118 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



cuting of the said writs, and make due return before tlie Justices of tlie 

 Court of the said county of Chester, as if the Parties had been living and 

 residing within the same." 



At a Council held at Philadelphia, March 20th, 1728-29. 



PRESENT: 



The Hon'ble. Patrick Gordon, Esq., Lieut. Governor. 



Eichard Hill, AYilliam Fishbourn, ^ 



Isaac Norris, Thomas Laurence, f Esq'rs. 



Samuel Preston, Samuel Hazle, J 



The Governor laid before the Board a letter he had yesterday received 

 from the Governor of Maryland, touching the new County to be erected 

 in this Province, which being read, and it appearing that the same pro- 

 ceeds upon a misinformation, as if the persons who were to run the 

 Division Line were to begin at the mouth of Octoraroe Creek, which is 

 claimed as within the limits of Maryland, instead of the head of the said 

 Creek, as mentioned in the order for laying out the same, the Board are 

 of opinion that a copy of said order be sent to the Governor of Maryland, 

 accompanied with a letter from the Governor to show him what caution 

 has been used in directing the boundaries of the said County, so that no 

 umbrage might thereby be given to the Government of Maryland. 



January 16th, 1729-30. — A Petition of several Germans praying to 

 be naturalized, having been presented to the Governor, His Honour after 

 a strict inquiry into their characters and advising thereon, thought fit to 

 send the following Message to the House : 



"Gentlemen: Upon application made to me in behalf ®f several Ger- 

 mans, now inhabitants of the county of Lancaster, that they may enjoy 

 the rights and privileges of English subjects, and for that end praying to 

 be naturalized; I have made enquiry and find that those whose names 

 are subjoined to a Petition that will be laid before your House are princi- 

 pally such who many years since came into this Province under a parti- 

 cular agreement with our late Honourable Proprietor at London and have 

 regularly taken up lands under him. It likewise appears to me by good 

 information, that they have hitherto behaved themselves well, and have 

 generally so good a character for honesty and industry as deserves the 

 esteem of this Government, and a mark of its regard for them. I am 

 therefore inclined from these considerations to ftivor their request, and 

 hope you will join with me in passing a Bill for their Naturalization. 



"I have likewise received a favorable character of John Neagley, Ber- 

 nard Reser and John Wistre, of Philadelphia county, whose munes may 

 be inserted in the said Bill with those now recommended. 



"P. Gordon." 



