Quaker Neck

Kent County, Maryland

This following map is at the Kent County Historical Society, 101 Church Alley, Chestertown 410-778-3499, on a very large board, covered with shiny acetate, which made it difficult to photograph because of the glare and size. In May 2013 I took various photos of sections of the map and put it together here below. Although not very successful design-wise, it still shows important information of early settlers on Quaker Neck just south of Chestertown. No Elburn is listed, but perhaps in the future, this map will have been worthwhile photographing.

The earliest date on this map is 1659 and the latest is 1771, or right before the Revolutionary War. At least we know that the Elburn family did not own tracts of land in this area between those times. I believe the Elburn family or the Lusby family who is now married into the Elburn family lived near Tract 44, but I’m really not sure. The Elburn family did live in Langford Bay near Tract 2. If anyone knows the exact locations, please email me at Contact. Note that Arthur Miller on Tract 45 was born in 1736 in Kent Co., MD, and died there in 1773, the son of Arthur Miller and Ann Blackiston.

Photo below shows Archivist Joan Anderson at the Kent County Historical Society.

Quaker Neck Notes

· To reach Quaker Neck, go south on Cross St. from the center of Chestertown, and it runs into Quaker Neck Rd. along the Chester River, which is Hwy 289. It has several bends and finds its way down to the dead end of the peninsula or Thomson’s Point, Tract #1.

· Just after the 45-degree bend going south on S. Cross St. and on the east side is the National Guard Armory where Edward Ringgold Elburn spent most of his life, and well as his whole family. Edward was 43 years military between the Army in WWII and the Maryland Army National Guard from 1945 until he retired. Washington College has bought the building and will be revitalizing it as part of the River Walk. The Drill Floor at the Armory was dedicated as “Elburn Hall” on 3 Dec 1993 in honor of Edward. The grandparents of Edward’s daughter-in-law, Becky Lusby, once owned the horse farm across from the Armory. Her husband is Carl Elburn, Edward’s son. When Edward retired, the Governor of Maryland flew in and his helicopter landed in their field. The Armory has a cement ramp which gave Edward the idea to add a similar cement ramp on his house on Fry St. From Joan Elburn Farley, August 2013.

· Tract #38. Thomas Family who owned Thomas’s Purchase, etc. William Thomas m. Joanna Hosier on 22 Nov 1707, from the Society of Friends, Kent Co. His will in Kent County was dated 27 Nov 1738/13 Jan 1739. It mentions “Kedgerton, now Thomas’s Purchase”, “Thomas’s Discover”, “Thomas’s Landing”, also “Tilghman’s Farm” and “Mount Herron Resurveyed”. It mentions his wife Johanna and an unborn child, sons Henry and William, daughter Mary and granddaughter Johanna. A family tree found online says Henry Thomas married Rebecca Keddy. Henry’s will in Kent County was dated 27 Oct 1743/10 Dec 1743 and mentions “Thomas’s Purchase”, New York”, “Chance”, his wife Rebecca, sons Willliam, Kenry, David, and Samuel, daughter Elizabeth, brother David (unborn child?) with daughter Johanna (granddaughter above). Willliam R. Thomas is said to have married Sarah Powell on 28 Jan 1739 “outside the order”. From Joan Elburn Farley, August 2013.

If Samuel Elburn’s property was part of Tract #38, Kedgerton, Thomas’s Purchase, and Thomas’s Hill is on the Register of Historic Places K-251. Samuel was not born until 1783 and died in 1834. In a Deed of Mortgage dated 1845, a 142-acre tract was sold to Samuel Elburn in 1837. In the 1849 Chancery Papers, it refers to the mortgage foreclosure on Thomas’s Purchase, #38 on the map. Tract #38 consisting of Kedgerton, Thomas’s Purchase, and Thomas’s Hill is on the Register of Historic Places K-251. Apparently it is in the town of Pomona at Brice’s Mill on Pomona Road. From Joan Elburn Farley, August 2013.

Brice’s Mill at the intersection of Pomona Road and Quaker Neck Rd.