Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12

4 1892, the year of the birth OF
George Washington and plans
are now going forward for the
celebration next year OF the Dur
ham Church bicentcnnial, when it is expected
that pilgrims from many corners OF the giooe,
particularly those now scattered over the earth
whose forbears figured in the early history OF
MARYLAND will journey to this little shrine
The fact that the founders of Durham par
fsh were among the founders OF the American
Nation led the first assistant librarian of Con-
gress TO secure for the Library photostatic
CODY of the Durham Church records covering
the period from Colonial days to Easter, 1924.
When the head of the manuscripts department
of the Congressional Library recommended
that the Library should so to the expense Of
procuring these records. he declared, The LII
beAfy has a precedent for the photostating OF
church records in the case OF Old PohlcK
Church. Va. which are doubtless OF greater
sentimc ntal interest. but of much less historic
value than Inc records of Old Durham Church"
The history of old Durham parish and the
country surrounding it is romantic one-ot
land and people alike who have known for
mer glory. Durham parish still tugs at the
heart strings of many now far removed from
the heart of Maryland, but who quarter or
a half century ago traied by means OF horse
drawn vehicles the washed-out roads to wor-
ship at the old brick church.
Situated picturesquely amidst fine old woods,
whose dignified and beautiful trees have not
cessities CT life might be procured. the illness
relieved or a child sent away to school SO that
he might develop his proud heritage OF men
tai and spiritual qualt!eS-the fate OF much
of the woods in this section OF Maryland-old
Durham parish stands q bulwark against
time a monument to the ideals Of Southern
Maryland a testimonial to portion of the
Nations aristocTacy and wealth that once
found solace in her pcwS.
Many of the descendants of those first set
tiers. who landed on the shores OF Maryland
ON the Ark and the Dove, still trail the roads
nm Sunday morning and still worship in the
pews of Durham which have been occupied by
people OF the same names for generations. The
roads leading to Durham now are not SO
washeG-out in former days many OF them
being haTd-graveled or paved, and nearly all
Of the communicates come by automobiles.
These Innovations however, only seem to en-
phasize the better days" once enjoyed by this
section of the State.
THE history is of early struggles and early
u glory, of years of slavery, when the negro
peon danced and sang. worked the land and
cut the wood. was clothed and fed by his mas
ter and tended when he WAS i'll, was beaten,
loved and sent to church many of them in
the old days before the Civil War occupying
the balcony seats Of old Durham
Following the Civil War land poor" were
words in common use. and applicable to nearly
all of the former wel-to-do country gentlemen
of that section, whose forbears had for the
most part come to this country registered as
"gentlemen" 1t was this class which made
up almost entirely the early congregations OF
Durham parish. and it is their descendants
who worship in her pews today.
Charles County was created in 1858. It was
divided in 1892 into four parishes, Port To-
bacco William and Mary. Durham or Nam
1emi and PiScataway. 1t is believed that the
hrSt land taken up in the parish was that
granted by Lord Baltimore to Gov. Stone.
This land is described as Lying west
of Nanjemi Greek on the Potomac" Gov.
Stone was buried on the manor, and his last
Resting place is still pointed out to those who
visit the farm known - Cherry Field Dur
ham was in the main, q Church of England
settlement. and for many years was considered
the arts. ocTacy part OF Charles County. The
estates very large, as IS evidenced by the
fact that in 1896, 40 years after the creation
OF Charles County, the records show only IT'S
taxabes within the limits Of this parish. The
population Of the country as q whole was at
that time sparse In 1893 the taxables Of the
entire county of Charles were approximately
- showing a population OF bit from $500
W2.O0O
Although the present Durham Church was
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