MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY                          511

1860 Ch. 15. Changing and defining bounds of election district No. 1:

"Beginning at a point where the old Annapolis road
crosses the Columbia turnpike road, and following the said
old Annapolis road until it reaches a point at or near
George Atocket's house; then by a road leading from the
said old Annapolis road through the lands of William J.
Timanus and Ashbury Fisher, until it intersects the county
road from Hillen to Elk Ridge Landing, and then follow-
ing the lines of said election district as now established,
to the place of beginning."

1868 Ch. 388. Sixth election district erected.

" Beginning at a line at Jessop's Cut, on the Washington
Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and running
from thence, and binding on the old Annapolis and Elk
Ridge road, which passes by the present election house of
the first Election District aforesaid, until it intersects the
Columbia Turnpike, thence running with and bounding on
the said Columbia Turnpike until it intersects the division
line between Montgomery and Howard Counties at the
Patuxent river, thence bounding on said river until it
intersects the Washington Branch of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, and thence bounding on said road to Jes-
sop's Cut at place of beginning.''

KENT COUNTY.

Prior to the settlement of St. Mary's City by the Maryland colonists
but subsequent to the granting of " Cresentia" to Lord Baltimore,
Charles I granted (May 16, 1631) a license under the Privy seal of
Scotland which permitted William Clayborne to trade along the shores
of the Chesapeake. To obtain the advantages arising from this license
the latter, who had explored the Chesapeake in previous years, estab-
lished a trading post on Kent Island in 1631. When the Marylanders
settled in 1634 on the Potomac they claimed authority over Kent Island
and its little trading settlement, and the contest for possession and
control led to numerous conflicts between the State authorities and
the followers of William Clayborne even after the report and order
of the Committee of Trade and Plantations, which on the 4th of April,
1638, decided in favor of Lord Baltimore's rights. To show the author-
ity of Lord Baltimore over this territory a commission was issued to
John Langford as a sheriff for the Isle of Kent on the 9th of February,