Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1871-03-04

The Patriots Of the Valleys Of Toms
creek and O,Oings' creek IN Council.

The Patriots Of the Valleys Of Tom
creek and O,oings' creek IN Council.
The Dawn Of the Revolutionary Era
WHO WILL LEAD THE VAN?
When it was apparent from the OBJ
noxious measures adopted by the Bri
fish Government, to keep in subjec
ton the patriotic spirit Of the Ameri
can Colonies, and to conquer the ire
siahble impulse burning for Liberty
and Independence, meetings were hello
in Various portions of Massachusetts
Bay, Virginia and Maryland, to give
expression to the views Of the inhabi.
tants; for there were those who still
cherished a hope that the misunder'
standing existing between the Mother
Country, and her children in the Free
Land Of the West, would be amicably
adjusted. Annapolis and St. Mary's
county had spoken, and Gov. Eden
wished to hear from other sections Of
the hereditary domains Of Lord Balti.
mere and his descendants. The first
meeting held in Frederick county, as
published in the Maryland Gazette, at
Annapolis, was convened at the old
School House, not far from TroxeH's
mill, on Toms creek, on Sunday, the
2sth day Of Aug. 1910; and according
to the old recollection Of grandmother
Hoover, that meeting was numerously
attended by the old inhabitants who
were deeply impressed at the situa-
ton. The waters of that historic
stream ran placid, serene and clear
The murmuring Of the meandering
rivulets we're silent in a shaded bower.
The 6nny tribe were sporting in its
crystal waters. The primeval forest
wore its gayest attire. The birds
were warbling songs Of sweetest mu-
sic. Nature was lovely and the land
scepe Of St. Joseph's Valley charmed
to its broad acres the votaries of lib
erty and law justice and mercy.
There were present on that occasion
the gray haired sire and youth with
young and fiery blood. VIM. Blair,
an old resident of Scottish descent,
James Shields, Sen, William Shields,
Charles Robinson, Patrick Haney, Ro-
bert Brown, Henry Hockersmith, VIM.
Elder, son Of Guy, Samuel Westfall,
Moses Kennedy, Alexander Stewart,
VIM. Curran, jr., Charles Carroll, Will
liam Koontz, Christian Hoover, John
Smith, Daniel Mclean, John FAIRIES,
John Long, Arthur Row, John Crabs,
Moses Ambrose, George Kelly, Wal
ter Dulany, Thomas ]. Bowie, James
Park, Robert Agnew, John Carrick,
Frederick Troxell, Rudolf Mead, o.
tavius s. fancy, George Ovelman,
Dominick Bradley, Thomas Hughes,
Philip Weller, Jacob Valentine, Will
liam Brawner, Thomas Martin, Daniel
Morrison, William Munroe and Henry
Brooke and others.
3 It was agreed by Show of hands,
t..lat VIM. Blair, Esq. be called to the
Chair, and John FAIRIES appointed Sec
rotary.
The meeting was then addressed by
Waiter Dul,ny and VIM. Elder, son
of Guy, when the latter concluded by
Offering the following Resolution:
"Resolved, by the inhabitants Of
Toms creek, Frederick county, in the
province Of Maryland, loyal to their
King and country, that we re-affirm
the great Magma Charta of our Civil
and Religious Rights, as granted by
Charles Of England to Lord Balti-
more and the inhabitants of this Colo
ny as re-afirmed on the first landing
of the Pilgrim Fathers of Maryland !:
that there shall be perfect freedom Of
conscience, and every person be al
lowed to enjoy his religious and polit-
zeal privileges and immunities unmo-
Tested
It was read and re-read and adopted
by a showing of hands"
.Resolced, That the proceedings of
this meeting be published in the An
napolis Gazette and Bradford's paper
at Philadelphia,
There being no further business be-
fore the meeting, it adjourned sine die,
VIM. BLAIR, Ch'mn.
JOHN FARES, Sec'ry.
The proceedings Of this meeting
were brief and expressive. They were
not only published at Annapolis and
Philadelphia, but all through the war
of the Revolution this Resolution
stood as pillar in the Temple Of Lib
erty to guide the patriots Of the North
ern section of Frederick county. And
it was this great Catholic spirit Of tol-
Grafton which nerved every patriot
heart; that gave to the companies
commanded by Capts. VIM. Blair,
VIM. Shields, James Ogle, Benjamin
Ogle, Jacob Ambrose, Michael Trout
man, Peter Mantz, DR.. Philip Thomas,
and their comrades in arms, their
martial prestige, which made the men
of Frederick county so conspicuous
for yalor and heroic devotion to their
country's cause, in the days that tried
mems souls.
Capt. VIM. Blair's company was in
a Regiment commanded by Col. John
Eager Howard, of Baltimore. As soor
rs the news was heard from Licking
ion, and the massacre On Breed Hill
they resolved to go to the front. Tt
this company was assigned the van