Talbot County, Maryland

Talbot County, Maryland
Flag Seal
Location in the state of Maryland
Maryland's location in the U.S.
Founded	c. 1661
Seat	Easton
Area
• Total	476.77 sq mi (1,235 km2)
• Land	269.14 sq mi (697 km2)
• Water	207.64 sq mi (538 km2), 46.4%
Population
• (2010)	37,782
• Density	140/sq mi (54.2/km²)
Website	www.talbotcountymd.gov

Talbot County is a county located in the heart of the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is bordered by Queen Anne's County to the north, Caroline County to the east, Dorchester County to the south, and the Chesapeake Bay to the west. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,782.^[1] It was named for Lady Grace Talbot, the wife of Sir Robert Talbot, an Anglo-Irish statesman, and the sister of Lord Baltimore.^[2] Its county seat is Easton.

History

The founding date of Talbot County is not known. It existed by February 12, 1661, when a writ was issued to its sheriff.

In 1667 the 1st meeting of Commissions was held in the home known as Widow Winkles on the Skipton Creek near the town of York. The town of York was vacated once the court house was to be built on Armstrongs Old Field in 1709 near Pitts' Bridge. The new court house designated due to the fact that York was too far north in the county once Queen Anne's County received their charter and was lopped off of Talbot County.^[3] Pitts' Bridge was just north of the Quaker Meeting House, but most importantly, it faced the Indian trail (Washington Street - Easton).

After the American Revolutionary War in 1786, Act to Assemble in Annapolis appointed John Needles to survey and "to erect a town in Talbot County to be called Talbottown" - laying out a town around then existing court house with 118 number parcels of land and designated streets, alleys and lanes. Talbottown was to be know as the county seat of Easton.^[3] Another Act was passed in 1789 to build a larger court house on the site of the old one. This court house was completed in 1794 and today parts of it still stand today inside of the present court house.^[3]

Lt. Col. Tench Tilghman, Gen. George Washington Aide-De-Camp was born on Fausley in Talbot County on December 25, 1744. He died on April 18, 1786 and is buried in Oxford, Maryland ^[4]

On the momunment at the grave site, an inscription reads: Tench Tilghman Lt. Col. in the Continental Army And Aid de-camp of Washington Who spoke Him thus: He was in Every Action in which the Main Army was concerned a great part of the Time. He refused to receive Pay. While lying no man could be more Esteemed and since dead none more Lamen ted than Col. Tilghman. No one bad imbibed Sentiments of greater Friendship for Him than I had done. He left as Fair a Reputation as Ever belonged to a Human Character. Died April 18, 1786 Aged 42

On his actually grave an inscription reads In memory of Col. Tench Tilghman who died April 18, 1786 in the 42nd year of his age. Very much lamented. He tool an early and active part in the great contest that secured the Independence of the United Stated of America. He was an Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency General George Washington Commander in Chief of the American Armies and was Honoured with his Friendship, Confidence and he was one of those whose merit were Disinguised and Honourable Reward By the Congress But Still more to his Praise He was a Good Man

Founding Father John Dickinson was born in Trappe; the abolitionist Frederick Douglass was born into slavery near Tuckahoe Creek. A Statue of Frederick Douglass stand in front of the Talbot County Courthouse.

The first established hospital on the Eastern Shore was near McDaniel at Dr. Absolom Thompson farm, the old Mary's Delight Farm.^[5]

The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.^[6]

Historical site

Third Haven Meeting House

The Third Haven Meeting House of Society of Friends was built in 1682 by the Quakers. After Charles I was executed in England in 1649, then Virginia Governor Berkley, a Royalist pass the Toleration Act. The Quakers were driven out of Virginia for their religious beliefs. The refugees of Virginia were invited to Maryland Province by Lord Baltimore to settle.^[7] The land on which the Quakers settled on was given to them by John Edmondson near the Tred Avon River in the town known today as Easton, Maryland. The Meeting House sits on 3 wooded acres on high ground and it as positioned along the Indian Trail (Washington Street- today). George Fox, father of the movement visited several time. Upon the death of Fox, Third Haven Meeting House was left with a library from Fox personal collection. The Third Haven Meeting House of Society of Friends is claimed to be the oldest framed building for religious meeting in The United States. It is said that Lord Baltimore was present at a sermon in which was given by William Penn.^[8]

In 1794, the rafters were extended on 1 side of the ridgepole (peak). With the extension of the rafters, this made more room inside the meeting house. But the building looks loopsided as seen in the photo above. The new Third Haven Meeting House was constructed out of brick in 1879 which is still used today. The meeting rooms are below and the Sunday School is above. ^[9]

St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church

St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church is recognized as the oldest Roman Catholic Church on the Eastern Shore.^[10] Father Joseph Mosely, a Jesuit, established the church in 1765 on a farm north of Easton in Cordova. St. Joseph Church was the second Catholic Church in Talbot County; a chapel at Doncaster was the first. Doncaster. The foundation of St. Joseph is explained in a letter to Father Mosley sister from Father Mosley: It’s a Mission that ought to have been settled above these sixty years past by means of the immense trouble and excessive rides it hade given our gentlemen that lived next to it; till these days no one would undertake it, wither for want to resolution of fear of the trouble, notwithstanding it had contributed to the death of several of ours and had broken the constitution of everyone who went down to it; although it was but twice a year, except calls to the sick.I was deputed in August 1764 to settle a new place in the midst of this mission’ accordingly, I set off for those parts of the country; I examined the situation of every congregation within sixty miles of it; and , before the end of the year, I came across the very spot, as providence would have it, with land to be sold, nigh the center of the whole that was to be tended. I purchased the land, and took possession in March following.^[11]

The church has had additions added to it in 1845 and the cloverleaf apse where the altar is presently located was added in 1903. Looking at the front of the church the apse addition would be the far left. The remains of Father Mosley and other priest are under the floor of the church.

St. Joseph Church also host to a Jousting Tournament the first Wednesday of August every year. Bob Connolly of Easton was once quoted “the event has been at St. Joseph for the past 142 years. The only time the event was canceled was in 1918, due to many of the riders' involvement in World War I”. Lewis Plugge a Cordova resident has jousted a St. Joseph for 40 year. Mr. Plugge remember going to Old St. Jose (locals call the church) for the tournament and “loading up the horses in the back of a farm truck because we did not own a horse trailer.” Jousting is also Maryland state sport.

St. Joseph still has services every week.

Longwoods School House

Longwoods School House or The Little Red School House located on Longwoods Road (Route 662) just north of Easton. Longwoods School House is one of the few remaining one-room schoolhouses on the Eastern Shore.^[12] The school opened in 1865 with the average class size of about 30. In 1967 the school held its last class. In the picture you can see that there was two outhouses, one for the boys and one for the girls with a fence separating them. Helen Collins once said "that she remembers going to school at the Little Red School House for primary school." She said, " I remember walking to school at the Little Red School House and after school my classmate and myself would walk to the store across the road and buy a pop"

Indoor plumbing was introduced in 1957 and electricity was turned on in the school in 1936. When Talbot Historical Society worked to restore the schoolhouse to it original form. They removed the electrical lights and the modern plumbing and added the outhouse to the back of the building.^[13]

Poplar Island

Popeley Island (later Poplar Island) was one of Talbot County first islands that was given and name and location on a map. Popeley Island was given its name by Captain William Claibourne after Lt. Richard Popeley. Popeley Island was the first land to be settled in 1632 by Captain William Claibourne. The first fields were plant in Talbot County on Popeley Island in 1634 and in 1635 Claibourne granted the whole island to his cousin Richard Thompson.^[14] The summer of 1637 while Thompson was off the island on an expedition, Native Americans, the Nanticoke tribe, massacred Thompson whole family and workers.^[14] Through the 1700s the name change spelling from Popeleys to Poples to Poplar. Thompson went back to Virginia and never came back to his island. Everyone forgot who Lt. Richard Popeley was and the name Poplar Island stuck. In 1654 Thomas Hawkins acquired the Poplar Island and sold half to Seth Foster, Tilghman Island founding father. Poplar Island is only accessible by boat today and is currently being rebuilt by the Army Corp of Engineers.

White Marsh Church

In 1691 King William and Queen Mary appointed Sir Lionel Copely as the first royal governor and told him that the colonist needed to become more religious. The Established Act in 1692 divided Talbot County into 3 parishes, which would serve the Church of England and Old White Marsh, was one of them. The location of the church was decided to be in Hambleton, this decision was made upon the trade routine of the time. It was between the to ports in Oxford and Dover (small town on the Choptank near where Dover Bridge today sits). The original church is believed to built between 1662 and 1665, however the first mention of the church is in 1690.^[15] Although the Talbot County Court House has a record of repair made to the road to Old White Marsh Church in 1687. In 1751 repairs were made to the church and was doubled in size due to the fact the membership was so large.^[15] Reverend Thomas Beacon was the cause of the large membership. Reverend Beacon was the writer of the Beacon’s Laws. In 1795 membership decreased when Reverend Beacon left and services were alternated between White Marsh and Easton. Services finally ended at White Marsh and the church was abandoned.^[15] A few of the original item used at the church rest at the St. Paul’s Church in Trappe: White Marsh’s Bible, communion items and the old wooden alms box.^[15] Fire destroyed the church in 1896 except the brick wall, which is still standing today and can be seen from US Route 50 between Trappe and Easton. The first rector Reverend Daniel Maynadier and his wife are buried in the floor of the church. Also Robert Morris Sr. is buried just outside of the church to the left. Plaques show the graves of all three individuals.^[15]

Law and government

No one really knows when Talbot County first started as a county. The County Council of Talbot County issues a proclamation on April 19, 1983 as to the birth of Talbot dating April 25, 1662.^[16] Talbot County was granted a charter form of government in 1973.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 476.77 square miles (1,234.8 km²), of which 269.14 square miles (697.1 km²) (or 56.45%) is land and 207.64 square miles (537.8 km²) (or 43.55%) is water.^[17]

Adjacent counties

• Queen Anne's County (north) (Queen Anne's County was part of Talbot County until 1706 when it was made into its own county)^[18]
• Caroline County (east)
• Dorchester County (south)

Rivers and creeks

Choptank River takes its name from a tribe of Algonquian-speaking Indians who inhabited both shores of this stream before its settlement by the English. They were people of large stature. The Academy of Natural Sciences in Baltimore City holds several skeletons of these Indians (taken from an Indian earthwork mound at Sandy Hill on the Choptank) Cambridge that measure nearly 7 feet (210 cm) in height with skulls of unusually large size.^[19]}

Miles River is a corruption of Saint Michael's River, its original name. In colonial times all grants of land from the Lords Baltimore were in the shape of leases subject to small and nominal ground rents, reserved by the Proprietary, and payable annually at Michaelmas, the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. In the calendar of the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches this is observed on September 29. Because of this association, St. Michael was considered to be the patron saint of colonial Maryland, and as such was honored by the river being named for him. A large colony of Quakers were among the earliest settlers in Talbot County; as they had no reverence for saints, they persisted in dropping the word saint and calling the river Michaels River. It gradually became known as Miles.^[20]

As early as 1667, six years after the laying out of Talbot County, references to these names are found in the Proceedings of the Provincial Council of Maryland. A commission was issued by Charles Calvert, Esq., Captain General of all the forces within the Province of Maryland, to George Richard as captain of 10 troops of horse to march out of "Choptanck and St. Miles rivers in Talbot County, aforesaid upon any expedition against any Indian enemy whatsoever," etc.^{[citation needed]} At the same time, a similar commission was issued to Hopkin Davis, as Captain of foot in Choptanck and St. Miles rivers.

Wye River, which forms the northern boundary of Talbot County, was named by Edward Lloyd, a Welsh immigrant who took up large tracts of land along its southern shores before the laying out of Talbot County. He named it for the River Wye, noted for its sinuosity, whose source is near that of the River Severn, near a mountain in Wales. He named his homestead Wye House, which was owned by nine generations of Lloyds.^{[citation needed]}

Tred Avon River is a corruption of "Third Haven", as the Third Haven Meeting House was built at the river's headwaters in 1682.^[21][22] "Third Haven" may be a corruption of "Thread Haven", an early name for the first port established at what is now Oxford, Maryland^[23]

Of the thirteen Eastons in England, the most important town of that name is situated about one mile (1.6 km) from the head of the Lower Avon. The seat of Talbot County, located one mile (1.6 km) from the headwaters of Tred Avon River, changed its name from Talbot Court House to Easton in 1788 following the American Revolutionary War, as a reference to the English town. In colonial days, many merchant vessels traded between Oxford and Bristol, England, near which Easton is located. Many of the early settlers of Talbot County emigrated from this area.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	13,084		—
1800	13,436		2.7%
1810	14,230		5.9%
1820	14,389		1.1%
1830	12,947		−10.0%
1840	12,090		−6.6%
1850	13,811		14.2%
1860	14,795		7.1%
1870	16,137		9.1%
1880	19,065		18.1%
1890	19,736		3.5%
1900	20,342		3.1%
1910	19,620		−3.5%
1920	18,306		−6.7%
1930	18,583		1.5%
1940	18,784		1.1%
1950	19,428		3.4%
1960	21,578		11.1%
1970	23,682		9.8%
1980	25,604		8.1%
1990	30,549		19.3%
2000	33,812		10.7%
2010	37,782		11.7%
Est. 2012	38,098		0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[24] 2012 Estimate[25]

2010

According to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, the breakdown of population by ethnicity by self-identification is as follows:

• 81.4% White
• 12.8% Black
• 0.2% Native American
• 1.2% Asian
• 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• 1.6% Two or more races
• 2.7% Other races
• 5.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000

As of the census^[26] of 2000, there were 33,812 people, 14,307 households, and 9,628 families residing in the county. The population density was 126 people per square mile (49/km²). There were 16,500 housing units at an average density of 61 per square mile (24/km²). People self-identified as to racial or ethnic ancestry by the following: 81.98% White, 15.36% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of those who identified as white, 18.2% were of English, 15.5% German, 11.3% Irish and 11.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 14,307 households out of which 26.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,532, and the median income for a family was $53,214. Males had a median income of $33,757 versus $26,871 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,164. About 5.30% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:

1. Easton (incorporated 1790)
2. Oxford (incorporated 1852)
3. Queen Anne (incorporated 1953) (This town is partly in Talbot County and partly in Queen Anne's County.)
4. Saint Michaels (incorporated 1804)
5. Trappe (incorporated 1827)

All are classified as towns under Maryland law.

Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as the United States Census Bureau, the United States Postal Service, and local chambers of commerce, define the communities they wish to recognize differently, and since they are not incorporated, their boundaries have no official status outside the organizations in question. The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county:

1. Cordova
2. Tilghman Island

Other unincorporated areas include:

1. Bozman
2. Claiborne
3. Fairbanks
4. McDaniel
5. Neavitt
6. Newcomb
7. Royal Oak
8. Sherwood
9. Wittman
10. Windy Hill
11. Wye Mills

Education

Schools are part of the Talbot County Public Schools district.

Yearly events

• Waterfowl Festival
• Talbot County Fair - Talbot County held the 1st Agricultural Fair in the State of Maryland in Easton in 1822.^[27]
• Tuckahoe Gas and Steam Show

Miscellaneous

The newspaper of record is The Star Democrat.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Talbot County, Maryland

References

1. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2013. 
2. ↑ Dickerson J. Preston Talbot County: A History. Centreville, Maryland, 1983. page 26
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cynthia Beatty Ludlow, "Historic Easton" 1976 page 16
4. ↑ Norman Harrington "Easton Alboum". Easton, Maryland 1986. page 30
5. ↑ The Easton Star Democrat, December 30, 1949
6. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. 
7. ↑ "The Easton Star Democrat" May 21, 1948
8. ↑ Dickerson, Preston, "Talbot County: A History" Centreville, Maryland 1983. page 32
9. ↑ Ludlow, Cynthia (1976). Historic Easton. pp. 96–97. ISBN 0-870000-305-4 Check |isbn= value (help). 
10. ↑ Weeks, Chsristopher (1984). Where Land and Water Interwine. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 41. ISBN 0-8018-3165-2. 
11. ↑ Weeks, Christopher (1984). Where Land adn Water Intertwine. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 42. ISBN 0-8018-3165-2. 
12. ↑ Weeks, Christopher (1984). Where Land and Water Intertwined. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 129–130. ISBN 0-8018-3165-2. 
13. ↑ "Talbot County - Outdoor Recreation". Retrieved May 5, 2013. 
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Preston, Dickerson (1983). Talbot County: A History. Centreville, MD: Tidewater Publishing. p. 6. ISBN 0-87033-305-4. 
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Weeks, Christopher (1984). Where Land and Water Interwine. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 44. 
16. ↑ Dickerson J Preston, "Talbot County: A History" Centreville, Maryland 1983 page 26
17. ↑ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
18. ↑ [The Star-Democrat, September 27, 1991, page 5A]
19. ↑ "The Easton Star Democrat" December 11, 1936
20. ↑ Norman Harrington, "Easton Album" Easton, Maryland 1986 page 7
21. ↑ Tred Avon River, Easton, Maryland official website
22. ↑ Tred Avon River, Bartleby.com
23. ↑ . Oxford, Maryland, Pride2.org
24. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved August 24, 2013. 
25. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Census.gov. Retrieved August 24, 2013. 
26. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
27. ↑ The Easton Star-Democrat, December 30, 1949

External links

• Talbot County government
• Local Information on Talbot County

Coordinates: 38°45′N 76°11′W / 38.75°N 76.18°W / 38.75; -76.18

		Queen Anne's County
	Chesapeake Bay		Caroline County
	Talbot County, Maryland
		Dorchester County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Talbot County, Maryland, United States County seat: Easton Towns Easton Oxford Queen Anne‡ Saint Michaels Trappe CDPs Cordova Tilghman Island Other communities Bellevue Bozman Claiborne Copperville Doncaster Lewistown Lloyd Landing Matthews McDaniel Neavitt Newcomb Royal Oak Sherwood Tunis Mills Unionville Wittman Wye Mills Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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