268 HISTORY OP 



by a line running from a marked Spanish oak standings 

 on the brow of a roundish hill by Sasquehanah opposite 

 an island, called Mount Johnson, north-east by east to 

 Octoraro creek, and that the said western division may 

 be called the township of Little Britain, which said 

 petition being considered and approved of, the same is 

 ordered per 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 

 the undefined boundary between Pennsylvania and 

 Maryland. 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 uUi- 

 mately prejudice their interests, they formally renounced 

 their allegiance, and sought protection from Penn- 

 sylvania." 



This course of shifting greatly displeased the Mary- 

 landers; they were determined to eject the '^ miscreants'^^ 

 from their possessions. Three hundred men, headed by 

 the sheriff of the 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 Comitatus, 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 the arena, 

 where they proposed to execute the design of their mis- 

 sion, with the understanding the setders there would> 



