Description

According to Earle, "on the crest of the hill, overlooking the Patuxent and about a half mile north of the location of the early town [Calvert Town] is 'Taney Place,' which is home of the late Young D. Hance. In the will of Benjamin Hance, recorded in Annapolis in 1708, devising his property, 'Taney Place' is included therein to his heirs. This estate must have gone later to the Taneys, because in 1835 Young Dorsey Hance purchased 'Taney Place' from Taney. The large rectangular-shaped house surmounted by four large chimneys is of brick. The solid brick ends of more than two feet in thickness are exposed, while the front and rear are weather boarded over the brick. The same construction is found to exist in many of the old houses of Southern Maryland. Roger Brooke Taney. Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, was born here and attended the military academy at Charlotte Hall and later moved to Frederick County. The most interesting fact connected with 'Taney Place' was the duel fought there between John Magruder and Miles [Michael] Taney. There are two versions as to the place, one being under a cedar tree in the front yard, the stump of which is there today. A drop of blood remains on the hall floor said to have been from Magruder's wound. The second version, which no doubt is the correct one, goes as follows: Both Magruder and Taney were in love with a beautiful Barbara Dorsey, a Southern Maryland...

Record Contributed By

Baltimore Museum of Art

Record Harvested From

Digital Maryland