The Story
Let's go into the history of Bethesda, Maryland from an early colony up to the American Revolution.
Maryland's initial growth led to the formation of counties, whose boundaries were defined by the Calvert family's land patents. King Charles of England granted them that right in 1634.
Most early Maryland landowners maintained their land through British tenant farmers. Later, German and Dutch colonists from Pennsylvania moved south into the Montgomery County region. Larger farms eventually depended on African slave labor.
Rural tobacco farming defined Bethesda throughout the 1700s. But as conflicts between the American colonies and England grew, Maryland was worried it would mess with their tobacco exports. The First Maryland Convention in June of 1774 agreed to suspend imports but only stop exports if other colonies did.
Maryland soil was spared from the American Revolution's destruction. Instead, they supplied American soldiers fighting elsewhere.
In 1776, Frederick County was divided into three parts. The other two parts took their names after General Richmond Montgomery and General George Washington. Bethesda was added to Montgomery County.
