Week One: Some History

So here it goes…first try at a blog. I am settled and have begun researching here at St. Mary’s City. Just to give you a geographic idea as to where I am located, here is a link to a map. I live in Lexington Park, which is about 20 minutes away from the research facility. Dr. Henry Miller, a product of MSU Anthropology, heads research, and has been my lead advisor on site. The facility houses in total five archaeologists. Historic St. Mary’s City is a state funded living history museum and research facility, and, it turns out, is in no way affiliated with St. Mary's College, although the college allows them to house field school students, “Historic” often takes student interns, and I get to use their library and workout facilities for free. The Museum research is focused on the first European occupation, when St. Mary’s City was founded in 1634, and was Maryland’s first capital until 1694. The archaeology has been extensive, and they have uncovered the original town center, the first Maryland brick chapel, located the jail, and most recently, a printer shop, among others. The area is rich in archaeological sites, from all time periods. Historically, the town was abandoned, and soon became tobacco fields in the 18th century. In 1840, John Brome (pronounced Broom) took over his father’s estate and built his own mansion on top of the original colonial town center, which had been previously destroyed. Along with that, he also built slave quarters, two of which were located on top of the 17th century Printer Shop. One of the slave quarters, a two-pen house, and the mansion (pictured below in its new location) are still standing. However, in 1993, they were relocated so that the 17th century elements could be excavated. During excavations, a second slave quarter, this one a single room log cabin, was uncovered. These two quarters and their buildings represent the data set with which I get to work with. The picture to the left shows the 2-pen quarter on the left, then the single cabin. The cabin was destroyed sometime between 1923, when this photo was taken, and 1938, the next photo we have was taken, and does not show the cabin. The 2-pen quarter was inhabited until the 1950s. Survey data indicates that there would have been more slave quarters in the same area, perhaps four or five more.

So far, I have read the dissertation work that has been done on the Brome family – really some of the only historical compilations on the Brome family. They purchased the land in 1774, and it stayed in family until it was sold to the State around 1980. As far as slaves are concerned, census data appears to show the enslaved population reaching 59 slaves, fifth highest in St. Mary’s County, right before the Civil War. Also, Dr. Berry, I looked at the War of 1812 data that I typed up for you last fall, and the Brome estate listed 18 slaves as being lost in the War, as did many other families from St. Mary’s County. I was wondering if I could look through your Maryland data at some point. There are no “Brome Family Papers” that have been located. Census data and a similar list for losses after the Civil War are all that has been used to really get a grasp on how many slaves were on the plantation. I wouldn't be shocked if there was more that could be discovered through Bills of Sale and other such data from surrounding plantations.

John Brome, who occupied the house from 1840-1887, was a major community figure, and was instrumental in trying to revitalize the region after the Civil War. One of the most interesting aspects of Southern Maryland is the way it recovered from the loss of slavery, in particular the complications of it being part of the Union, yet having significant Confederate leanings. It appears that they adopted many of the New South concepts of industrializing and modernizing to recover. Brome was instrumental in trying to attract industry such as railroads, and lost most of his land and wealth in the process. Needless to say, there is still no railroad to St. Mary's City.

So far, there is little to report. It looks like most of the summer will be me reading and getting accustomed to the data. I am trying to get as many of the sources as I can on my computer, since much of it I won’t be able to bring back home with me. Some things that are becoming clear, however, is the importance of researching the 19th century at this site. It has been largely overlooked in preference to the 17th century data, and yet plays a crucial role in the way in which the community in Southern Maryland has developed. I have talked with Dr. Miller about this a little, and he seems equally concerned about it. As a preservationist, he has put up many fights to try to keep the 18th century structures in tact, but the 17th century data continues to win out. Clearly, it has more weight as a tourist attraction. It has gotten me thinking about theories of historical memory, and what is being remembered and what isn't. I think that this is something I should certainly be looking into when it comes time for us to pick classes.

Anyway, if you have any comments, please post them. Hopefully this can be a forum for us to throw ideas around, and so everyone can see what everyone else is thinking.

Hope your summers are all starting off well.