Crabbing at Coulbourne Creek
Somerset County, MD
 |
Several years ago I did
environmental work at Pomfret Plantation, a 770-acre
private
residence located in Marion, Maryland on the shores of Coulbourne
Creek,
Big Annemessex River and then Chesapeake Bay. Prior to our
day-trip I
asked
the land owner if we could visit the estate from the water and
she said absolutely. Thank you Mrs. Ignacollo.
The estate home, known as Pomfret Plantation was built in 1810 and
is listed
on the National Register (Maryland Historic Trust S-82). Its primary significance
is due to the buildings architecture, retaining its original interior finish and ornament of well-executed
Federal period interior woodwork.
|
 |
William Coulbourne of
Somersetshire, England came to Maryland in 1652 and
founded the
1,400-acre Pomfret in 1663. Through the course of his life
Coulbourne had two wives and several children. He had a military
background
being a Lieutenant, Captain and high sheriff of the region.
In the summer of
1687 Coulbourne managed a successful treaty with
the Nanticoke Indians.
|
 |
Coulbourne died in 1689 and the Maryland Historic Trust has
a copy of his will
on-line. He disseminated all of his earthly
goods to his children. His oldest son William received the
plantation, three Negroes and six draught oxen. His son
Robert
received 50-acres of land, a horse and 2,000 pounds
of tobacco. His youngest three children received land use
rights, a mulatto boy called Will,
horses, cattle, sheep and
several bee hives. The will included an inventory
of farm
implements and house wares, many terms of which I did not
understand
the old English terms for.
|
 |
Pineapple, colonial symbol for
hospitality and an early term
for the
later famous National Bo slogan, "from the land of
pleasant living." |
 |
We set out 12 crab traps, using
salted eel.
Our line stretched 700-feet. |
 |
A gull watches from the shoreline. |
 |
We caught a dozen keepers in the
course of two hours. |
 |
The tidal pools and flats were
alive with aquatic critters. |
 |
To supplement our catch, we
went just up river to visit Mrs. Marshall, whose
family are
watermen. We have purchased crabs from her on several occasions
|
 |
It took Mark and Mike three
loads to cook a bushel of crabs in the propane
steamer pot. On
our way home from the eastern shore we purchased two dozen
ears
of corn and I made a huge bowl of sliced tomato, onion and
cucumber salad. Dan and Patti brought a tub of beer and soft
drinks on ice.
|
Wonderful way to spend the day!
Thank you Mark, Jeb and Mallory, my crabbing buddies who worked the
crab traps.
Submitted By Mark Burchick
|
|
Crabbing at Coulbourne Creek
PHOTO GALLERY PREVIEWS
