SIGN: "The Bush Declaration" Harford Town

Harford Town was once the hub of the universe, as far as the people of Harford County were concerned.  But the influence of events which took place here was felt around the world.

Harford Town became the fifth site of the county seat in 1774, when Harford became its own county.  It was named for Henry Harford, who was the son of Maryland’s sixth, and last, Lord Baltimore, Frederick Calvert. 

Calvert was, by all historical accounts, basically a millionaire playboy who had several illegitimate children (which he did support financially). He never set foot in the state and was able to govern from afar due to the fact that he conveniently happened to be related to the three governors who served during his lifetime.

When Calvert died in 1771, Harford inherited his father’s estate, which amounted to 245,000 acres and 96,000 pounds sterling.  However, he was roughly 12 years old and the estate was overseen for him by his uncle, Cecilus Calvert. 

Calvert's will was contested by Harford’s cousins, and they were paid off and then by his uncle, Gov. Robert Eden, sued on his wife’s behalf (she was the sister of Calvert). That would soon become a moot point.

During the Revolutionary War, the land was seized from Harford, as it was from all British landholders. After the war, in 1786, Harford sued Maryland and was initially rebuffed by the General Assembly, but he was eventually given about 10,000 pounds sterling. 

Harford also sued the British government and was awarded 70,000 pounds sterling.

In the county and town which bore Harford’s name, of which he saw very little, the seeds of revolution were planted. They grew and thrived. 

Due to its situation on what was once called Old Post Road, which was really the only road for travel from New York to points south, Harford Town was a natural gathering place.  As the saying goes, it’s all about location.

When notable men of the time, such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Patrick Henry, passed through the area, Harford Town, especially as the county seat, was a logical place to stop and lodge. 

One can only imagine the conversations which took place at the local tavern.  News of the latest British tyranny would surely have been discussed, as well as what to do about it.

According to C. Milton Wright in Our Harford Heritage, the happenstance of this location “was particularly favorable to our ancestors keeping thoroughly in touch with the spirit of the times.”

In 1774, that spirit of independence showed itself when the State Convention recommended that the County War Commission in the newly formed Harford County collect money and food supplies to send to the people of Boston, who were suffering a lack of everything due to a British blockade.  

“The citizens responded liberally,” Wright’s book states.

By the following year, that spirit had turned into full-blown revolt in Harford County.  On March 22, 1775, the first ever Declaration of Independence by America was signed in a brick tavern in Harford Town.  It was called The Bush Declaration.

Thirty-four men signed this revolutionary document. They had been, “duly elected by the 10,000 white inhabitants,” according to Wright.  Among those signers was , whose name appears first.  Not only did he own vast amounts of land, he was also very active politically in the county. To read more about Hall, . 

The Bush Declaration  was probably the most influential single sentence in the history of American independence from Britain. The citizens of Harford pledged all they had to the cause of liberty. It would be more than a year before the Declaration of Independence would be signed in Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776. 

Considering that the last few words of both documents are remarkably similar, there can be little doubt that Thomas Jefferson had read the earlier, Bush version.  The Bush Declaration ends, “to perform the same at the risque of our lives and fortunes.”  The Declaration of Independence concludes with, “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

The Bush Declaration was signed mere weeks before the first shots were fired in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and the official beginning of the American Revolutionary War.

Because Old Post Road just happened to run through Harford County, and because Harford Town just happened to be the county seat, it just so happened that the notable minds of the day would stop on their travels and come together at this spot to share their ideas and the news of the day. 

As the people of Harford were fortunate enough to live in a place where they could be informed about political activities, they had the opportunity to decide amongst themselves what they thought about what was going on in their country and what they wanted to do about it.  Democracy was already in action.

 “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”  Thomas Jefferson wrote.     

Whether or not the people of Harford were aware of Jefferson’s sentiments, they certainly did prove him right. 

This sign was erected by the Maryland Historical Society.  It’s located on Rte. 7, just south of the intersection with Rte. 136.

Next week’s sign:  Old Post Road/Gov. William Paca.  What role did this native son play in the forming of our country?