The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-06-20

10 encourage the growth of CharlpStOwn,
which had been incorporated nearly half
century before. were unnvaiing and
they gave UP the undertaking. probably
because they believed it to be impossible
To build city ut that place. Up to this
time public opinion had always demand
Ell that the county seat should lie located
upon navigahle water but the manners
ana customs of the people had changed
very much since the first Court HtiOuSe
had been erected ut jamestown and II
greater change had taken place since the
county seat had been fixed ut Court
llouS" Point. When the Court House
was ut the former place. and during most
of the time ii was ut the latter. many of
those who wished to attend Court were
i'll rhe habit of going there in boats. Few
settlements had been made ut that time.
except those along the navigablr streams.
Now tn" whole county was settled, AMI
public opinion demanded a more central
location for the seat of justice. one that
could be reached without crossing fer
lics, which were expensive to maintain
and which it seemed impossible to dis
continue while they We're needed in order
to afford the people the proper facilities
for attndng Court.
Owing to the difficulty of obtaining
the means, on account of the scarcity of
money caused by the depression of bust
ness during the Revolutionary War. AMI
probably because there were many per
sons favorable To the removal OF the seat
of justice to the Head of Elk. no public
buildings except the Jail had been erected
at CharlcStown. The Head of Elk ut
this time. was place of some import
ance. and had considerable trade in Hour
with Philadelphia. In 1875 II line of
stage boats. rs they were then called,
had been established between that city
| and thriStiaua Bridge. Levi HollingS-
worth. the son of /ebulon IIollingsworth.
and brother Of Henry and Jacob Hol-
IingSw"rth, 9th of whom took an active
| interest in the affairs OF the town. WAS
largely interested in this enterprise. He
had been engaged in the flour trade from
ChriStiana to Philadelphia. wncn he was
only eighteen years of age. and had
served his country with much distinction
in tn" Revolutionary War rs Captain of
The First City Troop" of Philadelphia.
| in til" battles of Trenton and Princeton.
The HolingSwolth brothers were very
| influential. and there is no doubt that it
WAS mainly through their Instrument
nity that the removal of the seat of Jus
tice from CharlcSt0wm to Elkton. which
TOW began to be agitatrd. was effected.
The growth and prosperity of the town
ut the Head of Elk is set forth in the
| following paper which was written by
| the Rev. Joseph Coudon. ut that time
| curate of North Elk Parish. and who re-
sided on the plantation near Elkton. now
| owned by Rev. james Mclntirc. "A
short address to the inhabitants of the
village and ncighhorhood of Elk. on the
subject of erecting II house of worship in
| said village. together with Il preamble to
subscription humhly proposed.
1T has been too long remarked by the
| numerous travellers that pass through our
village. as we'll rs regretted by the
| friends of it. that Notwithstanding the
| rapidly growing importance" of the place
the various scenes of industry and ex-
| rrtionS it is noted for-amidSt the many
buildings that are daily Snlutin. our eyes
and rising and about to rise to view
there Is no appearance of even an humble
| building dedicated to the Worship and
S"rNic" of the supreme ruler Oh the uni
verse. on whom we depend for all we
| have or can hope to ENJOY. In this we
| do not initiate our piouS ancestors of old
who no sooner erected tent to dwell in.
| but they raised IN altar also: ard shall |
mention the uninlight"ned nations who
made it their first care to erect a noble
| rdiicc for the reception and worship of
| their dctieS
Your friends. however. are happy in
| thinking that the neglect hitherto is by
| no means chHrgcabir to ii want of re-
Sp"ct or v"nCrHtion of the Supreme. not
vet to Il want of public spirit (for libcr-
atty of mind and purse is rather Thought
to be characteristic of the pIacrI but
| that somehow or other your attempts in
this way HAY" proved ahortivc as if until
now tn" period for affecting il had rot
r"volv"d round. Now then We friends Of
public religion and public spirit. It's hum
bly, hoped you will step forth and no
longer suffer this odium to lie against us,
by putting forth II liberal hand towards
| 'rr"tin" as soon us may be. Il decent and
respectable house of prayer. in some de-
ere" expressive of Our vrncrntioN of the
Deity and which will reflect IL lasting
credit to tn" place and the founders
thereof. even after this. ana perhaps Il
Succeeding generation. may have passed
away"
"Nn"w all men by these presents that
we. the hereafter subscribed. being
moved by motiov"% OF pirtr and Christ
ian Brnovo!"ncr Ia erect a huil<" for pub
lie Worship in the villHgo Of Elk. do here
hE bind AMI ohligr ourselves to DAY. or