They shoot these with such dexterity, as to transfix a sparrow at a considerable distance. Their bows are not very tightly strung, and they are unable to strike objects at a very great distance. By the use of these arms, however, they secure a sufficient quantity of food, as squirrels, partridges, turkeys, &c. of which there is a great abundance. They live in huts of an oblong and oval form, nine or ten feet high ; an opening of a foot and a half in size, through the roof, admits light and allows the smoke to escape. They construct a fire on a pavement in the centre, and sleep in a circle around 3*
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it. The kings and principal chiefs have each a hut of his own, and a bed made by driving four stakes in the ground and laying poles over them. A tent of this de- scription is allotted to my companion and myself, in which we are comfortably enough accommodated until
a better house can be erected. This may be considered the first chapel in Maryland ; it is, however, furnished in a more becoming manner than when it was inhabited by the Indians. In our next voyage, should Provi- dence smile on our undertaking, we shall be supplied with all that is necessary for furnishing houses gene- rally. The disposition of the tribe is sprightly and in- genious ; their taste is very discriminating, and they excel the Europeans in the senses of sight and smell. Their food consists of certain preparations of corn, which they call pone and ominy, to which is added fish and any thing that they have caught in hunting or in their snares. They have neither wine nor spirits, nor can they be easily induced to taste them, except such as the English have infected with their vices. As to their deportment, it is extremely modest and proper. In neither male nor female have I seen any action con- trary to chastity. They come voluntarily and mingle with us daily, offering us, with a joyful countenance, what they have caught in hunting or fishing, and par- taking of our food with us, when invited by a few words in their own language. As yet we are able to converse with them very little except by signs. Many of them have wives, and preserve their conjugal faith unsullied. The countenances of the women are sedate and modest. The natives seem possessed of most ge- nerous dispositions, and reciprocate liberally any acts of kindness. They decide on nothing rashly, nor are
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they affected by any sudden impulse of feeling; but when any thing of importance is submitted to their consideration, they reflect on it in silence, as if anxious to be governed entirely by reason ; then having formed their determination, they express it briefly, and adhere to it most obstinately. If they were once imbued with the principles of Christianity (for which indeed nothing seems to be wanting but a knowledge of their language) they would certainly become examples of every moral and Christian virtue.'
'They are much pleased with the courteous language, as well as the dress of the Europeans, and would now be clothed in our manner, if the avarice of our traders did not prevent it. Our ignorance of their idioms has hitherto, prevented us from learning accurately, their opinions on religion. We have, however, through the aid of interpreters, (not always to be relied on,) caught these particulars : They' acknowledge one God of heaven, whom they call our God. They pay him no external honours, but endeavour in various ways, to propitiate a certain evil spirit whom they call Ochre, that he may not injure them. I understand they wor- ship also grain and fire, as deities very benevolent to mankind. Some of our men say they saw the follow- ing ceremony in the temple Barcluxen. On a certain day, all the men and women of all ages, from many villages, assemble around a large fire; the younger ones are in advance, nearer the fire; then having thrown some deer's fat on the fire, they raise their hands aloft and cry out with a loud voice, 'Taho ! Taho !' During an interval, some one holds out a large bag, which contains a pipe, similar to those we use for smoking tobacco, though much larger, and
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some powder which they call potu. The bag is then carried around the fire, followed by boys and girls singing alternately in an agreeable voice, 'Taho, Taho.' The circuit being finished, the pipe and the powder are drawn out of the bag. The potu being distributed to each one standing around, and lighted in the pipe, each person present smokes it, and consecrates every member of the body by blowing it over them. We are not yet in possession of other facts, except that they seem to have some knowledge of a flood in which the world was destroyed, on account of the sins of mankind.'
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