268 HISTORY OF 



by a line running from a marked Spanish oak standing: 

 on the brow of a roundisli hill by Sasquehanah opposite 

 an island, called INIonnt Johnson, north-east by cast to 

 Octoraro creek, and that the said western division may 

 be called the townsliip of Little Britain, which said 

 petition being considered and approved of, the same is 

 ordered ^;cr curiam to be recorded in manner aforesaid. 



The year 1736, there was a contest between the Mary- 

 landers and the inhabitants of Lancaster, arising from 

 tlie undefined boundary between Pennsylvania and 

 INIaiyland. A respectable number of Germans and 

 others had settled west of the Susquehanna, now York 

 county, under Pennsylvania titles; but to avoid paying 

 taxes, imposed by the province, these settlers accepted 

 titles from Maryland, "and attorned to Lord Baltimore; 

 but, becoming satisfied that adhesion to him might ulti- 

 mately prejudice their interests, they formally renounced 

 their allegiance, and sought protection from Penn- 

 sylvania." 



This course of shiflivg greatly displeased the INIary- 

 landers; they were determined to eject the "miscreants" 

 from their possessions. Three hundred men, headed by 

 the sheriff of tlic county of Baltimore, advanced within 

 the borders of Pennsylvania to execute their ejectment. 

 The citizens of Lancaster county could not look with 

 indifference upon the conduct of the Marylanders: 

 Samuel Smith, the sheriff of Lancaster county, drew out 

 a Posse Comitatiis, i. e. citizens to oppose the aggres- 

 sions of rioters or invaders, and to protect the settlers 

 west of the Susquehanna. Smith .succeeded without 

 violence in having the Marylanders leave tlu^ arena, 

 where tlicy proposed to execute the design of their mis- 

 sion, with tiie midcrstanding the settlers there would. 



