Chesapeake Alpacas, Inc.

The Isle of Kent

The Isle of Kent

Seventeenth Century

In 1627, William Claiborne set out to locate the source of the great Chesapeake Bay. In August 1631, he landed upon the Isle of Kent and established the first English settlement in Maryland. This settlement was one of the first in the nation, predated only by Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, and the Massachusetts Colony. Established on the southeastern side of the island, the settlement stood approximately 2 miles northeast of Kent Point on the shore of what is now known as Eastern Bay.

The island was already inhabited by several Native American tribes including the Matapeakes who occupied the southern banks of the Chester River and the Monoponsons who lived on the southern end of the island. The early settlers were often subject to attack from neighboring mainland tribes, the Wicomese and the Susquehannas.

Records indicate that Claiborne built a fort, a church, dwellings and boats. He also built the first boat in Maryland, a small sailboat called a pinnace, which Claiborne named the "Long Tayle." In addition to planting gardens and orchards, Claiborne stocked farms with cattle and planted tobacco, starting Maryland’s famous tobacco economy that sustained the colonists and dominated colonial life until the 1800s when corn and wheat replaced it as Maryland’s main crops. Unfortunately, due to 350 years of erosion, today the remains of the settlement are most likely underwater.

The next 25 years were turbulent ones as Claiborne struggled with Lord Baltimore for control of the island. It is reported that the first naval battle of the new world was fought between the forces of Claiborne and Lord Baltimore over possession of the island. Claiborne eventually lost his fight and was forced to relinquish control of the island.

370 Years Later

Chesapeake Alpacas is located on the west side of the road leading to Kent Point, the site of the Claiborne settlement. The farm occupies a tract of land now known as Twin Cove that was once part of a larger parcel granted to "Thomas Keene, a cooper, by William Claiborne." It is described as "lying between Thicketty Creek on the north, Hog Pen Neck on the south, and Chesapeake Bay on the west."

As often was the case in early history, the property changed hands several times over the years and was resurveyed and incorporated into another tract. Records and photos indicate that in the mid 19^th century, a house was built by then owners, the Tolsons. The Tolson farmhouse has been described as "a frame house, very old fashioned or traditional, but with conservative details of the period. The principal entrance is centered on the east front and it has sidelights and transom. Three dormers are in the east front and three chimneys rise internally, at each gable."

Unfortunately, the original farmhouse is long gone. However, the house that now occupies this land bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor. It was built without any knowledge of the Tolson farmhouse, yet is remarkably similar to the original, differing only slightly in size and minor details.