Taylors Island in Dorchester County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Chapel of Ease
Old Trinity Episcopal Church
— circa 1707 —
Photographed By F. Robby, November 4, 2007
1. Chapel of Ease Old Trinity Episcopal Church Marker
Inscription.
Chapel of Ease. Old Trinity Episcopal Church. In the selection of the middle point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay for the start of the Mason-Dixon Line survey, this area was the center of a long controversy among British, Maryland and Pennsylvania officials as to whether Taylor's Island was a part of the mainland or an island. An adverse decision resulted in the loss of land to Pennsylvania, now Delaware.
In the selection of the middle point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay for the start of the Mason-Dixon Line survey, this area was the center of a long controversy among British, Maryland and Pennsylvania officials as to whether Taylor's Island was a part of the mainland or an island. An adverse decision resulted in the loss of land to Pennsylvania, now Delaware.
Location. 38° 28.252′ N, 76° 18.539′ W. Marker is on Taylors Island, Maryland, in Dorchester County. Marker is on Hoopers Neck Road, 0.6 miles north of Taylors Island Road (Maryland Route 16), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Taylors Island MD 21669, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First School House (a few steps from this marker); Grace Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Schoolhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Chapel of Ease (within shouting distance of this marker); Trapped
2. Chapel of Ease Old Trinity Episcopal Church Marker
Photographed By F. Robby, November 4, 2007
3. Chapel of Ease
Photographed By F. Robby, November 4, 2007
4. 1975 Marker on Chapel
Inscription: Chapel of Ease, built 1707. Marked by Fort Garrison Chapter, Colonial Dames XVII Century. 1975.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, March 5, 2018
5. Chapel of Ease
Photographed By Wikipedia
6. The Transpeninsular Line
The center of the Transpeninsular Line across the Delmarva peninsula starting at Fenwick island (at approximately 38°27′ N), shown here in red, determined the location of Mason and Dixon’s tangent line. (shown here in green) which separates Maryland from Delaware (then the lower counties of Pennsylvania) running from the center of the Transpeninsular Line tangent to a circle 12 miles around Newcastle. The question, whether Taylor’s Island is an island in the Chesapeake Bay or part of the mainland of the Delmarva peninsula determined the length of the Transpeninsular Line and hence the location of its center. The decision that Taylor’s Island is part of the mainland lengthened the Transpeninsular Line, moving its center farther from Fenwick Island and moving the tangent line westward thus increasing the area of Delaware at the expense of Maryland.
Photographed By F. Robby, November 4, 2007
7. Grace United Methodist Church
The chapel of ease is located adjacent to the Grace UMC.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,108 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on December 8, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. submitted on March 14, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3, 4. submitted on December 8, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. 5, 6. submitted on March 14, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7. submitted on December 8, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland.