Tracing the Origin, History of the Galloway Family in Middle River

A couple of months ago while doing a column on name origins, I made mention of a gentleman by the name of Moses Galloway as the person for whom Galloway Creek is named after.

In the time since that column, I have become more fascinated with that name and the individual attached to it. I have researched old land records, marriage records, and genealogical sites to find out as much as I can, and I will continue my research as long as time permits.

Perhaps the basis of my curiosity lies with a newspaper article from 1918 that was discovered by Baltimore County Historian John McGrain and reproduced in a book entitled “Our Struggles” by Louis Diggs. The article itself was authored by O. H. Frizche and appeared in the June 13, 1918 edition of the Baltimore American.

The article spoke of Fritzche’s trip to visit the old Galloway Homestead in the Long Beach section of Bowleys Quarters. Apparently, there were no roads to the area or they were impassable at the time because Fritzche had to take a “Launch” from the Middle River Bridge. After a 20-minute ride, he finally arrived at the shore of John J. Dotterweich (the owner of the property at the time).

Dotterweich, better known as “Jolly John” was very well known in the community for he was closely associated with and the right hand man to Congressman (and Political Boss of Baltimore County) Joshua Frederick Cockey Talbott.

Dotterweich led Fritzche to the site of the dwelling which was still standing although it showed the wear and tear of almost 200 years of being in the elements and surviving the ravages of time. Near the massive building stood a large apple tree. Under the tree was the Galloway graveyard.

Mr. Dotterweich had put up a wire fence to keep out unwanted individuals. One marker was for Moses Galloway who was born in 1726 and died on July 30, 1798. Next was the marker of Harriett Galloway (wife of Moses‘ great-grandson who was also named Moses) who passed away in 1848. Other Galloway headstones were nearby as well as those for members of the Pamelton and Presbury families.

On his excursion, Fritzche came across two former slaves who lived and farmed land nearby. Brothers Jerome and Henry Preston, aged 84 and 81, respectively were there to honor deceased former friends and slaves of the Galloway’s who were buried in an open field close to the Galloway graveyard. The brothers had nothing but kind words for “Squire William Galloway (a descendant of Moses), their master and were very sorry to leave him to join the Union Army during the Civil War. They also recalled Moses and his brother Robert thru hearsay.

Moses was not the first member of his family to settle in the area we now know as Long Beach. His father William Galloway received a patent for 436 acres in 1726 that he called “Galloway’s Enlargement.” In 1743, William added 46 acres entitled “White Oak Thickett” to his holdings. Upon his death, his holdings were divided between his sons Moses, Robert, and Aquila..

Moses continued to add to the property over the years. In 1768, he received a patent for 64 acres near Log Point that he called “Labyrinth.” The patent pointed out that 4 acres of the land was cultivated on which sat a 12 x 16 ft log cabin. In 1773 Moses added another 50 acres when he received the patent for the land he entitled “Fiddle Stick.”

Moses can also be greatly associated with the Revolutionary cause and the founding of this great nation. In 1775 he was appointed to serve as a representative from the Middle River Lower Hundreds (a political sub-division of the times) on the committee which voted for those to represent Maryland in the Continental Congress.

As I stated in the beginning of this column, I have been searching old documents and as time and weather permits traveling to the Long Beach community to see if I can find any remnants of the homestead or graveyards or even a location where they might have existed but my efforts have to date been fruitless. I have even spoken to John McGrain whose knowledge is far greater than mine is and it is his belief that sadly everything has been developed over.

Just another example of our disappearing heritage.    Next week, “The culprit has been found.”