Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Lead Coffin's scientists determined that the lead coffins contained members
of Maryland's founding family - the Calverts, the likely patrons of the chapel.
(4) In addition to the lead coffins, the burials of approximately 500 of Maryland's
founders were found within and surrounding the chapel.
Analysis of the archaeological remains was supplemented by the collection
of data about other 17th-century structures, period masonry practices, Catholic
liturgical influences, and Jesuit architectural traditions. Despite extensive docu-
mentary research in America and Europe, no plans, drawings or detailed writ-
ten descriptions of the 1660s brick chapel have been located. The only cursory
description dates to 1697 when Royal Governor Sir Francis Nicholson wrote
that the Jesuits had a few churches in Maryland, including 'a good brick chapel
at St. Mary's.' (5)
The historical record is surprisingly silent about this significant structure.
Consequently, archaeological evidence, architectural precedents, ecclesiastical
traditions, and Jesuit practices are the only means of understanding this long
lost building. Excavations showed that the structure had solid brick foundations
laid in English bond that were three feet wide and extended below ground level
five feet. (6) Its exterior dimensions were 54 feet long and 57 feet across at the
transepts, with a nave 28 feet in width. Compared to the tiny wooden houses
built in Maryland during the 17th century, this was a very large and impres-
sive building. During the excavations, molded jamb and mullion bricks and
some cut bricks were recovered, along with window glass and turned window
lead fragments. Flat roofing tile fragments with peg holes indicate the nature
of the building's roof. Its interior walls were covered with plaster, as attested by
a large number of plaster specimens with brick traces on their backside. The
near absence of plaster specimens with lathe marks indicates that the ceiling
was not plastered; it more likely had a wooden ceiling in the form of a bar-
rel vault. Excavators recovered many fragments of sandstone flooring pavers
that geological analysis indicate were from England or the Continent. Based
upon one nearly complete paver, over 20 tons of stone were imported to cover
the floor. A major problem for the archaeologists is the thoroughness of the
Jesuit's salvaging efforts. They carted away approx. 98% of the above ground
elements. Because of this intense recycling effort, less common masonry elem-
ents such as water table and other cut and rubbed bricks were rarely recovered.
Compounding this problem is over 200 years of plowing that further frag-
mented the remains. Given this situation, every architectural clue recovered
from the site is of much significance.
At the same time, information from other sources is vital. Surviving brick
structures of the era offer valuable insights regarding architectural practices,
styles, and precedents. Regrettably, no other Jesuit chapels were built in English
America during the 17th or early 18th centuries; in fact, only a few masonry
structures from that era survive in the United States. Consequently, structures
