To settle a border dispute involving Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware in Colonial America, surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon worked from 1763 to 1767 to delineate the borders of Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.
The dispute originated almost a century earlier in the somewhat confusing proprietary grants by King Charles II to Lord Baltimore (Maryland) and William Penn (Pennsylvania).
The Mason–Dixon line was marked by stones every mile and “crownstones” every five miles, using stones shipped from England. The Maryland side says “M,” and the Delaware and Pennsylvania sides say “P.” Crownstones include two coats of arms. Today, while some of the original stones are missing or buried, many are still visible.
Shown below is a “crownstone” boundary monument on the Mason–Dixon line. These markers were originally placed at every fifth mile along the line, ornamented with family coats of arms facing the state they represented. The coat of arms of Maryland’s founding Calvert family is shown. On the other side are the arms of William Penn. Click here to read about where you can find Lancaster County’s only crownstone.
In 1784, surveyors David Rittenhouse and Andrew Ellicott and their crew completed the Mason–Dixon line survey to the southwest corner of Pennsylvania. Click here to read more about Lancaster’s favorite surveyor, Andrew Ellicott. Other surveyors continued west to the Ohio River. The Mason–Dixon line was resurveyed in 1849, 1900, and the 1960s.
As many as five stone markers can be found along Lancaster County’s southern border.
Where to find the marker
You can find the marker at the intersection of Grubbs Corner Road and Pilottown Road. Click here for the GPS location.
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You can own beautiful reproduction maps of Fulton Township, where this Mason-Dixon marker is located.
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1864 Map of Fulton Township, Lancaster County, PA$24.99 – $25.99
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Thank you for this information. Sounds like a good Grandson, Son in law & Pop Pop outing someday.
This is a relatively flat hike with no hills, however the very thick vegetation (green briars) can be challenging. I found the Crown Marker by pure luck, just by trying to walk in an open less thick area.
Nice job!