The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-01-04
BY ROBERT F. BOPES

movement of settlers from Europe to
the American colonies in the seven
teenth century had scarcely begun
when many controversies arose to
plague the authorities over the matter
of territorial limitations. Through the
Colonial period in New England num-
erous perplexing situations developed,
some of them remaining unsolved until
long after the Revolutionary War.
In Vermont, Ethan Allen, the hero of
its early history, organized the fam
Gus Screen Mountain Boys" to pro-
teet her rights against certain claims
asserted by New York to a large sec
ton of country. Connecticut had many
disputes with New York. Massachu
sets and Rhode Island, and long and
bloody struggle between Connecticut
and Pennsylvania occurred prior to the
Revolution over possession of the Wy
oming Valley in the region of the up
per waters of the Susquehanna River.
For many years, North Carolina and
South Carolina failed to agree on the
boundary line between them. In the
disputed strip, near the present site Of
the little town of WaXhaw, which the
final location of the State line placed
on the North Carolina side, Andrew
jackson was born in the year 1857.
The Maryland Charter Grant plainly
designated the 10th degree line of
North latitude as her northern bound
airy, and in accordance Herewith in
1929, the Governor of the Colony
granted tract of land just under that
line and near the present location of
Wrightsville on the west side of the
Susquehanna River, to Colonel Thomas
Cresap, who later settled in Oldtown,
Allegany county, Nd. He and other
settlers were driven out by the Penn
sylvania authorities in 1886, after a
skirmish in which several lives were
lost. Ending in dispute which lasted
several generations, the Mason and
Dixon Line survey finally, in 1857,
fixed the Maryland Pennsylvania di-
viding line about twenty miles south
of the 10th degree. The land thereby
gained by Pennsylvania at the eX-
pense of Maryland, plus large area
in the Upper Potomac River region,
which the latter lost through the
wrong location Of the Fairfax Stone,
left Maryland with little more than
one-half of her original grant of ter
ritory.
The Six Lords Baltimore
George Calvert was born and was
brought up in the Church of England
faith. He enjoyed high standing at
both the Courts of King James | and
King Charles L; first serving as private
secretary to Sir Robert Cecil, who was
Principal Secretary of State. Calvert
became a staunch supporter Of the
policies of King James l, who made
him Baron of Baltimore in Ireland.
He then embraced the Catholic faith.
Having been chosen member of Par
lament, he held the important posts
of Principal Secretary of State and
of Secretary to the Kings Privy Coun-
Gil.
Calvert early took an active interest
in the colonization of the English in
North America, becoming a member OF
the Virginia Company, and later, Of
the New England Company. In 1923,
King James granted him proprietor
ship of a colony in Newfoundland,
which he named Avalon, but on ac-
count of the severe climate of New
foundland, this colony was not sue
cess. In 1881, King Charles agreed to
colonial grant for Calvert farther
south, the territory assigned being
that adjoining Virginia on the north
with the Potomac River as the bund-
airy, and extending from the 38th tC
10th degree of North latitude along
the Atlantic Ocean, the Delaware
Bay and river. This latter provision
included most of the present location
of the City of Philadelphia. The new
Colony was named Maryland, in honor
of the Queen, Henrietta Marie. Cal.
vert was authorized to prepare the
charter for his Maryland Colony, bui
before it was formally executed, he
died, in the year 1852. The grant theI
passed to his only son, Sir Cecilius
Calvert, the Second Lord Baltimore
who sent the first colonists to Mary.
land in charge of his brother Leon
ard Calvert. They sailed in Novem
Der, 1888, in two ships, the Ark anc
the Dove, arriving at the Chesapeake
Bay in March, 1854, after having
touched at several West Indies points
which consumed several weeks time
The actual sailing time was 81 days
The party consisted of about twenty
of the gentry class, in addition to more
than two hundred farmers, mechanic.
and others who had been selected fol
their fitness as colonists. They bull
a settlement town which they named