Maryland Loyalists

Maryland Loyalists

Patriot or Traitor?

1775 marked the beginning of Americas first "civil war". Not the war between the Blue & the Gray, but the war we call the American Revolution. In an ultimate bit of irony, those who wanted to break away from their lawfully constituted government were called "Patriots" while those who remained loyal in the face of overwhelming opposition were labeled "Traitors".

Among the rights for which the so-called "Patriots" fought was the right of "free speech". However, the only "free speech" was pro-revolution. Those who openly spoke in favor of the King, were jailed, or tarred and feathered; Congress confiscated their property, and they and their families were branded "Traitors"! At least one third of the population in the colonies was indifferent to the political struggle, but many rebels were determined that none would stand on the sidelines. They insisted that ALL would sign an "Oath of Association" or have their property seized. Because of this intolerance, many otherwise neutral colonists were forced to the "Tory" side, so-called for their association with the Conservative Party of England.

Many prominent families were split down the middle by this dispute. Benjamin Franklin's son, William, was the Royal Governor of Colonial New Jersey and remained loyal to the England throughout the war. In Maryland, three Dulany brothers served as officers for the King while two others served in the Continental Army.

In 1777, wealthy Eastern Shore planter James Chalmers was commissioned a Colonel in exchange for raising 300 Marylanders to form a Loyalist Battalion. Many other well-known Marylanders joined him. There were Dulanys, Addisons, a Paterson, Bowles and a Captain Philip Barton Key (whose nephew Francis Scott Key would become famous in a later war with England).

The Loyalists were perhaps the most poorly used resource that England had. Even though these men gave up their homes and property, the Crown never completely trusted them. They were given the lesser tasks of guarding baggage trains and cattle, and foraging. Ultimately, the Maryland Loyalists were sent to British West Florida to help defend the forts at Pensacola and Mobile against the Spanish.

On March 12th 1780, Fort Charlotte in Mobile was the first to fall. A year later Fort George in Pensacola was placed under siege. Finally, after two months of almost constant fighting against overwhelming odds, Major General John Campbell, surrendered the fort, the town and British West Florida to the Spanish. The surviving Marylanders were paroled to New York City to await war's end.

Having lost their homes and possessions, the Maryland Loyalists were exiled to Canada. While sailing to their new homes, their ship, HMS Martha, ran aground in the Bay of Fundy and sank. It is said that, after putting their wives and children into the small boats, the remaining Marylanders formed up into ranks on the main deck as the ship went down.