The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-04-11
The Old Jail and its Historic Connections.

For The Cecil Wing.
The Old Jail and its Historic Connections.
1t has always been general character
istic of our race to delight to revel in the
records of antiquity; thus the moderns,
standing on the vantage ground Of former
discoveries, and uniting all the fruits of the
experience of their forefathers, with their
own actual observation, enjoy a more en-
larged and comprehensive view of things
than the ancients; not because we have
greater capacities, but simply because we
enjoy far greater capabilities. Amongst
the darkness which enshrouds the early
history of Cecil, we have been enabled, to
SO vocalize the glimmering rays of light,
which do penetrate to the dark recesses of
our county's archives, as to present these
few and disconnected facts, as generally
correct.
Delighted most give delight-we will
Though much of mystery yet to us remains
CHANGING back of the revolutionary per-
iod, we find Cecil county under the control
and subject to the Crown Of England, and
more directly subjected TO the will of the
County Governor, which Governor was
appointed by the Crown. Maryland was
granted to George Calvert, Lord Balti-
more, by Charles l.; the first settlement
was by Leonard Calvert, together with
about 200 Catholics, in 1854; but the first
40 hot
find any record of, was formed by com
pany of Swedes in 1854. The first county
seat was located on Elk river, at Court
House point; this place being destroyed by
the British it was moved to Charlestown.
A short time after this we find the courts
and election held at Elkton in a house now
owned by Mr.. VIM. p. Howard, situated
on lot which is to this day called g the
green;' it we'll be remembered that the
whole county voted at Elkton.
This continued to be the practice until
1891, when the Court House and Jail were
erected at Elkton. AS the County Gem
missioners' records have been but partially
preserved, they do not disclose the name of
the contractor, who built these public
buildings, but old folks - tell us it was
Louis Miller, the grandfather of Hon. John
NJ. Miller, of Elkton. We would here
again appeal to the records for the exact
cost of these two temples: the one of JUS
tice, the other of Punishment; the whole
cost we find to be 100 pounds 700 of
which was expended on the jail and 200
on the Court House. Whether this ex
ceedingly limited amount is to be account
ed for by the fact that the people Of that
age we're more frugal and vlrtuous, or
material fer building cheaper and more
easily obtained, than at the present time,
we leave an open question. The "pound'
we presume was federal money, which was
of the value of $2.6G.
The sheriff, upon whom rested the honor
of being the first to enter the new Jail was
Samuel Maffitt, Esq. He gave the follow
ing bond to the State of Maryland
Know all men by these presents, that
we, Samuel Maffitt, sheriff, James Mackey
and Thomas Mafitt, gentlemen, all of
Cecil county and State of Maryland, are
held and firmly bound, to the State afOre-
said, in the full sum and just quantity, of
two hundred thousand pounds of good mer-
charitable leaf tobacco and casks, to be
paid to the State, to the which payment,
we'll and truly to be made, we bind our
selves and every one of us. one and every
OF our heirs, executors and administrators,
Jointly and severally for the whole, and in
the whole, firmly by these presents; sealed
I -,th l., t,,f1,
day of October, seventeen hundred and
ninety one. The conditions of the above
obligation is such, that if the above
bounden Samuel Maffitt do well and truly
serve the State in the office of sheriff of the
county within the State aforesaid, and in
all things we'll and faithfully execute the
same office. and also shall render to the
State, and other her officers true, faithful
and perfect account of ALL and singular,
the States rights and dues; and to her Off
GERS a true and just account of their fees
that he shall or may be entrusted with, by
the State, or Governor and other his officers
within this State, to receive and collect;
and his accounts to the State, and to the
Governor and other his officers within this
State for this time being; for the fines and
tOrfeitures and other dues, belonging to
the State or Governor; us also his account
of all fees and dues and sums of money
due to any of the good people within this
State; for any sum or sums of money or
| tobacco wherewith the said sheriff shall be
entrusted during the term of his office; and
in all other things of sheriff of Cecil coun-
ty, shall behave himself we'll and honestly
| towards all persons, according to the best
of his skill and knowledge; then this
obligation to be void and of no effect, or
else to stand in full force, strength and
virtue, &c.
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in open
Court, in the presence of Tobias Rudolph
and Stephen Hyland.
SAMUEL MAFFITT. [Seal.
THOMAS MAFFITT. [Seal.
JAMES MACKEY. [Seal.
Recorded the Goth day of October, 1891,
and examined by 10 BANTER, elk.
The following is the order of sherffs,
who lived in the old Jail:
1891. Samuel Mafftt.
1894. Peregrine Briscoe.
1897. Abner White.
1900. James Heset.
1903. Samuel Couden.
1906. Joseph Baxter,
1909. Thomas Taylor.
1912. Geo. w. Lghtner.
1915. Robt. c. Lusby.
1918. VIM. Matfitt.
1921. Francis Gillespie.
1924 r. c. Lusby.
1927. Thos. Miller.
1880. Geo. Mccullough.
1888 Noble Pennington.
1886. VIM. Mccullough.
1889. Daniel McCauley.
1912. Edward L. Foard.
lS45 benjamin Sergeant.
1S4S. VIM. Haines.
1851. John Janney.
1858. Robert NJ. Walmsey.
1855. John j. r. Poole.
1857. Barclay Reynolds.
1859 James E. Oldham.
1861. Eli Cosgrove.
1868. James b. Price.
1869. E. Wesley Janney.
1867. Amos Alexander.
1869. Geo. w. Denny.
OF these 80, two died before their terms
of Office had expired. Thomas Taylor in