THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Vol. 3, No. 21
12 June 1989
TRACT MAPS Bernie Webb
In assisting a patron to find a particular tract's location on a modern map, the most useful tool is the tract map. Therefore, the first step in helping the patron is to ascertain whether we have a tract map for the county in which he suspects the tract lies. Tract maps are indexed in WordCruncher by county, and a list of the most helpful tract maps is provided below.
There are several ways to help the patron who wishes to locate a tract which lies in a county for which no tract map exists. In the library there are many books which can aid tract researchers. Doug has enumerated some of these in Bulldog (Vol. 3, No. 11), "Preliminary List of Published Sources For Land Tract Research." If the tract in question, or an adjoining tract, is adjacent to a permanent landmark, such as a major river, its general location may be determined.
In explaining the process of locating a tract, an archivist might mention that until 1961 official tax maps, which indicate locations of parcels of land, were not required by law to be created. So if there is no tract map, library book, or landmark to help the patron, he must make a title search for the tract from the time for which he has an owner's name to the year 1961 when he can find the location on a tax map. In his search the patron has to utilize probate records, equity records, and land transactions, and this can be an arduous search when the land passes from one generation to another unrecorded in probate. Here the Index to Tracts in Chancery (Indexes 59 and 61 and Chancery Papers on WordCruncher when available) and the Tract Indexes in Land Record Abstracts (see Bulldog, Vol. 1, No. 4) will be of use.
Emphasize to the patron that tracts have existed from the time that land was first patented. Therefore, many tracts are very old. Since the time of its initial patenting a tract may have escheated and later been repatented. Tracts are sometimes divided and resurveyed under a new tract name. Another problem in locating tracts is the significant change over centuries of magnetic north. A magnetic compass today points to a different north than did those three centuries ago, and so any tract map is merely an approximation of reality. To prove where land is exactly located today a surveyor must be employed.
ALLEGANY COUNTY
SHAFER. Allegany county west of Cumberland. Gives no libers or patentees. 1898. G 1427-394.
DEAKINS. Military lots, tracts, and escheats west of Ft. Cumberland. Gives no libers or patentees. G 1427-773.
DEAKINS. Same as above for Allegany and Garrett counties. G 1427-900.
W.A.H. Same as above for Allegany (west of Cumberland) and Garrett counties. 1935. G 1427-394.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
DORSEY. Original land grants on the south side of the Severn River, Maryland. Includes index to libers and patentees. G 1427-192
HAMMOND. Some Plantations in Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties, 1650-1667. G1779 Moss Collection, Superoversize [original of map found and indexed in James E. Moss, Providence, Ye Lost Town at Severn in Maryland]
HAMMOND. Providence, Ye Towne at Severne, Seated 1649. G1779 Moss Collection, Superoversize [original of map found and indexed in James E. Moss, Providence, Ye Lost Town at Severn in Maryland]
MOSS, Broad Neck Hundred, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. 1663-1665. Provides year and acreage of patent. G1779 Moss Collection, Superoversize.
BALTIMORE CITY
ANONYMOUS. Baltimore City and Jones Town. Gives no libers or patentees. 1747. G 1427-500.
BALTIMORE COUNTY
HAMMOND. Some Plantations in Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties, 1650-1667. G1779 Moss Collection, Superoversize [original of map found and indexed in James E. Moss, Providence, Ye Lost Town at Severn in Maryland]
HORVATH. Early patents and roads near Reister's Town. Some tracts are labeled with patentee and date. 1976. G 1427-741.
CARROLL COUNTY
TRACY. Carroll, Frederick, and Washington counties. Alphabetical list of tracts on microfilm M-1039. Each listing provides date, patentee, liber, folio, a description of the location, and a pair of coordinates keyed to the tract maps found in G 1427-284.
CALVERT COUNTY
ANONYMOUS. Tracts along Patuxent River. Gives liber and folio. G 1427-320.
CHARLES COUNTY
ANONYMOUS. Tracts along Patuxent River. Gives liber and folio. G 1427-320.
FREDERICK COUNTY
See TRACY, listed under Carroll County.
GARRETT COUNTY
SHAFER. Military lots, tracts, and escheats. Gives no libers or patentees. 1898. G 1427-431.
W.A.H. same as above. 1935. G 1427-609.
other maps listed under Allegany County.
HOWARD COUNTY
DORSEY. Original land grants superimposed on topographical map. Gives liber, folio, and patentee. 1968. G 1427-302.
KENT COUNTY
RUTH. Colonial Quaker Neck tracts granted by the Lords Baltimore near the Chester River. Provides patentee, date of patenting, and acreage. 1967. G 1427-234.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY
ANONYMOUS. Tracts along Patuxent River. Gives liber and folio. G 1427-320.
ST. MARY'S
ANONYMOUS. Tracts along Patuxent River. Gives liber and folio. G 1427-320.
ANONYMOUS. Tracts along Potomac and Upper Marlboro. G 1427-319.
MENARD. Provides the tract name, the tract's hundred, and the decade the tract was surveyed. G 844 (2).
SOMERSET COUNTY
BENSON. Provides year of survey and acreage for each tract. Delicate. 1942. G 1427-499. Indexed in Ruth Dryden, Land Records of Somerset County.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
See TRACY, listed under Carroll County.
WORCESTER COUNTY
BENSON. Provides year of survey and acreage for each tract.
G 1427-437. Indexed in Ruth Dryden, Land Records of Worcester County.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Record Series of the Week Pat Melville
Baltimore County and Baltimore City Chancery Papers
Baltimore County Court (Chancery Papers) COAGSER 295,
1815-1851, and Baltimore City Superior Court (Chancery Papers) COAGSER
168, 1851-1870, contain a wealth of information and offer substantial potential
for research. Now that the inventories of all these case files are incorporated
into Wordcruncher, BA-BCPAP, the potential can be realized more easily
by searching for names of individuals, firms, and institutions, names of
tracts and streets, and topics such as copper mining, slaves, and mills.
Access is also available through (Chancery Docket, Index) and (Chancery
Docket).
Chancery proceedings are heard by a judge who can base
his or her decision on precedent set by former cases, but whose priority
is to give a verdict on what is fair and equitable. Types of cases include
settlement of a decedent's estate, administration of a trust estate, divorce,
mortgage foreclosure, tax sale, insanity hearing, adoption, and land title
dispute. In Maryland the Chancery Court heard most cases prior to 1815
at which time the county courts were given concurrent jurisdiction. The
Chancery Court ceased existence in 1853 and thereafter all equity proceedings
were handled by the county circuit courts and the BC courts. Note that
the terms chancery and equity are used interchangeably.
The equity court system for BA and BC underwent considerable
expansion and change during the 19th century. Until December 1, 1851, BC
was part of BA; thus suits involving residents of BC were heard by the
BA Court. The Constitution of 1851 established a separate court system
for BC and assigned equity jurisdiction to the Superior Court. In 1853
the General Assembly created the Circuit Court to handle equity cases concurrently
with the Superior Court. The Constitution of 1867 removed this jurisdiction
from the Superior Court and gave it exclusively to the Circuit Court. In
1888 the General Assembly established a second equity court, called Circuit
Court No. 2.
The chancery papers of the BA court and BC Superior Court
contain 6340 cases. The series unit inventories itemize each case. The
date of a file refers to when a case was instituted or was transferred
from another jurisdiction, such as the Chancery Court or BC Circuit Court.
The series unit description lists the case number, names of petitioners
or plaintiffs and defendants, subject of the case, accession number, and
location. If applicable, the description also lists tract names and lots
and notes the existence of plats. The case number is not unique to each
file because the letter C and number actually refer to a drawer in which
all files received the same designation. The numbering system apparently
was imposed after the fact since the lowest numbers appear on the latest
cases. The names of the parties are based on the initial bill of complaint
or petition and thus does not include those added later, such as heirs
of someone who dies before the case is completed.
The subject descriptions are standardized into thirty-nine
categories which in broader terms are placed into sixteen groups. In the
following analysis the number in parenthesis shows the percentage of cases
represented by each group in the record series.
Mortgage foreclosures (28.2%) are the most common equity
cases. They are instituted because mortgage payments have fallen in arrears.
Although involving mostly land and/or houses, the cases concern a wide
variety of other properties. These include slaves, factories, taverns,
inns, mills, quarries, slaughterhouses, retail operations, museums, ships,
and churches.
Petitions (12.7%) comprise a group of eight categories
that are adhesive only because the word petition appears in the description.
Many cases involve heirs who cannot do something because some are minors
or cannot be located or named. Most cases are petitions to sell, usually
land and/or houses. Other properties include blacksmith shops, breweries,
quarries, inns, factories, ships, retail stores, slaves, stocks, cemetery
plots, and the Antietam Iron Works in WA. Several petitions request the
partition of property, largely land, among entitled parties. Other petitions
ask the court for permission to lease real estate; to record deeds, leases,
or mortgages; to release mortgages; to correct recorded deeds, leases,
or mortgages; and to mortgage real estate. A few cases are petitions to
discover something unknown to the plaintiffs, usually related to business
operations. The unknown matter may involve ownership of goods or bank drafts,
amount of accounts or rent payments, removal of brandy from a customs house,
or how a violin was broken.
Trust estate cases (10.8%) involve the administration
of trusts established for individuals or by businesses. In a trust for
individuals real or personal property is transferred to a trustee who administers
it for the benefit of the beneficiaries. In a trust for businesses, solely
owned, partnership, or corporations, assets are transferred to a trustee
who is authorized the manage the business or sell the assets, often in
order to pay debts. In other words, the businesses are usually in financial
straits. The types of operations represented is extensive - taverns, groceries,
shipping, factories, dry goods stores, tanyards, drug stores, race course,
mills, slaughterhouses, banking, millineries, coal yards, hotels, breweries,
and quarries. Some of the more prominent firms include Bank of Maryland,
Warren Manufacturing Co., Baltimore Hotel, Maryland & Virginia Steamboat
Co., Baltimore Shot Tower Co., and Eastern Shore Steamboat Co. The number
of trust estate cases increase substantially after 1853, which may simply
reflect the assignment of such cases to the Superior Court rather than
the Circuit Court.
Estate cases (9.9%) involve the settlement of a decedent's
estate. The properties dealt with include land, houses, and other assets
such as factories, mercantile firms, trading companies including a stage
coach firm transporting the U.S. mail, taverns, mills including Monocacy
Mills in FR, retail stores, slaves, ships, slaughterhouses, and warehouses.
Contract cases (9.6%) encompass a group of seven categories
that pertains to disputes involving compliance with an agreement to perform
some action. Most cases involve contracts to purchase real estate and often
personal property such as patents, mills, shipyards, slaves including instances
where free blacks are the intended purchasers, warehouses, factories, ships,
stocks, merchandise, taverns, shops, kilns, quarries, Baltimore Republican,
school, church, and coal and iron mines in AL. Contracts to lease involve
real estate, hotels, taverns, tobacco inspection warehouses, and post offices.
Contracts to build pertain mostly to houses, but do include shops, churches,
schools, steam engines, railroad tracks and bridges, and furniture. Contracts
to assign involve the transfer of income producing documents such as promissory
notes, military pensions, mortgages, leases, and damage claims from harm
done to ships during the War of 1812. Contracts to sell allege the sale
of property from the plaintiff(s) to the defendant(s) and cover coffee,
dry goods, glassware, lottery tickets, ships, stocks, livestock, and coal.
Contracts to operate or manage pertain to the operation or management of
businesses such as ships, mercantile firms, farms, marine railway, grocery,
and restaurant.
The seventh contract category is a miscellaneous grouping
of a variety of disputes over agreements. Many involve security transactions
and debt payments. Others allege contracts to ship merchandise such as
cotton during the War of 1812, perform in a circus, establish a museum,
hunt seals, quarry stone, manufacture carpet, work on the C & O towpath,
mine copper and zinc, manumit a slave, form the American Telegraph Co.,
and supply cattle to the U.S. Army during the Civil War.
Divorce and alimony cases (8.3%), of course, relate to
the legal resolution of marital disputes. After local courts obtained jurisdiction
over divorce proceedings in 1842, few petitions for only alimony were filed.
After abolition of the Chancery Court in 1851, the number of divorce cases
increase substantially.
Although not exclusive to this group, a set of three categories
of cases relates to individuals and partnerships experiencing financial
troubles (6.8%). The insolvent estate cases involve those who voluntarily
or involuntarily have been declared bankrupt and thus unable to pay debts
with existing assets. Dissolutions concern disputes over the terminations
of partnerships. Defraud of creditors involves allegations that the defendants
have acted in ways that prevent creditors from receiving money due them.
The variety of assets and businesses found in this group of cases is again
extensive--mills, slaughterhouses, slaves, land, shipping, taverns, factories,
glassware, tanneries, patents, kilns, shops, quarries, fisheries, blacksmiths,
hotels, Kanawha Canal in VA, breweries, Canton Iron Works, dairies, ship
building, foundries, fire companies, procurement of military substitutes,
and Maryland Savings Institution.
Injunction cases (6.5%), consisting of seven categories,
involve attempts to prevent an action. Injunctions against execution of
judgment are petitions to prevent property from being sold because of an
unpaid judgment against a person in a civil proceeding. The affected properties
include real estate, pottery, inns, taverns, liquor, coal, dry goods, iron
in South America, brickyards, groceries, tanyards, shoe stores, and jewelry
stores. Injunctions against removal attempt to stop the removal of timber,
sand, or walls from the plaintiff's property, copper from a mine, body
from a cemetery, and money from a bank. Injunctions against obstruction
try to stop the blockage of streets, alleys, roads, railroad tracks, mill
races, and windows. Injunctions against sale attempt to prevent the sale
of ships, real estate, flour, groceries, wheat, tanyards, dry goods, iron,
and blacks into slavery. Injunctions against use or operation try to stop
the use or operation of a printing press, wharf, blacksmith shop, right
of way, quarry, railway, slaughterhouse, mill, ten-pin alley, and oyster
and fruit packing plant. Injunctions against obstruction try to prevent
the building of verandas, dams, fire stations, race tracks, slaughterhouses,
roads, privies, walls, fences, and houses. The miscellaneous
category of injunctions concern petitions against digging
around a house, grading and paving streets, opening roads and streets,
destroying houses and commercial buildings, foreclosing on mortgages, mining
ore, establishing a paint factory, quarrying stone, diverting water from
a mill, collecting taxes, electing directors and officers of the Baltimore
& Susquehanna Railroad Co., drawings for lotteries for the benefit
of Washington College and St. Johns College, and interfering with religious
worship.
Ratifications of sales (2.1%) are filings to obtain court
approval for sales of property ordered by justices of the peace for satisfactions
of judgments. The affected properties include mostly real estate, but also
tanyards, saw mills, carpenter and blacksmith shops, foundries, and grocery
stores.
Title cases (1.4%) are disputes over ownership of property,
mostly real estate. Other property includes slaves, mills, stocks, ground
rents, ships, factories, shops, churches, taverns, furniture, riparian
rights on Patapsco River, railroad switches, and funds of the Southern
Orphan Relief Fund.
Appointment of trustee cases (.9%) are petitions to have
trustees appointed for persons who are mentally incapacitated and/or unable
to manage their assets.
Lien and claim cases (.7%) involve respectively charges
against real or personal property for satisfaction of debts or work performed
and demands for something due the plaintiffs. Liens were filed against
land, ships, houses, Warren Factory, Fountain Inn, Shot Tower, Baltimore
Museum, quarries, and book stores. Claims were filed against the Maryland
Penitentiary and insurance companies.
Validity cases (.6%) involve questions about the correctness
of certain actions which include street extensions, condemnation of land
for a market, mortgages, deeds, leases, insurance claims, tax sale, rights
of a congregation to sell a church, and rights of stockholders to elect
officers of BC Passenger Railroad Co.
Illegal sales of lottery tickets (.2%) involve suits brought
by the state against persons changed with the wrongful sale of lottery
tickets that had been authorized by the General Assembly.
Several cases (1.2%) do not fit into of the above categories
and were described uniquely. Several concern money matters such as settlements
of accounts, embezzlement of bank funds, disbursements made for the University
of Maryland, fee and tax collections, Tidewater Canal lottery funds, railroad
bonds, stocks, and dividends. Other cases involve annulments, child support,
separation agreements, right to use a marine railway, compliance with the
grain inspection law, and dower rights.
Some cases (.2%) have no description because the key documents
are not extant.
Many research endeavors can benefit from a perusal of
equity cases. Likely topics include genealogy, churches, social interactions,
family relationships, prominent individuals, title searches, historic buildings
and sites, transportation, free blacks, and business operations whether
corporate, partnership, or individual.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Record Series of the Week Pat Melville
BALTIMORE COUNTY AND BALTIMORE
CITY LAND COMMISSION PAPERS
Related to and originally filed with BA Court/BC Superior
Court (Chancery Papers) are BA Court (Land Commission Papers) 349, 1785-1851,
and BC Superior Court (Land Commission Papers) 203, 1851-1908. Some files,
especially the early ones, do not have case numbers. The ones that do have
numbers have the preface C and a number which refer to all cases filed
in a drawer. Land commissions are proceedings of commissioners to divide
or sell land, determine boundaries of land, lay out roads, or condemn land.
Commissioners are appointed by the court or by a state or local legislative
body and then supervised by the court.
The series unit listings for land commission papers contain
the following information: date the case was instituted; case number, if
any; names of petitioners, commissioners, or plaintiffs and defendants;
subject matter of the case; name or description of the land; existence
of plats; accession number; and location. There are eight categories of
case descriptions which can be reclassified into five groups. In the following
analysis the number in parenthesis refers to the percentage of the total
of 496 case files.
Condemnation cases (48.2%, 99.4% after 1851), 1820-1908,
involves the taking of land for public use. One category concerns the condemnation
of land for railroad tracks, depots, and yards. The companies include Baltimore
& Susquehanna, Baltimore & Ohio, Baltimore & Port Deposit,
Northern Central, Baltimore & Potomac, Union, Western Maryland, and
Baltimore Belt. The other category involves condemnation of land for other
purposes, such as improvement of Jones Falls, grading streets, private
railways, Patapsco River Bridge, Richmond Market, Clifton Park, and a water
system.
Petitions to partition estates (31.7%), 1791-1850, are
requests to divide land among heirs or to sell the land and divide the
proceeds.
Road cases (12.9%), 1785-1837, fit into three categories.
For the laying out of roads, including a railway, there are both petitions
and returns of commissions. The third category consists of petitions to
straighten, widen, or close roads.
Petitions and commissions to establish boundaries (6%),
1796-1846 and 1882, are designed to determine the lines of adjoining properties.
Usually past surveys do not provide conclusive evidence. Thus the property
owners want the court to establish firm boundaries. One commission return
differs from the others; it establishes the boundary between CR and BA
in 1841.
Petitions and commissions to assess damages (.1%), 1796-1846,
due landowners after an action occurs involve extensions and openings of
streets and a survey of the BC coastline.
Because all land commissions concern land in some way,
a high proportion of the files (30%) contain plats.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Record Series of the Week Ben Primer
ADJUTANT GENERAL (Service Record Requests Register) 1865-1880,
STAGSER 336
ADJUTANT GENERAL (Service Record Requests) 1865-1880,
STAGSER 938
These two series can be used together to trace the Adjutant
General's response to requests from Civil War veterans and their kin regarding
soldiers' service records. There are two volumes of registers: MdHR 4518
which consists of a number of entries from 1864 regarding service on the
Ship Allegheny and then a smaller number of entries dating from 1876-1880
and MdHR 4519 which runs from 1865-1874. For each of these alphabetical
volumes there are columns for the date of the request for information,
the applicant (soldier's) name, the company and regiment, the information
sought, the attorney representing the applicant, the current residence,
the date the Adjutant General forwarded the request to Washington for more
information, the date information was received, the nature of the information
and the date forwarded to the applicant.
In the second book there are two additional columns to
note: the number of the incoming letter which is found at the beginning
of the left hand page and the number of the response from Washington which
is found at the beginning of the right hand page. These numbers can be
used to go directly to the files which are called (Service Record Requests).
Both requests for information and replies from Washington are numbered
consecutively from 1865 to 1868, then the Adjutant General began a new
numbering system starting over with 1 in 1869. There is a gap in the requests
running from February 1866 to October 1869. The replies from Washington
are more complete, but there are missing numbers throughout both sets of
records. At the end of both the requests and the replies there are a few
unnumbered items.
The bulk of these requests are from widows and other kin
seeking federal or state bounty payments for soldiers who died in combat.
In sum, these two series when used together can be used to obtain information
about soldier's Civil War service and about their families after the war,
including such information as their children, their widow's remarriage,
their mobility and their economic status.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Library Libations Ben Primer
Books on Marriage
In preparation for the first section on Bulletin 18 which will be on Maryland marriage records, I put together the following list of books on marriages. If you know of any others that should be added to the list, please let me know.
General Reference Books on Marriages:
Barnes, Barnes, Gleanings from Maryland Newspapers, 1727-1775.
Includes Anne Arundel and Baltimore County newspapers.
_____, Gleanings from Maryland Newspapers, 1776-1785.
Includes Anne Arundel and Baltimore County newspapers.
_____, Gleanings from Maryland Newspapers, 1786-1790.
Includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Talbot and
Washington County newspapers and York County, Pennsylvania.
_____, Gleanings from Maryland Newspapers, 1791-1795.
Includes Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Kent, Talbot,
and Washington County newspapers and York County, Pennsylvania.
_____, Maryland Marriages, 1634-1777.
_____, Maryland Marriages, 1778-1800.
Note: Items listed as in Scharf Papers, Maryland Historical
Society, are now at the Maryland State Archives.
Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus, Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary,
County and Church.
Vol. I includes tombstones at All Saint's Parish (FR);
Vol. II indexes Scharf Collection ministers' returns for CH, FR, Mo, SM
and WA counties. There is information on individual ministers and the churches
they served (1777-1804). Also has tombstone records for Trinity Church
(SM) and St. Martin's (WO).
Cappon, Lester J. and Stella F. Duff, Virginia Gazette
Index, 1736-1780.
Marie Dickore, Hessian Soldiers in the American Revolution:
Records of their Marriages and Baptisms of their Children in America.
Dobson, David, American Vital Records from the Gentleman's
Magazine [London], 1731-1868.
Duff, Jeffrey M., Inventory of Kentucky Birth, Marriage
and Death Records, 1852-1910.
Fisher, Charles A., Central Pennsylvania Marriages, 1700-1896.
Harper, Irma Sweitzer, Maryland Marriage Clues, Vols.
1-3.
Covers Talbot, Queen Anne's Caroline and Dorchester Counties.
Volume 3 contains list of "Disorderly" marriages found in Minutes of Third
Haven Monthly Meeting, Easton, Maryland.
Headley, Robert, Genealogical Abstracts for 18th-century
Virginia Newspapers.
Leisenring, Lida, Record of Maryland Marriages, 1777-1804.
Available on microfilm M-361. Principally an index to
the Scharf Papers, but also includes licenses issued by Governors Ogle
and Sharpe to All Hallows Parish, 1738-1768, includes some Delaware and
Pennsylvania marriages, a few deaths and births and some marriages after
1804.
Ljungstedt, Milnor, County Court Note-book and Ancestral
Proofs and Probabilities.
Index for each volume.
Martin, George A., Vital Records from the National Intelligencer
[District of Columbia], Volume I, 1800-1828.
Meyer, Mary Keysor, Divorces and Names Changes in Maryland
by Act of the Legislature, 1634-1854.
Waldenmaier, Inez, Virginia Marriage Records Before 1853.
Wright, F. Edward, Abstracts of South Central Pennsylvania
Newspapers, 1785-1790.
_____, Abstracts of the Newspapers of Georgetown and the
Federal City, 1789-1799.
_____, Delaware Newspaper Abstracts, 1786-1795. Vol. 1.
_____, Marriages and Deaths of the Lower Delmarva, 1835-1840.
Picks up where Maryland Eastern Shore Newspaper Abstracts
leaves off. Covers Dorchester, Somerset and Worcester counties.
_____, Maryland Eastern Shore Newspaper Abstracts, 1790-1834.
8 volumes to date. Volumes 1-4 include all counties with
extant newspapers to 1824. Volumes 5 and 7 cover Caroline, Kent, Talbot
and Queen Anne's Counties for 1825-1834 and Volumes 6 and 8 cover Dorchester,
Somerset and Worcester Counties for the same time period. Index.
_____. Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records, 1648-1825.
5 volumes to date. Includes some Delaware records. Indexed.
_____, Western Maryland Newspaper Abstracts, 1786-1810.
3 volumes to date.
ALLEGANY COUNTY:
"Allegany County Marriage License Records" in History
of Western Maryland, Vol. 2, p. 1348.
Cupler, Margaret D., Allegany County, Maryland Marriage
Licenses, August 1, 1791-May 1, 1847. Males and females alphabetical.
_____, The Marriage Diary of Rev. William Shaw of Allegany
County,...Methodist Episcopal Church, 1792-1813, ...Early Marriages and
Births from Centre Street Episcopal.
_____, and Helen Straw Hinkle, Early Allegany County Records,
1787-1825.
Vol. 1. Indexes licenses 1791-1825.
Gatewood, Gloria V., Marriages and Deaths from the Cumberland
Alleganian, 1864-1867.
Kave, Dorothy May and Frances C. Williams, Lutheran Church
Records, 1801-1921 from Allegany County, Cumberland, Maryland, and Family
Bible Records; Allegany County Cemeteries.
Indexes St. Luke's Lutheran 1836-1901; Zion Reformed (Old
German) Lutheran 1802-1921; Trinity Evangelical Lutheran 1811-1900
Wright, F. Edward, Marriages and Deaths from Newspapers
of Allegany and Washington Counties, Maryland, 1820-1830.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY:
Barnes, Robert, Marriages and Deaths from the Maryland
Gazette, 1727-1839.
Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus, Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary,
County and Church.
Vol. II indexes marriage licenses 1777-1820.
Dallam, Edith Stansbury, St. James' Parish - Old Herring
Creeke Parish, A History, 1663-1799.
Includes index to parish register.
McPherson, Louisa Catherine Wesley, Records of Deaths
and Marriages in Anne Arundel County, 1845-1930.
Available on Microfilm M-210. A chronological record of
marriages taken from newspapers, seemingly at random.
BALTIMORE CITY (part of Baltimore County prior to 1851):
Thomas L. Hollowak., Index to Marriages in the (Baltimore)
Sun, 1851-1860.
BALTIMORE COUNTY:
Barnes, Robert, Baltimore County Marriage References,
1659-1746.
_____, Baltimore County Marriages before 1730.
Alphabetical for both sexes.
_____, Index to Marriages and Deaths in the Baltimore
County Advocate, 1850-1864.
_____, Marriages and Deaths from Baltimore Newspapers,
1796-1816.
_____, Marriages and Deaths from the Maryland Gazette,
1727-1839.
Brown, Helen White, Index to Register, St. John's Parish,
Baltimore County, Maryland 1696-1788.
George, Mrs. Thomas Stevens. Marriage Records of Baltimore
City and County, 1777-1799.
History Trails, Vol 7, No. 1, Autumn 1972, No. 2, Winter
1972-3.
Record of marriages performed by Rev. Edward Choate of
Reisterstown, 1808-1825
Hollowak, Thomas L., Index to Marriages and Deaths in
the (Baltimore) Sun, 1837-1850.
Peden, Henry C., Jr., St. John's and St. George's Parish
Register, Baltimore and Harford Counties, Maryland, 1696-1851.
Reamy, Bill and Martha, Records of St. Paul's Parish,
Vol. 1.
Indexes c.1700-1800.
_____. St. Thomas Parish Register, 1732-1850.
CAROLINE COUNTY:
Clark, Raymond B. Jr. and Sara Seth, Caroline County,
Maryland Marriage Licenses, 1774-1825 and a Short History of Caroline County.
Index.
F. Edward Wright, Caroline County Marriages-Births-Deaths,
1850-1880.CARROLL COUNTY:
Bates, Marlene, Abstracts of Carroll County Newspapers,
1831-1846.
"Carroll County Marriage License Records" in History of
Western Maryland, Vol. 2, p. 798.
Carroll County Public Library, Carroll County, Maryland
Marriage Licenses, 1837-1899.
Alphabetical by male and female
Weiser, Frederick S., Maryland German Church Records,
Vol. 7: St. Mary's Church, Silver Run, Carroll County, Lutheran Records,
1784-1863, Reformed Records, 1812-1866.
CECIL COUNTY:
Captain Jeremiah Baker Chapter, DAR, Cecil County, Maryland
Marriage Licenses, 1777-1840.
Daskam, Faith, Cecil County, Maryland Marriage Licenses
Index 1777-1840.
Indexes and corrects the DAR volume.
Gallagher, William J. [Notes from] The Cecil Gazette and
Farmer's and Mechanics Advertizer, ...1834-184? [on Marriages and Deaths
in Cecil County].
Wright, F. Edward, Newspaper Abstracts of Cecil and Harford
Counties, 1822-1830.
Arranged chronologically by letter.
CHARLES COUNTY:
Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus, Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary,
County and Church.
Vol II indexes marriage licenses, 1777-1804
DORCHESTER COUNTY:
Arps, Walter E., Jr., Before the Fire: Genealogical Gleanings
from the Cambridge (Maryland) Chronicle, 1830-1855.
Marshall, Nellie, Bible Records of Dorchester County,
Maryland, 1612-1969 and Baptismal and Marriage Records, 1855-1866, Zion
United Methodist Church.
Maryland Original Research Society of Baltimore, Bulletin
No. 1.
Indexes Dorchester County marriage licenses, 1780-1789.
FREDERICK COUNTY:
Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus, Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary,
County and Church.Vol. I indexes All Saint's Parish (1727-1781)
Vol. II indexes Evangelical Reformed Church (1763-1864)
"Frederick County Marriage License Records, 1778-1781"
in History of Western Maryland. Vol. 1, p. 425
Hinke, William J. and E. W. Reinecke, Records of the Reformed
Church in Frederick, Maryland, 1746-1800.
Maryland State Society, DAR, Maryland Genealogical Records
"Evangelical Reformed Church of Frederick Marriages, 1756-1759," Vol. 35,
p. 59.
Myers, Margaret E., Myersville, Maryland Lutheran Baptisms,
1832-1849, 1861-1897.
Indexes St. John's (Church Hill), St. Mark's (Wolfsville)
and St. Paul's (Myersville).
Smith, Dorothy H., Frederick County Marriage Licenses,
1778-1839.
Campbell Index to males.
Weiser, Frederick S., Maryland German Church Records,
Vol. 1: Records of Christ Reformed Church, also known as the German Reformed
Church (a congregation of the United Church of Christ), Middletown, Frederick
County, Maryland 1770-1840.
_____., Maryland German Church Records, Vol. 2: Records
of Zion Lutheran Church, Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland, 1781-1826.
_____., Records of Marriages and Burials in the Monocacy
Church in Frederick County, Maryland and in the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation
in the City of Frederick, Maryland, 1743-1811.
Wright, F. Edward, Marriages and Deaths in the Newspapers
of Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland 1820-1830.
HARFORD COUNTY:
Peden, Henry C., Jr., St. John's and St. George's Parish
Register, Baltimore and Harford Counties, Maryland, 1696-1851.
F. Edward Wright, Newspaper Abstracts of Cecil and Harford
Counties, 1822-1830.
HOWARD COUNTY:
Col. Thomas Dorsey Chapter, DAR, Marriage Licenses in
the Howard District of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 1840-1851.
KENT COUNTY:
Clark, Raymond B., Jr. and Sara Seth, Kent County, Maryland
Marriage Licenses, 1796-1850 and lists of Kent County Ministers.
Maryland Original Research Society of Baltimore, Bulletin
No. 1.
Indexes Kent County marriage licenses 1796-1802.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY:
Bowman, Tressie Nash, Montgomery County Maryland Marriages,
1796-1850.
Brown, Helen W. Prince Georges County, Maryland Indexes
of Church Registers, 1686-1885. 2 vols.
Vol. II indexes Prince Georges's [Rock Creek] Parish (including
MO County - 1791-1845)
Malloy, Mary Gordon and Marian W. Jacobs, Genealogical
Abstracts: Montgomery County Sentinel, 1855-1899.
Montgomery County Marriage License Records, 1798-1800,
in History of Western Maryland, Vol. 1, p. 664.
Wright, F. Edward, Marriages and Deaths in the Newspapers
of Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland, 1820-1830.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY:
Brown, Helen W., Index of Marriage License, Prince Georges
County, Maryland, 1777-1886.
_____., Prince Georges County, Maryland Indexes of Church
Registers, 1686-1885. 2 vols.
Vol. I indexes King George's [Piscataway, St. John's]
Parish (1689-1801; 1797-1878) and Queen Anne Parish (1686-1777)
Vol. II indexes St. Paul's Parish at Baden (1831-1885)
and Prince Georges's [Rock Creek] Parish (1711-1798; MO County - 1791-1845)
Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus, Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary,
County and Church.
Vol. I indexes marrige licenses 1777-1800.
Vol. II indexes Prince George's [Rock Creek] Parish (1796-1808)
Hienton, Louis Joyner, Prince Georges County, Maryland
Piscataway or St. John's Parish (now called King George's Parish), Index
to Register 1689-1878.
Indexes Piscataway 1689-1801, St. John's 1797-1878.
Toaping Castle Chapter, DAR, Index to Registers of St.
Matthew's Parish, Hyattsville, Prince George's County, Maryland, 1834-1926.
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY:
Major Samuel Turbutt Wright Chapter, DAR, 1151 Marriage
Records, 1817-1838 from Court House Records at Centreville, Queen Anne's
County, Maryland.
No index. Ends in 1829.
SAINT MARY'S COUNTY:
Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus, Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary,
County and Church.
Vol. I indexes marriage licenses 1794-1864.
Fresco, Margaret K., Marriages and Deaths, St. Mary's
County, Maryland, 1634-1900.
_____. Additions and Corrections to Marriages and Deaths...1634-1900.
SOMERSET COUNTY:
Brown, William Coulbourn, Book of Births, Marriages and
Deaths of the Persons of Coventry Parish, 1747.
Dryden, Ruth T., Parish of Somerset.
Records of St. Andrew's Episcopal, Princess Anne; St.
Stephen's Church, Potatoe Neck; All Saint's Church, Monie; Grace Church,
Wicomico Parish. Indexes 1751-1893
_____., Stepney Parish Records of Somerset County, Maryland.
Indexes c. 1720-1838. Includes St. Mary's and St. Bartholomew's
Church 1884-1889.
Pollitt, Roy C., Somerset County Maryland Marriage Records,
1796-1871.
Alphabetical by male and female.
Powell, Lorenzo Q., Abstracts of Somerset Parish Records
of Somerset County, Maryland.
Indexes marriages 1714-1852
_____., A Book of the Births, Marriages and Deaths of
the Persons of Coventry Parish, 1747.
Verbatim copy of William Coulbourne Brown volume with
index covering 1703-1834.
[_____?.], Marriage Licenses Issued by the Clerk of the
Circuit Court for Somerset County, 1831-1865.
Roughly alphabetical for males.
TALBOT COUNTY:
Abstracts of Vital Statistics Taken from the Easton Star
Republican, 1802-1822. 2 vols. Index.
Carter Braxton Chapter, DAR, The Marriage Licenses of
Talbot County, Maryland from 1794-1810.
Alphabetical for males only.
WASHINGTON COUNTY:
Brown, Helen W., Marriages and Deaths, 1830-1837, Washington
County, Maryland recorded in the Republican Banner. Index.
Clark, Linda B. An Index to Hagerstown Newspapers, 1790-1815.
Continuing series of volumes begun in 1982.
Maryland State Society, DAR, Maryland Genealogical Records
"Presbyterian Church of Hagerstown, Maryland, 1863-1902," Vol. 35, p. 193.
_____., Williamsport, Maryland, Congregation of the Zion
Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1791-1853; Ledgers of Samuel Weisel, M.D.,
1848-1872.
Indexes Marriages 1822-1851.
Wright, F. Edward, Marriages and Deaths from Newspapers
of Allegany and Washington Counties, Maryland, 1820-1830.
WORCESTER COUNTY:
Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus, Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary,
County and Church.
Vol. I indexes marriage licenses 1795-1799.
Record Series of the Week Connie Neale
Colonial Censuses of Maryland
A letter came this week enclosing a "Schedule of Colonial,
Territorial and State Census Records" which lists nine censuses for Maryland,
pre-dating the Federal Census of 1790. Needless to say, the writer was
a genealogist wanting to know what information they contain and where they
can be found. My research turned up the following information, which I
am sharing at Ben's suggestion.
The earliest census records for colonial Maryland have
been found among the papers of the Board of Trade and the Public Records
office in London. Their usefulness is chiefly demographic rather than genealogical,
since the original lists of names have been lost or destroyed and all that
remain are totals, listed by counties. Six censuses fall into this group:
1. 1697: Lists taxables in Maryland
2. 1701: A list of inhabitants, taxables and untaxed
3. 1708: Inhabitants of Maryland (Men, women, children,
white servants and slaves)
4. 1708: A list of Papists, taken by the sheriffs (Not
really a census, but interesting)
5. 1710: Numbers of white men (masters and taxables),
women, children and Negroes
6. 1712: Same as 1710
The source for all of these is Archives of Maryland, vol.25,
pp.257-259.
Also included in the printed list of nine is a census
dated 1755. This one originally appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine of
that year and has been reprinted in Historical Statistics of the U.S.,
vol.2, p.1169 [Library: 13-2-5]. Gentleman's Magazine was published in
London from 1731-1868 and contained "news, essays, poetry, parliamentary
debates, book reviews....", and so on. Of interest to genealogists are
the columns listing births, marriages and deaths for people living in the
colonies. An index to these is published and in our library (David Dobson's
American Vital Records from the Gentleman's Magazine)
However, while all of this is fun to know, it is really
irrelevant as the Census of 1755, like the earlier ones, contains no names,
and is therefore not included in his book.
A census listed for 1762 defeated me. My first thought
was that this might refer to a tax list - but I can find nothing from that
date which seems to fit the bill.
The last two censuses on our patron's list are the ones
from 1776 and 1778, both well known to all of us. These are indexed at
the Archives and fully described in Bulldog articles.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Record Series of the Week Ben Primer
ADJUTANT GENERAL (Maryland Guard Register)
1861 MdHR 5585 STAGSER 329
This is a record of individuals serving in Companies B
through G of the Maryland Guard in 1861. All listed seemingly are from
Baltimore City.
The entries are arranged alphabetically by first letter
of last name. The register includes the individual's name, rank, company,
age, residence, place of business, date of entry into service. There is
information on leave status, resignations, transfers and expulsions.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Index of the Week Ben Primer
Index 82 - ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY REGISTER
OF WILLS (Orphans Court Proceedings - Index), 1777-1816.
This index to the orphans court proceedings of Anne Arundel
County was compiled by Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Radcliffe using the WK film
which in and of itself is a major accomplishment. The film, unfortunately,
is not complete for all of our holdings for the 1777-1816 time period that
the Radcliffe's indexed, so there are significant gaps in the index.
The index cards are arranged alphabetically for every
name in the volumes that were indexed. The card provides the accession
number and page for each entry, a brief summary of the nature of the entry
(e.g. order to sell property; appointment of guardian), and the date of
the proceeding. The indexing does include docket entries in volumes accessioned
as orphans court dockets.
The proceedings provide information about administration
of estates, marriages of widows, apprenticeships, slave ownership, ages
of deponents, Revolutionary War soldier's disabilities, deaths, and administration
and care of guardians and their estates. They often provide helpful information
about family relationships that can be found in no other place.
The following volumes are indexed:
MdHR 9524, 1777-1779
MdHR 4843-1-1, 1782-1784 [indexed as MdHR 4843-1]
MdHR 4799-1, 1784 [indexed as MdHR 4799]
MdHR 4800-1, 1788-1790 [indexed as MdHR 4800. Only pp.
1-235 of this volume are indexed; the indexing stops in the middle of the
1790 docket. Minutes for 1791-1797 are not indexed]
MdHR 4801, 1797-1805 [indexed as MdHR 4802 by mistake;
the 1797-1805 entries in MdHR 4802 can be found using the dates in the
index, but the page numbers do not correspond.]
MdHR 4799-2, 1805-1807 [indexed as MdHR 4799]
MdHR 4799-3, 1815-1816 [indexed as MdHR 4799]
The following items that also cover periods encompassed
by the index are not indexed:
MdHR 4843-2-1, 1794
MdHR 4843-3-1, 1794-1819
MdHR 4802-1, 1795-1805 [see MdHR 4801 above]
MdHR 4843-4, 1800-1813
MdHR 4843-1-2, 1805-1807
MdHR 4802-2, 1807-1811
MdHR 4843-5-1, 1809-1811
MdHR 4803, 1811-1820
MdHR 4804, 1816-1821
REFERENCE STAFF MINUTES Ben Primer
A plan to have patrons receive either 6-month or daily
passes to park in our lot was discussed. This is only means to get DGS
to tow. Staff agreed to try for a time. Ben will check with all library
assistants before proceeding.
Nancy will work on arranging a CPR course.
Please note that a restricted record with nothing more
than a fuzzy stamp on it was found in modern court records this week. It
should, of course, have been in a sealed envelope. The episode points up
the need to review modern court records, especially when requests for copies
are made. Any material found like this should be brought to Pat's attention.
Please make sure you put full dates on all PD orders made
in search room just as you do for the mail program. All forms must be initialed
before they are sent to the lobby.
On demand xerox that is retrieved after the register closes
out front may simply be given to the patron. Generally we need not collect
for less than four copies.
Columbus Day now follows the federal holiday schedule,
so the calendar we prepared last fall is in error. We will be closed Monday,
October 9, not Thursday, October 12. Ben will post a sign that Lynne is
preparing.
The (Death Record, Counties, Index) covering the 1924-1934
gap is now available thanks to the good work of Les and the photo lab.
Shashi and her intern Jimmy have produced a guide to the
DNR topic file which is behind circulation. Ben will work with her to get
it into WordCruncher as well. Interesting information on chipmunks, skunks,
etc.
Rick circulated information on the Maryland Mutual Consent
Adoption Registry. It will be located in the Primer. He also circulated
an article on "Dealing with State Bureaucrats"
which he urged all staff to read since it points up our
need to be public oriented. The copy will be available at circulation.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Index of the Week Ben Primer
Index 83 - Frederick County Register of Wills (Orphans
Court Proceedings--Index) 1777-1808.
This index provides name access to all names recorded
in the surviving proceedings of the Orphans Court of Frederick county from
1777 to 1808. There are a few gaps for which no proceedings exist. The
index includes names, year, nature of action taken by the court and a citation.
The index provides information on administrations of estates
(including distributions to heirs), marriages of widows, apprenticeships
(including trades and ages), slave ownership (slaves' names are indexed),
Revolutionary War soldiers' pensions for disabilities, deaths, administration
and care of orphans and their estates by guardians.
The following records are indexed. Note that the index
covers a longer time span than the current Guide to Finding Aids says.
GM#1, 1777-1784, MdHR 12290
GM#2, 1784-1800, MdHR 12291
GM#3, 1801-1805, MdHR 12292
RB#1, 1805-1808, MdHR 12293
Record Series of the Week Ben Primer
ADJUTANT GENERAL (Civil War Muster Rolls and Service Records),
1861-1865
This record series (consisting of 39 oversize boxes) is
probably the most valuable of our Civil War era holdings, but it is not
easy to use and their is limited name access. In addition, all of the muster
rolls are folded and many of the company and regiment level rolls are in
terrible condition due to constant use and folding over the years.
The series is arranged by regiment. For each regiment
there are muster in and muster out rolls for commissioned officers at the
beginning of the regimental records. These are followed by regimental reports
(annual returns of alterations and casualties, quarterly returns of deceased,
field and staff lists and monthly returns).
Then for each regiment there are company level muster
rolls of various kinds for which a company could not be identified (but
note that many of these rolls actually have a company given somewhere on
the roll). Finally there are company level rolls (muster in rolls, muster
in and descriptive rolls, muster out rolls) which are arranged alphabetically
by company. Full company and detachment rolls are first. These are followed
by rolls applying only to one or two individuals (these are arranged alphabetically
by name in most cases, but when there are two or more names, they could
be under any of the names).
Some detail about what is in each of these rolls helps
one understand their value:
Muster-In Rolls - provide name, rank, age, when and where
mustered, period of enlistment, travel allowance.
Muster-In and Descriptive Rolls - provide name, rank,
place of birth, age, occupation, when and where enlisted, period of enlistment,
eye and hair color, complexion, height, when and where mustered, last pay,
residence when enlisted, bounty if any
Muster-Out Rolls - these are arranged into four sections:
those still in service; previous discharges; deaths; desertions. Within
each section names are arranged by rank and then alphabetically. Includes
name, rank, age, when joined and enlisted, when mustered into service,
last pay, allowances and bounties, remarks (including promotions, discharges,
sickness, AWOLs, POWs).
Regimental Annual Return of Alterations and Casualties
- provide lists of all officers in regiment, gains and losses in forces
during previous year, where those gains/losses occurred as to place and
company; lists of wounded and killed; discharges; major activities of the
regiment during the previous year.
Quarterly Return of Deceased - regimental report of quarterly
losses by name, place.
Monthly Returns - provide list of officers, total troop
strength, lists of absences, POWs, incarcerations, sicknesses, deaths during
the month.
Field and Staff Lists - lists of regimental officers.
Records exist for the following regiments (note that some
muster rolls contain names from several companies or regiments; there seems
to be no rationale for their organization and there are no cross references):
Public Guard Regiment/Camp Hoffman
1st Regiment Infantry - Cos. A-F, H
4th Regiment Infantry - Cos. A-K
5th Regiment Infantry - Cos. A-C, E-I, K
6th Regiment Infantry - Cos. A-E
7th Regiment Infantry - Cos. A-K
1st Potomac Home Brigade Infantry - Cos. A-I, K
2nd Potomac Home Brigade Infantry
3rd Potomac Home Brigade Infantry
Eastern Shore 1st Regiment Infantry
Patapsco Guards Independent Company
Baltimore (Dix) Light Infantry - Cos. A-I
Cole's Cavalry
1st Regiment Potomac Home Brigade Cavalry - Cos. A-M
3rd Regiment Potomac Home Brigade Cavalry
1st Regiment Cavalry
1st Regiment Light Artillery - Batteries A,B,D
Baltimore Battery Light Artillery - Batteries A,B
1st Regiment Heavy Artillery
2nd Regiment, U. S. Artillery?
1st Regiment Infantry, United States Colored Troops (USCT)
2nd Regiment Infantry, USCT
3rd Regiment Infantry, USCT
7th Regiment Infantry, USCT
8th Regiment Infantry, USCT
9th Regiment Infantry, USCT
10th Regiment Infantry, USCT
19th Regiment Infantry, USCT
30th Regiment Infantry, USCT
39th Regiment Infantry, USCT
1st Brigade Band, USCT
1st Regiment Light Artillery, USCT
2nd Regiment Light Artillery, USCT
14th Regiment Heavy Artillery, USCT
1st Regiment Cavalry, USCT
2nd Regiment Cavalry, USCT
10th Regiment Cavalry, USCT
The only way for most patrons to gain access to these
records is to use our index to the History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers
and then to find the company and regiment in which an individual may have
served. Even then access may be problematic since the History and Roster
is not by any means complete for all of these rolls.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Index of the Week Ben Primer
INDEX 84 - Washington County Register of Wills (Orphans
Court Proceedings - Index), 1786-1805.
This is an index to the first three volumes of Washington
County Orphans Court Proceedings. Cards are arranged alphabetically by
name (there are a few subjects like newspapers). The index provides a date,
type of information found in the record and a citation.
The index provides information on administrations of estates
(including distributions to heirs), marriages of widows, apprenticeships
(including trades and ages), slave ownership, Revolutionary War soldiers'
pensions for disabilities, deaths, administration and care of orphans and
their estates by guardians.
SERENDIPITOUS NEWS
In answering a letter about the locations of St. Mary's
County hundreds in the early nineteenth-century, I consulted Lois Carr
who put me on to a map showing the hundreds during that period which appears
in Bayly Marks' dissertation "Economic and Society in a Staple Plantation
System: St. Mary's County, Maryland, 1790-1840." The map appears on page
145; the dissertation is located in the library at 21/2/6. Bayly based
the map upon work done by Chris Allan for an earlier period and upon a
close reading of descriptions of the boundaries in laws and court minutes.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Library Libations Ben Primer
Library Holdings on Other States
Over the course of the next few weeks I hope to comment
on a few of the more interesting items in our collection of Historical
Records Survey volumes found in the library in ranges 4 and 5, and other
holdings for nearby states.
For Delaware the WPA workers completed a guide to Lutheran
and Protestant Episcopal Church records that is comparable to the PEC volume
for Maryland. In addition, there is a Delaware Church directory which includes
an index to churches and their affiliated organizations, to ministers and
to the churches in each town. There is also a guide to the records of New
Castle County which of course would be helpful for understanding the records
of the other two Delaware counties, Kent and Sussex.
In the Delaware section in Range 6 we have calendars of
Kent, New Castle and Sussex wills from 1680-1800 and Raymond Clark's more
recent indexes to wills and administrations for the same counties and time
period. Clark's volumes include county maps showing hundreds. We also have
Ed Wright's volume on vital records of Kent and Sussex counties which includes
Quaker, Episcopal and Presbyterian church records 1686-1800. We have the
Wilmington City directory of 1814, Delaware Archives which focus primarily
on military records, Court Records of Kent County, Delaware, 1680-1705,
and a book on historic houses and buildings in Delaware.
From the Delaware State Archives we have two preliminary
inventories on older records and fugitive records of the state, annual
reports, monthly accession lists, newsletters, the Governor's Appointment
Register, 1674-1851. There are annual reports and the guide to manuscripts
of Eleutherian Mills/Hagley Foundation, a guide to tracing Sussex county
ancestors, a Delaware history bibliography and the recent directory of
the historical records in Delaware repositories.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Library Libations Ben Primer
For the State of Pennsylvania we have Historical Survey
guides for 16 counties: Adams, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Delaware, Eire, Fayette,
Forest, Greene, Lancaster, Lawrence, Luzerne, Warren, Washington, Wayne
and Westmoreland. In addition the WPA workers also compiled calendars for
the Joel R. Poinsett Papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania,
the Pierre Eugene DuSimitiere Papers at the Library Company of Philadelphia
and a general guide to Manuscript Collections in Pennsylvania. Finally,
there is an interesting Bibliography of American Literature which indexes
magazine holdings and literary biographies written by the WPA at the University
of Pennsylvania. All literature appearing in a number of magazine articles,
book reviews and critical essays is indexed.
For our other Pennsylvania holdings there are a number
of guides to the State Archives published since 1960 including several
for microform holdings, maps, manuscripts, record groups. The Historical
Records State Assessment for Pennsylvania is also in this area.
For the genealogist there see Pennsylvania Area Key and
Genealogical Sources at the Pennsylvania State Archives. We also have books
on Early Pennsylvania Births, 1675-1875, Central Pennsylvania Marriages,
1700-1896, an 1800 Pennsylvania census index, German Settlers of Pennsylvania,
Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages, Southeast Pennsylvania Probate and Orphans
Court Records of Snyder County, and a guide to the Court of Common Pleas
records of Chester County. We also have works on Pennsylvania and the Civil
War, Writings on Pennsylvania History, and Philadelphia County Political
Subdivisions, the Pennsylvania-Maryland boundary dispute and Pennsylvania
Archives.
Guides to the following institutions are available: United
States Army Military Research Collection, Carlisle Barracks; St. Andrew
Society; Temple University; Moravian Archives; Friends Historical Library
and Peace Collection at Swarthmore; David Library of the American Revolution;
Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the City and County of Philadelphia;
INA Corp.
TOURS
Rick Blondo has prepared the following guide to records
available to show to various tour groups. A separate printed version of
the document will be distributed to your box.
In FY 89 the Archives hosted 72 groups comprised of 1,334
individuals, most of whom received tours. I thought it would be helpful
to provide a list of records I often use for tours so that other staff
members who have the opportunity to give a tour may have material readily
cited. Please suggest other records of particular interest you have come
across so that this list can be expanded. My thanks to all the staff members
through the years who have pointed out most of these records to me.
COLONIAL MARYLAND
Governor and Council (Proceedings) 1637-1650 [MdHR 3820;
2-26-1-1]
This is the oldest record at MSA. Specially boxed, it
demonstrates our box making capability as well.
General Assembly (Laws) 1640-1692 [MdHR 1; 2-19-2-3]
This early law book is the first accessioned item at MSA.
Page one records "An Act Concerning Religion" which made it a capital offense
to blaspheme God's name or deny the existence of the Trinity. One can use
the law books in this section, original portfolio laws in ranges 10 through
24, and the most current laws we have at this writing (1988) located at
2-14-2-11 to illustrate not only how recordation format changed over time
but also almost any topic since laws have been passed on a multitude of
subjects over the years.
MILITARY RECORDS
Adjutant General records contain a wealth of information
largely unexplored by researchers.
Series of note include Militia Appointments (1794-1910)
beginning 2-6-5-10; Civil War Muster Rolls and Service Records (1860-1867)
beginning 2-5-4-9, especially interesting is the record of the United States
Colored Troops 30th regiment, Maryland Volunteer Infantry Company K [MdHR
50055-50; 2-6-3 at bottom of range (portfolio)]; War of 1812 Papers (1812-1824)
beginning 2-5-2-77; Naval Papers (1893-1905) beginning 2-6-4-41, and many
more.
Special Collections (Forbes Collection) [MdHR G182; see
card index finding aid at 303-1-1]
Prints, lantern slides and original negatives of Annapolis
and the Naval Academy c. 1890-1930.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR ERA
Maryland State Papers (Series J) [MdHR 4878; 1-7-3-23
shelved following 1-7-3-26]
Letter from George Washington to the Maryland Senate President
and House Speaker thanking them for the vote of praise Washington received
from the General Assembly for his Revolutionary War services, November
1781.
CIVIL WAR ERA
Governor (Letterbook) 1854-1865 [MdHR 5207; 2-26-2-32]
This type of book was the xerox machine of its time. Within
its pages can be found the justification in Governor Hicks' own words for
keeping Maryland in the Union. It contains marvelous material documenting
the period such as letters from Southern governors imploring Hicks to join
the Confederacy. I understand this book has been published (or at least
the letters from the War years.)
Maryland State Papers (Series A) Executive Papers beginning
at 1-7-5 and wrapping around to 1-8-1 for the Civil War years contains
largely unexplored material related to the war.
20TH CENTURY MARYLAND
Constitutional Convention of 1967 (Mace) [MdHR 18,285;
RB], 1967
This is one of two maces created for use during the convention.
This mace is creatively boxed with its staff poking through a small hole
cut into the edge of a clamshell. The other mace is on permanent display
in the Great Seals of Maryland exhibit at the State House. The mace is
pictured in the con-con index and guide we sell.
BLACKS IN MARYLAND
Land Office (Patents) 1 [MdHR 17,332-1; 1-23-1-2], p.
166 Mathias Zause (de Sousa), 16 August 1650, transported 1633/34.
A record of the first black in Maryland.
Baltimore County (Land Records) HWS IA [MdHR 4898; 2-12-10-38],
pp. 58-59 Indenture of Robert and Benjamin Bannaky (Banneker), 11 March
1737.
A record of the land owned by Benjamin Banneker. His father
had young Benjamin listed as joint-owner of the property.
Special Collections (Dodge Collection) [MdHR G564; 0-9-6-3]
These materials contain references to Frederick Douglass.
It includes materials from the family who owned Douglass, the papers of
the Anthony family of Caroline and Talbot Counties, 1664-1895, including
Frederick Douglass' book, My Bondage and My Freedom with marginal comments
by Anthony's great-grandaughter. G564-71 is an inventory of negroes from
Aaron Anthony's estate including Frederick Douglass, 19 December 1826.
G 564-93 is My Bondage and My Freedom with notes by Lucretia Anthony (very
fragile) and G 564-94 is a ledger of Aaron Anthony showing births of slaves,
including Frederick Augustus (Douglas) in 1818 on page 164. For more information
see the lists for the Dodge & Hall Collections.
INDIANS IN MARYLAND
Provincial Court (Land Records) EI 8 [MdHR 17,258; 1-16-2-16],
pp. 8-11 Indian Treaty with the Six Nations (of NY) who claimed rights
to areas along the Potomac and Susquehanna, 16 November 1744
This item is of particular interest because it has the
marks used by the Indian representatives such as a deer, an ox next to
a stream, etc. We have numerous Indian Treaties on file and Phebe has a
folder with citations. Until that becomes available for general use many
others can be found in volume 5 of the Black Books [MdHR 4628; 1-6-3-24]
UNUSUAL ITEMS IN SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Special Collections (Dowsett Signal Flag Collection) [MdHR
D1998; 0-11-7], c. 1813.
Contains hand colored and uncolored manuscript renderings
of the distinguishing flags of the ships Revenge, Patapsco, Comet, Wasp,
and various signals used by the U.S. Navy in the Chesapeake and port of
Annapolis.
Special Collections (Sasscer Collection) [MdHR G1374-1;
0-10-4-12], late 18th century surveyor's compass and early 19th century
surveyor's chain.
Can be used effectively with the Mason and Dixon letter
as chains and links are mentioned in it. Compass tripod is G 1374-2 at
0-10-4-lower shelf.
Special Collections (Rochlitz Collection of Survey Instruments)
[MdHR G 1986; 0-11-11], surveyor's transit and tripod.
Special Collections (Maryland Forests and Parks Collection)
[MdHR D1178-47; 0-10-2-8], male and female rattlesnake rattles removed
from two snakes sunning themselves near a CCC camp site at Sang Run, Garrett
County, July 1935.
This is a small (but noisy) part of a large collection
of Civilian Conservation Corps memorabilia, documents, and photographs.
Special Collections (Pittman Collection) [MdHR G1157-4;
0-10-1-15], Copper Jury Selection box, n.d.
A large rotating device.
Special Collections (Elm Tree Section) [MdHR G1467; 0-10-6-18],
a section of the elm tree at Cambridge, MA under which George Washington
became commander in chief of the continental army, 3 July 1775.
Large hunk of tree with plastic caption in a file folder.
Special Collections (American Clan Gregor Society) [MdHR
G254-4; 0-9-2-superoversize], Genealogical chart of Alexander Magruder.
Very large rolled chart approx. 15' long when flat. Traces
family back to Odin, father of Thor!
Special Collections (Harper's Weekly Engravings) [MdHR
P1579; 0-10-10], Civil War Era views.
BOUNDARY RECORDS
Maryland Provincial Papers (Boundary Papers, North and
East) 1720-1767 [MdHR 40114; 1-6-3-7], letter from Mason and Dixon to Governor
Sharpe reporting on their survey progress. Includes references to Indian
troubles, their mile post location, and "chains" and "links" units of measure,
22 October 1767.
This record can be used in conjunction with some surveying
materials in special collections. See section above for details.
UNUSUAL ITEMS IN COAGSER
Baltimore City Circuit Court #2 (Equity Papers A) 16613
A [MdHR Transer 56, 602-003-012; case at 3-24-5 box 1581; exhibit at 3-18-6-11
box 2403], 29 December 1929
This case is a dispute between the American Pastry Products
Corporation (American Cone Company) and the Maryland Baking Company featuring
a case of ice cream cones entered as an exhibit. The cones are rectangular
to be filled with ice cream sliced from a block.
Baltimore City Circuit Court #2 (Equity Papers A) 16694
A [MdHR Transer 56, 602-003-012; case at 3-24-5 box 1587; exhibit at 3-18-6-1
box 2393], 1935
This case is a dispute between clothing manufacturers
of early 20th century underwear in which 2 examples of underwear were entered
as evidence to demonstrate that one company stole the design of the other.
One item has a May Company (Baltimore Department Store) price tag stapled
to it (65 cents).
UNUSUAL ITEMS IN STAGSER
Land Office (Certificates of Survey, Patented) Worcester
County #1474 (Portfolio) [MdHR 40,02401474; 1/30/1], "Lady's Resort to
the Ocean," patented 15 January 1869
This is the land patent survey for what is now Ocean City
comprising 280 acres. The last line of the description notes that "there
are no improvements on said vacancy."
Secretary of State (Motor Vehicle Applications) # 1555
[MdHR 50,267-4; 2-29-5-45], 24 February 1906
Under the provisions of Chapter 518 of the 1904 Laws of
Maryland any motor vehicle which was operated in Maryland (even vehicles
just passing through registered in other jurisdictions) were required to
register with the Secretary of State. The cited reference is for a registration
obtained by the Coca-Cola Company of Baltimore for their 10 horsepower
Cadillac vehicle number 2051. The first registration in this series can
be construed as the first drivers license issued in Maryland. Many early
registrations are from embassies in Washington.
MARYLAND CONNECTIONS TO OTHER AREAS:
WASHINGTON, DC
Chancery Court (Record) 51 [MdHR 17,764; 1-35-2-1], beginning
with page 1 re: the estate of John Davidson who died in 1794 leaving his
land which was in PG county and became part of "the Territory of Columbia
and City of Washington" containing numerous plats of what is now Thomas
Circle (shown in its entirety) and parts of Dupont and Scott circles, 1801.
See the Dennis Griffith map of Maryland and Washington,
DC on exhibit in the Where is Watkins Point? exhibit.
FRANCE
While we do not have an original of the "Frenchman's Map"
we have it reproduced in at least three publications available for reference
use. This map is a "Plan of the Harbour and City of Annapolis with the
Encampement of the Light Troops under Major General Marquis de la Fayette's
Command" and it is available to see in color on the back of a free handout
we produced in 1983 entitled Bicentennial Celebrations: Annapolis, Maryland
December 23, 1983 - January 14, 1984, copies of which are available from
the Publications Office. Black and white reproductions are seen in Figure
47 page 42 of the Hammond-Harwood House Atlas of Historical Maps of Maryland,
1608-1908 and plate 83 of The American Campaigns of Rochambeau's Army,
1780-1783, volume II [2222.R1; Lib 13-2-6] with a related description on
page 155.
CHINA
Special Collections - See G1143, G1309, G1457, G 1476,
G 1625.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Library Libations Ben Primer
The WPA Guides for the District of Columbia include calendars
for the Peter Force letters on the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence
in the Loomis Collection, the Alexander Graham Bell correspondence in the
Volta Bureau, the Frederick Douglass Papers at the Frederick Douglass Memorial
House in Anacostia. A Directory of Churches indexes churches, organizations,
ministers and there is the well known Episcopal Church Directory that Phebe
has on her shelves.
Our other D.C. holdings in Range 6 include books on art
in the Capitol, the sesquicentennial of Holy Trinity Parish, Georgetown,
and the Free Negro in the District of Columbia, 1790-1846 (Letitia Woods
Brown). Bibliographic works include a Guide to the location of papers of
members of the House of Representatives, a Senate bibliography and a Bibliographic
Tour of Washington. Single copies of the Howard Review and a Society of
the Cincinnati annual report exist.
Of interest to genealogists will be Eleanor Cook's Guide
to the Records of Your District of Columbia Ancestors, Blacks in the Marriage
Records of the District of Columbia, 1811-1870 (2 vols.), and a reprint
of the Washington Directory of 1822. Also of interest are Vols. 13, 20,
42-43, 53-56 of the Columbia Historical Society's journal (much like Maryland
Historical Magazine) and an index to illustrations in the first 43 volumes
of that journal.
Finally, there are short pieces on Colonial Taverns of
Georgetown, Historical Fort Washington, and "Naming the Capitol and the
Capital."
SERENDIPITOUS NEWS
Mame Warren would like to amend Rick's "ice cream cone"
article to let everyone understand that the glass lantern slides and negatives
in the Forbes Collection cannot be shown on a tour. The prints from this
collection are what can be used for slides of Annapolis and the Naval Academy.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Library Libations Ben Primer
The Historical Records Survey holdings for West Virginia
may be some of the most useful for our genealogists. Located in LIB/5/3/3,
they include a general book on West Virginia County Formations and Boundary
Changes which is a review of laws related to county boundaries and survey
books for the following counties: Gilmer, Grant, Lincoln, Marion, Mineral,
Monroe, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Putnam, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor
and Upshur.
There are cemetery readings for the Fairmont, Grant, Lincoln
and Paw Paw Magisterial Districts in Marion County and for the Gideon Magisterial
District in Cabell County. These name indexes probably include close to
10,000 cemetery inscriptions; relationships if listed on the tombstones
are given.
Also of interest are the inventories of Public Vital Statistics
and Church Vital Statistics which are arranged by county, town and church.
The Church Records inventories include a general bibliography to church
records in West Virginia, and listings of holdings for the Presbyterian
and Protestant Episcopal churches.
Finally, there are calendars for holdings in several West
Virginia repositories of the early governors: Francis Harrison Pierpont
(governor of the reorganized state of Virginia, 1861-1863); Arthur I. Boreman
(1863-1867, then Senator to 1896); William E. Stevenson (1869-1871); John
J. Jacob (1871-1877); Henry Mason Mathews (1877-1881; Attorney General
prior to 1877; important for major strikes in coal fields and in railroad
in 1870s).
Our other holdings on West Virginia are located at LIB/7/1/4.
These include Carol McGinniss, West Virginia Genealogy: Sources and Resources,
Annual Reports of the Department of Archives and History (later Department
of Culture and History); Annual Reports, monthly accessions lists and Guide
to the Manuscripts and Archives in the West Virginia Collection at West
Virginia University (Morgantown); and State Papers and Public Addresses
for Governors MAtthew Mansfield Neely (1941-1945) and Clarence W. Meadows
(1945-1949).
Index of the Week Ben Primer
Index 62 - CHANCERY COURT (Petitions-Index), 1713-1851
This is an index to Chancery Papers petitions. All names
listed here are also found in Index 60. Most of the petitions are for insolvent
debtors which may be its only current value until the Chancery Papers project
gets on WordCruncher. Only the first 6000 cases are indexed.
The laws relating to the Chancery Court seem to use the
terms bill and petition somewhat interchangeably. The chief difference
seems to be that a bill [of complaint] is a written statement of the plaintiff's
cause of action or complaint against another party whereas a petition is
an application to the court to redress a wrong or grant a favor where there
are no parties in opposition.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Vol. 3, No. 35
2 October 1989
Library Libations Ben Primer
Our holdings for the Historical Records Survey for Virginia
include county guides for Amelia, Brunswick, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Isle
of Wight, Middlesex, Powhatan, Prince George and Southampton Counties.
Of particular value to genealogists in the Virginia HRS
materials are three indexes to religious newspapers: Marriage Notices in
the Southern Churchman, 1835-1941 (2 vols. of the state Protestant Episcopal
journal with over 7000 names); Index to Obituary Notices in the Religious
Herald, 1828-1938 (19,000 names in the Southern Baptist journal); and Index
to Marriage Notices in the Religious Herald, 1828-1938 (2 vols. covering
20,000 names in this Southern Baptist journal).
Also of interest are guides to holdings in the Dover [Richmond]
Baptist Association (84 Southern Baptist churches) and Negro Baptist Churches
in Richmond (64 black churches). Each book contains an extensive review
of Virginia laws relating to churches, the historical structure of each
denominational group and a bibliography. Finally there are two volumes
on Federal Archives in the States covering the holdings of the Virginia
federal courts and the Department of Agriculture units in Virginia.
Our holdings in the Virginia section of the library 7/1/3-5
are extensive. This week I will review those works likely to be of help
to genealogists, with the rest to follow in coming weeks. Two general guides
are Genealogical Research in the Virginia State Library and Virginia Genealogy:
A Guide to Resources in the University of Virginia Library.
On Virginia probate see Clayton Torrence, Virginia Wills
and Administrations, 1632-1800 and Judith McGhan, Virginia Will Records.
For land records see George Cabell Greer, Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666,
Gertrude E. Gray, Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1694-1742, 1742-1775
(2 vols.) and Neil Marion Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of
Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1800 (3 vols. to 1732 and supplement
for 1690-1692).
For Virginia deaths see Duane Lyle Borden, Tombstone Inscriptions:
Toms Brook and Vicinity, Shenandoah County and Tombstone Inscriptions:
Strasburg and Vicinity, Shenandoah County; H. R. McIlwaine, Index to Obituary
Notices in the Richmond Enquirer and the Richmond Whig, 1804-1838; and
Lucy Fitzhugh Kurtz and Benny Ritter, Roster of Confederate Soldiers Buried
in Stonewall Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia. A related work is W. Mac.
Jones, The Douglas Register, Being a Detailed Record of Births, Marriages
and Deaths...Kept by the Rev. William Douglas from 1750 to 1797. Also of
interest is William R. M. Houston and Jean M. Mihalyka, Colonial Residents
of Virginia's Eastern Shore Whose Ages were Proved before Court Officials
of Accomack and Northampton Counties.
Index of the Week Ben Primer
Index 63 - Chancery Court (Trustees-Index), 1713-1851.
This is an index to names of individuals named as trustees
in Chancery Papers. The entries seem to be taken directly from the information
written on the folders in which the Chancery Papers were kept before the
recent project to flatten the papers. Unlike Index 62, this index covers
all cases. Most trustees are named for cases involving insolvent debtors,
estates and lunacy.
The index cards are arranged alphabetically by name, include
the name of the party for whom the trustee is appointed if appropriate,
the date and the case number. Kathy Jones tells me that the Chancery Papers
project only includes trustees if named in the bill of complaint, so many
names in this index may not appear in the final product of the Chancery
Papers project. She also notes that tract names found on the old folders
and in Index 61 are also not included if not found in the bill of complaint.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Library Libations Ben Primer
In addition to the genealogical holdings for Virginia
discussed last week, the Archives has a number of other works related to
our neighbor to the south. For the State Library and Archives we have annual
reports and accessions lists; guides to pre-1904 court records and church
records; inventories/calendars for Continental Congress Papers and Virginia
Land Office holdings; a Directory of Depositories in Virginia; a records
management manual and a report on records keeping procedures in Virginia
courts; and William Seale's book on Virginia's Executive Mansion.
We have a guide to manuscript holdings of the Virginia
Historical Society; annual reports for the Menno Simons Library and Archives
at Eastern Mennonite College and the Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association; and
exhibit catalogs for the College of William and Mary and the Valentine
Museum.
For Colonial Williamsburg we have annual reports, a guide
to manuscript collections and a number of books: Eighteenth Century Williamsburg
Imprints; The Williamsburg Collection of Antique Furnishings; Proceedings
of the Presentation of the Williamsburg Award to Sir Winston Churchill;
Antiques at Colonial Williamsburg; The Printer in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg;
J. A. Osborne, Williamsburg in Colonial Times.
For Virginia records see Martha W. Hiden, How Justice
Grew: Virginia Counties: An Abstract of their Formation; Henrico Parish
and the Parishes Descended Therefrom; Index to Virginia Court Records in
Pennsylvania (District of West Augusta); County Court Records of Accomack-Northampton,
Virginia, 1632-1640; John Harvey Creecy, Virginia Antiquary, Princess Anne
County Loose Papers, 1700-1789; Virginia Records in the British Public
Record Office; Committees of Safety of Westmoreland and Fincastle: Proceedings
of County Committees, 1774-1776; Proclamation for Settling the Plantation
of Virginia, 1625; Public and Private Records Repositories in Virginia:
A Needs Assessment; Fairfax County in Virginia: Selections from Some Rare
Sources; Virginia Court Records in Southwest Pennsylvania (Parts 2 and
3).
For the University of Virginia we have Historical Collections
in the University of Virginia Libraries (1931-1950, including extensive
indexes) and guides to microfilm publications for Lee Family Papers (1742-1795),
Hammond Papers (1766-1825), Carter Family Papers (1659-1797), Ingram's
Poe Collection; the Virginia Gazette Daybooks (1750-1766) and the R. M.
T. Hunter Papers (1817-1887).
The Marine Corps Museum has registers for the following
individuals: Henry Clay Cochrane (1841-1949); McLane Tilton (1861-1914);
George C. Reid (1898-1960); Samuel Miller (1814-1856); Levi Twiggs (1834-1850)
and the Frank Keeler Journal (1898).
Finally there are a number of monographs that may be of
interest for particular subjects: Charles E. Hatch, Jr. The First Seventeen
Years: Virginia, 1607-1624; F. Griffith Dodson, Speakers and Clerks of
the Virginia House of Delegates, 1776-1955; C. Clement Samford and John
M. Hemphill, II, Bookbinding in Colonial Virginia; John G. Gwathney, Historical
Register of Virginians in the Revolution; Stratford: Colonial House and
Plantation; The Minor Bartlow House, 1744-1970; Hubert H. Humphrey, Revolution
and Politics: The Legacy of Independence; Thomas Jefferson and his Unknown
Brother Randolph; Inventory of Economic Research Studies in the Fifth Federal
Reserve District, Richmond (4 vols.).
Record Series of the Week Ben Primer
(Federal Direct Tax) 1798
These are actually assessment records made pursuant to
Chapter 87 of the Laws of the United States for 1798, "An act to provide
for the valuation of lands and dwelling houses, and the enumeration of
slaves within the United States. The law divided states into districts
(7 divisions for Maryland) which were further subdivided by the commissioners
for the divisions. The records include minutes of the commissioners acting
together in each state and assessments made of all dwelling houses, lands
and slaves on October 1, 1798. The law also provided lists and abstracts
be transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasury and that a surveyor of
the revenue also be appointed to receive and preserve the lists and keep
them updated on a regular basis.
The actual tax levied based upon this assessment was detailed
in Chapter 92 of the Laws of the United States for 1798. Each state was
given a quota, and collectors of internal revenues were to collect the
tax based upon a set formula which could be reduced should the formula
provide more revenue than a state's quota.
There are two basic kinds of lists, general (which are
county wide and less detailed) and particular (which are for specific hundreds
and quite detailed). The general lists are valuable as a means to get to
the particular lists since they are alphabetical, indicate the hundred,
and usually have a cross reference to how the name is numbered on the particular
list. There are also summary lists (called abstracts) for each of the three
types of assessments which are usually included among the general lists.
For the general and particular lists there is a further
breakdown into three types of assessments. The first list relates to dwellings
(with outbuildings) of more than $100 in value on lots not exceeding two
acres. For each dwelling in this category the lists indicate name of occupant,
name of owner, location and dimensions of the dwelling and outbuildings,
building materials used, number of stories and windows and value.
The second type of list deals with lands, lots, wharves,
and buildings not included under the first category. This list also shows
each occupant of land, lot, wharf or building; owner of same; number and
dimensions of dwellings and outbuildings; number and description of all
other buildings and wharves; location and name of adjoining proprietors;
acreage; value.
The third type of list is for slaves showing superintendent
or owner of slaves, total number owned, number exempt from the tax due
to disability and number subject to the tax (between the ages of 12 and
50).
As you can see this record series has immense value, both
for the genealogist and the historian. It can be used as a proxy for the
census in areas of Maryland for which the 1800 United States Census has
been lost. It has enormous information about wealth and slaveholding. Above
all it contains the best picture available about late eighteenth-century
buildings in Maryland.
The Archives has microfilm [M-3468 - M-3481] for the following
counties: Anne Arundel; Baltimore City; Baltimore County; Caroline; Charles;
District of Columbia (Montgomery and Prince George's); Harford; Prince
George's; Queen Anne's; Saint Mary's; Somerset; Talbot. Except for Prince
George's, there are the general lists for dwellings, lands, and slaves
described above. In addition there is a miscellaneous reel at the end of
the series containing a few particular lists which are not identified by
county (but could easily be identified by a careful researcher) and a record
book of annual duties on carriages throughout Maryland organized by county,
owner, and type of carriage for the years 1794 to 1798 (as provided by
Chapter 45 of the Laws of the United States for 1794. Copies of all these
laws are available in the topic file.
Index of the Week Ben Primer
Index 68 - (Federal Direct Tax - Index to Anne Arundel
County Tracts and to Tenants and Tracts) 1798
This is an index to the Federal Direct Tax of 1798 for
Anne Arundel County which is available on microfilm [M-3468]. This index
has two sections. The first is an alphabetical index to all tracts of land
named in the Federal Direct Tax particular lists for Anne Arundel County
(see discussion of these lists in this week's Record Series). The second
part is an alphabetical index by owner for the same lists.
This index seems to have begun as an index to Annapolis
and Middle Neck Hundreds for which there are typed cards with no designation
that they are for those areas. The work done for Annapolis and Middle Neck
Hundreds does not include the particular list of slaves, so these typed
cards are not as complete an index as are the rest of the cards for hundreds
beyond Annapolis. At a later point handwritten cards were done for the
rest of the county, with a coding system for each area as follows:
SRH -Severn River Hundred and South River Hundred
PMH -Patapsco Hundred and Maggothy Hundred
RR - Upper and Lower Rhode River Hundred
WR -West River and Herring Creek Hundred
UFH -Upper Fork Hundred and Bear Creek Hundred
EH -Elkridge Hundred and Elkridge Landing Hundred
LCH -Lyon Creek Hundred and Herring Creek Hundred
PH -Patuxent Hundred and Huntington Hundred
BHN -Broad Neck Hundred and Town Neck Hundred
The cards for tracts include name of tract, owner, a citation,
and sometimes acreage and location of adjoining properties. The cards for
owners include names of tenants, description of the property and dwellings
(including size and type) and assessed value. Cards for slaves indicate
total number of slaves, the number exempt from state taxation and the number
subject to taxation (those between 12 and 50).
The index does not cover the Anne Arundel County general
lists which are also available on film which are for the entire county.
The value of these records is discussed under the series
description for the Federal Direct Tax.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Index of the Week Ben Primer
Index 66 - (Assessment of 1783 - Index to Tracts), 1782-1783.
Arranged by county.
This is an alphabetical index to names of all tracts listed
in the assessment. The index cards are first arranged by county and then
alphabetically by tract name. The index cards include county, hundred,
name of tracts and name of owner.
The Archives has assessments for the following counties
and hundreds. Most of the originals are in the Scharf Papers, although
some are in the boxes of assessments at the end of the series.
AA - Annapolis, Broad Neck, Elkridge, Elkridge Landing,
Herring Creek, Huntington, Lyons Creek, Magothy, Middle Neck, Patapsco,
Patuxent, Road River, Severn, South River, Town Neck, Upper Fork and Bear
Ground, West River
BA - Back River Lower, Baltimore East, Delaware Lower
and Upper, Deptford, Gunpowder Upper, Middle River Lower, Middle River
Upper and Back River, Middlesex, Mine Run, North, Pipe Creek
CV - First, Second, Third Districts
CA - Lower Choptank, River, Upper Choptank Districts
CE - First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Districts
CH - First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh
Districts, both General and Land except for Sixth which is Land only
DO - Lower, Middle and Upper Districts, both General and
Land
HA - Broad Creek, Bush River Lower, Bush River Upper and
Eden, Deer Creek Lower, Deer Creek Middle, Deer Creek Upper, Gunpowder
Upper and Lower, Harford Lower, Harford Upper, Spesutia Lower, Spesutia
Upper, Susquehanna
KE - First (Lower Langford Bay and Eastern Neck), Second
(Chestertown and Upper Langford Bay), Third (Chester and Worten), Fourth
(Morgans Creek and Lower South Sassafras), Fifth Districts, both land and
property for each.
MO - Linganore and Sugar Loaf; Lower Newfoundland, Rock
Creek and North West (general and land); Middle Potomac, Lower Potomac
and Georgetown (general and land); Sugarland and Upper Potomac; Upper Newfoundland
and Seneca; Upper Potomac
QA - Corsica, Island, Tuckahoe (Wye and Tuckahoe Hundreds),
Upper (Eton and Chester Hundreds) Districts
SO - Dividing Creek, Great Annamessex, Little Annamessex,
Monokin, Monye, Nanticoke, Pocomoke, Princess Anne, Rewastico, Wicomico
TA - First (Bay and Mill), Second (Island, Tuckahoe and
Kings Creek), Third (Bolingbroke and Third Haven) Districts, both general
and land for each
WA - Cumberland and Upper Town; Fort Frederick, Linton,
Upper Antietam and Jerusalem; Lower Antietam and Sharpsburg; Marsh; Salisbury
and Conocheague; Wills Town, Sand Creek, Skipton, Murleys Run and Elizabeth
WO - Acquango, Boquenorton, Buckingham and Worcester,
Mattapox, Pitts Creek, Pocomoke, Queponco, Snow Hill, Wicomico
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Vol. 3, No. 38
23 October 1989
Index of the Week Ben Primer
Index 67 - St. Anne's Parish--Anne Arundel County (Tax
List-Index), 1764-1766.
This index provides access to the tax lists found in the
Galloway/Maxcy/Marcoe Papers at the Library of Congress which are available
on microfilm [MdHR M-1171]. The tax list is believed to have been prepared
by John Galloway for St. Anne's Parish. There are two tax lists, one for
1764 which is Volume I on film, but labelled A in the index and one for
1765-1766 which is Volume II or B in the index. Citations are to volume
letter, then page, then to position on the page. For example B116-2 reference
to the Volume II, page 116, second citation on the page. Most names in
the index are usually followed by another name in parentheses; the name
in parentheses is the name of the account under which the first name appears.
Two abbreviations are frequently used, insol. for insolvent and sy. for
security.
I frankly have no idea what these two volumes are. I consulted
with everyone at the Archives on Saturday who might know (including Greg
Stiverson and Robert Barnes), but came up dry. I look forward to a dissertation
from Dr. Papenfuse as to the function and usefulness of these volumes.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Index of the Week Ben Primer
Regarding Index 67, the Galloway Tax List for St. Anne's
Parish described in the Bulldog, Vol. 3, No. 38, Phebe tells me John Galloway
was a sheriff and this is his account book in which he collected fees due
the church and other people in the area. I still await a Papenfusian desideratum
on this subject.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Index of the Week Ben Primer
Index 70 - Annapolis (Land Records-Index to Individuals),
1699-1817
Index 71 - Anne Arundel County (Land Records-Index to
Individuals), 1653-1725
Index 72 - Anne Arundel County (Land Records-Index to
Individuals), 1724-1759
Index 73 - Anne Arundel County (Land Records-Index to
Tracts), 1653-1759
Index 74 - Anne Arundel County (Land Records-Index to
Subjects), 1653-1759
Index 75 - Anne Arundel County (Land Records-Index to
Individuals), 1759-1784
Index 76 - Anne Arundel County (Land Records-Index to
Tracts), 1759-1784
Index 77 - Anne Arundel County (Land Records-Index to
Subjects), 1759-1784
These eight indexes were presumably done by Historic Annapolis
to aid their research. Index 70 pertains only to names of individuals found
in the Anne Arundel County (Land Records) and in Liber B of the Annapolis
Mayor's Court (Land Records) pertaining to Annapolis tracts. There are
also a few marriage licenses and manumissions included in this index. This
index is quite comprehensive regarding information found in the land records
for the period after about 1750. For earlier dates there is only a brief
citation.
Indexes 71, 72 and 75 are amazingly detailed indexes regarding
virtually any name appearing in the Anne Arundel County land records from
1653 to 1784. Included are names of witnesses, indentures, individuals
providing bills of exchange, names of adjoining land owners, consignees,
persons providing testimony, individuals registering cattlemarks, deponents,
ship's commanders, etc. Information about births, previous marriages and
deaths is frequently provided. In sum, for Anne Arundel County land records
prior to 1784, patrons should be directed to these indexes rather than
to Index 115, both because these indexes are arranged alphabetically and
cover many libers at once and because they are much more comprehensive.
Indexes 73 and 76 provide access to tract names for the
same 1653-1874 period. Again, I think this is the place for patrons to
go because it is arranged strictly alphabetically and covers broad time
periods, but it provides little more information than is found in Index
115.
Finally, Indexes 74 and 77 are subject indexes that include
information about a host of topics found in the land records, ranging from
occupations (looking for accountants in colonial Anne Arundel County, you
get a list of people) and religion (all people identified as Quakers are
found under that subject) to places of residence outside the county, types
of houses, and the existence of dams, roads or ferries. The final drawer
of Index 74 contains cards that were apparently to be filed, some presumably
into this index given their content, but others seem to have been destined
for the individual or tract indexes. These merit a more thorough investigation
and ought to caution one about whether the individual and tract indexes
are complete, although my random sampling found them so.
THE ARCHIVISTS' Bulldog
Vol. 3, No. 22
19 June 1989
Vol. 3, No. 23
26 June 1989
Vol. 3, No. 24
3 July 1989
Vol. 3, No. 25
10 July 1989
Vol. 3, No. 26
31 July 1989
Vol. 3, No. 27
7 August 1989
Vol. 3, No. 29
21 August 1989
Vol. 3, No. 30
28 August 1989
Vol. 3, No. 31
5 September 1989
Vol. 3, No. 32
11 September 1989
Vol. 3, No. 33
18 September 1989
Vol. 3, No. 34
25 September 1989
Vol. 3, No. 36
10 October 1989
Vol. 3, No. 37
16 October 1989
Vol. 3, No. 40
20 November 1989
Vol. 3, No. 41
27 November 1989
Vol. 3, No. 42
4 December 1989
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