The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-12-29

consin and spent the winter there, returning to
Quebec in 1886 to report to Champlain.
The other tercentenary celebration which is
already under way but which will reach its c-
max during the coming year is that of the found
ing of the colony of Maryland from which grew
the state of that name
In 1882 King Charles l of England granted to
George Calvert Lord Baltimore, large tract of
land lying north of the Potomac river and south
of the Plymouth colonys boundaries. Calverts
motive in seeking this grant desire to
open in the New world refuge for men of his
own faith the Roman Catholics, who were then
suffering persecution in England. Under the
charter granted to Calvert he had larger powers
than had yet been granted to any colony settling
in America and thus there was introduced here
a new form of government. known as the pro-
prietary system.
But Calvert died before the signing of the char
ter and his son, Cecil Calvert, the second Lord
Baltimore, received the grant. Opposition from
Virginia made 1t advisable for him to remain in
England to protect his rights. so he appointed his
brother Leonard Calvert as acknowledgement
of the colony which had been given the name
of Maryland in honor of King Charles Catholic
queen, Henrietta Maria.
On November %, 1888, two ships, the Ark and
the Dove left Cowes bearing Lord Baltimores
two brothers, Leonard and George Calvert. with
very nearly twenty gentlemen of very good fash
ion," most of whom were Catholics, and "about
three hundred laboring men well provided in all
things" the majority of whom were Professionals.
On March %, 1884, the colonists landed on an
island at the junction of the Potomac river and
Chesapeake bay to which they gave the name of
ST. Clements island where for the first time in
history a party of English Catholics celebrated
mass.
Finding this island too small for the site of
settlement, a little later the colonists sailed
down the river until they came to the mouth of
a stream to which they gave the name River st.
George. Ascending this little way they came
to an Indian village and purchased from them
for some axes, hatchets and several yards
of cloth" the site of the first permanent settle
ment In Maryland to which was given the name
of ST. Mary's
Although March 25 is the important date in
Maryland history, the principal celebration Of
the Maryland tercentenary in 1894 will be held
on June 20, since it on June 20, 1852, that
Lord Baltimore was granted his charter by King
Charles and more favorable weather for the cele-
bration can be expected in June than in March.
The year 1874 had no outstanding events such
as these two in 1884 to provide the occasion
for bi-centennial celebrations of an elaborate
ture although the following are noteworthy
dates in that year:
January 2O-Robert Morris, Philadelphia mer-
chant, banker and "Financier of the Revolu-
ton" born in Lancashire England.
March 19-Thomas Mexican, member of the
First Continental congress, signer of the Dec
laration of Independence and president Of the
Eighth Continental congress. was born in Ches-
ter county, Pennsylvania.
November 17-John Peter Zenger Colonial
printer and editor of the New York Weekly
Journal arrested for "false. scandalous, MALI
cious and seditious lbels' against the royal gov
ernor of New York. Out of this arrest came the
trial and acquttal of Zenger which marked an
important step In establishing the principle Of
the freedom of the press In America.
December H-William Floyd, sgner of the
Declaration of Independence. and a member of
every Continental congress from IT'S to 1882,
was born in Brookhaven, N. Y.
Events of 1884 which have sesqui-centennial
significance:
June Legislature of North Carolina ceded
to the congress of the United States the title
which that state possessed to lands west of the
Alleghanies, leading to the holding of conven-
ton august 23) at Jonesborough where the
westerners decided to organize separate gov
eminent and a second convention at Jonesbor-
ough December I'D at which a temporary con-
stitution was adopted and the new state of
Franklin" was launched upon its stormy career.
September 24-Zachary TAYLOR. officer in the
War of 1872, the Black Hawk war and the