OF COLONIAL MARYLAND 35

helter-skelter arrangement for looking up and computing the rents
—even in those first twenty years or so of the colony—would have
been highly inefficient to say the least. At this early period the
preparation and keeping of rent rolls were in the hands of the
Secretary of the province and the Surveyor General. ⁵⁴ With the
creation of the office of Receiver General, another official took a hand
in the compiling of the rent rolls, for in 1678 there was a proclama-
tion of the Proprietor ordering recording of alienations "in order
that the Secretary and the Receiver General might be able to make
a complete rent roll. "⁵⁵ Indeed, sometime before 1676 the Pro-
prietor appointed two Receivers General of his rents and other dues
and authorized them to appoint deputies. ⁵⁶ From an early date
whoever was in charge of rent rolls was assisted by the sheriffs
who made the collections locally and forwarded them. A com-
mission to the sheriffs from the governor in 1671 reads:

... These are therefore in the name of his said Lordship to
will and Command you that you Cause a true and perfect Rent
Roll to be made of all and singular the Lands in your County
and in whose possession they now are & distinguish them by
Debtor and Creditor and give them Credit that have paid and
if they have not paid then to each piece of Land say (over
against it) not paid and if there be no distress you shall like-
wise in cert so over against the said Land you shall make a full
Inquiry into all and singular the premises that you may be the
better Enabled to make a Certain and Perfect Rent Roll which
Rent Roll shall begin with the first Seated hundred in your
County and so successively & the said Rent Roll and a true
Copy thereof attested, under your hand that you personally
bring with you into the City of Saint Marys the first day of
October next ensuing the date hereof and therein exhibite unto
my self and Council who will be God willing then there to
make a full Examination into his Lordships Rents and also
give you such further Orders Instructions and directions touch-
ing both that and other his Lordships Affairs as to us shall
seem expedient..., ⁵⁷

From 1689 to 1715 Maryland became a royal colony and the Pro-
prietor had continually to contend for his rights in land affairs and
the custody of the land records. Between 1689 and 1694 the Land

⁵⁴ Arch. Md., V, 94 ft.; Mereness, p. 59.

⁵⁵ Arch. Md., XV, pp. 159, 160; Mereness, p. 60.

⁵⁶ Arch. Md., XV, p. 119 ff.; Mereness, p. 59.

⁵⁷ Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1667-75, p. 70; Arch. Md., V, 91.