Allegany County
MDGenWeb
In 1799 an act was passed by the General Assembly for the appointment of
commissioners in every county of the State to lay off the counties into
districts. The commissioners for Allegany were John B. Beall, David
Hoffman, Thomas Stewart, William Shaw, George Robinet (of Nathan), and
Jesse Tomlinson.
1. Glades
2. Selbysport
3. Westernport
4. Musselanes
5. Cumberland
6. Oldtown
In this county, by a vote of 596 for the Democrats to 593 for the
Federalists, in 1814, three Democrats and one Federalist were chosen by
the people, but by a small technical interpretation of the law the
people of one district of the county were deprived of their suffrages,
and the four Federal candidates declared elected. The presiding judge of
the Fourth District was a justice of the peace. He qualified the other
two judges and the clerks, and was then himself qualified by a judge
instead of a clerk. After the election when one of the three judges from
each of the three districts of the county assembled to make the returns,
it was contended that the election in the Fourth District was illegal,
as the presiding judge had not been properly qualified. Four of the
assembled judges, after rejecting all the votes cast in said district
(which was Democratic), selected the four Federal candidates having the
highest number of votes on the list and gave them a certificate of
election, with a note stating an "irregularity" in one of the districts.
The other two judges also made a return, giving credit to the whole
number of votes received in the county, showing that three of the
Democratic and one of the Federal candidates were elected. All the
judges were Federalists. As the possession by either party of these
three contested delegates would determine the election of the Governor,
who was at that time chosen by joint ballot, great interest was
manifested in the result of the contest.
The Legislature was
convened on the 6th of December, and when the clerk of the House called
the names of the four Federal delegates from Allegany County who had
certificates of election, several objections were made by the Democrats
to their admission. The Federalists, who were in the majority, contended
that the returns of a majority of the judges of election were at least
prima facie evidence that the persons named were duly and legally
elected, and they had no right, therefore, to decide that they should
not be qualified as members. There was nothing, they said, in the
Constitution, or in the history of parliamentary proceedings, which
would justify such an act. It was only after the House had been
organized that they had the power to give any decision on the legality
of contested elections, and to exclude members returned by the
constitutional authority would be a course of proceeding altogether
novel. On the other side the Democrats, through Messrs. John T. Mason,
of Washington County, Thomas B. Dorsey, of Anne Arundel, and Tobias E.
Stansbury, of Baltimore County, argued that as neither of the returns
appeared correct, it would be better for the House to proceed in its
organization and have the question come before them at another time. Mr.
Mason said, as there was no case parallel to the one under
consideration, they must be governed by what seemed most expedient. Mr.
Stansbury seemed greatly alarmed for the dignity of the House, lest
disorder should ensue before they were in a situation to meet it, or a
Speaker had been appointed. As two returns had been made from Allegany,
and one appeared equally correct with the other, he wished to know who
was to decide which of the persons returned should be allowed to qualify
and take their seats as members. Messrs. John C. Herbert (Speaker), from
Prince George's, Ephraim K. Wilson, of Worcester, and J. Hanson Thomas,
of Frederick County, said that these, imaginary difficulties might be
easily obviated, for they were bound to pay attention to the returns
made by a majority of the judges until it should be made to appear that
they had been illegally made.
In the course of the proceedings
several attempts were made by the Democratic members to organize the
House before admitting the Allegany members, but the grounds they took
were regarded untenable, and they were overruled by the majority. Upon
the reference of the whole subject to the Committee on Elections, they,
on the 11th of December, made a report in favor of the Federalists who
had the minority of votes but the certificates of election, and the
House, by a strict party vote, adopted it, thus deciding that "it would
be setting a dangerous precedent to admit collateral testimony to set
aside the returns of the judges of election." The Monday following was
the constitutional day for electing the Governor.
The question
whether the Senate (who were all Democrats) should secede and refuse to
go into the election of a Governor and Council unless the House of
Delegates would consent to be controlled by their wishes and decide not
to admit the Allegany delegates, which gave the controlling power to the
Federalists, was fully discussed in caucus, not only by members of their
own body, but by some of the most distinguished Democrats in the State,
who were invited to attend. At the same time the Democrats of the House
of Delegates exhorted the Senate with great warmth not to go into an
election of the executive for the ensuing year. In fact, they threatened
to resort to arms to maintain their opinion and to compel the
Federalists to yield.
On the appointed day it was thought that
the Senate would not meet the House in joint convention, but at a late
hour the principle that each House should be judge of its own elections
prevailed over what the Senate unanimously believed was a sacrifice of
the rights of the people to a form, and Governor Levin Winder was
re-elected Governor of Maryland for the following year. Seventeen of the
members of the House of Delegates, however, refused to cast their
ballots.
In 1817, the Legislature passed an act for the redivision of the county
into eight districts. The commissioners appointed were Isacc Oyman,
William Reid, William McMahon, George Newman (of Butler), and John
Simpkins.
1. Glades
2. Selbysport
3. Little Crossings
(until 1850)
4. Westernport
5. Musselanes
6. Cumberland
7.
Oldtown
8. Little Orleans
The polls of District #3, Little
Crossings, were removed to Grantsville in 1850. A considerable amount of
its jurisdiction and population were added to Frostburg in 1856.
| No. | District Name | Date Formed | Also Known As |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glades | 1799 | Armstrong’s Glades Altamont (1867) |
| 2 | Selbysport | 1799 | |
| 3 | Grantsville | 1817 | Little Crossings until 1850 |
| 4 | Westernport | 1799 | |
| 5 | Frostburg | 1799 | originally Musselanes |
| 6 | Cumberland | 1799 | Court-House |
| 7 | Oldtown | 1799 | |
| 8 | Little Orleans | 1817 | Fifteen-Mile Creek |
| 9 | Flintstone | before 1828 | |
| 10 | Ryan’s Glades | 1835 | |
| 11 | Accident | 1849 | |
| 12 | Mt Savage | 1852 | |
| 13 | Cumberland | 1852 | Market House |
| 14 | Sang Run | 1852 | |
| 15 | Oakland | 1860 | |
| 16 | Lonaconing | 1860 | |
| 17 | Barton | 1872 |
| No. | District Name | Date Formed | Original No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orleans | 1817 | 8 |
| 2 | Oldtown | 1799 | 6/7 |
| 3 | Flintstone | before 1828 | 9 |
| 4 | Cumberland, Canal | 1799 | 5/6 |
| 5 | Cumberland, Will’s Creek | By 1875 | |
| 6 | Cumberland, River | By 1875 | |
| 7 | Rawling’s | By 1875 | |
| 8 | Westernport | 1799 | 3/4 |
| 9 | Barton | 1872 | 17 |
| 10 | Lonaconing | 1860 | 16 |
| 11 | Frostburg | 1799 | 4/5 |
| 12 | East Frostburg | By 1875 | |
| 13 | Mt Savage | 1852 | 12 |
| 14 | Cumberland, Central | 1852 | 13 |
| 15 | East Lonaconing | By 1880 |
| No. | District Name | Date Formed – AC # | Also Known As |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Altamont(1867) | 1799 - #1 | Armstrong’s Glades |
| 2 | Selbysport | 1799 - #2 | |
| 3 | Grantsville | 1817 - #3 | Little Crossings until 1850 |
| 4 | Bloomington | By 1876 | Not an Allegany Co District |
| 5 | Accident | 1849 - #11 | |
| 6 | Sang Run | 1852 - #14 | |
| 7 | Oakland | 1860 - #15 | |
| 8 | Ryan’s Glades | 1835 - #10 | |
| 9 | Johnson’s | By 1876 | Not an Allegany Co District |
District #1
Orleans District
Beginning at the mouth of Pusley Run, on the Potomac River; thence down
and with the meanderings of said river to the mouth of Sideling Hill
Creek; thence up and with Sideling Hill Creek to the Pennsylvania line;
thence with the said Pennsylvania line west to the top of Green Ridge at
the intersection with the line of Flintstone District; thence with the
top of Green Ridge to the present division line between Oldtown and
Orleans; thence crossing the Oldtown road leading from Hancock to
Cumberland at Mrs. Cart's; thence down and with the Pusley Run to the
Potomac River near Col. Thomas Greenwell's farm, the place of beginning.
District #2
Old Town District
Beginning at the end of Nicholas
Mountain (known as Martin's Mountain), on the bank of the Potomac River,
opposite a brick house on the Virginia side, known as Slagel's old
house; thence running down with the meanderings of the Potomac River to
the mouth of Pusley Run, on Greenwell's farm, and including said farm;
thence up and with said Pusley Run, and crossing the old road at Mrs.
Cart's, on Caspar Yngen's farm, and including said Mrs. Cart's; thence
reversing the line of Orleans District up and with the top of Green
Ridge to the Johnson Pack Horse road, and at the intersection with the
lines of Flintstone District; thence with said Johnson Pack Horse road
to where said road crosses Big Run; thence with straight line to the top
of Polish Mountain at the south end of a farm formerly belonging to
Weaver Barnes, deceased; thence to Peters' Run, and with it to Town
Creek; thence with Town Creek to Bear Wallow or Hollow, and with said
Hollow to the head of the same; thence with a straight line to Lost
Knob, or Warrior Mountain; thence by a straight line to where the Murley
Branch road crosses Twigg's Hill; thence by a straight line to where the
Williams road crosses Nicholas Mountain; thence with the top of said
mountain to the place of beginning.
District #3
Flintstone
District
Beginning at the Pennsylvania line on the top of Martin's
Mountain; thence with the top of said mountain to the Williams road
crosses Nicholas (known as Martin's Mountain); thence with a straight
line to where the Murley Branch road crosses Twigg's Hill; thence with a
straight line to the head of Bear Hollow; thence with Bear Hollow to
Town Creek; thence with Town Creek to Peter's Run; thence with Peter's
Run to the top of Polish Mountain, at the south end of a farm formerly
owned by Weaver Barnes, deceased; thence with a straight line to where
Johnson's Pack Horse road crosses Big Run; thence with said Pack Horse
road to the top of Green Ridge, intersecting with the lines of Orleans
District; thence with the lines of Orleans District and with the top of
Green Ridge to the Pennsylvania line; thence with the Pennsylvania line
west to the place of beginning.
District #4
Cumberland
Canal
District
Beginning at the bridge over Will's Creek on Baltimore
Street, and running thence with the centre of Baltimore Street and with
the centre of the National pike to the line of Flintstone District,
No.3; then with the line of said Flintstone District, and with the line
of the Old Town District, No. 2 to the Potomac River, nearly opposite a
'brick house' in Virginia known as 'Slogle's Old House;' then westerly
with the Potomac River and Will's Creek to the place of beginning. [This
is the July 6, 1875 amended metes and bounds of District #4.]
District #5
Cumberland
Will's Creek District
Beginning at the
viaduct of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad over Will's Creek, and
running thence with the centre of said Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to
Bedford Street, thence with the centre of Bedford Street with the centre
of Bedford road to the Pennsylvania line, and with said line westerly to
Will's Creek; thence down with said creek to the place of beginning.
District #6
Cumberland
River District
Beginning at the bridge
over Will's Creek between Baltimore and Washington Streets, in
Cumberland; thence up and with the meanderings of Will's Creek to the
Pennsylvania line; thence with said Pennsylvania line west to the Mt
Savage District line; thence with the eastern line of said district to
the line of East Frostburg District, No. 12, and with a part of the
eastern line of Lonaconing District to the intersection with the line of
Rawling's Station District, No. 7, on the top of Davis Mountain
[probably should be Dan's Mountain]; thence with a straight line to the
head of Warrior Run; thence with said run easterly to the Potomac River,
about one-half mile below Brady's mill, and nearly opposite Seymour's
house, on the Virginia Side of said river; thence down with the Potomac
River to the mouth of Will's Creek; thence up with Will's Creek to the
place of beginning.
District #7
Rawling's Station District
Beginning at the mouth of Clay Lick Run, at the west end of Fort Hill on
the North Branch of the Potomac River; thence running westerly and with
said Clay Lick Run to the top of Dan's Mountain; thence north with the
top of Dan's Mountain to the line of Cumberland River District, No. 6,
at the head of Warrior Run; thence with said run, and with the division
line of District N. 6, easterly to the Potomac River, about one
half-mile below Brady's Mill, and nearly opposite Seymour's house, on
the Virginia side of said river; thence up with the meanderings of the
Potomac River to the mouth of Clay Lick Run, the place of beginning.
District #8
Westernport District
Beginning at the mouth of Clay
Lick Run, at the west end of Fort Hill, on the North Branch of the
Potomac River; thence up and with the Potomac River to the Garrett
County Line; thence with the Garrett County line to where said line
crosses Mill Run; thence with Mill Run to the mouth thereof; thence
south twenty-six degrees east through the lines of James Morrison, John
Morrison's heirs, Emory Duckworth's heirs, and Alton C. Duckworth's
lands to the forks of Stony Run; thence following the south fork of
Stony Run and water-shed thereof to the top of Dan's Mountain; thence
with the line of Rawling's Station District and with Clay Lick Run to
the place of beginning.
District #9
Barton District
Beginning
at Mill Run on the Garrett County line and running with said Mill Run to
the mouth thereof; thence south twenty-six degrees east through the
lines of James Morrison and heirs of John Morrison, heirs of Emory
Duckworth and Alton C. Duckworth's lands to the forks of Stony Run;
thence following the south fork of Stony Run and water-shed thereof to
the top of Dan's Mountain; then with the top of Dan's Mountain to the
present existing line of Lonaconing District; thence with said line
westerly to the mouth of Laurel Run; thence up and with Laurel Run to
the Garrett County line; thence with the Garrett County line
southwesterly to the place of beginning.
District #10
Lonaconing
District
Beginning at a point on the Garrett County line where said
line crosses Laurel Run, and running thence down with the meanders of
said Laurel Run to George's Creek; thence up the centre of said George's
Creek to the line of Frostburg District, No. 11, at the mouth of
Wright's Run; thence up with said Wright's Run to the Garrett County
line, and with said line to the place of beginning.
District #11
Frostburg District
Beginning on the Garrett line at the northwest
corner of Lonaconing District, No. 10, and running with the lines of
said Lonaconing District and with Wright's Run easterly to the centre of
the so-called Legislative, or New County road, leading from Barrelville
to Westernport; thence with said road northerly to its intersection with
Bowery Street, in the town of Frostburg; thence with the centre of said
Bowery Street to the National turnpike; thence with the centre of the
National turnpike westerly to its intersection with the aforesaid
Legislative road leading from Barrelville to Westernport; thence with
said Legislative road northerly to the present existing line of Mt
Savage District; thence with the line of Mt Savage District to the
Garrett County line; thence with said Garrett County line to the place
of beginning.
District #12
East Frostburg District
Beginning at
a point on the so called Legislative, or New County road, leading from
Barrelville to Westernport, at the southeast corner of District No. 11,
and on the line of Lonaconing District No. 10, and running thence with
the lines of said Lonaconing District by a straight line to the mouth of
Matthew's Run; thence up and with Matthew's Run easterly and with the
line of said Lonaconing District to the top of Dan's Mountain; thence
with the top of Dan's Mountain northerly to the Red, or Rock Hill on the
National turnpike; thence with the top of Piney Mountain to the present
existing line of Mount Savage District; thence with the line of said
Mount Savage District westerly through the lands of Josiah Porter, and
on the north side of Hansell's old mill to the centre of the aforesaid
Legislative road from Barrelville to Westernport; thence with the centre
of said road southerly to the centre of the National turnpike, nearly
opposite the McCulloh house in Frostburg; thence with the centre of said
National road to it intersection with Bowery Street; and with the centre
of Bowery Street by a straight line to the centre of the aforesaid
Legislative road from Barrelville to Westernport; and with the centre of
said road southerly to the place of beginning.
District #13
Mount
Savage District
Beginning on the Garrett County line and at the
northwest corner of Frostburg District, No. 11, and running thence with
the lines of Districts No. 11 and 12, crossing the so-called Legislative
road leading from Barrelville to Westernport on the north side of
Hansell's old mill, easterly to the top of Piney Mountain; thence with
the west line of Cumberland River District, No. 6, northerly, crossing
the Cumberland and Somerset plank-road on the east side of the old red
house to the Pennsylvania line; thence with the Pennsylvania line west
to the Garrett County line; thence with the Garrett County line to the
place of beginning.
District #14
Cumberland
Central District
Beginning at the bridge over Will's Creek on Baltimore Street, and
running thence with the centre of Baltimore Street and with the centre
of the National pike to the line of the Flintstone District, No. 3, and
with the Pennsylvania line and with said line west to the Bedford road,
and with the centre of said road to Bedford Street, and with the centre
of said street to its intersection with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
and with the centre of said railroad to the viaduct of said Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad over Will's Creek, and thence down with said creek to
the place of beginning.
District #15
East Lonaconing District
Beginning at the mouth of Laurel Run where said run empties into
George's Creek; thence up with said George's Creek to the line of
Frostburg District, No. 11, and East Frostburg District, No. 12,
eastwardly to the top of Dan's Mountain; thence with the top of Dan's
Mountain southwest to the line of Barton District, No. 9; thence with
the line of said Barton District, No. 9, westerly to the mouth of Laurel
Run to the place of beginning.
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This page was last updated
12/02/2023