Whealton, Maryland & Virginia Boundary Controversy, 1904,
msa_sc_5330_9_42
, Image No.: 38
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Whealton, Maryland & Virginia Boundary Controversy, 1904,
msa_sc_5330_9_42
, Image No.: 38
   Enlarge and print image (52K)          << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
36 "Under the shade of these trees," says Michler, "the most noted of all the boundary marks, and just moss the line, youthful couples go to be united in holy wedlock, fleeing from the wrath of parents, or from stringency of marital laws, or perhaps for the new pleasure and excite- ment, they run away from boons to commit an act of which many live to repent when too late." °° This is strong proof of the reputed location of a state boundary. Same thirty marks of the old Culvert-Scar- burgh line were found between the ocean and the Poco- woke River. The line did not run due east, however, as was intended by the commissioners of i68$. Michler dis- covered that it ran from the Pocarnoike north of east to the ocean, giving Virginia some twenty-three miles of Maryland territory. No marks were found between the Pocomoke and Watkins Point or Tangier Sound. The commissioners had been instructed to retrace and mark the boundary between "Smith's Point, at the mouth of the Potomac, and the Atlantic," but the legislatures failed to give an intermediate site. The question as to the location of Watkins Point blocked all further proceedings. Michler made surveys.in the vicinity of the line, and these with the reports of the commissioners were laid before the respective legislatures "° In r86o the Maryland legislature ratified Michler's sur- vey, arid declared the state boundaries to he as follows the Culvert and Scarhurgh line of 1688 for the pastern w N. 1Vlichler's report on the boundary. Document No. 2s of Virginia Senate Journal and Documents, 5g-fin. Report of T. J. Lee on the boundary, tBbo, and maps. Gov- ernor Wise of Virginia in a letter sets forth the claims of his state and the spirit of the act of 1858. He says: " Igave to the com- missioner of Virginia the instructions which he will herewith report not to yield one foot of her territory which had not hitherto been ceded according to well known charters, conventions and grants, under the Crown of Great Britain or under the State sovereignties since the Revolution; but to make every just concession under the respective mnniment of title." Document No. 21 of Virginia Senate Journal, and Documents, i859-6o, p. fi