The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-04-23
The Egis & Intelligencer
hartford HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
interesting observation-disclosures EEIq-
tOry-A Reminiscencc OF the ReVOlm-
ton.

Interesting observation-disclosures sRta-
tory-A Reminiscencc of the RevOim-
ton.
The Hartford Historical Society met at the
Court House last Saturday, DR.. W. stump For
wood, President in the chair.
Mr.. w. Beatty Harlan from committee an
pointed at the preceding meeting read a copy OF
proposed articles of Incorporation, which were
adopted, and the President and chairmen of tho
standing committees were named as incorpora-
tors, as follows: DIR. w. Stump Forwood, Benja-
min Mi silver ST.; w W Beatty Harlan; George Y.
These are to serve as directors of the society,
under the charter.
From Mr.. It. John Bradenbaugh, of Hartford
county, four Indian arrow heads;
account Of the White family relatives OF which
live in Hartford county.
From Rev. David Barr, of Smithfeld, Va, a
brick from the ruins of old st. Lukes Church,
Isle of Wight county, Va, built in 1852 and be-
leved to be the Oldest Protestant monument in
America. The walls are standing and the mas
sive tower is as firm as when the storms first
beat upon it two hundred and fifty years ago. 1t
was accompanied by an Interesting sketch, writ
ten by Rev. Mr.. Barr, who is engaged in an effort
to restore this venerable old pile. Mr. Barr says:
AS the Oldest Protestant monument in Ameri-
ca 1t should be restored and preserved and, as q
house of worship of God the Saviour it ought to
he put in order as of old, and is now needed in
the neighborhood in which it stands. Efforts to
this end have been made in the past, but they
failed for various reasons. The present rector
raising money for its restoration. oS and indugesS
the hope that through the favor of Him in who's
honor 1t was originally built so well, sufficient
amount may be secured to put it in complete re-
pair and in durable materials
Rev. Jas b. Craighill said that he had visited
the ruins of the old church described by Rev.
Mr.. Barr and while rector of an adjoining par
ish had made an effort to raise funds to restore
From Mr.. c. w. Gaddess, of Baltimore Il book
of Poems, written by Mrs Brasseya Allen, and
county, 1906. Mrs Allen was the wife of Parson
John Allen, for many years the rector of Spesu-
tia church, and the grandmother of ex-senator
ON If Hnr nd MT
From Mr. Gaddess, also, a copy of an old hand
bill, printed in 1902, in which Lloyd Durham Of
fers 200 acres of land for sale, situated on the
main cross roads leading from Deer Creek to
Baltimore and from Little York to Bel Air.
Dp o tho odd also Seens s
lington and scrap book for the use of the Lii
brarian.
From Henry w. Archer of r., of Baltimore
a copy of the Maryland Acts of Assembly of 1927
and copy of the act founding a college in Bel
Air, named Maryland College, now the Bel Air
The thanks of the society were unanimously
passed to Messrs; Bradenbaugh, Barr, White,
Gaddess, Forwood and Archer, for their valuable
Messrs, C.Wharron Smith, b. Gilpin Smith and
bers at a previous meeting, and DR.. Christopher
Johnson, Jr., proposed as an honorary member,
Co f. H. Webster and HON. as B. Waters
were proposed as Active Members and Mr.. Fred
erick w. Story, of Baltimore, as a corresponding
Various amendments to the constitution were
proposed Including one providing that the de-
be eligible for active members.
At one O'clock the meeting adjourned. Upon
reassembling at two o'clock, Dr; w: stump For
Early History Of Hartford county, for the greater
part of the materials of which he was indebted
to DIR. John X. Quinan, of Baltimore, President
of the Medical and Chrurgical Faculty of Mary
land.
per that the shores and islands of Hartford were
first discovered by Capt. John Smith of Virginia,
in 1908. He called Willoughbys River, now Bush
river, after his birthplace, and Poole's Island
and Palmer's Island after two of his companions.
Palmers Island, in the Susquehanna, is now Gar
Previous to 1773 Hartford county was included
within the limits of Baltimore county. The coun-
ty seat, now Bel Air, was at first called Hartford
Town. Hartford county was named for Sir Henry
Hartford, natural son of the seventh and last
Lord Baltimore. His father bequeathed him al
his landed estates in Maryland. including 1903
acres on Gunpowder River, in Hartford county.
In 1880 the Legislature contiscated all the prop
Henry Hartford 10000, to which the British gov
eminent added 100000, as an indemnity.
court house and Jail, but the buildings We're IN not
erected there. In 1881 an election was held to
decide where the public buildings should be
built, and in 1855 another election was ordered
to say whe her Bel Air or Havre de Grace should
be the county-seat. This election, held on the
hrst Monday in April, 1857, established Bel Air
as the county-seat
Dr., Forwood also read paper on the passage
Of 11o Cen Lafayette fhrS1gh, Harford county in
of that year Gen. Washington detached force
under Lafayette to proceed South against the
traitor Benedict Arnold, who was ravaging the
country along the James river and the lower
part of the Chesapeake Bay. Lafayette with his
army marched from Trenton to the head of Elk,
arriving there March 9th, 1TS1, from whence he
embarked for Annapolis. Arnold, in the mean
time. had gone back to New York and Lafayette
returned with his troops to Elk river. He was
again ordered by Washington to push his troops
south into Virginia and join Gen. Green.
He marched from the head of Elk to Bal
tmore, crossing the SusQuehanna April 18th,
1881, at Bald Friar. He spent the fol lowing night
at Col. James kigbie's house. now the residence
of Mr.. J. Fletcher Jones. From Ba timore he
ty was ordered to furnish him 300 head of cattle,
which was probably done by the Lieutenant of
the county, Col John Thompson.
DIR. Forwood received the thanks of the society
for his papers. The next regular meeting will
take place July 17lh.