The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-11
Western Calvert Heirs Associa-
ton to Fight for
S6oo,ooo,ooo.
BY IA MARauIsE DE- FoNTENOY.

TT He announcement that the organ
ization known as the Western
l. Calvert Heirs Association" at a
meeting held on Monday last AZ Kan
sas City No. decided on the Inaugural
ton OF a J. gal battle for the estaD-
lishment of the claims OF It's members
10 lands IN and around Baltimore, OF
an estimated value of $500, 100000 un-
der grants made I'm the seventeenth
century 70 the FIRST Lord Baltimore bS
King James !. of Grfat Britain and
Ireland" serves to recall the romance
OF the Lords OF Baltimore.
Baltimore. as everyone knows. owes
its name 20 its founder. Cecilius CAL
vert. second Lord Baltimore. OF the
seaport town Of Baltimore. in County
Cork. ireland. The first Lord Balti-
more hailine from an old Yorkshire
family. had been Secretary Of state TO
James I. Owing to the distrust OF
Parliament wh.cli he incurred In con-
nection with his attempt 10 bring
about a marriage between the heir APP
parent and ono OF the infantas or
Spain. he resigned his office and re-
ceived from the King the irish Barony
Of Baltimor4. as reward for his ser
vices. also a large grant OF land in
Ireland ana a similar grant of land III
Newfoundland whcrs under a royal
charter. he endeavored to found a
colony OF the name Of Avalon.
But climate and soil contributed to
render this Newfoundland venture
failure. and therefore he sailed for
virginia But having in the Meanwhile
become a Roman Catholic. he was for
hidden 70 settle there unless he took
the oath Of supremacy. that is 10 say
the recognition Of the King in all &c
clesiastical matters, and an abjuration
OF the spiritual supremacy of the
pope Accordingly. Lord Baltimore
sailed for England. where he died be
fore being able TO secure grant OF
land and charter from the crown
James |. also died about that time
Lord Baltimore's son and successor,
Ceciiius Calvert managed. however. TO
obtain a grant from Charles T. OF prac-
tically the entire Colony of Maryland
the charter bestowing upon him the
most extraordinary powers-virtualiy
those OF a vassal sovereign. For Loro
baltimore was authorized by the chart
er TO strike his own coins. to confer
titles Of honor. 10 build forts and cas-
ties. to found churches and advowsons.
TO incorporate towns into boroughs.
boroughs into cities. to decree all
taxes. to raise and maintain his own
army. and TO enjoy power of life and
death in the colony of which he was. In
all save the actual title. sovereign.
In fact. the charter conferred upon
Lord Baltimore the most extensive pre-
negatives ever enjoyed by British
subject since the great houses had
bowed down before the successive
despotism of Yorkist and Tudor rule.
Lord Baltimore arrived in Maryland
with a retinue of some zoo in Novem-
Der 1853. and encountered a tremen-
dous amount of opposition on the part
OF the Colony Of Virginia. There was
a good deal OF fighting, and matters
were envencmed by the fact that the
Puritans of Virginia, prosecuted by the
local authorities. found refuge in Mary
land under Lord Baltimore, although
he was a Catholic.
Nor were these the only complica-
lions. For when Charles II. granted to
William Penn charter for certain
wide territories in America, ne mad
vertently included in the grant the