The town of Charlestown was established in 1742 by Act of the Maryland Assembly because, to quote the Act, “the encouragement of Trade and Navigation is the surest means of promoting the happiness and increasing the riches of every country . . . [and] . . . there being as yet no [town] settled at or near the head of the Chesapeake Bay . . .” The Assembly directed that “a place called Long Point on
the west side of North East River in Cecil County” be the location of the new town and that it be named Charles Town. The name was derived from Charles Calvert, 5th Lord Baron of Baltimore Absolute Lord and Proprietor of the British Provinces of Maryland. An inspector was appointed to ensure that only flour of superior quality was sold and shipped from Charlestown. Charlestown evolved as a major port and taxation center for the British colony as well as a point along the “Old Post Road” that connected the Town with larger urban areas such as Baltimore and Philadelphia. During this time (1782 - 1787) Charlestown was also the county seat for Cecil County. Charlestown is the oldest Town in Cecil County and the third oldest town in the State of Maryland. Charlestown’s most prominent history occurred during the colonial period and to just after the Revolutionary War (1742–1790). During the Revolutionary War, Charles Town was a major supply depot for the Continental Army. However, Charlestown’s early history is also significant. Many distinguished personages such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and the great American artist Charles Willson Peale frequented the Town. Washington recorded at least two occasions in which he dined and stayed in Charlestown. Other distinguished Charlestown residents included John Paca, the brother of William Paca and George Read, the father of Charles Read. Both men were signers of the Declaration of Independence. The Town’s most prominent resident, Nathaniel Ramsey, was a lawyer and 1767 graduate of Princeton University. He was married to Margaret Jane Peale, sister of Charles Willson Peale. During the Revolutionary War, Charlestown became an active participant in the conflict with Great Britain. Ramsay headed a group called the Council of Safety. This group assisted in the production of arms, ammunition, and uniforms as early as 1775. In 1776, he was commissioned as a Captain of the 5th Company of the Maryland 1st Regiment. During the 1778 Battle of Monmouth, Ramsay was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and commanded the 3rd Battalion of the Maryland Regiment. The famous “Maryland Line” was known for its bravery and heroics during the war. Ramsay was personally charged by General George Washington to hold the British attack so Washington could save the Colonial Army through a necessary retreat. The entire 3rd Battalion were either killed or captured during the battle and Ramsay spent the rest of the war as a British prisoner. Following the war, Ramsay had a distinguished public service career including a term as Maryland Congressional representative (1786-1788), United States Marshal for Maryland and as an Officer of the Port of Baltimore. Two incidents in Charlestown are recorded from the Revolutionary War. The first involved
a blockading, British warship in the Charlestown Harbor that was captured and burned. The ship’s officers and men were marched through the streets of the Town. In August, 1777, the town was bombarded as a diversionary tactic while General Sir William Howe’s troops sailed up the Elk River to effect a landing. General Howe landed his approximately 15,000 troops at the Head of Elk, subsequently marching them north and culminating in the Battle of Brandywine. During the War of 1812, the British sailed into the Charlestown harbor, which contained a small, deteriorated fort. Much of the Town’s populace fled to Foy’s Hill, leaving the Town virtually abandoned. British troops searched Charlestown and then sailed to Havre de Grace, where a larger battle occurred. Charlestown experienced a gradual decline from 1780 through 1820, which was caused by
decreased trade and shipping with the British Empire. When a severe hurricane in 1786 opened up the Locust Point Channel to Baltimore and made Havre de Grace an accessible, deep-water port, Charlestown’s prosperity began to falter. Many distinguished Charlestown residents tore down their houses and moved to Baltimore in disgust when the Town’s status as county seat was stripped away in favor of a town at the head of the Elk River - Elkton. Over the course of time, harmed by the long-term effects of the Revolutionary War, by the realignment of the Old Post Road and better roads which lessened traders’ dependence on water transportation along with the establishment of Elkton as the new Cecil County Seat in the 1780’s, Charlestown slipped into gentle obscurity. This “deep sleep” allowed for the preservation of many of the Town’s historic resources into the present time. Thus did Charlestown escape the more devastating aspects of “progress.” Its heritage is preserved in the Historic District, which includes approximately 150 buildings. Most are the historic inns and amenities that served the populace during the busy colonial period. There are several Victorian buildings, but many structures that appear to be of late 19th or 20th Century origin are of a much earlier period, their true identities obscured by alterations applied over the decades. Some of Charlestown’s colonial historic sites and structures were once inns, taverns, and
shops. As a port and mercantile Town, Charlestown did not have great and grandiose
mansions but rather smaller working buildings. These buildings were suited for a municipal
life that revolved around colonial government and services. Of architectural note, rare
gambrel roof structures still survive in Charlestown including the “Red Lyon Tavern.” Early
construction materials consisted of log, stone and brick. In addition, the Town is
surrounded by significant archeological resources that predate colonial settlements and an
abundance of sensitive natural resources.
