Bios: Sketch of Hon. Judge Stephen Hyland from The Cecil Whig, Elkton, 
1881: Cecil Co., MD

Transcribed and contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Cyndie 
Enfinger < cyndiee@tampabay.rr.com >

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The Cecil Whig
Saturday, March 19, 1881.

A SCRAP OF HISTORY.

Sketch of the Life of Hon. Judge Stephen Hyland, of Cecil County.

By “Bohemia,” a Corresponding Member of the Maryland Historical 
Society.

Judge Stephen Hyland, the subject of our sketch, was born in “Harmony 
Hall,” the mansion on “John’s and Mary’s Highlands,” Elk Neck, Cecil 
county, Md., Feb. 23, 1743, and died March 19, 1806.  He was a man of 
genial traits of character, and a person rarely to be found, his 
goodness of heart endearing him to all classes of people.  His tall 
stature and strikingly handsome face, his splendid physique and 
intellectual forehead, gained him much distinction.  The latter was one 
of Judge Hyland’s greatest features.  Not only the inhabitants of Cecil 
county, but the entire State, shared the honor of his acquaintance, 
through his readiness in aiding them in their trails and troubles 
arising out of the technicalities of the “Land Grants” of his day, and 
by supporting their claims before different tribunals, such as 
committees, etc., which were so abundant in those days.
  Col. John Hyland, the father of the subject of our sketch, was a 
native of Labadeen, England, and a distinguished Colonel of the latter 
part of the sixteenth and the early part of the seventeenth century.  
Owing to the difficulties arising from his “Coat of Arms,” he resigned 
his commission under the English Government, and through the personal 
inducement of his friend Lord Baltimore came to Maryland with him, as 
he said, “to seek harmony.”  However, upon his arrival, such was the 
disposition of the English Crown towards the Proprietary Government of 
Maryland at the time that he was unable to get a valid grant of land.
  In the meantime, Col. Hyland settled in Pennsylvania, securing a 
grant from the Penns of 1,000 acres and acquiring additional property 
in New York State.  The ground on which the Astor House, in New York 
City, is built, is one of the unclaimed lots that Col. Hyland possessed 
at that time.  He subsequently obtained a grant of 1800 acres on the 
Elk river (now in Cecil county, Md.,) a location at that time most 
prominent.  His mansion was called “Harmony Hall,” from that fact that, 
upon the congratulation of Lord Baltimore upon his settlement in 
Maryland, Col. Hyland replied: “Your Lordship will perceive that his 
humble servant has found harmony and peace since he settled on Elk 
river, in your Lordship’s province.”  The mountainous location of the 
land suggested the name of “John’s and Mary’s Highlands:” and to the 
present day portions of this tract are still in the hands of his 
descendants.
  Judge Hyland being the eldest son, according to the English law of 
Primogeniture, fell heir to the whole of this vast estate, and held the 
same until his death.  Dec. 1, 1774, he married Miss Rebecca Tilden, of 
the old Tilden family of Maryland.  By her was born a son, bearing the 
name of John Hyland (after his grandfather,) and on the 10th day of the 
same month Mrs. Hyland died (Oct 10, 1775).  On the 20th day of March, 
1777, Judge Hyland married his second wife, Miss Araminta Hamm, 
daughter of Dr. Thomas Hamm, of Bohemia Manor, of distinguished family 
connection, both in England and America.  Her mother was an aunt of 
Governor Bassett, of Delaware, and a niece of Col. Augustine Herman, 
Proprietor of Bohemia Manor.  After the death of Mrs. Judge Hyland’s 
father, Dr. Thomas Hamm, her mother married Dr. Thomas Biard, who 
resided for some time at Elkton, Md.  Mrs. Biard, while on a visit to 
her nephew, Gov. Bassett, at that time residing on the Bohemia Manor, 
was taken sick and died a few days afterwards, and was buried in Gov. 
Bassett’s private vault, in site of his mansion on the Manor.
  Judge Hyland, by his second marriage, had seven children-two 
daughters and five sons.  One of his sons, Col. Stephen Hyland, Jr., 
gained many military honors in the War of 1812.  His eldest daughter 
(Mary) married Hon. William Craig, Jr., of Bohemia Manor, who 
represented Cecil county twice in the General Assembly of Maryland, and 
who died while in discharge of his duties at a session held December, 
1822.  Appropriate resolutions were passed by the General Assembly, and 
its members wore scarfs during the remainder of the session.  Mr. Craig 
was buried at Annapolis with all the honors on the part of the 
Legislative and State departments.
  Mr. Craig, at his death, left several children.  Among them was the 
late James L. Craig, at one time editor of the Baltimore Pilot, which 
was owned by the late General Duff Green.  He was a member of the 
Associated Press of Baltimore, and a general contributor to the 
newspapers.  After his removal to Cecil county, upon the place of his 
birth, he became a contributor to the county press, among them his 
historical articles of “Bohemia Manor” and his continued stories 
appearing in several issues of the The Cecil Whig, entitled “Court 
House Point, Its Mysteries of the Past,” are well remembered to the 
present day.  After becoming prominently connected with the old Whig 
party of the county, he was elected to, and chosen President of, the 
Board of County Commissioners in 1853, of which the late David Scott 
and Charles H. Haines were members.  When Thomas G. Pratt was chosen by 
the Whig party as their candidate for Governor of the State of 
Maryland, Mr. C. was nominated for the General Assembly o the county 
Whig ticket.
  Judge Stephen Hyland’s youngest daughter married William A. 
Schaeffer, a prominent Baltimorean.  Mrs. S. still survives him, and is 
the mother of the present Gen. Francis B. Schaeffer, late of the U. S. 
A., now residing in Washington, D. C., a renowned Mexican war hero.  
President Lincoln honored him with the appointment of the Captaincy of 
the Select National Riflemen, stationed at Washington, D. C.
  Judge Hyland, at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, called 
together a small company of citizens in this vicinity for the 
protection of Cecil county property.  This company he held strictly 
private and paid it himself.  After General Washington was informed of 
Judge Hyland’s organization of his company of private soldiery, he sent 
him several hundred men, and commissioned him Colonel.
  At the time of the expected arrival of the British fleet in the 
waters of the Chesapeake Bay, Col. Hyland was stationed on the eastern 
shore of the Susquehanna river, to keep the enemy from proceeding up 
it, with the brave Gen. Smith on the western shore of the river.  While 
stationed at this point, intelligence was received that the British had 
entered the Elk river and were landing at Court House Point.  After 
this information was received, Col. Hyland marched by way of 
Charlestown, crossing the North East river with an additional one 
hundred men from General Smith’s command, and gained the shore of Elk 
river opposite the Bohemia river, but not until the British were 
leaving the river, after they had discovered that they had taken the 
wrong course.  (At this time the county seat of Cecil county was 
destroyed.)  However, as the British barges were leaving, as it 
happened opposite him, he formed his command in line of battle and 
fired a volley into the British.  Again, as if determined to excite the 
courage of his command by his own example, he galloped out along the 
shore, waving his sword and calling upon his men to follow, which they 
did, and fired another volley of bullets, which caused many to fall and 
desert the decks of the British barges of war.  Immediately after this, 
a wild fire of cannon from the barges ensued, which cause a retreat in 
Colonel Hyland’s command.  Again they came to the front and held their 
former line, and a similar firing followed.  By this time and the 
intervening of the retreat from the British cannon, the British found 
sufficient time to gain the waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
  During this year, and while Hyland’s command was stationed on the 
Susquehanna river, Gen. Lafayette, with his fleet, was frozen up in the 
Elk river opposite the Colonel’s mansion.  During this time Col. Hyland 
tendered military honor to the Marquis and honored him with a banquet 
and dance.  The ice being frozen so solid, Col. Hyland ordered it to be 
carpeted from the boat to his mansion.  The large doors of “Harmony 
Hall” were thrown open to the distinguished quest at that day, while 
the lively music of a military band heightened the general enjoyment.  
Mrs. Col. Hyland led the promenade with Gen. Lafayette, while wine and 
rich cordials were served the company of distinguished American and 
French patriots during the course of the evening.
  Sometime afterward that, Col. Hyland, with his command, was ordered 
to Annapolis, at which station he remained nearly up to the close of 
the Revolutionary War.