CECIL COUNTY HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
History of Cecil County, Maryland by George Johnston, (1881) – 584 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.01.26.0018.CD.AR
Cecil County, Maryland: A Genealogical Overview
Situated at the strategic head of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland’s northeastern corner, Cecil County has long served as a vital crossroads of commerce and travel. Flanked by the Susquehanna River to the west and the Delaware border to the east, its history is shaped by its waterways, its fertile farmland, and its position between the major hubs of Philadelphia and Baltimore. From its origins as a colonial tobacco-producing region to its role as a milling and transportation center powered by the C&D Canal, the county’s story is a rich tapestry of American history.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Cecil County’s creation from two parent counties and its location at the center of a major colonial boundary dispute is essential for locating the earliest records of its inhabitants.
- 1674: County Formed: Cecil County was established by proclamation of the Governor on June 6, 1674.
- Parent Counties: It was created from the eastern portion of Baltimore County and the northern portion of Kent County. Researchers seeking records for ancestors in this area prior to 1674 must consult the records of these two parent counties.
- Boundary History: The county’s northern border was the subject of a lengthy and famous dispute between the Calvert family of Maryland and the Penn family of Pennsylvania. The conflict was not formally resolved until the completion of the Mason-Dixon Line survey in the 1760s, which established the permanent boundary. Records for some early settlers in the northern part of the county, particularly in the “Nottingham Lots” area, may be found in Chester County, Pennsylvania records.
- Name Origin: The county was named for Cecilius Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore and the first Proprietary Governor of the Province of Maryland.
- County Seat History: The first county seat was established at a location on the Sassafras River called Ordinary Point (or Old Town). In 1717, the seat was moved to Courthouse Point on the Elk River. Finally, in 1787, the county seat was permanently moved to its current location in Elkton.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: Prior to European arrival, the area was inhabited by the Susquehannock people, an Iroquoian-speaking tribe who controlled the lower Susquehanna River valley and the lands around the head of the bay.
- Colonial Settlement and Economy: English settlement began in the mid-17th century, with land grants issued for tobacco plantations. The area also attracted Quaker settlers, particularly in the northern Nottingham Lots area established by William Penn in 1701. The economy was initially dominated by tobacco but shifted towards wheat and corn farming in the 18th century. The county’s many creeks and rivers powered numerous grist mills, and towns like Port Deposit and Charlestown became important shipping centers. The opening of the Chesapeake and Delaware (C&D) Canal in 1829 cemented the county’s role as a key transportation corridor.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Cecil County.
- Courthouse: The Cecil County Circuit Court Clerk, located at 129 E. Main Street, Elkton, MD 21921, is the primary repository for county records. It holds land records (deeds), civil and criminal court cases, and marriage licenses from 1777. The Register of Wills, located in the same courthouse, holds probate records (wills and estates) dating from the county’s formation.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Official county-level registration of births and deaths was not required in Maryland until 1898, and compliance was inconsistent for several years. For records after this date, contact the Cecil County Health Department or the Maryland State Archives. For events prior to 1898, researchers must rely on church records, cemetery inscriptions, and family Bibles.
- Marriage Records: Marriage licenses have been issued by the Circuit Court Clerk since 1777. For marriages prior to this date, church records are the primary source. Cecil County was also famously known as an “elopement capital,” so its marriage registers contain entries for couples from across the mid-Atlantic region.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Historical Society of Cecil County: Located at 135 E. Main Street, Elkton, MD 21921. This is the most crucial resource for local family research, holding extensive collections of manuscripts, family files, photographs, maps, church records, and a local history library.
- Cecil County Public Library: The main branch in Elkton maintains a Maryland Room with a strong collection of local history and genealogy materials.
- Maryland State Archives: Located in Annapolis, this is the central repository for all of Maryland’s historical public records. It holds microfilm copies of Cecil County’s land, probate, court, and vital records, often in more accessible formats than the originals.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Harford County, MD
- Kent County, MD
- New Castle County, DE
- Chester County, PA
- Lancaster County, PA