The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-04-18
Johnston's History
Of Cecil County.
CHAPTER NIN CONTINUED.

Watson soon after the meeting at New
Castle, started for Cape IIenlopcn on
horseback. He had occasion to spend a
night at Il hotel in st. Georges. and
notes i'll his diary that the mill dam at
that place. was the resort of large hockS
of water fowl Watson gives an account
of the difficulties and Inconvenience the
surveyors experienced in the prosecution
of their work, from which it appears
that they We're i'll imminent danger of
being drowned by the tide Overlooking
PheniX Island upon one occasion. when
they were stopping upon it. The cabin
in which they were lodging. upon another
occasion, took fire and they had Il narrow
escape from death, one of them losing
his shoes. which were burned to Il crisp,
from which it may be inferred that their
loss was Il more serious affair than il
would be ut the present time. However.
after much discussion and wrangliny.
they commenced the survey of the line.
which they traced for Il few miles. but
on the Sth of January, 1850, were OBJ
liged to quit on account of the SwampS
and low lands being covered with icn,
which made it impracticablc to continue
horses were continually getting mired
in the swamps, into which they sank up
to the middle of their legs. and that il
was in his opinion only practicable 10
complete the work in the summer months
when the swamps We're dricr than ut
other times.
The work of locating the TRANSPORTING
Sular line was resumed the next Spring
under the auspices of Edward Jennings.
Robert jenkins Henry. George Platter.
John Ross, William Allen. Richard Pet
crs. and Robert Holt commissioners an
pointed to Supcrintcnd the work. The
names of the surveyors employed by
them were as follows John Emory.
Thomas Jones. William Parsons. William
Shankland, and William Killen. The
surveyors commenced work near Fen
wck'S Island. on the 29th of April. 1TI1.
and met with nothing unusual until they
had completed the thirteenth mile of the
line. when they enter in their journal ON
the 18th of May. that the men who were
assisting them, had struck for higher
wages. This caused some delay but the
surveyors being unable To procure any
other assistance. were obliged to make
men. all of whom agreed to continue to
serve them. They lived in tents. and
were often at Il loss to find Il suitable
place to locate them. on account Of the
Swampy condition of the country. They
completed the line on the 10Th of June,
liol, having traced it to the Chesapeake
Bay. II distance of SiXty-nine miles and
two hundred and nincty-cight prrchl :
from the place of beginning on Fenwick' :
Island.
Th" Commissioners would probably
have completed the other portions of the
work had their labors not been suddenly
brought to an end by the death of Chas.
Calvert. the proprietor of Maryland, be-
tween whom and the heirs of Penn the
agreement of 1872 had been made.
Frederick, Lord Baltimore. the heir and
successor Of Charles. was Il minor, and
his guardians resisted the execution of
the decree; but i'll 17J4 the Penns took
measures to revive the Chancery suit.
with view of carrying ont and enforc-
ing the original agreement. But prob
ably owing to the prOvclhial delay that
always prevails in that Court. the part
les, after waiting until 1IGO. entered into
another agreement. which. 50 far as it
related to the boundary lines. was "A re-
affirmation of the former one. from which
it only differed by containing certain stip-
ulationS in reference to the grants of
land already made by the prnprirtnrS of
the two Provinces This agreement pro-
vidcd for the appointment of not less
imam three. nor NOR" than SCv"u commits
Sl"nrrS 10y the respective parties who
were to carry its provisions into effect.
THESE commissioners met 1T New Castle
on the 10Th of November. 1860. ana on
the 10th of December following delivered
their instructions tn the surveyors
MeSSlS. John Frederick, AuguStuS Briggs
Thomas Garnet, Arthur Emory. John
Watson. John Stnplrr. AMI William
Shnnkland, who We're employed by them
to locate and measure the radius of tho
twelve mile circle and Il due north line
from the middle point in the line across
the peninsula until it reached the outer
end of the radius. The Commissioners
seem to have had some doubt of their
ability To run all the lines. for they ONLY
instructed the surveyors to run the two
before named.
Th" minute book of til" surveyors,
which contains their Instructions and an
account of each days work. may be seen
Ill the land office at Annapoli=. They
were directed to measure the lines with
the greatest accuracy with II two. or if
more convenient. Il four-prrch chain. the
length of which they were frequently 20
verify by Il tWu-fu0t brass sector. fur
nishcd them for the purpose: and were
Frequently to verify the direction of the
lin" by the transit of the pole star. They
were to keep two minute books. in which
each days work was to he entered: and
i'll ease of failure to trace Il true mcri-
dah they were t" return these books t.
the Governors of the two provinces. who
were then to call the commissioners to-
Sethcr i'll order to give til" surveyors
further instructions. They were also 10
note the most remarkable buildings
waters. bridges and roads near the line
or through which it might pass
The surveyors began to run the due
north line from the middle point on the
18th of December. 1850. but after tracin.
it few miles We're obliged to quit on
account Of the severity of the weather.