CHAPTER I.
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FOUNDING OF
KENT COUNTY.
Blood Shed and Dissensions - Claiborne Wins Good Will of Indians -
Jealousy of Ownership Between Virginia and Maryland -
The Old Desire For More Territory Plainly Seen.
The Virginia colony was jealous of Maryland chiefly for three reasons. First, Maryland had once been a part of the territory of Virginia; secondly, Maryland was ruled by Catholics, while Virginia was Protestant; thirdly, the commercial rights and privileges of Maryland were much greater than those of Virginia. Thus for a time Maryland's sister colony and nearest neighbor unfortunately became her worst enemy. The Virginians were represented by William Claiborne, their Secretary of State. This man, not unjustly called the evil genius of Maryland, was the prime mover of mischief from first to last, and devoted all the energies of his unusually determined and persevering nature to the task of ruining the Maryland colony. For twenty years his influence seriously affected Maryland history, and more than once nearly brought about the colony's destruction.
Claiborne's opportunity came in the following manner. Coming over to Virginia in 1621 as surveyor. his force of character brought him rapidly into notice, and at the time of the settlement on the St. Mary's he was Secretary of State for Virginia and a member of the Governor's Council. He began to engage to some extent in the fur trade with the Indians. In this he was so successful as to induce a firm of London merchants to employ him as a special agent or partner in the business of trading with the Indians. Claiborne then established a post on Kent Island, in the Chesapeake Bay, for this purpose, and obtained licenses to trade; but he did not secure any grant of land. A few dwellings were erected, which were paid for by the London merchants, Cloberry and Company. To complete the claim of Virginia, it should be noted also that Palmer's Island had been occupied by traders, and trading expeditions had been conducted by Henry Fleet, John Pory, and possibly other Virginians. The Maryland charter spoke of the country as "hitherto Uncultivated"; but this was descriptive merely, and not a condition of the grant, and if it had' been, the traders had not settled or cultivated the country.
The instructions of the proprietary regarding Claiborne were very generous. Acting according to these instructions, Governor Calvert notified Claiborne that his post was within the limits of Maryland. He was given to understand that he would be welcome to the land he had occupied, but that he must acknowledge the authority of Lord Baltimore, and hold the land from him and not from Virginia. Claiborne, on receiving this notice, asked the Virginia Council what he should do. Their answer was, that they wondered at his asking such a question; could there be any more reason for giving up Kent Island than any other part of Virginia?
Thus Claiborne made his own cause and that of Virginia one, and feeling sure of support now, he returned an answer to Governor Calvert in which he utterly refused to acknowledge the authority of Maryland and Lord Baltimore.
THE DISPUTE LEADS TO BLOODSHED.
The proprietary's instructions provided that if Claiborne should refuse to acknowledge the jurisdiction of Maryland, he was to be undisturbed for a year. But trouble soon arose. The Indians, hitherto so friendly and sociable, became cold and reserved - a change which alarmed the people greatly. On investigation, Claiborne was charged with telling lies to the Indians for the purpose of stirring them up against the Marylanders, but in justice it must be said that when the Indians were questioned in his presence they declared that he had never done anything to prejudice them against the people of Maryland.
But there was trouble of a more serious nature when a vessel of Claiborne's, under the command of Thomas Smith, was seized in the Patuxent river for trading without a license in Maryland waters. In return, Claiborne fitted out an armed vessel, the Cockatrice, under the command of Lieutenant Ratcliffe Warren, which he sent out with orders to capture any Maryland vessel that might be met. When news of these mighty doings came to the ears of Governor Calvert, he promptly armed and sent out two vessels, the St. Margaret and the St. Helen, under the command of Captain Thomas Cornwalhis. "The two expeditions met at the mouth of the Pocomoke on April 23d, and then and there was fought the first naval battle on the inland waters of America." Several men were killed and wounded on both sides, Lieutenant Warren being among the killed, and the Cockatrice surrendered. A second fight took place a few days later, in which Thomas Smith commanded the vessel of Claiborne, resulting in more bloodshed.
THE CAPTURE OF KENT ISLAND.
For a time Claiborne remained in undisturbed possession of Kent Island. But his affairs presently took on a different color, for his partners, Cloberry and Company, became dissatisfied with his management, and sent out an agent named George Evelin to take charge of their property. Claiborne tried hard to induce Evelin to Promise not to give up the island to the Marylanders, but could not succeed. He then went to England and engaged in a lawsuit with the London merchants who had employed him. Evelin went to St. Mary's, after a time, and there lie heard the other side of the story, and was fully convinced of the right of Maryland's claim to the island. On his return, he called the people together and explained the situation to them, and Lord Baltimore's authority was recognized. Governor Calvert then appointed Evelin commander of the island.
But the matter was not yet settled. A number of persons were arrested for debts owed to Cloberry and Company, and Thomas Smith (the same who had already taken part against the Marylanders) and John Butler (a brother-in-law of Claiborne) used every opportunity to stir up dissatisfaction. The matter finally amounted to a rebellion, and Governor Calvert, after several warnings, proceeded to the island himself, with a body of armed men, to offer a little more forcible persuasion. The attack was a complete surprise, and Smith and Butler were captured. The Maryland flag was first used in this battle and was known as Baltimore's flag. The Governor then offered to pardon all others who would come in at once and submit themselves to the government of Maryland, "whereupon," says Governor Calvert, in a letter to his brother, the proprietary, "the whole island came in and submitted themselves." Smith was tried before the Assembly on charges of piracy and murder, was convicted and sentenced to death; Butler, not being accused of crimes so serious, and having shown a better disposition, was pardoned by the Governor and afterward came to hold office in the province.
In England the final blow was now struck against the cause of Claiborne. The quarrel over Kent Island had been referred to the Board of Commissioners for the Plantations (a body having charge of colonial affairs), and they decided that as Lord Baltimore had a grant from the King of England, while Claiborne had merely a trading license, the title was undoubtedly with the. former. This was due to the fact that Virginia had forfeited its rights to all territory and it was within the King's right to grant to whomsoever he chose any part of the land that had been within the Virginia Company's jurisdiction.
Claiborne refused to submit to the Lord's Proprietary's demand, and in September, 1634, he was forced to withdraw, and fled to Virginia; he was attainted and his property confiscated. Governor Harvey refused to surrender him to the authorities of Maryland or to protect him, but, under the pretense of high respect for the King's license, sent him to England, with the witnesses, to await the royal pleasure. Claiborne never forgot or forgave this conduct of the authorities of Virginia, and brought it bitterly to their remembrance in 1652.
Claiborne went to England a bitter, vindictive and unrelenting enemy to the Lord Proprietary. He petitioned the King for a confirmation of his former license to trade, for a grant of other lands adjoining Kent Island, and thern power to govern them. The King, influenced by Sir William Alexander, his Secretary for Scotland, and one of Claiborne's associates in the license, issued the order. The matter was finally adjudicated, in April, 1638, and determined "that the right to all the territory, within which Claiborne's settlements were made, was vested in Lord Baltimore."
The next year, as an humble supplicant, he begged of the Governor and Council of Maryland the restitution of his confiscated property. This was sternly and harshly denied. Failing in this, in 1644, he instigated the Indians to make war upon the colony. As soon as peace was restored to the afflicted people, he associated himself with Richard Ingle, a proclaimed "traitor to the King," excited and led a rebellion against the Proprietary's government, and actually drove the Governor out of the Colony. For more than a year he held possession of the government, during which time valuable records of the province were lost or destroyed.
The Governor, Leonard Calvert, did not long survive his restoration. He died at St. Mary's the 9th day of June, 1647. Among his last acts, and peculiarly interesting to us, was the reconstruction of the government of Kent Island.
After this, when King Charles had been beheaded (30th January, 1649), and the Commonwealth was established, the irrepressible Claiborne, with Fuller and others, was commissioned, in September, 1651, by Cromwell's Council of State, to subjugate the province whence he had been lately driven as a rebel. They were empowered "to reduce and govern the colonies within the Chesapeake Bay." Here was a fine and open field for Claiborne to glut his vengeance, and he was swift to avail himself of the opportunity. sever did a towering hawk more eagerly swoop upon a poor, mousing owl than did Claiborne, straight as an arrow from a bow, seek and find his quarry. He paid his respects first to Virginia - performed his agreeable task of "reduction" neatly, cleanly and expeditiously. Then, like a falcon, he plumed his feathers, and in March, 1652, borne upon the wings of the wind, pounced upon St. Mary's. He treated Governor Stone with insolent indignity, violently seized upon his commission, and deposed him from office.
Claiborne, then, the 29th of March, appointed a council, of which Robert Brooke was made president and acting Governor, took possession of the records, and abolished the authority of the Proprietary. In July, 1652, Stone submitted, and was reinstated and permitted to retain and administer the government "in the name of the keepers of the liberty of England." Claiborne again took possession of Kent Island and Palmer's Island, at the mouth of the Susquehanna. Having triumphed, this man of Belial was master of the situation, and the power of Lord Baltimore was overthrown.
A proclamation, in the name of Cromwell, was issued, dated 22d day of July, 1654, and a commission appointed for the government, at the head of which was Captain William Fuller.
As soon as convenient, Lord Baltimore made an effort to regain his rights, and directed Stone to require all persons to take the "oath of fidelity" and re-establish the Proprietary government. This was done in the latter part of 1654. As soon as Claiborne heard of these proceedings, with one fell spring he grappled with all his foes. At the battle of Providence (now Annapolis), 25th March, 1655, he took Stone prisoner, and compelled him again to submit. He condemned Stone to be shot, but the soldiers loved the amiable Governor, and refused to execute the cruel order.
In 1658 the government was, happily, restored to the Proprietary by treaty, and the claims of Virginia and Claiborne at once and forever extinguished.
SOURCE: Page(s) 15-22, History of Kent County, Maryland, 1630-1916, by Fred G. Usilton, 1916
Transcribed by Nathan Zipfel for the Maryland History and Genealogy Project