Stevensville in Queen Anne's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Cray House

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 12, 2025

1. Cray House Marker

Inscription. This National Register site is located on a tract of land once called Steven's Adventure, granted to Francis Stevens in 1694. John Denny, a ship carpenter, mechanic and farmer, constructed the earliest northern part of the house soon after he purchased the property in 1809. It is a rare example of "post and plank" construction. Handsawn logs are inserted into vertical corner posts with mortise and tenon joints, forming the sides of the building. If you look closely, you will see evidence of another vanished wing on the north end of the building. Around 1842 Mary Legg enlarged the dwelling. The house had several owners during the 19th century and was sold at public auction in 1914 to Nora Cray. Cray, a widow, lived in the simple, rustic house with her three children. Her heirs presented the house and lot to the Kent Island Heritage Society in 1975. The Society restored and furnished the house. The meat house in the back, although moved to this site is a rare example of what was once a common feature of houses in the region.

Erected by Historic Sites Consortium of Queen Anne's County, Maryland.

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1694.

Location. 38° 58.885′ N, 76° 18.906′ W. Marker is in Stevensville, Maryland, in Queen Anne's County. It is on Cockey Lane north of Love Point Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 111 Cockey Lane, Stevensville MD 21666, 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,

in the Chesapeake Bay Region,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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 walking distance of this marker: Stevensville Train Depot (a few steps from this marker); Country Store (within shouting distance of this

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0)

2. Cray House

marker); Stevensville Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Grollman's Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Stevensville Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Christ Church (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Stevensville Station (approx. half a mile away); Kent Island (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stevensville.

More about this marker. The marker has significant weather damage.

Additional plaque on the building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 10, 2019

3. Additional plaque on the building

Cray House
Early 19th century

Individually listed in the
National Register of Historic Places

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 500 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on August 11, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.