Marye-Gittings collection

A leading authority on Maryland history and genealogy, William Bose Marye (1886-1979) was born at Bellevue Farm near Kingsville, MD to William Nelson Marye and Elizabeth Bose (née Gittings) Marye. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1907 and later served in the Maryland Naval Militia during World War I. Living in Baltimore after the war, Marye pursued his interests in genealogy and Maryland history. He became the official genealogist for both the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Maryland and the Colonial Dames of America, Chapter I. He also developed an interest in 17th century Baltimore-area topography and focused on determining the names and paths of old watercourses. This knowledge of the geography and waterways of Maryland aided in his discovery of several Native American artifacts. A longtime member of the Maryland Historical Society, Marye served as a corresponding secretary and contributed many articles to the Maryland Historical Magazine.

William Nelson Marye (1841-1929) was born in Fredericksburg, VA. He served as a private in the Virginia Light Artillery during the Civil War and fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. He moved to Baltimore after the war and married Elizabeth Bose Gittings (1853-1928), who was the only child of Dr. David S. Gittings and his second wife Arabella Young (1820-1861). Elizabeth was one of the founders of the Harford County Garden Club and served as its treasurer for many years as well.