The Pocomoke River rises in southern Delaware, forms a part of the — eastern boundary of Somerset County, Maryland, and empties into Pocomoke Sound, an inlet of Chesapeake Bay. On the banks of this stream, not far from the mouth, Colonel William Stevens, a native of Buckinghamshire, England, located in 1665, taking out a patent on what he called the Rehoboth plantation, the name being chosen from Genesis 26 :22. “And he called the name of it Rehoboth. And he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in this land.” When Somerset County was organized he was made Judge of the County Court. He also became a member of “His Lordship’s Councill,” and was one of the Deputy Lieutenants of the Province.

As the years passed many followed Colonel Stevens to Somerset County, in search of religious freedom. Scotch, Scotch-Irish, French, and Quakers were represented in the village that was known at first as Pocomoke Town, though later it was called Rehoboth. Many of these settlers were Presbyterians, who had lost their property through persecution.

In 1672 the Grand Jury, encouraged by Judge Stevens, asked Rev. Robert Maddux to preach at four points in the county. One of these points was the plantation house at Rehoboth. The next year George Fox, the Quaker, was in the community. He also preached in his famous “leather breeches” at Colonel Stevens’ plantation, to a great congregation of several thousand whites and Indians. A Quaker monthly meeting followed.