Saint Marys City

St. Mary's City, in St. Mary's County, Maryland, is a small unincorporated community near the southernmost end of the state on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay.^[1] It is located on the eastern shore of the St. Mary's River, a tributary of the Potomac River. St. Mary's City is the fourth oldest permanent settlement in British North America and is considered the birthplace of religious toleration in America, owing to the Act Concerning Religion. The city was also the first place in America where a woman asked for the right to vote, and a man of African descent voted in the Assembly at one point.

History

Reenactor at St. Mary's City historic district

St. Mary's City was founded in 1634 by a group of English settlers. They arrived on the exploration ships Dove and Ark, which were led by Leonard Calvert, who was a part of the Barons Baltimore and a Roman Catholic. The land was originally given to Leonard's father, George Calvert, by King James I, but he died before it was established. The original St. Mary's was laid out according to a Baroque town plan, but most residents of St. Mary's City preferred to live on tobacco plantations in the surrounding countryside. The colony was also meant to be the capital of the new Maryland Colony. A Yaocomico Indian village had previously occupied the location, though unlike other English colonies, the settlers coexisted with them peacefully.

In the second half of the 17th century, St. Mary's City had an economic boom due to successful tobacco farming and the increase of population. This allowed the construction of public buildings, some of which were a state house, a Jesuit chapel, a jail, and an inn. ^[2]

During and after the English Civil War there were often fights between Protestants and Catholics. In 1689, the religious tensions became so great that there was a Protestant revolution against the Lords Baltimore. This resulted in the English Crown's take over of the Maryland colony, the appointment of royal governors, and the movement of Maryland's capital to Annapolis in 1695. The colonial statehouse was turned into a Protestant church in the same year, and the town of St. Mary's soon became obsolete. There were still inhabitants, but they were mostly farmers. By the mid-20th century, there were very few 17th century buildings still standing.

Present-day St. Mary's City is primarily the location of St. Mary's College and Historic St. Mary's City. There is also a tourist center staffed by archaeologists. This attraction was created after Historic St. Mary's was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1969.^[3]

Archaeological History

Reconstructed State House

St. Mary's City is known for its archaeological research sites. The digs began in 1971,^[4] and in the same year, a museum was established. Since then, much of the old city has been found. Here is a list of some important finds:

• A 1645 fort with a surrounding moat, claimed to be the only physical evidence of the English Civil War in the American Colonies.^[5]
• Facon de Venise Glassware
• A set of Kutahya ceramics, one of two only known examples found on America.^[6]
• 3 rare 17th-century lead coffins
• A quantity of lead type, indicating that the site on which it was found was the William Nuthead Printing House. The print was the first in the Southern Colonies.^[7]
• St. John's Freehold, where Maryland's citizen government was instituted.
• Garret Van Sweringen's Inn, a 17th century in founded by Garret Van Sweringen, a leader in St. Mary's City's development.

St. Mary's College

See also

• Plundering Time
• Battle of the Severn

External links

• Historic St. Mary's City

Footnotes

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of St. Mary's County, Maryland County seat: Leonardtown Town Leonardtown CDPs California | Charlotte Hall | Golden Beach | Lexington Park Other communities Abell | Avenue | Beachville-St. Inigoes | Beauvue | Bushwood | Callaway | Chaptico | Clements | Coltons Point | Compton | Dameron | Drayden | Great Mills | Helen | Hollywood | Hopewell | Loveville | Maddox | Mechanicsville | Morganza | Oakley | Oakville | Park Hall Estates | Piney Point | Ridge | St. George Island | St. Inigoes Shores | St. Mary's City | Scotland | Spencers Wharf | Tall Timbers | Valley Lee

Coordinates: 38°11′21″N 76°25′56″W / 38.18917°N 76.43222°W / 38.18917; -76.43222