James and Mary Dwyer

James Dwyer, stone mason and plasterer, was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, in 1781. His father had been the first Dwyer to settle in this area.  James married Mary Price from Unity, Maryland in 1805. They raised a large family near Unity and Cracklintown, now called Laytonsville.
 

Records about the Dwyers and stonework

Besides the family tradition and census data, there are three Montgomery county records of the Dwyer family involvement with stone masonry.  Two are apprenticeship contracts, and one is a construction contract in Rockville.

1. 13 Feb 1810 - Reuben Collins, orphan, 17 last 9 December, was bound to James Dwyer, stone mason, until August 10, 1813
2. 24 Apr 1813 - Francis Gardener, son of Elias Gardener, bound to James Dwyer, stone mason, for 6 years, when he will be within 5 months of age 21
3. June 1856 - the Dwyer brothers contract to build the courthouse wall in Rockville. The wall is still basically there, although it was reconfigured in the 1990s when the new courthouse was built.

Dwyer Family Burying Ground

The family graveyard was on James and Mary Price Dwyer's farm along Sundown Road, now part of the Hawlings River Regional Park. 
Map and land record.

More information on the store is coming soon.