A few days ago I posted a blog about the Acadian exiles that came to Baltimore and established French Town in 1755. Well, here is a great video that I found that adds a new dimension not only to the story, but to my blog.

Here is the link: You may have to copy and past it into your address bar. Since I was unable to get the video to load onto my Blog Page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnpW5IVyWtU

Here is an article which appeared in the July 1766 Edition of the Maryland Gazette. In this article Ann Fell is requesting that those who still owe money to her late husband (Edward) for the land that they agreed to buy must be paid in full or that she will be forces to take them to court. She also states that the rumors that are being spread claiming that the water in Fells Point is of poor quality. She believes this to be untrue and purely and attempt to slow settlement of Fells Point. Although the article is written in 18th century font, it is still a very interesting read. I found this article on the Maryland archives online.

1766 Death Of Edward Fell

1763, Edward Fell plots out the streets of Fells Point naming the many of the Streets after his wife Ann Bond. This is the origin of the streets that we know of today as Ann Street, Bond Street, and even, Lancaster Street, which unlike the other two is not named for the Edward’s wife or her family, but is named after Edward Fell’s ancestral home in Lancashire England. In 1766 shortly after plotting out the streets of Fells Point, Edward Fell would pass away, leaving behind his wife Ann and his young son William. However, this would not slow the growth of Fells Point Local wealthy families would begin to grab up the lots available in Fells Point, Families such as the Ridgley’s who ran a successful iron works out of North Hampton (the site of the present day Loch Raven Reservoir).

John Hesselius (1728-1778)
Ann Bond Fell (Mrs. Edward Fell) c. 1764
Oil on canvas
43 63/64 x 36 1/16 in. (111.7 x 91.6 cm.)
Holding Institution: Maryland Historical Society

The Acadians Arrive

1755, the first large group of immigrants would arrive in Fells Point. These Immigrants would settle into the area of South Charles Street that would later become known as “French Town”. These French /Catholic immigrants came to Baltimore as exiles from Nova Scotia where they had been viewed as a potential threat by the English during the early days of the French and Indian War. The story of these French Exiles would be immortalized in 1847 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his Poem, Evangeline. Although the French Acadians would be one of the first large groups of Immigrants into Baltimore and Fells Point, they would not be the last.

Map of the original tracks of land

In the year 1730 Edward Fells younger brother William Fell would build his house on a piece of land that he had purchased in one the very first land grants offered in the area This area was known at the time as, Copus Harbor. William would build his home on the line that would later become Lancaster Street. From this point on, Copus Harbor would be known as Fells Point Named after the Fell family who would purchase a good portion of the land around the Harbor.

Below is a drawing of the view of Baltimore and Fells Point from the top of Federal Hill in the year 1752. If one looks closely one can see that the artist has depicted a group of Indians sitting on top of Federal hill looking out over the harbor. The city has changed a great deal since then.

Fells Point would be off to the right in this drawing.