Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-12-27

ed. As IN evidence Of this and Of
their determination not TO pay tax
to the mother country for the tea
they consumed. q party undisguissd
in any manner boarded the Euglish
brig Peggy Stewart. then lying at
Annapolis. sad compelled her supss-
cargo TO cot Ere to her. and in this
manner they appsassd the wrath of
an indignant people.
At the breaking out of the Rsvolu.
tionsry War. the Colonists were among
the first to enlist. Trade was suspsn-
dsd entirely for eight years, but after
the declaration of peace it was soon
resumed. From this time the settle
msnt rapidly passed into oblivion 90
9 city. and for long time the only
remaining bulldogs were the old State
house and the residence Of the owner
Of the estate. DR.. Johu Bronze, recent
ly deceased. This State house had,
after the removal Of the capitol to
Annapolis been granted to the Epis-
cspal Church. then the established
church Of the colony. for religion.
purposes. and was continued to be
used for this purpose until about City
years ago. when it was torn down
and new church erected with the
brick and other material near the
same spot. The old foundation Of
the State house, which was in the
shape of Maltese eross. is still to be
seen, as is also the vault Of the last
of the Lords Baltimore.
A curious incident in connection
with the old church yard at st. Mary's
is the fact that cedar slab, placed at
the. head Of q child's grave in 17l7,
remained there in Q perfect state Of
preservation until the late war when
it was removed by some Federal sol.
diers encamped there.
In 1888 Col William Coad, a mem.
Der of the Maryland Legislature. in
troduced bill providing for the srec-
tion Of Female Seminary at St.
Msry's. to perpstuate the spot where
the Maryland pilgrim. 6rst settled
and the birthplace Of religious liberty
on the American continent. The
building was Immediately erected,
and is Of an imposing character and
commands view Of the entire river
and Of the Potomac. The Seminary
10 at present presided over by Miss
Elizabeth Thomas. q very accomplish.
ed lady and granddaughter of the
late James Thomas, of st. Msry's
County. Nd.
The entire country on b,th shores
Of the st. Mary's River abounds in
historical "reminiscences which are but
little known to the world at large.
A mile below the old city and on the
opposite bank. 10 located . large e..
tate, bearing the name of Porto Bello.
In ante-revolutionary times il was
the property Of Col. William Hebb,
who volunteered. with many others,
among whom was Lawrence Wash.
ington. to fight in the war between
England and Spain, serving under
the celebrated Admiral Vernon in the
seigs of the cities of Carthagena and
Porto Bello. After the return of the
expedition Washington and Hebb
named their places. The former gave
his place the name Of Mount Vernon,
after bis old commander, and the lat.
ter called his estate Porto Bello, and
the creek bounding it on the west for.
msrly kn own as Wickliffe's Greek, be
rechristsnsd CArthagena Greek. BY
which names the places are known to
the present day.
Another place near the mouth OF
the river. known as Fort Point, de.
rived its name from the establishment
of fort there during colonial days
for protection against the Indians.
At later period some pieces of srtil.
lsry were placed there and % the riv-
er washed away the banks they were
lost in its bed. An entsrpriai ng
Washingtonisn, Captain Carbsrry.
afterwards had the cannon raised and
placed in yard on the point, and
soon afterwards one Of the pieces was
removed to Annapolis. and about Q
year ago the others were taken to
Georgetown College. where they may
now be seen.
A very Interesting place to visit on
the right bank. about three miles from
the mouth of the river. 10 st. Inigo's
which has been in the possession Of
the Jssuits ever since the settlement
Of the colony. A large villa upon
the est ate is occupied each summer BY
the theological studsOts chiefly from
Baltim9rs and Woodstock.