2AJJARF An American history . to astormy career. At the very beginning the authority of theCalverts was challenged by a strong man from Virginia,William Claiborne. Under a royal license to trade in Chesa-peake Bay he had bought from the Indians Kent Island andformed a settlement there, but this island lay within theboundaries of Maryland. Claibornes attempt to hold itcaused a long and bitter contention between himself and theCalverts, that would not have significance to-day except fortwo lamentable circumstances. In the spring of 1635 someof Claibornes traders fought a small battle with the Mary-lande