QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Queen Anne’s County, Maryland: A Genealogical Overview

Situated on Maryland’s scenic Eastern Shore, Queen Anne’s County is a region defined by its rich agricultural heritage and deep connection to the Chesapeake Bay. It is home to Kent Island, the site of the first English settlement within the state’s modern borders. With a history stretching back to the earliest days of the Maryland colony, the county’s story is one of tobacco plantations, waterfront villages, and a resilient farming and maritime culture that continues to shape its character today.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Queen Anne’s County’s formation from two parent counties and its role as a “mother county” to another is essential for tracing family lines before and after its creation.

  • 1706: County Formed: Queen Anne’s County was officially established by an act of the Maryland General Assembly.
  • Parent Counties: It was created from portions of two of the oldest counties on the Eastern Shore: Talbot County to the south and Kent County to the north. Records for ancestors living in this geographic area prior to 1706 will be found in the records of those two parent counties.
  • Subsequent County Formations: Queen Anne’s County was later partitioned itself. In 1773, its eastern portion was combined with a part of Dorchester County to create Caroline County. Researchers with ancestors in the eastern part of the county must consult Caroline County records after that date.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Queen Anne, the reigning monarch of Great Britain (1702-1714) at the time of the county’s founding.
  • County Seat History: The original county seat was Queenstown. In 1782, the seat of government was moved to the more geographically central location of Centreville, which was specifically laid out for this purpose and remains the county seat today.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Prior to European contact, the land was home to Algonquin-speaking Native American groups, most notably the Matapeake people on Kent Island, who were associated with the larger Piscataway chiefdom.
  • Colonial Settlement and Economy: The first European settlement in the area was a trading post established on Kent Island in 1631 by William Claiborne of Virginia, preceding the founding of St. Mary’s City by the Calvert colonists. The broader area was settled throughout the mid-to-late 17th century, primarily by English immigrants. The colonial economy was dominated by the cultivation of tobacco on large plantations, which relied heavily on the labor of indentured servants and, increasingly over time, enslaved Africans. The county’s many waterways also supported robust fishing and shipping industries.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Queen Anne’s County.

  • Courthouse: The primary repository for local records is the Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court, located at 100 N. Commerce St., Centreville, MD 21617. The Clerk of the Court holds essential records, including land records (deeds), mortgages, and court proceedings from 1706 to the present. The Register of Wills, located in the same complex, holds probate records, including wills, estate administrations, and inventories.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Maryland did not require statewide registration of births and deaths until 1898. For records prior to this date, researchers must rely on alternative sources such as church parish registers (which record baptisms and burials), family bibles, and cemetery inscriptions.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage licenses have been required and recorded at the county level since its formation in 1706. These records are held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Early Anglican church parish registers are also a primary source for marriage information.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Maryland State Archives: Located in Annapolis, this is the central and most critical repository for all historical Maryland records. It holds original and microfilmed Queen Anne’s County land, probate, court, and church records, as well as vital records indexes for the post-1898 period.
    • Queen Anne’s County Historical Society: Located at 101 E. Main Street, Centreville, MD 21617. This society maintains a research library with family histories, historical documents, and photographs pertaining to the county.
    • Queen Anne’s County Library (Centreville Branch): This library has a “Maryland Room” dedicated to local history and genealogy resources.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Kent County, MD
    • Talbot County, MD
    • Caroline County, MD

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks