STEPHEN CAWOOD II:
Stephen Cawood II was baptised at Pontefract, England May 11, 1630 (in the reign of King Charles I
(1625-49). The Cawoods of Pontefract ans vicinity are the only ones who have been named Stephen. He
emigrated to America evidently in the latter part of 1665, at the time of the Great Plague which,
seemingly, originating in London, spread over practically all of England. At about the same time, in the
latter months of 1665, the Great Fire of London, occurred, when it was said that in London there were
more people dead than remained alive. The fire left many homeless and this, and the plague may have the
reason that prompted Stephen’s departure from England. He also have been may seeking freedom and the
liberty to progress, which they had been denied for so many years.
Stephen Cawood (now 35 years of age) landed in southern Maryland in 1666, probably in the early part of
that year. He came, as many early settlers as an indentured servant, usually for seven years, in order to
repay the ship owner or captain for his transportation fee for having been brought to America.
According to records found in the Land Office, Annapolis, Maryland, Stephen Cawood of Charles County
proved right to 50 acres of land for time of service performed in the province. This record was dated
February 4, 1670-71. On the same day Thomas Dent of St. Mary’s County sold to Stephen Cawood of
Charles County, 200 acres, part of a warrant for 1500 acres granted to Dent July 9, 1670. Warrant was
then issued to Stephen Cawood for 250 acres. Stephen Cawood’s warrant for 250 acres was increased by
200 acres on October 10, 1674, in a transaction by which Charles Calvert (Lord Baltimore) then
Governor, issued to Stephen Cawood warrant for 200 acres, returnable February 10, 1675. On the same
day October 10, 1674, Charles Calvert assigned to Stephen Cawood four persons—Ann Terret, William
Terret, George Blackmore and Katherine Blackmore, who were under obligation to him. Charles Cavert
had apparently sponsored these four parties and paid for their transportation from England. For a certain
consideration, (money or otherwise), these rights passed to Stephan and he was entitled to 50 acres for
each person. Thus the 200 acres from Charles Calvert.
Having acquired additional land by various transactions, Stephen Cawood, who had labored and waited
for several years to find a suitable location, and now married to Ann Terrett, was at last ready to establish
the first home of the Cawoods in the new country. His rights now amounted to 600 acres, and on May 13,
1675, he was granted warrant for that amount. He chose a location lying on the main branch of the
Mattawoman River by a bounded tree of Hull’s land called “Hopewell.” Patent for this tract was issued
May 8, 1676, by Charles Calvert and it was given the name of “Hull.” This plantation has ever since been
known as Hull. It lies about ten miles south of the District of Columbia, about three miles northeast of the
village of Waldorf in Charles County, and about five miles as the crow flies from the point on the Potomac
River lying opposite Mt. Vernon.
One approaches the plantation of Hull from Waldorf. It sets a quarter of mile from the highway. Hull
belonged to the Cawoods down to about 1790. The house has the appearance of once having been
pretentious, but now has lost much of its former glory. It is a large two story building, with a central hall
extending its entire length. Directly back of the house the land drops rapidly to the Mattawoman basin,
giving an amphitheater effect. There are no ancient graves to be found, but there can be no doubt that
according to the customs of the times, many generations of Cawoods lie buried on these ancestral acres.
Through the union of Stephen Cawood and Ann Terrett most, if not all, of the Cawoods descended. There
are cemeteries in Maryland, Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee where
Cawoods are buried. Name spellings may vary from Caywood, Kawood, Kaywood, Cawode, Kawode etc.,
but the original in English history was Cawood.
Stephen Cawood engaged in the war with the Susquehannock Indians about 1675, and was killed in the
war sometime in 1676, at the age of 46, leaving his wife, Ann Terrett Cawood, and son Stephen. There
may have been other children. He lies buried near where he fell across the Potomac, directly in view of
now Mt. Vernon, home of our first president.
An act for the relief of Ann Cawood, widow, and her children, was introduced in the assembly of
Burgesses and Delegates on May 16, 1676, passed on June, 1676, providing that in consideration of the
great poverty of Ann Cawood, widow and relict of Stephen Cawood ” lately slain in the service and
defense of this province whose death is the occasion of her and her children’s distress” they pay Ann
Cawood for herself and for her children 1500 pounds of tobacco per annum for the next three years. (See
Maryland Archives, Vol II, Page 563.) She seems to be the only one given a pension for his sacrifice. This
may have been one of the very first, if not the first granted in this country. They must have had more than
one child because the pension application mentions children, but we only know of Stephen because he
was old enough (age 14) in 1684 to have witnessed a will.
Immigrant as an *indentured servent to the MD colony; d Abt November 1676, Charles Co., MD killed in a war with indians

Children of Steven Cawood II and Ann Terrett are:

Stephen Cawood III:
STEPHEN CAWOOD III:
Stephen continued to live with his mother and step-father until he was of age. In 1695 he returned to
Charles County to assume possession of his heritage, a plantation of 600 acres, called Hull.
Stephen III made his will September 9, 1735, and it was probated October 15, 1735. He made bequest to
son, John Cawood, part of “Hull”, the balance of “Hull”, to sons William, Thomas, and Stephen Cawood;
he also made bequest to wife, Mary Cawood; to daughters Ann Thomas, Mary Willett, Hester Robinson,
and Penelope Roby; to children of daughter Ann Thomas, by her deceased husband, William Atchison.
Stephen Cawood III died in October of 1735. In his inventory, dated December 19, 1735, are mentioned
six slaves, also a large plantation, which seems to have been well stocked with horses, cattle, and hogs. He
also had a large number of fowl, and various implements, etc, are mentioned. He also had listed many
articles of furniture which had probably been importrd from England and were of the Queen Anne Period,
or some older period.
Mary Cox Cawood, the widow died about March, 1748.
w died about March 1748.
More About Stephen Cawood III:
Date born 2: 167087
More About Stephen Cawood III and Mary Cox:
Marriage: 1690, St Marys Co, MD.87
Children of Stephen Cawood III and Mary Cox are:
+John Cawood, b. 1693, St Marys Co, MD, d. 1769, Berkley,WV.