USA > Maryland > Harford County > History of Harford County, Maryland : from 1608 (the year of Smith's expedition) to the close of the War of 1812 > Part 8
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England
Edward Murphey Ireland
Richard Hackett England
Nicholas Rylie (Reiley) Ireland
Hugh Deiver (Devier) .
America
William Rice. England
Michael Meloy. Ireland
Robert Stevenson. America
Lawrence Connoway (Conaway) Ireland
Patrick Tiarny. Ireland
Patrick Fowler. Ireland
126
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
James Hannah (Hanna) Ireland
Peter Donnavon (Donavan) . Ireland
William King. America
Joseph Whitefeatt
. England
James Smith. England
Charles O'Neale Ireland
Records of Maryland Troops in the Continental Ser- vice During the War of the American Revolution, 1775-83.
HARFORD COUNTY.
Captain, Aquila Paca.
Captain, Bennet Bussey.
Ist Lieut., John Beedle
Ist Lieut., Joshua Miles.
Hall. Ensign, Aquila Amos .*
2d Lieut., Michael Gilbert.
Enrolled by Captain Paca. Reviewed and passed by Jos. Carvil Hall, July 24, 1776.
Isaac Johnson,
Cornelius Akins,
James Thomas,
Thomas Younger,
Thomas Stevenson,
Isaac Giant,
Barney Haney,
Jonathan Walker,
Jas. Allen,
Thomas Welsh,
Job Bennington,
John Clarke,
Joseph Glyn,
Thomas Dusft, or Dufft,
Aquila Lee Jones,
Thomas McDaniel,
William Robinson,
John Loney,
Jacob Dozens,
Alexander Nolstone,
Isaac Dozens,
Michael Barry,
Wm. Gray Dozens,
William Duly,
Ephraim Collins,
John O'Neal,
Reese Jones,
Amatio Taylor,
Edward Morris,
William Durham,
William Saunders,
Alexander Admiston,
John Morris,
Jas Willson,
John Collins,
Michael Morris,
Wm. Brucebanks,
Matthew Snodey.
127
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
Enrolled by Lieut. J. B. Hall. Passed by Aquila Hall, August 5, 1776.
Joab Murphy,
Nicholas Brady,
William Hart,
George Stewart,
Stephen Crouch, Leven Dorsey,
William Logan, Thomas Harrod,
John Breckenridge, Edward Low,
James McKnight,
William Hassett,
John Ryan,
James Hurley,
Charles Williams,
John Walker,
Israel Combest,
Philip Peiken, or Pictern,
Michael Mullen,
Alexander Edmonston.
Proceedings of the Convention of Maryland, pp. 177, 178.
Enrolled by Cupt. Bennett Bussey. Passed by Thos. Bond, July 20, 1776.
Grafton Preston, Robt. Carlile, (Carlisle),
John Clayton, (Clyton),
John Steel,
Robt. Ogle,
Thos. Able,
Edw. Johnson,
Lawrence Hynds,
Wm. Greenhill, (Green Hill),
Wm. Cooper,
John Toole,
Wm. Preston,
Bartho Finn, (Firm),
Isaac Akeright, ( Aks- right ),
Arch. McNear,
James Cox,
James Matthews,
Godfrey Woolmore,
Michael Carr,
William Miles,
Thomas Hinks,
James Smith,
James Moore,
Benj. Rhoads,
Edw. Freeman,
Simon Howard, (Frow- ard), Denis Clancey,
Enrolled by Capt. Bennett Bussey. Reviewed and passed by Thos. Jones, Second Major of the Balti- more Town Battalion of Militia.
Ambrose Timmons, Thomas Lacy.
I28
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
Enrolled by First Lieutenant Joshua Miles. Passed July 27, '76.
James Nelson,
William Gaddis,
Michael McNeile,
Laurence Hinds,
Thomas Slatry,
Thomas Godfrey,
James Mays, John Downey,
Bartholomew Downs,
John Condron,
Henry Shane,
Hugh McMillen,
John Rogers,
John Dennis,
James Moore,
Valentine Stratford,
Denis Clancy,
John Tapler,
Patrick Doran,
John Spencer.
Enrolled by Lieut. Asell Hitchcock, Jr. Passed by Asell Hitchcock, July 25, 1776.
Thos. James,
Andrew Craven,
Wm. Cunningham,
Jos. Wood White,
Wm. Wright,
Cladius Jamison,
Asell Rockwell,
Chas. Porter,
Wm. Rutledge,
Saml. Hodgskins,
Wm. Night,
Martin Scary,
Wm. Condron,
Jonathan Cunningham,
Richard Hopkins,
John Lyon,
Saml. Baxley,
Noah Reaves,
John Garrett,
Patrick Norton.
Enrolled by Ensign Aquila Amos. Passed by Thos. Bond, July 25, 1776.
Mordecai Amos, John Miles,
Joshua Amos,
Daniel Darby,
William Gash,
Samuel Peacock,
Richard Burk, John Catherwood,
George Gardner, (Garder), (Cartherwood)
Winstone Smith, John O'Donel,
Barnye Devine,
Nathan Smith,
John Roberts,
John Long.
129
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
FOURTH REGIMENT.
Muster roll of Capt. Alexander Lawson Smith's Company, including part of the companies belonging to the regiment of Lieut .- Col. Moses Rawlings, being a part of the Eleventh Virginia Regiment, commanded by Col. Daniel Morgan, Lieutenant-Colonel Febiger and Lieutenant-Colonel Nicholas during 1777, and afterward being a part of the Fourth Maryland Regi- ment, commanded by Col. Josias Carvel Hall.
From rolls for June, July, 1777, Col. Morgan; Sep- tember, 1777, Lieutenant-Colonel Febiger; October, 1777, Lieutenant-Colonel Nicholas; January, 1778, to January, 1779, inclusive, Colonel Hall.
ALEX. LAWSON SMITH, Captain.
Wm. Bradford, Lieut.
Adamson Tannehill, Lieut.
Elijah Evans, Lieut.
John Thompson, Sergt.
John Debruler,
Matthew Alexander, Sergt. Chas. Baker, Joshua Saunders, Sergt.
Isaac Rose, Sergt.
John Stafford, Sergt.
Wm. Cattrill (Cattrell),
John Chinneth, (Chineth), John Irons, Sergt.
Josias Kimble, (Kimbal),
John Howe, (How), Cor- Patrick Quinn, poral. John Leviston,
Wm. Andrews, Corporal.
John Ford, Corporal.
James Ferguson, Corporal. John Collins,
Arthur Chinneth, (Chin- John Cotman,
eth), Corporal.
Thos. Lovely, Fifer.
John McBride, Drummer. Privates-
Reuben Ross,
Thomas Smith,
Samuel Power, Abraham Watson,
John Callender,
James Dennison,
John Cooper,
Henry Rowland,
Wm. Cooper,
David Knight,
Thos. Harris,
John Crockett, Wm. Mccullough,
Thos. Dearmott,
Jesse Corbett, (Corbit), John Wilson,
Wm Pritchard.
130
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
Payroll of Capt. Robert Harris' Company for the Extra Month's Pay.
Benj. Scott, Ist Lieut.
Patk. O'Mullan,
Michael Dougherty, 2d Lieut.
Patk. Eagon,
Timothy Brannon,
Michael Connelly, Sergt.
Joseph Woods,
Richard Moland, Corporal. Peter Swanton,
Stephen Price, Corporal.
James Rattican,
Alex. Stephenson, Fifer.
Dominick Coyn,
Privates-
James Kearns,
Nicholas Delany,
Charles Ashman,
Abraham Hooper,
Wm. Hawly,
Michael McCann,
Benj. Taylor,
James Boyle,
Wm. Anderson, deserted.
John Reardon,
A return of Recruits Enlisted in Harford County, 1780.
John McDonal, First Maryland Regiment.
Aaron Winfred, First Maryland Regiment.
Moses Williams, New Regiment.
Thomas Blunder, New Regiment.
Christopher Seemer, New Regiment.
William Chapman, New Regiment.
William Wilson, (deserted since enlistment), New Regiment.
Edward Freeman, New Regiment.
James Scott, New Regiment.
Edward Burgess, First Maryland Regiment.
Dennis Downs, New Regiment.
Joseph McNamarra, New Regiment.
William Lytle, New Regiment. Nathaniel Sullivan, New Regiment.
Andrew McCune, New Regiment.
James Jordon, New Regiment.
James McDonal, New Regiment.
John Lewis, New Regiment.
James Sullivan, New Regiment.
I31
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
Wm. Bowden, New Regiment.
James Phillips, New Regiment. Daniel Darby, New Regiment. John Park, New Regiment, broke gaol and made his escape.
Thomas Beaver, New Regiment.
John Garreguies, Eighth Maryland Regiment.
William Gloury. James Fitz Gerrald.
Francis McClane. Thomas Smith,
John Butler, John Cooley.
Peter Scott. James Jackson.
Michael Daugherty. William Lowry.
James O'Brian. Thomas Duff.
HARFORD COUNTY, December 11, 1781.
Sir-Agreeable to Directions from the Lieut. En- closed I transmit your Excellency, A Return of Re- cruits, Drafts, &c., Agreeable to an Act Entitled an Act to procure Recruits, Also a Return of Substitutes & Draughts, Agreeable to an Act Entitled an Act to Raise Two Battalions of Militia-I should also have sent your Excellency an Account of the Balance due the State of the four Shilling Tax, but there is not yet as much Collected as has been paid to Recruits, and the Lieut. has thought it unnecessary to grant more Executions, as the Sheriff has not settled for, nor paid, what has been Already Granted, tho a long time in his hands. I am your Excellency's very Humble Servant, A. CRAWFORD, Sec'y L. H. County. To his Excellency, Thos. Sim Lee, Esq.
Return of Recruits, Substitutes and Drafts raised in Harford County for the Two Battalions of Militia, Agreeable to an Act of Assembly, in the Year, 1781.
Names of Substitutes- John Gordon, John Usher,
Nathan Strong, John Morris,
132
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
John Curl,
John Shields,
Saml. Hodgkins,
Alex. Christie,
Barachius Coop,
Thos. Monahon,
William Bently, John Miles,
Edward Fincham,
Anguis McCreary,
William Wright,
James Condren,
Griffith Evans,
Wm. Payne,
William Butler,
John Willard,
James Keys,
Thos. Ask,
Wm. Truss,
James Silk,
James Bond,
John Norris,
George Todd,
Robert Mitchell.
Peter Ratagan,
Names of Drafts --
John Sullivan,
William Condron,
Samuel Scarborough, de- George O'Keil, serted,
Horatio Coop,
William Smith,
Nathan Price,
Jeremiah Williamson,
John Offield.
John Dearmott, taken ill with the flux.
Aaron Grace, discharged, being poor and having a wife and five children.
David Deaver, discharged, same having wife and seven children.
Negroe Tower, discharged, same having wife and children.
Nathan Gallion, infirm and sickly.
Edward Prigg, id
Richard Greenland, id
Richard Kenly, id
Jona. West, poor ; a wife and children to support. Joseph Johnson, id
Thos. Rhoads,
id
Wm. Grafton, id
Nathan Johns, a Quaker and id., but did not appear.
Richard Johns, id., son to the above. Isaac Henry, id., did not appear.
Robt. Jones, never taken up.
Nathan Browley, id
Henry Russ,
id
I33
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
James McGaw, id
John McGaw, id
Wm. Major, id
James Bevard, id
Joseph Aikens,
id
Henry Harrod, id
Thos. Ely, Quaker, id
Wm. Judd, kept out of the way.
Michael Rook, run.
James Andrews, id.
Wm. Gash, id. A. CRAWFORD, Sec'y L. H. County.
December 1I, 1781.
Return of Recruits, Substitutes and Drafts raised in Harford County, Agreeable to an Act Entitled An Act to Procure Recruits in the Year 1781.
Oliver Denny, Neal McOwen,
Edward Appleton,
Wm. Coe,
John Oldham White,
James Caple,
George Gardners,
Peter French,
John Pendall,
John Wilson,
John McClain,
James Cromwell,
John Fulfit,
Robert Jones,
Thos. Sheredin,
John H. Dorsey,
John Overman,
Peter Wedoney,
John Hutson,
John O'Neal,
Lawrence Hines,
John Thompson. Drafts:
William Newberry,
John McCall,
James McNabb,
John Ranson,
Benj. Culver,
Evan Thomas,
Wm. Catlin,
Patrick Mullen,
Wm. Carlen,
James Hutson,
Daniel Davey,
₡ John Finnch,
Danl. Douglas,
Philip McDonald,
Saml. McComas.
A. CRAWFORD, Secy. L. H. County. December 11, 1781.
I34
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
Capt. Robt. Harris' Company of Flying Camp Mili- tia .*
PHILADELPHIA, 9th Nov., 1776.
September 16:
Patrick Nowlan.
James Coop,
October 4:
Matthew McElhany,
John Haig,
Joshua James,
Gyks Hodges.
John Chance,
October 16:
James Trene,
James Rigden. October 17:
Wm. Feely,
Jas Witgurs. October 18:
Alexander Stevenson,
Robt. Hannah,
Benj. Wailey.
Gregory White, September 18:
Thos. Capen,
Robert Gordon. September 21 :
David McCullough. September 27:
James Bull,
Able Green,
James Harris,
October I :
Wm. Hall. September 28:
October 2:
Jas Balney,
Chas. Anderson.
Christopher Fort. October 15:
David Campbell,
Wm. Lattimore,
Thomas Stewart. October 19:
John Davidson. October 16:
Wm. Jordan. September 26:
Barnet Rain,
Wm. Cuthbert,
Thos. Roads,
Jas. Munday,
John Cook,
Joseph Sanders. September 25:
Wm. Cook,
John Armstrong. September 28: Jona. Eddy. September 29
Alex. Thomson. September 21 :
Richard Hopkins,
John Baker,
Wm. Chambers,
John Lattimore,
John Bush. October 17:
Hugh Hutson,
David Armstrong,
October 3:
Francis Gibson,
Mathw. Skel.
October 20:
Levi Low,
I35
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
Aquilla Dunham.
September 25 :
October I :
Richard Jordan.
Edwd. Morgan.
October 3:
October 4:
Wm. Kirkpatrick. October 6:
Wm. Crook,
Jas. Watson,
Joseph Steel.
Robt. Armstrong,
John Orr,
Michael Daugherty.
John Patrick,
October 5:
John Pain.
Jas. Donnaly,
October 7:
Matthew Criswell.
John Taylor.
October 16:
October 9:
Edmd. Daugherty. October 19:
Joseph Dueberry. October 7:
John Smith.
Jas. Miller,
September 16:
Jessy Logan,
Zebedee Hicks,
Robert Spencer,
Horatio Coop.
Griffith Evans.
Archives of Maryland, Vol. XII., pages 435-6.
The battle of the Revolution in which Harford took the most conspicuous part was that of Fort Washing- ton, on the Hudson river, in the State of New York, on November 16, 1776. General Washington had in- tended this fort to be evacuated, but through a misun- derstanding, General Greene, who was in immediate command in that section, sent reinforcements. Among these were Col. Moses Rawlings' regiment of Maryland riflemen, the garrison in the fort after being reinforced, amounting to two thousand men. The engagement was most sanguinary, but the Americans in the end were forced to retreat. The battle lasted several hours, the loss on both sides being heavy. The British lost nearly nine hundred men in killed and wounded, more than half of which was sustained in the attack upon Rawlings' riflemen. Gordon, in his History of
I36
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
the American Revolution, says: "It cost Knyphausen near upon eight hundred men to force the single regi- ment of Rawlings back."
G. W. Greene says : "Had Rawlings been supported, Knyphausen could not have gained the north lines; but the men refused to man them, and crowded into the redoubt, where they became a compact mark for the enemy's guns. The defence on the east was still more irresolute, and there are questions connected with that on the south which will, it is probable, never be solved. . But had it been like that of Rawlings' riflemen it would well nigh crippled the enemy."*
General Washington said of this engagement : "The enemy have suffered greatly on the north side of Fort Washington. Colonel Rawlings' regiment (late Hugh Stephenson's ) was posted there and behaved with great gallantry."
The following is the roster of the Harford Company taking part in this battle :
First Company of Maryland Rifles, under Lieutenant- Colonel Moses Rawlings-Alex. Lawson Smith, cap- tain ; William Bradford, lieutenant; John Tompson, sergeant ; Matthew Alexander, sergeant ; Joshua Saun- ders, sergeant; Isaac Rose, corporal; John Howe, corporal ; Thomas Lively, fifer.
Riflemen-William Andrews, Josias Kimball, Sam- uel Power, John Cooper, Patrick McCann, John De Bruler, Charles Baker, John Coltman, Thos. Smith, Abraham Watson, James Dennison, Henry Rowlin, William Catterill, John Leviston, William Pritchard, John Irons, William Cooper, Jesse Corbitt, Thos. Dear- mott, Reuben Ross, John Crockett, Patrick Quinn.
*Scharf's History of Maryland.
I37
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
On October 28, 1776, was fought the battle of White Plains, in which engagement the second battalion of the flying camp took part. This battalion was com- manded by Col. Josias Carvil Hall, and contained two companies from Harford.
One of these companies was commanded by Captain Bennet Bussey, the other commissioned officers of which were : Joshua Miles, first lieutenant ; Azael Hitch- cock, second lieutenant, and Aquila Amos, ensign. The other company had the following commissioned offi- cers : Aquila Paca, captain ; John Beadle Hall, first lieu- tenant ; Michael Gilbert, second lieutenant; John Pat- terson, ensign.
CHAPTER XIII. LAFAYETTE'S EXPEDITION THROUGH HARFORD, 1781.
OFFICERS OF THE COMMAND-LAFAYETTE SPENDS NIGHT AT HOUSE OF COL. JAMES RIGBY, NEAR DARLINGTON-ALEX. HAMILTON- PROCLAMATION AGAINST DESERTION - AQUILA DEAVER - AN ANECDOTE OF THE EXPEDITION-CAPTAINS GREME AND GIMAT.
On April 6, 1781, Washington wrote from New Windsor, in Connecticut, to Lafayette, then at Elkton, Md., directing him to move with a detachment of the American Army and reinforce General Greene in the South. In response to this order Lafayette departed from Elkton on April II and crossed the Susquehanna into Harford county at a point now known as Bald Friar.
The following is a list of the regiments and officers composing his command :
INFANTRY.
Major-General, Marquis de La Fayette.
Division Inspector, Major William Barber, of New Jersey.
FIRST BRIGADE.
Brigade Major, Captain John Hobby, Tenth Massa- chusetts.
FIRST BATTALION.
Colonel, Joseph Vose, of Massachusetts.
1
139
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
Major, Caleb Gibbs, of Rhode Island.
Eight Massachusetts Companies.
SECOND BATTALION.
Lieutenant-Colonel Gimat.
Major, John Palsgrave Wyllyse, of Connecticut.
Five companies, four Massachusetts and one Rhode Island company.
THIRD BATTALION.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Francis Barber, of New Jersey.
Major, Jos. R. Reed (of H-), New Jersey.
Five companies New Hampshire and New Jersey troops.
SECOND BRIGADE.
Brevet Brigadier-General, Moses Hazen, of Canada.
Brigade Major, Captain Leonard Bleeker, First New York.
FIRST BATTALION.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Ebenezer Huntington, of Con- necticut.
Major, Nathan Rice, of Massachusetts.
Four companies Massachusetts and Connecticut troops.
SECOND BATTALION.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Alexander Hamilton, of New York.
Major, Nicholas Fish, of New York.
Four companies, two New York and two Connecti- cut troops.
THIRD BATTALION.
Lieutenant-Colonel, John Laurens, of South Caro- lina.
140
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
Major, John N. Cumming, of New Jersey.
Four companies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
FOURTH BATTALION.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Edward Antrill.
Major, Tarleton Woodson.
Hazen's Canadian Regiment.
La Fayette in his memoirs says the richest young men in Virginia and Maryland came to join him as volunteer dragoons, and from their intelligence, as well as the superiority of their horses, they were of essen- tial service to him.
The General after leaving Elkton passed the first night at the house of Job Haines, near Rising Sun, in Cecil county, and the next day after crossing the river at Bald Friar, he became the guest of Colonel James Rigby, an ancestor of the Massey family in the Dar- lington section of the county.
The old house near the river is yet standing in which La Fayette wrote a letter to Col. Alexander Ham- ilton, who was temporarily absent from his command. Near the residence of Colonel Rigby there is an old log building which was used as a jail in the Colonel's time. It is built of yellow poplar logs laid close together, and when in good order it was doubtless a secure place of confinement for ordinary offenders.
La Fayette held a council of his officers at Colonel Rigby's house on the night of April 13, 1781. In imag- ination we can go back to that night in the old Rigby Mansion and to the capacious fireplace with the blaz- ing logs. The fireplace was in one of those wonderful chimneys that were the pride of our forefathers and a
I41
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
marvel to persons now living. The present owner tore it down some years ago, and after building from it a modern chimney had bricks enough from it to build an outbuilding.
In the fields about the house the men and horses had such food and shelter as their scanty commissariat afforded. At the council besides La Fayette were Gen- eral Hazen and Colonels Vose, Gimat, Barber, Hunt- ingdon and the other field officers. The question of desertions was the matter under consideration. At this council in the old house of Colonel Rigby a proclama- tion was prepared and next day issued, in which the General stated that he was on his way to meet and fight a powerful foe. That for himself no diminution in numbers would deter him, but that firm in reliance on the God of battles and the justice of the American cause, he would continue his march to meet the enemy. He closed by offering a free pass to every soldier applying for it at headquarters by which he might have leave to go home. Not one man availed himself of the offer, and from that time desertion ceased.
In crossing the Susquehanna the boat in which was La Fayette ran aground before reaching the land, and Aquila Deaver, one of the soldiers, carried the General ashore on his back. Aquila Deaver lived in Harford county for nearly half a century after the Revolution, dying about 1835, and the writer has heard the account from an old gentleman now living who, when a boy, heard it from the old pensioner himself, who would relate his experience from his seat on the counter of the Hopewell store, seventy years ago.
Forty-three years after this incident, when, in 1824, La Fayette passed through Cecil and Harford counties
142
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
on his tour as the guest of the nation, he held a recep- tion at Port Deposit, and Aquila Deaver, then grown from a boy to an old man, paid his respects to his com- mander, who, too, had long passed the meridian of life and felt the weight of his many years and cares. The old soldier reminded the General of the incident at the ferry, and was greatly pleased to find that the distin- guished visitor clearly remembered both the person and the service.
The troops marched by way of Trappe Church, Priestford, Churchville, Bush and Abingdon to Balti- more. La Fayette dined at Bush, which was then the county seat. Before reaching the Trappe church a trunk said to contain coin was lost from a baggage wagon. It was found and restored by Reuben Jones, who has numerous descendants now living in Dublin district of Harford county.
Mr. Angus Greme, who died in 1880, at the residence of Mr. Edward M. Allen, near Darlington, in Harford county, aged eighty years, was a son of Captain Greme, who served on La Fayette's staff on this expediton.
When the officers reached that part of the road which descends to Deer Creek, at Priestford, from the Trappe Church, opposite the beautiful Indian Spring farm, they were enchanted with the scene. Looking westward in descending Deer Creek they beheld the valley that stretches across the creek and up Thomas' Run. Capt. Greme agreed with his friend, Capt. Gimat, that when the war was over they would return to France, and after arranging their affairs, come back to America and buy the land which so enchanted their eyes. This plan they carried out, and after gentle
143
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
peace had spread her wings over the land the two friends returned and bought the rich farm, lately the home of Dr. James M. Magraw, on Thomas' Run. Gimat, who was wealthy, paid for the land and present- ed it to his friend Greme, and both returned to France, intending to come back to America. But they served in the French Army in the war then in progress on the continent, and Gimat went to Santo Domingo in the service of France and was killed there.
Greme, however, returned, bringing his wife and several children, and he lived and died on the estate he and his friend had chosen as the most beautiful spot they had seen in America. He died in the year 1800, and lies buried in the cemetery of the Trappe Church, in Harford county, where a stone marks his grave, bearing on it an inscription stating his connec- tion with the Army of La Fayette.
Colonel Gimat was especially distinguished at York- town, whither La Fayette led his detachment which passed through Harford .*
*From address before Maryland Historical Society by Mr. E. M. Allen.
CHAPTER XIV. OLD CHURCHES.
SPESUTIA CHURCH IN ST. GEORGE'S PARISH, HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND-THE CATHOLIC CHURCH-BETHEL.
SPESUTIA .*
Although the existing records carry us back two centuries, it is more than probable that many years of the history of St. George's have been irrevocably lost. There is the records' internal evidence, which clearly shows that its existence as a parish reaches back to a period far beyond the time of their earliest date. Uniform tradition informs us that the first church erected in this parish stood near Michaelsville, at a place called "Gravelly." Here the spot is pointed out, and here are the almost obliterated remains of the building in which the first founders of the ancient parish worshiped, whilst the sunken graves on every side mark their last earthly resting place. These, together with the fact that the bridge near this locality is called "Church Bridge," and has been so called from time beyond the recollection of any one living, is, we think, very clear evidence of the fact that the spot which we have designated is that which was conse- crated by being the site of the original "Spesutia Church," the first place of worship ever erected in St. George's Parish. From the circumstance that none of the materials of this primitive church edifice are
*Selected from the Pamphlet History by Rev. S. W. Crampton.
SPESUTIA CHURCH, PERRYMANS
I45
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
now to be found, the presumption is that it was a wooden structure. Allowing thirty years as the time this first church stood, (and the probability is that it stood much longer), calculating from a date now upon record, we are induced to fix upon the year 1671 as the latest date from which to reckon the organization of St. George's Parish.
The first event which the church register records, which register is a book of parchment, is that of the birth of "John Cook, son of John Cook, born at Bush river, on the 25th of September, in the year of our Lord, 1681." The register in question, viz., the book of parchment, is the only record of these times now extant, and it contains a summary of the births, mar- riages and deaths of the early parishioners. The record of vestry acts, we regret to say, is lost. This, could it be recovered, would be an interesting docu- ment, as it would, no doubt, detail to us the advanc- ing stages of growth and improvement of the parish from the time at which the humble wooden edifice arose in the heart of the forest to gladden the souls of the first worshipers, to the erection of the spacious brick structure, with its arched windows, its vaulted roof and imposing proportions, surrounded, too, not by the unreclaimed forest, but by fertile fields and active, thriving industry. But the record we say is irrevoca- bly lost, and imagination of the reader must supply the gap. For some cause or other, the original wooden church, near Michaelsville, was permitted to go down. As the country became opened there seems to have been a tendency on the part of the people to move upward through the forest in quest of health or wealth, or prob- ably both. This of course, removed the parishioners
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