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names - but not all - had a reason for being.

Long before European civilization reached the shores of the Potomac River where Brunswick is now located, Indians settled here, and the river furnished much of their food. To catch the fish, the Indians made "eel pots" in the river. These angled traps caught the fish and prevented their escape. At that time eels were abundant, and the area became known as "Eel Pot;" later when the white man settled, "Eel Town" was used and is still recognized by many as referring to Brunswick.

The route of Maryland Highway 17 was once the buffalo trail from the highlands of Pennsylvania to the Potomac River. Buffalo on the other side of the highlands gravitated to the Susquehanna River. The buffalo gathered at an area that extended downriver from "The Gut" to the present Brunswick Campground. This area was called "Buffalo Wallows." Austin Cooper recalls that as a youngster he worked occasionally on a farm at the lower end of the wallows. One day he and his companion dug up a buffalo skull.

In 1728 our area was called "Coxson Rest," the title of a small land plot used as a trading post by Abraham Pennington, the first known settler. The name "Tankerville" was applied in 1778 because of the northernmost corner of a tract of 17,000 acres owned by the Earl of Tankerville.

As people began settling the nearby area of Virginia at the enticing offer of that state's Governor Dinwiddie, many crossed the Potomac at the area we know as Hawkins' grant. The name "German Crossing" appears in papers written by Dr. Charles Zahn.1

This name was possibly attributable to the Germans who were crossing the Potomac in their journey to "German Settlement," which was later named Lovettsville.

"Potomac Crossing" also came into use to identify the place where travelers forded the river. East and west of this area there were dangerous, deep water holes in the river, but here, where the bridges were later built, was an area that could be forded and crossed safely.

The original land grant from the Crown, King George II of England, was for 3100 acres, conveyed to John Hawkins of Prince Georges County, and was dated August 10, 1753. The grantee named it "Hawkins ' Merry Peep-0-Day," in deference to the happy sunrise above the surrounding hills.

After John Hawkins' death, his grant was equally divided between his two sons. Thomas E. Hawkins received the eastern half, and John S. Hawkins received the northwestern portion, where Brunswick later developed.


A deed of July 31, 1766 transferred John's portion after his death to Thomas Gantt of Prince Georges County. Gantt's portion was deeded to Thomas Gantt, Jr., on January 1, 1773, after the grantor's death. Young Gantt in turn sold his land to Clement Hollyday with a deed dated July 3, 1776.

After Hollyday conveyed the land to Leonard Smith on November 7, 1780, Smith assigned three or four lots that year to his children. (This was the same Leonard Smith who had surveyed New Town for Mrs. Eleanor Medley. New Town is now called Jefferson.) In 1787, Smith completed the platting of Berlin. From 1787 the name "Berlin" identified the area of Hawkins' land. Among the many references to Frederick County found in York County (PA.) is one stating that "Berlin" was used in deference to the Germans who lived in the area after migrating from Berlin, Germany. Use of the name Berlin, however, confused the U. S. Postal Service, since there was already a Berlin on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and on April 26, 1832, the name of the post office here was changed to Barry. Of course, the name Berlin continued in use, but for purposes of mailing, "Barry, P.O." was used.

This story appears in America's Educator Encyclopedia, Volume A, page 347:

There were many Irishmen working here, building on the railroad. There was an Irishman - but not in this area - named John Barry (1745-1803). He became wealthy in ship-building-but not here. He was cited as the first American officer to capture an English ship (1776), and he built a strong American Navy.

Rev. H. Austin Cooper's grandmother used to tell the same story, and there are people who believe this origin of the name Barry.

A great change occurred on April 8, 1890. The presence of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was causing the town to grow and incorporation was accomplished that year. According to one written account, a B&O official was asked to suggest a fancy name to replace Berlin, and he suggested "Brunswick." Some think this choice was made because of the many residents living here who came from Brunswick, Germany, to work on the railroad.

1Dr. Charles Zahn papers, in York County Historical Library, York, Pa.

S - Austin Cooper

W-MMM

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