Marlbro, Maryland. Left Port Tobacco in company with Mr.
John Creig, a Scotch Merchant, Doctor Gustavus Richard Brown, and Captn. Knox.
Dined at Piscataway, a small town 16 miles from Port Tobacco. Our victuals
badly drest, and sour. Madeira Wine at 7/6 per Bottle. From Piscataway to
Marlbro 16 miles. Saw the quarter of a Negro man chained to a Tree for
murdering his overseer. Land in general appears barren and thinly inhabited,
some places sandy and others a sort of stiff clay, but plenty of fine Orchards,
and I observe they generally plant a Peach Orchard on the worst land. They had
a frost on the 9th. of May, which has killed a great number of Trees, the woods
for a mile together seem dead and withered.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 20
