Character given thereof by a late Writer, as to the great advantage of
happy living in all respects, for whosoever shall be pleas’d to betake
himself thither to live.
[Sidenote: The Character of a happy Countrey.]
“If there be any terrestrial happiness (saith he) to be had by any
People, especially of an inferior rank, it must certainly be here. Here
any one may furnish himself with Land, and live Rent-free, yea, with
such a quantity of Land, that he may weary himself with walking over his
Fields of Corn, and all sorts of Grain, and let his Stock amount to some
hundreds; he needs not fear there want of Pasture in the Summer, or
Fodder in the Winter, the Woods affording sufficient supply, where you
have Grass as high as a Man’s Knees, nay, as high as his Waste,
interlac’d with Pea-Vines, and other Weeds that Cattel much delight in,
as much as a Man can pass through: And these Woods also every Mile or
half-Mile are furnish’d with fresh Ponds, Brooks, or Rivers, where all
sorts of Cattel, during the heat of the day, do quench their thirst, and
cool themselves. These Brooks and Rivers being inviron’d of each side
with several sorts of Trees and Grape-Vines, Arbor-like interchanging
places, and crossing these Rivers, do shade and shelter them from the
scorching beams of the Sun. Such as by their utmost Labors can scarcely
get a Living, may here procure Inheritances of Lands and Possessions,
stock themselves with all sorts of Cattel, enjoy the benefit of them
whilst they live, and leave them to their Children when they die. Here
you need not trouble the Shambles for Meat, nor Bakers and Brewers for
Beer and Bread, nor run to a Linnen-Draper for a supply, every one
making their own Linnen, and a great part of their woollen Cloth for
their ordinary wearing. And how prodigal (if I may so say) hath Nature
been to furnish this Countrey with all sorts of wild Beasts and Fowl,
which every one hath an interest in, and may Hunt at his pleasure;
where, besides the pleasure in Hunting, he may furnish his House with
excellent fat Venison, Turkies, Geese, Heath-hens, Cranes, Swans, Ducks,
Pigeons, and the like; and wearied with that, he may go a Fishing, where
the Rivers are so furnish’d, that he may supply himself with Fish before
he can leave off the Recreation. Here one may travel by Land upon the
same Continent hundreds of Miles, and pass through Towns and Villages,
and never hear the least complaint for want, nor hear any ask him for a
Farthing. Here one may lodge in the Fields and Woods, travel from one
end of the Countrey to another, with as much security as if he were
lock’d within his own Chamber: And if one chance to meet with an
_Indian_ Town, they shall give him the best Entertainment they have, and
upon his desire direct him on his Way. But that which adds happiness to
all the rest, is the healthfulness of the Place, where many People in
twenty years time never know what Sickness is; where they look upon it
as a great Mortality, if two or three die out of a Town in a years time.
Besides the sweetness of the Air, the Countrey it self sends forth such
a fragrant smell, that it may be perceiv’d at Sea before they can make
the Land: No evil Fog or Vapor doth any sooner appear, but a North-West
or Westerly Wind immediately dissolves it, and drives it away. Moreover,
you shall scarce see a House, but the South-side is begirt with Hives of
Bees, which increase after an incredible manner: So that if there be any
terrestrial _Canaan_, ’tis surely here, where the Land floweth with Milk
and Honey.”
[Illustration: Noua TERRÆ-MARIÆ, tabula]
[Illustration]
A
NEW DESCRIPTION
OF
MARY-LAND.
SECT. III.
Before We proceed to the Description of this Countrey, it will be first
requisite to relate the true occasion and means, whereby this part of
_America_ came to be erected into a Province, and call’d _Mary-land_.
[Sidenote: The situation.]
In the Year of our Lord 1631. _George_ Lord _Baltemore_ obtain’d of King
_Charles_ the First, of _Great Brittain, &c._ a Grant of that part of
_America_, (first discover’d by the _English_) which lies between the
Degrees of thirty seven and fifty Minutes, or thereabouts, and forty of
Northerly Latitude; which is bounded on the South by _Virginia_; on the
North, by _New England_, and _New Jersey_, part of _New York_, lying on
the East side of _Delaware Bay_; on the East, by the Ocean; and on the
West, by that part of the Continent which lies in the Longitude of the
first Fountains of the River call’d _Patomeck_.
In pursuance of this Grant to his said Lordship, a Bill was prepar’d,
and brought to His Majesty to Sign, who first ask’d his Lordship, what
he should call it, there being a Blank in the Bill designedly left for
the Name, which his Lordship intended should have been _Crescentia_; but
his Lordship leaving it to His Majesty to give it a Name, the King
propos’d to have it call’d _Terra-Mariæ_, in _English_, _Mary-land_, in
honor of his Queen, whose Name was _Mary_; which was concluded on, and
inserted into the Bill, which the King then Sign’d; and thereby the said
Tract of Land was erected into a Province by that Name.
His Lordship somewhat delaying the speedy passing of it under the Great
Seal of _England_, dy’d in the _interim_, before the said Patent was
perfected; whereupon a Patent of the said Province was shortly
afterwards pass’d to his Son and Heir, (who was Christen’d by the Name
of _Cœcil_, but afterwards confirm’d by the Name of _Cœcilius_,) the now
Lord _Baltemore_, under the Great Seal of _England_, bearing Date _June
20. 1632._ in the eighth Year of His said Majesties Reign, with all
Royal Jurisdictions and Prerogatives, both Military and Civil in the
said Province, as Power to Enact Laws, Power of pardoning all manner of
Offences, Power to confer Honors, _&c._ to be held of His said Majesty,
His Heirs and Successors, Kings of _England_ in common Soccage, as of
His Majesties Honor of _Windsor_ in the County of _Berks_ in _England_;
yielding and paying yearly for the same to His Majesty and to His Heirs
and Successors for ever, two _Indian_ Arrows of those parts, at the
Castle of _Windsor_ aforesaid, on Tuesday in _Easter_ Week, and the
fifth part of all Gold and Silver Oar, which shall happen to be found in
the said Province.
[Sidenote: The Bounds.]
“By the said Patent is Granted to his Lordship, his Heirs and Assigns,
all that part of a _Peninsula_, lying in the parts of _America_, between
the Ocean on the East, and the Bay of _Chesapeack_ on the West; and
divided from the other part thereof by a right Line drawn from the
Promontory, or _Cape_ of Land call’d _Watkin’s-Point_, situate in the
aforesaid Bay, near the River of _Wigcho_ on the West, unto the main
Ocean on the East, and between that bound on the South, unto that part
of _Delaware Bay_ on the North, which lies under the fortieth Degree of
Northerly Latitude from the Equinoctial, where _New England_ ends; and
all that Tract of Land between the bounds aforesaid, that is to say,
passing from the aforesaid Bay call’d _Delaware Bay_, in a right Line by
the Degree aforesaid, unto the true _Meridian_ of the first Fountains of
the River of _Patomeck_; and from thence stretching towards the South,
unto the furthest Bank of the said River, and following the West and
South side thereof, unto a certain place call’d _Cinquack_, near the
Mouth of the said River, where it falls into the Bay of _Chesapeack_,
and from thence by a streight Line unto the aforesaid Promontory, or
place call’d _Watkin’s-Point_, which lies in thirty seven Degrees and
fifty Minutes, or thereabouts, of Northern Latitude.”
[Sidenote: Title.]
By this Patent his Lordship and his Heirs and Assigns are Created the
true and absolute Lords and Proprietaries of the said Province, saving
the Allegiance and Soveraign Dominion due to His Majesty, His Heirs, and
Successors; so that he hath thereby a Soveraignty Granted to him and his
Heirs, dependant upon the Soveraignty of the Crown of _England_.
[Sidenote: The first Seating.]
His Lordship, in the Year 1633. sent his second Brother Mr. _Leonard
Calvert_, and his third Brother Mr. _George Calvert_, with divers other
Gentlemen of Quality, and Servants to the number of two hundred Persons
at least, to settle a Plantation there; who set Sail from the _Cowes_ in
the _Isle of Wight_ in _England_, on _Novemb. 22._ in the same Year;
having made some stay by the way, at the _Barbadoes_ and _St.
Christophers_ in _America_, they arriv’d at _Point Comfort_ in
_Virginia_, on _February 24._ following; from whence shortly after they
Sail’d up the Bay of _Chesapeack_, and _Patomeck_ River. And having
review’d the Country, and given Names to several places, they pitch’d
upon a Town of the _Indians_ for their first Seat, call’d _Yoacomaco_,
(now Saint _Maries_) which the then Governor Mr. _Leonard Calvert_,
freely Purchas’d of the Natives there, for the Lord Proprietaries use,
with Commodities brought from _England_.
That which facilitated the Treaty and Purchase of the said place from
the _Indians_, was a resolution which those _Indians_ had then before
taken, to remove higher into the Countrey where it was more Populous,
for fear of the _Sansquehanocks_, (another, and more Warlike People of
the _Indians_, who were their too near Neighbors, and inhabit between
the Bays of _Chesapeack_ and _Delaware_) there being then actual Wars
between them, insomuch, that many of them were gone thither before the
_English_ arriv’d: And it hath been the general practice of his
Lordship, and those who were employ’d by him in the Planting of the said
Province, rather to purchase the Natives Interest, (who will agree for
the same at easie rates) than to take from them by force, that which
they seem to call their Right and Inheritance, to the end all Disputes
might be remov’d touching the forcible Incroachment upon others, against
the Laws of Nature or Nations.
[Sidenote: The number of Inhabitants.]
Thus this Province at the vast Charges, and by the unweary’d Industry
and endeavor of the present Lord _Baltemore_, the now absolute Lord and
Proprietary of the same was at first Planted, and hath since been
supply’d with People and other Necessaries, so effectually, that in this
present Year 1671. the number of _English_ there amounts to fifteen or
twenty thousand Inhabitants, for whose Encouragement there is a
Fundamental Law establish’d there by his Lordship, whereby _Liberty of
Conscience_ is allow’d to all that Profess to believe in _Jesus Christ_;
so that no Man who is a _Christian_ is in danger of being disturb’d for
his Religion; and all Persons being satisfi’d touching his Lordships
Right, as Granted by his Superior Soveraign, the King of _Great
Brittain_, and possess’d by the consent and agreement of the first
_Indian_ Owners, every Person who repaireth thither, intending to become
an Inhabitant, finds himself secure, as well in the quiet enjoyment of
his Property, as of his Conscience.
Mr. _Charles Calvert_, his Lordships onely Son and Heir, was in the Year
1661. sent thither by his Lordship to Govern this Province and People,
who hath hitherto continu’d that Charge of his Lordships Lieutenant
there, to the general satisfaction and encouragement of all Persons
under his Government, or otherwise concern’d in the Province.
The precedent Discourse having given you a short Description of this
Province from its Infancy to this day, together with an account of his
Lordships Patent and Right, by which he holds the same; we will here
speak something of the Nature of the Countrey in general, and of the
Commodities that are either naturally afforded there, or may be procur’d
by Industry.
The Climate is very healthful, and agreeable with _English_
Constitutions; but New-comers have most of them heretofore had the first
year of their Planting there in _July_ and _August_, a Sickness, which
is call’d there _A Seasoning_, but is indeed no other than an Ague, with
cold and hot Fits, whereof many heretofore us’d to die for want of good
Medicines, and accommodations of Diet and Lodging, and by drinking too
much Wine and Strong-waters; though many, even in those times, who were
more temperate, and that were better accommodated, never had any
_Seasonings_ at all; but of late years, since the Countrey hath been
more open’d by the cutting down of the Woods, and that there is more
plenty of _English_ Diet, there are very few die of those Agues, and
many have no _Seasonings_ at all, especially those that live in the
higher parts of the Country, and not near to the Marshes and Salt-water.
In Summer, the heats are equal to those of _Spain_, but qualifi’d daily
about Noon, at that time of the Year, either with some gentle Breezes,
or small Showres of Rain: In Winter there is Frost and Snow, and
sometimes it is extremely cold, insomuch, that the Rivers and the
Northerly part of the Bay of _Chesapeack_ are Frozen, but it seldom
lasts long; and some Winters are so warm, that People have gone in half
Shirts and Drawers only at _Christmas_: But in the Spring and Autumn,
(_viz._) in _March_, _April_, and _May_, _September_, _October_, and
_November_, there is generally most pleasant temperate Weather: The
Winds there are variable, from the South comes Heat, Gusts, and Thunder;
from the North or North-West, cold Weather; and in Winter, Frost and
Snow; from the East and South-East, Rain.
The Soyl is very fertile, and furnish’d with many pleasant and
commodious Rivers, Creeks, and Harbors.
The Country is generally plain and even, and yet distinguish’d with some
pretty small Hills and Risings, with variety of Springs and Rivulets:
The Woods are for the most part free from Underwood, so that a Man may
Travel or Hunt for his Recreation.
The ordinary entrance by Sea into this Country is between two _Capes_,
distant each from the other about seven or eight Leagues; the South
_Cape_ is call’d _Cape Henry_; the North, _Cape Charles_; within the
_Capes_ you enter into a fair _Bay_, Navigable for at least two hundred
Miles, and is call’d _Chesapeack Bay_, stretching it self Northerly
through the heart of the Countrey, which adds much to its Fame and
Value: Into this Bay fall many stately Rivers, the chief whereof is
_Patomeck_, which is Navigable for at least a hundred and forty Miles:
The next Northward, is _Patuxent_, at its entrance distant from the
other about twenty Miles, a River yielding great Profit as well as
Pleasure to the Inhabitants; and by reason of the Islands and other
places of advantage that may Command it, both fit for Habitation and
Defence: Passing hence to the Head of the Bay, you meet with several
pleasant and commodious Rivers, which for brevity we here omit to give
any particular account of: On the Eastern Shore are several commodious
Rivers, Harbors, Creeks, and Islands; to the Northward whereof you enter
into another fair Bay, call’d _Delaware Bay_; wide at its entrance about
eight Leagues, and into which falls a very fair Navigable River.
[Sidenote: The natural Commodities of the Countrey.]
This Countrey yields the Inhabitants many excellent things for Physick
and Chyrurgery; they have several Herbs and Roots which are great
Preservatives against Poyson, as _Snake-Root_, which presently cures the
bitings of the _Rattle-Snake_, which are very Venomous, and are bred in
the Countrey; others that cure all manner of Wounds; they have
_Saxafras_, _Sarsaparilla_, Gums and Balsoms, which Experience (the
Mother of Art) hath taught them the perfect use of.
An _Indian_ seeing one of the _English_ much troubled with the
Tooth-ach, fetch’d a Root out of a Tree, which apply’d to the Tooth,
gave ease immediately to the Party; other Roots they have fit for Dyers,
wherewith the _Indians_ Paint themselves as _Pacoone_ (a deep red,)
_&c._
The Timber of these parts is good and useful for Building of Houses and
Ships, the white Oak for Pipe-staves, the red for Wainscot; there is
likewise black Wall-Nut, Cedar, Pine, and Cypress, Chest-nut, Elme, Ash,
and Popelar, all which are for Building and Husbandry: Fruit-trees, as
Mulberries, _Persimons_, with several kind of Plumbs, and Vines in great
abundance.
Of Strawberries there is plenty, which are ripe in _April_, Mulberries
in _May_, Rasberries in _June_, and the _Maracok_, which is something
like a Lemon, is ripe in _August_. In Spring time there are several
sorts of Herbs, as Corn-sallet, Violets, Sorrel, Purslane, and others
which are of great use to the _English_ there.
In the upper parts of the Countrey are _Buffeloes_, _Elks_, _Tygers_,
_Bears_, _Wolves_, and great store of Deer; as also Beavers, Foxes,
Otters, Flying-Squirils, _Racoons_, and many other sorts of Beasts.
Of Birds, there is the Eagle, Goshawk, Falcon, _Lanner_, Sparrow-hawk,
and _Marlin_; also wild Turkies in great abundance, whereof many weigh
fifty Pounds in weight and upwards, and of Partridge great plenty: There
are likewise sundry sorts of singing Birds, whereof one is call’d a
_Mock-Bird_, because it imitates all other Birds; some are red, which
sing like Nightingales, but much louder; others black and yellow, which
last sort excels more in Beauty than tune, and is by the _English_ there
call’d the _Baltemore-Bird_, because the Colours of his Lordships Coat
of Arms are black and yellow: Others there are that resemble most of the
Birds in _England_, but not of the same kind, for which we have no
names: In Winter there are great plenty of Swans, Cranes, Geese, Herons,
Duck, Teal, Widgeons, Brants, and Pidgeons, with other sorts, whereof
there are none in _England_.
The Sea, the Bays of _Chesapeack_ and _Delaware_, and generally all the
Rivers, do abound with Fish of several sorts; as Whales, Sturgeon,
Thorn-back, Grampuses, Porpuses, Mullets, Trouts, Soules, Plaice,
Mackrel, Perch, Eels, Roach, Shadd, Herrings, Crabs, Oysters, Cockles,
Mussels, _&c._ but above all these, the Fish whereof there are none in
_England_, as _Drums_, _Sheeps-head_, _Cat-fish_, _&c._ are best, except
Sturgeon, which are there found in great abundance, not inferior to any
in _Europe_ for largeness and goodness.
The Minerals may in time prove of very great consequence, though no rich
Mines are yet discover’d there; but there is Oar of several sorts,
_viz._ of Tin, Iron, and Copper, whereof several trials have been made
by curious Persons there with good success.
The Soyl is generally very rich, the Mould in many places black and
rank, insomuch, that it is necessary to Plant it first with _Indian_
Corn, Tobacco, or Hemp, before it is fit for _English_ Grain; under that
is found good _Loam_, whereof has been made as good Brick as any in
_Europe_: There are store of Marsh-grounds for Meadows; great plenty of
Marle, both blue and white; excellent Clay for Pots and Tiles: To
conclude, there is nothing that can be reasonably expected, in a place
lying in the same Latitude with this, but what is either there found
naturally, or may be procur’d by Industry, as Oranges, Lemons, and
Olives, _&c._
[Sidenote: Commodities which are, or may be procur’d by industry.]
We need not here mention _Indian_ Corn, (call’d _Mayz_) Pease and Beans
of several sorts, being the peculiar products Planted by the _Indians_
of that part of _America_.
All sorts of _English_ Grain are now common there, and yield a great
encrease; as Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, Pease, Beans, _&c._ good Beer of
Wheat or Barley Malt, after the _English_ Mode, is made, even in the
meanest Families there; Some drink Beer of _Indian_ Corn, others of the
Stalks thereof, or of the Chipps of the _Pockykerry_-Tree, all which
make a sort of fresh and pleasant Drink; but the general Diet of the
Country is now _English_, as most agreeable to their Constitutions.
There are few able Planters there at present, but what are plentifully
supply’d with all sorts of Summer and Winter Fruits; as also of Roots
and Herbs, of all sorts out of their Gardens and Orchards, which they
have Planted for their Profit as well as Pleasure: They have Pears,
Apples, Plumbs, Peaches, _&c._ in great abundance, and as good as those
of _Italy_; so are their Mellons, Pumpions, Apricocks, Cherries, Figgs,
Pomegranates, _&c._ In fine, there is scarce any Fruit or Root that
grows in _England_, _France_, _Spain_, or _Italy_, but hath been try’d
there, and prospers well.
You may have there also Hemp, Flax, Pitch, and Tar, with little labor;
the Soyl is apt for Hops, Rape-seed, Annice-seed, Woad, Madder, Saffron,
_&c._ there may be had Silk-worms, the Country being stor’d with
Mulberry-trees, and the superfluity of the Wood will produce Pot-ashes.
There is a great quantity of Syder made there at present, and as good as
in any other Countrey; good Perry and Quince-drink is there likewise
made in great plenty: The Ground doth naturally bring forth Vines in
great quantities, the quality whereof being something corrected by
Industry, (as there have been several trials thereof already made there)
may no doubt produce good Wine, to the great encouragement and advantage
of the Undertakers.
Brave Ships may be built there with little charge, Clab-board, Wainscot,
Pipe-staves, and Masts for Ships, the Woods will afford plentifully;
some small Vessels have been already built there: In fine, Beef, Furrs,
Hides, Butter, Cheese, Pork, and Bacon, to Transport to other Countreys,
are no small Commodities, which by Industry, are, and may be had there
in great plenty, the _English_ being already plentifully stock’d with
all sorts of Cattel and Horses; and were there no other
Staple-Commodities to be hop’d for, but Silk and Linnen (the materials
of which apparently will grow there) it were sufficient to enrich the
Inhabitants.
But the general Trade of _Mary-land_ at present depends chiefly upon
Tobacco, it being the Planters greatest concern and study to store
himself betimes with that Commodity, wherewith he buys and sells, and
after which Standard all other Commodities receive their Price there;
they have of late vented such quantities of that and other Commodities,
that a hundred Sail of Ships from _England_, _Barbadoes_, and other
_English_ Plantations, have been usually known to Trade thither in one
Year; insomuch, that by Custom and Excize paid in _England_ for Tobacco
and other Commodities Imported from thence, _Mary-land_ alone at this
present, hath by his Lordships vast Expence, Industry, and Hazard for
many years, without any charge to the Crown, improv’d His Majesties, the
King of _Englands_ Revenues, to the value of Forty thousand Pounds
_Sterl. per annum_ at least.
The general way of Traffick and Commerce there is chiefly by Barter, or
Exchange of one Commodity for another; yet there wants not, besides
_English_ and other foraign Coyns, some of his Lordships own Coyn, as
Groats, Sixpences, and Shillings, which his Lordship at his own Charge
caus’d to be Coyn’d and dispers’d throughout that Province; ’tis equal
in fineness of Silver to _English Sterling_, being of the same Standard,
but of somewhat less weight, and hath on the one side his Lordships Coat
of Arms stamp’d, with this Motto circumscrib’d, _Crescite &
Multiplicamini_, and on the other side his Lordships Effigies,
circumscrib’d thus, _Cæcilius Dominus Terræ-Mariæ_, &c.
[Sidenote: The Government.]
The Order of Government and settled Laws of this Province, is by the
Prudence and endeavor of the present Lord Proprietary, brought to great
Perfection; and as his Dominion there is absolute (as may appear by the
Charter aforemention’d) so all Patents, Warrants, Writs, Licenses,
Actions Criminal, _&c._ Issue forth there in his Name: Wars, Peace,
Courts, Offices, _&c._ all in his Name made, held, and appointed.