East New Market

Property Reports

43 Main Street

Bramble House

(Prior to 1889)

Key date analysis:

The Bramble House originally stood at the southeast corner of Railroad Avenue and Main Street.  A deed in 1814 refers to this property as the "Yellow House" lot.  Mary King, sister of Henry & Edward King, is believed to have had the house built around 1805.  She left the property to her niece Mary King, who married Jeremiah Bramble.  In an 1888 deed, the property is described as being held in the possession of Mary King Bramble for "almost a century".  In 1889, the Bramble House was moved to its current site at 107 Main Street to clear the land for the the building of the Chesadel Hotel. 

Who built it:

Mary King, sister of Henry & Edward King, likely had the house built around 1805.  Edward L. Hooper had the house moved in 1889.

Longest Residents:

Mary King Bramble owned the Bramble House for about 76 years.

More Research:

Dendrochronology could establish the exact date of date of construction for this house.

Historic Records:

[For post 1889 information about the structure see the historic record report for 107 Main Street.  For post 1889 information about the land, see the historic record report for the Chesadel Hotel and the historic record report for the Realty Building at 43 Main Street.]

12 CL 594 - 10 May 1889 - Edward L. Hooper & Minnie R. Hooper, husband & wife, both of Hartford, Connecticut, to Mrs. Susan J. Wales of said Hartford for $50:  All that Hotel property situated in the town of East New Market and known as the Bramble House.  Beginning at the corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue, thence with said Avenue 72 feet to the Drug Store, thence with the end of the Drug Store 26 (feet?) in a somewhat southerly direction to the garden fence, thence with garden fence and rear of line of buildings running in an easterly direction 86 1/2 feet to the Seymour property, thence in a southerly direction with the back line of said Seymour property thence in a southerly direction with the back line of said Seymour property 100 feet to Samuel E. Collins property, thence with said Collins line 123 feet westward to the Leckie property 38 1/2 feet northerly, and with said Leckie Lot also with the William R. Hooper property, thence westerly 38 feet to Main Street, thence with said Main Street to the place of beginning.

11 CL 47 - 9 April 1888 - Mary King Bramble to Edward L. Hooper of Hartford, Connecticut for $1550:  All that Hotel property in the town of East New Market and known as the "Bramble House".  Said property so sold is a part of the estate inherited by the grantor from her ancestry by whom it has been held in peaceable possession for almost a century.  Part beginning at the corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue thence with said Avenue 72 feet to the drug store, thence with the end of drug store 26 feet a somewhat southerly direction to the garden fence, thence with the garden and rear of line of building running easterly direction 86.5 feet to the Seymour property, thence a southerly direction with the back line of said Seymour property 100 feet to Samuel E. Collins property, thence with said Collins line 120 feet westward to the Leckie property, 38.5 feet northerly and with said Leckie lot and also with the William R. Hooper property thence westerly 38 feet to Main Street thence with said Main Street to the place of beginning.  
[The property may have been referred to as the hotel property because it was where the Hotel Chesadel was being built.  It is also possible that the relatively small Bramble House was used to keep boarders.  Another proprietor may have run the Bramble house as a boarding house during the time period when Mary Bramble ran the "Brick Hotel" as a hotel]

Baltimore Sun - 9 December 1887 - Fire at East New Market
East New Market, Dorchester Co., Md, Dec 8. - A fire originated this morning about half-past four o'clock in the store of C.C. Hubbard, on Main Street, and quickly spread to the adjacent building, owned by W.R. Hooper and M.S. Fletcher, which were entirely destroyed...  The buildings owned by S.E. Collins and W.R. Sherman and the Bramble House narrowly escaped, and the feat performed in extinguishing the fire with such inadequate means was remarkable...

8 CL 149 - 6 January 1886 - Mortgage - Mary A. Bramble owing to Major S. Fletcher $972.75:  all that property situated in the town of East New Market and on the corner of Main Street, and known as the Bramble Hotel property:  Provided that if the said Mary A. Bramble shall pay to the said Major S. Fletcher, the sum of $972.75 on or before 1 January 1887 with the interest thereon.  Mortgage later assigned to Elizabeth Twilley, who continued to hold the mortgage when E.L. Hooper purchased the property.

Cambridge Chronicle - 15 February 1882 - E. New Market
February 13, 1882 - Representative Wm. H. Hooper, of Utah Territory, but formerly of this county and district, arrived here last Saturday, and is the guest of Hon. Wm. T. Vickers. He is accompanied by two of his daughters. His meeting with old friends, and especially Mrs. Mary Bramble, was said to have been very effecting. He says the first dollar he ever made for himself was paid to him by Jeremiah Bramble, the deceased husband of Mrs. Bramble, at whose house he performed the work.  His recollection of scenes and incidents of this town forty-eight years ago, is very vivid and fresh upon his mind...

Cambridge Chronicle - 18 January 1882 - Communicated
...Thursday, the 5th inst., Grand-ma Bramble celebrated her 80th birthday. The old lady seems to be as sprightly and gay as ever, and knows as well how to do justice to the tired and hungry traveler as ever, and Miss Jane, her next best friend, is ready at short notice to lend a helping hand...

1880 Census
undetermined

1876 Tax Record
Mary Bramble
1 dwelling house & lot in ENM 1/4 acre - $1400

History of East New Market - 1871-1913 by Frank E. Loomis
The brick hotel was kept by Mary Bramble; a good old soul but noted for her inquisitiveness.  A stop of twenty four hours with her would strip one of all his secrets.
[Mary Bramble owned the corner lot, but was the proprietor at the "Brick Hotel"]

1870 Census
undetermined

1867-1876 Tax Record
Mary Bramble
1867 House and Lot $1500
reduced
1874 B lot to Joseph Buck $100

1866 Tax Record
Mary Bramble
House & Lot $1500

1860 Census
Possibly dwelling #732, household of Mary Bramble

American Eagle - 3 June 1857
Mrs. Bramble, at East New Market, has a goose which as layed 45 eggs this season, and is still laying regularly.

1852-1864 Tax Record
Mary Bramble
House & Lot $800

1850 Census
possibly dwelling #1245, household of Jeremiah Bramble

Cambridge Chronicle – 1 November 1834 – For Rent –
Jeremiah Bramble to rent house in New Market at present occupied by William D. Lynch, commonly known as the corner house, together with a granary, stable, and horse pound, attached.

Marriage - 18 March 1817 - Jeremiah Bramble to Mary King

3 ER 355 - 23 March 1814 - Mary King, orphan, by her guardian James Twilly, humbly sheweth that Mary King, deceased, died intestate since the 1st of January 1788, seized of certain tracts of land leaving the following hiers to wit, Sarah King, Amelia King, Elizabeth King, and Harriet King, daughters and heirs of Henry King, and Mary King, the petitioner, daughter & the heir of Edward King.  The petitioner prays for your honor to appoint a commission to divide the land.  The court have appointed James Twilley guardian to Mary King, and Amelia King guardian to Sarah King, Elizabeth King, Amelia King, and Harriet King, being infants under the age of twenty-one years.  The commission to divide the land appointed - Levin Marshall, Henry Haskins, Joseph Whitely, Thomas Ennalls, and Henry Hicks (of D.).  They took oath.  They divided part of a tract called "Anderton's Desire" that was laid off for Mary King, sister of Henry King in a commission granted Henry King in 1803 for 71 acres and in order to divided the same into 2 divisions equal in quantity and quality.
Lot No. 1 - Laid off for Sarah King, Amelia King, Elizabeth King, and Harriett King, daughters and heirs of Henry King to the value of $1971.50.  121 acres including part of the land called Anderton's Desire and sundry other parts of tracts of land to be laid out in the following manner to wit.  Beginning at a marked cedar post at the letter A on the plot and runs N88/30E 72.5p then N1W 22p to the end of the 2nd line of 9 1/4 acre lot formerly laid out for Henry King then N17/20E 46.5p then S75E 30p then N1W 15p to the 2nd line in a deed John Anderton from James Sulivane & wife then N21E 43p to the letter B on the plot it being at the end of the 2nd line of Mary King's dividend then runs N82W 73p to the end of the first line of said Mary Kings dividend, then N9E 135.75p to a marked black gum and white oak at letter C on the plot being the beginning of Mary King's dividend then N78W 14.5p then N56W 13p then S82/30W 8p to a marked poplar tree and then in a straight line to the place of beginning.  Containing 121 acres of land.  And part of Lecompte's Ramble at Letter D on the plat and from thence runs NW 78p then N 76p then W 28p, then NbyE 32p, E 80p then S7E 28p and then in a straight line to the place of beginning. Containing 55 1/2 acres.
Secondly, Laid off for Mary King, daughter and heir of Edward King the following lots, value of $1971.50.  Land called Anderton's Desire and sundry other parts of tracts.  Beginning at letter C on the plat at a marked black gum and white oak then runs S9W 135.75p, then S82E 73p to the 2nd line in a deed John Anderton from James Sulivane & wife, then N21E 64p to the end of the first line in said deed then W 36p to the end of the E 8p line in a deed Anderton from Rix then N1W 60p to the branch then down the branch therewith as follows N19W 13p, then N57W 16p, thence N83W 15p, and then a straight line to the place of beginning.  Containing 50 acres of land.  And caused another lot laid out for the said Mary King, it being the yellow house lot in New Market. Beginning at an oak post marked TM at letter G on the plat and on the first line of the land sold Anderton by Rix and close to the East side of the main street and runs E 14 1/2 perches to the end of said first line, then N1W 7 1/2 perches to the main road that leads from Crothers Ferry to New Market then with said road N 75 W 11 perches & 6 feet to the main road from Cabin Creek to Cambridge and then with said road to the place of beginning. Containing 3/4 of an acre.  And one other lot laid out for Mary King being part of LeComptes Ramble.  Beginning at the original bounder of said land a letter E on the plat and runs N51W 45p then NE 45p then N3E 135p to the end of the 8th line of the part of the tract called LeCompte's Ramble, at letter F on the plot then N63E 78p then S6/30W 49p to the end of the 35th line of said part of LeCompte's Ramble then SbyW 48p then SWbyW 32p then S10W 100p and then a straight line to the place of beginning.  Containing 55 1/2 acres of land
[When Mary King, sister of Henry King died, part of the land was passed on to their niece, Mary King.  She was the daughter of Henry King's brother Edward.]

20 HD 398 - 25 October 1802 - Commission Certificate to Joseph Ennalls, John Stevens, Joseph Whiteley, Edward Whiteley and William Ennalls, gentlemen. Henry King petitions the court that a certain John Anderton Mitchell died intestate and seized of lands in Dorchester County.  Your petitioner and a certain Mary King, sister of your petitioner, of full age, and a certain Mary King the only child and daughter of a certain Edward King, who was a brother of your petitioner and (he) is now dead, are entitled to the said lands by inheritance as heirs at law and representatives of the said John Anderton Mitchell, deceased.   The Mary King, last aforesaid, is a minor. Your petitioner therefore prayed that the said court will appoint a commission to divide the lands. Notice was given to Betsy King who the court appointed as guardian of the said Mary King, who is a minor under the age of 21 years.  The Commission estimated the value of the land at 3618 pounds and divided it.
---For Mary King, sister of Henry King, land valued at 1206 pounds:  (2) Beginning at an old oak post marked TM at T on the plot and on the first line of the land that John Rix sold to John Anderton and close on the east side of the main street and there runs E 14 perches to a cedar post at the end of said first line of the land from Rix to Anderton as No. 1 at N on the plot, then N 1 W 7 1/2 perches to the main road that leads from Crotcher's Ferry to New Market, then bounded by said road N 75 W 11 perches and 6 feet to the main road that leads from Cabin Creek to Cambridge and then with said road to the place of beginning. Containing 3/4 acres & 3 square perches.

19 HD 417 - 18 June 1802 - Mary King to Bartholomew Twyford for 100 pounds and a bond for 1000 pounds with condition that the said Bartholomew Twyford shall support and maintain the said Mary King during her life:  An undivided part in several tracts of land to which she is entitled as one of the heirs of John Anderton Mitchell, deceased and also as one of the heirs of Sally Mitchell, deceased, and also as one of the heirs of John Anderton, deceased. 

[Mary King, sister of Henry King obtained possession of the southeast 3/4 acre of her brother's 50 acre lot]

25 Old 9 - 13 June 1771 - Francis Anderton, planter, to John Anderton, merchant, for 10 pounds and a tract called "Sandwich" in the forks of Cabin Creek's branches:  (3) Also part of a tract called "Buckland" and part of a tract called "Debate Enlarged", being the land granted by a certain John Rix to the aforesaid John Anderton, deceased. Beginning at the end of 6p in an E course drawn from a marked live oak standing in the edge of a swamp in the fork of Secretary's Creek, being the beginning tree of said John Anderton, deceased, his part of a tract called "Bath", then runs still E 32p, then N 172 1/2p, then E 3p, then N to the branch, then binding with the branch until it intersects a N course from the beginning. Containing 50 acres. John Anderton, deceased, is the father of said Francis Anderton.

35 XYZ? 344 - Will of John Anderton - 22 July 1760 / 10 April 1767 - Land to be divided between sons John Anderton and Francis Anderton.  One slave to daughter, Sarah Anderton.  I have already given daughter, Betty King, part of personal estate.  Desire that what she had already received shall be in part of her portion.  Executor:  son, John.  Witn:  Daniel Sullivane Jr. & Sarah Sullivane, Catharine Cannon.
Codicil:  8 January 1761 - to son-in-law Robert Clarkson, one slave.  Witn: Daniel Sullivane, Henry Trippe.

11 Old 200 - 29 June 1743 - John Rix to John Anderton in consideration of 50 acres of land lying in the fork of Secretary's Creek being a part of a tract of land called "Westward" as by deed bearing equal date with there presents may more fully appear:  land being a part of "Buckland" and part of "Debate Enlarged". Beginning at the end of 6p in an east course drawn from a marked live oak standing in in the leg of a swamp in the fork of Secretarys Creek, being the beginning of said Andertons part of a tract Bath, then runs still East 32p, then N 172 1/2p, then E 3p, then N to the branch, then binding with the branch until it intersects a north course from the beginning. Containing 50 acres.