The Entailed Hat; Or, Patty Cannon's Times

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

19146

Title

The Entailed Hat; Or, Patty Cannon's Times

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware, this historical romance explores the clash between fading colonial caste systems and emerging modern life. Centered on the mysterious 'Entailed Hat' and the notorious kidnapper Patty Cannon, the novel blends local folklore with a gripping narrative of family legacy, racial injustice, and personal redemption against a backdrop of raids and social upheaval.

Summary up to 500 words

George Alfred Townsend's *The Entailed Hat; Or, Patty Cannon's Times* is a historical romance deeply rooted in the author's childhood memories of the Delmarva Peninsula, specifically the region between the Chesapeake and Delaware bays. The narrative begins with a peculiar will from 1800 that bequeaths a father's best hat to his son, Ralph Milburn, forever. This 'entailed hat' serves as a potent symbol of inherited burdens and social expectations, haunting the Milburn family and the town of Princess Anne. The story introduces eccentric local figures, such as Meshach Milburn, who wears a century-old steeple hat, and Jack Wonnell, known as 'Bell-crown,' whose lives intersect with the terrifying legend of Patty Cannon. Cannon was a real-life kidnapper whose den and methods are woven into the plot with local truth, grounding the fiction in historical reality. The novel explores the intense tension between Quaker pacifism and the violent realities of slavery and kidnapping in the early 19th century. This conflict is dramatized through events such as the raid on Cowgill House and the burning of the Dover jail. Key characters include the conflicted Judge Custis, a Quaker slaveholder whose conscience struggles with the institution of slavery, and the brave Levin Dennis, a young man who eventually turns against the kidnappers. Through these figures, Townsend examines themes of caste, freedom, and the moral complexities of an era transitioning from old colonial hierarchies to a new social order. The narrative expands across three state jurisdictions, depicting a community struggling to define its identity amidst the ruins of the past. The 'hat' metaphor evolves throughout the story, representing not just a physical object but the weight of history and tradition that characters must either wear or discard. The tale culminates in the death of Patty Cannon and the eventual restitution of wrongs, offering a poignant look at a region grappling with its past. Townsend's prose balances the grotesque and the sublime, creating a vivid portrait of a society in flux, where the boundaries between law, morality, and survival are constantly tested.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Regional Fiction
• Crime Fiction