Many of the early records of Delaware are therefore recorded at Princess Anne, the county seat of Somerset County. This county originally included both Worcester and Wilcomico counties. Worcester became a county in 1742 and Wilcomico in 1865. Previous to the settlement of the boundary line all the southern section of Delaware was supposed to be in what is now Worcester County. Delaware had no direct claim upon this section till the line was finally established and recognized by both states. But while the boundary line between the two states was firmly established in 1685, there are deeds extant showing that Maryland continued to lay claim upon a large section of Delaware for more than a century. The record books at Georgetown, the county seat of Sussex County, Delaware, contain numerous deeds of land that was claimed by Maryland. Even after 1742 when Worcester County was established, the deeds that are recorded for land within the present limits of Delaware were given by Worcester County. Prior to the settlement of the boundary line, Sussex County was only thirty miles long and twelve miles wide. This indicated the extant of land in Delaware to which the Maryland authorities laid claim.
Therefore, the deeds for all that section of Delaware which is situated on the south-east side of the Naticoke River were recorded at Princess Anne, Maryland. In searching these old records, the writer found that the oldest deeds extant were recorded in 1687.
On June 24, in the year of our Lord God 16?7, John Outten bought of Walther Taylor and wife 250 acres of land at Herring Creek. This tract of land was called "the Strand." It originally contained 1000 acres, but Capt. Thomas Smith bought 500 acres and sold it to Walter Taylor for 300 pounds of tobacco. The latter sold one-half of this farm or 250 acres to John Outten.
On August 13, in the year of our Lord God 1695(?), John Outten bought of Philip Connor and his wife a tract of land called "Condoque" on the north side of Morumaco Creek in the county and Province of Sawyer. This tract contained 500 acres and was sold for 12,000 pounds of tobacco.
And on the same day, viz., August 13, in the year of our Lord God 1695, the Seventh of our Sovereign Lord William (this was William III., King of England, and Prince of Orange who reigned from 1689 to 1702), John Outten of Maryland, a lawyer, and Mary his wife, sold to Philip Connor a tract of land on the eastern shore of Pocomoke river, containing 100 acres more or less.
On Sept. 12, in the year of our Lord God 1699, John Outten bought of Thomas Pool a tract of land containing 500 acres called "Outten's Exchange."
And on the same day, viz., Sept. 12, 1699, John Outten and Mary his wife sold to Thomas Pool a tract of land on the east side of Chesapeake Bay, and on the north side of Pocomoke river in the Neck called Nessawamax, containing 300 acres more or less (No consideration is mentioned, and it seems probable that the two men exchanged property).
On Dec. 10, in the year of our Lord God 1706, John Outten and Mary his wife sold one-half of the 500 acres which they had purchased of Thomas Pool on Sept. 12, 1699 to John Sturgis.
Also, on the same day, viz., Dec. 10, 1706, John Outten and Mary his wife sold to Johnson Hill 250 acres of land lying north of Nortons Bay on the Seaboard side, and it is stated that the full account of this business transaction is recorded at the city of St. Marys.
There is a patent recorded for a parcel of land in Delaware granted to John Outten, by Edward Andros, Esq. in 1677, in the Duke of York records.
"Whereas there is a certain parcel of land which by my order hath been layed out for John Outten, called by the name of "Outten's Folly" situated, lyeing and being in a creek called Cedar Creek on ye west side of Delaware Bay, beginning at a white oake, from thence running up ye creeks. West South west one hundred and fifty perches to a white oake, with a line of marked trees and from thence North north East three hundred and twenty-five preches, containing and laid out for three hundred acres, as by ye returne of the survey under ye hand of ye surveyor doth and may appear."
John Outten sold this land Nov. 8th and 9th, 1681. "A deed of sale acknowledged in open court by Edward Southrin, Attorney of John Outten, unto Henry Bowman of a plantation house and Land Lyeing near Cedar Creeke."