Maryland

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Maryland

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Maryland. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the colonial period through statehood to the present.

Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, maritime, manufacturing, and military records, and oral histories tied to Maryland people and places.
Research outputs: technical reports, academic studies, training manuals, and curated datasets relevant to the state.

Cite the Firearms Research Center and the item’s handle/DOI when using materials. Rights and licensing vary by item.

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Now showing 1 - 37 of 37

Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Baltimore 277-83 (1801)
(1801)
Regulated gunpowder storage and transport to reduce fire and explosion risks. It limited private possession, required excess powder to be stored in a public magazine, imposed transport and shipping restrictions, authorized searches for violations, established a superintendent to manage the magazine, and imposed penalties for noncompliance.
1785-99 Md. Laws 845
(1798)
Required that "one complete company of infantry annexed to each regiment within this state, to be furnished with arms and accoutrements at the expense of the state … composed of men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty years."
1785-99 Md. Laws 455
(1793)
Raised the minimum age to eighteen and lowered the maximum age to forty-five.
18 Archives of Maryland: Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution 1775-1783, at 373-74 (1900)
(1781)
An Act to raise two battalions of militia for reinforcing the continental army, and to complete the number of select militia: Ordered local governments to draft one or two men to serve the Continental Army. Allowed lieutenants to play favorites: "to ease the good people, from the draught, every free male idle person, above 16 years of age, who is able bodied, and hath no visible means of an honest livelihood, may be adjudged a vagrant by the lieutenant, and by such adjudication he is to be considered as an enlisted soldier.
52 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1755-1756, at 457 (1935)
(1756)
And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that as much Gunpowder and lead as can conveniently be spared Shall be taken out of the Publick Magazine and transmitted in due proportions and as the Same may be needed first to the Colonels and Commanding Officers of the Frontier Counties of this Province then to the Colonels and Commanding Officers of the other Counties respectively to be distributed by them in just and equal Proportions to and among the Persons under their Command so as that no more than one pound of Gunpowder and three pounds of Lead be delivered to any one Person and in Case that after such Distribution any Surplus shall remain the Said Colonels or Commanding Officers are hereby required to retain and keep the Same in their Possession to be disposed of as hereinafter directed And be it further Enacted that if any private Man of the Militia of this Province shall in the Course of his Duty by the Command of his Superiour Officer expend any part of the Quantity of Powder and Lead by this Act directed to be brought by every Person to the Place of Muster it Shall and may be lawful for such Superiour Officer and he is hereby required to deliver to such Person a certificate of the Number of Charges so expended directed to the Colonels and Commanding Officers of the County in which Such Person resides and such Colonels and Commanding Officers or any of them in whose hands any Surplus shall be as aforesaid shall immediately on such Certificates being produced deliver to Such Person the Quantity of Gunpowder and Lead therein Mentioned. Provided always that no Gunpowder shall at any Time be expended in training unless by the Order and Direction of the Colonel or Commanding Officer of the County.
78 Proceedings of the Conventions of the Province of Maryland, 1774-1776, at 20 (1836); see also 1777 Md. Laws ch. 17
(1775)
Required "[t]hat every able bodied effective freeman within this province, between sixteen and fifty years of age ... enroll himself in some company of militia." Further retained the new maximum of 50 years and excluded non-whites.
1 Archives of Maryland 77 (William Hand Browne ed., 1885) (enacted 1639)
(1639)
Required "every housekeeeper" to keep and bear one gun of "bastard muskett boare" design, bandeloors or shott bag, one pound of powder, four pounds of pistol or musket shot, sufficient quantity of matchlocks & flints, a sword, and belt.
18 Archives of Maryland: Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution 1775-1783, at 374 (1900)
(1781)
An Act to raise two battalions of militia for reinforcing the continental army, and to complete the number of select militia: Ordered local governments to draft one or two men to serve the Continental Army. Allowed lieutenants to play favorites: "to ease the good people, from the draught, every free male idle person, above 16 years of age, who is able bodied, and hath no visible means of an honest livelihood, may be adjudged a vagrant by the lieutenant, and by such adjudication he is to be considered as an enlisted soldier.
78 Proceedings of the Conventions of the Province of Maryland, 1774-1776, at 20 (1836); see also 1777 Md. Laws ch. 17
(1775)
Required "[t]hat every able bodied effective freeman within this province, between sixteen and fifty years of age . . . enroll himself in some company of militia." Further retained the new maximum of 50 years and excluded non-whites.
1798 Md. Laws ch. C, § XXIII
(1798)
Required that "one complete company of infantry annexed to each regiment within this state, to be furnished with arms and accoutrements at the expense of the state ? composed of men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty years."
52 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1755-1756, at 458 (1935)
(1756)
Kept the militia age at 16 to 60. This act changed the ammunition requirement to "nine Charges of Gun-powder and nine Sizeable Bulletts." Troopers needed to provide themselves with "a pair of good Pistols a good Sword or Hanger half a pound of Gun-powder and twelve Sizeable Bulletts and a Carbine —well fixed with a good Belt Swivel and Buckett."
3 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1636-1667, at 345 (reprint 1965)
(1658)
Required that captains make "a perfect list" of "all persons able to beare Armes within theyr respective divisions that is of all men betweene 16 and 60 yeares of Age."
1 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland 347 (William Hand Browne ed., 1883)
(1654)
All persons from 16 yeares of age to Sixty shall be provided with Serviceable Armes & Sufficient Amunition of Powder and Shott ready upon all occasions.
7 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, October 1678-November 1683, at 53 (1889); see also 1698 Md. Acts 99
(1678)
Kept the militia ages "between sixteen and sixty yeares of age." Further required that each "appeare and bring with him one good serviceable fixed Gunn and six shoots of Powder." Troopers were required to bring their own horses, and "to find themselves with sword Carbine Pistolls Holsters & Amunition."
1794 Md. Laws 246
(1794)
That if any member of society shall suffer any damage by storing gunpowder in town, or breaming ships or other vessels at the wharfs, occasioned by the act, assent or direction, of such member, the insurance of such member so suffering damage, shall thereupon become void.
1811 Md. Laws 465
(1809)
§ 4: Prohibited carrying any pistol, hanger, cutlass, bludgeon, or other offensive weapon with intent to feloniously assault any person, or to be found in any dwelling house, warehouse, stable, or outhouse, garden, or area of a house with intent to steal goods or chattels.
58 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly (1762-63)
(1763)
An Act for Prohibiting All Trade with the Indians, for the Time Therein Mentioned, ch. 4, § 3: Prohibited the selling and giving to "any Indian Woman" any gunpowder or to "any Indian Man" more than one pound of gunpowder, punishable by fine.
63 Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly 338 (1773)§
(1773)
§ 5: Banned carry of swords and other weapons in the House of Assembly, while the Assembly was sitting.
1806 Md. Laws 44
(1806)
An Act to Restrain the Evil Practices Arising From Negroes Keeping Dogs, and to Prohibit Them From Carrying Guns or Offensive Weapons, ch. 81: Prohibited "any negro or mulatto" from keeping a dog or gun, except any "free negro or mulatto" who has a license for such purpose.
Resolution of the Maryland Council of Safety, August 19, 1775.
(1775)
Approving purchase of muskets with detailed manufacturing specifications and requiring that they be proved before purchase.
James Lucas & E.K. Deaver, Proceedings of the Conventions of the Province of Maryland 146-47 (1836)
(1776)
§ 7: Provided that no muskets or rifles, except by the owner thereof on his removal to reside out of this province, or any gun barrels, gun locks, or bayonets, be carried out of his province, without the leave of the council of safety for the time being.]
An Act to Prevent Popery within this Province, in Votes and Proceedings of the Lower House of Assembly of the Province of Maryland (22 May, 1756)
(1756)
"And be it further Enacted, That all such Armour, Gunpowder, and Ammunition, of whatsoever Kinds, as any Papist whatever, within this Province, hath or shall have in his House or Houses, or elsewhere, or in the Hands and Possession of any other Person at his or their Disposition, shall be taken from such Papist, or Others, which have or shall have the same to the Use of such Papist, by Warrant of any Four Justices of the Peace of the County where such Papist shall be Resident (other than such necessary Weapons as shall be thought fit by the same Justices to remain and be allowed for the Defence of the Person or Persons of such Papists, or for the Defence of his, her or their Houses
An Act for Regulating the Militia of the Province of Maryland, in Votes and Proceedings of the Lower House of Assembly of the Province of Maryland (22 May, 1756)
(1756)
Prohibited the sale of strong liquor within five miles of any place of militia training.
28 Archives of Maryland 349 (1745)
(1745)
prohibits firehunting by non-residents
Laws of Maryland, 1713; Ch. 44, Sect. 32, in The Black Code of the District of Columbia in Force September 1st, 1848, at 11 (1848)
(1713)
Prohibition on "Negro or other slave" from carrying a gun or offensive weapon off their master's land.
1 Archives of Maryland 343
(1654)
"Noe work shall be done on the Sabboth day but that which is of Necessity and Charity to be done no Inordinate Recreations as fowling, fishing, hunting or other, no shouting of Gunns be used on that day Except in Case of Necessity
3 Archives of Maryland 103 (1642)
(1642)
All housekeepers to provide an arm, sufficient powder, and ammo for each person able to bear arms. No man able to bear arms shall attend church or chappell or travel any considerable distance from home without an arm and at least one charge of powder and shott.
3 Archives of Maryland 255
(1648)
licenses previously issued for "killing of Wild Hoggs [e]mploying Indians to kill deere with Gunnes" both to residents and non-residents of Maryland "hath occasioned some inconvenience & hath given great offence to divers of the Inhabitants of this Province," all existing licenses were repealed
2 John Leeds Bozman, History of Maryland 116 (1837) (enacted 1639)
(1639)
Gave the inhabitants of Maryland, who are Christians, all rights, liberties, immunities, privileges, and free customs as naturally born Englishmen.
1715 Md. Laws 117
(1715)
An Act for the Speedy Trial of Criminals, and Ascertaining Their Punishment in the County Courts When Prosecuted There, and For Payment of Fees Due From Criminal Persons, ch. 26, § 32: Prohibited "any negro or other slave" from carrying any gun or offensive weapon off their master's land without a ticket.
1650 Md. Laws 273
(1650)
§ 5: Banned carry of weapons in the House of Assembly, while the Assembly was sitting.
7 Archives of Marland 51-2
(1678)
"Forasmuch as there is nothing more acceptable to almighty God then the true and Sincere Service & worship of him according to his holy will & fforasmuch as the Sanctifying or keepeing Holy of the Lords day comonly called Sunday is and hath been esteemed by the present & all primitive Christian Churches & people a principall and cheife part of the said Worship, which day in most places in this Province hath been & still is profaned and neglected by a wicked and disorderly sort of people by working Drunkeness swearing gameing vnlawfull pastimes and other Debaucheries to the high dishonnor of almighty God the Scandall of Christian Religion... That noe person or persons from & after the time aforesaid shall profane or abuse the said Lords day as aforesaid by Drunkeness Swearing gameing at Cards Dice Billiards Shuffell boards bowles Nynepins horserace fowling or hunting or any other vnlawfull Sportes or recreations "
1883 Md. Acts 273-74
(1650)
§ 5: Prohibited entering either chamber of legislature with any gun or weapon "upon perill of such fine or censure as the howses shall thinke fitt."
1715 Md. Laws 90
(1715)
An Act for the speedy trial of criminals, and ascertaining their punishment in the county courts when prosecuted there, and for payment of fees due from criminal persons, chap. 26, § 7: And, to prevent the abusing, hurting or worrying of any stock of hogs, cattle or horses, with dogs, or otherwise, Be It Enacted, That if any person or persons whatsoever, that have been convicted of any of the crimes aforesaid, or other crimes, or that shall be of evil fame, or a vagrant, or dissolute liver, that shall shoot, kill or hunt, or be seen to carry a gun, upon any person's land, whereon there shall be a seated plantation, without the owner's leave, having been once before warned, shall forfeit and pay one thousand pounds of tobacco...
26 Archives of Maryland 256 (1906)
(1704)
An Act relating to Servants and Slaves: "that every Man Servant shall at such time of expiration of his as aforesaid have allowed and given him..one Ax and one Gunne of twenty shillings price not above four foot by the barrell nor less than three and an half which said Gunn shall by the Master or Mistress in the presence of the ext Justice of the peace be delivered to such ffreeman under the penalty of five hundred pounds of Tobacco on such Master or Mistress omitting so to do and the like penalty on the said ffreeman selling or disposing thereof within the Space of twelve months..."
1647 Md. Laws 216, § 6
(1647)
Banned carry of weapons in the House of Assembly, while the Assembly was sitting.
1840 Md. Laws 763
(1715)
Ch. 40: Exempted from attachment, or any other execution whatsoever

Maryland

Maryland

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