USA > Maryland > The history of Maryland, to which are added brief biographies of distinguished statesmen, philanthropists, theologians, etc.; prepared for the schools of Maryland > Part 3
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
that that court was held at a perilous season of the year, &c.
3. Articles of impeachment were now brought against him for several insolences, misdemeanors, and outrages on the part of his agents, aiming at the subversion of the king's authority here, for endeavoring to obliterate the two shillings per hogshead for the support of the colonial govern- ment, and for misapplying some thirty-six thou- sand pounds sterling, and refusing to give any account thereof,-"charges," said those making them, "which we are able and willing to prove, defend, and maintain."
4. They subsequently testified to the Lords of Plantations that no oath to his majesty was im- posed on any government officer, but only an oath of fidelity to his lordship; that no appeals from the courts were allowed to England, that no arms nor ammunition had been provided for the de- fence of the province, and that fort-duties were appropriated to the Proprietor.
1691.
5. In 1691 the government of the province passed into the hands of King William and Queen Mary, who appointed Lionel Copley their Governor in Maryland. On his arrival in 1692, he 'called a meeting of the Gene-
ment? 4. What was testified to the Lords of Plantations ? 5. What change was now made in the government by William and Mary ? What did Governor Copley do on his arrival ?
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SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.
ral Assembly. At this Assembly the second act passed was one making the Protestant religion of the Church of England the established re- 1692.
ligion of Maryland. Under this law the ten counties were divided by the county justices and freeholders into thirty parishes.
WILLIAM AND MARY.
6. Governor Copley died in the following year, and was succeeded by Sir Francis Nicholson. In October, 1694, the seat of government 1694. was transferred from St. Mary's to Annapolis, in Anne Arundel county, where it still continues. One of the troubles of the times was the exist-
What important act was passed ? 6. What further of Gov- ernor Copley ? To what place was the seat of government
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
ence of adherents here of the exiled King James. They were called Jacobites, and were consider- able in numbers and influence.
7. A remarkable pestilence broke out in 1694 among the cattle and hogs of the province. The Governor ordered returns to be made to him, by the sheriff's of the counties, of the numbers thus taken off. According to these returns, there had died twenty-five thousand four hundred and twenty-nine cattle, and sixty-two thousand three hundred and seventy-three hogs, being three and one-half to every inhabitant, or more than seven- teen to every family, in the province.
8. Another fact, of at least antiquarian curiosity, may be here stated. On the 20th of May,
1695. 1695, proclamation was made of an agree- ment entered into with Captain Perry to be post between the Potomac and Philadelphia eight times a year. Starting from Newton's Point, Wicomico. on the Potomac, he was to go by Allen's Mill (now called Fresh), Benedict, Leonard Town, cross- ing the Patuxent at Mr. Lingan's, by Mr. Lar- kin's, and by South River, to Annapolis ; thence to Kent Island, and by Oxford and Newcastle. The stages were to start on the last Monday in June. This was the earliest mail-route in Mary-
reinoved in 1694? Of the Jacobites ? 7. Of a remarkable pestilence ? What did the returns show ? 8. What of a pos! to Philadelphia ? Describe the route. 9. What of the con-
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KING'S LIBRARY.
land. It connected Williamsburg, the seat of government in Virginia, with Philadelphia.
9. Among the inquiries made by the Board of Trade and Plantations, at this time, of the 1695. Governor and Council, it was asked, what methods are best to be taken for the conversion of the Indians? It was answered that the best way of converting them was by the good example of the English colonists and clergy, and by endea- vors on the part of the whites to learn the lan- guage of the Indians, so as to become capable of conversing with them.
10. In 1697 the king presented to Annapolis a valuable library, the books of which were all labelled on the covers. The remains of this library are now in the library of St. John's Col- lege. On the burning of the State-House, 1697. in part, in 1704, the library was removed to King William's school; and the books that remained were transferred to its successor St. John's, when that came into existence in 1784. Many of those rare and curious old works are still to be found scattered about the State, where they were probably loaned more than a hundred years ago.
11. In this year the Governor received from the
version of the Indians ? What plan was suggested ? 10. What of the king's present ? Where are the remains of this library now ? Whither was it removed on the burning of the State-house? Where are some of these books now found ?
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
king a command to send to him all the wild deer, turkeys, and partridges, mocking-birds and other song-birds, and wild animals, that could be pro- cured. It was therefore ordered that as many as possible be obtained, as a token of gratitude to his majesty, who had done so great things for his subjects here. The mocking-birds appear to have specially pleased King William, as the next year he sent for one hundred more of them.
CHAPTER X.
Mineral Spring -- Charlotte Hall-State-House struck by Lightning-Rev. Dr. Bray-King's Order, and Reply of the Upper House-Toleration Law-German Emigrants -Death of Charles, Lord Baltimore-Population.
1. IN 1698 a spring having medicinal proper- ties was discovered in St. Mary's county, at 1698. which a great many poor people soon assem- bled, hoping to be benefited by the use of its waters. Being informed of this, Governor Nicholson ap- pointed a man to read prayers there every day, sent them Bibles and prayer-books, and, besides other provisions, gave them a lamb every week.
11. What did the king command in 1697? What was or- dered in consequence ? What specially pleased King William ?
1. What of a mineral spring ? What did Governor Nichol-
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THE STATE-HOUSE.
The place is now known as Charlotte Hall. Soon after this, Nicholson was appointed Gover- nor of Virginia.
COLONIAL ARMORY, ERECTED 1706. HOUSE OF BURGESSES, ERECTED ABOUT 1700.
2. In 1699 the State-house was struck by light- ning while the Assembly was in session. 1699.
The flag-staff was splintered, the vane shaken down, the flag burnt, the roof set on fire, the door-posts and window-frames shattered, and seve- ral of the delegates struck down, one of whom was killed. A shower of rain falling immedi- ately, by the exertions of the members the State-
son do? What is the place now called ? 2. What about lightning ? What damage did it do? What further of this
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
house was saved. A public thanksgiving was ordered soon afterwards.
3. In 1700, the Rev. Dr. Bray, the Bishop of London's Commissary for Maryland, ar-
1700. rived in the province. Soon after he held a visitation of the clergy at Annapolis, at which were present eighteen clergymen, ministering in twenty-one of the thirty parishes. Not long after this meeting the Commissary returned to England, for the purpose of furthering in the mother-country the interests of the Maryland church.
4. The king having directed supplies to be sent to New York from all the colonies to aid in carrying on the Indian War then existing, the Maryland Upper House of Assembly answered,- and the answer shows something of the state of the province,-that the Indians had as easy access to Maryland as to New York, that several nations of them were on the frontier, often committing rapine and murder, which within the last three years had cost the province one hundred thousand pounds of tobacco, and that to raise supplies by a money-tax was impossible, few of the families having so much as five shillings of ready money, and the greater part being without the means to raise it.
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misfortune ? 3. What of Dr. Bray ? For what purpose did he return to England ? 4. What did the king order ? What
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ENGLISH TOLERATION ACT.
5. It was set forth, furthermore, that the pro- vince had several times been reduced to 1700. great extremities by taxes, to the impoverish- ing and almost entire destruction of men and pro- perty ; that great expense had been incurred, which had not yet been discharged, in building a State-house, a free school, and a church; that none but laborers or best men of the province should be sent, and that if they were sent it would lessen the ability to meet the public expenses of the province. In view of this state of affairs, they asked to be excused from the requisition made upon them ..
6. The law establishing the Church had pro- vided for the toleration of those who were not members of it. But in 1702 the provisions of the English Toleration Act were by express law extended to Protestant dissenters ; and the Quakers were therein declared to be entitled 1702. to the benefit of the English law permitting their affirmation to be received, instead of an oath. In 1704, however, owing to their proselyting zeal, the ministry of the Romish priests was restricted in its exercise to private families.
7. In 1710, many Palatines, or German emi- grants, had come into the province, and they
reply was sent? 5. What further? 6. How was the Eng- lish Toleration Act modified ? 7. What of German emi-
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
appear to have settled in what afterwards became 1710. Frederick county. In order to encourage their industry, they were released for the time- being from the payment of their assessment in all public levies. From this class of emigrants have sprung the various German denominations of Christians now in Maryland.
8. On the 20th of February, 1714, Charles, Lord Baltimore, died, aged eighty-four, and 1714. was succeeded by his son Benedict Leonard Calvert, who had renounced Romanism and con- formed to the Church of England. The new Proprietor, however, survived his father little more than a year, dying April 16, 1715, some- what above thirty years of age; and with him ended the royal government in Maryland.
9. During the twenty-six years since Lord Baltimore's government had ceased in the province, two new counties had been erected, and the popu- lation had increased to forty-four thousand,-the increase being more than double that of the pre- vious twenty-six years.
grants ? What have sprung from this class of emigrants ! 8. What of Charles, Lord Baltimore ? By whom succeeded ! 9. What of the population at this time ?
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LORD BALTIMORE.
CHAPTER XI.
Charles, Lord Baltimore-Governor Hart-Claims of the Roman Catholics-Annapolis- Market-House- Arrival of Scotch Prisoners-Baltimore-Pennsylvania Border Difficulties-Survey by Mason and Dixon.
1. CHARLES, Lord Baltimore, succeeded on his father's death, in 1715, as Proprietor of Maryland, and, having been educated a 1715. Protestant, and still professing to be one, the government of the province was restored to him by the king. The royal Governor at that time- Governor Hart-was continued by him in his office. The Proprietor's annual income from his land-rents in the province is stated to have been about thirteen thousand dollars.
2. Taking advantage of Lord Baltimore's resto- ration to the government, the Roman Catholics now claimed an equal part in the government with the Protestants. Several of them were sum- moned before the Governor to show the grounds of their claim. He decided that their claim was contrary to the terms of the charter; and in this he was sustained by the General Assembly. The
1. What of Charles, Lord Baltimore ? Governor Hart ? 2. What did the Roman Catholics claim ? How was the claim
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
Roman Catholics, consequently, continued, as under the royal government, disfranchised.
3. Annapolis had now been the seat of govern- ment for more than twenty years. Some eight or nine years before this, a French traveller had said of it that it was a very inconsiderable town; "but," he added, "of the few buildings it contains, at least three-fourths may be styled elegant and grand; and female luxury here exceeds what is known in France in the provinces."
4. In 1717 it was ordered that none of the in- habitants of the city should buy any flesh 1717. or fish, living or dead, or eggs, butter, or cheese,-oysters excepted,-at their own houses, but should repair to buy the same at the flagge- staffe, on the State-house hill, until such time as there should be a market-house built, on penalty of a fine of sixteen shillings eight pence, current money. The market was to be opened at eight or nine o'clock in the morning, and the drum to beat half of a quarter of an hour, to give notice thereof; and no person was to presume to buy any thing until the drum had ceased beating. The market-days were on Wednesday and Saturday.
5. In 1721 a cargo of Scotch prisoners came in.
decided ? 3. What of Annapolis ? What did a French tra- veller say of Annapolis? 4. What was ordered in 1717! 5. What of a cargo of Scotch prisoners ? Of a second cargo !
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ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
They had been taken at the battle of Pres- ton, six years before, when fighting for the 1721. restoration of the Pretender to the throne of Great Britain. A still larger number were brought in after another defeat, thirty years later. They were known as the " king's passengers ;" but many became valuable citizens. The Scotch, indeed, have formed a large element of the population of Maryland, and have been noted for their enter- prise, energy, and success in life.
6. In 1728 the town of Baltimore was created by an act of the General Assembly, sixty- five years after the first settlement made 1728. there. It was located at the head of Patapsco Bay, about twelve miles from the Chesapeake, on sixty acres of land divided into sixty lots. The northwestern corner-lot is that on which St. Paul's Church now stands, and where its three predecessors have stood. Four years after this, the legislature made tobacco and Indian corn a legal tender, the former at one penny per pound, the latter at twenty pence per bushel.
7. In 1735 began the Pennsylvania border difficulties, which eventually became so trouble-
What were these prisoners called ? What further of them ? 6. What of the town of Baltimore ? Where was it located ? What of the northwestern corner-lot ? What of a legal ten- der? 7. What of Pennsylvania border difficulties ? What
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
some. In 1681 a grant or charter had been
obtained from the king for Pennsylvania, 1735. comprising the territory north of Maryland and west of the Delaware River. On examina- tion, it was found that its southern boundary, as
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, 1966.
laid down in the charter, conflicted with the boundary of Maryland, Penn claiming that his south line was several miles below what Lord Baltimore claimed as his north linc.
8. The difference was so great that the matter could not be settled by the Proprietors themselves, and it was referred to the king. In 1685 a deci-
did Penn claim ? 8. What of these difficulties ? What deci-
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MASON AND DIXON'S LINE.
sion was obtained from the Lords of Trade and Plantations, to the effect that Lord Baltimore's grant included only "lands uncultivated and occu- pied by savages," and that the territory along the Delaware had been settled by Christians antece- dently to his grant, and was not included in it.
9. Had the decision been the same in 1638, Colonel Claiborne would have peaceably re- tained Kent Island. Now, Lord Baltimore 1735. lost all of Delaware,-one million two hundred and sixty-seven thousand acres,-and fifteen miles' breadth of territory along his entire northern line of boundary, being nearly two million acres.
10. Owing, however, to circumstances, a final settlement was not effected till 1735, when the king directed proceedings in chancery to be in- stituted. Land-grants in the contested territory had been made at that time by each of the Pro- prietors, and these conflicting grants led to tu- mults, border excesses, and violence, even to bloodshed. This state of affairs continued for five years. The chancery decision was not ob- tained till 1750; and ten years more elapsed be- fore the line between Maryland and Pennsylvania was completed. This line was run by the survey-
sion was obtained ? 9. What further on this subject ? What did Lord Baltimore lose ? 10. What of a final settlement ? What of land-grants ? To what did these conflicting grants lead ? When was the chancery decision made? Who were
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
1
ors Mason and Dixon : hence the term Mason and Dixon's line.
11. The agreement for this survey was made between the heirs of Penn and Calvert, May 10, . 1732; but the work was not completed till De- cember, 1767, so various were the delays and dis- putes, and so numerous the appeals to the court of chancery in England.
12. Jeremiah Mason and Charles Dixon were mathematicians and astronomers. They arrived in Philadelphia in November, 1763, and at once proceeded with their work. They employed a car- penter to construct an observatory, which was the first in America. Having fixed the point of in- tersection of the Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware lines, they continued their line due west two hundred and forty-four miles. They met with much opposition from roving bands of Indians. Their company consisted of red men, and white men, surveyors, chain-bearers, axe-men, cooks, and baggage-carriers.
13. At the end of every fifth mile a stone was placed, graven with the arms of the Penn family on one side, and with those of Lord Baltimore on the other. The intermediate miles were denoted
the surveyors? 11. Who made the agreement for this sur- vey ? When was it completed ? 12. What of Mason and Dixon ? What opposition did they meet? Who composed the surveying party ? 13. What was placed at the end of
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GREAT REBELLION SUPPRESSED.
by smaller stones, having an M on one side and a P on the other.
14. The trade of Maryland at this time (1736) employed one hundred and thirty vessels. 1736. A large portion of this trade was in tobacco, -which, indeed, was the staple of Maryland. The records, ten years later, show an exportation of fifty thousand hogsheads of tobacco. Wheat and Indian corn, also, were exported in large quan- tities.
CHAPTER XII.
Great Rebellion suppressed-Rejoicings thereat-Maryland Gazette-Commerce-Iron -- Death of Charles, Lord Bal- timore-Population-Lord Fairfax-Boundary Question -Maryland Frontier-Massacre by the Indians.
1. IN 1745 the great rebellion in England was suppressed. This secured the Protestant 1745. succession on the throne of England, put an end to the hopes of the last Pretender, and de- livered the kingdom from papal persecution and
every fifth mile ? How were the intermediate miles denoted ? 14. What of the trade of Maryland in 1736? What of ex- ports ten years after this ?
1. What of the great rebellion in England ? What did
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
from the fear of invasion from abroad. The news caused great rejoicing in Maryland. The Gov- ernor issued a proclamation for a public thanks- giving, and religious services were held in all the churches.
2. In Annapolis, and in other places, the sup- pression of the rebellion was celebrated by the firing of guns, and by other demonstrations 1745. of joy. There was a ball in the evening, the city was illuminated, and a great quantity of punch was distributed among the populace at their bon- fires. The Protestants were jubilant.
3. This year the publication of the "Maryland Gazette" was commenced in Annapolis, by Jonas Green, who for five years had been printer to the · province. This paper continued to be published by him during his life, and after him by his de- scendants, for nearly one hundred years. A file of it is in the State library.
4. From the answers to queries of the Board of Trade and Plantations, in 1748, we find 1748. that there were not above fifty vessels owned by Marylanders engaged in the trade, but that these carried four hundred tons, and were navi- gated by four hundred men; that there were a
this secure? How was the news received ? 2. What was done at Annapolis? 3. What of the Maryland Gazette ? 4. What of vessels owned by Marylanders, &c. ? Of mines
DEATH OF CHARLES, LORD BALTIMORE. 61
great many iron-mines, some of which were very good ; that eight furnaces made pig iron and nine bar iron; and that the white population at this time was ninety-four thousand, and the black thirty-six thousand. The population had been much increased by the influx of Germans.
5. The number of Indians had greatly de- creased. They had before this begun by degrees to remove from the province; and during this year the great body of them removed from the Eastern Shore to Wyoming and Chemenk, carry- ing with them the exhumed bones of their fathers.
6. In 1751, Charles, Lord Baltimore, died. In 1727 he had for a year been Governor of Maryland, and again from 1733 to 1736. 1751. During his Proprietorship, Worcester county had been erected out of Somerset in 1742, and Frede- rick county, out of Prince George county, in 1748. He was succeeded by his son Frederick.
7. In answer to further inquiries by the Board of Trade and Plantations, in 1754, the num- ber of white inhabitants was stated to be one 1754. hundred and ten thousand, and that of the blacks forty-six thousand. Since 1748 two thousand eight hundred Germans had been brought into
and iron ? Of the population in 1748? 5. Of the Indians ? 6. What of Charles, Lord Baltimore ? What counties were erected during his Proprietorship ? 7. What of the popula-
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
the province, and five thousand immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland. Of the Indians of the province there remained only one hundred and forty. The Roman Catholics, as returned by the sheriffs to the Governor, constituted one-twelfth of the population, and their landed estate was shown to be one-thirteenth of the whole.
8. Lord Fairfax, the proprietor of what is called the "Northern neck of Virginia," had, without regard to the rights of Lord Baltimore, adopted the northern branch of the Potomac, in the Alleghany Mountains, as his boundary. In 1753 Lord Baltimore directed his Lieutenant- Governor, Sharpe, to investigate the matter; and it was ascertained that the true boundary was the south branch. A protest against Lord Fairfax's aggression was entered, but no attention was paid to it. Sundry attempts were afterwards made to set the matter right; but to this day it remains unsettled. By this invasion of his charter, Lord Baltimore was deprived of nearly half a million acres of his territory.
9. The Governor of Canada had, at this time, undertaken to maintain a communication between Quebec and New Orleans, along the Alleghany,
tion in 1754? Of the Germans, &c .? Of the Indians? What of the Roman Catholics at this time ? 8. What of Lord Fairfax and the northern boundary ? What did Lord Bal- timore direct ? Was this question settled? 9. What of
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INDIAN MASSACRE.
Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers. This project was resisted by the provinces of Pennsylvania and Virginia ; but their forces were defeated, and the Maryland frontier, in consequence, was left unpro- tected and exposed to the depredations of the savages.
10. In 1754 Maryland raised two companies for the protection of her border; and the 1755. command of all the forces engaged against the French on the Ohio was conferred, by a royal commission, on Governor Sharpe. Early in 1755 che troops under General Braddock, numbering twelve hundred men, were defeated, with the loss of sixty-four out of eighty-five officers, and one- half of the men killed or wounded.
11. This defeat spread terror and desolation on the frontiers, and the panic extended even to the Chesapeake. In Frederick county 1755. the Indians killed a family of twelve, and soon after fifteen more. Upwards of twenty planta- tions were laid waste, and their occupants mas- sacred or carried into captivity. The savages came within sixteen miles of Frederick. From that place west to the Conecocheague (kon-e-ko-checg') River, but two families remained in 1756.
the Governor of Canada ? What resistance was made ? 10. What force did Maryland send? Who commanded ? What happened in 1755? 11. How was the defeat regarded on the frontiers ? What of the Indians ?
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MARYLAND HISTORY.
CHAPTER XIII.
Memorial to the House of Delegates-Fort Frederick- Fort Duquesne captured-Taxation-Stone Windmill- Contributions in Aid of the Sufferers by a Fire in Bos- ton, Massachusetts-The Stamp Act-New State-House- Annapolis-Government House.
1. A MEMORIAL, addressed to the House of 1756. Delegates, in 1756, states that the French and their allies the Indians were commit- ting the most shocking barbarities in the back settlements, that the number of popish recusants had greatly increased, that some of these recusants held high offices in the province, that the Jesuit priests had accumulated great wealth, that they were believed to be in correspondence with the French, and were protected from the penalties of the courts.
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