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 29
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 29
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The late Benjamin Nicholson Wright, of Annapolis, long chief clerk in the Comptroller's office and Warden of St. Anne's Church, descended from Thomas, son of Thomas, son of Colonel Thomas Wright, the immigrant. This branch was known as the Wrights of "Reeds Creek," from whom came Samuel Turbutt Wright, Captain in General Smallwood's brigade. Captain Wright's company was, during the Revolution, stationed upon Kent Island to command the entrance to Chester River. A striking portrait of Governor Wright hangs in the State House at Annapolis.
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GOVERNOR EDWARD LLOYD.
Edward Lloyd, of "Wye House," was the son of Edward Lloyd IV., the Revolutionary Legislator, who failed in the election when Thomas Sim Lee was made Governor. "With Maryland and North American interests at stake, ingrained through full five generations, prior to 1776, and in deed from the earliest immigration, Edward Lloyd, of "Wye House," had an honest claim upon the confidence of his constituents. His business tact in caring for the industrial interests of the Province, promoted by regular immigration in certain English shires, gave importance to his election in 1774-76, along with Matthew Tilghman, James Lloyd Chamberlaine and Pollard Edmondson, families of ample means. He rode at times in a coach and four. He had a tract of land for a deer park and he let his friends and guests rejoice in horses and hounds. After the burning of Wye House by a predatory band of a military expedition, he rebuilt it with a town house in Annapolis, that stands still sufficiently high to overtop the neighboring ones. It gave him an outlook towards the eastern bay of the Chesapeake and the mouth of Wye River. When Governor Lee, in 1792, was in the chair, John Edmondson, son of Pollard, with Judge Joseph H. Nicholson, the Democratic leader, moved to have the property qualifications removed, Colonel Edward Lloyd, the largest land-holder of the State, gave his support and thus gained political eclat. His assessment in 1783, after his heavy loss, in 1781, in plate, jewelry, negroes, clothing and £800 in cash, by English depredations, covered 261 slaves, 799 head of sheep, 147 horses, 571 head of cattle, 579 head of hogs, 215,000 pounds of tobacco, 500 ounces of plate, 30 pounds of pork, 72 tracts of land, covering 11,884} acres.
Though he failed to be Governor, his son, Edward Lloyd, succeeded in 1809, just a century after his distinguished ancestor of 1709. Governor Lloyd was fifth in line. He was a man of talent, of a large estate and an honest politician. He was in the Legislature, from 1800 to 1805; a member of Congress, from 1806 to 1809; Governor from 1809 to 1811. He was in Congress when the " Embargo Act" was passed and was Governor when it was repealed. The free ballot act, repealing the viva voce vote, and all property qualifica- tions, introduced by John Hanson Thomas, was confirmed by Legislative Act, in 1809. After Governor Lloyd's term had ended, in 1811, he was returned to the Senate of Maryland, when he offered a series of resolutions, endorsing "the course of President Madison toward England and condemning the measures of Great Britain, as destructive of our interests and ought to be resisted; that the independence established by the valor of our fathers will not tamely be yielded by their sons; the same spirit which led Maryland regulars to battle still exists and awaits only our country's call." Governor Lloyd was presidential elector, in 1812, and voted for President Madison. In 1819 he was elected United States Senator, serving until 1826, when he resigned. Retiring to his large estate, he directed
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his agricultural interests and dispensed hospitality. He inherited, also, the town house in Annapolis. This was built by Samuel Chase, the signer, in 1770. It is probably the most stately house in the city, being three stories high, the only colonial one of that height. This is still known as the "Chase House," though it was bought by Colonel Lloyd before its completion. The dining-room is handsomely ornamented in carved wood, and the marble mantelpiece represents a scene from Shakespeare in sculpture.
Governor Lloyd conveyed this mansion to his son-in-law, Henry Hall Harwood. In 1847, it was purchased by Miss Hester Ann Chase, daughter of Judge Jeremiah Townley Chase. As the property of Mrs. Hester Ann Chase Ridout, wife of Rev. Samuel Ridout, it was willed to the Episcopal Church, as a home for the aged women.
In it is Governor Sharpe's eight day clock, a colonial bedstead with steps to get into bed, and a china set with the Chase arms.
Governor Lloyd's wife was Sally Scott Murray, daughter of Dr. James Murray. Their issue were Edward Lloyd VI .- Elizabeth Winder; James Murray, Sally Scott Lloyd-Charles Lowndes, U. S. N. Catherine-Franklin Buchanan, U. S. N .; Daniel Lloyd; Mary Ellen-William Tilghman Goldsborough, of Dorset and Mrs. Harwood.
Edward VI. was President of the Maryland State Senate and married Alicia McBlair, of Baltimore. Issue, Edward VII, Elizabeth -Charles Henry Key; Alicia-Charles Sidney Winder, U. S. A. Sally Scott Lloyd-David Churchhill Trimble, father of Dr. Isaac Ridgeway Trimble, of Baltimore.
Edward VII., also President of the Maryland Senate, married Mary Lloyd Howard. He still holds Wye House, which has a library of 1,000 volumes. The crest of the family is a demi-lion quadrant, or.
GOVERNOR LEVIN WINDER.
Governor Levin Winder, sixteenth Governor of Maryland (1812 -1815) was born in Somerset County, Maryland, September 4, 1757. He was the son and eighth child of William Winder, who married Esther Gillis, grandson of John Winder and Jane Dashiel and great- grandson of John Winder, who came from Cumberland, England, to Princess Anne, Somerset County, Maryland, and was appointed Justice of the Peace, in 1665, and Lieutenant-Colonel, in 1697.
Levin Winder was a brother of William Winder, who married the daughter of Governor John Henry-father and mother of General William Henry Winder, of the War of 1812.
Levin Winder began the study of law, but abandoned it upon the outbreak of the Revolution and entered the army. He was appointed by the Convention of Maryland on January 14, 1776, First Lieutenant of the Fifth Company, Captain Nathaniel Ramsey commanding, in Colonel William Smallwood's Battalion. He was afterward, April 17, 1777, made Major of the Fourth Regiment of the Maryland Line, and, at the close of the war, was Lieutenant- Colonel. At the conclusion of hostilities he engaged in agricultural
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pursuits in Southern Maryland, near Princess Anne. He was several times elected to the Legislature of Maryland, serving as Speaker of the House of Delegates. He was Governor of Maryland from 1812- 1815. Governor Winder's election was due to the intense disgust which had grown out of the barbarous attempt of the Baltimore mob to suppress the freedom of the press.
The "Federal Republican," under the editor, Charles Contee Hanson, had ably opposed the War of 1812. The Federal Party was a unit in its support of his opposition, and many of Hanson's friends had determined to stand by him in his determination to issue his paper. The War Party, in Baltimore, determined that the paper should be suppressed. The result was a conflict, in which the mob attacked the building and some were killed. Hanson's party sur- rendered to the authorities; were taken to the gaol for protection, when the mob there entered and murdered General Lingan, an honored Revolutionary soldier, wounded General Henry Lee, who had led Lee's Legion to victory in the Revolution-wounded Captain Richard Crabb, Dr. Peregrine Warfield, William and Ephraim Gaither and many other Federalists, who had risked their lives in defense of the press.
Intense and bitter partisan feeling followed this contest and rendered President Madison's administration very unpopular with the Federal Party.
Petitions poured in upon Governor Bowie to break up these lawless proceedings and to investigate the conduct of the officers who had permitted this outbreak. The Governor's reply calling upon all, "when our country is engaged in an open and declared war with one of the most powerful nations of Europe, to cultivate a spirit of harmony," failed to allay the excitement, but resulted in a Federal victory, which put Governor Winder in his chair for three successive terms. As soon as the enemy had appeared in the bay Governor Winder addressed the Secretary of War upon the defenseless condition of Annapolis, but receiving no reply, wrote again. The Secretary replied that one battalion would be ordered to Annapolis, but not arriving, the Governor called out the militia for the defense of the towns, and at the same time set to work equipping and sending forward Maryland's quota to the general defense of the frontier, called out a portion of the militia of the State to garrison the forts of Annapolis and Baltimore. These were paid by the State. Whilst protecting these forts the army of invasion was not neglected, for within six weeks after the declaration of war Captain Nathan Towson, with an artillery company, joined Colonel Winfield Scott in the North. A number of companies tendered their services to the President, but could not be accepted, unless the State would pay for their services. In Baltimore a regiment was sent forward under Colonel William H. Winder, nephew of the Governor, with ample funds from private subscriptions.
On the arrival of the enemy in the bay Governor Winder addressed a letter to the Secretary of War, stating the helpless
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condition of Annapolis. One drafted battalion of militia was promised but never came to its defence. The records of Easton being in danger, the Governor urged, but received no assistance. This refusal, when Virginia was protected and her militia paid by the Government, brought the Federalists to exclaim! "Virginia has but to ask and she receives; but Maryland, for her political disobedience, is denied." The Governor called an extra session of the Legislature and laid before it his whole correspondence with the Government.
In his message the Governor claimed the right to demand protection of the general Government. The committee upon the Governor's message reported to the Assembly as follows: "That the State of Maryland is entitled to a fair distribution of the National means for its protection, and that the refusal of the Executive to assume the liquidation of the claims arising from the employment of the militia of this State, in the same manner. that they have liqui- dated those of Virginia, is partial, unjust and contrary to the spirit of our Constitution." The report of the committee was adopted and the sum of one hundred thousand dollars was appropriated, to be applied by the Governor to defray the expenses of the militia already called out.
At this time a large number of citizens of the different counties of the State, unable to bear the burdens of war, abandoned their homes and moved to new settlements in the West. At the next Gubernatorial contest, owing to a very close vote in one of the counties, which gave the Federalists majority, seventeen members refused to vote, but Governor Winder was re-elected.
In his next message, Governor Winder declared. "If the expenses of a war waged by the National authorities are to be borne by the States, it is not difficult to foresee that the State treasury will soon be exhausted and the annihilation of the State Government must soon follow."
After recommending an amendment to the militia law "to compel the services of those who on any sudden emergency are unwilling to assist in defence of the country," and the organization of volunteer corps of mounted infantry, be submitted to the Legisla- ture "the propriety of adopting a system of general education."
The last Act of the Assembly of 1813 was the endorsement of the war by the Senate and the condemnation of the administration by the House.
General William Henry Winder who had in June, 1814, been placed in command of a new division, embracing Maryland and Virginia, wrote from Marlboro: "The Governor of Maryland has issued orders for calling out the drafts under the requisition of July, and, at my suggestion, has appointed Bladensburg as the place of rendezvous," and again he writes: "The Governor is exerting himself to collect a force at Annapolis." All this force, though not under the command of General Winder, did co-operate and were on their way to Bladensburg, when the British, having driven back its defenders, pushed on to the destruction of Washington.
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The blame for this defeat fell upon the President, his Secretary of War and General Winder, who was honorably acquitted, for he had done his duty, and, after a successful career as a lawyer, died an honored and lamented patriot.
In the gubernatorial election of 1814, Governor Winder received forty-eight votes and Robert Bowie twenty-three. The State was now decidedly Federal, yet the Federalists never refused their aid to the war and appropriated $450,000, with $1,000,000 more from the city of Baltimore, to carry out the defence of her citizens. Forty- two thousand six hundred and thirty-six soldiers were Maryland's quota of the War of 1812. The Governor retired to his farm, near Princess Anne.
In 1816, Governor Winder was returned to the Senate of Mary- land. He was a prominent Mason and was grand-master, in 1814-15. At the time of his death in Baltimore, July 1, 1819, he was Senior Major-General of the State Militia. In person and presence, Governor Levin Winder was very firm. He was eloquent, moral, gentlemanly. Of him his opponent said: "General Winder was incapable of mis- statement; that he believed his spirit could not possibly bear its own reproach of anything that was disingenuous."
The camp-chest of General Washington came into the possession of General Winder and afterward of his son, William Sydney Winder, who presented it with all necessary documents to Congress, through John Quincy Adams.
Governor Winder married Mary Sloss. Issue, Edward Stougleton William Sydney and Mary Anne Stougleton. Edward Stougleton Winder married Elizabeth Taylor Lloyd, daughter of Revolutionary Colonel Edward Lloyd. Their daughter, Elizabeth Taylor Winder married Charles Josias Pennington, father of Josias Pennington, of Baltimore, of the firm of Baldwin & Pennington. Charles S. Winder, son of Edward S., was the Confederate General who was killed at Cedar Mountains.
GOVERNOR CHARLES CARNAN RIDGELY.
Governor Charles Carnan Ridgely, seventeenth Governor of Maryland (1815-18), was born in Baltimore County, December 6, 1762. He was the son of John Carnan and Achsah Ridgely. In obedience to the will of his uncle, Captain Charles Ridgely, of "Hampton," he assumed the Ridgely name and was placed at the head of the entail of "Hampton." His wife was Priscilla Dorsey, daughter of "Caleb of Belmont," sister of his uncle's wife. She bore him the following heirs: Charles-Maria Campbell; Rebecca- Judge Charles Wallace Hanson; John Carnan Ridgely-first, Pru- dence Gough Carroll; second, Eliza Eichelberger Ridgely (of Nicholas Greenberry Ridgely and Eliza Eichelberger.) The estate descended to their son, Captain Charles Ridgely, who married Margaret Sophia Howard (of James and Sophia Gough Ridgely). She was a grand-
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daughter of Governor John Eager Howard and lately held " Hamp- ton." Her son, Captain John Ridgely-Helen West Stuart, the author of " Old Brick Churches."
Charles Carnan Ridgely was a Federalist and represented Baltimore County five years in the Legislature. In 1815, he was elected Governor by a majority of two votes. In December, 1816, he sent his message to the Assembly, announcing the cession of Forts Washington and McHenry to the Government; urged the necessity of collecting the State's war claim, placing it in charge of Representa- tive Robert H. Goldsborough. Of that claim, President Madison said: "The claim of Maryland for her expenses during the war stands upon higher ground than any other State in the Union." Yet, only a portion was ever collected. The expenses of that war exhausted the State's surplus and became the nucleus of a debt, which caused many serious considerations. During Governor Ridgely's term, seven counties and two cities, with a majority of 9,000 votes, sent only thirty-two members to the Legislature, while twelve counties in the minority, sent forty-eight members. This fact was the beginning of a long and exciting conflict which finally ended in the reform measures succeeding.
In 1817, "the good feeling era" of President Monroe was inau- gurated.
GOVERNOR CHARLES GOLDSBOROUGH.
Governor Charles Goldsborough, eighteenth Governor of Mary- land (1818-19), was born at Hunting Creek, Dorchester County, July 15, 1765. The progenitor of the Goldsboroughs, of Maryland, was Nicholas, who settled in 1670 on Kent Island. His wife was Miss Margaret Howes, of Newberry, Berks County, England, by whom he had Robert, Nicholas and Judith Goldsborough. Mrs. Goldsborough survived and married George Robbins, of Talbot County, who held the "Peach Blow" farm, where peaches were first grown in the United States, brought from Persia by a traveling brother, who retained his residence in England.
Robert Goldsborough (of Nicholas) married Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Nicholas Greenberry, of Greenberry Point. Their son, Charles Goldsborough, married a sister of Colonel Joseph Ennals. Robert H., a son of this marriage, became a member of the Contin- ental Congress and a member of the Committee of Safety. His wife was Miss Yerbury, of Bassing Hall Street, London. Among his children was Charles Goldsborough, of Horn's Point, Dorchester County, a magnificent estate on the Choptank, five miles below Cambridge, a seat of refinement and hospitality until it passed from the hands of Hon. Wm. T. Goldsborough some years after the war. His only child was Sarah Yerbury, who became the second wife of Hon. Charles Goldsborough, of Shoal Creek farm, near Cambridge. He was the son of Charles and Anna Maria (Tilghman) Goldsborough and grandson of Charles Goldsborough, of 1707.
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Hon. Charles Goldsborough's first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Judge Robert and Mary Emerson (Trippe) Goldsborough, of Myrtle Grove, Talbot County, who bore him two daughters, viz: Elizabeth Greenberry married Hon. John Leeds Kerr; Anna Maria Sarah married William Henry Fitzhugh. On May 22, 1804, he married Sarah Yerbury, daughter of Charles and Williamina (Smith) Goldsborough. By her he had nine sons and five daughters. Hon. William Tilghman Goldsborough, his son, married Eleanor Lloyd, daughter of Governor Edward Lloyd; Williamina Elizabeth Cad- walader married Rev. William Henry Laird, late rector of St. John's Church, Brookeville, Md.
Hon. Charles F. Goldsborough was a graduate of St. John's College, member of the bar, married Charlotte, youngest daughter of John Campbell Henry, of Hambrooks. She was a granddaughter of Governor John Henry. In 1818, Hon. Charles Goldsborough was elected by the Federal party Governor of Maryland. During his term an attempt was made to alter the Constitution in order to give Baltimore City two additional members in the Legislature. It failed as did the attempt to relieve Jews of their political disfranchisement.
The people of Baltimore urged that the city furnished capital and loans in a few hours which could never be obtained in the counties. It contained one-half of the increase of population in the State. By its gallant defence it had regained much of its lost popularity induced by the mob, of 1812. Yet the Governor and Assembly would not listen to these arguments and defeated the city's claim. The Jews of the city were now a growing factor of the voting power and they too had their friends who thus felt aggrieved. These facts were felt in the counties, and at the next election there was a Democratic majority in the Lower House, and, on joint ballot, Mr. Goldsborough was defeated by the young Democrat, Samuel Sprigg.
Governor Goldsborough urged the repeal of the law imprisoning debtors and it was enacted.
His report upon the turnpike roads to Frederick, York and Reistertown showed considerable benefit to the State, yet they had not received much assistance from the State.
In 1819, the first lodge of Odd Fellows in the United States was instituted in Baltimore by Thomas Wildey. Yellow fever raged throughout all the cities. The Federalist majority which elected Governor Goldsborough was reduced and the two parties were about equally divided. The election of 1819, was bitterly partisan, resulting in the election of a Democrat.
Governor Goldsborough died in Dorchester County, December 13, 1834.
GOVERNOR SAMUEL SPRIGG.
Governor Samuel Sprigg, nineteenth Governor of Maryland (1819-21), was born in Prince George County. His father was Joseph Sprigg, descendant of Thomas Sprigg, who settled in Calvert and became a Commissioner for the trial of Causes and High Sheriff, in
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1664. His son, Colonel Thomas Sprigg and Margaret Osborne, his wife, held "Northampton," Prince George County. A full-length portrait of him, in court costume, was long a part of the old "North- ampton" homestead, which later was bought by Lord Fairfax. Mary Sprigg, daughter of Colonel Thomas, became Mrs Thomas. Stockett, Jr.
Osborne Sprigg (of Colonel Thomas) was a leader in politics. His daughter, Margaret, married Colonel William Bowie and became the mother of Governor Robert Bowie. By a second wife, daughter of Colonel Joseph Belt, came Osborne Sprigg, Jr., signer of the Declaration of Freemen. His brother, Joseph, married, first, Hannah (Lee) Bowie, and by a second wife was the father of Governor Samuel Sprigg. "Northampton" came to Governor Sprigg from his uncle, Osborne Sprigg, Jr.
Governor Sprigg married Violetta Lansdale, first cousin of Catharine (Lansdale) Bowie, wife of Robert William Bowie (of Governor Robert); these were heirs of General Isaac Lansdale, of the Revolution, a wealthy planter.
Governor Sprigg's only son was Osborne Sprigg.
Governor Sprigg was elected in 1819, during a campaign of extreme partisan excitement, in which the Democrats gained a slight majority on joint ballot. Proscription was the watchword throughout the State, and many changes were made. Governor Sprigg was aided by a new Council composed of Democrats, and the first attempt to revolutionize existing inequalities was the attempted alteration of the election of Governor, providing for an election by the people. The Federalists bitterly opposed it, declaring it would throw the whole government of the State into the power of Baltimore City, with its one-third foreign vote. It was a fight between city and county and the Senate defeated it. The City of Baltimore again attempted to gain additional representatives, but that was also defeated.
A resolution asking that Missouri be admitted without conditions was sent to the Maryland delegates in Congress.
Criticism of President Madison's conduct of the war gave the Federalists considerable power in the State, but the Democrats were victorious at the next election and re-elected Governor Sprigg in 1820 by fifty-seven votes, which was made unanimous. President Monroe again received the electoral vote of Maryland in 1820. The ensuing election of Governor in 1821 resulted in honoring Governor Sprigg for the third time. Governor Sprigg was, later, a strong supporter of the internal improvements and was a member of the Canal Board in which he presided as president.
GOVERNOR SAMUEL STEVENS.
Governor Samuel Stevens, twentieth Governor of Maryland (1823-25), was born in Talbot County and was the son of Samuel Stevens, who had taken up a considerable estate. He was educated in the public schools, and in 1804 married Eliza May, of Chester County, Pennsylvania.
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Governor Stevens succeeded Governor Samuel Sprigg, receiving a Democratic majority of sixty-nine votes on joint ballot. In 1823 he reported to the Legislature the Congressional resolution proposing an amendment providing for internal improvements.
The report of the Maryland and Virginia Commission for examin- ing the condition of the Potomac Company, endorsed the formation of a canal company, along the bed of the Potomac, with a branch canal connecting Baltimore City. This proposition ended in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, with a capital of $6,000,000.
After much discussion, in 1824, the bill enfranchising Jews was passed.
Theodoric Bland was authorized to survey another canal route connecting Baltimore City with the Susquehanna River.
Congress made an appropriation for the great national road to Cumberland.
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