William Stone

William Stone (1603-1695) was an English pioneer and an early settler in Maryland. He was governor of the colony of Maryland from 1649 to 1655.

Early life

Stone was born in Nottinghamshire, England.

Stone came to America in 1628 with a group of Puritans who settled in the Eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. Their settlement thrived, but eventually came into conflict with Virginia's established Episcopal Church.

In 1648, Stone reached an agreement with Cæcilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore to resettle the group in central Maryland.

Governor of the Maryland colony

On August 8, 1648, Lord Baltimore named Stone the Governor of his colony. He was the first Protestant Governor of what had up until then been a Catholic Colony. The Assembly sought a confirmation of their religious liberty, and in 1649, Governor Stone signed the Religious Toleration Act, which permitted liberty to all Christian denominations.

In 1649, Stone and Puritan exiles from Virginia founded the town of Providence on the north shore of the Severn River and across from what is today the Maryland state capital of Annapolis.

In 1654, after the Third English Civil War (1649-1651), Parliamentary forces assumed control of Maryland and Stone went into exile in Virginia. Per orders from Cæcilius Calvert, Stone returned the following spring at the head of a Cavalier force. But, in what is known as the "Battle of the Severn" (March 25, 1655), Stone was defeated and taken prisoner.

Stone was replaced as Governor by Josias Fendall (1628-1687). He took no further part in public affairs.

Restoration and land grant

In 1660, the monarchy in England and the proprietor's government in Maryland were restored. Charles Calvert, the then current Lord Baltimore, granted Stone as much land as he could ride around in a day. Lord Baltimore granted this as a rewared for Stone's faithful service. Stone concentrated on developing his plantaton at "Poynton Manor" in what is now Charles County, Maryland.

Legacy

Stone's great-grandson, David (1709-1733), greatly expanded the value of the estate at Poynton and returned the family to prominence. His great-great-grandsons made major contributions to the foundation of Maryland as an American state: Thomas Stone signed the Declaration of Independence, Michael Jenifer Stone represented Maryland in the First United States Congress, John Hoskins Stone was Governor of Maryland from 1794 to 1797, and William Murray Stone was the Episcopal Bishop of Baltimore.

ee also

*Proprietary Governor
*Province of Maryland
*English Interregnum
*English Civil War
*Third English Civil War
*The Protectorate
*The Restoration
*Josias Fendall
*John Hoskins Stone
*Michael J. Stone
*Thomas Stone
*William Murray Stone

References

Further reading

* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2242/is_1598_274/ai_54405265 Battle of the Severn]