The maps below are presented in an attempt to help genealogists understand the unique problems inherent in this area of  Delaware research.

This information was gathered and presented by the former Delaware State Coordinators, Ross and Debbie Dellinger.

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In this present day map of Delaware, we have circled the area surrounding the wedge in red. The wedge itself is indicated in gray.

The information we have was obtained during a tour of the Court House in New Castle, De. from a historian for the state of Delaware, Tony D'Antonio.  We weren't taking notes, so we're going by memory alone.

What we do remember (in a somewhat hazy fashion), is that when the boundaries were surveyed by Mason and Dixon in 1763-68, the arc was not fully connected to the line between MD and DE, resulting in an area that each state claimed.

We do not feel that any of the maps fully show the problem area. For historical purposes, this page is basically useless. For those of you who have been struggling with why your ancestor married in a church in DE, paid taxes in MD and owned one farm in DE and one in PA ,or almost any variation on this theme, this may help you understand.

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1. Brandywine 2.Christinia 3. Mill Creek 4. White Clay Creek 5. New Castle 6.Pencader 7. Red Lion 8. St. George 9. Appoquinimink 10. Blackbird

On this map, you can see that the area in question primarily involves White Clay Creek Hundred. It is our feeling that a far greater population was affected by the political implications, with each individual deciding which state he/she felt they lived in! If we understand Mr. Antonio, there was the opportunity for a "taxpayer" to inform the collector from Delaware that he had already paid the collector form Pennsylvania , and then tell the collector from DE that he paid in MD, etc.

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Here we can plainly see why so it is so important to check all the surrounding states when researching early Delaware records. As early as the mid-1600s, the areas marked on the map above were thriving cities. So if your ancestor lived between New Castle and Philadelphia, the records you see may be in Philadelphia. If your ancestor lived between New Castle and Salem, N.J., the records may be in New Jersey. If you're really lucky, the records may be in Delaware.

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Mid 1600s through early 1700s

• 1629 - land is purchased by the Dutch along the Delaware River
• 1631 - a camp is established at Zwaanendael (Lewes)
• 1638 - The Kalmar Nickel and the Vogel Grip land in Christiana
• 1654 - the Dutch gain control; New Amstel (New Castle) becomes the government seat
• 1682 - Delaware is granted to William Penn and becomes the "lower counties of PA"
• The first hundreds are created (1)
• 1684 - Lord Baltimore lays claim to much of Southern and Western DE (2)
• 1775 - The present boundaries were established between Maryland and Delaware
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• (1) DGS
• (2) DGS - The Delaware Divide

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1600s

1681

To travel from Lancaster to Philadelphia today is about an hour drive. From Bohemia Manor (Elkton) to Wilmington, even less time is required. While travel was certainly more difficult in the 1600s throughout the 1800s, when it was a matter of a land purchase, or legal dispute, etc., our ancestors rode to the court house, staying in inns along the way if necessary. And for these people who came to this country in large part to practice religion freedom, walking 2-10 miles to church on Sunday was the norm rather than the exception. While many may have attended the closest church to them, it was not unusual to have the children baptized in the faith their parents held to be the "true" faith, even if it meant taking a trip of a few days length, in a season when it was fit to travel and the farm/mill/etc. would allow a few precious days leisure.

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We have borrowed heavily from both the State of Delaware's  History Page and DELAWARE GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH GUIDE, edited by Thomas P. Doherty and published by the Delaware Genealogical Society.

We cannot recommend this book too highly. It is a MUST HAVE for anyone researching in Delaware, and includes answers to where and when churches were established, what records are available starting in 1670 to the present and where to search for them, maps,listings of the holdings at HSD and the Archives, adrresses for county offices, and much, much more.