Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)
Simon Retallick (c.1752-1799)
MSA SC 3520-16765
Biography:
Birth: Cornwall,
England
1752 to Richard and Elizabeth Retallick. [1]
Wife: Elizabeth Miles (Annapolis, MD, June 24,
1782).
Children: Simon Jr. (1779-1824), Elizabeth (m. William Rawlings, 1801).
Simon Retallick (or Retallack)
arrived in Annapolis
in 1774 as one of the indentured
servants aboard the Peggy Stewart.
[2] Originally from a line of skilled laborers in Cornwall, Retallick registered on the Peggy Stewart's passenger list as a blacksmith. Upon arrival to Annapolis, he was likely mentored by local blacksmith Isaac Harris.
As a blacksmith in Annapolis,
Simon Retallick began ironwork for the Maryland State House soon after
the building opened in 1779 and continued to perform commissions for
the State over the next two decades. [3]
Among
his work there, Retallick supplied the State House with iron chimney
backs perhaps for the Senate and House of Delegates Chambers, a
pair of andirons, and performed a significant amount of work under dome
architect
Joseph
Clark.
He is credited with the construction of the lightning rod for the
State House among
his 1788 work, though it is not specified. Clark, who in 1788 had been
working
on the construction of the dome, paid Retallick for at least 32 days
worth of unspecified ironwork. [4] Retallick's final commision for the
State House was likely in 1797 when he was paid for services rendered
under artisan John Shaw.
For more information regarding the construction of the Maryland State
House
dome and lightning rod, please see the State House website.
Retallick’s shop was on the corner of Church (now Main) Street and Green Street, near his house
on 183
Green Street. [5]
When he died in 1799, he left all of his possessions to his wife, who formally took
over the
business with Retallick's former partner, Richard Goodwin. Retallick Sr.'s son,
Simon
Retallick Jr. continued blacksmith work at the Maryland State House and in Annapolis. [6][7][8]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1]"England Births and
Christenings,
1538-1975," index, FamilySearch
(https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J3WW-BTL : accessed 28 Jun
2013), Simon
Retallick, 30 Mar 1752.
[2] Ancestry.com. U.S.
and Canada,
Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s.
[3]
AUDITOR
GENERAL (Peter Force Collection), Journal,
1780, ff. 167, MSA S 150-4, MSA SC 4391.
[4]
MARYLAND
STATE PAPERS
(Series A), 1788, MSA S1004-91.
[5] The Maryland
Gazette, 29
March 1787.
[6]
ANNE
ARUNDEL COUNTY
REGISTER OF WILLS
(Wills) Simon Retallick, 1799, Volume JG 2 Page 89 [MSA C 153-6,
1/3/12/16]
[7] The Maryland
Gazette, 25
July 1799, 20 August 1801.
[8] MARYLAND
STATE PAPERS (Series A), 1800, MSA S1004-113, MdHR
6636-84-76.
Return
to Introductory Page
|
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!
|
©
Copyright August 13, 2013
Maryland State Archives