Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-06-18

The remarkable influence exerted by
Southern Maryland on the social and
political life of the entire State began
Mareh p, 1854. Its inception on that
date sprang from the accidental land
ing on Blackiston Island of Gov.
Leonard Calvert with his 30 Gentle
men Adventures and 300 other per-
sons who had accompanied him in
two little ships, the Ark and the Dove
on that stormy voyage of four months
across the wide Atlantic. The arrival
in the New World of that intrepid band
of pioneers, mostly recruited from the
country gentry of England, marked
the true dawn of American Liberty.
For though Maryland way by Royal
Charter granted 10 Lord Baltimore
and its original settlers accepted him
as their ''Oyer Lord" they immedia-
tely enacted code of laws for their
local government which secured per-
sonal liberty, property, rights, and
religious liberation unknown to the
Old World.
Never intolerant like the puritans Of
New England, or domineering like the
Cavaliers in Virginia, Maryland en-
joyed a political and religious freedom
which made the colony a refuge for
bold spirits from other lands who be-
lieved in self-government and the right
to worship God according To ones
conscience.
Under the benignant rule Of the
Proprietor, the community rapidly
grew in wealth "a its numbers were
augmented by fresh arrivals, princi-
pally from England, Scotland and
North Ireland. New settlements ex-
tended along the water courses, and,
designated as hundreds" selected
representatives to the General Assem-
bly, at ST. Mays City, which first
convened in 1855. Among the emf
grants constantly arriving were sons
of influential fanatics, who brought
considerable property and numerous
|
number of their retinue. Baltimore
assured Patents to tracts of land OF
2,OOO acres and over, which were de-
signsted as "Manors, and generally
named for older localities. The reci-
pient of the grant was known as Lord
of Manor" These holdings were a
sort of little states within the larger
state. Each owner, with the aid of the
Freemen residing on his domain as
tenants, passed bylaws and held court
for the punishment OF thieves, porch
crs, and other petty offenders. On
such estates the life partook of a pat
riarchal completeness: each being a
small world within itself, having its
Great House" with spacious dining
hung the family portraits. A chapel,
smoke-house, stables and negro cabins
were grouped around the main build
ings, while further of were the dwell
ings of the freeholders or tenants.
Surrounded by their dependents. the
Lords of Manors lived in a truly Bar
onial style much like their forefathers
in the land of their birth.
Owing to- the geographical position
of the peninsula forming Southern
, Maryland, surrounded by the waters
of the Chesapeake on the east, the
wide Potomac on the south and west,
and divided its entire length by the
Patuxent river, the inhabitants were
in a measure separated from other
colonies. As a rule, marrying among
themselves they maintained the crigi-
nal purity OF their stock and develop
ed along lines peculiarly their own,
: yet retaining the best racial charac-
teristics of their progenitors. Imbued
with all the sentiments of the Anglo
Norman aristocracy in their chival-
rous devotion and courtesy Il woman
and combinding Herewith that bull
dog tenacity of purpose characteristic
of the race, they imbibed with their
mothers milk and intense patriotism
a genius for politics, and u deathless
attachment for the land of their birth.
Though the laws were democratic
and free from class legislation, public
affairs were usually directed by the
landed gentry. This ruling class was
fairly well educated and possessed
much of the culture and refinement OF
the Old World. Many sent their sons
aboard or to Provincial colleges, and
private teachers residing in the family
instructed the daughters and younger
children. Fox hunting was their re-
creation and political discussion their
hobby. The women were famed for
their wit and beauty, while the men,
sensitive, brave, and spirited, too
often reSoried To The Code for ad-
Ijustment of personal difficulties. From
that slave-holding landed aristocraey
of Southern Maryland sprang n domi-
nant race of men who for generations
impressed their individuality upon the
destiny of the Colony and moulded its
domestic policy and its relations with
other staieS.
The distiE,s al st. Mary's City from
other portions of the Province induced
the removal of the Seat of Govern
ment from the latter place To Annapolis
in 1854. A. the former city lost it,
prestige: Annapolis fiourished, until
it was known as the CAV metropolis OF
the New World; The Athens of
America" Other thriving towns
spran% up along navigable rivers.
On the PatuXrnt were the towns of
Lower Marlboro, Nottingham. Queen
Anne, and Upper Marlboro on the
Western Branch. The latter was
founded in l6g6 by Il band of Scotch
emigrants under Presbyterian divine,
Nathaniel Taylor, and named in 1906
for the Duke Of Marlborough Not