Sheriff of the next adjacent County. And for the Encouragement of the several respective Sheriffs, and their Diligence in conveying such Public Letters and Pacquets, that they may be allowed the several Sums hereafter expressed, to be laid in the Public Levy of this Province (that is to say) To the Sheriff of Ann-Arundel, Fifteen Hundred Pounds of Tobacco who is hereby obliged to convey all such Letters and Pacquets as are directed and must go over to the Eastern Shore to Kent Island and there to be delivered to the Sheriff of Queen Anne's County or his Deputy. He in turn delivered the mail matter to the Sheriff or under-Sheriff of Talbot County who received 800 pounds of tobacco per annum from the county. Heavy penalties were imposed for opening either public or private letters unauthorized. ELECTION DISTRICTS 1799 Chap. 50: Commission appointed to divide Talbot County into four election districts. 1852 Chap. 258: Erects new election district (No. 5) out of second election district, the line to be as follows: Beginning at the mouth of Harris' Creek and running with said creek to the head thereof, thence with the division line between the lands of James Dawson and William Lowe, thence with said line until it intersects the division line between the lands of William Hambleton and said Lowe, thence with said line until it reaches the head of a cove or creek called Emerson's Creek, and with said Creek until it reaches Miles River and thence with the river and bay including Tilghman's, Poplar, and Sharp's Islands to the mouth of said Harris' Creek. 1876 Chap. 154: County Commissioners authorized to divide election districts into election precincts. 1892 Chap. 572: Changes boundary line between third and first election districts to be as follows: Beginning at the mouth of Trippe's Creek and running up Trippe's Creek and the north branch thereof, thence with said north branch of Trippe's Creek to a point at or near the residence of Mrs. James P. Hambleton, known as Waterloo, from thence nearly east with the road leading from the said Mrs. Hambleton's residence to a point on the public road from Hambleton to Dover Bridge at or near Iveytown colored church. Thence with said road until it intersects the present dividing line between Easton and Trappe Districts, then following the line as now laid to the Choptank river. Since 1852 Talbot County has continued to be divided into five election districts, as follows, 1st Easton, 2d Saint Michaels, 3rd Trappe, 4th Chapel, 5th Bay Hundred. Ordered that if Deborah Nicols doth not keep sufficient boat and hands to transport the inhabitants of this County from Barker's Landing to Hog Island or from Hog Island to Barker's Landing, and give a good attendance to the said ferry that her allowance next November Court shall be reduced to one-half. (Allowance of 4000 lbs. tobacco per year.) Ordered that Thomas Bruff doth not keep sufficient boat and hands to transport the inhabitants of this County over Miles River ferry from Bruffs Landing to Barrows Landing, and from Barrows Landing to Bruffs Landing again, and give a good attendance at the said ferry, that his allowance next November Court shall be reduced to one-half. (Allowance 6000 lbs. tobacco per year.) Ordered that Rigby Foster doth keep a sufficient boat and hands to transport the inhabitants of this County with their horses and carriages over Chancellors Point ferry as often as they shall have occasion and persons living out of the County at the following rates: Footman 4d; horse and chaise and persons riding in it 2S6d and every person enlisted in his Majesty's service without fee or reward; shall be allowed at the rate of 6000 lbs. tobacco per year. The Court agrees with Elizabeth Skinner that if she will keep a good boat fit for such use and transport the inhabitants of the County, their horses and carriages, over Oxford ferry from the town point to her Landing as often as they shall have occasion and persons living out of the County at the following rates: man and horse, 9d; foot, 4d; horse and chaise and persons riding therein 2S, and any persons enlisted in his majesty's service without fee or reward, shall be allowed at the rate of 4900 lbs. tobacco per year. In later years, as the population in Talbot and the other countiesi ncreased, other ferries were established. As early as 1690 one was in operation between Cloras Point in Talbot and Castle Haven in Dorchester County across the Choptank River. "Salary paid was 4000 lbs. of tobacco, in casks." EARLIEST LAND GRANTS IN TALBOT Lord Baltimore issued grants of land in Talbot County prior to 1661, when Talbot County was founded, as appears by the records in the Land office in Annapolis as follows: Salter's Marsh—100 acres, surveyed October 13, 1658, for John Salter Grange—150 acres, surveyed October 15, 1658, for William Granger Morgan St. Michael—300 acres, surveyed October 19, 1658, for Henry Morgan Wades Point 400 acres, surveyed October 19, 1658, for Zachary Wade Hatton—500 acres, surveyed October 19, 1658, for William Hatton. Scotts Close 200 acres, surveyed November 5, 1658, for James Scott Linton—600 acres, surveyed November 5, 1658, for Edward Lloyd Harbor Rouse—100 acres, surveyed July 26, 1659, for Anthony Griffin Pickburn—200 acres, surveyed July 26, 1659, for Nicholas Pickard Hemersly 400 acres surveyed July 26, 1659, for Thomas Emerson Williston—224 acres surveyed July 28, 1659, for William Champ Kirkham—350 acres surveyed July 29, 1659, for Martin Kirk Martingham—200 acres, surveyed July 28, 1659, for William Hamble ton Mile End—400 acres, surveyed July 28, 1659, for Thomas Miles Choptank Island—1200 acres, surveyed August 11, 1659, for Seth Foster Cudlington 400 acres, surveyed August 11, 1659, for Cuthbert Phelps Hir-Dir-Lloyd—3050 acres, surveyed August 11, 1659, for Edward Lloyd, Esq. Readly 800 acres, surveyed August 11, 1659, for Thomas Read Plimhimmon—600 acres, surveyed August 15, 1659, for Henry Morgan, Anderton—600 acres, surveyed August 15, 1659, for John Anderton Ottwell—500 acres, surveyed August 15, 1659, for William Taylor Turner's Point 400 acres, surveyed August 15, 1659, for William Turner, Grafton Manor—1000 acres, surveyed August 20, 1659, for John Harris mour Summerton—200 acres, surveyed August 20, 1659, for Thomas SeyMarshy Point—700 acres, surveyed August 23, 1659, for James Adams Canterbury Mannour—1000 acres, surveyed August 23, 1659, for Richard Tilghman Eastwood—300 acres, surveyed August 24, 1659, for Robert Jones Tilghman's Fortune 1000 acres, surveyed August 24, 1659, for Samuel Tilghman Ratcliffe Mannour—800 acres, surveyed August 25, 1659, for Captain Robert Morris Woolsey or Chancellor Point—1000 acres, surveyed August 25, 1659, for Philip Calvert, Esq. Todd-Upon-Dirwan—400 acres, surveyed August 30, 1659, for Thomas Todd Hopkins Point—800 acres, surveyed August 25, 1659, for Robert Hopkins Jennings Hope—1000 acres surveyed January 31, 1660, for Richard Jennings Job's Content—1000 acres, surveyed January 31, 1660, for Job Nutt Meersgate 300 acres, surveyed June 24, 1659, for William Hemsley Patrick's Choice—200 acres, surveyed March 30, 1663, for Patrick Mullican Come Whitton—200 acres, surveyed January 4, 1694, for Wm. Dickinson The following large tracts were laid out between 1665 and 1672: Lowes Ramble—1440 acres for Nicholas Lowe Hemsley's Arcadia—1030 acres for William Hemsley Sayer's Forrest—2250 acres for Major Peter Sayer. Note.—Four of the above tracts only have never passed out of possession of the male descendants of the original grantees. They are: "Linton" surveyed for Edward Lloyd; "Martingham" surveyed for William Hambleton; "Patrick's Choice" surveyed for Patrick Mullikin; "Come Whitton" surveyed for William Dickinson. TALBOT'S FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL The first law for the establishment of one Public School in each County in the Province of Maryland passed by the Assembly in 1723 was entitled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, and Erecting Schools in the several Counties within this Province." Whereas, the preceding Assemblies for some years past, have had much at heart the absolute necessity they have lain under, in regard both to duty and interest, to make the best provision in their power for the liberal and pious education of the youth of this province, and improving the natural abilities and acuteness, (Which seems not to be inferior to any), so as to be fitted for the discharge of their duties in the several stations and employments they may be called to and employed in, either in regard to Church or State, and for that end laid an imposition on sundry commodities exported out of, and others imported into this Province, and other fines, for the raising a fund for the erecting and supporting a good school in each County within this province, which has succeeded with such desired effect that it is now thought necessary, and it is prayed that it may be enacted. And be it enacted by the Lord Proprietor, by and with the advice and consent of his Lordship's Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the authority of the same, that in some convenient time after the end of this present session of Assembly, there shall (for the ends above mentioned), be erected one school in each County within this Province at the most convenient places, as near the center of the County as may be, and as may be most convenient for the boarding of children, at the discretion of the visitors, or the major part of them, that are hereafter nominated, appointed and empowered by this Act in each County. Be it therefore enacted, by the authority, advice and consent aforesaid, that for the time being, the seven several persons hereafter named for each County, be and are hereby nominated and appointed, and named visitors, and are empowered with full and sufficient authority for discharging the several offices, duties and trusts, reposed in and required of them by this Act, within the several and respective Counties wherein they reside. For Talbot County, Reverend Mr. Henry Nichols, Col. Mathew Tilghman Ward, Robert Ungle, Esq., Mr. Robert Goldsborough, Mr. William Clayton, Mr. John Oldham and Mr. Thomas Bozman. For Queen Anne County, the Reverend Mr. Christopher Wilkinson, Philemon Lloyd, Esq., Richard Tilghman, Esq., Mr. James Earle, Mr. William Turbutt, Mr. Augustine Thompson and Mr. Edward Wright. And be it further enacted, that the visitors (for the time being) of each school, being qualified, as aforesaid, be and are hereby authorized and directed with all convenient speed, to purchase one hundred acres or more of land, for the use of such school, having a special regard to its convenience, that it may be, as near as possible in such place of the County as is before directed for the erecting of schools, by this Act; the which land, when so purchased, the visitors are to assign such part of it as they shall see meet, not to exceed one moiety thereof, to be built upon, and cleared (if not before built on and cleared) for the conveniency of making corn and grain, and for pasturage, for the encoragement use and benefit of the Master of such school, for the time being; the other moiety whereof is to be preserved in woodland ground, and no other use made thereof by such Master, without the license and direction. of the said visitors, than what may be absolutely necessary for fire-wood and the repairing of the houses and fences already built and made, on such other moiety thereof; that no Master be permitted, either by himself, or any other person, on any pretence whatsoever to plant any tobacco on such land or plantation; and the visitors of the several schools as aforesaid, are further empowered and directed, in case that there shall |