History of "David's Industry"
The records of the Western Shore Debt Book survive back to the year 1753. In the book for each year appears the name of the land tract, the amount of acreage, and the name of the land owner. Those who appeared in the book did not pay the annual quitrent on their land which was similar to a property tax. For the year 1753 appears "David's Industry",170 acres, and owned by David Trail. Then in 1754 appears owned by Charles Trail. David Trail Sr. we know lived to as late as 1750 but he may have survived as late as 1753. Chales Trail Sr. seems to have neglected "David's Industry" all the way to his death in 1763 as his name appears in the debt book for just about every year. It seems the land may have been deserted as there were a couple years in the late 1750's where "David's Industry" was referred to as "Devils' Industry" by the recorder. Then Charles Trail Jr. appears as the land owner from 1764 untill 1769 when he sold it to Edward Nicholls for 50 pounds, Charles also seemingly neglecting the property by not paying the quitrent. Edward Nicholls was a close friend to Charles Trail Jr. as I have Edward also paying a balance to the John Glassford Co' for Charles Trail Jr. Edward Nicholls turned around and sold "David's Industry" 6 months later to John Brown for 150 pounds thus tripling his money in that short time period. The John Brown family had lived in that vicinity from the time Prince Georges was created in 1696 and John Brown Sr. appears in records with Ninian Beall.