The Nottingham Lots consists of 32 Lots of approximately 500 acres each given by William Penn to his colonists in 1702. They lay in Maryland and were part of George Talbot’s “Susquehanna Manor” of 32,000 acres granted him in 1680 by Lord Baltimore
We set out to photograph current stewards of the Lots, some of whom have families dating back generations. An exhibition of the images occurs on March 4 2022 at Cecil County Arts Council, information can be found at CCAC.
Past Meets Present in Study of Nottingham Lots – Cecil Whig
Brick Meeting House, Cecil County, MD, Nottingham Lots from littlebean.media on Vimeo.
Jay Tosh working on equipment. When you look back on the past 300 years of the agrarian society in the Nottingham Lots, the family-name Tosh stands out. The Tosh’s were active in public life, signing a petition for the freeing of the Parker sisters, serving as road commissioners, and jury heads. Jay Tosh is one of the most visible farmers in the Lots. Anyone driving on rt.276 or rt.273 at Harrisville Crossroad Circle can see Jay making hay in the summer, or selling it in the winter. This visibility is a great asset to farmers and the public in the Nottingham Lots; it reminds us that an agrarian way of life is still sustainable after 300 years. Jay farms in Lots 20 and 5. 
Aaron Haines on his tractor after feeding the cows. Early memories of the Quaker Haines was how they spoke to each other using the gender neutral thee and thou. Aaron, like his grandfather Alfred, and father Bill, is very active outside of the family’s farming operation. For many years he has played a leading role in Rising Sun’s Community Fire Company responding to as many calls as he can. Albeck Farms, the family’s farming operation, farms in Lots 25, 26, and 27. 
Susan Sprout Knight with the family Bible. Susan’s forefathers, Jeremiah and Joseph Stephens were part of a large group of mostly Nottingham Lots Quakers, who in 1851 signed a petition for freeing of the Parker sisters who were abducted from a near by farm. The girls were freed and returned to the Nottingham, Pennsylvania, area. Susan is deeply involved in 4-H, having her own club and helping with camp and 4-H exchange projects. Susan’s family farm is in Lot 8. 
Tom Paduano in the greenhouse. Tom and his wife Sarah came to the Nottingham Lots in pursuit of their dream to own an organic produce farm. Not only did they want to do their production organically, they wanted to use horse power as much as possible. Their on-farm store and CSA have a customer base in all surrounding counties, making their operation not only organic but also sustainable. Tom and Sarah farm in Lot 19. 
Ruthie Way Moretz at her great-grandfather’s tomb stone at Little Brick Meeting. By 1869, the Philadelphia and Baltimore Rail Line had reached Colora, Maryland. The Line entered the Nottingham Lots at Sylman (Lot 10) and exited at Colora (Lot 18), bisecting the Lots and providing access to city markets for cream, fruit, hay, canned corn, tomatoes, and grain. Unfortunately, Ruthie’s great-grandfather became a victim of progress when, in December 1916, he was rundown by the evening Colora-bound train. Francis Way was 66 and deaf. He is buried at Little Brick Meeting on Harrisville Road. Ruthie’s farm is in Lot 18. 
William “Jerry” England in his garage. The England Families, as they should, have a large presence on England Creamery Road. 270 years ago, John England showed up with his family in what was then called Brick Meeting, Pennsylvania, to farm. Jerry England has spent his lifetime working on cars, trucks and tractors. He was an early supporter of the Cecil County Farm Museum; building a tractor-pulling sled for Museum events. In his retirement years, he’s farming with his family and hauling material for the Lot’s Amish community. Jerry and family farm in Lots 28 and 29. 
Elizabeth Young Flahart holding a picture of her great-grandmother’s family at West Nottingham Brick Meeting. Liz is a descendant of Tobias Long and Martha Robinson who farmed in West Nottingham in the early 1700’s. Tobias lived on the Presbyterian side in West Nottingham, Maryland, and Martha on the Quaker side in West Nottingham, Pennsylvania. This proved to be a problem. Liz and husband Ben’s dairy operation, farms on both sides of the old MD-PA border. Liz oversees Kilby Cream, is active in 4-H, and both breeds and shows goats. The Flahart’s farm in Lots 20 and 21. 
Al Miller in Aarons garage. Al Miller’s family have been agriculture activists for three generations. The family history includes donating the site for the Calvert Grange Hall, the co-founding of the Cecil County Fair at Fair Hill, and they have promoted the importance of agriculture on the local, state, and federal level. Al is a past president of both the Cecil County Fair Board and Farm Bureau. He currently devotes his time as a county councilman and provides support to farmers in the Nottingham Lots with his work at Ag Industrial Equipment Company located in Lot 10. The Miller family farms are in Lots 32 and 35. 
Cindy Fell Henderson with her family. In 1701 William Penn designated a 40 acre site in the Nottingham Lots for worship, burial and education. There have been a series of school houses next to the Brick Meeting House starting in 1730. The Calvert Agricultural High School was built in 1906 to help teach boys more scientific farming methods and girls home economics. Bill Fell was a graduate of the school and went on to the University of Maryland. After serving in the Air Force, he came to the family’s Calvert farm. He farmed with his wife Freda for 60 years. His daughter, Cindy, and son David, are both educators. Cindy and her husband Bill, sons Jack and Tyler, run the fam today. The farm is in Lots 15 and 16. 
Cole Stafford with his pigs. Cole Stafford is the fourth generation of Staffords farming in the Lots. The Staffords have been very progressive and very involved in the ag-community. His great-grandfather, Carl, served as the Cecil County Fair board president for many years, and all current generations of their family play a major role in the fair each year. The family has moved forward by looking back; they direct-market their Stafford angus and pork products from the farm. They have been active with the Cecil Land Trust in permanently protecting their farmland, restoring the farms streams, and using best management practices for healthy soils and clean water. Cole farms with his family in Lot 35. 
1901 reproduction of "A Draught of the Township of Nottingham according to a Survey made thereof in the third Month AD 1702." (Map courtesy of Chester County Historical Society. text via Chipstone.org )