Master George Evelin

It is well, perhaps, that I set down something more concerning Kent Island, lest you come to believe that after William Claiborne fled into Virginia, and was from there sent by Governor Harvey to London to answer for the crime of having begun a war against us of Maryland, the people of this settlement were left unheeded.

Such was not the case, however, for Claiborne's partner in the trading enterprise, who, as you remember, was a London merchant, sent over, immediately after hearing of the trouble into which his partner had got himself, one George Evelin to take charge of the property.

When he arrived, it was believed by our people that he would make an attempt to take the same stand concerning Lord Baltimore's rights over Kent Island, as had William Claiborne; but instead of pursuing such an unwise course, he came straightway to call upon Governor Calvert, with the result that he became our friend instead of enemy.

Captain Cornwallis accompanied him when he returned to Kent Island, and there the people who had served under William Claiborne were told that Captain Evelin counted on obeying the Governor of Maryland, and held that the island was rightfully within the bounds of the province which had been granted to my Lord Baltimore.

Thus it was that, seemingly, the dispute regarding the island was come to an end, and we of St. Mary's believed we need have no fear that trouble would come to us from those who were living there.

We were soon to learn, however, that even though it appeared as if the question whether Kent Island belonged to us of Baltimore or to the Province of Virginia, had been settled, there was yet trouble to grow out of the matter, which came about as you shall see.