USA > Maryland > Dorchester County > History of Dorchester County, Maryland > Part 7
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The next indispensable business started there was a whiskey and rum shop, in which were sold a few groceries for the appearance of decency. The inducements to engage in that traffic were no doubt the profits derived from the liquor sales. This store with its stimulating stock of merchandise attracted many patrons. They came from towards the "Bridge," north; from "Puckum." east of the "North West Fork," and from "Grubbing Neck." along the Caroline border. When repre- sentatives from those rival neighborhoods met and partook of a few glasses of rum or whiskey, the pride of their man- hood rose to a premium, challenges were frequently made to test the superiority of their fighting abilities, some of whom -
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
were ever ready to fight a rival. The frequent meeting of those disturbing factions and their conduct at that place gave it such a notorious reputation that it was named "Bunker's Hill." Under such evil influences the town made no advance- ment except in building fences and hog-pens of slabs to such an extent that the neighborhood people changed the name of the town to "Slabtown." This so incensed one of its cit- izens, John Woolen, that he petitioned the Legislature about 1840 to change the name of the place to Williamsburg, which was done.
Soon after the Dorchester and Delaware Railroad was completed and a depot established at Williamsburg, town im- provements were begun, but its growth has been slow. Now there are two stores of general merchandise, one cabinet and wheelwright shop, one steam flouring mill, one fruit and veg- etable cannery, one public school, one M. E. church (see il- lustration), and about twenty-five dwellings which may be included within town limits.
Some of the early settlers in that part of the county before it was named East New Market district were Nathaniel Med- ford, born in 1758, and Rebecca Medford in 1755; William Bonner and Margaret Bonner, whose daughter Rachel was born in 1744; William Lowe, great-grandfather of Enoch Lowe, who had a special warrant granted for resurvey of land called "Taylor's Neglect," in 1758, and some vacant land adjoining "to be holden of the Nanticoke Manor." (This shows the great extent of Nanticoke Manor up the "North West Fork.") Later William Lowe, grandson of William, had resurveyed and patented "Lowe's Interest," in 1788, which was the late home of Celia Bush (Murphy), who lived there alone and was murdered by a negro, April 7, 1884, for her money. This land adjoined "Lockerman's Manor" of 1000 acres.
Next, the Corkran family, of whom James Corkran is men- tioned, whose son John was born November 11, 1788, and died November 18, 1836. He married Nancy Medford, Sep- tember 25, 1810, daughter of Nathaniel and Rebecca Med-
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WILLIAMSBURG M. E. CHURCH.
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CROTCHER'S FERRY
ford. The first son of John and Nancy (Medford) Corkran was John Burton Corkran, born August 17, 1812, died April 6, 1899. He married Ann L. Syrock December 16, 1840.
Descendants of these families are now living on or near the premises owned by their early ancestors. Of the Lowe's, Enoch Lowe, a Justice of the Peace for the last twenty-eight years, excepting two years, still resides on the old home- stead. George, John R. and Joseph B. Corkran are farmers on and near their father's late premises, and F. P. Corkran, another son of John B., is merchandising and milling at Wil- liamsburg; he was a member of the House of Delegates from Dorchester County in 1900. Nathaniel and Robert W. Medford, of the Medford family, are prosperous farmers nearby.
* John Woolen, the wheelwright, committed sui- cide by hanging himself in his workshop, August 18, 1854.
Descendants, of the Hubberts, Paynes, Browns and a few others of old families are still living in that section.
In the War of 1812 the people of that neighborhood were patriotic; a company of militia was raised there that belonged to the Eleventh Regiment of Dorchester County, the officers were John Rowens, Captain; Arthur Lowe, Lieutenant; David Andrew, Ensign.
CROTCHER'S FERRY. (BROOKVIEW.)
On the North West Fork of the Nanticoke River, before Nanticoke hundred was outlined, a ferry, not a town, was es- tablished in 1671, at the same time when the Assembly passed an Act for keeping Dover Ferry across the Choptank River. Those ferries were on the route of travel between Somerset, Dorchester, Talbot and Kent Counties."
The first public house located at Crotcher's Ferry was an "Ordinary" where liquors were sold. Its influence on society in that section was many years in advance of church organiza- tion, and gave the place a notorious reputation for drunken-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
ness and fighting, especially on Saturdays, when the sailors, fishermen and landsmen met for social drinks and square knockdowns. This place well maintained its reputation for 150 years, where travelers passing that way could get a pint of whiskey for a "fips-penny-bit," and a fight for nothing. As late as 1850, when religious influences had spread about there, the "Ferry" had not fully reformed; boatmen in their fleet of barges with jugs for a week's supply always made their run on Saturdays to the river shore of the village next to the liquor stores. With all the bad record of this place it had a brisk vessel-trade in wood, lumber and grain, and a shipyard where sail vessels were built. Coasting and bay vessels were owned there from the days when James Billings had the ship "Rider" built on the Nanticoke in 1738.
While the "Ferry" has lost much of its vessel and lumber trade, it has grown in population, risen high in social and moral standing, and is an attractive place, whose citizens are highly esteemed for their benevolence, religious devotion and refined home life.
Crotcher's Ferry, now named Brookview, has two stores, about thirty-five dwelling houses and 130 inhabitants. The men of the village are chiefly sailors and fishermen.
GALESTOWN.
Galestown, a little cluster of modest dwellings situated in the southeastern part of Fork District, about two miles from the Nanticoke River, is inhabited by an industrious popula- tion, the descendants from the original white settlers on the Eastern Shore, and adjacent part of Delaware, a mixture of French and English, like those who inhabit the district, noted for their plain habits and absolute freedom from grave offences.
The quickening influence of the locomotive whistles is too far away to excite commotion in this town on the arrival of trains at the nearest railroad station. Only steamboats on the river induce the people to make use of rapid transit in their business with the outside world. The grist-mill and
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FORK DISTRICT
village store served them for a hundred years with domestic conveniences apparently suitable to that period, when fish- ing, sailing, and lumbering were the business occupations for family support. Late enterprises established there for fruit and vegetable canning and other business, has put new life in the town.
FORK DISTRICT.
Fork District, one of the eight Election Districts of Dor- chester County, laid out in 1829, was an early settled section, mostly along the Nanticoke River on its eastern boundary, and the North West Fork River, that divided what was then called Nanticoke hundred. Until 1684 Somerset County claimed all that part of Nanticoke hundred lying east of the North West Fork branch of the Nanticoke. In November of that year, the Council of Maryland appointed a Commis- sion, Col. William Stevens, Capt. Henry Smith, Bartholomew Ennalls and Charles Hutchins, to settle the bounds between Somerset and Dorchester Counties. They decided that the North East branch is the main stream of the Nanticoke River, and therefore the boundary between the counties, which had been for years in dispute. Some of the people then living in North West Fork claimed to be citizens of Somerset, and others to be living in Dorchester.
While the Fork district is not noted for any important towns, it is reputed for being the home of some distinguished and prominent families.
"Rehoboth," on the North West Fork River, a large plantation about seven miles from Federalsburg, was the home of some of the Lees, in colonial days, members of the Lee family of Virginia, one of the most promi- nent and influential families that ever came to America. A brief sketch of that noted family is here given to show the connecting line of the Lees of Virginia to those of "Rehoboth."
"Richard Lee" (1) (first generation), "of a good family in Shropshire, near Bridgeworth, the seat of Launcelot Lee,
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
Esq. some time in the Reign of Charles the first went over to the colony of Virginia, as Secretary, and one of the King's 6* Privy Council * * When he got to Virginia, which was at that time not much cultivated, he was so pleased with the country that he made large settlements there with the servants he had carried over; after some years he gave away all the lands he had taken up and settled at his own expense, to those servants he had fixed on them, and then returned to England. * * He came again to Vir- ginia with a fresh band of adventurers, all of whom he settled there." This Richard Lee "settled first in York County, proven by the grant of 1000 acres, dated August 10, 1642. The patent states that this land was due 'unto the said Rich- ard Lee, by and for his own p'sonal adventure his wife Ann,' and others. He represented York County as a Burgess in 1647, and in 1651." He was interested in commerce as well as agriculture; "in his will he bequeathed his interest in two ships to his son Francis Lee." From his home in York County, he next settled on Dividing Creeks, in Northumber- land County on the Potomac River, where he was granted in 1651, 800 acres, and in 1656, 600 acres; was also granted other tracts of land. "While in England with his wife and children in 1663, he made his will, and died in Virginia in 1664." His children were:
SECOND GENERATION.
I. "John (2), eldest son, and heir-at-law, died unmarried," of whom further.
2. "Richard (2). After the death of John he became heir- at-law. From him the 'Stratford' line descended," of whom further.
3. "Francis (2), settled in London, died there and left issue."
4. "William (2), married; probably left no male issue."
5. "Hancock (2), married and left issue, from whom the 'Ditchley' line are descended."
6. Elizabeth (2), no data.
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LAND OWNED BY CAPT. JOHN LEE AND OTHERS
7. Annie (2), married Thomas Youell, of Nominy; left issue.
8. Charles (2), married and left issue, from which the "Cobbs Hall" line are descended.
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SKETCH OF THE SECOND GENERATION. .
"John (2), the eldest son of Richard (2) and Anna Lee, was born about 1645, 'in Capohowasick, Wickacomoco, in Northern Neck of Virginia,' as he himself stated." He was educated at Oxford, entered Queen's College, as a commoner on the 2d of July, 1658, and graduated an A.B. on the 30th of April, 1662. (Probably studied medicine; his father made provision to that effect in his will.) While at Oxford, he presented a silver cup to his college, "weighing 14 oz-3 dwt. now preserved in Queen's College, Oxford." In 1666, he (Capt. John Lee) had settled in Westmoreland County, Va., where he was a member of a committee for the defence of the Northern Neck of Virginia, from Indians; and was appointed High Sheriff of Westmoreland, in 1672. He was the owner of much land, about 16,000 acres, of which he owned some in Dorchester County, proven by land records, here described.
LAND IN FORK DISTRICT OWNED BY CAPT. JOHN LEE AND OTHERS OF THAT FAMILY.
"Rehoboth, 2350 acres, surveyed for Capt. John Lee, March 31, 1673; patented to him June 24, 1673, situate, lying and being on the East side of Chesapeake Bay, in a River called Nanticoke, on the North side of the said River, in the first North-West forke of the said river." (See Land Office Records, Annapolis, Md.)
In the fall of 1673, Capt. John Lee died, and this land was heired by his brother, Richard Lee (Col. Richard Lee), of "Mount Pleasant," Virginia, a very distinguished man, who "was educated at Oxford, and spent almost his whole life in study, and usually wrote his notes in Greek, Hebrew or Latin," and was appointed to numerous offices. He died on the 12th day of March, 1714, in the 68th year of his age. 7
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
His will was probated in Westmoreland County, April 27, 1714, and by it devised many thousand of acres of land in Vir- ginia and Maryland, as well as many slaves, to his heirs. The land in Dorchester that he heired from his brother, Capt. John Lee, he willed as follows:
"Item, I give to my son Phillip and his heirs forever a tract of land in Dorchester County on the Eastern Shoar in Maryland and on the North West fork of Nanticoke river containing 1300 acres more or less and bounded as follows. Beginning at the upper corner of a larger dividend of land I have there, at a marked hickory and red oak upon the side of said fork of Nanticoke * *
* thence W. by S. 214 poles to the river or fork side which line divides my now seated plantation in two parts. * Item, I give to my son Thomas and his heirs forever the residue of all my lands in the North West fork of the Nanticoke river in Dorchester County in the Province of Maryland.
[If then his seated plantation some of his family occupied it, evidently shown by the following bequests.] Item, I give to my son Philip these negroes, * * * with Carpenter Jack and Ralph at the Eastern Shoar. Item, I give to my. son Henry these following negros (vig't.) Betty Phill Harry and Sarah Beck's children Prue Betty's and Ned all at home Sharp at the Eastern Shoar."
Philip Lee (3) (of the third generation), who lived in Prince George's County, Maryland, died in 1744; he willed his part of "Rehoboth" in Dorchester County to his sons as follows: "Carbon Lee, 200 acres called 'Rehoboth,' John and George, 600 acres called 'Rehoboth' in North West fork of Nanticoke, to be equally divided between them. Francis, 200 acres, part of a tract called 'Rehoboth,' aforesaid. I give to my grandson Philip Lee, 200 acres, part of 'Reho- both.'"
"President" Thomas Lee (3), of "Stratford," son of Rich- ard Lee (2), died at Stratford in Westmoreland, on the Poto- mac River, in November, 1770. He was the father of Richard Henry Lee, and Francis Lightfoot Lee, of Revolu-
LEE MANSION (COLONIAL), NORTH WEST FORK RIVER.
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Mnou
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LAND OWNED BY CAPT. JOHN LEE AND OTHERS
tionary fame (both were signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence). In their father's will, "Rehoboth," the 1300 acres owned by him, were bequeathed to his eldest son, and entailed on his second and third sons in case of failure of male heirs by them, in order devised.
Richard Lee (4), the first son, died unmarried, before his father.
Philip Ludwell Lee (4), the second son, became the owner, heir-at-law of "Rehoboth." He had two daughters, and a son that died in infancy. What disposition was made of his share of "Rehoboth" is not mentioned.
Francis Lee (4), son of Phillip Lee (3), was living on his plantation, a part of "Rehoboth," in 1745, and was a member of the Assembly of Maryland that year, when he moved to Cecil County, Maryland, and offered to lease his "late Man- sion House on the North West fork of the Nanticoke River." (Md. Gazette, 30th January, 1747-48.) He died in 1749 and devised his land in Dorchester County, as follows:
"I give to my son Francis Leonard Lee (5), all my dwelling plantation in Dorset County, called 'Rehoboth.' To my son, Lancelot Richard Thos. Lee, a tract of land called 'Lee's Purchase,' containing 317 acres, on the Northeast fork of the Nanticoke River." He gave his wife, Elizabeth (Holly- day) Lee, 50 acres on the Nanticoke, "where the ship was built," and two tracts of land bought of John Smith, adjoin- ing "Rehoboth," to his son, Francis Leonard Lee.
It is not shown so far as we have examined that Richard Henry Lee, and Francis Lightfoot Lee, sons of Col. Thomas Lee (3), of "Stratford." ever shared ownership in "Reho- both," with their brother, Philip Ludwell Lee, though Let- tice Corbin Lee, a sister, did.
Like the great plantations, "Mount Pleasant," "Stratford," "Chantelly" and "Paradise," of the Lees of Virginia, has "Rehoboth" of Dorchester County, passed out of their pos- sessions.
The land records of Dorchester County show that "Lettice Corbin Lee, of Harford County, Md., in 1787, sold to John
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
Smoot, a tract of land called "Rehoboth," containing 200 acres, on the North West Fork of Nanticoke River, which "descended to her upon the death of her brother Philip Lee."
Major Frank Turpin, first a Captain in the Militia of Dor- chester County during the Revolutionary War, became the owner of that part of "Rehoboth" on which the Lee Man- sion now stands, a fine old brick building still in an excellent state of preservation, now about one hundred and seventy- five years old. Major Turpin lived there for many years, where he dispensed lavish hospitality to many a social guest within its spacious halls. Balls, so popular eighty or ninety years ago, were continued for two or three days at a time at his home, where music and wine kept merry, handsome men and maidens fair through many a mazy dance.
Some of those men had been in the War of 1812, and others had served in the Eleventh Regiment of the Dorchester Mili- tia, under Captain Minos Adams, Lieutenant Solomon Davis and Ensign Robert Medford.
CHAPTER XII.
CHURCH CREEK-WOOLFORD-MADISON-TAYLOR'S ISLAND-HOOPER'S ISLAND-LAKES-STRAITS.
CHURCH CREEK.
About seven miles southeast of Cambridge, at the head of Church Creek, an arm of Fishing Creek, which is a tributary of Little Choptank River, an old town is situated named Church Creek. Tradition claims that it is older than Cam- bridge; that a few families settled there about the time the Protestant Episcopal Church was built on Church Creek, in Dorchester Parish; but the Land Records of the county show no evidence of the sale of town lots there before 1700. The location of the first church in the county, so finely con- structed in that early period, at the central point of the county's population, led to the establishment of a little hamlet near it, first named Dorchester town; secondly, White Haven; and lastly Church Creek, which it still retains.
This inland point at the head of navigable water, bounded by vast forests of large white oak and pine timber, was very early selected for shipbuilding, an industry begun there prior to 1767, in which year reference is made to "land adjoining the 'Ship yard.'" Of the earliest shipbuilders there is no record. In later years the Dixons, Linthicums and Jas. A. Stewart, were extensive builders of vessels there. This enter- prise alone in the early part of the eighteenth century was quite sufficient to attract ship carpenters to settle there, and which made a prosperous village 150 years ago. When convenient ship timber became scarce and activity in ves- sel building declined about forty-five or fifty years ago, town growth and prosperity were checked, and since have not been revived for want of established industries. As a substitute for employment, more of the town men became sailors, and others engaged in oystering on the Bay and rivers
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
near by. To-day, the town and surrounding country people sustain eight or nine stores of general merchandise kept there, one M. E. Church and Minister, and the Old Protes- tant Episcopal Church and rector. Lately a fruit and vege- table canning house has been built there, and is now in suc- cessful operation. If other industries follow the cannery, and the projected Cambridge and Chesapeake Railroad is built, a new life may revive the old town and its passive four hundred.
WOOLFORD.
The village of Woolford, two miles west of the town of Church Creek, situated on Church Creek, a tributary of Little Choptank River, is quite an old place, that has had three names in its history. About twenty-five years ago it was called Milton, named by the Postoffice Department as a postoffice. For 150 years prior to that time, it was called Loomtown; tradition says, because the "industrious matrons there in every household had a weaver's loom." The influ- ence that introduced looms there and elsewehere in Dor- chester and Somerset Counties, was an Act of Assembly passed in 1682, that authorized County Court Commission- ers to pay six pounds of tobacco for every yard of linen woven, which was three-quarters of a yard wide; and for woolen cloth, ten pounds of tobacco. It 1697, this Act was repealed and measures adopted to suppress domestic manu- facturing to prevent reduction of imported merchandise necessary for the use of the colonists, and profitable to Eng- lish exporters.
Descendants of some of the first settlers of Loomtown are still there and in that locality. Two hundred years ago the Woolfords. Millses, Brannocks, Skinners and Joneses were residents of the old place, now known as Woolford, that has a population of about one hundred people; two stores, one church, and the "village blacksmith" shop.
Near Woolford, on the road to Church Creek, is an old windmill, that was used for grinding corn into meal probably a hundred years ago. (See illustration.)
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OLD WINDMILL, NEAR CHURCH CREEK.
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MADISON
MADISON.
The town of Madison lies west from Cambridge, about twelve miles, on Tobacco Stick Bay, a tributary of Little Choptank River. The first name given the little village was "Tobaco Stick;" oral tradition says, from the feat of an Indian who jumped across the channel at the mouth of the cove with the aid of a "tobacco stick," some time in early colonial days, when escaping from some white people who were pursuing him.
This town has made a very slow growth; its business re- sources for support of the inhabitants for more than a hun- dred years, were a wood and timber trade and shipbuilding. For the last twenty-five years, oystering has become a sub- stitute for town support in the place of the diminished enter- prises in timber getting and shipbuilding.
In 1809, an Act of Assembly was passed that permitted Joseph Stewart, an enterprising farmer and vessel builder, to dig a canal from Parson's Creek, through White Marsh, to connect with Tobacco Stick Bay, at Tobacco Stick, for the purpose of lightering wood and timber from a large tract of timberland, that the canal also drained. As early as 1760, it was known as a village; among its first inhabitants were Roger Woolford, William Jones and John Harrington.
Before the day of churches there, religious services were held at John Harrington's house. The oldest person living there now is John E. Harrington, who is a descendant of John Harrington, above-named. In this town are three churches, one M. E., one M. E. South, and one M. P. church; three general merchandise stores; one large fruit and vege- table cannery. The town is the home of several captains of Bay trading sail vessels that belong there. It has a popu- lation of about 300 inhabitants.
DOCTORS.
Of the physicians who once lived at Tobacco Stick, the earliest now remembered by Mr. John E. Harrington, were Drs. Pratt and Rich. Dr. Harrison also practiced there.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
Madison has long had the benefit of a prominent and skill- ful physician, who still resides there, Dr. Benj. L. Smith, whose tact in politics has almost eclipsed his splendid pro- fessional record. He has been an honored member of the House of Delegates, Senate of Maryland, and for the last three sessions of the Legislature, has been Chief Clerk of the House of Delegates.
TAYLOR'S ISLAND
These districts, while they have no regularly organized towns, are densely populated in parts lying near the Bay and rivers, in which are valuable oyster beds.
Taylor's Island is about six miles long, lying parallel with Chesapeake Bay, on the western border of the county, and separated from the mainland by Slaughter Creek, and from Hooper's Island by Punch Island Creek. Colonists from St. Mary's and Calvert Counties settled on this island ten years before the County of Dorchester was laid out. Thomas Taylor, after whom the island was named, Raymond Staple- fort, Francis Armstrong and John Taylor, were among the early settlers, who cleared the land of timber and made fine farms there. The cultivation of tobacco and corn was the principal employment and the chief products raised for sup- port of the people during the first century of the colony.
From the year 1700, timber and lumber trade increased for the next 150 years to the extent of a profitable industry. Soon thereafter catching oysters for sale in city markets rapidly became a paying business, and is still a trade of much activity. The revenue derived from oysters has added valu- able and attractive improvements to this section of the county. On the island are three fine churches, large stores, canneries, and fine dwellings, the homes of well-to-do and cultured people.
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