Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-08-26
The Montgomery County Museum.

Last winter, at one of the meetings of the
Woman's Club Of Rockville, letter was
read from Miss Mary Dorsey Davis, whose
ancestral home, Greenwood, is near Brooke.
vile, suggesting that the Club institute q
museum for Montgomery county, where in
teresting and valuable family relics could
find home and be cared for, and offering
her own collection, which she wished to
place somewhere, as the home was to be
broken up, as nucleus.
The unanimous sentiment of the Club was
that it would be fine thing for Rockville
and the county to have something OF the
kind, and although il was great response.
bility the members decided to undertake IL.
The office Of the late DR.. Stoonestreet was
obtained for the purpose, through the kind.
ness of the School Commissioners, and dur.
ing the summer 1t has been fitted up.
Miss Davis and her sister have sent large,
varied and most interesting collection of ar.
tlcles, which contributed to the everyday
home life Of the family from the middle Of
the Eighteenth Century to the Civil War.
This collection, at the request OF Miss Davis,
is to be called The Allen Bowie Davis Col
lection, in memory OF the last male repre-.
sentative Of the family, "whose lifelong in
terest was the welfare and development OF
his native county"
This collection is now nearly ready to
present to the view of the public, and the
Club hopes very soon to give, in connection
with an interesting lawn exhibit, public
exhibition, and it hopes that due apprecla-
ton of its abors and patriotism will be
shown by a large attendance.
The following is sketch of Greenwood
sent, as requested, by Miss Davis:
GREENWOOD"
Greenwood originally consisted of three
tracts of and-Hygham, Colds Branch and
Pierpolnts Range.
Hygham was surveyed by John Bradford
in 1870, and patented TO him Goth of May
l724, in Prince Georges county.
Colds Branch was surveyed by Richard
Snowden in 1893, and laid cut for him 10th
day OF July, 1725. Given under our Grea
Seal at Arms--containing 257 acres. Wit
messed by our trusty and well-beloved Rich
ard Tilghman, Esq Chancellor and Keep
er OF our said Greater Seal Of our Province
Of Md. Later sold to Josep Gold.
Pierpoints Range was granted to Larkir
Pierpoint In 1745-containing $50 acres.
These old patents granted all the rights
and privileges, Royal mines excepted, to be
holden of Us and Our Heirs, as of our Ma.
# hal8 In fs.a nd
cage-the yearly rent TO be paid at Our City
OF st. Mary's at the two most usual Feasts
of the year, viz: the Feasts Of Annuncia.
ton of the Blessed Virgin Mary aud st. MI.
chael the Arch-Angel-of one shilling and
eight pence half penny sterling In silver and
gold. Given under our Great Seal, 1746.
Witness our trusty and well-beloved Sam
uel Ogle, ESQ.,, Lieutenant General and
chief Governor OF our said Province of Mary
land, Chancellor and Keeper of the Great
Seal thereof.
These several tracts mere bought by
Thomas Davis, Jun'r, IN 1746.
His father, Thomas Davis, the elder, had
emigrated with his wife Mary from Wales,
near 1890, and settled on South River. He
and his son Thomas died April, 1749, and
Greenwood was inherited by Ephriam, son
of Thomas and Elizabeth Gather Davis
A stone house had been built by one Of the
patentees, which still stands, with large out
side stone chimney. Ephralm Davis added
the centre building OF brick In 1866, tradi,
tonally reputed to have been brought from
England, and as substantial to-day as when
first bnilt-the panelled wood work In per.
lect condition. The large lreplaces and
corner cupboard were in the style OF that
day.
He married Elizabeth Howard and died
In 1853. leaving an only son, Thomas Davis.
As the plantation grew tue homestead was
enlarged. Thomas Davis, after his marriage
first to Catharine W Orthington and later 10
Elizabeth Bowie, added an l. OF stone In
1907, as we'll as adjoining acres. Changes
came with time, and what was the front en-
trance became the back. Elizabeth Bowie
laid out an od.iashioned garden, which was
her pride, and flowers planted by her still
adorn the squares. AS the building was the
most substantial In the neighborhood, ira
dition tells how It was made refuge Tor
women and children in time of danger
A true homestead is the growth OF genef-
atoms, and 80 Allen Bowie Davis, alter bis
marriage, first to Rebecca Comfort Dorsey
and later to Hester Ann Wilkins, united the
structure in 1916 and added tower In 1853,
the whole was rough cast and presented the
appearance OF an entire stone building. The
lawn was extended and adorned with
great variety of evergreens and shade trees,
hedges and ornamental shrubs.
In the cemetery adjoining the lawn the
successive generations sleep. The three sons
OF Allen Bowie aud Hester Ann Davis were
"early called"
At the death of Allen Bowie Davis, 10
1889, Greenwood was left To his three daugh-