C21.2  [Manuscript, Untitled]  Township of Willksbarr [sic] and Vicinity.  Anon, n.d. but c.1800-1802.  Four joined sheets on linen, pen, ink and watercolor on mould-made paper, 40.5” x 30.5”.  Some staining and light browning, few small losses, overall very good or better.A document of fascinating historical significance concerning Wilkes-Barre, PA and surrounding areas of Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties.  $7,500.00

In 1666 King Charles II granted charter to the Connecticut colony to certain lands in America including the Wyoming Valley Pennsylvania.  Ironically, King Charles II also granted charter in 1681 of Wyoming Valley lands to William Penn as repayment of royal debt to Penn’s father which included the Manor of Stoke and the Manor of Sunbury resulting in overlapping of lands between the two charters.  In 1769 the land conflict between Connecticut settlers of the Susquehanna Company and Pennsylvania Proprietors would turn violent and deadly with the onset of the Yankee-Pennamite Wars when Pennsylvania troops attacked the Connecticut settlers at Fort Durkee. The conflict would continue until 1775 when invading Pennsylvania troops were conclusively defeated near Harvey’s Creek.

Following the 1781 Treaty of Peace, State legislature was formed and the new state government pressed Congress to settle the Pennsylvania-Connecticut Claims.  In 1782 Congress issued at Trenton, NJ the Trenton Decree stating that Pennsylvania owned the lands but also that Connecticut settlers claims should be honored.   Subsequently the State Legislature enacted the Compromise Law in 1799 relating to lands lying in the 17 townships of Luzerne County therein noting that Connecticut settlers deeds were not obtained using Pennsylvania’s warranty procedure and were therefore rendered worthless., this applicable to approximately 1.3 million acres of disputed claims.  However, where clear title could be produced said claims would be warranted.  This process began in the year 1800 and continued until about 1827.

The map comprises the area south and east of the Susquehanna River between Wilkes Barre and the Lackawanna Creek to the Lehigh River and Roaring Brook Creek, being an area of about 30 square miles containing more than 200 plats of approximately 300-450 acres.  Wilksbarr [sic] appears as a town of twelve blocks, sans Center Square, lying within Part of The Manor of Stoke both of which are shown within the Township of Wilksbarr, created in 1774.  Fours roads are shown colored and labeled, Road to Shoholo, Road to Capows [Capouse], Road to the Shades [of death] at Conrad Stocks on the Easton Road and Road to Easton.  Hydrographic detail is prominently mapped showing numerous creeks and streams and an unnamed lake draining into the Lehigh River.  Two Irregular plats, John Vanoman 400 ¾ ac., and Jeremiah Warder 425 ac., are colored blue and red respectively, both plats/surnames of which do not appear in contemporary documents.  The area immediately surrounding Wilkes Barre Township, as delineated here, is either blank or showing overlapping plats devoid of owner or acreage suggesting the map was an unfinished work in progress.

A review of correspondence between the state and area claimants and commissioners between 1800 and 1802 indicate that many resolved claims and several unresolved claims date the map to 1800-1802 on the premise that updates were not recorded here in a timely manner as historic documents would suggest