John Hart, Governor of Maryland from 1714 to 1720

John Hart. 28 JOHN HART, GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND FROM 1714 TO 1720. SINCE, with the exception of his official acts, nothing at all is now known of this gentleman, it has occurred to the writer that perhaps the following notice, most meagre though it be, may prove interesting and indeed valuable, by eliciting more and fuller details in regard to him, and thus assist in increasing our knowledge of the men of im¬ portance in Provincial times. John Hart was apparently a captain in the Royal Army, and before coming to America he was stationed at Gibraltar, along with his friend, Lieutenant-Colonel Michael S}’nge. After his appointment to the governorship, Hart sailed for the Province, arriving at Annapolis in the spring of 1714. Although Annapolis has many fine old homes of the colo¬ nial period still standing, none of them are connected with Hart, either as owner or tenant, so I fancy he lived in the official residence, wherever that may have been, in his day. But if he rented or bought no house, it is certain that he did lease land 200 acres from Andrew’ Norwood, for thirty-one years, dating from September 29, 1715 ; no house is mentioned, nor any to be built. Turning to the Register of St. Anne’s Parish, Annapolis, w’e find the following entry: “ 1717, Aug. 4th, born; lmpt’d 13th, Henry, son of His Excellency John Hart, Esq., Gov¬ ernor of this Province, etc., and Anne His Wife,” a happy announcement, to be followed, alas, far too soon, by that of the boy’s death ; to wit, in 1718, the funeral taking place on March 12th. But this was not the Governor’s first Amcrican-born child, for on the 6th of September, 1716, his w’ife had presented him with a daughter, christened on the 21st, by the Rector of St. Anne’s, “ Marylandia.” Hart w’as a capable man, the Province throve under him, but being suspected of favoring the resumption of royal rule over Maryland, he was displaced by the proprietary influence. He returned to England in 1721. Further particulars in regard to him, his family, parent¬ age and native place, are requested. — — —