I am an avid genealogist. The past is very important to me. I spend a lot of time in cemeteries photographing tombstones to upload on website the FindAGrave.
I enjoy recognizing long dead people by putting memorials to them online. However, every once and a while something grabs me about a specific grave. It could be the name, or the dates or a ceramic photo. In those cases, I feel compelled to dig a little deeper. That's what this series of blogs is about: The tales behind those graves. Some of my subjects will be heroes. Some will be villains. Some will be victims. And some will linger in between, like most of us. However, don't be surprised if the tales are inherently tragic. These are grave tales. They all end in death.
It was inevitable. I finally made my pilgrimage to Baltimore's historic Green Mount Cemetery in search of stories. I knew many could be found there. Officially dedicated in 1839, Green Mount was one of the nation's first "garden" cemeteries, designed to accent the natural beauty of the surroundings. In addition to being a final resting place for the dead, it was also intended to be a place of peaceful meditation for the living as well. In my humble opinion, the cemetery still succeeds in that purpose today.
The cemetery quickly became the final resting place of Baltimore's ruling and social elite. It is filled with mayors and governors and congressmen, as well as Union and Confederate generals, businessmen, entertainers and writers. Green Mount is also the final resting place of America's most despised assassin, John Wilkes Booth, and two of his co-conspirators. Therefore, you must forgive me if I put aside my normal prejudice in these blogs toward unsung folks. I suspect I will find myself telling the stories of people who were once prominent in their day, if largely forgotten today. That is the case of my subject today: "Commodore" Thornton Rollins.
Thornton Rollins' monument called to me from the road. It featured a wonderful bronze relief of a sailing ship The Julia Rollins, named after his wife. I pulled over to photograph the monument. I knew I had to learn more about the "Commodore," if only to discover if he was a real Commodore. Who puts quotes around a title on their tombstone?
Thornton Rollins was indeed a member of Baltimore's wealthy ruling elite. He was mentioned literally thousands of times in the local newspapers. Thornton was a shipping magnate, who grew rich in the coffee trade between Baltimore and Brazil, a banker and served on the board of directors of many corporations and institutions. He was elected to the Baltimore City Council and actively thwarted attempts by people to run him for mayor. He certainly had his time in the sun, please forgive me for shining a little more post-mortem light on him.
Here's his story:
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 07 July 1935, Sun:
ROLLINS, NOTED AS SHIP
OWNER IS DEAD AT 95
-----
Heat Blamed In Decease
Of Commodore Of
Clipper Fleet
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WAS EX-FINANCIER,
PHILANTHROPIST
-----
"He was Useful Citizen"
Is Epitaph Bon Vivant
Said He Desired
-----
Commodore Thornton Rollins, once the operator of the largest fleet of fast Baltimore clippers between here and Rio de Janiero in the coffee trade, and later a noted bon vivant and one of the city's financiers and philanthropists, died suddenly yesterday in his ninety-fifth year.
For the last year he had been living a retired life at his home, 746 West Fayette street, a house that he had occupied since the early '70's.
His death, according to members of his household, probably was super-induced by the heat. Mr. Rollins had had a late breakfast with his male nurse and was resting preparatory to a customary drive through the parks when stricken. He died about 2.30 P.M.
Funeral Today
The last member of the Rollins family, the Commodore is survived only by relatives of his wife. Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. Tuesday at his home.
Mr. Rollins, who served a term as president of the First Branch City Council under the old bicameral system, was the last member of the Lobby Club to survive, and it was in an effort to keep alive the traditions of this organization three years ago, that the Commodore fell into an illness that nearly cost him his life.
The Lobby Club was formed by a group of prominent Baltimoreans, who in the 80's made the foyer of Ford's Theater their rendezvous. It held its first dinner at Mr. Rollins' home in 1888.
Dinner Was Annual Event
Annually thereafter the event was observed with terrapin and champagne, the original menu. As the founding members died, their places were taken by other prominent Baltimoreans at Mr. Rollins' invitation. The last of these dinners, according to members of Mr. Rollins' household, was held last year.
He was active, in a sense, until Thursday, when he took his daily automobile ride through the city's parks. In his eighties he had his first airplane ride and at the time described himself as Baltimore's youngest old man. It was only in very recent years that he agreed to abandon a daily walk downtown for a drive in an automobile.
At one of the last Lobby Club dinners, before the death of a few of the original members then surviving, "Commodore" Rollins suggested that the only epitaph he wanted was "He was a useful citizen."
Born at Fells Point October 7, 1840, he was the son of William and Mrs. Julia Sylvester Rollins. His grandfather was one of the defenders of the city in the War of 1812. From his father, a shipmaster, he inherited his love for the sea and, after receiving his education in the public schools of the city, he soon became interested in shipping.
Got Loan Of $10,000
In those days Baltimore outranked any other American port as the home of clipper ships. When in his early twenties he decided to enter the coffee-importing business. He appealed to the late George Brown, then the president of Alexander Brown & Sons, Baltimore bankers, for a loan of $10,000. Several days later Mr. Brown, meeting the young importer's father, advised him of the loan to his son.
Astonished, the elder Rollins informed the banker his son did not own $10,000. Mr. Brown, however, said he had confidence in the young man. The loan was paid and proved the beginning of both Mr. Rollins' financial and shipping career.
Built Famous Barks
Among the barks built by Mr. Rollins that were to become well known on the high seas were the Dom Pedro II, named in honor of the Emperor of Brazil; the Julia Rollins, named for his wife, and the brigs Alice, Chowan and others. Several oil paintings of these vessels hang in the parlor of Mr. Rollins' home and he said he intended to bequeath them to the Maryland Historical Society.
Several of his vessels fell prey to the ravages of the sea and eventually the cost of maintaining the fleet induced Mr. Rollins to abandon his shipping career. His shipping and import business had made him one of the leading business men of the city.
Headed Three Banks
At various times he was the president of three banks, director in fourteen bank and trust companies, vice-president of the Board of Trade and a director of the Firemen's Insurance Company until 1904, when it went out of business. He also was the oldest living stockholder of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and during the Fair of the Iron Horse, held under auspices of the road, assisted the oldest engineer's of the road in driving one of the newest locomotives. With James Shriver and J.S. Wilson he acted as a teller at the stockholders meeting of the railroad for many years.
Put Up $300,000
As president of the three banks he received no salary from any of them. It was while the acting president of a West Baltimore bank that he put up $300,000, every cent he owned at the time, to tide the institution over a financial crisis. This was in response to the Clearing House for a bond, and his action was called "an act of financial heroism" by the officers of that organization. The bank subsequently was liquidated. His actions saved the bank from failure and the depositors from loss.
When the old People's Bank was nationalized and became the Maryland National Bank, Mr. Rollins became its president. This bank later consolidated with the National Bank of Commerce, the Merchants National Bank and later consolidations resulted in the Citizens National Bank, now the First National Bank. Mr. Rollins remained a director through all consolidations until that of the Merchants National Bank.
At Desk Every Day
The Merchants National Bank had rooms in the Continental Trust Company and when these banking quarters were moved Mr. Rollins took desk room in the banking rooms of the trust company, of which he was a director for twenty-five years. Except when out of the city or prevented by illness he was at his desk each day.
He entered the City Council in 1888 and served until 1890. His political independence lost him a renomination in that year. He determined to run as a independent, opposed the late Robert Crain. Mr. Rollins won and was elected president of the old First Branch of the Council, which made him ex-officio Mayor in the absence of the regular Mayor.
 |
| Commodore Thornton Rollins |
Member Of Harbor Board
At one time Mr. Rollins was a member of the Harbor Board. When James H. Preston became the Democratic Mayoralty candidate Mr. Rollins was one of his staunchest supporters. Several months after Mr. Preston entered the City Hall Mr. Rollins differed publicly with him on appointments and the methods by which he was conducting the Mayor's office. He suggested at that time a commission form of government for the city.
It was at the Lobby Club dinner at his home in 1907 that he was boomed for Mayor. A petition signed by his friends asking him to accept the nomination was presented to him. At the same time a campaign fund was started. Those attending the dinner and many corporations with which he was affiliated contributed one cent each to the fund.
Urged Public Foundation
When Mr. Rollins retired from the City Council he offered to give the whole amount of his salary from public service to the city if the municipality would devote the money to the erection of a public fountain. The city never availed itself of the offer, although Mr. Rollins held it open for several years.
Following the death of his wife, Mr. Rollins lived alone in his Fayette street home. A housekeeper and cook and later a male nurse took care of his domestic affairs. He resided in the one block of Fayette street more than seventy years, moving to the street from Fells Point when a young man. At that time many of the leading merchants and financiers occupied homes in the block.
Prized Possessions
Besides the oil paintings of his clipper ships, his most cherished possessions were portraits of his parents and the parents of his wife, a charcoal portrait of himself, a gift of a bank which he had been president, and a set of elaborately engraved resolutions presented to him by the City Council on his retirement. These hung in his parlor.
He was a member of the board of managers of the West Baltimore General Hospital, The Franklin Square Hospital, The Maryland General Hospital, the Aged Men's and Women's Home, the James Lawrence Kernan Hospital and the Industrial School of Maryland for Crippled Children.
He also was a member of the Maryland and Merchant's clubs, and of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Sounds like the Commodore had a full and active life. He amassed a fortune and also devoted himself to philanthropy and public service in the best traditions of the day. I was particularly impressed by his George Bailey from It's A Wonderful Life moment when he put up his entire fortune to save the bank and the depositor's money. He was more than a Gilded Age robber baron.
That's not to say he didn't do well. Just how rich was he in the end? Read and find out.
The Evening Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 02 Aug 1935, Fri:
THORNTON ROLLINS
ESTATE $862,310
-----
Inventories Include Stocks
Valued at $481,742 And
$189,407 In Bonds
-----
Inventories filed in the Orphans Court today valued the estate of the late Thornton Rollins at $862,310.66. The former clipper ship owner died at his home, 746 West Fayette street, on July 6 last.
The inventories valued the real estate holdings at $4,500, furniture and jewelry at $534.50, various bond issues at $189,407, stock certificates at $481,742.57, cash in several banks at $155,440.18 and debts owed the estate at $30,686.41.
Stocks Listed
Principal among the stocks owned by Mr. Rollins, long known as "Commodore" were:
Included among the cash listings were two certificates of deposit at the First National Bank, one dated June 18, 1934 for $40,000, and the second dated May 2, 1934 for $25,000. In checking accounts alone there were listed $90,440.18. G. Harry Barnes was named as executor of the estate in the will which was filed several weeks ago.
Bequests Listed
In his will, Mr. Rollins made specific bequests to distant relatives, friends, servants and other employees totaling $87,200. Twelve designated persons are to share in the remainder of the estate.
He left $10,000 to the city with the instructions that it be used to erect a fountain "which will supply drinking water for people of the city as well as animals."
Various other sums were bequeathed by Mr. Rollins to such charitable institutions as hospitals and homes and churches and schools. He further instructed that the portraits of his mother and father, his most cherished possessions, be destroyed. His household effects, with the exception of his pictures of his ships, were left to the executor. The pictures are to go to the Maryland Historical Society.
Nowadays $862,310 doesn't sound like a huge amount of money. It wouldn't be enough to buy a suburban home in some neighborhoods. However, it was a great deal of money at the time. In 1935, the average income for an American worker was only $471 a year. To the average Depression-era reader of the newspaper, those figures must have seemed unimaginable.
But what the heck about the portraits of his parents -- his most cherished possessions? Why destroy them? His parents are also buried at Green Mount Cemetery. I would love to post their pictures....
Some people poked fun at his bequest to the city:
The Evening Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 12 July 1935, Fri:
-----
The will of the late Commodore Thornton Rollins leaves a bequest to the city for the erection of a public drinking fountain for the use of persons and animals. That ought to help a lot in the return to horse-and-buggy days!
------
The Commodore certainly did have a thing about fountains. Here's the story about his desire to return his city salary to the people in the form of a fountain.
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 17 June 1899, Sat:
MR. ROLLINS' FOUNTAIN
-----
Design Not Sufficiently Artistic
For Clifton Park
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DECISION OF ART COMMISSION
-----
Mr. Thornton Rollins, The Donor,
Says, "If They Do Not Want The
Fountain They Need Not Take It."
The Art Commission at a meeting yesterday decided that the design of the fountain offered by Mr. Thornton Rollins to be placed in Clifton Park was not sufficiently artistic to go in the park.
While appreciating the gifts of citizens to the parks made with a view to beautifying them, the Commission is of the opinion that care should be taken to see that all such gifts are artistic. Its report to the Park Board, which will be transmitted to Mr. Rollins, is as follows:
"The Art Commission, having very carefully considered the drawing submitted to them by the Park Board for the proposed Rollins fountain at Clifton Park, regret to find that the design lacks sufficient artistic merit to justify them in adopting it.
"They feel convinced that the public spirit and generous impulse of the donor of such a work could be more appropriately and adequately expressed by some design from the hands of a skillful artist, and that an artistic object worthy of being erected in a public park may be obtained in this manner without necessarily increasing the total cost of the same."
The Art Commission consists of Messrs. Mendes Cohen, James L. McLane, Henry Walters, Joseph M. Cushing, J. B. Noell Wyatt, John N. Steele and Joseph Evans Sperry.
In speaking last night of the action of the Art Commission Mr. Thornton Rollins said: "It is immaterial to me whether they accept or do not accept the design of the fountain which I had decided to present to Clifton Park. If they do not want the fountain, they need not take it. The design of the fountain was the best of a number submitted to me by the leading marble dealers in Baltimore, and I am not prepared to say that I will go to the trouble of having the design altered to suit the ideas of the Commission. I served as a member of the City Council for several terms, and it was in keeping with a desire on my part to return to the city the money which I had received as a salary while in that position that I conceived the idea of presenting the city a fountain to be placed in one of the parks."
The park board yesterday received from City Solicitor Semmes and City Attorney Greenbaum a joint opinion stating that it was in the power of the board to appropriate park funds for music in the parks during the summer months. Acting President R. M. Spedden promptly issued a call for a special meeting of the board on the next Tuesday to consider the matter with a view to making the necessary appropriation. About $1,800 will be required to pay a band of 20 pieces with a leader.Judge for yourself whether the fountain had artistic merit. Below is a drawing of it from a May 16th edition of The Baltimore Sun:
I must confess that it looks kind of hideous to me. I am not sure if the Commodore ever got one of his public fountains made. However, you can't fault him for trying!
Fountains notwithstanding, the Commodore's life was not without troubles. His wife Julia Porter Rollins was a invalid for a very long time. Here's her obituary:
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 28 July 1909, Mon:
MRS. THORNTON ROLLINS DEAD
-----
Wife Of Bank President Had Been
Ill Many Years.
Mrs. Julia P. Rollins, wife of Mr. Thornton Rollins, president of the Maryland National Bank and a Democratic candidate for the Legislature, died at noon yesterday at her home, 746 West Fayette street, from heart trouble. Mrs. Rollins had been confined to her home as an invalid for more than a score of years.
Mrs. Rollins was a native of the city, where she was born about 65 years ago. She was a daughter of the late Robert B. Parker, a prominent hardware merchant, and a granddaughter of Benjamin Buck, who was largely interested in shipping in the old clipper days.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Rollins is survived by a sister, Mrs. Catherine S. Paine, of Catonsville, and a brother, Mr. B. Buck Parker.
The funeral will take place tomorrow and burial will be in the Greenmount Cemetery.
The Commodore also experienced a watery tragedy in his family. His older brother Frank H. Rollins drowned. Here's his story.
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 24 Apr 1874, Fri:
Sad Drowning Case.--Yesterday morning police officers Miskelly and Davis were notified by the captain of a (illegible) lying at the foot of Calvert street that there was a man overboard. The captain had heard a splash, but could not ascertain who it was that had fallen. After a few minutes' search the body of a man was found, which upon examination proved to be that of Frank H. Rollins, aged thirty-seven years and unmarried, a well known business man, and a son of Captain Wm. Rollins. The body was taken to the residence of the family, and Dr. Walker, coroner, being notified did not think an inquest necessary. Mr. Rollins occupied the position of chief clerk for Messrs. Tittens, Beckman & Co., Danish and Norwegian consuls, and was well known in commercial circles. His sad death is regretted by many friends who held him in high esteem.
I don't know about you, but that story raises a lot of questions. I'm surprised the coroner didn't see the need for an inquest. How did Frank fall overboard? The captain heard the splash, but he didn't hear him struggling? Sounds fishy.
While I'm at it, here's the obituary of the Commodore's father, who obviously gave him his love of the sea.
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), 17 June 1876, Sat:
Capt. Wm. Rollins, who was the oldest commander of steam vessels in Baltimore, and perhaps, counting years of service, the oldest in the United States, died last evening at his late residence, No. 308 Lexington street, after a short illness, in his seventy-second year. Capt. Rollins was born in Cecil county, Md., March 9, 1805, and followed the water from his thirteenth year, and retired about ten years ago. When seventeen he commanded a sloop that carried the mails between Baltimore and Norfolk before the era of steam in the Chesapeake. He was commander of various sailing vessels in the foreign and coastal trade, and in 1832 became captain of the steamer Virginia, between Baltimore, Norfolk and Charleston; then of the steamship South Carolina, of the same line, which is now known as the Steam Packet Company, or Old Bay Line. In 1837 he superintended the building of and for years commanded the steamer Georgia, of that line. While racing the Georgia the steamer Pulaski was blown up.-- Several services of silver were given Capt. Rollins by passengers on the Norfolk steamers at that period. Mr. Thomas Kelso, still a director of the company, is believed to be the only one now living who was connected with it when Capt. Rollins first commanded its steamers. The steamship Oregon, running on the East river, New York, it is stated, was taken through the rocks of Hell Gate by Capt. Rollins, and was the pioneer in that undertaking. During the Mexican war he commanded the United States steamship Neptune, carrying troops, &c. In 1848 the large and magnificent steamship Isabel was built at Baltimore under his supervision for Charleston owners, to run between Charleston and Havana, and in the years that he was in charge of her Capt. Rollins became widely known in the south. After the war he commanded the steamships Liberty and Cuba until the line between Baltimore and Havana was established, when he retired from active life, after nearly half a century of faithful service. He leaves a widow and one son, Mr. Thornton Rollins, a Baltimore coffee importer. Capt. Rollins was recognized as one of the best pilots on the Southern Atlantic coast.
The Captain seemed to have a full and active life too. I'd love to see a painting of him, and one might have ended up in the Maryland Historical Society if his son didn't order it destroyed after his death. I still can't get over that!
So was Thornton Rollins really a Commodore? According to the dictionary, Commodore is a naval rank above captain but below admiral. Since Thornton never served in the navy, that answer would be no. However, a Commodore is also the senior captain of a shipping line. Thornton owned a shipping line, but I don't think he captained any of the vessels himself. So officially no. Finally, a Commodore can also be the president of a yacht club. I don't know if that's true. He might have been. However, regardless of its official definition, it was obviously an affectionate title bestowed upon Thornton by his friends and colleagues. So my answer is yes. If they considered him a Commodore, so do I!
Thornton hoped he was "a useful citizen." He seems to have met his goal. He was a civic minded individual who aided and nurtured organizations that still service the needs of Baltimore today. I applaud him!
Remember, there is a story behind every grave. You never know what you're missing when you walk past one....
Grave Tales:
My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble. Chapel Street is the tale of a young man battling a demonic entity that has driven members of his family to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting.
Learn more about the book, click
Here.
Listen to me read some chapters here:
Read about the true haunting that inspired the novel here:
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 1, An IntroductionThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 2, The HouseThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 3, This Is UsThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 4, ArrivalThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 5, MethodologyThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 6, Clara's Tale, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 7, Clara's Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 8, My Tale, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 9, My Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 10, My Tale, Pt. 3The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 11, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 12, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 13, John's Tale, Pt. 1 The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 14, John's Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 15, Come Inside!The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 16, Marion's Tale, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 17, Marion's Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 18, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 19, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 20, Lisa's TaleThe Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 21, Recap, Pt. 1The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 22, Recap, Pt. 2The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 23, Recap, Pt. 3
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