USA > Maryland > Talbot County > History of Talbot county, Maryland, 1661-1861, Volume II > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
It is a part of the familiar knowledge of the American citizen that after the close of the war, which terminated with the conquest of Can- ada and with a vast charge upon the treasury of the conquering party, the subject of taxing the colonies had engaged the attention of the British ministry. After much consideration, notwithstanding repeated protests from the provinces and opposition from the friends of the col- onists in Parliament, it was at last determined that an attempt should be made to raise the revenue by the imposition of a tax upon all legal documents and upon all public journals that should be issued in the provinces. The law as passed with the consent of both houses of Par- liament, and the assent of the King, given by commission, was known as the Stamp Act, it bearing the date of March 22nd, 1765. As soon as intelligence was received in America of its passage, the public indigna- tion was expressed sometimes in terms of loyalty and respect, at other times by words and acts that were significant of neither, but as indica- tive of the growth of the spirit of independence and rebellion. It does not come within the scope of this contribution to give an account, how-
50
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
ever brief, of the important occurrences, to which the passage of this act gave origin in the several provinces or even in the province of Mary- land. For such an account the reader is referred to books of national or State history. Only what was thought, said and done here in Talbot, with reference to this act, can receive attention. It is much to be re- gretted that there are so few records that can serve to reveal the opinions and conduct of the people of this county at this crisis. These few, however, indicate that here was felt the same indignation and displeasure, here was expressed the same condemnation, here was shown the same spirit of resistance that was felt, expressed and shown in every part of the American colonies affected by the stipulations of this act. It was provided that the act should not go into effect until the first day of November. It is not known that there was any public demonstration within this county of condemnation of and resistance to the law before this date; but there is every probability that the people with the ex- - ception of a few office holders were in sympathy with such demonstra- tions as were made elsewhere. On the 23rd of September, after many prorogations by the Governor, dating from 1763, the General Assembly was called together at Annapolis, and the most important subject that was to engage its attention was this one of the Stamp Act. The mem- bers of this Assembly from Talbot for the Lower House were Mr. Pollard Edmondson, Mr. John Goldsborough, Mr. Woolman Gibson and Mr. Henry Hollyday.
In the Upper House, or Governor's Council, there were two members from Talbot, the Hon. Sam'l Chamberlaine and the Hon. Edward Lloyd.
All of these were gentlemen of the very first respectability, whether regard be had to social position, wealth, intelligence or character. Upon the day following the assembling of the Lower House a letter was read from the Legislature of Massachusetts suggesting and advising the meeting of a Congress of Deputies from each of the colonies, for the consideration of measures to be taken under the circumstances brought about by this act of Parliament. There appears to have been a perfect unanimity in the Lower House, and it was agreed, without a dissenting voice to appoint delegates to the proposed Congress. The Governor and Council gave their approbation to the measure, and money was ap- propriated to defray the expenses of the three delegates who were Messrs. Edward Tilghman, of Queen Anne, Thomas Ringgold of Kent, and William Murdock, of Prince George counties. A committee was appointed to prepare instructions for the delegation, and of this
51
THE REVOLUTION IN TALBOT
committee Mr. John Goldsborough of Talbot, was one.1 This gentle- man was also a member of the committee subsequently "appointed to draw up resolves, declarative of the constitutional rights and privileges of the freemen of the province." The names of Mr. Henry Hollyday and Mr. John Goldsborough appear on the minutes of the Assembly as of the committee to draft a reply to a communication of the Governor relative to the disposition of the stamps, should they arrive in the province before the reassembling of the legislature then about to be prorogued until the first of November. The House by this committee declined offering any advice upon so new a subject, without having received instructions from their constituents. The Congress which assembled in New York on the 7th of October, 1765, was the first of those deliberative bodies which laid the foundation of the American Union, and for this will be ever memorable.
Few and meagre as are the records of events occurring in the county during the Revolutionary era two or three have been preserved and brought to light, which are of a most interesting, if not important character, as illustrating the condition of affairs in Talbot at the period when the Stamp Act was under discussion. Capt. Jeremiah Banning,2 in his journal thus speaks of the arrival of Zachary Hood, the Stamp distributor. His ship the Layton, from London, arrived at Oxford, on Sunday, the 18th of August, 1765. "The ship soon after anchoring was crowded with gentlemen, anxious to hear the news from England, as the politics in that country were at that time very interesting to the Americans; but more particularly did they wish to know whether the Stamp master had come over in the Layton, as intelligence to that effect had reached Maryland before the ship arrived. They found that they had not been misinformed, for Zachary Hood, Esq., a native of the Western Shore, who had been commissioned in England to dis- tribute or issue the stamps in Maryland, was then actually on board the Layton. Mr. Hood was threatened with immediate destruction. However he took an opportunity of making his escape and fled to
1 Mr. John Goldsborough, of "Four Square," was the son of the first Robt. Goldsborough, of "Ashby;" born Oct. 12, 1711, and died January 18th, 1788. He was a member of the General Assembly from 1744 to 1765. He was High Sheriff of the county from 1736 to 1739. He was one of the Justices of the county court from 1743 to 1745, and again from 1752 to and after the reorganization of the Courts under the State Constitution in 1776.
2 A memoir of this very respectable gentleman, chiefly autobiographical, has been prepared and will be immediately printed.
52
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
Annapolis. It was unknown to the commander of the Layton, when his ship left London that his passenger bore such an odious com- mission, or he certainly would not have received him on board." Of Mr. Hood's treatment in Annapolis the books of history gave full and sufficient accounts. Of the manner in which the people of Talbot vented their indignation against him, at a subsequent date, will presently appear.
Among the records of the court of Talbot county, in a volume of civil judgments, may be found the following minute.3
NOVEMBER .- At a Court of the Right Honourable Frederick, Lord and Prop'ry of the Province of Maryland and Avalon, Lord Baron of Baltimore, held for Talbot county, at the Court House, in the same county, the first Tuesday in November, Anno. Dom. Seventeen Hundred and Sixty Five, before the same Prop'ry, his Justices of the Peace, for the county af'd, of whom were present,
The Worshipful
Major Risdon Bozman, Mr. John Goldsborough, -
Mr. Robt. Goldsborough,
Mr. William Thomas, Mr. Jonathan Nicols, Mr. Tristram Thomas, Mr. Jacob Hindman, . Justices. 4 John Bozman, Sheriff; John Leeds, Clerk.
The Justices aforesaid taking into consideration an act of Parliament, lately made, entitled An Act for granting and applying certain Stamp duties and other duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in Amer- ica, towards further defraying the expenses of defending, protecting and securing the same, and for amending such parts of the several Acts of Parliament relating to the trade and revenues of the s'd colonies and plantations, as direct the manner of determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein mentioned, and finding it impossible at this time to comply with the said act, adjourned their court until the 1st Tuesday in March, seventeen hundred and seventy-six.
At which s'd first Tuesday in March, seventeen hundred and sixty-six, the Justices above mentioned (having since the adjournment of the former Court taken into consideration the mischievous consequences
3 In a communication of the writer to the Easton Star of November 25th, 1873, entitled "The Stamp Act in Talbot" this record was embraced. The substance of that communication is now republished in its proper connection with or relative to other Revolutionary incidents occurring in this county, in order that this con- tribution to our local annals may be in itself complete, as far as possible.
4 It may be well enough to note that besides those persons named in the text as Justices, Mr. Edward Oldham, Mr. James Dickinson, and Mr. James Lloyd were of the commission. The absence of their names is not significant of difference of sentiment.
53
THE REVOLUTION IN TALBOT
that might arise from proceeding to do business in the manner prescribed by the above mentioned Act of Parliament, and as it would be highly penal to do anything contrary to the directions of the act), would not open nor hold any Court.
The prudent action of the Justices is easily explicable. As all legal papers were required to have a stamp affixed, any attempt to proceed with the business of the Court would have been immediately estopped by the absence of the impress or mark necessary to give validity to its writs. Stamps could not have been procured, even if there had been a willingness to use them, for the Stamp agent, Mr. Hood, had been driven from the Province by the people of Annapolis, and no stamps had been received at the date of the first adjournment, and though re- ceived at the date of the last, there was no one to distribute them. Soon after the adjournment of the Court in March, 1776, the obnoxious Act was repealed by Parliament, so that when it again assembled it was able to proceed with its business without fear either of incurring popular indignation by consenting to use the stamps or of invalidating its own processes by refusing to use them.
A few days after the adjournment of the Court in November, 1765, as above noticed, there was a public meeting of the citizens of the county held at Talbot Court House for the purpose of giving some formal ex- pression of their sentiments upon the subject that was then engrossing the minds of all thoughtful men. Of the proceedings of this meeting we have the following account taken from Carey's Museum, published at Philadelphia, in the July number of 1788, where doubtless some patri- otic citizen of Talbot had secured its insertion:
RESOLUTIONS THE FREEMEN OF TALBOT CO., MARYLAND, NOVEMBER 25, 1765
The Freemen of Talbot County assembled at the Court House of said County do in the most solemn manner declare to the world:
I. That they bear faith and true allegiance to his Majesty, King George III.
II. That they are most affectionately and zealously attached to his person and family; and are fully determined, to the utmost of their power, to maintain and support his crown and dignity, and the succession as by law established; and do with the greatest cheerfulness submit to his government according to the known and just principles of the British constitution; and do unanimously resolve:
I. That under the Royal Charter granted to this Province, they and their ancestors have long enjoyed, and they think themselves entitled to enjoy, all the rights of British subjects.
54
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
II. That they consider the trial by jury, and the privilege of being taxed only with their consent, given by their legal representatives in Assembly as the principal foundation, and main source of all their liberties.
III. That by the Act of Parliament, lately passed, for raising stamp duties in America, should it take place, both of these invaluable privileges, enjoyed in their full extent by their fellow subjects in Great Britain, would be torn from them; and that therefore the same is, in their opinion, unconstitutional, invasive of their just rights, and tending to excite dis- affection in the breast of every American subject.
IV. That they will at the risk of their lives and fortunes endeavor, by all lawful ways and means, to preserve and transmit to their posterity their rights and liberties in as full and ample a manner as they received them from their ancestors; and will not by any act of theirs countenance or encourage the execution or effect of the same Stamp Act.
V. That they will detest, abhor and hold in the utmost contempt, all and every person or persons who shall meanly accept of any employ- ment or office relating to the Stamp Act; or shall take any shelter or advantage under the same; and all and every stamp pimp, informer or favorer of the said act; and that they will have no communication with any such persons, except it be to upbraid them with their baseness.
And in testimony of this their fixed and unalterable resolution they have this day erected a gibbet, twenty feet high, before the Court House door, and hung in chains thereon the effigy of a stamp informer, there to remain in terrorem, till the Stamp Act shall be repealed.5
In thus assembling in public meeting, in passing patriotic resolutions, and in hanging in effigy a stamp agent, the people of Talbot were but following their own impulses, though they were doing nothing more than had been done elsewhere in the province and in the neighboring provinces. Mr. Zachariah Hood, who had been commissioned as dis- tributor of the stamps in Maryland, had fled before the indignant citizens of Annapolis as he had done upon his first arrival before the enraged citizens of Oxford, and had taken refuge in New York where he was quickly compelled by the Sons of Liberty to resign his office November 28, 1765. No other agent was ever appointed nor were the
5 These resolutions appear also in Scharf's History of Maryland, vol. i, pp. 543-544, apparently copied from the old Maryland Gazette. They have there this addendum: "After the above declaration publicly read and assented to by every person present, the effigy hung up, etc., the gentlemen of the County ad- journed to a Tavern, where the King, the Royal family and other loyal healths were drunk, everything concluding with the utmost decency and good order." Captain Banning, however, relates an additional incident of a very painful char- acter. He states in his journal that the man who was employed in making the effigy, which seems to have been of wood, accidently cut himself with his axe, and died of the wound.
55
THE REVOLUTION IN TALBOT
stamps ever allowed to be landed upon Maryland soil. On the 18th of March, 1766, the King signed the bill for the repeal of the obnoxious act, and on the 22d of May the intelligence was received at the seat of government. Universal joy pervaded the province as the news spread from county to county, which was expressed by public demonstrations of a significant if not imposing character. Unhappily nothing is known of what occurred in Talbot upon this happy occasion. Only a few of the more thoughtful of the people of Maryland saw in that right which was reserved in the act of repeal "to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever" the serpent's egg from which was to come further trouble with the mother country. It should be noted that in the resolutions of the Talbot meeting nothing is said of colonial independence, though this subject was elsewhere discussed. Maryland long hesitated to sever the ties which bound her to the throne, and these resolutions re- flected her loyalty and the conservatism which she manifested quite up to the time when she finally gained her own consent to declare for in- dependence.
The agitation that had been aroused and the indignation that had been provoked throughout the colonies by the Stamp Act had scarcely subsided, and the rejoicing over its repeal had not yet ceased when the old fears were awakened by the announcement of the adoption by Parliament, in July, 1767, of certain measures for their taxation by an imposition of duties upon imports. Although Talbot was not largely engaged in trade, as far at least as to importations, and therefore the burden of these taxes would have been light and indirect, her citizens were not slow in expressing their opposition to their imposition, for they saw that the principle for which they had been contending was again violated. In the discussion which arose, and the public press, where- ever such an agency existed, teamed, as it is said, with essays upon Colonial rights, called forth by this "Duty Act," a native of Talbot county, although at that time a citizen of the Delaware counties of Pennsylvania took a leading and most influential part. This was Mr. John Dickinson, the author of the Farmer's Letters-a series of papers which was probably more effectual than any other agencies in awakening the public mind throughout the colonies to an appreciation of the dan- gerous tendency of these measures of the British government, and in arousing a determined opposition to their perpetuation. The Gen- eral Assembly was called together in May, 1768, and before it was laid a circular from the General Court, or Legislature of Massachusetts, in which the measures of the British government were condemned, and
56
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
an appeal to the people of Maryland to unite with those of that common- wealth in a petition to the King for redress was made. The Assembly of Maryland heartily concurred and appointed a committee to prepare such a petition. One of this committee was Mr. Matthew Tilghman, a citizen of Talbot, who now for the first time appeared in the lists as the champion of the colonial rights of his fellow-citizens, but who was, ever after, among the most conspicuous leaders in every patriotic move- ment within his native Province and State.6 This petition which need not be presented here, had no more effect upon the King and his ministers than many others of similar tenor; and the obnoxious statutes were allowed to remain in force. Finding that appeals to the throne had no effect, the colonists adopted the old expedient of association. They bound themselves by solemn pledges neither to import nor use articles of foreign production or manufacture as long as the acts remained unrepealed. By concert, committees were selected in each county of Maryland whose duty it was to see that the articles of the Association were not violated. That for the county of Talbot, the members of which are not known, seems to have been more than ordinarily earnest in the enforcement of the agreement entered into by the Associators. The effect of the refusal of the Americans to use the articles of importa- tion subject to this duty, was, first, seriously to impair trade and, secondly, to induce Parliament in 1770 to modify the law so far as to remove the import upon all articles except tea. This exception was made that the ministry might continue to assert the right of the home govern- ment to impose taxes upon commerce. After the modification of the law the merchants of New York, who were associators, began to relax in their observance of the terms of the agreement. They were followed not long after by those of Boston and Philadelphia, and at last, as will
6 The gentlemen associated with Mr. Tilghman in the Lower House of Assem- bly, and who with him were elected Dec. 15th, 1767, were John Goldsborough, James Dickinson, and Nicholas Thomas, Esquires. In the Upper House, or Gov- ernor's Council, the Honorables Samuel Chamberlaine and Edward Lloyd, both of Talbot, continued to hold their seats. Of Mr. Tilghman, who though not a native was for a long time a resident of this county at Tilghman's or Ward's Point, otherwise "Rich Neck," in Bay Side, a brief memoir was prepared by the writer and printed in the Easton Star of May 18th, 1875. This sketch of his life, which was the first ever published, was very imperfect, for reasons which need not here be mentioned. But a fuller and more accurate biography, and one which, it is hoped, will be more worthy of this Talbot statesman and patriot, it is the pur- pose of the writer to prepare at an early day, as new materials have been collected, and a clearer apprehension of his services to Maryland and the United States has been acquired.
57
THE REVOLUTION IN TALBOT
presently be seen, by those of Baltimore also. But the citizens of the counties of Maryland insisted that the obligations of the association were binding until all taxes-that upon tea as well as those upon other articles of importation, should be abolished, and until the principle for which they were contending was virtually acknowledged and accepted by the home government. When the intelligence reached Talbot of the defection of the New York merchants, much indignation was felt, and this had expression in a series of denunciatory resolutions passed by a meeting of the citizens of the county, called by the committee of inspection, and held at the Court House, August 10, 1770:
I. RESOLVED, That the non-importation agreement is a measure well calculated to prevent luxury, promote industry and to secure re- dress of American grievances; and the firm and steady adherence to it will, in all probability, produce these salutary effects.
II. RESOLVED, That the partial repeal of the American revenue Act, is rather a banter on our understanding or a trap to ensnare us than an argument to induce us to depart from the non-importing scheme.
III. RESOLVED, That an acquiescence in the Act retaining the duty on tea would be a tacit acknowledgment of the right of Parliament to tax the people of America, and would probably terminate in the absolute slavery of these colonies.
IV. RESOLVED, That to pursue and promote the happiness of the community, by making our own private interest give way to the public advantage, is noble and honourable, and the duty of every friend and lover of his country.
V. RESOLVED, That the conduct of the prevailing faction in New York, who from a low and pitiful view of their own particular interest, have violated their engagements to their country, engagements entered into with deliberation and unanimity, is scandalous, sordid and infamous, as being manifestly founded in a vicious selfishness, and tending to weaken the union of the colonies, to wound the public character of America, to dishearten its friends and to strengthen the hands of a corrupt and offensive ministry, the enemy that threatens to make us lick the dust at their feet.
VI. RESOLVED. That as a proof of our detestation and abhorrence of the step lately taken by that prevailing faction, we will renounce and break off all commercial connection, dealings and intercourse, with the Province of New York, until they shall either retract their error, or the act retaining the duty on tea be repealed. And we do most earnestly invite, implore and obtest, all the friends of their country and of liberty, by all that is valuable and dear to them, to continue firm in their adherence to the non-importation agreement to break off and desist from all commercial communication and intercourse with the people of New York, and to stand determined to mark all false brethren, and
58
HISTORY OF TALBOT COUNTY
particularly the wretched authors of the present vile defection with con- tempt and disgrace; that they may be branded as the betrayers of their country, be despised of the people and become a hissing among the nations.7
The merchants of Baltimore, after the northern towns had practically withdrawn from the non importation agreement, found it inexpedient to continue their adherence, and advised the holding a general convention at Annapolis to deliberate as to what steps should be taken under the existing circumstances to relieve them from the disabilities which they were suffering by reason of the disaffection of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and other northern ports. At this convention the Com- mittee of Inspection from Talbot was present. The result of its deliber- ations was the passage of resolutions denouncing the course of the mer- chants and traders of Baltimore, and entreating and conjuring the people of America "by all the sacred rights of freemen to join as one man in the rejection of all foreign superfluities until the total repeal of the injurious and oppressive Revenue Act takes place."8 It is too well known to be more than referred to, in passing, that the war of the Revolution was but a vindication of the principle asserted by this con- vention at Annapolis and by the public meeting at Talbot Court House.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.