Description:

Colonial Maryland Doc Re: Lords Baltimore & the Cresap's War-Era MD/PA Boundary Dispute, Signed by 2 MD Governors

A 2pp manuscript document signed at its conclusion by two Governors of Maryland, Samuel Ogle (ca. 1694-1752), as "Sam: Ogle" at the center of the second page; and Benjamin Tasker, Sr. (ca. 1690-1768), as "Benja: Tasker" just beneath Ogle's signature. N.d., but ca. 1732-42. N.p. Inscribed overall in a neat secretarial hand on bifold paper. The third inner page is blank, and the fourth blank page is docketed. Expected wear including even toning, paper folds and isolated breaks along the folds, scattered foxing, minor chipped edges, and some weathering to the first page. Else near fine. 7.5" x 12.125." Accompanied by extensive biographical research. Provenance: From the estate of a Maryland collector, purchased at Harris Auction Galleries (Baltimore, Maryland) in March 1997.

The document contained detailed instructions for one William Rumsey, the Receiver of the Rents of Talbot Manor. Talbot Manor was situated on a 1680s land grant of some 32,000 acres located at the mouth of the Principo Creek in Cecil County, in northeastern Maryland. This area--at the juncture of Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania borderlines--was heatedly contested as part of the territory claimed by both Maryland and Pennsylvania. Hostilities between Maryland and Pennsylvania escalated in 1732 with Cresap's War, and our document may have dated from this year or its immediate aftermath. The original Talbot Manor tract had settlers from under both Maryland and Pennsylvania colonial jurisdictions. (The Maryland and Pennsylvania land dispute was not resolved until 1767!)

Talbot Manor was named after George Talbot, an Irish immigrant from Roscommon County, Ireland. Talbot received two land grants to the property in question in the early 1680s, when Talbot Manor was first known as Susquehanna Manor and then as New Connaught Manor. Talbot's claims of ownership were effectively nullified, however, after he was accused of murder and treason in 1684. Though Talbot deeded Talbot Manor to his direct descendants, the Lords Baltimore, long the colonial proprietors of Maryland, confiscated his land. Thus, William Rumsey's instructions pertained to "His Lordships Manor of Talbot." The sitting Lord Baltimore during the period ca. 1732-1742 would have been Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore (1699-1751).

The document reads in full, with original spelling and punctuation:

"Instructions to be observed by Wm Rumsey Receiver of the Rents of His Lordships Manor of Talbot in Cecil County

You are hereby Impowered upon Application of any person desirous to become a Tenant within the Manor afsd. to agree with the said Person for such Quantity of Land he is willing to Lease therein in the Mannor hereafter mentioned

You are not to Lease to any one Person above the Quantity of Three Hundred Acres of the said Manor or there abouts nor under the Quantity of One Hundred Acres

You are to Lease no part of the said Manor under a less Yearly Rent than Seventy Shillings Sterling p[er] Hundred Acres, And as in many parts of the said Manor the Land differs in Goodness You are hereby Authorized to agree with the Persons willing to become Tenants thereon for such a Yearly Rent as in your Judgment Land of equal goodness with that Part of the Manor would let for

You are to run out the Lines of Each Tenants Tract and return a Certificate thereof to the Examiner General to be by him Examined being always Cautious to lay out Each Tract into a Square as near as conveniently may be

You are Annually to Transmit to the agent for the time being A List of the Tenants Names the Quantity of Acres leased by each Tenant and the Yearly Rent paid by them, and you are to Account with the said Agent for the time being for the Rents and Profits of the said Manor

You shall restrain all and every the Tenants of the said Manor on any [of] the Lands so Leased by them from Committing any Waste or Sale of Timber or destroying wood thereof than shall be Necessary for building and Improving or for Clearing Ground for Tillage and other proper uses thereon"

[signed] "Sam: Ogle"
[signed] "Benja: Tasker"

Samuel Ogle served three non-consecutive terms as Governor of Maryland, between 1731-1732; 1733-1742; and 1746/47-1752. Ogle was replaced in 1732 by Charles Calvert, 5th Baron of Baltimore as Governor of Maryland, the very man whose land document he here signed. Ogle married Benjamin Tasker, Sr.'s daughter Anne Tasker (1723-1817).

Benjamin Tasker, Sr. served as the acting Governor of Maryland between 1752-1753. A 5-times Mayor of Annapolis, Tasker, Sr. also served in the Maryland state legislature and sat on its Governor's Council between 1722-1768.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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