Descriptive Summary

Harrison Collection, [1790-1890]

MS. 432

Maryland Historical Society

Baltimore MD 21201-4674

by

Drew Gruenburg

Dr. Samuel A. Harrison was born October 10, 1822, at Clay's Hope farm in Talbot County, Maryland on the Tred-Avon River. He graduated from Dickinson College in 1840 and went on to enter the University of Maryland Medical School. In 1844 he received his diploma and soon began the practice of medicine in St. Michael's, Maryland. Due to poor health he moved to the then distant western city of St. Louis, Missouri and engaged in the drug business there.

In 1854 he returned to Talbot County where he lived out his life, devoted to agricultural and literary pursuits.

THE CONTENTS OF MS. 432.1 SEEM TO INDICATE SAMUEL HARRISON LIVED IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND DURING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE CIVIL WAR.

He became President of the County School Board and the Superintendent of Public Schools in Talbot County, while engaged in the ongoing project of writing a critical history of Talbot County. Dr. Harrison died in 1890 at the age of 68, at his son-in-law's residence, “Foxley Hall”, in Easton, Maryland.

This collection is made up exclusively of information about Talbot County, Maryland, which was researched, collected and organized by Dr. Samuel A. Harrison. The large majority of the collection is in manuscript form written by Dr. Harrison; however, there are newsclippings and letters.

The first section of the collection consists of the Annals of Talbot County. These are bound volumes divided into ten subject headings including Biographical, Political, Civil, Industrial, Religious, Social, Geographic, Military, Educational, and Miscellaneous. The information is presented in short, concise entries in each of the numbered volumes.

The second section consists of manuscript articles written by Dr. Harrison, many of which appeared in the newspapers of Talbot County, and some of which were given as lectures. These follow the same subject headings as the Annals of Talbot County, but are greater in length and center on one particular person, time period, or event in the history of Talbot County.

The remaining portion of the collection is made up of scrapbooks of newsclippings, research notes of Samuel A. Harrison for the annals and history of Talbot County, correspondence generated during his research, and lectures delivered on Botany and Zoology in Public Schools, Public, Military and Normal Schools in the county, 1866-1886, and education.

The biographical annals consist of seven volumes of references to various families or individuals who resided in Talbot County. Each volume includes short biographical sketches, citings of births, deaths, and marriages, and events of importance which took place in Talbot County and which involved important people in the community.

The following is a list of some of the names cited in each volume of the biographical annals. Many families and specific names are repeated throughout the seven volumes.

VOLUME I

Bowie

Bozman

Douglass, Frederick

Kerr

Lloyd

Tilghman

Turbutt

VOLUME II

Brooks

Buchanan

Coats

Coward

Gibson

Maynadier

Tenant

VOLUME III

Chamberlain

Dickinson

Goldsborough

Hambleton

Hammond

Morris

Singleton

Thomas

Tilghman

VOLUME IV

Douglas

Hindman

Spencer

Tilghman

VOLUME V

Bozman

Chamberlain

Gibson

Goldsborough

Johnson

Kerr

Lloyd

Thomas

Tilghman

Winder

VOLUME VI

Bozman

Dickinson

Douglas, Frederick

Chamberlain

Coats

Gardiner

Hammond

Hollyday

Kerr

Needles

Singleton

Worrell

VOLUME VII

Banning

Goldsborough

The information in these seven volumes was collected from various newspapers, court records, and personal reminiscences. The volumes trace the political activity of Talbot County from about 1800-1870. Most of the entries concern county politics, but there are entries relating to national politics and more specifically, to how the political affairs of the nation affect Talbot County.

A brief listing of information in each of the volumes:

VOLUME I

1790-

political petitions

Washington College appropriations; 1793

Kerr, David

Nabb, James

Nichols, Thomas C.

VOLUME II

Includes play entitled “The Grand Caucus” -- a political squib --

An apology for the Tories of the Revolution

VOLUME III

1802-1832

Elections in Talbot County; Election returns

Accounts of political meetings

List of elected officials, justices of the peace

Court proceedings

VOLUME IV

1818-1849

Information RE: Jew Bill 1823 -- the object of which was to expunge all religion test oaths

Internal improvements

Subject of public schools

Election returns

Nominating Convention of 1835 in Baltimore

Whig Party politics

Election of William Henry Harrison

Custom of holding fish feasts during political campaigns

VOLUME V

1850-1861

Death of Zachary Taylor, Daniel Webster

Election of Franklin Pierce and Millard Fillmore

Suspicious letter regarding a slavery reprising on the Eastern Shore, 1859, soon after John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry

Some information about the Civil War

VOLUME VI

1861

Civil War

Battle of Bull Run and Manassas

Assembling of [UNK] in Talbot

Arrest of Southern sympathizers

VOLUME VII

1862

Account of the arrest of Judge Richard B. Carmichael

All Civil War information

VOLUME VIII

1864-1870

Assassination of Lincoln

Emancipation Proclamation

Compensation for slaves enlisted in the U.S. Army

Lists of registered voters of Election Districts in Talbot County

The Civil Annals record all municipal regulations and rules established by county officials while also recording much local legislation by the General Assembly. The Civil and Political Annals overlap and compliment each other.

VOLUME I

1660-1864

Memoranda collected from books of Henry Hollyday Godsborough -- items he copied from various sources at the Clerk's & Records Office in Easton, public records of Annapolis, and other public documents.

Lists of justices, sheriffs, clerks of county

VOLUME II

List of justices of the peace, 1706-1800

List of attorneys, 1679-1850

Lists of constables, grand jury, tax collectors

VOLUME III

1792 -- description of mail service on the Eastern Shore between Easton and Snow Hill

VOLUME IV AND VOLUME V

Same lists as above

VOLUME VI

Census records for Talbot County 1850

Census records for St. Michael's and Easton, 1850

Annual statement of the county; receipts and expenditures, 1858, 1859, 1862

Tax assessments 1866

The Industrial Annals record commercial, mercantile, banking, and agricultural activites of Talbot County.

VOLUME I

The Bank No. 1

1804-1862

The Farmer's Bank of Maryland - Branch Bank at Easton

Articles of Association of the Farmer's Bank of Maryland

List of original subscribers to the stock of the Farmer's Bank of Maryland

Descriptions of meetings

VOLUME II

The Bank No. 2

1862-1869

The Farmer's Bank of Maryland

The Easton National Bank of Maryland

Names of stockholders in the Easton National Bank of Maryland

Articles of Association, By-Laws

Tables indicating dividends

VOLUME III

Prices established for food staples and liquors - in tobacco or cash

List of persons and their occupations

Ferry lisences and amounts alloted to the ferries for operation

VOLUME IV

Prices for ferries

Prices of liquors; and accomodations in the taverns of Talbot County

VOLUME V

1790-1817

Lists of people and their occupations

Lists of stallions mentioned in the newspapers of the county

VOLUME VI

1818-1835

Same lists as above

Account of meeting of Maryland Agricultural Society

Account of cattle show and auction

Prices for wheat and corn taken from quotations of the Eastern Star and Gazette

VOLUME VII

1836-1861

Same lists as above

Information on cattle shows sponsored by the Maryland Agricultural Society for the Eastern Shore -- lists judges, winners

Proceedings of a Special Meeting of the Stockholders of the Maryland & Delaware Railroad Company, 1856

VOLUME VIII

1861-

Minutes of the Easton Grange

The end of the publication of the “Star” - T.K. Robson, Editor

Same lists as above

In the Religious Annals of Talbot County, Samuel A. Harrison records not only all that related to religion properly, for instance the building of churches, parish records, biographical sketches of ministers, but also that which is connected with morals, benevolence, and charity.

VOLUME I

Memorandum establishing position of Third Haven Meeting House

References to land on which church were built

Lists of vestrymen

Constitution of Home for Friendless Children

VOLUME II

Short biographies of ministers

Information regarding the building of new churches in Talbot County

Information on: Society of the Institution and Support of Sunday Schools in Easton

Philanthropic Society

Charitable Society

Bible Society

Notices of addresses given

Meeting to organize an auxiliary to the American Colonization Society

VOLUME III

Information on Masons

Colonization Meetings

Camp Meetings

Notes re: Temperance Conventions

VOLUME IV

St. Peter's Parish, No. 1

Short biographies of various clergymen

Bills of cost for suits for the vestry

List of vestrymen

VOLUME V

St. Peter's Parish No. 2

Memoranda taken from the Book of Records of the Proceedings of the Vestry of St. Peter's Parish

Register of the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church

Death notices

VOLUME VI

White Marsh, Trinity, St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Convention 1856

List of rectors St. Paul's Parish

Queen Annes and Talbot Counties

Short biographies of:

Rev. Francis Barclay

Rev. John Hooker Reynolds

Rev. Daniel Stevens

Rev. Josephus Bulkley

Rev. Grandeson Asquith

Rev. Bennet S. Glover

Rev. Thomas K. Peck

Rev. Robert William Goldsborough

Rev. John Owen

Rev. John Palmer Robinson

Rev. Henry Brown

Rev. William G. Hawkins

Rev. William Croes Crane

Rev. Erastus Franklin Dashiell

Rev. Gustavus C. Bird

An historical sketch of St. Paul's Parish

VOLUME VII

St. Michael's Parish No. 1

List of vestrymen

Catalog of books belonging to the library of St. Michael's Parish

VOLUME VIII

St. Michael's Parish No. 2

VOLUME IX

“The Friends or Quakers”

Rules and regulations of the Friends

Building of meeting houses

Accounts of quarterly meetings

Some minutes of monthly meetings

Third Haven Meeting

Choptank Meeting

Chester Meeting

Little Choptank Meeting

Tuckahoe Meeting

Some mention of Hickites and Nicolites

George Fox visit to Talbot County 1672-73

VOLUME X

Quakers No. 2

Wenlock Christison

And Old Catholic family in Talbot

VOLUME XI

St. Peter's and St. Michael's Parishes

Memoranda in this volume derived from the manuscript history of parishes, comprising Diocese of Easton compiled by Rev. Doc. Ethan Allen

Rectors and ministers of White Marsh Parish

Short biographies of:

Rev. Benjamin Nobbs

Rev. William Sewell

Rev. Daniel Maynadier

Rev. Thomas Bacon

Rev. John Bowie

Rev. Thomas Gates

Rev. James Connor

Rev. Joseph Jackson

Rev. John Neely

Some information on Trinity Chapel -- Oxford

VOLUME XII

1766-1866

Historical Record of the Methodists in Talbot County

VOLUME XIII

Memoranda taken from Vestry Book of St. Peter's Parish

Includes notice of cultural affairs, notes on slavery,

VOLUME I

Notes transfers of property, selling of servants

Bills of sale -- deeds of manumission

Punishments for adultery

Lists of public whippings

VOLUME II

1790-1813

Meetings of Abolition Society

Scheme to raise money for purchase of fire equipment for Easton

Easton Theatre

Eastern Shore of Maryland Jockey Club

Cock fights

VOLUME III

1814-1842

Concert notices

Meteor Shower 1833

Capture of Easton packet sloop messenger

VOLUME IV

1843-1863

Lectures in Easton given on mesmorism and magnetism

List of members of Citizens Fire Company

VOLUME V

Negro situation after emancipation

Mail Service -- 1860's

The geographic annals record information dealing with the topography, the geology, the geography, the climatology, the botany, the zoology, and the natural history of Talbot County. There is also information on the Indians of Talbot County and on the laying out of towns.

VOLUME I

“A Description of Talbot County,” by John Leeds Bozman, ca. 1810

VOLUME II

Information on: the towns of St. Michaels, Easton and Claiborne

Notes on Oxford, Maryland

VOLUME I

Account of attack on St. Michael

Biography of Perry Benson

Appointment of officers

VOLUME II

List of names of officers of Maryland militia, War of 1812 from Talbot County

Some information on Civil War

Appointment of officers

VOLUME I

1790-1826

General

Advertisements for schools

Advertisements for tutors, scholars, teachers

Information on Easton Academy

Notices of examinations, orations

The Female Academy of Easton

VOLUME II

1827-1849

Opening of schools

Beverly Seminary 1836

Joseph Spence 1836

Matthew Spencer 1836

VOLUME III

1850-1860

Easton Female Academy

Statements of expenses for public education in Talbot County

VOLUME IV

“Acts for Incorporating Schools on the Eastern Shore”

Information on Washington College

St. John's College information and the forming of the University of Maryland -- St. John's and Washington College

In these annals, Harrison recorded whatever fell into his hands from various sources without regard to classification or arrangement.

VOLUME I

Address of Robert H. Goldsborough to the Freemen of the 7th Congressional District of Maryland

Information on Kent Island Parish

Information on Claiborne Family

VOLUME II

Handbills

VOLUME III

Account of Robert Morris' death

Names of ships trading in the waters of Talbot County

Ghost stories

This section of the collection is composed of articles researched and written by Samuel A. Harrison. Many of the articles appeared in the newspapers of Talbot County and they all compliment the information compiled by Harrison in the Annals of Talbot County.

MS. 432

HARRISON COLLECTION

BOX 1

Biographical Annals of Talbot Co.

(7 vols.)

Civil Annals of Talbot Co.

(6 vols.)

Political Annals of Talbot Co.

(8 vols.)

BOX 2

Educational Annals of Talbot Co.

(4 vols.)

Military Annals of Talbot Co.

(2 vols.)

Industrial Annals of Talbot Co.

(1 vol.)

BOX 3

Industrial Annals of Talbot Co.

(7 vols.)

Religious Annals of Talbot Co.

(13 vols.)

BOX 4

Social Annals of Talbot Co.

(5 vols.)

Geographical Annals of Talbot Co.

(2 vols.)

Miscellaneous Annals of Talbot Co.

(3 vols.)

Scrapbooks

(4 vols.)

BOX 5

Scrapbooks

(3 vols.)

BOX 6

Articles:

Biographical

BOX 7

Religious

BOX 8

Religious

Civil

Geographical

Social

Military

BOX 9

Military

Education

BOX 10

Education

Industrial

Medical

Research Notes

(6 folders)

BOX 11

Research Notes

(11 folders)

Fragments

Envelopes

Correspondence, 1866-1887, n.d.

(8 folders)

Lectures

(3 folders)

BOX 12

Lectures

BOX 13

Lectures

(8 folders)

Articles/Letters to Editor

(3 folders)

Treatises

(2 folders)

Source Material

(12 folders)