The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-12-11
SCRAPS OF HARFORDS HISTORY.
Who Will Gather the Fragments and Write
Complete History of the County?


q Complete History of the County?
For the Egis and Intelligenger.
There are few subjects more interesting t
person who is growing old, than "a view OF hi
early years. in fact, it is one OF the signs OF al
vancing age, when person dwells upon the time
when he was yOung-when people were more non
est, when men In public life were more dlSlntereSt
ed; when the world was far better than it is to
day. The tale which the old man tells to-day o.
his past career WILL the next generation be told
OF the wisdom, honesty and craftsmanship OF the
1t is well that some persons. in every age. feel
sufficient interest in the past 10 gather together
the doings of their predecessors and preserve
There is much in the history of Maryland which
should be preserved. There is great deal
about your own county OF Hartford which
should be written, while the records still exist
There is yet extant the record OF all the patents
for land lying in your county, the names OF those
to whom the patents were granted the location OF
THE land. and the causes for which the proprietary
of leisure Gull out collect and trace this material
before ii is too late? "
The first colonists sent out to Maryland under
Cowes. in the Isle Of Wight, on ed November 1883
and arrived on oath February following, in the
same year. at Point Comfort. in Virginia
AT that time tine year did not begin. as now, on
the first day OF january; 1t began on the 25th OF
March, and the Gath of March was the last day OF
the year. 1t was in 1850 that an act of Parliament
was passed, requiring that in 1859 the year should
commence on January l. instead OF March rem 70 as
ing been changed, we have now the anomaly OF
four months, September, October, November and
December. which mean seventh. eight, ninth and
tenth months applied TO the ninth, tenth, eleventh
and twelfth months. under our present calendar.
There was very little of romance in the early
settlement of Maryland. Lord Baltimore owned
the land, but it was of little value 10 him unless oc
cupied by tenants. No one in those days, no mat
ter how poor he might be. thought of expatriating
himself and opening up a new land without some
inducement to do so. The sale OF land IN those
away, or rather leased on terms set forth by the
proprietary. During the earlier years the induce
nc 70 in, ihnral
indeed As the population increased the grants
became more restricted. Under a commission
annexed TO the conditions of Plantation 20 August
16is every person bringing into the Province TWEEN
ty persons of British or Irish descent was entitled
to two thousand acres of land in one tract, to be
erected into Manor paying as rent the first
years. forty shillings sterling yearly and for the
next fourteen years, forty bushels OF wheat yearly
of his lordship and after the end of said fourteen
years, the twentieth part of the annual yield OF
profits of the land or in the lieu thereof, tel
pounds sterling, in silver or gold.
When less number OF persons came into the
granted fffy acres Of Of iand by the Proprietary
The servants. who were introduced under the
Irish descent. and served over three years in the
Province were regarded at the end ftheir service
as planters, and were given the same number, that
is to say fifty acres of land, that would have been
given them had they come into the Province origi-
nally at their own costs and charges.
1t was under the conditions of plantation above
mentioned that the early settlers commenced to
take up land on the upper waters of the Chesa-
In the proceedings of the Council of Maryland,
which had been called TO meet in consequence OF
several murders committed by the Indians, and
which was held at Spesutia the 18th of May, 1861.
and continued several days there were present the
Governor, Philip Calvert the Secretary. Henry
COursey, and Messrs. Baker Brooke Edward
Lloyd and John BatemaD, and among other cor
respondence submitted was the following letter
addressed to w. Wright, who was no doubt w.
Francis Wright, the same who few days later
was appointed one of the Commissioners of Balti-
more county, an office equivalent TO our present
nf cOpaoUps Thomas
Stockett, Henry StOckett, Svmon Carpenter.
Thomas Howell, John Taylor. Thomas Powell and
w. WriS1t: Be pleased to do so much as to let
me know how it is with you, &c. the rest for trade
The Indians threaten to kill me, and that is the
reason cannot come. must watch in my house,
with seven or eight guns loaded, and have no
comfort Tor the inhabitants here inidansand
wish could have time to speak 4 an hour with
answer of his letter. Give everybody notice and
look to yourselves. The Indians are very strong,
and not far from you. would have written more,
Point to remove Yr loving servant,
18th May, 1861. GARRETT RUTTEN."
When you have read this letter, burn it in the
tyre"
Is it not worth while to enquire something into
the history and motives of the early pioneers, who
first after the Indians, trod the soil of your county?
Who will undertake the task?
On May II, 1861, Garrett Ridden, evidently the
same whose name is signed to the foregoing letter,
demands land for transporting himself Mary his
wife, and his three sons into the province and
warrant was issued to the Surveyor General to lay
out $50 acres of land Tor the said Garrett Ridden,
provided that he seat the said land by the 18th
OF M arch next.
In the proceedings of the General Assembly of the
Colony there will be found, under the date OF We'd
nesday, September 16 1868, the following entry:
Then was read the petition of Garrett Rutten,
self, his wife. and his children: Ordered, that it
be taken into consideration tomorrow morning"
IL was a anu se 81
tion be prepared for the consideration of both
houses, to naturalize Garrett Rutten and his child
rem, and Jacob Clanson, freemen of this prov
ince." The act seems never to have been pre-
pared or passed. although a number of other per-
sous were naturalized at this session 1t is pro-
bable, that the Jacob Clauson here mentioned was
the same person described Jacob Clauson de
Long in the act passed at the session of March
Garrett Rutten did not live a great while after
his application for naturali as his last will
dated March, 1864, dlSposlng OF his property in
the province, Is on record. The witnesses are
John Waterton and Robert I. Jones. The over
Francis Stockett and Thomas Stockett. He does
not name his wife. whom he leaves his Executrix,
nor his children, except his oldest son Rutten Gar
rett The will was probably written by DIR. Water
ton. who appears to have been man of some i'm
portance III the county, and was one OF its repre-
sentatyes III the Provincial Assembly. Rutten
wrote his name in his own language. and as far as
it can be made out from the imitation on the pub
lie records, it was spelled Girert Runton.
In the Assembly proceedings for March-April,
1911 will be found a petition from number of ap-
plicants for naturalization, and among the names
appears that of RutgertSon CARROTS, of Baltimore
county, who says that he was born at Amerfoord,
in Holland. The petitioners set forth that being
now removed into this Province, they have for a
long time therein Inhabited being invited to come
and dwell within this province, by and upon con-
fdence OF your LordshipS declaration of July,
1919. whereby YOUR Lordship did empower your
Lordships Governor of this province. from time TO
German, French or other foreigne dissent, in the
same: IN as ample manner and upon the same
powered to grant land to any person or persons of
British or Irish dissent.
The act of naturalization was passed April, 1911,
and IS numbered chapter 10 OF the acts of 1911 as
published in BacOn'S Laws of Maryland. 1t was
confirmed by the Act of 1876 chapter2
RuIgertson CARROTS. who the same person
called Rutten Garrett i'll the will of his father,
awaited himself Of his newly acquired rights by
purchasing on November, 1873. a part of Hazel
Park, containing 10 acres, from Henry Lakewood
and Elizabeth his wife. The deed was signed iIr
the presence of George Wells and John Waterton,
the same who witnessed his fathers will, and the
land IS described as beginning at marked red oak,
standing in the woods at the back of place call
ed Woodpecker's Hail. RutgertSon Garrett con-
veyed this land TO Dennis English November,
1925, for valuable consideration as expressed in
COL Nathaniel Ute became the owner of Oaking-
ton, on Swan Creek, and on March. 1872. he with
kutten Garrett, in consideration of 900 pounds of
tobacco. He describes the land as lying on the
Western side OF the Chesapeake Bay. in Baltimore
county, in creek called Swan Creek. and on the
north side of the creek. The deed signed in the
presence of Thomas Long and Henry Ward. The
alienation fee due TO the proprietary was not paid
until year later when the following receipt ap-
pears to have been given, and appendedto the deed
March IS, 1873
Received of Edward Bedell, for the use of Rut
gertson Garrett, Sc pounds of tobacco alienation
fee. THOs. CHARLTON"
Although this deed is dated 9 March. 1872 Col
Ute had evidently sold the land to Garrett pre-
yIous to that time. as he had conveyed the other
500 acres of Darlington. to Edward Bidwe
(Beadle) on April. 1868, executed in the presence
of William Palmer, Hans de Ringh, and described
that part of Darlington as lying the west side
OF Chesapeake Bay, on Swan Creek. running up the
bay until it ntersects the land Of Garrett Rutten.
1t will be seen that portion of the early settlers
OF what is now Hartford county were from Holland;
that they were hardy and industrious people; that
their original names have been lost and yet their
descendants must be numerous in the locality in
which the first adventures settled. One branch,
descended from Rutten the locksmith. has been
shown In former communication to be that of Gar
retson. The name of Rutten a distinct family
soon became extinct. What names were adopted
by the other sons OF Garrett Rutten. who were liv
ing at his death? Probably Garrett, perhaps Rut-
ter, who can tell? am yours respectfully,
VIM. A. STEWART.
% W. Laacale Street, Baltimore. December l. 1891.