Evening journal., 1899-05-04
MASON AND DIXON LINE.
John Leeds, Who Represented
Lord Baltimore,
IS NOW ALMOST FORGOTTEN

SURVEYORS. NO ONE HAS DONE
HONR TO TINE IMPORTANT
WORK OF THE MARYLAND AS
lRONOMER AND AIATHBNlATI-
CLAN.
Easton, Md, May 3.-The fact that
there were three great mathemati-
clans, astronomers and prcfcients i'm
the science and art Of gecdesy, connect
cd with the surveying ana computa-
lions of the lime run to fix the division
between the claims Of Lord Baltimore
and William Penn, which became the
historic Mason and DiXon's line, and
that one of them was an eminent c.ti-
zen of Talbot county, Maryland, is all
most forgotten. The names of Charles
Mason and Jeremiah Dixon are known
to every schOOlbOy, almost, in the
United States, while the name of the
thnd commissioner John Leeds, OF
Wade's Point, Bay hundred. Is UNI
known in this connection, al least, ii
the people OF the territory within whose
confines me lived and died. And yet
i've was as skilled a man as either of
the other two, and his services were as
important This brief biographical
sketch In a biographical encyclopedia
OF first authority tells of his standing.
Leeds, John. astronomer No. In Bay
hundred, Talbot county Nd, rs May,
l7O5; d. In Wada's Point plantation.
Md, in March, 1880. He was clerk of
Talbot county court FOR FORTY wears,
and was subsequently a judge of the
provincial court. In 1860 he was ccm-
missioned to supervise the returns OF
Mason and Dixon OF the boundaries OF
Maryland and Pennsylvania, ami was
surveyor general OF Maryland att the
time of his DEATH
He was appointed to this highly re-
sp0nsib.e position ON the great survey
by Governor Sharpe, OF Maryland. who
said in a letter: Il appointed Mr.
Leeds TO be a commissioner. and 81
was at my desire and request that he
travelled and attended the other COM
missiUneIs / did not think it sale
with regard to Lord Baltimcne's inter
est to be Wtthout him. there being no
cther person / could procure to assist
whose knowledge of such matters |
could rely on There Is authority for
the statement that he detected and Ger
rected several errors I'm the original
work. THE Importance of MIR. Leeds
position rs seen at once from the fact
That this lime could never have been
established without his consent. Mary
land would never have accepted the
survey and calculations until this most
competent mathematician had reported
laVoiably. These services. which were
SO valued by Governor Sharpe. and
upon which Mn Leeds himself placed
50 high an estimate. that, as shown by
mrs accounts, HE demanded an extra al
loWance OF a guinea day for each OF
~ days HE attended, are strangely liz.
nored by historians, who do not con-
meet ms name with this Important
transaction
HSmothy Leeds, an EngMshman. WIKI
came to Virginia with one OF Captair
Christopher Viewpoints expeditions
was the founder OF the family i'm Amer.
lea His son, Captain William Lseds
was contemporary OF Wirlam Clai.
borne and a Puritan in religion III
removed 10 Kent Island, and was a re.p.
Tesentative Of Kent county in the House
on Burgesses i'm 1861. He acquired ths
Wade's Point plantations from Zach.
airy Wade one of Claiborne's adherents
who took dt up originally. Captair
William Leeds died i'm 17OS and LEFT M,
estates to his son. Edward Leeds. I'M.
father or John Leeds. Wade's Poln.
mas been for years the property on IN.
Kemp family-that is, what NAV n.
caled the home pOntiOn Of the origina
tract ''''
When the revolution came on and 4,
the days OF discussion before AZ. Mn
Leeds was a decided but inactive Tory
he resigned his official position ant
retired to the seclusion of his bavsid
home. Fearing the revolution woul,
lead 10 proscriptive measures aeains
The ncn-jurors. he put his house i'm or
dtr and got ready to leave the countr.
wire GoNernor Eden. but was rer
suadcO by his iria:gd and very nea
naghbor, that ardent patriot, Mathis,
lilgnmani TO remain at home. He wa
unm )lested in his retirement tilrfnl
tie Whole contest. giving offense d
none by the ohtrusion Of MS sentiment
nfon public or private rotice anu en-
Joying amongst the sugp c;on and acri
mony that was engendered by the wa
me confidence and consideration of hi
teliow-citizens of whatever political be
lief, it was said of him by a frienll
Whig. '' ~ -
MIR. Leeds mother embraced the ne
Agious doctrines Of the Friends Rein
but three years old when his fatbe
died. he was brought up under the car
OF MS mother. a woman of stron
sense as wen as purity of characte
and she gave to the mind of her So
religious impress that was never h.,
though he soon ceased all religion,
communion with her people Nj
Leeds married a Quakeress maideI
Rachel Harrison February "A. 172e !
the Quaker Meeting House on Dividin
Creek. near Trappe. Three daughter
were the issue OF this marriage. ON
81 them. Rachel. married John 10,
man and became the mother az Job
Leeds Bozman, the historian OF Mar,
land.
MIR. Leeds had a very valuable cole,
ton OF mathematical instrument
some OF which. after his death. cam
into the possessionicf st. John colleg,
Annapolis. II is an interesting inc
dent that the Maryland authorities n
ter the passage Of the confiscation. az,