Maryland

 

Founded by George Calvert (1580 - 1632)

He resigned as King James I's Secretary of State in 1625 after converting to Catholicism.

Declared 1st Lord Baltimore by King James I.

Member of the Virginia Company (1609 - 1620)

Member of the Council for New England (1622)

He purchased the southeaster peninsula of New Foundland (colony of Avalon which did not prosper)

Settled in Virginia Oct. 1639 but was forced to leave when he refused the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy to the Monarch.

Applied for proprietary charter from King Charles I for territory north of Potomac River.

He died before it was finalized.

Cecilius Calvert, 2d Lord Baltimore (1605 1675) son of George

Established firts proprietary colony of Maryland, named for Queen Henrietta Maria

 

Maryland Charter:

Colonist guaranteed basic English Rights

Calvert could make laws with the consent of free male property owners.

1635 - First legislative assembly

1650 - Split into two houses

The charter did not forbid the establishment of Churches other than Protestant. Calvert made the colony a haven for English Catholics.

Manorial Estates could be granted.

 

Maryland:

February 1634, 200 settlers arrived in Virginia.

Calvert appointed his brother Leonard Calvert governor.

Leonard established manorial government and fostered friendly relations with the Indians.

William Claiborne claims part of Maryland but was ruled against in April 1638.

The Charter was almost revoked in 1647

April, 1649 - William Stone - Deputy governor - protestant - passed an Act of Toleration.

Granted religious freedom.

Governor Thomas Greene - recognized King Charles II's claim to the throne.

Parliamentary Commissioners designate William Fuller as Govenor.

1654 - Fuller calls and Assembly which repudiates the propietor's authority in the colony and revokes the Act of Toleration, denying Catholics the protection of the law.

1655 - Civil War - won by the Puritans - imprisoned William Stone.

Nov. 1660 - Philip Calvert regained his place as proprietor.

1675 - Charles Calvert - 3rd Lord Baltimore.

1661 - 1680

Josias Fendall was ousted as governor when the Calverts returned to power.

The Calverts became unpopular when price of tobacco drops.

Dec. 1670 - Voting was limited to freeholders

Indian raids increased

Nepotism

Anti-Catholic sentiment grows

Sept. 1676 - Rebellion crushed and the leaders hanged.

Apr. 1682 - Second rebellion - Fendall banished.

1689 - Revolution in Maryland

May 1684 - Lord Baltimore returns to England to settle boundary disputes with Virginia and Penn's Colony and to answer charges that he favors Roman Catholics. Also that he interfered with Custom collectors.

George Talbot, his nephew, acting governor, accused of murdering a collector

Lord Baltimore fined for obstructing collectors

George Talbot sentenced to death but was banished by the King for 5 years.

William Joseph appointed by Lord Baltimore

John Coode leads a march against St. Mary's and forced Joseph to surrender.

Assembly petitions crown to take over Colony and elected Nehemiah Blakiston president.

1691 - Maryland made a royal colony.

Sir Lionel Copley first royal governor.

1692 - Church of England established in Maryland.

1695 - Capitol of Maryland moved from St. Mary's to Annapolis.

 

 

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