For over 350 years, from February 1668 until today, many of the records documenting Adam Shipley and his descendants after his arrival in the New World have been preserved, and more recently, compiled into genealogical books published by The Shipleys of Maryland organization. Some of these records cover Adam's arrival in Maryland, his indenture period, his family, his lands, and his death. Some records provide detailed information, while other information must be inferred from related records. Each type of record is described below, and where possible, images of the original records are provided. The associated filles can be downloaded by clicking in the file box.

Adam Shipley's Arrival in Maryland

Records reveal that Adam Shipleigh (Shipley) arrived at a port in the area now called Annapolis, Maryland. He was one of 10 young men solicited by the merchant John Pawson to come to the New World with the promise of free land and a new life.

September 30, 1670
Came John Pawson of the County of Ann Arundel and proved right to five hundred acres of land for transporting Christopher Shawn, John Browne, Adam Shipleigh (Shipley), John Fish, Thomas Mason, William Barton, Richard Flint, Richard Patterson, Thomas Wood, and John Dixon in February 1668...

(Early Settlers' List Liber 13. Folio 17.)

It is also known that to pay his passage, he, and so many others like him, would willingly serve five to seven years as an indentured servant to a master, who would pay their indebtedness in exchange for their labor for the agreed period.

Adam Shipley's Indenture Period

No verification exists as to whom Adam was indentured nor where he served, although it is known that he was well-informed about agriculture and business. The period after his arrival is blank until his name appears in 1675, when the record reads:

"Before Charles Calvert, came Adam Shipley of A. A. Co., Md., and proved his right to Eoden du fifty (50) acres for his time of service performed in the Province. Warrant then granted to Adam Shipley for fifty acres of land due him as above certificate Ret. Jan. 10, 1675."

(Land Grants. Liber AB II B Folio 300.)

Every new settler was entitled to 50 acres of land and he may have worked out his passage to Pawson and been granted 50 acres as his own due.

Adam Shipley's Lands

By 1687 Adam acquired a large estate of at least 850 acres of land with farms, in what are now Anne Arundel and Howard counties.

• 50 acres, acquired in 1675 "for his time of service performed in the Province". It is not known where this land was located. (Land Grants. Liber AB II B Folio 300.)
• 100 acres, "Howard's and Porter's Range". Acquired April 5, 1679 from Cornelius Howard. It was located on the south side of the Severn River. (Original land record apparently destroyed in 1704 Annapolis fire, was re-recorded in 1706 by son Richard for Adam's estate)
• 200 acres, "Shipley's Choice". Patented March 30, 1681; located on the south side of the Severn River. (Land Office Liber CB No. 2, Folio 461; Clerk's Office Liber No. 1, Folio 82)
• 500 acres, "Adam the First". Patented March 1687; located on Elk Ridge in what is now Howard County. (Land Office Liber NS, Folio 511)

Historic roadside markers have been placed to commemorate "Adam the First" and "Shipley's Choice."

Adam the First
The first large land grant in what is now Howard County. Patented October 1, 1687 to Adam Shipley who came to Maryland from England in 1668. This marks a section of the western boundary of the 500 acre grant. A Shipley family cemetery is located among the trees to the west of this marker. Erected to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the grant, October 1, 1987 by the Shipleys of Maryland and Maryland Historical Society

Shipley's Choice
Adam Shipley, who came to Anne Arundel County in 1668, on March 30, 1681, patented 200 acres on the south side of the Severn River. Dedicated during the tercentenary commemoration of the Shipleys of Maryland, May 25, 1968. Maryland Historical Society

Adam Shipley's Family

Adam and Lois had six known children whose names are verified by legal documents. He married a woman whose first name was Lois, but there is no documentation as to her maiden name. (Some evidence suggests that she was a Porter or a Howard.) Adam lived at his farm on "Howard's and Porter's Range" until the time of his death.

           1.      Richard     b. abt. 1677    d. bef. 1725

           2.      Adam¹

           3.      Robert       b. abt. 1678    d. 1761/63

           4.      Peter         b. abt. 1687    d. May 09, 1764

           5.      Keturah                              d. aft. Aug 1730

           6.      Lois                                    d. bef. Sep 1746

1. Adam, the second child of Adam and Lois Shipley, left no will nor any record of marriage or children. There is a legend that Adam and his wife were killed by Indians. As such, no genealogical information for Adam² is available.

Adam Shipley's Death and Disposition of Property

Adam died intestate in or about the year 1696, at about 48 years old, leaving his six children under the age to receive property. Richard, his eldest son, became heir at law of his estate via the old English law of primogeniture. When Richard became of age, he gifted the farms to his brothers and sisters (this despite his outright ownership, and against English tradition). The records show a "deed of gift" on August 9, 1698 (recorded or re-recorded on March 19, 1706) distributing portions of his father's estate to his brothers as follows (Anne Arundel County Land Records, Liber IH, Vol. 1, Folio 80):

• "...for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which he hath and beareth unto his younger brothers, and also for divers other good causes and considerations moving him thereunto, hath given, granted and confirmed unto..."
• "To Adam Shipley all my right and title claim and interest of and to, one hundred acres of land whereupon my mother Lois Shipley now lives; it being a part of a tract of land called and known by the name of 'Howard's and Porter's Range.' "
• "To Robert Shipley 100 acres at Elk Ridge, being a part of a tract called "Adam the First," containing 500 acres."
• "To Peter Shipley 100 acres lying and adjoining the aforesaid 100 acres, being part of "Adam the First."
• Signed Richard Shipley.

Richard apparently retained 300 acres of "Adam the First", as well as all of "Shipley's Choice". However, court records show that on March 19, 1706, the following distribution was made to his two sisters. (Anne Arundel County Land Records, Liber IH, Vol. 1, Folio 82)

• "Richard Shipley, carpenter, son of Adam Shipley, out of natural love and affection, deeds all of his right to 200 acres of land called "Shipley's Choice" to his sisters, Keturah Barnes, the wife of James Barnes, and Lois Shipley, to be equally divided between them."

Lois Shipley later married Peter Porter. This property was later sold to Robert Freshwater and the sisters followed their brothers Richard, Robert and Peter to Queen Caroline Parish in Howard County where their names, with those of their families, are to be found on the Christ Church register².

Lois Shipley, the widow of Adam, continued to live on "Howard's and Porter's Range" after her husband's death. Nothing is known about her subsequent life or the time of her death.

2. Digital images of the “Christ Church Queen Caroline Parish Howard and Anne Arundel Co’s Parish Register 1712–1937” can be found on the Maryland State Archives website: https://speccol.msa.maryland.gov/pages/speccol/microfilm.aspx?speccol=2639

From this beginning came the roots, the very foundation, of one of the older families in America. Through successes in agriculture, education, medicine, military service, the ministry, and every possibility in between, the Shipleys are notably one of the founding families of the state of Maryland.

PRESENT DAY

The Shipley name can still be found scattered throughout Maryland on streets, neighborhoods, towns, buildings, and more. The village of Shipley is located five miles south of Westminster, MD. Shipley Hill is a neighborhood in southwest Baltimore, MD. Shipley’s Choice is a neighborhood in Severna Park, MD. Shipley’s Grant is a neighborhood in Ellicott City, MD, that was once part of Adam Shipley’s land patent called Adam the First.

The Curtis/Shipley Farmstead in Ellicott City is the location of the Shipley family cemetery and eight buildings, which include seven agricultural buildings and a farmhouse, the initial part of the structure of which dates back to the 1780s. It is situated on the 500-acre land patent of 1687 called Adam the First. The farmstead, originally 112 acres, now occupies 7.46 acres of Adam’s original land patent. In 2006, the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.