ECCLESTON'S OF YARMOUTH IN DORCHESTER.

DORCHESTER MARYLAND HISTORY

ECCLESTON OF YARMOUTH

LATER WHITE HOUSE FARM

Yarmouth Plantation, later 'The White House Farm' , is a brick colonial mansion which

sits on the Transquaking River off the Bestpitch Ferry Road, once the Griffith Neck Road,

in either Bucktown District or Drawbridge District.. The river is the boundary line for these

districts. Yarmouth is the homestead of the Eccleston family that came to settle in Dorchester

between 1645 and 1655.

Hugh Eccleston , born in Ormskink, Lancanshire, England , 31 March, 1653, was the

first of the family to arrive in Dorchester. This family, the Richard and Jennett Morcroft

Eccleston family, held vast estates in Lancastershire and Buckinghamshire, England ,

were wealthy and highly respected. Hugh was married to Elizabeth Brannock, born 1680, in

England died 25 November 1710 in Dorchester county, Maryland. They had a son, Thomas, born 1701 in Shoreditch, Middlesex, England and lived to be 44 years old.

Hugh Eccleston when he came to Dorchester took up lands on Transquaking River and in

1677 more land on the Blackwater River, and after purchasing other large tracts on the

Transquaking River, the Richardson's Purchase and Alexanders Place, owned well over

1000 acres patented “Yarmouth'.

Family members became prominent in public affairs , Hugh being a Major in the

provincial government militia. Being well respected his 'abilities' were sought by many,

especially Hatchwap and his Choptank Indian “great men”.

It is believed the mansion was built between 1725 and 1735 by Dr. John Eccleston, son of

Hugh, who eventually owned the Transquaking Yarmouth estates. It was build of brick,

whitewashed many times which gave it the name 'White House” . The walls were two

feet thick for protection from Indian attacks. All doors in this house are 7' high, 4 feet wide,

2” thick wood doors. The floor were walnut as was paneling. The cellar has brick support

arches that held casks of fine brandies and wine. The cellar also had chains to shackle

slaves. There has always been stories that the houses was somehow associated with the

Patty Cannon gang, also in the War of 1812 was a headquarters for privateers.

Yarmouth remained in the Eccleston Family until early 1800, it had it grave yard, which was

destroyed by 'treasue hunters' , grave stone by grave stone were smash and piled at the edge.

Hugh Eccleston died in Cambridge, 25 November , 1710.

Abstract: Between The Blackwater and the Nanticoke by Bruce Neal Stump.