Introduction. xvii

Many of the Delegates who sat in the Assembly held during 1771 had also
been members of the Assemblies which met during 1769 and 1770 (Arch. Md.
LXII, 37-38, 205-206, 372). As it was a newly elected Lower House, on the
opening day of the session, which was October 2, 1771, Benedict Calvert and
Walter Dulany, members of the Council, or Upper House, attended by
Dr. Upton Scott, Clerk of the Upper House, came to the Coffee House, where
the Delegates were assembled. There in the presence of Dulany and Calvert, the
new members of the Lower House took "the several Oaths to the Government
required by Law, signed the Oath of Abjuration, repeated and signed the Test
....."(pp.3, 76).

Thirty-six Delegates were present at the opening session on October 2, or
more than was necessary for a quorum which was probably thirty-nine (Arch.
Md. LXII,xvi).

As a result of the death of Frederick Calvert, the Lord Proprietary on
September 4, 1771, the Assembly elected during the winter of 1770-1771 was
dissolved. Robert Eden, who continued as Governor of Maryland under the
new Proprietary, Henry Harford, arranged for the election of new Delegates

(pp. 335-342, 343-344).

After the new General Assembly convened on June 15, 1773, the Committee
of Elections and Privileges brought in their report containing the names of
those elected to serve in it as Delegates. In Prince George's County they found
that Robert Tyler, Joseph Sim, Thomas Contee and Josias Beall had been duly
returned (p. 368). All of these men were present at the opening session on
June 15 (pp. 334, 336). Calvert County chose as its representatives Alexander
Somerville, William Lyles, Richard Parran and John Weems, Jr. (p. 368).
While the first three of these Delegates put in their appearance on June 15
(p. 334), John Weems, Jr. was not sworn in until June 21 (p. 349).

The Delegates for Dorchester County were John and William Ennalls,
Thomas White, and William Richardson (p. 368). Only Richardson was
present when the General Assembly convened on June 15, 1773 (p. 334).
Thomas White appeared for this county on June 16. He is erroneously listed
as being returned from Charles County (p. 340). Two days later the Ennalls
were sworn in (p. 345). William Ringgold, John Maxwell, Emory Sudler
and Robert Buchanan were duly returned in Kent County (p. 368). Although
the first three men were present on the opening day (p. 334), Buchanan did
not appear until three days later (p. 345).

Those chosen to represent Queen Anne's County were Solomon Wright, Rich-
ard Tilghman Earle, John Brown and Turbutt Wright (p. 368). Only the latter
was present when the Assembly convened on June 15, 1773 (p. 334). Solomon
Wright and John Brown were sworn in on June 17 (p. 342), and, on the
following day, Earle appeared (p. 345). William Paca and Mathias Hammond
were the choice of the people of Annapolis as their deputies (p. 368). Both of
these men were present on the opening day (p. 334). Ann Arundel County
was fully represented on June 15 by Samuel Chase, Thomas Johnson, Jr.,
Brice Thomas Beale Worthington, and John Hall (pp. 334, 368).

As Delegates to represent Baltimore County Charles Ridgely, Thomas