Jesuits -- Maryland Province -- Corporation of Roman Catholic Clergymen

Scope and Contents Series 3, the Records of the Corporation of Roman Catholic Clergymen, documents the activity of the legal entity established in 1792 to protect Jesuit property interests in the Maryland region. The series includes minutes proceedings, by-laws, and Trustee lists from the meetings of the Corporation (1793-1956); legislative acts, property transfers, power of attorney documents, some Trustee correspondence, and the charter establishing the CRCC (1789-1918); and the wills of both Jesuits and...

Scope and Contents Subseries 3.1, Minutes and Proceedings, contains the records of meetings held by the Corporation of Roman Catholic Clergymen (CRCC), and dates from 1793 to 1956. Materials record decisions about the transfer of assets, the election of Board members, and changes in by-laws. These records also document actual and potential sales of enslaved people held by the Province. Between 1793 and 1820, the CRCC continually deliberated the need to reduce the number of enslaved laborers on the...

Scope and Contents Subseries 3.2 contains legal documents created or retained by the Corporation of Roman Catholic Clergymen (CRCC), the legal entity established in 1792 that protected Jesuit property interests. The correspondence in this subseries concerns property titles, transfers, and legislation, including the transfer of Maryland Mission properties by Fathers James Walton and Robert Molyneux (1794) and the possibility of manumitting enslaved people at Bohemia (letter to Francis Neale, S.J.,...

Scope and Contents This subseries contains wills and related documents of members of the Maryland Province who conveyed property to the Province upon their deaths. Although members of the Society of Jesus take vows of poverty, they can retain financial assets if these assets are not used independently; such ownership is reflected in these wills. The Corporation of Roman Catholic Clergymen claimed ownership of all properties bequeathed to the Maryland Province. **Please note: the finding aid contains...

Scope and Contents The charter granted to the Corporation of Roman Catholic Clergymen authorized it to accept gifts and donations from people outside of the Jesuit community. This series contains wills, related documents, and correspondence pertaining to such bequests, including bequests from members of prominent Catholic families such as the Carrolls, Fenwicks, Sewalls, and Duvalls. Particularly relevant is a copy of James Carroll’s 1728 will, which conferred the White Marsh plantation and to the Maryland...