Harford County's Illegitimate Roots

Henry Harford, after whom Harford County in Maryland is named, was the illegitimate son of Frederick Calvert, the 6th Baron Baltimore. Frederick Calvert was the proprietor of the Maryland colony, which was founded by his grandfather, Cecil Calvert, the 2nd Baron Baltimore, in the early 17th century.

Henry Harford's mother was Hester Whelan, a commoner, and Henry was born out of wedlock in England in 1758. Despite his illegitimate status, Henry was recognized by his father and given the title of "Lord Baltimore" upon Frederick Calvert's death in 1771.

Henry Harford's connection to Maryland is primarily through his family's ownership of the colony. However, he never visited Maryland himself. He lived in England, where he inherited significant wealth and estates from his father.

During the American Revolutionary War, Henry Harford, like many other Loyalists, remained loyal to the British Crown. His estates and properties in Maryland were confiscated by the state government due to his allegiance to the British during the war.

Henry Harford spent much of his life in legal battles attempting to reclaim his family's lost estates in Maryland. However, he was largely unsuccessful, and he died in 1834 without ever setting foot in the colony named after him. Despite his efforts, the Harford family's landholdings in Maryland were never fully restored.

Today, Henry Harford is primarily remembered as a historical figure linked to the early history of Maryland and the colonial period in America. His name lives on through Harford County, a place that bears the legacy of his family's influence and the enduring impact of colonial settlement in the region.