Manors 1637-1690

This Manor Map is based on the research of Peter Himmelheber, St. Mary's County, MD. Pete has been preparing land genealogy records for many years; his maps reflect the information provided in the Land Records in Annapolis, MD.

Basford Manor (Chronicles of St. Mary's, Vol. 9, No. 11; Vol. 9, No 12) was granted to Thomas Gerard in March 1650. It was located to the north of St. Clement's Manor and was laid out for 1500 ac. but a resurvey found that it contained a much larger area. The property was sold to Governor Thomas Notley prior to Gerard’s death in 1673. In 1678, Notley laid off 300 acres of this property as "Bachelor's Hope" and placed it in the possession of Benjamin Rozier. He sold the remaining part to Lord Baltimore who conveyed part of it as "Bachelor's Hope" to Joshua Doyne. The remainder of the manor was subsequently divided up and sold as follows: James Mills, 100 ac., Notley Goldsmith, 100 ac., Michael Goldsmith, 100 ac., John Reeves, 100 ac., Nathaniel Truman Greenfield, 104 ac., Benjamin Moulton, 200 ac., Edward Turner, 200 ac., John Smith, 200 ac., Samuel Maddox, 69 ac., John Maddox, 150 ac., and John Eden, 277 ac.

Beaver Dam Manor was referenced as a proprietary manor in 1664 {PA:07:229}. An undated survey was recorded in 1666 that contained 7,680 acres “in Calvert County” {PA:10:329}. This manor was “lying in the woods” just to the southwest of Resurrection Manor, Fenwick Manor and DeLaBrooke Manor. The northeast boundary corresponds roughly to the present Md. route 235. The assessment done in 1768 shows the manor contained 82 lots {GMB:II:063}. Two of these were patent lands, i.e. a 90-acre portion of The Inclosure which was Surveyed for Henry Lowe on 16 August 1694, and a 500-acre tract named Rich Neck which was patented to John Attaway on 10 December 1714 {PA:FF#7:223}.

Bowles Preservation is not a manor, but a part of Resurrection Manor. Re-survey for James Bowles 1716 {FF#7:085}

Chaptico Manor was a propriety manor established in 1671, said to contain about 20,000 acres. It was seized as British property by the State of Maryland in 1780, to be sold to pay those who had loaned money for the war effort and to soldiers of the Revolutionary War. (Archives of MD, Vol. 203, p. 275).

The civil war in England and the resultant turmoil in the colony’s government apparently resulted in the first official survey of the manor being done some 20 years later. On September 14, 1671, this survey of “his lordships Mannor of Chopticoe” was done by Richard Edelen {PA:16:406}. No acres were cited in the survey, but based on the bounds given, the manor contained about 20,000 acres. During the 20-year hiatus between the manor’s authorization and its first survey, many Indian-Colonist-Proprietor confrontations were experienced within the area since the proprietor had also been granting patents to colonists within the manor’s bounds {AM:I:431, AM:LI:440}.

Conception Manor was surveyed for Ferdinand Poulton, a Jesuit priest, in 1639 {01:039} who was never granted a patent since the land was acquired from the Indians. Instead, "St. George's Island", 1,000 ac. was surveyed for him on 11/9/1639 and on 7/28/1641, it was combined with St. Inigoes Manor and granted to Thomas Copley (Chr. of SM).

Cross Manor see Manor of Cornwallis Cross

de la Brooke Manor ( Chronicles of St. Mary's, Vol. 1, No. 6, ; Vol. 14, No. 3, ; Vol. 16, No. 10) 2,000 acres granted to Robert Brooke in 1650 {AB&H:350}. By agreement with Cecelius Calvert, Robert Brooke was to receive a manor of 2,000 acres for every 10 persons that he transported. When he arrived in Maryland, he brought his wife, 10 children and 28 servants. The lands granted to Robert Brooke were located on either side of the Patuxent River. Although Delabrooke Manor was sometimes described as being located in Calvert County, it was actually in St. Mary’s County. When Calvert County was created, the upper part of St. Mary’s County was made a part of the new county. Although there must have been some reason for this decision, the rationing behind it escapes me as the natural barrier between the counties was the Patuxent River. This decision was reversed some 50 years later. “Brooke Place Manor”, another major parcel, became a part of Calvert County.

Eltonhead Manor granted to William Eltonhead in 1649. In 1648, William Eltonhead (brother of Jane Eltonhead who married first, Robert Moryson of VA and secondly, Cuthbert Fenwick) had been granted letters patent to the Manor of Little Eltonhead of 2,000 ac. described then as in Calvert Co. but later in St. Mary’s County. In 1652, his uncle, Edward Eltonhead, Esq. was granted Great Eltonhead Manor, 5,000 acres in Calvert County proper and was also given a warrant for another manorial grant of 10,000 ac. which he requested that his nephew William to put through the proper channels. The seizure of power by the Puritans and the employment of the firing squad at the Battle of the Severn in 1655 in which William Eltonhead with other conservatives was one of the first victims, precluded the formal survey and patent. (Flowering of the MD Palantine by Harry Wright Newman)

Fenwick Manor (Chronicles of St. Mary's, Vol. 16, No. 10) was granted to Cuthbert Fenwick in 1651. As soon as Cuthbert Fenwick completed his service under Capt. Thomas Cornwalys, he assumed his place among the major gentry of the Province and thereafter was given the title of Gentleman. In 1640 he transported six servants and the next year another five for which he was granted baronial rights on a 2,000 ac. manor called "Fenwick" but which he also referred to as "The Manor of St. Cuthbert".

Manor of Cornwallis Cross (Chronicles of St. Mary's, Vol. 13, No. 7) Granted to Thomas Cornwallis in 1639 {01:110}. Next to “Cornwallis’ Cross Manor” (now known as Cross Manor). On 9 Aug 1661 Cornwallis sold Cross Manor and St. Elizabeth’s Mannor to John Nutthall of Virginia {AM:XLIX:003}. On 21 July 1669 both Cross Manor, and St. Elizabeths Manor were sold by John Nutthall to Walter Hall {AM:LVII:557}.

Mattapant Sewell granted to Henry Sewell in 1663. Re-surveyed and re-granted to Jane Sewell in 1665 {07:551}. Charles Calvert, 3rd Lord Baltimore, lived here.

Mill Manor included 1,924 acres in 1765 and was situated on the western side of the main and northern branches of the St. George’s River (now the St. Mary’s River). Two tracts in the area, The Mill and The Mill Dam, were laid out in 1665 for Charles Calvert {PA:08:499}. A tract named St. Leonard’s containing 2400 acres was surveyed on 30 April 1675 for “his Lords.p”, later assigned to his son Leonard and by 1707 was being called Mill Manor {RR:7&8:20}. The first survey found of the manor’s bounds occurred in 1755 and claimed the manor contained 1,924 acres. The lots were re-surveyed in 1768 by Benjamin Morgan {PA:UPC:307}. An undated plat of the manor’s bounds and its lots was done by Jesse Locke circa 1788 {PR:4:040}.

Resurrection Manor (Chronicles of St. Mary's, Vol. 16, No. 10, ; Vol. 5, No. 8) contained 4,000 acres patented by Thomas Cornwallis on 3/24/1650. This property was in the possession of George Plowden by 1707. Cornwallis apparently disposed of this property prior to his return to England in 1659. The ownership of all of the land after that time is not clear.

Snow Hill Manor On 29 February 1639/40, a patent was issued to London merchant Abel Snow, brother of Susanna Snow (wife of Thomas Gerard) for 6000 acres. (PA:01:056}. A year later it was noted that this manor “was never seated and the tract was resurveyed but now contained only 1000 acres. On 12 February 1640/41 a patent was issued again to Abel Snow {PA:01:109}. Abel probably never came to Maryland but his brothers Justinian and Marmaduke had been here since 25 January 1637/38 {AM:I:002}. It appears Justinian was seated in the manor when he died in the winter/spring of 1638/39 {AM:IV:079}. It is thought Marmaduke later returned to England and the manor went escheat based on an act “relating to deserted plantations” passed on 29 April 1650.

St Anns Manor granted to John Lewger in 1640 {01:108}. He gave it back after indian raids of 1642.

St Clements Manor (Chronicles of St. Mary's, Vol. 12, No. 4, ; No. 5, Vol. 9, No. 11) was granted to Thomas Gerard on November 3, 1639. It originally lay on the island of that name in St. Mary's County and contained 1,030 acres. It was resurveyed for Gerard in 1642. Additional land was added which increased the size to 6,000 acres. In 1678 it was resurveyed again for Justinian Gerard, who had inherited it from his father, and again with additional acreage, it then contained 11,400 acres.

St Elizabeths Manor granted to Thomas Cornwallis in 1639 {01:110}. Next to “Cornwallis’ Cross Manor” (now known as Cross Manor). On 9 Aug 1661 Cornwallis sold Cross Manor and St. Elizabeth’s Mannor to John Nutthall of Virginia {AM:XLIX:003}. On 21 July 1669 both Cross Manor, and St. Elizabeths Manor were sold by John Nutthall to Walter Hall {AM:LVII:557}.

St Gabriels Manor containing 900 acres, was granted onAugust 13, 1641 to Gov. Leonard Calvert (1606-1647), the younger brother of Cecilius Calvert, the Lord Proprietary. Mary Brent, the lady of the manor in 1656, was probably a close relative of Leonard Calvert's wife, and may have been the guardian of his two children, who were minors at that time. (Archives of Maryland, Vol. 53, preface 61).

St Gregorys Manor surveyed for Ferdinand Pulton in 1639 {01:039}. Never granted.

St Inigoes Manor (Chronicles of St. Mary's,Vol. 8, No. 3) was granted to Ferdinand Pulton in 1639 {01:040}. Repatented to include St. George’s Island by Cuthbert Fenwick in 1641 {01:115}. At this time Fenwick was an agent for the Jesuits.

In 1662 and 1663 two prominent Catholics, Thomas Mathews and Cuthbert Fenwick, conveyed separately three important manors to Henry Warren of St. Inigoes, unquestionably for church purposes and probably as Jesuit holdings, although no reference is made to this in the deeds, which were not recorded until 1666. On July 12, 1663, Fenwick conveyed to Warren the manor of St. Inigoes, containing 2000 acres and St. George's Island, both lying in St. Mary's County. The deeds were recorded March 22, 1666. (Proceedings of the Provincial Court of Maryland 1666-1670, Volume LVII Preface 55).

St Jeromes Freehold was not a manor. It was granted as a freehold to William Hawley in 1653 {AB&H:346}

St Joseph Manor (Chronicles of St. Mary's, Vol. 16, No. 10) was granted to Nicholas Harvey on 1/25/1642. He arrived on the "Ark and Dove" and is noted as having been transported into the Colony by Father Andrew White. In January, 1639, Governor Calvert selected him as Captain of 12 men to wage a war against the Mattapanient Indians (Archives of MD, III:87). He returned to England where he married and had a daughter, Frances. On 9/1/1641 Cecelius Calvert (Second Lord Baltimore who was running the Colony from England) wrote a letter to his brother, Leonard Calvert, Governor of MD, requesting that Nicholas Harvey be given manorial rights provided he transport himself, his wife, and five other persons. In 1641 Harvey received 1,000 A. for transporting himself, his wife (not named), three menservants--Robert Beard, Henry Spink, and John Chair, a boy named Robert Ford, and his daughter Frances Harvey. His patent was for "St. Joseph's Manor". It was formally granted to him on 1/25/1642

St Leonards Manor Surveyed for Ferdinand Pulton in 1639 {01:039}. Never granted.

St Michaels Manor was granted to Leonard Calvert in 1641 {AB&H:098}. This manor, Trinity Manor and St Gabriels Manor where three tracts which were granted to Leonard Calvert, probably just after the colonists arrival. Since there were no early written records, the official granting of these manors doesn't appear until 1641.

St Richards Manor (Chronicles of St. Mary's, Vol. 9, No. 1) granted to Richard Gardiner in 1640 for 1,000 acres. On September 23, 1662, Luke Gardiner and his wife, Elizabeth gave a quit claim deed to Luke Barber and his wife, Elizabeth for St. Richard’s Manor, 1,000 acres. (Provincial Court Proceedings, Archives of MD, Vol. 49, p. 33). Gardiner abandoned the manor during the raids of 1642 and during Ingle’s Rebellion 1645-1646. The property was repatented to his son, Luke Gardiner, in 1652. Luke Gardner (and wife Elizabeth) sold it to Luke Barber on 23 Sep 1662 {AM:XLIX:033}. Luke Barber sold it to Richard Cane on 27 Oct 1662 {AM:XLIX:127}. By 1707, St. Richard’s Manor belonged to the heirs of Andrew Abington.

Trinity Manor begins at the head of Norton's Creek. The eastern bound can be interpreted two different ways depending on which description is used- the overall or first parcel. The overall cites a right {straight} line along the heads of Cauther's Creek and James’ Creek. The only creek that would intersect such a line is today called Calvert's Creek and therefore Cauther's Creek is identified. The survey for Trinity Manor just says a line drawn from the head of Norton's Creek to the head of James's branch. This branch would extend further inland than the head of its creek. This line actually crosses over Cauther's Creek. Again adjacent tracts patented in the 1700s, Triple Defense, 1734 {PA:AM#1:211} and Pineland, 1728, { PA:EI#03:464} verify that the line did in fact cross over Cauther's/Calvert's Creek and not go around it.

West Saint Marys Manor (Chronicles of St. Mary's, Vol. 36, No.4) In 1634, a patent for 4,000 acres was granted to Henry Fleete, a Virginia trader, who acted as interpreter and guide for the Maryland colonists when they first arrived in the Potomac River. This property was “upon the West Side of St George’s [Mary’s] River over against St Maries” {PA:01:097}. No description of the bounds of this early grant has been found. By 1638, Fleete appears to have become disgruntled with the Calverts due to the trading restrictions they imposed in the colony and he returned to Virginia {PA:02:085}. West Saint Mary’s went escheat to his Lordship.

Westbury Manor granted to Thomas Weston in 1642 {AB&H:058}. This manor eventually was in possession of John Connant by 1707. Connant had married the daughter of Thomas Weston, the original patentee, and lived in new England. In 1737 John Connant sold it to Josiah Connant. {RR:7&8:016}. By 1753 Westbury Manor was in the possession of Abraham Barnes who had devised it to his son Richard Barnes by 1793 By 1812 the land had passed to Richard Barnes heirs ie John Mason. Mason divided and sold many lots off the manor between ca 1820 and ca 1840.

Westwood Manor 1600 acres granted to Thomas Gerrard in 1657 {AB&H:199} Patent not found; Now in Charles County.

Wollaston Manor 2000 acres granted to James Neale in 1642 {01:113}; now in Charles County.

Woolsey Manor, often spelled Wolseley, Wolsey, Woosley, etc., was situated on the eastern side of the main and northern branches of the St. George’s River and was part of the original 6,000 acres of Snow Hill Manor in an area called Portoback’s Quarter {PA:01:055}. Woolsey Manor was first surveyed on 18 August 1664 for Phillip Calvert for 1900 acres {PA:06:277}. A later survey done on 18 August 1764 (exactly 100 years later) increased the size to 2,950 acres {PA:UC:513}. There are no records of any patented lots within this manor prior to 1790. Another undated plat of this manor and its lots was also done by Jesse Locke {PR:4:040}. The lots, whose individual surveys were dated 24 June 1790 {BT:B:74,75,78,272}.

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