“Hamilton and Taxation in the 1790’s” with Ronald Lesher, Ed. D.
Tuesday, May 5 at 1:00pm at the Talbot County Free Library
Federalist Paper No. 12 suggested that the federal government should be funded through import duties. Yet by 1791 Congress at the urging of Alexander Hamilton had enacted a tax on domestically distilled spirits, which led to the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. That is what we learned in high school history.
However, those tax rates were reduced in 1792. But did we learn about the annual license on retailers of foreign distilled spirits or the annual license for retailers of wine enacted in 1794? Or did learn about the annual tax on carriages for the conveyance of people? Or the taxes various kinds of financial transactions, such as promissory notes?
Let’s learn the truth about federal taxation in the 1790’s that were all abolished in 1802 under the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson.
Ron Lesher has been a lifelong collector and researcher of tax stamps, especially for distilled spirits beginning in the 1790’s and the receipts for the internal revenue tax on distilled spirits that brought on the Whiskey Rebellion.
This is presented by the Talbot Historical Society in partnership with the Talbot County Free Library and will take place at the library located at 100 W. Dover St., Easton, MD 21601.
The lecture will be presented on May 5, 2026 at 1:00pm at the Talbot County Free Library
The lecture is free to the public, please plan to arrive early, as seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Talbot Historical Society office/research/exhibit hours are: Wednesday through Saturday 10am-3pm
“When Claiborne Bridged the Chesapeake” with Marty Bollinger
Wednesday, May 20 at 1:00pm at the Talbot County Free Library
Back by popular demand.
This lecture is the same as the one presented in January.
This is the story of Claiborne’s long-lost role over four decades as the major transportation hub across the Chesapeake, connecting Western and Eastern Shores, initially via steamer and railroad, and later by car ferry. Marty’s research provides a window into the broader history of the Maryland region during periods of tumult and change, from the Civil War to the Cold War. It illuminates the impact of the era of steam, the influence of railroads, the power of monopolies, the impact of politics, and the consequences of technical disruptions — all on how people and products were conveyed across the Chesapeake Bay. The broader story, told through the experiences of the small village of Claiborne, encompasses failure alongside perseverance and success. The legacy of those days remains visible today, and Claiborne itself bears witness to it.
Marty Bollinger is a retired management consultant working in aerospace, defense and maritime industries. He has written extensively on the naval and maritime history over the past two decades. When Claiborne Bridged the Chesapeake: The Rise and of the Ferry Era (2025 by Maryland Center for History and Culture) is his fourth book in this field. He serves on the board of directors of the Talbot Historical Society and is a Trustee of the Naval Institute Foundation. He lives in Claiborne.
This is presented by the Talbot Historical Society in partnership with the Talbot County Free Library and will take place at the library located at 100 W. Dover St., Easton, MD 21601. The lecture will be presented on May 20, 2026 at 1:00pm at the Talbot County Free Library
The lecture is free to the public. Please plan to arrive early, as seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Talbot Historical Society office/research/exhibit hours are:
Wednesday through Saturday 10am-3pm
Poplar Island Tours
THS MEMBERS ONLY
We are excited to offer the members of the Talbot Historical Society a personal tour of Poplar Island again! If you are not a member, consider becoming a member today to take advantage of this wonderful and educational opportunity today. If you have any questions about your membership status, please reach out to us. Contact information below.
The boat taking us to Poplar Island will depart from their base on Tilghman Island promptly at 9am and will return to Tilghman Island by noon.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early.
Monday, June 8, 2026
and
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Boat leaves the base at 9am
Poplar Island Land Base
21548 Chicken Point Road
Tilghman, MD 21671
Detailed information will be provided for those who register closer to the tour dates. The boat can only accommodate 24 guests, so attendance will be limited. Please call 410-822-0773 or email to reserve your spot as soon as possible.
The tour begins with a 20-minute boat ride to Poplar Island. We will then board an air-conditioned bus for a tour of the island and visitor’s center. “Tours and educational programs at Poplar Island focus on details related to the beneficial use of dredged material to restore remote island habitat. Tours cover erosion, the process of habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, and species diversity. Participants will also learn about cultural history on the Chesapeake from the 1600s through today, including how in the past, the Poplar Island chain once hosted a thriving Bay community and later a retreat for politicians, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt.”
Poplar Island Restoration Project Website: http://www.poplarislandrestoration.com/
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED
If you have any questions, wish to sign-up or would like to become a member, please contact the Talbot Historical Society at 410-822-0773 or email
We are thrilled to share that we now have a portion of our collection available to search online! This project is ongoing and we will continue to expand the online database in the upcoming months.
Click the link to get started: Talbot Historical Society Online Research Database. Thank you to our sponsors, Marty and Maura Bollinger and Queenstown Bank, for making this long awaited goal a reality. Special thanks to Cathy Valliant Hill for her tremendous efforts to begin the digitization process in 2018. We are grateful to both Mrs. Hill and Patti Rockwell for their continued efforts to digitize our entire collection.
Please click the link to start viewing and begin researching.
Talbot Historical Society Online Research Database
If you have any questions about researching,
please contact the Talbot Historical Society at
410-822-0773 or email