Lord of the Manor, Patent Holder and Local Conservator of the Peace of St. Clement's Hundred in St. Mary's County, Member of Lord Baltimore's Council, Justice of the Provincial Court, Member of the Assembly, Physician, and Planter.
Thomas Gerard, surgeon, came from a well connected Roman Catholic family that was traced back to the time of the General Survey of the Kingdom 1078. His relative, Sir Thomas Gerard, Lord Baron of Byrne, was one of those who financed Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore, proprietor of the Maryland colony. Dr. Gerard's first wife, Susanna Snow was the daughter of Justinian Snow, one of the founders of Maryland and Lord Baltimore's factor. Thomas Gerard's first visit to Maryland was in April 1638 when he arrived on the Ark and Dove. He had been chosen by the Lord Baltimore to aid in the development of the "Manor" System in Maryland and was issued one of the first manorial grants to be issued in Saint Mary's County. This was a patent for 1,030 acres which he called "Saint Clement's Manor" and which included Saint Clement's Island, the landing place of the first Maryland settlers in 1634. He sold his property in England and settled in Maryland, bringing over his family and forty servants. He continued to acquire property, and at the time of his death he owned 16,000 acres, mostly in Maryland. He practiced medicine in Maryland and Virginia. He was also very active in provincial politics. He served as juryman at Saint Mary's in May 1638, he was elected a burgess to the assembly from St Mary's in February 1639, he was commissioned by the Proprietor as "Conservator of the Peace" in March 1640, elected burgess from St Clement's Hundred in September 1640, and was appointed to the Provincial Council by a commission from Lord Baltimore in November 1643. In October 18, 1650, he obtained a patent for additional land in Virginia. In 1655, the Puritans of Maryland overthrew the Propriator's government. Lord Baltimore appointed Josiah Fendall to retake control. In March 1660, Fendall attempted to overthrow the proprietary government of Maryland and Thomas Gerard (who at this time was a commissioned member of the Provincal Council) was involved in this action which was called "Fendall's Rebellion". This was considered treason, and he was banished from Maryland. Subsequently, the Maryland Council "Desired that the Sentence of Banishmt be by the Governor pardoned and that the said Thomas GERRARD be had held and reputed as a Freeman of this Province to all Intents and pourposes Saving that he shall not at any tyme beare office within this Province, nor have voyce in Electing nor be Elected Burgess in any Assembly for the future Provided the said Gerrard make Recognizance of tenn thousand weight of tobacco, to the Lord Proprietary for his Good behaviour towards the Governmt here". (Archives of Maryland, Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1660—1661, volume 3, pp. 405-407.) After his first wife, Susanna Snow Gerrard died ca. 1666, he married again, Rose Tucker, and retreated to his property in Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he died at his estate, "Wilton." This home is still standing and I visited it years ago. It is private property. In his will he stated - "Testator desires to be buried by deceased wife Susanna".(Md Cal of Wills L 1 f 567)
During early years there was much intermarriage between families in Maryland and Virginia. Two of his daughters, Anne and Frances, married Colonel John Washington, the great-grandfather of George Washington, although they had no children by him.
Thomas Gerrard married 2nd, Rose Tucker, widow of John Tucker. When he died he was buried as he wished with his first wife, Susanna. The cemetery was washed away years ago.∼Thomas was born in Ashton In, Makerfield, Lancashire, England.
Thomas Gerard, surgeon, came from a well connected Roman Catholic family that was traced back to the time of the General Survey of the Kingdom 1078. His relative, Sir Thomas Gerard, Lord Baron of Byrne, was one of those who financed Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore, proprietor of the Maryland colony. Dr. Gerard's first wife, Susanna Snow was the daughter of Justinian Snow, one of the founders of Maryland and Lord Baltimore's factor. Thomas Gerard's first visit to Maryland was in April 1638 when he arrived on the Ark and Dove. He had been chosen by the Lord Baltimore to aid in the development of the "Manor" System in Maryland and was issued one of the first manorial grants to be issued in Saint Mary's County. This was a patent for 1,030 acres which he called "Saint Clement's Manor" and which included Saint Clement's Island, the landing place of the first Maryland settlers in 1634. He sold his property in England and settled in Maryland, bringing over his family and forty servants. He continued to acquire property, and at the time of his death he owned 16,000 acres, mostly in Maryland. He practiced medicine in Maryland and Virginia. He was also very active in provincial politics. He served as juryman at Saint Mary's in May 1638, he was elected a burgess to the assembly from St Mary's in February 1639, he was commissioned by the Proprietor as "Conservator of the Peace" in March 1640, elected burgess from St Clement's Hundred in September 1640, and was appointed to the Provincial Council by a commission from Lord Baltimore in November 1643. In October 18, 1650, he obtained a patent for additional land in Virginia. In 1655, the Puritans of Maryland overthrew the Propriator's government. Lord Baltimore appointed Josiah Fendall to retake control. In March 1660, Fendall attempted to overthrow the proprietary government of Maryland and Thomas Gerard (who at this time was a commissioned member of the Provincal Council) was involved in this action which was called "Fendall's Rebellion". This was considered treason, and he was banished from Maryland. Subsequently, the Maryland Council "Desired that the Sentence of Banishmt be by the Governor pardoned and that the said Thomas GERRARD be had held and reputed as a Freeman of this Province to all Intents and pourposes Saving that he shall not at any tyme beare office within this Province, nor have voyce in Electing nor be Elected Burgess in any Assembly for the future Provided the said Gerrard make Recognizance of tenn thousand weight of tobacco, to the Lord Proprietary for his Good behaviour towards the Governmt here". (Archives of Maryland, Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1660—1661, volume 3, pp. 405-407.) After his first wife, Susanna Snow Gerrard died ca. 1666, he married again, Rose Tucker, and retreated to his property in Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he died at his estate, "Wilton." This home is still standing and I visited it years ago. It is private property. In his will he stated - "Testator desires to be buried by deceased wife Susanna".(Md Cal of Wills L 1 f 567)
During early years there was much intermarriage between families in Maryland and Virginia. Two of his daughters, Anne and Frances, married Colonel John Washington, the great-grandfather of George Washington, although they had no children by him.
Thomas Gerrard married 2nd, Rose Tucker, widow of John Tucker. When he died he was buried as he wished with his first wife, Susanna. The cemetery was washed away years ago.∼Thomas was born in Ashton In, Makerfield, Lancashire, England.
Lord of the Manor, Patent Holder and Local Conservator of the Peace of St. Clement's Hundred in St. Mary's County, Member of Lord Baltimore's Council, Justice of the Provincial Court, Member of the Assembly, Physician, and Planter.
Thomas Gerard, surgeon, came from a well connected Roman Catholic family that was traced back to the time of the General Survey of the Kingdom 1078. His relative, Sir Thomas Gerard, Lord Baron of Byrne, was one of those who financed Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore, proprietor of the Maryland colony. Dr. Gerard's first wife, Susanna Snow was the daughter of Justinian Snow, one of the founders of Maryland and Lord Baltimore's factor. Thomas Gerard's first visit to Maryland was in April 1638 when he arrived on the Ark and Dove. He had been chosen by the Lord Baltimore to aid in the development of the "Manor" System in Maryland and was issued one of the first manorial grants to be issued in Saint Mary's County. This was a patent for 1,030 acres which he called "Saint Clement's Manor" and which included Saint Clement's Island, the landing place of the first Maryland settlers in 1634. He sold his property in England and settled in Maryland, bringing over his family and forty servants. He continued to acquire property, and at the time of his death he owned 16,000 acres, mostly in Maryland. He practiced medicine in Maryland and Virginia. He was also very active in provincial politics. He served as juryman at Saint Mary's in May 1638, he was elected a burgess to the assembly from St Mary's in February 1639, he was commissioned by the Proprietor as "Conservator of the Peace" in March 1640, elected burgess from St Clement's Hundred in September 1640, and was appointed to the Provincial Council by a commission from Lord Baltimore in November 1643. In October 18, 1650, he obtained a patent for additional land in Virginia. In 1655, the Puritans of Maryland overthrew the Propriator's government. Lord Baltimore appointed Josiah Fendall to retake control. In March 1660, Fendall attempted to overthrow the proprietary government of Maryland and Thomas Gerard (who at this time was a commissioned member of the Provincal Council) was involved in this action which was called "Fendall's Rebellion". This was considered treason, and he was banished from Maryland. Subsequently, the Maryland Council "Desired that the Sentence of Banishmt be by the Governor pardoned and that the said Thomas GERRARD be had held and reputed as a Freeman of this Province to all Intents and pourposes Saving that he shall not at any tyme beare office within this Province, nor have voyce in Electing nor be Elected Burgess in any Assembly for the future Provided the said Gerrard make Recognizance of tenn thousand weight of tobacco, to the Lord Proprietary for his Good behaviour towards the Governmt here". (Archives of Maryland, Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1660—1661, volume 3, pp. 405-407.) After his first wife, Susanna Snow Gerrard died ca. 1666, he married again, Rose Tucker, and retreated to his property in Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he died at his estate, "Wilton." This home is still standing and I visited it years ago. It is private property. In his will he stated - "Testator desires to be buried by deceased wife Susanna".(Md Cal of Wills L 1 f 567)
During early years there was much intermarriage between families in Maryland and Virginia. Two of his daughters, Anne and Frances, married Colonel John Washington, the great-grandfather of George Washington, although they had no children by him.
Thomas Gerrard married 2nd, Rose Tucker, widow of John Tucker. When he died he was buried as he wished with his first wife, Susanna. The cemetery was washed away years ago.∼Thomas was born in Ashton In, Makerfield, Lancashire, England.
Thomas Gerard, surgeon, came from a well connected Roman Catholic family that was traced back to the time of the General Survey of the Kingdom 1078. His relative, Sir Thomas Gerard, Lord Baron of Byrne, was one of those who financed Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore, proprietor of the Maryland colony. Dr. Gerard's first wife, Susanna Snow was the daughter of Justinian Snow, one of the founders of Maryland and Lord Baltimore's factor. Thomas Gerard's first visit to Maryland was in April 1638 when he arrived on the Ark and Dove. He had been chosen by the Lord Baltimore to aid in the development of the "Manor" System in Maryland and was issued one of the first manorial grants to be issued in Saint Mary's County. This was a patent for 1,030 acres which he called "Saint Clement's Manor" and which included Saint Clement's Island, the landing place of the first Maryland settlers in 1634. He sold his property in England and settled in Maryland, bringing over his family and forty servants. He continued to acquire property, and at the time of his death he owned 16,000 acres, mostly in Maryland. He practiced medicine in Maryland and Virginia. He was also very active in provincial politics. He served as juryman at Saint Mary's in May 1638, he was elected a burgess to the assembly from St Mary's in February 1639, he was commissioned by the Proprietor as "Conservator of the Peace" in March 1640, elected burgess from St Clement's Hundred in September 1640, and was appointed to the Provincial Council by a commission from Lord Baltimore in November 1643. In October 18, 1650, he obtained a patent for additional land in Virginia. In 1655, the Puritans of Maryland overthrew the Propriator's government. Lord Baltimore appointed Josiah Fendall to retake control. In March 1660, Fendall attempted to overthrow the proprietary government of Maryland and Thomas Gerard (who at this time was a commissioned member of the Provincal Council) was involved in this action which was called "Fendall's Rebellion". This was considered treason, and he was banished from Maryland. Subsequently, the Maryland Council "Desired that the Sentence of Banishmt be by the Governor pardoned and that the said Thomas GERRARD be had held and reputed as a Freeman of this Province to all Intents and pourposes Saving that he shall not at any tyme beare office within this Province, nor have voyce in Electing nor be Elected Burgess in any Assembly for the future Provided the said Gerrard make Recognizance of tenn thousand weight of tobacco, to the Lord Proprietary for his Good behaviour towards the Governmt here". (Archives of Maryland, Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1660—1661, volume 3, pp. 405-407.) After his first wife, Susanna Snow Gerrard died ca. 1666, he married again, Rose Tucker, and retreated to his property in Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he died at his estate, "Wilton." This home is still standing and I visited it years ago. It is private property. In his will he stated - "Testator desires to be buried by deceased wife Susanna".(Md Cal of Wills L 1 f 567)
During early years there was much intermarriage between families in Maryland and Virginia. Two of his daughters, Anne and Frances, married Colonel John Washington, the great-grandfather of George Washington, although they had no children by him.
Thomas Gerrard married 2nd, Rose Tucker, widow of John Tucker. When he died he was buried as he wished with his first wife, Susanna. The cemetery was washed away years ago.∼Thomas was born in Ashton In, Makerfield, Lancashire, England.
Gravesite Details
A large storm almost destroyed the home and the Gerrard graveyard gave way into the Potomac River.
Family Members
Parents
