USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > Annapolis > The Ancient City.: A History of Annapolis, in Maryland, 1649-1887 > Part 3
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
tainers of the lawful liberties of the subject,) as to make us swear absolute subjection to a Government, where the Ministers of State are bound by oath to countenance and defend the Roman Popish Religion, which we apprehend to be contrary to the Fundamental Law of Eng- land, the covenant taken in the three Kingdoms, and the conscience of true English, subjects and doth carry on an arbitrary power, so as whatever is done by the people at great costs in assemblies, for the good of the people, is liable to be made null by the negative voice of his Lordship. But affirmative propositions and commands are in- cessantly urged, and must not be denied.
"In Consideration, whereof, we humbly tender our Condition and Distraction, upon this occasion, falling upon the hearts of the people, to your view and consideration, intreating your honors to relieve us according to the Cause and Power wherewith you are entrusted by the Commonwealth of England. We rather, because upon such an exi- gent at this, we have none to flie to but yourselves, the Honorable Commissioners of the Commonwealth of England; not doubting but God will direct you into what his mind and will is in this matter con- cerning us, and that you will faithfully apply yourselves to our redress in what is just and our lawful liberty, which is the prayer of your poor petitioners. Severn River, the 3d of January, 1653."@
This petition was signed by Edward Lloyd and seventy-seven others of the housekeepers, freemen, and inhabitants of Severn.
The people of north Patuxent sent a similar petition under date of March 1st, 1653. This was signed by Richard Preston and sixty others. On March 12, 1653, Bennett and Clarborne returned an en- couraging answer to the petitions from Severn and Patuxent, in which reply they counselled that the settlers "continue in your due obedience to the Commonwealth of England, in such manner as you, and they, were then appointed and engaged; and not to be drawn aside from the same upon any pretence of such uncertain relations as we hear are divulged among you. To which we expect your real con- formity, as you will answer the contrary; notwithstanding any pretence of power from Lord Baltimore's Agents, or any other whatso- ever to the contrary."
* Force's Tracts, vol. 2, ch. Ix. p. 28.
CHAPTER VI. Gov. STONE PROCLAIMS THE PURITANS TO BE REBELS.
[1654.] Information of Cromwell's elevation to the protectorate having been received Governor Stone proclaimed him protector on the 6th of June, 1654. The same year, on the 4th of July, Governor Stone, in public proclamation, charged the commissioners, Bennett and Claiborne, and the whole Puritan party, mostly of Anne Arundel, with "drawing away the people, and leading them into faction, sedi- tion, and rebellion against the Lord Baltimore."
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". THE ANCIENT CITY. "'
This proclamation is not now extant, but Mr. Leonard Strong, a Puritan writer and a leading citizen of Providence, contemporaneous. with the document, says that the paper called "that which was done by commission from the Council of State in England, rebellion against the Lord Baltimore; and those, that were actors in it, factious and seditious persons, which was done by a proclamation full of railing terms, published at Providence in the church meeting."#
Bennett and Claiborne promptly returned to Maryland. Eleven days from the date of Gov. Stone's proclamation, "they applied them- selves to Captain William Stone, t the Governor, and Council of Mary- land," "in a peaceable and loving way to persuade them into their due and promised obedience to the commonwealth of England.";
The commissioners, in their published statement of the occurrence, declared that Governor and Council, "returning only opprobious and uncivil language, presently mustered his whole power of men and sol- diers in arms, intending to surprise the said commissioners, and (as could be imagined) to destroy all those that had refused the said unlawful oath, and only kept themselves in their due obedience to the commonwealth of England under which they were reduced and set- tled by the parliament's authority and commission. Then the said commissioners, in quiet and peaceable manner, with some of the people of Patuxent and Severn went over the river of Patuxent, and there at length received a message from the said captain Stone, that the next day he would meet and treat in the woods; and thereupon being in some fear of a party come from Virginia, he condescended to lay down his power, lately assumed from the lord Baltimore and to submit, (as he had once before done) to such government as the commissioners should appoint under his highness the lord protector."
* Bozman's Maryland, vol. 2, p. 501.
tStatement of the Commissioners.
#Leonard Strong.
CHAPTER VII. AN INDIAN TREATY MADE ON THE SEVERN.
[1652.] The dissensions of the Maryland colonists did not prevent them from looking to the peace of State with the Indians.
The Governor and Council, sitting as a court, on the 28th of June, 1652, Wm. Stone, Governor, Thomas IIatton, Secretary, and Robert Brooke, Col. Francis Yardley, Job Chandler, and Richard Preston, members, being present, passed the following :
"Whereas, this court is informed, that the Susquehanna Indians have a long time desired, and much pressed for the conclusion of a peace with the government and inhabitants of this province, which as is now conceived, may tend very much to the safety and advantage of the inhabitants here, if advisedly effected : It is, therefore, ordered,
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
and the court doth hereby give full power and authority unto Richard Bennett, Esq., Mr. Edward Lloyd, Captain William Fuller, Mr. Thomas Marsh and Mr. Leonard Strong, or and three or more of them whereof the said Richard Bennett, Esqr., to be one, at such time and place as they may think convenient, to consult and treat with the said Susquehanna Indians, and by the use of all lawful and fitting means. (if they can, ) to conclude a league and peace, on the behalf of this government and the inhabitants thereof, with the said Susquehanna Indians, so as the peace, safety, and advantage of the inhabitants here may be, (so far as in them lies, ) thereby advanced, settled, and preserved."
All of the persons named as commissioners were, with the exception of Richard Bennett, inhabitants of Providence." The commissioners proceeded at once to their work. On the fifth of July following, a treaty of peace was concluded with the Susquehannas, "at the River of Severn, in the Province of Maryland."
It is not difficult to picture the canoe of the formidable Susquehan- nas, decked with feathers and paint, armed with bow and tomahawk, dashing with daring skillfulness from Greenbury's to Sycamore point, and thence to Windmill, and out again to the offing, and fading in the dim sunset up the Chesapeake before the steady gaze of the sturdy Puritans, nor the ripple of excitement that moved the little settle- ment when these formidable savages appeared in its midst.
The following is an exact copy of the treaty made on the Severn, and the quaint style of expression and homely phrases cast a ruddy glare of information upon the environs of the early inhabitants of the capital :
"Articles of peace and friendship treated and agreed upon the 5th day of July, 1652, between the English nation in the province of Maryland on the one party, and the Indian nation of Sasquesahanogh on the other parties, as followeth :
"1stly. That the English nation shall have, hould, and enjoy to them, their heires, and assigns for ever, all the land lying from Pa- tuxent river unto Palmer's island on the western side of the bay of Chesapeake, and from Choptank river to the northeast branch, which lyes to the northward of Elke river on the eastern side of the said bay, with all the islands, rivers, creeks, -t fish, fowl, dear, elk, and whatsoever else to the same belonging, excepting the isle of Kent and Palmer's island, which belong to Captain Claiborne. But, neverthe- less, it shall be lawful for the aforesaid English or Indians to build a house or fort for trade or any such like use or occasion at any tyme upon Palmer's island.
"2dly. That if any damage or injury be done on either side at any tyme hereafter, either by the English or Indians aforesaid, or by any other allies, confederates, tributaries, or servants, that reparation be made and satisfaction given from each other from tyme to tyme as the case requires, and as in reason should be done between those that are friends, and that desire soe to continue.
"3dly. That if any the people or servants belonging to the Eng- lish or to the Indians shall goe away or run away from either side, they · shall not be concealed, or kept away from each other. But shall, with all
. Now Annapolis.
1 A word not legible in the record.
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"THE ANCIENT CITY. "
convenient speede, be returned back, and brought home. And satis- faction to be made in a reasonable way for transportation by land or water to those that bring them in.
"4thly. That, upon any occasion of business to the English, or any message or the like, the Indians shall come by water and not by land, That there shall not be above eight or ten at the most at one tyme. And that they bring with them the token given them by the English for that purpose, by which they may be known and entertained, As- also that the English on their partes, when they send to the Indians the messenger shall carry the token which wee have received from them.
"5thly. And lastly, these articles and every particular of them shall be really and invioably observed, kept, and performed by the two nations, before named, and by all the people belonging to them, or that are in amity with them, for ever to the end of the world. And that all former injuries being buried, and forgotten from hencefor- ward, they doe promise and agree to walke together and carry one towards another in all things as friends, and to assist one another ac- cordingly. But if it so happen at any tyme hereafter that either party is weary of the peace, and intends war, then that the same shall be signified and mode knowne each to other by sending in, and deliver- ing up his writing before any Act of hostility or enmity be done or at- tempted, and that twenty days warning thereof be given beforehand.
"These several articles were solemnly and mutually debated and con- cluded at the river of Severne, in the province of Maryland, by Richard Bennett, Esquire, Mr. Edward Lloyde, Capn. William Fuller, Mr. Thomas Marsh, and Mr. Leonard Strong, commissioners, authorized and appointed by the governor and councell of the aforesaid province. And by Sawahegeh, treasurer, Auroghtaregh, Scarhuhadigh, Ruth- chogah, and Nathheldianeh, warr captaines and councillors of Sas- quehanogh, commissionors, appointed and sent for that purpose by the nation and state of Sasquehanogh. An were fully ratified, done, and confirmed by several presents, gifts, and tokens of friendship mutually given, received, and accepted on both sides. In witness whereof the aforesaid commissioners, in behalf of the aforesaid nation have here- unto sett their hands and seales the day and the yeare above written. "Ri. Bennett-Edw. Lloyd-Thos. Marsh-Will. Fuller,-Leo. Strong. Locus
The mark of H
x Sigilli.
Sawahegeh
The mark of <
Aureghtaregh."
The mark of
F
Ruthchogah.
V
The mark of
1
.1 Scarhuhadigh.
The mark of WW Nathheldianeh.
Locus
William Lawson,
x
Sigilli.
Jafer Peter-for the Sweades's Governors Witness."# # Council Proceeding>, Lib. H. H., p. 62.
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
CHAPTER VIII. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
[1654.] Frequent and violent changes in the government of the province had their legitimate sequence.
On the last reducement of the Maryland government by Bennett and Claiborne, July 15, 1654, they had appointed, Captain William Fuller, Mr. Richard Preston, Mr. William Durand, Mr. Edward Lloyd, Cap- tain John Smith, Mr. Leonard Strong, John Lawson, Mr. John Hatch, Mr. Richard Wells, and Mr. Richard Ewen, or any four of them, whereof Captain William Fuller, Mr. Richard Preston, or Mr. Wil- liam Durand, to be always one, to be commissioners for the well- ordering, directing, and governing the affairs of Maryland, under his highness, the lord protector of England, Scotland, Ireland, and the dominions thereof, and in his name only, and no other." The com- mission gave authority to hold courts, to summon an assembly, and prohibited Roman Catholics from voting.
The names in, and spirit of, the commission, bear evidence that the majority of the commissioners were Puritans of Providence and its adjacent settlements.
Captain Fuller and his associates summoned a Legislature, and it began its sessions at Patuxent, October 20th, 1654, the assembly sit- ting as one house. The most remarkable law of this Legislature was the one that "enacted and declared that none who profess and exercise the Popish (commonly called the Roman Catholic) religion can be protected in this province by the laws of England formerly established . and yet unrepealed !"
Never had the fable of the camel who asked to put his nose in the Arab's tent and who finally turned the owner out, been more com- pletely realized than it was with the Puritans and Catholics of Mary- land. Stringent laws were passed by the same assembly against drunkenness, swearing, false reports, slandering, and tale bearing, violations of the Sabbath, and acts of adultery and fornication.
An act was also passed changing the name of Anne Arundel county to the County of Providence, and prescribing the bounds thereof to be Herring-Creek, including all the plantations and lands unto the bounds of Patuxent county, (supposed to be the present Calvert, ) that is, to a creek called "Mr. Marshe's Creek, otherwise called Oyster Creek."
[1655.] All was peace in the province until January, 1655, when the ship Golden Fortune, Capt. Tilman, arrived in Maryland. On it came a gentleman named Eltonhead, who, brought the information "that the lord Baltimore kept his patent and that his highness, (the lord protector, ) had neither taken the lord Baltimore's patent from him, nor his land."
By the same ship, it appears, came a letter from lord Baltimore up- braiding Gov. Stone for "resigning up his government unto the hands of the lord protector and commonwealth of England, without striking one stroke."
Gov. Stone needed no more encouragement to act. He re-assumed the duties of Governor under his former commission, and determined
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"".THE ANCIENT CITY."'
to make a manly struggle to obtain possession of the government of the province. He proceeded immediately to issue military commissions to officers, and to organize an armed force in the loyal county of St. Mary's.
Which of the two sides. Lord Baltimore's or the Commissioners', Cromwell sustained is difficult to> tell, in view of two letters on the sub- ject one written January 12th. 1655, and the other September 26th, which are palpable contradictions of each other.
But this conflict of rights had gone so far, war. and not words, could only decide it.
The overt act was committed by Gov. Stone. who despatched Mr. John Hammond to recover the records of the province and to seize a magazine of arms and ammunition, gathered at Mr. Richard Preston's house at Patuxent. and belonging to the Puritans.
Mr. Hammond says: "I went unarmed amongst the Sons of Thunder, only three or four to row me. and despite all their braves of raising the country, calling in his servants to appre- hend me, threatened me with the severity of their new made law, myself alone seized, and carried away the Records in de- fiance."
The Puritan account of these proceedings is quaint. Mr. Leonard Strong wrote : "Then (that is on the arrival of the news by the Gol- den Fortune, ) the Lord Baltimore's officers, and the popish party be- gan to divulge abroad, and boast much of power, which came in that ship from his highness, the lord protector, to confirm the Lord Balti- more's patent to him, and to re-establish his officers in their former places under him ; which pretended power they assumed to themselves ; Captain Stone and the rest giving out threatening speeches, That now the rebels at Patuxent and Severne should know that he was governor again ; giving order, That neither Act of the said Assembly should be observed, nor writ from the power established by the com- missioners aforesaid obeyed,"-(to wit, writs in the name of Captain Fuller and others, to whom Bennett and Claiborne had committed the powers of government, as berore cited, ) "but what should issue forth in the name of the lord proprietary, viz., lord Baltimore. And further, the said Captain Stone gave several commissions to the papists and other desperate and bloody fellows, to muster and raise men in arms to be ready upon all occassions, giving out that he would go to Pa- tuxent, and seize the records of the province at the place where they were appointed to be kept by an Act of the Assembly, and to apprehend Mr. Richard Preston also, at whose house they were ; which shortly was effected by virtue of a warrant in Captain Stone's name, without proclaiming, or shewing and power by which he acted such high robbers, But in threatening speeches declared, that they would have the government ; and for the terror of others, would hang some of the commissioners, which were entrusted with the government by the commissioners of the commmonwealth of England, under his highness, the lord protector, namely, Cap- tain William Fuller, Mr. Richard Preston, and Mr. William Du- rand."
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
CHAPTER IX. THE BATTLE OF THE SEVERN.
[1655.] About the 20th of March, 1655, Gov. Stone started from St. Mary's to bring the unruly Puritans of Providence into subjection to Lord Baltimore's government. The forces of the Governor con- sisted of 130 men. Part of these marched by land up the southern peninsula, and were ferried across the mouths of rivers and creeks in eleven or twelve small boats which the Governor had pressed into his service.
Advised of the advance of Gov. Stone's forces, the Puritans sent messengers to meet the Governor, whom they found near Herring Bay,# in Anne Arundel.
Roger Heameans who took part in the engagement that followed, says :
"A message having been sent to demand his power and the ground of such his proceedings.
"The second message to him being such low terms, that those that sent it were grieved at their hearts that ever it went out of their hands; which was as followeth :
"For Captain William Stone, Esq .:
"Sir :- The people of these parts have met together, and considered the present transactions on your part, and have not a little marvelled that no other answer of the last message hath been made, than what tendred rather to make men desperate than conformable; yet being desirous of peace, do once again present to your serious consideration these ensuing proposals, as the mind of the people :
"1. If you will govern us so as we may enjoy the liberty of Eng- glish subjects.
"2. And that we be, and remain indempnified in respect of our engagement, and all former acts relating to the reducement and government.
"3. That those who are minded to depart the province, may freely do it without any prejudice to themselves or estate; we are content to own yourself as governor, and submit to your government. If not, we are resolved to commit ourselves into the hands of God, and rather die like men, than be made slaves.
WILL. DURAND, Secretary.
"But no answer to this was returned, but the same paper in scorn. sent back again."
These pacific offers were carried by six men in a boat. The pro- posals of peace were not only rejected, but the messengers were seized as captives of war. Three of them, however, contrived to escape, and took back to Providence the story of their treatment, and the intentions of Captain Stone upon the settlement.
On the rejection of their offer of peace, the Puritans prepared to put in execution their resolve "to die like men, rather than be made slaves."
Gov. Stone, in the meanwhile, behaved himself in a fustian style at Herring Bay, seizing one of the commissioners of State, and forcing · Then called Herring Creek.
3
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"THE ANCIENT CITY. "
"another of quality to fly for his life, having threatened to hang him up to his own door; and not finding the man, affrighted his wife, and plundered the house of ammunition and provision, threatening still what they would do to the people at Providence, and that they would force the rebellious, factious Roundheads to submit, and then they would show their power."*
Gov. Stone, moving nearer to Annapolis, sent forward Dr. Luke Barber with a proclamation which is not extant. Dr. Barber, in de- scribing his envoyage to Cromwell, says that "in the end of this de- claration the governor did protest, as in the presence of Almighty God, that he came not in a hostile way to do them any hurt, but sought by all means possible, to reclaim them by faire meanes; and to my knowledge at the sending out of parties, (as occasion served, ) he gave strict command, that if they met any of the Ann Arundel men, they should not fire the first gun, nor upon paine of death plunder any. These were his actings to my knowledge upon the march."
Whilst these messages were passing between the opposing forces, the men of St. Mary's were rapidly closing the gap between them and Providence.
Dr. Barber and his companion, Mr. Coursey, were permitted to read the document they brought from Gov. Stone, "but having no other treaty to offer, they were quietly dismissed to their own company," to whom it seems they did not return. Mr. Packer, from Gov. Stone, the next day followed Dr. Barber. After Mr. Packer, came Mr. Cour- sey, presumably on the same errand. None of them returned to Gov. Stone, who, left in ignorance as to the intentions of the Puritans, pushed on to the Severn, at the mouth of which, on the 24th of March he arrived "about the shutting of the eve," "with eleven or twelve vessels, greater and lesser, in which their whole army was wafted."t
On the appearance of Gov. Stone and his fleet at the mouth of the Severn, Capt. Fuller, the commander of the Puritans. called his councillors together, and sent his secretary, Mr. William Durand, and another of his councillors, on board the merchant ship, Golden Lyon, Roger Heamans, captain, then lying in the harbor. There they made a requisition upon the captain for the services of himself, his ship, and his crew, in defence of the town. Durand, at the same time, posted on the mainmast a proclamation by which Heamans "was re- quired, in the name of the Lord Protector and commonwealth .of England, and for the maintenance of the just liberties, lives, and estates of the free subjects thereof, against an unjust power, to be aiding and assisting in this service.' Heamans manifested a real or fictitious unwillingness to take part in the engagement, but says, "after seeing the equity of the cause, and the groundless proceedings of the enemy, he offered himself, ship, and men, for that service, to be directed by the said councillors." Dr. Barber, a partizan of Gov. Stone says, Heamans was hired by the Puritans to take the part he afterward played.
Heamans relates that, on seeing the "company of sloops and boats · making towards the ship, the council on board, and the ship's com- pany, would have made shot at them, but this relator commanded them to forbear, and went himself upon the poop in the stern of the ship, and hailed them several times, and no answer was made. He * Bozman's Maryland, vol. 2, p. 520.
t Bozman's Maryland, vol. 2, p. 524.
-
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
then charged them not to come nearer the ship, but the enemy kept rowing on their way and were come within shot of the ship; his mates and company having had information of their threatenings, as well against the ship as the poor distressed people, resolved to fire upon them without their commander's consent, rather than hazard all by the enemy's nearer approach, whereupon he ordered them to fire a gun at random to divert their course from the ship, but the enemy kept still course right with the ship, and took no notice of any warn- ing given. He then commanded his gunner to fire at them, but one of his mates, Mr. Robert Morris, who knew the country very well, the malice of the adversary against these people who were then near worn out with fears and watchings, made shot at them, which came fairly with them; whereupon they suddenly altered their course from the ship, and rowed into the creek, calling the ship's company rogues, round-headed rogues, and dogs, and with many execrations and rail- ing, threatened to fire them on the morning.'
Gov. Stone entered the mouth of Spa Creek, which forms the southern boundary of the present city of Annapolis, and landed his forces on Horn point, a peninsula opposite Annapolis, and south of Spa Creek.
Whilst the Governor was landing his men, Capt. Heamans fired another shot at them. "The shot thereof lighting somewhat near to them, the Governor deemed it most prudent to send a messenger on board the Golden Lyon to know the reason of their conduct, with directions to the messenger to inform the captain of the ship, that he (Gov. Stone) thought 'the captain of the ship had been satisfied.' To which, Captain Heamans, who and a younger brother, Mrs. Stone says, were great sticklers in the business, answered in a very blustering manner-'Satisfied with what? I never saw any power Capt. Stone had to do as he hath done, but the superscription of a letter. I must, and will, appear for these in a good cause."
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