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 6
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4. Lord Baltimore's administration came to an end in the province, and the Protestants acceded to power, in 1689, by an act of the General Assembly. In 1692 the Protestant religion of the Church of England was declared to be the established religion of the colony.
5. In 1696 it was ascertained, from the returns of the sheriff's of the counties, made by direction of the Governor, that one-twelfth of the population of the province were Roman Catholics, and about the same proportion Quakers. The proportion of the Presbyterians, Independents, and Luther- ans, together, could not have been greater.
6. Those returns also show that in the Esta- blished Protestant Church there were thirty pa- rishes, twenty-five places of public worship, and eighteen ministers. The Quakers had eleven places of meeting, and two preachers reported, and probably eight. The Roman Catholics had eight
What of all these denominations? 4. What religion was established in 1692? 5. What returns of religion were made in 1696? 6. What of the Established Protestant Church ? Of Quakers ? Of Roman Catholics ? Of Presbyterians ? Of
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chapels and five priests. The Presbyterians had three places of worship and two ministers. The Puritans, or Independents, had probably two or more places of worship, and three ministers. From the Lutherans there are no returns ; but we hear of one church and of one minister.
7. In 1758 the parishes of the Established Church numbered forty-three, with from seventy to seventy-five places of worship, and forty-three ministers. The proportion of Quakers had not increased since 1696. The Roman Catholics were reported to be one-twelfth of the population, and their taxable property one-thirteenth. From the Presbyterians there are no returns, but their num- bers had increased. The Lutherans had also in- creased in the northwestern part of the State.
8. Between 1760 and 1770 the Baptists and the Methodists had made a beginning in the province. The former are now, comparatively, not numerous, but the Methodists, including their several divisions, are the largest denomination in the State.
Puritans ? Of Lutherans ? 7. What of the various churches in 1758 ? 8. What of the Baptists ? Of the Methodists ?
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EDUCATION.
CHAPTER XIX.
EDUCATION IN MARYLAND.
First Act of the Assembly touching Schools-Act for the Support. of Free Schools-King William's Free School- Libraries-Public Academies-Charity School-Colleges -Washington College-St. John's College-University of Maryland-Agricultural College-State Board of Education -- State Normal School.
1. THE first act of the General Assembly touch- ing schools was that of 1694. It was an act for the maintenance of free schools, for which purpose a tax was laid on furs, beef, and bacon, exported from the province.
2. In 1695 this was re-enacted, and the duties laid for the support of free schools were made more specific :- thus, for every bear-skin, nine- pence sterling was levied; for every beaver-skin, four-pence; for otter-skins, three-pence each ; for wild cats', foxes', minks', fishers', and wolves' skins, one and a half-pence each ; for deer-skins, four- pence per skin ; for muskrat-skins, four-pence per dozen ; for raccoons, three farthings per skin ; for elk-skins, twelve-pence cach ; for young bear skins,
1. What of the first act about education ? 2. What re-en-
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two-pence each. Non-residents were required to pay double these assessments.
3. The fur-trade of Maryland was at this time large and profitable; and from the above list we may infer the variety of wild animals then found in our waters and forests. From these sources, funds for the support of free schools were derived for nearly thirty years.
4. In 1696, King William's Free School was founded in Annapolis. More than fifty thousand pounds of tobacco were contributed by the Bur- gesses of the Assembly to assist in defraying the , expenses of the building. Governor Nicholson gave twenty-five pounds sterling a year, while in office, towards the maintenance of the master. The Secretary of State and Council contributed eighteen thousand four hundred pounds of tobacco towards the cost of the building, and one gave two thousand pounds towards the support of the master; another gave ten pounds sterling. The school was afterwards endowed with donations of lands. It continued in operation till after the Revolution, 1776, when it was merged in St. John's College.
5. In 1698 and 1700, the Rev. Dr. Bray, the
actment in 1695 ? How were non-residents taxed ? 3. What of the fur-trade ? 4. Of King William's Free School ? What contributions ? What further of this school? 5. What of
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KING WILLIAM'S FREE SCHOOL.
Bishop of London's Commissary for Maryland, sent over libraries to almost all the parishes, for the use of the incumbents; and these were the first libraries formed in the province. Before this the Bishop of London had sent over Bibles and Prayer- books for distribution ; and after the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge was founded, about 1700, it was continually sending over Bibles, Prayer-books, small books, and tracts, to be given away.
6. In 1723 an act was passed establishing a free school in every county. Accordingly, these schools were erected, endowed, and successfully carried on till the Revolution. Soon after we had achieved our independence, the free schools of Kent and of the two adjoining counties were merged in Washington College, at Chestertown. Those of the four lower counties on the Western Shore were merged in Charlotte Hall, in St. Mary's. In the other counties, some were incorporated as academies, and others were sold for the county poor. Among the sources of revenue for the sup- port of free schools, about the time of their esta- blishment, was levied a tax of twenty shillings, in addition to what had been paid before, for every
libraries ? Of the Bishop of London? 6. What act was passed in 1723? Of Washington College ? Of St. Mary's ? What was done in the other counties ? Of revenue ? What of
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Irish papist servant, and for every negro imported into the province.
During this period, many of the parish clergy had classical schools, and there were public acade -. mies at Lower Marlboro, Calvert county, the Eden School in Somerset, and the academy at West Nottingham, Cecil county.
· 1750.
7. In 1750 a charity school was established in Talbot county, by Rev. Thomas Bacon, for maintaining and teaching poor children and instructing them in the knowledge and practice of the Christian religion. Liberal subscriptions were obtained, both in the province and in England, in support of this enterprise. Lord Baltimore contributed to the building one hundred guineas, and twenty-five pounds annually. This was the first manual-labor school in Maryland. Here children were taught until the Revolution. In 1787 the lands and buildings were conveyed to the trustees of the poor; and they are now used for the county almshouse.
8. Since the Revolution, there has been a great deal of legislation for the cause of education. Twenty-six colleges, ninety-two academies, and twenty female academies have been incorporated.
many parish clergymen ? 7. What of a charity school esta- blished in 1750? What of subscriptions to it ? What fur- ther is said of it? 8. What has been done since the Revo-
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COLLEGES.
Four general school laws, and nearly four hun- dred acts concerning common schools, have been passed.
9. Washington College, in Kent county, one of the colleges already mentioned as having been en- dowed by the State, was incorporated in April, 1782. It was so named after General Washington. He was a liberal contributor to its funds, and one of its first trustees. Before its incorporation it had been the Kent County School, under the charge of Rev. Dr. William Smith, with one hundred and forty students. Ten thousand pounds having been raised for it by private contributions, the General Assembly endowed it with twelve hundred and fifty pounds annually and forever, and the pro- ceeds of sundry things specified. It flourished till 1805, when the State annual donation was dis- continued. Thereafter it had a lingering exist- ence. Since 1856 it has had an annual State ap- propriation of three thousand dollars.
10. In 1784, St. John's College, at Annapolis was instituted, and had given it the unfinished , house built by Governor Bladen about 1746, four acres of land, seventeen hundred and fifty pounds annually from the State, and other proceeds, it being bound to educate, every year, five poor boys
lution ? 9. What of Washington College? What of contri- butions ? What is its subsequent history ? 10. What of St.
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free of expense. The funds of King William's School were also given to it. Many of the leading citizens of the State were educated here. But in 1805 the State withdrew its support, and thence- forth the college languished. In 1811 an act was passed appropriating one thousand dollars annually
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.
to the college. St. John's and Washington Colleges were united, under the name of the University · of Maryland, in 1784; but in 1805 the act was annulled. The present annual State appropriation is three thousand dollars for the college, and one thousand for the law school.
John's College ? What occurred in 1805? In 1811? What
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COLLEGES.
11. In 1812 the University of Maryland, in Baltimore, was created with State patronage. This was to consist of literary and classical, medi- cal, law, and theological faculties or colleges : of these the medical has attained high celebrity, under the direction of a succession of distinguished pro- fessors, of whom none perhaps have been more prominent than Professor N. R. Smith.
12. In 1856 the Legislature incorporated the Agricultural College near Bladensburg, in Prince George county, with an endowment of six thou- sand dollars per annum, fifty thousand dollars having been raised by private contributions. In 1865 it received from the United States two hun- dred and ten thousand acres of land, of which only the income on the amount of sales can be ex- pended. In 1866 the State appropriated forty- five thousand dollars for its benefit. It is man- aged by the State Board of Education and seven trustees appointed by the charter. Its buildings are of a high order of architecture.
13. In 1865 eight thousand dollars were ap- propriated by the legislature, as an endowment for a State Normal School, to be under the direc- tion of the State Board of Education. This has
further of it? 11. Of the University of Maryland ? 12 Of the Agricultural College ? Of the State Board of Educa-
محافظ ل بطالة
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been put into operation, with promising pros- pects, in Baltimore for the present.
14. In 1865 a uniform system of public in- struction was enacted by the General Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitu- tion. This embraces primary, grammar, and high schools for all the counties, and three col- leges for the State. The high schools receive, each, twelve hundred dollars annual State dona- tion. The primary and grammar schools are free.
15. These schools are supervised by Commis- sioners, appointed for the city of Baltimore by the Mayor, and for the counties by the State Board of Education. There is a Superintendent of Schools for each county, and a General Superin- tendent for the State.
16. Many of the teachers in colonial days were men of low attainments in learning, and of lower grade in morals, being convicts and redemp- tioners. The following advertisements, from the "Maryland Gazette," show somewhat the cha- racter and position of private schoolmasters at that period.
In the "Gazette" of February 28, 1771, is advertised a runaway servant-man, from Dor-
tion ? 13. Of the Normal School? 14. What system was organized in 1865? What did it embrace? 15. How are they supervised ? 16. What of teachers in colonial days ?
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SINGULAR ADVERTISEMENTS.
chester county, who had followed the occupation of a schoolmaster, much given to drinking and gambling.
"On February 17, 1774, "TO BE SOLD,
" A schoolmaster, an indented servant, who has got two years to serve.
"JOHN HAMMOND, near Annapolis.
"N.B .- He is sold for no fault, any more than we are done with him. He can learn book-keeping, and is an excellent good scholar."
What singular advertisements appeared in the "Maryland Gazette" ?
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BRIEF SKETCHES
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OF THE
Lives of Eminent Citizens of Maryland.
UPON the roll of honor Maryland has inscribed many names of patriots, statesmen, theologians, and philanthropists. A short biography of a few who shone brightest in this galaxy is given. Of their record the State may be justly proud.
Let the children emulate the virtues, public spirit, and devout love of country which made their fathers renowned in the national annals. Then the fires of patriotism will never cease to burn brightly upon our altars.
No names are recorded here but of those who slumber with the honored dead.
I EMINENT STATESMEN.
CHARLES CARROLL ; SAMUEL CHASE ; WILLIAM PACA ; THOMAS STONE; WILLIAM PINKNEY ; WILLIAM WIRT; FRANCIS SCOTT KEY; ROGER BROOKE TANEY; HENRY WINTER DAVIS.
CHARLES CARROLL of Carrollton was born at Annapolis, September 20, 1737, and died Novem-
, Where was Charles Carroll born, and when did he die ?
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CHARLES CARROLL.
ber 14, 1832. He was a patriot of the American Revolution, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the last survivor of that eminent band, having lived to see the Republic increase in population from three millions to over thirteen millions. He was educated in France. His vast estate made him in 1776 the richest man in America; but he risked all his wealth in the cause, of political freedom, urging the people to resistance and advising the burning of a vessel which brought tea into the harbor of Annapolis.
In 1775 he was a member of the committee of observation, and a delegate to the provincial con- vention.
In 1776 he went with Dr. Franklin, Judge Chase, and Rev. John-afterwards Archbishop- Carroll, to induce the Canadians to unite with the colonies. When he signed the Declaration, he ap- pended the name of his estate, that no other of the numerous family of Carrolls might suffer by his act. In 1788 he was elected a Senator of the United States, and continued in public life till 1810, when he retired and devoted himself to the care of his estate.
July 4, 1828, he laid the corner-stone of the
What is said of him? Where educated ? Of his estate ? What in 1775? In 1776? What did he append to his name ? What in 1788? On July 4, 1828? How old when he died ?
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· SAMUEL CHASE.
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Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, in the presence of a vast concourse of citizens. He died in the ninety- sixth year of his age, honored-even revered-by the American people.
SAMUEL CHASE, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Judge of the United States Supreme Court, was born in Somerset county, in '1741. The son of an Episcopal clergyman, he received a thorough education, and at the age of twenty years commenced the practice of the law in Annapolis. He was an ardent patriot, a leader of the friends of liberty, and a member of the Continental Congress of 1774.
In 1776 he went with the Carrolls on the mission to Canada. On his return, he travelled - through Maryland, arousing the people to resist British oppression. Through his eloquence and influence, the delegates were instructed to vote for the Declaration, of which he was the ardent supporter.
In 1783 he went as commissioner to England, to recover funds belonging to Maryland, and se- cured payment of six hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He was made Chief Justice of the State
What is said of Samuel Chase? What of his patriotism ? What did he do? Of his eloquence? What did he do in
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WILLIAM PACA.
Court, and in 1796 was appointed by Washing- ton an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1804 he was impeached for misdemeanor in conducting political trials, but was acquitted by the Senate.
His reputation is that of a pure patriot and a learned judge. He was sometimes overbearing and irascible. No statesman of the Revolution was .more earnest, or contributed more to secure for his State that noble record which she bore in the great struggle for independence. He died June 19, 1811, aged seventy.
WILLIAM PACA, a patriot of the Revolution, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Harford county, October 31, 1740. He enjoyed the advantages of a thorough classical and legal education, graduated at the College of' Philadelphia, and studied law in Annapolis. He was a member of the provincial legislature in 1771, and was eminent for his advocacy of the rights of the colonies, and for his opposition to the tyranny of the king. As a member of the Continental Congress, he affixed his name to the
1783? What offices did he hold? What occurred in 1804 ? What further is said of him ? Where did he die ?
What is said of William Paca ? What of his education ?
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THOMAS STONE.
Magna Charta of human rights. He held many offices of dignity and trust. For two years he was a Senator ; from 1778 to 1780, Judge of the Supreme Court ; in 1782, Governor of Maryland, to which office he was re-elected in 1786, being then a member of Congress.
In 1789 he was appointed Judge of the Dis- trict Court of the United States for Maryland, , which office he held at the time of his death, in 1799.
He is represented to have been a man of great worth, distinguished for a highly-cultivated in- tellect, for polished manners, and for public and social virtues. The State-house at Annapolis is adorned by a splendid portrait of this eminent citizen and patriot.
THOMAS STONE, the youngest of the Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence, was a lineal descendant of William Stone, who was Governor of the province during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell. (See page 29.) He was born in Charles county, in 1743, and received his education under the care of a Scotch gentleman
What in 1771? What offices did he hold? What in 1789 ? When did he die ? What was his character ?
What is said of Thomas Stone ? Of his birth and educa- tion ? Where did he study law ? What is said of him as a
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WILLIAM PINKNEY.
of erudition and taste. He studied law at Anna- polis, and commenced its practice at Frederick- town in 1769, but soon removed to Charles county. As a member of the Continental Con- gress, he stood forth a champion of his country's rights and honor. He was again a member of Congress when Washington resigned his office of commander-in-chief, and witnessed that sublime ceremony.
In 1787 he was appointed a delegate to the convention which formed the Constitution of the United States, but was obliged to decline. He died during the autumn of this year, at the early age of forty-four years, greatly lamented by all patriotic. citizens. He was repeatedly a member of the Senate of Maryland, and was in a variety of ways devoted to the liberty and welfare of the colonies. His early death deprived Mary- land of the counsels of a citizen who, by his pru- dence, energy, and wisdom, had won the respect and confidence of all classes of the people.
WILLIAM PINKNEY, one of the most eminent lawyers and statesmen of Maryland, was born at
member of the Continental Congress ? What in 1787? When did he die? What further is said of him ?
What is said of William Pinkney ? What in 1788? In
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WILLIAM PINKNEY.
Annapolis, March 12, 1764. Early in life he gave indication of unusual talent. At eighteen years of age he commenced the study of medi- cine, but soon abandoned it for the law. His first efforts established his reputation. In 1788-then only twenty-four years old-he was a member of the convention which ratified the Con- stitution of the United States, and subsequent- ly was elected to the House of Delegates, to the Senate, and to the Council.
In 1796 he was sent to. London, by Presi- WILLIAM PINKNEY. dent Washington, as Commissioner, and returned in 1804, to be Attor- ney-General of his native State. In 1806 he went to England as minister, returning in 1811, to be Attorney-General of the United States.
In the War of 1812 he laid aside the toga and girded on the sword, as captain of volunteers, and was severely wounded at the battle of Bla- densburg. He was afterwards a member of Con-
1796? In 1806? What of him in the War of 1812? In the
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WILLIAM WIRT.
gress, minister to Russia, and special minister to Naples.
In 1819 he was elected United States Senator. Here he was one of the leading orators, and pos- sessed great influence. He advocated the Mis- souri Compromise, by which it was determined that slavery should be excluded from all States erected out of territory north of latitude 36° 30'. It was the unjust violation or repeal of this Com- promise which commenced the agitation which led to the rebellion of 1861.
Pinkney died February 22, 1822, aged fifty- eight years. He was by general acknowledgment at the head of the American bar, holding the same position as that of Daniel Webster some years later, and now held by an eminent Maryland lawyer and statesman, Hon. Reverdy Johnson.
WILLIAM WIRT was born in Bladensburg, November 8, 1772. His father was a native of Switzerland, his mother of Germany. At the age of eight years, he was left an orphan, under the care of his uncle. He attended school four years, and when fifteen years old had completed the
year 1819? What did he advocate ? When did Pinkney die? What is further said of him ?
What is said of William Wirt? What of his early educa-
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WILLIAM WIRT.
course of Latin and Greek classics usually taught in the academies. Not having the means of pro- curing a college edu- cation, he taught school for two years. He then commenced the study of law, and at the age of twenty was admitted to practice at Culpepper Court, in Virginia, where he be- came acquainted with Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. He was WILLIAM WIRT. Clerk of the House of Delegates, and Chancellor of the Eastern Shore.
At this time he contracted habits of dissipa- tion, which would have proved his ruin had he not met with James Waddell, an eloquent blind preacher, whose sermons made so great an impres- sion upon him that he was led to embrace a godly life.
In 1807 he assisted at the trial of Aaron Burr, and displayed learning and eloquence which esta- blished his reputation as one of the leading orators of the day.
tion ? Of the study of law ? Of his dissipation ? What did he do in 1807 ? What of him in 1816? In 1817 ? What
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WILLIAM WIRT.
In 1816 he was Attorney of the United States for Virginia. In 1817 he was appointed by President Monroe Attorney-General of the United States, which office he held twelve years. Re- tiring from public life, he removed to Baltimore and devoted himself to the practice of his profes- sion. In 1832 he was the candidate of the Anti- Masonic party for the Presidency of the United States. He died February 18, 1834, aged sixty- two years.
The reputation of Wirt as a scholar and a writer was high. He published several works, of which the "Life of Patrick Henry" is the most popular. It has been styled "a most masterly handling of the pen of biography."
In all the relations of private life, as a man and as a Christian, he was exemplary, and was regarded with affection and veneration. His bio- graphy has been written by J. P. Kennedy, of Baltimore, one of the most distinguished, learned, and patriotic of the living citizens of Maryland, now ripe in years and honor.
on his retiring from public life ? What in 1832? When did he die? What of him as a scholar and a writer? In bis private life ? What further is said of him ?
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FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, the author of the "Star- Spangled Banner," was a native of Maryland. He was born in Frederick county, August, 1779, and died on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. How- ard, in Baltimore City, January, 1843.
He graduated at St. John's College, Annapolis, at the early age of seventeen. In his class were `Robert Henry Goldsborough, subsequently United States Senator, and his friend, Daniel Murray, Dr. John Shaw, and others, called by their dis- tinguished president his "tenth legion," on account of their brilliant success in their studies.
Mr. Key, in after-life, loved to go back in memory to these days. In an alumni address of 1827, he said, "Thirty years ago I stood · within that [college] hall, with the associates of my early joys and labors, and bade farewell to them, to our revered instructors, to the scenes of our youthful happiness, and received the parting benediction of that beloved and venerated man [Dr. John McDowell] who ruled the institution he had raised and adorned not more by the force of authority than by affection.
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