Edgewater in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Prized Property
Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
| | War of 1812 | |
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, September 1, 2018
1. Prized Property Marker
Contee purchased a plantation here called “Sparrows Rest” in 1819. Whether or not he used prize money from the battle with HMS Java, as legend claims, there is little doubt why he chose the new name.
“Mr. Contee took command of the Marines, and I have pleasure in saying that his conduct was that of a Brave good Officer, and the Marines behaved with great coolness and courage during the action, and annoyed the Enemy very much
”
Captain Isaac Hull to Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton, August 28, 1812.
Victories at Sea
Contee was also on USS Constitution on August 19, 1812 when it defeated HMS Guerriere and earned the nickname “Old Ironsides.”
(Inscription under the image of the ships)
Engraving of the capture of the British frigate Java by USS Constitution, created by Sarony & Major, ca. 1846
(Inscription beside the image of the coin)
Medal commemorating defeat of HMS Java. Image/Clements Library, University of Michigan.
Erected by National
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1897.
Location. 38° 53.487′ N, 76° 32.895′ W. Marker is in Edgewater, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. It is on Contee's Wharf Road. The marker is on the grounds of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Edgewater MD 21037, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Java Plantation Life (about
Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015
2. Prized Property Marker with the Java Mansion ruins in the background
Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015
3. Java Mansion Ruins-front view
Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015
4. Java Mansion Ruins-side view
Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015
5. Contee Watershed Trail information
Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015
6. Java Farm building-ruins
Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015
7. Java Farm-Rhode River in the background
Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015
8. Java Farm barn ruins
Photographed by Don Morfe, February 10, 2015
9. Sign at the entrance to the Java Farm-Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Library of Congress
10. The Capture of HBM. Frigate Java by the U.S. Frigate Constitution
Sarony & Major, ca. 1846.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, September 1, 2018
11. Pugnando. Inter Const. Nav. Ameri. et Jav. Angli. Die XXIX DECEM MDCCCXII Furst. F.
Medal commemorating defeat of HMS JavaClose-up of photo on marker
Library of Congress
12. Java by M.F.
1884.
1884.
This drawing identifies the kitchen on the left, the library on the right and the dwelling house in the middle. Between the library and the dwelling house is a storage room.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, September 1, 2018
13. Java
The Contee Mansion
The Contee Mansion
Steel framing, completed in 2017, shows the outline of the house and stabilizes the ruins.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, September 1, 2018
14. Java
Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 15, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,113 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 1, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on February 15, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 10, 11. submitted on September 1, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 12, 13, 14. submitted on September 4, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
