LOVE A GOOD STORY

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I Love a Good Story.  Don’t you just Love a Good Story? Here is another Good Story.

I am George Maddox, Hamilton’s father in Judy’s novel The Attractiveness of Wisdom. I can’t wait for it to be published. I’m eager to read it.

But while we’re waiting, I thought it would be nice to learn something about the town of Stevensville. For example, how did the town get its name? I have to admit that I didn’t give it much thought in the past, but now I’m a bit curious.

I did some research. But there’s not much research. Stevensville is part of Kent Island in Talbot County, Maryland. Kent Island was formed into a county in 1642. The Island is named after the Kent family. Robert Kent 1647 – 1683; Robert Kent (Jr.) 1674 – 1701, and Eleanor Kent.

Francis Stevens (or Frances Stephen, there were at least two spellings of his name) was born about 1697. He was a carpenter and had five children. It seems that Francis bought the land now known as Stevensville. He gave to his eldest son, John, and his heirs the dwelling planation and land, 255 acres including “Steven’s Adventure.” I couldn’t find out what that was. To his second son he gave 150 acres, “Little Ease,” adjoining a larger tract, also “Little Ease” on Coxes Creek. I couldn’t find what “Little Ease” was either. To his young son Francis and heirs, 225 acres, part of “Ten Stoornwells” near the head of Wye River. Francis was to live with Benjamin Weeks during his minority. He gave his daughters Mary and Sarah jointly and their heirs 200 acres, part of “Comon Garden” at the head of Farly Creek in Cecil county. The eldest daughter Mary was to live with John Wells and the youngest daughter Sarah was to live with Edward Brown. (All of this information is taken from the records.) The town is named after Francis Stevens who bought the land, and from the records, paid heavily (for the time period) for the land. The area was called Stevensville because the Stevens family owned it and lived on the land.

I wish this could have been more exciting, but sometimes some things are just what they are. Nonetheless, I have always lived in Stevensville from early childhood to high school. I went away to the university, but returned after I graduated. I met Mary at the university and brought her back to Stevensville after I asked her to be my wife. Mary and I brought up our two sons, Taylor, and Hamilton, in Stevensville. The boys are grown and live with their own families, in Rockville, Maryland. Mary and I still live in Stevensville. Even though I had a rough upbringing, my life with my family was a joy. It just goes to show you. Your life is what you make it.

The Attractiveness of Wisdom will be out in about five months. I hope you get a chance to read it and get to know the Maddox family. I think you will love what you read and plead for more. After you have read it, I would like to hear from you. Feel free to contact me and let me know what you think.

I heard from the grapevine that there is another novel after The Attractiveness of Wisdom.