JQF Organization

The John Quinton Foundation is the only community-based and community-serving organization in San Domingo, Maryland. San Domingo, Maryland is a rural church-centered unincorporated African-American community located between the incorporated towns of Sharptown and Mardela in Wicomico County. There are approximately 250 residents. The John Quinton Foundation was established to preserve the oral history of the community as well as support and expand community-led and community-based programs and services.

According to oral history recited annually at the local church founder's day, San Domingo was founded in the early 1800s by James Brown. Mr. Brown was a native of Jamaica who, upon arriving to the Delmarva Peninsula went to Cambridge to find a free woman to marry. San Domingo soon became a destination for other free Blacks from the Caribbean trading along the Atlantic Coast.

The local church, Zion United Methodist Church (ZUMC), was established in 1859 by James Brown and his family members. The church served as the center of the community housing many cultural, civic, historical, and educational activities. At the end of the civil war, John Quinton, a Caribbean seaman, is reported to have settled in San Domingo and to have married one of James Brown's daughters. This seaman was literate. Consequently, he preached and taught school in the community. John Quinton and his family were the anchor of education in San Domingo until state supported education came to San Domingo in 1919 when Sharptown Elementary School was built. Children were educated through grade 7. Full access to high school education for San Domingo residents did not occur until 1930.

In 1997 the immediate family of George B. Quinton, a great-grandson, of James Brown, gathered to form a group that would work to preserve the memory and history of our family. That initial concept was expanded to form an educational and community interest organization. After meeting with extended family members, the decision was made to expand the group to include more "Quinton descendants", thus creating the John Quinton Foundation. The foundation conducts projects to aid the historical preservation and economical growth of our community; or home, San Domingo. The John Quinton Foundation, broad enough to include family focused in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, acquired the George B. Quinton Scholarship as its educational arm.

In 1997, the George B. Quinton Scholarship was announced at Zion United Methodist Church, San Domingo, Maryland. In 1998, the first scholarship was awarded. Today qualified scholars from our home continue to receive educational assistance.

In 2003, the foundation expanded its community service projects. The first project is to support the Community Tutorial Center, followed closely by the second project - the restoration of family grave sites dating back to the 1700s. The John Quinton Foundation continues to seek avenues and opportunities to foster its mission and goals.

Important Dates,

Documents, & Reminders

Meetings

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND ALL MEETINGS.

Board of Directors:

Date: March 3, 2012

Time: 2:00 pm

Place: Zion United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall,

Sharptown, Maryland

John Quinton Foundation General Membership

Date: March 3, 2012

Time: 2:00 pm

Place: Zion United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall,

Sharptown, Maryland

Scholarship Committee:

Date:

Place:

Community Services Committee:

Date:

Place:

Family Reunion Committee:

Date:

Place:

Documents

John Quinton Foundation Brochure

Articles of Incorporation