Very few Tobacconists can lay claim to being situated so close to an area with as rich a tobacco history as Chesapeake Pipe & Cigar. While our modern address has us located in Annapolis, MD, we are located very close to what was once one of colonial America’s most important seaports — London Town.
Created in 1683 by the colonial Maryland Legislature, London Town or Londontowne as it is also known became an important tobacco port and a major player in the colonial trans-Atlantic trade network. It also served as an important ferry crossing on the main north-south route in the colonies, connecting Charleston, South Carolina with Boston, Massachusetts. The town was laid out on 100 acres, overlooking the South River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Roads were created, including Scott, Mackelfish, and Fish Streets among others. And 100 one-acre lots were platted. As a center of transportation and trade, London Town reached its heyday in the 1720s, rivaling nearby Annapolis in terms of economic activity. Merchants, planters, carpenters, and coopers were important to the tobacco trade. They all either lived or owned property in London Town, as did tailors, tavern-keepers, ferry-masters, mariners, ropemakers, blacksmiths, as well as indentured servants, convict servants, and slaves. The Anne Arundel County courthouse was located in London Town from 1685 until 1695, when the court moved to Annapolis, including the cage, whipping post, stocks and pillory.
The prominence of London Town began to fade in the mid-1700s as Annapolis grew in size and prominence. With the lack of trade during the American Revolutionary War, the port town simply could not survive as it competed for business with Annapolis. Once a vibrant town, consisting of 30 to 40 occupied lots and an estimated population of 300 people, London Town began to disappear from the landscape. Only a few buildings lasted into the 20th century, one of which is the impressive brick building, known as the William Brown House, built circa 1760 as an upscale tavern for travelers crossing the South River by ferry boat.
Today, Historic London Town & Gardens park consists of one-quarter of the original 100-acre town. Beneath the ground throughout the park, there is evidence of the generations of men, women and children who lived their lives on the shore of the beautiful South River.
Because of the long and proud history of this area, we at Chesapeake Pipe & Cigar feel we have a sacred trust to serve the modern tobacco needs of the area with respect and reverence to all those that lived and died here before us.
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- These are to give notice to all Persons Whom it man Concern that I Alexander Scougal Commander of the Ship Frederick Now Riding at Anchor in South River in this county afsd. Being purposed to Export tobacco from Maryland to the Port of London in Great Britain on freight this Present Voyage, Does hereby Publish His Rate Here is at Six pounds ten Shillings per Ton the freighters Consigning their Tobaccos to Mr. Saml. Hyde Merchant. in London As Witnessed my hand this 30 Day of Oct. 1735. These are to give notice to all Persons Whom it may Concern that I Anthony Beck Commander of the Snow London Town Now Riding at Anchor in South River in this county afsd. Being purposed to Export tobacco from Maryland to the Port of London in Great Britain on freight this Present Voyage, Does hereby Publish His Rate Here is at Seven pounds sterling per Ton the freighters Consigning their Tobaccos to any merchant or merchants in London As Witnessed my hand this 30 Day of Oct. 1735.
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- Notice is hereby given that I Anthony Beck Commander of the Snow Francis and Elizabeth now lying at Anchor in Severn River in the province of Maryland purposing to Export tobacco from the province aforesaid to the Port of London in Great Britain this present voyage on freight, Do hereby Publish the Rate thereof is at Sixteen pounds Sterling per Tonn. The Freighters Consigning their Tobacco to Mr. John Philpot & Company merchants in London. As Witness thereof my hand this 13th day of April 1747/ Recorded April 13 1747 Anthony Beck.
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- November 6, 1751
