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Archiver > MDQUEENA > 2006-03 > 1143398786


From: "Family Tree Bookshop" <>
Subject: Maryland Minute Men? (Better make that an hour or two) Part One
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2006 13:46:26 -0500


Dear Queen Anne County Researchers:
I hope you all dont mind, but I thought I would post some stuff that
I had written previously for our newsletter concerning the role of the
militia in Maryland and particularly during the Revolution. I will be
sending these in about 5 messages--as they are pretty long. Thanks for your
indulgence and I hope you enjoy them and may be able to find something of
help to your research.
<<<Neil>>>

Maryland Minute Men? (Better make that an hour or two)

Perhaps the best way I can maintain a degree of consistency to force myself
to crank out the newsletter in a more timely fashion is to concentrate some
of my pontifications on a subject I find most fascinating. Without a doubt,
the highest ranking would go to the American Revolution. While the Civil War
is responsible for the use of enough ink to equal the entire output of the
Alaskan pipeline, the seminal event in our nation's history usually goes
begging. Among the reasons for this oversight probably would include the
idea that it was a war that largely went undocumented, that militarily the
Revolution was of minor consequence, and particularly that it has become so
wrapped up in myth over the past two hundred years or so, that to go beyond
the myths and stereotypes is to be classified as being unpatriotic.

Certainly the Civil war has generated enough of its own myths and legends,
but regardless of which side one might sympathize with, in the end we can
all say we are "Americans." However, to explore the divisions which were
extant among the population of the colonies is to appear treasonous.But for
those engaged in family research, we have to go beyond the myths and the
"Hollywood" renderings to understand the world our ancestors lived in, the
choices they made, as well as the reasons behind their choices. To find that
one's ancestor may have opposed the move for independence, or at best was
"luke-warm" to the struggle should not make one feel less American.
Conversely, should one have had an ancestor who supported the cause and may
have served in some capacity should not lead the researcher to paroxysms of
flag-waving. In order to impart a better understanding, or to at least lead
the family researcher into performing more investigation, I plan to devote
the next few pontifications to the Revolution in Maryland and more
specifically to that enigmatic organization--the Maryland Militia.

For those of us a bit long in the tooth--even if they are store-bought--our
fundamental understanding of the American Revolution and particularly the
militia was shaped by Hollywood renderings. How many out there remember
"Johnny Tremain?" Come on, be honest now. I bet you still have visions of
clean-cut and clean-shaven colonists parading through the streets singing
"We're the Sons of Liberteee"--in perfect harmony of course. If not "Johnny
Tremain" how about Leslie Nielsen (of "Naked Gun" fame) as the "Swamp Fox"?
Remember that theme, huh" Of course you do, and I bet quite a few of you
tonight will sing the theme song--in muffled tones, of course--while
lathering up in the shower. What a time that was to grow up--and how much
history was transmitted to us --along with the merchandise accompanying the
shows--so that we still carry those images with us. Never mind that old
"Uncle Walt" had a subliminal message there as well. What better way for him
and his studio to implant in our impressionable little minds certain Cold
War messages. You think I am crazy don't you? Well, stop and think for a
minute. Look back to those old episodes of "The Swamp Fox." What color did
the British wear? You, in the back with your hand up,---yes, you're right!
Red, of course? And what was another name for the "Commies?" Yes, you in the
second row! Absolutely, "the Reds." Remember how smarmy and totalitarian the
British officers were--particularly Banastare Tarleton. Of course, he was
that way in real life as well, but what a great symbol he made. And the
British soldiers--they were all indoctrinated automatons while "we" were all
independent thinkers and acted in a democratic way. Worse yet, how about
those who portrayed the evil and vile "Loyalists?" They were always slimy
and devious: ready at a moment's notice to betray us and quash our hopes for
freedom. Although Walt never came out and said it, they were the consummate
"fellow travelers" --the one's that true patriots were trying during the 40s
and 50s of ferreting out and exposing.

Unfortunately, Disney's binary portrayal of the American Revolution has
remained with us today. For those
living during that tumultuous era, the fight for Independence was not that
simple. Quite the opposite, the issues confronting our ancestors were almost
as complex as the issues facing us now. The decision to declare our
independence from Great Britain came slowly for many and among the colonies
wrestling with the issue was Maryland.

In order to make better sense of why Maryland was slow to make the move
towards Independence, we need to look at
some of the socio-political, economic, and cultural issues that were at work
during the Revolutionary Crisis. This month's meandering will attempt to put
the political issues afoot in the Province into some degree of
clarity.Unlike the rest of British America at the time of the Revolution,
Maryland was not a crown colony. In fact, it was a province under the
control--by royal charter--of the Calvert family and more particularly, the
Lord Baltimore. To put it simply, whoever was Lord Baltimore owned the place
lock, stock and barrel. While the Maryland Assembly could put forth
legislation, ultimately whether it was passed or vetoed lay in the hands of
the Proprietor.

Maryland had been and was a "cash cow" for the Calverts and
their incomes were derived from all manner of things. Land sales, taxes,
rents, duties on exports were among the ways the Proprietor and his family
generated their living. Because of the latitude given the Lords Baltimore by
Charles I, intervention into the workings of the province by the crown were
minimal. Certainly, there had been a time when Maryland was a crown
colony--in the couple of decades following the Glorious Revolution, but by
the 1720's after the Calverts converted from Catholicism to the Church of
England, the province reverted once more to their control.

Throughout the century or so prior to the American Revolution, any
controversy or turmoil within the province usually was between the
inhabitants and the Proprietor. The Proprietor's chief weapon for
maintaining his authority within the province--as it did as well within the
Crown Colonies--was patronage. Patronage was the engine--both in Britain and
the colonies-- that drove politics and society. In order to understand the
mechanics of this in more detail, I will refer you to previous
pontifications, but to put it as succinctly as possible here, British and
American societies were hierarchical with power, prestige, and wealth
emanating from the top. If one was to prosper, one needed power and
influence, and the only way possible to gain that was to cultivate influence
with those on the highest rungs. If one was to gain influence and position,
those who were within the orbit of that person also reaped benefits. To
either be unable to garner position or to lose position and influence had an
adverse effect on many others. Obviously, the competition for influence and
thus position and wealth created much contention. As it is now it was then
as well, that the politics--and society--fell into two camps: the "ins" and
the "outs." Those who had "it" wanted to keep it, those who wanted "it" had
to search for a means of gaining "it." "It" was derived from patronage. All
provincial political and military positions were appointed by the
Proprietor, and with the positions came income and social importance. Atop
this pyramid and below the Proprietor was his Lieutenant Governor. Directly
below him came his council who acted not only in a advisory capacity, but
served as the members of the Provincial Court and as the Upper House of the
Legislature. There were a myriad of other appointees as well. Surveyors,
Keepers of the Rent Rolls, Customs officials, Tobacco Inspectors, Justices
of the Peace, county magistrates, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, clerks and
many, many others. All owed their position and income to their
benefactors--usually other family members--who in turn owed their place in
the "Great Chain of Being" all the way up to the Proprietor.
Throughout most of Maryland's provincial history, political and social
division evolved out of the quest for position.

Politically, for most of the time there were no political "parties." There
were, however, political
"factions" and alliances which were fairly fluid and owed their existence to
who was "in" and who was "out." This dramatically changed during the French
and Indian War and owed much to how and who was going to fund Maryland's
defense. The chief source of contention revolved around a portion of the
duties paid the Proprietor from the export of tobacco. Many in the Maryland
Assembly believed that a good portion of the duties were supposed to return
to the province to fund its defense. The Proprietor denied this and expected
the war to be funded through taxes. Additionally, the Lower House of the
Assembly wanted more say in the administration of expenditures and a
disclosing of how moneys were being spent. If this were to be the case, then
the Proprietor would also have to disclose his income and how much was being
derived from what sources. The Proprietor saw this as an affront, and also
believed that the Lower House's demands for having a say in the expenditure
of funds as being a usurpation of his prerogative powers. During the course
of the war, a bill to fund the militia was passed 8 times by the Lower House
in the same form and 8 times the Upper House blocked it. The result of the
political strife was the creation of "Court" and "Country" parties. Although
these two parties were still made up of factions, the lines toward what we
define today as political parties became more hardened. Their delineation
was most pronounced during the French and Indian War and in the wake of that
conflict along with a period of some economic prosperity the rhetoric and
turmoil subsided. However, as economic conditions worsened in the years just
prior to the Revolution, the parties--and particularly the party of
opposition would make their influence felt.

Although sympathy would arise in Maryland over the principles that led to
the Revolution, Maryland would
remain reluctant to divorce itself from the Crown. In fact, its struggle
still lay with the Proprietor and his appointees. Those in opposition saw
the solution to their problems with independence from the King, but an end
to the Proprietary form of government and of becoming a Crown Colony. To do
so, would rid the province of the old placemen and bring in a new group,
among whom they hoped to be in order to reap the rewards of a new regime and
the need for others to fill the positions--and thus the influence and wealth
that would accompany a change. In the early phases of the Revolutionary
crisis, moderates led by a new alliance of Merchants and Planters--once
rival factions--would keep Maryland on the fence. As the crisis worsened, a
more radical group within the party, began to turn up the heat and the
rhetoric. In order to maintain its hold on the party and the Maryland
assembly, the moderates were forced as well to increase their become more
radical and in the end would accede to the calls for Independence from Great
Britain and the Crown.

www.familytreebookshop.com featuring abstracts so thorough, the dead come to
life
www.mddelgenealogy.com--the best site on the web for Maryland and Delaware
researchers

www.familytreebookshop.com featuring abstracts so thorough, the dead come to
life
www.mddelgenealogy.com--the best site on the web for Maryland and Delaware
researchers


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