By the time of the American Revolution, families by the name of Adams, Anderton, Melvill, Rix, Sulivane, and Trippe had been living at this location for decades. In 1776, Captain James Sulivane combined several tracts of land totaling 933 acres and named the area "New Market." Around 1785, Sulivane started the beginnings of the town on the west side of his tract by creating twenty lots along what is now Main Street. East was added to the town's name in 1827 when the post office differentiated the town's name from another on Maryland's western shore.
East New Market is a remarkable destination for those wishing to experience a wide variety of early Maryland architecture. The town showcases a rich genealogical and architectural history that now stretches over five centuries.
On these pages you will find a remarkable ongoing project with a goal to post online every historic record prior to 1922 for the properties and people of East New Market — serving as a model to showcase the wide array of historic records available for Dorchester County, the eastern shore, and the state of Maryland as a whole.
The focus is primarily the area displayed in the 1877 Atlas of Talbot and Dorchester Counties by Lake, Griffing & Stevenson. The spotlight often ventures outside the 1877 map to other fascinating stories on adjacent lands such as the East New Market Depot area, the Choptank Indian Lands, Cabin Creek, and Secretary. The time frame begins with the first known record in 1683, continuing through the 1922 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map.
Take your time browsing the historic records. Be sure to search for your property or family name. If you have any comments, corrections, additions, or further insight, please contact me.