The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-12-30
Historical Records of Hartford Co
DURING THE REVOLUTION.

DURING THE REVOLUTION.
About three years ago, we gave to the read.
ers of the Egis Dc InteAgencer chapter Of
entertaining "reminiscences concerning Har.
ford county, extracted from budget of an.
cient manuscripts that had come into posses.
sion of the publishers. These documents bear
date 1775-'6-about the period ofthe break
ing out of the war for American Indepen-
dence, and relate mainly to the enrolment OF
the citizens of the county liable to services
in the State militia and the Continental army.
Hartford county was then unknown, and
the districts that now compose the county
were designated by the English divisions
Of Hundreds, such as Deer Creek Lower
and Upper Hundred, Gunpowder Lower
and Upper Hundred, and SO on through
the list. Unheard OF, too, in those days,
was our thriving town Of Bel Air,
which was then "Scott's Old Fields
Havre de Grace was q more important
place then than now, but most of the other
localities, now so familiar to our readers,
were then without "local habitation or a
name," or existed under other names.
At the time of which we write, war had
been declared by the American Congress,
and the tocsin of the coming conflict was
sounding from one end of the thirteen Col
onies to the other. Then as in our late war,
there were two parties, and the right and
wrong of the Colonial Rebellion against
Great Britain was discussed as warmly
then as was our Southern Rebellion few
years ago.
As q means of ascertainlng who were the
friends and who the enemies of the Ameri-
can cause in Hartford county, committees
of"good men and true" were appointed in
each Hundred, who proceeded to enroll the
citizens, whose names Gin their own hand
writing) were appended to o parchment
document, setting forth the declaration of
the signers to resist to the death the en-
croachments of the Bristish Government.
These declarations are entitled "Associa-
ton of the Freemen of Maryland"-some
printed and few written-and all of date
July 20, 1775.
These Declarations of Independence as
they may be called, are signed by hundreds
Of names-names familiar to us, because
perpetuated by their descendants in our
midst at this day
THE NoN-AssooIAToRs.
Those who, for any reason, refused to
sign, were set down on another list as nom
associators or non-jurors. This class was
quite numerous. Having three years ago
published list of those who signed, we
now contine ourselves to the names of those
who refused to sign, giving some of their
reasons therefore:
In Spesutia Lower Hundred-Jos
William Dallam, Henry Jones, Griffith
Jones, John Durgan and Timothy Murphy,
have scruples Circumstance against fight
ing.
Alexander Durgan (no reason) l will
therefore venture one for him, which is the
most probable-cowardice.
Isaac Collins-he says he would rather
pay than fight.
Daniel Durbin begs till next week to
think about it.
Joshua Jones-going out of the country.
John Brown--signed one last fall and
won't sign again.
James Taylor, Sr.,-too old.
In Deer Creek Hundred-Thomas Gil
bert don't sign, for the reason that he don't
choose to do it.
Thomas West don't sign, because it is
all "mistry" to him.
Philip Cummins don't sign for the reason
that he don't understand the matter.
James Wood don't sign for the reason
Congrase don't sign, and for the further
reason that he thinks if the British gain
the day, then Congrase and the great peo-
pie will turn the scale and say that the
commonality ofpeople forced them to stand
in position against the King.
Ephraim Arnold don't sign for the very
sensible reason that it ''would fetch him
into scrape." 4
Isaac Penrose don't sign for the reason
that he don't. choose to fight for liberty,
nor never will"
In Suquehanna Hundred-James Ward
Mason, William Barns, son of Elizabeth,
Richard Johns, Quaker, and Nathaniel
Johns, decline to sign on the plea of re-
ligious principles.