History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 27

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 27

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It was found to be a very difficult task to establish the southern line of Penn's grant against Maryland, which latter province had been granted to Cecelius Calvert, Lord Baltimore, in 1632. A series of bitter disputes and collisions ensued, which during a period of fifty years brought about no progress towards the desired settlement. In 1732 the successors of Penn | and Calvert entered into articles of agreement for fixing the boundary, and under this agreement a temporary line was run in 1739 as far west as " the most western of the Kittochtinny Hills" (on the south line of the present county of Franklin, Pa.), and there the matter rested until 1760, when a new agreement was made, and seven commissioners ap- pointed for each proprietary to establish the line.

These commissioners chose four surveyors to execute the work, viz. : John Lukens and Archibald MeClean for Pennsylvania, and John F. A. Priggs and John Hall for Maryland. They immediately commeneed operations, but by reason of the great natural diffi- eulties to beovercome and the imperfection of their instruments and appliances, their progress was so slow that in 1763 the proprietaries residing in London became impatient, and in August of that year em- ployed Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, "Lon- don astronomers and surveyors," to complete the work.

These surveyors came to America at once and commeneed operations, but it was nearly two years before they had finished the preliminary work at the eastern end and fairly started on the due east-and- west line which has been since known by their names, Mason and Dixon's line. By the end of that year they had advanced as far west as the end of the temporary line of 1739. In the spring of 1766 they again commeneed work, and on the 4th of June had reached the top of Little Allegheny Mountain, but dared not proceed farther for fear of the Indians.

After that no progress was made until June, 1767, when the surveying-party again took up the work, being then escorted by a party of warriors of the Six Nations to hold the threatening Shawanese and Del- awares in check. The point where Braddock's road crosses from Maryland into Somerset County, Pa., was reached on the 24th of August, and there the Iro- quois escort left them ; but they pushed on, crossing the Youghiogheny and Monongahela Rivers, and in ()c- tober came to the Indian trail known as the Warrior Branch, near the second crossing of Dunkard Creek. The Delawares and Shawanese had been growing more and more threatening since the departure of the Six Nations warriors, and they now positively forbade any advance by the surveyors west of the crossing of the trail. The party could not proceed in defiance of this prohibition, and consequently the. line stopped at this point, beyond which it was not extended until about fifteen years later.

The running of Mason and Dixon's line was the final establishment of the boundary between Penn- sylvania and Maryland, but it established noth- ing with regard to the line between the former State and Virginia. The latitude of Mason and Dixon's line is 39" 43' 26" north, and neither con- testant was willing to accept it as the correct boun- dary. The proprietaries of Pennsylvania claimed under the royal grant a territory three degrees of lati- tnde in width,-that is, from "the beginning of the fortieth degree of north latitude" to "the beginning of the three and fortieth degree of north latitude." They contended that the beginning of the first degree of north latitude is the equator, and the beginning of the second degree is at the end of the first degree, or latitude 1° north, therefore that the " beginning of the fortieth degree is at the ending of the thirty-ninth

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ESTABLISHMENT OF BOUNDARIES.

degree, or latitude 39º north. They therefore claimed as their boundary against Virginia the parallel of 39? north, which would have given to Peunsylvania a strip 43' 26"' in width south of Mason and Dixon's line, in that part west of the western boundary of Maryland. But, on the contrary, Virginia claimed (as will hereafter be more fully mentioned ) that the boundary between the two States should be the par- allel of 40º north latitude. This would have given to Virginia a strip 16' 34" wide north of the present State boundary, along the southern borders of Greene and Fayette Counties, as far east as the west line of Maryland.

But it was the establishment of the west line of Pennsylvania that was regarded by each party as of the greatest importance, for each was anxious to se- cure Pittsburgh and the Monongahela country. On the 21st of April, 1774, the Pennsylvania Council appointed James Tilghman and Andrew Allen com- missioners to confer with the Governor of Virginia with a view to promote a settlement of the boun- dary. The Governor asked them to submit a propo- sition in writing, which they did, viz., that sur- veyors be appointed by the two States, and that they proceed to survey the courses of the Delaware from the intersection of Mason and Dixon's line northward " to that part of the river that lies in the latitude of Fort Pitt, and as much farther as may be needful for the present purpose;" then that Mason und Dixon's line be extended to five degrees of longi- ude from the Delaware, and that from the termina- tion of the said five degrees a line or lines corre- ponding to the courses of the Delaware be run to the Ohio, " as nearly as may be at the distance of five de- grees from said river in every part," and that the lines so run be the boundary and line of jurisdiction until he boundary could be run by royal authority. Dun- nore objected to so inconvenient a line for the west east) boundary, and he recommended a meridian line to be run from Mason and Dixon's at the distance of ive degrees of longitude, but he said that unless the commissioners would agree to a plan as favorable to Virginia as to Pennsylvania there could be nothing agreed on prior to the king's decision. The commis- sioners replied that for the purpose of producing har- nony and peace " we shall be willing to recede from our charter bounds so far as to make the river Monon- gahela from the line of Mason and Dixon the western boundary of jurisdiction, which would at once settle our present dispute without the great trouble and ex- pense of running lines, or the inconvenience of keep- ng the jurisdiction in suspense." But Dunmore made inal reply that under no circumstances would he con- sent to yield Fort Pitt; and this the commissioners regarded as a close of the negotiations.

The plan submitted by the commissioners at the above-mentioned couference was based on a proposi- ion contained in a letter previously written by Gov- ernor Penn to Dunmore, viz .: that from the north-

western extremity of Maryland the boundary of Pennsylvania should run due south to the 39th par- allel (this being " the beginning of the 40th degree of northern latitude"), and from there run due west along that parallel to the end of five degrees of lon- gitude from the Delaware, and that from that point the western boundary should be run north in a ser- pentine course, corresponding with the meanders of the Delaware, and so as to be five degrees of longi- tude distant from that river at every point.

Dunmore, in reply, ridiculed the idea of the ser- pentine line, but proposed that the west line of Pennsylvania should be run due sonth from the north boundary of Penn's grant, at a point five degrees of longitude west from the Delaware on that parallel, and he gave a rather plausible reason for the proposition, viz. : "Because the grant directs that the survey shall begin at a point on the south part of the boundary and proceed northward; . . . it being usual always in like cases to proceed and extend the five degrees of longitude, and not to return to the south point, and draw it from thence." IIe thought this would be much more favorable for Virginia, for he said, "If my construction be the true one, then Fort Pitt (by reason of the Delaware River running very much eastwardly towards your northern bounds) will probably be at least fifty miles without your limits." His idea (which was not very clearly ex- pressed) was that the Delaware River is many miles farther east at the forty-third than at the fortieth de- gree of latitude, and that a corresponding gain to Virginia would be made by extending the five de- grees of longitude from the former latitude instead of from the latter.

The propositions above mentioned were about the last of the negotiations between Penn and Dunmore, for both were soon after driven from power by the Revolution. The next proposition for a settlement of the boundary is found in certain resolutions passed by the Virginia Legislature on the 18th of December, 1776, one of which authorized the Virginia delegates in the Continental Congress to propose the following plan :

" That the meridian line drawn from the head of the Potomae to the northwest angle of Maryland be extended due north until it intersects the latitude of forty degrees, and from thence the southern boundary shall be extended on the said fortieth degree of lati- tude until the distance of five degrees of longitude from the Delaware shall be accomplished thercon, and from the said point five degrees, either in every point, according to the meanderings of the Delaware, or (which is perhaps easier and better for both ) from proper points or angles on the Delaware, with inter- mediate straight lines." This was identical with the plan before mentioned, by which Pennsylvania would lose a strip of considerable width north of Mason and Dixon's line, along the southern borders of the pres- ent counties of Greene and Fayette, and it embraced

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

also nearly the same proposition as that which had been made by Governor Penu for a serpentine line, corresponding to the courses of the Delaware, as a western boundary.

The first practical official action towards a definite and final settlement was taken in 1779 by the appoint- ment of George Bryan, John Ewing, and David Rit- tenhouse, on the part of Pennsylvania, and Dr. James Madison and Robert Andrews, on the part of Virginia, as commissioners to meet in conference and determine the boundary. These commissioners met Aug. 31, 1779, at Baltimore, Md., where they made and sub- scribed to the following agreement :

" We, [naming the commissioners] do hereby mu- ! ginia has sent Orders to the Surveyor of Yeoghegany tually, in behalf of our respective States, ratify and confirm the following agreement, viz .: To extend Mason and Dixon's line due west five degrees of longitude, to be computed from the river Delaware, for the southern boundary of Pennsylvania, and that a meridian drawn from the western extremity thereof to the northern limit of said State be the western boundary of said State forever."

This agreement of the commissioners was confirmed (upon certain conditions as to land titles) by the Vir- ginia Legislature June 23, 1780, and by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania on the 23d of September in the same year. This ended the long controversy so far as agreement on the location of the boundary was concerned, but the work of running the line still remained, and this was found to be a task much more difficult and troublesome than had been ex- pected.

In running their line Mason and Dixon had com- puted a degree of longitude on that parallel to be 53 miles 1676 perches, and consequently that the line, from where it was left at the Warrior Branch trail, would have to be extended about twenty-three miles westward to complete the five degrees of longitude from the Delaware. But as some doubts had arisen as to the accuracy of this computation, it was deter- mined to establish the western limit by astronomical observations, and, as considerable preparation was necessary for the execution of the work by this method, it was thought necessary in the mean time to run a temporary line, and in the spring of 1781 the President and Council of Pennsylvania, under author- ity from the Assembly, appointed Alexander Mc- Clean (the renowned surveyor, who lived in Fayette County for many years) to meet one to be appointed by Virginia and execute the work. Reference to this matter is found in a letter dated July 23, 1781, ad- dressed by President Reed to Col. James Marshal, lieutenant of Washington County, from which the following is an extraet :

Virginia being invaded and the Affairs of the Govern- ment in great Confusion there has not been the time or Opp'y for that Purpose which was necessary. Be- sides that, upon Inquiry we found the Season was too far advanced for those astronomical Observations which were necessary to run the Line with Exactness. We have therefore postponed the grand Operation to next Spring. But, as we know it was highly necessary to have a Partition of Territory and Jurisdiction, we proposed to Virginia to run a temporary Line, begin- ning at the End of Masons & Dixons, and measuring 23 miles, what is by Computation the five Degrees of Longitude called for in the Charter of King Charles the 2d. This has been agreed to, & the State of Vir- County to join with one to be appointed by us to that Service. We have appointed Alexander Mc- Clean, Esq., & this Express carries up his Commis- sion and Instructions for this Purpose. Should he have Occasion for a Guard, or any other Assistance from you, we make no Doubt he will receive it. As soon as they have run the Line & reported their Pro- ceedings we shall send up Proclamations calling upon all those who shall fall into this State to conform to its Laws and Government, and hope you will soon be relieved from the Anarchy and Confusion which has reigned so long in your Country from this un- happy Dispute."

On the 27th of August President Reed addressed Thomas Scott on the same subject, as follows :

". . We regret as much as any of the inhabitants of the County can do the Delay of running the Line, but the season was too far advanced before we got the Answer from Virginia to admit of the astronomical Observations which are necessary for an exact & ac- curate Performance of this important Post. The Month of May is agreed by our Men of Science to be the only proper Period, and there are divers Instru- ments necessary which it will take some Time to pre- pare. However, being sensible of the Importance & Necessity of some Boundary, as soon as we found it | impracticable to execute the Business this Spring we proposed to the State of Virginia a temporary Line, extending Mason & Dixon's to the Ohio, or 23 miles. They accepted the latter, & about a Month ago we sent off a Commission to Alex' McClean, Esq", ap- pointing him our Agent for this Purpose. We hope that by this Time he has engaged in the Service, as we learn from Col. Marshal that the Gov. of Virginia had appointed their Agent. I have been thus par- ticular as well to obviate any Mistakes on this Subject as to show you how anxious we have been to ran the Line, and that the Delays have been unavoid- able."

It was much our Wish and equally our In- In a letter dated Sept. 13, 1781, addressed to Presi- tention to run the Line this Spring, but the State of dent Reed by Alexander McClean, he mentions that Mr. Madison (the commissioner appointed by Vir- 1 Pa. Archives, ix. 304. , ginia to act with him in running the temporary line)

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ESTABLISHMENT OF BOUNDARIES.

ad only arrived on the last of August from the Ka- lawha, and proceeds :

" I have since conferred with him, and he appears utwardly willingly to Co-operate with me in the performance of the trust, yet appears warmly attached o the other State. Inasmuch as I am yet doubtful whether the matter will be ended this Season. How- ver it may be, I am determined this day to wrisk it, his being the day appointed for Rendezvouz. We ave been much distressed in our preparations by Reason of sudden Excursions of the Enemy ; Wash- ngton County being more immediately invested with he external as well as Internal Enemies of this State. Your Excellency's Instructions Requiring the Lieuts. f that County to furnish the Guard prevented me rom making application elsewhere, which has oc- asioned at least a disappointment of ten days, as I ave attended the appointments already twice, & the Guard or Madison not in Readiness."

So many delays occurred (intentional as was be- eved on the part of Virginia) that nothing was ac- omplished in 1781 towards running the temporary ne. On the 2d of March, 1782, Council received nd adopted the following report from a committee ppointed to consider the question of running the ne, viz. :

" That Council and your Committee are unanimous Opinion, from the great expences necessarily at- ending the compleating the Line between this State nd Virginia, it would be most prudent to defer it for he present, and that a temporary Line during the Continuance of the present War, or till times are bore settled on the Frontiers, may be made and agreed n at a small expence, which will answer every pur- ose expected, and to effect which Council will take le necessary measures."

The work was ordered to proceed, and the first part f June set for the commencement. At the time named lol. McClean repaired to the rendezvous, but neither Commissioner Madison nor the Virginia surveyor, oseph Neville, appeared, and an armed party of Virginians who had collected there prevented him om proceeding with the work. The circumstances ttending this occurrence, with some other matters ertaining to the boundary, are set forth in the follow- hg letter1 from MeClean to President Moore, of the Council, viz. :

"COLLO COOK'S, ON MY WAY FROM PITTSBURGH, 27th June, 1782.

"SIR,-To my great Mortification, I am lead to in- orm you that after every effort which prudence light dictate, I am again prevented from Running he Line. The Circumstances I presume you will be anxious to know,-they are as follows, Viz. : Shortly fter my Return from Philadelphia, an expedition as formed against Sandusky by the Volunteers of oth Counties, which drew off a great Number of the lilitia and Arms. The Situation of Washington

County was very distressing to appearance. I thought it not prudent to call any part of the Guard from thence altho' Impowered so to do. The Lieut. of the County of Westmoreland furnished me with a guard of one hundred and upward, but had not Arms suffi- cient to supply them; about Seventy were armed. We proceeded to the Mouth of Dunkard Creek, where our Stores were laid in, on the tenth day of June, and were preparing to Cross the River that Night, when a party of about thirty horsemen, Armed, appeared on the opposite side of the River, Damning us to come over, and threatening us to a great Degree; and sev- eral more were seen by our Bullock Guard, which we had sent over the river, one of which asked them if they would Surrender to be taken as prisoners, with other Language of menacing; and hearing of a great Number more who were on their way to their assist- ance, We held a Council, the Result of which was to appoint a Committee to confer with them on the Causes of their opposition ; the result of said Confer- ence you will see enelosed. This Mob or Banditti of Villains are greatly increased since the supply Bill has been published amongst them. . . . In short the Cry against Taxes in Specie is general, and in any Mode, by a Number of those who formerly adhered to Virginia, and they think the Running of the Line will be a prelude to and increase the power of Col- lecting them ; Together with the Idea of a New State, which is artfully and industriously conveyed (under Coverture) by some of the Friends of that State, as the only expedient to prevent the Running of the Line. I have also to inform you that I have the most finished assurance that they have not the least Desire to Settle the Line in any equitable manner, for the Instructions of their Commissioners (if they have ap- pointed any) will doubtless direct them to begin at the end of Maryland, which is not yet ascertained, neither can it be without the concurrence of that State, which I am fully persuaded was thrown in as a barrier to keep the Evil day the further off, as I fell into Company with a person of great Consequence in that State on my Way from Philadelphia, who was big with the propriety of it, and Quoted a Gentleman of this Country as the Author of it. Yet it would be out of Character to say that the Executive of Vir- ginia, who are so tender of Duplicity on any occa- sion, should Wrap their Councils in Darkened Lan- guage. I think it would be much to their honour and the Interest of this State, as well as those United, if their Actions could be brought to Correspond with their Declarations.

"Collo Hayes, who was present on Committee, was Zealous to proceed against all opposition, but all to no purpose, other than to enrage the Mob Still more ; they proceeded to dare us to trial of their Resolution and intention. I have just now been with General Irwin, who is well disposed to render every Service in his power, but as a Continental Officer he cannot in- terfere without instructions for that purpose. In

1 Pa. Arch., ix. 564.

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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

short, every measure has been taken that might be thought prudent, but to no purpose; their obstinacy is such that they never will Submit until destruction overtakes them.

" I have therefore to request you will devise some mode that it may be accomplished speedily, as the Enemies of this State are daily encreasing, and I find it is out of my power, unless a Commissioner from Virginia should appear, to proceed without open War, which, if you are determined upon, you'll please to give me instructions agreeably, together with the Ne- cessary Powers. I am just now informed that a meet- ing of some of the former Subjects of Virginia has been lately Requested to choose Officers to Resume the Government in this place, the Result of which I am not able to inform you."

With the above letter was transmitted to President Moore the following minutes 1 of a conference between the boundary commissioners of Pennsylvania and a committee appointed for the purpose by the partisans of Virginia, viz. :

" MOUTH OF DUNKARD CREEK, June 10th, 1782.

" At a meeting of the Commissioners on the Part of Penn- sylvania, the 10th Day of Jane, one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Two.

" Present Alexander MeClean, Esqr ) Commissioners

& Samuel MeClean Assist Surveyor for Ranniog the Line.

" With the Several Drafts of the Militia of the 3d & 4th Bat- talions of Westmoreland County, under the Command of Cul. Benjamin Davis, &c.

" When a number of the Inhabitants of Washington County, . David Rittenhouse, Thomas Hutchins, and John holding themselves yet under the Jurisdiction of the State of Virginia, appeared in Opposition to ns, under Arms. And as the meeting of l'arties in such cases Inraged with Passion are frequently attended [with ?] Evil Consequences, it was thought Proper to appoint a Committee to Confer on the Causes or Reasons of said Opposition : on which Henry Vanmeter, Jesse ligman, and George Newland, of the Opposite Partie, were ap- pointed a Committee to Confer with us ; and Christopher ITayes, Ilenry Beason, and Alexander McClean a Committee on behalf of l'enn>ylvania : After Producing the Several Papers and In- structions, Together with Corresponding Letters of the Council of Virginia, The said Committee on the Part of Virginia Re- fuse to Coneur with the Committee of Pennsylvania in the Measure, untill finally Determined or Proclaimed to be agrec- able to the State of Virginia, other than through forceable or Dangerous Measures, Which might be attended with Conse- quences truly Evil.

" In Witness that it is the full Intention of the Party we represent, We, as a Committee, do Sign our Names for them the Day and year aforesaid.

" HENNY VANMETER,

" JESSE PIGMAN, " GEORE NEWLAND.

" True Coppy,

" E. Cook."

In the mean time, however, the Legislature of Vir- ginia had given its formal assent to the running of the line, and thereupon President Moore sent to Col. MeClean his instructions to proceed, viz. :

" IN COUNCIL, PHILADELPHIA, July 20, 1782.

" Enelosed you have a copy of a resolution of the Legisla- ture of Virginia respecting the line between that State and ours, dated Jane I, and copy of Governor Harrison's letter ac- companying it, dated June 29, and also the order of Couneil of the 19th inst., directing yon to attend at the west end of Mason and Dixon's line on Monday, the 4th of November next. You aro then, in conjunction with the Surveyor to be appointed on the part of Virginia, to proceed in running the line agreea- ble to your former direction. It will be advisable to eall out the militia for guards from among those who live at some dis- tance from the line, and we hope Virginia will take the same precautions, to prevent heats and needless controversy. . . . Colonel Hayes will continue his assistance under the former instructions."

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History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 27

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1314