The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-04-11
johnston's History
Of Cecil County.
CHAPTER NIX CONTINUED.

CHAPTER NIX CONTINUED.
Although more than half Il century had
elapsed since Cecil County had been in
vested with Il legal existence. its bound
aries. owing to the dispute between the
proprietaricS of Maryland ana prnnsyI-
vania. We're still undetermined And in
asmUCh as the settlement of the bound
aries of the county was dependent upon
the settlement of those Of the province of
which it formed part. it is important
that the readers attention should now
be directed to the efforts which at this
time were made to adjust the long pend
ing controversy, and which resulted MANY
years afterwards in the establishment of
Mason and DiXons line. Although this
line occupied very important position
in the politics of the United States for
many years, its history is very imperfect
ly understood, except by statesmen and
politicians. Should the reader belong to
that large class of citizens who have not
made politics the object of special CON
sideration. he will be more ready than
otherwise to pardon this unavoidable di-
erosion.
In 1872 John, Richard. and Thomas
Penn, who by the will of their father,
had become joint proprictorS of Pennsyl-
vania, entered into Il written agreement
with Charles Calvert the fifth Lord Bal
timorc. for the adjustment of the bound
aries of the two provinces. 1t was stp-
ulatcd by the parties to this agreement
that the boundaries should be as follows
First. Il circle of twelve miles radius
should b" described around the town of
New Castle. Second. Il due east and
west line was then to be drawn across
the Peninsula from the caStrlnmoSt part
of Cape Il"nlOpcn to the ChcSapcakc
Bay. from the middle of which Il straight
line was to be run i'll Il nOrthcrly direct
ION so as to form tangent to the circll-
lar line. Third. THAT from the tangent
point due north line should be run until
point, fifteen English statute miles
south of the most southrrly part of Phil
adclphia, should be reached. Fourth,
that due east and west line should he
run from the last named point as far
west as the two provinces extended. 1t
was also stipulated that. if the due north
line, beginning at the tangent point.
should cut Il segment from the twelve
mile circle that the said segment should
~ WINS ~ -N'N NSllt blllIN. 1t WAS
also agreed that each of the contracting,
parties should appoint within two
months thereafter, not less than seven
commissioners under whose SuprrviS on
the lines were to be located. Commits
SioncrS were accordingly appointed. who
met for the purpose designated, hut ow-
ing to the indetnitcnrSS of the agreement
the conference soon terminated, and with
1t ended all practical efforts to settle the
dispute ut that time. Shortly after this
abortivc attempt by the Commissioners,
Lord Baltimore applied to King Gcorg"
IL. for confirmation of his charter: but
1t was too late. and by an order of the
king in council. in 1875. the PcnnS were
directed to institute proceedings in chan
Gerry for the purpoS" of testing the valid
lty of the agreement, and if it was found
valid. of enforcing its provisions.
Previous to this time the partiSanS Of
the proprietorS of the two provinces seem
to have made use of the legal machinery
OF the counties along the borders in their
efforts to further their own interest and
that of their >upcrorS. But when the
matter i'll dispute was referred to the
Court of Chanccry. they having had little
hope of speedy settlement. inauguratcd
border warfare in real earnest, which
prevailed for Il few years on the borders
of what are now Hartford and York
counties
Thomas CreSap. who has been men,
toned as the proprietor of Il ferry from
Port Deposit to I.apidum, and who had
moved further up and settled on the
west side of the SuSuurhanna River. act
Oh Il. Ns,,,.N ~
fare. Many Germans had settled on the
disputed territory in what is now York
County. under Pennsylvania titles: but
In order t" avoid the payment Of taxes
III that province. they accepted titles
from Maryland and acknowledged the
authority of Lord Baltimore. But be-
coming HpprchrmSivc that adhesion to
nm might ultimately prejudice their in
t"rcSt. they formally renowned their al
l"gianc" and sought protection from
Pennsylvania. This irritatrd the author
tiles of Maryland. and the Sheriff of
baltimore County with three hundred
men marched to eject them. The Sheriff
of Lancaster County. with Il large posse.
cam" to their assistance. and induced
the MarylandcrS to return without mol
cStin@ the Germans. on pledge that
they would consult together and give an
answer to Lord Bnltmurr's rcuuiSitior
to acknowledge his authority.
shortly after this an association con-
SiSting of three hundred and fifty men.
headed by CrcSap. was formed for the
purpose of driving ont the Germans and
dividing their lands among the aS$o-
cators. two hundred acres being prom
Used to each of Them