USA > Maryland > Caroline County > History of Caroline County, Maryland, from its beginning > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland That for Talbot county John Roberts, for Queen-Anne's county Henry Pratt, for Caroline county Philemon Downes, shall be and they are hereby appointed commissioners, for the purpose of building and completing the said new bridge; and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are by this act authorized and empowered, as soon as it may be conveniently in their power, to cause the said new bridge to be built over the said creek, opposite a place former- ly known by the name of The Old Rolling House, lying on the east side of the said creek, which said new bridge shall be built and completed in the best and most sub- stantial manner it can for the money hereby to be granted; and the sid commissioners, or a majority of them, are by virtue of this act, fully authorized and empowered, as they in their discre- tion shall think best, to agree for the said work with a contractor or contractors, for the whole, or in parcels, or they may purchase materials and hire workmen and laborers to complete the said work; and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are also empowered to open and lay out, on the east side of said creek, from some fit and convenient part of the old road, a new road to lead to and across over the said new bridge to the Talbot side."
An Act to erect a new bridge over Great Choptank River, in Caroline County, passed January 15, 1808.
"WHEREAS the old bridge over the Choptank river, at the village of Greensboro, in said county, is in a ruinous condition, and nearly impassable, and as it is found absolutely necessary that a new one be built at, or near, the place where the old one stands, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, that George Reed, Nehemiah Townsend and William Whitely be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners for the purpose of build- ing and completing the new bridge as aforesaid, at or near the place where the old one now stands; and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, are by this Act employed to agree and contract with any person or persons, upon the best and cheapest terms, to finish and complete the said new bridge."
In 1810 inhabitants of Talbot and Caroline counties living near Dover Ferry petitioned and Assembly "for
-32-
the convenience of the public" to incorporate a company for erecting a bridge over the Choptank river at that point. The bridge was built and is commonly known as Dover Bridge.
An Act to incorporate a company for building a bridge over Choptank river at or near Denton Ferry (about 1812).
"WHEREAS it is represented to this General Assembly, by the petition of sundry inhabitants of Caroline county, that the con- venience of the public would be greatly promoted by erecting a bridge over ( hoptank river at, or near, Denton Ferry, and that sundry persons, by articles of voluntary association have contract- ed and agreed each with the other, to erect a bridge at the place aforesaid, and have subscribed and paid considerable sums of money towards the same, and pray that a law may pass to in- corporate the said association; and it appearing reasonable, there- fore,
"BE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of Maryland, that the subscribers or proprietors of shares for building said bridge, as well as those who may hereafter become stockholders, their successors and assigns shall be, and are hereby created and made a corporation and body politic, by the name and style of The President and Directors of the Denton Bridge Company.
"AND BE IT ENACTED, that the capital stock of said Com- pany is hereby declared to be the sum of three thousand dollars, to be divided into six hundred shares of five dollars each."
It seems that the Denton Bridge was not built for several years after 1812, probably about 1820, until which time a ferry was used.
In 1849 the people of the county tiring of the disad- vantages arising from a privately owned bridge, had the General Assembly enact a measure which provided for the Levy Courts buying and making it a public bridge. Soon after this it was either thoroughly overhauled or rebuilt and stood until about 1875 when the new iron bridge was erected.
After many years of use and inconvenience on ac- count of the narrowness of the draw this bridge was in 1913 replaced by the modern concrete structure now in use.
Fences and Gates.
To protect the property in the county from damage done by live stock the General Assembly enacted,
-33-
"That from and after the first day of August 1824, corn fields, and ail grounds kept for enclosure in Dorchester and Caroline counties, shall be fenced, (here followed a description of fences re- quired ) and if any live stock of any kind or description whatso- ever, shall break into any person's enclosure, the same being of the neigut and sufficiency aforesaid, then the owner or owners of such live stock shall be liable to make good all such damages to the owner or owners of such enclosure, as shall be found and awarded oy two or more judicious persons who may view the same under their oath or affirmation, made before some justice of the peac ein said counties."
AN ACT relating to gates on the public roads in Caroline County.
BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, that from and after the passage of this Act, it shall and may be lawful for any of the citizens of Caroline county to keep on the public roads in said county all such gates as are now erected on the public roads, foi their own private use and convenience. upon the express conditions following: all and every owner or owners of a gate or gates hung on good and sufficient iron hinges, and shall keep the same and that part of the said road which they occupy in good or- der and repair, so as to impede as little as possible persons travel- ing with carriages of pleasure or burden."
"AND BE IT ENACTED, that if any person or persons after the passage of this Act. shall cut down, destroy, wilfully leave fixed open, or remove any of said gates, they shall, upon convic- tion thereof before a magistrate, forfeit and pay to the owner of such gate a sum not less than one, nor exceeding ten dollars for every such offence, to be recovered as small debts are out of court."
"AND BE IT ENACTED, that if any slave shall cut down, de- stroy, injure, or wilfully leave fixed open, any gate upon the public roads, such slave shall be punished for every offence on conviction of a justice of the peace by the oath of one or more witnesses, by whipping on his or her back, in the discretion of the said justice, not exceeding for each offense the number of ten lashes; Provid- ed always, that the master or mistress of such slave, or any other person in their behalf, may redeem said slave so convicted from punishment by the payment of the fine to the owner or owners of such gate, imposed by this Act, upon free persons for like offenses."
"AND BE IT ENACTED, that on all gates authorized by this Act to be kept on the public roads, the owner or owners thereof shall pav annually a tax of one dollar for each and every gate by him, her or them kept on the public roads in said county."
Gates on public roads were abolished between 1860- 1870. much to the relief of travelers.
-- 34
INDIANS OF THE EASTERN SHORE.
I. Origin.
Whence came they? No written language exists to tell the story of their race and only a few specimens of "picture writing" are preserved to throw light on the Indian's past, hence our present day knowledge is based chiefly on legendary lore which like most traditions is not always authentic.
The historians of early days would seem to have been possessed of vivid imaginations. Note for exam- ple the record of Captain John Smith who explored on the Eastern Shore in 1608. "They were noble warriors. One was like a giant the calf of whose leg was three- quarters of a yard abont, and all the rest of his limbs so answered to that proportion, that he seemed the good- liest man we ever beheld. His hair, the one side was long, the other shaved close, with a ridge on his crown like a cock's comb. His arrows were five-quarters long, headed with the splinters of a white crystall-like stone, in the form of a heart, an inch broad and an inch and a half more long. These he wore in a wolf's skin at his back for a quiver, his bow in one hand and his club in the other." Reading this we can only say "And there were giants in those days."
II. Tribes.
The chief tribe of the Eastern Shore was the Algon- quin. They covered a vast area and from them sprang the sub-tribes such as Delaware, Nanticoke, Choptank, etc. These tribes were shore Indians and lived by fish- ing. Generally speaking they were peace-loving, gentle, and noted for making and selling weapons, or bowls of soapstone to the neighboring tribes who prized them highly.
The Delawares were the branch of the Algonquins from which sprang the Netego or Nanticokes and from this tribe the Nanticoke River gets its name. Indians figured extensively in Eastern Shore history because of all the Algonquins they were the most warlike. Their fighting spirit was probably developed in part both be-
-35-
fore and during Colonial days through frequent attacks on the Algonquins by the fierce Susquehannoughs, a branch of the more northern Six Nations which had wandered south from New York and Pennsylvania and had become separated from their people. In colonial days these warlike Susquehannonghs not only massacred the whites but swooped down on the gentle Algonquin tribes with death dealing attacks.
Again, in the heart of the savage might makes right. The Nanticokes were the most numerous sub-tribe of the Algonquins hence the desire for power may have de- veloped their savage instincts. This aggressiveness of the Nanticokes extended not only toward the weaker camps of their own people but reached out to the white man as later events will prove.
III. Policy of Maryland.
The policy of this colony as shown by the attitude of the Governors was one of "justice, moderation and kindness." Land acquired from the natives was, if pos- sible, paid for by giving hoes, broadcloth, axes, etc., thus maintaining peaceful relations between the white and red men.
Self protection, too, was a strong incentive on both sides. The Indians ontnumbered the white settlers and this same justice, moderation and kindness was the best means of self-protection from the savage, while through their friendship for the whites, the Algonquin hoped safety from the Susquehannongh.
The chief business relation between the whites and Indians was the bartering of guns or ammunition for hides.
To avoid any possible difficulty in trading with the Indians, a privilege was granted every white inhabitant of Dorchester County to trade with them without license, only at Captain Henry Trippe's house, in 1680. Pre- viously the Governor had issued special licenses to in- dividual traders who could go to the Indian camps and there trade, often selling them guns and ammunition, in violation of the trading regulations, which cansed much trouble between colonists and the native Indians.
This privilege was during the time when Caroline was in part included in Dorchester County.
-36-
IV. Indian Wars.
Maryland as a whole was comparatively free from Indian incursions and the history of the Eastern Shore gives record of only two organized expeditions to repel the savage,-one active and one incipient. They were as follows :
The first expedition came in 1639 when various In- dian troubles on Eastern Shore led Lord Baltimore to send an expedition across the Bay. McSherry says, "The armament consisted of two pinnaces and a skiff manned with thirty good shot or marksmen who were drafted or pressed, and several volunteers. To equip and victnal this foree the Governor was under the ne- eessity of sending a shallop to Virginia to procure a supply of arms, ammunition and food."
The second or incipient expedition was 1642 when Indian outbreaks were rumored. The Nanticokes had planned to cross the bay to Western Shore and attack the white settlers there.
Governor Calvert anticipated their actions and ap- pealed to the Governor of Virginia, to join him, as pre- viously, in raising a force of approximately 200 men to repel the Indians. He also declared that we might call martial law, and establish a "dead-line" extending from the Pawtuxent River to the Potomac. Hearing of this preparation for their reception the Nanticokes weaken- ed and a truce was declared before active warfare be- gan.
T. Continuation of Peace Policy.
The original peace policy is shown throughout the remainder of this account. At Saint Mary's, April 13, 1669 the following act was passed for the "Continuance of peace with the protection of our neighbors and con- federate Indians at Choptank River."
CHARLES CALVERT, ESQUIRE, Governor.
It being most just that Indians, the ancient inhabitants of this province, should have a convenient dwelling place in this their native country, free from the encroachments and oppression of the English, and more especially such who are in danger to be de- stroyed by their neighbor nations our enemies, and whereas Ababco Hatsawapp and Tequassimo have of late given large testimonies of their fidelity towards us in delivering up the murderers of Captain John Odber for which they are in danger to be cut off and destroy- ed by the Wiccomesses and their confederates, the Matwha Indians. Be it enacted that all the lands lying within a certain district shall
-37-
be unto said Ababaco Hatsawapp and Tequassimo and the people under their government, under the yearly rent of six beaver skins, to be paid to the lord Proprietary of this province.
V'I. Treaties.
There is recorded but one official treaty with the Indians, namely, The Treaty With Nanticokes, 1704.
"It is agreed upon that from this day forward there be an Invioiable peace and amity between the Right Honble and the Lord Propry of this Province and the Emperor on Nanticoke upon the articles hereafter in this treaty to be agreed upon to the worlds end to endure and that all former acts of hostility and damages whatsoever by either party sustained be buried in perpetual ob- livion.
"ILat the said Emperor of Nanticoke shall deliver up all In- dians that shall come into his dominion that are, or shall be, ene- mies to the English and further that if any Indian subject to the said Emperor shall hereafter kill an English man that the said Emperor shall be oblidged to deliver such Indian up to the Gov- einor of this Province as a prisoner.
"Forasmuch as the English can not easily distinguish one In- dian from another, that no Indian shall come into any English- mans plantation painted and that all the Indians shall be bound to call aloud before they come within three hundred paces of any English mans cleared ground and lay down their arms whether Gunn, Bowes or Arrows or other weapons, for any English man that shall appear upon his call to take up, and in case no one ap- pears, that he shall leave his arms if he come nearer, and that af- terwards by calling aloud endeavour to give notice to the English of his nearer approach, and if any English man shall kill any In- dian that shall come unpainted and give such notice, and deliver up his arms as aforesaid, he shall die for it as well as an Indian that kills an English man, and in case the English and Indians meet in the woods accidentally every Indian shall be bound imme- diately to throw down his arms upon call, and in case any Indian so meeting an English man refuse to throw down his arms upon call shall be deemed as an enemy.
"The privilege of hunting, crabing, fowling, and fishing shall be preserved to the Indians inviolable.
"That every Indian that killeth or steleth an hog or calfe or other beast or any other goods shall undergo the same punish- ment that an English man doth for the same offence.
the marke of Vnnacok Casimon."
T'II. Migration.
By harassing the Nanticokes the Six Nations had brought them into subjugation ; also in a treaty with the white had stipulated that these Indians be permitted to leave Maryland. About 1750 the majority of the Nan- ticokes migrated north, carrying with them the bones of their fathers, as was their custom. Part of the tribe went to Canada West, near Lake Erie, part to Wyoming Valley. Pa., and part to Otsiningo (now Binghampton), New York.
-- 38-
Following this migration we find that in 1761 those Nanticokes in Wyoming Valley appealed through the Governor of Pennsylvania to Maryland for permission to return for a remnant of their tribe yet remaining in that state. The appeal was granted and the remaining Indians permitted to migrate.
Two appeals were made by Nanticokes for land monies. That part which had withdrawn to Canada West petitioned in 1852 through their chief and heads- men, that the Maryland Assembly grant them certain annuities for which tradition claimed had once been paid their tribe for land rights. The Maryland Assembly declared the claim faulty and the petition was denied.
Again, we find in 1767 the Nanticokes from Otsinin- go, New York making a similar appeal through one Og- den. Atty. In this case the appeal was granted but not seemingly for the amount asked, for the records add that, Sir William Johnson, England's chief Indian agent "made in the difference at the expense of the Crown."
So the Indians wandered away, lost their tribal identity and were blighted by civilization. Then with all this in 1761 came small-pox. In the Nanticoke tribe alone from 1763 to 1773 the warriors were reduced from 700 to 300. Soon all that was left on Eastern Shore to mark the home of the Red Man was their camp sites or the relies often found in field and forest.
T'III. Miscellaneous.
A further account of the Nanticoke Indians comes from one of their chiefs-White by name.
"Every Indian being at liberty to pursue what occupation he pleases, my ancestors, after the Lenape came into their country, preferred seeking a livelihood by fishing and trapping along the rivers and bays to pursuing wild game in the forests; they there- fore detached themselves and sought the most convenient places for their purpose. In process of time they became very numerous, partly by natural increase, and partly in consequence of being join- ed by a number of the Lenape, and spread themselves over a tract of land and divided into separate bodies. The main branch of the Nanticokes proper were then living on what is now called the East- ern Shore of Maryland. At length the white people crowded so. much upon them that they were obliged to seek another abode and as their grandfather, the Delaware, was himself retreating back in consequence of the great influx of the whites, they took the advice of the Mengroe ( mingo's) and bent their course to the large flats of Wyoming, where they settled themselves, in sight of the Shawanos town, while others settled higher up the rives, even as high as Chemenk, (Shenango), and Shummunk, to which places they emigrated at the beginning of the French War.
-39-
'Nothing," said White, "equalled the decline of my tribe since the white people came into the country. They were destroy- ed, in part by disorders they brought with them, 'by the smallpox and by the free use of spiritous liquors to which great numbers fell victims."
"The Nanticoke, the Choptanks and the Metapeake Indians, descendents of the Delawares, were first seen along the bay shores of Talbot county by Captain John Smith and his exploring party from Virginia in 1608 and later by Clayboure and his trading party four or five years before Lord Baltimore's Colonists landed at Saint Mary's, near the mouth of Saint Mary's river. They had a pecu- liar and sacred respect for their dead. The corpse was buried for some months and then exhumed and the bones carefully cleaned and placed in an 'Osuary,' called manto-kump, ( Manito) with the local termination or rather signification, "place of the mystery spirit.' When their tribes moved from one place to another they carried the bones of their dead with them. When they emigrated, about the middle of the 18th century and settled in northern Penn- sylvania, they carried their sacred relics with them, in bags on their backs, and buried them near the present site of Towanda. The Indian name literally meant 'where we bury our dear.' "
-40-
WHEN INDIANS LIVED IN OUR LAND.
When the Calverts came to America there were two important families of Indians living within the territory granted them. The Susquehannonghs in the northern part of the colony belonging to the Iroquois family were fierce and warlike, while on what is now known as the Eastern Shore lived the Algonquins, of more peaceful disposition. The Nanticoke and Choptank tribes belong- ed to this family. They were tide water people living along the rivers which now bear their names. Although these Indians were traders rather than fighters, the Nanticokes on several occasions proved hostile to the settlers.
The men of the Choptank and Nanticoke tribes were tall and handsome, but disfigured themselves with paint. The women were short and heavy, lacking the dignity of the men. Like other tribes their cheek bones were high, months and noses large, eyes black and beadlike. Such clothing as the men wore was made of finely dressed skins forming a mantle which hung from the shoulders and an apron about the waist. They adorned them- selves with as many chains of beads and shells as they could procure. Their straight black hair was tied in a single lock and ornamented with feathers. In winter a decorated robe, leggins and mocassins were worn for protection against the cold. The women wore short- sleeved tunics with leggins and mocassins in one, and the children's dress was much the same as their parents.
Homes. The tents or wigwams of these Indians were made of young saplings set in the ground to form a circle with the flexible ends tied together to form a framework. This was covered with bark or skins. When fire was needed, it was built on the ground in the center of the tent. The wigwam held no furniture, a pile of leaves covered with straw serving as a bed. Except for sleeping purposes the wigwam was seldom used, as the Indians lived almost entirely out of doors.
The Chief's House. The chief's house, though much larger, was built of the same materials. Instead of the circular form it was oblong with holes ent in the sides for windows and an opening at the top to let out smoke from the fire. Grasses or rushes woven into curtains divided the interior. The only furniture consisted of
-41-
poles laid across four stakes driven in the ground, the whole being covered with leaves and skins and used as a bed. A strong stockade enclosed the chief's house, neighboring wigwams and council-fire around which the men gathered to discuss public matters and hold re- ligious ceremonies.
.
Outside the villages the land was held in common. Each family had a plot to cultivate, the manual work be- ing done by the women and children. A part of each crop was for the chief, stored by him for personal use as well as for entertainment of guests and reserve in case of famine or siege. The main crops grown were corn, beans, tobacco, melons, and gourds. The men fished, trapped, and hunted small game. They also made weapons and bowls which were greatly prized by neighboring tribes who traded for them. The women. as in all savage races, were the burden bearers and real workers. With bones for needles and sinews for thread they made the clothing for their families from skins they had carefully dressed. With wooden hoes they worked crops they had sown and later must harvest. When camp was to be moved, it was the women who car- ried the packs upon their willing backs while the men strode along with only their beloved bows and arrows as burdens.
These red men were governed by a chief whose power was absolute over them and whose position was hereditary. Next in rank was a general who had charge of all expeditions, peaceful or hostile. Such men as dis- tinguished themselves in council or battle were given the title of cockarouse. These men, with the chief, general, and medicine man formed the council of the tribe.
The medicine man was looked upon as a person of great importance in the camp. His skill was supposed to be magical as well as medical. The Indians believed sickness a result of offending a spirit and part of their treatment consisted of pow-wowing, wild dancing, and gesticulation to appease the Evil One. Along with this herbs were used, while in case of wounds, the flesh was burned.
Ceremonies and Feast. In religions ceremonies, feasts and rites the medicine man again played a promi- nent part. These festivals were mostly in connection with seasonal changes, harvests, or return of migratory game. They were celebrated with dancing, singing, and
-42-
feasting. Not until some time after the coming of the white men did these Indians indulge in any drink at their feasts except water sweetened wtih sugar-maple sap. In later years, drunkenness became prevalent among them as a result of trading valuable furs with the set- tlers for "fire water," as they called liquor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.