St. Mary's County recreation & Parks Museum Division -St. Clement's Island Research Center

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Cecil Calvert
Maryland’s First Citizen

Michael Humphries, MA

         The charter had yet to be signed by Charles I granting promised land to the young Baron of Baltimore in the New World. Succeeding his father, George, the first Lord Baltimore, Cecil Calvert would soon become the first Proprietor of the new colony of Maryland, so named for Charles’ Catholic queen, Henrietta Maria. Mary’s Land, as the new colony was to be named, would become the American Palatinate in the New World with powers and authority rivaling those of the monarchies of Europe. Deriving his authority from the doctrine of “Divine Right of Kings” conceived by his father, James I, Charles ruled with an iron had. And ruled he did, until his continuous quarrels with Parliament over political, religious, and economic affairs eventually led to his downfall and death in 1649 at the hands of a Puritan executioner. With the signing of the Maryland Charter in June of 1633, Cecil Calvert became the instrument of his father’s plan to colonize the Chesapeake Bay area with Catholics and Protestants in search of a better world that offered religious toleration and economic opportunities regardless of religious orientation.

            Following the Reformation begun by King Henry VIII, the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) continued her father’s practices of banning Catholicism from England and plans were adopted to eliminate its continuance by banishing and imprisoning priests. Using Scandinavia as an example, Elizabeth and her advisors concluded that within twenty years the lack of a Catholic clergy would result in the disappearance of Catholicism from England. It was through the protection of the English Catholic elite that Catholicism overcame these edicts and survived although the numbers of Catholics were greatly reduced. Though professing and demonstrating their loyalty to the English state, many Catholics continued to worship in secret in fear of being imprisoned. With the loss of many of their civil rights and ways to making a living, Catholics were forced to either convert to the state religion or place ventures empowered the young Cecil with the skills necessary to continue the family’s global interests. With the failure of the colony in Newfoundland, George Calvert petitioned King Charles I for another patent to be located in a milder climate. Calvert favored a locale south of Virginia but as opposition from Jamestown trader and future Secretary of State for Virginia, Captain William Claiborne, grew the request was changed to include lands situated north of the Potomac. With granting of the Charter in 1632 following the death of George Calvert, the new Second Lord Baltimore, twenty-six year old Cecil, became the first Proprietor of the newly created Palatinate of Maryland.

            Planning to lead the expedition to the New World, Cecil Calvert was soon disillusioned over the safety of his newly formed colony. The formation of a Catholic colony outside the borders of England gave concern to the Protestants. Religious bigotry and political distrust partially brought on by the disillusioned William Claiborne threatened the survival of the colony before it was even established. Prevailing, Calvert fought these arguments and received permission to continue with his colony from the Privy Council. On Friday, November 22, 1633 the ships Ark and Dove set sail for their epic journey across the Atlantic Ocean to their destination of Mary’s Land…Maryland.

            Even with the safe arrival of the colonists the following March, the dangers to the infant colony were not reduced. Unable to accompany his young colony, Cecil Calvert remained behind engaged in an everlasting battle with his enemies who were plotting the overthrow of the young colony. On January 10, 1634 (Old Style) Cecil Calvert wrote to the Earl of Stafford:

“My ships are gone after… my adversaries had informed, by several means, some of the Lords of the council that I intended to carry Nuns over to Spain and soldiers to serve that King, which, I believe, your Lordship will laugh, as they did. I have… at last, by the help of your Lordships good friends and mine… overcome these difficulties and sent a hopeful colony into Maryland with a fair and probable expectation of good success…”

            The troubles did not end with the landing on St. Clement’s Island and the establishment of the colony at St. Mary’s City. Surrounded by Indians involved in a murderous war with neighboring nations; and located near Spanish, French and Dutch colonies as well as a hostile Virginia, the infant colony was surrounded by potential enemies who had the capability of organizing a military action against the Maryland settlers. Cecil Calvert was careful in his instructions concerning relationships with other colonies and Indians. The local people were to be treated as sovereign nations and good will was to prevail in all dealings. Trade was to be encouraged with Virginia, and the problem concerning the status of Kent Island was to be delayed for a year while negotiations with Captain William Claiborne were encouraged concerning Maryland’s title to the island. Calvert was also careful in not establishing a theocracy as was evident in Anglican Virginia and Puritan Massachusetts. Maryland would consist of Protestant and Catholics, alike, worshipping and building a colony in which religious toleration would be the touchstone of the colony. Often overlooked was Cecil Calvert’s position on relationships between the two groups. His instructions were explicit in warning the Catholics not to antagonize Protestants by openly practicing their religion. The landing on St. Clement’s Island is note worthy for two important reasons: It was the landing site of the Maryland colonists; the birthplace of Maryland, and the place of the celebration of the first Roman Catholic Mass in the English speaking colonies. That these two events occurred at the same time and at the same place without being a part of an official ceremony combining religion and state is a tribute to the farsightedness of Cecil and George Calvert. This separation of church and state functions would be the predecessor to a fundamental philosophy of American Government.

            The establishment of the Maryland colony with powerful adversaries both in the wilderness and Parliament kept Cecil Calvert in England protecting his Charter. His younger brother, Leonard, was appointed the colony’s first governor. It would be Governor Leonard Calvert that would have to fulfill the instructions of his older brother in dealing with problems on this side of the Atlantic. One of the immediate problems facing Cecil Calvert was opposition to his proprietorship from within the ranks of the Jesuits. Operating under the idea of creating manorial holdings within Maryland that would not be under the authority of the Proprietor soon led to a collision course. Cecil Calvert remained firm and the issue was settled when the Jesuits revised their missions to solely include the converting of the Indians and establishing missions and schools. A more ominous threat to the colony, however, involved an old antagonist whose cause had been embraced on both sides of the Atlantic. Captain William Claiborne claimed that his plantation on Kent Island was exempted from Calvert’s Charter for two reasons. The first was contained in the language of the Charter that entitled the Calvert’s to claim land that was hactenus inculta or note previously cultivated or as Claiborne insisted, “not settled.” The second concerned the fact that William Claiborne was an official within Virginia and was the Secretary of State for the colony. Caught up in a legal battle, Cecil Calvert was able to prevail over the claims of Claiborne.   First of all, the concept of hactenus inculta did not apply because Kent Island was never farmed. Although a settlement was located on the island, it was a trading post and not a permanent agricultural entity. In the second case, the Virginia Charter was dissolved in 1624 by King James with the lands reverting to the Crown. It is interesting to note that one of George Calvert’s appointments was to oversee the dissolution of the Virginia Charter. Once the charter was dissolved and the lands returned to the monarchy, the King Charles was then able to reassign the patent to whomever he chose. Appealing, Claiborne claimed that the coveted land was not included in Calvert’s charter. The Court of the Star Chamber in 1663 found in favor of the Calvert’s as did the Lords Commissioners in 1663.

            Leading up to the court cases, the Kent Island controversy had escalated into open warfare when on April 23, 1635, two proprietary vessels, the St. Helen and St. Margaret clashed with a vessel belonging to Claiborne, the Cockatrice at the mouth of the Pocomoke River (Potomac?) on the Chesapeake Bay. After several hours of maneuvering and firing, the Cockatrice was forced to surrender when her captain and two others fell. This clash was the first naval battle in American history. Shortly thereafter, another skirmish was fought between Calvert’s troops and the forces of William Claiborne as the proprietary attempted to force the surrender of Kent Island. An armistice was reached when the trading company of Cloberry and Company of London replaced Captain Claiborne as their employee on Kent Island with George Evelin. Claiborne retreated to Jamestown where he continued his efforts to exclude Kent Island from Calvert’s Maryland. As the relations between Parliament and King Charles escalated into open warfare, the fortunes of the Calvert colony were endangered as a colony loyal to the King. In 1644, Richard Ingle, as adherent of Parliament, was captured trading in Maryland waters without a license. Brought into St. Mary’s City for trial, the elusive Ingle soon escaped on board his ship, the Reformation. Returning the following year, Captain Ingle armed with parliamentary letters of marquee began attacking and capturing loyalist ships in Maryland waters. Soon farms were attacked and looted as Ingle spread his private war against pro-royalist Maryland. The government of Maryland including governor Leonard Calvert fled the colony and escaped into nearby Virginia. For two years, Ingle occupied St. Mary’s City attacking enemies imagined and real. Maryland officials were brought on board his ship in chains; Catholic priests such as Father Fisher and Father Andrew White were transported to England for trial as traitors in chains. Soon after, the Calvert’s wrestled control of Maryland back from the dissidents and entered upon a plan of reconciliation.

            Captain William Claiborne was not finished with the Calvert’s nor Maryland. Because of him, several of his men including Thomas Smith had been hung as pirates and traitors. His possessions had been seized, as were those of his employer, Cloberry and Company of London by Maryland authorities. During the winter of 1644, Claiborne, a member of the Council of Virginia, again landed on Kent Island with a small force. Here, he planned an invasion of St. Mary’s City to attack the royalist government of Leonard Calvert. Failing to rally support from the residents of Kent Island, Claiborne retired to Virginia. Returning to England some years later he was appointed to oversee that Maryland would adhere to the “Supreme Authority of the Commonwealth of England.” Captain Claiborne had finally won but his influence on Maryland at this point was not of vengeance and there are no records of him seeking revenge against the colony or its proprietors. Soon after, Captain William Claiborne of Kent Island died.

            With the death of Leonard Calvert in 1647, Cecil appointed William Greene to succeed him but this appointment was rescinded with the appointment of William Stone as governor. During these times, the king would be executed and a commonwealth replacing the authority of the monarchy. Maryland and Virginia would be compelled to acknowledge these changes. Not recognizing the complete authority of the commissioners (under William Claiborne) for reforming the government, Stone was replaced by a Puritan, William Fuller and his commissioners. Cecil Calvert, enraged at the surrender of his authority in Maryland, ordered William Stone to seize the capitol and return the government to the proprietary. The battle fought on the south bank of the Severn River in 1655, near Annapolis, resulted in the route of Calvert’s troops. Surprisingly, Cromwell recognized the claims of Cecil Calvert and restored the Palatinate of Maryland to him. Cecil Calvert then appointed Josias Fendall as governor in place of William Stone. A revolutionary by choice, Fendall plotted against Cecil Calvert and led a rebellion to overthrow the Calvert Charter. After the rebellion was quickly resolved and Fendall banished to nearby Virginia, Calvert then appointed his brother, Philip Calvert, as the new governor. Within a few years Cecil Calvert sent his only son, Charles as governor.

            In 1675, a tired 69 year old Cecil Calvert died leaving his only son, Philip as governor and Proprietor. Cecil had fought a long and costly battle to retain his family’s rights to the land that was Maryland. In doing so, he set precedents that would live long after his death in American history and government. His ideas of religious toleration were revolutionary for the time. He differentiated in using toleration in place of freedom. Cecil Calvert fully realized that freedom of religion was a masked threat to personal liberty. He knew that religious liberty allowed groups to worship as they chose without offering the same right to others that worshipped differently. Cecil Calvert also knew that religious toleration would enable people of differing faiths to work and live together without religious strife. In a larger sense, he also took great pains to insure that the roles of church and government was separate and distinct. By not creating a chosen religious belief Calvert was able to avoid the pitfalls of creating a theocracy which would then be contrary to his principles of religious toleration. He was the hand at the tiller in Maryland, and American history in crucial times. These times would set the course for the development of an American civilization, which included his life long concerns.