USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > The founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland. A genealogical and biographical review from wills, deeds and church records > Part 27
USA > Maryland > Howard County > The founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland. A genealogical and biographical review from wills, deeds and church records > Part 27
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Then was organized the order of the "Cincinnati," with Governor Paca as a delegate.
Ex-Governor Eden having now returned and having made effort to issue patents to parties who had taken out lands before his forced exile, Governor Paca asked for an explanation and matters were satisfactorily explained.
In 1781, Governor Paca, at the request of the Assembly, employed Mr. Francis Deakins to survey lots of fifty acres for the Maryland soldiers, west of Fort Cumberland.
Governor Paca was the special friend of Washington College and secured its charter rights.
At the expiration of his term he was succeeded by Governor William Smallwood, the war governor.
In 1774 Governor Paca was elected Vice-President of the Society of the "Cincinnati" and a member of the Maryland Convention that ratified the Constitution of the United States.
In December, 1789, he was appointed, by Washington, Judge of the United States Court of the District of Maryland and served until his death in 1799. His wife was Mary Chew, daughter of Samuel and Henrietta Maria (Lloyd) Chew.
One of Governor Paca's daughters married Consul Roubelle, who, with Napoleon, ruled France. Their son bore such a striking likeness to the accepted ideals of our Saviour he was often called on by artists to sit for such studies.
Governor Paca's son, John, built the magnificent Paca home- stead. He married Juliana Tilghman, now represented in the Razin family of Kent County.
A striking portrait of Governor Paca hangs in the State House at Annapolis. He died at his birth-place, a pure and zealous patriot with a character that was spotless.
His widow became Mrs. Daniel Dulany, whose son Lloyd was slain in a duel with Rev. Bennett Allen, in a London park.
GOVERNOR WILLIAM SMALLWOOD.
Governor William Smallwood, fourth Governor of Maryland, was born in Kent County, Maryland, 1732. He was the son of Bayne Smallwood, a merchant and large planter, who was presiding officer
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in the Court of Common Pleas and a member of the House of Burgesses. His mother was Priscilla Heaberd, of Virginia, a lady of family and fortune.
At an early age he was sent to England to be educated. He completed his education at Eton.
On April 24, 1775, Colonel Smallwood, with a command of 1,444 men, left Annapolis for Boston. Smallwood's command was incorporated with Lord Stirling's brigade and was in the Battle of Long Island.
The following tribute to our Marylanders who were with Stirling at Long Island, is taken from the Century Magazine:
"Sullivan's division was in wild rout and Stirling's left had been doubled back upon his centre, when he resolved upon a ghastly sacrifice to save the flying, floundering columns. Changing front and calling forward the remnant of the Maryland regiment-less than four hundred lads, tenderly nurtured, who now, for the first time, knew the rapture of battle-he hurled them against the iron wall that Cornwallis had drawn about the Cortelyou house. Loud and clear rang the shout of Mordecai Gist, "Close up! Close up!" They drove the British advance back upon the Cortelyou house till Cornwallis flung grape and cannister into their very faces. Every page of sober history has its tribute of proud love for those heroic lads, whose fate wrung from Washington his undying exclamation of anguish-"Great God! what brave boys I must this day lose!"
Thus our Maryland boys covered themselves with glory by repeated charges upon an overwhelming force. They practically destroyed themselves to save the Continental Army. They made five bayonet charges against Cornwallis' brigade. Upon the sixth charge the brigade recoiled and gave way in confusion. The Marylanders were outnumbered two to one.
Assaulted by Hessians, and a British brigade in the rear, Lord Stirling, with a portion, surrendered, but three companies cut their way through the British ranks, swam the creek and in that charge the 400 lost 256 officers and men. They were engaged from sunrise August 27, 1776, till the last gun was fired and maintained the battle unaided against the brigades of the enemy. Four days later they were at Fort Putnam, within two hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's line.
Colonel Smallwood's regiment, in the following month, at Washington's request after others had deserted him, covered Washington's withdrawal into lines below Fort Washington. They attacked the enemy, drove them from their position and were in full pursuit when recalled.
Smallwood was engaged at White Plains. He met the Hessians under Rawle, under the fire of fifteen British cannon; Smallwood was wounded, and with a loss of 100 men, fell back in good order.
The Maryland Line was at Trenton and Princeton. Washington's record of them was, "Smallwood's troops had been reduced to a mere
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handful of men, but they took part in the engagement with their usual gallantry and won great renown."
The next campaign Maryland added 4,000 more to the army- one-tenth of the whole army-and the Line was in October increased by 2,000 more.
In August, 1777, they were at Staten Island, with the first brigade under Smallwood. They took 141 British prisoners. The Line was at Brandywine, on the right wing. At Germantown they advanced with such resolution that British Light Infantry were driven from the field and their encampment taken. They there received the highest encomiums, and the gallant defence of Fort Mifflin closed the year.
That winter Smallwood's men, of 1,400 in number, were stationed at Wilmington and there captured a British vessel.
In 1778, 2,902 more men were added to the army, whilst Count Pulaski raised an independent corps in Maryland.
Smallwood was at Monmouth. The British were driven back with a loss of 300 men killed outright. When Sir Henry Clinton left the field for New York, in 1779, Smallwood, with The Maryland Line, met the British at Scotch Plains and again drove them back.
In 1780 the Line marched south; Smallwood returned to Mary- land and in ten days secured 700 non-commissioned officers and privates. He was retained in the army as second in command.
For his action at Camden he received the thanks of Congress and a promotion to Major-General. On account of a conflict of authority and a personal dislike for Baron Steuben, General Smallwood remained in Maryland.
In 1785, he was elected to Congress and in November of that year, was made Governor to succeed William Paca. During Gov- ernor Smallwood's administration, King Wiillam's School at Annapolis was consolidated with St. John's College with £32,100 by private subscription and an annual endowment of £1,750 sterling current money.
The first movement for the improvement of the Potomac River was begun by General Washington, in 1784, which ended in an enactment, in 1785, the first internal improvement which after repeated trials, ended in 1820, in the formation of the Canal.
The first steamboat upon the Potomac, the conception of James Burney, was run from Shepardstown to Harpers Ferry, during Governor Smallwood's term, in 1786. During his term were adopted the methods of paying the National debt created by the war.
The first navigation of the Chesapeake and Potomac led up to the discussions which became the germs which brought forth a new Constitution, upon the failures of the Federal compact; and in 1786, at Annapolis, a Convention of five States made the move for a Con- vention to revise the Federal Constitution. Maryland had declined to be represented unless all the States agreed to send delegates. The result of the Annapolis Convention was the united action of
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Maryland and Virginia in urging the Philadelphia Convention, which gave us our new Constitution.
Governor Smallwood was succeeded in 1788, by Governor John Eager Howard, his associate in revolutionary fame. Retiring to his home, now in Charles County, he lived only four years, dying in 1792, February 14th, at "Mattawoman," a celebrated colonial homestead, built of English brick and is still standing lamenting the seeming indifference of a busy age to the fate of dead heroes.
McSherry has said, "But the memory of Smallwood seems nearly forgotten, and on his paternal estate now in the hands of strangers, he sleeps in a lonely grave, by the waters of the Potomac, almost in sight of the tomb of his great leader at Mt. Vernon, near him in death as he adhered to him in life. Faithful, modest, brave, and patient in life, he sleeps in death unhonored, without a tomb- stone on the spot, or an enclosure to protect his last resting place from desecration."
The Sons of the Revolution, since the above was written, have erected a fitting memorial to the memory of the Maryland hero, in the form of a granite tablet recording his deeds of valor. It stands within a few yards of his old homestead, overlooking a vast stretch of country. Governor Smallwood never married.
His only sister married Colonel William Grayson, of Virginia. There were several sons and one daughter Mrs. Carter, of Kentucky, whose sons were William Grayson and Alfred G. Carter. Alfred Grayson married Miss Breckinridge, of Kentucky, aunt of Vice- President John C. Breckinridge and left a son, Colonel John Breckin- ridge Grayson, head of the Commissary in the Mexican War.
In 1827, it was found that Colonel William Grayson, eldest son of William Grayson was entitled by entail to the whole estate of General Smallwood, no transfer having taken place; Colonel Grayson was at the head of the column, when Washington upbraided General Charles Lee and he heard and related these words of Lee to Washington. "Sir, these troops are not able to meet British Grena- diers"-and Washington's reply, "Sir, they are able and they shall do it"-immediately giving the order to counter-march the column.
GOVERNOR JOHN EAGER HOWARD.
Governor John Eager Howard, soldier and fifth Governor of Maryland, was born in Baltimore County, June 4, 1752. He was the son of Cornelius and Ruth (Eager) Howard, daughter of John and Jemina (Murray) Eager. His grandfather was Joshua Howard, of Manchester, England, who was an officer in the army of the Duke of York during the Monmouth Rebellion. Coming to Maryland about 1685, he married Joanna O'Carroll, of Ireland, and took up a tract of land near Pikesville, Baltimore County.
At the time of the Revolution the Howard family were large land-holders and wealthy. John Eager Howard was educated by private tutors. Coming to manhood at the beginning of the Revolu-
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tion, he was offered a commission as Colonel, but thinking he was too inexperienced, declined it, accepting a Captaincy upon the condition of being able to raise thirty men. He enlisted that number in two days and marched at once to the front. His company was made a part of the "Flying Camp" and was with General Hugh Mercer at White Plains, October 28, 1776. Commissioned Major in the fourth Maryland Regiment, he was at Germantown and Monmouth.
In 1780, Georgia and South Carolina being in the hands of the British, Maryland's First Brigade under Major General de Kalb, marched south with an additional regiment raised in the State.
At Camden, Gist's Maryland Brigade stood firm as a rock and William's Regiment, with Howard at its head, broke upon the enemy and severed his front, driving the opposing corps before them.
In 1781, 400 of the Maryland Line, under Lieutenant Colonel Howard fought with General Morgan at the Cowpens. The British were under Tarlton. The latter assailed the Marylanders, but they never faltered. Tarlton ordered his reserves: this endangered Howard's right. Morgan ordered Howard to change front and take a new position. Howard had not gained that position, when Tarlton mistaking it for a retreat, rushed forward. Suddenly facing about, Howard poured into the enemy a deadly fire. Their ranks recoiled. Howard ordered his men to give them the bayonet. It was a terrible, but decisive charge; the day was won. The whole British Infantry were either captured or killed. Tarlton narrowly escaped, after. a personal encounter with Colonel Washington. Morgan rode up to Howard and said-"Colonel you have done well, for you are successful-had you failed I would have shot you." Colonel Howard replied, "Had I failed, there would have been no need of shooting me." At that moment he held in his hands the swords of seven British officers. For this gallant charge, Congress presented Colonel Howard with a gold medal.
In September, 1781, Howard's regiment was at Eutaw Springs. He was received by the Buffs and Irish Corps of Raudon's army. Here the fiercest struggle of the war took place. Neither would yield, but crossing bayonets their ranks mingled together. Opposing files sank down, each pierced with the bayonet of his antagonist. They were found grappled in death and transfixed together on the field. The officers fought hand to hand. The British line had given way and the Buffs, unable to maintain the conflict, broke and fled. General Greene rode up and complimented the Marylanders in the midst of the action. Three hundred British prisoners were taken in the pursuit. Howard's men were reduced to thirty and he was the only commissioned officer left. Green said that success was due to the free use of the bayonets of the Maryland troops in their charge in the face of a murderous fire of artillery and musketry. Each corps engaged received the thanks of Congress. Marylanders were engaged from this time on to the surrender.
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The State had furnished 15,229 men in addition to those enlisted in the independent companies. The State companies, the marines and naval forces amounting to 5,407 militia, brought the total up to 20,636.
McSherry records-"Entering the war two strong battalions, they were soon reduced to a single company. Again swelled to seven regiments, they were thinned to one and before the campaign had well passed, they were once more promptly recruited to four full battalions of more than 2,000 men. Two of their officers, Williams and Howard were considered the best of their grade. Entitled to a Major-General and two brigadiers they submitted to be led by strangers.
Amos Cummings, himself a New Yorker, said :- "The old guard occupied no higher station in the French Army than that held by the Maryland Line in the Continental Army. As Napoleon and Ney relied upon the old guard, so did Washington and Greene rely upon the Maryland Line, when the independence of American colonies was at stake."
Colonel Howard upon his final charge, at Eutaw Springs, was wounded; he was brought home to the house of his attending phy- sician, Dr. Thomas Cradock, of Pikesville. Colonel Howard was then seeking the hand of Miss Peggy Chew, then much admired by several English officers. Fearing delay might endanger his cause, Dr. Cradock carried on the correspondence and was successful.
At a ball given in Baltimore in honor of General Washington, who led Nellie Gittings in the minuet, Dr. Cradock walked next with Betty Moale. She later became the Doctor's neighbor and named his home "The Pill Box." (Annals of St. Thomas Church). General Washington attended the wedding of Colonel Howard to Peggy Chew.
Colonel Howard, in 1787, was a member of the Continental Congress, when war was imminent with France. President Washington tendered him the offices of Major General and Secretary of State, both of which he declined with friendly courtesy. In 1789 he was elected Governor.
The Assembly of Maryland having voted to cede to Congress a district ten miles square for the seat of Government, the Legislature of 1789, voted $72,000 to assist Virginia's offer of $120,000 to build the Capital and authorized the sale of her public lands to meet the outlay.
In 1790, the Assembly passed an Act for the better administra- tion of Justice. Charles Carroll, of "Carrollton" and John Henry, our United States Senators, wrote to Governor Howard asking him to appoint men of high character, who might be better able to present the State, claim in the ablest manner before Congress. With Charles Carroll, of "Carrollton," Governor Howard drafted the Militia law of the State.
In 1790, President Washington arrived in Annapolis and with the Governor, attended a meeting of the trustees of St. John's College. He was entertained by the Governor and honored by a ball.
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At the expiration of his eligibility, Governor Howard was succeeded by George Plater. In 1795, Governor Howard was elected by the Maryland Senate and in 1796, was sent to the United States Senate, vice Mr. Potts and was re-elected for the full term, which extended to 1803. Retiring to his beautiful home at "Belvedere," wherein both General Washington and General LaFayette had been entertained, Colonel Howard spent his remaining days in quiet comfort.
" Belvedere" stood at the head of Calvert Street. Its history covers an interesting epoch of colonial days. Colonel Howard gave to the city of Baltimore the site upon which Washington's Monu- ment stands, yet it is only at this late day, our patriotic citizens have at last determined to honor him with a like memorial.
During the war of 1812, Governor Howard raised a company of veterans for home defense; when the news reached him that the Capitol had been burned and capitulation was being considered, he said :- "I have as much property at stake as most persons and I have four sons in the field, but sooner would I see my sons weltering in their blood and my home reduced to ashes, than so far disgrace my country." He lived to see the dawn of Peace and the "era of good feeling." His second son, George Howard, was later made Governor, during the era of good feeling. Having taken cold, the old hero soon followed his fascinating wife, dying in 1827. His funeral was attended by President Adams and his Cabinet.
Governor Howard's sons were General Benjamin Chew Howard, prominent in the late history of Maryland and in 1860, a candidate upon the Peace Party platform for Governor. He married Jane Grant Gilmor; John E. Howard, the eldest son, married Annabella Read; George Howard, his second son, and Governor, married Prudence Gough Ridgely; William Howard married Rebecca Key; James married Sophia Gough Ridgely, and second, Catharine Mur- dock Ross; Charles married Elizabeth Key. The daughters were Mrs. John McHenry and Mrs. William George Reed.
GOVERNOR GEORGE PLATER.
Governor George Plater, sixth Governor of Maryland, was born at "Sotterly," near Leonardtown, St. Mary's County, November 8, 1735.
His home is well described in Thomas' Colonial Maryland-as a handsome model of antique architecture, built in the form of the letter " Z," one story and a half, with steep gambrall roof, surmounted by a cupola and penetrated by triangular capped dormer windows, a frame building with brick foundations, brick gables, brick porches and flagstone colonade. Handsomely paneled wood from ceiling to floor finished the parlor, hall, library and dining-rooms. Shell carvings forming the ceilings of the parlor alcoves were unique and handsome. Walnut window frames, doors of mahogany, swung on solid brass strap hinges, offer an exhibit of colonial interior decora.
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tions unexcelled in Maryland. Its stairway was of mahogany, with grooved rail and balustrade and newel post of filigree work. This magnificent homestead was built for Hon. George Plater, father of the Governor, about 1730. He was Naval Officer and Collector of the Patuxent District and his little square office with cone-shaped roof still stands in the yard by the side of his wine cellar and smoking- room. This celebrated homestead, taking its name from the Plater homestead named in Sucklings Annals, of Suffolk, England, was originally a part of "Fenwick Manor." It contained 2,000 acres and was purchased by Hon. James Bowles, who married Rebecca, daughter of Colonel Thomas Addison and Elizabeth Tasker, daughter of the Treasurer, Thomas Tasker.
In 1729, the Maryland Gazette announced the marriage of the widow Bowles to Colonel George Plater. The Sotterly homestead was built after that marriage. The issue of Colonel Plater and Mrs. Bowles were Governor George Plater, Ann, Elizabeth and Rebecca, who became Mrs. Colonel John Tayloe, of Mt. Airy, Virginia. She handed down a coterie of distinguished wives, including Mrs. Francis Lightfoot Lee, wife of "the signer;" Mrs. Colonel William Augustine Washington and Mrs. Colonel Edward Lloyd, of Maryland, mother› of Governor Lloyd. She was also the mother of John Tayloe, who married a daughter of Governor Benjamin Ogle.
Colonel Plater's second wife was Mrs. Elizabeth Carpenter. Colonel Plater's coach and four and his sailing boats have elsewhere been noted. He indulged also in the popular races, of 1750, as shown by an announcement in the Maryland Gazette of that date, "Sep- tember 20, 1750, a race was run on the race course between Governor Ogle's bay gelding and Colonel Plater's grey stallion, which was won by the former."
Five years later, that same paper announced:" Saturday last, died at his seat in St. Mary's County, aged upwards of sixty, the Hon. George Plater, Esq., who was for many years one of his Lordship's Council of State, Naval Officer of the Patuxent and lately appointed Secretary of the Province; a gentleman eminent for every social virtue which could render him truly valuable; he was as Horace says, "ad unquem factus homo." As his life was a pleasure, so was his death a grief to every one who knew him.
George Plater, his only son, and heir of "Sotterly," was educated at William and Mary's College. In 1760, he visited England, where he was introduced by letters from Governor Horatio Sharpe. He made an agreeable impression on Lord Baltimore, who desired the Governor to associate him in the affairs of the Province. After studying law, George Plater took active interest in the discussions preceding the Revolution. He was a member of the Convention which requested Governor Eden to retire. In 1776, he was one of the Council of Safety; was in the Convention of 1776 and upon the Committee to prepare a Declaration and Charter of Rights and a form of Government for Maryland. From 1778 to 1781, he was in Congress and in 1788 was President of the Maryland Convention that ratified
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the Constitution of the United States. In 1791, he was elected Governor to succeed Governor Howard.
The location and aid to the National Capital were the chief events in his administration. Virginia had voted a loan of $120,000 to be devoted to the necessary buildings upon the territory, which had been ceded by the two States and the Legislature of Maryland voted to contribute $72,000, payable in three yearly installments.
To meet these payments the public lands of Maryland were authorized to be sold.
The Indian campaign of 1791 in which General St. Clair and Colonel Henry Lee, of Virginia, were in command, was a disastrous defeat and Maryland was compelled to raise additional recruits, under Colonel Otho H. Williams, in 1792.
Governor Plater's wife was Ann Rousby, the only child of Colonel John Rousby, of "Rousby Hall," in Calvert, another once famous and popular resort.
Mrs. Plater possessed rare beauty and stately elegance. Her rich patrimony, added to her busband's large estate, enabled them to entertain in a manner suitable to their distinguished position. They left two daughters, Ann and Rebecca, accomplished and beautiful, and three sons, George, John Rousby and Thomas Plater. Ann Plater-Philip Barton Key, the jurist and statesman; Rebecca -General Uriah Forrest, of the Maryland Line; George Plater inherited "Sotterly" and handed it down to his son, George, who lost it; Judge John Rousby Plater, second son, through his son, John, was the progenitor of Charlotte Plater, widow of General E. Law Rogers, once heir to Druid Hill Park. Mrs. Rogers has a handsome portrait of the Governor; Thomas Plater, third son, inherited " Rousby Hall," and sold it; his daughter, Ann Plater, another noted beauty, became the wife of Major George Peter, of Montgomery County, in command at the Battle of Bladensburg. Their descend- ants in line are the heirs of the late Hon. George Peter, of Rockville, and Senator William B. Peter, of Howard.
These three sons of Governor Plater were also prominent in affairs. George was a Colonel in the Maryland Line. Thomas was a member of Congress from 1801 to 1805, and Judge John Rousby Plater was Presidential Elector in 1797, and also a member of the Maryland Legislature, acting as Associate Judge of the First District at the time of his death.
Governor George Plater died at Annapolis February 10, 1792. His remains, "attended by the Council and State officials, were taken the next day, by way of South River, to "Sotterly," where he is buried in what is now an open field and without even a simple slab to mark the last resting place of a son of Maryland, whose states- manship and zeal so closely are interwoven with her government and whose life, from dawn of early manhood to the grave, was conspicuous for disinterested devotion and distinguished service to the State and to the nation. Oh, Spirit of Liberty! where sleeps your thunder?"
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