John Soper

John Soper was transported in 1676.

When King Charles I granted the Charter of Maryland to Cecil Calvert on June 20, 1632, he gave him ownership of all land within certain boundaries. Article XVIII of The Charter gave Lord Baltimore full authority to "assign, Alien, grante, demise, or enfeoff" any parcels [of the Province} to any persons willing to purchase the same.  Down to the time of the Revolutionary War, all land grants in Maryland came from the Lords Baltimore, and after the death of Frederick, the 6th Lord Baltimore, from his son, Henry Harford, the Proprietor. It was the custom to date legal documents by the Regnal Year of the British Monarch, and this phraseology gave rise to the unfounded myth that Marylanders had "land grants from the King." Between 1634 and 1680, the Calverts encouraged settlers by promising to grant each settler so many acres (usually 50 acres) for himself and for each other person he or she brought into the Province. In 1680 this "head right" system was abolished, but Charles Calvert, 3rd Lord Baltimore, created the Land Office

The above page from “Early Landowners of Maryland Volume 2: Prince George’s County 1650 – 1710 by Robert W Hall”.

John Soper’s name is found as having been transported by Francis Hutchens, and was bound to him until cost of transportation was paid, and then he was entitled to 50 Acres of land. 

Some of the names don’t seem to follow the rules.  There are several names that do not appear in “Early Landowners” and George Clark showing that he immigrated and had “headrights” and automatically had rights to land.  

            Name                              Date

Francis Hutchins was assigned 650 acres for transporting those listed. 

           

Francis Hutchins                     1652

He was assigned 650 Acres because he transported the following people:

Matthew Hutchins                  1676

Daniel Tuck                             1676

Johnathan Bowdon

Found a John Bowden transported in 1678 a John Bowdon transported in 1679

George Clark                           1667 immigrated

Walter Gilbert                         not found

George Gundy                                    not found

Thomas Stevens                      1676

John Soper                              1676

Walter Tucker                         1676

John Pence                              not found

Elizabeth Haywood                1676

Judith Haywood                     1676

Anne Heathman                      1679


With the exception of Walter Gilbert, George Gundy and John Pence, the above names were found found in“The Early Settlers of Maryland” Gust Skordas”. 

Simplified version of why you would want to come to the America.

Arrival in the Maryland in the 1600’s entitled you to 50 Acres of land. Rent would paid each year.

If John Smith paid for his own transport:

John Smith would be known as an Immigrant and receive Head rights, and granted 50 acres.

If John Smith paid the transportation cost of others, family members, friends, he was granted Head rights and 50 acres for each of them. Those he paid for were "shown" as transported  and were granted 50 acres.

If John Smith paid for your transport, because you couldn't pay for it yourself he would be granted 50 acres plus 50 acres for you.. After you paid back the cost of  transportation, you would be granted 50 acres.

Arrival in Maryland did not necessarily mean coming from Europe. If you first arrived in    the colonies and then relocated to Maryland you had the same rights as someone coming by ship.

If your original journey to the colonies was to Maryland and you were deeded all the land that was your right and then you moved to Virginia, you would be entitled to the same amount of land in Virginia.

A trip to the Land Office resulted in a warrant being issued. The warrant ordered that the chosen piece of land be surveyed and a Certificate of Survey issued. With the Certificate of Survey a Patent or deed was issued. The land was now legally yours.