634 Assembly Proceedings, September 23-October 26, 1723.

L H. J.

It Appears further that in the Year 1684 Commissioners

were Appointed by his L^dpp the Lord Proprietary of this
province to Assign and Lay Out for the said Nanticoake
Indians a Certain tract or parcell of Land Upon Nanticoak
River, Of which the Tract Lyeing between the North west
ffork of Nanticoake River and Chickacoan Creek, now in
the possession of those Indians and granted them by An Act
of Assembly of this province made in the year 1698 we con-
ceive to be a part.

Whereupon it is the Oppinion of the Conferrees that the
Nanticoak Indians and their descendants, so long as they shall
Claime the same shall Enjoy a peaceable and Uninterrupted
possession of that Tract of Land lyeing between the North
west fork of Nanticoak River and Chicacoan Creek Aforesaid
as the Same is butted and bounded by a Certain Act of As-
sembly of this province made at Annapolis in the year 1698
as Appears by the Book of Laws fol. 166 and that the said
Indians be not Allowed to Sell or Lease any part or parcell
thereof, Upon any terms whatsoever.
It is further the Oppinion of the Confferres the Survey of
the Choptank Indians Lands Made by the Hon^rble Philemon
Lloyd Esq Col^o Richard Tilghman and Col^o M. Tilghman
Ward is pursuant and Agreeable to the Design of the Act of
Assembly made at S^t Marys in the year 1669 as Appears in
W H fol 34 by which the said Land was granted to the Said
Indians.
Wherefore we are of Opinion that no Leases already made
shall Continue any Longer than Seven Years.
That the persons Concerned in such Leases be obliged to pay
the rents Contracted for.
That the Indians shall not for the future Lease any Land
upon any pretence whatsoever.
That all Leases or Sales Since Novb^r 1721 be Void with
proviso to make good and Valid all Surveys and purchases
already bona fide made since Novemb^r 1721 of Lands which
Lye to the westward of Bear Skin Creek and to the South-

p. 39

ward of the Indians Bounds as they were heretofore laid out
by Col^o Thomas Smithson and Lieut. Col^o Thomas Ennalls
pursuant to An Ordinance of Assembly.
Signd p Order John Gresham Jun^r Clk.

On reading whereof the Question was put whether a Vote
shall be put whether this House will Concurr with the Con-
ferrees in the whole Report or in parts.
It was Carried by the Majority of Votes that [it] be in
parts