KENT COUNTY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

History of Kent County, Maryland by Fred G. Usilton, (1916) – 266 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.01.26.0021.CD.AR

Kent County, Maryland: A Genealogical Overview

Situated on Maryland’s scenic Upper Eastern Shore, Kent County is the state’s second oldest county, rich with colonial history and maritime heritage. Bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Sassafras and Chester rivers, its landscape is defined by waterfront towns, historic plantations, and fertile farmland. Established in the earliest days of the Maryland colony, its history is a microcosm of the region’s development, from a contested trading post to a prosperous tobacco-based society and a center of 18th-century commerce and culture. For genealogists, Kent County is a foundational jurisdiction for much of the Eastern Shore.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Kent County’s early establishment and its role as a “mother county” to several others is essential for tracing family lines on the Eastern Shore.

  • 1642: County Formed: Kent County was officially established by order of Governor Leonard Calvert in 1642.
  • Parent Entity: It was created from territory known as the Isle of Kent, which was first settled by William Claiborne’s trading expedition from Virginia in 1631, predating the founding of the Maryland colony itself. Records prior to 1642 are exceptionally scarce but would be sought among the earliest colonial papers of Maryland and Virginia.
  • Subsequent County Formations: Kent County originally covered a vast portion of the Upper Eastern Shore. Its territory was later partitioned to create several other counties. Researchers with ancestors in these areas must consult Kent County’s early records:
    • Talbot County was created from Kent County in 1662.
    • Cecil County was created from parts of Kent and Baltimore counties in 1674.
    • Queen Anne’s County was created from parts of Kent and Talbot counties in 1706.
  • Name Origin: The county is named for the County of Kent in England, the home of many of the earliest settlers.
  • County Seat History: The county seat has been Chestertown since the county’s inception. As a major colonial port, it was one of the most important economic and social centers on the Eastern Shore.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Prior to European arrival, the region was inhabited by Algonquin-speaking Native American peoples, most notably the Ozinie and Tockwogh tribes, who lived in villages along the rivers and the bay.
  • Colonial Settlement and Economy: The area was the site of the first English settlement in what would become Maryland, established on Kent Island in 1631 by William Claiborne. This led to armed conflict when the Calverts established their colony in 1634. After the Calverts secured control, the county was formally established and settlement expanded. The economy was driven almost entirely by tobacco cultivation, which relied heavily on the labor of English indentured servants and, increasingly throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, enslaved Africans. Chestertown flourished as a port of entry, a customs port, and a hub for trade, shipbuilding, and genteel society.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Kent County.

  • Courthouse: The Kent County Courthouse is located at 103 N. Cross St., Chestertown, MD 21620. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the primary repository for key historical records, including land records (deeds) from 1648, court proceedings, and marriage licenses. Probate records (wills and estate administrations) are held by the Register of Wills at the same location.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration of births and deaths in Maryland did not begin until 1898. For the entire colonial period and most of the 19th century, there are no civil birth or death certificates. Researchers must rely on church records from Anglican (later Episcopal), Quaker, and Methodist parishes, along with cemetery transcriptions and family bibles.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage licenses have been required and recorded at the county level since 1777. These records are an invaluable resource and are available at the Kent County Courthouse. Microfilm copies of most pre-20th century records are also available at the Maryland State Archives.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Historical Society of Kent County: Located in Chestertown, this is a crucial resource, holding manuscript collections, family histories, photographs, and other local history materials.
    • Maryland State Archives: (Located in Annapolis) This is the central repository for all Maryland genealogy. It holds original and microfilmed county records, including land, probate, court, and marriage records, as well as church records, military records, and census data.
    • Washington College: The college’s archives in Chestertown contain significant historical collections related to the county and the Eastern Shore.
    • Kent County Public Library: The main branch in Chestertown maintains a local history and genealogy collection.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Cecil County, MD
    • Queen Anne’s County, MD
    • Kent County, DE
    • New Castle County, DE

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