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| Tom at a marker about the ships that brought colonists |
In this third blog about our trip to Maryland's historic first capital city "St. Mary's
City" you'll learn about the origin of the city's name, the first settlers and the first printing house in the colonies!
Before we get into the facts, behind the reconstructed settlement there's a large grassy area where there are monuments. One is a marker commemorating the 2 ships (Ark and Dove) that brought the colonists to St. Mary's City.
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| A reconstructed house in St. Mary's City |
WHO WERE THE FIRST SETTLERS? The 300 people that settled St.
Mary's City were mostly English and Irish who were Catholic and Protestant. There
were also indentured servants from England and Ireland.
IN THE STOCKS - When the colony was founded there were of course stocks where people were locked up outside for various indiscretions. Although it would have made for a picture, the stocks that are there (reconstructed of course) are not usable.
1678: FIRST PRINTING HOUSE IN SOUTHERN COLONIES
Moving to St. Mary's City in 1678, William and Dinah Nuthead
became the first printers in Maryland. Although Dinah Nuthead was illiterate, she
would often help her husband in operating the printing press. By copying the
letters and the processes of her husband, Dinah was able to continue the
printing business following her husband's death in 1695. After gaining a
license to print from the colonial government, Dinah became the first female
printer in the colony. When Dinah moved to Annapolis, Maryland in 1695, she was
able to continue their printing business in the new location.
NEXT: THE FORMER STATE HOUSE
