i:i:- 
 
 I'- 
 
HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 POCOMOKE CITY 
 
 FORMERLY 
 From its Origin to the Present Time. 
 
 BY 
 
 / 
 Rev. JAMES MURRAY. 
 
 CURRY, CLAY & COMPANY,. 
 1883. 
 
 k'^- 
 

To all my fellow-townsmen who feel an interest 
 in Pocomoke City, is this History 
 respectfully dedicated by the 
 Author. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Pagh. 
 
 History, Preface of 7 
 
 Author's Life, Sketch of 9 
 
 New Town, Origin of 40 
 
 *• " LI^[ITS OF 44 
 
 Growth, Change OF Name, Etc 47 
 
 Mercantile Aspect 50 
 
 Manufacturing 86 
 
 Trades.. 91 
 
 Shippin g Interests 106 
 
 Eastern Shore Steamboat Co loS 
 
 Ship-Building , in 
 
 Hotels, Livery Stables, Etc 121 
 
 Physicians 123 
 
 Lawyers 138 
 
 Post Office 144 
 
 Printing Offices 149 
 
 Social Aspect 151 
 
 Moral Aspect 161 
 
 Temperance 163 
 
 Schools 168 
 
 Churches 196 
 
 Secret Societies 233 
 
 5 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In writing a history of Pocomoke City, formely New Town, I will 
 say, the subject never presented itself to my mind until recently, 
 and then I only contemplated a brief sketch of some of the early 
 inhabitants together with their business life, the habits, customs 
 and social bearing of society in ''ye olcUn times'' But as the 
 subject loomed up before me into greater proportions, and as there 
 never had been written a history of the place, only in scraps for 
 newspaper publication, and as I have been repeatedly solicited to 
 write such a history, I have submitted to undertake the arduous 
 task. 
 
 The subjects comprised in this history will, therefore, be the 
 geographical position or town limits of the place together with a 
 description of its Houses, Streets, County Wharf and Pubhc 
 Square. The Mercantile, Shipping, Manufacturing, Steam 
 Milling, Hotel and Livery Stable Business. The Practice of 
 Medicine and Law. The Post-Office, Press, Social Life, Moral 
 Outlook, Temperance, Schools, Churches and a brief sketch of the 
 lives of its leading business and professional men. 
 
 In writing this history I have not aimed at literary display, if I 
 had, the book itself would expose my weakness. But I have 
 simply aimed at giving a statement of facts, and chief among my 
 aspirations has been the rescuing from oblivion, the names and 
 history of persons living in New Town in the days of yore, names 
 precious and dear to many who are still living in Pocomoke City, 
 together with Incidents of Social Life that will be of interest to 
 read. The whole history covering a period of over two hundred 
 y^trs. 
 
 7 
 
8 PREFACE. 
 
 In. giving a sketch of my own life, separately, I must say, in 
 jnstice to myself, that the sab j cot never once entered my mind 
 until I had been repeatedly requested to do so, finally I yielded, 
 hoping that my eventful life would be both a warning to the 3'oung 
 not to pursue those paths of vice into which I had fallen, and an 
 encouragement to all, that it is never too lale to turn over a new 
 leaf, never too late to do good. The fact of my joining the 
 Virginia Conference, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, when I 
 was in the fifty-sixth year of my age, undertaking a four years 
 course of Conference studies, leaving a loving liome and going 
 among strangers for three successive years, in the valley of 
 Virginia, and on the Mountains of West Virginia, and traveling 
 in that Conference for six years, averaging the first three years, 
 probably, fifteen hundred miles a year on horse-back, is an 
 adventure of my life, at which I am truly amazed. Although I 
 was in Orders when I entered the Conference, I was required to 
 go through the usual course of studies, and I mention, in detail, 
 the subjects upon which I was examined and the books to be 
 read, simply to show the amount of labor I had to perform at my 
 advanced age, and yet by application I succeeded. 
 
 J. M. 
 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 
 
 AUTHOR'S LIFE 
 
 I was born in New Town, Worcester County, Maryland, on the 
 11th day of August, 1814. My father's name was Michael Murray. 
 He was born in the town of Armagh, in Armagh County, in the 
 North of Ireland. He received quite a liberal education in his 
 native country, and was reared, by his parents in the Roman 
 Catholic taith. My mother's name before she married my father, 
 was Nancy Maddux. She was born and raised in Potatoe Neck, 
 now Fair Mount, Somerset County, Maryland. She received such 
 an education as the schools of her day were prepared to 
 impart, and in her religious faith she was brought up a Methodist. 
 My father came to America soon after the revolutionary war 
 ended and engaged in merchandising, at Maddux's Island, 
 Somerset County, Maryland. How long he continued there I 
 cannot say, it was there, however, that he married my mother. In 
 the course of time he moved to Rehoboth and continued mer- 
 chandising some years, when, in 1803, he moved to New Town 
 and continued in the mercantile and shipping trade in New Town 
 for fifteen years. Of my mother were born seven sons and one 
 daughter, all of whom lived to be grown. All of the boys learned 
 trades except the youngest, and after their majority they all 
 pursued other avocations, more or less. Of my six brothers and 
 sister, I am happy to say, they all had good minds, and some of 
 them shown with lustre, and of my sister, especially. I would say 
 if the fair sex would not look at it with an eye of egotism, that 
 she had an intellect above the ordinary class of her sex* They 
 have all passed away except my youngest brother William who 
 lives in Sumner County, Tennessee. I have said my father was a 
 
10 A Brief History of the Author^s Life. 
 
 Konian Catholic. He would liokl family prayer on Sabbath 
 morning, and would teach the children the prayers of that Church, 
 such as the Lord's prayer, the Salutation and Invocation to the 
 Holy ViriL-in Mary, the Apostles Creed, etc. But with these facts 
 before me I must conclude that he was a broad minded, liberal 
 man, for he contributed to the building of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, in New Town, and had all his children baptized by 
 Protestant Ministers. I have been at a loss to account for my 
 early religious impressions, in view of the fact that my father was 
 but a nominal christian, while my mother, during the lifetime of 
 my father, did not belong to church. I can recollect distinctly, 
 when but a child, that I was not afraid to die, and when the good 
 spirit of the Lord so moved upon my little heart, as to soften it 
 into tenderness and love. 
 
 I can also recollect, when in my early youth, that I was afraid 
 to die, that I had a consciousness of sin and was afraid of God, 
 and in view of such convictions, when I would retire to my bed at 
 night, I have engaged in prayer, repeating the Lord's prayer and 
 those my father taught me and concluding with : Now I lay me 
 down to sleep, etc., until my little eyes would close in balmy sleep 
 "nature's sweet restorer." I pursued this course under the impres, 
 sion that Satan would not come after a person while they were 
 praying, for I was fre(iuently afraid the Devil would get me 
 before morning. The reader will recollect the Cat Story in 
 relation to myself, which is told under the head of Social Life in 
 New Town. 
 
 I have, if possible, a thousand times reviewed my fother's course 
 in raising his children. While in some instances he was very 
 strict, yet in otliers he was remiss in his oversight of them. I 
 suppose there have been but few ftmiilies, especially in the days of 
 my boyhood, ])ut what there would be more or less lighting by the 
 boys. Sometimes when my brothers and myself would be at work, 
 we would get into a fight, and as I was the youngest, I would 
 
A Brief Hlstnry of the Avthor^s Life. 11 
 
 generally get whipped. I recollect instances when I was not in 
 fault, I would go to my father and tell him of it, instead of 
 inquiring into the matter, he would give me another whipping and 
 send me off to work again. I then had no appeal, and many a hard 
 fight I have had with my dear brothers. I have said my father 
 was very strict. If he promised me a whipping I was sure to get 
 it. I recollect times when I would run from him to avoid punish- 
 ment and he would say, in his broad Irish accent, "niver mind boy 
 I will pay you." I felt that moment that my doom was sealed, 
 and my feathers fell. 
 
 My father whipped his boys with the cowhide. It has been said 
 of the Irish that they were the greatest people in the world for 
 whipping the Devil out of their children. But it is a problem for 
 solution, whether such whipping whips the Devil out of, or whips 
 the Devil into, the children. I recollect very well my brothers and 
 myself would get hold of the old cowhide, that had punished us so 
 severely, and we would take it to the wood-pile and chop it into 
 mince meat with the axe. 
 
 There was no Sabbath School, in New Town, in my little boy- 
 hood days, and the boys to a great extent, were suffered to roam 
 about on the Sabbatb day. On such occasions I would learn a 
 great deal of wickedness. I learned to swear profusely, to play 
 cards, and as early as eight years of age I learned to chew tobacco. 
 I was the first one in my father's family to use tobacco, my father 
 and mother never using it. Many a night, after I would go to 
 sleep, my father would search my pockets for my tobacco and burn 
 it ; but it was all to no use, I conquered my father in my wicked 
 course, and when I grew larger I chewed, with impunity, in his 
 presence. This one instance of my boyhood life has caused me 
 many a heartache since, and often times in contemplating the sub- 
 ject, I have been so mortified and humbled that the tears unbidden 
 would steal from my eyes. At a very early age I learned to swim 
 and finally I became quite an expert at it. I was like a duck in 
 
12 A Brief llistunj of the Author^s Life. 
 
 the water for diving, and several times I have been nearly dnjwned 
 by trying how far I could swim at the botUjm of the river before I 
 would come to the surface again. At other tirr^es I have been 
 nearly drowned in playing with larger boys who would hold me 
 under the water too Vmg. It used to be quite common for the 
 town boys to take their canoes, and go to the river swamps for 
 shingle billets and l)ring them home to burn. Frequently, after 
 loading my canoe with billets, I have taken the tow line in my 
 mouth aud swam along with the canoe as it would drift with the 
 tide. 
 
 In eighteen hundred and twenty-seven, my father moved with 
 his family to Baltimore. I was then thirteen years old. Another 
 event occurred in my early history of which I have, ever since 
 felt deeply ashamed, and humbled. After my father moved to 
 Baltimore, for sometime, I had nothing to do, aud consequently I 
 would be down at the wharves and on board the Eastern Shore 
 vessels to see those I was acquainted with, and would engage 
 in boyisli sports, such as standing on the waist or spars of the 
 vessel and jumping to a rope and catching hold of it with one 
 hand, and exhibiting my activity; during these visits I became 
 acquainted with a man who had gone from this place. He 
 followed the sea. lie took a great liking to me for my activity 
 and venturesome spirit, and persuaded me to go to sea. The 
 pleasures of a seafaring life that loomed up before me, together 
 with the idea of visiting foreign countries, were truly captivating. 
 I det(;rmined on such a course at all hazards. I had not consulted 
 my father or mother. I knew it would be of no use, that they 
 would not give their consent and so I determined to act for myself. 
 I bad made seme little engagements with a captain of a Dutch 
 Ship bound to Bremen. I was but a boy and had no where to 
 stay of niglits and consequently would sneak home at night and 
 run off in the morning. Tliis state of things lasted several days. 
 I have since heard my mother say that my father bas walked the 
 
A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 13 
 
 floor wringing his hands and saying, in deep agony : "What shall 
 I do with my boy James." Finally, he overtook me on Fell's 
 Point, I was about to run from him, wlien he told me he wanted 
 to talk with me, that he wanted to know where I was going, 
 what ship I was going in, and how long I would begone, and the 
 wages I would get, ifcc. I had had premonitions that I was 
 acting wickedly, but on this occasion I realized the heinousness of 
 my crime. I felt as though the ground ought to open and swallow 
 me up. I think the good Spirit of the Lord was showing me how 
 wicked I was. I shall never be able fully to explain my feelings 
 on that occasion. I was completely conquered. I went home and 
 purposed to be a better boy. 
 
 There was another event, during my first years residence in the 
 City of Baltimore, which has been, ever since, a pleasurable 
 thought to me. I attended the first Sal)bath School that I was 
 ever in, that year. It was at a little frame church called Frog- 
 Eye, in South Baltimore. The Superintendent talked so sweetly 
 about Jesus that my little boyish heart was completely captivated. 
 I was all humility. I went home. It was on Sabbath afternoon, 
 and at the supper table. I could not help weeping. I have often 
 thought since, tliat if I had had any one to explain to me the 
 nature of Christianity, its blessedness and experience, that then 
 I would have become a Christian. In my fourteenth year, I was 
 thouglit to be rather young to go to a trade, consequently I 
 obtained work in a brick yard, with a man by the name of George 
 Cline. This man was so illnaturcd, crabbed and peevish that I 
 hated him. I recollect one day I was on the kiln tossing bricks to 
 him, on the ground, and as he was not looking the bricks struck 
 him on the foot. It was a terrible blow, he took up a half brick 
 and said : "I have a great mind to knock you ofl" that kiln." I 
 had no faith in him, and was ready, if he raised his hand to throw, 
 to jump off' the kiln on the other side. I disliked this man so 
 mnch, on account of his disposition and the small pay I received, 
 
14 A Brief History of the Autho7-^^ Life, 
 
 which was one dollar a week and I board myself, that I framed a 
 lie, and told my father, that he did not want me any longer. I 
 then went to work with another man, in an adjoining yard, by 
 the name of John Reese. This man gave me kind words, treated 
 me like a father, and gave me a dollar and a half a week. The one 
 I love to think of, the other I have long since forgiven. 
 
 In eighteen hundred and twenty-nine, I commenced learning the 
 shoe making trade with my brother. I was then in my fifteenth 
 year. I was very apt, and soon learned to make a boot. During 
 the next year, however, he concluded to leave the City, and he 
 made an engagement with Captain John T. Taylor^ of Snow Hill, 
 "Worcester County, Maryland, to act as foreman in his shoe and 
 boot factory, in that place. This event took place in eighteen 
 hundred and thirty, and to me it was an epoch in my history that 
 I shall never forget. I was then turned out on the world to shift 
 for myself, at the age of sixteen, without counsellor or friend to 
 take me by the hand and direct me in the way I should go. It is 
 true my father and mother were then living, but they were living 
 in New Town and I was in the City of Baltimore. I have often 
 thought upon this part of my early history as being marked by the 
 special providence of my great Heavenly Father who watches over 
 the present and future doings of those that are left destitute. I 
 procured board at the house of a kind humane man, for one dollar 
 and twentj'-five cents a week. I could make two dollars and fifty 
 cents a week at my trade, cooseciuently I could have, after paying 
 my board, one dollar and twenty-five cents to buy my clothes, shoe 
 findings, and to pay the laundress, and the balance I could have for 
 spending money. This state of things continued until the latter 
 part of the year when my father moved back to the City, and I 
 was again with the family. In the latter part of eighteen hundred 
 and thirty-one, my father died and was buried in a K( »mau Catholic 
 Cemetery, in the western part of the city of Baltimore. Early in 
 eighteen hundred and thirty-two, my mother, with her three 
 
A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 15 
 
 youngest children moved back again to New Town , and I was 
 left in the city. I was then in the eighteenth year of my age. I 
 was ambitious to excel at my trade, and in order to be a proficient, 
 I went under instructions with one of the best worknaen in the 
 city, and boarded with him. I soon became master of my own 
 trade and could hold a seat of stitched boots in any of the best 
 shops in the City. But this prosperity at my trade, was attended 
 with a series of wickedness that ought to be truly alarming. My 
 association was entirely of a vicious character. In those large shoe- 
 maker boarding houses there would be sometimes as Li'i as fifteen 
 or twenty men upon their benches, strewed around tlieroom. In 
 such a company there must be entertainment, and scarcely, without 
 an exception it would be of a vicious character. The bottle of 
 liquor would be in the middle of the floor; the singing those 
 songs and telling yarns which had an immoral tendency. Then 
 theatre going, ten-pin alleys visited, gambling saloons tarried at» 
 frequently, till after midnight. I have, since, often wondered at 
 the alarming progress I was making, in fixing my habits that, 
 without some interposition, would end in my utter ruin. In 
 eighteen hundred and thirty-three, my brother, who had established 
 himself in Inisiness in Snow Hill, wrote to me to come and work 
 for him. This was a ]u-ovidcntial door opened to me, for which I 
 have, ever since, had great cause to be thankful. I was, by 
 accepting this invitation, lifted out of my old associations, and 
 placed in an entirely new element of society. I held on, however, 
 to my old habits of swearing, gambling and tobacco chewing. In 
 the winter of 1843 and 1844, there was a great revival of religion, 
 in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Snow Hill. I was provi- 
 dentially brought under its gracious influence. Before this, how- 
 ever, I would argue Roman Catholicism with the Methodists, yet 
 I believed they were under some blessed influence to which I was 
 a stranger. This conviction was the result of my observation of 
 their godly walk, their chaste conversation, and their acclamations 
 
16 A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 
 
 of joy in their religious meetings. The leading men engaged in 
 conducting that revival were Mathew Sorin and Shepherd 
 Draine. These were the ministers on the circuit. Stephen Town- 
 send, afterwards Doctor Townsend, of the Philadelphia Conference ; 
 Epliraim Mathews, father of I. T. Matthews, Esq., who is the 
 present clerk of the count)- ; George Hudson, who was for many 
 years clerk in the office of the Register of AVills for Worcester 
 County ; and Levi Nelson, a boot and shoe maker. These men 
 commanded my highest respect. I could not gainsaj' their Chris- 
 tianity in^ny particular. I often wondered at their kind and 
 gentle bearing towards me. Notwithstanding, I attended their 
 meetings regularly, yet I would avoid those men by taking a seat 
 in the rear of the congregation. They would, however, tind me 
 out, and by their kindly, gentle course would persuade me to go 
 up and mingle in the congregation. With unabated love I have 
 often thought of those men, when they would come to me some- 
 times, lay their hands upon my head, though not a word would be 
 spoken, and weep over me. This was more than I could bear. I 
 thought if I did not j-ield to such loving entreaties as this, I ought 
 lo go to Hell. I determined to make an unconditional surrender of 
 myself to God. I was ignorant of the ways of God and the Gospel 
 plan of Salvation. I submitted to be taught like a child. I bowed 
 at the altar. I deplored and confessed my sins, the more I prayed, 
 and contemplated my condition, the more I saw myself a lost 
 sinner, my feelings became intolerable. I sought the Lord day and 
 night without intermission except when I was asleep. This was 
 a long, dark, dark night of experience to me, but finally in fixing 
 my eyes upon the day star from on high' the day-light of i)ardou, 
 peace and joy broke into my soul. Before this I was decidedly 
 opposed to making any ado about religion. I said if I embraced 
 it I would let the people see how decently and in order I could get 
 it. But oh ! how foolish I was. I was as ignorant as a beast 
 before the Lord. Wlieii I nceivcd tlie uitness (jf pardon and my 
 
A Brief History of the Authored Life. 17 
 
 acceptance with the Lord, I was lost in praise, and thought of 
 nothing but Jesus and his love to me, and shouted aloud before a 
 large congregation the veritable experience of salvation by faith in 
 Jesus Christ. Though this experience was realized nearly fifty 
 years ago, yet to this day it is unspeakable, it was Christ in me the 
 hope of glory. I was truly convinced that I was as thoroughly 
 changed in my spiritual nature as that I had a being, and the savor 
 of the good, I then received, I have to this day. A ^lew life then 
 opened up to me. I broke off my old habits at a stroke, excepting 
 tobacco chewing, which I did not then realize to be inconsistant 
 with a profession of Christianity. I can say, since that day I have 
 studiously avoided all those places in which I previously took 
 delight, places where God was not honored. 
 
 During eighteen hundred and thirty-four I returned to Baltimore 
 and worked at my trade. An event occurred that year which 
 liked to have cost me my life. There was a mob raised upon the 
 breaking of the old Maryland Bank. The spite of the mob was 
 directed to the oflBcers of the Bank, such as Reverdy Johnson, 
 John Glenn and others. It commenced operations on Saturday 
 night. I had finished my day's work and had eaten my sapper and 
 walked down town. I discovered their aim ^^•as at Reverdy 
 Johnson's house, on Monument Square. A guard was already 
 posted across Calvert street, on the North side of Baltimore street. 
 As I came along I was requested to volunteer. I did so, and about 
 twelve o'clock, while fighting the mob, I was struck in the fore- 
 head with a stone which cut through my hat and cut my head 
 about an inch long. I was knocked down as quick as if I had 
 been shot. My wound was examined and pronounced not dan- 
 gerous, and I was placed on the retired list. No changes occurred 
 in my life, but such as are of common occurrence until eighteen 
 hundred and thirty-six. In the first of January of that year, I 
 established myself in the boot and shoe business, in New Town. 
 I was in the twenty-second year of my age. Up to this date my 
 
18 A Brief History of the A^dhor^s Life. 
 
 education was of the most superficial character. With the excep- 
 tion of a few weeks, I had not gone to school since I was thirteen 
 years old. I could, however, at that date read, write and cipher 
 Bome. I understood the multiplication table up to the twelfth 
 line, the four fundamental rules in arithmetic, was somewhat 
 aquainted with the single and double rule of Three, and Practice, 
 and was a tolcrablj^ good speller. This was the ultimatum of my 
 schooling until I was twenty-two years of age. During that year, 
 by some casuality, Kirkham's grammar fell into my hands. It was a 
 dead science to me. I took the book, however, to a friend and 
 desired him to give me some insight of it, he did so, and I began to 
 understand it, and I was so ambitious to improve my education 
 that I went to school two months, to a good scholar. I confined 
 my studies chiefly to English grammar and geography, and with- 
 out any praise to myself, I soon stood at the head of the grammar 
 class. This was the result of two considerations : first, I had a 
 longing desire for knowledge, and secondly I was at a more 
 mature age to receive instructions than the younger scholars. 
 After this I would carry my book in my pocket as I would walk 
 the street, or have it on the bench while I would be at work, and 
 would parse everything that came under my observation. 
 
 On the 11th day of January, 1838, 1 was married to Mrs. Mary 
 Atkinson, widow of Thomas D. Atkinson, deceased. Her maiden 
 name was Long, she was the daughter of Josiah and Sally Long. 
 In this instance I assumed a responsibility for which I was scarcely 
 adequate. I was poor, and to support a large family from the 
 beginning with no other means but my trade was no small under- 
 taking. Yet I succeeded, by good manngcnunt lo provide, in some 
 little degree, tilings convenient. In the course of a few years my 
 health l)ecaiiie so impaired by sedentary life, that I was induced to 
 iii.-ikc :i cli.'inua-. I commenced farming in a sm;ill w:iy uiilil 1849 
 Prior to the above date I had served two terms as justice of the 
 peace, and when the Magistrates Court was established 1 was 
 
A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 1^ 
 
 appointed chief judge of this district, but refused to accept the 
 appointment. During the time of which I am writing I was 
 serving the Church as class leader, recording steward and local 
 preacher. Up to 1849 all my children were born, and my second 
 son James Henry was dead. At the above date I leased a farm, 
 four and a half miles in the country ; the farm was poor and I was 
 told that I would starve on it, but by careful management, after 
 living on it four years, and living well too, I had gained four 
 hundred dollars. While on the farm I would ride to town of a 
 night, after the day's work would be over, lead class and return 
 home. During my sojourn on the ftirm, an event occurred, which 
 has ever since been a source of congratulation. It was my aban- 
 donment of the use of tobacco. This may seem to some persons 
 a very small matter, but to me it was of vast moment. I had had, 
 for many years, misgivings with regard to the propriety of its use. 
 I had sought to justify myself by all possible considerations, chief 
 among them was the example of christian men and christian min- 
 isters, some of the highest dignitaries of the Church in the 
 habitual use of tobacco. I dared not unchristian ize them, some of 
 them were, in other respects way marks to the better land, and if 
 they can use it why not I? This vas a powerful argument for me 
 to continue its use. Another consideration in favor of its contin- 
 uance, was the fact that I commenced at such an early day, when 
 I embraced Christianity and knew I was accepted of my gracious 
 Heavenly Father. I was still using it. But r.otwithstanding all 
 these considerations, I still had my misgivings when I read the 
 precious word of truth and considered that cleanliness was an 
 attribute of godliness. I reasoned, also, that in many instances, if 
 not all, tobacco was unhealthy in its use, and that our money was 
 a precious talent to be used in a proper way, and not to be used 
 in feeding a debased and an unnatural appetite. I had made, 
 probably, a hundred attempts to quit its use, aad as many times 
 failed. But in this last effort I succeeded, and one great induce- 
 
20 A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 
 
 ment urging me on was the bad example I was setting my 
 children, for how could I tell them not to use it when I was using 
 it myself? Another event took place while I was on the farm, 
 which has been the greatest pleasure to me. It was a revival of 
 religion, at Swansgut Methodist Episcopal Church, in which about 
 fifty persons professed religion, and there was no other instru- 
 mentality employed in it but the Rev. John Hersey, of precious 
 memory, and the writer. In 1852, 1 served as one of the assessors 
 of "Worcester County. At the close of 1853, 1 moved back to New 
 Town, and in 1854, 1 embarked in the steam saw mill business, but 
 had not more than g(jt the mill in running order before I discovered 
 that I had made a mistake, and I determined to sell out as soon as 
 an opportunity presented itself It was not long before I had an 
 offer for my interest in the mill, and I sold out witli a loss of about 
 three hundred dollars. Some thought I was fickle in this instance, 
 but I had made up my mind to get out of the mill, and the sequel 
 showed the wisdom of the act. I had invested but a few hundred 
 dollais which I had been gathering together for between fifteen 
 and twenty years by hard work, and had I continued in the mill I 
 sl^ould have lost all. In reviewing the history of this incident, 
 there is cau>e f ^r praise to my Heavenly Father, and admiration of 
 this special providence over me. At the close of 1850, 1 removed 
 to Somerset County, on a farm M'hich I had purchased of Hon. 
 Isaac D. Jones. I now began to think that I should be settled in 
 life. I had moved about so nuicli that I desired that this should be 
 the last time until I would go to my long home. But I had not 
 been on the farm two years before circumstances were brought to 
 bear upon me, which caused a change. I owed one-third of the 
 purchase money on the ft\rm, but I had that all secured, and could 
 have had such time as would be convenient for me to pay it in. 
 But I was in debt to the merchant, mechanic, school teacher, 
 <fcc. I had made a good crop of corn and oats, and would bo 
 amply able to pay all such bills if I could hold on to my produce 
 
A Brief History of the Author^s Life. 21 
 
 until such seasons of the year in which it would bring the best 
 price. As soon as my crops were made, the payment of those bills 
 was called for, and, generally speaking at that season, the price of 
 grain is the lowest. It was in vain to expostulate, and the officer 
 was paying me visits. I began to see more clearly than ever before, 
 that what I had was not mine while I was in debt, but that I was 
 simply an agent in the hands of my creditors, to obey their wishes 
 at what time and whenever they said pay. I had always been in 
 debt, from the date of my marriage up to the time of which I am 
 writing, and I thought I could see clearly, if possible, a thousand 
 ways in which I had suffered by the credit system. I thought it 
 was my only hope of success to abandon the credit system, to get 
 out of this dirty pool. I was resolved upon it if it broke me. I 
 had an offer for my farm at an advanced price and I sold it, sold 
 out my stock and grain, paid all I owed, turned over a new leaf 
 and seemingly commenced life square for the first time. After 
 this I moved back to New Town, and I soon discovered the benefit 
 of such a change. When I would go into a store to buy anything, 
 the merchant knew that he was going to get the money, and with- 
 out any word from me the price of the article would be put down 
 at the lowest figures. I now began to get along better than ever 
 before. I need buy, now, only such things as I needed and if I 
 could not get them at one place, I could go to another. Whereas 
 under the credit system, I would be compelled to deal at certain 
 places, and pay whatever prices they charged, and if that store at 
 which I was dealing did not have the article I wanted, it was 
 frequently the case that something else would, though not 
 answering so well, have to be taken in lieu and probably at a 
 greater price. In 1861, 1 was appointed post-master, under the 
 administration of Abraham Lincoln, and served in that capacity 
 until 1866 when I was removed under the administration of 
 Andrew Johnson. In 1867, 1 was ordained a Deacon by the impo- 
 sition of the hands of Bishop Simpson, at the Philadelphia Con- 
 
22 A Brief History «/ tke Author^ s Life. 
 
 fercnce, held in West Chester, Pennsylvania, after passing an 
 examination before a committee appointed by the Conference for 
 that purpose. In this same year I commenced merchandising in 
 New Town, in consequence of the failure of my health, caused by 
 sedentary life. This business was a necessity to me, I knew not 
 what else to fall upon to support my family, and I entered into it 
 with caution and trepidation. For I had often heard the remark 
 that they that own a fann and sell it to goto merchandising would 
 never own another. I bought my goods for cash and was prepared 
 to sell as low as the lowest. 1 would not go into any ring or form 
 any combination, but sold goods on my own convictions, and as a 
 general thing sold for cash and would not let a customer go out of 
 the store with his mone y if it was possible to reach him in the price 
 of the article and I generally got his money and he got the goods. 
 During the first two years, the price of goods was steadily on the 
 rise, and dry goods went up one hundred per cent, in six months 
 after I made my first purchase, so that I could wholesale to some 
 of the merchants at a lower price than they could buy for in the 
 city, and still make a heavy profit. During this period 
 I was so fearful that I would become a bankrupt that I would 
 invoice every few months, and the result would show that I was 
 whole footed, and so I became more careless. At the end of two 
 years goods had reached their highest point in price, and the crisis 
 came, and the after part of my mercantile life was like Pharaoh's 
 dream, it ate up pretty much all that I had made in the years 
 preceding, but after all, when I sold out, I came out as good as 
 when I went into the business. In 18G5, 1 was employed by the 
 Rev. Solomon Cooper, Presiding Elder of the District, to serve as 
 Junior Preacher, on Church Creek Circuit, in Dorchester County. 
 This may be considered the beginning of my life as a traveling 
 Preacher, although I had preached at different places before and, 
 many times at all the appointments on the circuit where I live, 
 and had served the Church in every capacity, as Class-Leader, 
 Exhorter, Trustee, Recording Steward and Local Preacher. 
 
A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 23 
 
 From the time of my marriage I have always kept an open house 
 for the Ministers of the Gospel, and there was nothing too good to 
 provide, nor any labor too great to perform to make those happy 
 who rested under my roof. When I went on Church Creek Cir- 
 cuit, there was a camp-meeting going on at Old Ebenezer. I 
 arrived on the ground on Sabbath morning. It was soon known 
 that the young preacher had come to the Circuit. There was a vast 
 congregation on the ground and all eyes were on me. In the 
 afternoon I was put up to preach. This was a great trial to me, for 
 I knew that all that I would say would be criticised. However I 
 did the best I could and after that the time went on pleasantly. 
 In August, I went into protracted meetings and never came out of 
 them till the close of conference year, which was the next March. 
 I formed many very pleasant associations while on the Circuit, 
 and was treated with high respect. This did not puff me up with 
 pride, for I knew for whose sake this respect was given, but it 
 made me feel the greater responsibility resting upon me to conduct 
 myself as one that needeth not to be ashamed, "rightly dividing the 
 Word ot Truth." While on this Circuit I had no home of my 
 own, my family still living in New Town, and, as a necessity, I 
 was thrown upon the hospitality of the families on the Circuit. 
 While visiting around I had ample opportunity of discovering the 
 habits of the people, and to my regret I found one habit into 
 which nearly all the people had fallen, ii was the use of tobacco. 
 In some families all the children as well as the parents used it 
 excessively. I used what influence I could to dissuade them from 
 it, but it was hard work stemming the tide. On one occasion, while 
 in company with the Preacher in Charge, and also a Local Preacher, 
 who both used the weed, I got into an argument with them 
 upon the use of tobacco, and was progressing in it very well, and 
 as I thought to a successful issue, when they asked me if I did not 
 sell it. I told them yes. They burst out into a great laugh. That 
 ended the argument, but in my complete discomfiture, I saw, as I 
 
24 A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 
 
 never saw before, the futility of my arguments while I sold 
 tobacco. I told them that if my selling it closed my mouth upon 
 the subject, 1 would sell it no more. When I came home to visit 
 my family, I told my son, who was attending to the store, that we 
 would clear it of tobacco. We did so, and never sold it any more. 
 In 1867, I was again employed, this time, by the Rev. Vaughn 
 Smith, who was Presiding Elder, to serve as Assistant Preacher on 
 Princess Ann Circuit. The Rev. John M. Purner was Preacher 
 in Charge. During the year, by incessant labor, which brought 
 on protracted illness, Mr. Purner succombed to the inevitable, and 
 passed away in holy triumph. Rev. J. T. Vanburkalow succeeded 
 him for the remainder of the year, with whom I labored in 
 harmony until Conference. In reviewing my work on this Circuit, 
 during the year, I will say, although the times were perilous, yet I 
 made many friends, both in and out of church, and I trust I did 
 some good. At the last Quarterly Conference for the year, I was 
 recommended to the Phil adelphia Annual Conference for Elders 
 Orders, and after passing an examination before a committee who 
 reported favorable in my case, together with the report of the 
 Presiding Elder upon my character and usefulness, I was unani- 
 mously elected to the office, and was ordained by Bishop Janes, 
 assisted by the Elders present, on the 15th day of March, in the 
 year of Our Lf )rd, one thousand, eight hundred and sixty-eight, in 
 the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the preceding 
 year I sold out my store house and stock of goods, and I was now 
 desirous to devote my life, exclusively, to the office, and work of 
 the Ministry. In my earlier life I had considered the support of 
 my family and education of my children to be a great achieve- 
 ment. This I had done without any help save my own native will 
 and energy, and now after accomplishing this most responsible 
 duty, I had enough left to take care of my wife in a small way, and 
 was ready to enter any open door of usefulness in the cause 
 of the Redeemer. In reading the Minutes of the Virginia Annual 
 
A Brief History of the Author'^ s Life. 25 
 
 Conference, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, I discovered that 
 there was a great want of Ministerial help. I corresponded with 
 the Rev. Elisha P. Phelps, who was the leading spirit in the Con- 
 ference and a Presiding Elder, at that time, of Rockingham 
 District, in regard to joining the Conference. I stated my age, 
 that I was in Orders, and that I could do Circuit Work. He 
 encouraged me to make application. The Conference met the 
 following year, 1870, March the 1st, in the City of Richmond. I 
 went to that Conference, and did not know a living man in it, but 
 Bishop Janes, who was presiding. After my name was handed in, 
 I was put under examination, by a committee, upon the following 
 course of study, which is laid down in the discipline of the 
 Church, for those who are to be admitted on trial, namely : Common 
 English, Ancient History, Scripture History, History of the 
 United States, History of Methodism, Rhetoric, Logic, and Disci- 
 pline of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The books to be read, 
 prepar itory to, and in connection wifh this examination, were : 
 "Wakefibld's Theology, Watson's Life ef Wesley, Whitney's Hand 
 Book of Bible Geography, Foster's Christian Purity, and Student's 
 Gibbon. I had, however, received from the Quarterly Conference, 
 of New Town Circuit, preparatory to going to the Virginia Con- 
 ference, a recommendation to that Conference as a suitable person 
 to enter the Traveling Connection, and also an individual letter 
 from the Presiding Elder, the Rev. Vaughn Smith, which was of 
 great benefit to me as a stranger. After the committee reported 
 upon my examination, I was received on trial and my name put 
 in the basket for an appointment, and when the appointments were 
 read out my name was put down for Middle Brook Circuit. After, 
 this the Presiding Elder came to me and said he had done the best 
 lie could for me, and he did not know how much they would give 
 me, probably not much, but if I pleased them the Lord knew how 
 much they would give for my support. Middle Brook is a small 
 village, ten miles above Staunton, in the great valley of Virginia,. 
 
26 A Brief History of the Author^s Life. 
 
 between the North and South Mountains. The valley at this place 
 is about twenty miles wide. I had eight appointments. The 
 extremes were from the North Mountain to the top of the South 
 Mountain, and in climbing the South ^Mountain, the distance from 
 base to summit is six miles. After receiving my appointment from 
 the Conference I took the cars for Staunton, and thence, by stage, 
 to Middle Brook. The Circuit was out to the commons. There 
 had been no regular Preacher sent to that Circuit, by the Con- 
 ference, for a year. I was perplexed at this state of things, 
 however, after consultation with my friends, my plans were formed 
 as above stated. After preaching at Middle Brook, I started for 
 Sherando,a small village at the foot of South Mountain, a distance 
 of twenty miles. It was in March, and there was snow on the 
 ground, in a thawing condition, and this, together with the sticky, 
 red clay, made it very bad traveling on foot, and the roads in some 
 places, for some distance, would be covered with water, so that I 
 would have to go off the i»ad in the fields to find better walking. 
 Two incidents on this, my first round, I will here record : The 
 first, wag one which I often call up in memory with the greatest 
 pleasure. It was on this wise : After traveling the road for about 
 six miles, the noon of day came on. I knew no one on the road 
 nor where to stop to get anything to eat. I knew that I must eat 
 something to enable me to perform my journey. It did not, 
 however, take me long to demonstrate the old adage, "wherever 
 thc^re is a will there is a way." I called up to a well-to-do farmer's 
 house, which stood close on the road. I asked them if they could 
 accommodate a stranger with dinner. They eyed me, and theja 
 said yos, invited me in, and after taking off my overcoat and 
 overshoes, I sat down in conversation with the lady of the house, 
 who was, as is often the case, the chief speaker. I soon discovered 
 that she was a christian and feared God. The conversation took a 
 religious turn and soon the silent tear was seen standing in the eye 
 as we conversed on the deep things of God. During my call it 
 
A Brief History of the Author'^ s Life. 27 
 
 was found out what my mission was and tliey treated me with the 
 same spirit of courtesy that the Angels received from Abraham. 
 After dinner, which was of the first-class, for they were indepen- 
 dent, I got ready to start, and called for my bill, they informed 
 me there was no charge, save that I call and see them again. I 
 informed them upon those terms I would do so. They filled my 
 pockets with apples, and ordered two horses to be saddled and 
 bridled, and requested their oldest son, at home, who was a young 
 man grown, to take me on my way some distance ; this he did for 
 about six miles. This call was my introduction to one of the 
 sweetest homes that I had on that Circuit. I was always welcome, 
 and they were able to take care of me and my horse without any 
 inconvenience, and my gratitude was enhanced from the consider- 
 ation that they were not Methodists, but Lutherans. Their names 
 were Baker. I have lost their first name. They lived near 
 <3^^eenville, on the road from Middle Brook to Sherando. The 
 name Baker, to me yet, has a pleasant sound in view of those 
 associations. As I think of them, I think of the memorable words 
 of the Saviour. "I was an hungered and ye gave me meat. I was 
 a stranger and ye took me in." ''Inasmuch as ye have done it 
 unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto 
 me." If this little book should ever fall into the hands of that 
 dear family, they will see, by this narrative, that the kindness they 
 bestowed upon me, for the want of greatful remembrance, has not 
 been lost. 
 
 The second incident, which I proposed to mention, took place 
 about six o'clock that same evening. During the day I had 
 traveled sixteen miles, I was, at that late hour, four miles from 
 Sherando, darkness was gathering around me, I had blistered my 
 feet walking, worn and weary I called up to a house on the road, 
 for I knew not where to go. As to pursuing my journey to 
 Sherando that was perilous, as I did not know the way only by 
 inquiry, and if I could have gotten there before bedtime, I knew 
 
28 A Brief History of the Author's Life, 
 
 not wliere to call. The man upon whom I called had a terrible 
 dog, though I did not know it. When I opened the gate he came 
 bolting at me, so I let on to him that I did not mind him. The fact 
 was my necessities compelled me to go to the house. The dog 
 seeing I did not mind him ran off toward the house and then 
 rallied and came again, this time more furiously, but I kept my go 
 for the house, and he backed down again, and when I entered the 
 porch and knocked at the door, the little dog in the house com- 
 menced barking, that set the big dog on, and I had no time for 
 ceremonies, but opened the door and rushed in. I apologized for 
 my abrupt entrance. The man told me that I had run a great 
 risk, for that dog was one of the most dangerous. I asked if I 
 could get accomodations for the night, he told me if I could put 
 up with such as he could give I could stay. I told him I had no 
 where to stop, and sooner than be turned out I would sleep on the 
 floor. They entertained me, and that right comfortably, and 
 would not have any pay for it. As I have already stated, I had 
 eight appointments and could only preach once a month at each 
 place by preaching twice every Sabbath day. During the year we 
 had a great revival at Middle Brook, some forty persons professed 
 religion and joined the Church. 
 
 I had my Conference Course of studies to attend to, and na 
 studio, as .some have, with every other convenience necessary for 
 success, but my studio was the country road ; with Watson's 
 Institutes in my hand I would sit down on a log of wood, by the 
 roadside, and there in solitude, I would pore over my lesson with 
 none to disturb my meditations save the sweet songs of the birds, 
 as they would cheer me in breaking the monotony of the hour. 
 
 When I would reach the place of destination, I would, after 
 the usual greetings, enter a private room, and there with my books 
 occupy the time I had to df^vote to reading and study. I made it 
 a i)oint to visit all families that I could have access to, and I have 
 had it said to me that tiiey had not seen it on this wise before. 
 
A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 29 
 
 At the Third Quarterly Meeting, the Presiding Elder asked me if 
 I wanted to go back, I told him I did not, yet I was willing to go 
 wherever the Bishop sent me, but I thought I ought to be taken 
 care of. He said that shou.d be done. The year closed. Con- 
 ference came on, and I was before the Committee, of the first 
 year, in Alexandria, Va. The course of Study was : Watson's 
 lastitutes, Plain Account of Christian Perfection, Church History, 
 Homiletics, Psychology and Written Sermon. The books to be 
 read were : Wesley's Sermons, Steven's History of Methodism, 
 and Townsend's Sword and Garment. My examination was 
 complimented before the class by the Chairman of the Committee. 
 When the appointments were read out my name was declared for 
 Monroe Circuit, in Monroe and Greenbrier Counties, West Va. 
 This move threw me away from my family about five hundred 
 miles. The terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad then 
 was at White Sulpher Springs. I went to the Circuit and was 
 received cordially. This Circuit to me was, in comparison to the 
 one I left, like going out of a dry and barren land, into the land 
 of Goshen. The brethren and friends wanted me to take my 
 family with me. Some would furnish me with a few cooking 
 utensils, some a few chairs, others, again, with a table, and so on, 
 and so on. 
 
 My wife was born and raised, and lived in New Town, and 
 adjacent thereto, all her life, and knew nothing of the trials of a 
 mountain life, and to take her into such a country, and leave her 
 to herself, on some lonely road, probably, for a week or more at a 
 time, exposed, was more than I could do, consequently, I was the 
 second year to myself. We had good times on the Circuit, several 
 revivals and additions to the Church. During the year I had a 
 spell of sickness, which made it necessary for me to be changed 
 the next year. The Doctor, James Wait, at Rocky Point, attended 
 me, he informed the Elder that the climate of the mountains was 
 too rigorous for me. I, however, knew nothing of it. The Pre- 
 
30 A Brief History of the Author^s Life. 
 
 siding Elder asked me one day if 1 wanted to come back, and 
 stated, at the same time, that the Doctor said I must not stay in 
 the mountains. I told him I was fully aware of the fact, and had 
 already made up my mind not to do so. One incident while I was 
 on this Circuit I wish to relate : At a certain appointment I 
 administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. In inviting 
 the Communicants to come forward, I discovered a hesitancy to 
 do so, I urged the duty, but verj^ few came to the Communion. 
 After services were over, and while at the dinner table ©f one of 
 the Stewards, the subject came up and the lady of the house said : 
 "Brother Murray, perhaps you do not know the reason why there 
 was such a staying away from the Sacrament this morning, and I 
 will tell you : it is because we have never been baptized." I was 
 amazed at this news. Here w^as one of the leading officers of the 
 Church and not baptized. I reasoned with them, showed the 
 duty, and such a scene took place, during the week, as the result of 
 that interview, as I have never witnessed before nor since. The 
 man and his wife, with two or three of his children were profes 
 sors of religion. Preparations were made for their baptism. The 
 father and mother, with the children, who professed religion, I 
 requested to kneel side by side on the floor. The children for 
 Infant Baptism, I requested to stand by the side of the other chil- 
 dren, and I baptized the parents and older children first, after this 
 the younger ones, eight persons in all. I learned that the condi- 
 tion of this family represented that of many others, and I went 
 through the neighborhood, baptizing professors of religion, and 
 children, until I left none unattended to that I knew of 
 
 On this Circuit I had many friends. There were several 
 revivals and many additions to the Church. In a certain neigh- 
 borhood, I found a gortdly number of Christian people who had 
 been cut off from their former religious associations by the desola- 
 tions of the war. These I gathered together and formed into a 
 class. The year was closing up in peace and prosperity, and the 
 
A Brief History of the Authorh Life. 31 
 
 approaching Conference, which was to be held at Leesburg, wa& 
 drawing nigh. In February, I started for the seat of Conference^ 
 which was to come off the 1st of March. I rode to White 
 Sulphur Springs with my valise in front of me ; there I expressed 
 it, and started for Conference on horseback. I rode seven consec- 
 utive days, from early morn till night, fording rivers, crossing 
 mountains covered with ice and snow, in a drizzling rain that 
 would freeze as it w^ould fall, so that my clothes would be frozen 
 stiff on me. The distance I rode was about three hundred miles,. 
 and in looking back upon that perilous journey, I have admired 
 and wondered at that providence which was exercised over me. 
 In crossing the mountains, they would be covered with snow but 
 I found that underneath the snow was a very slippery sheet of 
 ice. My horse was rough-shod, but in spite of that he would slip 
 on the ice. I would get down and walk, at what I conceived to 
 be the most dangerous places. There were no signs of traveling 
 on the road, and if my horse had fallen and crippled me I would 
 have died upon the mountain, all alone. Conference came on and 
 I went before the Committee, of the second year, for examination. 
 The subjects to be examined upon were : Statement and Scripture 
 Proofs of Bible Doctrine, AVatson's Theological Institutes, (part 
 second,) Baptism, Moral Science and "Written Sermon. The books 
 to be read were : Whedon on the Will, Emoi y's Defence of our 
 Fathers, Porter's Compendium of Methodism, Gaussen's Origin 
 and Inspiration of the Bible, Rawlinson's Historical Evidences, 
 Shedd's, Homiletic's and Pastoral Theology. 
 
 After this examination my case was reported on by the 
 Committee and Elder both, and I was admitted into full connec- 
 tion. When the appointments were read out my name was called 
 for Herudon Circuit, in Fairfax County, Va. This was a two 
 week's Circuit, on the Washington and Ohio Railroad, about 
 eighteen miles from the City of Washington. Some of the 
 appointments were only about nine miles from Washington. On 
 
32 ^i Brief History of the Author'^ s Life. 
 
 this Circuit I was brought in contact with city life, for nearly, if 
 not all, the peoi^le did business in the city, and many who held 
 offices under the Government lived within the bounds of the Cir- 
 cuit. On this Circuit, I spent one of the most pleasant years of 
 my life in the Ministry. During my stay on this Circuit, which 
 was only one year, we built a Church, which cost, probably, three 
 thousand dollars And had it to worship in before the year closed. 
 Some incidents occurred while on this Circuit which may be of 
 interest to relate. The first is in relation to building the Church 
 on ground for which there was no deed given. Some of the most 
 influential advised to build without getting a deed as thts ground 
 had long ago been given verbally. It seemed that there had been 
 two or three efforts to build in years past, and the ground had 
 been given by a man who then lived at Herndon, but had moved 
 away, and at this time of which we are speaking lived in New 
 York State. I told the friends not to do such a reckless thing, but 
 first secure the deed and then go ahead. Negotiations were had 
 with the party owning the ground. The result was that notwith- 
 standing he had given the ground while he lived at Herndon, yet 
 now as he had disconnected himself with the place, and moved 
 back to his native State, he should charge $50 for it. Here we 
 were at a standstill. Where to get the fifty dollars was a subject 
 ■of reflection. In a few days, however, a lady told me to have the 
 deed prepared, which was done by a lawyer, and she would furnish 
 the fifty dollars, all of which was done. The deed was executed, 
 delivered, and recorded in the Clerk's Office, of Fairfax County, 
 Virginia. 
 
 We were now fairly on our feet, and I told the people that we 
 would then build the Church, which was built as above stated. 
 During the process of building, I went to Alexandria, Washing- 
 ton and Georgetown on a begging expedition. Before I com- 
 menced,howcver,I went to the Preachers' Meeting in Washington, 
 made my cause known to tlieni, and requested an introduction 
 
A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 33 
 
 to their people which was cordially granted by giving me a 
 strong letter. I canvassed the city by Churches, and had a view 
 of their internal workings in the way of expenses, how heavily 
 they taxed themselves to support the Gospel, such as I never 
 had before. One brother, who was door-keeper in the Treasury 
 Department, or if not door-keeper had his stand by the door, to 
 direct inquiries to any room in the building, told me his salary was 
 one thousand dollars a year, and that brother subscribed one 
 thousand dollars to build a Church, payable in annual instalments 
 of one hundred dollars each till the whole was paid. Another 
 incident may serve to show what appeals I had to make to be 
 successful. I called on a distinguished lawyer, at the Court House, 
 for a subscription ; he encouraged me to expect something 
 by telling me to call at his house at four o'clock. I did so 
 It was a fine three-story house, on a popular street, and, as the 
 reader may suppose, was well furnished. He was at dinner. I 
 was invited in, and directed to take a seat in his study, a room, the 
 bookcases of which were filled with costly volumes appertaining 
 to the law. After he had dined, he entered the office and asked 
 what he could do for me. The reader may think that I used a 
 little sagacity in taking him upon a full meal, for at such times 
 persons are generally in a good humor. I told him I had called in 
 compliance with his direction, and desired a donation to my Church. 
 He commenced making excuses by telling how much he had to 
 pay to the Church, &c. I soon saw that I must make a mighty 
 effort to reach him. I commenced by saying : "Mr. So-and-so, 
 when I look at your standing as a lawyer, your fine building, your 
 splendid furniture, your beautiful library, filled with costly books, 
 I must conclude that you are a man of wealth. Suppose now I 
 were to tell you something of myself. I have a sick family, on the 
 Eastern Shore of Maryland, which I have to support, of a son, 
 upon whom rested the fond hopes of his parents for future com- 
 fort, now passing away with consumption, and his mother nursing 
 
34 A Brief History of the Author^s Life. 
 
 him as only a mother can. Suppose I tell you what I have had to 
 go through in Virginia. In traveling some Circuits, I have walked 
 twenty miles a day without anything to eat and did not rightly 
 know where I would lodge at night. To accomplish my Conference 
 studies, I had no such conveniences as 5'ou have here, but have had 
 to take my books in hand, or if riding, take them in my saddle- 
 bags, and in walking sit down by the road side, and there read, 
 think and pray. Now after all this, I am here without any charge 
 for these services, and get from the Circuit, for the support of my 
 family a mere subsistance." This rehearsal was too much for him. 
 He said he had never gone through anything like that. He then 
 asked me how much I thought he ought to give me. I told him, 
 I thought he ought to give me five or ten dollars. In a moment 
 he drew his pocket book and handed me five dollars. Another 
 incident in connection with this begging expedition, which I liked 
 to have forgotten, took place in the Preacher's Meeting, at Wash- 
 ington. After I had stated my cause, and after resolution passed, 
 and letter given the Rev. R W. Black, who I perceive by the 
 Minutes of the Baltimore Conference is Presiding Elder of East 
 Baltimore District, but at the time of which I am writing was 
 stationed at Wesley Chapel, in Washington, stepped forward and 
 said : Brother Murray, I have a little oil in the cruse and some 
 meal in the barrel yet, and here is something for your cause." 
 With this he handed me ten dollars. I have often thought of that 
 dear brother for this generous outburst of benevolence. The year 
 closed up, Conference approaching, and this year away from my 
 family again. The Conference this time was to meet in the City 
 of Norfolk, Virginia. The course of study for the third year, 
 upon which I liad to be examined was : Watson's Institutes, (the 
 third and fourth parts,) Nast's Introduction to the New Testament, 
 Butler's Analogy of Natural and Revealed Religion, Angus' Hand 
 Book of the Bible, AVhately's Logic, and Written Sermon. The 
 books to be read were : Hagenbach's History of Doctrines, Hurst's 
 
A Brief History of the Author'' s Life. 35 
 
 History of Rationalism, D' Aubigne's History of the Reformation, 
 
 Wythe's Argument of Science and Revelation. I met the Com- 
 mittee with the other members of the Class. I learned after the 
 Chairman made his report to the Conference, that my examination 
 was highly complimented. When the apj)ointments were read out 
 I was to go to Old Point Comfort, Va. The appointment was 
 then called Chesapeake City, but has since been changed to Old 
 Point Comfort. This was a station with a comibrtable parsonage. 
 Here I had to preach twice every Sabbath, hold prayer-meetings, 
 class-meetings, and attend the Sabbath School. To this place I had 
 to go without my family, as my dear son was too low to move. A 
 few day's before he died I received intelligence that he was worse 
 and I hastened home, but his spirit had departed, as I was leading 
 the Class at Old Point, on Sabbath evening, at six o'clock, April 
 the 27th, in the 25th year of his age. We buried him In the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church burying ground, of Pocomoke City. 
 This closed up the life of John W. Murray, who was a bright 
 light in my family and also in his native town in which he was 
 reared and in which he died. 
 
 My wife and I had five children born to us ; three are now 
 dead, namely : James Henry, Lavinia Catherine and John Wil- 
 liam, and two are still living, namely : Francis Thomas, who is 
 engaged in the railroad business in the City of Peoria, 111., and 
 Harriet Ann, wife of Rev. Albert Jump of the St. Louis Confer- 
 ence, who is stationed in the City of St. Louis, Mo. It is but just 
 to the name of Francis T. Murray, my son, to say that he was a 
 delegate from Worcester County to the Constitutional Conven- 
 tion of 1864, and was one of that patriotic band who passed tbe 
 Ordinance giving to Maryland a free constitution. After the 
 death and burial of our son, my wife and I packed up our house- 
 hold goods and moved to Old Point Comfort. After being settled 
 in the parsonage, an arrangement was entered into witli Captain 
 Woodfin, governor of the Soldiers National Home at Hampton, 
 
36 A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 
 
 Va., by and with the consent of the OflScial board of the Church 
 to serve that institution as chaplain, giving it preaching once in 
 four weelis, visiting the Home every week and burying the dead. 
 Frequently I was by the bedside of the sick and dying two or 
 three times a wpek, trying to give a word of cheer. I pursued 
 this course during the time I served them, and to show the spirit 
 of those men at my last appointment when I told them that for 
 two years I had served them to the best of my ability and now I 
 must bid them good by. They came forward, took me by the 
 hand and gave me the greatest assurance of their appreciation of 
 my visits to that Institution. Captain Woodfin, the Governor of 
 the House, is deserving great credit for the tact which is exhibited 
 in the laying out of the grounds, for the wise and judicious man- 
 agement, as the executive officer of the Home, which is seen cov- 
 ering the entire Institution, for it is one of the grandest places to 
 look at and to visit. Doctor W. M. Wright, the Surgeon of the 
 Home at that time, is among the princes of the land, a man of 
 noble bearing. The Church at Old Point was not large in its 
 membership, but a nobler set of men and women I have never 
 met, in supporting the Gospel. 
 
 When I went to this appointment there was a debt on the Church 
 of eight or nine hundred dollars, at the end of my two years stay 
 there, I reported to Conference the debt reduced to one hundred 
 and seventy-five dollars. I formed many pleasant associations 
 while there, and had many warm friends. The first year that I 
 was there I took no vacation. The second year my health was 
 perceptibly failing. I asked for a few weeks rest, this was readily 
 granted, and a letter was handed to me by William H. Kimberly, 
 Esq., containing a sum of money to bear my expenses, with the 
 names of the doners: Harrison Phoebus, William II. Kimberly 
 and James Kelly. For this surprise I made my acknowledgements. 
 The first year closed up with some few accessions as the result of 
 a revival meeting. The approaching Conference met in Alexan- 
 
A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 37 
 
 dria, Va., in the latter part of February, 1874. I met the Com- 
 mittee of the fourth year's course. The answers to all questions 
 in this course of study had to be submitted to the Committee of 
 Examination in Writing. 
 
 To insert them here in detail would be too burdensome, as they 
 amounted to about seventy-five in number, together with the 
 statements required, and filled over sixty-three pages, of closely 
 written matter, in a book of three inches aud five eighths wide, by 
 five inches and five eighths long. The leading topics upon which 
 this course of study was based were laid down in sections as fol- 
 lows : Section I, Personal Religions, Life and Habits. Section II, 
 Examination of the Bible. Section III, On the Doctrines of the 
 Bible. Section IV, Church Organization and Government. Sec- 
 tion V, Ecclesiastical History. So far as I know this examination 
 was entirely satisfactory. The appointments were read out and I 
 was returned to Old Point. During this year, as I have already 
 stated, my health began to fail, and I had to contemplate the 
 propriety of asking, at the hands of the Conference a rest for one 
 year. I made it a subject of special prayer and sought direction 
 from him who heareth in secret. The year closed up in peace 
 and success in the interests of the church. The approaching 
 Conference was to be held in the City of Portsmouth, Virginia. 
 When it convened I made my request known, which was granted, 
 though not without an expression of regret by the Presiding 
 Bishop, Doctor Jesse T. Peck. I took a supernumerary relation 
 with the understanding that I was to return to the work the next 
 year. I then moved to New Town, now Pocomoke City, and 
 commenced fitting up a resting place. In October, of this year I 
 received a letter from the Presiding Elder, of Richmond District, 
 inquiring whether or not I could take charge of Vienna Circuit, 
 which was left vacant by the former pastor, who had left his post. 
 Immediately, I answered that I would, and, as soon, thereafter, as 
 I could get ready, I started for the work. This Circuit embraced 
 
38 A Brief History of the Author^ s Life. 
 
 five appointments. The extremes were Fairfax Court House and 
 Lewinville. The intennediates were Flint Hill, Vienna and Fre- 
 dom Hill. When I went on this Circuit, I intended to enter the 
 eflfective ranks again at Conference, but having to travel that Cir- 
 cuit on foot in the winter, through snow, rain and mud, I took 
 such a cold in my head, which went down on my throat forming 
 severe ulcers accompanied with chills and fevers, which com- 
 pletely unfitted me for further service. I was peremptorily advised 
 by my physician to go home and take care of myself. In view of 
 this state of things I was compelled to ask the Conference to con- 
 tinue my relation as Supernumerary. This time the Conference 
 was held in Alexandria, Va., in February, 1876. From that time 
 to the present, I have held my membership in the Conference as a 
 Supernumerary. Now while the shadows of evening gather 
 around me and admonish me that the most of my life work is 
 already done, I review the past and call up, in memory, the days 
 of my childhood, when I bowed at the knees of my mother and 
 learned to say : "Our Father who art in heaven," and : "Now I 
 lay me down to sleep." When I think of my childish sports and 
 plays with my brothers and sisters, at the old homestead ; and my 
 young associates, with whom I used to play on the old hill, which 
 is now the Public Square. When I call to mind the time when I 
 married my wife, the companion of my youth and the mother of 
 my children, and that it was here that most of the struggles of life 
 have accorred, in supporting my family. As I call up in memory 
 my dearest ones, who are no more with me here, but whose 
 mouldering dust sleeps in their graves, in the burying ground of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. When I think of my early 
 christian association with many, with whom I took sweet counsel 
 in christian fellowship, who have crossed the river before me, and 
 are now in the l)ettcr land, around whose dying beds I have stood 
 and witnessed their last shouts of victoiy as they passed away. I 
 say, in reviewing the past, I am constrained to say out of a full 
 
A Brief HUtory of the Author's Life. 39 
 
 heart, with good will to all my fellow citizens, and malice towards 
 none, Oh! New Town, New Town, now Pocomoke City; with 
 all thy faults I love thee still. 
 
 JAMES MURRAY. 
 
HISTORY OF' POGOMOKE) GiTY 
 FORMERLY NEW TOWN, 
 
 ITS ORIGIN AND T O \A/^ N LIMITS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 In writing a history of New Town, I have been no httle 
 perplexed in gathering up evidence in regard to its origin. 
 There is, however, one item ot historical fact which gives 
 some clue to it, namely : A certain Col William Stevens, 
 who was, probably, staff officer to Lord Baltimore, estab- 
 lished in 1670 what has since been called, for many years. 
 Stevens' Ferry. 
 
 A scrap of Col. Stevens' history may not be out ot place 
 here. He had a grant from Lord Baltimore to take up all 
 the lands from the mouth of the Pocomoke River to Lewis- 
 town, Delaware, and setde the same, which he did, with 
 a colony of Welsh, Irish and English. He was one of 
 Lord Baltimore's counsellors, was Judge of Somerset Court 
 for twenty two years, and departed this life the 23d day 
 of December, in 1687, in the fifty-seventh year of his age. 
 
 The reader will rememl)er that, originally, Somerset 
 County embraced all of Worcester County too, and the 
 Court House stood on the rise of ground, on Edwin 
 Townsend's farm, in Somerset County, at the junction of 
 Cokes Bury and Snow Hill roads, leading to Dividing 
 Creek Bridge. Indeed, the farm, from our earliest recol- 
 lection, until recently, has been called Court House Farm, 
 but now the nan^.e is becoming obsolete. 
 
Formerly New Town. 41 
 
 Steven's Ferry reached from the Somerset side of Poco- 
 T«noke River, adjoining the Phosphate Factory of Freeman, 
 Xloyd, Mason and Dry den, to the foot of the Pocomoke 
 IBridge, on the Worcester side. 
 
 This Ferry was the center of business for this whole sec- 
 "tion of the country. 
 
 The country on both sides of the river was, with some 
 -exceptions, a dense wilderness. 
 
 The historical fact of Stevens' Ferry being erected in 
 1670 will serve as a nucleus with which to associate the 
 '■history of New Town. 
 
 All other evidence, which I have been able to obtain 
 .relative to the origin of the place is traditional. 
 
 Tradition says : About the time or shortly after the 
 •erection of Stevens' Ferry a New England trader came up 
 ;.the Pocomoke River in his vessel, ladened with New 
 England Rum and Cheese, and sought a landing at the 
 Perry, to sell his cargo, but the authorities drove him oft", 
 .and he dropped his vessel down the river to the next knoll 
 on the Worcester side, which we used to call the Hill, but 
 is now called the Public Square. 
 
 Here he pitched his tent and traded with the sparse 
 inhabitants, as they would come with their produce to 
 4:rade for Rum and Cheese. 
 
 The reader must conclude, of course, that the plank 
 lent which he put up was the only house, or substitute for 
 a house, in the neighborhood ; all around him were forest 
 trees, between him and the river were mud flats and 
 ;tuckahoes. 
 
42 History of PocomoJce City, 
 
 Tradition goes on further to say : That about the year- 
 1683 or '84 the place was then called Meeting House Land- 
 ing, in view of the saying that a Presbyterian House of 
 Worship was erected on the lot which was called, when I 
 was a boy, the Sacher Lot, a nick name for Zachariah, as. 
 the lot then belonged to one Zachariah Lambertson, but: 
 now belonging to William J. S. Glarke, known of late- 
 years as the Adreon Lot, at the foot of Willow St. 
 
 "History states that about the year 1680, a petition was- 
 gotten up by Colonel William Slevens and others, and' 
 sent to the Presbytery of Laggan, Ireland, for a Minister^ 
 to come and settle in this part of the Colony to preach the 
 Gospel and look after the interests of the Presbyterian 
 Church in these western wilds." 
 
 " In 1682 the Rev. Francis Makemie, was sent to the 
 Colony, a man of celebrity, under whose supervision and' 
 oversight, tradition says, this house was built. 
 
 About the year 1700, the Tobacco Warehouse was built.. 
 
 Tobacco having been made a legal tender by the House- 
 of Burgesses, and a fixed price per pound established, for- 
 all debts, public and private, the warehouse became the 
 place of deposit for the circulating medium. 
 
 At this juncture of time, the name of the place was* 
 changed from Meeting House Landing to Warehouse: 
 Landing, or both may alternately have been used. Why 
 the change was made, whether the log Church had beeiia 
 abandoned or not, is all left to conjecture. 
 
 I remember, well, the old Tobacco Warehouse, it stoodJ 
 about 120 years, and when it was torn down there was; 
 
Formerly New Town. 43 
 
 good material in it, and though I was but a child, yet I had 
 many a romp and play in it, with my little associates, in 
 hide-and-go-seek. It's large tobacco hogsheads, and 
 and scales, and weights are still fresh in my memory. It 
 stood on the hill, between the pump and the south-west 
 corner of Smullen & Bro's., Store. 
 
 From 1700 to the days of the Revolution, there is no 
 evidence that I have been able to obtain, either historical 
 or traditional, in regard to New Town. 
 
 There are some few facts, however, which are within the 
 writer's own knowledge, which may serve as reminiscences 
 of that period, and fill up in some little degree the place 
 of the lost history. I allude to some few old houses,, 
 which were probably coeval with the Old Tobacco Ware- 
 house, one or two of which stood on the ground, now 
 occupied by Smullen & Brother's Storehouse, one adjoining 
 the ground now occupied by Twilly & Brother's Livery 
 Stables, inhabited by an old lady by the name of Elizabeth 
 Matthews. There were three or four more, only one of 
 which I shall call the reader's attention to, which was a 
 small red house, and stood on the south-west corner of 
 Market and Second Streets. In this house a Revo- 
 lutionary Soldier lived by the name of Daniel Spaulding. 
 
 These houses served as land marks, pointing to the 
 period from 1700 to 1776, and show conclusively that they 
 were once occupied by those who have long since passed 
 away, and, so far as we have been able to ascertain, have 
 left no tidings behind them. 
 
44 History of Pocomohe City 
 
 The reader is already aware that this place was called 
 Ware House Landing, and that name continued until 1780 
 or thereabouts, when it was changed to New Town. There 
 is no record of the fact, why, or by whom the change was 
 made. I remember about forty years ago, of having an 
 interview with a man by the name of Reville, who said 
 that he gave to this place the name of New Town. Be 
 that as it may, there are some reflections presumptive of 
 the fact. He was at the time of the interview eighty or 
 ninety years old, so that at the time the place was named, he 
 was twenty or twenty-five years old, admitting the fact 
 that he was not a conspicuous man in the community, and 
 that such changes generally take place by men of distinc- 
 tion, yet it will be remembered that the inhabitants of the 
 place were very few, and the surrounding country sparsely 
 settled, so that there is a possibility that his statement is 
 true, though I leave the reader to form his own con- 
 clusions, 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 TOWN LIMITS. 
 
 We w^ill now proceed to consider the geographical 
 position or town limits of the place. 
 
 There were no incorporate lines encircling it then as we 
 have now, so that I shall have to prescribe them for the 
 town as it existed as late as 1820. As the Hill or Public 
 Square was the center of the town, the reader will start 
 with me from this place, and go out Front Street as far as 
 the Bridge Causeway, or Colonel Merrill's property, thence 
 
Formerly New Town. 45 
 
 take a straight course to the corner of Market and Second 
 Streets, thence out Second to Willow Street, thence down 
 Willow to the junction of Willow and Front Streets, thence 
 on Front to the Hill or Public Square. 
 
 These limits may be safely considered as the boundary 
 lines of New Town as late as the above date. In order to 
 have a more perfect view of the place, at this date, we will 
 begin with a description of its County Wharf, Public 
 Square, Streets and Houses. The County Wharf lies 
 directly between Messrs. Clark, and Smullen & Brother's 
 granaries, and is twenty-eight feet long. I have tried to 
 find the date when this wharf was built, by having the 
 record of Worcester and Somerset counties both searched, 
 but have failed ; the presumption is, however, that it's 
 date reaches back to 1700, which is the date of the build- 
 ing of the Tobacco Warehouse. The reader may now 
 stand upon this wharf and contemplate the fact, that sixty 
 years ago there was naught on either side of it, but bramble, 
 tuckahoes and mud flats. It is true there was a shoal or 
 canoe landing at the foot of Willow Street, more in the 
 direction of Fontain's ice house, where we used to fasten 
 our canoes, and also a landing at the old Shipyard : tlie 
 same place that is used as a shipyard by James T. Young. 
 The Public Square or Hill, as we used to call it, was 
 sixty years ago, a hill of some prominence, but time has 
 leveled it. It was then, as now, entirely surrounded by 
 houses, though of a different character, while now they 
 are all business houses ; then they were all family resi- 
 
46 History of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 dences, with one or two exceptions, consequently the hill 
 was the center of the town for business and social life. 
 
 Here the men and boys would meet in the evenings and 
 have their sports, plays and social pastimes ; here, too, the 
 merchants would pile their lumber, consisting of planks, 
 laths, &c. Here, on this hill, I have witnessed many a 
 hard fight, and many funny scenes. 
 
 There were four principal streets, which were called 
 roads, namely : Market Street, which was called Virginia 
 road ; Second Street, which was called Cedar Hall Road ; 
 Front Street, winding round into Linden Street and 
 onward, was called the Snow Hill Road ; and lastly, the 
 old Ferry Road, which had its convergence in the Snow 
 Hill Road, leading to the Hill or Public Square. There 
 were two or three other streets, which were of minor 
 importance, only one of which might be reqognized as a 
 public thorough-fare, and that was Willow Street. 
 
 Within the limits of the town, there were twenty-eight 
 dwelling houses and seven or eight business houses com- 
 prising stores and mechanical shops. Outside of those 
 limits, there were five houses, occupied by families, which 
 might be considered suburban residences. 
 
 The old Methodist Episcopal Church that stood on the 
 site of the present one, which now is in the heart of the 
 town, w<is then in the suburbs, in full conformity with the 
 old custom to put the Church out of town. 
 
 The houses were mostly one story high, they were 
 built out of good material, and in workmanlike order, for 
 those days. Some were finished inside with beautiful 
 
Jbormerly New Town, 47 
 
 panel work, others again were lathed and plastered, while 
 many were never finished at all. 
 
 In order to ascertain the population of the town, we 
 may calculate five to a family, the probabilities of which 
 the reader can determine, as well as myself, we have then 
 within its limits one hundred and forty-persons ; if we 
 include the five suburban families, on the same basis, we 
 have twenty-five more, making the aggregate one hundred 
 and sixty-five persons living in New Town and its precincts 
 as late as 1820. I have thus given a description of New 
 Town, of its County Wharf, Public Square, Houses, 
 Streets, and Town Limits, up to 1820, and shall close this 
 part of the history by saying that the old Tobacco Ware- 
 house, which had served its day during Colonial times, 
 was, after the independence of the Colonies and the 
 establishment of the currency of the Republic in dollars 
 and cents, left to decay, and having stood until about 18 19 
 was finally torn down. 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 GROWTH, CHANGE OF NAME, ETC, 
 
 Of the enlargement and general improvement of the 
 "4:own, from 1820 to the present time, (1882.) 
 
 For the first two decades there was no advancement of 
 .any extent in this direction. 
 
 From 1840 to i860, enterprise seemed to lay its hand 
 mpon New Town and claim it for its subject. New build- 
 ings were erected, of modern taste, comprising store 
 3iouses, dwelling houses, churches and an academy ; some 
 
48 Hist'Ty of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 of them reaching out into the suburbs. For all the: 
 country from the corner of Market and Second Streets, all- 
 around, was unoccupied save a few dwellings which were- 
 scattering. 
 
 Where the Protcstani Episcopal and Methodist Pro- 
 testant Churches now stand, together with all other- 
 houses on the eastern side of Market Street, was a farm,, 
 and the old homestead was where Captain Isaac N. Veasey 
 now lives. All the country on the south-west side of" 
 Market Street, sa\e a few unimportant small dwellings,, 
 was cultivated lots and woods. All the land from Littleton^ 
 Duer's coner, the south-eastern side of Second Street,, 
 running to Cedar street, embracing the high school and. 
 beyond, was a field in which I have worked many a day,, 
 when a little boy. "hoeing corn." 
 
 "In 1865, an act of incorporation was secured, and in it: 
 full power and authority was given the Town Commis- 
 sioners to widt n and straighten old streets, and to lay out; 
 and construct new ones, and to perform such other acts, 
 as, in their judgment, might be required to secure the- 
 health, happiness and prosperity of the town." 
 
 " At the first election held under this charter, the people 
 <hose C. C. Lloyd, W. S. C. Polk, Charles Marshall,. 
 Joseph Riley and W. J. Long, for Town Commissioners,, 
 all good and active men, who soon showed, by their acts,, 
 that they were intent on improvements." 
 
 " They appointed a commission composed of Edward; 
 S. Young, Dr. John L. PI earn, and William S. Dickinson,, 
 to make a survey of the town, and to straighten and wideix. 
 
Formerly New Town. 49^ 
 
 the old streets and lay out several new ones. They per- 
 formed their duty promptly and well, and soon the town? 
 began to assume something like proportion and regularity. 
 No one, unacquainted with New Town at that period, 
 can imagine the vast changes and improvements made by 
 these acts." 
 
 The above quotations I have taken from Dr. John T. B. 
 McMaster's Centennial Address, delivered before the 
 people of Pocomoke City, on the 4th of July, 1876. 
 
 The reader will learn that the above commission 
 extended the limits of New Town about three-fourths of a 
 mile, in every direction, from the Public Square, save from 
 its north-western course, as in that direction it is bounded 
 by the Pocomoke river, upon whose southern side the 
 town lies. 
 
 From 1865 down to the present day, progress, unprece- 
 dented by the past, has marked its course, so that now we 
 have in New Town, or Pocomoke City, well laid out. 
 streets, some of which are macadamized and contribute, 
 in no little degree, to the enjoyment of an evening drive. 
 There are within the limits of the corporation about two 
 hundred and twenty-five houses, comprising dwellings, 
 store houses, mechanical shops, steam mills, churches, the 
 Clark house and high-school building, both of which are 
 ornaments to the place. Indeed, the high-school building 
 is of such a character as to call forth, in terms of praise,. 
 the declaration from the Superintendant of PubHc Schools 
 of Maryland, in an address, delivered before the citizens- 
 of New Town, that "it was the finest school building on 
 the Eastern Shore of Maryland." 
 
so Histori) of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 The dwelling houses are of modern style, and are, with 
 few exceptions, fine buildings, indeed, some of them are 
 ■of a palatial character, while the churches, seven in num- 
 ber, are all good buildings, and amply accommodate, with 
 seats, the church going people of Pocomoke City. 
 
 Before closing our history of New Town, in its buildings 
 and general improvements, from its earliest history to the 
 present, we are compelled to record the fact, that its old 
 name is no more, it has passed away, together with its 
 former inhabitants, and they all lie in the grave together. 
 
 The reader will be informed that the citizens of the 
 place, by an almost unanimous request, petitioned the 
 Legislature of Maryland for a new name, setting forth in 
 that petition their desire that it should be called Pocomoke 
 City, and by an action of the General Assembly of Mary- 
 land, held in 1878, it was so named. 
 
 The credit of this change is due chiefly to the Rev. T. 
 O. Ayres, who was the prime mover in the whole affair. 
 
 Now we take rank with other names of modern date 
 
 and with modern advancement, with a population of 
 
 1500 inhabitants. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 MERCANTILE ASPECT. 
 
 In presenting the Mercantile aspect of New Town, 
 now Pocomoke City, I shall give with it, a brief sketch of 
 the lives of many who have been and are still engaged in 
 the sale of goods. 
 
 I have no information of any merchant in New Town 
 earlier than 1790 or 1800. 
 
ForTnerly New Town. 51 
 
 During that period, there was a Frenchman, by the 
 name of Boozee, who settled In New Town, and com- 
 menced the sale of goods. 
 
 He lived on the lot which faces on Market, Front and 
 Willow Streets ; his store was on the corner of Market 
 :and Front Streets. 
 
 How long he was engaged In the trade I have no 
 information ; he was a man of some wealth, and when he 
 
 • died, Colonel Levin Pollett settled his estate. He had a 
 wife and one child, his wife died some time after him ; 
 they were both buried on the lot where they lived. What 
 became of the daughter I have no information. 
 
 In 1803 Michael Murray settled in New Town, and 
 
 • commenced the sale of goods; his dwelling and store 
 house both were on the lot where William J. S. Clarkenow 
 
 lives. He was also engaged in the shipping business. He 
 sold goods until 18 18 when he retired from mercantile 
 life. He accumulated considerable property. For several 
 years after he retired from the busy whirl of mercantile 
 life, he served as Post- Master for New Town. 
 
 In 1827, he moved to the City of Baltimore, where in 
 1 83 1, he died, being at the time of his death sixty-nine 
 ■years of age. 
 
 Somewhere near 1803, Edward Stevenson settled In 
 New Town, and commenced merchandising. He lived on 
 the lot where Mrs. Mary Merrill now lives. His store- 
 house was on the Hargis lot adjoining William Redden's 
 liouse. Afterwards he built the store house, where Town- 
 ••send and Stevenson sell goods, at the corner of Front 
 
62 History of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 Street and Public Square ; here he continued store keep- 
 ing until he died, which event took place in 1816. 
 
 Sometime after he came to New Town, he built the 
 dwelling house now occupied by his grandson, Jacob 
 Stevenson, and lived in it until his death. He left a widow" 
 and six children. He also amassed considerable wealth, 
 and left each one of his children a handsome property. 
 His tomb is in the Methodist Episcopal Church burying 
 ground, of this place, with the following inscription upon: 
 the marble slab that covers his remains : 
 
 " In memory of Edward Stevenson, who was born, 
 February 14th, 1771, and died the 22nd day of September,. 
 18 16, aged fourty-five years, seven months and eight- 
 days." 
 
 During the time aforesaid, there were several other 
 stores in New Town, kept by Jesse Henderson, Stephen 
 Redden, Joshua Sturgis, and a young man by the name of 
 Bounds; but Michael Murray and Edward Stevenson were: 
 the leading merchants of their day. 
 
 The articles of merchandise, by the leading stores, were 
 the finest dress goods, such as silks, satins, cambrics, Irish, 
 linen, broad cloths, cassimeres, together with all other dry 
 goods, hardware, crockeryware, and a general stock of 
 groceries and spirituous liquors. 
 
 The other stores dealt in groceries, liquors and the more- 
 common dry goods. 
 
 As Jesse Henderson, Stephen Redden and Joshua. 
 Sturgis were old citizens of New Town, it is but just tc^- 
 
Formerly New Town. 53 
 
 their memory that the following tribute should here be 
 inserted : 
 
 Jesse Henderson was a ship carpenter by trade; when 
 he commenced the sale of goods, and how long he was 
 engaged in it, 1 have no knowledge. With him, his wife, 
 •daughter and grandchildren, I have been most intimately 
 acquainted. He was an honest, upright man in his deal- 
 ings, very retired in his disposition, and highly respected 
 by the entire community. He was great grandfather to 
 Edward H. Clarke and Mrs. Mary Quinn. He died in 
 1832 or '33, and his remains rest in the old Long Burying 
 Ground, on the /arm now occupied by William W. Quinn, 
 where the most of the Long family, who have deceased, 
 are buried. 
 
 His wife, aunt Polly Henderson, for so we used to call 
 Jier, was a most exemplary woman, I knew her well from 
 my infancy to the time of her death. 
 
 While I am giving some account of her husband, I feel 
 it due to her name to say that she was my ideal of a model 
 wife. She was a keeper-at-home, no gadder-about, no 
 tattler, no busy-body in other people's business. I never 
 "heard her speak an unkind word of any one; always had a 
 •pleasant word and pleasant face. 
 
 She died in a good old age, and was buried in the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church Burying ground, of this 
 •place. 
 
 Stephen Redden sold goods, in New Town, for many 
 years, and, although his stock in trade was not so exten- 
 sive as the heaviest merchants, yet his business yielded 
 
64: History of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 him a comfortable support. He raised an intelligent: 
 family of children, one of which was considered to be the 
 smartest young man in New Town, in his day ; I allude to- 
 his son, George S. Redden, whose history will be givert 
 under another heading. 
 
 Stephen Redden was a good citizen, peaceable, inoffen- 
 sive, and full of fun ; he was somewhat beyond middle life 
 when he died. He was buried in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church burying ground, in New Town. 
 
 Joshua Sturgis was one of the best of men, and his wife 
 was equally as good as he was. They were the salt of the 
 earth in all that was good and great ; great in the sense of 
 natural and mental gifts, for they raised a family of boys,, 
 whose talents for mathematics have never been excelled 
 by any boys raised in New Town. They both passed 
 away, at a good old age, as ripe shocks of corn ready for 
 the garner. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 MERCANTILE ASPECT (CONTINUED).. 
 
 After the death of Edward Stevenson, David Long; 
 who was his chief clerk, married his widow, setded his 
 estate, and commenced merchandising, in his own name, 
 at the same stand where he had been clerking. 
 
 He sold goods until 1832, during which year he died. 
 He was buried on his father's farm, at present occupied by- 
 William W. Quinn. 
 
 Upon his tomb stone is the following inscription : 
 
 " In memory of David Long, who was born the 23rd 
 
Formerly New Town. 55- 
 
 day of November, 1788, and died the 4th day of May, 
 1832, Aged forty-three years, five months, and elevea 
 days." 
 
 "O ye whose cheek the tear of pity stains, 
 
 Draw near with pious reverence and attend. 
 Here lie the loving husband's dear remains, 
 
 The tender father and the generous friend, 
 The pitying heart that felt for human woe, 
 
 The dauntless heart that feared no human pride. 
 The friend of man, to vice alone a foe ; 
 For even his failings leaned to virtue's side." 
 
 As David Long was one of the most successful mer- 
 chants in the early history of New Town, it is but just to- 
 his memory that a brief sketch of his life should here be 
 inserted. 
 
 He was born the 23rd day of November, ryyS, and 
 reared on his father's farm undl he entered Edward. 
 Stevenson's store as clerk. 
 
 How old he was when this change in his life took place 
 we are left to conjecture, at all events he must have been 
 quite a large boy. 
 
 As it was attended with no little difficulty in getting 
 even the rudiments of an education, in those days, it is. 
 presumable that the advantages which he had in the store, 
 in the use of the pen, and figures, was of great service to 
 him in developing his latent powers as an accountant. He 
 commenced business for himself when he was twenty- 
 seven years old, and for sixteen years he applied himself 
 closely to business. When he died, in 1832, he had 
 
.56 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 amassed, what might be called, an Eastern Shore fortune, 
 the probable sum of $40,000. 
 
 He was a man of even temperament, with an amiable 
 •disposition, polite, obliging, and very winning in his man- 
 ners, consequently he was very popular ; indeed, he had 
 won the respect and confidence of the entire surrounding 
 country, and it would have been a futile effort in anyone 
 to have sought to divide the patronage that went into his 
 :Store. 
 
 Captain John W. Long commenced the mercantile 
 business, in New Town, in 1815. During this year^he 
 married Miss Sally Laws Henderson, a young lady of 
 Intellectual culture and high moral worth. 
 
 Captain Long was a brother to David Long and was 
 his senior by two years. While yet a youth he chose 
 the life of a sailor, and made his first voyage to Amster- 
 dam, in a brig built on the dividing creek. He rose, from 
 "before the mast, to be captain of a ship. 
 
 During the Berlin and Milan decrees, under Napoleon 
 Bonaparte, he was taken prisoner and carried to Naples ; 
 upon his release, he returned home, and, as already 
 -stated, he commenced merchandising in New Town. 
 
 His store ranked as first-class, though he did not do 
 "business to the extent that his brother David did. He 
 •was engaged in the sale of goods nineteen years. He was 
 the father of four children, only two of whom are now 
 living : Rev. John D. Long and David H. Long, and was 
 grandfather of William W. aud John L. Quinn. 
 
Formerly New Toion. 57 
 
 Captain Long was an intelligent, unassuming and 
 strictly honest man. He was the poor man's friend, a kind 
 husband and father, and died honored and loved by all who 
 knew him. I have the following from the old family 
 Bible, now in the posession of William W. Quinn : 
 
 ^'Captain John W. Long, was born the 22nd day of 
 October, 1786, near New Town, and died the 27th day of 
 May, 1834, in the 48th year of his age. 
 
 There were other stores in New Town at the time of 
 which I have been speaking, namely : Jacob Riggin and 
 John Burnett, doing business under the firm of Riggirk 
 & Burnett ; their store ranked as first-class. 
 
 The others were kept by Samuel Carey, McKimmie 
 Lecompte, father of the venerable James Lecompte, of 
 Snow Hill ; and Nicholas Jones. John Burnett was uncle 
 to William S. Dickinson, Mrs. Sally Blain and Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Hughes ; and was the best penman in New 
 Town, in his day. He finally moved to the City of Balti- 
 more, where he died. 
 
 John S. Stevenson succeeded David Long, and com- 
 menced the sale of goods in 1833. He sold goods about 
 nine years, when he retired from mercantile life. 
 
 Mr. Stevenson was very popular, indeed, he was the 
 leading spirit of the place, in his day, he seemed to seek 
 more the public good than his own emolument. 
 
 He was quite a mechanical genius, could construct 
 almost any agricultural implement that would make labor 
 easier, and in this direction he was much sought after. 
 
58 History of Pocomolce City, 
 
 In 1833, he conceived the idea of stretching a rope 
 across the river, at Steven's Ferry, by which the propul- 
 sion of the ferry boat was conducted with greater ease. 
 
 Before this event, the boat was propelled by oars, which 
 mode of crossing, in stormy weather, was attended with 
 great danger. 
 
 He had a high sense of moral rectitude, was strictly 
 honest in his dealings, was a warm friend, and out-spoken 
 and un-compromising in his denunciations of those he 
 conceived to be in the wrong. 
 
 In 1854, he went to the state of Missouri, and in 1867 he 
 died, in the city of Hannibal, in the 60th year of his age. 
 
 About the year 1833, Colonel William H. Merrill com- 
 menced merchandising, in New Town, he was also engaged 
 in the shipping business ; he had an extensive trade, and 
 made considerable money ; he sold goods about thirty 
 years, and retired from active life. 
 
 Colonel Merrill was a native of Worcester County, 
 served an apprenticeship at the hatting business with Jacob 
 Rogers, in the city of Baltimore. 
 
 He commenced the hatting business for himself in Snow 
 Hill, married Miss Eliza Stevenson, of this place, and 
 jnoved here, where he continued the hatting business until 
 the above named period, when he commenced to sell 
 :goods. 
 
 He was quite a business man, accommodating, obliging, 
 polite, and dignified in his manners ; was a warm friend 
 and quite genial in social bearing. 
 
iFortrierly New Town. 59 
 
 He lived to a good old age, and died at home, in the 
 imidst of his friends, at the age of seventy-two years ; his 
 a-emains were deposited in the Protestant Episcopal Church. 
 JBurying Ground, of this place. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MERCANTILE ASPECT (CONTINUED). 
 
 During John S. Stevenson's mercantile life, there were 
 other stores in the place, namely : William R. Truitt, 
 Burroughs & Davis, Maddux & Fields, James Stevenson, 
 -and probably others. Some of them did quite a heavy 
 ^business. They were all good citizens and their trade 
 yielded them a fair income. 
 
 There is only one of this number that I shall give an 
 -extended account of, and this is James Stevenson, and it is 
 ^because of the novelty of his case. 
 
 He commenced to sell goods at an early date, in New 
 'Town, prior to this, however, he taught school. 
 
 I have heard it said of him that he commenced mer- 
 'chandising on a capital of eighty dollars. His store, of 
 •course, was a small affair, but his trade was sufficient to 
 ■give him a comfortable living. He dealt principally in 
 sugar, coffee, molasses, pork, liquor, tobacco and a few of 
 the coarser dry goods. He was magistrate during a great 
 part of his mercantile life. 
 
 He went by the name of little Jimmie, in consequence 
 of his being small of stature. 
 
 He sold goods for thirty years, during all that time he 
 raever visited the city, but purchased his goods by proxy^ 
 
60 History of Pocomoke Oityy 
 
 He died 1861, aged sixty-seven years, and liis tomb* 
 stands in the Presbyterian Cemetery, of Pocomoke City. 
 
 In 1840, Grove & Harris bought out the stock in trade: 
 of John S. Stevenson, and pursued the mercantile business* 
 until 1844, when they retired. 
 
 In 1844, William J. S. Clarke and William H. T.Clarvoe- 
 united in co-partnership, in the sale of goods, in New- 
 Town, under the firm of Clarke & Clarvoe, which firrrt 
 continued successfully for eight years, when by mutual> 
 consent they dissolved partnership. 
 
 Mr. Clarke, at slight intervals, has conducted a business- 
 on a large scale ever since; part of the time by himself 
 and the balance of the time with his son, Edward H_ 
 Clarke, and his brother John H. Clarke. 
 
 His business career runs nearly thirty-eight years. 
 
 He built the first steamboat, the first Marine railway^ 
 and the first three masted schooner on the Eastern Shore^ 
 He has during his time built from forty to fifty vessels^ 
 During the last sixteen years he has, in common with his. 
 brother, run the steam mill business and Marine railway^ 
 which have done an average business of $40,000 annually. 
 He owns ten thousand acres of land, some of it is ini. 
 fine estates. 
 
 He also owns thirty houses and lots, and amongst 
 them is the well known Clarke House, which is one of the 
 first Hotels on the Eastern Shore. He is also one of the 
 directors and stockholders of the Eastern Shore Steam- 
 boat Company. He has been twice married, his first wife 
 
Formerly New Town. 61 
 
 "was Miss Amanda C. Clarvoe, daughter of the well-known 
 Dr. John B. H. W. Clarvoe ; his second wife was Miss Eliza- 
 beth A. Hargis, daughter of Thomas M. Hargis. He has 
 ifour children, two by each wife. 
 
 It will be no detriment to Mr. Clarke to say that he was 
 ;a poor boy. He was born the twenty-third day of June, 
 J 823, in Somerset county, near tl\is place. His mother 
 »died when he was two weeks old ; he was then taken and 
 Taised by Captain Robert W. Swan, whose wife was a 
 relative of his mother. 
 
 Captain Swan, being a New Englander and a sea cap- 
 ttain was well educated : consequently he was well pre- 
 pared to give Mr. Clarke a liberal education, for those days* 
 which he did. 
 
 Mr. Clarke began his mercantile life with John S. 
 Stevenson, in the fall of 1838, in the fifteenth year of his 
 age. He remained with Mr. Stevenson two years. In 
 1840, he went to New Orleans at the age of seventeen 
 years, and remained there until 1844, when he returned 
 again to New Town and commenced to do business for 
 himself as before stated. 
 
 In Mr. Clarke's case, we can see what can be done by 
 a man of push, who is determined to succeed, for he had 
 aiothing to commence on but the wide world in which to 
 ply his active mind, and this scrap of his life shows how 
 well he has played his part. 
 
 There are two features of his character that are 
 Tworthy of notice : 
 
 'The first is, that he is an indomitable worker, always 
 
62 History of Pocomolce Cityy 
 
 full of business and always at business. The second is, ara 
 ardent desire to promote his friends. 
 
 About 1835, Joseph Fisher engaged in the sale of 
 goods in New Town, he occupied the old stand of his 
 father-in-law, Stephen Redden, for several years and then, 
 moved to the city of Baltimore. 
 
 Between 1844 and 1850, there were several other- 
 stores in New Town, such as : William Tcwnsend, Irving 
 Merrill, William T. Hearn, Oliver Jones, J. Francis Hen- 
 derson and David H. Long, doing business under the- 
 firm of Henderson and Long, Quinn and Sturgis, Ashcraft 
 and Risley ; after a while David Long drew out of the- 
 firm of Henderson and Long, and Henderson took as a. 
 partner, George W. Hargis, then James Sturgis as a third 
 partner. After continuing sometime Henderson bought 
 out Hargis and Sturgis and transacted business by himself; 
 after continuing by himself for sometime, he took as part- 
 ners his brother Henry Henderson and Levin Conner. 
 
 During this partnership J. Francis Henderson died^ 
 then Henry Henderson and Levin Conner conducted the 
 business for two years, when Conner sold out to Hender- 
 son, then Henry Henderson transacted business in his own. 
 name for five years or until 1S65, when he closed out. 
 
 All the above named stores were first-class stores, and 
 the proprietors were all highly reputable men ; they have 
 all passed away except Henry Henderson and LevirL 
 Conner, who are still living in this place, and David H^ 
 Long, who lives in the City of Baltimore, and is engagecfi 
 
Formerly New Town. 63 
 
 in a very extensive wholesale phosphate house, as general 
 agent. 
 
 Mr. Long is something over fifty years of age, of 
 high moral character, of tried integrity, and has ever been 
 found faithful to all trusts committed to his care, and is 
 worthy of any position of trust and responsibility which 
 may be placed in his hands. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MERCANTILE ASPECT (CONTINUED.) 
 
 In 1843, Captain Henry Long commenced merchan- 
 dising, in New Town, and continued until 1855, in which 
 year he died. His store was considered the poor man's 
 store to deal at; he always kept a heavy stock of groceries, 
 and sold his goods lower than others. 
 
 It was said by some that there was no chance for other 
 merchants in New Town, as long as Captain Long sold 
 goods. His eventful life is worthy of notice in this history ; 
 in many respects he was a remarkable man ; he com- 
 menced life a poor boy, with but litde education, engaged 
 as cook on board of a schooner, and continued the life of 
 a sailor until he was 63 years of age. He then engaged in 
 the sale of goods until he died. He rose from the position 
 of cook to be master and owner of his vessel. While 
 engaged in the vessel trade he amassed considerable wealth. 
 
 Captain Long, though comparatively uneducated, had 
 studied human nature, and had as large a share of the 
 knowledge of men as the most scientific. His was a 
 
64 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 decided character ; integrity marked the whole course of 
 
 his life. 
 
 He was true to his engagements. No one ever feared 
 that Captain Long would not meet his word. He was 
 also kind and benevolent. Many a dollar he has given 
 to the poor ; he took a real pleasure in accommodating 
 and helping those who were in need. 
 
 Captain Harry long, for so we used to call him, was a 
 bachelor; and, as a matter of course, his associations were 
 with the young folks. He was also quite eccentric ; 
 would make it a point to go to church at least twice a 
 year, when the preacher would come on the circuit, and 
 _go again to hear his farewell discourse. 
 
 On one occasion he went out to church ; it so happened 
 that the young preacher had the first appoint. Captain 
 Long took his seat as usual near the door. After the 
 sermon was over the young men gathered around him 
 and asked him how he liked the discourse. Captain 
 Long had a by-word, very pat, which he called " By 
 Jing," and he was much in the habit of smacking his 
 mouth and shrugging his shoulders in conversation. 
 When he was asked, " How did you like the discourse ? " 
 he replied : " O ! by jing, boys," with a smack of the 
 mouth and shrug of the shoulders, " that other preacher 
 is a big preacher." 
 
 " How do you know, Capt. Long, have you ever heard 
 him ? " " No, by jing, I have never heard him, but I will 
 tell you what I go by. They generally send them like 
 shad — a big one and a little one together." 
 
Formerly New Town. 65 
 
 Captain Long was full of fun for the young folks. 
 Sometimes he tried his talent at poetry, for instance, the 
 following as a sample : 
 
 "As she slips she slides along, 
 A trusty friend is hard to find." 
 
 He was thoughtful and kind to the poor. He left in 
 his will the sum* of $2,500 to be appropriated towards 
 educating the poor children in and around New Town. 
 This sum was appropriated by the Commissioners or the 
 School Board of the county, by and with the consent of 
 the heirs of Captain Long, to the erection of the High 
 School building in New Town. 
 
 As this departure from the will was made, it was but 
 just to the memory of Captain Long that the building 
 should have been called the Henry Long High School. 
 
 Captain Henry Long was brother to Captain John W. 
 Long and David Long, and was the oldest of the three. 
 
 When he died he was by his own request, buried in a 
 pine coffin, by the side of his sister, Polly Henderson, in 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church burying ground of New 
 Town. 
 
 The following inscription may be found upon the 
 marble slab that covers his remains : 
 
 " In memory of Henry Long, who was born the 27th 
 of April, 1780, and died the 3rd day of January, 1855. 
 Kind to the poor in his life, in death their wants were 
 not forgotten." 
 
 In 1855, John P. Hargis and William S. Dickinson 
 
66 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 commenced merchandising under the name of Hargis & 
 Dickinson, at the corner of Market and Commerce steets. 
 Previous to this, however, there was a firm by the name of 
 Jones, Hearn & Co., which occupied the same stand, how 
 long they did business I am not able to say. 
 
 The store of Hargis & Dickinson was a first-class 
 store, comprising dry goods and groceries, liquor excepted. 
 This firm continued successfully until 1865, when by 
 mutual consent, they dissolved partnership. 
 
 John P. Hargis continued the business in his own 
 name about six years and retired. 
 
 William S. Dickinson again commenced mercantile 
 life, forming a co-partnership with I. H. Merrill and F. H. 
 Dryden, two enterprising young merchants, whe were 
 already selling goods under the firm of Merrill & Dryden. 
 This connection with Merrill & Dryden took place in 
 1867. This firm was known as Dickinson, Merrill & 
 Dryden, Mr. Dickinson being already in possession of the 
 store house, at the corner of Market and Commerce Sts. 
 The firm, having an opportunity of renting the store- 
 rooms adjoining, previously occupied by A. S. Stevens 
 and James S. Primrose, connected the three together, 
 having three entrances on Market street and one on Com- 
 merce street, and the buildings being so connected that 
 customers could pass from one apartment of the store to 
 the other without going out of doors. They arranged 
 their stock in trade in three departments, occupying the 
 central room for dry goods and notions, with groceries, 
 hardware, &c., liquor excepted, on one side; and bootSv 
 
Formerly New Town. ^T 
 
 shoes and gentlemen's furnishing goods on the other. This, 
 firm did a heavy business from 1 867 to 1 874, when by mutual 
 agreement they disolved partnership, each one taking a 
 department and contmumg the business in the separate 
 branches so as not to conflict with each others interests. In 
 this division, William S. Dickinson the dry goods and 
 notion department, I. H. Merrill the boot, shoe and gen- 
 tlemen's furnishing department, F. H. Dryden the gro- 
 cery and hardware department. Here were three stores. 
 made out of one, each one doing a good business. 
 
 In 1878, F. H. Dryden sold out his stock of goods to 
 H. T. Stevenson and E. F. Gibbons, this firm continued 
 business but a short time, when E. F. Gibbons sold out to- 
 H. T. Stevenson, and Mr. Stevenson then took as a part- 
 ner Dr. Sidney W. Handy, the firm now doing business 
 under the name of Stevenson & Co. In the fall of 1881 
 they added to the hardware and grocery department that 
 of dry goods, boots and shoes, and are doing a thriving 
 business. 
 
 Stevenson & Co., are the first in Pocomoke City to 
 introduce into their business house an elevator. 
 
 At the commencement of 1881, Mr. I. H. Merrill took 
 into partnership, with himself, two sprightly young men of 
 this place, James P. Plain and William F. King, and the 
 business of the house is now transacted by this company. 
 William S. Dickinson has associated with the dry goods 
 business, that of furniture also, and as I have given a brief 
 history of Mr. Dickinson as a merchant, I feel it a pleasure^ 
 to give a synopsis of his life, as I have known him from 
 
68 History of Pocomohe City^ 
 
 his infancy. He was born the fifteenth day of March. 
 1833. Forty years ago, or more, he was a member of the 
 Sabbath School, in this place, and I often call up in 
 memory the Sabbath School Exhibitions of those days, 
 •and the speeches of those who were then children but now 
 are the venerable fathers and mothers of the present day. 
 Frequently in meeting Mr. Dickinson on the street and 
 elsewhere, I think of him on the stage in delivering his 
 speech, commencing with, "you will scarce expect one 
 of my age, to speak in public on the stage, &c." 
 
 He was always a good boy, thoughtful, studious and 
 industrious. 
 
 At the age of thirteen he entered the store of his 
 cousin, Joseph Bratton, Esq., at Barren Creek Springs, 
 then Somerset county, Md., as clerk. He remained in 
 •this situation about fifteen months, when he returned to 
 New Town. 
 
 After returning home he went to school about one 
 year, when he entered the store of Captain Henry Long, 
 in 1848, as clerk. He remained in this situation until the 
 •death of Captain Long, which event took place in 1855. 
 It was found by the last will and testament of Captain 
 Long that William S. Dickinson, in connection with his 
 father, James T. Dickinson, were left executors of his 
 •estate. 
 
 This was no small amount of confidence which Cap- 
 tain Long reposed in Mr. Dickinson, as the estate was a 
 heavy one. 
 
Formerly New Town. 69* 
 
 Integrity has marked his whole hfe, and if it were 
 possible that one could be conscientious to a fault, I would 
 say that of him. He is a ruling Elder in the Presbyterian 
 Church in Pocomoke City. He has three children — two 
 daughters and a son, who are an honor to his name, and 
 adorn his home with bright sunshine, and are as precious 
 gems around his table of plenty. 
 
 ' CHAPTER Vni. 
 
 MERCANTILE ASPECT (CONTINUED). 
 
 Upon the dissolution of partnership of Clarke & 
 Clarvoe in 1852, William H. T . Clarvoe and James Merrill 
 united in copartnership, under the firm of Clarvoe & 
 Merrill, in the sale of goods, occupying the same stand 
 that Clarke and Clarvoe occupied. 
 
 This firm continued two years, when Mr. Merrill sold 
 out to Mr. Clarvoe. 
 
 Mr. Clarvoe conducted the business by himself until 
 1858, when he sold out to William W. and James A. 
 Melvin, acting under the firm of W. W. & J. A. Melvin. 
 
 This firm transacted business for a while in the store- 
 house formerly occupied by Mr. Clarvoe, after which they 
 purchased the wharf and ground upon which they built 
 the storehouse, which is at present occupied by Smullin 
 & Brother. 
 
 They did a heavy business from 1858 to 1866, when 
 they sold out their stock in trade, together with their 
 storehouse and wharf, to Stephen E. Mason. 
 
 Stephen E. Mason conducted a heavy business from 
 
70 History of Pocomohe City, 
 
 1866 to 1870, when he sold out his stock of goods to John 
 W. Selby and JuHus J. SmuHin, two enterprising young 
 men, who did business under the firm of Selby & Smul- 
 lin until 1877, when Mr. Selby sold out his interest in the 
 ^store to Julius J. and Albert Smullin. Smullin & Brother 
 keep on hand a general assortment of dry goods, grocer- 
 ies, boots, shoes, hats, etc., and are doing a thriving 
 business. 
 
 These two young men are worthy of great praise for 
 their business qualifications and fidelity, and it is said that 
 they stand number one in business circles in the cities. 
 
 In 1878, John W. Selby purchased the ground at the 
 north-east corner of Market and Front streets and erected 
 a large fine building for store and town hall purposes ; the 
 ^tore room is a spacious one, the upper room is used for 
 town hall purposes. This is one of the finest store houses, 
 and for such a purpose is an ornament to Pocomoke City. 
 Mr. Selby has a well assorted and well arranged stock of 
 dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hats, etc. 
 
 In 1854, Benjamin F. Ulman commenced merchan- 
 dising in New Town, and sold goods for some time, after 
 which he moved to the City of Baltimore where he is still 
 doing business, and report says he has a bank of his own 
 and is worth $500,000. 
 
 In 1862, Major T. and Jerome B. Hall commenced 
 merchandising in New Town, at first dealing altogether in 
 the hardware line ; after a while they branched out more 
 at large in a general dry goods, grocery, boot and shoe 
 house, under the firm of Hall & Bro. 
 
Formerly Nexo Town. 71 
 
 In 1863, they added to their mercantile trade that of 
 steam saw mill business; in 1868, that of ship building; 
 and in 1872, the Marine railway business. In 1878 they 
 took into copartnership L. Fuller Hall, son of Jerome B. 
 Hall. The company now doing business under the firm 
 of Hall, Bro. & Co. This firm with this heavy business 
 resting upon them, employ sixty men annually, repair about 
 seventy-five vessels annually, and have built during their 
 buisness life, about twenty-five new vessels. Their annual 
 business aggregating $30,000. 
 
 They own two steam saw mills, a Marine Railway. 300 
 acres of land and 2;^ houses and lots, some of the houses 
 
 are fine buildings. 
 
 In thus s^ivinof a brief outline of the business life of 
 these two brothers it will, also, be of interest to the reader 
 to learn something of their general history. 
 
 In view of their success in life, this will be given with 
 the greatest pleasure, for I knew them when they were 
 little flaxy headed boys. 
 
 Their father, Benjamin Hall, was a highly respected 
 man, a carpenter by trade and a captain of militia ; he 
 died when these gentlemen were little children, leal'^ing a 
 widow and six children, without any assistance, to get 
 their living as best they could. It is true the family lived 
 on their own place, but that was very little more than a 
 staying place, the little boys worked like little giants. I 
 have seen them coming to town with a load of pine wood, 
 which they had cut, when you would think they were 
 scarcely large enough to come to town any way. 
 
72 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 Their mother, with the children, struggled against 
 adversity until these two boys were old enough to go to 
 a trade ; then they commenced to learn the blacksmith 
 business with George W. Landing. They served an 
 apprenticeship with Mr. Landing, and when he retired 
 from the shop they took charge of it in their own name, 
 and worked hard and continuously at the business until 
 they entered mercantile life, as before stated. 
 
 The reader, probably, is already thinking about their 
 school advantages. They lived in the country and could 
 only go to school, occasionally, in the winter time ; what 
 little learning they got in this way was of very little 
 advantage to them, as they experienced in the commence- 
 ment of their mercantile life, in trying to use the pen and 
 in calculating figures. They, however, learned to use the 
 pen and calculate figures, and how to make money, also ; 
 and their record shows the character of their intellect and 
 business capacity. 
 
 They are both members of the Baptist Church, in 
 Pocomoke City ; Major T. Hall being a deacon. Their 
 ages are, respectively, forty-eight and fifty-six years ; 
 Major T. being the eldest. 
 
 In 1856, C. C. Lloyd opened a drug store, which 
 was the first ever established in New Town ; in addition 
 to drugs he kept oils, paints, stationery, jewelry and 
 variety store. 
 
 He has, during his mercantile life, closely applied 
 himself to business, always at his post, he is polite> 
 
Formeydy New Town. 73 
 
 ^obliging and accomodating, and has made money. He 
 :has been sheriff of Worcester county. During i8Si, he 
 united in partnership with Edgar Fontaine, who was also 
 in the drug business, thus the two stores became one ; they 
 ^re now doing business under the firm of Lloyd and 
 Fontaine, and are prospering. 
 
 In 1S62, Dr. D. J. O. Truitt commenced the apothecary 
 ■and variety business, in New Town, and has conducted it 
 successfully to the present. In 1862, Dr. Samuel S. 
 Quinn and Albert S. Merrill commenced the drug busi- 
 ness, and continued it until 1864, when they retired. In 
 1866, Dr. John T. B. McMaster opened a drug store in 
 co-partnership with Ashtdn Milbourn, which firm con- 
 tinued until 1869, when Dr. McMaster sold out his interest 
 in the store to Ashton Milbourn. 
 
 In 1869, Ashton Milbourn and William T. Broughton 
 united in the drug business and conducted it until 1873, 
 at which time they sold out their stock in trade to Messrs. 
 Fontaine and Turpin. This firm continued for two years, 
 when Mr. Turpin sold out to Mr. Fontaine. From 1875 
 to the present, or until Mr. Fontaine united in business 
 with C. C. Lloyd, he has been quite attentive to business ; 
 Jias built up a good trade, and has become a popular 
 merchant. 
 
 In i860, William W. Quinn & Brother opened a 
 general dry goods and grocery store, which they con- 
 ducted until 1873, when they closed out. In 1855, W. S. 
 ■C. Polk commenced merchandising in New Town, and 
 
74 History of Poconioke City, 
 
 in 1S63 he took as a partner his brother, Emerson G.. 
 Polk. This firm continued until 1866, when he sold out 
 his interest in the store to his brother Emerson. 
 
 From 1866 until the present Emerson G. Polk has con- 
 ducted a dry goods, clothing, boot and shoe store of 
 quite an extensive character, and keeps on hand a general 
 assortment of first class cloths for gentlemen's wear : and 
 none need fear in going to him for a good article and of 
 getting what they want. He is polite, obliging and 
 attentive to business. 
 
 In 1868, Henry King commenced merchandising, in 
 New Town, and conducted the business until 1875, when 
 he closed out. 
 
 In 1864, John W. Mezick commenced merchandizing^ 
 in New Town, and continued until 1 866, when he retired 
 from business, and removed to the State of Missouri. 
 
 In 1863 or '64, the Messrs. Bachrachs were engaged in 
 the sale of goods, in New Town, about one year, after 
 which they settled in Baltimore, where they are still 
 doing business, and have become wealthy. 
 
 In 1864, Littleton T. Clarke, Thos. J. Blain and Thos.. 
 N. Williams, formed a co-partnership in merchandising 
 in New Town. They kept a first class dry goods and 
 grocery store. They continued in the business unti^ 
 1866, when they closed out. 
 
 In 1867, Captain Robert Henry engaged in mercan- 
 tile life in New Town. His store is a first class dry goods 
 and grocery store. Captain Henry not only owns his. 
 
Formerly New Town. 75 
 
 stock in trade, but three schooners, seven houses and 
 several building lots and two farms. Some of the houses 
 rank among the finest houses in the town. His 
 entire property may be safely estimated at $30,000. In 
 thus describing his w^ealth, the reader may be anxious to 
 learn something of the man. 
 
 Well, as I have known him from his infancy, it will give 
 me pleasure to show him up as a wide-awake, sagacious 
 business man. Let me say in the first place, however, 
 that he is a man of color, and was raised to work. When 
 but a boy he became a sailor, and was hand before the 
 mast, and after he became his own man he laid up $1,400, 
 the result of his hard labor on bo^rd of vessels. 
 
 After this he joined Ashcraft & Risley in the vessel 
 trade, and here w^as the mine of wealth which he struck. 
 After some years this partnership dissolved, and since 
 then he has operated by himself 
 
 Captain Henry has no education. He can neither read 
 nor write, but although he is without this necessary quali- 
 fication, yet he studies men and business ; and there are 
 but few more shrewd business men than Captain Henry. 
 He has six children, and he is over 50 years of age. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 MERCANTILE ASPECT (CONTINUED). 
 
 In 1 85 1, Mrs. Araminta Hall commenced the millinery 
 and ladies trimming business, wdiich she has conducted 
 
76 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 up to the present ; has been very successful in business, 
 and has made money. 
 
 In 1830, Mrs. EHza Merrill established the millinery 
 and ladies trimming business, in New Town, and con- 
 ducted the same for 35 years, and made money. 
 
 In 1846, Miss Anna H. Henderson commenced the 
 millinery and ladies trimming business, in New Town. 
 In 1863, she married Mr. William T. Hearn, and after- 
 wards her store was familiarly known as Mrs. Anna 
 Hearn's store. She conducted the business successfully 
 until 1863, in which year she died. 
 
 In 1855, Miss Amereth J. Trader commenced the mil- 
 linery, notion and ladies trimming business in New Town. 
 About one year after this she married Mr. Littleton T. 
 Clarke, after which her house of business was known as 
 Mrs. Jane Clarke's store. 
 
 In 1866 Mr. Clarke died. She continued the business, 
 however, without intermission, and in 1871 she married 
 Mr. Henry A. DeKay. After this her business com- 
 menced increasing until it has assumed its present 
 proportions as one of the finest millinery, notion and 
 ladies trimming stores on the Eastern Shore. 
 
 In 1849, Mrs. Julia Redden commenced the millinery 
 business and conducted the same until 1861, when she 
 closed out. 
 
 In 1S64, Mrs. Ursula B. Henderson, commenced the 
 millinery, notion and ladies trimming business, in New 
 Town, and has continuously conducted the same until 
 
Formerlij Neio Town. 77 
 
 the present. Mrs. Henderson is industrious and attentive 
 to her businesss, enterprising and unyielding in her pur- 
 pose to succeed. If these quaHfications are a true index 
 to success, she is bound to win. 
 
 She commenced business on fifty dollars and has 
 increased to such an extent as to warrant the declaration 
 that her house, for the beauty and tasteful arrangement 
 of goods, together with its heavy stock in trade, will com- 
 pare favorably with any house of like character in the 
 cities. In 1866, Mrs. Ella Foster commenced the milli- 
 nery business, and continued the same for about two 
 years. In 1867, Miss Lizzie Clayville commenced the 
 millinery business and conducted the same about two 
 years and retired. 
 
 In 1866, Mrs. Mary A. Tipton commenced the milli- 
 nery business aud continued with slight intervals until 
 1880, when she moved to Philadelphia. 
 
 In 1876, Zadock J. Hall and his son, Charles S. Hall, 
 commenced merchandising in Pocomoke City under the 
 firm of C. S. Hall & Co, ; this partnership business lasted 
 two years, when Zadok J. Hall sold out his interest in the 
 store to Richard Hall another son of his. 
 
 This firm is now doing business under the name of C. 
 S. Hall & Brother, two enterprising young men, who 
 without an accident will succeed. 
 
 A word here in reference to Zadok J. Hall may be 
 interesting to the reader: He is brother to Major T. Hall 
 and Jerome B. Hall, who have already been noticed in 
 
78 History of Pocomohe City^ 
 
 this history. He was subject to all the privations that 
 marked their earlier years, and was reared under the 
 most discouraging circumstances, without a friend who 
 was able to take him by the hand and promote him, and 
 without education ; yet by dint of perseverance, has made 
 his mark in the world as well as his brothers. He has 
 attained a competency and lives retired from the whirl of 
 business life, taking' delight in the improvement and cul- 
 tivation of his little farm. Mr. Hall is also a member of the 
 Baptist Church, in Pocomoke City. He has four children, 
 and he is fifty-two years old. 
 
 In I878, Herbert H. King and William Sidney Dryden 
 formed a partnership, under the title of H. H. King & Co., 
 in a first-class dry goods and grocery store, in Pocomoke 
 City. 
 
 This firm is doing a safe business, enterprising and 
 polite, they must win. 
 
 Mr. Dryden, one of this firm, has been engaged in 
 business nearly twenty years, in the City of Baltimore. 
 He left his father's home, a young man, to seek his for- 
 tune with no other help but his own native talent. After 
 being engaged in business for some time in the city, he 
 worked his way up to a clerkship as salsman, in one of 
 the largest wholesale dry-good houses in the city, that of 
 William Devries cS: Co. In this house he has been 
 engaged without intermission for seventeen years, the last 
 three of which have been partially devoted to the collec- 
 tion of claims for tlu,' house. 
 
Jjormerly New Tovon. 79 
 
 This trust, committed by the house to him, shows not 
 ■only their confidence in his integrity, but also their confi- 
 dence in his tact and business ability in dealing with men. 
 He has succeeded above many of his chance and has 
 made money. 
 
 About the year 1869, James W. Payne commenced 
 merchandising, in New Town and continued in business 
 until his death, which occurred in January, 1878. 
 
 About 1866, Emerson Melvin commenced the sale of 
 goods, in New Town ; he continued in the business with 
 :great success until he died, which event took place in 
 1879. His estate was worth $6,000 clear of debt. 
 
 In the settlement of his estate, the inventory of his 
 personal property w^as the largest that had ever been 
 entered in the Registers office of Worcester County. He 
 iirst commenced on fifty dollars capital. 
 
 About the year 1865, William H. S. Merrill added 
 •clothing and gents' furnishing goods to his stock of boots 
 and shoes, he having engaged in the sale of boots and 
 .shoes several years previous. He sold goods until 1871, 
 when he sold out to Robinson & Matthews, who con- 
 ducted the business for five or six years and then closed 
 •out. 
 
 In 1877, A. G. Marshall commenced merchandising, in 
 Pocomoke City ; he conducted the business until the 
 .spring of 1881, when he closed out. 
 
 In 1870, Mrs. Sally Payne commenced the confectionery 
 and candy business, in Pocomoke City, and continues the 
 same to the present. 
 
so History of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 In 1874, Ephraim A. Stevens commenced the notion 
 and ladies' trimming business, in Pocomoke City ; he- 
 continued until 1880, when he closed this business and 
 engaged in a green grocery anci provision store. Some- 
 time during the 3'ear, he took as a partner Roland E^ 
 Bevans, and they carried on the business under the firm of 
 Stevens & Bevans, this firm, however, did not continue 
 long before Mr. Bevans drew out. Mr. Stevens continued' 
 the business until 1882 and closed out. 
 
 In 1856, Miss Charlotte and Miss Ann Truitt, two- 
 sisters, were engaged in the confectionary aud notion' 
 business, in New Town, when they commenced and how 
 long they continued the business I cannot say. 
 
 Between 1856 and i860, Mrs. Mary A. Smullin engaged 
 in the confectionery business and continued the same until 
 her death, which event occurred in April, 1881. 
 
 About 1870, Mrs. Ellen Payne engaged in the confec- 
 tionery business, and in about two years she sold out tc^ 
 Mrs. Sally, Mason, who continued the business for several 
 years. 
 
 Sometime between 1872 and 1875, R. H. Pennewell^ 
 Francis A. Stevenson and Allison Fleming engaged ia 
 merchandising in a store house occupying the site now 
 occupied by the store house of J. W. Selby. The house 
 was burned down while Mr. Fleming was conducting 
 business. 
 
 in 1872, Edward S. Young commenced the tobacco^ 
 cigar and C(jnfectionery business, in New Town, and con- 
 
Formerly New Tovm. 81 
 
 ducted the same until 1878 ; prior to this, George S. 
 Merrill, Alexander Ebberts and John Walters, respect- 
 ively, were engaged in it. 
 
 As Mr. Young is the oldest native citizen in the place he 
 is entitled to a sketch of his life in its history : He was 
 born in 1807 and consequently is now in the 75th year of 
 his age. He, like many others, was raised a poor boy, and 
 had to work out, at twelve and a half cents per day, to 
 help his mother in supporting the family. When of 
 sufficient age, he was apprenticed to Colonel William H. 
 Merrill to learn the hatting business, after his maturity, he 
 settled in this, his native place, and with but one slight 
 interval has remained here to the present. He was 
 engaged, for several years, in the steam milling business. 
 He has been a member of the Methodist Protestant 
 Church nearly fifty years, has been ardently devoted to^ 
 and a liberal supporter of that Church, he has, probably, 
 though always poor, contributed more to church building, 
 in New Town in the past, than any other man in it. 
 
 He has been the father of several children, all of whom 
 are no more, except one son, and he lives in Colorado. 
 
 Mr. Young reminds me of the ancient worthy patri- 
 archs, leaning upon the top of his staff, and waiting for 
 the summons to a brighter home above, and is entitled to 
 the kindly greetings of all lovers of the aged and the 
 good. 
 
 In 1878, Capt. H. H. Husted entered into the tobacco, 
 cigar, confectionery and fruit business, in which he is 
 
82 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 gaged at present. Capt. Husted is very attentive to 
 business ; is very polite and obliging, and is quite suc- 
 cessful in business. 
 
 In 1878, John L. Quinn engaged in the sale of tobacco, 
 cigars, confectionery and fruits, and continues the same 
 with success. 
 
 Mrs. Stubbins and Mrs. Whittington both have con- 
 fectionery stores, and are prosperous inbusiness. In 1878^ 
 Simpson Katzenberger merchandised in Pocomoke City 
 about one year and then closed out. In 1877, Miss Ruth 
 Stone commenced the notion business, in Pocomoke City, 
 and continued it for about three years, when she removed 
 to Connecticut, her native State. 
 
 In 1879, Miss Virginia Wilkinson and Miss Virginia 
 Matthews united in copartnership in the millinery, notion 
 and ladies trimming business in Pocomoke City. Their 
 house is called the Philadelphia branch store, and truly it 
 is very apdy so-called, for it will compare favorably with 
 the city in the taste exhibited in the selection of their 
 goods, in the prices they charge, and in the style and 
 neatness of their work. These young ladies rank among 
 the finest milliners of the day, either in the city or 
 country. 
 
 In 1880, Miss Ruth Pollctt commenced the notion and 
 ladies trimming business in Pocomoke City, and continued 
 until 1 88 1, when she closed out. In 1880, J. J. PVancis 
 Townsend and Ira T. Stevenson engaged in a dry goods 
 and grocery store which they continue at the present. 
 They are very worthy men. 
 
Formei'ly New Toicn. 83 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 MERCANTILE ASPECT (CONTINUED). 
 
 1868, Edward H. Clarke commenced the mercantile 
 "business, in New Town. Since then he has been engaged 
 nearly all the time in the sale of goods alone and with 
 his father. 
 
 As Mr. Clarke is quite a prominent man in business 
 circles, he is entitled to a place in this history. He was 
 born in 1845, and is the only surviving son of W. J. S. 
 Clarke. He was appointed a midshipman at the naval 
 academy in 1861. After remaining nearly two years and 
 spending one summer at sea, he resigned, as we learned, 
 much to the regret of the officers of the naval academy. 
 Returning home he at once entered the service of his 
 father as clerk, being there well drilled, and remaining in 
 that capacity until 1868, when he married an amiable and 
 accomplished young lady, the only daughter of William 
 JVI. Coster, Esq., one of the most respected and wealthy 
 gentlemen in Somerset county. He is a very popular 
 man, and in point of business sagacity he is said to be 
 ■equal to any of his name. 
 
 In 1866, Levin Atkinson commenced the sale of 
 groceries in connection with the sale of leather, and con- 
 tinued the same for ten years, or until he died, which 
 event took place in 1877. 
 
 Mr. Atkinson was quite a prominent man in the com- 
 munity ; was retired in disposition, obliging, and a warm 
 
81 Ilistory of Pocomolce City, 
 
 friend. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant 
 Church, in New Town, for many years, and filled promi- 
 nent positions as a layman in that church. From the 
 commencement of his connection with the church to his 
 death, he always kept an open house for the preachers of 
 that denomination, and there was nothing too good to pro- 
 vide and no labor to great to perform for those whom 
 he and his devoted wife loved to entertain. 
 
 In 1880, Henry Dryden and his son Clarence engaged 
 in the sale of groceries, confectionery, etc., in connection 
 with the sale of tin ware, Mr. H. Dryden having been 
 engaged in selling tin ware previously. This firm continues 
 and will no doubt be successful. 
 
 In 1878, James H. Vincent commenced merchandising in 
 Pocomoke City, and is growing in trade and popularity. 
 We have several other stores in Pocomoke City, which 
 may be called green grocery and provision stores, kept 
 respectively by : A. H. Benson, Roland E. Bevans and 
 John W. Selverthorn, John T. M. Sturgis and Thomas 
 Melvin and J. A. D. Robinson. 
 
 These are all reliable houses, where the substantial of 
 life may be purchased. 
 
 In presenting to the reader this concise history of the 
 mercantile business of New Town, now Pocomoke City, I 
 have aimed at facts, at giving a fair showing, and not 
 throwing more gloss upon the men and trade than they 
 really merited. I shall now close this part of my history 
 by saying : we have, in Pocomoke City, some thirty 
 
Formerly New Town. 85 
 
 business houses of all grades, selling goods, doing an 
 annual business, aggregating over two hundred thousand 
 dollars. 
 
86 Hist or }j of Pvcomoke (Jtty^ 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 MANUFACTURING. 
 
 Manufacture, in the early history of New town, was, as 
 a matter of course, in its infancy. The first, probably, 
 should be mentioned is the manufacture of clothing for 
 the families. These goods consisted of woolen, cotton 
 and linen. The wool was taken from the sheep's back 
 and washed, thqn picked, carded, spun and woven into 
 fustian, that is to say, the warp was of cotton, the filling in 
 was of wool. Linsey-woolsey was also made for the 
 mothers and daughters. 
 
 This word linsey-woolsey comes up in memory as some- 
 thing long since past away. 
 
 I used to hear, when I was a little boy, these words 
 
 sung : 
 
 "Linsey-woolsey peticoats, 
 
 Silk and cotton gown. 
 Shoes and stockings in your bands, 
 And feet upon the ground." 
 
 The cotton was, as a general thing, culti\ated at home, 
 
 that is to say every family had their cotton-patch if they 
 
 had ground sufficient for that purpose, and when ripe was 
 
 harvested, the seed picked, then carded, spun and woven. 
 
 These were for underwear for both sexes, for sheets, and 
 
 the beautiful white counterpanes that used to be made. 
 
Formerly New Town. 87 
 
 The linen was wade out of flax. Every farmer had his 
 flax patch. The flax when ripe was pulled up by the 
 roots by hand, then placed in a creek, pond or water- 
 hole if their was any convenient, if not, it v/as spread out 
 on the ground to mildew, when sufficiently cured it was 
 then housed. In the winter time the flax break was heard 
 singing its day-long song, as the busy laborer would be 
 plying the instrument. 
 
 In this instrument the woody portion of the flax was 
 separated from the fibrous. Thus the flax was prepared 
 for the hackle, then after that it was spun and woven into 
 what we used to call country made linen, and then made 
 into underwear for both sexes, for toweling, table cloths, 
 sheets, etc. Now the modus-operandi in clothing. The 
 carding and spinning would be carried on day and night 
 by the mothers and daughters. At night the father and 
 brothers would unite around a roasting fire with a plenty 
 of pine knots to make a light, and would engage in pick- 
 ing the wool or cotton. During these seasons of night 
 work they would roast sweet potatoes and have a pitcher 
 of cider to cheer the tedious hours of labor. 
 
 When the wool, cotton or flax was thus prepared for 
 the loom, they would commence weaving. 
 
 When I was a little boy I used to hear the loom going 
 all day long. It did not make as sweet music as the piano, 
 but went click, clack, click, clack, from morning until 
 night. 
 
 An anecdote which I ha\-e heard going the rounds 
 many years ago may not be out of place here* A lady 
 
88 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 of independence in an adjoining community had an only 
 (laughter. That daughter was visited by a young lady, 
 \vho inquired of the mother where Miss So-and-So's 
 piano was. She took the young lady to the loom house 
 and pointing to the loom : "There," said she, is my 
 daughter's piano." 
 
 The mother and daughter made the clothes for the 
 family. The young ladies were their own matitua makers 
 and their mothers learned them to be good cooks also. 
 They thought it was no disgrace to learn them to work'. 
 The first families of the place would make machanics of 
 their sohs/and to show that this" custom was considered 
 'in the highest sense an honorable one, I need but cite 
 those who were prominent' citizens of the t(nvn to demons- 
 strate this' position. . • . 
 
 ' Michael Murray was a weaver of the World renowned 
 ■Irish linen in his native country, Ireland; Jesse Hender- 
 son a shipcarpenter ; Rev. James Tilghman, a shoemaker; 
 'Joshua Sturgis, a blacksmith; Capt. Jacob Riggin, a 
 shipcarpenter; Capt. Benjamin' Hall, a carpenter; Gen- 
 eral Ebeiiezcr Heard, a tanner and currier; Colonel 
 'William H.merrill, a hatter , Jolni S. Stevenson, a watch- 
 maker; Ceorge S. Redder, a hatter. I • might name 
 ^many others, but thb^e already named are sufficient. 
 "• Is not thi^ a suggestive thought to parents of the 
 present day, to give theirsons a trade instead of crowdtng 
 them inlo prcjlV.ssions and clerkshij)s, in wliich there are 
 but few, comparatively, who succeed, and to learn their 
 
Formerly New Town. 89 
 
 ■daughters to be good house keepers, and not to bring 
 them up in such a way as that when they get married they 
 'will be utterly ignorant how to make their husbands a 
 suit of clothes or how to make and bake a johnny cake. 
 An incident which occurred in the history of Stephen 
 Girard, the millionaire, of Philadelphia, I will illustrate 
 here. He had a youth who was to live with him until he 
 was of age. This young man, by his steady habits, atten- 
 tion to business and probity of character, had won, over 
 all the other clerks, a place high up in the esteem of Mr. 
 Girard. His twenty-first birthday came on. The day 
 before that, however, he went into Mr. Girard's counting- 
 room and informed him of the fact, when he was told to 
 ■come in the next day as he wanted to see him. It w^as 
 conceded by all the clerks that Mr. Girard was going to do 
 something handsome for that young man. The next day 
 came, he went into the ofhce as requested ; they entered 
 into conversation upon their connection together. Mr. 
 Girard praised him for his faithfulness to his interests. 
 **And now," said he, "y^^^ ^^'^ g^i"§' o'^t into the world to 
 seek your fortune, I want to give you a piece of advice. 
 Do you go and learn a trade ; there is the barrel cooper- 
 ing, go and learn that! " ' The reader may imagine how 
 the young man was. taken back. He, however, engaged 
 with a barrel cooper to work with him for one year. At 
 the end of the year, he made a barrel, which he took to Mr. 
 Girard's office to show him. Mr. Girard pronounced it a 
 ;good job, and asked the price of it, which was three 
 
90 Illstmnj of Pocomoke City, 
 
 dollars. He took the barrel, paid him the money for it% 
 and requested him to come to the office the next day as 
 he wished to see him. The day came ! he went into the 
 office, when Mr. Girard said : "You may have thou^^ht it 
 a very strange piece of advice which I gave you, to learn 
 a trade ; but, if hereafter, you should fail in any business 
 you engage in, then you have your trade to fall back on. 
 Now, here is a check for $30,000 as a token of my high 
 esteem and with my best wishes for your success in 
 life." 
 
 The different branches of mechanical business which 
 were carried on in New Town in its early history were 
 boot and shoe making, house and shipcarpentering, black- 
 smithing, coopering, tanning and currying, hatting, etc. 
 There was, generally, but one shop of each branch of 
 business at a time. The first boot and shoemaker that I 
 have any information of was Rev. James Tilghman ; 
 Caleb Tilghman, then Samuel Long, Joseph Richards, 
 Thomas Brittingham. James Lambdon, Jesse Long, 
 Josiah Long, of Jesse, Zadok Mall, of John, Edward 
 Murray, Francis Murray, James Sturgis, Tubman Moor, 
 Samuel T. Landing and James Murray. Henry Murray, 
 who was an office bearer in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, was also a delegate elect from Worcester county 
 to the General Assembly of Maryland in 1862 and 1863. 
 In 1866 he died suddenly, in hope of a blissful immortal- 
 ity. William H. S. Merrill, Thomas J. Blain, who is also 
 a leading office bearer in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and has four sons — all grown men — who are an honor to 
 
Formerly New Toion. 91 
 
 him. John Silverlhom, Rev. George Covington, Charles 
 Covington, Levin Covington, John Richards, Sr., George 
 
 Matthews, Case, William Matthews and William 
 
 Clogg. No doubt there are others whose names have 
 escaped my memory, or who were here but a short time. 
 These, excepting the few last names mentioned, have all 
 passed away. 
 
 The tailoring business was carried on at an early date. 
 Josiah Long, my wife's father, was a tailor. He served 
 his apprenticeship with his uncle, David Long, Sr., who 
 w^as the father of Captain Henry Long, Captain John W. 
 Long and David Long. Mr. Long worked at the tailor- 
 ing business until he died, which event occurred about 
 1813. Then in succession Benjamin Cottman, a man by 
 the name of Smith, William Purnell, Joseph Benson, John 
 H. Powell, William Atkinson, William Fisher, Theo. Hall, 
 William S. C. Polk, Emerson G. Polk, James Wfells, 
 McCayland, Edward Ardis and W. F. Jones. Emerson 
 G. Polk, W. F. Jones and Edward Ardis are the present 
 tailors of the place. 
 
 CHAPTER Xn. 
 
 TRADES, &c. 
 
 The house and ship-carpentering has been represented 
 by the following named persons : House carpenters were 
 William Beauchamp, William Wheeler, Capt. Benjamin 
 Hall, Henry Beauchamp, Wrixham Burnett, William 
 
92 Ilistory of Pocomoke City^ * 
 
 McMaster, James Benson, Henry Coston, Jesse L. Long, 
 William H. C. Long, Littleton Duer, Edgar Duer, Francis 
 Duer, Ralph Ross, John Richards, Jun., Thomas Davis, 
 John Merrill, John Bevans, James Broughton, Edward 
 Davis, Edward Merrill, Edward Ross. Shipcarpenters 
 were Jesse Henderson, Jacob Riggin, John Carsley, Peter 
 Carsley, Frank Whittington, E. James Tull, Henry Tapt- 
 man, Wm. Smith, Samuel Richardson, Silvanus Maddux, 
 James McDaniel, Edward Mills, Thomas Thorington, 
 William H. McDaniel, Jesse Taptman, William Lankford, 
 Alfred Lankford, Christopher Schillinger, William Bonne- 
 well, Alfred Herbert, Alfred Mills, Thomas Jones, John 
 J. Dickinson, Charles Williams, John E. Tull, Joseph L. 
 Hitch, Hargis Hayman, Curtis Tull, James Ford, Thomas 
 Sears, Wm. R. Jones, James Bonnewell, Edward Townsend, 
 Tobe Bonnewell, John Crammer, Albert Henderson, Silas 
 Ellis, William H. Matthews, Harry Whittington, William 
 Cathel, Noah Dutton, Levin Dutton, John J. Deputy, 
 Samuel Gibbons, John O. Fitzgerald, Capt. John Fitz- 
 gerald, Jesse Crockett, Charles Crockett, John Foster, Jr., 
 John Foster, Sr., Julius Henderson, Caleb Dickinson, 
 Walter Hughes and Frank Jones. 
 
 In connection with ship-carpentering we have the follow- 
 ing caulkers: James H. Gardner, Isaac Fisher, Henry 
 Henson, Grant Long, William Sturgis and John Somcrfield. 
 
 The blacksmith business has been represented by the 
 following named persons : Joshua Sturgis, Ephraim Town- 
 send, Matthias N. Lindsey, George W. Landing, Major 
 T. and Jerome B. Hall, George Hall, William and John 
 
Formerly New 1 own. . 93 
 
 Paradee, Lycurgus Stevenson, Wilmer Mills, Rufus Ste- 
 venson, John Foley, the Messrs. Hayman, Isaac Dennis, 
 John G. Angelo, Alexander Harris and William Banks. 
 
 As the idea of improvement is one object in this 
 history, I desire to call attention to one name, and that is 
 George W. Landing. 
 
 He was raised but a few miles from this place on a 
 farm. At a suitable age he was apprenticed to a man in 
 Berlin, Worcester County, to learn the blacksmith business. 
 After serving his apprenticeship he came to New Town 
 and established himself in business. It was not long 
 before he invented a new plow, this plow was an iron 
 raouldboard and point all made in one piece, when the 
 point wore out he would weld to it another ; previous to 
 this the plows had wooden mould boards with an iron 
 point fastened to them. In the invention of this plow, 
 Mr. Landing attained great celebrity as a blacksmith. He 
 worked hard and had a constitution to stand it ; made 
 money and took care of it. He, however, became an 
 aspirant for political fame, retired from the blacksmith 
 shop, and was so successful in his aspirations, that he 
 could be elected to the legislature over almost any candi- 
 date that might oppose him. In his political career he 
 went by the name of the Old Blacksmith. He has, 
 however, retired in a great measure from politics and 
 business life, having possessed himself of considerable 
 property, and is nearing the sixty-fifth year of his age. 
 
 The coopering business, in the earHer history of New 
 
94 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 Town, was carried on very extensively, it was, however, 
 confined exclusively to making tubs and buckets ; there 
 were six pieces, fiitting in each other, from the cooler to 
 the wash tub, which was called a nest of ware. Men 
 became so expert in its manufacture, that they have made 
 as high as eight nests a day. The nest of ware, when 
 bound with iron hoops, would sell for one dollar and 
 twenty-five cents ; when bound with wooden hoops, for 
 fifty cents. The manufacture of this ware, as late as 1845 
 became so extensive, that the ware received the appella- 
 tion of New Town currency. 
 
 Since 1845, the business has dwindled so, that to-day, it 
 is becoming obsolete, there being only two or three per- 
 sons in the place who make a few buckets and do some 
 repairing. 
 
 About 1 8 15, Rev. James Tilghman and General Ebenezer 
 Hearn commenced the tanning business, in New Town. 
 After Mr. Tilghman died, which event occurred in 18 16, 
 General Hearn carried the business on in his own name, 
 until Gibson Cannon, a relative of his, who had served an 
 apprenticeship with him, became of age, when he took 
 him in as a partner. Mr. Cannon did not, however, con- 
 tinue in the business but a few years before he withdrew 
 on account of feeble health. When another apprentice of 
 General Hearn's, John S. Mills became of age, he then 
 was taken as a partner by General Hearn. This firm 
 continued until Mr. Mills died, whic'.i event took place 
 about the year 1844. General Hearn still continued the 
 business, but now, in his own name again, until 1851 or 2, 
 
Formerly New Toum. 95 
 
 when he sold out to John W. Ouinn. Mr. Quinn con- 
 ducted the business until 1854 or 55, when he closed out. 
 
 In 1861, Levin Atkinson and George Hargis estab- 
 lished themselves in the business, which firm continued but 
 a few years, when Mr. Hargis sold out to Mr. Atkinson- 
 
 Mr. Atkinson conducted the business until a short time 
 before he died, which event transpired in October, 1877. 
 Since that time the tanning and currying trade, as a sepa- 
 rate branch of manufacturing has ceased to be carried on 
 in Pocomoke City. All who have carried on the tanning 
 and currying business in New Town, without an excep- 
 tion, have passed away. 
 
 A tribute to the practical mechanics, engaged in the 
 tanning and currying trade, in New Town, is in place just 
 here. General Ebenezer Hearn was born in Sussex 
 County, Delaware, March the 7th, 1792. Mr. Hearn 
 served an apprenticeship in Delaware. After he was of 
 age, he went to Modest Town, Accomac County, Va., and 
 worked journey work for Mr Lippincott of that place. He 
 did not however, continue long in Modest Town before 
 he came to New Town and engaged, as above stated, in 
 the business with Rev. James Tilghman. Some years 
 after this he married the oldest daughter of Dr. Steven- 
 son. He soon began to be prosperous in his business- 
 In the course of time he purchased a tract of land called 
 Cowley, but more fvmiliary known as Old Winter Quar- 
 ter. This tract of land he purchased of Mr. John Stevens, 
 a regular descendant of Col. William Stevens, of colonial 
 fame. As Old Winter Quarter has been a place of 
 
96 History of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 renown, the reader may be anxious to know something 
 more about it. It adjoins Pocomoke City; in fact, the 
 dwelhng and principal part of the farm is within the 
 corporation of the town. When General Hearn pur- 
 chased it, it was a perfect wilderness; was interspersed 
 with branches, sand hills, mud and swamp, where the 
 yew pawns and prickly pears grew, and where it is 
 said, bears were numerous, and old Blue Beard lived. 
 These were terrible scarecrows to the boys when they 
 would go into Winter Ouarter yew pawning. Many a farce 
 has been played upon strangers in getting them to dig in 
 the sand hills of Winter Ouarter for Blue Beard's money » 
 which, it has been said, that he buried there. 
 
 Here Mr. Hearn built his house, which yet remains a 
 fine one. Probably, about this time, he was chosen 
 captain of militia. ?Ie now was called Captain Hearn; 
 subsequently he was placed upon the Governor's Staff, as 
 one ot his aids, with the title of Colonel, he now was 
 called by that title, and later again he received the title of 
 General, since which time, he was called General Hearn to 
 the day of his death. 
 
 General Hearn was a man of pleasure, he was fond of 
 fox hunting and a game of chess; he also became a great 
 politician, of the Whig party, and has been elected to 
 the legislature of Maryland oftencr, probably, than any 
 other mm in Worcester County, in his day. He was kind 
 and genial, calm and e\ en in his disposition, and never in 
 a hurrv, and was very po[)ular. He was independent in 
 h!s circumslanrcs, and when he died he left a handsome 
 
Formerly New Tovm. 97 
 
 estate to his children. He died January 13th, 1854, in 
 the 62nd year of his age, honored and respected by all 
 who knew him, and was buried in the family burymg 
 ground, in Winter Quarter. 
 
 Gibson Cannon was born in Sussex County, in the State 
 of Delaware. During his partnership with General 
 Hearn, he married Miss Elizabeth Sturgis, in 1832. His 
 health, as before stated, was so feeble as to compel a 
 change ; consequently he went to merchandising at Cot- 
 tingham's Ferry ; here he continued for three or four 
 years, when in 1839, July the 3rd, he died, being, at the 
 time of his death, in the 34th year of his age. He was 
 buried in the Protestant Episcopal Church burying 
 ground, of Pocomoke' City. Mr. Cannon left a widow 
 and two children, who are still living ; his widow and 
 daughter are living in this place ; his son, Clayton, 
 is living in the City of Baltimore. 
 
 As Mr. Cannon is a native of this place, it gives me 
 pleasure to state that he is an enterprising business man 
 of the monumental city. At the age of fifteen years he 
 entered the store of Colonel William H. Merrill as clerk 
 and continued one year, then he went to Baltimore and 
 engaged with Gibson & Co., auctioners, at the age of six- 
 teen, here he continued one year. At the age of seven- 
 teen, he entered the wholesale dry goods house of Lewis, 
 Drost & Co. How long he continued in this situation I 
 cannot say, but from there he entered a savings bank, 
 then in the course of time, he procured a situation in one 
 
9S History of Pocomohe City^ 
 
 of the National Banks of the City, then again, he accepted 
 a situation as cashier, in a bank in AnnapoHs. From 
 there he returned to Baltimore and entered the Trader's 
 National Bank as cashier, which situation he still holds. 
 Clayton Cannon had to make his own mark. I need not 
 tell the reader how well he has done it. He now ranks 
 well with the banking business men of Baltimore, with an 
 unspotted character, at the age of forty- six years. 
 
 After Gibson Cannon retired from the tanning and 
 currying business, General Hearn took John S. Mills, who 
 had just finished his apprenticeship, as a partner in the 
 business. Mr. Mills continued in this firm until he died. 
 He died quite a young man, and left a widow, and one 
 child by his first wife : that child is the Rev. Joseph L. 
 Mills, D. D., of the Methodist Protestant Church. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 TRADES. &c. 
 
 The Hatting business held a very important place in 
 manufacture. Hats, at an early day, were made of all 
 the various grades of fur, from the rabbit to the beaver. 
 The first hatter, of whom we ha\'e any information, carry- 
 ing on the business in New Town, was John Hall, after he 
 died, then Andrew Gilchrist, then in succession, James Hall 
 carried on until he died. These all died young men. An- 
 drew Gilchrist was a Scotchman and was full of playful fun. 
 
J^ormerly New Town,. 99 
 
 About 1827, Colonel William H. Merrill commenced 
 manufacturing hats, he carried on extensively. 
 
 After Colonel Merrill retired from the business then 
 Francis Mezick engaged in it, and took as a partner, 
 Carey C. Sears, they introduced the manufacture of the 
 silk hat in New Town ; after continuing together some- 
 time they dissolved partnership and each one carried the 
 business on separately. 
 
 I should have stated that during the time of Colonel 
 Merrill's being engaged in the hatting business, George S- 
 Redden also carried it on in New Town. After Mezick & 
 Sears retired, then Henry Brewington engaged in it for 
 some time. Since he ceased to carry the business on, it 
 has become extinct in New Town, now Pocomoke City. 
 
 The carriage-making business was carried on in New 
 Town at an early date, though in a small way. Milby 
 Cottingham was the first of whom we have any knowledge 
 to engage in it. He made some few carriages, but his 
 work was mostly repairing. I remember a little coach 
 which he made, after the regular style of coaches, for his 
 little child, and to this day, taking into consideration the 
 then surrounding associations of my litde boyhood life, 
 it is in my memory still, one of the prettiest litde carriages 
 
 that I ever saw. 
 
 How long Mr. Cottingham carried the business on I 
 cannot say. After he moved away there was no carriage- 
 maker in New Town, until Rev. Wm. Quinn established 
 it in 1836. He did not, however, follow it long before he 
 he sold out to Meridith & Spearman, who continued it 
 
100 History of Pocomoke Clty^ \ 
 
 but a short time ; then Jesse Hopkins followed it in suc- 
 cession, then Hughes & Redden ;^ afterwards they 
 dissolved, and since then they carry on the business sepa- 
 rately ; William E. Crisp and Thomas Evans, then 
 Broughton <S: Cliff were also engaged in the business ; 
 then J. Thaddeus Toad vine manufactured extensively, 
 then followed Tatum, Gordy and Lankford. We now 
 have three carriage factories in Pocomoke City and one 
 carriage bazaar, kept by William T. Bullen. 
 
 The watch and clock repairing business was not fol- 
 lowed by any one in New Town until about 1S65, when a 
 Frenchman, by the name of Montandon, came to New 
 Town and commenced to follow it, and remained here 
 two or three years. He was followed by a German by 
 the name of Harr, who carried on the business for about 
 two years. Air. Harr was followed by Mr. Geo. Sar- 
 torius. We now have Mr. William Sartorius as the 
 representave of this branch of mechanical trade, estab- 
 lished in Pocomoke City, who may always be lound at his 
 place of business. 
 
 The cabinet, wheelwright and undertaking business has 
 been followed in New Town from time immemorial, 
 thcjugh not so extensively carried on in the early history 
 of the place. The cabinet business embraced the making 
 of bedsteads, tables, chairs, corner cupboards, cloak cases, 
 etc. The wheelwright business comprised the wagon and 
 cart wheel, together with the spinning wheel manufacture. 
 
 The si)inning whoel occupied as useful a place in the 
 
Formerly New Tovm. 101 
 
 family in its day as the sewing machine does now. Coffin 
 making has ahvavs been in vogue. Coffins, in the early 
 history of New Town were generally made of pine boards, 
 painted black and not lined. When the undertaker 
 attended a burial, if the corpse was to be carried any 
 distance, it w^as placed on the running gear of a carriage 
 or in a cart and carried to the place of interment ; but if the 
 distance was short, it was carried by hand. Before the 
 corpse was put in the coffin a linen sheet was placed in it, 
 and then the corpse was laid on the sheet in the coffin and 
 wrapped up. The lid of the coffin was always flat. When 
 at the grave the coffin would be placed on chairs during 
 the preliminaries for burial. There were no cases then. 
 The coffin w^as put dow^n in the ground and boards laid 
 over it and then covered up, and generally a stone was 
 put at the head and foot of the grave. Burials w^ere not 
 so expensive in the early history of New Town as at the 
 present day. The coffins cost about $5. The shroud 
 was simply a slip made of muslin. This old mode of 
 burial with the winding sheet brings to mind the songs of 
 warning that used to be sung in revival meetings : 
 
 Young people, all attention give, 
 
 While I address you in God's name ; 
 You, who in sin and folly live, 
 
 Come hear the counsel of a friend. 
 Your sparkling eyes and blooming cheeks 
 
 Shall wither like the morning rose; 
 The coffin, grave and winding sheet 
 
 Will soon your active limbs enclose. 
 
102 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 About 1S25, James T. Dickinson moved to New Town 
 and commenced the cabinet, wheelwright and undertaker's 
 business. He made quite an improvement in the whole 
 line of coffins and burial of the dead. Gum and walnut 
 took the place of pine coffins. They were padded and 
 beautifully lined. The coffins at first were carried by 
 ropes ; he introduced handles, such as are used at the 
 present day, then the bier, case to the coffin, and hearse. 
 Perhaps a brief sketch of Mr. Dickinson's life will be 
 interesting to the reader. He was born in 1803 near New 
 Town. His parents were James and Nancy Dickinson, 
 both worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 in New Town until their death. Mr. Dickinson was 
 apprenticed to Handy Mills to learn the aforesaid busi- 
 ness. After he became of age he married Miss Nancy 
 Burnett, daughter of James Burnett, Sr., and mo\'ed to 
 New Town, where he spent the remainder of his days. 
 He was thrice married, and was the father of fi\'e sons by 
 his first wife and one daughter by his second wife, only 
 two of whom survive him. By industry and economy he 
 provided amply for his family and the education of his 
 children, and at the same time accumulated considerable 
 property. He was a man of strict integrity and of a kind 
 and genial nature. He was modest and retired and never 
 sought preferment, and was esteemed and respected by 
 the entire community. He was a member and ruling 
 Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and was often selected 
 to represent her in the church courts. He died in 1866, 
 
Formerly New Town. 103 
 
 aged 63 years. His remains rests in the Presbyterian 
 Cemetery of Pocomoke City. Mr. Dickinson attained to 
 this distinction by adhering strictly to the secret of suc- 
 cess, which is ; he attended to his own business and did not 
 meddle with the business of others. "A good name is to 
 be preferred before great riches." 
 
 The cabinet and undertakers business is at present car- 
 ried on by Jacob E. James, G. and Francis A. Stevenson, 
 three brothers, doing business under the firmot Stevenson 
 Bros. They are also, in connection v/ith their trade, 
 engaged in the Furniture and Sewing Machine business. 
 
 The Wheelwright business is carried on at present, by 
 Abraham Cranmer and S. W. Farlow. 
 
 The Baking business was carried on quite extensively 
 in the early history of New Town. Mrs. Margaret Young 
 whom we called Aunt Peggy, and an old colored woman, 
 whom we called Aunt Mareer, were the cake bakers in 
 New Town sixty -five years age. 
 
 After Aunt Peggy died, her daughter Sally Evans car- 
 ried on the business. Old Aunt Mareer and Aunt Sally 
 seemed to vie with each other in baking cakes, and I 
 doubt whether nicer cakes, in their line, were ever baked. 
 About 1825, Aunt Sally, for so she used to be called, got 
 married to Agur Lewis Jones. During that or the next 
 year they purchased the hotel property, belonging to 
 Captain John Merchant, and commenced Hotel Keeping. 
 From that day it went by the name of the Sally Jones' 
 Hotel. They kept a good table at moderate charges. 
 Aunt Sally had a reputation of renown, as the great cake 
 
lOri Ilutory of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 baker, both in Somerset and Worcester Counties, Md., 
 and in Accomac County, Va. She and Lewis kept their 
 horse and wagon, and would attend all the General Musters 
 in the counties aforesaid, well loaded with superior cakes 
 of different kinds, and \\ould also attend the camp- 
 meetings, elections, vendues, holiday festivals, etc. They 
 would return home, not so heavily laden with cakes, yet 
 with their equivalent in hard cash. Aunt Sally and Lewis 
 became wealthy, but no one knew it. She survived her 
 husband several years. After his death she was so afraid 
 of being robbed that she would borrow money to pay her 
 taxes. She died without children, and left her property 
 to her many relatives ; and to the Protestant Episcopal, 
 Methodist Episcopal and Protestant Methodist Churches. 
 She left a large share of it to Miss Rosa Young, for she 
 helped to make it. After Miss Rosa came in posession of 
 the property, she got married to Peter Corbin. She is 
 now a widow, and li\cs in the neighborhood of Davis's 
 cross roads, at the advanced age of ninety years. When 
 Sally Jones died, she left Moses Stevenson her executor. 
 Upon making an inventory of her property, it was dis- 
 covered that she had, in hard cash, $6,000. She was 
 buried in the Protestant P^piscopal Church Burying 
 Ground, in this place, at the probable age of eighty years. 
 The Baking Business has been carried on quite exten- 
 sively during late years ; being unable to ascertain the 
 dates I can only name the persons who have been engaged 
 in carrying on a bakery. The first was John Knapp, then 
 
Formerly J^ew Town. 105 
 
 William S. Matthews and a man by the name of Marmon> 
 -then a man by the name of Hopkins, then Philip and 
 Frank Fletcher, who were followed by F. H. Dryden and 
 John J. Jones, who employed a man by the name of Dietz, 
 then Stephen J. Blades. The business is carried on at 
 'present by Mrs. K. Stiibbins and Mrs. P. Whittington, 
 in connection with the sale of confectionery. The manu- 
 facture of brick in New Town was first introduced by 
 John W. Quinn several years ago. It is now carried on 
 in connection with the lime kiln business by Messrs. H. 
 A. DeKay and W. J. S. Clarke, under the name of 
 DeKay & Co., doing an annual business aggregating $8,000. 
 
 There is one more feature of manufacturing which I 
 ^wish to mention as commanding probably the first place 
 in magnitude, that is the manufacture of phosphate for 
 manure. This business has been carried on by Messrs. 
 'Freeman, Lloyd, Mason and Dryden, who have now 
 ^established a factory near the City of Norfolk, Va. These 
 gentlemen are all business men — men of push — and have 
 a reputation to back them up in their heavy business, and 
 must succeed. 
 
 In summing up the manufacturing business of Pocomoke 
 City, I will say that we have six or seven boot and shoe 
 shops, three tailor shops, seven or eight house-carpenter 
 shops, ten blacksmith shops, three carriage shops, and one 
 ■carriage bazaar, two cooper shops, one undertaker shop 
 and one phosphate factory, all aggregating a business 
 .annually of probably $170,000. 
 
106 Historij of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 SHIPPING INTERESTS. 
 
 > 
 
 The shipping trade was quite an extensive business im 
 the early history of New Town, though it was mostly on 
 the coast and to the West Indies. There were as many 
 vessels then, probably, as there are now sailing from Nev\r 
 Town, but of a different character. They were generally 
 of smaller capacity, were sharp built, holding a draft of 
 seven or eight feet of water, and were commanded by 
 captain and mate, and a regular crew before the mast. 
 
 These vessels would carry white oak, barrel and hogs- 
 head staves to the West Indies, which were sold for 
 remunerative prices, and on their homeward voyage 
 would bring molasses, sugar, coffee. West India rum, 
 tropical fruits and hard cash. 
 
 The Bay trade consisted of pine plank, sawed by [hand 
 with the whipsaw, sta\'cs and laths which were ri\en, 
 cypress shingles, coopers' ware and what corn could be 
 spared from home consumption, flaxseed, dried fruit, 
 feathers, rags, etc. 
 
 We have now eight large vessels sailing from Pocomoke 
 City which are engaged exclusively in the bay trade. One. 
 and sometimes two steamboats plying between here and 
 
FoTmerly New Town. 107 
 
 the city and the railroad running daily to all parts north, 
 by which facilities we have daily access to all the cities, 
 doing an annual shipping business aggregating probably 
 the round sum of $500,000. It will, no doubt, be of 
 interest to the reader to see the names of those who were 
 probably their fathers and brothers, and who chose the life 
 of a sailor, recorded here. 
 
 I record from memory the following names of those who 
 were captains sailing from this place from 1820 to 1882 
 inclusive : Captains John W. Long, Fleet Shelton, Harry 
 Long, John Sturgis, James Riggin, Hezekiah Dorman, 
 Jacob Riggin, Parker Copes, Harry Burch, Herod Scott, 
 William H. Veasey, Samuel Fields, Steven Purnell, York 
 Baily, James H. Young, Thomas N. Williams, Robert 
 Henry, Isaac N. Veasey, William F. Veasey, Littleton N. 
 B, Long, Elijah Taylor, L. Thomas Williams, James T. 
 Young, John H. Clark, Thomas J. Veasey, Thomas Brit- 
 tingham and George Bailey, and no doubt there were 
 others whose names have escaped my memory. Some of 
 these were regular Tars, while others were engaged in the 
 bay trade. As I have already given a sketch of the history 
 of several of those I have named, there is one other man, 
 a sketch of whose history I desire to record, and that is 
 Captain Littleton N. B. Long who, when but a boy, left 
 his father's house, and this his native place, and went to 
 the City of Baltimore, and from there he engaged in a 
 seafaring life. Friendless and penniless, with nothing to 
 depend on but his native talent and energy with which to 
 
108 History of Pocomohe City, 
 
 make his mark. The sequel shows how well he did it. 
 Whether he engaged as cabin boy or not on board the 
 ship or brig I am not able to say, but one thing I can 
 say, he had a bright intellect and was ambitious to make a 
 man of himself. Obedient and industrious, he soon won 
 the sympathy and favor of the officers, and as circum- 
 stances would permit, with their instructions, he studied 
 navigation. 
 
 While a young man he took command of a ship ; in a 
 short time after this he became owner or part owner of a 
 ship and continued in this relation for several years. He 
 finally retired from a seafaring life and purchased a farm 
 in Talbot County, Md., where he is living in independ- 
 ence and comfort, at the probable age of 55 years. 
 
 All honor to the New Town boys who thus make men 
 of themselves. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO. 
 
 The Eastern Shore Steamboat Company of Baltimore 
 being a very important factor in the commercial life of 
 Pocomoke City, it is but simple justice that a record of 
 its doings should have a prominent place in this History; 
 
 The Eastern Shore Steamboat Company of Baltimore 
 was incorporated September 16, 1869. The incorporators 
 were Samuel Harlan, Jr., John T. Cause and Nathaniel 
 R. Benson, of Wilmington, Del., Philip R. Clark, of 
 
Formerly New Town. 109 
 
 Baltimore, George R. Dennis and John W. Crisfield, of 
 Somerset County, Md., and W. J. S. Clarke, of Worcester 
 
 County, Md. 
 
 The capital stock ot the Company at its organization 
 amounted to $160,000, with two steamers. At the present 
 period, 1S82, the company owns three steamers, which 
 are running to the Eastern Shore, so that daily communi- 
 cation from the peninsula is had by one or other of its 
 steamers with the City of Baltimore. The Company has 
 now in course of building a much larger steamer, which is 
 to be named the Eastern Shore. 
 
 The Officers of the Company are : Samuel Harlan, Jr., 
 President; J. T. Cause, Vice-President; N. R. Benson, J. 
 Upshur Dennis, John W. Crisfield, W. J. S. Clarke and P. 
 R. Clark, Directors; W. Thomson, Superintendent; P. 
 R. Clark^ General Agent. 
 
 The names of the Steamers are, respectively : Steamer 
 Tangier, Captain S. H. Wilson ; Steamer Helen, Captain 
 L. J. Smith ; Steamer Maggie, Captain George A. 
 Raynor. 
 
 These steamers are superseding, in a great measure, the 
 sail vessels in carrying the produce of the Eastern Shore 
 to Baltimore. While they have first-class accommodation 
 for passengers in their saloons, state-rooms and cabins, 
 and the viands upon their tables are selected from the 
 best city markets. 
 
 The writer having traveled on all of these steamers can 
 say that the officers are polite and obliging, and passengers 
 may be sure of being treated as ladies and gentlemen. 
 
110 History of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 Our youthful readers cannot realize the advantages of 
 steamboat travel to the same extent that some of us can, 
 whose memory goes back to the time when there was no 
 steamboat plying between Pocomoke City and Baltimore, 
 and when it would require, at certain seasons of the year, 
 two weeks or more for a sail vessel to make a trip from 
 Pocomoke City to Baltimore and return. 
 
 Whereas with the present facilities of travel the trip can 
 be made in thirty-nine hours, and gives you eleven hours 
 of that time to attend to business in the city. With these 
 facts before us we can see clearly that progress is march- 
 ing onward. 
 
Formerly New Town. Ill 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 SHIP BUILDING, &c. 
 
 The shipbuilding, steam milling and marine railway 
 'business is carried on quite extensively in Pocomoke City. 
 'Shipbuilding has been carried on in New Town from time 
 immemorial, but the steam milling and marine railway 
 business is of more recent date. 
 
 The first steam mill ever erected in New Town was by 
 a man by the name of Hutchinson in 1839. This mill was 
 'employed at first to make s.hingles, but afterwards turned 
 into a saw mill. 
 
 It was severally owned by Hutchinson, Dr. Geo. S. D. 
 ■ Shipley, Ricaud, then E. S. Young and Geo. Blades, 
 under the firm of Young & Blades, then E. S. Young and 
 and James H. Young, under the firm of Young & Brother, 
 then Capt. James T. Young by himself, who carried on 
 rthe business until 1866, when he sold out to Polk & Powell. 
 They conducted the business about ten years, w^hen they 
 -sold out to James T. Young and Lewis W. Young, doing 
 •business under the firm of Young & Brother. Finally 
 James T. Young bought out his brother Lewis, and is now 
 conducting the business by himself 
 
 I have been thus explicit ii: running out the history 
 
112 History of Poconir)ke Cliij^ 
 
 of th's mill simply because it was the first ever established. 
 in New Town. 
 
 But the year 1544 was marked as the beginning of a 
 series of successes unprecedented in the history of 'New 
 Town. The circumstances which brought them about 
 were as follows: During that year Ezra B. Risley hap- 
 pened to be in a certain port in the State of New Jersey, 
 when a vessel loaded with cypress fencerails arrived. He 
 saw the rails and encjuired where they were from, etc. 
 The cargo of rails belonged to Jas. Daugherty and Le\in 
 P. Rowland. In this case, like thousands of others, the 
 door of wealth was opened by the merest accident, and. 
 the old adge holds good, "one sows and another reaps." 
 In as short a time as possible alter this two strangers were: 
 seen in New Town ; no one knew who they were or what 
 was their business. They prospected awhile in the cypress 
 swamps, made some purchases and went away. The 
 strangers proved to be John Ashcraft and Ezra B. Risley. 
 During the next year, 1845, they established a large steam 
 saw mill at Harry Henderson's landing, the place now* 
 owned by Littleton Waters. Here they commenced 
 operations. They brought down Jersey wood choppers and 
 employed our own men also. Like an electric shock, 
 they aroused the citizens of New Town and the entire 
 surrounding country to the idea of business which has. 
 never died out. They infused a spirit of industry and 
 enterpM-ise in all, from the day laborer to the merchant 
 behind the counter and the fuiner at the plow. They 
 
Formerly New T(yum. 113 
 
 raised the price of labor, paid their employees the money 
 for their work, and produced an endre revolution in busi- 
 ness life. 
 
 They engaged in ship building also, and built some 
 large sea vessels. They purchased all the cypress swamps 
 below New Town, and sent to market all their timber and 
 lumber in their own vessels, which they built. They 
 operated about twenty years, made about $i5o;ooo and 
 retired. 
 
 With them originated, in a great measure, if not entirely, 
 the practical idea of the steam mill business in this sec- 
 tion of country. 
 
 In 1854, JohnW. Quinn, Jas. Murray and John Ashcraft 
 established a^ steam saw mill in New Town. In 1855, 
 Murray sold out his interest in the mill to Nicholas N. 
 Bosley ; the mill now being run by the firm of Quinn, 
 Bosley and Ashcraft. This firm continued two years, when 
 they sold out to Thomas W. Hargis and Ambrose Dixon, 
 doing business under the firm of Hargis & Dixon. They 
 continued two years and then sold out to Captain H. H. 
 Husted. Captain Husted conducted the business three 
 years, when in 1862 he sold out to Captain James H. 
 Young ; Captain Young, having already a fine mill, bought 
 this mill of Captain Husted to get it out of his way. 
 
 As history is always repeating itself I wish to present to 
 the reader a case illustrative of the fact, in which we have 
 an example of one, who, from the poorest walks of life 
 has attained, by hard work and good management to the 
 position of wealth and independence. 
 
ll-t History of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 I allude to Captain James H. Youiii^, who, I am sure 
 will not take exceptions to this statement, for he takes a 
 pride in the knowledge of the fact that he has made his 
 mark in the world. While he seems to say to the youth 
 of the present day, by his independent step as he walks 
 the streets ; boys go work as I have done and take care of 
 your labor, and when you get old you \\\\\ have something- 
 to lean upon. 
 
 Captain Young's father died quite a young man, and 
 left a widow and three children to support themselves as 
 best they could. It is true they had a little home but it 
 was merely a staying place. 
 
 The mother and elder son Edward would work at any- 
 thing they could get to do. She at the spinning wheel, 
 hoeing corn, and sometimes in the fodder field saving 
 fodder at twenty -five cents per day. and he tending the 
 gardens in town and working on the farms for twelve and 
 a half cents per day. 
 
 After a while James grew old enough to work, also, and 
 would work, sometimes, for five cents per day. At the 
 age of sixteen he was put to the tailoring business ; he 
 continued at the trade two years, when his future pros- 
 pects seemed to be beclouded, and as sitting on the board 
 did not agree with him, he concluded to make a change. 
 At the age of eighteen, he engaged with Captain James 
 Riggin as cook on board a small vessel, similar to that of 
 a ship's long boat, at four dollars per month. 
 
 This was the day of small things, but it was the begin- 
 ning of a successful course of life. At this period he was 
 
Formei'ly New Toimi. 115 
 
 very destitute of clothing; he had saved, however, as he 
 thought, three months wages with which he intended to 
 clothe himself. When lo ! the tailor with whom he had 
 been living, had by some means collected his wages, and 
 he was still left destitute. This was a terrible blow to the 
 little fellow, for he was very small for his age. however he 
 continued persevering and became a hand before the mast, 
 in the bay and coasting trade. Some time after his 
 maturity, by his industrious habits and temperate course 
 of life, he won the respect and sympathy of John U^ 
 Dennis, who one day told Captain Young that he ought 
 to buy a vessel or part of one. Captain replied that he 
 w^as not able. Mr. Dennis told him that he would make 
 him able, he would lend him the money, and did so. 
 Capt- Young then joined Thomas W. Hargis in the pur- 
 chase of a schooner. Mr- Hargis at that time was keeping 
 store at Wagram, Accomac County, Va. How long this 
 partnership lasted I cannot tell, but after their dissolution 
 he joined Col. Wm. H. Merrill in a schooner called the 
 Sarah Ellen. Finally he bought out Col. Merrill and run 
 the vessel in his own name until 1854, when he engaged in 
 the steam mill business. 
 
 Although Capt. Young had made up to this time $S,ooo 
 or $10,000, yet here was the gold mine which he struck. 
 The first few years of his milling life, however, were not 
 so successful, but after the war commenced the tide of 
 success set in, and money poured in upon him like a 
 f^o.d. 
 
116 History of Pocomoke Clty^ 
 
 In 1866, after making money enough to satisly his 
 ambition, he sold out to Polk & Powell, as before stated^ 
 and retired. 
 
 In making a few desultory remarks relating to Capt- 
 Young, I will sa)^ he has been a great worker and has had 
 a constitution to stand it. He has been unyielding in his 
 perseverance until the prize was gained. 
 
 There is one feature of his business life which is spe- 
 cially worthy of record, and that was, Captain Young 
 never did business on the Sabbath day. This is worthy 
 of all praise and should be an example to other business 
 men to act likewise. He owns ten farms aggregating two 
 thousand acres of land, which cost him between forty and 
 fifty thousand dollars, he also owns about twenty houses 
 and lots, some of them valuable ones, besides his pri\ate 
 securities and other personal property. 
 
 Captain Young has been a member of the Methodist 
 Protestant Church, in Pocomoke City, for many years, has 
 been twice married ; has eight children living, four by 
 each wife. He is now living in a green old age at about 
 three score and ten years, and looks back upon his life- 
 work as master of the situation. 
 
 In 1869, Levin J. M. P. Broadwater and Thomas R. P. 
 S. White established a steam saw mill, in New Town, and 
 run it until 1869, when it was purchased by James T. 
 Young, and he run it until 1876, when he sold it to W. J. 
 S. Clarke, and it was moved to Nashville, Accomac County^ 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 In 1864, W. J. S. Clarke and John H. Clarke, his brother^ 
 
Jriormerly Nexo Town. 117 
 
 established a Marine railway, and in 1869 they built a 
 steam saw, planing and grist mill, in New Town. They 
 also commenced ship building and repairing at the same 
 time. 
 
 In 1869, Hall, Bro. & Co. commenced the steam saw 
 mill business. In 1873, they built their Marine railway 
 and carry on ship building, also, in connection with these 
 two branches of business. 
 
 James T. Young, as has already been stated, is carrying 
 on the steam mill business. Is running a steam saw, 
 planing and grist mill, and carries on ship building in 
 connection. 
 
 Clarke & Co. and Hall, Bro. & Co. have three steam 
 saw mills in the countr}^, but the business ol those mills 
 centers here, so that I associate them with the steam mill 
 business of Pocomoke City. 
 
 In 1865, Thomas F. Stevenson commenced the business 
 of steam milling in New Town. In 1866 he took as a 
 partner his son, Riley M. Stevenson ; the firm is now doing 
 business under the firm of Thomas F. & R. M; Stevenson. 
 Theirs is a flour, grist and planing mill. It will afford 
 any one pleasure to go into their establishment and witness 
 the mechanical skill and neatness that characterizes every 
 department. The father and grandfather of this firm is 
 with them and works daily at the age of between 80 and 
 90 years. They are all natural mechanics and merit the 
 praise that is accorded to them for the exhibition of such 
 a talent. 
 
 In 1872, James T. Hearn, Allison Fleming and Charles 
 
118 llUtory of Pocomoke City, 
 
 G. Dale established a steam flour and grist mill in this 
 place. How long they continued I am not able to say. 
 They, however, sold out to H. H. Dashiell, of Princess 
 Ann, Somerset County, Md. The mill is still owned by 
 Mr. Dashiell, but it is rented by R. T. Dixon, who is a 
 live man, and is doing a heavy business in the manufacture 
 of flour and meal. 
 
 In summing up the steam saw, planing and grist mill 
 business, together with the marine railway and shipbuild- 
 ing business of Pocomoke City, we now have seven steam 
 mills, including those in the country whose business is 
 identical with the business of Pocomoke City. Five are 
 saw mills, two of which have planing and grist mills 
 attached ; two are flour and grist mills, one of which has a 
 planing mill attached. There are three shipyards and 
 two marine railways. They employ in the aggregate i6o 
 hands annually, and do an annual aggregated business 
 of $166,000. 
 
 Before concluding this part of the history of New Town, 
 now Pocomoke City, I would do injustice not to mention 
 the case of Captain John H. Clarke, who is equally 
 deserving of a liberal notice in this history. 
 
 He was born in 1828 and lived with his father until 
 1846, at which period his lather died. He was then 18 
 years of age. He farmed for two years and then engaged 
 as hand on board of Captain Elijah Taylor's vessel, which 
 engagement lasted two or three years, during which time 
 he married Captain Taylor's oldest daughter. 
 
 After this he engaged in partnership with his brother, 
 
Formerly New Town. 119 
 
 W. J. S. Clarke, in the vessel business, and they owned sev- 
 eral vessels together. This firm continued, when they 
 entered into the steam mill, Marine railway and ship 
 building business, finally ending in their large transactions. 
 He has served one term, and is at present on his second, 
 as commissioner of the county, with great acceptability. 
 
 Above all he is recognized as a good and honest man. 
 He owns ten or twelve hundred acres of land, eight or 
 ten houses and lots. 
 
 Captain Clarke has been an acceptable member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, in Pocomoke City, for many 
 years, has been twice married ; has eight children, five by 
 his first wife and three by his second. He is now fifty-two 
 or three years of age, in the prime of his strong man- 
 hood, with the prospects of the future looming up brightly 
 before him. His oldest son, William E. Clarke, is a whole- 
 sale drygoods merchant in the City of Baltimore, and as 
 he is a native of this place, and as it was here that he 
 received his first business ideas, it is but right and proper 
 that his history should be known. He was born on the 
 2oth day of March, 1851. After receiving such an educa- 
 tion as he v/as able to get here, he was taken at the age of 
 12 years into the store of his uncle, W. J. S. Clarke, where 
 he remained three or four years, during which time he was 
 thoroughly drilled by his sagacious uncle, whose business 
 ability is proverbial. 
 
 At the age of 15 or 16 years his uncle, seeing he had 
 great business qualifications beginning to develop them- 
 selves, took him to Baltimore and placed him with that 
 
120 History of Pocomohe City ^ 
 
 popular and wdl-known house, Hurst, Purncll & Co., 
 where he arose step by step from office boy to book- 
 keeper, and has been for several years a partner in that 
 gigantic establishment. 
 
 Mr. Clarke is quite popular, and as a recognition of that 
 fact, a new steamboat, which was built by Hall, Bro. & Co. 
 and Clarke & Co., which cost $25,000, which has just 
 made its first trip and which will ply between this place 
 -and the various tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, has 
 been named after him. William E. Clarke is recognized 
 by all as one of the leading business men of the Monu- 
 mental City. He is 31 years of age, is scarcely in the 
 prime of life, with success and emolument knocking at 
 liis door. 
 
'^ormeriy New Toicn. 121 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 HOTELS. LIVERY STABLES, &c. 
 
 Hotels existed in New Town at an early dale in its his- 
 ttory, the first, however, which I have any information of 
 was kept by Josiah Long, my wife's father. How long- he 
 was engaged in the business I cannot say. He died in 
 1813. About the same time, or shortly after Josiah Long 
 •commenced the business, Bennett H. Clarvoe engaged in 
 it also. After Mr. Clarvoe died, the widows of Mr. Long 
 and Mr- Clarvoe carried the business on for some time 
 ■and then retired ; and in succession the following persons 
 kept hotel, in New Town, now Pocomoke City, until the 
 present time, 1882 : Captain John Merchant, Littleton Cot- 
 tingham, Sally Jones, Francis Mezick, Thomas Evans, 
 Edward F. Mezick, Robert Silverthorn, Joseph Lanktord, 
 Henry Dryden, John Allen, Rosa Young, Peter Corbin, 
 Robert Marshall, John Adair, L. J. M. P. Broadwater, 
 Ralph Ross, Littleton Sturgis, Charles Rider, W. J. S. 
 •Clarke, William W. Quinn, Titus I. West, Captain Wm. 
 H. Comegys, George Twilly, Levin P. Bowland and H. 
 •C. Powell. Mr. Powell is the proprietor of the Clarke 
 House, and is a popular hotel keeper. Report says he 
 Jceeps the best 4;able of any house on the shore. 
 
122 History of Pocomoke Cltij^ 
 
 The Livery Stable business has been connected with the- 
 Hotel business from time immemorial, until 1869, when, 
 the Messrs. William and Samuel Twilly commenced it as 
 a separate business. As the Messrs. Twilly are the pio- 
 neers in this business, it is but right that an extended 
 remark should be made concerning them here. These 
 gentlemen, having had long experience in the livery stable 
 business, have become experts, and are widely known as. 
 reliable men, and are very popular. It is a real pleasure 
 to see the fine teams and splendid carriages which go out 
 from their stables. It is thought they can challenge the 
 whole Eastern Shore, if not the State, for a successful 
 rival in their line. 
 
 In 1878 and 1879, Emerson Melvin kept a livery stable,, 
 in Pocomoke City, and in 1880 and 1881, John J. Jones 
 was engaged in the business ; both of these establishments, 
 however, continued but a short time. 
 
 In 1881, Edwin F. Causey and Herbert H. King estab- 
 lished a livery stable, in Pocomoke City, and continue 
 the same to the present. These gentlemen are polite and 
 accommodating ; they keep constantly on hand a supply 
 of horses and carriages, and no one need fear disappoint- 
 ment in getting a good team at their stable. 
 
 We now have two li\ery stables in Pocomoke City, kept 
 by the Messrs. Twilly and Causey & King. These two 
 stables keep constantly on hand about twenty horses and 
 fifteen carriages, and can scarcely supply the the demand 
 at that. 
 
Formerly Neio Town. 123 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 PHYSICIANS. 
 
 Ol the physicians of New Town (now Pocomoke City), 
 Dr. John Stevenson was the first that we have any knowl- 
 edge of. He settled in New Town about the year 1800, and 
 practiced medicine until he died, which event occurred in 
 in 1 8 26. He was buried in the family burying ground on 
 the farm, which now belongs to Thomas W. Hargis, he 
 being at the time of his death 50 years of age. Dr. 
 Stevenson had no competition in the practice of medicine 
 until a few years before his death, consequently he had a 
 large practice and made money. He had a genial spirit, 
 was very popular both as a physician and citizen, and was 
 highly cultured. He was a member of the Pitts Creek 
 Presbyterian Church, and as has already been intimated, 
 became independent, and when he died he left a fine 
 estate to his widow and children. 
 
 Dr. Morrison settled here for a short time and practiced 
 medicine. Dr. Johnson also practiced medicine in New 
 Town for a short time and then moved to Salisbury, where 
 he died. The first name of these two gentlemen I have 
 forgotten ; they practiced in New Town in the latter part 
 of Dr. Stevenson's life. 
 
124 Historij of Pocomokc ('liij. 
 
 Dr. John H. W. W. Clarvoc commenced the i)ractice of 
 medicine in New Town in the latter part of Dr. Steven- 
 son's hfe. He built up an extensive practice ; he was 
 sociable, intelligent and one of the most popular physicians 
 and citizens. The tidy little Doctor's image is before me 
 in my memory while I write. Seated upon his Teaboy or 
 Catahulean — for these w^ere the names of his horses — hav- 
 ing his saddlebags with him, he would ride away to visit 
 his patients. The Doctor was a cousin to Bennett H. 
 Clarvoe, and consequently a relative of the celebrated and 
 well-known detective John Clarvoe, of Washington City, 
 who has recently deceased. The Doctor died compara- 
 tively a young man, and left a widow anci three children, 
 all of whom have since passed away, 
 
 Dr. James B. Horsey settled in New Town in the prac- 
 tice of medicine a while after Dr. Stevenson's death. He 
 married the Doctor's youngest daughter, Elizabeth, and 
 occupied the homestead while he lived. He died in 1838, 
 aged 30 years. Dr. Horsey was a native of Snow Hill. 
 His lather died when he was quite small. The independ- 
 ent and generous-hearted David Hopkins, of Snow Hill, 
 who was a bachelor, took a liking to the sprightly lad and 
 assumed his education. He gave him a thorough college 
 course all at his own expense. After the doctor's gradua- 
 tion Mr. Hopkins gave him a physician's outfit, consisting 
 of horse, carriage, etc. Dr. Horsey had a bright intellect, 
 was a good physician, and a ready off-handed speaker 
 when the occasion called him out. 
 
Formerly New Town. 125 
 
 Dr. George S. D. Shipley commenced the practice of 
 medicine, in New Town, in 1839, and continued here ten 
 or eleven years. He then moved to SaHsbury and in a 
 few years he died. He was a good physician and a gentle- 
 man in the best sense of the w^ord. 
 
 Dr. Collyer was associated with Dr. Shipley in the 
 practice of medicine in New Town, he afterwards moved 
 to Accomac County, Va., where he soon died. Dr. Joseph 
 L. Adreon commenced the practice of medicine in New 
 Town, in 1839. He was a good physician, practiced about 
 20 years, and in i860 he died. 
 
 Dr. Adreon left an amiable widow and a fine family of 
 children. In 1846 Dr. John L. Hearn commenced the 
 practice of medicine in New Town, and continued the 
 same until 1872, during which year he died, embracing a 
 period of 26 years. Dr. Hearn was a native of New 
 Town, he was born the 19th day of March, 1823. When 
 in 1847 he received the hand of Miss Sallie E. Atkinson in 
 marriage, a young lady every way worthy of him. Dr. 
 Hearn had a bright intellect, beyond the common order 
 of minds. He was a good physician and was very pop- 
 ular both as a physician and citizen. His popularity in the 
 old Whig party was so great that when there was a proba- 
 bility of a hard struggie between them and the Democratic 
 party, he would be selected as the most available candi- 
 date to carry the election for the Whig party. He left a 
 widow and four children that are an honor to his name 
 and who possess minds of an intellectual order. 
 
 Dr. John T. B. McMaster, physician and surgeon, was 
 
126 History of Focomoke City^ 
 
 born in Worcester County, Md. near New Town, now 
 Pocomoke City, on the i8th clay of December, 1827. 
 His parents were Samuel and Ann Baily (Merrill) 
 McMaster. His mother was the daughter of William 
 Merrill and grand daughter of Col. Clement Parker of 
 Accomac County, Va. The McMaster family decended 
 from the old Scotch Covenanters. They emigrated to 
 America soon after the restoration of Charles l\. and 
 settled near Carlisle, Penn. His grand father was a 
 Presbyterian Minister. In his boyhood Dr. McMaster 
 attended the country schools of the period, and was well 
 drilled in the English branches and mastered the elementary 
 classes. He possessed a quick and active mind and learned 
 with great readiness. 
 
 Soon after leaving school he engaged in mercantile 
 pursuits, but finding them unsuited to his tastes, he com- 
 menced in 1848 the study of medicine with G. S. D. 
 Shipley, of New^ Town. The following year he matricu- 
 lated at the University of Maryland, where he attended two 
 full courses of lectures, and graduated in the spring of 1850. 
 He at once commenced the practice of his profession in 
 New Town in partnership with Dr. John L. Hearn, and 
 soon succeeded in building up a large and lucrative prac- 
 tice. The partnership was dissohed in 1857, since which 
 time Dr. McMaster has continued alone in the same place, 
 growing constantly in favor as a practitioner and citizen. 
 Several young men trained by him for the profession are 
 now jiracticing in tlie county. 
 
Formerly New Town. 127 
 
 In 1862, he was appointed by President Lincoln Brigade 
 Surgeon of Volunteers, but on account of the death of the 
 oldest physician in the town, too many duties devolved 
 upon him at home and he did not go into the army, but 
 was employed during most of the w^ar as contract physician, 
 with headquarters at New Town. In 1S62 he was 
 appointed examining surgeon for the first draft of militia 
 called for by President Lincoln, ^vhich duty he lulfilled to 
 the general satisfaction of the people of the county. In 
 1864 he w^as elected to the Senate of Maryland for two 
 sessions, and taking an active and leading part in the 
 debates, became an influential member of that body. In 
 1 866 he was appointed post master for New Town for 2 years. 
 In 1868 he was appointed inspector .and ganger of liquors 
 and inspector of snuff and cigars, but only held these 
 positions lor a short time. The General Assembly of 
 Maryland, through his efforts, granted a charter for New- 
 Town, and in 1867 he was elected town commissioner, 
 which position he held for two years to the entire satisfac- 
 tion of the community. During this period he was mainly 
 instrumental in having the town well lighted, the streets 
 widened and many other things accomplished that ha\'e 
 greatly improved the place. In 1868 he was appointed 
 by President Johnson Assistant Assessor of Internal 
 Revenue, which position he held for nearly tvvo years. In 
 1869 a charter was obtained to construct a railroad from 
 King's Creek to New Toun, and Dr. McMaster was elected 
 president of the company. Through his active exertions 
 .the road was soon completed iuid in running order. In 
 
I'i8 History of Pocotnohe Oity^ 
 
 1S65 lie procured a cliarter tor a company to build a- 
 bridi2:e across the Pocoiiioke River. He subscribed to the 
 stock, organized the company, and within the year the 
 bridge was built, taking the place of the ferryboat which 
 had done service for nearly two hundred years. On May 
 May 15, 1 85 1, Dr. IVfcMaster was united in marriage with 
 Elizabeth Cirace, daughter of Jno. S. Stevenson, a well-known 
 citizen of New Town. They have had seven children, 
 five of whom are still living. The eldest son, John S., is 
 preparing to enter the legal profession. In his religious 
 \iews Dr. McMaster prefers the torms and practices of the 
 Presbyterian Church, both as a matter of choice and of 
 respect for the opinions of his forefiithers. He is one of 
 the leading physicians of the State. He has rendered large 
 public ser\ices and is regarded as one of the most spirited 
 citizens of Maryland. He is now in the meridian of his 
 manhood, possessing more than an ordinary degree of 
 brilliancy of intellect, and is always ready to take the lead 
 in every public good. 
 
 Dr. Alexander Powell practiced medicine in New Town 
 in 1 83 1. What time he commenced practicing and how long- 
 he continued I am not prepared to say, he, however, went 
 to the South, setded there, and has since died. Dr. 
 I'^dward White practiced medicine in New Town in 1S45, 
 he did not, h()we\ er, continue long before he moved to the 
 City of Paltimore where he is still engaged in the practice 
 of his profession. Dr. Henry J. P. Dickinson was born 
 near New Town. Mar viand, on the twenty-sixth day of 
 
J^ormerly New Town. 12^ 
 
 September, 1826. His parents were James T. and Nancy 
 Dickinson ; he was raised and educated in New Town^ 
 studied medicine under Dr. Joseph L. Adreon, and grad- 
 uated at the University of Maryland, in 1850. He 
 commenced practicing medicine at Barren Creek Springs, 
 Somerset County, (now Wicomico,) Md. In 1852, he was 
 united in marriage with Miss E. A. Waller, of that county, 
 who died in a year or two after her marriage leaving one 
 son in his infancy. After the death of his wife. Dr. Dick- 
 inson moved to New Town and commenced the practice 
 of medicine : in a few years he married Miss Emma F. 
 Lambdon, of Worcester County, alter which he moved to 
 the country, on his farm, and there continued the practice 
 of medicine until he died, which event occurred in 1865. 
 He left four children, one by his first wife and three by his 
 last, one of whom has since died. Gran\'ille E. Dickinson, 
 his oldest son, studied medicine and graduated at the 
 Uni\ersity of Maryland, in 1874, at the age of twenty-one 
 years, and commenced the practice of medicine in Fair- 
 mount, Somerset County, Maryland, where he still con- 
 tinues. 
 
 Dr. David J. O. Truitt was born in New Town, Md.,on 
 the fifth day of November, 1836. His father, after being 
 engaged in the mercantile business, in New Town, for 
 several years, mo\ed to the City of Baltimore, where the 
 Doctor was educated at the Newton University, after grad- 
 uating at that institution, he studied medicine, attended 
 two full courses of lectures and graduated at the University 
 of Maryland in 1^57, at the age of twenty-one years. He 
 
130 History of Pocomoke Ciiij, 
 
 then, excepting two intervals in which he practiced in the 
 Southern Dispensary of Baltimore and Nasswadduso, 
 Worcester County, Maryland, settled in New Town, and 
 has remained here ever since. Dr. Truitt is a j^ood phy- 
 sician, and is considered one of the best suri^eons on tJie 
 Eastern Shore, and is a worthy and useful citizen. He 
 has been thrice married and has three children. 
 
Formerly Isew Town. 131 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 PHYSICIANS (CONTINUED^. 
 
 Dr. Samuel S. Quinn was born near New Town, the 22d 
 day of April, 1838. His parents were Re\'. William and 
 Rosa B. Quinn ; he was educated at New Town Academy, 
 studied medicine under Drs. Hearn and McMaster, grad- 
 uated at Maryland University, in the spring of 1S59, and 
 commenced, at once the practice of medicine in New- 
 Town. On the 19th day of June, 1861, he received 
 the hand of Miss vSally A. Q. Atkinson in marriage. She 
 died the 17th day of September, 1869. His present wife 
 was Miss Amanda Conner, with whom he was united in 
 marriage on the i6th day of November, 1871. Upon the 
 institution of the High School in New Town, he was Trustee 
 for several years. He served as commissioner of the Cor- 
 poration, in 187 1 and 72, and was also re-elected to that 
 office this present year. Notwithstanding these tokens of 
 preferment he has never been an applicant for any office. 
 The Doctor while attending to his practice has been con- 
 ducting the Record and Gazette, a weekly paper in which 
 he owns an interest. He has three children living, one by 
 his first wife and two by his second. He is quiet, genial 
 and companionable, and is poi^sessed of a brilliant intellect. 
 
132 Jlisiory of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 He is only aproaching the* meridian of his intellectual 
 manhood, and has a bright future before him. Dr. Quinn 
 is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in Pocomoke 
 City. 
 
 Dr. Isaac T. Coston was born in Somerset County, Md., 
 on the loth day of October, 1S32. His father was Wm. 
 Coston, of Matthias ; his mother's name was Rosa Taylor^ 
 daughter of Samuel Taylor. The Doctor was raised on 
 the farm and could only a\ai] himself of such schooling as 
 could be had at a country school until he was sixteen years 
 old. At sixteen he was admitted into the Washington 
 Academy at Princess Anne, as one to receive the benefit 
 of the State fund. He lived at a distance of six miles from 
 the Acadeniy and went and returned every school day for 
 hve years, except he was detained by sickness or extremely 
 bad weather, all of which of course drew heavily upon his 
 time th:it would under other circumstances have been 
 devoted to study. At the expiration of hve years spent 
 in this way and his vacations in hard labor on the farm, 
 he commenced to teach school and continued for two 
 years, at the same time using all his spare hours in reading- 
 medicine. He then applied his time exclusively to the 
 study of medicine for two years more under Drs. George 
 Dixon, of Princess Anne, and John Neill, of Philadelphia. 
 He then entered the Pennsylvania University, and after 
 attending the regular courses of lectures, he graduated in 
 March, 1S57. Immediately after his graduation he located 
 in Rehoboth, in Somerset County, where he practiced his 
 profession until iN^^. when lu- moxed to Accomac County, 
 
Forrnerly New T<non. 133 
 
 Va., and there he practiced for two years more, when in 
 July, 1865, he moved to New Town, where he has continued 
 the practice of medicine e\er since. After setthng in New 
 Town he received on the 22d day of February, 1866, the 
 hand of Miss OHvia Adams, daughter of the late Morris 
 Adams, of Somerset County, in marriage. He has four 
 children living ; has held the position of trustee of 
 Pocomoke High School for several years, which he 
 resigned. The Doctor was, in November last, elected as 
 a delegate to represent the people of Worcester County in 
 the Legislature, which has now^ closed. He is a member 
 of the Presbyterian Church in Pocomoke City, and is a 
 very worthy and highly respected citizen. 
 
 Dr. Gordon T. Atkinson was born in Somerset County, 
 Md. on the 1 8th day of December, 1 846. He was educated 
 at the New Tow^n Academy and at Dickinson College. 
 After he left College he read medicine under Dr. S. S. Quinn 
 for one year, he then went to the University of Penn. and 
 attended lectures. He received the degree of M. D. in 
 1869. He practiced medicine in Pocomoke City for One 
 year. He then removed to Crisfield, Md. where he has 
 since resided, pursuing the practice of his profession. 
 
 Dr -George T .Truitt, son of William R. and Sarah C. 
 Truitt, was born in the City of Baltimore, in 1848. He 
 alternately received his education in the City of Baltimore, 
 in New Town, and in Claymont, Del., at which latter place 
 he graduated. Immediately after his graduation at school 
 he took up the study of medicine under Prof. Nathan R. 
 Smith of Baltimore. 
 
1 34: Ilistor// of Pocomokx City^ 
 
 Prof. Smith was his preceptor until he graduated at the 
 University School of Medicine, in the City of Baltimore, 
 in 1869. In 1870, he commenced the practice of medi- 
 cine in New Town, he remained here one year and 
 removed to Millsboro, Sussex County, Delaware. He 
 there practiced in partnership with G. F. Burton for one year, 
 when the partnership was dissolved. He then practiced 
 alone for three years, during which time he was married 
 to Miss Virginia C. Burton, of that place. After remaining 
 in Delaware during the time aforesaid Dr. Truitt again 
 returned to New Town where he engaged in the practice 
 of medicine until within a few years past, since which time 
 he has devoted his time, exclusively, to Dental Surgery. 
 Dr. Truitt is the only graduated physician, in Pocomoke 
 City, who devotes himself, exclusively, to Dental Surgery 
 in which he is a proficient. He is a vestryman in the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in Pocomoke City and is a 
 good citizen and worthy of patronage. 
 
 Dr. Julius T. Hall was born on the old homestead near 
 New Town, Worcester County, Md., on the 20th day of 
 July, 1849- Soon afterwards his father, Zadock J. Hall 
 moved to town where he raised his family. Julius received 
 his education from the schools of the town, completing it in 
 the High School. In 1867, he took charge of a school at 
 Swansgut or Remson, where he remained for 18 months. 
 In the fall of 1869, he took charge of Pitt's Creek School. 
 In 1870, he accepted a position as teacher in the Pocomoke 
 High School where he remained until 1874. He then ac- 
 cepted the position of assistant superintendant of Baltimore 
 
Formerlij New Town. 135 
 
 House of Refuge, after remaining there some time, he 
 accepted the principalship of Jacksonville Academy near 
 Crisfield, Somerset county, Md. This was his largest 
 and most flourishing school ; he taught it for over three 
 years and during the time he read medicine. In 1877, he 
 entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in the 
 University of Maryland. He attended two full courses of 
 lectures and graduated in 1879. He forthwith opened 
 an office in Pocomoke City where he has since been prac- 
 ticing his profession. In October, 1879, he was united in 
 marriage to Miss Mary C. Thomas, of Norfork Virginia. 
 
 Dr. Hall is a young man yet; he is a member of the 
 Baptist Church in Pocomoke City ; he is studious, indus- 
 trious and is highly respected, both as a physician and 
 citizen. Having a good mind and physicial constitution, 
 he has flattering prospects of a useful life and will, no 
 doubt, be ranked among the first physicians of his day. 
 
 Dr. Wallace W, Freeman was born in Nashville, Tenn.^ 
 on the 13th day of April, 1 855. He was educated in the 
 public schools of Memphis, Tenn.", and Camden, New 
 Jersey. He commenced the study of dentistry in Pocomoke 
 City in the fall of 1879, and attended two sessions of 
 lectures at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, 
 where, in 1882, he graduated and received his degree of 
 D. D. S., after which he opened an office in Pocomoke City, 
 where he is at present practicing his profession. He is 
 studious and closely applies himself to business and is 
 ambitious to excel in his profession. He may always be 
 
136 History of Phcomoke City^ 
 
 found at his office, where he is prepared to t>ive entire 
 satisfaction in dental surgery. 
 
 Dr. Freeman is a member of the Baptist Church in 
 Pocomoke City. He has a high sense of moral obliga- 
 tion and is a thorough temperance man. If these 
 qualifications betoken a bright future in his profession, he 
 will reach it. 
 
 Dr. John H. King was born in Princess Anne, Somerset 
 County, Md., on the 29th day of August, 1857. He was 
 educated at the High School of Pocomoke City. After 
 leaving school, he entered the drug store of E. Fontaine 
 as clerk, and had six years experience in the drug 
 business, during which time he had read medicine under 
 Dr. S. S. Quinn. After this he entered the College of 
 Physicians and Surgeons in the City of Baltimore, at 
 which he attended two full courses of lectures and grad- 
 uated in March, 1882. He at once returned to Pocomoke 
 City and commenced the practice of medicine, associating 
 "himself in partnership with Dr. S. S. Quinn. Dr. King is 
 a young man of considerable promise ; he has a good 
 mind and an ambition to excel in his profession, which 
 knows no flagging. He is sound on the temperance ques- 
 tion and is a supporter of moral reforms, and as a 
 physician, it is already said of him, ** he is becoming quite 
 popular." I have no doubt but that he will hold a place 
 in the front ranks of his protession with honor. 
 
 In summing up the history of the medical fraternity of 
 Pocomoke City, I will say we have eight physicians and 
 
Formerly New Town. 137 
 
 surgeons, all in the prime of life, their ages ranging from 
 25 to 54 years, all men of families except two, all belong 
 to church except two, and they are church-goers and are 
 professedly temperance men. When I think ot former 
 years when it was an exception for a physician to belong 
 to church or to be professedly a temperance man, I am 
 constrained to pronounce a eulogy upon the men who 
 compose the medical fraternity of Pocomoke City, as 
 being worthy of all praise for the noble stand which they 
 have taken in support of Christianity and moral reform. 
 I think Pocomoke City can challenge any town on the 
 Eastern Shore of 1,500 inhabitants to produce such a 
 brotherhood of physicians. 
 
138 History of Pocomoke Cittjy 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 LAWYERS. 
 
 In 1867, Alpheus Sidney Stevens commenced the 
 practice of law in New Town ; pre\'ious to tliis time we 
 never had a resident lawyer in the place. He was born 
 in Somerset County, Md., on the 15th day of December, 
 1840. He was a regular descendant of Col. William 
 Stevens, of colonial fame. His father, who is still living 
 at or near the age of 75 years, is no doubt the great great 
 grandson of Col. Wm. Stevens. This declaration could 
 be corroborated by such a statement of facts were it 
 necessary, as would leave but little room for cavil. 
 
 Alpheus Sidney Stevens was a self-made man. He 
 only went to school two years, fifteen months of that time 
 he went to a country school, which he afterward said was 
 time thrown away. The remaining nine months was 
 occupied at New Town Academy, during which time he 
 made some advancement, enough at least to inspire a 
 thirst for knowledge, which never abated during his life. 
 At 15 years of age he engaged as clerk in a store and 
 continued in lliat capacity for three years. At 18 years of 
 age he obtained a fust grade certificate from the School 
 Hoard of Somerset County to teach school, and he 
 
Formerhj New Town. 139 
 
 engaged in that occupation lor three years more, at which 
 time he was 21 years old. He then commenced merchan- 
 dising in Pocomoke City and was a successful merchant 
 for six years. On the 3d day of November, 1863, he was 
 united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Truitt. During his 
 mercantile life he read law and in 1S67 was admitted to 
 the bar of Worcester County, after passing one of the 
 finest examinations. He practiced law for four years. 
 Plis was a mind of no ordinary cast ; indeed, he was a 
 genius. Although he made great proficiency in the 
 pursuit of knowledge for his opportunity, yet he was called 
 away in the morning of life before he had reached the 
 meridian of his intellectual manhood. Had he lived, no 
 doubt he would have been a jurist of the first order and 
 worthy to be associated with his ancestor of colonial fame. 
 Mr. Stevens was a member of the Presbyterian Church in 
 New Town. On the 19th day of July, 1872, he passed 
 away like the blasted rosebud that just began to unfold its 
 petals to make its fragrance known. So died Alpheus 
 Sidney Stevens, at the age of 32 years, leaving a widow 
 and four children to cherish his memory. 
 
 Benjamin Williams, attorney at law, was admitted to 
 the bar of Worcester County Court about the year 1871. 
 He was a native of Calvert County, Md. but moved to 
 Worcester County prior to his study in law. Immediately 
 after his admission to the bar, he located in Pocomoke 
 City and commenced practicing his profession. He 
 continued in the practice of law for about two years and 
 then moved to another part of the State. 
 
140 Ilistortj of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 Adial v. Barnes, attorney at law, was l^orn in Nassa- 
 naddus, Worcester County Md., on the loth day of 
 September, 184S. His parents were James A. and Sarah 
 E. Barnes. His father was quite an extensive and very 
 successful farmer and accumulated a large amount of 
 wealth, and is living, at ease, in Pocomoke City, at the age 
 of three score and ten years. 
 
 Adial P. Barnes, in his early life, labored on his father's 
 farm with the farm hands except when going to school. 
 He attended a country school, where only the elementary 
 principles of education w^ere taught. In his youth, he had 
 an ardent desire to get an education that he might be 
 prepared to enter upon a professional life. His father, 
 seeing the bent of his mind, sent him to the Public High 
 School of Pocomoke City, where he was taught the 
 higher branches of education. After attending this school 
 for two years he read law in the office of George W. 
 Purnell, Esq., in Snow Hill, for one year. He then went 
 to the University of Virginia and attended law lectures, in 
 that institution, for two years. After which he went to the 
 University of Maryland and took his degree in the law- 
 department of that institution, in the month of June, 1873. 
 Upon graduating he opened a law^ office, in the same year, 
 in Pocomoke City, where he followed his profession until 
 the month of October, 1877, when he removed to Snow 
 Hill, Md., and opened an office there, where he is still 
 ngaged in the practice of law. Mr. Barnes is a growing 
 lawyer and ranks well with his professional brotherhood. 
 
Formerly New Town. 141 
 
 He is a young man yet, and having an ambition to excel, 
 he will, no doubt, with his application make his mark as a 
 jurist whose talent will command a lucrative practice and 
 secure a name to be envied. 
 
 J. Lloyd Wilkinson was born in New Town on the 13th 
 day of May, 1857. His fother Rev. William Wilkinson 
 was a Baptist minister. Mr. Wilkinson attended the High 
 School at New Town until he was eleven years of age. 
 After this he entered the Drug Store of Mr. C. C. Lloyd 
 as clerk, after being in the drug store of Mr. Lloyd for 
 several years he went to Culpepper, in Virginia, to take 
 charge of a drug store there. During the time, in which 
 he was engaged in the drug business, he read law under 
 Gen. Jas. G. Fieldof Culpepper, who is at present. Attorney - 
 General for the state of Virginia, and in 1878 he was 
 admitted to the bar. At this period he was 21 years of 
 age. He practiced in the courts of Madison, Green and 
 Culpepper Counties, Va. In the winter of 1879 and i83o, 
 he returned to Pocomoke City and in 1880 he was 
 admitted to the Worcester bar. 
 
 Mr. Wilkinson is a young man of promise, with a good 
 mind looming up into brilliancy, and is rising in the estima- 
 tion of all who know him, for his legal ability. 
 
 John Glenn Towsend was born in Nassawaddux, Wor- 
 cester County, Maryland, on the 25th day of May, 1853, 
 and resided, up to his early manhood, in the county of his 
 birth. He received a common school education, and 
 being of studious habits he prepared himself for a teacher 
 
142 History of Pocomo/ce Citij^ 
 
 in the public schools. He was appointed principal of the 
 grammar school at Stockton, Worcester County, Md., 
 which position he held some considerable time, during 
 which he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 
 Worcester County, in 1877. He, however, continued 
 teaching school for two years. Afterwards he opened a 
 law office in Pocomoke Cit}'', where he has since practiced 
 his profession. Mr. Towsend is the youngest son of 
 Teagle Towsend, deceased, who was a leading man in 
 the county, of the old Whig party. 
 
 J. Glenn Towsend is quite a young man and has, com- 
 paratively, jnst entered the arena of public life as a 
 lawyer. If a noted family record, with a good mind and 
 studious habits, together with a good moral and religious 
 character, is any warrant of success, he will doubtless 
 honor his profession. 
 
 J. Shiles Crockett, attorney at law, was born in Princess 
 Anne, Md., on the 12th day of December. 1858. He was 
 educated partly at the Princess Anne Academy and at 
 St. John's College, Annapolis, Md., at which latter institu- 
 tion he graduated in 1S78. He read law in the office of 
 Col. Henry Page and was adm.itted to the bar of Somerset 
 County Court in 18S0. He then moved to Crisfield and 
 practiced his profession until 1882, when he removed to 
 Pocomoke City. Mr. Crockett is a young man with a 
 good mind and is a graduate at college. He read law 
 under one of the first lawyers of the State. With appli- 
 cation he has everything in his favor to insure success 
 in his profession. 
 
Formerly New Town. 14o 
 
 A history of the legal profession in New Town, now 
 Pocomoke City, would be incomplete not to mention the 
 ■fact that many of the lawyers, both of the Snow Hill and 
 Princess Anne bar, have practiced law in New Town, and 
 chief among those of the Princess Anne bar who have thus 
 practiced are John W. Crisfield, James V . Dennis, Col. 
 Henry Page and William McMaster. Those of the 
 "Snow Hill bar. are Dennard Williams, Judge John R- 
 Franklin, Walter P. Snow, Judge Ephraim K. Wilson, 
 William H. W. Farrow, George \\'. Purnell George M. 
 Upshur, William S. Wilson, Clayton J. Purnell and Adial 
 P. Barnes. The Messrs. G, \\ . Purnell, G. M. Upshur, 
 W. S. Wilson, C. J. Purnell and A. P. Barnes, have still 
 their stated times ol visitations to Pocomoke City attend- 
 ing to all business appertaining to the law. 
 
144r Jlistn'f/ of J^ocomoke City^ 
 
 CHAi'TKR XXI. 
 
 POST OFFICE. 
 
 The postofiice, in the early history of New Towit.. 
 was a very small affair, so small, indeed, that I have the 
 impre.ssion that there was no pay for transmission of the 
 mail IroMi Snow Hill to New Town, as that was, then, the 
 mall route. I am indorsed in this declaration by the fact 
 that it was transmitted by ind;\idual citizens when they 
 would oo to Snow Mill, on business, on pul)lic days. 
 
 As early as 1820, Michael Murrax', my father, was post- 
 master for New Town. When other means of i^ettino- the 
 mail would fail, my father would send my two oldest 
 brothers, each one on horseback, to Snow Hill for the 
 mail. After these two brothers went to Ikiltimore to learn 
 a trade, this duty at times fell upon my two ne.xt older 
 brothers and myself. The mail was due at New Town 
 once a week, and sometimes it would lay in the office at 
 Snow Hill two weeks for the want of a carrier. In such 
 emeri^encies, my f ilhers would say to us ; " Bovs, you 
 must take the canoe," for then we had no horse, "and <^q 
 to Snow Hill for the mail." At that period I do not 
 think 1 was more than eijLiht years of ame. We manned 
 the b ).it with lw«. o u's and a j) uUlIe : as I was the 
 
Formerhj Nevj Toicn. 145 
 
 youngest, it fell to my lot to be steersman, as that was the 
 easiest part of the work. We would start on the first of 
 the flood tide. We were going on United States busi- 
 ness, and being little boys, of course we felt the importance 
 of our mission. When the boys would lean back with 
 their oars and make a long pull and a strong pull the 
 canoe, as a thing of life, would dart ahead and seemed to 
 say to me : " If you don't mind I will run from under 
 you." Thus we tugged and sweated until we reached 
 Snow Hill. We went up to the postofhce and got the 
 mail. If the ebb tide had made we started for home. 
 Sometimes we would be in the night getting home. At 
 such times I ^vould get sleepy and w^ould be afraid I 
 would fall overboard. Incidents like the following ha\'e 
 taken place when ue have been delayed till the night 
 getting home. A storm cloud would arise, the thunder 
 and lightning would be terrific, the rain coming down 
 seemingly in torrents. We had no covering but the 
 cloud out of whicli the rain was descending. W^hen we 
 would be getting down near the old ferry, now the bridge, 
 we w^ould begin to halloo at the top of our voices, knowing 
 that our mother would be down at the back of the lot 
 looking up the river to see if we were coming. Sure 
 enough she would be the first one to meet us when we 
 reached the shore. The reader will learn that my father's 
 house stood on the same ground where William J. S. 
 Clarke's house now stands. There was no wharf then 
 between the lot and the river. There was nothing but 
 tuckahoes, mud and bramble. 
 
When I tliink ol'thc incident just described with many 
 others In which a mother's love has baen shown. I am 
 ■constrained to exclaim : " Oh ! the thon<^hts of a precious 
 loving- mother ; 1 once had such a mother, and the 
 remembrance of her is like sweet incense poured forth." 
 We arrived safely at home, ate our supper, weiit to bed 
 :\\\(\ slept soundlv. The next mornino; the mail was 
 opened. The citizens would call for their mail matter. 
 Some of them had friends living- in the far West, on the 
 frontiers of civilization, as far away as Ohio and ye Old 
 Kentuckv. Oh I what a wonderful sight it was then, to a 
 little boy, to see a mail who had come from that far-away 
 country. As I ha\e already stated the New Town mail 
 was very small. There were but few newspapers in the 
 countrv and I ha\e no knowledge what the i)ostage was 
 on them. Letter postage was regulated by the distance a 
 letter had to go. For instance, the postage on a letter 
 from New Town to Baltimore was ten cents and from New- 
 Town to New Orleans it was twenty-hve cents. Anything 
 over half ounce w.is double postage then as it is now. 
 Forty years ago there was an express arrangement from 
 New Orleans t(j Baltimore in the form of a ilying post; 
 that is to say, horses on the route would be bridled and 
 saddled already to start at the moment. Vov instance, the 
 starting point would be at New Orleans, the horse was 
 saddled and bridled and the rider in the saddle ; at the 
 moment the signal to start was gi\en, the rider would go 
 in flving ."^.peed to the next station of probably four miles 
 disfaiicr. at which another horse would be all reidy. the 
 
Formerly Neio Town. , 147 
 
 rider would dismount and mount again and thus pursue 
 the route to Baltimore. A letter by this route cost seventy- 
 five cents from New Orleans to New Town ; if the letter 
 had money in it or over a half ounce the postage was one 
 dollar and fifty cents. How long this express route 
 existed I cannot say, probably not long. In 1827, Michael 
 Murray, my father, resigned the postmastership, having 
 held that position from my earliest recollection. At the 
 period referred to above, there was no mail pouch to put 
 the mail matter in ; indeed, the mail would be so small that 
 it would be tied up with twine and taken in the hand, not 
 larger than any one of the neighborhood mails that go out 
 of Pocomoke City Postoffice at the present day. 
 
 The following is a list of names of postmasters of New 
 Town Postofhce from 1820 to 1882: Michael Murray, 
 Thos. Brittingham, John Burnett, Dr. James B. Horsey, 
 John S. Stevenson, Dr. Joseph L. Adreon, William J. S. 
 Clarke, William H. T. Clarvoe, C. C. Lloyd, James 
 Murray, Dr. John T. B. McMaster, William H. S. Merrill 
 and James H. Vincent, who is the present incumbent. 
 Thus the names of the i^ostmasters of New Town Post- 
 office will be preserved from oblivion to those who do not 
 take the pains to search the official records for such 
 information. 
 
 I would here state that the postoffice went l^egging for 
 an appointee as late as 1861. This was the c:iS3 when it 
 came into the writers hands at the above date. The mail, 
 in New Town, was semi-weekly and the post master 
 
148 History of Poconioke City, 
 
 received about 80 dollars i)er year for his serxices. About 
 1863, the postoffice became a salaried one. The post 
 master was required to keep a correct account of all 
 mail matter going through the office during the last 
 quarter of the year and make a return of the same to the 
 postoffice department at Washington, and his salary was 
 based upon the per centage allowed him on all mail matter 
 going through the office that quarter, for two years to 
 come. Thus the salary was fixed every two years. 
 
 The postoffice in Pocomoke City, at the present day, 
 pays a salary of $700. It is one to be coveted and one 
 that will induce a political struggle to obtain. As late, 
 probably, as 1850, we had but one mail a week, now we 
 have three mails a day, and soon the fourth one will be 
 added. The rate of postage, then, was fixed according 
 to the distance a letter had to go. Then a letter from New 
 Town to New Orleans was twenty-five cents, now a letter 
 postage is three cents to any part of the United States.. 
 
Formerly New Towri. 149 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 PRINTING OFFICES. 
 
 In 1865, Albert J. Merrill established a printing press in 
 New Town. He edited and published a weekly paper 
 called the Record. This was the first paper ever pub- 
 lished in New Town. It was creditable, neat and highly- 
 prized by the people. In 1865, William L. Clarke, a 
 native of Worcester County, who had been living in 
 Wellsvile, Ohio, for several years, and had published a 
 paper there called the Wellsville Patriot, returned to this, 
 his native county, and established a printing press in New 
 Town, and edited and published a paper called the Gazette. 
 This paper, also, was neatly gotten up, and was a credit 
 to its editor, and highly prized by its patrons. 
 
 These two editors sent out their weekly issues down to 
 1872, when A. J. Merrill, Esq., bought out William L. 
 Clarke, Esq., and consolidated the two papers into one, 
 <:alled the Record and Gazette, under the editorial man- 
 -agement and control of A. J. Merrill, Esq. 
 
 In 1879, Dr. S. S. Quinn bought one half of the press, 
 and its appurtenances, and had the editorial management 
 of the paper under the firm of A. J. Merrill and S. S. 
 ^uinn, until 1882, when J. Shiles Crocket became one- 
 
150 lliistory of Pocoiiioke Citij, 
 
 third owner ai the press and paper, and is now the editor 
 and manager of the same, under the firm of Merrill, 
 Ouinn & Crocket. 
 
Formerly Neio Town. 151 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII, 
 
 SOCIAL ASPECT, &c. 
 
 The social aspect of New Town, now Pocomoke City. 
 The reader may be anxious to learn something ot the 
 habits and social bearing of the citizens during- its early 
 history. Well ! to begin, the citizens, with very few excep- 
 tions, would take their toddy ; hence, the common practice 
 which was followed by parents of mixing a glass of toddy 
 before breakfast and handing it to each member of the 
 family, from the oldest to the youngest. This practice w^as 
 as common as the days rolled round, when I was a little 
 boy. Again, when friends would visit each other the decan- 
 ter of liquor, glasses, sugar and water would be set out, and 
 an invitation given to come up and help themselves. Again, 
 when citizens and men from the countr}^ would congregate, 
 on Saturday, at the stores, (for the stores were the chief 
 places of resort) a pint of liquor would be called for. The 
 pint cup would be set out with tumblers and pitcher of 
 water, and the invitation given to all present to come up, 
 ''come up gentlemen and help yourselves." Then toasts 
 would be drank, something after the following order, with • 
 the glass in hand, addressing the company : "well ! gentle- 
 
152 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 men I here is luck and a plenty." I-Vec}uently the)- woiikl 
 ii'et quite mellow over the pint cup before they left it ; antl 
 likely enough a few brushes of the fist would follow. 
 
 Another feature of social life was that of families visiting 
 each other to eat the social meal. At such times they 
 Avould remain after supper with the family until usual bed- 
 time, passing the time in such conxersation as would be 
 agreable to all. The family code at that day was : that 
 children could be seen but must not be heard while the 
 older persons were talking. 
 
 A little incident occurred one night, on one of those 
 occasions, in relation to myself, which will be somewhat 
 amusing to the reader : Some neighbors had called in to 
 take supper with my father and mother, and staid till after 
 night. The little folks had received orders to sit and listen 
 but must not talk, if they did, the one so offending must 
 march off up stairs to bed. Somehow or other I l^roke 
 the law, I was discovered talking to the boys, who with 
 myself, with this single exception, were as mute as mice, 
 the result was I had to go to bed. While lying in bed, 
 reviewing my conduct during the day and night. I knew I 
 had been a bad boy. Conscience was supreme and 
 hurled its thunderbolts at me. I began to cast my thoughts 
 around and contemplate the possibility of Satan's coming 
 after me that night, and if so what should I do. Just at 
 that moment, while under such terrible reflections, the 
 house cat, which by means of the room door being left 
 open, had crept into the room and jumped upon the bed, 
 in doing which it jumped in my face. The reader may, if 
 
Formerlij New Town. 151) 
 
 lie can, imagine my feelings; to me they were beyond 
 description. I grabbed the cat with both hands, and 
 threw it in another part of the room. But, oh ! the terror 
 that seized me. I screamed at the top of my voice. As 
 soon as I took hold of the cat I knew what it was, but the 
 fact of its being the cat did not abate my screaming. I 
 thought the Devil was about to lay hold of me. Mv 
 mother was swift to my rescue, and carried me down 
 stairs, and I was once more happy in being seated in the 
 cdfi'ner with the children listening to the old folks at home. 
 Again, the social life w^as exhibited in the \arious amuse- 
 ments and pastimes of the day. For instance, the game 
 of fives with the trapball was a favorite sport with both men 
 and boys ; the playing ot cards was also frequently prac- 
 ticed in families ; shooting at the mark for turkeys, quarters 
 of beef, etc. Wrestling was much in vogue in the early 
 history of New Town. Men and boys both would engage 
 in it. Boxing was also practiced. 
 
 I have beheld such sports and !"ia\'e seen men kick each 
 other like horses. Sometimes death would be the result 
 of such exercises. There were men in New Town and 
 the surrounding county who prided themselves upon their 
 manhood. Sometimes they would exhibit their strength 
 by lifting the fifty-six pound weights, which were used in 
 the tobacco warehouse for weighing tobacco. The two 
 heaviest lifts were as follows : one lifted eleven the other 
 fourteen fi(ty-six pound weights, each man aggregating 
 respectively 6 16 pounds and 784 pounds. Query: Are 
 
154 History of Pocoinoke (Jit»j^ 
 
 there two men in Pocomoke City at the present who cani 
 come up to this. Those shooting, wresthng and boxing 
 matches were attended with a spirit of rivalry which would 
 sometimes culminate in a pitched battle. I have seen men 
 strip themselves to the waist and commence their brutal- 
 ity. Those fights would be equal in brutality, if not so 
 scientific, to the prize fights of recent years. Again, social 
 life would be seen in the cotton pickings, quiltings and 
 dances. After the cotton j)icking or quilting had been 
 attended to, the plays would commence. For instance* a 
 family had a quilt to be quilted, they would invite the 
 young ladies to come in the afternoon and the gentlemen 
 would go after supper. By supper time the quilt would be 
 finished. After supper the plays would commence by 
 singing those songs that used to be sung on such occa- 
 sions "in the days of yore." Of course they had kissing 
 in the plays, for that was the most enjoyable part of them. 
 On a certain occasion it was the iortune of a certain young- 
 man to call out a lady whom it would be his pleasure, as 
 he thought, to kiss. The call was made, the young lady 
 came out upon the floor, she was very tall and he was low 
 of stature, she was aristocratic and was mortified at being 
 called out by him ; he attempted to kiss her, but she held 
 her head well up and snuffed her nose at him, so that he 
 could not succeed, but he was equal to the emergency. 
 " Stop ! stop ! " said he, " let me draw my boots and climb." 
 The take-off was so good that it raised a great titter in 
 the company and that young lady's pride got a fall tlYa^ 
 
Jt^oTinerly Neio Town. 155 
 
 night. I have spoken of the songs in those plays, one of 
 which I will mention as illustrative of the character of 
 the rest. 
 
 "Here we go to Baltimore, 
 Two behind and two before; 
 Round and round and roand we go, 
 Where oats, peas, beans 
 And barley grows." 
 
 From the best information that I can get this is an Irish 
 song. The word Baltimore was originally spelled " Bailte 
 Mor " and signified a proprietary of a barony or large 
 town. On a certain occasion there was a social gathering 
 at the house of an old gentleman. The young folks were 
 formed in a ring, holding on to each other's hands, and 
 singing the above song. As they w^ere marching round 
 and round, a certain young man was in reach of the old 
 gentleman as he sat in the corner of the hearth-place, 
 when he slapped him on the shoulder, exclaiming: "Johnnie, 
 honey, don't you love the gals ! " The answer was prompt: 
 "Oh, yes, Uncle Davie!" still singing as they swung 
 around the circle. 
 
150 Ristory of Focomol^e City^ 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 SOCIAL ASPi:CT (CONTINUED.) 
 
 Again, the dance was a lavorite source of social enter- 
 tainment in the early history of New Town. There were 
 three classes of characters, which I shall describe, partici- 
 pating in this amusement. First, the first citizens ot the 
 town engaged in it. Sometimes it was the result of a 
 wedding, a cotton picking, quilting, or it may have been a 
 special dancing party. I am not now describing the balls 
 held at hotels where a gentleman and lady could enter by 
 paying the entrance fee, but social dances held at private 
 houses for amusement. The host and hostess would pro. 
 vide such things as wines, liquors, candies, cake and 
 tropical fruit to make the entertainment as enjoyable as 
 possible. The invited guests would assemble after candle 
 light. They were composed chiefly of single persons, but 
 sometimes there would be a small sprinkling of married 
 ones also. An exjKTt fiddler would be engaged. All 
 things being ready and the parties on the Hoor, the fiddler 
 having his fiddle well tuned, would draw his bow at full 
 length, when a feeling of exhilaration would go through 
 the room like electricity. The parties now engaged in a 
 four or eight-handed reel. Oh ! what a fine time there 
 
Formerly New Town. 157 
 
 was. The cotillions, waltzing, capering, parties passing 
 each other on the floor, crossing and around the room, 
 cutting the pigeon wing, etc. After that reel was over the 
 hat would be passed around to take a collection for the 
 fiddler, for that was the way he was paid for his services. 
 Then another party would be made up and after the dance 
 the hat was passed around again, and so the night was 
 spent till or near the break of day. When they would get 
 weary and laint they would keep their spirits up by pouring- 
 spirits down. At such places of hilarity many a young 
 lady's heart and hand has been wooed in marriage. 
 
 Secondly. The lower class of society in the country, 
 both of men and women, would attend the holidays in 
 New Town. On those occasions they assembled at the 
 hotels and engaged in the dance, and some of the same 
 order of men in New Town would participate with them. 
 It would be a novel sight at the present day to see such a 
 gathering ol men and women at a hotel engaged in a 
 regular hoe down, such as was practiced then. 
 
 Thirdly. This class would be the colored people. They 
 would assemble in town from all the surrounding country. 
 They would construct booths on the hill or public square, 
 in which they would have for sale cakes, candies, cider, 
 beer and tropical fruits. They would ha\'e all sorts of 
 jollity, boxing, wrestling, pitching quoits, dancing after the 
 fiddle and patty whack. This word patty whack of itself 
 is unmeaning, hence I shall be under the necessity of 
 explaining the process of the dance in this way. The 
 
158 History of Pocomoke Citt/s 
 
 company would be in the open air on the hill. The leader 
 in this amusement would pat with his hands and stamp 
 with his foot while the rest would dance. The leader 
 would use some outlandish expression in song, such as the 
 following : 
 
 "Juber up and Juber down, 
 Juber all around do town." 
 
 And when they would reach the climax, he would sing 
 out with an extended \oice • 
 
 "Jump ovci- doubl(> trouble Juber." 
 
 Then such antics and gymnastics as the dancers would 
 perform with their hands and feet, keeping time with the 
 leader, as would be truly diverting to the reader could he 
 behold such a performance now. Another song which 
 they would sing in their dances was : 
 
 "Possum up de gum busli. 
 
 Raccoon in de holler. 
 Saddle on de gray mare, 
 
 Martiuii;!! and collar." 
 
 I have endeavored to spell their words as the\' would 
 pronounce them. Late in the afternoon, they would be 
 seen with their little bundle of cakes, getting ready to start 
 for home. Thus the day closed with them. The social 
 aspect of New Town, now Pocomoke City, has undergone 
 a change for the better. Whereas in the description 
 already given of social life, in the early history of New 
 Town, as contributing to the pleasures and passions of the 
 animal, now it is sc-en in the im])r()\enH'nt of the intellec- 
 
FoTinerlu Nevj Town. 159 
 
 tual and religious part of iiian. Sociability seems to have 
 left the lower walks of our fallen nature and is aspiring to 
 a higher sphere of our manhood, as may be seen in the 
 following- instances, namely : in the formation of literary 
 and beneficial societies, in the mingling together in the 
 pursuit of knowledge. Indeed, the free public school 
 system, in the Pocomoke City High School, has contri- 
 buted largely to, and has acted a Acry important part in 
 the social status of Pocomoke City. Here mind is pre- 
 eminent, and the scholars who possess superior intellect 
 are honored for their talent, and their society is appreciated 
 whether they be rich or poor. 
 
 Again, the various picnics and festivals gotten up lor 
 the promotion of education, churches, sabbath schools 
 missionary and other benevolent societies, in whicli all have 
 an interest, and all mingle. Although the different 
 churches may in one sense be considered distinct commu- 
 nities, yet when contemplated in their great work of doing 
 good they are 0]ie grand whole, emulating each other in 
 elevating society and promoting the social and religious 
 bearing of Pocomoke Cit}-. Again the improvement ol 
 the musical talent, by the young folks, has contributed 
 largely to social life in Pocomoke City. Whereas instead 
 of listening to the old timey songs, in the days of yore, by 
 uncultivated voices, now it is simply fascinating to listen 
 to the select pieces of music as sung either in the choir, 
 •at concerts, or in social gatherings by those who have 
 •cultixated \oices. aud who are well educated in the science 
 
ir>() IIisti)ri/ of J^iKSoi/wku; CitiJ^ 
 
 ot iniisic. Tlic tjucry may he ai;itated, what has producL'd 
 sucli a change in the social condition? Answer. It may 
 1)0 the increase of the population, a higher grade of 
 schooling and the influence of the churches. 
 
 V 
 
Formerly New Town, 161 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 MORAL ASPECT. 
 
 The moral aspect of New Town in its early history. 
 Although there were some good and holy people in New 
 Town, whose lives stood out as bm'ning and shining 
 lights, and although the gospel was making successful 
 attacks on the fortifications of sin and wickedness, and 
 winning many jewels from the rank and file of sinners, 
 and presenting them as trophies to the Saviour of men ; 
 yet the morals of the people, as a whole were compara- 
 tively at a low ebb. In order to see more clearly the 
 debased state of morals, I will give you some few specifi- 
 cations for illustration, for instance : the habit of drunken- 
 ness, though it was always condemned by the good and 
 true, yet it was winked at, and the votaries of the practice 
 moved along in society as though nothing very serious 
 had hapened. 
 
 Again, the habit of swearing was very common. When 
 men would meet in New Town, on Saturdays, on business 
 or for social interview, for that was the public day, he that 
 could swear the keenest, sharpest oaths, attracted the 
 greatest attention, especially from the boys. 
 
162 History of Pocomoke Cif'/. 
 
 It" there was a tray on hand, he that could use the most 
 awful assexerations and loul-mouth im:)recations as though 
 he were commissioned from the bottomless pit, serpent like 
 to infect liis poison, was the greatest man of the crowd. 
 
 Ai^ain. ^anihlin^ was much in vo_f(ue, i^ami)ling' socially 
 and for money, and many were the times that men would 
 lengthen out the midnight taper till the dawn of coming 
 day, using all their ingenuity to get each others money. 
 
 Again ctjnjuration, fortune-telling, witchcraft and super- 
 stition were all belie\ed to be as true as preaching, by the 
 lowest class of society. 
 
 Hut while conjuration and witchcraft ha\e long since 
 disapi)eared from society, fortune-telling and suj)erstition 
 have lingered longer, and there may be some ot the old 
 folks now living, particularly among the fair sex, who have 
 had their fortunes told by the cutting of cards or the 
 grounds of a coffee cup, in order to learn who their future 
 husbands would be. Perhaps there may be some of those 
 already spoken of who have showed the new moon a 
 piece ot silver in order to have good luck that mooiv, or 
 who 1)elieved in sowing certain seeds on certain states ot 
 the moon as sure, onlv then of \-egetating, or who have 
 their ];ork butchered on the increase of the moon in order 
 for it to swell, beliexing if the moon is on the decrease the 
 ■j)ork would shrink. lUit these practices, to some extent, 
 have gone into the shades and the people liave already 
 learned that the only road to success in any enterprise is 
 application; that the diligent hand maketh rich, while 
 laziness and idleness paws the wa\' to jiovcrty and ruin. 
 
Formerly New Toioi. 163 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 TEMPERANCE CAUSE. 
 
 The temperance cause as a distinct organization was 
 unknown in the early history of New Town. The onh' 
 thing- bordering on temperance was the denunciations 
 against drunkenness from the sacred desk, which deck^.red 
 that " drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God." 
 Notwithstanding this first out-beaming ot the temperance 
 cause from the pulpit, professed Christians would some- 
 times be seen with flushed cheeks and tongues unbridled, 
 as the result of the too frequent use of the glass. Indeed, 
 the habit of drinking spirituous liciuors, with the exception 
 of a very few, was quite conuuon in families, in social 
 gatherings and in business life. In all these relatidns the 
 social glass was indulged in freely. I have already stated 
 in another, part of this history that to be successful in 
 merchandising it was considered absolutely necessary 
 to sell Hquor. Hence all who engaged in the sale of 
 goods, without an exception, sold spirituous liquors. In 
 view of this state of things it cannot be wondered at that 
 there should be drunkards aiKl a plenty of them too. 
 While the vender would fatten upon his ill-gotten gains. 
 
164 History of Pocomohe CiUj^ 
 
 his \ictims with their famiHes and children would be left 
 destitute, in want and clothed in rags, and sometimes it 
 was the case that the wives and little ones would be sitting- 
 over a lew coals of fire contemplating their wretched 
 condition, with scarcely a ray of hope for the future, with 
 no refuge to fly to except to Him who heareth in secret. 
 
 Oh ! how many broken-hearted wi\es have poured forth 
 their bitter cries for help in His Almighty ear and told 
 their tale of sorrow and inquired of Him, " How long, O 
 Lord, how long shall this state of things last?" Well, 
 their prayers ha\e i)een answered, but not in stopping the 
 vender from his wholesale ruin of men, women and chil- 
 dren ; not in restoring to her former condition of happiness 
 and joy that mother who was being murdered by piece 
 meal; not in restoring to hope and cheerfulness the 
 forlorn condition of the little children. Hut their prayers 
 have been answered in another way. Time rolled on and 
 brought its changes. The \ender with his victims have 
 passed away to a future reckoning, and to that tribunal 
 whose decisions are in righteousness. 
 
 If I could, 1 would call the vender back and inquire of 
 him who they are that accuse him before the throne, for 
 their name is legion. There was no material change 
 in society upon the sui)ject of temperance until 1835, 
 when the Re\-. .Mr. Dorsey of the Baltimore conference 
 of the Methodist I-^piscopal Church came down here and 
 lectured upon that subject, and organized a temperance 
 societv. That society only fori ade the use of spirituous 
 
Foririerly Neio Town. 165 
 
 liquors as a beverage. Up to this time all the stores sold 
 spirituous liquors. The first one to break ground and 
 give up the sale of it was Rev. John D. Long who was 
 at that time but a youth not having arrived to his majority. 
 He had but recently joined the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church and listening to the lecture became convinced that 
 the sale of it was wrong and determined to give up the 
 practice forthwith. It is true that Mr. Long sold goods at 
 the ferry, now the bridge, on the identical spot where the 
 phospate factory now stands, but I associate him, in this 
 instance, with New Town, because he was a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church here, because his 
 associations were here, and because he was identified 
 with the temperance movement in New Town. He was 
 telling a \-eteran ]\Iethodist of his determination to quit 
 selHng liquor, when the old soldier said to him "Brother 
 Long if it is wrong for you to sell it, it is wrong for me to 
 distil it." Forthwith they abandoned the manufacture and 
 sale of it. The temperance cause now began to be agitated 
 in New Town. 
 
 In 1836, Wm. Townsend opened the first store for the 
 sale of goods, without spirituous liquors, in new Town. 
 After awhile the old Washingtonian club of reformed 
 drunkards, which was organized in the City of Baltimore, 
 began to create a stir in favor of temperance. Some of 
 their number came down here and lectured. Thus the 
 temperance cause progressed until the organization of the 
 Sons of Temperance, in 1847. The Sons of Temperance 
 
ICO IListortj of Focoinoke City, 
 
 was also a beneficial society, it prospered lor a while and 
 seemed to be well adapted to the circumstances of the 
 times. During- its palmy days, the society built a fine 
 temperance hall, which at present is owned by C. C. Lloyd, 
 Esq., and has been occupied by him, as a drug store, for 
 several years past. The upper story was in one entire 
 room, and was occupied by the society. The lower room 
 was fitted for store purposes, and was first occupied by 
 Irving Merrill, Esq., who sold goods on strictly temper- 
 ance principles. The society had placed in the gable end 
 of the building a marble slab, with the lollovving carved 
 upon it : " New Town Division, Number 43, Sons of Tem- 
 perance, instituted March 29th, 1847 :" which still exists 
 as a monument of the prosperity of the temperance cause 
 at that day. This society existed, however, but a few years, 
 when it was dissolved and the beautiful temple was sold, 
 and went into other hands. 
 
 In 1870, another temperance society was organized in 
 New Town, with the name of Good Templars. This society 
 was also of short duration, it existed al:)Out two years, when 
 it also became extinct. 
 
 From 1872 to 1881, there has been no regular temper- 
 ance society in New Town, now Pocomoke City. During 
 1881, a society was organized in the place, in support of 
 Local Option Reform, and the friends of temperance are 
 mustering their forces for victory. But while temperance 
 societies have been organized and dissolved, it only shows 
 that the war, for the extirpation of spirituous liquors, in 
 
Forinerli) New Town. 167 
 
 Pocomoke City, has been going on without any com- 
 promise. The churches also have kept up the war 
 cry and are pressing liard upon this demon ol de- 
 struction, and they are forcing him, by the power of the 
 Gospel, to surrender. If the question should be asked by 
 a stranger, what are the signs of complete victory for the 
 cause of temperance in Pocomoke City ? This question 
 will be answered in the following way : whereas, in 1836, 
 every store in New Town sold spirituous liquors, now in 
 1882, there are thirty-two business houses in Pocomoke 
 City, and not one of them sells it except the apothecaries 
 who sell it as a medicine. So thorough has been the 
 revolution in society, upon the subject of temperance, that 
 I might venture the prediction that there is no one who 
 could, now, succeed in merchandising, in Pocomoke City, 
 who would also sell liquor. It is true that there are two 
 places in Pocomoke City where spirituous liquors are sold 
 as a beverage, one is a saloon the other is the hotel bar, 
 but the friends of temperance, I am apprehensive, will not 
 cease their efforts until these places will be so restricted by- 
 legislation that it will not pay to sell it. 
 
168 History of PvcornoJie City, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 The schools are a very important factor in making up 
 the history of New Town, now Pocomokc City, and I 
 have no doubt a description of the school in its early 
 history, together with the school-house, will be cjuite 
 interesting. The school-house was sixteen square ; it had 
 two doors and two windows, and there was a writing desk 
 which reached nearly across the room, and benches with- 
 out backs for the scholars to sit upon. This school-house 
 stood on a piece of ground facing on Second and Cedar 
 Streets, about twenty feet on Second Street and running 
 down Cedar Street about seventy-five feet to the junction 
 ot Captain John H. Clarke's and Captain Jas. M. ^'oung's 
 lines. This piece of ground belongs to the heirs of Wm 
 J. Long, deceased. It formerly belonged to David Long, 
 the falher of William J. Long, and he charged twenty-five 
 cents rent for it. which was done simply to hold jiosses- 
 sion of it. The old school-house stood on this piece of 
 ground and was occupied for .school purposes until 1837 or 
 1838, when it was sold and went into (jther hands. If the 
 youthful reader is anxious to see the old school-lunise in 
 which their parents and grand-parents were educated, they 
 
Formerly Neio Town. IGl) 
 
 will find it occupied as a kitchen at the corner of Com- 
 merce and Walnut Streets, the property being owned by 
 Thomas S. Stevenson, Esq. The only teachers of whom 
 I have any information or knowledge in the early history 
 of New Town were : George Furnis, a Mr. McFaclden, 
 Levi Bishop, Samuel Carey, Michael Murray, Dr. John 
 B. H. W. Clarvoe and James Stevenson. These were all 
 good teachers of the branches of education which they 
 taught. The different branches taught were letters, 
 spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic. When a scholar 
 •could cipher through Pike's Arithmetic, understandingly, 
 he was considered a finished scholar in that school. 
 
 Steel pens were not then invented and writing was done 
 with pens made out of goose quills. It was one part of 
 the teacher's duties to make pens for the scholars, and 
 when scholars had learned sufficiently to make a pen out 
 of a goose quill, they were advancing finely. Although 
 the teachers of this school taught but few of the branches 
 of common English comparatively, yet so thorough was 
 the training that there are but few now, if any, who would 
 .surpass the scholars of that school in these branches. The 
 boys in that school would sometimes have a little fun, 
 sometimes with the teacher and sometimes with each other. 
 For instance : the scholars had to get lessons in the defi- 
 nitions in the spelling book, this they called grammar. 
 Some v.-ho had to get those lessons and recite them to the 
 teacher had been out too long, at play, they would resort 
 io the older scholars to put them through in a hurry. 
 
170 Illstortj of Pocomoke City, 
 
 "Well!" says the advisor:" when you ^o up to say 
 your lesson commcMicing with ball a round substance, you' 
 say b-a-1-1, cattle or horses." In these lessons the scholar- 
 was required to spell the word and define it. The time 
 tor recitation came. "Weill'' says the teacher, "com- 
 mence ! " scholar : b-a-double-1 ball." Teacher. Well !' 
 what does that sif^nify ? " Scholar : "cattle or horses."' 
 Teacher. "Cattle or horses!" Scholar. "Yes sir. 
 Cattle or horses!" The teacher ha\ing his black gum 
 switch by his side commenced giving it to him che-wi-o,. 
 che-\vi-o, until he had given him a good sound thrashing, 
 and then sent him to his seat to get his lesson better. 
 
 In 1835, (George vS. Redden, Esq., commenced teaching 
 school here. He taught, in addition to the other branches 
 w^hich had been taught, English grammar and geography. 
 With, him dates the beginning or introduction of these- 
 branches of education in the school in New Town, and 
 with him begins, also, the day of progress in the pursuit of 
 scholarly attainments. 
 
 IMr. Redden taught school in New Town at two difterent 
 periods, but how long I cannot say. He was born in New 
 Town, in 1803, after going to school until he was old 
 enough to go to a trade, he was then apprenticed to Jacob- 
 Rogers, in the City of Baltimore, to learn the hatting bus- 
 iness. While he was an apprentice he went to a night 
 school, taught by Mr. Kirkham, author of Kirkham's 
 grammar. After his majority, he commenced the hatting 
 business in New Town. How long he continued I have no, 
 
I'ormerly New Town. 171 
 
 definite knowledge, but probably not more than two years, 
 after which he returned to Baltimore and continued there 
 until 1835, when he returned again to New Town, and 
 commenced as before stated, to teach school. After he 
 gave up the school in this place, he taught in the schools 
 on the Western Shore of Maryland and in the Academy 
 in Snow Hill, during which time he read law, graduated 
 and practiced at the Snow Hill Bar. 
 
 Mr. Redden was one of the most intellectual young men 
 of his day, that was raised in New Town. He died in the 
 City of Baltimore about the year 1868, aged sixty-five 
 years. Dr. John L. Hearn succeeded Mr. Redden. As 
 I have given a history of Dr. Hearn under another head- 
 ing, I will here pass him by. 
 
 In 1838, the old Academy was built and Dr. William 
 Marsters was employed to take charge of the school. He 
 remained, however, but a short time, and afterwards settled 
 near Ouantico, in Somerset County, now Wicomico County, 
 and graduated in medicine and practiced till he died, which 
 event occurred but recently. A Mr. Schooler succeeded 
 Dr. Marsters and taught in the Academy until, probably, 
 1842, v/hen he resigned the position and went away. Of 
 his antecedents I ha\'e no data upon which to write his 
 history. 
 
 Nehemiah Holland succeeded Mr. Schooler, and taught 
 school two or three years. He finally resigned the posi- 
 tion on account of feeble health, and went South. He 
 setded in Texas, where he read law, graduated and 
 
172 Hutory of Pocomoke Cit>j^ 
 
 practiced his protessioii until liis death, which c\ent 
 occurred but recently. Mr. Holland was a native of Wor- 
 cester County, Md., and a brother of Mrs. L.Jane Dennis, 
 widow oi the late John U. Dennis, of this county. He 
 was a j^raduateof Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. 
 Mr. Holland was a christian gentleman in the highest sense 
 of that term. I ha\e already stated that George S. 
 Redden taught two terms in New Town, his second term 
 followed Mr. Holland, then followed in succession : Mr. 
 McGarry, George W. Curtis, C. C Holtzman, Edward W. 
 Stevenson, J. Allen Graves, Dr. Joseph L. Mills and Rev. 
 Joseph L. Polk. During Mr. Polk's charge of the 
 Academy, the High School Building was erected, which 
 was in 1867. The Academy was occupied for school pur- 
 poses twenty-nine years, when it was sold and went into 
 other hands. It is at jxesent owned by Ralph Ross, Esq., 
 and is occupied as a carpenter shop, on Commerce Street. 
 Messrs. McGarrey, Curtis and Holtzman were strangers of 
 whose antecedents I have no knowledge, and consequently 
 can only say of Mr. McGarrey and Mr. Holtzman that 
 they were good teachers ; but of Mr. Curtis I have this to 
 say : that it was conceded, by the citizens of New Town, 
 that he was the best teacher that had taught school in New 
 Town up to his day. He did not, however, continue long- 
 in New Town. He finally removed to Harford County, 
 Maryland, where he established a school of high grade, 
 preparatory for college, and is principal of the same to 
 .the present day. Edward W. vSte\'enson succeeded Mr. 
 
Formerly New Town. VIZ 
 
 Holtzman and taught school in the Academy for nine 
 years. Mr. Stevenson is a native of New Town. He 
 received his education partly in New Town and pardy in 
 the Snow Hill Academy. After he resigned his position as 
 teacher in the New Town Academy, he moved to Phila- 
 delphia where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. After 
 being there ibr sometime, he .removed to Marietta, Ohio, 
 where he still resides and is still engaged in mercantile 
 business. Mr. Stevenson is a man of high moral 
 character, and is living to bless the present generation 
 with a fine family of prosperous children, who will 
 no doubt make their mark in due time. 
 
 J. Allen Graves succeeded Mr. Stevenson in the princi- 
 palship of New Town Academy. How long he occupied 
 the position I cannot say, and of whose history I have no 
 information, consequently I can only say that he was an 
 acceptable teacher. 
 
 Dr. Joseph L. Mills succeeded Mr. Graves in the 
 Academy. He was born in New Town, Md. in 1840. He 
 was left at an early day without father or mother, but was 
 tenderly and carefully raised by his grandmother. He 
 had all the ad\'antages of education in the New Town 
 Academy, until he was old enough to go to a trade. His 
 grandmother then placed him under the care of James 
 T. Dickinson of this place to learn the cabinet and under- 
 taking business. Some time after his majority he was 
 united in marriage to Miss Marietta Dickinson, daughter 
 of James T. Dickinson. At an early day Mr. Mills 
 
174 History of Pocomoke Citij, 
 
 connected himself with the Methodist Protestant Church, 
 and it was not long before the Church discovered that he 
 had talents lying dormant that ought to be called into 
 exercise, and soon he was licensed to preach, and after- 
 wards was received in the Maryland Annual Conference of 
 the Methodist Protestant Church as a traveling preacher. 
 He had not traveled long, howe\-er, before his health failed 
 and he was induced to retire from the active work for 
 awhile. It was during this retirement that we ha\e him 
 before us as principal of the New Town Academy. He 
 had for his assistants, his w^ife Mrs. Marietta I^Iills and 
 Miss Mary M. Hearn. It was under his tutelage that the 
 school seemed to spring into new life, and some of the 
 scholars learned as they never had before. He did not, 
 however, teach more than, probably, two years, when his 
 health was sufficiently restored to enter again the active 
 work of the ministry. Dr. Mills is quite a popular preacher 
 in his denomination; he has filled several prominent 
 appointments in that church, and he had, several years ago 
 for distinguished abilities, the Doctor of Divinity confered 
 upon him. Dr. Mills is yet, but in the prime of his life 
 and reflects great credit upon his birth place. 
 
 There were two other schools in New Town beside the 
 Academy, one was the Parish School, which was under 
 the supervision and control of the Rector of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church. It was organized in 1847. This school 
 was taught severally by the following ladies, Mrs. Lore, 
 the Misses Magruder, Mary O'Dell, Mary Canon, Jennie 
 
Formerly New Towri. 175 
 
 Adams, Mary Crosdale and Clementine Mezick. All 
 competent and faithful teachers. The other school was 
 •organized in 1855. It was gotten up in view of the Academy 
 being over crowded with scholars, and it was also thought 
 to be more suitable for girls and smaller boys. This 
 school was taught severally by the following persons, 
 Mrs. Re\'. William Merrill, Mrs. Leach J. Stewart, the 
 Misses Emma Huston, Cynthia Primrose, Serena Hall, 
 Rose Humphries, Mary E. Truitt, Millie Stevenson, 
 Nettie Clay\'ille and Rev. William Wilkinson. These 
 were all well qualified as teachers, some of them being- 
 graduates of Seminaries. 
 
]?<> Hidorii of Pocoiiioke City^ 
 
 XWIII. 
 
 SCHOOLS (CONIINUKD.) 
 
 U\ 1S65, The General A^senil^ly ot Maryland passed ;r 
 i^eneral free school bill lor the state, and in -1867, the 
 High School Building, in New Town, was erected. Its 
 dimensions were fifty-six. by forty feet. It is two stories 
 high, with two \estil)u]es fourteen by twenty feet, contain- 
 ing in all six school rooms and two \estibules. Four 
 of these rooms are twenty eight by forty feet, and two of 
 them are tburteen l)y twenty leet, and will furnish sittings 
 for, probably, three hundred scholars. This High School 
 Ikiilding has been pronounced, by the Superintendent 
 of the Public Schools of Maryland to be the finest building 
 of the kind on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It stands 
 on a ])lat of ground of about three acres, in an eligible 
 l)art of the town. It is well laid out with trees of difterent 
 kinds, and is enclosed with a plank fence, with a good 
 hedge coming on. The Irqe public High School of New 
 Town was opened in 1S67, with Rev. Joseph L. Polk as 
 principal. His successors in that office were, William N. 
 Page, R. K. Wimbrough and Dr. Sidney W. Handy who is 
 the ])resent ])rinci])al. They ha\e had the following named 
 persons associated w ilh lluin as assistant teachers. Xettie 
 
Forinerhj Neio Toxon. 177 
 
 O'Daniel, Mary M. Hearn, Charles H. Council, Millie 
 Primrose, John W. Murray, George S. Bell, Eudora E. 
 Hay, Ebenezer Hearn, Julius T. Hall, Richard A. Wilson 
 Fannie Matthews, Maggie Webb, Rose Tull, Hillary T. 
 Stevenson, John S. McMaster, William S. Dix, Emma 
 Robinson, Ella Scott, Rose Marshall and Sally Henderson. 
 The school is graded into primary, grammar and High 
 School departments, and is at present taught by the 
 principal and five assistant teachers, who are infusing a 
 spirit into their scholars, to excel. 
 
 There have already gone out, fi'om this school, young 
 men well qualified for any position to which any of the 
 various callings of life might invite them. Some are 
 ministers, some physicians, some lawyers and some teachers. 
 While there are others filling the most important places of 
 trust and responsibility in business life. Many of the 
 young ladies, who have graduated at this school, are 
 teaching various schools in this and the adjoining county. 
 
 I shall close the subject of the High School and the 
 grand work it is performing, by giving a brief sketch of 
 the principal and teachers, or make such remarks in 
 regard to them as 1 may be able. The Re\-. Joseph L. 
 Polk, was born near Princess Anne, in Somerset County, 
 Md and was educated in the academy of that place, and 
 at Jefferson College, Penn. After graduating at the latter 
 place with honor, the degree of A. M. was confered upon 
 him. He then commenced teaching school in Dorchester 
 County, Md; but feeling that he was called to preach the 
 
178 History of Pocomoke Cit'j^ 
 
 gospel, he entered the theological seminary at Princeton, 
 N. J., where he remained for two years, when he received 
 a unanimous call to become the Pastor of the Pitts Creek, 
 Presbyterian Church at New Town, Md. To this work 
 he Q-ave his earnest and ardent efforts, and was \ ery 
 successful. 
 
 When the New Town High School was established in 
 its new and handsome buildings, Mr. Polk desirous of 
 seeing the cause of education ])laced upon a higher and 
 more advanced plane, was induced to apply for the position 
 of principal, to which he was appointed by the County 
 Board of School Commissioners. For this position he was 
 peculiarly fitted, ha\'ing a deep interest in the young, and 
 being a natural educator and fond of the work, and withal 
 a man of large public spirit, he entered upon this work 
 with energy and zeal. Being aided by a competent corps 
 of teachers, this school was at once placed in the front rank 
 and was soon recognized as the best organized and most 
 successful school on the P^astern Shore. Parents from the 
 adjoining counties and some from a distance recognized 
 the character of the school, and wishing to have their 
 children under its instruction, availed themselves of this 
 opportunity, and the school increased in numbers until 
 over three hundred puj)ils names were on the school 
 registers. Then it became necessary to enlarge the corps 
 of teachers and two or tlu'cc more assistants were added. 
 To Re\-. Josei:)h P. Polk the citizens of Pocomc^ke City 
 and \i(^inity owe more perb.aps than they are aware of, 
 
Formerly New Town. 179 
 
 for while the work of education went graduall}^ on without 
 ostentation or display on his part, it is a f ict that whatever 
 success has attained by and through this institution, it is 
 due largely to his ability, and to his wise and judicious 
 management in the organization andconductof the school. 
 As a minister he was popular and greatly beloved by his 
 church. After serving them faithfully for seventeen years he 
 was urged to take charge of the Academy at Newark, Del., 
 and he ielt constrained by a sense of duty to his growing- 
 family to resign his charge and accept the proifered 
 position. Mr. Wm. N. Page succeeded Mr. Polk as prin' 
 cipal of the High School. He, however, only remained 
 one year in that position. He was a native of Virginia ; 
 he had a fine education and was a high-toned Christian 
 gentleman. After resigning the position he returned to 
 Virginia again. 
 
 In 1872, Mr. Richard K. Wimbrough succeeded AJr. 
 Page in the principalship of the High School and held that 
 position for three years. Richard Kelly Wimbrough, the 
 son of a respectable farmer, was born in Accomac County, 
 Va-, in the year 1843. At an early age he lost both of 
 his parents and came under the guardian care of Mr. 
 Nehemiah W. Nock, a farmer and merchant of Mappsville 
 in Accomac County. This gentleman took young Mr. 
 Wimbrough tCKii\'e with him, treated him with great kind- 
 ness and sent him to school whenever there happened to 
 be any school open near enough for him to attend. At 
 ten years of age he had him apprenticed in Snow Hill, 
 
ISO Ilistonj of PocomoKc Citij^ 
 
 Md., to learn the trade of a tailor. Nothing- was observed 
 at this time either in the young apprentice's conduct or 
 disposition that indicated for himself a career different from 
 that of other boys of his class and circumstances • in other 
 words, it was supposed he would make a tailor simply. 
 But shordy after he accjuired a great fondness for reading 
 and developed an earnest disposition to study. From the 
 Academy boys who used to frequent "the shop" and 
 often prepare their lessons there, he obtained books, the 
 boys becoming his teachers. But no time was gi\-en him 
 for study ; his method was this : While working on the 
 board he would keep his book propped open at his side, 
 at whose jeweled page glancing from time to time he 
 would glean from it the substance his young ambition so 
 much cra\cd. All spare moments, too, were given to 
 study. In winter he would sit up long after " working 
 hours " aud often with no other light than that furnished 
 l)y the door of the store, he would pore over page after 
 page of spelling, I'^nglish grammar, arithmetic, geography 
 or history, regardless of the lateness of the hour or the 
 labors of the ensuing day. In this way these studies were 
 successtully pursued and that foundation laid upon which 
 was leased afterwards, effected by the same unremitting- 
 toil and diligence, a fine classical education. 
 
 In the meantime occured an event which would have 
 been of the greatest benefit to Mr. Wimbrough if his 
 influence toward securing it had been ecjual to the measure 
 of his (l('ser\ing it. A free Scliolarship became \-acant in 
 
Formerly Neio Toimi. 181 
 
 Washington College, a state institution situated at Chester- 
 town. It was to be filled by a eompetitive examination of 
 the candidates. Many of young Wimbrough's friends 
 being desirous that he should become a candidate and 
 promising aid to secure his release from his indentures if 
 he should be successful, he applied for the position. The 
 contestants came from the several academies of the 
 county, fresh from their books and their teacher's instruc- 
 tions ; young Wimbrough came from "the shop." But 
 by some ill luck, although it was known that the result of 
 his examination was not inferior, he did not receive the 
 appointment- It w'as a sad blow to his hopes, but did not 
 check his ardent eagerness for learning- He went back 
 to "the shop" and his books, to try again. Another 
 opportunity might occur, he would be prepared the next 
 time. But no such ever occured : his college goal had to 
 be reached by means wholly of his own making. These 
 efforts, directed in the way I have described, could not 
 fail to attract notice and win friends. His intimate 
 associates were the more advanced students among the 
 academy boys, w^ho now one, now an other had been 
 mainly, his teachers. The older men, too, often spoke 
 kind and encouraging words. But his most valuable 
 friend was found in Mr. Sewell T. Milbourn, a young man 
 ot superior talents and of high social position, w^ho had 
 recently returned to Snow^ Hill, from Dickinson College 
 where he had graduated with distinction. This young- 
 man became his friend and teacher, inspiring him by his 
 
1 82 Jlistorij of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 own Icarniii!^- and giving time and personal care to his 
 instructions. The influence of this connection was of 
 the greatest service to young Winibrough, as it enabled 
 him to pursue those higher branches, — Latin and Greek, 
 algebra, geometry and higher English, which he was soon 
 to turn to a practical use. In 1859, his health broke down; 
 so that he was unable either to work or study. A plan 
 was therefore arranged by which he might purchase the 
 remaining years of his apprenticeship. With some means 
 he had in his guardian's hands this was done ; after which he 
 was free to pursue his studies exclusively. But for a long- 
 time he remained delicate and was unable to make much 
 progress. In 1861, Mr. Milbourn removed to Cambridge, 
 Dorchester County to practice law. Thither, the next 
 year, Mr. Wimbrough, now a young man of nineteen, 
 followed, and engaged in the teaching of a pri\ate school, 
 in which he was so successful that after a year and a half 
 he was elected principal of the Cambridge Academy. In 
 this he was equally successful, but resigned after two years 
 to take charge of a goverment office connected with the 
 Internal Revenue; engaging at the same time in conduct- 
 ing a newspaper, the Cambridge Herald, of which he was 
 both proprietor and editor. In 1867, ha\ing disposed of 
 his paper, he went to Dickinson College, where he entered 
 the Junior class thereby graduating in two years. As an 
 evidence of how well he had studied in former years, 
 besides the fact that he was able to pass over the first 
 tt\'o vears of the college c(nn-se, he was noted in College 
 
Formerly New Toicn. 183 
 
 for his accurate knowledge of the English language and 
 unusual proficiency for a student, in Latin; on account ol 
 which he was allowed optional attendance in that department 
 during the whole of the junior year. He was graduated 
 a Bachelor of Arts in 1869, and took the Master's degree 
 three years after. Since graduating, Mr. Wimbrough has 
 engaged mosly in teaching. 
 
 He was elected principal of the New Town High 
 School in 1872, continuing in the same till 1875, a period 
 of three years. Afterw^ards he was principal of. the Snow 
 Hill High School for four years. As an instructor Mr. 
 Wimbrough is thorough, earnest and capable. From his 
 life gleams this great truth : "Honor and fame from no 
 condition rise : act well your part ; there all the honor 
 Hes." 
 
 Re^^ Joseph L. Polk succeeded Mr. Wimbrough in the 
 High School and continued in the position until 1877, 
 when he resigned, and was succeeded by Dr. Sidney W. 
 Handy. 
 
 Dr. Handy was appointed principal of the High School 
 in Pocomoke City in the fall of 1877 and has continued in 
 that position to the present. Dr. Sidney W. Handy was 
 born in Somerset County, Md., on the 4th day of October, 
 1845. He was educated partly in his native county and at 
 the Columbian College in Washington, D. C, at which 
 latter place he went through a four years college course" 
 and graduated in 1868. He attended the first course of 
 lectures in medicine at the University of Virginia in 1869 
 
IS-i History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 and 1870, and the second at the Jefferson Medical College, 
 Philadelphia. Penn., graduating in 1872. Dr. Handy, 
 although a graduate in medicine, has never practiced his 
 profession, choosing rather the position of an educator as 
 being more in accordance with his intellectual taste. In 
 his wise and judicious management of the High School he 
 is meeting the highest expectations of the Trustees and 
 Board of Education who ha\e placed him there, and is at 
 once a scholar and a Christian gentleman. 
 
Formerly New Tovm. 185 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 SCHOOLS (COXTIXUl'.D.) 
 
 Mrs. Nettie O'Daniel was a native of Wilmington, Del,, 
 -where she received a liberal public school education, and 
 iaught in the public schools of that city and in Pocomoke 
 City High School, in Wyoming College, Del., and in 
 Colorado. Mrs. O'Daniel was a lady of fine accomplish- 
 ments and showed herself to great advantage in the school 
 room as an educator. 
 
 Miss Mary M. Hearn was also one of the first assistants 
 in the High School. She was born in New Town, Md., 
 •on the 1 6th day of July, 1848. She went to school until 
 she was fifteen years of age, after that she was educated 
 by her father, Dr. John L. Hearn, at home. She was well 
 qualified as a teacher and taught in the High School for 
 nine years, when her health compelled her, by incessant 
 application, to resign her position. Indeed, her feeble 
 constitution was so v;orn down that although she continued 
 teaching until vacation, then she yielded shortly after to 
 the inevitable and passed away. Her death occurred 
 Aug. 24th, 1875. Miss Hearn had a fine mind and an 
 amiable disposition. She was raised right and adorned 
 iier name with a life worthy of imitation. 
 
186 History of Pocoinohe City, 
 
 Charles H. Council, I{s(|., is a nati\e of Southampton. 
 County, \^a. He was educated at Richmond College,. 
 Virginia, and at Columbian College, D. C, at which latter- 
 place ho graduated. He taught school ten years in Vir- 
 ginia before he came to this county. After coming here 
 he taught two years at McMaster's School-house, two 
 years at Pitt's Creek School-house, and has been engaged 
 in the High School for about nine years, in ^vhich he is 
 still engaged teaching. 
 
 Mrs. Millie Primrose, daughter of Thomas F. Ste\enson,. 
 Esq., was born at Snow Hill, i\Id., and was educated at 
 the Academy of that place. In 1869, she entered the 
 High School of Pocomoke City as teacher of a i)rimary 
 class, and continued in that capacity until 1873 ; when she 
 succeeded ]\Iiss Eudora V.. Hay in the grammar class, and 
 has continued teacher of that room until the present. 
 
 Mrs. Primrose is a lady of fine accomplishments and 
 an efficient teacher. As an evidence ol her efficiency, I 
 will mention the fact, that she has been teaching in the 
 High vSchool in Pocomoke City for thirteen years, nine 
 years of which she has been in charge of the (irannnar 
 vSchool Departnient without a ri\al for the position. An 
 interesting item of rare occurrence, in connection with 
 Mrs. Primrose is here inserted. She is a member of a 
 family of five persons, representing five generations, and 
 each one being the first born of each generation; their 
 state and ages are as follows : Great Grand Father, 86 ; 
 Grand Father, 66 ; Cirand Mother, 64 ; Mother, 42 ; Son. 
 
Formerly Neio Town. 187 
 
 1 7; their ages aggregating 276 years, all living in the same 
 house, and all enjoying good health. 
 
 John W. Murray succeeded Mrs. O' Daniel as teacher of 
 the grammar school department in the High School of 
 Pocomokc City. He was born in New Town, Worcester 
 County, Md., on the 13th day of November, 1848. From 
 his infancy he was delicate in health. He was educated at 
 the Academy and High School of Pocomoke City, and at 
 Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn. He had an ambition 
 to excel; he was studious and with a close application, 
 made great progress in learning. He not only studied at 
 school, but at home ; also, he was the last member of the 
 family to retire at night, and the first to arise in the morn- 
 ing poring over his books. John was also a lover of 
 home, and never seemed happier than when in the society 
 of his mother. Touching remembrances of him come up 
 before me as 1 write this article, which brings the tear 
 unbidden from its place. Frequently in the family we 
 would be discussing the subject of the hard struggles for an 
 honorable livelihood, and the various casualties to. which 
 we might be subjected, when John would exclaim : "Moth- 
 er," said he, *'I intend to take care of you." To illustrate 
 his industry I will mention an incident which has always 
 been a great satisfaction to me. 
 
 At a certain commencement, the scholars as was always 
 the case, had their pieces to get by heart against the day 
 of exhibition. On the day appointed the large building 
 was crowded. John's turn came to speak. The piece 
 
18S History of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 assigned him was a declamation of a Roman Cieneral 
 before the Roman Senate. As he approached the rostrum 
 the principal remarked to the large audience that "Mr. 
 Murray had only two weeks to translate that speech into 
 English and commit it to memory besides attending to his 
 other regular studies. He made the speech successfully, 
 and in leaving the stand and while walking down the aisle 
 to his seat, I noticed the eyes of all were upon him. I 
 felt prouder that day to be the father of such a young 
 man than the possessor of millions of money. After 
 teaching at Stockton and in the High School in Pocomoke 
 City, he went to Dickinson College to finish his education* 
 for he was ambitious to graduate with nothing short of the 
 highest honors conferred upon a completion of a college 
 course ; but here his strength failed him, and he had to 
 give up the struggle. He went to Arkansas to regain his 
 health, but the trip only helped to shorten his days. He 
 came home to his native place and lingered for two years 
 with that fatal disease, Consumption, when, like the 
 evening zephyr that hushes into silence at nightfall, he 
 passed away in hope of a blissful immortality on the 27th 
 day of April, 1873, in the 25th year of his age. 
 
 Eulogies ha\'e been heaped upon him. After he received 
 his certificate from the School Board of the county the 
 examiner was in Pocomoke City and said he was an honor 
 to his parents and a credit to his native town. One who 
 was associated with him in school and knew well his 
 knowledge of Latin and (ireek, said to me that John could 
 
Formerly New Town. 189 
 
 read Latin as fluently as he could read English. The 
 principal of the High School and the president of Dickin- 
 son College both spoke to me in high terms of his intellect 
 and his acquirements. His text books of English, Latin, 
 Greek, French and German, which I still keep as remi- 
 niscenes of him, remind me of the long hours he would be 
 poring over them. 
 
190 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 SCHOOLS (CONTINUED.) 
 
 George S. Bell, Esq., was an assistant in the New Town 
 High School. He was born in Northampton County, 
 Va. He was educated at Snow Hill and Pocomoke City, 
 Md., at Newark College, Del., and at the Theological 
 Seminary, Princeton, N. J. He was licensed to preach 
 the gospel by the New Castle Presbytery about the year 
 1875. He supplied a pulpit in the State of New York 
 and afterward received a call to the Presbyterian Church 
 in Wrightsville, Penn., which he is now acceptably filling. 
 Mr, Bell was a close student, had a good mind and has 
 reflected a credit upon himself in view of his elevation. 
 
 Miss Eudora E. Hay succeeded John W. Murray as 
 teacher of the grammar school department in the High 
 School of Pocomoke City, and continued in that relation 
 for two years when she retired, and afterward procured 
 a situation as teacher in the schools of Wilmington, Del. 
 
 Ebenezer llearn was born in New Town, Worcester 
 County, Md., on the 26th day of November, 1854. He 
 commenced going to school at 8 years ot age. Left 
 school in July, 1873. Served as an assistant to the princi- 
 pal of the High School in 1874. Engaged in mercantile 
 
Formerly New Town. 191 
 
 business with E. H. Clarke from 1874 to 1877. In 1877, 
 he received an appointment from the Trustees of 
 Rehoboth Academy, in Somerset County, as principal 
 which position he still holds, and that school is recognized 
 by the school board of Somerset County, as one of the 
 best schools in the county. Ebenezer Hearn is a young 
 man in whose favor it would be difficult for me to say 
 too much. His mental, moral and religious qualities 
 are of such a character as to entitle him to the highest 
 praise of all who know him, and to positions of trust 
 •and responsibility. 
 
 Richard A. Wilson, an assistant to the principal of the 
 High School in Pocomoke City, was a native of Cannons- 
 burg, Penn. He was educated at Jefferson College. He 
 studied law, graduated and removed to Missouri, where 
 he is now practicing law. 
 
 Miss Fannie Matthews is a native of Accomac County, 
 Va. Her parents died while she was quite young, and 
 she was taken in charge by her aunt, Miss Jane Porter, 
 who is living in the City of Baltimore, and there in the 
 Western High School she was educated. In 1873, a 
 A^acancy being open in the High School of Pocomoke 
 City, Miss Fannie was appointed to fill that \acancy, and, 
 during the seven years of her instructions, which closed 
 up with 1 88 1, she exhibited such wisdom in the instruc- 
 tion of her class, as caused it to be said that her place in 
 the school would be hard to fill. By her adaptation r.s a 
 :teacher she has gained the highest respect of the trustees 
 
1J):2 ILhtori) <\f Pocomoke City, 
 
 of the lli.^h School, and as a lady she is known only to be 
 esteemed. There is no one upon whom she has made 
 a more indelible impression in this direction than the 
 principal of the High School. Indeed she contemplated,, 
 very seriously, too, a change of name, and finally 
 concluded that she was tired of her old name and would 
 accept of one that was more handy and she became the 
 happy bride of Dr. Sidney W. Handy, principal of the 
 High School of Pocomoke City. 
 
 John S. McMaster was born in New Town, on the 29tb 
 day of December, 1859. He was educated partly at the 
 High School in Pocomoke City, partly at Newark College,. 
 Del., and is finishing his education at Lafayette College,, 
 Penn., where he will no doubt graduate with honor. Mr. 
 McMaster is a young man of promise; his aim is the 
 ])rofession of the law as his Hfe work. He will make his 
 mark and be an honor to his name and to his native town. 
 As a teacher in ihe High School, he acquitted himself 
 with honor. 
 
 William S. Dix is a native of Accomac County, Va., but 
 his father moving to Somerset County, Md., he w^as 
 educated at the Washington Academy, near Princess 
 Anne, and at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn. At the 
 time Mr. Dix went to the Washington Academy it was a 
 school of renown, having for its principal the Rev. Francis 
 Waters, D.D., a man of celebrity. After he resigned the 
 Rev. Robert M. Laird, a Presbyterian minister, was 
 appointed j)rincipal in his place, having the Hon. Isaac D. 
 
Formerly New Town. 103 
 
 Jones for an assistant. Mr. Dix engaged as teacher in the 
 High School of New Town in 1875, and for six consecu- 
 tive years he continued in that capacity, when at the close 
 of the school term in 18S1, he retired from the school. 
 Mr. Dix is a man of high moral worth and he has the 
 respect of all who know him as a christian gentleman. 
 
 Hilary T. Stevenson and Dr. Julius T. Hall were teach- 
 ers in the New Town High School, but as I have taken 
 notice of them under another heading, I shall here pass 
 them by. 
 
 The Misses Maggie Webb, Rose Tull, Emma Robinson, 
 Ella Scott, Rose Marshall and Sallie Henderson were all 
 good and efficient teachers. The last three named are 
 still teaching in the High School. In closing up this 
 account of the High School in Pocomoke City I will state 
 that there are on the school roll in regular attendance 
 235 scholars. 
 
 I have failed to notice heretofore two of our young men 
 of promise and consequently will have to notice them here. 
 
 Edward J. Clarke, son ol Littleton T. Clarke, deceased, 
 was born in New Town on the istday of September, i860. 
 After the death of his father, which event occurred when 
 he was but six years of age, the Rev. John W. Pierson 
 being an intimate friend of his father and taking a liking 
 to the youth, by the consent of his mother, took him into 
 his own family and under his own guardian care to raise and 
 educate him. He remained with Mr. Pierson until he was 
 sixteen years of age, during which time he was schooled 
 
194 IlistoTij of Pocomoke City, 
 
 at the Academy in Snow Hill and Pocomoke City High 
 School. At the age of sixteen he entered St. John's 
 College, Annapolis, Md., where he remained live years. 
 At the age of twenty-one he graduated, standing well up 
 in his class. After this he taught school at Whaleyville, 
 Worcester County, ]Md., one year. He is now employed 
 as teacher in the High vSchool of Pocomoke City. Mr. 
 Clarke is a young man of promise and with applica- 
 tion will make his mark. 
 
 Austin H. Merrill, son of William H. S. Aferrill, was 
 born in New Town on the ist day of June, 1859. He was 
 a student in the High School of this place until he was 
 eighteen years of age, at which time he entered the Dela- 
 ware College at New Ark, Del. His education at this 
 period was sufficient to justify his entering the Sophomore 
 Class. He graduated with the first honor, taking the 
 degree of A. H., and chosen valedictorian of his class. He 
 taught school two years as princi])al of the Teir.perance- 
 ville Graded School. He then entered the National School 
 of Elocution and Oratory in Philadelphia, Penn., where 
 he graduated with honor. Mr. Merrill is just entering the 
 arena of public life, ha\ing in contemplation the law as his 
 life work, and with application on his part and no unfore- 
 seen event haj)pening to blast the fond hopes of his friends, 
 he will, it is anticipated, be the i)eer of the first jurists of 
 Maryland and of whom his friends and the citizens of 
 Pocomoke City have just cause to feel proud. 
 
 The school for the education of colored children in 
 Pocomoke City was established dirccdy after the free 
 
Formerly Neio Tovni. 195 
 
 school system became a law in the State. This school 
 has been kept up ever since, and is to-day a graded school 
 of primary and grammar school departments. There are 
 on the school roll 117 scholars. The school is taught by 
 a principal and one assistant. These teachers are quite 
 efficient and the school is advancing. 
 
 The principal, David W. Ogden, is a native of New 
 Jersey. He attended a primary and grammer school in 
 that State until he was sixteen years of age, v/hen he 
 entered Lincoln University, in Chester County, Penn. 
 After applying himself closely for five years, he graduated 
 with honor in 1880. 
 
 The following is the basis upon which the colored 
 school is sustained. The school receives from the county 
 the proportion of county taxes paid by the colored people 
 in the county, which amounts to about eleven cents on the 
 one hundred dollars. In addition to this the State makes 
 a special appropriation of §100,000 annually for all the 
 schools throughout the State, of which Worcester County 
 receives about $3,600. 
 
196 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 CHURCHES. 
 
 As the churches are a very important factor in the 
 history ol Pocomoke City, it will be necessary, in 
 order to give an intelligent showing of each church, 
 to take them up in the order of time in which they 
 were established, and bring their history down to the pre- 
 sent time. As the Methodist Episcopal Church is the 
 first one of which we have any record, we will begm with 
 it first. But before we proceed with the history of this 
 church it will be necessary and proper to remark that it 
 has been said that there was a Presbyterian log church 
 built on the lot which was called, when I was a boy, the 
 Sachcr lot. This was a nickname for 2fachariah, as it 
 belonged to one Zachariah Lambertson. This lot has 
 been more recently known as the Adreon lot. which at 
 present belongs to William J. S. Clarke. Upon this lot 
 tradition says this house was built. 
 
 In the history of the Maryland Colony we have this 
 record, that a certain Col. William Stevens, with others, 
 got up a petition and sent it to the Presbytery of Laggan, 
 Ireland, in 1680, for a minister of the gospel to come to the 
 colony and preach the gospel and look after the scattered 
 
Formerly Neio Town. 197 
 
 adherents of the Presbyterian faith. This call was 
 promptly obeyed, andni 1682, they sent over the Rev.P>an- 
 cis Makemie, a man of learning, sagacity and courage, by 
 whom or under whose supervision, tradition says this 
 church was built. If this tradition can be relied on, there 
 is no doubt, but that it was the first Presbyterian Church 
 ever built in America. 
 
 But there is a history of the Presbyterian Church in 
 America extant, which would seem to refute the statement 
 of the Traditional Church. 
 
 I allude to the history of the Presbyterian Church in 
 America, by Irving Spence, a member of that church and 
 a learned Lawyer, who speaks definitely and clearly of the 
 Pitt's Creek and Rehoboth Churches being the first Presby- 
 terian Churches ever built in America. He never once inti- 
 mates that such a church ever existed as the Traditional 
 Church at New Town. 
 
 There is, however, some supposable ground for the 
 existence of this church. Mr. Makemie, in coming to the 
 Colony and up the Pocomoke River, prospecting, may 
 have at first view, concluded that this was the very place 
 to commence operations, and hence, the erection of the 
 log church ; but subsequently, he may ha\'e discovered 
 that, Rehoboth and Pitt's Creek were prominent centers, 
 at v/hich he could more effectually advance the interests 
 of his cause, and hence, the abandonment of the old lo^^ 
 church. 
 
1*J8 Htstofij vf Poco)/ivh:e City^ 
 
 Now to proceed with the history of tlic Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church in New Town. The Church was built in 
 iSoS, on the site where tlie present one stands. But the 
 church, proper as an orj^^anized i^od}'', existed in New 
 Town, lono- years Ix-fore tlie house was built. This fact, 
 I think can be established, beyond a doubt, by two consid- 
 erations. First, the preachers sent to the Continent by 
 j\Ir. Wesley, before the orq;anization of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, in 17S4, and those belonging to it 
 afterwards, operated in New York City, Philadelphia, the 
 states of New Jersey, Delaware, and some of them down 
 through the Eastern Shore Counties of Maryland and 
 Virginia, and so efficient was tlieir preaching that, at an 
 early date the Peninsula was a garden spot of Methodism. 
 Indeed the gospel was like a sally of light coming down 
 the Peninsula, and its messengers were flaming heralds 
 entering every open door, and preaching unto die people, 
 Jesus and the resurrection, with all boldness. . 
 
 In 177S, hVancis Asbury, not being permitted to preach 
 the gospel in Maryland, retired to Delaware, where, at the 
 house of Judge White, he found a congenial retreat, 
 for about two years, in order to escape impressment, 
 by the British forces, to fight against the colonies. In 
 1 7 So, h'reeborn Garrettson a native ot Western Maryland, 
 was imprisoned in Cambridge jail, Dorchester County, 
 for preaching the gospel. I mention these incidents of 
 Asbury and Garrettson, with their dates to show that 
 ^lethodism was already a settled fact in Delaware, and 
 
ForTTierly New Toion. 199' 
 
 on the Eastern Sliore of 3*faryland and Virginia. I 
 cannot wonder at the success of the g-ospel, when its. 
 message was borne by such men as l^ishops Thf^mas Coke 
 D. D. Francis Asbury, I\.ichard Whatcoat, and their 
 associates, such as Freel:)orn (iarrettson, Benjamin A])bott, 
 Lorenzo Dow, and a host of others who were co-laborers 
 with them, who coiuited not their n\es dear into them- 
 sevles so that they might bear the gospel message and 
 be instrumental in saving sinners. 
 
 The second, consideration is tlie establishment of the 
 circuit work, embracing preaching appointments at Little- 
 ton Long's house, where jNLijor Merrill now lives ; at 
 William ]\Ielvin's, father of Rev. Avra Melvin, where Col. 
 William J. Aydelottc now lives, a.nd at Capt. James 
 Furnis' house in New Town : this house i« at present, 
 owned by Mrs. Tipton. 
 
 At these places the gospel was preached, classes lormcd 
 and prayer-meetings established. So early and so 
 thoroughly was Methodism established in New Town, 
 that in 1800, Avra Melvin was licensed to preach the 
 gospel, being a.t the time about twenty years of age, and 
 when his lather, who was an officer in the church, 
 died, he preached his funeral. 
 
 Not only New Town but, the entire surrounding 
 country was brought under the influence of Methodism 
 in the latter part of the last century, so that we may 
 safely conclude that the date of its introduction in New 
 Town reaches back to about 1790. Some account ot the 
 
200 History of Focomoke City, 
 
 pioneer Methodist preachers on the peninsula may be 
 interesting^ to the reader. But as there are bioi^raphies of 
 each one of them extant, it will only he necessary to make 
 some passino; remarks with some incidents of their lives. 
 
 Thomas Coke, LL.D., was a nati\'e of England, a man 
 of letters. Was ordained the first bishop of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. He died at sea while on a missionary 
 tour to another land at the probable age of sixty years. 
 Bishop Asbury, in preaching his funeral by request of 
 Conference, makes the following remarks of him • "He 
 was of the third branch of Oxonian Methodists, a gende- 
 man, a scholar, and a bishop to us, and as a niinister of 
 Christ, in zeal, in labors and in services, the greatest man 
 of the last century." 
 
 Richard Whatcoat, bishop of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church was a nati\'e of England. Upon information of 
 his death Bishop Asbury makes the following note of him 
 in his journal : ''That father in Israel and my faithful 
 friend for forty years, a nian of solid parts: a self-denying- 
 man of God : who ever heard him speak an idle word ? 
 when was guile found in his mouth? He had been thirty- 
 eight years in the ministry : sixteen years in England, 
 Wales and Ireland, and twenty-two years in America; 
 twelve years as Presiding Elder, four of this time he was 
 stationed in the cities or traveling with me ; and six years 
 in the superintendency. A man so uniformly good I have 
 not known in Euroj)e or America. He died in Dover, 
 Del., on the 5th day of Jul\-, 1806." 
 
Formeily jS\w Tvicn. 201 
 
 Francis Asbury was also a native of England. He 
 <:ame to this country by the direction of Mr. Wesley in 
 1 77 1, being then about 25 years of age. He was elected 
 l)ishop at the conference of 1784, held in the city of 
 Baltimore, and was emphatically and truly, the pioneer 
 Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In labors more 
 ^abundant, traveling on horseback and in carriage, averaging 
 -a great deal of the time 5,000 miles a year, his route extend- 
 ing from Georgia to Massachusetts, and as far West as 
 Kentucky and Ohio. lie pursued this route through 
 lieat and cold, through rain and storm, in winter and 
 •summer, o\'er hills, barrens, swamps, and Savannahs, 
 fording rivers, creeks, etc., for thirty two years in the 
 Episcopacy until he was literally v.-orn out by his arduous 
 labors superintending the interests ol the Church of 
 Christ. In 18 16, while on his way to the General Confer- 
 ence, to be held in the City of Baltimore in the following 
 May, he halted at the house of (ieorge Arnold in Spott- 
 sylvania, Va,, and there he died on the 21st day of March, 
 1816, in the 71st year of his age. He was afterward 
 carried to Baltimore and buried under the pulpit of the 
 Eutaw JMethodist Episcopal Church of that city. 
 
 In speaking of Benjamin Abbott I will say he was a 
 native of New Jersey, and although he may never have 
 preached in New Town, yet he aided very materially in 
 bringing the gospel down through the peninsula. He 
 was a man of great pulpit power, and in many instances 
 sinners fell prostrate under the preaching of the word by 
 him, as dead men. 
 
202 History of Pocomohe City^ 
 
 There is only one incident of his Hfe which I wish ta 
 mention and that is the circumstance of his conversion.. 
 It was brought about by a dream. He was already under 
 deep conviction for sin. He had no rest day or night and 
 seemingly could find none. While in this condition he 
 dreamed that he was down a deep well ; how he got there 
 he could not tell. In contemplating his condition, he saw- 
 no way of his escape. He seemed hopelessly lost. In 
 casting his eyes upward he saw a star, about which there 
 was peculiar attraction. While looking at it he discovered 
 himself rising out of the well. It was such a strange 
 phenomenon he could not understand it ; and in looking 
 down the well, that moment he fell to the bottom. How- 
 ever, in looking up again he saw the same star, and while 
 looking at it, he discovered that he was rising again this 
 time higher; but some how or other he took his eyes oflT 
 the star, and down he fell to the bottom again. In this- 
 sad condition he concluded there must be some power in 
 that star to bring him out of the well, and if he could but 
 see that star once more, he never would take his eyes ofT 
 of it until he would be out of the well. Fortunately, again 
 he saw the same star. He fixed his eyes upon it, and he 
 felt that he was rising, but he would not take his eyes oflf 
 of it until he found himself entirely out of the well. At 
 that moment he awoke out of sleep and concluded that 
 that dream was from God, and was intended to point him 
 to the Day Star from on high. He made the application 
 and found Jesus without further trouble. He was con- 
 
F(>rnieTly New Town. 203 
 
 verted immediately and awoke the family, and there was 
 a great shout that night. 
 
 The incredulous may say, oh, pshaw; that was only a 
 dream. It was a dream, that is true, but it was more than 
 a dream in the commom acceptation of that term. It was 
 the instrumentality which the Holy One used to save his 
 soul. Lorenzo Dow preached in New Town in 1805, 
 to about 2000 people, assembled from all the country 
 around, and at night he preached at Rev. Jas. Tilghman's 
 house. After he had conducted the preliminary services 
 and had read out the text. Captain Harry Long came into 
 the congregation and after he had taken his scat, Lorenzo 
 said, " Captain my text is " Pray without ceasing and 
 in every thing give thanks." The fact of his giving- 
 Capt. Long his title, without having any previous 
 knowledge of him, produced a wonderful thinking in the 
 minds of the audience ; for they had previously heard 
 that Lorenzo could foretell future events, and was a 
 discerner of spirits. 
 
 There are only two incidents in the life of Lorenzo that I 
 will here mention. The first is his courtship and 
 marriage. On a certain preaching tour, he made the 
 acquaintance of the lady whom he afterwards married. 
 The courtship is as follows: he said to her' "I think you 
 will suit me for a wife, and as I am going to such and such 
 places to preach, and shall be gone such a length of 
 time, you can think the matter over, and if you think you 
 would like me for a husband, when I return we will get 
 
204 Iliatory of Focomoke City^ 
 
 married. But, one thing must be clearly understood, and 
 that is, you must never get in my way in preaching the 
 gospel, for if you do I shall, pray to the Lord to take 
 you out of the way and I believe he will do it, and upon 
 his return they got married. 
 
 The second incident is the tin horn story, which is as 
 follows : He was going to fill an appointment which he 
 had made, probably a year before. When he was nearing 
 the place where he had to preach, he over-took a colored 
 boy with a tin horn ; he asked him his name, the boy said 
 his name was Gabriel. Lorenzo said to him : "I am going 
 to such a place to preach to-day, and if you will go there 
 and climb up into a tall pine tree, and remain there silent 
 until I call for Gabriel to blow the trumpet, then if you 
 will blow one of your loudest blasts, I will gi\e you a 
 dollar." The bargain was made, and Lorenzo commenced 
 the services and took his text, which embraced the idea of 
 the Resurrection and the general Judgment. 
 
 As he proceeded, in unfolding the awful truths contained 
 in the text, in graphic style, holding his large audience, 
 which was assembled in the grove, spell-bound, and as all 
 eyes were upon him while contemplating the sublime 
 majesty of Christ's coming in the clouds of heaven with 
 ten thousands of His saints to judge the world. When he 
 had reach the climax, and had Gabriel standing one foot 
 upon the sea and the other on the dry land, with his long 
 silver trumpet, he called aloud for Gabriel to blow, at that 
 moment, Gabriel in the pine tree, blew the tin horn. 
 
Formerlij New Town. 205 
 
 The scene as portrayed by eye witnesses was indescrib- 
 able. The people were in utter consternation, some falling 
 to the ground and crying for mercy, while others were 
 shouting salvation, in the immediate prospect of standing 
 before the Throne, and the horses were squealing and 
 prancing. Finally the congregation discovered the boy in 
 the pine tree and became composed. When Lorenzo then 
 said, if the blowing of a tin horn by a little black boy 
 in the top of a pine tree could produce such an effect, what 
 would they do when the great day comes ? 
 
206 History of Pocoinoke City, 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 CHURCHES (CONTINUED.) 
 
 But to return to the subject of the church at New Town, 
 I have already said, the house was built in 1808, on the 
 site of the present one. Its dimensions were 30 by 32 feet. 
 It had three galleries, two side and one end gallery. Its 
 pulpit was of the old style of the Episcopal Church pulpits. 
 At first, its benches were thick planks, laid on blocks of 
 wood ; but in process of time it had benches with backs to 
 lean against. The church had three doors, one side door 
 leading out into the grave yard, and two end doors ; one 
 for the white people to enter the church, and the other one 
 for the colored people to go up into the galleries. There 
 were eleven windows in the church, seven below and four 
 above, those below were one-half sash and glass, the other 
 half were wooden slides, and those above were all wooden 
 slides. There was one old style box stove in it, which was 
 given to the church by Miss Rosa B. Schoolfield, aftei;- 
 wards, Mrs. Rosa B. Quinn, wife of Rev. William Quinn. 
 
 The church was neither lathed nor plastered for thirty 
 years. In its erection, some gave lum1:»er, some work and 
 others money. I have seen the old subscription book for 
 
Formerly New Town. 207 
 
 the erection of the church, and in looking it over my heart 
 has been cheered in reading the name of Michael Murray, 
 my father as a subscriber to build the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in New Town, he being a Roman Catholic. The 
 reader will remember, that according to the limits given to 
 New Town, that this church was in the suburbs. After it 
 was ready for divine service, the appointments at the 
 private houses were abandoned, and preaching was held 
 ^very two weeks at the church. Of this church, Bishop 
 Asbury, thus speaks in his journal, under date of April 
 nth, iSio : "I preached at New Town ; we were crowded. 
 This is a flourishing little place, and we have a beautiful 
 little chapel." 
 
 As this was the only house of worship in the place for 
 several miles around, great assemblages of people would 
 attend divine service, especially on quarterly meeting 
 occasions. 
 
 The church would be crowded to its utmost capacity 
 and more people outside listening and looking in through 
 the windows and doors than were in the house, and the 
 thickets in the neighborhood of the church would be full of 
 horses hitched. At such times the Presiding Elder would 
 preach. In the order of time there were such men as Dr. 
 Chandler, Lawrence Lawrenson and Henry White. These 
 men had great pulpit power. The subject selected would 
 be one of the most lelicitous in the Gospels. As the min- 
 ister would proceed and be in his happiest mood and fired 
 with his subject, responses of loud amens and hallelujahs 
 
208 History of Poco-nokc Clty^ 
 
 would be heard in the cono^rc(;ation, and especially in the 
 amen corner. Before the services closed strong men, who 
 did not make any profession of religion, would be bathed 
 in tears, and others crying for mercy, while Christians 
 were shouting salvation, and the whole scene would 
 impress the thought of the shout of the King in the camp 
 of Israel. The first class was formed about i790orshortly- 
 afterwards. The names that were enrolled upon that first 
 class-book were as follows : Littleton Long and wife, Wm . 
 Melvin and wife, William Merrill and wife, Geo. Houston 
 and wife, R^\sa Merrill, Avra Melvin, Joshua Sturgis and 
 wife, Nancy Sturgis, Levin Mills, Polly Blades, Samuel 
 Blades and wife, Susan Ward, James Tilghman and wife^ 
 Nancy Blades, Hannah Benson, Joseph Young and wife, 
 James Dickinson, Sr., and wife, Jemima Henderson, Ibba 
 Chapman and Nathan Milbourn. These names are very 
 dear to many who are still living in Pocomoke City. 
 
 During the year 1800, Avra Melvin was licensed to 
 preach, and in icSoS, James Tilghman was licensed to 
 preach and shortly afterward, he was ordained a deacon. 
 A little incident in relation to Mr. Tilghman is here 
 inserted. Shortly after his ordination, he was called 
 upon to marry a couple in the country. It was his first 
 att(Miipt, and while he was on his way thitherward, he 
 stej)[)ed a side from the road into the woods and selectintj 
 two trees representing the parties before him, he went 
 through the ceremony, after which he went on his way to 
 the place of destination and united the parties, applying-,. 
 
Forinerlij New Town. 209 
 
 in marriage. Rev. James Tilghman was the father of 
 Mrs. Mary Cottingham of Snow Hill, Md., he died ^n 
 1816, aged 34 years. His tombstone is still standing in 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church burying ground of 
 Pocomoke City and bears the above date. 
 
 In reviewing the religious condition of New Town, as 
 late as 1820, it may be of interest to notice its denomina- 
 tional status. There were only two Presbyterian families 
 in the place. There were no Baptists here then. There 
 was one old lady by the name of Elizabeth Matthews, who 
 was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church a^ 
 Dividing Creek ; this old lady would be seen on Sunday 
 morning wending her way tu Dividing Creek, to church. 
 
 A little humorous story is here recorded about Aunt 
 Betty, that was the name we used to call her by. Aunt 
 Betty used to raise geese. At the usual time of picking 
 the feathers off the geese, she picked the down also off 
 both geese and goslins. There came a sharp snap of cold 
 weather the night following, and next morning Aunt 
 Betty's geese and goslins were all dead. She went over to 
 the neighbour's to make her tale of sorrow known. Said 
 she in a whining tone, "child, what do you think? I 
 picked my geese yesterday, and to-day they are all dead." 
 After telling how she picked them, the lady remarked: 
 "Ah ! Aunt Betty that is the way, crave all and loose all." 
 
 There was another family in the town which was Roman 
 Catholic, that family was my father's. He was educated 
 a Roman Catholic in Ireland, his native country. My 
 
210 Ilisiory of Pocomofce Ciiij^ 
 
 mother was raised a Methodist. I am happy to say, how- 
 ever, though my fatlicr was a Roman Catholic, yet he was 
 a hberal one, for he helped to build the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in New Town, and had his children baptized by 
 Protestant ministers. He would hold family prayers on 
 Sunday mornings, and teach his children the duty of pri- 
 vate prayer. The prayers that he used to teach us, would 
 be the Lord's prayer; the Aposde's Creed, the salutation 
 and invocation to the Holy Virgin, Mary, etc. All others 
 in the town who professed Christianity, were Methodists, 
 and there was a goodly number of them too. 
 
 In the early history of Methodism in New Town, putting 
 up places for the preachers would be scarce. The 
 members of the church were, almost without an exception, 
 poor and had no accommodations for the preacher and 
 his horse. As a general thing there was not more than 
 one place at which they could stop and find entertainment. 
 The preacher in charge lived in Snow Hill and the 
 assistant preacher lixed with the se\eral Methodist families 
 on the circuit. They would come here on Saturday after- 
 noon, stay until after dinner on Sabbath, and then go to 
 their afternoon appointments. This condition of things 
 existed as late as the writer's own personal knowledge, 
 and foremost among those who bore the burden and stood 
 by the Church in its low estate was Jesse Long, ^vho not 
 only entertained the preachers, l)ut would bear the greater 
 part, if not all of the expenses of light and fuel for the 
 church. He would collect tlie (luarterage money, and gt> 
 
Formerly New Toion. 211 
 
 out among the citizens of the town and ask contributions 
 for the support of the preacher. He was the mainstay of 
 the church in New Town until he died, which event took 
 place in 1845. He was buried in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church burying-ground in New Town, at the age of 52 
 years, as his tombstone bears the above date. 
 
 In the early history of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and as late as the writer's own personal knowledge, the 
 amount of quarterage paid to the preachers by the church 
 in New Town was fifteen dollars and twenty-five cents per 
 quarter, or sixty one dollars per year, and as this was the 
 only church in the place, until 1S32, the amount of 
 money paid for the support of the gospel, by New Town, 
 was sixty one dollars per year. About the year 1835, 
 accessions were made to the church, which was the result 
 of revival meetings, among others was the Rev. John D. 
 Long, who was a young man of prominence. His father 
 and mother died before he reached his majority, and upon 
 him devolved the responsible task of taking care of two 
 sisters and a brother younger than himself. At this time 
 he was merchandising at Steven's Ferry in Somerset 
 County, on the lot of ground where the Phosphate factory 
 now stands. After conducting this business until about 
 1837, he gave it up and commenced teaching school in 
 Nassawaddux, at Williams' school-house, where he contin- 
 ued until the close of 1838. 
 
 In the spring of 1839, he joined the Philadelphia Con- 
 ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Subsequendy 
 
212 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 he married Miss Sarah Caulk of New Castle County, 
 Delaware; a young lady of fine intellect and culture, by 
 whom he has four sons, all grown men. Mr. Long was 
 always delicate in health, and had been in the traveling 
 ministry only about nine years, when his health was so 
 broken down that he was compelled to take a superannu- 
 ated relation. In that capacity he has remained until the 
 present time. During the" intervening years he became 
 Ihe author of a book called "Pictures of Slavery." For 
 sixteen years he was missionary of Bedford Street Mission 
 in Philadelphia. That position he resigned in April, 1882, 
 and in order to show the value of his services and the 
 esteem in which he was held during that long time of 
 service, I will here insert an appreciative resolution by the 
 Board of Managers of that institution, which was unani- 
 mously adopted. 
 
 "The Rev. Mr. Long having tendered his resignation 
 as superintendent of the mission, a position he has held 
 for the past sixteen years, the Board of Managers hereby 
 accept it. They do so, however, with sincere regret, as 
 well for the separation it involves as for the cause (Mr. 
 Long's increasing bodily weakness) that compels it. And 
 they would place on record, in connecting with their 
 action, the expression of their high regard and thanks 
 to Mr. Long for his uniformly wise and faithful adminis- 
 tration of the mission during his long term of ser\ice in it; 
 for his personal worth, which secured for it so largely 
 the ronfulenrc nnd support of our citizens; for his con- 
 
Formerly New Town. 213 
 
 sistent life and just and kindly course towards all with 
 whom his work brought him in contact, by which he won 
 their affection and respect, and (as the result of all) for 
 the good name in the possession of which he now leaves 
 the mission. They earnestly wish for him all possible 
 benefit from the rest he has well earned and which he 
 so much needs, and hope he may be long spared 
 to enjoy it." 
 
 The above resolution I copy from the Philadelphia 
 Evening Bnlletin of Saturday, February nth, 1882. 
 This resolution of the Board of Bedford Street Mission is 
 eulogy enough, but I wdll add that I have known him 
 from his infancy, and most intimately for forty-five years, 
 and I must say that he has the highest sense of moral 
 rectitude and is one of the most conscientiously just men 
 1 have known. He, now in all probability, has done his 
 last work, and has returned to this his native place to rest. 
 
214 Hi story of Pocomoke City, 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 CHURCHES (CONTINUED.) 
 
 In I836, Rev. William Quinn settled on his farm adjoin- 
 ing New Town. He was born in Queen Anne's County, 
 Md., about the year 1790. On his father's side he was ot 
 pure Celtic blood, as his name will indicate. At about 
 fifteen years of age he embraced Christianity and joined 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was apprenticed to 
 learn the carriage-making business, but it was discovered 
 that his talent and inclination led in another direction 
 After his majority he joined the Philadelphia Conference 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He traveled several 
 years and then took a supernumera.iy relation and located 
 in Princess Anne, Md,, where he commenced the carriage- 
 making business, having for a partner Teagle Townsend. 
 He afterwards moved to Eastville, Va., where he carried 
 on the carriage-making business for a few years and then 
 came to New Town, Md. 
 
 In 1840, he took an active relation to his conference, 
 for during the time of his location he sustained a super- 
 numerary relation. He traveled five years and finally 
 retired from the active ministr\'. 
 
Formerly New Town. 215 
 
 During his long so-journ with us, the writer had ample 
 opportunity to know and form his conclusions of him. 
 His intellect was beyond the common order of minds. In 
 his preaching he was clear and forcible, and was good in 
 debate. In his social life, he was of a genial nature, frank 
 and pleasant; if there was one trait of his character jthat 
 towered above the rest, it was that of forgiveness. The 
 writer can speak from experience upon this feature of 
 his character. When times were perilous, and debate 
 was rife, and sharp cutting words would be used on 
 both sides ; but, when we would meet again, there would be 
 exhibited that same genial, frank and social bearing as 
 though nothing had happened. 
 
 He was thrice married, and was father of John W. Quinn 
 by his nrst wife, James, William and Lawrence by his 
 second wife, and Doctor Samuel S. Quinn and Mrs. Vir- 
 ginia Merrill, surviving children by his last wife. During 
 his last sickness he was hopeful and trusting. He died in 
 the latter part of 1867, approximating four score years. 
 
 In 1840, the old church was lathed and plastered and 
 became more comfortable, and things in general began 
 to look up somewhat. In 1855, the present commodious 
 house was built ; it cost, probably, three thousand dollars. 
 This church has a large cemetery. The Sabbath School 
 belonging to this church is the mother of Sabbath Schools 
 in Pocomoke City. Some of the most influential men 
 of other churches in Pocomoke City were, when little 
 boys, members of this Sabbath School. It is in quite 
 
216 HisUry of Poccmio'ke City^ 
 
 a flourishing condition, having on the school roll the 
 names of one hundred scholars, and an average of 
 se\'enty in actual attendance. The school takes eighty- 
 Sabbath School papers weekly and has 13S volumes in 
 library. The reader will observe that I have not said 
 anything about the long list of the sainted dead, who were 
 members of this church. But I will now say that as a 
 general thing they died well. Oh ! how many, during the 
 last forty five years, have I \isited in their death sickness, 
 and ha\'e heard the last shout of victory, and witnessed 
 their trumphant death. Prominent among this long list 
 of the dead, with whom the writer was most intimately 
 acquainted, was Sally Murray, James E. Ouinn, Eljabeth 
 Long, first wife of Jesse Le^:- Long, and daughter of Gcnl. 
 Ebenzer Hearn, Amanda C. Clarke, first wife of William 
 J. S. Clarke, Harriet H. Clarvoe. mother of Amanda C. 
 Clarke, Harriet Taylor, grandmother of the children of 
 John H. Clarke by his first wife and Sally E. Hearn. 
 The remembrance of these persons is held very sacred and 
 dear by many who are yet living in Pocomoke City. 
 These were God's noble children. They are now before 
 the throne clothed in while robes and bear palms of 
 victory in their hands. Oh ! how pleasant it is to call up in 
 memory the christian fellowship with such persons, 
 during their life time and while standing around their 
 dying beds and witnessing their trumphant exit from a 
 world of sorrow, to the home of the blest on the other 
 side of the river. 
 
Formerly New Town. 217 
 
 To close up the history of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in New Town and not give a list in detail of its 
 ministers would be, to say the least of it, a partial history. 
 1 shall, therefore, give as correct a list of their names as I 
 .am able. I shall first name the Bishops, then the Presid- 
 ing Elders, and lastly the traveling preachers. 
 
 The Bishops were : Francis Asbury, Beverly Waugh, 
 Edmund S. James, D.D., and Levi Scott, D.D. 
 
 The Presiding Elders were : Dr. Chandler, Lawrence 
 Lawrenson, Henry White, David Daily, Levi Scott, D.D., 
 Jas. A. Massey, John D. Onins, Thos. J. Thompson, D.D., 
 Henry Colclazer, Adam Wallace, D.D., Solomon Cooper, 
 Vaughn Smith, John L' Taft, N. M. Brown and Thomas 
 J. Williams. 
 
 The traveling preachers were : Lorenzo Dow, 
 
 Bayne, Avra Melvin, John Collins, Matthew Sorin, D.D., 
 
 Lummas, Sparks, William Connally, John 
 
 A. Roach, D.D., Samuel McElwee, James L. Houston, 
 William Quinn, George Lacey, M. D., Isaac R. Willetts, 
 .Shepherd Drain, James Hargis, John S. Taylor, Leeds K. 
 Berridge, Charles Karsner, M.D., William Bishop, John 
 Allen, Joshua Turner, Zachariah Webster, Jas. A. Brindle, 
 Charles Schock, Thomas J. Burroughs, Charles Hill, 
 Jonathan Turner, Curtis Turner, Robert Pattison, D.D., 
 Daniel Titlow, William Merrill, John F. Chaplain, D.D.^ 
 N. W^ Bennum, Charles McDermond, Edward G. Erwin, 
 •George S. Conway, T. B. KilHam, John W. Pearson, Jas. 
 Miller, Albert Jump, George W, Covington, T. E. Mar- 
 
218 lUatory of Pocomoke City, 
 
 tindale, James Murray, George D. Watson, D.D., A. A. 
 Fisher, Thomas Poulson, William Potter, George W. 
 Wilcox, E, J. Ayres, A. P. Prettyman, William Passwater^ 
 William L. P. Bowen, Thomas O. Ayres, Charles A. 
 Grice, Robert Roe, William I. Baine, John D. C. Hanna 
 and George W\ Townsend. 
 
 A brief sketch of incidents of some of the above list of 
 preachers, may be of interest to the reader. John Collins 
 was a positive, burly Irishman. He was preaching at a 
 certain place on a certain occasion, and there was a young 
 man in the congregation who stood up during preaching,, 
 much to the annoyance of the preacher ; Johnnie Collins^ 
 for tliat was his ordinary name, seeing the yonng man 
 would not sit down, said : "He wished when a tailor made 
 a coat for a man, that he would publish it, and not put the 
 man who wore it to the unnecessary trouble to stand up 
 in the congregation to show it ; that had the desired 
 effect and settled the young man for the time being. But 
 when the services were over, and Mr. Collins went to get 
 his horse, where he had hitched him, the young man and 
 his young associates were there waiting for him. 
 
 He called Mr. Collins' attention to the insult which he 
 had passed. "O yes !" said Mr. Collins, "are you the 
 young man that stood up in the congregation during 
 preaching?" "Yes," said the young man, "and I am 
 going to whip ycju for insulting me so." Johnnie Collins 
 said, "1 have preached this morning, and have to ride 
 many miles and preach twice more to-day, and it would 
 
Formerly New Town. 21^ 
 
 be a pity to get a flogging in the bargain." This kind of 
 talk only made the young man more bold, and he told 
 Mr. Collins to get ready for he was going to whip him, 
 "well !" said Mr. Collins, "if I must, I must, but before you 
 begin this business, I want to inform you that, before I 
 embraced Christianity, my name was fighting Jack Collins, 
 and when I became a Christian, I promised the Lord that 
 I would whip the Devil wherever I found him," and with 
 that he brushed up his sleeves and said, "now come on 
 and I will whip every devil of you." The fight was then 
 over without a blow, and Mr. Collins mounted his horse 
 and rode off. 
 
 Another incident is related of Mr. Collins to the follow- 
 ing effect. He was leading a colored class, which met on 
 Sunday mornings before preaching, when he called Jacob 
 so and so ; before this, however, he was informed that Jacob 
 had stolen a pair of breeches, "Jacob" said he, "let us 
 hear how you are getting along ? " Jacob said, "my breath- 
 ering, I-s-e come here to give in my sperience, I've come to 
 tell you that I am sometimes up and sometimes down, but 
 yet my soul is heaven bound, and if you never no more sees 
 me, you may look for me on dat mornin', for I spec's to 
 scale heaven and get to glory." As it was usual to give 
 a word of advice or encouragement after the experience 
 was given; Mr. Collins said, "Jacob let me feel your pulse?'* 
 Jacob held out his hand and Mr. Collins felt his pulse^ 
 when all of a sudden, he exclaimed in a loud tone, "what I 
 what ! Jacob does your pulse beat breeches ? breeches,'* 
 
220 History of Pocoinoke City^ 
 
 and then addressing himself to all, the class said, "Jacob 
 has been stealing a pair of breeches !" 
 
 Lawrence Lawrenson was a man of great pulpit power, 
 and although it has been said that he was most self-distrust- 
 ing ; he was an orator of the first magnitude, and were he 
 living now, he would stand abreast the first pulpit orators 
 of the day. Henry White and David Daily were men of 
 precious memory, though very dissimilar in their make up. 
 Henry White was a positive man, he had no compromise 
 to olTer in preaching the gospel ; indeed he was the most 
 powerful man in the pulpit, in wielding the Sword ot the 
 Spirit that I ever knew. I have witnessed the effect of his 
 preaching, when with streaming eyes and tremulous limbs, 
 he would deli\er his message, the most intelligent men of 
 the place would be in tears like little children. David 
 Daily was placid and pleasant, he was a strong preacher, 
 and was also a poet ; he was one of the committee who 
 revised the hymn book in years past. 
 
 Matthew Sorin was raised and educated a Roman 
 Catholic, and it has been said that he was intended for the 
 priesthood ; but when he embraced Christianity he became 
 a traveling preacher in the Methodist Episcoj:>al Church. 
 An incident occurred in relation to him while he traveled 
 Snow Hill circuit (which embraced this place), which is 
 here recorded. 
 
 He was preaching at a certain appointment and some of 
 the most aristocratic of the county were to hear him. 
 During the discourse he said something to which cxcep- 
 
Formerly New Town. 221 
 
 tions were taken by one of the above class. After the 
 services were over this gentleman stood at the door until 
 Mr. Sorin came out. He called his attention to the remark^ 
 and said he was going- to whip him for it. 
 
 They were both large men, standing at least six feet in 
 the clear. If there w^as any difference in size, I think Mr. 
 Sorin was the lighter of the two ; but he was clear built,, 
 muscular and plucky. He wore a straight-breasted frock 
 coat that buttoned up to the neck, and when the other 
 told him what he was going to do, he commenced button- 
 ing up his coat until the last button was fastened, when he 
 said to him then: "Sir, it takes a man to whip me."" 
 That w^as the last of it. 
 
 He filled some of the best stations in Philadelphia ; 
 became an author, and for distinguished talent, he received 
 the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He died but recently, 
 at the probable age of four score years. 
 
 In reviewing the history of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church in New Town, I am authorized in saying that it 
 has been a great power for good. It has given force and 
 strength to moral sentiment, and has reached out a helping 
 hand to the lost and straying and has been instrumental 
 in saving an untold number that otherwise might have 
 been lost. It is the mother of churches in New Town, 
 and like a fostering mother, it has furnished to all its sister 
 churches a member now and then. In its present outlook 
 it has church property, including church, parsonage and 
 cemeteries, amounting to, in original cost and present 
 
222 History of Pocomoke C'dy^ 
 
 improvements, probably $7,000. It has a membership of 
 ninety members and probationers and a fine Sabbath 
 School, which has already been described. 
 
 In taking the past year as a basis in calculating the 
 running expenses ol this church, including preacher's 
 salar}^ conference collections, etc., will amount to some- 
 thing over $1,100. It holds a very elevated position as a 
 great evangelizing power, and is now, as it has been in 
 the past, like the beacon-light to the ocean-tossed mariner, 
 warning sinners of the breakers and pointing them to the 
 harbor of rest. 
 
I^ormerly New Town. 223 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 CHURCH p:s (continued.) 
 
 The Methodist Protestant Church was organized in 
 New Town in 1832. The first class formed was com- 
 posed of Rev. Avra Meh'in and wife, Drucilla Powell, 
 Theopiliis Pow^ell, Mary Powell, Sarah M. Powell, Com- 
 fort Powell, Levin Davis and wife, William Tilghman, 
 George S. Blades, William Payden, Ibba Chapman, Polly 
 Blades, James Blades, Edward Young and wife, Leah 
 Mills and Thomas Melvin. The first preachers sent to 
 the circuit were Revs. A\Ta Melvin and Stephen Taylor. 
 The first preaching places were the old school-house 
 Sally Jones's hotel and Rev. Avra Melvin's house on the 
 the farm now belonging to Col. William J. Aydelotte. 
 The class meetings and sacramental services were held at 
 Mr. Melvin's house. 
 
 In 1833, the preachers held a camp-meeting on the old 
 ■Quinton Camp-ground, near Nassawango Creek Bridge. 
 At this camp-meeting the renowned Thomas H. Stockton 
 preached on Sabbath morning. There was a large 
 concourse of people in attendance. After the preliminary 
 service was over th2 preacher took his text, which 
 embraced the Bible as the sL-bcCL ui der consideration. 
 
2:24 History of Pocomoke CiUj^ 
 
 While he proceeded to unfold and present, in 'graphic- 
 , style, the blessedness of God's holy book, all eyes were 
 upon him, for he seemed more like a living skeleton or an. 
 angel ; he raised the Bible from the stand and folding his. 
 skeleton arms around it ; he pressed it to his bosom and 
 exclaimed, in the way in which he alone could do it : 
 "God bless the book !" Some of the jjcople were greatly 
 moved, not only by his oratory, but by his ghostly appear- 
 ance, exclaimed : "God bless the man!" Mr. Stockton 
 was a good man, and an orator of the first magnitude. 
 
 In 1834, the society purchased of Sally Jones, the piece 
 of ground where the present church now stands, and also- 
 an old store house belonging to John Burnett, which 
 stood at the corner of Market and Second Streets, where 
 Henry King, Esq.. now li\es, this they moved on the 
 ground they had purchased, and fitted it up to worship in. 
 This house stood for four years, when they sold it and 
 built a new one with a belfry, in which they hung the first 
 church bell in New Town. This house, however, was not 
 what they wanted, it was too small and too temporarily- 
 built. 
 
 In 1853, they built the present one. and it, though a 
 good building is also too small ; and they now have in 
 course of erection, a larger and more commodious temple 
 in a more central part of the city. 
 
 The foundation has already been laid, and the laying of 
 the corner stone was conducted with Masonic ceremonies 
 on t'.U' 2nd, day (►f June, 1882. 'I he dimensions ot the 
 
Formerly New Town. 225 
 
 church are 40 by 70 feet; the basement is 10 feet 
 between floor and ceiling; the audience room is 20 feet 
 from floor to ceiHng. The tower in front is 14 feet 
 square, and its height is 104 feet. It has a recess for pul- 
 pit 14 feet front with 5 feet projection. The main audi- 
 ence room is 40 by 60 feet. The church is two 
 stories high ; the basement is for sabbath school, class and 
 prayer meeting purposes, and the second story is the 
 audience room for preaching. This church when com- 
 pleted will cost, including the cost of the ground, $6,000, 
 and will be the finest temple in Pocomoke City. This 
 church has a membership of one hundred and fifty -three, 
 and a flourishing Sabbath school; composed of six officers, 
 eleven teachers and one hundred and two pupils, with an 
 average of sixty in attendance. The School takes one 
 hundred and twenty-five Sabbbath school papers, and has 
 two hundred and sixty-eight volumes in the library. The 
 property belonging to this church consists of the church, 
 two parsonages and a cemetery, aggregating a value of 
 $5,000, and the new church and ground when completed 
 will add $6,000 more. The whole church property, then, 
 will amount to 1 1 ,000 dollars. 
 
 The running expenses for this church annually 
 amounts to, including preacher's salary, conference collec- 
 tions, incidental expenses of church and Sabbath School, 
 765 dollars. It is due the pastor of this church, for me 
 to say that he receives a salary of 700 dollars, but having 
 another appointment at fames Town in Somerset County, 
 
226 Hiatory of I *ocvmoke Ciiy^ 
 
 that appointment pays 250 dollars of his salary. The 
 preachers who have preached in this church Irom its 
 organization, in regular succession, are as follows : Revs. 
 Avra Meh'in, Stephen Taylor, Geo. D. Hamilton, Elias 
 Williams, Thos G. Clayton,\Villiam Sexsmith, A. G. Grove, 
 Reuben T. Boyd, John Keller, John R. Nichols, Henry 
 Miller, Levin A. Collins, A. S- Eversole, John A. Jackson, 
 William Fisher, Johnson C. Davis, Thomas A. Moore, 
 Daniel F. Ewell, William Rfenick, Theophilus Burton. 
 R. S. Norris,J- M. Sharpley, J. M. Ellegood, Thomas jVI. 
 Bryan, C. M. Littleton, B. F, Brown, G. S. May, J. W. 
 Pennewell, James Thomson, C. Eversole, James K. 
 Nichols, L. W. Bates, W. M. Strayer, Henry Nice, C. F. 
 Cochel, Daniel Bowers, J. W. Gray, W. McK. Poisal, J^ 
 B. Jones, Jesse Shreeve, W. D. Litsinger, Samuel T. 
 Graham, H. E, Miskiman, Robert S. Rowe, A. T. Melvin, 
 D. L. Greenfield, J. E. Maloy, James T. Lassell, B. F. 
 Benson, J. E. T. Ewell and S. A. Hoblitzell. 
 
 In this list of names are some of the ablest ministers o^ 
 the Maryland Annual conference. The Rev. Avra Mel- 
 vin was born near New Town, Worcester County, Md., in 
 1780. He embraced Christianity, joined the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and in 1800 he was licensed to preach. 
 Some time after this he joined the Philadelphia conference. 
 He traveled several years in the conference and then took 
 a location and settled on the old homestead, where he 
 remained in the capacity of a local preacher until 1832, 
 when the Methodist Protestant Church was organized in 
 
Formerly New Toicn. 227 
 
 New Town. He was the chief spirit in its organizaticn 
 and for his service in that instance the Methodist Protestant 
 Church in New Town owes more to him than any other 
 man. It has been said of him that he has preached more 
 funeral sermons, perlormed more marriage ceremonies 
 and baptized more persons, than any other man in this 
 section of the country, in his day. He was a good 
 preacher, had a wonderful memory and consequently had 
 always in store a plenty to say on short notice. He died 
 on his farm near New Town in 1S53. in the seventy third 
 year of his age. 
 
 L. W. Bates traveled his hrst year on this circuit, since 
 that date he has filled the best appointments in his confer- 
 ence. He has been president of the Maryland Annual 
 Conference, and president of the General Conference of the 
 Methodist Protestant Church. He has had for distin- 
 guished mental .abilities and broad culture, the degree of 
 Doctor of Divinity conferred upon him. James K. Nichols 
 is one of the best of men, he is an able preacher, has 
 been president of the Maryland Annual Conference, and 
 has received lor his great worth the degree of Doc- 
 tor of Divinity. While there are a host of others, who 
 have preached the gospel in this city and are deserving a 
 place of remembrance in this history, yet I must pass them 
 by with this remark, that they all have helped to build up 
 a strong church. 
 
 The Rev. S. A. Hoblitzell is the present pastor, and he 
 is a good preacher and a faithful worktr. He also served 
 
22 S History of Pocomoke Clty^ 
 
 this charge twenty- three years ago with Doctor James 
 K. Nichols. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Dale is an unstationed minister belonging 
 to or holding his membership with this church. He was 
 born in St. Martin's district, in Worcester County, Md., 
 on the ist day of January, 1823. ^^ ^^'^^ educated at 
 Snow Hill Academy and at Windsor Theological Insti- 
 tute, located in Baltimore County, Md., Rev. Francis 
 Waters, D.D., principal. He embraced Christianity when 
 a youth and joined the Methodist Protestant Church. 
 At the age of 20 years, he entered the traveling connection 
 in that church and continued in that relation for fifteen 
 years, when he located and has remained so to the 
 present time. Mr. Dale is a leading man in his church, 
 and in the community at large, he is chairman of the state 
 board of public shools for Worcester County, and one 
 ot the wealthiest men of Pocomoke City. In reviewing 
 the history of the Methodist Protestant Church in New 
 Town, the reader will observe, by noticing the date of 
 its organization, that this year, 1882, is the semi-centennial 
 year of its existence, and the statistics show it to be in 
 quite a flourishing condition. 
 
 In 1844, the Presbyterian Church, in New Town, was 
 built, and on tlie ist day of January, 1845, it was dedicated 
 to the worship ot Almighty God. The reader will be 
 informed that the Presbyterian organization in New Town 
 is a branch of the Pitt's Creek Presbyterian Church at 
 Beaver Dams, which was organized by the Rev. Francis 
 
Formerly New Town. 229 
 
 Makemmie as early, probably, as A. D. 1683 or 1684. 
 At this primitive church, the Presbyterians of the sur- 
 rounding country, worship in the days of yore. When 
 in the course of time the population of New Town 
 increased and the members of the Presbyterian Church 
 became more numerous in the town and in its immediate 
 vincinity, the necessity of the situation demanded a house 
 of worship in New Town, and hence the present estab- 
 lishment in 1845. The Pitt's Creek Presbyterian Church 
 at Beaver Dams and New Town is a unit in name, each 
 having their names upon the same church record. They 
 are a unit in doctrine, in church polity, and in every 
 interest that constitutes one church ; the pastor of one is 
 the pastor of the other, and they all, in common, are 
 responsible for his support. The Presbyterian Church in 
 New Town is built of the best material, and in work- 
 manlike manner. It has good proportions and is kept in 
 the neatest style. 
 
 It stands on a small elevation on a beautiful lot on 
 Market street, and presents, to the passer by a picturesque 
 appearance. Nearly all of those who aided in its erection 
 have passed away. Chief among contributors were Handy 
 Mills, David Smith, Jacob Boston, Stephen Hargis, John 
 S. Stevenson, James T. Dickinson and Thomas W. 
 Hargis. This church has been endowed with some 
 legacies- The venerable Handy Mills bequeathed to it 
 two farms, worth at that day, probably, seven or eight 
 thousand dollars, and David Smith also bequeathed to it a 
 
230 History of Pocomoke City, 
 
 valuable farm. The church in New Town and the ground 
 upon which it stands cost four thousand dollars. It has a 
 beautifully located parsonage which cost thirty-two hundred 
 dollars. The church owns a beautiful cemeter^^ on the 
 old Winter Quarter farm. The cemetery cost about eight 
 hundred dollars. The whole property of the Pres- 
 byterian Church in Pocomoke City, cost eight thou- 
 sand dollars. The membership of this church including 
 Pitt's Creek is one hundred and ten. The church 
 in Pocomoke City has a fine Sabbath School with 
 fourteen officers and teachers,, and the names of seventy 
 pupils on the school roll, and fifty in average attendance, 
 and three hundred volumes in the library. I will say as a 
 matter of justice to this school, that it lost, by removal, 
 during the year 1880, twenty-six scholars, which has 
 detracted from its average standing in numbers. The 
 running expences of the church and Sabbath School in 
 Pocomoke City annually, including pastors salary, 
 benevolent collections and incidental expenses amounts 
 to 1300 dollars. 
 
 There is an item of history connected with Pitts Creek 
 Church that will be interesting to the reader. The facts 
 are these. The orignal church was built by Francis 
 Makemmie the pioneer of Presbyterianism in this country 
 while it was yet subject to the dominion of Great Britain, 
 consequently it was among the first Presbyterian churches 
 built in this country. Again, Mrs. Holden, of Accomac Co., 
 Va., the daughter of Francis Makemmie, left a legacy 
 
Fonnerly New Toion. 231 
 
 to the church at Pitt's Creek, the interest of which is 
 annually appropriated to the support of the gospel in said 
 church. The pastors who have served this church from 
 its organization so far as I ha\'e any means of ascertaining, 
 are as follows : first, Francis Makemmie. How long Mr. 
 Makemmie was pastor of this church, I have no data upon 
 which to fix the term of his pastorate, and indeed, I have 
 no record of any pastor of this church, from the days of 
 Francis Makemmie, until the time when the Rev. Samuel 
 McMaster was its pastor. I can only say that I have had 
 dates of his pastorate from 1795 to 1801, and there the 
 record stops until 1818. It may be of interest to the 
 reader, to be informed that the Rev. Samuel McMaster 
 was the grandfather of Samuel S. and Dr. John T. B. 
 McMaster. In 1818, the Rev. S. Sanders was pastor of 
 Pitt's Creek Church. How long Mr. Sanders was in the 
 pastorate is unknown. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas B. Balch D. D. succeeded Mr. 
 Sanders in the pastorate, but dates are wanting to show 
 the time when he entered and retired from it. But 
 this much I can say of him, that the name of Dr. Balch 
 was a household word in the community. In 1831, the 
 Rev. Cornelius Mustard was pastor of the church. After 
 Mr. Mustard retired, then followed in succession, the 
 Rev's. J. J. Graff, James M. Olmstead, B. G. McPhail, 
 Elkanah Mackey, William D. Mackey, Joesph L. Polk, 
 L. P. Bowen and James Conway. Mr. Conway has but 
 recently resigned the pastorate of this church, having had 
 
232 History of Pocovioke Citij, 
 
 a call to serve another church in the state of Delaware. 
 Consequently the church is without a pastor for the time 
 being. The above list comprises the names of all the 
 ministers, so far as I have any knowledge or means of 
 ascertaining, who ha\e been pastors of the church from its 
 organization to the present time. The Presbyterian 
 Church in Pocomoke City is quite popular and 
 prosperous. 
 
Formerly New Tov:)n. 23S 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 CHURCHES (CONCLUDED.) 
 
 In 1845, November, 13th the St. Mary's Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in New Town was consecrated, by 
 Rt. Rev. WilHam Rolhnson Whittingham D. D. Bishop. 
 of Maryland. This church was built through the inde- 
 fatigable labors of the Rev. John Crosdale D. D., who« 
 from the day of its consecration to the day of his death- 
 was its rector. This is a beautiful church, particularly its. 
 inside look, and there is connected with it a fine cemetery.. 
 The Church also owns a good parsonage with a spacious; 
 lot attached. The whole property cost between seven 
 and eight thousand dollars. This church has 85 com- 
 municants and a fine Sabbath School of 65 scholars, 
 enrolled, with an average attendance of 35. It has ten 
 teachers and 150 volumes in its library. The current 
 expenses of this church, including rector's salary, benevo- 
 lent contributions, and incidental expenses amount to 815. 
 dollars. This church has a small invested fund, the 
 interest of which is appropriated to the rectors salary. 
 This is a growing, prosperous church with Rev, Francis 
 W. Hilliard, a man of erudition, for its Rector. 
 
234 History of Pocotnvke C'liij^ 
 
 As the Rev. John Crosdale, D.D., was the origin.'itor of 
 this church, it is lait doini^ justice to his memory that a 
 record of his life, in connection with his church which he 
 ser\ed e:o faithfully, should here be recorded. He was 
 born in the City of Baltimore on the i8th day of July, 
 1818 ; died in Pocomoke City March i ith, 1878. Ordained 
 in Rehoboth Church on the 4th Sunday in Advent, 1842^ 
 he thenceforth, with occasional intermissions, ministered in 
 Coventry Parish. When Pocomoke Parish was set offthere- 
 from, he becauie and continued until death its devoted 
 rector. The diocese of I'laston, established chiefly by his 
 exertions, preferred him to every post of trust and respon- 
 sibility. His brethren and children in the faith loved hin"* 
 dearly, while intcg'rity, wisdom and benevolence led all the 
 people to hold him in honor, 
 
 "Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I 
 might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which 
 I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of 
 the grace of God." 
 
 The foregoing account of him I have taken from his 
 monument in the cemetery of St. Mary's Church in 
 Pocomoke City. 
 
 In 1874, he received the honorary degree of D.D. from 
 the Washington College, Md. There are but few men 
 who for thirty-five or more years could sustain themselves 
 in ministering to one congregation, with that acceptability 
 which Dr. Crosdale did. He literally devoted his talent 
 of mind, time and means to the interest ot his church tmd 
 
Formerly New Town. 235 
 
 the cause of the poor. His history speaks in tones louder 
 than words, *'The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up." 
 Here is a record that is worthy of admiration. 
 
 The Baptist Church in New Town, now Pocomoke City, 
 was built in 1853, and was dedicated b y the Rev. J. W. 
 M Williams, D.D., of Baltimore, Md. It is situated at 
 the corner of Market and Fourth Streets in an ehVible 
 part of the town. This church is built of oood material 
 and by one of the best workmen in the country, Mr. Isaac 
 Marshall, deceased, of Somerset County, Md. It is well 
 proportioned and has the handsomest steeple upon it of 
 any church in the town. 
 
 The BaptistChurch m Pocomoke City has a membership 
 of 87 on the church roll, and has a fine S.ibbath School of 
 75 pupils enrolled and an average attendance of 50, with 
 100 volumes in the library. This school has had but two 
 superintendents from the time of its organization to the 
 present time, namely, J. C. Riley and I. H. Merrill, Mr. 
 Merrill being the present one. The church has a good 
 parsonage in the heart of the town and a cemetery but a 
 short distance in the country. The estimated value of the 
 church property including parsonage and cemetery, is 
 5600 dollars. The running expenses of this church and 
 Sabbath School, annually, including the pastor's salary, 
 benevolent collections incidental expenses, etc., amounts 
 to 610 dollars. The names of the ministers who have 
 served as pastors to this church from its organization to 
 the present time are as follows. Revs. S. C. Boston, A. G. 
 
236 History of Pocomofce City, 
 
 Harley, O. F. Flippo, James G. Council, E. M. Burns, L. 
 D. Paulling, H. J. Handy and James A. Wolf, Mr. Wolf 
 being the present pastor. These men have served the 
 church with fidelity, and have been the chief instrumen- 
 tality in building it up and giving it a name, and standing 
 for usefulness among its sister churches that reflect honor 
 upon them. 
 
 The colored Methodist Episcopal Church in New Town, 
 now Pocomoke City, was organized in 1864. It has a 
 membership of 186 including probationers. It has a good 
 Sabbath School of 115 pupils and teachers, with an 
 average attendance of 85, and 150 volumes in the library. 
 This church has a missionary chapel in connection with 
 the church, a parsonage and cemetery. The whole prop- 
 erty is estimated, in value, to be worth 1,710 dollars. 
 The running annual expenses of the church, including the 
 pastor's salary, benevolent collections, incidental expenses 
 etc., amounts to 355 dollars and 50 cents. The ministers 
 who have occupied the pastorate of this church from its 
 organization to the present time are as follows : Revs. 
 Handy Long, David Eaves, Isaac Broughton, James 
 Webb, Abraham Brown, William Phillips, Charles Wing, 
 G. M. Landon and George H. Washington, Mr. Wash- 
 ington being the present pastor. 
 
 The African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Town, 
 now Pocomoke City, was organized in 1872. It has a 
 membership of 79 including probationers, a Sabbath 
 School with 51 pupils enrolled, and 25 in average atten- 
 
Formerly New Town. 237 
 
 dance, with 66 volumes in the library. The church 
 building is a good one, and quite creditable and it, 
 together with the lot of ground on which it stands, and 
 an adjoining house are estimated in value at 1,200 dollars. 
 The pastors who haye served this church since its organi- 
 zation are as follows. Revs. George W. Jones. Charles C. 
 Reeder,John Budd, Charles Young and Thomas M. Cole, 
 Mr. Cole is the present pastor. In reviewing the history 
 of the two Colored Methodist Churches in Pocomoke 
 City, I will say they have made decided advancement 
 over their former condition in ante bellum days. When 
 I think of their intellectual and moral degradation in the 
 days of slavery, when on the large plantations in the South 
 they would sing, in their religious meetings, their degen- 
 erated ditties, such as the following : 
 
 " Oh ! where shall we go when de great day coraes, 
 
 En' de blowing o' de trumpets an' de bangin' o' de drums, 
 
 And if a poor sinner is kotched out late, 
 
 Der'll be no latch ter de go'den gate. 
 
 De song o' salvation is a mighty sweet song, 
 
 De Paradise winds dey blow fur and blow long, 
 
 An' Aberham's bosom, it is saft an' its wide. 
 
 An' right dar whar's de sinner aughter hide. 
 
 Ch ! don't be stoppin' an' a lookin'. 
 
 If you fool wid old Satin you'll get took in ; 
 
 En' you'll stand on de edge an' git shoved in. 
 
 If you don't quit stoppin' an' a lookin'." 
 
 I say, when I think of the degradation of their intellec- 
 tual and moral powers in their former condition and draw 
 
238 History of Pocomoke City^ 
 
 the comparison between that and the present, they have 
 made decided advancement intellectually, morally and 
 religiously. They have their regular pastors, their regu- 
 lar appointments, and they worship in their public 
 congregations like the white people, and they sing the 
 standard hymns of the Methodist Church. 
 
 In summing up the religious outlook of Pocomoke City, 
 I will say there are seven churches in the town ; the total 
 number of members and probationers is 705. There are 
 seven Sabbath Schools, and the number of scholars and 
 teachers aggregating 638 names on the school rolls, with 
 1,171 volumes in the libraries, and a good supply of Sab- 
 bath School papers. The total amount of church property 
 in Pocomoke City is $37,610. The running annual expenses 
 of all the churches and Sabbath Schools is something 
 over $4,300. 
 
 We have also four orders of secret societies in Poco- 
 moke City, namely, Ancient and Accepted Order of Free 
 Masons, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of 
 Hephtasophs and Ancient Order of United Workmen. 
 Some of these societies are benevolent while others are 
 both benevolent and insurance. They are composed of 
 many of the chief citizens ol the town. 
 
 It is but simple justice to say that there are gentlemen 
 living in the neighborhood of Pocomoke City, who have 
 given material aid to its business life, and whose interest 
 in it has been so great that they have helped on its suc- 
 cessful course by their influence and the use of their names. 
 
Formerly New Town. 23^ 
 
 and chief among these are Thomas W, Hargis, Samuel S. 
 McMaster and Samuel K. Dennis. 
 
 THE END. 
 
/ 
 
 
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