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MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SOEVEY 433
may have been promulgated by proclamation of the Governor, but only
one instance, that of Cecil County, is now to be found. In this case two
proclamations were issued," the first proclamation erecting the county,
the second modifying the limits first assigned. In both cases the proc-
lamation was issued in the name of the Captain General.
The most frequently observed method in the formation of the cotm-
ties was by Act of Assembly although the dominant participations of the
popular branch of the government, except in the case of Anne Arundel
County and the acts of the Cromwellian government, are later than
those of the Governor and Council. The following counties were erected
through the action of the General Assembly:
Kent ...........Commission issued to Commander August 2, 1642. Md.
Arch., 3: 105.
There had been a sheriff for the Isle of Kent, as a Hundred
of St. Mary's County, since Feb. S, 1637-1038.
Charles (old) . .. .Order in Council Oct. 3, 1650. Issued at the direct instiga-
tion of Lord Baltimore. This county was on the south
side of Patuxent River and included parts of what are
now St. Mary's, Charles, and Prince George's counties.
Md. Arch., 3: 259.
Calvert .........Order in Council July 3, 1654. Md. Arch., 3: 308.
Temporarily called Patuxent County 1654-1658. Md. Arch.,
1: 341.
Charles ........ .Order in Council April 13, 1658. Md. Arch., 3: 341.
Not the same territory as the earlier Charles County.
Somerset .......Order in Council August 22, 1666. Md. Arch., 3: 553.
Durham ........Order in Council October 22, 1669. Md. Arch., 5: 108.
Intended to include the northern, part of what is now the
State of Delaware.
-Worcester (old) . (Unnamed) Order in Council October 22, 1669. Md. Arch.,
5: 57.
Also (by name) Order in Council July 19, 1672. Md. Arch.,
5: 108.
The limits assigned to these two Worcester counties were
different and neither Worcester nor Durham County was
ever fully organized or represented in the Maryland As-
sembly. Their erection was proposed by Lord Baltimore
to offset the aggressions of the representatives of the
Duke of York on the Delaware which was claimed under
the Maryland charter.
2 June 6, 1674, Md. Arch., 15: 39; June 19, 1674, Md. Arch., 15: 41.
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