Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

q W. counties and hundreds dat
ed July 20 1775. 1t is matter of
small Importance whether that state
was the first in the field for independ-
cnce II is essential only in this hour
of patriotic revival to supply a blank
in Maryland history and point to the
spirit and temperament of the colonies
of 1774 which eliminated in the battle
of Lexington and the great act, the
Declaration of July T. 1916.
The country of the eastern shore OF
the Chesapeake, renowned for its oys-
tiers. clans. terrapin and canva S ba ok.
was famed for other things in ancient
days. According to Bozman. Vol. 1,
land discovered in North America in
May. 1898.
Bo:ran says. "Sebastion Cabot
reached the continent of North Amer
lea and. sailing along it TO the thirty
eighth parallel. first saw and discover
ed that part of the state of Maryland
bordering on the Atlantic ocean. He
must have had Z view of Fenwics and
Assateague islands and proba bly, look ed
into Sinepuxent or Chincoteague in
let's
There came to the eastern shore in
. 1881 two vessels. the Ark and the Dove.
with n cargo OF 200 gentlemen of for
tune and respecta bility. who settled in
St Marys not far from Claiborne. They
had already occupied Kent Island in
Ezc lya In
came three vessels from Arcadia in
1855 filed with ex.les whose French
names pervade the eastern shore. Nor
should it be forgotten that the eastern
shore is the birthplace Of Samuel Chase,
Luther Martin. william Winder. John
Gunby. Peter Chaille, Charles Carroll
and stephen Decatur. Was land more
blest; Why not then establish as an
other title o. patriotic spirit the fact
that the eastern shore declared first OF
the provinces for American independ-
ence,
More than a half century ago / was
present when a member Of the general
assembly OF Maryland. returning from
Annapolis. recounted to ray father that
Mr.. Daniel Randall had shown him the
original Of a Declaration Of American
Independence signed by sixty or more
residents Of the counties of Somerset
and Worcester. among others By Col
father one day in 1887 in Anna polls,
Mr. Randall. IT.. showed NE the orig
fnai document In question and cour-
teously permitted me to make The copy
which is here reproduced (reducedJ.
Replying 20 recent letter on the sub
ject sir. Randall said:
Indeed ! do remember with great
pleasure your visit to Annapolis and
ynu- first sigh. ~ the copy Of the
Declaration OF the Association Of the
Freemen Of Maryland which WAS and
IL sun one % the heirlooms Of my
famii%. This paper still hangs In itz
frame where YOU saw il thirty odd
years ago. and where IL has hung now
for nearly 100 years AZ father Alex
an3er Randall. vas a one time attor-
nsy general of the state and told me
that he secured IL by purchase or gift
from friend or client on the eastern
shore OF MaryIa nd %
No mention OF this valuable docu-
ment having been made in the
archives OF the state" then in course
OF publication tIs9G, addressed a
note on the subject to Or william
Hand Browne, the editor. who replied
Johns Hopkins University, Balti
more, September 20. 1896.
Dear Sir. No doubt YOU are right
that the proclamstions consisted OF
several documents and the copy found
at Annapolis is only one of these
though it was then believed 70 be a
complete copy
DR.. Browne in common with all MEM
bers of the Historical Society had
knowledge only of the proclamation
signed by the residents OF Baitimore
(sanle date and text IL is true Nc
Mehon. page as, writes of having
seen a report containing the original
return of the Association of Back
Creek Hundred. in Cecil county. by
Thomas Frisby Henderson. The repor,
had III aeeociators and one dissent.