USA > Maryland > Maryland's colonial Eastern Shore ; historical sketches of counties and of some notable structures > Part 8
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neer of ability and soon after his return to New York he went again to see Governor Calvert at St. Mary's City and entered into an agreement with him to make a map of Maryland for which he was to receive a large tract of land. He began his work on the map at once and on the 19th of June, 1662, was granted 4,000 acres on the Elk River, which he named "Bohemia Manor."
Upon that tract he selected a beautiful site on which he built his manor house. The view toward the west is out over a broad expanse of water and backed by the hills of the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay-a view rarely equalled in Maryland. Of the fine manor house that he built and which stood for nearly 125 years nothing remains save a few scattered bricks to show its original out- lines. The grounds around the old manor house were laid out on a grand scale, and a park in which many deer were kept was enclosed by a high fence near the house where the master could see his pets. The present house was built by the Bayards-the present owners.
The Provincial Assembly in 1671 authorized Augustine Herman to build a prison on "Bohemia Manor," twenty feet square, of logs in which to keep the "runaways" from the "Delaware and Northern Settlements." The Province was assessed 10,000 pounds of tobacco to pay for the building and its maintenance for one year. "Bohemia Manor," 1662, "Mill Fall," 1664, "Small Hope," 1664, "Misfortune," 1678, "Little Bohemia," 1681, "Bohemia Sisters," 1683, granted to Augustine Herman, and "St. Augustine's Manor," 1684, granted to his son, Ephraim George Herman, were in 1722 all in the hands of John Jarward, who married the widow of Augustine Herman. These lands comprised about 20,000 acres of the best farm lands of Cecil and New Castle (Delaware) Counties, and extended from the Bohemia River to near Middletown, Delaware.
Augustine Herman's wife was Jannetje, daughter of Caspar and Judith Varlet, of New Netherlands, who was born in Utrecht, and to whom he was married at New Amsterdam on December 10, 1651. Their five children were Ephraim George, Casparus, Anna Marga- retta, Judith and Francina. From this famous Bohemian settler is descended many Maryland families, prominent among whom are the Bouchelles, Oldhams, Masseys, Bordleys, Thompsons, Stumps, Con- stables and Hynsons.
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FRENCHTOWN HOUSE
BUILT ABOUT 1800
T 'HIS house stands upon the banks of the Elk River, about three miles south of Elkton, near the old wharf at Frenchtown, and has a varied and interesting history. Just when it was built is not now known, but it is constructed on the same general plan as "Holly Hall," now the home of Mrs. George R. Ash. It was built on part of the estate of Frisby Henderson, who was a very large landowner in this part of Cecil. He also owned "White Hall" and "Scotland Point," two tracts lying across the Elk River in Elk Neck.
During the invasion of the Chesapeake Bay by the British fleet under Admiral Cockburn, Frenchtown was burned, April 29, 1813. It was defended by a fort constructed of logs, and in which were three guns. The soldiers in charge of the fort thought their number too small to make a successful defence, left the fort and went to Elkton. The sturdy stage drivers and other patriotic men of the town manned the guns and made a heroic fight against the British vessels until forced by the exhaustion of their ammunition to abandon the fort.
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Strange to say, this house was saved from the torch. It was used for a hotel for many years, although built for a residence.
The Frenchtown and New Castle Railroad, which connected the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, began as a turnpike company organ- ized in 1800, then operating a freight line between Baltimore and Philadelphia. The freight was taken on sloops from Baltimore to Frenchtown and then by wagon to New Castle, Delaware. There it was loaded on vessels for delivery in Philadelphia. When steam was applied to boats the "Chesapeake," the first steam-driven boat to ply upon the waters of Maryland, made its first trip from Baltimore to Frenchtown. In 1824, when General Lafayette came to America, he was met at Frenchtown by a committee aboard the steamer "United States" commanded by Captain Tripp. Lafayette had traveled by stage to Frenchtown.
Across the Elk River from Frenchtown is a peninsula called Elk Neck; the Chesapeake Bay and Northeast River bound it on the west and the Elk River on the east. To this part of Cecil have come many persons of wealth who found delightful water sites on which they have built beautiful homes. E. F. Shanbacher, president of the Fourth Street National Bank of Philadelphia, owns "Lower Triumph," a tract of 547 acres, which was resurveyed in 1691 for William Dare. William Dare was one of the Commissioners of Justice for Cecil County at that time and in 1684 had been appointed Sheriff of Cecil. He obtained grants for several tracts in the county.
Properly belonging to the early history of this vicinity is the story of the beginnings of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, which now, as at the time, (1799), the American Philosophical Society of Phila- delphia ordered a survey to be made with a view of constructing a canal on this route, seems so important to the welfare of the coastwise commerce and naval forces of the United States.
On April 15, 1824, work was begun on the canal under John Randel, Jr., a civil engineer of New York. Owing to disagreement Randel was relieved as engineer and the work completed Octo- ber 17, 1829, under Benjamin Wright. The canal begins at Chesa- peake City, in Cecil County, and enters the Delaware Bay at Dela- ware City, Delaware. It is nearly fourteen miles long, and cost $2,250,000.
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HOLLY HALL
BUILT 1802
H TOLLY HALL" is one of the fine old places of Cecil and is renowned for the genuine hospitality always extended by its owners, from Gen. James Sewell, who built the house in 1802, down to the present owner, the widow of George R. Ash, of Elkton. "Holly Hall" was so named because of the profusion of holly trees growing on the place.
These holly trees, with the immense boxwood hedges, give a very picturesque setting for the old mansion. The lawns are beautifully kept and the great trees that surround "Holly Hall" add to its charm. The house stands on a part of the Rudulph estate, the land being owned by Ann Maria Rudulph at the time (1802) she married General Sewell. He was a son of Basil and Elizabeth Dawson Sewell, of Talbot County, and went to Elkton to live about 1800.
The newly built State highway which passes along the front of "Holly Hall" leads from Elkton through Chesapeake City, on through Chestertown, in Kent County, to the lower end of the Eastern Shore.
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PARTRIDGE HILL
BUILT ABOUT 1750
H TENRY HOLLINGSWORTH came to Cecil County about 1700 and was appointed deputy surveyor for the county in 1712. From him has descended the long line of distinguished citizens of the name. His grandson, Col. Henry Hollingsworth built "Partridge Hill" prior to 1750. It is situated in Elkton and fronts on Main Street. The lot on which the house stands is beautifully laid out in walks bordered with boxwood hedges. The house is built of English bricks and its most distinguishing feature is its wide colonial hall. From the rear of the hall a quaint stairway leads up to the spacious sleeping rooms. The furnishings of the house were of the choicest of the colonial.
Col. Henry Hollingsworth married a wealthy woman, Jane Evans, of Cecil County, and by her had several children. He was a noted patriot and during the Revolutionary War was engaged in the manu- facture of gun-barrels and bayonets for the Council of Safety for Maryland. Mistress Hollingsworth was far too particular a house- wife to enjoy the books and papers of the Colonel scattered around
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her home, so, during his absence at a session of the Maryland Assem- bly, one winter, she had an office built for him adjoining the residence. When the Colonel came home he found all his belongings moved into the new office, and there they stayed!
The grandchildren of Colonel Hollingsworth, Mary, Jane E. and the late John Partridge, inherited "Partridge Hill" and when the Partridge estate was settled the property was sold to the late John Gilpin. He left it to his sister, Miss Margaret A. Gilpin, the present owner.
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GILPIN MANOR
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TOBIAS RUDULPH HOUSE
BUILT 1768
A MONG the early houses built at "Head of Elk" is the "Tobias Rudulph House," which stands on Main Street in Elkton. It is now used as an office by Henry L. Constable and has been a familiar landmark in the town for many years. It was built by Tobias Rudulph when there were few houses in the neighborhood and at the time it was constructed stood directly on the highway between Balti- more and Philadelphia. It is of brick and the style of architecture not unlike that of the house at Valley Forge which served as headquarters for General Washington.
In each room there is a quaint fireplace. In the fireplace in the parlor there is a cast-iron plate bearing the inscription in raised letters,
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"T. R. 1760." The doors are of heavy oak, fashioned in the antique "cross" pattern and the original wrought-iron hinges and latches are still to be seen. The stairway evidences the greatest care in building.
Tobias Rudulph and his three brothers, Bartholomew, Hanse and Jacob, settled at "Head of Elk" and carved out of the forest homes for themselves. By the time the Revolutionary War began they had established themselves very comfortably in the old settlement at the head of the Elk River. In this old house was born to Tobias Rudulph two sons, John and Tobias II, and two daughters. Tobias Rudulph III, lawyer and poet, was also born there, as was his sisters, Ann Maria, who married Gen. James Sewell of "Holly Hall," and Martha, who married Rev. William Torbert. The latter's heirs now own the property.
John Rudulph served throughout the Revolutionary War as a major in "Light Horse Harry" Lee's battalion of light dragoons, familiarly known as "Lee's Legion." His cousin, Michael Rudulph also served in "Lee's Legion" as a captain. Their courage won for them the proud distinction of "Lions of the Legion." Michael Rudulph married a lady of Savannah, Georgia, but their married life was not harmonious and he concluded to lead the life of a sea- faring man. There is a tradition current in Cecil County that Marshal Ney was none other than Michael Rudulph.
This house has been closely connected with the political history of Cecil. Eliza Black Groome, a sister of Governor James Black Groome, married Albert Constable, a noted Maryland lawyer. Governor Groom, (4 March 1874-12 January, 1876), had been preceded at Annapolis from Cecil by Thomas Ward Veazey, (14 January, 1836-7 January, 1839), the last Maryland Governor elected by the Legislature. Cecil has had a third Governor, Austin Lane Crothers, (8 January, 1908-10 January. 1912).
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CHARLESTOWN
1752
TO Charlestown, at the head of the Chesapeake Bay on the west side of Northeast River, the people of the Province looked for the eventual metropolis of Maryland. By Act of the Assembly, Sep- tember, 21, 1742, Col. Thomas Colwill, Capt. Nicholas Hyland, Benja- min Pearce, William Alexander, Henry Baker, Zebulon Hollingsworth and John Read were appointed commissioners to lay out and erect a town at a place called Long Point on the west side of Northeast River.
Squares were laid off for a court house, a market house and other public buildings. A public wharf and store were built, a shipyard was constructed and the usual activities consequent caused Philadelphia to wonder how soon her trade would be diverted to Charlestown! The March term of Cecil Court, 1781, was held in two rooms rented from Alexander Hasson. Charlestown was, however, soon out of the race, for, in 1786, the growth and prosperity of "Head of Elk," together with the influence of the Hollingsworths, demanded the removal of the seat of justice to that place. This was done, "Head of Elk" becoming known as Elkton.
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ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH AN ORIGINAL MARYLAND PARISH
A FEW miles to the north of the Sassafras River stands St. Stephen's Church, surrounded by a beautiful grove of trees. All around this church for miles in every direction lie the rich lands of the southern part of Cecil County.
This one of the thirty parishes laid out in 1692 embraced what was then known as North Sassafras, Bohemia and Elk Hundreds, and was called North Sassafras Parish. Near the present building an old
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church had been standing for some years and when the work of laying out the parishes was begun the edifice gave way because of its incon- venient location to one built on the land-100 acres-bought of William Ward. Although the vestry contracted for a building to be erected then, it was not dedicated until March 25, 1706, and it was at that time that the parish name was changed from North Sassafras to St. Stephen's.
The first vestrymen of St. Stephen's were elected on November 22, 1692, and they were Col. Caspar Herman, Maj. John Thompson, William Ward, Henry Rigg, Matthias Vanderheyden and Henry Jones.
After nearly thirty years the vestry contracted, in 1733, for a larger church building and the edifice was completed in 1737. In 1823 this old church became unsafe as a place of worship because of its decayed condition, and the vestry determined to take it down and rebuild it. The rebuilding of the church was completed and on July 21, 1824, it was consecrated by Bishop Kemp. That building stood until 1873, when the present church was erected.
In 1744, St. Stephen's Parish was divided and Augustine Parish formed of the northern part of the old parish. The chapel on "Bohemia Manor" became the parish church of Augustine Parish. The first min- ister was the Rev. Lawrence Vanderbush, who was regularly inducted into his place by Governor Francis Nicholson, the then Governor of the Province of Maryland. Many of the clergy who from time to time were rectors of this old parish became famous. The records of the parish have been carefully copied and the copies are filed with the Maryland Historical Society. There are over 500 different family names on the records, among them the following:
Atkins
Etherington
Hynson
Miller
Savin
Ward
Beaston
Ford
Ireland
Morgan
Seott
Watts
Beek
Frisby
James
Newman
Severson
Watson
Bell
Fulton
Jones
Nicholson
Sluyter
Wellinger
Biddle
Gordon
Kemp
Newland
Steele
Wharton
Bouehelle
Harper
Kennedy
Pearee
Stevens
Wheeler
Boulden
Henderson
Kennard
Pennington
Sutton
Wiekes
Comegys
Herman
Knight Lassell
Porter
Taylor
Wilmer
Cosden
Hill
Latham
Powell
Price
Van Bibber
Wroth
Crawford
Holt
Lloyd Lusbv
Reed
Vanderheyden
Young
Crookshanks
Holten
MaeDowell
Reynolds
Vanzandt
Crow
Hotehkiss
Matthews
Rider
Veazey
Currey
Houston
Mereer
Roberts
Wallis
Davis
Hutchinson
Merritt
Rumsey
Walmsley
Williams
Clark
Hewes
Perkins
Simmonds
Thompson
Wood
Cox
Hollingsworth
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H
PERRY POINT
SURVEYED 1658
HERE the Susquehanna empties its swift current into the Chesapeake, a colonial mansion stands. On the eastern side of the river on Perry Point is the home of the Stumps of Cecil County, commanding a beautiful view of the surrounding country, the bay and the river. Across on the Harford side is historic Havre de Grace and the little white Point Concord Light House, which serves as a guide to the watermen of the upper bay.
"Perry Point," which now contains upward of 500 acres, was surveyed July 20, 1658, and then embraced 800 acres. This tract and "Perry Neck," which adjoined it and was surveyed for 200 acres July 23, 1658, were patented to John Bateman. "Perry Point" was purchased by John Stump in 1800 from George Gale, and is still owned by the former's descendants. John Stump died at "Perry Point" in 1828, and the next owner was his son, John, who married Mary Alecia, a daughter of Col. George E. Mitchell and his wife. Mary Hooper, of Dorchester. Two of their sons were the late Asso- ciate Judge Frederick Stump, of the Second Judicial Circuit, (1867-
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1901), and Associate Judge Henry Arthur Stump of the present Supreme Bench of Baltimore City. John Stump, Jr., and Dr. George M. Stump were the second and third sons.
The progenitor of the family in Maryland, the first John Stump, came to America about 1700 and lived near Perryville. From his two sons, John and Henry, descended the Stumps of Cecil and Harford. Judge Henry Stump, years ago Judge of the Criminal Court of Balti- more City, was of this northeastern Maryland family, and two of the Harford Stumps widely known in public life are former Congressman Herman Stump, United States Commissioner-General of Immigration under Cleveland, and his nephew, Bertram N. Stump, now Com- missioner of Immigration at the Port of Baltimore. Both John and Henry, sons of the emigrant, settled eventually in Harford, and the third John, son of Henry, long a Baltimore merchant, married his cousin, Hannah, daughter of John Stump and Hannah Husband, who was a descendant of Augustine Herman. The six daughters of the fourth John, of "Perry Point," were Mary, who married Rev. T. S. C. Smith; Anna J., who married William Webster; Henrietta, who mar- ried Alexander Mitchell; Katherine W., who married Dr. James M. Magraw; Elizabeth H., who married J. Iverson Boswell; and Alicia Mitchell Stump.
The property was in Revolutionary times bounded on the north by the old post road that led from Philadelphia to Baltimore and Annapolis and along which the troops of the Continental Army marched on their way to Yorktown, to assist in the defeat of Corn- wallis. A ferry over the Susquehanna was operated during the sum- mer months but during winter time travel across the river was carried on over the ice.
George Gale, from whom "Perry Point" was bought, a Repre- sentative in the First Congress, was in 1795 commissioned to purchase that part of Whetstone Point in Baltimore, on which Fort McHenry is built. In a letter to Robert Purviance, then Collector of the Port of Baltimore, Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury in President Washington's Cabinet, writes under date of March 2, 1795 : "I have therefore to request that you will consider Mr. Gale as the person who is now authorized on the part of the United States to purchase the land in question." The fort was then in the course of construction.
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SUCCESS
SURVEYED 1683
W HERE the blue hills of Cecil join the gray skyline way up the Susquehanna River there stands an old house, built about 1734, on the farm known as "Success." Thomas Lightfoot received this grant, which was surveyed for him November 3, 1683. It then con- tained 300 acres. He also received a grant for an adjoining 600 acres surveyed the same day; this property he called "The Land of De- light." From Thomas Lightfoot it descended to Thomas Hammond. who owned these two properties in 1722, as will be seen upon reference to Lord Baltimore's rent rolls of that year. In 1734 we find "Success" in possession of Thomas Hammond Cromwell, whose descendants, the Misses Isabella and Mary H. Nickles, now own the property.
The Susquehanna River, which is in full view of the old house, bounds the farm on the west. To the east is Rowlandsville, a pretty little hamlet that nestles in the hills along the banks of the sparkling, swift-flowing Octoraro Creek. The main road that leads from Port Deposit to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, bounds the farm on the east. To the north and adjoining "Success" is the old "Smith's Fort"
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place, which was granted Capt. Richard Smith on the 20th of June, 1685. There is a tradition current in the neighborhood that the famous adventurer, Capt. John Smith, while exploring the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River in 1608, went up to this place in his boats and that it is the first place in Cecil County on which a white man ever set foot.
To the south is "Mount Welcome," the homestead of the Halls of Revolutionary fame. From these farms along the Susquehanna most delightful views of the river and surrounding hills are to be had. The old house on "Success" farm is a one-and-a-half story structure with hip roof and dormer windows. The property was in the Cromwell family for a number of years. They were descendants of Thomas Hammond and the old burying ground near the house contains the graves of many of that name and a monument has been erected there in their memory.
It is said that Betsy Claypoole, who later became famous as Betsy Ross, was a frequent visitor at "Success Farm," and who is it that can say she did not cut out the white stars to be sewed on the blue field of her flag while she was visiting at this old homestead?
Close to this farm is the famous "Mount Ararat," in a cave of which George Talbot hid when a fugitive from justice.
He was a reckless character and wound up his career in the Province by killing John Rousby. It is said that Talbot hid in a cave on "Mount Ararat," overlooking the Susquehanna River, after making his escape through the aid of his wife and devoted friends from Virginia, where he had been taken for trial. Tradition says that he had there a pair of falcons which he sent out from the cave each day to procure food for him. He finally fled to Ireland, and was later killed in France fighting for Great Britain.
Around the neighborhood live the Harlans, members of which family have become famous in the annals of Maryland history. The Rowlands, who lived in the Octoraro Valley, have given to the State men who have become prominent as financiers.
Only a few miles up the Susquehanna there is a bridge across the river into Harford County at Conowingo. From this point a splendid macadam road, frequented by automobile tourists, leads direct to Baltimore.
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY
I706
F IRST of Maryland soil to be settled, (Claiborne's settlement, August 21, 1631, on Kent Island); first to have a regular church establishment, (from August 21, 1631, Claiborne constantly main- tained a clergyman in his settlement); first to resist hostile Indians; with the first to resist the British in Revolutionary times, (against Lord Dunmore's troops on Cherrystone Creek, Accomac County, Virginia, in 1776); resisting bravely the British invasion of August 3 and 4, 1813, and doing her part in the Mexican and Civil Wars, Queen Anne's County has been to the fore in these and other ways in Maryland history.
Her area consists of 219,072 well-watered acres, divided into 37,848 acres of woodland and 181,224 acres of farmland. It stretches over a clay or sandy loam on a plateau whose greatest height is about 200 feet. It slopes gently south and southwest to the long and broad and deep Chester River. That river and its frequent affluents, the habitat of wild fowl, oysters, crabs and terrapin, and the Chesapeake Bay and its creeks, give to Queen Anne's County the second longest water-shore line in the state-348 miles. Similarly she holds the rec- ord in Maryland for having the second largest percentage of woods to farmlands. Contiguously south of her is the gallant little County of Talbot, which is first in both of the above particulars and from whom and from fertile and far-spreading old Kent to her northward, she was created in 1706.
Resultant from her regional and exceptional percentage as to water-frontage and woodland, her well-drained and fertile soil, and the tempering influence of the Chesapeake Bay on her westward boundary, and because the east winds bring her frequently the fresh Atlantic air within an hour, the climate is unsurpassed. There spring comes earlier and rude winter enters later than along even the famous
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"North Shore" region of Massachusetts and the brief summer heat is tempered by exceptional and flowing streams. Nature smiles in beauty, comfort and fertility upon the diligent dweller in the sturdy county of "good Queen Anne.'
The price of land is comparatively low. But incoming residents will soon advance it. The markets of Philadelphia, Baltimore and other cities can be reached with ease that is yearly increasing by railroad, steamboat, sail and power craft. Not only do climatic, æsthetic and material advantages of the county beckon to the shrewd seeker for a farm, or for a healthy retreat, or for a pleasure home; but the charms of many old colonial dwellings add their persuasive em- phasis. Has any county in the State so many mellow colonial dwell- ings awaiting new owners to arouse them from the enchanted sleep on which they fell when the economic changes wrought by the great Civil War swept into abeyance her old activities in the handling of farming lands ?
In addition there are many of the ancient homesteads yet tended lovingly by the families to whom they have long pertained. There is "Conquest," an old Emory place, now owned by Frank Emory; and "Readbourne," the old Hollyday place, but owned by John Perry; and "Cloverfields," the old Hemsley place, owned by Mr. Callahan; and "Reed's Creek" and "Walnut Grove," two of the old Wright places, now owned respectively by Mrs. Clayton Wright and by Mrs. McKenny, who had first been married to its owner at that time, the late Thomas Wright.
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