Upper Marlboro in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Tried for Treason

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

Photographed by Anacostia Trails Heritage Area

1. Tried for Treason Marker

Inscription. John Hodges, the wealthy merchant who owned Darnall’s Chance, jailed the British soldiers that his neighbor William Beanes and other citizens arrested on August 27, 1814. The British threatened to “lay the town in ashes” unless their men were freed. Hodges reluctantly arranged their release. He was subsequently indicted for treason—the only known treason case from the War of 1812.

Walking Tour
Hodges lived here from 1799 to 1825. Other 1812-related sites are nearby. The grave of William Beanes is 0.3 mile west—his capture by the British led to the writing of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Trinity Church (0.3 mile farther south) is where British soldiers tore pages from the parish register.

“Not Guilty; the ‘circumstances under which he acted formed a good and sufficient excuse.’”
– Verdict in the treason trial of John Hodges, May 1815

Local citizens arrested British soldiers for looting. IMAGE / © GERRY EMBLETON

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. In addition, it

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is included in the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1814.

Location. 38° 49.143′ N, 76° 44.923′ W. Marker is in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, in Prince George's County. It can be reached from Governor Oden Bowie Drive. Darnall's Chance Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro MD 20772, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

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: A different marker also named Darnall's Chance Burial Vault (about 300 feet away); Schoolhouse Pond (about 700 feet away); Filming "Black Like Me" in Upper Marlboro

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 25, 2014

2. Tried for Treason Marker

In front of Darnall's Chance

(about 800 feet away); In Memory of John Rogers (1723 - 1789) (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Walk of History (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome To The Town of Upper Marlboro (approx. 0.2 miles away); This White Oak Tree (approx. 0.2 miles away); Protests at the County Courthouse (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Upper Marlboro.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Darnall’s Chance Burial Vault (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Local citizens arrested British soldiers for looting. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 25, 2014

3. Local citizens arrested British soldiers for looting.

Close-up of Gerry Embleton image on marker

Walking Tour image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 25, 2014

4. Walking Tour

Hodges lived here {at Darnall's Chance} from 1700 to 1825. Other 1812-related sites are nearby. The grave of William Beanes is 0.3 mile west—his capture by the British lead to the writing of the "Star-Spangled Banner." Trinity Church (0.3 mile farther south) is where British soldiers tore pages from the parish register.Close-up of map on marker

Darnell's Chance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, April 26, 2014

5. Darnell's Chance

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2012, by Anacostia Trails Heritage Area of Hyattsville, Maryland. This page has been viewed 880 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on May 27, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on November 26, 2012, by Anacostia Trails Heritage Area of Hyattsville, Maryland. 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 25, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on April 27, 2014, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.