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of the landed classes. The immigration of an entire
family from the landed classes was not the usual
course of events. What convinced the Lady Susanna,
with five children, to leave the comfortable life of the
privileged classes of England and venture into the
wilderness?
Historians are limited to writing just the facts of
history. They do not write of romance for who could
prove what is in the heart of a man or woman? They
do not write of virtue for that would be imposing a
judgment on the facts. They do not write of love for
love is not an observable fact. Regardless of the rules
of history writing, the story of Thomas Gerard and
Susanna Snow is a romantic story of love and virtue.
Thomas Gerard, M.D. arrived in the Colony of
Maryland in 1637. It was 13 years before he was
joined in the colony by his wife and five children.
During that time Gerard became the largest landowner
in Maryland, other than the Crown. Susanna and her
five children (Justinian, Susanna, Frances, Temperance
and Elizabeth) did not take up residence in Maryland
until after the St. Clement manor house and the
townhouse in St. Mary’s City were fully constructed