20070326 1764 Plat Plan of Westminster

1764 Plat Plan of Westminster

Posted March 26^th, 2007

I have been asked on several occasions if I have a map of Westminster from 1764. To date, to the best of knowledge, I have never posted it. And as I am currently looking at it, it may very well be because I’m not sure I can get it posted on the web site large enough for it to be of any value. Nevertheless, above please find the plat plan for Westminster from 1764.

Westminster is actually the amalgamation of a number of towns (“Hamlets”) put together.

Of note is that Westminster was legally a “city” until the 1838 charter - incorporation was amended by Chapter 335 of the Acts of the Maryland General Assembly of 1856, which re-characterized the municipality as a “city” and changed the titles of the elected officials to Mayor and Common Council of Westminster.

From the initial incorporation passed by the Maryland General Assembly in Chapter 128, Acts of 1818, through a subsequent incorporation in 1830, until 1856, Westminster had a Burgess and Commissioner form of government. The first “Mayor” of the City of Westminster was Francis Shriver, who served from 1856 to 1858.

A portion of Green Street, between Center and Washington Road was the city’s first annexation in 1788. One of five key “boroughs” that initially formed Westminster.

The October 15, 1964 Carroll County Times called them “hamlets:”

“Five hamlets made up the present Westminster. The Westminster of 1764 ran along King’s Street (now Main Street) from Manchester Road to Court Street.

“In 1775, New London was added to the original Westminster. This hamlet included that area along King’s Street from Court Street to Longwell Avenue.

“Another addition to the town was made in 1788 along Green Street from Washington Road to Church Street.

Bedford, along Main Street from Longwell Avenue to near John Street, was added in 1812.

“In 1825, Logsdon’s Tavern land was included along Main Street from Carroll Street to the junction of the Taneytown, New Windsor and Uniontown Roads and along Pennsylvania Avenue to Union Street.”

Many who follow county politics may find it of interest that the Carroll County Public Information Administrator, Vivian Laxton, is a descendent of the “Logsdon” family that helped form the foundation of what we now know as Westminster – and whose roots pre-date before Carroll County was a county. In 1825, what we know from history as “Logsdon’s Tavern” was actually a part of Frederick County.

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