182 HIS LORDSHIP'S PATRONAGE

4. WILLIAM STOUGHTON of Somerset County (Prot), com. by
Lt. Gov. Hart, 14 Feb. 1715/6, but entered office prior to 24 Aug.
1715; resigned in 1724 and died in 1759; son-in-law of Col.
Arnold Elzey, Naval Officer of Pocomoke.

5. JOHN BROWNE of Somerset County (Prot.), took office 29
Nov. 1724; died in January, 1728/9.

6. Col. GEORGE PLATER II of St. Mary's County (Prot.),
entered office 12 Jan. 1728/9; superseded by Chambers.

7. EDWARD CHAMBERS of Somerset County (Prot.), appointed
by Customs Commissioners, 13 May; entered office 25 Aug. 1729.

8. ROBERT HERON of Dorchester County (Prot.), took office
6 Oct. 1748; died 3 June 1774.

9. WILLIAM BACON of Somerset County (Prot.), com. 24
Nov. 1774; granted leave to remove to Great Britain, 27 May
1780.

4) Collector of Chester and Patapsco.

1. Rev. JAMES STERLING of St. Paul's Parish, Kent County
(Prot.), appointed pursuant to Treasury Warrant of 12 May
1752; salary began 25 March 1752; entered office in August,
1752; died 10 Nov. 1763.

2. WILLIAM GEDDES of Kent County (Prot.), appointed by
Customs Commissioners shortly before 28 Jan. 1766; served to end
of colonial period. His district included only Chester River;
Patapsco had reverted to the Patuxent District. Geddes was
appointed Naval Officer of the Eight District in April, 1777. He
died at Newport, Del., Oct., 1792.

c. Surveyors and Searchers.
1) Surveyor and Searcher of Annapolis.

1. HENRY WRIOTHESLY of Baltimore County (Prot.), by
Treasury Warrant of 20 Nov. 1696; resigned almost at once.

2. Col. WILLIAM BLADEN of Annapolis (Prot., wife Cath.),
com. by Surveyor General Edward Randolph, " Collector," 24
Dec. 1697, and recom. by the Customs Commissioners, " Surveyor
and Searcher," 12 Jan. 1697/8; died 7 Aug. 1718.

3. BENJAMIN TASKER, SR., of Annapolis (Prot., mother prob.