Randolph Brandt , Capt.

Captain of Chas Co. Militia, will Annapolis Md. Member of Assembly 1682. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Act. Council Proceedings Vol 5, pg. 539 !Will: Filed in the land office at Annapolis, Md. Mentioned in ["Country Life in George in teh days of My Youth" by Rebecca Latimer Felton, 1835-1930, on-line at http://metalab.unc.edu/docsouth/felton/felton.html] p.19. He gives his son Randolph Brandt the 2nd "two hundred acres lying on the Potomac river near land of Randolph Hanson's, wherein Brandt is now dwelling, called Hammersmith." Randolph Brandt 2nd witnessed the will of Randolph Hanson in 1698, along with Richard Harrison, progenitor of two President Harrisons. The Hansons were leaders in the initial settlement of Calvert's territory in Charles Co., Maryland. Additionally, in his will he left four hundred pounds English money to the minister who would officiate at his funeral exercises. He divided lands and slaves between his heirs, also spoons and silver and gold cups, and made provision for the education of his minor children. Felton says, "Capt. Randolph Brandt might have been born in Barbadoes, where his father and mother and oldest brother lived and died, for their wills are recorded there in proper form and order, but family tradition tells of English birth and lineage for the ancestors. Capt. Randolph Brandt came into Maryland before 1660, upon the invitation of Lord Baltimore. They were close friends and patriotic workers during life, and 'Maryland archives' preserved in the Library of Congress, is full of the story of Capt. Brandt's unusual patriotism. He and Lord Baltimore were zealous Catholics through life. Capt. Brandt had a wife and children when he settled at "Penguiah Manor", about the year 1670, in Charles County, and the name of the plantation is still connected with the soil, and the land lies quite near the county site of LaPlata. Capt. Randolph Brandt was captain of Maryland militia in 1678, member of the General Colonial Assembly in 1682, Commissioner of Indian Affairs when Wm. Penn was also Commissioner of Indian Affairs in the State of Pennsylvania. Capt. Brandt was expressly engaged to protect the towns of Charles county from hostile Indian invasion. He also protected friendly Indian tribes from the hostiles, who continually threatened to exterminate all Indians friendly to the white settlers. In that time of stress and strain, he raised a large military company at his own expense. In remembrance thereof the Colonial assembly of Maryland voted to Capt. Brandt several thousand pounds of tobacco as a part refund for money expended in behalf of the Commonwealth. Maryland Archives, p. 357, vol. 17, says: "Capt. Randolph Brandt, precept to protect the towns of Charles county. His course of diplomacy and devotion to duty characterized Capt. Brandt's career in Maryland, and mark him as one of her noblest founders of colonial families."