St. Leonard in Calvert County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Government at St. Leonard’s
You are now standing on the house site of Richard Smith, Sr., who in 1657 was appointed to fill the newly created office of Attorney General for Maryland.
The following year, this plantation---“St. Leonard’s---was used by the colonial General Assembly and Lord Baltimore’s Council of Maryland for a series of meetings. Among the laws passed by the Assembly at St. Leonard’s that year was a peace treaty between Lord Baltimore and rebellious settlers; a bounty for killing wolves; a bill that required the registration of birth, marriages, and deaths; another that established the penalties for servant women who had illegitimate children; the creation of legal protection for the estates inherited by minor children; and the establishment of penalties for public drunkenness.
[Captions:]
Excerpts from the 1773 plat key describing the Smith Cemetery.
1773 plat showing Richard Smith’s Sr.’s house location-Detail of plat “i” is Smith’s house, “k” is the family cemetery.
Archaeological test trench showing part of a grave shaft (outlined in red) at the Smith cemetery. The large stone to the right probably marked the grave’s location.
A map of the plantation drawn in the 1770s indicated that the Smith family cemetery was located here, in an area where the Museum planned to install utility lines. Archaeological test trenches immediately uncovered the tops of graves, exactly where the map indicated they should be, and so the utility lines were moved to leave the burials undisturbed.
Erected by Maryland Historical Trust.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Historical Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1657.
Location. 38° 23.675′ N, 76° 30.447′ W. Marker is in St. Leonard, Maryland, in Calvert County. Marker is on Jefferson Patterson Park Road. The marker is located on the grounds of the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Leonard MD 20685, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Attention to Detail-Gertrude Sawyer, Architect (here, next to this marker); The Search for the Chesapeake Flotilla (within shouting distance of this marker); “We Must Have Done Them Considerable Damage” (within shouting distance of this marker); Smith’s St. Leonard Site (within shouting distance of this marker); What is this Big White Building? (within shouting distance of this marker); John Stuart Skinner (within shouting distance of this marker); Valor at St. Leonard Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); “The Commodore Can Beat Any…Barges…Sent Against Him” (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Leonard.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 359 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 22, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.