Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-06-21

ginning of our schoel system. anC
may be considered tie foundation O
our present scholastic knowledge.
Duiing the term of Gov. Charlie,
Calvert, from the llth of October
1920. to the 10th of October, 1877
and that of Benedict Leonard Calvert
from the 10th of October, 1927, TO the
llth of October, 1882. provincial af.
fairs propered. and an impetus was
given to all classes Of industries, and,
in addition to the earnest interest Ia.
ken in education, many other whole.
some and humane laws were enacted,
such as the relief of Quskers, Indians
and other ianGuishing prisoners in
Jail, stay Of execution in the collection
Of small debts, the erection OF towns,
and other laws tending to the conve.
nience, prosperity and happiness of
the people.
! On the 2sth day Of October, l72S,
! an act Of the Legislature was passed
for the laying out OF land and erecting
town in st. Mary's county at place
formerly called Seymour Town. Com
missioners We're appointed and en-
/ powered to purchase BY agreement or
valuation OF jury fifty acres OF land,
adjoining to the place where st. Ma
ry's county Court House now stands,
and TO cause the same to be surveyed
and laid out for town into eighty
1 lots, with convenient streets, lanes,
| &c.-the owner of the land to have
his choice for two lots-the remain
ing lots to be taken up only by in.
habitants Of the county, within four
months after laying out of same, no
person to take up more than one lot;
after four months any person whom.
soever might take up lots by paying
the owner of the land proportionately;
the taker-up to build house to cover
four hundred square feet, with brick
or stone chimneys, within twelve
months; and, failing to do so any 9TH
er person might enter upon said lot
by paying the sum Of tobacco first set
upon such lot for the benefit and use
OF the town; the taker-up to have a
fee simple title or estate, and all to
psyto the Right Honorable, the Lord
Proprietor, and his heirs forever one
penny current money per annum for
each lot so taken up; all lots not ta-
ken up within seven years reverted to
the owner; the place to be called
"Leonard.Town," and all writs issued
by the Court to be made returnable to
the said place by the name Of Leon.
arA-Town." The town derived its
name from Benedict Leonard Calvert,
who was Governor at that time, and
il does not appear that the town made
much progress during the first few
years Of its existence. The act OF
l72S was not to prejudice the interest
Of those who had complied with the
requisites OF the former act whereby
part of the land allowed to be laid
ont was actually surveyed into lots
and then called Seymour Town, Meth
or was it to effect the buildings and
improvements of the heir at law o.
Thos. Cooper, deceased.
One year later, 1929. Baltimore
Town was laid out, hence it will bc
} perceived that Leonardtown is ont
year older than the great city Of Bal
, timore.
Two years later, 1880, Thos. Spald
ing, Jr., became the owner of the land
| and was permitted to use the lots no
, taken up, but not to remove any ofth
, boundary posts-it appearing tina
: part OF one acre Of land, whereon tn
Court House now stands, was hereto
fore given by Philip Lynes, Esqr., lie
r ceased, to the Justices of the count
: Were for that purpose-but throug
. the neglect o: the Clerk, doth nc
o appear upon the record, thong
e three Of the bound roles were the
= standing and the place of the othe
: was well known. The said lanC
t contained within the said bounds,
/ is hereby vested in the Justices, to th
r use Of the said county forever. Th
: surveyor to make a fair plat o: Leor
4 ardtown, which was to be subscribe
i to by the Commissioners, and 10y rhel
ii returned TO the County Clerk, and b
i him be entered among the Land r.
X cords of the said county.
2. On the 2nd day Of the March Ter
II Of the Circuit Court Of st. Mary
Ie county 1881, the Court House acc
n IDENTIFY took Tire, and notwithstanding
y the presence Of a large concourse
rs citizens, the building, with many
:, the Land and other Records, was el
= tirely consumed On the followir