USA > Maryland > Montgomery County > The history of Montgomery county, Maryland, from its earliest settlement in 1650 to 1879 > Part 5
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In the succeeding year ROCKVILLE was selected as the County-seat. It was then but a small hamlet, with several small holdings, including Hungerford's Tavern, which is still standing and occupied by Mrs. Susan Russell, whose grand- father, Joseph Wilson, built and owned it, and the AAnderson house, in which Miss JJulia Anderson lives. The old court-
53
V
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
house was built shortly afterwards, and the first Court held in 1779.
On the 3rd of August, 1784, William Prather Williams pur- chased the land surrounding the court-house. and immediately cansed it to be laid off into streets and town lots by Col. Archi- bald Orme, County Surveyor, and named it Williamsburg.
At the November Session, 1801, of the General Assembly of the State, an Act was passed, which, after reciting that the titles to these lots were uncertain, because there was no record of the survey thereof made by Col. Orme, erected the place into a town called Rockville, and appointed Commissioners to re- survey it.
At the November Session, 1802, there was a supplemental Act passed, and, in 1803, the Commissioners caused the re- survey and a plan of the town to be made by William. Smith, County Surveyor, which is recorded in Liber L., of the Land Records of the County.
It was at first contemplated to call the town Wattsville, but Watts' Branch being regarded as too insignificant a stream, it was finally concluded to honor its more assuming neighbor, Rock Creek, and hence the name, Rockville.
The old Hungerford, or Russell House, is not only the oldest building in the place, but also, from its associations, the object of greatest interest to the antiquary. Mrs. Richard Wootton, a sister-in-law of that Thomas Sprigg Wootton who moved the erection of the County, danced at a ball given in it one hundred and nine years ago.
The new County having been erected and furnished with a capital, it soon became necessary to lay it off into precincts; and, in 1798,can Act of Assembly was passed to divide it into five election districts, which was affirmed in 1799; and, in the same year, Daniel Reintzell, Hezekiah Veitch, Thomas Fletch- all, John Adamson, and Thomas Davis, were appointed Com- missioners, and marked out its five divisions, consisting of Rockville district, Medley's district, Berry's district, Cracklin district, and Clarksburg district.
In 1878, the County was re-districted and divided into eight election precincts, viz: First district, Cracklin; Second district, Clarksburg; Third district, Medley's; Fourth district, Rock-
P
54
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
ville; Fifth district, Berry's; Sixth district, Darnestown; Sev- enth district, Bethesda; Eighth district, Mechanicsville.
The political and territorial organization of the County was completed, and the first Court held at the house of Leonard Davis, on the 20th of May, 1777,-the memorable old Hunger- ford Tavern, only Leonard Davis had succeeded Charles Hun- gerford as host. Present :- the Worshipful Charles Jones, Samuel W. Magruder, Elisha Williams, William Deakins, Rich- ard Thompson, James Offutt, and Edward Burgess; Brook Beall, Clerk; Clement Beall, Sheriff.
The first Register of Wills was Samuel West, who served until the close of 1777, when he was succeeded by Richard Wootton.
Orphans' Courts and Registers of Wills were established in 1777. These Courts at first consisted of seven Justices of the Peace in the several counties, any three of whom constituted a quorum.
The present system, except that the Justices were appointive instead of elective, was established in 1790. The first Justices under the new system were Thomas Cramphin, Jr., Richard Wootton, and William Holmes. The names of the Justices who first served as Judges of the Orphans' Court, under the old system, have been lost, as no record of them can be found in the County.
The members from this County, to the State Convention of 1776, were Thomas Sprigg Wootton, Jonathan Wilson, William Bayly, Jr., and Elisha Williams.
CHAPTER IX.
A Period of One Hundred and Forty Years. The First Conti-
mental Congress. Maryland Convention. Enrollment und Organization of Companies. The First Blood shed in the Revolutionary War, 19th April, 1775. Captain Cresup's Com- pany. Their Bravery in battle. Powder Mills. Cannon Manufactories. Contingent called from Montgomery County. The deeds of prowess in Virginia and the Carolinas. Revolu- tionary Officers from the County. The War of 1812. Distin- guished Officers in the War of the Rebellion.
THE First Continental Congress met at Philadelphia, on the 5th of September, 1774. It issued a Manifesto, setting forth the rights and grievances of the Colonies, and, on its adjourn- ment, the Maryland Convention assembled and approved of the proceedings of the Congress. The power and dominion of the last Proprietary of Maryland closed with the organization of this Convention.
A period of one hundred and forty years had passed since two hundred pioneers, under Leonard Calvert, landed at Saint Mary's; their descendants had extended themselves throughout the length and breadth of its boundaries; covered the Eastern Shore with wealth and civilization,-crossed the Blue Ridge, filling its valleys with a bold and hardy population. Commerce was filling its bays and rivers with fleets; the forge and furnace were already at work, although burdened by the restrictive laws of England ;- the germs of her future prosperity were budding forth and giving promise of the greatness which this day sees realized. Thus stood the people of Maryland in the crisis which was approaching; liberal in their sentiments, proud of their liberties, prepared to extend them, and ready to maintain them with their lives.
The Convention called upon the people of Maryland to bury all private animosities, all religious disputes, all memory of past
56
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
persecution, and "in the name of God, their country and pos- terity, to unite in defence of the common rights and liberties."
The Convention again assembled on the 8th of December, 1774, to make preparations for an armed resistance to the power of England. The old government still retained the form and machinery of power; the new, without these, possessed an irre- sistible authority throughout the colony. The source of its power was not its legal form, but public sentiment. Resting on this, it needed not penalties and judicial tribunals, for the do- minion that has public sentiment for its throne is irresistible. Those who refused to submit to the decrees of. the Convention were denounced by that body, and from that moment the offen- ders became the objects of scorn and contempt of their coun- trymen.
The Convention then ordered all males, from sixteen to fifty years of age, to be enrolled and organized into companies; to be armed, equipped and drilled, ready for instant service. These orders were immediately carried out; old and young enrolled with the greatest enthusiasm. Maryland was prepar- ing herself for the struggle, in which she won so glorious a name.
On the 19th of April, 1775, the struggle culminated in open conflict, and the first blood shed in the Revolutionary War was at Lexington. After the battle of Bunker Hill there was no more hesitation; Congress determined, not only to defend the rights of the people, but to drive out the British troops. Thomas JJohnson, of Maryland, had the honor of nominating General Washington as Commander-in-chief of the American forces.
The Convention again met on the 26th July, 1775, and ordered the formation of a regular force, to be composed of a battalion, of which Colonel Smallwood received the command, and seven independent companies, numbering in all 1444, besides two companies of artillery and one of marines.
By a resolution of Congress, two companies of riflemen were called for from Maryland. These companies were soon filled with the hardy pioneers of Montgomery and Frederick Coun- ties. Captain Cresap's company numbered one hundred and thirty men, who were armed with tomahawks and rifles; were painted like Indians, and dressed in hunting shirts and moccas-
57
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
sins. These men were ordered to march to the camp around Boston, being joined by like companies from Virginia and Penn- sylvania. The arrival of these stalwart fellows, such as Wash- ington had known in his early campaigns, many of them six feet and upwards in height, and of vigorous frame-in their fringed frocks and round hats, excited great wonder among the rustic visitors of the camp. Their dash, their skill-"they could hit a mark while advancing at quickstep, at the distance of two hundred and fifty yards,"-their striking costume, caused them to be looked upon with jealousy by the plainer troops about them,-who seemed to think that all valor, as well as virtue, was enclosed in the round jacket and trowsers of Mar- blehead,-and it was well for the gaily clad sons of the South, that their behaviour in battle was always equal to the expecta- tion they excited. In the sharpest conflict of the war, it was they "who stemmed the current of the bloody fight." The officers of these were Michael Cresap, Thomas Warren, Joseph Cresap, Jr., Richard Davis, Thomas Price, Otho H. Williams, and John Ross Key. Many were too impatient to endure the delay of organizing these troops, and hastened to join the camp before Boston, at their own expense. Among these was James Wilkinson, afterwards a Major-General in the United States' service.
Great difficulty was experienced in obtaining supplies, the arsenal at Annapolis was almost empty. To overcome these difficulties, the Convention gave encouragement and gratuities for the manufacture of saltpetre, materials for clothing and munitions of war. Powder mills were erected, and Mr. Hughes, of Montgomery County, agreed to furnish cannon for the pro- vince, and established a foundry on the Potomac River, at Green Spring, one mile above Georgetown, where the first cannon were made in this country,-a portion of the old stone building still remains, while broken fragments of cannon are at this time to be found in the stream of water that flows at the base of the building.
The Convention having resolved to enroll forty companies of minute men, required eight or one-fifth of the whole to be raised in Frederick County, which then included what is now Mont- gomery and Washington Counties.
5
58
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
In raising the State contingent to reinforce the Federal armies in 1778, two years after the formation of Montgomery County, of the whole number, 2902 men required, Frederick's quota was 309, Montgomery's was 156, and Washington's 108 men, about the same proportion, one-fifth.
.
The two batallions required from Maryland for the relief of Boston were both selected from Montgomery and Frederick Counties, and from the number of officers from Montgomery who survived the Revolution and joined the Cincinnati Society at its close, it will be seen that a large portion not only of those troops, but of the entire Maryland line, were from this County. The names of the members of the Cincinnati Society were, C. Ricketts, Lieutenant; Lloyd Beall, Captain; Samuel B. Beall, Lieutenant; Henry Gaither, Captain; Richard Anderson, Cap- tain; James McCubbin Lingan, Captain; Richard Chiderson, Captain; David Lynn, Captain. 'In addition to the members of that Society were Colonels Charles Greenbury Griffith and Richard Brooke; Captains Edward Burgess and Robert Briscoe; Lieutenants Greenbury Gaither, John Gaither, Elisha Beall, Elisha Williams, John Lymm and John Courts Jones; Ensigns Thomas Edmonson, John Griffith and William Lamar, and Quartermaster Richard Thompson, all from this County.
It was a dark hour that the Maryland line was destined to enter the field. On the 10th of July, 1776, six days after the passage of the Declaration of Independence, six companies under Colonel Smallwood, and three from Baltimore, embarked for the head of Elk River, whence they marched to New York, and were incorporated in Lord Stirling's Brigade. They were well appointed and organized, composed of young and spirited men, who had already acquired the skill and presence of well drilled soldiers. No unofficer-like appearance and deportment could be tolerated by the Marylanders, who at this time were distinguished by the most fashionable cut coats, the most stylish of cocked hats, and the hottest blood in the Union. On their arrival they immediately won the confidence of the Com- mander-in-Chief, and from the moment of their arrival, were thrown upon the advanced posts, and disposed as covering parties.
The four independent companies remaining in Maryland, as was also the flying camp, were ordered to join Col. Smallwood.
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59
1
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
The achievements and deeds of valor performed by the offi- cers and men in the desperate battles on Long Island, White Plains, Fort Washington, Trenton and Princeton, gave to the Old Maryland Line its synonym for heroic valor and devoted patriotism. During this campaign, a most dark and bloody one, but full of glory to the Maryland Line, the regiment was reduced to a mere handful of men under the command of a captain. The old line was almost annihilated.
It having been found necessary to establish an army in the South for the purpose of re-conquering South Carolina and Georgia from the British, and drive the invaders from North Carolina, the Maryland Line was detached from the main army, near New York in April, 1780, and marched through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and embarked at the head of Elk River for Baltimore. The first and second brigades were immediately filled up, and passed through the State early in May, num- bering about two thousand men, many of whom were from Montgomery and Frederick Counties. The most of that gallant and veteran army looked for the last time upon their beloved State; they offered up their lives in the defence of their brothers in the South. Their deeds of prowess, from the battle of Can- den, where, under the command of Colonel Otho H. Williams, of Montgomery County, General Smallwood, and Colonel John Eager Howard, including the bloody struggles of Cowpens, Guilford Court House, Ninety-Six, Eutaw Springs, and the Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, which took place on the 19th of October, 1781, nobly exemplifying the fact, that from the Heights of Brooklyn to the cotton fields of the Carolinas, the Maryland Line maintained their reputation for discipline and valor, worthy to be enrolled on monuments of marble and bronze. They were not mercenary soldiers, but farmers, mer- chants, and mechanics, who pledged their fortunes and lives to the cause of liberty.
The officers, elected by the Convention for this County, con- sisted of Colonels, John Murdock and Zadok Magruder; Lieu- tenant Colonels, Thomas Johns and Charles G. Griffith; First Majors, Richard and Francis Deakins; Second Majors, William Deakins and Richard Crabb; Quarter-Master, Samuel Du Vall. These were the representative men of the day, and as sponsors
60
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
of the cause of independence and freedom in its infancy, are worthy of perpetual remembrance.
/ Montgomery County furnished soldiers for the War of 1812, V in which Major George Peters served with distinction. At the battle of Bladensburg, in 1814, the militia from this County and Prince George's, under the command of Commodore Barney, aided by a body of seamen and marines, maintained their ground until they were overpowered by numbers, and the Com- modore taken prisoner. The enemy then proceeded to Wash- ington, burned the Capitol, President's house and many other buildings. President Madison was compelled to take flight, and sought safety in Brookeville, in this County, from whence he issued his dispatches. In the late war between the sections, a large force entered the armies. Among the officers in the Con- federate service, none were more distinguished for capacity, efficiency and valor, than the lamented Colonel Ridgely Brown, Colonel Elijah Veirs White, Colonel T. H. S. Boyd, Colonel Gus Dorsey and Colonel Benjamin S. White. In addition to these, there were Captains Thomas Griffith, Festus Griffith, George W. Chiswell and James Anderson, and Lieutenant Edward Chiswell, Surgeon Edward Wootten, and a host of other officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, all of · revolutionary descent, and who, whether in a good or bad cause, illustrated the valor of the race and well maintained the repu- tation of the old Maryland Line.
So, from the first French and Indian War upon our borders, to the late sectional struggle, the people responded with alacrity to what they conceived to be the call of military duty. Their hearts ever glowing with the fire of patriotism.
CHAPTER X.
First Revolutionary Soldier. Montgomery's Revolutionary Roll. Pension Acts. Names of Pensioners. Meteoric Showers, as witnessed at the home of Charles Saffell, the Oldest Pensioner on the List. Scenes in Gaithersburg and Rockville.
THE first Revolutionary soldier pensioned in Montgomery County was James Carrant. He was placed on the roll in com- plianee with the general Invalid Pension Law, approved June 7th, 1785, and died September 4th, 1822. Francis Hutchinson was also a pensioner, but not revolutionary. He belonged to the regular army of the United States. Samuel Harris was pensioned as a matross of the revolutionary artillery, and died on the 19th of September, 1826; and William A. Needham was also a revolutionary pensioner, placed on the roll in 1808. William O'Neal, was a private in the Maryland militia at some period not known, and placed on the pension roll, per Aet April 30th, 1816, at the rate of $48 per annum; and Samuel B. White was a private in the revolutionary army, pensioned per Act June 7th. 1785, and died January 16th, 1832. James White was also a pensioner, per Act June 7th, 1785. He belonged to the revolutionary army, but the time of his death is not known. All the soldiers named above were invalid pensioners, pensioned on account of wounds and disability received in the service of the United States, in the line of their duty, and they honorably appear on old Montgomery's roll of honor, as good men, tried and true.
The following revolutionary soldiers, residing in Montgomery County, were pensioned by an Act of Congress, approved the 18th of March, 1818. In order to obtain the benefit of this Act, they were required to prove nine months service in the Conti- nental army, and exhibit, under oath, a schedule showing that their property was worth no more than $500. Another Act was passed on the 1st of May, 1820, requiring the exhibition of
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
another schedule, and, if in the meantime, their property had increased, so as to exceed 8500 in value, they were dropped from the pension roll. These Aets of Congress were very dis- tasteful to the old soldiers, for they looked upon them as offer- ing a reward to soldiers for keeping themselves in poverty. The first name in the County placed on the pension roll, in com -. pliance with the Act of 1818, was John Robbins, on the 6th of April, 1818, aged 72 years, at the rate of $96 per annum. He belonged to the "Old Maryland Line," so distinguished in all the battles in which it took a part. All the pensioners under this Act, if privates, received $96 per annum; if commissioned officers, they were allowed $240 per annum. The second name placed on the roll was that of JJoseph Ray, aged 65 years, also of the Maryland Continental Line. Then followed the names of Thomas Penefill, aged 72 years, who died December 15th, 1832; James Ervin, aged 67, who died June 28th, 1827; George Field, aged 80, time of death unknown; Robert Hurdle, aged 75, time of death unknown; John Jordon, aged 77, time of death unknown; Henry Leeke, age not given, dropped from the roll per Act May 1st, 1820, time of death nnknown. These were privates of the Maryland Line.
James Campbell, of Virginia Line, aged 71 years, private, died September 14th, 1827; Beltzor Lohr, Pennsylvania Line, aged 76, private, died February 27th, 1827; Thomas Lingau, Lieutenant, Maryland Line, aged 67, died May 28th, 1825; William Layman, Ensign, Maryland Line, aged 81, dropped from the roll per Act May 1st, 1820, restored March 22nd, 1826, time of death unknown. The two officers last named were pen- sioned at the rate of $240 per annum.
The following named soldiers of the revolutionary war, residing in the County, were pensioned per Act of Congress, approved June 7th, 1832. The minimum rate of pension allowed a pri- vate under this Act, was $20 per annum for six months service in any department of the revolutionary army, and increased, pro rata, according to the time of service, so as not to exceed the rate of $80 per annum, the maximum, for two years service. No grade of officer was allowed more than $600 per annum, for two years service. Periods of service for less than two years, were rated according to rank and time of service. Every soldier was entitled to pension under this Act, without regard to
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
the value of his property, and many who lost their pensions on the passage of the Act of May 1st, 1820, were restored by the Act of 1832. All pensions under this Act were made to commence on the 4th of March, 1831: Those pensioned were as follows:
- Geo. Beckwith, Sergeant, $32.50 per ann., Maryland Line, age 74.
Richard Barrett, 66 36.15
" 79.
Giles Easton, Private,
30.00
66
73.
Caleb Galworth, “
80.00
66
66
77.
Chas. Morris, Corporal, 79.66
New York 66
66
84.
Joseph Warfield, Lieutenant, 85.97
Saml. Griffith, Captain, 414.00
66
-
James Fling, Private,
80.00
Virginia 66
66
-
Chas. Saffell, Musician, 88.00
Maryland
66
76.
Charles Saffell, the oldest man on the list, died in 1837.
The following thrilling account of a visit to the home of this old veteran, on the occasion of the great Meteoric Showers on the night of the 12th of November, 1833, four years previous to his death, will be interesting.
" Five miles beyond the mill, (Clopper's on the great Seneca,) at early candle-light, I reined up at the farm of Charles Saffell, an old soldier, then 84 years of age, who had been a musician in the Revolutionary Army. The old gentleman had a drum, fife and fiddle, an old English musket, which he captured at the battle of Brandywine, and many other relies from the 'days that tried men's souls.' He was spending the cahn evening of his long life in singing our long catalogue of heroes, yet un- sung; and from his sweet flute, fife and violin I ardently drank in the inspiring melodies of the revolution. At the hour of ten o'clock I took a candle and a row of paper matches, about the length and appearance of a row of pins, and retired to bed in an upper room. The matches were made by cutting out a piece of paper about three inches long, and one wide, and making a dozen clips with a pair of seissors, into one of the longer edges of the paper so prepared, as to extend about three- quarters of the distance across its width. This clipped edge was dipped into the combustible mixture, and when dry, all that was necessary to produce a flame, was to tear off one of these clippings and draw its dipped ends gently along between the tip of the forefinger and the wall of your room, or over the
:
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
surface of any other rough substance. I struck the match, the first kind known in trade, and with a cheerful and glad heart lit the candle. I was under the cover and yielded to tired nature's sweet restorer, but soon encountered very singular and inexplicable experience, which I will mention, for I am writing facts, of which I ought not to be ashamed. The air being keen and frosty, three counterpanes were on the bed, and I slid under them and made a survey of the surroundings in the dark room before trying my hand at sleep. On entering the room I discovered a wooden bolt on the door and made it fast against intrusion; saw several chairs, other articles of furniture, and two windows only, over which curtains were hanging, one of them being at the back of the bed, within reach of the occu- pant. Trying my hand at sleep, I met with half success, but just at this stage of proceeding, imagine my surprise when, by somne unseen force, the three counterpanes were drawn violently from the bed to the floor! After recovering from my surprise and fright, I visited the ruins on the floor, recaptured the counterpanes, and courted sleep once more. After a time, I fell into a troubled sleep, and down went the counterpanes again with greater violence than at first. I sprang down after them, found the matches, lit the candle, and searched for the intruder, but no such party could be found, neither in nor under the bed, nor elsewhere in the room.
"I made up the bed again, got in, tried to sleep, but the fates had decreed that I should not, for sleep had departed to climes to me unknown. After a long trial, I know not how long, I nervously fell into its arms again, but was suddenly roused by a terrific stream of unearthly light, flashing through the win- dow, curtain and all, and blazing over the room from floor to ceiling! Suddenly drawing the curtain aside, I beheld a great ball of fire, as large as the sun and moon, appear, rushing from the direction of the zenith, and describing a circular or parabolic curve towards the far distant south-western horizon! Hearing at the same time a great uproar among the servants down in the yard, I sprang from the bed to the next window, and looked out upon the great Meteorie shower of the 12th and 13th of Novem- ber, 1833. Rushing down into the yard, I saw a squad of fright- ened servants, so terrified indeed that they knew nothing save that the world was coming to an end. The old soldier appeared
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