Hello all,
My name is Sean Baker and I am honored to announce the beginning of my involvement on this great project, Finding the Maryland 400. I graduated from the University of West Florida with a master’s degree in Public History, and from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in History. I am excited to work with Project Director Owen Lourie, and continue the excellent work conducted by previous interns Jeff Truitt, Daniel Blattau, Emily Huebner, and Taira Sullivan. While considerable work has been completed on this project, there is still much left to do and I look forward to uncovering the lives of the men that played such a critical role in the American Revolution.
This project marks my first time conducting in depth research on the Revolutionary War, but is not my first exposure to the story of the Maryland 400. I previously resided in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, living on the very ground where the men of the First Maryland Regiment fought and died. Working on this project also continues my specialization and interest in American Military History. Previously I volunteered for the Mississippi State Archives researching the Siege of Vicksburg during the Civil War, and creating content and activities for Mississippi teachers to use in lesson plans about the siege. In the summer of 2012 I worked for the Marine Corps History Division researching Marine Corps topics and developing historical narratives and other supplementary material for publication on their website.
I would like to thank the Maryland Society, Sons of the American Revolution for providing funds to this project and making this position possible. I am excited by the opportunity to work on this project. I am looking forward to conducting original research and finding out more about the men of the Maryland 400. In addition to writing biographies about the men of the Maryland 400, I will also be updating the blog, informing you of my progress, and highlighting important events and information about the First Maryland Regiment during the Revolutionary War.
-Sean Baker
Finding the Maryland 400 
Sean,
Thank you for your interest in this project. I have information about Henry Chew Gaither that was in this battle. He was the brother of my direct ancestor Daniel Gaither and became his guardian after the death of their father. I saw Henry’s signature on the last letter and will of Bowie written the night before the battle. That letter with his signature is on the Maryland Archives “Maryland 400” web site. Henry Chew Gaither went on to fight in every major battle of the Revolution including the southern campaign and ending at Yorktown with the Maryland 1st regiment as a captain. He ended his military career as a Lt. Col. He was with St. Clair in the Northwest Territory and was commandant of forts in the south. His military papers are at a university in Texas. Several of the letters to him from Henry Knox and others and from him to various people in our first USA army are on line. I have a copy of his biography including his entire military career that was published in the Gaither Society News. He was an original member of the Society of Cincinnati.
Henry Chew Gaither was from an important Maryland family.
If I could have an email address I would be glad to forward that to you if you are interested.
Sincerely,
Sue Gaither Vanzant
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Sue,
Thanks so much for your comment. You can contact the project at msamaryland400@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Owen
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Owen, right after I sent this message I came down with a bad case of the flu. As soon as I feel better I will be in touch with what I have on Henry Chew Gaither. Sorry it is taking so long.
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Sue.
One of the first books I researched when beginning my research on the Garrett family who came through west Virginia in the migration to the west in the “early days” was the history of the Gaither family. The book was sent to our library in Hays, Kansas, and I used it to find that a distant member of my ancestors was a Burgess who married a Gaither in the 1600/1700’s. It was found by our Hays library staff in the University of Emporia, Emporia, Kansas or the Emporia Public Library, Emporia, Kansas. It was a complete family research which I thoroughly enjoyed using. I would enjoy and appreciate any information you could share on
this very important ancestor in your family.
Donna Schmidt 16501710ks@ruraltel.net
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You must be talking about Sarah Chew Burgess that married Benjamin’s Gaither. Her mother was Sarah Chew. Both families were illustrious. The book “the Gentry of Anne Arundel County” by Harry Wright Newman that has quite lot about the Burgess family. After I recover from the flu I will see what other sources are good. However, the online site of the Maryland State archives is a treasure trove of information regarding our Maryland an ancestors. Happy hunting.
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