Stories in Stone
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 As we near July 4th, 2026, marking a very important date in the 250 years of our country, I am reminded of the important “Patriots of 1776” that tread the land that is Frederick County. In particular, I think of three gentlemen with unique connections to the southern part of our county, but more importantly, Carrollton Manor, and the Potomac River. The first is Charles Carroll of Carrollton (b. 1737), the last surviving and longest-lived Maryland signer of the Declaration of Independence. He would die in 1832 at age 95, some 56 years after that legendary day in Philadelphia. This “Founding Father” was known contemporaneously as the "First Citizen" of the American colonies, a consequence of signing newspaper articles in the Maryland Gazette with that pen name. Carroll served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, the Confederation Congress, and later served as the first United States Senator for Maryland. Of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Carroll was one of the wealthiest and most formally educated. Best of all, for local history purposes, he took his title “of Carrollton” from our very own Carrollton Manor in an effort to differentiate himself from his father and grandfather, also named Charles Carroll. His grandfather, Charles Carroll the Settler (1660-1720) purchased land in the western reaches of the colony from the Tuscarora Indians in 1719.
Four years later, this property would become the second survey of record in the confines of today’s Frederick County. Named Carrollton Manor, the survey consisted of a 17,000 acre tract, extending from the Potomac River on the south, Catoctin Mountain to the west, the Monocacy River to the east, and Ballenger Creek to the north. In time, it would consist of tenant farms, grand plantations and the villages and towns of Lime Kiln, Buckeystown, Adamstown, Doubs, Licksville, Tuscarora, and Point of Rocks. Charles Carroll of Carrollton never lived permanently in Frederick County, choosing domicile in Annapolis and later, his father's estate of Doughoregan Manor in Howard County near Ellicott City. That said, although we may not have a Frederick County resident’s name on the Declaration of Independence, we do have a Frederick County place location name (of Carrollton) on one our country’s most famous documents.   Charles Carroll of Carrollton's signature on the Declaration of Independence Carroll would go on to do great things for our state and country by being a leading proponent for the National Road, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Each transformed Frederick County as well, especially lower Carrollton Manor at the Potomac. Another man that all Frederick Countians, Marylanders and Americans should remember on July 4th, 2026 is our country’s most famous citizen, political leader and military leader. As Charles Carrollton of Carrollton was known as “First Citizen,” this Virginian was our first major figure to hold power positions in national government and military leadership. I’m, of course, talking about George Washington. George Washington was born on February 22nd, 1732, at Wakefield, a tobacco plantation on Pope’s Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Today, this site is preserved as the George Washington Birthplace National Monument, which is located approximately 38 miles east of Fredericksburg, Virginia and adjacent the south shore of the Potomac.
George Washington's life was deeply intertwined with the Potomac River. He spent much of his life at Mount Vernon, his riverside estate, and actively championed the river as an economic lifeline. He surveyed much of the land of the Potomac basin in earlier years and later founded the Patowmack Company to build canals and bypass the treacherous Great Falls. An anchor in the ever-changing context of the Potomac is George Washington's vision of the river as "the great avenue into the Western Country." This was the seed that eventually grew into the canal that Charles Carroll of Carrollton would help make a reality. Washington himself owned about 12,000 acres of land along the Potomac in scattered locations. His work as surveyor brought him through our environs dating back to the early 1750s. In fact, in 1755, he came to Frederick to meet up with Gen. Edward Braddock for his ill-fated attack on the French at Fort Duquesne, part of the French and Indian War.
 Gen. Anthony Wayne How does George Washington connect to Carrollton Manor? Well, it is known that George Washington made several trips to and through Frederick County. An early main road north to Philadelphia from southern colonies came through Carrollton Manor with a popular water crossing of the Potomac at Noland’s Ferry. Noland's Ferry began operating in the mid-1700s and carried travelers, their wagons, carriages and livestock across the Potomac River to Loudoun County, Virginia and the Carolina Road. During the American Revolutionary War, it was used by the U. S. Army and in particular, Gen. “Mad Anthony” Wayne as he led soldiers to victory at Yorktown in 1781. A new marker was dedicated here in late May (2026) and reads: “Anthony Wayne’s Potomac Crossing on May 31, 1781, Gen. Anthony Wayne and around 1,100 Pennsylvania Continental troops, crossed the Potomac River at Noland’s Ferry, losing 4 men to drowning, on their way to reinforce the Marquis de Lafayette in Virginia. They met Lafayette’s troops south of the Rapidan river near Charlottesville on June 10th. Facing Lafayette’s and Wayne’s combined forces, British General Charles Cornwallis withdrew to Yorktown. He surrendered October 19th.” 
 a ferry of the 18th century like that at Noland's Ferry The ferry would remain in operation until the early 1900s. Philip Noland was the first Noland to run the ferry and his wife was the daughter of Francis Awbrey who was granted a license for a ferry in 1738 which ran near the Noland Ferry crossing site. Among the ferry’s early customers were George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson noted that he went via Noland's Ferry in July 1802 on the way from Washington to Monticello. I found some unsubstantiated claims that he actually crossed here going to, and from, the legendary Continental Congress session of summer 1776.
Washington wrote in his diary that he ate at "Knowlands Ferry" on August 9th, 1785. Those who have traveled Maryland Route 28 through the hamlet of Tuscarora, near the intersection with Maryland Route 85 may have noticed the old cast iron highway marker that calls out this fact. The Dutchman’s was a tavern, but I could not discern the actual name of the operator. I assume he was of German heritage.   As countless books and articles have been written on Washington and Carrollton, a third man in my thoughts ties all three men together through the spirit of ’76, the Potomac River and Carrollton Manor. His name is Roger Nelson and he is buried here in Frederick’s Mount Olivet Cemetery. I talked about him as part of a class I recently taught on Frederick and the American Revolution, and a biography on him is included in a new book written by Dorothy “Dottie” Olson entitled Frederick’s Other City: Revolutionary Patriots of Mount Olivet Cemetery.
In her work, Ms. Olson writes, “Roger Nelson’s life was shaped by war, sacrifice, and service to his country in its earliest and most uncertain years. Born around 1759 at Point of Rocks, Maryland, to Arthur and Lucy Waters Nelson, he received his education at the College of William and Mary, a path that would one day lead him into law, politics, and public life. Before any of that, however, he became a soldier (in the American Revolution).”  Brigadier General Roger Nelson (1759-1815) Before we get into Roger Nelson’s military service, let’s talk about this gentleman’s pedigree. Nelson’s great-grandfather was a man named Arthur Nelson (1666-1754), the first settler to have land surveyed for his own home residence in present-day Frederick County. Many regard him as Frederick’s earliest formal European permanent resident. Nelson located in the area along the Potomac River known subsequently as Point of Rocks, Rock Hall and the route of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. Over the previous 25 years, this vicinity was the home of the Piscataway (Conoy) Indian tribe (1699-1713) and the Tuscarora Tribe (1714-1724). Grace Tracey’s Pioneers of the Old Monocacy states: “The Nelsons came from England about 1694, and in 1718 owned land which is now part of Washington, DC. On February 18th, 1724 Arthur Nelson had surveyed “Nelson’s Island,” then known as Conoy Island. This is now called Heater’s Island, the largest of several islands in the Potomac. A year later, on March 2nd, 1725, he had “Hobson’s Choice” surveyed on the land to the northeast of said Nelson’s Island, and here he lived with his wife Valentine (Delashmutt) and sons Arthur, Jr. and John, Sr.” It appears that John Nelson, Sr. (1694-c.1750) mentioned here was the grandfather of Gen. Roger Nelson and would take over the family holdings. In time, John's son named Arthur Nelson (1721-1792) would hold ownership of the family properties here. This was Gen. Roger Nelson's father.  Illustration of early Nelson lands from Pioneers of Old Monocacy Back to the original Arthur Nelson, his father was John Nelson, a native of Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire, England who emigrated to North Carolina. I also learned that in 1728, the early immigrant Arthur Nelson added “Broken Island” to his collection of property here in the lower Monocacy Valley. This is today’s Noland’s Island, on which the forementioned ferry would be conducted in the vicinity originally known as Nelson’s Ferry. The family farmed here with a primary early crop being that of tobacco. Suffice it to say, Arthur Nelson, John Nelson, Sr. and Arthur Nelson could have met, or known, George Washington in the latter's younger days.  1808 Map of Charles Varle showing Roger Nelson's name as "R. Nelson" owning the homestead of the Nelson family above Mason Island and west of Tuscarora Creek. Here, current day Heater's Island is labeled Delashmutt's Island and Point of Rocks is named Trammelsburg. I found two other interesting passages pertaining to the later Arthur Nelson, father of Gen. Roger Nelson. Author William Jarboe Grove wrote of Mr. Nelson in his 1923 History of Carrollton Manor: "Mr. Nelson must have been a man of considerable influence and standing, and we find quite a number of other grants to him, among them are the following: ‘By virtue of a warrant granted of his Lordships-Land Office of this province to Arthur Nelson of the aforesaid County [Frederick] for thirty acres of land bearing date of 22nd of September 1761. I therefore, certify as Deputy Surveyor under his Horatio Sharp Esq., Governor of Maryland that I carefully, laid out for and in the name of him the said Arthur Nelson all that tract of land called "The Point of Rocks," lying in the aforesaid County." I also find that Arthur Nelson on the 13th day of October 1752 was given a grant for "Huckelberry Hill" containing 366 acres. On the 2nd of March 1753, was granted "Bayberry Tree," containing 6 and 1/4 acres. On 22nd of Sept. 1775 was granted the "Orchard Tree" containing 15 acres.'"  Aerial view of Point of Rocks and vicinity looking south towards the Potomac and Loudoun County. Note Heater's Island and the US 15 Bridge to the immediate right of the island. Also note the geologic formation known as a "water gap" as the Potomac cuts through Catoctin Mountain. I spent some time trying to find the exact location of the Nelson home of Rock Hall using the internet for searches along with current day maps. Of course, Rock Hall Road remains today and leads back to Camp Kanawha, a private social club with cabins and a shooting range. This is also home to a former quarry of calico rock, also known as Potomac Marble. The best I can say is that the Nelson home was likely east of the camp on a continuation of Rock Hall Road that does not exist anymore. This would lead to a vicinity south or southeast of Rocky Point Farm. Rocky Point Farm is due south of the Rocky Point Creamery which fronts Route 28.  Top left shows Rock Hall Road as it leads through the old quarry and reaches Camp Kanawha and its shooting range clearing. Part of a barn associated with Rocky Point Farm can be seen to the northeast of the end of Rock Hall Road. If the Nelson home was above Mason Island (pictured bottom center) then it is believed the home would have been in the location of one of the cleared fields north of the railroad and towpath below. William Jarboe Grove also included some reminisces from Charles H. Stunkle (1847-1931), a former resident of Point of Rocks and expert on the history of Carrollton Manor, who said of Arthur Nelson: “he was one of the very earliest settlers and owned all the Island and rich bottom land along the Potomac, had this land cleared of timber and under cultivation long before any of the timber had been cut off the Carrollton Manor tract. Mr. Nelson was a slave holder, gave close attention to his farms while he grew tobacco, corn and wheat, he made a specialty of growing hemp which was used for making cloth and ropes for sailing vessels and was in great demand for Foreign shipment. Mr. Nelson had a wharf of his own located about a mile east of Point of Rocks where he loaded on rafts and gondola's, hemp, tobacco, wool and other produce as well as lumber; small boats would ply up and down the river during all seasons of the year, but the larger rafts and gondolas were held back until a rain would raise the water. These loaded boats would come down the Shenandoah and Potomac River for many miles. Boats were floated down the river and tied up to Sycamore trees along the banks and Islands which were protected by stone thrown out in the river changing the current and making eddy water. These were called boat harbours. The boats were released when the water was high enough to carry them to Alexandria. They had a runaway built around the Great Falls of the Potomac on the Virginia side for boats to pass through, rafts and boats were built at Point of Rocks."   Canoeing down the Potomac between Point of Rocks and Heaters Island Mr. Stunkle speaking of the road that passed by his father Frederick Stunkle's, to Trammelstown, that “Arthur Nelson had a road built running up the river through his land where the Canal now stands. This was a much used road, flour was hauled across the river at the Ford on Nelson's Island to Leesburg from Davis Mill at Greenfield and wheat was brought back. Oxen at that time did a large part of the hauling as the roads were built through marshes and soft ground the oxen carried a good part of the load on their necks, the ox carts only had two wheels, they could be gotten over bad places in the road easier than four wheeled wagons. Mr. Stunkle said that Grafton Crist who died the past year in Howard County at the age of 93 told him that he hauled flour over this road from Davis Mill to Leesburg and a load of wheat back that his father, Nathan Crist, often spoke of Arthur Nelson as Judge Nelson and his being a man of affairs, his rich islands and bottom land along the Potomac where he raised so much hemp, his rafts and canoes would go up and down the Potomac taking tobacco, corn, wheat, hemp and hides down and bringing in return sugar, salt, coffee, tea, molasses and general merchandise.  Possible burial site of Roger Nelson's father, Arthur Nelson, near New London in eastern Frederick County above New Market. An entry on FindaGrave.com says "Years ago we believe around the 1960's this family cemetery was located on the Nettie Jones Farm, off Central Church Road, was said to have been on a slope behind the barn at that time, which we have not been able to locate." Aside from life as a gentleman farmer, Roger Nelson’s father, Arthur Nelson, Jr. (1721-1792), served as clerk in his brother-in-law Elias Delashmutt, Sr’s military company during the French & Indian War. Arthur married Lucy Waters in 1751, and they had four children including Roger. Arthur Nelson was a planter and landowner, holding in Frederick County alone some 794 acres in 1773. He was active in many businesses in the Point of Rocks area. In the census of 1790 his household is described as consisting of himself, one male under age 16, two females, and fourteen slaves. Although too old to serve in a military capacity in the Revolution, Arthur Nelson, Jr. was among those appointed to receive donations for the cause and in 1782 was reimbursed for expenses to the amount of ten pounds ten shillings. One source claimed that he was a member of Frederick County's Committee of Observation. Arthur Nelson, Jr's son Roger graduated from William and Mary in 1775. In 1776, he volunteered for military duty in a dragoon/horse unit with the 6th Maryland Regiment during the Revolutionary War and quickly proved himself on the field. Years later, Roger Nelson fought in the defense of Charleston, South Carolina under Col. William Augustine Washington (1757-1810), sixth son of George Washington’s older half-brother Augustine. He later saw action in two other major battles in the southern theater at Camden and Eutaw Springs, both in South Carolina.  Battle of Eutaw Springs, September 8th, 1781 Dottie Olson goes on to say, “During the siege of Charleston, he was severely wounded and left among the fallen, later taken prisoner by British forces. His survival and subsequent exchange speak to both his endurance and the ferocity of the fighting he witnessed.  Battle of Charleston (SC) May 11-12, 1779 After his release, Nelson was recommended for a commission and, on July 15th, 1780 was appointed Lieutenant, serving under Col. William Augustine Washington. He later assisted in recruitment and remained in service until the end of the war, standing among those present at Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered.”  Cornwallis' formal surrender at Yorktown on October 19th, 1781 I wonder if Roger Nelson had the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with Gen. Wayne who had recently passed with his soldiers so close to the Nelson homestead when crossing the Potomac? Regardless, Nelson’s Revolutionary record, marked by front-line action and personal injury, earned him enduring recognition. In later years, he was granted Bounty Land under President Thomas Jefferson, and his widow successfully applied for a pension in acknowledgment of his service. Both the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution formally recognize him as a Patriot.
Dottie Olson continued her story of the Revolutionary War veteran after the war: “Roger Nelson came home to Frederick and read law, beginning a new chapter in public duty. He served in the United States Congress from 1804 to 1810, then represented his district in the Maryland legislature from 1810 to 1815. In his later career, he accepted appointment as a judge of Maryland’s Sixth Judicial District, carrying forward his commitment to public life in the courts as he once had on the battlefield. In 1793, he was promoted to Brigadier General in the Maryland Militia, a rank he held for the rest of his life. Roger Nelson married twice. His first wife, Mary Brooke Sim, daughter of Colonel Joseph Sim and Katharine Murdock, became his bride on 26 February 1788. Their children were Catherine Murdoch, Lawrence, John, and Arthur. Mary died in 1794. On 2 February 1797, he married Elizabeth “Eliza” Harrison, with whom he had four more children: Frederick, Madison, Sarah Maulsby, and Emily Catherine Maulsby. Eliza lived many decades longer, dying in 1855.” Nelson died on June 7th, 1815 and was buried in the All Saints Protestant Episcopal Cemetery in Frederick. This was located on the south side of Carroll Creek, across from today’s C. Burr Artz Library Downtown branch. This is where the amphitheater is located and where the Alive at Five concert events take place.  In 1913, the church conducted a mass removal project, relocating decedents of the old burial ground to Mount Olivet Cemetery. Along with other Revolutionary Patriots buried there including Gov. Thomas Johnson, Jr., Joshua Johnson and Dr. Philip Thomas of whom I have written “Stories in Stone” about in the past, Gen. Roger Nelson’s remains were reinterred to Area MM, Lot 40, in November 1913 when the older graveyard was cleared. His gravesite sits roughly five yards directly behind the grave of Thomas Johnson, a brigadier general during the Revolution. As many know, Johnson was a member of Continental Congress and voted in favor of Independence, but did not sign the Declaration of Independence because he was here in Maryland raising troops and armaments for the war effort, along with preparing a constitution for Maryland to become a state. He is best known locally for being the namesake of a high school and middle school, along with Frederick's central "medical autobahn" with Thomas Johnson Drive.  Getting back to our subject, Roger Nelson, his ledger-style gravestone is still legible over his second gravesite, and this is where his second wife Eliza Harrison is buried as well, dying in 1855. Nelson's first wife’s marker (Mary Brooke Sim), once transcribed by Gaius Brumbaugh, apparently did not make the move to Mount Olivet from All Saints Burying Ground and is no longer present. Recently, our Friends of Mount Olivet gave Gen. Nelson's marker a good cleaning.  A transcription published during the cemetery removal of 1913 preserves the words carved into his stone, capturing how contemporaries viewed him: “He lived more for his country than for himself... He carried the scars of sixteen wounds from the Revolution... He served in Congress, in Maryland’s legislature, and later on the bench.” A few more notes on Gen. Roger Nelson regard his children and patriotic service. Son, John Nelson (1791-1860), had quite a successful political career after following his father’s footsteps by attending William and Mary College and studying law.  John Nelson (1791-1860), son of Gen. Roger Nelson John Nelson began his law practice in Frederick in 1813. He eventually served as the Attorney General of the United States from 1843 to 1845 under President John Tyler. He served as the first United States Chargé d'Affaires to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from 1831 to 1832 and as the U.S. representative for Maryland's 4th district from 1821 to 1823.  John Nelson built this home and resided near the Court Square area of downtown Frederick, located at 114 W. Church Street. Niece Betty Ritchie and husband John would obtain the house when John Nelson relocated to Baltimore. After the end of the Tyler administration, Nelson retired from public life and returned to Baltimore. Nelson died in Baltimore on January 8th, 1860. He is buried in Green Mount Cemetery.  Gravestone of John Nelson in Baltimore's Green Mount Cemetery One of Gen. Roger Nelson’s daughters was Emily Catherine Contee (Nelson) Maulsby (1815-1867). She was a one-time owner of Prospect Hall. Her husband, William Maulsby, was a prominent local lawyer who served in the Union Army as Colonel, 1st Maryland Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade (Militia) in the US Civil War. He was also commander of the Brigade, though it never served as a consolidated unit. He defended Maryland Heights in September 1862 during the Maryland Campaign.  Mount Olivet grave of Gen. Nelson's daughter, Emily Contee (Nelson) Maulsby in Area G/lot 191
The Maulsbys had a daughter named Betty Harrison (Maulsby) Ritchie (1839-1898) who is responsible for starting the Frederick Chapter of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. This occurred in late September of 1892. Betty’s daughter, Emily Nelson (Ritchie) McLean (1859-1916), was a charter member of the New York City Chapter of the NSDAR, and would go on to serve in the organization’s highest leadership position. Mrs. McLean was President General, NSDAR from 1905-1909.  Gen. Nelson's great-granddaughter Emily Nelson (Ritchie) McLean at a speaking engagement in which she shared the stage with humorist Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) The patriotic reach of Gen. Roger Nelson’s influence on his compatriots during the Revolution, fellow Americans throughout his life, and his personal descendants still affects us today. This is clearly evident by the great work done by both our NSDAR Frederick Chapter and our Carrollton Manor Chapter. Mount Olivet has certainly benefited, and a perfect example is in the fact that the author, Dottie Olson, has been serving as the Regent of the same Frederick Chapter Roger that Nelson’s granddaughter created back in 1895. Happy 4th of July, Frederick County, and more importantly……..Happy 250th, United States of America!  Recent picture from the Friends of Mount Olivet annual Flag Day Author's Talk in June. Pictured left to right: Peter Mantz, descendant of Maj. Peter Mantz (Frederick Rev War veteran), author Dorothy "Dottie" Olson and Chris Haugh. Would you like to learn more about Frederick County Maryland's role in the American Revolution and some of its leading participants? Here are two options!    This book sells for $25 and can be picked up in-person at the Mount Olivet Cemetery Business Office on weekdays from 9am-4pm, or can be shipped for an additional $5. Contact Genesis Kapp at (301) 662-1164 during business hours or email request to: [email protected] Note: Business Office is located in the back of the cemetery within the center building of the Mausoleum Complex.  Chris Haugh, author of "Stories in Stone" will be teaching two sessions of his Frederick and the American Revolution 4-part course in fall 2026 under his History Shark Productions educational series. (click yellow links for more info)
ONLINE edition via ZOOM Monday, November 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd 6-8pm Cost: $76 (4-part class) More Info/Register via CourseStorm: Chris Haugh's Frederick and the American Revolution IN-PERSON (bring a lunch) 12noon-2pm Cost: $76 (4-part class) Tuesday, November 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th More Info/Register via CourseStorm: Chris Haugh's Frederick and the American Revolution
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