The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-11-07
the contrary.
CHA. CALVERT"

could have been the reverend gentleman
scruples about CONFORMING" at this excep-
tionally peaceable and unevcntful period of
the PROVINCES history, it were vain now to
conjecture. Meanwhile, he had proba-
bly, off1ciated few times, as in the following
February the vestry paid him f15 sterling.
That his term was very brief, however, is
evidenced by the following, from which it
also appears that the patience of the vestry
and parishioners had been exhausted by this
four years delaying of ministers who did not
seem to know their own minds; and that
they had supplicated-not in vain-the
Bishop of London for relieffrom the spiritual
famine which threatened them:
June 4th, 1726. The Rev. Stephen Wiki
inson sent by the Bishop of London was in
Quoted, to officiate every Sunday" In thus
drawing upon headquarters for their spiritual
shepherd, the suffering flock, no doubt, looked
forward to golden era, little dreaming that
it was case of Sheperd "Stork" supersediDg
Shepherd Log" The new incumbent pleased
his parishioners for brief season, when his
popularity began to wane. They probably
endured him much longer than they other
wise would have done, out of respect TO the
good Bishop who had sent him. Al any
rate he remained in charge eighteen long
years, presenting that most melancholy spec
tdClC, VI o vi OOQ lOuS ouA NlNluB LIE
usefulness. yet tenaciously holding on to his
off1ce-sufficient proofs of which will present
ly appear.
On the very day of Mr.. Wikinsons induc-
ton the vestry, as though invigorated by
the cheering prospect now presented,
agreed with Antill Beaver to grub, clear and
fence the church yard-the timber to be got
off the Glebe" This is an indication that
no burlals had taken place here, the church
yard during the eight years since the erection
ofthe building having no doubt remained in
its primitive condition of woods or thicket-
Antill Beaver, who was born about 1854, at
the time of this agreement owned a tract of
land at the month of Deer Creek and another
between James and Bynum's runs, about
three miles from the head of Bush river-the
latter tract being his dwelling plantation.
During this year 700 pounds of tobacco
were expended in repairing and making GER
tain changes in the church, and in the ensu
ing February 200 acres of land were bought
by the vestry for Glebe land, where Mr..
Francis Holland now lives" Little more is
said about it in the vestry-book, but found
among the records of Baltimore county an
indenture, of date Feb. 7th, 1726-7, which,
after recitiDg that James Phillips in 1716 sold
to Francis Holland tract of 200 acres called
Raley, situated on the west side ofSwan
Greek, and Matson's Lot, 10 acres, adjoining
Raley, and that Francis Holland, in May,
1775, conveyed 210 acres to John Stokes for
f200 sterling, goes on to state that "now the
said Stokes, for 10000 pounds CT tobacco,
conveys the aforesaid 210 acres to the Rector,
Rev. Stephen Wilkinson, and the vestry of
st. Georges Parish.
Although have made considerable effort
to ascertain the precise locality of "Raley"
sometimes written "Rawley'0 l have as yet
failed to do so. am inclined to think it was
in the vicinity of Boothby Hill, not far from
the mouth OF Swan Creek.
An extract of I'd May, 1927 informs US that
civilian Smith, now sheriff, has represent.
ed that Mr. John Humphreys, who was lately
indicted and never after off1ciated, has sued
the Sheriff on clear trespass, under pretence
of some demands due him from Smith on &C.
count of the 40 per poll. We protest against
the unjust demand" The vestry then "resolve
lose" Three years later an entry shows that
Smith was then "paid 1889 tobacco for de-
Tending the action brought against him by
Mr. Humphreys" but we are not enlightened
rs to which party came off triumphant.
May, 1927, Mr.. Michael Taylor having re-
fused to serve as Church Warden he is fined
1000 tobacco for contempt" There is no
record worthy of notice until April, 1923,
when Orchard Furnival was chosen to keep
the Register on the parchment for l 300 to-
bacco and the benefit of the Register" which
refers to the allowance by law of small fee
Tor entering each birth, death or marriage |;
also for each search or certificate. Judge
Benjamin Rumsey quotes the law 1.-THE date
not being given,) as requiring the register to
make entry of all births, marriages and
burials of whites, when made known or
desired to be recorded. If this qualifying
clause existed from the first, it accounts in
some measure for the small proportion Of
such entries, and frees the registrars from the
MANY censures 10 which their apparent
neglect of duty has subjected them. Ii, how
ever, II penalty or fine was prescribed for fail
ure on the part OF parents or other friends
to report these occurrences and to desire them
to be recorded, the above theory is at fault
o her duties TO be performed by this Regis
trar are detailed, which seem TO be those
usually discharged nowadays by sexton.
In this year, "a Catalogue of Books was
sent in, THAT il, into the colony from the
mother country,l upon the request OF DR..
Dalone, for the use of the Parrish OF st.
George" OF courseit is meant that the books
were sent-not the catalogue, as the words
would seem to imply. These books consisted
of some half dozen theological works. Under
the law it was the duty of the vestry to in
spect, from time to time. all books belonging
TO the parochial library and to bring action
against the rector in case of their damage or
loss. In the end this clause proved to be one
of the rocks upon which Mr.. Wilkinson's
usefulness was wrecked.
AS the widely varying amount OF tobacco
raised in the province each year caused great
inconvenience by the resulting fluctuation in
its value, a law was enacted about this time
to limit the crop. To effect this the vestries
were 10 appoint counters" whose duty it
was 10 visit each plantation and see that the
plants Get did not exceed certain numbers to
each hand employed. Under this law, in
MAY, 1929, the parish OF ST. George Wasdi-
divided into three divisions" and two counters
were appointed for each. The first division
was from the mouth of Bynum's Run, along
the main road to Susquehanna Ferry latter
wards Havre de Grace, taking in entirely all
the inhabitants of the Lower Hundred of
Pussusa (D This evidently embraced all the
region south of the old post road. Most ofthe
territory between Bynum's Run and Deer
Creek was in the second division, while the
third took in all north of Deer Creek besides
the portion remaining between the second
division and the Susquehanna. A knowledge
of these boundaries will aid US in estimating
approximately the quantity of the almighty
staple produced in each division.
"In May, 1929, repairs are ordered to be
made on the church and vestry house,; which
certainly implies bad workmanship on the
part of the original builders, the first work
having been done only ten or twelve years
before. One year later "Wi liam DalMm was
appointed to perform the duties formerly as
signed to Richard Furnival." In the follow
ing August (173O "the vestry resolved to pc
tition the court for eight pounds OF tobacco
per poll"
In 1874 the vestry took their first action on
unlawful communication" The accused,
however, were not tried until two years after
wards, and on contrition, were then let of
Several others so charged Justified them
selves by showing certificates of marriage. p"
| In 1876 the vestry ordered a petition to be
sent to Bishop Henderson, that Mr.. Wilkin-
son the rector neglects appearing at the
ves,ry, to the obstruction of Business and
Damage to the parish"
The Rev Jacob Henderson here referred to
was called Bishop" only through courtesy.
| He was the second and last commissary sent
over by the Bishop of London to represent
that dignitary in the province; but being in
vested only with the shadow of a bishops au-
thority, without the substance, he could do
| little more at hest than eXhOrt and reDrOye