clear space clear space clear space white space
A
 r c h i v e s   o f   M a r y l a n d   O n l i n e

PLEASE NOTE: The searchable text below was computer generated and may contain typographical errors. Numerical typos are particularly troubling. Click “View pdf” to see the original document.

  Maryland State Archives | Index | Help | Search
search for:
clear space
white space

Volume 662, Page 83   View pdf image (33K)
 Jump to  
  << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
clear space clear space clear space white space

REVENUE OFFICERS: PROPRIETARY 83

Steuart went home to Scotland in 1775, and Calvert gave up his
post in May, 1777. The Constitution of 1776 omitted this office,
but an act of January, 1782, assigned it to the Chancellor. 32

The fees of this Judge, reckoned in tobacco, for such acts as
the making and recording of warrants, the recording of certificates
of survey, and the drafting and recording of land patents, were
evidently fixed at an early date. But as the office was solely con-
cerned in administering Baltimore's private property, its fees
were not to be regulated either by Governor or by Assembly. Nor
were they published by proclamation or established by law until
1747, when the Inspection Act merely confirmed, without altering,
those previously taken. 33

Apparently these Land Office fees were always too high for
Lord Baltimore's good: they restrained the purchase of land and
thus slowed the increase of his quit-rents. 34 Yet, although in 1738
His Lordship was moved to require of his officers a list of their
land fees, he took no further action either then or subsequently. 35
Nine years later, these charges, alone of all tobacco fees, were
not reduced by the Inspection Law. Indeed, as this act raised the
price of tobacco, it actually increased the sterling value of Land
Office fees by twenty percent or more. However we have seen
that in the previous year this office had been divided between two
incumbents.

It would appear that the Judges took all fees of the Land
Office and paid their Register perhaps £ 100 sterling a year, the
usual salary of a superior clerk. After December, 1751, they had
to pay jointly a saddle of £ 100 to the Principal Secretary. Their
income was now further impaired by outbreak of the French and
Indian War; and just at this moment Frederick, Lord Baltimore,
demanded another hundred a year to settle on Mr. John Wogan
of the Inner Temple, " for whom, " he said, " I have a very great
regard. " However the combined appeal of Governor Sharpe,

32 Patent Record, liber DS, No. 2, folio 226 (Land Office); Kilty, op. cit., 270.
273, 280, 373.
33 Cf.. Daniel Dulany to Cecilius Calvert, Sept. 10, 1764 (Calvert Papers, II,

34 Cf. Dr. Charles Carroll to John Darnall, April 23, 1752; Horatio Sharpe to
Cecilius Calvert, Feb. 10, 1754; Daniel Dulany to Cecilius Calvert, Sept. 10, 1764
(Maryland Historical Magazine, XXIV [1929], 281; Archives, VI, 37; Calvert
Papers,
II, 241).

35 Archives, XL, 593-94.


 

clear space
clear space
white space

Please view image to verify text. To report an error, please contact us.

Volume 662, Page 83   View pdf image (33K)
 Jump to  
  << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.


Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!



An Archives of Maryland electronic publication.
For information contact mdlegal@mdarchives.state.md.us.

©Copyright  October 11, 2023
Maryland State Archives