Journal of Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker, August 4, 1774

Ye new ship Chalkley, Edward Spain, master, sailed this afternoon for Bristol.

SOURCE: Henry D. Biddle, Editor, Extracts from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker from 1759 to 1807, A.D., p. 40

Journal of Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker, August 26, 1774

Reb^a Waln and her daughter Nancy, M. S., E. D., Sally, Nancy and Billy went to see the Waxworks made by Mrs Wells, opposite ye Royal White Oak.

SOURCE: Henry D. Biddle, Editor, Extracts from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker from 1759 to 1807, A.D., p. 40

Journal of Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker, September 14, 1774

H. D., E. D. and Sally went to Frankford on Horseback. H. D. on Wild-deer, Sally on ye mare, E. D. on Noble. We were overtaken by two of Owen Jones's daughters, who went with us to A. James'. We came home the Point road—10 miles.

SOURCE: Henry D. Biddle, Editor, Extracts from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker from 1759 to 1807, A.D., p. 40

Journal of Nicholas Cresswell, Wednesday, June 1, 1774

Waiting with a great deal of impatience for a passage to Alexandria. I am informed that the Land is much better the higher you go up the River. If it is not, I will not settle in this part of the Country. 

SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 19

Journal of Nicholas Cresswell, Thursday, June 2, 1774

Spent the afternoon at Colonel Harrison's. Find him a very intelligent man and seems to take a pleasure in communicating the customs and manners of his countrymen. Captn. Knox returned to Nanjemoy this evening and gave me an invitation to go with him to Annapolis, which I intend to accept.

SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 19

Journal of Nicholas Cresswell, Friday, June 3, 1774

Port Tobacco, Maryland. Hired a horse and crossed Nanjemoy Creek. Got to Port Tobacco in the evening. This is a small town situated at the head of a Creek of the same name. The County Courts are held here and a Warehouse for the inspection of Tobacco. Several Scotch Factors are settled here.

SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, pp. 19-20

Journal of Nicholas Cresswell, Saturday, June 4, 1774

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

Journal of Nicholas Cresswell, Sunday, June 5, 1774

Annapolis, Maryland. Left Marlbro early this morning. Crossed Potuxen River at Mount Pleasant Ferry. Some good Land after this River. Breakfasted at Rollin's, a Public House, but in this Country called Ordinaries, and indeed they have not their name for nothing, for they are ordinary enough. Have had either Bacon or Chickens every meal since I came into the Country. If I still continue in this way shall be grown over with Bristles or Feathers. From Rollin's to London town on South River. This is a small, pleasant place at the head of the Bay, but no great trade. Crossed the South River and on to Annapolis to Dinner, 22 Miles from Marlbro. Land very indifferent from London town to Annapolis.

SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 20

Journal of Nicholas Cresswell, Monday, June 6, 1774

This is the Capital town or rather City in the Province and the seat of the Governor, situated at the Head of Chesapeake Bay. It is not very large or populous, but regularly built and some of them good buildings. They are now building an elegant State House of Brick, which is to be covered with Copper. A place of very little trade, chiefly supported by the meeting of the Provincial Assembly. There is a great number of people collected together to get Bills of Credit out to the Provincial Loan Office. A considerable sum in Four, Three, Two, One, Two-thirds, One-third and One-Ninth of a Dollar Bills, is struck in these Bills of Credit by an Act of the Provincial Assembly. An office is opened and the money divided into Lots of 1000 Dollars each. Any person a resident in the Province may take up a Thousand Dollars, if he has an Estate in the Province of twice the Value and clear of Entail or Mortgage, which Estate he Mortgages into the Office as security for the money, which he has at 4 per cent for Ten years, and then the Bills are called into the office again. It is Death to Sell or Mortgage an Estate that is Mortgaged to this Office till the expiration of the time, and in default of paying the interest the Treasurer of the Loan Office has a right to sell the whole estate and appropriate the whole of the money to the Province's use. These Bills are a lawful tender and the greatest part of the business is done with this sort of money. Not only this Province, but every Province, and Colony on the Continent has large sums of this kind of money issued by their different Houses of Assembly. I suppose the Credit of these Bills must be indisputable, if one may be allowed to judge from the number of people that apply for them. It appears to me that there is a scarcity of Cash amongst the people of all ranks here. They Game high, Spend freely, and Dress exceedingly gay, but I observe they seldom show any money, it is all Tobacco Notes. Great number of Scotch tradesmen here, but very few English. Provisions are as dear here as in England. Mutton and Beef at 6d. per lb. A Violent pain in my Head this evening.

SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 20-2

Journal of Nicholas Cresswell, Tuesday, June 7, 1774

Piscataway, Maryland. This morning Captn. Knox and I left Annapolis. Dined at Marlbro, Lodged at Piscataway. A most violent pain in my Head attended with a high Fever, obliged to stop and rest myself at several houses on the road. Captn. Knox behaves exceedingly kind to me.

SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 22