The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-03-18
PORT Deposit:
Forty Years Ago and Now.

WI
Forty Years Ago and Now.
LETTER No. :.
MIR. EDIToR:-In my readings of the
history of the Revolutionary War, or of
our last war with Great Britain, do not
remember of any battle that was fought,
from which battle Swamp" takes it's
cognomen, and | will not speculate on its
origin.
Moving southwark from this place were
the Lintons, Haines, Whitakers, Hassons,
Shannons, Wiers and others bordering on
the Barrens. Further west was Samuel
Gays. Squire Gay was one of the oldest
inhabitants, a Presbyterian of the old
school and a sectarian. He was active in
business, Jealous in religion, and rigid in
his observance of the Sabbath. The writer
has known him after he was seventy years
of age, 1cdlE to Nottingham Church, rather
than use horse that had been worked all
the week. Late in life the Squire visited
Washington city for the first time. On
his return he spent an evening with the
writer, and gave very entertaining account
of his visit. He was especially impressed
with the discovery he there made, while
attending the sessions of Congress, that
some who were cery great men at home,
were rery small men in Washington. !
don't know that the Congressman OF the
present day are much improvement over
those of that time. Close to Mr.. Gays,
was an old log school house, with a sir feet,
sic plate stove, that would have been well
adapted to heating the sash factory at
Port. Some of the neighbors determined
to erect a neat modern house in its stead,
and adapt it to the holding of religious
meetings therein as well as for school pur-
poses. The Squire was much opposed to
the demolition of the old house. 1t had
been considered good enough for the chill
dren of former generations, and he thought
good enough for the chem present genera
ton. Some of his family still possess and
occupy the homestead. Then the farms of
John Alexander, Edward Emmons, after
wards E. D. McClenahan's, now j. II. Row
lands; then Daniel Megredy's, now John
S. Everest; jeremiah II. Bots, now Jeffer-
son Ramsey's; Cornelius Smiths, now Jno.
]. Abrahams': "Cedar HILL" tho resi-
dence of Capt. John Archer, afterwards
Col. Heckart S; the Davidsons, afterwards
Robert Kerr's, now VIM. Adams; Ed
mund Physic. Mrs. Webb and others. On
the river front, Geo. Davidson S home farm,
now the residence of Col. Smithson. Mount
Sinnott, small in acres, but in the estima-
ton of the Juveniles of Port, the most
wonderful place in the world. Who, of
the present generation, does not remem Der
how, when in childhood, their young eyes
dilated and heart beat quick, with joyful
expectations of becoming the happy pos
SCISSORS of ponies of all sizes and colors,
English rabbits, tame squirrels, fancy
chickens, birds of all plumage, figs grapes,
| oranges, &C., &C., that were raised and
| grew in luxurious abundance at Mount Sin
nott, and which the owner, John Sinnott,
was, some day, going to bring into Port
| and distribute to all his little favorites,
which, in the largeness of his heart, in
cluded all the children of the town? Sim
mott died before the expectations of the
juveniles were realized; but all forgave
him the debt. Query, Mr.. Editor:-Do
not children of larger growth find pleas
ure in being humbugged9
Next was the Physic property. This
family was of the noted Physc family of
Philadelphia. The Doctor practiced medi-
cine, and his brother Littleton was the
| farmer. In contrast to the custom of the
present day, let me mention an incident:
Lttleton Physic was induced to stand a
nomination for office. He objected, assur
ing the committee who waited on him,
that if nominated he would neither treat,
give money, or leave his farm until the day
of the election. He was nominated and
kept his promise. lie led las ticket.
| East of this is "Hawkinsville," a negro
settlement, which l visit for the purpose
| of introducing "Sam Hasokins" " Uncle
San,' though an uneducated negro and a
|
rare common sense, a great man of Cod
and enioyed the confidence and esteem of
everybody. While l.. Physc lay on his
death bed, averse to visitors who would
talk to him on religious subjects, uncle Sam
visited him. Before leaving, he inquired
of Mr.. Physic if the ministers had been to
see and pray with him Being answered
in the negative, Sam asked permission to
kneel at his bedside and pray for him.
The request was cheerfully granted, and
after prayer, Sam was cordially invited to
call again. Sam, afterwards told the writer
| it was a great cross, but it :. came 10 him -
(which, by the way, was favorite express
sion of the Rev. Joseph Thomas, known
in history as the - Parson of the Islands, "
so named by Admiral Cockburn when the
British were encamped on TangIer's Island
in the war of 1S12-14l g that the Lord could
strike as hard lick triM cr0oked stick as
NTH straigM oae'
One incident more connected with Fun
Gle Sam When he died. the official mem
bers of the NJ. f. Church of Port Deposit
attended his funeral and bore him on his
bier from his house to his grave, and did
not feel that they We're in any wise bemean
ing themselves. Slav,ry has been abol
ished. Civil rights extended to all Col
ored men are filling all sorts of public