Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-05-06
THE WESTERN RESERVE.


Of Northern Ohio is called the WESTERN
RESERVE" or Connecticut Western Re
srre." The following, which we find in
an exchange paper, will satisfy The curiosity
Of all inquirers:
The original charter Of the State of
Connecticut was granted by Charles l., in
1862. That charter defined the limits of
The State as follows From the south line
Of Massachusetts on the north, to Long
Island Sound on the south, and from the
Naraganset river on the east, 10 the Pacific
ocean on the west 1t will be- seen by
reference TO map, that those boundaries
would enclose, not only what is now the
State OF Connecticut. but also portions Of
Of the States OF N. York and n Jersey
nearly one half Of Pennsyivania-allo of the
northern portions Of the States Of Ohio,
Indiana and llIinois-and "A goody part Of
the northern territories of Iowa, Missouri,
and Oregon. There was clause in the
charter, however, which excepted from lis
operations such portions as were then
occupied by prior settlers. The exception
excluded such parts Of New York and New
Jersey as were within the predicted limits.
dispute ensuing between New York and
Connecticut as TO the boundaries between
these States, it was settled bv commissioners
appointed by the king in 1864, who decided
that the Maroneck river should DO the
western boundary Of Connecticut.
"For nearly century thereafter, Con-
nec,cut neglected 10 claim or settle any
part Of her territory west Of New York,
and charter being granted TO Vim. Penn,
in 1851, embracing all that part of the
same which lies within the present State Of
Pennsylvania, dispute ultimately arose
between the two colonies, as TO tho right
Of possession in the disputed territory. Both
colonies sold the same land, and each
guaranteed TO the purchasers undisturbed
possession. This excited quarrels among
the settlers, and resort was ofron had 10
force of arms, to expel the intruders.
"ln ITO, the Legislature Of Connecticut
transmitted 10 England certain questions, to
be proposed 10 the most able lawyers, res
pecting her title Of lands west Of N York.
The answers were favorable TO her claims,
and determined tho colony 10 maiatan
them. The revolutionary war happening
soon after superseded further proceedings
until after its close.
"In 1871, the two States agreed to
appoint commissioners to settle the dispute
An act Of Congress was passed, granting
to these commissioners full power to act in
the final etermining of this long pending
| bn "a
Trenton, in November, 1882. After a
full hearing OF the matter in question, they
decided that Connecticut had no right to
the lands in dispute. Here the matter, so
far as Pennsylvania was concerned, rested
"The State of Connecticut. notwith-
standing, still laid claim to all lands lying
west Of Pennsylvania, and extending lc
the Mississippi river. To avoid future
troubles, however, the Legislature agreeG
to cede all of these lands 10 Congress, with
the exception of tract of one hundred anC
twenty miles in length, lying Immediately
west of the west line Of Pennsylvania
This cessIon was accepted, and was consi
dered TO be an indirect acknowled gmen
that her claim was we'll founded
"This tract is knowh as the Western
Reserve, and includes the counties Of Ash
tabula, Trumbull, Portage, Geauga, Cuya
hoga. Medina, Lorain, Huron, Erie, Lake
and Summit. A part Of this tract, 600.
600 acres known as the "Fire Lands,",
was granted by the State 10 the inha biiant-
OF New London and Fairfield, and Norwalk
whose property had been destroyed by fire,
by the British troops during the revolution
airy war. The remainder was sold by the
State Of Connecticut in 1895, and the mo
ney arising from the sale appropriated tc
the purpose Of constituting perpetua
fund for the support Of schools in tina
State"