The History of Maryland from its first settlement in 1634 to the year 1848

Front matter

r HISTORY O F MARYLAND; FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1634, TO THE YEAR 18 18. BY JAMES McSHERRY. BALTIMORE: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BYJOHN MURPHY, No. 178 Market Street. SOLD BY BOOKSELLERS GENERALLY. MDCCCXL1X. Entered, according to the act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, by John Murphy, in the clerk's office of the District Court of Maryland. JOHN MURPHY, Printer, Baltimore. WM. H. HOPE, Stcreotyper. TO THE YOUTH OF MARYLAND, /t^ihis B00K6£^=^x IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, *V_Ss*J?3 ,N THE HOPE, THAT ITS PERUSAL MAY IMPRESS UPON THEIR MINDS WS$( §z§'s<or3 *•" *^*r H?"'"'* SS(af<* STRENGTHEN THAT DUTIFUL AND PATRIOTIC LOVE WHICH THEY OWE IT, AND INDUCE THEM TO ADMIRE AND IMITATE THE VIRTUE, THE VALOUR, AND THE LIBERALITY, THEIR FOREFATHERS.

Preface

. In this work the author has endeavored to compress together, in a popular form, such events in the history of Maryland as would interest the general reader, and to give a simple narration of the settlement of the colony ; its rise and progress ; its troubles and revolutions ; as well as the long periods of peace and serenity, which beautified its early days : — to picture the beginning, the progress, and the happy conclusion of the war of independence — the forti tude and valor of the sons of Maryland upon the field, and their wisdom in council. He has, therefore, dwelt upon those portions of the revolutionary battles, alone, in which they bore a conspicuous part. From the close of that war, and the adoption of the constitution of the United States, — mingling and 'identifying the most important parts of the history of the State, with that of the nation — he has only attempted to sketch out a few of the results, which have denoted its progress and prosperity, avoiding care fully, as unsuited to the object of his labors, the strifes and contentions of parties, however interesting a portion of its political history they may present.

In conclusion, he tenders his acknowledgements to the president and other officers and members of the Maryland Historical Society, for the uniform kindness with which they have at all times afforded him access to their archives, and facilitated his researches among their valuable collec tions. Frederick, January 1, lWy. r CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. ?VX Discovery of America 13 Difference in Character of the People of English and Spanish America 14 Sebastian Cabot discovers North America 15 He touches on Maryland 15 Verazzini passes the mouth of the Chesapeake 16 The English attempt to colonize North America 16 London and Plymouth Companies 16 Virginia Settled 17 Capt. John Smith Explores the Chesapeake 18 Second and third Charters of the Virginia Company 20 Charters forfeited 21 Sir George Calvert 21 Prepares to Found Maryland 22 His Death 24 The Charter Issues to his Son Cecilius 24

Chapter I

. THE SETTLEMENT OF MARYLAND. The First Colony sails from England 26 Dangers of the Voyage 27 Landing at St. Clement's 30 Exploration of the Potomac 31 Leonard Cal vert's Treaty with the Indians 32 The Founding of St. Mary's 32 The Indians of St. Mary's 34

Chapter II

claiborne's first rebellion. Colony visited by Governor Harvey of Virginia 38 Claiborne's claims to Kent Island, &c 39 His Rebellion and Defeat on the Pocomoke 40 His Flight 41 First General Assembly of Maryland 41 Conditions of Plantations 41 The Isle of Kent 42 The Second General Assembly 42 Its Constitution 43 Dispute with Proprietary concerning the framing of Laws 44 Trial of one of the Rebels 44 End of the Rebellion 45 The Missionaries among the Indians 46 Baptism of Tay ac 49 Indian Wars 51 Settlement on the Schuylkill 54 Third General Assembly 54 Town House and Water Mill built C ONTENTS.

Chapter III

claiborne's and ingle's rebellion. Page. Success of Parliament over the King in England 57 Its Effects in Maryland "J Claiborne's and Ingle's Rebellion °> Governor Calvert takes refuge in Virginia 59 The Rebels subdued and order restored 60 Death of Leonard Calvert, first Governor of Maryland 61 Thomas Green, Governor ." 62 Liberty of Conscience 63 The Puritans received in the Province 68 Reduction of Maryland 7(1 Troubles with the Indians 71 Lord Baltimore attempts to recover the Province 72 Battle at Providence 75 Execution of the Prisoners by the Puritans 76 Restoration of the Province 79 Fendal's Rebellion 80

Chapter IV

the protestant revolution. Peace and Prosperity 81 Population — New Counties — Cities , 82 Negro Slaves 85 Tobacco Trade 87 The Friends 88 Seneca Indians infest the Frontier 89 Expedition under Major Trueman 90 Complaints against the Proprietary Government 91 Support for Episcopal Clergymen 92 Edward Husband's case — Fendal and Coode 92 Hostility of the Crown to the Province 93 Protestant Revolution 93 Convention of the Associators in arms 95 First Royal Governor 95 Catholics Disfranchised and Episcopal Church established by law 95 Contest with the Proprietary 97 Removal of the Government from St. Mary's to Annapolis 93 Downfall of St. Mary's 98 The French Wars — Crown Requisitions 100 Attempts to Repeal the Charter '. 102 Effects of the Royal Administration 103 Intolerance of the People 105

Chapter V

restoration of the province. Struggles of Democracy ]06 Relations with the Indians 108 Internal Improvements 110 Growth of Annapolis — Baltimore — Frederick Ill Georgetown 112 Military Affairs 112 Governors under the Restoration 114 New Counties ., ... 114 Population — Manufactures , . . \ CONTENTS. ix Schools and Churches 117 Currency 117 Boundary Disputes with Virginia 118 With Delaware and Pennsylvania 120 With Virginia on the West 124

Chapter VI. The French And Indian War

The last of the Lords Baltimore 127 The French and Indian War 127 Congress at Albany 128 Capture of Washington at Little Meadows 128 Maryland takes part in the War 128 Gov. Sharpe commander-in-chief of forces on the Ohio 130 Braddock's Defeat 133 Its Consequences — Inroads of the Savages 134 Militia -and Volunteers assemble on the Frontiers 135 Panic of the Inhabitants 135 Fort Cumberland — Disputes as to its Command 136 Preparations for a Second Expedition 138 Defence of the Frontiers — Fort Frederick 139 New Inroads of the Savages 140 March of General Forbes 145 Grant's Defeat 146 Fight at Loyal Hanning 148 Capture of Fort Duquesne and close of the War 150

Chapter VII. Thf

DAYS BEFORE THE REVOLUTION. The Rights of the People 150 The Stamp Act — Resistance to it in Maryland 151 Zachariah Hood, the Stamp Collector, driven from the Province.. 153 Protest of the Assembly 155 Daniel Dulany I56 Congress of Deputies from the Colonies 157 Firmness of the House of Delegates and the people 157 The Stamp Act declared unconstitutional 161 Its Repeal 162 Compliment to Chatham and Camrien 163 Duty on Tea— Opposition of Maryland 164 Non-importation Societies 166 The Proclamation and the Vestry Acts 168 Charles Carroll of Carrollton and Daniel Dul-any 170 Revival of the Tax upon Tea 173 The Maryland Convention 173 Tea-burning at Annapolis I7-' Second Maryland Convention— the last Proprietary 176 Retrospect I77

Chapter VIII. The Revolution

Unanimity of the People of Maryland 180 Preparations for War I'l Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill 182 Association of the Freemen of Maryland 185 Rifle Companies raised and sent to Boston x CONTENTS. Pan*. Regular Troops— Colonel Smallwood. lg7 Material of War-Efforts to Supply it 188 Lord Dunmore— Conolly's scheme.. g9 Dunmore's Intrigues on the Eastern Shore The British sloop Otter in the Chesapeake J" Gov. Eden compelled to leave the Province «« The Declaration of Independence.. Jj« Maryland Troops ordered to join Washington -»**'

Chapter IX. The Battles Of The Old Maryland Line

Brooklyn Heights.................... *j*j| Retreat from Long Island and New York •*« The Heights of Harlaem -At White Plains ™ Storming of Fort Washington Mm Trenton *?" Princeton

Chapter X. The New Constitution And State Government

Convention to form the Constitution organizes v 215 New Counties formed 215 Reorganization of the Line J™ Bill of Rights and Constitution adopted 217 Contest with Virginia • • 217 Form of Government, Legislative, Executive, Judiciary *\x Progress of Maryland 220 The first State Legislature jZZ The first State Governor "J* Exertions to Sustain the War 225

Chapter XI. Campaign Of

1777. Enemy in the Chesapeake 226 Attack on Staten Island 227 Battle of the Brandywine 229 Defeat of Wayne and Smallwood's Militia 231 Battle of Germantown 232 Defence of Fort Mifflin 236 Gist's Militia Skirmish with the Enemy 237 Maryland Line winter at Wilmington 238 Alliance with France 239

Chapter XII

'78 AND '79. Active measures to fill the State's quota of troops 240 Tories — measures to repress them 241 Disputes between the House and Senate 242 Court of Appeals appointed 243 Claims to the Western Lands 244 Campaign of 1778 244 Battle of Monmouth 245 Maryland Line in New Jersey 248 Campaign of 1779 CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XIII. Internal Affairs

fa^ Condition of the State 251 State Marine— Reduced 252 Bills of Credit— -their Depreciation 253 Provision for the Army 254 Non jurors — Mr. Chase charges a Senator with toryism 256 Naturalization of Foreigners 257 Second Governor of the State 258 Paper Money — its Depreciation 259 Confiscation of the Estates of the Disaffected 259 The Confederation 262 Maryland insists on her claims to the Public Lands 263 Succeeds — Confederation Ratified 264 The Articles of Confederation 4. , 265

Chapter XIV. The Southern Campaigns

Maryland Line ordered to the South 266 Battle of Camden 269 Reduction of the Line 275 Battle of Cowpens— Howard 278 Greene's Retreat— Williams 281 Battle of Guilford Court House 286 Battle of Hobkirk's Hill 290 Assault on Ninety -six — Augusta 293 Battle of Eutaw 295 The Maryland Line and " the Buffs " 296 The Campaign in Virginia 299 Triumphal Reception of Washington at Annapolis 300

Chapter XV. The Close Of The Revolution

New Issue of Paper Money 302 Tory Conspiracy in Western Maryland 302 Leaders tried and executed 303 Close of the War and Peace with Great Britain 305 The Maryland Line during the Revolution 306 The Cincinnati 307 Maryland Society 308 Seat of the National Government 309 Washington resigns his commission at Annapolis 310

Chapter XVI. Events From The Revolution To The War Of

1812. National Debt— State Debt 312 State's Bank of England Stock 313 The Susquehanna Canal— the Potomac Company 314 Convention between Maryland and Virginia 3 16 Ecclesiastical Affairs and Education 316 Smallwood, Governor — Howard 318 Constitution of the United States adopted. 318 Maryland Convention ratifies and confirms it 321 Organization of the Federal Government 323 Public Debt 324 District of Columbia laid out CONTENTS. XII T2gt. 007 The Whiskey Insurrection ""„ The French War— Howard jjfj? The Right of Suffrage Enlarged gj New Judicial System *"' Difficnllies with England "J* The Embargo 332 Maryland Sustains the Administration 333 Declaration of War , 333 Mob at Baltimore 334

Chapter XVII. The War Of

1812. The British in the Chesapeake 335 Battle of Bladensburg 336 Battle of North Point— the 12th of September 340 Bombardment of Fort McIIfnry 343 "The Star Spangled Banner" 345

Chapter XVIII. From The Peace Of

1815 TO THE TEAR 1848. Peace with Great Britain 346 Growth of Baltimore 346 Reform Agitation — its early rise and progress 347 The Nineteen Van Buren Senatorial Electors 349 Reform of the Constitution 353 Slavery and the Blacks 356 Liberia — Colonization Society 359 Public Schools 360 Public Improvements — the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal 362 Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road 365 Public Debt 366 Repudiation 370 Resumption of the payment of the interest 373 Agriculture 373 Manufactures 375 The Mexican War 375 Conclusion 376

Appendix

. A. List of the Officers of the Battalion and Independent Companies 378 B. List of the Officers of the Flying Camp, 1776 379 C. Arrangement of the Seven Battalions, 1777 379 D. Arrangement of the Maryland Line, June 1st, 1781 386 E. Table of Regulars and Militia furnished during the Revolution 391 P. List of Members of the Cincinnati Society of Maryland 392 G. Lords Proprietary of Maryland 398 H. Governors of Maryland 398 I, Members of the Maryland Convention of 1776, which framed the Constitution of the State 399 J. Ratification of the Constitution of the United States by the Maryland Convention, 1788 400 K. Maryland Senators in the United States' Senate 401 L. Votes of the Maryland Electors for President and Vice President of the United States 402 M. Population of Maryland, from its first settlement 403 N. Note to page 22. . '.

HISTORY OF MARYLAND. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. A HE discovery of America in 1492, by Christopher Columbus, at a time when the chivalry of Spain was in its brightest and its latest glory, threw open to the brave spirits fresh from the conquest of Granada, and the victorious battle fields of Italy, a new world, full of wild adventures, of novel wonders, and teeming, in their fancies, with measureless riches. The graceful forms of a strange race, whose complexions were tinted with the hues of the sun, the gorgeous specimens of their wealth and their works of art, displayed before the admiring court of Ferdinand and Isabella, turned all hearts towards this El Dorado of the west ; and the discovery of the beautiful isles of the great gulf, was followed by the conquest of Mexico — and of Peru — by the exploration through the swamps of Florida and the plains of Louisiana in quest of the fabled waters of perpetual life — expeditions wilder than any ever sketched out before in the fancy of the novelist, or the song of the minstrel, sometimes crowned with success, sometimes dis astrous in the extreme.

The rich mines of the south, its fertile soil producing alike, spontaneously, the necessaries and luxuries of life ; its beautiful sky and its balmy air, similar to, but sur- •2 passing their own, allured the Spaniard and the Portuguese who never once turned their steps to the colder climate and the temperate skies of a more northern latitude; and a century passed before another race, from a congenial land, shaped their course towards that region, which has since become the seat of a great and powerful people, excelling in wealth, in freedom, in the arts, the dwellers in the ear lier settled, but more enervating countries of the south. But the one was fostered and cherished by the blasting kindness of a royal hand — the other grew up, untended and unheeded, breasting the storms, providing for its own safety, protecting itself and gaining from use the strength of manhood, even in its early infancy.

The Spaniards cast their lot amongst a semi-civilized race, whom they subdued, and with whom they intermingled their blood ; and were a royal government over a conquered people. The English came to build up their empire in a wild uncultivated forest, with a savage foe around them, whom they exterminated, and then found none, within their borders, who were not equals and freemen. Thus it was that the mingled race of the north, composed, as in time it came to be, of many nations and different peoples — the fiery Celt and Frank — the phlegmatic German, and the ever-pressing-onward An glo-Saxon — gathering the best features from each, assimi lated into one mass of marked power and energy ; while the colonists of Spain, carefully nursed by the crown, and swaddled into weakness and effeminacy, deteriorated by commingling with an inferior race, grew up into a sickly state, and slowly arrived to that degree of strength which enabled them to cast off the political control of the mother country, — the effects of their early misgovernment still appearing in a want of firmness, unanimity, and ability for self-legislation.

Scarcely had the report of the wonderful discoveries of Columbus reached the court of Henry the seventh, of Eno-- .and, before the spirit of adventure awoke in that kingdom, and an expedition was planned by a citizen of Venice, Giovanni Gaboto — or John Cabot, as he is usually called — for the purpose of exploring a more convenient route to the Indies, a portion of which the recent Spanish acquisi tions were supposed to be. Many delays occurred from the want of sufficient aid to undertake the voyage, and it was not until a short time before the death of John Cabot that the king consented to further the enterprise, by issuing his license, dated on the 3d of February, 1498, authorizing him "to seize upon six English ships in any port or ports of the realm of England, of 200 tons burthen or under, with their requisite apparatus, &c."* Upon the death of the father, Sebastian Cabot, the son, applied to the king for assistance to carry out the design.

He was furnished with one ship at the royal expense ; while three or four more were fitted out by the merchants of Bristol. In May, 1498, the fleet weighed anchor, and after several weeks sailing due west, discovered land, which they called Newfoundland. A few days after, they made another island, which they named St. John. Still pursuing a western course, Cabot soon reached the main land, just in season to contest with the Spanish navigators the honor of having first touched the Continent of America. He coasted along the newly discovered shores as far south as the thirty-eighth degree of latitude, when his provisions growing short, and a mutiny breaking out among the sailors, he was compelled to put about and steer for England, where he arrived in safety. It is highly probable that Cabot, in this voyage, discovered and touched upon the Atlantic shore of Maryland, which lies within the thirty eighth and ninth degrees; and the eastern shore of Worces ter county was, therefore, the last portion of the continent which he visited.

It seems that several abortive attempts were made to follow up the discoveries of Cabot, but, during * Bozman's Maryland, vol. 1, p. 12. introductory chapter. the remainder of the reign, the spirit of enterprise appeared to have died away, or turned to other objects. In the mean while, the French, Spaniards, and Portuguese prose cuted their discoveries with unabated zeal and complete success. Giovanni Verazzini, a Florentine, in the service of France, made three voyages of discovery along the coast of North America, the second of which, in 1524, afterwards became famous, as the foundation of much of the French claims to their extensive possessions in the New World. But the only interest which these explorations have to the student of Maryland history, is in the fact, that the Floren tine was the second navigator who passed along the shores of the State, and the first to cross before the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, though the Bay itself was not discovered until 1585, by Governor Lane, of the first colony of Vir ginia.

Yet this vast inlet was not traversed for some years ; and it is said that Captain Bartholomew Gilbert, in 1603, was the first to enter and explore it. Somewhat more than a century passed, from the discovery of North America by Cabot, before any successful attempt was made by the English to colonize it. These enterprises are, to a certain extent, connected with the history of Mary land, and therefore necessary to be touched on here. In the year 1606 were formed, the London and Plymouth Companies, and, by letters patent issued on the tenth day of April in that year, the portion of the Continent lyino between the thirty-fourth and forty-fifth degrees of north latitude, was granted to them in nearly equal shares, the territory from the first mentioned degree to the forty-first being assigned to the London, and from the thirty-eio-hth to the forty-fifth to the Plymouth Company ; and, as by this provision there was a territory of three degrees in extent which was common to both, it was further specified, that the party who first settled within this region, thus overlap ped by the two grants, should possess the coast fifty miles each way from the point of settlement, and one hundred miles to the interior, whilst no settlement was to be made by the other company within one hundred miles of the first.

The London Company immediately began their prepara tions, which, although they were completed somewhat later than those of the Plymouth Company, were productive of greater results. The fleet consisting of a vessel of one hundred tons, one of forty and one of twenty, with one hundred and five colonists on board, set sail from Black wall, on the Thames, on the 19th of December, 1606, under the command of Capt. Christopher Newport.* They carried with them sealed instructions, to be opened only upon their arrival in Virginia. After many difficulties and delays, they had nearly reached their destination at Roan oke, when they were driven by a violent storm into the Chesapeake, which they entered on the 26th of April. Here they opened their instructions, which appointed a council of seven with certain powers for the government of the colony.

In the early part of May they began to explore James river, and having selected a beautiful penin sula, given them by an Indian chief, they laid the founda tion of Jamestown on the 13th of May, 1607. The new colonists suffered much from scarcity of provi sions, from frequent attacks of the savages, and not less from internal dissensions ; and, but for the prudence and energy of Capt. John Smith, would very probably have met with the same evil fate which befell former settlements. At length, however, the arrival of two ships from England laden with supplies, relieved their present necessities and increased their strength and numbers by seasonable reinforcements. Instead of seeking in the cultivation of the soil the true wealth of the earth, the Virginians turned their whole attention to gathering cargoes of glittering sands for the returning ships.

In vain Smith remonstrated : Bozman, vol. 1, p. 99. 2* C introductory chapter. the discovery of this imaginary gold had intoxicated them, and they scorned the humbler but surer resources of agri culture. The consequences were soon felt in a growing scarcity of food. But Smith was not idle. Turning his eyes towards that vast inland sea near whose mouth they were situated, he judged rightly that an exploration of its shores would open extensive resources to the colonists, by means of trade, with the Indians. "On the 2d of June, in the year 1608, in an open boat of about three tons burden, accompanied by a physician, Dr. Russel, six gentlemen and seven soldiers, he departed from the fort at Jamestown on his daring expedition. They boldly struck across the Bay,- and having discovered Smith's isles, made the eastern shore, and were directed by two Indians whom they found there, to the habitation of the Werowance or chief of their tribe, at Accomack.

Departing thence, they examined many creeks and harbors, discovered some islands, which they called Russel's islands — now Watts' — named several points, and at length reached the river Wighcocomo or Wighco, supposed to be the Pocomoke, whose mouth afterwards be came the southern point of boundary in the charter of the province of Maryland. After suffering from want of water, and being driven about by storms, they entered the Nanti coke river, which was called by the Indians Cuskara waock, where the natives assembled in large numbers to oppose their landing. A few shots were sufficient to dis perse them. In the course of several days, however, a good understanding was established with them, and the Indians vied with each other in supplying the wants of the strangers, considering a little bead an ample remuneration for all they could bestow.

Not satisfied with the appear ance of the Eastern shore, they passed out through Hoop er's straits, or the Straits of Limbo, as they named them, and stood directly for the cliffs on the western coast, along which they sailed thirty leagues northward, finding no inhabitants in all that space. They were now some dis tance above the Patapsco, which river they described as one navigable for ships, and called Bolus, supposing the red and white earth upon the banks to be bole armoniack. They had already been in their open boat fourteen days, and their provisions were much damaged by the wet; and the men, worn down with laboring at the oars, besought their indefatigable captain to return. He succeeded in persuading them to continue three or four days ; when several of the men falling sick, and the complaints of the remainder becoming louder, Smith put about, after having reached as far north as Poole's Island, and steered towards the south.

On the 16th of June they discovered the Po towmac, or Patawomek, up which they sailed about thirty miles, where after having met with a hostile reception, they landed on the Virginia shore. From this place, about No miny Bay, they continued up the river, touching at various points, until they had passed the present site of Wash ington city, " having gone as high as they could in their boat." Here they were met by savages in canoes, loaded with the flesh of deer, bears and other animals, of which they obtained a portion. Upon their return they met with many adventures, but reached Jamestown in safety, on the 21st of July, one month and nineteen days from the date of their departure. Not satisfied with the result of his expedition, the inde fatigable Smith fitted out another, accompanied by most 4»f those who had followed him in the first.

They set out on the 24th of July, 160S, and made directly towards the mouth of the " Bolus," or Patapsco. Thence they pro ceeded to the head of the bay and explored the entrances of the Susquehannah, the North-east, the Elk, and Sassafras rivers. The banks of the Susquehannah and the Sassafras, or, as Smith calls it, the Toghwogh, they found inhabited. On the bay they met seven or eight canoes of Massawo meck Indians who prepared to assault them : they, how ever, by signs, obtained an amicable conference. They sailed up the Sassafras, where the natives received them with the greatest kindness, danced before them, and offered them fruits and furs and all their simple hospitality. There they learned that the Susquehannahs, residing on the river of the same name, were the most warlike and powerful tribe of that region.

Having fully explored the head of the bay, and entered the Susquehannah as far as they could penetrate — to the point called Smith's Falls — they returned to Virginia after an absence of three months in an open boat.* In 1620, the bay was again entered and further explored by Mr. John Pory, who visited several towns belonging to the savages inhabiting its shores.! The Virginia Company, having become dissatisfied with their charter, petitioned the king for a new one, which was accordingly issued on the 23d of May, A. D., 1609. By it the king granted and confirmed to them "all those lands, countries and territories, situate, lying and being in that part of America, from Point Comfort all along the sea coast northward two hundred miles," and to the same extent southward, " and all that space and circuit of land lying from the sea coast of the precinct aforesaid, up into the land throughout, from sea to sea, west and north-west, and all the islands lying within one hundred miles alonothe coast of both seas of the precinct aforesaid."

Three years after, in 161 2, finding new powers neces sary, the Company applied for a third charter : which was issued to them on the 12th of March, 1611-12, confirma tory of the second charter. Various disputes havinoarisen in the Company, the crown became hostile to its continu- * Smith in Bozman — the notes of Bozman upon him, vol. 1, p. 105 to 133. t Ibid. p. 148. . fr f me From an Original Fazrntirryj in €h& pr&cti gallery of Sir Fra,7hcis Bacon, Z-ord VeruZam J .Murphy. BaltiitLore. ance, and a writ of quo warranto was issued against it in November, 1623. In May, 1624, judgment was given against the Company in King's Bench, and the charters declared to be forfeited. The corporate existence of the colony therefore ceased. The administration of its affairs was taken under the immediate control of the crown, the settlement reduced to a royal government, and a commission issued by the king to a provisional council for the direction of its affairs.

By this act the extensive territory, heretofore granted to the late London Company, reverted to the crown and became the fit subject for new grants and the erection of other provinces.* Among those who had become interested in the London or Virginia Company, under its second charter, in 1609, was Sir George Calvert, afterwards the founder of Mary land. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, where he took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1597, with some distinction. He finished his education by a tour on the Continent. On his return he obtained an office at the court, under Sir Robert Cecil, one of the principal Secreta ries of State. In 1617 he was knighted by the king, having been appointed one of the clerks of the privy council. In 1619 he became one of the Secretaries of State, an office which he filled with honor to himself and great profit to his sovereign, whose high estimate of his services was proved by the grant of a pension of one thousand pounds a year, which he bestowed upon him in 1620.

In the warm debates in the House of Commons, where he represented, first Yorkshire, in 1620 and, subsequently, the University of Oxford, he always maintained the rights and protected the interests of the king, and that monarch, afterwards, did not fail to prove his grateful recollection of his loyalty. Sir George Calvert had early engaged in the schemes of colonization of that period, and upon the Bancroft. dissolution of the Virginia Company, of which he had been a member, he was named by the king one of the royal commissioners to whom the government of that colony was confided.* Hitherto he had been a Protestant,! but in 1624, having become unsettled in his religious convictions, he renounced the church of England in which he had been bred, and embraced the faith of the Catholic church. Moved by con scientious scruples, he determined no longer to hold the office of secretary of state, which would make him, in a manner, the instrument of persecution against those whose faith he had adopted, and tendered his resignation to the king, informing him that "he was now become a Roman Catholic, so that he must be wanting to his trust or violate his conscience in discharging his office.