The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-09-05

precincts If there was really a graveyard
there, it seems to have been studiously avoided
as such, by those very wOrshippers who
might reasonably be supposed to crave inter-
ment in the ''God's-acre" dedicated to that
special purpose.
For the convenience ofthe parishioneers, az
then distributed, the site of the church seems
to have been judiciously selected, if we con-
slider the natural features of the country
thereabouts. The settlements to be accom-
modated extended, for the most part, from
q mile or two below the mouth of the Sus-
quehanna, southerly along the Bay, to the
mouth of Bush River, distance of some fif-
teen miles, and thence along that river to its
head-in all about twenty miles. The church
stood near the middle of the acute angle
which the bay shore forms with the shore of
Bush river. Moreover, it was directly on the
main road which has existed from the time
of the first settlement, and which for conven-
fence of inter-communication between the
points above mentioned, could not well be
improved upon. A reference to the map will
show that the church, if we reckon by the
routes which had to be taken in reaching it,
necessitated by unbridged streams, inlets, and
swamps. was about equi-distant from the
three remotest corners of the settlement
Rumney Neck, Head of Bush River and
Bayside.
The first minister of whom we have any
account-and it is by no means likely that
any preceded him-was the Rev. John Yeo,
who is somewhat celebrated in the annals
both political and religious-of the province.
He resided in Calvert county for some years
prior to 1877, when he removed to the vici-
nifty of New Castle, in Delaware, where for
several years he is on record as "baptizing
marrying and burying" But his lot here
was not long a happy one. His troubles
seem to have begun when he petitioned the
court there, to be remunerated for such reli-
gious services as he had rendered to the peo-
pie. His petition-as he might have known
it would be-was refused. Whether or not
this refusal to mix Church and State affairs
influenced his subsequent course cannot now
be known. But it is greatly to his credit
that he soon afterwards expressed himself in
such vigorous terms against the infamous
Duke of York, afterwards King.) who had
stolen big slice of Lord Baltimore's territory
Whereabouts, that he was subjected to jury
trial, from which, however, he came off clear.
To every true Mary it would have been
a more satisfactory evidence of the reverend
gentleman's worth had he been found guilty
of heaping abuses upon this royal villain, who
was not monster merely from want of
power to carry out his diabolical wishes and
designs.
Mr. Yeo's usefulness here being brought TO
an end by these untowsrd events, he shook
the dust of that stolen territory from his feet
and in 1880 returned to Maryland, settling in
Baltimore county, where he took charge of
the three parishes, Patapsco, Guspowder
and Spesuiie. as they were then designated. OF
his spiritual ministrations here we know
nothing at all; though, if he did his duty.
his work must have been exceedingly arduons,
extending as it did from the Susquehanna to
the Patapsco. He had to make his way on
horseback for many miles through the dense
forests by tortuous bride paths and across
unbridged streams often swollen by foods
There is, however, some record of his secu-
lar iaffairs which may be of interest. In
1852 he sold his estate in Calvert county and
bought tract of land near the head of Gun
powder river, called York's Hope, which
name he probably changed, as it seems to
have vanished totally, and we know that
"York" was name which his Reverence had
no reason to love. Nay, he may even have
made the purchase for the patriotic purpose
of celebrating the hateful name from the
future annals of the Province. During the
summer of the following year he, along with
Edward Beadle, took up large and valuable
tract at the mouth of Deer Creek, which he
called Mount Yeo. During the next Sep
TENDER he obtained patent for New Park, q
tract of $50 acres sat place called the Levill,"
in the vicinity of Spesutie Narrows, which
two months later he conveyed by deed of
gift to his son-in-law, Garrett Fitz Garrett"
already the owner of an adjoining tract called
Carriers Rest. SHOULD he die without issue"
it is to return to his mother, Semelia Yeo, if
living" 1t would seem that the word
mother" should be mother-in-law.
Of the condition ofthe glebe land at this
time nothing is known. Inasmuch, however,
as it was situated near the head of Bush River,
where many tracts had been seated prior to
was cleared and titled, and that it yielded for
the minister's support fair proportion of
tobacco-almost the only source ofproft in
those days. Mr.. Yeo- doubtless held other
lands, probably some ON the Patapsco at the
other end of his extensive charge. 1t will
thus be seen that he was by no means lack
ing in worldly possessions. He, however,
was not destined long to enjoy them. He
died in 1856, leaving three children, Joseph. of
whom there is no further account; John, who
was "Debit Clerk of Baltimore county," and
a married daughter the wife of Garrett-Fitz-
Garrett, all ofwhom from incidental evidence
furnished by power OF attorney sent from
England in 1902 by relations of the same
ldullIy VIII tuC Wow vi oCOibS oltC1
their property, appear to have died without
ISSUE l will remark, that although the
names of the two SONS are mentioned in the
power of attorney, there is no allusion TO
the daughter.
From MIR. Yeo's death until 1908, seventeen
eventful years embracing the events OF the
great Protestant revolution and the establish
ment of the Church of England in the Province
the three parishesor hundreds of Baltimore
county were left 80 far as we can now ascertain
without minister. Our knowledge of events
in the parish ofSt George during the next
fourteen years is so meagre that they may be
written in three or four lines. We know
that from 1908 to iii the Rev. John
Edwards was the rector Of st. Georges as
well as of ST. Johns and that from 1712 to
1717 the Rev. Geo. Irvine occupied the same
position in the two parishes. That Is all.
Soon after the latter date, however, the ex.
listing vestry records begin and from that time
forth we do not have to deal 30 much with
shadowy traditions and Experimentation
unsatisfactory and often misleading.
Aag. 17h, $780,
Since writing the above have read in The Agis
Of Aug. ed an interesting article entitled 1.-The
Fitz- Garrett was the son of Mrs Yeo by former
husband, and that his wife was the daughter of
Richard Freeborn, and not, as have said, the
daughter of Rev. Mr.. Yeo. He moreover states
Garrett Garrettson, the grandfather of Rev. Free.
born Garrettson, and the son Of Ruthel Garrett,
who in 1915 purchased tract OF land on Musketo
ancestor of Rev. Freeborn Garrettson in the coun.
ty was here earlier, by one generation, than
sage in the reverend gentlemans Journal, " to the
effect that he was himself of the third generation
in the Province. G. w. A.
VARIETIES.
1t is a strange fact that the first apple
was eaten by the first pair.
wrote poem on Adelaide
Riding her Shetland pony;
In verse called her ''my bonny maid"
But, alas They printed it "bony =