Elkton in Cecil County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Strong Defense

Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail-War of 1812

— Fort Hollingsworth-Elk Landing —

Strong Defense Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, January 5, 2022

1. Strong Defense Marker

Inscription.
Three defensive earthworks safeguarded Elkton---Fort Hollingsworth, here, plus Defiance and Frederick downriver. A 60-foot chain across the channel secured the Elk River. On April 29, 1813, defenders at Fort Defiance fired on approaching British barges, while Fort Hollingsworth fended off a land assault.

Elkton successfully repulsed the British again in 1814.

“(The British) essayed to reach Elkton, but finding a (defensive chain) across the river and the little battery at the Landing…they retreated…”
Recollection of Judge Thomas J. Sample, February 24, 1872

(Inscription beside the image in the bottom left)
Elkton was successfully defended thanks to Fort Hollingsworth and two earthworks downriver.

Misguided
According to legend, the British bribed an enslaved woman, Hetty Boulden, to guide them overland to Elkton. Instead, she led them to Cedar Point where American fire from Fort Hollingsworth drove them off. Years later, Boulden’s obituary notes the incident.

Death of an Aged Woman--Died, on the 22nd instant, Hetty, an old colored woman, supposed to be between 90 and 100 years old. She belonged

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to Captain Henderson, of Frenchtown, when that place was burned by the English Army in 1812, and was compelled by the commander to act as guide to Elkton. She has been living for 23 years with Dr. R. C. Carter, and was a faithful servant till within the last few years, when she became so crippled and helpless as to be of no use to them whatever; but still they kept her, when almost any one else would have sent her to the almshouse. Mrs. Carter has been kindly caring for her during her illness, and will see that she has a decent burial.
SHIELD.

Obituary, Cecil Democrat
Image / Courtesy Historical Society
of Cecil County

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail series list.

Location. 39° 35.764′ N, 75° 50.419′ W. Marker is in Elkton, Maryland, in Cecil County. It is on Landing Lane. The marker is on the lawn of the Elk Landing property between the Hollingsworth

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 7, 2016

2. Strong Defense Marker

white house and the stone building. It faces to the area where Fort Hollingsworth was located. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 590 Landing Lane, Elkton MD 21921, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Wilmington, on the Eastern Shore,

and in Greater Philadelphia.

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: Revolutionary War (a few steps from this marker); Stone House (within shouting distance of this marker); Native Americans in the 1600's (within shouting distance of this marker); Hollingsworth House (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry Deibert and E. Deibert Bros. Barge Building (within shouting distance of

The back of the Strong Defense Marker and the stone building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 7, 2016

3. The back of the Strong Defense Marker and the stone building

this marker); Carriage Steps (within shouting distance of this marker); Valentine Hollingsworth (1632-1710) (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Fort Hollingsworth (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elkton.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Hollingsworth House (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. I fixed "llving" misspelling in obituary.

Hollingsworth House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 7, 2016

4. Hollingsworth House

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 7, 2016

5. Strong Defense Marker

Sign at the entrance to Historic Elk Landing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 7, 2016

6. Sign at the entrance to Historic Elk Landing

Site of Fort Hollingsworth marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 7, 2016

7. Site of Fort Hollingsworth marker

This marker has previously been posted on HMDB.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,071 times since then and 63 times this year. Last updated on February 19, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on January 6, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 8, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.