Maryland issued its own declaration of independence on July 6, 1776—two days after the Continental Congress—drawing on the writings of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. In 1777, the Maryland General Assembly enacted an Oath of Fidelity requiring every free man between the ages of 18 and 42 to pledge allegiance to the Patriot cause. Refusal meant triple taxation, exclusion from military service, and bans on teaching, practicing law or medicine, or preaching. Exempted groups included enslaved individuals and members of certain religious communities: Mennonites, German Baptist Brethren, and Quakers. Those already serving in the Continental Army or local militia were generally not required to take the oath separately. Surviving oath records, organized by county and magistrate, are preserved at the Maryland Center for History and Culture and the Maryland State Archives and serve as significant genealogical resources.
Interviewees
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Martina Kado
- Vice President of Research and France-Merrick Director of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Center for History and Culture
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Micah Connor
- Library Associate and Student Research Coordinator, Maryland Center for History and Culture
