NEWS AND NOTES FROM
The Prince George's County Historical Society
Vol. XI. no. 11 November 1983
The November Meeting: Tobacco Coast
The Rev. Dr. A. Pierce Middleton, author of Tobacco Coast: A Maritime History of the Chesapeake Bay in the Colonial Era, will be the guest speaker at the November meeting of the Prince George's County Historical Society, to be held on Saturday, November 12, at Riversdale.
Published three decades ago, Tobacco Coast is still recognized as one of the definitive works on the history of colonial Maryland. We are indeed fortunate to have Dr. Middleton with us on November 12 to speak on the colonial Chesapeake region, the "tobacco coast."
Dr. Middleton is a native of Berwyn in this county. He earned a doctorate in early American history at Harvard University and worked as director of research at Colonial Williamsburg from 1948 to 1954. He studied for holy orders and was ordained priest in the Episcopal Church at Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg in 1951. Now on the staff of St. Anne's Church in Annapolis, he has spent most of his pastoral career in Massachusetts, where he was rector of Great Barrington Parish for twenty years and canon of the Cathedral of Springfield.
The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. Riversdale, the Calvert mansion, is located at 4811 Riverdale Road in Riverdale. Guests are welcome, and refreshments will be served. The gift shop will be open for Christmas shopping. Plan to be with us for this most interesting exploration of the tobacco coast.
The Dove Comes to the Navy Yard: November 19 and 20
Prince George's County's celebration of Maryland's 350th year will begin a bit early with the visit of the Dove to the Washington Navy Yard this month. The ship will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, November 19 and 20, under the joint sponsorship of the Heritage Committees (350th anniversary committees) of Prince George's and Montgomery Counties.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND
ERECTED ON ST. GEORGE'S DAY, APRIL 23,1696
In 1634, the first Maryland colonists arrived from England aboard the Ark and the Dove. Both original ships are long lost; but the new Dove, built several years ago, is a faithful representation of the ships of that period, and replicates the original Dove in as many details as are known. To step aboard the Dove is to step onto a Ruth century vessel, and it makes one wonder how those first settlers endured a trans‑Atlantic voyage on a ship so small by today's standards.
Watch the newspapers for the precise hours the Dove will be taking on visitors, or call the Prince George's Travel Promotion Council (during the week) at 927‑0700. The Washington Navy Yard is located on the Anacostia River and can be reached via M Street, Southeast.
Candlelight Christmas Dinners
Tickets to the Montpelier Candlelight Christmas dinner are now on sale. The dinner will be on December 11, and tickets cost $25.00. Reservations are absolutely necessary, and places are filled quite early. For more information call Caroline Cline at 490‑2226 or Jean Speicher at 776‑3086.
Maryland's 350 Years
November 22 is an important date in Maryland history, for on that date in 1683 the Ark and the Dove left Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, for the New World. A ceremony will mark the anniversary of the departure there, and an official delegation as well as many private citizens from Maryland will be there.
John Hanson Commemoration
John Hanson, a delegate from Maryland to the Continental Congress, was president of that body when it adopted the Articles of Confederation, uniting the former British colonies into one nation. He died in 1783 with relatives at Oxon Hill Manor, and is believed to have been buried there. A public ceremony to commemorate the 200th anniversary of John Hanson's death will be held on Sunday November 6 at 2 p.m., at the Hanson gravesite. Parking is available at the commuter lot on Oxon Hill Road near the Beltway (exit at Indian Head Highway). Signs will direct visitors from the commuter lot to the gravesite.
Poster to Commemorate the 350th
A poster celebrating Maryland's 350 years is available free from the Maryland Humanities Council, 516 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Md. Phone: 301‑837‑1938.
New members will be announced in next month's issue of News and Notes.
Travels in the Confederations Part 2
In last month's issue of News and Notes we published extracts from the journals of Johann David Schoepf chronicling his visit to Bladensburg in the Fall of 1783. In this issue, we follow Dr. Schoepf to Georgetown, and Alexandria, back to Bladensburg, and then on to Queen Anne and Annapolis. Dr. Schoepf was a physician, a native of the principality of Bayreuth, who came to America with the German troops fighting with the British during our Revolution. After the war he travelled through much of the U.S. (then united under the Articles of Confederation), recording his impressions of American life and ways. His journals were published in Germany in 1788 and in an English translation by Alfred J. Morrison in 1911. The English edition was reprinted in 1968 by Burt Franklin, Publisher, of New York.
"Eight miles from Bladensburg lies George‑town, a small town by the Potowmack. As far as this the river is navigable, and this gave occasion for the establishment of the place from which at one time much was hoped. There is a tobacco‑warehouse here; and at one time the place had a good deal of trade, but this was wholly in the hands of English merchants, who had warehouses here and took out tobacco. On the outbreak of the war they deserted the place, and poverty has since been its lot; for nobody among the inhabitants had capital or credit enough to set up trading. This autumn there came in a few English and French ships to take out tobacco. The banks of the river, on which the town stands, are high. Three miles from here, up the river, are the lower, little falls, and 10 miles above them, the great falls of the Potowmack. The fall of the river is some 130‑150 ft. across; at one place only is there a plunge of 15 ft. perpendicular height. The noise of the fall is with still weather heard for a good distance. Just at this time means are devising to make this fall navigable, either by weirs or by blasting, or at least to establish convenient portages; which would be vastly advantageous for the country along the river towards the mountains and for this place itself. But to all appearance the carrying‑out of these fine but costly plans will not be so soon accomplished.... [The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal finally accomplished these ends in the 1830s.]
"We crossed the river, going to Alexandria, whither along the opposite bank it is reckoned eight miles; the road is level and proceeds through long woods, among which only a few tobacco‑
fields are to be seen. All the fences were hung with the freshly pulled tobacco‑leaves, so as to let them wilt a little before taking them to the drying‑houses proper.
"It is known throughout America that the common sort of people in Virginia speak markedly through the nose; and it is not imagination that we could already observe this on the way to Alexandria. But a great part of the New Englanders are also given to this habit, which is at bottom nothing but custom and imitation.
"Returning from Alexandria, by Georgetown to Bladensburgh, we found the road vastly more lively, since a crowd of horsemen and their attendants were hastening from all sides to Alexandria for the races which were shortly to be held. At Georgetown we saw en passant a case at law being decided on the tavern‑porch. Judges, spectators, plaintiffs, defendants and witnesses sat on‑the bench before the door, disputing and drinking. The matter appeared to be of no particular consequence, and was being adjusted more in a friendly way than by legal process; the costs, to the satisfaction of everybody, were placed with the host for punch.
“A man at Bladensburgh made proposals of marriage to a woman, then changed his mind of a sudden, and married another. Not long afterwards he repented at having jilted the first, took her to himself along with his first‑married, and has lived with both for several years; both have children by him, and, what is more important still, they behave themselves in a very sisterly manner. None of the neighbors is offended with him, and no civil officer makes inquiries.
"With sorrow I observed at Bladensburgh two striking instances of the sad custom, indulged in without thought or conscience almost throughout America, I mean the evil habit of giving the tenderest children and sucklings spirituous, and distilled drinks. This happens partly with a view to relieving them of windiness and colicks, regarded as the sole causes of their importunate crying, partly (and this is absolutely without excuse) to make them quiet and put them to sleep. Spirituous drinks being so universally in use, nobody thinks it harm to give them to children as well, and no attention is paid the bitter injury done their health, and how frequently there is occasion given in this way for internal disorders and consuming diseases. I had many opportunities to convince myself of this, and saw many of our German women killing their children by this practice, who following the advice and the custom of the American women would on all occasions be giving their children, quantities of rum, spirits, anise or kummelwasser, and only to stop their crying. Besides the injury immediately done, the worst feature of the practice is the taste acquired in this way for brandy and grog. Our host's five‑year‑old child seeks to get hold of rum or grog wherever he can, and steals furtively to the flask; we saw him almost every day staggering and drunken; he was besides weak and thin as a skeleton, just as another very young child of a neighbor, addicted to the same vice. The parents observed this but were at no pains to prevent it; and the servants and other people appeared even to be amused at the drunken children and to egg them on. In general, children are badly brought up among the, Americans, living sporadically as they do, and the servants here being only negroes, ignorant, careless, and immoral, many evils are the consequence.
"We returned by Annapolis, whither it is 30 miles‑from Bladensburgh. The road lay at first over thin, sandy hills, and then we came into a flatter country where the sand is mixed with a large proportion of good, black earth, producing excellent corn, wheat and tobacco. This is a most vexatious road for travellers, from the endless number of cross‑bars and gates encountered, every landowner not only fencing in his fields, meadows, and woods, but closing the public highways with bars, to keep in the cattle pasturing on the road. Thus it was that in the short space of a mile we often had to open 3‑4 such gates, and with a horse unaccustomed to the practice this must always mean a delay.
"We passed‑through Queen‑Anne, on the Patuxent (a narrow stream) where there is a tobacco‑warehouse and two or three insignificant houses, and 9 miles beyond came to New London on the South river, which is more than a mile wide; the remainder of the road to Annapolis was quite flat, sandy, and without stones.
"Annapolis has not always had the honor of being the capital of Maryland; the capital was formerly St. Mary, on the river of that name, and scarcely more than in name does the town exist; the site was found inconvenient and the seat of government was removed hither. Annapolis stands between the South‑west and Severn rivers, more properly on the latter river, on a sandy height whence there is an open prospect towards the Bay. The number of the houses is about 400, of which some are fine and well‑looking. The Statehouse indeed is not the splendid building of which the fame has been sounded, although certainly one of the handsomest in America; but no less insubstantial than most of the other publick and private buildings of America. That it pleases the eye is due to its elevated situation, its small cupola, its four wooden columns before the entrance, and because no other considerable building stands near it. It has only seven windows in front, and is built of brick two storeys high. The large hall on the ground‑floor is tasteful, although not spacious. At the other end, facing the entrance, as is customary in State and Court‑houses, there are raised seats in the form of an amphitheatre designed for meetings of the high courts. For the rest, the building has space enough for the rooms of the Provincial Assembly, the Senate, Executive Council, General Court for the Eastern‑Shore, Intendant for the Revenue &c. Next the State‑house is a little building of one storey meant for the publick treasury. It is said to be a very strong and fast building; doors and windows I saw well‑barred and fixed‑‑but with all this the house is empty. The real Treasuries of this province, throughout the war, were the tobacco‑warehouses; the taxes for the most part being assessed and paid in tobacco and other produce, because the people had no hard money and unfortunately have none still. At one end of the town stands the house in which the Governor lives, but another building, of an extensive plan and designed for the Governor's residence, was before the war begun by Governor Blagden [sic], but not finished, the Assembly judging the plan too costly; the bare walls remain, known as the Governor's Folly in memory of him. The streets of the town run almost all of them radially towards a common central point which is the State‑house. They are not yet paved, and with the sandy soil this occasions great inconvenience in summer. Annapolis boasts of a play‑house but of no church, as indeed in everything regarding luxury the town is inferior to no other and surpasses the most. Shortly before the war money was collected for building a very handsome church, but the amount was later applied to bloody purposes, and worship since has been held partly in the State‑house, partly in the play‑house. The situation of the town has been determined, as 39 degrees 25 minutes latitude and 78 degrees longitude west of London. There is little or no trade, which is to be explained both by the site and the character of the harbor. The roads leading into the interior are crossed by divers streams, and the inconvenience arising from so many passages by ferry has brought it about that the people prefer to bring their produce to Baltimore and fetch thence what they need, which they can do by unbroken land‑carriage. The harbor, into which fall no fresh streams of any significance, is full of worms, which live only in salt water, and these in a few months eat through the ships' bottoms and render them useless. At this time there was not one ship of consequence here, but merely small craft; and the merchants of the place themselves get the most of their stocks from Baltimore. However, the harbor is spacious, and its mouth, (not over 4‑500 yeards wide), easy of defence.
"Maryland is behind none of the other states in excellence' of climate, in variety and fertility of soil, or in diversity of products. Its situation, almost at the middle of the continent of North America, causes its inhabitants seldom to languish from immoderate heat or to suffer from disagreeable cold, and most of the products of the rest of America thrive here under good management. With Virginia it shares the advantages of a spacious bay, which in regard to its size, safety, and the number of its navigable streams, can hardly be excelled. It is convenient at all seasons of the year and is seldom disturbed by the hurricanes of the south or closed by the impassable ice of the north Maryland produces good maize and excellent wheat, hemp, and flax. The more profitable culture of tobacco has indeed kept these articles somewhat under; but the inconvenience of wanting the most necessary things and the uncertainty of getting them from other parts having been variously felt, more attention is now directed to agriculture. Swine and horned cattle do well with the most careless handling, and increase prodigiously. The lands are move divided, and more uniformly, than in Virginia, are therefore somewhat better cultivated and are generally worth more, especially on the western side of the Bay where the soil is less sandy and barren than on the Eastern Shore...."
A Final Call for Old Photos
Alan Virta is completing his work collecting old photos of Prince George's County scenes to be included in a book which will be a pictorial history of the county. Still lacking are very many scenes of old Upper Marlboro. If any members of the Society own or know of old photos of county scenes which might be of interest for the book, they are invited to call Alan Virta at 474‑7524 (evenings) or write at 8244 Canning Terrace, Greenbelt, Md. 20770.
The Prince George's County Historical Society: This newsletter is published monthly and included in the annual dues of $5.00. To join, contact the Society at P.O. Box 14, Riverdale, Md. 20737. Presidents Frederick S. De Marr. Corr. Secretary I Edith Bagot. Treasurer: Herb Embrey. Newsletter editor: Alan Virta (474‑7524)
November 83
NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY AND COLLECTION
The response to our report in the July/August 83 issue was positive therefore we will continue to share this information with our membership.
ARCHIVES/MICROFILM
T
he response was good on our follow‑up appeal for assistance in financing the Archives of Maryland and Upper Marlboro newspaper projects. For support on the newspaper microfilming project we wish to thank Doris Brown of Laurel and Eunice Burdette of Boonesboro. Contributors to the Archives were: Reba Turner of College Park, Alan Virta of Greenbelt, Hen A. Naylor, Jr. of Baltimore, Senator Mike Miller of Clinton, Irene Addic of Laurel, Don and Alice Skarda of Berwyn Heights, and Margaret G. Lewis of Seattle, Washington State. We appreciate their interest.
In the near future we will publish a full listing of the Archives donors and inscriptions.
OBITUARY/BIOGRAPHICAL FILE
This file is an integral part of our library collection which will serve a major information source for genealogists and historians dealing with the social, political and economic history of the county. A card file contains all obituary notices on deceased residents and former residents. Interfiled with these are the names of all family members listed in the obituary notice, with a cross‑reference to the deceased. The biographical file contains current biography clippings from all locations papers as well as biographical articles on deceased citizens. ‑ ‑ Does this sound like a monumental task? Well, it is! However, it is something which volunteers can work on at home, in their spare time and at their convenience.
The history of Prince George's County is the story of its citizens. If you can help us record this history, please call Fred De Marr at 277‑0711.
LOCAL PUBLICATIONS
At present the Society receives the regular monthly or quarterly publications from 14 of the Maryland county historical societies as well as 21 different publications from other state and local groups in Maryland and the nearby metropolitan area. These are a major source for both current events and local history. Back files of all of these publications are available for use in the Society's library at Riversdale.
ANTIQUES MAGAZINE
In addition to the decorative arts, this magazine is a major source for local history and biographical information. The library has available complete runs for 20 years. Our needs are for pre‑1954 and post1975 issues. If you can help fill this vacuum, please give us a call.
UPDATE
In our last report we indicated that some photos from the Society's files had been borrowed for use in a calendar of the metropolitan area. It is now off the press and is available in the Gift Shop at Riversdale
LIBRARY ACCESSIONS
Author Title Donor
Geiger Daniel Carroll II/One Man and C. Harold Hutcheson
His Descendants
- - - Celebrating the Opening of the Ellen S. Rogers
Robert Crain Highway
LeMay Men of Letters in Colonial Maryland Edith M. Bagot
McSherry A History of Maryland Ninnie M. Hill
Otis Calvert of Maryland Paul Lanham
Stein Toward New Towns for America Ben Miles
(Greenbelt)
- - - Maryland/Its Resources, Industries Warren Rhoads
and Institutions
Jacob Guide to Research Collections of Sen. Charles Mathias
Former U.S. Senators. 1789‑1982
- - - COURANNUAL (Hyattsville H.S.Yearbook) Emily Fuller Nees
for 1930,31,32 &33.
Franklin Survey Plat Book of Pr. Geo's Co. (1940) v.1 Robert Truax
Mason The Journals of Charles Mason & Herbert C. Embrey
Jeremiah Dixon. 1763‑68.
Greene A Brief History of Pr. Geo's County Margaret M. Marshall
Richardson Standards & Colors of the Amer. Rev. Purchase
Bode Maryland/A History Purchase
Richardson Side‑Lights on Md. History 2 vols. Minnie M. Hill
Hanley, ed. The John Carroll Papers 1755‑1815 Purchase
3 vols.
Geary Fire Call/A Hist. of the Hyatts‑ Francis X. Geary
ville Vol. Fire Dept.
Van Horn Out of the Past/Prince Georgeans Van Horn Family
and Their Land.
WSSC Report on the Advisability of Cre‑ Helen‑Louise Duckett
ating a Sanitary Dist. in Sub. Md. Waller
(1918)
Riley Annapolis . ."Ye Antient Capital Minnie M. Hill
of Maryland"
Steuart A Hist. of the Md. Line in the Fred De Marr
Revolutionary War. 1775‑1783
Pettengill My Story (has Clagett genealogy) Fred Clagett
Wilcox, ed. 1850 Census. Pr. Geo's Co., Md. Pr. Geo's Co.
Genealogical Soc.
THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY LIBRARY AT "RIVERSDALE". THE CALVERT MANSION, IS OPEN EACH SATURDAY, NOON ‑ 5 PM. VISIT US!
NEWS AND NOTES FROM
The Prince George's County Historical Society
Vol. XI, no. 12 December 1983
The Christmas Party at Montpelier
The Society's annual Christmas Party at Montpelier will be held this year on Saturday, December 17, the third Saturday of the month. The house will be decorated for Christmas in the colonial style, and there will be plenty of good food, good drink, and good cheer to go around. If you have some tasty Christmas goodies, bring some along to share, but by all means, please plan to be with us on December 17.
The party will begin at 2 p.m. Montpelier is located on Route 197 (the Laurel‑Bowie Road) just north of the Baltimore/Washington Parkway. From the Parkway, turn left (north) at the end of the exit ramp onto Route 197. Follow 197 to the sign to Montpelier. It is a left turn opposite the Montpelier Shopping Center.
Montpelier is one of Maryland's finest Georgian mansion homes. It is always beautiful at Christmas. Bring friends and family to see this beautiful home in its most beautiful season.
Open House at Christmas: The County's Finest
Christmas‑time is the best time to see our historic sites!
Belair, the home of colonial governors. Sunday, Dec. 11. Noon to 4 p.m. Free 12207 Tulip Grove Dr., Bowie. 464‑8619.
Marietta, the home of Gabriel Duvall. Sunday, December 11. Noon to 4 p.m. Quilting demonstrations. 5626 Bell Station Road, Glenn Dale. 779‑2011
Montpelier, the Snowden mansion. Dec. 7‑9, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 3 P.M. Route 197, Laurel. 779‑2011
Riversdale, the Calvert mansion. Dec. 10 & 11, Noon to 4 p.m, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale. 779‑2011
Oxon Hill Manor, Jules de Sibour's masterpiece. Dec. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 6901 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill. 839‑7783. Free.
Surratt House, Victorian home. Dec. 11, 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 & 13, 4 To‑ 9 p.m. 9110 Brandywine Road, Clinton. 868‑1121.
Chesapeake Beach Railroad Museum, the old rail station in Calvert County. December 11, 2 to 4 p.m. Chesapeake Beach. Free.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND
ERECTED ON ST. GEORGE'S DAY, APRIL 23,1696
Eugene Bowie Roberts
We regret to announce the passing of Eugene Bowie Roberts of Fairwood, Collington, on October 30. He was a founding member of the Prince George's County Historical Society and served as its second president, 1956‑58.
Mr. Roberts was a farmer and real estate developer. He raised beef cattle and in later years operated a turf farm at Fairview. As a developer he built the first garden apartments in the county, the Prince George s Apartments in Hyattsville in the late 1930s. He was the descendant of two Prince Georgeans who served as Governor of Maryland, Dr. Joseph Kent of Rose Mount and 0den Bowie of Fairview.
Mr. Roberts' first wife, Cornelia Szechenyi, died in 1958. He is survived by his wife, the former. Marie Bonne de Viel Castel, two children, and five grandchildren.
Along the Potomac Shore
The Tanta‑Cove Garden Club has just published a new history of Prince George's County's Potomac shore, from Oxon Hill to Bryan Point. Co‑authored by Gloria Meder, Anne Aber
Pauline Collins, Cynthia Heerwagen, and Charlotte Temerario, Along the Potomac Shore tells the story of the people, their homes, and way of life through Maryland's 350 years. The story begins with the Indians and early settlers and comes right down to the suburban developments of recent years
Along the Potomac Shore (100 pages, illustrated, softcover) is available from the Tanta‑Cove Garden Club, Box 55526, Fort Washington, Md. 20744. Price is $6.00 and includes postage.
New Members of the Society
We welcome the following individuals to membership in the Prince George's County Historical Society
Sponsor
Mr & Mrs Berry F. Brown Bowie F. De Marr
Elizabeth A. Higgins College Park F. De Marr
Peggy E. Beall Croom F. De Marr
Patricia Osti Hanyok Laurel J. Speicher
Francis J. Loevi Laurel J. Speicher
Mr & Mrs. Richard F. Virgin Upper Marlboro A. Virta
Mr & Mrs. Covington Stanwick Aquasco R. Turner
Mr & Mrs. H. Ivan Rainwater Bowie S. Baltz
Evelyn M. McKim Hyattsville M. Lee
Helen B. Myers Hyattsville M. Le e
Elsie W. Allen Hyattsville M. Phillips
Anthony Zito College Park A. Virta
Christmas Gift Ideas: This Was Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay of Yore, by Fred Tilp. Available for $35.00 and $18.00 respectively, plus postage, from Mr. Tilp at Box 630,
Alexandria, Va. 22313. Both are hardcover. This Was Potomac River is almost out of print! A classic‑‑368 pages, many photos.
Christmas at Riversdale
A letter from Rosalie Calvert to her sister in Belgium dated December 1815:
“. . . I cannot understand how, without even knowing the age and personalities of my children, you were able to guess what would please them most. My little Julia had for more than a week been chattering about a dog, and played all the time at hiding under the tables and behind the chairs, laughing and shouting that a wild dog was chasing her. When I opened the largest package, the first object which appeared was the little dog. I gave it to Julia, pretending to make it bark at her. She was in ecstasy! and the three other children danced all around her, in delight at a present which suited her so well. She never wants it away from her, and we have to let her sleep with it!
"The next things we found were the two toy rifles, which Charles and Henry seized immediately, jumping for joy and admiring their looks. They fired them 20 times in one minute, until they had used up the flints that make them fire, and we had to get more.
Right now they are marching in formation with their muskets on their shoulders!
“Upon finding in the second box the little pocket‑book, it was unanimously decided that it should be for George, who, being in Philadelphia, couldn't share the pleasure which his brothers and sisters had in seeing all these pretty things.
"The two little painted inkpots were too delicate and pretty for the boys, so I gave one to Caroline and the other to Eugenia. How beautifully the little scenes are painted on them! As for the little toilette‑sets with looking‑glasses, I have given one to Eugenia and the other to Julia, to be kept for her until she is old enough to take care of it herself. The little boxes (chests) we assigned to Caroline and George, as well as the, little prayer books.
"You must have had quite a job of packing the cases‑‑I have never seen anything so well packed! They would have survived ten trips from China without a scratch! Everything was in perfect condition‑‑not a bit of damage!
"Please accept all of our thanks for your wonderful presents...”
The children's ages, in December 1815, were as follows: Julia, nearly 2; Henry, 5; Charles Benedict, 7; Eugenia, 9; George, 12; and Caroline, 15. Like George, Caroline was attending school in Philadelphia.
Rosalie Calvert was the daughter of a Belgian nobleman who fled to America in the late 18th century to escape persecution during the French Revolution. He and his family later returned to Belgium, but Rosalie stayed with the man she married in this country, George Calvert. Quite a few letters from Rosalie to her family have been preserved in Belgium. Susan Pearl, a member of this Society and an historian with the History Division of Park and Planning Commission, recently obtained copies of many of those letters. Our thanks to Susan for making this letter available‑‑and for translating it for us. Rosalie wrote home in French!
Bicentennial Celebrations in Annapolis
There will be a number of exciting events in Annapolis in December and January to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the ending of the Revolutionary War. Congress was meeting in Annapolis at that time, so the crucial decisions and actions which heralded the end of the war took place in that ancient city.
Friday, December 23 will be the 200th anniversary of George Washington's appearance before Congress to resign his commission as leader of the Continental Amy. An article devoted to this momentous occasion‑‑symbolizing the successful conclusion of the war
‑‑appeared in the December 1982 issue of News and Notes. On December 23, between 10:30 and 11 a.m., "George Washington" will again walk the route from the site of Mann's Tavern on Conduit Street to the State House, where he will be greeted by the Mayor of Annapolis and a gun salute. The public is invited to join the Father of Our Country in his walk to the State House. At 11 o'clock an early American flag, known as the John Shaw flag for its Annapolis designer, will be raised above the State House. Then at noon, George Washington will again appear before Congress to resign his commission, an event to be televised live by the Maryland Center for Public Broadcasting (Channel 22). In the afternoon the State House will be open to the public for the viewing of a number of special exhibits, including one from this county.
The ratification by Congress of the Treaty of Paris‑‑formalizing the end of the war‑‑will be celebrated on Saturday, January 14. The ratification ceremony itself in the Old Senate Chamber will be televised live at 1:30 P.m. on public television. Also beginning at 1:30 P.m. will be an 18th century parade through town of 1200 American and French troops led‑by the U.S. Army's ceremonial Commander‑in‑Chief's Guard Fife and Drum Corps. The parade will end with a spectacular 18th century military celebration with music, artillery fire, continuous volleys of muskets, and the ringing of church bells. In the evening, at 8:30, there will be fireworks over the harbor.
Members of the Society may also be interested in the Christmas candlelight receptions at many of Annapolis' historic houses on Thursday evening, December 22. A $3.00 charge will admit to all. Some of these houses are not generally open to the public.
America's Revolution ended in Annapolis two hundred years ago. Join in on the celebrations!
"A Merrie Maryland Christmas"
The music and drama students of Queen Anne's School will present "A Merrie Maryland Christmas" on Sunday evening, December 11, in historic St. Barnabas Church, at 7:30 and, 9 p.m. The program will feature sacred and secular music (both choral and instrumental) and colorful vignettes of figures associated with local history. No tickets are required, and seating will be on a first‑come first‑served basis for both performances. St. Barnabas Church (built 1774) is on Oak Grove Road at Church Road, near Largo. Phone 249‑5000.
Reminder: No Society meetings in Jan. & Feb. We meet again in March
December 83
NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY AND COLLECTION
RIVERSDALE OPEN HOUSE/MANSION AND LIBRARY
As noted elsewhere in News & Notes, the annual Christmas Open House at the Calvert Mansion in Riverdale will be held on Saturday, December 10 and Sunday December 11, .12 Noon ‑ 4 PM. Something new has been added this year. We're having open house at the Society's library as well! So, come on over to the mansion and see what your Society is doing in its effort to preserve and collect the records and artifacts of Prince George's proud past and present history.
The library is located in the Servants' Quarters near the parking lot at the east end of the building'. And, while you are there, do visit the Mansion in all of its Christmas finery. The admission fee is for a great cause ‑ the Restoration Fund. P.S.: We will see you at Montpelier on the 17th at 2 PM also!
OUR THANKS
--To Dino Bakekis of Glenn Dale, for a Bill of Sale from Walter D. Addison to Resin Magruder for a slave girl, Louisa Sampson, dated November 27, 1836. Also for copy negatives of four early views of his residence, Maple Shade.
-‑To Phyllis Luskey Cox of Oxon Hill for a generous contribution to both the Archives and the Microfilm projects.
-‑To Fred Warther of Lanham for an almost complete set of Maryland magazine.
-‑To the Maryland Humanities Council for a very fine display on the Treaty of Paris 1783. This document, when ratified by Congress in Annapolis on January 14, 1784, brought the American Revolution to a close and recognized the United State's of America. This display can be seen at the library open house December 10‑11.
THE PHOTO FILE
This is one of the most valuable resources in our collection. Although we will accept photographs from donors, we are interested primarily in making copy negatives of old photos which are loaned by the owner for this purpose.
As in the case of any other research material, an adequate file must be developed. Our file is divided into four parts. 1) Numerical, in which each photo is listed in order of accession and its complete identification and source is listed. 2) Category, such as schools, churches, roads, taverns, railroads, etc. 3) Geographical, by area such as Aquasco, Beltsville, Upper Marlboro, etc. and 4) Title, or subject of the individual photo.
Although large numbers of photos have been catalogued, we still have a large backlog of material to be identified and filed. During the past year we have furnished material from the collection to several writers and researchers.
If you like old photographs, we would be‑happy to welcome you as a volunteer on this project. We also need people to seek out sources for further additions to this collection. Please give us a call!
A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON TO ALL!
LIBRARY ACCESSIONS
Author Title Donor
Andrews, M.P. Hist. of Md.- Province & State Edith M. Bagot
Jenkins, M.& E. The First Hundred Years. Md. State Mary & Eben Jenkins
Grange. 1874‑1974.
Kirwin, H.W. The Inevitable Success. A Biog. of Edith M. Bagot
Herbert R. 0'Connor
Ames, K.L. (ed.) Victorian Furniture Margo Ritchie
Price, J. France and the Chesapeake 2 vols. Purchase
Poe, G.L. et al Laurel, lid. Centennial Booklet 1870‑1970 Margaret Marshall
Hanson, G. A. Old Kent Minnie M. Hill
Hallowell, B. Autobiography of Benjamin Hallowell. Fred DeMarr
Smith, S.W. John Hanson/ Our First President Fred De Marr
Park & Planning Broad Creek Historic District Study Alan Virta
‑ ‑ ‑ Boundary Markers of the Nation’s Capital Paul T. Lanham
Toogood , A. C. Digges Family of Maryland & Purchase
Warburton Manor
Traudt, R. The Story of the Carmelites in Md, 1866‑75 Robert Traudt
Toomey, D.C. A Hist. of Relay, Md. & the Thomas Viaduct Fred De Marr
‑ ‑ ‑ Auction Catalogue/Montpelier Manor Pr. Geos. Hist. Prog.
Poudrier, G. et al Hist. of St. Mary's R.C. Ch., Landover Hills Frank Allen
Shomette, D. Shipwrecks on the Chesapeake Purchase
Cromwell, J.H. The C&P Story/Service in Action/Md. Joseph H. Cromwell
Cromwell, J.H. The C&P Story/Service in Action/D.C. Joseph Cromwell
Corddry, G.H. Wicomico, County History Purchase
Newman, H.W. Maryland and the Confederacy Purchase
Ackerson, C.P. Holy Trinity, Collington. Constance P. Ackerson
Her People & Their Church
Ecker, G. D. A Portrait of Old Georgetown Purchase
McKeldin, T. R. No Mean City (Balto) Ben Miles
Ferguson, A. L. L. Adventures in So. Md. 1922‑40 Louise Lerch William,
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