29 Facts About Josias Fendall

Josias Fendall was born in England, and came to the Province of Maryland.

Josias Fendall was the progenitor of the Fendall family in America.

Stone commissioned Josias Fendall, to be one of his officers, along with William Eltonhead, Esq.

Josias Fendall was remanded to prison until the affairs of the Province could be settled by Oliver Cromwell.

Josias Fendall persuaded the Puritans in the Severn area, which were now erected into a new county named Anne Arundel, to send representatives to an Assembly that he had established in Calvert County, halfway between their seat and St Mary's City.

Josias Fendall showed legislative skill in shepherding several much needed laws through the Assembly.

Josias Fendall proclaimed the region in which he resided Charles County, making it the 5th oldest county in the state, and quickly followed that with the formation of Baltimore County in the frontier area at the head of the bay.

Josias Fendall was responsible for increasing and improving the Maryland Militia.

Josias Fendall divided the Province into districts in which a commander was put in charge of policing.

One case of interest that occurred while Josias Fendall was in office had to do with some unusual circumstances.

Toward the end of his tenure as governor, Josias Fendall was criticized by the proprietor for negligence at courts and for contradicting court orders.

Josias Fendall accepted these conditions and tendered to the Assembly his resignation, as governor under Lord Baltimore, however at the same time, he accepted from the Assembly, a new commission.

Josias Fendall attempted to set up in its place, a commonwealth in which the supreme power would be vested in a House of Burgesses.

The proprietor asked "that perfidious and perjured fellow, Josias Fendall" to be arrested and forfeit his life.

Josias Fendall retired to his estate in Charles County where he had a wife, a daughter, a brother, and several servants.

Josias Fendall was heard saying that it was time for people to speak their minds and say anything for it was not treason and he hoped within a few years to have more honor in the country than he ever had prior.

About this time Josias Fendall had become influential in northern Virginia among sympathizers of Nathaniel Bacon and associated with John Coode Jr.

Josias Fendall had heard that the Papists and Indians were joining to battle with the Protestants.

Josias Fendall claimed that Lord Baltimore was responsible, and wanted to destroy all the Protestants.

Josias Fendall gathered planters in Charles County, to discuss these rumors, which coupled with the fear of the Indian raids that had engulfed their neighbors in Stafford County, Virginia, this developed into a panic.

Authorities apparently freed Coode on bail within five days, but Josias Fendall remained in custody.

For fear that Josias Fendall would have time to influence the people who charged him, he was not allowed by the courts to enquire into the evidence of his crime.

Josias Fendall was allowed to screen the jurors, in which he dismissed the Catholics and retained the Protestants.

In 1682 Josias Fendall was a resident in Virginia, in a portion of Virginia which later became part of Perquimans County, North Carolina.

Josias Fendall's house was located on the west side of the Wicomico River, near Allens Fresh, Charles Co.

Josias Fendall's mark for hogs and cattle was a "cropt on the left ear, and under keeled on the right ear", entered into the Charles Co.

Josias Fendall had several servants that lived on his plantation.

In 1681 Josias Fendall sold a boat that was at least large enough to carry a man, wife, and four children.

The other land holding that Josias Fendall owned was called Great Oak Manor, in Kent County.