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The Charter of Maryland, June 20, 1632
Volume 549, Page 5   View pdf image (33K)
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quired under the Avalon Charter. In all other re-
spects the provisions of the Avalon Charter were
incorporated into the new grant, with the express
stipulation of the King that "it shall be called
Mariland or the province of Mariland in memory
and honor of the Queene."

    Unfortunately George Calvert did not live to
see either his charter or his new province. On April
15, 1632, he died and was succeed by his son Cecil,
second Lord Baltimore. Cecil's troubles with his
inheritance began almost immediately. On June 5,
1632, the King's Council reported that Virginia
planters claimed to have settled lands to the south
of "Watkins poynt" on the Delmarva peninsula.
After much debate the King and Council again
sided with the Virginians and modified the charter
accordingly. Cecil Calvert acquiesced to the
changes, no doubt in part because the King restored
all of the privileges of the Avalon Charter. With the
remaining obstacles overcome, the Charter of
Maryland was at last granted to Cecil Calvert,
second Lord Baltimore, on June 20, 1632.

    The Charter of Maryland permitted Lord Balti-
more considerable latitude in governing his colony,
but it also provided the legal basis for representative
government. It specified that the laws of the pro-
vince had to be "of and with the advise, assent, and
approbation of the free-men of the said Province, or
the greater part of them, or of their delegates or
deputies." In other, less consequential ways, the
charter continues to affect our lives. The power to
sell or grant any unsettled or vacant land vested by


 

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The Charter of Maryland, June 20, 1632
Volume 549, Page 5   View pdf image (33K)
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