The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-08-29
SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.
Prominent Parts Taken by
Western Maryland in the
Days of the Revolutionary
War.
BY DIR. BERNARD STEINER. PHI. d.
Courtesy Johns Hopkins Press.

Frederick, as the most cOnven-
lent inland town for that purpose,
early became place where pris-
oners were sent for safe keeping.
Connolly and his companions were
seemingly the first consigned to
the care of the Frederick Com.
mittee, and on the very day when
the news of their capture reached
the convention, the committee re-
solved to build strong log gaol
in Frederick town, at least thirty
feet long and twenty in breadth,
of two stories, "the upper story
being divided into three rooms
with a stove in each ROOM"
At the door of the gaol small
house should be built for the
guard. The convention proposed
to build the prison on private
property. This did not suit the
plans of the Frederick Committee.
who suggested that the ''free
school lot be used as a site for
this building, which might be of
use to the public latter our I'M
happy disputes are at-an end"
The convention did not agree
to this proposition, but erected
the gaol on Second street, few
rods east of the Farmers and
I Mechanics Bank. The building
was completed by the beginning
of June and found occupants
awaiting it. On May ~, Is Tory
prisoners from North Carolina
came and a constant guard of an
officer and of men was set over
them. These were part Of a body
OF prisoners sent for Safekeeping
northwardS to PENNSYLVANIA and
Maryland They were retained
in Frederick at least until the end
OF the year, with the exception OF
six. VINO succeeded in escaping in
September.
y second band of prisoners was
received on July % 177G, when
ID British officers taken at st.
Johns came with a letter from
the Board of War at Philadelphia,
stating that they might be ad
mitted to parole, if they would
give it, and, if not. they should
be closely confined. Only three
signed the parole then, but the
other twelve soon became weary
of confinement and followed on
August 3. AS they were allowed
the attendance of their servants
and of the women and children
belonging to them" their lot was
not extremely hard.
When the officers came the
committee suggested to the con
vention that as many of the Tory
prisoners had offered security fol
their good behavior, their mig hi
be given wider liberty The Tory
Gaol is "dreadful place, but
the best we have, to be confined
III and so crowded at present (be
ing 27) that we fear it may be
dangerous to their health" On
August 2S the convention allowed
the prisoners to the Tory gaol tC
be taken to the common gaol and
walk in the yard. When the re-
solve of convention came to Fred
erick the Tory prisoners were re
moved to the common gaOl. When
cold weather came on, the com
mittee again recommended that
the Tories be permitted to give
bond for good behavior and that
those who were dangerous be
transferred to the Tory gaol as a
place of superior strength and
preferable for winter. Though
the committee was thus merciful,
it was not careless. and on three
occasions expressed disapproval
of too great intimacy Of non asso-
ciatorS with the prisoners of war.
This might prove dangerous to the
State and was forbidden. 1t
might easily lead to an escape,
like that of September %, 1776.
when seven Tories broke gaol at
Frederick and escaped.
The Upper and Lower Districts
were diScontented with the con.
SeryatiSm of the convention and
Council of Safety. 1t was other
wise in the Middle District. This
committee favored the policy Of
the convention, that the "civil
power" be supported in "the due
execution of the laws. as far as
] consistent with the present plan
of opposition" For the H'main-
tenance of order and good gov
ernment," the committee recon-
mended the people "to pay strict
I regard to the authority of civil
magistrate III the just execution
of law" They declare that the
"duty and allegiance, enjOined by
the oath necessary to be taken to
constitute the magistrates, con
formally to the laws of this prov
ince, are not inconsistent with our
present plan of opposition to min
isterial despotism.' There was
no more patriotic place than Fred