Smith’s St. Leonard Site

In 1711, Richard Smith Jr. began construction of a grand new home. This home, Smith’s St. Leonard Site, would become the heart of his thriving tobacco plantation. Smith’s St. Leonard Site, perched on a bluff overlooking the Patuxent River and St. Leonard’s Creek in Calvert County, Maryland, witnessed the ebb and flow of life in the 18th century. Richard, a wealthy Protestant and ally of the Calvert family, enjoyed the fruits of his labor at Smith’s St. Leonard Site for only a few years. Upon his death in 1715, the plantation passed to his son Walter, then to Walter’s son Nathaniel, and finally to John. John Smith held Smith’s St. Leonard Site until his death in 1754. After that, the once vibrant plantation fell into the hands of absentee landlords, and the main house and outbuildings gradually crumbled into ruins. The story of Smith’s St. Leonard Site lay dormant for centuries, hidden beneath the earth. In 1981, the whispers of the past began to stir. A preliminary archaeological survey of what would become Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum identified the site. It wasn’t until 1999, during a shoreline stabilization project, that a small trash pit offered a glimpse into the lives of those who called Smith’s St. Leonard Site home. The discovery of this pit, brimming with artifacts, sparked a renewed interest in the site. In 2002, the first major excavation began, uncovering the foundations of the main house, a kitchen, stables, and several other outbuildings. One of the most intriguing finds at Smith’s St. Leonard Site was the remains of what is believed to be slave quarters. This discovery offered a unique opportunity to examine the social dynamics of plantation life in the 18th century. Artifacts from these quarters, compared with those from the main house, paint a picture of the stark contrast between the lives of the enslaved and the Smith family. The trash pit yielded a treasure trove of artifacts. Iron firebacks, a copper-alloy chafing dish, a George II halfpenny, a bridle boss, a bone comb, and even prehistoric artifacts like a rhyolite blade and a gorget. These objects provide a tangible link to the past, allowing us to imagine the daily routines and personal belongings of the people who lived and worked at Smith’s St. Leonard Site. Excavations at Smith’s St. Leonard Site are ongoing, and each new discovery adds another piece to the puzzle of this fascinating historical site. The site stands as a testament to the lives and labors of those who shaped its history.