CIVIL LIST 115
of Canterbury, Hugh Hamersley, the Principal Secretary, and his
own step-father, Peter Prevost, Esq. He married and had issue,
but, with the death of its present representative, Maj. Frederick
Reginald Harford of Broadfieid, Beaconsfield, Bucks, his family
will become extinct in the male line. He enjoyed the revenues of
Maryland only two or three years before the outbreak of hostilities
ended his income. In 1780 Maryland abolished quit-rents (as of
July 4, 1776), and in 1781 confiscated the property of British
subjects. At the close of the war Harford applied to the British
government for compensation, valuing his losses at £447,000. He
settled however for a grant of £90,000 out of which sum he paid
£10,000 each, pursuant to his father's will, to his uncle John
Browning and his aunt Caroline Eden. In 1805 he obtained an
additional £10,000 from the Maryland bank stock in London.
Meantime the Browning family had pressed their claim under the
will of Charles, fifth Lord Baltimore. On the death of Frederick
Calvert, John Browning had at once entered suit in chancery to
vindicate his wife's title to the province. This legal action was
thrown out of court when the colonies declared their independ-
ence, and Browning, as we have seen, later accepted from Harford,
in his wife's behalf, £10,000 in full discharge of the family claim.
This act rendered fruitless his son Charles Browning's eflFort to
obtain compensation from the State of Maryland in and after
1820.
THE CENTRAL GOVERNING BODY
1 a. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
From 1637 until the close of the first proprietary period (1689)
this officer was commissioned " Lieutenant General, Admiral,
Chief Captain and Commander" and was usually called the
"Lieutenant General." Until 1661 he was also by commission
" Chancellor, Chief Justice, and Chief Magistrate/' During the
later proprietary period (1715-76) the chief executive was regu-
larly commissioned " Lieutenant and Chief Governor, Chancellor,
Admiral, Captain General and Commander " and was generally
called the " Lieutenant Governor." Under royal administration
(1690-1715) his style was " Captain General and Governor in
Chief, Chancellor, and Vice Admiral," and he was commonly
designated simply as the " Governor."
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