When the War of 1812 arrived on the Chesapeake Bay, it created opportunities for enslaved people to flee with the British to freedom. The invaders liberated some 4,000 people and “used several hundred in their army in a special unit known as the Colonial Marines,” according to the National Park Service.
As the British offensive moved into the northern Chesapeake in April 1813, about nineteen percent of the people in Cecil County were enslaved. Of these 2,467 individuals at least one, Hetty Boulden, held as property by Frisby Henderson of Frenchtown, helped the local militia turn the British back during the attack on the Elk River. Boulden faced great personal risk in undertaking this action.
In some incidental old newspaper sketches that faded from memory long ago, her story had been mentioned. But as time moved on historians largely forgot it in the written volumes about the past in this area.
Thus as the Historic Elk Landing Foundation started seeking to develop its interpretations of the site, the nonprofit foundation commissioned a study to assess and further research the narrative to see what could be determined from those few elusive traces. So I undertook a study of the questions centered around Hetty Boulden and her life.
Part of the strategy of the Historic Elk Landing Foundation (HELF) was to develop historically accurate character interpretations of individuals directly associated with the British incursion on the Upper Elk River in April 1813. HELF was particularly concerned with presenting some underrepresented accounts involving people passed over by the customary local historiography.
There was an assortment of individuals who could have been integrated into this cohort of additional, including women, African Americans, enslaved people, indentured servants, immigrants, and society outcasts, if carefully sourced clues could be developed to trace the narratives back through time. But using an evidence-based standard Boulden presented the strongest narrative, based on available traces.
Hetty Boulden Report
Thus, this report, prepared at the request of HELF investigated the life story of this Cecil County citizen, using customary research methods and evidentiary guidelines to develop proof points and flush out determinations supported by the historical record. The investigation confirmed that an African American female by the name of Hetty or Hettie Boulden lived in Cecil County for most of the 19th century. Also, there is evidence to support the narratives that she was present when the British came up the River and that she was involved in misdirecting and helping to resist the enemy’s advance on Elkton.
The full report provides the details and assesses the validity and reliability of the evidentiary traces that were discovered during this investigation.