USA > Maryland > Talbot County > History of Talbot county, Maryland, 1661-1861, Volume II > Part 39
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42 Genealogical Notes of the Chamberlaine family, p. 20, and private letter from Mr. Philemon Willis.
-In the year 1856 the Methodist Episcopal and 186 the Methodist Protestant church buildings were erected. In 1879 the chapel of the Protestant Episcopal communion, now in use, was built, to serve the purposes of the congregation until it should be able to complete the unfinished edifice before noticed.
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for each of the counties whose duties were to license the admission of merchandise from the cities, and to prevent the contraband trade, which, it was alleged, was carried on with the insurgents of the South. The Board at Oxford consisted of Mr. William H. Valliant then the Collector of the Port, and Mr. Edward Benson. On the 18th of Sept., 1863, one of the most impressive sights ever witnessed was that pre- sented when the steamer Champion left the wharf at Oxford, having on board more than two hundred slaves who were leaving their masters and their homes to enlist in the army of the United States. An eye witness of this occurrence wrote:
The owners and others stood silent and thoughtful upon the wharf and beach, and as the steamer moved off, the colored people on board, waving their hats in good bye, broke out into one of their jubilant hymns such as they were accustomed to sing in their religious meetings, for having no patriotic songs those hymns were converted into songs of deliverance from slavery.
Oxford was soon after made a recruiting station, the enlisting colored people in the military service of the country having been conducted hitherto, irregularly and in a manner peculiarly aggravating to the masters. In Feb. of the year 1849 the town first enjoyed the advantages of regular mail service, when the Postoffice Department appointed Mr. Thomas Watts postmaster, and ordered the delivery and despatch of a mail thrice a week. Previous to this time, at least since the cessa- tion of the public post established under the provincial government, before referred to in this contribution, all matter received or sent by mail was through the offices at Easton or Trappe. Mr. Watts was succeeded in 1852 by Mr. William H. Valliant, who held his place until he was appointed collector of the port in 1861, when he was suc- ceeded by Mr. James Stewart, (whose successors in the order of time have been Mr. John O. Gallup, Mr. Edward S. Harrison), then himself, reappointed, and finally his daughter, Miss Mary Stewart, the present very acceptable and efficient postmistress.
In the year 1863 a renewed interest began to be felt by the inhabitants of the town in their municipal affairs-an interest which owed its origin to the evidences of growth then presenting themselves, and which was exhibited by the measures adopted for a reorganization of the town government. It would seem that for a long series of years-even from the date of the laying out of the town, the government was almost nominal. It was no other than what was exercised over other portions of the county, and was administered by the Worshipful the Justices
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of the Peace and Commissioners, the Sheriff and the Constable of the Hundred in which it was situated. After the Revolution, and the. reordering of civil affairs, the same kind of government was continued, only modified by the changed circumstances. Down to the year 1826 if Oxford had any separate municipal government, or local magistrature, that government had lapsed, and the magistrature was in abeyance. At the December session of the General Assembly in 1825 an act was passed entitled "An Act appointing Commissioners for the town of Oxford in Talbot county." By this act Messrs. Robert Banning, James Lloyd Chamberlaine and John Willis were appointed Commis- sioners to open, locate and mark the public squares, streets, lanes and alleys according to the original location made under the provisions of the Act of Assembly of 1694, and these squares, &c., were to remain open to public use without encroachment or obstruction. The Commis- sioners thus appointed had the power of filling all vacancies that might occur in their body, and thus it became self-perpetuating. The singular fact must be noted that two of the Commissioners were not residents of the town, Mr. Chamberlaine and Mr. Banning. This circumstance gave rise to difficulties which caused a petition to be presented to the General Assembly of 1831, by the citizens of Oxford, asking that the number of Commissioners be increased to five, which petition was granted, and Mr. William Markland and Mr. Ennalls Martin, Jr., were added to those named in the act of 1825-26, and three members of the board were authorized to transact business. The town con- tinued to be governed by a board thus constituted and appointed, aided by the county officers of the peace, until the year 1852, when, for reasons not apparent, a petition was forwarded to the General Assembly from the inhabitants of the town praying that Oxford should be regularly incorporated and "placed under the care and regulation of certain commissioners to be elected by the inhabitants thereof, and vested with sufficient power to forward and effect the purposes intended." To this petition the Legislature favorably responded, and the act was accordingly passed, May 31, 1852, which constitutes the first and only charter of the town of Oxford-a charter under which it is still gov- erned.43 This charter was amended in 1865 in some particulars, which here need not be specified. The records of the board having disappeared the names of the commissioners elected under the charter cannot be
43 For the provisions of this Act of Incorporation reference must be made to Laws of Maryland for the year 1852, and the Code (1860) of Public Local Law, p. 855.
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given. In truth the town government slept the sleep of peace enjoyed by the people in common. In the year 1863 these slumbers were dis- turbed by the cannon of war, and the clatter of industry. A general meeting of the citizens was called that assembled March 2nd, at the house of Mr. Thomas Oldham Martin, for the purpose of ratifying or authorizing the summons of Mr. James Stewart, the only surviving resident commissioner under the charter, of the electors to choose five commissioners of the town. The call was ratified and confirmed by this meeting, and the election was duly held, when these gentlemen were chosen: Messrs. Thomas O. Martin, James Nichols, John O. Gallup, Richard A. Delahay and Haddaway Cooper. These met and organized, taking a proper oath of office, and elected Mr. John Dono- van clerk. A re-survey of the town was ordered to be made and Mr. Tench F. Tilghman was appointed the surveyor, who commenced his duties on the 6th of April, and completed them on the 9th of the same month. Since that time the organization of the town government has been maintained by annual elections, and the records of its pro- ceedings have been preserved with tolerable completeness. An exami- nation of them reveals nothing in the history of the corporation that need be here commemorated. The commissioners now in office are Messrs. W. H. Seth, James H. Benson, William T. Elliot, James Nicols, William P. Benson and Mr. Charles F. Stewart is the Clerk of the Board.
It was about the time of this reorganization that Mr. John Dono- van laid the foundation of an important industry that is now repop- ulating the waste places of the town, by the establishment of an oyster packing house, with which he united the canning of fruits and vege- tables. A little later, say in 1866, Mr. Nathaniel Leonard commenced the building of vessels, and with his shipyard he connected a steam saw and grist mill. The salubrity of the air, the beauty of the situation of the town, and the advantages it presented for still water sea bathing, which long had been recognized, but not appreciated, now began to attract the attention of persons in pursuit of health, recreation or pleas- ure during the summer months. A public house of entertainment had been maintained for a number of years by a most worthy lady, Mrs. Thomas O. Martin. In 1875 this was merged into the River View Hotel, under the management of Mr. James Norris, the old framed building that stood near the public strand and had been for many years the most conspicuous structure in the town, having been enlarged, improved and beautified to satisfy the increasing demands of summer visitors for comfortable and tasteful accommodations. But in 1878
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the same enterprising hotel manager caused to be erected a much more commodious building, now known as the Eastford House. The Pennsyl- vania Railroad is now planting a Park near the terminus of their road, upon the Bonfield property, with a view, it is thought, of erecting within a still larger building for the reception of summer visitors. In this connection it may be mentioned that in the year 1879 a plot of ground near Town Point, which had long been occupied and disfigured by some dilapidated and unsightly buildings, was purchased by Col. Samuel Wetherill, a wealthy gentleman of Philadelphia, and here be has laid off and planted ornamental gardens and grounds, in the midst of which he has erected a beautiful marine villa, to be a retreat for himself from the turmoil of city life, and a hospitable roof for the reception of those who enjoy his intimate acquaintance. This probably is only the first of its kind that shall ultimately be built upon this charming water.
With increase of population and business, as a cause or consequence, came an increase of facilities of travel and transportation. Whereas for a long series of years the steamer that plied upon Third Haven merely stopped occasionally upon her trips to or from Easton to send a boat ashore to land or receive a casual passenger, a wharf was constructed, at which regular landings are made, and now two steamers touch at Oxford daily or tri-weekly, going to and returning from Baltimore, and find their interest in doing so. In 1871 the Maryland and Delaware Rail- road, the same that was afterwards known as the Delaware and Chesa- peake, and which is now a feeder of the great Pennsylvania, was complet- ed to tide water at a point just below the town; and in 1875 the pier was built at its terminus, with the expectation that by or through Oxford would pass the great current of travel North and South, when those connections shall be made which are projected.
From time immemorial the pious people of the town sought religious instruction or spiritual comfort, and the idle found diversion at sacred places beyond its limits. In 1851 a congregation of the Protestant Episcopal communion, known as Trinity, was organized, and in 1853, as before mentioned, the still incomplete stone church in the suburbs was erected so far as it has ever been built. This congregation in 1879 laid the cornerstone of Grace Chapel within the town, where it worships at present, and will worship until it shall be able to complete the unfin- ished edifice, that now stands with such picturesque effect upon the banks of the river. In the year 1856 the meeting house of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church was erected, and in 1876 that of the Methodist Protestant.
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No school supported by public funds had an existence in Oxford until 1868, when the school house of the neighborhood was moved to a site upon the public square. There are more schools than one now required to instruct the numerous children of a prolific population, and to the credit of the people these schools are well filled.
Healthful as is the climate, exempt as is the locality from all epidemic disease, long lived as are the people-and all this is proverbially true, and has been true as far back as the history of the town extends, yet pale death certainly comes at last, even to the resident of Oxford. It is not strange that no provision was made, until of late, for an event which seemed uncertain, or at least always remote: no place of burial was ever set apart. The dead were interred in the corners of the gar- dens; in the graveyards which may be found upon almost every farm of the neighborhood, or later in the grounds around the new stone church. In the present year land has been purchased, part of the Plimhimmon estate, adjoining the town, and embracing the burial grounds of the Tilghman's, who had long permitted the interment of those nowise connected with the family, for a public cemetery, and where the few who die at Oxford will hereafter be laid.
At a time when the town had begun to show unquestionable signs of a return of its former prosperity-prosperity of degree if not of kind- it was deprived of that distinction which it had long enjoyed of being a port of entry and departure. This disservice it is said to owe to the Hon. John A. J. Creswell, member of Congress, who, in 1866, procured the withdrawal of its port privileges and rights, for reasons that are not apparent: and the books and papers belonging to the Collector's office were removed to the Custom House at Baltimore. At this date Mr. William H. Valliant was the Collector and Inspector of the revenue, and he was therefore the last person to enjoy the honors and emolu- ments of the office. It would appear form the imperfect records that remain, that in the earlier years of Oxford it was the chief port of a District that embraced the whole Eastern Shore. Subsequently it became the chief port of a District that extended from Chester river to Little Choptank. Still later it was one port of the Patuxent District, as has before been noted. As a chief port it had its own Collector and Naval Officer. As a secondary port it had merely a Deputy Collector and a Naval Officer. After the Revolution, and down to the abolition of its privileges, the tributary district remained pretty much as before, but it had its independent staff of officers, who were styled Collectors and Inspectors. In the later years one person discharged the duties of
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both stations. From the imperfect records that remain, or, at least, that have been examined, it is impossible to complete the list of the officers of the Customs at Oxford, but the following defective record may not be devoid of interest. The first officer of the port that has been named was Robert Ungle, Esq., of Plain-Dealing, who was naval officer up to 1727, when he was succeeded by Mr. Samuel Chamberlaine, his son-in-law, who had been his deputy. Mr. Chamberlaine, after Mr. Ungle's death, became Deputy Collector. In 1748 he resigned and was succeeded by his son, Mr. Thomas Chambe laine, who had been Naval Officer, and who now united in himself the duties of both Deputy Col- lector and Naval Officer. At this date Mr. James Hollyday was Chief Collector of the District. Mr. Thomas Chamberlaine held his offices until his death in 1768, when he was succeeded by his brother, Mr. Samuel Chamberlaine of Bonfield, who was made Collector, and Mr. John Leeds was Naval Officer. At the outbreak of the Revolution both Mr. Chamberlaine and Mr. Leeds were relieved of their offices by reason of their being non-jurors or persons who refused to take the obli- gation of the associators, and then the oath of allegiance to the new State Government. From the beginning of the war, however, the offices may be said to have been in abeyance, until the year 1777, when Capt. subsequently Col. Jeremiah Banning, of the Isthmus, was appointed by the Governor and council "Naval Officer and Collector of the rates, duties and imports" at the port of Oxford. As such he remained until the adoption of the Federal constitution, when he was appointed by General Washington, then made President, "Collector and Inspector of the Revenue." Dying in 1798, he was followed in his office by his son Mr. Robert Banning, who had previously acted as Inspector under his father. Mr. Robert Banning continued to hold his office until 1804, when, in conformity with a pernicious custom first introduced by Mr. Jefferson, he was removed to give place to Mr. John Willis, a political supporter of the President. 44
44 This gentleman came to Talbot from Caroline in or about the year 1784, and was engaged in the mercantile business and shipbuilding at Oxford from that time until his appointment as Collector. He gave much attention to the cultiva- tion of fruit. But his horticulture was pursued more as an amusement than as a calling or branch of business, it was therefore less profitable to himself than use- ful to the community. He introduced many new and improved varieties of fruit, and it was through him that the singular adaptation of this locality for the pro- duction of certain kinds, particularly cherries, was discovered. He planted the grape vine which has a local celebrity, and which is regarded as one of the curiosi- ties of the town, being really extraordinary for its great age, size and productive- ness. It was planted in the year 1808, and was called by Mr. Willis the Guernsey
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In the year 1808, at the time of the operation of the celebrated embargo upon foreign trade, Mr. Willis issued the following order:
Custom House, Oxford, Md., Feb. 13th, 1808.
This is to give notice to all masters and owners of vessels, now in this district, not to permit their departure from the same, until the owner, consignee, agent or factor, shall, with the master, give such a bond at this office, as may be required, agreeably to the supplement to an Act entitled "An Act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States."
JOHN WILLIS, Collector.
For the purpose of enforcing this order James Clayland was appointed a Captain to aid the Collector. This proceeding must have been merely formal, for there were no vessels within the collection district of Oxford, trading with foreign ports-or at most there was but one. Dying in office, Mr. John Willis was succeeded by his youngest son, Mr. Nicholas Willis, in 1839, being appointed by Mr. Van Buren. Upon the coming in of the new administration of Genl. Harrison, Mr. John Dawson was appointed the successor of Mr. Nicholas Willis, removed, but before he entered upon his duties the President died, and Mr. Willis was rein- stated by Mr. Tyler. He was recommissioned by Mr. Polk in 1845. In May of the year 1849 Mr. John H. Allen, Principal of the Military Academy, was appointed to succeed Mr. Willis, by Genl. Taylor. Mr. Allen was followed in the office by Mr. Richard B. Willis, who dying was succeeded Aug. 22nd, 1857, by Genl. Tench Tilghman, who being. in office at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, and not in accord with the administration upon the great question in dispute, was removed by Mr. Lincoln, and Mr. William H. Valliant was appointed in hisstead in April, 1861. This gentleman remained in office until it was abolished -in 1866, as before mentioned. For a long series of years the actual
grape, because it was derived from the island of Guernsey, in the British Channel. This vine has now a trunk of forty-five inches in circumference, and its branches, though not so extensive as formerly, being kept within certain limits, cover a large part of the yard in the front of the Willis house, besides several trees growing near. During one season it is said there were counted upon this vine twenty-four thousand five hundred bunches of grapes, a number so enormous as to require that we should make some allowance for the personal equation of both the counters and the reporters. Mr. Willis died in 1839 and was buried upon his own premises, within the town. He has left many descendants, and the memory of an honest man, upon which no shadow rests.
-It may be here noted that in 1803 the town of Easton was made a port of entry in the collection district of Oxford, and Mr. Charles Gibson was appointed Inspec- tor, or Naval Officer.
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duties of the Custom House were discharged by a most worthy and com- petent man, Mr. Thomas Watts. The Custom House proper in the days of Mr. Jeremiah Banning and his successor, Mr. Robert Banning, was really at the Isthmus, their residence, where the modest building still stands. During the term of Mr. John Willis and his successors, it was a diminutive tenement, not more than ten feet square, that stood near the Willis house, and yet may stand, and contrasted strangely with those imposing structures that were built in the great city upon the Patapsco which was literally unknown when Oxford on Choptank was a thriving port.
Of the population of Oxford previous to the national enumeration of 1870 little is known. In provincial times it may be that two or at most three hundred people were assembled within its limits. In the year just mentioned for the first time the inhabitants of the town were numbered separately from those of the remainder of the county. Then there was a total of two hundred and seventy-seven, all of native parent- age. By the census of 1880 the number of the population had risen to and now, 1882, it is estimated to be fully one thousand.
So much for the past. What will be the future of this town which had its founding in the very dawn of our local history, which had its era of prosperity and then its sleep of years to awaken into renewed youth and vigor, it is probably vain and useless to conjecture. Pleasing as it may be to indulge the fancy that it will continue to grow in size and importance until it shall become a considerable city, where commerce and manufactures may concentrate, or where fashion, in pursuit of health and pleasure, may congregate as at another Nice or Newport, sober reason compels us to believe that Oxford can never be more than a village, even though the ship canal be constructed by the Choptank route, and the oyster fields of the Chesapeake unexhausted yield their perennial "harvest of the sea;" even though its air shall continue to be the very breath of Hygeia herself, and its waters healing as the fabled pool of Bethesda.
Here will be concluded this account of the "town and port of Oxford." That it is burthened with trivial details is a critisicm which is readily anticipated: but in reply it may be asked whether any incident is unim- portant which illustrates the history of a community. For the sake of rendering this paper interesting, no attempt has been made to sub- stitute mere conjecture for facts, nor to supply the deficiences of authen- tic records by materials furnished by the imagination. For every statement there is ample testimony in the form of either written docu- ments or contemporary witnesses.
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THE TOWN OF SAINT MICHAELS
(1883)
In times of old a village, which perchance grew into a town or even city, would cluster around the castle of some great lord, who for the privilege of preying upon its inhabitants himself protected them from the severer depredations of robber knights who infested the land. When the church became supreme, or contested for preëminence with the nobility, bishops and abbots were the great magnates, and they assumed the rôle of protectors of a timid and cowering people. Around the cathe- drals and monasteries sprang up villages which were glad to pay with tythes and other rates for the shelter and defence that could be given them by either the temporal or spiritual arm of the church, from the violence and exactions of neighboring barons and their retainers. Though these were the circumstances of the origin of towns in lands far distant and in times long past, it could hardly have been expected that we should be able to trace the beginnings of a town to the building of a church, in a country free from all apprehension of oppression from a nobility or privileged class, and at a time when priestly anathemas deterred the violent from wrong, as little as church walls protected the weak from injury; yet such is the fact with regard to Saint Michaels. The church was the first house erected, and around it gathered the village which took its name.45 As no personal protection was secured by it to the villagers, nor expected, and as there is no reason to believe from what we know of the character of the early settlers that spiritual bene- fits were principal motives of living near it, we must look for other reasons why they should have taken up their homes around the humble ecclesi- astical structure that was built near the spot where the new and beauti- ful Protestant Episcopal Church now stands. These reasons will appear in the sequel.
Of the circumstances of the building of the church edifice first erected upon the site which has ever since been consecrated to religious pur- poses in the midst of grounds that have been sadly diminished by fre- quent sales and possible intrusion, an account was prepared for and published in the Saint Michaels Comet of June 1st, 1878. Although the date of its erection has not been preserved, there is evidence that in
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