To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Sherwood, 12 February 1771
From Joseph Sherwood4
ALS: University of Pennsylvania Library
Warnford Court Throgmorton Street 12th. Feby. 1771.
Esteemed Friend
Some Years ago there was a dispute between Lord Baltimore and the Penn’s Family, respecting as I understand the Boundaries of the two Provinces. I should be much obliged to thee to be Informed in what Year the Decree was made in that Cause, and the Names of the Parties, and indeed every other particular thou can inform me, relating to this Business,5 which will oblige Thy respectful Friend
Joseph Sherwood
Addressed: To / Benjn. Franklyn Esqr. / at Widow Stevenson’s / in Craven Street / Strand.
4. The Quaker lawyer, formerly agent for New Jersey and at the time for Rhode Island; see above, XIV, 217, 249–50.
5. Sherwood was asking for a lot, because the dispute went on for more than eighty years. The final decree in Chancery was not made until 1750, and the boundaries were not finally settled until the famous Mason and Dixon survey, completed in 1767. See Walter B. Scaife, “The Boundary Dispute between Maryland and Pennsylvania,” PMHB, IX (1885), 241–71.