The Plundering Time
The Maryland Assembly met on 11 Feb 1645 at Nathaniel Pope’s home / ordinary in St Mary’s. Thomas Sturman, a freeman from St Michael's Hundred, pointedly asked the Governor if his “Commission” for seizing London (Parliament supporting) ships applied to Maryland waters as it did to Virginia? [169] Calvert replied that it did not extend to Maryland. Like the Virginia Assembly, the Maryland Assembly declared itself for free trade.
On 14 Feb 1645, Richard Ingle sailed the Reformation, accompanied by one ship from Chicacoan, up the St George’s River to St Inigoes Creek. Ingle first seized the Dutch trading vessel, Der Spiegel (Looking Glass) even though it hailed from Rotterdam and its records showed that it had not traded in England. They captured former acting Governor Giles Brent who was on board and took him prisoner on the Reformation. Capt. Cornwaleys sent his servant, Andrew Monroe, to secure his pinnace (small ship). Apparently seeing a chance to gain his freedom, Monroe and Thomas Harrison surrendered the ship to Ingle’s forces and joined the rebellion. Then Ingle attempted to capture the Trewlove, a small pinance, sailing out of Bristol, England, which was 1 mile up St. Inigoes Creek but the crew moved it further up the creek where the larger Reformation couldn’t sail. After nightfall the Trewlove quietly slipped out and sailed for England. The next morning Ingle sent 7 men – including Thomas Sturman – to take the Cross House, the mansion of his good friend, Thomas Cornwaleys. At the time it was the largest and wealthiest home in Maryland which Ingle feared could be used by the Catholics as a garrison. Although Ingle promised Cornwaleys’ wife otherwise, it was pillaged, plundered and left in ruin within 24 hours. Sturman commanded a garrison there for a while and later in the rebellion a number of prisoners were held at his house in St. Michaels. [170]
Ingle also sent out search parties for specific individuals: in particular, Governor Leonard Calvert, Secretary John Lewgar and Jesuit Priest Thomas Copley. [171] Calvert attempted to organize a resistance. But to quote Riordan: “Calvert was about to discovered what had become painfully obvious to both sides in the English Civil War: A citizen militia might be effective against a foreign enemy but in the case of civil war it is torn by the same forces that caused the conflict.” [172] Since the Protestants greatly outnumbered the Catholics in Maryland, Governor Calvert’s situtation was precarious. However, it appears that the Catholics were not immediately overwhelmed and that he was able to gain enough men to mount a defense and construct St. Thomas Fort on the property of Giles Brent's sisters: Margaret and Mary Brent. For their defense, the Protestants constructed a fort around Nathaniel Pope’s house and ordinary. The battle became one of raids and foraging to support each garrison. Poor Blanche Oliver, for example, lost an ox to Calvert supporters at St. Thomas Fort and a cow to the rebels at Pope’s Fort. [173]
The Catholic gentry were especially badly plundered. For example, early in the rebellion Sherriff Thomas Baldridge referring to himself as “Captain and Commander” led a party to the home of Nicholas Harvey, the prominent Catholic baron of St. Joseph's Manor on the Patuxent River, which was plundered and burned. Baldridge and his wife would occupy the Jesuit manor house at St. Inigoes Hundred during the rest of the rebellion. [266] Ingle ordered all of the Catholics' plundered tobacco and silver plate placed on board the Reformation and the Looking Glass. But their household goods, livestock and tools went to the Protestant rebels. In addition, Ingle collected all the debts in pounds of tobacco owed to Calvert, Lewgar, Cornwaleys, Fenwick and Copley for himself. Ingle desperately wanted to capture the Catholic Priests so that he could take them to London in order to prove that Maryland was hostile to the Protestant controlled Parliament and to justify his actions and his anticipated reward. Father Thomas Copley was subdued at his Portobacco house and later Father Andrew White was found. Three other, lower ranking Jesuits “disappeared” and were never heard from again – the only casualties of the conflict. [174]
The mission properties of the Jesuit Priests were plundered, some houses burned and others turned over to the rebels. According to later court records, Father Thomas Copley filed a claim against Richard Ingle in England for £ 1800 including for jewelry and a number of items made of gold or silver and containing diamonds, rubys and sapphires – possibly religious symbols. [175]
In mid March, unable to capture Governor Calvert, Richard Ingle sailed to the Isle of Kent where they continued to plunder - in particular, Giles Brent’s plantation – while Brent remained a prisoner on the Reformation. Brent was a prominent Catholic and a member of Maryland’s Council; had been acting Governor while Leonard Calvert was in England in 1644; and had been commander of the Isle of Kent. Edward Cummins and Thomas Bradnox were leaders in this operation. By the end of March, the Reformation and Looking Glass were full with tobacco and plundered lute. By early April, they had set sail for England with his carefully chosen prisoners, all Catholics: Giles Brent, John Lewgar, Father Thomas Copley and Father Andrew White who would be taken to testify in London’s High Court of the Admiralty as the Letter of Marque required. They reached London in early June 1645. [176]
The Aftermath
The first law suit began on 13 June when Captain Ingle sued the Looking Glass in Admiralty Court "for trading with a port hostile to Parliament" i. e. St. Mary's in the Province of Maryland. In July Thomas Cornwaleys sued Richard Ingle in Admiralty Court and in August in Chancery Court under common law. Giles Brent and Father Thomas Copley sued Ingle in Admiralty Court in August as well. In November of 1645 Richard Ingle countersued Cornwaleys and others under Common Law. Unfortunately for Ingle, the courts did not agree with him and he did not receive any "prize" money for taking the Looking Glass or benefit from his plunder. Furthermore, he came under suspicion of stealing and embezzling goods from the Looking Glass. Richard Ingle never returned to trade on the Chesapeake Bay. [177, 178, 179, 180, 181]
Meanwhile in the Province of Maryland, Governor Leonard Calvert held out through the Spring of 1645 avoiding capture by Ingle then fled to Virginia as did most Catholic manor owners. A thesis of Riordan's The Plundering Times is that Maryland did not fall into anarchy and chaos but rather was governed by Protestant freemen who organized themselves with elected Assemblies and Courts. [182] After all it was a stated justification of Richard Ingle to the courts in England that "he helped settle the government of the Province in Protestant hands". Eighteen months later at the end of 1646, Calvert - after offering a pardon to the Maryland rebels who would accept Lord Baltimore's authority - led a few dozen soldiers ( about half exiles from Maryland ) who easily overthrew the rebels at St. Mary's. However much of the Province and especially Kent Island remained to be subdued.
A few days later on 29 December 1646, Leonard Calvert called a meeting of the Maryland Assembly - as constituted under the rebels' rule - at St. Inigoe's fort which passed a number of laws including a tax on exported tobacco to support the government and Calvert's soldiers. On 2 January 1646 /47 Calvert demanded that the pardoned men of St. Mary's swear an oath of fealty to Lord Baltimore. The minutes of the Council record that 38 men did so including Francis Gray, Nathaniel Pope, Thomas Sturman, Walter Broadhurst, John Hilliard, John Hampton and John Hollis all of whom would soon emigrate to Virginia. [183]
Francis Gray One of the Rebels
Because there were rumors of a plot to retake St. Mary's by rebels gathered at Chicacoan on the Northern Neck of Virginia - perhaps when Governor Calvert would be distracted by subduing Kent Island - the Maryland Council issued a Proclamation 0f Embargo on 16 January 1646 / 47:
"Upon certain reasons known unto my Self requiring an embargo to be laid at this present upon all persons & vessells and to the end that noe Intelligence may be communicated....with fforraigners during this time of war, I doe hereby forbidd all persons now being in the County of St Maries....not to goe....out of the County of St Maries without acquainting me first therewth....and that noe person entertain any Communicacon or give any entertainment to any one comeing into the Province or from the Isle of Kent but that Immediately after the knowledge of any arrival of any person or Vessell Comeing into the County of St Maries they give notice thereof to me as Soon as they may and warn all persons Soe arriving to come to the ffort to me afore they entertain any Communicacon with any person of the province....observe it in every point Soe far as it Shall concern them upon pain of death....Given at St Inego's ffort this 16th January 1646." [184]
The rumorers said that a certain Captain Wyatt was on the Chesapeake Bay with several ships planning to attack; that rebels from Chicacoan had returned to Maryland by night and stolen cattle taking the meat back to Virginia; and that William Claiborne and twenty men were on Kent Island attempting to rally them to attach St. Mary's - the latter rumor was in fact true. On 18 January, the Province's Attorney, John Lewgar, presented charges to the Council of Maryland against Thomas Sturman, John Sturman, ffrancis Gray, John Hamton, Robert Smith, Tho. Yewell charging them with:
"1....that since they were lately pardoned bye two several pardons one after another of the Crimes of Rebellion & Sedition, they the said delinquents.....secretly fled out of the Province by night & made resort and assembled themselves together at the house of one John Mottram, and with others of Checkacoan notorious enemies to the Lord Proprietary and his governmt here established and on the thirteenth, ffourteenth, ffifteenth and Sixteenth days of this Instant Month of January, Some one or more of them, have at the place, and with the enemies of the Province aforesaid, used divers Speeches and practises and hatched & Complotted divers Machinations and Conspiraces agt the person of Leonard Calvert Esq now Govr of the Province and for the entring into the Province by force as enemies and robbers to destroy the Inhabitants and the Cattle, and to burn & fire the Country afore them...."
"2....have used Speeches and news at their returning into the Province on the 17 Jan:....viz. publishing and proclaiming in triumphing Manner, that one Capt Wyatt was comeing in with Comission from the parliamt for the Governmt of this Province, and that divers Ships were in the bay to that end, as likewise Spreding news at other times that Capt Clayborne had likewise Comission for the Governmt and was come up with 50 men to take the Governmt or at least to Support the Rebellion of Kent {Island} which divers other Speeches and news tending to fright the people & divert their Obedience from the Lord Proprietary."
"3....come by night into the Province, and drive and carry away the Cattle of the Inhabitants, as enemies and Robbers, and Some of them they kill and convey over to the residue of their Confederates as aforesaid,....And thereupon his Lordships Said Attorney prayeth that the Said Several Delinquents now in prison, may be Judged for the Said Several Crimes, to be banished out of the Province, as persons incorrigible and desperate...., and all their goods to be Confiscated to the Lord Proprietary, and their Lands to the Several Lords of whome they are Imediatly holden, and that their persons may be kept in Close prison untill means may be provided for their transport, And that the rest of the Said Delinquents not being.... found may be proclaimed to render themselves to the Sherriff within ten days after notice thereof upon perill of being proceeded agt in their absence, & forfeiting all their Lands and goods as afd.
Jo. Lewgar" [185]
Later the same day the Council examined Edward Thomson of Chicacoan:
"This Examinant Saith that being at his house in Chickacoan on Wednsday last, one Sam Tailor - comeing into the house and being ask't by this Examinant what news abroad - Replyed the Speaker (meaning ffrancis Gray) had Spoke once again, and that they that were the Chief cause of entertaining the present Governor were aimed at and their death vowed (nameing Capt Price and Thornbury and Hebden) but that there was a party that would goe over from this Place (Meaning Chickacoan) Soe Soon as the Governor is gone to Kent or where else they can gett an opportunity to goe over & would fire and burne and destroy all that they can.
By his Lordships Lieutent" [186]
{NOTES: The parentheses () are in the original court document and are not my clarifications which are in brackets i.e. { }. Capt. John Price was commander of Governor Leonard Calvert's forces and would later become Colonel John Price.}
The following day, 19 January, the Council granted a bond to these prisoners: Thomas Sturman, ffrancis Gray, John Hampton, John Sturman and Robert Sedgrave - the author of the July 1638 petition to the Governor of Virginia complaining of “abuses and scandalous reproaches....doe daily suffer by William Lewis of St. Ingego's". Each pledged a 2000 pounds of tobacco bond that they would not have contact or communications with John Mottram, Thomas Yewell, Thomas Lewis or Robert Smith, their "Confederates" in the plotting:
"....for himself acknowledge themselves to owe unto the Lord Proprietary two thousand wt Tobo {pounds Tobacco} in Case they Shall attempt to goe out of the County of St Maries without acquainting the Govr therewth afore or Shall entertain Secret Comunicacon or intelligence wth John Mott {Mottram}, Thomas Yewell, Thomas Lewis or Robr. Smith or any person comeing from them or any of them, or Shall harbour them or any of them, or Shall know of any of their Comeing into the parts where he lives, and Shall not as Soon as he may give notice thereof to the Governor.
{signed} Mark of T - Thos Sturman, ffrancis Graye, John Hampton, Rob. Sedgrave, John Sturman
By his Lordps Lieutent of Maryland" [187]
On 27 January, Calvert issued an assurance to Smith and Yewell and promised them a pardon if they submitted by 4 February and took the oath of fealty. [230] By the end of January, Calvert had firm control over St. Mary's county. After he subdued the rebels on Kent Island that April, Governor Leonard Calvert suffered an untimely death of natural causes a few months later on 9 June 1647.
Afterwards there were many lawsuits in the Provincial Court demanding reimbursement for losses during the rebellion. For example, from the Maryland Archives of the Provincial Court:
"
Febry 4 {1649 / 50}
Mary Clocker demandeth of ffrancis Gray 1000 lbs tobacco being the value of a Cow of the plaintiff's killed by the Said ffrancis at St Maries about Septemb 1646 and assumed by him to be paid for." [188]
And on the same date against Nathaniel Pope:
"....to the demand of Blanch Oliver for 2 kine {cows} With Calf.....{Pope} Saith that if he did kill any of her Cattle.....he ought not to pay upon any Such Cause Such actions being taken away by Act of the Assembly.
Mary Clocker Saith upon her Oath that in her presence Nathaniel Pope did promise to Blanch Oliver that for an Ox of her's killed in their ffort.....he would give her Satisfaction......She Should have a Sufficient Cow and Calfe as any was in his penn.....
And the Court found that the plaintiff recover a good Cow & Calfe as any was then in his {Pope’s} penn....." [188]
In March, another against Gray:
"Mar: 2 Nicholas Keytin demandeth of ffrancis Gray, both in his own name & as Admr of James Cauther, 200 lbs tobacco casked for the price of a hog of the previously said killed by the defendants to their own use.
And in presence of Jo. Piles (Attorney of the Defendant) and pleading for his defence, the Court found for the plaintiff 150 lbs tobacco." [189]
Preparing to leave Maryland, Francis Gray sold all his cattle in April 1647:
"This wittnesseth that I ffrancis Gray ffor and in Consideration of one thousand pounds Wt of good & merchantable leafe tobb {tobacco} and two Sowes - the Tobbaco to be payd at the next Cropp and the Sowes already deliverd - doe bargaine sell and make over all the right and title of all Cattle whatsoever I have in Maryland of my marke unto Mr John Hampton and doe likewise vouch the sale of them against all person or persons what soeuer, as shall lay claime unto them
Wittness my hand this 17th day of Aprill 1647
signature of ffrancis Graye " [198]
A New Life In Virginia
Gray removed across the Potomac River to the Machodoc River on the Northern Neck of Virginia in 1647 or early 1648. He appears in a court case against Curtbert Fenwick in the Index to the earliest Northumberland Deeds and Orders Book and then appears in the court orders for 24 May 1650 when he was granted a certificate for 300 acres of land by assignment from Capt. Francis Poythers for the transportation of 6 persons into the Colony of Virginia. [190] On 16 July 1654, Gray patented 1000 acres on the south side of the Potomac River extending to the head of Rosyers Creek for the transportation of 20 including a George Rush. [191] On the 3rd of July 1661, Francis Gray took the oath to become one of the first Vestrymen of Appomattocks Parish, Westmoreland County, along with the ancestors of two future U.S. Presidents: Andrew Monroe and John Washington.
"Wee whose names are here underwritten were made Choice of as vestrymen by ye parish of Appomattocks & have taken ye oath of Alegiance & Supremacie & doe subscribe ye folloowing words as I doe Acknowledge myself a true sonn of ye Church of Engld. soe I doe believe ye Articles of faith there professed & oblige my self to be comformable to ye Doctrine & Discipline there taught & established dated this 3rd of Jul 1661. Signed: John Dodson, ffrancis Gray, John Washington, Andrew Monroe," etc. [192]
This is a map (click for image) of early Westmoreland County patents which shows Gray’s 16 July 1654 patent 0f 675 acres and his 18 March 1662 patent of 572 acres, the Upper Church at the Round Hills where he was a Vestryman and the mill of the emigrant John Washington (built 1662) on Rozier's Creek.
The Will of Francis Gray was dated 7 June 1667 and was proved at Court on 31 July 1667. It reads in part:
"....Unto my loving wife Alice Grey and my son Francis Grey all my moveable estate such as horses, cattle, hogs &c...
....
Unto my son Francis Grey all my land. In case of the failing of issues of Francis Grey then to be equally divided between my daughter Anne Rush the wife of William Rush and Ann Lancelott the daughter of John Lancelott....
My loving wife Alice Grey executrix." Francis Grey.
Wittnesses: John Ashton, Mary Gardner. Proved: 31 July 1667 [227]
First Settlers of the Northern Neck of Virginia
What interests me now is that most of the Protestant - often Puritan - leaders of the Rebellion of 1645 subsequently settled across the Potomac River on the Northern Neck of Virginia in what became at first Northumberland County (1648) and later Westmoreland County (1653). Many of these men - like Francis Gray - became prominent citizens there. As the St. Mary’s Rebellion demonstrated, these men had an overwhelming desire for individual freedom, ownership of the land they worked and self-determination.
Their experiences in Maryland would influence the future of Westmoreland County and indeed of our nation. A century later, prominent citizens from Westmoreland County such as James Monroe, George Washington, George Mason and the Lee brothers - Francis Lightfoot, Richard Henry and Thomas Ludwell - advocated strongly for Virginia to support the Declaration of Independence from England while representatives from Richmond and the Tidewater were more reticent. Three of the first five American presidents were born and educated in this spirited environment: George Washington, James Madison and James Monroe. I summarize the experience in Virginia of nine such rebels at this link: First Settlers of the Northern Neck of Virginia.
Sources of Maryland Court Records
You may access and search the Archives of Maryland Online by clicking here (link) .
In addition, Dr. Lois Green Carr, Historian, Historic St. Mary's City, has placed images of her research index cards online for a number of early Maryland settlers. You may click here (link) to view her "St Mary's City Mens Career Files" where you will find her index cards for Francis Gray.
Acknowledgements
Patricia Peyton Allen was extremely helpful in sharing research on her ancestor, Francis Gray, with me and convincing me that Francis Gray - early settler and Burgess of the Province of Maryland - was the same Francis Gray who was later found in Westmoreland County and the father of Ann Gray who married William Rush II. Ms. Allen emailed me her typed notes and conclusions as well as several .jpg images of book pages which were some of her sources. She also added citations for all her information as might be expected from the genealogist for the The Peyton Society of Virginia. Patricia Allen is a descendent of Francis Gray through William Rush II's marriage to Ann Gray and their daughter, Mary Rush, who married Philip Peyton. Without her invaluable documentation and persuasion, I might not have believed that the Francis Gray of St. Mary’s, Maryland, was the same man later found in Westmoreland County.
In several paragraphs, I have summarized the fine research of Timothy Riordan from his book: The Plundering Time: Maryland and the English Civil War (Baltimore, Maryland Historical Society, 2004). I am very indebted to his work on Ingle's Rebellion and the men who participated in it.
You may access the Archives of Maryland Online by clicking here (link).