Near Newark in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Post Mark'd West
A significant detail in the Mason and Dixon Survey
Photographed By Pete Skillman, March 25, 2024
1. The Post Mark'd West Marker
In 1763, Mason and Dixon were charged with running an east-west line 15 miles south of the southernmost part of Philadelphia. They surveyed from the Stargazers Stone in Embreeville, Pennsylvania, 15 miles south to the latitude 39° 43' 18.2" in a field on the farm of Alexander Bryan.
There, on June 12, 1764, they erected a 4" x 4" oak post with the word "West" on it. Mason referred to this marker in his journal as "the post mark'd west." This oak post lay on the latitude of the Maryland and Pennsylvania boundary; not on the east-west boundary.
Eventually the post was lost. In 1952, historian and Mason-Dixon hobbyist William T. Mahoney found the site on the property of Halleck DuPont and marked it with a small post. In 1953, DuPont put up this stone monument to mark the site.
Learn more about the history and importance of the Mason-Dixon line at the Chambers House Nature Center.
(Captions):
Map illustrating the surveys of the Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware boundaries. Excerpted from the Journal of
this page online
Mason and Dixon at the Stargazer's Stone, by Brian F. Tucker. Courtesy of The American Surveyor
The Gunter chain, a 17th century land survey tool, was used by Mason and Dixon during the establishment of the boundaries of Pennsylvania and Maryland. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Erected 2017 by Delaware State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Landmarks. A significant historical date for this entry is June 12, 1764.
Location. 39° 43.344′ N, 75° 43.939′ W. Marker is near Newark, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker can be reached from Bryan's Field. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Bryan's Fld, Newark DE 19711, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of Post Mark'd West (here, next to this marker); Pioneer of Preservation (approx. 0.4 miles away); Ebenezer United Methodist Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); Original Site of the White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church (approx. 1˝ miles away); Eastburn-Jeanes Mining Complex (approx. 1.6 miles away); The Judge Morris Estate (approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named Judge Morris Estate
Photographed By Pete Skillman, March 25, 2024
2. The Post Mark'd West Marker wide view
Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 59 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
