USA > Maryland > Caroline County > History of Caroline County, Maryland, from its beginning > Part 6
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
such person on conviction thereof by a petit jury, after a presentment by a grand jury, in a court to be erected in this colony by the next convention, for the trial of such offenders, shall suffer death without benefit of clergy, and forfeit all estate which he had at the time of the com- mission of the crime, to be applied to the use of this col- ony. unless such convicted person shall be pardoned by the person or persons invested with the power of grant- ing pardon for such offences."
While in all probability the enrollment was not com- plete on the given date the records state that on Septem- ber 15, 1775, all persons within the province from six- teen to fifty. subscribed. enrolled and pledged their wil- lingness to bear arms and march to such places within the province, when the convention, or the council of safe- ty commanded.
The militia companies consisted of not more than 74 privates, nor less than 50; each captain of his militia was to submit a muster roll to the committee of Observation. This roll including captains, lieutenants, ensigm number of non-commissioned officers and privates, was forward-
-- 57-
ed to the Council of Safety, in order that all commissions might be issued in the name of the convention to these officers.
The militia was to meet for exercise weekly; the commanding officer naming the place. Conditions fre- quently made it necessary that the commanding officer had to have his company divided and exercised at differ- ent places. It was necessary that the entire company be exercised once each month.
Every non-commissioned officer and private of the minute-men and militia was to appear at his place of muster with his firelock and other equipments in good order, and to diligently and obediently attend to all in- structions, and perform his exercise in arms as com- manded. In case he should not appear, or his firearms were not in good order, and having no legitimate excuse, he was subjected to a fine not exceeding the sum of five shillings in common money for every such neglect. Such misbehavior was to be determined by the captain, lien- tenants, and ensigns or any two of them.
Every commissioned officer having no reasonable excuse and failing to perform his duty according to his office and station, and for the refusal of duty, shall be fined a sum not to exceed 15 shillings of common mon- ey ; such misbehavior to be adjudged by other field and commissioned officers. or a major part of them.
The militia continued under the organization until the end of 1775 at which time material changes were made in the military arrangements.
IV. Government.
That the various enactments and organizations per- taining to the government may be understood it might be well to speak of the governing bodies at the close of the provincial organization.
There was a short period between the awakening of the people and the deposing of Robert Eden, last Colo- nial Governor, when Maryland was really under two gov- ernments. The General Assembly was not dissolved, yet the colony resenting their rule sent representatives to Annapolis and formed a "Convention" which first met Nov. 21, 1774. This date was the time of the actual de- posing of the Colonial Governor, although his power was gone even before this. It might be well to mention that
-- 58-
Governor Eden still remained in the province after the supremacy had been taken out of his hands by the con- vention. His easy and affable manner had cansed no alarm; for sometime before the change in the governing power he had been apparently neutral. But certain let- ters were found addressed to him from Lord Dunmore, who was commanding a fleet in the Chesapeake Bay, and was also prominent in stirring up the tories in the lower part of the province, asking Robert Eden to hold him- self in readiness to assist the Crown when occasion pre- sented itself. General Charles Lee, into whose hands the letters were placed, immediately forwarded same to the Council of Safety at Baltimore. As the convention was not in session, he advised that the person and pa- pers of Mr. Eden be at once secured.
Captain Smith, company commander under Major Gist, was sent with a detachment of the Maryland regu- lars for that purpose. The convention afterwards re- sented this proceeding and reprimanded Captain Smith and ordered him to return to Baltimore. At the same time however, considering the presence of Governor Eden no longer consistant with the safety of the colony, resolved-"That it be signified to the Governor, that he leave his province because the public safety and quiet, in the judgement of this convention is required, and that he is at full power of liberty to depart peaceably with his effects, and that a committee of five persons be appoint- ed to wait on the Governor and deliver him copies of the resolutions together with an address." The house voted on the above resolution ; Caroline's vote was as follows: Mr. Richardson, affirmative; Mr. Dickinson, negative; Mr. Mason, negative.
Governor Eden sailed on his majesty's ship Fowey, June 24, 1776. Detachments of militia were placed at convenient posts to prevent any communication with the Fowey man of war together with the ship Defence. which tendered her down the bay to prevent as far as possible any plunder or attack.
After taking the governing power out of the hands of the Governor it became necessary to give this power to some governing body; for this purpose a "Maryland Council of Safety" was chosen by ballot. It was com- posed of 16 persons, eight of whom resided on the west- ern shore and eight on the eastern shore. This body was to direct and regulate the operations of the minute-
-59-
men and militia, providing equipment, food, regulating their movements from place to place, and appointing and commissioning field officers, together with the regulation of the rank of all military officers. The Council more- over attended to all matters of state when the Conven- tion was not in session and had the power to call a special meeting of said Convention when they deemed it neces- sary.
A Local Committee was formed called the "Commit- tee of Observation" whose duty it was to inspect (local- ly) and report to the Council of Safety on the conduct of any who were suspected of being disloyal, also to in- vestigate direct charges of disloyalty. The term of of- fice of members of this committee was one year, begin- ning on day of election.
The committee of Observation in each county was held responsible for every able bodied man enrolling, and in case they found those who failed to enroll, their names were forwarded to the State convention which would adopt measures against such persons.
It was further ordered that each committee of Ob- servation, as soon as convenient after their election should choose by ballot five members to act as a "Com- mittee of Correspondence" for their country between the State Council and other counties. One person was named on each committee to act as a treasurer; receiv- ing all sums of money which was given voluntarily; this to be used in encouraging the building of manufactories of any kind for immediate relief in the counties and arm- ing and defending the country.
Their number of elections is shown in the following:
"In September 1775. an election was held at the court houses of the counties for the purpose of electing new members to the committee of Observation. All freeholders in the province, and other freeman having a visible estate of 40 pounds sterling were qualified to vote."
Thus we see that the "Convention" the "Council of Safety, " the "Committee of Observation" together with sub-committees formed Maryland's governing body dur- ing the Revolutionary period.
Though Caroline connty's people were in the main loyal, and did all in their power to carry out the orders of the province, vet Tories and other paid agents of the British Goverment wrought considerable dissatisfaction in the minds of many well-disposed persons as will be
-60-
understood from the following extracts from the Mary- land Archives.
Caroline County Sept. 17th, 1776.
Sir:
Agreeably to the requisition of the Convention made to the field officers of this county, to endeavor to get a company made up to march to New York, I thought it necessary to convene the 28th Battalion of Militia on Saturday last for that purpose, and after meeting in the usual field of parade, the several Companies were drawn up, except the Company under the command of Capt. John Fauntleroy. I then requested he would draw up his company, who made me for answer, that he had but a few officers in the field and that he should not draw up under me as commander of the field.
Capt. Fauntleroy's reasons for not joining the Battalion I do not certainly know, but after the Battalion were dismissed, I am credibly informed he endeavored to see who would join against me, for what purpose I do not know unless to treat me ill.
As it appears to me, Sir, that he is a disobedient officer and possibly was I to overlook this injury to the common cause, it might prove to be bad consequence, besides under these circum- stances my person as well as character may not be altogether safe, and in order sir, that peace and harmony may again take place, I pray that a court marshal may be appointed by your board for the trial of Capt. Fauntleroy in order to find out what I am to be ac- cused with and that he or myself may meet with the instant de- merits we deserve.
I am Sir most obedt Hble Servt.
Benson Stainton.
(Proceedings of Court Martial.)
Melvill's Warehouse Nov. 16, 1776.
In pursuance to an order from the Council of Safety bearing date of 18th day of September last, for the trial of Capt. John Fauntleroy of the twenty eight Battalion of Militia for this State, I appointed the sixteenth day of November 1776, for holding a Court Martial for the purpose and gave notice of the time and place for holding said Court, to all Persons concerned. And there was present at the time and place, Vincent Price Nathaniel Potter
Captains John Mitchell Peter Richardson Henry Casson, Sr.
And after fully hearing the allegations of Col. Benson Stain- ton and the evidence of both sides and considering the same, the Court gives judgment that Capt. John Fauntleroy pay five pounds current money for his offense and breach of duty.
Mat. Driver, President.
V. Reorganization of Militia.
At the meeting of the Convention at Annapolis, Jan. 4, 1776, a reorganization of the militia was effected. A committee had been previously appointed to "Consider what alterations and amendments necessary, in the regu- lations on the militia of this Province."
-61 --
The report was in brief as follows: No minute men were to be hereafter enrolled; no companies of minute men were to be continued after the first day of the fol- lowing March; all arms now in the possession of the "minute men" to be delivered to the Committee of Ob- servation; every able bodied man between the ages of 16 and 50 (with a few exceptions) not yet enrolled in the militia must do so on or before March 1, 1776.
Following was a list of fines, punishments etc. for delay or disobedience and a plan for officering the new organization. After this Convention the "minute men" and "Flying Camp" were disbanded and the entire soldiery became militia.
The convention having been in session on Jan. 1, 1776 resolved that eight companies of troops, to consist of 68 privates under proper officers, to be formed into a battalion, and the remainder of the troops to be divided into companies of 100 men each.
The following Caroline county officers were elected by ballot : East Battalion-Mr. William Richardson. col- onel; Mr. Henry Dickinson, lieutenant-colonel; Mr. Wil- liam Whitely, Ist major; Mr. Matthew Driver, 2nd major; Mr. John White, quartermaster. West Battalion -Mr. Philip Fiddeman, colonel; Mr. Benson Stainton, lieutenant-colonel; Mr. Richard Mason, Ist major; Mr. Henry Dowes, 2nd major; Mr. Thos. Hardcastle, quarter- master. Pay of officers as follows: colonel $50; colonels expenses $30; lieutenant colonel $40, lieutenant-colonels expenses $20; major $33.33; captain $26; drummer and fifer $6; lieutenant $18; ensign $16; surgeons mate $20; sergeant $6.66; corporal $6; surgeon $40; chaplain $20; private $5.33 clerk to colonel $20; pay to other officers was regulated by the Council of Safety.
That a ration consisting of one pound of beef, or three-quarters of a pound of pork, one pound of flour or bread per man per day, three pints of peas at six shill- ings per bushel per week, or other vegetables equivalent, one quart of Indian meal per week, a gill of vinegar and gill of molasses per man per day, a quart of cider, small beer or rum, per man per day, three pounds of candles for one hundred men per week, for guards; twenty-four pounds of soft soap, or eight pounds of hard soap for one hundred men per week.
Each captain was to enlist his own company and had the following instructions for enlisting men into the service :
-62-
1. You are to enlist no man who is not able bodied, healthy, and a good marcher, nor such whose attachment to the liberties of America you have any cause to suspect. Young hearty robust men, who are tied by birth, or family connections or property to this country; and are well practiced in the use of firearms, are by much to be preferred.
2. You are to have a great regard to moral character, sobri- ety in particular.
3. You are not to enlist any servant imported, nor, without the leave of the master, any apprentice.
4. Those who engage in the service shall be enlisted accord- ing to the form prescribed by this convention.
A further order indicating low finance was the fol- lowing :
"To avoid a needless and insupportable expense, no person after the tenth day of May next, may wear any uniform at exercise, either in single companies or battalions, but hunting shirts, the cffcers distinguishing themselves from the privates by different feathers, cockades, or the like as fancy may direct."
VI. Meeting the Needs of the War.
The general idea of conservation along all lines seemed to be immediately taken up by the Convention. Early as the meeting of Dec. 8, 1774 we find the follow- ing recommendations :
First, that the citizens increase their flocks of sheep for the promotion of woolen manufacturing and to furth- er this they recommended that thereafter no sheep under four years of age be killed.
The second recommendation was that the citizens in- crease the production of linen and cotton by "planting all they conveniently can" and recommend further that speculators purchase no seed for exportation.
Again in July, 1775 the Council of Safety found it necessary to discourage the killing of lambs, so that more wool might be realized ; also to enforce the produc- tion of flax.
This year as well as the next two following, meant a period of great conservation on the part of the prov- ince. As stated before they were unprepared for war, not having meat, meal, clothing, tents, firearms, or shoes for the soldiers ; there was apparently leather in the colo- nies but it was not made up into shoes, since much of this must be done by hand it was a very slow process.
In 1777 the American Army was so greatly in need of clothing and blankets that collectors were appointed in each county to collect these necessities wherever pos- sible. In Great Choptank Hundred Joseph Richardson
-63-
was appointed Superintendent of Collections. The Gov- ernor and Council limited the prices to be paid as fol- lows : Blankets 13s; a pair of shoes 30d; a pair of stock- ings 30d; a hat 30d; coarse woolens, fit for soldiers' coats, jackets or breeches 34 yd. wide 50d; linen, fit for soldiers' shirts, per yard, 16d.
The food question was one of importance. How pro- cure rations for the soldiers?
Nathaniel Potter, whom we remember as one of the first Court justices of Caroline County, and who had bought and packed pork and beef for Caroline County companies under Col. Richardson was (1776) called upon to procure, for the Province, all pork possible at 5 pounds sterling per hundred.
The following letter written by Isaac McHard, Quartermaster to the Council of Safety, brings to us not only food conservation but the necessity of salt.
Caroline County Dec. 30th, 1776.
Gentlemen:
I have contracted with Mr. Potter to buy me all the Pork that is to be had in the county. He had engaged to salt and barrel all that he could get and he thinks it necessary to have salt, there- fore hope you will order him fifty bushels, which quantity he thinks he will want. I have likewise engaged with Mr. James Seth, to get for me all the Pork in Talbot and Queen Anne's County if he should want a little salt I hope you will order him a little. I don't know that he will want it for he has contracted to deliver it at An- napolis if possibly he can get it there. If he can not get it there from the badness of the weather it must be salted over here and barreled and brought to Annapolis in the spring. Your granting these orders for the salt will much oblige
Gentlemen, Your hble. Servt.
Isaac McHard.
N.B. Mr. Crysale will see the salt measured and will take a re- ceipt from the Skipper for the Quantity.
The scarcity of salt threatened the conservation of meat and must be secured for that purpose. Many free- holders were reported as having large supplies of it stored and this led to great dissatisfaction of the people in need of it. Searching parties were organized who went out to search for these stores.
In one case Mr. Colston of Caroline having butcher- ed was in great need of salt; hearing that Mr. Chamber- lain of Plain Dealing Talbot, had 100 bushels stored he sent several times to buy it but each time they refused to sell. At last Mr. Colston had his neighbors, seventeen in number, go with him carrying the money and their mus- kets. They asked again that the salt be sold them, if not
-64
to open the door of the house in which the salt was stor- ed. Mr. Chamberlain's wife being the only one at home opened the door of the house; there they found a consid- erable quantity. They ordered one of Mr. Chamberlain's negroes to measure ont 1716 bu. for which they paid $35.00. On their return home they wrote a letter to Mr. Chamberlain explaining the transaction and saying they would pay the price he asked. This matter was brought to the attention of the Council, which took immediate steps to secure 30 bus. from Talbot and Dorchester coun- ties.
War conditions led to other depredations, one of which with its attending civic troubles we give below :
"In great desperation for want of salt, then so scarce, Capt. Richard Andrew and a number of men in November, 1776, entered and searched the dwelling house and outhouses of James Sullivane, looking for salt. As they found only five bushels they did not take any. Then they went to Col. James Murry's on Hunting Creek (now known as the Billup's farm ) got the keys from Mrs. Murray and took fourteen and one half bushels of salt. They offered to pay for it, but Mrs. Murray refused payment; however they left $14.50 in the house."
To punish these disorderly people the Committee of Observation summoned witnesses and those active in the affair, but they did not appear and a hearing was set for the following Wednesday, and wholly unexpectedly they came headed by Captain Andrew with more than a hun- dred armed men. They were so disorderly that nothing could be done in the matter. They declared they would risk their lives in defense of their acts. An appeal was made to the Council of Safety to have Gen. Henry Hoop- er's brigade of militia sent to arrest them, but consider- ing the need of troops elsewhere and the urgent appeals made by the people on the Eastern Shore for salt, then so scarce that some families had not a pint in months, it seemed that the sending of a militia into a county to suppress local disturbances not regarded as disloyal acts, might lead to serions revolts at this critical period of the Revolutionary conflict.
Scarcity of saltpetre too was giving the goverment much concern. It was a necessity. Powder must be pro- duced for the man behind the gun. As early as July, 1775 the Council of Safety found it necessary to encour- age the manufacture of saltpetre. To do this a sum not exceeding 1000 pounds common money was advanced on proper security for the erection of one or more saltpetre
-65-
works. This money was to be repaid in good merchant- able saltpetre on or before October 1776. The manufac- turers were to be paid one half dollar per pound, this rate being fixed by the Council of Safety.
At the same time a similar sum was offered for the erection and working of a powder-mill. Again on Dec. 27, 1775 the Convention appropriated 1700 pounds of common money, each county 100 pounds to be placed in the hands of a discreet and active person in each county, called a supervisor, to be used in procuring and setting up proper kettles, tubs and necessary utensils for the manufacture of rough nitre. That the supervisor show and explain to those who attend to the work the method and process of making crude nitre. To encourage people throughout the county to make nitre they offered the rate of two shillings common money per pound. The following process was recommended by the supervisors : place in open houses, or sheds admitting air, but exclud- ing the rain and sun, the stalks and trashy leaves of to- bacco, trodden straw, the sweepings of stables mixed with rich mold collected from floors of barns, and from time to time sprinkled with brine or water; this collec- tion of various substances so as to occasion the fermen- tation and speedy putrefaction thereof; that the whole mass when properly decayed, may be dug, stirred up and thoroughly blended and thus left without further damp- ing so loose and light as to attract readily and be more plentifully impregnated with nitre for future use. Mr. Joshua Clark was supervisor for Caroline County.
Another necessity for the army was lead. This was conserved to the utmost. From the Archives of Mary- land, 1777, the following is quoted showing its scarcity.
"I have been obliged to call upon the inhabitants here for their Clock Weights, and Window Weights; we wanted lead; and as we have here every conveniency for making cartridges and mien that understand it l intend to make up all our powder and get all the Lead that I can; We have tradesmen here that understand the making of every military article and they are all at work."
Following in Council of Safety records are letters relating to outfitting of soldiers.
"Resolved that Chas. Beatley of Frederick be empowered to contract for the making and delivering of 650 good, substantial, proved musquets 312 feet in the barrel and of 34 of an inch in the bore: With good double bridle locks, black walnut or maple stocks. and plain strong brass mounting, bayonets with steel blades, 17 inches long, steel ramrods, double screws, priming wires and brush-
-66-
es fitted thereto, with a pair of brass molds for every 80 musquets, to cast 12 bullets on one side and on the other to cast shot of such size as the musquet will chamber three of them; for a sum not ex- ceeding $10.66 in bills of credit issued by the Resolutions of the last Convention."
VI. Later Organization of Militia.
In 1777 the militia of Caroline County was continued in two battalions, one east of and the other west of the Choptank River. In each battalion were eight compa- nies, and each company was made up of about 75 men.
William Whitely was commander-in-chief of the militia of the county-both battalions-and had the rank of Colonel. Matthew Driver was next in command as Lieutenant-Colonel and Nathaniel Potter served as Maj- or.
Upon these men, evidently, devolved the important duty of preparing plans for the enrollment of all able bodied men of military age, as well as being directly re- sponsible to the state Council of Safety for the execu- tion of all orders handed down from the Continental Congress and the State Council.
After a close inspection of the names of eligibles, about 1200 men were found to compose the militia of this period. The location of the Captains and men of the varions companies was about as follows : East Battalion : 1st Company including the Harmony and American Cor- ner's section, Captain Joseph Richardson ; 2nd Company, Concord and Smithville neighborhood, Captain Jolm Mitchell: 3rd Company, Chestnut Grove and Federals- burg territory, Captain Nehemiah Andrew: 4th Comp- any, Preston Section, Captain Joseph Douglass; 5th Company, Friendship and Linchester communities, Cap- tain Richard Andrew; 6th Company, Burrsville section, Captain John Stafford; 7th Company, Chilton, Garey's and Denton neighborhoods, Captain Andrew Fountain; Sth Company, Williston and Andersontown communities, Captain Shadrach Lyden. West Battalion : 1st Company Boonsboro and Oakland regions, Captain William Hoop- er; 2nd Company, Lower Tuckahoe Neck section, Capt. Vincent Price ; 3rd Company, Hillsboro and Upper Tuck- ahoe Neck, Capt. Henry Downes; 4th Company, region around Greensboro, east side of river perhaps, Capt. William Haslett ; 5th Company, territory around Greens- boro, toward Goldsboro and Bridgetown, Capt. Thomas Hughlett; 6th Company, along Tuckahoe Creek and
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.