Rock Point, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Rock Point is an unincorporated community
located near Cobb Island at the mouth of the Wicomico River
in Charles County
, Maryland
, United States
.
Rock Point was named for the rockfish, or striped bass. At one time, Rock Point had a large hotel serving summer vacationers and winter duck hunters, a steamboat wharf and warehouse, a sizable store, an oyster shucking and packing plant, a crab steaming and picking plant, and many houses. General Billy Mitchell, a duck hunter, was a regular patron. Rock Point became a center of Confederate
activity, and was occupied by 300 Union troops throughout the American Civil War
. Columbus Lancaster, who owned the store, was arrested and put in the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C.
on suspicion of collaborating with the Confederates. Rock Hall is the ancestral home of the Lancaster family, and was originally the 490 acres (2 km²) dowry of Elizabeth Neale at her wedding to John Lancaster in 1731. As of 2009, this home has been owned by the same family since it was granted to James Neale in 1641, as part of Wolleston Manor.
"Charleston" was an 800 acres (3.2 km²) plantation, worked by 100 slaves, on Charleston Creek, north of Rock Point. The plantation was part of Wolleston Manor. Its owner in the early 19th century was Daniel Jenifer
, a minister to Austria
and a member of the United States Congress
. Henry Clay
and Daniel Webster
were among the many prominent guests whom Jenifer entertained at Wolleston Manor.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
located near Cobb Island at the mouth of the Wicomico River
Wicomico River
The Wicomico River is the name of two rivers in Maryland in the United States:*The Wicomico River , in Wicomico County, Maryland, on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay...
in Charles County
Charles County, Maryland
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 146,551. Its county seat is La Plata. This county was named for Charles Calvert , third Baron Baltimore....
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Rock Point was named for the rockfish, or striped bass. At one time, Rock Point had a large hotel serving summer vacationers and winter duck hunters, a steamboat wharf and warehouse, a sizable store, an oyster shucking and packing plant, a crab steaming and picking plant, and many houses. General Billy Mitchell, a duck hunter, was a regular patron. Rock Point became a center of Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
activity, and was occupied by 300 Union troops throughout the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Columbus Lancaster, who owned the store, was arrested and put in the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on suspicion of collaborating with the Confederates. Rock Hall is the ancestral home of the Lancaster family, and was originally the 490 acres (2 km²) dowry of Elizabeth Neale at her wedding to John Lancaster in 1731. As of 2009, this home has been owned by the same family since it was granted to James Neale in 1641, as part of Wolleston Manor.
"Charleston" was an 800 acres (3.2 km²) plantation, worked by 100 slaves, on Charleston Creek, north of Rock Point. The plantation was part of Wolleston Manor. Its owner in the early 19th century was Daniel Jenifer
Daniel Jenifer
Daniel Jenifer was an American lawyer and statesman from Charles County, Maryland. He graduated from Charlotte Hall Military Academy. He represented Maryland's 1st Congressional district in the U.S. Congress in 1831–1833 and the 7th district from 1835–1841. From 1841–1845 he served as U.S....
, a minister to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and a member of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
and Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
were among the many prominent guests whom Jenifer entertained at Wolleston Manor.