"Old Winter Quarter" is mentioned in the 1883 publication The History of Pocomoke City - Formerly New Town. We published that section of the book Saturday. It references that the purchaser was Ebenezer Hearn (born 1792) who was in the tanning and currying business in New Town. The publication states:
In the course of time he purchased a tract of land called
Cowley, but more familiarly known as Old Winter Quar-
ter. This tract of land he purchased of Mr. John Stevens,
a regular descendant of Col. William Stevens, of colonial
fame. As Old Winter Quarter has been a place of
renown, the reader may be anxious to know something
more about it. It adjoins Pocomoke City; in fact, the
dwelling and principal part of the farm is within the
corporation of the town. When General Hearn pur-
chased it, it was a perfect wilderness; was interspersed
with branches, sand hills, mud and swamp, where the
yew pawns and prickly pears grew, and where it is
said, bears were numerous, and old Blue Beard lived.
These were terrible scarecrows to the boys when they
would go into Winter Quarter yew pawning. Many a farce
has been played upon strangers in getting them to dig in
the sand hills of Winter Quarter for Blue Beard's money
which, it has been said, that he buried there.
Here Mr. Hearn built his house, which yet remains a
fine one.
Anonymous said..."In the course of time he purchased a tract of land called
Cowley, but more familiarly known as Old Winter Quar-
ter. This tract of land he purchased of Mr. John Stevens,
a regular descendant of Col. William Stevens, of colonial
fame....."
Colonel William Stevens is, of course, the one person responsible for the relocation of the Reverend Francis Makemie from Scotland to the New World in 1683. Makemie is generally acknowledged to be the father of Presbyterianism in the Americas.
What is not clear is whether Colonel Stevens had any descendants at all! There are some locals who claim the good Colonel as a direct ancestor, with some evidence to back their claims. There are other local "historians" who proport to have evidence that Colonel Stevens had no children. Having been tangentially involved with this story for over five decades I can state that the jury is still out.
Colonel William Stevens, UPDATE
The Maryland State Archives states that Colonel William Stevens died December 23, 1687 WITHOUT PROGENY.
I have no doubt this refers to the correct William Stevens, born 1630 in Buckinghamshire, England and resided at Rehoboth, Pocomoke Hundred, Somerset County.
Note that at that time Rehobeth was spelled Rehoboth with an O but is now Rehobeth with an E.
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"In the course of time he purchased a tract of land called
ReplyDeleteCowley, but more familiarly known as Old Winter Quar-
ter. This tract of land he purchased of Mr. John Stevens,
a regular descendant of Col. William Stevens, of colonial
fame....."
Colonel William Stevens is, of course, the one person responsible for the relocation of the Reverend Francis Makemie from Scotland to the New World in 1683. Makemie is generally acknowledged to be the father of Presbyterianism in the Americas.
What is not clear is whether Colonel Stevens had any descendants at all! There are some locals who claim the good Colonel as a direct ancestor, with some evidence to back their claims. There are other local "historians" who proport to have evidence that Colonel Stevens had no children. Having been tangentially involved with this story for over five decades I can state that the jury is still out.