(Page 24) CHAPTER III
Bohemia Manor and Augustine Herman
The history of Chesapeake City would be incomplete without the story of Augustine Herman and his Maryland estate. The part he played in the annuals of this town would probably be of little consequence as the town was developed long after his passing from the stage of history. The story of Bohemia Manor, however, supplies a picturesque background for the establishment of the Bohemia Village, which later became Chesapeake City, the gateway to the Eastern Shore. But this truly is of more than local interest, and is best evidenced in the words of Rev. Charles Payson Mallery who says, "apart from the history of the world, apart from the discovery, history, and growth of our country, apart from the settlement of the territory now constituting the States of Delaware and Maryland, apart from all this, Bohemia Manor has a history all its own, a history of deep and absorbing interest, not only to the descendants of the old pioneers, but to all who have found a home within its borders, or have become familiar with its traditions and the name of those (Page 25) who in the long past made the wilderness to blossom as a rose."
In 1632, King Charles I, of England, granted to George Calvert (Lord Baltimore) a charter for the territory called Maryland in honor of Queen Mary. Before the title was finished Lord Baltimore died, so according to the laws of primogeniture, Lord Baltimore's son, Cecil Calvert, inherited the title and grant intended for his father. Cecil Calvert laid claim not only to the State of Maryland but to all the land and water east as far as the present State of New Jersey, including Delaware, then claimed and occupied by the Dutch he claimed as well.
Under these circumstances Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of Manhattan (New York) and Director-General of Holland's interest in America, got into a dispute with Lord Baltimore. He then appointed two agents to adjust, if possible, the controversy with the governor of Maryland. For this business, he appointed Augustine Herman and Resolved Waldron. These men reached Maryland by way of the Delaware River, crossed it, and then sailed down the Chesapeake Bay until they reached the Capital, which (Page 26) was at St. Mary's.
On his return, it is thought Herman came up the Bohemia River and crossed the territory of which he later became owner. He fell in love with the land and wrote to Lord Baltimore proposing to make a map of Maryland for the grant of a manor. To this proposal Lord Baltimore agreed. Herman sent the map to Lord Baltimore and he became the owner of twenty thousand (20,000) acres of the most attractive and fertile land in Cecil and New Castle Counties. "Augustine Herman called his manor, in honor of his native land, 'Bohemia Manor'."
Little is known of the early life of Augustine Herman. He was born in the city of Parague, in the kingdom of Bohemia, about the year 1621 and came to New York in 1633.
Herman was a man of good education. His profession was that of a surveyor, although he was skilled in sketching and drawing and was an adventurous and enterprising merchant.
There are various stories about the causes which made Herman surrender the comfort and convenience of his New York home for one in the wilds of Delaware and Maryland which had every discomfort and inconvenience poss- (Page 27) ible. It is known, however, that a serious disagreement existed between Herman and Stuyvesant, because Stuyvesant insisted upon having the map which Herman had drawn for Lord Baltimore. Another was over boundaries, and lastly over a love-rivalry which existed between Herman, Stuyvesant, and a charming Dutch Lady, in which Herman was the more successful suitor.
When Herman obtained possession of Bohemia Manor, he was about forty years old. His family consisted of his wife and five children. Herman selected a beautiful site on the banks of the Bohemia River, and with a view of a broad expanse of water towards the setting sun. Here he erected the manor-house, which stood for about one hundred and twenty-five years. A few bricks and the cellar outlines still remain to indicate where the building once stood. The walls of his home were adorned with beautiful and expensive portraits of himself and his family. Not far from his door was a deer-park, the outline of which can still be traced. Many noted and respected families in Cecil County have descended from Augustine Herman.
It is said that Herman, after he had moved to his manor-house, had occasion to visit New York in the in- (Page 28) terest of his property there, and he made the journey on horseback. There he found his estate in the possession of squatters, who ignored his rights and imprisoned him in a large stone warehouse, but he refused to part from his horse. During the night he remounted his horse, and spurring it into fury, forced an opening in one of the large windows, then horse and rider alighted on the ground below. They swam the Hudson River, travelled the unexplored forest, swamps, and streams of New Jersey, until they reached the banks of the Delaware River opposite the town of New Castle, where they crossed the stream and finally arrived in safety at the Manor-house.
Other misfortunes overtook Herman. In a few years after his removal to Maryland his wife died, she being the first to be buried in the graveyard which he had laid out in his vineyard on his plantation. His children had married and moved from under his roof.
Herman was now getting old and left alone decided to take a second wife. In this he made a mistake for she neglected him. Finally worn out in body and disquieted in soul, "the once wealthy and influential lord of the Manor breathed his last in 1686 (1668?), and was buried beside his first wife." At the time of his death Herman was about sixty-six years old.
A new home has been erected on his manor to take the place of the one which was burned. The corner of (Page 29) the house marks the place where Herman is buried. Hundreds visit this place every year.
Herman and his family were naturalized in 1668. He was the first foreigner naturalized in Maryland and probably the first in America. Also his map of Maryland is now in the British Museum, London, England.
The title and manor of Augustine Herman's descended to his oldest son, Ephraim George Herman, who died three years later and then his brother, Casparies Herman came into the possession of "Bohemia Manor." Here he resided for a number of years, enjoying the honors and emoluments of the third lord of Bohemia Manor, but he died at the early age of fifty years, leaving his estate to his only son, Colonel Ephraim Augustine Herman, who became a man of honors having represented the people of Maryland in Congress. Colonel Ephraim Augustine Herman was married twice. He had two daughters and one son. "This son survived his father only four years, dying in 1754, and with whose death the last male bearing the surname "Herman passed from earth."
The place where Augustine Herman built his manor house is today known as Bohemia Manor. The appearances (Page 30) of this place is no doubt very different from that of two hundred and fifty (250) years ago when he obtained his grant from Lord Baltimore. A traveler following the state road between Chesapeake City and Chestertown would pass the house as it is today. His attention would be attracted to the architecture of the building which was constructed in the far distant past. The atmosphere of the present place is also the atmosphere of the past. The house is situated upon a high hill the front overlooking a tributary of the bay, the Bohemia River. The house is painted yellow with white trimmings. Although it is not the original house its location is almost identical with that of the ancient building. When it was rebuilt the undestroyed part of the old house became the first floor of the new house. The lower part built of stone but the second floor is of wood. The windows are the long and wide old fashioned windows. The ceilings are very high and the walls thick. There are several white cabins situated around the house which were slave houses when Augustine Herman was living.
For Chesapeake City this famous Bohemian and his (Page 31) estate will always be a matter of historical interest. The history of the town looks back to the time when he came from New York and in the distant past of colonial days identified himself with the proprietary systems of government that was instituted by the father and founder of the State of Maryland--Lord Baltimore.
s/Marguerite C. Carty
CHAPTER IV BEGINS ON PAGE 32
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