but Carroll and his father maintained a private chapel in their residence and a Jesuit ministered to their spiritual needs. In 1770 the Catholics of Baltimore wished to build a church and the land was obtained from Carroll. He was a pewholder in the cathedral at Baltimore and maintained most friendly relations with its successive Bishops and Archbishops. When Washington was chosen President, the Catholics presented him with an address of congratulation: "Whilst our country preserves her independence and freedom, we shall have a well-founded title to claim from her justice the equal rights of citizenship as the price of our blood spilt under your eyes, and of our common exertion for her defence under your auspicious conduct,-rights rendered more dear to us by the remembrance of former hardships." The address was signed by Rev. John Carroll for the clergy, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Daniel Carroll, Thomas Fitz Simons and Dominick Lynch representing the laity. Washington in reply paid a glowing tribute to the patriotism of Carroll and his fellow Catholics: "I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations in examples of justice and liberality. And I presume that your fellow citizens will not forget that patriotic part which you took in the accomplishment of their Revolution and the establishment of their government, or the important assistance which they received from a nation in which the Roman Catholic religion is professed." When Rev. John Carroll proposed to found an academy at Georgetown, Carroll was appointed one of the gentlemen to solicit subscriptions for its foundation. From this humble beginning sprang Georgetown University, the Alma Mater of so many distinguished Catholic priests and laymen. When Mt. St. Mary's College ceased to be the Petit Seminaire for St. Mary's Theological Seminary, Baltimore, the Sulpicians felt the need of a special school to train young aspirants for the priesthood. The venerable Carroll gave a site at Dougheregan Manor and contributed six thousand five hundred dollars for the erection of the buildings. On July 11, 1831 he laid the corner-stone of St. Charles College, the fruitful source of so many priestly vocations. When the first Provincial Council of Baltimore was held in October, 1829, the Archbishops and Bishops journeyed to Carrollton to pay their respects to the model citizen and heroic christian. Through all the years of his long and busy life, he was a consistent and active Catholic and when the end came he received the last rites of the church he loved so well and served so faithfully. His last recorded words are an epitome of his life: "I have lived to my ninety-sixth year; I have enjoyed continued health, I have been blessed with great wealth, prosperity and most of the good things which the world can bestow-public approbation, esteem, applause; but what I now look back on with the greatest satisfaction to myself is that I have practised the duties of my religion." For years he enjoyed peace and happiness in his family circle, meeting occasional friends, discussing public events, transacting private business. The sunset of his life was spent in christian resignation and fortitude waiting for the call of the Master. On November 14, 1832 he passed away at the home of his daughter in Baltimore. The news of his death brought sorrow to his state and the nation. Memorial meetings were held, resolutions adopted and sermons preached, extolling the virtues and deploring the loss of one whose name was inseparably connected with the birth and development of the Republic. President Jackson issued a touching address to Congress and the Senate: "The last survivor of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, he who for many years was the last precious relic of the band of July 4, 1776, is no more. The death of Charles Carroll of Carrollton is announced to us. The triumph of the grave over this living monument of our nation's birthday, around which the gratitude of a nation loved to gather, will be the signal for a nation's mourning." He was buried in the chapel of Doughoregan Manor and a monument to his memory was erected at the gospel side of the altar. His statue stands in Statuary Hall in the Capitol at Washington, the gift of the grateful citizens of Maryland. Popular historians devote little space to the achievements of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. In consequence his career is but imperfectly understood by the general reading public. Yet he was one of the foremost figures of the revolutionary period. His controversy with Dulany inspired the patriots of Maryland to join hands with the other colonists against tyrannous laws and rulers and his firm and constant demand for separation from the mother country, was the seed from which sprang the Declaration of Independence. Although the wealthiest and most influential citizen of the colonies, he risked his fortune and future prosperity in the service of his country. He was the loyal and staunch friend of Washington in triumph or defeat, and his friendship sustained the great Commander in days of conspiracy and privation. For years he devoted all his time to the affairs of the colonies, oblivious to private business and family necessities. When independence came, he served in the legislative halls of the state and nation, animated solely by love and devotion to the new Republic. In private life, he was a good citizen, a loyal friend, a devoted father. He loved and practiced the religion of his fathers, he detested religious intolerance. "We remember and we forgive," was his noble commentary on the persecutions of earlier days. His fame is indelibly inscribed on the records of the republic as a model legislator, a prudent diplomat, an ardent patriot. Among the galaxy of heroes who contributed to the winning of the independence and to the establishment of the United States, three names are especially prominent: Washington the soldier, Franklin the diplomat, Carroll the statesman. And in his own sphere, Charles Carroll of Carrollton is the equal of his illustrious compeers. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Brown, William Hand. Maryland, the History of a Palatinate. Burns, Rev. James A., C. S. C. The Catholic School System of the United Cobb, Sanford H. The Rise of Religious Toleration in America. American Catholic Historical Researches, 1905-6-7-9-11. Griffin, Martin I. J. Lodge, Henry Cabot. The Story of the American Revolution. McSherry, James. A History of Maryland. O'Hart, John Irish Pedigrees. Russell, Rev. William T. Maryland the Land of Sanctuary. Rooney, John. A Genealogical History of Irish Families. Rowland, Kate Mason. The Life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. U. S. Catholic Historical Society. Unpublished Letters of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Shea, John Gilmary. History of the Catholic Church in the United States. Vols. I, II, III. SOME STRAY HISTORICAL TIDBITS OF THE AMERI CAN REVOLUTION. COLLECTED BY MICHAEL J. O'BRIEN. PATRICK MCCLOSKEY, EXPRESS RIDER FOR THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. By a resolution passed at a meeting of the New York Committee of Safety on January 15, 1777, it was ordered "that the Treasurer of this State pay to Robert Benson the sum of twenty dollars for so much by him advanced to Patrick McCloskey, an express rider for the Honourable Continental Congress, to defray the expense of his journey from this place to the States of Connecticut and Massachusetts, and that the same be charged to Continental account"-(Journal of the Committee of Safety; Vol. I, p. 773; Albany, 1842). DENNIS LYONS, COURIER FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY. "An account of Dennis Lyons* for riding three days in the public service to hasten the marching of the militia of Dutchess to Westchester County," and ordered paid March 3, 1777(Journal of the Committee of Safety; Vol. I, p. 824). CAPTAIN JAMES MAGEE PURCHASED CLOTHING FROM JOHN MCCARTY FOR THE USE OF THE AMERICAN TROOPS. On March 3, 1777, "The Committee appointed to audit accounts reported an account of them audited, of James Magee, one of the persons appointed by the Committee by their resolution on the ninth of October last, to purchase clothing of different kinds in the County of Albany, for the use of the troops raised in this State. The said account amounts to £102. 19s. 6d. An account of John McCarty, the person of whom Mr. McGee purchased the goods, as also a receipt signed by Jere Van Rensselaer, Paymaster of the Third Battalion of Continental troops raising in this State, acknowledging the receipt of these goods for the use of the said Battalion, accompanied the account of Mr. Magee as vouchers" (Journal of the Committee of Safety of the New York Provincial Congress). *He is also mentioned as "David" Lyons, but his proper name was Dennis. AN ANCESTOR OF GENERAL GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN WAS AN OFFICER IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY. Among the pioneers of Rensselaer County, N. Y., were men named Casey, McManus, Crowley, McGee, Kelly, Ryan, Rowan, Power, Gleason, Egan, McKeown, McMurray, McCoy, McGill, Moran, and McCarty, some of whom had served in the Revolution. Among its most prominent citizens were the McClellans whose father, Michael McClellan, emigrated from Ireland to Colerain, Mass., in the year 1749. Michael's son, Hugh McClellan, served as a Captain under General Gates and was promoted to the Colonelcy of his regiment. He was the ancestor of General George B. McClellan-(History of Rensselaer County by Nathaniel Bartlett Silvester; also History of the Seventeen Towns of Rensselaer County by Dr. A. J. Weise). FIVE SONS OF PETER MCLOUTH FROM IRELAND FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. "The first tracts of land sold by the Phelps and Gorham proprietary in the town of Farmington in Ontario County, N. Y. were to a company of Massachusetts citizens, mainly from Berkshire County, among whom were several brothers named McLouth from Taunton. Their father, Peter McLouth, was an Irishman who was educated in Maynooth College, and after coming to the United States taught a grammar school in Massachusetts, where John Hancock was one of his pupils." Of his sons, Peter, who was born at Taunton in 1761, is described as "a brick manufacturer and school teacher by occupation" and "Lawrence McLouth was an old time pedagogue of the town of Farmington." Five sons of the Irish pioneer, Peter McLouth, fought in the Revolutionary war—(History of Ontario County by Charles S. Milliken, also Family Sketches in History of Ontario County, by Lewis Cass Aldrich). THE REBELS WERE CHIEFLY IRISH. "The Rebels consisted chiefly of Irish Redemptioners and Convicts, the most audacious rascals existing"-(Diary of Joshua Pell, an officer of the British army, under date of June 1, 1776, reproduced from the original in the possession of James L. Onderdonk, in Magazine of American History for January, 1878). |