USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > Historical notices of St. Ann's parish in Ann Arundel county, Maryland, extending from 1649 to 1857, a period of 208 years > Part 4
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HISTORICAL NOTICES
Peter Overard, Richard Brickles, Church Wardens.
John Beall, John Gresham, Benj. Tasker, Thomas Bordley, Vestrymen.
Such was the address thus presented, but it does not appear to have produced any result. We are shown however here, that the rectors of that day, did not confine their labors to the pulpits and desks of their parish churches, but that they visited and held services in the remote parts of their parish at private houses, and it was on these occasions only that many had an opportunity for the baptism of their children. One family indeed in the upper part of the parish it is known, living near thirty miles from Annapolis and devoted to the church, when they would attend services on the Sabbath had to come into the neigh- borhood on the Saturdayp receding. The rectorship of a parish thus was then no sinecure to a faithful clergymen, and the church was by no means without such. There was in this parish at that time, as is the fact in many parishes still in Maryland, much work called for from the minister, and but little pay given him.
The benefits which this address speaks of as accru- ing to the clergyman, rector of the parish, was the tobacco tax imposed on the parishioners for his sup- port. In the year following this date, the taxables returned numbered 514, this would give the amount of tobacco raised by their assessment to be 20,560, which if all paid to the rector, would be but $342,66; but it was not. 1000 lbs. of this tobacco was by law paid to the clerk of the vestry, and besides this, some of the tax payers were always returned non est inventus, some paid in trashy tobacco of little real value, and in these and other ways the amount was always ma-
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terially reduced which theincumbent actually received.
The address speaks too of the parish being often without a minister, because of the small benefits, &c. Mr. Skippon was the sixth Rector in a parish not yet twenty-seven years old. During its first three years it had none, and do we wonder that the three clergy- men who did not die in it, did not continue it ? And yet more popular clergymen than Mr. Coney or Mr. Henderson, probably were not to be found in the Pro- vince, but we shall see more of these changes here- : after. .
From an entry in the vestry's records of Novem- ber, 1721, we learn that the communion as before stated was administered monthly, and in another of December 6, the Register and school master M. Pi- per is mentioned, and also the charity boys, by which we are shown that the Parish had then a charity school.
April 9, 1722, on motion of the Rev. Mr. Skippon to repair the two small parsonage houses fit for him to live in, the cost of such repairs was ordered to be ascertained.
On the 7th of May, 1723, Alexander Frazier, Rob- ert Gordon, Thomas Worthington, Vachel Denton, Joshua George and William, received permission to build a gallery at the west end of the church at their own expense, and thus what the vestry had not felt themselves able to do and the General Assembly would not, was accomplished by private liberality, and more accommodations were in this way provided. It appears that Mr. Skippon was now clerk of the Up- per House of Assembly. This of course added some- thing to his support, which no doubt was needed, though the taxables of this year were reported to be 663 giving him somewhat more than $400.
On the 5th of August, 1724, Mr. Skippon appears in his place at a meeting of the vestry for the last 5
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time, and he is recorded to have died December 8, 1724. His widow, Dorothy, survived him, but wheth- er he left any children is no where stated. Though struggling with the difficulties of a small support, he seems, judging from the records, to have been a faithi- ful and industrious minister, and the church to have prospered under his labors.
In the following year on the 19th of January, the Rev. Mr. Henderson of Queen Anne's, Prince George's, the Bishop of London's Commissary, for himself and the neighboring clergy, proposed to the vestry that they would serve the parish for the present, on con- dition that the vestry would agree, that the 40 1b. tobacco per poll for the current year, be applied to- wards purchasing Glebe Land and improving it, for the next incumbent and his successors. To this the vestry agreed, Edward Benson and Vachel Denton, dissenting. Gov. Charles Calvert, Robert Gordon, Benjamin Tasker, Alexander Frazier, and John Gor- don, consenting.
On page 137, of the vestry's records, are found the autograph signatures of all the church wardens and vestrymen of St. Ann's Parish, to the Oath of Abju- ration and Test Act, almost from the beginning of the parish down to the period of the Revolution. To those who would see how their ancestors used the pen this is an interesting page.
REV. JOHN HUMPHREYS, SEVENTH INCUMBENT.
Mr. Humphreys was born in the city of Limerick, in Munster, Ireland. His father was a practitioner of physic, and eminent for his skill and practice. He was from Leicestershire, England, and hence sent his
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OF ST. ANN'S PARISH.
son to England where he was educated. In 1715, he was sent out by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, as a Missionary to Pennsylvania. There he officiated alternately at Chester, Chichester. Concord and Marcus Hook with great acceptance. But re- peated and severe attacks of illness, and the conse- quent increase of his expenses, led him in 1724, to remove to Maryland, where he became the Rector of St. George's, now in Harford County. In view of the hardships which he had suffered, and the dili- gence with which he had discharged his duties, the society. on his leaving their employment, made him a gratuity of £30.stg. From St. George's he remov- ed here, and on the 11th of February, 1725, he ap- pears on the records at the head of the vestry.
At the desire of the vestry, Gov. Calvert inducted him into the Parish. And this being done, they re- called their promise made Mr. Henderson, and gave the tobacco they had set apart for a glebe, to Mr. Humphreys, to defray the expenses of his removal here, thus showing that he came here at their request, and by their aid and help.
The population of the Parish was much on the in- crease, the taxables this year, 1726, numbered 744, being eighty more than two years ago, showing a population of more than 2.000.
We find nothing peculiarly worthy of notice, till the 17th of February, 1727, when it having been found that the recording of births, marriages and bu- rials, had been greatly neglected, the law was order- ed to be put in force in cases of such delinquency.
On the 4th of April, it was proposed to the vestry, by Mr. Philip Hammond, in behalf and at the re- quest of the upper parts of the parish, whose habita- tions are so remote, that the church in Annapolis is entirely useless to them, that a chapel of case be car- ried on and perfected by subscription of the parish,
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to be fixed in some convenient place in the upper parts thereof, which by this parish is thought fit and ne- cessary. It was resolved therefore, that the Govern- ment be petitioned, for a permission to carry on the same, and that Mr. Beale be requested to draw up a petition therefor by the next meeting of the vestry.
It was now ordered that £10 currency, be charged for ground in the church yard to bury any one in, and the amount be paid to the use of the rector.
On the 2d of May, Mr. Richard Claggett received permission to build a pew where the font stood, a fact showing plainly how the room in the church was now all occupied.
The following paper, as ordered on the 4th of April, was then presented :-
MARYLAND SS.
"To his Excellency, Charles Calvert, Esq., Gov- ernor of Maryland.
The petition of the vestrymen of St. Ann's parish in Ann Arundel County, most humbly showeth :
That it is represented to your petitioners, by one of the vestrymen of said parish on behalf of several of the parishioners of said parish, living in the upper part thereof, that they live so remote from the parish church that they cannot be there in due time to hear divine service and the gospel preached.
And for as much as several of the parishioners are willing to build a chapel of case by subscription, upon obtaining your Excellency's license for the same, wherefore, your petitioners pray your Excellency to grant license to your petitioners, for building a chap- el of ease, to be placed by your petitioners in some convenient place, for the convenience of the upper part of said parish, and your petitioners as in duty bound will pray, &c."
The petition was then signed by the Rector, A. Frazier, V. Denton, Thomas Worthington, John
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Beale and Phil. Hammond, and presented to the Gov- ernor. On the back of it was then written, "I grant this petition, 2d May, 1727. Charles Calvert."
If it be asked why this petition ? It was because, by the charter granted to Lord Baltimore, no church or chapel could be erected in the Province of any name or denomination, without his Lordship's license. And the power of granting it, was placed in the hands of his Governor. Now here in this petition and the answer to it, we have an example of how this thing was done.
Another addition to the sittings in the church, was at this time called for, and on the 4th of July a petition was presented to the vestry for permission to erect a gallery over the pews appointed for the gen- tlemen of the Assembly ; which was agreed to. This it will be recollected, was the third addition of pews asked for and granted.
On the 7th of November, the vestry had proceeded so far in reference to the chapel, that they appointed to meet on the 16th at 11 o'clock, on the race-ground, near Mr. Benson's, to choose the ground on which to place it. This was near the head of Severn River. Workmen to build it were at the same time adver- tised for.
January 28, 1728. At this date, a blank book for accounts was directed to be provided, in which they might be kept separately from the vestry's proceed- ings, which had before been the custom, to cost £1.3s. It was accordingly procured, but where is it now ? Could it be recovered, it would throw much light on parish affairs, of which we must now remain ignorant.
On the 5th of March, £1.4s. currency or $3.20, was directed to be paid for a copy of the book of the laws published by William Parks, and just then printed. This had been provided for by the Assembly at its previous October session, see Bacon, chapter 8, 1727. 5*
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This volume is a small folio of 300 pages, about 12 inches by 7. It contains near 50 acts in full, which had become obsolete in 1764, when Bacon published his volume, and are consequently by him omitted. But it was not complete, 32 acts in full force in 1727, all given by Bacon at large, and as being in force even when he published, which were omitted in Sparks.
There had been one edition printed 1718, by Brad- ford in Philadelphia, and one in 1707, as spoken of by Bacon. But one lying before us belonging to John Bozman Kerr, Esq., the title page of which is gone, contains the Acts of Assembly only down to 1700, and consequently, must have been published at that date.
Although thus Parks's edition of the laws of the Province was defective, yet as it contained all the enactments of the General Assembly relating to rec- tors, vestrymen, parishes, &c., it was certainly wise in the vestry to procure a copy, that they might know, as every vestry ought to know, its rights, powers, privileges, and duties.
At the same meeting, the parishioners made the se- lection of a spot for the chapel to be built on, in Peter Porter's old field, a field whose location. is not now known. This was approved of by the vestry. Still the matter was not thus finally disposed of.
On the Records of the vestry, May 7, we find the following petition, which shows us something of the tone, temper and difficulties, which had to be con- tended with in the building of the new gallery in the church. "To the gentlemen of the vestry of St. Ann's, the humble petition of some of the parishion- ers of said Parish showeth :-
That in consideration of the smallness of the parish church, and that there was much want of room, you were pleased to encourage your parishioners by giv-
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ing them leave sometime since to build a gallery to- wards the north-east end of the said church, and your petitioners made provision according thereto, but some vestries after, we understood you were inclined to enlarge the said gallery by making it extend from near the pulpit all over the assembly pews and over the chancel, until it should reach near the Governor's pew, a design very much wished for and of a general good and service, and by these contrivances, thechurch may be made to hold almost as many above as below. And we are humbly of opinion, as we believe all good and considerate men will be likewise, that the best ornament to a church is a good pastor, and a large flock ; we thank God we are blest with the one, but want of room obstructs the happiness of the other. In consideration of which, we with patience waited to know your resolutions, and at length, being or- dered to go on with your first directions, which we did accordingly, till we were prevented by Mr. John Beale, who told us not to proceed any further until further orders. We therefore having been at consid- erable charges and loss of time in proceeding with the said work according to your orders, humbly hope your honors will take it into your consideration. And we beg leave to know your commands, being fully persuaded, that it will be most consistent to the hon- or and praise of God, and to the great benefit and ad- vantage of the said church and people. In hopes of which, with humble submission, your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.
Richard Tootell, Simon Duff, Peter Overard, Wm. Ghiselen."
This paper being received and read, the petitioners were ordered by the vestry to proceed in building the said gallery.
But on the 4th of June, complaint was made by the above named persons, that they were obstructed
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by Mr. Humphreys, and his reasons were demanded. On the 11th therefore, he replied, that it proceeded from a proposition of the Honorable, the Government, for enlarging the church and carrying on the Chapel of Ease in the upper part of the parish. Whereupon the vestry waited upon his Honor, the Governor, who recommended them the enlarging the church and re- pairing it, as well as building a chapel. The vestry therefore gave notice, asking a parish meeting on the first of July, in William McCubbin's old field ; but no notice is taken in the records of the result of this meeting, if in fact it took place.
On the 3d of September, the General Assembly was petitioned by the vestry, both in relation to the aug- mentation of the church, and also the building of a chapel.
QUEEN CAROLINE PARISH.
On the 24th of October, the General Assembly erected a new Parish in Ann Arundel County, sce Bacon, chapter 15, 1728, by the name of Queen Car- oline. This was on the north-west of what is now St. Ann's Parish, and taken mainly from St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore County, embracing that part of it west of the Patapsco falls, and from All Hallows, em- bracing the northern part of it east of the Patuxent. A small portion of it however, was taken off from St. Ann's, being all that part north west of a line, drawn from the mouth of a small branch running into Pa- tuxent river, and lying between the plantations of John Ryan and Rose Lee, and running by a straight line through the woods till it intersects the former division line between Baltimore and Ann Arundel Counties, including therein the plantations of John Ryan and John Barber. How many of the taxables of St. Ann's resided in the part thus taken off, is not
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now known ; but the presumption is, not many, for the distance from Annapolis to this new division line, must have been near 20 miles.
On the 2d of November, Bacon, chapter 25, 1728, responding to the petition of the vestry of St. Ann's of the 3d of September, the General Assembly passed an Act for the repairing and enlarging of the church in the city of Annapolis, and for the building of a Chapel of Ease in St. Ann's Parish. And the vestry's records of November 5th show us, that the vestry had to get the consent of a major part of the parishioners, before they could apply to the county justices for an assessment, whose duty it was to grant it, under the Act which had been passed for that purpose.
The subscriptions of the parishioners giving their consent, we are shown from the vestry's records of the 5th of the May following, was obtained by Benjamin Gaither, and he was allowed therefor, 150 lbs. of to- bacco, or $2.50. This mode was adopted rather than the calling meetings of the parishioners, who were scattered over a territory 25 miles long, and the amount paid was certainly small enough to gratify the most penurious.
On the 4th of March, 1729, the consent of the pa- rishioners having been obtained as just stated, and the application having been made to the County Jus- tices, under the Act of Assembly, the vestry were granted 40,000 lbs. of tobacco, or $668. They had also in hand £60 currency, about $160, and 4.000 lbs of tobacco, worth $67, which could not be applied to the building of the chapel. Of the amount therefore granted by the Court, 25,000 lbs. were ap- plied towards building the chapel, and the balance 15.000 lbs. to the improvement of the church.
On the first of April, it was advertised in the Ma- ryland Gazette, the paper then published in Annapo-
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lis by Sparks, that the Rev. John Humphreys would preach at Mr. Benson's when the inhabitants of the upper part of the parish would meet, to choose a place for the chapel. The one chosen before of course had not proved satisfactory. Now however, they choose an acre of ground belonging to Emanuel Marriott, for which as it appears on the vestry's records of July 2, 1734, said Marriott received £3 currency or $8. Whether this was the ordinary price of land in that neighborhood at that time, it does not appear, but it was purchased subject to the quit rent due annu- ally to Lord Baltimore.
At a meeting on the 4th of March, it was resolv- ed to add 25 feet to the parish church, on the cast end, and carry it up with a square wall. The length and breadth are not indeed given, but if as stated, the church was in form a F, it was made so by this addition. The chapel it was determined should be 40 feet by 25.
On the 5th of May, Easter Monday, the parish was laid off into five precincts or districts, and counters of tobacco were appointed for each. Under what au- thority this was required, has not been ascertained, for the Act of 1728, chapter 2, for the improving the staple of tobacco, which as some seem to have suppos- ed, imposed it, was dissented from, and consequent- ly never became a law.
At the same time, Patrick Creagh agreed to build the chapel for 44,000 lbs. of tobacco. But finally on the 3rd of June, Philip Hammond undertook the work, engaging to have it finished in one year. The taxables of this year are stated at 809.
On the 8th of August, the General Assembly passed an act for the further assessment of 40,000 lbs. of to- bacco on the inhabitants of St. Ann's Parish. towards enlarging and repairing the church, and building the chapel ; and also for paying the fourth part of such
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enlargement and repairs, by a public assessment on the whole province. The reason for this was, that by this Act, the vestry were empowered and directed to leave a placeand room in the body of the church, large enough for a handsome pew for the Governor, an- other for the honorable, the members of the Council, another for the honorable the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and five others, large and commodious, for the members of said house. And this was but just. For as it is right and duty, that the represen- tatives of a christian people to set an example of pub- liely worshiping God, so it is right, that such a peo- ple should provide an appropriate place for their so doing.
On the 3rd of March, 1730, a frame vestry house 20 by 16 feet, near the chapel, at the head of Severn was ordered to be built. And on the 4th of August following, the chapel itself was reported as being nearly perfected. The taxables at this time were 850.
And now at length, May 2, 1731, three years near- ly after determining to repair and add to the church, the vestry give notice, asking proposals from work- men for doing the work.
June 6, 1732, a new surplice was ordered and £1.10 was paid for making it. And on the 13th of November the parish library was directed to be in- spected by a committee of the vestry, the law requir- ed it to be done annually.
May 26, 1733, Peter Porter was allowed 200 lbs. of tobacco per annum for taking care of the chapel.
About this time, an Act was passed by the Gene- ral Assembly, appropriating #3000 currency, for pur- chasing convenient ground in the city of Annapolis, and for building therein, a dwelling house, &e., for the residence of the Governor.
On the 2d of April, 1734, workmen agreed to shingle
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the church for 10s. per square, 1. that is 10 feet square. This doubtless was the church so long before built, and provided for being repaired and enlarged, but as yet, nothing had been done. It would gratify curi- osity to know why this delay occurred.
More than two years pass away, and now, June 1, 1736, it was determined that the addition to the church should be 20 feet long and 18 wide in the clear, with a window on the east side and a door in the end.
Another year comes round, and February 7, 1737, proposals for building the addition were now again advertised for. There was also ordered a marble font, having a wooden frame top, with pulleys and weight to lift it off and on. It was to be two feet in diameter and one and a half deep.
Nothing further occurs deemed worth noticing, till May 1, 1739, and this was the last meeting, in which the name of the Rev. John Humphreys appears at the head of the vestry, and this is all the mention of him there. But the ministerial records show us, that he died on the 8th of July, 1739, at. 53. And there it is said, that "he did not displease his people by irregular or indecent living." He had exercised his ministry in this country twenty-four years, and in this parish fourteen. In that time, he had seen the population of the parish increase about six hundred, a new parish in part made out of this, a chapel of case erected, and the congregation of the parish church so increase, as long before this, to require its being enlarged, and steps had been taken with this intent. His parishioners as we have seen, thanked God and bore testintony, that he was a good Pastor.
He left behind him at his death, some children and a widow named Theodosia. Some years after this, she is mentioned as marrying Philip Key, Esq., of St. Mary's County.
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REV. JAMES STIRLING, EIGIITH INCUMBENT.
On the 5th of August, 1739, Mr. Stirling present- ed his letters of induction to the vestry, from Gov. Ogle, and was received as the incumbent of the parish.
The addition to the church appears now to have been nearly completed, and the pulpit and desk were ordered to be placed where the new addition joins the old building on that side where the Assembly's pews were. On the 1st of October it was reported as fin- ished.
Mr. Stirling is noted as present in vestry for the last time, May 7, 1740; soon after this date, he ac- cepted the Rectorship of St. Paul's, Kent County, and there he remained till his death, in November, 1763. He resided while there in Chestertown, and his house is called Stirling Castle still. His daughter married Wm. Carmichael, Esq. On the 3d of July, 1755, he preached before the General Assembly, and his sermon was printed in the Maryland Gazette, there is a long obituary of him, from which we extract the following.
Mr. Stirling died, "after long enduring with the utmost patience and resignation, the excruciating pain ofstone in the bladder." "By his death the Prov- ince of Maryland has lost a great and good man, a most valuable member of society, and in spite of his failings, he was an honor and ornament to the sacred cloth he wore, as well as to the country he lived in. His uncommon abilities and extensive learning, in all the branches of polite literature, stand unrivaled in this part of the world. He was active and zealous in discharging the duties of his function and greatly admired as a noble, elegant, and pathetic preacher." 6
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REV. CHARLES LAKE, NINTHI INCUMBENT.
Mr. Lake presented his letters of induction from Gov. Ogle to the vestry, October 7, 1740, and became the incumbent of the parish.
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