History of Dorchester County, MD By Elias Jones Published 1902 473 pages, indexed - Bonus Book- History and Progress of the County of Marion, WV By Geo. A. Dunnigton, 1880 162 pages, indexed ************************************************************** Digital Book CD Requires Adobe Reader 5 or higher to View Autoboot Menu for Easy Access ************************************************************** Dorchester County is located in the U.S. state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. It is bordered by the Choptank River to the north, Talbot County to the northwest, Caroline County to the northeast, Wicomico County to the southeast, Sussex County, Delaware, to the east, and the Chesapeake Bay to the west. Native Americans called this area home long before explorers or traders from England and Spain explored these shores. Settlers from England began to claim lands in the mid 1600’s under land grants from Lord Baltimore and by 1669 Dorchester County was recognized as a County. The County was named for the Earl of Dorset, a family friend of the Calverts (the family name of Lord Baltimore). Dorchester County uses the slogan, "The Heart of Chesapeake Country," due to its geographical location and the heart-like shape of the county on a map. CONTENTS. DIVISION I. INTRODUCTORY TO THE HISTORY OF COUNTY. Early History – Chapters I to IV DIVISION II. Towns and Their Descriptions – Chapters VI to XII CHURCH HISTORY CHAPTERS XIII TO XV. OLD BURYING GROUNDS. Chapter XVI ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL HISTORY. Chapters XVII to XVIII MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY (Colonial). Chapter XIX 159 INDIAN HISTORY. Chapter XX 170 COLORED RACE IN DORCHESTER COUNTY. Chapter XXI 178 DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL LIFE IN COLONIAL DAYS. Chapter XXII 181 COUNTY FOLKLORE AND SUPERSTITIONS.Chapter XXIII 189 REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. Chapter XXIV to XXVII COUNTY PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES. Chapter XXVIII 240 WAR OF 1812-15. Chapter XXIX 247 EDUCATION—SCHOOLS. Chapter XXX 254 FEDERAL AND CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS FROM DORCHESTER COUNTY IN CIVIL WAR, 1861-65. Chapter XXXI 258 DORCHESTER COUNTY FROM ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW. Chapter XXXII 264 HISTORICAL NOTES. Chapter XXXIII 266 DIVISION III, FAMILY HISTORY, GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY. Chapter I 269 APPENDIX. 137