Welcome local and Braddock history buffs... Let's put on our collective thinking caps and see if we can solve a long standing question, the location of Gen. Braddock's second camp, Martin's Plantation.
The following is a list of clues:
(1) I have found only two mentions of Martin's Plantation. One, in Orme's Journal and the second in Peter Halkett's Orderly's Journal.
Orme's (p.333):
It required two days to new load the waggons, and put everything in order, which being settled we marched on the 13th to Martin's Plantation, being about five miles from Spendelow Camp. The first brigade got to their ground that night, but the second could not get up before the next day at eleven of the clock, the road being excessively mountainous and rocky. This obliged the General to halt
one day for the refreshment of the men and horses.
Orders given at the Camp at Martin's Plantation.
Upon the beating of the General, which is to be taken from the 44th Regiment, all the troops are to turn out, accoutre and form two deep at the head of their encampments upon all halts, tho' ever so small ;
Halkett's (p. 104):
Martins Plantation 2d Camp from Fort Cumberland June 14: 1755***
(2) There seems to be somewhat of a consensus Braddock's second camp was located near the confluence of George's Creek (Lonanconin Creek, circa 1700s) and Sand Spring Run. (see
Google Terrain Map)
The map below was created to show the properties owned by
Peter Tittle, Sr./Tittle's Tavern, circa 1771 to 1789. The tract called "The Mountain" was patented in 1760 by Michael Cresap and sold to Tittle in 1771. The patent encompasses today's Welsh Hill and includes bottom land adjacent to the confluence of George's Creek and an, as yet, unnamed run.
Map courtesy of Mike McKenzie and
korns.org. From a 1935 copy of an 1874 map of Allegany Co. Military Lots
This map is from
Veatch's copy of the Deakin's Survey, circa 1783.
The final map is attributed to one of Gen. Braddock's engineers, Harry Gordon. The Martin's Plantation camp is noted on the left on George's Creek. The mountain above the camp is assumed to be today's Welsh Hill. One question the map begs is the use of the name "Georges Creek". Other maps of the period refer to the creek as "Lonaconin Creek". A second question is Gordon's location of the camp on the second main fork of Georges Creek. Looking at the Google Terrain map, linked to above, the confluence of Sand Spring Run and Georges Creek appears to be on the right main fork.
(Map courtesy of Bob Bantz)
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(3) I have yet to find any property in the area of the camp owned by a Martin.
The tract called
Walnutt Levill (
MSA Record) was patented by John Ross in 1753. (See next post below)
The property know as
The Vale (
MSA Record) was patented to George French in 1776.
The property know as Demitt's Addition, whose western edge is bordered by Georges Creek, was patented in 1793 by James Demitt. (
MSA Record)
The military lots shown on Veatch's map were unclaimed property or were sold to settlers on the land.
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That's all I have so far...
~ Steve Colby
Western MD History
