Plundering Time facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Plundering Time
Part of English Civil War and Protestant Revolution of Maryland
William Claiborne, one of the infamous leaders, along with privateer Richard Ingle of the lawless period in the Province of Maryland known as the "Plundering Time"
Date 1644-1646 Location Province of Maryland Result With the end of hostilities, the Maryland colonial assembly issued the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 to allow religious freedom for Catholics to worship in the colony.
Belligerents
Maryland Catholics Maryland proprietary colonial militia	Maryland Puritans Puritan privateers (pirates) outlaws
Commanders and leaders
Governor Lord Baltimore Leonard Calvert	William Claiborne Richard Ingle
Strength
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Casualties and losses
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The Plundering Time (1644–1646) was a period of trouble and lawlessness in the English colony of Province of Maryland. It was also known as "Claiborne and Ingle's Rebellion".

What Caused the Plundering Time?

Several things led to this period of unrest. One cause was a disagreement between William Claiborne and the Calvert family over who owned Kent Island, Maryland.

There were also strong tensions between the smaller group of Catholics who were in charge and the larger group of Protestants living in the colony. On top of this, political fights from the English Civil War back in England also played a part.

Events of the Plundering Time

In 1638, Leonard Calvert, who was the first governor of Maryland, took control of a trading post on Kent Island, Maryland. This post had been set up by William Claiborne.

In 1644, William Claiborne led an uprising of Protestants and took Kent Island back. At the same time, a privateer (a type of legal pirate) named Captain Richard Ingle took control of St. Mary's City, Maryland, which was the capital of the Maryland colony. The Catholic Governor Calvert had to escape to the Virginia Colony.

These Protestant privateers started taking property from anyone who did not support the English Parliament. This mostly affected Catholics in the colony.

How the Rebellion Ended

In 1647, the rebellion was finally stopped by Maryland Governor Lord Baltimore. He led Maryland's colonial forces against the Parliamentary privateers. He successfully regained control of the colony, which ended the rebellion started by Claiborne and Ingle.

Sadly, Lord Baltimore became ill and died the next summer in 1648.

Following the end of the "Plundering Time," the Maryland colonial assembly passed the Maryland Toleration Act. This law allowed Catholics to worship freely in the colony, even though most people were Protestant.

Almost ten years after the "Plundering Time," fighting broke out again between Maryland Protestants and the Catholic minority. This happened at the Battle of the Severn, which is now Annapolis, Maryland. The Puritans won this battle.

What Happened After the Rebellion?

To help calm things down between the two groups, the Maryland colonial assembly passed the Maryland Toleration Act in 1649. This law aimed to allow religious freedom.

However, a victory for Parliament in England brought back old tensions. This led to another conflict called the Battle of the Severn in 1655, which took place near what is now Annapolis, Maryland.