101
It was still raw wilderness. The French, the Indians
and Mother Nature were constant preoccupations of
the first Maryland settlers. Still, to Maryland they
came: investors, merchants, adventurers, Catholics,
younger sons of the peerage, indentured servants,
African slaves and…Thomas Gerard.
Dr. Thomas Gerard undoubtedly had a charismatic
personality and a bon vivant approach to life. He
attracted strongly loyal friends and powerful enemies.
Early chroniclers variously described Dr. Gerard as
distinguished, diligent, disreputable, defiant and bon
viant and he was!
Mrs. Gerard is described as kind-hearted, resolute
and absolutely dedicated to nursing the indentured
sick. She is self-assured, independent, vivacious—was
assuredly a whole-hearted partner to Gerard’s
adventures. Forty-five years after the marriage of
Thomas and Susanna, Gerard stipulates in his will that
he desires to be buried next to his beloved, Susanna.
O
UR
A
MERICAN
H
ERITAGE