MeredithHistory

The History of the Merediths:

The home for the Dorchester County Historical Society was dedicated on Sunday, October 30,1960 through the generosity and the public-spirited interest of Mr. Thomas Steele Nichols.

Mr. Nichols, felt that he was indebted to those in his family who preceded him. From his forebearers he has inherited the intellectual, physical and moral characteristics that made it possible for him to succeed in life, and win the approbation and admiration of his fellowmen. So, he publicly expresses this by this gift in their names, appreciation to his grandfather, Joseph B. Meredith, and to his greatgrandfather, Thomas M. Meredith. Thus LaGrange was re-named in their honor, The Meredith House.

Doubtless, the great-grandfather, Thomas M. Meredith, in his day felt that he owed his success largely to his father, Pritchett Meredith. In 1869, Pritchett Meredith, then seventy years old, made his will. His first consideration was for his family and their descendants. He reserved land for a suitable burying ground not only for his immediate family but also for their relatives and friends.
Pritchett Meredith had acquired a great deal of land and other property. He named his only son, Thomas M. Meredith, executor of his will, in which he named two grandchildren, Sarah Pritchett Meredith and Joseph Bestpiteh Meredith, who were both children of his son, Thomas M. Meredith.To Sarah Pritchett Meredith, he left money and to Joseph B. Meredith, he left his silver watch.
Thomas M. Meredith, the great-grandfather of Thomas Steele Nichols, was an unusually good business man. He not only bought large tracts of land to add to the farms he had inherited from his father, but he was one of the first stockholders in the Easton National Bank. This remarkable bank was the first one established on the Eastern Shore. It was intended to serve the rural residents and it was very successful. A very interesting book called "160 Years Of Banking On TheEastern Shore," was published in Easton, Maryland, in 1955. It shows that a Thomas Meredith and a John Meredith were among its earliest stockholders.

Thomas M. Meredith was born August 3, 1822 and died May, 1881. He was married twice: first to Mary Jane Rowens, daughter of William Rowens and Amelia, his wife; the marriage license was issued in Cambridge, Md., January 8, 1844. After the death of Mary Jane, he was married to Elizabeth Stephens (Stevens), daughter of Edward Stephens, son of Edward Stephens. This marriage license is dated November 8, 1850.

In his will, filed May 17,1881, he names the following children:
Sarah Pritchett Nabb, wife of John B. Nabb
Joseph B. Meredith
Elizabeth Thomas Meredith
McKenny White Meredith
Emma Virginia Vinton (deceased) wife of Edward Percy Vinton

Thomas M. Meredith had many farms and other property. He was said to have been the largest land owner in Dorchester County at that time. He divided his farms among his children:
To Sarah Pritchett Nabb, he gave a farm called "North Yarmouth." It was located on the Transquakin River. He had inherited this farm from his father, Pritchett Meredith, who had bought it from Samuel P. Brown. It is still in the possession of the Nabb family.We are fortunate enough to have a picture of the old house called, "North Yarmouth." It is of historical interest because it was first owned by Bartholomew Ennalls who lived there and died there in 1688. One of Bartholomew grand-daughters, Anne Ennalls, daughter of his son, Joseph Ennalls, married Major Thomas Muse, who was prominent here in the American Revolution. For a time, "North Yarmouth" was the home of the Muse family.

Thomas M. Meredith gave the farm called "La Brook" or the "Poplar Farm" to his daughter, Elizabeth Thomas Meredith.

To his son, Joseph Bestpitch Meredith, he gave a farm near Bucktown (probably the "White House Farm").

He also gave a farm to his daughter, Anna Amos Meredith.

These farms were all in the Bucktown area.

His other property consisting of stores, houses and lands such as the "Bradshaw Property," farms near East New Market, and in the Drawbridge District, he directed were to be sold and the money invested for the benefit of his daughter, Anna Amos Meredith, during her minority.

His daughter, Emma Virginia, was deceased, but he left money to her husband, Edward Percy Vinton.

The executors of the will of Thomas M. Meredith were Edward W. LeCompte and Joseph B. Meredith. The witnesses were Francis J. Henry, Sr., Francis J. Henry, Jr., George J. Meekins and James S. Shepherd.

Joseph Bestpitch Meredith, the grandfather of Thomas Steele Nichols, was; born February 15, 1857. Joseph Bestpitch Meredith was born at White House Farm on the Transquakin River and attended Randolph Macon College to study medicine, but returned home to run the family business. At the age of twenty-three, he married Eva J. Handley. They were married in Baltimore City, June 22, 1880. At that time he was listed as a "merchant."

Thomas Nicols himself, native of Cambridge, sought employment in Baltimore during the Depression. He rose rapidly to the presidency of Pryor Chemical Company before serving the Federal Government during World War II as a consultant in the United States and later, in Europe. After the war, he served as President of the Mathieson Chemical Corporation prior to its merger with the Olin Corporation.

His father, Thomas M. Meredith, died the following year, leaving his widow, Elizabeth Ann Stephens (Stevens) and the children already mentioned.

From the children of Joseph B. Meredith and Eva, his wife, living at this date, I960, we learn that their father, Joseph B. Meredith, began the study of medicine but did not pursue a medical career.While living at the "White House Farm," on the Transquakin River, he had a vessel built which was named the "Joseph B. Meredith." His purpose was to have a boat of shallow-draft to sail on the shallow, winding Transquakin. It was built by Joseph H. Johnson at the woodyard of Granville Hooper. Mr. Earle W. Orem had a beautiful 18-inch model of this vessel which he has given to Thomas Steele Nichols.

Hulburt Footner in his book "Rivers of the Eastern Shore", tells of the White House Farm and calls the house, "a gentleman's residence, with brick walls, two feet thick and fine interior wood work." Mr. Footner's guide told him that "the topsail schooner, the 'Joseph B. Meredith' was built here and drew a sketch of her with topmast and rigging complete." He was proud of her as being the only vessel ever built hereabouts. For many years she made money for her owners by carrying out the farmers' corn and bringing in their fertilizer. At one place along the river, a canal was dug across the marsh connecting two reaches of the river and by putting the men ashore with a line, they could track the ship across and save five miles of difficult sailing because of tide and wind.

In 1900, Mr. Joseph B. Meredith was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Dorchester County. He served under both a Democrat and a Republican governor. He is remembered for his kindness and generosity. He gave help to all his neighbors, both colored and white. At Christmas time, he remembered the former family slaves with food and gifts.

The children of Joseph B. Meredith and Eva, his wife, were: Rosa B. Meredith, who married Leon Tschantre; Mary Catherine Meredith who married Winfield McKeon; and Emma Meredith, who married John Nichols, August 28, 1901.
The children of John Nichols and Emma H. Meredith Nichols, his wife, were: Arnold Meredith Nichols - deceased; Catherine Nichols, who married Dudley Stafford; and Thomas Steele Nichols.

The above is taken from the dedication of the Meredith House By Miss Ruth Jones