474                           THE COUNTIES OF MARYLAND

said road to the North East Creek at Gilpin's Bridge,
thence by the present lines of the ninth and the Pennsyl-
vania line, to the place of beginning.

That all that portion hereby laid off from the fifth and
sixth districts shall belong to the ninth election district. "
1860 Ch. 338. Changes line between 3d and 5th election districts to run as
follows:

" Beginning on a point on said line where the road from
Elkton, to Turkey Point, crosses Plumb creek, it shall run
in a straight line direct to the spot where the road from
Elkton to North East crosses Mill creek. "

CHARLES COUNTY.

The history of Charles County falls into two distinct periods, the
first relating to the old Charles County, the second to that which has
been maintained to the present day.

Old Charles County was erected in accordance with instructions
received from Lord Baltimore, who had apparently made an agreement
with his friend Robert Brookes that the latter should be commander of
a county to be erected for the purpose of including the colonists which
Brookes was to bring over to Maryland. In accordance with these
instructions the Governor on November 21, 1650, ²³ with the advice of
his Council

" erected the Southside of Putuxent River beginning at the Sasquehannah
Point extending it self from thence into the Middle of the Woods towards
St Maries Southward, and from thence Westward along the middle of the
Woods betwixt Patomeck and Putuxent Rivers as farr as Matapania towards
the Head of Putuxent River and from thence againe Eastward along the
River side to the said Sasquehannah Point, into a County by the name of
Charles County, and Robert Brookes Esqr to bee Commander thereof. "

The local terms introduced here are of interest and warrant a word of
explanation especially since various local historical authorities have
drawn wrong inferences regarding them. Susquehanna Point is the same
as the present Cedar Point and the line proposed for the southern boun-
dary of Old Charles County corresponds approximately to the location
of the present Three Notch Road. At that time the Patuxent River was
only thought of as extending to the head of navigation or to the junction

²³ This date is taken from the revocation, Md. Arch., 3: 308. Md. Arch.,
3: 259.