Talbot County, Maryland — A new exhibition, We the People of Talbot County, invites visitors to discover the remarkable stories of the men and women who helped shape the fight for American independence on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and beyond. Through historical interpretation, individuals’ stories, and local perspectives, the exhibit highlights Talbot County’s vital contributions to the American Revolution and the enduring legacy of those who answered the call for liberty.

The roots of the Revolutionary War grew out of the aftermath of the French and Indian War, a conflict that left Britain burdened with debt and determined to exert greater financial control over its North American colonies. In Talbot County, resistance to British authority emerged early and forcefully. In 1765, protests against British taxation erupted at the courthouse, signaling a community prepared to defend its rights and challenge imperial rule.

As tensions escalated toward war, Talbot County residents became deeply involved in the movement for independence. Citizens organized through Committees of Correspondence and Committees of Safety, establishing new systems of self-government while preparing local militias to defend the Eastern Shore.

The exhibit also highlights influential Talbot County leaders whose impact reached far beyond Maryland. Tench Tilghman served alongside General George Washington as his aide-de-camp during the war, carrying critical messages and supporting the Continental Army throughout the conflict. Other Talbot Countians such as Solomon Barrott, Matthew Tilghman and David Kerr fought in major engagements from Brooklyn to Yorktown, while local militia leaders such as Jeremiah Banning and Perry Benson defended the region and supported the broader war effort.

We the People of Talbot County emphasizes that the struggle for independence was carried forward by people from many backgrounds. Men and women – African American, Native American and White – all contributed as soldiers, laborers, spies, and supporters on the home front. Whether serving on distant battlefields or sustaining the cause within their communities, the people of Talbot County helped secure American independence through courage, sacrifice, and resilience.

The exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to connect local history with the broader story of the American Revolution, demonstrating how Talbot County played an important role in shaping the nation’s founding.

Our regular exhibit hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10:00am to 3:00pm. This exhibit is located in our Denton Extended Museum building at 25 S. Washington St., Easton, MD 21601.

For more information about the exhibit, please contact the Talbot Historical Society at 410-822-0773 or kaylaw@talbothistory.org.