In the 18th Century public opinion did not count for much in the eyes of the British government. The ruling elites still held that their rule was “by the grace of God.” That common men should contend that government should be by the consent of the governed was putting the cart before the horse and a nearly unthinkable revolutionary idea. Citizens of the American colonies had identities that were included their being Englishman and subjects of the English crown. In 1776 only a minority was ready to break with the England and others opposed the idea or at least were on the fence. In more modern times the same can be said about other political and social issues, such was the civil rights movement of the 1960s, antiwar protests of the 1970s or many of our current unresolved political and social issues.
The American Revolution was also a civil war with Tories providing support for British forces and in some cases taking up arms. To weed out these Tories and to push the undecided to commit, it was decided to require loyalty oaths of residents of various states.
In Maryland this took the form of the Oath of Fidelity and Support. This act was modeled on a Pennsylvania law called the Test Act, which was adopted in June of 1777. It provided that male residents over 18 swear an oath of allegiance and renounce the King before a justice of the peace before July 1, 1777. Various penalties were provided for “non-jurors” to the oath. The Maryland legislature passed a similar test act in the fall of 1777 and required an oath of its citizens by March 1, 1778. Non-compliance was punished with triple taxes, denial of access to courts to file lawsuits, denial of licenses to practice professions, barring from holding public office and loss of voting privileges. Even so, many people avoided taking the oath and in 1778 the act was revised and the deadline extended. Citizens suspected of not taking the oath were libel to be summoned before a justice of the peace or court and if they declined to take the oath they were fined and imprisoned. There were also instances in which vigilante groups targeted individuals suspected of not taking the oath.
As a genealogical tool the oath allows us a list of individuals named Lanham living in Maryland at the time of the Revolution. Men serving in the armed forces were exempt from the oath but many having service appear anyhow. It is interesting that what must be viewed as an other than voluntary oath with a lot of compulsion backing it up is accepted by patriotic organizations, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, as evidence of an ancestor being a patriot. It is likely that some of the returns sent in by persons administering the oath has been lost and that our list is therefore incomplete.
I do sware I do not hold myself bound to yield any Allegiance or obedience to the King Of Great Britain his heirs, or successors and that I will be true and faithful to the State of Maryland and will to the utmost of my power, support maintain and defend the Freedom and independence thereof and the Government as now established against all open enemies and secret and traterous Conspiraces and will use my utmost to disclose and make known to the Governor or some one of the Judges or Justices thereof all Tresasons or Treaterous Consperaces, Attempts or Combinations against this State or the Government thereof which may come to my Knowledge. So Help me God.A list of Lanhams
