Jehu West-Elias West Land Dispute 1815

Survey map of "Sandy Hill" tract apparently surrounded by "Conclusion to Bear Den" tract owned by Jehu West and Robert West(not sure where Elias fits in)

Comments from John Lyon:

By luck, it appears that the site of SANDY HILL(S) can be pinpointed fairly closely, or at least in its neighborhood. After a look at its specification and the general sense of other area surveys, I’d suggest that its first bounder was pretty near

38/31/09 N and 75/18/30W.

This is consistent, at least, with its definition below as "beginning ... by the Great Swamp side", and would be in an open space between several other surveys which it may or may not bound, but which certainly don’t give it much wiggle room, if this is the right spot. This is certainly the best among the imaginable sites, and I think you’ll find it’s the place you’re interested in.

Assuming BEAR DEN was the parent, as I’d imagine, of the CONCLUSION TO BEAR DEN you have, it would be a neighbor, of course, and was in Wingate hands by 1769.

Anyway, tract definitions and pre-Revolutionary title histories for these two follow.

John

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SANDY HILLS

Somerset Certificate #2083 (Patents TI#1:275 and BT&BY#3:148)

145 ac: "on the borders" and "on N side of the Great Swamp and E of Long Savannah, beginning at a red oak by the Great Swamp side".

& nbsp;

The term "on the borders" was code for "North of the [Transpeninsular] Line in what became Delaware; the "border warrant" (rights) granted below was a free inducement to Maryland settlers to take up land in the disputed area:

warrant: by virtue of an order from Hon. Levin Gale to lay out lands on the borders of this County

survey: 29 Nov 1741 for William Burton

patent: 07 Jul 1747 for William Burton

The survey was made as in Somerset County a year before this area became part of Worcester County on 10 Dec 1742.

NOTE: William Burton's death preceded patent date given, which is inconsistent with history and patent award exhibited here; Joshua Burton's acquisition per his father's LW&T is not cited among any certificate filings, but is confirmed by the citations below:

– MD Wills 24:037 (Worcester Wills JW2:029): made 17 Apr 1744, proved 01 Feb 1745 (NS), the LW&T of William Burton: to son Joshua Burton (among "remainder of lands")

– Wo Deeds C:049. 07 Aug 1753. From Joshua Burton (planter) to Thomas West (yeoman), citing William Burton's LW&T

– Wo Deeds G:472. 11 Oct 1768 (part) from Thomas West, Sr. to Thomas West, Jr.

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BEAR DEN (as BARE DENN)

So C# 252; Patents BC&GS#09:044 and BC&GS#02:427

50 ac: between Charles Thompson, Pocomoke Swamp and Burtons Savannah; begins at a branch 3 perches E-ward of Thompson's house on edge of oak swamp.

warrant: by virtue of an order from Hon. Levin Gale to lay out lands on the borders of this County

survey: 01 May 1740 for Charles Thompson, Jr. [Tompson] (planter)

patent: 29 Sep 1755 for John Goddard [Goddart]

Filings with certificate: (a) 04 Nov 1746 deed from Thompson (of Worcester) to Goddard (of Somerset); (b) signed original 1742 printed bond for £2; witnessed by Richard Waters and John Handy.

– Wo Deeds A:456. 04 Nov 1746. From Charles Thompson to John Goddard (of Somerset).

– MD Wills 33:399. 28 Sep 1760, proved 28 Oct 1765. LW&T of John Goddard (of Somerset), incl. son Francis Lane Goddard, who received other lands, but this property not mentioned in abstracts. Yet ...

– Wo Deeds H:154. 18 Nov 1769. From Francis Goddard (planter) (of Somerset) (eldest son and heir of John Goddard) to John Wingate.