Pendenny

Tracing the Captain John Worthington (1650-1701) line to England is a topic of "discussion" on the Worthington-L@rootsweb mailing list. A number of theories have been explored and discussed. I will leave it up to others to handle that connection.

In the meantime, there is another connection that is being researched. The connection between England and Annapolis on a place called "Pendenny" and the various spellings. There is a location in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland by that name where our Captain John lived.

Having visited this spot in Maryland and two web site links in a Castle in England, by the same name, it was suggested that some information be presented here.

From Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard County, Maryland, by J.D. Warfield, Kohn & Pollock, Publishers, Baltimore, MD. 1905.

"Edward Lloyd, in 1650, had laid out 570 acres on the north side of the Severn, adjoining "Harrards' Line," (this may have been Howards), running with the river for a length of fifty-five perches.

"In 1659, he also took up "Pendenny," upon which stands, today, the house of Captain John Worthington, now held by the late Mr. R. Tilghman Brice's family, just opposite the Naval Academy.

"There are many evidences in the old foundation relics at "Pendenny Heights," to show that there dwelt Edward Lloyd, when in 1650, Governor Stone and his secretary, Nathaniel Utis, came up to the Severan and organised the new settlement. ...

"He built his home on the north side of the Severn, in the neck, just opposite the city of Annapolis: Henry Catlyn and James Merryman were his immediate neighbors.

"These two settlers did not long remain. Their combined estates were later embraced in the Greenberry and Worthington surveys, now held by Messrs. R. Tilghman Brice and Charles E. Remson."

Pendennis Castle, Falmouth in Cormwall, England:

Cousin David has provided some research into this castle and the name Pendennis. "I checked out a number of sources re: Pendennis (sic!) Castle, built during the reign of Henry VIII. There are indeed very few references at all to Pendennis Castle (sometimes "Pendennis Fortress"). My Webster's Geographical Dictionary doesn't even mention it. I checked my biography of Henry VIII and there is no mention of Pendennis there, either. The point is that the word Pendennis is neither famous nor even well-known except perhaps to those who live nearby. In John Worthington's time, the castle was only a little over 100 years old.

"The only other use of the name Pendennis is in a novel by the celebrated English writer, Wm. Makepeace Thackeray, who wrote a novel by that name in the mid-19th Century. My recollection is that the principal character therein was a Col. Pendennis."

Cousin David found a little more historical background this view of the Castle.

Pictures of Pendennis Mount, on the Severn:

Sign for Pendennis Mount on the Severn

Maryland War Memorial from the Overlook at Pendennis Mount (12/98)

Another view to where the above picture was taken.

This picture was taken from the Pendennis Mount Overlook, May 1997.

Pendennis Mount on the Severn
by Russ