Smallwood State Park’s History

Introduction

General William Smallwood State Park was established in 1957 to preserve the home and legacy of one of Maryland's most distinguished Revolutionary War leaders. Today, visitors can explore Smallwood's Retreat and discover the history of General William Smallwood, his plantation, and the community effort that preserved this historic site for future generations.

The Life of General Smallwood

One of seven children, William Smallwood was born in 1732. Little is known about his early life. His family belonged to the emerging colonial Tidewater aristocracy and was active in Maryland politics. His father, Bayne Smallwood, served as a delegate to the Maryland Assembly, a justice of the county court, and a lieutenant colonel in the local militia. In private life, Bayne Smallwood was a merchant and tobacco planter who owned more than 4,000 acres along the Potomac River in Charles County, known as Mattawoman Plantation.

William Smallwood's public career began in 1761 when he was elected to the Maryland Assembly. During his 15 years of service, he earned a reputation as a decisive leader while serving on several influential committees. As tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain grew, Smallwood became a strong advocate for colonial rights and consistently opposed British policies.

When the American Revolution began in 1775, Smallwood took command of the first full-strength Maryland battalion to join the Continental Army. His battalion played a pivotal role during the Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776, where the courageous actions of the "Maryland 400" allowed General George Washington's army to escape. The battalion also fought at the Battle of White Plains later that year. After being wounded at White Plains, Smallwood was promoted to brigadier general. Following the American defeat at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina in 1780, Smallwood helped reorganize and stabilize the Continental Army in the Southern Campaign.

He was later promoted to major general, the highest military rank attained by a Marylander during the Revolutionary War.

Following the war, Smallwood returned to his plantation in Charles County. In 1785, he was elected Governor of Maryland, serving until 1788. During his administration, Maryland ratified the United States Constitution. In 1791, he was elected to the Maryland Senate, where he served as president of the chamber.

Smallwood was also a founding member and the first president of the Maryland Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of Continental Army officers. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge in Alexandria, Virginia, and remained active in Durham Parish Episcopal Church.

General William Smallwood died on February 14, 1792, at the age of 60. In accordance with his wishes, he was buried in an unmarked grave. On July 4, 1898, a monument was erected near the estimated location of his burial on the hillside below his home.

Smallwood never married and left no direct heirs. His nephew inherited the estate but was forced to subdivide portions of the property to satisfy creditors. The family retained ownership of the house and approximately 1,200 acres until 1868, when the property was sold. During the late 19th century, the house and surrounding land were occupied primarily by tenant farmers before being divided into smaller parcels.

Smallwood’s Plantation

William Smallwood lived during the rise of Maryland's colonial Tidewater aristocracy, when wealth and political influence were closely tied to tobacco cultivation and the labor of enslaved African Americans. Built around 1760, Smallwood's Retreat reflects this period through its early Federal-style architecture.

By 1790, Smallwood enslaved 56 people. Although little is known about the individuals who lived and worked on Mattawoman Plantation, historians believe most lived in quarters located elsewhere on the property. No buildings associated with the plantation's enslaved community survive today.

Most enslaved individuals worked as field laborers, while others practiced skilled trades such as blacksmithing and carpentry. Their labor was essential to the plantation's operation. They endured difficult living and working conditions, could be bought or sold against their will, and often worked from sunrise until sunset, particularly during the tobacco-growing season.

​At its peak, the plantation likely produced approximately 120 acres of tobacco each year. The remaining acreage was used to grow crops such as corn, wheat, barley, and oats, while livestock provided food for the household and workforce. Many enslaved families also maintained small vegetable gardens for their own use.

The Creation of Smallwood State Park

In 1938, a group of Southern Maryland residents established the Smallwood Foundation, Inc., with the goal of preserving and restoring Smallwood's Retreat and approximately 10 surrounding acres.

Evidence of the restoration remains visible today. The darker brickwork at the corners of the house marks areas reconstructed during the project and illustrates how little of the original structure remained when restoration began.

In 1957, the State of Maryland joined the effort. The Smallwood Foundation proposed transferring ownership of the house and surrounding property to the state. At the time, Maryland was expanding its state park system by preserving historic landmarks as destinations for education and recreation. The state accepted the proposal, completed the restoration, and established Smallwood State Park with Smallwood's Retreat as its historic centerpiece.

In 1958, one year after the park was created, the Smallwood Foundation continued raising funds to furnish the house and landscape the grounds. Their efforts restored the home to reflect the lifestyle of an 18th-century Tidewater gentleman.

During the 1980s, a tobacco barn dating to approximately 1825 was relocated from a nearby county-owned property to the park. Today, the barn helps interpret the central role tobacco agriculture played in the history and economy of Southern Maryland.

The Historic Area Today

Today, visitors can explore Smallwood's Retreat, the detached kitchen, reconstructed historic outbuildings, the relocated tobacco barn, and General Smallwood's memorial. Together, these features help tell the story of life on an 18th-century Southern Maryland plantation and preserve the legacy of one of Maryland's most influential Revolutionary War leaders.