Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-07-18
sHARPSBURG.

The records are the property Of the
heirs of the late Mrs. Mary 7. Hays,
Of Hagerstown, whose husband, DR..
Joseph Chapline Hays, was a lineal
descendant of the founder, Col. Joseph
Chapline, gentleman of Royal En-
glish fame and the colonel of a regiment
of militia that served in the French
and Indian war and was stationed at
Fort Frederick, near the present town
of Clearspring, Nd, in the months of
June and July, 1857. The records
state that Col Chapline, of the Prov
ince of Maryland, Frederick county,
has laid out a town at the Great
Spring" Frederick county, Province
of Maryland, July 9, 1903. 1t was
named Sharpsburgin honor Of HOratio
Sharpe, who was a relative Of Col.
Chapliue and also the provincial gov
ernor at that time.
Col Chapline was an important char
acter in his day, and was noted for
his many excellent qualities Of head
and heart. He filed many impor-
tant offices of trust in the county and
State with courage, honor and fidelity.
He owned vast number Of acres OF
land.
Sharpsburg was laid out on a part
of the tract called "Joe's Lot, con-
tanning 2,l27 acres, which are subject
to ground rents The lots yearly
rental value was 80 cents on the quarter
of an acre. The lots adjoining the
town $l.lO on every five acres, paya-
bic on the 9th day of July Of every
year.
Col. Chapline was born A, d. I'I|
be was married to Ruhamah Williams,
the daughter of Welsh Presbyterian
minister, Rev. William Williams, of
Caermarthonshire, Wales, A. D. l742.
By this union nine children were born
unto them, viz: William Williams
Chapline, Joseph, James, jeremiah,
Deborah, Ruhamah, Sarah Jane and
Theodosia. Col. Chapline and wife,
with FIVE of his children, are now
buried in Mountain View cemetery.
The place on which SharPsburg
was built was dense woods and known
by the appellation of "Absalom's for
est, well watered by the Great Spring,
which extended over the lower part Of
the town, abounding in all kind Of
game and inhabited by warlike tribe
of Indians, known as the Delawares,
who were constantly engaged in war
with neighboring tribes, especially the
Catawbas, who annihilated the part
of the tribe ofthe Delawares who dwelt
at the mouth of the Antietam.
Evidences of this tribe are still APP
parent in the numerous flint imple-
ments found in and around the town
on the lands of Samuel F. and Henry
Hebb, Lafayette Miller, the heirs of
the late John II. Snavely and the farm
Of Mr.. Samuel Pofinberger.
On October 81, l765, an agreement
was formulated between Col. Joseph
Chapline and Samuel Beall, Of Fred
erick county, and David Ross and
Richard Henderson, of Prince George 3
county, Nd, for the building Of the
Antietam Works, three miles south Of
Sharpsburg, which for many years was
most valuable and profitable indus
try. The works were equipped with
furnace, rolling and sitting mill
pudding furnace and an extensive
nail and casting factory. About 500
operators were employed at the works.
These works have the honor of con-
structing some parts Of Rumseys
steamboat and Of casting cannon, balls
and she'll for use in the war Of the
Revolution.
Belinda Spring, one mile south Of
Sharpsburg, was at one time a cele-
brated summer resort and crowds
from the cities spent the heated term
here. 1t was then owned by Jacob
Gardenhour, who named it Belinda in
honor Of his wife. In 1918 these
springs were in full operation. The
medicinal qualities of the water and
the beautiful and romantic scenery
were the prominent features Of the
place. The place was closed in 1888
on account Of the cholera epidemic
and has never been opened since
HagTstown Herald.