130 HIS LORDSHIP'S PATRONAGE

3. COMMISSARY GENERAL OR JUDGE OF PROBATE.

On 24 April 1673 this office was taken from the Principal
Secretary and united with the Chancellorship whence it was
separated in October, 1693. The Commissaryship General was
omitted from the Constitution of 1776. An act of 20 April 1777
abolished it and assigned custody of the records of the Prerogative
Office to the Register of Wills of Prince George's County.

1. KENELM CHESELDYNE of St. Mary's City (Prot. ), was com.
by acting Gov. Andros, 3 Oct. and sworn 4 Oct. 1693; recom. by
Gov. Blakiston, 18 Oct. 1694. On 5 Aug. 1697 he was dismissed
for drunkenness and negligence, and one Robert Smith of Talbot
County was appointed in his place; but as Smith never took office,
Cheseldyne served on till Aug., 1699- He died in Dec., 1708.

2. Col. JOHN ADDISON of Charles County (Prot. ), JOHN
COURTS of the same (Prot. ), and Addison's step son-in-law, Col.
THOMAS BROOKE II of Prince George's County (Prot. convert, 3
of his brothers Jesuits), com. jointly and sworn 12 Aug. 1699.

3. Col. THOMAS BROOKE II, com. sole Commissary General, 1
June 1700.

4 Col. THOMAS BROOKE II and his brother-in-law, Maj.
WILLIAM DENT of Charles County (Prot., Addison's stepson),
com. jointly, 23 May 1704; Dent died in Nov., 1704.

5. Col. THOMAS BROOKE II and Col. JOHN CONTEE of Charles
County (Prot. ), com. jointly by Gov. Seymour, 1 Dec. 1704 and
sworn 20 Feb. 1704/5. Contee had just married one Mary
Townley, Seymour's favorite cousin.

6. Col. JOHN CONTEE, com. sole Commissary General, 5 Sept.
1706; died in office, 3 Aug. 1708.

7. Col. WILLIAM BLADEN of Annapolis (Prot, wife Cath. ),
com. 16 Aug. and sworn 18 Aug. 1708; died in office, 7 Aug.
1718.

8. THOMAS BORDLEY of Annapolis (Prot. ), com. 16 Aug.
1718; dismissed in September, 1721; died 11 Oct. 1726.

9. Col. WILLIAM HOLLAND of Anne Arundel County (Prot. ),
com. 1 Sept. and sworn 19 Sept. 1721.

10. Col. WILLIAM HOLLAND, Col. THOMAS ADDISON of Prince