The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-02-16

under him. George Talbot is the first one of
it is probable that he presided at the meet
ings of these deputy governors. He had
previously been a member of the privy
council of the governor, and was at this
time surveyor general of the province.
Many romantic stories have been written
of this man, and it is matter of great
difficulty after the lapse of nearly two hun
bred years, to eliminate the fancful and
romantic from the true and genuine part of
his history. However, among much that
is obscure and uncertain, we learn from the
minute book of the justices court of our
county, which happily for the truth of this
part of our history has been preserved,
that he presided over that court from Jan
uary ., 1888, to August -. 1854. This
was only ten years after the organization
of the county. aud in order to show the
period, we will present the reader with
some extracts from the minute book of the
county. They are as follows:
Att a court held for Cecil Co. We Sth
day of January in the 9th year of the do
minion OF We Right hon BILE Charles &c,
Annoq Dominic 1888 Present George
Talbot Esq one Of his Lordships Coun-
cells, & Nathaniel Garrett gent.
The said Geo Talbot & Nathaniel Gar
rett appear i'll court & adjourn the same
| for want Of commissioners to make d full
court till the 18th day of March next en-
sueDg."
the record, "were agreed at this court 4 l2
accounts were continu'd till next court"
| The next entry i'll the old record book is
as follows: March We 18th 1858. All ac-
tons dye ard abate upon the Doquett for
want of an adjournment. VIM. Pearce,
| Nathaniel Garrett. VIM. Dare, Geo. Ward
uer, Gents, only being present, and they
not of the quorum,
The meaning of the latter part of the
| last sentence is rather ambiguous, but the
writer probably meant that there was not
a quorum present, though he does not say
| so.
"Wm Dare of Cecil Comfy Gent. APP
! pointed and put in to he high sheriff of the
said county by the ift Hon. Charles Also
lure Lord and Proprietor of the Province
of Marylan and Avenn Lord Baron of
Baltimore. May We 23d 1854. Then cam.
| William Newell and took the oath of an
under sheriff in usual form before Nathan.
lel Garrett of Cecil Co. Gent
Arelon." the affix to Lord Baltimore :
name, which, from the frequency with
which it occurs. it seems to have been !.
satisfaction to his subordinates to write,
prolabiy requires some explanation to b.
p.operlyppderstood. Avelon was the name
of a large ~Yrant of land in Nova Scotia
that he received 1s"m the King of England
before the gran, Of -H|aryland was given t"
him. He made an unsuccessful attempt I"
establish a colony there before Eeesame To
Maryland and for a long time afterTar"S
he and his successors. the other Lords 81
rimore, also retained the title of Lords o
| Avclor.
At the next count, which was held o.
the 10th day Of June. 1854. George Talbo
aud seven justices were present. Talbu
! presided over the court, and the justices
who are also called commissioners, took the
oath of office: their commissions were is
sued i'll the name of the Lord Proprietary
on the 2GGh day of the April previous. -
The commission Cf George Odtield. Is,
county attorney for the Lord Proprietary,
is recorded Immediately after the record OF
the administration of the oath of office tt
the justices. 1t is the first commission OF
States attorney that we have been able
to find upon record in this county. As
such it is invested with much interest that
| it would not otherwise have, and for this
reason We copy it,
"CharleS Absolute Lord. &C., &C., To
| Geo. Oldtieid Gen. greeting Out of the
trust and confidence we have in your in
tegrity and honesty and in your skill X in
sight in the laws and in the practice OF
courts, We have thought fit to constitute
aud appoint you the said Geo. Oldfield to
he our Attorney in all causes civil and
| criminal wherein we shall be concerned 4
which shall fall within the cognizance of ID
county court, and courts which shall be
held for our county of Cecil hereby Impow
ering and streightly enjoning you to APP
| pear X prosecute for us in all civil causes
and actions in the said court wherein we
shall be plaintiff Il to appear and defend
us in all civil causes and actions in the
county aforesaid wherein we shall be de
PENDANT, as also to present ipdict and pros
ecute in the said county all breakers of the
peace ~ transgressors of the laws and acts
of Assembly within the county aforesaid !;
you are also to observe all such orders as
you shall from time to time receive from
us or our leftenent General in our Alb
Sence & from our Attorney General for the
time being, to have hold and enjoy the said
office of our county Attorney for Cecil
County with all fees benefits and perquis-
ties thereunto belonging for and during
our will and pleasure & no longer. Given
amer our nanu ana lesser seal at arms TINS
18th day of March, 16S3.'
George Oldfield was one of the =" loveing
friends and neighbours" that Augustine
Herman appointed in the codicil to his will
as trustee or overseer, to see his will
duly executed" He lived in Elk Neck
and point of land, a short distance below
WEIGH Point, is yet called by his name
We believe that he was Catholic, for be
was suspended from practicing his profess
sion in the court of Cecil county because
he refused to take the oath of supremacy
and allegiance in $780, which was the year
after the revolution in England, which
ended in the flight of James the H., and
also firmly established the Protestant reli-
gion in Eng land.
Just after the record of Oldfeld's com
mission, the following petition appears
upon the record: ITO the worshipful the
commissioners of Cecil Co The humble