USA > Maryland > Chronicles of colonial Maryland, with illustrations > Part 4
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It has been suggested, in proof of the harmony and con- cord existing between the Protestants and Roman Catholics in Maryland at that time, that this Chapel was built by their joint contributions, and used in common between them, where "each at his appropriate hour might offer up his sacrifice to the Most High"4-a theory which seems to be sustained by the records of the times.
That "the Chapel" was the early place of worship for the Protestants in and around Saint Mary's City, is clearly established by the records in the proceedings against William Lewis, showing the complainants on their way to "the Chapel, July Ist, 1638, to procure the signatures of the Protestants there assembled, to their petition asking for protection and redress";" and also by the case against Doctor Thomas Gerrard, for "taking away the key of the Chapel", and removing the books there used in Protestant worship. It is equally clear, that this Chapel was also the Roman Catholic place of worship during the same period. Apart from the fact that the church and lot belonged to the Jesuit Priest in charge at Saint Mary's," the Roman Catholic
1 Bryant, p. 498.
2 Fragments of this altar piece may still be seen at Georgetown Col- lege ; the altar stone, chalice, and paten are at Woodstock College.
3 See proceedings against Lewis.
4 Day Star, p. 34.
5 Archives (Pro. Ct. 1638) p. 35.
" Archives (Ass. Pro. 1642) p. 119.
7 The Chapel lot was first surveyed for Mr. Ferdinand Poulton, a Jesuit Priest, officially known as Father Brock, and who was accidently shot while crossing the Saint Mary's River. The patent, however, was obtained by Mr. Thomas Copley, a Jesuit Priest, known officially as Father Philip Fisher. It contained twenty-five acres, and was bounded
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graveyard there was "ye ordinary burying place in Saint Mary's Chapel Yard".1
If, however, the Protestants acquired any rights to the use and occupation of this Chapel by reason of having con- tributed to the cost of its construction or otherwise, they were relinquished at an early date, and it became exclusively a Roman Catholic Church.
In April, 1641, the Chapel lot and buildings were pur- chased by Governor Calvert, for the Proprietary, for £200 sterling.ª Why this purchase was made, is one of the many mysteries and obscurities in Maryland's early history, which the records fail to elucidate.
In 1683, the Proprietary, having disposed of a part of the Chapel land, ordered that such quantity as was deemed neces- sary for the "Chapel and burying place at the City of Saint Mary's", be supplied from some other of his Lordship's land lying contiguous thereto.3
By the Act of 1704, to "prevent the growth of Popery in Maryland", the celebration of mass in this Chapel, in common with other Roman Catholic churches in the Province, was prohibited. In September of that year, two priests, Robert Brooke and William Hunter, were arraigned before Governor Seymour, on the charge of holding service in Saint Mary's Chapel, contrary to law. It being, says the record, their "first offence", they were "dismissed with a mere repri- mand", but one, it should be said, which was singularly con- spicuous for its arrogant tone and intolerant spirit. By advice of the Council, the Governor at the same time issued an order, directing the sheriff of the county to lock up the "Popish Chapel at the City of Saint Mary's" and "keep the key
as follows; "on the east by Saint Peter's; south by Gile's Brent's land ; west by Key's Branch, and north by a line drawn from Key's Branch, at the 'Vayle,' to the brook where Saint Peter's ends, being about forty- five perches above the Mill."-Liber I, pp. 32 and 117; Shea, pp. 38 and 55.
1 Will of John Loyd, 1658; Day Star, p. 34.
2 Archives (Pro. Cl.) pp. 136 and 143; Ibid, (Pro. Ct.) pp. 217, 243, 263 and 266.
3 Kilty, p. 123.
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thereof", "and that no person presume to make use thereof under any pretense whatever".1 Thus, under this order, issued September 19th, 1704, this, the first church erected by the Pilgrims of Maryland, was forever closed to public worship.
While the American Revolution swept away the legisla- tion of the times against the Roman Catholics the title to this property, had, in the meantime, become vested in others, and the "Chapel land at Saint Mary's", where stood the first Church of Rome, in Maryland, was forever lost to the object and purpose of its dedication. The Chapel building and fur- niture, however, were taken to Saint Inigoe's, and the manor house, erected in 1705, under the auspices of Father Ashby, was built of the bricks taken from the old Chapel at Saint Mary's.2
It is stated that further inland, in the little ravine above "Governor's Spring", "the first burial ground of the colony was made, and where the Jesuit fathers placed the black cross at the head of every christian grave".3 Be this as it may, certain it is, that the "Chapel yard" was "ye ordinary bury- ing place" for Roman Catholics, as early as 1658 -an entirely different location.
On the east side of Mattapany Street, and near the head of "Governor's Run", stood what was probably the most pretentious residence at Saint Mary's. It was called the "Governor's Castle". The lot on which it stood was granted in 1638, to Thomas Cornwaleys, and was called "Saint Peter". The situation, while not as picturesque perhaps, as some others, was nevertheless, an attractive one. The house fronted the west, and commanded a pleasing view of both the land and water. The records speak of this house as early as 1639, and in 1640, its substantial character and superior style of architecture were deemed worthy of special note.e
1 Scharf, I, p. 369; Shea, p. 354.
2 Bishop Fenweck's Maryland; Shea, p. 370.
3 Bryant, p. 505. ^ Will, John Loyd, 1658; Day Star, 34. 6 Bryant, p. 505.
5 Liber I, p. 67.
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In 1664, it was owned by Philip Calvert, and later by Lord Baltimore,1 by whom it was probably embellished, if not enlarged. Even within the present century, the walls, chimneys, and tiled cellar floor of this early colonial mansion, were still partly standing, and the site, covered with frag- ments of brick and tile, is still clearly discernible.
It was built of dark red brick, ornamented with black, was square in general shape (about forty feet each way), was two stories high, with arched brick porch in front, and two large chimneys, which were near the centre of the build- ing. A cellar, which extended under the whole structure, was paved with square tile. A massive and high brick wall enclosed the building and court,? which, while adding doubt- less to its imposing appearance, must have given to it much the aspect of a fortification.
An eminent Maryland author,3 in 1838, from details fur- nished by living witnesses of a time when this building and its surroundings, while not, perhaps, in their pristine glory, were still standing, wrote the following description of them: "A massive building, of dark brick, two stories in height. and penetrated by narrow windows looking forth, beyond the fort, upon the river, constituted the chief member or main body of the mansion. This was capped by a wooden balus- traded parapet, terminating, at each extremity, in a scroll, and in the middle, sustaining an entablature that rose to a summit on which was mounted a weathercock. From this cen- tral structure, right and left a series of arcades and corridors served to bring into line a range of subordinate buildings. * * In the rear of the buildings, a circular sweep of wall and pail- ing reached as far as a group of stables and sheds. Vanward, the same kind of enclosures, more ornate in their fashion, shut in a grassy court. * Ancient trees shaded the whole mass of dwelling-houses, court and stables, and gave to the place both a lordly and comfortable aspect. It was a pleasant groupe of roof and bower, of spire and tree to look upon from
1 Rent Rolls.
3 Bryant, p. 505.
8 Kennedy, Rob of the Bowl.
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the fair village-city, studding the level plain with its scattered dwellings."
This building may have been occupied by Charles, Lord Baltimore, during the latter years of his residence in Mary- land, but it does not appear to have been the "executive mansion" of the Province, until the establishment of the Royal Government in Maryland, when it was used as such by Sir Lionel Copley, the first Royal Governor,1 and his suc- cessors, and when it was probably given the name, by which it was afterwards known, "Governor's Castle".
About twenty yards below the house was a spring, which is still known as "Governor's Spring", and noted for its abundant flow of pure, clear water.
On the opposite side of the ravine from the "Governor's Castle", was the Throughton house, said to have been one of the finest private residences at Saint Mary's. The lot was granted in 1639,2 and was improved by a capacious brick building, one-and-a-half stories high, with steep roof and dor- mer windows. This house was occupied by the Mackalls, and later by the Bromes, until the early part of the last cen- tury, when it was destroyed by fire. The chimneys and gables of the building now there are said to be constructed of material saved from the ruin of its predecessor.
Adjoining Mrs. Mary Throughton's lot, on the east, was "Courtney's Fancy", the residence of Thomas Courtney, while still further inland were "Saint Mary's Hills", and "Paris and Galloway", owned respectively, by Major Nich- olas Sewall, and Attorney General Robert Carvile.3
On the opposite, or northerly, side of Mattapany Street, and about two hundred and fifty yards from its intersection with Mill Creek, was "Saint Barberry", the home of Attor- ney General Robert Carvile, and subsequently of his daughter, Mrs. Cecelius Butler.4
Adjoining "Saint Barberry" on the north, was the resi- dence of John Lewger, the first Secretary of the Province. It
1 Archives (Pro. Cl. 1692) p. 382.
2 Liber I, p. 67.
3 Rent Rolls.
4 Resurvey, 1723.
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was called "Saint John", and stood on the bluff formed by the union of Saint John's Creek with Saint Mary's Bay-a commanding and singularly beautiful situation. The warrant for "Saint John" was issued in 1637, and the patent in 1639. As early as the IIth of February, 1638, the records speak of "our Secretary's house at Saint John", and on the 25th of the same month, the General Assembly adjourned at Fort Saint Mary's to meet at the "mansion house" there,1 which from that time, continued to be the place at which most of the public business of the Province was transacted, until the "Government House", heretofore mentioned, was pur- chased.
When Mr. Lewger returned to England, "Saint John" was sold to Richard Bennett. In 1650, John Lewger, Jr., who remained in Maryland, and who, in 1648, when but twenty years of age, was Clerk of the Assembly, secured the historic home of his father, at Saint Mary's .? It was subse- quently sold to Lord Baltimore, who ordered a large area of adjacent land, lying within and beyond the limits of Saint Mary's, to be added to it, the whole to be erected into a manor, and to be granted to his son, Charles Calvert,3 then Governor of the Province. "Saint John" was the home of Charles, Lord Baltimore, for about twenty years, and for a period quite as long, nearly all of the meetings of the Council of State were held there.4 In 1684, when he visited Eng- land, destined never to return to Maryland, the "mansion house, orchard, and garden" were put in charge of William Smith, of Saint Mary's.5
Of this building, no traces are left to indicate its style or character, except the still visible outlines of its cellar, and the broken brick and tile which are commingled with the soil around it. But repeated instances are furnished in which Baltimore, during the sessions of the Assembly and Courts,
1 Archives (Ass. Pro. 1638) pp. 28 and 32.
2 Archives (Pro. Ct. 1650) pp. 66 and 70; Neil's Maryland, p. 72.
3 Kilty, p. 95. 4 Archives (Pro. Cl. 1662-1684.)
5 Kilty, p. 220.
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entertained there, for weeks at a time, a large number of per- sons,1 from which it may be inferred, that it was, at least, a building of no inconsiderable proportions.
The residence of Speaker of the House, Kenelm Chesel- dine, was called "East Saint Mary's". The house stood on the north side of Chancellor's Creek, on a site now crowned with trees and remnants of its ruin, and a little southeast of the present dwelling on the property, which still bears its original name. This building, which was standing less than fifty years ago, was about thirty by thirty-five feet, was built of brick, and was one-and-a-half stories high, with steep roof and sharp dormer windows. "East Saint Mary's", was in 1639,2 patented to Nathaniel Pope.3 It was subsequently owned by Lord Baltimore, and later by Kenelm Cheseldine, for several years Speaker of the Lower House of Assembly. During the greater part of the time it was owned by Baltimore, it was, by order of the Council, constituted the place of gen- eral rendezvous for the militia, and was the "Port of Entry" for Saint Mary's City.4 "East Saint Mary's" is also historic as the place at which the sessions of 1669 and 1671, of the General Assembly were held.5
"The residence of Deputy Governor Giles Brent,® stood
1 As an illustration see Archives (Ass. Pro. 1674) p. 432.
2 Liber I, p. 54.
3 His daughter, Ann, married Colonel John Washington, the great- grandfather of General Washington .- William & Mary Quarterly, 1893.
* Archives (2 Pro. Cl.) pp. 23, 31, and 93.
5 Archives (2 Ass. Pro.) pp. 156 and 239.
" Giles Brent came to Maryland in 1639; was appointed Treasurer, and during the visit of Governor Calvert to England, in 1643, was com- missioned Deputy Governor of the Province. He was the son of Richard Brent, of Gloucester, England. He had a brother, Fulk Brent, and sis- ters Margaret, Mary, Catherine, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Jane, and Ann. Of these, Mary and Margaret, and his brother Fulk, came to Maryland with him. It was this Mistress Margaret who was such a prominent figure in early Maryland history. She was the executrix of Governor Leonard Calvert, and represented Lord Baltimore in various important matters of State, in all of which she displayed marked talent, courage, and ability. She enjoys the distinction of having been the first woman in America
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on the cliff on the south side of "Key's Branch". The lot was patented to him in 1639, and fronted eighty perches on the river. It was beautifully situated and was called the "White House".1
Adjoining this lot on the south, was "Brent's Forge" while still further south was the residence of Mistress Mar- garet and Mary Brent. The latter lot was patented in 1639,3 and was called "Sisters' Freehold"."
Adjacent to this property on the south, was the residence of Governor Thomas Green.6 It was patented in 1639, and was called, at first, "Green's Rest", and later, "Saint Ann".
All of these houses stood near the river, and were located in what is now known as the "Rectory Field". The site of each, as well as the graded slope from the houses to the river, can still clearly be seen.
The house of Governor Green-a two-story frame build- ing, with brick gables, was occupied as late as 1820,7 and its
(and, perhaps, in the world, if we accept the ingenius Portia, of dra- matic fame), who exercised the rights of an attorney at law. The rec- ords furnish repeated instances in which she appeared before the Courts in that capacity. She was also a strong-and perhaps, the earliest-ad- vocate of woman's suffrage, having demanded, not only a seat in the General Assembly of Maryland, but a vote therein, both in her indi- vidual capacity, and as the representative of the estate of Governor Leonard Calvert. Two votes to one woman, however, was more than even the gallantry of the sons of early Maryland could accord. Could the wife of Governor Leonard Calvert-whose identity is still shrouded in obscurity-have been one of the sisters of this notable woman? If so, it would account for the high offices bestowed by him upon Colonel Giles Brent, and the close bond of intimacy and apparent relationship which existed between them.
1 Kilty, p. 71; Rent Rolls.
2 Kilty, p. 71.
3 Liber I, p. 32. *Deed, E. Clocker, to J. Milburn, 1756.
" It is said by Browning that Thomas Green married Elizabeth a sister of Governor Leonard Calvert. He had sons named Leonard, Francis, Thomas, and Robert .- Davis, p. 182.
" Liber I, p. 42; Rent Rolls; Archives (2 Pro. Ct.) p. 337.
7 By the father of the late Doctor John Mackall Brome. To Doctor Brome, a most estimable man, and his venerable mother, both now
.
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brick chimneys were standing within the recollection of many persons still living.
In the same general locality, but further inland, and bordering on Saint Andrew's Creek and Saint Inigoe's Creek, were, "Town Land", the residence of Robert Clark, Sur- veyor General,1 "Lewis' Neck", the residence of Lieutenant William Lewis, subsequently of Daniel Clocker,? "Van Swer- ingen Point", the residence of Garrett Van Sweringen, subse- quently of Clerk of Council, Robert Ridgely,3 "Saint Peter's Key", the residence of John Harris, subsequently of William Goldsmith," and "Cross Neck", the residence of Elizabeth Baker, who devised it, in 1701, to William and Mary (P. E.) Parish.5
About midway between Robert Clark's and the intersec- tion of Middle and Mattapany Streets, and near the latter street, was one of the principal taverns of the City, in the latter part of its history. It was owned by Garrett Van Swer- ingen, in 1671, but was shortly afterward destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt, however, and in 1698 was known as “The Coffee House". He also owned, in 1698, the house at Saint Mary's called "The Council Room".8
South of St. Andrew's Creek, and on the promontory which formed the southern arm of Saint Mary's Harbor, was the house of Chancellor Philip Calvert. It was known as "The Chancellor's Point""-the name it still retains. It was a singularly commanding and beautiful situation, but nothing remains, save the name and a few fragments of its ruin, to
deceased, whose residence at Saint Mary's had, together, covered nearly a century of time, and, consequently, had seen much of the Old City before it crumbled to ruin, the author is indebted for much valuable information and data, which could otherwise only have been secured, if at all, at the expense of enormous research and labor.
1 Kilty. 2 Ibid, Will of Benjamin Clocker.
3 Patent, Land Office ; Re-survey, 1710.
4 Patent, Land Office; Rent Rolls.
5 Archives (Pro. Cl. 1692) pp. 395 and 420; Re-survey; 1750; will of Elizabeth Baker.
Archives (Pro. Cl. 1692) p. 420; will, Liber P. C. III.
7 Patent.
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mark the spot where once stood the historic home of Mary- land's first Chancellor.
Adjoining "Chancellor's Point" on the east, and border- ing on Saint Inigoe's Creek, were "Clocker's Fancy" and "Justice's Freehold", the residences respectively, of Daniel Clocker and William Deakins.1
Still further down the peninsula, was the Walstenholme residence. This place is familiarly known as the home of the "Collector", a position with which it was associated as late as the American Revolution-Daniel Walstenholme, its owner, and son of his predecessor in that office-being, until 1776, Collector of the Potomac District.ª The house, a capacious frame building, with brick gables (and until recent years, double-roofed and triangularly-capped dormer windows), and finished with handsomely carved woodwork ornamenting both ceilings and side walls, is still in good preservation. It stands to-day, the only monument of its time, and furnishes a hand- some and interesting specimen of the style of architecture and interior embellishment of that day. It occupies the summit of the high, bold bluff at the juncture of Saint Inigoe's Creek with the river, and commands an extensive and picturesque view of both land and water, embracing in its sweep, Saint George's Island, the broad Potomac, and the dim, mountain- like lines of the distant Virginia shore. It is now the man- sion house of the beautiful estate called "Rose Croft".3
1 Deed, Elizabeth Clocker to John Milburn, 1756.
2 This house, it is said by persons in position to know, retains its original style of architecture, except, that about thirty years ago its pre- cipitous roof and triangularly-capped dormer windows were removed, and the present roof substituted. It is also worthy of note that this house is frequently referred to as the home of "Anthony Warden, Col- lector." No such person ever lived at Saint Mary's, or ever was the Proprietary Collector in Maryland. The name was first introduced in Maryland literature, by Kennedy, in his interesting legend of Saint Inigoe's, 'Rob, of the Bowl,' which, while an historical novel of great value, introduces its characters through fictitious names. Since' the above was written the Rose Croft house has been burned.
3 Journal and Correspondence, Council of Safety, July, 1776; deed, John Mackall to A. Livers Lee, 1810.
CHAPTER III The First Capital of Maryland
THE first General Assembly held in Maryland, met at Saint Mary's, on the 25th of January, 1637.1 The Acts of this session, Baltimore refused to approve, because, as he claimed, the right to originate laws resided, under the charter, exclusively in himself; the power of the Assembly being limited to assent and dissent to such as he propounded. The freemen of Maryland, convinced that they possessed equal and co-ordinate rights, in matters of legislation, with the Proprietary, with the courage of their conviction, vindicated their position, by rejecting, at the next session of the Assem- bly, the whole body of bills drafted and submitted by him for their adoption, and enacted in their stead, a code which emi- nated from themselves, though substantially the same as the one that he had propounded. After this, the right of the Assembly to initiate legislation was not contested, and the right of the Proprietary was, in practice, limited to his veto. This right he always retained the privilege of exercising per- sonally, and, while the Governor of the Province was invested with the power of assenting to or rejecting laws passed by the Assembly, his assent only gave them efficacy until the Pro- prietary's dissent was declared .?
The freemen, successful in their opposition to what they deemed an encroachment upon their charter rights, thus planted in Maryland, at the session of 1637, that germ of liberty which underlies the right of free self government.
1 A General Assembly was held in February 1635, but no record of it remains, save some references to it made in subsequent statutes.
2 McMahon, p. 145; Brown, pp. 35 and 44; Johnson's Foundation of Maryland.
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The Legislature consisted at first of one branch, and until 1639, was composed of the Council and all the freemen in the Province, either in person or by proxy,1 convened by procla- mation and summons, with the Governor as its President. In 1639, burgesses were elected from every hundred, who with the Governor and Council, composed the House of Assembly. With this change from a primary to a representative Assem- bly, two curious anomalies still existed-the one conceding to the Governor the right to summons additional members at will; the other, the right of every freeman who failed to vote for the burgess elected, to claim representation in person.
In 1650, the organization of an Upper and a Lower House of Assembly was established; the Governor, Council, and those summoned by special writ, constituting the Upper House, and the burgesses elected, the Lower House. The number of delegates to be elected was within the Governor's discretion, and was regulated by the proclamation for the election, usually from two to four from each hundred (subse- quently, each county), until 1681, when the number was uniformly fixed, and reduced to two, which continued until 1692, when it was, for the first time, regulated by Act of Assembly, and when the number was increased to four from every county-a basis of representation which continued until the Revolution.2
It should here be said that the legislation enacted at the little Capital of Saint Mary's, during the sixty-one years in which it was the seat of Government, forms, to a great
1 Except the Jesuit priests, Fathers White, Althan and Copley, who asked to be excused on the ground of "sickness." In England, clergy- men were not eligible to membership in the House of Commons, not because of their "clerical office," as those holy fathers perhaps assumed, but because they were already sufficiently represented through the bish- ops in the House of Lords. Ministers of the gospel were subsequently permanently excused from service in the General Assembly of Maryland, the Legislature going to the extent even of holding that, "once in orders always in orders", as in the case of John Coade in the Assembly of 1692. In Maryland no clergyman has ever sat in the General Assembly, and since 1776 it has been prohibited by constitutional provision, an exclusion not found in any other state in the Union.
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