The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-03-31
Gistortfal.
A HISTORY OF
CECIL COUNTY
EGAE.E' A CENTURY AGO.
(Continued.)

(Cominued.)
The following are the creeks and runs
which flow through different parts of the
county, viz: Conowingo and Octoraro creeks;
Stone Richards, Rocky, Rock and Heron
runs; Mill creek, Principle, Stony run, North
East, Little North East, Big and Little Elk
rivers, lIarts run, Perch, Long, Gales,
Broad and Back creeks, besides few which
fall on the south, into Bohemia and Sassa-
fras rivers.
The waters of Cecil county afford excellent
fisheries of shad and hcrrings. 1t is COM
putcd that upwards of 10000 barrels Of
shad and behring's, are annually cured and
packed up, Of this number hclrings are the
most considerable; also to the amount of
about $4,000 dollars sold fresh, and conveyed
| by land and water to the adjacent counties,
besides rock, carp, pike, perch, ale-wives,
mockasons, and other fish, which arc caught
at different seasons of the year, and i'll con.
siderable quantities.
Ehton, a considerable post town, and the
scat ofjusticc for the county. 1t is situated
at the confluence of the rivers Big and Little
Elk, and was some years ago, one of the
greatest wheat markets in America. About
250, 600 bushels Of wheat have been sold,
from the granarics, in the course of year.
This trade has greatly declined since the cs.
tablshmcnt of Banks in the city of Balti
more, which has monopolizd almost all
the trade of the Eastern shore.
Flkton contains about 100 dwellings,, some
OF which are handsomely ard well built. The
public buildings are n neat court house, an
academy and market house, in which mar
kcts are held on every Tuesday and Saturday,
and fairs four times year, viz: in April
June, October and December, established by
law, for the sale of cattle, horses, and all
kinds of American produce, and manurac-
lures.
About 1000 castor and wool hats. are
annually manufactured: besides hat making,
there is number other mechanical trades
carried on. tits an excellent situation for
mechanics and manufactures. being situated
on navigable river, Astounding with very
productive herring and shad fisheries, and
discharging itself into the Oh csapcak bay, at
the distance of few miles; besides having
in its vicinity several furnaces, FORCES, and
great many grist and saw mills, and ut the
distance of about three miles, large wooden
mandatory.
The district court holds here its sessions
twice year. 1t has exclusive jurisdiction in
all civil and criminal cases arising IN the
county; and orphans courts are held the
second Tuesday in February, April, June,
August and October. The election for the
second election district is also held here.
The canal, by which it is proposed to con-
meet the water of the Chesapeak and Della
ware bays, is located near this town, and
the water which is to supply the canal is
taken out of Big Elk river, about three miles
above the town.
Elkton is situated nearly in the centre, be-
tween Philadelphia and Baltimore, 40 miles
southwest Of the former, and so northeast
of the latter, and is the great thoroughfare
between the eastern and southern states.
a post Office is established here, the mail
passing through every day in the week, Sun
days excepted A cross post is established
from Elkton to Lancaster, by the Brick meet
Ing house; also from the Brick meeting house
to Downingstown. on the turnpike, between
Philadelphia and Lancaster. 1t is 0G miles
from Washington city. Lat. 80. 81. N. Ion.
0 46. w. of Philadelphia.
East Nottingham, small village, pleasant
ly situated in East Nottingham hundred. The
Brick meeting house, belonging TO the society
Of friends, stands upon handsome eminence,
at the centre of six public roads, the ground
descending in every direction. Within the
circumference Of about 300 perchcs, are IL |
dwellings, containing % inhabitants. Clocks
and mathematical instruments are made here.
The surveying instruments meet with gener-
al appreciation i'll those parts of the United |
States, in which they are uscd as they are
truly graduated, and the metal they arc made