Stephen Gudgeon ¹

  Noted events in his life were:

• Residence, 3 Jul 1750, Near Warwick Town, Cecil Co, Maryland.

• is listed as a school-master who took the oath required of teachers: is listed as a school-master who took the oath required of teachers, Abt 1757, Island Hundred, Queen Anne's Co, Maryland. OATHS OF TEACHERS
by Pat Melville
During the French and Indian War and at a time of heightened anti-Catholic sentiments, many officials in England and Maryland sought ways to curb the inculcation of Papist doctrines that could hamper the military campaigns against France. Instructions given the newly appointed Governor Horatio Sharpe in 1753 included a provision that any schoolmaster coming from England could teach in Maryland only with a license from Lord Baltimore. The governor was authorized to license those already in the province and any coming from elsewhere. Evidence of actual licensing has not been found.
At the same time the Committee on Grievances and Courts of Justice of the Lower House of the General Assembly reported on the potential perversion of Protestant citizens and the spread of Popery through public preaching by priests and teaching by Catholic school masters. The Lower House passed a bill for "the Security of his Majesty's Dominions, and to prevent the growth of Popery." It provided for the seizure and sale of lands owned by any Catholic priest or Jesuit, with the proceeds to be used to finance the war against France. The less anti-Catholic Upper House rejected the proposal.
At least twice during the mid -18th century, the governor and council issued orders requiring teachers to take an oath of abjuration. The one in 1754 does not appear in the proceedings of the governor and council, but the one for 1757 was recorded. The county magistrates were ordered to "call before them all Persons keeping public or private Schools" and administer "the Oaths to the Government required by Law...."
Evidence of the oath taking activities in 1754 is found mostly in Maryland State Papers (Black Books) in series S987. Vol. IV, Nos. 133 and 135-137, and Vol. X, Nos. 38-39, that contain lists of teachers from Talbot, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Prince George's, and Dorchester counties. The minutes for these county courts, except for Dorchester, do not include references to the oaths. Other extant county court minutes, specifically Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Frederick, and Kent counties, also lacked such information.
The lists of school masters provide names, whether or not the oath was taken, and some information about location and status
The Queen Anne's County Court chose to list all known teachers, but only one had taken the oath. The county free school was not open in 1754. The return grouped school masters by hundred and specified the Catholics -
"Island: John Lumley, John Marsh, Christopher Irwin, Stephen Gudgeon, Jonathan Jolly, and George Perssnett."

• Stephen Denny purchased land: Stephen Denny purchased land, 1733, Kingston, New Jersey. He purchased a house and lot in Kingston, New Jersey and had a plantation in Middlesex County nearby in 1733.

The area where Stephen owned land in New Jersey was, at that time West Jersey and later became part of New York and Pennsylvania. New Jersey became a royal province in 1702. It was located on the east side and north of theDelaware Bay and was on the waterways that were easy to travel.

• Stephen sold his land to Leonard Thomas of Prince Town, Somerset Co, New Jersey: Stephen sold his land to Leonard Thomas of Prince Town, Somerset Co, New Jersey, Abt 1747-1748, New Jersey, USA.

• He purchased 50 acres called "Outlet" from his father-in-law, Benjamin Denny: He purchased 50 acres called "Outlet" from his father-in-law, Benjamin Denny, 1750, Near Centerville, Queen Anne's Co, Maryland.

• He found that additional land should belong to his property, "Outlet" and called for a resurvey: He found that additional land should belong to his property, "Outlet" and called for a resurvey, Jun 1761, Queen Anne's Co, Maryland.

• Stephen Gudgeon was granted a Patent on 142 acres; he renamed it "Outlet Enlarged": Stephen Gudgeon was granted a Patent on 142 acres; he renamed it "Outlet Enlarged," 14 Apr 1763, Queen Anne's Co, Maryland. Extract of Stephen Gudgeon's Patent for 142 Acres, "The Outlet Enlarged," from Maryland Land Patent BC & GS #18.f.f.557-559, April 14, 1763:

"Know yet that Whereas Stephen Gudgeon of Queen Anne's County by his humble Petition to our agents for management of land affairs within the Province did set forth that he was seized in fee of and in fifty acres part of a tract called "Outlett" lying and being in the County aforesaid originally on the fourteenth day of April, Anno Domine seventeen hundred and forty eight granted unto a certain Benjamin Denny for sixty eight acres under new Rent contiguous to which tract the Petitioner had discovered some vacant land and being desirous to add the same humbly prayed a special Warrant to resurvey his part of the aforesaid tract for that intent and purpose and that on return of a Certificate of such resurvey, he making good rights to the vacancy added and complying with all requisites usual in such cases might have our agent issue to him thereon which was granted him and accordingly a Warrant on the twenty ninth day of June seventeen hundred and sisty one unto him for that purpose did issue.

In pursuance whereof it is Certified unto our Land Office that there was resurveyed for him, the said Stephen Gudgeon, the aforesaid tract ***** contains the quantity of fifty acres and that the quantity of ninety two acres of vacant land is added.

We Do therefor hereby grant and confirm unto him, the said Stephen Gudgeon, all that his part of the aforesaid tract and parcel of land now resurveyed with the vacancy added reduced into one entire tract and now called the "Outlett Enlarged" lying and being in the County aforesaid, BEGINNING at an Oak post hewed on four sides and bounded with twelve notches ....... and now laid out for one hundred and forty two acres of Land.......... except Royal Mines.....

Given under our Great Seal of our said Province of Maryland this fourteenth day of April Anno Domine Seventeen Hundred and Sixty Three.

Witness our trusty and well beloved Horatio Sharpe, Esquire, Lieutenant General and Chart Govenor of our said Province of Maryland and Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal thereof.

Horatio ( The Great Seal) Sharpe

• Stephen Gudgeon sold "Outlet Enlarged" to his son-in-law, Solomon Mason: Stephen Gudgeon sold "Outlet Enlarged" to his son-in-law, Solomon Mason, 23 Aug 1773, Queen Anne's Co, Maryland. This document shows Stephen Gudgeon to be a "Schoolmaster," and Solomon Mason to be a "Planter." Lydia Denny Gudgeon concurred in the sale.

Extract: Queen Anne's Co, Centreville, MD Land Record p. 182-183:

• Bio-sketch. He learned the tobacco business on his father's plantation. He got his education in New Jersey, married Lydia Denny (daughter of Benjamin Denny).


Stephen became a schoolmaster in Kingston and raised tobacco on his plantation until about 1748 when he sold his land to Leonard Thomas of Prince Town, Somerset County, New Jersey and returned to Maryland.

He was in Cecil County, Maryland near Warwick Town on July 3, 1750.He purchased a 50 acre parcel of land in Queen Annes County nearCenterville from his father-in-law, Benjamin Denny, called the"Outlet." In June of 1761 he found that there was land that shouldbelong to his property so he petitioned the land affairs office for aresurvey of the vacant land and added 92 acres to his property. Hewas granted a Land Patent on April 14, 1763 for the entire 142 acreswhich he called the "Outlet Enlarged." He was known as"Schoolmaster" Gudgeon.

An extract from the Maryland Land Patent BC and GS, 18,f.f.557-559 April 14, 1763 says, "Know Ye that Whereas StephenGudgeon of Queen Annes County by his Humble Petition to our agents formanagement of land affairs within this Province did set forth tht hewas seized in fee of and in fifty acres part of a tract called Outlettlying and being in the County aforesaid originally on the fourteenthday of April AD 1748 granted unto a certain Benjamin Denny for sixtyeight acres under new Rent contiguous to which tract
the Petitioner had discovered some vacant land and being desirous toadd the same humbly prayed a special Warrant to resurvey his part ofthe aforesaid tract for the intent and purpose and that on return of aCertificate of such resurvey he making good rights to the vacancyadded and complying with all requisites usual in shuch cases mighthave our agent issue unto him thereon which was granted him andaccordingly a Warrant on the twenty ninth dayo f June seventeenhundred and sixty one unto him for that purpose did issue.
In pursuance whereof it is Certified into our Land Office tht therewas resurveyed for him the said Stephen Gudgeon the aforesaid tract**** contains the quantity of fifty acres and that the quantity ofninety two acres is added********.
Witness our trusty and well beloved Horatio Sharpe, EsquireLieutenant General and Chief Governor of our said Province of Marylandand Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal thereof."
On August 23, 1773 he and Lydia sold this property to theirson-in-law, Solomon Mason, for the sum of 40 pounds. He was shown onthis record to be a Schoolmaster and Solomon Mason to be a "Planter."

• Stephen Gudgeon was one of the Executors of the Will of Arthur Ellis: Stephen Gudgeon was one of the Executors of the Will of Arthur Ellis, 11 Apr 1749, Cecil County, Maryland, USA. Liber 26, folio 54
22 Feb. 1748/9
ELLIS, ARTHUR, [Cecil Co.]
To sister Elizabeth Baird, 200a of Morton, in Kent Co. on the S side of head of Sassafras & 30a of Larkins Addition adj. Morton.
To sister Catherine David, all my r. e. in Cecil Co.
To nephew William Brown, the land in Kent Co. Patrick Aaron lives on.
To sisters Elizabeth Baird & Catherine David, all my p. e. except legacies.
To Brigett Kerra, L 12.
Extrs: Alexander Baird & James David. Witn: D[anie]ll Bryane, Stephen Gudgeon, Patrick Keran.
11 April 1749, sworn to by all 3 witn.

• Stephen Gudgeon was a witness to the will of William Farrell: Stephen Gudgeon was a witness to the will of William Farrell, 1750, Cecil County, Maryland, USA. Liber 27, folio 484
3 July 1750
FARRELL, WILLIAM, Warwick Town, Cecil Co., tanner.
To dau. Cathrine Farrell, my e. r. & p.
To wife & extrx., Rachell Farrell, the other
Witn: Susannah Vansandt, Zacharias Vansandt, Step[he]n Gudgeon.
--- ------ --------, sworn to by all 3 witn.

Stephen married Lydia Denny, daughter of Unknown and Unknown, before 1730 in Baltimore County, Maryland, USA. (Lydia Denny was born in 1710 in Queen Anne's Co, Maryland and died after 1773.)