The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-11-03


mia Manor, and was supposed to contain
one thousand acres. The rent was twenty
shillings per annum. The map before men
toned contains but few names belonging
county. Bohemia Manor and Cecilton,
which was then at Town Point, are found
on 1t; Plum creek and Turkey Point are
also noted and occupy the same position
then as now. Nearly all of Elk Neck is des
ignated as Baltimore Manor, and manor
called Elk Manor is located Just west of Elk
creek. Only one of the branches of Elk
river, the Little Elk, is located on the map.
Watsons Island, at the mouth of the Sus-
quehanna, is called Palmer's Island. Iron
Hill is spelled 60 IRON Hill''
Herman informs us in his journal that
danger from Indians prevented an accurate
inspection and survey of his lands, and that
he made a treaty with the Indians at Spe-
sutia Island and purchased this land from
them. Spesutia Island had been for some
time in possession of Col. Nathaniel Ute,
whose name has been perpetuated in the
name of this island, which was then spelled
Spies tie, and which means Uties Hope.
Herman states that the great men from the
Susquehanna Fort, which was the fort on
Watson's Island, We're present. No doubt
they had good time and smoked the pipe
of peace and handed round the "fire water, :"
and NEST likely the untamed savages enter
tanned the "pale faces with dance and
some of the strange wild games with which
they were wont to amuse themselves.
The metes and bounds mentioned in the
original patents of Herman's land were sup.
posed to include five thousand acres of land,
but they probably included five or six times
as much, and the courses and distances
mentioned were probably imaginary"
like the survey of Philip Calvert's land
before mentioned. Herman states in his
Journal that he transported his people at
great 'cost & charges " from New Am
sterdam to his manor in Maryland in
est we will state that Mr.. Coursey from
Maryland was in New Castle in that year,
and tried to employ one Andreas Huddie
TO 60 to Maryland and make beer. Mr..
Coursey was probably from the Sassafras
river as We have no reason to believe there
was any settlements in our county north of
the Bohemia river at that time, except
very few at the mouth of the Susquehanna
In
probably in 1861, for it is without date, ne
speaks of trying to induce some settlers to
build a village, which probably was some
where near the head of Bohemia river.
These settlers were Fins from Delaware.
The project did not succeed.
The same year we find that the Seneca
the Senecas destroyed several plantations
of the Swedes and Fins who had settled
among the English in Maryland, and that
the English assisted the Minquas with fifty
fore mentioned as being on Iron Hill.
Augustine Herman was cognizant of this,
and probably the English soldiers were
furnished at his suggestion.
The English, though still denying the
right of the Dutch to the land along the
Delaware river, concluded to live in peace
with them, and took no active steps for
some time after this to dispossess them.
No doubt they were hopeful of reducing
them to obedience, or, rather we should
say, of extending the authority of Lord
Baltimore over the part of the peninsula
claimed by them.
In pursuance of this friendly policy and
good neighborhood the Governors of Mary
land and Delaware had an interview some
where on the manor, most likely at the
Manor House, at which it was agreed that
the English would deliver two or three
thousand hogsheads of tobacco to the Dutch
at the head of Bohemia river, if the Dutch
would supply them with negro slaves and
other things.
Ten years after this in 1911, we find
"that the people of Maryland had offered
to clear half the way from Augustine Her
of making road, and that the people of
New Castle were expected to clear the other
half"
In the year 1871 Herman obtained his
third grant of land from Baltimore. 1t
was called Augustine Manor and as before
stated, embraced all the country from the
eastern boundary of Bohemia Manor to the
Delaware river. The Dutch settlements
probably did not extend further south than
the northern boundary of this manor, which
was near the site of the Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal. 1t would be interesting
to know how the founder of our county
spent his time during this part of his life;
but the Manor House was to be constructed,
the land was to be cleared and cultivated,
roads were to be made, and III addition TO
though his patent did not, as in the case OF
some others granted about this time, au.
thorize him to hold courts baron and courts
leet. Still being in possession of patri
!lOuN. Ol WHICH SOlIe Vi tue pTluCeS
of Europe would be proud, lie had enough
business to keep him actively employed.
We must now speak of some matters that
will add no credit to the early settlement of
our county. The Dutch possessions in New
York and those on the Delaware river had
passed under the control of the English
nation 10y treaty between the English and
Dutch, and though the Dutch around New
Castle and the English in Cecil county were
upon terms of amity and friendship, Lord
Baltimore and the English looked upon
the settlement of the Dutch at Whorekill
now Lewes) with jealous eyes, and re-
solved to vindicate his right to that part of
the peninsula. Accordingly military ex-
petition was fitted out in the year 1912 and
placed under the command of one Jones,
who proceeded to the settlement at the
Whorekill and laid waste the country
and devastated it terribly. The Dutch set
tiers there were more successful in their
agricultural pursuits than the colonist in