Chesapeake Storyteller

06/25/2025

One kind of story I wish we didn't have to add to, but another waterman has been lost due to a tragic accident on the water. Captain Dana Dize, 71 of Tangier Island. He crabbed and oystered on his boat the Christa Maria 50 years. May he rest in peace.
Joe Paden

06/12/2025

DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYWHERE IN AMERICA WITH MORE ACTS OF PIRACY THAN IN THE POCOMOKE & TANGIER SOUNDS? I haven't found any other place that even comes close. It has a lot to do with a boundary line of VA/MD crossing water. Smith Islanders, in the late 1700s to the mid 1800s, took their sons down to the large stone placed on boundary line & whiiped them & dunked them under so they'd never forget the location of the line. When they saw MD lawmen coming, they'd go south to VA. See VA law coming, go north. Saloon shanties also took advantage of the line.
They built 1/2 in each state. When the MD law came the half of the saloon in MD would be empty with everyone packed in the VA partying away. The lines with the dates show where claims have been made for the location of the boundary. I'll be talking about these stories & many more this Sat at the Tiki Boat Storytelling Cruise. Still a few spots left. You can also book me for Storytelling tours for kayak & pontoon rentals & private Tiki Cruises (w/ captain). Please like Kayak Crisfield & Powerboats page if you haven't. You can book all tours on the website: kayakcrisfield.com. Plese like & share this post. Our history is awesome, help share it. Joe Paden

05/31/2025

Sunset Tiki Boat Cruise on the Sat of Father;'s Day Weekend. I'll be sharing what I think a Dad would like; Pirates, Oyster Wars, Outlaw Gunners, Bootleggers & more. It's gonna be an awesome time. BYOB, Charcuterie Board. 6 guests max. Joe Paden

05/21/2025

Little Annemessex River. 2017. First Sunrise Paddle w/ my son. He's grown now but we still talk about this trip They're all great but the first is always special. We just sat & floated for a while & I told him to image seeing this with 100s of Skipjacks, Bugeyes & Pungys. Oh the stories that are here... Come do a tour. If you want a lasting memory with someone special to you, there is no better way to do it. I'm doing paddling tours for Kayak Crisfield & Powerboats, & stories on their Tiki Cruises as well. Please like their page. Check out their webpage kayakcrisfield.com. Please share. Thanks.
Joe Paden

05/18/2025

Year;: 1905. Crisfield, MD. Oyster Pirates take judge hostage, 1000 oystermen party in the streets afterwards, going until dawn. Governor of Maryland sends State Police.

It started earlier that day when oystermen, Ralph Nelson (back row, far left in photo), and his brother John (back row far right) were arrested for piracy after dredging on leased grounds while holding rifles and pistols on the man hired to guard the lease.

The Nelson brothers were found guilty, and given 30 day sentence. But a mob, with some accounts stating it numbered over 1000, held the judge hostage, and the father of the 2 brothers, Lorenzo (seated 2nd from left) was charged with leading the mob.

However, Lorenzo and his sons walked the streets of Crisfield for over a month. At the end of January, a special train, which was kept a secret of who it's passengers were going to be, was scheduled to take the 3 Nelsons to court in Princess Anne. It left Crisfield at midnight, court was held, the Nelson's were given probation and the train had them back before dawn.

I tell people all the time that pirates who are famous, got that way because they were caught and arrested. For example, Blackbeard. But there wasn't much national or international coverage given to Chesapeake Bay pirates because they did what they wanted. In 1635 William Claiborne was charged with murder and piracy for attacking two Maryland vessels in the Pocomoke Sound. He was never even arrested. There are many many more examples of this happening. But 30 days for holding a security guard at gunpoint is extremely lenient and shows the level of fear the law had for the pirates. However, probation for holding a judge hostage is unheard of, at least I've never read anything like this happening anywhere else.

I'm doing storytelling tours with Kayak Crisfield & Powerboats this year, and can do shows anywhere around the Bay. People really seem to like how I tell the stories. Please share and message me for info on tours and/or talks.
Thanks to All.
Joe Paden

05/14/2025

Hey Everybody. This year I'm doing storytelling tours w/ Kayak Crisfield & Powerboats. You can paddle or cruise on the Tiki Boat & BYOB w/ appetizers. I have more stories than anywhere on the Bay - I guarantee it! Piracy, Smuggling, Bootlegging , Oyster Wars, Shanghaiing are all favorites. I do the standard history topics too, & they're humorous & entertaining as well. Please like & share. Paden Crisfield Area Chamber of Commerce

03/22/2025

2 PICS TAKEN FROM SAME EXACT SPOT - 7 YEARS APART!!!

PLEASE consider donating so I can finish mapping the cemetery. Donations can be made via Cash App: $JoePadenServices, or through Pay Pal: paypal.me/arliepaden7

Union Asbury Cemetery (UAC) is a historic Black Cemetery that I began rescuing in 2017. When I began UAC was a wall of thorn bushes 6' high with much of the cemetery staying flooded.

The project is now almost to a point where elderly people can walk safely throughout the entire cemetery (which wouldn't be if it wasn't for the efforts of Donnie Howard - who I'm going to be doing a separate writeup on in the near future. Mr. Howard is a hero to history).

IF I CAN GET THE CEMETERY MAPPED BEFORE APRIL 15th, I will be coordinating a volunteer event for the morning of May 10, followed in the afternoon by me helping families locate their relatives who are buried at UAC. This would be a special day if the elderly descendants & I know many who have not seen their parents' graves in 40 years.

The reasons why IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR UAC TO BE MAPPED PRIOR TO THIS EVENT ARE:1. There is still work that needs to be done to make it safe, & a volunteer cleanup is the only way it will be possible. Branches need to be picked up, paths cleared etc. This takes a lot of hands.

2. The other requirement, as already stated, is that UAC must be mapped. I will not have volunteers moving branches if there is a chance that a funeral home name plate could be damaged or accidentally moved from the grave that it's identifying.
And, for me to be able to get UAC mapped before April 15th is for me to dedicate all of my time to it. And for me to do that I need people to step up & donate. I've been doing this project for 8 years & have sacrificed a lot, & I still work on UAC a few hours everyday, but I just don't have the resources to fully commit myself to it anymore. The well is dry. I will still have UAC mapped this year, but it will not be in time for family members to visit without being attacked by insects, etc.

SO... if you can donate, PLEASE do. PLEASE DO NOT offer to donate & then go silent. I've had many people do that & it just wastes my time. If you're not 100% certain that you can send, just don't say anything.

Well that's it. I will be updating on the likelihood of the May 15th event, & I'm going to do my best to try & make it happen if I don't get a penny, but I don't see it being possible without me dedicating myself 100%.

IF YOU ARE A DESCENDANT OF SOMEONE BURIED AT UAC PLEASE INCLUDE THE PERSON(S) NAME THAT YOU'RE RELATED TO.
IF YOU'RE NOT RELATED TO ANYONE AT UAC, JUST PUT "HISTORY."
You can include this info in the Cash App or Pay Pal memo, or send me a message/email. I will be compiling a list of all donors & giving credit to all, & especially honoring the most loyal of supporters.
Please donate if possible. If not, I understand & no problem but at least share.
Thank you.
Joe Paden

03/18/2025

MAY 10, 2025 - UNION ASBURY CEMETERY VOLUNTEER CLEANUP & RESPECTING FAMILY DAY
THIS EVENT IS TENTATIVE, PLEASE READ FOR DETAILS

Union Asbury Cemetery (UAC) is a historic Black Cemetery that I began rescuing in 2017. When I began UAC was a wall of thorn bushes 6' high with much of the cemetery staying flooded. The project is now almost to a point where elderly people can walk safely throughout the entire cemetery (which wouldn't be if it wasn't for the efforts of Donnie Howard - who I'm going to be doing a separate writeup on in the near future. Mr. Howard is a hero to history).

So, IF I CAN GET THE CEMETERY MAPPED BEFORE APRIL 15th, I will be coordinating the May 10 event. This would be a special day if the elderly descendants of those buried at UAC. I know many who have not seen their parents' graves in 40 years.

The reasons why IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR UAC TO BE MAPPED PRIOR TO THIS EVENT ARE:1. There is still work that needs to be done to make it safe, & a volunteer cleanup is the only way it will be possible. Branches need to be picked up, paths cleared etc. This takes a lot of hands.

2. The other requirement, as already stated, is that UAC must be mapped. I will not have volunteers moving branches if there is a chance that a funeral home name plate could be damaged or accidentally moved from the grave that it's identifying.
And, for me to be able to get UAC mapped before April 15th is for me to dedicate all of my time to it. And for me to do that I need people to step up & donate. I've been doing this project for 8 years & have sacrificed a lot, & I still work on UAC a few hours everyday, but I just don't have the resources to fully commit myself to it anymore. The well is dry. I will still have UAC mapped this year, but it will not be in time for family members to visit without being attacked by insects, etc.

SO... if you can donate, PLEASE do. PLEASE DO NOT offer to donate & then go silent. I've had many people do that & it just wastes my time. If you're not 100% certain that you can send, just don't say anything.

Well that's it. I will be updating on the likelihood of the May 15th event, & I'm going to do my best to try & make it happen if I don't get a penny, but I don't see it being possible without me dedicating myself 100%.

Donations can be made via Cash App: $Arliepaden, or through Pay Pal: paypal.me/arliepaden7

IF YOU ARE A DESCENDANT OF SOMEONE BURIED AT UAC PLEASE INCLUDE THE PERSON(S) NAME THAT YOU'RE RELATED TO.
IF YOU'RE NOT RELATED TO ANYONE AT UAC, JUST PUT "HISTORY."
You can include this info in the Cash App or Pay Pal memo, or send me a message/email. I will be compiling a list of all donors & giving credit to all, & especially honoring the most loyal of supporters.

Please donate if possible. If not, I understand & no problem but at least share.
Thank you.
Joe Paden

Send a message to learn more

03/17/2025

390th Anniversary of Piracy in America!!! On April 23, 1635 the 1st naval battle in America happened, it was in the Chesapeake Bay on the Pocomoke Sound. This resulted in multiple deaths & the 1st person being charged as a pirate. I have a 1 hour & 37 minute video where I tell the story of Piracy in the Pocomoke & Tangier Sounds that can be viewed online for $10. I charge to support my historical preservation projects, & right now I'm raising $ to map Union Asbury, a historical Black Cemetery in Somerset County with over 750 graves.

I have other videos as well, they are History of Colonial Somerset (2hours & 4 min.) & the History of the Oyster Wars (1 hour & 55min). These can be purchased individually for $10 each, or you can get all 3 (Pirate, Colonial Somerset & Oyster Wars), for $20.

Payment can be made via Cash App: $Arliepaden, or through Pay Pal: paypal.me/arliepaden7

Please include the video name(s), that want to purchase & the email that you will use to access the videos.

Please share. Thank you.
Joe Paden

03/12/2025

Working to Map Historic Black Cemetery. Daffodils are a welcome sight after the winter we've had, but it also means that I'm running out of time before the vegetation starts growing back. I had a tick on me yesterday, 3 today & the snakes & hornets will be moving soon.

The photo below was taken from the back corner, when I started the rescue of Union Asbury Cemetery in 2017 - ALL of this was a wall of thorns & swampy muck. Now, & due to the efforts of Donnie Howard, the cemetery is 99% clear.

My efforts, from the beginning, has been the same as with every cemetery, which is to locate, document, map, learn the stories of those buried in the gravesites, & preserve their stories. The thorns & growth will return, but once the cemetery is mapped, the histories of the people will never be lost again. This is the rescue, & I'm on a time crunch.

If anyone is willing and able, donations will help with the efforts & allow me to keep my attention on rescuing the cemetery.
Donations can be sent via Paypal or Cashapp.
Paypal: paypal.me/arliepaden7
Cashapp: $Arliepaden

Thanks to the recent donations given by the following people:
John Reno - $100 (supporter of history)
Robin Rayford - $25 (descendant of people buried at Union Asbury)
Cathy Shea - $20 (supporter of history)

All who've donated since 2017 will be given credit when UAC Map & Info is made public (eta: late Spring 2025).
Joe Paden

03/10/2025

Mapping of UNION ASBURY CEMETERY (Historic Black Cemetery in Crisfield, MD). List of Names with Markers who will be included in the UAC Mapping. THESE ARE NAMES BEGINNING WITH LETTERS ‘A’ through ‘C’ ONLY. Letters ‘D’ through ‘Z’ will be forthcoming.

If you have info &/or pics for any of the people listed below, please email to Chesapeakestoryteller@gmail. I already have material for some of the people. But I thought sharing them alphabetically may help generate more feedback.

I’ve been working on rescuing UAC since 2017, & am now in the mapping phase so the names & locations will never be lost again. The map, names of those buried in UAC, & other info will be shared on websites upon completion.

If anyone is willing and able, donations will help with the efforts. All donors will be given credit when UAC Map & Info is made public (eta: late Spring 2025).

Donations can be sent via Paypal or Cashapp.
Paypal: paypal.me/arliepaden7
Cashapp: $Arliepaden

NOTE: If you have relatives buried at UAC, please include their name(s) & your relationship to them in the description.

Thank you.
Joe Paden

LIST of NAMES w/ MARKERS (Letters ‘A’ - ‘C’)

John Adams: ?-1965
Funeral Home Plate (FHP)
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

John Benjamin Adams: 1880-1930
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Mary E. Adams: 1882-1969
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Ellen Ames: 1908-1977
Headstone (homemade)
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

John E. Ames: 1902-1985
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Lillian Ames: 1908-1965
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Rosie M. Ames: 1912-1997
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Caroline Drummond Badger: 1878-1960
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Carrie Marshall Ballard: 1900-1976
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Clayton Ballard: 1894-1978 VETERAN
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

William Rossie Ballard: 1908-2004
Footstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Roberta Banks: 1905-1965
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Anna H. Barkley: 1883-1951
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Dr. Winter J. Barkley: 1883-1946
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Wilbur H. Barnes: 1908-1970
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Wilmore Wilmer Boggs: 1891-1959 VETERAN
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Benjamin A. Briscoe: 1886-1970
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Agnes Lee Brittingham: 1898-1960
Footstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Alonzo Brittingham: 1895-1942 VETERAN
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Elbert Brittingham: 1895-1966 VETERAN
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Hester Brittingham: 1888-1965
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Samuel Brittingham: 1896-1947 VETERAN
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Addie T. Brotten 1902-1977
Footstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Norma Mae Brown: 1898-1991
Footstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Garnett Brown Jr.: 1951-2018
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Javon M. Brown: 1981-1981
Footstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Mary Brown: 1931-1963
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Ophelia Brown:
Mortar in Vault End
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Ricky Dion Brown: 1967-1995
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Brenda Lee Cannon: 1948-2011
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Sarah Carr: died-1932
Mortar on Vault End
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Maude Carter: 1919-1987
Flat Marker
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

William Carter: 1919-2003
Flat Marker
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Lorraine C. Christy: 1936-1965
Footstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Mable Christy: 1919-1978
Footstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Mervin D. Christy: 1910-1994 VETERAN
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Henry C. Cole: 1927-1990 VETERAN
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Ida Collick: 1879-1931
Mortar Vault End
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Elwood Collins: 1911-1965
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Horace Edward Collins: 1908-1957
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

John Collins: 1967 (either birth or death date)

Leon D. Collins: 1892-1916
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

John Grant Conquest: 1893-1942 VETERAN
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

James Coston: 1897-1969
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Lyda Cottman: ???
Mortar on Vault Top
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Martha E. Crippen: 1917-1984
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Richard Crippen: 1917-1984
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Bertha Croswell: 1900-1971
FHP
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Marian W. Croswell: 1921-1910
Headstone
Section: – Row: – Plot #:

Send a message to learn more

02/17/2025

PIRATE and PUNGY HISTORY... Pungies were built all over the Bay during the 19th century, & the earliest account (that I’ve found) - where it’s called by the name pungy - is from an 1832 article where pirates were using them to raid farms on the Chester River.

The pungy shown here is the Amanda F. Lewis It was 67’ long & built in 1884 in Madison, MD (Dorchester County).

The Amanda F. Lewis was owned by Capt. Gus Rice, who I rank in the top 5 of my list of all-time bada$$ pirates of the Bay. Now, there are 100s & 100s of pirates, & they were found on every river, creek & cove on the Chesapeake, but I rank them by the boldness of their acts, the length of time they were outlaws, etc. And… one of the things that all of the pirates who are at the top of my list share, was that they didn’t run from the law, but hunted the lawmen. AND... Capt. Rice was notorious for this, but he had slowed down greatly by the time this photo was taken.

This is so much more to this story, & in case anyone isn’t aware, I do storytelling events, historical research reports (among them include pirate talks, shipbuilding history & many other topics), & I provide many other historical based services to preserve, & spread, the fascinating history of the Chesapeake. Incidentally, I have a 110 minute video on the history of the Oyster Wars available for purchase for $10, & in it I go into a little more detail about Capt. Rice . Please msg if you’re interested in getting more info.

As always, thanks for reading. Please like & share - & PLEASE LIKE THIS PAGE - it helps tremendously.
Joe Paden