574 INDIAN LAND CESSIONS IX THE UNITED STATES [eth.axn. 18 



ever "All that land on the south side of Choptank river, bounded 

 westerly by the free-hold now in possession of William Darrington, 

 and easterly with Secretary Se wall's creek for breadth, and for length 

 three miles into the woods. To be held of his Lordship under the 

 yearly rent of six Beaver-skins." 



This is confirmed among the i3eri)etual laws by the act of 1G76 

 (ch. 2). By the act of 1721 (ch. 12) commissioners were appointed 

 for ascertaining the bounds of these lands, and the same lauds are 

 confirmed to them by the act of 1723 (ch. IS). 



The next in order of date is an act passed jSTovember 12, 1098, ''for 

 ascertaining the bounds of a certain tract of land set ai)art to the use 

 of the Nanticoke Indians, so long as they shall occupy and live upon 

 the same." This act falls under the general repeal of 1701 (ch. 77), 

 and a new act in the very same words (the enacting clause excepted) 

 was made in 1704; and by the act of 1723 the bounds ascertained in 

 this act (which are the same verbatim with those described in the 

 aforesaid act of 1704, ch. 58) are confirmed. 



October 3, 1704. This is the act above referred to under that of 

 November 12, 1G9S. The bounds of the Nanticoke tract as set forth in 

 it are as follows : 



That all the Laud, lying and being in Dorchester County, and on the North Side 

 of Xaniicolc River, butted and bounded as followeth; (beginning at the Mouth of 

 C'/iicfca» an. Creek, and running up the said Creek, bounded therewith to the Head 

 of the main Branch of the same, and from the Head of the said main Branch, with 

 a Line drawn to the Head of a Branch issuing out of the North West Fork oi Xanti- 

 cole, known by the name of Frauds Anderton's Branch, and from the Head of the 

 said Branch, down the said Aiiderton's Branch, bounded tlierewith, to the Mouth 

 of the same, where it falls into the said North West Fork : And from thence down 

 the aforesaid North West Fork, bounded therewith, to the main River: And so down 

 the main River to the Moiith of the aforesaid Ckichau-an Creek;) shall he confirmed 

 and assured, and, by virtue of this Act, is confirmed and assured unto Panquash 

 anCL Annotoiigliqiian, and the People under their Government, or Charge, and their 

 Heirs and Successors for ever; any Law, Usage, Custom, or Grant, to the contrary 

 hi anj- wise notwithstanding: To be held of the Lord Proprietary, an<l his Heirs, 

 Lord Proprietary or Lords Proprietaries of this Province, under the yearly rent of 

 one Beaver Skin, to be paid to his said Lordship and his Heirs, as other Rents in 

 this Province by the English used to be paid.' 



By an act passed November 3, 1711, commissioners were appointed 

 to set aside 3,000 acres on Broad creek, Somerset county, where the 

 Nanticokes were then residing, for their use so long as thej^ should 

 occupy the same. The rights acquired by white settlers on these lands 

 were purchased by the province. Instead of vesting the title iu the 

 Indians, it was conveyed by this act to certain trustees for their use, 

 with the proviso that when abandoned by these Indians it should 

 revert to the province. 



By the act of October 26, 1723, "for quieting the possessions of the 

 Indians inhabiting on Nanticoke and Choptank rivers," their right to 

 the lands heretofore granted them was reafBrmed as follows: "That 



' Bacon's Laws of Maryland. 1765, cbap. 58, uudir October 3. 171)4. 



