Philip Darnall
Encyclopedia
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.
Before his arrival in the Americas, Philip Darnall had accompanied George Calvert on an extended diplomatic mission to France. While they were in France, both men converted to the Roman Catholic faith.
Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony but, unusually for the period, religious diversity among Christians of different denominations was permitted by the Maryland Toleration Act
, passed in 1649.
, growing the cash crop
of tobacco
for export to England
.
Darnall's son, Colonel Henry Darnall
(1645–1711), was a wealthy Maryland planter, the Proprietory Agent of Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
and served as his Deputy Governor in Maryland
(1605–1675). He was a substantial landowner and slaveholder, leaving on his death around 30000 acres (121.4 km²) of land. He was also a devout Roman Catholic, and sent his sons to be educated at Jesuit schools in Europe. After the "Protestant Revolution" in Maryland, Darnall maintained a secret chapel in his home in order to celebrate the Roman Catholic Mass.
In 1741 his grand-daughter Eleanor Darnall Carroll, who had inherited a substantial tract, and her husband sold several acres to the merchant James Wardrop. About 1742 Wardrop built a house on his plot. Darnall's Chance
, as his house is known today, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. It is operated as a house museum, displaying material related particularly to Lettice Lee, an 18th-century woman who lived there about 30 years.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, 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
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...
, and soon became one of the wealthiest men in Maryland.
Early life
Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony but, unusually for the period, religious diversity among Christians of different denominations was permitted by the Maryland Toleration Act
Maryland Toleration Act
The Maryland Toleration Act, also known as the Act Concerning Religion, was a law mandating religious tolerance for trinitarian Christians. Passed on April 21, 1649 by the assembly of the Maryland colony, it was the second law requiring religious tolerance in the British North American colonies and...
, passed in 1649.
Maryland
Once in Maryland, Darnall established a plantationPlantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
, growing the cash crop
Cash crop
In agriculture, a cash crop is a crop which is grown for profit.The term is used to differentiate from subsistence crops, which are those fed to the producer's own livestock or grown as food for the producer's family...
of tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
for export to 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...
.
Darnall's son, Colonel Henry Darnall
Henry Darnall
Colonel Henry Darnall , was a wealthy Maryland Roman Catholic planter, the Proprietary Agent of Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore . 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,...
(1645–1711), was a wealthy Maryland planter, the Proprietory 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...
and served as his 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...
(1605–1675). He was a substantial landowner and slaveholder, leaving on his death around 30000 acres (121.4 km²) of land. He was also a devout Roman Catholic, and sent his sons to be educated at Jesuit schools in Europe. After the "Protestant Revolution" in Maryland, Darnall maintained a secret chapel in his home in order to celebrate the Roman Catholic Mass.
Legacy
The Darnall family owned thousands of acres, patented in 1704 by Henry Darnall. The land was passed down through the family.In 1741 his grand-daughter Eleanor Darnall Carroll, who had inherited a substantial tract, and her husband sold several acres to the merchant James Wardrop. About 1742 Wardrop built a house on his plot. Darnall's Chance
Darnall'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....
, as his house is known today, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It is operated as a house museum, displaying material related particularly to Lettice Lee, an 18th-century woman who lived there about 30 years.
External links
- Buck House, Prince George's County, Inventory No.: PG:79-28, including photo in 1996, at Maryland Historical Trust website
- M-NCPPC Inventory of Historic Sites (Prince George's County); Darnall’s Chance (Wardrop-Buck House), entry 79-019-28, p. 136
- 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
- Official Site of Darnall's Chance Museum at www.pgparks.com Retrieved February 21, 2010
- "Darnall Circle", Geocities genealogy of the Darnall family
- Darnall family at www.pbs.org Retrieved February 21, 2010
- Henry Darnall at www.poplarhillonhlk.com Retrieved February 21, 2010