Near Eldersburg in Carroll County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
History of the Freedom Community
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 19, 2019
1. History of the Freedom Community Marker
Inscription.
History of the Freedom Community. . Around 1750, the community of Eldersburg was founded by John Elder, who was given a land grant from the King of England for as much land as Elder could stake out in 24 hours. John Elder staked an 800-acre farm named Perseverance on a stagecoach route between Baltimore and Frederick, now known as Liberty Road. Shortly after, the intersection now known as MD 32 and MD 26 became a center of commerce containing two taverns, a blacksmith shop, and two general stores. The nearby intersection of MD 26 and Ridge Road featured a trading post, court house, and turkey roost., After the Revolutionary War, the Village of Elders was re-named to Freedom after the method by which lots were sold. For each lot purchased, the buyer was given an adjoining free lot. By the early 1800's, the largest property in the County was the 3,000 acre Springfield estate, laid out for William Patterson one of the original directors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Patterson's daughter Elizabeth eloped to marry Jerome, prince brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, French military leader and emperor who conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century. Although Elizabeth did marry Jerome, Napoleon later had the marriage annulled., In 1825, James Sykes bought 1,000 acres of land and rebuilt an existing saw and grist mill, and later built a cotton factory in the area that would later become Sykesville. During this time, Sykesville and the Freedom area saw tremendous growth and development and in 1837, Carroll County was created out of the western part of Baltimore County and the eastern part of Frederick County. . This historical marker is Near Eldersburg in Carroll County Maryland
Around 1750, the community of Eldersburg was founded by John Elder, who was given a land grant from the King of England for as much land as Elder could stake out in 24 hours. John Elder staked an 800-acre farm named Perseverance on a stagecoach route between Baltimore and Frederick, now known as Liberty Road. Shortly after, the intersection now known as MD 32 and MD 26 became a center of commerce containing two taverns, a blacksmith shop, and two general stores. The nearby intersection of MD 26 and Ridge Road featured a trading post, court house, and turkey roost.
After the Revolutionary War, the Village of Elders was re-named to Freedom after the method by which lots were sold. For each lot purchased, the buyer was given an adjoining free lot. By the early 1800's, the largest property in the County was the 3,000 acre Springfield estate, laid out for William Patterson one of the original directors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Patterson's daughter Elizabeth eloped to marry Jerome, prince brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, French military leader and emperor who conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century. Although Elizabeth
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did marry Jerome, Napoleon later had the marriage annulled.
In 1825, James Sykes bought 1,000 acres of land and rebuilt an existing saw and grist mill, and later built a cotton factory in the area that would later become Sykesville. During this time, Sykesville and the Freedom area saw tremendous growth and development and in 1837, Carroll County was created out of the western part of Baltimore County and the eastern part of Frederick County.
Location. 39° 22.017′ N, 76° 57.388′ W. Marker is near Eldersburg, Maryland, in Carroll County. Marker is on Buttercup Road south of Raincliffe Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1859 Buttercup Road, Sykesville MD 21784, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 537 times since then and 146 times this year. Last updated on May 20, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 19, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.