1770 St. Mary's

1770- Ann Bacon Pike, (maternal grandmother of Joseph Pike Newton), dies at age 40 in St. Mary's, Maryland.

(Ann Bacon is my 5th great grandmother.)

1770- James Pike  marries Mary Ann Greenwell in St. Mary's, Maryland.

(James Pike  is my 4th great grand uncle. Our common ancestors are James Pike and Ann Bacon.)

1770 St. Inigoes

1770- Susannah Knott, second child of John Basil (Baptist) Knott and Mary Drury Knott, born in St. Inigoes, St. Mary's, Maryland.

(Susannah Knott is my 3rd great grand aunt. Our common ancestors are John Basil Knott and Mary Drury.)

1772 St. Mary's

1772- Thomas Newton (II) dies in St. Mary's, Maryland.

(Thomas Newton is my 5th great grand uncle. Our common ancestors are my 6th great grandparents Thomas and Katherine Newton.)

Will of Thomas Newton

Thomas Newton, Signed: March 27, 1772; Proved: Sept 15, 1772

 ~~Item I give and bequeath to my son Arnold Newton, one shilling sterling & no more of my Real or personal Estate,

Item I give and bequeath to my son Henry Thomas Newton one shilling sterling and no more of my Real or personal Estate.

Item I give and bequeath to my son William Newton, all my Land called Andrews wood Also Newtons property to him and his heirs for ever.

~~Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Newton, one negro girl named, Henrietta and one shilling sterling & no more of my Real or personal Estate.

Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Susanna Poole, one negro Girl named, Monica, and one, Shilling sterling, and nomore of my Real or personal Estate. I

tem I give and bequeath to my son Ignatius Newton, one negro boy named George and one, Shilling Sterling & nomore of my Real or personal Estate

~~I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Susanna Newton, during her natural life, three negros Viz~~ Priss, Hammer, & Balander, with their increase, & after my wifes decease my son William Newton to have an Equal part with my 3 youngest Children, among my three youngest Children, Equally, Viz~~Elizabeth Newton, Clement Newton and Mary Newton, my will and meaning is that my wife keep with her my three youngest Children till they are able to shift for themselves. I Constitute nominate and appoint & ordain my beloved wife Susanna Newton, and my son William Newton Joynt Executors of this my Last will and Testament, in Witness whereof I have hereunto, set my hand and affixed, my seal this 27th day of March Anno Domino 1772

Thomas Newton (((seal)))

Sign d, Seal d, & declared to be the Last will & Testament

Of Thomas Newton Senr in the presence of us

Michael Wellman

Eliza X Wellman

Jarrad Wellman

Those words underlined before the signing & sealing those presents Viz(My son William Newton to have an Equal part with my 3 youngest Children)



Saint Marys County to wit,

On the fifteenth day of September seventeen hundred & seventy two, came, Michael Wallmen, Elizabeth Wellman, & Jarred Wellman the three subscribing witnesses to the above Last will and Testament, of Thomas Newton deceased and severally made a Oath that they did see, thomas, Newton the Testator therein named sign and seal this will, and heard him publish and declare the same, to be his Last will & Testament, and that at the time of his sodoing, he was to the best of their and Each of their understanding of sound and disposing mind & memory & understanding, and that they respectively subscribed their names, as witnesses to the Said will, in the presence and at the request of the Said Testator, and in the presence of Each other.

Sworn before J A Thomas Dy comis er~~~~~~~~~~

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Transcribed by Judith A. Burger February 1, 2001 from a photocopy of the original court document Libra: T. I. A. Page: 639-640, obtained from Norma I. Dawson, Register of Wills, St. Mary's County, Maryland. The photocopy was good, the writing fair though distorted and very small.

1772 Maryland

1772- Rebecca, second wife of John Worland III (John Henry), dies in Charles, Maryland.
Rebecca had married John in November,1754, following the death of his first wife in April of the same year.
It seems his first wife died during the birth of their fourth child, Eleanor, leaving John a widower with four small children.
Rebecca and John's marriage produced four more children; Henry, Mary, William and James.

1773 St. Mary's, Maryland

March 30, 1773- Alban Newton marries Mary Ann Pike in St. Mary's, Maryland.

(Alban Newton is my 4th great grandfather.)

1773 Charles, Maryland

1773- John Henry Worland (III) marries Mary Brady in  Charles, Maryland.

January, 1773-
Looking through the will of Walter Dodson, I found it was witnessed by his friend, my 4th great grandfather (John) Basil Knott:

In the name of God amen I Walter Dodson of Charles County in Province of Maryland tho weak in body but of sound perfect mind & memory praise be to almighty God for it do make this my last Will and Testament in manner, and form.

Following that is to say

Imprimis -- I give and bequeath my Soul to almighty God who gave it and my body to the earth to be decently intered at the discretion of my Executors or Executrix here after mentioned.

Item -- I give and bequeath unto my brother John Dodson one Negro boy named Richard.

Item -- I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Henrieter Dodson part of a tract of Land called ______ whereon I now dwell & one hundred fifty acres more of less during her life and after her decease the above mentioned land to be sold and the money to be equally divided between my brothers and sisters. And further I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Henrieter Dodson the whole remainder part of my personable estate of what kind or quantity soever not in this Will mentioned.

Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute ______ appoint my loving wife Henrieter Dodson and by brother John Dodson Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking disannulling and making void all former Will or Wills by me made and only ratifying & confirming this to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 23rd day of

January amio Domini 1773.


Walter Dodson


Signed and sealed and published & deliveredTo be the last Will and Testament Of Mr. Walter Dodson of Charles County in presents of us who have Here subscribed our names as witnesses at the request of the Testator

William Sympson Senr

James Sympson

Basil Knott



On the back of the foregoing Will was thus written Nzd. Charles County ____. I hereby relinquish my right to the Executorship of the Written Will given under my hand this 31 March 1773.
John Dodson

Walter Nanson



Charles County ___. On the 31st day of March 1773 Came William Sympson Senior James Sympson and Basil Knot subscribing Witnesses to the written Will who being Sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God do depose and say that they saw Walter Dodson the Testator sign and Seale the same and heard him publish and declare it to be his last Will and Testament that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension of sound and disposing mind and memory and that they severally subscribed their names as Witness to the said Will in the presence of the Testator and at his request which said probat was taken in the presence of Jacob Dodson Heir at Law who did not object to the taking the same

Sworn Before

Walter Nanson

1773, Saint Inigoe's, Maryland

1773- Nancy Knott, the third child of John Basil (Baptist) Knott and Mary Drury Knott is born in Saint Inigoe's, St. Mary's, Maryland.

(Nancy Knott is my 3rd great grand aunt.)

1773 Massachusetts

1773- Americans violently reject remaining tax on tea imports at the Boston Tea Party.

1773 Connecticut

December 30, 1773- Samuel Wetmore, maternal grandfather of Amea Turner, dies in Wincester, Litchfield, Connecticut.

1774 Treaty

September 1774- Lord Dunmore signs peace treaties with the Delaware and Six Nations of the Iroquois at Pittsburgh.

1774 Virginia

October 10, 1774- At the confluence of the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, the point of land known by the Wyandotte Indians as "tu-endie-wie," or "the point between two waters," the bloody, day-long Battle of Point Pleasant was fought.
Colonel Andrew Lewis led his force of 1,100 Virginia militiamen into the Little Kanawha valley. The presence of such a large British force in native lands convinced Shawnee Cheiftain Cornstalk that he should form a large war party.
Cornstalk attacked Lewis and they engaged in a bloody battle characterized by the succession of individual hand-to-hand combats. At times Cornstalk and his braves held the upper hand, but eventually the firepower of the backwoodsmen proved superior on the then heavily forested battlefield. At the end, 230 Indians were killed or wounded and more than 50 Virginians had lost their lives, including Colonel Charles Lewis, brother of the commanding officer.
The Shawnee were forced northward to the villages across the Ohio River.

The Shawnee, Mingo and Delaware later signed the Treaty of Camp Charlotte (near present-day Chillicothe, Ohio), in which they pledged to allow free navigation on the Ohio River, to return all captives and release their claims to the lands south and east of the Ohio (the first time that the actual residents of the area had made such an agreement).
Considered a landmark in frontier history, some believed the battle to be the first of the American Revolution. This action broke the power of the ancient Americans in the Ohio Valley and quelled a general Indian war on the frontier. Significantly, it also prevented an alliance between the British and Indians, one which could very possibly have caused the Revolution to have a different outcome, altering the entire history of the U.S. In addition, the ensuing peace with the Indians enabled western Virginians to return across the Allegheny Mountains to aid Revolutionary forces.

1774 Maryland

June 11, 1774- Thomas Worland is born to John Henry Worland and Mary Brady Worland in Charles County, Maryland.

James Pike, (maternal grandfather of Joseph Pike Newton), dies at the age of 94 in St. Mary's, Maryland.

1775 Virginia

1775- Loudoun County has largest militia in Virginia.

1775 The Colonies

1775- American Revolutionaries gain control of each of the thirteen colonial governments, set up the Second Continental Congress and form a Continental Army.

Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.

1775 Massachusetts

April 19, 1775- The Battles of Lexington and Concord are fought in Middletown County, Province of Massachusetts Bay.
The battles mark the outbreak of open armed conflict between the kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in the mainland of British North America.

1775 Maryland

1775- Colonel William Smallwood attends the Maryland Convention and advocates armed resistance to troops posted in America to enforce British tax laws.

Declaration of the Association of the Freemen of Maryland

ASSOCIATION of the FREEMEN of MARYLAND

July 26, 1775.

The long premeditated, and now avowed design of the British Government, to raise a revenue from the property of the colonists without their consent, on the gift, grant and disposition of the Commons of Great Britain; the arbitrary and vindictive statutes passed under color of punishing a riot, to subdue by Military force, and by famine, the Massachusetts Bay; the unlimited power assumed by parliament to alter the charter of that province, and the constitution of all the colonies, thereby destroying the essential securities of the lives, liberties and properties of the colonists; the commencement of hostilities by the ministerial forces, and the cruel prosecution of the War against the people of the Massachusetts Bay, followed by General Gage's proclamation, declaring almost the whole of the Inhabitants of the united colonies, by name or description, rebels and traitors are sufficient causes to arm a free people in defence of their liberty, and to justify resistance, no longer dictated by prudence merely, but by necessity, and leave no alternative but base submission or manly opposition to uncontroulable tyranny. The Congress chose the latter, and for the express purpose of securing and defending the united colonies, and preserving them in safety, against all attempts to carry the above-mentioned acts into execution by force of arms.
Resolved, that the said colonies be immediately put into a state of defence, and now supports, at the joint expense, an army to restrain the further violence, and repel the future attacks of a disappointed and exasperated enemy.
We therefore inhabitants of the Province of Maryland, firmly persuaded that it is necessary and justifiable to repel force by force, do approve of the opposition by Arms to the British troops, employed to enforce obedience to the late acts and statutes of the British parliament, for raising a revenue in America, and altering and changing the charter and constitution of the Massachusetts Bay, and for destroying the essential securities for the lives, liberties and properties of the subjects in the united colonies. And we do unite and associate, as one band, and firmly and solemnly engage and pledge ourselves to each other, and to America, that we will to the utmost of our power, promote and support the present opposition, carrying on, as well by Arms, as by the continental association, restraining our commerce.
And as in these times of public danger, and until a reconciliation with Great Britain, on constitutional principles is effected (an event we most ardently wish may soon take place) the energy of government may be greatly impaired, so that even zeal unrestrained, may be productive of anarchy and confusion; We do in like manner unite, associate, and solemly engage in maintenance of good order, and the public peace, to support the civil power in the due execution of the laws, so far as may be consistent with the present plan of opposition; and to defend with our utmost power all persons from every species of outrage to themselves or their property, and to prevent any punishment, from being inflicted on any offenders, other than such, as shall be adjudged by the civil magistrate, continental congress, our convention, council of safety, or committees of observation.

December 1775

The Association of Freemen begins recruiting troops.

1776 Maryland Census

We find these Worland households listed in:

Census of 1776, St. John's and Prince George's Parishes

John Worland Household
John Worland..........56
William Worland.....15
James Worland.......13
Thomas Worland......2
Walter Worland........1
Rebecca Brady........65
Mary Worland.........39
Stacey Worland.......27
Elinor Worland........24
Mary Worland.........20
Eleanor Murtle........17
Ann Murtle...............11
Negroe: Fortune......41
Tom............21

Robey Worland Household
Robey Worland........48
Edey..........................48
Number of White males......4
Number of White females...4
Number of Slaves.................8

Charles Worland Household
Charles Worland.......29
Winifred.....................20
Number of White males.......3
Number of White females....2
Number of Slaves..................3

First Battalion of Maryland

1776- Colonel William Smallwood organizes First Battalion of Maryland (forerunner of the Maryland Line.)

1776 Philadelphia

July 4, 1776- The Declaration of Independence adopted in Philadelphia.

1776 Maryland

July 6, 1776- The Maryland Convention declares Independence from Great Britain.

1776 Quakers

September, 1776- At the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, the Quakers formally direct its members to observe strict neutrality.
Quakers should not vote or take oaths of loyalty to support either side, should not engage in combat, should not pay for a substitute (common practice at the time), and should not pay taxes to support the war effort.

November 1776- Maryland

November 3, 1776- The Declaration of Rights, (Maryland's Bill of Rights), adopted.

Church of England disestablished.

The Declaration of Rights is a magnificent document, here it is in it's entirety:

Constitution of Maryland

November 3, 1776

A Declaration of Rights, and the Constitution and Form of Government agreed to by the Delegates of Maryland, in free and full Convention assembled.

A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, ETC.

THE parliament of Great Britain, by a declaratory act, having assumed a right to make laws to bind the Colonies in all cases whatsoever, and, in pursuance of such claim, endeavoured, by force of arms, to subjugate the United Colonies to an unconditional submission to their will and power, and having at length constrained them to declare themselves independent States, and to assume government under the authority of the people; --Therefore we, the Delegates of Maryland, in free and full Convention assembled, taking into our most serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State, for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare,

I. That all government of right originates from the people, is founded in compact only, and instituted solely for the good of the whole.

II. That the people of this State ought to have the sole and exclusive right of regulating the internal government and police thereof.

III. That the inhabitants of Maryland are entitled to the common law of England, and the trial by jury, according to the course of that law, and to the benefit of such of the English statutes, as existed at the time of their first emigration, and which, by experience, have been found applicable to their local and other circumstances, and of such others as have been since made in England, or Great Britain, and have been introduced, used and practised by the courts of law or equity; and also to acts of assembly, in force on the first of June seventeen hundred and seventy-four, except such as may have since expired, or have been or may be altered by acts of Convention, or this Declaration of Rights --subject, nevertheless, to the revision of, and amendment or repeal by, the Legislature of this State: and the inhabitants of Maryland are also entitled to all property, derived to them, from or under the Charter, granted by his Majesty Charles I. to Caecilius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore.

IV. That all persons invested with the legislative or executive powers of government are the trustees of the public, and, as such, accountable for their conduct; wherefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought, to reform the old or establish a new government. The doctrine of nonresistance, against arbitrary power and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.

V. That the right in the people to participate in the Legislature is the best security of liberty, and the foundation of all free government; for this purpose elections ought to be free and frequent, and every man, having property in, a common interest with, and an attachment to the community, ought to have a right of suffrage.

VI. That the legislative, executive and judicial powers of government, ought to be forever separate and distinct from each other.

VII. That no power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, unless by or derived from the Legislature, ought to be exercised or allowed.

VIII. That freedom of speech and debates, or proceedings in the Legislature, ought not to be impeached in any other court to judicature.

IX. That a place for the meeting of the Legislature ought to be fixed, the most convenient to the members thereof, and to the depository of public records; and the Legislature ought not to be convened or held at any other place, but from evident necessity.

X. That, for redress of grievances, and for amending, strengthening and preserving the laws, the Legislature ought to be frequently convened.

XI. That every man hath a right to petition the Legislature, for the redress of grievances, in a peaceable and orderly manner.

XII. That no aid, charge, tax, fee, or fees, ought to be set, rated, or levied, under any pretence, without consent of the Legislature.

XIII. That the levying taxes by the poll is grievous and oppressive, and ought to be abolished; that paupers ought not to be assessed for the support of government; but every other person in the State ought to contribute his proportion of public taxes, for the support of government, according to his actual worth, in real or personal property, within the State; yet fines, duties, or taxes, may properly and justly be imposed or laid, with a political view, for the good government and benefit of the community.

XIV. That sanguinary laws ought to be avoided, as far as is consistent with the safety of the State: and no law, to inflict cruel and unusual pains and penalties, ought to bc made in any case, or at any time hereafter.

XV. That retrospective laws, punishing facts committed before the existence of such laws, and by them only declared criminal, are oppressive, unjust, and incompatible with liberty; wherefore no ex post facto law ought to be made.

XVI. That no law, to attaint particular persons of treason or felony, ought to be made in any case, or at any time hereafter.

XVII. That every freeman, for any injury done him in his person or property, ought to have remedy, by the course of the law of the land. and ought to have justice and right freely without sale, fully without any denial, and speedily without delay, according to the law of the land.

XVIII. That the trial of facts where they arise, is one of the greatest securities of the lives, liberties and estates of the people.

XIX. That, in all criminal prosecutions, every man hath a right to bc informed of the accusation against him; to have a copy of the indictment or charge in due time (if required ) to prepare for his defence: to be allowed counsel: to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have process for his witnesses; to examine the witnesses, for and against him, on oath; and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury, without whose unanimous consent he ought not to be found guilty.

XX. That no man ought to be compelled to give evidence against himself, in a common court of law, or in any other court, but in such cases as have been usually practised in this State or may hereafter be directed by the Legislature.

XXI. That no freeman ought to be taken, or imprisoned, or disseized of his freehold, liberties, or privileges, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any manner destroyed, or deprived of his life, liberty, or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land.

XXII. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishments inflicted, by the courts of law.

XXIII. That all warrants, without oath or affirmation, to search suspected places, or to seize any person or property, arc grievous and oppressive; and all general warrants - to search suspected places, or to apprehend suspected persons, without naming or describing the place, or the person in special -are illegal, and ought not to be granted.

XXIV. That there ought to be no forfeiture of any part of the estate of any person, for any crime except murder, or treason against the State, and then only on conviction and attainder.

XXV. That a well-regulated militia is the proper and natural defence of a free government.

XXVI. That standing armies are dangerous to liberty, and ought not to be raised or kept up, without consent of the Legislature.

XXVII. That in all cases, and at all times, the military ought to bc under strict subordination to and control of the civil power.

XXVIII. That no soldier ought to be quartered in any house, in time of peace, without the consent of the owner; and in time of war, in such manner only, as the Legislature shall direct.

XXIX. That no person, except regular soldiers, mariners, and marines in the service of this State, or militia when in actual service, ought in any case to bc subject to or punishable by martial law.

XXX. That the independency and uprightness of Judges are essential to the impartial administration of justice and a great security to the rights and liberties of the people; wherefore the Chancellor and Judges ought to hold commissions during good behaviour; and the said Chancellor and Judges shall be removed for misbehaviour, on conviction in a court of law, and may be removed by the Governor, upon the address of the General Assembly; Provided, That two-thirds of all the members of each House concur in such address. That salaries, liberal, but not profuse, ought to be secured to the Chancellor and the Judges, during the continuance of their commissions, in such manner, and at such times, as the Legislature shall hereafter direct, upon consideration of the circumstances of this State. No Chancellor or Judge ought to hold any other office, civil or military, or receive fees or perquisites of any kind.

XXXI. That a long continuance, in the first executive departments of power or trust, is dangerous to liberty; a rotation, therefore, in those departments, is one of the best securities of permanent freedom.

XXXII. That no person ought to hold, at the same time, more than one office of profit, nor ought any person, in public trust, to receive any present from any foreign prince or state, or from the United States, or any of them, without the approbation of this State.

XXXIII. That, as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to him; all persons, professing the Christian religion, are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate on account of his religious persuasion or profession, or for his religious practice; unless, under colour of religion, any man shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others, in their natural, civil, or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any particular place of worship, or any particular ministry; yet the Legislature may, in their discretion, lay a general and equal tax, for the support of the Christian religion; leaving to each individual the power of appointing the payment over of the money, collected from him, to the support of any particular place of worship or minister, or for the benefit of the poor of his own denomination, or the poor in general of any particular county: but the churches, chapels, glebes, and all other property now belonging to the church of England, ought to remain to the church of England forever. And all acts of Assembly, lately passed, for collecting monies for building or repairing particular churches or chapels of ease, shall continue in force, and be executed, unless the Legislature shall, by act. supersede or repeal the same: but no county court shall assess any quantity of tobacco, or sum of money, hereafter, on the application of any vestrymen or church-wardens; and every encumbent of the church of England, who hath remained in his parish, and performed his duty, shall bc entitled to receive the provision and support established by the act, entitled "An act for the support of the clergy of the church of England, in this Province," till the November court of this present year, to be held for the county in which his parish shall lie, or partly lie, or for such time as he hath remained in his parish, and performed his duty.

XXXIV. That every gift, sale, or devise of lands, to any minister, public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as such, or to any religious sect, order or denomination, or to or for the support, use or benefit of, or in trust for, any minister, public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination - and every gift or sale of goods, or chattels, to go in succession, or to take place after the death of the seller or donor, or to or for such support, use or benefit - and also every devise of goods or chattels to or for the support, use or benefit of any minister, public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order, or denomination, without the leave of the Legislature, shall be void; except always any sale, gift, lease or devise of any quantity of land, not exceeding two acres, for a church, meeting, or other house of worship, and for a burying-ground, which shall be improved, enjoyed or used only for such purpose - or such sale, gift, lease, or devise, shall be void.

XXXV. That no other test or qualification ought to be required, on admission to any office of trust or profit, than such oath of support and fidelity to this State, and such oath of office, as shall be directed by this Convention, or the Legislature of this State, and a declaration of a belief in the Christian religion.

XXXVI. That the manner of administering an oath to any person, ought to be such, as those of the religious persuasion, profession, or denomination, of which such person is one, generally esteem the most effectual confirmation, by the attestation of the Divine Being. And that the people called Quakers, those called Dunkers, and those called Menonists, holding it unlawful to take an oath on any occasion, ought to be allowed to make their solemn affirmation, in the manner that Quakers have been heretofore allowed to affirm; and to be of the same avail as an oath, in all such cases, as the affirmation of Quakers hath been allowed and accepted within this State, instead of an oath. And further, on such affirmation, warrants to search for stolen goods, or for the apprehension or commitment of offenders, ought to be granted, or security for the peace awarded, and Quakers, Dunkers or Menonists ought also, on their solemn affirmation as aforesaid, to be admitted as witnesses, in all criminal cases not capital.

XXXVII. That the city of Annapolis ought to have all its rights, privileges and benefits, agreeable to its Charter, and the acts of Assembly confirming and regulating the same, subject nevertheless to such alteration as may be made by this Convention, or any future Legislature.

XXXVIII. That the liberty of the press ought to be inviolably preserved.

XXXIX. That monopolies are odious, contrary to the spirit of a free government, and the principles of commerce; and ought not to be suffered.

XL. That no title of nobility, or hereditary honours, ought to be granted in this State.

XLI. That the subsisting resolves of this and the several Conventions held for this Colony, ought to be in force as laws, unless altered by this Convention, or the Legislature of this State.

XLII. That this Declaration of Rights, or the Form of Government, to be established by this Convention, or any part or either of them, ought not to be altered, changed or abolished, by the Legislature of this State, but in such manner as this Convention shall prescribe and direct.

This Declaration of Rights was assented to, and passed, in Convention of the Delegates of the freemen of Maryland, begun and held at Annapolis, the 14th day of August, A.D. 1776.
By order of the Convention.

MAT. TILGHMAN, President.

Orders from George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Elisha Sheldon

16 December 1776

Sir

The Congress having thought fit to appoint you Lieutt Colo. Commandant of a Regiment of Horse to be raised and to empower me to appoint the officers under you,reposing especial trust & confidence in you & knowing how much your honor & reputation depends upon the proper choice, I am willing you should have the Nomination of all the Officers (reserving to myself a negative of any One and all such as I shall think unfit for that service, and doubt not you will be particularly carefull in fixing upon none but Gentlemen of true spirits and of good Characters—observing at the same time that Gentlemen of Fortune and reputable Families generally make the most usefull Officers.

You are immediately to repair to the State of Connecticut and as soon as possible nominate your Officers, and send them out on the recruiting service; they are to be particularly attentive to take none into the Corps, but young light active men.

The Privates are to receive Twenty Dollars bounty, and a Suit of Cloaths on entering the Service and pay as per Schedule annexed. They are to be raised to serve during the war unless sooner discharged by Congress.

Each Non commissioned Officer and private is to be furnished with a good Horse, Saddle, Bridle & other Accoutrements belonging to the Horse service at the expence of the Continent—and I will recommend to Congress that the Commanding Officer be also furnished at the public expence with the same, but cannot absolutely engage it as I beleive it is not customary.
In procuring the Horses, you are to have no Stallions, Mares, White or Grey Horses, but likely serviceable Trotters of sufficient size, It is expected you will purchase them at the most reasonable rate & not upon an average to exceed One hundred Dollars per Head, carefully describing and keeping an exact account of the Cost of each Horse.

Saddles, Bridles, Carbines, Broadswords, Pistols and every other accoutrement necessary (agreable to a Pattern herewith given you, you will procure as cheap as possible.

Your Regiment is to consist of One Major, an Adjutant, Surgeon & Mate and Six Troop, to each Troop, One Captain, One Lieutenant, One Cornet (commissioned Officers) One Qr Master, Two Serjeants, Two Corporals, One Trumpeter, One Farrier & thirty four privates.

In order to enable you to defray the Expence of raising and equipping this Regiment, you are herewith furnished with a Warrant upon the Paymaster for the sum of 14,000 Dollars and a Letter to Governor Trumbull to advance you such further Sums as may be necessary on Continental account. In case of the latter failing you are to advise me of it, & if no public money is to be had in that Department from a Paymaster to be appointed, send a carefull Officer for such Sum or Sums as may be wanted.

1776 Connecticut

December 12, 1776- Sheldon's Horse, the Second Continental Light Dragoons, commissioned by Congress under the command of Colonel Elisha Sheldon at the direct recommendation of General George Washington. Washington indicated that he expected Sheldon to appoint only gentlemen of "true spirits and good character" and observed that gentlemen of fortune and of reputable families generally made the most useful officers.

The unit had volunteered for service early in 1776 but was rejected because of insufficient forage for the horses and men. The dragoons entered active service after the defeat of the Continental Army at White Plains, New York, in October 1776.

The name dragoon is derived from the carbine (the dragon) carried by Frederick the Great's medium cavalry. Lighter and shorter than a regular musket; the carbine's size made it ideal for light cavalry use. It was attached to the shoulder with a musket sling. Pistol holsters on the saddle contained two French cavalry pistols for use in close quarters, and dragoons also carried
a wooden canteen, bedroll, feed bag and picket rope.

Most of their fighting was done on foot with the horses being used primarily as transport. Dragoon mounts were generally smaller than those used by heavy cavalry. Horses had to be bay, black, chestnut or gray in color. The typical load carried by a horse could be 250 pounds, including equipment and rider.

Members of Sheldon's Horse served as personal bodyguards to General George Washington.

1777 Maryland

1777- Susannah Hayden, (maternal grandmother of Elizabeth Knott), dies at St. Mary's, Maryland.

1778 Maryland, Oath of Allegiance

Oath of Fidelity and Support - I do sware I do not hold myself bound to yield any Allegience or obedience to the King of Great Britain his heirs or successors and that I will be true and faithful to the State of Maryland and that I will to the utmost of my power, support maintain and maintain and defend the Freedom and Independence thereof and the Government as now established against all open enemies and secret and traterous conspiraces and will use my utmost endeavours to disclose and make known to the Governor or some one of the Judges or Justices thereof all Treasons or Treaterous consperaces, attempts or combinations against this State or the Government thereof which may come to my knowledge so help me God.

Taken before the Worshipfull
Edward Burgess

1778 Prince George's County, Maryland

Joining the Revolution. John Worland III, along with sons Charles and Henry, takes the Oath of Allegiance before the Honorable Thomas Clagett.
Eldest son, John Robey Worland, takes the Oath before the Honorable William Berry.

1778 Washington on Quakers

March, 1778- During the bleak, dark days at Valley Forge, General Washington issued the following orders to Brigadier General John Lacey, Jr.:

Head Quarters, Valley Forge, March 20, 1778

Sir:

Sunday next, being the time on which the Quakers hold one of their general Meetings, a number of that Society will probably be attempting to go into Philadelphia. This is an intercourse that we should by all means endeavor to interrupt, as the plans settled at these meetings are of the most pernicious tendency. I would therefore have you dispose of your parties in such a Manner, as will most probably fall in with these people, and if they should, and any of them should be mounted upon Horses fit for draft or the service of light Dragoons, I desire they may be taken from them and sent over to the Qtr. Master General, any such are not to be considered as the property of the parties who may sieze them as in other cases. Communicate the above orders to any of the officers of the Continental Army who may command scouting parties upon your side of the Schuylkill.

1778 John Conard

August 22, 1778- John Conard is dismissed by the Quaker Monthly Meeting for hiring a substitute to go to war.
After his dismissal, he joined the Virginia militia.

1779 Maryland

November 8, 1779- Joseph Pike Newton, (maternal grandfather of Thomas Clement Worland), is born in Maryland.

1780 Maryland

June 6, 1780- Verlinda Hardy is born in Maryland. Verlinda is the ninth child born to Solomon Hardy and Rachel Livers.

Sheldon's Flag

The regiment flag of Sheldon's Dragoons, taken at the 1779 battle at Pound Ridge, New York, fetched $12.36 million at auction in 2006. It is the earliest surviving example of an American flag with thirteen red and white stripes. In the flag’s middle is a canton, at the center of which is a particularly striking design of a black thundercloud with wings on each side, from which gold and orange thunderbolts emanate.

Sheldon's Dragoons

1781 New York

1781- Sheldon's Horse became the first American unit to conduct a combined combat operation with our French Allies in Tarrytown, New York. Rochambeau's staff considered Sheldon's Horse, Second Continental Light Dragoons as " . . . incontestably the best on the continent. . . ."