Hi R.P. You bring up a very interesting point about the property... Mr. Buckingham's posting of the book rekindled my interest in the origins of the state lines, which initiated this thread. I have yet to see his maps, and will seek them out. What I understand is that Cumberland County PA was formed in 1750, followed by Bedford County in 1771, and Westmoreland county in 1773, each taking some portion of the other. So we might find records about someone living in 1772 in the region that became Westmoreland in Bedford County, or in Cumberland County. Although most of the Mason-Dixon line was created 1763-1767, the dispute between the Colonies dates back into the 17th century. The question, perhaps answered in the book, is - Did both states have governing structures in the disputed territory, some 20 miles wide? Did they sell property, and collect taxes? Or did Maryland "control" the territory until they handed it over to Pennsylvania circa 1767. And exactly how did the presence of the line become enforced? Did the southern PA counties suddenly gain a 20 mile extension to their southern border? Where are the property and genealogy records stored? in PA or MD? In the similar case of the three counties Virginia created in what became western PA, VA imposed taxes, organized county governments, sold land - sometimes the same land sold by Westmoreland Co PA, and in general imposed, between PA and VA, two competing governmental structures on the people, from 1771 through 1785 or so. This is one of the reasons something over 50% of the settlers in the area lost their land to the government and moved on to points further west, like Kentucky. In VA's case, their set of records have moved on to the VA archives, while the PA records are with the counties, or in the PA archives. It is also why there are scores (60 some-odd) of recorded incidents of PA farmers tearing up roads, digging wide trenches across them, or burying them in tons of manure, to prevent travel to the various county seats where confiscated properties of their neighbors were being auctioned. Did this kind of activity also go on in MD? ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Sorry it took so long to respond -- I have been on the road. Last week I found a citation in Bedford County, PA concerning land applications: Francis Hines, 200 acres on small creek leading into Potomac River, known as Town Creek, in Town Creek valley [note: land claimed by one Perrin] 11/10/1766 #1870 While I didn't have the time to get to the courthouse and find the original citation, this certainly fits into what we have been discussing. John Perrin Sr. obtained land in Twiggstown, Murley's Branch and Flintstone Creek area as 1762, perhaps 2000 acres in all. His son John is on the tax roles in Colerain Twp Bedford County, PA (Southampton Twp wasn't formed yet) in 1772. Mason and Dixon I believe went through that area in 1766. Looks like the family lost some of the land they bought. Richard Perrin Day On May 29, 2007, at 3:43 PM, VinceKoers@aol.com wrote: > Hi R.P. > > You bring up a very interesting point about the property... > > Mr. Buckingham's posting of the book rekindled my interest in the > origins of > the state lines, which initiated this thread. I have yet to see > his maps, > and will seek them out. > > What I understand is that Cumberland County PA was formed in 1750, > followed > by Bedford County in 1771, and Westmoreland county in 1773, each > taking some > portion of the other. So we might find records about someone living > in 1772 > in the region that became Westmoreland in Bedford County, or in > Cumberland > County. > > Although most of the Mason-Dixon line was created 1763-1767, the > dispute > between the Colonies dates back into the 17th century. The > question, perhaps > answered in the book, is - Did both states have governing > structures in the > disputed territory, some 20 miles wide? Did they sell property, and > collect > taxes? Or did Maryland "control" the territory until they handed it > over to > Pennsylvania circa 1767. And exactly how did the presence of the > line become > enforced? Did the southern PA counties suddenly gain a 20 mile > extension to their > southern border? Where are the property and genealogy records > stored? in PA > or MD? > > In the similar case of the three counties Virginia created in what > became > western PA, VA imposed taxes, organized county governments, sold > land - > sometimes the same land sold by Westmoreland Co PA, and in general > imposed, between > PA and VA, two competing governmental structures on the people, > from 1771 > through 1785 or so. This is one of the reasons something over 50% > of the > settlers in the area lost their land to the government and moved on > to points > further west, like Kentucky. In VA's case, their set of records > have moved on to > the VA archives, while the PA records are with the counties, or in > the PA > archives. > > It is also why there are scores (60 some-odd) of recorded incidents > of PA > farmers tearing up roads, digging wide trenches across them, or > burying them in > tons of manure, to prevent travel to the various county seats where > confiscated properties of their neighbors were being auctioned. > Did this kind of > activity also go on in MD? > > > > > > > > ************************************** See what's free at http:// > www.aol.com. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MDALLEGA- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message