Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory - Maryland


Maryland

Compton Bassett Chapel

Compton Bassett Chapel, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland (38.815024, -76.718203)


Primary phase of chapel Felling Dates: Spring 1778, Spring 1779


Floor joists (3/3) 1762, 1772, 1777 (¼C); Chimney trimmer (1/1) 1778 (¼C). Site Master 1607-1778 CBCMx1 (t = 6.41 MTVx1; 6.02 DC-AREA; 5.98 WILDx1).


The Compton Bassett Chapel was previously thought to be an intact example of an 18th-century Catholic chapel. A recent reassessment (as of spring 2013) has hypothesized that it was in fact built as a small brick plantation office that was subsequently enlarged and converted into a storehouse, then converted again into a chapel during a mid-19th century remodeling. A dendrochronological study of the chapel was undertaken in an attempt to date the primary and secondary construction phases. The oak timbers in the primary phase provided felling dates of the spring of 1778 and the spring of 1779, suggesting that the chapel was built in the spring of 1779 or shortly thereafter. The tulip poplar timbers in the secondary construction phase were too decayed to allow successful coring, so must remain undated.

 

Worthington, M J and Seiter, J I, 2013 The Tree-Ring Dating of Compton Bassett Chapel, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, unpublished Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory archive report 2013/04

Photograph of Compton Bassett Chapel taken in 1936. Courtesy of the Historic American Buildings Survey, Delos H. Smith, photographer.


Link to Historic American Buildings Survey site for this building here


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Contact Information

Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory

Proprietors
Michael Worthington
Jane Seiter, Ph.D

25 E. Montgomery St.
Baltimore, MD 21230

410-929-1520

michael@dendrochronology.com
Compton Bassett House

Compton Bassett House, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland (38.81538, -76.71825)

Primary phase of house Felling Dates: Winter 1786/7, Winter 1787/8


Rafters (9/12) 1786 (C), 1787 (C). Site Master 1684-1787 CBHMx1 (t = 10.62 MELx2; 6.12 EVAYP7; 5.99 GLOx2).


Compton Bassett is one of the finest Georgian mansions in Prince George’s County, with a hipped roof, a center-hall plan, and fine interior detailing. A dendrochronological study of the house was undertaken in an attempt to date the primary construction phase. The tulip poplar timbers in the primary phase provided felling dates of the winter of 1786/7 and the winter of 1787/8, suggesting that the house was built in the winter of 1787/8 or shortly thereafter.


Worthington, M J and Seiter, J I, 2013 The Tree-Ring Dating of Compton Bassett House And Outbuildings, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, unpublished Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory archive report 2013/09


Link to Historic American Buildings Survey site for this building here


Compton Bassett Dairy

Compton Bassett Dairy, Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland (38.815617, -76.718332)


Primary phase of dairy Felling Date: After 1741


Wallplate (0/1); Ceiling joists (1/5) 1741 (h/w only). Site Master CBDMx1 (t =undated), sample 1677-1741 cbdm6 (t = 6.18 MONTP; 6.03 FMTx1; 5.66 WLVx1).


The Compton Bassett Dairy is a small rectangular building with brick exterior walls constructed in Flemish bond. The roof is covered with wooden shingles and the interior is plastered out to the level of the wallplates.

Although six tulip polar timbers were sampled, only one was found to date. The timber did not retain complete sapwood and therefore only a date of after 1741could be assigned to the building.

Worthington, M J and Seiter, J I, 2013 The Tree-Ring Dating of Compton Bassett House And Outbuildings, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, unpublished Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory archive report 2013/09