1668-1710: Oxford's Beginnings

1668-1710: Oxford's Beginnings. The Oxford Museum. , 1668 , A parcel of land, including the area that will become Oxford, is traded from Edward Lloyd to William Stephens, Jr., a Quaker from Dorchester County., 1670 , The name "Oxford" first appears on a map of Maryland and Virginia drawn by Augustin Hermann., 1673 , William Stephens, Jr. donates 100 acres of his land for the establishment of the town of Oxford., Talbot County authorizes ferry service across the Tred Avon River at Oxford, paying Richard Royston 2,500 pounds of tobacco per year to operate the enterprise., Oxford is already engaged in shipbuilding and commerce with England., 1684 , Oxford's first commissioners propose a plan of the town and divide the 100-acre parcel into building lots, reserving parcels to be used for commercial purposes, for bonded warehouses, and for pasture., 1694 , The Maryland General Assembly officially establishes Oxford as Port of Entry for British shipping., 1695 , Annapolis becomes the new capital of Maryland, replacing St. Mary's City., Oxford's name is briefly changed to Williamstad in honor of Britain's king William III., One of Oxford's first houses, Byberry, is built., 1702 , Oxford's streets are laid out once again. The town's park is designated as the "ye Market Place," and the current Morris Street as "ye High Streett." "Ye Cross Streett" is today's Market St., "ye Back Streett" is now Tilghman St., 1707 , The earliest surviving plan of Oxford, preserved in the Museum's collection, is drawn on goat skin., 1710 , There are over 1600 enslaved Africans and 300 indentured European servants working on Maryland's Eastern Shore plantations., Oxford is a colonial shipbuilding center. Skillington's yard at the mouth of Trippe Creek is the largest shipyard in Maryland.