Plenty of fascinating bits of trivia turned up in The Rescued Papers. On the strength of a pedigree chart drawn up for our sister Amy, I've been able to use the web to find the true story of Colonel John Street, who in our family was known as "Colonel John Streett who led the retreat." His real history is rather more honorable, if not perhaps as glamorous as the family liked to think. I'm also confirming that Father was right when he told us the old land patent with the seal "had something to do with Grandmother Streett's farm."

When we were young in the nineteen sixties, our Nana's family was very enthusiastic about our joining Baltimore blueblood society. I was asked to escort debutantes to the Cotillion for their coming out, and we were all offered the chance to become members of either the Sons or the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Membership in such organizations as the SAR, DAR or the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century is based on having the right kind of ancestors. There was a huge fashion for these orgainzations following the United States Centennial and it lasted well into the 20th century. I've been told that nowadays it's rather more work to become a member: genealogies are required to be much more rigorous. There was never any doubt that our Nana and her siblings and cousins were all perfectly well qualified for membership in the DAR and SAR. Our father was a member of the SAR for years. Our revolutionary ancestor was Colonel John Streett of Harford County. A notebook of genealogy we have from these old relatives gives the flavor of the family legend, which begins with one Thomas Streett, the original immigrant.

Thomas Streett, 1737-1822

There is a tradition that three brothers, David, Thomas and John or William came from the vicinity of London, England and landed near Baltimore. John or william went to Philadelphia, or farther north; David settled on the Eastern Shore of southern Maryland, spelling his name Street; Thomas, spelling his name Streett settled in Harford County, Maryland, and took out a patent for a 700 acre tract called "Streett's Happy Hunting Ground," and "Streett's Pleasant Hills" near the Rocks of Deer Creek. In 1744 he was residing there. (The Streett Genealogy, p. 395.)

He was married twice, the first wife was Mary Fox, and his second, Sarah Cox, was said to be of Welsh descent and suurvived him, (The Streett Genealogy by Mrs. Mary G. Streett, published 1895, Exeter N.H., p. 395.) Col. John Streett recorded in his family Bible the death of his father, Thomas Streett, on June 16, 1922.

Thomas Streett engaged in farming, but retained his English taste for hunting and frequently entered in the chase with horse and hound. He was a strict adherent to the established church and regualrly attended his church ten miles distant.

Col. John Streett, Son of Thomas Streett, born June 30, 1761, died May 7, 1836

Col. John Streett's portrait painted by Paul Hallivig at request of a courthouse commission is hanging in the courthouse in Belair, Maryland.

He inherited the fondness for the chase and built his dwelling of Colonial Brick on the shores of upper Deer Creek in Harford County, Maryland. He was an extensive farmer and accumulated 5,000 acres of land which he later divided among his seven sons. He became prominent in politics early in the nineteenth century and was elected on twelve consecutive occasions to the Maryland legislature. He commanded the Harford Horse with the rank of Colonel, at the Battle of North Point, September 12, 1814, serving in the defense of Baltimore. Several of his brothers and nephews served in his command. (The Streett Genealogy by Mrs. Mary G. Streett, published 1895, Exeter N.H., p. 396.)

He was married December 29, 1784 to Martha St. Clair by the Rev. John Davis. He recorded in his family Bible his marriage and the births of his nine children as well as the death of his father. In 1937 the Bible was in the possession of Mrs. Geo. Gover Streett of Bel Air, Maryland.

Col. Streett died May 7, 1836 at his plantation in Harford County where he was buried. His wife, Martha, was also buried there. About 1929 Mrs. John A. Streett had his remains moved to the Holy Cross Graveyard, not far away.

—The Baldwin and Streett Families of Harford County, Md. by Charles H. Baldwin, December, 1967 (unpublished typescript, copied probably from The Street Genealogy, Compiled by Henry A. Street and Mary A. Street, The Letter-News Press, Exeter, NH 1895.)

Genealogical charts drawn up for Sister Amy show several more generations before Thomas the immigrant. The poster chart titled "Streett Family of Harford Maryland begins with Thomas Streett, born 1561-2, Somerset House, London England. He is succeeded by John Streett, born 1627. Then comes Thomas Streett, married to Elizabeth Maynard, at Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex, England. Their children are three sons: David, Thomas and William, the immigrant brothers about whom there is the "tradition." And although it wasn't as prominent in our house as was the Beckwith coat of arms, I remember a little copy of the Streett arms, somewhere. It made an impression because of the odd crest: a disembodied arm holding a little bell. I have no idea what happened to the Glyndon copy of the Streett arms.

STREETT COAT OF ARMS

Derbyshire, England

Arms - Vert, a fesse between three horses, courant, argent.

Crest: An arm embowed, vested, holding a bell pendant.

Motto: Data fata secutus: "Following the fates allotted to me."

Explanation: The shield is described as "vert," which is the heraldic term for green representing Purity and Freshness. The "fesse" is a horizontal band which extends to each side of the shield and is emblematic of the military girdle worn around the body over the armor. Some authorities say that it was a belt of honour given by kings for services in the army.

The horse is an emblem of war. It is a favorite beast of all nations as being more useful to man than any other, either in peace or war, service or pleasure; naturally courageous, haughty, jealous of being outdone by another, fleet, beautiful and knows his master. The term "courant" means in the act of running. The "argent" means silver, a royal color representing exceeding light and purity.

The crest is derived from the Latin word crista meaning a comb or tuft and is a device mounted on the helmet by means of a wreath of twisted ribbons. Crests were more often worn in Tournaments and were carved of wood or built up of softened leather. The crest of the STREETT coat of arms consists of an arm described as "embowed" (bent) and "vested" (wearing a sleeve). The hand is holding a bell "pendant" (hanging).

The mantling around the helmet and shield is more or less ornamental and symbolizes the cloak worn over the armor and helmet in warfare. This was to protect from the sun, and being of the best material to deaden the effect of the thrust of the sword. It is shown in scroll to represent the tearing and shattering of this cloak in battle. It consists of the prominent color and metal in the shield.

—Authority: Burke's General Armory, Fairbain's Crests of Leading Families

But alas, Nana and her relatives hadn't reckoned with the influence of popular culture. We proved a sore disappointment to those of our family who took pride in their ancestors. Those were the hippy days; having anything to do with such reactionary old stuffiness was anathema to us. Surprisingly enough, we had precedent in our own family for our less than grateful attitudes.

You may read elsewhere about our "Lost Ancestor," Albert Roswell Edgett, and how our Edgett heritage had been expunged from family memory. Although that story may have been an exaggeration, there could have been no comparison of the‚ as far as anyone knew, quite plebian Edgett name to those of Granddaddy Edgett's bride: Miss Priscilla Ruff Streett. She was the descendant of several ancient Maryland founders. Of course, Granddaddy Edgett was a very successful attorney being groomed to follow in his Uncle Will's footsteps as a state legislator and had his own illustrious ancestry: it was from his grandmother's family that we are descended from Nicholas Harvey, an Ark and Dove immigrant, and George Beckwith, the Ghostly Cavalier. So although the Edgett name itself was scorned, Granddaddy Edgett was no slouch in the ancestry department. Nor, apparently, was he deficient in wit. Because the family legend has it that Granddaddy, fed up with the constant references to Colonel John Streett, hero of the War of 1812, whose portrait hung in the Harford County courthouse, et cetera, et cetera, began referring to him as "Colonel John Streett who led the retreat."

I don't really know how the first reference was made. Perhaps it was merely an offhand remark, whose importance has grown in legend. But, it has stuck in the family history, and Yo in particular liked to tell the story of how Granddaddy Edgett squelched the self importance of the Streett descendants. So what's the real story behind the legendary Colonel John Streett?

The latest genealogies begin with Thomas Streett, born about 1705 in England, and Sarah Feeler. This couple was definitely married in St. George's Parish, in then Baltimore County, Maryland, in 1733. The Thomas Streett who married Mary Fox was born in 1737 in St. George's Parish, to Thomas and Sarah. Apparently it was Sarah's Thomas to whom the tradition of three brothers would pertain.

Unfortunately, the Streett coat of arms is not proven to be theirs. Apparently a Mrs. Robert L. Riggs of Monkton had from Somerset House, London, that a Thomas Street who died in 1561 had his will written in Latin and was most noteworthy man who died that year. Also, "John Street (1627); Thomas Streett married Elizabeth Mynard at Harrow-on-Hill, Middlesex: coat-of-arms, Derbyshire." It was a garbled version of this information that led to some genealogies seeming to claim the 1561 Thomas was born in Somerset House. Somerset House is a huge complex of government offices, where the paperwork of London used to be kept. It may be the case there were "Streets" or "Streetts" who had the right to use a coat of arms, but I'm pretty sure the link between these Streetts and ours remains a conjecture.

The Streett Genealogy gave a total of 700 acres for Thomas' first patents, but our chart noted the two making a much larger total. The first land grant for Thomas Streett was Streett's Pleasant Hills: 972 1/4 acres on September 20, 1789. Streett's Hunting Ground was acquired on November 12, 1791, and it covered 339 1/2 acres. In a few more years, Thomas Streett owned over 2,000 acres. That's doing pretty darn well for an immigrant of unproven lineage, and beats even the old plantation of St. Joseph's by a long shot. I find no record or even legend about how so much land was amassed so quickly. There's a story there waiting to be told. Thomas and Sarah had two children. Thomas Feeler Streett died as an infant. It was Thomas Streett, Jr. born in 1737, who married Mary Fox, in 1755. This second generation Thomas was definitely born in Baltimore County (Harford County was created in 1774 from part of what was originally a larger Baltimore County) and was not the immigrant. In fact, notes on Thomas, Jr. claim he particpated in the Revolutionary War. We'd have to dig up some of the newer books to find out more about this; nothing turns up online. But it may be that through the Streetts we have two SAR/DAR-worthy ancestors!

Thomas Jr. married twice. There's a slight confusion over dates. The best information I can get online claims Thomas Jr.'s first wife, Mary Fox, passed away on 7 July, 1722. But the same date is given for his marriage to Sarah Rogers, who survived Thomas by 12 years. That can't be correct. There's no question that Thomas Jr. had a horde of family, and left land to many of them. It's not clear to me from reading his will exactly how the main portion of the holdings went to his son John Thomas Streett. But it did, and the family home on Deer Creek in Harford County, Maryland is a registered historic site.

Col. John Streett House; Date Listed: May 29, 1990; Location: Holy Cross Road, Street, Harford County.

The Colonel John Streett House stands on a slight rise in the midst of a large, open field just east of Deer Creek. The house is composed of three brick sections, two of which are original and one a late 19th century addition. The original c. 1805 dwelling consists of a 2 1/2-story, five-bay, gable-roofed main section and a two-story, two-bay attached kitchen. South façades on both sections are laid in Flemish bond with beaded mortar joints. The main section has a through center stair hall separating two equal-sized rooms (each with a flush, gable-end chimney). The plan is identical on all stories. The kitchen wing has two unequal-sized rooms on the ground floor and a large loft room above, reached by a closed, corner stair. Interior finishing is of excellent quality and is also remarkably well preserved and unaltered. Notable features are the six-panel doors (complete with architrave molding and backband), paneled doors, chair rails, dining room and second-story bedroom cupboards, and four excellent mantels, at least one of which retains its original gray marbleizing. Several doors also retain their original mahogany-grained finish and brass hardware.

The Colonel John Streett House is important for its architecture and for its association with Colonel Streett (1762-1837), a man prominent in local politics and a hero of the War of 1812. Architecturally, the house is among Harford County's best and most intact examples of Federal style. While not as ambitious as the extremely elegant Sion Hill, it is locally comparable in scale and material to the main section of Olney, although the Streett House is arguably a better representative of the Federal era than Olney since it remains virtually unchanged and intact while the 1810 portions of Olney are overshadowed by later, even grander additions which make that slightly eccentric house truly unique. Moreover, the details of the Streett House, such as the marbleized mantels and grained doors, are unsurpassed in the county. Historically Colonel Streett, the builder of this house, was a prominent man in Harford County. He came from a family of landowners and farmers who remained for generations influential in Harford and Baltimore counties' political affairs. Streett himself ran a 3,000 acre estate, one of the largest estates in the county at the time. He secured a distinguished political career by serving in the Maryland Legislature for nearly a quarter of a century including twelve consecutive terms. Colonel Streett occupied the house until 1834.

—National register Listings in Maryland, from the web site of the Maryland Historical Trust: http://www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net/nr/NRDBDetail.asp?HDID=1061&PropName=streett&RCOUNT=0&StName=&Town=&County=%20&Keyword=&SEARCH=1

We see that the Historical Trust describes Colonel Streett as the builder of his home. I don't know the exact relationship of the various properties listed as belonging to Thomas Sr. and Jr. to those of Colonel Streett. More work to do! Notice, though, that the home is located in Street. The Sun Magazine for April 22, 1962, called Street "A Village with Two Names" and stated that "it began as a one-name town in 1774 when a group of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians settled here and called the community Highland. Later, when a post office was opened, it was called Street." The article quoted a 78-year-old citizen Jerome Heaps, who said "We talk about living in Highland but we give our address as Street." Immigrant Thomas and his descendents had done so well the Post Office was named for them. Notice also that the Historical Trust calls Colonel John Streett "a hero of the War of 1812." A good account of the Battle of North Point can be found at http://www.bcplonline.org/info/history/hist_bacohistory.html:</p>

After the invasion and burning of Washington, DC in August 1814, Rear Admiral George Cockburn reloaded the British troops of Major General Robert Ross to prepare for seizing Baltimore, a chief privateering nest in the United States. The location of Baltimore made it necessary to defend the city from both land and sea attack. Major General Samuel Smith was placed at the head of the city's defenses. The Baltimore harbor defenses rested on Fort McHenry. On September 11, 1814, the British fleet appeared off North Point in Baltimore County. The British strategy was to approach the city from the North Point and enter Baltimore by way of Hampstead Hill, now known as Baltimore's Patterson Park. The attacks by land and water would be simultaneous.

Smith ordered General John Stricker's 3rd Brigade of about 3,200 militia down the North Point Road to the narrow neck of the peninsula. A stronger fortified line ran along Hampstead Hill. Stricker intended to execute a delaying action along North Point Road before withdrawing into Hampstead Hill's fortifications.

On the morning of September 12, Major General Ross' troops advanced slowly yet confidently up North Point Road. Ross predicted that the American militia would run when fired upon and initially they did pull back. However, significantly a major casualty was General Ross. Legend has it that two sharpshooters, Daniel Wells and Henry McComas, made Ross their target. Whether they actually fired the shots will never be known. The boys fell almost immediately to British bullets. A monument immortalizes their valiantry. Carried to the rear, Ross died a few hours later.

The British forces advanced and that afternoon, Colonel Arthur Brooke, Ross' second in command, charged. The center and right wing of Stricker's line held before retreating to the reserve units a mile behind the lines. Stricker then moved his forces to the fortification on Hampstead Hill to reorganize.

Colonel Brooke, lacking confidence in his new position, halted his troops. The British fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, maneuvered into the Patapsco River in preparation for the attack on Fort McHenry. While the fleet fired on Fort McHenry during the day, Colonel Brooke prepared for a night assault on Hampstead Hill. Brooke was again certain that the militia would flee. Later that night he cancelled the plan upon seeing the fortification. Admiral Cockrane's fleet would need to subdue Fort McHenry before they could help the land forces take the Hill. The tactic failed. The dawn of September 14, immortalized in our National Anthem, showed the success of the American defense. September 12 continues to be celebrated as a Maryland legal holiday, Maryland Defender's Day. An annual reenactment of the battle takes place at Fort Howard Park, Edgemere, Maryland.

—Source: Neal A. Brooks and Eric G. Rockel. A History of Baltimore County. Friends of the Towson Library, Inc. Towson, Maryland. 1979.)

So with both the naval and the land forces stymied, the British withdrew. A stirring account of a valiant effort. Some have claimed that the British defeat at Baltimore was the turning point in the War of 1812.

We know quite well that Col. Streett was commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Regiment of Cavalry on February 13, 1812, under General Thomas M. Forman. Col. Streett issued the following order to Captain Henry McAtee on September 9, 1814: "Ordered that no Trooper belonging to the 7th Cavalry Regiment discharge his piece in the encampment as he will immediately be arrested and punished. It is further ordered that no officer belonging to said Regiment absent himself from the encampment at night, it is indispensable. By Order of Colonel John Street, Wm Evans, Sec't."

But as you read the account of the Battle of North Point, did you notice any mention of action by cavalry forces? Sadly, no. In the Harford Historical Bulletin, Number 76, Harford county, Maryland, Spring 1998, "Harford County in the War of 1812" by Christopher T. George, pp. 52, 53, and 54, we read that…

It has been claimed in print that Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Street and his Harford cavalrymen played a leading role in the Battle of North Point. This claim was not borne out either by Stricker's report to General Smith or in Smith's report to acting Secretary of War James Monore. Christopher Weeks in his recent "Architectural History of Harford County, Maryland," continued the legend of Streett's heroics. Weeks asserted that Streett's cavalrymen "stopped the British advance at the Battle of North Point." He also said that General Smith commended Streett "for his bravery and efficiency in action."

Weeks quotes a commendation to Streett: "Fatiguing as were the duties imposed on the United States Cavalry under Lieutenant Street(t), they were performed with alacrity and promptness highly honorable to officers and men." This was a garbled version of a commendation in the General Orders of September 19 written by order of General Smith by Asst. Adj. General William Bates. These General Orders alike praised combatants in the battle and troops on Hampstead Hill, and they mentioned Streett not separately but in a list of cavalry leaders who were in the city during the battle for Baltimore but not necessarily at North Point. The passage in question read: "Fatiguing as were the duties imposed on the United States cavalry, under Captain Bird (sic), and the militia cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonels Moore, Biays, Street(t), and Tilghman, and Captain Lee, they were performed with alacrity and promptness highly honourable to the officers and men." In: T. H. Palmer, ed., The Historical Register of the United States. From the Declaration of War 1812, to January 1, 1814, 4 vols., Washington, D. C.; 2:203-6.

The U. S. cavalry under Captain John A. Burd followed the British back to their ships and took a few prisoners but they were not in the Battle of North Point. Whitehorne, 91.

Perhaps proof that Streett did not have a role at North Point was a letter from one of his officers, Captain Henry Macatee, who commanded a troop of horse in the 7th Cavalry District under the colonel. In a letter of September 17 to his wife Teresa back in Harford County, he described the bombardment of Fort McHenry and the engagement of Stricker's force with the British but did not mention any involvement of the cavalrymen in the battle at North Point.

"On Tuesday morning last about daylight, the Enemy began bombarding and cannonading Fort McHenry, and continued incessantly for 21 hours. On the day before General Stricker's brigade had an engagement at North point in which we lost 20 or 25 killed and about 60 wounded." Captain Henry Macatee to Teresa Macatee, September 17, 1814, in War of 1812 - Militia, Archives of the Historical Society of Harford County.

The captain surely would have mentioned if he or any cavalryman from Harford had been involved in the battle. In fact, he closed the letter in rather prosaic terms, saying "If [the children] have finished plowing the Clover field, I wish to have the old orchard plowed next for Rye." General Forman in his letter of September 14 to his wife also mentioned that "On Sunday, the enemy landed at North Point and was met by General Stricker's brigade, in [a] smart action." If any of Forman's First Brigade had taken part in the battle along with the men of Stricker's Third Brigade, the general surely would have been sure to include mention of and probably commend their participation. (General Thomas M. Forman to Martha Forman, September 14, 1814, Forman Papers, Maryland Historical Society Ms. 1277.)

So although we find that Colonel Streett was less of a hero than family and local legend might have it, we can rest assured he was much more than a man who "led the retreat."