Spesutie Island

Spesutie Island is a 1,500-acre (610 ha) island located in the Chesapeake Bay in Harford County, Maryland, United States. It lies 5.5 miles (8.9 km) southeast of Aberdeen, Maryland.[1][2] Spesutie Narrows bounds the island on the west and the bay bounds it on the north, east, and south. The island is part of Aberdeen Proving Ground.[2]

Spesutie Island
Spesutie Island in 2008
Geography
LocationHarford County, Maryland
Coordinates39°27′21″N 76°04′36″W
Area1,500 acres (610 ha)
Highest elevation3 ft (0.9 m)
Administration
Part ofAberdeen Proving Ground

History

Evidence has been found of the historic presence of Native Americans on Spesutie Island.[2] In 1658, Lord Baltimore granted the island to Nathaniel Utie who named his manor house after his surname and the Latin word for hope, spes.[2] The property remained in the Utie family until 1779 when Samuel Hughes purchased it.[2] In 1802, William Smith bought the island, and his descendants would remain there for almost a century, though the War of 1812 brought some disruption.[2] In late April 1813, troops under the command of Rear Admiral George Cockburn briefly occupied the island, and passing vessels such as HMS Highflyer engaged in the forced purchase of cattle.[3] The Smith family sold the island in 1900 and by 1927 ownership had passed to the Susquehanna Development Company. In 1936, J. P. Morgan, Jr. built a house on the island to use as a hunting lodge. The Spesutie Island Hunting and Fishing Club maintained the island until 1945 when the United States government purchased it and incorporated it into Aberdeen Proving Ground.[2]

Other names

The United States Geological Survey records the following variant names for Spesutie Island: Bearsons Island, Spes Island, Spes Utia Island, Spes Utie Island, and Spesutia Island.[1]

Wildlife

Spesutie Island is home to a large population of bald eagles.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Spesutie Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  2. Cronin, William B. (2005). The Disappearing Islands of the Chesapeake. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 22–26. ISBN 0-8018-7435-1.
  3. "No. 16750". The London Gazette. 6 July 1813. p. 1331.
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