The life and times of Thomas John Claggett [microform]

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THE LIFE AND TIMES

OF

THOMAS JOHN CLAGGETT

THE LIFE AND TIMES

OF

THOMAS JOHN CLAGGETT

FIRST BISHOP OF MARYLAND AND THE
FIRST BISHOP CONSECRATED IN AMERICA

BY

GEORGE B. UTLEY

R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS CO.

CHICAGO

1913

COPYBIGHT, 1913

BY GEOBGE B. UTLET
CHICAGO

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE

PAGE

1
11

25
38
57
76
83

II. SOUTHERN MARYLAND IN COLONIAL DAYS

HI. EXPERIENCES IN COUNTRY PARISHES .

IV. ORGANIZATION OF THE MARYLAND CHURCH

V. ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE ....

VI. A NEW VESTRY ACT

VIE. THE PLAN OF VISITING MEMBERS .

Vlil. CONTEMPORARY VIEWS. OF MARYLAND PAR-

ISHES >........... C/TB

IX. THE BISHOP AT WORK . . . . . . . 114

X. THE CONVENTION OF 1808 AND THE WAR OF

1812 . . . ' . . . . . . . . . 127

XI. ELECTION OF A SUFFRAGAN 144

XIE. CLOSING YEARS 162

INDEX 181

PREFACE

No apology is necessary perhaps for attempting this brief
sketch of the life and times of the first bishop consecrated in
the New World. The events in Bishop Claggett's life were
not extraordinary nor did they effect any very marked in-
fluence upon the later history of the Church which he served
for so many years. But the pictures, although fragmentary
and ill-connected, which we find in his letters and journals of
contemporary life and thought in Maryland a century and a
quarter ago, are, we believe, of sufficient interest to be worth
preserving.

As librarian of the Maryland Diocesan Library, at Balti-
more, some years since, the author had ready access to the
original sources in the way of letters, diaries and journals
which are preserved in the archives of that institution and
which he has freely drawn from in the preparation of this
work. Stress of other duties has, however, delayed for several
years the recasting of this gathered material into its present
form. All documents quoted from, unless otherwise indicated,
are in the Maryland Diocesan Library.

The author is not a theologian and is not, be it confessed,
particularly interested in the theological doctrines and dis-
cussions of Claggett's day. He has, therefore, touched but
lightly upon these features, being content in the endeavor to
reproduce a more material picture of the life and times of the
Maryland bishop and old-time Southern gentleman.

Acknowledgments are gratefully made to Mr. Lawrence
C. Wroth, my successor at the Diocesan Library, for his very
great kindness in verifying certain quotations and dates and
for making many helpful suggestions; to Bernard C. Steiner,
Ph. D., librarian of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, of Balti-

vu

viii PREFACE

more, for reading and criticising the manuscript, particularly
those portions pertaining to Maryland civil history; and to the
Rev. F. M. Gibson, the present librarian of the Maryland
Diocesan Library, for a number of courtesies, warmly appre-
ciated.

GEORGE B. UTLEY.

Secretary's Office,

American Library Association,

Chicago, April 15, 1913.

CHAPTER I

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE

THOMAS JOHN CLA.GGETT was born October 2, 1743, at
White's Landing, on the Patuxent River, about two miles
below Nottingham, in Prince George's County, southern Mary-
land. This little settlement was then of considerable com-
mercial importance, boasting an extensive coastwise trade and
a packet line to England.

Thomas John was the son of the Rev. Samuel Clagett, who
was rector successively of Christ Church Parish, Calvert
County, and William and Mary Parish, Charles County. His
original ancestor in this country was Thomas Clagett, 1 who
emigrated from England and settled on St. Leonard's Creek,
in Calvert County, in 1671. This was but forty-two years
after the first settlement of Kent Island, on the eastern shore
of the Chesapeake Bay, and but thirty-seven years after the
English had landed at St. Mary's, on the extreme southern
tip of the western shore. The land was even more primeval
along St. Leonard's Creek. The first white man had settled
there only about twenty years before, and when Thomas
Clagett came probably a very small part of the land was
under cultivation. Most of it was a wide forest where the
Indian still hunted his game pretty much undisturbed by the
intrusion of the pale face.

Family tradition affirms that the Clagetts were of Norman
stock, and that the first of the name in England came across
the Channel with the Conqueror and participated in the battle
of Hastings. The Rev. John Eversfield, of Prince George's

1 The genealogical data in this chapter are drawn from The Boicies and
their Kindred, by W. W. Bowie, Washington, 1899.

2 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

County, whose wife was Bishop Claggett's aunt, kept a diary
which is still preserved, and in which is stated: "Clagett of
Houghton, County Cambridge, England, born prior to 1100,
assumed in 1104 the arms as since borne by the family,
namely: Ermine on a fess sable, three pheons, or; crest, an
eagle's head, erased; ermine ducally crowned, or, between two
wings sable. Motto, Gratia Dei Grata; translated, 'The ac-
ceptable grace of God.' " This description of the Clagett arms
corresponds with that given in Burke's English Heraldry. It
may be well here to state that the bishop was the first of his
name in this country to spell the name with the double "g."
When he went to England for holy orders in 1767 he made
some study of the English records, which convinced him that,
although his American ancestors spelled the name "Clagett,"
the proper way was "Claggett," and he immediately adopted
the latter form. Contemporaries had many variations of his
name; Cleget, Cleggett, Claggatt, and Claggitt being among
those found. 1

The earliest member of the family of whom we have any
authentic record is Robert Claggett, who was born about 14QO
at Mailing, Kent County. His son, Richard, born about 1525,
married a daughter of Sir Robert Gouder. Their son, George,
was thrice mayor of Canterbury, in 1609, 1622 and 1632.
He had at least two sons, Edward and Nicholas. The latter,
who was born in 1609, became a Puritan and something of a
philosopher. He also had two sons, both of them clergymen.
The younger son, Nicholas, born in 1650, was for sixty years
preacher at St. Mary's, at Bury St. Edmunds. His son, also
named Nicholas, became a distinguished theologian and was
elected Bishop of St. David's, in Wales, in 1739 and later
became Bishop of Exeter. Dr. Norton in his "Life of Bishop
Claggett (of Maryland)," says, "It is an interesting fact that
the first bishop of Maryland was a descendant of Nicholas

1 Collateral descendants spell the name "Clagett."

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE 3

Claggett, who, during the reign of George the Second, was
Bishop of St. David's, and afterwards of Exeter, England."
This is an error; the Maryland Claggett's descent is through
Edward, brother of the ancestor of the English bishop.

This Edward Claggett was born about 1605. Unlike his
brother he was a staunch loyalist and held a colonel's com-
mission in the army of Charles the First, being imprisoned at
one time, it is said, in the Tower of London by the Puritans.
He married Margaret Adams, daughter of Sir Thomas Adams,
the Lord Mayor of London, and an author of some note. The
names of five of their children are recorded: three daughters
and two sons, Richard and Thomas.

Thomas Claggett, or Clagett, as he spelled it after coming
to America, was born about 1635 or '40. For a time he was
an officer in the king's navy. Leaving the service and his in-
herited estates in England, he emigrated to America in the
autumn of 1670, arriving in Maryland early in 1671, and, as
we have already said, settled on St. Leonard's Creek, near
St. Leonard's Town, Calvert County.

In 1632, or some thirty-nine years before this, George Cal-
vert, Lord Baltimore, a Roman Catholic, had obtained a
patent of the territory named therein Maryland, and in 1634
his son and successor to the title sent over a colony which
settled at St. Mary's, near the Potomac River, a few miles
above its confluence with Chesapeake Bay. Although a large
number of the colonists were Church of England men, yet the
only ministers of religion sent over to them under the patron-
age of the Lord Baltimore were Jesuits. For the first sixteen
years it is not known that there were any other religious
teachers than these among them. From the fact that Roman
Catholic priests were the only religious instructors in early
Maryland the conclusion has often been drawn that most of
the colonists were Roman Catholics, but historical research
has shown this assumption to be incorrect.

4 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

About 1650 another colony came in from Virginia and
settled mostly on the Severn River near where it enters the
Bay, but a few settled on the Patuxent and West rivers.
These new arrivals were mostly Puritans, dissenters from the
Church of England, who did not find a congenial atmosphere
in Virginia, where the Church had become established. Some
fifteen years after they had settled in Maryland Quaker
preachers came in among them and secured quite a following.
Not far from this time, 1665, a number of Presbyterians came
over from Scotland and located in Somerset County on the
eastern shore, and in Prince George's County on the western
shore. Their numbers, however, were small compared with
other denominations. Through all these sections Church of
England men were intermingled, and in some localities there
were none of any other religious persuasion.

The population of the province increased very slowly. In
1692 there were only about 25,000 souls in Maryland. The
Church of England possessed eighteen or twenty places of
worship, but only four or five of her clergy were in the field.
The Roman Catholics and the Quakers each constituted about
one-twelfth of the total population. The proportion of Puri-
tans, Presbyterians and Lutherans is not known. Such, how-
ever, was the influence of the Church of England adherents
that in 1692 that church became the established church of the
province by act of the General Assembly. The ten counties
of which the province of Maryland then consisted were di-
vided into thirty parishes, seventeen on the western shore and
thirteen on the eastern shore. This movement for establish-
ment was the direct outgrowth of the people's alarm at the
conspicuous activity of the Jesuit priests in the colony, al-
though the Protestants greatly outnumbered the Papists, as
noted above. But those were times when the Englishman felt
that he must watch warily to prevent the pope from again
gaining supremacy in his home country. It was just after the

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE 5

scare of the "horrid" popish plot and Protestants were tak-
ing no chances. Their unjust suspicions had even fallen on
the Lord Baltimore, and in 1691 the king, hearkening to the
fears of the over-timid, had deprived his lordship of all pub-
lic offices and functions. He was allowed, however, to keep
the receipt of his rentals and all private emoluments, but full
privileges were not restored to him until 1715. So 'when the
desire for an establishment came to be expressed it was most
natural that the Church of England should be the popular
choice, for this church had by far the largest following, and
the largest . share of affection and loyalty of the people at
large. But the action was not effected without a naturally
strong and persevering opposition on the part of the Roman
Catholics, Quakers, Puritans, Presbyterians and Lutherans,
who in this contest were banded together.

The act of the assembly as finally passed provided that the
Church of England should be established, and for its support
there should be levied annually a tax of forty pounds of
tobacco per poll upon all taxable inhabitants of the colony,
this tax to be collected by the sheriff. The appointment of
ministers to parishes was to be made by the governor, without
appeal, induction being in his hands, and the minister was to
keep a clerk and provide for him out of his own income. Only
a minister could perform a marriage ceremony, where one
was resident, his fee being five shillings sterling. The num-
ber of vestrymen was set at six as a minimum, two to be voted
out at the annual meeting, but they could, if the parish de-
sired, be immediately voted in again. The parish records
show that some of the vestrymen were continuously in that
office, through re-election, for ten, twenty, and even thirty
years. By a subsequent law passed in 1730 the two longest
in office were to be dropped and were not eligible again for
three years. The minister was a member of the vestry. Per-
sons refusing to be made wardens were to be fined one thou-

6 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

sand pounds of tobacco, the same to go to the king, most
likely as a stronger assurance that the fine would be collected.
No minister could hold more than two parishes, and he must
have the consent of both. Dissenters were eligible to the
office of vestrymen. This was declared by the governor and
council in 1751, when Piscataway Parish refused to qualify
one who had been elected. Churches were not erected by
private subscription, but by levies on the taxables voted by the
General Assembly.

Whether it was wise or proper to require this tax by law
we are not to inquire, but on the part of those opposed to it
it was restlessly submitted to and fiercely attacked whenever
opportunity afforded. In the defence of their support the
clergy waged an unceasing defensive war. The effect was
bad upon themselves and embittered hostilities against them.
The system concentrated their minds upon worldly interests
and laid them open to the serious charge of seeking the fleece
instead of the flock. Results were bound to be disastrous and
Bishop Claggett and his contemporaries reaped undeservedly
the crop of a hundred years of sowing.

One of the thirty parishes into which the province was di-
vided in 1692 consisted of the lower portion of what is now
Calvert County, and was given the name of Christ Church
Parish. It was in this parish that Captain Thomas Clagett
(as he appears to have spelled his name after coming to
America) settled, and in which he was a member of the first
appointed vestry. He was apparently well-to-do when he
came to Maryland, as he at once purchased several large tracts
of land in various parts of the province, such as "Goodling-
ton Manor," one thousand acres on the eastern shore;
"Weston," eight hundred acres on the western shore near
Upper Marlboro; "Greenland," and "Groom," in Prince
George's County, the latter of which we shall presently hear
more of, as it eventually became the bishop's estate.

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE 7

Thomas Clagett died in 1703, possessed of large landed es-
tates in Maryland and of some property in England. His
will was probated in 1706. He left a widow, four sons and
two daughters. The fourth son, Richard, who inherited
"Groom," was born about 1681 in Calvert County. About
1704 he married Deborah Dorsey, the widow of Charles
Ridgley, of Baltimore County. Richard Clagett's name is
frequently found as land commissioner for Prince George's
County, and as either a purchaser or seller of land in various
parts of the province. He died in 1752, when his grandson,
Thomas John, was nine years old, and was buried at Groom.
He left three sons and three daughters. One of the latter,
Eleanor Clagett, married the Rev. Dr. John Eversfield, who
was the tutor and theological instructor of the future bishop.
The second child and eldest son, Edward Clagett, is the
great-great-grandfather of Edwin Warfield, ex-governor of
Maryland.

The Rev. Samuel Clagett, father of the bishop, was the
second son of Richard, and was born about 1710 on his
father's estate, "Groom." In 1740 he married -Elizabeth
Gantt, daughter of Edward Gantt, a Calvert County planter,
and settled on an estate near Nottingham, close by "Groom."
Their children were Priscilla and Thomas John. When in
middle age, Samuel Clagett forsook his plantation life,
studied theology, and in 1747 crossed to England to secure
holy orders, being ordained a deacon in the Church of Eng-
land by Richard Terrick, Lord Bishop of Peterborough, act-
ing for the Bishop of London, and priest on the 20th of
December, 1747. Returning to Maryland he served as rector
successively of Christ Church Parish, Calvert County, and
William and Mary Parish, Charles County. His wife died in
1750, when Thomas John was but seven years old, and a year
or two later he married Anne Brown, daughter of Dr. Gus-
tavus Brown, of Charles County. In August, 1756, the Rev.

8 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

Samuel Clagett died, in the very prime of life, after having
been in the ministry but nine years. He is said to have been
a man of considerable scholarly attainment, a worthy pastor
and a highly respected citizen. Besides his daughter Priscilla
and his son Thomas. John, now left completely an orphan at
thirteen years, he left a widow and an infant son, Samuel,
who became a physician at Warrenton, Virginia, where he
died in 1820, surviving his half-brother, the bishop, by about
three and a half years. To Thomas John he left his estate
called Groom, of 500 acres. His only daughter, Priscilla,
became the second wife of Col. Samuel Chew, who lived at
"Upper Bennett," in Calvert County. By this marriage there
were two children, both sons, the eldest of whom, Col. John
Hamilton Chew, born September 14th, 1771, married his first
cousin, Priscilla Claggett, the eldest daughter of the bishop.
Many descendants of this union are living today, most of
whom still remain in Maryland.

After the death of his father Thomas John was placed
under the guardianship of his mother's brother, Edward
Gantt, of Calvert County, who in turn placed him under the
instruction of the Rev. John Eversfield, the rector of St.
Paul's, Prince George's County, and whose wife, as we have
noted, was young Claggett's aunt on his father's side. Here
he remained three years, at the end of which time he was sent
to Lower Marlboro Academy. At that time and for thirty
years previous, there was established in each of the Maryland
counties, by act of the General Assembly, a grammar school,
or academy, where a fair classical education might be ob-
tained. The school for Calvert County was situated at
Lower Marlboro and here Claggett received such a thorough
training in Latin and Greek that their- study remained a
favorite pursuit throughout his long life.

Having received the necessary preparatory training, at the
age of seventeen Claggett entered the College of New Jersey,

ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE 9

now Princeton University, where he was graduated with the
degree of Bachelor of Arts on September 25th, 1764. Young
men from all the American colonies were gathered in the New
Jersey college at that time, and we know that Claggett made
many lifelong friends. He had a most genial and amiable
disposition, was always ready to pass a pleasant word, pos-
sessed a commanding intellect, and was tall, broad-shouldered
and stalwart. In youth as well as in manhood he possessed
a noble and unsullied character and dignity of mind which
made him respected as well as admired. We know very little
about his college days, however, not even the standard of
scholarship which he attained, for Princeton village was for
a time the storm center of the Revolution, and the college
archives suffered sorely.

It is rather interesting, however, to recall some of the men
whom Claggett must have known in his student days, for, as
the college was then comparatively small, he must have been
more or less intimately acquainted with all his fellow students.
In the class of 1762, two years ahead of him, was Ebenezer
Hazard, afterwards postmaster of New York, postmaster-
general of the United States from 1782 to '89, and also re-
membered as the compiler of Hazard's Historical Collections.
James Manning, also of the class of '62, became a prominent
Baptist minister and the first president of Brown University.
In the class of 1763 were William Paterson, governor of New
Jersey, United States senator, and a justice of the United
States supreme court; and Tapping Reeve, the most prom-
inent teacher of law of his day in the country and who was
chief justice of Connecticut at the time of his death. In the
class of '65 were Jonathan Edwards, worthy son of a worthy
sire, who himself was a theologian and metaphysician of no
mean reputation; and David Ramsay, who made a name for
himself in his adopted state of South Carolina, as a patriot in
the Revolution, an exceptionally successful surgeon, and an

10 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

historian of some note. Three men worthy of mention in the
class of 1766 whom Claggett must have known were Waight-
still Avery, who became the first attorney-general of North
Carolina; Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut, eminent as a
patriot, statesman, United States senator, diplomatist, and
chief justice of the United States; and Luther Martin, of
Maryland, Burr's friend and defender, whom Jefferson called
"the Federal bulldog," the jovial, rollicking, witty and
audacious attorney-general of Maryland. Luther Martin was
not a Marylander by birth, did not come to Maryland until
after he left college, so we have no reason to believe that he
and Claggett were intimate because of any state associations.

CHAPTER II

SOUTHERN MARYLAND IN COLONIAL DAYS

During the autumn of 1763, while on his way from Boston
to Savannah, the Rev. George Whitefield, the great evangelist
and inspirer of multitudes, made a brief stop at Princeton.
Whitefield was then on his sixth, and next to his last, tour
through America, and, although his physical health had been
seriously impaired by excessive activity and open air preach-
ing, he was undoubtedly then at the height of his intellectual
attainments and magnetic abilities. Very naturally he
preached to the students at the college, and, as he always did,
made a remarkable impression, sixteen of them being con-
verted during this visit. Among his hearers was young
Claggett. We do not know what Claggett thought of White-
field as a Churchman, nor of his peculiarities of public utter-
ance, but as an inspirer to do and to be Whitefield certainly
had a great and abiding influence over the young man. In
after life the bishop "often endeavored to portray the strik-
ing and interesting scene presented by the impassioned orator,
on the one hand pouring forth his mind in his burning words,
and impressing his every passion and his every shade of feel-
ing upon the mind of his audience; and on the other hand, a
large assembly, consisting chiefly of careless youth, who had
hardly ever before entertained a serious thought, wholly ab-
sorbed in the consideration of the important truths of religion,
and swayed at pleasure by the irresistible control of a master
spirit." 1

Claggett probably had thoughts of entering the ministry

1 Memoir of Bishop Claggett, by Rev. J. H. Chew, in The Evergreen,
Jan. 1847, p. 1.

11

12 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

before he met Whitefield, and came under the influence of
that remarkable personality, but doubtless this experience
confirmed his earlier convictions. Also it is likely that the
earnest teaching of the pious Dr. Finley, president of the
college, had due weight in his deliberations concerning his life
work. After graduating in 1764, when lacking a few days of
being twenty-one years old, he returned immediately to Prince
George's County and took up theological studies under the
personal direction and supervision of his uncle, the Rev. Dr.
John Eversfield. One finds many and divers opinions ex-
pressed by contemporaries concerning Dr. Eversfield as a
clergyman and as a theologian, but few will deny that the
doctor thoroughly enjoyed a good fox hunt. To attach to
him, however, the odium that usually accompanies the phrase
of "fox-hunting parson" would undoubtedly be unjust and
undeserved, for, although the worthy man seems to have had
a keen pleasure in a good mount and a pack of hounds, there
is nothing to show that he abused this pastime, or that the
love of it made him a less faithful pastor, or a less able theo-
logian. He was a man of mark in his day, and one of the
most widely known ministers of the gospel in the colonies.

Dr. Eversfield came to Maryland from England in 1728,
a young Oxford graduate in priest's orders, and Benedict
Leonard Calvert, the proprietary governor, presented him
with the living of St. Paul's, Prince George's County, then a
prominent parish. Here he remained rector for nearly fifty
years. The present brick church, known as St. Thomas's, and
originally intended as a chapel of ease to St. Paul's Parish,
was erected under his supervision. Eversfield brought con-
siderable money from England and invested extensively in
land, being at his death one of the largest landowners in the
county. He lived on one of his estates located in Nottingham
District, about two miles from St. Thomas's Church, and
called the estate "Eversfield's Map of Italy". on account of

SOUTHERN MARYLAND IN COLONIAL DAYS 13

its peculiar shape. He was known as a man of pronounced
opinions, exceptional learning, great wealth, and wide in-
fluence, both in church and secular matters. Many volumes
of his library, extensive for that period, are yet in existence.
He was very methodical in his habits, and kept a minute rec-
ord of his personal and domestic affairs in a large parch-
ment bound volume, which is still in the possession of one of
his descendants. This book contains memoranda of his gen-
ealogy, deeds of land, receipts, notes, bonds, letters, and items
of every subject which interested him, and is considerable of
a curiosity. He conducted a private school at his house, as
did so many of the clergy in his day, for the twofold reason
that they needed the additional compensation to supplement
their meagre clerical stipends, and that frequently the parson
was the only man available who possessed anything more than
the rudiments of book-learning.

He was a most pronounced Tory, never hesitating to air his
opinion on matters political as well as theological, and thereby
giving offence to many of his fellow-citizens when trouble
began to brew that led to the war for independence. At one
time during the conflict he was so unwise in his speech that
he was arrested, placed under guard, and his property was
confiscated by the provincial government. But he was getting
old, and besides was much respected in spite of his fiery
tongue, so he was shortly released and had his property re-
stored to him. He did not live to see the final victory of the
cause which he had so vigorously disparaged. He died on
the 8th of November, 1780, and his wife only survived him
about a month. Both were buried under the altar of St.
Thomas's Church, at Croom.

He was rector of the wealthiest and the most prominent
parish in Maryland at that time, with possibly the exception
of All Saints', Frederick County. As an illustration of the
then luxurious manner in which their parish church was fur-

14 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

nished, it may be of some interest to give the following brief
transcript from the Vestry Proceedings. At the vestry meet-
ing on June 2d, 1752, at which Dr. Eversfield was present,
we find recorded:

"The Vestry have this day agreed with M r Samuel Roundell
that he provide for the Church a Pulpit Cloth & Cushion of
Crimson Velvet, the Glory in gold, with Gold fringe & Tassels
y e Cloth to be six feet in width & three feet two Inches deep
the Cushion to be two feet & a half long. Also a handsome
Marble Font a Crimson Velvet Carpet for y e Communion
Table Eight f fc & a half wide & four & a half feet deep. A
Cloth for the Reading Desk of the same Velvet three feet
four Inches wide and Eighteen Inches deep. The ten Com-
mandments & the Belief & Lord's Prayer a hanging Dial the
plate to be two feet Square and to be paid for y e same next
June in manner following that is to say Twenty P Cent to be
added on the amount of the Cost & Charges the following
Motto to be on the Dial Viz Sic transit Gloria Mundi. And
if it should so happen that the money or any part thereof
should not be paid him at y e time afore mentioned then to
pay him interest at y e Rate of 6 P C* till it is discharged."

At a vestry held on the 5th of March, 1754, nearly two
years later, "M r Samuel Roundell appears & acquaint the
Vestry men present that the Several things for the Church
agreeable to the Order formerly made he had received from
London. At the same time produced the Bill of parcels for
every particular which with the charges & advance amounts
to One hundred & Forty pounds Nineteen Shillings Sterling
Exclusive of the Charge for bringing them from the Mouth
of Potuxent River." A couple of pages further on, in casting
up an itemized account, the vestryman frankly records: "N.
B. The Charges of bringing the Goods from the Mouth of
Potuxent River to Nottingham at present I don't know."

We have given these particulars from the history and an-

SOUTHERN MARYLAND IN COLONIAL DAYS 15

tiquities of old St. Paul's, because this is the parish over
which the good bishop was destined to preside for many
peaceful years.

Claggett pursued his theological studies in a little two-
room, two-story, red-and-blue brick building, erected on the
lawn under the trees, entirely apart from the rectory. There
was no vestibule, but on opening the door one stepped directly
into the room, which was lighted by small, diamond-shaped
window panes. The walls were wainscoted in oak, and in the
center of the room, entirely free from the walls, a little spiral
stairway, with its carved balustrade, ascended to the room
above. This singular structure reminded one of a pulpit more
than of anything else, and it is not at all unlikely that the
youthful theologian preached down many a sermon to an
imaginary congregation from the turn in the stairs. This
quaint little building withstood the ravages of time for several
generations and has only recently been destroyed.

In recognition of his continued study, Claggett received an
M. A. degree from his Alma Mater the year following his
graduation, and in three years' time he had completed his
studies for holy orders. In the spring of 1767, therefore, he
sailed for England for this purpose, and after a successful
voyage, was admitted to the diaconate on September 20th,
1767, by the Rt. Rev. Richard Terrick, Lord Bishop of Lon-
don, who, by virtue of his position as the head of the see of
London, held ecclesiastical oversight of the North American
colonies. On October llth, following, he was ordained a
priest in the Church of England by the same prelate. In
those days a voyage to England from the colonies was a tedi-
ous and dangerous undertaking, for smallpox and other
dread diseases lurked in the holds of ships, and made terrible
ravages among slaves and gentlefolk alike. Because of all
these obstacles and dangers, most of the young men who went
from the colonies to secure episcopal ordination remained

16 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

there after receiving deacon's orders until the priesthood was
also conferred upon them, and to make conditions as easy as
possible for candidates from abroad, both ordinations were
frequently conferred with but a short time intervening. To
express it another way, a candidate did not generally go to
England for deacon's orders until he was also prepared to
take priest's orders.

From the diary of a young English clergyman, the Rev.
Weeden Butler, who soon became Claggett's fast friend, we
have this description of his ordination to deacon's orders:

"Sep. 20: 1767 Went with Messrs Manester, Sims, Foster,
Wigan & Clarke, in a coach to the King's Arms, Fulham. Met
& accompanied to the palace Mr. Clagett & Mr. Cramp. Put
on bands & surplices & drank chocolate. About half past ten
o'clock we were all called into Chapel; the Bishop, Mrs. Ter-
rick, & all the family there. The amiable & very worthy Mr.
Carr read the prayers with great solemnity. The lessons for
the day were remarkably adapted to the occasion. After-
wards, in his surplice as before, Mr. Carr gave us an excellent
discourse from I Kings 18: 21. He closed with recommend-
ing the duty of the ministry to our care & attention & with a
prayer to God to bless us in the discharge thereof. Service
over about half past twelve. Then came on the grandest of
all grand, solemn and awful ordinances, the delivery of God's
most holy commission to sinful erring man. We received or-
dination & the holy eucharist at the hands of the Bishop of
London; he alone imposing hands at the former; and Mr.
Carr assisting him at the latter. Bless, Lord, I most humbly
implore thee; bless thou the work of their sacred hands upon
us; O, prosper thou their ministrations to our bodies, by the
application & sanctifying grace of thy spirit to our souls ; that
we may be indeed thy faithful Aiaicovol, & the servants of
thy servants, O Sovereign of life & love. Service over about
one. The family received the communion after the deacons

SOUTHERN MARYLAND IN COLONIAL DAYS 17

whose names I subjoin with much pleasure, & the sincerest
wishes for their success, & removal in God's own time to a
higher & still more honorable degree.

1. The friendly, open, frank, engaging Mr. Clagett, a
native of Maryland, educated in a college of the Jerseys, &
in a few weeks to sail for & reside on a cure in Maryland.

2. Mr. John Cramp, my old acquaintance by sight & near
countryman, successful after some disappointment on former
application for orders, to be ordained priest tomorrow, in or-
der to his sailing for North Carolina where a cure is provided
for him." 1

[The others are all English.]

Mr. Claggett did not sail for home immediately after his
ordination, but remained two or three months to study in the
English libraries, and to visit family connections. In after
years he delighted to tell of his hospitable reception by these
English cousins, and of the pleasant weeks spent with them
in the mother country. Early in the spring of 1768 he re-
turned to Maryland, never to see England again. We do not
know just when he arrived, but on March 19th, 1768, Gover-
nor Sharpe, of Maryland, gave him a licence to officiate in
St. Anne's Church, Annapolis. He also found upon his return
that Bishop Terrick, without solicitation, had recommended
him to the kind offices of the governor of Virginia, but he pre-
ferred to remain in his native Maryland.

We find from the records of Somerset Parish, Somerset
County, that in June of that year he performed the marriage
ceremony of his cousin, Doctor Edward Gantt. The follow-
ing letter written by Gantt some years previously is rather
interesting in its glimpse of eighteenth century life, though
its assertion does not accord well with the writer's early
launching into the career of a benedict.

1 Nichols' Illustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century,
vol. 5, p. 850.

18 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

EDWARD GANTT TO BASIL WARING.

LONDON September 29th 1764.
DEAR SIR,

. . . You must excuse my not writing to you by Mr.
Carroll, for really I hardly had Time to scribble a few
Lines to my Father. But when Opportunity serves you
will always hear from me. Your Seal I have not got done,
but I shall try to send it by Mr. Russell's Ship, the Jane,
which will be in Maryland sometime this Winter. I can't say
London answers my Expectations. But it is generally the
Case with this as with most other Things. When our Ex-
pectations are much raised by the Description of any Thing,
we too often find ourselves disappointed. I shall set out for
Edinburgh tomorrow or the next Day; there to spend three
or four Years, after which I shall return to Maryland to
finish my Days, provided I do not make my Exit before that
Time. Maryland I find is the Place that best pleases me.
You need not engage any of the Girls to wait for me, as I
am pretty well convinced I shall die an old Batchelor. Money
I never will marry for, and one without Money I think won't
suit my Circumstances, therefore I find it bids fair for a
single life. Miss no opportunity of writing as Mr. Russell
can send them every week to Scotland. I am

Your Sincere Friend,

EDW D . GANTT, JUN R .

When Claggett began his ministry the number of parishes
in Maryland had increased from thirty, the number in 1692,
to forty-four. There were in these forty-four parishes
eighty-three places of worship. Each parish had its rector,
or incumbent, and some few of the clergy possessed curates,
or assistants. At this time there were about fifty clergymen
in the province, and, as a rule, they were comfortably sup-
ported financially. The population had increased very con-

SOUTHERN MARYLAND IN COLONIAL DAYS 19

siderably. From 25,000 in 1692, it had advanced to well nigh
200,000, but of this number, 45,000 were negro slaves. Dis-
sent was probably no greater in proportion than when the
Church was established. Thus we see that the increase in
parishes had not kept pace with the increase in population.
We are led to believe, however, that there were too many
parishes originally organized, notwithstanding their incon-
veniently large size, and that conditions in Claggett's time did
not call for more parishes.

The following letter was written by Claggett to his
friend, : the Rev. Weeden Butler, soon after his return to
Maryland.

TO THE REV. WEEDEN BUTLER. 1

PATUXENT, MARYLAND, July 1, 1768.
DEAR SIR,

I embrace the earliest opportunity to inform you of my
safe arrival here amongst my friends, & also to let you see
that neither time nor space are able in the least to obliterate
from my mind the memory of our friendship. I have some-
times thought it not a little strange that you, in so short a
time, should get such possession of my heart; but there is an
unknown something in the very countenance of some men that
enfuses love and esteem into the beholders; we do but see &
we feel the growing flame. Thus, sir, I suppose my affections
became prejudiced in your favor, & when I found that our
religious sentiments were so nearly alike, this discovery laid
a foundation for mutual affection which will never be eradi-
cated, no, not by eternity itself! for such a passion, I hope,
is not incompatible with the joys of heaven. I intend, sir, to
let you hear from me once every year, that is by the sailing
of our tobacco ships, & hope you will write in the spring by

1 This and the two following letters are from Nichols' Illustrations of the
Literary History of the Eighteenth Century, vol. 5, p. 853-59.

20 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

their return. Mr. Molleson, in Golden-square, Crutched
Friars, will always forward your letters.

I have not yet got a parish, but have obtained the Gover-
nor's promise (in whose gift they are) that I shall be pre-
ferred as soon as a good vacancy falls. However, I am not
entirely unprovided for even now, as I have a curacy of ^GlOO 1
a year, which, with a farm that brings me in about .150
more, is a tolerable maintenance in this country, where every-
thing but labor is much cheaper than with you. Our great
men's promises here in church affairs are yet not quite so
short as they are in England; the reason is because there are
not so many church cormorants, pluralities not being tolerated
here. We have about fifty parishes in this province, few or
none under three hundred pounds sterling, & from that to
seven or eight. I really would advise you, if you do not meet
with that encouragement which I am sure your merit deserves,
to take a trip over, you might easily get a recommendation
from Lord Baltimore to our governor. I am interested in this
advice, I own, but notwithstanding that, it is really better
than staying where you are, without Dr. Dodd rises in the
church, or you have expectations from some other quarter.
Merit in your country has long since (I am sorry to say it)
lost its sterling value; moreover, if you should ever entertain
any thoughts of coming here, let me know it, & I would ad-
vise you what steps to take previous thereto. I am very
anxious to see an able & good ministry in this province, too
many of my brethren at present being a shocking set (to say
no worse of them) having neither abilities, a sense of the
importance of their duty, nor (what is worse than all,) an in-
clination to perform it. "Alas for such shepherds!" as Dr.
Dodd says on the parable of the good Samaritan. Those are
excellent books 2 & I am much obliged for your recom-

1 $266 in modern currency.

2 Dr. Dodd's Sermons, 4v.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND IN COLONIAL DAYS 21

mendation of them. I endeavor to model my discourses on
the same plan, & I hope they will be attended with some good,
as I seem to have more attentive hearers & fuller congrega-
tions than any other that, I know of here. The people are
struck with a preacher who delivers his discourses out of the
old drawling way. If Dr. Dodd publishes anything further,
please to let me know of it, as I am determined to get all of
his works. He appears to me to be the best speaker & the
soundest divine I know in the church & you have a great hap-
piness in being so intimately connected with him. Should
there be anything else published in our way agreeable to your
principles I shall be obliged to you to let me hear of it, &
should there be anything of curiosity to you here in the natural
world that you should like to see, or any other way in which
I could serve you, I shall always be glad to do it. You see I
have set down my thoughts to you just as they run, which
freedom I know you will excuse, as I am, dear Brother, with
Sincerity, Your friend,

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

TO THE SAME.

CALVERT COUNTY, MARYLAND, Sep. 1, 1769.
DEAR SIR,

I received yours by Mr. ; though I have not as

yet seen that gentleman. I am apprehensive he deceived you
with respect to my referring him to your acquaintance, for I
do not remember that I have seen him these three or four
years. I have sent to him repeatedly for the books you were
so kind as to remit me by him ; but the last answer I had from
him was, that he had no such books. I am sorry to inform
you that this behavior is entirely consonant to his general
character; & it is much to be lamented that such men cannot
be prevented from entering the ministery. We labor under
peculiar disadvantages in this respect in this province; some

22 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

of the livings here are large, the incumbents (some of them)
seem to be desirous to get clear of doing their duties, &

therefore recommend such men for orders. Mr. has

been repeatedly trying, for some years past, to obtain a recom-
mendation, but could never carry his point until he happened
to meet with one of the gentlemen I have been describing,
whose curate he now is. To prevent any like deceptions for
the future, I shall never recommend anyone to your acquaint-
ance otherwise than by letter. This occurrence may serve
to give you some idea of the behavior of the clergy of this
province. It is a lamentable case! Too many of them
when they get inducted, seem to act as if they thought them-
selves unaccountable for any of their conduct. ,The northern
provinces contain mpstly Presbyterians, who now flock to
England for orders, & the Church of England is full of them.
These and many other reasons call loudly for a Bishop on
this side of the Atlantic. Our papers tell us that the affair
is much aggitated at home and I sincerely wish that it may be
carried. And if it should please God to place Dr. Dodd in
this exalted station, how happy should I be ! how happy would
America be ! I know Dr. Dodd has an interest at Court, & I
heartily wish he would endeavor to be appointed for America,
for he appears to me to be just such a man as we want; & I
really think there is no station in which he would be more use-
ful; but, however I may please myself with this reflection,
God knows what is best for us & I shall endeavor cheerfully
to acquiesce in his dispensations. When I sat down I intended
only to write a few lines, to let you know that I should answer
your very kind letter by Mr. Hobson, a gentleman of my ac-
quaintance, who leaves this place in about twelve weeks, but

the mention of Mr. has led me from my purpose

a little ; I shall therefore only add that, on Gov. Eden's arrival,
a petition was preferred to him in my behalf by the parish-
ioners of All Saints parish, & his excellency was pleased to

SOUTHERN MARYLAND IN COLONIAL DAYS 23

grant me an induction into the benefice. Here I believe I
shall remain for life, & oh! that your & my prayers for my
success with poor dying sinners may in some measure be
answered ! I fully intend, by the divine grace, to make it the
business of my life to exhort, persuade, & advise them; you
know that is all we can do, the success comes from God. Oh !
how happy shall we be, my dear friend, if each of us, after
having endeavored earnestly to recommend the Lord Jesus to
dying sinners, may meet at last in the place of blessedness,
where we shall never more be separated! Your letter almost
deprives me of any hopes of ever seeing you again in this
world; however that may be, depend upon it I shall ever
remain Your sincere friend,

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

p. s. I have sent you by Captain Bishop four hams; he has
promised to land them as his own, & so they will be clear of
the duty. I have ordered them to be good, & if you think
them so, please let me know it in your next. I am sorry our
country affords so little that is worthy of your acceptance;
but should there be anything here that you have the least
curiosity to obtain, be kind enough to let me know it, for I
shall always take a peculiar pleasure in getting it for you.

TO TH K SAME.

Sept. 19, 1769.
DEAR SIR,

In my last to you by Captain Bishop I mentioned that I
should take the liberty to recommend to your acquaintance
Mr. Hobson. This I expect will be delivered to you by that
gentleman, & hope you will find him an agreeable acquaint-
ance. Mr. Hobson tarries for some time in London, & I shall
make use of him as a vehicle for my letters when I write
to you.

24 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

I am now, Sir, settled for life, I believe; & desire nothing
more in this world than to see Dr. Dodd Bishop of America,
& you his chaplain, for I despair of ever seeing you other-
wise. Religion here, my dear sir, is at a very low ebb; here
is a large vineyard, with few, very few, honest & sincere
laborers. The common topic from our pulpit is morality &
they have almost preached it out of countenance. The fall of
man, the free grace of God through Jesus Christ & the new
birth are topics cautiously avoided by them; judge, therefore,
of our state. The Presbyterian religion gains ground, &
seems to flourish; & most probably the whole continent will
be presbyterianized if we do not obtain an able & faithful
bishop from our mother country. I am sorry to hear the
uneasiness & destructions that seem to threaten the state on
your side the water; we, too, have shared in these troubles,
the late acts of Parliament imposing internal duties on us
for raising a revenue, have occasioned much disturbance. The
people throughout the continent have entered into an agree-
ment not to take off any European luxuries. We have a fine
country, capable of producing every necessity of life in great
abundance. Upon the whole I do not believe the acts of
Parliament have hurt us, for it is really amazing what great
improvements have been made since the acts took place in
almost every branch of handicraft business. I heartily wish
that the mother country & her colonies may be restored to
their former state of affection & duty. Please offer my best
wishes to Dr. Dodd; & accept, my dear sir, of the hearty
wishes, & sincere prayers of your friend & brother,

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

CHAPTER III

EXPERIENCES IN COUNTRY PARISHES

On the 16th of March, 1769, the former rector having
died, Claggett was appointed by Horatio Sharpe, gov-
ernor of Maryland, curate in All Saints' Parish, Calvert
County, and on the 7th of July, following, he was inducted
rector of the parish by Governor Eden, as we have seen in
his letter to Mr. Butler. This was the upper parish of Cal-
vert County, and it extended from the Anne Arundel County
line on the north, southward for about fifteen miles to Hunt-
ing Creek, and from the Chesapeake Bay westward to the
Patuxent River, being about ten miles in breadth.

The fact that he was presented to his parish by the gov-
ernor of the colony may serve to remind us that the vestries
in Maryland, acting in behalf of the parishioners, had not
then, as now, the power of appointing their own rectors. This
power had from the beginning of Lord Baltimore's govern-
ment been lodged in his hands by the charter, and he had been
accustomed to exercise it through his governors, or lieutenants,
they acting in his name.

Claggett entered upon the charge of All Saints' Parish
with conditions very much in his favor. He was well and
favorably known in the locality, he had many relatives and
warm friends who were willing to aid him and anxious to
see the young man succeed, and he was thoroughly acquainted
with the needs of his parish. There was very little dissent
in the community. The ground was well nigh all his own.
Years before there had been some little Puritan element, but
these adherents had mostly either come into the church, or else
had become Quakers, of whom there were a few in the north-

25

26 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

east part of the parish. Roman Catholics there were prac-
tically none, and the same is true to-day, for with the excep-
tion of a small chapel at Solomon's Island, at the southern
tip of the county, there is now no Roman Catholic place of
worship in the whole of Calvert County.

In Claggett's letter to his friend, the Rev. Weeden Butler,
we saw his opinion of the morals and manners of the Church
of England clergymen. This version of the state of affairs
was probably only too true. An anonymous writer in 1769
says: "That the Clergy of Maryland are better provided for
than the Clergy of any other Colony, and that they are less
respectable, is not to be controverted; being subject even to
less restraint than other men, they, in the same proportion,
are less guarded in their morals. I speak of their general
character, for there are some of the sacred order who are
men of worth and merit." 1

There were probably many faithful members among the
clergy in spite of such unsavory reports, for it is always the
case that one riotous individual gets himself more prominently
in the public eye than fifty sober and quietly disposed per-
sons. In 1768, however, there were such flagrant examples
of ministerial immorality abroad and exercising the priestly
office that even the legislature determined some steps must
be taken to prevent scandals in the Church and the gossip
that these matters caused among her denominational contem-
poraries. The measures proposed are shown in the following
letter from Claggett to the Bishop of London. This letter
also shows that Claggett, though young in the ministry and in
years, being but twenty-six years old and but two years in
sacred orders, was interested practically in public affairs and
in questions of the day.

1 Perry, Historical Collections: Maryland, p. 339.

EXPEEIENCES IN COUNTRY PARISHES 27

TO THE BISHOP OE LONDON. 1

MAKTLAND, Sept. 20th, 1769.
MY LORD:

Since my arrival in this Province I have observed with
some concern that, in a late Session of Assembly, a Bill
was brought into the house for the better regulating the
lives and manners of the Clergy. By this Bill it was
ordered that an Ecclesiastical Court should be established
& that there should be Judges appointed, three of which were
to be laymen. The Bill passed both houses of Assembly.
But Governor Sharpe would not give his consent to it, sup-
posing (as we think) that such a Bill was contrary to the
established Rules of the Church of England.

It is now said that the advocates for the Bill will bring it
in again next Session, in hopes that our new Governor will be
more favorable to their scheme. Many of the Clergy here
view it in a light derogatory to your Lordship's authorities in
the Province, and tho' fully sensible that some such regulation
is much wanted, yet they think it ought to proceed from and
be directed by your Lordship. I doubt not but if this or
any other Law should be enacted which the Clergy look upon
as grievous, that a proper remonstrance will be made to your
Lordship by them, tho' they are now, by a positive instruction
of the Lord Baltimore to Governor Eden, forbid assembling
themselves together on any occasion whatever, a privilege
they have hitherto enjoyed. Your Lordship's known care
and zeal for the established religion have emboldened me to
make the foregoing remarks; & if on any future occasion
I can be of the least service to your Lordship here, it will
always contribute to the happyness of, my Lord,

Your Lordship's &c.,

THO S Jsr CLAGGETT.

id, p. 340-1.

28 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

On the same date, the Rev. Hugh Neill, rector of St.
Paul's Parish, Queen Anne's County, wrote on the same sub-
ject and in a similar strain to the Bishop of London.
Although feeling that clerical reform was urgently needed,
Churchmen wished it to emanate from the Church and not
from the civil authorities.

"I need not take up your Lordship's time," writes Mr.
Neill, "in pointing out the evil tendency that such a law (if
it was passed) would have upon the Church in this provence,
as it would be establishing Presbyterianism in this Colony
upon the neck of the Church, and an effectual bar to the
introduction of Episcopacy, which is generally wished for
by the Clergy of this Provence."

Governor Sharpe did not sign the bill, which he possibly
saw was an encroachment upon the rights of the established
Church. Thus, between the inability of the Church to correct
her evils and the Church's determination that the state should
not, very little was accomplished toward reform.

Claggett remained in All Saints' Parish until the out-
break of the Revolution, the much-loved pastor of a faithful
and much-loved flock. When he went to All Saints' he found
there an old wooden church edifice, very much in ruins, and
much too small for the accommodation of the parishioners.
In the early part of 1775 he had the pleasure of seeing a
new church finished and occupied. This edifice still stands.
In its earlier days it was remarkable for the height of the
enclosures to the pews, for they were so high that persons
sitting in them could not see those sitting in adjoining ones,
and its pulpit was high in proportion. Now all is changed
and modernized; the old chancel, pulpit, reading desk, clerk's
pew, galleries, all are gone.

In the fall of 1775 Claggett married Mary Gantt,
his first cousin, daughter of Edward Gantt, of Calvert County,
his mother's brother. This proved a most happy and, to the

EXPERIENCES IN COUNTRY PARISHES 29

bishop, a lifelong union, as his wife survived him by several
years. Six children were born to them: Thomas John, who
became a physician; Samuel, an attorney; Mary, who married
John Eversfield of Matthew; Charles Nicholas, who died in
Baltimore in 1832; Elizabeth Laura, who married Josiah
Young; and Priscilla Elizabeth, who married her first cousin,
Colonel John Hamilton Chew, of Calvert County. Of the
first and the last a large number of descendants are living.
The other two sons died single, and the other daughters
without children. Claggett's place of residence while in
All Saints' Parish was in the town of Lower Marlboro, on
the Patuxent River, a few miles west from his church.

Into the happiness of early married life and pleasant
parochial relations the war cloud of the Revolution rudely
broke. Claggett attempted for a time to discharge unaltered
the duties of his office, but after the Declaration of Inde-
pendence he was compelled to choose whether he would break
his ordination vows, or whether he would temporarily go into
retirement and await the outcome of the struggle. There is no
doubt that he had great sympathy with the cause of his
countrymen, and had he not been bound by oaths which he
felt most sacred, he very likely might have espoused openly
the cause of freedom. That he was not a moral coward is
plain from the respect he continued to receive from his par-
ishioners, among whom were very few Tories. His own
family and that of his wife's were Whigs. It is most evident
that his people understood and respected his delicate position.
White and Provoost saw their way clear to approve and aid
the revolutionary cause; Bass and Parker remained in charge
of their parishes, and clear in conscience, by omitting, at their
vestries' request, prayers for the king and the royal family,
retaining unchanged the remainder of the liturgy; Seabury
and Claggett, no less true to the dictates of conscience, could
not forget the fact that in their solemn ordination they had

30 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

sworn allegiance to the king and loyalty to the British gov-
ernment. Writing in after years Claggett referred to the
Revolution as "a glorious cause", and we can not but feel
that he was very truly in sympathy with his brethren, though
his sacred calling compelled him to be neutral.

In 1776, just before the Declaration of Independence,
there were forty-four parishes in Maryland, each having its
rector, and some a curate. On the establishment of the state
government, the Bill of Eights deprived the clergy of their
legal support, which they had enjoyed for three generations,
and a period of very indifferent support followed. 1 Besides
depriving them of their support, an oath was soon after
required, which none of them felt they could take without
violation of their ordination vows. Under these restrictions
nine of the Maryland clergy gave up their charges and
went to England, six went to Virginia, one to Pennsylvania,
one to Delaware, one to private life in Elkton, one to bis
estate in Charles County, one to his estate in Prince George's
County, two to estates elsewhere, and two or three to teaching.
We are not surprised that hard times followed for religion.

In consequence of the war Claggett resigned his parish
late in 1776, and retired to his estate of Croom, where he
remained in retirement for two years. For the next two years
he officiated in bis home parish of St. Paul's, Prince George's
County, and was elected its rector on the 7th of August,
1780. Here he remained until 1786, with the exception of
a short period, about 1781, as rector of Christ Church, Queen
Caroline Parish, Anne Arundel County. Of this short rec-
torate very little is known. In 1786 he took charge of the
historic old parish of St. James, Anne Arundel County, and

1 It is said that when Dr. William Smith went to Chestertown, on the
Eastern Shore, in 1780, and was offered the rectorship of Chester Parish,
that, as a compensation, he was offered no money, but 600 bushels of wheat,
and it took 122 persons to agree to contribute before this amount could be
promised. See Smith, Life of Wm. Smith, v. 2, p. 34.

EXPERIENCES IN COUNTRY PARISHES 31

also of his former cure, All Saints', Calvert County, which
charges he held until his election to the episcopate. After
that event he returned to Groom, and became, in addition to
his episcopal duties, again rector of St. Paul's, Prince
George's County. In 1808, failing health compelling him to
resign this large parish, he organized the little church at
Upper Marlboro, near his home, to which was given the name
of Trinity Church, and of which he continued to be the rector
the rest of his life. In his later years he twice had an
assistant, but at the time of his death he had none.

St. James' Parish was laid out in 1694, in accordance with
the act of assembly of 1692, by which the province of Mary-
land was divided into thirty parishes. There had been a
church in this locality for a decade or more previous to that
date, known as Herring Creek Parish church, and St. James'
from that day to this has been known as Herring Creek
almost as much as by its legal name, so long does it take
to break a once fastened habit. We do not know when the
original church was built, but we know that in 1695 it was
old enough to need repairs, 800 pounds of tobacco being
provided to defray the expenses. In the same year a con-
tract was awarded for a new church. Why they gave up the
old we do not know. Dr. Gambrall suggests 1 that perhaps
it was not near enough to the center of the parish, or not
large enough. The new church was small and possessed little
architectural merit (as few of the colonial churches did in
the country districts), but it was substantially built and
large enough to accommodate 150 worshippers, even though
they were seated on the square pew arrangement. As the
old church was still standing the people took their time in
erecting the new; hence the work was undoubtedly better
done than in some of the other districts where no previous
edifice had existed. Although the interior was severely plain,

1 Church Life in Colonial Maryland, p. 68.

32 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

according to our standards, it acquired many tasteful embel-
lishments from time to time through the following century,
which churches in less favored communities did not secure.
Thus at a vestry meeting .on the 8th of August, 1791* the
rector, Dr. Claggett, reported, according to the vestry pro-
ceedings, "that the Vestry of All Saints Parish Calvert
County had three Yards of Purple Broad Cloth for sail which
he thought would Suit for a Communion Cloth and Hangings
for the Pulpit in this Parish Church and that the Price of
the same was One Guinea P Yard. The Vestry Directed
the Doet* To Purchase the same and Deliver him the Money
for that Purpose."

Dr. Claggett (for he became a Doctor of Divinity by
vote of his Alma Mater, Princeton College in 1787 1 ) became
rector of St. James' Parish in 1786 and continued as such
until his election to the episcopate in 1792. From a vestry
meeting of July 25th, 1786, we copy the following: "At a Ves-
try met and held in the Vestry Room of the said Parish by the
Vestrymen thereunto legally authorized and appointed on
the day and year above written, present: Col. John Weems,
John Hall, Ezekiel Gott, Richard Harrison, Benjamin Bur-
gess, Cap* William Weems, and Zachariah Childs, Church
Warden The Reverend Doct 1 Thomas John Clagett appears
and agrees to Officiate in the aforesaid Parish Church every
other Sabbath, and to perform all the accustomed duties of
the said parish for three years unless prevented by sickness
or any other unforeseen Casualty." Claggett was also, as we
have seen on a preceding page, rector at this time of All
Saints' Parish, Calvert County. For these services the vestry
bargained to give him the free use and enjoyment of all and
every glebe and their appurtenances, the exclusive right to
the pulpit in the parish church, and all other privileges and
advantages which the minister of the parish ought to enjoy.

1 He also received the degree of D. D. from Washington College in 1792.

EXPERIENCES IN COUNTRY PARISHES 33

This agreement was to be in force for the three years begin-
ning the 1st of August, 1786. In the parish records Clag-
gett's own signature is appended to this agreement.

The first mention of Claggett in the parish vestry pro-
ceedings is in the record of the vestry meeting of "Saint
Jamses" on Sunday, the 2nd of July, 1786, when it was
"Order'd That the Register Write to the Rev'd Doctf Thomas
Cleget to inform him that the Vestry have made up the Sallery
Requested and Desire he will attend the church on Sunday
the Ninth of this Inst." This entry seems to imply some
previous action but none can be found in the proceedings
of the vestry. His predecessor was the Rev. Walter Magow-
an, a native of Ireland, who was ordained in 1768, and
became the incumbent of St. James' the following year, where
he remained until his death in 1786.

In the diocesan convention which met in Baltimore-Town
May 27-2Q, 1788, it was moved on the last day just before
final adjournment, by James Tilghman, lay delegate from
Chester Parish, Kent County, "that the several Vestries be
requested to transmit to the next Convention an account of
the Glebe lands (if any) or other property belonging to the
respective parishes, with the quantity and condition of the
same, and the annual amount of the rents." In compliance
with this motion, which was carried, the vestry of St. James'
furnished the following statement, which is spread on the
parish records, and which gives one a very fair idea of the
state of that parish during Dr. Claggett's rectorate.

"The Vestry taking the Same into Consideration Beg Leave
to Report to the Convention that there is One Glebe Adjoining
to the Town of Pigg-point Containing about Six hundred
Acres of Land a Donation to the Parish by Nicholas Terret
Esq' of the Annual Value of About four Thousand Pounds
of Merchantable Tobacco, or Sixty Pounds hard money and
One Other Glebe adjoining the Church a Donation thereto

34 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

by Nathan Rigby Containing One Hundred Acres of Land
with a Dwelling House on it of the Annual Value of Two
Thousand Pounds of Crop Tobacco or Thirty Pounds Current
Money, a Brick Church in good Repair and a grave Yard
much out of repair. We. have also a Parish Library many
of the Books Distributed about the Parish and Likely to be
lost. 1 A Sufficient Quality of Good Church Plate Consisting
of One Gallon Silver Flaggon in good Order One Quart
Challace One Large Silver Oval Dish and One Three Pint
Silver Basin for the font all in good Order." At a meeting
of the vestry September 7th, 1789, it was "Order'd that the
Regestf Advertise for all Persons who have any Books Be-
longing to the Vestry of St. James' Parish to Bring them
in to the Vestry of S d Parish without delay."

At a vestry meeting held on the 6th of February, 1790,
we read:

"The Rev a M r Clegett appear'd and agreed to serve the
Parish for one year Commencing the first Day of August
last for the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Pounds Current
money he the said Clegett having the Previledge of Imploying
some Minister of the Protestine (szc) Episcopal Church to
be approved of By this Vestry to Officiate in this Church
Every other Sunday as soon as such minister Can Be had
but in as much as the said Sum is not yet Subscribed the said
Clegett agrees to take the Subscription that is already made
up as a Compensation for his this years Services and the
Vestry Promise to use their Indeavors to Increase it for him
to the amount above mentioned if in their Power on these
Terms the Vestry nominate and appoint him the said Clegett
D. D. Rector of this Parish for this year ending the first day
of August next and give him all Priveleges Immunities and
advantages Express'd in a former agreement on the Records.

1 For a catalog of these books, which was entered in the parish vestry
proceedings, see, Gambrall, Church Life in Colonial Maryland, pp. 104-111.

EXPERIENCES IN COUNTRY PARISHES 35

"Provided that the several Gentilmen who have taken sub-
scriptions Deliver them to the Rev d Tho s John Clagett and
that the Regester Assign them to him. The Vestry request
the Eector to imploy M r McPherson to read Devine Service
and a Homily or Sermon to the Peopple every other Sunday
until some Ordained Minister can Be Obtained."

This is a fair example of the quaint form of contract by
which the Maryland vestries engaged their rectors from time
to time. The more picturesque than satisfactory manner in
which the rector was sometimes paid is shown in the following
extract from the parish records.

Maryland St Jamses Parish

Novb 1 15th 1779

Whereas no act has hitherto been made for the Support
of the Clergy of the Church of England by the Legislature
of this State we the Subscribers do therefore bind and Oblidge
Ourselves our Heirs Executors or Administrators to Pay unto
the Vestry of the Afs d Parish or their Order the Sum of
Money or Quantity of Tobacco Wheat Corn Rye Oats Peas or
Beans Annexed to our Respective Names on or before the
first Day of Decb*, 1780 to be applied by S d Vestry towards
Imploying a Clergyman to officiate in S d Parish for one year
from the Date hereof and to Defray other necessary Ex-
pences of Said Parish.

(Subscribed to by 68 names.)

A list of communicants at the parish church on Easter
Sunday, April 4, 1790, is given in the book of vestry pro-
ceedings. There are 48 whites and 13 negroes, total 6l. Of
the 48 whites 11 are males and 37 are females. So it would
seem that the lament of our bishops and other clergy regard-
ing the unequal proportion of the sexes on the parish register
and confirmation rolls may have been sounded also by some
of their worthy predecessors. The list of "Black Brethren

36 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

Communicants" include "George" and "Rhemus" "servants
to Tho s J. Claggett." The attitude of this parish towards the
colored people is further shown in the following extract from
the vestry proceedings of February 7th, 1791.

"On application of Robert a Black man servant to Mr.
John Thomas on behalf of himself and the rest of the Black
Communicants in this Parish for a Piece of Ground on the
Church Glebe adjoining the North East Corner of the Church
Yard no more than Sixty feet Square for a Burying Ground
for the said Blacks and their Descendants Resolved that the
said Ground be Appropriated to that Purpose Provided they
Rail it in at their Own Cost and Charges as they Purpose."

The following letter not only reminds us that Claggett
lived in a slaveholding community but that he himself was
probably a slaveholder.

THE REV. JOSEPH JACKSON TO BISHOP CLAGGETT

WESTPHALIA, THURSDAY NIGHT, 7th Jan'y '96.
RIGHT REV D & DEAR SIR,

Major John Burgess has acquainted me, that through Mr.
Bradley Baynes, he some little Time ago had some Proposal
from you respecting Mrs. M. Burgess's Negro Fellow Ned.
At least had learned that you had some Thoughts of purchas-
ing him. He, as well as Mrs. B. have requested me to write
to you upon the Subject.

I remember to have mentioned the fellow to you incidentally
once before. What I might then say, added to what you
will have learned from others respecting him, may leave it
unnecessary now to give you his Character. I think this but
due, however, to the Opinion I have entertained of him, since
he became known to me: that I observe him to have borne the
Character of an honest, industrious, good-tempered Slave, &
that he has ever appeared such to me. His age is not certainly
known, but if it exceeds 30 (Mrs. B. says it exceeds not 25

EXPERIENCES IN COUNTRY PARISHES 37

or 26) at all, 'tis believed not to be by more than one year
or two.

The principal Reason of my writing is, that we might be-
come apprized whether the Terms at which he is offered meet
your Approbation. The Major told me today, that the Terms
were, for this Man and a son of his about 5 or 6 years of
age, .125, upon a 6 Month's Credit; or 120 ready Money.
Should the boy be parted from his Father (which it is desired
he should not be), a Deduction of about ,25 will be made
upon his Account. Should you, though, be inclined to pur-
chase the Man, & to have him by himself, I can venture to
say, that you might obtain him with that Deduction, i.e. at
100 upon Credit, or at 95 for ready Money. And, might
I add my Opinion, it should be that, as Slaves are now com-
monly sold, he would be very cheap. Your Determination
will be expected by the return of the Bearer.

- Your obliged & obed* Serv*

JOSEPH JACKSON.

CHAPTER IV

ORGANIZATION OF THE MARYLAND CHURCH

On the 9th of November, 1780, the first convention of the
Maryland clergy and laity was held at Chestertown, on the
Eastern Shore. There were only three clergymen present.
In a letter of May 10, 1810, the Rev. James Jones Wilmer, then
chaplain in the United States Senate, wrote to Bishop Clag-
gett, "I am one of the three who first organized the Episcopal
Church during the Revolution, and am consequently one of
the primary aids to its consolidation throughout the United
States. The Rev. Dr. Smith, Dr. Keene and myself held
the first convention at Chestertown, and I acted as secretary."
In this convention of 1780, besides the three clergymen, there
were 24? lay delegates, representing five parishes, all on the
Eastern Shore.

The country was still in the throes of war, and activities
were largely paralyzed. Since the opening of hostilities the
population of Maryland had decreased greatly. Money was
exceedingly scarce, only ,200,000 being estimated in circula-
tion in the state; many of her prominent men were in the
field, a number had lost their lives in the contest, and several
had fled to England or to Canada rather than take arms
against their king.

Soon after the close of the Revolution, in 1783, the legis-
lature of Maryland took up the subject of organizing the
Episcopal Church, and particularly of appointing ordainers
to the ministry, although' the state legislature was composed
of men of many different religious denominations. This
scheme very naturally received the opposition of all level-
headed and farseeing Churchmen, their spokesman and most

38

ORGANIZATION OP THE MARYLAND CHURCH 39

valiant worker in the cause being the Rev. Samuel Keene,
who, by personal efforts before the legislature, persuaded
that body to abandon the project. However much in need
of organization they might be they did not wish the work
done by the state legislature, for Churchmen clearly saw that
if these plans were adopted soon there would be no Episcopal
Church.

The subject of religion was next brought to the state
assembly by Gov. William Paca, at the session of May, 1783.
Advocating perfect impartiality to all Christian denominations
he begged the legislature to consider the matter of the sup-
port of the Christian ministry.

"It is far from our Intention," he writes, "to embarrass
your Deliberations with a variety of Objects, but we cannot
pass over Matters of so high concernment as Religion and
Learning. The sufferings of the Ministers of the Gospel of
all Denominations, during the War, have been very consider-
able; and the Perseverance and Firmness of those, who dis-
charged their sacred Functions under many discouraging
Circumstances, claim our Acknowledgments and Thanks.
The Bill of Rights and Form of Government recognize the
Principle of Public Support for the Ministers of the Gospel,
and ascertain the mode. Anxiously solicitous for the Bless-
ings of Government, and the Welfare and Happiness of our
Citizens, and thoroughly convinced of the powerful Influence
of Religion, when diffused by its respectable Teachers, we
beg leave most seriously and warmly to recommend, among
the first objects of your attention, on the Return of Peace, the
making such Provision, as the Constitution, in this Case, au-
thorizes and approves." 1

About a week after this address was made public, May 12-
15, a considerable number of the Episcopal clergy chanced to
be met together at the first annual commencement of Wash-

1 Address to the Members, etc., Bait., 1784.

40 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

ington College, in Chestertown. They seized this opportunity
to hold a convention, in which they heartily agreed that, inas-
much as the governor of the state was thus working for the
interests of religion, they ought, as soon as possible, to hold a
council, or convention, and consider the revision or readjusting
of the liturgy to suit local circumstances and changed politi-
cal conditions, the means for organizing the Church in their
state, and how a succession of the ministry might be main-
tained. Accordingly, they adjourned to meet at Annapolis,
Wednesday, August 13th, of the same year (1783). At this
convention a committee was appointed "to prepare the Draft
of an Act or Charter of Incorporation, to enable the Episcopal
Church of this State, as a Body Corporate, to hold Goods,
Lands and Chattels, by Deed, Gift, Devise, &c., to the
amount of * * * per annum, as a Fund for providing small
Annuities to the Widows of Clergymen, and for the Education
of their Children, or any poor Children in general, who may
be found of promising Genius and Disposition, for a Supply
of Ministers in the said Church, and for other pious and
charitable Uses."

This committee, which seems to have constituted the ecclesi-
astical authority of the diocese of Maryland, was composed
of three clergymen from each shore who were appointed "to
examine such young Gentlemen as may offer themselves Can-
didates for Holy Orders in our Church . . . and to recom-
mend such Candidates as may be thought worthy to serve as
Readers in any Parishes that may think proper to employ
them." This arrangement was to hold "until a regular Or-
dination of Clergy could be Obtained." This clerical com-
mittee consisted of William Smith, John Gordon and Samuel
Keene, for the Eastern Shore, and William West, Thomas
John Claggett and Thomas Gates, for the Western Shore.

At this convention the clergy, feeling it necessary to devise
some means for the succession of the Ministry, drew up that

ORGANIZATION OF THE MARYLAND CHURCH 41

document so well known in the history of the Church, called
"the Bill of Rights/' or "the Declaration of Certain Funda-
mental Rights & Liberties." In this instrument, too familiar
to need reprinting in full here, 1 the clergy expressed their be-
lief "that there be these three Orders of Ministers in Christ's
Church, Bishops, Priests and Deacons, and that an Episcopal
Ordination and Commission are necessary to the valid Admin-
istration of the Sacraments, and the due Exercise of the
Ministerial Functions in the said Church."

Continuing, the convention stated its belief that, without
questioning the rights, modes and forms of any other Christian
bodies, it was their right "to have and enjoy the Continuance
of the said three Orders of Ministers forever, so far as con-
cerns matters purely spiritual; and that no Persons, in the
Character of Ministers, except such as are in the Communion
of the said Church, and duly called to the Ministry by regular
Episcopal Ordination, can or ought to be admitted into, or
enjoy any of the Churches, Chapels, Glebes, or other Prop-
erty, formerly belonging to the Church of England in the
State, and which by the Constitution and Form of Govern-
ment is secured to the said Church forever, by whatsoever
Name, she the said Church, or her superior Order of Minis-
ters, may in future be denominated."

In regard to the liturgy, they recognized the necessity of
adapting it to the late revolution, but expressed the hope that
this "may and will be done, without any other or farther
Departure from the Venerable Order and beautiful Forms of
Worship of the Church from whence we sprung, than may be
found expedient in the Change of our Situation from a
DAUGHTER to a SISTER-CHURCH."

That which makes this declaration of the most historic
significance is the light it throws upon the views held by the
members of the Maryland Church in relation to the Church

1 See Perry, History of the American Episcopal Church, v. 2, p. 3-5.

42 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

in neighboring states and communities. "We the Clergy of
the Protestant Episcopal Church in Maryland . . . consider
it as the undoubted Right of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
in common with other Christian Churches under the American
Revolution, to compleat . and preserve herself as an entire
Church, agreeably to her ancient Usages and Profession, and
to have the full Enjoyment and free Exercise of those purely
spiritual Powers, which are essential to the Being of every
Church or Congregation of the faithful, and which, being
derived only from Christ and his Apostles, are to be main-
tained independent of every foreign or other Jurisdiction, so
far as may be consistent with the civil Rights of Society."

This declaration was signed by all the clergy present,
fifteen in all, Dr. Claggett being one of that number. On
June 23rd, 1784, three more signed the paper. It is believed
that this is the first instance in which the name Protestant
Episcopal was officially used.

The fear of a political episcopate was strongly shown in
the report of the clergy and lay members who were appointed
at the convention of 1784 to draw up a plan of ecclesiastical
government for the Church in Maryland, and to define therein
the duties of bishops, priests and deacons in matters spiritual.
"According to what we conceive to be of true Apostolic In-
stitution," reads the report, "the Duty and Office of a Bishop
differs in nothing from that of other Priests, except in the
Power of Ordination and Confirmation, and in the Right of
Precedency in ecclesiastical Meetings or Synods, and shall ac-
cordingly be so exercised in this Church; the Duty and Office
of Priests and Deacons to remain as heretofore." And then,
apparently with an eye to the future, was added, "And if any,
further Distinctions and Regulations in the Different Orders
of the Ministry should afterwards be found necessary for
the good Government of the Church, the same shall be made
and established by the joint Voice and Authority of a Repre-

ORGANIZATION OF THE MARYLAND CHURCH 43

sentative Body of the Clergy and Laity, at future ecclesiasti-
cal Synods or Conventions."

Many of those who were bitterly opposed to a resident
episcopacy because they did not approve of the complications
of Church and State as exhibited in the English prelacy, had
no objections to a purely spiritual episcopate. Thus, the
Rev. Hugh Neill, who was a warm friend of American
episcopacy, wrote in one of his letters to the venerable Society
for the Propagation of the Gospel, "The Rev. Dr. Allison,
Vice Provost of the College of Philadelphia, and who is at
the head of the Presbyterians in the Province, assured me the
other day, in a conversation upon the subject, that they had
no objection to what he called Primitive Episcopacy, that is,
Episcopacy without any civil power annexed to it, as he
explained himself; and that he would be well contented if
there was a Bishop of this sort in every Province in
America." 1

At the convention in 1783, the Rev. Dr. William Smith was
elected Bishop of Maryland. Dr. Smith at that time was the
dominating clerical figure in the state, and if a bishop were
to be chosen then it was most evident that he was the logical
candidate. Concerning this action Dr. Claggett wrote to his
intimate friend, the Rev. William Duke, then a Methodist
preacher, afterwards a clergymen of the Episcopal Church.

TO WILLIAM DUKE.

SAT. Sept. 20, 1783.
DEAR SIR,

I received your Letter of the 14th of August just one
Month after date, & I take this earliest Opportunity to inform
you of it, lest you should think that my inactivity has got y*
better of my respect for you. I have seen S r Robert Eden;
but from him could learn little y* was interesting to our

1 Sprague, Annals; Episcopalian, p. 159.

44 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

Church^ nor indeed did I expect any Thing of that Nature.
I suppose you have long ago heard that y e Clergy of y e
Protestant Episcopal Church met last month at Annapolis;
and that we formed a Bill of Rights; chose Dr. Smith to go
to Europe to be ordained an antistes, President of y e Clergy,
or Bishop (if that name does not hurt your feelings). He
will probably be back some Time next Spring; in y e mean
Time, we have appointed three of y e Clergy on each shore to
licence Candidates for Holy Orders in our Church to act as
Readers in y e different vacant Parishes, Smith, Gorden, Keene,
for Eastern Shore; Gates, West and your Humb. Serv* are to
negotiate this Business on y e Western Shore I should be glad
to send you a copy of some of y e parts of our Proceedings,
but as I write this at a friends House in U. Marlbro I can
not take time for that Purpose now Mr. Edw d Gantt I be-
lieve intends to decline his voyage to Europe & is at present
at Mr. Calvert's he will (I believe) wait y e event of Dr.
Smith's Mission.

Yours affectionately,

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

William Smith, the new bishop-elect, was born in Aberdeen,
Scotland, about 1727, and came to America when twenty-three
years old, engaging himself as a private tutor in the family
of Governor Martin on Long Island. In 1753, when he had
been in this country about three years, he was offered the
charge of the seminary in Philadelphia, which afterwards
grew into the University of Pennsylvania. He accepted, but
first went to England for holy orders. He remained in
Philadelphia engaged in this work until 1779, when the
charter of the college was withdrawn, whereupon he removed
to Chestertown, Maryland, becoming rector of the local parish
and instituting a seminary, which immediately met with marked
success, having 140 pupils the second year. In June, 1782,

ORGANIZATION OF THE MARYLAND CHURCH 45

the school was chartered by the General Assembly as a college,
and Dr. Smith became its first president. It received the
name of Washington College, after George Washington, who
was the president of the board of trustees, others on the board
being William Paca, governor of Maryland, Samuel Chase,
signer of the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Smith, Robert
Goldsborough, and other men prominent in Maryland affairs,
all of which shows the high standing of the young institution.

In 1789 the charter of the Pennsylvania college was re-
stored, and Dr. Smith returned to his former work. He died
in Philadephia on the 14th of May, 1803, in his 76th year.
There is no question that he was one of the most learned men
of his time in America. He received the doctorate in divinity
from Oxford, Aberdeen, and Trinity College, Dublin. He
was always a member of the General Convention and generally
its president. From 1783 to the end of his residence in Mary-
land he was president of the diocesan church conventions and
one of the examiners of candidates for holy orders. He was
a preacher of wide reputation, noted for his many occasional
sermons, many of which have been published. He preached
the sermon at the consecration of Bishop Claggett, in Christ
Church, New York, September 17, 1792. He was on the
committee with Bishop White (that is, afterwards Bishop)
and the Rev. Dr. Wharton, of Delaware, appointed in 1785
to revise the prayer book to meet the needs of the American
Church, and Dr. Smith is said to have been the chief factor
in the compilation of that unsatisfactory and unacceptible
liturgy.

As to his character and the reasons why he was never con-
secrated a bishop, Dr. Tiffany has given us a singularly un-
biased and enlightening summary. "From what has appeared
of Dr. Smith's characteristics it is not strange that with his
learning, his natural powers, and his financial success in
establishing his college, he should have been the instant and

46 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

unanimous choice of the eighteen Maryland clergymen for
their first bishop. A man of such distinction at home and
abroad at once towered above all local celebrities. It is not
strange, either, that he should have had opponents as well in
those less dominated by his inspiring personality. The laity
were not so enthusiastic as the clergy who elected him. Many
were strongly opposed to there being at that time any bishop
in Maryland. Even among his warm personal friends there
were those who disapproved of his election. Dr. White after-
wards opposed its confirmation, not giving his reasons; but it
is known that they were based on an estimate of his character.
That character was generous, but not prudent. There was a
secularity in his manner and tone of thought which savored
more of worldly wisdom than of devout consecration. He was
convivial, and may have at times lapsed into impropriety. The
temporal rather than the spiritual concerns of the church
engrossed his attention. In controversy, to which he was
prone, the old Adam often got the better of the young
Melanchthon. He was not, however, self-seeking. The op-
position which he made to Dr. Seabury's consecration by the
non-juring bishops, if it had any personal element, was also
caused by the fear that such a procedure would shut the door
to the application for the English succession. This result
would have greatly diminished the prestige of the national
church, and given it a provincial aspect and character, mark-
ing it as distinct from the English Church, rather than as
its legitimate successor. Dr. Smith may himself have been
convinced of the inappropriateness of his own election to the
episcopate. Certain it is that he never applied for consecra-
tion in England, though his election and testimonials from his
state were above suspicion. When his election was not con-
firmed by the General Convention which gave its imprimatur
to White and Provoost and Griffith, his disappointment did
not sour him. He continued to be one of the indefatigable

ORGANIZATION OF THE MARYLAND CHURCH 47

workers in the construction of the ecclesiastical organization
in which he was not to be a chief officer. He was a co-laborer
with White in all his efforts, and preserved a steadfast friend-
ship for him, notwithstanding his opposition to his own con-
secration. Prejudiced at first against Seabury, both on ac-
count of his ecclesiastical views and his Scotch consecration, he
was the chief mover in the measures which recognized the
validity of his consecration and brought him into union with
the General Convention. But both his good qualities and his
defects were such as wisely to exclude him from the
episcopate." 1

Smith retained his prominence in Maryland ecclesiastical
affairs and his apparent popularity with both clergy and
laity as long as he resided in that state, but, whatever the
cause may have been, it remains a fact that he never made any
attempt to secure episcopal consecration, although his creden-
tials were undoubtedly beyond dispute. Dr. Claggett during
these years was steadily rising in influence and in the respect
of his fellow men, but while Dr. Smith remained in the state
the latter was always the star of first magnitude, though it
is much to be doubted whether he had the nobility of character
and the geniality of disposition that the kindly Dr. Claggett
possessed to such a remarkable degree. Claggett was without
doubt a strong force in the organization of the Episcopal
Church in Maryland, much stronger than the appearance of
his name on the public proceedings of the conventions would
indicate, for throughout his long life he was retiring in
nature, much preferring to exert his influence in a quiet per-
sonal way than by public demonstration. Beginning with the
earliest conventions of which we have record he was nearly
always present. He was on the standing committee each
year after 1788, and on the so-called superintending com-
mittee in 1783 and perhaps in other years. He was president
1 Hiit. of the Prof. Epis. Ch., 1899, p. 310-12.

48 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

of the diocesan convention in 1791 and 1792, at which latter
convention he was elected bishop. He was a delegate to the
General Convention of 1789, held in Christ Church, Phila-
delphia.

The General Convention of 1785 had taken into serious
consideration the alteration of the English Book of Common
Prayer to meet the needs of the American Church, certain
changes very naturally being necessary because of the polit-
ical revolution. The convention found the task of alteration
too serious a one to be lightly decided, and so a committee con-
sisting of the Rev. Messrs Smith, White and Wharton were,
as stated above, appointed to publish the Book of Common
Prayer with the alterations proposed. Dr. White was much
engaged with the framing of the constitution and did little
work on the proposed liturgy, Dr. Smith being the most active
member of the committee. A large edition of the "Proposed
Book" made its appearance on the first of April, 1786, and
was pretty widely distributed among the various churches of
the states. But it was a stupendous failure from the first.
None of the diocesan conventions approved of it, the book was
very little used, and so completely did it drop from notice
that four years later, ^hen a General Convention entered more
successfully upon prayer book revision, it was not deemed
necessary to mention the "Proposed Book," much less- to
abolish its use. 1 Dr. Claggett's attitude, discretely veiled as
the views of his congregation (which they doubtless also
were), is well represented in the following letter.

TO WILLIAM DUKE. 2
VERY DEAR AND REV D SIR, HERMITAGE, June 19th, '86

Your little paper messenger 3 arrived here at last, having

1 Procter, F., Hist, of the Boole of Common Prayer, ed. by Frere, p. 239.

2 Duke was by this time a clergyman in the Episcopal Church, having
been ordained in 1785 by Bishop Seabury.

3 Duke published several books and pamphlets, one of which is evidently
referred to here.

ORGANIZATION OP THE MARYLAND CHURCH 49

been one month compleat on its Journey. I can with great
Truth assure you, it was most welcome; because it flattered
me with y e Idea of possessing a warm Corner in y e Heart of
its Master. The proof it affords of y e Energy & Vigour of
your Mind makes me some Compensation for y e Distress I
feel on account of that Languor & Indisposition w 611 (I find)
still continues to harass its poor Companion. You must,
however, endeavor to drag your Corporation thus far shortly,
as I never wanted to see your more. I have several things
to consult with you, respecting our Church. There is no one
here equally capable & well disposed for this Service & there-
fore my Thoughts on these Subjects in all probability will
remain locked up in my own Breast until I have y e Happiness
of seeing you. I must endeavor to get you nearer to me
next year, if it was only on self-interesting Motives, I need
your advice & assistance frequently. It is now pretty clear
that I shall not go to Philadelphia this Summer. I'm tired,
my dear Sir, of being hurried about, merely to give a little
Sanction to measures w 011 generally have received y e Royal
assent before I hear of them. You'll say perhaps that I
ought to attend to my Duty & endeavor to have Matters
altered if I think them amiss. How can any, y e least altera-
tion take place? Consider y 8 Books are already printed at
an enormous Expense & y e Resistance to be overcome will be
far greater than any Efforts of mine will be able to sur-
mount.

The people of this Congregation (I mean y e Church's
real Friends, y e Communicants) universally disapprove of
y e new Book, and I have written to Dr. West not to send me
any of them at present, for I am persuaded it can not be
introduced here, without giving great uneasiness and perhaps
it would be attended with worse Consequences. Their Objec-
tions are such as these, viz: That our new Reformers have
altered too much, & have Presbyterianized in many Instances,

50 LIFE OF BISHOE CLAGGETT

particularly they have virtually denied y e Doctrine of Re-
generation in Baptism taught by y e Church of England w*
Tenet they think is sufficiently founded on John 3, 5, Acts
2, 38 & 22, 16, & several other parts of sacred writ, they
contend that y e primitive Ch* always held this Doctrine, &
as a proof of it, they instance y e Nicean Creed & y e Evidence
it affords of this Truth they think is y e true Cause of its being
displaced; among several other Things they oppose them-
selves warmly to y e mutilating & leaving out great part of y 8
Psalms of David, they contend that this Procedure may serve
as a precedent for y e Clergy's depriving them of any part or y 6
whole of y e sacred Canon, whenever they choose to introduce
them to y e halcyon Times of monkish Superstition: at any
rate they think y* such a practice has a tendency to weaken
y e authority of sacred Scripture & is flatly reprobated by
y e Scripture itself. I have lately received a letter from a
Presbyterian Clergymen of note w ch contains an artful over-
ture for a Convention (?) of y e Churches couched in y e form
of a wish. An Important Subject I have given no answer
to y 6 Letter, nor do I intend it, till I see you. Think of
these things & let me see you, or hear from you by a very
safe hand as soon as possible. All here & at Mrs. Calvert's
join in affection for you (I'm certain) & I remain, dear Sir,
Very sincerely, Your Friend & Brother,

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

TO THE REV. DR. WILLIAM WEST.

Aug. 23, 1788.
REV D & DEAR SIR,

Your kind Letter by Mr. Burgis came safely to my Hands
on Sunday night last. It rained very hard all day y 6 Mon-
day & on Tuesday. I set out with y e enclosed to Calvert, &
sent it by Boy to Mrs. Bond & was happy to find by y 9
return of y e Messenger y 1 both y e Ladies were well. I

ORGANIZATION OF THE MARYLAND CHURCH 51

understand from y e Ladies y* y e Letter to Mrs. Bond was
addressed to her by yourself, & I only admire how well you
can write two different Hands.

By one of y e Rules entered into at Baltimore I think we are
bound to correspond with one another respecting y e affairs
of y e Church; in this Situation I think it my Duty to advise
with you respecting an affair that gives me no small uneasi-
ness. It is briefly this. Our friend Mr. Mason Weems 1
since y e breaking up of the Convention has adopted a Line
of Conduct that I fear will be greatly prejudicial to y e
Church; he has I understand introduced y e Methodist Hymns
& Tunes in y e publick Service. The other day I saw him
at Annapolis. He told me that a Methodist Preacher had
informed him that there were a number of people wavering
that wished to join their Society but were withheld by
thinking it disgraceful to make a profession of Methodism &
entreated him to preach in their Meeting House to give weight
& credit, & Sanction to y e Methodist Religion. Mr. Weems
informed me further that in his opinion as a Preacher of
y e Gospel he had no right to refuse this Invitation, but as
an older Minister he requested my opinion on y e Case as
thus stated. I gave him a decided opinion against his doing
of it, at least on y* Principle, together with some of my
Reasons ; but when I found I had prevailed nothing with him,
I requested that, as his own Character, the Interest of y e
Church, & y e Situation of all his neighboring Ministers would
be materially affected by such a Step, I begged that he would
postpone y e execution of his Design untill he saw me again,
& we should have further Conversation on y e Subject; to this
he assented in positive Terms, notwithstanding which (I
understand) a few Days after at a Quarterly Meeting in
y e City of Annapolis he exhibited in their Pulpit to y e no
small triumph of their Party.

1 Mason Locke Weems, author of " The Life of Washington" etc.

52 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

His conduct (I verily believe) has materially affected y e
Interest of our Church in this Quarter & I do suppose that
should his Example be followed by one or two more of our
Ministers, that very speedily two or three Parishes will be
entirely lopped off from our Church. In this View it is a
very serious Consideration & I wish you would consider it
maturely,, & give me a decided opinion upon it.

I confess it is a very disagreeable Subject to address you
on, & it gives me pain to do it. I have a regard for Mr.
Weems, his zeal & attention to y e Duties of his sacred Office
merit esteem; but in proportion as this Zeal & Dilligence are
applied to y e Methodist interest it weakens us. You will
be so kind as to consider how such a Line of Conduct as
I have stated above squares with our Canons & Rules & let
y e whole matter rest with yourself untill you hear farther
from, dear Sir

Your affectionate Friend & Bro.

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

The following letter to Bishop William White was written
soon after that gentleman and Bishop Provoost had returned
to America after Episcopal consecration at the hands of the
English prelates.

TO BISHOP WHITE.

ST. JAMES ANNAEHNDEL COUNTY April 21 1787
RIGHT REV D Sm,

I have just now heard by Mr. Weems of Your Return to
America in Bishops Orders, the Information gives me great
Pleasure, & I would beg leave thus early to congratulate you
on the Occasion. Permit me Right Rev d . & Dear Sir, to
inform you, that a Convention of our Church will be held at
Chester Town in Kent County on the fourth Tuesday in
May next. I have Reason to believe that the Lay Represen-

ORGANIZATION OF THE MARYLAND CHURCH 53

tation will be more complete than it ever has as yet been in
this State, & that Matters of Magnitude will be then brought
forward. In this Situation of our Affairs, I would take the
Liberty to solicit your Presence there, if you can possibly
make it convenient. A Gentleman of your Character, a Na-
tive of this State 1 a Bishop of our excellent Church presiding
in our Church Assembly would give Weight & Dignity to all
our Proceedings, it would have a direct Tendency to pro-
mote y e Church, to unite us all firmly together, & to fix us
in a more desirable Situation than we have been in since y e
Revolution. I should think myself highly honored, by y e
Reception of a Line from you by Mr. Weems' Return in-
forming me whether you think it will be in your power to
attend or not? In Case you can not possibly make it con-
venient I shall embrace the first Opportunity of paying my
Respects to you personally in Philadelphia. With Sentiments
of the most perfect Esteem I have the Honour to be Right
Revd Sir, Your most dutifull Serv't

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

Claggett's laudable ambitions for a large and influential
convention do not seem to have been realized, for so far as
we know there were only seven clergymen and five laymen
present. Bishop White does not appear to have attended.
Although we do not know the reason we can easily believe
that duties crowded upon him during the first months of his
episcopate, and that he felt he owed attention first to his
own diocese and state.

Very different from the formal and rather stilted com-
munication to Bishop White is the following chatty letter to
his warm friend and correspondent, William Duke.

1 Bishop White was a native of Philadelphia, but his father removed from
Maryland three years before the future "father of the American Church"
was born.

54 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

TO WILLIAM DUKE.

Jan. 28, 1792.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

In your Letter of y e 25th of Dec* (V* I have lately re-
ceived) you mention a variety of topicks in your preface on
V* you say you would wish to write if you had anything to
say on them worth reading at length however you fix on a
Subject, and what you do say on that goes fully to prove
that none of them would have suffered by the masterly dis-
quisitions of your Genius. In this Instance you remind me
of Horace's delicate compliment to Virgil in one of his Satires
where he is telling us that no Man could possibly write in
y e perfect style equal to Virgil, yet he does it in such Lan-
guage as to convince us that he himself was fully equal to
y e Task. What you have heard respecting my removal to
Croom is very true I have been here about two months my
House is far from being furnished but I have plenty of wood
to burn & that circumstance reconciles us better to some in-
conveniences w ch we are obliged to put up with especially in
this cold weather. I do duty in both my old Parishes &
expect to continue in that Line until August at least. I have
told your quondam Hearers 1 that I would preach to them
once a fortnight at y e Chappel on a weak day gratis, & I
have attended regularly; but have seldom seen a tolerable
Congregation there, the weather it seems is too cold for
them to turn out & I suppose it will shortly be too hot. You
seem by your letters to wish to know how they do, I can only
tell you that I hear (for I have not been much among them)
that they eat, they drink, they fiddle, they dance, they play,
& some of them lie and swear much as they use to do
gracious God, what is to become of them! the little success
y* attended my labours for y e three or four years I spent

l Duke was rector of St. Paul's, Prince George's County, from 1787 to
1791.

ORGANIZATION OF THE MARYLAND CHURCH 55

here formerly has often been y e subject of melancholy reflec-
tion. I heartily wish that you may have more agreeable
feelings whenever you contemplate this Topick I dined
about a fortnight ago at old Mrs. B's at dinner your name
'was mentioned y e old gentleman observed that it had been
currently reported y* you was married in Baltimore, & asked
me whether it was true? There was a certain female member
of y e family present who blushed & seemed a good deal
confused when y e Inquiry was made; the Rationale of this
part of her conduct perhaps you may be better acquainted
with than I am.

I have taken some steps since I have been here to get
y e Churches repaired, the work has been long in hand, but
nothing done in it as yet. I mean to try to work them up
to secure y e buildings from immediate destruction. I hope they
will be more wanted in some future period for y e very purpose
for which they were originally designed than they are at
present. God is able to effect y e 'mighty Revolution & when-
ever & wherever He shall be pleased to say let there be light,
the darkness must fly before it. Johnny Weems preaches once
a fortnight at y e lower Church gratis, & I hear they like him.
A Mr. Moscross a polite young Clergyman officiates for a
hundred Guineas a year in y e Queen Ann Parish. He pleases
most of his Hearers; he is equally charming I am told in y e
Pulpit, at a Horse Race, & at y e Card Table, i.e. he is polite
& an accomplished Gentleman everywhere. My dear Sir when
I see some of our Bren. acting in direct opposition to y e few
rules of Discipline that we have established, & hear them
justified for so doing by y e members of our Church it brings
to my mind one of the seasonable observations that you for-
merly made on this subject viz: That without Discipline we
could not reasonably hope for Reformation & that there was
very little Prospect of our People's submitting to any Dis-
cipline. However as it appears to be absolutely necessary

56 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT ,

we must with united force try to effect it. ... My little
family join in respect to you & I hope to see you early in
y e Spring. My dear Sir, we have been moving about it is
true., but assure yourself that there is no alteration in the
affection w tb w ch I am

Your Friend & Brother,

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

CHAPTER V

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE

It is unnecessary here to review in length the struggle for
the episcopate in the American colonies. Even among Church-
men it was not everywhere a struggle for the episcopate. In
New England Churchmen were few, and not all of those
looked with favor on the advent of bishops, as they saw them
in English Church and state ; in Virginia, where the Church
had been an establishment, canons were passed defining and
circumscribing the office of a bishop; and in South Carolina
it was expressly stipulated that no bishop should be intro-
duced; in short, that the Episcopal Church should not be an
episcopal Church. In Maryland there had been some feeling
of alarm, even among Churchmen, as to just how a bishop
might conduct himself if they had one, and how much of the
clerical and lay power he would take unto himself. But, on
the whole, Maryland was anxious to secure the episcopate.

The majority of American Churchmen sorely felt the need
of a resident bishop. Their sentiments were doubtless well
expressed by the petition signed by Churchmen of Phila-
delphia, New Jersey and Maryland in 1718: "For want of
episcopacy being established among us, and that there has
never been any bishop sent to visit us, our churches remain
unconsecrated, our children are grown up and cannot be con-
firmed, . . . our clergy sometimes under doubts cannot be
resolved. But more especially . . . the vacancies which daily
happen in our ministry cannot be supplied for a considerable
time from England, whereby many congregations are not only
become desolate, and the light of the gospel therein extin-
guished, but great encouragement is thereby given to sec-
retaries of all sorts, which abound and increase among us." 1

1 Tiffany, Hist, of the P. E. Church in the U. S., p. 272.

57

58 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

The opposition of Puritans, Presbyterians and other non-
conformists was strong in proportion to the likelihood of an
episcopate being established among them. "We hope in
God/' wrote Samuel Adams, in 1768, when a member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives, to its London agent,
"such an establishment may never take place in America; we
desire you would strenuously oppose it. The revenue raised
in America, for aught we can tell, may be constitutionally
applied toward the support of prelacy as of soldiers or pen-
sioners." 1 All opposition seemed to be based on the assump-
tion that a bishop in America would differ no whit from a
bishop in England, and of some specimens of the latter,
Churchmen and dissenters alike were united in their disgust
and abhorrence. Churchmen, however, saw that a bishop
transplanted to a missionary field might stay out of politics
and return to primitive church ideals; the dissenters could
not see that this satisfactory condition would be likely to result.

To Maryland came near belonging the honor of having
the first American bishop, and that two years before Samuel
Seabury was born. In 1727, the Bishop of London wrote to
the Rev. Joseph Colebatch, then serving in Maryland, and
invited him to come to England and be consecrated as "his
lordship's suffragan for the colonies.

"We have not been able," says Dr. Hawks, "after much
research, to discover whether the Bishop acted in this matter
under assurances from his majesty that Mr. Colebatch should
be consecrated, or whether he hoped to procure the royal
assent to the measure, after the arrival of the intended suf-
fragan. The small measure of success that attended the oft
repeated attempt from various parts of the continent to in-
duce the authorities at home to send a bishop to America,
leads us to adopt the opinion that the bishop had no positive
assurance from the crown." 2

1 Ibid, p. 274-5. 2 Hawks, Maryland, p. 196.

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE 59

Mr. Colebatch, however, was not permitted to leave Mary-
land. A writ of ne exeat was issued by the Maryland court,
which at that time was in exceedingly strained relations with
the clergy, and the Bishop of London was obliged to drop the
matter. This put an end to any direct attempt to establish
a bishop in any of the southern colonies for the next forty
years.

Very little is known of Joseph Colebatch. He is repre-
sented by his contemporaries as a worthy and pious man. His
certificate of ordination to priest's orders, 1 dated July 4th,
1695, and signed by Henry Compton, Bishop of London,
tells us that he was a Bachelor of Arts of Oriel College, Ox-
ford. Coming immediately after ordination to Maryland,
he became the rector of All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel
County, in 1696, where he remained until his death in 1734.

No work dealing with any phase of the church history
of colonial Maryland can omit mention of the honored name
of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Bray. As first commissary of the
Bishop of London, he, like all his successors in that office,
worked to secure the episcopate for the colonies. In the
Fulham Manuscripts is a carefully elaborated plan for set-
tling bishops in America, which Dr. Bray drew up and sent
to Bishop Gibson, of London, October 28th, 1723. 2

We have already seen Claggett's early desire for a bishop
in America, as shown in his letters to the Rev. Weeden Butler.
By the time he had reached his mature ministry the Church-
men of his state were nearly unanimous in their desire for
the episcopate. Their debates in the diocesan conventions
following the election of William Smith, were not so much did
they want a bishop, as did they want bishops, for it was
strongly felt that the geography of the state called for two
bishops, one on the eastern, and one on the western shore.

1 Original is in the Maryland Diocesan Library, Baltimore.

2 Cross, Anglican Episcopate and the American Colonies, p. 105, note.

60 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

The following extract is taken from the Vestry Proceedings
of St. James' Parish, Anne Arundel County, of which Dr.
Claggett was rector.

"Oct. 18, 1790. . . . The Proceedings were then read, and
highly Approved of by the Vestry except those Articles of
the Constitution of this Church which appear to restrain the
Convention from choosing more Bishops than One for this
State. This Vestry are clearly of Opinion that One Bishop
will be inadequate to the Duties which Aught to be Performed
by him, Especially in the present Exigencies of this Church,
and they therefore resolve that they will take Order in this
Business before the Meeting of the next State Convention."

In consequence of their resolution to "take Order in this
Business" the vestry met on the 12th of May, 1791, and ap-
pointed Mr. Richard Harrison their delegate to the convention
due to be called in Baltimore in Whitsun-week. His instruc-
tions as they appear on the Vestry Proceedings are as follows :

"The Vestry taking into Consideration agreeably to their
Resolution of the 18th of October last the Present Situation
of the Church in Maryland as far as the same has come
under their Observation and also having maturely examined
the Constitution and Form of Government of the said Church
passed at Easton last year and Reflecting on the Expediency
of being represented in the House of Bishops in the General
Convention of our Church to be holden at the City of New
York in the year 1792 when they have reason to believe the
important subject of the Articles of Religion will be taken
up, are of the Opinion that the immediate Election of some
fit and qualified Clergyman for a Bishop of this Church is a
Measure that ought to be adopted and they do instruct their
Delegate (if he thinks the Measure practicable) to move and
vote for the same, and also to propose to the Convention that
the 14th and 15th Articles of the Constitution of this Church
may be constitutionally so modified as that one or more

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE 61

Bishops may hereafter be elected for this Church, they being
fully Persuaded that one Bishop will not be adequate to
the Duties of his Office in this State, divided as it is by a
large Bay and in which there appears to them a greater num-
ber of Parishes than can be properly superintended by one

man."

The next convention met at Baltimore, June 16th to 18th,
1791, with Dr. Claggett the unanimously elected president.
There appears to have been considerable discussion regarding
proposed changes in the constitution, with the result that the
convention agreed to submit the proposed changes to the
consideration of the vestries of the various parishes. One
of the proposed amendments submitted for the consideration
of the vestries was the 16th of the constitution, which was
to the effect that if it should be found expedient to divide
the Church in the state into two or more dioceses, or districts,
that a bishop should be elected for each diocese by the whole
convention in the manner prescribed in the constitution, that
is, nomination and election by the clergy by ballot, followed
by the vote of lay delegates, for the approval or disapproval
of the clerical vote, each order requiring a two-thirds vote.

On the last day of this convention it was

"Resolved, That Notice be given to the Members of this
Church, that the Convention will, at the next annual meeting,
proceed to the Election of a Bishop; or, should the Approba-
tion of the Vestries effect the proposed Amendments of the
Constitution, and the Step appear expedient, to the election
of Bishops."

It would be interesting to know more particulars of Clag
gett's election to the bishopric, but the meagre convention
journal offers little -to satisfy the curiosity. The convention
met at Annapolis, on Thursday, the 31st of May, 1792.
Twenty-three clergymen and twenty-seven lay delegates were
present, which was a somewhat larger number than had con-

62 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

vened the year before, when only eighteen clergymen and
twenty laymen constituted the convention. Dr. Claggett was
unanimously re-elected president, and the Rev. John Bissett,
secretary. As was usually the case, this was about all that
was accomplished the first day. On Friday, after considera-
tion of the constitution, and voting upon the various proposed
amendments, in which proceeding the sixteenth article, which
proposed the division of the diocese, and the election of more
than one bishop, was rejected, it was, on motion

"Resolved, That the Convention now proceed to the Elec-
tion of a Bishop for this Church.

"Whereupon the Clergy proceeded, agreeably to the Con-
stitution, to nominate and appoint a Bishop by Ballot; and the
Rev. Dr. Claggett was unanimously chosen.

"This appointment was presented to the Order of the
Laity, and was by them unanimously approved."

It was then immediately "Resolved, That the Testimonial
in favour of the Bishop-elect, prescribed in the second Canon
of the general Convention, be signed by the Members of
this Convention."

BISHOP CLAGGETT'S TESTIMONIAL FOB CONSECRATION.

We whose Names are underwritten, fully sensible how im-
portant it is that the sacred office of Bishop should not be
unworthily conferred & firmly persuaded that it is our duty
to bear testimony on this solemn occasion without partiality
or affection, do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify
that the Rev d Thomas John Claggett, D. D., is not so far
as we are informed justly liable to evil report, either for
error in religion, or for viciousness of life, & that we do not
know or believe that there is any impediment or notable cause,
for which he ought not to be consecrated to that holy office.
We do moreover, jointly & severally declare, 'that having
personally known him for three years last past, we do in

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE 63

our consciences, believe him to be of such sufficiency in good

learning, such soundness in the faith, & of such virtuous

& pure manners & godly conversation, that he is apt & meet

to exercise the office of a Bishop, to the honour of God, &

the edifying of his Church, and to be an wholesome example

to the flock of Christ.

JOHN BOWIE ALEX R MCPHERSON

JOSEPH MESSENGER JOHN FRASER BOWIE

THOS. READ RICH D SPRIGG, JUNR.

JNO. W. COMPTON JOHN RAWLINGS

R. HlGINBOTHAM RlCHARD HARRISON

TOWNSHEND DADE RICHARD HARWOOD, JUNR.

MASON L. WEEMS JOHN RANDALL

EDWARD GANTT SAM L GODMAN

COLIN FERGUSON RICH D CROMWELL

HATCH DENTT JAS. HOWARD

WM. DUKE THO S BAILEY

JNO. COLEMAN ELISHA HARRISON

JOHN BISSETT W M . PERRY

JAS. KEMP PETER CHAILLE

SAML. KEENE J. E. HAWARD

JOHN WEEMS THOS. JNO. CHEW

JOHN DE BUTTS

The subscribers join most heartily in the within recom-
mendation although they cannot sign it, because they have
not had personal knowledge of the Rev d D r Claggett for three
years last past, but they have the highest esteem for the said
Rev a D r Claggett from his general Character.
WALTER MCPHERSON * THO S B. VEAZEY

JOSEPH G. J. BEND JAMES LLOYD

ARCH D WALKER WM. BARROLL

JOHN WHITE AQUILA BROWN

JAS. O'BRYON JNO. HINDMAN

EDMUND KEY EDWARD WORRELL

JNO. KEENE RICHARD WOOTTON

64 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

"And now/' to quote again from Dr. Hawks, "the Mary-
land brethren wisely availed themselves of an opportunity,
thus favorably presented, to take a step, the object of which
was to remove from the Church at large a source of dis-
sension, and bind together more closely the Churches in all
the dioceses into one dissoluble fraternity. The church had
at that time four bishops. Of these, one, Bishop Seabury, of
Connecticut, had received consecration from the Scotch Epis-
copal Church, while Bishops Provoost, White, and Madison,
had obtained their ministerial rank at the hands of the Eng-
lish prelacy. Something approaching to collision between
Bishops Seabury and Provoost had arisen, from, the unwill-
ingness of the latter to recognize the episcopate of the
former. By the judicious interposition and amiable spirit
of that wise and good man, Bishop White, this difficulty had
been removed, and Bishop Seabury, with the Churches of the
Eastern States had come into complete union with their
brethren in the other dioceses.

"It now occurred to the Maryland Church to prevent
thereafter forever, the possibility of a question rising in the
American Episcopal Church, on the relative' validity of the
English and Scotch Episcopate. They wished, if possible,
to unite them in the person of their own bishop, (for Ameri-
can Episcopalians generally never held the Episcopacy of the
Scottish Church to be less valid and regular than that of Eng-
land) and thus hoped, in the future successive consecrations
of American bishops, so completely to blend the two, that it
would be hard to question either, without shaking, at least,
the canonical consecration of the whole Episcopate of the
Church in the United States. By an unanimous vote of the
Maryland Convention, it was therefore resolved, that all the
bishops should be requested to join in Dr. Claggett's conse-
cration. This request was complied with, and the Maryland
Church accomplished the end it so considerately desired, for

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE 65

not a Bishop has been consecrated since Bishop Claggett,
who must not, to make his consecration canonical, claim the
succession, in part at least, through the Scottish Episcopate." 1

We do not know who the primary mover was in this judi-
cious act, but from what we know of Dr. Claggett's love for
peace and harmony, it is easy, and perhaps permissible in
the absence of direct information, to imagine that such an
action might have proceeded from the conciliatory bishop-
elect himself.

The general convention following Claggett's election con-
vened in New York, on Tuesday, September 12th, of that
same year, holding their sessions in certain rooms set apart
for their use in the City Hall, and divine services in Trinity
Church, near by. In due order the necessary testimonials
were presented and signed by the house of deputies and ap-
proved by the house of bishops, and on Monday morning, at
half past ten o'clock, the 17th of September, both houses
adjourned, and "proceeded to Trinity Church, to the con-
secration of the Rev. Thomas John Claggett, D. D. ; and after
divine service returned to their house, when the Right Rev.
Bishop Claggett took his seat."

In these simple words does the Journal of the Convention
record the consecration of the first bishop to receive that
rite on American soil. His consecrators, as we have seen,
were the entire house of bishops; Seabury, of Connecticut,
White, of Pennsylvania, Provoost, of New York, (who pre-
sided as consecrating bishop) and Madison, of Virginia, all
of whom had received their episcopal orders abroad. Fol-
lowing the ceremony the house of bishops resolved that a
certificate of the consecration be entered on the journals of
that house, and that the rector, church wardens, and vestry
of Trinity Church, be requested to enter it on their church
book.

1 Hawks, Maryland, p. 310-12.

66 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

CERTIFICATE OF CONSECRATION OF BISHOP CLAGGETT. 1
Know all men by these Presents, that we, Samuel Provoost,
D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
State of New York, Presiding Bishop ; Samuel Seabury, D. D.,
Bishop of Connecticut and Rhode Island; William White,
D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; James Madison, D. D.,
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of
Virginia; under the protection of Almighty God, in Trinity
Church in the City of New York, on Monday, the seventeenth
of Sept?, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and ninety-two, did then and there rightly and can-
onically consecrate our Beloved in Christ, Thomas John Clag-
gett, D. D., late Rector of St. James' Parish in the State of
Maryland, of whose sufficiency in good Learning, soundness
of the Faith, and purity of Manners, we were fully ascertained,
into the office of Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in the said State, to which the said Thomas John Claggett hath
been elected by the Convention of the said State. In testi-
mony whereof we have signed our Names and caused our
Seals to be affixed; given in the City of New York this nine-
teenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and ninety-two.

SAMUEL PROVOOST [L. S.]
S. SEABURY [L. S.]

WM. WHITE [L. S.]

J. MADISON [L. S.]

On the day following the consecration ceremony, Bishops
Claggett and Madison were named as a committee to report
a plan for supporting bishops on the frontiers of the United
States, a work which was very near to the heart of Claggett,
as we know from his various attempts to aid in this cause.

1 Original is in the Maryland Diocesan Library, Baltimore.

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE 67

After his election to the episcopate, Claggett resigned the
joint rectorship of St. James' Parish, Anne Arundel County,
and All Saints', Calvert County, which he had held since 1786,
and returned to "Croom," his family estate, in Prince George's
County, where in 1793, he again became rector of St. Paul's
Parish, where he remained, in conjunction with his duties as
bishop, until failing health and advancing years compelled
him, in 1808, to seek a smaller parish.

The following letter to his friend Duke, is chiefly of interest
in showing Bishop Claggett's genuine humility and warmth
of friendship.

BISHOP CLAGGETT TO THE REV. WILLIAM DUKE.

Norm. 27, 1792.
MY DEAR FRIEND,

I heard that Colo 1 . Weems had received a large Letter for
me, w** he was desired to pay particular attention to. I con-
secrated y e new Church at Annapolis yesterday, & on my
return called on y e Colo 1 , to get y e Letter. I received it from
him last Night, & had y e pleasure to find it was a Letter from
you enclosing y e Manuscript. 1 I thank you for it, I have not
yet had time to read it. Indeed I had no expectation of hav-
ing an opportunity of acknowledging y e receipt of it until this
morning happening to meet Cap" Mills (y e bearer of this)
he informed me that he was just about to sail to Elkton, & I
requested him to deliver it to you. I expect to visit your part
of y e Diocese next thing immediately after y e breaking up of
y e Convention. You will please to give this Information to
any of our Bre n in your quarter & request them to prepare
y e youth for Confirmation. Mills is in a great hurry, I shall
add no more, only to beg of you, if you have no better Reason,

1 Duke was the author of several books and pamphlets, and his corre-
spondence shows that he frequently submitted manuscript to the bishop for
criticism and suggestion.

68 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

than y e one I am naturally led to attribute it to, to begin &
end y e Letters you address to me in the same manner you used
to do. You may put what you please on y e outside of them;
but in y e Inside it will give me pain to find any difference
in your address. Right Rev d Sir, & I am, Right Rev d Sir,
&e., makes me but a poor compensation for y e loss of some
other Epithets w 611 gave me much more satisfaction when you
honored me with them. May God bless you, my d r Friend,
make you more & more useful & happy in this world, & at last
admit you to y* enjoym* of himself in y e w 1 * 1 to come.

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

The bishop did not hold confirmation at the time he conse-
crated St. Anne's Church, Annapolis. We know this positively,
for on a little slip of paper in the Maryland archives are
the names of eleven persons, confirmed in All Saint's Parish,
Frederick County, March 24, 1793. Opposite the name of
Eleanor Grosh is written in Bishop Claggett's hand: "The
first person I ever confirmed." 1 The next day the bishop
confirmed twenty-one in St. Peter's Parish, Frederick County ;
on the 27th of March, nineteen in Rock Creek Chapel, Prince
George's Parish, Montgomery County; on Easter Monday
about forty in his own parish church of St. Paul's, and in
the chapel connected with the parish, his daughters, Mary
Ann and Priscilla Elizabeth being among the confirmed; and
on the 22nd of April, twenty-one persons, including two
negroes, in William and Mary Parish, Charles County. On
the 3rd of June, 1793, in accordance with his proposal to
visit the eastern shore, he confirmed twenty-four in old St.
Paul's, Kent County. Of course, we must understand that
these were not all new members of the Church; many of

1 This Eleanor Grosh married a Mr. Hart, brother-in-law of Henry Clay,
and his sister, Sophia Grosh, who was confirmed at the same time, married
the Rev. Mr. Clay, brother of Henry Clay.

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE 69

them were adults who had been communicants of the Church
for many years, but who had never had a bishop in their
midst to confer the apostolic rite of confirmation.

The Maryland convention of 1793, the first over which
Bishop Claggett presided as its episcopal head, convened at
E as ton, May 23. The bishop delivered a charge to his clergy,
for which he received their thanks in a resolution, and a
request that he furnish a copy for publication. No copy,
however, has come to our notice. This convention took up
the subject of an Episcopal Church in Washington. This is
probably the first formal occasion on which this theme was
discussed. Twelve trustees were appointed for the execution
of plans in this direction, and a resolution passed that the
convention would later propose a lottery scheme for build-
ing a church, a method very common and considered entirely
above-board in those days.

At the convention of 1795 the bishop reported that these
trustees informed him that nothing had been done under the
appointment, and that the prospect of success from a lottery
at present appeared to him very small. So the convention de-
cided that inasmuch as the city of Washington and the
neighboring territory had been erected into a distinct parish,
their interposition was no longer necessary and the scheme
was thereupon dropped.

For all the twenty-four years that Claggett served as
bishop he never received from the convention a dollar as
salary, and very far from full payment for all his expenses.
At the 1793 convention the first steps were taken towards
meeting the latter, and it was resolved that a sermon should
be preached annually in each parish, for the purpose of rais-
ing money for defraying expenses incurred by the bishop in
discharge of episcopal duties. This topic was conscientiously
and gloomily discussed at nearly every succeeding conven-
tion, but there never was a year when the proceeds from this

70 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

source equalled the bishop's modest but necessary expenses.

Private means was decidedly a requisite to episcopal honors
in those days, and Bishop Claggett was fortunate in having
a private income sufficiently large to make him independent
of ecclesiastical emoluments.

In this convention of 1793 an amendment to the constitu-
tion was proposed, approved and ordered to be printed for
the consideration of the respective vestries, with a view to
permitting, in the absence of the bishop, the appointment of
a temporary chairman of a diocesan convention. Heretofore
no such provision had been made, which seemed to imply
that if the bishop could not be present to preside there could
be no convention. The convention of the following year
unanimously ratified this amendment, as it was obvious any
intelligent body would do when the matter was brought to
its attention.

In the convention of 1794, which met at Baltimore, June
12th to 14th, the bishop delivered an address which is printed
in full in the journal, in accordance with resolution. He re-
ported that since the last convention at Easton he had com-
pleted a visitation of all the parishes in the diocese, except
those in Somerset and Worcester Counties, the two lower
counties of the eastern shore, and a few other parishes, most
of which were vacant. He had intended to complete his tour
of the diocese before that session, but "a long and painful
illness has prevented the execution of my original design."

This is the earliest mention we find of that painful disease,
rheumatism and an accompanying nervous disorder of which,
from that time on, the bishop was never wholly free. For
the remainder of his life all work was done against heavy
odds, much of it in acute pain. Many of his letters beg the
recipient to excuse poor penmanship, as the pain in his arm
was so keen as barely to permit him to hold a pen, some of
them were written in bed, when bolstered by pillows, and

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE 71

sometimes his daughter was obliged to act as amanuensis.
Sometimes engagements had to be canceled, and in the latter
years of his life traveling was nothing short of an agony, and
was performed only in the grim determination of a truly brave
man to do his duty.

"I am happy to inform you," says the bishop in his address,
to return from our digression, "that in the course of my visita-
tions I have admitted three gentlemen to Priests', and two to
Deacons' orders ; I have seen six new churches building,
several old ones under repair, and I have confirmed about
2,000 persons; having also ordered that their names be
registered in the parish books. Great respect has been
uniformly shown to the ordinance of confirmation by the mem-
bers of our Church, and I have been told by some of my
clerical brethren, that (by the blessing of God) it has already
been followed by the most happy effects in their different
congregations. These are all flattering circumstances. Our
minds must contemplate these events with pleasure."

The bishop proceeds to point out, on the other hand, certain
defects in church polity, and certain evils arising from her
present circumstances, which threaten serious calamities.
With reference to clerical discipline he had this to say:

"By the 10th article [of the Constitution], which respects
discipline, no clergyman can be amenable for ill conduct to
our ecclesiastical tribunals, unless accused by his own vestry,
or by four communicants of his own parish.

"The constitution has now been in force for several years,
and there has not been a single instance of accusation against
any clergyman. I do most firmly believe that our clergy are
& respectable body of men, and such as would do honor to any
society upon earth, yet, even with these prepossessions in their
favour, I can hardly persuade myself that there is not one
unworthy character among them. Even in the Apostolick
College there was a Judas Iscariot. To be plain: I do know

72 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

one instance, in which a vestry have acknowledged to me that
they had neglected this duty, and pleaded as an apology 'that
it was a painful thing to them, to exhibit an accusation against
their own pastor:' they went farther; they acknowledged that
their Church had greatly suffered from this neglect of their
duty."

In accordance with the bishop's request that action should
be taken in this matter, the convention resolved, and published
for the consideration of the vestries, an amendment to the
effect that if the standing committee had, on good information,
the knowledge that a clergyman had committed an offence
for which he ought to be tried, the committee should pro-
ceed to inquire into the case, even though no accusation had
been presented by the vestry or by four communicants. This
direct and explicit charge seems to have been directed against
the Rev. Townshend Dade, rector of Eden, now St. Peter's
Parish, Montgomery County, who was brought to trial the
following year for drunkenness, in which he put forth no
defence, and was consequently deposed from the ministry.

Bishop Claggett also called the convention's attention to
the incompetent provision for the clergy, and to remedy this
deficiency he recommended the pew-rent scheme as a sub-
stitute for the voluntary subscription plan then in vogue,
which worked so poorly that many able ministers were
obliged to live on a pittance less than that paid to day
laborers. "Composed of flesh and blood," said the bishop, in
his address to the diocese at large, in 1794, "they require,
Brethren, to have the decays of , nature repaired by food, and
the inclemencies of the weather moderated by raiment."
Many of the clergymen (in other churches as well as in the
Episcopal) were obliged to teach school, do private tutoring,
or even launch into commercial ventures for the comfortable
support of their families. One clergyman even resorted to
the conducting of a distillery. The Rev. James Laird, rector

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE 73

of Somerset Parish, Somerset County, wrote to Bishop-elect
Kemp, on the 19th of July, 1814, evidently in response to an
admonition from the latter: "For engaging in the distillery
business I am truly sorry, and deeply mortified, since it is so
exceptionable in public estimation; and I will certainly divest
myself of it as soon as I possibly can. Its situation and the
apparent advantage of connecting it with my mill, determined
me to adopt it as the best expedient for supplying a large
deficit in my annual revenue by giving up the Academy. The
effect it has had, or may have on my character, was not
realized, nor did my friends ever hint it to me before I pur-
chased."

"In the progress of my visitation," proceeds the bishop, "I
observed that the slender patrimony of the Church is, almost
in every parish, much neglected; the glebes have been injured;
most of the parsonage houses are in a state of dilapidation;
the parish libraries now in the hands of the vestries, have
lately been greatly damaged." 1

The convention gave respectful heed to this address of their
bishop, and evidently tried to correct the errors to which their
attention had been called. They passed a resolution that an .
address be made to the members of the Church in Maryland
stating these facts, and calling upon them "to strive earnestly
to remedy the evils and to use their utmost exertions for
promoting the interests of their venerable Church." A com-
mittee was also appointed to petition the legislature for
amendments to the vestry act of 1779 ? which had not proved
itself adequate in serving the interests of the Church. Min-
isters were so few, and vacant parishes were so many, that

1 Most of these parish libraries were founded by Dr. Thomas Bray, the
Bishop of London's commissary to Maryland and Virginia, between 1696
and 1730, the date of Bray's death. The books are now widely scattered;
many, of course, are destroyed; St. John's College, Annapolis, has several
hundred of them, the Maryland Diocesan Library,, of Baltimore, about 35,
other institutions a few stray copies, and some are in private hands, though
it is difficult to understand how they rightly came there.

74 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

the convention resolved that every candidate for orders should
become a lay reader, and be stationed in some vacant parish
by the bishop. There seemed to be no danger that the supply
would exceed the demand.

Altogether the convention of 1794 seemed very much in
earnest for the welfare of the Church, and their deliberations
have thrown considerable light on its condition. For a time,
as we shall see, improvement did follow, but the Maryland
Church was destined to sink yet lower in numbers and in
power before it should stand firmly on its feet as a growing
and influential body.

The address to the Church at large which the bishop and
a committee were requested to prepare was duly presented to
the people's attention. It is full of sound judgment, common
sense and fatherly advice, and is a good specimen of Bishop
Claggett's literary style, for it is signed by the bishop in
behalf of the committee, and is generally acknowledged to
have been substantially the work of his pen. Infidelity was
the chief evil against which revealed religion was compelled
at that time to fight; Tom-Paineism was rampant both in
Europe and in America, the book-stalls were being flooded
with pamphlets and tracts, most of which were of small value,
bearing upon one side or the other of this live topic, and the
bishop was thoroughly awake to the gravity of the moral
tendency, finding expression in his address in the following
passage :

"It is now some time since the mournful voice of religion
hath been heard, complaining of the unmerited neglect with
which she hath been treated. The flattering prospect of
brighter days, marked with rational zeal, and ardent piety
with which hope enlivened this melancholy period seems to-
be disappearing. Irreligion hath succeeded a cold indifference
towards religion. Sentiments are uttered, in the presence of
crowded audiences, drawn together by the novelty of the

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE 75

doctrines, or from the instability of religious principles, which
ought to alarm every friend to morality, to social peace and
order; and which have already produced correspondent prac-
tices. Brethren, suffer not this irreligion to gain ground, to
undermine your true happiness in this world, and to endanger
your felicity in the everlasting state. Let it be discouraged
by your conversation, and condemned by your actions. Mark,
as your greatest enemies, those whose words or deeds are
tinctured with it, in the slightest degree; and abhor their
principles, as worthy of the greatest detestation. Is it not
high time for the friends o.f Christianity to be seriously
alarmed, when men possessing the power of one of the great-
est empires in the world, have, by a solemn decree, denied all
revealed religion? When the shops of our Book-sellers con-
tain publications avowing the same sentiments, and recom-
mended to our Notice in the public prints ?" x

1 The Convention of the P. E. Church in the State of Maryland to the
Vestries and other Members of the said Church. 1794.

CHAPTER VI

A NEW VESTRY ACT

The Church people of Maryland had long recognized the
incompetency of their existing vestry act which was passed
in 1779- This act did not provide for the rector as a member
of the vestry and did not permit the vestry to buy or sell any
property of the Church. At the convention of 1794 a com-
mittee, consisting of the Rev. Messrs. Thomas F. Oliver and
Joseph G. J. Bend and Messrs. Samuel Chase, Gustavus Scott
and Luther Martin, was appointed to petition the legislature
for such amendments to the existing act as should appear to
them desirable. The different vestries were at the same time
requested to send to this committee such remarks on and
criticisms of the act as might assist it in its duty.

We have already referred to Bishop Claggett's address to
the vestries and members of the Church which the convention
of 1794 requested him to prepare. In this address the bishop
spoke of the need of a vestry act which would be more precise
and more adequate. "Some years have now elapsed," said
the bishop, "since the Legislature passed the act for the
establishment of select vestries. Imperfect and defective as
it is, it dispenses to us certain benefits; but alas! such is the
frozen unconcern which pervades many parishes, that they
have neglected to choose vestries, even for the preservation of
their Churches and Glebes. We entreat, we adjure you,
Brethren, to show a greater zeal for your excellent Church,
and not to refuse the care and charge of her, with that pro-
perty, which our civil constitution and laws have entrusted
and secured to you for the use and support of her ministers.
But as we consider the vestry act inadequate to its objects,

76

A NEW VESTKY ACT 77

we wish you to communicate such defects as have occurred to
you, to the committee appointed by this convention to petition
the General Assembly for a law better adapted to the exigen-
cies of our Church. We wish not to do, or even to offer the
least injury or offence to our brethren of other religious
societies ; nor shall we ask for any legislative provisions, which
we wish not to every society, which may desire them." 1

Nothing came from this committee, they reporting to the
convention the following year that through unforeseen and
unavoidable circumstances they had not made any application
to the legislature. The convention of 1796, which met at
Easton, was very sparsely attended, as conventions on the
eastern shore were beginning to be, and nothing except routine
^business was transacted. In 1797 the bishop in his address
to the convention again raised the question of a vestry act,
and assuring the convention that the previous obstacles were
no longer present, recommended a further attempt to secure
legislation. In accordance, Bishop Claggett, the Rev. Mr.
Bend, Samuel Chase, Philip Barton Key and William Cook
were appointed a committee to secure the passage of a bill
which had already received the approbation of the convention.

In October, 1796, Bishop Claggett and a majority of the
standing committee addressed a circular letter to the rectors
and vestries of the respective parishes, in which they reviewed
the history of the last two years' attempts to secure a new
vestry act, and presented a synopsis of the bill proposed as
drawn up by the committee appointed in 179*. It would
appear that previous to the convention of 1797 Bishop
Claggett had been in Annapolis in the interest of a new bill
regarding vestries. "I was written to by some of'y e Com-
mittee," said he in a letter to the Rev. Dr. James Kemp, from

1 "The Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of
Maryland to the Vestries and other members of the said church." [Pam-
phlet.] p. 7.

78 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

his home in Groom, February 11, 1797, "to attend at
Annapolis to prefer our Petition respecting amendments to
the Vestry Act. I attended on the day they appointed, & for
several days after, but not one of them appeared & as they
had y e Law I could not prefer it myself. I had conversation
with many members of y e Assembly, & found them well dis-
posed to do every reasonable thing for y e advancement of our
Church. I wish I may ever see another such assembly. I
intend to use my endeavors to bring y e bill we have framed
before our next Convention & to endeavor to get them to
recommend it to y e next assembly." A hint as to the reason
for this delay is found in a letter from Dr. Bend, rector of
St. Paul's, Baltimore, to Dr. Kemp, January 23, of the same
year: "But perhaps you know before this that the bill never,
came before the assembly. I showed it to our vestry who
were opposed to it. I consulted Mr. Chase & Mr. Chase, Mr.
Cook; & we determined not to risk the loss of it, by pushing
it forward in defiance of this parish." Dr. Bend refers more
particularly to the opposition in St. Paul's in a letter dated
November 28, 1797: "Our vestry has made very serious op-
position to the vestry bill of the late Convention; & to a
memorial presented by them to the House of Delegates, they
have added a petition from forty of the most respectable
parishioners. This memorial & petition notwithstanding,
leave has been given to bring in a bill agreeably to the
prayer of the petitioning committee; & Mr. Chase thinks the
bill will become a law. The opposition from our parish will
probably have the less weight from their having entered into
a detail of objections, from which the most inattentive mem-
bers of the Legislature must perceive, that they have greatly
misunderstood the bill. To render its passage, however, more
certain, the Committee introduced into it some alterations of
which the most important respects the Church wardens, who
will be left on the present footing."

A NEW VESTRY ACT 79

At the convention of 1798 Bishop Claggett reported in
behalf of the committee that the vestry act had been brought
before the legislature but had been postponed to the next
session. The committee on the state of the Church later in
the convention prepared and presented to that body a memo-
rial addressed to the state legislature, which was unanimously
adopted and duly presented. This memorial was signed by
the bishop; whether he assisted the committee in its prepara-
tion we do not know. In this memorial the convention stated
their case as follows: "Under their present vestry act, defec-
tive and imperfect as it must be acknowledged to be, they be-
held with grief that Church which the Redeemer of the world
had founded, and which the sufferings and virtues of many
great and good men had cemented, crumbling to pieces. They
had no power to build or repair churches, to purchase ground
for church-yards, nor to acquire or dispose of property of any
kind. And it must be obvious, that unless the civil authorities
dispensed some power of this kind, no society whatever can
long exist, or can attain the object of their association. When
they looked forward to the result of their present situation,
the prospect was dark and comfortless. They saw few men
of talents and learning entering into the ministerial office ; few
parents encouraging their children to qualify themselves for
a profession, which, to many other difficulties, added the in-
convenience of poverty. They beheld those desolating prin-
ciples, which, in other countries have annihilated everything
that can make life desirable, rapidly gaining ground, and in
their train fanaticism, equally destructive of genuine piety
and morality.

"That they have been often relieved from some of their
embarrassments by legislative assistance, they acknowledge
with gratitude ; but it was both painful to them, and expensive
to the state, to be coming forward with applications at every
session. Particularly cautious not to interfere with the rules

80 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

or polity of other religious denominations, nor, indeed, wish-
ing to secure to themselves any advantages which should not
be extended to them, your memorialists saw with pleasure, that
the legislature of Maryland had granted acts of incorporation
to others, as full and extensive, differing only in some things,
relative to internal government, as the law, for which they
petitioned. Nay, they flattered themselves, that their plan
was preferable, in as much as it precluded the necessity of
any future applications." 1

They called attention to the extreme importance, especially
to country parishes, of having the ministers considered mem-
bers of the vestries, and that this plan had been adopted in
the Protestant Episcopal Church in every state except that
of Maryland.

At the November session of 1798 the vestry bill was
presented and became a law on January 15th, 1799- By the
new act it was provided that, "Every free white male citizen
of this state, above twenty-one years of age, resident of the
parish where he offers to vote six months next preceding the
day of election, who shall have been entered on the books of
the parish one month at least preceding the day of election
as a member of the protestant episcopal church, and who
shall also contribute to the charges of the said parish in which
he offers to vote such sum as a majority of the vestry shall
annually, within ten days after their election, in writing, make
known and declare, not exceeding two dollars, shall have a
right of suffrage in the election of vestrymen for such parish."
The qualifications of voters being thus settled, the act then
provided for their registration, how vacancies in the vestry
were to be filled, what oaths were to be taken, the days on
which the vestries were to be held, that the rector, who should
be considered a member of the vestry, should preside, with a
right to vote upon an equal division, except in cases where he

1 Journal P. E. Church in Maryland, 1798, p. 9.

A NEW VESTRY ACT 81

was in any manner personally interested, that he should have
possession and enjoyment of the glebe lands, and other prop-
erty belonging to the parish, unless he otherwise contracted
with the vestry, that the vestry should have an estate in fee
simple in all churches and chapels, glebes and other lands,
declaring them to have a good title and estate in all the
property once belonging to the Church of England, which the
legislature recognized as being the same with the Protestant
Episcopal Church of Maryland. If a rector committed waste
or damage to church property he should be liable to pay
treble damages. Two church wardens were to be chosen an-
nually by the vestry, who should have the power to keep the
peace. The vestry were given the power of electing the min-
ister and making a contract with him for his services. If in
any parish there were two ministers they were to be associate
rectors, presiding over the vestry by turns, unless one should
be of an inferior order, in which case the other should be
rector and preside over the vestry. The law then provided for
the keeping of a parish register, a duty which in some parishes
had in the past been shamefully neglected, imposed a fine on
vestrymen for refusing to serve when elected, or failing to
attend vestry meetings, and, most important in the new law,
made the vestry of each parish an incorporated body, with
power to acquire and hold property for the use of the parish,
"provided, that the clear yearly value of the estate of any
vestry (exclusive of the rents of pews, collections in churches,
funeral charges, and the like), shall not exceed two thousand
dollars."

The vestry were forbidden to dispose of any part of the
church property, without the consent of a majority of their
body, of whom the rector was to be one, and also without the
consent of both of the church wardens; and when any prop-
erty was sold by the vestry, they were forbidden to apply
any of the principal of the money so acquired towards any

82 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

debt contracted with their minister on account of his official
duties. They might at any time buy at least two acres of land
for a burial ground, or a site for a church or parsonage house,
and might sell or rent pews. And finally, to the convention
was given the power to unite or divide parishes, and to make
new parishes. 1

St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, fought the bill to the last;
Dr. Bend writing to his friend Duke, on December 27, 1798:
"Our Vestry Bill has passed and with no material alterations.
Our Vestry persisted in their opposition, and sent down two
of their body, George Buchanan and Dixon Brown, to arrest
it in the Senate. But on the very day of, or the day after,
their arrival, the Senate passed it." And in a letter a few
weeks later he adds, "It is not what I wished it to be, but it
contains some valuable properties which atone for its defects."

1 KUty, Laws of Maryland, 1798, ch. 24.

CHAPTER VII

THE PLAN OF VISITING MEMBERS

Writing to his friend Duke, on November 29th, 1792,
shortly after his consecration, Bishop Claggett says:

"You take it for granted that I am already vested with a
power to call on y e members of y e Standing Committee to
assist me in y e laborious duty of visiting y e Parishes. I wish
it was so, may I wish it extended my Powers in this respect
a little farther, so as to enable me to call on you to visit Mr.
Bissett's District (as I understand he is removed) ; but y e
fact is, such a measure is only proposed to y e different vestries
for their considerations to be ratified next Convention, if then
approved of."

The next convention, that of 1793, adopted the amended
article of the constitution which provided that while there was
a bishop in the Church, the offices of President of Convention,
and the power of the Standing Committee in visiting and
superintending parishes should be superseded, and the same
should devolve upon the bishop, but that he should be em-
powered to call upon any of the members of the standing
committee to assist him in visiting the various parishes. Thus
the bishop secured what he seems to have so ardently desired,
but in its practical workings the plan proved a dismal failure.

This provision, probably peculiar to the diocese of Mary-
land, had its origin in the first and second canons, or rules,
ratified in the convention at Baltimore, May 29, 1788, which
are as follows:

"I. At each annual Convention five clergymen on the East-
ern and the like number on the Western Shore, shall be elected
and appointed as a Superintending Committee ; who shall have

83

84 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

the sole and exclusive rights following, viz. To examine and
recommend candidates as well for Holy Orders, as for a settle-
ment in any parish in this State; and likewise to superintend
the concerns of the Church in general, and of parishes or
congregations in particular, on their respective shores.

"II. The committee shall, by common consent among them-
selves, appropriate to each member a certain district or num-
ber of parishes for his peculiar superintendence; which shall
be visited by him at least twice a year; at which times the
visiting member shall apply to the vestries for such informa-
tion as the nature of his duty may require; and also advise
with them relative to the best and most effectual means for
improving the condition of their parishes, or rectifying any
misconduct or error that may be worthy of notice."

In the convention of 1789 both a superintending committee
and a standing committee were appointed; in 1790 the former
seems to have been merged in the latter, as only a standing
committee was elected, consisting, according to the recently
amended constitution, of six clergymen on the western, and
four on the eastern shore. This act, by the way, of electing
one member less on the eastern, and one member more on the
western shore, is one of the signs about this time that grad-
ually the western shore was forging ahead in influence, popu-
lation and power.

This, in brief, is the history of the growth of the plan of
making the standing committee a visiting committee, and it
was natural that after the election of a bishop the minds of
the bishop and the convention should turn to this committee
as an assistance in visiting the various parts of the diocese
and in informing the ecclesiastical authority of the conditions
there found.

In the convention of 1796, a canon was adopted empower-
ing the bishop to allot to each member of the standing com-
mittee a certain district to be visited; and likewise to prescribe

THE PLAN OF VISITING MEMBERS 85

i

to him in writing whatever questions, respecting the conduct
of ministers, the state of religion, and the condition of the
parish that he might think requisite to lead him to a sufficient
knowledge of the state of his diocese. The visiting members
were to lay these questions before the vestries, who should
return direct answers, and these answers after being turned
over to the bishop should be laid before the convention, or
committee, as the case might require.

The following circular letter was sent by the bishop to all
whom he appointed members of the visiting committee:
GENTLEMEN,

Together with this you will receive a copy of the Inter-
rogatories I have drawn up in consequence of the Canon
passed by our last Convention; which I doubt not you have
received from the Secretary of the Convention for your in-
formation & direction. These Interrogatories are to be pro-
pounded to the different Rectors and Vestries in the Diocese.
The object which the Convention appears to have had in view
in adopting this measure, is to give a more direct and energetic
operation to our Laws than they have hitherto had. You will
know, Gentlemen, that good Laws are necessary to the well-
being of every Society, & that Laws which are not enforced
are a mere dead Letter, & that in some Respects to have them
is worse than to have none. You will perceive that I have
arranged the Interrogatories under the different heads directed
by the Canon, & that they have for their basis the Constitution
and Canons of our Church.

I flatter myself that they will meet your approbation & that
you will use your utmost endeavors to give them the desired
effect. Permit me to recommend to you an unremitted exer-
tion of your Powers in the discharge of the important duties
of our respective offices. The influence of rational Religion
on the interests of Society, the effects on the eternal happiness
of mankind, & the sacred obligation we have come under all

86 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

call loudly upon us (especially at this time) to exert every
nerve in its service.

I trust therefore that your Zeal will be proportionate to the
magnitude of its Object, & I beg leave to assure you of my
determined Resolution to co-operate with you to the utmost of
my power, in promoting the Interest of our Church, & mani-
festing my paternal regard for it And also that esteem &
Respect with which I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,

Your affectionate Diocesan,

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

These are the questions propounded by the bishop in his
"Interrogatories," mentioned above:

QUESTIONS PROPOSED TO THE VESTRIES.

Does your minister use all diligence in performing divine
service, according to the manner prescribed in the rubric?
And in preaching to the people every Lord's Day, in the
Churches and chapels in your parish?

Does your minister from time to time, explain to the people
the liturgy of the Church?

Does he baptize children in the churches and chapels, when
offered to him?

Does he diligently prepare children and others for the holy
ordinance of confirmation, by catechizing them?

Does he regularly administer the holy sacrament of the
Lord's supper at least three times in the year, in each of the
churches and chapels in your parish?

Do you believe him to be careful not to admit any improper
characters to the holy communion?

Do you know whether he makes out and continues, an
exact register of all the communicants and adults within his
cure ; and also of the baptisms, marriages, and funerals, which
he celebrates ?

THE PLAN OF VISITING MEMBERS 87

Is he always ready, as far as you know, to visit the sick
members of the church, when he is called on for that purpose ?

Do you know or believe that he is justly chargeable with
disorderly, scandalous, or immoral conduct; such as drunken-
ness, swearing, lying, gaming, and the like; or with any other
conduct prohibited in the Canons and Constitution and the
17th canon of the Church of Maryland?

Of the State of Religion To Ministers fy Vestries Conjointly

Does the number of communicants in your parish increase?

Do virtue and piety gain ground among you?

Has infidelity made any progress among you?

What danger do you apprehend from it?

Have you had occasion to enforce discipline?

Do you know of any person in your parish who is prepar-
ing himself for holy orders?

Are any persons prepared for confirmation?

Of the Condition of the Parish

What is the number of adults?

Does it appear to you to increase?

Do the other religious denominations gain ground among
you? And which of them?

Do they increase in consequence of their zeal, or the in-
flux of strangers?

Do union and harmony in religious matters prevail among
the parishioners?

What provision is made for the minister? And from what
sources ?

What is the annual amount of your funds? Do these in-
crease? And by what means?

Have you tried the pew-rent scheme, and with what suc-
cess? Have you any glebe? Of what does it consist? Is it
rented? What does it yield? In what condition is your

88 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

church? If the churches and graveyards are out of repair,
do you not intend to exert yourselves for repairing them?

Have you a parish library? What use is made of it? Is
your parish very large? How many places of worship? Is
there occasion for other places of worship therein? Would
you prefer to have an additional church under the manage-
ment of the vestry? Or to have the parish divided? Or to
have a distinct cure only?

Is there anything in which the convention can render you
assistance? Do you find any defects in the Vestry act? And
of what nature are they? Has any clergyman in this, or in
any other state, in any respect behaved himself disorderly in
your parish, or exercised his functions without obtaining con-
sent from the proper authority?

To be Asked in Vacant Parishes

Do you desire to have a minister settled with you? What
can you raise for him ? What mode will you adopt ?

Does any minister of the Church visit you? Has any min-
ister offered to you his services and who is he? What answer
have you given him? When do you expect again to hear from
him? Will you give notice to the bishop or the visiting mem-
ber of his future applications? Is there any person in your
parish qualified to act as reader? Any desirous of receiving
confirmation ?

To be Proposed to the Clergy Only

Is the vestry of your parish careful and diligent in pro-
curing the births, marriages and deaths in the parish, to be
entered in their register? Have you complied with the first
canon of the General Convention of 1792? 1 Have you fur-
nished the secretary of our convention, with the amount of

1 Every clergyman shall register his name with the ecclesiastical authority
of the diocese.

THE PLAN OF VISITING MEMBERS 89

the several registers required in the 1st and 3rd canons of the
Church in Maryland, and 15th of the General Convention of
1789?

Have you prepared any persons for confirmation? Does
there appear to you a disposition in the vestry to receive a
visit from the Bishop, agreeably to the plan laid down in the
first canon of the General Convention of 1795?

In the convention of 1797 the bishop delivered an address
which was printed in the Journal. His remarks throw so
much light on the working of this scheme, and on the state
of the diocese at the time, that we quote rather fully:

BISHOP CLAGGETT'S CONVENTION ADDRESS, 1797.
REVEREND AND RESPECTED GENTLEMEN,

I beg leave to inform you, at the opening of this session
of convention, that, in consequence of a canon passed last
year, empowering the bishop to lay off the diocese into as
many districts as he thought proper, and to call on some mem-
ber of the standing committee, in each district so laid off, to
assist him in visiting the parishes ; and also to propound to the
different vestries such interrogatories respecting the conduct
of ministers, the state of religion, and the condition of the
parishes, as the bishop might think proper to be proposed to
them ; and to require direct answers to these questions in writ-
ing, I have laid off the state into seven distinct districts; and
drawn up a number of questions grounded on our constitu-
tions and canons, to be proposed by the visiting members of
the standing committee. As many copies of these interrog-
atories were required, I thought it best to have them printed.
Some delay was occasioned by the printer, so that I did not
obtain them until a little before the last session of our Gen-
eral Assembly; and by some of the members of that body I
forwarded those intended for the Eastern Shore; and those

90 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

for this shore I forwarded by the first private conveyances
that my almost insulated situation presented to me.

I have been grieved to learn that, in some instances, not-
withstanding all my care, they have been long on their way.

In your future appointments of the members of the stand-
ing committee, it may be of consequence for you to know how
I have divided the diocese, and what gentlemen I have com-
missioned to assist me in visiting each district. My duty also
calls upon me to exhibit to you a copy of the questions which
I was directed to draw up, which I now lay on your table,
and shall proceed to inform you that I have appointed the
counties of St. Mary's, Charles, Calvert, and Prince George's,
to be the first district; that I commissioned the Rev. Mr.
Walter Addison to be the visiting member of the same; that
Mr. Addison received his commission willingly, and notified
some, if not all the parishes in his district, of bis intention to
visit them on certain days; that Mr. Addison, previously to his
visitations, but too late for me to make any other arrangement,
before the meeting of this convention, changed his mind, and,
by letter addressed to me, resigned his commission. Mr.
Addison thinks his youth and some other causes will render
abortive any exertions, that he can make, in that character, to
promote the interest of the Church of Christ.

The counties of Kent and Caroline I have allotted to com-
pose the second district, and have commissioned the Rev. Dr.
Keene to preside therein, as visiting member. Dr. Keene has
heretofore discharged that important duty, with a scrupulous
exactness ; but he now writes me, that being almost worn out
with age, and laboring under a severe and tedious illness, from
which he hardly hopes ever to recover, he has been disqualified
to visit his district, and he requests me to appoint some other
gentleman to that office.

The third district is composed of the counties of Anne
Arundel and Baltimore, except St. James's parish, and is

THE PLAN OF VISITING MEMBERS 91

placed under the superintendence and care of the Rev. Mr.
Bend; who has visited almost his entire district, and made
his returns to inc.

The fourth district consists of the parishes in the counties
of Talbot and Queen Anne's; and is under the care of the
Rev. Dr. Bowie, who has informed me by letter that he has
been so ill for many months past, as to be, in a great measure,
incapacitated for performing even his parochial duties. He
has, however, visited a part of his district, and requests that
some other gentleman, who has better health, may be ap-
pointed in his room.

The fifth district comprehends the counties in Cecil and
Harford, and St. James's in Baltimore; and in it the Rev. Mr.
Coleman is appointed the visiting member; who has visited a
part of his district, and made his returns.

The sixth district contains the parishes in the counties of
Frederick, Montgomery, Washington, and AUeghany, and is
placed under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Read, who
has informed me by letter, that he shall, with alacrity, do
everything in his power to promote the interests of the Church
in that quarter; but that the tedious and dangerous illness of
his ancient parent has prevented his making a visitation, be-
fore the meeting of this convention.

The seventh district comprehends the parishes in the coun-
ties of Dorchester, Somerset, and Worcester, in which the
Rev. Mr. Kemp presides, who has fully discharged his duty,
and made his returns agreeably to the canon. As it would
take up too much of the time of the convention, to consider the
whole of the different returns that have been made to me, I
shall pay due attention to them; and if anything in them
appears to demand the interposition of the standing com-
mittee, or of the convention, I shall, as directed by the canon,
submit it to their consideration.

The principal object, which the convention of 1796 appears

92 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

to have had in view, in making this arrangement, was to give
direct efficacy to our rules, respecting discipline, in a manner
more energetic, and less offensive, than any heretofore at-
tempted; and at the same time, to exhibit, by the annual re-
turns made by the different members of the standing com-
mittee, a comprehensive view of the state of the church, and
of its interests temporal and spiritual, for their information
and direction. And should the visiting members of the stand-
ing committee be punctual in performing the duties required
of them, and the different vestries in the diocese heartily co-
operate with them, I cannot but flatter myself, that, with the
divine blessing, this measure will be followed with the
happiest consequences to the church. 1

We fear the bishop may have been tempted to take as his
text for this address, "And they all with one consent began
to make excuse." Whether he had as sanguine expectations
as his words would make it appear, we cannot say, but the
plan worked out far differently than he had evidently hoped.

"Whether they [the vestries] were thus called together to
afford them an opportunity to complain," says Dr. Hawks, "is
not declared in the canon; that the temptation was a strong
one to improve the opportunity to such a purpose is obvious
enough; and it is hardly to be doubted, that it was so im-
proved by that class (of whom every congregation affords a
specimen) who unfortunately think that God and the Church
require of them to be much more watchful over the clergyman,
than they are over their own souls. The system was, with-
out question, a bad one. Its direct tendency was to produce
unpleasant feelings between the parochial clergy, and such of
their brethren as were visitors; and also to sow periodically,
the seeds of a plentiful harvest of discord between ministers
and their flocks.

"It is not surpising that this scheme met with so little coun-

1 Journal of Convention, 1797, p. 13-16.

THE PLAN OF VISITING MEMBERS 93

tenance from the clergy. In addition to the objections to it
already mentioned, they might have found a good reason for
opposing it, in the fact that it placed over them, as an
ecclesiastical superior, in whose appointment they had no
voice, one, who after all, was but their equal in ministerial
station; while, at the same time, it tended to lower the eleva-
tion of the episcopal office, and certainly diminished the direct
communication between the bishop and the members of the
Church throughout the diocese." 1

Unfortunate and unsatisfactory as this system proved, it
served one good purpose. The reports that the visiting mem-
bers submitted to their diocesan are of great value, in that
they give contemporaneous accounts and details that probably
never would have been preserved for us had the bishop gone
about observing things at first hand. Not enough of these
reports have been preserved to make a connected history of
the diocese for the years the system was in vogue, but the
following examples throw considerable light upon ecclesiasti-
cal Maryland in Bishop Claggett's time.

1 Hawks, Maryland, p. 319-321.

CHAPTER VIII

CONTEMPORARY VIEWS OF MARYLAND PARISHES

DR. BEND'S REPORT AS VISITING MEMBER.

BAI/TO., May, 1796.
RIGHT REV. & DEAR SIR,

As you were not pleased to withdraw, at our last conven-
tion, the confidence which you had reposed in me, in com-
missioning me to visit certain parishes, I proceeded on Sunday,
the 20th of June, 1795, to visit St. Margaret's, Westminster.
The Rev. Mr. Sykes, the Rector, exchanged duty with me on
that day, & I had not an opportunity of conferring with him on
the state of the parish. When I arrived at the Chapel, near
Curtis's creek, where I was to preach, I found there three of
the Vestry, to whom I showed your Commission. From these
I learned that the parishioners are not exemplary in attending
public worship; information which was very strongly con-
firmed by the desolate appearance of the Church; but that
nevertheless the affairs of the parish rather prosper than de-
cline; that the vestry were out of debt, & able to make good
their engagement with their Minister, but that with the best
intentions, they were not as active as they might be; that the
sectarians in the parish were not very zealous, but that some
of them had all the illiberality commonly attendant upon im-
moderate zeal; that the sacrament of the Lord's supper had
not been administered in the parish, during the short time of
Mr. Sykes' ministry, but would soon be celebrated, & that
there had been no preparation for confirmation; & that no
acts of discipline had been exercised since my last visit, or
found necessary.

There appeared to me some few repairs necessary to be

94

VIEWS OF MARYLAND PARISHES 95

made to the Chapel, which the Vestry intend to have effected.
There is no fence around the Church, & as the parishioners
almost universally bury at home none is thought to be re-
quisite.

I was farther informed, that they intend soon to present a
subscription, with a view to raising in time, provision for the
further maintenance of their Minister; that altho' they have
a register, he keeps no account of baptisms, marriages &
funerals; that their minister is very acceptable to the people
& exact in the discharge of his ministerial duties. I gave the
gentlemen a little necessary advice, & withdrew to celebrate
public worship. This was attended with becoming solemnity
on the part of the people; among whom I was sorry to per-
ceive no books.

Having agreed to exchange duty with the Rev. Mr. Oliver
on the IQth of July, & he wishing me to preach at a Chapel
in his parish, 1 I repaired thither, & preached on the day ap-
pointed. The congregation, which was very large, consisted
of persons of various denominations. One Vestryman was
present, from whom I obtained the following information.
The Chapel was built by the subscriptions of the parishioners
& designed for a Protestant Episcopal Church; but thro' some
mistake, the bond of conveyance, instead of designating it
thus, barely mentioned a place of public worship; Hence it
was thought to be the property of no particular sect, but open
to all; & it was accordingly treated. How far the gentleman
was right in his information, I know not; nor was I able to
determine, whether the vestry of the parish could support any
equitable suit for obtaining the exclusive right in the Chapel.
It is, I think, a subject which demands the attention of the
Convention.

From the same gentleman I learned that the Baptists, Pres-
byterians, & Methodists were numerous; that they were very

1 St. Thomas' (Garrison Forest), Baltimore County.

96 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

zealous for their own modes of faith; & were not cold in
opposing the Church; but I did not find that they were very
much in earnest about vital piety. I was sorry to hear that
the members of the Church were divided in religious senti-
ments; Calvinistic opinions have been disseminated amongst
them with too much success. To this it may be ascribed in a
great degree, that they have f oreborne to avail themselves of
the ministerial services of Mr. Oliver; & to the same cause
we may ascribe it, that the members of the Church in that
quarter have suffered it to be insinuated, that they have not
an exclusive right in their little chapel.

From what I have said you will readily suppose that they
have no regular public worship. Sometimes one, sometimes
another, & very seldom anyone preaches to them. There are
no communicants among them; they have made no preparation
for confirmation; their children are baptized by any minister,
who preaches in the neighborhood, & some are left without
baptism. The Chapel was never finished, yet it has stood
so long that it wants repairs. A subscription was busily
circulated, while I was there, to raise money for repairing
& finishing the Chapel, & enclosing their graveyard, consist-
ing of two acres. Few persons are buried in it.

I was affectingly convinced of the little attachment they
have for the Church, by the total ignorance which they
showed, as to postures; by the total want of prayer-books
among them; and by there being neither prayer-book nor
bible in the desk. Pulpit they have none.

On, Sunday, the 6th of December, an opportunity was
afforded me of visiting the Elkridge parish. The day was
fine, & I had taken pains to have notice of my intention to
preach considerably spread; but I had the sorrow to find
the people in that parish as much averse from giving the
Sunday to religious exercises, as any other day. Twice as
I rode to the Church I passed by negroes cutting wood; in

VIEWS OF MARYLAND PARISHES 97

one case the negroes of a wealthy man in that ancient settle-
ment. The people in Queen Caroline still seem, as if they
desired to live without God in the world; & I confess that
I see no prospect of a change for the better. It is mortifying
to encounter the heat of the summer and the cold of the
winter in a long ride of 17 miles; to preach in an empty
Church, which the very bats have deserted, & is constantly
nodding to its fall. I have the testimony of my own con-
science that I have used great exertions to induce them to
raise the Church from their ruins, & to settle a minister
among them, & were there any hopes of success, I would
cheerfully continue my efforts to extricate them from their
present disgraceful state. I submit to you, whether it will
not be proper to leave them to themselves, till they show in-
fallible signs of contrition & reformation. At any rate I
must beg you to release me from the drudgery & heartfelt
pain of visiting the parish; or, if it be compatible with your
ideas, to put, in this case, some other clergyman in the visi-
tatorial office. This is the first time I have thus expressed
myself to you; yet have I thought proper to express myself
thus earnestly.

I have since these visits, made several fruitless efforts to
visit again Queen Margaret's 1 & St. Thomas's.

To this representation I have only to add, that the state
of my own parish 2 is flourishing; & that I hope soon to
call upon you to consecrate another building to the service of
God.

I remain, Right Rev. & dear Sir, With due respect,

Your affectionate,

JOSEPH G. J. BEND.

1 He evidently means either St. Margaret's or Queen Caroline.

2 St. Paul's, Baltimore.

98 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

DR. BEND'S REPORT AS VISITING MEMBER.

BALTO. June 7, 1797.
RIGHT REV. & DEAR SIR,

In obedience to your appointment, I set off, on Sunday,
the 28th May, to visit the Third District of Maryland. I
preached on that day, in the morning, at the parish Church
of the Rev. Mr. Duke, Rector of St. Margaret's, Westminster,
Anne Arundel County. Mr. Duke was doing my duty in
this city; and there was not a Vestryman or warden present.
I could therefore obtain no information concerning the con-
duct of the minister, or the state of the parish. In respect
to the former, his character is known to be irreproachable;
in respect to the latter, I believe it to be pretty much as
stated to you in the communication which I had the honor
to address to you last year.

Not knowing that I should interfere with any established
usage, I had appointed to preach in the afternoon of the
same day in St. Anne's Church, Annapolis. Upon this Rev.
Mr. Higginbotham put his negative; because it was not cus-
tomary, & he wished no innovations made in the rules which
he observed with his parishioners; & because he has refused
permission to yourself some time since to preach, in the
afternoon in his Church, I appointed to meet him & his
Vestry at half -past six o'clock; but as they did not come,
prevented probably by something unforeseen, & as I had to
ride nine miles, I left Annapolis at 7 o'clock, without seeing
them.

On Monday, the 29th, I preached in All Hallows, at the
parish Church. There I found Rev. Mr. Moscross & three of
the Vestry. I put to them the questions prescribed by you
& received as answers from the Vestry, that they did not know
whether the minister explained to the people the Liturgy or
prepared children & others for confirmation, or makes out
the necessary registers ; but that he baptizes children, & regu-

VIEWS OF MARYLAND PARISHES 99

larly administers the Lord's supper; nor does he admit to
the Sacrament improper characters, or behave himself in a
disorderly, scandalous, or immoral manner.

From the Minister & Vestry conjointly addressed, I learned
that the number of communicants had increased, & that sev-
eral persons had been prepared for confirmation; that they
knew no person preparing for Holy Orders, nor had they
had occasion to enforce discipline; & that as they appre-
hended no danger from infidelity, so, on the other hand,
virtue & piety did not seem to gain ground among them.

I learned further that they knew not the number of adults
in the parish, although it appeared to them to increase; that
other religious denominations do not gain ground; that their
funds, which arise only from glebe-rent & subscription, do
not increase; that there is no occasion for other places of
worship in the parish; there being a free school, which if
preached in, would supercede the necessity; that they had
not perceived any defects in the Vestry act; that they knew
of nothing in which the Convention could assist them; & that
there has been no irregularity committed in the parish by
any clergyman; that harmony & union prevailed among the
parishioners; that the pew rent scheme had never been tried;
that they intend to exert themselves to repair their Church
& inclosures ; & that there are the remains of a parish library
scattered among the parishioners; & that their glebe, on
which there is a house out of repair, & which consists of
160 acres, rents for 41.

From the minister I learned that the Vestry did not appear
very diligent about the register required of them; that he
himself had complied with the first canon of the G. Con-
vention of 1792, & furnished the Secretary with the amount
of the registers, which the clergy are required to keep; that
he had prepared persons for confirmation, & that the Vestry
would have been happy to have the Bishop long ago among
them.

100 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

On Tuesday, the 30th, I preached at the parish Church
of St. James's where I met the Rev. Mr. Compton, the Rec-
tor, & five Vestrymen. Many of the questions, which I put,
could not be answered, because of the short time during which
Mr. C. had been in the parish, & to many such answers were
given, as I have recorded above. The following being dif-
ferent I shall repeat to you; that the minister diligently per-
forms his duty, that the number of communicants is not so
great as a few years since, but that virtue & piety are in-
creasing at present; that they have one glebe of 100 acres
in the tenure of Mr. Compton, & another of 515, surveyed
for 715, which they rent for 70; that they have a subscrip-
tion of 5; & that they have employed Counsel to sue for
the 200 acres of land, out of which they are kept; that
these funds are rather greater than formerly; that they have
unsuccessfully tried the pew rent scheme; that their small
library is partially dispersed, partly in the Vestry-house;
& that certain defects in the Vestry act have occurred to
them, which they formerly addressed to the Committee ap-
pointed to petition for alteration.

From Mr. Compton I learned that the Vestry kept up their
register; that he had not complied with the first canon of
the G. C. of 1792 ; that he had sometimes transmitted to
the Secretary the amounts of the registers required of him;
& that the Vestry would be happy to see the Bishop when
he himself should be ready for them.

Not having yet been able to visit Queen Caroline Parish,
I must here subscribe myself, &c., &c v

JOSEPH G. J. BEND.

DR. BEND'S REPORT AS VISITING MEMBER.
RIGHT REV. & DEAR SIR, BALTO., June 1. 1798.

On Friday, the llth of May, I set off on the Visitation
of the District committed to me, & preached in St. Mar-
garet's, Westminster, to a small congregation. There was

VIEWS OF MARYLAND PARISHES 101

not a Vestry; but from some of the members present, I
learned, that except the present vacancy of the parish, its
affairs were much the same as they were last year, for an
account of which I refer you to my report of last year.

On the 12th I preached in Queen Caroline Parish to about
50 persons; & the Church being very crazy, we assembled
in the house of Dr. Coale. The same melancholy appearance
still prevails in this parish. They have no Vestry; there
appears little sense of religious obligation in the bulk of the
parishioners; & I see no prospect, that there will ever be
another Church raised, & a Clergyman settled in the parish.

On the 13th, I preached at Annapolis, where the congre-
gation was by no means proportioned to the size of the
Church. As the Rev. Mr. Higginbotham had forgotten to
convene his Vestry, I had no opportunity of learning pre-
cisely the state of his parish; but I believe, that the evils
which infest country parishes, prevail in a considerable degree
even in the Metropolis.

On the 14th, I visited St. James's, where I found a very
small congregation. As you had been there so recently, I
only addressed to Mr. Compton the queries designed for the
Clergy; & from him I learned, in answer to the 5th question,
that the Vestry would probably send me their quota towards
defraying the expenses of the Bishop & will always be glad
to see him in their parish.

On the 15th, I preached to a pretty full Church in All
Hallows, which is now vacant. In all other respects, the
parish is as it was last year. The Vestry seem well disposed
& are anxious to obtain a Minister; for whom, they say, in-
cluding the rent of the glebe, they will be able to raise at
least 150; at the most 200 per annum.

I appointed the 28th instant for visiting St. Thomas's ; but
the incessant rain on that day prevented my going.

I remain, &c., &c.,

JOSEPH G. J. BEND.

102 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

CONDITION IN ST. PETER'S, TALBOT CO., FROM THE
VISITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT, 1797.

The Parish is large and till lately we had a Chapel, but
as the Part of the Parish in which it stood would not con-
tribute to the support of the Minister, those who did would
not agree that he should officiate in it. Six or seven years
back the Vestry hearing that it was abased to vile purposes,
adj ourned to meet at it the next Vestry day and advertised the
neighborhood of the Meetings, and that if they would con-
tribute to keep it in order and employ a Minister, both should
be done. The doors of the Chapel were found to have been
let stand open, & that horses & cattle had sheltered in it
also from Joiner's Shavings & Chips lying in it, it was seen
that it had been used as a work-shop. The roof was in bad
condition, the walls much cracked, the windows broken, the
floor damaged, but the pew work in a tolerable good state
of preservation on the pulpit writen with chalk Alass poor
Parson the Vestry, finding the Chapel in the order described,
and the neighbors not attending except two, who said they
came from mere Curiosity & had nothing to propose, talked
about the improbability of its being repaired, & again preached
in, and that the inside work would answer for one at Easton
(which a Subscription was then in hand to procure the build-
ing of) the consequence was that in a little time the neighbor-
hood began to pull the Inside of it to pieces, and parts of
it were to be seen dispersed about, as covers for Goose Pens
& Chicken Coops, as Scaffoldings for new Buildings & a
Store was said to be fitted up with Shelves &c out of it;
as soon as the breaking up was known of, a written complaint
was made to the County Court, & by the Court was delivered
to the Prosecutor nothing was ever done, & at present so
total destruction has been made, that not the least appearance
of the Chapel remains.

We cannot give proper support to one minister, nor repair

VIEWS OF MARYLAND PARISHES 103

our Parish Church. Divine service is performed at Easton
in the Court House, & we see no probability of being able
to build a Church or a Chapel there.

REPORT OP VISITOR TO ST. PETER'S, MONTGOMERY CO.
HAGERSTOWN AND FREDERICK.

June 2, 1800.
RIGHT REVEREND SIR,

I set out on Sunday the llth May on a Visit thro' the
District assigned me. On the same day I preached at St.
Peter's Church to a large audience, well behaved, except a
few. The Vestry informed me that their Minister, Mr. Scott,
has behaved himself soberly, discreetly, & with propriety since
he came into the Parish. His salary at that Place 85 Ls.
The Church much in the same state as when you was there,
except a Gallery built since. They informed me that union
& harmony, in religious matters prevailed among the Parish-
ioners more than formerly.

On Thursday, 15th, I preached at Hager's Town to only
13 Whites, 7 Blacks. Religion there cold, & at a low ebb,
indeed. Mr. Bower informed me he had given previous
notice, accordingly, as I had requested by letter. The Church
in the same State as two years ago, they have made a begin-
ning to inclose the Church-yard with Post & Rail. The
Vestry did not attend, except one member, consequently no
Interrogatories proposed, Mr. Bower's Salary 250 Ls from
Pew rent and Subscription.

On Sunday, 18th, preached at Frederick Town to a small,
audience, mostly young men & boys. Religion there as cold
& dead, if not more so, than Hager's Town, considering I
preached there on Sunday, & at H. Town on a week day.
They have no Vestry there & not likely to have any, & I
believe was it not for our friend, Mr. William Beall, the
Church w'd be extinct there. The house in a most ruinous

104 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

state, & destitute of common cleanliness. They have repaired
the wall around the Church-Yard. Mr. Bower preaches there
every other Sunday.

As to my own Parish, we have a legal Vestry who attend
to their duty very well, in most instances. But am sorry to
inform you that our Churches are not in so good repair as
I could wish, and do not know when we shall have them
better. I attend three Congregations, which, generally, are
pretty full & devout. We have a Glebe that rents for 25 Ls
pr. annum. We have no Library, except the Church books.
My salary very moderate, the exact sum I do not know, the
Vestry have agreed to give me what they can get subscribed,
which I believe will not be immense. The District has never
deposited one farthing in my hands for the purpose of de-
fraying the Bishop's expenses, except SO/6 that was col-
lected in St. Peter's the day I preached there, the 11 May.
It appears to me, that the visiting members are looked on
as spies & in search of money, which may be the principal
cause I had so few hearers in H. & F. Towns, as I have
reasons to believe they expected collections were to be made.

I find it to be a disagreeable business; and as I am ad-
vanced in Years, & am obliged to attend to a farm for the
support of my Family, wish to resign the commission you
was pleased to favor me with, and to be no longer consid-
ered as a member of the Standing Committee.

I am, &c., &c.,

THOMAS READ.

REPORT OF DR. KEMP.

May 10, 1805.

In this [Dorchester] Parish they have never chosen a
vestry under the late act. Nor indeed do they pay any regard
to the condition of their parish. The parish church and
one of the chapels are in a state of ruin. Still there are a

VIEWS OF MARYLAND PARISHES 105

good many persons well disposed towards our church and
when I visit them I am generally attended by considerable
congregations. Notwithstanding the long time that this parish
has been without a minister I have little doubt an industrious
and popular clergyman would be able to retrieve its affairs
and probably obtain a tolerable salary. JAMES KEMP.

REPORT OF VISITOR TO QUEEN ANNE'S, KENT AND

CECIL COUNTIES.

May 16 1808.

R.T. REV'D. Sm,

The want of money to defray my expences deprives me
of the pleasure of meeting you in Baltimore. Until this
morning I cherished the hope of going; but the last string
of my bow is now broken & I must stay at home.

As I am disappointed in my expectation of delivering to
you in person a detailed report of the state of the 5th dis-
trict, I take the opportunity of sending you an abstract of
it by post.

Queen Anne's County.

St. John's & Christ-Church Parishes are vacant, & have
been so for many years. They contain very few episcopa-
. lians. The people are divided between Nothingonians and
Methodists.

In St. Paul's parish, the schism, which I informed you
at Croome, had been made by two Dashiellitish vestrymen,
has been apparently healed. The vestry has, at a late meet-
ing, unanimously re-elected Mr. Reynolds ; & he has accepted.
This minister appears to do his duty faithfully. The size
of the congregations has considerably increased within two
years. The number of communicants about 30.

Kent County.

In St. Paul's parish no change has taken place since you
visited it last summer, except the revival of the associations

106 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

formerly established by Mr. Dashiell. The inside of the
church is still unfinished. But as soon as Buonaparte takes
off our embargo the vestry will, I have no doubt, compleat
the work. The congregation is large and respectable. Com-
municants about 60. Mr. Wilmer intends immediately after
our convention to remove to New Jersey. If you obtain Mr.
Dunn & establish him in this parish he will I believe be
very acceptable to the great body of the people.

In Chester parish the vestry has withdrawn the services
of the rector from the parish or country church, & obliged
him to officiate every day in town. The country church indeed
is much out of order, & the people around it not much dis-
posed to place it in a better condition. But I think it wrong
that one-half of the parish should thus be surrendered to
the Methodists & the devil. Permit me to recommend that,
when you pass through Chestertown in June, you give your
opinion & your advice on this subject to some of the vestry-
men. The abandonment of the one church has not, I am
told, sensibly increased the size of the congregation in the
other, notwithstanding the fair character & respectable talents
of the rector. This circumstance proves that this act of the
vestry is very displeasing to the country people. The asso-
ciation about which Mr. Win. Wilmer wrote to you, is now
under the control of Dr. Kewley who has established a form
of prayer & permits no person to officiate except himself. I
have advised him to assemble the members in the church,
instead of a private house. As there is now no room for
the gratification of vanity, & the display of spiritual gifts,
I fear that the society will not soon attain its former eminence.

Shrewsbury parish remains in the torpid state to which
it was reduced by the nonministration of Mr. Wilmer. In
this large & populous parish there is only one male, & eleven
female communicants ; & not a single person, male or female,
who makes responses in church; though some of the females

VIEWS OF MARYLAND PARISHES 107

still retain the good old fashion of kneeling during the
prayers. The vestry last year raised nearly 2,000 dollars
by lottery for the purpose of repairing the old church, &
finishing the new chapel. But the money has not been col-
lected; & I have hitherto found it impracticable to collect
the members of the vestry since the last election. I have
three times requested a meeting, but have been as often dis-
appointed. On next Saturday I shall see the issue of another
attempt. I officiate in this parish once in three weeks, &
Mr. W. Wilmer twice in the same period. As soon as I shall
obtain a meeting of the''Vestry, I shall urge them to collect
their money, & commence the repairs of the churches. Until
this be done, it would be useless for them to employ a minister.

Cecil County.

St. Stephen's parish is, ,1 believe, in a better condition
than I found it, & better than you saw it 15 years ago. But
it is extremely difficult to raise a parish which has been for
20 years in the hands of ignorant or profligate ministers.
Any man in orders can break down a parish. But very few,
even of the good, are capable of building one up. The num-
ber usually found at church is from one to two hundred.
The communicants only 17. I have reason to believe that a
much larger number wishes to receive confirmation.

St. Augustine's parish has been for many years destitute
of a ministry. It does not contain more than 20 episcopal
families. The rest are Methodists and Painites. For 7
or 8 months in a year I officiate in this church once in 3
weeks.

St. Mary Anne parish is again vacant. Mr. Hardy re-
moved from it this spring to Joppa in Harford. He had
conducted himself in such a manner as to be greatly respected
by the people; and his departure is much regretted by all
serious persons. It was, however, necessary to go away, for

108 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

his salary was not equal to the expenses of his family. Dur-
ing his stay he had fully doubled the size of the congre-
gation at the old parish church, & raised a new one at
Battle Swamp, a place about 15 miles from Northeast. This
was done without exhibiting any sign of fanaticism, without
violating any canon or rubric, without slandering the body
of the clergy, and without preaching a single article of the
new doctrines.

I am Rt. Rev'd Sir with great respect, &c., &c.,

H. L. DAVIS.

REPORT OF THE REV. JOHN COLEMAN.

HARFOKD COUNTY, May 16th, 1808
RIGHT REV D SIR,

Indisposition prevented my attendance last Convention. It
was not without difficulty that I attended in 1806. But
unwilling to discontinue or abate my labours, I continued
(tho' in great weakness and some pain) regularly to perform
my parochial duties till the 16th Nov. when I was taken
ill at a Fun'l on the manor and was obliged to desist. From
experience I find it would have been better had I stopped
sooner. For near 12 months I was confined to my house
tho' not I believe one whole day to my bed. I appointed a
Rector and had some thoughts of resigning the rectorship of
St. James' and promised it to some of the vestry who came
to see me, but they wished to wait at least till the spring
hoping I would again be able to attend. The Rev. Mr. Allen
was kind enough to visit me and both my churches in the
time of my affliction.

Since I resigned the rectorship of St. James' in Dec. 1804
I have divided my time between St. James' and the new
church called Christ Church. One of the vestry dying and
another removing to 'Virginia the church is not yet finished.
We assemble in private houses and I have attended regularly

VIEWS OF MARYLAND PARISHES 109

since last Septr. Occasionally I have attended St. James'
and administered the sacrament twice since Nov. last. On
Easter Sunday last I recommenced my usual attendance and
thanks to kind Providence I have been able to attend regularly
since & perform the duties of my office in both churches. . . .

The Parish is large. The congregations attend well and
behave decently. Family worship is set up in some houses
but there is too much neglect in this duty. Since my entrance
into the parish more than 20 years ago the church has been
repaired several times, but needs repairs at present, which
are contemplated by the vestry and might readily be effected
by a combined effort. But contributions to the support of
the church are generally partial & fall upon a few. Cate-
chising is not common. About 30 have been confirmed some
years ago and more are preparing for it.

The vestry act with candor and friendship and pay punc-
tually what they engage. The mode adopted is that of sub-
scription. They sometimes raise 100 but often fall far
short of that sum of which they candidly give me due notice.
Conventional requisitions have not been regularly attended to
but probably they will be in future. The congregation at the
new church is small but attend regularly. It will increase
it is presumed when the church is finished and fully orga-
nized. Number of adults not ascertained. Communicants
about 50. 1806. Baptisms 45. Marriages 8. Funerals 12.
1807. Baptisms 17. Mar. Funerals 7.

The register which I have kept since I first entered as
Rector of St. James' Parish, the Baptisms entered (including
those in St. John's 10 years, St. Thomas' 5 years & 7 months
to which I made returns on resigning the rectorship) are 1818
Infants and adults, of which 229 Blacks

Since Apl. 1804, I have rec'd of the vestry of St. James'
225. JOHN COLEMAN.

110 UEE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

BEPOBT OP THE REV. BENJAMIN CONTEE.

[No. date. 1808 or '09.]

The Visiting Member of the first district of the Diocese
of Maryland commends his duty and high respects to the
Rt. Rev. Thomas John Claggett, D. D., Bishop of Mary-
land,, & begs leave to report: that two out of four of the
parishes in St. Mary's County are still vacant & that there
appears to be little or no prospect of their being supplied
shortly; that King and Queen began a subscription for sup-
port of a minister last fall; but a disagreement among the
subscribers arising the attempt ceased ; that St. Andrew's
does not seem lately to have been in any state of activity to
concert measures to obtain a minister; that William & Mary
(St. Mary's) is under the Rev. F. Barclay's care as its rec-
tor; and that All faith is filled by the Rev. G. Ralph, who
intimated to the visiting member last week that the vestry
and himself were desirous of his being instituted as Rector
of All faith, which desire it was his intention to communicate
& to pray him to have it carried into effect.

William & Mary, Charles, is occupied by the visiting
member; & Trinity is under his care, by convention between
the vestries of the two parishes. Rev. Jno. Weems is still
the rector of Porto, parish but Durham parish unfortunately
it is apprehended is yet without a rector. Some measures
were in agitation by the Vestry of Durham to engage the
Rev. Mr. Duncan to be their spiritual guide, but they were
not effectuated when the v. m. last had information from that
parish, (in February). Nothing has been heard very lately
from Washington parish, Columbia, the v. m. lately addressed
the rector, enclosing to him a note to the vestry. ... A
similar note was sent to the vestries of the respective parishes
in the 1st District & on Sunday last the v. m. met the vestry
& congregation of King and Queen at their parish church;
after evening service and a sermon he conferred with the

VIEWS OF MARYLAND PARISHES 111

vestry who agreed to hold a conference on the Thursday fol-
lowing on the heads communicated in the note of the v. m.
At present the v. m. is uninformed of the result or of what
has been done by any of the parishes in the business of the
note forwarded to them, except Wm. & Mary which has
complied. All of which is respectfully submitted by

B. CONTEE.

THE REV. DR. CONTEE TO BISHOP CLAGGETT.

CHAKUES COUNTY, WEDNESDAY, 29th May, 1811.
EIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD:

A wish to do the congregations some service, and to pre-
serve some of their unsupplied parishes in the privileges of
church membership, induced me to send out several Notices
that my personal attendance would be given in several of
the vacant parishes within your Diocese. And this too, I
had no doubt would be far from being disagreeable to you.
Altho' an ill-judged, perhaps, repeal of the 15th Can. of
the Convention of the Church under your immediate superin-
tendence had taken away the power from the Episcopate of
inspecting into the condition of the congregations by sub-
stitutionary Functionaries and altho* (in consequence of
the repeal of s d Can.) I have nothing now, in command from
you on this subject. It is a subject, I am persuaded, near
your heart, and I have striven to promote it by bringing into
action some of my small Energies; by divine permission, and
have endeavored with too little success, to surmount the lan-
guor I have been so deplorably thrown into. . . .

Sir, on Friday morning last I went from home to King
& Queen parish Church, 19 miles distant, to meet my ap-
pointment there at two o'clock in the afternoon, to perform
evening prayer & dispense the sacraments. This I did, but
I was mortified to find both fewer children brought forw'd
and that fewer comm'ts came forward than I expected the

112 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

number which came to either sacrament did not exceed 12
several of the dead in the burial ground had not had their
remains respected by the sepultural rite this was also
solemnized Hearing from some source not necessary to de-
tail here that a vestry had not been chosen at Easter it was
consented that I s'd give notice for a meeting of the parish-
ioners, on Monday, in Whitsunweek, to elect a vestry for the
current year. This was done. I took a further liberty of
urging the expediency of having a lay delegate sent to the
approaching convention at Balto, & moreover the present
reader at that Church told me he w'd go, if chosen this
information I gave to one of the last year's and of the still
existing vestry.

On Saturday, 10, in the forenoon, I repaired to All Faith
Church to read prayers and to administer the sacraments
6 or 8 were baptized 40 communicated. Here I saw the
reader who was a communicant & intends to make applica-
tion to you, rt. rev'd Sir, for the Lay'g on of your hands
in the holy ordinance of instituting Deacons. He gave me
his letter to the Standing Committee. A Mr. A. Keech was
likewise at this Church : having heard of his intention to apply
for holy orders & supposing it likely he w'd come to the
Sacrament of the blessed supper I asked if such was his
intention & whether he had ever before yielded this unequiv-
ocal Symptom of his cordial acceptance of Xt 8 offers of
atoning Mercy his answer to the 1st was in the affirmative,
to the last question in the negative Wherefore as directed
by Can: I found it my duty to ask other questions, tending
toward a knowledge of the impressions he was under of the
solemnity of the duty about to be engaged in after which
he communicated his application was not in a train of
preparation to be forwarded, but he expressed a desire to com-
plete it, in time for the next expected session of the Stand-
ing Committee. . . .

VIEWS OF MAKYLAND PARISHES 113

In the afternoon, S o'clock, I reached Trinity Chapel,
Charles County, baptized 3 or 4 children after prayers, but
with a small congregation & proceeded upwards to be neare
St. Pauls in Prince George's County where I appointed to be
Sunday (10 A. M.) Met there at the hour on Sunday morn-
ing, went thro' the morning service, & intended to baptize
after 2d Lesson, but there not being any water at hand post-
poned it till after Sermon unexpectedly I was engaged in
this last service I thought I had given similar notifications
to those which had been sent to the three other before
mentioned congregations, but it appeared I had not, & I was
in a measure compelled to adopt the poor amends of poor
preaching, at this last Church but as a more ample recom-
pense for the fault of omitting to give notice that on this
day y e Lord's Supper w'd be celebrated here, I have notified
my intention, by divine grace, of doing it there that day S
weeks. ... Y r aff e & true friend & Serv fc

B. CONTEE.

CHAPTER IX

THE BISHOP AT WORK

In the year 1803 the members of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in Delaware, in annual convention, unanimously re-
solved that it was their wish to have the state of Delaware
added to the diocese of the bishop of Maryland, that they
might have the benefit of his episcopal visitations, and also
resolved that when it was deemed expedient by the Church
of Maryland, their convention would cheerfully join in elect-
ing a bishop for the eastern shore of Maryland and the
state of Delaware. The Rev. William Pryce, of Trinity
Church, Wilmington, was appointed to carry this matter
before the Maryland Church at its next convention to be held
in Baltimore.

The following year Mr. Pryce reported to his convention
that he had met his Maryland brethren in June preceding,
that he was received with attention and politeness, but that
the convention of that state deemed an union of the two
dioceses, at that time, premature and inexpedient. He further
stated that he had waited on Bishop Claggett, had been re-
ceived by him in a very friendly and affectionate manner,
and that the bishop had promised to visit the congregations
to which he might be invited as often as his extensive duties,
ill health, and declining years would permit.

The Delaware convention thereupon passed an unanimous
resolution requesting the Bishop of Maryland to make their
churches a part of his diocese and to perform all such epis-
copal duties as he might deem conducive to the interests and
prosperity of the Church in Delaware. In 1805 the Delaware
convention invited Bishop Claggett to open the next con-

114

THE BISHOP AT WORK 115

mention with a sermon, but he did not do this, nor do we
find that the bishop ever performed very extensive minis-
trations in that state. With advancing age and feeble health
he already had a field larger than he had strength to ad-
minister.

That Bishop Claggett would gladly have assisted his
neighboring brethren if he could possibly have done so cannot
be doubted by those who know his interest and zeal in mis-
sionary enterprises. We have no earlier evidence that the face
of the Church was turned toward the West than in the fol-
lowing interesting "Testimonium" of the Rev. William Duke,
which this gentleman received from the Maryland church in
1-789- The paper is in the handwriting of Dr. Claggett,
written three years before he became a bishop.

THE REV. WILLIAM DUKE'S TESTIMONIDM.

To all & every the Professors of the Protestant Episcopal
Church Inhabiting Kentucky Government to whom these
Presents shall come.

The Convention of y e Protestant Episcopal Church send
Greeting. Know ye that we y e Convention of the s a Church
taking into our serious Consideration the present State of y*
numerous Professors of our Religion in those extensive
Regions which lie beyond y e Apelachian Mountains destitute as
we understand they are, in most Places of regular Ministers
to administer y e Sacraments & preach y e word of God as in our
Church; and being anxiously desirous as far as we have
ability to defuse y e knowledge & worship of Almighty God, &
to promote rational Religion, Virtue & Learning in y e World;
And whereas our well beloved Bro r in X* the Rev d Mr. W"
Duke Clerk has notified unto us his laudable Intention of
emigrating into that Country for these great Purposes we
beg leave to recommend him the said W" 1 Duke to your favor-
able Reception & to request you to assist him in y e Discharge

116 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

of his Office so long as he may continue among you & we
do assure you that he has been regularly & canonically or-
dained & y* he has behaved himself as a good & faithful
Minister of y e Gospel of Jesus X 1 as far as has ever come
to our knowledge & we verily believe him to be well skilled
in Divinity & in y e Latin, Greek, & Hebrew Languages.

In Testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands
this day of June in y e Year of our Lord, 1789. 1

Duke set out on this important mission, and crossed the
mountains beyond Harper's Ferry, but ill health compelled
him to return. Maryland, nevertheless, seems to have been
the first diocese to support a missionary, for as early as
1798 the Rev. Samuel Keene, Jr., was appointed missionary
to Kentucky, where he labored successfully for a number of
years until he was obliged to return because of ill health.
The results of this good beginning were largely lost, for the
church did not follow up the work begun by this worthy man.
The lamentable state of affairs in the next decade is sug-
gested in a letter, dated February 14, 1814, from the Rev.
Daniel Stephens, a Maryland clergyman, to Bishop Claggett,
of which the following is an extract:

"When we consider the vast extent of territory and in-
creasing population beyond the Alleghany mountains, it must
grieve the heart of an Episcopalian to think that we have
hardly one solitary church in all 1 those states and territories ;
whilst other sectaries are doing all in their power to prosely-
tize the people. If only one clergyman could get into some
of their largest Towns, he might do much good, not only
by preaching, but by disseminating books. And another good
method would be, for some healthy young ministers to
itinerate for two or three years, if they could be supported.

1 No reference to this document is found in the Journals of Convention.
This is most probably a preliminary draft from which the final copy was
drawn, as the signatures are not attached, and the composition, by its
erasures and insertions, does not appear likely to have been the copy in-
tended for presentation.

THE BISHOP AT WORK 117

And even if a Bishop could be constitutionally sent, it might
be of great advantage in rendering ordinations, and studies
connected therewith, more easily obtained. Our church is
certainly wanting in zeal on this subject. The Church of
England has lately sent a Bishop to the East Indies, and
the Catholics have lately sent one (Mr. Dubourg of Bait.)
to New Orleans; but we have done nothing; our sheep in the
wilderness are wandering without a shepherd, and starving
for lack of knowledge! There were indeed some efforts
made between the years of '92 and '95, by the general con-
vention of New York and Philad. with Dr. Smith at their
head (which you will recollect) for sending some itinerant
ministers to the western frontier, but they failed for want
of funds and proper encouragement. . . ."

In the meantime the good bishop was striving zealously
to uphold the ministrations of the church in his own diocese,
and enlightening glimpses of his activities are to be found
in certain extant journals and convention addresses, which
have, so far as we know, not been published heretofore.

The following interesting account of the bishop's visita-
tion on the eastern shore in 1803 is taken from a manuscript
in the hand of the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Contee, and was un-
doubtedly composed by that gentleman, who was a warm
personal friend of the bishop, and whom the latter enjoyed
as a traveling companion. Besides, it was necessary, owing
to the bishop's poor health, for some well-known and accep-
table clergyman to accompany him, and to assist by preaching
on those occasions when the bishop's strength would not
permit him to carry the burden of the entire service.

JOURNAL OF BISHOP CLAGGETT'S VISITATION TO THE

EASTERN SHORE.

EASTON, 23rd July, 1803.

Set out from Croom on the 7th July, 1803, and by ap-
pointment fell in with B. Contee at Nottingham on Patuxent,

118 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

after dinner crossed the river and proceeded to the house of
J. Chew, Esqr. on the Bay side in Calvert county; lodged
there & and the next day sent to Herring Bay to look for
the arrival of Col. Hadaway's boat it was there in waiting
the indisposition of the Bishop detained him & Mr. C. all that
day at Mr. Chew's early the next morning took horse to go
to the boat at Herring Bay missed of it, but returning down
along the beach of the Chesapeake found the boat at anchor
near the mouth of fishing Creek, went on board and made
sail for Hadaway's arrived safe after dinner took the stage
for Easton got there in the evening. On the 10th Sunday
a new Church at Easton was consecrated by the Bishop, and
styled Christ Church, the chapel of St. Peter's parish in
Talbot county & diocese of Maryland. A confirmation of
about 20 persons was held.

Left Easton on Monday (llth) arrived at Cambridge in
Dorchester County accompanied by the Rev. Dr. Kemp & Dr.
Gardiner. 12th a confirmation of 17 persons was held in the
Church at Cambridge, a sermon in the forenoon by the Bishop,
in the afternoon by B. C., in the evening by Dr. Gardiner.
13th, accompanied by Dr. Gardiner and B. C. set out for
Somerset. Lodged at a Mr. Dashiell's notice that sermon
& confirmation would be at Green Hill Church on 15th. 14th,
went to the house of G. Robertson, Esq., Wicommico lower
ferry, remained there untill next day. Dr. Gardiner left us,
went to Church, morning service by B. C., sermon by the
Bishop confirmation of 17 persons, returned after Church
and dined at Mr. Robertson's. Set out from there early in
the morning of 16th. Breakfasted at Princess Arm, dined at
Mrs. Jackson's, Back Creek, went to Littleton Dennis's, Esqr.
at Pocomoke & lodged. The 17th (Sunday) joined by Dr.
Gardiner, went to Rehoboth Church, it was consecrated by the
Bishop, a sermon by him and a confirmation of 36 persons.
18th went to Annemesseck Chapel sermon by the Bishop

THE BISHOP AT WORK 119

and confirmation of 20 persons ; dined at Mr. Conner's, drank
tea at Mr. Williams', lodged at Mr. Dennis's, ipth, went to
dividing Creek Chapel, sermon by the Bishop, and confirma-
tion of [number left blank] persons. Dined at Capt. Waters'
and lodged there. 20th, went to Princess Ann, church there,
sermon by the Bishop, & confirmation of 70 persons, dined at
Mr. Tiegles' crossed Wicommico & lodged at Mr. Robertson's.
21, set out for the Rev. Mr. Jackson's Church, lodged at
Major Worgaman's on Choptank, crossed the river, on 22nd
from his landing, arrived at the Rev. Mr. Jackson's Church,
which was consecrated by the title of St. Peter's Church in
St. Peter's parish, Talbot County, Diocese of Maryland.
Sermon by the Bishop and confirmation of 21 persons.

At all of the before mentioned churches and chapels the
holy supper was administered except at St. Peter's Church.
Went from St. Peter's to the house of John Singleton, esq.,
lodged there. 23rd, after breakfast went to Easton, dined
at R. Hammond, Esqrs. After dinner the Bishop accompanied
by the Rev. Mr. Barclay & Mr. Hammersly left for Queen
Anne's County on a visitation and there B. C. with great
regret remained behind and was impelled by the great desire
he had to see his family & to return to his duties in Wm. &
Mary & conformably to appointment to part with the right
rev. Dr. Claggett and deny himself the honor of accompany-
ing and waiting on the Bishop any further, but it was by the
Bishop's permission.

Before this brief and imperfect journal is closed it will be
proper briefly to recite that the Bishop was everywhere re-
ceived with great & cordial respect & that his services &
addresses were received and regarded with marked and fixed
attention the congregations were numerous at all of the
churches, except Green Hill, when the notice was very short
& the Rector absent.

120 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

The difficulties of travel and the uncertainty of meeting
appointments can better be appreciated after reading the fol-
lowing extract from a letter in which the bishop explains to
Mr. Kemp why he failed to keep an appointment:

ANNAPOLIS, Dec r 7, 1797.
REV D & VERY DEAR SIR,

. . . The causes that have operated to prevent my attend-
ing the Committee in Cambridge were these, viz. The boat
I had bespoke to carry me to your house y e Thursday before
the intended meeting was driven from her station near the
Clifts in Calvert County by a violent Gale of Wind w cn
happened the day before & her owners when I arrived there
on Thursday informed me they expected she was lost. J
then sent my Serv 1 up the Bay in search of a boat. He did
not return until Saturday; he informed me he had procured
a boat then lying in Herring Creek w ch would sail with me on
Sunday morning. I rode up -y e bay to her & with three negro
lads to navigate her I embarked on Sunday morning late we
had not proceeded far down Herring Bay before we ran
aground & were there detained a considerable time, the wind
was not fair & before we could get to the mouth of Herring
Bay it blowed so violently as to oblige me to stop. It con-
tinued to rage all the night & y e next day having then no
chance of arriving at Cambridge in time I was obliged re-
luctantly to desist from y e Enterprize. I know you must have
been much disappointed at my absence & I sincerely lament
it, but I cannot command y e wind & y e waves. I must put off
my intended visitation to your District untill next Spring as
the time of sailing is now hazardous. . . .

Your affectionate friend & brother,

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

It has been thought strange that Bishop Claggett settled
in the little parish at Croom, and remained there the rest of

THE BISHOP AT WORK 121

his days, when it would seem more natural for the bishop of
the diocese to have been the incumbent of one of the more
prominent and influential city churches. The reason for this
is most plainly set forth in the bishop's own words, in a letter
to his friend, Dr. Bend, Dec. 23, 1805.

TO THE EEV. DR. BEND.

". . . . The next thing in order in your Letter (for I sup-
pose you desire an answer to y e whole of it) is your kind in-
quiries concerning y e state of my health. Your wishes that
I had followed your former advice given me, viz.: had sold
some of my unproductive lands & vested y e proceeds in
Baltimore & settled myself in your City adding your assur-
ance that such a step would have prolonged my life & added
to y e respectability & comfort of it, you then ask very em-
phatically, is it too late now? & immediately subjoin a long
list of candidates for y e present vacancy in your parish. Tak-
ing these paragraphs all together what Construction am I to
put on them? Does my friend wish to see me droll out a
useless & inactive existence in y e City of Baltimore while my
powers of mind & body are possessed by me, when laborers
in our Vineyard are so much wanted? Does he think that
such a kind of conduct would add to the respectability of a
Christian Bp. or to his comfort here or hereafter? This can-
not be his meaning.. Does he then wish me to empower him
to add my name to y e long & very respectable list of candidates
w* he has favored me with? No, certainly, this cannot be
his meaning. He knows too well what belongs to y e Episcopal
Character to wish to see a Bp. & the Bp. of his own diocese
too, electioneering with his own clergy either in y e pulpitt of
St. Paul's Parish or in y e streets of Baltimore. What then
is his meaning? I am weary of conjectures. My friend
must desire to have me near him: he must wish too that I may
somehow or other be employed in y e duties of my sacred call-

122 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

ing or else I cannot see how my residence in Baltimore could
possibly add to my respectability or contribute to my comfort.
But how that is to be effected I know not. It is painful to
me to recur to past scenes, but it seems necessary in this case
that I should do it. Two vacancies have occurred in St. Paul's
Parish Baltimore since I filled y e Episcopal chair: possessed
with y e Idea that I could render greater service to y e Church
of Maryland at large if situated there than in "any other part
of my diocese & that I could render at least equal service to
y e parish with any other gentleman, I felt it my duty on both
these occasions to let the existing Vestry of that parish know
y* although I never would sully y e high Commission I had
received by entering y e list as in an electioneering contest yet
if the associated rectorship was respectfully offered to me by
them I would gladly accept of it, & I dare say that you Sir
will understand that in case of y* event I was willing to share
all y e labours of y parish & all its emoluments too, of what
nature or kind soever, equally with you. But notwithstand-
ing all this I was passed over in silence, I hope to y e no small
benefit of y e parish itself & of y e Church at large & with y*
plaudits of the consciences of y e Vestries of St. Paul's. Thus
foiled in both instances, I believe by this principle only, &
still retaining the opinion that I would be more use to the
Church in the city than in this retired corner of the world, I
made another attempt afterwards to fix myself in y e new
City of Washington, thinking it might in time answer y e pur-
pose, but after a great deal of trouble had in forming a new
parish there & just as it was compleat'd two of my pretended
clerical friends stepped in, struck up a quarrel between them-
selves, brought on an electioneering contest for y e Rectorship
(in w 011 they well knew I would take no part) & by so doing
defeated my views, & ruined y e parish, or at least greatly in-
jured it. Since then I have set myself down contentedly here
at Groom, endeavoring to do what little good I can assured

THE BISHOP AT WORK 123

that y e great Disposer of all events can never will that I
should do ill, that good may come of it. After these repeated
unsuccessful trials I have all y c reason in y e world to suppose
that my principles, if retain'd will consign me to y e peaceful
shades of Groom untill it shall please God to translate me
from these tempestuous scenes (I hope) to another & better
world, & that I shall retain these principles to y e end of my
life, God being my helper, is certain."

The bishop's life, during these years, was especially full
of difficulties and perplexities. There never was a greater
need for ministers of the gospel, and there never was a greater
dearth of them. Dr. Tiffany states that at this time nearly
half the parishes in Maryland and Delaware were vacant.
The bishop, writing to Dr. Bend in 1805, says:

"I suppose you will see Mr. Linde & I request you to in-
form him that I am well pleased to hear of any Gentlemen
of character coming forward into our ministry as we are
really in great want of faithful laborers in our vineyard, there
being at present a great number of vacancies among our
Churches. The Vestry of St. Paul's Q. Ann's have long ago
applied to me to send them a Rector, salary about ,200 a year.
The Vestry of All Hallows, A. A. have by one of their body
done the same, salary about S or 400 Doll 18 including y e Glebe.
The Vestry of St. Paul's, Kent have also done y e same, salary
400 Dollars. The Vestry of Shrewsbury, Kent have also ap-
plied to me very lately for a Rector, salary 450 DoP. The
Vestry of Emmanuel, 1 Allegany have also applied to me,
salary 300 Dollars besides y e County school w* they say the
Rector may have if he chooses it & is capable of teaching it,
the salary of which is 800 Dollars a year. Besides these I
am sorry to say there are a number of other vacancies in y*
Diocese y e Vestries of w* having adopted I presume y e
fashionable mode of engaging & discharging their Rectors
ad libitum/'

1 At Cumberland, western Maryland.

124 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

When rectors were found they were not always satisfactory.
Several times grave charges of immorality were brought
against various clergymen, backbiting and slander were ram-
pant, especially during the closing years of the bishop's life,
and an unwholesome spirit of rivalry was plainly manifest
between the factions into which the Church was unfortunately
divided.

A Maryland clergymen, the Rev. George Ralph, had been
charged by the Rev. Mr. Gardiner, of the eastern shore, of
stealing, drunkenness, gambling, and we know not what else.
Surely very serious charges, but Mr. Ralph fortunately suc-
ceeded in freeing himself of all aspersions against his good
name, and showed clearly that the charges had been brought
against him in order to render him ineligible for a parish in
Virginia for which Mr. Gardiner was also a candidate. We
do not wish to bring the quarrel back to life; we trust that
died at least with the contestants, but the following extract
goes to show how trying and exasperating were some of the
cases in which the bishop had to be involved.

Extract from a letter of Bishop Claggett to the Rev. George
Ralph, without place or date, but probably written from
Groom about 1806.

"I have now nearly completed the 39th yr of my ministry,
mindful of our Blessed Sav. commands to his apostles, & thro
them to us, I have always endeavored to live in peace & love
with my Bre n &; I thank God I have never as yet had one
public quarrel with any of my Bre n of the Clergy & I should
be very sorry that the first thing of the sort should happen
with you; on the contrary I regret that I am obliged to say
that the Rev. Mr. Gardiner, since my acquaintance with him
about six or seven years ago, has resided in five different states,
and he has scarcely (I believe) ever yet left one of those
states without convulsing the Church in it by some publick

THE BISHOP AT WORK 125

dispute with his Bre n . He professes to be a disciple of the
meek and holy Jesus but how he reconciles this conduct with
His precept I am at a loss to conjecture. When I first knew
the Rev. Mr. Gardiner he was a resident of the State of New
York; there he had a terrible public quarrel with Bp. Moore
in w 011 several of his Presbyters were involved to the no small
injury of that Church. He next settled himself for about a
year in New Jersey; there too he had a most bitter Quarrel
with Dr. Ogden at that time Bp. elect of that Church. In
his transit from Jersey he stopped a while in the state of
Delaware; in this Church they had no Bishop for him to
quarrel with, but he himself has told me of a very acrimonious
dispute which he had with Bp. White; whether it happened
while he resided in Delaware or not he did not inform me.
He next obtained the rectory of Coventry Parish in this state,
without my interference or knowledge here he continued for
three or four years, & when I heard that he was about to quit
this Diocese without aiming any of those shafts at me w ch had
been leveled at so many of my Bre n in office before, I began
to felicitate myself on the occasion. But alas ! I now fear
that I was reckoning without my host & that Mr. Gardiner is
determined to set you & me by the ears, or to quarrel with me
himself."

For the first few years of the nineteenth century affairs in
the Maryland Church were at a very low ebb. Conditions,
however, began to improve about 1807; the Vestry Act of
1799 had, as we have seen, placed church property in a
securer position; several long-vacant parishes, were placed in
charge of clergymen of neighboring parishes, who ministered
as often as possible, at the direction of the bishop, and who
were sometimes assisted by very able and interested lay read-
ers; and efforts were made to raise the standard in the clergy
by directing the bishop to withdraw his licence to preach

126 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

from any deacon, who having been in the diaconate three
years, had taken no steps toward procuring priest's orders;
and the meeting of the General Convention in Baltimore, in
1808, doubtless had the effect of arousing some of the latent
forces and causing the laity especially to pay more attention
to churchly affairs.

CHAPTER X

THE CONVENTION OF 1808 AND WAR OP 1812

The General Convention of 1804, meeting in New York,
unanimously voted to hold the next convention, that of 1808,
in the city of Baltimore. Bishop Parker, of Massachusetts,
was appointed to preach the convention sermon, but before
the appointment could be met he had departed this life.
Therefore Bishop White, the presiding bishop, wrote to
Bishop Claggett shortly before the date of the convention re-
questing him to see that a preacher for that occasion was
provided.

BISHOP WHITE TO BISHOP CLAGGETT.

PHTT.ATV^ Ap. 19, 1808.
RT. REV'D & DEAR SIR,

I am sure you will have the goodness to excuse my writing
to you on the following subject, in whatever point of view
the Matter may appear to you.

You must have observed on the Journal of the last General
Convention that Bishop Parker was requested to open the
ensuing Convention with a sermon. That Bishop, no Doubt
much to your Grief as to mine, is since deceased. What I
have to propose to you is that as the Convention is to be in
Maryland, you would take order, that it may not open without
a Sermon. Whatever pertains either to (word missing) or to
decorum has been always held to fall within the province of
the Bp. & the Clergy of the State in which the meeting is to
be held. And that the question of who shall be the Preacher
is become of that Description seems to me very evident. Per-
haps I may proceed a step further & give my Opinion, that
if there should be any Difficulty about the Sermon the obvious

127

128 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

Remedy is the Bishop's Preaching himself, and even that this
may best be resolved on, in order to prevent that Difficulty.

Perhaps I might hesitate to propose to you this Measure,
were it not observable on our Journals, that you have always
put it out of the Power of any Convention to ask you to open
the next by going away before the former closed. Either
your Reasons were sufficient, or they were not. In the former
Case, you will have an opportunity of showing that you are
above the taking of an advantage. In the latter Case you
may be considered as making the "Amende honorable."

I take the Liberty of recommending . this Matter to your
Consideration and am Your aff te Brother,

WM. WHITE.

TO BISHOP WHITE.

CROOM, April 25, 1808.
RT. REV D & DEAR SIR,

Your letter of y e 19th of this month reached me yesterday
when extended on my back under a fitful Paroxysm of my
Gouty Complaint & I seize this little mitigation of pain to
inform you that thus circumstanced it is not in my power to
comply with your Request, the time before y 6 meeting of
Convention is short, my pains are too great to admit of my
setting up long together much more of writing a Sermon in
my present Condition & if I had one ready composed I much
doubt (unless I should be much better than I have been for
weeks past) whether I shall be able to attend y e Convention
at Baltimore or not nor do I expect that our Clergy there will
think themselves authorized to provide a preacher for that
occasion. I dare say that following y e examples already set
them they will do the best they can to accommodate y e Con-
vention in temporal matters, but as y e Rule of our Convention
with respect to y e appointment of a Preacher to open y e next
is either to appoint one itself or to request their President to
preach on that occasion or to nominate one of his Clergy to do

CONVENTION OF 1808 AND WAR OF 1812 129

it for him, this being our rule I am very much inclined to
suppose that they will run into y e same error & conclude that
as by y* death of y e Rev. Dr. Parker there is now no person
living authorized by y e General Convention to open y e ensuing
Session y* business will of course devolve on y e President of
y e House of Bishops or on such Gentlemen as he may think
proper to appoint & I think they will y e more incline to this
opinion when they observe y* matters of much more con-
sequence are committed to him by that body to be transacted
if need require in its recess.

In this point of view I have all along taken the matter &
in this view I return you my thanks for y e honour extended
me & am truly sorry y* y e ill state of my health prevents my
complying with your wishes, or indeed at this late hour taking
any steps in y e business with my clergy in y e City of Balti-
more & I give you this notice of these things that I may not
be blamed for matters that I am not at present in a situation
to transact and moreover do not suppose that if y e want should
happen & y e next Session of y e General Convention be obliged
to open with prayer without y e usual Proem it will lose nothing
of dignity or usefulness thereby. And here I would wish to
close my letter, but that y e Dilemma at y e end of yours, in
which my conduct in leaving former General Conventions
before it rose seems to require some apology for being fixed
between the horns of this formidable agreement. I cannot
possibly avoid Scylla without falling on Charybdis. The
facts I beg leave to state by way of apology are these: 1st.
The Church of Maryland having always supposed that she
had controlling power over all" her members whether present
in Convention or absent has often appointed absent clergy-
men to open y e next Convention & been obeyed; and as I
knew of no rule or usage of the Gen 1 Convention, to y e con-
trary I did suppose heretofore that y e House of Bishops in
General Convention possessed y e same power. 2ndly. I can

130 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

truly say that for 9 or 10 years past I have not been clear
of bodily pain for a single day, and that it has often been
very violent; Srdly. You will recollect, my dear Sir, without
referring to y e Journals of Convention that there has as yet
been no Session of that body since I have been in Bishop's
orders nearer to me than your city: the fatigue of y e journey
there or to some other Church has always so disordered me y*
after getting over y e important business of y e Session I was
desirous of returning to y e bosom of my family where most
sick people wish to be, without one thought that I can recollect
about y e appointment of y e next Preacher: it is true for now
almost 17 years I have seen my juniors in office called to that
honour without envy (Rest of the letter is lacking). . .

[Tno s JN CLAGGETT]

According to its plan the General Convention met at Balti-
more, May 17-26, 1808. On the Journal appear the names
of 14 clerical and 13 lay deputies and two bishops, "White, of
Pennsylvania, and Claggett, of Maryland. The states of
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania, Delaware and Maryland were represented by delegates.
No state south of Maryland was represented, which is a
commentary on the condition of the Church in those sections.
South Carolina, however, elected a delegation of two clerical
and two lay members but none of them attended. In an
appendix to the Journal a list of the clergy in the various
states is given. Under "Virginia" is the note, "No list of the
clergy was received from this state." North Carolina is not
mentioned. Fourteen clergymen are reported as resident in
South Carolina, and a list is given of 1 1 vacant parishes in the
state, "most of them able and willing to support ministers."
Maryland is reported as possessing one bishop and 38 clergy-
men, several of whom, however, were non-parochial. No other
state is reported to have as many clergymen as Maryland.

CONVENTION OF 1808 AND WAR OF 1812 131

The House of Bishops, consisting of Bishops White and
Claggett, met for their first session in St. Paul's Church on
the forenoon of Tuesday, May 17. Accepting the invitation
of Dr. Bend, the bishops held their subsequent sessions in the
rectory of St. Paul's Church. They appointed the Rev. Dr.
James Whitehead, associate rector of St. Paul's, as their
secretary, received word from Dr. Bend that the House of
Clerical and Lay Deputies was organized and ready for busi-
ness, and returned word that "this house are also ready to
proceed to business." The story is told that one day during
the convention the House of Deputies sent a messenger to
the House of Bishops, who rapped at the door of Dr. Bend's
study, and received a unanimous summons from the House of
Bishops to come in. Upon entering, the House of Bishops
was discovered in session, the members cosily toasting their
feet before an open fire, as the day was damp and chilly, and
between them was a small stand with glasses and some form
of liquid refreshment which the rector of St. Paul's had
thoughtfully provided for their material comfort.

The Convention Sermon was preached by Bishop White.
Little of vital interest to the Church and nothing that con-
cerns a relation of Bishop Claggett's life was effected at this
convention. Before adjournment the House of Deputies
named New Haven, Connecticut, as the place of the next
General Convention, and, agreeably to the constitution, the
third Tuesday of May, 1811, as the time, and passed a resolu-
tion that Bishop Claggett be requested to preach the opening
sermon. Bishop Claggett, however, did not attend. He set
out from Groom for New Haven, but physical weakness com-
pelled him to turn back, and again a General Convention was
only attended by two bishops of the Church, this time the
venerable and ever-present White, of Pennsylvania, and
Jarvis, of Connecticut. At the New Haven convention Bishop
Claggett was again appointed to open the next convention

132 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

with a sermon, which, convention was appointed to meet in
Philadelphia, in 1814. But the time found Bishop Claggett
very ill, much too ill to attend to duties even nearer home.

Bishop Claggett's episcopal acts beyond the boundaries of
his diocese were few, considering the length of his episcopate,
owing to the unfortunate state of his health. In company
with Bishops White, Provoost and Madison, he participated
in the consecration of Robert Smith, as first bishop of South
Carolina, in Christ Church, Philadelphia, on Sunday, Septem-
ber 13, 1795, the General Convention then being in session.
On May 7, 1797, he assisted at the consecration of Edward
Bass, as first bishop of Massachusetts, the other officiating
bishops being White and Provoost. Such was the lack of
information regarding their fellow-churchmen in those days
of difficult communication that the committee in charge of
Bass' consecration arrangements wrote to Bishop White from
Boston, "We have taken the liberty to enclose our letter to
the Bishop of Maryland in yours, as not knowing the place
of his Residence, nor the readiest mode of conveyance, re-
questing at the same [time] the favour of an Answer as soon
as possible & that you will take the trouble to convey the
Letter to him & solicit his Answer." 1 Claggett also assisted
in the consecration of Bass' successor, Samuel Parker, who
was consecrated in Trinity Church, New York, September 14,
1804, during a session of the General Convention, the other
consecrators being White, Jarvis and Moore. Parker un-
fortunately lived less than three months after his consecration.
In company with White and Jarvis, Claggett assisted at the
consecration of Benjamin Moore, as bishop-coadjutor of New
York, at the meeting of the General Convention, at Trenton,
September 11, 1801.

In 1812 he was invited to assist in the consecration of
Theodore Dehon, rector of Trinity Church, Newport, R. I.,

1 Addison, Life and Times of Edward Bass, p. 302.

CONVENTION OF 1808 AND WAR OF 1812 133

to be bishop of South Carolina, but owing again to the state
of his health he was compelled to decline, as seen from the
following letter:

THE REV. THEODORE DEHON TO BISHOP CLAGGETT.

NEWPORT, R. ISLAND, 15 Sept., 1812.
RIGHT REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Your letter, in answer to one I addressed to you from
Philadelphia, came safely to my hands. For the obliging ex-
pression of your desire, if it were not for the state of your
health, to be at Philadelphia on the occasion of my consecra-
tion I pray you to accept my very sincere thanks. It caused
me, Sir, no little regret, to hear of the afflictive disease, & of
those infirmities of age, on account of which you request that
application should be made to some one of the other Bishops
to attend on that occasion. While the causes that will with-
hold you from us are greatly lamented by me, with the reasons
you have assigned, why you feel unable to be with us, I cannot
but be fully satisfied. Bishop Hobart, I presume, will be
obtained to go from New York, or Bishop Griswold from this
state, to operate with Bishop White, & Bishop Jarvis And
should you hear nothing further from me on the subject you
will believe that arrangements have been made for accom-
plishing this business, agreeably to your wishes. Should there
be occasion to recur to your very kind assurance, that you
would endeavor to get to Philadelphia in case of necessity
(of which I do not perceive at present any possibility) you
shall hear of it in good season.

Permit me, in closing this letter to offer my hearty wishes
for the amendment of your health, & comfort of your life;
to add an assurance of the high respect and regard of,
Right Rev. & Dear Sir,

Your Affectionate Brother,

THEODORE DEHON.

134 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

In October, 1815, as the following letter shows, Claggett
was invited to assist at the consecration of John Croes, as
bishop of New Jersey, who was consecrated in St. Peter's
Church, Philadelphia, on November 19, 1815. Bishop
Claggett did not attend, this time apparently not because of
ill health, but because of previous engagements, but Bishop
Kemp, the recently elected suffragan bishop of Maryland, was
one of the consecrators.

TO BISHOP KEMP.

ST. JAMES PAEISH, Noif 1, 1815.
RIGHT REV. & VERY DEAR SIR,

I set out yesterday on a visitation to some of y e Parishes
in Arinarundel & Calv* Counties, where notices had been given
of my intention to visit them; on my way here I called (as
I came through Marlbro') at y e post office, & there I received
a letter from y e Rev. Mr. Rudd of Eliza h Town New Jersey
requesting my attendance at Philadelphia on Sunday y e 12th
of Nov* next, or if it should not be convenient for at least
one of the Bps. of Maryland to attend on that day, then y e
following Sunday, Nov* y e 19th is proposed. This Letter of
y e Rev. Mr. Rudd's is dated y e 16th of October, & has been
so long on its passage that I fear it is now too late for me
to write to y e Rev. Mr. Rudd to endeavor to have y e meeting
at Philadelphia postponed until y e 19th, & as appointments
are made, & notice given of my intention to visit diiferent
parishes here, w ch I am bound to fulfil. I can not now return
home in time to get to Philadelphia by y e 12th of this month.
If I had received Mr. Rudd's Letter a few days sooner than
I did I should have been happy to have rendered y e Ch 611 of
New Jersey y e service required, & to have seen my worthy
friends who will assemble on y e occasion mentioned, once more
at least; but circumstanced as the letter found me, I must
forego this satisfaction as also that of accompanying you to

CONVENTION OF 1808 AND WAR OF 1812 135

Philadelphia & you will be pleased to remember me affection-
ately to our Rt. Rev. & Rev. Bren. in Philadelphia & believe
me to be, Your affectionate brother,

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

On Dec. 27, 1802, in the chapel of St. Paul's Parish church,
Prince George's County, Claggett ordained to the priesthood
William Murray Stone, a native and lifelong resident of the
Eastern shore, who was destined to be the third bishop of
Maryland, and on January 29, 1814,. in St. Paul's Church,
Alexandria, Virginia, he ordained to the priesthood William
Meade, who became the third bishop of Virginia.

A period of considerable hopefulness sprang up about 1806
and '07 and for the next five or six years there was evidence
of some growth and promise of more. Into this hopeful
period rudely broke the war of 1812, scattering many families,
bringing increased financial hardship, rendering communica-
tion and travel difficult and hazardous, and distracting atten-
tion from important ^parish duties of both clergy and laity.
The following letter, descriptive of war conditions in St.
Mary's County, southern Maryland, was written by the Rev.
Joseph Jackson to Dr. Kemp.

THE REV. JOSEPH JACKSON TO DR. JAMES KEMP.

Aug. 14, 1814.
REV. & DEAR SIR,

. . . We can command, as you must conceive, but little of
our time here, & can, in truth, call nothing our own. Every-
thing we have, belonging to earth (life not excepted) is at
the disposal of the enemy, under the control only of
Omnipotence. Our Government does for us exactly what was
to be expected, precisely nothing. There is no refuge from
impending terrors, but in the hopes presented by our holy
religion. These, it is true, are very sufficient for the main

136 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

purposes of an earthly pilgrimage; but in a state of civilized
society, & as we proudly talk, of civil liberty, we are ac-
customed to look for more, we are accustomed to look for
some refreshments in this vale of tears. Thanks be to God,
there are some things, & those the very best, the only good,
which neither our own, nor a foreign government can take
from us: & those we can possess in St. Mary's.

You know what I have long predicted to you, the loss of
my parishioners. My prediction is indeed painfully verifying
every day. Several are lost or as good as lost already. Dr.
Tabbs, who was my nearest acquaintance of the agreeable
kind, has moved his furniture to Georgetown, & sent his
negroes mostly into Washington County. Dr. Thomas intends
moving the instant he can accomplish it. Indeed, who does
not? Take a sample of our situation from the following fact:
This week being my week for officiating at a private house in
the lowest part of the County, I proceeded a day or two be-
forehand, as having many catechetical exercises to examine,
& believing that the British, who stood well up the River,
were on their way to visit Mr. Madison. This was the 1st
inst. The next day, Tuesday, the wind being favorable down
the Potomac, the British had availed themselves of it, & in
the evening a little before sunset, whilst I was at tea with a
worthy family within about three miles of Point Look-out,
word was brought by one of the young men, who had been
upon the shore, that a British Ship & Brig were in sight. The
gentleman of the house and I immediately walked to the
River side, whence we saw, surely enough, the Albion & a
brig. We waited till four other Ships, with Schooners, ap-
peared below St. George's Island. They appeared to form a
line on the Virginia side, & the Albion, we thought, came to
an anchor before we left the Shore. We concluded that they
were either intending downwards, to the Islands which they
have fortified, or to make a landing in Virg a the next morning.

CONVENTION OF 1808 AND WAR OF 1812 137

This was our deliberate opinion; but before we reached the
house in returning, we were met by a neighboring gentleman
who offered a different opinion that they would land & sweep
this part of St. Mary's again. The Women, we found, had
caught the impression from him. Presently another & another
brought in the same opinion: deducing it from the peculiar
firing heard from the British both in the Patuxent & Potomac
that day & the day before. The hour of prayer approaching
we committed ourselves & all things belonging to us, to the
Divine keeping, & soon afterwards retired. I had scarcely
fallen asleep, when a young man, related to the family, & an
occasional inmate, came into my room to pick up the residue
of his clothes; telling me that he had heard more frightful
things of British plundering (up the Potomac) than ever.
Being under the impression that they had not spent the day
merely in sailing down the river, I asked him whether he had
heard of their landing anywhere. He said that he had just
understood that 25 Barges went ashore in the forenoon within
a few miles of the Glebe. Learning from him that the
neighborhood was in a general commotion, & that stock &
negroes were moving towards the forest, seeing of course no
prospect of a large congregation the next day, & considering
what must be the situation of my mother & my small family,
I concluded to set out for home instantly (about 20 miles
remote) . Taking leave of the family & giving them my advice
& blessing, I commenced an interesting & effecting ride. The
women were standing or walking at their doors, whilst the
men were gone out on guard. Stock & negroes I also found
upon the road. The sadness of the occasion was enlightened
as much as might be, by the brightness of the moon, how
serene and gracious is Heaven, while man is intent on his own
misery, or that of his neighbour! After calling at different
places, and speaking to this person & that, I reached home a
little before sun-rise & found throu' Divine goodness, that no

138 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

disturbance had come nigh, beside that of fear. The British
upon landing had taken a different direction. Yesterday
morning, by the time I reached home, I could hear the British
firing on the Virg* side, & it seems that several smokes were
seen, as of burning houses. The firing continued nearly all
day, & some after dark. No farther alarm that I have heard
of on our side was given, but by a company from the Patuxent,
who came it seems, yesterday afternoon, six miles, or up-
wards, & took a man whom I had married last winter to his
third wife, from his own house, & carried him on board their
vessel, or to their encampment, till they should be put in
possession of a negro woman belonging to him, who is wife
to a fellow that had eloped to them. Judge of our situa-
tion! ...

JOSEPH JACKSON.

Leaving the terrified country people of St. Mary's County
for more peaceful scenes, we find Bishop Claggett delivering
to his diocesan convention of the preceding year, 1813, an
account of his official acts since their last meeting, which,
although not of prime importance, gives us brief and inform-
ing pictures of church conditions at that time. Several of
these "Notitia," as the bishop called them, were printed in
the Journals of Convention. Only a short summary -of this
of 1813 was printed in the Journal, which is our reason for
choosing it as a fair sample of them all.

BISHOP CLAGGETT'S NOTITIA TO THE CONVENTION OF 1813.

"On Trinity Sunday, May the 24th (1812) the Bp. held a
confirmation in St. Paul's Church, City of Baltimore, & con-
firmed there 32 persons on his return home on tuesday y e 26th
of May he admitted y e Rev d Mr. John Chandler, formerly
ordained a Deacon by y e Right Rev d Bp. White to Priests
Orders in Christ Church Queen Caroline Parish in Annarun-

CONVENTION OP 1808 AND WAR OF 1812 139

del County on this occasion y e Congregation was large &
apparently devout.

On Thursday y e 18th of June following y e Bp. visited
Queen Anns Parish Ch 011 preached there to a large congrega-
tion, this parish had been for some time vacant by y e Resigna-
tion of y e Rev. Mr. Scott, it had no Vestry at y e time; y e Bp.
exhorted y e Parishioners to elect a Vestry & to endeavor to
procure a Minister On y e 6th of July the Bp. Licenced Dr.
Sam 1 Hanson to read in Durham Parish Charles Co. then
vacant by y e Resignation of y e Rev. Mr. Duncan.

On Thursday y e 15th of this month y e Bp. admitted y e Rev d
M r Ninde to Priests Orders in Queen Ann's Parish Church
the congregation assembled on y e occasion was large & y e
Rev. Mr. Dashiell preached & y e next day Friday Bp. con-
secrated his own Parish Church, in the Town of Upp. Marlbro
by the name of Trinity Church, & y e Rev. Dr. Contee
preached y e consecration sermon to a large congregation on
y e same day y e Bp. licenced Mr. George Lemmon a Candidate
for Holy Orders to read in y e vacant Parishes near y e City
of Baltimore.

On the 28th of y e same month Mr. Tho 8 Horrel of Calvert
Co. notified y e Bp. of his intention to offer himself a candidate
for Holy Orders & by request y e Bp. licenced him to read in
some of y e Rev d Mr. Handy 's Churches on those Sundays
when he should be absent.

On Friday y e 14th of August y e Bp. visited All Sts. Parish
Church Calv* Co. the day proved rainy but still there was a
good congregation & four Persons were confirmed y e Bp.
preached to them & delivered an address to y e Confirmed. On
Sunday the 16th of this month y e Bp. visited Christ Church
Parish in Calvert Co. y e Rev. Mr. Handy Rector, this day
was more rainy than y e last friday & y e Congregation much
smaller on that account than it would otherwise have been,
but still y e Bp. preached & confirmed 27 persons.

140 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

On the 20th of Sep r following being one of y e Ember ap-
pointed by y e Ch ch for admitting Candidates to Holy Orders
y e Bp. held a general Ordination in Trinity Church Upper
Marlbro & ordained y e Rev. Messrs Thos. Bayne & Noble
Young Deacons, y e Rev a Mr. McCormick preached y e ordina-
tion Sermon & y e Rev. Mr. Addison preached in y e Eve-
ning of that day. Mr. Young has been settled in Durham
Parish Charles Co. & Mr. Bayne at y e request of y e Vestry
y e Bp. has charged with y e important Cure of St. Peter's
Parish Talbot Co.

On y e 6th of Oct. y e Bp. set out on a visitation to upper
parts of Eastern Shore & on y e 9th of that Month preached
in y e Chapel of St. Peter's parish in the Town of Easton &
on y e day following (Sunday) preached at y e Parish Church
at y e White (word missing) & administered y e Sacrament
there. As y e Parish was vacant there was no Confirmation in
either of these Churches, the Congregations at each of them
were very orderly & apparently devout & y e communion pretty
large ; at y e Request of y 6 Vestry y 6 Bp. sent to them y* Rev d
Mr. Bayne to take charge of y e Parish & he has heard since
that he is favorably received & kindly treated by this regular
& well disposed parish.

On y e 13th the Bp. visited St. Paul's Parish Ch cb Queen
Anne's Co. Preached & Confirmed 9 Persons. The Rev d Mr.
Stevens is Rector of this Parish, the Congregation was but
small, but respectable. On Thursday y e Bp. visited Chester
Parish Ch^ in Chester Town Kent Co. & Confirmed 9 Persons.
The Rev a Mr. Turner is Rector of this Parish & also of St.
Paul's in this Co. in the Parish Ch 1 * of which Parish the
Bp. preached on Sunday y e 18th & in the evening crossed y e
Bay from Rock Hall to Annapolis & on Monday y e 19th
Preached there to a respectable Congregation & Confirmed 19
Persons The Rev d Mr. Ninde is Rector of this Parish.

On y 6 23rd of this month y e Honourable judge Key having

CONVENTION OF 1808 AND WAR OF 1812 141

removed from King & Queen Parish St. Mary's Co. & declined
to officiate there as a Reader y e Bp. at y e request of y e Vestry

granted Licence to Mr. Candidate for Holy Orders to

officiate as a Reader in y 6 said Parish of King & Queen. On
Sunday y e 3rd of Nov. y e Bp. visited Durham Parish Ch ch in
Charles Co. y e day proved rainy, y e Bp. attended at y e Parish
Ch cb but had no Congregation he stayed in y e Parish & at-
tended again on y e Wednesday following when y House was
pretty full & he preached to them & Confirmed 20 persons.

On Sunday y e 22d of Nov 1 y e Bp. visited Sion Parish in
Montgomery Co. & preached to a large & well ordered Con-
gregation of Christians & Confirmed 45 Persons. This
Church appeared in a flourishing condition.

On Sunday y e 28th of March your Bp. by request of y*
ministers of St. Paul's & Fairfax Churches in the City of
Alexandria, Diocese of Virginia, now vacant, preached in
y e forenoon of that day in St. Paul's Ch* to a very large
Congregation & Confirmed 70 Persons & y e afternoon he
preached again in Fairfax Ch ch to another large Congregation
& was highly gratified by observing y 6 good order, harmony
& temperate zeal w** 1 appeared to prevail in these Churches.
The Rev d Mr. Wm. H. Wilmer & y e Rev d Mr. Meade were
y e Rectors of these Churches.

On Easter Sunday y e Bp. held a Confirmation in his own
Ch* in Upp r Marlbro, & Confirmed 8 Persons several of
whom he admitted to y e Holy Sacrament of y e Eucharist
y e same day w* increased his number of Communicants to
about 45.

On Sunday y e 2d of May last y e Bp. visited All Sts. Parish
Church in Frederick Town; the Congregation was large &
attentive, y e Bp. preached to them & Confirmed about 50
Persons among whom were several of y e more respectable
Inhabitants of that Town & its Vicinity & some from Vir-
ginia & others from remote parts of their state; there appears

142 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

to be a considerable zeal for Religion & y e interest of y e Church
excited at this time in this Congregation they are building an
elegant new brick Ch 1 * in this Town; the walls are constructed
in a very handsome stile & it is already covered in. In the
evening y e Rev d Mr. Bower the Hector preached to a good
Congregation. The next day y e Bp. set out for St. Marks
Parish on y e Maryland Tract in Frederick Co. in company
with y e Rev d Mr. Bower, Rector also of this Parish, & on
tuesday y e 4th he attended with that Gentleman in y e a. m.
at y e Parish Church where they found but 8 or 10 persons
assembled, who were desired by y e Rector to notify as many
of y e Parishioners as they conveniently could that y e Bp.
would attend at y e Ch ch again on y e Wednesday following
w* he did; y e Congregation was not half as large as it would
have been had y e Notice been a general one; but still y e Ch** 1
was pretty full & y e Bp. preached to them & confirmed about
36 Persons. This Ch^ appears to be flourishing & attentive
to y e duties of Religion. On his return home on Sunday y e
9th y e Bp. preached in Georgetown in y e forenoon for y e
Rev. Mr. Addison to a large Congregation & in y e afternoon
of that day in y e City of Washington for y e Rev d Mr. Mc-
Cormick.

On y e 14th day of May y e Bp. ordained y e Rev. Mr. Purnel
F. Smith a Deacon in Trinity Ch ch Upper Marlbro & sent
him to officiate in 'St. James Parish A. A. Co. vacant by y e
death of y e late Rev d Mr. Compton.

The Bp. has a satisfaction in stating to y e Convention that
he has not been under y e painful necessity of suspending or
degrading any of his Clergy this Year. He has however,
incumbent on him y e sorrowful Duty of imparting to them
y e Death of the late worthy secretary of y e Convention y e
Rev d Joseph G. J. Be^d whose lamented death will be sensibly
felt by his family, by his Parishioners, by y e Convention &
by y e Ch ch at large. The Rev d Mr. Compton late Rector of
St. James Parish A. A. Co. as mentioned above has also this

CONVENTION OF 1808 AND WAR OF 1812 143

year been called from his labours to receive their rewards
(as y e Bp. trusts) in y e mansions of bliss. The Bp. has to
add y e names of y e Rev d Messrs Ball, Ralph, & Higginbotham
to his account of y e Deaths of his Clergy this year, neither
of these Gentlemen had any Cures in y e Church when they
died & being worn out by age & infirmities it is not likely
that either of them would have been able had they lived
longer to have resumed their functions in it. The Rev d Mr.
Moscross has removed from this Diocese without applying to
y e Bp. for y e Certificate required in such Cases by y e Canon
of y e General Convention.

It appears from y e foregoing detail that y e Bp. in y e course
of this year has ordained 3 Deacons, viz. y 6 Rev d Mr. Bayne,
y e Rev a Mr. Noble Young & y e Rev d Mr. Purnel F. Smith &
has admitted two Deacons to Priests Orders viz. y 6 Rev.
Mr. Chandler & y e Rev. Mr. Ninde; that he has Licenced 4
Readers, that he has confirmed 297 Persons in this Diocese
& 70 in that of Virginia; on the present State of the Ch ctt
of Maryland generally y e Bp. begs leave to say to y e Con-
vention: that y e source of Information on this subject derived
by him from y e annual Reports of his Clergy formerly re-
quired by Canon to be made to him, & now not seen by him
until they are read in Convention has very much confirmed
his views of that subject to his personal observations on his
different visitations, & these views have been made known to
y 6 Convention in y e foregoing Detail & afford us sufficient
grounds to hope y* a faithful discharge of y e duties we are
now engaged in together with those of y e pastoral office by
his clergy generally assisted by y e zealous support of y e
Laity & y e Spirit of peace, amity & concord pervading y e
whole Society will by y e blessing of God soon crown our
efforts with success & manifest to y e world that God's ever-
lasting arms are underneath his Ch*. All which as required
by y e 45 Canon of y e general Convention is very Respectfully
submitted to the Convention of the Church of Maryland."

CHAPTER XI

ELECTION OF A SUFFRAGAN

For several years Bishop Claggett's health had been grad-
ually failing and this unfortunate condition limited his epis-
copal activity very materially, his visits of necessity being
chiefly confined to the western shore of the diocese. In 1808
he was compelled by ill health to resign his large parish
of St. Paul's, Prince George's County, which he had held
since his election to the episcopate sixteen years before.
Determined, however, to be a rector as well as a bishop he
organized Trinity Church, in Upper Marlboro, near his home
in Croom, and he remained in charge of this little church
the rest of his life. Twice he had an assistant, but at the
time of his death he had none. Beginning with the early
years of the century there was an increasing agitation for
an assistant, coadjutor, or suffragan bishop (opinions differed
as to the form episcopal assistance should take) for the east-
ern shore. Bishop Claggett thoroughly recognized the need of
more personal supervision than he was able to bestow and
so he sent the following communication to the convention of
1811, which met in Baltimore, June 19-21. He had journeyed
to Baltimore expressly to attend this convention but was taken
ill immediately on arrival and was confined to the house of
Dr. Bend, the rector of St. Paul's, during the entire period
of the meeting.

BISHOP CLAGGETT TO HIS DIOCESAN CONVENTION.

BALTIMORE, June 20, 1811.
REV. AND RESPECTED GENTLEMEN,

Having devoted myself to the service of God in the Chris-
tian ministry, for 40 years and upwards, and having sat in

144

ELECTION OF A SUFFRAGAN 145

the Episcopal chair for nearly 20 of those years, I cannot,
I will not desert the interests of the Church of Maryland.
Neither the laws of God, nor of the Church, nor will my own
wishes permit this. It is therefore my determination, that
all the powers of body and mind, with which it shall please
God to bless me, shall be exerted in the discharge of the
pastoral duties, to the end of my days.

But the infirmities of age, and the violent paroxysms of
my painful disorder, sometimes render me unable to take long
journies to the distant parts of this large diocess. Thus cir-
cumstanced, and the concerns of our dear Church being para-
mount, with me, to every other consideration, I apprehend it
to be my duty, to hold up to your view the propriety of
choosing some "qualified clergyman," who, when consecrated,
may assist me in discharging the functions of the Episcopate.

You will be pleased seriously to weigh the matter of this
communication in your minds, and act, as to you may seem
fit, at the present, or some subsequent session.

Should you, in your wisdom, think such an officer necessary,
whether you make choice of him now, or defer it to a future
time, assure yourselves you may reckon upon my cordial
acceptance of the person, whom you may choose.

Earnestly do I pray the Great Head of our holy church,
that he will condescend "to have you in his keeping," and
that he will be pleased to guide and direct your consultations,
to the advancement of his own glory, and the peace, happi-
ness, and prosperity of his Body, the Church.

I am, Rev. and respected Brethren, your affectionate
Diocesan,

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

The convention voted thanks to the bishop for this com-
munication, ordered its insertion in the Journal, and post-
poned further consideration until the next convention. Fol-

146 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

lowing this convention and the bishop's request for an assist-
ant, the Maryland Church was so violently racked by dis-
sension, largely induced by the Rev. George Dashiell, rector
of St. Peter's, Baltimore, that the bishop began to regret
that he had broached the, subject of episcopal assistance at all.
Mr. Dashiell had previously shown signs of insubordination
to the authority of the bishop and the convention, and now
charged certain clergymen of the diocese with having wheedled
and teased Bishop Claggett into the measure of asking for
a suffragan. "There were not wanting," says Dr. Hawks,
"those who thought that the charge would never have been
heard, had not disappointed ambition writhed under the dis-
covery, that if a suffragan were appointed, he would not be
the rector of St. Peter's." 1 When, therefore, the convention
of 1812 met, the bishop stated in his address that it seemed
doubtful whether it would be expedient, at that time, to en-
deavor to procure an assistant, and furthermore that it was
a very momentous question what kind of an assistant should
be secured, assuring them that a suffragan and not a coad-
jutor would be the only one that he could conscientiously
accept.

The following day, notwithstanding, the convention pro-
ceeded to ballot for "the election of a suffragan or assistant
bishop, to assist the present bishop of the diocese in the duties
of the episcopal office, and to succeed him in case of sur-
vivorship." From the clergy the Rev. Dr. James Kemp re-
ceived 12 votes, and the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Contee 5. Dr.
Kemp, the candidate of the high Church party, thus received
the constitutional two-thirds vote of the clerical order, but
upon presenting this nomination to the lay delegates, 13 votes
were in favor of Dr. Kemp and 11 were against him. The
necessary two-thirds vote of the laity was not secured and
no election was effected.

1 Hawks, Maryland, p. 378.

ELECTION OF A SUFFRAGAN 147

The bishop's reasons for addressing the 1811 convention
on the subject of episcopal assistance are plainly set forth
in the following letter:

TO THE REV. JOSEPH JACKSON.

CBOOM June 17th 1813.
REV. & DEAR SIR,

I received your letter before the meeting of our last Con-
vention alluding to some assertions used in a pamphlet pub-
lished not long since by y e Vestry of St. Peter's Parish
respecting y e Subject of choosing a suffragan Bishop for this
diocese, which was brought before the Convention of our
Church of 1811 and 1812 by me. My reasons for directing
the attention of those Conventions to this subject were the
following, viz. . The Eastern. Shore members of the Standing
Committee for the year 1811 (whose opinions I was bound
by the Canons to respect) had recommended y e measure to
me; our People on that shore (to whom I felt myself under
great obligations) appeared to me to desire it; the obstacles
to a faithfull discharge of y e Episcopal duties on that Shore
by a Bishop residing on this, I had found by experience were
very great, as it generally took me as long again to be from
home to perform y e same number of duties on that Shore, w*
it did on this ; I had observed too that the rule of Convention
to meet every third year on that Shore had gradually been
abandoned as it had been found impracticable to collect y e
members from this shore on that in sufficient numbers to do
business. These were the reasons that induced me to make
the communications that I did make to the Conventions of
1811 and 1812 & not any imposition passed or attempted to be
passed on me by you or any other person. ...

Your affectionate Diocesan,

THO S JN CI,AGGETT.

148 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

The following letter from Bishop Claggett to Dr. Kemp,
written not very long after the attempted election of 1812,
also explains the bishop's position and the complications into
which he was drawn by less disinterested individuals. Dr.
Kemp had, in the meantime, owing to the sudden death of
Dr. Bend, left the eastern shore and become the associate
rector of St. Paul's, Baltimore, thus materially altering his
geographical qualifications as episcopal assistant for the
eastern shore.

TO DR. KEMP.

CBOOM, Jan. 9, 1813.
REV. & DEAR SIR,

Your favor of the first of this month lay longer in the
post-office at Marlboro than letters addressed to me usually
do owing perhaps to my sending there seldomer in winter
than other parts of the year. Now I have rec'd it I hasten
to say that I sincerely congratulate you on your recent ap-
pointment as I doubt not but that you have judged it most
conducive to the good of the Church & your own happi-
ness. . . . My health has been generally worse in spring
than in any other part of the year; added to this I have
observed that Feb. has been for several years passed dis-
tinguished by the inclemency of the weather; it would there-
fore be very uncertain whether I could meet an appointment
to be in Baltimore next month supposing I should make one
and have therefore adopted the other mode proposed by you
and have appointed Rev. Mr. Beasley to be your in-
stitutor. ...

As to the subject matter of the latter part of your letter
viz. the business of an assistant or suffragan bishop I shall at
this time briefly and candidly make a few observations with
a view as far as in my power lies to remove some erroneous
impressions which appear to you to have been made on your
mind respecting that business. In the first place I will observe

ELECTION OF A SUFFRAGAN 149

to you that the plan did not originate with me. I was told by
a Gentleman who was a principal actor, that it originated
in the Eastern shore associations of y e clergy & I know it
came to me first & long before I mentioned it to you from the
Eastern shore members of y 6 Standing Committee & from y e
Rev d Mr. Judd who was also a member of y e Standing Com-
mittee soon after their meeting at Hadways on y e Rev. Mr.
Wm. Wilmer's ordination business, it was then proposed to
me as a measure intended for ye benefit of the Church on
the Eastern shore & my consent solicited by several of y*
members of y fl standing committee who had met at Hadways;
under this impression I gave my consent; under this impres-
sion I mentioned this affair to you; & under this impression I
have uniformly supported y e measure until your removal. On
my way to y e Eastern shore when last I visited that part of
my Diocese, I passed through Annapolis, there I saw y e Rev.
Mr. Ninde who told me he had a little before .been in Balti-
more, & that he had learned there that a large majority of
y e vestry of St. Paul's had determined to give you a call to
the associate rectorship of that parish; as in my judgment
your removal to y e western shore would materially effect y e
question of your election as a suffragan Bp. as being contrary
to y e original views of assisting me on y e Eastern shore &
would have a different bearing on y e peace & happiness of y e
Ch ch & of course on my subsequent conduct I considered it to
be a duty I owed to y e Church & to you to make you ac-
quainted with my opinion on these points before you should
decide on a removal to y e western shore if y e offer should
be made to you, & this was y e purport of y* message sent
to you by our excellent friend Mr. Goldsbury. 1 I am sorry
he appears to have misapprehended me. It is true that in
consequence of having heard that our late friend Dr. Bend
at his own table in a large company soon after y e decision of

1 The bishop probably meant "Goldsborough."

150 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

y e question by y e last convention threw out something that
implicated y e consistency of my conduct & implied a doubt
whether I voted for you or not myself? & that he then asked
you whether I had not promised you my support? and that
you replied the promise was made to you by me but that I had
a right to change my mind. In consequence of this informa-
tion I detailed my concern in the whole transaction to our
worthy friend Mr. Goldsbury. I told him that I did vote
for you & that it had hapned fortunately that y e Rev. Mr.
Davis wrote your name on my ticket & saw it put in y e Hat
& that I was sure, if spoken to, he would remove all doubt
on that score. In the course of the detail I informed Mr.
G. also that while sick at Dr. Bend's during y e session of
Convention in 1811 I communicated to that gentleman my
intention to make y e communication to y e Convention that I
did make & gave him y e Instrument which I had brought
with me to y e Convention, to hand in to that body. It hapned
that Dr. Bend mislaid the Instrument & did not introduce
it for several days; in the meantime my intention became
publick in y e Convention & various opinions were entertained
by y e members respecting it. The Rev. Mr. Dashiell was one
of those who thought it highly inexpedient & frought with
dangerous consequences & likely to effect ye peace & happi-
ness of y e Ch ch of Maryland; he came to me at Dr. Bend's
together with several other of y e clergy & remonstrated against
y e measure using many arguments to support his opinion
(w* also seemed to be the opinion of y 6 clergy who came
with him) & concluded by saying he never would pay obe-
dience to any other Diocesan while y e breath was in my body
all this he said in a respectful manner & he had a perfect
right as one of my presbyters to offer his opinion on a subject
of such importance to y e Ch*. To his arguments I replied
that it was not contemplated that y e suffragan Bp. should have
any jurisdiction on y e western shore, that my mind was made

ELECTION OF A SUFFRAGAN 151

up on y e subject & that I would submit it to the Convention
w 1 * I accordingly did. . . .

With respect to my influencing my worthy friend Dr.
Contee in the part he took in this business I assert that y e
surmise is without foundation. It is true that I have been
in habits of intimacy with that Gentleman for many years
& highly esteem him; such is my opinion of y e soundness &
independency of his judgment & y e integrity of his heart
that I should shrink away with shame from y e idea of attempt-
ing to influence him from doing whatever he thought right;
and I am confident too that such an attempt as this (word
illegible) would have proved abortive if I had been base &
mean enough to have made it. I remember well that some
little time before y e Convention of 1811 I mentioned to Dr.
Contee my intention of making y e communication that I did
make to y e Convention I showed him y e rough draft & as he
writes a better hand than I do I requested him to copy it,
he did so & in a short conversation that then took place be-
tween us on y e subject I concluded from some hints he dropped
that he did not approve of y e measure. I do not recollect
that I ever heard him say how he voted but I believe on y e
question of expediency in y e negative & when that was de-
cided against his opinion I believe he voted for you. I believe
so I say, because I think he has too much humility to vote for
himself, & I know that no person was voted for but you &
himself. If any Gentleman gave a preference for him I
am confident he did not solicit that preference, & therefore
be their motives what they may, is not responsible for this
conduct.

I assure you, Rev. Sir, that if I have erred in this busi-
ness I have none of my western shore friends to blame for
my errors. I never gave any opinion myself before on y e
question of y e expediency of y e measure, neither did I vote
on it, wishing to have y e opinion of y e Ch ch . My own private

152 UFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

opinion however all along was that a suffragan would fall
for y e Eastern shore but not so for y e Western as I felt my-
self competent to all y e canonical duties of my office on y e
western shore, if y e Eastern shore could be well supplied. By
a perusal of this letter you will perceive that by your removal
to this shore I consider the suffragan question so much altered
as to leave me at perfect liberty to pursue that line of con-
duct which I may judge may most conduce to y e peace &
happiness of y e Ch** 1 & I candidly say to you that my present
opinion is that y e Church standing in her present situation &
with a full view of recent melancholy events w* have taken
place in y e Diocese of N. Y. had better put up for a short time
with some privations than endanger its peace by precipita-
tion; I say a short time for my years & infirmities preclude
a fear of a long duration. I have governed y e Ch* of Mary-
land for upwards of 20 years in a tolerable degree of peace
& happiness & it shall be y e study of y e poor little remainder
of my life, to pursue y e same object as I am in duty bound
to do.

I feel y e weight of y e obligations you have conferred upon
me, not only by those mentioned in your letter but also of many
others not there enumerated & I sincerely thank you for
them all.

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

The convention of 1813, which met in Baltimore, June
9-11, was exceptionally well attended. Nineteen of the clergy
were present and thirty-two lay delegates. In spite of ap-
parent expectations, no move concerning the. election of a
suffragan was made by either faction. A majority of the
clergy were in favor of Dr. Kemp; a majority of the laymen
were opposed to him. All realized the impossibility of accom-
plishing anything in either direction, and so the convention
adjourned without reference to the matter, but with excite-

ELECTION OF A SUFFRAGAN 153

ment still at fever heat, and with contention and tumult in
the air.

The following year the convention again met in Baltimore,
June 1st. Concerning the approaching convention William
Duke wrote to Kemp, on May 2: "I did not know, how-
ever, that the choice of a Bishop was to be attempted again
so soon. It seems that wherever there is a vacancy there will
be someone ready to fill it, but in the present state of affairs
a man who desires the office of a bishop must be hard put to
it to gain a little distinction, or, with the earnestness of prim-
itive zeal, devoted to the service of the Church." Many in
both parties believed that the deadlock would bar any attempt
to elect a suffragan bishop, and hence the attendance was
much smaller than that of the previous year. Consequently
the friends of Dr. Kemp and advocates of the High Church
party found, upon coming together, by unfair scheming, said
their enemies, unexpectedly and by mere chance, said those
more charitably inclined, that they had a two-thirds majority
of each order, and upon this discovery they proceeded to an
election. Kemp received 12 votes and Contee 5, the same as
in the convention of 1812, but from the laity 18 votes were
cast for Kemp and 7 for Contee, upon which the former was
declared duly elected suffragan bishop, by a constitutional
two-thirds majority of both orders, and his testimonials were
forthwith drawn up and signed.

Immediately the discord and dissension broke forth in a
tempest. A paper was drawn up and signed by six clergy-
men and seventeen laymen protesting to the House of Bishops
against the consecration of Dr. Kemp, on the ground (1)
that the office of suffragan bishop was unknown to the con-
stitution of the Church in Maryland, and that in consequence
any acts which he might perform would be invalid; (2) that
the election did not meet the approbation of the constitutional
majority of the delegates who were members of the 1814

154 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

convention, this reason being based on the assertion that a
number of delegates, believing that the subject would not be
brought before the convention, had previously left and re-
turned home; (3) that so long as the convention of 1813, to
whom the subject had been committed in 1812, had preserved
silence, that it could not properly be brought before a sub-
sequent convention without a renewed reference of the sub-
ject to the Church at large, and (4) that it was believed that
the election was achieved by surprise, and that its results
would be detrimental to the Church at large.

These objections were given serious consideration by
Bishops White, Hobart and Richard Charming Moore, the
chosen consecrators of Dr. Kemp. They did not find valid
any of the questions raised. 1 A report seems to have been
quietly circulated that the charge of heresy and errors in
doctrine would be presented against Kemp, though there
seems no foundation to the story that such charges were
being considered. Bishop Claggett was determined to pre-
serve an absolutely neutral ground, and not express his views
upon any phase of the question until after the consecrating
bishops had rendered their report. His neutrality and the
reason for it are clearly shown in the following letter which
he wrote to Dr. Kemp after the latter's election but previous
to his consecration.

TO DR. KEMP.

June 24, 1814.
REV D & D* SIR,

Your letter of the 8th inst. did not arrive here until fri-
day last, and at the same hour, we were alarmed by the
arrival of the Enemy in force, within a few miles of this
place, we have been in continual hurry and tumult since
The only son I had with me was taken away to camp, and

1 The decision of the bishops is rehearsed in detail in Hawks, Maryland
p. 398-seq., and it seems unnecessary to enter upon the details here.

ELECTION OF A SUFFRAGAN 155

a few old men left, with the women, and children, amidst
a large black population; These things together with my
great indisposition will I hope plead a sufficient excuse for my
not writing before this. To answer your letter now I am not
in a good condition, but by way of justification of my con-
duct in this business, I think it necessary to say to you, that
after having twice asked the Church of Md. (for reasons
stated in my communications and published in the journals
of the convention) to give me a Suffragan to assist in the
discharge of the duties of my office; and after having at the
first attempt by the Church to elect that Suffragan (as is
well known to you and many others) voted for you myself
to fill that office, I think little doubt can be entertained of
my willingness to receive you in that capacity (if fairly pre-
sented to me, the peace and happiness of the Church not being
thereby greatly endangered). It is true I opposed the mode
of your election in our last Convention, I opposed it because
I considered it unfair, unprecedented, and dangerous, unfair
because it was introduced and precipitated through the house
at the eve of the convention, without one moments previous
notice to the party opposed to it, when I was satisfied; that
a few days, or even a few hours notice would have enabled
them to defeat the object of the mover (here in justice to
you Rev* Sir, I think it necessary to observe, that I do not
believe you were made acquainted with the design before the
meeting of the convention) unprecedented, because although
not unconstitutional; yet the Church of Md. had on account
of the importance of the question, to her peace and happi-
ness judged it necessary in all the three preceding attempts
to elect a Bp. for this Diocese; to give to all her members
a years notice of her intention to do so; and I believe the
giving of due notice of the intention to elect a Bp. has been
deemed necessary by every other Church in communion with
us in America; and as far as I know, and believe, practised

156 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

by them in every instance except the case of Dr. Griffith of
Virginia, who was elected by that Church on the spur of the
occasion; with but a very short notice, and of course a thin
convention and the circumstance, I well remember caused
much confusion and noise in that church, that Dr. Griffith
resigned his appointment; due notice was afterwards given,
and the late Dr. Madison was elected, went to England and
was there consecrated Dangerous, the prolific parent of dis-
cord, confusion, & schism in y e Ch. and because if drawn
Into a precedent, (and I doubt not it will be), it opens a wide
door for all those surreptitious intrigues, and cabals in the
Church, which have so much injured our civil governments
and if the Episcopal office in this country should ever be-
come a lucrative one it may lead to Simony itself for these
reasons, and others I opposed it, through every stage of its
passage through the last convention, although not permitted
to vote against it, when as the result shewed my vote would
have put the question to rest for the present so greatly has
St. Ignatius' opinion on this subject been respected in our
day and by our Church. Observing however that some of
my venerable Presbyters, and some of the younger clergy,
who had all along strenuously opposed the measure, had gone
over, on the last vote taken on the occasion; by which change
the requisite majority was obtained, and charitably hoping,
that this change was a sacrifice of their former sentiments
to what they thought would best promote the peace and
happiness of the Church; I did when thus left in a very small
minority of my clergy, for the same reasons, declare to
both parties; that all opposition on my part was at an end,
and if the Church quietly acquiesced in the measure I w a
even go a step further in the business I am sorry to inform
you that a serious opposition to the mode of your election is
forming, and a separation threatened this being the case,
I have assumed (word missing) neutral ground, and have

ELECTION OF A SUFFRAGAN 157

resisted every invitation to sign the Protest on the other
hand I shall do no act till consecration is effected; which may
be considered as approving of the mode in which this busi-
ness has been conducted as an individual Bp.; I do not find
myself clothed by the Church with any power to decide con-
troverted elections to the Episcopal office, she having provided
other authorities to whom that power is committed. If these
authorities, therefore, sh d duly sanction your election, I shall
concede this act as the voice of the Church, and as such shall
greatly respect it. This together with what I've said in my
communications to our convention arid my declaration that I
did myself vote for you before I had reason to dread con-
fusion, will I hope be satisfactory to the Bishops, and to
yourself it is all which under the existing circumstances, I
can say on the subject; for I neither can, or mill, by any act
of mine knowingly make myself responsible to God or his
Church for consequences flowing (?) from a line of conduct,
to which, for the reasons above assigned I was decidedly
opposed. With sentiments of high Respect, Esteem & Re-
gard, I remain, Rev d Sir,

Your affectionate friend and brother in Xt.

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

No letter preserved to us shows more clearly than this one
the bishop's desire above all else to do what was best for
his Church, regardless of his personal popularity or the mis-
construction that might be placed on his words and actions.
The correspondence of the times shows that Dr. Kemp had
been making a quiet but determined and persistent campaign
for election to the episcopate for a number of years. Much
of the correspondence shows extreme bitterness between the
opposing parties and the intrigues of each to outgeneral the
other. Kemp and his associates were much better organized
than their opponents; in fact the opposing faction seemed to

158 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

have no clear program except to oppose the election of Kemp.
His opponents in convention, as we have seen, voted for Dr.
Benjamin Contee, of Prince George's County,, but there is no
indication that that gentleman had given any intimation of
a desire to be a bishop, or that he lent himself in any way to
their schemes. The following extracts of letters to Kemp
from his intimate friend, the Rev. Joseph Jackson, indicate
that the former was probably not wholly averse to being made
a bishop and that the agitation to place him in the episcopal
chair was not unknown to him as early as 1811, before the
meeting of the convention of that year.

THE REV. JOSEPH JACKSON TO DR. KEMP.

MY DEAR & REV D FRIEND, GEOEGE ToWN - June 12 > 1811 '

I write a line or two, under an entire uncertainty, whether
it can be of any use, by reaching you in time, though this is
the first opportunity since my arrival here (yesterday eve-
ning) . I left the Bishop yesterday, after conversing with him
considerably respecting you, & telling him particularly, that
I should write to you, & press you by all means to attend
Convention. I am truly solicitous that you should be in place
whether or not the election for suffragan may take place.
Your absence under almost any circumstances may diminish
the confidence of your well-wishers & add strength to your
opponents, if you have any, by affording a seeming instance
of want of zeal at a most critical time. If my opinion can
have weight with you, I hope you will be in Baltimore & in
good time. I can merely say that the Bishop has declared
himself ready to co-operate with our wishes; and that I am
(though after a sleepless night scarcely able to hold my pen),
Sincerely and cordially yours, as ever,

Jos. JACKSON.

p. s. I have found a friend or two to our design more than
I expected since my coming over. Our friend Addison sends
his respects. J. J.

ELECTION OP A SUFFRAGAN 159

The next year, Feb. 18, 1812, Jackson writes to Kemp as
follows :

"In regard to your promised visit the approaching Spring,
I must return to the subject, in order to press the obligation
of your promise & original intention on you. . . . Much de-
pends upon your coming or not coming, with regard to an
object which you know is & has been much at my heart.
The People, I mean in the two parishes under my care, in
particular, but not in them alone, are generally strangers
to you, except in name & character; whereas with Mr. Geo.
D(ashiell) they are generally acquainted sufficiently to be
staggered by his fame. They are also, from their frequent
communication with Baltimore, very generally acquainted with
our much better brother Bend, & many of them have said to
me, Is he not likeliest to be our future Bp. ? I have uniformly
said, that Dr. Bend himself would propose another name, nam-
ing that person ; but their want of personal acquaintance with
him precludes any effect beyond an acquiescence in my opinion.
This remaining the case, if unhappily should so remain,
would leave the delegates to act rather from their own opin-
ions, than from the known sense of their constituents, & you
know the power of intrigue & cabal in times of Convention.
Did you know that Mr. Hardy was to have two Parishes in
Calvert County, the next above me? His connection with
Mr. D. will render it proper that you should visit his Parishes
as well as mine, if possible. . . . You will have friends here
be assured, if you will not be deficient in those honest & easy
& dignified endeavors which the present condition of things
demands from you. Retirement will not do for you; & your
school! Let it be far from you & every parochial engage-
ment which would bind the horrid charge upon you ! You will
recognize the hand of your plain-dealing, but ever steady &
affectionate friend & brother,

Jos. JACKSON.

160 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

We have stated above that a paper protesting the election
of Kemp was signed by certain of the clergy and laity but
that the bishops chosen to be consecrators did not find the
objections valid. These protests disposed of, and their opin-
ions with grounds transmitted to Bishop Claggett, Dr. Kemp
was duly consecrated suffragan bishop, at New Brunswick,
New Jersey, on September 1st, 1814, by Bishop White, of
Pennsylvania, assisted by Bishops Hobart of New York and
Richard Charming Moore, the newly consecrated bishop of
Virginia.

The newly consecrated bishop, the first and until very
recently the only suffragan bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States, was born in Aberdeenshire,
Scotland, in 1764. Graduating from Marischal College,
Aberdeen, in 1786, he emigrated to Maryland the following
year and was for two years a tutor in a private family in
Dorchester County. He had been educated a Presbyterian,
but becoming a convert to the Protestant Episcopal Church
he took up studies for the ministry under direction of the Rev.
Dr. John Bowie, rector of Great Choptank parish, Dorchester
County, and was ordained deacon by Bishop White, December
26, 1789, and priest the following day. In 1790 he succeeded
Dr. Bowie as rector of Great Choptank parish where he re-
mained for over twenty years, until he succeeded Dr. Bend
as associate rector of St. Paul's, Baltimore, in 1813. In 1802
Kemp received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Co-
lumbia College, and a letter from Bishop Claggett to Kemp,
and one from the Rev. Abraham Beach, a trustee of Columbia,
and secretary of the board, show that Bishop Claggett re-
quested this honor for Kemp. Kemp's conciliatory attitude
after becoming bishop did much to win for him the esteem
and respect of the Church of Maryland, and although dissen-
sion was destined to be rampant in the diocese for many years,
he had, on the whole, a successful episcopate, and was sin-

ELECTION OF A SUFFRAGAN 161

cerely mourned, when, by the overturning of a stage-coach
between Philadelphia and Baltimore, he met an untimely
death in 1827, some eleven years after the passing of Bishop
Claggett.

The rehearsal of Church broils in this chapter is not in-
tended for the purpose of perpetuating scandal, but rather
to illustrate the elements among which Bishop Claggett was
compelled to labor, the disadvantages he so valiantly but
vainly strove to overcome, the petty jealousies and meannesses
which sapped the life from all spiritual endeavor and made
the closing years the saddest of his life.

CHAPTER XII

CLOSING YEARS

The good bishop was now well advanced in age, having in
1812 completed his three score years and ten. Soon after
his consecration we find references in his letters to a rheu-
matic and nervous malady which grew steadily more painful
and depressing with increasing age. As early as 1794, only
two years after his election to the episcopate, he writes to his
friend Duke: "I should have written you long before this,
but have been & still am severely afflicted with my Nerves
almost daily since I saw you. . . . After y e Ordination (set
for Dec. 20th at St. John's Church, Prince George's County)
I propose visiting y e Churches in St. Mary's & then lay by
for y e winter I am very unable at present to make these
appointments good; but I trust that God will assist me with
health & strength enough to do it before y e time comes." In
1 808 he wrote to Bishop White, in explanation for repeatedly
leaving the House of Bishops before adjournment: "I can
truly say that for 9 or 10 years past I have not been clear
of bodily pain for a single day, and that it has often been
very violent." This ill health, unfortunate for his work and
depressing to his spirits, never seems to have caused the slight-
est irritability of temperament, sourness of disposition, or
impatience with the frailties of others. Through all the
painful years his sunny nature shines forth in his letters,
often written in bodily distress, in his kindly ministrations
to those about him, and in the record of permanent good
achieved in the face of many handicaps.

Because of his health the bishop was absent from his
diocesan convention in 1802, 1806, 1811 and 1815, and at
the convention of 1803 he was obliged to leave the assembly

162

CLOSING YEARS 163

before adjournment. In 1806 and 1811 he journeyed to
Baltimore to attend the convention, but on arrival was too ill
to meet with his clergy. He was present at all sessions of
the General Convention except those of 1799, 1811 and 1814.
In 1811 he set out from Croom to attend at New Haven, but
was so ill that he was obliged to turn about and return to the
"bosom of his family," as he frequently and affectionately
referred to his home.

During the last three years of his life, that is, after 1813,
the bishop rarely left his home. His health did not permit
travel to any extent, but he was delighted to see his friends
and always kept open house for them. "Mr. Meade 1 and
myself," writes the Rev. William H. Wilmer, from Alexan-
dria, the 23rd of February, 1813, "had fixed a day last month
to pay you a visit. When the day arrived our river was fast
bound in ice, and prevented our crossing. But we were de-
termined not to be thwarted in our purpose, and mounted out
horses to ride around by the bridge. When we reached the
city, we concluded to call in a few minutes at the Capitol and
refresh ourselves with a little repast of oratory at the hands
of our sapients. And immediately after entering Mr.
Randolph rose and addressed the chair in a speech of 3^4
hours. We were so interested by his manner that we deferred
from hour to hour our departure, until, looking at our watch,
we found that the sun had already set. Not being acquainted
with the road we concluded it to be most prudent to return.
It is thus man is often diverted from his best purposes, and
like Jacob lingering at Shalem, delays his journey to Bethel,
the object of his hopes and the place of his vows."

REV. W. H. WILMER TO BISHOP CLAGGETT.
RIGHT REV D AND DEAR SIR, ALEXANDRIA, April 19, 1814.

I have this day received a letter from Dr. Brockenbrough
of Richmond addressed to Mr. Lee and myself, in which he

1 Afterwards Bishop Meade, of Virginia.

164 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

makes the request in behalf of the Church in that city that we
should endeavor to procure your services in consecrating their
new monumental temple. Mr. Lee informs me that he has
written to you, and I beg leave also to add my solicitations
upon that subject. If it be in your power to comply with the
request, I doubt not you will be able to render essential service
to that important part of our Lord's vineyard. We propose
to set out on thursday 28 instant, so as by easy stages to
accomplish our visit and return to Alexandria by Tuesday
10th May. This will afford you full time to rest at home
previously to your journey to Philadelphia. 1 If you can in-
form us that you will be with us on Wednesday evening the
27th we will have a hack prepared to take you comfortably
down free of expense, and of any inconvenience as far as
our attentions can obviate it.

Dr. B. informs us that the pews below (100 in number)
sold for $28,450, and that the anxiety manifested to procure
them affords a pleasing presage of the good that may be
effected by a faithful evangelical Pastor.

We venture to hope that it may consist with your con-
venience, as we are certain it will agree with and promote
your health, at this mild season, to make an excursion having
for its object the gratification of your friends, and the wel-
fare of that Church which has long had your warm and con-
stant exertions. . . .

Your affectionate Son in the Gospel,

WM. H. WILMER

Bishop Claggett did not take this trip, probably because
of his health. On the 4th of May appropriate services were
performed in the new Monumental Church, built on the site
of the Richmond theatre, which had burned shortly before
with an appalling loss of life. Mr. Wilmer preached a sermon

1 To attend General Convention. Bishop Claggett did not go.

CLOSING YEARS 165

but no bishop was present. The building was consecrated by
Bishop Richard Charming Moore, of Virginia, in November,
1814, the first episcopal act performed by him. 1

Bishop Claggett fortunately possessed ample private
means- fortunately, we say, because he received practically'
no salary as bishop and for a great part of the time his
traveling expenses were not wholly paid. In 1806 the con-
vention began to discuss plans for the support of the episco-
pate. It passed a resolution, acting on advice given by the
committee on the state of the Church, enjoining the vestry of
every parish to take a collection annually until a sufficiently
large sum had been raised for the income therefrom to con-
stitute a support for the bishop, this annual collection to be
sent to the person appointed by the convention to receive and
invest it. Proper steps would then be taken to secure the
entire attention and services of the bishop, disengaged from
the duties of a parish. The convention of 1807 resolved:
"That it is the opinion of the convention that a principal
sum should be raised, for the future support of the episcopate,
which may yield the annual interest of 2000 dollars," and
appointed a committee consisting of the Rev. Dr. Kemp, the
Rev. H. L. Davis, Wm. H. Dorsey, of St. Peter's, Baltimore,
and John Beale Howard, of St. John's, Harford County, to
consider the subject of support for the present bishop.

The Journal of 1808 records that $353.53 had been col-
lected for the permanent support of the episcopate, which had
been placed at interest. The Journal of 1809 records an
annual contribution for the present bishop of $260, and
$373.92 for the permanent fund, and at the convention of
1810 something over $300 was reported paid for the expenses
of the bishop. Thus from time to time Bishop Claggett re-
ceived small amounts to meet the expenses of visitation, but
at no time did he probably receive enough to defray his entire

1 Fisher, Hist, of the Monumental Church, 1880, p. 65.

166 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

expenses, to say nothing of a salary. During the latter years
he generally made it a rule for the church he visited to pay
his attendant expenses.

The two following letters are the last we have from the
bishop's hand. The first relates to the coming convention to
be held in Annapolis, June 12-14, the reference in the first
part being evidently to the unfortunate scandal in which the
Rev. George Dashiell, rector of St. Peter's, Baltimore, was
the principal actor. The second is a purely personal letter
on family matters.

TO BISHOP KEMP.

CEOOM, May 15th, 1816.
RT. REV D & DEAR SIR,

Your kind letter w 111 the Pamphlet w 011 accompanied it came
safe to hand a few days ago. I shall forbear to answer y e
Letter or to say anything about y e Pamphlet at present as
you have confirmed my hope of seeing you here shortly,
indeed we have been looking out for you all this week. It
has been my endeavor for many years to promote y e peace &
prosperity of y e Ch ch of Maryl d by every means in my power
& in y e present situation in w* she is placed I feel an anxious
desire to have your advice & assistance before y e meeting of
our next Convention. The Rev d Mr. Jackson called here on
his way home, but forgot to mention to me your Request that
I would appoint y e Rev d Mr. Wyatt or y e Rev d Mr. Bartow
to open y e Convention with a Sermon. He has written to me
since and has mentioned to me that omission. Either of those
Gentlemen will be very agreeable to me; but I think for
reasons w 011 will be obvious to you that if Mr. Wyatt's health
will admit of his doing it we ought in y e first instance to make
y e offer of it to him. I highly approve of y e Rev d Mr.
Stevens & y e Rev d Mr. Turner to preach y e Corporation
Sermons. You will be pleased to notify y e several Gentlemen
of our appointment. All other matters I shall postpone say-

CLOSING YEARS 167

ing anything about until we meet as I write in great pain.
Present me most affectionately to Mrs. Kemp & believe me
to be as ever

Your sincere friend & brother in Xt. Js.

THO S

TO BISHOP KEMP.

CBOOM, July 23d, 1816.
RT. REV D & VERY DEAR SIR,

I have had a very afflicted family ever since I got home
from y e Convention; soon after my Daughter Eliza h began to
amend her mother was taken ill and then my son Sam 1 fell
ill who is still confined to his bed, with a long continued fever
& soar Throat in this Situation of things the Post office at
Marlbro' was neglected & little thought of by me, so that
your late kind letter lay longer there than it would otherwise
have done. I seize this hasty opportunity to acknowledge y e
receipt of it, & to thank you for it. I have not all y e money
by me, & circumstanced as I am with my sick family I can-
not go out to procure y e ballance, otherwise I would send y e
purchase money for y e Carriage by y e Rev d Mr. Wilmer.
General Bowie owes me some money & told me some time ago
he should be ready to pay me & take in his Bond, but I can-
not leave my family now to carry y e Bond & receive y e money
& therefore must wait to get a carriage for Betsey until it is
more convenient to do so; perhaps they may be cheaper too
as y e fall comes on. M r Wilmer is in a great hurry you will
be pleased to present us affectionately to Mrs. Kemp & be-
lieve me to be

Your affectionate & much obliged Broif

THO S JN CLAGGETT.

While on a visitation to St. James' Parish, Anne Arundel
County, in the latter part of July, a few days after the above

168 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

letter was written, the bishop was taken ill with his long-
seated nervous affection and compelled to return to his home.
The attack proved to be the last of the many; he gradually
failed, and on the 2nd day of August, in the year 1816, he
passed from his labors, surrounded by his family, his house-
hold servants and a number of his dearest neighborhood
friends. His last words are said to have related to the wel-
fare of the Maryland Church which he had served so long
and so faithfully. He had nearly reached his seventy-fourth
birthday; he had served for forty-nine years in the Christian
ministry; and for twenty-four years he had held the office of
a bishop. He was laid at rest in the little private burial
ground at Upper Marlboro which he had himself consecrated
for family use, and in which his beloved wife and children
were afterward laid.

The following letter, written by a neighbor, personal friend,
and parishioner gives us some information regarding the
bishop's funeral.

JOHN READ MAGRUDER TO BISHOP KEMP.

UPPEB MARIJBOHO Aug. 6, 1816.
BIGHT REV D SIR,

It is not my good fortune to be acquainted with you, but
it has become necessary for me to address you.

The distressing intelligence of the death of that Holy
Prelate, the Right Rev d Dr. Claggett, has no doubt been re-
ceived by you before this. The event has as you may suppose
cast a deep gloom over the Society here. His little flock of
Trinity Church have indeed serious cause to mourn his loss.
Owing to the distress of the family and the indisposition of
one of the members of it nothing has yet been done prepara-
tory to the funeral. I am now requested by Mr. Samuel
Claggett to communicate to you that it is the wish of the
family that you should attend at the Chapel of St. Paul's

CLOSING YEARS 169

Parish, to perform (with the assistance of such of your
Presbyters as you may think proper to select) the service,
and to deliver a suitable discourse, and they beg that you will
appoint some day in the first week of September, after
Wednesday, say the 5th, 6th or 7th of the month. It is also
hoped that the clergy generally of the diocess will attend, and
I will be thankful to you, Sir, to advise me of the most con-
venient mode of notifying them of the time and place ; and
any arrangements which you may consider proper and neces-
sary to be made on the occasion to render it solemn & respect-
ful you will be pleased to suggest.

The Chapel of St. Paul's, as probably you know, is situated
about two miles from Groom, where in the family burying
ground the body is laid it is intended after the solemnities
have been performed at the Church that a procession shall be
formed to move from thence to the grave.

My residence is a mile and a half from this place, and it
will be highly gratifying to me if you will come to my House
and make it your Home as long as you stay. My brother
Alexander, with whom I know you are acquainted, will, I ex-
pect, be with me at that time.

I beg you will let me hear from you as speedily as possible,
and with sentiments of the highest respects be assured, Right
Rev d Sir,

I am Yr obed* & humble Serv*

JOHN READ MAGRTTDER.

The following extracts are taken from Bishop Kemp's
memorial address, which he delivered, as requested in the
above letter, in the bishop's parish church on the occasion of
Bishop Claggett's funeral.

"A man of God, a veteran ambassador in the Redeemer's
cause, the first prelate consecrated in this country to the
apostolick office, has yielded up his commission to his Master^

170 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

and now demands our parting offices of love. He has fought
a good fight; he has finished his course; he has kept the faith;
henceforth there is laid up for him, a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give him at
that day. ...

"Bishop Claggett was a true and genuine son of the Church.
Her ministers he viewed as ambassadors for Christ, and as
stewards of the mysteries of God. Her sacraments he con-
sidered as channels, by which all the benefits of the covenants
of Christ, and all the consolations of the Holy Spirit, are
conveyed to the believing soul. Her liturgy he deemed the
most perfect formula of devotion in the Christian world, con-
structed on the models of primitive worship, filled with prin-
ciples of gospel doctrine, and calculated to elevate the affec-
tions, and to chasten the imagination. Her Articles he be-
lieved to contain all the prominent points of Christian faith.
And although enlarged and liberal in his views, he was firm,
and consistent, and honest in his maintenance of her distinctive
principles and character.

"As a preacher he stood in the foremost rank. His manner
was commanding and impressive; his sermons copious and
replete with scriptural matter. To the imagination of the
sinner, he opened the regions of eternal penalties. To the
penitent, he displayed all the benefits of atonement, and all
the riches of grace. To the striving Christian, he offered the
encouragement of divine aid, and the glorious rewards of
heaven. The wounds and maladies of the unconverted heart
of man, called forth his tenderest solicitude, and like a skilful
physician, he applied the only effectual remedy, the blood of
Christ.

"As a divine, his learning was of the most valuable kind.
Having enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education, and
possessing the precious talent of a most retentive memory, his
knowledge of church history was unusually correct. The best

CLOSING YEARS 171

divines of the church he had carefully studied. And with the
fund of knowledge thus treasured up, he was ready for all the
exigencies of his station.

"As a Bishop, he maintained the divine institution of the
ministry against all attacks; he was sensible of the just
privileges of his office, and anxious to preserve its high stand-
ing in the Christian world. To his clergy he was affectionate
and friendly; and generally received from them strong marks
of respect and esteem."

"It is not easy/' writes the Rev. William Duke to Bishop
Kemp, "to know precisely the character of our own feelings,
so are they modified, not to say confounded, by the various
aspects under which the same object may be viewed; but to
me the death of Bp. Claggett is neither more or less than the
death of a friend, and the solution of one of those few re-
maining ties which maintain my fondness for the present
world. As to panegyrics, I neither write nor read them; and
if other people think they can make a figure that way I leave
them to their amusements. I am not, however, indifferent to
any circumstances of that event which may have transpired,
or to its consequences. I suppose your succession is a thing
of course, and that there will be no chasm to be filled up.
Elections are a sort of necessary evil whether civil or
ecclesiastical."

A memorial sermon, delivered by the Rev. William H. Wil-
mer, in Christ Church, Alexandria, was printed at the time.
Doubtless many other commemorative discourses were de-
livered by Bishop Claggett's friends, some of which may have
been printed.

"He possessed a strong and vigorous mind," said Mr. Wil-
mer, "which was cultivated by a liberal education, and im-
proved by an acquaintance with men and manners, and with
all the resources of general science. His memory was pecu-
liarly vast and retentive, and was stored with an astonishing

172 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

fund of entertaining as well as useful anecdote, from which
he delighted to draw for the benefit and pleasure of his
friends.

"But it was his peculiar glory to possess the character of
the Christian, of the Christian Minister, and the Christian
Bishop. In all these relations he displayed the erudition of
the sound divine, the virtues of the Christian, and the fidelity
of the Pastor. Unassuming, modest and unostentatious, he
alone seemed unconscious of his talents or his worth. His
humility mingled itself with all his actions, and was the result
of his genuine piety. His religion was not of that morose
and forbidding kind, which would teach us that Christianity
is designed to suppress all the social and generous affections,
and to wrap the soul in gloomy contemplation. It was piety
without affectation; cheerfulness without levity; the effort of
Christian benevolence laboring to scatter thro' every depart-
ment of life something that innocently beguiles it of its cares,
while it taught that the end of life was to die. His affability
and condescension made one forget that he was in the presence
of a superior, by making him feel that he was in the presence
of a friend." 1

In person Bishop Claggett was tall, standing six feet and
four inches, of a proportionately large frame, of an extremely
commanding and, as age advanced, venerable appearance.
His long white hair, curling somewhat, fell in thick ringlets
upon his shoulders, giving him a veritably apostolic aspect.
All his portraits show a most kindly and genial expression, the
entire countenance lighted by a characteristic smile. Always,
even' in old age, he was blessed with great cheerfulness and
geniality and with remarkable ability as a skillful conver-
sationalist. From all accounts, he was, in short, a most ex-
cellent example of the finest type of an old-fashioned South-

1 A sermon ... on the occasion of the death of the Rt. Rev. T. J.
Claggett, ... by the Rev. William H. Wilmer, 1817, p. 28-9.

CLOSING YEARS 173

ern gentleman, courtly, kindly, charming in manner, generous
and hospitable, cultured and thoroughly at ease wherever he
found himself.

"With a powerful and rather harsh and unmanageable
voice," says Bishop Benjamin T. Underdonk, "and without
any claims to what is generally understood as oratory, he
was yet, in a very high degree, both an acceptable and useful
preacher. His enunciation was distinct; his style simple and
perspicuous; and his manner earnest and impressive. His
sermons were marked by richness of thought and piety of
sentiment, and by giving great prominence to the fundamental
and essential doctrines of the gospel. He was, as a parish
priest, very faithful in adding to his public duties diligent
pastoral attention to families and individuals, including the
poorest and the humblest. But amidst all his parochial and
diocesan cares and labors, he gave much attention to intellec-
tual pursuits; and might well be ranked among the best
theologians of his age and country. His theology, touching
both doctrine and ecclesiastical order, was of that truly
evangelical stamp, which is so well known in the Church as
having had for its intelligent and faithful champions Sea-
bury, Hobart and Ravenscroft." 1

Bishop Claggett always wore the mitre in performing
episcopal functions. He always wore his episcopal robes
when officiating in his own parish as rector. He always gave
the absolution, even though only attendant on services, un-
robed, and in the body of the church. Following the practice
of Bishop Seabury, he gave confirmation certificates, many of
which are still preserved by descendants of the recipients. He
consecrated burial grounds after the English custom.

"Bishop Claggett, so far as I know and believe," wrote the
venerable Bishop Meade, of Virginia, "entertained sound
views of the gospel, and was a truly pious man. There was

1 Churchman's Monthly Magazine, March, 1855, v. 2; no. 3.

174 LIFE OP BISHOP CLAGGETT

much of the Englishman about him, I presume from his
wearing the mitre, and his mode of examining me, that con-
forming so much to the character of the English University
examinations. Besides a number of hard questions in the
metaphysics of divinity, which I was by no means well pre-
pared to answer, but which he kindly answered for me, he
requested that I would, in compliance with an old English
canon, which had been, I think incorporated somewhere into
our requisitions, give him an account of my faith in the Latin
tongue. Although I am pretty well versed in the Latin
language, yet, being unused to speak it, I begged him to ex-
cuse me. He then said I could take pen and paper and write
it down in his presence; but he was kind enough to excuse me
from that also, and determined to ordain me with all my
deficiencies, very much as some other bishops do in this day." 1

Mr. Meade was ordained priest by Bishop Claggett Jan-
uary 29, 1814, in St. Paul's Church, Alexandria, Virginia.

Bishop Meade also relates the following incident: "A singu-
lar circumstance occurred about this time in connection with
Bishop Claggett's consecration of old St. Paul's Church,
Alexandria. Putting on his robes and his mitre at some dis-
tance from the church, he had to go along the street to reach it.
This attracted the attention of a number of boys and others,
who ran after and alongside of him, admiring his peculiar
dress and gigantic stature. His voice was as extraordinary
for strength and ungovernableness as was bis stature for size,
and as he entered the door of the church where the people
were in silence awaiting, and the first words of the service
burst forth from his lips in his most peculiar manner, a young
lady, turning around suddenly and seeing his huge form and
uncommon appearance, was so convulsed that she was obliged
to be taken out of the house." 2

1 Meade, Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia, 1857, v. 1 ,
p. 34-35. 2 Ibid, p. 35.

CLOSING YEARS 175

Bishop Claggett was exceedingly thoughtful of the rights
of others and took great care not to tread on the authority of
his clergy, but to consult them on every occasion when he
found it proper to do so. He was particular that all the
business of his office should be performed with due regard
for form and dignity, and laboriously attended to many de-
tails which taxed severely the strength that he sorely needed
for other duties. He entertained abundant charity for all
men and in good report and in evil report invariably placed
the best interpretation upon their words and actions. He was
a man who warmly appreciated his friends, served them
loyally and held affectionately to them to the end. His cor-
respondence with the Rev. William Duke would, in itself,
almost fill a volume. The Rev. Benjamin Contee, for many
years his neighbor in an adjoining parish, was in many re-
spects the bishop's closest friend outside the circle of his
family, and except for proximity doubtless a voluminous cor-
respondence would have resulted. Dr. Kemp, Dr. Bend, and
his son in the gospel, the Rev. Joseph Jackson, should also be
mentioned as close personal friends among his clergy. Dr.
Kemp, in his steadfast determination to secure episcopal elec-
tion, sorely tried the good man's peace-loving, generous soul,
but Bishop Claggett remained his loyal friend to the last.

A number of clergymen of various denominations were
brought into the Protestant Episcopal Church through their
intimajfce association with Bishop Claggett. His friend Duke
in early life was a Methodist .minister, and the Rev. Thomas
Lyell, a Methodist preacher of the city of Washington, who
was closely associated with Claggett when the two were chap-
lains respectively of the national House and Senate, after-
wards became a clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal
Church.

Claggett was remarkably liberal in his theology, consider-
ing the times in which he lived. Numerous instances in his

176 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

addresses and correspondence show that he felt most kindly
toward other . Christian bodies and desired no rights or
privileges for the Episcopal Church which might not be se-
cured by other societies, if they wished them. "We wish not
to do/' said the bishop on a certain occasion, "or even to offer
the least injury or offence to our brethren of other religious
societies; nor shall we ask for any legislative provisions,
which we wish not to every society, which may desire them." 1

He left quite an extensive library; that is, extensive for
those days. He was a thorough scholar, a wide reader, and
that he valued books is seen from the following extract from
an address prepared in 1794: "A melancholy proof of the
decay of religion is the great injury, which has been sustained
by our parish libraries ! books sent long since into this coun-
try for the assistance of the clergy, and the edification of
their flocks. Can any interest, Brethren, come into competi-
tion with those, which religion involves? Can we then be too
careful to preserve writings by which they may be promoted?
To us it is wonderful, that men refuse to bestow upon her a
part of their substance; but our wonder exceeds, at their re-
fusing to devote to her that little care which would preserve
those Books, constituting our parish-libraries." 2

On May 15th, 1827, the Rev. John Claxton, rector at Upper
Marlboro, wrote to Bishop Kemp: "... the Rev. Mr. Addi-
son, of Georgetown, was in my parish, or rather at Miss
Betsey Claggett's (daughter of the late Bishop Claggett) on
last Saturday soliciting a donation of books from her for
the Alexandria School, and that she has partly promised them
if her brother and the other heirs consent to it. As the books
which she would give are many and valuable I should wish
to obtain them for the Gen 1 Sem y and shall take whatever steps

1 Address to the Vestries and Members of the P. E. Church in Md., 1794,
p. 7.

2 Ibid, p. 6-7.

CLOSING YEARS 177

I shall think proper to do so, or you may recommend. But I
know, Sir, that if you would write her a few lines, and use
your influence with her you might readily obtain them for the
Gen 1 Sem y and thus deprive an enemy of power and strengthen
your friends. Her father was friendly to our cause, and I
believe there is a scholarship in part established in his name,
which out (sic) to be inducements to the heirs to assist the
New York Sem y in preference to the Alex 8 school."

We may say in passing that we trust with change of time
the friends and advocates of these respective theological
seminaries no longer refer to each other as "enemies/' Cor-
respondence has failed to discover any of the bishop's books
in either of these libraries. The Maryland Diocesan Library,
of Baltimore, has a few of Bishop Claggett's books, in one of
which is a very creditably designed and executed armorial
book-plate, which appears to have escaped the attention, thus
far, of all writers on the subject of book-plates.

*

In 1898, the General Convention meeting in the city of
Washington, determined that the dust of Bishop Claggett and
his wife should be brought from the obscurity of a Maryland
country parish and reinterred on the site of the cathedral now
in process of erection in the city of Washington. Thus on
November 1st of that year, with dignity and proper cere-
mony, the mortal remains of the first bishop of Maryland,
and the first bishop consecrated in America, and of his faith-
ful wife, were deposited beneath the chancel of the chapel at
the cathedral site on Mount Saint Alban, the ceremony being
conducted by Bishop Henry Yates Satterlee, of the diocese
of Washington, who has since passed to the beyond.

The following epitaph upon Bishop Claggett's tombstone,
was composed by his very dear friend and fellow-Churchman,
Francis Scott Key, the author of "The Star Spangled Ban-

178 LIFE OF BISHOP CLAGGETT

ner." Key was a consistent and zealous member of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, active in its councils and fre-
quently representing the diocese of Maryland in the General
Conventions. 1

"THOMAS JOANNES CLAGGETT, D. D.

MARYLANDIAE EPISCOPUS PRIMUS

NATUS SEXTO NONIS OCTOBRIS

ANNO SALUTIS

1743

ORDINATUS DIACONUS ET PRESBYTER

LONDINI

1767

ET EPISCOPUS CONSECRATUS

17*92

DECESSIT IN PACE CHRISTI
QUARTO NONIS AUGUSTI

1816

FlDELITATE ET MANSUETUDINE

ECCLESIAM REXIT

MORIBUSQUE

ORNAVIT -s

UXORI, LIBERIS, SOCIISQUE

MEMORIAM CLARISSIMAM

ET PATRIAE ET ECCLESIAE

NOMEN HONORATUM

DEDIT."

"I feel y e beauty," wrote the bishop, in the early days
of his episcopate to his friend Duke, "of your simile of
y e tree stricken with a blast of wind; it is y e Observation of
naturalists that y e breaking of some of y e old roots of a tree

1 See Francis Scott Key as a Churchman, by Lawrence C. Wroth, in Md.
Hist. Mag., June, 1909, p. 154-70.

CLOSING YEARS 179

or plant causes it to shoot forth new ones & to flourish w th
more vigour & bring forth more abundant fruit; may God
grant that we, my dear Sir, may never become barren fig-
trees; but that y e Storms & troubles of this life may cause
us to fix our roots deeply in the only foundation that can sup-
port us, & to bring forth fruit one hundred fold! May God
bless you in time & in eternity.

THO" JN CI.AGGETT."

THE END

INDEX

Adams, Margaret, 3. *

Adams, Samuel, quoted, opposing
episcopacy, 58.

Adams, Sir Thomas, 3.

Addison, Walter, appointed visiting
member, 90.

All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel
County, condition of, 1797, 98-99;
condition, 1798, 101.

All Saints' Parish, Calvert County,
condition of, 28.

Allison, Francis, 43.

Avery, Waightstill, 10.

Bailey, Thomas, 63.

Barroll, William, 63.

Bartow, Rev. Mr., 166.

Bass, Edward, position during
Revolutionary war, 29; Claggett
participates in consecration of,
132.

Bayne, Thomas, ordained deacon,
140.

Beach, Abraham, 160.

Beall, William, 103.

Bend, Joseph G. J., 63, 76, 77; ap-
pointed visiting member, 91; re-
ports as visiting member, 94-101 ;
letter to, from Claggett, 121-23;
death referred to, 142.

Bishops, attitude of church toward
office of, 42; two proposed for
Maryland, 59-60.

Bissett, John, 63.

Bowie, John, 63; 160.

Bowie, John Fraser, 63; appointed
visiting member, 91.

Bray, Thomas, efforts to secure
episcopate for the colonies, 59.

Brockenbrough, Dr., 163.

Brown, Anne, step-mother of Thom-
as John Claggett, 7.

Brown, Aquila, 63.

Brown, Dixon, 82.

Brown, Dr. Gustavus, 7.

Buchanan, George, 82.

Burgess, Benjamin, 32.

Butler, Weeden, extract from diary,
16; letters to, from Claggett, 19-
24.

Calvert, Benedict Leonard, 12.

Calvert, George, Lord Baltimore, 3.

Cecil County, condition of church
in, in 1808, 107-8.

Chaille, Peter, 63.

Chandler, Joseph, ordained to priest-
hood, 138.

Chase, Samuel, 45, 76, 77.

Chew, John Hamilton, 8.

Chew, Samuel, 8.

Chew, Thomas John, 63.

Childs, Zachariah, 32.

Church, condition of, during Revolu-
tionary war, 30; organization of,
in Maryland, 38 et seq.

Church of England in colonial
Maryland, 3-4; established, 5.

Clagett, Edward, 7.

Clagett, Eleanor, 7.

Clagett, Richard, 7.

Clagett, Samuel, father of Thomas
John, 1, 7, 8.

Clagett, Thomas, 1, 3, 6, 7.

Claggett, Charles Nicholas, son of
Thomas John Claggett, 29.

Claggett, Edward, 2, 3.

Claggett, Elizabeth Gantt, mother
of Thomas John Claggett, 7.

Claggett, Elizabeth Laura (wife of
Josiah Young), daughter of
Thomas John Claggett, 29.

Claggett, George, 2.

Claggett, Mary (wife of John Evers-
field of Matthew), daughter of
Thomas John Claggett, 29.

Claggett, Mary Gantt, wife of
Thomas John Claggett, 28.

Claggett, Nicholas, 2.

Claggett, Priscilla, sister of Thomas
John, 7.

Claggett, Priscilla Elizabeth (wife
of Colonel John Hamilton Chew),
daughter of Thomas John Clag-
gett, 29.

Claggett, Richard, 2, 3.

Claggett, Robert, 2.

Claggett, Samuel, half-brother of
Thomas John, 8.

Claggett, Samuel, son of Thomas
John Claggett, 29, 167, 168.

Claggett, Thomas John, born, 1;
ancestry, 1-3; boyhood, 8; gradu-
ates College of New Jersey, 8; col-
lege contemporaries of, 9-10;
studies theology, 12, 15; Master of
Arts from College of New Jersey,
15; voyage to England, 15; or-
dained deacon, 15; priest, 15;
experiences in England, 17; re-
turn to Maryland, 17; curate All
Saints' Parish, Calvert County,
25; rector of same, 25; marries,
28; children of, 29; attitude dur-
ing Revolutionary war, 29-30;
resigns parish, 30; officiates St.
Paul's, Prince George's County,
30; rector Christ Church, Queen
Caroline Parish, Anne Arundel
County, 30; rector St. James,
Anne Arundel County and All
Saints', Calvert County, 30-31;

181

182

INDEX

rector Trinity Church, Upper
Marlboro, 31 ; Doctor of Divinity,
32; elected bishop, 62; testimonial
for consecration, 62; consecration
of, 65; certificate of consecration
of, 66; resigns St. James' Parish,
Anne Arundel County, and be-
comes rector of St. Paul's Parish,
Prince George's County, 67;
salary and expenses as bishop, 69-
70; first convention report, 70-71;
convention address, 1797, 89-92;
appointed to preach 1811 conven-
tion sermon, 131; appointed to
preach 1814 convention sermon,
131; participates in consecration
of Robert Smith, Edward Bass,
and Samuel Parker, 132 ; report to
convention, 1813, 138-43; rector
Trinity Church, tipper Marlboro,
144; address to 1811 convention,
144-5; ill health of, 162-3; salary
and expenses, 165-6; death of,
168; funeral arrangements, 168
9 ; extract from funeral sermon by
Kemp, 169-71; personality, char-
acteristics, etc., 170-6; chaplain
of U. S. Senate, 175; library of,
176-7; removal of remains to
cathedral site, Washington, 177;
epitaph, 178.

Claggett, Thomas John, son of
Bishop Claggett, 29.

Claxton, John, writes to Jackson re-
garding Claggett's books, 176-7.

Colebatch, Joseph, invited to be-
come suffragan for the colonies,
and sketch of, 58-59.

Cqleman, John, 63; appointed visit-
ing member, 91;.report as visiting
member, 108-9.

Common prayer, Book of, proposed
revision, 48-50.

Compton, Jno. W., 63.

Contee, Benjamin, report as visiting
member, 110-11; report of visita-
tions, 111-3; journal of visitation
to eastern shore with Claggett,
117-9; candidate for suffragan
bishop, 146; intimate friendship
with Claggett, 175.

Cook, William, 77.

Cramp, John, ordained deacon, 17.

Croes, John, Claggett invited to
assist at consecration of, 134.

Cromwell, Richard, 63.

Dade, Townshend, 63; deposed
from ministry, 72.

Dashiell, George, attitude of, toward
election of suffragan, 146, 150.

Davis, H. L., report as visiting mem-
ber, 105-8; on committee, 165.

De Butts, John, 63.

Dehon, Theodore, Claggett invited
to assist at consecration of, 132;
letter to Claggett, 133.

Delaware, church in, proposes join-
ing Eastern Shore of Maryland to
elect bishop, 114.

Dentt, Hatch, 63.

Dissenters eligible as vestrymen, 6.

Dorsey, Deborah, 7.

Dorsey, William H., 165.

Duke, William, letter from Clag-
gett to, 43-44; ditto, 48-50; ditto,
54-56; signs Claggett testimonial,
63; letter from Claggett to, 67-

j. 68; "Testimonium" of, for use in
Kentucky, 115-6; writes to Kemp
regarding election of a bishop,
153 ; to same on death of Claggett,
171; intimate friendship with
Claggett, 175.

Eden, Robert, 43.

Edwards, Jonathan, 9.

Elkridge Parish, condition of, 1796,
96-97.

Ellsworth, Oliver, 10.

Episcopate, fund for support of, 165.

Episcopate, struggle for, 57 et aeq.

Eversfield, John, diary of, 1 ; wife of,
7; tutor of Thomas John Claggett,
8; sketch of, 12-13.

Ferguson, Colin, 63.

Frederick, condition of church in
1800, 103.

Gantt, Edward, grandfather of
Thomas John Claggett, 7, 8.

Gantt; Dr. Edward, letter to Basil
Waring^ 18.

Gantt, Edward, father-in-law of
Thomas John Claggett, 28.

Gantt, Edward, 63.

Gantt, Elizabeth, mother of Thomas
John Claggett, 7.

Gantt, Mary, wife of Thomas John
Claggett, 28.

Gardiner, Rev. Mr., 124.

Gates, Thomas, 40.

General convention, meets in Balti-
more, 1808, 127 et seq.

Godman, Samuel, 63.

Goldsborough, Robert, 45.

Gordon, John, 40.

Gott, Ezekiel, 32.

Gouder, Sir Robert, 2.

Griswold, Alexander Viets, 133.

Grosh, Eleanor, first person con-
firmed by Claggett, 68.

Hagerstown, condition of church,
1800, 103.

Hall, John, 32.

Hanson, Samuel, licenced as reader,
139.

Harwood, Richard, Jr., 63.

Harrison, Elisha, 63.

Harrison, Richard, 32, 60, 63.

Haward, J. E., 63.

Hawks, Francis L., quoted, 64-65;
92-93; 146.

Hazard, Ebenezer, 9.

Higinbotham, R., 63.

Hindman, John, 63.

Hobart, John Henry, 133; considers
objections to Kemp's election,
154; assists at consecration of
Kemp, 160.

Harrel, Thomas, 139.

Howard, James, 63.

Howard, John Beale, 165.

INDEX

183

Jackson, Joseph, letter to Olaggett,
36-37; letter to Kemp, 135-38;
letter from Olaggett, 147; letter to
Kemp, 158; friendship with Clag-
gett, 175.

Jarvis, Abraham, assists at con-
secration of Samuel Parker and
Benjamin Moore, 132.

Jesuits in colonial Maryland, 3-4.

Keene, John, 63.

Keene, Samuel, 38, 39, 40, 63; ap-
pointed visiting member, 90;
appointed missionary to Ken-
tucky, 116.

Kemp, James, signs Claggett testi-
monial, 63; appointed visiting
member, 91; report as visiting
member, 104-5; candidate for
suffragan bishop, 146; letter from
Claggett, 148; elected, suffragan
bishop, 153; contest concerning
election, 153-8; letter from Olag-
gett, 154; letter from Jackson,
158; consecrated bishop, 160;
sketch of his h'fe, 160-1; on com-
mittee, 165 ; letters from Claggett,
166-7; letter from John Bead
Magruder, 168-9; extract from
Claggett funeral sermon, 169
71; friendship -with Claggett, 175.

Kent County, condition of church
in, in 1808, 105-7.

Kentucky, missionary work pro-
posed in, 115-6.

Key, Edmund, 63.

Key, Francis Scott, epitaph of Olag-
gett, written by, 178.

Key, Philip Barton, 77.

Laird, James, conducts a distillery,
72.

Lemmon, George, licenced as reader,
139.

Libraries, parish, 73.

Lloyd, James, 63.

Lutherans in colonial Maryland, 4,

Lyell, Thomas, chaplain national
house of representatives, 175.

McPherson, Alexander, 63.

McPherson, Walter, 63.

Madison, James, participates in
consecration of Claggett, 65; of
Robert Smith, 132.

Magowan, Walter, 33.

Magruder, John Bead, letter to
Kemp, 168-9.

Manning, James, 9.

Martin, Luther, 10, 76.

Maryland, settlement and early
history, 3-6; population, 19; or-
ganization of church in, 38 et seq.

Meade, William, ordained to priest-
hood, 135; mentioned, 163; writes
on characteristics of Claggett, 173-
4.

Messenger, Joseph, 63.

Ministers, appointment of, in
colonial Maryland, 5, 25; morals
of, 26-28; support of, 72-73; ur-
gent need of, in Maryland, 123.

Monumental Church, Richmond,
letter from Wilmer to Claggett
concerning dedication, 164; con-
secrated, 165.

Moore, Benjamin, consecrated, 132;
assists at consecration of Samuel
Parker, 132.

Moore, Richard Channing, considers
objections to Kemp's election,
154; assists at consecration of
Kemp, 160; consecrates Monu-
mental Church, Richmond, 165.

Negroes, attitude of church toward,
36.

Niell, Hugh, writes to Bishop of
London, 28; Quoted, 43.

Niride, Rev. Mr., ordained to priest-
hood, 139.

O'Bryon, James, 63.

Oliver, Thomas F., 76.

Paca, William, 39, 45.

Parishes in colonial Maryland, 4, 5,
18.

Parker, Samuel, position during
Revolutionary war, 29; Olaggett
participates in consecration of.
132.

Perry, William, 63.

Pew-rent scheme recommended by
Claggett, 72.

Presbyterians in colonial Maryland,
4, 5 ; opposition to episcopacy, 58.

Protestant Episcopal, first recorded
use of name, 42.

Provoost, Samuel, position during
Revolutionary war, 29; presides
at consecration of Claggett, 65;
assists at consecration of Robert
Smith and Edward Bass, 132.

Pryce, William, delegate to Mary-
land convention, 114.

Puritans in colonial Maryland, 4, 5;
opposition to episcopacy, 58.

uakers in colonial Maryland, 4, 5.
ueen Anne's County, condition of

church in, in 1808, 105.
Queen Caroline Parish, Anne Arun-

del County, condition of, 1798,

101.

Ralph, George, 124.
Ramsay, David, 9.
Randall, John, 63.
Rawlings, John, 63.
Read, Thos., 63; appointed visiting

member, 91; report as visiting

member, 103-4.
Reeve, Tapping, 9.
Revolutionary war, 29-30.
Ridgley, Charles, 7.
Roman Catholics in early Maryland,

3-5.
St. Anne's Church, Annapolis, 98,

101.
St. James' Parish, Anne Arundel

County, description of, 3136;

condition of, 1797, 100; condition,

1798, 101.
St. James' Parish, Harford County,

condition in 1808, 108-9.
St. Margaret's Parish, Westminster,

184

INDEX

Anne Arundel County, condition
of, 1796, 94-95.

. St. Paul's Parish, Prince George's
County, articles purchased for
church, 14.

St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore, Clag-

1 gett intimates desire to become
associate rector, 122.

St. Peter's Parish, Montgomery
County, condition in 1800, 103.

St. Peter's Church, Talbot County,
consecrated, 119; condition, 1797,
102-3.

St. Thomas' Parish, Baltimore
County, condition of, 1796, 95-96.

Satterlee, Henry Yates, conducts
services at removal of Bishop
Claggett's remains, 177.

Schools, grammar, in colonial Mary-
land, 8.

Scott, Gustavus, 76. v

Seabury, Samuel, position during
Revolutionary war, 29; consecra-
tor of Claggett, 65.

Sharpe, Horatio, Governor of Mary-
land, 25, 28.

Slaves, letter to Claggett respecting,
36-37.

Smith, Purnel P., ordained deacon,
143.

Smith, William, 38, 40; elected bish-
op of Maryland, 43; sketch of,
44-48.

Sprigg, Richard, Jr., 63.

Stephens, Daniel, quoted, 116-7.

Stevens, Rev. Mr., 166.

Stone, William Murray, ordaine'd to
priesthood, 135.

Suffragan bishop, election of a, 144
et seq.

Terrick, Richard, Lord Bishop of
Peterborough (later of London),
7, 15; letter to, from Claggett, 27.

Tiffany, C. C., quoted, 45-47, 57-8.

Tilghman, James, 33.

Travel, difficulties of, 120.

Trinity Church, New York, Clag-
gett consecrated in, 65.

Turner, Rev. Mr., 166.

Underdonk, Benjamin T., writes on
characteristics of Claggett, 173.

Veazey, Thomas B., 63.

Vestry act, a new, 76 et seq.

Vestrymen in colonial Maryland, 5.

Visiting members, plan of, 83 et seq.

Walker, Archibald, 63.

War of 1812, conditions caused by,
13538

Wardens in colonial Maryland, 5.

Waring, Basil, letter from Edward
Gantt, 18.

Warfleld, Edwin, 7.

Washington, Episcopal church in,
proposed, 69; Claggett intimates
desire to be rector in, 122.

Washington College, 39, 45.

Weems, John, 32, 63.

Weems, Mason Locke, criticism of
action of, 5152; signs Claggett
testimonial, 63.

Weems, William, 32.

West, William. 40; letter from Clag-
gett to, 50-52.

White, John, 63.

White, William, position during
Revolutionary war, 29 ; letter from
Claggett to, 52-53; consecrator
of Claggett, 65 ; letter to Claggett,
127-8; letter from Claggett to,
128-30; preaches 1808 convention
sermon, 131; participates in con-
secration of Smith, Bass and
Parker, 132; considers objections
to Kemp's election, 154; conse-
crates James Kemp, 160.

Whiteneld, George, 11.

Whitehead, James, appointed sec-
retary House of Bishops, 131.

Wilmer, James Jones, 38.

Wilmer, William H., writes to Clag-
gett, 163; extract from sermon on
death of Claggett, 171-2.

Wootton, Richard, 63.

Worrell, Edward, 63.

Wyatt, Rev. Mr., 166.

Young, Noble, ordained deacon, 140 .

BX
5995

.C56U8

The life and -faJTnes of

Thomas Jogn Cla.gge'fat;,

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