Volume 117, Page 103 View pdf image (33K) |
ORIGIN OF NAME. 103
ORIGIN OF THE NAMES OF COUNTIES, WITH DATE OF FORMATION AND AREA.
early years of the Province, from the fact that considerable confusion exists between the county and the hundred. sheriffs being commissioned for the latter as well as the former, and because Counties were erected sometimes by order in Council, proclamation or by Act of Assembly. A series of interesting historical maps has been prepared by Dr. Edward B. Mathews, Assistant State Geologist, which, when published, will shed con- siderable light on the subject. A commission was issued to Tames Baldridge as sheriff of St. Mary's county, June 29th, 1637, (Archiv. of Md, 3.61) and the courts were put in operation by Acts of Assem- bly, 1638-9 (Archiv. 1:46-67). 2 A commission was issued to John Langford as sheriff of the Isle of Kent, February 3th, 1637. (Archiv. 3.61), and on Aug. 2d. 1643. a commission was issued to Giles Brent, for the county of Kent (Archiv. 3.105). County government was evidently organized in that year as the expenses of the Assembly were assessed on the counties of St. Mary's and Kent. 3 Erected by Act of Assembly. 16SO, ch. 8. Name changed to Providence by Act of 1654, ch. 17. Name restored in 1658. 4 Erected by order in Council July 3d. 16B4 (Archiv. 3:308). In October of the same year the name was changed to Patuxent under the Cromwell administration, (Archiv. 1:341). Name restored, 1658, 5 Erected by order in Council, April 13th. 1658 (Archiv. 3:311). An earlier Charles county was erected byorder in Council, October 3d 1650, from part of the territory now included in St. Mary's, Charles and Prince George's counties. This order was repealed by order of July 3d, 1654, supra. 6 Erected by order in Council. No full record, but writ of election was issued to sheriff January 12th, 1659, (Arehiv. 1:381) 7 No record. Writ of election issued to sheriff February 18th, 1661, (Archiv. 1:428 and 3:448). 8 Erected by order in Council August 22d, 1666, (Archiv. 3:553). 9 No record. Writ issued to sheriff February 16, 1668, (Archiv. 2:155). 10 Erected by proclamation of Governor Charles Calvert June 6th, 1674, (Archiv. 15:39-41). Delegates are named as present at Assembly from Cecil county February 12th, 1674, (Arciv. 2:421). |
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Volume 117, Page 103 View pdf image (33K) |
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