Background

In accordance with its Charter, the early laws governing the Province of Maryland, although often proposed by the Proprietor (Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore), usually through his Governor (or Lieutenant General) and brother, Leonard Calvert, required the assent of the freemen of the province.

The Freeman's Assembly of Jan-Feb 1637/8 is the first for which there is a record. The only earlier known assembly is known only by a solitary reference to an act passed on 26 Feb 1634/5 by a “General Assemblie” at St. Mary's.†

Scope

The scope of this project will be to identify existing profiles on Geni, or to create when necessary, the membership of this Freeman's Assembly. As these profiles comprise the earliest settlers of Maryland Colony, this project, when complete, will serve as reference for Maryland history.

Resources

• http://www.usgennet.org/usa/md/state/1637.html, a website sponsored by USGenNet.
• http://www.mosesrawlings.freeservers.com/stmarysmanors1640.html

Membership

The profiles needed for this project are the membership of 1637 Assembly.

Those invited to participate from the first day:

• Capt: Thomas Cornwaleys Esq, one of the Counsell of this Province
• Capt: Robert Wintour Esq: one of the Counsell of this Province
• Mr. John Lewger, gent; Secretary, and one of the Counsell of this Province
• Capt: Robert Evelin, gent, Commander of the Ile of Kent
• Mr Thomas Greene, gent
• Mr William Bretton, gent
• Capt: Henry Fleete, gent
• Mr Robt Philpott, one of the Counsell of the Ile of Kent, gent
• Mr. William Brainthwaite, gent
• Mr. John Wyatt, gent
• Mr. Robt Clerke [Clarke], gent
• Richard Garnett senior, of Mattapanient, planter†
• Justinian Snow of St. Maries hundred, planter
• Marmaduke Snow of St. Maries hundred, planter
• Francis Rabnett of St. Maries hundred planter
• Sergt Robt Vaughan, Highe Constable of St George's hundred
• James Baldridge Sheriff of St. Maries county
• Francis Gray of St. Maries hundred, carpenter
• James Cauther of St. Maries hundred, planter
• William Lewis of St. Maries hundred, planter
• Thomas Francklin [Franklin] of St Maries hundred, planter
• Thomas Nabbs of St. Georges hundred, planter.
• Sergt. Thomas Baldridge, of St Maries hundred, planter
• Edward Fleete of St Maries hundred planter
• Robert Perry, marshall
• John Price of St. Maries hundred planter.
• Thomas Morrison of St Georges hundred, planter.
• Thomas Stent of St. Georges hundred, planter

Those who were summoned to appear after the first day:

• Mr. Thomas Copley Esq; of St. Maries hundred.
• Mr. Andrew White
• Mr. John Altham, gent:
• Robert Clerke
• Joseph Edlow,
• Annum Benum,
• Nicholas Hervey,
• William Broughe, of Mattapanient,
• Randoll Revell, of St Georges hundred, cooper.
• Mr. Robt Philpott
• Roger Moy of St. Georges hundred,
• John Wortly; of St Georges hundred,
• Robt Nicholls; of St. maries hundred, Planters.
• James Courtney
• Davie Wickliff,
• Ralphe Bean,
• Thomas Charington of St. George's hundred, planters.
• Henry Lee of St. Georges hundred, planter.
• John Norton of St. Maries hundred,planter.
• John Halfe-head, of St maries hundred, brickmason J
• Robert Wiseman,
• Davie Odcroft,
• William Edwine
• Henry James, planter.
• John Smithson, of St Marie's hundred, Planter.
• John Hilliard, xpofer martin,
• Robert Smith of St. maries hundred planters.
• Thomas Pasmore, of St. Maries hundred, carpenter.
• John Medley, of St. maries hundred, planter.
• Henry Bishopp
• John Bryant
• Richard Lusthead, planters of Mattapanient,
• Nathaniel Pope of St. Maries hundred
• Henry Weed, of St. Marie's hundred
• John Medcalfe of St. Marie's hundred
• John Courtis of St. George's hundred
• John Davis of St. marie's hundred
• John Richardson of St. George's hundred
• Thomas Hebden of St. George's hundred
• John Robinson, carpentr