Introduction. xv

Cockey Deye had been elected Delegates all four names had been inserted in
one indenture (p. 89).

In order to clear up this matter of a single indenture in Baltimore County
the Lower House ordered that John Robert Hollyday, the Sheriff of that
County, should be summoned to come before the House bringing with him

the Polls and the Counter Parts of the Indenture taken at the said Election"
(p. 89). When several days later Hollyday appeared before them, the members
of the Lower House ordered that he should amend the return of the Delegates
for Baltimore County by taking off "the Indenture containing the Names of
those Gentlemen annexed to the Writ of Election and annexing instead thereof
the several Indentures taken for those Gentlemen." The Baltimore County
Sheriff was also admonished by the Speaker of the House for his neglect of
duty in not making a proper return (pp. 94-95). All four of Baltimore County's
Delegates were present at the opening session on October 2 (p. 76).

In Cecil County the Committee of Elections and Privileges reported that
while John Veazy and Benjamin Rumsey were duly returned, two indentures
had been returned and signed for the same man, William Baxter (p. 89).
As to this election in Cecil County it appears that at a previous meeting of the
Lower House on October 3, 1771, one of the Delegates for that County had
produced evidence to show that although William Ward had been duly elected
to represent that county, the Sheriff by mistake had returned two indentures
for William Baxter, another Cecil County deputy, but had failed to return
any for Ward. As in the case of the Baltimore County election, the Sheriff
of Cecil County, who was Henry Alien, was ordered to appear before the bar
of the House in order that this matter might be settled (p. 79). Upon his
appearance Sheriff Alien was required "to amend the Return of Delegates
for Cecil County by taking off one of the two Indentures for Mr. William
Baxter annexed to the Writ of Election and annexing instead thereof one of
the two Indentures for Mr. William Ward. Which being done the Sheriff was
ordered to withdraw." On October 7 Ward was sworn in as one of Cecil
County's Delegates (pp. 90-91). The other three representatives of this
county, John Veazy, Benjamin Rumsey and William Baxter had put in their
appearance on the opening day of the session (p. 75).

The Committee of Elections and Privileges found that in Frederick County
Jonathan Hagar, William Luckett, Charles Beatty and Thomas Sprigg Wootton
had been elected Delegates (p. 89). All four of these men were present at the
convening of this session on October 2 (p. 76). As to Hagar the Committee
reported that he was not "a natural born Subject nor descended from a natural
born Subject: That he came into America and was naturalized some Time
before the said Election" (p. 89).

On October 8 the Lower House took into consideration the case of Jonathan
Hager in Frederick County, who was represented by counsel. After the Dele-
gates heard what he had to say, the counsel withdrew. Thereupon the House
proceeded to have various English Statutes and Maryland Acts and Resolves
read six in all At the conclusion of this reading, the Speaker put the question
whether they Considered Hagar "eligible" for membership in the Lower House.