Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-10-20
sharpe. ,nt.r b.com.ng the property Of
John Ridout

er, Philip Hammond, a leading mer-
chant of Annapolis. prominent in leg.
islaiive and church affairs His wife
Rachel Brice, was a daughter Of Johr
Brice. OF England. likewise an ances-
tor Q! our present Regent.
After the death of Philip Hammond
the chest passed. by inheritance. to his
son. Col Charles Hammond, of Curtis
| Greek then TO his grandson, Colonel
Philip Hammond. From Major Philir
1t came in turn to his son Rein, his
| grandson, DR.. George Hammond. Of
Anne Arundel county. and his great
| grandson, the last owner. an interest
ing and unusual relic of one OF Mary
lands foremost citizens. who helped so
ably to lay the foundation Of our conn
try and this capital of our State then
a ROYAL Province.
| "St. Anne's Church has also a well
| preserved Bible. purchased by the YES
try from a legacy of l0-lbs.. left by him
10 the church.
General Hammond was one of the
Commissioners in 1894 to lay out lots
and organize tic town OF Annapolis.
All of these Commissioners saw the
coming Capitol. and each took up sew
eral lots IN the town.
Thomas Hammonw was a neighbor
of his uncle, Capt Cornelius Howard.
He married Mary Heath.
The Hammond House Annapolis,
worry often called the Harwood House.
is on Maryland avenue directly oppos-
site the Chase House. II was built in
1774. by Matthias Hammond, the Revo-
utionary patriot, and was inherited in
1856 by John Hammond, nephew of the
builder. Its builder was the great
grandson of Major John Hammond,
VINO. it Is said, settled near Annapolis
before the Eighteenth Century.
at is but proper and just to pause
once in while in our busy lives" said
Mrs Welsh, "to dwell upon the virtues
and characteristics of these pioneer
dwellers so that we may emulate what
is fine in them, and thus be encour.
aged and stimulated TO build museums
fair and stately upon these same
strong foundations. laid by their cour-
age and determination, cementod by
their valor and integrity.
1T is for this reason we prize this
old iron chest. Would that it might
be granted the power of speech. What
thrilling .ale il could tell of Mary
lands struggle and development. now
only dimly limited at
Mrs Welsh told how Dr. and Mrs.
George Hammond and their son, Rein,
Hammond, believing rightly that this
relic should not be kept in the possess
Sion Of private family. gave it to the
custody of the Ann Arundel Chapter,
with the request that it be placed in a
permanent historical room
Several places were suggested, but
| the State House relic room was finally
determined upon as the most fitting.
In closing Mrs. Welsh said il was with
keen gratitude the ID. A. X. received the
interesting relic and with pleasure The
Ann Arundel Chapter handed It over
to the Peggy Stewart Tea Party Chap
ter, who, in turn, gave it to the State
on this their name day, Oct. 10, 1916.
The chest is made of iron, and Is
about twenty-seven inches long, eight
cen inches deep and twenty inches
wide IL has the appearance of a
strong box" of olden times, is heavily
bound with iron bands and a sUostan-
| tial lock. 1t contains the following in
| scrcription:
"This chest was presented 10
Ann Arundel Chapter, ID. A. r.. by
Rezin Hammond. son Of the late
Dr. George Hammond, of A. A. Co.,
lineaI descendant of Major General
George Hammond. and mt one time
used by Col. Charles hammond.
Collector and Treasurer. 1172.,
The Governors Remarks.
Governor Ccldshorough received the
| chest on the part of the States in a
few well chosen remarks. The Gov
ernor said he had prepared a sketch oi
Major General John Hammond, the
4 original owner OF the chest. but that
| had been ably covered by the Regent
| Mrs Welch. The Governor, however
made a brief. but stirring speech
| After ad iressing both the d. A. r. 50.
cieties and the guests present, the
| Governor said:
| This revolutionary chest. relic OF
this distinguished man, is accepted or
| the part of the State from your dis.
| tinguished Society, and will be placed
| i'm the Exhibit Room OF the State House
| where it may be a constant reminder
| TO all visitors of the splendid type Of
I man who helped to lay the founda-
tions of this glorious old State"
Patriotic societies do not live that
| their members may yaunt their pride
of ancestry, tlcus and times no. bui
| that through their efforts young mer
| and young women of today may undar-
stand the privations. the hardships- The
suffering. the self-denials and every
deed of those great men who builded
this glorious nation. and thus perpet
uate their memory.
OF one Of Americas martyrs il Is
said: His whole life taught that q
man should not dip the substance oi
his manhood into some internal sle-
ment and turn it to cinder. but that he
should put it in the white heat OF
honesty and produce the crucibIe oui
of which could be forged the noble
things of life
The Governor spoke of the @Yesfer-
days" and what they stand for, OF the
kind and character of men who lived
| In those YESTERDAYS" He said We