There seem to have been two tracts of land in Cecil County called The Levels, one between Conowingo and Octoraro Creeks, and one near Back Creek.

 

 

References to "The Levell" Octorara Hundred, Cecil County, Maryland References to "The Levell" Bohemia Hundred, Cecil County, Maryland

 

References to "The Levell" Octorara Hundred, Cecil County, Maryland

Abraham Collett was the original owner of a tract of land at “The Levell” called “Mount Pisgah and Mount Pleasant,” which were later purchased by Richard Guy.  

 

John Bralley, lived on William Husbands farm at Mount Pleasant or The Levell. Part of The Levell was sold to Richard Gay/Guy, who was a blacksmith. John Bralley married Mary Guy there, who may have been a sister to Richard. They may have been children of Samuel Guy. John Bralley is included in the estate settlement of William Husbands circa 1768.

 

 

 

Casparus Herman had acquired a thousand acres - part of St. John's Manor, and another large tract between Conowingo and Octoraro Creeks, in the Eighth District. This tract was called the "Levles." It contained upwards of a thusand acres and included the farm of William Preston, which for that reason he cals "Hermendale."

 

George Utie, Jr., only son of George Utie and his wife Susanna Gouldsmith, was evidently quite young when his father , George, and his uncle Nathaniel died; for his stepfather and his guardian, Mark Richardson, handled legal transactions in his name in 1685. In 1687 “Utie’s Addition,” of 45 acres, was patented for him. He had inherited seven plantation houses from his father and uncle Nathaniel, and made “The Level” his home plantation. The March Court of 1694 ordered that vestrymen for the Upper Parish be selected at “The Level” at Mr. George Utie’s.

 

 

George Utie, Jr., married Mary Beedle (b. c. 1674, d. 1697), daughter of Edward Beedle and his wife, Mary (--) Rutten. The two Uties and Mary's sister Martha and her husband, John Hall, Esq., were executors of Edward Beedle's estate; but the estate was not finally settled until after the early deaths of George and Mary (Beedle) Utie.

 

 

George Utie, Jr., died intestate a month after the birth of the Utie's only child, Susanna, and was buried at "The Level" 16 October 1695. In 1697 Mary Utie received a bequest from John Chew, of Anne Arundel County. The early Uties and Chews had been friends and neighbors in Virginia. This John Chew made various bequests to his family, then "to Mary Utie of Baltimore County, widdow, for my particular time of being at her house, one dozen leather chairs and 4 pounds sterling." Why he was staying there is not known. Mary Utie died in 1697, and was buried at "The Level" 13 April of that year. In her will, she named as her executor and sole legatee at age 16 daughter Susanna, then aged one and a half years, who was to be cared for during her minority by the testatrix's mother-in-law, Susanna (Gouldsmith) Utie Richardson.

 

Issue of 2. George Utie, Jr. and his wife, Mary Beedle:

 

i. Susanna Utie, born 24 September 1695, of whom further.

 

 

Susanna Utie was an infant at the time of her parents deaths and was reared by her grandmother Richardson. The Richardsons shared guardianship with Susanna’s aunt and uncle, Martha and John Hall. Susann’s landed heritage included “The Level,” “Spesutia,” “Benjamin’s Choice,” “Utie’s Addition,” “Beedle’s Reserve,” “Stepney,” “Gouldsmith’s Enlargement,” “Carter’s Rest,” and “Rumley,” all of which had been occupied by various relatives; but by the time she was ten years of age most of the houses and outbuildings were reported in “disrepair.”

 

 

Susanna married Francis Holland III (b. 25 September 1691; d. 7 August 1738), son of William Holland and his wife, Margaret Holland. Francis had inherited many tracts of land from his parents, his uncle, and his grandparents and had time to fill only the office of sheriff of Baltimore County. He died at “Spesutia” in 1738.

 

Deed Book IV, P. 228.  Deed.  John Kankey of Cecil Co., planter, and his wife Anna, for £100, to William Husbands of said county, part of a tract of land called the Levell. [Name also spelled Kankey; Anna Kinkey is also called Anne.] 17 Nov 1732.  Wit: William Smith.  Made and Ackn: 17 Nov 1732. Wit: William Smith, Edward Harris Jackson, Jo. Hamond. Rec: 17 Nov 1732. S. Knight, Clerk. 

 

 

Deed Book VII, P. 181.  Deed. James Ewing of Cecil Co., planter, for £ 241.10s to George Gillespie of the same place, planter, 145 acres of land, part of a tract which Ewing's father Alexander Ewing bought from WilliamVestal of the same place, which itself was part of a tract called the Levell on the east side Susquehanna River. Except for 7 acres in the southwest corner which the James Ewing sold to William Husband. Made 7 Mar 1750. Wit: James Porter, Joss Ewing, James Knox. Ackn: same day by James Ewing, John Ewing William Ewing and also Rebeckah Ewing, mother of the said James, and William Ewing. JPs: Benj'a. Chew, Nathan Baker. George Gillespie paid 5x.10p alienation fine to Alex'r. Baird 13 Jun 1750. Rec: 14 Jun 1750. M. Bordley, Clerk.

 

 

Deed Book VII, P. 183. Deed. James Ewing of Cecil Co., planter, for £42.10s to John Ewing and William Ewing, of Cecil Co., planters, 56 acres of land, part of a called the Levell's Addition on the west side of Octerrara Creek at the dividing line between James Ewing’s and William Husband's parts of the called the Levell. Made & Ackn: 7 Mar 1749/50. Wit: James Porter, Joss Ewing, Jas. Knox, JPs: Benj'a. Chew, Nathan Baker. John and William Ewing paid 2s.3p. alienation fine to Alex'r. Baird 13 Jun 1750. Rec: 14 Jun 1750. M. Bordley, Clerk.

 

 

Deed Book VII, P. 497. Deed. James Porter of Cecil Co., yeoman, for £130, to Thomas Love of the same place, yeoman, 235 acres of land, part of two tracts called Hopewell and Levell's Addition. James Porter reserves the liberty of having a wagon road leading from his dwelling house through the granted land to where the school house now stands. Made 26 Mar 1753. Wit: Wm. Husbands, Jr., John Ewing, John Smith. Ackn: same day by James Porter and Elinor his wife. JPs: John Smith, Nath'n. Baker. Thomas Love paid 9s.6p alienation fine to Matt's. Bordley 26 Mar 1753. Rec: same day.

 

 

References to "The Levell" Bohemia Hundred, Cecil County, Maryland

 

 

Deed, November 7, 1671, John Cock, Ann Cock, and Andrew Peterson conveying to William Ward the tract "The Levell: of 300 acres, near the head of Back Creek on north side of Sassafras River. Witnesses: John Richardson, Henry White.

 

 

Below are references to this location from the public records of Cecil County: Deed Book I, p. 78.  Deposition. Bartholomew Hewickson [sic, Henrickson?)] Andrew Peterson and Alexander Shresse  swore on oath before William Pearce that they saw a locust post set in the ground by the stump of a white which was formerly Abraham Strand's marked tree, belonging to Will Ward on the Back Creek in the Sassafras River. This land is called Leavell was formerly bought from John Coke [Cocks/Cox] by the said William Ward, Made 23 January [year not given.]

 

 

"North Level", 300 acres, Oct. 1, 1681. Sold to Vestry of St. Stephens Church for glebe, part in 1695 and remainder in 1697. This is the present glebe.

 

Henry Ward, mariner, owned "The Levels" 500 acres surveyed for him on 15 May 1683 in Maryland.

 

 

Deed Book I, P. 446. Deed. Henry Hendrickson of Cecil Co., planter, and his wife Jone, for 11,000 lbs of tobacco, to William Davis of the same county and his heirs begotten on the body of Angill Davis, his now wife, planter, 100 acres of land, which is one moiety of a tract called the Leavill on the cast side of Chesapeake Bay on the north side of Sassafras River near the head of Back Creek.

 

 

Henry Hendrickson and Johanah Hendrickson made their marks. Made 1705. Wit: Edward Larramore, Richard Thompson. Ackn: Jun 1705. On 24 Mar 1706 Val. Browne received from Wm. Davis 4 shillings, the alienation money for the use of Richard Bennet, esq., patentee of the Lord Proprietor. Rec: 10 Dec 1716. John Dowdall, Clerk.

 

 

Deed Book II, P. 322.  Deed. Robert Hews of Cecil Co., planter, for a sum of tobacco, to Alexander McKee, Jr. of Kent Co., 100 acres of land, the middle part of 300 acres called Levell on the north side of Sassafras River on Back Creek which s formerly taken up by William Ward of said county. [Name also spelled Hewes.] Made 29 Mar 1711. Wit: M. Vanderheyden, Henry Ward. JP: M. Vannderheyden. Rec: 6 Jun 1715. John Dowdall, Clerk.

 

 

Deed Book II, P. 350. Deed. Robert Hughes, late of Cecil Co., planter, and Penelope his for £20 to Richard Thatcher of Prince Morris River in West Jersey, planter, land in Cecil Co. near the head of Back Creek on Sassafras River, being the middle 100 acres of a tract called Levell by the land of Thomas Linsey, except a third which Robert Hughes assigns to his mother Ann Hughes. [Name also spelled Hews.] Made 5 Jun 1714. Wit: John Cooke, G. Empson, Edward Plumstead. Ackn: in Salem Co., New West Jersey on 26 Oct 1715 before Isaac Sharp, esq. Rec: 4 Nov 171.5. John Dowdall, Clerk.

 

 

Deed Book III, P. 76.  Deed.  William Ward of Cecil Co., planter, and Charity his wife, for 12,000 lbs of tobacco, to John Cox of said county, 100 acres of land, the remaining part of 300 acres called Levell.  Said land was formerly granted to William Cox by Robert Cooke, deceased.  Made 11 June 1717. Wit: Thomas Walmsley, Wm. Veazey, Benj. Cox.  Ackn: same day. John Dowdall, Clerk.

 

 

On 11 June 1717 William Ward of CE Co., planter, and his wife Charity for 12,000 lbs. of tobacco, conveyed to John Cox 100 acres, the remaining part of 500 acres called Levell. [CELR 3:76]

 

 

Deed Book IV, P. 133.  Deed. Alexander Mackey of Cecil Co., planter, for 4,000 lbs of tobacco in cask, to Henry Hendrickson of Cecil Co., planter, the middlemost 100 acres of land of a tract called the Levell in Cecil Co. near the head of Back Creek by the land of Angell Davis. [Mackey's name also spelled Meacay.] Made 9 Feb 1724. Wit: W. Baldwin, Mary Baldwin. Ackn: same day. JPs: B. Pearce, John Baldwin. Rec: 10 Feb 1724. Knight, Clerk.

 

 

Deed Book V, P. 128.  Valuation of Estate. John Price and James Wroth viewed the land of the orphan of Henry Henrexon now in the possession of Wm. Ward. They found that the plantation is small with 2 small old log houses and one tobacco house not finished and much out of repair. They allow him to clear from the northwest end of the plantation eastward up a valley until it joins Capt. Frisby's land to get rails and timber to repair the place. They value the place at 400 lbs of tobacco yearly.

 

Made 29 Mar 1756. JP: John Veazey.  On the same day they viewed another piece of land of the orphan of Henry Henrexon now in the possession of Thomas Davis called Mary's Park and found the land uncleared and of no use. They allow him to settle the land on the lower end of the tract near the head of Sassafras Road where "the caterpillars has hilled" a quantity of timber and he may clear across the tract 40 acres and use the timber for the plantation. After the year 1740, if the land is settled, they will value it to 500 lbs of tobacco a year. Made 29 Mar 1735. J P: John Veazey. Rec: 3 Jul 1755.

 

 

Win. Knight, Clerk.  John Price and James Wroth viewed another piece of land of the orphan of Henry Hendrexon now in the possession of Thomas Davis called the Levell. They found the plantation very much out of repair and only one small tobacco house on it. The land well worn but little to clear. They allow him 3,000 or 4,000 tobacco hills to clear every year between the plantation and the road and to haul 400 rails for repairing the fencing. They value the place at 500 lbs of tobacco a year.  Made 29 Mar 1735.  JP: John Veazey.  Rec: 3 Jul 1735.  Wm. Knight, Clerk.

 

 

Book VI. P.  392.  Deed. William Rye of Cecil Co., planter, for £18, to Thomas Davis of the same county, planter, land on Sassafras River near the head of Back Creek being the middle 100 acres of a tract called the Levell by land formerly belonging to Thomas Linsey but now owned by the said Thomas Davis. Made & Ackn: 5 Jan 1737. Wit: Wm. Rumsey, John Veazey, John Ward, Jr. JPs: Wm. Rumsey, John Veazey. Alienation fine of 2 shillings rec'd from Thomas Davis by Jas. Paul Heath 28 Jan 1737.  Wm. Knight, Clerk.

 

 

Deed Book VI, P. 162.  Deed.  Elizabeth Hendrickson of Cecil Co., spinster, and Henry Hendrickson, Jr., children of Henry Hendrickson of Cecil Co., planter, deceased, and Bartholomew Etherington of the same county, planter, for £180, to Thomas Davis of the same county, all their estate right in the middle 100 acres of a tract of land called the Level on Sassafras River near Back Creek by a tract of land formerly possessed by Thomas Lindsey but now belonging to the said Thomas Davis. Made 14 May 1742. Wit. & JPs: John Veazey, Pereg. Ward. Ackn: 4 May 1742 [sic.] John Lusby rec'd alienation fine 7 May 1742. Rec: 13 May 1712. Wm. Knight, Clerk.

 

 

Deed Book VI, P. 380. Deed. Thomas Davis of Cecil Co., planter, and Rebecca his wife, for £20, to John Kimber of the same county, planter, a tract of 2 3/4 acres called the Levell by Thomas Davis's house and within the lines of a tract called Rattlesnake Neck. Also a piece of land now in Thomas Davis' possession lying between the land called Rattlesnake Neck and Back Creek and by John Kimber's landing amounting to 10 feet square, part of the tract called Kings Delight, for a burial ground where John Kimber's father and one of his children are buried. Made & Ackn: 14 Nov 1744. Wit. & JPs: John Veazey, Pereg’r. Ward. John Kimber paid 1½p alienation fine 16 Nov 1744 to Pereg’r. Frisby. Rec: 16 Nov 1744. Wm. Knight, Clerk.

 

 

Deed Book VII, P. 227. Deed. John Kimber of Cecil Co., planter, for £2oo, to Thomas Davis of the said county, 4 tracts of land: 76 acres, the remainder of a tract called Rattlesnake Neck at the dividing of Back Creek; 20 acres, part of Cockatrice on the south side of a branch of Back Creek at Rattlesnake Point adjoining Rattlesnake Neck (conveyed by Matthias Hendrickson to John Atkeson 18 Sep 1686); 2% acres, part of the tract called the Levell near Thomas Davis' house within the lines of Rattlesnake Neck, and 7 acres of land between Rattlesnake Neck and Back Creek by John Kimber's landing. All tracts except the 20 square feet where the burying ground now is. Made 12 Nov 1760. Wit: Peter Noxon, John Veazey. Ackn: same day by John Kimber and his wife Catharine. JPs: John Veazey, P. Bayard. Thomas Davis paid 1s.4p alienation fine to Alex'r. Baird 14 Nov 1750. Rec: 14 Nov 1750. M. Bordley, Clerk.

 

 

Deed Book VII, P. 468.  Lease.  Daniel Cheston of Bristol but late of Kent Co., Maryland, merchant, and Francsina Augustina his wife and daughter of the late Arriana Jennings, wife of the Honorable Edmond Jennings, esq., of Annapolis, for 5 shillings, to John Veazey of Cecil Co., 373 acres, part of 2 tracts of land lying between Sassafras and Bohemia Rivers in Cecil Co. called Frisby's Farm or Frisby's Prime Choice, by Scotchman's Creek, by Thomas Davis' land called the Level and by a tract called King's Aim. Made 31 Aug 1752. Wit: Thos, Luntley, Jno. Hope. Rec: 20 Jan 1752. M's. Bordley, Clerk.