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politics of colonial Maryland. Most notorious was his
leadership position in Fendall’s Rebellion. In 1659,
Governor Fendall participated in the bloodless revolt
that produced the edict announcing Maryland was a
commonwealth freed of the rule of Lord Baltimore.
The revolt was short lived by edict of James II. For his
part in the disturbance, Fendall was sentenced to the
confiscation of his lands, disfranchisement and
disqualification for public office.
His lands were returned to him as the
confiscation was considered too harsh for the reality of
the rebellion. Thomas Girard’s life was uprooted and
he spent the remainder of his days in Virginia. For
reasons known only to history, Robert Slye escaped
with a slap on the wrist.