An American Family History

Philip Land was born in England in 1607. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an attorney, planter, and ordinary keeper. He was called gentleman.

He came to Maryland at age 40 with his first wife, Priscilla, in 1647. Their children included Philip Land and Mary Land Story.

He was sworn undersheriff on April 1, 1648. He swore an Oath of Fealty on December 20, 1648. William Bretton and Walter Pakes were the securities.

On December 20, his cow purchase was recorded in the Provincial court records. They are in the Maryland State Archives in the Dr. Lois Green Carr Men's Career Files online.

I Willm. tompson of Newtowne Hundred
for and in consideration of a valuabel sum by me in hand rec'd.,
have bargained, sold to Phillipp Land
1 red cow about 4 yrs. old, whc. cow with her future increase
I do heareby sell, et. to Phillipp Land, etc. for ever as their own p p goods. And further I bond Myself, etc. to save & keep harmless Phillip Land, etc. from any person that shall lay any just claim to s^d cow or her future increase.
Signed in the presence of William Bretton.

On September 15, 1648, Philip Land demanded 100 acres for transporting himself in 1647 and 400 acres on assignment from Thomas Greene, Esq. Warrant for near mouth of St. Jerome's Creek. (Maryland Land Office, Patent Records, Liber 2, pp. 346-7.)

A survey on November 15, 1648 laid out 500 acres near the mouth of St. Jerome's Creek in Chesapeake Bay.

Priscilla died in 1649. He married Ann about 1650. Their children included Thomas Land and William Land.

On April 19, 1650, Philip Land demanded 150 acres: 100 acres on assignment from Edward Langford, 50 acres in right of transportation of his late wife (deceased.) Warrant for 100 acres at Plumme Point on St. George's River above the land of Henry Adams. (Maryland Land Office, Patent Records, Liber 2, p. 615.)

He was sheriff of St. Mary's County in 1649-50. He served in the House of Burgesses for one term in 1650 representing St. Mary's Hundred.

In October, 1651, Phillip Land and Gregory Fox received a patent for a tract of land lying on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay called The Rich Neck which was assigned to them by Captain William Mitchell.

June 23, 1654

Mr. Phillip Land this day enters on record for the use of Phillip Land the younger, his oldest son, 1 cow called Nansey; and for the use of Thomas Land his youngest son, 1 heifer; the s^d 2 cows with all & ever their respective female increase to be and remain for the future to the proper use & behalf of his s^d 2 sons, etc.

Philip wrote his will on April 1, 1657 in Charles County. He left his sons Philip, Thomas and William personal possessions. His wife, Anne, was the executrix and and residuary legatee. The overseer was Philip Calvert and the witness Roger Isham. It contained the following clause

And further I give and bequeath to our Church one hogshead of Tobacco, and Desire the prayers of all good people.

He was constable in 1658 and received a license to keep an ordinary at St. Maries in April, 1658.

He was 59 on April 30, 1658 when he swore in court

that he heard Robert Robins ask his wife whither she would take oath in open court that the child she had then in her arms was begotten by him ad said Robert Robins, she replyed she would not.

On June 20, 1659 John Halfhead of Patuxent River gave William Land "sonne of Philip Land" one red cow.

According to Dr. Lois Green Carr's Career Files, on September 3, 1658, Simon Oversee gave him power of attorney.

In 1658 he was sued for failing to give the land and a patent to the buyers of 200 acres.

In September 1659 Mark Pheypo sued him for his debt of 300 pounds of tobacco.

Phillip died in 1659. He left his sons, Philip, Thomas and William his personal property and his wife Ann, the residual of the estate.

On October 11, 1662 "Anne Land came and disclaimed her executrixship to the estate of Philip Land."

After his death, Ann married Mark Pheypo.

Ann died in 1688.

On January 19, 1669/70 Mark distrubuted some of her assets to her son, Philip Land:

⅓ residue of hogs, 4 cows, 1 steer of 3 years
a fowling gun
a trunk
⅓ personal residue

The Patuxent River in Maryland drains into the Chesapeake Bay. It marks the boundary between Montgomery, Prince George's, Charles and St. Mary's counties on the west and Howard, Anne Arundel, and Calvert counties on the east.

A land patent is an exclusive land grant made by the government. The certificate that grants the land rights is also called first-title deed and final certificate. In the United States, all land can be traced back to the original land patent.

Cattle were vital to a household and an important legacy. Unweaned cattle are calves. Female cattle are heifers and cows (had a calf). Male cattle are steers (castrated) and bulls. Oxen are trained draft animals and are often castrated adult male cattle.

Planter is an archaic term for a settler. Plantation was a method of colonization where settlers were "planted" abroad. A plantation is also the kind of large farm that was the economical basis of many American Colonies and owners of these farms were also called planters.

Old Style Calendar Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.