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Home - Our Legacy - The Land and Its History
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The Land and Its History
Part of the original Resurrection Manor, the 600 acres of land that now makes up Greenwell State Park is a standing reminder of the agricultural legacy of St. Mary’s County.
Starting in 1650 and until the land was turned over to the State of Maryland in 1971 (see the Greenwell Land Timeline below); the land was used primarily for farming. Cash crops such as tobacco and grains were most likely grown exclusively, yet as a working farm a certain amount of livestock was raised and sold, and oysters, crabs and fish were harvested from the bordering river.
It is likely that the main house was served by such domestic dependencies as meat curing and storage buildings, a dairy or cooler, and assorted smaller storage buildings. There were probably other farm-use buildings such as a grainery, corncrib, tobacco curing barns, buildings for sheltering livestock, and a smoking house for curing fish. However, no evidence has survived to substantiate that.
One of the three tobacco barns located on the Bond Farm portion of the property is thought to be the oldest standing hewn log tobacco barn in St. Mary’s County. It along with all tobacco barns located in Southern Maryland have been recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the “11 Most Endangered” structures.
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Greenwell Land Timeline
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1650 - 1685 -
1710 - 1718 -
1761 - 1792 -
1846 - 1853 -
1880-1884 - 1884-1941 -
1941
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| 1650 |
Part of the original Resurrection Manor, a tract of 4,000 acres granted by Cecil Calvert, second Lord Baltimore to Captain Thomas Cornwaleys. In successive years the ownership of Resurrection Manor passed from Cornwaleys to John Bateman and from Bateman to John and Richard Perry. Back to Top of Timeline |
| 1685 |
Thomas and George Plowden purchased the 4, 000 acre Manor from John Perry, Executor of Richard Perry’s estate. Back to Top of Timeline |
| 1710 |
James Bolwes acquired 890 acres from George Plowden. The following year building his home which subsequently developed into the mansion presently known as Sotterly. Back to Top of Timeline |
| 1718 |
William Read bequeathed to his sons, John and William Read, a part of Resurrection Manor, located south of Sotterly. Back to Top of Timeline |
| 1761 |
John Read willed 360 acres of his plantation to his grandsons, John Hatton Read and Philip Read. The will stated that the plantation was named Orchard Neck, that it contained a pond or inland lake, and that it was adjacent to the land of Mr. Plater, owner of what continues to be known as “Reads Creek”. Back to Top of Timeline |
| 1792 |
Philip Read’s will directed that his plantation , Orchard Neck, comprising 360 acres, be disposed of by public sale within one year. Back to Top of Timeline |
| 1846 |
The Misses Mary and Catherine Millard purchased Philip Read’s property, consisting of 300 acres from James T. Blackstone, Trustee for the owner, Mrs. Benett Abell. Back to Top of Timeline |
| 1853 |
The Millard’s sold the tract of land on the Patuxent River commonly called “Read’s” to Dr. Francis Constantine Neale. Dr. Neale married Miss Mary Symphorose (Rosa) Hill Millard, the niece of the Mary and Catherine Millard. It is believed that “Read’s” became known as “Rosedale” during this time. Back to Top of Timeline |
| 1880-1884 |
The Civil War depleted the fortunes of many of the planters in Southern Maryland. As a result, Rosedale, as well as other properties, became heavily mortgaged. Dr. Neale sold 180 acres of Rosedale to Thomas H. Bond who owned the adjoining plantation. Back to Top of Timeline |
| 1884-1941 |
The farm known as Rosedale stayed in the Bond family for over a hundred years. John and Sallie Bond deeded the land to their son, Duke Bond in 1916 and he gave it to his brother, John Thomas Bond in 1929. Back to Top of Timeline |
| Sep-1941 |
J. Philip Greenwell, Jr. bought 178.6 acres of Rosedale from John Thomas and Mary Bond. Back to Top of Timeline |
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