Page 31 - December 2020 Issue.indd

December 15, 1773: even going so far as to suggest a “King If readers are curious, the bill also
William County” was proposed to exist designated the original boundaries
One of Several here starting in the 1740s, such an of the new county, addressed internal
Caroline County administrative unit did not materialize fiduciary responsibilities, outlined
until years later. The time was indeed recordkeeping logistics, identified
“Birthdates” right, however, by the 1770s. Th ere were properties or buildings necessary to
some mitigating factors, such as keeping acquire or construct, and named original
by Chad Dean
an equal balance of counties on the leadership position appointments among
For my column this month, I wanted Western Shore and the Eastern Shore other logistical details.
to clarify some information about the (Harford County was created the same One may view November 5 and
creation of Caroline County. There year), but what mattered most to locals December 15 more as conception dates,
are a few widely accessible resources was the length they were forced to travel if you will. Should that be the prevailing
circulating -- both in print and online to reach the county seat of Queen Anne’s
opinion, then yet another date is apropos
-- that claim on June 15, 1773, parts of or Dorchester in order to conduct their for formal acknowledgement: the
Dorchester County and Queen Anne’s aff airs.
moment the county government became
County were formally removed to form
Though proposed legislation was functional. The first Caroline County

Caroline. This is factually incorrect: June
certainly drafted and petitions did commissioners met on March 15, 1774,
15 is not notable as a local anniversary
circulate in advance, there are three at Melvill’s Warehouse (just north of Oil
in any meaningful way. I have researched concrete formal founding anniversaries City), long before the fi rst courthouse
the Maryland General Assembly archives Caroline Countians should observe. at Pig Point (Denton) was completed in
from the summer session of 1773 and

William Richardson submitted his bill 1797. That soap opera, however, is a story
can assure you, after reviewing the
to the Maryland General Assembly on for another time.
entire legislative record, there was no bill
November 5, 1773. It passed on December
pertinent to the creation of a Caroline Local residents, area historical
15 of that year, with Dorchester County
County or any other county contained organizations, and the county
and Queen Anne’s County compensated
therein. government should proudly recognize
one hundred thousand pounds of each of these dates with the appropriate
While it is true that Mid-Shore residents tobacco (legal tender in that era) for pomp and circumstance on an annual
had for decades prior discussed carving the roughly 320 square miles they basis.
another county from the Choptank- relinquished to form the new county
Tuckahoe corridor, with local lore his legislation requested.

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