Church Hill Junt Locus A-1 (18QU987)

The Church Hill Hunt Locus A-1 site (18QU987) is the remains of a late 18th- and 19th-century farmstead, with a low-density prehistoric lithic scatter component. It is located on a ridge overlooking Taylor’s Branch, a tributary of Southeast Creek, in Queen Anne’s County.

The site is on land that was first patented by Philemon Lloyd in 1679. It came into the possession of the Burgess family in the 18th century. According to the 1798 tax list, it was owned by Dr. Thomas Burgess, who leased it to James Thomas. There was a dwelling and four outbuildings on the property. It next was possessed by John Brown, until his death in 1808. His niece, Sarah Betton, maintained ownership until her death in 1837, at which time the tract was sold. Over the next century and a half, the property went through several owners, at least three of whom owned slaves. Tax records from 1896 (when it was known as Williamson’s Farm) described a dwelling house, three outbuildings, and sheds. In 2002, the tract was purchased by Church Hill Hunt LLC.

The site was identified in 2005 during Phase I/II investigations for the Church Hill Hunt residential development. During the Phase I survey, 45 shovel test pits were excavated across 18QU987, which was defined by a broad scatter of domestic and architectural artifacts. Several features, including two probable pits filled with brick rubble, were noted.

Phase II investigations at the site included nine test units placed around the features identified during the Phase I survey. One turned out to be a square cellar, roughly 20’ across, that was partially excavated by archaeologists. It was likely filled in during the demolition of the building that formerly stood there. There was some indication of chimney or wall collapse along the western and northern sides of the cellar. The artifacts recovered were largely architectural, but fragments of ceramic kiln furniture were also found. A second feature was the foundation of a brick chimney that appeared to have been located on the north end of a frame structure. Two other features were most likely concentrations of rubble that was deposited in the early 20th century.

(Edited from the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project)