The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-01-19
Troublesome Land Titles.

The Oakland correspondent of the |
Baltimore Day, writing under date
of January 14th, says: In no part of
Maryland are land titles in so unsat-
isfact0ry and unsettled condition as
in Garrett county. An action of
ejeclment i'm the courts to recover
real estate or settle the title to land
is of very rare occurrence, and, in
fact, almost unknown in any part of
Maryland east of Garrett and Allie
gany counties. whilst here our court
dockets are filled with cases of this
character. Nearly all the litigation
with reference 10 land titles in this
county grow out of the lands award
ell by the State to officers and sold
iers of the "Maryland Line" for their
services IN the war of the revolution.
These lands are called and known as
military lands lying westward of
Fort Cumberland"
In the year 1887 the General AS
sembly of Maryland passed resolu
ton under which Francis Deakins
surveyed and laid off, in the extreme
western portion of Maryland (which
is now Garrett county, 4,165 lots, con-
tanning 50 acres each. 1t was suisse
uuently ascertained that 636 of these
lots had been settled upon and were
being cultivated prior to the survey
made by Mr.. DeaKins. These settlers
were allowed to become the purchaS-
ers Of the lots which they occupied
upon making payment to the State
within a given time. Two thousand
five hundred and seventy-five of
these lots were distributed among the
soldiers and S4S among the officers of
the maryland Line"
Prior to the surveying of these
military lots many large tracts of
land had been patented by the State
to numerous persons, and there are
conflicts constantly arising between
1 those who claim under these grants
and those who claim the military lots
under the soldier titles. At the time
these military lots were awarded AS
above stated the territory which is
now Garrett county was almost an
""@~"''-''- sUildarnesS and 40 continu-
ed for years. The lots were thought
valueless and were not sought after.
In time the heirs of the soldiers WERE,
scattered all over the country and
now there are in almost every State
in the Union persons claiming an in
tcrest in some of these military lands.
While the soldiers and their heirs
were thus neglecting their lots, set
tiers were squatting upon them, many
of whom set up IA claim to the land
by possession and hold it to this day.
After a lapse of many years these
lands began to improve in value, and
as this part of the State was opened
up and developed by the building 1
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad their
real value in mineral and timber re-
sources began to be appreciated, and
those who had neglected them so
long began to look after their inter-
est IN what they had considered
worthless land.
While the soldiers and their heirs
were sleeping upon their rights and
neglecting their interests in many
instances their lots were taken up
underescheat patents. and these in
connection with the circumstances
given are likely to produce a great
deal oflitigatiOn and impose heavy
burdens upon the people in the shape
Of costs for years to come. Another
cause Of much trouble in connection
with these lands is the fact that near
ly all of the old landmarks establish
ell by Deakins when he laid out the
lots have disappeared, and it il with
the greatest difficulty that many of
them can be located at air.