USA > Maryland > Dorchester County > History of Dorchester County, Maryland > Part 10
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CHAPTER XV.
GARRETTSON'S JOURNAL CONTINUED-FIRST METHODIST CHURCHES IN THE COUNTY-REV. FRANCIS ASBURY'S JOURNAL OF TRAVELS IN DORCHESTER -K. K. CHURCH PROGRESS-BOEHM'S REMINISCENCES-M. E. CHURCH BRANCHES-BAPTIST CHURCH.
At the next meeting of ministers in April, 1780, at Balti- more, Mr. Garrettson was sent to new fields of labor, Western Maryland, Virginia, and New York. In 1781 he returned to the Eastern Shore Peninsula, and spent much of the time there in 1782-83. After the Baltimore Conference in 1784, he was sent to Nova Scotia, from which he returned in April, 1787, to attend the Baltimore Conference. He was then sent again to the E. S. Peninsula, his chosen field for mission- ary work. He says, "Saturday, June 3, I crossed the river into Dorset, a place where I desired to be, Sunday, 4. At Brother M.'s I met so large a congregation, that I was under the necessity of withdrawing to the shade for room. Some time ago there was a great work of the Lord in this neck; but I am informed the work is now rather at a stand. What is the cause? Those preachers whose labors the Lord parti- cularly blest in this revival were lively and powerful; and there was much of what some call wildfire among the people; the cries of the distressed were frequently so great that the preacher's voice was drowned. I was informed that those people had been visited by some, who had but little friend- ship for what some call hollowing meetings; and the work began to decline. The danger lies on both hands; and blessed is he who knows how to steer aright. I am never distressed in hearing convinced sinners crying for mercy; though they were to cry so loud as to be heard a mile. * *
"Sunday, June 11, I preached in our new chapel on Taylor's Island, to abundantly more people than the chapel could con-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
tain. Many on this island love God. Tuesday, 13. I preached on Hooper's Island, and we had a precious shower. Before our meeting ended five souls were newborn; three of whom were sisters. There were many awakened at this meeting, and great cries were amongst the distressed. There was as little confusion as I have ever seen, when there was so great a power felt."
Much more could be said of Rev. Freeborn Garrettson, who was called into the itinerant field by Daniel Ruff, a Methodist preacher, in 1775. In 1793, he married Miss Catherine Livingstone, daughter of Judge Livingstone of New York. " 'Rhinebeck,' their beautiful home on the Hud- son River, was an earthly paradise." After preaching the gos- pel for fifty-two years, Mr. Garrettson died suddenly in New York, September 27, 1827, and was buried in his own beloved "Rhinebeck," where sleeps beside him his devoted wife, both waiting the resurrection of the just.
The early preaching of Methodism in Dorchester County was for eight or nine years conducted at the private homes of families who were either believers of, or in sympathy with, the new doctrine of John Wesley. The oldest deed of record for M. E. Church land in the county is dated September 15th, 1787, "between Moses LeCompte and Elizabeth his wife of the one part, and Benjamin Keene, Jr., William Geoghegan, Thomas Hooper, John Ashcom Travers, Peter Harrington, John Aaron, John Geoghegan, John Robson and Isaac Creighton, Trustees, to take the care and management of the chapel lately built on Taylors, (for the use of the minis- ters, belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church,) all of Dorchester County, aforesaid."
The consideration was twenty shillings for one-half acre of land, part of a tract called "Patrick's Progress" adjoining the lands of Richard Pattison. "The trustees and their suc- cessors shall take the care and management of the said Chapel, *
* * and shall at all times permit such persons as shall be appointed, at the yearly Conference of the Methodists held in America, to preach and expound God's
-
ZION M. E. CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.
:
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EARLY METHODISM
Holy Word in, and no others, to have and enjoy the said premises for the purpose aforesaid, and for no other use or purpose." A further provision was, the Board of Trustees could fill all vacancies that occurred in the Board, so as to keep the number of nine Trustees forever in succession.
The next deed for M. E. Church use is dated April 13, 1790, from Thomas Hill Airey and Mary his wife to John Pitt, William Pitt, Gardiner Bruffit, Jonathan Partridge, David Mills, William Tucker, Henry Hooper, Ezekiel Vick- ars and Henry Ennalls, consideration five shillings, for one- half acre of land called "Pilgrimage," lying on the road lead- ing from Cambridge to Middletown. One provision of the deed is as follows: "* * * Provided that the said per- sons preach no other doctrine than is contained in Mr. John Wesley's notes upon the New Testament, and four volumes of sermons."
Rev. Francis Asbury, the greatest Methodist missionary that ever traveled in America, frequently preached on the Eastern Shore Peninsula, but did not go to Dorchester until October, 1784. When in Cambridge he preached to a large congregation, and ministered to a poor colored man, under sentence to be executed for theft. On the 20th he went to Taylor's Island. He says, "We had a profitable season there." The next day he went to "Todds," Todd's Chapel, in Lakes district; now called "Ebenezer." He says, "I found a warm people, indeed. I injured myself by speaking too loud.
"Saturday, 23. Rode thirty miles to Mr. Airy's, preaching by the way. We had a great time-multitudes attended. Dorset is now in peace, and the furies are still."
Not until 1799 did Bishop Asbury again visit Dorchester. On May 17 he attended a quarterly meeting at Cambridge, which was held in a barn. He stopped with Henry Ennalls as he came to Cambridge, and with Bartholomew Ennalls, on his way to Vienna. He mentions one Cambridge citizen as follows: "I rejoiced that Doctor Edward White was stand- ing firm in the grace of God; and that the Lord had blessed the souls of his children." His next visit to the county and
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
Cambridge was in April, 1802; on Saturday, stopped with Henry Ennalls, where he preached, on Sunday, the 18th. He says, "We had a full house at Cambridge. Our new Chapel1 is two stories; well planned, and neatly finished. After exhor- tations and sacrament, Bishop Whatcoat preached. Meeting ended, we rode fourteen miles through the rain to B. En- nalls." The homes of the Ennalls families, were evidently favorite places for traveling ministers to temporarily abide.
Bishop Asbury's final visit to Dorchester County, was in April, 1810. It is well to quote him here. "On Monday, 16, I preached at Ennalls' Chapel, dined at the Widow Ennalls, rode on twelve miles to Cambridge, and lodged with Dr. White. Tuesday I gave them a discourse in Cambridge. Called upon G. Ward, and rode forward to Thomas Foster's pleasant cottage. On Wednesday, I had a meeting at Wash- ington Chapel; it was a quiet, solemn and feeling time. I met the Society to my great joy; they are faithful."
Six years later Mr. Asbury ceased his arduous Christian work, dying in Virginia, in 1816.
The five little Methodist societies organized at private family homes in Dorchester County, in 1780, are now repre- sented by fifty imposing church edifices, sustained by fifty influential congregations of white people, and by twenty-two churches for colored people, with very creditable followings.'
Rev. Henry Boehm, author of "Boehm's Reminiscences," was assigned by the Philadelphia Conference, to Dorchester Circuit in 1800. This was his first appointment. He says, "With weakness, fear, and much trembling, I entered upon my new field of labor and began to cultivate Immanuel's land. The arrival of a new preacher, a German youth from Pennsyl- vania, was soon noised abroad, and this called out many to
see and hear.
*
*
*
For two months I suffered pow-
erful temptations to abandon my work and return home."
"This chapel was built on Church Street nearly opposite the residence of Wm. F. Drain.
"The books used for reference in the above church narrative are, "Freeborn Garrettson's Journal," "Asbury's Journals," 3 vols., "Boehm's Reminiscences," and "Methodism in America."
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BAPTIST CHURCHES
Mrs. Ennalls, who was a Goldsborough, the wife of Henry, Ennalls, discovered his depression, and urged him to con- tinue in his work, and this encouragement kept him in the ministry. He writes kindly of Mrs. Ennalls, and says after the death of Mr. Ennalls, she married Robert Carmann of Pipe Creek."
While on this circuit Mr. Boehm collected the names of all the Methodist classes and their members; in later years an interesting record to him, which "would be still more so if we knew the destiny of each," he says: "Among the names I find on the class-book in Cambridge, are Dr. Edward White, Mary Ann White, his wife, and Eliza White, Sarah White, and Mary White, his three daughters. * * * Here resided Dr. Edward White, who helped to give tone and char- acter to Methodism."
M. E. CHURCH BRANCHES.
Two offsprings of Wesleyan Methodism-the Methodist Protestant, and Methodist Episcopal Church South-are flourishing denominations in Dorchester County; the former has thirteen modern churches, well supplied with able minis- ters, and zealously sustained by influential communities. The latter has eight attractive and commodious churches, whose pulpits are ever filled by a refined and cultured ministry that attract large and intelligent audiences for the extension of Christianity and church prosperity.
The history of the organization of the Methodist Protest- ant Church, and the M. E. Church South, by the withdrawal of the members and church congregations from the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, is so well known that no reference is required here.
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
The First Baptist Church of Cambridge is the outgrowth of efforts made from time to time by several missionaries. In 1881 a hall was rented and in it preaching established. The corner-stone of the present church was laid July 23,
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
1884, and in the same year the building was constructed, and dedicated November the 2d. It has a seating capacity for about four hundred worshipers, and is an ornament to that part of the town in which it is situated. The present membership is about one hundred, and the pastor is Rev. W. S. B. Ford, of South Carolina.
There are two other missionary Baptist churches in the county, one at East New Market and one at Vienna. The latter was organized in 1850.
.
.
CHRIST P. E. CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.
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Old Burying Grounds. CHAPTER XVI.
The oldest marked graves now known of in Dorchester County are on the Huffington Farm, a few miles from Cam- bridge, where there are three, each covered with marble slabs about level with the surface of the ground. Two of them, after having lain there 218 years, are well preserved with legible inscriptions. On one is the following: "Here Lyeth Interred The Body of Magdelen Stevens, who departed this life, Nov. 24, Anno Dom. 1679." On another: "Here Lyeth Interred The Body of William Stevens, who departed this life, December, Anno Dom. 1684."
On another tomb beside these two is a flaked and broken slab, indicating greater age, on which no legible words can be found, owing to its decayed condition.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH CEMETERY, CAMBRIDGE.
Christ Protestant Episcopal Church, that stands in the corner of the cemetery lot, casts its morning shadows over an arc of hallowed ground, the tenanted home of departed nundreds, whom the "Death Angel" hath gathered, some untimely, within the last 200 years. In this little city of the dead many precious emblems have been placed by the ten- derest love of the living in their day, in devoted remembrance of life's sweetest associations in the past, with those who there repose in the earthly chambers of death.
About this old cemetery and its early environs, the stately ancient brick wall, and old iron gates, oft left "ajar," where the wintry night winds moan their sad requiems in the barren boughs of leafless trees, and the pale moonbeams fall on
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
many marble sentinels keeping their constant vigil over the mortal remains of departed spirits, there is a feeling of solem- nity, and pedestrians reverentially tread as they pass that way.
Many of the oldest graves in this churchyard are not marked with inscribed tablets or monuments of stone to denote who were there buried.
Among the old memorials we find the following:
"Here lies the body of Sarah, the wife of Doct. Wm. M. Murray, who departed this life Nov. 19, 1742."
"Here lies the body of Major Thomas Nevitt, who departed this life the 10th day of February, Annoque Domini 1748-9, aged sixty-four years and six months."
"There's a gloomy vale between us, Pass through, I'm gone before."
"John Rider Nevitt, unfortunately drowned in the river Choptank on the 13th of April, 1772."
"In memory of John Murray, Attorney at Law, Son of Wil- liam and Frances Murray of Somerset County. He died on the 13th day of April, 1772, in the 31 year of his age."
On one tomb are two memorial inscriptions, as follow :
"In memory of Mrs. Willamina Goldsborough, wife of Charles Goldsborough, Daughter of Rev. Dr. Wm. Smith of Philadelphia.
"Died Dec. 19, 1790, aged 28 years."
Also :
"To the memory of Willamina Elizabeth Goldsborough. Her mournful parents inscribe this tablet.
"Called from this mortal scene in bloom of life, Here lies a much loved daughter, mother, wife, To whom each grace and excellence were given, A Saint on Earth, an Angel now in Heaven."
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1
OLD BURYING GROUNDS
FAMILY BURYING GROUND IN LAKES, FARM "KEENE'S DELIGHT."
"In Memory of Matthew Keene, Esq., who was born Jan. Ist, 1763, and departed this life Oct. 22, 1814, in the 57 year of his age.
"Long will the affections of an amiable and virtuous Father live in the bleeding hearts of his disconsolate children."
"In memory of Sallie Keene, consort of Matthew Keene, Esq. who departed this life in the 47 year of her life, Dec. 4, 1804."
"In memory of John Keene, died Jan. 8, 1812, 76 year of his age."
"In memory of Catherine, wife of John Keene, who was born Nov. 1784; departed this life in 1856."
M. E. CHURCH CEMETERY, CAMBRIDGE.
"In memory of David Straughn born April 15, 1800-Died March 14, 1869."
"Sacred to the memory of Dr. Edward White who de- parted this life the 27th March 1826 in the 72nd year of his age.
"It may truly be said of this great and good man that he lived respected and died lamented not only by his near rela- tives, but by all who knew his worth.
"Those virtues which adorn the man of firm friendship, stern integrity and genuine Christianity were exemplified in an eminent degree during the whole of his long and useful life.
"Early in life when the Declaration of 1776 was read, sum- moning the patriots to arms in defence of our most sacred
.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
rights he stepped forward and the day we continue to cele- brate he was a soldier equipped at his own personal expense.
"For nearly thirty years he has been an experimental and practical Christian, his house a home for ministers of the Gospel and his liberal hand always ready to contribute to their support.
"The poor partook eagerly of his benevolence and the afflicted had the benefit of his medical skill (when poor, with- out fee or reward * * )."
"Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Mary White, relict of the late Doctor Edw. White, who departed this life, Sept. 27- A. D .- 1833-in the 70th year of her age."
"In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Warfield-daughter of Dr. Edward White who departed this life Dec. the 5th 18- aged 35 years."
"Dr. Francis P. Phelps, born Jan. 31, 1799-Died Nov. 18, 1886."
On the Mitchell farm near Corner's Ville, a grave stone has this inscription :
"John Mitchell, Senr. Departed this life in 1815, in the 106th year of his age."
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Elections and Political History. CHAPTER XVII.
ELECTIONS-VOTING QUALIFICATIONS-METHOD OF VOTING-ELECTION DIS- TRICTS-JUDGES OF ELECTION-DIVISION OF COUNTY INTO HUNDREDS -DIVISION INTO ADDITIONAL DISTRICTS-POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
From 1687 to 1800 all elections for county officers in Dorchester County and members of the Assembly of Mary- land were held at Cambridge, and every voter who had the required qualifications, fifty acres of land, or forty pounds sterling in money or personal property, who decided to vote was obliged to go there to exercise his rights, not by casting a ballot but viva voce; that is, the voters told the Judge or Judges of the election the names of the persons for whom they proposed to vote. The Sheriff of the county was then Judge of the election and made the official returns of the result. At some period of the 112 years of this method of elections, the polls were kept open four days in succession for the convenience of voters who lived in remote parts of the county; for instance, in the locality of places now known as Denton, Hillsborough and Greensborough.
In 1799 a Commission was appointed to divide the county into Election Districts, likely for the convenience of the voters. The divisions made by the Commissioners were outlined and defined as follows :
"All that part of the county laying to the Eastward of the following lines, to wit: Beginning at the Mouth of Chica- nacomico River and up said river to the head thereof, as has been laid off heretofore, till it intersects the main road by Mrs. Minor's, thence with that road to Mr. Henry Dickin- son's on the head of Secretary Creek, including New Mar- ket with the dwelling house of Mr. James Sulivane, together
.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
with the dwelling house of said Henry Dickinson, and the several islands heretofore laid off and belonging to said dis- trict, to wit: Elliott's Island and the adjacent islands to compose the first district and the place of holding the elec- tion in said district at the plantation of John Reed, Esquire, called Reeds Grove.
"All that part of the said county that lyeth to the South- ward and Westward of the following lines, to wit: Beginning at the mouth of the Little Choptank River and running up the same to the mouth of Fishing Creek, then up said creek to the mouth of Church Creek, then up Church Creek to the head thereof to the house formerly occupied by Capt. Nathan Wright, from thence down the Black Water road to the new road made by John Williams and Thomas Colsten, and with that road to Black Water River near William Reed's plan- tation, then down said river to the mouth thereof, includ- ing all the islands heretofore laid off for said district, to wit: Hopkins Island and adjacent islands to compose the second district and the place of holding the election in said district at the dwelling house of Jacob Todd, hereafter to be known by the name of Toddsville.
"All that part of Dorchester County not included in the first and second districts to compose the third district, and the place of holding election in said district at Cambridge in the Court House.
"April 8, 1800.
(Seal.)
MOSES LECOMPTE.
(Seal.) ROB. DENNIS.
(Seal.) WM. M. ROBERTSON.
(Seal.)
SAM. HOOPER.
(Seal.) E. RICHARDSON."
FIRST DIVISION OF THE COUNTY INTO HUNDREDS.
.
The first political divisions of Dorchester County were hundreds, of which there is no official record to be found
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COUNTY DIVIDED INTO DISTRICTS
of their boundary lines, but the locations of the hundreds are recognizable by their names. They were laid out prior to 1689, when there were few roads through the vast forests which were only bounded by creeks, streams and other bodies of water.
The names of the hundreds were:
I. Great Choptank Hundred.
2. Nanticoke Hundred.
3. Transquaking Hundred.
4. Fishing Creek Hundred.
5. Little Choptank Hundred.
6. Hermitage (or Armitage) Hundred.
7. Straits Hundred.
8. Cambridge Hundred.
These divisions of the county were recognized in the appointment of constables, road overseers and other district officials, but were not election districts. They were retained as county divisions until 1829 when the county was divided into eight election districts herein named.
COUNTY DIVIDED INTO EIGHT DISTRICTS.
In 1829 a commission was appointed by Act of the Assem- bly of Maryland that divided the county into eight election districts, namely: Fork, East New Market, Vienna, Par- son's Creek, Lakes, Hooper's Island, Cambridge and Neck. Since then at different times some districts have been divided or subdivided and new ones made until sixteen election dis- tricts have been laid out, two of which have been divided into precincts, viz: Cambridge into four precincts and Straits three.
From 1773 to 1880 the division line between Dorchester and Caroline Counties extended along the roads and streets that then divided the town of Federalsburg into two civil divisions, which was detrimental to its municipal growth. In 1880 every voter, seventy in number, that lived in the part of the town lying in Dorchester County, petitioned the Legisla-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
ture to change the boundary line and transfer the part of the town and suburbs then laid off in Dorchester County to Caroline County, which was authorized and accordingly transferred. By that transfer, Dorchester County lost about three hundred inhabitants and fifty thousand dollars' worth of taxable property. The taxpayers thus transferred paid $614 to Dorchester County, their proportion of the bonded debt of the county.
POLITICAL HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY.
Before Dorchester County was organized in 1669, the peo- ple in colonial Maryland had formed, at least, two political parties, based partly on the Whig and Tory principles of England, but largely on religious creeds, which were so radically conflicting at that period as to excite at times intense prejudice, persecution and violence in one of the ruling parties of the province when in official control.
In the Protestant Revolution of 1689, the people in the county seem to have been passive and to have readily submitted to the rule of the Revolutionists and to the establishment of royal control without noticeable dis- sent, probably because the great majority of them were Protestants. This political change brought no good times to Marylanders, and when the royal governors and council, with the radical Assemblies laid heavy taxes for use of the King's officers, provincial expenses, and "forty pounds per poll" for church support with compulsory attendance at church on the Sabbath, and adopted other restrictive measures that would not permit Catholics to hold either public or private religious worship or have schools for their children at home or send them abroad to be educated, a wide- spread opposition arose to the King's rule, which found only partial redress after twenty-four years' forbearance, when the Proprietary government was reestablished in 1715. This relief that gradually came before the Revolution of '76 was
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POLITICAL PARTIES
counteracted by other difficulties that involved political dif- ferences. As the colonists had been heavily taxed under the rule of royalty, they were not disposed to levy large amounts for the use of the Proprietary and his salaried officials in the province. Thus the adherents of the Proprietary and his council on one side and the people who chose the Assemblies on the other side, constituted two distinct parties in each county. For forty years of this period the Dorchester Dele- gates elected to the Assemblies (among whom were Henry Hooper, Bartholomew Ennalls, Jr., Thomas Woolford, Daniel Sulivane, Henry Travers, Philemon LeCompte and many other prominent members) firmly opposed Proprie- tary aggressions and gradually gained, concessions of advan- tage to the people. English restrictions on colonial trade also became so intolerant that local differences over home affairs faded into insignificance before graver dangers that threatened the destruction of sacred rights belonging to Maryland colonists.
Though this overwhelming sentiment against coercion by England was so strong, yet there existed weak factions of opposition in every county, Dorchester not excepted, that were derisively called Tories during and after the Revolution.
Some Tories in Dorchester County were arrested while the war was being waged and were obliged to take the oath of allegiance to the State, or be held as political prisoners whose sympathies and conduct gave support to England, and who endangered American independence.
Prominent Tories were obliged to leave the county and country during or after the close of the war.
Throughout the Revolution there was practically but one political party in the county and State, but after the restora- tion of peace and plans for a Federal government were dis- cussed, different opinions on a matter of such vital interest to the people, developed two parties, "Federalists" and "Anti-Federalists." The first favored and the latter opposed the adoption of the Federal Constitution. Just here it is 10
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
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