GRACE FOUNDATION OF TAYLORS ISLAND, MD
  • Home
  • About Taylors Island
    • History of Taylors Island
    • Directions and Driving Tour
    • Old Post Office
    • Tour Pamphlet
    • Self-Guiding Nature Trail
    • Map showing Taylors Island from 1670
    • 1877 Map of Taylors Island
    • Historic Structures >
      • Becky Phipps Cannon >
        • 1912 Balt. Sun Article - Cannon Blown Apart
        • Cannon re-dedication 1999
        • Cannon - MD Historical Trust Info
      • Historic Old School House >
        • Historic Schoolhouse (MD Historical Trust Info)
      • Ridgeton Hall >
        • Ridgeton Hall - Maryland Historical Trust Info >
          • Judge Levi Travers
      • General Store >
        • General Store (MD Historic Trust Info)
        • Christmas Eve General Store Tradition
      • Mulberry Grove >
        • The History of Mulberry Grove >
          • Article About Mulberry Grove
          • Silk Worms of Mulberry Grove
          • Mulberry Grove - MD Historic Trust Info
      • Spicer Bungalow
      • Kirwan Farm >
        • Maryland Historical Trust Info - Kirwin Farm
      • "The LeCompte" a/k/a "Cator" house >
        • Cator-LeCompte House (MD Historic Trust Info)
      • Other Structures (inventoried by the Maryland Historical Trust)
      • Old Windmill >
        • Windmill locations 1877
      • The Canning House >
        • Tomato Picking Time
    • 1920's - photos
    • Visit by sitting U.S. President
    • Geological Survey
    • Radio Program Transcript - 1969
  • Battle of the Ice Mound
    • Oral History of Battle of Ice Mound (as memorialized in 1931)
    • Audio Description of Battle
    • Bicentennial celebration of the battle >
      • Recognition for a well planned event
      • USPS recognition of Battle of Ice Mound Bicentennial
    • Floeberg 1936
    • British on Punch Island Creek
    • BRITISH ON SLAUGHTER CREEK
  • Churches
    • Grace Episcopal Church >
      • Interior of Grace Church
      • MD HISTORICAL TRUST INFO
      • The Story of the Bell
    • Chapel of Ease >
      • Interior Chapel
      • Interior Chapel from balcony
      • Historical Marker
      • MD HISTORIC TRUST INFO
    • Bethlehem "Brick" Church >
      • Interior photos
      • MD HISTORICAL TRUST INFO
      • Ministers of Bethlehem Church 1820--1900
      • Church Minutes (selected minutes 1860, 1873 & 1876)
    • Chaplain Memorial >
      • Interior Photos Chaplain Memorial Church
      • MD HISTORICAL TRUST INFO
    • Lane Methodist Episcopal Church >
      • Lane Church Images
      • MD HISTORIC TRUST INFO
    • Video Tour of Churches
    • History of Island Methodism
  • Cemeteries
    • Grace Foundation Graveyard Policy
    • Bethlehem Church Cemetery Records
    • Grace Episcopal Church Burial Records
    • Lane Cemetery
    • Robson Cemetery >
      • Robson Cemetery Grave Photos
    • Hoopers Point Cemetery
  • Notable Islanders
    • Early Islanders
    • Samuel M Travers
    • HON. LEVI D. TRAVERS
    • Dr. Washington A Smith
    • J. Hooper Bosley
    • Tall Family >
      • Family Burial Ground of Elijah Tall
    • THOMAS BROOME TRAVERS >
      • Thomas Broome Travers (genealogy)
    • Revolution
    • T. Reynolds Carpenter
  • Schools & Students
    • School used as museum
    • Schoolhouse MD Historical Trust Info
  • African American Schoolhouse
    • African American School - MD Historic Trust Info
  • Slaughter Creek & The Bridge
    • Old Store at bridge
    • Bridge to Meekins Neck
    • Ferry to Meekins Neck
  • Island Folklore
    • The Tea Set
    • The Story of Polly
    • Taylors Island During Prohibition
    • Clara Bow
    • The Tale of the Swan Decoy
  • Lists of Business Persons & Farmers
    • 1887
    • 1894-95 >
      • Wm. D. Travers
    • 1908-09
    • 1915-17
  • Taylors Island Ship Building
    • Travis Spicer & Sons Shipbuilders
    • Historic Ships of Taylors Island >
      • Moses Henry Geoghegan
  • Slaughter Creek Marina
    • Coast Guard Station Photo
  • James Island
    • James Island photos
    • James Island sketches
    • James Island Videos
    • Aerial Photos of James Island
    • James Island Articles
    • James Island School
    • Sika Deer of James Island
    • James Island Restoration
  • Remembrances from bygone days
    • History by Laura Robinson Navy -1977
    • Old mode of transportation
  • Grace Foundation History
    • Senator George L. Radcliffe
    • The Promise
    • 1st Meeting of Grace Foundation May 13, 1951
  • Membership Information
    • 2022 Membership Letter
    • 2020 Membership Letter
    • 2020 Membership Roster
    • Membership Application
    • 2019 Membership Letter
    • 2015 Membership Letter
  • Champion Trees of Taylors Island
    • Bicentennial Tree
    • Persimmon Tree
    • Post Oak
    • Trees harvested to be used as roads
  • Taylors Island Volunteer Fire Company
    • TIVFC articles
    • TIVFC Photos over the years
    • Tragic Fire
  • Transpeninsular Line
    • 1971 Article on Transpeninsular Line
  • Home
  • About Taylors Island
    • History of Taylors Island
    • Directions and Driving Tour
    • Old Post Office
    • Tour Pamphlet
    • Self-Guiding Nature Trail
    • Map showing Taylors Island from 1670
    • 1877 Map of Taylors Island
    • Historic Structures >
      • Becky Phipps Cannon >
        • 1912 Balt. Sun Article - Cannon Blown Apart
        • Cannon re-dedication 1999
        • Cannon - MD Historical Trust Info
      • Historic Old School House >
        • Historic Schoolhouse (MD Historical Trust Info)
      • Ridgeton Hall >
        • Ridgeton Hall - Maryland Historical Trust Info >
          • Judge Levi Travers
      • General Store >
        • General Store (MD Historic Trust Info)
        • Christmas Eve General Store Tradition
      • Mulberry Grove >
        • The History of Mulberry Grove >
          • Article About Mulberry Grove
          • Silk Worms of Mulberry Grove
          • Mulberry Grove - MD Historic Trust Info
      • Spicer Bungalow
      • Kirwan Farm >
        • Maryland Historical Trust Info - Kirwin Farm
      • "The LeCompte" a/k/a "Cator" house >
        • Cator-LeCompte House (MD Historic Trust Info)
      • Other Structures (inventoried by the Maryland Historical Trust)
      • Old Windmill >
        • Windmill locations 1877
      • The Canning House >
        • Tomato Picking Time
    • 1920's - photos
    • Visit by sitting U.S. President
    • Geological Survey
    • Radio Program Transcript - 1969
  • Battle of the Ice Mound
    • Oral History of Battle of Ice Mound (as memorialized in 1931)
    • Audio Description of Battle
    • Bicentennial celebration of the battle >
      • Recognition for a well planned event
      • USPS recognition of Battle of Ice Mound Bicentennial
    • Floeberg 1936
    • British on Punch Island Creek
    • BRITISH ON SLAUGHTER CREEK
  • Churches
    • Grace Episcopal Church >
      • Interior of Grace Church
      • MD HISTORICAL TRUST INFO
      • The Story of the Bell
    • Chapel of Ease >
      • Interior Chapel
      • Interior Chapel from balcony
      • Historical Marker
      • MD HISTORIC TRUST INFO
    • Bethlehem "Brick" Church >
      • Interior photos
      • MD HISTORICAL TRUST INFO
      • Ministers of Bethlehem Church 1820--1900
      • Church Minutes (selected minutes 1860, 1873 & 1876)
    • Chaplain Memorial >
      • Interior Photos Chaplain Memorial Church
      • MD HISTORICAL TRUST INFO
    • Lane Methodist Episcopal Church >
      • Lane Church Images
      • MD HISTORIC TRUST INFO
    • Video Tour of Churches
    • History of Island Methodism
  • Cemeteries
    • Grace Foundation Graveyard Policy
    • Bethlehem Church Cemetery Records
    • Grace Episcopal Church Burial Records
    • Lane Cemetery
    • Robson Cemetery >
      • Robson Cemetery Grave Photos
    • Hoopers Point Cemetery
  • Notable Islanders
    • Early Islanders
    • Samuel M Travers
    • HON. LEVI D. TRAVERS
    • Dr. Washington A Smith
    • J. Hooper Bosley
    • Tall Family >
      • Family Burial Ground of Elijah Tall
    • THOMAS BROOME TRAVERS >
      • Thomas Broome Travers (genealogy)
    • Revolution
    • T. Reynolds Carpenter
  • Schools & Students
    • School used as museum
    • Schoolhouse MD Historical Trust Info
  • African American Schoolhouse
    • African American School - MD Historic Trust Info
  • Slaughter Creek & The Bridge
    • Old Store at bridge
    • Bridge to Meekins Neck
    • Ferry to Meekins Neck
  • Island Folklore
    • The Tea Set
    • The Story of Polly
    • Taylors Island During Prohibition
    • Clara Bow
    • The Tale of the Swan Decoy
  • Lists of Business Persons & Farmers
    • 1887
    • 1894-95 >
      • Wm. D. Travers
    • 1908-09
    • 1915-17
  • Taylors Island Ship Building
    • Travis Spicer & Sons Shipbuilders
    • Historic Ships of Taylors Island >
      • Moses Henry Geoghegan
  • Slaughter Creek Marina
    • Coast Guard Station Photo
  • James Island
    • James Island photos
    • James Island sketches
    • James Island Videos
    • Aerial Photos of James Island
    • James Island Articles
    • James Island School
    • Sika Deer of James Island
    • James Island Restoration
  • Remembrances from bygone days
    • History by Laura Robinson Navy -1977
    • Old mode of transportation
  • Grace Foundation History
    • Senator George L. Radcliffe
    • The Promise
    • 1st Meeting of Grace Foundation May 13, 1951
  • Membership Information
    • 2022 Membership Letter
    • 2020 Membership Letter
    • 2020 Membership Roster
    • Membership Application
    • 2019 Membership Letter
    • 2015 Membership Letter
  • Champion Trees of Taylors Island
    • Bicentennial Tree
    • Persimmon Tree
    • Post Oak
    • Trees harvested to be used as roads
  • Taylors Island Volunteer Fire Company
    • TIVFC articles
    • TIVFC Photos over the years
    • Tragic Fire
  • Transpeninsular Line
    • 1971 Article on Transpeninsular Line
GRACE FOUNDATION OF TAYLORS ISLAND, MD
​ 
Thomas Broome Travers (1802-1875)
 
Source: “Maryland Genealogical and Memorial Encyclopedia”
 
and “The Cators of Dorchester” Genealogy Web Site
 
My genealogical writings for Yahoo:
 
http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/1062891/donna_cator.html
 
 
"On the map, the western part of Dorchester county seems to be a part of themainland. However, for a long time, and in fact so long that the 'memory of manrunneth not to the contrary,' most of this section has been an island separated by anarrow stream called Slaughter creek from the mainland. One of the early settlementsin the county was on this island, then considerably larger than at present since muchof it has unfortunately been washed away by the stormy waters of the Chesapeake bay. The pioneer settler on this island was
THOMAS TAYLOR
, after whom theisland was named. Shortly afterwards his cousin,
WILLIAM TRAVERS
, came thereto settle.
WILLIAM TRAVERS
 died in 1701, devising by his will a considerableamount of real estate. One of his sons,
MATTHEW,
 became one of the wealthiestand most prominent men in the county. He married
ELIZABETH
, daughterof
HENRY HOOPER
, the second in line of successive generations of
HENRYHOOPER
s, who furnished probably the most striking illustration in the history of thecounty of the passing not only of the surname but of a marked degree of prominencefrom father to son. A brother of this
ELIZABETH
 was
HENRY HOOPER
, ownerand builder of Warwick Fort Manor. Another sister married
JOHNBROOME,
 sometimes spelt
BROME
, whose prominence personally and that of hisfamily were well known to students of Maryland Colonial history. From both of thesedaughters of 
HENRY HOOPER, THOMAS BROOME TRAVERS
, the subject ofthis sketch, was descended."Successive generations of Traverses and other allied families continued to live onTaylor's Island. The status of island, the distance from Cambridge, the county seat,and the almost impossible roads prohibited easy communication with Cambridge andother parts of the county. This isolation and the unusual industrial advantages ofTaylor's Island resulted in the development of a community unique in many respects.Fertility of the soil, large holdings of slaves, big profits from shipbuilding, ownershipof vessels trading with 'Brazil and The Indies,' produced a state of considerable prosperity. The water as well as the land furnished food in abundance. The houseswere commodious, although a simple style of architecture prevailed even in the homesof the richest. The dominant families were closely bound together by blood andalmost daily association. House parties were large and frequent. Educational provisions were quite good. The children were usually sent to school in Baltimore ortaught by tutors in private homes. It is doubtful whether any section of Dorchestercounty, or of any other county in the colony or State, had in proportion to populations
 
so many men of wealth. The loss of slaves, injurious tides, the wash of the sea andother causes brought about serious changes for the worse in the community life ofTaylor's Island. In recent years a new era of prosperity has begun to develop."
THOMAS BROOME TRAVERS
 was born in 1702, the son of
THOMASBROOME and DELIA TRAVERS
. He was born in one of the Travers' homesteadswhich had been in the family for many generations. He increased his inheritance,which was considerable, by industry and excellent judgment, so that at the time of hisdeath he was one of the wealthiest men in the county. His many farms were wellhandled. Throughout his life he was constantly building vessels, which from theirocean and bay trade brought in considerable revenue."
THOMAS BROOME TRAVERS
was an excellent representative of the type of business man which in many respects has perforce ceased to exist. Since not a bankexisted in the county until the latter part of his life, all of his various operations wereconducted without the use of bank checks. Payments running up in the thousands ofdollars were made and received in gold. Large quantities of gold were frequently kepton hand. For instance, a package containing $4,000 in twenty dollar gold pieces wasallowed by him in one case to remain unopened for a period of at least fifteen years.He loaned many thousands of dollars to his friends, always without any form of noteor written acknowledge or receipt."He was an Episcopalian throughout his life and furnished the larger part of the fundsfor the building of the Episcopal church now standing on Taylor's Island. This churchwith its solid walnut pews and other unusual features is an interesting survival. It tookthe place of one of the old Colonial '
Chapels of Ease
' which had been a matter ofinterest to students of history. The dramatic scenes illustrated on the coast of Taylor'sIsland during the Revolutionary War, especially during the War of 1812, and whichhave never found proper place in history were matters of keen interest to him, and heendeavored to preserve fitting mementoes of these times, especially in so far asmembers of his family had participated."He married his cousin,
ELISABETH TRAVERS
, who died at the age of twenty-two, leaving three little daughters. These three daughters survived him. Theywere
 SOPHIE D
., widow of 
 JOHN ANTHONY LeCOMPE RADCLIFFE
, asketch of whom precedes this;
MARY, widow of WILLIAMCATOR,
 and
ADDIE,
 wife of
E. L. GRIFFITH
.
THOMAS BROOMETRAVERS
 never married again, but devoted the best of his time and energy to thewelfare of his daughters. It was his aim to bridge over the loss to his children of theirmother by assuming personally as many as possible of maternal duties andresponsibilities. In spite of the engrossing nature of his business enterprises, hefollowed most closely the details of the daily lives of his daughters. He provided
 
 private instruction for them at his home, and as soon as they were large enough, hesent them to private school. A little instance illustrating his efforts to see that theirdesires and plans were properly looked after is seen in the arrangements which hemade in regard to the wedding cake of his oldest daughter [
Sophie D. Travers
]. Toinsure as much as possible against accident, he sent one of his best sailing vessels to bring the cake from Baltimore and permitted the vessel to have no other mission.Possibly the most distinguishing characteristics of
THOMAS BROOMETRAVERS
 were the personal attention and interest which he gave to the daily life ofhis daughters, and his constant efforts to give them the best of training and education.This was carefully done in spite of engrossing business cares."He died in 1875, leaving one of the largest estates in the county. The best heritage tohis many descendants was, however, his reputation for integrity, ability and generalworthiness. "
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.