St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

A Time of Troubles

Struggling

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 11, 2026

1. A Time of Troubles Marker

Inscription.

A Time of Troubles. Struggling. , Civil war raged in England during the 1640s between King Charles I and his opponents in Parliament. Maryland's proprietary government, led by Lord Baltimore and other Catholics, sided with the King. Many of the first colonists in Maryland, however, were Protestants who favored the cause of Parliament., Richard Ingle, the Protestant captain of a Virginia vessel, sailed up the St. Mary's River early in 1645 and succeeded in overthrowing the Maryland government., Ingle had a fort built around the governor's house, which became the stronghold of the rebellion, the only military action in North America related to the English Civil War. Governor Leonard Calvert fled across the river to Virginia with some of his followers, and the population of Maryland dwindled briefly to only about a hundred people., Two years later, the occupation ended peacefully. Leonard Calvert returned from exile and with the assistance of mercenary soldiers, reclaimed control of Maryland., [Captions:] , Margaret Brent acted as the executor of Governor Leonard Calvert's business affairs upon his death and attempted to restore order to the colony after Ingle's revolt., The fort built around Leonard Calvert's house became known as Pope's Fort. It was named for Nathaniel Pope, a Protestant settler in Maryland who aided Ingle and his men., Pope's fort was built as a tall palisaded fence with a large ditch around the outside. The dirt from the ditch was piled against the palisade for extra protection., This piece of body armor, known as a tasset, was found in the ditch that had been dug around Pope's Fort. Artifacts like this are the only evidence of the English Civil War in America., The English Civil War pitted King Charles I and his supporters against Parliament. Most Catholics sided with the King, most Protestants with Parliament., [Timeline:] , 1634 140 Colonists Arrive in Maryland , 1640s English Civil War , 1645 Ingle's Revolt Nearly Destroys Colony , 1646 Governor Leonard Calvert Returns from Virginia , Proprietor Regains Control of Colony , 1647 Leonard Calvert Dies, [Sidebar:] , "…upon the Occasion and insurrection and Rebellion in our said Province of Maryland Begun and fomented by that Notorious and ungrateful Villain Richard Ingle and his Complices… , Archives of Maryland, Vol III, p 236

Civil war raged in England during the 1640s between King Charles I and his opponents in Parliament. Maryland's proprietary government, led by Lord Baltimore and other Catholics, sided with the King. Many of the first colonists in Maryland, however, were Protestants who favored the cause of Parliament.

Richard Ingle, the Protestant captain of a Virginia vessel, sailed up the St. Mary's River early in 1645 and succeeded in overthrowing the Maryland government.

Ingle had a fort built around the governor's house, which became the stronghold of the rebellion—the only military action in North America related to the English Civil War. Governor Leonard Calvert fled across the river to Virginia with some of his followers, and the population of Maryland dwindled briefly to only about a hundred people.

Two years later, the occupation ended peacefully. Leonard Calvert returned from exile and with the assistance of mercenary soldiers, reclaimed control of Maryland.

[Captions:]
Margaret Brent acted as the executor of Governor Leonard Calvert's business affairs upon his death and attempted to restore order to the colony after Ingle's revolt.

The fort built around Leonard Calvert's house became known as Pope's Fort. It was named for Nathaniel Pope, a Protestant settler

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in Maryland who aided Ingle and his men.

Pope's fort was built as a tall palisaded fence with a large ditch around the outside. The dirt from the ditch was piled against the palisade for extra protection.

This piece of body armor, known as a tasset, was found in the ditch that had been dug around Pope's Fort. Artifacts like this are the only evidence of the English Civil War in America.

The English Civil War pitted King Charles I and his supporters against Parliament. Most Catholics sided with the King, most Protestants with Parliament.

[Timeline:]
1634 140 Colonists Arrive in Maryland
1640s English Civil War
1645 Ingle's Revolt Nearly Destroys Colony
1646 Governor Leonard Calvert Returns from Virginia
Proprietor Regains Control of Colony
1647 Leonard Calvert Dies

[Sidebar:]
"…upon the Occasion and insurrection and Rebellion in our said Province of Maryland Begun and fomented by that Notorious and ungrateful Villain Richard Ingle and his Complices…
Archives of Maryland, Vol III, p 236

Erected by Historic St. Mary's City.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 30, 2019

2. A Time of Troubles Marker

This is a previous iteration of the marker, which has identical information inscribed.

• Religion & Religious Structures • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical year for this entry is 1645.

Location. 38° 11.065′ N, 76° 25.964′ W. Marker is in St. Mary's City, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. It is on Middle Street Path just north of Aldermanbury Street Footpath, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Marys City MD 20686, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Maryland.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

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 walking distance of this marker: Witness to History (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Signs of Industry (within shouting distance of this marker); Horse High, Pig Tight, and Bull Strong (within shouting distance of this marker); Reclaiming the Lost City (within shouting distance of this marker); Layers of the Past (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); "…once the Metropolis" (about 300 feet away); From Slavery to Freedom (about 400 feet away); Framing the Past (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Mary's City.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 11, 2026

3. A Time of Troubles Marker

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 30, 2019

4. A Time of Troubles Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 609 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on September 3, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on September 3, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.