James Earle – The Maryland Branch

Wikitree Profile: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Earle-2356

Our first information regarding the Maryland Earles was received from the late Miss Clara Goldsborough Earle of Easton, Md. Later, Miss Isabel Earle of Baltimore, daughter of Dr. S. T. Earle, has assisted very materially in making out the story of this interesting branch. Miss Earle has given our manuscript a careful revision.

The founder of the Maryland family of Earles was James Earle (b. 1631 probably in Ireland), the immigrant, who with his wife Rhodah settled on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Nov. 15th, 1683.

In his will, recorded in Easton, he describes himself as “James Earle, late of Ireland,” and in the record left by his grandson he is said to have been born ‘‘about ten years before the rebellion of Ireland.” This would seem to imply his birth in ‘‘The Emerald Isle.”

But, though the family may have resided in Ireland for several generations, it was of English descent. It is well-known that some of the Earles of England migrated to Ireland at an early day. There was a London Company of Ireland as well as of Virginia, and many English families went first to Ireland and then to America. Sometimes the emigration was due to persecution on account of religious faith. Some years ago (1910) the writer had correspondence with a Rev. Edward H. Earle, Rector of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Philadelphia, Pa. A brief quotation from one of his letters will be of interest in this connection: “My branch of the Earle family, being adherents of the Roman Catholic faith, migrated from England to Ireland in order to escape the then severe penal laws against members of that faith, sometime during the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

The Maryland family claims descent from the Earles of Lincolnshire. A member of that family writes me: “We have a copy of the Coat of Arms on parchment, marked on the back ‘Michael Earle’s Arms,’ probably referring to a Michael Earle in England. The Arms are three escallop shells on a shield—Crest a Nag’s head, corresponding exactly with the arms of the family in Topsfield, Essex, and Straglethorpe, Lincolnshire.”

It seems to us much more likely that the Michael Earle just referred to was of Ireland and that he was the father of James Earle, “late of Ireland,” who named a son Michael. And it is highly probable that the family was connected with the settlement of Earles in County Wexford, Ireland, who had emigrated from Lincolnshire, England.

The Original Account of the EARLE FAMILY in Maryland.

The Maryland family of Earles are more fortunate than the other branches, in that several of the early forbears were blessed with the historical instinct and have left records that preserve the leading facts of their history. Three precious documents have been handed down in the family. The first of these is from the hand of James Earle (C 3), grandson of the founder of the line.

It has been transmitted to posterity by Richard Tilghman Earle (E 8), of the fifth generation who says: “The following history of the Earle family was copied by me, Richard Tilghman Earle of Needwood, in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, in the year 1809, from a large Bible in the possession of my uncle, James Earle (D 11), of Easton, then residing there at the advanced age of seventy-five years. He stated it to be almost entirely in the handwriting of his father, my grandfather, James Earle, and he said it was to be considered as composed by him.”

This priceless document, of the deepest interest to all members of the Maryland family.

“My grandfather, James Earle (A), was born upon the 25th of July, in the year of our Lord Christ 1631, about ten years before the rebellion of Ireland, and died in Maryland, the 24th of Sept., 1684, leaving behind him a widow, and many sons and daughters. His aforesaid widow, Rhodah Earle, afterward married and lived in Maryland till the 20th day of October, anno domini 1714, when she departed this life without any more children than she had by her former husband, James Earle.

She died about the 74th year of her age, and came into Maryland with her aforesaid husband, James Earle, the 15th November, anno domini 1683, and brought with them, thirteen children. One, their eldest son, John, was then in the country, a Captain of a ship. The aforesaid John was afterward taken by a pirate and lived in slavery some years, but was afterward murdered by a couple of villains.

Michael Earle (B 2), my father, the second son of the aforesaid James and Rhodah, married a certain Sarah Stevens on the 16th day of October 1686, which said Sarah departed this life, March the 7th, 1688, not leaving any issue behind her. The aforesaid Michael Earle, my father, afterward, viz., on the 27th day of November 1690, at Trumping Town, on Chester River, married with a certain Anne Carpenter, by whom he had four children, viz.: the eldest son was born the 27th day of November 1692, and died the same day. Their next were twins, viz.: Elizabeth and James (which said is myself meaning).

We were born on the 17th day of February 1694, being Sunday, said Elizabeth five of the clock in the afternoon, and I, the said James, about half an hour after. We both received private baptism the next day. Their fourth child was born the 26th day of December 1697, being Sunday, about sunrise, and was baptized on the 7th day of August following, by the name of Carpenter, our mother’s maiden name. The aforesaid Carpenter Earle married with a certain Mary Thomas, by whom he had one son called Joseph, and soon after said Carpenter died, viz.: the Christmas Eve, anno domini 1728, leaving behind him his aforesaid son Joseph, who is now under the care of my Uncle Joseph Earle (B 3).

“My aforesaid sister, Elizabeth Earle, married Major William Turbutt, and died in childbirth, on the 29th day of September, anno domini 1725, leaving behind her four children, Michael, her eldest son, and three daughters, viz.: Anna Maria Turbutt, Mary, and Elizabeth Turbutt. The said William and Elizabeth Turbutt married in September 1712.

“My aforesaid father and mother, Michael and Anne Earle, died on the 5th April 1709, of a violent pleurisy, which then raged violently in Queen Anne’s County in Maryland. They were both buried in the same grave at the old burying place at Sprigg’s Point, commonly called Carpenter’s Point.

“Myself, the aforesaid James Earle, the second son born of the aforesaid Michael and Anne Earle, married Mary Tilghman, the daughter of Richard Tilghman, Esq., and Anna Maria, his wife, whose maiden name was Loyd. We were married at the aforesaid Richard Tilghman’s, the 12th of October, anno domini 1721, and with the said Richard Tilghman lived till the 19th April, anno domini 1723, being a Friday, when we began housekeeping on our present dwelling plantation on Corsica Creek in Queen Anne’s County.

“Our first child, Michael Earle, was born the nineteenth day of October, anno domini 1722, and received private baptism the New

Year’s Day following, from the hands of the Rev. Christopher Wilkinson, Rector of St. Paul’s Parish. His sureties at his public baptism were Miss Anne Frisby and Miss George Robins and Edward Tilgh- man.

“Anna Maria Earle, the second-born child of us, the said James and Mary, was born the 8th of May, anno^domini 1725, being Saturday, a few minutes after the sunset, in the mansion house of her father and mother, near Corsica Creek, she received private baptism the same month she was born, from the hands of the aforesaid minister. Her sureties were her grandfather and grandmother Tilghman, Margaret Ward, her aunt, the wife of Mathew Tilghman, Esq.

“Richard Tilghman Earle, our second son and the third child was born the 18th day of July 1727, and died of pleurisy the 17th January 1728, about one o’clock of that day, being Friday. He was seized with the distemper that seven nights early in the morning, and combated with the great subduer with the symptoms of death strong on him, from eleven of the clock the Monday night before his death, in which time there happened so many changes and alterations, that his sorrowful parents had hopes and fears. He was a lovely promising child. I pray the Almighty to receive his soul. He received private baptism before his death. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

“Richard Tilghman Earle, our fourth child, and the third son was born the tenth day of February, anno doinini seventeen hundred and twenty-eight, being Sunday, about two o’clock in the afternoon, and received private baptism the same month. His sureties at his public baptism were his Grandfather and Grandmother Tilghman, and their eldest son, Richard Tilghman, Jr.

“Henrietta Maria Earle, our second daughter, the fifth child, was born the 26th day of March 1730, about eleven of the clock in the day, being Thursday. She received public baptism from the Rev. John Cox, our Rector for the time. Pier sureties were Mistress Plenrietta

Maria Robins, and Anna Maria Plemsley, her aunts, and her uncle, Wm. Tilghman.

“Joseph Earle, our fourth son and the sixth child was born the 11th day of Nov. 1732, about four o’clock in the morning, received private baptism in a few hours and died the 12th day of December, next ensuing before daybreak. I pray God to receive his soul.

“James Earle, our fifth son, and the seventh child was born on the twenty-first day of April, anno domini 1734, about 4 o’clock in the morning, being Monday, and received private baptism a few days after, by the Rev. Mr. Cox.

Jan. 10th, 1736. “Then departed this life my dear good wife Mary, lately called Mary Tilghman. She was about half gone with child and being seized a little after sunset, with a violent pain across her eyebrows, was suddenly after seized with convulsions, which she had not strength to combat with longer than about two o’clock in the morning when she made her exit. She was a prudent, affectionate wife, a careful, joyful, tender mother, a kind mistress, a good neighbor, and a religious exemplary woman, of good sense and understanding. She was born the 23rd day of August 1702, and I doubt not is mounted up to a blessed eternity.”

James Earle.

“My dear departed wife interred at my dwelling plantation on Corsica Creek, on the 18th day of January (1736), on the right hand of her two dear babies, Richard Tilghman and Joseph Earle, who died before her. It was a violent cold day, the Rev. Mr. Arthur Holt preached her funeral sermon, and his text was taken out of the 10th Chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel, the last verse thereof. There was sung by the clerk and many of the attendants of the funeral the CXXXI Psalm the new version, which with the text were chosen by her sorrowful and greatly afflicted husband,

James Earle.

“N. B. There was a great concourse of people at the funeral, not¬ withstanding the violence of the cold weather. Great sorrow and mourning appeared on every side.”

James Earle.

“My second wife and I were married at her house on Corsica Creek the 6th day of November 1738, by the Rev. Arthur Holt, when was present only the said Holt and his wife, and the Hon. Col. Tilghman. After dinner was over we all came to my dwelling plantation on Corsica Creek. Her maiden name was Crapp, the daughter of Mr. John Crapp, of Philadelphia, at which place she was born. Her mother’s maiden name was Susanna Berd, and her name when I married her was Sarah Chetham, the widow of Mr. Edward Chet- ham, late of Queen Anne’s County, deceased.

James Earle.

“May 1739. The above named James Earle departed this life of a violent illness, aged 45 years and some months. He enjoyed several public posts, in which he gained the esteem of all men by adhering strictly to Justice. He was possessed of most if not all the social virtues, and though not without his foibles, yet it is hoped they were counterbalanced by his virtues, and that he is now partaking of (in the mansion of bliss) felicity unspeakable, which that he may I fervently implore the great and tremendous God.”

Michael Earle.

This old-time record, breathing the love and joy and sorrow and piety of one of the pioneers of colonial days, is of absorbing interest to all his descendants. It gives us most of our knowledge of the first four generations. The record was continued by Judge Richard Tilghman Earle, who savs: **

“Having copied the above account of the Earle family, I am about to continue it to the present time, the year 1838. I am nearly seventy-one years of age, and have a perfect knowledge of the family since the time of my grandfather, James Earle, who died in 1739.”

Thus these two records give the main outline of the family history for more than a century and a half, from 1683 to 1840. This is quite remarkable and unique. In all the various family records we have had occasion to investigate, in England and America, we have found nothing like it.

It is desirable to take up each generation by itself in order that we may supplement these records with information from other sources, and in doing this it will be found convenient to break up the document from the pen of Judge Richard Tilghman Earle into paragraphs relating to the persons under consideration, always preserving the exact language of the author. We shall follow the order given in the genealogy and observe its system of notation.

The letters denote the generation and the numbers the individual’s place in the generation.