Wetipquin was originally called Tipquin and received its name from the Indian Village called Tipquin. In 1666, Lord Baltimore established a county on the lower Peninsula of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, which he named in honor of Lady Mary Somerset. Five years prior, in 1661, Samuel Jackson arrived in the Province of Maryland from Virginia. By the time the county was created, Jackson had become a significant landholder, owning 1200 acres of fertile soil in Somerset County.
The first recorded land acquisition by Samuel Jackson is found in Liber No. 11, Patents and Certificates, Land Commissioner’s office, Folio 462. On July 13, 1668, he was surveyed for "Long Hill" on the south side of the Nanticoke River in Wataqueen (Wetipquin) Creek, including Jackson Creek, covering 200 acres. "Long Hill" was officially granted to Jackson by Caecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore, on August 10, 1668 (Liber 12, Folio 124). On March 12, 1671, Jackson deeded "Long Hill" to James Dashiell (Liber SC9, Folio 80).
James Dashiell:
James Dashiell, Sr., born in 1634 in Edinburgh, Scotland, emigrated to Somerset County, Maryland, from Yorkshire, England, in 1663 with his wife Anne Cannon Dashiell, their son James, and a niece, Elizabeth Dashiell. Dashiell held several prominent positions, including Judge, Surveyor of Highways, Commissioner of the Quorum, member of the Lower House of the Maryland Assembly, and customs officer. He was also a leading member of the Church of England.
John Richards and Early Land Patents:
In 1668, John Richards received a patent for 200 acres of "Wesson" on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and the south side of the Nanticoke River, near Wetipquin Creek. This land was part of a larger 4000-acre tract granted to William Stevens on March 1, 1680. The adjacent tract, Hogs Quarters, is believed to contain an ancient Indian Burial Ground, evidenced by post remnants, burial rocks, arrowheads, spear points, broken pottery, and oyster shells found at the site.
Development and Trade:
"Wesson" and Hogs Quarters saw many owners between 1682 and 1709, indicating speculative use rather than permanent settlement. The region’s significance grew, prompting a petition to the General Assembly to establish a town at Tipquin, a key trade location frequented by shipping. An Act passed in April 1684 directed the creation of a town near Tipquin, Maryland (Archives XIII, page 89).
Notable Figures:
Alexander Donoho, a State Senator from Somerset County, built "Old Homestead," originally a 360-acre tract. He was notable for his efforts to repeal the "Old Case A" law, which obligated a wife's property to pay her husband's debts. His daughter married Tubman R. Conway, a large lumber and cordwood dealer with several vessels employed by the United States Government. This marriage brought the Donoho property into the Conway family, where it remains.
The Conway Family:
The Conway family’s roots trace back to the Revolutionary War. William Conway, Tubman Conway’s grandfather, came from Ireland and settled in the Tyaskin District. He served in the Maryland Regiment during the Revolutionary War, helping to hold back the British while General George Washington retreated to a better position.
Free Black Families:
Although many Blacks in Wetipquin were enslaved, some free Black families, such as the Duttons and Wrights, owned land. David Dutton, a free mulatto, acquired several tracts, including 60 acres of "Poor Choice" and "Crooked Chance" in 1772, and later, the larger plantation "Wesson" in 1798. His daughter Mattier Dutton married Stephen Wright, a free Black carpenter and shipbuilder who became a substantial landowner. Wright’s descendants, including his son Boyce Wright and daughters Catherine Wright (married to Noah Moore), Eliza Wright (married to James Byard Cook), Rachel Wright (married to Samuel Chase), and grandson Samuel James Chase, continued to gain property and prominence in Wetipquin.
Emancipation and Heritage:
Between 1820 and 1832, more Blacks were freed and began to establish families. Some slaves purchased their freedom, and children born to free Black women were considered free. Most Blacks in Wetipquin gained their freedom between 1860 and 1865.
The people of Wetipquin have a rich heritage, preserved and celebrated in their community history. A comprehensive history book on Wetipquin was anticipated to be ready by spring 1989, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and honoring one's heritage.
"To ignore your heritage is like writing yourself out of the annals of history."
