K-127

Rich Hill (Griffith House, The Adventure)

Architectural Survey File

This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse-

chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National

Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation

such as photographs and maps.

Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site

architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at

the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft

versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a

thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research

project; look at the MHT web site (mht.maryland.gov) for details about how to make an appointment.

All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust.

Last Updated: 01-23-2020

K-127

The Adventure, Rich Hill Near Sassafras c.1760

The Adventure is significant as an example of mid-18th century

Georgian architecture and as the home of Alexander and Elizabeth Ellis

Baird, tobacco planters and prominent members of their community. It is

located south of the Sassafras River, facing the main road.

After Alexander and Elizabeth were married in 1746, Elizabeth's

father, William Ellis, assigned a warrant for 200 acres of Moreton to the

couple, who were then residing in Cecil County. It was patented in 1749.1

The land adjoining, on which they built their house was patented in 1753

under the name - The Adventure.2 The larger part of Moreton, 400 acres,

was acquired in 1761 from James Louttit of Mount Harmon Plantation in

Cecil County.3 Soon after these three parcels of land were amassed, the

Bairds built their house. They would stay here for the next forty years, with

the farm as their livelihood.

The Bairds chose a design for their house similar to that of Bungay

Hill and the Violet Farm located in the lower part of the County-a plain,

rectangular two-story structure with two-story kitchen wing. Its southeast

facade was laid in Flemish bond above a molded watertable and employed a

decorative string course at second floor level, the center course being all

header bond. Segmental arches were used above all of the openings, except

above the attic gable windows where vertical headers were used. The

northwest facade and southwest gable were also laid in Flemish bond, but

burned and glazed headers were used throughout.

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Flanking both center entrances, benches were let into the brick

walls. The front entrance had a large 8-panel door with 5 pane transom

above a wide frame. Windows on both stories were the same size and had

12/12 sash with paneled shutters on the first floor only. The lower two-bay

kitchen wing had a door and three windows with 6/6 sash. Its facade has

glazed-headed Flemish bond.

The Adventure's floor plan consisted of a central stairhall with one

room on each side, and a kitchen. Its architectural millwork was amongst

the best in the County. The living room fireplace wall was fitted with

paneling executed in the Doric order. Fluted pilasters on paneled bases

flanked the large arched fireplace. Beyond the pilasters arched cabinets

were installed, one paneled and one glazed with superb architectural shell

cabinet within. A metope beneath the cornice ran the full length of the

wall, and the cornice 'broke out' above the pilasters, keystones of the

cabinets, and above the windows in the flanking walls.

The windows had splayed ·window jambs and crossetted trim which

was attached to the cornice like those at the Custom House in Chestertown.

The fireplace surround had a bolection molding with small panels in the

corners conforming to the arch of the fireplace. On each side of the fireplace

there were plaster coves which reduced the size of the firebox. Both of the

above features were similar to the treatments at Rose Hill and the Violet

Farm - both of which date from the I 760's.

The stair was a bold three-flight composition with square-paneled

newels and a close-string balustrade with turned balusters and drop finials.

In general, the form of the stair was similar to Tibbalds, the home of Baird's

co-parishioner Isaac Freeman. Another feature similar to Tibbalds was the

placement of a secondary winder stair behind the paneling in the dining

room.

Both second story rooms were well finished, with paneled fireplace

walls, but with less detail than the rooms below.

During his lifetime, Alexander Baird acquired about 2500 acres of

land near Head of Sassafras where he lived and owned a grist mill and a

saw mill, as well as a wharf from which the crops were shipped to market.

In 1783 his name was listed as a subscriber to Washington College in

Chestertown.4 In the same year his holdings included 1040 acres on which

were four houses, two brick and two frame. He owned 25 slaves, six of

whom were elderly and were not included in the valuation. His sum worth

at that time was @3007, a huge fortune for the day when @1000 was

considered the low end of "wealthy."5

Alexander and Elizabeth Baird had eleven children, six of whom

lived to maturity. All six were daughters and they married into the Kieve,

Hanson, Johns and Stoops families. At the time of his death in 1792,

Alexander Baird passed the Adventure onto his daughter Ann Stoops.6 It

remained in the family until Ann's daughter Elizabeth Thomas sold the

farm.7 Elizabeth and her husband Charles lived in New Castle and he

became the Governor of Delaware in 1830.

Joseph Griffith, who changed the name to Rich Hill, purchased the

1{-1 :11

farm from the Thomases in 1839.8 Two of Joseph's sons established

themselves on the other parts of Baird's lands and built substantial houses

as a result of the successful farming operations. During the ownership of

Joseph Griffith, an 80' long frame bank barn was built west of the house

which remains standing today, a lone survivor of a once common form of

farm structure.

Griffith sold the farm in 1859 to his son Robert who undertook the

remodeling of the old house.9 He must have appreciated the quality of the

interior, for nothing was removed. The house, however, did receive new

window frames and sash and an overhanging eave and dormer on the roof.

A larger porch was built on the front facade.

From the time the Griffiths lost the property in the late 19th

Century, the house was occupied by tenants until purchased by Waldo

Hagelgans, an antique dealer, in 1968.10 Mr. Hagelgans installed a central

heating system, but within a year sold it to St. Augustine Parish for use as

its rectory.II Under the direction of its rector, Rev. J. 0. Reynolds, the house

was gradually refurbished. It remained the rectory for St. Augustine Parish

until sold at auction. Since that time there have been two owners, the last

owner being responsible for the restoration of the great barn.

1. Warrants, 1 7 March 1748,

2. Patents, Lib. BY AGS No. 3, fol. 508.

Certificate, Lib. GS 1, fol. 1 79

3. Rent Rolls, Lib. 5, fol. 164.

4.

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5. 1783 Tax Assessment.

6. Land Records, Lib. JNG 6, fol. 177.

7. Land Records, Lib. WS 3, fol. 294.

8. Land Records, Lib. JNG 6, fol. 177.

9. Land Records, Lib. JKH 1, fol. 560.

10. Land Records, Lib. EHP 27, fol. 365.

11. Land Records, Lib. EHP 29, fol. 259.

K-127 Rich Hill, The Griffith House, The Adventure Sassafras Private

1753

Rich Hill, "The Adventure," was built by Alexander Baird soon after the land was patented to him in 1753. The five bay, two and one-half story, brick building has a two story, brick kitchen wing on the northeast gable end. The southeast facade overlooks a lawn. The house has Flemish bond walls, and English bond water table and rests on a stone foundation.

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.- -Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE: (July 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Maryland

COUNTY· NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Kent

ll'~VE~TORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE (Type all entries - complete applicable sections)

I 1. NAME .·.

COMMON' Rich Hill, The Griffith House

ANDi'OR HISTORIC:

The Adventure

12. LOCATION -STRC'.CT AIH:· NUMtlERt Maryland Route 299

CITY OR TOWN:

Sassafras STATE I CODE 'COUNTY' I CODE

Maryland ~cLI.sstFICA TION

I ::>4 I Kent I ()?Q

CATEGORY STATUS

ACCESSIBLE OWNERSHIP

TO THE PUBLIC (Check One)

0 District lia Bui I ding 0 Public Public Acquisition: ~ Occupied Yes:

0 Site D Structure !JO Private 0 In Process D Unoccupied Kl Restricted

D Object 0 Both 0 Being Considered 0 Preservation work 0 Unrestricted

in progress 0 No

PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate)

0 "Agricultural D Government D Park 0 Transportation 0 Comments

D Commercial [] Industrial [~ Private Residence 00 Other (Specify) --------

lg Educational D Military ~ Rel igiaus Recto:r:¥ for Entertainment 0 Museum 0 Scientific E:eiscogal Church

f4, OWNER OF PROPERTY I OWNER'S NAME' I q f I /Ve-u.r 0 (,).) Y1 e '.s "'

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~ . -- , - -- . •- . Mr. "'<:f-- M ·,,-. <. I< e 11 "' ,p -r J. )>

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Contact: mL - - - -n.<-: v no J. cts • "Rich Hirr- f-' u~ .... c., v.

CITY OR TOWN: STATE: CODE Ill ::i

Wa~ick Post Office, Kent Countv Marv land ? ll 0..

ls. l,.OC-~TJONOF-J;:eG·A-CDESCRIPT~()~= .. .. --COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: n

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CITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE

Chestertown Maryland 24 I

···-·- ~----~ 16. ~E.f>RESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS ..

·-·-·· --- ~'--·- - -- ~····-··· --- --TITLE OF SURVEY, ---- -

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Marv land Reqister of historic sites and landmarks I ....

+- ll 'Tl -< 0 DA.TE OF SURVEY: 1Q7() D Federal ~ State 0 County Cl Loco I I Al

!DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS' I

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ICITY OR TOWN: \sT::cyland

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Annapolis

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CONDITION f-~ __ E_xc_e_ll_e_nt __ O_G_o_o_d ____ O= Fair

(Check One)

0 Altered 00 Unaltered t--------'-----~--------

(Check One)

0 Deteriorated

0 ESC RIB E THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

MHT K-127

0 Ruin• CJ Unexposed

(Check One)

0 Moved ~ Original Site

Rich Hill, on the north side of Maryland Route 299, 0.2 miles northeast of the intersection of Maryland Route 299 and Maryland Route 290 at Sassafras, is in a location where this mid-eighteenth-century Georgian-style elaQorate dwellinq is an enigma. Built as a status symbol by Alexander Baird, a "tobacco planter turned builder," who in his day was a prominent member of the community, the house during the twentieth century has been converted into the Episcopal Rectory for nearby St. Augustine Parish, Cecil County, Maryland.

The dwelling, Rich Hill, is owned (1971) by the Vestry of St. Augustine Parish, St. Augustine Church, Chesapeake City, Cecil County, Maryland, and is occupied by the Rector of St. Augustine Church, The Reverend James 0. Reynolds.

m Rich Hill, "The Adventure," was built' by Alexander Baird m

soon after the land was patented to him in 1753. The five-bay, two-and-a-half story, brick building has a two-story, brick kitchen wing on the northeast gable end. The southeast z facade overlooks a lawn as well as a driveway and cultivated "" field crops on both sides of the main road to Sassafras. ~

The original, eight-paneled entrance door is surmounted by a five-light transom. The door frame, similar to all the frames and sashes throughout the house, is not original, dating after the mid-nineteenth century. The central cloor in the northwest facade has been lowered and does not have a transom due to the interior stair arrangement. Each door­way originally had flanking seats, each partly set into the brick exterior of the building. The northwest facade, having been restored to its original appearance, has irregular fenestration above the basement: three windows on the first story, two windows on the second story and a smaller opening at the level of the staircase landing.

Above the stone foundation, with galleting below the basement windows, is English bond brickwork between the sills and the molded water table. 'l'he remainder of the brickwork is Flemish bond, interspersed on the northwest and southwest sides by glazed headers at random.

All the openings support segmental brick arches with the exception of the flat-arch on the attic windows. The lintels on the northwest facade of the main block and the southeast facade of the kitchen wing have alternate glazed headers in a vertical pattern in the brick lintels.

The kitchen wing is laid in Flemish bond with the glazed headers on the southeast facade in reverse to the main block. The thin coat of (SEE CONTINUl\TION SIIFF.'T) ____ _.

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PERIOD (Check One or More BS Appropriate)

0 Pre-Columbian I 0 16th Century

0 15th Century 0 17th Century

MHT K-127

rn 18th Century

0 19th Century

0 20th Century

SPECIFIC DATE(Sl (ltApp/icsble and Known) patented 1753. built SOOn afterwards AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate)

Aboriginal 0 Education

0 Prehistoric 0 Engineering

0 Histaric 0 Industry

0 Agri cu I tu re 0 Invention

~ Arc hi lecture 0 Landscape

0 Art Architecture

0 Commerce 0 Literature

0 Communications 0 Military

0 Conservation 0 Music

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

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0 0 0

D D

Political

Religion/Phi.

losophy

Science

Seu lpture

Socia I/Human-

itorion

Theater

Transportation

[l Urban Planning

0 Other (Specify)

Alexander Baird, for whom "The Adventure" was patented in 1753, was of local importance as a successful tobacco planter and an active member of the vestry of Shrewsbury I

Parish (1755-1792) in Kent County. During his lifetime he I acquired approximately 2500 acres of land near Head of Sassafras, now the Sassafras River, where he lived, owned a grist mill and a saw mill as well as the wharf, later I called "the public landing," from which the crops were shipped to market. In 1782 we find his name among the sub-­scribers to Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland.

In October of 1746 he married Elizabeth Ellis. Of their eleven children six daughters lived to maturity and married members of the Keene, Hanson, Johns and Stoops families. At the time of Alexander Baird's death, "The Adventure" passed to his daughter, Ann Baird Stoops. Elizabeth Stoops, daughter of Ann Baird and Jonas Stoops, later married Charles Thomas of New Castle, Delaware, who became the Governor of Delaware in 1830.

The farm was sold in 1839 to Joseph Griffith, who changed the name to "Rich Hill." The Griffith family owned surrounding farms which had previously been owned by Alexander Baird. Their farming endeavors prosperea and the sons built homes on the adjoining early tract, "Morton," the latter patented in 1670.

Since the late nineteenth century it has been usea as a house for tenant farmers until it was acquired for the Vestry of St. Augustine Parish, Cecil County, as the rectory. Since its acquisition in 1968, the house has been preserved and restored. It is occupie~ in 1971 by the Reverend James 0. Reynolds, Rector of St. Augustine Parish, Chesapeake City, Cecil County, Maryland. I

MHT .t<:-127

f 9. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

Recorder: Michael Bourne, Maryland Historical Trust, 94 College Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland

Hanson, George A., Old Kent. Regional Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1967 (orig. 1876).

Kent County Wills Chestertown,

----------··---··----·----------·

& Land Records, Maryland.

Kent County Courthouse,

SEE CONTINUATION SHEET ------- --~---~..-----~--·--------------~- ·-10:... .. ~-~.EJ.G~A P~l~A ~.f?_A_T!- ..

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-··-· DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY 0 OE....FINING THE'. CENTEH •JOIN 1 OF A PROf.JL'R 1 Y

R- OF LESS THAN TFN ACRES ··--COPNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE LATITUDE LONG! TUDL '---·--·-1---

Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds NW 39 0 22 10 . 75 ° 48 38 . 0 . 0 .. NE 39 0 22 18 . 75 ° 48 24 .

i SE 39 0 22 08 . 75° 48 15 . SW ';\Q 0 ") ") (\ , . '7 c:: 0 AO '} 7 .

APPROXIMATE

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J ACREAGE OF NOMIN-~~ED_.'.:._".'_'.:.PE~~-Y_: _________ 6 4 ___ ac_re.s_,. ____ LiST ALL STATES ANO COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES

CODE j STATE: CODE COUNTY

STATE:: CODE COUNTY: CODE:_ \

. ·-· STATE: CODE COUNTY· COD~

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-ST A.TE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

--·--- _.........,..,. __ ~ - -fH. FORM PREPARED BY - -··

NAME AND TITLE:

Mrs. Preston Par_i~_K_~3r of __ th.e_Mary 1 and Beg] ster .. OR GANI Z.ATION

!DATE

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Maryland Historical Trust : Jan .18 l 1972 T AND NUMBER:

94 College Avenue -

Cl TY OR TOWN: STATE Cl.DE

Annapolis Marv land ? L1 p2. STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICA I ION NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION

As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na-

tional Historic Preservation Act of l'l66 (Public Law I hereby certify that this property is included in the

89-fi65). I hereby nominate this property for inclusion National Register.

in the National Register and certify that it has b.cen

evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set

fc>1·th by thL· N.iti0nnl Park Servitt•. ·1·he Tt>i."~~rl\lllClldl•tl Cl1h•f, ()J l1cP of A n-llf'nlo;~y urul 111 ·"tori c l'r«•s1·rv.tlion

level of ~ti;;n1flL·,1nce ..._,[this IH>llllllaltUil IS:

National L."J State !Xi Local u

I r\J' . /2;.Jo~J JU uate

Name U.- _ 1 ()../\/\JC)

ATTEST: I I I I Orlando Ridout IV I

Title State Liaison Officer I I for Maryland --------------------

:J Kcep<>r of Tl1c National R•'P,i.~rc>r

I Dale Jan u~ry_--1:2_~ __ 1-2.11. ____ [J;1t«

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Form 10-3000 (July 1969)

UNITED ::.TATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NA Tl ON AL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

INVENTORY · NOMINATION FORM

MHT K-127

"rATE

Maryland COUNTY

Kent FOR NPS USE ONLY

(Continuation Sheet) ENTRY NUMBER I DATE

I (Number all entrlee)

Rich Hill, The Griffith Houss

#7. DESCRIPTION coniinued

stucco covering the northeast gable hides the brickwork. On the northwest facade is a modern screened porch.

The interior cornices, chair rails and baseboards are in­tact as well as a paneled chimney breast over each firepJace opening. The turned balusters on the closed-string stair con­forms with the early character of the woodwork .

The front entrance of Ri~h Hill faces th~ public road, Maryland Route 299, and looks across the road to open fields. The sixty-four acres designated will protect the immediate area surrounding the house and the vista to and across the public road.

#9. REFERENCES continued

Kent County Wills & Land Records, Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland.

Kent County Chancery Records, Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland.

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Form 10-301 (Dec. 1968)

jl. NAME

lco~HAON:

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY MAP FORM

(Type ,1/1 t>nlries - ntlach to or enclose with map)

Hi ch II i 11, 'I'he Griff itT1Tiouse-r;;:;·o OR H15TORIC:

--,rhc--l\ciVe-nfure ______ _

MHT K-127 STATE I

M ::i rv 1 :::. nd__ __ --1 COUNTY-,

Kent FOR NPS USE !')NL Y

ENTRY NUMBER I DATE

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U Maryland Haute 299

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TO nE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Properly broundaries where required.

2. North arrow.

J. Latitude and longitude reference.

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CORPS OF ENGINEERS

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... ATIO ... AL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

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STATE J/

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Kent FOR MPS use ONL y

EN TRY NUMBf:R OATf'.

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