Correspondence and accounts of the Mason and Dixon survey, 1758-1769

Mss.B.M381

Date: 1758-1769 | Size: 0.25 Linear feet, 21 item(s), photocopies, 1 microfilm_reel(s)

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Abstract

Correspondence from Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon to Thomas Birch, and Nevil Maskelyne to Charles Mason, relating to the survey, and the transits of Venus (1761,1769).

Background note

Charles Mason (Oakridge Lynch, Gloucestershire, April 1728– Philadelphia, October 25, 1786) was an English astronomer who made significant contributions to 18th-century science and American history, particularly through his involvement with the survey of the Mason-Dixon line, which came to mark the division between the northern and southern United States (1764-1768).

Collection Information

Provenance

Acquired, 1947; provenance unknown.

Location of originals:

Originals in British Museum, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Maryland Historical Society, and Royal Society.

Related material

Early American History Note

The Mason and Dixon Survey Collection at the APS consists of 1.) two volumes relating to their work drawing a border between Pennsylvania and Maryland and 2.) a box of correspondence. The portion of the collection being described here consists of the correspondence. This part of the collection is a box of photostats, mostly from 1761 and 1769, that include field reports and other correspondence.

The other portion of the Mason and Dixon Collection (Mss.974.8.P383) contains two volumes. One details the Penn family's costs, which goes into specific details about items purchased and used for the venture. The second volume is a manuscript copy of the commissioners' minutes from 1760-1768. The commissioners, who were representatives of both Baltimore and Penn, gave directions to Mason and Dixon. The minutes contain negotiations between the commissioners, which provide insight into surveying methods and the various disagreements between the two sides about boundaries, particularly as they relate to the Delmarva Peninsula. There are a few mentions of Indians and diplomacy, especially around 1767 when Mason and Dixon were extending the line into the Ohio Country.

Indexing Terms

Genre(s)

General Correspondence
Maps and Surveys
Official Government Documents and Records

Geographic Name(s)

Maryland -- Boundaries.
Mason-Dixon Line.
Pennsylvania -- Boundaries.
Venus (Planet)

Personal Name(s)

Birch, Thomas
Dixon, Jeremiah
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811
Mason, Charles, 1728-1786

Subject(s)

Colonial Politics
Government Affairs
Meteorology.
Pennsylvania History
Science and technology
Surveying and Maps
Surveys.
Transits.

Detailed Inventory


21 items photostats and typescripts. 1758-1771				Request Series for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Series
Mason, Charles, 1728-1786. Memoranda to Revd. Dr. [James] Bradley	May 1, 1758	8" x 13"		Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Greenwich, Typescript of D. 1p. Memo. relative to alternations made on astronomical instruments, July 5,1742-July 1753. From original in Bodleian library. General physical description: 8" x 13"
Dixon, Jeremiah. Letter to [Thomas Birch]	Oct. 2, 1760			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Cockfield, Photostat of A.L.S. 1p. From original in British Museum.
Mason, Charles, 1728-1786. Letter to Tho[ma]s Birch	Nov. 24, 1760			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Portsmouth, Photostat of L.S: C. Mason, J. Dixon. 1p. and add. Scientific instruments. From original in British museum.
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811. Letter to Charles Mason	Nov. 29, 1760			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
London, Photostate of A.L.S. 4p.,add. Instructions for observing the Transit of Venus. From original in Maskelyne Collection. Greenwich observatory.
Dixon, Jeremiah. Letter to Tho[ma]s Birch	Dec. 1, 1760			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Portsmouth Point, Photostat of A.L.S. 1p. and add. Everything in readiness for sailing except orders from the directors of the India co. From original in British Museum.
Dixon, Jeremiah. Letter to Tho[ma]s Birch	Dec. 8, 1760			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Portsmouth, Photostat of A.L.S. 1p. and add. Capt. Smith's sailing instructions. From original in British Museum.
Mason, Charles, 1728-1786. Mason and Dixon's expences &c. to the accompt of the Royal society	Oct. 23, Oct. 5, 1760, 1761			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Photostat of D. 2p. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich observatory. Contains also: Receipt from Charles Mason to Nevil Maskelyne; Jan. 2, 1762.
Dixon, Jeremiah. Letter to Tho[ma]s Birch	Jan. 12, 1761			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Plymouth, Photostat of A.L.S. 1p. and add. Report to the Royal Society on the condition of his vessel after an encounter with a French ship; impossible to now reach Indian in time for the observations. From original in British Museum.
Dixon, Jeremiah. Letter to [Thomas] Birch	Feb. 27, 1761			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
St. Cruz in the Island Tenarif, Photostat of A.L.S. 1p. and add. Report to the Royal Society on the voyage thus far. From original in British Museum.
Dixon, Jeremiah. Letter to Tho[ma]s Birch	May 6, 1761			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Cape of Good Hope, Photostat of A.L.S. 1p. and add. Making all possible dispatch to erect an observatory in time for the Transit. From original in British Museum.
Mason, Charles, 1728-1786. Receipt for ten pounds from Nevil Maskelyne	Jan. 2, 1762			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
St. Helena, Photostat of A.D. (On same sheet with Mason and Dixon's expences...Oct. 23,1760-Oct. 5, 1761) From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich observatory.
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811. Letter to Charles Mason	Jan. 31, 1769	8 1/2" x 11"		Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Greenwich, Typescript of L. 2p. Terms settled for Mason's visit to Ireland to observe the transit of Venus. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich observatory. General physical description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811. Letter to Cha[rle]s Mason	Feb. 7, 1769	8 1/2" x 11"		Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Greenwich, Typescript of L. 1p. Astronomical instruments. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich observatory. General physical description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Letter to Charles Mason	May 8, 1769			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Greenwich, Photostat of A.L.S. 3p. and add. Astronomical observations and instruments. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich observatory.
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811. Letter to Charles Mason	May 23, 1769			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Greenwich, Photostat of A.L.S. 3p. and add. Astronomical observations; Transit of Venus. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich observatory.
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811. Letter to Charles Mason	June 24, 1769			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Greenwich, Photostat of A.L.S. 3p. and add. Astronomical observations; Transit of Venus. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich observatory.
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811. Letter to Charles Mason	Aug. 7, 1769			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Greenwich, Photostat of A.L.S. 3p. and add. Astronomical observations; Transit of Venus; mentions Dr. Smith of Pennsylvania. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich observatory.
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811. Letter to Charles Mason	Sept. 7, 1769			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Greenwich, Photostat of A.L.S. 3p. and add. Astronomical observations. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich observatory.
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811. Letter to Charles Mason	Oct. 6, 1769			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Greenwich, Photostat of A.L.S. 3p. and add. Astronomical observations. Mr. Winthrop and Transit of Venus. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich obervatory.
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811. Letter to Charles Mason	Nov. 9, 1769			Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
London, Photostat of A.L.S. 3p. and add. Observations of the Transit of Vernus made by various persons including [John] Winthrop. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greewich observatory.
Mason, Charles, 1728-1786. Letter to Nevil Maskelyne	Jan. 30, 1771	8 1/2" x 11"		Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Tetbury, Typescript of L. 1p. Astronomical affairs. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich observatory. General physical description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Maskelyne, Nevil, 1732-1811. Letter to Charles Mason	Undated	8 1/2" x 11"		Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Greenwich; Tuesday morn. Typescript of L. 1p. Transit of Venus of June 6, 1761. From original in Maskelyne Collection, Greenwich Observatory. General physical description: 8 1/2" x 11"
B M381.1 Journal (copy), 1763-1768	1763-1768	1 reel(s) ; 1 microfilm copy (from microfilm) of original in the National Archives.	reel 1	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Abstract: Journal during the survey of the Pennsylvania-Maryland line, 1763-1768. Location of originals: Originals in the National Archives. General physical description: 1 microfilm copy (from microfilm) of original in the National Archives.