Henry Darnall
Encyclopedia
Colonel Henry Darnall was a wealthy Maryland Roman Catholic planter
, the Proprietary Agent of Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
(1605–1675). He served as Deputy Governor in Maryland
. During the Protestant Revolution of 1689, his proprietarial army was defeated by the Puritan
army of Colonel John Coode
, and he was stripped of his numerous colonial offices. Darnall maintained a secret chapel in his home in order to celebrate the Roman Catholic Mass. He died in 1711, leaving over 30000 acres (121.4 km²) of land and around 100 slaves to his son, Henry Darnall II.
, (b. 1604), who was the first member of the Darnall family to emigrate to Maryland from England
. Philip Darnall was a relative of and secretary to George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore
(1579–1632), and soon became one of the wealthiest men in Maryland. Before arrival in the Americas, however, Philip Darnall and George Calvert travelled to France
on an extended diplomatic mission, during which both men converted to the Roman Catholic faith.
, whose title was purely honorary given that he was just 5 years old at the time. Real political power in Maryland was vested in Darnall and his council.
, in part because of the apparent preferment of Catholics to official positions of power. Led by Colonel John Coode
, an army of 700 men defeated a proprietarial army led by Colonel Darnall. Darnall later wrote: "Wee being in this condition and no hope left of quieting the people thus enraged, to prevent effusion of blood, capitulated and surrendered." The victorious Coode and his Puritans set up a new government that outlawed Catholicism
, and Darnall was deprived of all his official positions.
After this "Protestant Revolution" in Maryland, Darnall maintained a secret chapel in his home in order to celebrate the Catholic Mass. In 1704 the colonial legislature passed an Act "to prevent the growth of Popery in this Province", preventing Catholics from holding political office. Full religious toleration would not be restored in Maryland until after the American Revolution
. Darnall's great-grandson Charles Carroll of Carrollton
, arguably the wealthiest Catholic in Maryland, signed the American Declaration of Independence.
Colonel Darnall married Eleanor Hatton Brooke (1642–1725), the widow of Major Thomas Brooke
, who had died in 1676. Henry and Eleanor had a daughter, Mary, who married Charles Carroll the Settler
. They had a son, Charles Carroll of Annapolis
, and a grandson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
, who was one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence.
Henry Darnall was granted 7000 acres (28.3 km²) of land in Prince George's County, Maryland
in 1703 by Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore
, which Darnall named His Lordship's Kindness
in recognition of Lord Baltimore's generosity. Darnall built a house for his family on a nearby property, known as The Woodyard
, sometime between 1683 and 1711. When he died in 1711, Darnall left over 30000 acres (121.4 km²) of land and around 100 slaves to his son Henry Darnall II.
, can be visited today. The house sits on several acres of a formerly large tract of land of thousands of acres patented in 1704 by Darnall. This plot was sold in 1741 by Darnalls' granddaughter Eleanor Darnall Carroll and her husband to James Wardrop, a merchant. He built the house ca. 1742. It was restored to its mid-eighteenth century state to reflect the life of Lettice Lee, who lived there for 30 years.
Plantations in the American South
Plantations were an important aspect of the history of the American South, particularly the antebellum .-Planter :The owner of a plantation was called a planter...
, the Proprietary Agent of Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, 1st Proprietor and 1st Proprietary Governor of Maryland, 9th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland , was an English peer who was the first proprietor of the Province of Maryland. He received the proprietorship after the death of his father, George Calvert, the...
(1605–1675). He served as Deputy Governor in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. During the Protestant Revolution of 1689, his proprietarial army was defeated by the Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
army of Colonel John Coode
John Coode (Governor of Maryland)
John Coode is best known for leading a rebellion that overthrew Maryland's colonial government in 1689...
, and he was stripped of his numerous colonial offices. Darnall maintained a secret chapel in his home in order to celebrate the Roman Catholic Mass. He died in 1711, leaving over 30000 acres (121.4 km²) of land and around 100 slaves to his son, Henry Darnall II.
Early life
Henry Darnall was the son of the lawyer Philip DarnallPhilip Darnall
Philip Darnall , was an English lawyer, and the first member of the Darnall family to emigrate to Maryland. Philip Darnall was a relative of and secretary to George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, and soon became one of the wealthiest men in Maryland....
, (b. 1604), who was the first member of the Darnall family to emigrate to Maryland from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Philip Darnall was a relative of and secretary to George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore
George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore
Sir George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, 8th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland was an English politician and colonizer. He achieved domestic political success as a Member of Parliament and later Secretary of State under King James I...
(1579–1632), and soon became one of the wealthiest men in Maryland. Before arrival in the Americas, however, Philip Darnall and George Calvert travelled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on an extended diplomatic mission, during which both men converted to the Roman Catholic faith.
Planter and politician
Henry Darnall emigrated to Maryland from England in the late 1660s or early 18th century, where he became in his own right a substantial landowner and slaveholder, inheriting extensive estates from his father. Like his father, he was a devout Roman Catholic, and he sent his sons to be educated at Jesuit schools in Europe established for English Catholics.Public offices
Politically, Colonel Darnall was strongly allied to the proprietarial interest of the Calvert family, and he soon became very wealthy, rapidly acquiring both land and political office. His colonial appointments included: Chancellor of Maryland from 1683 to 1689; His Lordship's Agent & Receiver General from 1684 to 1711; Rent Roll Keeper, 1689 to 1699; and Colonel of the Militia. Most importantly, he served as deputy governor of the colony until his overthrow in 1689. From 1684 until 1689, the Governor of Maryland was Benedict Calvert, 4th Baron BaltimoreBenedict Calvert, 4th Baron Baltimore
Benedict Leonard Calvert, 4th Baron Baltimore, 10th Proprietary Governor of Maryland was an English nobleman and politician. He was the second son of Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore by Jane Lowe. He became his father's heir upon the death of his elder brother, Cecil in 1681...
, whose title was purely honorary given that he was just 5 years old at the time. Real political power in Maryland was vested in Darnall and his council.
Protestant Revolution of 1689
In 1689, Maryland Puritans, by now a substantial majority in the colony, revolted against the proprietary governmentProprietary Governor
Proprietary Governors were individuals authorized to govern proprietary colonies. Under the proprietary system, individuals or companies were granted commercial charters by the King of England to establish colonies. These proprietors then selected the governors and other officials in the colony....
, in part because of the apparent preferment of Catholics to official positions of power. Led by Colonel John Coode
John Coode (Governor of Maryland)
John Coode is best known for leading a rebellion that overthrew Maryland's colonial government in 1689...
, an army of 700 men defeated a proprietarial army led by Colonel Darnall. Darnall later wrote: "Wee being in this condition and no hope left of quieting the people thus enraged, to prevent effusion of blood, capitulated and surrendered." The victorious Coode and his Puritans set up a new government that outlawed Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, and Darnall was deprived of all his official positions.
After this "Protestant Revolution" in Maryland, Darnall maintained a secret chapel in his home in order to celebrate the Catholic Mass. In 1704 the colonial legislature passed an Act "to prevent the growth of Popery in this Province", preventing Catholics from holding political office. Full religious toleration would not be restored in Maryland until after the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Darnall's great-grandson Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a wealthy Maryland planter and an early advocate of independence from Great Britain. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as United States Senator for Maryland...
, arguably the wealthiest Catholic in Maryland, signed the American Declaration of Independence.
Family life
Thomas Brooke, Sr.
Major Thomas Brooke, Sr., Esq. was a colonial lawyer, planter and politician of Calvert County, Maryland, where he served in the appointed positions of Burgess, High Sheriff and Chief Justice.-Early life and education:...
, who had died in 1676. Henry and Eleanor had a daughter, Mary, who married Charles Carroll the Settler
Charles Carroll the Settler
Charles Carroll , sometimes called Charles Carroll the Settler to differentiate him from his son and grandson, was a wealthy lawyer and planter in colonial Maryland...
. They had a son, Charles Carroll of Annapolis
Charles Carroll of Annapolis
Charles Carroll of Annapolis was a wealthy Maryland planter and lawyer. His father was Charles Carroll the Settler, an immigrant to Maryland who had arrived in the colony in 1689 with a commission as Attorney General, and had accumulated a vast fortune, emerging as Maryland's wealthiest citizen...
, and a grandson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a wealthy Maryland planter and an early advocate of independence from Great Britain. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as United States Senator for Maryland...
, who was one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence.
Henry Darnall was granted 7000 acres (28.3 km²) of land in Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
in 1703 by Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore
Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore
Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, 2nd Proprietor and 6th and 9th Proprietary Governor of Maryland , inherited the colony in 1675 upon the death of his father, Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. He had been his father's Deputy Governor since 1661 when he arrived in the colony at the age of 24...
, which Darnall named His Lordship's Kindness
His Lordship's Kindness
His Lordship's Kindness was built in the 1780s for Prince Georges County planter Robert Darnall near Clinton, Maryland. The five-part Georgian mansion, also known as Poplar Hill, retains a number of subsidiary buildings including a slave's hospital and a dovecote.-History:Colonel Henry Darnall was...
in recognition of Lord Baltimore's generosity. Darnall built a house for his family on a nearby property, known as The Woodyard
Woodyard Archeological Site
The Woodyard Archeological Site is an unexcavated archaeological site located in Clinton, Prince George's County, Maryland. This site was originally patented as "Darnall’s Delight" for Colonel Henry Darnall in 1683...
, sometime between 1683 and 1711. When he died in 1711, Darnall left over 30000 acres (121.4 km²) of land and around 100 slaves to his son Henry Darnall II.
Legacy
A small portion of Darnall's former property, now called Darnall's ChanceDarnall's chance
Darnall's Chance, also known as Buck House, Buck-Wardrop House, or James Wardrop House, is a historic home located at 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, in Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States....
, can be visited today. The house sits on several acres of a formerly large tract of land of thousands of acres patented in 1704 by Darnall. This plot was sold in 1741 by Darnalls' granddaughter Eleanor Darnall Carroll and her husband to James Wardrop, a merchant. He built the house ca. 1742. It was restored to its mid-eighteenth century state to reflect the life of Lettice Lee, who lived there for 30 years.
External links
- Buck House, Prince George's County, Inventory No.: PG:79-28, including photo in 1996, at Maryland Historical Trust website. Retrieved February 21, 2010
- M-NCPPC Inventory of Historic Sites (Prince George's County); Darnall’s Chance (Wardrop-Buck House), entry 79-019-28, p. 136 Retrieved February 21, 2010
- Harry Buck House, North of Main Street (14800 Governor Oden Bowie Dr, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, MD: 1 photo and 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey. Retrieved February 21, 2010
- "Darnall'as Chance House Museum:, Prince Georges County Parks, retrieved February 21, 2010
- "Darnall Circle", Geocities genealogy of the Darnall family Retrieved February 21, 2010
- "Darnall family", PBS, Retrieved February 21, 2010
- "Henry Darnall", Poplar Hill, Retrieved February 21, 2010
- "Henry Darnall", GenForum, retrieved February 21, 2010