Queenstown in Queen Anne's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
“Lord’s Gift”
1050 Acres.
Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, October 19, 2007
1. Lord's Gift 1050 Acres Marker
Granted to Henry Coursey 1658 1000 acres by order of Lord Baltimore for “conspicuous faithfulness to him during the late contest” (the Uprising of 1652 by Richard Bennett and William Claiborne). The 50 acres were for transporting himself into the Colony. This is the tract known as the “Thumbgrant” of legendary origin.
Erected 1939 by State Roads Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Colonial Era. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Historical Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1658.
Location. 38° 59.103′ N, 76° 9.705′ W. Marker is in Queenstown, Maryland, in Queen Anne's County. It is at the intersection of Maryland Route 18 and U.S. 301, on the right when traveling south on Maryland Route 18. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Queenstown MD 21658, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Colonial Courthouse (approx. 0.4 miles away); Queenstown (approx. 0.4 miles away); Surprise at Queenstown (approx. 0.4 miles away); War in the Chesapeake (approx. 0.4 miles away); "O! say can you see…" (approx. half a mile away); Bowlingly
this page online
Also see . . . Henry Coursey, the Thumbgrant, and My Lord's Gift. ...In recognition, Charles, third Lord Baltimore, gave to Henry DeCourcy as much shown on a certain map as he could cover with his thumb. Being patented in his Lordship's name, it was known ever afterward as My Lord's Gift. (Submitted on November 2, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
circa 1800's
2. My Lord's Gift early home
This drawing is from the files in the Centreville Library, Queen Anne's County, MD.
circa 1800's
3. My Lord's Gift early home
from the files in the Centreville Library, Queen Anne’s County, Md.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,321 times since then and 77 times this year. Last updated on January 27, 2019, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on October 23, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on November 12, 2007, by Jayne Larion of Grand Blanc, Michigan. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
