USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > The Garrison Church; sketches of the history of St. Thomas' Parish, Garrison Forest, Baltimore County, Maryland, 1742-1852 > Part 11
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In iSoo he was elected principal of Charlotte Hall School, one of the oldest seats of learning in the State, and in connec- tion with this was Rector of Trinity Parish, Charles, and then of All Faith's, St. Mary's. In writing to Bishop Claggett he says that he "adverts to his work to prevent a supposition that other charges have riseu superior to his clerical duty." He presents to the Bishop's notice the irregularities practised at Pickawaxen, where the "Vestry keeps the parish vacant, rent the house and glebe, and themselves read prayers and preach, with two exceptions, in rotation."
Parson Ralph was a strict disciplinarian and the boys were greatly in awe of him. He was gruff in manner but he wrote of them as his "large family," and his sternness was tempered by kindness.
Some one told him one day that the boys were robbing his orchard. Ile walked out and, turning his back, began to pro- test most vociferously. "Who dares siy my boys steal apples.
166
They are gentlemen's sons. Who dares say they steal." The boys sneaked away and Parson Ralph's apples were never again disturbed.
At another time he got into some difficulty with a man who intimated that "only his eloth protected him." This was more than his Irish spirit could stand. "Sir," he would say, when relating the story, "I took off my coat and laying it down, said, ' Lie there, Divinity, while I chastise Rascality." And he gave the man a "confounded drubbing."
The charges made against Parson Ralph while in St. Mary's seem to have been disproven and were evidently the outcome of personal dislike or envy
After remaining at Charlotte Hall for nine years he came again to Baltimore in 1809 and opened the Academy near Pikes. ville. He served for two years, from 1810, as Reetor of Trinity Church, Baltimore, and was invited to officiate at St. Thomas' whenever he could make it convenient. He seems to have borne the Vestry no ill will for their refusal to accept him as Rector and they met in most friendly intercourse.
Parson Ralph was four times a member of the standing committee, and a few weeks before his death was appointed to the chair of Rhetorie in the University of Maryland.
He died at Pomona in May, 1815, and was buried in a group of cedars on the hillside, the spot where he desired to be laid. The hand of time has obliterated all trace of the lonely grave and there is now not even a common stone to mark his last resting place. Parson Ralph left a son and daughter, John and Elizabeth, who were living in Baltimore in 1826, and died unmarried. They called Dr. and Mrs. DeButts, of Mt. Welby, Prince George's County, unele and aunt.
Rev. Jacob JS. Morss.
Rev. Jacob B. Morss, twelfth Rector of St. Thomas' Parish, was born March 6, 1809, at Newport, Mass. His ancestor, one of the original grantees of the Crown, came to this country from Wiltshire, England, in 1635, and settled near the above place. The Rev. Mr. Morss' father was the Rev. James Morss. D. D., editor and founder of the "Church Repository, " the first Church
167
paper in what was then the Eastern Diocese. He succeeded Bishop Bass as Rector of St. Paul's Church in his native town- their combined rectorship covering a period of ninety years. He was educated in public schools, and afterward was a student at the General Theological Seminary, New York. Subsequently he studied under the direction of Bishop Ives in North Carolina. He was ordered Deacon in the Monumental Church, Richmond, Va , November 26, 1840, by Richard Channing Moore, Bishop of Virginia, acting by request of Bishop Ives. His first charge was Christ Church, Elizabeth City, N. C., 1840-42 Afterwards, Trinity Church, Pottsville, Pa., 1842-45, where he was advanced to the priesthood on the twenty-third of November, 1842, by Henry U. Onderdonk, Bishop of Pennsylvania: Grace Church, Waterford, N. Y., 1846-47; St. Thomas', Baltimore County, 1849-50; St. John's, Carlisle, Pa., 1851-61.
At various times during the latter part of his life he tem- porarily filled vacancies in Baltimore at Grace and Emmanuel Churches, and finally was elected on the staff of clergy at Mt. Calvary. He died in Baltimore, October 24, 1874.
Mr. Morss married, in 1842, Mary Ann Southgate, daughter of John Southgate, Esq., of Norfolk, Va.
In his diary I find: "Ascension, May 17, 1849. Mr. R. H. Owen called on me this morning with an invitation from the Wardens and Vestry, of St. Thomas' Parish, to take the rector- ship of that church."
"May 18th. Rev. J. C. Tracy made me a visit this morn- ing respecting my invitation to St. Thomas' and the church at Rockville. Made up my mind to accept the invitation to St. Thomas'."
"May 224. Wrote my answer of acceptance of the rector- ship of St. Thomas'."
"Whit Sunday, May 27, 1849. Preached my first sermon at St. Thomas' today."
"First Sunday after Trinity. Wore a surplice for the first time."
Before that time for many years the surplice had been in disuse and the black silk gown used. He also notes his usual custom of conducting divine service with sermon at 4 P. M. at Hannah More Academy.
16S
During Mr. Morss' rectorship there still lingered in his congregation a few sons and daughters of our colonial ances- tors-remote from our present life in their ideals and in their con- servatism. Their Sundays were puritanical in strictness. In form their religion was simplicity to bareness, but some week day amenities were very dear to their hearts, which, to our more modern way of viewing things, savor of the inconsistent. Quite publie and very much to the point, must have been the reproof as related by a very old lady ( Mrs. Frazer ), whose father ( Mr. Brian Philpot ) was a prominent member and vestryman of the parish. With unetion she would say he could not stand it, and would step out of his pew upon the brick pavement after the service, shake his cane at one here and one there, and roundly reprove them for some shortcomings.
On another occasion, she said, violent opposition met the introduction of the organ. Accustomed as they had been to congregational singing such an innovation appeared rank heresy. One old woman, whose opposition had been most bitter, testified outwardly to her pent up feelings by the most despairing groans.
Yet there was a frankness in life and an earnestness of pur- pose which should give us pain and make us ask, If all has been gain which we call progress ?
J. M S. MORSS.
Non The sketches of the fists, the Howard, the Carnans Capt John Kistean, the Lyon family, the Worthingtons, Dr. Kandle Hulse Di Thomas Ciadoch Major John Cralack Charles Walker, Dr. Thomas Crulock Walker, Joseph West and Res Gorge Ralph were written by Miss Katherine Ctulock, of Trentham
Elppendir
L
THE "GARRISON FORT. Line Shows Original Building-
171
Appendix "A." THE COLONIAL FORT.
The Rev. George A. Leakin, D. D., in 1893, delivered an address before the MeDonogh School, which was afterward printed at the school, in which he produced considerable evidence that an old stone building, still in existence on what was Captain Risteau's plantation, now owned by Mr. Charles Moore, is the original fort built in 1693. It is of stone, twenty feet by fifty feet, with small openings which look like embrasures for musketry. The interior contains a fire-place, which is evidence that it was not built for a barn, and accords with the order of the Council of Maryland, in 1692, that three forts should be built, in which should be a dwelling sufficient to accommodate a captain and nine soldiers. The proof which Dr. Leakin brings forward is as follows:
In August, 1696, Governor Nicholson called on Capt. John Oldham, then commanding the Garrison, for a report of its location, who thus replied: "An account of the roads made back of the Inhabitants by the Rangers of Baltimore County " [the present Baltimore Towu not then existing] " northeast from the Garrison to the first cabin, fifteen miles. Northeast to the second cabin, fifteen miles or thereabouts, then ten miles further on the same course to another cabin on the north side of Deer Creek. Likewise from the Garrison to a cabin between Gwynn's Falls and the main falls of Patapsco a west course, ten miles: then with a west course to the main falls of Patapsco, ten miles. which said road being marked and duly and weekly ranged by me and my lieutenant according to order of Council." A meas- urement on the map corroborates the above distances.
In 1697 Capt. John Oldham and Capt. Richard Brightwell reported to the Governor the same measurements with some important detail, viz : that the nearest inhabitants were sixteen miles beyond Deer Creek on the east, and on the west the nearest inhabitants were fourteen miles beyond the north branch
172
of the Patapsco, making a distance of eighty miles between inhabitants. The other important fact was that this fort was four miles east of Gwynn's Falls and twelve miles west of the Great Gunpowder.
The reported distances are thus proved :- two miles from the fort to Pikesville, and two miles thence to Gwynn's Falls by the map, and also twelve miles to the Gunpowder, allowing for turns in the pioneer road.
Capt. John Oldham, appointed Commander in 1696, was from that part of Baltimore County (now Cecil) where his ancestors resided. His name is variously spelled Oulson, Olton, Oldham. While captain he obtained a patent for all the surrounding property, including the fort known as " Oulton's Garrison" (probably a stockade in 1680). Here he built a house, or part of the present house, and in 1699 conveyed his property to Thomas Cromwell and James Murray. In 1700 Murray became sole possessor, and in 1701 sold the place to William Talbot, whose widow married John Risteau, high- sheriff of Baltimore County, who in 1742 commanded the garrison.
James Murray had surveyed "Counterscarp," which with Oulton's Garrison descended to Josephus Murray, his eldest son. "Counterscarp was surveyed " by Josephus and a second time patented to him. He then conveyed "Oulton's Garrison " and "Counterscarp " (except such parts as had been before sold) to Richard Croxhall, about 1747, who resurveyed both properties and took patent by the name of " Garrison."
What does this word "Counterscarp " suggest ?
The only suggestion is a fort with its counterscarp, long since obliterated but once existing here.
Let us briefly glance at what might be called the internal evidence, or proof, from the peculiarities noticeable in the structure of this building.
It being acknowledged that there is no history or even tradition of its having been built for any other purpose, it is fair to infer for it a great age.
On any other theory than that it was built for a fort certain important questions cannot be answered; for example-Why was it built, contrary to custom in such an early day, at great
173
trouble and expense, of stone, with walls of unusual thickness ? Why were the windows made so small (too small to admit the body of a man) if intended simply for light and ventilation ? Why do they broaden sharply inward, forming an embrasure, except for use of firearms ? Let it be remembered that in the fort, before the new roof was put on, there were no windows, below the line of the eaves, larger than a foot square. The idea that it was built for a barn is disproved by the fact that it con- tains a large fireplace, and what is most significant the chimney is inside the building rather than on the outside, which was the custom in early times ; but the inside method was much better for defence. Why was the roof so extraordinarily steep, except that thus it could be built of stone and consequently be secure against fire, the most dreaded weapon of the savages ?
Why was the door sill placed three feet from the ground if the building was intended for either barn or house ? Such a door would be better for defence but most inconvenient for a dwell- ing.
The question naturally rises, " Why was so little known of the Garrison fort, so near and so easy of access ? " This question is not hard to answer by any student of Maryland history. Two hundred and sixty years have passed since the Colonists came to St. Mary's, and for two hundred and ten years, until the forma- tion of the Maryland Historical Society, no organized effort was made to preserve the records of the past, except legislative and ecclesiastical proceedings.
This Garrison fort has a peculiar value, in that it is the oldest permanent fort in Maryland. Fort Cumberland's site is occupied by a church. Fort Frederick, built in 1760, still partially exists. No trace of the forts in St Mary's City or Mattapony, Piscata- way or the Indian fort on Spesutiae Island exists. There is one near Annapolis, named originally Fort Beeman and now Fort Madison, the date of its origin uncertain. Now, as Revolution- ary relies, a sword or a chair, are held in high esteem, how much more should we preserve a fort built to defend our frontier in 1693, and again used for the same defence against the French and Indians in 1755 by Captain John Ristean, sheriff of Baltimore County.
174
Appendix "BB."
List of contributors toward building the church, 1743:
TOBACCO. CURRENCY.
I.BS.
/ S. D.
Benedict Bourdillon
2,000
Joseph Cromwell
4 0 0
Edward Fotterall
3
0
Christopher Randall
300
Charles Ridgely
3 10 0
Thomas Harrison
3 O
0
John Hamilton
300
Francis Dorsey
O
0
John Bailey
2 0
0
Stephen Wilkinson
1,50
William Murphy
I
O
0
Dorsey Peddicoart
150
William Petticoart
I 10
William Hammond
5 0
Peter Gosnell
10
O
Thomas Gist .
10
O
Samuel Owings
I
0
O
Nathaniel Gist
1 O
O
Mayberry Helm
1 O
O
Thomas Wells
IO
0
George Ashman
300
Darby Lux
3 0 . 0
John Baker
1
O
John Ristean
500
George Ogg
500
Joshua Sewall
10
O
Richard Treadway
IO
0
Richard Bond
IO
0
Edward Choate
10
O
John Thomas .
10
O
Anthony Brayford
10
O
John Simkins .
IO
O
Henny Seabor
IO
O
Peter Maigers
IO O
.
175
TOBACCO.
CURRENCY.
LBS. (. S. D.
Hector Truley
10 0
John Stinchcomb
1 0
William Lewis
10
0
Peter Bond
0
John Shippard
10)
( )
Stephen Hunt Owings
IO
0)
William Brown
(0)
()
John Derample
-
( )
Benjamin Bond
10
0
Joseph Murray, Jr.
2 10
()
Joshua Owings
1 () ()
John Bowen
100
Christopher Sewall
Thomas Bond
10)
Joseph Cornelius
10
()
Edmund Howard
10
0
William Newell
1
0
George Bailey Gar
IO
Stephen Gill
IO
0
William Tipton
10
John Bell
IO
John Thrasher
1 0
O
Robert Chapman, Sr.
5
()
Nicholas Haile
4
0
( )
Penelope Deye
-
0
Neale Ilaile
0 5 O
Thomas Coale, Jr.
5
()
John Wood
Jona. Plowman
5
()
William Cockey .
5
O
Richard Wilmott
5 O
Capt. Samuel Gray
3 0 ()
Total .
4.400
64 10 0
()
Nathaniel Stinchcomb
John Hawkins
O
Jona. Tipton .
O
Appendix "C."
JOURNAL OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION TO TREAT WITH THE INDIANS.
The journal of the Secretary of the Commission to the Six Nations, William Marshe, is still preserved and has been edited by Dr. Wmn. H. Egle, Harrisburg, Pa. The following extracts are given as of interest in this connection:
Saturday, June 16, 1744. This day the Hon. Edmund Jen- nings and the Hon. Philip Thomas, Esqs., of the Council of State in Maryland, having heretofore been appointed (by a special power from his Excellency, Thomas Bladen, Esq., Governor, under his hand and by seal of that Province) Commissioners for treating with the Six Nations on behalf of the Province, concern- ing some lands claimed by them and to renew all former treaties betwixt the Six Nations and this Government, agreed to proceed on their embassy. I was required by them to stay at Annapolis and receive the bills of exchange from Mr. Ross, Clerk of the Council, and after receiving them on Sunday, p. m., I went to Mr. Thomas where I lodged that night.
Monday, June 18, 1744. Breakfasted at Mr. Thomas' about S o'clock this morning and soon set out with him and the Rev. Mr. Cradock (who accompanied us in quality of Chaplain of the Maryland Commissioners) for Patapsco.
Monday evening in Baltimore County, I left Mr. Thomas and the Rev. Parson at the Ordinary, and went to Mr. Robert North's, where I supped with some blithe company, and from thence returned to Mr. Roger's Ordinary in Baltimore Town. Mr. Bour- dillon, minister of this parish, visited his brother-of-the-cloth and stayed with us till near eleven o'clock this night.
June 24, 1744. Mr. Commissioner Jennings asked me to copy the speech to be made by him, in the name of the Governor of Maryland to the Indians in the court-house tomorrow evening. This and transcribing some copies of it busied me so much that I could not go to the court-house where divine service, according to the Church of England, was performed by my fellow traveler, the Rev. Mr. Cradock, to a numerous audience this day. He
177
also preached a very good sermon which met the approbation of several gentlemen present.
Appendi "D."
BACHELORS TAXED IN ST. THOMAS' PARISH .- 1756-1763.
"About this time (1756) there was an Act passed by the General Assembly, in order to repay the money expended in protecting the frontier, to tax all bachelors, twenty-five years of age and upwards, worth $1oo and under 4300, about seventy- five cents each, and all worth 6300 and upwards, $2.66. The return of these taxes was required to be made by the Parish Vestries. The following named bachelors of St. Thomas' Parish were returned during the eight years of its continuance, as here exhibited." Some who began on the Croo list were returned afterward on the 6300 list, and some married and escaped the tax :
( 100 AND UNDER / 300.
$750 57 58 54 PM 001 1.2 01:
1750 57 59 59 600 68 02 0:
Michael Hufand -
Jeremiah Johnson -
Aquila Price
1
Reese Bowen
1 -
William Cole
1
L
Win Harvey, Ir
t
Hlward Stevenson,
1 1
John Gibbon
Huge Grayworth
1
Thomas Johnson
Chaules Howard 1 1 1 1
Batle Diwings 1
1
Benjamin Whipp-
1
John Doughaday
1 t 11 Jeremiah Johnson 1 1
saml Worthington
1
1
1
John Fishpaw
1
1
1
samnel Owitigs. Jr
1
William Barney, Jr
1
1
1
Edw'd Perritaney 1
Anthony Gott
I
1
I
1
Nathan Cromwell
1 1
-
hel Brown, Jr .
1
1
Reese Bowen
1
Thomas Hooker 1 -
-
-
Thomas Harvey
M'de'i Hammond Hlv Stevenson, Ed Saml Bond of PU'ı
1
Richard Raw hugs 1
L 1 11 1 I
OVER { Thes Cocke Desc 1
Nath'1 Stincheomb
Nath'l Stinchcomh
Walter Bosley 1
1
John Doughaday Bale Owings . .
1
1
1 1
Samuel Owings, Jr.
Nathan Cromwell
1 11
Richard Hooker
1 1 1
178
Appendix "E."
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN REV. DR. JOHN ANDREWS AND
DR. THOMAS CRADOCK.
Letter of T. Cradock, Esq., to Dr. Andrews concerning Dr. Smith.
Baltimore, October 27, 1786.
Rev. and Dear Sir .-- Your favor was given me on my way to our convention, and I take per post the opportunity of giving you the earliest notice of the step I took respecting Dr. Smith.
Mr. Johnson was the only lay delegate there except myself; him with Dr. West I consulted and the conclusion was that Mr. Johnson and myself addressed Dr. Smith upon the subject. He persevered in his resolution-denied the charge and insisted upon the information you gave to be laid before the convention (which was in fact intended ), that a proper investigation might be made and his innocency proved.
The matter stands thus at present. He will insist upon your proving the charge of intoxication, and it is necessary to be done (as it is so strenuously required) before the next con- vention, when the matter will be taken into consideration. The Doctor required of me an extract of your letter, which was granted, and will, I make not the least doubt, write to you on the subject. It gives me real pleasure that the matter is in this train, as our convention may now act with a proper consistency, and their conduct reflect no dishonor on the Church or them- selves. Your affectionate servant .- T. Cradock.
Letter from Dr. Andrews to Dr Thomas Cradock.
Philadelphia, November 6, 1786. Dear Sir .- As to the showing of my letter to Dr. Smith you were undoubtedly wrong. You may remember that you told me last spring that you had seen him some time before very drunk in Baltimore. You had it in your power then to produce one or the other of two testimonies against him : or in other words, to expose as you think proper, either yourself or me to his resentment, and it would have been more
179
generous to have chosen the former. But, in fact, there was not the least occasion for either of these measures to have been taken ; and all that the convention needed to have done more upon the Doctor's business, was to have addressed him in some such manner as this: "So often and so publiekly have you exhib- ited a want of self government in a particular instance that your character in this respect is now everywhere well known, and the prejudices of the people against it. of course univers- ally established ; some of us have seen it with our own eyes ; all have had sufficient testimony concerning it ; and therefore we, the laity, will never allow that our names shall be affixed to your testimonials ; it is an insult upon our understanding, and the sense we must be supposed to entertain of common decency. to ask it." The clerical members to express the same convic- tion with respect to his unfitness and to have revoked the ap- pointment.
However, I am far from being uneasy about the matter : and since nobody else in so long a time would venture to step forth upon the occasion, must endeavor as much as I can to make a kind of merit of attempting it at length myself though it were only by accident.
I am happy in the accounts you give me of Mrs. Croxal and Mrs. Buchanan. I hope that all the troubles which Providence ordained for them are now over, and that the rest of their days will be full of comfort. Von are certainly very right with respect to my attachment to Miss Gittings, though not right perhaps in bantering her about it. Female youth and beauty can seldom fail to be attracting. must be so to an uncommon degree when to them is added great gentleness and sweetness, sincerity and goodness. I am, dear sir, yours effectionately, John Andrews.
Dr. Thomas Cradock, care the Rev. Dr. West. Baltimore. Favored by Mr. Ryan.
Letter from Dr. Andrews to Dr. Thomas Cradock.
Philadelphia. January 12, 1791.
Dear Sir -I received your favor of the first ultimo, and thank you for the cheerfulness with which you undertake to comply with my request. Agreeably to your wish. I have sent
down the bond by Dr. Falls, who is to deposit it with our com- mon friend, Mr. Johnston.
I am much flattered by the regard which you and your good family express for Mrs. Andrews and myself, who very cordially joins with me in returning it, and in wishing you all manner of happiness. I assure you that as often as I set myself to form an idea of a pleasing and tranquil life, I go back to that little brick house at Owensburgh, once not sufficiently valued by me. In imagination I sometimes walk and sometimes ride along the road which leads from it to hospitalle Trentham. I dine with you, with Mr. Johnston, with Dr. Lyon, Mrs Croxal, Mrs. Buchanan, Mr. Carnan, and the whole neighborhood. 1 have only to lament that one or two of those, whose names 1 have mentioned, are not now so happy as they formerly were. You will easily conceive that I allude to the severe affliction since experienced by Mrs. Croxall and Mrs. Buchanan." I have also heard that my favorite, Miss Gittings :now Mrs. C.) for whom I certainly entertained a great partiality, has of late had her health very badly. Her sister Betsey was up here sometime last summer, but just as I was beginning to be infat- nated with her also, she unkindly went away and left us.
Under your family, mentioned above, I include your brother's and Mr. Walker's, but I should be glad if in your next you would inform me whether they still continue to live in the same places, and how they prosper. With much respect, 1 am, dear sir, yours affectionately, John Andrews.
Dr Thos. Cradock, Garrison Forest.
Appendix "ff."
CHANTING-ITS INTRODUCTION INTO THIS COUNTRY BY REV. THOMAS FITCH OLIVER.
Chanting: Its first introduction into the American church. A letter of the late Rev. Andrew Oliver, D. D., Professor in the General Theological Seminary.
. The Cravat shed at the old plans now owned by Mi Charles I Coches It
mithatits seemed to attract susi general attention
141
New York, January 9, 1595.
My Dear Mr. Smith .- I do not know that I can add any- thing to the very nice sketch of my grandfather which you sent me and which I herewith return. But I venture to send you an article which appeared a few years ago, I think in the Church- man, on "Chanting, its first introduction into the American Church," and I should like very much to know whether my grandfather continned the practice in St Thomas' Church
" Not many years ago an article on the first introduction of chanting in the Church in the United States appeared in the third volume of 'Potters Historical Record,' from which it appears that this ancient custom was first attempted in St. George's. Beekman street, New York, in the year 1813 This seems to have been brought about by the efforts of the Rev Wm. Smith, a Scotchman, who was ordained here in 1788, subsequently held cures in Maryland and Rhode Island, and in 1792 was chosen President of the General Convention. While connected with that body he made several vain attempts to receive its sanction to the introduction of the chant, but regarded as this was at the time as a relie of a dark period in the Church history, the con- vention set its face against it as an unwarrantable innovation and nothing was then effected. At length, however, by the persist- ent efforts of Mr. Smith, after much opposition, chanting was attempted in the above-mentioned church in 1813, to the great discomfort of the parish and its wardens. It is stated that it caused great indignation among the people, and at least says the writer, Mr. Ernest Van Wagenen, a warden of the church, unable any longer to repress his overflowing anger arose and exclaimed : 'Away, away with your Jewish gibborish; we want no such non- sense in the House of God; give us the Psalter and Hymns as of old,' and walked out of the church. Boss Walton, he of old Walton House in Franklin Square followed, saying: ' I go too,' when several others also left the church."
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