Introduction. lxxxi

sembly", and that Ogden, as the attorney for the Nanticoke tribe, including
the three remaining in Maryland, would relinquish full possession to those to
whom the lands, when fully deserted, would fall (pp. 358-359). This offer
by Ogden met the approval of the Lower House, and a committee of four,
headed by Johnson, was ordered to bring in a bill to this end, a bill which, under
the title "An Act for granting the Nanticoke Indians a Compensation for the
Lands therein mentioned" was introduced and, after amendment in the Lower
House, was passed and became a law (pp. 359-365, 370, 395, 429-431). A
petition from Sarah Darnall and the other heirs of John Rider, a copy of
which has not been preserved, had been previously presented on June 2, 1768,
to the Assembly (pp. 294, 352); this doubtless asked for the action which was
taken.

The act as passed recited the several facts presented in the various messages,
petitions and reports already noted, and authorized Ogden, under a power of
attorney from the few Nanticokes remaining in Maryland, in consideration of
the payment of 666f dollars to him, to release all claims of the Nanticoke
Indians to the three tracts of land in Dorchester County. The preamble declared
that this settlement was approved and confirmed by Sir William Johnson, his
Majesty's Superintendent of Indian Affairs. The act went on to vest the three
tracts of land in Dorchester County in the Rider heirs. It also directed that
the Broad Creek lands, for which there were no claimants, be sold to the
highest bidder and the proceeds paid over to the Treasurer of the Eastern Shore
for the use of the Province. Commissioners were appointed to carry the act
into effect (pp. 429-431). As an echo of this settlement with the Nanticoke
Indians, the Governor, in a message to the Lower House, dated June 13, 1768,
requested that he be reimbursed for £33: 12:3, which he had in the previous
summer, advanced for match-coats, provisions, and conveyances for the In-
dians who had come from Ossinningo [Otsaningo] to invite their brothers of
this Province "to go back with them and become one people with them"
(p. 374). By a vote of 20 to 13, the Lower House agreed to make this allow-
ance and the sum of 123 1/3 dollars was allowed the Governor by ordinance
(pp. 374, 392, 415). At the 1769 session the commission reported to the
Assembly that they had received £1152: 7: 9 from sundry persons for the lands
directed to be sold—the Broad Creek lands— and that the expenses of the sale
were £76:11:11 1/2 (Votes and Proceedings of the Lower House, 1769;
page 212).

ARMS AND AMMUNITION

As was usual, following the election of a new Assembly, a Committee of
five, on this occasion headed by Thomas Cresap, was appointed at the 1768
session to inspect into the state and condition of the arms and ammunition
of the Province (p. 346). Their report shows that the military supplies were
stored in various places in the custody of the Provincial armorer, whose name
is not told us. Depositories were: (i) Conference Chamber, (2) above the
Conference Chamber, (3) the cellar under the Conference Chamber, (4) the
Powder House, (5) the Half-Moon Battery. The arms and band instruments
6