Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-01-02

the boundary line; proclamations were
issued forbidding surveys and grants
for lands within the disputed limits,
until the line should be marked. but
without effect. In January, iii COM
missioners were again appointed by
the governors of Virginia and North
Carolina, and they also failed for want
Of money to accomplish their intended
object. The public inconvenience ex-
perienced from these failures, deeply
affected the peace of society, and a
remedy, was sought for in the act of
limitations. The preamble contains
brief but impressive enumeration of
the prominent evils of the times, and
of the causes which produced the act.
whereas great suit, debate and con-
troversy, hath heretofore been, and
may hereafter arise, by the means of
ancient titles to lands derived from
patents granted by the Governor of
Virginia, the condition of which pat
ents have not been performed, nor quit
rents paid, or the lands have been de-
serted by the first patentees; or for, or
by reason or means of, former entries
or patents granted in this government"
for prevention whereof, and for quiet
ing mems estates, and for avoiding
suits in law, this act processes to be
made. 1t proposes for its own achieve
ment, the most important end of legis-
lation, the quieting of mems estates.
In 172S, the attempt was again repeated
and failed, after the commissioners of
both colonies had met at Currituck.
Their instructions were so framed as
to Illustrate the attempt; they were di-
rected to begin at the north end of Cur
rituck river or inlet, thence to run
westwardly to the mouth of Wyonoak
creek, or Chowan river. whence it was
to be continued a due west. course.
There was no Currituck river, but only
bay of that name, the head Of which
is ten or fifte, minutes to the north
ward of the inlet where the line should
begin. They could not agree upon the
place called Wyonoak, nor could they
agree at what place to fix the latitude
of thirty six deg. thirty min. They
broke up without doing anything, and
the governors of North Carolina and
Virginia, were obliged to fix upon terms
that were explicit. They made con-
vention upon the subject of boundary
between the two provinces, which they
transmitted to England for the kings
appreciation; the king in council agreed
to the convention, and SO did the lords
proprietors, and returned it to the gov
ernors to be executed. The agreement
was, that from the mouth of Currituck
river, setting the compass on the north
shore thereof, due west line shall be
run and fairly marked, and if it happen
to cut Chowan river, between the mouth
of Nottaway river and Wiccacon creek,
then the same direct course shall be
continued towards the mountains, and
be ever deemed the dividing line be-
tween Virginia and Carolina. But if
the said west line cuts Chowan river to
the southwark of Wiccacon creek, then
from that point of intersection, the
bounds shall be allowed to continue up
the middle of Chowan river, to the
middle of the entrance into said Vic
cacon creek; and from thence due
west line shall divide the two govern.
ments. That if said west line cuts
Blackwater river, to the northward OF
Nottaway river, then from the point oil
intersection, the bounds shall be allow.
ed to be continued down the middle OF
said Blackwater, to the middle of the
entrance into said Nottaway river, and
from thence due west line shall di
vide the two governments.
THAT if a due west line shall be
found to pass through islands, or cut
out small slips of land, which might
much more conveniently be included
in the one province or other, by natural
water bounds, in such case, the persons
appointed for running the line, shal
have power to settle natural bounds
provided the commissioners on bott
sides agree thereto; and that all varia
tions from the west line be punctually
noted on the premises or plats, which
they shall return to be put upon thu
records of both governments" Com
missioners were appointed to carry thi
agreement into effect, both on the par
of Virginia and North Carolina.
On the 10Th of December, 1877, al
answer was written by the Governor o
Virginia to the Governor of North Caro-
lima, on the subject; and on the 10th o
December, 1927, the commissioners o
Virginia wrote to the commissioners o
|, North Carolina, on the same subject
> The commissioners met at Curritucl
inlet in 1928. The variation of th
, compass was found to be three degrees
one minute, and two second west, nearly
and the latitude thirty six degrees thirt
one minutes. The dividing line strucl
Blackwater one hundre and sevent
six poles above the mouth of Nottaway
The variation of the compass at tn
mouth of Nottaway was two degree
. thirty minutes. The commissioners o.
u the part of Virginia were, Col. Birt
o Richard Fitzwilliam and William Dar
D bridge: on the mart of North Carolin.