USA > Maryland > Talbot County > History of Talbot county, Maryland, 1661-1861, Volume II > Part 3
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17
.
THE FOUNDING OF TALBOT
Whereupon the Court Adjourns to the same Tenth day of September At which said Tenth day of September, the Justices of Talbot County afd. to-wit:
Robert Goldsborough, Esq., Mr. Nicholas Goldsborough, Mr. Daniel Sherwood, and Mr. Risdon Bozman,
Again here come and as a Court for the cause afd. Sit, and the Freeholders and residents of the said County do elect and choose:
James Hollyday, George Robins, Samuel Chamberlaine and John Edmondson of Talbot County, afd, Gentlemen,
to serve as Deputies and Delegates for the County afd. in the said General Assembly according to the Act of Assembly in such case lately made and provided.
LIST OF TALBOT BURGESSES IN THE PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY
Talbot County was represented in the Provincial assembly by the following Burgesses:
Lieut. Col. Richard Woolman, 1661-'69-'71-'74.
William Coursey, 1666.
William Hamilton, 1666.
William Hambleton, 1669-'71-'74.
Daniel Clark, 1669.
Philemon Lloyd 1671-'74-'81-'82 (died 1685).
Joseph Weeks, 1669-'71-'74. John Edmondson, 1681.
John Rousby, 1682-85. George Robotham, 1685-86.
Hon. Robert Smith, 1694, speaker.
Col. Henry Coursey, 1694-'95 (died 1695). William Hemsley, 1695-'97.
Nicholas Lowe, 1694-'95, 1707-'11.
Major Thomas Smithson, 1694-1711. William Coursey, 1696. Edward Lloyd, 1698-1702 (when removed to council). Philemon Lloyd, Jr., 1700-'03. Henry Coursey, 1704-'06 (died 1706). Robert Goldsborough, 1704-1707.
Richard Tilghman, 1698-'01, 1701-'02.
18
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
Robert Ungle, 1708-1727 (speaker).
Thomas Robins, 1708-'09-'12.
Lieut. Col. Matthew Tilghman Ward, (speaker) 1712-'16.
James Lloyd, 1712-'22 (when removed to council).
Thomas Emerson, 1717.
Foster Turbutt, 1715-'16.
Thomas Edmondson, 1718-'19 (died 1719).
William Clayton, 1719-'20-'21.
Daniel Sherwood, 1722-'24.
John Oldham, 1722-'24.
Thomas Bozman, 1724 (Deputy Commissary, '25-'30).
Benjamin Pemberton, 1725-'27.
Samuel Chamberlaine, 1728-'31.
George Robins, 1728-'31.
Col. James Hollyday, 1725-'31.
Nicholas Goldsborough, 1732-50 (continuously).
Edward Needles, 1732-'37.
Perry Benson, 1732-'33.
John Edmondson Jr., 1728-'37.
Tench Francis, 1734-'37.
Edward Lloyd, 1738-'41.
Robert Lloyd, 1738-'50.
William Thomas 1738-'48.
Edward Oldham, 1749-'53-'57.
John Goldsborough, 1742-70.
Pollard Edmondson, 1751-'66.
Matthew Tilghman, 1751-'57, 1767-'76.
William Thomas, 1761-'63.
James Edge, 1754-'56. Samuel Bowman, 1760.
Woolman Gibson, 1758-'60.
James Tilghman, 1761-'63.
Henry Hollyday, 1764-'66.
James Dickinson, 1767-'70.
Nicholas Thomas, 1767-'76.
James Lloyd Chamberlaine, 1771-'76. Edward Lloyd, 1771-'76.
The last session of the General Assembly under the Proprietary Government commenced 23rd March 1774, and ended 19th of April 1774. On June 2nd 1774 General Assembly prorogued to 24th October 1774, by Governor Eden, who continued to prorogue the Assembly,
19
THE FOUNDING OF TALBOT
from month to month, till June 12th 1776, when Governor Eden issued his Proclamation dissolving the General Assembly. Writs of election were issued, returnable on the 25th of July 1776. The Provincial Con- vention of Freemen then in session in Annapolis Resolved, June 25th, 1776.
That the said writs be not obeyed, and that no election be made in consequence thereof. Extract from minutes.
So ended the Proprietary Government. Governor Eden took his departure in the ship Fowey, for England. The Convention of Freemen, presided over by "the Patriarch of the Colony," Matthew Tilghman, as the historian McMahon calls him, had virtually assumed the reins of Government in 1774.
MAILS CARRIED BY THE COUNTY SHERIFFS IN EARLY DAYS
The uncertainty of mail facilities in Talbot County more than half a century after this county was established is evidenced by the follow- ing act of the Provincial Assembly.
At a session of Assembly begun and held at the City of Annapolis, in the County of Ann-Arundel, the twenty-seventh day of October, in the Eleventh year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady ANNE, Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. Annoq- Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirteen; The Honourable Edward Lloyd, Esq., being President of her Majesty's Council of the Province aforesaid, were enacted the laws following, viz .:
An Act for the more speedy conveying publick letters and pacquets of this Province, and defraying the charge thereof, and to prevent abuses of breaking open and concealing any letters whatsoever.
For as much as several of the inhabitants of this Province have been formerly subject to great and manifest inconveniences; by pressing of horses (under pretext of carrying and conveying publick letters and pacquets). For prevention whereof, and that due care may be taken for the future, that all publick letters and pacquets, relating to her Majesty's or the publick service of this Province, be securely and expe- ditiously conveyed, according to the directions the Delegates of this present General Assembly do pray that it may be enacted.
And be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of her Majesty's President, Council and Assembly of this Province and the authority of the same, That the sheriff of each respective county, is hereby enjoyned and commanded to take care of all publick letters and pacquets, and expeditiously con- vey them according to their respective directions to the next Sheriff or Under-Sheriff of the next adjacent County.
And for the encouragement of the several and respective sheriffs and their diligence in conveying such publick letters and pacquets,
20
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
that they may be allowed the several sums hereafter expressed, to be laid in the Publick Levy of this Province, (that is to say) To the Sheriff Ann-Arundel Fifteen Hundred Pounds of Tobacco, who is hereby obliged to convey all such letters and pacquets as are directed and must go over to the Eastern Shore to Kent Island, and there to be delivered to the Sheriff of Queen Anne County, or his Deputy. The Sheriff of Queen Anne County Fourteen Hundred Pounds of tobacco, who is hereby also obliged to convey all such letters and pacquets as are directed to the City of Annapolis, to the said City. To the Sheriff of Cecil County, One Thousand pounds of tobacco, who is also obliged to convey all such letters and pacquets as are directed to the Northward, to the Town of New Castle on Delaware. To the Sheriff of Talbot County Eight Hun- dred pounds of tobacco, etc., and to the Sheriff of Baltimore County, Six Hundred pounds of tobacco, which said several sums of tobacco shall be annually allowed and paid to the sheriffs aforesaid; in considera- tion whereof the sheriffs of the said several and respective Counties shall defray all such charges as shall recrue by reason of conveying such letters or pacquets, any former Law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. If any such letter is stopped twenty-four hours longer than it reasonably need be (respect being had to the wind and weather), the High Sheriff shall forfeit the sum of Two Thousand pounds of tobacco in cask, the one Moiety thereof to our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her heirs and successors for the support of this Province, the other Moiety to him or them who will sue for the same. Every person presuming to take and open the seal or seals of any letter or letters what- soever not being unto him or them directed, not having special license so to do from the person to whom the same is directed, shall upon due conviction thereof, suffer imprisonment of her, his or their bodies for and during the space of six days, without bail or mainprize and forfeit the sum of Five pounds sterling, the one moyety to her Majesty, her heirs and successors for the support of Government, the other moyety to him or them that shall inform or sue for the same.
THE COLORS OF THE MILITIA OF TALBOT COUNTY IN PROVINCIAL TIMES
During the reign of William and Mary, after the Protestant revolu- tion, Francis Nicholson was commissioned the second Royal Governor of Maryland. His council re-organized the militia of this Province in 1695, and authorized certain distinctive colors for each of the then ten counties of Maryland, as follows: For Kent, blue; Saint Mary's, red; Anne Arundel, white; Calvert, yellow; Charles, bronze; Baltimore, green; Talbot, purple; Somerset, jack flag; Dorchester, buff; Cecil crim- son. Prior to this date the colors of the Calverts, the Lords Balti- more, sable and or, black and gold, were the only colors used by the militia of the entire Province of Maryland. The different counties having no distinctive colors, one from the others.
21
THE FOUNDING OF TALBOT
CLERKS OF TALBOT COUNTY COURT FROM 1662 TO 1915
John Morgan. 1662 to 1664
Thomas Vaughan 1664 to 1668
William Hemsley 1668 to 1684
Thomas Impey 1684 to 1686
Nicholas Lowe.
1686 to 1689
John Lewellin. 1689 to 1692
John Valliant. .
1692 to 1696
Thomas Lawrence 1696 to 1699
Robert Finley 1699 to 1704
Foster Turbutt.
1704 to 1720
Philip Feddeman. 1720 to 1726
Tench Francis. 1726 to 1734
Thomas Bullen. 1734 to 1738
John Leeds.
1738 to 1777
Richard Skinner 1777 to 1785
Benjamin Stevens. 1785 to 1794
William Stoddert Bond.
1794 to 1801
Jacob Loockerman. 1801 to 1835
James Parrott. 1835 to 1851
Samuel T. Hopkins. 1851 to 1867
John Baggs. 1867 to 1873
J. Frank Turner 1873 to 1884
Thomas Hughlett.
1884 to 1896
Wilfred Bateman. 1896 to 1897
Francis G. Wrightson.
1897 to 1915
DEPUTY COMMISSARIES GENERAL AND REGISTERS OF WILLS OF TALBOT COUNTY FROM 1692 TO 1915
William Finney,
Edward Mann,
Nicholas Lowe,
John Rawlings
1692 to 1699
Robert Goldsborough,
Samuel Withers,
Thomas Smithson
Robert Finley.
1699 to 1713
Foster Turbutt.
1713 to 1723
Thomas Bozman. 1723 to 1731
22
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
John Bozman. 1731 to 1736
Tench Francis. 1736 to 1738
Thomas Bullen. 1738 to 1751
Jeremiah Nicols.
1751 to 1754
Henry Hollyday
1754
Daniel Maynadier
1754 to 1758
William Tilghman.
1758 to 1771
John Bracco.
James Price. 1787 to 1792
1792 to 1845
John H. Harris.
1845 to 1851
John Donovan. 1851 to 1858
Nicholas Rice. 1858 to 1862
Tilghman N. Chance. 1862 to 1864
John Goldsborough. 1864 to 1868
Tilghman N. Chance. 1868 to 1878
Charles R. Mulliken. 1878 to 1879
Edward H. Roe.
1879 to 1897
Charles R. Wooters.
1897 to 1915
THE FIRST AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY IN TALBOT
The first decade of the 19th century, or at farthest the first 15 or 20 years of the century, constituted a period of the greatest prog- ress and prosperity this county had enjoyed, since the national inde- pendence. Our best men-men with large brains and stout hearts, men of courage, men of confidence and hope-had not been drained off to the cities, to the South, and to the West, leaving us with only those of small heads and lax mental fibre. Enterprises of "great pith and moment" were undertaken, from which we now would shrink. Adven- tures were made in business which would now appall. This is not said as by one who is accustomed to exaggerate the merit of our fathers- by no laudator temporis acti: but by one who has more than once in these contributions to our local annals given his reasons for his opinions, in the numerous instances which he has presented of the industrial activity of the period referred to. It was during this time that our ship-building interest was most prosperous. It was during this time that a company to engage in general manufacturing was organized. It was during this time that our citizens took an active part in the con- struction of the canal between the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays.
1771 to 1785
John Gibson, Jr
23
THE FOUNDING OF TALBOT
It was during this time that steamboats were built by our capital to run upon our waters, one of the first of which was built under the direc- tion and subsequently commanded by a man of Talbot. It was during this time that our bank was organized and went into successful opera- tion. And finally it was during this time that agriculture received its first and greatest impulse, and that the first Agricultural Society was founded in the county, probably the first in the State, and certainly among the first in the United States.
The earliest intimation that is discoverable of a wish on the part of any number of our farmers to associate themselves together for their mutual benefit is contained in an article published in the Republican Star of May 28, 1805, signed Agricola. Our forefathers, who loved to shine in the public prints, always affected classicisms, and when they adopted a pseudonyme, it was that of some Greek or Roman worthy. This article is fairly well written, and recommended the formation of an Agricultural Society, on these grounds, and in these words.
The manner in which such a society would be productive of good effects, would be, that by farmers forming themselves into an association, their minds would be more particularly and ardently devoted to hus- bandry and rural economy; premiums would be given for the suggestion of the best systems, and the greatest practical productions; an emula- tion would be excited, which is always the parent of excellence in any- thing, and agriculture, instead of being deemed an inferior, low bred and degraded pursuit, would rise in the public estimation, and become a science that would command the attention, the genious and talents of the age; a great source of useful information and delightful amuse- ment would be opened by a correspondence with other agricultural societies, and the intimate alliance between philosophy and agriculture, would afford an ample field for mental exertion; that the frequent interchange of sentiments and opinions, and a free communication of practical experiments and knowledge would also be advantageous, for accurate observation will convince us that there is scarcely a farmer in the county who does not adopt some useful plan, in something or other, although in general he may make use of very bad ones.
It would be difficult, even at this day to add anything to this state- ment of the benefits that result from the formation of Agricultural Societies. It may be well to say that "Agricola," whose proper name we have no means at this day of determining, but which was probably that of some one of the officers of the Society, hereafter to be men- tioned, states incidentally that certain improvements in agriculture are of recent introduction-Rotation of crops, the extended use of clover, and the employment of Plaster of Paris as a fertilizer-and he men-
24
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
tions the culture of tobacco as having been chiefly instrumental in pro- ducing that exhaustion of the soil, which these improvements were at that time measurably remedying.
This communication was followed June 18, 1805, by one from "A Farmer" in commendation of the proposition of "Agricola," in which he refers to Agricultural Societies in New York and elsewhere as having resulted in the inauguration of improvements in husbandry, the bene- fits of which have "surpassed expectations." "Farmer" also states that the "laudable design of 'Agricola' meets with the approbation of every one in the county interested in agriculture." In the issue of July 9, "Agricola" appears in a card
proposing a meeting of those gentlemen who advocate the measure, of establishing an Agricultural Society, on Friday the 19th of this month at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, at the Court House in Easton.
In accordance with this proposition a number of gentlemen did assem- ble at the place and on the day designated, of whom these names are recorded.
WILLIAM HAYWARD,
JAMES GOLDSBOROUGH,
HENRY HOLLYDAY, GEORGE R. HAYWARD,
ROBERT MOORE, JOHN HARWOOD,
LLOYD NICOLS,
EDWARD ROBERTS,
BENNETT WHEELER, NICHOLAS HAMMOND,
WM. B. SMYTH, ROBT. H. GOLDSBOROUGH,
SAMUEL ABBOTT.
William Hayward, Esq., was chosen President of the meeting and Robt. H. Goldsborough, Secretary. The following resolutions were presented and adopted:
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that a Society, formed on liberal principles, for the promotion and improvement of agriculture in this and the neighboring counties, will be highly useful, and tend to increase the value of lands, and the general interest of the inhabitants.
Resolved, That the plan of such a society be forthwith prepared, to be submitted to the gentlemen now present, and such others as may choose to attend, at a meeting to be held for the purpose of raising the same, on Tuesday, the 20th day of August next, in the afternoon, at the Court House, in Easton; and that the said plan shall comprehend a form of constitution and express in general terms the objects to be proposed by the Society: and
Resolved, That a committee be now appointed to prepare the same, and that they make a report thereof at the said meeting.
25
THE FOUNDING OF TALBOT
In conformity with one of these resolutions three gentlemen were appointed to draft the constitution of an Agricultural Society, and to present it to a meeting to be held at the time and place designated by Nicholas Hammond, Robt. H. Goldsborough, Henry Hollyday, George R. Hayward, Robert Moore.
The meeting for organization seems not to have assembled until Monday the 9th of September, 1805. On this day the committee upon the articles of association and constitution presented its report, which was adopted, and the persons then present subscribed their names to the articles, and thereby became members of the institution. The society then proceeded to elect permanent officers by ballot, and upon counting the votes "it appeared" that these gentlemen were duly elected to hold the several posts of honor:
President-Nicholas Hammond.
Vice-President-William Hayward.
Secretary-Robt. H. Goldsborough.
Treasurer-Robert Moore.
Standing Committee-Henry Hollyday, R. H. Goldsborough, En- nalls Martin, George R. Hayward, Nich. Hammond.
After the transaction of other business, the proceedings of this meet- ing and the constitution of the society were directed to be published in the Star "for the information of citizens of the Eastern Shore," and the society adjourned to the second Tuesday in October.
The following is an abstract of the constitution which was adopted at the meeting of September 9, 1805.
Art. I. The association shall be styled A SOCIETY FOR THE PROMO- TION OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY FOR THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND.
Art. II. The great end of the present institution being the improve- ment of Agriculture in this and the neighboring counties, in all its branches, every communication that shall relate to systems of husbandry -rotations of crops in grass and grain-the nature, qualities and kinds of soil-the improvement of every kind of soil by manures, and the fit application of these to different soils-the cultivation of all sorts of grain and grasses and their suitableness to different soils and systems -the construction of ploughs and other implements of husbandry- improved methods of raising and ameliorating the breed of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and relieving them from disorders to which they are subject-the improvement of soils by particular cultivation, and the employment of peas, beans and other pulses-the practicability of raising to advantage cabbages, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beets and other roots, as winter food for cattle, sheep and swine-the substitu-
26
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
tion of hedges for wooden fences, and the methods of raising sets and planting them for use-the general advantages of drains and ditches as a means of improving lands and crops, of benefiting the public high- ways and of advancing the health of the inhabitants-the cultivation of flax, hemp, hops and cotton, and the proper care of wool, bark, tim- ber and hides, as connected with some of the arts and manufacture- the rearing and management of fruit trees to supply the absence for those which are daily diminishing-the methods of preventing and destroying insects which are found to be injurious to the farmer-and in general, every communication which shall relate in any way to these subjects, or others connected with the department of Agriculture and rural economy in any degree, shall be considered as a proper object of the Institution, and shall always receive a merited attention from members.
Art. III. The membership of the Society shall be those who have subscribed to the articles of association, and all those who shall be sub- sequently elected in the manner provided by Art. IV.
Art. IV. The officers of the Society to be a President, a V. President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and they shall be elected to serve one year.
Art. V. This article defines the duties of President and V. President -to preside at meetings, and lay communications before the society.
Art. VI. This article prescribes the duties of the Secretary-to record minutes of the meetings, to conduct correspondence-receive communications for presentation to the Society, and to make any pub- lications that may be required or ordered to be made.
Art. VII. This article prescribes the duties of the Treasurer-to take charge of the funds of the Society, and keep an account of the same-to make disbursements of money upon order of the President, and submit his accounts to the Society. The Treasurer might be required to give bond.
Art. VIII. Each member to pay the sum of two dollars annually, in half yearly installments; and the fund thus formed to be used in defraying ordinary expenses, and paying for such medals and other premiums, to be procured, as shall be assigned to those whose ingenuity, discoveries or useful industry shall entitle them to reward.
Art IX. The members to be elected by ballot, a majority of votes being sufficient to entitle the applicant to admission.
Art. X. This article provides for the formation of branch societies in the neighboring counties on the E. Shore, which should be called District Societies. These associated societies might be formed when- ever and wherever ten persons should subscribe to the articles of associa- tion, and the Secretaries of them were to be appointed by the parent society in Talbot. The Secretaries must communicate to the parent society, the proceedings of the District Societies, "and in general make themselves the organs of preserving a due connection between the societies of the Districts and the subscribers in this county."
Art. XI. A standing committee to be appointed each year, of five members, whose duty it should be "to prepare for the press such trans- actions of the Society as may merit publication."
27
THE FOUNDING OF TALBOT
Art. XII. Any member might withdraw at pleasure upon giving due notice of his intention and paying his dues.
Art. XIII. Honorary members might be elected from among resi- dents of the E. Shore, "whose talents and character may add to the respectability and usefulness of the Society.
Art. XIV. The stated meetings of the Society were required to be held on the second Monday of March, June, September and December. Other meetings as often as necessary.
Art. XV. The first meeting of the Society should be held on the second Monday of September, when the officers and standing com- mittee should be chosen.
While it may be a little ungracious to attempt to deprive any of the members of the committee of the honor of framing this constitution, as perhaps each of them participated in its construction, it may not be much amiss to say that it is not difficult to recognize in its provisions the eminent good sense of Nicholas Hammond, and in its phraseology the facile pen of Robert H. Goldsborough. Unfortunately we do not possess a record of the names of the original members of this first Agri- cultural Society further than have been already given. It is probable, however, that it drew into its circle most of the large and more intelli- gent farmers of the county. Its meetings were held in the Court House at Easton and the first of these, after the meeting of organization, of which there is any record, was that held March 29, 1806. There is evidence of a third meeting in June of the same year, when the follow- ing preamble and resolutions were framed, and ordered to be printed:
Whereas the progress and improvement of agriculture depend very much upon the reasonable prices of labor, and it is thought advisable to take the sense of the members of this Society and other persons interested in so important a subject, and to recommend a fair plan for promoting it: It is therefore ordered, That the Farmers of Talbot county be invited to attend a special meeting of this society, to be held on Tuesday next, the 17th inst., to consider upon this point, and to determine upon the prices they will think it just and reasonable to recom- mend on engaging laborers in Hay Harvest, Wheat Harvest, and other services of Husbandry. By order. Robt. Hy. Goldsborough, Secy .
From this it would appear that the question of labor was the ques- tion of the time in 1806, as well as in 1875, and that the same complaints were made then as now, of the disproportion between the prices paid for the work done upon the farm and the returns for the products on the same.
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