Evening star., 1927-05-15

Susauehannock War. when the white
men fought side by side with their
bronze neighbors against the nSSres-
sve PENNSYLVANIA tribe7men. The Pa
tuxent Indians remained to the end
firm friends of the settlers. But it
was the cross and not the sword which
opened the way to permanent settle
ments in Maryland.
Prince Georges County was cut off
from Charles County in 1895. 1t in
cIuded at that time one-half the pres
ent territory of the District of Colum-
bia and nearly all of Montgomery
County. 1t was named in honor of
Prince George of Denmark. the htls-
band of Queen Anne of England. This
dull, commonplace Dane. who was
Prince Consort of England from his
wife's accession to the throne in 1102
to his death in 110S, probably never
knew that a large tract Of rich agri-
cultural land in the New World had
been named in his honor, and was
hardly aware that there was such a
colony as Maryland. The name of the
county appears 10 be his single me-
mortal. lie was once candidate for
the throne of Poland. In 1859 he was
created Earl of Kendall and Duke Of
Cumberland which apparently were
empty honors.
In 1871 the Maryland half of the
District Of Columbia, lying mostly
west of the AnacostIa River. was cut
off from Prince Georges. The county
has long waited return of its gener-
osity, but the day seems to have ar
rived with new villages Springing up
everywhere along the boundaries.
From the first Prince Georges was a
county of large estates. The institu-
tion of slavery permitted the cultlVa-
tion of great areas Of tobacco. Four
or five hundred negroes We're not un-
common on the larger plantations.
One thousand acres was not an un-
usual holding. Bricks brought from
England as ballast were purchased for
a small price and the splendid old
manor houses began TO spring up.
Slavery in this section. the records
show. never was harsh or inhuman.
The slave had recourse to the masis-
trates and severe fines We're dealt out
to the masters convicted of cruelty.
In 17l2. it is interesting to note,
the population Of Prince Georges
County consisted Of 796 masters. 500
women. 1.l9S chi dren and 1902
slaves.
The original settlement on the site
of the present county seat, Upper
Marlboro was made by a band of
Scotch covenanterS under the leader
ship of Capt. Nathaniel Taylor. who
had fled from persecution in their ma
tive land To the toleration of the then
Catholic colony of Maryland. This
band of about so families sailed up
the western branch of the patuXent
Rlver-it is only brook now. but was
broad and deep enough for sailing YES
sells in the later years of the seven
teenth century.
There was then a Lower Marlboro
about five miles farther down this
branch. and some of the colonists To-
Gated there, but their church was
erected at Upper Marlboro, practi
caily at the head of the stream. Low
er Marlboro has since disappeared
There are only a few fishing shacks on
the site of the old village. The
Presbyterian Church was built on an
acre of land given the colony by Nj
nian Beale of Georgetown. whose plan
tation included most of the area now
| covered by the county seat.
But the CovenanterS had escaped
| from the firing squads of the Duke OF
Cumberland only to meet death i'll an
| other form in the new land. Malaria
| along the western branch killed them
off so rapidly that in about four years
! they were forced to abandon their
| newly built homes and church. They
| moved to q more healthful site at Bla
| densburg, then a village springing III
| on the plantation of the Bladen lam
| iiv. The communion service they uset
! still Is in the possession of the Presby
! terian Church at Hyattsville.
But other settlers took their places
| at Upper Marlboro convenient cen
ter for the tobacco growers, with direc
! access to sea water. Early In th'
eighteenth century the town was made
one of the Is Maryland ports autho
rized by the British government fol
exports and imports. and his ma
jesty's high commissioner was sta
toned there TO collect duties. Hi!
house. just behind the present court
house, still i3 standing.
Must Maintain Church.
The church of the covenanters wa
taken over by the Episcopalian set
tiers. and the present Episcopa
Church. with the graveyard around II
stands on the exact site. BY the proVl
sions Of Ninian Beale's will 1t revert
back to the estate if it is ever withou
a church. Permission to establish ;
church there was obtained by the frs
Episcopal bishop in the United States
Thomas J. Claggett authority for al
independent congregation. without an,
| parish boundaries, was granted by TIL
| MARYLAND NeStries act of 1906.
Upper Marlboro, Curiously enough
is intimately associated with the live
of the first Episcopal and the frs
Catholic bishops in the United States
and until very recent years these tw
churches have been almost alone /
Prince Georges County. Up 10 abou
five wears ago the house still wa
standing on a site almost opposite IN
courthouse, where John Carroll, IN
| -. e r,ina IL IlnII