An In-depth History of Wye Grist Mill

By Jim Casey, Volunteer Miller
Rev. 2/2004

Several mill sites and the village of Wye Mills have existed for over three centuries with the primary mill having a long and sometimes colorful and contentious history.

A mill and village of Wye Mills were established shortly after the creation of Wilton, an original land grant patented in 1665 by Thomas Williams.  Anther land patent, called Wilton Addition, was also granted, with both totaling 1,350 acres (MHR, Provincial Patents).  The first of the grist mills was built about 1668 on or near the present site of the Old Wye Mill.  By 1671, Thomas Williams left the county, ostensibly to avoid payment of debts, according to his creditors.  He settled in Northumberland County, VA, where following his death, his heirs – Thomas II and Elizabeth Williams became absent landlords of his Maryland land patents.  Being absentee landlords and the lack of contact, non of the subsequent mill operators and land owners were aware of the true ownership.  Several inaccurate surveys and the loss of land titles to courthouse fires also confused the issue (Preston, D.J., 1972)

The first miller was Edward Barrocliff who operated the mill from about 1683 to 1693, ultimately selling it to Richard Sweatnam, a carpenter and miller who had built Talbot County’s first courthouse at York in 1682 and who operated the mill until he died in 1697.  At this time, it passed to his wife and son, William (MHR, Provincial Wills).

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