•■■■■■

uNivERsmy

PENNSYLVANIA.
LIBRARIES

HISTORY

OF

DELAWARE COUNTY.

PENNSYLVANIA.

FROM THE DISCOVERY OF THE TERRITORY INCLUDED WITHIN
ITS LIMITS TO THE PRESENT TIME,

% goto of the (Scologij of the (Toum^

CATALOGUES OF ITS MINERALS. PLANTS, QUADRUPEDS AND BIRDS

to r i 1 t e ti

UNDER TUE DIRECTION- AND APPOINTMENT OF THE DELAWARE COUNTY
INSTITUTE OF Si [ENCE,

G E O R G E © Mi I T H , 31 . D

PHILADELPHIA .
PRINTED BY HENRY B. ASHMEAD,

Nos. 1102 and 1104 Sanson Street.

18G2.

-

5

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by

GEORGE SMITH, M. D.,

the Clerk's Office oftht District Court of the United States for the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania.

'• i

INTRODUCTION.

The circumstances under which the author was induced
to engage in the preparation of the work now submit led
to the public, will be briefly explained.

Many years since a resolution was adopted by the
Delaware County Institute of Science, having in view the
collection and preservation of manuscripts, printed docu-
ments, traditions, or any other matter or thing calculated
to illustrate the history of the County. A notice was
published in the County papers, requesting persons in pos-
session of the desired information, to place the documents
containing it in the possession of the Institute. This re-
quest was but very partially responded to, either by the
members of the Institution, or by others. Still there were
a few who took a deep interest in the subject. They
plainly saw that many facts calculated to illustrate our
early history had already passed into oblivion, because no
means had been adopted to collect and preserve them, and
that if this important subject should be longer neglected,
many more would soon be placed beyond our reach, by
the decease of a number of intelligent persons, still living,
who were familiar with the stirring times and local events
of our revolutionary struggle.

•' Do

Among those who took the deepest interest in the matter
was Joseph Edwards, Esq., an active and intelligent member
of the Institute. It was a subject in accordance with his
taste, and he freely devoted his time and his vigorous
intellect, in accomplishing the original object of the In-
stitution. His reading was from this time more particularly
directed to the various works that relate to the early set-
tlements on the Delaware. Making himself familiar with

IV INTRODUCTION.

that subject, and being possessed of a considerable number
of local facts, the idea occurred to him of putting the ma-
terials in his possession into the shape of a history of our
County. The subject was accordingly brought by him
before the Institute, and meeting with the approbation of
the members present, it was at once placed in the hands
of a committee, with the understanding that the whole
labor of drawing up the history should devolve on Mr.
Edwards.

Circulars were now addressed to every person supposed
to be in possession of facts or information calculated to
add value to the work, but again the response was for the
most part slow and unsatisfactory ; and the feeble health
of Mr. Edwards did not permit him to engage in the
laborious task of personally examining voluminous ancient
records, and other manuscripts of vital importance to the
work in question, and only to a very limited extent of elicit-
ing from the aged of our County their recollections of by-
gone times.

Thus circumstanced, Mr. Edwards engaged energetically
in the work, and, at the time his earthly career was so
suddenly brought to a close, he had brought his narrative
down to the commencement of Penn's government. The
task of completing the work was imposed by the Institute
upon the author, who assumed it as a duty he owed to his
departed friend, as well as from a desire to place beyond
contingency a multitude of local facts, that were to be
found only in ancient manuscripts, many of which it was
known were not in safe keeping, nor in a good state of
preservation.

When the appointment of the Institute was accepted,
he had no idea that his labor would extend much beyond
the completion of the narrative commenced by his friend,
and he supposed that a large amount of the materials had
already been collected for that purpose. He was aware
that the manuscript of Mr. Edwards was too voluminous,
and if used, would require some abridgment, but a careful
examination of it soon satisfied him that it could not be
used at all, as part of a work for which he was to be mainly
responsible. It was discovered that Mr. Edwards in

INTRODUCTION. V

drawing up his narrative had labored under the disadvan-
tage of not being in possession of all the important facts
connected with his subject ; that the authors upon which
he relied were mostly compilers and frequently incorrect,
and in addition, his narrative was so very voluminous,
that the labor of abridging it would be greater than that
of re-writing the whole. It was painful to the author to
exclude the whole of the manuscript of Mr. Edwards, but
he is happy in having the opinion of one of his most intel-
ligent relatives, that the course adopted was proper and
judicious.

It thus became necessary to enter upon a thorough ex-
amination of every work having a bearing upon the his-
tory of the territory embraced within our County, from
the time it first became known to Europeans. This has
been the most pleasing part of the labor. But it was soon
found that the most interesting facts connected with the
early history of the County were scattered through the
voluminous manuscript records of the Society of Friends ;
the records of our early Courts, and other records of the
County, now in the offices at West Chester ; the records
in the Surveyor-General's office at Harrisburg, and in the
several offices of the city of Philadelphia. These have
been carefully examined so far as they relate to early
times; and although their examination required the expen-
diture of much time and labor, the reward has been so
ample, that it may now be safely said, that no history of
the County would have been worthy of the name which
did not embrace the numerous local facts derived from
these sources.

It will also be seen that the unpublished records at
Albany, N. Y., and those at New Castle, in the State of
Delaware, have been examined with the view of ascer-
taining as many local facts as possible connected with the
settlements on the Delaware, prior to the establishment of
the government of William Penn. These examinations,
though not so prolific of new facts as that of our own re-
cords, it will be observed, have not been by any means
fruitless.

The examination of these records made the author

VI INTRODUCTION.

familiar with most of the early settlers embraced within
the limits of our County ; where they lived, how they
lived, and from whence they came. This gave rise to the
idea of the map that exhibits the County as it was at the
time of its first settlement, or shortly afterwards, and also
suggested the biographical notices which form an impor-
tant feature of the work. This arrangement has had the
eifect of freeing the history of the County proper from
much personal narrative and local description, and will, it
is hoped, be a source of some satisfaction to many old
families of the County, and to many who reside beyond
our limits, but who can justly claim kindred here, and
" have their claims allowed." Much labor has been ex-
pended on this part of the work, and it is trusted not
without a reasonable degree of success. Still the author
has* to regret, that in respect to some of the early immi-
grant settlers, he has been able to learn little or nothing.
This will account for the briefness and imperfection of
some of the notices, and the entire omission of any notice
of other pioneers in the settlement of the County.

The multitude of local facts and circumstances that it
appeared necessary to give in the language in which they
are recorded, has given to a considerable portion of the
work, very much the character of Annals. It hence be-
came important to place at the head of each page, the date,
as nearly as possible, of the events recorded on it, and on
that account the formality of dividing the work into
chapters has been dispensed with.

The Geology of the County, and the Catalogue of its
Flowering Plants and Ferns would have been contributed
to the work by the present author, had the historical part
of it been completed by Mr. Edwards. The Catalogue of
our Mosses was kindly prepared by Dr. Thomas P. James,
and that of the Quadrupeds and of the Birds by John
Cassin, Esq., both natives of Delaware County, and both
unsurpassed in the branches of the natural sciences to
which their contributions respectively belong.

To his long tried friend, Minshall Painter, the author
is largely indebted for liberal and constant aid in the ex-
amination of voluminous manuscripts, and for the contri-

INTRODUCTION. Vli

bution of many local facts. He is also under great obli-
gations to Thomas Darlington, Dr. William Darlington,
Joseph J. Lewis, John H. Brinton, Adis M. Ayers, Walter
Hibbard, Jonathan Cope, and Gilbert Cope, of Chester
County ; to the late Samuel Breck, Samuel Hazard, Pro-
fessor John F. Frazer, and Samuel L. Smedley, of Phila-
delphia; to Thomas Dutton, Elijah Brooke, George G.
Leiper, Robert Frame, Robert Thomas, John M. Broomall,
Jacob -S. Serrill, Joshua P. Eyre, Charles Johnson, and
James M. Willcox, of Delaware County, and to many
others, for the aid they have severally rendered by contri-
buting documents, or by communicating important facts.

Upper Darbv, Delaware Co.,
November 1, 1802.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Map of Delaware County,

Map of the Early Settlements of Delaware County, .

A part of Roggeveen's Map of New Netherland. . . . .

Diagram of Chester, pr. R. Long, C. Pusey, James Sanderlands, and

others, ...........

Residence of Caleb Pusey at Chester Mills, . . . . .

Diagram of a line run due West, preparatory to ascertaining the

Western boundary of a tract of land purchased from the Indians

in 1685, ........

First Meeting-house of Friends at Chester,

Friends' Meeting-house, Haverford, built 1700. rebuilt 1800

View of St. Paul's Church, Chester, built 1703,

Town Hall at Chester, built 1724, ....

Head Quarters of Gen. Washington, at the Battle of Brandywine,

" " of Marquis de La Fayette, "

Section of the Delaware River, including Fort Mifflin.

Haverford College,

Public Buildings at Media,

Delaware County Alms House, .....

Upland,

Burd Orphan's Asylum of St. Stephen's Church,

Kellyville,

View of Media from the South-west, ....

Friends' Meeting-houses at Springfield.

Birth place of Benjamin West, .....

St. David's Church, built 1717,

Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-minded Children

Catholic Church of St. Thomas, Aston.

Castle Rock, from the North, .....

Geological Map of Delaware County,

Exposure of Trap with Diallage or Anthophyllite,

Autograph Signatures (3 pages), ....

Fac Simile from the Ledger of Richard Hayes, .

Autograph Letter of David Lloj'd, ....

" "of Jacob Taylor. .

" " of Benjamin West.

Draft of the first settled part of Chester,

to face title page.
. last page.
. page 18

138

147

170
188
201
208
234
305
310
321
358
375
376
380
386
387
388
390
390
396
399
400
401
403
410
442
467
48u
506
513
543

HISTORY OP DELAWARE COUNTY.

In giving an account of the first settlement by Europeans, of
any part of America, it has been customary with writers to pre-
cede their narratives by a detailed history, not only of the events
that were then transpiring in the Old World, but of every event
that had occurred for a century or more previously, having the
least possible bearing, upon the settlement in question. As the
history of a district of country so limited in extent as that of
Delaware County, must derive its chief value from the number
of local facts it may present, the transatlantic events that led
to its settlement in common with that of larger districts of our
country, will only be briefly adverted to.

More than a century had elapsed, from the time of the dis-
covery of the Western Continent by the Cabots, before the noble
river that forms the south-eastern boundary of our County, be-
came known to Europeans. The first settlement of Virginia
was commenced at Jamestown in the year 1607. Two years
later, the celebrated English navigator Henry Hudson, after
having made two unsuccessful voyages in the employ of London
merchants, in search of a northern passage to the East Indies,
entered the service of the Dutch East India Company, and with
the same object in view, made his celebrated voyage that resulted
in the discovery of the great New York river, that most justly
bears his name. Sailing from Amsterdam on the 4th of
April, 1609, in a yacht called the Half-Moon, he doubled North
Cape with the object of reaching Nova Zembla. In this he was
foiled by reason of the dense fogs and the large bodies of ice he
encountered, when, changing his original plan, he directed his
course with the view of discovering a north-west passage to China.
He arrived off" the banks of Newfoundland in July, and continu-
ing his course westwardly, after some delay on account of dense
fogs, entered Penobscot bay on the coast of Maine. Here Captain
Hudson had friendly intercourse with the natives of the country,
and after having repaired the damage his little vessel had sus-
tained, he pursued his course southerly in search, it is said, of a
1

2 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1610.

passage to the Western Pacific Ocean, which he had formerly
learned from his friend Captain John Smith, had an existence,
"south of Virginia." Halting a second time at Cape Cod, he
observed in possession of the Indians who treated him kindly,
" green tobacco and pipes, the bowls of which were made of clay,
and the stems of red copper."1

The voyage of the Half-Moon was again continued south-west
along the coast, until, on the 18th of August she arrived at the
mouth of Chesapeake bay. If there was any truth in the rather
improbable story, that Hudson pursued this south-west course, in
search of a passage to the Pacific, south of Virginia, he certainly
abandoned his plan ; for, without much delay, he reversed his
course, making a more particular examination of the coast as he
passed along. On the 28th of August, 1609, in latitude thirty-
nine degrees and five minutes north, Hudson discovered " a great
bay," which, after having made a very careful examination of the
shoals and soundings at its mouth, he entered ; but soon came to
the over-cautious conclusion, that " he that will thoroughly dis-
cover this great bay, must have a small pinnace, that must draw
but four or five feet water, to sound before him."2 To this great
bay the name of Delaware has been given in honor of Lord De-
la-war, who is said to have entered it one year subsequently to
the visit of Hudson.3

The examination of the Delaware bay by Hudson, was more
after the manner of a careful navigator, than that of a bold ex-
plorer in search of new lands, and scarcely extended beyond its
mouth. It must have been very slight indeed, as we find that
in further retracing his steps, he had descried the high lands
of Navesink on the 2nd of September, four days after his
entrance into the Delaware bay ; and on the 4th of that month,
after having rounded a low " Sandy Hook," he discovered, " The
Great North River of New Netherland" — a discovery that will
transmit his name to the latest posterity.

Though an Englishman, Hudson was in the employ of the
Dutch, and his visit to the Delaware, however transient it may
have been, is rendered important from the fact, that on it prin-
cipally, if not wholly, rested the claim of that government to the
bay and river, so far as it was based on the ground of prior dis^
covert/. This claim is now fully conceded ; for although the bay
was known in Virginia by its present name as early as 1612, no
evidence exists of its discovery by Lord Delaware or any other

i Hist. New Netherland, i. 34.

2 Journal of the voyage by Robert Juet, the mate of Hudson, — N. Y. Hist. Col. vol.
i. 130, 131,— also, ib. N. S. i. 320.

3 So far as a negative can be proven, Mr. Broadhead in his History of N. Y. has
made it appear that Lord Delaware never saw the bay that bears his name. See p. 51,
and Appendix, note D, of that work.

1614.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 3

Englishman prior to 1610, when it is said, that navigator
"touched at Delaware bay on his passage to Virginia."1

An official Dutch document,2 drawn up in 1644, claims that
New Netherland "was visited by inhabitants of that country in
the year 1598," and that "two little forts were built on the
South and North rivers." Better authority is needed to support
this claim, than the assertion of an interested party made nearly
half a century subsequent to the event.

Though reasonable doubts may exist in respect to the visit of
Lord Delaware to the Delaware bay, that bay in 1610 did actually
receive a transient visit from Captain Samuel Argall, who pro-
bably was the first European that entered its waters after its
discovery by Hudson.3

The various names by which the Delaware river and bay have
been known, are enumerated in Hazard's Annals of Pennsylva-
nia.4 By the Indians it was called, "Pautaxat, Mariskitton and
"Makerish-kisken, Lenape Whittuck ; by the Dutch, Zuyt or South
river, Nassau river, Prince Hendrick river, and Charles river ; by
the Swedes, New Swedeland stream ; by the English, Delaware.
Heylin in his Cosmography calls it Arasapha. The bay has also
been known as New Port May and Crodyns bay.

Six years now intervene, before we have any further accounts
of discoveries in " New Netherland," a country, which in the
estimation of Their High Mightinesses, The States General
of Holland, embraced the Delaware bay and river. On the
27th of March, in the year 1614, a general charter was
granted, securing the exclusive privilege of trade during four
voyages, with "any new courses, havens, countries or places,"
to the discoverer, and subjecting any persons who should act in
violation thereof, to a forfeiture of their vessel, in addition to a
heavy pecuniary penalty.5 Stimulated by this edict of the States
General, the merchants of Amsterdam fitted out five vessels to
engage in voyages, in pursuance of its provisions. Among them
was the Fortune belonging to the city of Hoorn, commanded by
Captain Cornelis Jacobson Mey. Captain Adrian Block com-
manded another vessel of this exploring party, which was
unfortunately burnt upon his arrival at the mouth of the " Man-
hattan river." To repair this misfortune, Captain Block imme-
diately engaged in the construction of a new vessel — a yacht,
441 feet long, and \\\ feet wide. This craft was of but 16 tons
burden, and was named the Unrust (Restless.) She was the first
vessel built by Europeans in this country, and her construction,

1 N. Y. Hist. Col. i. N. S. 320.

2 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 149 ; Hist. New Netherland, i. Appendix E, 418.

3 Broadhead's Hist. N. Y. 51 and note D. 4 P. 4.
5 N. Y. Col. Doe. i. 5.

4 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1616.

under the circumstance, savors more of a Yankee proceeding
than any event in the history of New Netherland.

The Fortune, commanded by Skipper Mey, alone proceeded
southerly. The coast, with its numerous inlets and islands, was
examined and mapped as he went along, until he reached the
mouth of the Delaware bay, to the two proper capes of which
he appropriated two of his names ; calling the one Cornelis, the
other Mey. To a cape still further south he gave the name of
Hindlopen, after a town of Friesland.1 All the vessels except
the Restless, now returned to Holland, to make a report of their
discoveries, and to claim the exclusive privileges of trade, to
which, under the general charter granted by the States General,
their owners would be entitled. By an edict dated on the
14th of October, 1614, this monopoly of trade was granted to
the united company of merchants of the cities of Amsterdam and
Hoorn, by whose means the expedition had been fitted out. It
was limited, however, to " newly discovered lands, situate in
America, between New France and Virginia, whereof the sea
coasts lie between the fortieth and forty-fifth degrees of latitude,
now named New Netherland," and was to extend to four voyages,
to be made within three years from the 1st of January. It will
be seen that the Delaware bay is not included in this grant, a
circumstance that would suggest that the discoveries in that
quarter by Skipper Mey, had not been appreciated.

Captain Cornelis Hendrickson, who had been left in command
of the American built vessel Restless, now proceeded to make
further explorations, and especially on the Delaware bay. It
has even been said that this expedition explored the river as high
up as the mouth of the Schuylkill, the discovery of which is
credited to Captain Hendrickson.2 If this be correct, the crew
of the Restless were the first civilized men who visited the terri-
tory now embraced within the limits of Delaware County. The
extent of the discoveries made by the worthy captain, can, in a
measure, be judged of by his report made to the States General,
on behalf of his employers.

" Report of Captain Cornelis Hendrixz11 of Munnickendam to
the high and mighty Lords States General of the Free United
Netherland Provinces, made on the XVIIIth August, Ao. 161G,
of the country, bay and three rivers, situate in the latitude
from 38 to 40 degrees, by him discovered and found for and to
the behoof of his owners and Directors of New Netherland, by
name Gerrit Jacob Witsen, Burgomaster at Amsterdam, Jonas
Witsen, Lambreht Van Tweenhuyzen, Palas Pelgrom and others
of their company."

1 Hist. New Netherland, i. 73.

2 Haz. Add. 7 : Broadhead's Hist. N. Y. 79.

1620.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 5

" First, he hath discovered for his aforesaid Masters and
Directors, certain lands, a bay and three rivers situate between
-38 and 40 degrees."

" And did there trade with the inhabitants ; said trade con-
sisting of sables, furs, robes and other skins."

" He hath found the said country full of trees, to wit : oaks,
hickory and pines ; which trees, were in some places covered with
vines."

" He hath seen in said country, bucks and does, turkeys and
partriges."

" He hath found the climate of said country very temperate,
judging it to be as temperate as this country, Holland."

" He also traded for and bought from the inhabitants, the
Minguas, three persons, being people belonging to this company,
which three persons were employed in the service of the Mohawks
and Machicans ; giving for them kettles, beads and merchandise."

"Read August 19th, 1616."1

It cannot be fairly inferred from this report, that the Schuyl-
kill was one of the three rivers discovered by Captain Hendrick-
son, and the original "Carte Figurative,"2 found attached to the
memorial of his employers, presented on the day before the re-
port was made, furnishes almost conclusive evidence that the
voyage of the Restless did not extend even to the mouth of the
Delaware river. The refusal of the States General, to grant
the trading privileges to these applicants, which in justice could
not be withheld from the discoverers of " any new courses,
havens, countries or places," furnishes additional proof that the
discoveries made in the Restless did not go much beyond what
had been previously made. If any knowledge of the Delaware
or Schuylkill rivers was acquired on this occasion, it was proba-
bly obtained from the three persons belonging to the company,
purchased from the Indians, or from the Indians themselves.

In anticipation of the formation of a Dutch West India
Company, exclusive trading privileges were not again granted
under the general charter of 1614, except in a few instances and
to a very limited extent. The trade to Neio Netherlands, regard-
ed by the Dutch as extending beyond the Delaware, was thrown
open, in a measure, to individual competition. This did not last
long, for on the 3rd of June, 1621, the West India Company
was incorporated. It did not,' however, go into operation until
1623.

Thus far, trade, and new discoveries for the purpose of extend-
ing trade, appear to have wholly engrossed the attention of the
Dutch. This year a proposition is made by the Directors of the

1 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 13.

2 For a copy of this " Carte Figurative," see N. Y. Col. Doc. i. facing p. 13.

6 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1621.

New Netherland trading company, for the emigration to America
of " a certain English preacher,1 versed in the Dutch ianguage,"
then residing in Leyden, together with over four hundred fami-
lies both out of Holland and England, whom he assured the
petitioners, he had the means of inducing to accompany him
thither. The petitioners also asked that two ships of war might
be provisionally dispatched "for the preservation of the country's
rights, and that the aforesaid minister and the four hundred
families, might be taken under the protection of the government;
alledging that his Majesty of Great Britain would be disposed
to people the aforesaid lands with the English nation." After
considerable delay, this petition was rejected.2

On the 28th of September of this year, and during the
time that elapsed between the incorporation of the Dutch
West India Company and the time it commenced its commercial
operations, the States General granted certain parties permission
to dispatch " two ships with all sorts of permitted merchandise,
the one to the aforesaid New Netherland, and the other to the
aforesaid New river, lying in latitude between eight and thirty
and forty degrees, and to the small rivers thereon depending, to
trade away and dispose of their old stock, which they have there,
and afterwards bring back into this country their goods, cargoes,
clerks and seamen, on condition that they must be home before
the 1st of July, 1622."3

The New river mentioned in the foregoing extract, was un-
doubtedly the Delaware ; and it might be inferred from the per-
mission asked in respect to the old stock, $c, that a trading post
had been established by the Dutch on the Delaware, prior to this
date. There are many facts to show that such a conclusion would
be erroneous, and that the Dutch had no trading establishment
on that river at this time.

At the instance of the British Government, Sir Dudley Carle-
ton their Ambassador at the Hague, entered upon an investi-
gation of certain charges made against the Hollanders, of having
left " a Colonie" at, and of " giving new names to several ports
appertaining to that part of the countrie north of Virginia" called
by them " New England."4

In the prosecution of this investigation,5 which was rather of
a private and informal character, th^ Ambassador could not
make " any more of the matter but that about fower or five years
since, two particular conpanies of Amsterdam merchants, began

1 This preacher was the Rev. Mr. Robinson. Some of the families alluded to em-
barked at Delft in the May Flower and Speedwell on the 16th of July, 1620, and
though they were destined for the Hudson, they lauded at Plymouth, and became the
renowned Colony of Pilgrims.

2 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 22-24.

3 lb. 27. * lb. iii. 6. 5 ib. 7.

1623.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 7

a trade into these parts between 40 and 45 degrees, to wch after
their manner they gave their own names New Netherlands, a
South and a North sea, a Texel, a blieland and the like ;
whither they have ever since continued to send shipps of 30
and 40 lasts,1 at the most to fetch furres, wch is all their trade;
for the providing of wch they have certain factors there con-
tinually residents trading, wth savages, and at this present
there is a ship at Amsterdam, bound for those parts, but I can-
not learn of anie Colonie eyther already planted there by
these people, or so much as intended." The letter of the
Ambassador communicating this information to the British
Government, is dated on the 5th of February, 1621. Sir Dudley
gives as an additional reason, why he arrived at the conclusion,
that the Dutch had not as yet planted a colony, that divers in-
habitants of this country (Holland,) had been suters to him to
procure them " a place of habitation amongst his Maties subjects
in those parts," suggesting the improbability of these people
desiring to mingle among strangers, and to be under their govern-
ment, if they had settlements of their own.

He did not fail, however, to present to the States General, on
behalf of his government, a remonstrance against further com-
merce, by the Dutch, with the country in question, and to lay
before their High Mightinesses, the British claim thereto by right
of first occupation, (jur?e primse occupationis.)2

This proceeding of the British Government was intended to
prevent their rights from being lost, rather than to enforce any
immediate claim. It was so regarded by the Dutch Government,
and particularly so by the West India Company, which now,
after having secured an amplification of their privileges, and
completed their preliminary arrangements, proceeded at once, to
carry out the very measures that had been so recently protested
against by the British Ambassador. They extended the com-
merce of the country, by building up establishments with the
view of securing its title to their government, and its trade to
themselves — the latter being always a paramount consideration
with the company.

The West India Company, having by virtue of their charter,3
taken possession of the country, they dispatched the ship New
Netherland with a number of people thereto, under the direction
of Captains Cornells Jacobson Mey, and Adriaen Joriz Tienpont.
Mey proceeded to the Delaware or South river, on the eastern
bank of which, fifteen leagues from its mouth, he erected fort

1 A last is nearly equal to two tons when applied to ships; when applied to the
measure of grain, is equal to 80 English bushels.

2 N. Y. Col. Doc. iii.8.

3 For a translation of the charter at length, see Hist. New Netherland, Appendix B ;
Hazard's Historical Collections, i. 121-131.

8 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1624.

Nassau at a place called by the natives Techaacho, — supposed
to be near the mouth of little Timber creek in Gloucester County,
N. Jersey, and a short distance below the present town of Glou-
cester.1 There is some discrepancy as to the precise date of the
erection of this fort, but the year 1624 is specified in an official
report2 on the condition of the country, made in 1644, and may
be regarded as the best authority on the subject. The distinc-
tion, at all events, belongs to Captain Mey of being the first
European to establish a settlement on the Delaware,3 if the
erection of this fort, — a mere trading post, abandoned from time
to time, as occasion required — can be regarded as a settlement.

The seat of government of New Netherland was located at
Manhattan Island, now the site of the City of New York,
and the superior local officer of the government was styled a
Director. Shortly after the commencement of the administration
of its affairs by the West India Company, this office was con-
ferred on Peter Minuit or Minewit, of Wesel in the Kingdom of
Westphalia, who arrived at Manhattan Island in one of two ships
dispatched by the Amsterdam department of the West India
Company, in 1624. He was assisted in his government by a
council of five members and a " Scout Fiscal," whose duties em-
braced those now usually performed by a sheriff and district
attorney. The authority vested in the Director and his council
was ample, being executive, legislative and judicial, and extended
to the South as well as the North river. The records of the
government, or of the company, give very little information in
respect to the administration of Minuit. It lasted till 1632, and
is supposed to have been generally successful. It is distinguished
by no remarkable event, except the purchase of Manhattan
Island from the Indians, which happened in 1626. 4 The title to
this Island, now the site of the City of New York, and estimated
to contain 22,000 acres, was acquired for the paltry sum of sixty
guilders or 24 dollars. This purchase is important as probably
indicating a period when the policy of the Dutch underwent a
change ; when from having been merely Indian traders, they
began to contemplate a permanent settlement of the country.

The commencement of the Directorship of Minuit, is fixed by
Wassenaer in his history of Europe, (Amsterdam, 1621 to 1632,)5

1 Edward Armstrong Esq., in a paper read before the New Jersey Historical Society,
January 20, 1858, locates Fort Nassau on a tongue of land between Big and Little Tim-
ber creeks.

2 N. Y. Col Doc. i. 149.

3 Statement of Mattehoorn, an Indian chief. N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 597.
* N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 37.

5 For a translation of the " description and first settlement of New Netherland" from
that work, see Documentary Hist. N. Y, by E. B. O'Callaghan, M.D. iii. 27-48.
The author sajs Peter Minuit, came out in the Sea Gull which arrived 4th May,
1626, and ''now sends for his wife thither."

1624.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 9

in the year 1626, and he assigns him two predecessors in that
office, viz : Willem Van Hulst for the year 1625, and Cornelis
May for the year 1624. These men in conjunction with Adrien
Joriz Tienpont appear, however, to have been merely directors
of an expedition, and it would seem that the government of the
country, of which the territory embraced within the limits of our
little county in the estimation of the Dutch constituted a part,
commenced with the administration of Minuit.

It is a circumstance worthy of note, that the party who erected
fort Nassau was accompanied by females. The fact is fully
established by the following curious deposition1 of Catelina
Tricho, said to have been the first white woman at Albany.

" New York, February 14th, 1684-5.

" The Deposition of Catelina Tricho aged fouer score yeares
or thereabouts, taken before the right honobIe Collo. Thomas
Leu', and Governour under his Roy11 high.88 James Duke of
Yorke and Albany, etc. of N. York and its Dependencyes in
America, who saith and declares in the pr'sens of God as follow-
eth."

" That she came to this Province either in the yeare one thou-
sand six hundred and twenty three or twenty fouer to the best of
her remembrance, an that fouer women came along with her in
the same shipp, in which the Governor Arien Jorissen came also
over, which fouer women were married at Sea, and that they and
their husbands stayed about three weeks at this place, and then
they with eight seamen more went in a vessel by ordrs of the
Dutch Governo1", to Delaware river and there settled. This I
Certifie under my hand and ye Seale of this province."

" Tho. Dongan."

In the deposition of the same lady taken a few years after-
wards (1688,) she states that " two families and eight men" were
sent to the Delaware. This effort at a settlement on the Dela-
ware was soon abandoned — probably before the expiration of a
single year. As Wassanaer under the date of 1625, says, " The
fort at the South river is already vacated, in order to strengthen
the Colony (at Manhattan.) For purposes of trade, only one
yacht is sent there in order to avoid expense."2 It is not re-
markable that this policy should have been adopted, as the whole
colony at Manhattan, at this period, scarcely numbered two
hundred souls. The fort was abandoned to the Indians, who
did not fail to occupy it as their occasions required ; and the
country again passed into their possession as completely as it
was on the day Hudson touched at the Capes.

1 Documentary Hist. N. Y. iii. 49. 2 lb. 45.

10 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1629.

Gustavus Adolphus, the reigning monarch of Sweden, through
whose wisdom and valor that nation had acquired an elevated
standing among the governments of Europe, now sought to con-
fer still further benefits upon his country by extending its com-
merce. Chiefly with this view, a charter was granted by him
for a Swedish West India Company.1 This company, which
was to go into operation on the 1st of May, 1627, and to con-
tinue twelve years, had every necessary power conferred upon it
for the establishment of a colony, with the promised aid of the
government, to a very liberal extent. William Usselinex, a
native of the low countries, represented as having spent much
time in seeking out new ports, and as being u the inventor in
Holland of the West India Company," had counselled and ad-
vised the adoption of the measure, and was to have a share in its
management.

While these proceedings were in progress, the war in Germany
in which Gustavus became so largely engaged, postponed for a
time the project of Swedish colonization in America; and his
death which happened in 1632, would have led to a total aban-
donment of the scheme, but for the persevering energy of his
renowned minister Oxenstiern.

Seventeen years had now elapsed since the discovery of the
country by Hudson, and yet but little had been accomplished to-
wards making it a permanent home for civilized man. The
whole population of Manhattan the seat of government, at this
period, was two hundred and seventy souls, consisting chiefly of
the officers and servants of the company with their families.2
But few others resided elsewhere on the Hudson, and as has been
shown, no permanent establishment of any kind was maintained
on the Delaware. The trade of the country was, however, by no
means inconsiderable, the Delaware contributing a fair propor-
tion of it. The ship that carried to the "Fatherland" the news
of the purchase of Manhattan from the Indians, was freighted
with 7246 beaver skins, 853J otter skins, 81 mink skins, 36
wild cat skins, and 34 rat skins, besides a considerable quantity
of oak and hickory timber.3 But this was chiefly Indian trade
— a trade that must necessarily diminish in proportion to the
vigor with which it was prosecuted.

Foreseeing this, and Avith the more prosperous colonies of the
English on either side of them, the settlement of the country
was determined upon by the Dutch as the only means by which
it could be saved from passing into other hands, while its trade
at the same time would be augmented.

1 For a translation into English of this Charter, see Haz. Ann. 16, Ac.

2 Wassenaer in Documentary Hist. N. Y. iii. 48.

3 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 37.

1630.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 11

With the view of promoting colonization, a plan not one step
in advance of the prejudices of the times, was resolved upon.
The privileged West India Company adopted certain articles
termed " Freedoms and Exemptions to all such as shall plant
colonies in New Netherlands1 Under this scheme the feudal
tenure of lands was to be introduced into America south of
Canada, where settlements on an analagous plan had already
commenced.

The wealthy immigrant who could in four years plant a colony
of fifty souls, would be a "Patroon;" becoming the absolute
owner of a vast tract of land, which if situated only on one side
of a river, might have a front of 16 miles, but if on both sides,
one half that front, and extending " so far into the country as
the situation of the occupiers will permit." The Patroon could
hold courts of justice, and when the amount in litigation did not
exceed $20, there was no appeal from his judgment.

The company also agreed to use their endeavors for a time,
" to supply the colonists with as many blacks as they convenient-
ly can, on conditions hereafter to be made."2

Previous to the ratification of this document by the States
General, or even by the West India Company, two of its Amster-
dam directors, Samuel Godyn and Samuel Blomaert, by their
agents in this country, had purchased a large tract of land at
the mouth of the Delaware bay. This grant was confirmed to the
purchasers by Peter Minuit, the Director, and his council on the
" Island Manahatas" the 16th of July, 1630 — the savage grantors
being then and there present. The land embraced in the grant,
thus confirmed, was " situate on the south side of the aforesaid
bay of the South river, extending in length from C. Hinlopen
off into the mouth of the aforesaid South river, about eight
leagues and half a league in breadth into the interior, extending
to a certain marsh or valley through which these limits can be
clearly enough distinguished."3 Samuel Godyn had previously
given notice of his intention to make the above purchase, and to
occupy the bay of the South river as Patroon, on the conditions
set forth in the "Freedoms and Exemptions." Meeting with
David Pieterszen DeVries of Hoorn, " a bold and skilful seaman,"
who had been " a master of artillery in the service of the United
Provinces," he made him acquainted with the design of himself
and associates, of forming a colony. The bay of the South

1 Hist. New Netherland, i. 112, or N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 369, for the entire
document.

2 Slaves were introduced into New Netherland as early as 1628. In a letter recently
discovered dated at the Island of Manhattan, on the 11th of August of that year, from
the Rev. Jonas Michaelius, the writer says, "the Angola slaves are thievish, lazy and
useless trash." For a translation of this letter by Mr. Henry C Murphy, see N. Y.
Col. Doc. ii. Appendix, 768.

3 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 43.

12 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1631.

river was held up to De Vries, as a point at which a whale fishery
could be profitably established, as Godyn represented, that there
were many whales which kept before the bay, and the oil at 60
guilders a hogshead, he thought, would realize a good profit.1
DeVries declining to accept a subordinate position in connection
with the colony, he was at once admitted, on perfect equality,
into a company of Patroons, who associated themselves together
on the 16th of October, 1630. Besides Godyn, Bloemart
and DeVries, the members composing this Patroonship were
Killian Van Renssellaer, Jan DeLaet, Matthys Van Keulen,
Nicholas Van Sittorigh, Harnick Koeck and Heyndrick Hamel,
being all directors of the West India Company except DeVries.
All of the expected advantages were to be equalized; and DeVries
who had charge of the establishment of the colony, dispatched
from the Texel on the 12th of December, 1630, a ship and a
yacht for the South river, " with a number of people, and a large
stock of cattle," the object being, "as well to carry on a whale
fishery in that region, as to plant a colony for the cultivation of
all sorts of grain, for which the country is very well adapted,
and of tobacco."2

De Vries did not accompany this expedition as has been sup-
posed by most writers on the subject, but on the 20th of the
month he learned that the yacht had been " taken by the Dun-
kirkers" before leaving the Texel, owing to the carelessness of
the large ship which had sailed after the yacht. The large ship
which was commanded by a Captain Peter Heyes of Edam, pro-
ceeded on the voyage alone, but failing in an important object
of it, " the disembarking of a lot of people at Tortugas," returned
to Holland in September 1631. The ship conveyed the colony
to the " South river in New Netherland," but was unsuccessful
in the whale fishery, the captain alleging, " that he arrived
there too late in the year," though he brought home a sample of
oil "from a dead whale found on the shore."

" Swanendael" (Valley of Swans,) was the name given to the
tract of land purchased for the accommodation of the Colony,
and had its greatest length parallel with the shore of the bay.
The date of the arrival of Captain Heyes, Avith his colonists is
not known ; but allowing the usual time occupied in making a
passage, from the 12th of December, 1630, it may be arrived
at with sufficient accuracy. On the 5th of May following, Skip-
per He3^es, (Heysen) and Gillis Hosset, Commissary of the ship
Walrus, for that appears to have been the name of the ship that
brought out the colony, purchased of the Indians, " the rightful
owners," a tract of land sixteen English miles square at Cape
May, and extending sixteen miles on the bay. This purchase

1 De Vries in N. Y. Hist. Col. iii. N. S. 16, 17. 2 lb. 16.

1632.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 13

was made for Messrs. Godyn & Bloemaert, and was duly reported
and recorded at Manhattan on the 3rd of June following.1 At
the date of this writing, the Walrus was in the South river, but
must have sailed very shortly afterwards to arrive at Holland in
September. A house, " well beset with palisades in place of
breastworks," had been erected on the north-west side of Hoorn-
kil, (Lewes creek,) a short distance from its mouth. It was
called "Fort Optlandt," and appears to have served the Colony
which consisted of thirty-two men, as a place of defence, a dwel-
ling and a storehouse. This Colony, the most unfortunate that
settled on the bay or river, was left under the charge of Gillis
Hosset or Osset.

On the 12th of February, 1632, we are informed by De
Vries, that an agreement was again entered into, " to equip a
ship and a yacht for the whale fishery in which much profit had
not been realized." A second voyage was especially urged by
Samuel Godyn, and to render success more certain, it was re-
solved, says De Vries, "that I myself should go as patroon and
as commander of the ship and yacht, and should endeavor to be
there in December, in order to conduct the whale fishery during
the winter, as whales come in the winter and remain till March."2

When this second whaling voyage had been determined upon,
only the pecuniary disasters of the first were known to those
concerned in it ; but before sailing out of the Texel, the loss of
their little fort and the destruction of the whole Colony was com-
municated to De Vries.

Leaving the Texel on the 24th of May, and taking a
very circuitous passage, De Vries did not enter the Delaware
till the 5th of December. His first greeting was, " a whale
near the ship!" which made him anticipate "royal ivork — the
whales so numerous — and the land so fine for cultivation." The
explorations of the next day in the boat, revealed to them the
melancholy spectacle, of the house of the former Colony, " almost
burnt up," with the skulls and bones of their people, and the
heads of the horses and cowts which they had brought with them
lying here and there about it ; but no Indians were to be seen.
After some careful manoeuvering, De Vries secured the confi-
dence of the Indians without risk to himself or his people. From
one of these who was induced to remain on board of the yacht
all night, on the 8th of December, De Vries learned the par-
ticulars of the melancholy fate of the Colonists, which is here
given in his own language. " He then showed us the place where
our people had set up a column to which was fastened a piece of
tin, whereon the arms of Holland were painted. One of their

1 For this document in full, extracted from the Albany Records, see Haz. Ann. 25.

2 N. Y. Hist. Col. iii. N. S. 16.

14 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1632.

chiefs took this off for the purpose of making tobacco pipes, not
knowing that he was doing amiss. Those in command at the
house made such an ado about it, that the Indians not knowing
how it was, went away and slew the chief who had done it, and
brought a token of the dead to the house, to those in command,
who told them that they wished that they had not done it, that
they should have brought him to them, as they wished to have
forbidden him not to do the like again. They then went away,
and the friends of the murdered chief, incited their friends — as
they are a people like the Italians, who are very revengeful — to
set about the work of vengeance. Observing our people out of
the house, each one at his work, that there was not more than
one inside, who was lying sick, and a large mastiff who was
chained — had he been loose they would not have dared to ap-
proach the house — and the man who had command, standing near
the house, three of the stoutest Indians, who were to do the deed,
bringing a lot of bear-skins with them to exchange, sought to
enter the house. The man in charge went in with them to make
the barter ; which being done he went to the loft where the stores
lay, and in descending the stairs, one of the Indians seized an
axe, and cleft his head so that he fell down dead. They also
relieved the sick man of life ; and shot into the dog, who was
chained fast, and whom they most feared, twrenty-five arrows
before they could dispatch him. They then proceeded towards
the rest of the men, who were at their work, and going amongst
them with pretensions of friendship, struck them down. Thus
was our young Colony destroyed, causing us serious loss."1

This disaster has subjected Commissary Hossett to severe,
but undeserved censure.2 The very object of setting up the pil-
lar, was to make a display of Dutch sovereignty, and the reply
made by Hossett to the Indians who brought in the evidence of
the atonement that had been made for the removal of the national
emblem which it bore, furnishes evidence that the display of his
resentment, had not in any degree, been such as to justify a deed
so horrid and revolting ; and as to the charge of a want of care
in guarding the fort, it may be answered, that such a mode of

1 Voyages of De Vries, N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. iii. 2?..

2 Benjamin Ferris, in his " History of the Original Settlements on the Delaware,"
says, " With respect to the affair at Hoorn Creek, there can be but little doubt that
Osset, the Dutch agent of De Vries, had wantonly, or for some trifling offence, killed
an Indian chief ; and that he and his companions lost their lives in consequence."
This charge of murder against the Dutch Commissary is wholly gratuitous, not being
supported by a single fact. It is even highly improbable; for such a. charge would
have furnished a far better excuse for the destruction of the colony, than the one given.
It is true that De Vries, some years subsequently, attributed the loss of the colony to
" some trifling acts of the Commander Gilet Oset," but he does not say a word that
would imply a disbelief in the narrative of the Indian. In the "Representation of New
Xetherland, (N. Y. Hist Col. ii. N. S. 281,) it is stated that "the Commissary
there, very firmly insisted upon and demanded the head of the offenders," but De
Vries is undoubtedly the best authority on the subject. See also, Haz. Reg. i. 4.

1633.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 15

retaliation could not have been anticipated by any one. Besides
there is undisputable evidence that Hossett possessed the confi-
dence of several Directors of the West India Company, having
been selected to make purchases of land for them from the
Indians, on both the South and North rivers.

De Vries did not for a moment, allow his presence of mind to
forsake him. Being unable to punish the savages, he sought and
obtained an interview with their chiefs, and at the cost of some
duffels, bullets, hatchets and Nuremburg trinkets, ratified a treaty
of peace with them. Some preparations were also made for the
prosecution of the contemplated whale fishing.

Lord Baltimore obtained his patent for Maryland this year,
and but for the occupancy by the Dutch, that has been narrated,
Delaware as a separate state would have had no existence.

In furtherance of the object of his voyage, De Vries sailed up
the Delaware on the 1st of January, 1633, to obtain beans from the
Indians. He encountered a whale on the first day, at the mouth
of the river, and " two large whales near the yacht," on the follow-
ing day, which made him wish for the sloop and the harpooners
which were lying at Swanendael. On the 5th of the month, the
yacht arrived before "the little fort named Nassau." The fort
was unoccupied except by Indians, who were assembled there to
barter furs, but, De Vries " was in want of Turkish beans, and
had no goods to exchange for peltries." He was advised by the
Indians to enter Timmer kill,1 but he was at the same time
cautioned by an Indian woman not to enter the kill entirely.
This woman, after having been bribed by the present of a cloth
garment, discovered the fact that the crew of an English sloop
had been murdered, who had gone into Count Ernest's river.2
The story of this woman was confirmed by the appearance of some
of the Indians dressed in English jackets. Thus placed on his
guard, and by making the Indians believe that he had been
made acquainted with their wicked designs through the agency
of their own evil spirit, Manitoe, he was enabled on the 8th
of the month to make a lasting peace with them, which was con-
cluded with the usual Indian solemnities. Soon after this, some
corn was obtained, and also some beavers.

On the 10th at noon, they came to anchor at " Jaques Island,"
and on the day following in the evening " about half-a-mile above
Minquas Kill."3 Here they saw a whale six or seven times,
which surprised them, as it was " seven or eight miles (Dutch)
into fresh water." On the 13th at noon, they had arrived

1 Said to be Cooper's creek.

2 This sloop had been seut from Virginia to explore the river, the September pre-
vious. De Vries' Voyages, N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. iii. 35.

3 Christina creek.

16 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1633.

at the ship at Swanendael, where they were greeted by their
friends, who in their absence had shot two whales, which yielded
but little oil.

On the 18th of January, goods were placed in the yacht,
which again sailed up the river, but was frozen up in Wyngaert's
kill from the 19th of January, till the 3rd of February.
While here, they shot wild turkeys weighing from thirty to thirty-
six pounds ! When they reached Fort Nassau, they found no
Indians, the fort being evacuated, but as it had commenced to
freeze again, and being apprehensive of danger, if frozen up
where they were, they " hauled into a kill1 over against the fort,"
where they remained eight days before the ice broke. The
Indians soon made their appearance in unusually large numbers,
for it turned out that a war was raging between the " Minquas
who dwell among the English in Virginia,"' and the tribes on this
river, one of which, De Vries calls Armewamen, and another
Sankiekens. After having been subjected to very great danger
from the Indians and floating ice. they returned again to the ship
on the 20th, after an absence of a month. There was great
rejoicing at their safe return, by those left at Swanendael, as
" they did not imagine that we had been frozen up in the river,
as no pilot or astrologer could conceive, that in the latitude from
the thirty-eighth and a half to the thirty -ninth, such rapid run-
ning rivers could freeze."

Still in pursuit of supplies, but partly to gratify a little vanity
in being the first of his countrymen to visit that country, he set
sail for Virginia on the 6th of March. Here he met with an ex-
ceedingly kind reception from the Governor, but after informing
his Excellency that he came from South river, he was made
acquainted with Lord Delaware's visit to the bay, and the English
title thereto : whereupon our worthy captain duly set forth the
Dutch claim to the country, resting it on the establishment of
Fort Nassau. " It was strange to the Governor, that he should
have such neighbours and never heard of them." The Governor
sent six goats by De Vries for the Governor at Fort Amsterdam,
and after having purchased provisions, he returned to the whale
fishery at Swanendael.2

During his absence, but seven whales had been caught, and
they very poor ones, yielding but thirty-two cartels of oil.
Seventeen had been struck, which went to show that the bay was
frequented by those creatures, but their poorness seemed to
satisfy De Aries that the business would not be profitable. On
the 14th of April, he sailed for Fort Amsterdam, (New

1 Probably Hollander's creek.

2 De Vries met with plenty of peach trees nearly in bloom on the James river — the
irst he had seen on this coast. X. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. iii. 34.

1633.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 17

York) on his return to Europe, leaving no Colony behind him,
and the whole bay and river free from any European settlement.

1 nder certain conditions, patroons were permitted to engage
in the peltry trade, "at such places where the Company have
no factories,"1 and it cannot be doubted but this trade, in connec-
tion with the whale fishery, had a paramount influence in the
establishment of the ill fated colony at Swanendael. Still, there
are reasons for believing that it was the intention of the Patroon
owners to make it a permanent settlement, and this too in the
face of the fact, that no females were carried out on either of the
voyages. They were the owners of the soil — they sent out with
their people, horses, cows, implements of husbandry and seeds ;
and when they became the victims of savage cruelty, thev were
actually engaged in agricultural pursuits. Regarding, then. Fort
sau as a mere trading post, and nothing more can be claimed
for it. the unfortunate Colony at Swanendael may be held to be
the first effort of the white race to make a permanent settlement
on the Delaware.

As we go along, it will be necessary to note the changes in
the government, to which the count i ,ymg the territory now

occupied by our little County was subjected. Director Mi mm
having been recalled during the past year, he was succeeded by
Wouter Van Twiller, who arrived at Fort Amsterdam in the
spring of 1633 intone of the Company's ships, accompanied by
104 soldiers, that being the first military force ever detailed for
New Netherlands He was a near relative to the patroon. Van
Rensselaer, and it is said, owed his appointment more to that
circumstance than to any particular merit he possessed.

On the 10th of April, 1033. Chancellor Oxensteirn revived
the interest which had formerly existed in Sweden in respect to
Colonies, in signing by authority of the crown, the proclamation
that had been left unsigned by Gustavus Adolphus. The time
for uniting with the Company wa* extended to the first of the
next year, and William Usselinex appointed the first Director.

Many authors have assumed that settlements were made by
the Swedes on the Delaware, as early as 1631. No settlem
were made on that river by the Swedes except by authoritv of
their government. This well authenticated act of the renowned
Swedish statesman, leaves no room for doubt on the subject.

The trade in peltries, at this time, became very profitable,
which induced the new Director to turn his attention to that
species of trade on the Dehnvare. With the view of rendering it
more secure to the West India Company, it is said he directed
Arent Corsen, who had been appointe'd Commissary at Fort

1 Article XV. Freedoms and Exemptions — Hist. >~ew Xetherland, i. 116.
- Hist. Xew Xetherland. i. 142.

18 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1634.

Nassau, to purchase from the Indians a tract of land situated on
the Schuylkill, which purchase was accordingly made during the
year 1683.1

As this is the first claim to land in our vicinity by virtue of a
title acquired from the Indians, and as it comes to us under very
suspicious circumstances, particularly as to the time of the pur-
chase, a document that was executed many years afterwards in
confirmation of that claim will be here given at length.

"We, the undersigned, namely: Amattehooren Alibakinne,
Sinques, Sachems over the district of country called Armenve-
ruis,2 situate around and on the Schuylkill, declare well and truly
to have sold to Arent Corsen, the Schuylkill and adjoining lands,
for some goods, which were not fully paid to us, but as we are
now fully satisfied therein, therefore, we, the above named
sachems, do hereby fully and irrevocably convey and cede the
same, confirming the aforesaid sale, and are ready on all occa-
sions to maintain and defend against all pretension and claim to
be set up to it by whomsoever, etc. Thus done, and in testi-
mony of the truth signed by us natives, in the presence of the
undernamed witnesses. Done in Fort Beversreede in the South
River of New Netherland. Signed, marked in this manner,
thereby written."3

The unmeaning marks of the Indians, of which there are four
besides those made by the three sachems, appended to this docu-
ment, are omitted, and also those of the witnesses of whom two
were of the council. It is also attested by J. Hudde.

The above document, it will be seen, is without date ; but
another paper,4 somewhat similar in character, executed in 1651,
that will be noticed hereafter, gives us to understand that the
transaction occurred in 1648. Both documents were got up
when spirited controversies existed between the Swedes and
Dutch, and may be safsly regarded as attempts to patch up an
Indian title to lands by the latter, that would ante date any
claim set up by the Swedes.

The extreme jealousy of the West India Company, lest any
one should share with them, in the smallest degree, the trade of
New Netherland, led to fierce disputes with patroons still residing
in Holland. The different interpretations put on the charter of
the company, and on the privileges granted by them to the
patroons, were well calculated to widen the breach between the

i N Y. Col. Doc. i. 588.

2 Armenveruis, on the Dutch map, is located on the Jersey side of the river, near
Fort Nassau.

s N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 593.

4 lb. 598. This purchase of land on the Schuylkill by Corsen, is referred to in
Hudde's Keport. He gives the date of the transaction confirming the purchases, as
June 10th, 1648.

vi Part ofRvaaevcen,'.? .Hop of

New JVe therl/irvcb,

Jl msterdam* I6T6.

Bowm A Co >'ith. PkOada

1635.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 19

parties. With the view of terminating these unpleasant quarrels,
and it may have been partly on political considerations, the
Directors of the company were authorized by the Assembly of
XIX of the States General, to repurchase patroonships.

Under this authority, the patroon owners of Swanendael on
the 7th of February, 1635, retransferred all their right, title and
interest in their lands on both sides of the bay, to the West
India Company for the sum of 15,600 guilders, ($6,240.)' All
charters, maps and papers concerning the aforesaid colonies,
were to be delivered over to the purchasers. This transaction
was well calculated to put an end to private enterprise on the
Delaware river on Dutch account, and probably had that effect.

The British government never having recognized the claims of
the Dutch to any part of North America, a party from the
English colony on the Connecticut river, consisting of George
Holmes, his hired man Thomas Hall, and about a dozen others,
attempted to effect a settlement on the Delaware in 1635. Hall
deserted his master, and the others, failing in an attack upon
Fort Nassau, were captured by the garrison and sent to Manhat-
tan.2 These Englishmen were not punished, but were permitted
to settle in the vicinity of Fort Amsterdam, and are said to be
the first English settlers among the Dutch on Manhattan. This
Thomas Hall became a man of some distinction, as his name fre-
quently appears in the Dutch records.

Although this attack on the Dutch fort was unsuccessful, the
fact that it was made by so small a party, is evidence of the
weakness of the garrison, and of the small establishment kept on
the Delaware by the company at this time, to protect its trade ;
nor is there any evidence that this force was kept there perma-
nently.

Up to this period, there is no reliable evidence that the Dutch
had effected any permanent settlement on the Delaware ; and
unless the unfortunate colonists at Swanendael be an exception,
no one had adopted its shores as his home for life, or as an
abiding place for his posterity. From the period of the foray of
Holmes and his Englishmen, till about the time of the arrival of
the Swedes in 1638, the doings of the Dutch on our river, remain
very much in the dark, for the want of authentic documents on
the subject, during that period.

A report,3 made to the States General in April of that year,
"on the condition of the colony of New Netherland," furnishes
rather conclusive evidence that nothing of the kind had been at-

1 Hist. New Netherland i. 365. For a translation of the deed, ib. Appendix S.

2 DeVries in N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. iii. 76 ; Hist. New Netherland i. 170 ; N. Y. Col.
Doc. i. 431.

3 N. Y'. Col. Doc. i. 106.

20 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1638.

tempted. Even the present occupancy of the river is not claimed,
as "will be seen by the following question and answer extracted
from that document.

" Are these limits, (limits including the Delaware,) in the pos-
session, at the present time, of the West India Company, and the
inhabitants of this country ?"

Answer : " We occupy Mauritius, or the North river ; where
there are two forts, Orange and Amsterdam ; and there is more-
over one house built by the company, and that is most of the
population."

The house here spoken of, in the opinion of Dr. O'Callaghan,1
the very best authority on the subject, was the " House of Good
Hope," built by the Dutch on the Connecticut river.

The charter of the Swedish West India Company, having been
completed, it was printed in Hamburg in 1635. It was not, how-
ever, till 1637, that any active operations connected with the
establishment of a colony on the Delaware, were commenced.
The name of WTilliam Usselinex, the projector, not only of the
Swedish Company, but also that of the Dutch ; and who had been
named in the proclamation of Oxenstiern as the "first director,"
no longer appears.

Arrangements having been fully made for planting a Swedish
colony, (on the Delaware,) the expedition for its establishment
was placed under the charge of Peter Minuit, who had served the
Dutch West India Company as their first Director, and who, no
doubt, had a practical acquaintance with the river. The squad-
ron consisted of but two ships, the " Key of Kalmar," a man of
war, and the " Griffin," a tender. They sailed from Gottenburg
very late in the year 1637, or early in 1638, both vessels "being
well stored -with provisions, ammunition and goods proper for
commerce with the Indians, and donations for them."2

The first notice of the arrival of the expedition on our coast,
is contained in a letter written from Jamestown in Virginia, by
Jerome Hawley the treasurer of that colony, and is dated May
8th, 1638. 3 The date of the arrival is not given, but it was sub-
sequent to the 20th of March of that year, and at least ten days
prior to date of his letter. Minuit refused to exhibit his commis-
sion to the authorities of Virginia, except upon condition of free
trade in tobacco to be carried to Sweden, which was refused, as
being " contrary to his Majesty's instructions," but he freely
proclaimed the fact, that " he held it from the young queen of
Sweden, and that "it was signed by eight of the chief lords" of
that government. During the ten days the ship remained at

1 His note at the foot of p. 107, N. Y. Col. Doc. i.

2 Acrelius in N. Y. Hist. Col. i. N. S. 409.

3 N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. 20.

1638.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 21

Jamestown, to refresh with wood and water, Minuit also made
known " that both himself and another ship of his company ivere
bound for Delaware Bay," which, in the language of the letter,
" is the confines of Virginia and New England, and there they
pretend to make a plantation and to plant tobacco, which the
Dutch do also already on the Hudson river, which is the very
next river northward from Delaware bay."'

Minuit having sailed from Jamestown previous to the 8th of
May, the date of the treasurer's letter, the time of his arrival in
the Delaware may be estimated with sufficient accuracy. There
are still other facts that will narrow down the period, during
which he must have arrived.

Van Twiller had been succeeded as Director-general of New
Netherland, by William Kieft, who arrived at Fort Amsterdam
on the 28th of March of this year. As early as the 28th of
April, this new and vigilant Director, had been made acquainted
with the arrival of the Swedes on the Delaware, as on that day,
he addressed a communication1 to the directors of the West India
Company, advising them of the movements of Minuit, a notice of
which he had received from Peter Mey, the assistant Commis-
sary at Fort Nassau. One of the Swedish vessels had sailed past
the fort, had dropped down again, had been prevented from
going up a second time, and had been visited officially by Mey
for the purpose of seeing Minuit' s license, previous to sending a
notice to Kieft of the arrival of the strangers. These trans-
actions, with the time required for a messenger to reach the seat
of government, must have occupied at least a week, and besides,
it is fair to presume that the Swedes had been in the Delaware
several days before the Dutch assistant Commissary had become
aware of their presence. As they could not have left Jamestown
before the 1st of April, the time of their arrival in the bay could
not vary more than a few days from the middle of that month.

Sailing up the bay, Minuit first landed at "Paradise point,"
now known as " Mispillon point,"2 a short distance above the site
that had been occupied by the unfortunate Colony of De Vries
and his co-patroons. The next place at which he cast anchor,
was off the mouth of the Minquas river, which, in honor of the
young Queen of Sweden, he named Christina. On this stream,
about two and a half miles from its mouth, Minuit effected a
landing at a point then favorable for that purpose, and now
known as " The Rocks. "3 Here, after having purchased the land
from the Indians, he erected a fort or trading house, upon which
he also bestowed the name of the Swedish sovereign.

Immediately upon receiving notice of the arrival of the Swedes

1 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 592.

2 Original Settlements on the Delaware, 40. 3 lb. 42.

22 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1638.

on the Delaware, Director-general Kieft dispatched Jan Jansen,1
clerk of Fort Amsterdam, to keep a watch over their doings, with
instructions, in case Minuit intended to do anything to the dis-
advantage of the Dutch, "to protest against him in due form."
This duty was faithfully performed, hut failing to have the desired
effect, Director Kieft caused the Commander of the Swedes to
be served with a protest under his own hand, of which the follow-
ing is a copy.

•' Thursday, 6th of May, 1638.

I, Wilhelm Kieft, Director-general of the New Netherlands,
residing on the island of Manhattan, in the Fort Amsterdam,
under the government which appertains to the high and mighty
States General of the United Netherlands, and to the West India
Company, privileged by the Senate Chamber in Amsterdam,
make known to thee, Peter Menuet who stylest thyself com-
mander in the service of her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, that
the whole South river of New Netherland, both the upper and
lower, has been our property for many years, occupied with forts,
and sealed by our blood, which also was done when thou wast in
the service of the New Netherlands, and is therefore well known
to thee. But as thou art come between our forts to erect a fort
to our damage and injury, which we never will permit, as we also
believe that her Swedish Majesty has not empowered thee to
erect fortifications on our coasts and rivers, or to settle people on
the lands adjoining or to trade in peltry, or to undertake any
other thing to our prejudice ; now therefore we protest against
all such encroachments, and all the evil consequences from the
same, as bloodshed, sedition, and whatever injury our trading
company may suffer ; and declare that we shall protect our rights
in a manner that shall appear most advisable."2

Acrelius gives this protest the above date, but it is without
date, as recorded in the Albany Dutch documents, where it stands
between papers dated respectively, on the 6th and 17th of May.3

Minuit being perfectly aware of the weakness of the Dutch at
Manhattan, and of the disinclination that government would have
at that time, to have a misunderstanding with her Swedish
Majesty, had but little regard for these paper missiles, but pro-
ceeded on with the erection of his fort, which was soon com-
pleted, when he heartily engaged in the trade of the country ; a
business he had learned in the service of the Dutch. Before the
end of July, both vessels had departed for Sweden well freighted
with furs. This rapid progress of the Swedish Colony, which

1 N. Y. Col. Doe. i. 592.

- Acrelius, 409 ; Haz. Reg. iv. 82 : Haz. Ann. 44.

3 Minuit made no reply to the Protest of the Governor, but replied in writing to
that of Jansen. N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 592.

1638.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 23

was doubtless owing to the intelligence and experience of the
Commander, became so alarming to the Dutch Governor at Man-
hattan, that he at once advised the West India Company in re-
spect to it, by a letter dated on the 81st of July, 1638, of which
the following is an extract.

" Minuyt erected a fort on the South river, five leagues from
ours ; attracted all the peltries to himself by means of liberal
gifts; departed thence with two attendant ships, leaving 24 men
in the fort, provided with all sorts of goods and ^^^^
provisions, had posts set up with these letters, o. k.. s.
&c.'n

From this letter it might be inferred that Commander Minuit
returned to Sweden with the ships. Acrelius, however, gives us
to understand that he did not, but remained and "did great ser-
vice to the Swedish Colony;" and during three years protected
this small fort which the Dutch never attempted;" and that
" after some years he died at this place."2

While it is conceded that the Dutch had for a long time traded
on the river ; that they had there erected forts or trading posts,
one of which had been occupied from time to time since 1624 ;
that they had purchased lands from the Indians on both sides of
the bay near its mouth, and had made an unsuccessful attempt
to plant a Colony at Swanendacl, yet it cannot be denied that
the Colony of Minuit, constituted the first permanent settlement
on the Dataware. While the Swedish Government may claim the
distinction of planting this Colony, it is really entitled to very
little credit on account of any immediate care and attention be-
stowed on it. The whole number of emigrants it is supposed,
did not exceed fifty souls,3 and a portion of these were criminals.4
Though well supplied in the beginning, they were left a long
time without aid or succor from Sweden, and but for the experience
and energy of the Commander, a Dutchman, the permanency of
the Colony could not have been maintained. As it was, but a
single day intervened between the time appointed, for its disso-
lution, and the arrival of supplies that saved it from that catas-
trophe.5

A most important act performed by Minuit, was the purchase6
from the Indians of the whole western shore of the Delaware to

1 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 592. 2 N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 410.

:1 Haz. Ann. 46.

4 N. Y. Col. Doe. i. 588. Van Der Donk, in his Description of New Netherland,
designates the Colony as a " small band of Holland Swedes," N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S.
i. 141.

5 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 593.

6 Acrelius says, " Immediately, land was bought from the Indians, a deed was given
written in Low Dutch, (as no Swede could yet interpret the Indian.) By this agree
ment the Swedes obtained all the western land on the river, from Cape Heulopen to
the Falls at Trenton, then called by the Indians Santican, and as much inward from
it in breadth, as they might want," 409.

24 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1638.

the falls, near the present site of Trenton. Besides giving the
Swedes some show of an equitable title to the country, against
the legal claim set up by the Dutch, it enabled the Swedish set-
tlers to occupy their lands in a manner much more satisfactory
to the natives.

It is but fair to state, that this purchase by the .Swedes was
called in question by the Dutch authorities of Manhattan at
a subsequent period, on the flimsy testimony of certain Indians
procured in a very questionable manner. These Indians denied
" that the Swedes or any other nation had bought lands of them
as right owners" except a " small patch," embracing Christina
fort. These savages, of whom Mattehoorn was one, claimed to
be the " great chiefs and proprietors of the lands, both by own-
nership and descent, and appointment of the Minquas and river
Indians."1

There is still other evidence of this early Swedish purchase.
Captain Israel Helm, who was a justice of Upland Court, in-
formed the Rev. Mr. Rudman of the purchase, to the extent that
has been mentioned, and that the "old people" had informed
him that they often had seen there "fixed stakes and marks."
" The purchase was formerly stated in writing, under which the
Indians placed their marks." This was seen by Mr. Helm when
at Stockholm.2

This digression, to establish the Swedish purchase from the
natives, will be excused, as it was the first effort of civilized man
to extinguish the Indian title to the district of country that is to
claim our particular attention. It will be seen that it embraced
Swanendael, for which the Dutch had already acquired the Indian
title, and also the lands about the Schuylkill to which, on account
of prior purchase, they set up a rather doubtful claim. The lands
within the limits of our County, were free from any counter claim
on this account ; and it follows, that to the wise policy of the
Swedes we are really indebted for the extinguishment of the

1 This denial of the Swedish purchase might be entitled to some weight, had it been
procured in a proper manner. It is said to have been elicited at Fort Nassau many
years subsequently, (1651,) by Director-general Stuyvesant in person. The follow-
ing extract from the Dutch, and of course the only account of the transaction, giving
the first answers of the Indians, will satisfy the reader how little reliance should be
placed on an answer obtained at a later hour in the conference, from an unskilled native
of the forest, in an ex-parte transaction, at a period too when custom would forbid
the absence of intoxicating drinks.

Question. — "What and how much lands the Swedes had bought from the sachems
or chiefs on this river?"

" Mattahoorn, the Sachem, answered by asking another question. Why was not
the sachem of the Swedes present, that they might ask himself, and hear him? The
General's reply was that being invited, he was apparently unwilling to come."

'' The chief Mattahoorn answered, secondly,— that all nations coming to the river,
were welcome to them, and that they sold their land indiscriminately to the first who
asked it," see N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 597.

2 Extract from Rudman's Notes in Clay's Ann. 17.

1640.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 25

Indian title to our lands, — a policy first introduced by the Dutch
as a matter of expediency, and subsequently adopted by William
Penn on the score of strict justice to the natives.

But it cannot be contended, that in accordance with national
law, this purchase from the natives, gave to the Swedish govern-
ment any legal claim to the country. They had no legal rigid
to make purchases from the Indians. To the Dutch, as discover-
ers of the river, belonged the right of pre-emption, or if any
doubt existed on this point, it would be in favor of the English.
As against the Swedes, the Dutch claim rested not only on dis-
covery, but the exercise of preemption and occupancy.

The Rev. Reorus Torkillus, accompanied the Swedish expedi-
tion and remained with the Colony at Christina as its pastor,
where he died about five- years afterwards. The Dutch who had
a small garrison at Fort Nassau at the time of the arrival of the
Swedes, continued to maintain it there, as well for the purposes
of trade, as to keep a strict watch on the movements of the new
comers, of which Director Kieft was kept constantly advised. It
is from his rather ill tempered communications1 to the West India
Company that we have the little that is known in respect to the
Christina Colony, for the next two years.

In 1639 they had so much interfered with the Dutch trade on
the river, as to reduce it to "a small amount," and "by under-
selling, had depressed, and continue still, to keep down the
market." Up to October of that year, the Dutch trade had " fal-
len short full 30,000 (beavers,)" but hopes were entertained,
k' that they must soon move off, if not reinforced." The location
of Fort Christina was not very favorable to health, and it is pro-
bable that the despondency incident to ill-health had something
to do with the projected removal of the Colony. That it did not
happen was owing to the timely arrival of fresh settlers, we learn
from a letter of Director Kieft, dated the last of May, 1640, of
which the following is an extract.

" The Swedes in the South river were resolved to move off and
to come here. A day before their departure a ship arrived with
a reinforcement."2 The same in substance is repeated in another
letter from the Dutch Director, dated on the loth of October,
following. This timely arrival at once revived the confidence of
the Colony, and blasted the hopes of the Dutch.

On the 24th of January, 1640, a passport was granted by the
Swedish government to " Captain Jacob Powellson, with the
vessel under his command, named Fredenburg, laden with men,

1 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 592. For a translation from " Beschrijving Van Virginie, Neiu
Nederland, Ac." published at Amsterdam in 1G51, of an account of the first settlement
of the Dutch and Swedes on the Delaware, see Haz. Reg. i. 4.

2 lb. 593.

2G HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1640.

cattle and other things necessary for the cultivation of the
country ; (who,) designs departing from Holland to America or
the West Indies, and there establishing himself in the country
called New /Sweden."1

The Fredenburg was doubtless the vessel, whose opportune
arrival, saved the colony of Fort Christina from its impending
fate. This relief, so absolutely necessary to the salvation of the
colony, was a mere incident, as the Fredenburg was not dispatch-
ed for that purpose, but as a pioneer in the establishment of a
kind of patroonship of Hollanders under the authority of the
crown of Sweden. The grant for this purpose, which bears even
date with the passport of Captain Powellson, was made to Henry
Hochhanmer & Co., and embraced lands on both sides of the
Delaware without bounds, except that they were to " limit their
possessions to four or five German miles from Fort Christina."2
We learn from a letter of the same date, addressed " to the
Commandant or Commissary and other inhabitants of Fort
Christina in New Sweden," that a grant of lands was at first
made to a Mr. De Horst and others, whose operations were re-
stricted to the north side of the river, and " to there found a
colony." The "gracious intention" is also expressed, in this
letter, of sending to the colonists of Fort Christina from " Got-
tenburg next spring, if it pleases God, one or two vessels with
all sorts of provisions." God's pleasure, in giving relief to the
infant colony, seems, in this instance, to have anticipated the
"gracious intentions" of her Swedish Majesty.

Passports for other vessels connected with the Hochhanmer
settlement or patroonship were granted in blank at the same
time, and an agent named Jost De Bogardt was appointed, who
accompanied the expedition. From his commission and the
obligation he assumed, it appears that he was to act as the gene-
ral agent of the government on the river, and was not to let any
opportunity pass, " of sending to Sweden all information which
may be useful to her Majesty and the crown of Sweden." As
he was under the pay of the government, at the rate of 500
florins or 200 rix dollars per annum, with a promised increase of
100 florins in case of new proofs of his attachment and of his
zeal to promote the welfare of the Swedish crown, and also re-
compense "in a royal mnnner," according to circumstances, it
is fair to infer that Mr. De Bogardt went out in the capacity of
a spy; and as he was a Dutchman, it is most probable that one
important part of his duty was to watch over the doings of the
government of New Netherland.

1 English translation of Swedish documents in possession of the American Philo-
sophical Society, procured by the Hon. Jonathan Russell when Minister of the U. S.
to the Court of Sweden. Haz. Reg. iv. 177, &c. 2 Haz. Reg. iv. 177.

1641.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 27

The Hochhanmer Company probably resulted from the dis-
putes and jealousies that occurred among the Directors of the
Dutch West India Company. The privileges1 granted to him
and his associates were ample and liberal in respect to trade and
commerce, very much more liberal than the Dutch West India
Company granted to their patroons. In addition to the office
of general agent of the crown of Sweden, it is highly probable
that Jost De Bogardt held the post of commander of this new
colony, as he is mentioned as occupying that position, in the in-
structions to Governor Printz, issued in 1642. 2

Peter Hollandare, a Swede, appointed to succeed Peter Minuit
as governor of New Sweden, arrived in the first of the vessels
that brought out the Dutch colony,3 or what is more probable,
came in one of the vessels sent shortly afterwards for the relief
and reinforcement of the colony at Christina. His administra-
tion continued but one year and a half, when he returned to
occupy a military post in his native country.4

Since the unsuccessful effort of George Holmes and his small
company in 1635, we have no notice of any attempt by the
English to make a settlement on our river till about this period.
Their operations, even now, are involved in much uncertainty.
Mr. Samuel Hazard, whose investigations have thrown so much
light on the early settlements on the Delaware, after diligent
search among the ancient records of New England, " can collect
but little definite information on the subject," except that several
attempts at settlement were made.5 In a Dutch document,
characteristically long, descriptive of New Netherland, publish-
ed in 1649, the efforts of the English "at divers times and places
to annex this South river," is adverted to. According to this
authority they had, previously to that time, been prevented from
making actual settlements " by divers protests and by being ex-
pelled by force, well knowing if they but once happened to settle
there, the river would be lost, or cause considerable trouble."6

In the records of the United Colonies, evidence exists that an
effort was made in 1640 to plant a colony from New Haven. A
Captain Turner, agent for New Haven made a large purchase
" on both sides of Delaware bay and river." Besides trade, the
object of the purchase " was for the settlement of churches in
gospel order and purity."7

In the year 1641, against the anxious admonition of Director
General Kieft,8 a company of emigrants from New Haven, pro-

1 For an English translation of this grant, see Haz. Reg. iv. 178.

- lb. 220. 3 Hist. New Netherland, i. 365.

* Acrelius, N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 410; Clay's Ann. 18.

5 Haz. Ann. 57. 6 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 292.

7 Haz. Ann. (as extracted from Haz. Hist. Col.) 57; also Trumbull Hist. Con. i. 116.

8 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 144 ; Hist. New Netherland, i. 253.

28 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1642.

ceeded to the Delaware in a barque fitted out by a Mr. Lamber-
ton and placed under the command of Robert Cogswell. Not-
withstanding the purchases of land made the previous year,
these emigrants made others, and located themselves on Varhens
kill near the present town of Salem, N. J., in direct violation
of a promise made by the captain of their vessel to Director
Kieft. New England history and records establish the fact that
such a settlement had been commenced on the Delaware ; but
the actual existence of English settlers, at the locality mentioned,
is first officially noticed in the instructions of John Printz, the
third Governor of New Sweden. The instructions, which are
drawn up with ability and with a very correct knowledge of the
river, are dated at Stockholm on the 15th of August, 1642.
They left it to the discretion of the Governor, either to attract
these English families (numbering about 60 persons) under the
authority of the crown of Sweden, or what the government
thought better, to secure their removal. To effect the latter
alternative, the Governor had the sanction of his sovereign, " to
work underhand as much as jiossible, with good manners and
with success. "x

In another attempt by the English to make a settlement on
the Delaware, they did not even keep at a respectful distance
from other settlements, " but had the audacity to land in the
^South river' opposite Fort Nassau, "where they made a begin-
ning of settling on the Schuylkill, without any commission of
a potentate."2 This intrusion, in the estimation of the Dutch, was
an affair of " ominous consequence," that might eventually result
in the ruin of their trade on the South river.

No time was to be lost in getting rid of these dangerous rivals ;
and in consequence of a resolution of the authorities of New
Amsterdam, that this was to be done, " in the best manner possi-
ble," two yachts were placed under the charge of Jan Jansen
Van Ilpendam, with particular instructions for that object.3
These instructions were promptly carried out in respect to those
located on the Schuylkill, who, it appears, were only a company
of traders, and their whole establishment a single trading house.
This house was burnt, and those in charge of it subjected to in-
dignities and losses, by the attacking party. Smith, in his
history of New York,4 supposes these English intruders to have
come from Maryland, but this is not credited by Bozman the
historian of that province, because " no Maryland records have
been found that mention any such an attempt from that quarter."5

1 For a translation of these instructions entire, see Haz. Reg. iv. 219, &c.

2 These purchases were made by the agents of the Commissioners of New Haven,
N. Y. Hist. Col. i. 224.

3 Acrelius, 413. * Page 6. 5 Hist. Maryland, ed. 1837, 206.

1642.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 29

The English Colony on Salem creek was also got rid of. In
effecting its removal, the Swedes have the credit of lending a
helping hand to the Dutch.1 The only measures, in which the
Dutch and Swedes could unite harmoniously in carrying out,
were such as would keep the English from gaining a footing on
the river.

Our narrative has now reached a period in which the citizens
of Delaware County will feel a local and more direct interest.
The government of Neiv Sweden, and substantially that of the
whole river, now passed into the hands of John Printz, who
established his seat of government within the limits of our County.
This was the first settlement made by civilized man within its
limits, and the first permanent settlement within the bounds of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of which any record exists.

The new Governor was a military man, and held a commission
as lieutenant-colonel of cavalry. His instructions,2 which are
dated at Stockholm, on the 15th of August, 1642, are very care-
fully prepared, with a full knowledge both of the geography and
the condition of the country. They enjoin upon him to see that
neither violence nor injustice was done nor permitted to be done
to the Indians, and that in order to secure their trade and good-
will, he should " furnish them with the things they require at lower
prices than those they receive from the Dutch of Fort Nassau,
or from the English their neighbors." If he felt able to protect
himself in Fort Christina, he was to engage the people to give
themselves to agriculture with zeal, " especially sowing enough
grain, to support the people under his orders ;" after which his
attention was to be given " to the culture of tobacco." Besides
the cattle and sheep sent out, he was at liberty to purchase
others from his English neighbours, and, " before all," he was
to direct his attention to the sheep, " in order to have a good
species," so that a considerable portion of good wool might in
future be sent to the mother country. The trade in peltries was
to.be supported in a good condition, and the manufacture of salt,
the culture of the grape, and the raising of silk-worms suggested.
Metals and minerals were to be sought after, and how fisheries
may be established "with profit," was to be inquired into, " as
according to report they may, at certain times of the year,
establish the whale fisheries in Godyn's bay and its neighborhood. ' '
Whatever regarded police, government, and the administration
of justice, was to be done, " in the name of her Majesty and of

1 Acrelius, 413 ; Hist. New Netherland, i. 253. Unfounded charges were made by
the Dutch agent and Swedish governor against the English, that they had plotted with
the Indians "to cut them off." They needed some excuse for their conduct see N
Y. Hist. Col. i. 225.

2 For the instructions at length from the MSS. in possession of the American Philo-
sophical Society, see Haz. Reg. iv. 219, and for a good abstract, Haz. Ann. 63.

30 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1643.

the crown of Sweden." From the necessity of the case, it was
not possible to give " perfect and detailed instructions," but much
was left to the discretion of the Governor. Great offenders might
be punished " with imprisonment and other proportionate punish-
ments, and even with death," but not otherwise " than according
to the ordinances and legal forms, and after having sufficiently
considered and examined the affair with the most noted persons,
such as the most prudent assessors of justice that he can find and
consult in the country."

The Dutch Colonists, sent over two years before and settled
below Fort Christina, were to be permitted to exercise the re-
formed religion — all others were to be subject to the Augsburg
Confession, and the ceremonies of the Swedish church. Thus it
will be seen that the settlement of our County commenced with
an established religion, though it cannot be said that conformity
to it was ever rigorously exacted.

As has been mentioned, the Swedes based their claim to the
country wholly upon their purchases made from the Indians,
followed by occupation. The extent of that claim is estimated
at thirty German miles in length — its width in the interior, as
had been stipulated and decreed in the contracts with the savages.
" that the subjects of her Majesty and the members of the Navi-
gation Company, might take up as much land as they wished."

The Swedish Dutch Colony is referred to in the instructions
to Printz, as subject immediately to Commander Jost De Bogardt,
but the Governor is enjoined to see that the stipulated conditions
under which the settlement was made, are complied with, and
their removal to a greater distance from Fort Christina is sug-
gested.

Previous to the issuing of these instructions to Governor
Printz, the two vessels the Stoorlc and the Renown which were
to bear him and his fellow adventurers to New Sweden, had
sailed from Stockholm for Gottenburg to complete their equip-
ments. According to the Rev. John Campanius,1 who accom-
panied the expedition, they sailed from Gottenburg on the 1st
of November, 1642, and after a tedious voyage by the way of
Antigua, arrived at Fort Christina on the 15th of February,
1643, having experienced a severe snow storm off the Hooern kill,
from which one of the vessels sustained great damage.

The energetic character of the new Governor is abundantly
evinced during his administration ; and could his acts always
have been tempered by prudence, his success would have been
greater. The expedition under his command was the most form-
idable that had entered the Delaware, and it required him but a
very short time to give the Swedish establishment on the river a
very imposing aspect.

1 Campanius, 70.

1643.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 31

His instructions required that the river might " be shut" or
" commanded." For this purpose, the position of Fort Christina,
at once determined its insufficiency. The bold shore of the island
of Tennaconk1 (Tinicum,) then extending further into the river
than it now does, was wisely selected as the site for a new fortress ;
for while by its position it commanded the river, its proximity to
Fort Nassau enabled the Governor more readily to control the
operations of the Dutch. Its insular position also rendered it
more secure from attacks by the Indians.

Besides the fort, which was named New Gottenburg, Governor
Printz, " caused to be built there, a mansion for himself and
family which was very handsome ; there was a fine orchard, a
pleasure house and other conveniencies. He called it Printz
Hall."2 The dilapidated remains, of what was said to be the chiin
ney of this mansion, were standing within the recollection of the
author, and up to this time one of the small foreign made bricks,
of a pale yellow color of which it was partly constructed, may be
occasionally picked up in the vicinity.3 Its site was a short
distance above the present Tinicum hotel, and on the opposite
side of the road.

The fort, we are told by Hudde, was built of groenen logs,4 the
one on the other, and "was pretty strong." Groenen has been
translated hemlock, but as that timber did not grow within any
convenient distance of the place, and that of a kind much better
fitted for the purpose was at hand, there is evidently a mistake,
either in the translation or in the statement of Hudde.

This vigilant Governor did not feel satisfied that he had quite
"shut the river" by the erection of Fort Gottenburg; for before
the expiration of eight months from the day of bis arrival, he
had completed another fortress near the mouth of Salem creek,
which he called Elfsborg or Elsinborg, and on which were
mounted eight brass twelve-pounders.5

Upon the arrival of Governor Printz, the only European
population on the river were the few persons occupying the
Dutch Fort Nassau, the Swedish colony at Christina, and the
Dutch patroon colony established by the Swedish government at
one or more points lower down. How many persons accompanied
the Governor is not known, but the number though not large,

1 It seems probable that this word in the Indian language meant " Island."

2 Campanius, 79.

3 Ferris in his " Original settlements on the Delaware," says : " This Hall stood more
than 160 years, and was at last burnt down by accident since the commencement of
the present century."

4 Hudde's Rep. N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 429.

5 The guns were lying there, and the fort " not entirely finished" when visited by
De Vries, October 20th, 1643, see his voyages, N. Y. Hist. Col. iii. 123. Campanius
says this Fort " was erected by Governor Printz, when he first came into the coun-
try," 80.

32 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1643.

was probably greater than the whole previous population of the
river. He brought with him his wife and one daughter and
probably other members of his family, a lieutenant-governor and
secretary, a chaplain and surgeon, (barber,) besides twenty-four
regular soldiers with officers sufficient for a much larger force.
These, with an ample supply of military stores and provisions for
the garrison, and a large stock of goods suitable for Indian traffic,
which is known to have constituted part of the freight of the
two vessels, would leave but little space for actual settlers, their
household goods and implements of husbandry. Still a consider-
able number of settlers accompanied the expedition, who doubt-
less fixed their places of abode within a convenient distance of
the newly erected forts. It was the first successful colony planted
within the limits of Pennsylvania.

We are told by Campanius,1 that " on this island [Tinicum]
the principal inhabitants had their dwellings and plantations.*'
From the limited extent of the island this could not have con-
tinued long in respect to the plantations. In 1645, when
Andreas Hudde, the Dutch commissary on the Delaware, made
his examination of the river preparatory to making his report
to the government, there were on the same side of the river with
Fort Christina, and about two [Dutch] miles higher up, " some
plantations," which, in the language of the report, " are con-
tinued nearly a mile ; but few houses only are built, and these
at considerable distances from each other. The farthest of these
is not far from Tinnekonk. * * * Farther on, at the same
side, till you come to the Schuylkill, being about two miles,
there is not a single plantation, neither at Tinnekonk, because
near the river nothing is to be met but underwood and valley
lands."2

This report, from such a close and accurate observer as Hudde,
renders it certain that the immigrants who accompanied Printz,
as they spread themselves from Tinicum, at first for a time, con-
tinued within the bounds of what is now Delaware County. The
points on the river where no marsh or flats intervene between
the water and the shore, were doubtless the locations first occu-
pied by these settlers. Chester, Marcus Hook, and one or two
points above and below, may therefore claim a priority of set-
tlement to any part of the county of Philadelphia, and after
Tinicum, of any part of the Commonwealth.

It is not easy, at this time, to arrive at any satisfactory con-
clusion in respect to the social and domestic condition of the
settlers on the Delaware at the time of the arrival of Governor
Printz, and for a short time afterwards. The Swedes were of
three classes : " The company's servants, who were employed by

i Hist. New Sweden, 79. 2 N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 429.

1643.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 33

them in various capacities ; those who came to the country ' to
better their fortunes,' and who, by way of distinction, were call-
ed freemen; and a third class, consisting of vagabonds and
malefactors," who " were to remain in slavery and were employ-
ed in digging earth, throwing up trenches, and erecting walls
and other fortifications."1

Fort Nassau was merely a military establishment to maintain
a trading post. It is not known that any actual settlement had
been made at that point, previous to the arrival of Governor
-Printz, or for some time afterwards. The fort was occupied by
the soldiers and servants of the Dutch West India Company,
and there is reason to believe that at times, some of the latter
were negro slaves.2

But little is known of the early doings of the settlement of
Hollanders under Swedish authority on the river and bay below
Christina. As has been before observed, this colony had its
origin in the bitter feuds that existed between the patroons and
the West India Company. The chief element in this controversy
was the amount of trade which should be enjoyed by the patroons,
which the Company seemed determined to wholly monopolize
themselves. As the trading privileges contained in the Swedish
grant to these Hollanders are strikingly liberal, it is reasonable
to conclude that trade at first constituted their chief employment.

In respectto domestic animals, goats were probably first in-
troduced. In the investigation of charges brought against
Governor Van Twiller in 1639, a witness mentions " twenty-four
to thirty goats,"3 as being in his custody at forts Hope4 and
Nassau. The careful and prudent Minuit had no doubt supplied
his settlement at Christina with both cattle and sheep. In the
grant to the colony of Hollanders, it was provided that they
should take "two or three vessels with men and cattle," and as
the English settlers at Vrakens kill (Salem) came from New
England, they were doubtless well supplied with domestic ani-
mals, which were probably left on the river when they abandoned
their new home.

Prior to this period, but very few females of European birth,
had resided on the Delaware. There was not one in the ill-fated
colony at Swanendael, by her supplication for mercy, to stay the

1 Campanius, 73.

2 Haz. Ann. 49, as quoted from the Breviat, case of Penn and Lord Baltimore, 35.
The " Freedoms, privileges and exemptions," proposed by the States General prior to
1640, but not adopted, contains this article : " In like manner the Incorporated West
India Company shall allot to each patroon, twelve black men and women out of the
prizes in which negroes shall be found, for the advancement of the Colonies of New
Netherland," N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 99.

3 Haz. Ann. 50.— In 1634, the Governor of Virginia sent 6 goats to Director Van
Twiller, by De Vries, as " he had understood there were no goats at Fort Amsterdam."

4 Fort Hope was on the Connecticut river.

3

34 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1643.

hand of savage cruelty. The affidavit of Dame Catelina Tricho,
before given, establishes the fact that on at least one occasion,
four females accompanied their husbands to Fort Nassau ; but as
the fort was soon abandoned, and only occupied occasionally up
to the arrival of Printz, their residence here could only have
been temporary.

There is also some evidence that the colony at Christina did
not consist exclusively of the male sex. The Rev. Reorus
Torkillus, the Swedish priest, who accompanied Minuit, we are
informed by Campanius,1 took a wife there, by whom he had one,
child previous to his death on the 23rd of February, 1643. It is
not to be supposed that Mrs. Torkillus was the sole representa-
tive of her sex in that colony ; nor would it be reasonable to con-
clude, that the colony of Jost De Bogardt, had omitted to intro-
duce an item so necessary to its prosperity and permanency.
Still the number of European females on the river, prior to the
arrival of Governor Printz, must have been very few, and even
with the addition brought by him, the number must have been
disproportionately small compared with the other sex.

Tobacco and maize, and probably beans, were Indian produc-
tions of the river prior to the arrival of the Dutch or Swedes.
Wheat, rye and buckwheat, with a number of garden vegetables,
had become articles of culture at this period. But the immigrant
settlers had none of the luxuries, and but few of the comforts of
civilized life. Where woman was so nearly excluded, but few
could feel that they had a home even in name.

In respect to religious matters on the river, there is nothing on
record, except that the Rev. Mr. Torkillus officiated as clergyman
at a church built within the walls of Fort Christina up to the
period of his death.

The river is generally spoken of as healthful ; but it would ap-
pear that great sickness and mortality prevailed among the set-
tlers in 1642. Winthrop2 attributes the dissolution of the
English "plantation," that is, the settlement at Salem creek, to
the sickness that prevailed that year. He says, "the same sick-
ness and mortality befell the Swedes settled on the same river."
The despondency, with which the early colonists were usually
seized, was well calculated to increase the mortality of any serious
disease that might happen to prevail.

Up to this period, notwithstanding the repeated sales of large
tracts of land that had been made to the Dutch and Swedes by
the Indians, the country remained substantially one unbroken
forest, and was almost as much in possession of the savages, as
when Cornelis Mey first sailed up the river. They had received
but little compensation for their lands, but as yet, they had the

1 Page 107. 2 Winthrop's Journal, ii. 76.

1643.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 35

same use of them as they had heretofore enjoyed — not dreaming
that the enjoyment of these lands by the white man was event-
ually to result in the total exclusion of their race. The time has
now arrived for dispelling this delusion. The traffic, that neces-
sarily made the savage a party, is gradually to give place to the
culture of the soil, that renders his presence a nuisance.

Before resuming our narrative, it may not then be amiss,
briefly to advert to the Indian tribes that occupied the river
when first visited by Europeans. These tribes collectively, have
been designated Lent Lenape, or Delaware Indians. They had
once been a more powerful and warlike nation, but had been con-
quered by those more northern and western assemblages of Red
Men known in history as the "Five Nations."1 Not only were
they a conquered people, but, on the condition of still being per-
mitted to occupy their lands, they had subjected themselves to a
kind of vassalage that excluded them from engaging in war, and
according to Indian ideas of such matters, they were placed on
a footing with women. They remained in this degraded condi-
tion until the last remnant of the nation had left the shores of
the Delaware.2

The Leni Lenape were not exclusively confined to the shores
of the Delaware. They occupied most of New Jersey and the
whole valley of the Schuylkill. The .northern portion of this
large district was occupied by a division of the nation called
Minsi or Muneys. The Nantieokes, a rather warlike independ-
ent nation, occupied the eastern shore of the Chesapeake.3

The Delaware Indians enjoyed the advantage of a general
exemption from the horrors of savage warfare, as a guarantied
protection was an incident to their vassalage ; but they were
frequently subjected to the intrusions of parties of the Five
Nations, who occupied portions of the Lenape country, as their
occasions required. The Minquas, whose name was borne by
the Christina river, was among the warlike tribes that most fre-
quently visited the Delaware for trade. Campanius located
them twelve (Swedish) miles4 from New Sweden, "on a mountain
very difficult to climb." He also describes them as a very war-
like tribe, who had forced the Delaware Indians, who were not
so warlike, to be afraid of them " and made them subjects and

1 The Indian communities embraced in this confederacy, were the Mohawks, Oneydas,
Onondagos, Gayugas and Senecas. Colden's Hist. Five Nations, 1st part, 1. In
1712, the Tuscaroras,a, kindred nation from North Carolina, removed to western New
York and joined the confederacy, after which it was known as the "Six Nations."
By the French these Indians in the aggregate were known as the Iroquois.

2 At a treaty held at Philadelphia in July 1742, Canapatego, a chief of the Onondagos,
thus reprimanded and taunted the Delawares, who were present, for continuing on
lands they had sold : " We conquered you ; we made women of you ; you know you are
women and can no more sell land than women." Colden's Five Nations, part ii 79

3 Bancroft's Hist. U. S. iii. 238.

4 One Swedish mile is equal to six of our miles.

36 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1643.

tributary to them ; so that they dare not stir, much less go to
war against them."1

The Minquas Indians, as a tribe, belonged to the Five Nations.
They resided upon the Conestogo, but their visits to the Dela-
ware for purposes of trade or to fish were frequent.

It will thus be seen that the early settlers on the Delaware,
had two classes of Indians very different in character to deal
with ; the one a constant inhabitant of the country whose presence
was familiar to them and caused no uneasiness ; the other, an
occasional visitor whose stay amongst them, when the object of
it was not well understood, excited apprehensions for their safety.
The Lenape lived in small tribes, generally occupying the tribu-
taries of the Delaware. Each tribe was frequently known to the
settlers by the Indian name of the stream it occupied.

In returning from a digression that seemed necessary, to pro-
ceed with our narrative, we will confine our observations more
closely hereafter to the small district of country under notice.

Governor Printz possessed many qualifications that fitted him
for the position he occupied. His plans were laid with good
judgment, and were executed with energy. He managed the
trade of the river with the natives so as to monopolize nearly the
whole ; and while the jealousy of the Dutch, on this account,
was excessive, he succeeded during his whole administration, in
avoiding an open rupture with that government. But he was
imperious and haughty, and sometimes gave offence, especially
in personal interviews, when a milder course would have better
befitted the occasion.

Though the Swedes had erected a fort on the Jersey side of
the river, they never placed so high an estimate on their title to
the land on that side, as to that on the western shore. As a
consequence, most of their settlements were at first made on this
side of the Delaware, up which, and the Schuylkill they were
gradually extended. These rivers and our numerous tide-water
creeks, constituted the highways of the Swedish settlers, and it
was in close proximity with these streams their habitations were
erected.

The annual pay of the Governor was 800 Rix dollars,2 which
of course did not include his rations. In addition to this, and in
remuneration of the long and excellent services that he had ren-
dered to the crown of Sweden, and was then rendering, his
sovereign, by a deed of gift executed on the 6th of November,
1643, granted to him and his heirs, the whole Island of Tinicum.3

If we can rely upon the statement of De Vries who visited the
Governor on the 13th of October, 1643, and remained with him
several days, he was a man of enormous dimensions, weighing

1 Campanius, 158. 2 Haz. Reg. iv. 314. 3 Appendix, note A.

1644.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 37

over four hundred pounds.1 At the time of this visit by De
Vries, the Swedish fort at " Verchens kill" was not "entirely
finished," and there were "some houses" at Fort Christina. The
vessel in which De Vries made his visit, was laden with Madeira
wine, a portion of which the skipper exchanged with the Gover-
nor for beavers.

John Papegoya, who had sometime since returned from New
Sweden, was recommended to Governor Printz by a letter from
the Qeeen and her council, dated at Stockholm on the 2nd of
November, 1643.2 The Governor was recommended "graciously
to employ him" in those affairs "to which he might think him
adapted," and " to give him as much as will be possible and
reasonable his protection, in order to his advancement." The
suggestions contained in the letter were construed most liberally
in favour of the bearer ; for not long after his arrival in New
Sweden, he became the son-in-law of Governor Printz, and took
the position of second in command to him.

Campanius informs us, that in the beginning of Governor
Printz's administration, "there came a great number of criminals
who were sent over from Sweden. When the European inhabitants
perceived it, they would not suffer them to set their foot on shore,
but they were all obliged to return, so that a great many of them
perished on the voyage."3 The same author says, that it " was
after this forbidden, under a penalty, to send any more criminals
to America, lest Almighty God should let his vengeance fall on the
ships and goods, and the virtuous people that were on board."
This part of the statement is not strictly correct, for reliable
evidence exists that an individual was sentenced to be trans-
ported to New Sweden nearly ten years subsequently.4

The settlement of the country proceeded very slowly under the
Swedish dynasty, while trade was pushed to an extent never
before known upon the river. This was a source of great annoy-
ance to the Dutch, as the trade of the river was lost to them in
proportion as it was acquired by the Swedes. In the language
of Van der Donk, they " would regret to lose such a jewel by the
devices and hands of a few strangers."5

It is by no means wonderful, that the Dutch should become
alarmed at the progress the Swedes were making in securing the
trade of the river, for during the year 1644 they freighted two
of their vessels, the Key of Calmar and the Fame, with cargoes
that included 2,127 packages of beaver, and 70,421 pounds of

i N. Y. Hist. Col. iii. 123.

2 Haz. Reg. iv. 214.

3 Campanius, 73, related on the authority of Nils Matton Utter, who after his return
home, served in his Majesty's Life Guards.

* Haz. Reg. iv. 374.

5 See his description of New Netherland in N. Y. Hist, Col. N. S. i. 142.

38 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1645.

tobacco.1 This shipment of tobacco would indicate that this
noxious plant was cultivated to a considerable extent on the
river at that early period.

The Swedes mill, known to have been the first mill erected in
Pennsylvania, was probably built this year, though it possibly
might have been erected during the year 1643. It was located
on Cobb's creek immediately above the bridge near the Blue
Bell tavern. From the holes in the rocks at the point mentioned,
the mill must have occupied a position partly over the stream,
and was doubtless driven by a tub-wheel which required but lit-
tle gearing. Karakung, as given by Campanius, was the Indian
name of Cobb's creek. This mill, which the governor " caused
to be erected," he says, " was a fine mill, which ground both fine
and coarse flour, and was going early and late : it was the first
that was seen in the country. There was no fort near it, but
only a strong house, built of hickory and inhabited by freemen."2

The jealousy of the Dutch on account of the progress made by
the Swedes, induced their Governor (Kieft) to send an agent to
the Delaware to keep a watch on the procedures of Governor
Printz, and to resist his supposed innovations. The person
selected was Andreas Hudde, whose report, though incomplete,
was made at different dates. That part of it from which the two
following paragraphs have been taken, was made the 1st of
November, 1645. As it will be seen the Swedes mill was then
erected, and was erected by Governor Printz, who arrived in the
country 1642, the date of its erection can hardly vary from the
time above mentioned.

" In regard to this Schuylkill, these are lands purchased and
possessed by the Company. He (Governor Printz,) employed
the Company's carpenter, and constructed there a fort3 on a very
convenient spot on an island near the borders of the kill, which
is from the west side secured by another creek, and from the
south, south-east, and east side with valley lands. It lays about
the distance of a gun-shot in the kill. On the south side of this
kill, on the same island, beautiful corn is raised. This fort can-
not, in any manner whatever, obtain any control on the river,
but it has the command over the whole creek ; while this kill or
creek is the only remaining avenue for trade with the Minquas,
and without this trade the river is of little value."

" At a little distance from this fort was a creek to the farthest

1 Hist. New Netherland, i. 370. — De Vries says, the tobacco raised in New Nether-
land and also on the South river was not different from that raised in Virginia. N. Y.
Hist. Col. N. S. Hi. 125.

2 Campanius, 81.

3 Jt was subsequently reported, that this fort was erected on the site of a Dutch
trading-house, which was demolished by the Swedes, but this is very improbable. The
Company's carpenter would hardly engage in such a business. See Hist. New Nether-
land, ii.'79.

1645.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 39

distant wood, which place is named Kinsessing by the savages,
which was before a certain and invariable resort for trade with
the Minquas, but which is now opposed by the Swedes, having
there built a strong house. About a half a mile further in the
woods, Governor Printz constructed a mill on a kill which runs
into the sea [river] not far to the south of Matinnekonk, and on
this kill a strong building just by the path which leads to the
Minquas ; and this place is called by the savages Kakarikonk, so
that no access to the Minquas is left open ; and he, too, controls
nearly all the trade of the savages on the river, as the greatest
part of them go a hunting in that neighborhood, which they are
not able to do without passing by his residence."1

The above extracts have been introduced not only because
they exhibit the means resorted to by the Swedes to secure the
whole trade of the river, but because they contain all that the
Dutch Commissary Hudde, relates on the subject of the location
of the Swedish fort on the Schuylkill ; in respect to which Mr.
Ferris in his History of the original settlements on the Delaware.2
has fallen into a very serious error — an error, the correction of
which has been rendered more important from the fact that the
opinion of Mr. Ferris has been relied upon by subsequent writers,3
on account of his supposed "local knowledge."

Mr. Ferris locates this fort on a cluster of rocks, once a very
small island in the Schuylkill above Bartram's Garden, but now
connected with the shore by marsh meadow. As the island on
which the fort was erected, " lays about the distance of a gun-
shot within the kill," it became necessary for our author to re-
move the mouth of the Schuylkill to a point a short distance
below the site of the Bartram Garden — now the seat of Mr.
Thomas Eastwick, because the water at high tide was over " the
great meadows," extending from thence "in a southerly course
to the Delaware." Even if the real mouth of the Schuylkill had
been mistaken by Hudde, the " cluster of rocks" fixed on by Mr.
Ferris would entirely fail to meet his description of the island
upon which the Swedish fort was erected. This island, from the
west was " secured by another creek," and " on the same island
beautiful corn was raised." While these facts could not possibly
apply to the site designated by Mr. Ferris, they, as well as the
other facts mentioned by Hudde, exactly fit the island then, as
now, at the real mouth of the Schuylkill. The location of the
fort was undoubtedly upon what is now known at Province island ;
and as it could not in " any manner whatever obtain any con-
trol on the river," but had " the command over the whole creek"
or kill, its exact site must have been near the western abutment
of Penrose Ferry Bridge, or perhaps a little lower down.

' Hudde's Rep. in N. Y. Hist. Col. i. N. S. 429.

2 Page 70. 3 Haz. Ann. 78.

40 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. £1645.

" At a little distance from this fort was a creek to the farthest
distant wood which place is named Kinsessing bj the savages."
This is designated " Minquas creek," on the "map of the first
settlements, &c." contained in this volume, and is still known
in the neighborhood under the corrupted name of Mlnkus. That
the name assigned to this creek on our map is the one it bore in
very early times, is confirmed by a conveyance of Marsh mea-
dow bordering on it, by Lasse Cock to James Hunt, bearing date
27th of 3rd mo. 1685, 1 in which that name is applied to it, and
is conclusive in establishing its identity with the creek referred
to by Hudde. This being established, there will be but very lit-
tle difficulty in fixing, approximately, the site of the " strong
house" built by the Swedes. This creek for some distance
borders on the fast land, and as the remainder of its course was
through grounds overflowed or partially overflowed at every high
tide, there is no room to doubt that the " strong house" occupied
some point on this margin of fast land. " About half a [Dutch]
mile further in the woods, Governor Printz had constructed a
mill, &c." This distance accords very nearly with the location
assigned to the " strong house" of the persevering and avarici-
ous Swedes.

There is an additional reason for locating this Indian and
Swedish trading post, at the point mentioned, in the fact, that
at this point there are several springs of water in the margin of
the marsh.

Hudde at this time, estimates the whole force of the Swedish
governor at from eighty to ninety men, "freemen as well as
servants with whom he must garrison all his strong places." But
the Dutch force on the river at the same time, and for some
years afterwards was utterly insignificant, even when compared
with that of the Swedes. In 1648 they had but six able bodied
men on the river.2

Jan Jansen Van Ilpendam, who had held the office of Com-
missary at the Dutch Fort Nassau, on account of improper con-
duct was recalled, and Hudde appointed in his stead, who proved
himself a more efficient officer in resisting Swedish aggressions,
at least with paper missiles. He repaired the fort, which he found
in a dilapidated and destitute condition.

The accidental destruction of Fort Gottenburg by fire, hap-
pened on the 5th of December, in the year 1645.3 This circum-
stance is not mentioned by Campanius, though it must have

1 Recorder's office, Philadelphia, book E, i. 492. The deed after describing other
tracts contains the following : " also my right, title and interest in the marsh meadow,
bounded southward with Minquass creek to the eastward with the Schuylkill river, to
the northward with Laud's creek, and to the westward with some of the same land."
On Hill's map of'' Philadelphia and Environs" generally known as " Hill's map of
Ten miles around Philadelphia" published in 1808, this creek is called " Mingo creek."

2 Hist. New Netherland, ii. 82. 3 Hudde's Rep. 429.

1646.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 41

happened while his grandfather resided there. It was doubtless
soon again rebuilt, as the seat of government of New Sweden was
continued at Tinicum.

The first controversy in which Commissary Hudde was engaged,
was on the account of the arrival of a shallop or sloop from
Manhattan under the command of Juriaen Blancke, a private
trader, who was ordered by the commissary to the Schuylkill,
"near the right, and to await there for the Minquas." When
arrived there, he was peremptorily " commanded to leave the spot
at once, as belonging to the Swedish crown." This, Commander
Blancke, at first refused to do, and referred the matter to Huclde,
who conducted a rather angry controversy with the governor,
which not being likely to result in obtaining permission for him
to remain in the Schuylkill, at the spot he desired to occupy, and
being a private person whose expenses and losses would not be
borne by the Company, he wisely took his departure ; not how-
ever by reason of any order from the Commissary. What is re-
markable, a Swedish priest, most probably Campanius, took a
part in the negotiation.1

It may be inferred from the proceedings in this controversy
that an arrangement had been entered into between the Swede's
and the Dutch about the trade of the Schuylkill. To a query
propounded by Printz : " On the Schuylkill, in what manner the
property of it is ascertained and understood ; what and how far
are extended its limits?" Hudde answers, "That the acts re-
lative to the division of the limits are at the Manhattans, where
he (Printz) may obtain correct information." Also in the letter
of the Governor to Blancke, directing him to leave, this language
occurs : " Directly leave that spot with your trading vessel m the
Schuylkill, seek the spot where usually sloops are accustomed to
trade— which shall not be prohibited ; neither do I desire that
my subjects shall be admitted there, from respect and friendship
for the commander and his commissions as long as you are re-
maining and trading in the Schuylkill, or that they would obstruct
your interests." It is evident that it was the particular place
that Blancke was in, that he was commanded to leave, and not
the kill. The letter of Governor Printz is dated at " Tinnekonk"
on the 20th of June, 1646.2

On the 12th of July following, the particulars of this event
was communicated by Hudde to Governor Kieft at Manhattan,
together with a plan for continuing the trade with the Minquas,

1 Hudde's Rep. 431-432.

2 lb.— In this communication by Governor Printz to Hudde, the following language
occurs: " That I compelled by force, Jurian Blanck to sail up and fasten his bark to
the bridge. It may reasonably be conjectured that this bridge was over Minquas
creek, connecting the main land with the opposite island near the site of the '• stron°-
house. —See map of Early Settlements. °

42 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1646.

and in the meantime he received instructions to inquire ahout
certain minerals in the country ; in pursuance of which he visited
Sankikans which was the Indian name for the Falls of the
Delaware at Trenton, but he was arrested in his upward progress
by an Indian sachem, who confided in the truth of a story
alleged to have been gotten up by Governor Printz, that the
Dutch " had an intention to build a house near the Great Falls,
and that in the vessels which were expected — 250 men would arrive
— which would be sent hither from the Manhattans, and would
kill all the savages below on the river, &c I"1 It was manifestly
the interest of the Dutch at this time, to have an establishment
higher up the river in order to secure its trade, and it is much
more reasonable to believe that something of the kind was con-
templated by them, than that the whole story was the malicious
invention of the Swedish governor.

Under instructions received on the 7th of September of this
year, " to purchase some land from the savages, which was situ-
ated on the west shore about a mile (Dutch,) distant from Fort
Nassau on the north," we find the vigilant commissary busily
engaged on the very next day, in taking possession of the covet-
ed spot, by erecting the company's arms upon it. This Christian
method of acquiring title to Indian lands, by taking possession
in advance of the purchase, is to be excused in the present in-
stance on account of the proprietor not being "at home." On
the 25th of the same month, however, the purchase was com-
pleted, in evidence of which the original proprietor aided in
placing the arms of the company on a pole, which was fixed in
the ground on the limits.2 This purchase included a portion of
the grounds now occupied by the city of Philadelphia, as it also
certainly did some of the lands that had been purchased by the
Swedes upon their first arrival in the country, and of course this
transaction became a bone of contention between the two govern-
ments. The planting of a Dutch settlement on the western
shore of the Delaware was now the policy of the authorities at
Manhattan.3 Upon certain Dutch freemen making preparations
to build on their newly acquired possessions, the Swedish com-
missary Henry Huygen, removed the emblem of Dutch sove-
reignty, that had been set up by Hudde with the assent of his
savage grantor, using at the same time the very insulting re-

1 Hudde's Rep. 432. 2 lb. 433.

3 As a further evidence of the disposition of the Dutch to gain a footing on the west
shore of the Delaware, their governor (Kieft) about this time granted to four freemen
100 Morgens of land, " lying almost over against the little island called Vogelsant,
(Singing bird) now Egg island, in the state of Delaware, on the condition that they
would improve it, and bear allegiance to their high Mightinesses, &c. See Haz. Reg.
iv. 119; Hist. N. Netherland i. 373; "York Book" Rec. deeds office, Dover, where
the name of the island is translated " Bird land/' Acrelius says the grantees never
came there. N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 417.

1646.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 43

mark : " that although it had been the colors of the Prince of
Orange that were hoisted, he would have thrown these too under
his feet."1 In one of the conflicts between the parties, a Swedish
sergeant behaved himself so much " against all good order and
decency," that Commissary Hudde felt it to be his duty to arrest
him and keep him "in the guard house some time," besides
giving him a severe reproof.

This event elicited from Governor Printz a sharp protest,2
directed to Hudde, in which he reminds him, " to discontinue
the injuries of which he has been guilty against the Royal
Majesty of Sweden," and accuses him of "gross conduct" on
account of his " secret and unlawful purchase of land from the
savages," alleging that in making it, "he betrayed his conviction
of the justice, equity and antiquity of his pretensive claims, of
which he so loudly boasted." This protest is dated N. Gotten-
burg, September 30th, 1646, 0. S., and Avas delivered by Oloff
Stille and Moens Flom, two Swedish freemen.

On the 22nd of October, the reply of Hudde was sent to the
Governor.3 It is rather pacific in its tone. He assures the
Governor, that he purchased the land of "the real owner," and
if he (the sachem) had sold the land previously to his Honor,
then he had imposed most shamefully upon him. He protests,
" that he performed everything and endeavoured to employ all
means, by which a good correspondence and mutual harmony
might be promoted," and closes with these words, " I will con-
fide, that it is your Honor's intention, to act in the same manner
— at least from the consideration that we who are clu^istians will
not place ourselves as a stumbling block, or laughing stock to
those savage heathens which I trust, that shall remain so, as it
is by your affectionate friend."

This affectionate epistle was received in a rather gruff manner
by the Governor, who threw it towards one of his attendants
saying, "there take care of it." This is reported by Hudde's
sergeant who acted as messenger on the occasion, and as the
Governor was engaged with " some Englishmen just arrived from
JSTew England," the statement maybe credited; but no credit
can be given to his tale, that the Governor took a gun down from
the wall "with the intention of shooting him."

Hudde also complained that Printz had forbidded his subjects,
(as he called them,) "to enter into any transactions" with the
Dutch. This non-intercourse policy does not appear to have
been very strictly enforced, for in less than a year, we find
Hudde and his wife at the Governor's table — the fact being re-

1 Acrelius says that this language was used upon the occasion of pulling down the
Dutch coat of arms raised at Sawtikan, (Trenton.)

2 Hudde's Report, 433. 3 lb. 434.

44 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1646.

ported to show the rough and vulgar expressions, his excellency
was capable of using in the presence of a lady.1

Nor were the Dutch annoyed alone by the Swedes. A letter2
from President Eaton of New Haven, to Governor Kieft, dated
August 12th, 1646, 0. S., complains of "injuries and outrages,"
to the persons and estates of the English, received at Manhattaes,
Delaware river, &c. Since the removal of the English colony
from Salem creek, there is no account of that people being
present in the river, except those in conference with Governor
Printz, above mentioned, and a trading vessel from Boston in
1644; four of whose crew were inhumanly murdered by the
Indians, and the balance — a man and a boy carried off by them.
These, through the instrumentality of Governor Printz, were
procured from their captors and sent to Boston — the man to be
tried for his life on the charge of having betrayed the vessel into
the hands of the Indians.3

It is not very creditable to the Rev. John Campanius, who
accompanied Governor Printz to America, that he has not fur-
nished a better account of the progress of ecclesiastical affairs
during his residence. He was no doubt much occupied in learn-
ing the language of the Indians, into which he translated Luther's
catechism. This work was partly accomplished during the six
years he resided in New Sweden. The Rev. Reorus Torkillus
dying about the time of the arrival of Campanius, the latter no
doubt officiated at Christina as well as at New Gottenburg. During
the year 1646, a church was erected at the seat of government
at Tinicum, which was consecrated to divine services on the 4th
of September and also its burying place, by the Rev'd pastor.
" The first corpse that was buried there was that of Catharine,
the daughter of Andrew Hanson. She was buried on the 28th
of October, in the same year being the feast of St. Simon and
St Jude."4

The site of the burying place, and doubtless that of the church
also, was close on the margin of the river, and is now occupied
by a part of its bed between the Lazaretto and Tinicum hotel,
but nearer the latter. It is not many years since human bones
were seen protruding from the undermined and receding bank of
the river.

The younger Campanius relates that " the Indians were fre-
quent visitors at his grandfather's house. When for the first
time he performed divine service in the Swedish congregation,
they came to hear him, and greatly wondered that he had so

1 Hudde's Report, 436.

2 For the letter, see N. Y. Hist. Col. i. 191, in which it is republished from vol. ii.
Haz. Hist. Col.

3 Haz. Ann. 82, as extracted from Winthrop's Journal.
* Campanius, 79-80.

1647.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 45

much to say, and that he stood alone and talked so long, while
all the rest were listening in silence. This excited in them
strange suspicions ; they thought everything was not right, and
that some conspiracy was going forward amongst us ; in conse-
quence of which, my grandfather's life, and that of the other
priests, were for some time, in considerable danger from the
Indians, who daily came to him and asked him many questions."

Campanius availed himself of these opportunities to make his
savage visitors understand there was one self-existing God ; to
acquaint them with the doctrine of the Trinity ; the creation of
the world and of man ; original sin ; together with the doctrines
and miracles of Christianity generally. If we are to credit his
grandson, whose statements are not the most reliable, he was so
successful in his instructions " that many of those barbarians
were converted to the Christian faith, or at least acquired so
much knowledge of it, that they were ready to exclaim, as Cap-
tain John Smith relates of the Virginia Indians, that so far as
the cannons and guns of the Christians exceeded the bows and
arrows of the Indians in shooting, so far was their God superior
to that of the Indians."1

Governor Kieft having been recalled, the administration of
affairs upon Dutch account on our river, passed into the hands
of Peter Stuy vesant, his successor, a man of great energy, intel-
ligence and bravery, but possessed of a will characteristic of his
countrymen. His administration commenced on the 27th of
May, 1647, and continued till 1664, when the American inter-
ests of the Dutch passed into the hands of the English.

The bickerings between the Swedes and Dutch were continued,
and during the early part of the administration of the new direc-
tor general, the latter, in their claims for redress were not more
successful than they had been under his less worthy predecessor.
The reason is obvious, as according to the most reliable authority
on the subject, the whole population of New Netherland at the
close of Kieft's administration did not exceed a thousand souls.2
Besides their weakness, the Dutch authorities may find an addi-
tional excuse for the neglect of their interests on the Delaware,
in the fact, that the whole energies of the government were, at
this time, required to resist the constant encroachments of the
New Englanders on their territory.

If the evidence of Commissary Hudde is to be relied upon, the
annoyances practised by the Swedes towards the Dutch were un-
ceasing and unendurable. In the absence of Swedish authority
on the subject, without questioning the general truthfulness of
the Commissary's statements, it would be unjust to give too

1 Campanius, 75, 76.

2 Hist. New Netherland, i. 38G.

46 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1647.

ready an ear to his suspicions ; to admit the correctness of his
conclusions without some grains of allowance ; or to believe that
all the aggressions of which he complains, were without provoca-
tion on the part of his people.

Hudde accuses Governor Printz with conniving at the abuse
of the Company's subjects — freemen as well as servants — " when
arriving at the place where he resides, ***** so that they are
often, on returning home, bloody and bruised," and he seems to
attribute similar treatment from the savages to these examples,
and particularly a surprise meditated by the Armewsick savages
on the 12th of May, 1647, at noon, which "was rendered void
by God's mercy and correct information, and through a misun-
derstanding amongst them." He accuses the governor with
closing the river, "so that no vessel can enter it on any account,
except with his previous consent;" with vilifying their High
Mightinesses ; treating as frivolous and insignificant the commis-
sions granted by the Director-general, &C.1

A petition for indemnity on account of Swedish aggressions,
got up in the year 1651, and presented to Governor Stuyvesant,
contains the following item :

" I, the undersigned Symon Root, most humbly request due
indemnity for incurred losses and damages ; first for the opposi-
tion of the Swedes offered to my building at Wiggnakoing2 in the
year 1647; inasmuch as the throwing down of the Hon',le Com-
pany's arms, and the destruction of the building erected by Com-
missary Andries Hudde, rendered it sufficiently apparent, that
further occupation there would be prevented by them."3

The Swedish governor is also accused by one John Geraet, of
seizing himself and his boat, the Sirae?i, with force and violence,
with handling his goods, and with taking from him three guns
and some powder.4

However unsatisfactory the proceedings of Printz were to the
Dutch, they met the hearty approval of his own government. In
a letter sent home by him in February of this year, he gave full
information " of the nature and actual condition of New Sweden,
as also respecting the progress of cultivation and the construction
of dwellings in that country." This information was "infinitely
agreeable" to her Majesty's government, and although she "had
remarked with particular satisfaction the zeal, skill and activity"
with which he had filled his station as Commander, (for so he is
styled in the letter,) and gave him assurances that " his zealous
and faithful services" should be held in remembrance and re-
warded with all her royal favor, yet she declined for the present
to confer on him "certain lands and occupations" for which he

1 Huilde's Report, 436. 2 Now Wicacco in Philadelphia.

3 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 594. * lb.

1648.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 47

had made a particular request in his letter. She " was well dis-
posed to grant him what was just," but the cautious government
of Sweden required that the business should first be examined
in the " chamber of finance," and that it should be ascertained
that the lands he asked " had not been given away or were not
required for the cavalry or soldiers."1

JPrintzdorp, hereafter to be mentioned, was probably granted
in response to the letter of the Governor.

On the 17th of August, Hudde delivered to Governor Printz,
a protest which he had received from Director General Stuyve-
sant, and having obtained permission to visit Manhattan, he
carried back with him the reply of the Swedish Governor. These
documents do not appear to be on record.

The ship Swan, which had accompanied Printz, arrived a
second time during the year 1647, bringing more people. Three
other vessels are mentioned as arriving during the administration
of Printz — the Black Cat, the Key and the Lamb.2

On the 20th of January, 1648, the Government of Sweden
issued letters patent in favor of the South Company, " for the
State of New Sweden and the payment of those in their employ,
granting one third of the excises of the crown upon all confiscated
tobacco, besides fines and forfeitures, and provided that in case
the revenue from this source should be insufficient to furnish the
necessary sum for the annual support of the State of New Sweden, "
the deficit was to be made up from the other resources of the
crown. In addition, all merchandise from Holland transported
to New Sweden, and not landed in Sweden to be sold, was to be
free from payment of duty, as were also tobacco and furs sent
from New Sweden to the mother country.3 This was a wise
stroke of policy on the part of the Swedish Government, as it
secured the regular payment of wages to the persons in their
employ, and at the same time gave the colony commercial ad-
vantages as favorable as could be desired.

A Swedish bark in going up the river, in violation of an
understanding between the two governments, neglected to show
her colors in passing Port Nassau. This Hudde regarded as a
national insult, and sent eight men in pursuit, which proved
unsuccessful. The testy commissary was not disposed to allow
the affair to pass unnoticed, particularly as the offending skipper,
on his return, had aggravated his offence by telling Hudde, that
his act was intended as a personal insult. The result was a for-
mal protest to Governor Printz, which, if it had no other effect,

1 For the Queen's letter, see Haz. Reg. iv. 315. Unfortunately the letter of Printz
is not among the documents procured by Mr. Russell and presented to the Philoso-
phical Society.

2 Acrelius, 410. 3 Haz. Reg. iv. 373.

48 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1648.

it gave reason to suspect that the representative of New Nether-
land, on " the South river," was disposed to make the most out
of a very small matter.1

Governor Printz was generally successful in the execution of
every scheme in which he engaged, but this year Stuyvesant was
advised that he (the governor) was tampering with the Minquas,
and endeavouring to obtain their consent to the erection of a
Swedish trading post in their country.2 Either the Dutch gover-
nor was misinformed, or Printz had over-estimated his influence
with this distant savage nation ; for no such trading post was
ever established.

During the winter, the Swedes had been engaged in bringing
together a large quantity of logs, and had already carried a
great number of them to the Schuylkill. This made Hudde appre-
hensive, "that the Governor had an intention to construct some
buildings near the place where the vessels are now usually laying
at anchor;" and he says, "as these, trading as before, had been
driven from Kinsessing, and we cannot otherwise approach the
large woods to trade with the Minquas, by which consequently
the trade being lost to us, the possession of the river, as I well
observed before, would deserve very little consideration."3 In
case the Swede went on with the building, and took possession
of some yet unoccupied places, Hudde humbly proposed '■'to
take possession of the tract of land nearest to him, in the name of
the Company." It happened very opportunely for the commis-
sary, and affords him some excuse for his subsequent proceedings,
which otherwise might have been considered as an act of aggres-
sion, " that on the fourth day of the same month, some sachems
came to him from the savages of Passayonk, who asked him why
he did not build on the Schuylkill ; that the Swedes had already
there some buildings constructed." Circumstances sometimes
almost miraculously adapt themselves to our wishes, or we might
suspect that Hudde had some instrumentality in bringing about
this kind invitation of the Passayonk savages, for the Dutch to
occupy their lands.

Having received " correct information with regard to the anti-
cipation by the Swede ; and particularly so with regard to some
places of the highest importance," he directly prepared himself
to build near the place, and on the 27th "went thither with the
most necessary timber, calling then without delay for the sachems,
and stating to them, that at present, he came there with the

1 Hudde's Rep. 437. , 2 Hist. New Netherland, ii. 79.

3 Hudde's Report, 438. This language of Hudde, confirms what has before been
suggested that the Dutch vessels were not driven from their usual place of anchorage
and trade in the Schuylkill, by the Swedes, and had only been interfered with when
they themselves were the aggressors. They were very properly driven from "Kinsess-
ing," where the Swedes had their " Strong House" as a regular trading post.

1648.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 49

intention to build on that spot which they had granted him."
Upon this representation, the sachems sent a message to the
Swedes "who lived there already, and commanded them to depart
from thence, insinuating that they had taken possession of that
spot in a clandestine way, and against their will and that they
had made a cession, for the present to Hudde ; that he too
should build there ; on which two of the principal sachems, as
Maarte Hoock and Wissementes, planted there with their own
hands the colors of the prince of Orange, and ordered that I
should fire a gun three times, as a mark that I had taken
possession."1

After this ceremony and waste of powder, the house was raised
in the presence of the chiefs, but towards evening the Swedish
Commissary, Huygens, with seven or eight men arrived there, to
question Hudde, " by whose permission or order he had raised
that house." Hudde replied, "by order of his masters, and with
the previous consent of the savages." The Swede demanded
documentary evidence that he was acting by authority of his
masters, "and not on letters of some freemen." This Hudde
agreed to produce, after Huygens had delivered to him the like
authority for making such a demand.

The sachems now interceded, and delivered a rather sharp
reprimand to Hendrick Huygens and his company. The}^ in-
formed them that they should grant the Dutch " that tract of
land, and that they would Settle there;" and asked, "by whose
orders they, (the Swedes,) did erect buildings there ? If it was
not enough that they were already in possession of Matennekonk,
the Schuylkill, Kinsessing, Kakanken, Upland, and other places
possessed by the Swedes, all of which they had stolen from them ?
that Mennewit, now about eleven years past, had no more than
six small tracts of land, upon Paghaghacking, purchased to plant
there some tobacco, of which the natives, in gratitude, should

enjoy the half of the produce ; that they, (the Swedes,)

arrived only lately on the river, and had taken already so much
land from them, which they actually settled, while they, [the
Dutch] pointing to them, never had taken from them any land,
although they had dwelt here and conversed with them more than
thirty years."2 Hudde continued the work — "surrounding the
house with palisades because the Swedes had destroyed before,
the house, which the company possessed on the Schuylkill, and
built a fort in its place, and they might do the same here."
While we were thus at work, continues Hudde, " arrives Maens
Klingo, Lieutenant at the fort on the Schuylkill, with twenty-
four men fully armed, with charged muskets, and bearing maces,
marching in ranks. He asked if we intended to finish that work,

1 Hudde's Report. 438. « lb. 439.

4

50 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1648.

and if we would proceed with it ? To which I answered, what
was commenced must be finished too ; upon which, he commanded
that his men should lay down their muskets, and each of them
should take his axe in his hand, and cut down every tree that
stood around or near the house — destroying even the fruit trees
that I had planted there."

This House of Contention, afterwards became what was well
known as " Fort Bevers Rheede," though the fact is not directly
stated by Hudde. As permission for its erection was obtained
from the Passayunk Indians, the site of this fort must have been
at some point on the east bank of the Schuylkill, now in the
first ward of the City of Philadelphia, and within the limits of
the former township of Passayunk. An approximate location
has been assigned to this fort, on " the map of the early settle-
ments," after taking into consideration the suitableness of loca-
tion in connection with the facts above stated.1

It will be observed, that in the harangue of the Passayunk
Savage, Upland is mentioned as a Swedish settlement. This is
the first notice of that town under its Swedish name, on record ;
but doubtless one or more of the plantations observed by Hudde,
in November, 1045, was at that place. It may also be inferred
from that harangue, that up to this time, the Dutch had not
made, what the speaker considered, an actual settlement.

It is now observable, that the Dutch became more anxious to
acquire an Indian title to the lands on our river, and particularly
to those lands that had been granted by the savages to the
Swedes. With this object, a committee of the high-council at
Fort Amsterdam, consisting of Vice-director Dinclage and the
Hon. La Montagne, were commissioned to proceed to the South
river, where they arrived on the 7th of June, and on the 10th,
obtained a confirmation, in writing, of a transfer said to have been
formerly made to Arent Corson. This document is given at length,
on page 18. By a reference thereto, it will be seen that the
lavage grantors claim to be "sachems over the district of coun-
try called Armenverius." This country on the Dutch map
is located on the Jersey side of the river, in the vicinity
of Fort Nassau, and not at all likely to include " the
Schuylkill and adjoining lands." Passayunk embraced" the
Eastern shore of the Schuylkill from its mouth some distance
upwards, and is given by Campanius as one of the "principal
towns or places" of the Indians, on the river ; and Hudde him-
self, but a little over a month previously, had recognized the
authority of its sachems to make a grant for the erection of a

1 The East bank of the Schuylkill has a bold shore half a mile above the Penrose
Ferry bndge. which continues some distance, and is the only suitable locality for a
fort or trading post within the limits of Passayunk.

1648.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 51

trading post on their lands, while it will be seen that these same
sachems are not among those who joined in this pretended con-
veyance, or rather confirmation without consideration, of a pre-
vious conveyance to Arent Corson, of the same lands, by the
same parties, part of the purchase money for which, was still
due ! A late writer has very properly remarked that, " the
readiness which the natives manifested to part with their terri-
tory, was equalled only by their willingness to sell it again to
any who might choose to purchase it."1 He might have added,
as applicable to this period in the history of our river, that
there was no lack of these purchasers, at second hand.

After the Hon. Committee of the Dutch Council had concluded
their purchase and had taken public and lawful possession, they
" with a becoming suite, sailed for Tinnekonk," where they met
with a very cold reception from Commissary Huygen and Pape-
goya, the son-in-law of Governor Printz, who kept them stand-
ing in a constant rain about half an hour. After being admit-
ted to an audience " they delivered, among others, their Solemn
protest against the aforesaid Printz, against his illegal possession
of the Schuylkill."2 Governor Printz promised to give his
answer before their departure, of which Hudcle has made no
note.

Places of settlement on the Schuylkill were now assigned to
several freemen. On the 2nd of July, one of the number com-
menced to build, but was prevented by the son-in-law of the
Governor, who caused to be pulled down and burnt what he had
raised, and adding insult to injury, threatened, " that if he there *
came again, he would carry off with him a good drubbing."3

Hudde records similar proceedings, though not so violent, on
the part of the Swedes, towards one Thomas Braes who attempt-
ed to settle and build at a place named by them " New Holm."
This is probably the same occurrence mentioned by Acrelius as
happening in 1646, in which Thomas Broen was the person de-
siring to build. If so, " New Holm" was located in the neigh-
borhood of Mantua Creek in New Jersey. Printz offered Broen
permission to build under Swedish jurisdiction, which he re-
fused.4

Commissary Hudde being temporarily absent on a visit to his
superiors at Fort Amsterdam, Governor Printz erected a build-
ing, about 30 feet long and 20 wide, immediately in front of the
new Dutch Fort Beversreede on the Schuylkill, " so that the
vessels that came to anchor under the fort could discover said
fort with difficulty." The back gable of the house was only 12
feet from the gate of the fort and on the outer side of it. Alex-

1 Mr Armstrong's Introduction to Record of Upland Court, 15.

2 Hudde's Report, 440. 3 lb. 440. 4 Acrelius, 411.

52 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1648.

ander Boyer, who had charge of the interests of the Dutch
during Hudde's absence, very properly regarded the building of
this house by Governor Printz, as intended more to insult his
" lords and masters than to reap, for himself any real advan-
tage from it," because, he said, "the ground in the same range
with our fort is large enough to admit twenty similar build-
ings."1

Boyer also reports two Swedes, as having been murdered by
the Maquas2 — the first instance on record of Swedish blood
having been shed by the Indians.

Hudde returned on the 5th of October, with a few freemen, to
whom had been delivered letters patent to settle and build on
the Schuylkill. He says he "was directly informed that the
Swede placed his best hope on the country of the Minquas
against the bargain concluded by us," and " to prevent similar
frivolous pretentions, and to shew that the contract, was by no
means broken by the honorable committee," he addressed a note
to Hendrick Huygens, intended to be shown to the Governor, of
which the following is an extract:—

" Honorable and obliging good friend, accept my cordial
salutation. It was with deep regret that I was informed on my
return, that our fugitives can find no residence in the Minquas
country, against the good intentions indeed of our Director-
general, who will not permit that anything shall be undertaken
by his subjects against our contract, but expects that similar
conduct shall be holden from both sides."3

It is evident from the foregoing extracts from Hudde, as has
been before suggested, that a contract existed between the
Swedes and the Dutch, that contained some specifications in re-
spect to the trade and occupancy of the Schuylkill ; and it is but
reasonable to conclude that the harsh conduct of Governor Printz
towards the Dutch on that river, resulted from a belief that their
acts were in violation of that contract. It may also be inferred
that the Minquas maintained a kind of ownership over the coun-
try about the mouth of the Schuylkill, as in my apprehension
the allusion to their country in the quoted language of Hudde,
had no reference to the usual place of residence of that power-
ful tribe of savages, which will be shown hereafter was on the
Susquehanna. This ownership might have been for the purposes
of trade or fishing, and to serve their convenience during their
periodical visits. Whatever, it was, Hudde was evidently appre-
hensive, that the late act of the committee of the Dutch Council
might be regarded with disfavor by these savages. In a subse-
quent negotiation with the Dutch, in which some of the same

i Hudde's Report, 441 ; Albany Records, Haz. Ann. 103.

* Haz. Ann. 104. 3 Hudde's Reports, 441.

1648.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 53

sachems who confirmed " the Schuylkill and adjoining lands" to
the honorable committee, participated, when asked whether
" they were chiefs and proprietors of the lands situate on the
west side of this river, at present partly incorporated and settled
by the Swede ?" replied that they "were great chiefs and pro-
prietors of the lands, both by ownership and descent, and by
appointment of Minquas and river Indians."1

The Schuylkill river was not the highway by which the
Minquas reached the trading mart near its mouth, or at Kin-
sessing, as might be inferred from the language of some writers.
Their route passed diagonally over the whole extent of Delaware
county, entering Philadelphia at the head of tide water on Cobb's
creek near the site of the Swede's mill; doubtless a branch of the
usually travelled path to their more southern trading post at
Fort Christina.2

The land assigned to the freemen, who accompanied Hudde on
his return, was located on the Schuylkill, at a place then known
as "Mast-makers Corner," "Point," or "Hook." In their
efforts to occupy and build on these lands, they met with the
same determined opposition from the Swedes, that others had
experienced. The officers to whom this work of demolition w^is
assigned, did not hesitate to avow, that they were acting under
the special instructions of Governor Printz. The exact position
of Mast-makers Corner is not known. It was on the east side
of the Schuylkill, and probably but a very short distance from
the Dutch Fort Beversreede. An account of these harsh pro-
ceedings on the part of the Swedes, forwarded to Fort Amster-
dam by Hudde on the 7th of November, closes the often cited
report of that vigilant functionary.3

Two days later, Adrian Van Tiedhoven, " Clerk of the court
on the South river," also reported sundry of the Swedish out-
rages above noted, but he arrives at the conclusion that these
cannot cause much injury to the Dutch trade with the Indians.
He, however, regards commerce here, as "nearly spoiled," as he
says, " we are compelled to give two fathoms white, and one of
black Seawant4 for one beaver ; one fathom of cloth for two
beavers ; every fathom of Seawant amounts to three ells, some-
times one-sixteenth less, so that in my opinion, this barter is too
much against us, as the Indians always take the largest and tall-
est among them to trade with ws."5

1 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 597.

2 See map of Early Settlements, and also plot of the survey for an Indian walk in
this volume.

3 Hudde's Rep. 442, in N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. For correction of date, see O'Callag-
han's Hist. New Netherlands, ii. 83, (note.) An application for damages to the Dutch
government, places the Mast-maker Hook affair in 1649, see N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 594.

4 The Dutch name for Wampum.

5 Haz. Ann. 108 ; Hist. New Netherlands, ii. 83. The ells mentioned were probably
Flemish ells. It might be inferred that the height of an Indian was taken for a fathom.

54 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1649.

The Swedish priest Campanius, after residing in the country
six years, "sailed from Elfsborg in New Sweden" on the 18th
of May, 1648. The Rev. Lawrence Charles Lokenius, succeeded
Campanius, and for a time had charge of the churches at Tini-
cum and Christina. After a time, he gave up the former but
kept the latter till his death in 1688. The Rev. Israel Holgh
was also a minister here in the time of Governor Printz, but
soon returned to his native country.1

The disagreements between the Swedes and the Dutch are still
continued, giving rise to a mutual hatred and jealousy. Stuy-
vesant, in a letter to Hudde, complains of the encroachment of
the Swedes — fears they will not stop, but admits that he does
not know " what he shall apply as a remedy." Even plans by
the Swedes are suggested, to interfere with the Dutch to and on
the North river. Each party agrees to pursue the policy of
obtaining additional grants of lands from the Indians, as the one
most likely to strengthen its claims upon the river. As yet the
Swedes maintain their ascendency.

As Campanius, the elder, left New Sweden in 1648, and it is
probable that most of the descriptions of settlements, &c„ in the
w6*rk of his grandson were derived from him, it may not be amiss
at this time to notice some of them that have not already claimed
our attention.

" Mecoponacka, or Upland,2 was an unfortified place, but some
houses were built there. It was situated between Fort Christina
and New Gottenburg, but nearer the latter. There was a fort
built there some time after its settlement. It is good even land
along the river shore."

" Passayunk was given by the crown to the Commandant
Swen Schute. At that place there was a fort called Korsholm.3
After Governor Printz's departure for Sweden, it was abandoned
by the Swedes, and afterwards burnt and destroyed by the
Indians."

" ManayunJc,4 or Schuylkill This was a handsome little fort,
built of logs filled up with sand and stones, and surrounded with
palisades cut very sharp at the top. It was at the distance of
four German miles east of Christina. It was mounted with great
guns as well as the other forts. Those forts were all situated on
the water side."

" Chinsessing was called the New Fort. It was not properly
a fort, but substantial log houses, built of good strong hard
hickory, two stories high, which was sufficient to secure the peo-
ple from the Indians. But what signifies a fort without God's

1 Campanius, 108; ib. 109, Du Ponceau's note.

2 Now Chester.

3 For the probable location of this tort, see the map of First Settlers.

* For the approximate location of this fort, see map of Early Settlements.

1651.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 55

assistance? In that settlement there dwelt five freemen, who
cultivated the land and lived very well."1

" Karakung, otherwise called Water Mill stream, is a fine
stream, very convenient for water mills : the Governor caused one
to be erected there. It was a fine mill which ground both fine
and coarse flour, and was going early and late ; it was the first
that was seen in that country. There was no fort near it but
only a strong dwelling house, built of hickory, and inhabited by
freemen."

" Chammassungh, or Finland. This place was inhabited by
Finns, who had strong houses but no fort. It lies at the distance*
of two German miles east of Christina by water ; and by land,
it is distant two long Swedish miles."

" Techoherassi, Olof Stille's place, was a small plantation,
which was built by Swedish freemen, who gave it that name.
They were frequently visited by Indians as it was on the river
shore, and surrounded with water like a small island." The
Indians named Olof on account of his thick black beard. This
place was near the mouth of Ridley creek.2

The troubles of Governor Stuyvesant were not alone with the
Swedes. He was constantly embroiled with his own people, ami
his New England neighbors gave him much trouble. His corres-
pondence3 with the English, in which several transactions on the
Delaware come under review, evinces much ability, while his
domestic feuds show him to have been self-willed and arbitrary.

In a communication from Secretary Van Tienhoven, to the
States General, dated February 22nd, he suggests the planting
of a colony at Swanendale — one on the east side of the bay, and
a third one, " at the company's redoubt, named Beversreede,"
as the best means of preventing the further ''progress of the
Swedes."4 The subsequent policy of the Dutch, on the Delaware,
is foreshadowed in this letter.

Governor Stuyvesant had been advised by the Directors of the
West India Company of their intention to apply to the Queen of
Sweden, for the establishment of limits between the Swedes and
Dutch on the South river.5 This may have been, in part, the
inducement for the visit of his excellency to the Delaware, which
happened this year. Upon his first arrival, it does not appear
that he had a personal interview with Governor Printz — as their
negotiations are said to have been conducted by means of " let-
ters and messengers." After communicating to the Governor,

1 This location has already been designated. See also map of Early Settlements.

2 See Lindstroom's map in Campanius, 46.

3 The correspondence of Governors Kieft and Stuyvesant with the English, and
which extended through several years, has been extracted from Haz. Hist. Col. and
published in N. Y. Hist. Col. i. 189-290.

4 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 361. 5 Haz. Ann. 122.

56 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1651.

the rights of the West India Company, by reason of first dis-
covery, possession and purchases from the Indians, " which
included the Schuylkill district," he demanded him, " to show
in like manner, by similar evidence, what lands there had been
purchased by him or his, and were consequently conveyed to them
by the natives and proprietors."

" The result was only a simple writing, wherein the aforesaid
Governor designated the Swedish limits wide and broad enough,"
alleging, that the deeds of the purchase were "in the chancery
at Stockholm."1 This allegation, Stuyvesant regarded as a mere
' subterfuge and destitute of truth. He endeavored to sustain
this serious charge against Printz by adducing the fact, that he
(Printz) then,*" for the first time, had tried to buy from a certain
sachem or Indian chief named Waspangzewan, such lands as he
already occupied, and insisted, were included within his limits."
The fact relied on by Stuyvesant proves nothing — it being more
likely that the offer to purchase was to get rid of a troublesome
claim, than to liquidate a just one. This is rendered more pro-
bable by the fact, that before Stuyvesant left the river, the
Indian sachem who refused to sell to the Swedes,made a "free
donation and gift" of the same lands to the Dutch.2

This occurred on the 30th of July. On the 9th of that month,
the very singular, and rather suspicious negotiation, was con-
ducted, by which the Dutch pretend to have extinguished the
Indian title to the land from Christiana kill to Bompgens hook,
before adverted to. This was also a " free gift" except that one
of the ceding sachems, made a condition, " that when anything
was the matter with his gun, it shall be repaired ;" and also,
that when he came empty among the Dutch, they were to give
him some maize. The grantors in this case were Amattehoorn,
Pemenatta and Sinques — who, although they claim to be the
right owners of the west bank of the river from the Schuylkill
downwards, declined selling the lands between that river and
Christina, to the Dutch. They, however, do admit, that the
Swedes did purchase the lands they occupy, but deny that it was
from the right owners, which they now claim to be. No deed
was executed at this conference, that ceremony having been
postponed for four years, when another grantor named Ackehoorn
joins in a regular Indian conveyance for the same premises — the
consideration being as usual, duffels, kettles, guns, powder, &c.
What is remarkable in this deed, the right of fishing and limiting
is reserved to the Indians.3

That the Swedes were the first to purchase from the Indians,
the lands included within the bounds of Delaware County, has
already been shown. The object of Governor Stuyvesant, was

1 N. Y. Col. Doe. i. 589. 2 For this conveyance, see ib. 596.

3 N. Y Col. Doc! i. 599.

1651.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 57

to make it appear, that the Swedish title was imperfect, because
their purchase was not made from the rightful owners. Of this he
brings no proof but the testimony of the adverse claimants, who
themselves refuse to sell to him this particular part of their
dominions.

Since the arrival of the Swedes, the names of the Indian sachems
who were owners, or who set up a claim of ownership to the
country embracing Delaware County, are — Siscohoka, Meche-
kyralames, Kyckesycken (Live Turkey,) Amattehoorn or Matte-
hoorn, Pemenatta, Sinques, Wappingzewan and possibly Aqua-
hoorn. These are given on Dutch authority.1 It will be seen
hereafter, that the dominions of a chief named Naaman, may
have extended within our limits.2

During General Stuyvesant's detention on the Delaware, a
petition for indemnity on account of injuries sustained at the
hands of the Swedes, at different times, and by sundry persons,
was presented to his Excellency. Several of these have been
noticed already ; but in addition, a garden had been made back
of Fort Beversreede, which was at once destroyed and the fence
burnt by order of Printz. Also two persons had commenced the
erection of buildings on the Island of Harommuny, or Aharom-
muny, "west of the Swedes' plantation," — one having " laid the
ground timbers and set up the ties" — the other had " brought
his clap-boards." In the first instance the timbers were cut
into fire wood, and in the second the building was forcibly pre-
vented, by the deputies of the Governor, Huygens and Papegoya,
" fully armed."3 No clue is given to the location of this Island
Aharommuny, except that it was "west of the Swedes planta-
tion." This expression could not have applied to Tinicum, because
there was no island west of it. It must refer to the Swedish fort
on the Schuylkill, and assuming that to be the case, I have
assigned the above name on the map of early settlements, to the
island situate next westerly from that on which the Swedish fort
is located, and at present occupied by farm buildings. This
island was confirmed to Peter Kock on the 1st of October, 1669. 4

Having acquired an Indian title to the west bank of the river
below Christina kill, Governor Stuyvesant at once determined to
erect another fort, " for the greater security of the company's
jurisdiction, and the protection of its people," and to raze Fort
Nassau, which " lay too high up and toe inconvenient a distance."
The new fort, which was called Oasimir, was erected on " a tol-
erably suitable spot" about a league from the Swedish Fort
Christina. Its site was within the limits of the present town of
New Castle. Governor Printz protested against the erection of

1 N. Y. Col. Doe. i 598. 2 Campanius, 76. 3 N. Y. Col Doc. i. 595.

* Albany MSS. Rec, " Abstracts of Patents," ii. 63.

58 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1653.

this new fort,1 but appears afterwards to have been reconciled to
the measure, as before Stuyvesant took his departure from the
river, " he had divers verbal conferences with Johan Printz, the
Swedish Governor, and they mutually promised not to com-
mit any hostile or vexatious acts against one another, but to
maintain together all neighborly friendship and correspondence,
as good friends and allies are bound to do."2

The doings of Stuyvesant on the Delaware were wholly upon
his own responsibility, not having given to the West India Com-
pany "so much as a hint of his intentions." The news was un-
expected to the directors, and they declined to give any opinion
on the subject until they "had heard the complaints of the
Swedish governor to his queen, and ascertained at her court how
these have been received."3

The erection of Fort Casimir rendered the Swedish Fort
Elsinborg useless for the purpose of its original design. If any
acts of submission were now required from Dutch vessels in pass-
ing that fort, the same would be exacted from Swedish vessels
in passing Fort Casimir. Elsinborg was therefore abandoned,
as it does not appear to have been a place of trade. The Swedes
allege that it had become untenable from the great number of
musquitos, and gave it the nickname of " Myggenborg or Mus-
quito Fort."4

Governor Printz having been accustomed to an active military
life, became wearied of his present position, and requested per-
mission to return to Sweden, at the same time soliciting a speedy
reinforcement, in order to be prepared for the more threatening
aspect that the affairs of the river had lately assumed. Not
waiting for the arrival of his successor, he sailed for his native
country during the present year, leaving the government in
charge of his son-in-law, John Papegoya. Some writers have
placed his departure in 1652,5 but this is disproved by a trading
commission issued by him from Fort Christina the 1st of Octo-
ber, 1653.6

In Sweden, three persons had been convicted, each of killing
an elk on the Island D'Auland. Two of them were sentenced
to run the gauntlet, each three times, — the third " to be sent to
New Sweden."7 This is perhaps the last Swedish criminal sent
to New Sweden.

On the 20th of August of this year, Queen Christina granted
to Captain John Amundson Besh, and to his wife and to his heirs

i Holme's Ann. 356, Sub. 1651. 2 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 590.

3 Haz. Ann. 133, from Albany Rec. iv. 73.

* Campanius, 80 ; Clay's Annals, 23. 5 Clay's Annals, 24.

6 Mr. Hazard gives this document entire in his Annals, 139, as copied from the
Plymouth Records, Deeds, &c.
' Haz. Reg. iv. 374

1653.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 59

and their heirs, " a tract of land in New Sweden extending to
Upland kill." This grant has been supposed to embrace the
present site of Marcus Hook, but this is not probable.1

On the same day, another grant was made by her Swedish
Majesty, to the " brave and courageous Lieutenant Swen
Schute," and to his wife and to his heirs, "a tract of country in
New Sweden, viz., Mockorhulteykyl, as far as the river, together
with the small island belonging thereto, viz., the island Karinge
and Kinsessing, comprehending also Passuming."2

To those acquainted with this region of country it will not be
difficult to give the above grant an approximate position, but I
have nOt met with anything that enabled me with any degree of
certainty to decide upon the island embraced in the grant.

It is a remarkable fact that on the 6th of October, just about
the time Governor Printz sailed for Sweden, Director-general
Stuyvesant wrote to the directors of the West India Company,
that " the Swedes on the South river would be well inclined to
repair among us, in case we will take them under our safe-
guard;" adding, "that hitherto, and until we receive further in-
formation from your honors, we decline their proposal, inasmuch
as we know not whether it would be well or ill received."3 It
will be remembered that a colony of Hollanders, before the
arrival of Printz, had settled under Swedish jurisdiction, in the
neighborhood of the place- where the Dutch had erected their
new Fort Casimir. From these such a proposition may have
been received ; but it is highly improbable, that the regular
Swedish settlers on the river participated in making it.

In November of this year, the Swedish College of Commerce
granted to John Amundson a commission as a captain in the navy.
He was about to embark on board of a galliot belonging to the South
Company for New Sweden, and when arrived there, part of his
duty was to consist in superintending carefully, " the construction
of vessels, in order that they may be faithfully built."4 This is the
same person to whom the grant of land " extending to Upland
kill" was made, Besh or Besk in the name of the grantee, being
the place of his residence. The appointment of this officer
would indicate that the Swedish government designed to establish
the business of building ships in New Sweden. The land gran-
ted to Capt. Amundson, was at at a point on the river well
adapted to that business, and was probably selected with that view.

The letter from the Queen,5 granting Governor Printz leave to

1 Haz. Reg. iv. 374 ; Ferris' Original Settlements on the Delaware, 133 ; see also
Haz. Ann. 138 and 454. If this grant had extended from Upland kill so as to have
included the site of Marcus Hook, it would have included a front on the river of four
miles, which is exceedingly improbable. See Appendix, note B.

2 Haz. Reg. iv. 274. 3 N. y. Col. Doc. i. 600.
4 Haz. Reg. iv. 374. 5 Ibid. v. 14.

CO HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1653.

return to Sweden, is dated on the 12th of December, when it
may be supposed he had already embarked. He was urged to
delay his departure until "the best arrangements could be made
in regard to his successor." It has been said that Printz became
unpopular, "by the exercise of a too rigid authority."1 This
letter is conclusive, that he possessed the entire confidence of his
government.

The commission2 of John Rysingh, the successor of Printz,
bears the same date with the above letter. Both documents
show that the government contemplated the continuance of
Printz in the country for some time longer, during which period
Rysingh would act as his aid. But the interval between the de-
parture of the old Governor and the arrival of the new one, during
which the burden of the government devolved on Papegoya,
must have been brief — not exceeding five or six months.

The semi-romantic claim and settlement of Sir Edmund Plow-
den or Ployden, although its vague boundaries probably included
the district now embraced within the limits of Delaware County,
has not been noticed in its proper order of time, because it has
little or no historical value in connection with the early settle-
ments on the Delaware. To show, however, that the "Earl
Palatine of New Albion" had a real existence, and was not a
myth, we give the following extract, from " The Representation
of New Netherland." " We cannot »omit to say," (remarks the
author Vander Donck,) " that there has been here, (at Manhat-
tan,) both in the time of Director Kieft, and that of General
Stuyvesant, a certain Englishman who called himself Sir Ed-
ward Plowden, with the title of Earl Palatine of New Albion,
who claimed that the land on the west side of the North river to
Virginia, was his, by gift of King James of England ; but he
said he did not wish to have any strife with the Dutch, though he
was very much piqued at the Swedish Governor, John Printz at
the South river, on account of some affront given him, too long
to relate. He said that when an opportunity should offer, he
would go there and take possession of the river."3

It is presumed the " opportunity " never did offer, and the
reader, in consequence can only imagine the character of the
threatened exploit. The grant was not made, however, by King
James as mentioned in the extract, but it was obtained in the
reign of King Charles the 1st, (1634,) from the Deputy General
or vice-roy of Ireland.4

The salary of Rysingh, was 1200 dollars per annum, in silver,

1 Clay's Annals, 24. 2 Haz. Reg. 398.

3 N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. ii. 279. (Translation by Henry C. Murphy, Esq.,) also N.
Y. Col. Doc. i. 289. — Readers who may wish to examine this subject more fully, are
referred to Haz. Hist. Col. ; Haz. Ann. and Mulford's Hist. N. J.

4 Hist. New Netherland, i. 281.— N. Y. Hist. Col. ii. N. S. 323, (note B.)

1654.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 61

" in addition to the special appointments which he might receive
from the company of the South." His instructions1 clearly
show that his government did not intend to vest in him the same
powers that had been enjoyed by Printz. Until he received
further orders, he was to " place into the hands of John Amund-
son, all that relates to the military and the defence of the country ;
establishing in the interim, a council formed of the best instruc-
ted and most noble officers in the country, of which Rysingh
shall be Director — in such a manner, however, that neither he,
in his charge, nor John Amundson, as Governor of militia, in
his, shall decide or approve anything, without reciprocally con-
sulting each other." While the importance of obtaining a con-
trol of the mouth of the river, is presented in strong general
terms, his instructions in regard to Fort Casimir, were specific.
" With respect to the fortress that the Dutch have built upon our
coast, if he cannot induce them to abandon it by arguments and
serious remonstrances, and without resorting to hostilities, it is
better that our subjects avoid the latter, confining themselves
solely to protestations." A fortress "lower down towards the
mouth of the river, below that of the Dutch, in order to defend
the passage, and render theirs useless," is recommended, but the
recommendation is coupled with a strict injunction for " employ-
ing the mildest measures, because hostilities will in no degree
tend to increase the strength of the Swedes in the country."

The commercial privileges were as liberal as could be desired,
and in this respect, were in striking contrast with those of the
Dutch. The purchase and cultivation of land was encouraged —
the purchases to be made " either from the company or the sa-
vages," and, "in respect to the lands thus purchased, subjects
recognizing the jurisdiction of the crown of Sweden," were to
enjoy " all franchises and allodial privileges, themselves, and
their descendants forever."

In consideration of the very faithful and zealous services, that
Rysingh had rendered, and was still disposed to render, her
Majesty granted " to him and his wife, and to their legitimate
male heirs and their descendants, as much land in the West In-
dies, and New Sweden as he shall be able to cultivate with 20 to
30 peasants; ceding to him the aforesaid country with all its
dependencies, with all, &c, .... to enjoy, employ and keep
the same, in the same manner and with the same franchises as
our nobles, and as a perpetual property."2 This Royal grant was
located on the river a short distance below New Castle.

Arriving in new Sweden towards the end of May, 1654, on
board of the government ship Aren, (Eagle,) Rysingh commenced
his administration by capturing the Dutch Fort Casimir in direct

1 Haz. Reg. iv. 399, 400. 2 £b- 398

62 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1654.

violation of his instructions. There is some variation in the
accounts given of this transaction,1 which it will not be necessary
to notice. Gerit Bicker was in command of the fort, and seeing
a strange sail in the distance, dispatched Secretary Van Tien-
hoven and others, " to ascertain the particulars." The messengers
did not return till the next day, and then only two hours in
advance of the Swedish ship, which they reported to be full of
people, with a "new governor, who made known to them his in-
tention to take the fort, " as it stood on ground belonging to the
Swedish crown." Bicker wxas urged to give orders to defend the
fort, but declined because " there was no powder." Soon after
a boat's crew consisting of 20 or 30 Swedish soldiers, landed
under the command of the former lieutenant of Governor Printz
— Swen Schute2 who were welcomed by Bicker "as friends."
Escorted by him, the Swedes passed immediately into the fort,
took possession, and stripped the few Dutch soldiers by whom it
was garrisoned of their military equipments, even of " their side
arms." Bicker seems to have stood paralyzed, while these pro-
ceedings were in progress, and it was not till Van Tienhoven
made the suggestion, that he and two others were deputed to
demand from Governor Rysingh his authority for taking forci-
ble possession of Fort Casimir. The governor claimed "to act
by orders of her Majesty in Sweden," and he further informed the
embassy that when complaints had been made by the Swedish
Ambassador to the States General in respect to the building of
the fort,- they referred him to the West India Company, who in
their turn denied giving any authority for its erection, and had
further told the Swedish Ambassador, " that if our people are in
your way there, drive them off'." The truthfulness of the reply
of Rysingh is in a measure corroborated by a letter from the
Company to Governor Stuyvesant on the subject of the erection
of the fort before referred to ; from which it may reasonably be
supposed that a correspondence between them and the Swedish
Ambassador would ensue, and that the company was disposed to
make concessions to the Swedish crown. This correspondence
may have resulted in additional orders to Rysingh, subsequent
to the issuing of his general instructions, in which the capture of
the fort was authorized. It is not, however, to be supposed that
such orders would afford any palliation or excuse for the rash and

1 From the official investigation by Governor Stuyvesant, together with the com-
mandant's letter and that of Governor Rysingh to him, the most full account of the
transaction may be obtained ; for which, see, N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 601-606; also, Acre-
lius, 414: Haz. Ann. 148 ; Hist. New Netherland, ii. 274.

2 Mr. Hazard in his Annals, says the attacking party was commanded by Captain
Swensko who was also the commander of the ship. And concludes that Rysingh acted
without communicating with the Swedish authorities on the river. The fact that
Swen Schute commanded the attacking party, shows that the authorities resident on
the river were consulted.

1654.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 63

unsoldier-like manner in which the capture was effected. Rysingh
was not a soldier, and it does not appear that Amundson, com-
missioned as his military colleague, accompanied him, or was
ever in the country.

The exploit of capturing Fort Casimir, happened on Trinity
Sunday, and in commemoration of that circumstance, the captors
changed the name of the fortress to Trefalldigheet or Trinity
fort. News of the event was duly communicated to Governor
Stuyvesant, both by Rysingh and Bicker, — their statements of
course, varying somewhat in the details of the transaction. Three
or four of the Dutch soldiers, including Bicker, remained on the
river, who, with nearly all the Dutch freemen residing there,
took an oath of fidelity to the Swedish governor. The depositions
of Van Tienhoven and the 8 or 10 soldiers who returned to
New Amsterdam, place the conduct of Bicker in a very unfavor-
able light. His behaviour served as an invitation, to a small
body of men, to capture the fort, who probably had only been
detailed to make a formal demand for its surrender, preliminary
to the usual negotiations in such cases. But the " brave and
courageous Lieutenant Swen Schute," who commanded the
Swedes, was not the man to allow so favorable an opportunity to
pass unimproved, for he was never more in his element than when
administering a lesson of humility to the Dutch.

With the capture of Fort Casimir, the authority of the Dutch
on the river, for the time being, was suspended. The Engineer
Peter Lindstroom, who came to the country with Rysingh, caused
this fort to be greatly strenghtened. He also laid out the town of
Christina back of the fort of that name, and constructed a map
of New Sweden.1 There also arrived with Rysingh several officers,
some troops and a clergyman ;2 and all the Dutch accounts men-
tion that he was accompanied by a large number of people.

We are informed by Acrelius, that Papegoya soon went home,
and that Rysingh assumed the title of Director-general.3

On the 17th of June, a great convocation of Indians including
ten sachems was held at Printz Hall on Tinicum ; at which " it was
offered on behalf of the Queen of Sweden, to renew the ancient
league of friendship that subsisted between them and the Swedes,
who had purchased from them the lands they occupied. The Indians
complained that the Swedes had brought much evil upon them ;
for many of them had died since their coming into the country,"
whereupon considerable presents were distributed among the
Indians, which brought about a conference among themselves.
The result was a speech from one of their chiefs, Naaman, in

1 Engravings of these are contained in the translation of Campanius, by the late
Peter S. Duponceau.

2 Acrelius, 414. 3 lb.

64: HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1654.

which he rebuked his companions," for having spoken evil of the
Swedes, and done them an injury, and told them he hoped they
would do so no more, for the Swedes were very good people.
"Look," said he, pointing to the presents, "and see what they
have brought to us, for which they desire our friendship." So
saying he stroked himself three times, down his arm, which among
the Indians was a token of friendship ; afterwards he thanked the
Swedes on behalf of his people, for the presents they had recei-
ved, and said that friendship should be observed more strictly
between them than it had been before ; that the Swedes and the
Indians had been in Governor Printz's time, as one body and one
heart, (striking his breast as he spoke,) and that thenceforward
they should be as one head ; in token of which he took hold of
his head with both hands, and made a motion as if he were tying
a knot, and then he made this comparison ; that as the calabash
was round without any crack, so they should be a compact body
without any fissure ; and that if any one should attempt to do any
harm to the Indians, the Swedes should immediately inform them
of it, and on the other hand, the Indians would give immediate
notice to the Christians of any plot against them, even if it were
in the middle of the night. On this they were answered, that
that would be, indeed, a true and lasting friendship, if every one
would agree to it ; on which they gave a general shout, in token
of consent. Immediately on this, the great guns were fired,
which pleased them extremely ; and they said, Poo, hoo, hoo ;
mokirick pieon ; that is to say, " hear and believe, the great guns
are fired." Then they were treated with wine and brandy.
Another of the Indians then stood up, and spoke and admonished
all in general, that they should keep the league and friendship,
Avhich had been made with the Christians, and in no manner to
violate the same, nor do them any injury, or their hogs or cattle,
and that if any one should be guilty of such violation, they should be
severely punished as an example to others. The Indians then
advised that some Swedes should be settled at Passyunk, where
there lived a great number of Indians, that they might be watched
and punished if they did any mischief. They also expressed a
wish that the title to the lands which the Swedes had purchased,
should be confirmed ; on which the copies of the agreements (for
the originals had been sent to Stockholm,) were read to them word
for word. When those who had signed the deeds, heard their
names, they appeared to rejoice ; but when the names were read of
those who were dead, they hung their heads in sorrow. Then
there were set upon the fioor in the great hall two large kettles,
and many other vessels filled with Sappaun, which is a kind of
hasty pudding made of Maize or Indian corn, which grows there

1654.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 65

in great abundance. The sachems sat by themselves ; the other
Indians all fed heartily and were satisfied."1

This proceeding, copied nearly entire from Campnnius, is
highly characteristic of such transactions with the Indians.
Other treaties with the aborigines may have been held within
our limits, but this is the only one, the recorded proceedings of
which have come down to us. It is conclusive that the Swedes
had purchased from the Indians the lands then occupied by
them ; and the fact that one of the principal chiefs, Naaman, who
was a party to this transaction, resided on the creek that bears
his name, renders it almost equally conclusive that the former
purchase of the Swedes had been made from "the right owners,"
the pretension set up by the Dutch to the contrary notwith-
standing.

The treaty thus so solemnly made between the Swedes and
Indians, we are informed by Campanius, "■ has ever since been
faithfully observed by both sides."2

A private letter from Governor Rysingh to Count , con-
nected with the home government, dated at Fort Christina on
the 11th of July, 1654, 3 furnishes some facts worthy of notice.
He estimates the ground (under cultivation it is supposed) as
"four times more than when we arrived." It was also much
better peopled, "for then," he says, "we found only 70 persons,
and now, including Hollanders and others, there are 368 persons."
This estimate of the population on the river is certainly only in-
tended to embrace actual settlers, for as long ago as 1645, Hudde
estimated the force with which Printz could man his forts, at from
80 to 90.4

He takes the credit of everything that had been done to him-
self, Captain Shute and Pappegoya ; but for the particulars and
for all " that relates to the actual state of the country and
colony," the minister to whom the letter was addressed is referred
to an official communication that had been sent to him and the
College of Commerce. Unfortunately this document is not ex-
tant. Among the wants of the governor was that of a wife, and
though "sufficiently plain offers" had been made him by the
English who had been here, he relied with more confidence " for
this object" upon the minister, "than any other person in the
world," and desired that he would send him "a good one."

Christina, to whose dominions the land we live in belonged,
now, at the age of twenty-nine years, abdicated the throne of
Sweden in favor of her cousin, Charles Gustavus.

The war between England and Holland having been concluded,

1 Campanius, 77. 2 Page 78.

3 A MS. copy of this letter is in the possession of the American Philosophical
Society. It was first published in Haz. Ann. which see, 153.

4 Huckle's Rep. 429.

5

66 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1655.

and the Dutch having been driven from the Delaware, a favor-
able opportunity was presented to the New Englanders to renew
their claims on the river. These were pressed on the ground of
purchases made from the Indians, and gave rise to a correspon-
dence between Governor Rysingh and the Commissioners of the
United Colonies which it will not be necessary to notice.

A Swedish vessel, called the " Golden Shark," by accident or
design, was piloted into the Raritan river. The vessel was im-
mediately seized by Governor Stuyvesant, who regarded this as
a fair opportunity to force the Swedes to restore Fort Casimir.
The event gave rise to considerable correspondence,1 which did
not result in a restoration either of the fort or the vessel.

The affairs of the Swedes on the Delaware were now approach-
ing a crisis, but nothing had occurred to arouse the suspicions
of the home government. The triumph of Rysingh was regard-
ed as a reconquest of usurped territory, and no other means to
reclaim it by the Dutch were apprehended, beyond the usual
one of protest. This was a fatal delusion ; for at the close of
1654, while estimates were being made in Sweden for the sup-
port of their colony, during the ensuing year, on a peace basis,2
an armament was being fitted out in Holland, not only sufficient
to replace ''matters on the Delaware in their former position,"
but to drive "the Swedes from every side of the river."

In the spring of 1655, five armed vessels well equipped, were
forwarded to Stuyvesant, with a carte blanche, to charter others.3
The armament when completed at New Amsterdam, consisted of
seven vessels, and from six to seven hundred men. The greatest
caution was used in providing against every contingency, in fit-
ting it out, and a day of thanksgiving and prayer was observed
before the sailing of the expedition ; which happened on Sunday
the 4th of September, "after sermon." It was commanded by
Governor Stuyvesant in person, and arrived in the bay of South
river the next day about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The de-
serted Swedish Fort Elsingborg was visited on the following
day, but it was not till Friday that the expedition reached Fort
Trinity or Casimir. This fortress was under the immediate
command of Swen Schute, while Governor Rysingh in person
had charge of Christina. To prevent a communication between
the two forts, Stuyvesant had landed fifty men. The demand
made by the Dutch was " a direct restitution of their own pro-
perty," to which Commander Schute, after having had an inter-
view with Stuyvesant, reluctantly yielded on the following day,
upon very favorable terms of capitulation. For the reduction

i For this correspondence, as well as that with the Commissioners of the United
Colonies, and proceedings connected therewith, the reader is referred to Haz. Ann.
155-172.

2 Haz. Reg. v. 15. 3 Hist. New Netherland, ii. 284.

1655.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 67

of Fort Christina a bloodless siege of fourteen days was re-
quired. As a matter of necessity, it yielded to an immensely
superior force on the 25th of September, on even more favor-
able terms than had been granted to the garrison of Fort Trinity.

Agreeably to special instructions from the home government,
an offer was made to restore the possession of Fort Christina to
Governor Rysingh, but he declined the offer, preferring to abide
by the articles of capitulation.1

The magnificent scale on which the expedition was got up by
Stuyvesant for the capture of these inconsiderable forts, with
the slow caution observed by him in conducting the siege of Fort
Christina, borders on the ridiculous, and has afforded an ample
field for the satire of the veritable Knickerbocker. His igno-
rance of the weak condition of the enemy, will, in a measure,
defend him from the shafts of ridicule, but it will be difficult to
find an excuse for the acts of wantonness his soldiers were per-
mitted to exercise towards the peaceable inhabitants of the
country. If the official report of Rysingh is to be relied upon,
" they killed their cattle, goats, swine and poultry, broke open
houses, pillaged the people, without the sconce, of their property,
and higher up the river they plundered many and stripped them
to the skin. At New Gottenburg, they robbed Mr. Papegoya's
wife of all she had, with many others, who had collected their
property there."2 Nor does Rysingh fail to remind Stuyvesant
of these unjustifiable acts. "His men," he says, "acted as if
they had been on the lands of their inveterate enemy," as for
example, the plundering of " Tennakong, Upland, Finlandt,
Printzdorp, and several other places,3 * * * * not to say a word
of what was done in Fort Christina, where women were violently
torn from their houses, whole buildings destroyed, and they
dragged from them, yea, the oxen, cows, swine and other crea-
tures, were butchered day after day ; even the horses were not
spared, but wantonly shot, the plantations destroyed, and the
whole country left so desolate, that scarce any means are re-
maining for the subsistence of the inhabitants." He also tells
him, "your men took away at Tennekong, in an uncouth manner,
all the cordage and sails of a new vessel, and then they went to
the magazine, and without demanding the keys entered it alone,
broke the boards of the church, and so took away the cordage
and sails."4

1 Hist. New Netherland, ii. 289. 2 N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 446.

3 Smith, in his history of N. J. says, they " destroyed New Gottenburg, with such
houses as were without the fort, plundering the inhabitants of what they had and kill-
ing their cattle," p. 34. It would appear from Smith's account of the transaction, that
the fort at Tinicum was defended fourteen days, and that the depredations were com-
mitted previous to its surrender.

4 Rysingh's reply to Stuyvesant, Haz. Ann. 201 ; as extracted from Albany Records,
xiii. 363-367.

68 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1655.

Campanius says " the Dutch proceeded to destroy New Got-
tenburg, laying waste all the houses and plantations without the
fort, killing the cattle and plundering the inhabitants of every-
thing that they could lay their hands on." A late writer1 con-
cludes that "this is unquestionably erroneous," and assigns two
reasons for his opinion. First, " the Dutch had no motive for
such destructive cruelty, the country being now theirs by a
formal surrender and they were bound by their treaty at Chris-
tina," &c. Second, "that the church at Tinicum was standing
twelve years afterwards, and Printz Hall at the commencement
of the present century." But the writer has failed to observe,
that the depredations were committed during the siege of Fort
Christina, and not after its surrender and the conclusion of the
treaty ; and that a fair construction of the language of Campa-
nius will not warrant the inference that any building, except the
fort, was actually destroyed.

The Dutch were not, however, permitted to practice these
cruelties towards the Swedes with impunity. Even before the
return of the. fleet to New Amsterdam, to use the language of
Governor Stuyvesant, "it pleased God to temper this our victory
with such an unfortunate and unexpected accident, as New
Netherland never witnessed, inasmuch as in less than three days,
over forty of our nation were massacred by the barbarous
natives ; about one hundred, mostly women and children, taken
prisoners ; boweries and some plantations burnt and laid in
ashes, and in and with them over 12,000 schepels of grain yet
unthrashed."2 With one half of the force taken to the Delaware,
the conquest of the Swedes would have been equally certain, and
far more creditable to the conquerors, while the other half could
have guarded their own people against such a dreadful calamity.

By the terms of capitulation3 of Fort Christina, all the Swedes
and Finns who desired to remain in the country, were obliged to
take an oath of allegiance to the States General of the United
Netherlands — even those who intended to leave, but who were
obliged to remain for a time to dispose of their lands and settle
up their business, (for which one year and six weeks were allow-
ed,) were not exempted from taking the oath, to be binding so
long as they remained.

Thus ended Swedish sovereignty on the continent of America.
Deriving its only title from the savages, which is not recognized
by the law of nations, no very protracted endurance could have
been anticipated for the colony as a dependency of Sweden ; but

1 Ferris' Original Settlements on the Delaware, 97.

2 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 639.

3 For this paper, see Col. Doe. i. 607, Acrelius 415 and Haz. Ann. ]87, in which work
sub. an. 1655, all the important papers connected with the capture of the Swedish forts
will be fuund.

1655.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 69

its sudden downfall was manifestly the direct result of the rash,
unjustifiable and unauthorized acts of Governor Rysingh, in
capturing Fort Casimir.

The hardships of the Swedes, though they were not protracted
under the Dutch government, did not terminate with the capture
of their forts. We are informed by Acrelius, that " the flower
of their troops were picked out and sent to New Amsterdam,
under the pretext of their free choice, the men were forcibly
carried on board the ships. The women were ill treated in their
houses, the goods pillaged, and the cattle killed."1

But little has come down to us in respect to the domestic
administration of affairs in the Swedish Colony. The adminis-
tration of justice was doubtless conducted by means of a military
tribunal of which the Governor was the head. Printz felt himself
disqualified for the performance of the duties of a judge, and in
a dispatch to the Swedish West India Company, dated February
20th, 1647, he makes known his difficulty in this wise : " Again,
I have several times solicited to obtain a learned and able man.
1st, To administer justice and attend to the law business, some-
times very intricate cases occurring, in which it is difficult, and
never ought to be for one and* the same person to appear in Court
as plaintiff as well as judge."2 .... As the seat of govern-
ment was located at Tinicum from the commencement of the
Administration of Governor Printz, it may be concluded that the
seat of justice was also located there.

Mrs. Papegoya the daughter of Governor Printz, it will have
been seen did not return to Sweden with her husband. For
many years she continued to reside at Tinicum, rather in poverty
than affluence. Tinicum is no longer mentioned as a fortified
place, and if the fort was not destroyed by the Dutch as mentioned
by Campanius, it was suffered by them to go into decay.

The government of the Dutch on the river was established by
the appointment of John Paul Jaquet as vice-director, and com-
mander-in-chief, and Andreas Hudde as secretary and surveyor,
and keeper of the keys of the fort, &c. The council was to consist
of the vice-director, Hudde, Elmerhuysen Klienand two sergeants
in purely military affairs ; in matters purely civil, or between
freemen and the company's servants, two of the most expert
freemen were to be substituted for the two sergeants. The in-
structions given Jaquet, show a want of confidence in the Swedes.
" Good notice" was to be taken of their behaviour, and incase
any of them were found to be not well affected, they were re-
quired to depart, "with all imaginable civility," and if possible

1 Acrelius, 417.

2 Record of Upland court, 29, (note) as copied from Swedish MSS., Archive
Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

70 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1656.

to be sent to New Amsterdam ; and no Swede living in the
country was to remain in the fort all night. The seat of govern-
ment was established at Fort Casimir — provision having been
made for extending the town, which took the name of New
Amstel.

" In granting lands, care was to be taken that a community
of 16 or 20 persons reside together. The rent to be 12 stivers
per morgen, per annum ; but permission to plant was only to be
granted, on taking an oath to assist the fort, or to be transported
in case they refuse the oath."1

" The free persons of the Swedish nation residing on the second
corner above Fort Cassimer" solicit counsel "that they may re-
main on their lands, as they have no inclination to change their
abode, neither to build in the new village," claiming the promise
made to them by Stuyvesant. Their petition was granted until
the expiration of the year and six weeks, mentioned in the
capitulation.

As evidence that the Swedish government had been kept in
ignorance of the intended conquest of New Sweden by the Dutch,
was the arrival on the 24th of March, 1656, of the Swedish ship
Mercury, with 130 souls on board, intended as a reinforcement
to the colony. They were forbidden to pass the fort, but a party
of Indians joined the crew and conducted the ship up the river,
the Dutch not venturing to fire a gun against them.2

The Mercury was allowed to pass the fort owing to the num-
ber of Indians on board, the Dutch feeling no disposition to pro-
voke their animosity,3 The passengers of the Mercury were
landed contrary to the direct orders, sent at considerable trouble,
from New Amsterdam, but the captain and crew of the vessel
were exonerated from all censure ; the responsibility resting with
the Indians and resident Swedes. Among the passengers was
Mr. Papegoya the son-in-law of Governor Printz, who wrote to
Governor Stuyvesant immediately upon his arrival. There were
also two clergymen on board, one of whom, named Matthias, who
continued to reside in the country during two years. Andres
Bengston was also a passenger who was still living in this country
in 1703.4

Much negotiation was occasioned in consequence of the arrival
of the Mercury,5 and though the Dutch government never yielded
its assent to the landing of the immigrant passengers, they all
did land and probably most of them remained in the country.
The vessel was allowed to proceed to New Amsterdam and dis-

1 Haz. Ann. 205-6. 2 Aerelius as taken from N. Y. Rec.

3 N. Y. Col. Doe. iii. 343.

4 Clay's Ann. 29. — Aerelius represents Mr Bengston as a clergyman, 419.

5 Most of the papers connected with this transaction, copied from the Albany
Records, will be found in Haz. Ann. 211-219.

1656.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 71

charge her cargo at a reduced duty, and to take in provision for
her return voyage.

The conquest of New Sweden was not quietly acquiesced in
hy the home government. Their minister protested against the
outrage, and claimed restitution,1 but this claim was disregarded ;
the Dutch being well aware that nothing more serious than paper
missiles could be resorted to, the Swedes at that time being en-
gaged in a war with Poland. The Directors of the West India
Company did not hesitate to communicate to Stuyvesant their
approbation, in general, of his conduct.2

After Governor Printz left the country, his plantation at
Tinicum seems to have been very much neglected, and for a time
wholly abandoned. The interference of Commander Jaquet to
prevent his daughter, Mrs. Papegoya from resuming the possess-
ion of the property, gave this lady occasion to memorialize the
Director-general. She says, "It is, without doubt, well known
to the Director-general, that our late lord governor, my highly
revered lord and father, prepared a farm, partly cultivated by
freemen, who are returned to Sweden, and surrendered it to him,
and partly cleared by his orders, and cultivated for several years;
that this was granted by the King (Queen ?), and by the present
royal majesty was confirmed, but which now since three years,
being abandoned, was again covered with bushes, and the dwel-
ling-house nearly destroyed by the Indians, and so I have been
obliged to repair it, by three Finns, and to sow its fields, when,
unexpectedly, I was forbidden by the present commander, to take
possession of it again ; wherefore I am compelled to inform the
Director-general of this event, with humble supplication that it
may please him graciously, and from the friendship between him
and my lord and father, to favor me with this possession, as I
am confident his honor will do ; and solicit further that my people
may remain unmolested at Printzdorp3 and continue to cultivate
its soil ; and that his Honor, &c, may be pleased to grant me,
for my greater security, letters patent for that spot, and so too
for Tinnakonk. I hope that my lord and father will acknowledge
it as a mark of great friendship, and as far as it is in his power,
be remunerated with thankfulness ; with which I recommend the
Director general to the protection of God Almighty. Dated at
Tinnakonk August 3, 1656. The Director General's humble
servant, Armgard Printz."4

1 Haz. Reg. i. 36 ; N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 587, 515, Ac. ; Haz. Ann. 210. The final settlement
of this controversy was not made till 1667. See Hist. New Netherland, ii. Appendix H.

2 The directors regarded the capitulation as too formal, and make that the occasion
of giving Stuyvesant a lesson in diplomacy. " What is written and copied," they say
" is too long preserved, and may sometime, when it is neither desired nor expected, be
brought forward, whereas words not recorded, are by length of time forgotten, or may
be explained, construed or excused. Haz. Ann. 209.

3 The precise location of Printzdorp will be established hereafter.

4 Albany Rec. xi. 518; xiii. 154; Haz. Ann. 219.

72 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1657.

" The suppliant is permitted, agreeably to the capitulation, to
take possession of the lands of her lord and father in Pi'intzdorp,
and to use it to her best advantage," was the response of the
Director-general.

The Dutch West India Company had become greatly embar-
rassed by the large amount of their debts, which had been in-
creased by the aid afforded by the city of Amsterdam, towards
the conquest of the Swedes on the Delaware. To liquidate this
debt, that part of the South river extending from the west side
of Christina kill to the mouth of the bay, " and so far as the
Minquas land extended" was, after much negotiation, transferred
to that city, with the company's rights and privileges, and sub-
ject to conditions agreed upon by the contracting parties. These
conditions with a slight modification, were ratified by the States
General on the 16th August, 1656 — the Colony thus established
taking the name of Nieuer Amstel.1

As the jurisdiction of the City's Colony, as thus established,
did not extend over the district claiming our particular attention,
the doings within it will only be briefly noticed. The government
of the Colony was organized by the establishment of a board of
commissioners to reside in the City of Amsterdam ; 40 soldiers
were enlisted and placed under the command of Captain Martin
Krygier, and Lieutenant Alexander DTIinoyossa, and 150 emi-
grants, freemen and boors, were forthwith dispatched, in three
vessels, to settle in the new Colony. Jacob Alrichs accompanied
the expedition as Director of New Amstel.2

Alrichs assumed the government of the Colony towards the
close of April, 1657, wThen Hudde was appointed to the com-
mand at Fort Christina, (the name of which was changed to Al-
tona,) and also of New Gottenburg.3

Over the Swedes and Finns, who were exclusively the inhabi-
tants of the river above the Colony of the City of Amsterdam,
Goeran Vandyck had been appointed with the title of schout fis-
scal and under him Anders Jurgen.

Goeran Vandyck, the schout, suggested to Stuyvesant the
necessity of concentrating the Swedish inhabitants, and procured
from him a proclamation inviting them to assemble in one settle-
ment, either at Upland, Passayunk, Finland, Kingsessing or
where they pleased. The invitation was not accepted.4 The
appointment of " one Jurgin the Finn on Crooked Kill" as court
messenger is mentioned.5

Andries Hudde, who held a military command under the
Company, was also provisionally engaged in the New Amstel
Colony, as clerk in " the dispatch of law suits and occurring

1 See, N. Y. Col. Doe. i. 619-636 ; Hist. New Netherland, ii. 327-337.

2 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 441-446. 3 Hist. New Netherland, ii. 336.
4 Acrelius, 421. 5 Haz. Ann. 236.

1658.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 73

differences;" and as he understood '"somewhat of surveying" he
was also employed in that capacity.1

Evert Pieterson, who held the office of schoolmaster, comforter
of the sick and setter of the psalms, in the City Colony, writes
to the commissioners that upon his arrival in April, he found but
twenty families in New Amstel, all Swedes except five or six
families. He appears to have been a man of observation, and
suggests our black walnut timber for making gun-stocks ; requests
that inquiries be made of the gunsmiths in respect to its value,
and in what shape it should be cut. In August he had a school
of twenty-five children.2 This is the first school established on
the river of which we have any account.

Director Alrichs not only communicated with the Commission-
ers of Amsterdam City, but also with Stuyvesant. He advises
that seventy-five men be sent to Altona, thereby showing that
he was under some apprehensions on account of the Swedes.3

The winter of 1657 was remarkable for its severity. " The
Delaware was frozen over in one night, so that a deer could run
over it, which, as the Indians relate, had not happened within
the memory of man."4

In the spring of 1658, a vessel which had taken in hickory
tvood at Altona that was cut by Stuyvesant's orders, completed
her cargo with rye strata at Tinicum.5

The affairs of the South river, in the opinion of Governor
Stuyvesant and his council, "required to-be examined into," and
"some regulations" also becoming necessary among the Swedes,
his excellency in person, accompanied by Mr. Tonneman repaired
to the river, and on the 8th of May in this year, visited Tinicum.
Here they were met by the scout or sheriff Van Dyck ; Oloff
Stille, Mathys Hanson, Pieter Rambo and Pieter Cock, magis-
trates; Swen Schute Captain, Andries D'Albo Lieutenant, and
Jacob Swenson Ensign. After renewing their oath of allegiance
to "the high and mighty lords, the States General of the United
Netherlands and lords directors of the general privileged West
India Company with the director general and council already
appointed, or in time being," these Swedish officials presented
their petition, asking, that a court messenger might be appointed
for executions ; for free access to the soldiers of Altona, in case
they wish their aid for the execution of resolves ; that no person
shall leave their limits without the knowledge of the magistrates,
much less male and female servants, &c. Some subsidies were
also asked for. The Director-general thought the jailor could
perform the duties of court messenger, as he is now employed

1 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 18. a lb. 17.

3 Haz. Ann. 240, as extracted from Albany Rec. xii. 4.37.

4 Cainpanius, 55. 5 Haz. Ann. 241.

M HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1658.

by the sheriff and commissioners to make summons, arrests and
executions. Free access to the soldiers was granted, if solicited
by the sheriff. No person was to leave without the consent of
the commissary, first obtained of the Director-general and council,
and subsidies were allowed, "when they can be obtained with least
incumbrance to the Swedish nation." Those who had not taken
the oath of allegiance were required to do so.1

It is probable that the above named petitioners, except Van
Dyck, constituted what remained of an organized government at the
close of the Swedish authority on the river. The articles of capitula-
tion are silent in respect to a continuance of Swedish officers in
power, but it would appear that those who remained in the coun-
try and took the oath of allegiance to the Dutch government, con-
tinued to exercise their functions, in which they seem to have
been officially recognized by the Director-general at the meeting
at Tinicum. Unfortunately, no record of their official acts has
been preserved.

After the Director-general returned to New Amsterdam, he
reported to the Council that the Swedes, after taking the oath
of allegiance, desired that in the case of a difference between the
crown of Sweden and the Netherlands in Europe, that they might
occupy the position of neutrals, which was agreed to. The
military officers mentioned at the meeting at Tinicum were at
the same time elected to their respective offices.2

But the Director in * his visit to the South river had found
"many things there, not as they ought to be, chiefly smuggling
and fraud on the Company's recognitions on goods imported
from Holland." The city of Amsterdam being subject to the
"same regulations as others," in respect to duties and tolls and
all matters connected with the revenue, it became necessary for
the West India Company to have an officer of their own, whose
jurisdiction in respect to such matters should extend over the
whole river. William Beekman, a schepen (alderman) and elder
of New Amsterdam, was selected for this position, with the title
of commissary and vice-director.3 Outside of the New Amstel
district he was also charged with the administration of civil and
criminal justice and the superintendence of military affairs.
Within that district, as the officer of the city of Amsterdam,
this authority was vested in Alrichs. Beekman was to occupy
provisonally "the dwelling-house in Fortress Altona," but his
permanent residence was to be at or near New Amstel, where he
was authorized to hire convenient rooms or a dwelling for a year
at the expense of the Company.4 He probably continued to re-
side at Altona.

1 Haz. Ann. 24.3, extracted from Albany Rec. xiv. 249.

2 Haz. Ann. 244 ; Albany Rec. xiv. 245.

3 Acrelius, 421. * lb. 421 ; Albany Rec. xiv. 314.

1659.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 75

The summer of 1658 was a season of great sickness and mor-
tality at New Amstel and the surrounding country. In a letter
from Alrichs to the commissioners of the City Colony, dated
on the 10th of October of this year, he speaks of " two parcels
of the best land on the river on the west bank, the first of which,"
he says, "is above Marietens hook, about two leagues along the
river and 4 leagues into the interior ; the second on a guess,
about 3 leagues along the same including Skuylkil, Passajonck,
Quinsessingh, right excellent land, the grants or deeds whereof
signed in original by Queen Christina, I have seen ; they remain
here." He also expresses the belief that "the proprietors as
they style themselves, or those who hold the ground briefs,"
would willingly dispose of these lands for a trifle, according to
their value or worth.1

The documents connected with this period of the history of
the Delaware are very voluminous, but they relate chiefly to the
colony of New Amstel and its vicinity. The Swedes, who were
the exclusive occupants of the river higher up, were constantly
looked upon with suspicion, which was increased by their appli-
cation to be considered as neutrals in case of a difference between
Sweden and the Netherlands. The Holland directors of the
Company regarded the application as "a bold proposal," and
condemned the appointment of Swedish officers made by Stuyve-
sant. The error was to be corrected by supplying their places
with officers of the Dutch nation, and the first favorable oppor-
tunity was to be embraced to disarm them, upon the least
symptom of disaffection. Even the Swedish sheriff and commis-
saries were to be supplanted by Dutchmen at the expiration of
their terms, "to render their associations fruitless and to dis-
cover their machinations with more ease." " Fair means" were
also to be used to induce the Swedes to settle among the Dutch
inhabitants.2

The prosperous commencement of the City Colony was soon
followed by evils that almost threatened its dissolution. Sick-
ness, a scarcity of provisions and failure of crops, followed by a
severe winter, spread dismay and discontent among the people.
The arrival of additional settlers not properly supplied with pro-
visions greatly increased the prevailing distress. In the midst
of this general gloom, news arrived that the Burgomasters of
Amsterdam had changed the conditions on which the colonists
had agreed to emigrate, making them less favorable to the emi-
grants.3 Discontent was increased, and many of the inhabitants
deserted to Maryland, carrying with them the news of the dis-

1 N. Y. Col Doc. ii. 53.

2 Haz. Ann. 252, as quoted from Albany Rec. iv. 291-292.

3 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 57.

76 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1659.

tressed condition of the colony. News of a threatened invasion
by the English reached the ears of the colonists, and added to
the general feeling of insecurity. In the midst of this anxiety
and alarm, commissioners from Maryland arrived with a letter
from Governor Fendal and instructions to command the Dutch
to leave, or to acknowledge themselves subjects of Lord Balti-
more.1 An immediate answer was demanded, but at length
Col. Utie, the head of the Maryland commission, granted a
delay of three weeks in order that Alrichs and Beekman might
confer with their superiors. Upon being advised of the visit of
the Maryland commissioners, Governor Stuyvesant forwarded a
reinforcement of sixty soldiers, with Captain Krygier and Secre-
tary Van Ruyven to regulate matters on the South river. He
also sent Augustine Heemans and Resolved Waldron as ambas-
sadors to Maryland, with instructions to remonstrate against
Col. Utie's proceedings, and to negotiate a treaty for the mutual
rendition of fugitives. Upon the arrival of the ambassadors in
Maryland a protracted conference ensued, in which the Dutch
title to the lands on the Delaware river and bay was defended
with considerable ability.2

The land from Bombay Hook to Cape Henlopen was secured
by purchase from the savages, and a fort erected a Hoern kill as
a further security against the English claim. It was attached
to the district of New Amstel.

Alrichs had become unpopular from the exercise of a too
rigid authority. The clashing of interests between the city and
the Company, taken in connection with the adverse circumstan-
ces with which he was surrounded, rendered his position one of
great difficulty. But death3 relieved him from his troubles
towards the close of the year — his wife having departed this life
at its commencement. Previous to his death, Alrichs nominated
Alexander D'Hinoyossa as his successor and Gerit Van Gezel as
secretary.

The Burgomasters of the City of Amsterdam, soon discovered
that their colony of New Amstel would be attended with more
expense and trouble than profit, and entered into negotiations
with the company for a re-transfer of the same to them. Trade
was the prime object of the company, and as the city colony
served as a defence to the southern border of New Netherland
without diminishing their commercial advantages, the negotiation,
of course, was a failure.

In September, 1659, Alrichs says there are 110 houses in New

i Aerelius, 422 ; N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 73.

2 Dr. O'Callaghan attributes the position that the State of Delaware now occupies
as an independent sovereignty, to the stand taken by the Dutch in 1659. Hist. New
Netherland, ii. 388.

3 Hist. N. Netherland, ii. 375 ; Aerelius, 423.

1660.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 77

Amstel, 16 or 17 more on land belonging to the Dutch, and 13
or 14 belonging to the Swedes.1 In a proposition to tax the
Swedes and Finns within the jurisdiction of the West India Com-
pany, towards the close of 1659, the number of their families is esti-
mated at 200. By estimating five persons to each family at the
close of this year, the whole European population of the river
would amount to 1,700.

The Burgomasters of the City of Amsterdam failing to get
rid of their American Colony, made a new loan, and showed a dis-
position to act with more vigor in promoting the interests of the
colonists. A year, however, was allowed to pass away before
the inhabitants of New Amstel felt the invigorating effects of this
change in the policy of their rulers. They were even in a state
of uncertainty during the most of the year 1660, whether ar-
rangements had not been made for their re-transfer to the Com-
pany. As a consequence, many disorders ensued, among which
jangling and quarreling among the officials were the most promi-
nent.

As a means of averting the evils with which the colony was
surrounded, days of public thanksgiving were occasionally obser-
ved, but this year the ungodly council of New Amstel command-
ed that " a fast and prayer day should be holden on the first
Monday of each month."2

Sheriff Van Dyck estimates the number of men in the " Swe-
dish and Finnish nation," capable of bearing arms at 130.
Some of them were allowed to be enlisted as soldiers, while at
the very same time an order from Stuyvesant was in force to
collect them all into one or two villages.

Preparatory to carrying this unjust and unreasonable order
into execution, Beekman spent a few days amongst the Swedes
and Finns, and found that different settlements could not converse
with each other, " for want of a knowledge of their reciprocal
language." There was a difference of opinion between the sett-
lers about Aroumerk and those of Keneses, as to which was the
more eligible for the proposed Swedish village. It was argued
against the latter " that there was no defence whatever, neither
a place for safe retreat, as considerable under-wood and many
streams must be passed;" and in favor of Arounderyk, that
" there is a pretty large kill, which might be chosen to cover a
retreat or prepare for defence." Besides " at Arounderyk
they might cultivate their fields on the other side of the kill, on
the Passayung road, where is a rich, fruitful soil, and last har-
vest a considerable quantity of seed was sowed." He found
some willing to compromise, by accepting the proposals, while

1 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 76.

2 Beeknian's letter, Haz. Ann. 303, a? quoted from Albany Rec. xvii. 39.

78 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1660.

others were fur maintaining their own rights, in keeping their
own farms and lots. Miss Printz, (as Mrs. Papegoya is usually
called by the Dutch writers,) was among the latter. She could
not remove her residence, " the heavy building not permitting
her to change it, and the church where she usually worships being
upon that spot." She says further that "she offers her lands
without any compensation, but can nevertheless induce no
person to settle in her neighborhood."1

Finding that the Swedes could not agree among themselves,
Beekman commanded a list to be delivered to him within eight
or ten days, designating where it suits best for every person to
fix his future residence ; promising his assent in case it comport-
ed with the Governor's order ; otherwise he would be compelled
to designate where each of them should reside. At the urgent
request of the Swedes, from four to six weeks more time was
granted ; Miss Printz and others requesting Beekman to aid them ;
for which purpose, he informs Stuyvesant, " more soldiers will be
required." At the solicitation of the Swedish Commissaries,
Beekman asks permission from the Governor to allow the Swe-
dish nation, " to remain in their present possessions till they have
harvested their corn." He had understood that they intended to
unite them in one village at Perslajough,2 &c. Peter Kock,
Peter Andrieson and Hans Moenson were among those who took
a decided stand against removing to Passayunk. There was not
sufficient land obtained there "for the pasture of their creatures,"
and they " ardently wished not to remove." They add " if com-
pelled to go, then we will go, or depart to a spot where we may
live in peace."3

Beekman eventually became convinced of the injustice of the
order for removing the Swedes into one village. He represented
to Stuyvesant that it was "unmerciful to force people from their
cultivated lands, and put them to new labor and expense." The
Swedes were therefore allowed to remain at their respective
settlements ; a result not brought about by any kind feelings en-
tertained towards them by the Director-general. Persuasion had
failed, and as for compulsion, the means were not at hand. The
Swedes outnumbered the Dutch on the river, and within the ter-
ritory of the company, very few if any Dutch had settled. Dis-
sensions were also rapidly growing between the officials of the
two Colonies. More favorable privileges being offered by D'Hin-
oyossa, a number of Swedes had joined the city colony, and
others had removed to Sassafras river.4 Apprehensions that the
whole Swedish territory would be abandoned, may also have had
some weight in suspending the operation of this iniquitous measure.

1 Beekman's letter to Stuyvesant, Haz. Ann. 306.

2 Passayunk. 3 Haz. Ann. 314. 4 Acrelius, 422.

1661.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 79

The Dutch having got into difficulties with the Esopus Indians
on the North River, sent to the Swedes and Finns for recruits.
They could not be persuaded to go to Esopus as soldiers ; though
" they would not be unwilling, provided they could remain there
in peace with the savages. "l The sheriff, Van Dyck, and some
of the commissaries, are accused with discouraging, and actually
preventing, some individuals from emigrating to Esopus.

Miss Printz, instead of her recognitions, (taxes) requests per-
mission to make payment in a fat ox, fat hogs, bread and corn.2

The seat of justice for the company s jurisdiction was at Altona,
where annually three or four courts were held "as circumstances
might require." Among the Finns was a married couple who
lived together in constant strife, the wife being daily beaten and
"often expelled from the house like a dog."3 A divorce was
solicited by the priest, the neighbors, the sheriff and commissaries,
on behalf of these parties, and that their small property and
stock be divided between them. The matter was referred to the
Governor, but the result is not known. As the parties were
]?inns, they probably resided in the vicinity of Marcus Hook.

The Swedish priest had married a young couple against their
parents' consent, and without the usual proclamations, for which
he was fined 50 guilders. Olojf Stille was suspected by Beek-
man of having "arrogated to himself to qualify the priest," to
officiate at the marriage, for which Oloff opposed him pretty
warmly at court, denying Beekman's right to meddle with the
affair, that being the province of the Swedish consistory. Even
in a ease of assault and battery committed on the Swedish priest,
the jurisdiction of the court was questioned.4

About this time, mention is made of Israel Helm carrying on
trade at Passayung. He took a prominent part in the transac-
tions on the river till some time after the arrival of Penn.

Beekman becomes alarmed in consequence of a threatened war
between the Indians and the English of Maryland, and is appre-
hensive that the savages will again claim and take possession of
these lands, or that they will be eventually settled with English
and Swedes.

During the early part of 1661, Oloff Stille, one of the commis-
saries, with a few Finns, visited Maryland for the purpose of
taking up land and emigrating there in the spring. Not finding
their friends on Sassafras river in the satisfactory condition they
expected, the project was abandoned, and Stille on his return,
expressed the opinion that many, if not all the Finns, then re-

1 Beekman's letter, Haz. Ann. 309.

2 Acrelius has understood this as an annual bounty to Mrs. Papegoya, on account
of her poverty, evidently a mistake. See p. 423.

3 D'Hinoyosa's & Beekman's letter, Haz. Ann. 310, as quoted from the Albany Rec.
xvii. 51. 4 lb.

80 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1662.

siding there " would return hither." In that event, Beekman
suggested to the Governor that they might unite in one village at
or near Perslajong, (Passayunk) " and not be permitted again in
separate spots as is the custom with that sort of men."1

A sad misfortune now befell the Swedish priest Mr. Laers, or
Laurentius Carels, as he signs his name. One Jacob Jough
eloped with his wife, and although Beekman speedily dispatched
expresses in different directions, the fugitives were not arrested,
but the trunk of Jough with various articles of Mr. Laers' pro-
perty, was found at Upland. Not a month had elapsed till Mr.
Laers solicited the consent of the vice director to marry again,
his intended bride being but 17 or 18 years of age, and as yet no
divorce had been decreed between him and his unfaithful spouse.
This was too grave a matter to be determined by Beekman alone,
and was accordingly delayed in order to obtain the approbation
of Governor Stuyvesant. But the reverend gentleman became
impatient, and at the expiration of two weeks renewed his appli-
cation for permission to marry, " as the situation of his family
imperiously requires it."2

A war is at this time in progress between the Senecas and
Minquas Indians, the small-pox being prevalent in the latter
nation at the same time. Great alarm spread among the Euro-
pean inhabitants, which was fully shared by the Swedes ; for the
Senecas were as little known to them as to the Dutch.

During the early part of this year, the Common Council of the
city of Amsterdam, by means of commissioners appointed for
that purpose, went into a thorough examination of the causes
that had heretofore defeated all their efforts to render the colony
of New Amstel prosperous. The result was a negotiation with
the West India Company for an amplification of the privileges of
the city in respect to trade ; of the powers of the local government
rendering it less dependent on the Director-general, and an ex-
tension of their territory, so as to embrace the east side of the
river as high up as their present limits extended, and the west
side to Upland kill.3

The introduction of negroes as laborers, had now become more
general on the river. As early as 1657, complaints were made
against Vice Director Alrichs, " for using the company's oxen
and negroes," and in a letter from Beekman to Director-general
Stuyvesant, dated on the 18th of March, 1662, he "solicits most
seriously," that his Honor "would accommodate him with a
company of negroes, as he is very much in want of them in many
respects.'"4

The case of the Swedish priest grows desperate. He obtained

1 Haz. Ann. 323. 2 lb. 328, &a.

3 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 168-173, &c. 4 Haz. Ann. 331.

1662.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 81

a divorce from the council which does not appear sufficient in
the eyes of his tormentors, and he then proceeded uto marry him
self." But his greatest offence, it would seem, consisted in break-
ing open a door at Upland, and opening the trunk of the man
who stole his wife. The following are the proceedings in the
case before the court at Altona, composed of Vice Director
Beekman, and Commissaries Peter Kock, Matthys Hanson, and
Oloff Stille, as justices or commissaries.

" Hon. Vice Director as Sheriff, plaintiff versus Rev. Laers
Carels, Defendant. The plaintiff concludes, as it is of notoriety,
and acknowledged by the Defendant, that on the 20th of Sep-
tember, 1661, he, Minister Laers committed the violence in
breaking the room open, and opening the trunk of the fugitive
Jacob Jough, when said Jough the night before absconded, and
made an inventory of his property, which he left behind, as is
evident by his own handwriting, to which the defendant was not
qualified, which ought to have been done by the Vice Director
and the court, and that he usurped and suspended their authority,
and villified it, wherefore he remains answerable and holden to
make compensation to the company of what was yet due the
company by said absconded Jough, of which the residue amounts
to 200 gl. in corn and 40 gl. in beaver, which is to be delivered
and besides this, an amende of 40 gl. for having vilified author-
ity. Defendant said, he came at that time to the house of
Andries Hendrieson Finn, and asked him if his wife was with J.
Jough in his room, when the wife of Andries Finn, answered,
that she did not know it, that her master might look at it, on
which he took an axe and broke the door, and made an inventory
of the goods. The commissioners having considered the case,
commanded that the Rev. Laers shall satisfy the demand, 200 gl.
and pay for his insolence."1

The defendant was eventually sentenced to pay the above 200
gl. which had been advanced to Jough to buy corn on behalf of
the company ; to pay 40 beavers due from Jough to Beekman and
a Mr. Decker, besides an amende of 40 gl.

The above is given as a specimen of judicial proceedings on
the river — perhaps no better specimen could be found of judicial
robbery. Beekman not only had a direct interest in the matter,
but had expressed his apprehensions as to the result some time
before the trial. As bad as was the character of the defendant,
it is difficult to see how the Swedish commissaries could be indu-
ced to join in such an unjust transaction.

On the day of the trial, Andries Hudde as secretary, announ-
ced to the Rev. Laers, the illegality of his marriage.

The unfortunate priest feels, that by reason of the decision of

1 Haz. Ann. 331.
6

82 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1662.

the court, he is a ruined man, and submits a petition to the
Governor in which his deep humility is apparent. He alleges
that he broke the door in search of his wife, and both in this
proceeding and in his marriage by himself, he acted in ignorance.
He had already paid nearly 200 gl. and craved the aid of the
General to save him from further punishment, and also to " save
his reputation and condition as a minister."1

A corn-mill was now in the course of erection at " Turtle
Falls, about one and a half miles (Dutch) from Fortress Altona,"
on condition, however, " that the garrison should not pay for
their grist." A mill of some kind was in existence at New Am-
stel called a Rosmolen (Ross mill,) to which the people of Altona
resorted, or when they could not be served, were compelled to go
to the old " Swedish mill" at the distance of six miles (Dutch)
from Altona. This old Swedish mill was the mill built by Gover-
nor Printz on Cobb's creek.

The West India Company having assented to a favorable modi-
fication of the conditions under which the City of Amsterdam held
its colony, and the city having agreed to furnish pecuniary aid to
emigrants, a reasonable prospect was presented, that immigration
in that direction would proceed with great rapidity. Among
those who were allured by the proposed advantages, was a com-
munity of Menonists, who proposed to plant themselves at Hore-
kill. Their articles of association are remarkably singular.
The associators were to be married men or single men twenty-four
years old. Clergymen were excluded from the community, as
were also, " all intractable people — such as those in communion
with the Roman See ; Usurious Jews ; English stiff-necked Qua-
kers ; Puritans ; fool-hardy believers in the Millennium ; and
obstinate modern pretenders to revelation." Laws, subject to
the approval of the authorities of the City of Amsterdam could
be passed by the votes of two thirds of the members, but no
magistrate was to be allowed any compensation for his services —
"not even a stiver."2

Enticed by the favorable terms offered to emigrants by the
City of Amsterdam, sixteen or eighteen families, chiefly Finns,
had embraced them by removing within its jurisdiction. They
were to be eighteen years free from tax and to have their own
judges and religion, while at the same time they meant to retain
the lands from which they emigrated.3

The location of Printzdorp has presented a difficulty to wri-
ters on the early settlements on the Delaware. The following
extract from a letter written by Beekman to the Director-general

1 Haz. Ann. 332, Ac.

2 Broadhead's Hist. N. Y. 1698.— N. Y. Col. Doc ii. 175.

3 Haz. Ann. 337, from Albany Rec.

1662.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 83

on the 14th of September, 1662, leaves no room for doubt on
that subject.

"I inquired, at the request of Hendrick Huygen, into the
situation of a certain lot <Jf land, situated at the south-west side
of Upland-kill, and was informed by the Swedish commissaries,
and other ancient inhabitants of the said nation, that aforesaid
tract is called Printzs village, which had already been in posses-
sion, during sixteen gears, of the Swedish Governor John Printz,
and his daughter, who owns it. I cannot hear that this tract
has ever been in possession of one Hans Ammonsen or his heirs,
or that any land was cultivated by him in that neighborhood,
but well that it was said so of one Elias Sullengreen, after the
arrival of Governor Rysingh, that his wife's father had a dona-
tion in writing from Queen Christina, of a certain piece of
land, situated between Mary's corner (Marytjens Hoeck) and
Upland kill. I received this information this day at Fort
Altona."1

The grant to John Amundson Besh, by Queen Christina in
1653, appears to have the same position as Printz s village. It
will be remembered that Amundson did not accompany the ex-
pedition of Rysingh as military commander, agreeably to his
appointment, at the time the grant was made to him. This circum-
stance may have led to its revocation. It will also be remembered
that Governor Printz, in 1647, after the royal grant of Tinicum
had been made to him, asked her Swedish Majesty to " confer on
him certain lands and occupations."2 Doubtless these lands had
been laid off and particularly designated in his application ; and
as the time this application was made, accords well with the time
that "the Swedish commissaries and other ancient inhabitants,"
remembered that the tract on the south side of Upland kill had
been in possession of the Governor and his daughter, no doubt
can remain as to the locality of Printzdorp.3

It is quite possible that Governor Printz may not have received
a grant for this land before his return to Sweden. The claimant
Sullengreen seems to have been the son-in-law of Amundson.

A murder wTas committed by an Indian within four hundred
rods of Fort Altona, for which the Minquas were suspected. This
happened on the 17th of November, and on the 3rd of December,
three Minquas chiefs with their suite presented themselves at the
fort. The Swedish commissary, with Mr. Huygens and Jacob
Swens being sent for, the chiefs charge the offence on a captive
Seneca residing among their tribe. In their remarks, the chiefs
aver that it cannot be proven that the Christians have ever been
injured or offended by their nation ; "but on the contrary they

1 Haz. Ann. 339.— Albany Rec. xvii. 238. 2 Haz. Reg. iv. 315. %

3 This will be more fully confirmed hereafter.

84 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1663.

have shown them every mark of friendship, and were always
willingly and cheerfully employed in reconciling differences be-
tween them and other savages, &c." They also reminded Beek-
man, that three years ago one of theif nation had been murdered
at New Amstel of which they took no notice. Presents were
exchanged and thus the matter was ended.

They, however, had determined to prosecute the war with the
Senecas in the spring, having secured the services of eight hun-
dred "Swedish Minquas" two hundred of whom had already
arrived. They " solicited the Christians to provide them with
the amunition of war, when they paid for it."1

It appears that towards the close of this year, "Miss Printz,
(Mrs. Papegoya,) made a conveyance of the Island of Tinicum
to a Mr. La Grange, and had received from him a bill of exchange
as part of the purchase money, which bill was protested. Beek-
man visited Tinicum for the purpose of arranging the matter, but
after using every exertion failed. From this transaction much
litigation ensued, which was not ended till after the government
passed into the hands of Penn. The letter of Beekman, commu-
nicating this matter to Stuyvesant, is dated at " Tinneconk, iV!
Leyden" December 23rd, 1662.

Harmonious action, between the officers of the City and those
of the Company, was not established by the new arrangement
entered into between the parties. It became apparent, that a
joint occupancy of the river must ever be attended with difficulties,
that would prevent the rapid settlement of the country, and
would materially interfere with the prosperity of the Colonists.
Under this impression, the Burgomasters of the City in the early
part of 1663, made application to the company for authority to
extend their jurisdiction, "from the sea upwards as far as the
river stretches." After considerable negotiation, a cession was
accordingly made to the city, embracing a margin of nine miles
on the coast, and extending to the English Colony on the west
side of the river, on conditions that made its Colony almost wholly
independent of the Company. The cession was not however
actually made till near the close of the year, until which time
Beekman continued to perform the duties of his office.

A trade had sprung up between the Colony of the City and
the Marylanders, which under the new arrangement that excluded
the Company's officials from the river, the city hoped to extend ;
it having been offered by the English, in case they would trade
with them, " to make a little slit in the door,7'2 whereby they
could be reached overland. In a proposal submitted by the com-
missioners to the Burgomasters of the City, cargoes amounting to

1 Haz. Ann. 341 ; Albany Rec. xvii.

2 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 201.

1664.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 85

from thirty-five to thirty-six thousand guilders are estimated for
this trade and that of the Indians. In the same document it is
especially urged, that a contract be immediately made for fifty
head of slaves, " for procuring which the West India Company
had a ship ready to sail." These slaves were ordered in pur-
suance of a report made by Director Alexander d'Hinoyosa, who
regarded them as " particularly adapted to the preparation of the
valleys which are found exceedingly fertile."1

Hendrick Huygens, the commissary, is about to remove from
N. Leyden which was on Tinicum. He probably fixed his resi-
dence at Upland, as he reports to Beekman, "a horrid deed"
that was committed at that place by a Finn named Jan Hen-
drickson against " the honest Juriaen Kuys Sneart, whom he had
cruelly beaten."2

The Swedes entertained a more kindly feeling towards the
officials of the City Colony, than towards those of the Company,
which appears to have been reciprocated; for no sooner is the
authority of the City extended over the Swedish settlements,
than we find Peter Kock, a Swede, appointed to the important
trust of "collector of tolls on imports and exports from the Colony
of the city," and Israel [Helm,] another Swede, to superintend
the fur trade at the upper end of Passayunk.

Mrs. Papegoya is now absent from the river, but the precise
time she left, is not mentioned. Israel [Helm,] who appears to
have accompanied this lady to Sweden, returned early in Decem-
ber with D'Hinoyosa and Peter Alrichs, who had been on a visit
to Fatherland. A formal transfer of the whole river was imme-
diately made by Stuyvesant to D'Hinoyosa, who received it on
behalf of the Burgomasters of the city of Amsterdam.3 The
Burgomasters did not, however, accept of this enlargement of
their American possessions, without apprehension that the whole
might not soon be rescued from them ; but they did not discern
the real source of danger. News of the fitting out of a secret
expedition in Sweden,4 had reached Governor Stuyvesant, and
could not have been unknown in Holland. A demand was also
formally made by the resident Swedish minister at the Hague,
for a restoration of New Sweden to the Swedish Company,5 which
clearly shows the real object of the expedition. But a series of
maritime disasters that befell the ships composing the expedition,

1 N. Y Col. Doc. ii. 213-214. The valleys here mentioned are the rich alluvial flats
along the Delaware which were then overflowed at high tide, and which now consti-
tute the embanked marsh lands along the river and some of its tributaries. The Dutch
being perfectly familiar with the art of reclaiming overflowed grounds in Fatherland,
it was to them and not to the Swedes, that we are indebted for introduction of the
plan of reclaiming these lands on the Delaware.

2 Haz. Ann. 345 ; Albany Rec. iv. 415.

3 Haz. Ann. 355 ; Albany Rec. xxi. 445. 4 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 230.
5 lb. 240, &c.

86 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1664.

and forced their return — disasters, in which Stuyvesant saw
" the hand of God," relieved the Dutch " from all apprehension
and dread,"1 and saved our land from again passing under the
dominion of the Swedes.

The Swedes and Finns had enjoyed more privileges of trade
under the government of the Company, than the city now pro-
posed to allow them. After having been absolved from their
oath of allegiance to the Company, they unanimously refused to
renew it to the city, unless their former trading privileges and
others were restored. D'Hinoyosa had fixed upon Aponquin-
imy as his future residence, at which point he intended to build a
capital, in order to promote his trade with the English ; but his
administration of the government as recently extended, was so
brief, till the whole authority of the Dutch passed into the hands
of the English, that nothing worthy of note occurred, except the
issuing of a patent to certain Swedes for eight hundred acres of
land in Passayunk.

During the exclusive exercise of Dutch rule on the Delaware,
the personal intercourse existing between the Dutch and Swedish
inhabitants was no doubt friendly ; but the government looked
upon the Swedes with suspicion and distrust, and adopted tyran-
nical and oppressive regulations in respect to them. Had all these
regulations been rigidly enforced by the local authorities, it
would probably have resulted in a general exodus of the Swedes
and Finns to Maryland.

Ecclesiastical affairs during this period present rather a
gloomy aspect. Two of the three Swedish priests on the river
at the time of the Dutch conquest, left with Rysingh, or shortly
afterwards.2 The standing of the one who remained,3 and who
doubtless had charge of the church at Tinicum, as well as of that
at Christina, was not, during this period, well Calculated to ele-
vate the morals of his flock. We may sympathize with this man
on account of the wrongs he suffered, but our sympathy will be
tempered by the belief, that had he lived a life more in accordance
with his holy functions, he would not have fallen into the hands
of his persecutors. Such as he was, he was the only one in the
country, and "served both the Swedes and the Dutch."4

1 N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. 236. 2 Campanius, 108.

3 This personage appears under several different names. Cauipanius, as translated by
Duponcenu, calls him Lawrence Charles Lokenius, p. 108. To his petition his name is
signed, Laurentius Carels, while in a note to Campanius by the translator, he is called
Lawrence Lock. The Dutch records refer to him as the Rev. Laers. His great infirm-
ity appears to have been an over fondness for intoxicating drinks. See Doc. Hist. N.
Y. iii. 105. It may, however, be inferred that he became reformed in his latter years ;
for in 1675 he became the proprietor of the tract of land formerly occupied by Olle
Stille at the mouth of Ridley creek, and we are informed by Campanius that " he died
in the Lord" in 1688. (See Sec. State's office, Albany, Book "Delaware Lands," p. 15,
Campanius, 109.)

4 Acreliur, 425.

1664.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 87

Towards the close of the Dutch dynasty, the Swedes made an
effort to supersede the Rev. Laers by the appointment of Albe-
lius Zetzcoven, or Selskoorn, but the opposition made by the
Reverend incumbent was so strong that no permanent position
appears to have been assigned to him. This gentleman preached
at the Tinicum church on the last Monday of Pentecost, at the
request of the Swedish Commissaries. They desired to engage
him as a schoolmaster at the same salary given to the Rev.
Laers, but, the people of New Amstel, where it may be inferred
he was employed in the same capacity, would not dismiss him.
He never had charge of any congregation on the South river as
a regularly ordained minister.1

While the city and the Company occupied the country jointly,
the seat of justice of the latter jurisdiction was at Altona. The
Swedes did not resort voluntarily to the court held there, pre-
ferring to settle their differences among themselves, and in one
or two instances they wilfully disregarded its processes.2

Horses and cattle were sent over by the Company and by the
city in great numbers. These were distributed among the set-
tlers, to be returned at the end of four or five years with one
half of the increase. The Swedes constituting almost exclusively
the agricultural population of the river, a large proportion of
these animals was distributed anions them.

The time had now arrived, when the dominion of our favored
land was to be wrested from the Dutch, and with the exception
of a short interval — forever. The crown of Great Britain having
been restored to Charles II. he granted to his brother James,
duke of York, the territory embracing the whole of New York
and New Jersey, and by a subsequent grant, that which now
comprises the State of Delaware.

To secure the possession of his newly acquired territory, the
Duke fitted out an expedition consisting of four men of war and
four hundred and fifty men, which he placed under the command
of Col. Richard Nicolls. With the commander, were united Sir
Robert Carr, Sir George Cartwright and Samuel Maverick, Esq.,
to act as commissioners, to receive possession, settle boundaries,
&c. The expedition reached the mouth of the Hudson in the
latter end of August, and after considerable negotiation, New
Amsterdam and its immediate dependencies, were surrendered
to the English on the 8th of September, without firing a gun.
The settlements on the Delaware, being now under a government
wholly independent of the West India Company, they were not
included in the capitulation of New Amsterdam. "Sir Robert
Carr was immediately dispatched with a sufficient force to effect
their capture. Arriving there on the last day of September, he

1 Acrelius, 425 ; Haz. Ann. 348-353. - Haz. Ann. 311.

88 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1664.

sailed past the forts, " the better to satisfie the Swede, who, not-
withstanding the Dutches persuasion to ye contrary were soone
their frinds." After three days' parley, the Burghers and towns-
men yielded to the demands of the English on terms favorable
to themselves and the Swedes, but the governor, D'Hinoyosa
and soldiery refused every proposition, although the fort was in
a bad condition, and defended by only fifty men. " Where-
upon," says Sir Robert in his official dispatch, " I landed my
soldiers on Sonday morning following and commanded ye shipps
to fall down before ye fort wthin muskett shott, wth directions to
fire two broadsides apeace uppon ye Fort, then my soldiers to
fall on. Which done ye soldiers neaver stoping untill they
stormed ye Fort, and sae consequently to plundering ; the sea-
men, noe less given to that sporte, were quickly wthin, and have
gotten good store of booty." The loss on the part of the Dutch
was three killed and ten wounded ; on the part of the English —
none.1

The articles of agreement entered into between Sir Robert
Carr, acting on behalf of his Majesty of Great Britian, and the
Burgomasters, secured to the planters and Burghers, protection
in their estates both real and personal ; the continuance of the
present magistrates in their offices and jurisdiction ; the liberty
of conscience in church discipline as formerly ; together with
" the privilege of trading into any of his Majesties dominions as
freely as any Englishman," after having taken the oath of
allegiance.2

The general system of plunder that ensued upon the surrender
of the fort, Was disgraceful to the commander, and his excuse,
that " in such a noise and confusion noe words of command could
be heard for some tyme," affords better evidence of the enormity
of the transaction, than of any sincere disposition on his part to
have prevented it. No less than forty horses, sixty cows and
oxen, one hundred sheep, and from sixty to seventy negroes,
were included in the plunder.3 Sir Robert appropriated to his
own use, the farm of D'Hinoyosa; his brother Captain John
Carr, took possession of that of Sheriff Van Sweringen, while
Ensign Stock possessed himself of "Peter Alrich's land." But the
possessions of the local officers, which were regarded as legiti-
mate booty, were not sufficient to gratify the cupidity of all who
wore epaulets in the expedition. To satisfy the claims of the
two captains — Hyde and Morley — Sir Robert granted to them
" the Manour of Grimstead, situated near the head of the said
river Delaware in America."4

The conduct of Sir Robert Carr, subsequently to the capture

1 N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. 73. 2 lb. 71.

3 lb. 345. * lb. 345-72.

1667.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 89

of the fort, did not meet with the approbation of Col. Nicolls.
In his report to the Secretary of State, he speaks disparagingly
of his selfish conduct in respect to the plunder, and particularly
of his presumption in appropriating "the prize to himself," and
of " disposing of the confiscations of the houses, farmes and stocks
to whom he doth think fitt." The Col. soon visited the Delaware
to attend to the interests of his sovereign. Captain Robert
Needham was subsequently deputed to the command of the
Delaware.1

With the change of masters, the name of New Amsterdam
was changed to New York, and that of New Amstel to Neiu
Castle.

Even before the Duke of York had acquired the possession of
his American territory, he conveyed all that portion of it which
now constitutes the State of New Jersey, to Lord Berkley and
Sir George Carteret. At the time of the English conquest of
the Delaware, the settlements on the east side of the river were
so few, that no notice is taken of them, in any account of the
transaction, that has come under my notice.

Col. Nicolls acted as Governor of both New York and the
Delaware. The Swedes were benefited by the change in the
government, as under the new order of things, nearly all restric-
tions on their trade were removed. But independent of any pe-
cuniary advantage, they must have felt a secret satisfaction in
seeing their ancient enemies, the Dutch, humbled.

Beavers still continued to be used as currency ; and in the pay-
ment for imported goods, the standard value fixed on each
beaver, by the Governor, was 8 guilders or 13s. 4d. The export
duty on beavers, was 10J per cent ; on tobacco, two cents per
pound.2 In 1666, an order was issued by Col. Nicolls granting
a temporary immunity from all duties, for the purpose of en-
couraging trade.3

In July of this year, an order was issued by the Court of
Assizes of New York, which applied to the country on the Dela-
ware, for a renewal of all the old patents that had been granted
for land, and that those who had no patent should be supplied.

Col. Nicolls performed the duties of Governor both of New
York and its dependencies on the Delaware, for about three
years. He was succeeded by Col. Francis Lovelace in May,
1667. The administration of Nicolls was conducted with pru-
dence and judgment ; his efforts being especially directed to the
promotion of trade. There was no popular representation in the
government. " In the governor and his subservient council,
were vested the executive and the highest judicial powers ; with

1 N. Y. Col. Doe. 70.

2 Sec. State's office, Albany. Book " General Entries," i. 112. 3 lb. 143.

90 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1668.

the Court of Assizes, composed of justices of his own appoint-
ment, he exercised supreme legislative power, promulgated* a
code of laws and modified and repealed them at pleasure.''1

The laws thus enacted and promulgated, called the " Duke's
Laws," were collected out of the several laws then in force in
the British American colonies, and if not an improvement on
these laws, they are divested of the worst features of some of
them.2

This year, a Swedish church was erected at Crane Hook, at
which Mr. Lock officiated as well as at the church at Tinicum.3

On the 21st of April, 1668, the government at New York
adopted " Resolutions and directions for the settlement of a gar-
rison on the Delaware." Under this head, directions were given,
that it was only " necessary to hold up the name and counte-
nance of a garrison, with 20 men and one commissioned officer."
But the more important matter of establishing courts of justice,
was also contained in the "Resolutions and directions." To
prevent " all abuses or oppositions in civil matters, so often as
complaint is made, the commission officer Capt. Carre, shall call
the scout wth Hans Block, Israel Helm, Peter Rambo, Peter
Cock, Peter Alrich, or any two of them as counsellors, to advise,
hear and determine, by the major vote, what is just, equitable
and necessary, in the case or cases in question."

It was besides directed, " that the same persons also, or any
two or more of them, be called to advise and direct, what is best
to be done in all cases of difficulty, which may arise from the
Indians, and to give their counsel and orders for the arming of
the several plantations and planters, who must obey and attend
their summons, upon such occasions."

" That the Fynes or Preminires and light offences be executed
with moderation, though it is also necessary that all men be pun-
ished in exemplary manner."

The commissioned officer, Capt. Carr, when the votes were
equal, was to have a casting vote.

It was also ordained, " that the laws of the government estab-
lished by his Royal highness, be showed and frequently commu-
nicated to the said counsellors and all others, to the end that
being therewith acquainted, the practyce of them may also, in
convenient time be established wch conducteth to the publique
welfare and common justice."4

Three of the newly appointed counselors were Swedes, resi-
ding up the river, and as no time or place is mentioned for hold-

1 Bancroft's Hist. II. S. ii. 320.

2 For the " Duke's Laws," see N. Y. Hist. Col. i. 307 to 428.

3 Ferris, 145—147.

4 Sec. State's office, Albany " Orders, Warrants and Letters," ii. 207, <tc.

1668.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 91

ing the courts, and as the three Swedish gentlemen mentioned
were all justices of the first Upland Court of which the record
has been preserved, it may reasonally be concluded that the
court thus established, occasionally exercised its functions at
Upland. If so, it will mark the earliest period at which that
place could have been a seat of justice.

Jn the order for establishing a judicial tribunal on the Dela-
ware, it was directed, " that no offensive war should be made
against the Indians" before directions were received from the
government for so doing. Recourse was also to be had to the
government, by way of appeal, in all cases of difficulty.

In consequence of the commission of two murders by the In-
dians while in a state of intoxication, Peter Rambo proceeded to
New York, bearing a request from the Indians "that there
should be an absolute prohibition upon the whole river of selling
strong liquors to the Indians." The whole matter was referred
to Captain Carre and those associated with him in commission,
with the promise that what they should (upon discourse with the
Indians) conclude, should be confirmed.1

Before Mrs. Papegoya visited Sweden in 1662 or 1663, she
had sold the island of Tinicum, as has been mentioned, to a Mr.
De Lagrange, but the consideration in whole or in part was a
protested bill of exchange. It will be seen hereafter that when
she returned to the country, she prosecuted her claim to be re-
instated in possession of the island with success, though in the
end, her title to it was decided not to be good.

Printzdorp, however, was confirmed to that lady under the
name of TJfro Papegay, on the 18th of June, 1668, which renders
it probable that she had then returned to reside on the river.
The following is a description of the property :

" A parcel of cleared land situate on the west side of the
Delaware river between two creeks, the one called Upland, the
other Le Mokey's creek, including all the land being between
the said two creeks, as also the valley or meadow ground there-
unto belonging, and containing by estimation, as it lies along the
river side twelve hundred tread or single paces" * * as held and
possessed by the said Ufro * * * "2

The situation of this land cannot be mistaken. It subsequently
became the property of Robert Wade.3 During this and the
two succeeding years, several tracts of land within the limits of
Delaware county and vicinity, were confirmed to persons who
held titles from the Dutch, including a few lots in Upland.
Brief extracts from some of these ancient documents, will be
found in the Appendix, note C.

1 See. State's Office, Albany — " Orders, Warrants, Letters," ii. 200.

2 Sec. State's Office, Albany — " Abstract of Patents," ii. 54.

3 Mrs. Papegoya resided during several years at Printzdrop.

92 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1669.

The order issued in 1666, for repatenting lands, was renewed
by Governor Lovelace, and William Tom was appointed collector
of quit-rents on the Delaware. Those who had neglected to
take out patents, are not on that account to be exempt from the
payment of these dues.

The Swedes and Finns had conducted themselves with so much
propriety, that they had very fully secured the confidence of the
government. But this year an insurrection broke out, headed
by one Marcus Jacobson, generally known as the "Long Finn,"
who gave out that he was " the son of Coningsmark," heretofore
one of the king of Sweden's generals. He had for a confederate,
one Henry Coleman, also a Finn, and a man of property. Cole-
man had " left his habitation, cattle and corn" to reside among
the Indians, with whose language he was well versed, where also
the Long Finn generally kept. No treasonable acts are charged
against these confederates except " raising speeches, very sedi-
tious and false, tending to the disturbance of his Majesty's
peace and the laws of the government."

On the 2nd of August, Governor Lovelace issued a proclama-
tion1 for the arrest of the parties, with an order to confiscate the
property of Coleman, in case he did not surrender himself in
fifteen days. The principal in the insurrection was soon arrest-
ed, and upon information of that fact being communicated to the
governor and council, they expressed their great satisfaction on
account "of the prudence and careful management" of the offi-
cers on the Delaware, " in circumventing and securing the prime
mover of this commotion."2

Jeuffro Papegay, Armgart Printz, was somewhat implicated,
" though what she had done was not of any dangerous conse-
quence, yet it was a demonstration of her inclination and temper
to advance a strange power, and a manifestation of her high in-
gratitude for all those indulgences and favors she hath received
from those in authority over her."3

The Governor also perceived from the papers sent to him that
" the little domine* hath played the trumpeter in this disorder."
The quality of his punishment was referred to the discretion of
Captain Carr.

The instructions to Captain Carr were " to continue the Long
Finn in custody and irons, until he can have his trial;" the ap-
pearance of " those of the first magnitude concerned with him
was to be secured by imprisonment or by taking security ;" but

1 See. State's Office, Albany — " Orders, Warrants," &c, ii. 266 ; Haz. Ann. 375.

2 Sec. State's Office, Albany — " Council Book," iii. 13.

3 Haz. Ann. 377 ; Albany Rec. " Orders," Ac, ii. 271.

4 Mr. Hazard suposes the " Little Domine" here mentioned to have been the Rev.
Mr. Fabricius. This gentleman was not then on the Delaware. The reference must
have been to the Rev. Mr. Lawrence Carolus, or Mr. Lock as he is frequently called,
who probably was a Finn.

16G9.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 93

"the poor deluded sort," were to be subjected to a method for
keeping them in order which the Governor is pleased to say was
prescribed by their own countrymen, and which is, " severity,
and laying such taxes on them as may not give them liberty to
entertain any other thoughts but how to discharge them."1

In the commission for the trial of the insurgents on the Dela-
ware, the names of the judges are omitted in the record.2 The
sentence was passed by the council at New York on the Long
Finn, or that passed by the commission on the Delaware was
confirmed. He was deemed worthy of death, but, " in regard
that many others being concerned with him in the insurrection,
might be involved in the same premunire," amongst them
" divers simple and ignorant people," the said Long Finn was
sentenced "to be publicly and severely whipped and stigmatized
or branded in the face with the letter (R.) with an inscription
written in great letters and put upon his breast, that he received
that punishment for attempting rebellion." After undergoing
this sentence the culprit was to be sent to " Barbadoes and some
other of those remote plantations and sold." In compliance with
the latter part of his sentence, he was put on board of Mr.
Cossen's ship Fort Albany, bound for Barbadoes, in January,
1669-70, where, no doubt, he was sold into slavery.3 What be-
came of Coleman is not certainly known. He probably remained
among the indians for some years, when his offence was over-
looked by the government.4

So few of the names of those implicated in the insurrection
are given, that it is difficult to fix on the particular district of
country that was its principal seat. The leader was a Finn ;
the " Little Domine" was a Finn, and as the Swedes and Finns
did not understand each other's language well, it is probable that
the hot bed of the conspiracy was in the district of country
chiefly settled by Finns below Upland. This supposition is
strengthened by the fact that Mrs. Papegoya was implicated ;
for though not a Finn, she doubtless then resided on her estate
of Printzdorp in the vicinity of the Finnish settlement; she
not being in possession of Tinicum at this time.5

1 Mr. Bancroft gives to this order a general application. It evidently had reference
only to the more ignorant and deluded of those who joined in the conspiracy. See
Hist. U. S. ii. 321.

2 Sec. State's Office, Albany — " Court of Assizes," ii. 437.

3 Sec. State's Office, Albany — " Court of Assizes," ii. 464; " Council Book," iii. 14.

4 In 1676, by virtue of a warrant from Governor Andros, one hundred acres of land
in the south part of Darby township was surveyed to Hendrick Coleman and Peter
Pullen. Coleman was probably the same person. See " Delaware Lands," Sec. State's
Office, Albany. Henry Coleman conveyed his share of the same land in 1696. See
Recorder's Office, Chester Co. Book A.

5 The object and expectations of the conspirators are not well understood. Secretary
Matthias Nicolls, sent by Col. Nicolls " to make inquiry into the matter," says, " they
pretended an expectation of some Swedish ships to come and reduce the place," N. Y.
Col. Doc. iii. 186.

94 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1671.

It will be remembered that Mrs. Papegoya had sold the island
of Tinicum to a Mr. De La Grange. The grantee soon after died,
and his widow Margaret intermarried with Andrew Carr. This
year Governor Lovelace issued a patent confirming the whole
island to the said Andrew and his wife. See Appendix, note C.

Previous to the insurrection of the Long Finn, there had been,
as before stated, two murders committed on the river by the
Indians. As yet the murderers had not been apprehended, but
the Governor by his orders to Captain Carr, evinces a determina-
tion not to let them go unpunished.

On the 13th of April, a pass was granted " to the Magister
Jacobus Fabritius, pastor of the Lutheran confession," to go to
New Castle, or any place on the Delaware.1 This personage,
who at this period, and for some years later, bore no very en-
viable reputation, subsequently, it will be seen, became the first
clergyman at Wiccaco, and by a course of good conduct gained
the confidence and respect of his employers.

Early in 1671, at the suggestion of Captain Carr, several
orders were made by the Governor and council in respect to the
Delaware. No persons were to be permitted to distill liquor
without license; the number of victuallers and tapsters to be
ascertained — three only to be allowed in New Castle, and "some
few up the river," who may be licensed; constables are to be
appointed to keep the king's peace. As to the tenure of lands
on the Delaware, it was to be held " in free and common socage
as his Royal Highness, by his Majesty's patent, holds all his
territories in America, that is to say according to the custom of the
Manor of East Greenwich, only with this proviso, that they like-
wise pay, the Quit rents reserved in their several patents, as
acknowledgments to his Royal Highness."

As to the mill, that Carr had represented to the council as
being "up Delaware river at ye Carcoons Hooke," and which
" did heretofore appertain to ye publique, and now is endeavour-
ed to be engrossed by some particular persons for their private
uses," it was ordered "that care be taken for ye letting out ye
said Mill for ye best advantage to some person who will under-
take ye same, and that ye profitt thereof be reserved for ye pub-
lique."2 This is the old Swedes mill on Cobb's creek.

At a council held at New York on the 25th of September, at
which Peter Alricks was present to give particular information
in respect to the two murders committed by the Indians ; as to
the number of Indians, &c. One proposition for having the mur-
derers destroyed, came from an Indian sachem. It was " to
cause a Kintieoyi to be held, and in the midst of their mirth.

1 Sec. State's Office, Albany—" Court of Assizes," ii. 502.

2 lb. 713 to 720.

3 Did our word " Cantico" originate with the Indians ?

1671.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 95

that then one should be hired to knock them in the head."1 Two
days previous to this meeting, Governor Lovelace had notified
the Governor of New Jersey, that the Indians accused of the
murder were within his jurisdiction, at a place called Suscunk,
four miles east of Matiniconk Island, where the murder was
committed.2

The officers on the Delaware had become very apprehensive
that an Indian war was about to break out, and had communi-
cated their views to the Governor and council. In reply, orders
were issued for placing the settlement in the best possible posi-
tion for such a contingency. Orders that had already been
given by the local authorities for the people to retire into towns
for their better security, were approved. Every person " that
could bear arms, from sixteen to sixty years of age, was to be
always provided with a convenient proportion of powder and
bullets ;" no powder or ammunition was to be sold to the In-
dians ; no corn or provisions to be transported out of the river,
and the Susquehanna Indians or others were to be induced, by
appropriate rewards, "to join against the murderers and such as
should harbour them."3

The Governor of New Jersey, after receiving notice, was in a
very short time, " prepared with a handsome party ready to have
stepped into the work to bring the murderers to condign punish-
ment." But the backwardness of the people of the Delaware,
"put a stop to the forwardness of those of New Jersey." This
was in the month of November ; and although, one month earlier,
Carr had been instructed by the Governor, that the season of the
year was unfit for the commencement of an Indian war, his excel-
lency made the fact of the New Jersey preparations the occa-
sion to administer to that officer a severe rebuke for his tardi-
ness and neglect of duty.

But the masterly inactivity of Commander Carr, proved to be
the wisest policy., and still preserved the country of the Delaware
in its peculiar exemption from hostilities between the Indians
and whites. In eleven days after Alrick's return from New
York, a conference was held at Peter Rambo's house with the
Indian sachems, which resulted in a promise by them to bring
in the murderers within six days, dead or alive. One of the
criminals made his escape, while the other — the more courageous
of the two, allowed himself to be surprised. One of the two
Indians in pursuit, being his friend, was unwilling to shoot him,
but finding that the sachems had said he must die, and that his
brothers were of the same opinion, he was shot at his own request.

1 Sec. State's Office, Albany — " Council Book," ii. 71.

2 See. State's Office — " General Entries," iv. 35. This island is nearly opposite
Burlington.

3 Haz. Ann. 392.

96 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNT?. [1672.

His body was removed to Wiccaco, and from thence to New
Castle where it was hung in chains. William Tomm who com-
municated this information to the Governor, became satisfied from
the conduct of the sachems, that they desired no war. The
sachems promised to bring in the other Indian alive, and to the
young men brought with them, they held up the fate of the
murderer, as that which should be visited on every Indian who
should act in like manner.1

A prohibition had been in force against vessels trading direct-
ly to any point on the river above New Castle. This prohibition
was removed early in 1672, in respect to such vessels as sailed
from New York. Immediately thereafter, a pass was obtained
by the wife of Laurs Hoist, "to go in the sloop of Krygier to
Delaware, and thence up the river in some boat or canoe, to the
Swedes' plantations, with shoes and such other of her husband's
trade, and return without hindrance."2

Early in this year, ample preparations were made by Governor
Lovelace for a visit to the Delaware by the overland route, cross-
ing that river at Matineconk Island near the present town of
Burlington. A body guard and an advanced guard were ap-
pointed, and instructions were sent to the river to make prepara-
tions for the reception of his Excellency. If this visit was ac-
complished, it was without result, or there has been an omission
to record anything that transpired on the occasion, or if recorded,
the record has been lost.

English laws are now to be established more fully on the river.
The office of Sellout is to be converted into that of sheriff, to
which office Edmund Cantwell received the appointment, as well
as to that of collector of quit rents on the Delaware, William
Tom having resigned the latter office.3

In August of this year, the court of Upland, is authorized, with
the assistance of one or two of the high court, to examine into
a matter of difficulty between u Jan Cornells Mathys and Martin
Martinson, [Morten Mortenson,] inhabitants of Amesland," and
Israel Helme, about " a parcel of valley or meadow land, upon
an island over against Calcoone Hook."*

The daughter of Governor Printz still resided on the river, but
it will appear from the following order of the Governor made
upon her petition, that she did not live in much affluence :

" Whereas Jeuffru Armigart Printz, alias Pappegay, living in
Delaware River, did make a request unto me, that in regard she
lived alone, and had so little assistance by servants, having only
one man-servant, and likewise in harvest time, or other seasons
of the year for husbandry, when she was constrained to hire

1 Sec. State's Office, Albany — " General Entries," iv. 74 ; Haz. Ann. 393.

2 Haz. Ann. 395.

3 Sec. State's Office, Albany — " General Entries," iv. 184. * Ibid.

1672.] HISTORY OP DELAWARE COUNTY. 97

other people to help her, for whose payment in part, and relief
also, she was wont to distil some small quantities of liquors from
corn, as by divers others is used in that river, that I would ex-
cuse her man-servant from ordinary attendance at trainings in
the company in which he is enlisted, and also give her license
to distil in her own distilling kettle, some small quantities of
liquors for her own use, and her servants and laborers upon occa-
sions as before mentioned. I have thought good to grant the
request of said Jeuffro Pappegay, both as to the excuse of her
servant's being at trainings, (extraordinary ones, upon occasion
of an enemy or invasion, excepted,) and likewise that she have
license to make use of her distilling kettle as is desired, provided
it be done with such moderation, that no just complaint do arise
thereby, to continue one year."1

The limited means of Mrs. Papegoya is accounted for by the
fact that she was engaged in a heavy law suit for the recovery
back of the Island of Tinicum. There had been a trial in the
" High Court on the Delaware," from which the case was taken
by appeal to the Court of Assizes at New York, where it is thus
set down :

"Jeuffro Pappegay ]

als. N. Y. Oct. 2,

Armigart Prince f 1672.

vs. J

Andrew Carr and Margaret Persill, [Priscilla] his wife, by John
Carr their attorney." The case was tried on the 12th, 13th and
14th days of October. Various documents were read on the
trial, translations made and interpreters employed. The counsel
for the defendant desired time " for other witnesses out of Hol-
land," but it was thought fit "to delay the case no longer; so
the court recommended it to the jury," who brouo-ht&in'the
following verdict.

" In ye case depending between Armgart Prince, als. Mrs.
Pappegay Ptff., and Mrs. La Grange, Deft., ye jury having
seriously considered the Matt', do find for ye Ptff., and award ye
Deft, to pay ye principall wth costs of suite and all just damages."2

Execution was issued against Andrew Carr and his wife5 Per-
sill in Delaware river and precincts for three hundred and fifty
pounds with costs, for the use of Jeuffro Armgart Prince, " and
for that it is thought the most considerable part of their pro-
perty is upon the Island of Tinicum," the sheriff was empowered
" to put the said Jeuffro Prince in possession of the said Island
and the stock thereof * * * *."3

The celebrated George Fox, the founder of the religious Society

\ ?aZ-o Ann' 3"; K Y> Sec- State's 0ffice' Albany— "General Entries," iv 190

Sec. State's Office, Albany—" Court of Assizes," ii. 293-304.
3 Ibid, " General Entries," iv. 261.

7

98 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1672.

of Friends, in returning from a religious visit to New England
this year, had occasion to pass through the whole extent of the
territory now included in our County, hut it appeared he had
no mission to the Swedish settlers here. According to his own
account, after remaining all night in a house near the present
site of Burlington, " which the Indians had forced the people to
leave," and which he speaks of as the "head of Delaware Bay,"
he says: "The next day we swam our horses over a river about a
mile, at twice, first to an Island called Upper DinidocJc (Tene-
conk), and then to the main land, having hired Indians to help
us over in their canoos. This day we could reach hut about
thirty miles, and came at night to a Sivedes house, where we got
a little straw and lay there that night. Next day, having hired
another guide, we travelled about forty miles through the woods,
and made us a fire at night, by which we lay, and dried our-
selves; for we were often wet in our travels in the day time.
The next day we passed over a desperate river, which had in it
many rocks and broad stones, very Hazardous to us and our
horses. From thence we came to the Christian-river, where we
swam our horses, and went over ourselves in canoos. From
thence we came to a town called New Castle, heretofore called
New Amsterdam : And being very weary, and inquiring in the
town where we might buy some corn for our horses, the Gover-
nor came into the street and invited me to his house : and after-
wards desired me to lodge there ; telling me he had a bed for
me, and I should be welcome."1

The Brandywine is sufficiently identified by its "rocks and
broad stones;" but in reaching that "desperate river" from the
point at which he crossed the Delaware, our worthy preacher has
greatly over-estimated the distance. Benj. Ferris2 supposes the
Swede's house, at which he lodged, was at the Blue Bell tavern,
near the site of the Swede's mill. To have reached this point,
he would have passed over fully one-half of the distance from
Upper DinidocJc to the Brandywine. But the Swede s house
was thirty miles from the former and forty from the latter; and
as the mill, then a rarity in the country, is not mentioned, and
the Swedish settlements of Upland and Marcus Hook are not
noticed, it is probable our travellers crossed the country higher
up.

A war broke out between the English and Dutch in 1672, but
scarcely any notice appears to have been taken of the matter

1 George Fox, his Journal, ii. 194.

2 Original Settlements on the Delaware, 131. Our author has also fallen into the
error of supposing that the Governor mentioned by George Fox as lodging him
at New Castle, was Lord Lovelace. Lord Lovelace was not on the Delaware at tbat
time. It is Capt. John Carr, sometimes called Governor, who is entitled to the credit
of extending to the eminent Quaker, such marked civility.

1678.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 99

in this country, until a Dutch fleet under the command of Com-
modores Cornelius Evertse and Jacob Benckes, appeared before
the fort at New York, on the 6th of August of the following
year. After making a slight resistance, the fort was surren-
dered, and the whole country submitted again to the authority
of the Dutch. This happened in the absence of Governor Love-
lace, who was at New Haven.1

The two Commodores immediately issued their proclamation
appointing Anthony Colve, a Captain of Netherland infantry,
to the office of Governor-General of New Netherland, embracing
the full dimensions it possessed previous to its surrender to the
English, which included the whole of New Jersey.2 There ap-
pears to have been a ready submission to the Dutch authorities,
deputies appearing before the Commanders, including Colve ;
who constituted a kind of Military Council, and held their sit-
tings at Fort William Hendrick, the name now given to the fort
at New York. The deputies from the Delaware appeared before
this tribunal, and gave in " their submission to their High Mighti-
nesses the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, and
his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, on the 12th of Sep-
tember." In return, they obtained for their constituents, among
other privileges, "free trade and commerce with Christians and
Indians;" freedom of conscience; security in the possession of
their houses and lands, and exemption from all rent charges and
excise on wine, beer and distilled liquors consumed on the
South river. This last privilege was granted in consideration of
the expense the inhabitants would incur "in erecting the fort,"
and was to continue till 1676 — "Those of the English nation to
enjoy the same privileges upon taking the oath of allegiance."
At the same time, three Courts of Justice were established on
the Delaware — one at New Amstel, one at the Hoern Kill and
one at Upland. The jurisdiction of the Upland Court extended
provisionally from the east and west banks of Kristina Kill up-
wards unto the head of the river."

The inhabitants were required, "by a plurality of votes," to
nominate for each Court eight persons as magistrates. From
these the Council at New York selected the Justices of the seve-
ral Courts.3

Peter Alrichs was appointed by Governor Colve, Commander
and Schout, and Walter Wharton was re-appointed Surveyor of
the South River district. Peter Alrichs took his oath of office
and allegiance without reservation, but Wharton being an Eng-
lishman, made it a condition in his fealty, that he was not to be
forced to bear arms against his own nation. Alrichs was ap-

1 N. Y. Col. Doe. iii. 198, 199, Ac. a lb. ii. 609

3 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 6l'4-5.

100 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1674.

pointed to administer the oath of allegiance to the inhabitants
of the South River, and also authorized to enlist ten or twelve
soldiers "on government account," including two corporals.1

While freedom of conscience was granted to the inhabitants
of the Delaware, the instructions to Alrichs directed that "the
pure, true Christian Religion, according to the Synod of Dort,
should be taught and maintained in every proper manner, with-
out suffering anything to be attempted contrary thereunto by
any other sectaries."2

Public property belonging to the crown of England, together
with the debts due the government, was confiscated, but property
belonging to officers of the late government was restored to
them upon taking the oath of allegiance. On this condition,
upon the petition of his wife Petronella, Capt. John Carr, late
Commander on the Delaware, was reinstated in his possessions.3

The re-establishment of the Dutch authority in their former
American possessions did not continue long. By virtue of the
treaty of peace between England and the Netherlands, signed on
the 9th of February, 1674, it became necessary to restore these
possessions again to the English. Lest the title of the Duke of
York 'should be impaired by the Dutch conquest, a new grant
was made to him by his brother, whereupon the Duke, on the
loth of July, constituted Major, afterwards Sir Edmund Andros,
his Lieutenant and Governor. Upon the arrival of Governor
Andros at New York, the government was surrendered to him
agreeably to the terms of the treaty, the allegiance of the Dutch
having become formally absolved by Governor Colve. On the
9th of November, Andros issued his first proclamation, confirm-
ing "all former grants, privileges or concessions," and "all
estates legally possessed," under his Royal Highness, before the
late Dutch government, and all legal judicial proceedings under
that government. By this proclamation the Book .of Laws,
known as the "Duke's Laws," and also the former Courts, with
the time and manner of holding them, were established, and
"all magistrates and civil officers belonging thereunto, were to
be chosen accordingly."4

Edmund Cantwell and William Tom wrere commissioned by
the Governor to take possession of the Fort at Newcastle, and
of all military stores there, or on any other part of the river, on
behalf of his Majesty of Great Britain. Under this commis-
sion, in the Record at Albany is the following list of Justices :

1 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 614-617. The pay of a corporal was but 48 stivers per week,
and that of a private 35 stivers, Holland. The rations of each soldier per week, 61bs.
beef or 3i of pork, 6!bs. rye bread, £lb. butter, one-seventh of a half barrel of small
beer, and 1 skepel of peas per month. 2 lb. 618.

3 lb. 578, 579. A simple promise of allegiance was accepted from the Quakers,
instead of an oath.

* lb. iii. 227.— Documentary Hist. N. Y. iii. 79.

1675.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 101

"Names of ye Justices for Newcastle are: Mr. Hans Block,
Mr. Jn° Moll, Mr. Fopp Outhout, Mr. Joseph Chew, Mr. Di-
rick Alberts. For the River: Mr. Peter Cock, Mr. Peter
Rambo, Mr. Israel Helm, Mr. Laers Andrieson, Mr. Woolle
Swain."1

These Justices had no formal commissions issued to them at
this time, but simply an order from the Governor, directed to
them under the title of Commissaries, "to resume their places
as Magistrates." Captain Edmund Cantwell was commissioned
to administer to these Justices their official oath, he having been
reinstated in his office of Sheriff or Schout. Capt. Cantwell, in
conjunction with Johannes De Haas, was also appointed Collec-
tor of Quit-rents on the Delaware, and of all other duties, whe-
ther custom or excise.2

It has already been shown that a Court was established in
1668, embracing three of the above mentioned Justices of Up-
land Court; and two of these Justices, with the Commander,
being sufficient to form a Court, it is rendered almost certain
that Courts were then occasionally held at Upland. In
1672, an order issued from the Governor "to authorize and em-
power the Court at Upland, with the assistance of one or two of
the High Court" to examine into a matter of difficulty then
pending. This order requiring the aid of Justices of the
High Court in a special case, proves that the Swedish Justices
alone at that time usually held the Court at Upland. It is quite
probable that the Justices now reinstated are the same who con-
stituted the Upland Court in 1672, and who doubtless exercised
their functions during the short intervening period that the
country was under the dominion of the Dutch.

Capt. Cantwell, besides holding the office of Sheriff, appears
to have been entrusted with the charge of affairs generally on
the Delaware. In letters addressed by him to the Governor,
on the 30th of November and 9th of December, he assures him
of the general satisfaction of the people with the change of go-
vernment, and also acquaints him with the prospect of the ar-
rival of new settlers. The Governor gives notice of his inten-
tion to visit the Delaware in the Spring, but in the meantime
authorizes Cantwell to supply the new comers with a reasonable
quantity of land, and to act as Surveyor of the whole river and
bay.3

Governor Andros visited the Delaware in May of this year,
and on the 13th and 14th of that month held a special Court at
New Castle. At this Court it was ordered "that Highways

1 Sec. State's Office, Albany. " Orders, Warrants, Passes," 1674 to 1679, p. 8. Haz
Reg. iv. 56.

2 Haz. Res. iv. 56. * lb. i. 93.

102 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1675.

should be cleared from place to place, within the precincts of
this government."**1

It was also ordered "that the church or place of meeting for
divine worship in this towne, and the affaires thereunto belong-
ing, be regulated by the Court here in as orderly and decent
manner as may bee; that the place for meeting att Crane Hoeck
do continue as heretofore;" and "that the Church att Tinne-
cum Island do serve for Upland and parts adjacent."

"And whereas there is no Church or place of meeting higher
up the river than the said Island, for the greater ease of the in-
habitants there, Its ordered that the Magistrates of Upland do
cause a church or place of meeting for that purpose to be built
att Wickegkoo, the wch to bee for the inhabitants Passayunk & so
upwards. The said Court being empowered to Raize a tax for
its building and to agree upon a competent maintenance for
their minister, of all of which they are to give an account to the
next General Court, and they to the Governor, for his appro-
bacon."

This Court also established regulations in respect to various
other matters on the river, among which was an entire prohibi-
tion of the sale "of strong drinke or liquors to the Indians by
retayle, or a less quantity than two gallons att a tyme, under
the penalty of five pounds;" and a prohibition against distilling
grain by any of the inhabitants, under a like a penalty.

It was also ordered " that a ferry boate bee maintained and
kept att the falls att the west side of this river ; a horse and a
man to pay for passage 2 Guilders, a man without a horse, 10
Stivers."2

This is the earliest record of the proceedings of any Court on
the Delaware. They are recorded incidentally among the pro-
ceedings of the regular New Castle Court, for the early part
of 1677 (N. S.) The functions of this Court, which was intend-
ed to be held annually, were rather legislative than judicial.
The order "that Highways should be cleared from place to
place," seems to have been the first step taken for the establish-
ment of roads, in the States of Delaware or Pennsylvania.
It is our first road law.

As early as 1672, the Court of Assizes, held at New York,
ordained in respect to Parochial Churches, " that ye law be at-
tended [to]; but although persons bee of different judgments,
yet all are to contribute to ye allowed minister."3 Strangely as
this ordinance may contrast with the liberty of conscience grant-
ed in the articles of capitulation, when the country was first

1 The manner of making the roads was left to the respective inferior Courts.

2 Records of New Castle ; Liber A. 49, 50.

3 Sec. State's Office, N. Y. " Court of Assize," ii. 323.

1675.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 103

surrendered by the Dutch, it will sufficiently explain the order
of the Special or General Court at New Castle to the Upland
Court, in relation to the maintenance of the minister for the
new church at Wiccaco, and the action of this Court in respect
to such matters that followed.

A number of settlements had been made on the Jersey side of
the Delaware, principally by the Swedes, but this year the ship
Griffith, from London, arrived with a considerable number of
emigrant passengers, several of whom were heads of families.
They were landed at Salem, where they made a settlement.
Edward, Robert and John Wade and Richard Noble arrived in
this ship.1

On the 15th of May, the day after the adjournment of the
Special Court at New Castle, at which the Governor presided,
sundry matters of legislation, or rather regulation, that had
been omitted by the Court, claimed the attention of his Excel-
lency. These he embodied in a letter, which he directed " To
the three several Corts of delowar River or Bay." The "want
of corn mills, or not keeping them in due repair," he regarded
as "a great prejudice to the inhabitants and traders," and recom-
mended the Courts "to examine the same and cause all such
mills already made and the Bankes to be well fitted and kept in
due repair;" others were to be built "in convenient and fitting
places where none are;" and the Courts were to adopt regula-
tions in respect to tolls or prizes for grinding, applicable alike
to all millers or owners, whether of public or private mills.

The Governor next gives important directions in respect to
keeping Records. Patents for lands were to be recorded in the
books of the respective Courts, and patents were to be applied
for by those who had taken up lands after the same had been
surveyed.2

Robert Wade, who came in the Griffith with Fenwick, settled
at Upland on the West side of the creek, on the same tract that
had been known as Printzdorp, and which had been recently
occupied by Mrs. Papegoya. This lady having been reinstated
in the possession of Tinicum, disposed of her Upland estate
either to Robert Wade or to some other person from whom he
obtained his title to the property. Be this as it may, William
Edmundson, an eminent minister of the Society of Friends, in
travelling through the country in 1675, found Robert Wade set-
tled at Upland,, where, with a few Friends, he held a meeting

1 Smith's Hist, of N. J. p. 79. See also Smith's Hist. Penna. in Reg. Penna. vi. 182,
One moiety of New Jersey had been granted by Lord Berkley, one of the proprietors,
to Juhn Fenwick, in trust for Edwd. Billinge. It was under the charge of Fenwick,
who was a Friend, that the colonists who came in the Griffith made their settlement at
Salem.

2 New Castle Records. Liber A. 62.

104 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1676.

at his house. After meeting they took boat and went to Salem,
"where they met with John Fenwick and several families of
Friends, (who, with those at Chester,) had come from England
in that year with John Fenwick."1 From thence Robert Wade
accompanied the travelling Friends to New Castle, where their
horses had been sent, and from thence to Upland. Doubtless
the House of Robert Wade, at which the meeting was held, was
the famous Essex House, at which William Penn was entertained
upon his first landing at Upland ; but whether it was erected
by Wade, or had been built by the daughter of Governor Printz,
when she occupied the premises, is uncertain. The fact that
Robert Wade, within, at most, a few months after his arrival in
the country, had house room sufficient for the accommodation of
a Friends' meeting, and was prepared to make a journey to
Maryland, would suggest that he had been fortunate enough
to secure a dwelling already erected to his hand.

It is not known what other members of the Society of Friends,
of those who accompanied Fenwick, besides Robert Wade and
his family, settled at Upland. They were the first members of
that society who settled within the limits of our County or of the
Commonwealth.

The special execution granted in 1672 to Mrs. Papegoya, or
" Jeuffru Armigart Printz," as she is called, and which put her
in possession of Tinicum, failed to satisfy the judgment obtained
against Andrew Carr and his wife. Sheriff Cantwell is ordered
to proceed to a full execution of the judgment.2

About this time, William Penn, as trustee, became interested
in the settlement of West Jersey; a circumstance that brought
to his notice the not yet appropriated territory West of the De-
laware, and gave rise to the idea of planting a colony there on
principles that, in all future ages, will claim the admiration of
the world for their liberality.

Since the final establishment of British rule on the Delaware,
Capt. Cantwell, in addition to his office of Sheriff and other ap-
pointments, had acted as the superior military officer. On the
23d of September, 1676, he was superseded in the latter office
by the appointment of Captain John Collier as "Commander in
Delaware River and Bay."3 On the same day Justices of the
Peace were commissioned for the jurisdictions of New Castle
and Upland, for one year or till "further order;" any three of
whom would constitute a Court of Judicature. Ephraim Her-
man was appointed Clarke of both Courts.4

1 Smith's Hist. Penna. in Haz. Reg. vi. 182.

2 Haz. Ann. 423.

3 New Castle Rec. A. i. p. 2. Capt. Collier was also appointed " Sub-Collector of His
Majesties Customes of New Castle in delawar."

* Upland Court Rec. 37.

1676.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 105

The Justices commissioned for Upland District were, Peter
Cock, Peter Rambo, Israeli Helm, Lace Andrieson, Oele Swen1
and Otto Ernest Cock, being the former Justices, with the addi-
tion of the last named. They were all Swedes.

From this period to the present time, the judicial proceedings
in the district embracing the limits of Delaware County, have
been preserved of record. Those extending down to the com-
mencement of Penn's administration have lately been published
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania as part of the 7th
volume of its Memoirs, under the title of "the Record of the
Court at Upland," with a valuable Introduction and Notes by
Edward Armstrong, Esq.

The original manuscript Record is in the possession of Dr. J.
Dickinson Logan, of Philadelphia. The records of previous ju-
dicial transactions, not only at Upland, but elsewhere on the
river, have not as yet been discovered.

The following letter of instructions from the Governor very
fully explains the character and jurisdiction of the Court :

"Edmond Andros, Esqr: & Seigneur of Sausmarez, Lieut:
&Governr: Gen": under his Royall Highnesse James Duke of
Yorke and albany, etc : of all the Territories of America :

Whereas, The Last Ieare att my beeing att Delowar uppon
application of the Inhabitants Representing that my prdecessor
Governr Lovelace had begun to make a Regulacon for the due ad-
ministracon of Justice according to the lawes of this Government,
pursuant to wich I: did appoint some majistrates and made
some Rules for their proceeding the Ieare e:suing or till further
order; In which haveing uppon mature deliberation, by the ad-
vyce of my Councill made some alteracon, They are to Remaine
and bee in force in forme following:

1. That the bookes of Lawes2 Establisht by his Roy11 High-
nesse and practized in New Yorke, Long Island and dependences
Bee Likewyse in force and practice in this River, and precincts,
except the Constable's Corts : County Rates and some other things ;
Peculiar to Long Island, — and the militia as now ordered to Re-
main in the King; But that a Constable be Iearly in each place
chosen for the preservation of his Mayties Peace wth all other
Powers as Directed by Lawe.

2. That there bee three Courts held in the severall parts of

1 In the Record at Albany this name is " Woolle Swaine." See Book " Warrants,
Orders, Papers, 1674 to 1679," p. 213.

1 This " Booke of Lawes," then generally known as the " Duke's Laws," was a col-
lection out of the laws then in force in his Majesty's American Colonies, and first
published in 1664, by a General Meeting atHemstead on Long Island, by virtue of a
Commission from the Duke of York. These laws, with some additions made at a later
date, will be found in the Collections of the N. Y. Hist. Society, i. p. 307-419.

106 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1676.

the River and Bay as formerly, to wit, one in New Castle, one
above att upplands, another below at whorekills.

3. That the Courts consist of Justices of the Peace, whereof
three to make a coram & to have the power of a Court of Ses-
sions & decide all matters under twenty pounds wthout appeall,
In wch Court the Eldest Justice to prside unlesse otherwise
agreed amonghst themselves, above twenty pounds & for cryme,
extending to Lyfe, Limb, or banishment to admitt of appeale to
the Cort of Assizes.

4. That all small matters under the vallue of fyve pounds may
bee determined by the Court without a Jury, unlesse desiered by
the partees, as alsoe matters of Equity.

5. That the. Court for New Castle be held once a moneth, to
begin the first Teusday in Each month, and the Cort for uppland
and the whoorekill quarterly, and to begin the second Tuesday of
the month or oftener if occasion.

6. That all necessary By-lawes or orders, not Repugnant to
ye Lawes of the Governing made by the said Courts, bee of force
and binding, for the space of one whole Ieare, in the severall places
where made, They giving an account thereof to the Governor by
the first opportunity : — and that no fines bee made or imposed but
by order of Court.

7. That the several Courts have power to Regulate the Court
and officers' fees, not to Exceed the Rates in the Booke of Lawes,
nor to bee under halfe the vallue therein Exprest.

8. That there bee a high Sherife for the Towne of New Castle,
River, and Bay, and that the sd High Sherrife have power to
make an undersherrife or marshal, being a fit prson, and for
whome hee will bee Responsable, to bee approved by the Court.
But the Sherrife, as in England, and according to the now prac-
tice on Long Island, to act as a principall officer for the Execu-
tion of the Lawes, but not as a Justice of Peace or magistrate.

9. That there bee fitting Bookes provyded for the Records,
In which all judiciall proceedings, to bee duly and fairly entred
as also publicq orders from the Governo1, and the names of the
magistrates and officers authorized, wth the tyme of their admis-
sion. The sd Records to be kept in English, to wich all prsons
concerned may have free Recourse at due or sesonable tymes;

10. That a fitt prson for Clarke (when vacant) be recom-
mended by Each Court to the governor for his approbation, in
whose hands the sd Records to bee kept;

11. That all writs, warrants & proceedings att lawe shall be
in his mayties name. It haveing been practize^ in the Governm'
ever since the first writing of the Lawe booke, and itt being his
Roy11 Highnesses special Pleasure and Order.

12. That no Rates bee Imposed or Levys of mony made wthin

1676.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 107

the Towne of Newcastle, River, or Bay by any, under what deno-
mination soever wthout the approbation of the Govern1', unlesse
upon Extraordinary occasion in Case of necessity, of wch the
Governor to have prsent ace1 sent him. That upon the Levy of
any Rates there be a faire ace1 kept both of the Receipts and
disboursments, wch account to be Given in to the Cort thereto bee
past and then sent to the Governor for his allowance, until wich
not to bee a sufficient discharge.

Whereas by this regulation there are no overzeers apointed nor
Contstables Courts, but all matters to bee determined by the
Justices ; I : doe therefore Recomend the Composure or Refer-
ring to arbitracon' of as many matters particularly under the
vallue of fyve pound as may properly be determined that way,
Provided it may bee by the consent of Partees; That any prson
desiering Land make application to the Court in whose bounds
itt is, whoe are required to sitt once a month or oftner if there
bee occasion to Give order therein & certify to the Governor for
any Land not taken upp and Improved fitt proportions, not ex-
ceeding fifty acres pr head unlesse uppon Extraordinary occasions
where they'see good Cause for itt, wch Certificate to bee a suffi-
cient authority or warr* for the surveigors to surveig the same
and with the Surveigors Returne to bee sent to New Yorke for the
Governors approbation ; That in the Certificates be specified how
much upland and meaddow wth due Reguard that Each may have
a proportionable sheare, according to the place they are in Land-
ward; Given under my hand and seale in New Yorke, the 25th
day of Septembr in the 28th Ieare of his mayties Reigne, a0 Dom :
1676."1 (Signed) E. Andross.

The recently appointed Justices, according to the Record,
held their first Court at "Uppland in Delowar Riuer" on the
14th of November, 1676. After they had been sworn into office,
- the first act of the Court was to order " that Mr. Tom, the
former Clarke, should deliver unto the present Clarke, Eph :
Herman, the Records and other publiq bookes and wrytings be-
longing to this Court."2

1 Upland Court Records, 39.

2 This is not the only reference in the Upland Court Records to the records of a
former and earlier Court.— By the Records of New Castle Court, corresponding with
those of the Upland Court, it appears that several orders were made in respect to the
Records of an earlier Court at that place. Being in a bad condition, the Court ordered
them to be " sealed and sent to his Honr the Governor for his order therein." It ap-
pears from a letter addressed by the Governor to the Justices of New Castle Court on
the 1 4th of August, 1677, that these old Records were so sent, but returned again on
account of their " confusedness or ill order," to be copied into a book, and attested by
William Tom, who was clerk at the time these Records were made. Mr. Tom died
about this time, whereupon the Court of New Castle directed Ephraim Herman "to
put the old Records of the Court, when William Tom was Clerk, into good order."
Mr. Tom neglected to comply with the first order of the Upland Court in respect to
the old Records, whereupon the Court made a second order in November of the next

108 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1677.

The first instance on record of the appointment of Guardians
for minors was made in this Court, in the case of the children
Hendrick Johnson, Decd, — "Jan Jansen and morten morten sen,"
were appointed to bee "ouerzeers and guardians."

Mr. Justice Helm presented a petition to the Court "desiering
to haue some recompence for haueing served the Riuer often and
att sundry tymes as an interpreter wth the Indians &c. This
application the Court determined to refer to Governor Andros,
which they did in a letter addressed to him on the same day,
wherein they also intreat that his Honor " will be pleased to
confirm the order made att the Last Gen11 Court here about the
voolves heads," and that he will prescribe a way & order how
the charges of this Court, when they sitt, may bee found, con-
ceidering that wee all Liue att a great distance from or Court
place, and the amercemts (by Reason of the small number of ac-
tions) amounting to Little ; and that yor honr will bee pleased to
Impower us, so that the old debts of the Court together wth
the debts sence yor honrs government may also be sattisfyed by
the same way wch yo1' honor shall prescrybe."1

The Court was held at the house of Neeles Laerson, who also
entertained the justices. The account made out by the Court
of the public indebtedness to Laerson for "the Charges of
Keepeing of Court and Justices dyet there," establishes the fact
that the former Court, of which the Records have not been dis-
covered, was held at the same place. Laerson probably kept a
public house. His charge for entertaining the Court during its
present sitting, which appears to have lasted but one day, was
100 Gilders.2

The next Court at Upland was held on the 13th of March,

year, to deliver these Records to the present Clerk, which, he being sent for, promised
to do ; but dying shortly afterwards, it, is not probable that these records were ever
placed in the custody of the Court. See New Castle Court Rec. Book A. pp. 95-2 44;
also Haz. Reg. iv. 73.

1 Record of Upland Court, 46.

2 The Gilder or Guilder, as used in commercial and other transactions on the Dela-
ware about this period, has by some writers been estimated at about 40 cents of our
money, the usual value of the Dutch coin of that name. This is a serious mistake,
and must lead the reader to very incorrect conclusions in respect to the pecuniary con-
dition of the early settlers on the river. The value of the Gilder during the Duke of
York's government, was 6 pence, currency. This fact is established by the judgment
of the Upland Court in the case of Thomas Kerby vs. Gilbert Wheeler, wherein "the
Def1 is allotted and ordered to pay" for 70 days work, at 50 styvers per day, " ye sume
of fower pounds, seven shillings and six pence." See Rec. Upland Court, 154. See

also p. 164, where £5 is made equal to 200 Gilders Samuel Smith, in his History of

New Jersey, published in 1721, says: " Eight white wampum, or four black, passed at
this time, [1673] as a stiver; twenty made what they called a Guilder, which was about
sixpence present currency, (p. 76). Proud, in his History of Pennsylvania, i. p. 134,
in a note, says: "Six beads [of wampum] were formerly valued at a stiver ; twenty
stivers made what they called a Guilder; which was about six pence currency, or four
pence sterling." In large transaclions, what is called a Dutch guilder was valued at
two shillings, ten being taken as equivalent to a pound. See the Record of the trial
for the recovery of Tinicum Island. (Chester Rec. West Chester, 1683.)

1677. J HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 109

1677. Two cases of assault and battery were brought before
this Court, but were postponed till the next. The people
on* the river having been apprehensive for some time of being
attacked by the Indians, the Justices of Upland, at the close of
the Court, held a meeting with Capt. John Collier, the Com-
mander, " uppon the news of the Simeco Indians coming down
to fetch the Sasquehanno, that were amongst these River In-
dians." At this meeting "itt was concluded uppon the motions
of Rinowehan, the Indian Sachomore, for the most quiet of the
River, viz.: That Capt" Collier & Justice Israel Helm goe upp
to Sachamexin, (where att prsent a great number of Simico &
other Indians are,) and that they Endeauor to prswade the
Simecus, the Sasquehannos & these Riuer Indians to send
Each a Sachomore or deputy to his honor the Governor att New
Yorke, and that Justice Israel helm goe wth them ; for to heare
& Receiue his sd honors Resolutions & answer to their demands."

The conference with the Indians was accordingly held at Sa-
chamexin (Shackamaxon) from the 14th to the 18th of the same
month, at a cost of 250 guilders to Upland District, " for the
expenses of the Commander, Justices and Indians." It does
not appear that New Castle shared any of this expense, though
equally benefited with Upland. The Justices of New Castle
inform the Governor that the Indians had passed by them, and
had gone up the river. This may account for the whole expense
of the Shackamaxon meeting being visited on Upland.

Labor at this time was seldom obtained, as now, for wages.
Even mechanics sold themselves, or were sold for a specified
time ; their masters being responsible for their support. The
change in the ownership of persons thus owing services, required
the approbation of the Justices, as will be seen by the following
extract from the Record of the Upland Court : —

" Mr John Test brought into Court a certaine man servant
named William Still, being a Taylor by traede, whome hee the
sd Test did acknowledge to haue sold unto Captu Edmund Cant-
well, for the space and tearme of foure yeares, beginning from
the first of Aprill Last past; The sd William Still declared
in Court to bee willing to serve the said Captn Cantwell the
abovesd tearme of foure yeares."

The following record of a case of assault and battery is given
as a fair specimen of the manner in which business was trans-
acted in our earliest Courts of Justice : —

" Justice Israel Helm, PP.

" Oele Oelsen (als) Coekoe, Def4.

" The Pu Complaines that at the Plant" of Jims Justesse, in
his house, hee the pP was first wth Evill words abused by the

110 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1677.

deft, and afterwards by him beaten, and his shirt all torne
In pieces by the sd deft, and therefore desires y* the Court will
inflict punishment according to the meritt of the sd def\ dnd
that hee is one of the members of the Court, hee may bee so
maintained."

" The def sayeth that the pP hath struck, etc."

" The High Sheriffe, Captn Edm. Cantwell desires that the
Court will take the case in consideration, and not suffer a Jus-
tice of Peace shall be so abused !

" The Court haveing Examined into ye whole businesse, and
heard the debates of both partees, together wth the Testimony of
Lace Coleman, Doe Condemne the said oele oelsen in a fyne of
two hundred and Ten gilders ; sixty thereof for the Poore
or Church, and the remainder 150 gilders to the Sheriffe, and
doe further order ye the sd oele oelsen doe humbly ask forgive-
ness of Justice Israeli Helm and the Cort for his sd offence."

" The Cort & High Sherife Conciedering that the sd oele was a
poore man wth a great charge of Children ; uppon his humble
submission did Remit & forgive him the one hundred and fifty
gilders fyne."1

Albert Hendricx, having served out "his Ieare" as constable,
was dismissed by the Court at his own request, and William
orian appointed " Constable for the jurisdiction of this court"
in his place. Hendrix (Hendrixon) is the first person known to
have held the office in Pennsylvania.

Jurian Hartswelder, (Hartsfelder,) the Deputy Sheriff, being
about to remove further up the river, resigned his office. He
was succeeded by Micael Izzard.2

At the June Court of this year, an order was adopted in
respect to the admission of Attorneys to plead in the Court,3 but
before the close of the year, it became the duty of the Court to
publish a resolution of the Governor and Council, by which it
was " ordered that pleading attorneys bee no Longer allowed to
practize in ye governm' but for ye: depending causes."4

The last adjustment of the dividing line between Upland and
New Castle of which there is any record, seemed to fix the divi-
sion between the two districts about the Christina ; but a man-
date issued from the New Castle Court on 18th of September of
this year, of which the following is an extract, would indicate
that a different arrangement had been made : —

1 Rec. Upland Court, 53. 2 lb. 57.

3 In the New Castle Court, an Attorney, on his admission, was sworn "not to exact
unallowed fees, not to take fees from both plaintiff and defendant, and that he will not
take any apparent unjust cause, but behave as all Attorneys ought to do." Records,
p. 96.

* Rec. Upland Court, p. 58 and 82.

1677.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. Ill

" To Mr. Charles Ramsey, Constable In Christeena :

You are requested in his May*8 name to take a true and exact
list of all the Tydable p'sons from 16 to 60 years of adge wthin
the bounds, wch is all ye north syde of Cresteena Creeke up as
far as ye bogh* Creeke, above ole fransens house, & ye names of
ye sd Tydables to bring * * * *.'n

At a meeting of Mr. John Moll, President of New Castle
Court, with the Justices of Upland Court, held at Upland on the
12th of November of the following year, the above division was
confirmed and extended : the County of Upland was " to begin
from the north syde of Oele fransens Creeke Called Steen Kill,
Lying in the boght above ye verdrietige hoeek, and from the
said Creek ouer to ye single tree point on the East syde of this
River."2 In other directions, Upland county extended as far as
settlements had been made ; and although the authority of the
Duke of York to govern New Jersey had been resisted by Fen-
wick and others, it had been maintained on the ground that the
sovereignty of the country did not pass to Cartaret and Berkley,
the purchasers of the soil. Fenwick, for attempting to exercise
authority independently of Governor Andros, had even been
forcibly arrested in his own house, and sent to New York, where
he was for some time imprisoned. This will account for the
jurisdiction of the courts, on the west side of the river, being ex-
tended into New Jersey.

In the accounts of the country during the earlier periods of its
settlement, that have come under the notice of the author, not
much is said in respect to the depredations of wolves. The num-
bers of these animals had probably greatly increased in the neigh-
borhood of the settlements, both on account of the increased means
to obtain food that civilization had furnished, and the diminished
numbers of the Indians, who had heretofore destroyed them for
their skins. The depredations of these animals had now become
so alarming, that it became necessary to secure their destruction
by means of a liberal bounty. At the solicitation of the Justices
of the New Castle Court, authority was obtained to pay 40 gil-
ders for each wolf scalp brought in.3 This, it will be seen, be-
came a heavy item of expenditure.

It had been supposed that a tax could only be levied by the
authority of a " General Court," but the Governor, upon appli-
cation being made to him for the holding of such a Court in
order to authorize a levy, decided that every Court had the
power " to make fitting rates for the highways, poor and other
necessaries as is practiced* in England." The Governor had au-

1 New Castle Rec. Book, A, 153. 2 Rec. Upland Court, 119.

3 New Castle Rec. Lib. A ; also, Haz. Ann. 430.

112 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1677.

thorized a levy of Id. per pound on every man's estate, towards
paying public expenses, but the Justices of New Castle obtained
authority from his Excellency to substitute a poll tax, represent-
ing the inconsiderable value of estates, the difficulty of deter-
mining that value, and the distance of the people, as their excuse
for asking the change.1

The unliquidated expenses of Upland county had by this time
so much accumulated as to present an alarming aspect of in-
debtedness, when the means of liquidation are considered. This
indebtedness embraced the following items : —

" To neels Laerson for ye Courts Expensis to this day,
Except 200 gilders by Captn Cantwell paid him before,
there being no other accommodation for ye court, . . G. 639

To Lace Cock, for Expensis of ye Comandr and
Simico Indians last spring; ye ace1, being allowed by ye
Court, . . . _ . . . . . .250

The woolves heads in this Cort, not all brought in yet,
but computed by ye Court, ...... 420

To ye Clercq allotted by ye Court for his several Ex-
traordinary services to ye Cort, etc., .... 200

To Justice Israeli helm for his severall services to ye
Country as Interpreter about ye Indians, . . . 400

To Captn Cantwell, wch hee hath pd to neels Laerson
for ye Courts accommodations, etc., .... 200

Justice Otto Ernest for sundry Expensis on ye publicq
acct. of wch hee hath not yet brought In his acct. of
perticulars, ......... 300

Lace Cock for Expensis when his honr ye governor was
there, 112

Peter Rambo demands for Expensis when his honor the
Governor was there, 800 gildrs, ..... 800

Captu Cantwell proffered in Court to pay him 400 gil-
ders wch hee refused, soo that this is left to his honor to

judge of.

G. 3321

Besides fees due for ye collecting the sd Levy."

At the November Court of this year, the Justices decided to
levy a poll tax of 26 gilders upon each Tydable (taxable) person,
which included every male inhabitant in the County between the
ages of 16 and 60 years, except the Justices, who were by the
Dukes laws exempt from the payment of taxes, except for the
support of the Church.2 This levy was to be collected by the
High Sheriff, before the 25th of the following March, and in-
stead of money, he was authorized to receive " wheat at five,

1 Haz. Reg. iv. 73. 2 N. Y. Hist. Col. i. 318.

1677.]

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

113

rye & barley at four, and Indian corn at three gilders per
Scipple ;l tobacco and pork at eight stivers, and bacon at six-
teen stivers per lb., or else wampum or skins at the courant
price."

The list of the Tydable persons presented to the Court on this
occasion, in giving us at this distant day some idea of the num-
ber and places of residence of these early settlers, forms a most
important and highly interesting part of the record. No apo-
logy will be needed for inserting the list at length.

"A LIST OF THE TYDABLE PRSONS.

Att Taokanink (Tacony
oele neelson & 2 sons, .
hans moens,
Erick Poulson, .
Christiaen Tomasse, .
Casper fisck,
Peter Jookum & serv',
hans Jurian,
michill fredericks,
Justa Daniells & servant,
Jonas Juriaensen,
Hend: Jacobs upon ye Isld,
Erick Cock & servant, .
moens Cock,
Lace Dalbo,
Rymer Peterssen,
Oele Dalhoo,
Andries Boen,
Swen Boen,
Pelle Rambo, Junior, .
Andries Rambo, .
Richard Duckett,
Mr. Jones ye hatter, .
Joseph Peters,
Jan Cock, .
Peter Cock, Junior,
harmen Ennis, .

Att Carkoens hoek.
Andries homman & son,
Pelle Erickson,
Benck Saling,
Andries Sailing,
Laers Boen,
hans Peters,
Pell Puttke,
harmen Jansen,
hendrick hobnan,
Peter Nealson,
Gunnar Rambo,

Lace Cock & servant, .

2

Michill nealson,

1

Andris Swen and father,

2

Oele Swensen his servant, .

I

Swen Swenson & son, .

2

John Stille.

1

Swen Lom, ....

1

Oele Stille, ....

1

Andries Benckes,

1

Jan Mattson,

1

dunck Williams,

1

Tho: Jacobs,

1

Jan Claassen & 2 sons.

3

Mathias Claassen,

1

franck Walcker, .

1

Will Thomasse, . .

1

Peter matson,

1

Jan Baelsen.

1

Jan Schorten,

1

Jan Justa & 2 sons, .

3

Jonas Nealson & son, .

2

Peter andries & son .

2

Arian Andries at Peter Ramboos

, 1

Calkoens Hoek.

mort mortens, Junior,
Bertell Laersen, .
moens Staeckett,
hans Jurian,
hendrick Tade, .
andries Bertleson,
Jan Bertleson,
Jan Cornelissn & son,
mort. mortense, Senior
Lace mortense, .
neels matson,
Anthony Matson,
hendrick Jacobs,
Jacob hendricx, .

1 Scipple (Schepel) is three pecks, English. Van der Donck's Hist. N. Netherlands,
in N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 158.

8

114

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

[1677.

Upland.

marr: Kill.

Claes Schram,

1

Jan Jansen, ....

Robberd Waede,

1

Will: Orian,

Jan hendrix,

1

Daniell Linsey, .

Rich: Bobbinghton,

1

morten Knoetsen,

James Sanderling & slaue, .

2

Knoet mortensen,

John Test & servant, .

2

albert hendricx, .

Jurian Kien,

1

Oele Coeckoe,

Rich: noble,

1

Carell Jansen,

Neels Laerson & son, .

2

Oele Raessen,

henry hastings, .

1

Thorn: Denny,

will: woodman & servant, .

2

John Browne,

John hayles,

1

Rich: fredenicx, .

mich Yzard,

1

hans Oelsen,
Tho: harwood, .

Eastern Shovre.

Jurian hertsvelder,

oele Dircks,

1

Andries Inekhoore,

will Bromtield, .

1

Rodger Pedrick, .

Juns Justafs,

. 1

Cristaen Claassen,

Lace Colman,

1

Jacob Clicker, .

hans hofman an his 2 sons,

. 3

Peter freeman,

. 1

136

moens Jnnsen,

. 1

136 Tydables in Upland Juris-

Poull Corvorne, .

. 1

diction."

The extreme slowness with which the population on the river
increased, is a very remarkable circumstance. An approxima-
tion to the whole number of inhabitants in the Upland District
may be arrived at from the data furnished by this list of
taxables. The male population between the ages of 16 and 60
years, by including the Justices of the Court, a few soldiers
and paupers, would probably reach 150. By making the number
of females between those ages equal to the males, the whole
number of inhabitants between 16 and 60 years of age would be
300. An estimate made by a comparison with census returns,
would make the balance of the population about the same, and
the whole population of Upland County 600. Only about two-
fifths, or 240 of whom resided within the district now forming
the County of Delaware/

The Justices becoming tired of holding Court in a public house,
" Captn Hans Jergen is ordered & desiered by the Court to
warne his men belonging to his Company, and wth them to fitt
up and finish ye house of defence att upland fitt for the Court to
sitt in, against ye next Court." The site of this first Court-
house, is designated on the map of "the Early Settlements."2

1 About this time a list of Tydables was made out in New Castle County, numbering
307, which, on the plan adopted for estimating the whole number of inhabitants,
would make the population of New Castle County 1248. Forty-three of the New
Castle tydables resided on the "Eastern Shore." The tax was only 12 gilders 10
stivers on each tydable ; the greatest part of the amount raised being to liquidate a
debt of 2,200 gilders incurred for 55 wolves' heads.

2 See Rec. Upland Court, 74, also (note) p. 202, where the location of this " House
of defence" is fixed "on the east side of, and at an angle to the present Front street,

1677.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 115

In 1669 a block -house had been erected at Wicaco for defence
against attacks by the Indians. This year it was occupied as a
church, the Rev. Jacobus Fabritius, the installed minister,
preaching his first sermon there in Dutch, on Trinity Sunday.1
It is very certain that the Upland Court had not as yet com-
plied with the order of the general Court held at New Castle in
1675, in causing " a church or place of meeting to be built at
Wicheghoo ;" as no expenditure is included for this purpose in
the estimate for which the general levy was made. The block-
house was probably fixed up as a place of worship by private
subscription.

The Records of New Castle show that Commander Collier sat
there as a Judge of the Court. The Governor being advised of
his conduct in this respect, ordered him to forbear, and imme-
diately commissioned Captain Christopher Billop as his suc-
cessor. Walter Wharton was at the same time commissioned as
" Surveyor in Delaware Bay and River," and Ephraim Herman
" to bee receiver of Quit Rents in Delaware river in the juris-
diction of New Castle and Upland Courts."2

Since the arrival of Fenwick, owing to difficulties about the
ownership of West Jersey, there had been no arrival of settlers
for that province, until this year, when three vessels arrived —
the Kent, the Willing-mind, and the fly boat Martha.3 These
were all well freighted with members of the Society of Friends,
the greatest number of whom settled at and near Burlington, —
some settled at Salem, and a few found their way to the western
side of the river. Among the latter were William Clayton,
Morgan Drewett, William Woodmancy, and William Oxley, and
probably Henry Hastings and other Englishmen, whom Ave first
find settled in the vicinity of Upland about this time.

Directions are transmitted to the Upland Court by the gover-
nor, to purchase from the Indians, two miles in extent along the
river, from the lands previously purchased to the Falls. He also
requires, by authority of the Duke, of all persons who " have
or Clay me any land in Delawor River or Bay," that they make

• * * * * the eastern line of which ran through the centre of the building, from its
S. E. to its N. W. corner. If it was rectangular in shape, its size was 14 by 15 feet,

* * •:•:- •:•:• •:•:- •:■:- ■•:- tne house of Mrs. Sarah P. Coombe occupies about 11 feet of the South
end of the House of defence."

1 Clay's Ann. 34. Fabritius was a man of such a turbulent disposition, that in
earlier life he was wholly unfitted for the performance of his duties as a clergyman.
Only two years previous to his call to Wicaco, he had acted the part of a ringleader
in "tumultuous disturbances" at New Castle, and, being brought by a special warrant
before the Governor, it was ordered that " in respect to his being guilty, and his former
irregular life, [he] be suspended from exercising his functions as a minister, or preach-
ing any more within this government, either in public or private." Tempered by age
and misfortune, he appears to have conducted himself with propriety during the re-
mainder of his life, the last nine years of which he was blind. Haz. An. 419, 420 ;
Clay's Ann. 35.

2 Haz. Reg. iv. 73. 3 Smith's Hist. N. J. 99-103.

116 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1678.

a return thereof to the Clerk of the proper Court, to be by the
Court returned to him. The Governor also notifies the Court of
his intention to visit England, and to return again in the spring.1

The great troubles and inconveniences to which the settlers
of a new country are subjected, are but little understood by per-
sons who have always resided in old and thickly settled districts.
The great annoyance suffered by the settlers on the Delaware at
this period, merely from depredations committed by wolves, will
be understood from the action of the New Castle Court, with a
view to their destruction.

" The court takeing into consideration the dayly and contin-
uall spoyle & damadge wch ye woolves commit uppon the Stockes
of the Inhabitants and that the said woolves (notwithstanding
the former order of the laest high court allowing 40 Guilders for
each woolfe head), are no wayes more destroyed then before,"
make an order for setting, 52 " Wolfe pitts or trap houses," and
direct who shall set them, &c.2

A provision is contained in the " Duke's Laws" for the sup-
port of "distracted persons,"3 but no direction is given in
respect to the manner of securing them. As to their restoration,
it was a subject that claimed but little attention in these early
times. The action of the Upland Court, on a case brought
before it, though certainly curious, should not be so much a
matter of astonishment.

" Jan Cornelissen of Amesland complayning to ye Court that
his son Erick is bereft of his natural! sences & is turned quyt
madd and y' : hee being a poore man is not able to maintaine

him ; ordered : that three or 4 prsons bee hired to build a

Little Blockhouse at amesland for to put in the sd madman, and
att the next Court, order will bee taken y': a small Levy bee
Laid to pay for the building of ye house and the maintayning of
ye sd mad man according to Lawes of ye government."4

This block-house may be regarded as the first lunatic asylum
in Pennsylvania. The necessity for such a building, and the
order for its erection, bespeak'at once the great deprivations to
which our early settlers were subjected, and the inadequacy of
the means at hand for their relief.

An abstract of all grants made prior to the establishment of
Penn's government, for land located within the limits of Dela-
ware county, that have come to the knowledge of the author,
and also a few of similar grants of land outside of it, will be
given in the Appendix, Note C

Some conveyances have already been noticed in the narrative,
and it will be necessary to advert to a few more, with a view of

1 Rec. Upland Court, 75-81. 2 New Castle Rec. Book, A. 222.

3 N. Y. Hist. Col. i. 408. * Rec. Upland Court, 102.

1678.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 117

throwing as much light as possible on the earliest of the settle-
ments within our prescribed limits.

" Hans Juriansen Kien, of Taokanink (Tacony) This day ap-
peared in Cort and then & there did acknowledge a deed of
conveigance bearing date the 9th day of this Instant month of
March, for the makeing ouer unto his Brother Jonas Juriansen
Kien, as followeth, viz': one Equall sheare and Lott of Land
In quantity Equall wth ye sheares & Lotts of ye other Inhabi-
tants of Upland Towne or neighbourhood, wUl all and Singular
the appurtenances, Lying & being in Upland aforesaid, The
whole devident or tract of Land being heretofore surveiged
& Laid out for ye six Inhabitants of Upland Towne, in general
Contaynes twelve hundred acres, whereof the part & sheare of
him the said Hans Kien, being one of ye said six Inhabitants, is
two hundred acres as well cleared land as wood land, wch said
200 was thereby sould and made ouer as above, together wth the
housing and other appurtenances standing upon the said Hans
Kien his Lott of Land Lying and being att upland Towne afore-
said near the Creeke, between the houses & Lotts of James San-
derling and Jurian Kien ; the said hans Kien did aknowledge
also to haue Received satisfaction for the premises from him the
said Jonas ; as by the said deed signed sealed & delivered by
the sd hans Kien, in the prsence of Johannsen De haes & John
Addams, & bearing date as above, more att Large did apeare."1

The above grantee, Jonas Juriansen Kien, appeared in the
same Court, and acknowledged a deed of conveyance of the same
premises, in consideration of " a certayne Sume of money," to
John Test, late of London, merchant, together with " a certayne
new Blocq house,2 by him the sd Jonas built on the above men-
tioned Lott, near ye water syde of ye Creeke aforesaid," &c.

John Test, at this time a resident of Upland, appeared in the
same Court and acknowledged a conveyance in fee of the same
premises to Marmaduke Randell, of London, merchant.

The land at Marcus Hook was also taken up by a company of
six persons, as will appear by a patent granted therefor by Sir
E. Andros, (an abstract from which is given in the Appendix,
Note C.,) as well as by the following conveyance, which was ac-
knowledged in the next Upland Court : —

"Jan Hendricksen, of Delowar River, husbandman, appeared
in Court, and then and there did acknowledge a certayne deed
or transport unto Rodger Peddrick, of all his the said Jan hend-
ricksen's Right, Tytle and Interest of all the Land & appurten-
ances Lying k being on the West syde of delowar River, called

1 Rec. Upland Court, 103.

2 This " new Blocq house" was higher up the Creek than the House of Defence, hut
its exact location is not known.

118 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1678.

& knowne by the name of marreties hoeck, the whole tract of
marreties hoeck Land being granted and confirmed by Patient
from the Right honoble governor andros, bearing date the 28M of
march, 1676, unto the six possessors thereof viz1: Charles Jan-
sen, Oele Raessen, hans oelsen, oele neelsen, hans hofman and
him the sd Jan hendrick, and contayning in the whole one thou-
sand acres of Land ; wch s(1 deed was signed, sealed and deli-
vered by the sd Jan hendricks in the prserice of Johannes De haes
and Carrell Junsen, and beares date ye 18th day of June, a0
1678."1

Both Upland and Marcus Hook were settled a long time be-
fore these grants were respectively made to uthe six inhabitants'
of each place. The names of the grantees of the Marcus Hook
purchase are given; those of Upland, besides Hans Juriansen
Kien, were, probably, James Sandeland, Israel Helm, Rev.
Laurentius Carolus Lock, (Lawrence Lock) Villus Lacie, and
Niels Laerson. There were certainly other residents in Upland
at the time the grant for the 1200 acres was made. This new
patenting of lands by persons who had resided in the country
for a long time and held their titles from former governments,
was one of the impositions practiced under the Duke's authority
on that class of people. They were required by law "to bring
in their former grants and take out now pattents for the same
from the present Governoure, in behalf of his Royall Highness
the Duke of Yorke." It may have been that the inhabitants of
Upland and Marcus Hook, and other settlements, respectively
united in an application for a large tract of land, with the view
of saving expenses.

A ship from Hull arrived at Burlington this year. Among
the passengers was Thomas Revel, who settled for a time within
our limits, and was the Clerk of the first Court of Chester
County.

On the third of April a meeting of the Justices was held, "at
the house of Justice Peter Cock, in ye Schuylkill."2 The busi-
ness of this meeting was about the same that is usually performed
by County Auditors. Sheriff Cantwell appears to have been
charged with both the collection and disbursement of the taxes.
His allowance "for collecting & receiving ye publicq levy, etc."
was 884 gilders, being very nearly one-fourth of the whole
amount collected !

Part of the Record of the June Court has been lost, but the
minutes of the following Court show that it was held on the 18th
and 19th days of that month. This Court resolved to impose

1 Reo. Upland Court, 103.

2 Peter Cock resided on one of the two Islands near the mouth of the Schuylkill.
See Holmes' map, also Map of the Early Settlements.

1678.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 119

"a levy or small tackx of fyve Gilders pr head on every Tyda-
ble prson," the payment to be made at Tinicum, thus saving the
great expense of collecting, that consumed so much of the for-
mer levy. The Court not having imposed a penalty for non-
payment of this "small tax," the Justices, upon assembling at
their November Court, found that their former order had
" Layne dorment," and finding themselves "necessiated," issued
a new and very rigid order, "that every Tydable within the Ju-
risdiction of this Court, who have payed their levy Laest yeare,
doe wthn the space of 14 days now next Ensuing come and pay
Each of them 5 Gilders as formerly, and that they bring ye same
unto Tinnecong Ysland in ye hands of Mr Otto Ernest Cock ;
this order to bee published and fixed up att the churches of Wi-
caco and Tinnecong to ye end no prson may plead Ignorance."1
In the year 1675, Gov. Andros, among other regulations then
established, made an order remitting the quit rent for the first
three years on all new lands to be taken up and seated within
the precincts of the Delaware. Finding that persons were
taking up lands and not seating them, he issued another order in
October of this year, repealing and recalling his former order
except in respect to lands that had actually been seated. Lands
taken up and not seated and improved, and not duly returned,
to be forfeited, and to be disposed of as vacant land ; that seated
and improved and not returned, to be returned within six months ;
all arrears of quit rents since the Governor's arrival in 1674,
to be paid within the same time, and in future the payment of
quit rent was to commence with the taking up of the land.

A Jury was empanneled in a case tried at this Court, being
the first which appears on the Records of Upland Court, and
was doubtless the first Jury that was empanneled within the
limits of Pennsylvania. Though not necessary under the
"Duke's Laws"2 to have more than six jurors, there were twelve
empanneled on the jury in question, whose names here follow,
viz: — "hans moens, dunk williams, Xtopher Barnes, Edm:
draufton, Peter Yocum, Isacq Sauoy, Jan hendricks, Jonas
Kien, moens Cock, John Browne, Jan Boelsen, henry hastings."3
It required only a majority of the jurors to bring in a verdict ;
but there is nothing to show that they were not unanimous in the
present case. The Court, however, determined to be judges both
of the law and the facts, "suspended" the verdict, and at the
next Court tried the case themselves, and reversed the decision
of the jury.

The subject of mills claimed the particular attention of the
Upland Court. A year prior to this time, the Court had grant-
ed liberty to Jan Boelsen "to take up one hundred acres of Land

1 Rec. Upland Court, 120. ' N. Y. Hist. Col. i. 357.

3 Rec. Upland Court, 107.

120 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1678.

above the mill in amesland Kill." The mill here alluded to is
the old Swedes mill erected by Gov. Printz, about the year 1644,
and doubtless the most useful institution in the country. The
inhabitants became alarmed at seeing land taken up "so near the
mill of Carkoen creek,"1 lest "the sd mill would bee Left desti-
tute of any land to gett timber for ye use of sd mill, and upon
their representation the Court ordered that 100 acres of land
should be laid on the west syde of ye sd mill branch," for the use
of the mill. The Court also ordered that the 100 acres granted
to Jan Boelsen should be reserved for the mill, having first ob-
tained his assent. The mill tract on Holmes' map is on the
East side of the creek. It would therefore appear that 200
acres were reserved for the use of the mill, unless the tract on
Holme's map is incorrectly laid down.

At the same Court, the erection of another mill was decided
upon. " It being in consideracon that it was very necessary that
a mill be built in the Schuylkill ; and there being no fitter place
than the faall Called Captn bans moenses faalls; The Cort are of
opinion that Either Captn hans moenses ought to build a mill
there, (as hee sayes that hee will,) or else suffer another to build
for the common good of the parts."2

Where there are mills, there must of necessity be roads, parti-
cularly as settlements begin to be made in the interior of a
country. Hence the Court "ordered that every prson should
wthin the space of twoo months, as far as his Land Reaches,
make good and passable wayes from neighbour to neighbour, wth
bridges where it needs, To the End that neighbours on occasion
may come together. Those neglecting, to forfeit 25 gilders."3

The interests of the Church also claimed some of the attention
of the Court. "Complaint being made by the Church Wardens
that Neeles Laerson has taken in (wth Lotts of Land by him
bought of dom: Lasse Carolus here in Upland Towne) some of
the Church or glebb Land; — ordered, that Neeles Laersen shall

1 Rec. Upland Court, 88. Darby creek, which empties into the Delaware below Ti-
nicum, was for many years taken as part of Cobb's creek, and went by the names of
Mill creek, Carkoen creek, and Amosland kill or creek. Darby creek, above the junc-
tion of the two creeks, though much the larger stream, was regarded as a branch of
Cobb's creek.

2 Rec. Upland Court, 115. The stream here mentioned is the present Mill creek, and
the site of " hans moens faalls," at Maylandville. A draft of this property, made by
David Powell in 1684, and now on file in the Surveyor-General's office, represents a
mill pond and mill very near the present site of Maylandville. It was then the pro-
perty of William Clayton.

3 Rec. Upland Court, 119. The Upland Court does not prescribe the manner of
making these roads. A few months later, the Court of New Castle made the following
order : "The highways to bee cleared as followeth, viz1 — The way to bee made cleare of
standing and lying trees, at least 10 foot broad, all stumps & Shrubs to bee close cutt
by ye ground, The trees mark1 yearly on both sydes — sufficient bridges too be made
and Kept ouer all marshy, swampy & difficult dirty places and whatever else shall bee
thought more necessary about ye Highwayes aforesd." See New Castle Court Rec.
Book B. p. 146.

1679.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 121

haue his due of the 2 Lotts by him bought of sd dom: Carolus
Equall wth the other Lotts in Upland, but for what shall be
found that sd Neeles Laersen has taken in more, he to Leaue out
againe annexed to ye other Church Lotts."1

Capt. Billop, the present commander, seems to have been less
faithful in the performance of his duties than his predecessor,
Collier. He used the fort at New Castle as his own private pro-
perty, converting it into a stable for his horses and a pen for his
hogs. The room above the fort, which had been occupied as a
Court-room, he had filled with hay and fodder; and he employed
the soldiers "about his own private affairs."2 Fortunately for
the Upland Court, the Captain was stationed at a distance from
their seat of justice ; and we do not learn that his subordinate
officer, Capt. Hans Jergen, stationed at Upland, ever interfered
with our Court in its full enjoyment, as a hall of Justice, of the
recently finished "House of defence."

These, with other complaints against Billop, were made to the
Governor by the Justices of New Castle Court, who were also
not disposed to spare their brother Justice, Walter Wharton, who
likewise held the office of Surveyor-General. He had married
himself, or was married contrary to law, and had not performed
his duty as a Justice, in absenting himself "three following Court
days."3 The former complaint was referred to the Governor,
but for the neglect of his judicial duties he was fined £10 by the
Court. Billop was recalled to New York by the Governor, but
Wharton was removed by death, towards the close of this year.

It is probable that the marsh lands appertaining to any parti-
cular settlement along the river, were for a long time held and
used as a common pasturage. That this was so in respect to
Upland, would appear from a complaint being made by James
Sanderling, "In behalfe of ye Rest of ye Inhabitants of Upland
that Neels Laersen wth a fence stopps up the old and usual! way
to the fly;4 and Neels Laersen being thereupon heard," the
Court ordered the way to be left open as formerly.

The Records of Upland Court also furnish some evidence that
education of children was not wholly neglected. In the case of
Edmund Draufton, plaintiff vs. Dunck Williams, deft.

" The PI* demands of this Def l 200 Gilders for teaching this
Defts children to Read one Yeare."

" The Cor1 haueing heard the debates of both parties as alsoe
ye attestation of ye witnesses, Doe grant judgm* agst ye DeP for
200 gilders wth ye Costs."

"Richard Duckett sworne in Court declares that hee was

1 Rec. Upland Court, 121. 2 Haz. Ann. 451.

3 New Castle Rec. Book A. 283.

* Fly is the Swedish word sometimes used for marnh.

122 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. '[1679.

prsent at ye makeing of ye bargaine, and did heare that ye
agreem1 was that Edmund draufton should Teach Dunkes chil-
dren to Read in ye bybell, & if hee could doe itt in a yeare or a
halfe yeare or a quart1', then hee was to haue 200 gilders."1

Edmund Draufton is the earliest schoolmaster within the ju-
risdiction of Upland Court of which any account has been pre-
served. The location of his school is not certainly known.2

The "House of Defence," appears to have been built on
the private property of Neels Laersen. At the first Court held
this year he was ordered "to make or leaue a lane or street
from Upland creeke to ye: house of defence or Country house,"
or in default to be fined at the discretion of the Court. The
appellation "Country house," sufficiently indicates the uses to
which the "House of Defence" was now appropriated. We have
seen that its completion was urged in order that the Courts
might be held there, and it is probable that it was used as a
place for the transaction of public business generally. For what-
ever other purpose the House of Defence may have been used,
it was certainly the first Court house within our limits.

The attention of the New Castle Court was frequently occu-
pied with church disputes and differences. The following is the
most remarkable instance of the interference of the Upland
Court in ecclesiastical affairs:

"It being Represented to ye Court by the Church Wardens of
Tinnagcong and Wicaco Churches that the fences about ye
Church yards, and other Church buildings are mutch out of re-
pair, and that some of the People, members of ye sd Churches are
neglective to make the same Up etc: The Cort haueing taken ye
premises into Consideracon, doe find itt necessary to order, au-
thorize & Impower, and doe by these prsents order, authorize &
Impower the Respective members of ye sd Churches, from tyme
to tyme, and att all tymes when itt shall bee found necessary, to
build, make good and keepe in Repair the sd Church yard fences,
as also the Church and other the appurtenances thereof, and if
any of the sd members upon warning doe proove neglective In
the doeing of their proportion to the same, They and each of them
to forfeit fifty gilders for each such neglect, to bee Levyed out of
their goods and Chattels Lands and Tenements."3

It has been alleged that Richard Buffington, the first male
child born of English parents in Pennsylvania, was born at

1 Rec. Upland Court, 131.

2 As early as 1667 a patent was granted by Gov. Richard Nichols to Dunkin Wil-
liams and nine others for a tract of land " known by the name of Passayunk," contain-
ing 100 acres, and located within the bounds of the old township of Passayunk, now
in the city of Philadelphia, and as Dunk Williams is a tydable within the district that
included this grant, it is most reasonable to conclude that this primitive school was lo-
cated at Passayunk. See Patent Book A. i. 329, Sur.-Gen. office, Harrisburg.

3 Rec. Upland Court, 152.

1680.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 123

Chester this year. This event was celebrated by his father,
Richard Buffington, in the year 1739, on the anniversary of his
85th birth-day, by assembling all his descendants, who numbered
115, at his house in Chester; the first born, Richard, in the 60th
year of his age, being among the number.1

On the 15th of December, Richard Noble was commissioned
Surveyor of Upland in the place of Walter Wharton, deceased,
who had held the office for both New Castle and Upland counties.

On the 28th of May, 1680, Governor Andros issued a new
commission to "Mr Otto Ernest Coch, Mr Israel Helm, Mr Henry
Jones, Mr Lawsa Cock, and Mr George Brown to bee Justices of
ye Peace in ye Jurisdiction of Upland Court or County, in Delo-
war River & dependencies." It will be perceived that the num-
ber of Justices is reduced from six to five — that two Englishmen
have been substituted in the place of two Swedes, and that of
the old bench only two Justices have been retained. Though it
is not known that any jealousy existed between the Swedes and
English, the number of Englishmen who had settled on the West
side of the river, made it necessary that they should be repre-
sented on the bench. As nearly as can be ascertained, the places
of residence of the Justices were as follows : — Israel Helm, at Up-
land ; Otto Ernest Coch, at Tinicurn ; Henry Jones, at or near
Wicaco; Lawrence Cock, at Moyamensing, and George Brown,
nearly opposite to Trenton. As the Duke of York, about this
time, upon the judgment of Sir William Jones, yielded his rights
to the government of West Jersey, the jurisdiction of the new
Justices did not extend to the East side of the river. They held
their first Court at Upland on the 8th of June, and among other
things ordered a poll tax of one scipple of wheat, or 5 gilders to
be levied, "for defraying ye charges of this Court's sitting," to
be brought unto Justice Otto Ernest, att Tinnagcong Island**."2

The Justices also assumed the authority of removing the seat
of justice from Upland. They say "that in regard that Upland
creeke where ye Court hitherto has sate, is att ye lower end of
ye County, The Court therefore for ye most Ease of ye people,
have thought fitt for ye future to sitt and meet att ye towne of
Kingsesse in ye Schuylkills."3 It does not appear that this first
removal of our seat of justice met with any serious opposition
from the inhabitants of Upland or its vicinity.

The first Court was held at the new seat of justice, on the 13th

1 Watson's Ann. i. 512. 2 Rec. Upland Court, 170.

3 The " Towne of Kingsesse" was located below the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore Railroad, and East of the Island road, in the late township of Kingsessing.
The immediate vicinity of the Swedes mill has been assigned as the location of this
towne, but this was not situated " in ye Schuylkills." A comparison of Holme's map
with p. 174 of the Upland Court Record, and also with Jonas Neelson's Will, (Reg.
Office, Phila., Book A. No. 94) will be satisfactory as respects the location of this
" towne."

124 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1681.

of October. If the increased amount of law business, and the
character of a considerable portion of it resulted from the re-
moval of the Court, the Justices gained but little by the change.
Among the cases tried, were three for " Slaunder and defamation."

For the due preserving "of ye peace of or Souerayne Lord
ye King," &c, the Court found it necessary to appoint a con-
stable " to officiate between the Schuylkill and Nieshambenies
kill." The Court also found it necessary to appoint two
"viewers of ye Highwayes & roads & fences," who resided in the
same district. There was one jury trial at this Court, but the
names of the jurors are not given. The Court did allow "of
ye jury's verdict," and passed judgment accordingly.

No other Court was held till March, 1681, when nothing of
importance was transacted. At the Court held in the following
June, "Justice Otto Ernest Coch acquaints the Court, that hee
has bought and paid of ye Indian proprietors a certaine swampy
or marshy Island called by ye Indians quistconk Lying att the
upper End of Tinnachkonk Island in ye river opposit andrews
Boones creek ; and desires ye Corts approbation. The Cor*
hauing well informed themselves about ye prmises, doe allow
thereof."1

There was also a jury of seven men empanneled at this Court,
viz. : James Sauderlins, Will: Boyles, John Boeyar, harmen
Ennis, Will: orian, andries petress and oele raesen.

The Dutch clergyman at Wicaco, " Magisf Jacobus fabritius,"
"not finding his dues regularly paid," upon application to the
Court, obtained an order, " that ye church wardens of the pe-
ticonrts church doe take care that Every one of those as haue signed
and promised towards his maintaynance, doe pay him ye sumes
promised, upon payne of Execution agst ye defective."2 This
Magister did well to make sure of his pay in time. The advent
of a new Government was at hand, in which such claims could
not be viewed with much favor.

Roads and highways are frequently mentioned in the pro-
ceedings of the Upland and New Castle Courts, but it is not to
be supposed that these ways, at this early day, were used for
wheeled vehicles of any kind. The usual mode of travelling
was either by water or on horseback ; but the roads, such as
they were, required some repairs, and hence the appointment of
overseers. No taxes were laid, but those who refused to work
on the highways were subjected to a fine. This practice con-
tinued for many years under Penn's Government. The imposi-
tion of a fine of 25 gilders, for neglecting to work on the roads,
was among the last acts of the Upland Court under the Duke's
Government.

1 Rec. Upland Court, 190. This island is Hog Island of the present day.
* Rec. Upland Court, 191.

1681.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 125

During the year 1680, William Perm had been perseveringly,
but successfully negotiating with King Charles the Second and
his ministers, for a grant of the territory that now constitutes
our great Commonwealth. The only European settlements
comprised within its limits, were included in Upland county, and
were subject to the jurisdiction of Upland Court. Though Lord
Baltimore, the proprietor of Maryland, was aware of every step
taken by Penn to secure his grant, and, through his agents, in-
terposed objections, it is not probable that the people in-
cluded within the limits of the embryo Province, had the faintest
idea that they were about to be transferred from the iron rule of
the unscrupulous Duke of York, to the mild and peaceful Govern-
ment of the Quaker proprietor. The patent to Penn was exe-
cuted on the 4th of March, 1681, while the last Upland Court,
under the Duke of York, adjourned on the 14th of June, " till
ye 2d Teusday of ye month of September," — the very last act of
the Judges being the appointment of a Surveyor and Overseer
of the Highways from Poetquessing creek to the Falls of the
Delaware, (Trenton,) the furthest point to which settlements
had then been extended.

Information of the grant to William Penn must have been
communicated officially to the Government at New York very
shortly after the adjournment of the last session of the Upland
Court. Governor Andros being absent, the King's letter on the
subject, addressed to the inhabitants within the limits of the
grant, was laid before Anthony Brockholl, the Commander, and
his Council, no doubt, by William Markham, who, at the same
time, submitted his commission from William Penn to be his
Deputy Governor of the Province. On the 21st of June, the
Commander and Council addressed a letter " To ye severall
Justices of ye Peace, magistraets and other officers inhabitting
wthin ye bounds and limits" of the grant to Penn, notifying them
of the change in their Government, which letter was sent by
Col. Markham, who, no doubt, within a few days after the date
of the letter, reached his Government, and entered upon the
duties of his office. This letter is the last entry made in the
book containing the Record of the Upland Court.

Before parting with this record, which throws so much light
on the history of the time during which it was made, and from
which I have drawn so liberally, it will be necessary to make
some general observations.

The territorial jurisdiction of the Court, it will have been ob-
served, was very extensive. Except the provisional line that
separated it from New Castle County, its jurisdiction at first
extended to the last approaches that civilization had made on
the home of the savage. Subsequently its jurisdiction was

126 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1681.

limited to the west side of the Delaware. The earliest notice of
a Court at Upland, is on the 18th of August, 1672. Evidence
of the existence of Records of an earlier date than those which
have come down to us, is found in these Records themselves.
These commence on the 14th of November, 1676, and end at
the time just mentioned. When a Court was first established at
Upland cannot now be ascertained. It was, in all probability,
as early as the establishment of English authority on the river,
and may have been earlier. If but one Court was at first
established by the English, its probable location was at New
Castle. Upon the establishment of two, the natural location of one
of them would be Upland. At the time our Record commences, it
was one of three Courts on the river — " one at New Castle, one
above at Uplands, another below at the Whorekill;" the latter
evidently being of recent establishment. The Court established
at New Castle was the most important, being held monthly ; the
others were to be held quarterly, "or oftener if ocasion ;" but
that of Upland was really held less frequently.

These Courts possessed both criminal and civil jurisdiction.
In criminal matters their powers were about equal to those of
our Courts of Quarter Sessions, while in civil cases not involving
more than <£20, the judgment of each Court was final. In cases
involving a larger amount, an appeal could be taken to the Court
of Assizes of New York, and so of crimes of the higher grades.
Parties could demand a trial by jury, but in the Upland Court
this privilege was only claimed in three or four instances during
the nearly five years that its Records have been preserved, and
in one of these instances the verdict of the jury was wholly dis-
regarded by the Court. By the " Duke's Lawes," no jury could
" exceed the number seaven nor be under six, unless in special
causes upon life and death, the Justices shall think fitt to appoint
twelve." This will account for only seven men being empan-
neled in one of the cases where the jurors' names are given in
the Record. Except in cases of life and death, the major part
of the jury, when agreed, could give in a verdict, " the minor
being concluded by the major without any allowance of any pro-
test by any of them to the contrary."1

In Equity matters the Court of Upland exercised jurisdiction.
It also made local regulations, which in these days would have
required an Act of the Legislature. The Justices, either as a
Court or a Board, performed all the duties that are now per-
formed by County Commissioners, Directors of the Poor, and
Auditors. The Court granted applications for taking up land,
received returns of surveys, and had acknowledgments of trans-
fers of real estate between parties made before it. It regulated

1 Duke's laws, N. Y. Hist. Col. i. 358.

1681.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 127

the affairs of the Church, and exercised a general supervision
over the various concerns of the body politic — such as the
repairs of highways, the maintenance of fences, the sale of the
time of servants, and even to the recording of the ear marks of
cattle. Besides the Court, the Sheriff and Surveyor, the govern-
ment possessed no agent charged with the performance of civil
duties within the County of Upland.1

A legal gentleman who has carefully examined the Record of
the Upland Court, remarks " that the forms of proceeding were
of a character no less primitive and incongruous than the juris-
diction of the Court, partaking rather of the nature of suits
before an ordinary Justice of the Peace than those of a Court of
Record. The ' Instructions' directed ' all writts, warrants, and
proceedings at Lawe to be in his majesty's name.' A declara-
tion, or informal statement of the cause of action seems to have
been required, and a rule was adopted directing it to be entered
at least one day before the Court met. Although the technical
names of actions were used in many cases, such as action on the
case, slander, &c, no actual division of actions was known, these
names having probably been taken from 'ye Lawe Booke' re-
ferred to occasionally. There does not, in fact, seem to have
been any clearly drawn distinction between civil and criminal
cases ; a proceeding exclusively civil in its character frequently
resulting in a judgment, partially at least, appropriate to a
criminal case. In short, the whole method of practice was rather
a dispensation of justice, as the ideas of it existed in the heads,
and was tempered by the hearts of the Judges, than the admin-
istration of any positive law, written or unwritten."

Offences, criminal in their nature, were usually punished by
the imposition of a fine ; the want of a jail precluded imprison-
ment. Corporal punishment by whipping, was, in a few in-
stances, resorted to by the Court at New Castle, but it forms no
part of any sentence of the Court of Upland contained in the
Record. But this Record has been mutilated by cutting out two
leaves ; and as the minutes of the Court next following that of
which the Record is thus defective, contains a bill of costs against
parties of bad repute, in which there is a charge of 101 gilders
"for payment of the Indians that tvhipt, etc.,'J it may be inferred
that corporal punishment was resorted to in one single instance,
and that Indians were employed in its infliction. In this view
of the matter, it is not difficult to account for the mutilation of
the Record.

The fines imposed were sometimes remitted by the Court.
This was especially the case when one of the Justices had an

1 The Commander sometimes sat with the Justices : Supervisors and Constables
were appointed by I he Court.

128 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1681.

interest in the matter. In one instance, a fine of 1000 gilders
was thus remitted. An open acknowledgment in Court of the
offence committed, or the asking of forgiveness from the offended
party, sometimes constituted a part or the whole of a sentence.

The Justices were uneducated, but well-meaning men. A com-
mendable desire to maintain the dignity of the positions they
occupied had some little influence upon their acts. Otherwise,
the most careful scrutiny of the Records will shoAV that they
acted with the strictest regard to justice and the preservation of
the public morals.

This Record, and that of New Castle Court, give us a good
idea of the condition of our people in these early times, socially
and otherwise.

Common labor, per day, was worth from 50 styvers to 4 gil-
ders, according to the season. Wheat was worth 5 gilders, rye
and barley 4, and Indian corn 3 per scipple. Tobacco or pork
was worth 8 styvers per lb., and bacon double as much. In
1677, Newcastle Court ordered " that the gilder pay should be
recond agst Tobb° in Maryland at 6 styv" pr lb." A cow was
appraised at 150 gilders, and other cattle at rather less prices.

It was the practice of the Swedes to erect their dwellings
immediately on the margin of the river or tide water creeks.
Up to this time, very few if any houses had been erected in any
other situations, — the few English settlers following the example
of the Swedes.

With the recent accession of English Friends from New Jersey,
the entire population of Upland County could not have exceeded
five hundred, at the arrival of Governor Markham ; of these, less
than one-third resided within the territorial limits of Delaware
County.

It has generally been supposed that Col. Markham was accom-
panied to Pennsylvania by emigrants; and Proud, in his History
of Pennsylvania,1 leaves it to be inferred that this was the case,
and that he did not arrive till near the close of the year. His
commission as Deputy Governor, first published in Hazard's
Annals,2 is dated on the 10th of April 1681, and we find it was
laid before the government at New York, previously to the 21st
of June following. Col. Markham doubtless proceeded directly
to his government, and entered upon the responsible duties with
which he had been entrusted. He could have made but little
delay ; for we find that on the 13th of September, — the very day
to which the old Upland Court had adjourned, — a newly orga-
nized Court for Upland County was sitting, and transacting

1 1, p. 194.

2 See p. 503. Mr. Hazard unexpectedly found this commission among the Records
of the Secretary of State's office at Boston.

1681.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 129

business, composed of Justices, Sheriff, and Clerk, holding their
appointments under him; and on the 30th of November the
Deputy Governor himself presiding over the same court.1

Governor Markham was the bearer of a letter, dated two days
earlier than his commission, from William Penn, " for the inhab-
itants of Pennsylvania," which he was directed to read. In
this letter the proprietor promises his people that they shall be
governed by laws of their own making; that he will not usurp
the rights of any, nor oppress his person; and in short, that he
would heartily comply with whatever sober and free men could
reasonably desire for the security and improvement of their own
happiness. This letter is in the well-known hand of William
Penn.2

The commission to Col. Markham empowers him ;' to call a
council, and that to consist of nine, he presiding." In pursuance
of this authority, he selected for that important trust Robert
Wade, Morgan Drewet, Wm. Woodmanson, William Marriner,
Thomas Ffairman, James Sandelandes, Will. Clayton, Otto Ernest
Koch and Lacy Cock. Unfortunately, no part of the record of
the doings of this council has come down to us, except their
attestation, in which they say, " wee do hereby bind ourselves by
our bands and scales, that wee neither act nor advise, nor con-
sent, unto anything that shall not be according to our own con-
sciences the best for ye true and well Government of the sd Pro-
vince, and Likewise to keep secret all ye votes and acts of us ye
sd Councell unless such as by the General Consent of us are to
be Published."3 This attestation is " Dated at Vpland ye third
day of August 1681," the day on which a government was first
established for the province of Pennsylvania. Upland was un-
doubtedly the seat of that government.

These gentlemen councillors omitted to append their "seales"
to their signatures, and two of them did not write their own
names.

Colonel Markham also bore a letter from the King to Lord
Baltimore, apprising him of the grant of Pennsylvania to Penn.
Being authorized by his commission "to settle bounds" between
the Proprietary and his neighbors; and as it is said the King's
letter required both parties to adjust boundaries,4 an interview was
brought about between Lord Baltimore and Markham at Upland.
By an astronomical observation made during this interview, it
was ascertained that even Upland itself was twelve miles south
of the parallel of 40 degrees, which indicated the southern

1 The early records of this Court, which had become much worn, and were difficult
to decipher, have been carefully copied, and are now preserved in the office of the
Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions, at West Chester.

2 Haz. Reg. i. 377. 3 Penna. Archives, i. 37.

4 Haz. Ann. 505, who quotes Chalmers 657, and McMahon's Maryland.

130 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1681.

boundary of Pennsylvania. This discovery terminated the con-
ference, and was the prelude to the protracted controversy
between Penn and Lord Baltimore and their descendants, which
at length resulted in the line of Mason and Dixon — a line, that
for its notoriety has been compared by a late writer to the
Equator.1

This discovery, it is supposed, was communicated to William
Penn, and he having been an applicant to the Duke of York for
a grant of Newcastle and the settlements below on the Delaware,
was thereby induced to press his application more strenuously,
under the apprehension that he might loose the whole peninsula.
in case of failure. On the 20th of August of the following year,
Penn obtained from the Duke a release of all claim to the terri-
tory embraced within the limits of his patent, and, subsequently,
a release of the territory now constituting the State of Dela-
ware.2

With the royal charter, Penn published in England some
account of his newly acquired Province, with valuable sugges-
tions and information necessary for persons disposed to become
colonists under him. This paper is drawn up with much care
and truthfulness. Much of it is taken up in demonstrating the
importance of plantations or colonies to the mother country.
The description of the Province is brief, and by no means ex-
aggerated ; valuable directions are given to those who determine
to emigrate, and he concludes with a desire to all who may de-
termine to go to those parts, "to consider seriously the premises,
as well as the present inconveniences, as future ease and plenty,
that none may move rashly, or from fickle, but solid mind, having
above all things an eye to the providence of God in the disposal
of themselves.'^

While the public mind in England, particularly the Quaker
element of it, was thus directed to the new Province, Governor
Markham was administering affairs here very much after the
fashion that had heretofore prevailed. He appears to have been
indisposed to make any unnecessary innovations on the esta-
blished order of things. It has already been mentioned that the
first Court under the new government was held on the day to
which the last session of the former Court had adjourned. The
first session of the new Court was not, however, at " the towne of
Kingsesse," but at Upland, where, no doubt, Governor Mark-
ham had fixed his residence. The Justices of this Court were

1 Latrobe's Address before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, p. 1.

2 Proud, i. 200, 202. It does not appear that the Duke of York, afterwards James
II., ever held any territory west of the Delaware by a positive grant. He seems to
have extended his government over it rather as a matter of convenience to the British
Crown.

3 Haz. Reg. i. 308.

1681.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 131

Messrs. William Clayton, Wm. Warner, Robert Wade, Otto
Ernst Cock, William Byles, Robert Lucas, Lasse Cock, Swan
Swanson and Andreas Bankson; the Sheriff, John Test, and
Clerk, Thomas Revell. Of the Justices, five are Englishmen and
four Swedes, two of whom had been members of the former Court.
The " Duke's Laws" were now inoperative. In pursuance of the
Deputy Governor's instructions, all was to be done " according
to the good laws of England." But the new Court, during the
first year of its existence, failed to comply with these laws in a
very essential particular, — persons were put upon trial without
the intervention of a Grand Jury.1 No provision was made
under the Duke's laws for this safeguard of the citizen, and the
new Justices acted for a time in accordance with former usage.
A petit jury, so rare under the former Court, now participates in
every trial where facts are in dispute. In criminal cases, the
old practice is adhered to of making the prosecutor plaintiff.
The first case that came up for consideration was that of

Peter Errickson, Plff., ~)

vs. ^

Harmon Johnson & Margaret his wife, Deft. (
An action of Assault & Batty. J

Jurors. Morgan Drewett, Wm. Woodmanson, Wm. Hewes,
James Browne, Henry Reynolds, Robert Schooley, Richards Pitt-
man, Lassey Dalboe, John Ackraman, Peter Rambo, Jr., Henry
Hastings, & William Oxley. Witness, William Parke.

The jury find for the plaintiff; give him 6d. damages, his costs
of suit.

In the next case the parties are reversed; the offence charged
being the same, and tried by the same jurors. The witnesses
were Anna Coleman, Richard Buffington, and Ebenezer Taylor.
The jury find for the plaintiffs 40 [shillings] and their costs of
suit.

At this first session of the Court, nine cases were tried and
sixteen withdrawn ; among the latter were two " for disobeying
the Justice's order." In the last case tried, which was for debt,
the verdict was 62 gilders — an evidence of the lasting influence
of the ascendency of the Dutch on the river.

It having come to the ears of Justice Lassey Cock, that he
had been accused of speaking certain improper words to the
Indians, proclamation was made in the Court " that if any had
anything against him, they should declare it; whereupon Daniel
Brenson and Charles Brigham, upon oath, together with Walter
Humphrey, upon his solemn attestation, declared what they

1 Many of the early criminal cases, having the form of civil actions for damages,
the defendants thereby really escaped a trial as criminals, and the necessity of a
Grand Jury was obviated.

132 HISTORY OP DELAWARE COUNTY. [1681.

heard certain Indians speak against him and Captain Edmund
Cantwell ; the said Lassey Cock, upon oath, declared his inno-
cence, and that he had never spoken those words to the Indians,
or any %f that nature, was thereupon cleared by the Court."

Letters of Administration were granted by the Court to
Caspar Fiske on the Estate of Eusta Daniell — security in X100,
given to Robert Wade and William Clayton.

Besides the English names already mentioned, there occur,
in the proceedings of this Court those of Richard Ridgeway,
Francis Stephenson, Richard Noble, John Champion, Thomas
Nossiter, John Wood, and William Cobb. These and many
others had become residents of Upland County prior to the date
of Penn's patent. Most of those who were Friends emigrated
with the early West Jersey settlers, but for some reason settled
on the West side of the river.

At the next Court, which was held on the 30th of November,
Deputy Governor Markham presided, and James Sandelandes
and Thomas Fairman, with all those who held the last Court,
sat as Justices, except William Warner, who was absent. But
four cases were tried at this Court ; one withdrawn and one
continued.

Three ships sailed from England for Pennsylvania this year ;
two from London and one from Bristol. No particulars of the
arrival of the John $ Sarah, which is said to have arrived
first, are given ; but we are informed by Proud,1 that the
Bristol Factor, Roger Drew commander, ;' arrived at the place
where Chester now stands, on the 11th of December, where the
passengers seeing some houses, went on shore at Robert Wade's
landing near the lower side of Chester Creek; and the river
having froze up that night, the passengers remained there all
winter." The other ship, the Amity, "having been blown off
to the West-Indies, did not arrive until the Spring of the next
year."

Proud places the arrival of William Markham in one of these
ships, with certain commissioners, whom he says were joined
with him, " to confer with the Indians or Aboriginies of the
Country respecting their lands, and to confirm with them a
league of peace." It is possible that certain Commissioners
arrived on board of one or more of these vessels, but they were
not associated with the Deputy Governor as has been mentioned.
The only purchase of land that was made from the Indians for
the Proprietary before his arrival, was the large purchase on the
Delaware above Shackamaxon,2 which was made by Markham
alone, although the Commissioners were then in the country.

The Commissioners were William Crispin, William Haige,

1 Hist. Penna. i. 193. 2 Penna. Archives, i. 47-48.

1681.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 133

John Bezer, and Nathaniel Allen. William Crispin was ap-
pointed Surveyor-General as well as Commissioner, but died
before his arrival, whereupon Thomas Holme was appointed in
his place. Though they appear to have been authorized to treat
with the Indians and purchase their lands, their instructions1
show that their main business was to fix upon the site of and
lay out a city — to survey and apportion lands and city lots
among the newly arrived immigrants, who had for the most part
made°their purchases in England. The following extract from
these instructions, no doubt gave rise to the tradition that Penn
had fixed on Upland or Chester as the site of his great city.

" That having taken what care you can for the people's good,
in these respects abovesaid, let the rivers and creeks be sounded
on my side of Delaware River, especially Upland, in order to
settle a great town, and be sure to make your choice where it is
most navigable, high, dry, and healthy ; that is where most
ships may best ride, of deepest draught of water, if possible to
load or unload at the bank or keys side without boating and
lightening of it. It would do well if the river coming into that
creek be°navigable, at least for boats up into the country, and
that the situation be high, at least dry and sound, and not
swampy, which is best known by digging up two or three earths
and seeing the bottom."

The celebrated "conditions and concessions" 'agreed upon
between Penn, and those who became " adventurers and purcha-
sers" under him, were published in England some time before
the date of the letter of instructions to the Commissioners.
Thomas Holme, the Surveyor-General, did not arrive till the
last of June of the following year.

Although the minutes of the Council of Governor Markham
are not to be found, there is a document preserved, that shows
that one of its first acts was the prohibition of the sale of strong
drinks to the Indians. This paper is a petition to the Governor
and Council over the uncouth signatures of Passayunk Indians,
asking the removal of the prohibition, on the ground that there
was no prohibition in New Castle, " and that they find it a
greater ill-convenience than before, our Indians going down to
New Castle, and there buying rum and making them more
debauched than before."2

It will be remembered that Robert Wade was settled at Up-
land in 1675, and that William Edmundson, a travelling preacher
of the Society of Friends, held a meeting at his house during
that year. Robert Wade was a purchaser from John Fenwick,

1 For these instructions see Haz. Ann. 527-531. Also Appendix p. 637. A letter
was addressed by Penn to the Indians dated on the 18th of October, couched in the
most kind and conciliatory language, which was probably sent by one of the Commis-
sioners.— See Haz. Reg. i. 576. Haz. Ann. 532.

2 Haz. Ann. 531.

134 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1682.

in England,1 and it is supposed emigrated with him in 1675, but
from some cause he preferred to settle at Upland, being, with
his wife, among the first Quakers who settled in Pennsylvania.
It is not therefore probable that a Friends' meeting was held in
Pennsylvania earlier than that year, — the first being held at the
house of Robert Wade. No meeting of Record was held till the
year 1681, the following being the earliest minute :

" The 10th day of the 11th month 1681. A monthly meeting
of Friends belonging to Marcus-hook, alias the Chester and Up-
land, held at the house of Robert Wade."

These meetings for a time were held alternately at the places
designated, and constituted one monthly meeting. That held at
Robert Wade's eventually became " Chester Monthly meeting,"
while from the Chichester, or Marcus Hook meeting, originated
at first the Chichester Monthly meeting, which subsequently be-
came merged in that of Concord.

The only Quaker heads of families that were settled at
Chester and Marcus Hook, or in the vicinity of those places,
before the arrival of the first ship sent out by Penn, so far as the
author can discover, were Robert Wade, Roger Pedrick,
Morgan Drewet, William Woodmanson, Michael Izzard, Thomas
Revel, Henry Hastings, William Oxley, James Browne, Henry
Reynolds, and Thomas Nossiter.

There were no other Friends then settled within the present
territorial limits of our County, but quite a number were located
higher up the river on the Pennsylvania side of it.

The next Court for Upland County was held at Upland on the
14th of March, 1682, which, according to the Record, is still
within the year 1681. This Court was held by the same, or
nearly the same Justices, Deputy Governor Markham presiding.
The details of a trial that occurred at this Court are given, to
illustrate the manner of conducting judicial proceedings in these
primitive times :

" J A , bound by recognizance to appear at this

Court to answer our Sovereign Lord the King upon the accusa-
tion of Richard Noble, Peter Rambo Junr, and Lawrence Law-
renson, who were bound over to prosecution. This Court pro-
ceeded upon indictment;2 to which the prisoner pleaded not
guilty : and put himself upon the tryal &c, of this Jury :"

JURORS.

"George Foreman Gent. Albert Hendrickson

John Child Mons Peterson

Nathaniel Allen Wooley Rawson

Nathaniel Evans John Cock

William Oxley Erich Cock

John Akraman Peter Yoakum."

Penna. Archives, i. 57. 2 There was no Grand Jury.

1682.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 135

" Richard Noble deposed that hee, with several others, found
divers peeces of burnte porke or bacon in the said A's
house ; and also that hee the said Richard Noble with others
found hidden in unfrequented places in an out house belonging

to the said J A , where, (as an Indian had before then

informed them,) the said A used to hide porke ; and further

deposed that the said A gave out threatining words against

the officers and others who came to search."

" Peter Rambo Junr. and Lawrence Lawrenson deposed the

same as above. Judith Noble deposed that the said A gave

out threatning words against the officers who came to search."

"Francis Walker deposed that a person who bought a peece

of porke of the said A , told him the said Walker that the

said porke had a bullet in it."

" Francis Stephens deposed that the said A being asked

concerning a hogg's head, (hee, the said A , having then a

headless hogg,) where the head then was, hee, the said A ,

answered, hee had left the head down the river ; and the said
A — 's boy said noe, the hogg's head is upon the mill att home.''

" John Hollinshead gave in his evidence before Thomas Budd,
a magistrate at Burlington, which was also produced under the
hand of the said Thomas Budd, being of the same import with
the deposition of the aforesaid Francis Stephens."

" Thomas Wallis gave in his evidence before the same Thomas
Budd, and testified under the hand of the said Thomas Budd,
of the same import with the aforesaid Judith Noble's testimony."

" Another examination of notorious circumstances, of a stran-
ger who lay at the said A 's, taken by Mahlon Stacey, a

magistrate at the Falls, and signified under his hand."

" The jury bring in the prisoner not guilty, and thereupon by
order of Court is discharged."

The following minute of the doings of the same Court, is a further
proof that Gov. Markham and his Council had placed some restraint
upon the sale of strong drink, to others besides the Indians.

" Henry Reynolds having appeared to answer for his selling
strong liquors by small measure in his house contrary to the
G-overnor and CounceVs order ; upon his submission to the Court,
was discharged."

" Overseers for the Highways nominated and elected at the
Court, March' 14th, 1681 [1682] for one year next ensuing,
which is to be done within their respective precincts, before the
last day of May next, ut sequitur :"

" Woolley Rawson, from Marcus creek to Naman's creek."

" Robert Wade, from Naamans [Marcus] Creek to Upland
creeke."

" William Oxley from Upland Creeke to Ammersland."

136 HISTORY OF DELAWARE GOUNTY. [1682.

u Moris Stawket from Ammersland to Karkus mill."
" Peter Yokeham from Karkus Mill to Schore kill [Schuyl-
kill] falls."

" Andreas Rambo from Schore kill falls to Tawrony [Tacony]

vl'GGKG.

" Erick Mullikay from Tawrony Creeke to Poynessink Creek ;
Clause Johnson from Poynessink creeke to Samuel Cliffs."

"John Akraman, from Samuel Cliffs to Gilbert Wheelers."

Gilbert Wheeler's residence was in the neighborhood of Tren-
ton, which shows the territorial extent of Upland County. The
main road that required repairs appears to have crossed the
Schuylkill and other streams at or near the head of tide water.

On the 12th of June, messengers from Lord Baltimore, with
letters to Governor Markham, arrived at Upland, but the Go-
vernor being on a visit to New York, James Sandelandes and
Robert Wade dispatched a messenger to him, with the Lord Bal-
timore's communication, and also a letter from them, advising
him that Commissioners were in waiting, ready to meet him, at
Bohemia river.

" The grant formerly made from Governor Markham to the
inhabitants of Marcus Hooke att their request for the calling
the name of the said Town Chichester, which said grant bears
date the twentieth day of April 1682, and was read and pub-
lished in the Court held at Upland June the thirteenth Anno
1682, according to order as a record thereof." This was the
fourth Court held under Governor Markham's administration.

At the first Court under his government, the English currency
of pounds, shillings and pence was introduced, but at this Court
there was a return to the old currency of gilders, so difficult is it
to change the established customs of a people. One verdict at
this Court is for 616 gilders, and there are several for a less
number. " Skipps of wheat," also occur in the proceedings.

The next Court in order was held on the 12th of September,
1682. Governor Markham officiated as President, and was as-
sisted by several of the Justices that have been named.

The first Grand Jury that ever sat in Pennsylvania of which
there is any record, was summoned to attend at this Court.
Their names, as given in the minutes of the Court, are William
Clayton, Thomas Brassey, John Symcock, Tho. Sary, Robert
Wade, Lawrence Cock, John Hart, Nath11. Allen, William Wood-
manson, Thos. Coebourne, John Otter and Joshua Hastings ;
being one half the usual number. These jurors were summoned
in the case of Lassey, alias Lawrence Dalboe, and are called
his " Grand Jury."1

1 Proud, Hist. Penna. i. 240, says that the Grand Jury that sat in the case of Pick-
ering, tried before the Council in 1683 for counterfeiting coin was the first, but this is
a mistake.

1682.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 137

The first order for filing an Administration account was made
at this Court. The Administrator was directed to appear at the
next or the following Court, " and bring into the Court the bills
of the Creditors or other satisfaction, signifying to the Court
the justness of each particular debt, and also to produce his re-
ceipts for what he hath paid."

This is the last Court held previous to the arrival of the Pro-
prietary. Quite a number of Friends had arrived here since
Markham came to the country. Among those who settled within
the territorial limits of Delaware County, were Richard Fewe,
John Kennerly, Thomas Cobourn, Jeremiah Collett, Richard
Worrall, Henry Grubb, and John Simcock.

Before introducing the Proprietary into this land of promise,
it may not be amiss to enlighten the reader in respect to the
progress made in religious affairs by the Friends who had pre-
ceded him.

At a monthly meeting held at Chester the 11th of the 7th mo.
(September) 1682, it was agreed " that a meeting shall be held
for the service and worship of God every first day of the week
at the Court house at Chester."1 It was also agreed, "that there
be three meetings in the week ; the Western part to meet at
Chichester the 5th day of the week ; the middle meeting at Ha-
rold at the house of William Woodmanson the 4th day of the
week, and the Eastern meeting at Ridley at John Simcocks the 5th
day of the week until otherwise ordered." It was further ordered
that " the monthly meeting for business be held the 1st Second
day of the week in every month at the house of Robert Wade."

The world did not contain a more busy man than William
Penn, from the time the charter for Pennsylvania was granted
to him until he sailed for America. Besides the documents
issued by him, that have already been mentioned, he incorporated
a company with extraordinary powers and privileges, styled the
"Free Society of Traders ;" he published his " Frame of Govern-
ment for the province of Pennsylvania, together with certain
laws agreed upon in England by the Governor and divers free-
men of the aforesaid Province;" he obtained from the Duke of
York a release of any claims he might have to the province of
Pennsylvania ; and also two deeds of feoffment for the territory
now constituting the State of Delaware — one being for twelve
miles round New Castle, and the other for the balance of the
territory below ;2 he wrote innumerable letters to his friends, and

1 This Court-house was doubtless the " House of Defence."

2 Although the territory west of the Delaware had been governed by the Duke of
York, he at this time held no valid -title to any part of it. King Charles II. made a
regular conveyance to him of the country comprised within the present territorial
limits of the State of Delaware, on the 22d of March, 1683 ; the deeds from the Duke
to Penn for the same country, were executed on the 24th of August, 1682. See Has.
Reg. i. 429-430 ; ii. 27.

138 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1682.

sundry epistles to the settlers and the Indians, besides being sub-
jected to various importunities to part with his lands and to
confer privileges on terms different from those which he had
adopted and published.

With his mind thus overtasked with questions of the highest
moment, would it not have been wonderful if he had committed
no mistakes ? Is it not strange that he committed so few ? We
may at this day be startled at some of the privileges granted to
"The Free Society of Traders;" but may we not, with Penn's
limited experience with corporations, believe in the sincerity of
his assurance, that it was "a Society without oppression : wherein
all may be concerned that will ; and yet have the same liberty of
private traffique, as though there were no Society at all." Cer-
tainly we may concede this much, when it is known that he re-
sisted the "great temptation" of =£6000 and two and a half per
cent, acknowledgment or rent for a monopoly of the Indian trade
between the Susquehanna and Delaware with 30,000 acres of
land, the Indian title of which to be extinguished by the corpo-
ration.1 Penn's ideas of government were greatly in advance of
the age in which he lived. The few errors he committed were
the result of surrounding circumstances. No friend of humanity
can quibble over these, when he reflects upon the mighty impulse
that was given to the cause of free government by his many wise
and prudent measures.

Having completed his arrangements in England, Penn sailed
from Deal on the 30th of the Sixth month (then August), on
board of the ship Welcome, Robert Greenaway commander, in
company with about 100 passengers, mostly members of the
Society of Friends, the major part of whom were from Sussex.2
Great distress was experienced during the passage, in conse-
quence of the breaking out of the small-pox, of which loathsome
disease 30 of the emigrants died. Otherwise the voyage was
prosperous, the vessel arriving at New Castle on the 27th of
October, 1682. On the next day, Penn having produced his
deeds of feoffment from the Duke of .York for the twelve miles
surrounding New Castle, and also for the country below, the
possession and seisin of the New Castle grant were formally given
to him by John Moll and Ephraim Herman, who had been con-
stituted attorneys for that purpose by his Royal Highness.3 At
the same time, a number of the inhabitants signed a pledge of
their obedience to the Proprietary.4 On the same day he com-
missioned Justices for New Castle, and constituted Markham his
attorney to receive the possession of the territory below from the
attorneys of the Duke.

1 Haz. Ann. 522. 3 Proud, i. 204; Janney, 194.

3 New Castle Rec.; Haz. Ann. 597-606.

* New Castle Rec. ; Patent Book, Harrisburg, A. 2, p. 121 ; Haz. Ann. 598.

1682. J HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 139

A letter addressed to Ephraim Herman in respect to summon-
ing a Court to be held at New Castle on the 2d of November,
and dated at Upland on the 29th of October,1 shows that he had
then arrived at his seat of Government. He may have arrived
the day before. The fancy of the artist has portrayed the
landing of Penn at Upland; but neither the hour, the day, nor
the manner of his landing, is certainly known.

He landed at Upland, but the place was to bear that familiar
name no more for ever. Without reflection, Penn determined that
the name of this place should be changed. " Turning round to
his friend Pearson, one of his own society, who had accompanied
him in the ship Welcome, he said, ' Providence has brought us
here safe. Thou hast been the companion of my perils. What
wilt thou that I should call this place ?' Pearson said
' Chester,' in remembrance of the city from whence he came.
William Penn replied that it should be called Chester, and that
when he divided the land into counties, one of them should be
called by the same name."2 Thus from a mere whim, the name
of the oldest town ; the name of the whole settled part of the
province ; the name that would naturally have a place in the
affections of a large majority of the inhabitants of the new
province, was effaced, to gratify the caprice or vanity of a
friend. All great men occasionally do little things. .

Immediately after Penn's arrival, he dispatched messengers
to Lord Baltimore, evidently for the purpose of procuring an
interview and a settlement of their difficulties. He at the same
time went to New York, to "pay his duty" to the Duke by way
of a visit to his government. Upon his return he caused three
counties to be laid off — Chester, Philadelphia, and Bucks. The
precise time and manner of making these divisions will probably
be ascertained when the Record of the doings of Governor
Markham and his Council is discovered. The lines on either
side of Chester County, it will hereafter be seen, were not very
definitely fixed for some time.

In pursuance of Writs of Election sent to the Sheriffs of the
several Counties, elections were held for members of Assembly.
No list of the members elected has been discovered ; the names
of several appear in the imperfect minutes of their proceedings.

The first Assembly was held at Chester, 4th of 10th mo.
(December) 1682, being the 2d day of the week. The first
business was the appointment of a Committee on Election privi-
leges, consisting of Christopher Taylor for Bucks County ;
President Moore for Philadelphia, John Simcock for Chester,
William Clark for Deal,3 and Francis Whitwell for Jones. "A

1 Haz. Ann. 599. — Clarkson says he visited New York before going to Upland.

2 Clarkson's life of Penn, i. 259.— Haz. Ann. 695.

3 Jones and Deal were then the names of the two counties below New Castle.

140 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1682.

committee for Grievance" was also appointed, viz : Griffith
Jones, Luke Watson, William Sample, William Yardley, and
Thomas Brassey. It was Resolved that Ralph Withers " on
extraordinary occasions, have leave from this house to be absent
to-morrow."

Then " the house adjourned to the 10th hour to-morrow."

"About the time appointed the house sat."

"Dr. Moore, President of the Society in Philadelphia," [of
Free Traders] it was reported by the Committee, " should be
preferred as chairman."

" Then they called to account the Sheriff of New Castle,
for undue electing a member to serve in Assembly for that
County." John Moll was declared duly elected from New
Castle, instead of Abraham Mann.

John Simcock and Christopher Taylor were appointed a Com-
mittee of " Foresight for the preparation of provincial bills."

" Then the House proceed further unto four more for the said
Committee, viz, Wm Clark, Nicholas Moore, President, Griffith
Jones, and Luke Watson."

" It being moved that an address be sent to the Governor,
by four select members, humbly to desire him to honour the
house with a transmission of his constitutes ; and thereupon
appointed Thomas Holmes, Surveyor General, William Clarke,
Thomas Winn, and Edward Southrin, should go with the afore-
said address, and make a return of his answer in the afternoon."

In the afternoon, " the Governor's answer by the four mem-
bers was : that the Constitutions they desired, were not ready,
but when ready he would immediately send them by one of his
servants."

Rules and regulations for the government of the proceedings
of the Assembly were adopted, some of which are not found in
legislative Manuals of the present day.

" Offending members were to be reproved for the first offence ;
for the second reproval and fine of 12c?., and so for each offence
not to exceed 10s." A resolution was not before the House till
" seconded or thirded." Any member presuming to pervert the
sense of questions agreed to by the house, was to be " put out
of the house." Two members were elected, "to inspect which
party carried it by the major votes, on diversity of votes arising
in the house." On the question, "whether the house now
proceed or not," on a division, the noes go out ; if for adjourn-
ment, the yeas. None to speak but once before the question is
put, nor after but once.

Most of the rules adopted are, however, substantially the same
as those now used in legislative bodies, though given in the
quaint language of the day.

1682.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 141

A question propounded by the speaker — "Whether any abso-
lute note of distinction betwixt one officer and another should
be concluded on by vote, as the carrying a white rod or reed,"
shows there was some disposition to follow the etiquette of the
home government. This question was left in suspense.

A petition was presented, "for an act of Union" between the
freemen of the three lower Counties, and those of Pennsylvania.
It was delivered by John Moll and Francis Whitwell, in the
name of the rest of the Freeholders, and "was accepted and ap-
proved of by the whole house."

The act providing for the "aforesaid Union," after being re-
gularly passed, was carried by the President and Christopher
Taylor to the Governor, in order to get " his subscription as an
established law."

A petition is presented to the Governor from the Swedes,
Finns and Dutch, that he "would be pleased to make them as
free as other members of this province, and that their lands may
be entailed on them and their heirs forever."

"The printed laws and the written laws or constitutions"
were at length brought before the house, and after having been
altered or amended, were finally adopted. "The power of the
Free Society of Traders was also debated." This ended the
second day's proceedings.

" The house met again about half an hour past seven in the
morning of the 7th day of the 10th month, 1682." The Gover-
nor assuming the chair expresses himself in an obliging and reli-
gious manner to the house." After having been consulted by
the President on " divers material concerns," the Governor
"urges upon the house his religious counsel."

A debate, of some warmth, appears to have ensued in respect
to the time to which the Assembly should adjourn; twenty-one
days appears to have been fixed on, at which the members of the
lower counties "were in a great strait." Two members were
thereupon appointed to inform the Governor of it, who returned
with intelligence that the Governor is willing "that the assembly
adjourn for twenty-one days, which was done by order of the
speaker."

There was probably no meeting held at the end of twenty-one
days, or at any other time by this first legislature. There are
no minutes of such a meeting, nor laws of that date.1

No list of members being given, the names of all the represen-
tatives from Chester County cannot be given. The following
Chester County names appear incidentally in the minutes: —
John Simcock, Thomas Brasey, Ralph Withers, and Thomas
Usher. It would appear that the members of the "first Assem-
bly" received no pay for their services. The next Assembly did

1 Votes of Assembly.

142 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1683.

not, however, allow a question of such vital importance to pass
by without being "argued."

"The great law, or the body of laws," embracing many sec-
tions or separate laws, was passed by the first assembly, besides
the act of Union and Naturalization and the act of Settlement.

All the acts except the last had been prepared and well con-
sidered, before being presented to the legislature. This act be-
came necessary on account of the people of the several counties
refusing to elect 72 members of council, and to assemble in mass
to constitute the first Assembly, as had been provided for by
Penn in his Frame of Government, and in accordance with the
writs that had been issued to the SherhTs of the several counties.
This act fixed the number of the Council at three from each
county, and the Assembly at double that number. It also pro-
vides for other matters connected with future legislation. It
was no doubt prepared at Chester on the occasion, and this fact
explains why the Proprietary was not ready for the Assembly
when they met.1

On what was considered the most reliable tradition, it has
been universally believed that this Assembly held its sittings in
an old building which till recently stood on the west side of Fil-
bert street, near the margin of Chester creek, and which was
familiarly known as "the old Assembly house." It will be
shown in another place that this building was erected several
years subsequently to the sitting of the Assembly. It is most
probable that the first Assembly sat in the "House of defence,"
as it was then the only public building erected in Upland of
which we have any account.

Every material particular in respect to the first Assembly has
been given, because its sittings were held within the territorial
limits of what was then Chester, but is now Delmvare county.
The next Assembly under a new election was held at Philadel-
phia on the 12th of March following, where it continued to sit,
with occasional meetings at Newcastle, while the union with the
Lower Counties lasted. A list of the members of the Legislature
elected each year for Chester county till Delaware county was
organized, and subsequently those of Delaware county, will be
found in the Appendix, Note D.

The last Court for the County of Upland, embracing all the
settled parts of Pennsylvania, was held on the 12th of Septem-
ber, 1682. The first Court for Chester county met at Chester on
the 14th of February following, but from some cause adjourned
till the 27th of that month without transacting any business At
this Court there is a marked change in the aspect of things.

1 For this act see Laws of Penna. fol. Appendix 4. (1762.)

1683.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 143

The name of no Swede1 remains in the list of Justices, and but
two are found in the list of Jurors, and the Mr. that had always
been appended to the names of the Justices, and to that of the
Clerk and Sheriff, is now uniformly omitted.

The form of attestation for Jurors, adopted by Penn, is not
given in the Records of the Chester Court. The following is re-
corded at New Castle, under the date of Feb. 22, 1682-3 :

" The forme to bee used in ye Roome of ye oath for ye Jury as
the same was delivered in Cor' by ye Honobl William Penn vizt."

"You Solemnly promis in ye presence of God & this Cor*
that you will Justly try & deliver in yor verdict in all cases de-
pending, that shall be brought before you during this session of
Court according to evidence, and ye laws of this government to
ye best of yor understanding."2

The Justices who held this Court — the first for Chester County,
as it had recently been established, were John Simcock, Pre-
sident, Thomas Brasey, William Clayton, Robert Wade, and
John Boyer ; the Sheriff was Thomas Usher ;3 the Clerk, Thomas
Revel. The Jurors summoned were William Rawson, James
Browne, Jeremiah Collet, William Hewes, Walter Martin,
Nath1 Evans, Joshua Hastings, William Woodmanson, Thomas
Cobourne, Albert Hendrickson, Joseph Richards, Edward Car-
ter, and Thomas Vernon.

George Thompson appeared before this Court to answer the
charge of being married to one Merriam Short, " contrary to
the laws of the province ;" but no one appearing against him, he
was discharged. The officiating priest, Lawrence Carol us, did
not fare so well. He was bound over to appear at the next
Court for performing the marriage service for Thompson.

At the next Court, " held at Chester for the County of Chester,
on the 27th of the 4th month, called June,4 1863, " William
Penn, Esqr Proprietory and Governor," presided. The names
of Otto Ernest Cock, and Ralph Withers, appear among the
Justices at this Court. Among the Grand and Petit Jurors there
was a fair sprinkling of Swedes.

The following singular verdict was rendered at this Court :

1 " Strangers & foreigners," as the Swedes and others residing here are called, may
not yet have taken the " Solemn promise" of allegiance under the recently enacted
Naturalization law.

2 New Castle Rec. Book A, " Old Records transcribed," p. 287, as taken from
Book C. p. 34.

3 For a list of the Sheriffs of Chester County till the division of the County and
subsequently those of Delaware County, See Appendix, note D.

* The year hereafter is to commence on the first of March, as will appear by the
following section, from " The Great Law" enacted at the first Session of the Legis-
lature: Be it enacted, <fcc, " that the days of the week, and the months of the year,
shall be called as in Scripture, aud not by heathen names, (as are vulgarly used,; as
the first, second and third days of the week; and first, second and third months of the
year, Ac, beginning with the day called Sunday, and the month called March."

144 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1683.

" The jury find for the Plaint : and give him a cow and a calf,
the same to be delivered within 7 days or 4£ 19s. 2d. at the
choyce of the Plaint : or the value thereof in Porke, Beefe or
Corne in the 8th mo: next & 40s. damages & Costs of suit."

It was "ordered by the Court that a tax for defraying the
public charges be raysed within this county; and in order to
the effecting the same with Justice and proportion, three of the
magistrates of the county are to meet weekly."

" John Ward, for sundry Felons, committed to the custody of
the Sheriff, and made his escape with irons upon him." From
this it may be inferred, that as yet there was no building in
Chester that would rank as a jail.

This Ward had robbed James Sandelandes and George Fore-
man, whom the Court ordered to receive back their goods. The
early judicial proceedings of the Province would indicate, that a
number of professional rogues had smuggled themselves over in
some of the numerous immigrant vessels that were arriving about
this time, or else had made their way here from other Provinces.

The following constables were selected at this Court : " For
Chichester liberty, Willm Hewes ; Chester liberty, Thomas Co-
bourn ; Derby liberty, Thomas Worth ; Ammersland liberty,
Willm Cobb ; Concord liberty, Jn° Mendenhall."

Besides the regular County Courts, there was established in
each County, another tribunal invested with the power of hear-
ing and determining matters in litigation. The persons com-
posing it were termed "Peace Makers," and were appointed by
the Courts. They possessed about the same power, and occupied
the same position as arbitrators of the present day, but they
were not appointed with reference to any particular case, and
held periodical meetings. The Court orders them " to meet the
first fourth day in every month."1

Among the cares that engrossed the attention of William
Penn, during his first visit to Pennsylvania, was the purchase of
lands from the Indians. The boundaries mentioned in the
numerous deeds to him from the Aborigines, are frequently un-
certain and overlap each other ; and while it cannot be doubted
that he was careful to secure titles from the "right owners," it
appears to have been his policy to liquidate any other claims
that might be set up, and to take deeds from the claimants,
rather than to engage in litigation with savages.

One of these deeds, that gives us the Indian name of Chester
Creek, and embraces nearly the whole County east of that stream,
commences thus :

1 The law authorizing the appointment of " Peace Makers," was passed at the
Second Session of the Assembly.

1683.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 145

" We, Secane & Icquoquehan, Indian Shackamakers, and
right owners of ye Lands Lying between Manaiunk als. Schulkill
and Macopanackhan, als. Chester River, doe this 14th day of
ye fift month, in ye year, according to English account, 1683,
hereby grannt and sell all our Right & title in ye sd Lands Lying
between ye sd Rivers, beginning on ye West side of Manaiunk,
called Consohockan, & from thence by a Westerly Line to ye sd
River Macopanackhan, unto William Penn Proprietr" * * * &C.1

The consideration is the usual quantity of wampum, blankets,
duffils, kettles, guns, &c, but no rum, and to the deed are ap-
pended the peculiar marks of the grantors.

The next Court was held on the 22d of the 6th month " called
August." A civil case of vast importance, involving the title of
the whole Island of Tinicum, was tried at this Court. The case
stands on the record :

" Arnoldus Delagrange Pltff: ^

Otto EiW Cock Deft: |

The Plaintiff sues and declares as
Heire Tynnicum Island &
premises."

It will be remembered that Mrs. Papegoya, had sold the
Island to a Mr. De La Grange, who, it appears was the father
of this plaintiff. He dying soon after, his widow married An-
drew Carr. Against these parties, in the Court of Assizes of
New York, in 1672, Mrs. Papegoya obtained a heavy verdict,
and was shortly afterwards put in possession of the Island,
which she had sold to Otto Ernest Cock, previous to this date.

Abraham Man acted as attorney for the plaintiff, and John
White for the defendant — neither of them being residents of the
County. It was admitted that the plaintiff's father was legally

possessed of Tinicum, but that amount of purchase

money was paid, and that, " the Lady Armgard Prince had
tryall and execution thereupon & was put in possession of the
same premises, and sold the same to the Defendant."

On behalf of the plaintiff it was set forth, " that he the said
pltff. (who was heir to the said Island,) at the time of the said
Tryall & Execution, was under age and in Holland, and there-
fore could make no defence ; and further that the said Heire (this
pltff:) was not mentioned in the said tryall; the action being
commenced against Andrew Carre and priscilla his wife, mis-
taken in the execution for the mother of the pltff: whose mother's
name was Margaretta."2

The parties appear to have entered into an agreement pending

1 Penna. Archives, i. 65.

2 In the record, the suit is against Andrew Carr and Margaret Persil his wife; in the
execution the name of Margaret is omitted.

10

146 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1683.

the trial, in accordance with which the jury rendered their ver-
dict in favor of the plaintiff, with costs and forty shillings dama-
ges ; "the Pltff: paying to the Deft. Thirty seven pounds & Tenne
shillings," * * * " also delivering the Block house* & timbers in
the same agreement mentioned."

The practice of acknowledging deeds in open Court, under
Penn's government, commenced with this Court.

At the following Court, " held on the 17th of the 8th month,
called October," 1683, the inhabitants of Providence made their
application to the Court for a highway, leading to the town of
Chester. It was accordingly ordered by the Court " that the
Grand Jury doe meete on the 22d instant at Thomas Nossiters,
there to consider the premises." This is the first time that the
name of Providence has appeared as a division of Chester County.
The Grand Jury " was empannelled to look out a convenient
highway from Providence to Chester," but their report is not
recorded. The name of Robert Eyre appears now for the first
time as Clerk of the Court, in the place of Thomas Revel ; and
at the following Court, held on the 14th of December, Thomas
Withers supplies the place of Thomas Usher as Sheriff. In a
case before this Court, in which the plaintiff suffered a non suit,
the matter was referred by the Court to the " peace makers."

From the circumstance, that several of Penn's letters, written
during the winter of 1683, were dated at Chester, it is believed
that he resided at that place nearly up to the 10th of March,
when his first Council was assembled at Philadelphia. The mem-
bers of the Council being now reduced to three from each county,
those from Chester were, John Simcock, Ralph Withers and
William Clayton. The second Assembly was convened at Phi-
ladelphia two days afterwards, and continued its session twenty-
two days.

But little was done at this session specially relating to Chester
County, except the establishment of a seal, the design of which
was a ploiv. The first charter, which it was found impossible to
conform with, in respect to the number of representatives, was,
in an amended form, accepted from the Governor, " with the
hearty thanks of the whole House."

This year the noted " Chester Mills" were erected on Chester
Creek, a little above the site of the present manufacturing village
of Upland. Richard Townsend, who came over with Wm. Penn,
in a letter written in 1727, says, " After some time I set up a
mill on Chester Creek, which I brought ready framed from
London ; which served for grinding corn and sawing of boards ;
and was of great use to us." From this it might be inferred

1 It is not certainly known where this Block-house stood, but it is probable that it
occupied the same position as the old fort, Gottenburg.

1683.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 147

that Richard Townsend was chiefly instrumental in the erection
of these mills, which was not the case, he being only one of ten
partners who furnished the means.

The partnership was established by virtue of a verbal agree-
ment in 1682, probably before the partners left England, "for
the erection of one or more water mills, by them intended to be
built and erected in said Province [of Pennsylvania], and in
gears, utensils and implements, proper for such an undertaking,
and in all such lands buildings and conveniences as might be
necessary to accommodate the same." The whole concern was
divided into thirty-two equal parts, of which William Penn " was
to have and bear five parts thereof, both in profit and loss;"
Philip Ford, 5; John Bellars, 5; Daniel Whorley, 5; Daniel
Quare, 2; John Barker, 2; Ptichard Townsend, 4; John Bickley,
2; Thomas Burberry, 1; and Caleb Pusey, 1. These partners
agreed that Caleb Pusey should be agent and manager " of the
joint concern," who accordingly, "soon after the first arrival of the
Proprietary in the Province, obtained two warrants from him, for
taking up lands to set the said mills upon." By virtue of these
warrants two parcels of land — one on each side of Chester
Creek— were surveyed for the use of the mills ; the whole con-
taining but twenty acres. " Upon or near' this land, Caleb
Pusey, "with the advice of the said Proprietary, and such other
of the said partners, as then were in the Province, in the year of
our Lord 1683, did at the joint charge of all the said partners,
erect a corn mill," &c. These facts are taken from the recital
of a deed1 for the premises, executed in 1705, and no doubt give
a correct account of the establishment of what may be regarded
as the first mill erected within the borders of Delaware County,
unless the Swede's mill stood on the western side of Cobb's
Creek. When a saw-mill was attached to the Chester mill, is
not known. A further account of this early improvement, with
the disasters which befel it, will be given in the proper place, as
we proceed.

The peculiar population, that in three or four years was to
occupy the whole territory now embraced within the limits of our
County, had, before the close of 1683, gained a very permanent
footing at four different points, viz: Chester, Marcus Hook,
Darby and Haverford. From these points the new settlements
rapidly diverged, and spread over the adjacent townships. At
each of these places except Haverford the first Quaker immi-
grants sat themselves down in the midst, or in the vicinity of a
civilized people. The Welsh, who had in their native land
bargained for a separate Barony of 40,000 acres, being ex-
cluded from the city liberties, were forced, at once, to plunge

1 Recorder's office, West Chester, Book B. i.

148 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1684.

into the wilderness. They first occupied Merion and Haverford
in 1682 with a very few settlers. These townships were rapidly
filled up by the constant influx of immigrants from Wales, where
the spirit of persecution against the Quakers was raging at this
period; and from these townships the Welsh settlements soon
spread over Radnor and the chief part of Newtown, and after a
time extended over Goshen, Tredyffrin, and Uwchlan. But three
settlements were made in Haverford in 1682 — those, of Lewis
David, Henry Lewis, and William Howell. The number was
largely augmented before the close of 1683.

Nearly all the early immigrants of mature age were Friends
from convincement, and many of them had suffered persecution.
Under such circumstances it cannot be supposed that their
religious meetings were suspended even during their passage,
much less after their arrival. But we have no positive evidence
that meetings of record were held either by the Friends of
Darby or Haverford earlier than 1684. *

Although monthly meetings had alternated between Chester
and Marcus Hook, First day meetings for worship were not held
at the latter place till the early part of 1683. The first appro-
priation, by Chester Monthly Meeting, for the support of their
own poor, was made this year. No regular burying-place ap-
pears to have been established at Chester till 1683, when,
after the appointment of sundry committees, and some delay, a
suitable piece of ground was fixed upon, which was ordered " to
be fenced about as soon as may be." The ground thus se-
lected continues to be the burying-place of the Society to the
present day.

No evidence exists of a meeting for worship being held at
Providence earlier than the commencement of 1684, and it is
not certainly known at what particular place it was held. The
earliest quarterly meeting was held at Chester, the 4th of the
12th mo. (February) 1684.

The minutes of both Haverford and Darby Meetings com-
mence in 1684 ; the former on the 10th of the 2d mo. (April)
and the latter on the 2d of the 5th mo. (July). There is some
evidence that the business of a monthly meeting had been trans-
acted at Darby a short time prior to the date of the first regular
minute. The early meetings of Darby were held at the house
of John Blunston, located nearly in front of the present Friends'
meeting house in Darby, and near the mill race.

Three particular meetings were united to form what became,

1 A Committee was appointed in 1683, by the Chester Monthly Meeting, to invite
the Friends of Darby Meeting to unite with them in their Monthly Meeting. This they
appear to have done so far as to contribute to the funds of that meeting on one occa-
sion. Some of the earliest Haverford Friends, for a time, were attached to the Phila-
delphia Monthly Meeting,

1684.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 149

and was for a long time known, as " Haverford Monthly Meet-
ing." These meetings at first were "The Schuylkill," Merion
and Haverford ; the monthly meeting being held alternately in
private houses at each of those places. The first monthly
meeting was held at the house of Thomas Duckett, which was
located on the west bank of the Schuylkill, a short distance
above the present site of Market street bridge.

Suitable burial-places for the dead, unfortunately, were
among the earliest necessities of the first English settlers. Ac-
cordingly, it is recorded, that " att our monethly meeting held
at John Beevan's house at Haverford, the 9th of the 8th moneth
[October] 1684, it was ordered as followeth :

" This meeting having taken to their consideration the ne-
cessity of a burying-place, it was ordered that Thomas Ducket
and Barnaby Willcocks for Schoolkill, Hugh Robert and Robert
David for Merion, George Painter and William Howell for
Haverford, should view and set out convenient places for that
purpose, respectively, for the meeting they belong to as afore-
said."

At the next monthly meeting, reports were made that burying-
places had been laid out respectively for Haverford and Merion.
The sites thus selected, with some enlargements, constitute the
burial-grounds attached to these meetings at the present day.
There was more difficulty in having the ground laid out at the
Schuylkill ; but it was eventually effected, and its site is still
marked by a few dilapidated grave-stones,1 that may be seen on
either side of the street that passes under the Pennsylvania
Railroad, west of the Schuylkill, which was laid out through it.

This monthly meeting was attached to the Philadelphia
Quarterly Meeting at its commencement, and continues so
attached to this day.

Chichester Meeting was established as a monthly meeting
in 1684, the first monthly meeting being held at Chichester
on the 17th of the 1st month, (March). At their fourth meeting,
a liberal subscription was made to enable a poor man to build a
house.

Christopher .Taylor having removed from Bucks County to
the island of Tinicum, his age, ability, and learning, at once
secured him the position of Presiding Justice of the Chester
Court. The names of William Wood and John Harding also
appear for the first time as Justices at the Court held in July,
1684.

This Court, " considering the necessity of defraying the

1 The Schuylkill Meeting was not continued very long ; the burial-place in time
became a public grave-yard, and passed out of the hands of the Society of Friends.

150 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1684.

charge of the Court-house1 and prison att Chester by a public
levie, it was ordered that, according to law in that case pro-
vided, every man possessed of lands should pay towards the
levie after the rate of one shilling for every 100 acres within
this county ; and every freeman should pay sixpence, being
above sixteen years of age and not exceeding sixty ; and
every artificer not exceeding the aforesaid age of sixty, and
above sixteen, Is. 6d., by the pole, and every servant three-
pence; and also non-residents, having land in this County, and
not occupying the same, shall pay for every hundred acres after
the rate of one shilling sixpence per hundred."

This is the earliest notice of a Court-house contained in the
Chester Court records. In what building did the Court sit,
from the arrival of Governor Markham up to this time ? Is it
not most reasonable to conclude that it was in the " House of De-
fence," or " Country House," spoken of in the Upland Court
Records ? This building had been finished and fitted up,
" fitt for the Court to sittin," only about seven years previously,
and although the Records of the Court are silent in respect to
the building in which its sittings were held, the minutes of the
monthly meeting show conclusively, that up to September, 1682,
they had been held in an edifice that was well known as " the
Court House at Chester." This being the case, is not the con-
clusion almost irresistible, that up to the period of the erection
" of the Court house and prison," for defraying the expenses of
which a levy is now being made, that the Court, as well as the
" First day" meetings of the Friends, was held in the House of
Defence ? And in the absence of every other kind of evidence
but tradition, is it not most reasonable to conclude that the first
Assembly also sat in the same building ? Additional facts will
be presented in their regular order that will corroborate these
conclusions.2

The appointments by the Courts of collectors "to gather
the assessments" made for the erection of a Court-house and
prison, and other appointments made during this year, give a
good idea of the progress that had then been made in the settle-
ment of the county, and show the municipal districts into

1 The location of the " House of Defence," as correctly made out by Edward Arm-
strong, Esq., has been given. The evidence is conclusive that the Court-house now
about being erected, was located on the same side of Filbert street, and a little north
of the House of Defence.

2 It may also be reasonably concluded, that Governor Markham and his Council
held their sittings in the " House of Defence." The earliest mention of any building
in Upland under the appellation of a Court-house, that has come under the notice of
the Author, is contained in the Records of New Castle County. It will be found in
an order from Governor Andros, in respect to taking up lands and quit-rents, dated
October 25th, 1678, and is in these words :

" This order to bee forthwith published and sett up at the Court houses of Upland,
New Castle and Whoorkill in the Delaware." — Liber A. 320.

1684.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 151

which it had been divided. As collectors, Thomas Worth and
Joshua Fearne were appointed for Darby ; Mons. Stacket and
William Cobb, " for Amoseland & Calcoone Hook;" Thomas
Usher and Jeremy Collet for Chichester ; Richard Crosby and
Andrew Nelson for Providence ; James Kenerly and Randolph
Vernon for "Ridley and in the woods;" Richard Crosby and
Edward Carter for Chester; Jonathan Hayes and James Stan-
field forMarple; John Min all and Thomas King for Concord
and Bethel.

For Supervisors of the Highways, the following appointments
were made ; " from Naaman's Creeke to Marcus Hook, alias
Chichester, Walter Martin ; from Chichester Creeke to Chester
Creeke, John Childe ; from Chester Creeke to Croome Creeke,
Robert Taylor." John Hendrickson was appointed for Amose-
land and Calcoone Hook, Michael Blunston for Darby, and for
Marple, Thomas Person [Pearson].

So numerous had the live stock become that were allowed to
range the woods promiscuously, that it became necessary for
each farmer to have a particular mark and brand, and the
law required that a record of these marks should be made.
A goodly number of such records is found in the minutes
of the Court, and is continued through many years. The
following are given as specimens of such records made this
year :

" George Maris' Cattle marks, a slit in the tip of the near
year: — his Brand Mark G. M."

" The ear mark of John Blunston of Darby, a crop in the
near ear and a hole in the far ear : — his Brand Mark I. B."

At the Court held in December, 1684, " Joseph Cookson was
presented by Robert Wade for taking a wife contrary to the
good and wholesome laws of this Province." He was ordered
"to finde security in tenne pounds," but appears not to have
been troubled any further about the matter.

The first report of "the Peace Makers" was made to the
Court this year, though from its date, the case had been acted
on nearly a year previously. It differs but little from an award
by arbitrators, except that one half of the amount awarded was
to be paid " in good and merchantable wheate and rye att the
common market price on this river."

The acknowledgment of deeds, as has been mentioned, was
now made in open Court, and the practice was continued until the
number acknowledged at a single Court became a large item of
business. The following is a specimen from the minutes of the
September Court of this year :

"Arnoldus Delagrange past over a deed in open Court unto
Christopher Taylor for the Island commonly known by the

152 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1684.

name of Mattinnaconk, bearing date the 2d day of the 12th
month, 1684."

At the same time,

" Christopher Taylor, President, did, in open Court, deliver
over a penal bond of performance for four hundred pounds at or
upon the 1st day of November, 1685."

Persons charged with the higher grades of crime were not
tried by the County Courts. The imaginary crime of Witch-
craft was in those days placed among the most heinous ; and
hence it was that the celebrated Pennsylvania witch trial took
place before Governor Penn and his Council, sitting as a Supe-
rior Court at Philadelphia. The parties, who, in that case,
were the victims of this most stupid of all superstitions, resided
near the mouth of Crum Creek, were in good circumstances,
and for aught that is known to the contrary, were quite as
respectable as their accusers.

The following is the record of the trial copied from the pub-
lished minutes of the Council, " held at Philadelphia ye 27th of
the 12th month, 1683." [February, 1684.]1

" Margaret Matson's Indictm* was read, and she pleads not
Guilty, and will be tryed by the Country."

" Lasse Cock attested Interpriter between the Propor and
the Prisoner at the Barr."

"The Petty Jury Impanneled ; their names are as followed: —
Jno. Hasting, foreman, Albertus Hendrickson, Robt. Piles,
Robt. Wade, Nath. Evans, Edwd. Carter, Wm. Hewes, Jer :
Collet, Jno. Kinsman, Jno. Gibbons, Walter Martin, Edwd.
Bezar."2

" Henry Drystreet, attested, saith he was tould 20 years ago,
that the Prisoner at the Barr was a Witch, and that several
cows were bewitcht by her; also that James Saunderling's mother
tould him that she bewitcht her cow, but afterwards said it was
a mistake, and that her cow should doe well againe, for it was
not her cow but another Persons that should dye."

" Charles Ashcom, attested, saith that Anthony's Wife being
asked why she sould her cattle ; was because her mother had
Bewitcht them, having taken the Witchcraft of Hendrick's
Cattle, and put it on their oxen ; she myght keep but noe other
Cattle, and also that one night the Daughter of ye Prisoner
called him up hastely, and when he came she sayed there was a
great Light but just before, and an old woman with a knife in
her hand at ye Bedd's feet, and therefore she cryed out and
desired Jno. Symcock to take away his Calves, or Else she
would send them to Hell."

i Col. Rec. i. 93-95.

2 The jurors were all residents within the district now included in Delaware County.

1684.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 153

"James Claypool attested interpreter betwixt the rropr and
the Prisoner."

" The affidavid of Jno. Vanculin read, Charles Ashcorn being
a witness to it."

" Annakey Coolin, attested, saith her husband tooke the
Heart of a Calf that Dyed, as they thought, by Witchtcraft,
and Boyld it, whereupon the Prisoner at ye Ban* came in and
asked them what_ they were doing ; they said boyling of flesh ;
she said they had better they had Boyled the Bones, with
several other unseemly Expressions."

" Margaret Mattson saith that she values not Drystreet's evi-
dence ; but if Sanderlin's mother had come, she would have an-
swered her ; also denyeth Charles Ashcoms attestation at her
soul, and saith, where is my daughter ; let her come and say so."

" Annakey Cooling's attestation about the Gees, saying she
was never out of her Conoo, and also that she never said any
such things concerning the calve's heart.

"Jno. Cock attested, sayth he knows nothing of the matter."

" Tho: Baldings attestation was read, and Tho: Bracy attested,
saith it is a true copy."

" The prisoner denyeth all things, and saith that ye Witnesses
speake only by hear say."

" After weh ye Govr gave the Jury their Charge concerning ye
Prisoner at ye Barr."

" The Jury went forth, and upon their Returne Brought her
in Guilty of haveing the Comon fame of a Witch, but not Guilty
in manner and forme as she Shee Stands Indicted."

" Neels Matson and Antho. Neelson1 enters into Recognizance
of fifty pounds a piece for the good behaviour of Margaret Mat-
son for six months."

It is to be regretted that the charge given by the Governor
has not been preserved, as it may fairly be presumed that it was
upon his suggestions that the jury based their very righteous, but
rather ridiculous verdict.

The following is a copy of the return made by the Sheriff of
the election held by him for Chester County in 1684, with the
omission of the recital of his warrant, &c. :

" I have accordingly made my Summons of the freeholders
who hath made Choise of those persons following for the service
aforesd by which I thus make my return

for the provencial Concel
william wade [Wood] in ye room of Ralph withers
william Claiton for one year

for Assembly John Blunston georg maries Joshua Hasting,
Robert wade Henry matukes Thomas usher

1 Neels Matson was the husband and Anthony Neelson the son-in-law of the de-
fendant. See Biographical Sketches in this volume.

154 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1685.

" I Heare Declare that they was Lafully Chosen and may freely
Appear to make up an Assembly according to Charter in witness
whereunto I sett my hand and seale the 10th 3mo 1684.

" Th. Withers."

Having established a Provincial Court, a Commission for the
sale and transfer of lands, and having also conferred the Execu-
tive power of the Province upon the Council, with Thomas Lloyd
as its President, Governor Penn sailed for England, on the 12th
of the 6th month (August) 1684, very much to the regret of
many of the inhabitants, and arrived in England early in Octo-
ber. His difficulty with Lord Baltimore was the cause of his
early return to his native country.

On the 6th of February following (1685), King Charles the
Second died, and was succeeded by his brother James, the Duke
of York and Albany, who, on the same day, was proclaimed
King under the title of James II. This information was com-
municated by William Penn in a letter to Thomas Lloyd, who on
the 11th of May laid the same before the Council. On the day
following a formal proclamation was published by that body.

As yet, the boundary line between Chester and Philadelphia
Counties had not been permanently established. This matter
was accomplished by the following Resolution of the Council,
adopted on the 1st of May, 1685, in pursuance of certain verbal
directions left by the Proprietary.

" Whereas, the Governor in presence of John Symcock and
Wm Wood, was pleased to say k Grant That ye bounds of the
Countys of Chester & Philadelphia should be as followed, viz :

" That the bounds should begin at the Mill Creek and slopeing
to ye Welsh Township, and thence to Schoolekill, &c. in obedi-
ence thereto and confirmation thereof.

" The Councill having seriously Weyed & Considered the
same, have & doe hereby Agree and order that ye bounds betwixt
the said Countys shall be thus ; That is to say :

" The County of Chester to begin at ye Mouth or Entrance of
Bough Creek, upon Delaware River, being the Upper end of
Tenecum Island, and soe up that Creek, deviding the said Island
from ye Land of Andros Boone & company ; from thence along
the several courses thereof to a Large Creeke Called Mill Creek ;
from thence up the several courses of the said creek to a W: S:
W: Line, which Line devided the Liberty Lands of Philadelphia
from Severall Tracts of Land belonging to the Welsh & other
Inhabitance ; and from thence E: N: E: by a line of Marked
Trees, 120 perches more or less ; from thence N: N: W: by the
harford [Haverford] Township 1000 perches more or less : from
thence E: N: E: by ye Land belonging to Jno: Humphreis 110

1685.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 155

perches more or less ; from thence N: N: W: by ye Land of Jno:
Ekley, 880 perches more or less ; from Thence Continuing the
ye said Course to the Scoolkill River, wch sd Scoolkill River
afterwards to be the natural bounds."1

This line continues to be the Eastern boundary of Delaware
County to the North line of Haverford. The resolution of the
Council makes the next course run easterly instead of westerly,
and is probably a mistake, as Radnor township never extended
further easterly than it now does.

In consequence of Christopher Taylor removing from Bucks
County to Tinicum, there were four members of the Council from
Chester County, viz : Christopher Taylor, John Simcock, Wil-
liam Wood and Nicholas Newlin.

Charles Ashcom had held the office of Deputy Surveyor for
Chester County under the Surveyor-General, Thomas Holme,
but the complaints against him were so numerous, and a misun-
derstanding having arisen between him and Holme, the Council
were obliged to issue an order prohibiting him from surveying
any more lands in Chester County.

At a meeting of the Council, held on the 22d of the 7th
month (September), lb'85, information was received from Capt.
Lasse Cock that the Indians were willing to dispose of their
lands between Upland and Appoquinomy. Thomas Holme,
John Simcock, and the Secretary (William Markham), or any
two of them, were accordingly deputed to make the purchase.
The result was a deed2 from about a dozen Indian Kings and
Sachemakers, with unpronounceable names, executed on the 2d
of October, for " all the lands from Quing Quingus, called Duck
creek, unto Upland called Chester creek, all along by the west
side of the Delaware river and So betweene the Said Creeks
Backwards as far as a man can ride in two days with a horse."
The consideration did not vary much from what was usual in
such cases, except that it included 40 Tomahawks. This grant,
with the one that has already been noticed, extinguished the
Indian title to the whole of Delaware County.

Notwithstanding these sales of their lands, the Indians
had no idea of yielding up the possession before they were re-
quired for actual occupation and culture by the whites. They
roamed through the forest as freely as ever, and were, some-
times, rather troublesome to the border settlers. This year
" the Complaint of ye friends, Inhabitants of Concord and
Hertford [Haverford] against the Indians, for ye Rapine and
Destructions of their Hoggs," was laid before the Council.
Other inhabitants of the Welsh Tract, besides those of Haver-

1 Col. Rec. i. 126. 2 Penna. Archives, i. 95.

156 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1685.

ford, joined in the Complaint ; but what action was taken by the
Council to abate the evil, further than to send for " ye respective
Indian Kings, with all speed," to appear before thern, is not
known.

In the proceedings of the Chester Court for this year, several
orders are made in respect to the New Court House and prison.
The collectors of the levy for their erection are to "be consi-
dered, for their time and paines, twelve pence in the pound;"
Joseph Humphrey and Thomas Norberry are appointed collectors
of the levy for Newtown, which now makes its first appearance
as a township ; Darby township is to pay Lassie Dalbo, or his
assigns, "seven pounds two shillings & six pence out of the
assessment for the court house & prison, if they see they can
soe doe with safety;" and William Dalbo, " so much as he can
make appear to be due for his work done on the Court House
and prison," out of the levies raised for that purpose in said
township. Nor was the building to be exclusively occupied for
judicial purposes and the incarceration of criminals. Its loca-
tion, convenient to Chester Creek, gave it commercial advan-
tages that were not overlooked in its construction. Hence it
was ordered by the Court, "that all people that shall make use
of the Court house for Sellerage of any Goods, shall for every
Tonne pay after the rate of three shillings four pence a Tonne,
for any time not exceeding a week ; and for what time it shall
continue afterwards, halfe soe much."1

There was another levy ordered this year, partly, no doubt,
on account of the New Court-house and prison. This assess-
ment imposed a tax of 2s. 6d. per 100 acres on lands belonging
to residents, and 3s. on that of non-residents ; on free male
inhabitants, from 16 years of age to 60, a poll tax of 2s. 6d.,
and upon servants Is. 3d. The collectors were authorized to
receive this tax in good merchantable Indian Corn at the rate of
2s. 8d. per bushel, Wheat at 4s. 6d., and Rye at 3s. 6d. Before
the collection was made these prices were raised to 5s. per bushel
for wheat, 4s. for rye, and 3s. for corn.

A practice had now become general for constables, and some-
times for supervisors, at the expiration of their official terms, to
come into Court, report " all was well," and receive their dis-
charge. The following is given as a specimen of the usual
minute made in such cases :

" Samuel Bradshaw, Constable for the last year for Darby,
made his returne, ' all was well,' whereupon Edmund Cartelidge
was elected to serve and attested for the ensuing year."

1 This court-house and prison was the first building specially erected in Chester for
the administration of justice. It was doubtless built of logs, and not very well
adapted to the purposes for which it was erected.

1685.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 157

Jeremy Collett held the office of Sheriff this year. Robert
Eyre was continued as Clerk. The office of "peace makers"
was held by Caleb Pusey, Randall Vernon and Walter Faucit.
Their sittings had become such a regular business that it was
known as " the monthly Court."

Heretofore the usual punishment inflicted by the Court for
criminal offences, had been the imposition of a fine ; imprison-
ment was out of the question, for want of a jail. This desidera-
tum being now supplied, a reasonable hope might have been en-
tertained that our Quaker Justices would have been satisfied
with the incarceration of the violators of the law. But impri-
sonment was an expensive mode of punishment that the early
settlers, most of whom were in straitened circumstances, could
not have borne. Hence the law of necessity prevailed over the
pleadings of humanity ; and we find our County Court, for the
first time, resorting to Corporal punishment, just as they had
been provided with the means of carrying into effect the more
mild and humane sentence of imprisonment. The first sentence,
directing the infliction of Corporal punishment, was passed by
the February Court of this year, and what is remarkable, the
place of its execution was not at the seat of justice.1 With the
omission of the name, the following is the sentence pronounced :

" , being convicted of stealing money out of

the house of William Browne, was ordered twelve stripes on his
bear backe, well laide on att the Common Whipping post at
Chichester,1 the 4th Instant, between the 10th and 11th hours in
the morning."

In the next case both modes of punishment are resorted to,
being the first sentence of imprisonment :

" , being lawfully convicted for abusing and

menacing the magistracy of this county, was ordered twenty-one
lashes att the publick whipping post on his beare backe, well
laid on, and 14 days imprisonment at hard labour in the house of
Correction."

This sentence very clearly illustrates the ideas prevalent at
this time, of the necessity that existed for maintaining the inde-
pendence and dignity of the judiciary. Evidence of this feeling
pervades the Court records, from those of the Upland Court, for
more than half a century. At the same time another person
" was fined, for his contempt of the Court, 40s., in not appear-
ing when lawfully summoned, and for abusing the officers of the
Court."

1 It appears probable that means were provided in several places within the county
for the infliction of corporal punishment, authorized to be inflicted by a magistrate.
As late as 1732 a pair of stocks were authorized to be built in Lower Darby. (See
Upper Darby Township Book.)

158 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1686.

At the October Court, of this year, it was " ordered that the
township of Chichester extend its bounds as formerly laid out by
Charles Ashcom, untill further order."

A sufficient number of Welsh Friends had now made settle-
ments in Radnor to establish an independent meeting for wor-
ship in that township, the name of David Meridith, being the
first that appears in the Haverford Records as belonging to that
particular meeting. The early meetings of Radnor were held
at the houses of John Jerman and John Evans ; the first mar-
riage in Radnor being solemnized at the dwelling of the latter
on the 2d of the 3d month, (May,) 1686, between Richard Ormes,
of Philadelphia, and Mary Tyder, of Radnor. Notwithstanding
the line had been run between Philadelphia and Chester Counties,
leaving Haverford and Radnor in the latter, the Welsh settlers
of those townships had no idea of being separated from their
Welsh friends of Merion, and still insisted on being included
within the limits of Philadelphia County. Being attached to
the Quarterly Meeting of Philadelphia, the Haverford Monthly
Meeting contributed towards the erection of the Centre Square
meeting-house, now being erected. The amounts subscribed by
the several meetings will indicate the extent of the settlements
at this time in the vicinity of each :

Radnor contributed £1 Is. 6d.

Haverford " - - 6 0 0

Merion " - - 6 5 0

From the south-western corner of the County the settlements
had extended up into the country as far as Birmingham, at the
commencement of this year. At the close of last year (1685)
James Browne conveyed two acres of land to trustees for the
use " of the people of God called Quakers in the township of
Chichester." On this land, without much delay, it was agreed
to build a meeting-house, and some time afterwards, to fence in
a grave-yard. This is the site of the present Chichester meeting-
house and burial-ground. The first subscription amounted to
<£36 4s., and was contributed by twenty-six persons. Up to this
time the monthly meetings appear to have been held at Marcus
Hook, (Chichester,) but in October, 1686, a monthly meeting,
for the first time, was held at Concord, and for some years after-
wards, the place of holding it was varied, but it was generally at
private houses — at Edward Bezer's, in Bethel ; at William
Brainton's, (Brinton's,) in Birmingham ; at John Kinsman's, in
Chichester ; at Robert Piles', in Bethel ; at John Harding's, in
Chichester, &c.

John Symcock was re-elected a member of Council from
Chester County for three years, and Francis Harrison to serve

1686.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 159

in the place of William Wood, now deceased. David Lloyd,
who appears to have just arrived in the country, presented to
the Council his Commission from the Governor, as Attorney-
General of the Province, dated the 21th of the 2d month
(April,) 1686, and was duly qualified into office.

Our staid settlers were rarely much affected by events that
were transpiring in England, but the affair of the Duke of Mon-
mouth was too serious a matter to pass entirely unnoticed. The
following order of the Court is evidence that the Justices were
willing, at least, to make a show of their loyalty after the unfor-
tunate result of the Duke's foray into England was known.

" Ordered that the Sheriff take into custody the body of David
Lewis upon suspition of Treason, as also the body of Robert
Cloud for concealing the same, for that he the said Robert Cloud
being attested before this Court, declared that upon the 3rd day
of the weeke before Christmas last att the house of George Fore-
man, the said David Lewis did declare in his hearing that he
was accused for being concerned with the Duke of Monmouth in
the West Country." They were both bound over to appear at
the next Provincial Court.

A spirit of improvement now begins to show itself. Orders
are issued by the Court for the erection of two bridges — one " to
Albertus Hendrickson, Supervisor of the Highways belonging to
Chester, to forthwith erect a horse bridge in such a place as the
grand jury have already laid it out" — the other " to Bartholo-
mew Coppeck Supervisor of the Highways for Croome Creek, to
forthwith erect a bridge in the Kings road over said Croome
Creek."

" Besides determining upon the sites of the aforesaid two bridges,
the Grand Jury laid out and made " return of a Highway from
Bethel to Chichester (Marcus Hook) sixty foote broad." The
return is given as a specimen of the manner in which roads were
laid out in these very early times.

" Beginning at the side of Concord toward the river, on the
street or Highway of Concord, first through the land of John
Gibbons, his house on the right side — then through the land of
Robert Southry late deceased, his house on the left side ; thence
through Robert Pile's land, his house on the right hand — then
through Joseph Bushell's land, his house on the left hand — Then
through Francis Smith's land — Then through Thomas Garrett's
land, his house on the right hand — Thence through Francis
Harrison's and Jacob Chandler's land down the point to a small
branch of Naaman's Creek — Thence up the hill to the first in-
closed field of Francis Harrison, the field on the left hand ; then
through James Brown's land, thence down to another branch of
of Naaman's Creek, through Walter Marten's land up to the

160 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1686.

point, his house on the right hand — Thence through Jeremy
Collets land bearing toward the left hand, his house standing
on the left hand — from thence to the lands of Chichester, be-
ginning att the head of a small swamp, on the left hand — thence
downe Crosse the King's road or Highway towards the foot of
the Hill, to a lyne tree marked with 5 notches, — thence downe
to the river's side, the lyne between James Brown & William
Clayton Jr."

At the following Court, the inhabitants of Bethel and Con-
cord presented a paper signifying "their good-liking of the road
lately laid out by the jury to Chichester." Up to the present
time a road has been continued over nearly the same ground.

Fence viewers, two for each township or district, are for the
first time appointed this year. Also a lawyer, for the first time,
appears in a criminal case, and "pleads as attorney to the King."
This officer was Charles Pickering, who no doubt held his ap-
pointment under David Lloyd, who had been recently commis-
sioned Attorney General. This first legal effort on behalf of the
Crown, though not successful in establishing the guilt of the
prisoner, did not fail to mystify the case sufficiently to induce the
jury to couple with their verdict of acquittal, that he was " guilty
of suspicious circumstances in relation to the indictment;" upon
which he was bound over to appear at the next Court.

The very recently erected Court-house and prison, it may be
judged, from the following minute in respect to the sale of them,
did not give satisfaction:

" The Court, in behalf of the county, have bargained and sold
unto Robert Wade, his heirs and assigns, the court house and
prison att Chester; upon consideration whereof the said Wade
doe oblige himself, his heirs Executors & assigns to defray all
charges which are already due from the first erecting said houses ;
provided, that from the day of the date hereof to the full end and
term of two years and a half, the said Robert Wade shall have
liberty to reimburst what moneys he have alread received of the
levie raised in this county towards the purchase and building of
said houses. Upon all which this Court engage to make the said
Wade a firm and sure title to said houses and to give him lawful
& quiet possession." At the same time, "James Saunderlaine
for himself his heirs and assigns doe promise this Court a Con-
venient peese of Land in the town of Chester, where they may
erect a Court house and Prison, and to make a firm title to the
same, to the proper use and behoof of this County."

The first Court, under the name of a Court of Equity for
Chester County, was held this year. It was held by the Justices
of the Common Pleas, under the title of Commissioners, as will
be seen by the following extract from the Record: —

1687.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 161

" Att a Court of Equity held att Chester the 5th day in the
1st week of the 10th month 1686.

" Commissioners present: — John Blunstone, John Simcocke,
George Maris, Bartholomew Coppock, Samuel Levis, Robert
Wade, Robert Pile. — Robert Eyre Clerk."

Only two causes were tried.

The municipal divisions of the settled parts of the County had
not as yet been definitely fixed, and some appear to have been
recognized by the Court that never had any established boun-
dary, and only a very temporary existence. Up to the close of
1686, officers had been appointed for the following places: Ches-
ter, Chichester, Providence, Amosland, Darby, Bethel, Concord,
Springfield, Marple, Newtown, Birmingham, Northby, and Gilead.

Chichester included both townships of that name, and so of
Providence and Darby — Calcon Hook having been added to the
latter township this year. Northby included the whole or part
of Aston, and Gilead was probably in Edgmont. During the
following year, 1687, Ridley, Middletown, Aston, Thornbury,1
and Edgmont are recognized by the Court as townships, and
supplied by appointment with one or more officers.

Grand Juries, which, for two or three years after the establish-
ment of Penn's government, were hardly regarded as a necessity
in the administration of justice, had now assumed an importance
scarcely equaled by the Court itself. Both public wants and
the neglect of official duties were promptly brought to the notice
of the Court, while evil doers could scarcely hope to escape their
scrutinizing vigilance. But holding office during the whole year,
this vigilance, after a time, degenerated, in each Grand Juror,
into a kind of Quaker Puritanical surveillance, and subjected to
the exposure of judicial investigation every slight departure from
strict moral rectitude. Many matters were presented that had
better been rectified by the kind offices of the friends of the
party; or from the evils that resulted from their exposure, been
allowed to pass into oblivion unnoticed. If there was anything
to make the practice tolerable, it was the impartiality with which
it was exercised ; the Justices of the Court and even Grand
Jurors themselves were sometimes the subjects of these present-
ments.

At the first Court in this year the township of Chester was
presented " for not finding and making a foot Bridge over the
mill creek (Chester Creek), in the Kings Highway hard by
William Woodmancies."

At the same Court, Caleb Pusey " Petitioned against Thomas
Coborne for setting a water mill above him upon Upland Creek."

1 The whole of the townships of Thornbury and Birmingham, as at first laid out,
will be included in our narrative up to the division of the County in 1789.
11

162 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1687.

But the Court " considering the premises, and finding it to be
for the common good, dispenseth therewith." The propriety of
erecting this mill was not wholly left to the decision of our County
Court. The petition of " about three score people inhabitants of
Chester County," was presented to the Provincial Council, "set-
ting forth the great want of a Mill in their parts, and requesting
a permission for Thomas Coebourne to goe forward with ye build-
ing, and setting up his mill on Chester Creek." Whereupon the
Council express a willingness "to give incouragement to ye Pro-
cedure of Thomas Cobourne in the finishing of his mill that he is
now about, for ye urgent necessity of ye contrey, Reserving to
ye Govr his Proprietary Ship." This mill, it is supposed, occu-
pied the site of what is now "Dutton's Mill."1

At the June Court, the want of a bridge over Chester Creek,
on the King's road, is again presented by the Grand Jury; the
same want, for Ridley and Crum Creeks, is also presented. Quite
a number of persons were presented and fined for being drunk,
and some for suffering others to be drunk in their houses; for
selling liquor to the Indians, or for keeping an Ordinary without
license. In one "liquor trial," the terms u Punch and Tife"
are used by a witness as names for drinks then in use. Drunken-
ness appears to have been a growing evil, and, as at the present
day, much of the time of the Court was occupied with cases con-
nected with the illegal sale or immoderate use of liquor. The
following is among the presentments of the Grand Jury this
year:—

" The Grand Jury doe also present Anne Neales,2 Widow, for
keeping and harbouring doggs that worries and kills her neigh-
bours Hoggs ; as alsoe for deteining in her service one Indian

1 Caleb Pusey made a further effort to prevent the erection of this rival mill through
the instrumentality of the Commissioners of Property. The following singular man-
date, issued by William Markham and Jno. Goodson, members of the board (which
Cobourne disregarded), will explain the whole matter: —

" To Thos. Cobourne, of Chester County."

" Whereas we the Proprietary Deputies (upon complaint made to us by Caleb Pusey
that thou wast about to set up a mill in Chester Co. to the great damage of the mill
there under the charge of the sd Caleb pusey which hath been of vast charge to the
owners thereof & but of little profits (yet) toward defrays any part thereof,) did on the
22d Inst, obligingly send to thee to give thee notice thereof and to desire thou wouldst,
ye 29th following answer the sd complaint before us in the Council Room at Phil, but
instead thereof thou sent a letter of the 26th inst. by w1^ we perceive thou dost not
only contemn the proprietarys authority & endeavour to subvert his dominion over all
the water and soile within this his province of Pennsa as he is chief prop? thereof, but
likewise intended to persist in the builds the mill aforesd to the damage of the other
mill and contempt of the proprietaryship "

"We therefore in the propTS name will and require thee to desist from building the
sd mill (with1 positive orders from the prop? for the same) or any way hinder the true
course of the water of the sd Cr or any part thereof by draws it out of its own proper
channel or stop or any other way molest the same upon thy peril. — Givn &c. 30th 5 mo.
1687." Minutes of Property Book 0. p. 6. Harrislurg. — The closing paragraph was
ordered to be read to Thomas Cobourn, and then " to be nailed up at the mill he is
building."

2 She was the widow of Neals Laerson.

1687.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 103

boy Chato, who with the said dogg, have been found to worry &
kill the neighbours hogs as aforesaid." Anne was fined 10s.,
although she denied the ownership of the vicious dog ; and An-
drew Friend1 became bound " to the King and Governor in 20,£
for the Indian boy's Cato's good [behaviour] towards all the
Kings Leidge people."

The rapid spread of population over the whole extent of terri-
tory now included within our County, created a necessity for
highways. Hence we find the Grand Jury much engaged in
this and the following year in laying out roads. A road was
laid out from Birmingham to Concord, from thence to the bridge
near Chester mill, and from thence to Chester. This road
passed "the Hamlet of Bethell." Another road was laid out,
" from Edgmont to the Kings High way in Chester, being a sixty
foote road;" another "from Newtown, Marple & Springfield to
the landing at Amosland," and also one from Darby to Haver-
ford. This last road was laid out "by the Grand Jury and
other neighbours ," under an order from the Court "that the
township of Darby finde out a convenient High way from thence
to the township of Hartford."

Neither was the Provincial Council neglectful in providing our
early settlers with highways. " Upon ye Reading ye petition of
ye Inhabitants of Radnor, Complayning y* part of ye road y'
leades to the ferry of Philadelphia is fenced in, & more likely to
be, it was Orded y* John Be van, Henry Lewis, David Meridith,
John Evans, Barnabas Wilcox & Tho. Ducket, meet within four-
teen days, to view or agree upon as conveniently as may be, a
Road from ye Place aforesaid to ye ferry, and ye Like Conve-
nient road from Darby to ye ferry aforesaid, by ye said Barnabas
Willcox, Tho. Ducket, with John Blunston & Joshua fearne, by
ye time aforesaid, and to return ye same &c."

The early records that have been examined in the preparation
of this work, establish the fact that the wolves congregated very
much in the vicinity of the settlements — that they were more
numerous in the neighborhood of the Delaware after considerable
settlements had been made, than when the country was first
visited by the Dutch and Swedes. This is accounted for by the
introduction of domestic animals, which furnished an easy prey
for these voracious creatures. Their depredations had become
so alarming, that this year it became necessary to order a levy
for their destruction, as well as " other hurtful vermine."

The rate of this levy was one shilling per 100 acres upon
occupied, and eighteen pence upon unoccupied lands, and a poll
tax of one shilling upon freemen between the ages of 16 years
and 60, and sixpence upon servants of the same age.

1 Andrew Friend was the eldest son of Neals Learson by his wife Anne.

164 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1687.

The Court, from time to time, has transacted business proper
for an Orphans' Court, but the first Court under that name was
held " att Chester on the 3rd day, in the 1st weeke, of the 8th
month [October] 1687."

John Bristow was this year elected to the Provincial Council
from Chester County, in the room of Francis Harrison. The
Executive power of the provincial government was now vested
in five Commissioners of State, any three of whom could act as
deputy or Lieutenant Governor. The first to act in this capa-
city were Thomas Lloyd, Robert Turner, Arthur Cook, John
Simcock and John Eckley.1

A history of Delaware County would be incomplete without
some account of what, in ancient times, was familiarly known as
" The Welsh Tract." This intended Barony had its origin in
the desire of the Welsh purchasers of Pennsylvania lands to be
seated together, and in a promise exacted from Penn before
leaving Wales, that this desire should be gratified. The survey
of the Welsh Tract was authorized by the following Warrant
from the Proprietary :

" Whereas divers considerable persons among ye Welsh Friends
have requested me y1 all ye Lands Purchased of me by those of
North Wales and South Wales, together with ye adjacent coun-
ties to ym, as Haverfordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire, about
fourty thousand acres, may be layd out contiguously as one
Barony, all edging yl ye number allready come and suddenly to
come, are such as will be capable of planting ye same much wthin
ye proportion allowed by ye custom of ye country, & so not lye
in large and useless vacancies. And because I am inclined and
determined to agree and favour ym wth any reasonable Conve-
niency & priviledge : I do hereby charge thee & strictly require
thee to lay out ye sd tract of Land in as uniform a manner, as
conveniently may be, upon ye West side of Skoolkill river, run-
ning three miles upon ye same, & two miles backward, & then
extend ye parallell wth ye river six miles and to run westwardly
so far as till ye sd quantity of land be Compleately surveyed
unto ym. — Given at Pennsbury, ye 13th 1st mo. 1684. "2

Will: Penn."

"To Tho: Holmes, Surveyor-General."

In pursuance of this Warrant, the Surveyor-General, on the
4th of the 2d month (April), 1684, issued an order to his
deputy, David Powell, and after reciting it he directs him " to
survey and sett out unto the said purchasers the said quantity

1 It appears that Nicholas Moore and James Claypool were at first appointed two
of these Commissioners. See Janney's Life of Penn, 277 ; Proud, i. 377. They never
acted.

2 Surveyor- General's office, Harrisburg.

1687.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 165

of land, there, in manner as before expressed, and in method of
townshipps lately appointed by the Governor att five thousand
acres for a townshipp and to be directed (for placing the villages
of each Township and division of the purchasors) by Thomas
Lloyd Master of the Rolls who is principally concerned therein,
unto whose care and prudence is recommended the ordering and
managing of this affair to the content and satisfaction of the
said purchasors and make me a true return of the original field
work and protracted figures, as well as the distinct quantity of
each purchasor, &c."

The survey was probably made before the end of 1684. Soon
after, encroachments were made by others within its limits, and
particularly by Charles Ashchom, a very troublesome Deputy
Surveyor. In consequence thereof the Welsh inhabitants peti-
tioned to the Proprietary's deputies against these intrusions,
who after they had " well weighed the mater, truly considered
the case, and rightly understanding the Governors intention in
granting the warrant," issued their mandate on the 25th day of
the 5th month (July), 1687, forbidding such intrusions, and
making void what had been done within the prescribed limits,
which are given as follows : — " Beginning att the Schoolkill,
thence running W. S. W. by the City liberties 2256 perches to
Darby Creek. Thence following up the several courses thereof
to New Towne Line, Thence up the said line N. N. W. 448
perches, Thence S. S. W. and by W. by New Towne, 988
perches, to a corner post by Crumb Creek, Thence down the
several courses thereof 460 perches, Thence W. and by S. by a
line of trees 1920 perches, Thence E. and by N. by a line of trees,
3040 perches, Thence E. and by S. 1120 perches, Thence S. S. E.
256 perches, Thence E. N. E. 640 perches, Thence S. S. E. 1204
perches, Thence E. N. E. 668 perches to the Schoolkill, Thence
down the several courses thereof to the place of beginning." —
The only draft of the Welsh tract that has been found in the
Surveyor-General's office does not entirely agree with this survey.
The Welsh settlers not only contemplated having their set-
tlements together, but expected to constitute one municipal
district, in order that they might manage their affairs in their
own way. They certainly had grounds for this expectation ;
and consequently when the division line was run between Phila-
delphia and Chester Counties, through the Welsh tract, and
separating the Welsh settlements of Radnor and Haverford
from those of Merion, it gave rise to much dissatisfaction, which
will be noticed hereafter.

The Monthly Meeting of Chester was, this year, removed to
the house of Walter Faucet of Ridley, who had been recently
authorized by the Council to keep an ordinary. It would seem

166 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1688.

strange at this day to hold a religious meeting at a public house,
but at that time and under the circumstances there was a real
necessity for it. A number of the persons who attended this
meeting resided at the distance of ten miles. Entertainment
for themselves and horses was necessary, but from their numbers,
to receive it without compensation, would have been oppressive.

The settlements about Darby increased very rapidly, and the
settlers being all Quakers, it became inconvenient to hold their
meetings any longer at a private house. This year John Blun-
ston, at whose house the meetings had been held, acknowledged
a deed in open Court " for one acre of land in the township of
Darby, to build a meeting-house thereon, to the use of the said
township for ever, to exercise the true worship of God therein."
The meeting-house was erected during the following year (1688).
Its site was doubtless on the hill within the grounds now occu-
pied as a graveyard. The minutes are silent as to the character
of the structure, except one, which records an agreement to
have it "lined within." It was doubtless built of logs. The
first marriage accomplished within it, was that of John Mar-
shall to Sarah Smith, in February, 1689. Though built in
1688, it was not finished till the next year. At a monthly
meeting held in October, 1689, it was " ordered that all be-
longing to ye meeting, shall come every one a day, to worke at
ye meeting house, and that four come a day till all the work be
done."

In 1687 it was agreed by the Chester Monthly Meeting,
" that Bartholmew Coppock, James Kennerly, Randal Vernon,
and Caleb Pusey, do agree and contract with such workmen or
men, as they shall think fit, to build a meeting house at Chester
24 foot square and 10 foot high in the walls."

On the first of March, 1688, Urin Keen conveyed, in trust,
to John Simcox, Thomas Brasey, John Bristow, Caleb Pusey,
Randal Vernon, Thomas Vernon, Joshua Hastings, Mordecai
Maddock, Thomas Martin, Richard Few, Walter Fauset, and
Edward Carter, a lot in Chester, "beginning at said Urin's lot
or Carding, and so running, 60 foot along and fronting the
street towards the prison house, thence down the lower edge in
Chester Creek — thence along the creek 60 foot — thence to the
place of beginning ****** to the use and behoof of the
said Chester — the people of God called Quakers & their suc-
cessors forever." It might be inferred that a new meeting-
house was built about this time, and upon the lot of ground thus
conveyed. It will be seen, however, as we proceed, that the
erection of the meeting-house was postponed for some time.

The evil resulting from the use of intoxicating drinks, being
most striking among the Indians, the sale of it to them first

1688.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 167

claimed the attention of Friends. A strong testimony against
the practice, was about this time received from the yearly meet-
ing. The approval of this paper was attested by the signatures
of the principal male members of the Chester Monthly Meeting
to the number of seventy-six. This array of witnesses does not
only show the magnitude of the evil as it existed among them,
but it gives some idea of the extent to which the settlements had
progressed at this early period. Seventeen persons give their
approval of the same testimony on behalf of Chichester and
Concord Monthly Meeting.

A portion of the minutes of Haverford Meeting, at about this
period, being lost, the date of the erection of the first meeting-
house at that place cannot be precisely ascertained. There are
however undoubted facts to show that it was erected in 1688 or
1689. The first marriage solemnized at " Haverford Meeting
House" was that of Lewis David to Florence Jones, at a meet-
ing held 1st mo. (March) 20th, 1690.

The Justices of the Court were in the practice of holding
what they termed ''Petty Sessions," at other places than the
seat of justice. Thus in the proceedings of the regular sessions,
it is recorded that " Richard Buffington was called to the bar to
answer his contempt of an order of Petty Sessions, held on the
27th of the 10th month last at George Foremans' — Remitted,
paying his fees." George Foreman lived at Marcus Hook.

It was ordered by the court, " that Upper and Nether Provi-
dence and Ridley, doe for this time repair the Bridge in the
King's road near Walter Fawsetts', upon Croome Creeke."
The King 's road, running from Philadelphia to the lower
Counties, was located higher up than at present. It crossed
Ridley Creek near Shoemakerville, and Chester Creek above
Upland. It was laid out, (if laid out at all,) so as to head the
tide in the several creeks.1 Providence has heretofore constituted
but one township.

On the 2nd of the 8th month, the Grand Jury report that
they " doe lay out a street and a landing upon the creek to the
corner soe far as over against the North West Corner of the
court house fifty foote in breadth and from thence up to the
said Chester towne for a street thirty foote in Breadthe."

One of the presentments of the Grand Jury was

of Concord "for travelling on the first day of the week,
being the 21st of the 8th month in the year 1688, with a yoke
of oxen and a wayne, and a horse or mare before them."

Tbey likewise presented " the road between George Willards
fence and Jonathan Hayes for being not passable ; likewise the
mill way to Darby Creek, to be cut both in the township of

1 See map of early settlements.

168 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1688.

Marple." This refers to the earliest erected mill on Cobb's
Creek, known as " Haverford Mill."

The Grand Jury of this year fully maintain the character of
that tribunal in these times, for vigilance and diligence. Be-
sides what has been mentioned, and a variety of other present-
ments, all the roads formerly laid out were reviewed by them,
without being more definitely located, or having their routes
materially changed. A new road was also laid out from Thorn-
bury to Middletown.

Notwithstanding the kind feelings that had been cultivated
between the natives and the English settlers, the latter were not
entirely free from apprehensions of danger. This is shown by
a great alarm that prevailed this year, which was caused by two
Indian women of New Jersey, communicating to an old Dutch
inhabitant near Chester, the report of an intended insurrection
of the Indians, which was to happen on the next fourth day of
the week. Several influential Friends, being sensible that no
reasonable cause for such an attack could exist, endeavored to
appease the people. But the apprehension of danger, as is
usual, increased the evidence of its existence. About 10 o'clock
on the night preceding the dreaded day, a messenger arrived at
Chester, out of the woods, and told the people that three families,
about nine miles distant, were all cut off by the Indians. A
Friend, then at Chester with two young men, about midnight
proceeded to the reported scene of the outrage. They found
empty houses, but no evidence of murder ; their occupants under
the prevailing alarm, having fled to the houses of their parents
at Ridley Creek. The master of one of these families, being
from home, had been informed that five hundred Indians were
actually collected at Naaman's Creek in pursuit of their design
to kill the English. So much was he alarmed, that as he was
approaching his house, he imagined he heard his boy crying out
" What shall I do, my Dame is Killed." Instead therefore of
going to his house, he ran off to acquaint the government at
Philadelphia, but was persuaded to return. The report, how-
ever, soon reached the city, when a messenger was immediately
dispatched to Marcus Hook to inquire into the truth of it. He
quickly returned with a confirmation of the report in a varied
form — the 500 Indians were at an Indian town on the Brandy-
wine ; and having a lame king, they had carried him off together
with all their women and children.

The Council were sitting in Philadelphia, when one of them,1

1 Proxid, from whose history this account has been substantially copied, supposes
this member to have been Caleb Pusey, but Caleb was not a member of Council that
year. He was a member of the Assembly in 1687. There is no reference to an Indian
insurrection in the minutes of Council for 1688, but the minutes for 1689, show that
considerable alarm existed on account of an anticipated attack from both the French
and the Indians.

1688.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 169

who lived in Chester County, voluntarily offered himself to go
to the Indian encampment, provided five others were named to
accompany him ; and to proceed without weapons. This being
agreed upon, the party rode to the place designated ; but instead
of meeting with 500 warriors, they found the old King quietly
lying with his lame foot on the ground, and his head on a pillow
— the women at work and the children at play. When informed
of their mission, the old man was displeased, and said the Indian
women who raised the report ought to be burnt to death ; adding
that the Indians had nothing against the English, but at the
same time reminded the men, that about £15 was still due on
the land that had been purchased from them ; which the messen-
gers assured him should be paid. Thus terminated the most
serious Indian trouble that ever befell the European inhabitants
of the land now embraced within the limits of Delaware County.
At the earnest solicitation of Thomas Lloyd, to be released
from the cares of government, that worthy gentleman, with his
associated Commissioners, was this year superseded by the ap-
pointment, by William Penn, of John Blackwell as his Lieute-
nant Governor.

Besides the Indian conveyances that have already been no-
ticed, there was still another executed, in 1685, for all the lands
" lying between Macopanackan als. Upland, now called Chester
river or creek, and the river or creek of Pemapecka, now called
Dublin creek, Beginning at the hill called Conshohockin, on the
River Manaiunck or Skoolkill, from thence extends in a paralell
line to the said Macopanackan als. Chester creek, by a South-
Westerly course, and from the said Conshohocken hill to ye afore-
said Pemapecka, als. Dublin creek so far as the creek extends, and
so from thence North westerly back into ye Woods, to make up
Two full Daies journey as far as a man can go in two dayes from
the said station of ye sd paralell line at Pemapecka, also begin-
ning at the said paralell Macopanackan, als. Chester creek, and
so from thence up the said creek as far as it extends ; and from
thence North Westerly back into the Woods to make up Two full
Dayes Journey, as far as a man can go in two dayes from the sd
station of the sd paralell line at ye sd Macopanackan als. Chester
creek."1

Some delay occurred before arrangements were made for ascer-
taining the western boundary of the above strangely described
purchase ; but when made, it will be seen by the following letter
and annexed diagram, that it was not without ample prepara-
tions for obtaining the greatest possible distance out of the "two
full Daies Journey : "

1 Penn. Archives, i. 92.

170 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1688.

"Philadelphia." " To my very louing friends, Shakhoppoh,

Secanning, Malebore, Tangoras, In-
dian Kings, and to Maskecasho, Wawarim, Tenoughan, Terrec-
ka, Nessonhaikin, Indian Sakemakers, and the rest concerned."

" Whereas I have purchased and bought of you, the Indian
Kings and Sackamakies for the use of Governor William Penn
all yor land from Pemapecka Creek to Upland Creek and so back-
ward to the Chesapeak Bay and Susquehanna Two days Journey,
that is to say as far as a man can go in two days, as under the
hands and seals of you the said Kings may appear and to the
end I may have a certain knowledge of the lands backward, and
that I may be enabled and be provided against the time for Run-
ning the said two days Journey, I do hereby appoint and author-
ize my louing friend Benjamin Chambers of Philadelphia, with
a convenient number of men to assist him, to mark out a Westerly
line from Philadelphia to Susquehannah, that the said line may
be prepared and made ready for going the said two days Journey
backward hereafter, when notice is given to you the said kings
or some of you at the time of going the said line, and I do hereby
desire and require in the name of our said Govenr Penn that
none of you said kings, Sakamakies or any other Indians what-
soever that haue formerly been concerned in the said tracts of
land, do presume to offer any interruption or Hindrance in making
out this said line, but rather I expect yor furtherance and assist-
ance, if occasion be herein, and that you will be kind and loving
to my said friend Benjamin Chambers and his company for which
I shall on the Govern1'8 behalf, be kind and loving to you here-
after as occasion may require.

Witness my hand and seal this 7th day of the 5th mo. called
July, being the fourth year of the reign of our great King of
England &c. and 8th year of our Proprietary William Penn's go-
vernment. Thos Holme."

This document is certified by Jacob Taylor, as being " a true
copy from the original."1 The diagram, which is without date,
was probably made from a survey executed this year, and in pur-
suance of the foregoing notice. It shows that the line run passed
directly through this County ; the dwellings of four well-known
early immigrants being marked on it within the limits of Dela-
ware County.2

1 Surveyor-Gen. office, Harrisburg, "Old Surveys and Register of Land Warrants,"
Book 14.

2 The starting-point of the line run for the two days' walk, as indicated by the dia-
gram, does not seem to correspond with the deed, and the course of the line, as is
shown by " A map of the South East part of Pennsylvania," by John Taylor, on tile
in the Surveyor-General's office, was due west. Still the walk might not have com-
menced at the beginning of the line, and a little variation in the course was not a
matter of much consequence to the Indians. The dwelling marked "Thos. Pearce"
on the diagram, was the residence of Thomas Pearson, the maternal grandfather of
Benj. West, the painter.

1689.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 171

Bartholomew Coppock was elected a member of the Provincial
Council this year.

Towards the close of the year 1688, Governor Blackwell issued
a new commission to the Justices and Sheriffs of the several coun-
ties. Those of Chester county had continued to act under their
old commissions, which coming to the ears of his Excellency as
he passed through Chester, he availed himself of the opportunity
afforded by the next meeting of Council to reprimand John
Simcock, John Bristow and Bartholomew Coppock, jr., who were
Justices of the Court as well as Members of Council. After de-
bating the matter "it was thought advisable, and agreed that a
General Sessions should be called," specially for the purpose of
making proclamation of the new Commissions of the Justices of
Chester County. This took place on the 19th of the 1st mo.,
(March) 1689, when the Commissions constituting John Simcock,
John Bristow, Bartholomew Coppock, jr., John Blunston, George
Maris, Francis Harrison and Nicholas Newlin, Justices, and
Joshua Fearn, Sheriff, were read and published in due form.

Notwithstanding the line run in 1685 between Philadelphia
and Chester Counties, put Haverford and Radnor in the latter
county, the Welsh inhabitants of those townships refused to re-
cognize the validity of the division. This led some of the Justices
and other inhabitants of Chester County to petition the Governor
and Council on the subject. In their "Humble petition" they
represent the county as " a small tract of Land, not above nine
miles square and but thinly seated, whereby ye said county is
not able to Support the Charge thereof," and after reciting the
division line run in 1685, ask that it may be confirmed, so that
"the County of Chester may be in some measure able to defray
their necessary Charge."1

Nothing could be produced as authority from Penn for estab-
lishing the line, except verbal statements made to different persons
shortly before he returned to England. The Governor required
the persons to whom these statements had been made, to put
them in writing ;2 which being done, and Holme's map examined,
the Governor and a majority of the Council expressed opinions
adverse to the pretentions of the Welsh inhabitants. It was
asserted that the Welsh had also " denyed themselves to be any
part of the County of Philadelphia, by refusing to bear any share
of the charges, or to serve in the office of jury's, and the like as
to ye County of Chester ; — that the pretence thereof was they
were a distinct Barrony, wch though they might be, yet that
several Barronys might be in one and ye same County."3

i Col. Rec. i. 263.

2 These statements were made by John Blunston, Randal Vernon and Thomas
Usher. lb. 264. s lb. 265.

172 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1689.

Upon the application of Thomas Lloyd for a hearing, the sub-
ject was postponed till the next day, when he, in conjunction
with John Eckley, appeared on behalf of the Welsh, but not
being provided with anything but verbal testimony, that Penn
had intended the Welsh Tract as a Barony or County Palatine,
as was contended by Thomas Lloyd, the decision of the Gover-
nor and Council was a confirmation of the original line.

It is a remarkable circumstance that Penn's warrant for lay-
ing out the Welsh Tract, already given, was not adduced in this
controversy, as it certainly recognizes the idea of a Barony.

Notwithstanding the decision of the Governor and Council,
our Welshmen were not yet ready to yield the point. In an
election for a member of Council and six Assemblymen for
Philadelphia County, 50 or 60 persons of the townships of Haver-
ford and Radnor, gave their votes by ballot with the freemen of
the said county. The Governor and Council having decided that
these townships were in Chester County, they " resolved yl ye
Election of Jon Eckley (the member returned) was not a good
Election according to ye Charter;" whereupon a writ was issued
for another election.

In this election the freemen refused to vote by ballot, but
viva voce, confirmed the election of John Eckley, unanimously.
Some of the discussion that ensued in Council upon the validity
of this procedure is given, as it explains the manner in which
elections were conducted by our ancestors in these primitive
times. After several members had expressed themselves satisfied
with the return, " the Governor sayd : The former Election has
been already determined not to be a good Election, and there-
fore that cannot be insisted upon."

" John Curtis sayd : I think it was a very fayre Election. In
other places we are generally chosen by the Vote : and I think
where they are unanymous, there needs no controversy."

" The balloting box is not used in any other place but this
county. We are elected by vote."

" Griff. Jones answered, That was a mistake, for it is used at
upland & all the Lower Countyes, by black and white beanes,
put into a hatt, wch is a balloting in his sense, & canot be denyed
by the Charter when it is demanded."1

What a contrast between this simple mode of exercising the
elective franchise by means of " black and white beanes," and the
scrutinizing and expensive method that the dishonesty of poli-
ticians and the scramble for office have forced us to adopt in
these latter days.

The Welsh troubles are now transferred from the Council
Chamber to the Court at Chester. The Court made an order

1 Col. Rec. i. 282.

1689.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 173

appointing John Jerman Constable for Radnor, and John Lewis
for Hartfort, [Haverford,J but these gentlemen did not come
forward to be qualified into office. At the following Court, it
was " ordered that warrants of Contempt be directed to the
Sheriff to apprehend the bodys of John Lewis and John Jerman
for their contempt in not entering into their respective offices of
Constable (viz) John Lewis for Hartfort, and John Jerman for
Radnor, when thereunto required by this Court."

David Lawrence had been returned as a Grand Juror from
Haverford, but refusing to attend, was presented by that body
and fined 10s. They also " do present the want of the inhabi-
tants of the townships of Radnor and Hartfort and the in-
habitants adjacent, they not being brought in to Join with us in
the Levies and other public services of this county."

At the June Court of this year, the commission of William
Howell, of Haverford, as a Justice, was read and published, and
"he did afterwards subscribe to the solemn declaration, pre-
pared by the 57th Chapter of the great law of this province ;"
at the same Court William Jenkins, of Haverford, served as a
Juror, and at the December Court, John Jerman was attested
Constable for Radnor. This is the first official recognition by
any of the inhabitants of these townships, that they were sub-
ject to the jurisdiction of Chester County. They seem to have
given up the idea of a Barony, and with as good a grace as pos-
sible, submitted to the authority they were unable any longer to
resist. By the close of the year, these townships were supplied
with a full set of township officers, being the first appointed
within their limits.

The King's road between Namaan's Creek and Chichester
Creek, "not being cleared of logs," became a subject of present-
ment by the Grand Jury; also "the want of afoot bridge over
the mill creek between this County and Philadelphia, it being
the King's road."

In their watchfulness over the interests of the County the
want of a proper accountability on the part of disbursing officers,
did not escape the notice of the Grand Jury. In a presentment
they ask for an account in detail — showing payments on account
of the Court-house and prison, the poor, Wolve's heads, Council-
men's fees, &c.

The Clerk is presented for extortion, and they likewise present,
" as a general grievance of this County the want of a standard
to try both dry measure and liquid measure," for they say "some
are too big and others are something too little." They recom-
mend the "Winchester measure."

New modes of punishment for crime are constantly introduced :
T L , a servant, for counterfeiting pieces of eight, is

174 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1689.

sentenced, " to stand at the public place of correction at the
town of Chester, two several Court days, 3 hours each day, with
a paper of his crimes, written in capital letters affixed upon his
breast." This punishment became what was known as " Stand-
ing in the Pillory" This is the first instance of its infliction, and
that name is not applied to it in early times.

It was at the August Court of this year that the appointment
of a jury of women was made. It is the only instance found in
the Record. The infliction of corporal punishment had become
very general in cases of crim. con. When pregnancy had ensued
the punishment was delayed ; and it was to decide a question of
doubt in a particular case that the female jury was empanneled.
" They make their return that they cannot find she is, neither
be they sure she is not." The result showed that the punish-
ment was properly delayed.

The freedom of speech was very much restricted in these
early times. Prosecutions for slandering the officers of the Pro-
vincial Government, or the Justices of the Court, were of frequent
occurrence. In most instances the criminal expressions were
nothing more than the wild ravings of drunkenness, or the
boastful expressions of weak men who sought notoriety. For
"speaking or uttering slanderous and dishonorable words against
the life, person, and government of the chief Proprietary, Wil-
liam Penn, as also against the life and person of this present Go-
vernor, John Blackwell, Esq.," the defendant upon his own con-
fession was fined £5. " For defaming John Simcock one of the
people's representatives in the Council, in the words that he was
drunk at the last Court at Chester, the party was bound to his
good behaviour, & was to set up a paper of what his crime was."

At the June Court of this year, the Grand Jury laid out a
landing place and open street for the service of the County as
follows: "beginning at the Northwesterly corner of the court
house to low water mark, by Chester Creek and so of the same
breadth by the said creek down to the Delaware River to low
water mark, thence and also from the first mentioned corner of the
Court house a public street 30 foot wide through Chester town."

Appraisements of the effects of decedents were made to the
Orphans' Court. The names of some articles included in the
inventories, sound strangely to us of this day, and the value put
on others is equally remarkable. Thus, 1 doz. trenches is valued
at Is ; 4 quaifs at 2s ; 7 petticoats at £3 ; one pair of stays &
two green aprons, at £2 10s, and a cow and calf at £1 10, &c.

Previous to 1689 the Records of the Chester Court furnish no
instance of imprisonment as a punishment for crime, for a period
longer than a few weeks. This year there was a sentence for a
year's imprisonment, in addition to corporal punishment.

1689.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 175

John Simcock was re-elected to Council from Chester County,
and the name of George Foreman appears as Sheriff. William
and Mary were proclaimed King and Queen in 1689.

Probably nine-tenths of the population of the County were, at
this time, members of the Society of Friends, and their plan of
accomplishing marriages had become so common, that it came
to be looked upon with favor by persons not in membership, who
indeed, sometimes asked and obtained permission to be joined in
marriage in that way. Chester Monthly Meetings had permitted
a marriage where one of the parties to it, " owned himself to
be none of us, yet was willing to submit to the order of Friends."
In Haverford Meeting, marriages of persons not members appear
to have been allowed, as a matter of course,1 but in Chichester
and Concord it appears from the following extract from the
minutes of their meeting, that such parties were subjected to
rather an embarrassing examination previous to permission being
granted to proceed.

It was proposed by friends to the young man and woman : " 1st
Whether he did believe that was the truth which we professed, and
walked in according to our measure — further showing that if we
did not walk in the truth according to our measure given to us,
we were but a community of men and women and not a Church
of Christ — and then marriage would be as well by the law of
the Province as among us ; and your coming to us to propose
your intentions of marriage and desiring our consent is as we
are a church, which we cannot be without we walk in truth —
Therefore whether thou dost believe that is the truth we profess,
to walk in ? His answer was yes he did believe it. Also the
young woman was asked the same, Her answer was, I do be-
lieve it."

" 2nd Whether you do believe that this way of marriage among
friends is according to the order of Truth?"

1 The following is a copy of the certificate of such a marriage in Haverford meeting :

" Haverford the 17th day of the ninth
month in the year 1687."
''This is to certify all whom it may concern, that the day and year above written,
Daniel Thomas late of Haverford aforesaid, together with Elenor Vaughan of the
same, came to the meeting of God called Quakers, where they solemnly declared that
then and there they took each other as man and woman, mutually promising faithful-
ness to each other in their respective stations, and so to continue untill death them part.
Having formerly made known their intentions to their neighbors and at several of or
meetings, and further desire or certificate, who being present accordingly subscribe or
names."

"Lewis David Ellinor Lawrence Daniel Thomas

James Thomas Sarah Rhydrth Ellinor Thomas"

David Lawrence Given Thomas

Morris Llewelin ffrancis Price

John Richard Sarah David

Daniel Lawrence Mary Llewelin

Richard Hayes

David Llewelin

176 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1690.

u grd "Whether you do believe it is your duty thus to proceed ?
they both answered — yes."

"Friends said as Paul to the Church of the Romans — Chap.
14-1 — Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to
doubtful disputations."

" Whereupon friends left them to proceed according to the
good order of truth, they having their parents consent thereunto."

However much the people of England were benefited by the
accession of William and Mary to the Throne, to Penn the change
was the source of great trouble, serious disappointments, and, no
doubt, of pecuniary loss. From having been the friend and
favorite of the deposed monarch, James II., he came to be a sus-
pected person under the new government ; and, without having
committed any offence, he was subjected to all the inconveniences
that suspicion brought upon its victims at this period of alarm
and distrust. He was arrested, held to bail, examined, dis-
charged, re-arrested and imprisoned ; and eventually driven into
retirement. But his private interests suffered most ; and parti-
cularly in having his matured arrangements for returning to
Pennsylvania frustrated. His interests here had been greatly
neglected, especially in the collection of quit-rents. As a con-
sequence, more stringent instructions for their collection became
necessary.

The too rigid enforcement of these instructions gave rise to
dissatisfaction, which, in some instances, was not without reason.
This was particularly the case in the Welsh Tract, where the
Commissioners insisted that the purchasers within its limits
should pay the quit-rent on the whole 40,000 acres because it
had been surveyed, or that others than Welshmen should be
allowed to take up lands within the bounds of the Tract.

The excuse offered by the Commissioners for this stretch of
their power, was the great damage the Proprietary had sustained
from the want of seating and improving the Welsh Tract, and
" the loss and hindrance to the well seating and strengthening
the province." These allegations were destitute of truth, for up
to this period the legitimate settlements within the Welsh Tract
had progressed as rapidly as in other directions ; and notwith-
standing the Commissioners, upon the refusal of the Welshmen
to pay quit-rent on the whole Tract, granted patents to others
within its bounds, the immigration from Wales was sufficiently
rapid to substantially settle the whole territory allotted to them
by Penn, as early as the adjoining districts were peopled.

The pathetic appeal made by Griffith Owen and other inhabi-
tants of the Welsh Tract against the unwarrantable proceedings
of the Commissioners is worthy of particular notice, as it fully
explains the peculiar kind of community our Welsh ancestors

1690.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 177

had hoped to establish in the land of their adoption. They
say:

" Wee, the Inhabitants of the Welsh Tract, in the Province of
Penn% in America, being descended of the Antient Britains,
who always in the land of our Nativity, under the Crown of
England, have enjoyed that liberty and priviledge as to have our
bounds and limits by ourselves, within the which all causes,
Quarrells, crimes & titles were tryed & wholly determined by
officers, magistrates [and] Juries of our own language, which
were our equals. Having our faces towards these countries,
made the motion to our Gov: that we might enjoy the same here,
wch thing was soon granted by him before he or we were come to
these parts."

They then recite the fact of the grant and survey of the 40,000
acres, upon which they say there were already near four score
settlements, besides " several scores of their men servants who
vere very desirous to have out their head land," and that some
of their friends had been here awhile, and had returned for their
families, friends and relations, &c. ; " and now," they say, " to
deprive these of their lands & Libertys which they depend
upon when coming here, (& that in their absence,) we look upon
it to be very unkind Dealing, like to Ruin many Families, as
also a subtell undermining to shutt that Door against our Nation,
which the Lord had opened for them to come to these Countreys,
for we can declare with an open face to God and man that we
desired to be by ourselves for no other End or purpose, but that
we might live together as a Civill Society to endeavour to deside
all Controversies and debates amongst ourselves in Gospel order,
and not to entangle ourselves with Laws in an unknown Tongue,
as also to preserve our Language, that we might ever keep Cor-
respondence with our friends in the land of our nativity. There-
fore our request is that you be tender not only of violating the
Governor's promise to us, but also of being instrumentall of
depriving us of the things which were the chief motives and in-
ducements to bring us here," &C.1

The Commissioners having prejudged the case, their answer
was of course not satisfactory, and the land within the Welsh
Tract was thrown open for settlement to others besides the de-
scendants of the "Ancient Britains," but the number who em-
braced the opportunity was not large.

John Blunston having declined to serve any longer as a mem-
ber of Council from Chester County, William Howell was elected
to serve in his stead. What is remarkable in the return of this
election is, that it is signed by all the Freeholders who voted,
the number being 29.2

1 Penna. Archives, i. 108. 2 Ibid i. 115. William Howell also declined serving.

12

178 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1690.

Upon the petition of David Lloyd, " a road or street was laid
out from his plantation to Chester Creeke to the public landing
place," as follows :

" Chester, this 4th of the 4th month 1690.— We the Grand In-
quest do lay out a street 30 feet wide, the one half of this public
street to be on one side the line dividing betwixt David Lloyd's
and the Green L. C. one half on David Lloyd's Land, the other
half on the Green's side, note that this street begins at the
public landing place at Chester Creek, and ending at the further
side of Joseph Richards his lot near David Lloyd's house ; note
also, that if any part of the 15 foot on David Lloyd his side,
which is laid out for the street, it must so remain."

The street thus laid out is now known in the borough of
Chester as Filbert street, and we are thereby enabled with
great precision to locate " the Green" a plot of ground well
known at this period, and for some time afterwards, by that
name. This Green was Church land, and was no doubt secured
by the Swedes in anticipation of the erection of a church at
Upland. It is included in a patent1 for a larger tract granted
to "Rev. Laurenty Caroly minister to the Swedes," April 8th,
1669. This patent includes the whole river front from Upland
Kill to " Prissers Kill," and is referred to as " the minister's
land," in a patent granted to Jurian Kene on the 4th of August
of the previous year.

" The Green" does not appear to have had any definite
bounds till the 11th of the 7th month, (September,) 1684, when,
upon a warrant of survey, a plot of nearly five acres in the
form of a parallelogram, extending 12 perches along the east
side of Upland Creek, and 65 perches along the river, was sur-
veyed and laid out "unto Swedes in Upland township."2 It
will be seen, hereafter, how this Church Glebe came to be appro
priated to secular uses.

John Hoskins was presented by the Grand Jury for trespassing
"upon the County's land belonging to the prison house in
Chester."

"James Sanderlands being called and examined about the above
said land, declareth that he did give all that land on which the
prison now standeth between the street and the creek, at the first
beginning of this Government, for to build a prison upon."3

1 Albany Rec. " Abstract of Patents," ii. 57. See Appendix, Note C.

2 The description in the Survey is as follows : " beginning at a corner post standing
by Upland Creek, being a corner of Eusta Anderson, and thence by the same S. 72°

E. 65 per. to a corner post, thence S. 21° E. 12 perches to a corner post by House

by Delaware river, thence down the several courses thereof to the mouth of the said
Upland Creek, thence up the same to the place of beginning." It is marked " A tract
of the Sweeds in Upland township. — See Book B, No. 3, Surveyor-General's Office, Har-
risburg.

3 This would seem to indicate that the first prison erected was not connected with
the Court-house, but doubtless stood on the same lot nearer the creek. Front street,
when laid out, passed between the Court-house and prison.

1690.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 179

This year Thomas Person [Pearson] and Peter Worrall were
appointed "fence viewers," and as a consequence of this step
in the road of improvement, John Thomas of Marple was pre-
sented by the Grand Jury "for keeping unlawful fences, and
disturbing his neighbor's cattle."

"Bethel Hamlet" is also presented, "for not repairing the
bridge in said Hamlet."

The Kings road crossing Chester creek at the head of tide,
there was no public road extending directly from Chester to
Chichester (Marcus Hook). With the view of rendering the
intercourse between the inhabitants of those places less difficult,
the Grand Jury laid out " a foot way six foot wide from Chester
creek over against the common landing place .... unto
Chichester creek."

"A deed of foefment was delivered in open Court by Thomas
Powell unto Peter Taylor and Randall Maylin in the behalf of
several others for a parcel of land lying in Upper Providence,
for the use of a burying place, bearing date the second day of
the seventh month 1690." This acre now constitutes Sandy
Bank grave-yard.

No one can examine these early Records of Chester County
Court without discovering that there had been an increase in
the higher grades of crime. Persons of bad character had
smuggled themselves into the Province with the early settlers,
or had been banished from the neighboring Counties or Pro-
vinces. With this increase of crime, more severe and more
revolting punishments were resorted to. Whipping with
" 39 lashes well laid on his bare back at the cart's tail," was the
sentence of a servant man in Chichester for stealing 14 dressed
deer skins; and, in addition, he was directed to be sold for
eight years for his fine, costs, and to repay the losses occa-
sioned by a former larceny. Banishment for collusion with a
horse thief, and a forfeiture of one half of the defendant's
estate, in addition to one year's imprisonment, for adultery,
were also among the sentences of this year.

At the September Court, the name of Joshua Fearne appears
both as a Justice and as Clerk of the Court.

The disputes between Governor Blackwell and his Council
were so frequent, that Penn was obliged to make a change in
the executive department of the Government. The executive
duties now devolved on the Council, with Thomas Lloyd as
President. This change rendered a new appointment of Justices
in the several counties necessary. The following persons were
appointed for Chester County; John Bristow, John Beaven,
John Blunston, Nich. Newlin, ifrancis Harrison, Sam11. Levis,
James Sanderling, Wm. Howell, Jo8, ffearne.

180 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1691.

It was resolved and ordered by the Council this year, "that
each county shall hencefforward Elect or give their Suffrages
according to Charter, viz.: by ye ballat." This mode of
election has ever since prevailed in Pennsylvania.

The Friends' Monthly Meeting of Chester, now composed of
the four particular meetings of Providence, Middletown, Spring-
field, and Chester, became more earnest in respect to the
erection of a meeting-house on the lot that had been purchased
for that purpose. A committee for each meeting was appointed
to collect the necessary funds, and iia the commencement of the
following year it was agreed, " that John Bristow and Caleb
Pusey do forthwith agree with and employ workmen in the
building the meeting house at Chester, (with stone) on the place
that w.as formerly bought for that purpose; the situation of
which, as also the manner of building the same, is left to their
own discretion, and that this meeting do defray the charge of
the same,1 so that it exceed not above one hundred pounds, and
that there be one convenient chimney at the least, and that the
said John Bristow and Caleb Pusey do give account of what
they have done."

The Welsh inhabitants of Haverford and Radnor have, at
length, fully submitted to being annexed to Chester County.
The names of several from those townships appear as jurors,
and that of William Jenkins, of Haverford, as a Justice of the
Court.

David Lloyd appeared on behalf of the recusant Welshmen,
and assured the Court, " that they were willing to pay according
to their proportions from the time they have been legally in this
county ; and after some debate it was agreed and acknowledged by
David Lloyd, that the Welsh who are reputed to be within the
bounds of Chester County, shall contribute towards paying the
tax, the same being assessed and levied upon them as upon the
inhabitants of Chester County according to due proportion &
priority of residence and settlement, the inhabitants of the County
of Chester indemnifying them the said Welsh from paying in
Philadelphia and be at the charge of altering the patents and
deeds which mention Philadelphia2 instead of Chester County;
provided that such their contribution to the said tax shall not
be prejudicial or made use of to debar them of any privileges the
Proprietor is or shall be willing and capable to grant or confirm
unto them." Thus ended the Welsh difficulty; and although

1 The first subscription for building this meeting amounted to £56 7s., and was
made by 54 persons.

2 In nearly all the early conveyances of land in Haverford and Radnor, it is described
as being in the " Welsh tract," and some of them also mention that the land is in the
County of Philadelphia ; but the author has never seen that any alteration or change
has been made in any of these old title papers.

1691.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 181

the result was not in the end really prejudicial to the inhabitants
of the two townships, it was certainly in violation of a solemn
promise made to many of them before leaving their native coun-
try. The Welsh people, though placed in two municipal districts,
in each of which they were greatly in the minority, did not for a
long time lose their distinctive characteristics. The Welsh lan-
guage prevailed for many years; and if tradition is to be relied
upon, there were many Welsh Quakers who could not understand
William Penn when he preached at Haverford meeting in 1700-1.

The strict impartiality with which the Grand Juries acted has
been mentioned. As an instance of this impartiality, Caleb
Pusey was foreman of the Grand Jury this year, and yet we find
his name included in the following presentment :

" We the Grand Jury present, Richard Parker, Caleb Pusey,
George Foreman, James Sandilands, John Hoskins & Roger
Jackson, for selling Beer &c. without license contrary to law."

The following presentment contains the first intimation of the
existence in the county of the instrument of punishment to which
it refers : " We [the Grand Jury] also present Edward Eglinton
for breaking the Stocks in the town of Chester, and unlawfully
letting out a prisoner against the Peace of the King & Queen
&c." It will be seen hereafter that stocks were established at
other places besides Chester. Punishment by means of the stocks
was mostly for petty offences, and was inflicted by authority of a
magistrate or chief Burgess of the village in which they were
" set up." This punishment rarely forms any part of a sentence
of the Court.

The very temporary character of the prison erected since the
establishment of Penn's Government, a period of about ten years,
may be judged of from the action now taken by the Court in re-
spect to the erection of a new one.

" The want of a prison having been presented by the Grand
jury it was this Court (Oct. 1691) debated concerning the build-
ing of a new prison and work house for felons ; and it was agreed
by the Court that one should be builded, eighteen foot and twenty
six foot, all builded of stone, and John Bristow and James Sandi-
lands are intrusted and impowered by the Court as near as they
can to complete the charges and make return of the same at the
next County Court." It will be seen that this order of Court
was not carried into effect.

Heretofore, it has been the practice for the Justices of the
Court to hold an Orphans' Court at specified times, when the
other Courts were not in session. The present mode of proceed-
ing is now initiated, with the exception that when the Court turns
its attention from other business to that properly cognizable by
the Orphans' Court, the record informs us that " An Orphans'

182 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1692.

Court was called." This tribunal was also charged with various
duties, that would be rather onerous upon Orphans' Courts of
the present day. The inventories and accounts of Executors and
Administrators were brought into Court for personal examina-
tion by the Justices, and, as " father of the poor," they put out
apprentices. An instance occurs this year, in which two minors,
a boy and a girl, were put out till they were twenty-two years
of age.

Making base coin appears to have been a common offence dur-
ing the early settlement of the Province. At the last Court of

this year, of Haverford, was presented, not only for

makingha.se pieces of coin, but " for making stamps for others."

A road had been laid out from Marple to Chester. In 1691
the Grand Jury extended this road from a point not very distant
from Rhoads' tan-yard in Marple to a point near Radnor meet-
ing-house. As nearly as can now be ascertained, the route of
this road passed along the present Springfield road to the road
that passes the Drove tavern ; thence by the Presbyterian meet-
ing-house to Darby Creek, through a valley, the jury says,
" called the dry hollow." The road then occupied the bed of the
present direct road to the meeting-house; the route does not
appear to have been varied in the least on account of hills. The
Grand Jury also laid out a road, "from the King's road in Darby
township to the landing place at Calcin Hook."

In 1691, the three lower counties were separated from the
Province, much to the regret of the Proprietary. He appears,
however, to have yielded his assent to the separation, by com-
missioning Thomas Lloyd as Governor of the latter, and William
Markham of the former.1

As serious as has been the disagreements between those with
whom the government had been entrusted,. and which brought
about its division, the elements of discord of a still more serious
character, had gained a footing in the religious society to which
a very large proportion of the inhabitants of the province were
attached. This doctrinal feud was introduced into the Society
of Friends by the teachings of George Keith, a man of ability
and education, who had been an eminent minister amongst them.
The Quakers of this county, always alive to every thing that
affected the interest of the Society, took an active part in the
controversy, and though many took sides with Keith, there was
no division that resulted in the establishment of separate meet-
ings within our limits.

In June, 1692, a meeting of Public Friends, in Philadelphia,
issued the famous Testimony against George Keith, which was
confirmed by the Yearly Meeting at Burlington, held in Septem-

1 Proud's Hist. Penna. i. 357.

1692.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 183

bcr.1 This document was signed by George Maris, Joshua
Fearne, John Simcock, John Blunston and Walter Fawcet, min-
isters of the Society residing in Chester county. Previous to
the time of issuing this testimony, no notice appears in the
minutes of any of the Monthly Meetings of Chester County on
the subject of the controversy.

Friends now begin to give their attention to the subject of
schools. At a monthly meeting, held at Darby the 7th of the
7th mo. (September), it was agreed, " that Benjamin Clift is to
teach scoole, Beging6 ye 12th of ye 7th mo : and to continue one
whole yeare, except 2 weekes." The annual salary of this worthy
teacher, as appears by an agreement for employing him another
year, was but XI 2. He probably boarded with his employers.

Up to this time the supervisors of the highways were appointed
by the Court, when the Justices ordered, " that every respective
township within this county, for the future, from time to time,
shall within themselves appoint supervisors and fence viewers,
and make returns of the same to the County Court from time to
time." Our Justices did not hesitate to legislate a little, occa-
sionally, in these early times.

It was not uncommon for the Court to notice abusive words
spoken against any of its members. This practice was in accord-
ance with the spirit of the times, but was evidently unattended
by any beneficial results. A case, such as the following, could
hardly be allowed to pass unnoticed at the present time :

" J M was called to the bar to answer a present-
ment of the Grand Jury, for abusing John Bristow and John Sim-
cock, two of the King and Queen's Justices of the peace, in call-
ing them a pack of Rogues, and the Jury was called & the said

M did then, in open Court, affirm that the said partys was

two of the greatest rogues that ever came to America. Where-
upon the Court gave judgment that he pay a fine of five pounds

& Costs of suit, &c. The said M was also fined 5s. for

swearing."

From the following proceedings, in respect to laying out a road
in Chester, it may be inferred that a public Dial was set up in
that towm.

Upon petition of James Lownes, and others, the Grand Jury
was authorized " to lay out a road to the Dyall post straitway to
the road for the convenience of both town and country." This
road was laid out and returned as follows :

"Beginning at the Dyall post and so running south 22 de-
grees West to low water mark ; then beginning again at the
Dyall post aforesaid thence running North 22 degrees East up
the King's road, which said road or street is to contain thirty

1 Proud's Hist. Penna. i. 365-36S.

184 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1693.

foot in breadth, and the said Dyall post is to be the western
bounds thereof."

The same Grand Jury, at the same Court, made what they are
pleased to term, "a return of a road to Thornbury." Being
brief, the "return" is given as another specimen of the manner
these early road viewers performed their duties:

"Beginning at a marked tree by Edward Carters, which was
marked by a former Grand Jury, and so along a line of marked
trees to John Baldwin's fence, and then by John's consent over a
corner thereof through a corner of his field and so along to a black
oak, being a corner of John Nield's land, and from thence down
to John Nields field and by his consent over a corner thereof, and
so through the creek, and up the hill, by Gilbert William's Barn."1

The order for the erection of a new jail and work-house, made
by the Court in 1691, does not appear to have been enforced,
and the Grand Jury again presents the want of such a building.
The Court having considered this action of the Grand Inquest,
"agreed forthwith to build a prison," and did "order John Sim-
cock & John Bristow to take care for the building of the same;
and that the sheriff take care to levie the fines due to the public
in order to defray the charges of the prison."

The following order for a levy, made at the January Court of
the following year, will show that the Sheriff had not been very
successful in the collection of " fines due the public."

"Whereas the Grand jury have taken into consideration, the
necessity of a prison, and the defraying of the charge of the
county, have unanymously agreed to lay a levie for defraying the
said charges as followeth, viz : Upon every male white and black
from 16 years to 60, 3s. every 100 acres belonging to per-
sons resident, 3s. — and upon every 100 acres belonging to persons
non-resident, 4s. 6d. ; and the Court considering of it agreed to the
same, and doth order that forthwith warrants be issued out of
the levie, the same in every township, by the respective consta-
bles, one moiety to be paid, at or before the next County Court;
and the other moiety, at or before the first of the 9th month fol-
lowing ; and the constables shall [hold] a town's meeting to make
assessment for levying the same; and when account is taken of
Males and Lands, to return a duplicate of the same to Chester
or Darby, when we will be at both places, for the ease of the
country, Justices met to receive the same, upon the 13th day of
the 12th mo. next." This is the first instance in levying a poll tax,
where no distinction has been made between freemen and servants.

1 There appears to have been a review of this road the next year, and a still less
intelligible return made by the Grand Jury, as follows, viz.: "that it shall go through
John Nields field by the creek, and so by a straight line up the land of the Orphans of
John Dutton as it was marked as we went along to the upper side of John Baldwins
field, and he to take down two or three pannels of his fence and aslant to the line and
along John Baldwin's line about twenty perches, and then as it is marked to the old
road."

1G93.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 185

It might be supposed that the prompt erection of the new jail
was now a matter of certainty, but it docs not appear that the
above levy was ever made ; owing, it is probable, to the desperate
condition of the affairs of the Proprietary ; for it was about this
time that the King and Queen took the government of the Pro-
vince out of his hands, and commissioned Benjamin Fletcher the
Governor of New York, to be Captain General of Pennsylvania
and the territories annexed. Be this as it may, a minute of the
December Court of this year shows that another levy was
authorized for the erection of the new prison. It is in these
words :

"The Grand Jury presented the want of a prison in the
county, and they have given in their judgment, that one hundred
and fifty pounds will defray the charge — the order of the Court
is that there shall be a levy forthwith for the raising of the sum
for the defraying of the said charge."

At a Court of Petty Sessioris, held at the house of John Hodg-
kins at Chester early in the next year, an assessment was au-
thorized for raising £150 for defraying the charge of the new
jail, " at the true value of two pence per pound upon the real
and personal estates of all the inhabitants of this county, seasa-
ble by the first act of the new laws1 — all freemen 6s. per head."
This is the first ad valorem assessment made within our limits.2

It was the custom for the Grand Jury, whose duties were
about to expire, to meet and make their presentments of every
presentable matter that had come to their knowledge since the
adjournment of the previous Court. After naming the Justices
present, Sheriff and Clerk, the minutes of each Court, at this
period, proceed thus :

"After proclamation made and silence commanded, by the
King & Queen's authority, and in the Proprietary's name, the
Grand Jury was called over, and appeared and gave in their
presentments and was discharged ; and a new Grand Jury re-
turned by the Sheriff was empannelled." A less number com-
posed a Grand Jury then than at the present day — usually about
fifteen.

Some idea may be formed of the mischievously inquisitorial
character of Chester County Grand Juries at this period, from

1 Governor Fletcher held that the laws that had been made under the Proprietary's
charter were no longer in force, and required them to he re-enacted by the Assembly
—many of them in a modified form. See Col. Rec. i. 364, &c. These new laws were
read at the July Court, 1693, by George Foreman, a member of the Council.

' The author has seen an original warrant issued by John Bristow " to Isaac Taylor
constable of Thornbury," dated the 23d of the 11th mo. 1692, in which the following
language occurs, viz : "these may certifie, that ye accounts were made up this Court,
and approved by the Grand Jury," and upon ballance of the acco1, ye county is found
to be in debt £183: 19s: 6d, whereof for the raising of money to defray ye sd Charge,
& for ye building of a new prison with stone, the Cort, by & with the advice & consent
of ye Grande Inquest, have unauymously agreed to Lay a levy Ac."

186 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1693.

the fact that at one Court two newly-married couples were made
the subjects of presentment because a child was born, in each
case, too soon after marriage. In one case, besides the Court
charges and a fine of 20s., both parties were sentenced " to
attend at the common whipping post and for the officer to declare
their offence to the people ;" while in the other case the fine was
50s., but the woman only was subjected to public exposure. This
was more wantonly cruel than was inflicted in the former case,
and consisted in standing at the common whipping post for one
quarter of an hour with a paper on her breast, thus : " I here
stand for an example to all others for committing the most
wicked & notorious sin of fornication."

Presentments by the Grand Jury of such cases as the above
could have no beneficial result, but their watchfulness when
directed to matters that concerned the public was often produc-
tive of much good, especially when seconded by the Court. A
bridge over Ridley Creek having been several times presented,
the Court this year imposed a fine of £5 each on the supervisors
of Chester and Ridley for their neglect to repair it. Such cases
were not unfrequent.

While the Courts at this period, and for many years after-
wards, did not hesitate to sentence a freeman to be sold into
servitude for a period of years, in order to liquidate a fine or
some other dues, they were extremely vigilant in guarding ser-
vants against oppression by their masters. Upon the complaint
of a servant that he had served out his time and had been turned
off "without clothes fitting for a servant to have," the Court
ordered his master to " pay him" a hat, coat, waistcoat, breeches,
drawers, stockings and shoes, all new, and also ten bushels of
wheat or fourteen bushels of corn, two hoes and one axe. This
kind of complaint was very common, and was denominated a
claim "for the custom of the country." Justice Jonathan
Hayes constantly interposes his dissent to the allowance of this
" custom."

There was another duty the Court had to perform in respect
to children about being bound out to service. This duty con-
sisted in determining their ages, and the time they should serve.
This was termed "Judging" them. At the October Court of
this year " the boys that Mauris Trent brought into the country
were called up to be judged." There were eight of these boys,
and they were probably negroes. They were ordered to serve
their respective masters till they arrived at the age of 21 years.

The Grand Jury laid out the following roads this year, viz :
One from the townships of Upper Providence and Edgmont " to
the limestone;" one from Newtown to Haverford Mill; one
from Thornbury towards Chester, and they reported adversely

1693.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 187

to one application for a road, which is the first adverse report
on the record.

Upon the petition of the Inhabitants of Radnor to the Lieut.
Governor and Council " requesting a road to be laid outt from
the upper part of the sd township of Radnor unto marion ford,"
a warrant was directed by the Lieut. Governor to lay out the
same.1

Upon petition of the Inhabitants of Chester County to the
Governor and Council, setting forth that they had long suffered
for want of a division line between that county and New Castle,
it was resolved, " that for the present convenience of the govern-
ment and not for an absolute and final proprietarie division, (but
that the inhabitants on the borders of both counties may know
to which of the two to pay their levies, taxes &c. and perform
their countie services,) the bounds of New Castle Countie shall
extend Northward to the mouth of Naaman's creek, and upwards
along the S. W. side of the northermost branch, (excluding the
townshipps of Concord & Bethell) and not to extend backwards
of the northermost branch above the sd townshipps."2

It is a source of regret that the minutes of Haverford Monthly
Meeting from the 5th mo. (July,) 1686, to the 5th mo., 1693, are
wanting, because that meeting was more particular than any
other in noting matters that would form interesting items for a
local history. During this period, the meeting at the Schuylkill
has ceased to be connected with this monthly meeting, but the
register of Marriages, still preserved, shows that the connection
continued till 1688. The Haverford Monthly Meeting is now
composed of the three preparative meetings of Merion, Haver-
ford and Radnor.

It has been seen that the Welsh people, of which these meet-
ings were almost wholly composed, refused till 1690 to attach
themselves to any district in which municipal government had
been established ; claiming a promise from the Proprietary, that
they should form a separate community, with a view of deciding
all controversies and debates amongst themselves in their own
language and " in Gospel order." The monthly meeting was
doubtless the tribunal that regulated the secular as well as the
spiritual affairs of our Welsh ancestors for seven or eight years
after their first settlement; nor did they wholly entrust their
civil matters to the officers of the law for some time after they
had submitted to a division of the Welsh Tract between the
Counties of Philadelphia and Chester. Thus, at the monthly
meeting held at Haverford in the 6th month (August,) 1693, it
was ordered, " y* Wm. Howell, Morris Llewelyn for Haverford,
David Merideth, David Evans for Radnor, Griffith Jones, James

1 Col. Rec. i. 356. a Ibid. 349.

188 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1694.

Thomas for Merion, see y* sufficient fences be kept in his respec-
tive neighborhood." And again in the proceedings of the
following month, this minute occurs :

"It is ordered by this meeting and consent of the inhabitants
of the townships of Haverford and Radnor, in pursuance of a law
in that case made y' ye inhabitance of ye sd two townships should
pay Is. per hundred1 toward ye takeing of Wolves. Wm.
Howell, William Jenkins, for Haverford, and David Meredith
and Stephen Bevan for Radnor, to receive ye sd Taxe."

Previously to the disownment of George Keith, as has been
mentioned, the minutes of the several monthly meetings are silent
in regard to him. Since that time he is frequently noticed, but
not with respect. The first is by Chester Meeting, which orders
" that [copies] of the paper written by Jane Biles as a testimony
against George Keith and his company and separation and
abusing friends, (which said paper being read and well approved
of), be obtained," to be disposed of "for the general service of
truth." The first meeting-house at Chester appears to have
been completed in 1693. 2 A meeting-house at Radnor was
also completed and brought into service about the same time.

The Society of Friends have been in advance of other religious
sects in providing comfortable quarters for their horses at their
places of worship. The first provision made for this purpose, of
which there is any record, was at Haverford in 1694, when a
committee was appointed by the meeting, " to get a stable made
adjoining this meeting house."

In early times, township meetings assumed the right of enact-
ing rules and regulations, or rather to make laws, for their re-
spective townships. Unfortunately but few of the ancient records
of our townships have been preserved. The following items
have been extracted from the Darby township book :

"Agreed that this meeting begin at Eleven o'Clock in the
forenoon, and that the constable give notice the first day before."

"And it is also agreed that the said town's meeting be held on
the third day of the last week in the twelfth month, (yearly) to
appoint officers for the ensuing year, at which time the officers is
to give up their accounts."

" Agreed that none of the inhabitants of this Town take any
horses or mares either to keep in winter or summer, nor no cattle
in summer except they keep them within their own fenced lands,
upon the penalty of five shillings per head for every month."

1 Hundred acres of land.

2 This meeting-house has been torn down within a few years past. Since the
earliest recollection of "the oldest inhabitant" this building has been pointed out as
that in which the first Assembly of Pennsylvania held its sittings. That the main
building was erected by the society of Friends at this period for a meeting-house, on
a lot that had been purchased by them for that purpose, the evidence is conclusive ;
and the author has failed to discover that it was used for any other than meeting
purposes while it continued to be owned by the Society of Friends.

1694.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 189

The above extracts are without date, but stand on the record
immediately above the following. It may therefore be inferred
that they were enacted at the same, or at an earlier period.

"Agreed by the Townsmen of Darby at the meeting house,
upon 26th day of the 12th month, 1693-4, [Feb., 1694,] that
whatever handy-Crafts men shall offer himself to inhabit in the
township, shall first continue forty days as a sojourner, to have
the approbation of the said township; whither he shall be re-
ceived as an inhabitant or no ; and that no person shall dare to
receive any stranger as an inhabitant before such probation and
grant of said Townsmen.

" Signed on behalf of the Town of Darby, by

"Tho. Worth."

" Agreed at a Town meeting 1693-4, That Tho. Worth shall
as Clerk of the Town, signe all public agreements in behalf of
the town, and the same shall be as binding as if every mans
particular hand was at the same."

The Court proceedings of this year are introduced by imposing
upon Mary M a fine of "five shillings for her lying.'"

A road was laid out "between Radnor meeting house and the
Schuylkill ford ;" and also one "from John Longworthy's house
to a road between Chester and Radnor."

One Philip England claimed the monopoly of the Ferry at
High street on the Schuylkill, but from some cause, the Friends
of Haverford Monthly Meeting, with the assistance of some
Friends of Darby, supported a Ferry in the vicinity of that kept
by England, and employed a man named Nathaniel Mullinax to
attend it. England petitioned to the Governor and Council to
support him in his monopoly, which they eventually did, on the
ground that the Ferry was the Proprietor's right, a grant of
which was held by England. The decision of the Governor was
accompanied by a prohibition against all others "using anie
other ferrie within foure miles distance on either side of the river,
of the proprietors ferrie."

A report made by a Committee of the Council this year,
giving the amounts raised in the several counties upon an assess-
ment of Id. per pound, will give some idea of the relative pro-
gress that had been made in the different counties:

£ s. d.

u

County of Philadelphia,
New Castle,
Sussex,
Kent,
Chester,
Bucks,

314 11 11

143 15 00

101 01 09

88 02 10

65 00 07

48 04 01

£760~16 2

190 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1695.

At this time the settlements had spread in Chester County
but little beyond the territory now included in Delaware County.

There appear to have been great losses of stock and cattle
during 1694, from want of provender.1

" The want of a Bridle road between the broad road near
James Brown's house in Chichester [Marcus Hook] and Chiches-
ter creek and from thence to Chester creek," was presented by
the Grand Jury at the March term of 1695. A similar pre-
sentment had been made at the previous session of the Court.
The necessity of such a road will be understood, when the reader
is informed that the King's road did not, up to this time, pass
through Chester, but crossed both Ridley and Chester Creeks at
the head of tide ; there being no bridge over the creek at Chester,
and no public road from thence directly to Marcus Hook.

The Grand Inquest, after having examined the accounts of
the county, recommend a levy of a penny in the pound, which
was ordered by the Court, "for finishing the prison and defray-
ing of the old debts & for wolves heads ;" also for the relief
of the poor. The Grand Jury also on this occasion performed
the duty of County Auditors, and " having examined Jeremiah
Collet's [the Treasurer's] accounts, finds them to be true ac-
counts, and finds him to be indebted to the county, the sum of
eighteen shillings and eleven pence, and the county to be in-
debted to Thomas Smith the sum of 18 pounds 19s. and 4d."
The next Grand Jury held a meeting on the 2d of October, to
consider the affairs of the county. The following interesting
record of their proceedings is given at length :

" We the Grand Jury by the King's authority, finding that
the county is in debt by the accounts that the last Grand Jury
presented ; that the County Treasurer is out of purse, and others
in the concerns of the county charge ; and that the prison is not
yet finished, and several wolve's heads to pay for : We the
Grand Inquest have taken it into our consideration to lay an
assessment upon the county for to pay the Judges expenses,
which is to be paid to Joseph Wood, Sheriff of Chester County,
and what was disbursed by the said Treasurer of said county
concerning the building of the prison, and to finish the said
county prison, with as much expedition as may be, and the said
levy to be raised as followeth : — on all real and personal estates,
at one penny per pound and three shillings per head on free
men, (viz) every acre of cleared land, and being in tillage, at
one pound per acre ; and for every hundred acres of rough land
by the river, at ten pounds per hundred, and for every hundred
acres in the woods, at five pounds per hundred ; for all horses
and mares from three years old and upwards, at 3 pounds ; for

» Col. Rec. i. 481.

1695.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 191

every colt one year old and upwards, 20 shillings ; for all cows
and oxen, from three years old and upwards, £2. 10s ; for all
cattle one year old and upwards, at one pound ; for all sheep
a year old and upwards, at six shillings a piece ; for all male
negroes, from 16 years old and upwards, to sixty, l2i>£ per
negro ; for all female negroes from 16 years old to sixty, at 20,£
per negro ; for Chester mill at one hundred pounds, Joseph Co-
bourn's at <£50, Darby mill at one hundred pounds, Hartford
[Ilaverford] mill at 20X pounds, Concord mill at 10,£ pounds ;
Jasper Yeates for his estate and calling 200 pounds, Caleb
Pusey for his estate and calling 100 pounds, Jeremiah Collett
for his estate and calling 30 pounds, Nathaniel Newlin for his
calling 20 pounds ; all ordinary keepers, for their callings, 20
pounds ; for all handicrafts that followeth no plantation for calling,
3 shillings a piece. — Subscribed by this present Grand Inquest."

From the above extract we learn many interesting facts.
There were five mills in the county at this early date, besides
the Swedes' mill on the Philadelphia County line. The dates
of the erection of the Chester mill, and Cobourn's mill have already
been given ; and a presentment of the Grand Jury made in 1688,
shows that the Haverford mill was then erected. This mill was
on Cobb's Creek, near the place where that stream is crossed by
the road leading past Haverford meeting-house. Of the Darby
mill and Concord mill, the author has not met with an earlier
notice. The Concord mill occupied the site of the mill now
owned by Samuel Leedom. A mill was shortly afterwards built
lower down the stream by Nicholas Newlin, but not so low down
as the mill owned by John Hill.1

While it is not presumed that the full value of property is
given in the assessment, the relative value may be relied on as
nearly correct. We thus see that cleared land, under tillage,
was ten times as valuable as unimproved land near the river,
and twenty times as valuable as unimproved lands further
back, &c.

Maurice Trent, before mentioned, brought another set of
boys into Court to be "judged." Their respective periods of
servitude were accordingly fixed by the Justices. It had become
a common practice at this period for servants who had run
away, or in any other manner caused loss or expense to their
masters, to be brought into Court for the Justices to determine,
what additions should be made to their terms of servitude, as
an equivalent for such loss or expense.

At this time, there was considerable trade at Chester, and
also some at Marcus Hook. Hence we find appointments of

1 From a conveyance made by Randal Malin in 1696, it would appear that a mill
was erected not far from Bishop's mill about that year.

192 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1696.

officers connected with its proper regulation. Edward Dangger
was this year " attested Geager and Packer and Culler of this
County of Chester."

The arbitrary rule of Governor Fletcher, under which Qua-
kerism found but little favor, continued about two years, when
the King and Queen were pleased to restore the government of
the province again to William Penn, very much to the satis-
faction of the people. The affairs of the Proprietary were not,
however, in such a condition as to allow him to visit the country,
and Thomas Lloyd having died, he again commissioned his
cousin William Markham as his Deputy.

It came< to the knowledge of the Concord and Chichester
Monthly Meeting, about this time, that two young persons of
the latter township, were engaged in certain studies and prac-
tices that, at this period, were regarded as very dangerous.
The serious gravity with which the subject was treated by the
meeting is really remarkable.

" Some friends having a concern upon them concerning some
young men which came among friends, to their meetings, and
following some acts which friends thought not fit for such as
professed the truth, to follow, viz : Astrology and other arts,
whereupon it was stated to the meeting concerning Astrology and
other Sciences, as Geomancy and Chiromancy and Necromancy
&c. — It was debated and the sence of this meeting is, that the
study of these sciences brings a veile over the understanding,
and a death upon the life." — The meeting ordered the young
men, as well as their father, to be spoken to on the subject.
The conference with the former is given as follows :

" Philip Roman and his brother Robert, friends of Chichester,
was speak'd to about those arts and sciences above said ; they
seemed to disown that is mentioned except the Astrology . Much
was said to them, but it was not received. At last they proposed
to the meeting, if they thought well of it, to confer with Nicho-
las Newlin and Jacob Chandler, and if they could convince them
that it was evil, they would leave it." The meeting accepted
the offer of the young men. At the next meeting (January,
1696) the committee reported that they had conferred with the
young men, and there had been "many arguments on both
sides — at length, Philip concluded with us that he did not know
that he should use that art of Astrology again, for he had denied
several that came to him to be resolved of their questions already.
Robert promised the same but with this reserve — unless it was
to do some great good by it. From which belief of some great
good, we could not remove him." This was not satisfactory to
the meeting. Philip was required " to give forth a paper to
condemn his practice of resolving questions in Astrology, con-

1696.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 193

cerning lost and Gain, with other vain questions." The meeting
gave out a similar paper against Robert.

The subject of these dark practices was also brought before
the Chester Quarterly Meeting, which body appears to have
taken a rather rational view of the subject for the times. The
following is an extract from the preamble of a long testimony
published by that meeting, early the year 1696.

" Whereas the meeting being acquainted, that some persons
under the profession of truth, and belonging to this meeting,
who professing the art of Astrology, have undertaken thereby
to answer questions, and give Astrological Judgments concerning
persons and things, tending to the dishonor of God, and the
reproach of Truth and the great hurt of themselves and those
who come to inquire of them ; and Whereas, it is also reported
that some professing truth among us seems too much inclined
to use and practice Rabdomancy, or consulting with a staff, and
such like things, all which have brought a weighty exercise and
concern upon this meeting, as well because of the reproach, that
is already brought upon the truth hereby, as also to prevent, as
much as in us lies, its being further reproached by any among
us that may attempt to follow the like practices for time to
come, &c."

But this business did not end with the meeting. An offence
so serious as the practice of Greomancy, could not escape the
vigilance of the Grand Jury, particularly as the Foreman lived
in the same neighborhood with the parties. In bringing the
matter to the notice of the Court they say :

" We the grand Inquest by the King's authority, presents
Robert Roman of Chichester for practicing Geomancy according
to hidden1 and divining by a stick. Walter Martin,

Foreman."

With the view of effectually eradicating the evil, it became
necessary to destroy the implements of mischief by another
presentment, which is thus recorded :

" We the Grand Inquest by the Kings authority presents the
following books: Hidons Temple of Wisdom, which teaches
Geomancy, and Scots discovery of Witchcraft, and Cornelias
Agrippas teach Necromancy. Walter Martin, Foreman."

Upon which " the Court orders as many of said Books as can
be found be brought to the next court."

The following minute records the closing scene of this ludic-
rous judicial procedure :

" Robert Roman was called to answer the presentment of the
Grand Jury the last Court ; he appeared and submitted himself

1 The blank is in the Record.

13

194 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1697.

to the Bench. The order of the Court is that he shall pay five
pounds for a fine and all charges, and never practice the arts,
but behave himself well for the future, and he promised to do so,
whereupon he is discharged for this time."

Two young men were presented at the next Court " for run-
ning a horse race on the first day of the week." They each
got off with a fine of 5 shillings, thus proving that the practice
of Geomancy in those primitive times was a twenty fold greater
offence than Sunday horse racing.

" John Simcock brought in his account. — The County of
Chester debtor to John Simcock, for balance of his account to
the year 1695, the sum of £28 2s. John Simcock debtor to
the sale1 of the old Court house, the sum of £57. — By balance
remains due John Simcock £28 18s." This must have been the
Court-house erected in 1685, the expense of which does not as
yet appear to have been fully liquidated, as William Clayton
makes complaint that " there is due to him £18. Is. 6d. for his
father's salary and work on the old Court house." Nor is this
remarkable, as by a presentment of the Grand Jury, it is shown
that taxes laid on large tracts of land in 1685, for the erection
of the Court-house and prison, were still due.

In 1696 a road was laid out " from David Meridiths planta-
tion to Haverford Meeting house." This road passes White
Hall and west of Haverford College. The Court orders Ellis
Ellis, Supervisor of Haverford, to cut and clear the road way,
"that leads to the limestone hill from Darby through Harford."

The several meetings composing Chester Quarterly Meeting,
subscribed £85 8s. 4c/. towards building a meeting-house in the
city of Philadelphia. The meetings composing Haverford
Monthly Meeting also subscribed, but the amount is not given.
The minutes of that meeting show that the location of the meet-
ing-house to be built in Philadelphia was " in ye second street
near the market place."

The following minute from the Haverford Records, is the
authority upon which the Friends' meeting at Newtown was
established :

" William Lewis and some other friends having proposed to
this meeting, to settle a meeting at Newtown, they are left to
their freedom therein." It is dated 11th mo. 14th 1696 0. S.
Before the close of the year, Thomas Jones was ordered by the
meeting " to acquaint friends of Chester Meeting, that the
meeting lately settled at Newton is done wth ye consent of this
meeting, in order to have their approbation therein."

1 The sale of the old Court-house, as mentioned at this time, appears to have been
informal. It was sold subsequently in pursuance of an act of Assembly to John
Simcock, but before the conveyance was made, he died, which made it necessary to
procure another act of Assembly to confirm the title in Ralph Fishburu, his son-in-
law and devisee.

1697.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 195

Notwithstanding the Governor and Council, in 1694, sustained
England in his claim to a monopoly of ferrying people over the
Schuylkill, the following extract from the Ilaverford Meeting
Records shows that this monopoly was not continued by the
Proprietary's government when restored, and that a ferry was
again kept up by the monthly meeting.

" David Evans & Daniel Humphrey are ordered by this meet-
ing to collect twenty shillings out of each of the meetings of
Haverford & Radnor and the rest y* are unpaid of the subscrip-
tion towards the ferry, to pay Nath: Mullenex's wages."1

Notwithstanding this meeting and others occasionally gave
their attention to secular affairs, there was no falling off by the
members in the performance of their moral and religious duties.
It is really wonderful, the amount of patient labor that was be-
stowed about this period in preserving the Church in its purity ;
in counselling and advising the rising generation, and in reclaim-
ing the wayward. And it is even still more wonderful to see
the large amounts that were appropriated to charitable purposes.
This was particularly the case among the Welsh Friends. Every
reasonable want was attended to. If a newly arrived immigrant,
or a " poor friend" stood in need of a house, it was built for
him ; of a plough or a cow, he was provided with one. The
fields of the sick and the weak were not allowed to remain un-
cultivated, and their pecuniary wants and other necessities were
liberally supplied. Nor was their care in these respects con-
fined to their own little communities. Wherever suffering
humanity was found, our Quaker ancestors were ever ready to
contribute liberally to its relief.

This year the meetings were made acquainted with the dis-
tressed condition of the people of New England; "the great
want and necessity of Friends and others, by reason of the
Indians making inroads upon them, burning and destroying
their habitations and the lives of many, and by reason of the
failing of their crops." The relief afforded was prompt and
liberal. Haverford Monthly Meeting subscribed £60 14s. lid.;
Chichester, Concord, and Birmingham, ,£37 5s. 3d. ; and
Chester, £32 2s. lid. The amount subscribed by Darby is not
given.

There was a subscription made this year of £86 by the
Friends of Concord, Birmingham, and Thornbury, towards the
erection of a meeting-house — it is supposed at the first-mention-
ed place. The subscription list contains thirty-four names. From
its heading, it is very apparent that some of the members were

1 In 1698, there is another minute that shows that the three townships of Haverford,
Merion, and Radnor, were concerned in this ferry ; and in the minutes of 1099, there
is a final receipt from Mullenex, which probably closed the connection of the meeting
with the ferry forever.

196 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1698.

imbued with Keithian doctrines. A list of those who con-
tributed towards fencing the grave-yard is also given.

As travelling by land increased, the inhabitants of Chester
felt more strongly the inconvenience of being located at a
distance from the King's highway — the main thoroughfare of
travel between the northern and southern Provinces. To bring
the main road through the town, a bridge over the creek would
be required, and to secure this object, " several of ye Inhabi-
tants of ye town & countie of Chester & others," presented a
petition to the Governor and Council. But this petition was
met by a strong remonstrance, and after the matter had been
considered in " Grand Committee," that is, a meeting of the
Council and Assembly together, it was put "to the vote of ye
sd grand committee, whether a bridge should be built over the
navigable part of Chester creek, as is petitioned, it was carried
in the negative, nemine contradicente."1 So ended the matter
at this time.

At the July Court, a deed was acknowledged to John Sim-
cocks, John Blunston, Samuel Levis, Jasper Yeates and Jonathan
Hayes, the Justices of the County, " for all that piece of land
whereon the new court house stands, contayning in breadth to
the street twenty nine foot back to Chester creeke, unto them
and theyr sucksessors for ever : the deed bearing date the ninth
day of the fourth month called June An. Dom. 1697. "2

A road was in 1697 laid out "from Henry Hames, (in
Marple,) to Haverford Meeting House." The closing part of
the report of the Grand Jury in laying out this road is rather
remarkable for the evanescent character of the land marks they
fixed on to identify the route they selected. When they ap-
proach the meeting-house they say: "running up the said line
betwixt William Howell and David Lawrence — making the
fence the middle of the road till it comes to the fence where we
pulled downe, and so to the meeting house where we end."

Andrew Job, Foreman.

There was also a cart-way reported, " for the convenience of
the county, from the corner of Walter Faucetts fence to Darby."
This is the first laying out of the king's highway between the
points mentioned.

The number of servants brought into Court to be "Judged,"
has greatly increased. More than thirty were brought to a
single Court. In some instances the Justices direct that they
shall be taught to read and write.

The Justices were exceedingly strict in seeing the law enforced

1 Col. Rec. i. 488-493.

2 This is the lot now owned and occupied by Frederick Fairlainb, Esq. It is
known as the "old prison" lot. — See Appendix, Note U.

1698.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 197

against persons who failed to comply with the legal enactments
on the subject of marriage. In one case, the Grand Jury pre-
sented the parties and all the witnesses, and in another case one
Matthew Risley was sentenced to receive thirteen lashes for at-
tempting to marry persons contrary to law, although it was
proven on the trial that it was a joke practiced on him — the
parties being both men.

Corporal punishment is becoming more common. A man was
sentenced to receive thirty lashes on his bare back, well laid on,
for the larceny of one bushel of wheat.

A Grand Jury, of which George Pearce was foreman, made a
presentment against a law that took the business of levying taxes
out of their hands and placed it in the hands of six Assessors.
They desired " that the six Assessors might be laid aside, and
that the Grand Jury, which are the body of the county, may
have the order of such things as formerly."

A Provincial Court is occasionally held at Chester. At one
held in October, 1698, before which there was but one case, John
Moore appeared as counsel for the " Appellant ," and David
Lloyd for the "Appellee."

In the appraisement of 700 acres of land, situated in Provi-
dence, taken in execution by the Sheriff, it will be seen how little
land had improved in price, independently of the improvements.
The land was valued at £80 ; " One house, barn, orchard nursery
and Garding at £160 ;" and the wheat in the ground at £18.

Haverford Monthly Meeting now appears to be disposed to
get rid of the municipal concerns with which it has heretofore
been burdened. To accomplish this object, it was concluded by
the meeting " that there be a towns meeting held at Haverford
to regulate matters and decide controversies, the first third day
of the third month, for the townships belonging to this monethly
meeting, & then to appoint meetings k adjourn the same as they
think convenient." The minutes of these town meetings have
not been discovered.

The monthly meeting has been constantly held at Haverford
since the erection of the meeting-house at that place. Now it is
agreed to let the monthly meeting alternate among the several
meetings composing it, viz : Merion, Haverford and Radnor. It
still retained the name of "Haverford Monthly Meeting."

The Friends of the Quarterly Meeting of Chester County
became dissatisfied " that some Welsh Friends live within their
county, and yet join with friends of ye county of Philadelphia in
their monthly and Quarterly meetings." John Bevan, William
Howell, Row. Ellis and Rees Thomas were appointed by the
Haverford meeting " to remind them of the conclusion made
betwixt them & the Welsh friends, that their meetings should

198 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1699.

not be separated." This effort of the Friends of the Chester
Quarterly Meeting failed, and the meetings that then composed
the Haverford Monthly Meeting have remained attached to the
Philadelphia Quarter to this day.1

The Keithian doctrines had found more favor in the meetings
that composed Concord Monthly Meeting than in any others
located in the county. There was one disownment by that
meeting in 1698 of a prominent, member, expressly on that
ground, and the minutes furnish evidence that others had quietly
separated from the Society without any formal disownment.
Some of these subsequently returned, made an acknowledgment
of their error, and were restored to their former standing in the
Society. This was also the case in other meetings, but not to so
great an extent.

In Darby Meeting, a father having unreasonably refused his
consent to the marriage of his daughter, the couple, after having
made legal publication of their intentions, went before John
Blunston, a Justice of the Peace, and also a member of meeting
in high standing, and were legally married.2 The parties, and
the father of the bride, were dealt with by the meeting, but the
part taken by the magistrate was not called in question as being
an offence against the rules of the Society.

The practice of holding preparative meetings by the Society
of Friends here, commenced about this time.

In the minutes of Darby Meeting for 1699 there are several
entries in respect to the building of a new meeting-house. At
length it was agreed " that a meeting house sixty foot one way
and twenty foot added to the side 21 foot wide in the cleare be
built." A portion of this meeting-house is still standing, inside
of the grave-yard at Darby.3

The young people among Friends were very much restricted
in these early times in the matter of courtship and marriage.
The meeting at Haverford ordered, "that all young men among
friends make known their intentions to their parents or guardians
before they acquaint ye young woman's relations, and to make it
known unto the woman's parents or Guardians, before they speak
to them, and if any do otherwise, that they shall condemn the
same before they proceed any farther. * * *" About the same
restrictions, it is believed, prevailed generally in the Society.

David Lloyd presented a petition to the Council, setting forth

1 In the year 1700 this question was formally brought by the Chester Quarterly
Meeting before the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, but the latter decided to retain
the Welsh meetings, though situated in Chester County

2 The certificate of this marriage is recorded at West Chester, in Deed Book A, i.
223.

3 A (o«w was authorized the next year to complete this meeting-house — an expedient
rarely resorted to by the Society of Friends.

1699.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 199

that he had purchased a small parcel of land at Chester, " called
the Green, wch Lyes very commodious for building a town. It
fronts to both Chester Creek & delaware river, and is protracted,
& a market place Laid out, with Streets by ye Surveyor General,
as by the mapp to the said petition annex't appears."1 He asked
the board " to allow and confirm the sd model as the law in that
case directs." But in this he was opposed by Jasper Yeates, who
regarded the Green as church land, and was unwilling that David
Lloyd should "obtain an act of Assembly to strengthen a pre-
tended title of his to the green Lying before Upland." So the
matter rested for the present.

The inhabitants of Chichester [Marcus Hook] this year peti-
tioned the Council, " requesting a weeklie markett & two fairs in
the year ; after a full debate yrupon, The Leivt. Gor & Council
granted ym a weeklie market on fridays, to be kept in Broad
street as is desired."

Edward Shippen, Cornelius Emptson, and William Biles, as
Judges, held a Provincial Court this year at Chester, assisted by
the County Justices. After John Moore and David Lloyd, as
attorneys, had had " several debates about the cause depending,"
the parties " referred the matter wholly to three Judges on the
benches as arbitrators," the parties to be bound by the decision,
which was immediately made.

At the June Court, Joseph Edge, the Constable of Chester,
presented Henry Barnes, " for calling our Governor Penn a
Rogue," &c, &c. The rest of the constables returned " all was
well." For very many years, after this date, the same return
was made, when a constable had no breach of the peace to re-
port. It was also a practice to read the newly enacted laws, in
open Court, immediately after the Grand Jury was called.

The last road laid out by a Grand Jury was from the neigh-
borhood of Birmingham and Thornbury to Joseph Cobourn's
mill and Caleb Pusey's mill, the report of which was made to the
June Court. The same Court made the first appointment of six
viewers to lay out a road in the manner now practiced. The
appointment was to lay out " a convenient cart road," for
Robert Smith of Darby.

The Court ordered, " that two supervisors, to witt, Thomas Fox
of Darby, and Matthias Morton of Ridlye, to make good that
new road, from Walter Fawcet's fence to Darby, sixty foot wide."

If the people of Chester did fail in obtaining permission to
build a bridge over the creek, they were determined to divert
some share of the travel of the King's road through their town.

1 This map has not been found. For the conveyance of this land to David Lloyd,
the written assent of the Swedish congregation of Crane Hook to the sale, and an
extract of the indemnifying bond given on the occasion, see Appendix, Note K,

200 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1700.

With this view, Ralph Fishbourne exhibited to the October
Court of 1699 a petition, " with many hands of the inhabitants
of the County for a convenient road way from the west side
of Chester Creek, where the ferry is to be kept, for to lead to the
now King's road. The Court accordingly appointed six viewers
" for to go and lay out the said road way in the most convenient
place they can for the conveniency of the Inhabitants."

That dreadful scourge, the yellow fever, prevailed in the city of
Philadelphia in 1699, producing the greatest consternation and
alarm among the people.1 The September Court at Chester ad-
journed without transacting any business, and though the cause
is not given on the record, it may reasonably be inferred, that
the malady had made its appearance at that place. After a very
protracted voyage, William Penn arrived in the Province with
his wife and family, with the avowed intention of ending his days
in Pennsylvania. He landed at Philadelphia in the beginning
of November, after the ravages of the fever had ceased.

When proceeding up the Delaware, Penn left the vessel, and
spent one night at the house of Lydia, the widow of Robert
Wade, in company with Thomas Story, who had recently arrived
from a religious visit to Virginia. Before proceeding to the ves-
sel in the morning, he crossed over to the east side of the creek
in a boat, "and as he landed, some young men officiously, and
contrary to express orders of some of the Magistrates, fired two
small sea pieces of cannon, and being ambitious to make three
out of two, by firing one twice, one of them darting in a cart-
ridge of powder, before the piece was sponged, had his left arm
shot to pieces ; upon which, a surgeon being sent for, an ampu-
tation took place."2

After the government was restored to Penn, a new Constitu-
tion had been adopted under the administration of Markham,
which was not satisfactory to the Proprietary. An entirely new
Council was elected; and from Chester County, David Lloyd was
returned for three years, Caleb Pusey for two, and John Simcock
for one year. Many new laws were passed shortly after the
arrival of the Proprietary, which were duly read at the opening
of the March Court at Chester.

Ralph Fishbourn now appears as a Justice, and Henry Hol-
lingsworjh as Clerk of the Court. In a prosecution for highway
robbery, John Moore appeared as attorney for the King.

That everlasting subject, the Court-house and Prison, again
claimed the attention of the Court and Grand Jury, who or-
dered them to " be forthwith repaired for a present necessity
***** that the two back-rooms in the prison be arched over
with a brick in length, and be furnished with sufficient doors,

1 Proud's Hist. Penna. i. 421. 2 Clarkson, ii. 163.

1700.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 201

and the whole prison to be laid over with beams close together,
and planked on the top of them." Provision was also made for
a pair of stocks and a whipping-post; all to be at the county's
charge.

The Justices appoint "four substantial Freeholders," as As-
sessors to assist them in levying the necessary taxes; but the
duty now performed by Assessors was then performed by the
Constables, while the Justices and Assessors supplied the place
of County Commissioners of the present day.

Among the presentments of the Grand Jury was that "

did fraudulently expose peces of lead and potshards

unto John Stubbs of this county for current silver of the Pro-
vince."

The Court and Grand Jury authorized a levy towards the close
of this year of 3d. in the pound, and 12 shillings poll tax. In
anticipation of this duty, three of the Grand Jurors, though
present, refused to serve, and submitted to a fine of 20 shillings
each ; it being understood that the tax was for the defence of the
Province. This tax amounted to X325, and was laid by the
Assemblymen and Assessors of the county, in pursuance of a law
lately enacted at New Castle.

What is now known as "the old end" of Haverford Meeting-
house, was built this year, at an estimated cost of £158. It was
built as an addition to a former meeting-house, which was re-
placed by the present " new end" in the year 1800 — one century
afterwards. The old meeting-house was without a chimney,
being warmed by a kind of stove, or furnace, placed on each side
of the building, and supplied with fuel from the outside of the
house. Only the top of these stoves were of iron, and the smoke
escaped by flues opening on the outside of the wall, a few feet
above the opening through which the fuel was introduced. Part
of this arrangement is yet conspicuous in the walls of the old
meeting-house.

Clarkson records the attendance of Penn at a general meeting of
the Welsh Quakers at Haverford — doubtless in their then newly
erected meeting-house. If tradition is to be relied on, a goodly
number of our Welsh ancestors were so little acquainted with
the English language, that they were unable to understand the
sermon preached by the Proprietary.

On another visit to Haverford, an anecdote is recorded of the
Proprietary. A little girl named Rebecca Wood, was walking
from Darby, where she resided, to Haverford Meeting, when
Penn, who was on horseback, overtook her, and inquired where
she was going. Upon being informed, " he with his usual good
nature, desired her to get up behind him; and bringing his horse
to a convenient place, she mounted, and so rode away upon the

202 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1700.

bare back, and being without shoes or stockings, her bare legs
k feet hung dangling by the side of the Governor's horse."1

From the first settlement of the country up to this time, dis-
ownments from the Society of Friends were very rare. The
first minuted loss of membership in Chester Monthly Meeting,
occurs this year. By repeated visits, and patient careful and
judicious management, nearly every offender was reclaimed and
restored to his former standing in the Society. Some thus re-
stored by careful dealing, afterwards became the pillars of the
Church. The growth of the Society now appears to be rapid,
both in numbers and means ; new meetings are being established
and new meeting-houses erected. In 1699 a new meeting-house
was proposed to be erected " by the Friends belonging to Thomas
Minchall's meeting, at the burying ground by Thomas Powell's."
This burying ground is now known as Sandy Bank. The com-
mittee appointed to fix the site of the meeting-house, decided
that, "the farther end of Thomas Minshall's land by the high
road side," was the best location. Thomas Minshall donated an
acre of land for the purpose and the meeting-house was erected
and ready for use this year. It occupied the present site of
Providence Meeting-house.2

Early this year a committee fixed a site " for a meeting house,
for friends of John Bowater's Meeting ***** upon
the land or lot belonging to the meeting's burying place." This
is the site of the old meeting-house in Middletown. The house
proposed to be built may not have been completed before the
next year.

A meeting-house was also erected at Springfield this year for
the accommodation of the meeting that had been held at the
house of Bartholomew Coppock. It is not known that it was
occupied earlier than the 26th of the 3d month (May), 1701,
when Chester Monthly Meeting was held there.3

Evidence of the existence of Episcopalian organizations within
the limits of our county, now begins to dawn upon us. In the
History of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign parts, we are told that " the Swedes and Dutch settled
in this Province [Pennsylvania] had some ministers among them,
but the English had none, till the year 1700 ; when the Rever-
end Mr. Evans was sent over to Philadelphia by Bishop Comp-
ton." After describing the labors and success of Mr. Evans,
the author goes on to say, that " a hearty love and zeal for Re-

1 Clarkson, ii. 178, as taken from Sutcliff.

2 Thomas Powell had discontinued his membership with Friends, andvhad become
an active Episcopalian.

3 A draft found among the papers of Isaac Taylor, the surveyor, made in 1702-3,
shows that this meeting-house, which was doubtless built of logs, stood in what is now
the grave-yard, and fronted on the road leading to Darby.

1701.] HISTORY OP DELAWARE COUNTY. 203

ligion spread so wide, that there arose soon several congregations,
in other parts of the country ; Mr. Evans was forced to divide his
labours among them, as often as he conveniently could, till they
might he formed into Proper Districts, and the ministers sent
over to them."

" He went frequently to Chichester, Chester and Concord, to
Montgomery and Radnor, each about 20 miles distant from Phi-
ladelphia, and to Maidenhead in West Jersey, 40 miles distant.
This travelling was both fatiguing and expensive, yet he fre-
quently visited those places, being determined by all means, to
lose none of those he had gained. But Montgomery and Radnor,
next to Philadelphia had the most considerable share in his
labors." There is no notice of a church edifice at either of the
places named, except Philadelphia. Mr. Evans was, in part,
supported by the Royal bounty of King William and not at all
by the Society.1

Since the establishment of a mill at Darby, the Swedes' mill
appearsto have attracted less attention. A conveyance2 made
this year by the widow of Neals Laerson, and her son, Andrew
Friend, of one twenty-third part of this mill and appurtenant
land, to William Cobb, shows that it had been held by a joint-
stock company of Swedes. Having passed into the hands of
William Cobb, the creek on which the mill was located, after a
time, acquired his name.

The people of the town of Chichester [Marcus Hook], were
not satisfied without the privilege of holding a Fair which, it
appears they had enjoyed under the Administration of Governor
Markham. "Because some complaints had been made against
Fairs in general," the grant of a Fair to Chichester was made
by the Council conditionally ; it was to be suppressed when the
Government thought fit to suppress others.

The people of the town of Chester concluded that this grant
of a Fair to Chichester was intended to supersede one of the two
Annual Fairs that their town had enjoyed for about eleven years,
under a grant from the Governor and Council. Upon applica-
tion a Fair, in the usual course, was ordered to be held, and the
privilege of holding two Annual Fairs and a Weekly Market,
was soon afterwards confirmed to the inhabitants of Chester by
a charter from the Governor.3

It is exceedingly difficult fully to comprehend the action of the

1 See p. 148 of that Hist.

2 Recorder's Office, West Chester.

3 The safety of both Chester and Darby from accidents by fire was provided for by
legal enactment. Persons were not permitted to set their chimneys on fire to cleanse
them, nor to suffer them "to become so foul as to take fire and blaze out at the top."
Every housekeeper was obliged " to keep, in his or her house, a swab, at least 12 or 14
feet long, as also two leather buckets."

204 ' HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1701.

Court and Grand Jury on the subject of Court-houses and prisons,
from the commencement of Penn's government down to this pe-
riod. After much study and research the author has embodied
his conclusions thereon, which will be found in the Appendix,
Note H.

At the March Court, it was " ordered by the Justices and
Grand Jury, that the old court house be set on sale the 6th day
of the 3d month next, and in order thereto, papers be set up to
give notice that it is to be sold at vandew."1 And at the same
Court, in respect to a prison, it was " ordered that Jasper Yeates,
Ralph Fishbourn, Joseph Cobourn and Andrew Jobe be supervi-
sors for the building of a new prison upon the ground bought of
James Sanderland, and we order them to imploy workmen &
to provide materials for performing and carrying on the said
work, and the said Supervisors are empowered to receive the
levy from the collectors as they are raised and to pay the work-
men and to do all things material for the said work ; and they
are to build the said house 25 foot long and 18 foot wide in the
clear, or thereabouts, as they see cause — the said house to front
high street, and at the north corner of the ground."

At the October Court, "James Sandiland by his attorney,
David Lloyd, delivered a deed to John Blunston, Caleb Pusey,
Ralph Fishborn, Robert Pile and Philip Roman for a piece of
land being 120 foot square in the township of Chester," for
which land, the grantees at the same time delivered a declara-
tion of trust, showing that the purchase was for the use of the
county. At the same Court, it was agreed by the Justices and
Grand Jury " to repair the court house with all possible speed,
and they appoint Walter Martin, John Hoskin and Henry
Worley to be supervisors and oversee the work and to agree
with workmen, provide materials and finish the said work with
all expedition, and to provide . a pair of stocks and whipping
post."

Eastown was organized as a township this year.

The new roads laid out have become so numerous, and the re-
ports of their location so indefinite, that a further notice of them
would prove tedious. It will therefore be omitted, except in
very particular cases.

The tax laid for the support of the Government was very
unpopular. So much so that the constables returned that the
inhabitants were unwilling to pay or delayed payment, where-
upon it was ordered by the Court " that a warrant be issued to
the Sheriff to collect the said levy."

The establishment of Newtown meeting by Haverford Monthly
Meeting has already been mentioned. This was not regarded

1 This sale was made to John Simcock, and was to legalize a former sale to him.

1701.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 205

with favor by the Chester Quarterly Meeting which had con-
sidered the connection of Haverford and Radnor Meetings with
Philadelphia as an innovation on its appropriate jurisdiction.
Complaint was at once made, first to Haverford, then to the
Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, and finally to the Yearly Meet-
ing, which decided, " that Newtown Meeting may remain as it
is, and may belong to Philadelphia ; but for the future the Welsh
Friends are not to set up any more meetings in the county of
Chester without the consent of (Chester) Quarterly Meeting."

The Welsh settlements had extended into Goshen and the
Haverford Monthly Meeting had already authorized or were
about to authorize a meeting to be held there. The decision of
the Yearly Meeting made it necessary for the Goshen Friends to
make application to the Chester Quarterly Meeting, which was
accordingly done, and permission was obtained in the following
year, to have a meeting at Goshen, " every other first day."

Notwithstanding the jurisdiction over the Goshen Friends
could no longer be claimed by the Haverford Monthly Meeting,
the members of that meeting for a long time continued to extend
a tender care over them, to supply their wants and to unite with
them in their meetings. Even the next year the Friends of
Haverford Meeting contributed £16 9s. 8d. to aid Robert Wil-
liam of Goshen in building a house, he having received Friends
''kindly and open hearted," and keeping the meeting in his
house.1 At the same time <£12 5s. 2d. was contributed to Cad-
walader Ellis and brother, also of Goshen, " whose house had
been burned by fire, and his mother and bro Jier having lost most
they had." These acts of kindness, taken in connection with a
common ancestry and language, produced a more familiar and
friendly intercourse between the Goshen Friends and those of
Haverford Monthly Meeting, than existed between them and the
monthly meeting to which they formally belonged.

The name of Marcus Hook had been changed to Chichester by
Gov. Markham and his Council before the first arrival of the
Proprietary. Upon petition of the inhabitants of the venerable
town, the Governor by letters patent, confirmed the name of
Chichester, and granted to the people of the place the usual
privileges enjoyed by Boroughs. As this curious document has
never been published it is given in the Appendix, note E.

Gov. Penn received intelligence from England which compelled
him to embrace the earliest opportunity to return. The crown
had become jealous of its Proprietary governments in America,
and desired to convert them into regal ones. For this purpose,

1 Goshen Meeting originated from the meetings held at this house. It stood about
one mile east of the present meeting-house. Its proprietor, Robt. William, was
familiarly known as " the King of Goshen."

206 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1702.

a bill had been introduced into Parliament, and was only post-
poned at the earnest solicitation of the friends of Penn, until he
should return. This rendered his early departure necessary,
and he accordingly sailed from Philadelphia on the 1st of No-
vember, 1701. He never returned to Pennsylvania.

A very unpopular act was passed this year in the shape of a
law directing all located lands to be re-surveyed at the expense
of the Proprietary — he exacting payment for all surplusage, which
was found to be great in this county.

Before leaving, Penn by letters patent, established a Council
of State, composed of ten members, of whom Caleb Pusey and
John Blunston were from this county. He also appointed
Andrew Hamilton, one of the proprietors of East Jersey, deputy
Governor.

The boundary line between the counties of Chester and New
Castle had only been temporarily established. A warrant was
granted in 1701 to run the circular line, directed to Isaac
Taylor of Chester county, and Thomas Pierson of New Castle
county.1 The running of this circular line was no easy task.
The cost was imposed on the two counties instead of the Pro-
vince, and to judge from the following report of the Grand Jury
on the subject, it may be concluded that the worthy surveyors
were not overpaid.

" We the Grand Jury from this County, having duly con-
sidered and carefully adjusted an account of charges contracted
by running a circular line dividing this County from the County
of New Castle and settling the boundaries, and having duly
and deliberately debated, every article of the said account, do
allow the sum of twenty six pounds nine shillings due, to be
paid by this County for said work.

James Coupek, Foreman."

Notwithstanding the Court and Grand Jury last year directed
that the Court-house should be repaired " with all possible
speed," we find the Grand Jury of this year presenting "the
necessity of a Court house, and that all such as have not paid
their levy, may be forced." They also added, that in case of
emergency, for the speedy perfection of said work, " we the
Grand Jury request that the Justices take care to raise money
as the law directs, for we are sensible that law and justice can-
not have its perfect course without such houses for their distri-
bution as aforesaid." No new Court-house, however, was erected
till 1724.

From the presentments of the Grand Jury and orders made
by the Court from time to time, it appears that the Court-house was,

1 Recorder's office, Philadelphia, Book C. 2. No. 3.

1702.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 207

on this occasion only repaired, and that a new jail was erected,
the latter occupying the site, it is believed, of the building last
used as a jail in Chester, and may have been part of that build-
ing. It will be seen hereafter, that at this period there was
still a building known as the "old Court house."

Several roads were laid out this year. Among the number
was one from "■Limestone Hill to Springfield meeting House."

Among the numerous presentments made by the Grand Jury,
there ;ire several for neglecting to keep the roads in repair.
Thus, the townships of Chester, Ridley and Darby are presented
" for neglecting to repair the Great road between Chester and
the Philadelphia County line, & for want of convenient bridges
over the creeks." They also request that care be taken for a
bridge "over Mill Creek, that parts this County from Philadel-
phia. In respect to the width of roads, the Court made the
following order which does not appear to have been enforced :

" Ordered, that all Cart roads, laid out by order of Court,
and allowed, shall be fifty feet broad, as the two roads laid out
from Upper and Nether Providence to Darby and Caleb's mill,1
and all others."

An Episcopal church was established this year on the site
now occupied by St. Martin's church at Marcus Hook. Walter
Martin, a well known inhabitant of Chichester, by a singular
deed of gift, in the year 1699 conveyed to the inhabitants of
Chichester an acre of ground for a church or free burying place ;
the inhabitants to build a church, chapel, or meeting-house, to
the honor and service of God, " Quakers or reputed Quakers
only excepted."

The privilege of securing the lot by the erection of a church
edifice, was confined to such as owned "the two ordinances of the
Sacraments of baptism, and the Lord's Supper, viz : water
baptism, that is by sprinkling or dipping ; and the Lord's
Supper of bread and wine ; and such as own the resurrection of
the bodies of the dead, and own the ordinances of singing of
psalms in the praise of God in the Congregation or in their
families, and such as own the taking an oath on the Bible
according to the laws of England, if lawfully called thereto for
the confirmation of the truth. "2

A record in the vestry- book of St. Martin's church shows
that the lot was secured to the Episcopalians by " Sundry
persons, adventurers from England, Scotland, and Ireland, into
the Province of Pennsylvania, being well principled in and
affected to the pure Apostolick and primitive doctrine and disci-

1 That is, Caleb Pusey's mill or Chester mill. It is frequently called Caleb's mill in
the Court Record.

2 Recorder's office, West Chester, Book A, No. 1.

208 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1702.

pline of the truly Episcopal and Protestant Church of England,"
who purchased, in 1702, an old frame house from Jane and
Tobias Hendrickson, for about £5, and removed it upon the lot
conveyed by Walter Martin for a church yard. It was fitted up
for divine worship the same year.1

The evidence in respect to the time of the erection of St.
Paul's Church at Chester is somewhat contradictory. In one
account, contained in the History of the " Society for Propa-
gating the Gospel in Foreign parts," the church is represented
as having been completed in 1702, while a letter from the con-
gregation to the Society, written in 1704, and contained in the
same book, may be construed to mean that it was " not then
quite finished." See Appendix Note F, for an account of the
establishment of this church and the other early Episcopal
Churches of the Bounty.

Gwynedd or North Wales, East of the Schuylkill, was set-
tled with a later immigration of Welsh people than those
who had settled Merion, Haverford, and Radnor. Many of
them were relatives or personal friends of the earlier settlers of
the three townships, and being Quakers, they at once united with
them in their meeting affairs. The Gwynedd friends now appear
at the Haverford Monthly-Meeting, as representing an indepen-
dent preparative meeting in connection with it. A first day meet-
ing,for six months is also established at Plymouth by the Haver-
ford Monthly Meeting. In the following year Plymouth Meeting
was also established as a preparative meeting.

A great difficulty had occurred among Friends in respect to
the payment of a levy authorized for the support of Govern-
ment. Many of them had refused to pay, on the ground, it is
supposed, that some part of the money would be appropriated to
military purposes. The matter was at length brought before
the Chester Quarterly Meeting, which body, after due con-
sideration, and the avowal that the Society " have been always
ready and willing to assist and support civil government," did
order "that all be advised not to refuse the paying any levys
lawfully demanded ; and if any be stubborn and not take
advice by their brethren, that they be speedily dealt with, and
truth kept clear."

The decision of the yearly meeting, in respect to Newtown
Meeting, excluded the Haverford Monthly Meeting from extend-
ing its jurisdiction over any other meetings in Chester County.
Upon application, the Chester Quarterly Meeting now authorizes
the Friends of Goshen to establish a meeting " every other first
day at the house of Griffith Jones."

" Chester [preparative] Meeting, proposeth their intentions of

1 Article in Del. Co. Republican, Feb. 10, I860.

1702.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 209

purchasing in the town, which this meeting approves of, provided
they preserve and keep in good order the old burying place."

King William died on the 18th of January, 1702, but it was
not till the 10th of July that his successor, the Princess Anne, of
Denmark, was proclaimed at Philadelphia as Queen of England.

But the most important event of the year was the legislative
separation of the three lower Counties from the Province. Be-
fore leaving the country, Penn had given his reluctant assent to
this separation, to take place at any time within three years.
It was now accomplished, very much against the wishes of
Governor Hamilton. From this time the separation was final.

It appears from the following Warrant of Survey, the original
of which is filed in the Surveyor General's Office, that up to
about the time William Penn returned to England, a tribe of
Indians, known as the OkeJcoekings, were seated within the
present limits of Delaware County.

/ k g I "By the Commissioners of Property."

V^^^' Whereas Pokias, Sepopawny Muttagooppa and
others of ye nation called ye Okehocking Indians in Chester
County with their families upon their Removal from their late
settlemts near Ridley and Crum Creeks, have by the Proprietors
ordr and appointm' been seated on another certain tract in ye
said county, and on the said Ridley creek, neare ye head
thereof formerly surveyed to Griffith Jones, but by him left and
acquitted & now belonging to ye Proprietary : In which place
the said Indians request we would grant them a certain settlem'
under sure metes and Bounds, to them and their posterity in
pursuance of the Proprietors engagem' in that case made
before his Departure, who granted them, as 'tis credibly
affirmed to us, five hundred acres in ye sd place ; These there-
fore are in pursuance of the said Grant to authorize & require
thee to survey and lay out to the said Pokhais, Sepopawny,
Muttagooppa and others of ye sd nation called ye Okekocking
Indians who were lately seated lower on ye sd creeks & their
Relations and to no other whatsoever the full quantity of five
hundred acres of land in one square tract in such place within
the aforesaid tract as the sd Indians shall desire : which said
five hundred acres we do hereby grant to the said Pokhais,
Sepopawny, Muttagooppa and others of the sd nation called the
Okehocking Indians, who were lately seated as aforesaid and to
their Relations & to no other, whatsoever, to have and to hold
to them the said Indians for a Settlem' and to their posterity of
the same nation of Indians (and no other) forever, Provided
14

210 HISTORY* OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1703.

alwayes that the sd Indians, nor any of them shall not give
Grant or attempt to sell or any -way dispose of any of the said
five hundred acres of land hereby granted to any p son what-
soever, But at such time as the sd Indians shall quitt or leave
the said place, it shall be surrendered to ye Proprietary without
any further claim of the sd Indians or any person whatsoever by
or under them, their title or procurem', and make returns into
the General Surveyor's office. Given under our hands and the
seal of the Province at Philadelphia the 15th of ye 10th mo. 1702.

Edwd: Shippen
" To Isaac Taylor Griffith Owen

Surveyor of the County Tho. Story

of Chester. James Logan."

This tract to which the Indians were removed, is located in
the township of Willistown, in the present County of Chester.1

Early in 1703, Governor Hamilton died. The Council,
with Edward Shippen as its President, administered the affairs
of the Government till the end of the year, when John Evans,
the newly appointed Governor, arrived.

Upon the petition of Humphrey Ellis, Daniel Lewis, and fifty-
eight others, " the principal inhabitants of ye Welsh Tract," to the
Council, Samuel Richardson, David Lloyd, Rowland Ellis, Wm.
Howell, Wm. Jenkins, and Richard Thomas, were appointed to
view certain roads that had been laid out, and " to lay out and
survey one direct road of fifty foot in breadth, as convenient in
all respects as may be, both to ye inhabitants and settlers of ye
interjacent lands & travellers, Leading from Willm. Powell's
ferry, on Schuykill & passing Haverford meeting House to ye
principal part of Goshen Township, and thence continued in a
direct course to ye upper settlements on Brandy wine." * *

The laying out of this road indicates that the settlements
were rapidly progressing westward. This is corroborated by
the additional fact, that the Friends of Goshen were sufficiently
numerous to erect a meeting-house this year, at which the
quarterly meeting ordered a meeting to be kept every first day,
except the last first day in every 10th, 1st, 4th, and 7th months,

1 See map of early settlements for the boundary of this tract. The following
minute of the Commissioners of Property, under date of 7th & 8th 10th mo. 1702,
throws some additional light on the subject of the removal of these Indians: "The
Ockanickon or Crum creek Ind"s having removed from their old habitation before the
prop?8 departure by his order seated by Caleb Pusey, Nicolas Pyle, Nath1 Newlin &
Jos. Baker on the tract in Chester county formerly laid out to Griffy Jones, but now
vacant — "

"But the sa Indns expressing great uneasiness at the uncertainty of their settle-
ments, pressed and several times urged the neighboring Friends, that they might be
confirmed in some particular place, under certain metes and bounds, that they might
no more [be] like dogs, as they expressed themselves."

1703.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 211

at which times it was ordered " to be kept, at David Jones' at
Whiteland in the Great Valley." There was also a meeting
ordered to be kept at " the Goshen meeting house" every sixth
day. The " Goshen meeting house," here referred to, is the
meeting place at Robert Williams, as will be seen hereafter.
The next year the Whiteland Meeting was discontinued, and
ordered to be held at " Robert Williams in Goshen."

Although a meeting-house had been erected at Springfield
for some time, the deed for the ground (two acres) was not de-
livered till 1703. It was conveyed by Bartholomew Coppock, Jr.

The earliest record that has come under the notice of the
author, in which a burying-place at Chester is mentioned,
(other than that of the Quakers,) is the will of John Johnson
[Jan Jansen] " of Markes Creek," dated 1684-5. He desires to be
buried "in Chester alias Upland."1 The testator was a Dutch-
man, and doubtless an Episcopalian, and hence it may be
inferred, that the burying-place mentioned was one belonging to
an organized congregation of Episcopalians at Chester. But
the fact that the testator designates the burying-place by the
name of the town, and not by that of the church, is very strong,
though not conclusive evidence, that no church edifice had been
erected at the time of making this will ; and that the establish-
ment of an Episcopal burying-place at Chester, by that Society,
preceded the erection of a church edifice, of any kind, many
years.

The ground at Chester, known in ancient times as " The
Green," was church land, but it belonged to the Swedes. It was
much nearer the river than St. Paul's Church. The Swedes
never had a church at Chester, and the fact, that in parting with
their church lands at that place, they make no reservation of a
burying place, is most satisfactory evidence that no part of
these lands had been appropriated to the interment of the dead.
From all the facts and circumstances that have come to the know-
ledge of the author, he has arrived at the conclusion that the
Episcopalians had no church edifice at Chester, prior to the erec-
tion of the old St. James' brick church, recently demolished,
and that it was erected between the years 1702 and 1704. See
Appendix, Note F.

The presentments now made by the Grand Juries have become
very numerous. The necessity of a pair of stocks and a whip-
ping-post,2 in the town of Chester, is again presented, and the
township of Chester is presented for not erecting the former,
and for not clearing the road. In fact many of the presentments
are "for not clearing the roads."

1 Register's Office, Philadelphia. Book A, 324.

2 The township of Chester is again presented the next year, " for not erecting a
pair of stocks and whipping post in said town."

212 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1704,

At the last Court in 1703 the Grand Jury presented " the
old court house as being a nuisance to the town in case of fire,
and also the chimney of Henry Hollingsworth in Chester town."
In consequence of this presentment, the court " on deliberate
consideration orders that the said house be pulled down, and that
Jasper Yeates, Chief Burgess of the Borough of Chester, shall
see the said order performed."1

Since the first settlement of the county, the sentences of im-
prisonment, by the Court, have been very rare. For many years

past there has been none until this year, when

was ordered " to remain in prison till he give security for his
good behaviour."

The following is a sentence on a man servant of Richard
Woodward, for stealing a horse, saddle, bridle and wearing ap-
parel from Jonathan Munrow :

" That the said shall serve his said master and

Jonathan Munrow, or their assigns seven years, (which time is to
be equally divided betwixt them, and they to be at equal charge,)
and to wear a T according to law."

"West town" makes its appearance as a township in 1703 —
its first constable being Richard Buffington.

The attention of the Justices was frequently called to matters
that would now scarcely claim the attention of our courts. Thus,
an apprentice boy complains that his master had not freely per-
formed his duty in teaching him to read and write. The Court
directs the master " to put the said servant to school one month,
and to instruct his said servant another month."

An illegitimate child is brought to the Court, whose reputed
father could not be found out. The Court ordered the child "to
be called John Thorley."

Tavern licenses were granted by the Governor, but none could
apply but such as were recommended by the Court. The appli-
cation for these, "recommendations," were rather annoying.

At the May Court, this year, a commission from Governor
Evans to Jasper Yeates, Caleb Pusey, Jeremiah Collett, Philip
Roman and Jonathan Hayes was read, when they were qualified
as Justices.

In the year 1701, an act was passed authorizing the erection
of a bridge over Chester Creek, in the town of Chester, and
ordering the justices of the county court of this county, " to lay
out a road from the Kings road that leads to New Castle and
Maryland, near as may be to Ralph Fishbourn — the intended
place for a bridge over Chester Creek." The road was not laid
out till this year, when it appears the bridge was completed.

1 An act passed in 1701, for the sale of this Court-house, shows that it had been
'" ruinated by fire " some time before.

1705.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 213

But another trouble presented itself; for some of the inhabitants
of Chichester "did declare, they would never cut nor clear"
the said road. But the Court got round the difficulty by order-
ing "the inhabitants of Chester with such others as are willing
to assist them, at their own proper charge, for the more effectual
answering the said law, and speedy accommodation of all travel-
lers, to cut and clear the road as they had laid it out." The
Chester people were very anxious for the road, and the work was
soon accomplished, and a report thereof made to the next Court.
The great thoroughfare, by land, from the north to the south
now, for the first time, passed through Chester.

Application was made in 1704 to the Chichester and Concord
Monthly Meeting of Friends, by John Bennet and Elizabeth
Webb, " on behalf of the inhabitants of the upper part of Bir-
mingham and Brandy wine Creek," to have a meeting at the
house of John Bennett. This application was granted and after-
wards confirmed by the Quarterly Meeting. Birmingham meet-
ing had its origin in the meeting thus established.

There appears to have been an unusually great rain on the
first of May this year — so unusual that the circumstance is re-
corded in the minutes of Chester Quarterly Meeting.

What is now known in the Society of Friends as a Prepara-
tive Meeting, being a thing of recent introduction, Darby sub-
mits the manner of their preparative meeting to the Quarterly
Meeting for their approbation. They also make the inquiry,
Whether persons intending marriage may appear by writing at
the preparative meeting. The answer was : " they may not,
but by themselves or friends."

Goshen, Whiteland, Willistown, Kennet and Marlborough now
appear to be organized as townships, and return constables to
the court.1

The law requiring applications to the Governor, for license to
keep tavern, had the effect of lessening the number of legalized
public houses. Some still persisted in selling liquors without
license, but through the vigilance of the Grand jury, few were
allowed to escape the penalty of the law.

The Court did not, in every instance, at once cut short the
traffic in liquor by persons whom they could not cordially in-
dorse. As an instance of the leniency of the Justices in this re-
spect, John Test was recommended to the Governor " for a
license to sell strong liquors by retail for six months and no
longer, in consideration that he now hath liquors lying on his
hand, which cannot, without great damage, be vended as is sup-
posed in much less time." John Test kept tavern in Darby.

1 Shortly after this time. New Garden. Uwcblan, and Bradford were organized as
townships, but the precise date is not contained in the Record of the Court.

214 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1706.

A Supreme or Provincial Court was held in Chester this year
in which John Guest and Jasper Yeates officiated as Justices.
This court declined to try an indictment for Burglary, on the
ground that it had no jurisdiction in the case.

Instead of Grand Jurors holding their office for a year as
formerly there is now a new Grand Jury called at every court.
Many of their presentments have the form of regular indictments,
but others bear unmistakable evidence of having been drawn up
in the Grand Jury room, of which the following is a specimen :

" We the Grand Jury do present the want of a good lawful
bridge over the Sweed's mill creek, and also over Darby creek,
and also over Crum Creek, and to have the Queen's road made
good, laid out according to law through Darby township & the
township of Ridley to clear the road and mend the bridges."

At the close of the year 1705, an act was passed by the
Legislature " to assure, grant and convey unto Ralph Fishbourne
of Chester, Gent, one messuage, Cottage, house or Tenements
and lot of land thereunto belonging, situate in Chester, in the
county of Chester aforesaid, formerly known by the name of the
old Court house, to hold to the said Ralph Fishbourne, his heirs
and assigns forever." This Court-house was built in 1685. —
See Appendix, Note H.

Governor Evans was a young man, and was alike destitute of
correct principles and good morals. He hated the Quakers, and
in order to test their doctrine of non-resistance, he resorted to a
trick so contemptible in character, that it should at once have
insured his dismissal from office. With one French, who was
stationed at New Castle, and others, he concerted a plot, to raise
an alarm, by announcing the approach of hostile vessels. On
the appointed day, (16th of May, 1706,) French sent a messenger
to the Governor in the greatest haste, with the false news, which
the Governor and others in the plot, pretended to believe, and
did not fail to circulate far and wide. The Governor in order to
play his part the better, rode through the streets of Philadelphia
on horseback, with a drawn sword in his hand, in the greatest
apparent consternation. This false alarm must have reached
Chester before it reached Philadelphia, but no document has
been met with in which the subject is mentioned. By even-
ing of the same day, the untruthfulness of the story became
known, and its authors were glad to' hide themselves in order to
avoid the just indignation of an insulted people.

The Great Southern road, as originally laid out, crossed Darby
creek at nearly the same point where it now crosses — just at the
head of tide. The place of crossing Crum, Ridley and Chester
creeks was also at the head of tide water, and the main rout of
the road had a general direction to suit these points for crossing

1706.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 215

the creeks. A bridge had been built over Chester creek at
Chester, and the road had lately been varied at that point.
Upon the petition of the inhabitants of the town and county of
Chester to the Governor and council,1 Jasper Yeates, Caleb
Pusey, Jeremiah Collet, Robert Barber and John Hendrickson,
were appointed " to lay out the Queens road on as direct a line
as may be from Darby to answer the bridge on Chester creek."
At the same time the Council ordered, that " if there shall be
occasion for building a bridge over any Navigable Creek or
water, for the greater convenience of Travelling the said road,
that such bridge shall be so built, that the same may in no wise
hinder any boats from passing, either up or down such creek or
water." The road was promptly laid out,2 in pursuance of this
order of Council, and the Justices of the Court at once directed
the Supervisors of Chester, Ridley, and Darby to be notified by
the Sheriff, to clear the same. This does not appear to have
been done; for, agreeably to a draft submitted to Council in
1747, by Joseph Bonsall and John Davis, scarcely any part of
the road then travelled corresponded with the road laid out in
17063 — the travelled road, except for a very short distance,
being from twenty to forty perches or more south of that laid
out in 1706.

By agreement between the Philadelphia and Chester Quarterly
Meetings, Newtown Meeting was transferred to the latter.
There was also a preparative meeting established at Notting-
ham this year, by the Concord and Chichester Monthly
Meetings.

Under directions from the quarterly meeting, action was
taken in the several monthly meetings of the Society of Friends
on the subject of grave-stones. The committees appointed on
that subject by Chester Monthly Meeting, found but "six small
stones to the graves." It was "the sense of the meeting,"
that they "be sunk or taken away." At Darby, where grave-
stones appear to have been more common, the request for their
removal was directed to the relatives of the deceased. The task
was, therefore, very reluctantly performed, and in some cases
the relatives disregarded a request so much at variance with
their feelings. Eventually, the subject1 gave rise to considerable
dissatisfaction in this meeting and others.

It does not appear to have been the practice, in early times,
for the Society of Friends to keep a record of the voluntary
relinquishment of membership. It is therefore impossible to

1 Col. Rec. ii. 236.

2 A draft of this road is on file in the Surveyor-General's Office, and in the Secre-
tary of State's Office, Harrisburg.

3 Mr. Samuel Hazard kindly furnished me with a copy of this draft, the original of
which is in the Secretary of State's Office, Harrisburg.

216 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1707-

ascertain the number who took sides with George Keith. Some
of them returned to the Society, made an acknowledgment of-
their error, and were kindly received. Others did not, and are
spoken of in the Society as Separatists. Between these and the
Society of Friends no very friendly feeling existed. In 1703,
Newtown Meeting reported to Haverford Monthly Meeting,
with which it was then united, " that divers that had formerly
separated from Friends, desire to join with them in their bury-
ing-place." It was the judgment of the meeting, " that they
should not be concerned with them while they so continue."

And again, this year, " W T of Newtown attending

the funeral of a child of one of his neighbors, a Separatist, and
one of the Separatists going to prayer, he unadvisedly took off
his hat, which he acknowledges to be a scandal to the truth, and
is sorry for it."

A proposition was made last year, to Chester Monthly
Meeting, by the Goshen Friends, "for building a meeting
house and having a Grave yard nearEdgment road in Goshen,"
but no action was then taken. This year the proposition is
renewed in these words:

" Friends of Goshen meeting laid their intention, of building
a meeting house near Robert Williams by the Burying ground,
which this meeting hath nothing to object against."1 A meeting
was at the same time authorized to be held once a month in
Whiteland, and once in six weeks at James Thomas' in the
Valley.

At the February Court of this year, Jeremiah Collett, con-
stable of Chichester, was presented by the Grand Jury for
neglect of duty, in not presenting Mordecai Howill, " for work-
ing and suffering his children and servants to work and do
servile labor on the first day of the week." What was done
with Mordecai Howill does not appear, but the poor constable,
after pleading guilty, was sentenced by the Court, " to pay a
fine of five shillings and his fees, and then go Quitt."

Heretofore, all bridges have been a township charge. All
the bridges on the recently laid out Queen's road, and all
bridges on roads leading to the same, are directed by the Court,
to "be erected, repaired and maintained at the public charge of
the County of Chester." This order of the Court does not
appear to be in pursuance of any law on the subject.

1 This meeting-house does not appear to have heen completed till 1709, on the
31st of October of which year, a request is made by the Goshen Friends to the
monthly meeting, " that the meetings kept at Robert Williams, may henceforth be
kept at the new meeting house." This new meeting house occupied nearly the site of
the present old Goshen meeting-house, but extended a little further west, where its
foundation may yet be seen. It was replaced by a stone building in 1737, of rather
larger dimensions than the present meeting-house. The original meeting-house was
doubtless built of logs.

1709.] HISTORY OP DELAWARE COUNTY. 217

The first report of damages by reason of laying out a public
.road, was made to the November Court of this year. The
damage was laid at £5, for "passing over Joseph Richard's
manured land."

At the following February term, three constables were ap-
pointed by the Justices, "to attend this Court." This is the
first instance of such an appointment, furnished by the Records
of the Court.

The following is a part of the proceedings of a Court of
Private Sessions, held in December, 1708 :

" Whereas there is a necessity for a new door for the prison,
being the common gaol, ordered that Henry Hollingsworth,1
clerk of the said county, forthwith cause a door for the said
prison to be made and grated with Iron bars on the outside, and
so finished that it may be secure from either cutting or firing by
prisoners." Most of us who have served as Grand Jurors, in
visiting the old prison at Chester, will recollect this grated door.

At the May term, " Thomas Clarke appeared in open Court
and was qualified attorney General for the county of Chester,
according to law." This is the first appearance of such an
officer, though, occasionally, an attorney has represented the
Crown in a particular case.

The administration of Governor Evans was as unpopular, as
the foolish conduct of a profligate young man, filled with con-
ceit, could make it. His altercations with the Assembly were
constant ; but at length, that body, aided by other real friends
of the Province, secured his recall. He was superseded in Sep-
tember, by the appointment of Col. Charles Gookin, who did
not, however, arrive in the Province till the following March.

A new Commission was issued to the Justices of the several
Counties. Those appointed for Chester County were, Jasper
Yeates, Caleb Pusey, Philip Roman, Jona. Hayes, Thos. Powell,
Nicholas Pile and Henry Pierce.

The constant altercations between the Governor and Council,
on the one side, and the Assembly on the other, during the
administration of Governor Evans, were such an impediment to
legislation, that but little was effected either for good or for
evil. James Logan was the leading spirit on the side of the
Governor, and it cannot be doubted that he supposed he was
fairly representing the interests of the Proprietary. His con-
duct, however, throughout, cannot at this day be defended,
though it may be, in a measure, excused on account of the un-
manageable character of the Governor, through whom he was
obliged to act. On the side of the Assembly, David Lloyd held
a similar position ; and while we may regret the impetuosity of

1 Henry Hollingsworth also held the office of Coroner at this time.

218 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. . [1710.

temper he sometimes exhibited, a fair and impartial examination
of the questions discussed, will show that he was generally on*
what would be considered the right side at this day. His views
were in advance of the age in which he lived, and, as a necessity,
in advocating them he not only encountered the prejudices of
the times, but every interest that had grown out of them. But
this controversy belongs to the history of the State, rather than
to that of one of its smallest Counties.

Settlements were now rapidly extending westward. New
meeting-houses and mills were being erected, and new roads laid
out.

Application is made to the Chichester and Concord Monthly
Meeting, and by it to the Quarterly Meeting, " that the meeting
of worship kept at the house of William Browne in Nottingham,
may for the future be kept at the new meeting house, there built
for that end and purpose, every first, and fifth days." A road
is also petitioned for, to the Court, "from Thomas Jarman's mill
in the Great Valley to William Davis' mill in Radnor."1 The
Friends of Newtown also have intention "to build a meeting
house near Friends burial yard."

So great had been the prosperity of our Quaker settlers, that
they were not only able to build their own meeting-houses, but
were able and willing to aid distant communities of the same
faith to erect similar edifices. Accordingly we find the Treasurer
of Chester Monthly Meeting ordered " to pay eight pounds,
Boston money, to Samuel Carpenter or Issac Morris, it being
this meeting's proportion of one hundred pounds, that the Yearly
Meeting appointed to be raised for Friends of Boston in order
for their assistance in paying for their meeting house."

The Indians manifested some uneasiness about this time, which
was communicated to the Governor by William Dalbo, of Glou-
cester County, N. J., " who acquainted him that there is a Belt
of Wampum come to Conestogo, from Mahquahotonoi ; y' there
was a Tomahock in Red in the belt, & y' the French with five
nations of Indians were designed for war, and to fall on some of
these plantations." This information was duly laid before the
Council, by the Governor, on the 14th of April, and also a letter
he had received from Mr. Yeates, Caleb Pusey and Thomas
Powell, dated the same day, " purporting that to-morrow there
was to be a great concourse of Indians, those of Conestogo &
those of the Jersey ; that they were of opinion that it might be
a seasonable opportunity for the Govr. to visit them altogether ;
the meeting being the greatest that has been known these Twenty

1 This latter mill was at or near the site of the old mill on Darby Creek, now
owned by Tryon Lewis.

1710.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 219

years, and is to be about two miles from Jno. Warraws [Jno.
Worralls], at Edgmond."1

It was the opinion of the Board, " that the Governor with
some of the Council, and as many others as can be got should
go to-morrow to meet the sd Indians to inquire further of them
about the said Belt of Wampum, and what else may be thought
necessary."

The Governor and others doubtless met the Indians, as here
indicated, but as no report of the interview was made to the
Council, it is probable the principal chiefs were not present. On
the 29th of April some more alarming news was communicated
to the Council, which induced the Governor to visit Conestogo
and have an interview with the Red Men. He found them
" very well inclined to the English," but they complained of ag-
gressions that had been committed on them by the white man.

The Governor, immediately on his return from Conestogo,
sent Col. French and Henry Worley to ascertain more fully the
wishes of the Indians. These gentlemen returned with eight
belts of Wampum, and made their report to the Council on the
16th of June. Each of these belts had a particular significance.
The import of three of them will be given:

The first was from their old women, and signified " that those
implored their friendship of the Christians and Indians of this
Govm*, that without danger or trouble, they might fetch Wood &
Water."

" The second Belt was sent from their children born, and those
yet in the womb, requesting that room to sport & play without
danger of Slavery, might be allowed them."

k' The third Belt was sent from their young men fitt to hunt,
that privilege to leave their Towns, and seek provision for their
aged, might be granted to them, without fear of Death or
Slavery."

The last two of these belts have a significance that cannot be
misunderstood. They plainly suggest the reason for the passage,
in 1705, of the " Act to prevent the importation of Indian
slaves."2

At the election in October, of this year, the liberal party, of
which David Lloyd was the acknowledged leader, was defeated

1 John Worrall lived in Edgmont, but it can scarcely be doubted that this Indian
meeting was held at the settlement of the Okehocking Indians, in Willistown, adjoin-
ing Edgmont. See map of Early Settlements.

2 The preamble of that act is in these words : " Whereas the importation of Indian
Slaves from Carolina or other places, hath been observed to give the Indians of this
Province some umbrage for suspicion and dissatisfaction, therefore, <fec." — Gov. Mark-
ham, by his will manumits, conditionally, an Indian boy, about 3 years old, who was
a slave for life — probably born in his family. See Register's Office, Philada., Book B,
364.

220 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1712.

throughout the province. This defeat has been attributed to a
letter from the Proprietary, dated at London, 29th 4th mo.
[July], 1710, which censures unsparingly, the course pursued
by the Assembly. This, however, is a mistake, for the letter
was not received till after the election.1 The people had be-
come wearied with the incessant controversy kept up between
their representatives and the Governor and Council, and though
they may not have approved of the conduct of the latter, they
availed themselves of the only means in their power, to termi-
nate the political broils which, by obstructing all useful legisla-
tion, had come to be regarded as a more serious evil than to yield
to the demands of their opponents.

David Lloyd removed to Chester in 1710,2 but whether before
or after the election is not known. In 1712 he was chosen a
representative from Chester County.

The defeat of the liberal party produced more harmonious
action in the government. Still there was a considerable differ-
ence of opinion between the representatives of the people and
the official dependents of the Proprietary, but each side evincing
a more yielding disposition than heretofore, the progress of le-
gislation was not materially impeded.

Towards the close of 1711 Newtown Meeting informed the
Chester Monthly Meeting, " that their meeting house is near
finished, and desired that their meeting may be removed from
Evan Lewis' to the meeting house."

At a monthly meeting, held 28th of 2d mo. (April), 1712,
the representatives of Goshen meeting "moved the request of
several friends that lives at a place called Youchland, to have a
meeting at the house of John Cadwaladers." This meeting was
allowed to be held "every first and fifth days, except when a
meeting is kept at James Thomas', they meeting once in six
weeks with the Great Valley friends at James Thomas'."

Preachers among the Friends were very numerous in most of
the meetings in the county about this time, and several of them
were quite eminent. These were frequently engaged in making
religious visits to distant places — to Virginia, Carolina, Barba-
does, Long Island, New England, and sometimes to Great
Britain. Elizabeth Webb, of Birmingham, returned this year
from a visit to England and Wales, with certificates of approval
from six different monthly and quarterly meetings, and John
Salkeld is furnished with a certificate " to visit friends in the
Islands, and also in Great Britain and Ireland, or elsewhere,"
and in the following year John Jarman, of Radnor, asked for a

1 Proud, ii. 45 ; Gordon, 161 ; Janney's Life of Perm, 514-519.

2 Letter from Isaac Norris to James Logan. — Janney, 514.

1713.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 221

certificate to visit England and Wales. Many such religious
visits might be enumerated.

There appears to have been a congregation of Seventh day
Baptists organized in Newtown about this period. It is referred
to in a minute of Chester Monthly Meeting, in which complaint
is made that a member inclines to join that sect, and hath fre-
quented their meetings.

"A petition of a great number of the inhabitants of the
county of Chester" was presented to the Governor and Council,
" praying that ye Borough of the Town of Chester, in this Pro-
vince may be made a free Port." The matter was referred to
the Proprietary, that he might " take proper methods concerning
the same & Consult the Comr8 of the Queen's Customs therein."1
If this application had been successful, the improvement of the
venerable borough would not have been left for the present
generation to accomplish.

An act was passed in 1712 to prevent the importation of
Negroes and Indians into this Province. The passage of this
law was the first effort made to restrain the increase of Negro
Slavery in Pennsylvania, but it was subsequently repealed by
the Crown. This result was brought about by commercial con-
siderations alone, regardless of the dictates of humanity or the
interests of the Province.2

Wearied with his pecuniary incumbrances and the troubles
that were incident to his Proprietary rights, which his increasing
years and declining health rendered him less able to bear, Penn
entered into a negotiation for the sale of the Province to the
Queen. The price (£12,000), and other particulars of the sale,
had been agreed upon, when the Proprietary was suddenly seized
with a partial paralysis, from which he never sufficiently reco-
vered to enable him formally to execute the contract.

A road was this year laid out " from Providence Lower road
by Riehd Crosby's mill to Edgment road." This is the first
mention of Crosby's mill that has come to the notice of the
author.

The following extract from the records of Haverford Monthly
Meeting would seem to indicate that a pecuniary stimulant was
necessary to secure a confirmation by the Crown of certain pro-
vincial legislative enactments :

" It was signified by the Quarterly Meeting that some friends
disbursed money on account of getting the affirmation act con-
firmed, which are yet unpaid ; and the proportion thereof be-
falling upon this meeting appears to be one pound, fourteen

1 Col. Rec. ii. 546.

2 A similar law was passed the same year (1712) by the Legislature of Massachu-
setts.— Holmes' Ann. ii. 84.

222 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1715.

shillings one penny half penny, and Thomas Jones is ordered to
pay the same according to the desire and order of the Quarterly
meeting "*

Many persons have been led to believe from the date on the
Friends' meeting-house at Merion, that the present edifice was
erected in 1695.2 That date undoubtedly refers to the first
meeting-house, a temporary structure of wood erected on the
same site. The present meeting-house, which has been reno-
vated within a few years past, was erected in 1713. The fol-
lowing minute, adopted by Haverford Meeting on the 8th of the
8th mo. (October) of that year, is conclusive upon the subject :

" This meeting agrees that Merion frds shall have the money
lent to Rees Howell and Joseph Evans, towards finishing their
meeting house."

Another minute shows that " the five pounds old currency,
lent to Rees Howell was paid towards finishing Merion Meeting
house."

Haverford Monthly Meeting this year authorized a first-day
meeting " in Upper Merion at the house of Rowland Ellis, and
at David Meredith's house on the fourth day of the week * * *."

In 1714 "friends inhabiting about Perquaming and this side
of Schulkill in ye valley being desirous jl a meeting might be
allowed ym every other m°, to be & begin att Lewis Walker's
house the first in 2nd m° next and thence every other month, att
Joseph Richardsons house until ye 9th mo. next."

Gwynedd was established as a monthly meeting in 1714. It
included Plymouth, and probably other meetings.

The annual and semi-annual Fairs held at different villages
had become places of so much disorder and vice, that Friends
found it necessary to appoint persons to have an oversight of the
youth who assembled there.

Queen Anne died on the first of August, 1714, and was suc-
ceeded by George the First, but as no official announcement of
the decease of Her Majesty had been made, the legislature that
met in October adjourned over till February. David Lloyd was
again returned to the legislature and elected Speaker.

The circular line between the Counties of Chester and New
Castle, that had been run in 1701, was not confirmed by the
Legislature till 1715.

By the death of the Queen, all commissions granted during

1 An affirmation act was among the earliest laws enacted by Penn, but this was an-
nulled by Queen Anne in 1705, and consequently Friends were subjected to the form
allowed in England, which was in these words : " I, A — B — , do declare in the presence
of Almighty God, the witness of the truth of what I say, &c." Some Friends objected
to this form of affirmation on account of the appeal made to the Supreme Being, and
it was to remove this difficulty that the act in question was passed. The application
for its confirmation was not successful.

2 Hist. Collections Penna. 484 ; also, Retrospect of Early Quakerism, 61.

1715.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 223

her reign expired. The following persons were appointed
Justices for the County of Chester at the commencement of
the reign of George the First, viz. : Caleb Pusey, Nicholas
Pyle, Richard Webb, Henry Pearce, Henry Neal, Nicholas
Fairlamb, John Blunston, Jr., and Richard Hayes.

Another affirmation Act was passed this year, and received
the approbation of Governor Gookin. " By an act of Parlia-
ment of 1 Geo. I. the Stat, of 7 & 8 Wil. III. was made per-
petual in Great Britain, and was extended to the Colonies for
five years. By a provision of this latter act, no Quaker by
virtue thereof, could be qualified or permitted to give evidence
in criminal cases, or serve on juries, or hold any office of profit
in the Government.1 The Governor contended that this act
repealed the provincial law, and had the same disqualifying
effects upon Quakers here as it had in England. Most of the
important offices in the Province were filled by Quakers ; and
the Justices of the Supreme Court hesitated to perform their
duties in the face of the opinion of the Governor. Under these
difficulties, criminal justice was not, for a time, administered
throughout the Province.

One of the most important cases left untried, was that of
Hugh Pugh, and others, for the murder of Jonathan Hayes, in
Chester County. The criminals were eventually admitted to
bail.2

The evidence is almost conclusive that the murdered man
was the same Jonathan Hayes who resided in Marple, and who
served for a long time as a Justice of the Court, and sometimes
as a member of the Legislature. The murder excited great
interest in the County. Three men were fined for refusing to
aid the constable "in apprehending Hugh Pugh," who was
charged as a principal in the murder; and so much interest
attached to the case, that three persons were appointed by the
Court to find a place more convenient than the Court-house for
the trial of the murderers.

The subject of negro slavery had for some time engaged the
attention of sundry members of the Society of Friends, and as
early as 1688, a little community of German Quakers, at Ger-
mantown, arrived at the conclusion that holding slaves was
inconsistent with Christianity. These people presented the sub-
ject to the monthly meeting to which they belonged, in a letter
alike remarkable for the simplicity of its language and the
strength of the arguments adduced against holding human
beings in bondage.

But even the Society of Friends was not, as a body, quite
prepared at that period to view the institution as sinful. The

1 Gordon's Hist. Penna.169. 2 Col. Rec. ii. 660.

224 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1715.

monthly meeting, though it regarded the tenor of the letter as
"being nearly related to truth" found the questions involved
therein too weighty for its decision, and, accordingly, referred
the subject to the quarterly meeting, which, in like manner, and
for a like reason, submitted the matter to the consideration of
the yearly meeting. This body unquestionably represented the
Society not only within the limits of the Province, and three
lower counties, but also those settled in parts of New Jersey
and Maryland. The following minute made upon the occasion
should at least teach us to exercise an abundance of charity
towards the people of the South who still regard the institution
with so much favor:

"A paper was presented by some German Friends concerning
the lawfulness and unlawfulness of buying and keeping negroes.
It was adjudged not to be proper for this meeting to give a
positive judgment in the case, it having so general a relation to
many other parts; and, therefore, at present, they forbear it."1

Such a decision, made by other men, under other circum-
stances, might be regarded as a convenient shift to get rid of a
disagreeable question they had not the moral courage to meet.
But such a suspicion cannot attach to these early Quakers.
Their faithfulness to what they regarded as the Truth, had been
tested, in very many of them, by the severest persecution that
the bigotry of the age dared to inflict. To them, it may be
remarked, the institution was presented in its mildest form ;
and doubtless many of them had witnessed a moral improve-
ment in the imported Africans distributed amongst them. They
were really not prepared to give " a positive judgment in the
case," but it ever after continued to be one upon which the
Society was deeply exercised, until the total abolition of slavery
was accomplished.

In 1696, Friends are advised by the yearly meeting, " not to
encourage the bringing in any more negroes." It also gives
wholesome advice in respect to their moral training. In 1711,
the Quarterly Meeting of Chester declared to the yearly meet-
ing, " their dissatisfaction with Friends buying and encouraging
the bringing in of negroes." The advice of the yearly meeting
only goes to the discouragement of the slave trade. The Lon-
don Yearly Meeting was appealed to for advice, but none could
be had, except that the importing of slaves from their native
country by Friends, " is not a commendable or allowable prac-
tice." In 1714, a law was passed imposing a duty of .£20 on
each negro slave imported, on the ground " that the multiplying
of them may be of dangerous consequence." This act was
promptly disallowed by the home Government.

1 Mitchener's Retrospect of Early Quakerism, 335.

1715.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 225

This year, the Monthly Meeting of Chester had the subject
of slaves again under consideration, and unanimously came to
the conclusion, " that friends should not be concerned hereafter,
in the importation thereof, nor buy any." This buying, the
quarterly meeting concluded, had only reference to imported
slaves. If so, the action of the monthly meeting did not go one
step beyond what had already been determined upon by the
yearly meeting. There is some reason, however, to believe that
the term was used in a more general sense, as will be seen by a
minute adopted the following year.

Up to about this period, the dealings with offending members
in the Society of Friends, were, in general, for a violation of
discipline, or for slight offences. No one had, as yet, been dealt
with for a failure to pay his debts, and but few cases of a
scandalous nature appear upon the minutes of the Society. But
this generation of early Quakers, whose record for strict moral
rectitude has scarcely a parallel in the annals of religious sects,
was about passing away, to be succeeded by their descendants,
who were mostly members by birthright, and whose faithfulness
to their religious profession had not been tested by severe trials
and persecutions. A greater laxity of morals is observable,
though the number of cases brought to the notice of the several
meetings is by no means large. To remedy this growing evil,
an ill-judged public exposure of the offender was now for the
first time resorted to. The following minute from the Darby
Record is the prelude to this singular and rather unfeeling
practice, in that meeting:

" This meeting having considered that inasmuch as the Book
of discipline, directs that all papers of condemnation be pub-
lished as near as may so far as the offence hath reached the
ears of the people, Do upon deliberation of the matter conclude
that for the future all papers of condemnations which the
monthly meeting shall judge the offence to be a publick scandal,
shall be read as speedily as may be at first day meeting, and
published further as there may be occasion." It is but fair to
state that no such paper of condemnation was issued until re-
peated, and re-repeated efforts had been exhausted in endeavors
to reclaim the offender.

There were a few Baptists located within our limits at a very
early date. It is said that one Able Noble, who arrived in
1684, " formed a society of Baptists in Upper Providence
Chester County, where he baptized Thomas Martin a public
Friend."1 Noble appears to have been a Seventh-day Baptist,
and belonged to a community that was afterwards known as
Kiethian Baptists. Besides Thomas Martin, a number of bap-

1 Haz. Ann. ii. 73.

15

226 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1717.

tisms are recorded as having taken place at a very early period,
and at various places in the County ; but a highly interesting
manuscript in the possession of Robert Frame, Esq., of Birming-
ham, satisfies me that no regular church of the Baptist persua-
sion had been organized till 1715. Meetings, it is true, were
held in private houses in Chester, Ridley, Providence, Radnor,
and Springfield, and baptism was performed according to ancient
order, in the adjacent creeks, and even the Lord's Supper was
administered, but these were the doings of variable congrega-
tions, rather than the acts of an organized church.

The paper referred to is in the nature of a constitution, and
the organization effected under it, afterwards assumed the title
of the " Brandywine Baptist Church," by which it has continued
to be known to the present time. It will be perceived that
these early Baptists used the same designation for the months
and days as the Quakers. Most of them had been members of
that sect ; quite a large proportion were of Welsh origin. — See
Appendix, Note I.

The minute adopted by the Chester Monthly Meeting in 1715
in respect to negro slavery, is rendered explicit by the following,
adopted by the same meeting this year :

" The meeting desires the Quarterly meeting will take into
their further consideration, the buying and selling of negroes,
which gives great encouragement for bringing them in, and that
no friend be found in the practice of buying any, that shall be
imported hereafter."

A preparative meeting was settled at Cain in 1716, by Con-
cord Monthly Meeting.

From orders made by the Court for the repair of the bridge
over Chester Creek at Chester, it appears that its original con-
struction with a draw was still maintained. From a similar
order, " to repair ye bridge over Ridley Creek in the great new
road now leading from Chester to Philadelphia," it may be in-
ferred that it did not contain a draw.

It would appear from the Court Records of this period, that
but twelve traverse jurors sometimes attended at a Court, and
fifteen Grand Jurors. The sentences of the Court change from
time to time, sometimes in consequence of a change in the law,
at others, from the whims of the Justices.

This year a sentence for larceny to the value of £8 was, that
the defendant pay four fold and costs, " and be whipped 21
lashes, and to wear a roman T of a blue colour for the space of
six months not less than four inches long each way, and one
inch broad, and be committed till he comply with sd Judgment."
This was not an unusual punishment.

In early times the office of Sheriff was not so profitable as it

1718.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 227

now is, and as a sort of perquisite the Sheriff was allowed to
keep tavern. Hence we find Nicholas Fairlamb, a newly elected
Sheriff, petitioning to the Court to be recommended for a license.
In later times the tavern was kept in the dwelling apartment of
the prison.

Governor Gookin had become very unpopular with all parties
long before the close of his administration. He was superseded
by Hon. William Keith, a Scotchman, who arrived at Philadel-
phia on the 31st of May, 1717, and was sworn into office the
next day.

Total abstinence from the use of intoxicating drinks was not
thought of in early times ; but the subject of their excessive use
was frequently brought before the business meetings of the
Quakers. Selling rum to the Indians was attended with so
many evil consequences, that it was frequently testified against
by different meetings of the Society. But rum was regarded as
an article of necessity. It was in general use, and was sold by
Friends of the highest standing, and sometimes at the houses at
which the earlier meetings of the Society were held. But the
evils resulting from intoxication were too apparent to be passed
over by a sect making high professions of morality, and
hence we find frequent testimonies borne against drunkenness.
The following is a specimen from the minutes of Chester
Monthly Meeting :

" Friends being under a weighty concern for the preservation
of good order at all times, and particularly in the approaching
time of harvest, and it is desired friends avoid all extravagant
customs and drinking to excess/'

Meetings had for a long time been held at private houses in
Birmingham, but no regular meeting-house was established till
1 718, when the first was erected at or near the site of the
present Birmingham meeting-house. It is said to have been
built of cedar logs.

A new Friends' meeting-house was also built at Radnor this
year. The minutes of the monthly meeting that relate to the
erection of this edifice are given, to show the cautious manner
in which such enterprises were entered upon in these early times.
The first minute is dated at a meeting held at Haverford, 8th
mo. 10th of the previous year, and runs thus :

" A letter from our Friend Benjamin Holm to this meeting,
recommending to their consideration the stirring up of frd8 in ye
building of their meeting house att Radnor, and with desires y'
we should be concerned for ye prosperity of Truth, was read in
this meeting and approved off. Likewise this meeting pursuant
to Radnor frds desire acquiess wth ym in building a new meeting
house and this meeting appoints David Morris, David Lewis,

228 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1718.

Edd. Rees and Robert Jones, Richard Hayes and Samuel Lewis
to assist ym In yc contrivance [and] ye building Thereof, and
they meet together ab1 it on ye 21st of this instant, [and report]
to ye next meeting."

The members of the Committee all belonged to the preparative
meetings of Haverford and Merion. The next meeting was held
at Merion, and one of its minutes embraces the report of the
Committee.

" Some friends of those appointed to assist Radnor friends
In ye Contrivance of a new meeting house, then having ace1, y*
they have accordingly mett and given ym Their thoughts as to
ye bigness and form thereof. To wch Radnor frds Then there
present seemed generally to agree wth."

The monthly meetings were held alternately at Haverford,
Merion and Radnor, and in course a meeting would be held at
Radnor in the early part of December, 1718. This meeting was
ordered to be held at Haverford, " their meeting house at Rad-
nor being not ready."1

The west end of the present meeting-house at Radnor was the
building then erected. The date of its erection is further at-
tested by being cut on a tablet in the east gable.

For some years, the intellect of William Penn had been so
much impaired, as wholly to exclude him from any participation
in the affairs of the Province. His general health gradually
declined till the time of his death, which happened on the 30th of
July, 1718. The news of this melancholy event did not reach
Pennsylvania till October, when it was formally announced to the
Assembly, which was then in Session.

Soon after the arrival of Governor Keith, the Supreme Court
was so constituted as to hold a Court of Oyer and Terminer at
Chester, for the trial of the murderers of Jonathan Hayes.
They were promptly tried, and Hugh Pugh and Lazarus Thomas
were convicted, and sentenced to be hung.

The condemned petitioned the Governor for a reprieve, until
the pleasure of his Majesty the King could be known; but the
Governor, who had attended the trial, and being satisfied of its
fairness, was so fully convinced of the guilt of the prisoners,
that he at once rejected the petition, and in doing so he was sus-
tained by a majority of his council. The grounds taken in the
appeal to the Crown were; —

" 1st. Because seventeen of the Grand Inquest who found the
bill of Indictment against them, and eight of the Petty Jury who
found them guity were Quakers or Reputed Quakers, and were

1 As late as 1721, committees were appointed in Haverford and Merion for raising
funds for the completion of Radnor meeting-house.

1719.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 229

Qualified no otherwise than by an affirmacon or Declaracon con-
trary to a statute made in the first year of your Matiea Reign.

" 2ndly. Because the act of Assembly of this Province, by
which Judges, Jury & Witnesses were pretended to be Qua-
lified was made & past the Twenty eighth Day of May, in the
first year of your Majestie's Reign, which was after sd murder
was supposed to be committed; and after another act of Assem-
bly of the same nature was repealed by her Late Majesty, Queen
Anne.

" 3dly. Because sd act of Assembly is not consonant to Rea-
son, but Repugnant & contrary to the Laws, Statutes and Rights
of your Majestie's Kingdom."1

It appears from the discussion in Council, that the condemned
" had for several years appeared at the head of a lawless Gang
of Loose fellows, commom disturbers of the public peace." The
crime had been committed three years before the trial, during
part of which time, the accused being out on bail, behaved in the
worst possible manner. The appeal made to the Crown in this
case, is perhaps the only instance on record, where any excep-
tion has been taken, by a defendant tried for murder, to the
presence of Quakers on the Jury.

A great alarm from piratical vessels being on the coast pre-
vailed in 1718. Under an act of Grace, promulgated by the
King, a number of these pirates had surrendered themselves,
and had obtained certificates to that effect from the provincial
authorities ; but it was suspected that these repentant outlaws
still maintained a secret correspondence with their old associates.
Measures were at once adopted by the Governor and Council to
rid the Province of persons so dangerous to its peace and safety.

An act passed in 1718, " for the advancement of justice, and
more certain administration thereof, " removed most of the
obstacles in the way of Friends participating freely in legisla-
tive and judicial concerns.2 This act was confirmed by the
King and Council in the following year. The act " for corro-
borating the circular line between the Counties of Chester and
New Castle," that had been passed several years previously, met
with a different fate; for what reason does not appear.

"John Wright, Richard Webb, Henry Pierce and Henry Nayle
and their associates" now appear as Justices of the " General
Quarter Sessions of the Peace and jail delivery." The August
Court was held by John Wright alone. At this Court, for an

i Col. Ree. iii. 31.

2 It has been said that the privileges acquired by the Friends, in the passage of thi.s
act, " was the inducement for adopting the sanguinary rigor of the English penal law,
in violation of the humane policy which had previously influenced the legislature of
Pennsylvania, on the subject of crimes and punishments." — Laws Pemia. Bioren's Ed.
i. 130." Note.

230 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1720.

assault and battery committed on a female, the sentence was a
fine of £50, " and to stand in the pillory at Chester between j*
hours of 10 and 2 on the 5th day of October, and that he give
security for his good behaviour during 7 years next ensuing."

A road was laid out in 1719 from Goshen to Philadelphia,
commencing " at the intersection of the Goshen mill road with
the Providence road." This road passed by what was formerly
known as "the Old Square," in Newtown township, and a short
distance beyond that point it entered " the Great road leading to
Philadelphia."

After the death of William Penn, his eldest son, William,
claimed the right to administer the government of the Province,
and accordingly issued a new commission to Lieut.-Gov. Keith.
After consulting with his Council, and also with the Assembly,
the Governor declined the new commission, and continued to act
under his former appointment. This decision met with the
approbation of the home Government. William Penn, the
younger, died two years after his father, and after some
litigation, not only the Province, but the government of it,
descended to John, Thomas, and Richard Penn, the surviving
sons of the Proprietary by his second wife Hannah Callowhill.

The literature of the Province, so far as the people generally
were concerned, was very much restricted to religious publica-
tions. These productions were standard works or controversial
writings of the Society of Friends, published in England, and
sometimes republished in Philadelphia. Such books were dis-
tributed with a profuse liberality by the several monthly
meetings among their members. Besides Epistles and Testi-
monies concerning deceased members, few original works had
been published in the Province.

Haverford Monthly Meeting had maintained a direct corres-
pondence with the Yearly Meeting of Wales, and there is not
wanting other proofs in the minutes of that meeting, that the
attachment of the Welsh settlers for their native land was
stronger than that which obtained among the English.

Ellis Pugh, a Welsh preacher of some eminence, at first
settled in Radnor, but subsequently removed to Gwynedd, where
he died in 1718. He paid a religious visit to his native land in
1707, and, upon his return the following year, " a concern
came upon him" to write a book, "to direct the unlearned
Britains of low degree, to know God and Christ, the Life
eternal;" which he wrote for the most part during his last
sickness.

Though Haverford and Gwynedd now constituted separate
monthly meetings, they united in the serious concern of publish-
ing this Welsh book, each meeting having appointed a committee

1721.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 231

of twelve on the subject. Having been carefully examined and
approved, it was formally recommended to " the overseers of
the Press at Philadelphia." The approbation of this tribunal,
after some delay, was secured, shortly after which the Welsh
edition of the book was published under the authority of the
quarterly meeting. This is probably the first work ever pub-
lished in America for the especial benefit of the mother country,
and perhaps the only one printed in the Welsh language. This
book was published in the English language in 1727, having
been translated by Rowland Ellis, and corrected by David
Lloyd.1

Disputes in respect to the line between Philadelphia and
Chester Counties, north of Radnor, commenced in 1720, and
were continued for several years.

The road leading from Philadelphia to Conestogo, through
Merion and Radnor, was confirmed as far as Thomas Moore's
mill, on the Brandywine, by the Governor and Council ; but
two roads having been laid out beyond the Brandywine, by order
of the Chester Court, all orders for opening them were for the
present superseded.

Two brothers, John and Edmund Cartlidge, who were born
and brought up in what is now Upper Darby township, after the
death of their father, removed to the neighbourhood of the Cones-
togo, and became Indian traders. Unfortunately, these men
became embroiled with a drunken Seneca Indian at some point
west of the Susquehanna, and in some way the Indian lost his
life. The brothers, and especially John Cartlidge, were accused
of the homicide. News of this unpleasant event having reached
the ears of the Governor and Council, they regarded it a
matter of sufficient moment to require prompt investigation, and
accordingly James Logan and Colonel French proceeded imme-
diately to Conestogo, with the Sheriff of Chester County,
arrested the parties, and, upon Indian testimony, brought the
brothers to Philadelphia. John Cartlidge held a commission as
Justice of the Peace for Chester County at the time, from which
office he was immediately removed; and the Government felt it
necessary to enter into long and expensive negotiations with the
Five Nations, as an atonement for this serious injury and insult
offered to their nation.2

This year, the Particular Meetings of Newtown, Goshen, and

1 A copy of each edition of this book is in the possession of the author.

2 The apprehension that the death of this Seneca Indian might incite the Five
Nations to make war upon the Province, induced the Governor and Council to prose-
cute this affair much beyond its real merits. If the Indian lost his life by the hands
of the Cartlidges, it was in self-defence. They never had a trial — in fact, no reliable
evidence was brought against them. What became of John is not known to the
author, but Edmund returned to the Conestogo, and maintained a respectable standing
in society. He was a member of the first Grand Jury of Lancaster County.

232 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1722.

Uwchlan were constituted a separate monthly meeting, to be
called Groshen Monthly Meeting. In these meetings the Welsh
Friends were largely in the ascendancy, and on that account
there was a peculiar propriety in thus uniting them in one eccle-
siastical community.

The first instance of a disownment of a member by the Society
of Friends, within the limits of this County, for a failure to pay
his honest debts, occurs in the early part of 1722. It must be
observed, however, that it was the constant practice of the
Society to extend relief to members who were brought into
pecuniary difficulty through misfortune.

The unsettled line between Pennsylvania and Maryland was
the source of considerable difficulty. The officers of Cecil
County insisted upon collecting taxes in Nottingham and other
border townships, and they even went so far as to make
prisoners of Isaac Taylor and Elisha Gatchel, for surveying
lands in that vicinity. These gentlemen were both magistrates
of Chester County, the former being also a Representative in the
Assembly.1

The public pound at Chester had been located west of the
creek, but from the following minute extracted from the proceed-
ings of the Court, it will appear that the most public situation
in the borough was now secured for it:

"Upon application of some of the inhabitants of Chester for
a pound in the said town of Chester, whereupon the court or-
ders, that there be a Pound erected in the 31arket place in the
borough of Chester, forty foot square, well fenced with posts and
railings, and a good rack in the middle of sd pound, and that
Richd Marsden be Keeper of the pound, To act, do, and perform
according as the act makes mention &c."

A pound was also ordered for Aston at the same Court — John
Carter to be the keeper.

There were no less than three persons under sentence of death
at this time in Chester gaol. Petitions were presented to the
Governor and Council, asking that the execution of the sentence
might be respited, until such time as the pleasure of the king
could be known therein. This application was successful in re-
spect to two of the prisoners, one of whom was a woman ; but
the third, William Battin, who had been convicted " of divers
horrid complicated crimes," was ordered to be executed "and
hung in Irons in the most public place, at such time as the Go-
vernor shall appoint."

The earliest list of taxables of the County of Chester, that
has come to the notice of the author, is contained in the regular
assessment of the county, made in 1722, which is still on file in

1 Col. Rec iii. 212-214.

1722.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 233

the Commissioners' Office at West Chester. As the best means
of showing the extent of the settlements that had been made at
this early period, this assessment has been copied entire, (omit-
ting each person's tax), so far as relates to the townships em-
braced within the limits of Delaware County; including, how-
ever, the whole of the townships of Birmingham and Thornbury.
The rate was 3d. in the pound, and 9s. poll tax on each single
freeman. (See Appendix, Note G.)

By making a proper allowance for the parts of Birming-
ham and Thornbury not included in Delaware County, the tax-
ables within its present limits at this early date, numbered
about 500. As servants were not taxed, it will be safe to esti-
mate six inhabitants to each taxable, making the population of the
district now included in Delaware County, at this time, about
3000. As a general rule the assessment, or valuation, was at
the rate of X20 per 100 acres of land, but there appears to have
been a little variation in some of the townships. The whole
amount of tax imposed within our county's limits was about
X278 10s. ; equal to a little more than $700.

Beyond the limits of what is now Delaware County, this an-
cient assessment embraced West Conestogoe township, contain-
ing 64 taxables; East Conestogoe, 147; Peque "& part of &
former District," 13 ; Tren y Dyfrin, 31 ; White-Land, 13; East-
Town, 12; Willis-Town, 20; Ywchlan, 20; Charles- Town, 19;
Nantmel, 18; Skoolkil, 27; West-Town, 9; Sadsbury, 20; East
Nottingham, 42; Marlborough, 39; West Nottingham, 29;
Kennet, 67; Goshen, 19; Bradford, 38; Cain, 33; New Gar-
den, 94, and "the inhabitants adjacent, belonging to New Gar-
den, 18, — making in the whole of Chester County, which then
extended to the Susquehanna, the number of taxables 1345, and
the population about 8,070.

The very small population of some of the least remote town-
ships, as Westown and Eastown, was owing to the large tracts of
land held in those townships by non-residents. The large extent
of territory embraced in some of the most distant townships,
bordering on the Susquehanna, will account for the relatively
Large number of taxables returned from that region.

The wide-spread reputation of Penn's government, for free-
dom and religious toleration, had attracted settlers from different
countries, and of different religious beliefs. A large proportion
of these settled in the district now embraced in Lancaster
County, while very many of the earliest settlers in Chester
County, as it is now constituted, emigrated from that part of the
original county of that name, out of which Delaware County was
formed.

But little of local interest transpired in 1723. The act passed

234 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1724.

by the legislature authorizing the issue of bills of credit, and
making the same current, would, of course, have the effect of
giving, in some degree, a fictitious value to property that would
be felt in every part of the Province. This was the first paper
currency issued in Pennsylvania.1

An act was also passed in 1723, to reduce the rate of interest
of money from eight to six per cent., which has continued to be
the legal rate to the present time.

Among objects for which the Society of Friends of the county
contributed money in 1723, was for the finishing of Shrews-
bury (N. J.) Meeting-house, "for the accommodation of the
Quarterly Meeting."

As a punishment for crimes, standing in the pillory has become
more frequent than formerly. At the November term of the
Chester Court, this year, a man was sentenced to be sold for
three years, "to serve after the manner of a servant" for the
payment of his gaol fees. Prisoners frequently petitioned to the
Court for the privilege of being thus sold ; from which it may
be inferred that the jails of that day did not afford such com-
fortable quarters for malefactors as the prisons of modern date.

The ancient, but substantial building, now occupied as a Town
Hall in the borough of Chester, and which was used as a Court-
house up to the time of the removal of the seat of justice
to Media, was erected in 1724. The small addition to the
rear of the building was erected at a much later date. An act
was passed this year, "to enable trustees to sell the old court
house and prison, belonging to the borough and county of Ches-
ter." This sale was effected the following year, and the record
shows, conclusively, that the "old court house" referred to was
the one built about the year 1694, upon a lot purchased from
John Hoskins, and for which a deed was executed by him to the
county in 1697. The purchase money paid by the county was
.£8. The trustees sold the property to William Preston, of Phi-
ladelphia, Mariner, for £27. 2 The following extract, from the
proceedings of the Court, shows that the new Court-house was,
for a time, made the depository of the public records :

"At a Court of Private Sessions held at the House of John
Hannum in Concord 15th of December 1724, Joseph Parker
having petitioned this Court setting forth ye great danger ye
Records of ye County lay in, as well by Casualities of fire, as
other accidents which might happen, and refers ye same to our
consideration to provide a place for keeping ye said Records in
w' may be of greater security, whereupon ye Court upon mature

1 Two acts were passed this year — one authorizing the issue of £15,000, and the
other £30,000. Proud ii. 173.

2 See Recorder's Office, Westchester, Book A, 190.

1724.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 235

consideration of the same, allows ye peticon to be reasonable, &
orders ye Clerk to present ye same before ye Commissioners &
Assessors of ye same County in order that they may fit a room
in y8 new Court house for keeping ye sd Records in, & when pre-
pared order ye sd Clerk to transmit all of ye said Records to ye
place so appropriated accordingly, and not to be removed with-
out ye Court's direction."1

It would be difficult now to see how any additional security
against casualties by fire was given to the Records, by removing
them to the Court-house.

It will not be uninteresting to the reader to know in what
repute our new paper currency was held in the other provinces,
and also to have some light on the kind of coin then in general
circulation. The following extract from a letter from Elizabeth
Webb, a very intelligent public Friend of Birmingham, while on
a religious visit to Long Island, Rhode Island, &c, furnishes this
information. The letter is dated at "Newport on Road Island
ye 24th of ye 6th mo. 1724," and is addressed to Joseph Brinton
of Thornbury. After treating of religious and social affairs,
she speaks of having made arrangements for the purchase of a
horse, and advises her friend how to proceed in case " he hath a
mind for one." " Our paper money," she says, "will not do,
and if thou get some changed, it should be for whole pieces of
gold for that which is cut will not pass but at X6. an ounce, but
the Pistole goes for £1. 8s. Qd. and a Moidore at £2. 4s. and
a half Pistole for 14s."

A bill was passed this year prescribing the forms of declara-
tion of fidelity, affirmation, &c, entirely adapted to the con-
scientious scruples of Quakers on the subject of taking oaths.
Laws of a similar character had been passed, but they failed to
meet with the royal sanction, and the people were consequently
thrown back on the English act, which many could not sanction.
Acts passed by the Council and Assembly usually had the force
of laws until they were repealed by the home government, but
this one was not to become a law until it had received the appro-
bation of his majesty. This approbation, it will be seen hereafter,
was not secured without the employment of money.

A complaint was made to the Assembly by the Indians re-
siding about the Brandywine. They represent that after the
sale of their lands to Wm. Penn, " he had re-conveyed to them
a tract a mile in extent on each side of the creek, the deed for
which, had been burned with the cabin in which it had been
deposited ; and that the English had made settlements within
this tract, had injured their corn, and by dams on the creek,
had impeded the passage of fish." Though distrusting the

1 Quarter Sessions Rec. West Chester.

236 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1725.

Indian title, their deputies were received with respect by the
Assembly, and a promise made to them that their complaints
should be inquired into and redressed.1

The difficulties and disputes about the circular line between
New Castle and Chester Counties were again renewed this year,
but no definite result was arrived at.

The Affirmation act, before referred to, at length received the
royal confirmation. The following extracts from the Records
of Haverford Monthly Meeting, at once show the great anxiety
of Friends on the subject, and the appliances that were used in
those days to secure the royal sanction to a most just and
reasonable measure.2

3rd mo. 13. " This meeting refers to the consideration of ffrds
— getting of money to pay for negotiating ye late affirmation act
in Great Britain."

6th mo. 12. " Lewis David, Thomas Thomas and Edward
William are desired to take frd's contributions in Cash to defray
the Charge of having the Royal assent to ye affirmation act &
make report thereof to next meeting."

7th mo. 9. " The friends appointed to receive frds contribu-
tions towards having ye Royall assent to ye Affirmation act is
continued and advised to press friends to bring it in as soon as
may be, in order to be paid to Richd Hill before ye yearly
meeting."

10th mo. 9th. " Edwd Williams produced a receipt signed by
Rich'1 Hill for eight pounds eighteen shillings, received of him
and Thomas Thomas towards negotiating the affirmation act, for
account of this meeting."

Besides the above subscription, this monthly meeting sub-
scribed this year £5 10s. Id. towards building Horsham meeting-
house, and <£10 10s. 4d. towards the redemption of the wife and
children of John Hanson of New England, who had been carried
off by the Indians. Chester Monthly Meeting also contributed
X10 4s. for this latter purpose.

The minutes of Haverford Monthly Meeting go to show that
Sewell's History of the Quakers was now in press, and that the
yearly meeting had subscribed for 500 copies. Fourteen of
these copies were taken by Merion and Radnor meetings. The
subscription for this work had been commenced in 1723.

An application was made to the Court, by an insolvent debtor

1 Gordon's Hist. Penna. 194.

2 The confirmation of this act was received in the Province with so much satis-
faction, that it gave rise to two addresses to the throne — one from the Assembly and
the other from the Yearly Meeting. For the form of the Declaration of fidelity
and abjuration, see Proud's Hist. Penna. ii. 191. The Affirmation was the same as
that now in use, and that which has been adopted by nearly nine-tenths of the citizens
of our county

1727.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 237

in prison, "for relief from his imprisonment; and y* his creditors
may accept his servitude as ye law directs, having no other way
to satisfy the same." The Court directs that he shall serve his
creditors four years ; the persons accepting his servitude to pay
the costs. But if the creditors do not accept of his servitude in
the space of thirty days, then the prisoner is to be sold for
four years. There was also a convict ordered to be sold for four
years, for the payment of his fine, fees and expenses.

The government of the Province, in 1726, passed out of the
hands of Governor Keith. His successor was Patrick Gordon,
among whose earliest acts was the recommendation of the culture
of silk, which he also urged in a letter to the Lords Commis-
sioners of Trade.

The Commission of the Peace for Chester County, under the
new administration, was filled up with the following names: John
Wright, Richard Hayes, Henry Pearce, Nathaniel Newlin, John
Wood, Henry Hayes, Isaac Taylor, Elisha Gatchell, Samuel
Nutt, John Crosby, Abraham Emmett, Jun., Tho. Ried, George
Assheton, Tobias Hendricks, Andrew Cornish, Mercer Brown,
and Evan Lewis.

The Indians living on, or near a branch of the Brandywine,
complained to the Governor and Council that their fishing was
hindered by the erection of a mill and dam on that Creek, in
New Castle County. It appears there was a law in the Lower
Counties requiring this dam to be left open in the fishing season,
which had not been complied with.

While the poor Indian was thus seeking redress from the provin-
cial authorities for injuries inflicted upon his fishing interest, these
authorities were imploring the home government for relief from
impositions imposed upon theirs. The shad fisheries of the Dela-
ware were largely productive beyond the home consumption, but
an injudicious duty imposed by Parliament on salt, almost ex-
cluded salted shad from commerce. New England had obtained
an exemption from this duty, and the application of Pennsyl-
vania for the same was entrusted to a Mr. Perry of London.
This gentleman was at length successful; and so highly did the
provincial authorities esteem his services, that they rewarded
them with a donation of 150 guineas.1

News of the death of the King having been received, his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales was, on the 31st of August, pro-
claimed King, by order of the Governor and Council. As a
matter of course all Commissions were renewed. James James
was added to the list of Justices for Chester County.

An addition to Providence meeting-house having been erected
last year, a proposition was now made for furnishing the build-
ing with a gallery " to accommodate large gatherings."

1 Gordon's Hist. Penna. 205.

238 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1728.

It is probable the first meeting-house in Cain was erected in
1727, as that meeting had selected ground for said purpose,
"upon the farther side of the valley upon the mountain," and had
secured the consent of Concord Monthly Meeting "to proceed."

In 1728, considerable difficulties occurred with the Indians in
the more remote settlements, which were attended with the most
serious and melancholy consequences. A small band of foreign
Indians called Twetchtweys appeared in the neighborhood of
" the Iron tvorhs at Mahanatawny '," armed with guns, pistols,
and swords, committing depredations and alarming the inhabit-
ants. As the alarm spread, the danger became magnified, and
the stories of Indian murders gained credence. Under appre-
hensions of danger thus created, two brothers, John and Walter
Winter, shot three Indians at a place called Cassea, one man and
two women, and wounded two Indian girls. The news of this
unfortunate event coming to the ears of the Governor, he caused
the brothers, who were respectable farmers, to be arrested by
the method of Hue and Cry, together with their neighbor,
Morgan Herbert, as accessory to the murder. The prisoners
were incarcerated in the noisome dungeon of the old prison at
Chester, and there securely chained ; but had their trial without
much delay before the Justices of the Supreme Court, who then
held the Courts of Oyer and Terminer for the whole Province.
They were all convicted; but Herbert, upon the petition of the
people of the county, and more particularly upon that of "David
Lloyd, Richd Hill and Jer. Langhorne, the Justices of the Court,"
was pardoned. The Justices assert in their petition, that "though
in strictness of Law, Herbert's offence may be adjudged murder,
yet it appeared to them, that he was not active in perpetrating
thereof, but unhappily fell into ye company of those that com-
mitted it." It seems strange that the law could be so strictly
construed as to convert a misfortune into a crime. The two
Winters were executed ; but the facts that have come down to us
would warrant the belief, that in committing the homicide they
acted upon the belief that the Indians were actually engaged in
war against the whites.1

1 Col. Rec. iii. 327, &c. Perm. Arch. i. 218, Ac. For the trial, see Docket of the
Supreme Court, in the office of the Prothonatory, at Media, from which the following
record of the trial of the Winters is extracted: —
" Chester ss.

At a Court of Oyer & Terminer & Gaol Delivery held at Chester for ye County
of Chester the 19th day of June 1728.

Before David Lloyd, ~)

Richd. Hill, > Esqrs 3d

Jeremiah Langhorne, J "

Dom. Rex. "\ Who were Indicted for murdering an Indian Woman for which
a I they were arraigned, and pleaded not guilty, and for their tryal

Jno. Winter & f put themselves upon God & ye country, and the Petty Jury being
Walter Winter J called, and appeared, to wit, Henry Hays, George Ashbridge, Wil-
liam Home, Peter Worrall, George Wood, Richd Jones, Abraham Lewis, Benjamin
Clift, John Davis, Tho. Vernon, John Tomkins & Evan Howell, [who] upon their re-

1729.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 239

On account of " several indecencies having been used towards
the members of Assembly attending the service of the country in
Philadelphia, by rude and disorderly persons," a proposition was
made to change the place of meeting, and Chester was desig-
nated as the most suitable place. The Governor suggested a
continuance of the sittings of the Assembly for some time at
Philadelphia, but that if upon further experience the members
continued of the same sentiment, he and the Council agreed that
they should adjourn to Chester. This threat to remove the seat
of Government no doubt had the effect of securing the members
from any further indignities, and prevented Chester from being
a second time the capital of Pennsylvania.

Early in 1729, Lancaster was organized as a County, without
any specified boundary, except the line that separated it from
Chester County. This line was run by John Taylor, aided by
eleven Commissioners. The name of Lancaster for the new
County was suggested by John Wright, one of the Commis-
sioners, who had emigrated from Lancashire, England, in 1714,
and settled in Chester, but had removed to Columbia in 1726. 2

An act was passed this year authorizing the emission of
,£30,000, in bills of credit, and also one laying a duty on negroes
imported into the Province. This latter act was repealed by the
home government. The evils of slavery were apparent to many
of the inhabitants of the Province, especially the Quakers, and
it may be supposed that the act in question was intended more
as a restraint upon the importation of slaves than as a source of
revenue.

It had been a long time since the Quakers first took the sub-
ject of slavery under serious consideration, and although the
action of their meetings had not resulted in anything of much
practical utility, many individuals of the Society testified strongly
against the practice of buying and selling of slaves. In 1729,
Chester Monthly Meeting adopted the following minute, which was
much better calculated to abolish the slave trade than the duty
imposed by the legislature: —

" This Monthly Meeting directs its representatives to lay be-
fore the Quarterly Meeting, that as they were by the discipline
prevented from fetching or importing negro slaves from their own
country, whether it is not reasonable we should not be restricted
from buying them when imported, and if so the Quarterly Meet-
ing to lay it before the Yearly Meeting for concurrence." The
subsequent efficient action of the Society towards the abolition

spective oath and affirmacon, do say that the afd John Winter and Walter Winter are
Guilty of ye murder afd and must be hanged by the necks until they and each of
them be dead."

2 Hist. Lancaster Co. 240; Col. Rec. iii. 377.

240 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1730.

of slavery appears to have had its origin in this action of Ches-
ter Monthly Meeting.

Matters of smaller moment also claimed the attention of the
meetings about this time; as the practice of making large provi-
sions at funerals, and the serving of those who attended them
with wine and other liquors; the erection of tombstones, &c.
Concord Meeting also bore its testimony against putting names
and dates upon coffins, and decided, "that in future members
should be dealt with for such idolatrous practice."

The subject of the Indian claim of one mile on each side of
the Brandywine was formally brought to the notice of Governor
Gordon, by a letter from Checochiniean, a principal chief. This
functionary bases the claim of the Indians upon "a wrighting
for the creek of Brandywine, up to the head thereof, with all ye
land a mile wide of ye creek on each side," which their brother,
William Penn, was pleased to grant to them after they had sold
their interest to him, but " which wrighting, by some accident
was now lost." He acknowledges, however, that they had sold
this land "up to a rock in ye said creek, it being in the line of
the land of Abraham Marshall." Their complaint now is, that
Nathaniel Newlin, a member of Assembly, who had purchased
some of the land, but who had given them a writing in 1726,
"that neither he nor his heirs would, in any way, disturb or mo-
lest them in the free and peaceable enjoyment thereof," had,
contrary to the same, sold his land, greatly to their disgust; that
they had been forbid "so much as- to make use of timber grow-
ing thereon, for ye convenience of building some cabins, & fur-
ther that the town at the Head of the Brandywine is surveyed
to one James Gibbons and many more, and now has an assurance
of a conveyance of the same from the Comrs of property, as he
himself says by James Steel." In a postcript to his letter, the
worthy chief says, that "James Logan promised to me, that
James Gibbons, nor any body else, should never have a confir-
mation, thereof, nor any other person within our claim." What
order was taken upon this letter does not appear.1

A new commission of the peace was issued in 1730, to the
following persons, viz. : Richard Hayes, Henry Pierce, Henry
Hayes, iilisha Gatchell, John Crosby, Abraham Emmitt, junr.,
Mercer Brown, James James, John Perry, James Gibbons,.
Joseph Pennock, Samuel Hollingsworth, Joseph Brinton, and
Nicholas Pyle. The reason assigned for the new commission was,
"that divers of those named in the last had declined to act," and
that one George Asheton "had acted but too much."

It was ordered by the Court, with the consent of the Commis-
sioners and Assessors of the* county, " that Nathan Worley he

1 Penna. Archives, i. 239.

1731.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 241

master and Keeper of the House of Correction or Workhouse in
the borough of Chester for the term of one year, if he behave
himself well which sd time is to commence on the 25th day of
March next, and that the Burgesses of said borough shall from
time to time, give such directions therein as they may adjudge
proper."

Haverford Monthly Meeting, after having appointed a com-
mittee to aid the Valley Friends in fixing on a site for a meeting-
house, at length leaves them at their liberty to build the said
house " at the Grave Yard near Lewis Walker's Dec'1, which was
left by the said Lewis by his last will for that purpose." A
temporary meeting was, from time to time, authorized by Haver-
ford Meeting, to be held at Richard Harrisson's School-house,
but it does not appear that it ever grew into a regular meeting.

The Chester Monthly had not as yet received any response to
their application to the quarterly meeting, and through it to the
yearly meeting, on the propriety of purchasing imported slaves.
In anticipation of any action by these meetings, this monthly
meeting, towards the close of the year 1730, adopted a minute
that cautioned Friends " against purchasing imported Negroes,
it being disagreeable to the sense of the meeting, and that such
as are likely to be found in the practice, be cautioned how they
offend therein."

The act of the Provincial Legislature, imposing a duty on im-
ported slaves and criminals, did not meet with much favor from
the home government. Instructions were transmitted to Gover-
nor Gordon against laying duties on either negroes or felons;
the latter being in direct opposition to an act of Parliament "for
the further preventing Robery, Burglary, and other felonies, and
for the more effectual transportation of Felons."

The first mission from the Roman Catholic Church was estab-
lished within the limits of Delaware County about the year 1730,
or perhaps a little earlier. The mission was from an establish-
ment of the Jesuit Society in Maryland, and was set up at the
residence of Thomas Willcox, at Ivy Mills, in Concord township.
The church services at the Ivy Mills Mission have been conducted
in a private dwelling for a century and a quarter; at first in
that of Thomas Willcox, by periodical visits of missionaries from
Maryland ; next at the residence of his son, Mark Willcox, and
subsequently in that of the late James M. Willcox, Esq., where it
was continued till the erection of the neat Catholic Church in the
immediate vicinity. At first the congregation was very small
and it continued so for many years, but of late the number
professing that faith has become very considerable, chiefly by
foreign immigration.

Pennsylvania had been peculiarly prosperous under the ad-
16

242 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1732.

ministration of Governor Gordon, and at this time contained
more white inhabitants than all Virginia, Maryland and both
the Carolinas.1 Its exports were large, consisting of wheat,
flour, beef, pork, leather, fish, lumber, staves, &c. From this
county flour and meal were important items of export, and were
sometimes shipped by the millers.

The wearing of a badge by criminals, indicating the crime for
which they had been convicted, as the letter T for theft, ceases
about this time to be inflicted as a punishment by our Court.
Confinement in the stocks has very rarely formed any part of a
sentence ; but still these implements of torture were maintained
at Chester, Marcus Hook and Darby. At a town's meeting
held in the latter township March 14th, 1732, it was agreed
" that there shall be a pair of stocks built in some public place
in Lower Darby, and the charges of the same shall be paid of
the Town's stock now in the hands of Thomas Worth, one of the
overseers of the poor."2 In the absence of facts on the subject,
it may be presumed that the smaller kinds of misdemeanors were
punished by means of the stocks, upon the authority of a justice
of the peace, a chief burgess, or perhaps, in earlier times, upon
that of a town meeting.

Licenses for keeping a tavern or an ordinary, were still
granted by the Governor, upon the recommendation of the
Court. Some of the reasons assigned by the petitioners for
wishing to engage in the business, would appear rather singular
at this time. Thus, Wm. Surnam, who has, " for divers years
past lived in Middletown in good credit and esteem, near and
convenient to the public road, who has for the greater part of
his residence there followed the occupation of Malt making k
the Brewing of Beer for a livelihood, but being greatly oppressed
by travellers, and the constant visitation of his wonted acquain-
tances, has been (as it were) forced to give continually gratis the
fruits of his labor." The application was unsuccessful.

Griffith Evans, of Haverford, was located at a convenient
stage, and had a dwelling-house suitable for travellers " on the
great road y* leads from the Branches of the Brandywine &
Goshen & several other parts," and withal was "an ancient
man and his wife also well stricken in years & subject to lame-
ness." Griffith kept the well-established stand known as the
Old Frog in that day. It was located a short distance above
Cooperstown, in Haverford.

1 This statement is on the authority of an anonymous writer of this year. It is ex-
tracted by Anderson and quoted by Proud. Other authorities make the population of
Virginia alone exceed that of Pennsylvania. Perhaps the difficulty may be recon-
ciled, by including or excluding the negro population. See Holmes' Ann. ii. 132. In
a single year, (1729) 6208 immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania. lb. 123.

2 Upper Darby Township Book.

1733.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 243

Hannah Penn, the widow of the late Proprietary, and his son,
Springett, having died, John, Thomas, and Richard, his three
remaining sons, became joint Proprietaries of Pennsylvania.
Thomas Penn came over to the Province for the first time in
1732, and arrived at Chester on the afternoon of the 11th of
August. An express was immediately sent to Philadelphia,
where the Assembly and Council were in session. The Secre-
tary of the Council was forthwith dispatched to Chester, with
the compliments and congratulations of the Governor and Board
to the new joint Proprietary upon his safe arrival, and " to ac-
quaint him, that to-morrow morning they would in person pay
their respects to him." Accordingly, on the next day, the Go-
vernor and all the members of Council who were able to travel,
accompanied by a very large number of gentlemen, visited
Chester, " waited on the Honorable Proprietary and paid him
their compliments. After dinner, the Proprietary with his com-
pany, now grown very numerous, sett out for Philadelphia, near
to which place he was met by the Mayor, Recorder and Alder-
men, with a great body of People. The Recorder, in the name
of the Mayor and Commonalty of the City, made a congratula-
tory speech, which the Proprietary answered, &c." On the 15th
of the month, the Representatives sent in their " Humble ad-
dress" which contains much less adulation than was betrayed
by the part taken by the Governor, Council and municipal au-
thorities of the city, in the affair.

An impostor appeared in 1732 among the meetings com-
posing Haverford Monthly Meeting of Friends, and successfully
passed himself off as a Quaker preacher. His name was John
Cruise, and it was not until after he had left, which was " with-
out making satisfaction," that his true character became known.
A committee was promptly appointed to caution Friends else-
where as to his character. They eventually received word that
he had removed to North Carolina, to which place the committee
were directed to write, " least he should impose upon friends."

Difficulties between the people of Maryland and those of this
Province were of frequent occurrence, but the scene has been
shifted from the border of Chester County to that of Lancaster.
Two Quakers, John Wright and Samuel Blunston, both of whom
had emigrated from this County and settled at or near Columbia,
were the active local managers in these troubles on behalf of
Pennsylvania, and they certainly performed their part with
ability and energy.

Commissioners on the part of both Provinces, with Surveyors,
met at Newcastle in February, for the purpose of running the
circular line, preliminary to the adjustment of the other boun-
daries. This resulted in nothing but angry disputes brough

244 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1735.

about by unreasonable suggestions from the Maryland side in the
controversy.1 The nature of these suggestions, and the manner
of conducting the controversy, will be better understood by con-
sulting a correspondence between Benj. Eastburn, the Surveyor-
General of Pennsylvania, and a Parson Jones, of Maryland, the
original of which is on file in the Surveyor-General's office at
Harrisburg.

An agreement having been entered into between the Proprie-
taries and Lord Baltimore, as to the principles that should govern
in the settlement of the boundaries between the two Provinces,
and between Maryland and the Lower Counties, the Governor
addressed a circular letter to the Justices of Chester and other
border counties, enjoining them to observe certain directions
therein laid down, with the view of preserving the peace until
the lines could be actually run. It was a long time, however,
before this took place.

Late at night on the 19th of September, 1734, news of the arrival
of John Penn, the elder brother of Thomas, was brought to Phila-
delphia by express from Newcastle. Early on the next morn-
ing, his brother, Thomas Penn, with a number of gentlemen,
proceeded to Chester to receive him, but he did not land there
until late in the evening, and remained there all night. On the
morning of the 21st the party proceeded towards Philadelphia,
and were met at the Schuylkill by the Mayor, Recorder and
Commonalty, as in the case of his brother Thomas. John did
not remain long in the country, but returned the next year to
adjust some dispute that Lord Baltimore had raised in respect
to the interminable boundary question.

The Yearly Meeting of Friends, in 1735, adopted various re-
commendations, among which may be enumerated : punctuality
in the payment of debts to the Crown, and quit-rents to the
Proprietors ; against being concerned in lotteries ; against large
provisions at marriages and burials ; against the importation of
negroes, or the buying of them after being imported ; against
the frequent use of drams, and the use of strong liquors in their
families, and they also repeated their former advice in respect
to grave-stones. These recommendations were generally adopted
by the several meetings of this County, especially that in respect
to negroes, which may indeed be regarded as the first effective
blow inflicted on the slave trade.

It does not appear that up to this time lotteries had been in
vogue in the Province. This year the Proprietaries proposed to
sell by way of Lottery 100,000 acres of land, and it may have
been that the admonition of the yearly meeting on that subject,

1 Col. Rec. iii. 497.

1736.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 245

was to guard Friends against becoming the dupes of this magni-
cent swindle.1

Chester Particular Meeting of Friends appears to be engaged
in the erection of a new meeting-house. Permission was granted
to that meeting to sell their old house, which was accordingly
done."

The number of taxables in the County in 1722 was 500. The
number taken from an assessment made in 1735 is 800 — making
the population, on an estimate of six persons to one taxable,
4800, or an increase of 1800 inhabitants in 13 vears. Owing to
the wretched system of farming adopted by the early settlers,
the lands at first placed under culture were exhausted, and many
families removed further into the interior, and encountered the
task of clearing new lands, rather than remain upon those that
had been exhausted, either by their fathers or themselves.

The assessment or valuation in 1735 was no higher than in
1722. The tax was about one-third less, being at the rate of two
pence in the pound; the poll tax on single freemen was 6s., while
in 1722 it was 9s. Upper Chichester and Upper Darby appear
as distinct municipalities in this assessment, though the latter was
not then organized as a separate township for all purposes. The
tax for the whole county was only £1Q0.

After an unusually successful administration of about ten
years, Governor Gordon died in the summer of 1736, leaving to
his successor, James Logan, who was then President of the Coun-
cil, some unadjusted Indian troubles, and an almost endless series
of Maryland border disputes. Logan administered the govern-
ment for about two years. In the absence of a Governor, there
could be no legislation, and of course no laws were passed during
the administration of James Logan.

The advice of the yearly meeting against the importation of
negroes, and buying them after being imported, and the advice
against "the frequent use of drams, or other strong liquors, in
families, and particularly giving them to children," was repeated
and enjoined by both Chester and Concord Monthly Meetings.

1 There is a printed scheme of this lottery among the unlabeled files in the office of
the Surveyor-General at Harrisburg. The proposition was, "to sell by way of lottery
100,000 acres of land, and estimate the same at the settled price of £15 10s. current
money of this Province for 100 acres, which amounts to the sum of £15,500, and that
the same be purchased by the sale of 7750 tickets at Forty Shillings each, [which] like-
wise amounts to £15,500."

The quit-rent on this land was to be reduced from 4s. 2d. sterling to Is. per 100
acres, but the usual reservation in respect to mines was to remain. There were 1293
prizes, and 6*57 blanks. The land was distributed thus among the prize tickets, viz.:
one of 3000 acres ; 2 of 1500 each ; 10 of 1000 ; 20 of 500 ; 140 of 200 ; 150 of 100 ;
250 of 50, and 720 of 25 acres each. The first ticket drawn was entitled to 200 acres,
and the last to 300 acres.

2 This was the building in which tradition has erroneously convened the first As-
sembly of Pennsylvania.

246 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1737.

This advice was frequently repeated before any further steps were
taken on the subject.

Bradford Monthly Meeting, to be composed of Cain and
Bradford Meetings, was established in 1736 by authority of
Chester Quarterly Meeting.

The crossing of the Brandywine Creek, at Chadds' Ford, was
frequently interrupted by high water and ice, and the settlements
had become so numerous west of that stream that the establish-
ment of a ferry became necessary. The following paper, dated
on the 30th of August, 1737, the original of which is on file in
the office of the Clerk of Quarter Sessions, at West Chester,
fully explains the establishment of this most necessary improve-
ment :

" John Chadds, having petitioned the Court, setting forth that
by the concurrence of the Justices and by order of the Commis-
sioners and assessors, a fferry being erected over Brandywine
creek, on the road leading from Philadelphia to Nottingham,
& no rates for the same established, prays that such rates may
be set for the same as to the Court may seem reasonable ; ivhere-
upon the Court taking the same into consideration, have ad-
judged the rates hereafter mentioned, may be demanded & taken
by the said John Chadds or his assigns or successors in the said
Ferry:"

" Every horse and Rider, four pence.
Every single person on foot, three pence, if more, two

pence each.
Every ox, cow or heifer, four pence each.
For Every sheep, one penny.

Every Hog, three half pence.

Every Coach, waggon or Cart, one shilling and six pence.

Every empty waggon or Cart nine pence.

Every steed four pence.

To the aforesaid rates, the justices have subscribed their names.

Richard Hayes,
John Crosby,
Henry Hayes,
Samuel Hollingsworth,
John Parry,
Abraham Emmitt,
Caleb Coupland,
Elisha Gatchell,
Joseph Brinton."

A person hailing from Beyruta, near Mount Lebanon, who
called himself Sheck Sidi, claimed to be a Christian nobleman,
and complained that he had suffered great persecution from the

1738.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 247

Turks, succeeded in gaining the confidence and sympathy of the
Yearly Meeting of Friends, and also a contribution of 20 pis-
toles. He was recommended to the several meetings in our
county as a proper object of charity ; but to what extent relief
was granted does not appear. He was evidently viewed with
some suspicion.1

There was much violence used by persons residing in Mary-
land towards those residing near the supposed line, but claiming
to belong to Pennsylvania. Though mostly confined to Lancas-
ter County, it happened this year that Elisha Gatchell, one of
the Justices of Chester County, was beaten and abused by rioters
from Maryland, and subsequently carried by them into the Pro-
vince and detained. A warrant was issued by Thomas Graeme,
one of the Justices, of the Supreme Court, for their arrest.2 The
disagreements between the people of the Provinces had now ar-
rived at such a pitch, caused by arrests and other indignities
offered on either side, that from simple breaches of the peace,
open hostilities seemed to be on the eve of breaking out. For-
tunately the arrival of an order from the King and Council, on
the subject of the boundary, made it the interest of each party
to refrain from further hostile proceedings for the present.3

George Thomas, a planter of Antigua, was appointed Gover-
nor of the Province in 1737, but did not assume the duties of
the office till August of the next year. As a consequence of the
gubernatorial change, it became necessary to issue a new Com-
mission of the Peace. The following persons were appointed for
Chester County: Richard Hayes, Henry Pearce, Henry Hayes,
Elisha Gatchell, John Crosby, Caleb Cowpland, Abraham Emmit,
James James, John Parry, Joseph Pennock, Samuel Holligs-
worth, Joseph Brientnal, Joseph Heins, William Pirn, Joseph Bon-
sall, the chief Burgesses for the time being, and Joseph Parker.

The order of the King and Council, in respect to the Mary-
land boundary, proved to be only temporarily beneficial. Com-
plaints on both sides were renewed, and a revival of former out-
rages was apprehended. These were happily averted by an
agreement entered into, at this time, between the Proprietaries
of both Provinces.

The Friends at Darby found it necessary to enlarge their
meeting-house, and accordingly " Nathan Gibson, Joseph Bon-

1 This individual is mentioned by Smith, in his History of New Jersey. He is called
Sheck Scidit; and is represented as a native of Berytua, and a prince ot Syria. He had
met with great misfortunes and solicited charity. He received large contributions both
in Europe and this country, especially in New York and Philadelphia, p. 423. The
legislature of the Province expended £37 2s. 3d. in the entertainment of this person-
age. Col. Rec. iv. 290.

2 Penna. Archives, i. 538 : Col. Rec. iv. 229. The authorities of Maryland disa-
vowed the arrest of Gatchell.

3 Gordon's Hist. Penna. 221.

248 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1738.

sail, Saraul Bunting and John Davis are appointed undertakers,
to look after the said inlargenient and sett the work." This was
an enlargement of the old house on the hill within the grave-
yard.

Folly has her votaries in all ages, but the particular manner
in which they make their oblations to the fantastic deity, is
varied by time and circumstances. It may be inferred from a
minute of Darby Meeting, that one of the modes selected at
this particular period of our history, was "the vain practice of
firing guns at marriages." As but a single instance of dealing
for this grave offence is recorded, and the offender in that case
made the required acknowledgment, it may be concluded, that,
as a general rule, this vain practice prevailed among those out-
side of the staid Society of Friends.

Slight shocks of an earthquake had been experienced in 1726,
and again in 1732. On the 7th of December, 1738, a severe
shock was felt, "accompanied by a remarkable rumbling noise;
people waked in their beds, the doors flew open, bricks fell from
the chimneys ; the consternation was serious, but happily no great
damage ensued."1

The provisional agreement that had formerly been entered
into between the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania and Maryland,
in respect to the boundary, was directed by the King and Council
to be enforced; and in compliance with this direction, and as a
part thereof, it became necessary to run a temporary east and
west line between the Provinces, fifteen miles and a quarter south
of the latitude of the most southern part of Philadelphia, to the
Susquehanna River, and west of that river fourteen and three-
quarter miles south of the said latitude. The limited scope of
this work will exclude any extended account of the survey of this
line, or that upon nearly the same ground, but of much greater
notoriety, known as Mason 's and Dixon's, yet as the line of lati-
tude of the most southern part of Philadelphia upon which it was
based, passed through our county, it would not be proper to leave
the matter wholly unnoticed.

To run this line, Lawrence Growden and Richard Peters were
appointed Commissioners on behalf of Pennsylvania, and Col.
Levin Gale and Samuel Chamberlaine, on the part of Maryland.
Benjamin Eastburn acted as surveyor on behalf of the former,
and William Ramsey on behalf of the latter. On the 8th of
December a true meridian line was fixed in the city of. Philadel-
phia, and when tried the next day, the magnetic variation was
found to be five degrees and twenty-five minutes westerly. On the
11th of the month, a true west line was run to the distance of
about two miles, when, from the severity of the weather, the sur-

i Smith's Hist. N. J. 427.

1739.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 249

veying party was obliged to adjourn to the 5th of April following.
Commencing again in the Spring, on the 18th of April they had
progressed as far as the Widow Parnel's [Pennell's] in Edg-
mont, having crossed Upper Darby, Springfield, and Upper
Providence, in their route. Several lines had been run before,
which Mr. Peters, in a letter to the Governor, says they had
crossed several times, "but not after leaving Sam1. Levis's."
They are now "south of the line run by John Taylor,1 and more
south of the line run by the Jersey Commissioners." Thus far
the work has gone on harmoniously. Two days later the party
had arrived at James Gibbons', in Thornbury. The Maryland
Commissioners became suspicious, because of the line running so
far south; but after a careful comparison of Theodolites they
became reconciled. On the 23d of April, both of the Pennsyl-
vania Commissioners wrote to the Governor from an open field
in West Bradford, which appears to be the point " where the
line is to be set off South in order to measure the fifteen miles
and a quarter." It was about thirty-one miles from the place of
beginning. But they were now involved in a dispute. Col. Gale,
on the authority of the Governor and Council of Maryland,
claimed that the measure of the fifteen and a quarter miles
should be made superficially without any allowance for the alti-
tude of the hills, while the Pennsylvania Commissioners very
properly claimed this allowance. Mr. Eastburn had accompanied
the Jersey Commissioners last December, and had ascertained from
actual calculation that the difference between the two pl^ns of
measurement did not exceed twenty-five perches. The object of
the Commissioners, in now writing to the Governor, was to obtain
his directions, " whether they must join with the Maryland Com-
missioners superficially, that is to say, without allowing for the
Altitudes of the Hills, and so make them, [the Marylanders,] an
absolute present of 25 perches, or proceed ex parte, & how far
over Susquehannah, or return to Philadelphia & do no more at
present."

On the 25th of April, the Commissioners again wrote to his
Honor, the Governor, dating their letter at Wm. Webb's. They
have now become extremely jealous of the Maryland Commis-
sioners, taking Col. Gale, one of them, "to be under instructions,
which they had for some time apprehended, to be inconsistent
with a disposition to run a fair Line with them," and accusing him
of seeking some pretext for breaking with them, in order to run
an ex parte line. After much argument, the Maryland Commis-
sioners agreed to allow the addition of twenty -five perches to the

1 In the office of the Surveyor-General at Harrisburg there is a map of the S. E.
part of Pennsylvania, in which this line is laid down, though it appears to start from
the northernmost part of the city of Philadelphia.

250 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1739.

surface measure, not knowing that this fully covered the whole
difference between the two plans of measurement. This plan
was determined upon before receiving the Governor's answer ;
the Maryland Commissioners supposing they had yielded but
little in making the compromise, while those of Pennsylvania
knew that the only sacrifice they had made was in form, and that
they had really yielded nothing in substance.

The next disagreement was about the chain to be used in the
measurement. It was the custom to have the two-pole chain
made one inch longer, and the four-pole chain two inches longer
than the exact measure, to make up for inequalities and irregu-
larities. Col. Gale contended for the chain to be reduced to the
exact measure. After much contention, and a threat on the part
of the Pennsylvania Commissioners to break, and run the line
ex parte, this point was conceded by the Maryland Commissioners ;
but at the same time these gentlemen set up a claim for an allow-
ance of a half inch in every chain for the thickness of the sticks.
They at length receded from this position, and the measurement
of the meridian line was proceeded with ; and at their coming out
at the end of the line, the Pennsylvania Commissioners " were
greatly astonished" to find themselves "no more than 20 perches
more south, than the corner the Jersey Commissioners had fixed
for the end of the South line." Having commenced their mea-
surement eighty perches south of the east and west line run by
the Jersey Commissioners, and having the fullest confidence in
the accuracy of their work, they concluded that the Jersey Com-
missioners had made "too large measure in the South line by 60
perches."

From the end of the South line they immediately proceeded
to run the temporary boundary line westward to the Susquehanna,
where, owing to sickness and death in the family of Col. Gale,
the joint commission was broken up. Beyond the Susquehanna,
" to the top of the most Western hill, of a range of hills called
the Kittocktinny," distant from the place of beginning about
eighty-eight statute miles, the line was run ex parte by the
Pennsylvania Commissioners.1

In running the West line from Philadelphia, the Commis-
sioners note several points in our County and beyond it. On
the evening of the first day, they left off, "in the land of
Thomas Worth of Darby township;" on the 2d day "at Samuel
Levis' in Springfield;" on the 3d at John Worrall's in Provi-
dence ; the 4th at the widow Yarnalls in Edgemont. Here
meeting with unusual attraction, they reviewed part of their
work, but on the 19th of April they were on " the plantation of
Jacob in Thornbury township;" on that of Joseph Hunt

1 Penna. Archives, i. 556, 558, 568 to 576, 599, 600, &o.

1740.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 251

in Westtown on the 20th ; on Abraham Marshall's land in Brad-
ford on the 21st, and on the 23d had reached " an old field
belonging to John Newlyn, on or near its North Line," from
whence they turned South.

It must not be supposed that the place of stopping had any-
thing to do with fixing the N. E. corner of Maryland. The
only object in running Westward before measuring the 15J
miles South, was to avoid the large streams of water, and when
they had reached John Newlin's old field, they concluded the
large waters of the Brandywine and Christina Creeks would be
avoided. ,

In running the South line, the land of William Wickersham
in East Marlborough township, and that of Hugh Steward in
New Garden are mentioned. The point at which the lb\ miles
ended was " 20 perches from the road leading to Charles
Tenants meeting house in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle
County."1

An inquiry made by the crown in respect to the currency of
the Province, brings to light many interesting facts, and among
others that the emission of bills of credit had effectually excluded
specie as a circulating medium. The report on the subject from the
Assembly, doubtless drawn up by John Kinsey, their Speaker,
claims that'obedience had been yielded to the provisions of the act
of the sixth year of Queen Anne, fixing the rates of foreign coin
in the British Plantations, up to the year 1720, but admits that
" between which time and 1723, merchants, to make remittances
to England, did sometimes purchase silver with gold at a small
advance." The first act for issuing bills of credit was passed
in 1723. The report goes on to say that, " it must indeed be
confessed, that soon after these bills of credit were issued, as
our trade very much increased, and far greater quantities of
English goods were imported, the balance of our trade with
Great Britain turned out in our disfavour, and as those bills
were in good credit, and answered the ends of money amongst
us, it was no longer in our power to keep any great quantities
of silver or gold for a currency ; and therefore since that time,
they have been seldom used in the payment of debts, but gene-
rally bought and sold as merchandize, and shipped off to Great
Britain to pay for those great quantities of goods, which are
yearly imported from thence."

The ridiculous fashion of wearing hoops, as now, prevailed
about this period, but it found much less favor at that time than
at present, with those of the Society of Friends. Towards the
close of 1739 Concord Monthly Meeting testified thus against
the practice.

1 Penna. Archives, i. 602-614.

252 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1741.

" A concern having taken hold against this meeting to sup-
press pride, and it seems to appear some what in women in
wearing of hoope pettecoats which is a great trouble to many
minds, and it is the unanymous sense of this meeting that none
among us be in the practice thereof; [and that] all our over-
seers and other solid friends do inspect in their members and
where any appear, to be guilty, do deal with them and dis-
courage them either in that of hoops or other indecent dress."
In spite of all the watchfulness that this minute imposed upon
the "overseers and other solid friends," it was this year found
that Caleb Burdshall and his wife had " a little too inconsider-
ately encouraged women wearing of hoopst petecoats."

The celebrated itinerant preacher, George Whitefield, visited
this country towards the close of 1739. After having preached
to immense numbers in Philadelphia, making many converts, it
is recorded that he was accompanied to Chester by 150 horse-
men, and preached there to 7000 people, and again at White-
clay Creek to 8000, of whom as many as 3000 were on horse-
back.1

Thomas Penn returned to England this year ;2 the constant
and violent quarrels between the Assembly and the Governor,
in which Proprietary interests were frequently brought into the
controversy, could not have been very agreeable to him.

At the meeting of the Legislature in October, the Governor
had shown a vindictive spirit in his reply to John Kinsey, the
accomplished Speaker of the Assembly. This was followed up
by the issue of a new general Commission of the Peace for the
several Counties of the Province, in which his Excellency ex-
hibited a petty revenge, unworthy of his position, by leaving
out the names of those Justices who had opposed his adminis-
tration. As an excuse for getting rid of some of the obnoxious
Quaker Justices, he said he had received a letter from Mr. John
Penn with the information " that the Court at Chester had set
aside a man from the Jury for declining to take the affirmation
and insisting to be qualified by Oath." John had also urged
the Governor to appoint a majority of Justices in each County
who " would not scruple to take, or at least administer an oath."3
If the charge against the Chester Justices was true, his Excel-
lency could readily and directly have obtained a substantiation
of all the facts, but resting alone on this circuitous hearsay
testimony, the truth of the accusation may be fairly doubted ;

1 Watson's Ann. i. 537.

2 Proud, ii. 222.

3 Col. Rec. iv. 482. It was in anticipation of removal from office, by the issuing of
this new Commission, that Justice John Wright of Lancaster delivered his noted
Charge to the Grand Jury of that County. See Gordon's Hist. Penna. 240 ; Proud,
ii. 222.

1741.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 253

but it requires a large share of charity to wholly excuse the
bigotry of the degenerate son of the first Proprietary, for
making such a communication to the Governor.

Of the Justices appointed by the Governor in 1788, shortly
after assuming the duties of his office, he left out of the new
Commission for Chester County, the following names : Richard
Hayes,1 James James, John Parry, Samuel Hollingsworth,
Joseph Brientall, and Joseph Heins, and included fhose of
William Moore, Joseph Brinton, William Webb, John Mather,
Ralph Pyle, John Taylor, and Job Rushton.

That part of the road known as the old Lancaster or Oones-
togo road, west of John Spruce's land in Whiteland township,
had been laid out and opened for several years, but for some
reason, probably because the city, or landings on tide water could
be reached by roads then in use, a survey of this important
thoroughfare was not made till this time.2

At the instance of the Grand Jury and some of the substantial
inhabitants of Chester County complaining of abuses practised
in that County by the use of defective weights and measures,
the Justices petitioned the Governor for the appointment of a
Regulator of Weights and Measures. Isaac Taylor received the
appointment. The petitioners allege, that "they have directed
the purchasing of standards of brass for Weights and Measures,
according to his Majesty's standards for the Exchequer."3
These standards were procured by Thomas Morgan, and cost
the County £17 12s. lid.4

The Jail and Court-house both appear to have been subjected
to some renovation about this time. An order was passed by
the Commissioners in favor of Nathan Worley " for £10, for
planks for flooring the two dungeons East side of the prison and
laying the floors &c. ;" and one in favor of Thos. Morgan " for
£5 lis. 6d. for 150 lbs spikes for laying the Dungeon's floors."
There was also an order of £5 for plastering and ceiling the
prison ; and one of £26 for repairing and painting the Court-
house and prison, and another of £14 4s. for a well in the work-
house yard. Still other repairs were made the next year.

The business of the County was transacted at this period by
three Commissioners, elected as they now are. In laying taxes
they were assisted by six persons called Assessors, who were
chosen annually. The duties now performed by township As-
sessors was then performed by the Constables. The tax for this
year was laid at the house of John Chadds in Birmingham ; the

1 Deceased.

2 For the courses and distances of this road, see Col. Rec. iv. 503.

3 Col. Rec. iv. 507.

4 Commissioners' Rec. West Chester. A pair of scales was purchased the next
year.

254 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1742.

rate being 2d. in the pound and "6s. a head upon freemen."
The house of John Chadds was favored with the meetings of the
Commissioners for several years.

No less than three persons offered to serve the office of County
Treasurer, gratis, in 1741. The Commissioners appointed
Joshua Thompson, one of the number, but Joseph Brinton, the
late Treasurer, complaining that he still had unsettled business
in the office, and being willing to serve at the same cheap rate,
Thompson relinquished the office in his favor, upon the con-
dition, however, that he was to hold it during the year
following.

A proposition was made to the Commissioners for a ferry on
the Brandy wine " on the road from Concord to Maryland by the
erection of wharfs, where the creek overflows, & renders peoples
landing very difficult."

In the trial of criminal cases, it appears to have been the
practice, since the early settlement of the Province, only to em-
ploy counsel in those of serious import. In these cases the most
able counsel in the Province were engaged. The following
minute from the Commissioners' books shows the amount of
compensation alloived in such cases :

"Allowed John Kinsey Esqr an order on the Treasr for the
sum of £3 12s. being his fees as Kings attorney at the tryall of
James O'Donnelly and Richard Graham, 26th of May last."

Besides the counsel, there was another officer specially em-
ployed for trials in the Oyer and Terminer, as will be seen by
another minute :

"Allowed John Ross, Gent, an order on the Treasurer for the
sum of three pounds ten shillings, for officiating as clerk of the
Crown at a Court of Oyer and Terminer held at Chester, for the
tryal of James O'Donnelly & Richard Graham, the 26th of May
last."

Richard Graham was sent away in "the Privateer" for which
additional fees were allowed.

Considering the scarcity of money in these early times, the
amounts collected by the Quakers in their meetings, for char-
itable and other purposes, is really astonishing. Haverford
Monthly Meeting contributed in 1741 £35 Qs. 10d., and Con-
cord meeting £21 10s. 6d. toward the relief of the sufferers by
the great fire at Charleston, S. C.

A controversy brought before Chester Monthly Meeting in
1742, between Thomas Dell of the one part, and John Crosby
and Peter Dicks of the other, reveals the fact, that previous to
this time the latter had erected a forge on Crum Creek. The
precise location of this early forge cannot at this time be desig-
nated.

1743.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 255

The ferry established on the Brandywine at Chadds' Ford not
proving to be remunerative, except when connected with the
business of tavern-keeping, John Chadds therefore "presented
a petition, (signed by himself and a considerable number of in-
habitants of Chester County,) to the Commissioners and asses-
sors, setting forth that pursuant to an agreement made with
their predecessors in the year 1737, he built a boat and suitable
appurtenances for the conveying of people and carriages over
Brandywine creek, with the money that he borrowed of the
county for that purpose, the sum of which was 30 pounds, and
it being evident as ye petitioner conceives, that the profits of the
said ferry, will not without some consideration, compensate for
the charge thereof, and that the Honorable Justices, hath at
last August Court, thought proper to deprive him the sd John
Chadds from keeping a house of entertainment, near the sd ferry,
which he had done heretofore : They therefore request that the
said John Chads may be acquitted & discharged from the pay-
ment of the sum of money above mentioned, and also from tlie
care and management of sd boat and appurtenances, and some
other person appointed to act therein in his stead." The peti-
tion does not appear to have been granted, for in two years
thereafter John Chadds had paid the =£30, with the interest re-
mitted, and is again reinstated in his business of tavern-keeping.

The fairs authorized by law were not sufficient to satisfy the
desires of the public in this respect. Charles Connor and five
others were this year bound over for holding a fair at Birming-
ham, but it does not appear that any further proceedings were
had in the matter.

How customary it was at this period for criminals to receive
corporal punishment by whipping, as a part or the whole penalty
for their wrong-doings, may be inferred from the two following
minutes taken from the Commissioners' books :

"Allowed John Wharton an order on the Treasurer for four
shillings for making a new whip, and mending an old one for
the use of the County."

"Allowed Isaac Lea an order on the Treasurer, for the sum of
8 shillings, being for two new whips, and mending an old one ;
for the County's service."

Benjamin Hayes, of Haverford, who had served the Com-
missioners as Clerk for many years, " presented a petition de-
siring to be discharged from his office." John Wharton was
appointed in his place.

Tench Francis was allowed £5 for his services as Attorney-
General in Chester County.

Application was made to the Commissioners for a bridge over
Chester Creek, "with a draw or sliding bridge for convenience

256 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1747.

of sloops, shallops, or other craft, to pass through the same,"
but it was decided to repair the bridge without the draw. It
was agreed to pay 16s. per hundred for white oak plank, and
10s. for white oak scantlin, delivered, to be used in this work.

War having been declared by England against France, the
Governor issued his proclamation on the 11th of June, ad-
vising the people of the Province of this change of relations
between the two countries, and enjoining all persons capable of
bearing arms, " forthwith to provide themselves with a good
Firelock, Bayonet and Cartouch box, and with a sufficient
quantity of powder and ball." The fitting out of privateers
was also recommended. The tenor of the proclamation was
rather calculated to increase the alarm incident to approaching
hostilities; but the Governor had been so successful in his
management of Indian affairs, and by joining in a grand treaty
held at Lancaster immediately after the publication of the pro-
clamation, in which both Virginia and Maryland, and also the
Six Nations, were represented, the Province was really secure
from any immediate attack, except by sea. This relieved our
Quaker population from the dreadful apprehension of Indian
hostilities, but not from constant importunities to furnish supplies
to carry on the war, till the capture of Louisburg, on the island
of Cape Breton, which happened in 1745. Even after this
period, both men and money were in great demand by the home
Government for some time.

An act was passed in 1747, granting £5000 for the King's
use. This amount was raised by an issue of paper money, but
this issue did not increase the amount previously authorized,
but supplied the place of old and defaced bills, no longer fit to
circulate.

On the 5th of May, 1747, the Governor advised the As-
sembly of the death of John Penn, one of the Proprietors, and,
at the same time, announced to that body his intention of re-
turning to England, which event soon after followed, leaving
the Government in charge of the Council, with Anthony Palmer
as President. Mr. Palmer had not been long at the head of the
Government, before the Province was thrown into a state of
alarm by the arrival of an express from New Castle, bringing
news of the presence of a privateer in the bay, with 100
French and Spaniards, who had committed sundry depredations
along the coast. No laws could be passed in the absence of a
Governor; but the Council was willing to risk the responsibility
of providing for the defence of the Province, provided they
could have the assurance of certain leading members of the
Assembly, that, upon the arrival of a Governor, a bill for the
payment of the expenses incurred should have their support.

1748.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 257

No satisfactory assurance was given, and no effective defensive
measures were adopted. The whole responsibility of this non-
resistance policy, in a time of such great danger, did not rest
with the Quakers alone, their views on the subject of war being
endorsed by the Moravians and other German sects. This
pacific policy doubtless led to the capture of a large number of
vessels in and about the mouth of the bay, but it may well be
doubted whether the loss of property sustained would not have
been more than counterbalanced by the loss of life in case
armed resistance had been made.

The repair of the road between Cobb's Creek and Gray's
Ferry was neglected by the Supervisors, under the belief that
it had never been regularly laid out, which was probably true.
Upon the petition of George Gray, the keeper of the Ferry, and
others, to the Council, all difficulty was obviated by the appoint-
ment of suitable persons to survey and have a proper return of
the road made.

At the same time, upon petition, persons were appointed to
lay out the balance of the road, according to former surveys, to
New Castle line, but finding that the travelled road did not
occupy the ground upon which the road had been laid out, a
final report was not made till July, 1748. The survey appears
to have been made by the Surveyor-General, and varied but
little from the bed of the old road. The width adopted for the
road laid out at this time was sixty feet, except in the towns
Darby and Chester.

The piratical depredations committed by the enemy in the
Delaware became more alarming this year than ever before.
One privateer even ventured above New Castle, and in passing,
exchanged a few shots with that place. The British sloop-of-
war Otter was then at Philadelphia, but, unfortunately, it was
not in a condition to repel these aggressions of the enemy. Ef-
forts were made to fit out another vessel, and although the As-
sembly agreed to provide money to defray the expense of such
defensive measures as might be adopted, even if they did not
approve of those measures ; yet moneyed men did not feel suffi-
cient confidence to induce them to make the necessary advances.
Every effort was made by the Council to procure cannon, and at
length some were obtained from New York, and batteries estab-
lished along the river. One of these was called the "Great
Battery," which was probably located near the present site of
the Navy Yard.

In this emergency a home guard was organized, not only in

the city, but in the several counties, composed of citizens who

voluntarily associated for the defence of the Province. They

were denominated " Associators," and furnished their equipments

17

258 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1748.

at their own expense. Chester County furnished a regiment of
Associators, for which the following gentlemen were commis-
sioned as officers: Colonel, Andrew McDowell; Lieut.-Colonel,
John Frew; Major, John Miller, and Captains, Job Ruston,
William Bell, Joseph Wilson, Henry Glassford, William Boyd,
William Reed, William Porter and William Clinton.1

Fortunately these preparations for defence were not needed.

Preliminaries for restoring a general peace were signed at Aix

la Chapelle on the 19th of April, and proclaimed here in August.

The year 1748 was one of great sickness, not only in the

city of Philadelphia, but throughout the Province.

James Hamilton, a son of Andrew Hamilton, received the ap-
pointment of Lieutenant-Governor, and assumed the duties of the
office in November.

In the autumn of this year, Peter Kalm, the Swedish natural-
ist, arrived at Philadelphia, and after remaining a short time in
that city, passed through our county on a visit to Wilmington.
On his return to Philadelphia he spent some time at Chichester,
"a borough on the Delaware, where travellers pass the river in
a ferry." He adds, "they build here every year a number of
small ships for sale, and from an iron work which lies higher up
in the country, they carry Iron bars to this place and ship
them." The environs of Chichester, he says, "contain many
gardens, which are full of apple trees sinking under the weight
of innumerable apples." About noon our traveller reached
Chester, " a little Market town which lies on the Delaware. The
houses stand dispersed. Most of them are built of stone, and
two or three stories high ; some are, however, made of wood,
in the town is a church and a market place."

"About two English miles behind Chester," our author re-
marks, " I passed an iron forge, which was to the right hand by
the road side. It belonged to two brothers, as I was told. The
ore, however, is not dug here, but thirty or forty miles hence,
where it is first melted in an oven, and then carried to this place.
The bellows were made of leather, and both they and the ham-
mers, and even the hearth, but small in proportion to ours. All
the machines were worked by water." The location of this forge2
must have been on Crum Creek, just below where it is crossed
by the post road, while that mentioned in connection with Chi-
chester was probably located on Chester Creek, at or near Glen
Mills, and was owned and carried on by John Taylor.

Up to this period the forests preserved the same open appear-
ance and freedom from underwood which they presented at the

1 For a full list of officers, see Col. Rec. v. 210, 246.

2 This forge is supposed to be the one before mentioned as belonging to Peter Dicks,
but Peter Dicks resided in Nether Providence, which leaves the matter in doubt.

1750.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 259

time of the first arrival of Europeans. This was originally
caused by the annual burnings of the Indians, and now unwisely
continued by the whites, though the practice was restricted by
legislative enactment. In describing the country through which
he passed, our learned traveler (Kalm) remarks that the greater
part of it is "covered with several kinds of decidious trees; for I
scarcely saw a single tree of the fir kind, if I except a feiv red
cedars. The forest was high but open below, so that it left a free
prospect to the eye, and no underwood obstructed the passage
between the trees. It would have been easy in some places to
have gone under the branches with a carriage for a quarter of a
mile, the trees standing at great distances from each other, and
the ground being very level."1

Agreeably to a report made by a committee of the Assembly
in 1749, the whole amount of paper money in circulation at that
time in the Province was <£85,000.

Among the troubles to which our goodly ancestors were, about
this period, subjected, was the depredation committed by the le-
gions of squirrels with which the forests swarmed. To mitigate
the evil, an act was passed authorizing the payment of 3d. per
head for the destruction of these voracious animals. This pre-
mium was sufficient to induce a large number of persons to en-
gage in squirrel shooting as a regular business, and the conse-
quence was, that the amount paid in the whole Province this
year for squirrel scalps was £8000, showing that 640,000 of
these creatures had been killed.2

This large amount rendered bankrupt nearly every County
Treasury in the Province, and made it necessary to reduce the
bounty one half, by another Act of Assembly.

In pursuance of an Act of Parliament, having for its object the
restriction of the manufacture of iron in the British American
Colonies, Governor Hamilton issued his proclamation,3 requiring
the Sheriffs of the several counties to make a return to him, of
" every Mill or Engine for slitting and rolling of Iron, every
plating forge to work with a tilt hammer, and every Furnace for
making Steel which were erected within their several and re-
spective counties," on the 24th day of June, 1750. In pur-
suance of this proclamation, John Owen, the Sheriff of Chester
County, certifies " that there is but one Mill or Engine for slit-
ting and rolling iron within the county aforesaid, which is situate
in Thornbury Township, and was erected in the year one thou-

1 Kalm's Travels into N. America, i. 155-167.

2 The number of squirels killed in Chester County, in the year 1749, was 159,779,
as returned to the Commissioner, the pay for which, at 3d. per head, amounted to the
sum of £191S 18s. lrf. The same year 402 foxes, and 588 crows were killed in the
county, upon which bounty was claimed.

3 Col. Rec. v. 459.

260 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1750.

sand seven hundred and forty six, by John Taylor the present
Proprietor thereof, who, with his servants and workmen, has
ever since until the 24th day of June last, used and occupied
the same." The Sheriff also certifies, "that there is not any
plating forge to work with a tilt hammer, nor any furnace for
making Steel," within the County of Chester.1

As has been mentioned, the iron works of John Taylor occu-
pied nearly the present site of the Glenn Mills of the Messrs.
Willcox ; but it is a little remarkable that the iron works within
two English miles of Chester, mentioned by Peter Kalm, in his
journey from that place to Philadelphia, should have so suddenly
gone into disuse. The existence of such works, in 1748, at the
point mentioned, cannot be doubted, for the Swedish naturalist
was too accurate an observer to have been mistaken in a matter
of this kind.

Labor in Pennsylvania was, at this period, of three kinds :
free hired labor, bought servants for a term of years, and slaves
for life. The wages of the first class for a year, with food and
lodging, in the country, was about ,£16 for a man, and from £8
to <£10 for females. The second class consisted of such persons
as annually came from different countries of Europe to settle.
Real or supposed oppression brought many of them here, but most
of them were very poor, and came to better their fortunes.
Being without means to pay their passage, which was not more
than from six to eight pounds sterling for each, they, by agree-
ment with the captain of the ship in which they arrived, were
sold for a term of years to pay this small amount.

The usual term of service was four years, and the price ad-
vanced for that term, appears at this period to have been about
<£14, which would leave a surplus for the redemptioner, unless
it was used in the payment of charges by the government.
Children were frequently sold for a longer period to pay the
passage-money of their parents. At the expiration of their
terms of service, each was supplied with a new suit of clothes,
as is now, and was then, the case with apprentices. Some of
these foreigners who were possessed of sufficient means to pay
their passage, preferred being sold, as the period of service
afforded them time to learn our language and the ways of the
country, and at the end of that period, the funds they brought
with them were invested in the purchase of a permanent home.

This kind of labor being the cheapest, and within the means
of a majority of the settlers, it appears to have been substituted
for that of the African slave, and at this period had nearly put
an end to the importation of slaves into the Province. It was,
however, more used further in the interior than within the limits

1 Penna. Archives, ii. 57.

1751.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 261

of our county, the earliest settlers having been more liberally
supplied with negroes.

The third kind of labor was that of the negro slave. The
price of negro men at this time was from £40 even to £100 in
rare instances. The few who were now imported, were brought
from the West Indies, as it was found that in transporting negroes
from Africa directly to the more northern Provinces, their health
suffered more than when gradually acclimated, by being taken
first to the West Indies, and from thence further north. Even at
this period the Quakers and others had manumitted a consider-
able number of their slaves. The law that made it obligatory on
the master to provide for the maintenance of the slave during
life, was an obstacle to emancipation, as it was found that manu-
mitted negroes became indolent, and in their old age were liable
to become chargeable.1

The proportion of negroes to the white population within the
limits of our county was much greater at this period than at
present. The precise proportion is not known, but in the city
of Philadelphia, in 1751, the blacks exceeded one-third of the
whole population.2

In the computation of time throughout Great Britain and its
dependencies, up to the 31st of December, 1751, what was known
as "old style," continued to be used. The change to our pre-
sent mode of computation was effected by an Act of Parliament,
entitled, " An Act for regulating the commencement of the year,
and for correcting the Calendar now in use." The numerical
designation of the months adopted by the Society of Friends,
which made March the First Month, was legalized by an Act
passed by the Provincial Assembly in the ninth year of the reign
of Queen Anne.

Action by the Yearly Meeting of London was immediately
had on the subject, which was adopted by that of Philadelphia ;
and as this action explains the whole subject, including the
numerical designation of the months used by the Society of
Friends, it will be given entire, as found in the records of Chester
Monthly Meeting :

" Agreed that as by the late Act of Parliament for regulating
the commencement of the year, that it is ordered that the first
day of the Eleventh month next, shall be deemed the first day
of the year 1752, and that the month called January shall be
successively called the first month of the year, and not the
month called March as heretofore hath been our method of
computing.

1 See Kalm's Travels, i. 387-395, where the subject of labor in Pennsylvania at
this period is more fully discussed.

2 The population of Philadelphia was estimated at about 11,000 whites, and 6000
blacks. Holme's Ann. ii. 187.

262 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1753.

" That from and after the time above mentioned, the Eleventh
month, called January, shall thenceforth be deemed and reckon-
ed the First month in the year, be so styled in all the records
and writings of Friends, instead of computing from the month
called March according to our present practice, and Friends are
recommended to go on with the names of the following months
numerically, according to our practice from the beginning, so
that the months may be called and written as follows : — That
January be called and written the first month, and February
called and written the second month, and so on. All other me-
thods of computing and calling of the months unavoidably leads
into contradiction.

"And whereas, for the more regular computation of time, the
same act directs that in the month now called September, which
will be in the year 1752, after the second day of the said month,
eleven numerical days shall be omitted, and that which would
have been the third day, shall be reckoned and esteemed the 14th
day of the said month, and that which otherwise would have been
the fourth day of the said month, must be deemed the 15th, and
so on. It appears likewise necessary, Friends should conform
themselves to this direction and omit the nominal days accord-
ingly."

From the commencement of this work the- author has con-
formed his dates to the new style so far as to make the year com-
mence with the first of January, but no allowance has been made
for the eleven days that are to be omitted under the present
mode of computation.

Standing in the Pillory was rarely resorted to as a mode of
punishment by the Justices of Chester County. At the Febru-
ary term of this year, one Owen Oberlacker, alias John Brad-
ley, upon being convicted of "speaking seditious words," was
sentenced to stand in the Pillory one hour, with the words,
" I stand here for speaking seditious words against the best of
Kings, wrote in large hand, to be affixed to his back." In ad-
dition to this punishment, twenty-one lashes upon his bare back
were to be inflicted the same day.

It was in 1753 that the French invaded Western Pennsylva-
nia, in pursuance of their grand scheme to secure the possession
of the valley of the Mississippi. Though in a time of profound
peace, the news of this hostile movement filled the country with
consternation and alarm, for it was well known that a war would
be inevitable. To our Quaker population, though generally out
of harm's way, the news of this invasion was especially unwel-
come. From experience they had learned that there were those
among their young men who would go out to the battle, and
should they return, it was rarely to enter that fold from which
they had strayed.

1755.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 263

Still the Society of Friends pursued the even tenor of their
way, regardless of the storm that was gathering around them.
Their meetings, their religious missions to distant places, their
visitation of families, and their formal marriages were continued.
The Friends of Chester Monthly Meeting even selected this
period as the time " to build the old end" of the Providence meet-
ing-house, "with stone, and to make other necessary repairs."
This "old end," now to be supplied with a stone structure, was
probably the first erected meeting-house at the place indicated.

In accordance with notice given to the Proprietaries, in 1753,
Governor Hamilton resigned his office the following October. He
was succeeded by Robert Hunter Morris, of New Jersey.

The events occurring in America in 1754, induced both the
English and French governments to send troops to aid in the
defence of their American possessions. Those from England
were sent by way of Virginia, but did not arrive until the spring
of 1755. In conjunction with a considerable number of colonial
troops, they were placed under the unfortunate General Brad-
dock, and constitsted the expedition defeated by the French and
Indians near Fort Du Quense. The prudent conduct displayed
by Washington on this occasion may be regarded as the com-
mencement of the glorious career of this great man.

On the morning of the 18th November, 1755, a severe shock
of an earthquake was felt throughout this region of country.1 It
lasted about two minutes. It was felt along the coast for a dis-
tance of 800 miles, being most severe in the vicinity of Boston.

The disputes between Governor Morris and the Assembly, in
which the Quakers still had a majority, were constant, and un-
fortunately were not conducted with that spirit of moderation
and forbearance that should have prevailed in a period of so
much difficulty and danger. The Assembly could not vote mo-
ney specifically for carrying on the war, and in providing means
"for the king's use," they desired to issue an additional amount
of paper money. This was opposed by the Governor under Pro-
prietary instructions. Another difficulty arose in providing for
the assessment of ji heavy land tax. The Assembly included
the Proprietary lands in the assessment, and the Governor so
far forgot himself as to accuse that body with having included
these lands for the purpose of defeating the bill ; especially did
he censure Dr. Franklin, whom he regarded as the author of this

measure.2 Notwithstanding the alarming condition of the Coun-
ts O

try, there were those who endeavored to stir up sedition. For

i Smith's Hist. N. J. 436.

2 Col. Rec. vi. 600. Dr. Franklin, in speaking of Gov. Morris, says: " His admin-
istration was a continual battle, in which he labored hard to blacken the Assembly,
who wiped off his coloring as fast as he laid it on, and placed it iu return thick upon
his own face."

264 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1756.

that offence, one John Costello was this year convicted by the
Court at Chester and sentenced to stand in the pillory one hour,
on two successive days, wearing the insignia of his crime, as in
the case of Owen Overlacker.

No act could be passed by the Assembly to compel persons to
take up arms in defence of the Province, or to organize the mi-
litia for that purpose, but the Quakers threw no obstacle in the
way of those whose scruples did not prevent them from perform-
ing military duty, and even went so far as to enact a law " for
the better ordering and regulating such as are willing and desi-
rous to be united for military purposes within this Province."
The appropriations for " the king's use" were, indeed, by no
means niggardly. An act granting .£60,000 was passed this
year, and one for £30,000 in the year following. Such acts
continued to be passed, from time to time, while the Quakers
still maintained their ascendancy in the Assembly.

Of those who joined the military service from this County, I
have seen no record, except that of those who happened to be-
long to the Society of Friends; they were dealt with and
disowned. Of these Radnor Meeting furnished the largest
number — no less than eight young men in full membership with
that particular meeting left their homes and went into active
military service in 1756.

Previous to this time there appears to have been a difference
of opinion in the Society of Friends upon the subject of Pre-
parative Meetings being meetings of Record. The representa-
tives from Haverford Monthly Meeting to the quarterly meeting
brought back a proposal, " that Preparative meetings should be
meetings of Record." After being considered for some time,
the question was referred to a future meeting, which adopted
the following as a part of a more extended minute :

" The proposal of having the Preparative meetings, meetings
of record, has been under our consideration and is left so ; there
being some different sentiments thereon ; We agreeing, (and
some are in the practice,) that it would be convenient to keep
records of the affairs belonging to each particular meeting, such
as repairing of Meeting houses, &c."

At the following monthly meeting, which was held at Merion
on the 14th of May, the representatives who had attended the
quarterly meeting brought the following minute from that
meeting, which appears to have settled the question:

"After consideration of the reports from the several meetings,
respecting the principle of establishing preparative meetings,
this meeting; agrees that it will be of advantage to have such
meetings. And each monthly meeting is therefore desired to
appoint them where they are not already settled ; and it is

1756.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 265

agreed they have power to keep a record of such things as come
before them, as they may think necessary."

The Delaware Indians had been so far seduced by the
French, as to engage in committing the most barbarous atroci-
ties against the frontier inhabitants of Pennsylvania. The Six
Nations still remained friendly, and it was hoped that through
the instrumentality of this powerful combination of savages, the
Delawares could be brought to terms of peace. The Quakers
used every effort to bring about this result, but the Governor
unwisely made a formal declaration of war against the Dela-
wares; and not to be behind the savages themselves in cruelty
and atrocity, a proclamation was issued offering a premium for
prisoners or scalps taken from their Indian enemy.

A reconciliation was, however, soon brought about, through
the instrumentality of Sir William Johnson, the Six Nations,
the Quakers, and a few of the Delawares who remained faithful.

Although England and France had been engaged in hos-
tilities in their American possessions for about two years, yet
until May of the present year no formal declaration of war had
been made between the two Governments.

As Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, Robert Hunter
Morris was succeeded by William Denny, towards the close of
August.

The British ministry, in discussing some matters connected
with the defence of the Province, had intimated an opinion
adverse to Quakers acting as members of Assembly. A number
of this Society was, nevertheless, elected,1 but four of them
immediately sent in their resignations. Two of these, Peter
Dix and Nathaniel Pennock, were from Chester County. This
appears to have placed those having no conscientious scruples
on the subject of taking up arms, in a majority in the
Assembly, but still the want of harmonious action between that
body and the Governor, was not diminished. The future angry
disputes between the parties, conclusively demonstrate that
Quakerism was but a small item in the serious obstacles to
harmonious legislation. The representatives of the people,
without distinction of sect or party, knew their rights, and
determinedly asserted and maintained them against all doubt-
ful claims of prerogative, either by the Crown, the Proprietaries,
or the Executive. The doctrines that eventually led to a sepa-
ration between the Colonies and the Mother Country, had their
origin in these and similar disputes.

So captious had the Governor become, that it seemed almost

1 The Germans are accused of voting for Friends as members, seeking in their
religious scruples " a protection against taxes and military labors." — Gordon's Hist.
Penna. 339.

266 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1757.

impossible for the Assembly to shape a Militia or Money bill to
suit the views of his Excellency. At length that body resolved
that it appeared to them " that the Governor is determined to
withhold that protection from the people of this province, which
a proper Militia bill might afford them, unless we will present
him with such a bill as will enable certain designing men to
subvert the Constitution and deprive the inhabitants of every
liberty they think worth enjoying."

In the matter of an application for the removal from office of
one William Moore, a Justice of the Peace, and Judge of the
Court of Chester County, questions affecting the respective
prerogatives of the Assembly and the Governor were discussed
at great length and with considerable ability.1

The following is a list of persons recommended to the
Governor by the Court for license as tavern keepers for 1757,
within the townships now composing the County of Delaware :

Chester, Aubrey Bevan, Middletown, Joseph Talbot,

" James Mather, Newtown, John West,

" David Cowpland, Concord, John Hannura,

" John Hanly, Birmingham, Win. Jones,
Chester, tp., Wm. Miller, " Henry Hayes,

Chichester town, Hannah Clayton, Ridley, Mordecai Thompson,
" Mary Kain, " Edwd. fits Rudolph,

" John Kerlin, Radnor, Aubrey Harry,

Chichester tp., James Stroud, " Thomas Tucker,

Darby town, Hannah Wood, " Richard Barry,

" William Donaldson, Springfield, Mordecai Taylor.

" John Rudolph,

Darby tp., Barbara McCullough,
Haverford, Anna Miller.

The foregoing appears to be a full list of the retailers of
ardent spirits for the townships now embraced in Delaware
County, though several of the townships appear to have been
without a licensed house.

By the Treaty of Utrecht, the French inhabitants of Nova
Scotia were to remove with their effects in one year ; but choos-
ing to become British subjects, (except in the matter of taking
up arms against their own countrymen,) rather than to part with
their property, they had determined to remain. Their presence
being now regarded as dangerous to the people of Nova Scotia,
the Government determined to disperse them among the other
Colonies, where their presence would be less objectionable. A
large body of these Frenchmen (known as French neutrals),
with their families, were sent to Philadelphia, where for a time

1 In the excitement produced by this angry discussion, both parties were led into
the adoption of arbitrary and unjustifiable measures — the Assembly into the im-
prisonment of Moore for contempt in disregarding the summons and for abuse of a
former Assembly, and the Governor into a farcical trial and flattering acquittal of
him, after he had been fairly condemned by the Assembly. See Col. Rec. vol. vii.

1758.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 267

they were supported, partly at the public expense, and partly by
private charity. Actuated by compassion for the distressed
condition of these poor people, the Assembly as soon as possible
passed an act providing for their distribution throughout the
counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, and Lancaster. Three
Commissioners were named in the act for each county, to make
this distribution, and to transact other business connected with
the comfort of these poor Frenchmen. The Commissioners for
Chester County were Nathaniel Pennock, Nathaniel Grubb, and
John Hannum.

The overseers of the poor were obliged to receive these poor
creatures, and to provide for their immediate wants ; but the
Commissioners were authorized to put them in a way to support
themselves, by the purchase of stock, &c, which was to be paid
for out of a public loan recently authorized by the Assembly.
But one family could be located in a township.

Notwithstanding this kind treatment, some of these French-
men, by their misconduct, subjected themselves to the suspicion
of having evil designs against the Government. Six were ar-
rested and imprisoned by authority of the Governor, two of
whom resided in this county, Paul Bujauld at Chester, and Jean
Landy at Darby.

For some cause, an enumeration of the members of the Roman
Catholic Church was made in 1757. The number (who took
the sacrament) in the Province was 1365, of whom only 120
resided in Chester County.

In early times it was usual for religious meetings to commence
at noon, or sometimes at one o'clock, P. M. The time of com-
mencing Darby week-day meeting of Friends, was this year
changed from twelve to eleven o'clock.

Public attention now became almost wholly engrossed with
making preparations for the prosecution of the war and the
defence of the Province. Of these, the limited scope of our
work will only permit a notice of such as have a local interest.

In the course of the discussions that ensued, several articles
appeared in a Dutch newspaper, published at Germantown by
Christopher Sower, which were supposed to be aimed against the
King and the Government. In consequence, fourteen High-
landers, from a regiment lately arrived at Philadelphia, were
dispatched to the printer, with a written order to meet General
Forbes " at the tavern sign of the Buck on the old Lancaster
road."1 Sower repaired to the place indicated, and being sub-
jected to an examination by Gen. Forbes and the Governor, who

1 This tavern was located in the N. E. corner of Haverford township, and up to the
completion of the railroad to Columbia, continued to be regarded as one of the most
noted public houses in our county.

268 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1761.

was there in person, he was dismissed. Sower had resided in
the Province thirty-four years, and urged, in his defence, that he
had been instrumental in inducing many persons to settle in the
Province, and therefore was in duty bound to support its welfare.
The General gave him " a serious warning, for the future, not
to print anything against the King or Government."

At the time of his interview with the German printer, Gene-
ral Forbes was probably on his Western expedition, which re-
sulted in the recapture of Fort Du Quesne.

The war was still more vigorously prosecuted in 1759, in the
autumn of which year Quebec was captured by the British and
provincial forces under General Wolf. In carrying out the plans
of the campaign, a large number of wagons was required to be
furnished by the several counties in the Province. The number
required from Chester County was sixty-six.

William Denny was superseded in the office of Lieutenant-
Governor of the Province by James Hamilton, who for a second
time was appointed to that office, and assumed the duties thereof
in November, 1759.

The degree and kind of punishment inflicted upon criminals
have varied very much at different periods. In very early times
the infliction of fines for ordinary offences was generally resorted
to. From 1714 to 1759, most of the sentences embraced whip-
ping, as the chief or only item of punishment for such offences,
and usually consisted of " twenty-one lashes on the bare back
well laid on." In a few instances, the number of stripes was a
few more or less. Standing in the pillory was rarely adopted
as a punishment during this period, and imprisonment not at all.
The wearing of the Roman T ceased about the year 1720.

The subject of buying and selling negroes, and the treatment
of those held by members of the Society of Friends, now begins to
claim the special attention of the meetings of that sect. A member
of Chester Meeting is dealt with for having bought and sold a
negro ; but having made the proper acknowledgment is not dis-
owned. In reply to the query on the subject, Haverford Meeting
says, that ;' one friend hath purchased a negro, and we believe
those who are possessed of them, supply them with the necessaries
of life, but we fear the necessary duty of instruction and infor-
mation in this important affair, is too much neglected by some of
our members."

The death of King George II. occurred on the 25th of Octo-
ber of this year; but his grandson and successor, George III.,
was not proclaimed in Pennsylvania till the 21st of January of
the following year. In the new Commission for Justices, that
it became necessary to issue, the following is the list for Chester
County : Thomas Worth, Samuel Flower, John Miller, Isaac

1762.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 269

Davis, Edward Brinton ; Chief Burgess of Chester, Alexander
Johnson, John Morton, John Culbcrtson, William Clingham,
William Parker, Timothy Kirk, John Hannura, John Price,
Roger Hunt, John Fairlamb, George Currie, Henry Hale
Graham.

The County tax about this period was levied at the rate of
2c?. per pound, and six shillings on each freeman. The amount
raised at that rate appears to have exceeded the wants of the
County, for the Commissioners and Assessors, " upon inspection
of the affairs of the County that properly came under their
notice, find no necessity for raising a tax this year." This
announcement was no doubt a very gratifying one to the tax
payers of the County.

Incorporations of meadow companies commenced about this
period ; under what kind of an arrangement the several parties
interested in meadow lands along the Delaware, contributed
their proportionate share of the expense towards maintaining
the banks, before these acts of incorporation were obtained, is
not now well understood. It must have been by means of a
private understanding.

War with Spain was declared on the 4th of January, 1762.
This created a greater alarm for the safety of the Province, and
especially for Philadelphia, than had previously existed, as
Spain was then in possession of a powerful navy. The Go-
vernor forthwith eonvened the Assembly, and the members
being sensible of the weakness of the Province, the House im-
mediately appropriated £23,500, which appears to have been
the Parliamentary allotment for 1759. Five thousand pounds
were also appropriated for the erection of a fort mounting
twenty cannon on Mud Island, near the mouth of the Schuyl-
kill. The fortification, hurriedly erected during this period of
alarm, and which bore the name of the island upon which it
was erected, has been supplied by the respectable fortress now
known as Fort 3Iifflin, being so named in honor of Governor
Thomas Mifflin.

The large number of negroes imported about this time became
alarming to the people. The Assembly of Pennsylvania had
enacted a law imposing a prohibitory duty on their introduction,
which was repealed by the Crown. Other Colonies, including
Virginia and South Carolina, had enacted laws to restrain the
importation of slaves, but these enactments failed to receive the
royal sanction. "Never before had England pursued the traffic
in Negroes with such eager avarice."1

Pitt resigned his position as head of the British ministry, and
was succeeded by the Earl of Egremont — a most unfortunate

1 Bancroft, iv. 421.

270 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1763.

change for Colonial independence. A treaty of peace between
England and France was concluded towards the close of this
year, but was not proclaimed in Philadelphia till the 26th of
January, 1763. Peace with Spain soon followed, leaving our
ancestors none but Indian enemies to contend with.

John Penn arrived at Philadelphia on Sunday the thirteenth
of October, having been appointed to supersede James Hamilton,
as Lieut. Governor. The day of his arrival is distinguished
" by the occurrence of a severe shock of an earthquake, accom-
panied with a loud roaring noise, which greatly alarmed, not
only the inhabitants of Philadelphia, but of the surrounding
country. Most religious congregations were assembled for
worship at the time, and much confusion, but little injury hap-
pened from their efforts to escape from the buildings, which
they feared would fall upon them."1

The interior inhabitants of Pennsylvania had suffered so
severely from the Indians during the war, and their feelings
against the whole race had become so much excited, that they were
unable or unwilling to draw any distinction between those who
had been hostile to the English and those who had acted as
their allies. The latter were suspected of communicating in-
telligence to the former. Under this unjust suspicion, a number
of armed men from Paxton and Donnegal townships in Lan-
caster County, inhumanly murdered six Indians of Conestogo
Village, and subsequently fourteen of the same tribe who had
been placed in the workhouse of Lancaster for safety. Em-
boldened and hardened by their successful butchery, these ex-
cited but deluded men, threatened to proceed to Philadelphia
and destroy the Moravian* Indians, 140 in number, who, upon
the news of theLancaster outrages, repaired to that city for
safety. To render them more secure, the Governor had re-
moved them to Province Island at the mouth of the Schuylkill.
Becoming alarmed, however, at the reported fury of their ene-
mies, they, with their two Moravian ministers, petitioned the
Legislature to send them to England. This being impracticable,
the Governor sent them to New York, in order to be placed
under the protection of Sir Wm. Johnson, who had charge of
Military affairs in the Colonies ; but Governor Colden of New
York declined to admit them into that Province, and they re-
turned back to Pennsylvania under an escort of two military
companies. The return of these Indians again aroused the fury
of their enemies, who in great numbers immediately marched
towards Philadelphia. The Indians, in the meantime, had been
lodged in the barracks, which were well fortified, and a formi-
dable array of soldiers went out to meet the insurgents. Find-

1 Gordon's Hist. Penna. 413.

1765.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 271

ing the ferries well guarded they proceeded to Germantown, and
learning the extent of the preparations made to oppose their
progress, they at length listened to the advice of some prudent
persons sent out to meet them, and, with the exception of two
of their number, who remained to represent their grievances to
the government, they all returned peaceably to their homes.1
Perhaps the older settlements of the Province were never thrown
into a greater state of alarm than that produced by these in-
surgents. Dr. Franklin had a large share in bringing about the
favorable result that has been mentioned.

John Penn had arrived from England and had assumed the
duties of Lieutenant-Governor, just before the Indians were
murdered at Lancaster. When the insurgents approached
Philadelphia, his Excellency became so much alarmed that he
fled for safety to the dwelling of Dr. Franklin.2

The people of the border settlements had suffered severely
from the barbarous cruelty of the savages, and can be excused
for entertaining feelings of revenge, but they can find no justi-
fication for cruelly venting those feelings against innocent
parties, simply because they were Indians. It is probable that
the inhuman mode of warfare practised against the Indians,
very greatly sharpened their natural cruelty towards the whites.
Heavy rewards had been offered for Indian scalps, and dogs
were employed in hunting and pursuing them.3 Truly the
government was not wholly guiltless of having trained the
minds of the " Paxton boys" for the 'cruelty practised by them
against the Indians.

Lotteries had for many years been resorted to for the pur-
pose of raising means to build churches, endow schools, build
bridges, &c, &c, but the Legislature seeing the evils that re-
sulted from them, passed an act for their suppression. This
act was repealed by the Crown ; but the Quakers, at least, were
not disposed to allow the Mother Country to rivet such evils upon
their sect. They had ignored the traffic in negroes, and from a
minute of Concord Meeting we find them this year dealing with
a member "for being concerned in lotteries."

But it was in vain that the Quakers warred against the evils
resulting from lotteries. Other sects, and particularly the Epis-

1 Gordon's Hist. Penna. 405.

2 Franklin's Memoirs.

3 " It will be necessary to give early notice to the Troops that the Governor and
the Commissioners, have agreed to allow three shillings per month to every soldier
who brings a strong dog, that will be judged proper to be employed in discovering
and pursuing the savages, and recommend to procure as many as they can, not ex-
ceeding ten per company, Each dog is to be kept tied and led by his master." Col.
Boquet's mem: for equipment* of the Penna. troops, <fcc. See Penna. Archives (1764)
180.

272 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1765.

copalians, appeared not to have become awakened to those evils,
for in a single year (1765) eight Episcopal churches, one Pres-
byterian and one Lutheran church, received aid from this au-
thorized system of gambling. Of the Episcopal churches, three
were of this County, viz : St. Paul's at Chester, St. Johns in
Concord township, and St. Martin's at Marcus Hook.1

The act of the British Parliament for charging certain stamped
duties in the American Colonies, known as the " Stamp Act "
was passed in 1765. In October of this year a vessel bringing
a supply of stamps arrived at Philadelphia, but the opposition
to the law was so great that it could not be enforced. The ex-
citement produced throughout the British Colonies was unpar-
alleled, and the discussions that resulted, it is known, led to the
Revolution.

The Indian troubles ceased with a general treaty of peace en-
tered into in 1765 with Sir William Johnson ; but it was through
the instrumentality of Col. Boquet that the Indians were hum-
bled and brought to terms.

The new Commission for the county of Chester embraced the
following names : William Moore, Thomas Worth, Samuel
Flower, John Miller, Isaac Davis, Edward Brinton, Alexander
Johnson, Jno. Culbertson, Will. Clingham, Will. Parker, John
Hannum, John Price, John Fairlamb, Henry Hale Graham,
Wm. Boyd, Rt. Riley, James Hunter and James Evans.

The frequent dealings with members about this period by our
local Friends' meetings, for buying and selling slaves, at once
show what a very common article of traffic the negro had be-
come, in this our favored land, and the firm determination on
the part of that Society, that with their members, at least, the
traffic should cease and determine for ever. Some were now
prepared to go a step further than they had already gone, and
to enjoin the manumission of all slaves as a religious duty. In
this movement, Chester Monthly Meeting took the lead, as it
had done in the earlier movements of the Society on this delicate
subject. That meeting had already appointed a committee to
visit such of its members " as keep slaves, and endeavour to
convince them of the inconsistency of the practice, and advise
them of the proper time and manner of setting them at liberty."
This committee, after having visited all who kept slaves, made
their report this year. They found " a disposition in many they
visited to release their slaves, and one has been set at liberty
since their appointment. They believe that if Friends can be
continued to advise and treat with those that do not see clearly

1 Gordon's Hist. Penna. 411. St. John's Church Records.

1767.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 273

the necessity of doing to others as they would have others do
unto them, it may be profitable."1

All the meetings had committees to inquire into the treat-
ment of slaves held by Friends ; whether they were taught to
read, and encouraged to attend meetings, &c. Reports were
generally favorable.

The odious Stamp Act was repealed on the 18th of March,
1766, the news of which event, when it reached America, caused
unbounded demonstrations of joy. Though the Quakers gene-
rally would not have violently resisted the execution of the law,
they shared with others the joy produced by the tidings of its
repeal. The French and Indian wars had been happily termi-
nated, and the controversy with the mother country appeared
now to be the only event that could again give rise to the "wars
and fightings," which had already become a snare to many
youthful members of the Society. Regarding the repeal as the
harbinger of a protracted peace, our local meetings with renewed
vigor set about purging the Society from a variety of evil prac-
tices, which for some time had claimed its serious consideration.
Next to dealing in and holding slaves, intemperance and the
sale of intoxicating drinks, and being concerned in lotteries,
were the most prominent.

The most important event of 1767 was the final determination
of the boundary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland —
Mason and Dixon's line. The final deed, under which this very
protracted controversy was eventually closed, was executed on
the 4th of July, 1760.2 Under this deed Commissioners were
appointed, who at once engaged in the work assigned to them,
by tracing, with the aid of the best surveyors they could find,
the east and west peninsular line, and the twelve-mile circle
around New Castle. The work was accomplished by means of
sighting along poles, and measuring with the common surveyor's
chain, as nearly horizontal as possible.

The slow progress of these surveyors induced the Penns and
the then Lord Baltimore to agree with Thomas Mason and Jere-
miah Dixon, "two Mathematicians or surveyors," to complete
the work. These gentlemen arrived in Philadelphia on the 15th
of November, 1763, and immediately commenced the survey.
The peninsular line had been run, and the tangent-point had
been fixed by their predecessors with so much accuracy that they

1 Notwithstanding this apparent desire to do even and exact justice to the African
race, there was a law at this time in force in Pennsylvania that established a special
tribunal for the trial of negroes charged with the higher grades of crime, which
proves conclusively that the rights of the two races were not generally regarded as
equally sacred. The record of a single trial under this law at Chester, given in the
Appendix, Note L, will explain the whole matter.

1 Address of J. H. Latrobe, 26.

18

274 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1769.

were adopted by Mason and Dixon — the tangent-line, to use
their own language, " not passing one inch eastward or west-
ward" of the post marking the tangent point set in the ground
by those whom they superseded.1 It will be remembered that
the starting-point of the line run in 1739 was on the meridian
of this tangent fifteen and a-quarter miles south of the southern
part of the City of Philadelphia. The agreement now fixes it
at fifteen miles. Having ascertained this point, the learned
surveyors proceeded slowly but surely in running and marking
the line that bears their names. In the autumn of 1767 their
labors were suddenly brought to a close, by the command of the
Six Nations of Indians, after they had reached a distance of
244 miles west of the Delaware.

The stones intended to permanently designate the boundary
were not planted till the following year.

The year 1768 was another year of jubilee for our good
people, for the Commissioners and Assessors, " after inspecting
into the affairs of the county, find no necessity for raising a tax
this year." This announcement may be regarded as more sin-
gular, in having been made at a time when great apprehension
existed of the breaking out of an Indian war, in consequence of
the most inhuman murder of ten Indians at Middle Creek, in
Cumberland County, by one Frederic Stump.

An act was passed in 1768 "for regulating the fishery in the
river Brandywine." The object of the act was to regulate the
dams so that the fish could pass up.

The practice of advertising, by candidates, for the office of
sheriff, which commenced in Philadelphia in 1744, was probably
introduced about this period into Chester County. The follow-
ing is a specimen of the advertisement then in use.

" To the Freeholders, and others, Electors for the Borough and
County of Chester,

Gentlemen:

When I reflect on the honor done, and
confidence placed in me by the freemen of this county, for a
number of years past, it affords me a matter of joy, and em-
boldens me at this time, to offer myself as a candidate for the
Sheriff's office, for which purpose I humbly request your votes
and interest at the ensuing election, which kindness, Gentlemen,
shall be gratefully acknowledged and kept in remembrance by
your assured friend. Richard Baker."

Sheriffs were elected annually, and for some years past John
Morton, the signer of the Declaration of Independence had held
that office. Jesse Maris was the successful candidate this year,

1 Address of J. H. Latrobe, 33.

1770.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 275

though he did not advertise. He gave security in £3,000, un-
der a recently enacted law, the security previously to this time
having been much smaller.

After the repeal of the stamp act, the British Parliament
passed, almost unanimously, an act imposing duties on certain
articles imported into the colonies. This act involving the same
principle as that just repealed — taxation without representation
— met with the same opposition. Under a belief that it was
the amount of the tax, rather than the principle involved in im-
posing it, to which the colonists objected, assurances were given
in 1769, that five-sixths of the taxes should be repealed. In the
following year the whole was abolished, except 3d. per pound
on tea.1

This produced only a temporary lull in the great political
storm that for some time had been gathering ; for the right of
taxation by the mother country was still maintained.

The road from the Schuylkill at Province Island, through Tini-
cum, was probably laid out this year; persons, upon petition,
having been appointed for that purpose by the Governor and
Council, though their report does not appear on record.

A road from the "Middle ferry" to Strasburg, passing the
Boot tavern, and the Ship tavern, was laid out in 1770. The
route adopted for this road through Delaware County, was nearly
on the same ground that is occupied at present by the West
Chester road. The Commissioners for laying out this road
were John Morton, John Sellers, James Webb, Joseph Fox,
Jacob Lewis and Danl. Williams.

The Commission of the Governor having been renewed, a new
Commission for Justices was required. The following is the list
for Chester County, viz. : William Moore, Thomas Worth, John
Morton, Isaac Davis, Alexander Johnson, William Clingham,
William Parker, John Hannum, John Price, Henry Hale Graham,
Richard Riley, Charles Cruikshanks, Richard Baker, James
Gibbons, James Moore, William Swaffer, Evan Evans, Thomas
Hockley, Joseph Pyle, Thomas Temple, and Warwick Miller.
Members of Council were ex-officio Justices of the Peace.

As early as 1734 some small quantities of silk had been made
in Pennsylvania, probably from our native mulberry. About
this period the subject was revived, and great efforts were made
to introduce the culture on a large scale. Premiums were offer-
ed to the persons who should bring the greatest weight of
cocoons to a public filature established in Philadelphia. In
1771 the quantity brought to this establishment from Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey and Delaware, chiefly by ladies, was 1754 lbs. 4

1 Gordon's Hist. Penn. 457.

276

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

[1772.

LBS.

oz.

LBS.

oz.

4

11

Sarah Dicks .

47

10

10

0

Catharine Evans

14

00

51

11

Mary Jones

19

12

3

3

Jane Davis (Chester) .

28

12

6

0

Jacob Worrall

o

0

25

12

Margaret Riley

11

10

13

12

John Hoops (Chester)

23

10

52

00

Henry Thomas (Chester)

8

6

2

15

—

—

7

0

335

0

2

4

oz., of which Chester County produced 335 lbs., brought in by
the following named persons:

Grace Beal
Mary Parker (Darby)
Mary Pearson (Darby)
Abigail Davis (Chester)
Sarah Fordham (Darby)
Ann Cochran (Darby)
Rachel Hayes (Darby)
James Millhouse
Ann Davis
Elizabeth Bonsall
Mary Davis

It is probable that the white mulberry tree, (Morus alba,) was
introduced into this county at this time. It is now fully natu-
ralized, especially in the eastern part of the county, where there
are trees three feet in diameter.

On account of the death of his father, which happened in
1771, Lieut. Governor John Penn returned to England, and
before the close of the year was succeeded by Richard Penn ;
James Hamilton, President of the Council, having acted as Go-
vernor in the meantime.

The best men in the county did not, at this period, hesitate to
assume the duties of county offices. Thus we find Anthony
Wayne, who subsequently became one of the great generals of
the Revolution, and John Morton, one of the signers of the De-
claration of Independence, the former as an assessor, and the
latter as a Justice of the Peace, uniting with the County Commis-
sioners in letting out, by contract, the building of a county
bridge. It was the bridge over Little Crum Creek, on the road
between Darby and Chester. The bridge was let at .£210; is a
stone arched bridge, and is still standing, an enduring monument
of the integrity of those concerned in its erection.

At a subsequent meeting " the consideration of the rebuilding
the Flat for carrying persons over the Brandywine coming be-
fore the board, they agree that it should be done, with all con-
venient speed, and appoint John Webster & Thomas Taylor to
procure the same as soon as they can at the most reasonable
terms." This flat was used at Chadds' Ford.

The excitement of the people produced by the illegal and tur-
bulent proceedings of the Connecticut claimants, was, at this
period, even greater than that produced by the arbitrary mea-
sures of the mother country. This controversy, though sus-
pended during the Revolution, was not ended till 1802, when it
was rightfully decided in favor of Pennsylvania.

The several Monthly Meetings of the Society of Friends, of

1774.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 277

our county, appear now to be engaged more earnestly in freeing
their members "from the evil practice of holding slaves."
Through the instrumentality of visiting committees, a consider-
able number of Friends had been induced to liberate their ser-
vants for life, or to enter into an obligation to free them at a
certain age ; though slave-holding at this time was not a suffi-
cient cause for disownment. Nor was it held by all the Meetings
that even selling slaves placed the offender quite beyond the care
of the Society, for, in a case brought before Darby Meeting, and
clearly made out, the offender was regarded as being " under
censure of the minute of our Yearly Meeting of 1758," and in
the testimony adopted, they " refuse to permit him to sit in our
meetings of discipline, or be employed in the affairs of Truth, or
receive from him any contribution towards the relief of the poor
or other services of the Meeting."

Great opposition was made to the road laid out in 1770 from
the Middle Ferry to Strasburg in Lancaster County, partly on
account of supposed mistakes in making the return. As a con-
sequence it was not opened, and this year, in pursuance of in-
structions from the Governor and Council, it was reviewed by
the Commissioners who laid it out, but they do not appear to
have made any material change in the route, though it is desig-
nated much more particularly in the second survey.1

John Penn, who had formerly acted as Governor, and who, in
consequence of the death of his father, had become one of the
Proprietaries, returned to the Province in 1773, and assumed
the duties of administering the government.

From a message by the Governor to the Assembly, it would
appear that £15,000 had been appropriated for building forti-
fications "for the security and defence" of Philadelphia, and
that the whole amount had been expended in the purchase of
Mud Island, and in the erection of a fort thereon ; the work
having been executed in accordance with " the opinion and ad-
vice of a skillful engineer, recommended by General Gage."
The Governor regarded the work as having been done " in a
masterly manner." The object of the message was to urge the
Assembly to make provision for finishing the work. A tem-
porary fortress had been erected on this island at a former period,
but the structure now erected was the beginning of, and consti-
tutes a material part of the present Fort Mifflin.

We now approach the most momentous period of our history
as a people — a period embracing the events that severed us from
the mother country, and gave us a separate national existence.
The limited scope of this work will only permit a notice of such

1 Col. Rec. x. 113.

278 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1774.

of these events as occurred in our midst, or in our immediate
vicinity.

By the passage of the Boston Port Bill, the people became
aroused to the necessity of adopting active measures in defence
of their liberties. Meetings were held in Philadelphia, from
which emanated a circular to the people of the several counties
of the Province. This circular was addressed to Francis
Richardson, Elisha Price, and Henry Hayes, of Chester County,
who immediately issued the following call for a meeting of the
people of the county :

" To the Freeholders and others, inhabitants of the County
of Chester, qualified by law to vote for Representatives in
General Assembly,

" Gentlemen :

" The large, and very respectable com-
mittee for the City and County of Philadelphia, have wrote to
us, the subscribers, requesting that a committee might be chosen
for this county as soon as possible, to meet the committee from
the other Counties of this province, at the city of Philadelphia,
on the 15th day of this instant, to deliberate on matters of the
greatest weight and importance, not only to us, but to all Ame-
rica. And we are now assured, that on the account of the
Indian disturbances, his Honour the Governor has found it
necessary to call the Assembly to meet, in their legislative
capacity, on Monday the 28th of this instant ; and we also find,
that it is not only the opinion and request of the said committee
for Philadelphia, but also the opinion and desire of a number of
respectable persons of this county, coinciding with our own
opinions, as lovers of civil and religious liberty, that the com-
mittees of the several counties of this province, should meet at
Philadelphia, on the said 15th of this instant, in order to assist
in framing instructions, and preparing such matters as may be
proper to recommend to our representatives, at their meeting the
Monday following.

" We have therefore thought proper on mature deliberation,
and by the advice of a number of gentlemen of this county, to
appoint Wednesday the 13th instant, at one o'clock in the after-
noon, as a proper time for the inhabitants of this county to meet
at the Court House in Chester, to choose a number of our best
and wisest men as a committee for this county, as shall be judged
necessary to meet the other committees, at the time and place
above mentioned, for the purpose aforesaid, and for such other
purposes, as may then be deemed useful and necessary. And
we sincerely hope, that the good people of this county, will give
their attendance on that day, and calmly and heartily join with

1774.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 279

[us] in doing the business proposed, which we earnestly wish and
desire may answer the good proposed, and the good purposes
intended by it.

Chester July 4th 1774."

The following is the record of the proceedings of the
meeting :

" At a meeting of a very respectable number of the Freeholders
and others, inhabitants of the County of Chester at the court-
house on Wednesday the 13th of July, 1774, in consequence of
public notice for that purpose given, Francis Richardson Esq.
Chairman.

" This Assembly, taking into their serious consideration, the
present critical and alarming situation of American affairs, and
the unhappy differences now subsisting between Great Britain
and her Colonies, do agree and resolve as follow, viz :

"1. That the inhabitants of this county do owe, and will pay
all due faith and allegiance to our lawful and rightful sovereign
Lord George the Third, king of G. Britain, and the dominions
thereunto belonging.

" 2. That it is an absolute right, inherent in every English
subject, to have free use, enjoyment and disposal of all his
property, either by himself or representative, and that no other
power on earth can legally divest him of it.

" 3. That the act of Parliament lately passed for shutting up
the port of Boston is unconstitutional, oppressive to the in-
habitants of that town, in its consequences dangerous to the
liberties of the British colonies; and that therefore, we consider
our brethren at Boston as suffering in the common cause of
America.

" 4. That the protection of the liberties of America is an in-
dispensable duty, Avhich we owe to ourselves, who enjoy them,
to our ancestors who transmitted them down, and to our pos-
terity who will claim them at our hands, as the best birthright
and noblest inheritance of mankind.

" 5. We do agree with the Committee of the City and County
of Philadelphia, that a Congress of Deputies from the said
Colonies is the most profitable and proper mode of procuring
relief for our suffering brethren, obtaining redress, preserving
our rights and liberties, and establishing peace and mutual con-
fidence between our Mother country and her Colonies, on a
constitutional foundation.

" 6. The inhabitants of this County ought and will cheerfully
adopt, adhere to, and assist in executing all and singular such
peaceable and constitutional measures, which may hereafter be
agreed upon and determined by the said general Congress."

280 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1774.

"7. It is our opinion that it would conduce greatly to the
restoration of the liberties of America, should the Colonies
enter into a solemn agreement not to purchase any goods,
wares or merchandize imported from Great Britain, under
such restrictions as be agreed upon by the Congress. We, for
our parts, sensible of the great advantages which must arise
from promoting economy and manufacturing among ourselves,
are determined to use as little foreign manufactures of what
kind or quality soever, as our necessities will permit until the
several acts of the British Parliament, injurious to American
liberty, be repealed.

" 8. That as our brethren at Boston are now suffering in
the cause of America, it is the duty of the inhabitants of this
County, in common with the neighbouring Colonies, generously
to contribute towards their support; and therefore the Committee
hereafter appointed, are requested immediately to open and set
on foot a subscription for the said sufferers, and the money
arising therefrom to be laid out and expended as the said
Committee, or a majority of them, shall judge best to answer
the benevolent intention.

" 9. That the following persons, to wit, Francis Richardson,
Elisha Price, John Hart, Anthony Wayne, John Sellers, Hugh
Lloyd, William Montgomery, Francis Johnston, William Parker,
Richard Riley, Thomas Hockley, Robert Mendenhall, and John
Fleming or a majority of them, be and they are hereby ap-
pointed a Committee for this County to meet and correspond
with the Committees of the several Counties of this and the
other Colonies, and to join in such measures as to them shall
appear necessary for the public good.1

"Francis Johnston, Clk. Com."

There had been some correspondence between the Philadel-
phia Committee and influential persons in the several Counties
of the Province, a month earlier, at which time it was not ex-
pected that the Governor would convene the Assembly. Dele-
gates from the several County Committees convened at Phila-
delphia, and engaged in the preparation of a series of general
resolutions, to be laid before that body, which met shortly
afterwards. The Assembly, acting in harmony with similar
bodies in the other Colonies, appointed deputies to the general
Congress that convened at Philadelphia on the 14th of Sep-
tember following. The whole number of deputies was fifty-five,
of whom eight were from Pennsylvania, and of these, two,
viz., Charles Humphreys and John Morton, resided in the dis-
trict now constituting Delaware County.

1 Haz. Reg. iii. 38.

1774.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 281

On the 20th day of December following, we again find, " a
very respectable number of the inhabitants of the County of
Chester, convened at the Court-house in the borough of Chester,"
for the purpose of choosing a Committee " to carry into execu-
tion the Association of the late Continental Congress." The
following persons were chosen, viz. : Anthony Wayne, Francis
Johnston, Richard Riley, Evan Evans & James Moore, Es-
quires, Hugh Lloyd, Thomas Hockley, David Coupland, John
Hart, Sketchley Morton, Samuel Fairlamb, Isaac Eyre, John
Crosby, Nicholas Diehl, Jesse Bonsall, Aaron Oakford, Benja-
min Brannan, John Talbot, Joseph Brown, Samuel Price,
John Crawford, John Taylor, Lewis Gronow, Edward Hum-
phreys, Henry Lawrence, Richard Thomas, Wm. Mont-
gomery, Persifer Frazer, Thos. Taylor, John Foulke, Robert
Mendenhall, Joseph Pennell, George Pierce, Nicholas Fair-
lamb, Samuel Trimble, Charles Dilworth, John Hannum, George
Hoops, Joel Bailey, John Gilliland, Joseph Bishop, Jr., John
Kerlin, Edward Jones, William Lewis, Patrick Anderson,
Joshua Evans, Thomas Hartman, Dr. Branson Van Leer,*
William Evans, Joseph Cowan, Thomas Haslep, Patterson Bell,
Dr. Jonathan Morris, Andrew Mitchell, Thomas Buffington,
James Bennett, Joseph Musgrave, Wm. Miller, Richard Flower,
Walter Finney, James Simpson, David Wherry, James Evans,
Thomas Bishop, William Edwards, Jona. Vernon, Jr., Lewis
Davis, Sr., Jos. Gibbons, Jr., and Thomas Evans; which Com-
mittee were " to be and continue from this time until one month
after the rising of the next Continental Congress, with full
power to transact such business, and enter into such associa-
tions as to them shall appear expedient."

After the appointment of the above Committee, they proceeded
to appoint a Chairman and Secretary ; when Anthony Wayne,
Esq., was selected for the former, and Francis Johnston, Esq.,
for the latter office. The Committee then passed the following
resolves unanimously: "1st. That any twelve or more of the
said Committee, meeting upon due notice, be empowered to enter
upon and transact all such business, as shall come under their
consideration; 'provided, the majority agreeing shall not be less
than twelve."

" 2d. That the present unhappy situation of public affairs in
general, and of this Province in particular, renders it highly
necessary that a Provincial Convention should be held as soon as
possible ; for which purpose twelve persons shall be appointed,
out of the said Committee, as delegates to attend the said Con-
vention, at such time and place as shall be generally agreed on."

The Committee then adjourned, to meet at the house of David
Coupland, in the Borough of Chester, on the 9th of January,
1775.

282 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1775.

Agreeably to one of the resolves of the first meeting of the
people of Chester County, subscriptions were circulated for the
relief of the suffering people of Boston. The Society of Friends,
acting in a meeting capacity, did not hesitate to contribute to
the same object. Chester Monthly Meeting contributed £10 " for
the relief of Necessitous inhabitants of Massachussetts Bay and
Provinces adjacent." Darby Meeting paid £33 14s. "for the
relief of the poor and distressed in New England," while Haver-
ford Meeting responded to the request of the meeting for suffer-
ings, " that Friends should contribute liberally for the relief
of friends or others (in the New England Government), who are
or may be reduced to indigent circumstances, in this time of
public calamity," and in a short time had the satisfaction to
receive " an affecting account of the state of the poor of these
Provinces, and of the distribution of the donations sent from
hence."

In this connection it may be remarked, that the period under
consideration "vyas one of great tribulation with the more staid
members of the Society of Friends. Their tenets imposed a
condition of perfect neutrality, and this was generally adhered
to; but many, and among them men in high repute for their
intelligence, took an active part in opposing the arbitrary mea-
sures of the mother country. The effect of allowing their mem-
bers to participate in the commotions of the times was foreseen,
and the most kindly caution was repeatedly administered by the
visitation of Committees. It will be seen hereafter that these
efforts were generally, though not wholly, unsuccessful.

The proposed Provincial Convention assembled at Philadelphia
on the 23d of January, 1775, and continued its sessions until
the 28th. The following ten delegates from Chester County
appeared at the first meeting of the Convention: Anthony
Wayne, Esq., Hugh Lloyd, Richard Thomas, Francis Johnston,
Esq., Samuel Fairlamb, Lewis Davis, William Montgomery,
Joseph Musgrave, Joshua Evans, and Persifer Frazer. The ab-
sentees were Thomas Hockley and Thomas Taylor.

The proceedings of the Convention were unanimous, and the
object of one of its first resolves was " to procure a law prohibit-
ing the future importation of slaves into the province."

No record of a meeting of the Chester County Committee, on
the 9th of January, the day to which they adjourned, has been
found ; but they are again assembled on the 20th of March, pur-
suant "to adjournment and public notice," showing that an inter-
vening meeting had been held. This meeting was held at the
house of Richard Cheyney in East Cain, when, on motion, it was
" ordered* that Mr. Hockley, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Gronow, Mr.
Lloyd, Mr. Frazer, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Taylor, be and they are

1775.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 283

hereby appointed a Committee to essay a draught of a petition
to present to the General Assembly of this Province, with regard
to the manumission of slaves — especially relating to the freedom
of infants hereafter born of black women within this Colony — and
do make report of the same to this Committee at its next
meeting."

On motion, " ordered, that each member in this Committee,
will use his utmost diligence in collecting the several sums of
money subscribed for the use of Boston, and pay the same into
the hands of Anthony Wayne, Esq., Treasurer, at the next meet-
ing .of the Committee."

The Committee then adjourned, to meet at the house of David
Cowpland, in the borough of Chester, on Wednesday, the 31st
of May next.

The following extract from their proceedings shows that the
Committee met at an earlier day than that to which they ad-
journed.

" In Committee, Chester, May 22, 1775.

" Whereas it appears very necessary, in order to avert the evils
and calamities which threaten our devoted country, to embody
ourselves and make all the military preparation in our power;
and it appears absolutely impossible to carry this laudable design
into execution, without observing the greatest order, harmony
and concord, not only under the laws of civil government, but
also while under arms and in actual duty, — we therefore unani-
mously recommend the following Association, to be entered into
by the good people of this County: —

" We, the Subscribers do most solemnly resolve, promise and
engage, under the sacred ties of honor, virtue, and love to our
country, that we will use our utmost endeavours to learn the
military exercise and promote harmony and unanimity in our
respective companies ; that we will strictly adhere to the rules of
decency, during duty; that we will pay a due regard to our
officers ; that we will, when called upon, support with our utmost
abilities the civil magistrate in the execution of the laws for the
good of our country, and that we will at all times be in readiness
to defend the lives, liberties, and properties of ourselves and
fellow countrymen against all attempts to deprive us of them.
" Extract from the minutes.

" By order of the Committee,

"Francis Johnston, Sec'y."

The following is the next call for a meeting of the Commit-
tee: —

284 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1775.

" Chester County, September 7, 1775.
" The Committee of Chester County are desired to meet at
the sign of the Turk's Head, in the township of Goshen,1 on
Monday, the 25th inst., at Ten O'clock, A. M., on business of
consequence ; at which time and place the board of commission-
ers and assessors are requested to attend.

" By order of the Committee,

" Anthony Wayne, Chairman."

" In Committee, Chester County, Sept. 25, 1775.
" Wliereas some persons, evidently inimical to the liberty of
America, have industriously propagated a report, that the mili-
tary associators of this County, in conjunction with the military
associators in general, intend to overturn the Constitution, by
declaring an Independency, in the execution of which they are
aided by this Committee and the board of Commissioners and
Assessors with the arms now making for this County ; and as
such report could not originate but among the worst of men for the
worst of purposes, — This Committee have therefore thought proper
to declare, and they do hereby declare, their abhorrence even of an
idea so pernicious in its nature ; as they ardently wish for nothing
more than a happy and speedy reconciliation, on constitutional
principles, with that state from whom they derive their origin.
" By order of the Committee,

" Anthony Wayne, Chairman."

The strong language of this disclaimer against any intention
of favoring independence, and the desire expressed for a recon-
ciliation with the mother country, sounds strange at this day,
yet there can be no doubt that, up to this late period, it was the
prevailing sentiment, even among those who were most strenu-
ous in their opposition to the measures of the home govern-
ment.

After having provided for the election of a new Committee for
the ensuing year by the people of the several townships, on the
2d of October, the Committee adjourned to meet at Chester on
that day, but we have no record of the proceedings of that meet-
ing. Whether the complexion of the Committee was changed
by the election is not known, but we judge it was not, from the
proceedings of the next meeting.

" Chester, Oct. 23rd, 1775.
" Pursuant to public notice given, the Committee met at the
house of David Cowpland, in the borough of Chester. On mo-
tion ordered, that each member of this Committee do immedi-
ately make return to the Chairman, of the quantity of Powder

1 Now West Chester.

1775.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 285

which he already has or may collect within his district, together
with the price and the name of the owner thereof, that the same
may be paid for.

" On motion resolved, that Anthony Wayne, Francis Johnston,
and Elisha Price, Esqrs., Mr. Richardson, Mr. Knowles, Mr.
Lloyd, and Mr. Brannan, be and they are hereby appointed a
Committee of Correspondence for this County.1
" By order of the Committee,

"Francis Johnston, Sec'y."

The second meeting of Congress was in May, 1775. At the
close of the first meeting of that body, it was hoped and believed
by many that a second meeting would not be necessary ; that
the representations made to the home government by the repre-
sentatives of all the Colonies, would bring the desired relief.
But this was a delusion, for before Congress met, hostilities had
actually begun. From this time onward, for seven long years,
war measures and the events of the war engrossed public atten-
tion. Only those of a local character will be noticed.

A Committee of Safety was appointed by the Assembly on the
30th June, consisting of twenty-five members, of whom Anthony
Wayne, Benjamin Bartholomew, Francis Johnston and Richard
Riley were from Chester County. This Committee was espe-
cially active in providing for the defence of the Province, and
particularly for that of the city of Philadelphia.

Each county was required to furnish a certain number of
Firelocks — the quota for Chester County being 600. These
were manufactured by a man named Dunwicke, and were ready
to be proved by the 6th of October.2 Gun-boats were construct-
ed ; ammunition provided ; companies, battalions and regiments
were organized, and breastworks hastily thrown up. These de-
fences were mostly in the neighborhood of Fort Mifflin. In ad-
dition, two tiers of chevaux-de-frize were thrown across the main
channel of the Delaware ; one opposite the upper part of Hog
Island, near the Fort, and the other nearly opposite the Laza-
retto.3 The following resolution, adopted by the Committee on
the 16th of November, directs additional tiers to be sunk, but it
does not appear that any barrier to the navigation of the river
was placed so far down as Marcus Hook.

" Resolved, that one or more tiers of Chevaux-de-frize be sunk
above those already sunk, near to Fort Island."

" That two tiers of Chevaux de-frize be sunk for the further

1 The foregoing minutes of the proceedings of the Chester County Committee were
copied from the Pennsylvania Packet, (a newspaper published in Philadelphia at the
time) by Dr. William Darlington, of West Chester, and kindly furnished by him.

* Col. Rec. x. 356. * lb. 334.

286 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1775.

security of this Province in the channel opposite or near to Mar-
cus Hook."1

In an official report on the condition of the Province, made by
the Governor to the Earl of Dartmouth, the population is esti-
mated at 302,000, of whom 2000 were negroes. The colored
population was greatly under-estimated, or the report was only
intended to include free blacks. The value of the several
offices, in sterling money, in the Province, is also set down in
the report. Those held by persons residing in Chester County
are given as follows :

John Morton, Esq., Assistant Justice of the Supreme

Court, £100

Henry Hale Graham, Prothonotary, Register, Recorder,

&c, 120

Nathaniel Vernon, Sheriff, 100

John Bryan, Coroner, ....... 20

Towards the close of the year, there was a reorganization of
the Committee of Safety made by the Assembly. All the names
from Chester County contained in the first appointment are in-
cluded in this, with the addition of that of Nicholas Fairlamb ;
the whole number of members being increased to thirty-two.

The county assessment of that part of Chester County now
constituting the County of Delaware, for the year 1775, makes
the number of taxables in that district 1622, and by estimating
five inhabitants to each taxable, our population, at this interesting
period of our history, amounted to 8110. The taxables of the
several townships were as follows : " Aston, 71 ; Bethel, 30
Chester, 168 ; Upper Chichester, 57 ; Lower Chichester, 85
Concord, 104 ; Upper Darby, 100 ; Darby, 90 ; Edgmont, 67
Haverford, 71; Marple, 75; Middletown, 88; Newtown, 77
Nether Providence, 48 ; Upper Providence, 58 ; Ridley (inclu-
ding Tinicum), 149 ; Radnor, 98 ; Springfield, 60 ; Thornbury,
61 ; and Birmingham, 69. 2

The rate of the assessment was two pence in the pound, and
six shillings on single freemen; and the tax for the whole
county only amounted to £310 13s. 9c?., distributed among the
townships as follows : Aston, £14 16s. 9d. ; Bethel, £8 13s. 3d. ;
Chester, ,£26 Is. 3d. ; Upper Chichester, £8 19s. 6d. ; Lower
Chichester, £10 14s. lid. ; Concord, £23 2s. Id. ; Upper Darby,
£27 4s. 3d. ; Lower Darby, £14 lis. 3d. ; Edgmont, £13 12s.
Qd.; Haverford, £11 Is. 3d.; Marple, £14 6s. Id.; Middle-
town, £20 13s. 6d. ; Newtown, £14 14s. ; Nether Providence,

1 Col. Rec. x. 404.

2 An allowance has been made for the parts of Birmingham and Thornbury now
included in Chester County.

1776.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 287

£8 16s. ; Upper Providence, £8 12s. 9d. ; Ridley (including
Tinicura), .£34 10s. ; Radnor, £11 13s. bd. ; Springfield, £13
15s. 3d. ; Thornbur y, £12 6s. ; Birmingham, £6 9s. 2d.

At a meeting of the Chester County Committee, held on the
26th of December, (1775,) regulations were enacted to secure a
perfect organization of the Associators, agreeably to a vote of
the Assembly. At the same meeting it was also "Resolved, that
Anthony Wayne, James Moore, Francis Johnston Esq, Dr Sam-
uel Kenedy, Caleb Davis, William Montgomery, Persifor Frazer,
and Richard Thomas, Gentlemen, or any five or more of them,
be appointed, and they are hereby appointed, to represent this
county, (if occasion be,) in Provincial Convention for the ensuing
year."1

The Committee of Safety held its sessions almost daily in
Philadelphia. Their duties were arduous in the extreme. It is
indeed difficult to comprehend how a body of men could control
and direct such an amount of business, in all its details, as was
brought under their notice. Some idea may be gained, in respect
to their doings, by a detail of such of their transactions as relate
more particularly to this county or its vicinity.

Four battalions of Continental troops were ordered by Con-
gress to be raised in Pennsylvania. At the request of that body,
the Committee recommended proper persons for officers. An-
thony Wayne received the unanimous recommendation of the
Committee for the office of Colonel. On the 17th of January,
the Committee resolved, " that Col. Wayne, Col. Johnson, Mr
Bartholomew & Mr Reiley,- be a committee to examine the Fire-
locks, Cartridge boxes, Knapsacks &c. as ordered by the Assem-
bly to be provided by Chester County * * *."

The two tiers of chevaux-de-frize that had already been laid
were not regarded as sufficient. Others were constructed at
Gloucester, and on the 13th of March it was resolved by the
Committee, " that John Cobourn be employed to take the Che-
vaux-de-Frize, when launched at Gloucester, and sink them in
their proper places near Fort Island, and that he be authorized
to procure anything for the purpose, hire persons under him, on
the best and cheapest terms, and that he draw on this board for
the expense."

Saltpetre for the manufacture of gunpowder was the great
desideratum of the times, and great apprehensions were enter-
tained in regard to the possibility of obtaining a sufficient
supply for a successful defence of the Province. The following
advertisement shows the extraordinary means adopted to insure
a supply of this necessary article :

1 Pennsylvania Packet.

288 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1776.

" To the Inhabitants of the County of Chester.
" Pursuant to the recommendation of the Committee of Safety
for the Province of Pennsylvania, to the Committee for Inspec-
tion for the County of Chester, Benjamin Brannan, Walter
Finney, and John Beaton were appointed to attend the saltpetre
manufactory in the JCity of Philadelphia, in order to perfect
themselves in said art : We having complied therewith do hereby
give notice to all those whose public virtue and patriotic spirit
would excite them to such a valuable and necessary undertaking
at this crisis of time ; that attendance will be given at the house
of Benjamin Brannan in Darby,1 on the 23rd and 24th of Feb-
ruary ; at the house of Mr. Cochran in East Fallowfield on the
27th and 28th ; at the house of Mrs. Whitby [Withy] in the
borough of Chester, on the 1st and second of March ; at the
house of Mr, Hood in Oxford, on the 4th and 5th ; at the house
of Mr. Miller in Birmingham on the 6th and 7th ; at the house
of Mr. Powell in Newtown on the 8th and 9th ; at the house of
Mr. Bell in Kennet on the 12th and 13th, and at the house of
Walter Finney in New London on the 14th and 15th of said
month, in order to teach and instruct all persons who may please
to apply at the times and places above mentioned.

' "Benjamin Brannan,
Walter Finney."

"N.B. The times and places in the North West district are
not yet appointed."2

The "North West district" was visited by Mr. John Beaton
the other member of the Committee of Inspection, who made his
appointments at six different places, and spent two days at each
place, in giving instruction in the art of making saltpetre.

About the 4th of March the Chester County Committee peti-
tioned the Assembly for a change in the articles of the Military
Associations. The principal change asked for was, that the
Associators be furnished with Arms. The petition is signed by
Anthony Wayne as chairman of the Committee.

On the 29th of March, upon application of Col. Wayne, an
order was drawn by the Committee of Safety in favor of the
Chester County Committee for .£500, for purchasing Arms on
account of Congress.

Under the apprehension of an attack being made by water,
every precaution was used to guard against it. Neither pilots
nor pilot-boats were allowed to pass the chevaux-de-frize, and
the persons specially appointed to conduct vessels through the
opening in that obstruction, were not permitted to go below
Chester.

1 Now Upper Darby. 2 Pennsylvania Packet.

1776.]

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

289

Provincial troops were rapidly recruited and organized along
the river — so rapidly that, upon a representation made by Col.
Miles, " that there is not a sufficient number of houses in or
about the towns of Chester & Marcus Hook, to quarter the
troops now raising for the defence of this Province," the Com-
mittee of Safety on the 13th of April Resolved, "that Col.
Miles do procure for the use of the said troops, 100 good tents,
on the most reasonable terms in his power."

On the 17th of April, upon the application of Caleb Davis,
an order for £1500 was drawn by the Committee of Safety in
favor of the Commissioners and Assessors of Chester County,
"for the payment of firelocks, &c, made in that County for the
use of the Province."

An application was made to the Committee of Safety by the
Chester County Committee, for 850 lbs. of powder, in addition
to the 400 lbs. on hand, and lead enough for the whole, and
also for 1500 flints, to be distributed among the Associators,
"in order to supply them with 23 rounds per man." This
supply was to be sent to the care of Nicholas Fairlamb.1

The Committee had judged rightly of the danger to be appre-
hended from armed vessels coming up the Delaware. " In con-
sequence of intelligence received on the 29th of April, that the
Roebuck Man-of-war is aground upon Brandywine [shoals],
Capt. Reed was ordered with the provincial Ship Montgomery,
to proceed down the river and Bay, and join the Commodore
who is already on his way, with the armed Boats, in order to
take or destroy her * * * "

The Provincials had quite a fleet of armed boats and other
craft on the river at this time. A list with the number of men
on each, made up to the first of May, is as follows :

The Washington,

50 men,

The Bull-dog, .

39 men,

" Franklin,

38 "

" Ranger,

37 "

" Congress,

37 "

" Warren,

22 "

" Effingham, .

22 "

" Dickenson, .

35 "

" Burke,

24 "

" Hancock,

48 "

" Camden,

39 "

Floating Battery,

. 116 "

" Chatham, .

24 "

Ship Montgomery,

. 117 "

" Experiment,

31 "

—

265

414

265

679

The Roebuck was a vessel of 44 guns. She succeeded in
getting from her perilous situation without being captured.
There was also another British war vessel in the Bay — the
Liverpool of 28 guns — which likewise escaped, but the presence

19

1 Penna. Archives, iv. 730.

290 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1776.

of the Provincial fleet prevented them from ascending higher up
the river than the neighborhood of Wilmington. Here on the
8th of May both vessels were attacked by the Provincial fleet
under the command of Capt. Reed. Col. Miles, with 100 rifle-
men, had repaired to that vicinity, with the view of rendering
any assistance in his power, and witnessed the engagement. At
4 o'clock on that day, he writes from the river bank near Wil-
mington, to the Committee of Safety : " Our boats and the two
men of war have been engaged for two hours at long shot. I
believe there is no damage done on either side, tho' I suppose
three or four hundred shot have passed between them. * * *
Our boats fire much better than the other vessels, but in my
opinion engage at too great a distance."1 * * *

There was disappointment expressed at the failure of the
Gondolas or armed boats, to capture or destroy the Roebuck ;
and those in charge of the expedition, to screen themselves from
censure, attributed their want of success to a deficiency of
supplies, particularly of ammunition ; thus casting the blame on
the Committee of Safety. This body very promptly asked the
Assembly, " to promote such an inquiry as shall satisfy the
public where the blame & misconduct is justly chargeable."
Perhaps an item in the instructions sent by the Committee to
Capt. Reed — " to be careful in exposing any of the Boats to capture
or destruction" — had as much to do in causing the failure of
the expedition as the want of supplies.

From the following orders, adopted by the Committee on the
7th of May, it may be inferred, that a considerable land force
was at this time stationed at Chester :

"Robert Towers was directed to deliver to Colo. Samuel
Miles, for the use of the Provincial troops under his command
1000 pounds of gunpowder and 2000 pounds of Lead, or as
great a part thereof as is in store." At the same time 20,000
cartridges for muskets, " for the use of the Associators of
Chester County," were directed to be conveyed there "agree-
ably to Col. Miles direction." And on the next day, the Com-
missary was directed, " to send down to Chester, for the use of
the Provincial troops under Col. Miles, Sixty Firelocks."
These guns were sent under the protection of a guard.

After procuring a supply of saltpetre, the next great necessity
of the country was to have it manufactured into powder. There
was no powder-mill in the Province before the Revolution broke
out. An official report made on the 3d of June, shows that the
first powder-mill put in operation was that of Doctor Robert
Harris, "on Crum Creek, about three miles from Chester." It
began to work about the 23d of May. The dimensions of the

1 Penna. Archives, iv. 748.

1776.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 291

mill house were 30 by 20 feet, with a head and fall of 8| feet.
The drying house was 20 by 15 feet, "neither floored nor
plastered." The Doctor had received one ton of saltpetre and
500 lbs. of sulphur. He expected to deliver one ton of powder
on the first of June, "and the same quantity weekly."

Another mill, of much greater dimensions, was at this time
about being erected, at the public expense, on French Creek,
" about four miles above Moore Hall." It was expected to be
ready to work on the 25th of June. On a branch of French
Creek still another small mill was in the course of erection, and
also one on Swamp Creek, in Bucks County.1

Lead was also in great requisition — so much so, that all the
leaden clock weights, draught weights, &c, were required to be
given up for military purposes. Six pence per pound was allowed
for the lead thus taken.

On the 21st of May the Committee of Safety adopted a me-
morial to Congress, asking for aid in the completion of the de-
fences of the Delaware. They speak of the large sums appropri-
ated for that object by the Provincial Assembly under the direc-
tion of the Committee — that they caused "thirteen Arm'd Boats
or Gondolas to be built, equip'd and manned, and have since built
fitted and Manned, a large Ship, Floating Battery, several Guard
Boats, and a great number of fire Rafts ; erected fortifications on
deep water Island ; raised a large artillery Company for their de-
fence, and sunk Chevaux-de-frize in the channel of the river ;
That the Assembly have raised two Battalions of Riflemen and
one of Musquetry, stationed on the banks of the river Delaware.

" That the Committee perceive, after all these exertions,
greatly surpassing, as they believe, any that have been made on
this Continent, at an expense merely Collonial, that their defence
is still imperfect, and far unequal in their idea, to the probable
force, that may soon be employed against this colony.

They ask Congress to make an appropriation for the erection
of an additional Floating Battery, and also for a fortification to
be erected at Billingsport, on the Jersey shore. Congress made
an appropriation for this latter work, but it was executed -under
the supervision of the Committee of Safety ; a boom erected
there was also a Continental charge. The works on Fort Island
were also strengthened about this time, as a requisition was made
on Col. Miles for a working force of one hundred men for that
purpose. To these were allowed, over and above their pay " a
quart of 18s. Beer each working day."

On the 17th of June, Col. Atlee, who had been stationed at
Chester, was directed by the Committee to order his whole Bat-
talion to be quartered in the Barracks of the city. This order

1 Penna. Archives, iv. 765.

292 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1776.

would indicate less apprehension of an immediate attack by way
of the river ; but the Committee still continued to increase its
defences, in order to be prepared for such an attack. The two
tiers of chevaux-de-frize already sunk, having been built in
great haste, were probably of defective construction. Be that
as it may, we now find two additional tiers in the course of con-
struction— one to be sunk opposite Billingsport, and the other in
a range with the piers of the Fort.1

The proximity of Hog Island to the Fort made it necessary to
guard against the enemy landing upon it in case of an attack
upon the Fort. This was to be effected by overflowing the island
with water. To be prepared for such a contingency, on the 19th
of June " Mr. Abraham Kinsey, Tenant at Hog Island, was
informed by the Committee of the necessity of laying that island
under water on the near approach of the Enemy, and at the
same time was assured, that whatever injury he should sustain in
consequence, would be hereafter made good to him by the rub-
lick."

It now became known that New York, and not Philadelphia,
was to be attacked, and in consequence, on the 2d of July, Col.
Miles was requested to march his Battalions immediately to Phi-
ladelphia.2 Letters were, at the same time, dispatched by the
Committee, " to the Colonels of the different Battalions of the
Counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester k Lancaster, request-
ing they would hold themselves in readiness to march at an hours
warning, with their battalions to the city."

The representatives from Pennsylvania, in Congress, on the
4th of July, when the vote was taken on the Declaration of In-
dependence, were John Morton, John Dickinson, Robert Morris,
Benjamin Franklin, Charles Humphreys, Edward Biddle, Thomas
Willing, Andrew Allen and James Wilson. Of these gentlemen
Messrs. Morton and Humphreys resided within what is now
Delaware County. At the time the vote was taken Morris and
Dickinson were absent. Of those present from Pennsylvania,
Franklin, Wilson and Morton voted for the Declaration, and
Biddle, Allen, Willing and Humphreys against it.

The Convention3 to form a State Constitution for Pennsylva-

1 Col. Rec. x. 606 and 648.

2 Col. Saml. Miles was in command of two battalions, numbering 971, officers and men.
Col. Atlee commanded one battalion of 444, officers and men, and probably Captain
Thomas Proctor's company of artillery, numbering 117, officers and men. Penna. Ar-
chives, iv. 780.

3 This Convention had its origin in an assembly called "the Provincial Conference,"
which was convened in pursuance of a resolution of Congress recommending a change in
the form of State governments. It met at Philadelphia on the 18th of June. The mem-
bers from Chester County were, Colonel Richard Thomas, Major William Evans, Colo-
nel Thomas Hockley, Major Caleb Davis, Elisha Price, Esq., Mr. Samuel Fairlamb,
Colonel William Montgomery, Colonel Hugh Lloyd, Richard Riley, Esq., Colonel Evan
Evans, Colonel Lewis Greno, Major Sketchley Morton and Captain Thomas Levis.

1776.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 293

nia met at Philadelphia on the 15th of July, and at once as-
sumed the whole political power of the State ; almost their first
act being the appointment of Delegates to Congress. For this
important trust, John Morton, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Mor-
ris, James Wilson, George Ross, James Smith, Benjamin Rush,
George Clymer and George Taylor were selected. So it appears
that only the four first named were members of Congress at the
adoption of the Declaration, though all signed that instrument ,
when engrossed on the 2d of August following.

The names of the members of the Convention from Chester
County were, Benjamin Bartholomew, John Jacobs, Thomas
Strawbridge, Robert Smith, Samuel Cunningham, John Hart,
John Mackey and John Fleming.

The military organizations in Pennsylvania, known as Associa-
tors, were constituted into fifty-three battalions. These assem-
bled by representatives in convention at Lancaster on the 4th of
July — the day Independence was declared — " to choose two Bri-
gadier Generals to command the Battalions and forces of Penn-
sylvania." Daniel Robertdeau and James Ewing were elected.

The delegates to this Convention from Chester County were:
Major Culbertson, Colonel Montgomery, Lieut. -Col. Gibson;
Captains Wallace, Scot, Gardiner; Privates Cunningham,
Boyd, Denny, Culbertson, and Fulton.1

On the 22d of July the duties of the Committee of Safety
were closed, the Convention, then in session, having appointed
another body of men, with the title of the Council of Safety,
upon whom devolved nearly the same duties that had been
exercised by the Committee.

Most of the small vessels employed in guarding the Dela-
ware were stationed at the Fort, but it appears that certain
guard boats were moored in Darby Creek ; and from the incon-
venience of obtaining provision from the Fort, on the 26th of
July it was ordered by the Council of Safety, "that Mr.
Sketchley Morton2 do supply the said boats with provisions
until further orders." Mr. Morton's bill for supplies furnished,
amounted to <£8 Is. S^d.

The troops that had been stationed at Marcus Hook and
Chester, and recently ordered to Philadelphia, did not remain
long in that city. The following letter at once shows the
destination of those troops, the condition in which a portion of
them had been left before their removal to the city, and the
humanity of their commanding officer :

i Hist. Lancaster Co., 405.

2 Sketchley Morton was a son of John Morton, the signer of the Declaration of In-
dependence.

294 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1776.

" Philadelphia, July 10th, 1776.
"Dr Sir:

"At the time I left Marcus Hook, there was a number of
men inoculated for the Small Pox, wch were left under the care
of Doctr Davis, but being ordered to the Jerseys, it became abso-
lutely necessary that the Doctr should go with the troops — those
sick men still remain at the Hook, under the notice of Doctr
Chapman — but I should be much obliged to you, (as I know no
other person upon whom I can so well depend,) if you would be
kind enough to see that those men are served with every
necessary provision, while they remain there, for which you will
be satisfied. I hope you will not refuse this trouble, otherwise
the poor men will possibly suifer.
" I am, Sir

wth much Esteem

your H,ble Servt.

Saml. Miles."

Col. Miles, with his regiment, crossed New Jersey, was at
the unfortunate battle of Long Island, and taken prisoner. It
would be interesting to follow him in the forlorn effort to defend
New York, but that is forbidden by the limited scope of this
work.

The following extracts from a letter dated at Kingsbridge,
on the 22d of September, addressed by Capt. Patrick Anderson,
to Dr. Franklin, sufficiently attests the shattered condition of
Colonel Atlee's battalion of musketry, after the battle of Long
Island :

"Immediately after our defeat on Long Island, the command
of the Musquetry Battallion devolved upon me. I found the
number of men remaining fit for duty to be about 200, but
most of their baggage & some even of their arms and accou-
trements Lost, and having no field officers left, applyed to
Lt. Col. Broadhead for his advice and assistance ; soon after
he informed me the General ordered him to annex our Bat-
talion to the Rifle Reg1, which I at that time complyed with
in expectation of further instructions from the Convention
or Council of Safety, as Col. Broadhead wrote you concerning
it. Want of necessaries sowered the men's minds. Deficiencys
in their stipulated rations hath increased it, & neglect of
punctual pay1, of their pay hath caused their meeting and
Desert in great numbers, with arms, &c. So that there is
now only scarce Eighty three remaining & they still think
if they are taken prisoners, they will not be exchanged, while
any prisoners from the Continental army is in the enemy's

1776.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 295

hands."1 On the 1st of August there had been 397 men in
this battalion under pay.

General Washington was obliged to retreat across New
Jersey, and was closely followed by the British army. The
Roebuck was again in the Bay. Every effort was now made
for the defence of Philadelphia, the situation of which had be-
come imminently perilous. Troops were mustered into ser-
vice, defences were erected, munitions of war were provided,
and army supplies were collected from every available quarter.
Chester County contributed her full share towards providing
for this emergency.

From a few of the minutes and resolves of the Council
of Safety, relating more particularly to Chester County, a
good idea may be formed of all the defensive and other mea-
sures adopted at this time.

On the 4th of October; it was resolved " that Mr. William
Evans be desired to purchase all the coarse cloths, blankets,
and stockings in Chester County."

November 14th, " Intelligence was received by express that
several hundred transports had sailed from New York, &
steered their course to the southward & expected to be intended
for this city; whereupon the council wrote a circular letter to
the commanding officers of the Battalions of Militia, earnestly
requesting them to march their respective Battalions to this
city immediately."

" Ordered, That the owners of cattle and other stock near the
river side, make the necessary preparations for removing the
same, at least five miles from the river, on the shortest notice,
as it is Probable that this board may be under the disagreeable
necessity of giving the most preremtory orders for their re-
moval, and to see that the same be punctually and suddenly
complied with."

November, 23rdT " Resolved, That the salt now in the posses-
sion of the Council of Safety, be immediately sent to the
Committee of the several Counties in the following proportions,

tO Wit ;*****"

The share of Chester County was eighty bushels.

" The Committees are to sell it to the people at the rate of
15s. pr. Bushel, and in no greater quantity than half a bushell
to any one family; they are to make as equal distribution as
they can, according to the necessities of the people, for which
purpose they are to require a declaration of what quantity they
are possessed of more than their just proportion of this necessary
article, at a time of such very great scarcity of it."

Dec. 4th. "An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbit in favour of

1 Penna. Archives, v. 27.

296 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

Dr. Robert Harris, for £58, for making powder for Congress,
to be charged to his Acco't."

" Mr. Towers was directed to deliver Dr. Robert Harris one
ton of Salt Petre, & Sulphur in proportion, to make into Gun
powder."

*" Mr. Nesbitt to pay Jno. Morton £3 — 6 — 0, for wharfage of
the Floating Battery Arnold, in March last."

" Resolved, That Thomas Marie be employed to fix the Boom
to the Piers at Fort Island, and to be stationed there to have
the care of it, to receive orders, and to be subject to the com-
manding officer at that station, and he is to employ a sufficient
number of hands, and do this business without any delay."

Dr. Thomas Bond proposed " instituting Hospitals for the
sick in Darby, Chester, Marcus Hook, Wilmington & Newcastle."
"I think," he says, "the water carriage from Trenton to those
places would save much carting, and this plan much better than
one proposed of sending the sick to East Town, [Easton] Beth-
lehem, Nazareth, Reading, &c."

The successful attack made by General Washington, on the
night of the 25th December, on a body of Hessians encamped at
Trenton, and the capture of a large number of them, with a great
number of guns and military stores, at once turned the tide of
events, at this period, in favor of the American cause, and re-
lieved our people from any immediate apprehension of the pre-
sence of the enemy.

As nearly as can be ascertained, up to the close of the year
1776, the several meetings of the Society of Friends within what
now constitutes Delaware County, had disowned eighty-one
members for being concerned in military affairs. But three or
four were reclaimed who had taken up arms. The minutes of
the meetings during this period show an increased activity in
visiting such members as continued to hold slaves, and generally
with good success. Many slaves were emancipated by members
of the Society about this time. A more lively testimony was
borne by the meetings than heretofore against the use of alco-
holic drinks. Early in the following year, " friends are advised
and desired to avoid being concerned in the distillation of grain,
or selling grain to such as distil, or purchasing the produce
thereof."

The year 1777 was the most eventful period of the revolution-
ary war. To the people of this County it was a period of the
direst calamity. Circumstances placed the seat of war in our
midst, and the events of the year being adverse to the American
cause, our people, almost without discrimination or exception,
were subjected to the ravages and plunder of the successful inva-
ders of our soil.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 297

Though relieved from the apprehension of an immediate at-
tack on Philadelphia, the Council of Safety did not slacken their
efforts in providing for the defence of that city. Early in January
an order was issued to County Committees of the nine counties
nearest the city, to furnish 38,000 bushels of horse-feed for the
army. The apportionment of Chester County was 4000 bushels.

The suspicion that Gen. Howe intended to attack Philadelphia
by water, was confirmed by the arrest of one James Molesworth,1
who had been sent on from New York to secure pilots to conduct
the British fleet up the Delaware. Subsequent movements of
Howe rendered it difficult to decide whether he would carry out
this intention, and made it necessary to embrace a wider scope
in providing for the defence of the city.

On the 25th of April, at the request of Congress, a call was
made for 3000 militia, one-half of whom were to be encamped at
or near Chester. Each soldier was to be provided with a blanket,
but if blankets cannot be purchased, " they must be im,pres%ed.'n
At this time the number of men returned in Chester County ca-
pable of bearing arms, was 5000.

It was required of the Committees of the Counties of Phila-
delphia, Chester and Bucks, " to take an inventory of all the
flour, wheat, Rye & Indian Corn, Oats, Beef, Pork, Horses,
Neat Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, &c, also wagons, carts, &c. in said
Counties." The ostensible object of this inventory was to have
the articles removed in case of any sudden alarm ; but it is pro-
bable that a desire to know what amount of provisions and means
of transportation could be made available for our army, was at
the bottom of this enumeration.

The defences on the Delaware were submitted to the inspec-
tion of a French engineer named De Coudray. In his report he
utterly condemns the works at Billingsport and Fort Mifflin as
almost useless. Of the fort at Red Bank he says, " This fort is
better conceived, directed and executed than either of those
above mentioned. It does the more honor to Col. Bull, [who
superintended its erection] as he had no other assistance than
natural good sense, unenlightened by theory." He, however,
also condemns this fort for the object for which it was construct-
ed, and recommends a radical change in the plan and construc-
tion of that at Billingsport. The fort at Red Bank, Fort Mifflin,
and all the gun-boats, floating batteries, fire-ships, and chevaux-
de-frize, were constructed wholly at the expense of Pennsylvania ;
the fort at Billingsport alone having been erected at the charge
of the United Colonies. A considerable amount of money was ex-
pended in remodeling this latter fort, but it appears never to
have answered any valuable purpose.

1 Molesworth was executed on the 31st March, 1777. — Penna. Packet.

298 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

Upon the application of General Schuyler, of the Continental
army, an order was issued by the Board of War1 for the collec-
tion of 4000 blankets in Pennsylvania for the use of the Conti-
nental troops. These blankets were to be collected from the
inhabitants " in such quantities as is proportionate to the num-
ber they have in the family, and the stock of blankets they may
be possessed of ; for which blankets they shall be paid the full
value, according to an appraisement to be made of them." The
proportion to be furnished by Chester County was five hun-
dred.2

Early in June, General Howe, commander of the British
forces at New York, showed a disposition to advance by land
across New Jersey, and to take possession of Philadelphia. On
the 14th of that month he actually made an advance by two
columns, which led General Washington to believe that this was
his real intention. This information being communicated to
Congress the same day, that body ordered, " That the 2nd Class
of the Militia of the County of Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks,
Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, & Northampton, be ordered
to march to the places to which the first class of the said counties
respectively are ordered, and that the third class be got in
readiness to march, and also that the 1st and second classes of
the City Militia, be ordered to march to Bristol, & the 3rd
Class hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest
notice." This order was promptly responded to by the Supreme
Executive Council of the State, who issued a circular letter to
the Lieutenants^ of the counties named, " to forward the first
Class of Militia immediately, and to hold the second class in
readiness to march at the shortest notice." Forty wagons were
also ordered to be sent from Chester County, thirty from Phila-
delphia, and thirty from Berks.

But it so turned out that the marching of Howe was intended
to draw General Washington from the strong position he then
occupied, and in that event to give him battle, which he declined
to do as our troops were then posted. Washington wisely re-
fused to risk his army in an open field fight, and Howe would
not venture to cross the Delaware, leaving so large a force as
that commanded by Washington in his rear, so that Philadelphia
was again relieved from being attacked by the way of New
Jersey. The policy of the British general was understood in

1 The Board of War consisted of nine persons, and was constituted by the Supreme
Executive Council, March 13, 1777. Col. Rec. xi. 181.

2 Penna. Packet.

3 There was a Lieutenant appointed for each county, who, with a number of Sub-
Lieutenants, appear to have had the general management of military matters in
their respective counties. Colonel Robert Smith was the Lieutenant of Chester
County.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 299

the course of a few days, and, as a consequence, on the 25th of
June the order for the marching of our local militia was sus-
pended.

Besides the regular army and militia, there were at this time,
independent companies of volunteers. On the 11th of June,
Benjamin Brannen, Esq., one of the Sub-Lieutenants of Chester
County, informed the Council, " that there were several com-
panies of Artillery Men formed in that county, and requested
that they may be furnished with a piece of Artillery proper for
exercising the men, and also a few pounds of powder for prac-
ticing the Firings with." A proper piece, and twelve pounds
of powder were ordered to be furnished.

The militia appear to have been divided into eight classes.
When a class was called out, many belonging to it could not, or
would not go. The deficiency was made up by the employment
of substitutes, either taken from the other classes, or from those
not subject, by law, to the performance of military duty. These
substitutes were procured by means of a bounty, which was paid
by the State, to be remunerated by the fines imposed on de-
linquents, and varied from ,£15 to £50, for two months' service.
In some regiments the number of substitutes nearly equaled the
number of those regularly drafted. The system of employing
substitutes, at high rates, was much complained of by the officers
of the regular army, who regarded it as a serious obstruction
to recruiting by enlistments.

It having become apparent that General Howe had definitely
changed his plan for gaining possession of Philadelphia, the
marching orders for all the militia, except those of Philadel-
phia and Chester County, were countermanded. News of the
embarkation of a large British force, at New York, very reason-
ably suggested the idea that the attack on the Capital of Penn-
sylvania would be by way of the river Delaware ; and doubtless
that was the plan of General Howe when he sailed. Every
effort was accordingly made for the defence of the river. The
modification of the works at Billingsport, recommended by De
Coudray, was ordered by Congress to be carried out, under the
direction of the authorities of Pennsylvania. Much labor was
expended at this point, while Fort Mifflin, (but recently known
by that name,) and the earth work at Bed Bank were strength-
ened and improved. Some other points were fortified. One of
these was near the mouth of Darby Creek, — doubtless on the
Island of Tinicum.

Agreeably to some general suggestions made by the com-
mander-in-chief, a survey of the grounds bordering the river, to
the distance of four miles from its banks, was ordered by the
Council. The surveyors were instructed to note particularly

300 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

the great roads, even beyond four miles; "the several places
where an enemy may land, and the kind of ground adjoining,
whether marshy, hilly, open, or covered with woods, and where
there are several heights near each other, remarking their alti-
tudes and distances apart;" the streams of water, " as high up
as the tide flows, and the places where they may be forded or
passed by bridges — where there are swamps near the river, or
roads — their kinds and sizes." Passes of difficulty to an army,
were to be accurately surveyed and well described. The sur-
veyors were directed to enter upon their duties immediately, and
with as much secrecy and dispatch as the case would admit, and
all persons were requested to be aiding and assisting them in
the service.

The duty of making the survey from the Schuylkill to Chris-
tina Creek was assigned to Nathan Sellers.1

On the 27th of July, certain information was received by the
Council of the approach of the British fleet towards the Delaware
Bay. This news produced the highest degree of excitement
among the people, and induced the authorities of the State to
redouble their exertions to ward off the threatened blow.

A draft of the militia of Philadelphia County had marched
before harvest into New Jersey ; one from Bucks had guarded
the fords of the Delaware for two months ; a second class from
Bucks, two from the City, and one from Chester, had occupied
for some time and assisted in finishing the defences of the Dela-
ware between the city and Chester. On the 28th of July, Con-
gress made a requisition on the Executive Council of Pennsyl-
vania for 4000 militia in addition to those already in service ;
in response to which, the Council, on the same day, ordered one
class to be immediately called into service from the city, and
one class from each of the counties of Philadelphia, Bucks,
Chester, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, and North-
ampton; also a detachment of artillery from the City of Phila-
delphia, equal to three -eighths of the whole. Most of these
troops were directed "to march immediately for Chester."

The persons appointed to drive off the cattle from the borders
of the Delaware,2 on the approach of the enemy, were reminded
of the importance of their trust, and of the necessity of holding
themselves in readiness for the performance of it when the ex-
pected emergency should happen. Caleb Davis, who had been
recently appointed Prothonotary, &c, for Chester County, was
directed to remove the County Records from the town of Chester

1 Penna. Archives, v. 441.

2 The persons upon whom devolved the duty of driving off the live stock in Chester
County, were : Saml. Levis, Wm. Kerlin, Sketchley Morton, John Pearson, Nicholas
Deihl, Isaac Hendrickson, Isaac Serrill, Harvey Lewis, and Ja'c. Richards. — Col. Bee.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 301

to a place of greater security.1 On the 31st of July, certain
information was received of the fleet approaching and entering
the Delaware Bay to the number of 228 vessels of war and
transports. Arms were wanted for the Militia that had been
called out, and as an expedient for supplying them, those per-
sons who had refused to take the oath of allegiance were directed
to be disarmed, " and their arms made use of by those who are
willing, at the risk of their lives, to defend their liberty and
property."2

On the same day, circulars were again issued by the Council
to the County Lieutenants, giving the news of the approach of
the fleet, and exhorting them to use every exertion to have the
Militia at Chester as soon as possible. Volunteers from the
classes not called were cordially invited " to step forward on
this great and important occasion, before it may be their turn
to go into the field in the class to which they belonged. The
persons appointed to drive off the cattle and other live stock
from the neighborhood of the river, were also notified of the
appearance of the enemy at the Capes of the Delaware, and of
the near approach of the hour when the execution of their trust
could no longer be delayed. At the same time they were ad-
vised that Congress had likewise committed to their care the
removal of wagons and carts. The works at Billingsport were
hurried on towards completion, and every arrangement within
the means of the Council was made to resist the invaders.

Persons were appointed to take an account of all the wheat,
flour, grain and other stores in the County of Chester within
twenty miles westward of the river Delaware. Other gentlemen
were appointed in the western part of the county, " for the pur-
pose of Billetting, and providing for the poor that may be re-
moved out of the City of Philadelphia." Suspected persons
were also to be removed into the interior of the State.

So confidently was the enemy expected to approach Philadel-
phia by the Delaware, that the different detachments of the
regular army, under Washington, were ordered to march to
the vicinity of the city, and requisitions had been made on
several counties for wagons to be used in the transportation of
army stores. After entering the bay, Gen. Howe found the

1 Henry Hale Graham had for a long time held the offices of Prothonotary, Register,
Recorder, Ac, for Chester County. Thos. Taylor was appointed as his successor, and
on the 26th of March was qualified to perform the duties of these offices, but he does not
appear to have assumed those duties, for on the 4th of April Benjamin Jacobs was
selected by the Council for the same trust, who, if he assumed the duties thereof, never
obtained the possession of the Records, for on the 11th of June, Caleb Davis was qualified
as Prothonotary, Ac. Up to the 28th of July the Records were still in the possession of
Henry Hale Graham, when Caleb Davis was authorized by the Council " to enter the
dwelling and out houses" of H. H. Graham, take possession of the books and papers
of the county, and remove them to a place of safety.

2 Penna. Archives, v. 472.

302 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

navigation for such an immense naval armament more difficult
than he had expected, retraced his steps to the ocean, having
determined to make his approach by the way of the Chesapeake.
This movement was not at first understood by our people, for no
tidings were received from the fleet until the 8th of August,
when it was seen some leagues south of Delaware Bay, but soon
again disappeared, having been prevented from entering the
Chesapeake by contrary winds, until the 16th of that month.
It was not, however, until the 22d that the Council was advised
of the presence of the enemy in the Chesapeake.

In this period of uncertainty, Washington abated not the least
in providing for the defence of the city. On the 15th of August
we find him giving directions for the improvement of the defences
of the Delaware. More chevaux-de-frize were to be sunk, or
" the left bank of Fort Island fortification supported by a good
battery capable of resisting the cannon of the ship." The effect
of the disappearance of the enemy upon the Executive Council
was different. They dreaded expense, and especially unneces-
sary expense. An order that had been issued for wagons was
countermanded on the 8th of August, and less diligence appears
to have been used in forwarding the Militia. Up to the 16th of
August, agreeably to the report of Col. John Evans, only about
1000 Militia had arrived at Chester, and there was no shelter
for more, " all the empty houses being occupied." These troops
were from the counties of Berks, Cumberland, Lancaster and
Chester. The following letter from the Council to some of the
Pennsylvania delegation in Congress, still further exhibits the
great anxiety of that body to avoid expense, and may serve to
explain the policy that lessened the efficiency of the Militia when
called into actual service :

"Philadelphia, 20th Augt. 1777.
" Gent :

" Council desire, that you will represent to Congress that
the Militia last called out in this State, have been rendezvousing
at Chester, and are still arriving -there. As this is the season
for sowing winter corn, on which this county greatly depends,
& labourers are become very scarce, they are sensible that great
distress must ensue upon continuing these people embodied. In
this circumstance, it will afford very sensible satisfaction to the
Council, as well as relief to the industrious Inhabitants, if public
affairs may admit of the dismissing of part of the Militia, espe-
cially as they are very deficient in Arms, & blankets, & totally
unprovided with tents."

Two days later, when news of the approach of the enemy by
way of the Chesapeake was received, a very sudden change took

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 303

place in the measures adopted by the Council. The threatened
danger was at hand. Economy yielded to necessity, and the
Council at once resumed the work of preparation with vigor,
which had been unwisely slackened during the short period that
the enemy remained invisible. Additional troops were ordered
to Chester, and an equal number to Downingtown; the militia
from Northampton that had been ordered to proceed northward,
were now directed to proceed to Lancaster " with all possible
expedition," and in pursuance of a recommendation of Congress,
all disaffected persons were ordered to be arrested and sent into
the interior.

The fleet passed up the Elk river as far as the ships could be
navigated with safety, and on the 25th of August landed about
18,000 men, "in good health and spirits, admirably supplied
with all the implements of war, and led by an experienced
general, of unquestionable military talents."1 On the day before
Howe landed, the American army passed through Philadelphia
and marched towards the Brandywine. Being deficient in the
means of transportation for army baggage, a pressing request
was made upon the Council to supply the deficiency. This re-
quest was promptly responded to by an order upon the Justices
of the Counties of Philadelphia and Chester ; each county being
required to furnish twenty-five wagons with four horses each.

General John Armstrong was placed in command of the militia
at Chester. In a letter to the President of the Council, dated
at that place on the 29th of August, we are informed that out of
the "chaos" in which Gen. Armstrong had found things at that
place, he had then forwarded 1,800 men ; that in concert with
Gen. Potter he had formed a rifle regiment [battalion], and
placed at the head of it Col. Dunlap, " a prudent man, and not
unacquainted with the business of a partisan." This rifle bat-
talion, consisting of three hundred privates, which was to march
from Marcus Hook the next day, and one hundred and fifty sent
from Billingsport the same day, were exclusive of the number
above mentioned. The head quarters of Gen. Washington were
now at Wilmington, where these troops united with the regular
army. On the first of September, the militia that had been
called out in Lancaster County were also ordered by Gen.
Washington to join his army at Wilmington.

Up to the 3d of September, the enemy had made but little
progress towards Philadelphia. Gen. Maxwell had advanced
with a body of light troops to Iron Hill, in Pencader Hundred,
Delaware, where on that day he was attacked by a column of the
British army, led by Lord Cornwallis, and driven beyond White
Clay Creek, with a loss of forty killed and wounded.2 Up to the

1 Marshall's Life of Washington, i. 153. 2 lb. 155.

304 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

5th of September, the main body of the American army had
remained in the vicinity of Wilmington, where some works had
been thrown up. On that day, the whole body was removed to
Newport, and occupied a position between that place and Red
Clay Creek, except Gen. Irwin's brigade, which remained at
Wilmington in charge of the works at that place. According to
the best information that could then be obtained, the British
troops were spread over a " considerable space of country, but in
a detached way, from Couch's Mills to some part of Notting-
ham."1

Pursuant to a recommendation of Congress, a call was made
by the Executive Council, on the 6th of September, for 5,000
militia in addition to those already in the field. They were
ordered to rendezvous on the heights of Darby, "with what
arms they have or can procure, and otherwise equipped in the
best manner they may be able." These equipments, including
blankets, in case they were taken by the enemy or otherwise
unavoidably lost, were to be paid for by the State.2

In order to strengthen the army, Gen. Washington had with-
drawn nearly all the troops from the defensive works on the
Delaware. The Navy Board became apprehensive " that some
parts of the enemy's fleet would soon attempt to invade the
city," and on the 5th of September communicated its plans of
defence to the Executive Council. Hog Island and the meadows
were to be laid under water ; flats and boats should be provided
to make a bridge from Fort Island to Province Island ; ninety
or one hundred men should be put in the fort at Darby Creek;
four pieces of cannon should be got to Billingsport ; some person
to be put in charge of the fort at Fort Island, and thirty men to
be ready to be put on Bush Island. In pursuance of these sug-
gestions, Col. Jehu Eyres, with two companies of militia artillery,
was ordered to repair to the works that have been named, where,
in conjunction with the commanders of the fleet, he was to exert
himself "to take, burn, sink or otherwise destroy the enemy's
ships or vessels that may attempt to invade this or the neigh-
bouring States." He was promised a reinforcement of militia
from Buck's County.3

Information having been communicated to the American camp
at Newport, that the enemy had disencumbered themselves of all
heavy baggage, General Washington at once determined to put
his army in a like condition. A requisition was made by the
Quartermaster-General, on the 7th of September, upon the Exec-

1 Penna. Archives, v. 587.

2 lb. 592. The Council regarded this call for militia as unnecessary, in which opi-
nion Gen. Armstrong concurred. lb. 598.

3 Penna. Archives, v. 590.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 305

utive Council for a sufficient number of teams, for the removal
of all baggage except blankets and a few small clothes. These
teams were '' to be placed in the rear of the divisions, and im-
mediately on an alarm, the tents and small "packs left with the
men, were to be sent over Brandy wine."1

Up to the 8th of September, the opinion was entertained by
Gen. Armstrong that the British would probably re-embark on
the Delaware, cross over, and land at some convenient point on
the Jersey shore, march up to the chevaux-de-frize, accompanied
by the vessels of force, which he expected would bombard Phila-
delphia.2 On the very day that Gen. Armstrong communicated
this opinion to the Council, a movement of the enemy proved
that it was not well founded. Gen. Washington had strengthened
the position he then occupied, and, regarding it as probable that
the fate of Philadelphia would be there decided, he had resorted
to every means in his power to encourage his troops and stimu-
late them to the greatest exertions. But the movements of the
enemy indicated a design to turn the right of the American
army, and to cut off all communication with Philadelphia.
Washington decided at once to change his ground, and that
night crossed the Brandywine, and took a position behind that
stream at Chadds' Ford. General Maxwell was posted west of
the ford on the road, and Gen. Armstrong wTas assigned a posi-
tion on the east side of the Brandywine, about two miles below,
which enabled him to guard two fords, now known as Pyle's Ford
and Corner Ford. In order to fortify the position at Chadds'
Ford, a breast-work was hastily thrown up on the bluff bordering
on the flat ground a little north of the main road. Part of the
main army was stationed above the ford to guard other passes.

This division of the American army has been estimated, nu-
merically, at 15,000, including the Pennsylvania Militia, com-
manded by Gen. Armstrong. Chief Justice Marshall, who was
present at the battle of Brandywine, estimates the effective force
of the Americans at 11,000, including the Militia, and assigns
his reasons why there should be such a large number of men un-
fit for military duty.3 Thus posted, and with this small body of
effectives, Washington patiently awaited the approach of the
greatly superior force of the enemy.

On the evening of the 9th, Howe marched in two columns
which united early next morning at Kennet Square ; after which
he advanced parties on the roads leading to Lancaster, to Chadds'
Ford, and to Wilmington.

The account of the noted Battle of Brandywine, which hap-
pened on the next day, will be mainly that given by Chief Jus-

» Penna. Archives, v. 596. 2 lb. 598.

;' jMurshall's Life of Washington, i. 154.

20

306 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

tice Marshall in his Life of Washington, with the addition of a
few details, properly omitted by that author, but which it may
be well to preserve in a strictly local history of that event.

" The armies were now within seven miles of each other, with
only the Brandywine between them, which opposed no serious
obstacle to a general engagement. This was sought by Howe,
and not avoided by Washington.

"In the morning of the 11th, soon after day, information was
received that the whole British army was in motion, advancing
on the direct road leading to Chadds' Ford. The Americans
were immediately under arms, and placed in order of battle for
the purpose of contesting the passage of the stream. Skirmish-
ing soon commenced between the advanced parties; and by ten
o'clock Maxwell's corps, with little loss on either side, was
driven over the Brandywine, below the ford. Knyphausen,
who commanded this column, paraded on the heights, reconnoi-
tred the American army, and appeared to be making dispositions
to force the passage of the creek. A skirt of woods, with the
stream, divided him from Maxwell's corps, small parties of whom
occasionally crossed over, and kept up a scattering fire, by which
not much execution was done. At length one of these parties,
led by Captains Waggoner and Porterfield, engaged the British
flank guard very closely, killed a captain writh ten or fifteen pri-
vates, drove them out of the wood, and were on the point of
taking a field-piece. The sharpness of the skirmish, soon drew
a large body of the British to that quarter, and the Americans
were again driven over the Brandywine."1

About eleven in the morning information reached General
Washington, that a large column of the enemy, with many field-
pieces, had taken a road leading from Kennet Square, directly
up the country, and was marching to fords higher up on the
Brandywine. This information was given by Col. Ross, of
Pennsylvania, who was in their rear, and estimated their num-
bers at .f>,000 men.

On receiving this information, Washington is said to have de-
termined to detach Gen. Sullivan and Lord Stirling to engage
the left division of the British army, and with the residue of his
troops to cross Chadds' Ford in person, and attack Knyphausen.
Before this plan could be executed, counter intelligence was re-
ceived, inducing an opinion that the movement of the British on
their left was a feint, and that the column of Lord Cornwallis,
after making demonstrations of crossing the Brandywine above
its forks, had marched down the western side of that stream to
unite itself again with Knyphausen.

Various and contradictory reports were, from time to time,

1 Chief Justice Marshall was an eye witness to this skirmish.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 307

received. Even light horsemen, specially sent to reconnoitre,
had failed to get sight of the enemy, and, by their report, suc-
ceeded in deceiving their General to such an extent that he was
unwilling to credit correct intelligence when it arrived. This
intelligence was brought about 2 o'clock by Mr. Thos. Cheyney,
a Justice of the Peace of the neighborhood. Being unacquainted
with the squire, Washington, at first, discredited his story, and
it was not until the excellent character of Esq. Cheyney, and his
devotion to the American cause, had been made known to the
General, that he yielded a reluctant belief in the important in-
telligence he communicated.1

The division of the British army under Cornwallis had taken
a very long and circuitous route, crossing the Brandywine con-
siderably above its forks — the west branch at Trimble's Ford,
and the east branch at Jefferis' Ford. As soon as Washington
became convinced that a large division of the enemy had crossed
the Brandywine above, he immediately made a change in the
disposition of his force.2 The divisions commanded by Generals
Sullivan, Stirling and Stephens, advanced farther up the Bran-
dywine, and fronted the British columns marching down that
stream. The division commanded by Gen. Wayne remained at
Chadds' Ford, to keep Knyphausen in check, in which service
Maxwell was to co-operate. Greene's division, accompanied by
Gen. Washington in person, formed a reserve, and took a cen-
tral position between the right and left wings.

The divisions detached against Lord Cornwallis formed on an
advantageous piece of ground above Birmingham Friends' Meet-
ing-house, chiefly within what is now the lawn surrounding the
dwelling of Mrs. Pepper; both flanks being covered with a thick
wood. Stirling's detachment advanced to within a short distance
of the meeting-house, where he awaited the approach of the
enemy. After waiting for some time, the near approach of the
British was announced, when Stirling endeavored to secure the
highest ground in the immediate vicinity of the meeting-house,
but when he reached that point the British had so nearly
gained it, that he could not have formed before they would
have been upon him. In this dilemma he threw a small force
into the graveyard, which was enclosed with a stone wall, for
the purpose of giving the enemy employment until he could form

1 The earnest manner of the Squire probably had its influence in convincing the
General. In reply to his doublings, it is said the Squire exclaimed, "take my life,
General, if I deceive you." It is also said that the General required him to alight from
his horse and make a draft of the roads. Hint. Chester Co. by J. J. Lewis, Esq.

2 Gen. Sullivan, who commanded the right of the American army, has been much
censured tor failing to obtain correct knowledge of the diversion of a part of the Brit-
ish forces at the Battle of Brandywine, that resulted in our defeat. The charges made
against that officer, and his defence, will be found in the Bulletin of the Hist. Society
of Penna. vol. i. No. 8.

308 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

his men on the rising ground in the rear. This body, after
having made an obstinate resistance, rejoined the main division.1
Unfortunately, Sullivan's division, in taking its position, took
too large a circuit, and was scarcely formed when the attack
commenced. The battle began about half-past four o'clock,
and was kept up warmly for some time. The right hav-
ing been formed under the enemy's fire, first gave way, and
by its flight exposed that flank of the remaining divisions to a
galling fire. The line continued to break from the right, and
in a short time was completely routed. The right wing made
some attempts to rally, but being briskly charged, again broke,
and the flight became general.

Upon the commencement of the action on the right, the re-
serve division under Washington and Greene pressed forward to
the support of that wing ; but before its arrival the rout was
complete, and nothing could be done but check the pursuit.
For this purpose, the 10th Virginia regiment, commanded by
Col. Stephens, and a regiment from Pennsylvania, commanded
by Col. Stewart, (neither of which had been in action,) were
posted advantageously on the road taken by the defeated army.
Though dispersed by Gen. Howe, these regiments did good
service in putting an end to the pursuit. To the same end Gen.
Greene contributed largely. Placing himself at the head of
Muhlenberg's brigade, in the rear of the retreating army, he
kept up, especially from his cannon, so destructive a fire, as
greatly to retard the advance of the enemy. At one time, it is
said, he opened his columns for the fugitives and closed them
against their pursuers. Arriving at length at a narrow defile,
strongly secured on its right and left by thickets or woods, he
immediately halted, sent forward his cannon, that they might
be out of danger, in case of being compelled to a hasty retreat,
and formed his troops, determined to dispute the pass with small
arms, notwithstanding the vast superiority of his assailants. He
effected his purpose with complete success, for though he was
dislodged by Howe, the pursuit was abandoned.

When the American right was found to be fully engaged with
Lord Cornwallis, Knyphausen made real dispositions for crossing
the Brandywine. Chadds' Ford was defended by an intrench-
ment and battery with three field-pieces and a howitzer ; this
division of the army being under the command of Gen. Wayne.
After some resistance the work was forced, and the defeat of
the right being known, the left wing also withdrew from the
ground.

The whole American army retreated towards Chester — arriv-
ing there by different roads and at different times in the night.

1 Hist. Chester Co.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 309

The loss on the side of the British was one hundred killed
and four hundred wounded ; among the former was a young man
named Percy, said to be a relative of the Duke of Northumber-
land.1 The loss on the side of the Americans was nine hundred
killed and wounded. Among the wounded was the Marquis de
la Fayette. As but few Americans were killed or wounded in
the retreat, the inequality in the loss sustained has been at-
tributed to the inferiority of their arms ; many of their muskets
being wholly unfit for service.

Gen. Howe has received great applause for the plan of this
battle, which, but for one circumstance, was the very best that
could have been adopted. The circuit taken by the division
under Cornwallis was too great. Had Gen. Washington re-
ceived early and correct information of the wide separation of
the two divisions of the British army, he would have crossed the
Brandywine with his whole force, and made an attack on Knyp-
hausen with almost a certainty of success, and could have been
ready to meet the division under Cornwallis by the time it ar-
rived, or upon some future day as best suited bis convenience.2
To one acquainted with the distance and the ground traveled
over by the detached wing of the British army, the taking of
such a wide circuit, appears like a serious mistake on the part
of Lord Howe, and one that would have changed the fate of the
day, but for the extraordinary combination of circumstances that
kept Washington in ignorance or in doubt in respect to the ex-
tent and character of the movement, until it was too late to take
advantage of it.

Upon the arrival of Gen. Washington at Chester, he ad-
dressed the following letter to Congress, by whose order it was
published :

" Chester, September 11. 1777. Twelve
O'Clock at Night."
"Sir:

" I am sorry to inform you, that in this day's engagement,
we have been obliged to leave the enemy masters of the field.
Unfortunately the intelligence received of the Enemy's ad-
vancing up the Brandywine and crossing at a ford about six
miles above us, was uncertain and contradictory, notwithstanding
all my plans to get the best. This prevented my making a dis-
position adequate to the force with which the enemy attacked
us on our right; in consequence of which, the troops first en-
gaged were obliged to retire, before they could be reinforced. —

1 Tradition converts this young man into a Lord Percy, but that is a mistake.
See note to Joseph Townsend*s account of the battle of Brandywine. p. 29.

2 Jefferis's Ford at which Cornwallis crossed the East Branch of the Brandy-
wine is six miles above Chadds' Ford.

310 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

In the midst of the attack on the right, that hody of the enemy
that remained on the other side of Chad's ford, crossed it and
attacked the division there under the command of General
Wayne, and the light troops under General Maxwell ; who after
a severe conflict, also retired. The Militia under the command
of General Armstrong, being posted at a ford about two miles
below Chad's, had no opportunity of engaging.

"But though we fought under many disadvantages, and were
from the cause above mentioned, obliged to retire, yet our loss
of men is not, I am persuaded, very considerable ; I believe
much less than the enemy's. We have also lost seven or eight
pieces of cannon according to the best information I can at
present obtain. — The baggage having been previously moved
off is all secure ; saving the men's blankets, which being at
their backs, many of them doubtless are lost :

" I have directed all the troops to assemble behind Chester,
where they are now arranging for the night. — Notwithstanding
the misfortunes of the day, I am happy to find the troops in
good spirits; and I hope another time we shall compensate for
the losses now sustained.

" The Marquis La Fayette was wounded in the leg, and
General Woodford in the hand. Divers other officers were
wounded and some slain, but the numbers of either cannot now
be ascertained. " G. Washington.

" P. S. It has not been in my power to send you earlier in-
telligence ; the present being the first leisure moment I have
since the engagement."

On the next day, the American army marched through Darby
to Philadelphia, where it was probably joined by straggling
parties who had not reached Chester : one of these, accom-
panied by a wagon load of the wounded, with a surgeon, reached
Gibbons' tavern in Springfield about ten o'clock on the night of
the battle. Here their wounds were dressed and their wants
supplied with everything the house could afford. They left
early in the morning, for fear of being overtaken by the enemy.1

While the American army was stationed on the Brandywine,
Washington occupied the dwelling of Benjamin Ring, a mile
from Chadds' Ford, as his headquarters. This house is now
owned and occupied by Joseph Harvey, and has undergone
some modifications since it was occupied by the " father of his
country." The annexed lithograph represents the appearance
the building then presented, as nearly as those who had been
acquainted with it could convey the same to the artist, with the
exception that it then had what is called a hipped roof.

1 Related by Mary Ash, aged 96 years, now deceased.

f

<j§m

- -;.*

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 311

The quarters of La Fayette were at the dwelling of Gideon
Gilpin, who was still living in the same house when La Fayette
visited this country in 1825. The procession that accompanied
the General to the Brandywine battle-ground, stopped in front
of the house while he paid his respects to old Gideon, who was
then on his death-bed. This property is now owned by Samuel
Painter, who has erected a neat mansion near the old house,
which yet remains in nearly its former condition.

A little above the road leading from Dilworth's town to
Brandywine, on the descending ground, there stood a small
house occupied by a man named Brown at the time of the
battle. When Brown discovered that the Americans were re-
treating, followed by the British, he ran out of his house, and
huzzaed for King George at the top of his voice. An Ameri-
can rifleman within hearing, indignant at his treachery, shot
Brown just as he re-entered his dwelling, the ball passing
through the fleshy part of his arm.

At the time of the battle, Edward Brinton, Esq., then an
aged man, owned and occupied the property of the late Edward
B. Darlington, on the road leading from Dilworth's town to the
Brandywine. When that division of the American army that
met the British at and near Birmingham Meeting-house was
retreating, closely followed by the enemy, and before the firing
had ceased, a number of British officers stopped at the house of
Squire Brinton, set out the dining table, and drank ten or a
dozen bottles of wine in a very short space of time ; after
which some of them passed into another part of the house
where the old gentleman was sitting. One of these officers said
to him, " Well, old gentleman, what do you think of these
times ?" The Squire replied that he did not approve of all the
measures of the Americans, but that he thought the acts of the
British Government had been cruel and oppressive. To this the
officer replied : " Indeed, old gentleman, I think so too, and had
it not been for your declaration of independence, I never would
have drawn my sword in America."1

In the fight at Birmingham Meeting-house, a party of the
Americans for a time occupied a position inside of the rear
wall of the grave-yard. A number of the British fell here.
The killed of both armies who fell in the vicinity of the
meeting-house, were buried in the grave-yard which partly sur-
rounds it ; their remains occupying one common grave just in-
side of the gate, and on the side of it next to the meeting-house.

1 This anecdote was communicated to me by Thomas Darlington, Esq., now in
his T9th year. Mr. Darlington is the grandson of Edward Brinton. I am indebted
to .Mr. D. for several facts of local interest connected with the bat'tle of Brandy-
wine, and other matters in that neighborhood.

312 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

The meeting-house was used as a hospital while the British
army remained in the neighborhood.

A Major Furgesson, who was the commander of a small corps
of riflemen attached to the British army, mentions an incident
which he says took place, while he lay concealed in a small skirt
of wood in front of Knyphausen's division. In a letter to Dr.
Furgesson, he writes : " We had not lain long when a rebel
officer, remarkable for a huzzar dress, passed towards our army,
within one hundred yards of my right flank, not perceiving us.
He was followed by another dressed in dark green and blue,
mounted on a good bay horse, with a remarkably high cocked
hat. I ordered three good shots to steal near to them ; but the
idea disgusted me ; I recalled the order. The huzzar, in return-
ing, made a circuit, but the other passed within a hundred
yards of us ; upon which I advanced from the woods towards him.
Upon my calling, he stopped ; but looking at me, he proceeded.
I again drew his attention, and made a sign to him to stop, but
he slowly continued on his way. As I was within that distance
at which, in the quickest firing, I could have lodged half a dozen
balls in or about him before he was out of my reach, I had only
to determine ; but it was not pleasant to fire at the back of an
unoffending individual, who was acquitting himself very coolly
of his duty, so I let him alone. The day after, when I was telling
this story to some wounded officers, who lay in the same room
with me, when one of our surgeons, who had been dressing the
rebel officers, came in and told me that General Washington was
all that morning, with the light troops and only accompanied by
a French officer in a huzzar dress, he, himself, dressed and
mounted in every way as above described. I am not sorry that
I did not know at the time who it was." The good genius of
Washington never forsook him.1

The young man, Percy, supposed to be a relative of the Duke
of Northumberland, before mentioned, was killed near the meet-
ing-house. The following anecdote is related of him : " When
he had arrived, with the regiment he accompanied, in sight of the
Americans ranged in order of battle upon the heights near Bir-
mingham meeting-house, he surveyed the field around him for a
moment, and then turning to his servant, handed him his purse
and his gold watch to take charge of, remarking, ' this place I
saw in a dream before I left England, and I know I shall fall
here.' The coincidence was striking and remarkable — the event
verified the prediction. His name is not mentioned in the British
official account of the battle, because he held no commission in
the army. He was merely a volunteer."2

The place where La Fayette received his wound, as pointed

1 Hist. Chester County. 2 lb.

1777. J HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 313

out by himself in 1825, was on the high ground a little northwest
of the new frame public school-house. It occurred while Wash-
ington, in person, and the worthy young Frenchmen were endea-
voring to rally some of the retreating regiments. Some hard
fighting took place at this point.

For two days after the battle of Brandywine, the chief part of
the British army lay encamped about Dilworth's town. During
this time Gen. Howe had his headquarters at the house now owned
and occupied by George Gilpin. It was probably occupied by
a person of the same name at that time.

On the day after the battle, a detachment of the British army,
under Gen. Grant, marched to Concord meeting-house, where
Lord Cornwallis, with the balance of the army, joined him on
the 13th. From this point the main body of the army moved to
Village Green and encamped, leaving a detachment at Concord
to guard the wounded left at the meeting-house. Another de-
tachment was sent to Wilmington, to which place some of the
wounded were also removed.

The encampment at Village Green was the largest ever estab-
lished within the limits of Delaware County, extending from
Mount Hope to the lower part of what is now Village Green,
where Gen. Howe had his headquarters in the old brick house
still standing. There is evidence that the British were in pos-
session of the town of Chester, four miles from this encampment,
on the 13th of the month.5 The depredations committed on the
property of the people within the bounds of this County, by the
British army under Gen. Howe, between the time of the battle
of Brandywine and his evacuation of Philadelphia, were enor-
mous. Many families were stripped of every article they pos-
sessed, and left in a state of perfect destitution.2 It is but
fair to infer that many of these enormities were committed
against the wishes of the commanding General, as the tories
were frequently great sufferers, though the whig families suffered
the most. The British army had not before occupied a district
of country so rich as this in agricultural products,, nor one in
which each farm-house was so well stored with everything that
could minister to the real comforts of life. An abundant field
was presented from which these reckless freebooters did not fail
to gather a rich harvest, leaving little to glean, when time and op-
portunity was afterwards afforded them to finish their wicked work.
The plundering was by no means confined to articles that would
be useful to the army ; every article of female apparel was taken
from some houses, and the furniture carried away or destroyed.

1 Penna. Archives, v. 616.

2 For an official statement of the losses sustained by each person, made in pur-
suance of an Act of Assembly, see Appendix, Note J.

314 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

While the array lay at Village Green, a tragic event occurred
that goes to show that Gen. Howe had become alarmed at the
extent of these enormities, and was determined to put an end, at
least, to unlicensed plunder. Three Hessians one night started on
a plundering expedition, crossing Chester Creek into Middletown
township, and entered the dwelling of Jonathan Martin, now the
property of Bennet Temple. They compelled Mr. Martin to
show them through the house, and to point out such articles as
they wanted. Miss Mary Martin, the daughter of Mr. Martin,
then aged about 18 years, and afterwards the wife of William
Sharpless of Middletown, reprimanded them for their conduct,
which provoked one of them to inflict a slight wound upon her
with his bayonet. Not satisfied with the plunder obtained at
Mr. Martin's, they proceeded to the house of a Mr. Coxe, in
Chester township, now the property of Thomas McCall, where
they appropriated such articles as they found suited to their
taste, among which was a silver watch. Mr. Coxe had a daugh-
ter about the same age as Miss Martin. On the following day,
these two young girls proceeded to the headquarters of General
Howe and made their complaint to him personally. He pro-
mised that if they could point out the men, they should be pun-
ished. The troops were at once formed into line, when the girls
passed along and pointed out the robbers ; after which they re-
tired to some distance. The officers then put the troops through
various evolutions, leaving the men in different positions. The
same men were again pointed out by the girls as the guilty par-
ties. This operation was again repeated with a like result. The
men were then searched, when some of the stolen property was
found upon them. They were tried by a court martial and all
convicted. Two of them were sentenced to be hung, and the
third to perform the office of executioner. Upon whom the ex-
treme penalty should be inflicted, the question was decided by
casting lots.

The sentence was carried out to the letter. The two men
were hung on the limb of an apple-tree on the property owned
by George L. Nield, in Aston ; and what is remarkable, they
were allowed to remain hanging after the army moved away.1

Thomas Dutton, upon whose property part of the army lay,
was then in his ninth year, his father being deceased. Upon
the arrival of the army, he was subjected to a close examination

1 This story was received from two different sources — from Thomas Dutton, now
in his 94th year, who has a distinct recollection of the encampment, and of many
circumstances connected with it; and from Mr. Joseph Mancil, aged 80 years, to whom
it was communicated by his wife (now deceased) who had received it from Mrs. Sharp-
less (formerly Miss Martin) with whom she had resided. The only difference in their
narratives respects the number of men. Mr. Mancil names but two, both of whom were
executed, while Mr. Dutton insists, that three were convicted, and two executed, as
has been mentioned.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAAVARE COUNTY. 315

to ascertain the proclivities of his family — whether his father or
elder brothers were rebels. Finding nothing objectionable in
the family, the officers treated his mother kindly, with the ex-
ception, that they appropriated to themselves her eatables
rather too freely. They notified her that " the butter, cheese,
and milk they must and would have, whether she received pay
or not." They paid for everything; and upon the eve of their
departure, notified her to secure every species of property from
the depredation of the camp followers ; to bolt and bar every
window and door, and not to admit one of them on any pretence
whatever, " as they would steal everything they could lay their
hands on."

A few days after the battle of Brandywine, four or five hun-
dred of the American wounded soldiers were taken to Ephrata,
in Lancaster County, and placed in a hospital. Here the camp
fever set in, which, in conjunction with the wounds of the sol-
diers, baffled the skill of the surgeons. One hundred and fifty
soldiers died, and were buried at this place. They were prin-
cipally from the Eastern States and from Pennsylvania, with a
few British, who had deserted and joined the American army.1

When General Washington retreated to Philadelphia, the main
body of his army encamped near Germantown, where he allowed
his men two or three days to rest. On the 15th of the month
he marched up the Lancaster road, and halting at the Buck
tavern, in Haverford township, he despatched a letter to the
Council, urging a supply of blankets for the troops. On the
same evening he reached the Warren tavern, where, hearing of
the approach of the enemy by the way of Goshen meeting-house,
he resolved to give him battle, for although the conflict on the
Brandywine had been sanguinary and disastrous, the troops were
by no means discouraged. In fact the opinion generally pre-
vailed that the loss on each side was nearly equal, and the
British had gained but little more than the battle-field.

Howe, anxious to give battle, on the next day marched towards
the American army. Some skirmishing occurred between the
pickets, but a rain-storm of almost unprecedented violence set
in, and separated the two armies. The Americans retreated
to the Yellow Springs, where they discovered that scarcely one
musket in a regiment could be discharged, and that scarcely one
cartridge-box was fit for use. This state of things suggested the
precaution of moving to a greater distance. The army accord-
ingly retired to Warwick Furnace, where a supply of ammuni-
tion was obtained, and soon after crossed the Schuylkill, except
the division under General Wayne, consisting of 1500 men,
which was dispatched to the rear of the British army, where he

1 Hist. Lancaster County, 218.

316 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

was to join General Smallwood, who was in command of a body
of militia. On the evening of the 20th of September, Wayne was
encamped on the ground now marked by the "Paoli Monument,"
a pedestal erected in commemoration of the serious disaster of
that night. General Howe, having been informed by tories re-
siding in the neighborhood of the exact position of Wayne's
encampment, dispatched General Gray with an adequate force
to capture the whole party. Cautiously approaching in the
dead of the night, and probably guided by some local enemy
of the American cause, he drove in the pickets with charged
bayonets, and at once rushed upon the encampment. " Wayne
instantly formed his division ; and with his right sustained a
fierce assault, directed a retreat by the left under cover of a
few regiments, who for a short time withstood the violence of the
shock." The total loss of the Americans has been variously
estimated at from 150 to 300, while the British only admit a
loss of seven.

When the attack commenced, General Smallwood was within
less than a mile of Wayne's encampment, a circumstance un-
known to General Gray. But his militia gave way on the
approach of a party of the British returning from the pursuit of
Wayne, with the loss of but one man.

Some severe animadversions on this unfortunate affair having
been made in the army, General Wayne demanded a court mar-
tial, which, after investigating his conduct, was unanimously of
the opinion, that he had done every thing to be expected, from
an active brave and vigilant officer; and acquitted him with
honor.1

Having already been led into a detail of events happening
beyond the limits of our County, a further notice of the parti-
cular movements of the two armies will be omitted. The British
crossed the Schuylkill on the 22d, and entered Philadelphia on
the 26th of September, from whence both Congress and the
Executive Council had adjourned to Lancaster only a few days
before.

The next object of Washington was to prevent the army at
Philadelphia from receiving supplies from the fleet. The works
on the Delaware have already been noticed. Immediately upon
the entry of the British into Philadelphia, an effort was made by
the armed vessels appearing in front of the city, to deter them
from erecting defences. This movement resulted in the loss of
a frigate called the Delaware, which ran aground and was cap-
tured by the enemy.

After the battle of Brandywine, Lord Howe, who commanded
the fleet, sailed to the mouth of the Delaware, and several light

1 Marshall's Life of Washington, i. 161.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 317

vessels entered the river. Among them was the Roebuck, whose
commander, Capt. Hammond, was rather familiar with our waters
and their defences. Upon his suggestion, Gen. Howe sent a
detachment from Chester across the river under Col. Stirling to
attack the fort at Billingsport in the rear. This was accom-
plished on the 2d of October without resistance ; the small party
in charge having first spiked the guns and destroyed the bar-
racks. The site of this fort was regarded by an. engineer as
the best on the river ; much money had been expended in recon-
structing it so as to accord with his views ; a tier of chevaux-de-
frize had been laid across the channel opposite to it, and yet it
is left without even an apology for a garrison for its defence.
The capture of this fort placed it in the power of the enemy to
make a passage through the obstruction in the channel, and to
bring their vessels within striking distance of Fort Mifflin.

While a division of the British army was over the river, en-
gaged in the capture of Billingsport, Washington regarded it as
a favorable opportunity to make an attack on the troops sta-
tioned at Germantown. This happened on the 4th of October.
On the same day Billingsport was abandoned by the British,
having, it is probable, received news of the attack made on their
troops at Germantown. Before evacuating the fort they de-
stroyed every destructible thing left by their predecessors, and
so injured the works as to render them almost useless for mili-
tary purposes. As yet, however, they had not succeeded in float-
ing any considerable part of the chevaux-de-frize, nor in making
an available passage through them, being foiled in their efforts,
both by the strength of the obstruction and the spirited attacks
that were made by the water craft from above. On the evening
of the 6th the enemy's vessels, nine in number, fell down to
Chester, where they remained till the appearance of the main
body of the fleet, which anchored below New Castle on the 8th.
The defence of this obstruction might have been still more
successful, but for the great defection that occurred among the
seamen by whom the galleys, floating batteries, and other craft
were manned. After the loss of Billingsport and the frigate
Delaware, a despondency ensued, that induced large numbers,
both officers and men, to desert ; some of whom went over to the
enemy. Desertions also occurred from Fort Mifflin, and Red
Bank was nearly forsaken by the militia, to whom its defence
had been entrusted. " This desponding temper in the troops
was checked by the battle of Germantown, and by throwing a
garrison of Continental troops into the fort at Red Bank, now
called fort Mercer." The militia of New Jersey were relied on
to reinforce the garrison, but were not forthcoming with the ex-
pedition required at this critical time ; Lieut. Col. Smith in a

318 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

letter, earnestly requested a reinforcement of Continental troops.
In consequence of the representations of this officer, Col. Angel,
of Rhode Island, with his regiment, was ordered to Red Bank,
and Lieut. Col. John Greene, of Virginia, with about 200 men,
to Fort Mifflin. Previous to the arrival of these reinforcements,
the effective force at Fort Mifflin was reduced to 156 men, and
that at Red Bank did not much exceed 200. *

In order to prevent Gen. Howe from obtaining supplies for his
army in the well-cultivated district west of the Schuylkill, Gen.
Potter with 600 militia was ordered to scour the country between
that river and Chester. Congress had also adopted a resolution
subjecting to martial law and death all who should furnish pro-
visions or certain enumerated articles, and who should be taken
within thirty miles of any place occupied by the British troops.2

A battery was erected at Webb's, now Penrose's Ferry, near
the mouth of the Schuylkill, but this was soon silenced by the
galleys under Commodore Hazlewood. On the night of the 10th
of October a party of over 100 men crossed over at the ferry,
and threw up a redoubt opposite and within two musket-shots of
the block-house on Fort Island. As soon as discovered on the
morning of the 11th Commodore Hazlewood ordered three gal-
leys to attack this hastily-built redoubt, and also one of the
floating batteries to play on it, which they did so warmly that
the enemy dared not fire a shot.

"After about two hours the enemy held out a flag, and the
soldiers appeared on the bank with their muskets clubbed."
When the Commodore and Col. Bradford, who with several boats
went off to take the prisoners on board, had succeeded in securing
about fifty of them, Col. Smith, who was in the block-house,
seeing some British soldiers coming from the house of Adam
Guyer, imprudently fired two shots at them, which caused the
balance of those who had surrendered to run off, take possession
of their battery again, and fire on their captors. It was at first
supposed that the soldiers coming from Guyer's were mere strag-
glers, but it afterwards turned out that the British were there
in force, and had just arrived to reinforce the party at the
redoubt. The prisoners captured were one lieutenant, one
ensign, and fifty-six privates.3

The reinforcement sent to the enemy's redoubt was large, but
the galleys and floating battery renewed their attack upon it in
the afternoon. Failing to make much impression that day, on
the morning of the 12th a party of about 150 men were landed
from the fort on Province Island, with the intention of taking
the redoubt under the fire of the three galleys and the floating

1 Marshall's Life of Washington, i. 173. a lb. i. 172.

s Penna. Archives, v. 663.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 319

battery ; but the number of the enemy proving to be much
greater than was expected, under cover of the redoubt, and dis-
covering a party equal to their own from the direction of Adam
Guyer's, the Americans were obliged to return to the fort, with
the loss of two men killed and five wounded. From this time
the enemy continued to throw up works at several places in the
meadows.

The enemy's ships had taken a position near Billingsport, and
had succeeded in removing one of the chevaux-de-frize. On
the night of the 12th, the Commodore went down "with two
chains of fire rafts to drive them away from that place," which
being effected, he returned with his armaments to the fort.
Several conflicts ensued at this point from day to day, the enemy
succeeding, by degrees, in removing portions of the obstruction
in the channel.

The army under Gen. Washington was now in the most desti-
tute situation for the want of clothing, blankets, &c, besides
which, no provision had been made for the recruits coming in.
A strong appeal was made by Gen. Washington to Congress for
supplies, who, in turn, had the matter brought to the notice of
the Executive Council. The following order from that body
sufficiently explains the means resorted to, to obtain a portion of
these supplies, without which the army could not have been con-
tinued in the field :

" In Council, Lancaster, October 21, 1777.
" Ordered,

" That Col. Evan Evans, Col. Wm. Evans, Col. Thomas,
Col. Gibbons, Capt. Thomas Levis, Capt. William Brooks, and
Capt. Jacob Rudolph, be authorized and required to collect
without delay, from such of the inhabitants of the County of
Chester as have not taken the oaths of allegiance and abjuration,
or who have aided or assisted the enemy, arms and accoutre-
ments, blankets, shoes and stockings, for the use of the army ;
that they appraise the same when taken, according to their
quality, allowing at the rate of three pounds for a new single
blanket, and give certificates for the same to the owners ; that
they call to their aid the militia of this Commonwealth, who are
hereby ordered to obey and assist them in the execution of this
order ; and that they deliver the same, so taken, to the order of
the Clothier General, or his agent, with whom they are to cor-
respond in the discharge of this business."1

The Quakers having generally refused to take the oath of al-
legiance and abjuration, were, no doubt, great sufferers from the

1 Penna. Archives, v. 691.

320 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

enforcement of this order ; for, in addition to the inconvenience
of parting with articles provided for family use, their conscien-
tious scruples would not permit them to receive the proffered
compensation.

It was not until the middle of October that the enemy had so
far succeeded in removing the obstruction in the river between
Billingsport and Hog Island, as to afford a narrow and intricate
passage through them. In the mean time, the fire from the
Pennsylvania shore had not produced all the effect expected from
it ; and it was perceived that greater exertions would be neces-
sary for the reduction of the works than could safely be made
in the present relative position of the armies. Howe, therefore,
withdrew his troops from Germantown preparatory to a combined
attack by land and water upon forts Mercer and Mifflin.

In pursuance of his plan for securing the control of the Dela-
ware, Howe, on the 22d of October, detached Count Dunop with
1200 Hessians, to capture the fort at Red Bank, orders having
been issued for a simultaneous attack to be made on Fort Mifflin
by water. The out-works at Red Bank were too extensive for
the garrison, but to obviate the difficulty, an inner embankment,
eight or nine feet high, "boarded and fraized," had been
thrown up. The attack was made about four o'clock in the
evening upon the outworks, after a summons to surrender had
been answered by a reply of defiance. The garrison maintained
its position for a time, but upon the near approach of the enemy,
fell back behind the inner work. The Hessians, supposing
themselves in possession of the fortress, rushed forward in some
confusion, when the Americans, from their second, but more se-
cure position, poured upon the advancing masses such a destruc-
tive fire, that they were forced to retire as rapidly as they had
approached. The loss of the Hessians was estimated at 400,
including Count Dunop and his second in command, while the
whole American loss, in killed and wounded, was only thirty-two
men. The garrison had been re-enforced from Fort Mifflin, and
was aided by the galleys which flanked the Hessians in their ad-
vance and retreat.1

Early on the same day, several of the enemy's ships passed
the lower chevaux-de-frize, and awaited the assault on Red
Bank before opening upon the galleys and floating batteries.
At the appointed signal the action on the river commenced, part
of the manoeuvring of the enemy's ships being intended to draw
off the galleys that were aiding in the defence of Red Bank.
The ships that came up were the Augusta, a new 64, the Roe-
buck, 44, two frigates, the Merlin of 18 guns, and a galley car-
rying a 32-pounder. These were driven back by the galleys and

1 Marshall's Life of Washington, i. 174.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 321

floating batteries, without having accomplished any material part
of their mission ; but in going down, the Augusta and Merlin ran
aground, owing, it is said, to some change having been caused in
the channel by the artificial obstructions. The unfortunate
situation of these vessels was not known to the Americans that
night, but failing to get off at flood tide, their helpless condition
was fully understood early in the morning, when they were
furiously set upon by twelve galleys and two floating batteries,
under the command of Commodore Hazlewood. The Roebuck, two
frigates and a galley, attempted to defend the disabled vessels,
but it was to little purpose, for so fierce and terrible was the fire
from the American fleet that the Augusta was soon in flames,
and blew up about noon, making so terrific an explosion that
great apprehensions were entertained at the Head Quarters of
the army — now at Skippac — for the safety of the fort, as the
explosion was attributed to the blowing up of the magazine.
The action was still continued with the other vessels, but the
enemy was forced to give way, first setting fire to the Merlin
which also exploded. It is supposed the Augusta lost 150 or
160 men in killed and drowned; the Roebuck was driven from
her station, having six killed and ten wounded. The fire-ships
that had been prepared with so much care and expense, were
sent against the enemy's vessels ; but the combustibles being
ignited too soon, they served no valuable purpose. Two guns,
clothing and other plunder, were obtained from the wreck of the
Augusta the next day.1

A brisk cannonade was kept up against Fort Mifflin by the
batteries on the Pennsylvania shore during both days, which
was responded to in the best manner that the condition of the
fort and circumstances of the garrison would permit. It was
commanded by Lieut. Col. Smith of Maryland. The batteries
on the Pennsylvania shore had been reinforced and supplied with
provisions, just before these attacks on the forts and galleys.
Gen. Greene with a large body of men was detached to attack
what was supposed to be an escort of provisions, &c, for these
batteries. What was supposed to be an escort proved to be a
large detachment, which proceeded no further than Gray's Ferry ;
the wagons with provisions, one hundred and thirteen in num-
ber, in the mean time were allowed to pass unmolested, and
return by way of the Blue Bell. When Gen. Greene arrived at
the bridge he found the post evacuated and the bridge torn to
pieces. Some works, however, had been commenced by the
enemy, and some huts built, which the detachment destroyed
and then returned to camp.2

Gen. Potter, who, with a body of militia, was detailed to

1 Penna. Archives, v. 708-721. 2 lb. 701.

21

322 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

scour the country between the Schuylkill and Chester to prevent
supplies reaching the enemy, exhibited considerable daring in
the performance of his duties. In a letter to Council dated on
the 27th of October, he speaks of having in one day, in com-
pany with a few horsemen, visited the upper, middle and Gray's
Ferries, Tinicum Island and Carpenter's Island, where he viewed
the enemy's works, and saw what he calls an Abess work thrown
up in Guyer's orchard. After this visit to the meadows, he
learned that a small breast-work had been thrown up at Boon's dam
and mounted with one gun. On the next day, in company with
Generals Reed and Cadwalader, he visited Darby and Chester.
At and below the latter place, sixty of the enemy's ships were
lying. He informs the Council that he had put a stop to the
transportation of marketing to the enemy, and had removed all
the beef cattle and flour from this part of the country.1

The garrison at Fort Mifflin had been subjected to very severe
duty, expecting at any moment to be attacked by the troops in
the intrenchments on the Pennsylvania shore, and from the
enemy's ships in the river. Washington had determined not to
divide his army so as to be unprepared for another general en-
gagement, in case Howe should afford him an opportunity, until
the troops should arrive from the North, which, since the sur-
render of Burgoyne, were confidently expected. He did, how-
ever, parsimoniously divide three hundred Pennsylvania militia
between this fort and Red Bank. Gen. Varnum was also
stationed with his brigade near Woodbury, with instructions
*' to relieve and reinforce the garrisons of both forts as far as
his strength would permit."

After the repulse at Red Bank, and the loss of the two war
vessels, Gen. Howe became more careful in his movements.
While he still persisted in his plan of opening a communication
with the fleet by the Delaware, his preparations were such as
would secure that object without any unnecessary exposure of
his troops. Having completed his preparations, the large bat-
teries on Province Island and on the margin of the river below,
now well supplied with heavy guns, opened on Fort Mifflin early
in the morning of the 10th of November, and kept up a constant
fire during five successive days. " The block houses were re-
duced to a heap of ruins, the palisades were beaten down, and
most of the guns were dismounted and otherwise disabled." The
barracks were so much injured that the troops, when an interval
of firing afforded them an opportunity to take a few moments
repose, were obliged to lie on the earth, now rendered muddy
by having been intentionally, but unadvisedly, flooded by
opening the sluices. At night a large force was required to

1 Penna. Archives, v. 718.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 323

repair, as much as possible, the damages of the day ; and being
under a constant apprehension of an attack by a storming party,
little opportunity was afforded for repose, and but for the relief
afforded by Gen. Varnum, the duties would have been too
arduous to bear.

It was the opinion of both Col. Smith and Gen. Varnum, that
the garrison could not withstand an assault, and Gen. Washing-
ton believing that none would be made until the works were bat-
tered down, gave orders for the defence of the place to the last
extremity, which were literally obeyed. These orders, which
have the appearance of being severe under the circumstances,
were probably induced by the report of Major Feury, a French
Engineer, who believed the place was still defensible. Col.
Smith was wounded on the second day of the siege, when the
command devolved upon Col. Russell and subsequently upon
Major Thayer.

On the 14th a floating battery of the enemy was silenced, but
on the 15th " the assailants brought up their ships as far as the
obstructions in the river permitted, and added their fire to that
of the batteries, which was the more fatal, as the cover for the
troops had been greatly impaired. The brave garrison still
maintained their ground with unshaken firmness. In the midst
of this stubborn conflict, the Vigilant and a sloop of war were
brought up the inner channel, between Mud and Province and
Carpenter Islands, which had, unobserved by the besieged, been
deepened by the current in consequence of the obstructions in
the main channel ; and taking a station within one hundred
yards of the works, not only kept up a destructive cannonade,
but threw hand grenades into them, while the musqueteers from
the round-top of the Vigilant killed every man that appeared
on the platform."1

An effort was made by the galleys to drive these vessels away,
but it could not be accomplished on account of the batteries on
the Pennsylvania shore. With these vessels in the inner chan-
nel, it was impossible to continue the defence of the fort, and
accordingly, about eleven o'clock on the night of the 15th,
it was evacuated, the garrison retiring to Red Bank. Before
leaving they set fire to the barracks, and moved off the cannon
and stores. No troops ever behaved with more firmness — the
fort being perfectly riddled before it was evacuated.3

The loss at the fort is not officially reported, but it was not
considerable before the last day of the conflict. It is reported
that Lord Cornwallis confessed that the enemy " lost a great

1 Marshall's Life of Washington, i. 178.

2 The mark of a cannon ball having passed through an old brick house one mile
from the fort, supposed to be Guyer's house, is still visible.

324 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1777.

number of brave fellows," at the same time calling the site of
the fort, " a cursed little mud island."1

The loss on board of the galleys and other craft, constituting the
American fleet, on the 15th, was thirty-eight killed and wounded.
It cannot be denied that this fleet rendered much more effective
service in defence of the chevaux-de-frize, and against the pas-
sage of the enemy's vessels, than all the forts put together.
The vessels chiefly belonged to Pennsylvania, and were in the
service of the State. From that cause, or some other, a mis-
understanding existed between the officers of the fort and those
of the fleet, which probably led Gen. Washington to underrate
the importance of the latter in defending the obstructions
placed in the river. The vessels were at no time fully manned,
and on the last day's engagement several were not brought into
action, partly from the want of men to work them, although the
commander, from time to time, had implored Washington to
furnish him with the necessary reinforcement.2

After the evacuation of Fort Mifflin, it was decided by a con-
ference of land officers, that the upper chevaux-de-frize could
still be defended by holding Red Bank and the Jersey shore,
notwithstanding a council of naval officers had concluded that
the galleys could not be very serviceable with the fort in the
hands of the enemy. It was determined by Washington to
make the effort, and accordingly General Greene was detached
with a considerable body of troops to reinforce Fort Mercer, and
to conduct military affairs in that neighborhood.

Gen. Howe having completed a line of defence from the
Schuylkill to the Delaware, and a reinforcement of troops from
New York having arrived at Chester, he felt strong enough to
place an army in New Jersey sufficient to reduce Fort Mercer
without jeoparding his troops in Philadelphia. Accordingly,
at noon on the 17th, Lord Cornwallis crossed the Middle Ferry
with 3000 men, and taking the Darby road, proceeded to
Chester. At the Blue Bell they came upon a guard of Gen.
Potter's scouts, and captured about thirty-three men, with a loss
of one Captain, one Sergeant-Major, and three privates, killed,
and several wounded. Being joined at Chester by the reinforce-
ment from New York, his Lordship, with the united force, em-
barked on board of transports the next day, and on the 19th
disembarked at Billingsport. Some little skirmishing occurred ;
but General Greene learning how greatly the force of the enemy
exceeded his, recrossed the Delaware, and Fort Mercer was
evacuated without an effort to defend it ; while the fleet, waiting

1 Penna. Archives, vi. 23.

2 As a means of defence, the banks of all the Tinicum meadows were cut, and
the tides permitted to enter, but the exact time when this was done is not known.

1777.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 325

for a favorable opportunity, passed the city at night, without
being molested,, except a few 'vessels which were burnt to pre-
vent them from falling into the hands of the enemy. Thus,
after a protracted effort of six weeks, the British General suc-
ceeded in forming a junction with the fleet.

But little occurred within the limits of our County during the
winter, which was now at hand, except sundry depredations
committed by foraging parties sent out by the enemy, and the
skirmishes that ensued when those parties came in contact with
the American scouts that were constantly on the watch for them.
In a letter from Gen. Potter, dated at Radnor on the 28th of
December, one of these encounters is thus described : " On
Monday last the enemy came out with a view to forrage; they
encamped along the road from Gray's Ferry to the heights below
Darby. There was a detachment sent down from our army to
this place, who with Morgans Riflemen and the Militia went
down to their lines and kept them close therein. On Tuesday
we took thirteen of their light horse and ten of their horsemen,
the next day two more of their horses and their riders. They
have been prevented • from plundering the inhabitants as they
usually do. * * * * * We had one killed and two wounded.
We have taken upwards of twenty prisoners, and a number of
deserters have come in. They have carried off a large quantity
of Hay from the Islands, and Darby. * * * * *"1

It sometimes happened that some of our militia scouts were
captured by the enemy, when not sufficiently on their guard.
About this period, such a party, under the command of the late
Gen. Wm. Brooke, of Haverford, who was then a captain, were
one night taking their ease in a house, late the property of
George Swayne, a mile below Darby, when the house was sud-
denly surrounded by a larger party of the enemy. Brooke, de-
termined not to be taken, leaped from a window and ran, but in
getting over the fence into the road, found that a partial dislo-
cation of his knee, to which he was subject, had happened.
Putting his foot through the fence, and giving his leg a quick
extension, the joint was brought into a proper condition, when
he hastily made his escape.

Chester County, about this period, was infested with a bold
and daring outlaw named James Fitz Patrick, but who generally
went by the name of Fitz or Fitch. He was the son of an
Irishman in low circumstances, and learned the blacksmith
trade with John Passmore, a worthy citizen of the County. He
joined the militia at the breaking out of the war, and accom-

1 Penna. Archives, vi. 1-41. It appears that the American party had been specially
sent by Gen. Washington to destroy the hay ami prevent it from falling into the
hands of the enemy. Marshall's Life of Washington, i. 213.

326 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1778.

panied the battalions that went to New York, but soon deserted
and returned to his native county, where he was arrested, and
afterwards confined in Walnut street prison in Philadelphia.
Being released on condition of joining the Continental army, he
soon deserted again, and once more returned to his native County,
and went to work. Here he was arrested by two soldiers sent
for the purpose. He obtained permission from the soldiers to
visit his mother, but while there, seized his rifle and set them at
defiance. He had now become so much offended at the Ameri-
cans, that he determined on being revenged, and accordingly,
when General Howe landed at the head of Elk, Fitz repaired to
him; probably received some appointment, and doubtless, from
his knowledge of the country, rendered him essential service.
He was present at the battle of Brandywine, and afterwards
accompanied the British army to Philadelphia. While the
enemy remained in that place, he, in company with one Morde-
cai Dougherty, from the neighborhood of Doe Run, and others,
employed his time in capturing good Whigs and in stealing
horses ; carrying them within the British lines. One Lieut.
Joseph Lucky, and Peter Burgandine, were- among the number
thus captured. It was believed that these desperadoes were
secreted and supplied with provisions by certain Tories of
Newlin and neighboring inhabitants of Chester County.

After the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British army,
Captain Fitz, as he was generally called, established his head
quarters on the Valley Hill, in the neighborhood of the present
village of Coatsville, and commenced, on his own responsibility,
a depredatory war upon the Whigs of Chester County. After
having plundered his victims of their property, it was his custom,
and appeared to be his delight, to flog and otherwise abuse them.
So numerous and high-handed were the atrocities committed by
him, that his presence caused as much alarm in some neighbor-
hoods as that of the British army.

On one occasion, Fitz and Dougherty went into the harvest
field of one James Shield, where Archibald Hambleton was reap-
ing, and Fitz told Shield that he had borrowed his watch, a pair
of silver buckles and shoes. Shield insisted that he should
return them; but Fitz returned for answer that it would depend
on his behaviour towards him. Hambleton was then taken pri-
soner, and carried to his father's house, where they robbed him
of a rifle, powder-horn and shot-pouch; after which-, Fitz got
the Bible, and forced him to swear " that he would not follow or
betray him, or disturb any of his neighbours or friends on his
account, and if he did, he would come and burn their house, and
likewise the houses of the Rebels in the neighbourhood." They
both threatened the lives of several persons in the neighborhood,
whom they named.

1778.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 327

Captain Fitz frequently fell in with armed men, but before
making himself known, he would seize an opportunity to disarm
them. Having placed his pursuers in his power, he would tie
them to trees and flog them. On one occasion, about fifty men
were in pursuit of him, who incautiously parted with their arms
while taking refreshment in a tavern. Fitz discovering their
position boldly came in upon them, commanded them to keep their
places, which command they dared not disobey. He then called
for a glass of liquor, drank it, backed off with his rifle pointed
towards the men, till he arrived at a safe distance to run.

On one occasion, a meeting was held for the purpose of adopt-
ing measures for his arrest, which he attended in disguise. After
dark, a militia captain volunteered, with much boasting, to cap-
ture Fitz, which being overheard by the bandit, he at once decided
to put the bravery of the boaster to the test. Taking a candle-
stick from the mantel, he invited the young man aside, remark-
ing that he would show him how he might secure Fitz. When at
some distance from the company, he demanded the watch of his
victim, at the same time snapping the candlestick, and assuring
him that he was Fitz. Obtaining possession of the watch, he
tied the captain's hands behind him, and sent him back to the
company.

Fitz was at length captured by Capt. Robert McAffee, of
Edgmont, assisted by a young woman named Rachel Walker.
Having entered the dwelling of Mr. McAffee, Rachel, who was
up stairs, was made acquainted with his presence by the screams
of a boy who said, " Capt. Fitz was there." Upon coming down
stairs, Fitz asked her how she did, and expressed his sorrow at
the disturbance he had made. She went up stairs to secrete
some valuables, when Fitz drove the balance of the family, con-
sisting of Capt. McAffee, his father and mother, and the above
mentioned boy, up stairs also. He then proceeded to plunder
the house. The manner of his capture is thus given by Rachel
before the Council: " Fitz told McAffee to prepare for a march;
laid down his sword and pistol, and raising his foot to the bed-
stead,' in order to put up at the heels a pair of pumps taken from
Capt. McAffee ; she winked at McAffee to seize Fitz ; he seemed
to decline; she winked again, and on seeing McAffee's motion
as if to seize Fitz, she also sprang forward and seized him."
Fitz in the struggle, this heroine says, seized a pistol, "which
she griped in his hand and prevented him from firing it; that she
afterwards took the pistol and stood sentry at the door." A
reward of $1000 had been offered for the arrest of Fitzpatrick
by the Executive Council, which was equally divided between
Rachel and Capt. McAffee.

Fitz was captured in the latter part of August, and was con-

328 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1778.

victed at Chester, upon his own confession, of burglary and lar-
ceny, on the loth of September, and was sentenced to be hung.
The time for his execution was fixed on the 26th of the same
month ; but before the day arrived he nearly succeeded in mak-
ing his escape, " having filed off his irons, and got out of the
dungeon." He was in consequence removed to Philadelphia for
safe keeping, but succeeded twice in removing his handcuffs
before the day of execution.1 It is not known that his accom-
plice Dougherty was ever arrested.

The American army having retired into winter quarters at the
Valley Forge, and that of Gen. Howe being fortified within con-
tracted lines in the city and liberties of Philadelphia, but little
occurred within our limits during the winter, except repeated de-
predations committed by foraging parties sent out by the enemy.
While Gen. Potter remained in command of the militia stationed
between the Schuylkill and Chester, the depredations of these
parties were greatly restrained, but at his earnest request he was
superseded by General Lacey in January, after which, the ope-
rations of the militia appear to have been chiefly confined to the
country between the Schuylkill and Delaware.

There was an outpost of the Valley Forge encampment in
Radnor, on the property now belonging to Tryon Lewis. About
seven acres of heavy timber had been cleared, near the middle of
a large tract of woodland, by the troops stationed here ; this was
afterwards cultivated, and was well known in the neighborhood
as "the camp field." Radnor Friends' meeting-house, which is
more than half a mile distant from this camp ground, was occu-
pied in connection with it, probably as officers' quarters, and for
a hospital. The records of the Society show that they were
deprived of the use of their meeting-house early in the year,
"in consideration of its being occupied by soldiers," and that
it required considerable repairs before it was put in a condition
for holding a monthly meeting, which was not till near the mid-
dle of 17«0.

It is probable that during the winter and spring, most of the
scouting parties that served to restrain, in a measure, the forag-
ing of the enemy within our limits, and at the same time to pre-
vent disloyal farmers from carrying their produce to the city,
were detached from the outpost at Radnor. The inhabitants of
the townships on the Eastern margin of the County suffered
severely while the enemy occupied Philadelphia, and numbers of
the Whigs were captured and carried off as prisoners.

Notwithstanding the punishment of death was denounced
against those who furnished aid and comfort to the enemy, still
a large amount of marketing reached the British lines, and those

1 Penna. Packet. Col. Rec. Penn. Archives. Hist. Chester County.

1778.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 329

engaged in its transportation, when captured by the American
scouts, were rarely subjected to any other punishment than the
forfeiture of their goods and the imposition of a fine. In default
of the latter, a good whipping was sometimes substituted. In
the townships nearest the city, even some of those who were not
disposed to favor the enemy, engaged in this traffic ; for while
persons at a distance had no temptation but British gold, these
had no alternative but to carry their produce within the lines of
the enemy and receive its value, or have it taken without com-
pensation.

It is a singular circumstance, and one not easily accounted
for, that such a bold and efficient officer as Gen. Wayne, and one
so perfectly acquainted with the country west of the Schuylkill
as he undoubtedly was, should not, at this particular juncture,
have been assigned a position where his local knowledge would
have been so valuable in defending the inhabitants of his native
county from the aggressions of the enemy. But his command
was encamped during nearly the whole winter and spring at
Mount Joy, in Lancaster County, a point so distant that even
the advice that his local knowledge would have enabled him to
give, could not be made available.1

But our people were not subjected to the depredations of the
enemy alone. The necessities of our army at the Valley Forge
had become so great that Congress had authorized the Comman-
der-in-chief to seize provisions for its use at any place within
seventy miles of his headquarters. Washington reluctantly
yielded to the overwhelming necessity that induced Congress to
confer this unusual authority upon him ; but he did yield, and in
order that the present year's crop should be made available for
the pressing necessities of the army, he had, early in the winter,
issued a proclamation enjoining and requiring all persons resi-
ding within seventy miles of his head-quarters to thresh out one
half of their grain by the first of February, and the other half
by the first of March, under the penalty of having all that re-
mained in sheaves after the last mentioned period seized by the
Commissaries and Quartermasters of the army and paid for as
straw.2 The necessities of the army were too great to await the
times specified in the proclamation ; and the General was obliged
to keep parties of his troops threshing grain to prevent his sup-
plies from failing. Certificates were given for the property

1 Gen. Wayne is said to have commanded a foraging expedition " with orders to seize
every article proper for the use of the army within fifteen miles of the Delaware, and
to destroy the forage on the islands between Philadelphia and Chester." — {Marshall's
Life of Washington.) To the author this appears to be a mistake.

2 It has been erroneously supposed by some that this proclamation for threshing
was in order to procure straw for the use of the troops. The cry from the camp was
incessant for food and clothing.

330 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1778.

taken for the American army, payable in Continental money,
but unfortunately for the credit of the government, this cur-
rency was never redeemed. The Friends generally refused to
receive compensation for what was taken from them for war
purposes.1

On the 10th, 11th and 12th days of December, 1779, Corn-
wallis, with a detachment of the British army, made a sally from
Philadelphia into Darby, Haverford and Radnor, and at that
inclement season of the year stripped many families of all their
provisions, their stock and provender, and many articles of
household furniture. These outrages were premeditated ; were
committed under the eye of the General and by his authority,
and many of them were against persons who had never raised a
hand against the home government. For unfeeling brutality
they scarcely have a parallel in civilized warfare.

Many of the Whigs were captured at this time, and many had
been captured previously and carried to Philadelphia, where
they were detained as prisoners till the enemy evacuated the
city, but after that event the tables were turned ; for now the
Tories, who had given aid and comfort to the enemy, or who
were suspected of having done so, were seized and tried as trai-
tors, their property confiscated, and a few were executed. No
one who resided in what is now Delaware County suffered the
extreme penalty of the law.

The Commissioners of attainder for Chester County, ap-
pointed in pursuance of an Act of Assembly, were William
Evans, Thomas Cheyney, Patterson Bell and John Hannum.
The number charged with having " knowingly and willingly aided
and assisted the enemies of the State and of the United States
of America, by having joined their armies at Philadelphia," who
resided in what is now Delaware County, was about fifty, while
only about forty persons were actually attainted of treason.2

Several classes of the militia were called out in the year 1778,
but many refused to turn out, and also refused to pay their fines.
When the goods of these defaulters, such as horses, &c, were
levied upon and sold, they would be frequently stolen from the
purchaser, which rendered the collection of fines very difficult.

In 1777 but little tax was collected in this part of the country.
The presence of the enemy rendered its collection very difficult
in some places, and the robberies committed by them made col-
lections impossible in others. Many collectors refused to serve,
and paid their fines during the period of the Revolution, but

1 Some account was kept by the Friends of their losses by the contending armies.
The author has only seen that kept by Haverford Monthly Meeting. The amount
recorded against the Continental army is small, and was generally taken " for substi-
tute money."

2 Penna. Archives, x. 250.

1778.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 331

more particularly in the years 1777 and 1778. Two taxes
appear to have been laid the latter year, but the Commissioners
of Chester County reported to the Council on the 29th of May,
that "they had not been able to get a return of property from
near one third of the townships — the township assessors having
refused or neglected to act," owing, as the Commissioners sup-
posed, to the proximity of the enemy. The delinquents were
fined, and writs issued to the Sheriff, but, for the same reason,
these writs were not executed. The aggregate of the taxes laid
upon the townships now included, or partly included, in Delaware
County, amounted to X3059 18s. 4rf., but a large proportion of
it was never collected, or if collected was received in certificates
for articles that had been taken for the use of the army.

In the minutes of a meeting of the County Commissioners,
"held at the sign of the Ship in East Cain, Jany ye 5th 1778,"
the following entry occurs :

" The Board appointed Sketchley Morton, David Cloyd and
the Clerk to remove the press and chest of books, papers &c
from Chester to James McClellans in Sadsbury."

The next meeting of the Board was held at the house of James
McClellan on the 2(Jth of the same month, when " the committee
appointed to remove the records from Chester, reported that they
had removed the same according to order & presented their bill
of expense," &c.

During the occupation of Philadelphia by the enemy, the
armed galleys and other craft that escaped up the river were
sunk by order of Gen. Washington to prevent them from being
captured, but after the evacuation they were put afloat again,
and some of them fitted up for active duty. Mud Island fort
and Billingsport were both to be put in repair and to be re-occu-
pied ; the former was to be supplied with two and the latter with
four heavy guns. The Council employed Col. John Bull to
direct the workmen and to complete the works, and agreed to
pay him " three pounds per day and forage at Billingsport for
one horse."

The evacuation of Philadelphia by the British was the dawn
of returning prosperity in this section of our country. Up to
this time Pennsylvania had suffered more from the war than any
other State ; more of her men had been captured or lost, and no
district had been so thoroughly plundered as that which had
been overrun by Gen. Howe, between the Head of Elk and
Philadelphia. From this time till the end of the war, our people
suffered no serious inconvenience beyond what was common all
over the country. Troops were frequently called out, heavy
taxes were laid, and wagons with teams were impressed into
service ; but really the greatest amount of inconvenience suffered

332 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1780.

by the people generally, resulted from the great depreciation of
the paper money authorized by Congress. Early in the year

1779, it had depreciated so much that the price of every article
had become almost fabulous, and yet it had not then reached its
lowest point. A barrel of flour was sold for £20, and a bushel
of salt for £15; a journeyman blacksmith was paid £8 per day,
and the price for shoeing a horse all round was £4.

The County Commissioners encountered very great difficulties
in levying taxes. The moderate fines that the law had imposed
upon officers for neglect of duty when the currency was good,
failed to secure the services of those whose duty it was to assess
and collect the taxes. By a minute made by the Board of Com-
missioners and County Assessors for Chester County, at a meeting
held on the 18th of January, it appears that " from the greatest
number of townships" no return of taxable property had been
made. The assessment was consequently postponed till the 26th
of April; the Commissioners in the meantime having borrowed
money, and the legislature having enacted a law imposing fines
on delinquent assessors and collectors more in accordance with
the inflated character of the currency.

Many of the small vessels composing the Pennsylvania fleet
were sold; but still encouragement was given for fitting out pri-
vateers. Garrisons were kept, both at Fort Mifflin and Billings-
port, at the expense of the State; but the object appears to have
been more for the prevention of smuggling, and to enforce the
temporary embargoes that were from time to time laid, than to
guard against any apprehended attack from the enemy.

The crew of the brigantine Holker, to sail as a privateer,
appears to have been enlisted at Chester by Capt. Davis Bevan,
who probably commanded the vessel. Most of the enlistments
were made in July, 1779, as appears by the receipt book of the
captain, now in possession of the Delaware County Institute of
Science. The bounty paid by Capt. Bevan for a single cruise
was from $50 to $100, most probably Continental money.

Before the close of the year 1779, Continental money had
depreciated enormously. Commissioners appointed by the As-
sembly to purchase provisions for the French fleet, in October,
fixed the price of good merchantable wheat at £15 per bushel,
and that of flour at £42 per cwt. The price of salt before the
end of the year was £30 per bushel. The rates of toll for cross-
ing the floating bridge over the Schuylkill, at Market street,
were, for a single person, 2s. 6d. ; for a horse, 5s. ; horse and
chair, 22s. 6d. ; chariot or phaeton and pair, 37s. Qd., &c.

In November, an act was passed by the Assembly for raising
the sum of $2,500,000 monthly, during eight months, in the year

1780, for the supply of the Treasury of the United States, and

1780.]

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

333

the Treasury of this State. In the County of Chester, the taxes
of two and three months were assessed and collected at one time.
The following is the copy of an assessment for two months, on
the townships which now compose Delaware County, including
the whole of Birmingham and Thornbm

T:—

Aston,
Bethel, .
Birmingham,
Chester, .
Chichester, Upper,

" Lower,

Concord,
Darby, Upper,
" Lower,
Edgmont,
Haverford,
Marple, .
Middletown,
Newtown,
Providence, Upper,

" Lower,

Ridley,
Radnor, .
Springfield,
Thornbury,

Aggregate tax for two months, £74,003 6

In connection with one of the taxes levied this year, there was
a small money tax laid on the several townships, to be paid in
coin. This tax bears no regular proportion to the tax in con-
tinental paper laid upon the same townships, and no regularity is
observed in the amounts laid upon different townships. The
principle upon which it was laid is not understood.

Many of the assessors and collectors appointed refused to
enter upon the duties of their respective offices, notwithstanding
the fine usually imposed was £500. It frequently became neces-
sary to distrain in the collection of these enormous taxes, and
where no goods could be found, the collectors .did not hesitate to
cut and sell timber to the amount of the tax. The minutes of
the Commissioners record a case of oppression, by reason of too
much timber being cut by an unscrupulous collector.

Though the amount of these taxes was vastly greater in ap-
pearance than in reality, still their collection operated very
oppressively upon many, and in some cases led to a resistance
against their forcible collection. In one instance, in Chester

2,110

s.

0

1,484

6

4,123

14

5,600

2

2,489

6

3,386

0

5,837

10

4,943

2

3,395

12

3,500

4

2,910

14

3,393

4

5,221

0

3,792

16

1,922

14

1,769

16

6,458

10

3,698

18

2,503

12

5,459

6

334 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1780.

County, a collector named William Boyd, while discharging his
duties was murdered by John and Robert Smith, probably bro-
thers. Determined to make an example of the perpetrators of
this outrage, the council at once offered a reward of $20,000 for
their apprehension. They were shortly afterwards arrested, had
their trial at Chester on the 26th of June, and being convicted
were sentenced to be hung. It rested with the Council to fix the
day of execution. The matter was brought before that body on
the 30th of June, when the sentence of the Court was ordered to
be carried out on Saturday the first of July, being the next day.
The murder occurred about the 12th of May.

To persons who had been plundered by the enemy and who
had paid their taxes, small amounts were paid upon orders
granted by the Commissioners from time to time. Many of
these orders appear on the books of the Commissioners, but how
the amount payable to each person was estimated, does not
appear.

The Continental money had depreciated so much before the
middle of 1780 that ,£2400 were paid for six head of cattle, and
<£700 for twenty head of sheep.

The year 1780 is memorable in the annals of Pennsylvania
for the passage of the act for the gradual abolition of slavery in
this State. This act, which was passed on the first of March,
provided for the registration of every negro or mulatto slave or
servant for life or till the age of thirty-one years, before the
first of November following, and also provided " that no man or
woman of any nation or color, except the Negroes or Mulattoes
who shall be registered as aforesaid, shall at any time hereafter
be deemed, adjudged or holden within the territories of this Com-
monwealth, as slaves or servants for life, but as free men and
free women." The servants of members of Congress, foreign
ministers, and persons passing through or sojourning not longer
than six months were also made an exception.

The registry for the County of Chester, in pursuance of
the provisions of this act, was carefully made, and is now
kept in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions
at West Chester. The name, age and time of service of each
negro or mulatto, and also the name of the owner and township
in which he or she. resided are given. The following list, made
out from this registry, shows the number of slaves registered in
the several townships now constituting Delaware County :

1780.]

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

335

Aston,

Bethel,

Birmingham,

Chester,

Chichester (Upper),

Chichester (Lower),

Concord,

Darby (Upper),

Darby,

Edgmont,

Haverford, .

Marple,

Middletown,

Newtown,

Providence (Upper),

Providence (Lower),

Ridley,

Radnor,

Springfield, .

Thornbury, .

Tinicum,

Slaves

For a term

for life.

of years.

13

1

0

0

0

0

16

1

0

0

12

1

7

0

2

0

2

0

5

0

24

2

2

0

7

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

34

3

0

0

10

5

3

0

8

2

146

16

In the remaining townships of Chester County there were
registered 316 negro and mulatto slaves for life and nine for a
term of years.1

It must not be supposed that no greater number of slaves for
life than 146 had been owned in Delaware County. The Qua-
kers a short time before, had liberated all their slaves, and some
other persons, not members of that Society, had followed their
example. But few slaves advanced in years were registered,
and it cannot be supposed that masters would register such as
they intended to emancipate. Of the 162 registered, 100
were minors.

The records of some of the meetings of the Society of Friends
are imperfect in respect to the number of slaves manumitted ;
but judging from such records as came under his notice and
from other facts within his knowledge, the author has arrived at
the conclusion that the number of slaves held within the limits
now comprising Delaware County, at the breaking out of the
Revolution, was not less than 300.

1 A farmer in East Nottingham registered " an Indian Girl named Sarah, aged 24
years, a slave for life," and also an Indian servant man till he arrived at the age of
31 years.

336 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1780.

The county records do not appear to have been returned to
Chester for some time after the enemy left these parts. On the
30th of June the Commissioners of Chester County granted an
order on the Treasurer to pay Thomas Taylor, Esq., £135 " for
hauling the records belonging to the Register's and Recorder's
office, from Westown to John Jacobs, thence to Joseph Parker's
Esq, and from thence to Westown again."

The rapid diminution in value of the Continental money is
elucidated by the two following orders granted by the County
Commissioners :

Sept. 3d, 1779. " Ordered that the Treasurer pay to Joshua
Vaughan Gaoler £1663 3s. 2d. for the repairs of the Gaol and
court house, maintaining State prisoners &c."

Nov. 18th, 1780. " Ordered the Treasurer to pay Joshua
Vaughan £3127, it being in lieu of a pay order granted Sept.
3rd 1779 for £1663 3s."

Notwithstanding the great extent of Chester County, its seat
of justice had continuously remained, since the establishment of
Penn's government in 1681, at the town of Chester, on its south-
eastern border. An effort' was now made to secure its removal
to a more central situation, and the fact that this effort was
made during the continuance of the war, and before the people
had recovered from the depredations committed by the enemy,
is conclusive evidence that those of the remote parts of the
county were keenly alive to the injustice they suffered from the
location of their seat of justice.

This early removal effort resulted in the passage of an Act of
Assembly " to enable William Clingan, Thomas Bull, John
Kinkead, Roger Kirk, John Sellers, John Wilson and Joseph
Davis, to build a new court-house and prison in the County of
Chester, and to sell the old court-house in the borough of Ches-
ter." These gentlemen, or any four of them, were authorized
by the terms of the act to purchase a piece of land, " situate in
some convenient place of the county," and to build or cause to
be built a court-house and prison thereon. The act contains no
restriction in regard to the location of the new seat of justice,
beyond a strong expression in the preamble against the inconve-
nience of its present location ; nor was any time specified within
which the Commissioners should purchase and build.

A majority of these gentlemen were probably opposed to a
removal of the county seat, and did not enter upon their duties
with much energy. They, however, took the first step in the
business, by purchasing a lot of land in the township of East
Cain for the accommodation of the buildings. The Commis-
sioners had a wide discretion, which they may have abused, or
they may have been discouraged from proceeding further by

1781.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 337

objections urged against the site they had selected. Certain it
is, that this site was not the favorite one of some of the most
active removalists. From some cause the matter was delayed
till the year 1784. When that period in our narrative is reached
the subject will be resumed.

As the township of Tinicum has become an institution in our
Commonwealth of some note, about election times, it may not be
amiss to explain the manner in which the island acquired an
independent municipal existence.

On the last Tuesday of May, 1780, a petition was presented
to the Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions, at Chester,
signed by " the inhabitants, owners and occupiers of land in the
Island of Tinicum," setting forth : " That the inhabitants of the
Island aforesaid, as a part of the township of Ridley, have here-
tofore paid a great part of the tax for the support of the roads
in said township, and also maintained and supported the roads
on the Island at their own cost and charge, without the least
assistance from the other part of the township : And whereas
the dams on said Island made for the purpose of preventing the
tides from overflowing the meadows belonging to your petitioners,
were in the year 1777 cut and destroyed with a view of retard-
ing the progress of the enemy at that time invading this State,
wThereby the roads on said Island were greatly damaged, to the
very great prejudice of your petitioners, and as it is not in our
power to derive any assistance from the inhabitants of the other
part of the township, we conceive it to be a hardship to be
obliged to support their roads."

The petitioners, twenty-three in number, then go on to request
the Court " to divide the Island of Tinicum from the township
of Ridley, and make a distinct township of it," with power to
choose officers, raise taxes, &c, &c.

The petition was laid over till the August Court, when, on the
31st of that month, the new township was "allowed." Since
that time the people of the Island have exercised all the privi-
leges belonging to the inhabitants of an independent township,
except the election of constable, the number of resident eligible
freeholders being too few to fill that office regularly, without
compelling the same person to serve the office more than once in
fifteen years.

On the first of February, 1781, Council fixed the rate of Con-
tinental money at $75 for one dollar of specie; and on the 15th
of May ordered that, after the 1st of June following, nothing but
specie or its equivalent paper should be received for taxes. This
brought about a great change in public affairs throughout the
country. Taxes that had been assessed in thousands of pounds,
22

338 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1782.

now scarcely reached hundreds;1 but the people, though appa-
rently relieved from heavy impositions, found even greater
difficulty in meeting the demands of the tax collector than be-
fore, so great was the scarcity of the precious metals.

The money orders of Council now generally directed payment
to be made in specie, or in paper issued by the State, provision for
the redemption of which had been made. Province Island, which
belonged to the State up to this period, was divided into lots and
sold, the proceeds of the sale being appropriated for the redemp-
tion in part of this paper.

But little property was confiscated within the limits of Dela-
ware County. The largest portion was on Tinicum and Hog
Islands, the property of Joseph Galloway, who was never a resi-
dent of the county.

On the 8th of April, 1782, near the entrance of the Delaware
bay, the remarkable action took place between the Pennsylvania
ship Hyder Ali, commanded by Captain Barney, mounting six-
teen six-pounders, and carrying one hundred and ten men, and
the British ship General Monk, mounting twenty nine-pounders,
and carrying one hundred and thirty-six men. The Hyder Ali
had sailed down the Delaware as a convoy to several merchant
vessels. Upon approaching the Capes, Capt. Barney discovered
a frigate and other vessels of the enemy inside of the Capes,
whereupon he signalled the merchantmen to return. In order
to prevent a successful pursuit by the enemy's ships, he deter-
mined to occupy their attention for a time. The frigate not
being able to reach the position of the Hyder Ali, she was im-
mediately engaged by the General Monk, at close quarters.
Capt. Barney, by a ruse de guerre, in giving an order in a loud
voice, so as to be heard by the enemy, but which, by a private
understanding with the helmsman, was to be construed differ-
ently, acquired for his ship a raking position, which soon gave
him the victory. Another ruse was necessary to avoid pursuit
by the frigate. The British flag was again run up on the Monk,
while that of the Hyder Ali was struck, giving the appearance
of a British victory, while both vessels followed, as if in hot
pursuit of the defenceless merchantmen. Capt. Barney did not
know the extent of his victory till he was out of reach of danger,
when he ascertained that the loss of the enemy was twenty killed
and thirty-three wounded ; the first lieutenant, purser, surgeon,
boatswain, and gunner being among the former, and Capt. Jack-
son, the commander, among the latter. In his trip up the Dela-
ware he captured a refugee schooner called the "Hook 'em
Snivey."

1 In 1780-81, two poor-taxes in Chester township amounted to £4,156 16s. Conti-
nental money, while the next tax was £55 19s. 3d. in " good money." — Township Book.

1783.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 339

Capt. Barney left his own ship at Chester, and proceeded in
his prize to Philadelphia with the wounded and prisoners, Capt.
Jackson being placed in the family of a Quaker lady, who nursed
him like a sister until he had recovered from his wounds.1

On the 15th of April, 1783, a cessation of hostilities was
proclaimed by the Council, but a definite treaty of peace was
not concluded till the 30th of November.

Up to the commencement of the Revolutionary War, the So-
ciety of Friends had maintained a controlling influence over
public affairs in Pennsylvania. In the controversy with the
British Government, which preceded the breaking out of hostili-
ties, many members of the Society warmly espoused the Ame-
rican side of the question. An armed resistance against the
tyrannical measures of the mother country had but few advocates
in the beginning, and the idea of an independent government had
scarcely gained an ascendency among the people of Pennsylvania,
when the Declaration was made. The Society of Friends hav-
ing ever maintained a testimony against war and bloodshed, it
was not to be supposed that its members would advocate a policy,
(then a doubtful one,) certain to produce this result.

When it became necessary to resort to "carnal weapons," the
Quakers, who had before been active, withdrew from the contro-
versy, and a very large majority of the Society assumed and
maintained a position of passive neutrality throughout the war.
Still there was a considerable number who openly advocated a
resort to arms. Even within the limits of this little County, one
hundred and ten young men were disowned by the Society for
having entered the military service in defence of their country.2
Doubtless the Society furnished its proportion of Tories, but the
number was greatly exaggerated at the time by those unacquaint-
ed with Quakerism. Such persons construed their testimonies
against war, and their dealings with members who participated in
it, as indirectly favoring the enemy. Their refusal to pay taxes
exclusively levied for war purposes, was especially viewed in this
light.

It has not been discovered that more than two Quakers resid-
ing within the limits of Delaware County joined the British
army. This small number, contrasted with the large number
who entered the American service, may serve to indicate gene-
rally the direction of the latent sympathy of the members of the
Society who remained faithful to their ancient testimonies. Be-
sides those who entered the military service, there were many
members of the Society who openly lent their aid to the Ame-
rican cause.

1 Life of Com. Barney, as quoted in Haz. Reg. x. 132.

2 Records of the several monthly meetings.

340 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1784.

The minutes of the meetings in this County, throughout the
whole course of the war, abundantly show that, as a Society,
the Quakers were perfectly passive. If they dealt with and
excommunicated those of their members who engaged in mili-
tary affairs, they were equally strict and impartial in the treat-
ment of other offences against their discipline. Those members
who continued to hold slaves received an unusual share of atten-
tion during the war, and such as did not promptly emancipate
them were disowned. The use or sale of intoxicating drinks,
the distillation of grain, being concerned in lotteries, and indeed
almost every species of vice, received a greater share of atten-
tion during the war than at any former period.

Even Gen. Washington at one time harbored the unjust sus-
picion that plans " of the most pernicious tendency were settled"
at the general meetings of the Quakers; and while the British
occupied Philadelphia, issued orders to prevent the country
members from attending their yearly meeting, on that ground.
These orders required their horses, if fit for service, to be taken
from them ; but Gen. Lacey, to whom the orders were issued, in
his turn gave orders to his horsemen " to fire into those who
refused to stop when hailed, and leave their dead bodies lying in
the road."1 In a military point of view it may have been very
proper to prevent all intercourse with Philadelphia at the time,
but the idea that the Quakers would originate any treasonable
plot at their yearly meeting was utterly groundless.

After lying dormant for four years, the removal question was
again revived by the passage of a Supplement to the original
Act. By this Act the names of John Hannum, Isaac Taylor, and
John Jacobs, were substituted in place of the original Commis-
sioners, and they were endowed with the same authority, except
that they had no power to erect the new Court-house and prison
" at a greater distance than one mile and a half from the Turk's
Head tavern, in the township of Goshen, and to the west or
south-west of said Turk's Head tavern, and on or near the
straight line from the ferry, called the Corporation Ferry, on
the Schuylkill, to the village of Strasburg." This restricting
clause is said to have been introduced at the instance of Mr.
Hannum, the first named Commissioner, who was then a member
of the Legislature, under the belief that the restriction would
include his lands on the Brandywine ; and as these lands were
near the "straight line" from the ferry to Strasburg, they
would present a strong claim to be selected as the site of the
new county town. Actual measurement excluded Col. Han-
num's land from competition, and the Commissioners, who were
all active removalists, at once contracted for a tract of land near
the Turk's Head tavern, and commenced the buildings.

1 Principles and Acts of the Revolution, 334.

1785.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 341

" But the walls were scarcely erected, when the winter set in,
and suspended the operations of the workmen, and before the sea-
son permitted them to re-commence building, the law authorizing
the Commissioners to build was repealed. This new Act of the
Legislature, procured, as is thought, by the influence of some of
the members from the southern section of the county, was passed
on the 30th of March 1785. The people generally in the neigh-
borhood of Chester, had been violently opposed from the begin-
ning to the projected removal, and a number now resolved to
demolish the walls already erected. Accordingly a company
assembled, armed and accoutred, and having procured a field-
piece, appointed Major Harper commander, and proceeded to
accomplish their design. A few days before this expedition left
Chester, notice of its object was communicated by some of the
leaders to the neighborhood of the Turk's Head, and prepara-
tions were immediately made for its reception. In this busi-
ness Col. Hannum was particularly active. He directly re-
quested Col. Isaac Taylor and Mr. Marshall to bring in what
men they could collect, and began himself to procure arms and
prepare cartridges. Grog and rations were freely distributed,
and a pretty respectable force was soon upon the ground. The
windows of the court-house were boarded upon each side, and
the space between filled with stones; loop-holes being left for
the musquetry. Each man had his station assigned him ; Mar-
shall and Taylor commanded in the upper story — Underwood
and Patton below, while Col. Hannum had the direction of the
whole. All things were arranged for a stout resistance.

" The non-removalists having passed the night at the Green
Tree, made their appearance near the Turk's Head early in the
morning, and took their ground about 200 yards south-east of
the Quaker meeting house. Here they planted their cannon and
made preparations for the attack. They seemed, however, when
every thing was ready, still reluctant to proceed to extremities ;
and having remained several hours in a hostile position, an ac-
commodation was effected between the parties, by the interven-
tion of some pacific people, who used their endeavors to prevent
the effusion of blood. To the non-removalists was conceded the
liberty of inspecting the defences that had been prepared by
their opponents, on condition that they should do them no in-
jury ; and they on their part agreed to abandon their design,
and to return peaceably to their homes. The cannon which had
been pointed against the walls was turned in another direction,
and fired in celebration of the treaty. Col. Hannum then
directed his men to leave the court-house, and having formed in
a line a short distance on the right, to ground their arms and
wait till the other party should have finished their visit to the

342 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1786.

building. Here an act of indiscretion had nearly brought on a
renewal of hostilities. For one of Major Harper's men having
entered the fort, struck down the flag which their opponents had
raised upon the walls. Highly incensed at this treatment of their
standard, the removalists snatched up their arms, and were with
difficulty prevented from firing upon the Major and his com-
panions. Some exertion, however, on the part of the leaders,
allayed the irritation of the men, and the parties at length
separated amicably without loss of life or limb."

The foregoing account of this almost-a-battle, is extracted
from the History of Chester County, by Joseph J. Lewis, Esq.,
published in the Village Record, in the year 1824. It has come
to the author traditionally, that the attack of the Chester people
was instigated by the removalists proceeding with the buildings
after the passage of the Suspension Act, and that a promise to
desist from the work was a prominent article in the treaty of
peace — a promise that was only kept while the attacking party
remained in sight and hearing. The attempt by the non-removal
party to batter down the unfinished buildings, was a high-handed
outrage which rendered those engaged in it amenable to the laws.
The fact that they were allowed to escape with impunity is rather
corroborative of the idea that the attack was not altogether un-
provoked, and renders it probable that the cause for it assigned
by tradition is the true one.

The Suspension Act had probably been procured by misrepre-
sentation, or in some underhand manner. The representation
" that a general dissatisfaction and uneasiness did prevail and
subsist among the greater part of the good people of the County
of Chester" with the intended removal of the seat of justice
"from Chester to the Turks Head in Goshen township," as con-
tained in the preamble to that act, was doubtless untrue. At
all events, at the next session of the Legislature, the removalists
were enabled to show "that a great part of the good people of
said County were much dissatisfied with the courts of justice re-
maining at the borough of Chester, and readily obtained an act
to repeal the suspending act. The title of this act, which was
passed on the 18th of March, 1786, is remarkable for its phrase-
ology. It commences thus : " An act to repeal an act, entitled
An act to suspend an act of General Assembly of this Common-
wealth, entitled A supplement to an act entitled An act to en-
able William Clingan, Thomas Bull, &c." By this act the vexed
question was finally settled, though its. passage was not effected
without the most spirited and bitter opposition. It may not be
amiss to let the good people of West Chester know in what estima-
tion the site of their town was then held by the non-removalists.
In one of the missiles addressed to the Legislature, it is de-

1789.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 343

scribed as " that elegant and notorious place vulgarly called the
Turk's Head, (by some called West-Chester) a place as unfit
for the general convenience, and much more so, than any one
spot that might be pointed out within 10 miles square of the above
described place — (except towards the New Castle line)."1

The removalists became jubilant over their long delayed vic-
tory, and gave vent to their feelings in sundry songs and ditties,
couched in language not the most tender towards the vanquished
party. One of these, entitled "Chester's Mother,'" has been
preserved in the Directory of West Chester for 1857.

On the 25th of September, 1786, an act was passed "to em-
power the Sheriff" of the County of Chester to remove the pri-
soners from the old gaol, in the town of Chester, to the new
gaol in Goshen township, in said county, and to indemnify him
for the same."

The first removal act authorized the sale of the old Court-
house and jail at Chester upon the completion of the new build-
ings at the Turk's Head, but this sale was not consummated till
the 18th of March, 1788, when William Kerlin became the pur-
chaser of the property.

The first Court held in the new Court-house commenced on the
28th of November, 1786, before William Clingan, William Has-
let, John Bartholomew, Philip Scot, Isaac Taylor John Ralston,
Joseph Luckey, Thomas Cheyney, Thomas Levis, and Richard
Hill Morris as Justices.

In 1783 an agreement was entered into between Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, in respect to the jurisdiction of the river De-
laware and its islands. In 1786 an act was passed distributing
the islands assigned to Pennsylvania among the several counties
bordering on the river. Up to this time the jurisdiction over
Hog Island was doubtful, but it had been exercised by Philadel-
phia County. By this act, that Island was permanently annex-
ed to Chester County, and attached to Tinicum township.

The people of the borough of Chester and vicinity, who had
been deaf to the complaints of the inhabitants of the remote
parts of the County, on account of their distance from the seat
of justice, and who had for years strenuously opposed granting
them any relief, were not slow to learn from experience that
those complaints had not been wholly groundless, though their
distance from the new seat of justice did not compare with the
distance of most of the removalists from the old one. The peo-
ple of the southeastern section of the County had been favored
in fixing upon the Turk's Head as the site of the new seat of
justice, for several other parts of the County were still much
more remote from that place. " The inhabitants of the borough

1 MS. in possession of the Del. Co. Institute, in the handwriting of Davis Bevan.

344 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1789.

of Chester and the south-eastern parts of the County," however,
became restive under their new relation to the seat of justice,
and by their petitions, " set forth to the General Assembly that
they labored under many and great inconveniences, from the seat
of justice being removed to a great distance from them," and
prayed that they might be relieved from the said inconveniences,
" by erecting the said borough and south-eastern parts of said
county into a separate county."

Unfortunately for the pecuniary interests of a large majority of
the inhabitants of the part of the County mentioned, the Assem-
bly regarded their petition as "just and reasonable," and by an
act passed on the 26th of September, 1789, authorized a division
of the County of Chester, and the erection of a part thereof
"into a new County." The first section of this act provides
that all that part of Chester County lying within the bounds and
limits thereinafter mentioned, shall be erected into a separate
County : " Beginning in the middle of Brandywine river, where
the same crosses the circular line of New Castle County, thence
up the middle of the said river to the line dividing the lands of
Elizabeth Chads and Caleb Brinton, at or near the ford com-
monly called or known by the name of Chad's ford, and from
thence, on a line as nearly strait as may be, so as not to split or
divide plantations, to the great road leading from Goshen to
Chester, where the Westown line intersects or crosses said road,
and from thence along the lines of Edgemont, Newtown and Rad-
nor, so as to include those townships, to the line of Montgomery
County, and along the same and the Philadelphia County line
to the river Delaware, and down the same to the circular line
aforesaid, and along the same to the place of beginning, to be
henceforth known and called by the name of Delaware County."

By this act the townships of Birmingham and Thornbury were
divided ; but provision was made, that the parts falling in each
county should each constitute an independent township, and
each new township should retain the name of the original town-
ship from which it was taken.

The petitioners for the new county, to make things sure, had
contracted in advance with Mr. Kerlin, the owner of the old
court-house and prison, for the purchase thereof, " at a price far
beneath what such buildings could be erected for, which they
were willing and desirous should be conveyed for the use of the
[new] county, on repayment of the sum agreed upon." Henry
Hale Graham, Richard Reiley, Josiah Lewis, Edward Jones, and
Benjamin Brannin, or any three of them, were constituted trustees
by the act, to take assurances and conveyances of the property,
"for the use of the inhabitants." A conveyance of the old
building with the appurtenant grounds was accordingly executed

1789.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 345

on the 3d of November following, when at the same time a de-
claration of trust was executed by the gentlemen above named.
The price paid by the County for the property was <£693 3s. 8^.
By the same act, John Sellers, Thomas Tucker and Charles
Dil worth, or any two of them, were appointed Commissioners,
" to run and mark the line dividing the counties of Chester and
Delaware," in the manner before mentioned. A draft in posses-
sion of the author, doubtless prepared from the surveys made by
the Commissioners, presents several interesting facts which it
may not be amiss to notice.

A straight line was run from the starting point on the Brandy-
wine to the intersection of the Goshen road by the Western line,
which is six miles three quarters and fifty-four perches in length ;
whereas the crooked line, between the same points, passing along
the boundaries of the farms, cut by the straight line, and now
forming the division line between the two counties, has a length
of eleven miles one quarter and nineteen perches. On a line
perpendicular to the above mentioned straight line, the court-
house at West Chester is only three miles three quarters and
fifty-eight perches distant. The bearing of this perpendicular
line is N. 46° W.

It is charged, in a note on the draft, that a member of the
Legislature, while the act for a division of the County was under
consideration, asserted that no part of the straight line run by
the Commissioners " would come nearer West Chester than six
miles."

The court-house at West Chester lies nearly due north from
the commencement of the division line on the Brandywine, and
is a little over five miles distant from that point; whereas it was
alleged at the session of the Legislature at which the act was
passed, that the distance was nine miles.

From the intersection of the Goshen road and the county line
to West Chester, the distance in a direct line is four miles three
quarters and sixty perches nearly, and the course N. 85° W.
The shortest distance from the street road to West Chester is
935 perches.

It also appears from the draft that another division line had
been proposed. This commenced at the mouth of Davis's or
Harvey's run on the Brandywine, and ran so as to include the
whole of Thornbury township in Chester County.

The average gain to the whole people of the new county, in
the way of convenience in reaching their seat of justice, did not
exceed four miles; and when it is considered that the whole
population of the new county at that time (1790) was only 9,483,
and many of the land-holders really poor, in consequence of the
war and the exhausting system of agriculture that had been

346 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1791.

pursued, it is truly wonderful that our ancestors ever consented
to this division, which necessarily subjected them to all the in-
creased municipal burdens incident to a small county.

The first election for the County of Delaware was held at the
usual time in October, 1789, when Nicholas Fairlamb was duly
elected Sheriff, and Jonathan Vernon, Coroner. On the 12th of
October, John Pearson, Thomas Levis, Richard Hill Morris, and
George Pearce, were duly commissioned, by the President and
Council, Justices of the Court of Common Pleas of the same
county. The appointment of a President of the Court was de-
layed till the 7th of November, when the position was una-
nimously conferred upon Henry Hale Graham. It was soon
discovered, however, that the appointment of Mr. Graham was
illegal, as he did not then hold a commission of Justice of the
Peace; whereupon, the President and Council "revoked and
made null and void" the commission they had granted to him,
commissioned him a Justice of the Peace, and then appointed
him President of the several Courts of the new county.

The first Court for the County of Delaware was held February
9th, 1790. No Orphans' Court business appears to have been
transacted till March 2d, following.

On the 2d of September, 1790, a new constitution was adopted
for Pennsylvania. John Sellers and Nathaniel Newlin repre-
sented Delaware County in the Convention, by which that most
important document was framed. Under this constitution, Jus-
tices of the Peace ceased to sit as Judges of the Courts. The
courts were about this time organized as they now are, with a
President and two Associate Judges.

On the 9th of April, 1792, an act was passed to incorporate
the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Road Company. The
wTork of making the road was immediately commenced, but was
not completed till 1794. It cost $465,000, or about $7,516 per
mile. This important road passes only about four miles through
Delaware County. It was the first turnpike road constructed in
America.1

The making of this turnpike seems to have inspired the people
along the Brandywine with the idea that an easier and cheaper
mode of transportation for their produce, and for that brought
along the road, to tide water, would be found in a canal and lock na-
vigation by that stream. Accordingly an act was passed in 1793,
concurrent with one passed by the Legislature of Delaware, author-

1 When the books were opened for subscription to the stock of this turnpike, so great
was the anxiety of the people to obtain stock, that the Commissioners were obliged to
close the doors and windows against the crowd that pressed upon them. The appli-
cants were obliged to have recourse to lots to determine who should subscribe first. —
Hist. Cheater Co.

1794.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 347

.izing a Company to be incorporated, with authority to make this
improvement. The navigation was to extend up each branch of
the Brandywine to the point where it is intersected by the Lan-
caster turnpike road. It is believed that no part of this improve-
ment was ever made.

For some years past the different meetings of the Society of
Friends have had the subject of schools for the more careful and
guarded education of their youth, under very serious considera-
tion. From the extreme difficulty of finding suitable teachers,
the progress made in the establishment of these schools was
at first slow, but up to this period several had been estab-
lished on a proper basis. Each monthly meeting had a com-
mittee specially appointed on the subject, who from time to time
reported upon the condition of the schools under their charge.
As early as 1788, Concord Meeting had three schools, and not-
withstanding the difficulty of the times, the committee express
the belief that there were no Friends' children amongst them
" but what received a sufficiency of learning to fit them in a good
degree for the business they are designed for." Three schools
had also been established within the limits of Chester Monthly
Meeting — one at Darby, one at Haverford, and one at Radnor.
These schools, though established for the benefit of Friends'
children, were open to those of every denomination, and being
the best then established, were generally well patronized by
them. By the constant care bestowed upon these schools, they
were greatly improved in after years, so that at the time of the
establishment of our general system of education by common
schools, several of them were in such excellent condition that
it was reasonably doubted whether any benefit would result
from the change.

The proper education of the colored population also claimed
a share of the attention of the Society. Many had been re-
cently set free, and their helpless condition presented a very
strong claim upon those who had been foremost in the work of
emancipation. —

In early times the general election for the whole county of
Chester, was held at the Court-house in Chester. Before the
Revolution, Chester County was divided into three election dis-
tricts, called Chester, Chatham, and Red Lion — the places at
which the election was held. Chester district embraced nearly
the same territory that is now included in Delaware County.
After the division, the people of the whole county continued to
vote at Chester till 1794, when an Act was passed dividing the
County of Delaware into four election districts. This Act con-
stituted the townships of Concord, Birmingham, Thornbury,
Aston, Bethel, and Upper Chichester, the second election dis-

348 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1795.

trict — the election to be held at the house of Joshua Vernon,
in Concord; the townships of Newtown, Edgmont, Upper Provi-
dence, Marple, and Radnor, the third election district — the
election to be held at the house then occupied by William Beau-
mont, in Newtown; and the townships of Darby, Upper Darby,
Haverford, Springfield, and Tinicum, the fourth election dis-
trict— the election to be held at the house then occupied by
Samuel Smith, in Darby. The people of the remaining town-
ships still held their election at Chester, and those townships
composed the first district.

It was during the year 1794 that the general government
was under the necessity of organizing a military force to quell
a rebellion in the western part of Pennsylvania, known as the
"Whiskey Insurrection." This county furnished one company,
which was commanded by Capt. William Graham.1

The class of laborers known as redemptioners, and who con-
sisted of Dutch and Irish immigrants, who were sold for a term of
years to pay their passage, were much employed about this time.
So much were these servants in demand at one period, that
persons engaged in the traffic as a business, who would buy
a lot on shipboard, and take them among the farmers for retail.
But some of these dealers, who were usually denominated " soul
drivers" would go themselves to Europe, collect a drove,
bring them to this country, and retail them here on the best
terms they could procure — thus avoiding the intervention of the
wholesale dealer. One of this class of drivers, named McCulloch,
transacted business in Chester County about the time of the
division. A story is told of him being tricked by one of his
redemptioners in this wise : " The fellow, by a little manage-
ment, contrived to be the last of the flock that remained unsold,
and traveled about with his owner without companions. One
night they lodged at a tavern, and in the morning, the young
fellow, who was an Irishman, rose early and sold his master to
the landlord, pocketed the money, and marched off. Previously,
however, to his going, he used the precaution to tell the pur-
chaser, that his servant, although tolerably clever in other re-
spects, was rather saucy and a little given to lying — that he had
even presumption enough at times to endeavor to pass for master,
and that he might possibly represent himself so to him. By
the time mine host was undeceived, the son of Erin had gained
such a start as rendered pursuit hopeless."2

In the winter of 1795, a great ice freshet occurred in the
streams of this County, doing considerable damage. The creeks
were raised to a greater height than at any previous flood within
the recollection of the oldest inhabitants ; and yet this freshet

1 Directory of Chester. 2 Hist. Chester County.

1803.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 349

was one foot less in height than the ice freshet of 1839, and
eight feet three inches below the great flood of 1843, as accu-
rately measured at Sharpless' Mills, on Ridley Creek.

The use of intoxicating drinks, and consequently drunken-
ness, was probably increased by the Revolution. Certain it is,
that the Quakers, the moral reformers of the age, about that
period, set about the discouragement of the manufacture, sale,
or use of these drinks by their members, in a spirit of earnest-
ness not before exhibited. For a long time their success was
only partial. A belief prevailed that severe labor, particularly
that of harvest, could not be performed without the use of
stimulating drinks, but even at this early day, "many Friends
had declined using thereof in harvest." That practice was not,
however, generally laid aside, and was continued for many years
afterwards ; yet members of the Society refrained from the dis-
tillation or sale of spirituous liquors.

In 1797, subscriptions for the establishment of a boarding-
school, to be under the care of the yearly meeting, were circu-
lated among the several monthly meetings of this County, by
committees appointed for that purpose. Liberal subscriptions
were made ; and the result of the undertaking was the purchase
of a tract of 600 acres of land in Westown township, Chester
County, and the erection of a building 55 by 110 feet, four
stories high, including the basement, at a cost of $22,500. The
first pupils were admitted in the 5th month, 1799. The main
building was subsequently enlarged, and many other improve-
ments have been made to the premises since that time. Westown
school is not within the limits of our County, but many of our
people of both sexes have been educated there. Since the
division of the Society of Friends, the school has been exclu-
sively under the management of that branch of it termed
Orthodox.

The burden of supporting the bridges over our numerous
streams, and particularly those on the Southern Post-road be-
came too great for our small County to bear. As a means of
relief, an act of Assembly was procured in 1799, authorizing
the Commissioners to erect toll-gates on that road, and to col-
lect toll from persons traveling thereon. The rates of toll au-
thorized for passing over the road were, for a stage-coach or
pleasure carriage with four wheels and four horses, twenty-five
cents; the same with two horses, fifteen cents, and with two
wheels, ten cents. Carriages of burden were charged about
one-half these rates. The act expired by its own limitation at
the end of five years.

On the 8th of May, 1803, our good people had a rather un-
welcome visitant, so late in the season, in the shape of a snow

350 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1812.

storm. The snow covered the ground, though the greater part
of it melted as it fell. On the next morning still water was
frozen into ice a quarter of an inch in thickness, and the ditches
and ponds of water in many places were frozen over.

On the 13th of February, 1804, an act was passed " to pro-
vide for the erection of a house for the Employment and Sup-
port of the Poor in the County of Delaware." This act pro-
vided for the election by the people of seven persons to fix upon
a site for the County house. The gentlemen chosen selected
the property adjoining the present town of Media, upon which
the old Poor-house now stands. The selection made was gener-
ally regarded at the time as injudicious, on account of the ex-
hausted condition of the land that was chosen ; but the location
of the new seat of justice adjoining the property, made it a very
profitable investment for the County. The original farm con-
sisting of 137 acres, was purchased for less than $33 per
acre ; subsequently an additional small tract was bought for
about $100 per acre. The chief part of this property was sold
in two tracts — 46 acres at $250 per acre and 112 acres at
$341.50 per acre.

Up to the time of the completion of the new Poor-house, the
poor were supported in the several townships by boarding them
in private families under the charge of two overseers of the poor
for each township. This office was abolished as soon as the poor
were removed to the newly erected building.

From 1804, till the breaking out of the war between the
United States and Great Britain, nothing worthy of particular
notice occurred. Owing to the European war that raged during
this period, the commerce of our country was benefited, and
there was an increased demand for its agricultural products.
Our County fully shared these advantages, and the result was
an effort on the part of our farmers to improve their lands and
thereby to increase their products. These lands, in many
places, had become exhausted by a system of bad farming that
is generally adopted in new countries, and it was not then un-
common to see large tracts abandoned for agricultural purposes,
and left unenclosed. These exhausted tracts generally received
the appellation of " old fields." The use of gypsum and lime
as manures now began to be introduced, the former, at first, work-
ing almost miracles, by the increased productiveness it imparted
to the soil. It was soon discovered, however, that its effect
was greatly diminished by repeated applications, and as a con-
sequence it became less used ; while lime, though slow in devel-
oping its benefits, soon became the general favorite with our
farmers, and deservedly so, for it cannot be denied that it was
owing to its extensive and continued application, combined with

1814.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 351

a better system of farming, that much of the land of this County
has been brought from an exhausted condition to its present
state of fertility and productiveness.

The declaration of war by our government in 1812 against
Great Britain, created no greater alarm in our community than
was common over the whole country. It was not till the sum-
mer of 1814 that apprehensions of immediate danger were
seriously entertained. The appearance of the British fleet in
the Chesapeake aroused the Philadelphians to the adoption of
measures for the defence of their city. The approaches by
land were to be defended by a series of earthworks which were
hastily erected. The most distant of these defences from the
city was located in this County between Crum and Ridley
creeks, so as to command the Southern Post-road.

The danger of Chester was still greater than Philadelphia,
and the means of defence much less, although an extensive
earthwork had been thrown up immediately below Marcus Hook,
and mounted with cannon, so as to command the river. As a
measure of precaution the public Records of the County of
Delaware were kept packed up, ready for removal to a place of
greater security in the interior.

In October, an encampment of several thousand militia was
established on the high grounds immediately back of Marcus
Hook. The men composing it were drafted from the south-
eastern part of Pennsylvania. Of these Delaware County fur-
nished two full companies of 100 men upon two separate drafts,
the second of which was regarded as illegal. The first company
was convened at the " Three jTmws," now the Lamb tavern, in
Springfield, on the 14th of October, and marched to Chester
that day. Its officers were, Capt. William Morgan, 1st Lieut.
Aaron Johnson, 2d Lieut. Charles Carr, and Ensign, Samuel
Hayes. This company remained at Chester two weeks waiting
for their camp equipage, before repairing to the encampment at
Marcus Hook. During this time the men occupied meeting-
houses and other public buildings.

The second company arrived at camp about two weeks later.
It was commanded by Capt. John Hall, Lieutanant
and Ensign Robert Dunn. John L. Pearson of Ridley held
the office of Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment to which the
above two companies belonged.

The danger of an invasion of the State by way of the Dela
ware or Chesapeake having passed away, the encampment was
broken up early in December. The two Delaware County com-
panies with others were marched to Darby, where, for two
weeks, they occupied the Methodist and Friends' meeting-houses,
the bark-house, school-house, &c, after which they were marched
to Philadelphia and discharged the day before Christmas.

352 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1814.

Besides the two companies of militia mentioned, Delaware
County furnished two companies of volunteers. One of these,
called The Delaware County Fencibles, numbering 87 men, includ-
ing officers, was commanded by Capt. James Serrill; First Lieut.,
Geo. G. Leiper ; Second Lieut., James Serrill, Jr., and Ensign,
Geo. Serrill. This company was fully equipped on the 21st
of September, and marched on the 23d. On the 26th the tents
of the company were pitched at Camp Marcus Hook, where it
remained one month. At the expiration of this time the com-
pany marched to Camp Dupont, and thence on the 16th of No-
vember to Camp Cadwalader ; both of these latter camps being
in the State of Delaware. On the 29th of November they
marched by the way of New Castle towards Philadelphia, where
the company arrived on the 2d of December, and was dismissed
on the 6th of that month.

The other company was called The Mifflin Guards, and was
commanded by Dr. Samuel Anderson as Captain ; First Lieut.,
Frederic Shull ; Second Lieut., David A. Marshall, and Ensign,
Wm. Biggart. This company, which did not muster so many
men as the Fencibles, was in service about the same length of
time. It was stationed part of the time at Camp Dupont, and
another part near Kennet. Both of these companies were well
officered, and were composed of men able and willing to db their
duty. Like the militia, they were called into service to defend
the approaches to Philadelphia against the threatened invasion
of the enemy ; but fortunately the presence of the troops station-
ed on the Delaware was sufficient for the purpose, and no actual
hostilities ensued.

The Bank of Delaware County was incorporated in the year
1814. The act authorizing its incorporation was passed in oppo-
sition to the veto of Simon Snyder, then Governor of the Com-
monwealth. A large number of banks was created by this act,
but many of them soon failed, and but few of them have
been more generally successful than the Bank of Delaware
County. This bank, however, met with one serious re-
verse, in having more than one-half of its capital abstracted.
It was never discovered who committed the robbery, nor was
the exact time or times when it was committed ever ascer-
tained.

During the war, and for a short time afterwards, the people of
this section of our country were in a prosperous condition. The
families of the farmers of our County manufactured their own
clothing to a considerable extent. There were, and had been for
a long time, fulling mills throughout the County, that aided in
these domestic operations, and machine cards had been intro-
duced. The difficulties thrown in the way of trade, even before

1817.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 353

the commencement of hostilities, caused an advance in the price
of foreign dry goods, that induced our people to turn their at-
tention to a more rapid production of textile fabrics than that
which had heretofore prevailed. As early as 1810, an English
family, named Bottomly, converted an old saw-mill that stood on
a small stream in Concord (with a small addition) into a woolen
manufactory, to the astonishment of the whole neighborhood.
Dennis Kelly, with the assistance of a Mr. Wiest, erected a
small stone factory on Cobb's creek, in Haverford, about the
commencement of the war. This establishment was patronized
by the government, and with the energetic management of Mr.
Kelly, turned out goods to the fullest extent of its capacity.
Other mills were soon erected and put into operation, but still,
during the war, dry goods of all kinds continued to command a
high price.

But the almost free introduction of foreign goods, some time
after the close of the war, was a severe blow to these hastily
gotten up establishments, and caused the suspension of some of
them. Still it was in these small beginnings that the manufac-
turing business of Delaware County had its origin.

Farmers, in consequence, lost their home market, and there
was no foreign demand for the productions of their farms. With
the fall in the price of agricultural products, that of land also
declined. During the war, land came to be regarded as the only
safe investment, and purchases were made at almost fabulous
prices. Many of the purchasers, under such circumstances,
were now obliged to sell at a ruinous sacrifice. In this County
the number of such sales was, however, strikingly less than in
the adjacent counties.

This depressed condition of business did not last long, but the
improvement was gradual, and as a consequence people could
only advance their pecuniary interests by the slow but certain
means of industry and frugality.

In the year 1817, Edward Hunter, Esq., a highly respectable
citizen of Newtown township, was deliberately murdered by John
H. Craig, by lying in wait in the daytime and shooting him.
Esquire Hunter had witnessed a will that Craig was anxious to
have set aside, and being an ignorant man, he believed that by
putting the witnesses to it out of the way, his object would be
accomplished. He had watched more than once for an opportu-
nity to shoot Isaac Cochrane, the other witness to the will, but
failed to accomplish his purpose. Mr. Hunter was shot while
taking his horse to the stable, and although the fiendish act was
committed in the most cool and deliberate manner, Craig's pre-
sence of mind at once forsook him, for he left his gun where it
was readily found, which at once indicated him as the murderer.
23

354 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1820.

He was subsequently arrested in the northern part of the State,
where he was engaged in chopping wood, being identified by a
fellow wood-chopper from the description in the advertisement,
offering a reward for his apprehension. He was tried and con-
victed in the following April at Chester, and soon after exe-
cuted.

On the 8th of November, 1819, the first newspaper published
in Delaware County was issued from the office of Butler & Wor-
thington, at Chester. This paper, which made a very neat ap-
pearance, was called the "Post Boy." Its dimensions were
seventeen by twenty-one inches.

Dissatisfaction had for some time existed among the people
of the upper part of the County on account of the seat of jus-
tice being situated on its southern margin. The people of the
township of Radnor, residing much nearer to Norristown, the
seat of justice of Montgomery County, than to Chester, peti-
tioned for the annexation of their township to that County.
The fact that the taxes of Montgomery were lower than
those of Delaware, is also said to have had an influence in pro-
mpting this movement. Be this as it may, the prospect of losing
one of the best townships in the County was a matter of serious
alarm, when its small dimensions were taken into consideration.
The discontented in the other remote townships seeing that the
loss of Radnor would weaken their strongest ground of com-
plaint, determined to test the question of a removal of the seat
of justice of the County to a more central situation. Accord-
ingly a general meeting of the inhabitants of the County, "both
friendly and unfriendly" to the proposed removal, was con-
vened on the 8th of June, 1820. The meeting was unusually
large and very respectable, and after the subject of removal had
been discussed very fully and rather freely, a vote was taken
which resulted in favor of the removalists. Removal now be-
came the leading topic of discussion throughout the County.
All party distinctions became merged in it, and the most ultra
politicians of opposite parties united cordially on a removal or
anti-removal platform. Meetings were held and nominations
were made accordingly. The ballot-box showed the anti-remo-
valists in the majority. George G. Leiper, of Ridley, and Abner
Lewis, of Radnor, both anti-removalists, were elected to the
Assembly. The anti-removalists, by the nomination of Mr.
Lewis, had secured nearly the whole vote of Radnor — under the
belief that the election of the anti-removal ticket afforded them
the only chance of being annexed to Montgomery County. The
test was not regarded by the removalists as satisfactory, and
they petitioned the Legislature for redress, but certainly with
but small hopes of success. In their memorial, which is very

1824.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 855

long, they set forth the fact of the effort of Radnor to be at-
tached to Montgomery County ; the dilapidated condition of the
jail ; the insalubrity of the air at Chester to persons from the
upper parts of the County ; the danger of the records from at-
tack by an enemy ; the badness of the water, &c. " And finally,"
they say, " to satisfy the Legislature that nothing is asked for
by the petitioners which would throw any unreasonable expense
on the County, assurances are given by one of the inhabitants —
perfectly responsible and competent to the undertaking — that
he will give an obligation to any one authorized to receive it,
conditioned to erect the public buildings upon any reasonable
and approved plan, for the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, to be
paid in seven years by instalments — if the convenience of the
County should require credit — and to take the present buildings
and lot at Chester at a fair valuation as part pay."

This petition was drawn up by Robert Frazer, Esq., then a
prominent lawyer, residing in the upper part of the County, and
was signed by 912 citizens.. The number who signed the remon-
strance is not known, but as a matter of course with both repre-
sentatives opposed to removal, no legislation favorable to that
measure was obtained, and it is only wonderful that the remo-
valists should press the matter under such circumstances. What
is remarkable, the people of Radnor appeared to relax their
efforts to obtain legislation to authorize the township to be an-
nexed to Montgomery County.

At the next election, John Lewis and William Cheyney, both
removalists, were elected members of the Assembly, but from
some cause they failed in obtaining the much-desired law
authorizing the seat of justice to be removed to a more central
situation. The question after this effort, appears to have been
allowed to slumber for a time. It was, however, occasionally
discussed, and the removalists maintained a strict vigilance to
prevent any extensive repairs being made to the public buildings
at Chester.

In February, 1822, a remarkably high freshet occurred in all
the streams of Delaware County, chiefly caused by the rapid
melting of a deep snow. The mill-ponds were covered with a
thick ice at the time, which was broken up and occasioned con-
siderable damage in addition to that caused by the great height
of the water in the creeks.

In 1824 one of the most brutal murders on record was com-
mitted at the residence of Mary Warner, in Upper Darby, upon
a young married man named William Bonsall. The family con-
sisted of Mrs. Warner, Bonsall and his wife. Three men entered
the house late at night with the object of committing a burglary,
and although Bonsall was sick and made no resistance, one of

356 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1826.

them wantonly stabbed him in the abdomen with a shoemaker's
knife, which caused his immediate death. Besides committing
the murder the party plundered the house. Three men were
arrested and tried for the homicide ; Michael Monroe, alias James
Wellington, was convicted of murder in the first degree and ex-
ecuted ; Washington Labbe was convicted of murder in the se-
cond degree, and Abraham Buys was acquitted.

After the close of the war with Great Britain, manufacturing
establishments, of various kinds, rapidly sprung up over the
County. It became an object of interest to ascertain the extent
of these improvements, and also to obtain more particular infor-
mation in respect to unimproved water-power. For this purpose
George G. Leiper, John Willcox and William Martin, Esqs.,
were appointed a committee, who employed Benjamin Pearson,
Esq., to travel over the County and obtain the necessary statis-
tics. From the facts reported by Mr. Pearson, the committee
make the following summary:

Thirty-eight flour mills, sixteen of which grind 203,600 bushels
of grain per annum.

Fifty-three saw mills, sixteen of which cut 1,717,000 feet of
lumber per annum.

Five rolling and slitting mills, which roll 700 tons of sheet
iron per annum, value, $105,000 ; employ thirty hands, wages,
$7,200.

Fourteen woolen factories, employ 228 hands.

Twelve cotton factories, manufacture 704,380 lbs. of yarn per
annum, value, $232,445 ; employ 415 hands, wages, $5.51,380.

Eleven paper mills, manufacture 31,296 reams of paper per
annum, value, $114,712 ; employ 215 hands, wages, $29,120.

Two powder mills, manufacture 11,900 quarter casks per
annum, value, $47,600 ; employ forty hands, wages, $12,000.

One nail factory, manufactures 150 tons of nails per annum,
value, $20,000 ; employ eight hands, wages, $2,400.

Four tilt, blade and edge-tool manufactories, two of which
manufacture, per annum, 2000 axes, 200 cleavers, 1,200 dozen
shovels, 200 doz. scythes and 500 drawing knives.

One power-loom mill, weaves 30,000 yards per week, $3,000 ;
employs 120 hands, wages, per week, $500 ; 200 looms.

Two oil mills, make 7000 galls, linseed oil per annum, value,
$7,000.

One machine factory, five snuff mills, two plaster or gypsum
mills, three clover mills, three bark mills, and one mill for saw-
ing stone — making, in the aggregate, 158 improved mill seats,
and forty-two unimproved on the principal streams. Total mill
seats 200.

These returns, though in several branches of small account

1833.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 357

in comparison with the extensive establishments of the present
day, were certainly creditable at that early period, when steam
had been but little employed in propelling machinery, and when
it is considered that the whole extent of the County is only about
170 square miles.

In 1827 the dissensions, that had for some time existed in the
Society of Friends, culminated in an open rupture. The history
of this unfortunate feud properly belongs to the history of the
Society throughout the United States. The animosities that
were engendered among those who, in former times, had lived on
terms of the most friendly, and even social intercourse, existed
here, as in other places, and were productive of the like conse-
quences. The author has witnessed with pleasure, within the
past few years, a softening down of those animosities, and indeed
of every feeling of unkindness in each party towards the other.
He would, therefore, regard himself as doing an unpardonable
mischief in reviving the facts and circumstances that unhappily
gave rise to them.

On the 21st of September, 1833, the institution under whose
authority this history was prepared, was organized with the title
of the "Delaware County Institute of Science," by the associa-
tion at first of only five individuals.1 The object of the associa-
tion was to promote the study and diffusion of general knowledge,
and the establishment of a museum. The number of members
gradually increased, and when it became necessary for the insti-
tution to hold real estate, application was made to the Supreme
Court for corporate privileges, which were granted on the 8th
of February, 1836. A Hall of very moderate pretensions was
built in Upper Providence in the year 1837,2 at which the mem-
bers of the Institute have continued to hold their meetings till
the present time. Lectures were also given in the Hall for some
time after its erection. The number of its members was never
large, but through the persevering efforts of a few individuals it
has been enabled to accomplish most, if not all, the objects con-
templated in its establishment. The museum of the Institute
embraces a respectable collection of specimens in every depart-
ment of the natural sciences, and particularly such as are calcu-
lated to illustrate the natural history of the County. It also
embraces many other specimens of great scientific or historical
value. Nor has the establishment of a library been neglected ;
and although the number of books it contains is not large, it is
seldom that the same number of volumes is found together of

1 The persons referred to were George Miller, Minshall Painter, John Miller, George
Smith and John Cassin.

2 The Hall of the Institute was formally opened in September of that year, upon
which occasion an appropriate address was delivered by Dr. Robt. M. Patterson, then
Director of the U. S. Mint.

358 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1836.

equal value. It has not failed to observe and record local phe-
nomena and to investigate local facts ; and the usefulness and
value of the natural productions of the County have, in more
than one instance, been established by laborious scientific inves-
tigations. But for obvious reasons the author will forbear to
give any detailed account of the doings of the institution be-
yond such as it may be necessary to notice incidentally, here-
after, in relating a few historical facts.

Since the establishment of the Delaware County Institute of
Science, many similar institutions have been established in vari-
ous counties throughout the commonwealth. But few of these
are prosperous ; a few maintain a nominal existence, while most
of them have ceased to exist.

While it has ever been the policy of the religious Society of
Friends to have their children well instructed in the more useful
branches of learning, it was not till the year 1833 that an insti-
tution was established by them, specially for the instruction of
their youth in classical and corresponding studies. In that year,
members of the branch of the Society termed Orthodox, founded
Haverford School. The benefits of this institution were at first
confined to the sons of the members of the religious Society men-
tioned, though that Society, as such, had no control in its manage-
ment.

Connected with the school buildings, which are not large, is a
tract of nearly two hundred acres of land. Forty acres of this
land, surrounding the buildings, were appropriated to a lawn,
which for beauty and the variety of its trees and shrubbery, is
scarcely equaled in the country. The balance of the land is
used for farming purposes.

Some years since, all the privileges of a college were conferred on
this institution; and the managers thereof agreeing to receive
as students others than the members of their Society, the sphere
of its usefulness has been greatly increased. Haverford College
now enjoys a high reputation as a literary and scientific institu-
tion, while in respect to the moral training to which the student
is subjected, it is unsurpassed by any college in the country.
, At the commencement of the construction of the Delaware
Breakwater, a large proportion of the stone used for that pur-
pose was taken from the quarries in this County. The superin-
tendent of the work, in the autumn of 1836, arrived at the
conclusion that the Pennsylvania stone was inferior to that from
the quarries in Delaware State, on account of the large propor-
tion of mica it contained. He thought the presence of the mica
rendered the Pennsylvania stone " peculiarly liable to chemical
decomposition," and also to a further decay from the attrition of
the waves. He even stated in his report, " that the experience

1843.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 359

of the work, within the few years it has been in construction,
has shown that the stones have decayed from both these causes."
Large quantities of stone had been quarried, particularly on
Crura and Ridley Creeks, when the Government, on the strength
of the report of its agent, rejected the stone from Delaware
County. Those engaged in the business, who would be subjected
to great loss by the rejection of their stone, brought the matter
to the notice of the County Institute, which promptly appointed
a committee to investigate the subject. The author was chair-
man of that committee, and upon him devolved the task of
making the necessary investigations, and of drawing up the
report. That report was decidedly favorable to the durability
of the Delaware County stone. Its material conclusions were
subsequently confirmed by a board of military engineers, and the
Pennsylvania stone again accepted by the Government.

The year 1838 was remarkable on account of a great drought
that prevailed throughout a large extent of country, embracing
Delaware County. From about the first of July till nearly the
first of October, no rain fell except a few very slight showers.
The earth became parched, and vegetation dried up. All the
later crops failed ; and what added greatly to the injurious effects
of the drought, myriads of grasshoppers made their appearance,
and voraciously devoured nearly every green blade of grass that
had survived to the period of their advent. Even the blades
and ears of Indian corn were greatly injured in many places.
Cattle suffered much for want of pasture, and many persons were
obliged to feed them on hay during the months of August and
September, or upon corn cut from the field.

A great ice freshet occurred in the winter of 1839, which
caused considerable damage ; but as it sinks into utter insignifi-
cance when compared with the great freshet of the 5th of
August, 1843, we will proceed to give an account of the storm
and freshet of that day, which may be regarded as one of the
most extraordinary events that have occurred within the limits
of our County since it was first visited by Europeans. This will
be an easy task, as all the material facts connected with this
unusual phenomenon, and its disastrous consequences, were
carefully collected at the time by a committee of the Delaware
County Institute of Science, of which the author was chairman,
and embodied in an elaborate report, which was published in
pamphlet form. Only the general and most material facts will
be extracted from that report, as the reader who may desire more
particular information on the subject, can have recourse to the
report itself, which is preserved in several libraries.

The morning of the 5th of August, 1843, at early dawn, gave
indications of a rainy day. The wind was in the East or North

360 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1843.

East, and the clouds were observed to have an appearance which
indicated a fall of rain. The sun was barely visible at rising,
and a short time afterwards the whole sky became overclouded.
At about 7 o'clock, A. m., it commenced raining, and continued
to rain moderately, with occasional remissions, but without any
very perfect intermission until noon or later. This was a gene-
ral rain, which extended much beyond the limits of Delaware
County in every direction. This general rain scarcely caused
an appreciable rise in the streams; but it had the effect of fully
saturating the surface of the ground with water to the depth of
some inches, and in this way contributed to increase the flood in
some degree beyond what it would have been, had the subsequent
heavy rain fallen on the parched earth.

No general description of this rain, which caused the great
inundation, will exactly apply to any two neighborhoods, much
less to the whole extent of the County. In the time of its com-
mencement and termination — in the quantity of rain which fell —
in the violence and direction of the wind, there was a remarkable
want of correspondence between different parts of the County.
It may be observed, however, that comparatively little rain fell
along its southern and southeastern borders.

Cobb's Creek, on the eastern margin of the County, and
Brandywine on the west, were not flooded in any extraordinary
degree. This conclusively shows that the greatest violence of
the storm was expended on the district of country which is
drained by Chester, Ridley, Crum, Darby, and the Gulf Creeks,
and one or two tributaries of the Brandywine. This district will
include a part of Chester County, and a very small part of Mont-
gomery ; but including these, the whole extent of country that
was inundated did not exceed in area the territory embraced
within the County of Delaware. The extent of territory that
was inundated was also much greater than that which was sub-
jected to any very extraordinary fall of rain. The amount of
rain which fell on that part of the County which borders on the
river Delaware, and embraces the mouths and lower parts of the
inundated creeks, was not sufficient to produce even an ordinary
rise in the streams, and to this circumstance may in part be
attributed the very unprepared state in which the inhabitants of
this district were found for the mighty flood of waters which was
approaching to overwhelm them. The very rapid rise in the
water in the streams, without apparently any adequate cause,
was also well calculated to increase the alarm in this district
beyond what it would have been, had the quantity of water that
fell there borne a comparison with that which fell in the upper
parts of the County.

As a general rule, the heavy rain occurred later as we proceed

1843.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 361

from the sources of the streams towards their mouths. The quan-
tity of rain which fell will decrease as we proceed in the same
direction, particularly from the middle parts of the County down-
wards.

In those sections of the County where its greatest violence
was expended, the character of the storm more nearly accorded
with that of a tropical hurricane than with anything which ap-
pertained to this region of country. The clouds wore an un-
usually dark and lowering appearance, of which the whole
atmosphere seemed in some degree to partake, and this cir-
cumstance, no doubt, gave that peculiarly vivid appearance to
the incessant flashes of lightning, which was observed by every
one. The peals of thunder were loud and almost continuous.
The clouds appeared to approach from different directions, and
to concentrate at a point not very distant from the zenith of
the beholder. In many places there was but very little wind,
the rain falling in nearly perpendicular streams ; at other places
it blew a stiff breeze, first from the east or northeast, and sud-
denly shifting to the southwest, while at a few points it blew in
sudden gusts with great violence, accompanied with whirlwinds,
which twisted off and prostrated large trees, and swept every-
thing before it.

So varied was the character of the storm at different places,
that the committee of the Institute, in order to present a satis-
factory account of it, was obliged to embody the remarks of the
different observers throughout the County. Brief extracts will
be made from these remarks.

In Concord township the heavy rain commenced at about a
quarter before three o'clock, p.m., the wind being E. S. E., but
it veered so rapidly retrogade to the sun's motion, that the
clouds appeared to verge to a centre over the western section of
Delaware County, from several points of the compass at the
same time — the rain falling in torrents resembling a water
spout. At about a quarter before four o'clock the wind had
nearly boxed the compass, and blew a gale from W. S. W., and
about that hour, a tornado or whirlwind, passed across the
southern part of Concord, about a quarter of a mile in width,
prostrating forest and fruit trees, and scattering the fences in
every direction. In the neighborhood of Concord the rain con-
tinued about three hours, and the quantity that fell in that
vicinity, as nearly as could be ascertained, was about sixteen
inches. It is not probable that a greater quantity of rain fell
in any other part of the County.

In Newtown township the heavy rain commenced about two
o'clock, and terminated about five o'clock, P. M., the wind,
during the rain, being nearly N. W. There was a heavy blow

362 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1843.

of wind, but it was not violent. The quantity of rain that fell
was between eleven and thirteen inches. At Newtown Square,
in forty minutes, immediately before five o'clock, it was ascer-
tained that five inches and a half of rain fell. As observed in
the north part of Radnor, the heavy rain commenced about four
o'clock, p. m., and ceased about six o'clock. At the commence-
ment the wind blew from the S. or S. W. but changed to the
S. E. about four and a half or five o'clock, from which direction
came the heaviest rain.

At Crozerville the storm appeared to have concentrated, and
spent itself with awful violence. The morning had been lower-
ing with occasional showers of rain, the air cool for the season.
After noon the sky was thickly overcast, and clouds floated
slowly in various directions, the wind as noted by a vane, N. E.
After two o'clock, thunder was heard at a distance, which soon
became louder and more frequent. About three o'clock, under
an unusually dark sky, rain commenced falling in torrents, ac-
companied with vivid lightning and almost continuous peals of
thunder. The lightning was more vivid than ever had been
witnessed by the observer in the day-time, nor had he ever before
heard so much loud thunder at one time. The rain terminated
a few minutes before six o'clock. Crozerville lies in a basin
surrounded by steep acclivities. In every direction from these
hills, sheets of water poured down, and mingling with the cur-
rent below, presented, together with the rapid succession of
forked lightning, a scene of awful sublimity.

In the northern part of Middletown the greatest violence of
the storm lasted from three to five o'clock, p.m., the wind blow-
ing from every quarter, but not with great violence.

In the northern part of Nether Providence the heavy rain
commenced between four and five o'clock, and continued till a
quarter past six o'clock. The wind blew from various directions,
and at five o'clock with great violence from the W. N. W. In
the northwest of Springfield township the heavy rain com-
menced between two and three o'clock and continued till five.
There was a strong current of air or whirlwind that passed over
the high grounds near Beatty's mills, that uprooted and broke
off trees. Lower down, on Crum Creek, " there appeared to be
two storms of rain approaching one another, one from the S. E.,
the other from the N. W., which appeared to meet, and it could
not be told for some minutes which would prevail, but eventually
the one from the S. E. carried the sway," the rain being greatly
increased during the struggle. At another point in Springfield
the heaviest rain fell between five and six o'clock, the wind
being variable, and blowing at one time with great violence,
prostrating trees and fences in its course.

1843.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 363

In the middle part of Chester township the heaviest rain was
late in the afternoon ; there being no wind it fell in vertical
streams. On the upper border of this township there was
some wind. In the township of Bethel, not far from the Dela-
ware state line, a hurricane of great violence occurred between
four and five o'clock in the afternoon. The wind blew in oppo-
site directions, as was proven by uprooted trees. Two miles
further north the wind was still more violent, tearing up a large
quantity of heavy timber in a very small space. A valley of
woodland, bounded by high hills, had nearly all its timber pros-
trated, not lengthwise with the valley, but across it, with the
tops of the trees towards the N. E.

In the western part of Upper Darby the rain was very heavy,
but the storm was not so violent as further N. W. The heavy
rain, however, began about three o'clock, while in the more
easterly parts of the same township but three-fourths of an inch
of rain (accurately measured) fell during the day. In the neigh-
borhood of Chester it rained moderately through the day, with
one pretty heavy shower in the evening.

In Birmingham, heavy rains commenced about noon — the
wind east or southeast. The clouds were dark and heavy, the
lightning sharp, and the thunder very heavy, " accompanied
with a rumbling noise in the air." The wind was changeable,
and blew with great violence. The rain ceased about four o'clock.

The most remarkable circumstance connected with the rise in
the waters of the several streams, was its extreme suddenness.
In this particular, the flood in question has but few parallels on
record ; occurring in a temperate climate, and being the result
of rain alone. The description given by many persons of its
approach in the lower district of the County, forcibly reminds one
of the accounts he has read of the advance of the tides in the Bay
of Fundy, and other places where they attain a great height.
Some spoke of the water as coming down in a breast of several
feet at a time ; others described it as approaching in waves ;
but all agree, that at one period of the flood, there was an
almost instantaneous rise in the water of from five to eight
feet. The time at which this extreme rapidity in the rise of
the water occurred, was (in most places) after the streams had
become so much swollen as to nearly or quite fill their ordinary
channels. The quantity of water required to produce such a
phenomenon, was therefore immensely greater, as the valleys
of the streams in most places have a transverse section of several
hundred feet. The breaking of mill-dams, and the yielding of
bridges, and other obstructions, contributed in a degree to pro-
duce such an extraordinary swell, but we must mainly look for
the cause of this sudden rush of waters to the violence of the

364 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1843.

rain — if the term rain will apply to the torrents of water that
fell in the northern and western sections of the County.

Cobb's Creek, on the eastern margin of the County, was not
swollen much beyond an ordinary flood, although 5.82 inches of
rain fell during the day at Haverford College within the drain-
age of that stream.

Darby Creek, in a narrow valley above Heys' factory, at-
tained a height of 17 feet; the greatest height of Crum Creek
was about 20 feet, and that of Ridley Creek 21 feet. At Dut-
ton's mill, Chester Creek rose to the height of 33 feet 6
inches.

To notice all the interesting details that are given in the re-
port on the flood, from which the foregoing extracts have been
taken, would occupy too much space in this volume. The sub-
ject will be concluded by presenting a summary of the damages
sustained by the freshet within the limits of the County, both
public and private, together with a brief notice of the casualties
that resulted in the loss of life, and the narrow escapes from
imminent peril.

Thirty-two of the county bridges were either wholly destroyed
or seriously injured. The following estimate of the damage
sustained by the bridges on the several streams, was carefully
made by competent persons : —

On Darby Creek,
" Ithan "
" Crum "
" Ridley "
" Chester "

$3,370

475

6,875

5,400

8,600

$24,700

Many of the townships also sustained heavy losses in the de-
struction of small bridges and culverts.

The damage to private property will be given in the aggre-
gate, only specifying the amount on each creek : —

On Darby Creek and tributaries, . . $20,000

On Crum Creek and " ■ . 24,000

On Ridley Creek and " . . 39,000

On Chester Creek and its branches, . . 104,000

On tributaries of the Brandywine, . . 2,600

Amount of private loss, . . . $190,375

It is also estimated that the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore Railroad Company sustained damage to the amount
of $4,500.

1843.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 365

Nineteen human beings lost their lives by drowning. To
persons who cannot bring their minds to realize the almost
instantaneous rise in the water, this number may appear large,
but it is really almost miraculous, that under the circumstances,
so small a number should have perished. Hair-breadth escapes,
and rescues from perilous situations, were numerous. Had the
inundation occurred at midnight, when most persons are wrapped
in slumber, the destruction of human life would have been
dreadful indeed. Such a calamity can only be contemplated
with feelings of horror.

Seven lives were lost on Darby Creek. When the stone bridge
at Darby yielded to the torrent, two young men — Russell K.
Flounders and Josiah Bunting, jr., were standing upon it. Both
perished. At the cotton factory of D. & C. Kelly, on the Dela-
ware County Turnpike five lives were lost. Michael Nolan and
his family, consisting of his wife, five children and a young
woman named Susan Dowlan, occupied a small frame tenement
immediately below the western wall of the bridge. Before any
immediate danger from the rise of water was apprehended,
Michael and his eldest son had left the house with the view of
making arrangements for the removal of the family. There was no
water about the house when the father and son started, yet upon
their attempt to return, after an absence of five minutes, it was
not in the power of any one to reach the dwelling, much less to
render the inmates any assistance. The wing-walls of the bridge
soon gave way, and shortly after this the house was swept from
its foundations, became a complete wreck, and all the inmates
perished, except Susan Dowlan, who accidentally caught the
branches of a tree, and at length obtained a foothold on a pro-
jecting knot, where she supported herself till the water had suffi-
ciently abated to allow her to be rescued. At Garrett's Factory
three families, numbering sixteen individuals, were, for a long
time, placed in the utmost jeopardy. Their retreat from land
was wholly cut off' by the sudden rise in the water — the houses
they occupied were completely wrecked and large portions of
them carried away, and they had nothing left to afford them the
least security but the tottering remains of the ruins of their
dwellings, which, fortunately, withstood the torrent.

No lives were lost on Cruin Creek.

On Ridley Creek five individuals perished, a father and his
four children. George Hargraves, his wife, four children and a
brother, named William, occupied a central dwelling in a long
stone building at Samuel Bancroft's factory, in Nether Provi-
dence. The family delayed making their escape till it was too
late, but retreated into the second story. The flood soon rushed
through the building and carried away the two middle dwellings,

366 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1843.

and with it George Hargraves, his four older children and brother
William ; his wife, with the youngest child in her arms, being in
a corner of the room where the flooring was not entirely carried
away. William was carried down the current half a mile, where
he fortunately found a place of safety in the branches of a
standing tree. Shortly after, George, with his children, floated
by him on a bed, and, as he passed, cried out, " hold on to it,
William." Scarcely had George given this admonition to his
brother when he and his four children were swept from their
position on the bed and engulfed beneath the turbulent waters
of the flood, not to rise again. After Jane, the wife of George
Hargraves, had sustained herself on a mere niche of projecting
flooring, with her child in her arms, during five hours, she was
rescued. Thomas Wardell Brown, his wife and child, occupied the
other demolished dwelling, but were saved by taking a position
on a portion of flooring corresponding to that on which Jane
Hargraves stood, but of much less dimensions. This was the
only portion of their dwelling not carried aivay.

A short distance above Sherman's upper factory, a double
frame house, occupied by William Tooms and James Rigly and
their families, was floated down the stream and lodged against
the wheel-house of the factory, in a position opposite to a win-
dow of the picker-house. Rigly, after placing his wife and child
in the second story of the picker-house, discovered that Tooms,
(who was sick) his wife and two children were in the garret of
their dwelling, the roof of which was partly under water. He
immediately broke a hole in the roof and rescued the inmates,
one by one, and placed them in the picker-house. In half a
minute after he returned the last time, their late dwelling was
whirled over the wheel-house, dashed to pieces and carried down
the stream.

Edward Lewis, Esq., and his son Edward, were placed in a
situation of great peril. They were in the third story of the
grist-mill when the building began to yield to the flood — their
paper and saw-mill having previously been swept away, and a
current of great depth and velocity was passing between the mill
and their dwelling, across which was their only chance of retreat.
A considerable part of the walls of the mill gave way, and the
roof and timbers fell in confusion around them, but fortunately
enough of the building remained firm till they were rescued by
means of a rope.

On Chester Creek seven human beings were deprived of their
lives by the flood, and many others were placed in situations of
great jeopardy.

Mary Jackson, a colored woman, while assisting her husband
to save floating wood, near Flower's mill, was overtaken by the

1843.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 367

flood and drowned. Near the same place Mr. William G. Flower
was subjected to imminent peril, Mr. F. was on the meadow
when the flood came down in a wave, (represented by spectators
as being from three to four feet high,) and swept him away. He
was carried from his path into an old mill-race, where he suc-
ceeded in reaching a grape vine, and by means of that, a tree.
But the tree was soon uprooted and borne away. After a short
period of extreme peril, during which he was several times over-
whelmed with trees, timber, &c, carried along with frightful
velocity, he succeeded in catching the branches of another tree,
when, almost exhausted, he reached a place of safety.

No lives were lost at Chester, though numbers were placed
in extreme danger by remaining in a dwelling adjoining the
eastern abutment of the bridge — the western abutment and the
bridge having been carried away, and a fearful current passing
between the eastern abutment and the town. Mr. Jonathan
Dutton was placed in a situation of great jeopardy. While en-
deavoring to secure some property in his mill from being damaged
by the flood, he was surprised by the sudden rise in the water to
an alarming height. He retreated from story to story till he
reached the upper one. His situation soon became more awfully
perilous, for the mill began to yield to the force of the torrent.
His position becoming desperate, he leaped from a window of the
mill and with great exertion reached the shore.

John Rhoads, a resident of Pennsgrove, (now Glen Riddle)
with his daughters, Hannah and Jane, and a granddaughter,
were carried away in their dwelling and drowned. Mary Jane
McGuigan, with her only child at her breast, in another dwelling
at the same place, perished in the same manner.

The new stone cotton factory at Knowlton, 76 by 36 feet,
well stored with machinery, was carried away, but fortunately
none of the operatives were in the building. There are many
other interesting facts and circumstances connected with this
unprecedented and disastrous flood, described in the report of
the Committee of the Institute, but our allotted space will not
permit us to notice them.

The County Commissioners stood aghast at the almost uni-
versal damage or destruction of the County bridges, and scarcely
knew where to commence the work of rebuilding and repairs.
The Legislature was applied to for an exemption of the County
from State tax for one year, which application was ungenerously
refused. Loans were resorted to ; and it became a matter of
astonishment in what a short time both public and private da-
mage was repaired, and almost everything restored to its former,
or even to a better condition. The recuperative energies of no
community were ever more severely taxed, and it was only by

368 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1845.

this test that the people of our County became fully acquainted
with the vast extent of their own resources.

We have now arrived at a period in our narrative when the
proceedings commenced which, after a protracted contest, re-
sulted in the removal of the seat of justice of the County from
Chester to a more central location, around which has grown up
the town of Media. The author took an active part in these
proceedings on the side favorable to removal, and on that ac-
count he would gladly have passed over the subject with the
mere notice of the time when the seat of justice was removed.
But it is a matter of too much local importance to be passed
by so slightly. An eifort will therefore be made to narrate the
transactions connected with it free from any improper feeling
or bias.

On the 22d of November, 1845, agreeably to public notice,
a meeting of citizens of the County was held at the Black
Horse tavern in Middletown, " to take into consideration the
propriety of removing the Seat of Justice to a more central po-
sition." After adopting a preamble and resolutions favorable
to a removal of the public buildings to a more central location,
the meeting recommended meetings to be held in each township
on the 5th of December following, " to elect two delegates in
each, to meet on the 6th of December at the Black Horse tavern ;
the delegates appointed to vote for the removal of the Seat of
Justice or otherwise ; also, to decide upon those [the sites] de-
signated by this meeting, which of them shall be adopted." The
following places were named " as suitable locations for the pub-
lic buildings : — County property in Providence ; Black Horse in
Middletown ; Chester ; Rose Tree in Upper Providence, and
Beaumont's Corner, Newtown."

Between the time of holding this meeting and the election of
delegates, the November Court was held, at which the Grand
Jury recommended the erection of a new jail. This was the
second Grand Jury that had made the same recommendation,
and it now rested with the County Commissioners to proceed
with the work, a circumstance that rendered it important that
the question of the location of the new prison should be decided
as early as possible.

In some of the townships no delegates were elected ; and
owing to the very icy state of the roads, many who were elected
did not attend the meeting appointed to be held on the 6th.
Twelve townships were, however, represented as follows :

Birmingham — Dr. Elwood Harvey, J. D. Gilpin.
Chester— J. K. Zeilin, Y. S. Walter.
Upper Chichester — Robert R. Dutton.

1846.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 369

Concord — M. Stamp, E. Yarnall.
Edgmont — E. B. Green, George Baker.
Marple — Abraham Pratt, Dr. J. M. Moore.
Middletoivn — Joseph Edwards, Abram Pennell.
Newtown — Eli Lewis, T. H. Speakman.
N. Providence — R. T. Worrall, P. Worrall.
Upper Providence — E. Bishop, Thos. Reese.
Thornbury — Eli Baker, David Green.
Tinicum — Joseph Weaver, Jr.

After various discussions, a vote was taken on the different
sites that had been proposed, which resulted in giving the
County property 8 votes ; the Black Horse, 6 ; Chester, 6, and
Rose Tree, 2. Eventually, upon further ballotings, the County
property received 12 votes, a majority of the whole. Both re-
movalists and anti-removalists were very imperfectly represented
by the Delegates assembled at this meeting, yet it was their ac-
tion that determined the particular location of the future seat of
justice of the County.

The anti-removalists were present at the meeting to defeat the
question of removal altogether ; but should not have participated
in a vote upon the different sites, if they did not intend to be
bound by the result. Those removalists, who felt that they had
not been represented at the meeting, (and they constituted a
majority of the whole,) were generally opposed to fixing a site
at all, but desired that the vote of the people should be taken,
simply, for and against the removal. From this cause, and with
the view of reconciling all differences, the committee appointed
by the meeting held at the Black Horse, called a third meeting,
to be held at the Hall of the Delaware County Institute of Sci-
ence, on the 30th of the same month. This meeting was very
largely attended. An address to the people of the County was
adopted, and also the form of a petition to the Legislature in
favor of a law giving the'people a right to vote on the question
of removal without fixing a site. This was not acquiesced in
by a considerable number of removalists residing principally in
the northwestern part of the County, and the result was a
schism in the removal party, and the adoption of two forms of
petition to the Legislature.

The County was represented by William Williamson of Chester
County in the Senate, and by John Larkin, Jr., in the House —
both gentlemen being opposed to removal, but both understood
to be favorable to the passage of a law that would afford the
people of the County a fair vote on the question.

The dispute among the removalists in respect to fixing or not
fixing a site in advance, grew warm, and as a majority of them
24

370 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1847.

favored a law that would authorize the vote to be taken on the
broad question of removal, the anti-removalists were led into the
belief that this course was adopted because it was impossible for
their opponents to unite on any one location, and consequently
that they would run no risk in submitting the question of re-
moval to a vote of the people, provided, that it should be taken
between Chester and any one of the sites that had been men-
tioned. Under this erroneous impression their opposition was
directed almost wholly against the party who opposed deciding
upon any site till after the question of removal had been decided,
and they ventured to say in their remonstrance to the Legisla-
ture that they " do not believe it is fair and equal justice to
array the friends of all the locations suggested (six in number)
against the present Seat of Justice, for were any one place se-
lected by the petitioners, we [they~\ are confident that two-thirds
of the votes of the people would be found against it."

Though every reasonable eifort was made to induce our repre-
sentatives to go for a bill authorizing a general vote on the
question, it was soon discovered that they would not favor any
plan that did not fix upon a site in advance. The bill that had
been prepared by the committee of correspondence was called
up by Mr. Larkin, and being opposed by him, it was of course
defeated by a large majority.

The conduct of our representatives was very unsatisfactory to
the removalists, and had the effect of exciting them to greater
efforts for carrying their favorite measure. The removal com-
mittee of correspondence, in a published address to the citizens
of the County favorable to removal, denounced the treatment
their bill had received at the hands of the Legislature, and ex-
horted their friends to a steady and unyielding persistence in
their efforts, until the present untoward circumstances that sur-
rounded the subject should be removed, and the clearest rights
appertaining to citizens of a republican government should
have been yielded to them.

During the autumn of 1846 various efforts were made to
secure the election of a strong removalist to the House of Rep-
resentatives, but these efforts failed, and Sketchley Morton, Esq.,
a lukewarm anti-removalist, was elected, pledged, however, to
advocate the passage of a law that would fairly submit the
question of removal to a vote of the people of the County.

The removalists who had opposed fixing a site for the pro-
posed new seat of justice, finding that under existing circum-
stances no bill could be passed in that shape, gradually yielded
the point, and the result was the passage of the act of 1847,
entitled " An act concerning the removal of the Seat of Justice
of Delaware County." This act provided that at the next

1847.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 371

general election, " those voters in favor of removal shall each
vote a written or printed ticket, labelled on the outside, Seat of
Justice, and containing the words County property in Upper
Providence, and those opposed to removal, shall each vote a
written or printed ticket, labelled on the outside as aforesaid,
and containing the word Chester.'" In case a majority voted
for " Chester," the Commissioners were required to erect a new
jail at the existing seat of justice, while on the other hand, if a
majority voted for the " County property in Upper Providence,"
the Commissioners were required " to definitely fix and deter-
mine on the exact location for new public buildings for the ac-
commodation of the County," not more distant "than one-half
of a mile from the farm attached to the House for the support
and employment of the poor" of Delaware County, and not more
than one-half mile from the state road leading from Philadelphia
to Baltimore.

The question was now fairly at issue, and on terms that the
anti-removalists could not object to, for they had proclaimed in
their remonstrance to the Legislature their conviction, in case
these terms should be adopted, that " two-thirds of the votes of
the people" would be found against the proposed new site.
They had, however, committed a fatal mistake in allowing a site
for the new buildings to be selected so low down in the County,
when it was within their power to have had one higher up and
more distant from Chester selected. It was this that reconciled
the great body of removalists to the proposed site ; for while it
was not regarded by many of them as the most eligible, its se-
lection greatly increased the number of voters who felt that
their convenience would be promoted by a change.

During the summer of 1847 a number of articles appeared in
the public papers on both sides of the question, of various de-
grees of merit. The removalists, through their committee of
correspondence, went systematically to work and thoroughly or-
ganized their party. Perhaps no party in the County had ever
before been organized so well. It can do no harm now to state,
that long before the election, the committee had become so well
acquainted with the sentiments of the people of the County, that
they could count with certainty upon a majority in favor of re-
moval of at least three hundred. Their eiForts towards the close
of the contest were not really for success, but to swell the
majority which they knew they had, as well before, as after the
election was held.

On the 30th of August, the removalists held a public
meeting at the house of Peter Worrall, in Nether Providence.
This meeting, which was very large and enthusiastic, adopted
an address to the citizens of the County, placing the question of

372 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1847.

removal in the most favorable light. Committees of vigilance
were also appointed in the several townships throughout the
County — even in the borough of Chester.

Up to this time the opponents of removal had maintained an
apathy on the subject that could only have arisen from»a con-
fidence in their supposed numerical strength. They now appear
to have become suddenly aroused to the apprehension of a pos-
sibility of some danger. A committee of correspondence, com-
posed of the following named gentlemen, was suddenly, and
perhaps informally, appointed, viz. : John M. Broomall, John P.
Crozer, F. J. Hinkson, G. W. Bartram, Jesse Young, George
G. Leiper, J. P. Eyre, John K. Zeilin, John Larkin, Jr., Edward
Darlington, Samuel Edwards, and George Serrill. This com-
mittee issued an elaborate address to the citizens of the county, re-
viewing the proceedings of the removal meeting, and pointing out
generally the evils that would result from a change in the
location of the seat of justice of the county.

The committee of correspondence, on behalf of the B,e-
movalists, consisted of the following named gentlemen, viz. :
Minshall Painter, David Lyons, Nathan H. Baker, James J.
Lewis, Joseph Edwards, William B. Lindsay, Dr. Joseph Wilson,
James Ogden, John G. Henderson, George G. Baker, Thos. H.
Speakman, Henry Haldeman, Jr., and Dr. George Smith.
Soon after the publication of the anti-removal address, this
commitee published a reply, criticising without much leniency,
every position that had been taken by their opponents. The
anti-removal committee had been particularly unfortunate in
over-estimating the cost of new public buildings, or rather the
difference between the cost of a new jail at Chester, and a
court-house and jail at the new site. The removal committee
happened to be in possession of the exact cost of a large and
well built court-house that had been recently erected at Holi-
daysburg, the facts connected with which were attested by one
of our most respectable citizens. These facts could not be con-
troverted, and consequently the appeal that had been made by
the anti-removal committee to the pockets of the tax-payers of
the County, proved an utter failure, and the affairs of the re-
movalists were placed in a better position than before the con-
troversy between the two committees commenced. A public
meeting was subsequently held by the anti-removalists at the
Black Horse, and an effort made to organize the party, but it
was too late to make any headway against the regularly organ-
ized forces of the removalists.

The election was held on the 12th of October, 1847, and re-
sulted in a majority of 752 votes in favor of removal. The
following table exhibits the vote in the several townships:

1847.]

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

373

Aston,

Bethel,

Birmingham,

Chester,

Upper Chichester,

Lower Chichester,

Concord,

Darby,

Upper Darby,

Edgmont, .

Haverford,

Marple,

Middletown,

Newtown, .

Upper Providence,

Nether Providence,

Radnor,

Ridley,

Springfield,

Thornbury,

Tinicum,

Voted in favor of removal,
Voted against removal,

Majority in favor of removal

For

Against

Removal

Removal

89

129

10

72

62

21

50

319

4

72

12

92

83

70

55

91

168

32

150

0

147

3

124

13

223

17

118

1

129

2

113

30

152

40

19

152

114

10

116

5

2

19

1942

1190

. .

1942

1190

752

When the result of the election became known, the majority
being so large, no one then thought of making even an effort to de-
feat the will of the people thus emphatically expressed. A cer-
tain act, however, had been recently passed by the Legislature,
giving the citizens of each township a right to decide by ballot,
whether spirituous liquors should be sold in their respective
townships. This act had been declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court, and their being some similarity between that
act and the Removal Act, its constitutionality also became
questionable. The Commissioners felt unwilling to proceed with
the erection of the new buildings until the constitutional ques-
tion should be decided, or a confirmatory act should be passed.
The friends of removal at once determined to ask the Legis-
lature to pass a confirmatory act, not dreaming that a propo-
sition so reasonable and just would meet with the least resistance
from any quarter. In this they were mistaken, for their appli-
cation was met by a remonstrance from a large number of anti-

374 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1848.

removalists, and other means were resorted to by a few of them,
to defeat the measure, which it may be proper at this time to
forbear to mention.

The question had been decided, upon the plan that they had
accepted as the proper one, and had the removalists been de-
feated, the erection of a new jail at Chester would have been
acquiesced in by them without a murmur. Under such circum-
stances, the author has never been able to see how the gentle-
men who continued their opposition to removal, after a vote had
been taken on the question, could reconcile their conduct to
the injunction, " as ye would that men should do to you, do ye
also to them likewise."

The Hon. Sketchley Morton still represented the County in
the House of Representatives, and acting in good faith, no diffi-
culty was experienced in the passage of a confirmatory bill in
that body. But in the Senate, it was soon discovered that our
representative, Mr. Williamson, then Speaker of that body, was
hostile to the bill, and that the services of other members of the
Senate from distant parts of the Commonwealth had in some
way been secured to make speeches against it, and to aid in its
defeat. Among these was the late Governor Johnson. The bill
was accordingly defeated in the Senate.

After this unfair and unjust treatment, the removalists at
once resorted to the Supreme Court, to test the constitutionality
of the Removal Act, under which the vote had been taken. Here
they were met by counsel employed by the anti-removalists ;
but before any action had been taken by the Court upon the
main question, certain signs in the political horizon indicated
that it might become a matter of some consequence to certain
politicians, that so large a body of voters as the removalists of
Delaware County should be pacified, after the treatment their
fair and just bill had received in the Senate. A sudden change
appears to have been effected in the views of certain Senators,
on the grave question of the right of the majority to rule, and
information was accordingly conveyed to the leading removalists,
that a confirmatory act could then be passed. One was passed;
but as the anti-removalists had to be consulted, the action of
the Senate of Pennsylvania resulted in the monstrosity that
here follows, which was only concurred in by the House, because
nothing better could be had : —

" An Act relative to the removal of the Seat of Justice in Dela-
ware Count//.

" Section 1. Be it enacted, $c. That the several provisions of
an Act entitled 'An Act concerning the removal of the seat of
justice in Delaware County,' approved March 3d, eighteen hun-

1849.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 375

dred and forty-seven, so far as they authorize the removal of the
seat of justice from the borough of Chester, be, and the same are
hereby confirmed and made of full force and effect, and when
the public buildings referred to in said act shall have been com-
pleted, it shall be the duty of the Court, Sheriff, and other
officers of said county, to do and perform the things mentioned
and required to be done and performed in said act. Provided,
That this act shall not go into effect until a decision shall be
obtained from the Supreme Court on the validity of said act of
March third, eighteen hundred and forty-seven. Provided, how-
ever, that said decision shall be obtained in one year from the
date of the passage of this act.

William F. Packer,
Speaker of the Rouse of Representatives.
William Williamson,

Speaker of the Senate.
Approved the seventh day of April, one thousand eight hun-
dred and forty-eight.

Francis R. Shunk."

The Supreme Court soon closed their sitting in Philadelphia,
and no further effort was made to comply with the ridiculous
provisions of the confirmatory law till the winter term following.
It was now apparent, from the various motions of the counsel of
the anti-removalists, that delay was a main object with his
clients; but eventually, with much perseverance, the question
was argued by the late Joseph G. Clarkson, the counsel of the
removalists, and the opinion of the Court delivered just before
the close of the year specified in the act. This opinion was a
full confirmation of the constitutionality of the Removal Law.

The Commissioners, in pursuance of the Removal Act, very
soon purchased a tract of forty-eight acres of land from Sarah
Briggs, adjoining the County farm attached to the house for the
support and employment of the poor, for the sum of $5760. On
this a town was laid out, and many lots were immediately sold,
realizing a great profit to the County. It was at first intended
to call the town Providence, but in consideration of the great
number of places bearing that name, the name of Media, sug-
gested by Minshall Painter as a proper one, was adopted, and
inserted in the Act of Incorporation. The town was laid out by
Joseph Fox, Esq.

The location of the public buildings increased the value of the
adjacent land. In this increase in value, the adjoining property
belonging to the county, on which the old Alms-house was located,
shared very fully ; so that it soon became evident, that by dis-
posing of this property with the old buildings, (which were not

376 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1850.

well adapted to the purpose for which they had been erected,)
the County could be provided with a better farm in another local-
ity, and with new buildings, very much better calculated for the
accommodation of the paupers. The old property was accord-
ingly disposed of by the Directors of the Poor, at the price that
has been mentioned. In the mean time, the present County farm
in Middletown was purchased, and the present neat and sub-
stantial Alms-house erected.

Prior to the passage of the act authorizing a vote to be taken
on the subject of the removal of the seat of justice, several
routes had been experimentally surveyed through the County,
for a railroad to West Chester. In adopting the present loca-
tion for the road, the site of the new County town doubtless had
a material influence. On the other hand, the completion of the
road, rendering access to Philadelphia easy and cheap, has aided
in the rapid growth and improvement of Media.

Since 1845, up to the breaking out of the present disastrous
civil war, the improvement of the County, and the increase in
the substantial means of its citizens, have been rapid beyond any
former period. During that period, the Delaware County Turn-
pike, the Darby Plank Road, the West Chester Turnpike or
Plank Road, the Darby and Chester Plank Road, and several
less important artificial roads, were constructed ; a large propor-
tion of the money necessary therefor being furnished by citizens
of Delaware County. These improvements became necessary on
account of the improved condition of the farms throughout the
County, and the increase in the number and extent of our manu-
facturing establishments. The completion of the West Chester
Railroad, and the Baltimore Central Road, through the county,
to Oxford, in Chester County, has given a great impulse to
business in the districts of the County through which they pass,
and even now, in this period of our great calamity, the trans-
portation on these roads is highly encouraging, as affording
evidence of the improvement of the northern and western parts
of the County.

It had been the intention of the author to conclude his narra-
tive with a notice of the part that has been taken by citizens of
this County in suppressing the present rebellion ; but he finds it
impossible to obtain sufficient data to enable him to make out
anything like a full and fair account of all that has been done.
He has, therefore, been obliged to abandon the task ; but he
regrets this less, because he was obliged to put the work in press
while the great struggle was still in progress. He will venture
to affirm, however, that in the number of men furnished to the
army of the Union ; in the amount of money provided for the
support of the families of those enlisted and in service; and in

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 377

the quantity of clothing and provisions supplied gratuitously for
the comfort of the soldiers, and particularly for the sick and
wounded, (the latter principally by the ladies), Delaware County
has not been surpassed by any community of the same extent in
any part of the Union.

Our narrative will close with a notice of the several townships,
and other municipal districts into which the County has been
divided.

CHESTER.

The minuteness of the details already given, both in respect
to the borough and township of Chester, leaves but little to be
added. Though the change of the name from Upland to Chester
was uncalled for and in bad taste, it is in one respect appropriate
— this town bears the same character of venerable antiquity to
all other towns in Pennsylvania which the city of Chester bears
to other towns in England. That city occupies the site of an old
Roman military post, and has its name from castra, the Latin
for camp ; a circumstance that probably did not occur to Friend
Pearson when he selected a new name for our venerable town,
" in remembrance of the city from whence he came."

Numerous memorials can be yet pointed out within the borough
and township of Chester. An attempt has been made to pre-
serve the appearance of old St. Paul's Church, by a lithograph
from a rather imperfect daguerreotype, taken while the edifice
was still standing. It was a small building, and originally the
belfry, built of brick, stood some twelve feet from the church
building. This was removed in 1835 and a belfry erected on
the old church.

St. Paul's Church is still in possession of two chalices with
their salvers, one of which was presented by Queen Anne, and
bears the inscription, " Annas Regiuse." It is probable that this
royal present to the church was received by the hands of the
missionaries first sent to Pennsylvania by the " Society for pro-
pagating the Gospel in foreign parts."

The obituary mementoes in the churchyard do not go back to
so early a date as might have been expected. The stone erected
to the memory of Charles and Francis Brooks, bears this inscrip-
tion :

" Here lyeth ye Body of Charles Brooks1

Who Dyed —

Also Francis Brooks who
Dyed August ye 9th 1704 Aged 50."
The next oldest stone is thus dedicated to

"Robert French obt. Sept. the 9th 1713."

1 Charles Brooks was alive in 1684.

378 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

■r

The massive and unique stone that commemorates the death of
James Sandelandes, and his wife Ann, a beautiful engraving of
which forms the frontispiece of the published Record of Upland
Court, was not set up in the churchyard, but in early times
formed the front, of the pew of the Sandelandes' family in the
old church, from whence it was removed to the exterior of
the church many years since, where it was defaced and broken in
two pieces. It is now carefully preserved in the vestibule of the
new St. Paul's Church. The border of the stone is in relief and
bears this inscription :

" Here lies interr-d the Bodie of James Sandelandes
Marchant jn Upland jn Pensilvania who departed This
Mortail Life April the 12 1692 Aged 56 Years. And his
wife Ann Sandelands."

The space inside of the margin is divided into two equal
parts. One of these is occupied with the initials of the deceased,
coat of arms, and an ornamental space for a motto, while the
other bears rather a profusion of the emblems of mortality ; all
elaborately executed in relief. The dividing space' bears the
following words :

"VIVE MEMOR LETHI
HFUGIT HORA."

The tomb of John Morton has a place within the old church-
yard of St. Paul. It is a plain marble obelisk about nine feet
in height. The east side bears the following inscription:

" Dedicated to the memory of John Morton, a member of
the first American Congress from the State of Pennsylvania,
assembled in New York 1765, and of the next Congress assem-
bled in Philadelphia in 1774, and various other public stations,
Born A. D. 1724.
Died April 1777."

On the north side of the obelisk the inscription runs as fol-
lows :

" John Morton being censured by some of his friends for his
boldness in giving the casting vote for the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, his prophetic spirit dictated from his death-bed the
following message to them:

" Tell them they will live to see the hour when they shall
acknowledge it to have been the most glorious service I have ever
rendered to my country.' "

The other sides are occupied with historical events connected
with the Declaration of Independence.

A few years since a number of very ancient buildings stood

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 379

on Front street, and some still remain there and on Filbert street.
The Friends' Meeting-house, which, during several generations,
was known as " the Old Assembly House," was, doubtless, among
the oldest. The time and the manner of its erection has already
been given. It was taken down a few years since, and its site
has since been used as a coal yard. The "Bake House" and
granaries erected by Jasper Yeates, about the year 1700, or
perhaps earlier, stood a little lower down on the creek. There
are still standing in that vicinity several dwellings, and other
buildings, that bear evident marks of great antiquity. Some of
these were doubtless built prior to the year 1700. The Yates,
or Logan House, on Filbert street fronting the Delaware, is said
to have been built that year. It is a substantial two-storied
brick house, and though divested of some of its ancient embel-
lishments, still makes a very comfortable dwelling. The dwell-
ing of the late Commodore Porter was erected by David Lloyd
about the year 1721. It was occupied by him, and after his
death by his widow, many years.

The Court-house, built in 1724, is a very substantial building,
and now serves as a town hall for the borough. Tradition has
handed down to us the following as having happened during the
building of this Court-house, or some other public building at
Chester :

During the progress of the work a young lady was observed
to pass and repass the building daily, dressed in very gay attire.
After this promenade had been continued for some time, one of
the workmen, less mannerly than his associates, upon the appear-
ance of the lady, called out :

" In silk and scarlet walks many a harlot."

The young lady feeling indignant at the insult, promptly re-
plied :

" By line and rule works many a fool."

Until a very recent period, no religious sect had a place of
worship in Chester except the Friends, (who now have two,) and
the Episcopalians. In 1834, the Methodists erected a small
church building, which was much enlarged and improved in 1846.
The Catholic church (St. Michael's) was dedicated in 1843, and
that of the Presbyterians ten years later. The African Metho-
dists also have a small place of worship in Chester.

It has been mentioned that the first newspaper, called the
Post Boy, was published at Chester on the 8th of November,
1819. Joseph M. G. Lescure purchased the Post Boy estab-
lishment, and changed the name of the paper to the Upland
Union in 1825, which was published under that name until 1852.

380 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

In 1827, the Weekly Visitor, a third paper, was started by
William Russell, Jr., and edited by Strange N. Palmer, and af-
terwards by Thomas Eastman, but was discontinued in 1833.
Mr. Y. S. Walter, who had commenced the publication of the
Delaware County Republican at Darby, on the first of August,
1833, removed his establishment to Chester some years after-
wards, where it is still continued. In 1835, the publication of a
sheet called the Delaware County Democrat, was commenced
and continued a year or two. Since that time several other
ephemeral papers have been published.

Up to about the period of the removal of the seat of justice
to Media, the growth of Chester had been remarkably slow.
From that time the improvement of the place has been as re-
markably rapid. The adjacent grounds have been laid out with
streets, and many buildings erected within the past few years.
Public attention has been called to the advantages of the place
for manufacturing purposes, and a large number of manufacto-
ries of different kinds have been erected. Chester now bids fair
to become a manufacturing town of no mean pretensions.

Gas was introduced into Chester in 1856, since which time
the town has been well supplied with that necessary article, but
water has not yet been introduced.

Upland, the neatest manufacturing village in the County, and
perhaps in the State, occupies the site of the ancient Chester
mills. But little remains about, the premises to connect the
place with olden times, except the dwelling occupied by Caleb
Pusey while he had charge of these early erected mills. This
humble mansion of the active partner of the concern occupies a
position upon the present race-bank, not very distant from the
site of the first erected mill. It was built at two different times
— the older part doubtless very soon after the erection of the
first mill. It is now the humblest mansion in the village.

Upland has sprung into existence within a few years past. In
1845, John P. Crozer, Esq., purchased the mill property from the
heirs of Richard Flower, deceased. The place now contains
three large cotton factories, with unusually neat and comfortable
dwellings for all the operatives, and the necessary mechanics ;
the elegant mansions of the proprietor, his two sons and others ;
a neat and elegant Baptist church, and a well finished public
school-house.

Upland Normal Institute, erected by Mr. Crozer in 1857, is
located on an eminence south of the village of Upland. The
building is very commodious, and was erected at a cost of $45,000.
The objects of the Institution, as set forth by its founder, " are
to furnish at a reduced cost, a comprehensive, thorough, and
practical education, for business, teaching, college, and any lite-
rary and professional pursuit."

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 381

The Indian name of the place now occupied by Chester was
Mecoponacka, that of Chester creek, Mecopanaekan.

CHICHESTER.

Both townships bearing this name will be considered together,
as they both constituted but one municipal district for many
years after the establishment of Penn's government. In 1722,
the terms Upper and Lower Chichester were in use, but they
were then assessed together as one township. In 1735, they
were assessed separately.

The original township was named after Chichester, an ancient
city in the county of Sussex, England. That city was formerly
called Cissancester, that is, the city of Cissa, because it was built
by Cissa, the king of the South Saxons.1 On the 20th of April,
1682, at the request of the inhabitants of Marcus Hook, Gover-
nor Markham granted them authority to change the name of
their town to Chichester. This is the first appearance of the
name in our records. On the 27th of the 4th mo., (June) 1683,
William Hewes was appointed constable for " Chichester liberty "
which probably meant the township of Chichester, as it had been
laid out by Charles Ashcom.

" Marcus Hook is doubtless a corruption of Maarte-hook, the
name of an Indian chief who probably resided at that place."2
It at first was corrupted to Marreties Hoeck, and then to its
present name, which the authority of two Governors has failed
permanently to change to " Chichester." The author has
in his possession the copy of a draft of "Chichester Town,"
made by Jacob Taylor, Surveyor-General. It is without date,
but must have been executed in the very early part of the past
century — probably in 1701, the time when a grant of privileges
from Penn was made to the town. (See Appendix, Note E.)
In this early draft are laid down Broad street, Market place,
Discord lane ; about a dozen dwellings, mostly fronting the river,
and the names of a number of the lot owners.

Some of the dwellings at Marcus Hook bear the same vene-
rable appearance as the oldest in Chester, and are doubtless co-
temporary in age. Some late writers confine Finland of the
Swedish government to a space between Marcus Hook and Ches-
ter, but this space is too limited for the Finnish settlements.
They doubtless extended into New Castle County.3

The growth of Marcus Hook has been exceedingly slow.
Since the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad

1 Phillips' New World of Words, (1671;.

2 Ferris' Early Settlements on the Delaware, 135. Hudde's Report, 439. Mr.
Armstrong regards Marettie and llarcus as distinct titles, neither being a corruption
of the other. See his Note, Upland Court Rec. 135.

» See Hudde's Report, 429.

382 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

was constructed, a village has sprung up near that road, and
some improvements have been made in the old part of the town.
During the fishing season large quantities of shad and herring
are sold here as well as at Chester.

The first establishment of St. Martin's Church at Marcus
Hook has already been noticed. It did not bear the name of
St. Martin's till 1760, when that name was suggested in inci-
dental commemoration of Walter Martin, the donor of the lot
upon which it stands. In 1745 the first erected frame church
was replaced by a brick edifice, which in its turn, after under-
going various modifications, was replaced by the present credit-
able building in 1846. In this church-yard is the tomb of
Elizabeth Smith, who was born in 1699 and died in 1802, aged
103 years. She saw parts of three centuries.

Besides the Episcopal church there is a neat Baptist church
constituted in 1789, and a Methodist church located at Marcus
Hook, and two Friends' meeting-houses in Upper Chichester.

BETHEL.

Bethel is the smallest of the original townships, and is yet
the smallest township in the County except Tinicum. The
name of the township, for anything that is known to the con-
trary, was imported directly from Palestine. The word is said
to signify "House of God," Beth being the name of the second
Hebrew letter, which is made after the fashion of a Hebrew
house.1 Bethel Haynlet had an existence at a very early date,
and was probably composed of the first rudely constructed
dwellings of the early immigrants, who built them near together
for safety.

In 1683 a constable was appointed for " Concord liberty."
This included Bethel, which is first named as a township that
year. The two townships constituted one municipal district for
several years, and it is difficult to ascertain the precise time
when Bethel was organized separately. There are two churches
in Bethel, both belonging to the Methodists. •

CONCORD.

This township was originally laid out in a rectangular form,
and the author has not learned when or for what reason the
irregular portion to the S. W. was appended. The name pro-
bably had its origin in the harmonious feelings of some of the
first settlers.

The land for a Friends' meeting at Concord and a grave-yard
was conveyed, or rather leased to trustees -by John Mendenhall

1 Philip's New World of Words.

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 383

in 1697, they paying "one pepper corn yearly forever." A
meeting-house was erected that year or the next. This meet-
ing-house was destroyed by fire about the year 1787. In the
apartments in which the congregation assembled for worship
there was no place for fire ; but before meeting assembled in
cold weather, those who desired to make themselves comfortable,
resorted to fires made in open fire-places in each end of the
attic. From one of these the building took fire. The present
large meeting-house supplies the place of the one destroyed, and
since the division of the Society a second has been erected on
the same lot.

Though an Episcopal organization had existed in Concord
from the commencement of the eighteenth century, it was not
till 1727 that effective measures were adopted for the erection
of a place of worship. From a draft found among the papers of
Isaac Taylor, County Surveyor, it would appear that a church
lot, containing one acre, was surveyed in 1724, but from an
entry in the vestry book it may be inferred that no purchase
was made till 1727, when, probably, a temporary church edifice
was erected. A "brick end" was built to the church in the
year 1773, partly out of the proceeds of a lottery. The present
church edifice of St. John's was erected in 1833.

In 1729 a tract of land was purchased by Thomas Willcox
from Thomas Jones, on which Ivy Mills now stand. It is pro-
bable that the first paper mill was erected that year, or very
shortly afterwards. In 1739 Thomas Willcox released one-half
his interest in a small piece of the land purchased from Jones,
upon which the mill had been erected, to one Thomas Brown',
and took that gentleman into partnership with him in the busi-
ness of making and selling paper— Brown to furnish one-half of
the capital and to be at one-half of the expense, but to receive
only two-fifths of the profits. Thomas Willcox received a larger
share of the profits on account of his knowledge of the business,
but he covenants to " use the utmost of his endeavours to teach
and instruct the said Thomas Brown in the trade or mystery of
a Paper Maker." Shortly afterwards, Thomas Willcox pur-
chased out the interest of Brown, since which the business of
paper making has been continued by his descendants, of the
name of Willcox, to the present time. The business is now
mainly conducted at Glen Mills, only a few hands being now
employed at the old Ivy Mills, where paper is still exclusively
made by hand. The paper used in this work was made at the
Wen Mills, and was furnished by the present firm of James M.
Willcox & Co.— the map paper being the product of the old Ivy
Mills— the second place at which paper'was manufactured in
Pennsylvania, the first mill being that of the Rittenhouses near
Grermantown.

384 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Coneordville, at which the Friends' meeting-house is situated,
is a beautifully located village. A building designed for a board-
ing-school was erected at that place the present year.

DARBY.

Both Darby and Upper Darby constituted but one township
up to 1786, though separated previously to that time for many
purposes. Under Penn's government, the settlement of Darby
commenced in 1682, and progressed for a time more rapidly
than any other settlement in the County. It is first recognized
as a municipal district in 1683, when Thomas Worth was ap-
pointed constable by the Court. The ancient district of Calcon
Hook was annexed to Darby in 1686. It then contained six
settlements, viz., those of Morton Mortonson, Peter Peterson,
Hance Urin, Swan Boone, Hance Boon, and Matthias Natsilas.

Perhaps the opinion is universal, that our ancestors, who came
from the county of Derby, in England, corrupted the spelling of
the name of their former place of residence when they, in kind
remembrance, adopted it for their home in America. The cor-
ruption, if it be one, was effected in England before our ances-
tors migrated to America. In the "New World of Words,"
published in 1671, Darby and Darbyshire are given, but not
Derby nor Derbyshire ; and in the certificates brought over by
early Friends, it is almost uniformly spelled with a instead of e.
The author of the work referred to, makes the name of the
English town a contraction of the word Derwentby, "because it
standeth on the river Derwent." This would make the proper
spelling of the name Derby ; but it is clear that our ancestors
brought the name with them as it was generally written when
they migrated to America, and so it has remained, notwithstand-
ing some fastidious persons have made efforts from time to time
to change it.

Some specimens of legislation by the early town meetings of
Darby have been given. The following is another specimen : —

" Agreed at a town meeting 1697, that all plantations, ye
lands not Joyning upon the road, that four of the Neighbours
shall be chosen to lay out a convenient way as they shall see
meet to the next convenient road, and being so done, shall stand
firm and not be blocked up with trees or plantations.
" Signed on behalf of the
" Town by

" Tho. Worth."

And again, in 1715, the town meeting, after having directed
a tax of a half penny in the pound to be levied on the township,
enacted the following humane ordinance : —

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

385

" That travellers having nothing to defray their charges at the
public Inn, shall be allowed ten pence a night (if they are first
allowed by the overseers of the poor.)"

In 1747, the township was divided by the authority of a town-
ship meeting for every purpose except the support of the poor.
The dividing line of this temporary division was farther south,
(at least in part,) than that which now separates the two town-
ships. A permanent division of the township was agreed upon
at a township meeting in 1786, and the line recommended by
the meeting was confirmed by the court as the dividing line be-
tween the two townships ; the part north of the line taking the
name of Upper Darby.

There are now in the possession of John Andrews, of Darby,
the grave-stones of Edmund Cartlidge, the early Quaker im-
migrant. That portion of the head-stone intended to stand
above ground is represented in the annexed cut. It will be re-
membered how pertinaciously
Friends, for many years, in-
sisted upon the removal of all
grave-stones. Many were put
out of sight by being buried,
and those under notice were
only recently disinterred in
digging a grave in Friends'
buWal-ground at Darby. The
elaborate carving on this me-
mento shows that Friends had
run into a little extravagance
in the erection of monuments
to their dead, to restrain
which there was a real neces-
sity of some action on the
part of the Society. If, however, the only object of Friends
was to restrain extravagance in this matter, it is really difficult
to see the propriety of the action of the meetings that resulted
in the exclusion of every mark set up to indicate the graves of
their departed members.

The mills at Darby were erected about the year 1695 or 1696.
In a deed executed in 1697, they are mentioned as "three
water grist mills and fulling mill." It is not known that a full-
ing mill of an earlier date had been established in Pennsylvania.

For some time after the flour mill at Darby was first estab-
lished, the boulting was not done in the mill, but some distance
from it, and probably on the opposite side of the creek. It ap-
pears to have been a separate business, and was carried on by
parties not concerned in the mill.
25

386 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Till within a few years past, the town of Darby presented but
few features of recent improvements. The construction of a
plank road, and subsequently a passenger railroad connecting it
with the city, has infused new life into the venerable hamlet,
and has surrounded it with many superb country residences of
wealthy Philadelphians. Still a few old dwellings remain in the
low part of the town, that would probably date back nearly a
century and a half.

Sharon Boarding School for young ladies, near Darby, estab-
lished by the late John Jackson, is a large building, well located,
and is provided with every comfort and convenience proper for
such an establishment.

"The Burd Orphan Asylum of St. Stephen's Church," now
being built, when completed, will be the most costly edifice in
Delaware County. It is located on the West Chester road, in
Upper Darby. This institution will be established in pursuance
of the last will and testament of Eliza Howard Burd, the widow
of Edward Shippen Burd, in honor of whom it was named. The
testatrix gives to the institution two-tenths of the residuary
estate left to her by her husband, and makes it the sole residuary
legatee of her own. The endowment is munificent, and it is
understood to be ample for all the contemplated objects of the
institution. As pointed out in the will of Mrs. Burd, " the ob-
jects of the said Asylum shall, be, to maintain, educate, and at a
suitable age and time, (to be judged of and determined by those
to whose management I have entrusted the Asylum,) to place
out to be instructed in proper employments, first, the white
female orphan children of legitimate birth, of the age of not
less than four years and not more than eight years, who shall
have been baptized in the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the
city of Philadelphia ; secondly, the same class of children, bap-
tized in the same Church, in the State of Pennsylvania; and
thirdly, all other white female orphan children of legitimate
birth, not less than four years of age and not more than eight
years, without respect to any other description or qualification
whatever, except that at all times, and in every case, the orphan
children of clergymen of the Protestant Church shall have the
preference. * * *" Mrs. Burd further directs "that in the
building erected for the Asylum, there shall be an apartment
prepared and set apart as a Chapel, to be kept sacred for the
worship of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in con-
formity with the rites and ceremonies of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church," and she positively enjoins, "that all children
received into the Asylum shall be faithfully instructed, as a
part of their education, in the principles of the precious Gospel
of her God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, as they are held and

■

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 387

taught by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States,
and that no other system of religion shall be taught there ; and
moreover, that all the worship held therein shall be according to
the ritual of said Church and no other."

But one-half of the estate devised and bequeathed can be ap-
propriated to the purchase of grounds and the erection of build-
ings, under any pretence whatever, the balance to be invested,
as directed in the will, for the support of the Asylum. The
control and management of the institution is entrusted to the
Rector, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Stephen's Church ;
with the Bishop, for the time being, of the diocese that includes
Philadelphia, as a perpetual visitor.

Kellyville is an extensive manufacturing village on Darby
Creek, where it is crossed by the Delaware County Turnpike, and
West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad. It has a population
of about 500. The Catholic Church (St. Charles) at this place
is a neat and substantial building. From a short distance below
Kellyville, for more than a mile up Darby Creek, there is almost
one continuous village. Between these points, including Mr.
Charles Kelly's large cotton factory, there are six manufactories
of cotton, or of cotton and wool, and two of paper.

Clifton is a pleasant village at the intersection of the Turn-
pike and Springfield road. On the high ground west of Clifton,
overlooking the Delaware, is located Clifton Ball, a private In-
sane Hospital, under the direction of Dr. Robert A. Given. It is
a commodious building (90 by 64 feet), and occupies a healthful
and commanding position.

The Friends' Meeting-house at Darby is a large and substan-
tial building. Another meeting-house was erected in Upper
Darby, after the division of the Society, by those termed Or-
thodox. The Methodists have one church in Darby and one in
Upper Darby, and the Presbyterians two churches in Darby
township. There is also a New Jerusalem Church in Upper
Darby, the only one of that denomination in the County.

PROVIDENCE.

From Chester, settlements very soon extended into Providence,
there being at first but one township of that name. At the
October Court, 1683, " the inhabitance of Providence make ap-
plication for a highway to the town of Chester," which is the
first appearance of the name in the county records. The name,
doubtless, had its origin with some of the early immigrants, and
was given as a manifestation of their gratitude for their safe
deliverance from the perils they had encountered in crossing the
ocean. It was not organized as a township till 1684, when

388 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Thomas Nossiter was appointed constable. The division between
the townships of Upper and Nether Providence is laid down in
Holme's map, and each is marked with its appropriate name.
In 1686 Upper Providence is recognized as a township by the
appointment of a constable, but up to 1722 both townships were
assessed as one municipality, and at that time the whole number
of taxables in both was only forty.

Todmorden, formerly Orookville, situated on Ridley Creek,
chiefly in Nether Providence, is a manufacturing village of some
note. There are two large woolen factories at this place, and
two on the creek a short distance above, in Upper Providence,
the property of Samuel Bancroft, and conducted by him. The
whole together constitutes one of the largest woolen manufac-
turing establishments in the United States.

Media, the present seat of justice of Delaware County, located
chiefly in Upper Providence township, has been- noticed else-
where. Besides a Presbyterian, an Episcopalian and a Method-
ist church, there are two well-established boarding-schools at
this place — one for each sex. The classics are taught at the
boys' school, while in the female seminary, known as Brooke
Sail, young ladies are thoroughly instructed in all the useful
and ornamental branches. Chestnut Grove House, beautifully
located near the railroad depot, is a very large and tastefully
fitted up summer boarding-house owned by a company. The
town is supplied with water, but not as yet, with gas.

Not long after the removal of the seat of justice to Media,
the establishment of the "Upland Union" newspaper was re-
moved from Chester to that place and continued there about two
years. In 1855 "The American and Media Advertiser" was
commenced, and with its name changed to " Delaware County
American" has been continued to the present time. It was at
first edited by Cooper and Vernon, but for a year or two past
by the latter partner alone.

RIDLEY.

Under the government of the Duke of York, the municipal
district of " Calkoen's Hoek," embraced not only the neck of
land known by that name, but also Amers Land, or Amos Land
and Tinicum. In 1682, John Simcock located one of his large
purchases of land, (2875 acres,) immediately north of Amer's
Land and named it Ridley, after the place in Cheshire, England,
from whence he emigrated. This large tract, for the most part,
remained unimproved, and hence the old district was for a time
continued ander the name of " Amos Land and Calcoone Hook."
In 1686 Calcon Hook was annexed to Darby township, and the

p-i
u

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 389

year following Amos Land and Tinicum were included in a new
township, then first organized, named Ridley. The name was
sometimes applied to the creek before the township was or-
ganized.

Calcon Hook is a corruption of the Dutch name Kalkoen Hoek,
that is, Turkey Point, Kalkoen being the Dutch word for Tur-
key. It was probably applied to the place on account of the large
numbers of wild turkeys that frequented it. The name Amers,
or Amos Land, is said to have originated from the circumstance,
that in very early times it was the residence of a celebrated
nurse — amma being the Swedish for nurse. Amos Land ex-
tended about a mile north from Darby Creek, and westward
from the Mucanippitas nearly to Stone Creek. Calcon Book
was east of the Mucanippitas, and extended nearly up to the
post road, but not to Darby Creek above its junction with Cobb's
Creek.

The first railroad in the United States was built in Ridley
township in 1806, by the late Thomas Leiper, for the trans-
portation of stone from his quarries on Crum Creek to his land-
ing on Ridley Creek, a distance of about one mile. The ascents
were graded inclined planes, and the superstructure was made
of white oak with cross-ties and string pieces. The cars or trucks
were very similar to those now in use, the wheels being made of
cast iron with flanges. The line of the road can still be seen.
This railroad was superseded by the Leiper Canal, which passed
from the upper quarries down Crum Creek to the landing, and
was built by the Hon. George G. Leiper, the eldest son of
Thomas Leiper, in 1828, and continued to be used till 1852,
when it, in turn, was superseded by the present railroad.1

The Darby Creek Ferry House, for many years a tavern,
bears the marks of antiquity. The figures 1698 are carved on
the inner side of the mantel-piece, of the northwest end of the
building, and no doubt indicate the date of its erection. It is
built of white cedar logs, flattened. Between this end and the
other wooden end, there is a space built up with stone. Through
this space, and between the two wooden ends of the present
building, the road formerly passed to the ferry.

Leiperville is a small village on the post road, where it is
crossed by Crum Creek.

1 Previous to engaging in the railroad enterprise, Mr. Thomas Leiper employed a
millwright from Sec it land, named Somerville, to lay a track sixty yards in length at a
grade of one inch and a-half to the yard, he having seen a similar one in Scotland or
England. This experimental track was constructed on a vacant lot in the Northern
Liberties of Philadelphia, and when the day of trial came, a large concourse of people
assembled to witness the experiment. After having loaded the car with all the
weights that could be procured from the neighboring hay-scales, wagers were offered
to any amount that no horse could move it to the summit ; but when the word was
given, the horse moved off with ease amid the plaudits of the assembled multitude

390 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

There are several manufacturing establishments in Ridley,
and large quantities of stone are annually quarried there and
sent to Philadelphia and elsewhere.

The churches in Ridley are a Presbyterian church, erected
about the year 1818, and rebuilt a few years since ; a Baptist
church constituted in 1830, and another erected by a sect
called Bible Christians.

SPRINGFIELD.

Gait, in his life of Benjamin West, ascribes the name of this
township to the fact that Thomas Pearson, the maternal grand-
father of the great painter, discovered a large spring of water
in the first field he cleared for cultivation. Unfortunately for
this story, Thomas Pearson first settled in Marple township,
where he continued to reside during his life. On Holme's map
it is marked Sprinfeld Town, but the author is possessed of
no knowledge either in respect to the origin of that name or of
the existence of any particular reason for adopting the present
name of the township.

On the road leading from Springfield Meeting-house to
Chester, stands the house in which West the painter was born.
It is a substantial hipped-roofed edifice built of cut stone. Ex-
cept in the removal of the old fashioned paint-eaves, the build-
ing has undergone very little change. The room in the north-
west corner on the first floor is pointed out as that in which the
great artist drew his first breath.

There are several manufacturing establishments in Spring-
field. Those at Heyville are chiefly employed in making¥woolen
yarn, while those at Wallingford manufacture cotton goods.
Beatty's edge tool manufactory is also located in Springfield.

The old Springfield Friends' Meeting-house, taken down some
years since, though built in 1738, presented a venerable appear-
ance. An effort has been made to preserve its general aspect
and contrast it with the present edifice in the annexed lithograph.

It does not appear that Springfield was fully organized as a
township prior to 1686, though Robert Taylor, one of the first
settlers, had received the appointment of supervisor " from
Chester Creeke to Croome Creeke," early in 1684.

Remarkable phenomena are frequently connected with the
discharge of the electric fluid in the shape of lightning, but it
rarely occurs that a case is surrounded with so many singular
circumstances as the one I am about to notice, which happened
on the 3d of November, 1768, and which is copied, with some
abridgment, from the Pennsylvania Chronicle.

" At about seven o'clock in the morning Mr. Samuel Levis's

DraymbyC PTholey. Bowea&Co.lthPhilada

FRIENDS MEETING H OU SES.S PRI N G F I ELD , 1738, 1851.

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 391

house in Springfield, was struck by lightning. The morning
was showery, but no thunder was heard nor appearance of light-
ning seen, either before or after the shock, which produced the
following effects : It appears first to have descended on the
chimney, which it entirely leveled to the top of the house, dis-
persing the bricks to a considerable distance, with great part of
the roof — fractured the gable end, a stone wall into sundry
pieces, and penetrated in veins or branches, down to different
parts of the house. In the closet of a lower room, a glass bot-
tle with a pound and a half of gunpowder in it, was broken and
part of the powder thrown about, which did not take fire ; a
clock near the closet, was overset, and the weights found at 15 feet
distance from the place where it stood, and considerable damage
was done to the furniture. In passing into the upper chamber,
by the stack of chimneys, a gun barrel and some pieces of brass,
which were in a closet, were melted in several places.

" A young woman, (Margaret), a daughter of Mr. Levis, hap-
pening to be near the door of the closet, was struck down, and
to all appearance, breathless for some time. The father run-
ning immediately up stairs, where the greatest signs of violence
appeared, was the first who found his daughter in her melan-
choly situation, amid the ruins of the shattered wainscoat, and
an exceedingly strong smell of sulphur. He carried her down
stairs in his arms and upon examination there appeared signs of
life. A doctor was immediately sent for, who in vain attempted
to bleed her, there seeming almost a total stagnation ; but being
put to a warm bed she bled freely, and revived so as to be able
to speak, to the inexpressible joy of her distracted parents, her
whole family and all her friends. In the evening she was able
to walk up stairs to her chamber. So instantaneous was the
shock, and so sudden the deprivation of her senses, that she
could give no account of what happened to her at the juncture.
When she regained her senses, she complained of much pain
and of being sore, as she was very much scorched, the lightning
passing from her head, and as it descended rent her clothes,
even her garters into a number of pieces, then to her shoes,
carrying away the upper leather, which was torn into fragments,
and melting part of one of her silver shoe buckles."

In 1773 this lady became the wife of the late Thomas Garrett
of Upper Darby, and was the mother of the late Samuel Garrett
of the same township. A number of her descendants are still
living.

The same Indians, who had their principal wigwam on Chester
Creek, and will be mentioned under the head of Aston, also had
a wigwam near Lowne's run, north of the residence of Joseph
Gibbons, in Springfield, to which they frequently resorted. But

392 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

the last of the natives who had a home in the County was
"Indian Nelly," who had her cabin on the farm now owned by
Garrett Edwards, near the line of the Shipley farm. She had
her constant residence there as late as 1810.

MARPLE.

How Marple township obtained its name is a matter of un-
certainty. In many of the early records it is spelled Mar-pool,
but Holme, in his map, gives the modern spelling. Marple was
organized as a township early in 1684. In 1722, the township
contained but twenty-four taxables. There was no established
place of worship in the township till Marple Presbyterian
Church was erected about the year 1833.

In the winter of 1788, a very tragic affair happened on Darby
Creek, where it forms the line between Marple and Haverford,
in the death by drowning of Lydia Hollingsworth, a young lady
of great worth and beauty, who was under an engagement of
marriage to David Lewis. The party, consisting of Lewis, Lydia,
another young lady, with the driver, left the city in the morn-
ing in a sleigh, and drove out to Joshua Humphrey's, near Haver-
ford meeting-house. From thence they drove to Newtown ; but
before they returned the weather moderated, and some rain
fell, which caused Darby Creek to rise. In approaching the
ford, (which was that on the road leading from the Presbyterian
Church to Coopertown,) they were advised not to attempt to
cross, but were made acquainted with the existence of a tempo-
rary bridge in the meadows above. They drove to the bridge,
but the water wras rushing over it, and the driver refused to
proceed; whereupon Lewis took the lines, and missing the
bridge, plunged the whole party into the flood. All were res-
cued but Lydia, whose body was not found till the next morning.
The feelings of Lewis can be more readily imagined than de-
scribed. The young lady was buried at Friends' grave-yard,
Haverford. In some pathetic rhymes written on the occasion,
it is stated that 1,700 persons attended her funeral.

HAVERFORD.

This township is wholly located in what was known as the
Welsh Tract, and was the earliest settled of the Welsh Town-
ships except Merion, in Montgomery County. The name was
brought over with the first settlers, who came from the vicinity
of Haverford-West, in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. In early
times, the name was very frequently written with u instead of v,
and doubtless had the pronunciation that this change of letters
would give it. The pronunciation was, at length, corrupted to

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

398

Harford, a name by which the township was generally known
within the recollection of many now living.

The south end of the Friends' Meeting-house, built in 1700,
in which William Penn preached during his second visit to
Pennsylvania, is still standing, and is in a good state of preser-
vation. It has only been modernized in its outside appearance,
by changing the pitch of the roof, and in substituting wooden
sash in the windows for those of lead. This was done in the
year 1800, when the north end was built to supply the place of
the first erected meeting-house. The timbers are very heavy,
and have either been hewn or sawed with a whip-saw. The gal-
lery was originally at the south end of the building. A number
of the chestnut boards with which it was at first lined are still
in place. The first interment in the Haverford burial-ground
was the body of William Sharpus, 9th mo. 19th, 1684.

There are milestones on the old Haverford or Goshen road
still standing, which were doubtless imported from England, and
erected when the road was laid out.

The Grange. — There is no place in the township of Haver-
ford, perhaps none in the County, with which so much historical

CLIFTON HALL AS IT STOOD IN THE YEAR 1

interest is associated as with this ancient seat of grandeur and
elegance. Henry Lewis, a Welsh Quaker, one of the most staid
of his sect, selected this spot as his wilderness abode in 1682.

394 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

He was succeeded by his son Henry, who resided there many
years. About the middle of the last century, we find the estate,
then consisting of nearly four hundred acres, owned and occu-
pied (at least in the summer season) by a Capt. John Wilcox,
(sometimes spelled Wilcocks,) who erected upon it a mansion, of
which the annexed cut is an exact representation, and gave it
the name of " Clifton Hall." Capt. Wilcox surrounded his
estate with a ditch of some depth, most of which, within the
recollection of many now living, could be readily traced, and
some parts of it are still visible. It is said, on the authority of
tradition, that Capt. Wilcox caused this ditch to be dug in order
to give employment to his negroes, of whom he owned a consider-
able number.

About the year 1760, Charles Cruickshank, a Scotch gentle-
man of wealth, who held a captain's commission under the British
government, and who had seen service in the Netherlands, came
to America, and in 1761 purchased the "Clifton Hall" estate,
but changed its name to the "Grange," or "Grange Farm."
Soon after the year 1770, (when the annexed sketch was drawn
by Capt. Cruickshank,) the mansion-house was enlarged and
variously modified. It is also probable, that about this period
the terraced walks were cut, the green-house established, and
that the almost unequaled natural beauties of the place were
fully developed by the appliances of art,' under the direction of
a well cultivated taste. The land attached to the Grange was
partly in three Counties — Chester, (now Delaware,) Philadelphia,
and Montgomery, which Capt. Cruickshank increased by pur-
chase.

In 1768, Mr. John Ross, also a Scotch gentleman, and an
extensive merchant of Philadelphia, married Clemantina, the
daughter of Capt. Cruickshank, who at the close of the Revolu-
tionary war sold the Grange to his son-in-law, Ross, and returned
with his family to his native country. Mr. Ross added to the
buildings, and also increased the quantity of land to an aggre-
gate of six hundred acres. After the death of Mr. Ross in 1806,
the estate was sold to his son-in-law, John F. Mifflin, who, in
1810, sold the mansion to John H. Brinton, the maternal grand-
father of Gen. George B. McClellan. In 1816, Mr. Brinton
sold the mansion, with another part of the estate which he had
purchased in 1811, to Manuel Eyre, Esq., who made it his coun-
try residence till his death in 1845, a period of twenty-nine
years. About that time the Grange was purchased by John
Ashurst, Esq., the son-in-law of Mr. Eyre, who still occupies it
as his country seat.

At an early period, particularly during its occupancy by
Charles Ross, the Grange was fitted up in the most exquisite

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 395

style of the times, and during the summer months, it was not
unfrequently the scene of elegant and luxurious entertainments.

The late Dr. Charles Caldwell, who afterwards became a Pro-
fessor in a Medical College of Kentucky, was then a young man
and resided in Philadelphia. During part of the period men-
tioned he was a visitor at the Grange, and being struck with the
many beauties of the place, wrote a short rural poem on the sub-
ject, which is given entire in the Appendix, Note M.1

Though the German Lutheran Church, well known as the
"Dutch Church," stands a little beyond the Haverford line in
Lower Merion, still a number of old families in our County feel
sufficient interest in it to justify a short notice. Prior to 1765,
a number of German families had settled in Merion and Haver-
ford, and about that year there is evidence of the formation of
a Lutheran congregation. After various efforts, a piece of land
was secured and a log church erected. In 1800, a second church
edifice was built, which was of stone. This, in its turn, gave
place to the present building, which was erected in 1833. No
doubt the services in this church, in early times, were conducted
in the German language.

Owing to the large number of immigrant foreigners professing
the Catholic faith, employed in the manufacturing establishments
of Cobb's Creek, erected by Dennis Kelly, a church became ne-
cessary for their accommodation. For this purpose the Church
of St. Dennis was erected in 1825. It was the first Catholic
Church edifice built in Delaware County.

The Methodists have a church in Haverford called Bethesda,
erected about thirty years since, and the Friends a meeting-
house near the Haverford College, which answers for the accom-
modation of the professors and pupils of that Institution as well
as other persons in the neighborhood.

RADNOR.

After Merion and Haverford, Radnor was the next Welsh
township settled. There is no documentary evidence of any set-
tlement having been made in Radnor earlier than 1685, though
the fact that the certificates of several of the first Quaker settlers
of that township are dated early in 1683, it is very probable that
settlements were made there in 1684. Some of the earliest immi-
grants who located in that township were from Radnorshire in
Wales ; hence the name of the township.

A Welsh gentleman, named Richard David, or Davies, in 1681,
purchased 5000 acres of land from William Penn in England, which

1 The manuscript copy of the poem was kindly furnished by the venerable Samuel
Breck, Esq., who was the son-in-law of John Ross.

396 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNT?.

he sold to various purchasers. The whole, or nearly the whole
of this purchase was located in Radnor, though there is no evi-
dence that the grantor, Davies, ever visited this country.

Radnor Friends' Meeting-house, built in 1718, is still standing.
It is a permanent building, in good repair, and with an addi-
tion, built in later years, at the east end, (originally for a school-
house,) is used for holding the monthly meetings of the Society
for several particular meetings. The first body interred in the
grave-yard attached to this meeting-house, was that of Gwenllian,
the wife of Howell James, 11th mo., 31st, 1686.

About twenty years since, a Catholic educational institution
was established in Radnor, called Villa Nova. It was under
the charge of the " Hermits of St. Augustine," but is not at this
time in successful operation as a school. A large farm is con-
nected with the institution.

The Methodist congregation that worships at the church on
the old Lancaster road, in the eastern part of the township, is
one of the oldest of that persuasion. There is also a Baptist
Church in this township, known as Radnor Hall, which was con-
stituted in 1841.

NEWTOWN.

Although this township was not included in the Welsh Tract,
it was originally, for the most part, settled by Welshmen. It
was laid out with what was called a " Townstead" in the centre,
and the first purchasers of land in the township were entitled to
a certain number of acres in the Townstead, or new village as it
was sometimes called. This ideal town doubtless suggested the
name of the township. A township similarly laid out in Bucks
County bears the same name. Newtown was not fully organ-
ized till 1686, though a collector of taxes was appointed* early
in 1685.

St. David's, or Radnor Church, noticed in another place, is
within the limits of Newtown township. With the exception of
Haverford meeting-house, it is the oldest place of worship in
Delaware County, having been erected in 1717, one year earlier
than the Friends' Meeting-house of Radnor. The building and
its surroundings bear the marks of antiquity. The stone stair-
way outside of the main building, leading to the gallery, is alto-
gether unique.

The oldest tomb-stone noticed in the cemetery that surrounds
the Church, bears this inscription :

" Here Lieth ye body of
Edward Hvghes, Entered
ye 16 day of December
1716 — aged 56 years 9 months."1

1 This Edward Hughes, it is said, was Rector of the Church as early as 1704.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 397

Another bears the following :

" Here lies the body of William Evans, who departed this life,
September the 29th, 1734, aged 52 years.

" My: pilgrim: race: I ran: a pace,
My: resting: place is here:
This: stone: is: got: to: keep ye spot —
That men dig not too near."

Quite a large number of the tombstones were erected in the
first half of the eighteenth century.

This church-yard is noted as being the depository of the re-
mains of General Anthony Wayne, of the Revolutionary war.
They rest under a plain marble monument, bearing on two sides
of it the following inscriptions :

" Major General Anthony Wayne was born at Waynesbo-
rough, in Chester County — State of Pennsylvania, A. D. 1745 —
After a life of Honor and usefulness, he died in December, 1796,
at a military post on the shore of Lake Erie — Commander in
chief of the army of the United States. His military achieve-
ments are consecrated in the History of his country and in the
hearts of his countrymen — His remains are here deposited."

" In Honor of the distinguished military services of Major
General Anthony Wayne ; and as an affectionate tribute of
respect to his memory, this stone was erected by his companions
in arms — The Pennsylvania State Society of the Cincinati, July
4th, 1809 — Thirty fourth Anniversary of the United States of
America — An event which constitutes the most appropriate Eulo-
gium of an American soldier and patriot."

In another part of the yard a massive marble slab, erected
after the death of General Wayne, but before his remains were
removed from their first place of interment, bears the two follow-
ing inscriptions:

" Mary Wayne, Consort of the late Major Gen : Anthony
Wayne, died April 18th, 1793, aged 44 years."

" Major Gen : Anthony Wayne, late Commander of the Army
of the United States, died at Presqu-Isle December 15th 1796,
aged 52 years — his body is intered within the garrisson near the
town of Erie."

Besides this church, which has generally been regarded as an
institution belonging to Radnor, there is the Friends' Meeting-
house, the establishment of which has already been noticed, and
a Baptist church constituted in the year 1832.

398 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

MIDDLETOWN.

This township probably received its name from its supposed
central location when the name was conferred upon it. The
author has seen no evidence that it was organized as a municipal
district prior to 1687, though it possibly may have been.

The first organization within this County of a Presbyterian
congregation was in this township, and doubtless their first
church edifice was erected on or very near the site of the present
Presbyterian Meeting-house, which itself, notwithstanding the
recent repairs it has undergone, bears the marks of a respectable
antiquity. Thomas Dutton, now in his ninety-fourth year, in-
formed me that the present meeting-house was built in the time
of his grandfather. "That he, although a Quaker, subscribed
money towards the building of it, as he was willing that the
Presbyterians should have a suitable place to hold their meetings
in."

The church records have been lost or destroyed, but fortu-
nately a memento of high interest has been preserved, that not
only bears testimony to the early establishment of the Middle-
town congregation, but also to the deep interest that was felt in
its prosperity by one of the most eminent of the dissenting
divines of England. A folio volume, belonging to the church,
has the following memorandum, believed to be in the hand-
writing of the donor, inscribed on the inside of the cover:

" This Book call'd Mr. Baxter's Directory was given by ye
Reverend Dr Isaac Watts of London to the Protestant Dissenters
usually assembling for Worship at Middletown Meeting-house in
Pennsylvania ; that people who come from far, & spend their
whole day there, may have something proper to entertain them-
selves with, or to read to one another between the seasons of Wor-
ship morning and afternoon : & 'tis for this end intrusted to ye
care of [the] Protestant Dissenting Minister who preaches there,
and to his Successors, to be used by him or them in their weekly
Studys, when they please, and to be secured & devoted to the
Use of the Congregation on ye Lords days."

"Jan^30th: 1735-6."

"The Book is committed to the care of Mr. Benj. Hawley to
be carried over to Pennsylvania, and after he has kept it in his
own hands and made the best use of it for six months, that is
till the 30th: of July next, he shall deliver it to the hands of the
present Protestant Dissenting Minister for the purposes before-
mentioned."

The book is at this time in the custody of the Rev. James W.
Dale, the minister now in charge of the Middletown church, who
kindly furnished a copy of the above writing for this work.

HISTORY OP DELAWARE COUNTY. 399

In early times, no provision whatever was made for heating
the body of the Middletown church even in the coldest weather.
At such seasons, a fire was provided in a small session-room ad-
joining the church, to which the people resorted before taking
their seats in the congregation. For nearly a century and a
half, Middletown was the only Presbyterian Church in Delaware
County — a number of the members residing at a distance of from
eight to ten miles from their place of worship.

One of the tombstones in the grave-yard, bears the following
inscription : —

" Here lieth the body of Bernhard Vanleer, M. D. Physisian
in Physick — who departed this life, January the 26th 1790
aged 104 years.

"Friends weep not for me, for all your tears are vain,
Prepare to meet the Lord, that we may meet again."

" His wife Christiana — died March 29th, 1815, aged 88 years
& 7 months."

The earliest inscription noticed bears the date of 1724.

Since the division in the Society of Friends, a second Friends'
Meeting-house has been erected in Middletown. The Methodists
also have one in this township.

One of the most costly and imposing buildings in Delaware
County is the " Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble Minded
Children," located on an eminence one mile west of Media, in
Middletown township. The last wing of the building, which is
of stone, has just been completed, which enables the Managers
to accommodate 160 pupils. The present number is 125, of
whom 60 are beneficiaries of the State of Pennsylvania.

The farm and buildings have cost about $140,000, which
has been furnished by private subscription and aided by the
State.

The County House, for the support and employment of the
poor, is also located in Middletown.

Glen Riddle, and other manufacturing villages on Chester
Creek, are partly in this township.

The site of Knowlton, up to the year 1800, was a perfect
wilderness. Near the head gates of the mill, there was formerly
the mark of a grave, the occupant of which tradition named
Moggey, and from that circumstance the crossing of the creek
was named Moggey s Ford. As Moggey had the reputation of
making her appearance occasionally, it required no little courage
in the traveler in early times to cross the ford at night.

400 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

ASTON.

This township probably derived its name from Aston, a village
of Berkshire, England, noted as the place at which a battle was
fought in the year 871 between the Danes and the Saxons, in
which the former were totally defeated by Ethelred and his brother
Alfred. In 1686, Edward Carter, then a resident in what is
now Aston, was appointed constable for Nortldey. The next
year John Neal's (Nields) was appointed for the township of
Aston, which may be regarded as the period at which the town-
ship was organized as a municipal district.

The manufacturing villages of Rockdale and Crozerville are
located in this township, and also parts of other manufacturing
villages. In the former of these Calvary Episcopal Church, re-
markable for its neatness, is located. It was built in 1836, on
an eminence commanding a view of the village. Village Green
is a handsome town, in which is located the successful seminary
of J. Harvey Barton. Mount Hope Methodist Church is a
mile from the village, and a new church of the same denomina-
tion, has recently been erected within its limits. The Catholic
Church of St. Thomas is also in Aston township. The old de-
serted church known as the " Blue Church," was built about
the year 1818, the chief part of the funds necessary for its erec-
tion being furnished by the late James Lindsay The Rev. John
Smith was the first pastor.

As late as 1770, a family of Indians had a wigwam on the
Aston side of Chester Creek, opposite the farm of Jared Dar-
lington, in Middletown, but did not remain there constantly.
Their names were Andrew, Isaac, his son, and two women,
sisters, Nanny and Betty, one of whom was the wife of Andrew.
Andrew died about the year 1780, and was buried in the grave-
yard of Middletown Friends' Meeting. These Indians also had
a wigwam in the hollow north of Joseph Gibbon's, in Springfield,
to which they sometimes resorted.

EDGMONT.

Joseph Baker, one of the earliest settlers in Edgmont, had a
brother John, who died in Philadelphia in 1685. John, in his
will, states that he was " late of Edgmont, in Shropshire, old
England." We may presume, then, that Joseph came from the
same locality. Hence the name of the township, which was
frequently spelled Edgmond in early times. There was no ap-
pointment of a municipal officer for Edgmont till 1687, though
Joseph Baker, residing within the limits of the township, was
appointed constable for Grilead in 1686.

There is a tradition that in laying out the road from Chester

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 401

to Edgmont, or more likely in a review of that road, Henry
Hollingsworth, the surveyor, caused an apple-tree to be planted
at the end of every mile. The surveyor happened to be at
variance with Richard Crosby, who then resided in Middletown
township. It so happened that one of the miles ended on Richard's
land, but instead of planting an apple-tree the surveyor took an
axe, and bent two saplings so as to cross each other at the spot,
saying at the same time, " Richard Crosbie, thee crosses me, and
I will cross thee." Henry Hollingsworth wrote to his friends in
England, that he had planted an orchard nine miles in length.
It is said that some of the apple-trees then planted were stand-
ing till within a very recent period.

Castle Rock, in Edgmont, near Crum Creek, where it is crossed
by the West Chester road, is often visited as a natural curiosity.

The Temperance Hall in this township has recently been pur-
chased by a Methodist congregation, and will hereafter be used
as a church.

THORNBURY.

One of the earliest and most influential inhabitants of this
township was George Pearce. The native place of his wife Ann
was Thornbury, in Gloucestershire, England. Hence we can
readily account for the name of the township, and at the same
time cannot fail to appreciate the tender affection that prompted
this pioneer settler in its selection in preference to the name of
his own native town. The township was organized in 1687, by
the appointment of Hugh Durborow as constable, when not more
than five or six families had settled within its limits. About
three-fourths of the original township was retained in Delaware
County, when it was separated from Chester, which still retained
the name of Thornbury, as did the lesser part included in
Chester County.

This township was enlarged about a quarter of a century since,
so as to include a portion of the north end of Aston. The ex-
tensive paper manufacturing establishment of the Messrs. Will-
cox called " Glen Mills," is located in this part of the township.

The road in Thornbury passing the farm of Henry W. Brinton
towards that of William D. Pennel, it is said, was laid out on an
old Indian trail.

There are three Methodist churches in Thornbury, one of
which is for colored persons.

26

402 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

BIRMINGHAM.

The origin of this name for the township is not difficult to ac-
count for. Its earliest settler, William Brinton, migrated from
the neighborhood of the ancient English city of that name, and
it is not wonderful that he should have selected for his wilder-
ness home the name that would recall to his memory the earliest
and most pleasing associations of his life. Birmingham was
organized as a municipal district in 168(5, by the appointment
of John Bennett constable. Richard Thatcher served that office
for Birmingham afterwards, although he at that time resided on
the Thornbury side of the line that divided the two townships.

Birmingham was also one of the townships that was divided
in running the line between Chester and Delaware Counties.
Nearly two-thirds of the original township fell to the share of
Delaware County.

In very early times a small company mill stood on Brinton's
run near the site of the present mill of George Brinton. A
little lower down was the " Town Pound," extending a little
into the water. The miller's house belonging to the old mill is
still standing.

There are many localities in Birmingham where events of in-
terest occurred during the battle of Brandywine, that have been
pointed out to me, but it is believed that those of most interest
are embraced in the account of the battle already given.

Brandywine Baptist Church has already been noticed. The
present church edifice is a substantial stone building situated
more than a mile west of Chadds' Ford.

^frtA&pmlj

YL.VAS COUNTY.

o very limited in its ex-
ile details of its Geology
:e are a few, that when
to attract attention and

? proper of the County of
ced within its limits will

.f'A»Vy five large creeks and]
v s,he Delaware River, viz : \
e Brandywine, that forms
iek that empties into the
cular line with that river.
Creek, and a still smaller
h discharge their waters

3st. The nest in size is

ipal branches, designated

nill streams. They unite

ies into the Delaware at

las its origin in two prin-

Creeks. These unite at

another principal branch,

ord township. The main

de, unites its waters with

tream, even larger than

hem considerable streams

>elaware Counties. They

jm each other from one to

7 O le creeks approach within

the Delaware between the

k rises about the dividing

township, and afterwards

d the consolidated city of

other mill streams of less

are above Marcus Hook ;

jhort distance before that

_irby Creek ; Naylor's Run,

slreek, branches of the west

east branch of the same

(• of the Brandywine. The

besides those enumerated,

ill powers.

and in some parts hilly

general slope in the land

402 HIST

The origin of this
count for. Its earl
the neighborhood of
it is not wonderful 1
ness home the name
and most pleasing
organized as a mun
of John Bennett con
for Birmingham afte
the Thornbury side

Birmingham was
in running the line
Nearly two-thirds of
Delaware County.

In very early tim<
run near the site o
little lower down w
into the water. Tin
still standing.

There are many h
terest occurred durir
pointed out to me, b
are embraced in the

Brandywine Bapt
present church edifi
more than a mile we

GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

It cannot be supposed that in a district of country so very limited in its ex-
tent as the County of Delaware, there will be found in the details of its Geology
many facts to interest the general reader. Still there are a few, that when
brought to the notice of an inquiring mind, cannot fail to attract attention and
lead to further investigations, alike pleasing and useful.

As preliminary to the consideration of the Geology proper of the County of
Delaware, a topographical view of the territory embraced within its limits will
be presented.

The drainage of the County is principally effected by five large creeks and
their tributaries, that traverse it in their course to the Delaware River, viz:
Cobb's, Darby, Crum, Ridley, and Chester Creeks ; by the Braudywine, that forms
a part of our western boundary, and by Naaman's Creek that empties into the
Delaware a short distance below the junction of the circular line with that river.
A small part of Radnor township is drained by the Gulf Creek, and a still smaller
part of the same township by Mill Creek, both of which discharge their waters
into the Schuylkill.

Of these creeks the Brandywine is much the largest. The next in size is
Chester Creek, which enters the County by two principal branches, designated
" East" and "West." These branches are both good mill streams. They unite
their waters at Crozerville, and the main creek empties into the Delaware at
Chester. Darby Creek, the next in point of size, also has its origin in two prin-
cipal branches, known as "Big" and "Little" Darby Creeks. These unite at
the flour mill of Tryon Lewis in Radnor. Ithan Creek, another principal branch,
also unites with it in the northwestern part of Haverford township. The main
stream, thus formed, after passing Darby, the head of tide, unites its waters with
those of Cobb's Creek, forming a large tide water stream, even larger than
Chester Creek. Crum and Ridley Creeks are each of them considerable streams
before they cross the dividing line of Chester and Delaware Counties. They
pursue the same general course, and only distant from each other from one to
two and a-half miles. A little above tide water, these creeks approach within
a half mile of each other, but again diverge and enter the Delaware between the
borough of Chester and Tinicum Island. Cobb's Creek rises about the dividing
line of Radnor and Haverford, traverses the latter township, and afterwards
forms the boundary line between Delaware County and the consolidated city of
Philadelphia, to its junction with Darby Creek.

Besides the streams enumerated, the County has other mill streams of less
note, as Hook Creek, which empties into the Delaware above Marcus Hook ;
Little Crum Creek which unites with Crum Creek, a short distance before that
stream reaches the river; Mucanippates, a branch of Darby Creek; Nay I or' s Run,
a branch of Cobb's Creek; Concord Creek and Green's Creek, branches of the west
branch of Chester Creek ; Rocky Run, a branch of the east branch of the same
stream, and Beaver Creek and Harvey's Run, branches of the Brandywine. The
Gulf Creek turns one mill in Delaware County ; and besides those enumerated,
there are several streams of sufficient size for light mill powers.

The surface of the County is decidedly undulating, and in some parts hilly
As the direction of the streams indicate, there is a general slope in the land

404 GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

towards the river ; the average courses of these streams being a little east of
south. This slope is rather gradual till we approach within three or four miles
of the river, or the marsh lands bordering it. Here may be observed on the
high ground between the creeks, an abrupt fall in the general* surface of the
country. The line or direction of this sudden change of slope is nearly at right
angles with the large creeks of the County, and preserves a general parallelism
with the river and marsh lands, at about the distance that has been mentioned.
It has been termed a " tvater shade" and for reasons that will be mentioned here-
after, not inapproprintely. This " water shade" can be traced beyond the limits
of the County on either side of it, and though obscured by streams and ravines
in many places, it is very distinct in others. Thus it may be seen below Booth's
Corner in Bethel; at Mount Hope meeting-house in Aston, where it has the
name of " Aston Ridge ;" at Harrison's Hill on the Edgmont road ; near Hink-
son's Corner on the Chester and Providence road ; above West Dale, Spring
Hill, and Clifton stations on the West Chester railroad ; between Kellyville and
Garrett Ford, crossing the Garrett road near the toll-gate.

The abruptness of the fall in the land is in a great degree obliterated • in
the beds of the several creeks that cross it; but the great fall in these streams,
at and for some distance above their intersection by the " water shade," un-
mistakeably indicate its presence. During ages they have been cutting their
channels deeper upwards, thereby constituting a series of rapids, which in an
early Geological period of this district of country, were concentrated into one of
great abruptness, or even into perpendicular falls. This cutting back in the
beds of our streams has been modified by the character of the rocks in different
localities. Thus in Chester Creek it has been much greater than in those of
Crum or Darby. Still each stream has its rapids at no very great distance from
the crossing of the water shade, which in every instance is at a point where the
stream has acquired its maximum size, thus affording very many of the best
sites for manufacturing purposes, for which the County has become noted.

The " water shade " has served another valuable purpose. The land from its
base gradually declines towards the Delaware, leaving nothing to obstruct the
view from its summit of several miles of that river, and over a great extent of
New Jersey, thus affording a vast number of building sites, unrivaled for health-
fulness and the extent of the views they afford.

The elevation of the sources of the principal streams of the County above
tide water has been ascertained with a reasonable degree of accuracy. That of
Cobb's Creek is 392 feet, Ithan 399, Darby 440, Crum, 520, and Ridley the same.
The elevation of the source of Chester Creek has not been ascertained with the
same degree of accuracy, but that of its eastern branch may be safely set down
at a somewhat higher figure than Crum or Ridley Creeks.

The only exception to the general slope of the surface of the County is in
the small part of Radnor drained by the Gulf Creek. This stream at first has
an easterly course, then suddenly turns to the north, and after having cut its
way through the south valley hill, forming a narrow gorge known as the
"Gulf," turns again easterly and empties into the Schuylkill.

The marsh lands bordering the Delaware would be inundated at every high
tide, but for the artificial banks that surround them. Within the large scope of
marsh between the Schuylkill and Darby Creek, besides the high part of Tini-
cum, there are several parcels of land that would not thus be inundated. These
were islands before the banks were made. Their number and general figure
may be seen on the " Map of Early Settlements " accompanying this work.

Having thus presented the general physical aspect of the surface of the County,
it will be next in order to consider its Geology proper. The rocks of our County
are relatively the lowest, and belong to the earliest formation known to Geologists.
To those that are stratified, Mr. Lyell has applied the terms, Hypogene and Mcta-
morphic; the former having reference to their position, as being nether-formed,
and the latter to their altered structure from subterranean heat. The term
Hypogene will apply equally well to any unstratified rocks within our limits.

Of the magnificent series of deposits entombing the remains of a succes-
sion of organized beings, found in other sections of our country, this County

GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 405

does not present a single stratum. Our rocks were either formed before such
beings were called into existence, or every trace of their remains has been
effaced by the great subterranean heat to which they have been subjected.
Resting uncouformably on these rocks, we have in some parts of the County,
deposits of clay, gravel, or sand, formerly, though improperly, called diluvium,
while in other sections they are covered with the earthy results of their own
decomposition.

Professor Henry D. Rogers, our State Geologist, designates our rocks by the
terms Hypozoic^oi^Gneissic. Of these rocks ue found three districts within the
limits of hislsurvey ; theT"^ or most southern of which embraces substantially
the whole of Delaware County, and " ranges from the Delaware River at Trenton,
to the Susquehanna, south of the State line."

Mr. Rogers informs us, that "this most southern belt of our crystalline strata
makes its first appearance at a spot in New Jersey, about six miles N. E. of
Trenton, where it emerges from beneath the margin of the overlapping Mesoic
Red Sandstone." Its lower or southern margin, he says, " crosses the Delaware
River a short distance below the bridge at Trenton, and passes by Bristol, Phila-
delphia, Chester, and Wilmington, being separated from the river by a narrow
strip of diluvial and alluvial deposits, which only in a few places exceed one
mile in width. The northern boundary commencing at the same point in New
Jersey, crosses the Delaware about a mile and a half above Trenton, and ranges
in a somewhat undulating line to Sandy Creek, about a mile east of the
Wissahickon."

" W. of the Wissahickon, the northern edge of this zone of gneiss, ranges just
S. of Barren Hill ; crosses the Schuylkill a little below Spring Mill, passes about
a mile and a half S of the Paoli, and terminates near Boardsley's Run of the
West Branch of the Brandy wine, and uot far from the Chester County Poor-House.
W. of the Brandywine the gneissic rocks sink under the altered primal strata, in
a succession of anticlinal fingers on slender promontories."

It will thus be seen that the whole County is included in the first gneissic
district of Mr. Rogers, except a very small part of Radnor township, which ex-
tends into the South Valley Hill, and which he includes in his next higher
division of rocks termed Azoic. As this division is alike destitute of organic
remains as the gneissic, and was established merely on the fact that it is less
crystalline than the former, the difference between the two belts is of no practical
importance, and the line of junction very frequently cannot be determined.

In describing our rocks in detail, Mr. Rogers has divided his southern Gneissic
district into three subdivisions. I will not follow him in this, because his con-
clusions were mostly drawn from examinations made on the Schuylkill, which
frequently do not hold good when extended into our County, and because the
accompanying map will suffice to show the location of each variety of rock much
better than it could be given in words. It must be remembered, however, that
our strata are not continuous for any great distances; that they frequently alter-
nate, and that the constituents of the same stratum will be different in its dif-
ferent parts. It will therefore be understood, that the color adopted to indicate
on the map the presence of any particular rock, is not intended to convey the
idea that that rock is exclusively present in the particular locality represented by
the color. It merely shows a predominance of the rock indicated by the color.
This is the best that can be done, where the strata are so extremely variable.

The direction of the strata and their dip are also exceedingly variable. The
general or average direction may be given as nearly north and south, and the
dip a little towards the west. But frequently the strata are nearly^ vertical or an
opposite dip is visible.

Commencing on what is known as the " Line road," at its junction with the
old Haverford road, in the 24th ward of the City of Philadelphia, the presence
of a trap dyke can be traced continuously for some distance into the township
of Springfield. The gneiss rock on either side of this trap has undergone a
striking metamorphism. It appears to have been origiuahyr constituted of the
usual ingredients — quartz, mica, and feldspar, or sometimes with the mica re-
placed by hornblende. The effect of the protruded trap has been, to aggregate

406 GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

and recrystallize the feldspar in the adjacent gneiss without destroying its lami-
nated structure. The effect of this re-crystallization on the durability of the
feldspar has been very remarkable. It has now become the least destructible
of the three ingredients of the rock ; the crystals of feldspar appearing as a
gravel in the soil resulting from the decomposition of this porphyritic gneiss.
The fertility of this soil is unsurpassed — as it is constantly supplied with potash
from the very slow but gradual decomposition of the feldspathic gravel. As
another evidence of the increased durability of the feldspar in this metamorphic
gneiss, I may mention that in the exposed boulders of this rock, the feldspar
crystals are found standing in relief.

The trap composing this dyke varies greatly in its appearance, and doubtless
somewhat in its composition. It generally has the aspect of coarse basalt. Its
decomposition has been more rapid than that of the adjacent rocks, but still
there are a sufficient number of spherical trap boulders on the surface to mark
the course of the dyke and its tranches, that yield but slowly to the weather,
and scarcely at all to the sledge. The branches from the main trunk generally
pass southerly, effecting a metamorphism of a wide belt of gneiss, or that meta-
morphism is owing to other causes not apparent. Some of this metamorphic
rock exhibits alternate lamina of light-colored crystalline feldspar, with dark fine-
grained mica and quartz, affording a valuable building stone. In many other
places the matamorphism has almost destroyed the rock for economical purposes,
while iu a few spots the gneiss has not been in the least affected. Large granitic
veins presenting their usual coarse appearance, have had a share in changing
the character of the rock a little further south and east. These veins are abun-
dant about Kellyville. Below a line commencing at Cobb's Creek, near the
Delaware County turnpike, and crossing Darby Creek some distance above the
town of Darby, the gneiss becomes more micaceous, assuming the character of
mica schist in some places, as may be seen on Church lane, near Cobb's Creek.
On Mount Zion Hill, near Darby, this micaceous rock takes in as an ingredient a
small portion of kyanite. These more micaceous strata,, however, alternate with
those that are less so, and in which the mica is dark-colored, or its place is sup-
plied by hornblende. At Kellyville the gneiss rock in some of its strata is highly
ferruginous, and at Darby still more so.

Below the " water shade" the underlying rocks are so much covered with dilu-
vium, and the earthy matter resulting from their own decomposition, that it is
exceedingly difficult to trace the direction of their strata with any great degree
of certainty. North of Darby Creek Ferry we find the strata micaceous, and in
one belt of considerable dimensions, the place of the mica is nearly altogether
supplied by dark-colored kyanite.

In the immediate vicinity of Darby Creek Ferry, and several other places in
the same neighborhood, the exposures of large granitic veins, of the very coarsest
materials, are numerous. One of these is on the island of Tinicum, half a mile
above the ferry. In all these veins feldspar is the most abundant material.

Below the post road, and near Little Crum Creek, the gneiss strata become
more solid, the proportion of quartz increased, and the mica, which is dark-
colored, less abundant. Here quarries have been opened, from which large
quantities of stone were taken to the Delaware Breakwater. These quarries are
not in the range of strata in which nearly all the well-known gneiss quarries of
Delaware county are located.

Near Lieperville, but still southeast of the regular gneiss quarry range, are found
strata of no great dimensions, but abounding in silicious particles, almost to the
exclusion of the other ingredients of gneiss. These particles are sharp and
gritty, and some years ago large quantities of the partially decomposed rock
were manufactured into scythe stones, and were well known under the name of
" Crum Creek Stones."

The large trap dyke that has been mentioned, disappears in Springfield, and
the southwestern part of that township, with the northwestern part of Ridley,
the southern part of Nether Providence and the eastern part of Chester town-
ships being, in a great measure, free from large intrusive veins of granite, the
gneiss is there found undisturbed and unaltered, and generally of an excellent

GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 407

quality. It is within the limits that I have mentioned that all the noted gneiss
quarries of Delaware county are found. Isolated patches of a similar rock that
have escaped the influence of secondary metamorphic agencies, are met with in
other parts of the County, but they are of limited extent, and being inconvenient
to tidewater, quarries opened in them can only serve for local purposes.

The quarries on Crum and Ridley Creeks are on or near tidewater, affording
every facility for transporting their products to market, and for which the city of
Philadelphia, almost from the time it was founded to the present time, has
afforded one both convenient and ready.

Though the structure of these rocks, and the minerals entering into their com-
position, bring them up to the standard of true gneiss in the strictest sense of the
term, still the usual varieties of that rock are found in the different quarries.
On the one hand it approaches granite so nearly as not readily to be distin-
guished from that rock, and is known in commerce under the name of granite,
while on the other hand it similates mica schist, retaining, however, its qualities
of hardness and durability. The former is cut and employed for every architec-
tural purpose for which granite is adapted, while the latter, besides being exten-
sively quarried as a building stone, supplies nearly all the curb-stone used in the
city of Philadelphia, and some for other places. For this latter purpose no
stone could be better adapted ; its hardness and toughness fitting it for the
severe usage to which it is subjected on the sides of the streets, — while numer-
ous seams, nearly at right angles with its cleavage, and at suitable distances
from each other, enables the skilful workman to take out blocks of nearly the
exact size wanted, and of lengths varying from five to forty feet.

Immediately west of Ridley Creek, and for some distance above the post road,
and probably for some distance below it also, the character of the rock is essen-
tially different from that in its immediate vicinity. As exhibited in Spencer
Mcllvain's quarry above the road, it is substantially composed of hornblende and
quartz intimately blended, and has a specific gravity of 3.13.

We have now considered the underlying rocks of the southeastern section of
the county, below the development of trap first mentioned, and an imaginary
continuation of it to the neighborhood of Chester. On the upper side of this
trap much less change has been effected in the character of the adjacent strata :
still a change is well marked in many places. In proceeding northward from
the line already designated, the strata gradually become micaceous, until they
pass into well marked mica schist in the eastern part of the County. Before
reaching this point, strata of hornblende schist and silicious schist, alternate
with micaceous gneiss, or with true mica slate. In the southeastern part of
Marple township, a few narrow strata occur, composed chiefly of a sharp sili-
cious sand, with minute particles of mica interspersed. The lithological charac-
ter of this rock, as well as its immediate associations, would entitle it to be
classed as a mica slate. It is from these subordinate strata that the well known
" Darby creek scythe stones " are manufactured.*

The map will exhibit approximately where gneiss predominates on the one
hand, or mica slate on the other; but it may be repeated that the colors of the
map only indicate the predominance of a rock, and not its presence, to the exclu-
sion of all others.

The next belt of strata to be noticed is that in which all other rocks may be
considered subordinate to mica slate. This belt occupies quite a considerable
district in our County, but has attracted little attention, from the fact that a
large part of it is hidden from view by the remains of an ancient deposit of clay,
sand, and gravel that rests unconformably on the micaceous strata which compose
it. This deposit has mostly disappeared along the streams; which circumstance
allows us to form a good judgment of the general character of the underlying
rock, though its particular features in many places must remain a matter of
conjecture.

For the boundaries assigned to these micaceous strata, which are in a measure

* The stone, after having been removed from the quarry, is split into blocks of nearly the right
size These are dressed into shape with a kind of hatchet, after which the stones are finished'hy
grinding thorn on a large stone running horiz ntally, with pewter sand and water.

408 GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

arbitrary, the reader is referred to the map, where it will be seen that they occupy
the largest part of Haverford and Marple townships, a considerable scope of
Springfield and of Nether Providence. Within this scope, intrusive veins of
granite have effected a considerable change in the character of the rock in seve-
ral places. These may be seen near Leedom's Mill on Cobb's Creek, and near
Darby Creek, on the Philadelphia and WTest Chester Plank Road. On the east side
of the latter creek, one or two of these coarse granitic veins have been beautifully
displayed by the cutting made in grading the hill. What is singular, the strati-
fied rock adjoining the veins is very much decomposed, while the veins them-
selves have undergone but little change.

The mica slate is remarkably garnetiferous in some places, while in others
very few garnets are to be seen. They may be seen in the greatest abundance
east of Haverford Friends' Meeting-house, towards Cobb's Creek, where, in the
decomposed mica slate forming the bed of the road from the Catholic Church to
the creek, they appear like a dark-colored gravel ; but upon inspection each
specimen will be found to be a perfectly crystallized garnet. The mica slate
near the foot of the hill, which contains imbedded garnets, is a light-colored,
flaky variety, but the sandy bed of the road resulting from its decomposition is
of a reddish color. This is supposed to be caused by the slow decomposition of
the garnets themselves.

The mica slate is garnetiferous on Darby Creek, Naylor's Run, and in other
places where the rock is exposed. The garnets are generally small — from the
size of a shot to that of a pea, but not unfrequently those of a larger size are
found.

Occasionally this rock takes in a little kyanite as a component ingredient; but
this is rare, and when it does occur, the kyanite is of a much lighter color, and
in much less proportion than that found under similar circumstances near Darby
Creek Ferry. Surface specimens of rock thus constituted may be seen about
a half mile south of Haverford post-office.

Quartz rock so usually accompanies mica slate, in subordinate strata, that I
need hardly mention that our district forms no exception to the general rule.
Large exposures of this rock in place, are found in Marple township.

In several localities, the mica slate assumes the crimped and folded condition
that forms one of its striking characteristics. This is well exhibited on the hill
east of Beatty's Mills; near Lowne's Run, on the road from Springfield to Chester,
and in several localities in Marple township.

Mr. Rogers extends this Geological district beyond the Brandywine ; but most
of the strata composing it lose their micaceous character in proceeding south-
ward and westward from Crum Creek, though some of them regain that character
again as they approach the first mentioned stream. The map will exhibit ap-
proximately the character of the rocks there as elsewhere in the County. It may
be mentioned, however, that in the section formed by the Brandywine, some of
the strata are highly micaceous, and contain garnets, while others have the
character of true gneiss, or hornblende, or teldspathic gneiss.

In Birmingham township, a small bed of highly crystalline limestone is found
resting in a synclinal trough of the gneissic strata. It has been worked, but it
lies so deep, and the quarrying of it is so much interfered with by water, that the
further working of the quarry has long since been abandoned. Mr. Rogers does
not regard this limestone as belonging to his gneissic formation, but includes it
in his primal division of Palaezoic rocks. It was known to older Geologists as
" Primary Limestone."

In the southwestern part of the County, the mica in the gneiss rock is dark-
colored, and frequently is replaced by hornblende. Some distance up the river
there are several trap dykes, from which numerous boulders have been ejected
and spread around in such numbers and to such an extent, as to have given rise
to the idea that they were brought from a distance, and belonged to a formation
known to Geologists as drift. As the presence of these boulders can readily be
explained from local geological phenomena, the evidence of which is undoubted,
it is unnecessary to resort to any other theory to explain their presence. These
boulders are spread over a considerable portion of Bethel, a part of Upper Chi-

GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 409

Chester, and extend into Delaware State. On the middle branch of Naaman's
Creek they occur in the greatest profusion.

In the vicinity of Village Green, ordinary micaceous strata are observable.
Further north, in Aston, above the "water shade," the gneiss strata are highly
metamorphic, and appear in great confusion. The plutonic agency that caused
this metamorphism (doubtless protruded trap), has elevated hills of some height,
and has given a general unevenness to the surface of the country. Still further
north in Aston and Concord the gneiss is less altered, and is not characterized
by anything remarkable.

Purposely passing over without consideration the several exposures of serpen-
tine in our county, with the view of considering them and their accompanying
rocks together, I will now proceed to notice the gneissic strata lying west and
northwest of the more micaceous belt that has just been noticed. These strata
are observed to be in a highly metamorphic condition in many places, and the
cause of this metamorphism is readily found in the numerous exposures of trap
rock that meet the eye in many places. This gneissic belt occupies nearly the
whole of the townships of Radnor, Newtown, Edgmont, Tnornbury, and parts
of Upper Providence and Middletown. A part of Radnor township chiefly north
of the Gulf Creek, Mr. Rogers includes in the lowest member of his ancient
Palaeozoic strata. It will be noticed hereafter. Beyond Radnor, westward, the
northern boundary of the gneissic district, now under consideration, passes out
of the county north of Newtown township.

The trap rock throughout this region is much finer grained and more compact
than the same rock found in and near Upper Darby. Mr. Rogers, in his report of
the State survey, notices a very large dyke commencing some distance west of
the Schuylkill, crossing that river atConshohocken, and terminating in Delaware
county " near the road leading from the Lancaster Turnpike to the King of
Prussia village." The author has examined this dyke at Conshohocken and at
the Gulf Mills in Upper Merion, where there is a good exposure of it, and he
labors under a great mistake if he has not seen the same dyke, or very large
branches from it, much further southwest than the point designated as its west-
ern termination. Be this as it may, such dykes with innumerable smaller
branches exist, and that they have been the chief instruments in breaking up
the strata of this district of country, and in giving the rock its present meta-
morphic character, cannot admit of a doubt. My friend, the late John Evans, of
Radnor, before the publication of the State survey, held the opinion that the
trap dykes extending to the southern part of that township, (some of which
passed near his residence,) were branches of the main dyke passing the Gulf
Mills.

This trap is of a remarkably fine compact texture, especially in the neighbor-
hood of Siterville, where it breaks with a purely conchoidal fracture.

The gneiss of this district, where it has not been too much altered by the trap
dykes, does not differ materially from the gneiss of Upper Darby already noticed,
although none has been noticed so perfectly porphyritic. Mr. Rogers says the
prevailing varieties are, "first, a massive feldspathic gneiss, some of it mica-
ceous, and some of it like a stratified syenite; and, secondly, a dark, hard,
hornblende feldspar gneiss, thinly laminated and strongly striped when viewed
in transverse section." Mr. Rogers thinks he has discovered " a remarkable
feature in the uppermost or northern bands of gneiss * *** * which next
adjoin the base of the primal series, in the possession of a less than usual com-
pleteness of crystallization in the constituent minerals." Mr. R. has acknow-
ledged the difficulty of tracing the dividing line between the two formations, and
as he had a theory to support, which this imperfect crystallization favors, it may
be possible that his specimens were obtained on the wrong side of the dividing
line.

Besides the varieties of gneiss mentioned by Mr. Rogers, as occurring in this
district, there is one, not noticed by him, and not found in the southern or first
described district. Its peculiarity consists in its quartz possessing a light blue
color. This occurs in a belt of considerable breadth, which the author has
traced from the eastern part of Radnor to the eastern part of Willistown, in

410 GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Chester county. This blue quartz is best seen in the decomposed rock where its
small grains form an angular gravel. Specimens weighing several pounds are
sometimes met with.

North of the gneiss of Radnor the rock is chiefly a talcose slate, containing
much quartz and is in a highly metamorphic condition. This forms what is
known as the " Gulf Hills." At the foot of these hills, near the Gulf Creek, a
small deposit of impure limestone exists within the limits of our county.

A notice of the numerous exposures of serpentine within the county, only the
larger of which will be particularly described, will close our account of the un-
derlying rocks The map will show, with a good degree of accuracy, the loca-
tion of each exposure.

Mr. Rogers has overlooked every out-crop of serpentine within the limits of
our County, except one, which is about half a mile from Morgan's Corner, in
Radnor township, and which is very inconsiderable in extent. This exposure is
300 feet wide and contains, according to Mr. Rogers, " true injected or igneous ser-
pentine, and serpenlinous steatiiic talc-slate." It is not believed that this serpentine
has any connection with any other exposure of the same rock within the County.
There is, however, a small exposure in Lower Merion township, just beyond the
Radnor township line, that appears to be continuous with the extensive develop-
ment on the borders of the townships of Radnor, Newtown and Marple, and
serves to connect this serpentine with the serpentine and steatite of Mill creek,
and that of the Schuylkill at the soapstone quarry. The development mentioned
is located on the line of separation between the micaceous district and the
northern gneissic, and for a considerable distance forms the boundary between
them. This development of serpentine embraces both the stratified and unstra-
tified rock, and is associated with steatitic rocks, and also with true talcose slate
in small quantities.

As is the case with every extensive development of serpentine in the county,
this one is accompanied with a trap dyke. A little northwest of the residence
of Henry Hippie, in Marple, this dyke at one point is beautifully exposed, and in
conjunction with another unstratified rock, highly crystalline in its character,
forms a hill of no mean proportions. The fresh fracture of this rock is of a
dark green color, and its crystals are so interlaced as to give it such a degree of
toughness as to render its fracture very difficult. Its appearance is intermediate
between pyroxine and tremolite. Prof. Booth, of the U. S. Mint, judging from a
hand specimen, has rather doubtfully decided to call this rock diallage, a variety
of auffite, while J. C. Trautwine, Esq., who visited the locality, unhesitatingly
named it anthophyllite, a variety of hornblende. The distinction between augite
and hornblende is very slight. Whichever of the names may be the more ap-
propriate, the vast extent of the rock, will be a surprise to geologists and mine-
ralogists who may visit the locality. Diallage is not abundant in this country,
while anthophyllite has been regarded as rather a scarce mineral. This locality
will furnish enough of the material to build a city. The exposure of the rock at
the top of the hill is now nearly excluded from view by the dense growth of
young timber. It is shown, however, sufficiently well in the annexed litho-
graphed drawing. The great number of boulders of trap and of this associated
rock that lie scattered over the side of the hill, attest the force with which the
matter of these rocks was upheaved.

This new unstratified rock also constitutes a part of the rocky exposure in
Edgmont township, well known as Castle Rock, but the connection between it
and the trap cannot be so well seen at this place as at the exposure first men-
tioned.

The new rock as it appears in the dyke near Hippie's, and in the scattered
boulders round about, is strictly unstratified, but isolated rocks very similar in
appearance are found adjacent to this exposure of serpentine in which a lami-
nated structure is very apparent. I have not met with these laminated rocks in
place.

Near the Yellow Springs road, bordering this serpentine, there may be seen
a thin stratum of gneiss, very fine in its texture, and of an unusually white
color. This rock, upon close inspection, will be found to have taken into its
composition a portion of light-colored talc.

GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 411

Fragments of a rough, porous, silicious rock, generally very ferruginous, pro-
vincially termed "Honeycomb stone," are found strewed around this serpentine.
Fragments of this unsightly rock are associated with all our developments of
serpentine of any extent, and as tbey are found in the greatest profusion around
the serpentine district of Middletown, the rock will be described in connection
with that tract.

The minerals of the serpentine will be given in the general catalogue of the
minerals of the County, but it may be remarked that in the noitheastern part of
the exposure under consideration, magnetic iron ore is found in considerable
quantities, apparently interstratified with the serpentine rock. In the same
vicinity the serpentine is of a more magnesian character.

Proceeding southwesterly towards Cruin Creek, the true serpentine disappears,
but the talcose strata are extended, and can be traced for a considerable dis-
tance in the direction of the "Blue Hill" serpentine in Upper Providence. It
is in this extension that some of these strata assume a more steatitic character,
but no soapstone has been found of a quality sufficiently good to be quarried
for the uses to which this material is generally applied. Thin strata of a green
colored talcose slate sometimes alternate with the mica slate of this vicinity.

The exposure of serpentine known as "Blue Hill" is not large, but at the
point specially bearing that name, the rock does not present itself in any ques-
tionable shape. If any part of the rock near Morgan's Corner can be regarded
as " true injected igneous serpentine" the plutonic origin of the serpentine at
Blue Hill cannot be doubted. The rock is very much divided by seams, some
of which are filled with amianthus.

The next exposure of serpentine in order is the large tract in Middletown. It
is the largest development of this rock in the County, and particularly so in its
dimensions across the regular strata of that district. Where it is exposed or
approaches the surface very nearly, it constitutes what is known as the " Bar-
rens " of Middletown,

The "Honeycomb" stones before mentioned are spread around this serpentine
in rather inconvenient profusion. Their origin has been a matter of wonder, as
they have not been found in place, but are always seen scattered about as a kind
of out-liers on the flanks of the serpentine. Their appearance in many instances
resemble the slag of a furnace, and if we cannot conclude that they have resulted
from the metamorphism of a ferro-silicious stratum of rock by the application of
a high degree of heat, accompanied by the emission of gaseous matter, would it
be unreasonable to regard them as the slag thrown off from the surface of a
mass of melted serpentine? The apparent laminated structure of some of these
fragments of " Honeycomb stone " favor the former theory, but furnace slays fre-
quently exhibit the same appearance. It will therefore be safest to regard them
as the vitreous slag of a melted mass of serpentine, until they shall have been
discovered in situ; and that too in connection with strata of a proper compo-
sition, that by their metamorphism, would result in Honeycomb rock.

The Middletown serpentine is noted for the large amount of chrome it has
afforded. Large quantities have been obtained here within a few years past. It
is procured in two ways, by mining, or by washing* the alluvial sand of the beds
of streams that have passed through the serpentine. The latter is preferred, as
the mineral is then obtained in its purity. When obtained in this state, it has
the appearance of a shiny black sand, nearly every particle of which when
brought under a glass is shown to be a perfect crystal.

Beyond the serpentine proper of this district, the accompanying talcose or
magnesian strata extend to Chester Creek, towards which they are very much
decomposed.

* Most of this grain chrome is found in the ancient beds of streams mixed with sand and
gravel. These deposits are discovered in various ways, and when found, the soil and superin-
cumbent day are removed, and the whole material of the deposit is thrown into strong iron sieves
which are worked by hand under water. The sand and chrome grain pass through the sieve
and are deposited in the vessels containing the water The contents of these vessels are then re-
moved to the " wash-house," where troughs are provided, through which water is caused to pass
with considerable velocity. In these troughs, which have stops in them to create a ripple, the
saud is washed out from the chrome grain, having a much less specific gravtiy. The washing
has to be repeated three times before the ore is ready to be dried and packed in barrels for the
manufacturer.

412 GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

There are several more exposures of serpentine in the County whicli require
no particular notice. Their size and location are exhibited on the Geological
map.

There has now been brought in review before the reader all the underlying
rocks of the County, in fact every thing that has the name of rock in common
language. But in the language of the Geologist every deposit that constitutes
a part of the crust of our planet, however soft and earthy, is a rock, and such
deposits often form the most interesting subjects of his investigations.

Besides the very recent alluvial deposits of mud and sand along the margin of
the river, which will require no particular notice, we have two distinct deposits
of clay, gravel, and sand, of different ages, resting unconformably on the rocks
that have been noticed, — the strata of the solid rocks having generally a dip ap-
proaching to vertical, while the distinctive lamina of these more recent beds do
not vary much from horizontal. On the Geological map of the State survey one
of these deposits is designated as " diluvium," the other has neither been laid
down on the map nor noticed in the text. It need hardly be mentioned that
both deposits were formed when the spots they occupy were submerged, consti-
tuting the bottom of a body of water of no great depth.

The beds of one of these deposits occupy a portion of the eastern part of the
County above what has been called the " water shade," (and which might with
no impropriety be termed the "ancient river terrace,") while those of the other
are spread over nearly the whole space between the base of this terrace and the
river, the exception being on the margins of streams, where its loose materials
have been removed.

It was not till about fifteen years ago that any such difference was observed
by me between these upper and lower beds as would suggest a difference in
their age, and the conditions under which they were deposited. Such a differ-
ence does, however, exist, and it is of a character to elicit speculations in respect
to the remote geological condition of this section of country, and its passage
from that condition to its present, of the highest interest.

In their general aspect the deposits have no striking difference, except the one
nearest the river presents a larger proportion of clay beds, and the quality of the
clay is much superior, being generally of the kind known as " brick clay."

A close examination of the upper beds of gravel will show that the materials
composing them (mostly quartz) have beeu derived from the oldest rocks. No
such particular examination of these beds has been made as to justifj- a positive
denial of the existence in them of matter derived from rocks of a later formation,
but it may be asserted with confidence that if such matter does exist, it is in
excessively minute proportions. Of the upper beds, only the very remnants
remain. To such a great extent have they been washed away,- that they are only
found of any great thickness, at a few high points in the district of country over
which they are spread, such as Sandy Bank near Media, and the Presbyterian
meeting-house in Mar pie. For a considerable space along the margins of the
streams throughout the whole district, all, or nearly all of this deposit has been
washed away ; the soil there being formed from the decomposition of the under-
lying rocks in place.

Now, the lower beds, instead of being free from pebbles of the later rocks, in
some places abound in them. These are mostly from the disintegration of sand-
stone rocks ; and among them, water- worn blocks of sandstone of a considerable
size are frequently found. It is not difficult to point to the parent rock, that by
its disintegration, furnished the sandstone pebbles and water-worn blocks to
these lower beds, but it is not so easy to explain why a supply of the same
materials was withheld from the gravel beds of the upper deposit.

But one explanation has occurred to the author, and that rests upon the suppo-
sition that this section of our continent was gradually upheaved from its former
submerged condition. "When the upper beds were formed, no disintegration of
the sandstone rocks had occurred, or if it had, there was no current to transport
the resulting materials in the direction of the upper beds. They therefore
necessarily consist of the disintegrated materials of the older rocks upon which
they rest, or of the same class of rocks found in the immediate vicinity.

GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 413

A farther upheaval of the land followed, perhaps somewhat paroxysmal in its
character, that placed the upper beds out of reach of all currents, but leaving
the country occupied by the lower beds still under water, and at the same time
subjecting the sandstone rocks north of us to disintegration. A current was
established that swept over these rocks, and in its course over the southeastern
front of the County, (which still remained submerged,) and carried with it these
more distant disintegrated materials, to be mingled with the accumulated waste-
age of the rocks in the vicinity. The presence of the pebbles in these lower
beds is not the only evidence of this current and its direction. The water-worn
blocks of hard sandstone are larger and more numerous in the vicinity of Phila-
delphia, than they are in the vicinity of Darby. Still lower down they are again
smaller, and probably disappear before we reach the circular line, where even
gravel beds are scarce.

Another upheaval in its turn placed these lower beds above water. Whether
it was gradual or sudden can only be a matter of conjecture, but there is unmis-
takeable evidence, that this upward movement did not cease till the land was
higher above the water than the position it now occupies. Unmistakeable
evidence also exists that there has been a subsidence in the land constituting the
southern margin of the County, and there are those who believe that this subsi-
dence, however slow it may be, is still in progress.

The proof of this subsidence rests upon a fact not generally known, and was
only brought to the knowledge of the author within a few years past. This fact
is the existence of the remains of an ancient cedar swamp on the marsh of Tini-
cum Island that would now be under tide-water but for the meadow banks. The
white cedar, (Cupressus thyoides, Miehx.) as is well known, only grows with vigor
in sphagnous swamps that are abundantly supplied with spring water. There
is proof at hand to show that this ancient swamp was once provided with all
the conditions necessary to insure the thrifty growth of its cedars. Internal
terrestrial forces had adapted the land to their growth. Planted by the hand of
nature, they grew and flourished for ages. A subsidence of the land ensues ;
they are overwhelmed by the tide, die out, and but for the almost miraculous
durability of their timber, not a vestige of these once stately trees would remain
to mark the place of their growth. As it is, but a few stumps and a few trunks
are visible at the surface, but doubtless many more are buried in the marsh.

The relics of this swamp was pointed out to me by Sketchley Morton, Esq., of
Springfield, who informed me that his attention had been called to it by his
father many years since.

Nearly all the accounts we have of the fort built on Tinicum Island by Gov.
Printz, represent (in the English translation) that it was built of Hemlock logs.
This is unquestionably a mistake, as no hemlock, beyond a few scattering,
stunted trees, ever grew in this part of the country, and none in the vicinity of
Tinicum. It has occurred to me, that at the time Printz came to this country,
large numbers of the cedar logs of this ancient swamp were lying on the sur-
face of the mud, and that this early Swedish fortress was built of these logs.
It will be remembered that the fort accidentally took fire and was burned, a
circumstance very likely to happen, if built of cedar logs after they had become
dry ; but hemlock logs rot before they dry sufficiently to ignite. Part of the old
Ferry-house, at Darby Creek Ferry, within a few hundred yards of the site of the
ancient Cedar Swamp, and erected in 1694, is built of white cedar logs, which
are still in a perfect state of preservation. Another very old house in the imme-
diate neighborhood is built of the same timber. It is not probable that the
timber for these humble edifices was brought from distant places iu Jersey at
that early day, and the fact of their construction out of cedar is almost conclu-
sive that there was no scarcity of cedar logs strewed on the surface near the
spot where the trees had grown. Such logs are still often encountered in digging
the marsh ditches in this vicinity.

414 GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

MINERAL LOCALITIES OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Quartz. (Common.) Abundant throughout the mica slate districts of the County.

Limpid Quartz. Upper Darby, near the Howard House.

Smoky Quartz. Upper Darby, near the Garrett Road Toll-gate, and also near
Kellyville School-house.

Blue Quartz*. Radnor, near the Friends' Meeting-house, and also near Evans'
School-house.

Ferruginous Quartz, found in the honeycomb stone that accompanies the ser-
pentine : most abundant in Middletown.

Amethyst. Aston, near Village Green ; and Upper Providence, near the Rock
House.

Green Quartz. This mineral is found at Blue Hill, in small aggregated masses
of crystals, some having perfect terminal faces ; also in radiated masses.

Chalcedony. Found mostly in the honeycomb rock of the serpentine, in Marple,
Middletown, &c.

Jasper. Found as the next above ; generally of a yellow color, and sometimes
striped. It is most abundant in Middletown.

Drusy Quartz. Found as the next above.

Corundum. Near the Black Horse Tavern, in Middletown.

Feldspar. (Common.) Abundant throughout the County, in large granitic veins ;
of a white color in Birmingham, near the circular line, where it has
been quarried and used for making porcelain ; also on Thos. Rees' farm,
near Blue Hill ; of a green color, at Mineral Hill, in Middletown ; of a
flesh color, at the old Molybdena mine, on Chester Creek, above Upland.

Moonstone. Mineral Hill, in Middletown.

Limestone. (Compact Magnesian.) Radnor, near Morgan's Corner.

" (Crystalline Primary.) At the old quarry in Birmingham.

Mica. Generally distributed throughout the County. It has been found in large
pieces in Aston, Upper Darby, and Haverford ; in low prisms in Con-
cord ; and of a deep rich black color in Middletown, near the Black
Horse Tavern ; of a green color, at the old mine, above Upland, on
Chester Creek.

Buckholdzite. Birmingham township.

Beryl. In large granitic veins, in the quarries of Chester and Ridley town-
ships ; also in Springfield and Upper Darby.

Chlorite. In nodules from the trap rocks of Upper Darby, where it is granu-
lar. It is also found adjacent to several of the exposures of serpentine,
where it is slaty. Near Glen Riddle it is scaly.

Rutile. Edgmont township, in quartz.

Kyanite. Darby Creek Ferry, where specimens of great beauty have been ob-
tained ; above the Post road, opposite to the Ferry, where it composes
a large proportion of a micaceous rock ; on the farm of Mrs. Pritchett,
in Haverford, where it is associated with staurotide in mica slate, and
near Darby, on Mount Zion Hill.

Staurotide. In Haverford, as mentioned in the next above ; and also in the
same township, east of the Friends' Meeting-house, in decomposed mica
slate with garnets.

Anthophylite. In great abundance near Henry Hippie's, in Marple, and at
Castle Rock. Prof. Booth regards this mineral rather as Diallage
rock. It is found laminated or stratified in Radnor. This mineral is
also found near the old lime-kiln in Newtown.

Actynolite. Generally found associated with serpentine ; in Middletown, near
the Black Horse Tavern : near Blue Hill, in Upper Providence, and in
various parts of the serpentine exposure in Marple and Radnor, but
not so abundant.

Serpentine. See the geological map. It may be found in great variety at an
old quarry on the Yellow Springs road. Precious serpentine has been
found in this locality.

Tremolite. Same localities as actynolite ; and in addition it is found near the
old lime-kiln, on the West Chester road, in Newtown.

GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 415

Asbestus. That silky variety known as amianthus, is most abundant at Blue
Hill. The ligniform variety is most plentiful in Middletown; but the
mineral can be obtained in some form at most of the exposures of ser-
pentine.

Magnesite. At most of the exposures of serpentine, a mineral is found that
passes under this name.

Talc. This mineral also abounds in the serpentine or in the subjacent strata.
It passes into a kind of soapstone, north of Palmer's mill, in Marple.

Picrolite. Found at several of the serpentine exposures in the County. In
Radnor, near the Yellow Springs road, it is of a dark green color.

Andalusite. In Upper Providence, near the Rock House, and in Springfield,
half a mile north of West Dale.

Sillimanite. Was found in one of the stone quarries near Chester.

Garnet. Large crystals of this mineral have been found in Middletown, nearly
opposite Bishop's mill, with replaced angles. Common garnets of
moderate size are found in the quarry of Dr. George Smith, in Upper
Darby, and on the Pritchett farm, in Haverford. Those of a small size,
in immense numbers, exhibiting the appearance of dark-colored gravel,
cover the bed of the road east of Friends' Meeting-house, Haverford.

Hornblende. Near Crum Creek, in Newtown, and at various other places in
the Count}' where trappean rocks abound.

Pyrope. In Concord township, on Green's Creek, above Peter's mill-dam.

Chrome Ore. This valuable mineral is found in all the large exposures of
serpentine in the County, but only in that of Middletown in sufficient
quantities to be worked to advantage. The manner of washing the ore
is explained in a note page 411.

Brown Hematite. Found in connection with all the large exposures of ser-
pentine.

Magnetic Iron. On the Yellow Springs road, in Radnor.

Plumbago. Very impure, is found in the Lawrence road, on the hill west of
Langford Run.

Sulphuret of Molybdena. In an old mine on Chester Creek above Upland.

Ferruginous Sulph. Copper. Same locality.

Bog Iron Ore. This is found in different deposits of clay throughout the
County. Good specimens are found in the clay land north of Darby.

Zoisite. Found in the broken stone on the Delaware County turnpike, near
Abram Powell's dwelling.

Pipe Clay. At the old lime quarry in Birmingham.

Apatite. Ridley, in Garnet.

Schorl. Found in large granitic veins, where they occur; in aggregated masses
of crystals northeast of the Rock House, iu Upper Providence.

Ochreous Clay. This deeply tinged yellow clay is found in the bed of the
Delaware River, between flood and ebb tide, just below the Tinicum
hotel. This clay is doubtless referred to by Campanius, when he says :
"on the shore of Tennakongs, there is found a gamboge which is as
good as yellow ochre ; but it is not used in the country, except to color
deer skins." p. 51.

Spinelle. In minute octohedral crystals, at Blue Hill.

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

The flora of Delaware County agrees so nearly with that of Chester County,
and the latter having been so fully displayed by Dr. Darlington in the last edition
of his Flora Cestrica, the necessity of including in this work even a catalogue of
our plants may be doubted. There is, however, some difference between the
floras of the iwo counties, occasioned chiefly by the tide-water district in this
County, and the slate-hills and limestone of Chester County. It was therefore
concluded to give a simple catalogue of the Pho?nogamous, or flowering plants
of Delaware County, embracing the higher orders of our Cryptogamous, or
flowerless plants, with the localities of some of the more rare species. In arrang-
ing the catalogue, Gray's " Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States,"
(second edition,) has been substantially followed. A few plants have been put
in the catalogue on the authority of other persons, and a few possibly may have
been included which do not grow in the County, but it is trusted that the list
will be found generally correct. To Dr. Thomas P. James of Philadelphia, I am
indebted for that part of the catalogue which includes the mosses.

CATALOGUE.*

SERIES I.

PH^NOGAMOUS OR FLOWERING PLANTS.

CLASS I.— DICOTYLEDONOUS OR EXOGENOUS PLANTS.

Caltha, L.

palustris, L. (Marsh Marigold.)
Aquilegia, L.

Canadensis, L. (Wild Columbine.)
Delphinum, L.

Consolida, L. (Lark-spur.)
Hydrastis, L.

Canadensis, L. (Yellow-root.)
Cimicifdga, L.

racemosa,f Ell. (Black-snakeroot.)

ORDER MAGNOLIACE^.

Magnolia, L.

glauca, L. (Sweet Bay), Tinicum.

LlRIODENDKON, L.

Tulipifera, L. (Tulip-poplar.)

ORDER ANONACEJ3.

Asimina, Adans.

triloba, Dunal. (Papaw.) Near Dar-
by creek, on the farm of the
heirs of I. Maris, dec'd, in Mar-
pie township.

* Species in italics are naturalized.

t A remarkable variety of this plant, with finely dissected leaves, has been found growing in
Upper Darby. It has not yet been observed to flower.

ORDER RANUNCULACE^E.

Clematis, L.

Virginiana, (Virgin's Bower.)

Anemone, L.

Virginiana, L. (Tall Anemone.)
nemorosa. L. (Wind-flower.)

Hepatica, Dill.

triloba, Chaix. (Liverwort.)

Thalictrum, Tourn.

anemonoides, Michx. (Anemone.)
dioicum, L. (Meadow-rue.)
Cornuti, L. (Meadow-rue.)

Ranunculus, L.

aquatilas, L. (Floating Crow-foot.)
Flammula, L. (Spearwort.)
abortivus, L. (Small-flowered.)
sceleralus, L. (Cellery-leaved.)
recurvatus, Poir.
Pennsylvanicus, L.
fascicularis, Muhl.
repens, L.

bulbosus, L. (Common Butter-cup.)
acris, L. (Tall Crow-foot.)

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

417

ORDER MENISPERMACE.E.
Menispermdm, L.

Canadense. L. (Moon-seed.)

ORDER BERBERIDACE^E.

Caulophyllum, Michx.

thalictroides, Michx. (Pappoose-
root.)
Podophyllum, L.

peltatum, L. (May Apple.)

ORDER CABOMBACE^E.

Brasenia, Schreber.
peltata, Pursh.

ORDER NYMPH^EACE^E.
Nuphar, Smith.

advena, Ait. (Splatter-dock.)

ORDER SARRACENIACE^E.
Sarracenia, Tour.

purpurea, L. (Side-saddle Flower.)
Tinicum, very rare.

ORDER PAPAVERACE^E.

Papayer, L.

somniferum, L. (Common poppy.)
dubium, L. \ Found occasionally
Rhaias, W. j in cultivated fields.

Argemone, L.

Mexicana, L. (Mexican poppy.)

Chelidonium, L.

rnajus, L. (Celandine.)

Sanguinaria, Dill.

Canadensis, L. (Blood-root.)

ORDER FUMARIACEJE.
Dicentra, Bork.

Cucullaria, DC. (Dutchman's
Breeches.)
Fumaria, L.

officinalis, L. (Common Fumitory.)

ORDER CRUCIFER^E.
Nasturtium, R. Br.

pulustre, DC. (Marsh Cress.)
Shores of the Delaware.
Cardamine, L.

rhomboidea, DC. (Spring Cress.)

hirsuta, L.

rotundifolia, Michx. (American
Water Cress.)
Dentaria, L.

laciniata, Muhl.
Arabis, L.

lyrata, L.

Canadensis, L. (Sickle-pod.)

laevigata, DC

27

Barbarea, R. Br.

vulgaris, R. Br.
Sisymbrium, L.

officinale, Scop. (Hedge Mustard.)

Thalianum. Gaud.

canescens, Nutt.
Sinapis, Tourn.

alba, L. (White Mustard.)

nigra, L. Com. Mustard.)
Draba, L.

verna, L. (Whitlow-grass.)
Cochlearia, Tourn.

armoracia, L. (Horse-radish.)
Camelina, Crantz.

saliva, Crantz. (Wild Flax.)
Lepidium, L.

virginicum, L. (Pepper-grass.)

cam jj est re, L.
Capsella, Vent.

Bursa-pastoris, Mcench. (Shep-
herd's Purse.)

ORDER VIOLACEiE.
Solea, Ging.

concolor, Ging. (Green Violet.)
Viola.

rotundifolia, Michx. (Round-leav-
ed.)

lanceolata, L.

primulaefolia, L.

blanda, Willd. (Sweet white.)

cucullata, Ait. (Common blue.)

palmata, L.

sagittata, Ait.

pedata, L. On Mica Slate, com-
mon.

Muhlenbergii, Torr.

striata, Ait.

pubescens, Ait.

ORDER CISTACE^E.
Helianthemum, Tourn.

Canadense, Michx.
Lechea, L.

major, Michx.

minor, Lam.

ORDER DROCERACE^E.
Drosera, L.

rotundifolia, L. (Sundew.) Tini-
cum, abundant.

ORDER HYPERIACE^E.

ASCYRUM, L.

Crux-Andrea;, L. (St. Andrew's
cross.)
Hypericum, L.

perforatum^. (Common St. John's-

wort.)
corymbosum, Muhl.

418

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

adpressum, Barton,
mutilum, L.
Canadense, L.

Sarothra, Michx. (Pine weed.)
Elodea, Pursh.

Virginica, Nutt.

ORDER CA.RYOPHYLLACE.E.

DlANTHUS, L.

Armeria, L. (Deptford pink.)
Upper Providence, not uncom-
mon.)
Saponaria, L.

officinalis, L. (Bouncing Bet.)

SlLENE, L.

stellata, Ait.

antirrhina, L.
Agrostemma, L.

Githago, L. (Common wheat Coc-
kle.)
Arenaria, L.

serpyllifolia, L. (Sandwort.)
Stellaria, L.

media, Smith. (Common Chick-
weed.)

pubera, Michx. (Great Chickweed.)

longifolia, Muhl.

uliginosa, Murr. (Swamp Stitch-
wort.)
Cerastidm, L.

vulgatum, L.

viscosum, L.

oblongifolium, Torr. Abundant on
serpentine.

arvense, L.

nutans, Raf.
Anychia, Michx.

dichotoma, Michx. (Forked Chick-
weed.)
Mullugo, L.

verticillata, L. (Carpetweed.)

ORDER PORTULACACEJ3.

Portulaca, Tourn.

oleracea, L. (Common Purslane.)
Talinum, Adans.

teretifolium, Pursh. On serpentine.
Claytonia, L.

Virginica, L. (Spring Beauty.)

ORDER MALVACEAE.

SlDA, L.

spinosa, L.
Abutilon, Tourn.

Avicennai, Gaertn.
Malta, L.

rotundifolia, L. (Common Mallow.)

Hibiscus, L.

Moscheutos, L. (Rose Mallow.)

Local, Tinicum.
Trionurn, L. Near Clifton Hall,

Insane Hospital, Upper Darby.

ORDER TILIACE^E.

Tilia, L.

Americana, L. (American Linden.)
Darby creek, and other streams
— rare.

ORDER LINACE.E.

LlNUM, L.

virginianum, L. (Wild flax.)
Bootii.

ORDER OXALIDACEJE.

Oxalis, L.

violacea, L. (Violet Sorrel.)
stricta, L. (Yellow Sorrel.)

ORDER GERANIACEiE.

Geranium, L.

macuiatum, L. (Cranesbill.)

Carolinianum, L.
Erodium, L'Her.

conium.

ORDER BALSAMINACE^E.

Impatiens, L.

pallida, Nutt. (Pale Touch-me-
not.)

fulva, Nutt. (Spotted Touch-me-
not.)

ORDER LIMNANTHACE^E.

FLffiRKEA, Willd.

proserpinacoides, Willd.
ORDER RUTACE^E.

AlLANTHUS, Desf.

■ glandulosus, Desf. (Paradise-tree.)

ORDER ANACARDIACE^E.

Rhus, L.

typhina. L. (Staghorn Sumac.)
glabra, L. (Common Sumac.)
Copallina, L.

venenata, DC. (Poison Sumac.)
Toxicodendron, L. (Poison Vine.)

ORDER VITACE^}.

Vitis, Tourn.

Labrusca, L. (Fox-grape.)
aestivalis, Michx. (Chicken-grape.)
cordifolia, Michx.

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

419

Ampelopsis, Michx.

quinquefolia, Michx. (American
Ivy.)

ORDER RHAMNACEJE.
Rhamnus, Tourn.

catharticus, L. (Buckthorn.) Up-
per Darby — fully naturalized.
Ceanothus, L.

Americanus, L. (Jersey Tea.)

ORDER celastrAce^e.

Celastrus, L.

scandens, L. (Waxwork.)
Euonymus, Tourn.

atropurpureus Jacq. (Burning-
bush.)

Americanus, L. (Strawberry-tree.)

ORDER SAPINDACE.E.
Staphylea, L.

trifolia, L. (Bladder-nut.)
Acer, Tourn.

saccharinum, Wang. (Sugar Ma-
ple.) Possibly not a native of
Delaware County,
rubrum, L. (Red Maple.)

ORDER POLYGALACE.E.
Polygala, Tourn.
sanguinea, L.

cruciata, L. (Tinicum, abundant.)
verticillata, L.
ambigua, Nutt.

Senega, L. (Seneca snake-root.)
— In the northwest part of the
County — rare.

ORDER LEGUMINOSiE.
Lupinus, Tourn.

perennis, L. (Wild Lupin.) Upper
Providence and S. Valley Hill.
Crotalaria, L.

sagittalis, L.
Trifolium, L.

arvense, L. (Rabbit- foot clover.)
pratense, L. (Red Clover.)
repens, L. (White Clover.) Indi-
genous northward,
procumbens, L. (Low Hop Clover.)
agrarium, L. (Large Hop Clover.)
Melilotus, Tourn.
alba, Lam.

Partially naturalized.
Medicago, L.

saliva, L. (Lucerne.) This plant
maintains itself where intro-
duced.
tribuloides, W. In the neighbor-
hood of Todmorden — rare.

Robina, L.

Pseudacacia, L. (Common Locust.)
viscosa, Vent. (Clammy Locust.)
Tephrosia, Pers.

Virginiana, Pers. Hills near the
Gulf.
Desmodium, DC.

nudiflorum, DC.
acuminatum, DC.
rotundifolium, DC.
cuspidatum, Tor. & Gray,
paniculatum, DC.
rigidum, DC.
Dillenii, Darlingt.
ciliare, DC.
viridiflorum, Beck.
Marylandicum, Boot,
canescens, DC.
Lespedeza, Michx.

procumbens, Michx.
repens, Tor. & Gray,
capitata, Michx.

violacea, Pers. Three varieties,
hirta, Ell.
Stuvei, Nutt.
Stylosanthes, Swartz.

elatior, Swartz. (Pencil-flower.)
Vicia, Tourn.
saliva, L.
Cracca, L.
Lathyrus, L.

ve?wsus, Muhl.

palustris, L. var. myrtifolius.
Phaseolus, L.

perennis, Walt. (Wild Bean.)
helvolus, L.
Apios, Boerh.

tuberosa, Moench.
Ahphicarp.ea, Ell.
monoica, Nutt.
Baptisia, Vent.

tinctoria, R. Br. (Wild Indigo.)
Cercis, L.

Canadensis, L. (Judas-tree.)
Cassia, L.

Marylandica, L. (Wild Senna.)
Chamascrista, L.

nictitans, L.(Wild Sensitive-plant.)
Gleditschia, L.

triacanthos, L. (Honey Locust.)

ORDER ROSACEA.
Prunus, L.

Americana, Marsh. (Red Plum.)
spinosa, L. (Sloe.) On the lands
of the Insane Hospital, Upper
Darby.
Chicasa, Mich. (Chicasaw Plum.)
avium, L. (The original of the
English Cherries.)

420

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

vulgaris, Mill. (Pie and Morello
Cherries.)

Virginiana, L. (Wild Cherry.)

serotina, Ehrhart. (Black Wild-
cherry.)
Spirea, L.

opulifolia, L. (Nine-bark.) Rare.

salicifolia, L.
Gillenia, Moench.

trifoliata, Moench.
Agrimonia, Tourn.

Eupatoria, L.

parviflora, Ait.
Sangdisorba, L.

Canadensis, L.
Gedm, L.

Virginianum, L.

agrimonioides, Pursh.
Potentilla, L.

Norvegica, L.

Canadensis, L. (Cinque-Foil.)
Fragaria, Tourn.

Virginiana, Ehrhart. (Strawberry.)

Vesca, L. (Cultivated Strawberry.)
Rubds, L.

occidentalis, L. (Com. Raspberry.)

villosus, Ait. (High Blackberry.)

Canadensis, L. (Dewberry.)

hispidus, L. (Swamp Blackberry.)

cuneifolius, Pursh. (Sand Black-
berry.
Rosa, Tourn.

Carolina, L. (Swamp Rose.)

lucida, Ehrhart. (Wild Rose.)

rubiginosa, L. (Sweet-briar.)
Crataegus, L.

cordata, Ait. (Washington Thorn.)

punctata, Jaq.

flava, Ait. (Summer Haw.)

Crus-galli, L. (Cockspur Thorn.)

oxycanlha, Michx. (English Haw-
thorn.)

coccinea, L. (Scarlet-fruited
Thorn.
Pyrus, L.

coronaria, L. (American Crab-
Apple.) This tree was rather
common forty years ago in De-
laware County, but is now al-
most extinct.

arbutifolia, L. (Choke-berry.)

Malils, L. (Apple-tree.)

communis, L. Pear.
Amelanchier, Medic.

Canadensis, Torr. & Gray. (Ser-
vice-berry.)
Cydonia, Tourn.

vulgaris, Pers. (Quince.)

ORDER MELASTOMACES.
Rhexia, L.

virginica, L.

ORDER LYTHRACEiE.

Ammannia, Houston.

humilis, Michx.
Decodon, Gmelin.

verticillatum, Gmelin. Rare.
Cuphea, Jacq.

viscosissima, Jacq.

ORDER ONAGRACE^E.
Epilobidm, L.

palustre, L.

coloratum, Muhl.
Oenothera, L.

biennis, L. (Evening Primrose.)

fruticosa, L.

pumila, L.
Gaura, L.

biennis, L.
Ludwigia, L.

alternifolia, L.

palustris, Ell.
Circea, Tourn.

Lutetiana, L. (Enchanter's Night-
shade.)

ORDER GROSSULACE.E.
Ribes, Tourn.

floridum, L. (Wild Black Cur-
rant.)
rubrum, L. (Red Currant.)
nigrum, L. (Garden Black Currant.)

ORDER CUCURBITACEiE.

Sicyos, L.

angulatus, L.

ORDER CRASSULACES.
Sedcm, L.

ternatum, Michx. OnRidley Creek,
— rare
Penthorum, Gronov.
sedoides, L.

ORDER SAXIFRAGES.
Saxifraga, L.

Virginiensis, Michx. (Early Saxi-
frage.)
Pennsylvanica, L. (Swamp Saxi-
frage.)
Heuchera, L.

Americana, L. (Alum Root.)
Mitella, Tourn.

diphylla, L. (Bishop's Cap.)
Chrysosplenium, Tourn.
Americanum, Schwein.

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

421

ORDER HAMAMELACE^E.

Hamamelis, L.

Virginica, L. (Witch-Hazel.)

LlQUIDAMBAR, L.

styraciflua, L. (Sweet Gum.) —
Mostly found on the clay lands,
not very far from the Dela-
ware.

ORDER UMBELLIFER^E.

Hydrocotyle, Tourn.

Americana, L.

umbellata, L.
Sanicula, Tourn.

Canadensis, L.

Marilandica, L.
Daucus, Tourn.

Carota, L.
Heracledm, L.

lanatum, Michx. (Cow Parsnip.)
Pastinaca, Tourn.

sativa, L. (Parsnip.)
Archemora, DC.

rigida, DC.
Archangelica, HofFm.

hirsuta, Torr & Gray.

atropurpurea, Hoifm.
Thaspium, Nutt.

barbinode, Nutt.

trifoliatum, var: atropurpureum,
Torr & Gray.
F(enicdlum, Adans.

vulgare, Gasrtn. (Fennel.) Natu-
ralized in some places.
Ciccta, L.

maculata, L. (Cowbane.)
Cryptot^enia, DC.

Canadensis, DC.

Osmorrhiza, Raf.

longistylis, DC. 1 0 . „. ,
u • <■ t nn > Sweet Cicely,
brevistylis, DC. J • J

ORDER ARALIACE^E.

Aralia, Tourn.
spinosa, L.

racemosa, L. (Spikenard.)
nudicaulis, L.
trifolia, Gray.

ORDER CORNACE.E.

Cornus, Tourn.

florida, L. (Dogwood.)

sericea, L.

paniculata, L'Her.

alternifolia, L.
Nyssa, L.

multiflora, Wang. (Sour Gum.)

ORDER CAPRIFOLIACE^).

LONICERA, L.

sempervircns, Ait. (Coral Honey-
suckle.)
Diervilla, Tourn.

trifida, Mcench.
Triostedm, L.

perfoliatum, (Horse Gentian.)
Sambucus, Tourn

Canadensis, L. (Common Elder.)
Viburnum, L.

nudum, L. Tinicum Island.

prunifolium, L. (Black Haw.)

Lentago, L.

dentatum, L. (Arrow-wood.)

acerifolium, L.

ORDER RUBIACE.E.

Galium, L.

Aparine, L. (Goose-Grass.)

asprellum, Michx.

trifidum, L.

triflorum, Michx.

pilosum, Ait.

circaezans, Michx. (Wild Liquor-
ice.)

lanceolatum, Torr.
Diodia, L

teres, Walt.
Cephalanthus, L.

occidentalis, L. (Button-Bush.)
Mitchella, L.

repens, L. (Partridge-berry.)
Oldenlandia, Plum.

ceerulea, Hooker. (Innocence.)

ORDER VALERINACE^E.

Fedia, Gaertn.

oliloria, Vahl. (Corn-salad.)

ORDER DIPSACE.E.

Dipsacus, Tourn.

sylvestris, Mill. (Wild Teasel.)

ORDER COMPOSITE.

Vernonia, Schreb.

Noveboracensis, Willd. (Iron-
weed.)
Elephantopus, L.

Carolinianus, Willd. (Elephant's-
foot.) Chester township.
Liatris, Schreb.

spicata, Willd.
Kuhnia, L.

eupatorioides, L. (Very rare.)
Eupatorium, Tourn.
purpureum, L.

trifolium, a well-marked var: of
E. purpureum. Tinicum.

422

BOTANY. OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

teucrifolium, Willd.

rotundifolium, L.

sessilifolium, L.

perfolnitmn, L. (Boneset.)

ageratoides, L.

aromaticum, L.
Mikania, Willd.

scandens, L.
Conoclinium, DC.

coelestinum, DC. (Mist-flower.)
Found by James Sill, Esq., near
Media.
Tussilago, Tourn.

Farfara, L. This plant maintains
itself pertinaciously, and spreads
in damp soil.
Sericocarpus, Nees.

solidagineus, Nees.

conyzoides, Nees.
Aster, L.

corymbosum, Ait.

Radula, Ait.

patens, Ait.

laevis, L.

cordifolius, L.

undulatus, L.

sagittifolius, Willd.

punieeus, L.

Tradescanti, L.

spectabilis, Ait.

miser, L. Ait.

ericoides, L.

Novae -Anglioz, L.

simplex, Willd.
Erigeron, L.

Canadense, L.

bellidifolium, L. (Robin's Plan-
tain.)

Philadelphicum, L.

annuum, Pers.

strigosum, Muhl.
Diplopappus, Cass.

linariifolius, Hook.

umbellatus, Torr & Gray.

amygdalinus, Torr & Gray.
Solidago, L.

squarrosa, Muhl.

bicolor, L.

patula, Muhl.

altissima, L.

ulmifolia, Muhl.

latifolia, L.

Muhlenbergii, Torr & Gray.

cassia, L.

rigida, L.

sempervirens, L. Tinicum. Rather
abundant.

speciosa, Nutt.

nemoralis, Ait.

Canadensis, L.

gigantea, Ait.

lanceolata, L.

tenuifolia, Pursh.
Chrysopsis. NutU

Mariana, Nutt.
Inula, L.

Helenium, L. (Elecampane.)
Polymnia, L.

Uvedalia, L. Very rare.

Canadensis. On J. Horton's land.
Newtown.
Ambrosia, Tourn.

trifida, L.

artemisiaefolia, L. (Bitter-weed.)
Xanthium, Tourn.

strumarium, L. (Clot-weed.)

spinosum, L.
Eclipta, L.

procumbens, Michx
Heliopsis, Pers.

laevis, Pers.
Rudbeckia, L.

lacinata, L.

triloba, L.

hirta, L.

fulgida, Ait.
Helianthds, L.

giganteus, L.

divaricatus, L.

decapetalus, L.

tracheliifolius, Willd.

tuberosus, L. (Artichoke.)

ACTINOMERIS, Nutt.

squarrosa, Nutt.
Coreopsis. L.

trichosperma, Michx.

BlDENSj.L.

frondosa, L. (Spanish-needles.)

connata, Muhl.

cernua, L.

chrysanthemoides, Michx.

bipinnata, L. (Spanish-needles.)
Helenium, L.

autumnale, L.
Mardta, Cass.

cotula, DC. (Wild Chamomile.)
Achillea, L.

millefolium, L. (Yarrow.)
Leucanthemum, Tourn.

vulgare, Lam. (Common Daisy.)
Matricaria, Tourn.

Parthenium, L. (Feverfew.) Es-
caped from gardens.
Tanacetum, L.

vulgare, L. (Tansey.)
Artemisia, L.

caudata, Michx.
Gnaphalidm, L.

polycephalum, Michx. (Everlast-
ing.

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

423

uliginosum, L.

purpureum, L.
Antennaria, Gaertn.

margaritacea, R. Brown.

plantaginifolia, Hook.
Filago, Tournef.

Germanica, L.
Erechthites, Raf.

hieracifolia, Raf. (Fire-weed.)
Cacalia, L.

atriplicifolia, L.
Senecio, L.

aureus, L.
Cirsium, Tourn.

lanceolatum, Scop. (Com. Thistle.)

discolor, Spreng.

altissimum, Spreng.

Virginianum. Michx. var. fillipen-
dulum, Tinicum.

pumilum, Spreng.

horridulum, Michx. (Yellow This-
tle.)

arvense, Scop. (Canada Thistle.)
Lappa, Tourn.

major, Gaertn. (Burdock.)
Cichorium, Tourn.

Intybus, L. Near Whitehall.
Krigia, Schreber.

Yirginica, Willd.
Cynthia, Don.

Virginica, Don.
Hieracidm, Tourn.

scabrum, Michx.

Gronovii, L.

venosum, L.

paniculaturn, L.
Nabalus, Cass.

altissimus, Hook.

virgatus? DC.

albus, Hook. (Rattlesnakeroot.)
Taraxacum, Haller.

Dens-leonis, Desf. (Dandelion.)
Lactuca, Tourn.

elongata, Muhl.
Mulgedicm, Cass.

accuminatum, DC.

leucophteum, DC.
Sonchos, L.

asper, Vill.

oleraceus, L. (Sow Thistle.)

ORDER LOBELIACEJE.
Lobelia, L.

cardinalis, L. (Cardinal-flower.)

syphilitica, L.

spicata, Lam.

Nuttallii, Rcem & Sch. Tinicum.

ORDER CAMPANULACE^E.
Campanula, Tour.

aparinoides, Pursh.
Americana, L.
Specularia. Heist,
perfoliata, DC.

ORDER ERICACEAE.

Gaylussacia, H. B. K.

frondosa, Torr. & Gray.

resinosa, Torr. & Gray. (Black
Huckleberry.)
Vaccinium, L.

macrocarpon, Ait. (Cranberry.)
Sphagnous swamps, rare.

stamineum, L.

Pennsylvanicum, Lam. (Dwarf
Huckleberry.)

corymbosum, L.

vacillans, Solander.
Gaultheria, Kalm.

procumbens, L. (Teaberry.)
EpiGjEa, L.

repens, L. (Trailing Arbutus.)
Andromeda, L.

Mariana, L.

ligustrina, Muhl.
Leucothoe, Don.

racemosa, Gray. On Tinicum,
abundant.
Clethra, L.

alnifolia, L. Very abundant on
Tinicum.
Kalmia, L.

latifolia, L.

angustifolia, L. Abundant on
Tinicum.
Azalea, Pursh.

viscosa, L. Very abundant on
Tinicum.

nudiflora, L.
Pyrola, L.

rotundifolia, L.

elliptica, Nutt.
Chimaphila, Pursh.

umbellata, Nutt. (Pipsissewa.)

maculata, Pursh.
Monotropa, L.

uniflora, L. (Indian pipe.)

hypopitys, L.

ORDER AQUIFOLIACE^.

Ilex, L.

ppaca, Ait. (Holly.) A rare tree,
verticillata, Gray. (Black Alder.)

ORDER EBENACE.E.

Diospryos, L.

Virginiana, L. (Persimon tree.)

424

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

ORDER PL ANT AGIN ACE^l.

Plantago, L.

major, L. (Broad-leaved Plantain.)
lanceolata, L. (Buckhorn.)
Virginica, L.

ORDER PRIMULACE^E.

Lysimachia, L.

stricta, Ait.

quadrifolia.

ciliata.
Anagalis, Tourn.

arvensis, L.

ORDER LENTIBULACE.E.

Utricdlaria, L.

vulgaris, L. (Bladderwort.)

ORDER BIGNONIACE^E.

Catalpa, Scop.

bignonioides, Walt. (Catawba tree.)

ORDER OROBANCHACE.E.

Epiphegus, Nutt.

Virginiana, Bart. (Beech drops.)
Conopholis, Wallr.

Americana, Wallr.
Aphyllon, Mitchell.

uniflorum, Torr. & Gray.

ORDER SCROPHULARIACEJE.

Verbascdm, L.

Thapsus, L. (Com. Mullein.)

Blattaria, L. (French Mullein.)

lychnitis, L. Very rare.
Linaria, Tourn.

Canadensis, Spreng. On Tinicum.

vulgaris, Mill. (Ranstead.)
Scrophularia, Tourn.

nodosa, L.
Chelone, Tourn.

glabra, L. (Snake's head.)
Mimulus, L.

alatusSAU } Monkey-flower.
Gratiola, L.

Virginiana, L.

ILYSANTHES, Raf.

gratioloides, Ben(,h.
Hemianthus, Nutt.

micranthemoides, Nutt. " Low
banks of the Delaware below
Philadelphia." Nutt.
Veronica, L.

Virginica, L.

Americana, Schwenitz.

serpyllifolia, L.

officinalis, L.

peregrina, L.

arvensis, L.

hedercefolia, L. On Crum Creek in
Up. Providence.
Buchnera, L.

Americana, L.
Gerardia, L.

purpurea, L.

tenuifolia, Vahl.

flava, L.

quercifolia, Pursh. (Very rare.)

pedicularia, L.
Castilleja, Mutis.

coccinea, Spreng. (Painted cup.)
Pedicularis, Tourn.

Canadensis, L.

lanceolata, Michx.
Melampyrcm, Tourn.

Americanum, Michx.

ORDER VERBENACE^E.
Verbena, L.

hastata, L.

urticifolia, L.
Phryma, L.

leptostachya, L.

ORDER LABIATE.
Mentha, L. (The mints.)

viridis, L. (Spearmint.)

piperita, L. (Peppermint.)

Canadensis, L.
Teucrium, L.

Canadense, L.
Trichostema, L.

dichotomum, L. (Blue curls.)
Lycopus, L.

Virginicus, L.

sinuatus, L.
Conila, L

Mariana, L. (Dittany.)
Pycnanthemum, Michx.

incanum, Michx.

pilosum, Nutt.

clinopodioides, Torr. & Gray.

muticum, Pers.

lanceolatum, Pursh.

linifolium, Pursh.
Origandm, L.

vulgare, L. (Horsemint.) Abund-
antly naturalized in Haverford,
Upper Darby, and Marple.
Thymus, L.

serpyllum, L. Abundant in many
places.
Melissa, L.

officinalis, L. (Com. Balm.) Natu-
ralized in some localities.
Hedeoma, Pers.

pulegioides, Pers. (American Pen-
nyroyal.

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

425

COLLINSONIA, L.

Canadensis, L.
Salvia, L,

lyrata, L.
Monarda, L.

fistulosa, L.
Lophanthus, Benth.

nepetoides, Benth.

scrophularkufolius, Benth.
Nepeta, L,

cataria, L. (Cat-mint.)

glecoma, Benth. (Ground Ivy.)
Calamintha, Mosnch.

clinopodium, Benth.
Prunella, Tourn.

vulgaris, L.
Scutellaria, L.

canescens, Nutt.

pilosa, Michx.

integrifolia, L.

lateriflora, L.

nervosa, Pursh.

galericulata, L.
Marrubium. L.

vulgar e, L. (Horehound.)
Lamium, L.

amplexicaule, L.

purpureum, L.
Leonurus, L.

cardiaca, L. (Mugwort.)
Stachys, L.

palustris, Michx. (Var. Asper.)
Galeopsis, L.

Tetrahit,h. First found by the late

Dr. Jesse Young.
ORDER BORRAGINACEJE.

Echium, Tourn.

vulgare, L. (Blue weed.) Appear-
ed in Delaware County within
the last twenty years.
Onosmodium, Michx.

Virginianum, DC. (Sandy Bank.)

LlTHOSPERMUM, Tourn.

arvense, L.
Mertensia, Roth.

Virginica, DC. (Western part
of the County.)
Myosotis, L.

palustris, With.

verna, Nutt.

arvensis, L. (On Tinicum.)
Cynoglossum, Tourn.

officinale, L.

Virginicum, L.

Morisoni, DC.

ORDER HYDROPHYLLACE.E.

Hydrophyllum, Nutt.

Virginicum, L. (Water-leaf.)
Canadense, L.

ORDER POLEMONIACE^E.

Polemonium, Tourn.

reptans, L. (Jacob's Ladder.)
Phlox, L.

maculata, L.(Wild Sweet- William)

subulata, L. (Mountain Pink.)

pilosa, L.

ORDER CONVOLVULACE^E.

Calystegia, R. Br.

sepium, R. Br.

spitbamsea, Pursh.
Ipomo:a, L.

pandurata, Meyer. (Wild Sweet
Potato.)

purpurea, (Morning Glory.)
Convolvulus, L.

arvensis, L.
Cuscuta, Tourn.

Gronovii, Willd. (Love-vine.)

ORDER SOLANAC^E.

SOLANUM, L.

dulcamara, L. (Bitter Sweet.)

nigrum, L. (Nightshade.)

Carolinense, L.

Physalis, L.

viscosa, L. ) /n , „. \

, T V (Ground Cherry.)

pubescens, L. J v J '

Datura, L.

stramonium, L. (Jimson weed.)

ORDER GENTIANACE^E.

Sabbatia, Adans.

angularis, Pursh. (Centuary.)
Gentiana, L.

crinita, Frcol. (Fringed Gentian.)

saponaria, L. (Soap Gentian.)

Andrewsii, Griseb.
Bartonia, Muhl.

tenella, Muhl.
Obolaria, L.

virginica, L. (Waxwork.)

ORDER APOCYNACE^I.

Apocynum, Tourn.

androsajmifolium, L.
cannabinum, L. (Indian Hemp )

ORDER ASCLEPIADACE^!.

ASCLEPIAS, L.

Cornuti, Decaisne.
phytolaccoides, Pursh.
variegata, L.
quadrifolia, Jacq.
rubra, L.
incarnata, L.
purpurascens, L.
obtusifolia, Michx.
tuberosa, L.

426

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

vertieilata, L. Grows on the Ser-
pentine.
Gonolobus, Michx.

hirsutus, Michx. Near the Gulf.

ORDER OLEACEiE.

Lioustrdm, Tourn.

vulgare, L. (Privet.)

Fraxinus, Tourn.

Americana, L. (White Ash.)
pubescens, Lain. (Red Ash.)
sambucifolia, Lam. (Water Ash.)

ORDER ARISTOLOCHIACE^E.

Asakum, Tourn.

canadense, L. (Wild Ginger.)
Aristolochia, Tourn.

Serpentaria, L.

ORDER PHYTOLACCACE.3E.
Phytolacca. Tourn.

decandra. L. (Com. Poke.)

ORDER CHENOPODIACCE.E.

Chenopodidm, L.

album, L. (Lamb's Quarters.)
ambrosioides, L. (Wormseed.)

ORDER AMARANTHACEiE.

Amaranthus, Tourn.

albus, L.

hybridus, L.

spinosus, L.
Acnida, L.

cannabina, L. Along the tide-
water, abundant.

ORDER POLYGONACE.E.
Polygonum, L.

orieniale, L. (Prince's Feather.)

Pennsylvanicum.

Persicaria, L. (Lady's Thumb.)

hydropiper, L.

hydropiperoides, Michx.

aviculare. L. (Door-weed Grass.)

tenue, Michx.

Virginianum, L.

arifolium, L.

sagittatum. L.

convolvulus, L. (Wild Buckwheat.)

dumetorum, L. (Climbing Buck-
wheat.)
Rumex, L.

crispus, L. (Curled Dock.)

obtusifolius, L. (Bitter Dock )

maritimus,L. (Golden Dock.) Tide-
water.

acelosella, L. (Sheep Sorrel.)

ORDER LAURACE.E.

Sassafras, Nees.

officinale, Nees. (Sassafras.)
Benzoin, Nees.

odoriferum, Nees. (Spice Wood.)

ORDER THYMELEACE^E.

DlRCA, L.

palustris, L. (Leather Wood.) For-
merly grew in Delaware County,
but is now probably extinct.

ORDER SANTALACE^l.

COMANDRA, Nutt.

umbellata, Nutt.

ORDER LORANTHACE.E.
Phoradendron, Nutt.

flavescens, Nult. (Mistletoe.) Rare.

ORDER SAURURACE.E.

Saururcs, L.

cernuus, L. (Lizard's Tail)

ORDER CERATOPHYLLACE^E.

Ceratophyllum, L.
demersum, L.

ORDER CALLITRICHACE^E.

Callitriche, L.
verna, L.

ORDER PODOSTEMACE^E.

PODOSTEMUM, Michx.

ceratophyllum, Michx.

ORDER EUPHORBIACE^E.

Euphorbia, L.

corollata, L.

maculata, L.

hypericifolia, L.
Acalypha, L.

virginica, L.

gracilens, Gray.

ORDER URTICACE.E.

Ulmus, L.

fulva, Michx. (Slippery Elm.)
Americana, L. (White Elm.)

Celtis, Tourn.

occidentalis, L. Rather sparsely
distributed over the County.

Maclura, Nutt.

aurandaca, Nutt. Planted for
hedges, but maintains itself well.

Morus, Tourn.

rubra, L. (Red Mulberry.)
alba, L. (White Mulberry.)

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

427

Urtica, Tourn.

dioica, L. (Com. Nettle.)
Laportea, Gaudich.

Canadensis, Gaudich.
Pilea, Lindl.

pumila, (Richweed.)
B(ehmeria, Jacq.

cylindrica, Willd.
Humulus, L.

Lupulus, L. (Common Hop.) Rather
abundant along our streams.

ORDER PLATANACE.E.

Platanus, L.

occidentalis, L. (Buttonwood.)

ORDER JUGLANDACE^E.

JlJGLANS, L.

cinerea, L. (White Walnut.)
nigra, L. (Black Walnut.)
Carya, Nutt.

alba, Nutt. (Shellbark.)
sulcata, Nutt. (Thick Shellbark.)
There is a tree in Radnor, be-
lieved by the late John Evans to
be of this species,
tomentosa, Nutt. (Hickory.)
microcarpa, Nutt. (Hickory.)
glabra, Torr. (Pig-nut.)
amara, Nutt. (Bitter-nut.)

ORDER CUPULIFER^E.

Quercus, L.

obtusiloba, Michx. (Post-oak.)

alba, L. (White-oak.)

Prinus, L. (Swamp Chestnut-oak.)

montana, Willd. (Rock Chestnut-
oak.)

prinoides, Willd. (Chinquapin-
oak.)

Phellos, L. (Willow-oak.) Not
uncommon on the clay lands
towards the Delaware.

falcata, Michx. (The true Spanish-
oak) on clay lands, not abund-
ant.

triloba, Willd. (a variety of Q. fal-
cata.)

nigra, L. (Black-Jack.) Only
found here on the Serpentine
barrens

tinctoria, Bartram. (Black Oak.)

rubra, L. (Red Oak.)

palustris, Du Roi. (Pin Oak.)

illicifolia, Wang. (Scrub Oak.)

coccinea, Wfang. (Scarlet Oak.)

Castanea, Tourn.

vesca, L. (The Chestnut.)
Fagus, Tourn.

ferruginea, Ait. (Beech.)
Corylus, Tourn.

Americana, Walt. (Hazelnut.)
Carpinos, L.

Americana, Michx. (Water Beech.)
Ostrya, Mich.

Virginica, Willd. (Ironwood.)
Found growing in Radnor by
the late John Evans.

ORDER MYRICACE^E.

Comptonia, Solander.

asplenifolia, Ait. (Sweet-Fern.)

ORDER BETULACE.E.

Betula, Tourn.

nigra, L. (Black Birch.) Rare.
Alnus, Tourn.

serrulatafAit. (Alder-bush.)

ORDER SALICACE.E.

Salix, Tourn. (Willow.)

tristis, Ait.

humilis, Marshall.

petiolaris, Smith.

viminalis, L. (Basket Willow.)

alba, L.

fragilis, L. t

nigra, Marshall.

sericea, Marshall.

Babylonica, Tourn. (Weeping

• Willow.)
Populus, Tourn.

tremuloides, Michx. (Quivering
Aspen.)

grandidentata.

Grceca, Ait. (Athenian Poplar.)

dilatata, Ait. (Lombardy Poplar.)

alba, L. (Silver Poplar.)

ORDER CONIFERS.

PlNDS.

inops, Ait.

rigida, Mill. (Yellow pine.)

Strobus, L. (White pine.)

Abies, Tourn.

Canadensis, Michx. (Banks of
streams.

Juniperus, L.

communis, L. (Juniper.)
Virginiana, L. (Red Cedar.)

428

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

CLASS II.— MONOCOTYLEDONOUS, OR ENDOGENOUS PLANTS.

ORDER ARACE.E.

Aris;ema, Martins.

triphyllum, Torr. (Indian Turnip )

Dracontium, Schott.
Symplocarpus, Salisb.

fcetidus, Salisb. (Swamp Cabbage.)
Orontium, L.

aquaticum, L. (Golden-club.)
Acorus, L.

Calamus, L.

ORDER TYPHACE^E.

Typha, Tourn.

latifolia, L. (Cat-tail.)
Sparganium, Tourn.

simplex, Hudson.

rarnosum, Hudson.

ORDER LEMNACE.E.
Lemna, L.

minor, L. (Ducks-nreat.)
polyrrhiza, Torr. Meadow ditches,
Tinicum.

ORDER NAIDACE.E.

Naias, L.

flexilis, Rostk.

POTAMOGETON, Tourn.

natans, L.
lucens, L.
perfoliatus, L.
pauciflorus, Pursh.

ORDER ALISMACE^E.

Alisma, L.

Plantago, L.
Sagittaria, L.

variabilis, Engelm.

ORDER HYDROCHARDIACE.E.

Anacharis, Rich.

Canadensis, Planchon.
Vallisneria, Micheli.

spiralis, L. (Tape-grass.)

ORDER ORCHIDACE^E.
Orchis, L.

spectabilis, L. (The Orchis.)
Gymnadenia, R. Brown.

tridentata, Lindl.

flava, Lindl. Very rare.
Platanthera, Rich.

flava, Gray.

ciliaris, Lindl.

psycoides, Gray.

lacera, Gray.

fimbriata, Lindl. Very rare.

Goodyera, R. Brown.

pubescens, R. Brown.
Spiranthes, Rich.

gracilis, Bigel.

cernua, Rich.
Pogonia, R. Brown.

ophioglossoides, Nutt. Tinicum I.

pendula, Lind.

verticillata, Nutt. Tinicum I.
Calopogon, R. Brown.

pulchellus, R. Brown. Tinicum.
Mycrostylis, Nutt.

ophioglossoides, Nutt.
Liparis, Rich.

liliifolia, Rich.
Corallorhiza, Haller.

multiflora, Nutt.

innata, R. Brown.

odontorhiza, Nutt.
Aplectrum, Nutt.

hyemale, Nutt. (Putty-root.) Rare.
Cypripedium, L.

pubescens, Willd. (Yellow Lady's
Slipper.)

acaule, Ait. (Purple Lady's Slip-
per.) Tinicum I.

ORDER AMARYILLADACEJE.

Hypoxys, L.

erecta, L. (Star-grass.)

ORDER H^EMODORACE^.

Aletris, L.

farinosa, L.

ORDER IRIDACE^E.

Iris, L.

versicolor, L. (Blue flag.)
Virginica, L. (Slender blue flag.)

SlSYRINCHIDM, L.

Bermudiana, L.
ORDER DIOSCOREACE^E.

DlOSCOREA, L.

villosa, L.

ORDER SMILACEiE.

Smilax, Tourn.

rotundifolia, L. (Greenbriar.)

glauca, Walt.

herbacea, L. (Carrion-flower.)
Trillium, L.

cernuum, L.
Medeola, Gronov.

Virginica, L.

ORDER LILIACE^E.
Asparagus, L.

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

429

officinialis, L. (Asparagus.) Na-
turalized in some places.
Polygonatum, Dietrich.

giganteum, Dieth. (Solomon's seal.)

biflorum, L. (Small Solomon's seal.)
Smilacina, Desf.

recemosa, Desf.

bifolia, Ker.
Hemerocallis, L.

fulva, L. (Copper lily.)
Ornithogalum, Tourn.

umbellatum, L. (Star of Bethle-
hem.)
Allium, L.

tricoccum, Ait.

Canadense, Kalm.

vineule, L. (Field Garlic.)
Muscari, B. M.

botryoides. (Blue-bottle.) Natu-
ralized in many meadows in the
eastern part of the County.
Lilium, L.

Philadelphicum, L.

superbum, L.

Canadense, L.
Erythronidm, L.

Americanum, Smith.
Ixia.

Chinensis. Naturalized in Haver-
ford and Marple.

ORDER MELANTHACE^E.

UVULARIA, L.

perfoliata, L. (Bell-wort.)

sessilifolia, L.
Melanthium, Gronov.

virginicum, L.
Veratrum, Tourn.

viride, Ait. (White Hellebore.)
Cham/eliriom. Willd.

luteum, Gray.

ORDER JUNCACE.E.
Juncus, L. '

effusus, L. (Common Rush.)

scirpoides, Lam.

paradoxus, E. Meyer.

acuminatus, Michx.

tenuis, Willd.

bufonius. L.

marginatus, Rostk.
Luzula, DC.

campeslris, DC.

ORDER POXTEDERIACEJE.
Pontederia, L.

cordata, L. Very abundant in the
marsh ditches.
Heteranthera, Ruiz & Pavon.

reniformis, R. & P. In stagnant
pools and clayey ground — rare.
Schollera, Schreb.
graminea, Willd.

ORDER COMMELYNACE^.
Commelyna, Dillen.

Virgiuica, L. Below Darby.
Tradescantia, L.

"Virginica, L.

ORDER XYRIDACEyE.

Xyris, L.

Caroliniana, Walt.

ORDER CYPERACEiE.
Cypercs, L.

diandrus, Torr.

strigosus.

erythrorhizos, Muhl.

filiculmus, Vahl.

ovularis, Torr.
Dulchidm, Rich.

spathaceum. Pers.
Eleocharis, R. Brown.

obtusa, Schultes.

tenuis, Schultes.

acicularis, R. Brown.
Scirpus, L.

pungens, Vahl.

Torreyi, Olney.

lacustris, L.

debilis, Pursh.

polyphyllus, Vahl.

Eriophorum, Michx.

fluviatilis.
Eriophorcm, L.

Virginicum, L.
Fimbristylis, Vahl.

autumnalis, Roem & Schult.

laxa, Vahl.

Rhynchospora, Vahl.

glomerata, Vahl.

alba, Vahl.
Carex, L.

stipata, Muhl.

cephalophora, Muhl.

rosea, Schk.

scoparia, Schk.

crinita, Lam.

conoidea, Schk.

grisea, Wahl.

virescens, Muhl.

triceps, Michx.

laxiflora, Lam.

oligocarpa, Schk.

Pennsylvania, Lam.

varia, Muhl.

pubesceus, Muhl.

miliacea, Muhl.

430

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

debilis, Michx.
flava, L.
striata, Michx.
tentaculata, Muhl.
intumescens, Rudge.
squarrosa, L.
stricta, Lam.
lagopodioides, Schk.
aquatilis, Wahl.
vestita, Willd.
gracillima, Schw.
lupulina, Muhl.
Nov en- An g Lice, Schw.
straminea, Schk.
subulata, Michx.
festucacea, Schk.
stellulata, Good,
vulpinoidea, Michx.

ORDER GRAMINE.E.

Leersia, Solander.

oryzoides, Swartz.

Virginica, Willd.
Zizania, Gronov.

aquatica, L.
Phleum, L.

pratense, L. (Timothy.)
Vifla, Adans.

vagineenora, Torr.
Agrostis, L.

scabra, Willd.

perennans, Tuckerman.

vulgaris, With. (Herd-Grass.)

ClNNA, L.

arundinacea, L.
Muhlenbergia, Schreb.

Mexicana, Trin.

diffusa, Schreber.

sobolifera, A. Gray.

Willdenovii, Trin.

sylvatica, Torr. & Gr.
Brachyelytrdm, Beauv.

aristatum, Beauv.
Calamagrostis, Adans.

Canadensis, Beauv.

coarctata? Torr.
Aristida, L.

dichotoma, Michx. (Poverty-Grass)

gracilis, Ell.
Eleusine, Gasrtn.

Indica, Gaertn.
Tricuspis, Beauv. *

seslerioides, Torr. (Red Top.)

purpurea.
Dactylis, L.

glomerata, L. (Orchard-Grass.)
Glyceria, R. Brown.

nervata, Trin.

fluitans, R. Brown.

Eatonia, Raf.

obtusata, Gray.

Pennsylvania, Gray.
Poa, L.

annua, L.

brevifolia, Muhl.

trivialis, L.

pratensis, L. (Green Grass.)

comprcssa, L. (Blue Grass.)
Eragrostis, Beauv.

megaslachya, Link.

spectabilis, Gray. 1st Ed.

capilliaris, Nees.
Festuca, L.

elatior, L.

nutans, Willd.
Bromus, L.

secalinus, L. (Cheat.)

ciliatus, L.
Uniola, L.

gracilis, Michx. (On Tinicum.)
Phragmites, Trin.

communis, Trin. (Reed.)
Lolium, L.

perenne, L.
Triticum, L.

repens, L.
Elymds, L.

Virginicus, L.

Canadensis, L.

striatus, Willd.
Gymnostichum, Schreb.

Hystrix, Schreb.
Aira, L.

csespitosa, L.
Danthonia, DC.

spicata, Beauv. (Wild Oat.)
Trisetum, Persoon.

palustre, Torr.
Holcus, LI

lanatus, L. (Velvet-Grass.)
Anthoxanthum, L.

odoratum, L. (Sweet-scented Ver-
nal-Grass.)
Phalaris, L. "

arundinacea, L.
Paspalum, L.

setaceum, Michx.

laeve, Michx.
Panicum, L.

filiforme, L.

glabrum, Gaudin.

sanguinale, L.

anceps, Michx.

agrostoides, Spreng.

proliferum, Lam.

capillare, L.

virgatum, L.

latifolium, L.

clandestinum, L.

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

431

microcarpon, Muhl.
dichotomum, L.

viscidum, Ell. On Tinicum, abun-
dant.
crus-galli, L.
depauperatum, Muhl.
Sbtaria.

glauca, Beauv. (Fox-tail Grass.)
viridis, Beauv.

Cenchrus, L.

tribuloides, L. (Bur-Grass.) On
the sandy grounds of Tinicum.
Andropogon, L.

furcatus, Muhl.

Virginicus, L.

macrourus, Michx.
Sorghum, Pers.

nutans, Gray. (Wood-Grass.)

SERIES II.

CRYPTOGAMOUS OR FLOWERLESS PLANTS.

CLASS ILL— ACROGENS.

ORDER EQUISETACEiE.
Eqcisetum.

arvense, L.

sylvaticum, L.

hyemale, L. (Scouring Rush.)

ORDER FILICES. (Ferns.)

POLYPODIUM, L.

vulgare, L.

hexagonopterum, Michx.
Pteris, L.

aquilina, L.
Adiantum, L.

pedatum, L. (Maiden's Hair.)
Cheilanthes, Swartz.

vestita, Willd.
Woodwardia, Smith.

angustifolia, Smith. On Tinicum.
Camptosorus, Link.

rhizophyllus, Link. (Walking-
leaf.
Asplenidm, L.

Trichomanes, L. (Castle Rock.)

ebeneum, Aiton.

thelypteroides, Michx.

Filix-fcemina, R. Br.
Dicksonia, L'Her.

punctilobula, Hook.
Woodsia, R. Brown.

obtusa, Tor.
Aspididm, Swartz.

Thelypteris, Swartz.

Noveboracense, Willd.

spinulosum, Swartz.

cristatum, Swartz.

marginale, Swartz.

acrostichoides, Swartz.
Onoclea, L.

sensibilis, L. (Sensitive Fern.)
Osmunda, L.

regalis, L. (Spectabilis.)

Claytoniana, L.

cinamomea, L.

Botrychium, Swartz.

lunarioides, Swartz.

virginicum, Swartz.
Ophioglossum, L.

vulgatum, L. (Adder's tongue.)

ORDER LYCOPODIACE^).

Lycopodium, L.

lucidulum, Michx.

inundatum, L. On Tinicum.

annotinum ? L.

deudroideum, Michx. (Ground-
Pine.)

complanatum, L.

clavatum, L.
Selaginella, Beauv.

apus, Spring.

ORDER HYDROPTERIDES.

Isoetes, L.

riparia, Engelm. Gravelly banks
of the Delaware.

lacustris. Darhy township. Dr.
Thos. P. James, of Philadelphia,
says the I. Engelmanni also
grows in Delaware County.

ORDER MUSCI.— Mosses.

Sphagnum, Dill.

acutifolium, Ehrh.

cuspidatum, Ehrh.
Phascum, L.

crassinervium, Schweegr.

cohaerens, Hedw.

muticum, Schreb.

cuspidatum, Schreb.

alternifolium, Brid.

Sullivantii, Schimp.
Bruchia, Schwajgr.

flexuosa, Schwsegr.
Weisia, Hedw.

viridula, Brid.

432

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Dicrandm, Hedw.

variura, Hedw.

heteromallum, Hedw.

flagellare, Hedw.

interruptum, Br. & Sch.

scoparium, L.

Schraderi, Web. & Mohr.

undulatum, Turner.
Cekatodon, Brid.

purpureus, Brid.
Leucobeyum, Hampe.

glaucum, Hampe.

minus, Hampe.
Fissidens, Hedw.

niinutulns, Sulliv.

subbasilaris, Hedw.

taxifolius, Hedw.
Conomitrium, Montag.

Julianum, Mont.
Trichostomum, Br. & Sch.

tortile, Schrad.

vaginans, Sulliv.

pallidum, Hedw.
Barbula, Hedw.

unguiculata, Hedw.

caespitosa, Schwaegr.
Tetraphis, Hedw.

pellucida, Hedw.
Zygodon, Hook & Taylr.

Lapponicus, Br. & Sch.
Drummondia, Hook.

clavellata, Hook.
Orthotrichum, Hedw.

strangulatum, Beauv.

Canadense, Br. & Sch.

Ludwigii, Schwaegr.

Hutchiusite, Smith.

crisp um, Hedw.

crispulum, Hornsch.
Ptychomitrium, Br. & Sch.

incurvum, Schwaegr.
Schistidium, Br. & Sch.

apocarpum, Br. & Sch.

confertum, Br. & Sch.
Grimmia, Ehrh.

Pennsylvania, Schwaegr.
Hedwigia, Ehrh.

ciliata, Ehrh.
Bdxbaumia, Haller.

aphylla, Haller
Diphyscium, Weber & Mohr.

foliosum, W. & M.
Atrichum, Beauv.

undulatum, Beauv.

angustatum, Beauv.
Pogonatum, Beauv.

brevicaule, Brid.
Polytrichum, Brid.

commune, L.

formosum, Hedw.

juniperinum, Hedw.
Aulacomnion, Schwaegr.

heterostichum, Br. & Sch.

palustre, Schwaegr.
Bryum, Br. & Sch.

pyriforme, Hedw.

Lescurianum, Sulliv.

nutans, Schreb.

roseum, Schreb.

Wahlenbergii, Schwaegr.

argenteum, Linn.

cernuum, Hedw.

bimum, Schreb.

capillare, Hedw.

casspiticium, Linn.
Mnium, Br. & Sch.

affine, Bland.

hornum, Hedw.

punctatum, Hedw.

cuspidatum, Hedw.
Bartramia, Hedw.

pomiformis, Hedw.

fontana, Brid.
Funaria, Schreb.

hygrometrica, Hedw.
Physcomitrium, Brid.

pyriforme, Br. & Sch.
Aphanorhegma, Sulliv.

serrata, Sulliv.
Fontinalis, Dill.

gigantea, Sulliv.

Dalicarlica, Bryol. Europ.
Dichelyma, Myrin.

capillaceum, Bryol. Europ.
Ledcodon, Schwaegr.

julaceus, Sulliv.
Leptodon, Mohr.

trichomitrion, Mohr.
Anomodon, Hooker & Tayl.

attenuatus, Hub.

tristis, Cesati.
Leskea, Hedw. Bryol. Europ.

polycarpa, Hedw.

obscura, Hedw.

rostrata, Hedw.

denticulata, Sulliv.
Thelia, Sulliv.

hirtella, Sulliv.

asprella, Sulliv.
Anacamptodon, Brid.

splachnoides, Brid.
PylaiSvEA, Bryol. Europ.

intricata, Bryol. Europ.
Homalothecium, Bryol. Europ.

subcapillatum, Bryol. Europ.
Platygyrium, Bryol. Europ.

repens, Bryol. Europ.
Cylindrothecium, Bryol. Europ.

cladorrhizans, Bryol. Europ.

seductrix, Bryol. Europ.

BOTANY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

433

Neckera, Hedw.

pennata, Hedw.
Climacium, Web. & Mohr.

Americanum, Brid.
Hypnum, Dill.

tamariseinum, Hedw.

minutulum, Hedw.

gracile, Br. & Sch.

paludosum, Sulliv.

triquetrum, Lian.

brevirostre, Ehrh.

Alleghaniense, C. Miill.

hians, Hedw.

Sullivantii, Spruce.

piliferuta, Schreb.

strigosum, Hoffm.

Boscii, Schwajgr.

serrulatum, Htdw.

deplanatum, W. P. S.

rusciforme, Weis.

recurvans, Schwsegr.

Schreberi, Willd.

cordif'olium, Hedw.

uncinatum, Hedw.

Crista-Castrensis, L.

moluscum, Hedw.

iraponens, Hedw.

reptile, Michx.

curvifolium, Hedw.

Haldamanuin, Grev.

salebrosum, Hoffm.

laetum, Brid.

acuminatum, Beauv.

rutabulum, L.

plumosum, L.

populeum, Hedw.

rivulare, Bryol. Europ.

Novas-Anglian, Sulliv. & Lesq.

stellatum, Schreb.

polymorphum, Bryol. Europ.

hispidulum, Brid.

adnatum, Hedw.

serpens, Hedw.

radicale, Brid.

ortliocladon, Beauv.

riparium, Hedw.

denticulatum, L.

Muhlenbeckii, Bryol. Europ.

sylvaticum, L.

ORDER HEPATHLE.
Riccia, Mich.

glauca, L.

natans, L.

fiuitans, L.
Anthoceros, Mich.

punctatus, L.

laevis, L.

NoTOTHYLAS, Sulliv.

valvata, Sulliv.
98

melanosperma, Sulliv.
Marchantia, L.

polymorpha, L.
Fegatella, Raddi.

conica, Corda.
Rebouma, Raddi.

hemisphajrica, Raddi.
Fimbraria, Nees.

tenella, Nees.
Metzgeria, Raddi.

furcata, Nees.
Aneura, Dumortier.

palmata, Nees.
Steetzia, Lehm.

Lyellii. Nee3.
Pellia, Raddi.

epiphylla, Nees.
Geocalyx, Nees.

graveolens, Nees.
Chiloscyphus, Corda.

polyanthos, Corda.

ascendens, Hook & Wils.
Lophocolea, Nees.

heterophylla, Nees.
Sphagnoicetis, Nees.

communis, Nees.
Jdngermannia, L.

setacea, Weber.

connivens, Dicks.

curvifolia, Dicks.

bicuspidata, L.

divaricata, Eng. Bot.

Schraderi, Mart.

obtusifolia, Hook.
Scapania, Lindenberg.

memorosa, Nees.
Plagiochila, Nees & Montagne.

spinnlosa, Nees & Montagne.

asplenioides, Nees & Montagne.

porelloides, Linden.
Frcllania, Raddi.

Grayana, Montagne.

Virginica, Lehm.

Eboracensis, Lehm.

aeolotis, Nees.
Lejeunia, Libert.

clypeata, Sweinitz.
Madotheca, Dum.

platyphylla, Dum.

porella, Nees.
Radula, Nees.

complanata, Dum.
Ptilidium, Nees.

ciliare, Nees.
Trichocolea, Nees.

Tomentella, Nees.
Mastigobrycm, Nees.

trilobatum, Nees.
Calypogeia, Raddi.

Trichomanis, Corda.

QUADRUPEDS OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

BY JOHN CASSIN.

1 . Vespertilio noveloracensis. Gray Bat. Frequent.

2. " fuscus. Brown Bat. Common.

3. " pulverulentus. Hoary Bat. Occasionally occurs.

4. " cinereus. Large Gray Bat. Rare.

5. " Caroli. Not common.

6. Sorex Forsteri. Little Shrew. Probably occurs, but has not been observed.
1. Blarina Talpoides. Larger Shrew. Frequent, but rarely seen, nocturnal.

8. " cinerea. Gray Shrew. Occasionally occurs.

9. Scalops aquaticus. Common Mole. Abundant.

10. Condylura cristata. Star-nosed Mole Occasionally occurs.

11. Vulpesfulvus. Bed Fox. More rare than formerly.

12. Putorius noveloracensis. Weasel. Not common.

13. " vison. Mink. Not common.

14. Mephitis mephitica. Skunk. Polecat. Frequent.

15. Lutra canadensis. American Otter. Very rare, but has once occurred within

a few years, in Crum Creek.

16. Procyon lotor. Raccoon. Occasionally occurs.

17. Didelphys virginiana. Opossum. Frequent.

18. Sciurus cinereus. Cat Squirrel. Rare, more so than formerly.

19. " carolinensis. Gray Squirrel. Frequent.

20. " hudsonius. Red Squirrel. Chickaree. Not common.

21. Tamias striatus. Ground Squirrel. Abundant.

22. Pleromys volucella. Flying Squirrel. Frequent.

23. Arctomys monaz. Ground Hog. Marmot. Frequent.

24. Fiber zibelhicus. Musk Rat. Frequent.

25. Mus decumanus. Common Rat. Abundant.

26. " musculus. Mouse. Abundant.

27. Arvicola pennsylvanicus. Common Field Mouse. Common.

28. " riparius. Marsh Field Mouse. Frequent.

29. Eesperomys leucopus White-footed Mouse. Occasionally occurs.

30. Jaculus hudsonius. Jumping Mouse. Rare.

31. Lepus sylvaticus. Rabbit. Frequent.

3.2. Delphinusphocacna. Porpoise. Occasionally ascends the Delaware River to

within the limits of this County.
33. Balaena mystketus. Whale. Has been twice known to occur within and

above the limits of this County, in the Delaware River.

BIRDS OP DELAWARE COUNTY.

BY JOHN CASSIN.

1. Cathartes aura. The Turkey Buzzard. Occasionally seen, but not common.

2. Falco anatum. Duck Hawk. Rare.

3. " columbarius. Pigeon Hawk. Frequent in winter.

4. " sparverius. Sparrow Hawk. Not rare, especially in winter.

5. Astur atricapillus. Goshawk. A rare visitor in winter, from the north.

6. Accipiter Cooperi. Cooper's Hawk. Frequent, and probably resident.

7. " fuscus. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Frequent and resident.

8. Buteo borcalis. Red-tailed Hawk. Frequent and resident.

9. " lineal us. Red-shouldered Hawk. Frequent and resident.

10. " pennsylvanicus. Broad-winged Hawk. Occasional in winter.

11. Archibutco lac/opus. Rough-legged Hawk. Common in winter along the

Delaware.

12. Archibuteo sanctijohannis. Black Hawk. Frequent in winter.

13. Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. Common in winter, especially on the

Delaware River.

14. Aquila canadensis. Golden Eagle. Rare, and only in winter.

15. Haliaetuslencocephalus. Bald Eagle. White-headed Eagle. Rare, and only

in winter.

16. Pandion carolinensis. Fish Hawk. Osprey. Occasionally seen.

17. Slrix pratincola. Barn Owl. White Owl. Not common.

18. Bubo virginianus. Great Horned Owl. Cat Owl. Not common, and more

rare than formerly.

19. Scops asio. Screech Owl. Frequent and resident.

20. Otus Wilsonianus. Long-eared Owl. Occasionally seen, especially in

winter.

21. Brachyotus Cassinii. Short-eared Owl. Frequent in winter along the

creeks and the Delaware River.

22. Syrnium nebulosum. Barred Owl. Gray Owl. Frequent in winter.

23. Nyctale acadica. Little Owl. Occasionally in winter.

24. Nyctea nivea. Snow Owl. Occasionally in winter

25. Coccyzus amerkanus. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Frequent.

26. " erythropthalmus. Black-billed Cuckoo. Frequent.

27. Picus villosus. Hairy Woodpecker. Not common.

28. " pubescens. Downy Woodpecker. Sap-sucker. Common.

29. " borcalis. Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Rare.

30. Picus varius. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker. Frequent.

31. " pileatus. Great Black Wookpecker. Log-cock. Very rare, but for-
merly of frequent occurrence in this County.

32. Picus carolinus. Red-bellied Woodpecker. Frequent.

33. " erylhrocephalus. Red-headed Woodpecker. Frequent, but less common
than formerly.

34. Colaptes auratus. Flicker. Golden-winged Woodpecker. Frequent.

35. Trochilus colubris. Humming-bird. Frequent, and resident in summer.

36. Chaetura pelasgia. Chimney-bird. Abundant.

37. Hirundo rufa. Barn Swallow. Abundant.

38. " lunifrons. Cliff Swallow. Occasionally seen.

39. " bicolor. White- bellied Swallow. Abundant.

40. Cotyle riparia. Bank Swallow. Occasionally seen, but not common.

41. " serripennis. Rough-winged Swallow. Rare.

42. Progne purpurea. Purple Martin. Frequent.

43. Antroslomus vociferus. Whip-poor-will. Frequent.

436 BIRDS OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

44. Chordeiles virginianus. Night Hawk. Common.

45. Ceryle alcyon. Kingfisher. Frequent.

46. Tyrannus carolinensis. King-bird. Common.

47. Myiarchus criniius. Great-crested Flycatcher. Frequent.

48. Sayornisfuscus. Pewee. Common, and a great favorite.

49. Contopus borealis. Olive Flycatcher. Rare.

50. " virens. Wood Pewee. Common.

51. Tyrannula Traillii. Traill's Flycatcher. Occasionally seen.

52. " acadica. Green Flycatcher. Frequent.

53. " flaviventris Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Frequent.

54. " minima. Least Flycatcher. Frequent.

55. Merula migratoria. Robin. Abundant.

56. " mustelina. Wood Thrush. Abundant.

57. " fuscescens. Wilson's Thrush. Frequent.

58. " Pallasii. Hermit Thrush. Frequent.

59. " Swainsonii Olive-backed Thrush. Not common.

60. " Aliciaz. Probably an occasional visitor.

61. Sialia Wilsonii. Blue Bird. Abundant.

62. Regulus satrapa. Golden-crested Wren. Common in winter.

63. " calendula. Ruby-crowned Wren. Frequent in winter.

64. Anthus ludovicianus. Tit Lark. Pipit. Frequent in winter.

65. Mniotilta varia. Black and White Creeper. Common.

66. Parula americana. Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. Frequent, and resident

in summer.

67. Trichas marilandica. Maryland Yellow Throat. Common.

68. " agilis. Connecticut Warbler. Occasionally occurs.

69. " Philadelphia. Mourning Warbler. Rare.

70. Sylvicola virens. Black-throated Green Warbler. Frequently abundant

during the spring and autumnal migrations.

71. Sylvicola canadensis- Black-throated Blue Warbler. Frequently abundant

during the spring and autumnal migrations.

72. Sylvicola coronata. Yellow-crowned Warbler. Yellow Rump. Abundant

in spring and autumn.

73. Sylvicola Blackburnioz. Blackburnian Warbler. Frequently common in

in spring and autumn.

74. Sylvicola castanea. Bay-breasted Warbler. Occasionally in spring and fall.

75. " pinus. Pine-creeping Warbler. Frequent in spring and fall.

76. " pennsylvanica. Chestnut-sided Warbler. Frequent in spring and
fall, sometimes abundant.

77. Sylvicola caerulea. Blue Warbler. Rare, but occasionally seen.

78. " striata. Black-poll Warbler. Common in spring and fall.

79. " aestiva. Summer Yellow-bird. Common, and resident in summer.

80. " maculosa. Black and Yellow Warbler. Frequent in spring and fall.

81. " tigrina. Cape May Warbler. Rare.

82. " palmarum. Red-poll Warbler. Frequent in spring and fall.

83. " discolor. Prairie Warbler. Not common.

84. " formosa. Kentucky Warbler. Rare.

85. Helmintherus vermivorus. Worm-eating Warbler. Occasionally in spring

and fall.

86. Helminthophaga solitaria. Blue-winged Yellow Warbler. Frequent, and

resident in summer.

87. Helminthophaga chrysoptera. Golden-winged Warbler. Rare.

88. " ruficapilla. Nashville Warbler. Frequent in spring and fall.

89. " peregrina. Tennessee Warbler. Rare.

90. Sciurus aurocapillus. Golden-crowned Thrush. Common.

91. " noveboracensis. Water Thrush. Frequent.

92. " ludovicianus. Large-billed Water Thrush. Rare.

93. Setophaga ruticilla. Redstart. Common.

94. " mitrata. Hooded Warbler. Occasionally in spring and fall.

95. " canadensis. Canada Flycatcher. Frequent in spring and fall.

BIRDS OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 437

96. Setoghaga pusitta. Black-cap Flycatcher. Frequent in spring and fall.

97. Ampelis garrulus. Wax Wing. Rare, and only in winter.

98. " cedrorum. Cedar-bird. Frequent.

99. Icteria viridis. Yellow-breasted Chat. Frequent.

100. Vireo olivaceus. Red-eyed Flycatcher.

101. " virescens. Bartram's Vireo. Not obtained, but probably occurs.

102. " philadelphicus. Short-billed Vireo. Occasionally in spring and fall.

103. " gilvus. Warbling Vireo. Frequent.

104. " noveboracensis. White-eyed Flycatcher. Abundant.

105. " solitarius. Solitary Flycatcher. Frequent.

106. " flavifrons. Yellow-fronted Vireo.

107. Lanius septentrionalis. Butcher-bird. Rare, and in winter only.

108. Mimus polyglotlus. Mocking-bird. Rare, but occasionally seen.

109. " rujus. Rufous Thrush. Thrasher. Common.

110. " carolinensis. Cat-bird. Abundant.

111. Thryothorous ludovicianus. Great Carolina Wren. Occasionally occurs.

112. " Bewickii. Bewick's Wren. Rare.

113. " paluslrus. Marsh Wren. Common along creeks at tidewater,
and the Delaware river.

114. Thryothorous stellarix. Short-billed Marsh Wren. Rare.

115. Troglodytes cadon. House Wren. Abundant, and deservedly a favorite.

116. " americanus. Wood Wren. Rare.

117. " hyemalis. Winter Wren. Frequent.

118. Certhia americana. Gray Creeper. Frequent in winter.

119. Sitta carolinensis. Nuthatch. Sapsucker. Frequent.

120. " canadensis. Red-bellied Nuthatch. Frequent in winter.

121. " pusilla. Brown-headed Nuthatch. Rare.

122. Polioptila cozrulea. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Frequent.

123. Lophophanes bicolor. Tufted Titmouse. Frequent.

124. Parus atricapillus. Chickadee. Black-cap Titmouse. Frequent.

125. " carolinensis. Smaller black-cap. Chickadee. Frequent in winter.

126. Eremophila cornuta. Shore Lark. Sky Lark. Frequent in winter.

127. Pyranga rubra. Scarlet Tanager. Frequent.

128. Pyranga cestiva. Summer Red-bird. Not common, but occasionally occurs.

129. Pinicola Canadensis. Pine Grosbeak. Occurs sparingly nearly every winter.

130. Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch. Frequently abundant in the spring

migration, and occasionally seen every winter.

131. Chrysomitris tristis. Yellow-bird. Thistle-bird. Common.

132. " pinus. Siskin. Pine Goldfinch.

133. Curviroslra americana. Red Crossbill. In small numbers every winter,

but occasionally abundant.

134. Curviroslra leucoptera. White-winged Crossbill. Usually very rare, and

only in winter, but has appeared in large numbers twice in the last twenty

135. Mgiothus linaria. Linnet. Lesser Red-poll. Sparingly nearly every

winter, but sometimes abundant.

136. Pleclrophanes nivalis Snow Bunting. Occasionally in winter only.

137. " lappomcus. Lapland Long- spur. Occasionally in winter only.

138. Passerculus savanna. Savannah Sparrow. Frequent.

139. Pocecetus gramineus. Grass Sparrow. Abundant.

140. Colurniculus passerinus. Yellow-winged Sparrow. Frequent.

141. Zonotrichia albicollis. White-throated Sparrow. Common in winter.

142. " leucophrys. White-crowned Sparrow.

143. Junco hyemalis. Snow-bird. Abundant in winter.

144. Spizella socialis. Chipping Sparrow. Chippy. One of the most abundant

of our birds.

145. Spizella monticola. Tree Sparrow. Canada Sparrow. Frequent in winter.

146. " pusilla. Field Sparrow. Rush Sparrow. Frequent.

147. Melospiza melodia. Song Sparrow. Tom-tit. Perhaps the most abundant

of our resident birds.

438 BIRDS OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

148. Melospiza Lincohiii. Lincoln's Finch. Occasionally occurs and sometimes

in large numbers in autumn.

149. Melospiza palustris. Swamp Sparrow. Common along streams of water.

150. Passerella iliaca. Fox Sparrow. Frequent in winter.

151. Euspiza americana. Black-throated Bunting. Frequent.

152. Guiraca ludoviciana.. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. In small numbers every

spring and autumn.

153. Guiraca ccerulea. Blue Grosbeak. Rare, but is an occasional visitor.

154. Spiza cyanea. Indigo-bird. Frequent.

155. Cardinalis virginianus. Cardinal Grosbeak. Red-bird. Frequent.

156. Pipilo erythropthalmus. Cheewink. Abundant.

157. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Bob-o-link. Reed-bird. Frequent in spring, and

in large numbers in autumn.

158. Mololhrus pecoris. Cow-bird. Common.

159. Ayelaius phceniceus. Red-winged Black-bird. Common.

160. Sturnella magna. Meadow Lark. Common.

161. Icterus Baltimore. Hanging-bird. Baltimore Oriole. Frequent.

162. " spurius. Orchard Oriole. Frequent.

163. Scolecophagus ferrugineus. Blackbird. Rusty Grakle. In large flocks in

autumn.

164. Quiscalus versicolor. Crow Blackbird. Frequent, and in flocks in autumn.

165. Corvus carnivorus. Raven. Rare, but occasionally seen.

166. " americanus. Crow. Abundant.

167. " ossifragus. Fish Crow. Occasionally on the Delaware River.

168. Cyanura cristata. Blue Jay. Frequent, but not so common as formerly.

169. Ectopistes migratorius. Wild Pigeon. Occurs sparingly every autumn, and

sometimes in large numbers.

170. Ectopistes carolinensis. Turtle Dove. Frequent.

171. Telrao umbellus. Pheasant. Ruft'ed Grouse. Occasionally seen, but much

more rare than formerly.

172. Ortyx virginianus. Partridge. Frequent, but less common than formerly.

173. Grus americanus. W7hooping Crane. A very rare visitor, but has occurred

in a few instances.

174. Ardea herodias. Great Heron. Crane. Frequent.

175. " egretta. White Crane. Frequent in autumn on the Delaware River.

176. " candidissima. Snowy Heron. " " "

177. " ludoviciana. Louisiana Heron. A rare visitor.

178. " caerulea Blue Heron. Occasionally ou the Delaware River.

179. Ardetta exilis. Least Bittern. " "

180. Bolaurus lentiginosus. Bittern. Occasionally along creeks and the Dela-

ware River.

181. Butorides virescens. Green Heron. Frequent.

182. Nyctiardea Gardeni. Night Heron. Occasionally occurs.

183. Ibis alba. White Ibis. A rare straggler on the Delaware River.

184. " Ordii. Glossy Ibis. " " "

185. Charadrius virginicus. Golden Plover. Sparingly every autumn, but some-

times in large numbers.

186. Squatarola helvetica. Black-bellied Plover. Sparingly every autumn, but

sometimes in large numbers.

187. JEgialites vociferus. Killdeer. Common, but less so than formerly.

188. " semipalmatus. Little Plover. Occasionally along the Delaware.

189. Phalaropus hyperboreus. Phalarope. Rarely on the Delaware River.

190. Rusticola minor. Woodcock. Frequent.

191. Gallinago Wilsonii. Snipe. In spring and autumn, sometimes abundant.

192. " grisea. Red-breasted Snipe. Occasionally on the Delaware River.

193. Tringa canutus. Gray-back. Gray Snipe. " "

194. " americana. Red-backed Sandpiper. " "

195. " maculata. Jack Snipe. " "

196. " Wilsonii. Little Sandpiper. " "

197. " Bonaparlei. Little Snipe. " "

BIRDS OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 439

198. Tringa pusilla. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Occasionally on Del. River.

199. Calidris arenaria. Sanderling. " "

200. Totanus semipalmatus. Willet. " "
201 " melanolencus. Tell-tale. " "

202. " flavipes. Yellow-legged Snipe. Frequent along streams.

203. Totanus solitarius. Solitary Sandpiper. Frequent.

204. " macularius. Spotted Sandpiper. Frequent.

205. Actilurus Bartramius. Field Plover. Occasionally occurs, and probably

resident in summer.

206. Limosafedoa. Godwit. Occasionally on the Delaware River.

207. Numenius longirostris. Curlew. " " "

208. Rallus elegans. Marsh Hen. " " "

209. " virginianus. Virginia Rail. " " "

210. Porzana Carolina. Rail. Carolina Rail. Frequent in spring, and abundant

in autumn on the Delaware.

211. Porzana noveboracensis. Little Yellow Rail. Occasionally occurs.

212. " jamaicensis. Little Black Rail. Rare, but occasionally occurs.

213. Fulica americana. Coot. Mud Hen. Occasionally on the Delaware.

214. Cygnus americanus. American Swan. Very rarely on the Delaware.

215. Bernicla canadensis. Wild Goose. Occasionally seen, but less common than

formerly.

216. Bernicla brenta. Brant. Occasionally on the Delaware River.

217. Anas boschas. Mallard. On the Delaware, sometimes abundant, but less

common than formerly.

218. Anas obscura. Black Duck. On the Delaware, sometimes abundant, but

less common than formerly.

219. Dafila acuta. Sprig-tail. On the Delaware, sometimes abundant, but less

common than formerly.

220. Nettion carolinensis. Green-winged Teal. On the Delaware, sometimes

abundant, but less common than formerly.

221. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. On the Delaware, sometimes

abundant, but less common than formerly.

222. Spatula clypeala. Shoveller. Occasionally on the Delaware.

223. Aix sponsa. Summer Duck. " " "

224. Fuligula marUa. Scaup. Black-head Duck. On the Delaware and smaller

streams, sometimes abundant.

225. Fuligula affirm. Lesser Black-head. Occasionally on the Delaware.

226. '• valisneria. Canvas-back. " " "

227. " americana. Pochard. Red-head. " " "

228. " albeola. Butter-ball. Buffel-head. Frequent on the Delaware in
winter.

229. Erismatura rubida. Ruddy Duck. Spine-tail. Occasionally on the Delaware.

230. Mergus americanus. Shelldrake. " "

231. " serralor. Red-breasted Merganser. " "

332. " cucullatus. Hooded Merganser. " "

333. Pelecanus erythrorhynchus. Pelican. Very rarely visits the Delaware.

334. Graculus dilophus. Crested Cormorant. " " "

335. Larus marinus. Black-backed Gull. On the Delaware in winter.

336. " argentatus. Herring Gull. " " "

337. " delawarensis. Ring-billed Gull. " " "

238. " atricillus. Laughing Gull. Black-headed Gull. Occasionally on the
Delaware in winter.

239. Larus philadelphicus. Lesser Black-headed Gull. On the Delaware in

winter-

240. Colymbus iorqualus. Loon. Northern River. Frequent in winter.

241. Podiceps cristalus. Crested Grebe. Occasionally on the Delaware in winter.

242. " cornutus. Horned Grebe. " " "

243. Podylimbus carolinensis. Smaller Grebe. " " "

CLIMATE OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

The character of our climate is so perfectly exhibited in the two following
tables, prepared by the late Joseph Edwards, from observations carefully made
by himself during a series of nine years, that it will be unnecessary to make any
observations on the subject. Three daily observations were made by Mr.
Edwards at his residence at " Chrome Dale," one mile west of the Hall of the
Delaware County Institute of Science, in latitude 39° 55' 18", and longitude 1°
36' 10" east from Washington. The residence of Mr. Edwards was situated
196 feet above tide-water, and the observations were made at seven o'clock, a.m.
and at two and nine, p.m.

S.

^

a

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(3

§

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lO

00

£

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1.862
1 063

2.710

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Nov.

49.72
46 08
40.29
40.64
44 87
42.49
44.95
41.74
40 83

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57.16
55.40
59.99
60.48
60.72
62.34
60.52
58 42
58 95

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April

49.76
45.60
49 03
45.30
49.40
4S.02
50.33
50.69
42.20

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41.24
38.33
42.28
3993
40.20
39 94
36.30
31.08
34.95

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2.31
6.29
4.69
2.84
6.89
4..0
4.06
2,49
1.77

CO
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2.86
3.47
3.17
4 37
1.06
2.71
9.32
1 84
6.59

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April

1.47

2 69
4.91
5.07
3.65
6.58
2.30

3 36
5.65

3.96

Mar.

4.54
4.47
2.97
3 81
1.98
1.30
1 66
1.74
1.55

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POPULATION OF DELAWARE COUNTY,

AS EXHIBITED BY THE CENSUS OF 1860.

Whites.

Colored.

TowNsmps and Boroughs.

Males.

Females.

Males.

Females

Aggregate

Aston Township,

809

801

36

25

1,671

Bethel Township, .

260

243

5

3

511

Birmingham Township, .

298

264

32

27

621

Chester Borough,

2,055

2,159

195

222

4,631

Chester Township, .

956

1,010

32

28

2,026

Concord Township,

585

528

64

52

1,229

Darby Borough,

363

370

19

28

780

Darby Township, .

301

303

58

55

717

Edgmont Township,

291

332

12

12

647

Haverford Township,

627

695

19

9

1,350

Lower Chichester Township, .

441

493

28

29

991

Marple Township, .

431

445

19

21

916

Media Borough,

353

400

72

75

900

Middletown Township, .

1,176

1,156

32

33

2,397

Nether Providence Township, .

699

771

13

14

1,497

Newtown Township,

410

396

12

12

830

Radnor Township, .

599

611

10

10

1,230

Ridley Township, .

630

658

16

20

1,324

Springfield Township,

534

551

9

15

1,109

Tinicum Township,

84

73

20

16

193

Thornbury Township,

462

486

32

37

1,017

Upper Chichester Township, .

264

263

14

J4

555

Upper Darby Township, .

1,234

1,294

18

25

2,571

Upper Providence Township, .

388

396

50

50

884

14,250

14,698

817

832

30,597

For additional statistics, see note N.

BIOGRAPHY OF EARLY SETTLERS

EMINENT MEN OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Anderson, William, was born in
Pennsylvania about the year 1759. At
the commencement of the Revolution-
ary War he was quite a youth, yet he
joined the American army when it was
first organized, or shortly afterwards,
probably in the capacity of a private,
and continued in the service till the
end of the war, when he held a cap-
tain's commission. He shared many of
the hardships of the Revolutionary
struggle, and participated in many of
its battles — was at the Valley Forge,
the Battle of Germantown, and Siege
of Yorktown. After retiring to private
life he married and settled in Chester,
where he continued to reside during his
life. Being a man of ability and ster-
ling integrity, and having so long and
so faithfully served his country in the
time of its greatest need, he was select-
ed for various public trusts, and was
eventually elected a member of Con-
gress, which office he held many years.
In the latter part of his life he was em-
ployed in connection with the collec-
tion of the customs. In politics he was
a Democrat of the Jefferson school, but
from his amiable deportment always
commanded the respect of his political
opponents. His daughter, Evelina, be-
came the wife of the late Commodore
Porter, of the U. S. Navy.

Arnold, Richard, with his wife Sa-
rah, was an early settler in Thornbury,
but not one of the earliest. It does not
appear that he was a Friend, though
some of his children were. He had
ten children, all born before 1714,
viz. : John, Grace, Thomas, Josiah,
William, Elizabeth, Richard, Sarah
and Anthony, several of whom were
married according to the rules of the
Society of Friends. Richard, the elder,
died in 1720, his son John having died
unmarried three years earlier.

Ashbridge, George, a member of the
Society of Friends, had settled within
the bounds of Chester Monthly Meeting
as early as 1688, then, probably, quite a
young man. In 1701 he married Mary
Maylen of Providence. Their children
were Joseph, John, George, Jonathan,
Elizabeth, Mary, Aaron, Hannah and
Phebe. At the time of his death, in
1748, he owned and occupied a planta-
tion in Chester township.

Andries, Lace, was, for a time, one
of the Justices of Upland Court. He
was a Swedish immigrant and resided
in Moyamensiug.

Bailey, Joel, was an early settler in
the vicinity of Chester — probably at
first west of Chester creek above the
mill. In 1687 he was married accord-
ing to the usages of Friends to Ann
Short, after which he became a resident
of Aston. In 1704 the family removed
to Marlborough. Their children were
Mary, Ann, Daniel, Isaac and Joel.
Their descendants are numerous in
Chester county at the present day. Joel
Bailey died in 1732, at an advanced age.

Baker, Joseph, with his wife, Mary,
migrated from England as early as
1685, and settled on a large tract of
land in Edgmont. They had several
children at the time of their arrival.
Of these, Hannah intermarried with
Francis Yarnall, and Dorothy with
Philip Yarnall. He devised all his land
in Edgmont to his son, John, born in
this county in 1686. Joseph was in
membership with Friends and was fre-
quently concerned in the business of
their meetings. He was also an influ-
ential man in the community and re-
presented Chester County in the Pro-
vincial Assembly. He died in 1716
leaving his wife to survive him. His

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

443

brother John, who died in Philadelphia
in 1685, came from Edgmont, in Shrop-
shire, England, which was, doubtless,
the transatlantic residence of Joseph,
and hence the name of the township in
which he settled.

Baldwin, Thomas, settled on the
southwest side of Chester creek above
Chester mills, about the year 1697, but
afterwards removed to Chester, where
he died in 1731. His children were
Thomas, Joseph, William, Anthony,
Mary, Martha and Elizabeth.

Baldwin, John, was an early settler
in Aston township. In 1689 he was
married according to the usages of
Friends, to Katharine Turner, a widow.
Though in membership with Friends,
he does not appear to have taken much
interest in the Society. Their children
were two — Ruth and John, the latter of
whom was married to Hannah John-
son. The elder John was a brother of
Thomas and Francis Baldwin. By trade
was a blacksmith, and came to reside
in Chester in the latter part of his life,
where he died in 1732, leaving a consi-
derable property. Both his children
were then deceased. Francis Baldwin
was also a settler in the neighborhood
of Chester as early as 1686.

Barber, Robert, was an early resi-
dent of the borough of Chester. He
was in membership with Friends, and
in 1690 married Hannah Ogden, also a
member. He appears to have carried on
the shoemaking business. Died in 1708.

Ball, John, came from Derbyshire,
England, and settled in Darby, now
Upper Darby, in 1689. It appears that
he had been married in England, as his
son Roger was married to Mary
Scothorn in 1709. They were in unity
with Friends.

Barnard, Isaac D., son of James
and Susanna Barnard, was born in
Aston township in 1791. His father
being elected sheriff the following year,
purchased a farm near the borough of
Chester, upon which he resided till
1800, when, having received the ap-
pointment of Register, Recorder, Pro-
thonotary and Clerk of the several
Courts of Delaware county, he removed
into the borough. Neither on the farm,

nor while residing within the town of
Chester, had young Barnard any op-
portunity of obtaining more than an
ordinary common-school education.
At the early age of thirteen years he
was taken from school and employed in
the office of his father as a clerk, in
which situation, by his obliging atten-
tion and aptness in the performance of
his duties, he soon gained the confidence
and respect of those whose business
caused them to visit the office. His
father died in 1806, but young Barnard
had become such an expert clerk,
and with all so much of a favorite in
the office, that Thomas B. Dick, who
succeeded his father, very wisely se-
cured a continuance of his services.
Iu 1809 he left Chester and entered the
office of F. Wolbert, Prothonotary of
Philadelphia, where he continued till
the spring of 1811, when he returned
to Chester and entered the office of
William Graham, Esq., as a student of
law. While still a student, and shortly
before he became of age, he obtained a
captain's commission in the regular
army ; and soon after war was declared
with Great Britain, in 1812, he was
employed in the recruiting service, and
opened a rendezvous at West Chester.
Early in the spring of 1813 he pro-
ceeded, with his company, to Sackett's
Harbor and joined the regiment of
General Winder — was present at the
capture of Fort George, in May of that
year, and by his gallantry in that affair,
and the good discipline of his com-
mand, commended himself to the fa-
vorable notice of his superior officers.
He received the appointment of major
out of the regular order of promotion,
and in that capacity was with General
Izzard at Plattsburg, where his conduct
again received the approbation of his
commander. In the battle at Lyon's
creek his conduct in executing a gal-
lant charge elicited the special notice
of General Bissell.

After the close of the war, Major
Barnard left the army, resumed his
studies, was admitted to the bar in
1816, and commenced the practice of
the law at West Chester. He soon
received the appointment of Deputy At-
torney General, and in 1820 was elected
to the State Senate — the County of
Delaware giving him his whole ma-
jority. In 1826 he was appointed Se-
cretary of the Commonwealth under

444

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Governor Shulze — and about a year
afterwards was elected to the United
States Senate. In 1831, on account of
ill health, he resigned his seat in the
Senate, but while a member of that
body he became a prominent candidate
before the Democratic convention for
nomination as Governor of the State, and
was only defeated by a combination of
corrupt factions. Not long after he
commenced the practice of the law, he
was married to Harriet, the eldest
daughter of Judge Darlington of West
Chester, but they had no children. His
death occurred in 1834, at the age of
forty-three years.

^S Barnard Richard, came from Shef-
field, England, either in company with
William Penn or very shortly after-
wards, and settled in Middletown. He
was a Grand Juror in 1685, and served
the constable's office for Middletown in
1691. He was married at the time of
his arrival in this country, and died
prior to 1704. His children were
Richard, who married Ann, the daughter
of Abia Taylor ; Thomas, who married
Elizabeth Swain of Newark, and after-
wards Sarah Carter of Chester Meet-
ing ; Sarah, who married ;

Mary, who married Jacob Roman ;
Lucy, who married Thomas Dutton ,
Lydia, who married Daniel Walker ;
and Rebecca, who married Enoch
Flower. Richard Barnard the elder,
was in membership with Friends, as
all his children appear to have been.
After his death, the land he had pur-
chased in Aston was sold by his son
Richard to his brother Thomas who
settled there. Richard then removed
to Marlborough.

Bartram, John, from Ashborn in
Derbyshire, England, came to Pennsyl-
vania in 1683, and settled in Darby
township west of Darby creek. He
was the son of Richard Bartram, and
had been married and settled some
time in the town of Ashborn. At the
time of his removal to America, his
family consisted of his wife Elizabeth,
three sons — John, Isaac and William,
and one daughter, Mary. He died on
the first of September, 1697, in full
unity with the Society of Friends,
having lost his son John five years
before. Mary was married to John
Wood of Darby in 1696.

Bartram, Isaac, the second son of
the immigrant, John Bartram, became
possessed of all his father's real estate
by virtue of a deed of gift executed a
short time before his death. Isaac
probably resided with his mother on
the mansion-farm in Darby township
till 1708, when he died unmarried,
having devised the family homestead
to his mother during life, and then to
John, (the botanist,) the eldest son of
his brother William.

Bartram, William, the youngest son
of the elder John Bartram, was married
to Elizabeth, the daughter of James
Hunt of Kingsessing, at Darby meeting,
on the 27th of March, 1696, by whom
he had two sons, John (the botanist)
and James. His wife died in 1701. In
1707 he was married to Elizabeth, the
daughter of William Smith of Darby,
by whom he had two children, William
and Elizabeth. In 1712 he removed to
Carolina with his " wife and youngest
child," but probably died before the end
of the year, as his will was admitted to
probate on the 17th of January, 1713.

Bartram, John, the earliest of
American botanists, and the first to
establish a botanic garden in America,
was the eldest son of the above named
William Bartram, and grandson of the
immigrant, John. He was born in Darby
township on the 23rd March, 1699. By
the will of his uncle, Isaac Bartram, he
became possessed of the mansion prop-
erty of his grandfather, and by the will
of his father, of one fourth of his
estate, which is not supposed to have
been large.

Being left an orphan at the age of about
thirteen years in a newly settled coun-
try almost destitute of schools, it can-
not be supposed, that his opportunities
for obtaining an education were very
good. Such as they were, they were
embraced by him with all the spirit of
youthful enthusiasm ; devoting him-
self to the study of Latin and Greek
when opportunity presented. His in-
clination was to study physic and
surgery, and in the latter science he
had acquired so much knowledge as to
be useful to his neighbors. His study
of nature commenced while engaged
in the labor of the field. From her
ample volume wide spread before him,
John Bartram took his earliest lessons.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

445

Conceiving the idea of a botanic gar-
den, he, in the year 1728, purchased
the site of the well known " Bartram's
garden" on the banks of the Schuyl-
kill, now the property of Thomas East-
wick, Esq. A further notice of John
Bartram as a botanist would be incom-
patible with this work; his biography
in this respect belongs to the State and
to the nation.

He was twice married ; to his first
wife in 1723 — to his second in 1729.
Wis first wife was Mary, the daughter of
Richard and Elizabeth Maris of Spring-
field township. His second was Ann,
the daughter of Benjamin Mendenhall
of Concord. By the first marriage he
had two children ; by his second nine.
He was married both times in accord-
ance with the discipline of the Society
of Friends, of which Society he was a
member till 1758, when he was dis-
owned for entertaining opinions sup-
posed not to be in accordance with
the doctrines of that sect. His religious
belief may be gathered from a distitch
conspicuously engraved with his own
hands over the window of an apart-
ment in his house devoted to study
and retirement ; and from its date it
may be concluded that he held the
same doctrine till the end of his days.

"Tis God alone, Almighty Lord,
The lloly One, hy me adored."

"John Baktkam, 1770."

His death occurred on the 22nd of
September, 1777, shortly after the
battle of Brandywine, and it was sup-
posed to have been hastened by the
apprehension that " his darling garden,
the cherished nursling of almost half a
century," might not be spared from the
ravages that the approaching British
army were then committing in his
vicinity. He had frequently expressed
a desire that his last illness might be
short, and in this he was especially
gratified. His age was seventy-eight
years and six months. [For a more
particular account of this great man,
the reader is refered to " Memorials of
Bartram § Marshall" edited by Dr.
William Darlington, and published in
1849.]

Baynton, Peter, a man of some
ability and plausible address, but des-
titute of moral principle, came from
England, and settled in the town of
Chester about the year 1690. He soon

gained the confidence of the people, and
at the same time secured the alfections
of a lady, whom he married. There are
reasons for believing that the lady who
became his dupe, was Ann, the widow
of James Sandelandes. His career in
America was short, but brilliant. He
was appointed a justice of the Chester
Court, and presided at its sittings,
which weie sometimes held at his
house. In two or three years, how-
ever, he suddenly returned to England,
carrying most of his property with him,
and leaving his wife without competent
means for her support. After his
arrival in England, he married another
woman, a fact which he had the un-
feeling impudence to communicate to
his wife here, with an intimation of
his intention to send for the balance of
the property he had left. This, how-
ever, was prevented by a timely appli-
cation to the Governor and Council.

Beal, or Bales, John, was an early
settler in the lower part of Aston. He
was married to Mary, the daughter of
William Clayton, Sr., in 1682. They
were Friends, and so far as known,
their children were John, William,
Jacob, Mary and Patience. The family,
after some time, removed to Notting-
ham, where John died in 1726.

Bennett, John, intermarried with
Ann, the eldest daughter of William
Brinton, the pioneer immigrant, in
1684, at Stower Bridge Friends' Meet-
ing, in England, and soon afterwards
came to this country and settled near
his father-in-law, in Birmingham. He
died in 1709, leaving four children to
survive him, viz., William, John, Ann
and Olive. He became a large land-
holder in Birmingham before his death.
He was appointed constable of Birming-
ham, when first organized as a town-
ship, in 1686

Bennett, Edward, purchased land in
Concord, in the year 1686, and doubt-
less settled there, as he that year mar-
ried Margery Willis. He was probably
a brother of John Bennett, and she a
sister of John Willis, the son-in-law of
the immigrant William Brinton.

Bethel, John, with his wife Frances
and family, came to occupy the mill
property of Darby about the year 1693,

446

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

and he soon afterwards became the
owner of it. He doubtless had resided
in the country some time previously.
In 1699, his wife died, and in 1*703 he
married Jane Parker, by whom he had
one child, Samuel. His children by his
first wife were John, Joseph, William,
Sarah and Mary. John the younger
intermarried with Rose Smith ; Mary
with Job Harvey ; and Sarah with Oba-
diah Bonsall. The other children pro-
bably died unmarried. They were all
in membership with Friends, and in
the latter part of his life the elder John
was active and influential in meeting
affairs. He represented the County of
Chester in the Provincial Assembly, in
1707, and died about the close of that
year or the commencement of the next.

Bevan, John, or John Ap, as he was
sometimes called, was born in Gla-
morganshire, Wales, in 1646, being the
eldest of five children His parents,
who were wealthy, died while he was
quite young. Being the heir, when he
arrived at age, he found himself in pos-
session of a large estate, while his
brothers were unprovided for — his only
sister being dead. His strong sense
of justice at once induced him to "por-
tion all his brothers, and give them a
helpful subsistence in the world." In
1665 he was married to a religious wo-
man, a strict member of the Establish-
ed Church, who, when her husband
had shown a disposition to become a
QuaVer, was distressed, and felt it to
be her duty to interpose her serious
objections. They argued the question
without result ; but the indiscretion of
the priest, in pronouncing the sentence
of excommunication without previous
notice against the husband, in pre-
sence of the wife, so shocked her feel-
ings as to make her nearly faint away,
and after a time made her willing " to
search closely into the weighty work of
salvation.'' They both became Quakers,
and in tbe language of their certificate,
were regarded " as a nursing father
and a nursing mother to (the spiritually)
weak and young" of their neighborhood.

In 1683, John Bevan, with his family,
removed to Pennsylvania, and settled
either in Merion or Haverford, his land
being located in both townships. He
had been a pillar of the Meeting he
left, he was equally so of Haverford
Meeting, which he aided in establish-

ing, and which was frequently held at
his house in its infancy. He stood high
as a preacher in the Society, and the
records of Haverford attest his con-
stancy and efficiency in the promotion
of works of benevolence and charity.
While in the country he traveled much
as a minister, and in 1704, visited his
native land on " truth's account," ac-
companied by his wife and his youngest
daughter, Barbara, who was also a
preacher. He never returned to Ame-
rica, but after suffering some persecu-
tion, being imprisoned in Cardiff gaol
in 1721, he died shortly afterwards.
He had four children married in Penn-
sylvania. His daughter Jane to John
Wood, of Darby, in 1687 ; son Evan to
Eleanor Wood, of Darby, in 1693 ;
daughter Elizabeth to Joseph Richard-
son, of Philadelphia, 1696; and one
other.

Beazer, John, one of the Commis-
sioners appointed by William Penn to
lay out the City of Philadelphia, was
a resident of Bishops Canning in Wilt-
shire. In consequence of his appoint-
ment he arrived before the Proprietary
made his first visit in 1682. He was
accompanied by his wife Susanna, or
she followed him soon afterwards.
They settled at Marcus Hook, where
John died in 1684. John was a public
Friend, and appears to have lived up
to his religious profession. Before
leaving England his business was that
of a maltster. He had been a Quaker
many years, and had suffered much
persecution, by imprisonment,whipping
and the stocks. It seems, however,
that he invited a part of this persecu-
tion, by speaking in the " Steeple-
house at Marlborough." So far as is
known, he had four children, viz. : —
John, Richard, Susannah, (who inter-
married with Nathaniel Lampleigh) and
Frances, (who became the wife of John
Hendrickson, John having first united
with the Society of Friends.)

Beazer, Edward, a brother of the
above named John, came from Rowde,
in the county of Wilts, England, and
was a very early settler in Bethel.
Edward Pennick married his sister
Frances. He was a Friend, and monthly
meetings were held at his house in
1686. He died in 1688. By trade he
was a mason. He left a son Edward.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

447

Biles, William, never resided in De-
laware County. He arrived at Bur-
lington in the year 1678, in a ship from
London, in company with Jersey set-
tlers, and established his abode in what
is now Bucks County, but which at
that time was embraced in Upland
County. Upon the establishment of
Penn's government, he was appointed
one of the Justices of Upland Court,
which office he held till after the ar-
rival of Penn and the division of the
Province into three counties. He was
a man of ability and the strictest in-
tegrity— was frequently a member of
Council and of the Provincial Assem-
bly, but withal, was a preacher, and
an active and influential member of
the Society of Friends. He was one
of the signers of the celebrated testi-
mony against George Keith.

Blunston, John, one of the earliest
of the Quaker colonists of Darby, emi-
grated from Derbyshire, England, in
1682, and brought with him the follow-
ing certificate, which is introduced as
a specimen of those documents :

" This is to certify to whom it may con-
cern that John Blunston of Little Hallam
in the County of Darby hath it in his
mind to transport himself into Pennsyl-
vania in America: that ye said John
Blunston hath walked orderly & so far
forth, as wee know is Cleare upon all ac-
counts.

Att Breath house ye 13th of ye 5th
month 1682 by us whose names are
heare under written
John Roads William Woolly

Edmund Cartledge Richard Seaford
Thomas Whittle Adam Roades

Joshua Fearne Samuel Fox

Joseph Potter Michael Blunston

Will. Day"

John Blunston was married and had
two children by his wife Sarah, at the
time of his arrival. As no mention is
made in his certificate that he was a
preacher, it may be inferred that he
had not appeared in the ministry till
after his arrival here, where his public
testimonies were frequent. The early
meetings of Darby were held at his
house, which stood near the mill-race,
and nearly in front of the present
Friends' meeting-house at Darby.

Besides attending strictly to his re-
ligious duties, his time was much occu-
pied in public employments. He was
a member of the Provincial Assembly

thirteen years, and several times held
the position of Speaker of that body.
He was also for a time a member of
Council ; was appointed by Wm. Penn
one of the Council of State, and was
one of the Justices of the Court. He
was a member of the Society of Free
Traders, and frequently acted as attor-
ney for persons residing in England
who held laud here. He took a firm
stand in opposition to George Keith,
and signed the testimony against him.
His wife Sarah died in 1692, and in
1699 he married Margaret, the widow
of Joseph Steadman, of Springfield.
His children by his first wife were Sa-
rah, Katharine, John and Joseph. The
last named dying young, he named an
only child by his second wife, Joseph,
who also died in early life. John
Blunston, Jr., married Anne, the daugh-
ter of James Hunt ; Katharine inter-
married with Adam Roads, and Sarah
with Josiah Fearne. John Blunston,
the elder, died in 1723.

Blunston, Michael, came from Lit-
tle Hallam, " County of Darby," in

1682, and at first settled in the town of
Darby. In 1691 he was married at
Darby to Hannah, the daughter of Sa-
muel Levis, of Springfield, when he
probably removed to what is now Up-
per Darby. His wife died in 1 705, and
in 1708 he was again married. His
second wife was Phebe Pecho, also of
Springfield. This lady was born in
England in 1666, and became quite
eminent as a preacher among the Qua-
kers. Michael was also a devout mem-
ber of that Society. He died in 1736,
and his wife in 1749, at the advanced
age of 83 years. It does not appear
that he had children by either mar-
riage. He bequeathed £80 in trust,
" to be employed in entertaining honest
Friends," and £50 "to school the chil-
dren of poor Friends of Darby Monthly
Meeting."

Bonsall, Richard, with his wife
Mary and family, came from Mould-
ridge, in Derbyshire, England, and set-
tled in Darby (now Upper Darby) in

1683. They had not been very long
married at the time of their arrival
here, as a number of their children
were born in this country. They were
both members of the Society of Friends.
Richard died in 1699, and his wife one

448

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

year earlier. Their son Obadiah, born
in England, was married to Sarah Be-
thell ; their daughter Rebecca to Daniel
Hibberd, and their daughter Ann to
Josiah Hibberd. Their descendants
are very numerous.

Booth, Robert, came from Knares-
borough, in the North Riding of York-
shire, England, in 1713, and settled in
Bethel township. He was in member-
ship with Friends, and brought a cer-
tificate to Concord Meeting. In 1715,
he married Betty Caston. Their chil-
dren were Joseph, Mercy, Robert, John,
Mary, Ann, and Elizabeth. He died
in 1727, leaving his wife to survive
him. A Charles Booth, a member of
the Society of Friends, was settled
within the bounds of Chester Meeting
earlier than Robert settled within the
bounds of Concord. So far as is known
he had three children, viz. : Mary, Ly-
dia and Jonathan.

Bowater, John, before he became a
settler within our limits, had visited
New England, Maryland and Virginia
as a public Friend. This was about
the year 1G77 or 1678. In the year
1684, he, with his wife Frances, arrived
in Philadelphia, and after remaining
there a short time, removed to Middle-
town township, in this County. As
early as 1687, meetings were held at his
house, which in due time became
" Middlelown Meeting." The consist-
ency of this couple as exemplary mem-
bers of the Society of Friends, was fully
maintained at their new home. Their
children were, Mary, William, Eliza-
beth, John and Alice. John, the elder,
died before 1705, his wife surviving
him till 1720. It is believed that his
place of residence in England was
Bromesgrove, in Worcestershire, where
he had suffered persecution on account
of his religion.

Bowater, Thomas, was an early set-
tler within the limits of Chester Month-
ly Meeting of Friends. In 1686, he
married Sarah Edge, when he probably
settled in Edgmont township. Their
children were, Sarah and Thomas. His
wife died in 1692, but in 1701 he was
again married to Frances Barnet, a wi-
dow of Chichester, and in 1720 he re-
moved to New Garden.

Bracey, Thomas, from Wilaston,
Cheshire, England, arrived at Chester
(Upland) in 1682. He appears to have
been a man of means and of reliable
integrity — was a member of the So-
ciety of Free Traders, and at a meeting
of that society held at London on the
29th of May, he was placed at the head
of a committee of twelve to reside in
Pennsylvania and manage the affairs
of the society here. He was a member
of the first Provincial Assembly held
in Philadelphia in 1683, and doubtless
took a part in that held at Chester pre-
viously. But notwithstanding the pub-
lic trusts wifh which he was charged,
he found time to give constant atten-
tion to the meetings of the Friends, of
which he appears to have been a highly
respected member and an esteemed
minister. He made a settlement in
the upper part of Chester township,
but in his latter years lived in the bor-
ough. He died in 1691, leaving two
daughters to survive him, Rebecca,
who was married to Thomas Thomson
of New Jersey, and Mary, who became
the wife of Francis Woriey.

Thomas Bracey had suffered distress
of his goods in his native country for
preaching the gospel and for absenting
himself from the national worship.

Bradshaw, Samuel, an original pur-
chaser of land in England, came from
Oxton, County of Nottingham, and set-
tled in Darby township in 1682. In
1686 he was married to Mary Duckett
"at the house of Thomas Duckett of
Skoolkill." This house was then a
regular place of meeting, and was con-
nected in forming a monthly meeting
with Haverford and Merion. He did not
take a very active part in meeting affairs.

Bradshaw, Thomas, was from the
same place as the above named Sam-
uel, and was probably his brother. He
arrived the next year after Samuel, and
settled on an adjoining tract of land in
Darby township. He was married to
Sarah, the daughter of Samuel Levis,
in 1687. She died in 1701, he sur-
viving her till 1727. Asa Friend, he
was more active in business matters
than Samuel. He left four children,
Hannah, John, Mary, and Sarah.

Brinton, William, with his wife Ann,
son William, and daughters Elizabeth

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

449

and Esther, emigrated from Nether
Gournall, parish of Sedgeley, Stafford-
shire, (near Birmingham), England, in
the year 1684. He arrived in Phila-
delphia, and while detained there in
making arrangements for a permanent
settlement, he presented two certifi-
cates to a Friends meeting, " held at
the governor's house" on the 4th of the
9th mo. (November) 1684. One of
these certificates is from the monthly
meeting of Dudley, and is dated the
15th of the 11th mo. 1683. The other
is from "his dealers & Correspondents,"
and is dated January 14th, 1683. They
were accepted by the meeting. Having
made two separate purchases of two
hundred and two hundred and fifty
acres of land, he, in 1685, had them
located adjoining each other in what
is now Birmingham township ; the lo-
cation which was then a little outside
of the bounds of civilization, having
been selected on account of the supe-
rior quality of the ground. Here he
erected his cabin, and during the first
winter, which was a severe one, suf-
fered great privations, the Indians min-
istering to his necessities by bringing
timely supplies of game. William Brin-
ton was born in 1630, and was fifty-
four years of age when he arrived in
this country. His wife, who was the
daughter of Edward Bagley, was five
years younger. The year before his
arrival William had suffered religious
persecution in having goods distrained
to the value of £5 lis. to satisfy a fine
of 26s. imposed under the non-con-
formity act. After other settlements had
been made in his neighborhood, meet-
ings were sometimes held in his primi-
tive dwelling, generally designated " the
Cabin." William for a time sided with the
Keithites, but upon reflection resumed
his former position with Friends. He
was a man of a religious turn of mind,
but withal managed his affairs so well,
that at the time of his decease in 1700,
he was possessed of a large estate,
particularly in lands. His wife died
one year before him. In a narrative
of her life drawn up by himself, he
says •• she was much respected in old
England as well as in these parts of
the world." They were both buried
on the mansion farm. Besides their
children mentioned, he had a daughter
Ann, who intermarried with John Ben-
nett in England in 1684. They immi-

29

grated shortly afterwards and settled
on a part of her father's purchase. Of
the other two daughters, Elizabeth
married Hugh Harris, and Esther, John
Willis. William, the only son, married
Jane Thatcher. The descendants of
William Briuton are very numerous,
and very many of them occupy highly
respectable positions in society. It is
believed that all bearing the name of
Brinton in Pennsylvania are descended
from him. For more than a century
the name was pronounced Branton.

Brinton, William, the only son of the
above William, was born about the year
1667, emigrated with his father, and in
1690 was married to Jane, the daughter
of Richard Thatcher, a neighboring set-
tler ofThornbury, in accordance with the
good order of the Society of Friends.
In 1704 he built a stone house on the
mansion farm to supply the place of
the cabin of his father, which is still
standing and in a good state of preser-
vation ; he was also one of the pro-
jectors and owners of a company mill,
the first built in Concord township.
In 1713 he represented Chester County
in the Provincial Assembly. Both
William and his wife were children at
the time of their immigration ; both
saw the country an unbroken wilder-
ness, and both lived to see it well set-
tled, cultivated, and improved. Will-
iam died in 1751, aged 84 years, and
Jane in 1755, aged 85 years. Their
children were Joseph, William, Edward,
Mary, Ann, and John. Joseph was a
man of more than ordinary ability, and
was frequently employed in public
trusts — was a Justice of the Courts of
Chester County from 1730 to 1751, the
time of his death, and frequently repre-
sented the County in the Provincial As-
sembly. Though born in this country,
it is said he possessed the appearance,
disposition, and character of an Eng-
lishman. Edward, the third son, born
in 1704, succeeded his brother as a
Justice of the Court, and also repre-
sented the County in the Provincial
Assembly. He died in 1799.

Bristow, John, was settled in Chester
township as early as 1686. He pur-
chased and resided on a tract of land
next below the Wade tract on the river.
His occupation was that of an edge-
tool manufacturer, and as there was a

450

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

malt-house on his premises, he probably
carried on the business of malting also.
He was a Friend, but took no very
active part in the meetings of that So-
ciety. He was a Justice of the Court,
was a member of Council from 1687
to 1690, and also represented Chester
County in the Provincial Assembly one
year. His death occurred in 1694.
By his will, dated the same year, he
gives all his property to his three chil-
dren, John, William, and Hester, who
were all minors ; and in the event of
their death, his brother Richard of
Bristol, England, was to be his heir.
He, with Caleb Pusey, was appointed to
superintend the building of the first
meeting-house at Chester, towards the
finishing of which he bequeathed £6.
He owned three negroes at the time
of his decease. John Salkeld subse-
quently became the owner of and occu-
pied the Bristow estate. Johu Bristow
migrated from Bristol in England or
from the neighborhood of that city.

Brooke, William, one of the active
participants and a Captain in the Revo-
lutionary war, was born in Limeric,
Montgomery County, about the year
1750. He was very active in the mili-
tary operations in the neighborhood
while the British army was in Phila-
delphia and its neighborhood. One of
his daring exploits is detailed in the
general narrative contained in this
volume. He resided in Haverford
township, and while in service his
dwelling was plundered of nearly every
article of food and furniture, so that
his wife with two young children was
obliged to turn out in the snow and
seek a shelter elsewhere.

Brown, James, with his wife Hannah,
was among the earliest English set-
tlers within our limits, having fixed
their rsidence in Marcus Hook, before
William Penn obtained his grant from
King Charles. Their son, James, was
born at that place on the 17th of the
first mo. (March) 1681. In 1684 he
purchased part of Walter Martin's
" house and settlement" called Middle-
town in Chichester on Naaman's Creek,
where he subsequently resided. He
was a member of the Society of Friends,
but was not very zealous. His name
occurs on the list of jurors, summoned
to attend the first two courts under the

Proprietary government. In 1688, he
conveyed two acres of land to Friends,
for the use of the Society, upon which
Chichester meeting-house was subse-
quently erected.

Brown, William, born in North-
ampton County, England, in 1656, was
convinced of the truth of Friend's
doctrines by the preaching of Wm.
Dewsbury. It is probable he arrived
about the same time as the Proprietary,
and having settled in Chichester, was
in 1684 married to Ann Mercer of
Chester meeting. After some time he
removed to Nottingham, where meet-
ings were held at his house till 1709,
when, by order of the Quarterly meet-
ing, they were held in the new meeting-
house that had been erected there.
" He was of a loving disposition, a
serviceable member and elder in the
church, being a pattern of plainness,
and bore the marks of a true Christian."
By trade he was a maltster. He died
in 1746, in the ninety-first year of his
age.

Brown, John, was a resident and
taxable of Marcus Hook or vicinity as
early as 1677. He served on the first
jury empanneled in Pennsylvania, of
which there is any record. There is no
evidence that he was a Quaker.

Buffington, Richard, was residing
in Upland as early as 1677. In 1679
he purchased, in conjunction with John
Grubb, a tract of land west of Chester
Creek, above Chester which they called
" Hopewell of Kent." In 1688 Richard
Buffington resided in Aston, and served
the office of constable for that town-
ship. In 1739 at the age of eighty-five,
it is said, that he assembled at his own
house at Chester, one hundred and fif-
teen decendants, his eldest son then
present being aged sixty years. The
same tradition mentions this sou as the
first born of English parents in Penn-
sylvania. The records of Chester
Monthly Meeting, testify to an earlier
" first born," and the tact that Richard
Buffington had removed to Bradford as
early as 170S, where he continued to
reside, renders it very probable that he
had no house at Chester. There is,
however, reason to believe that he was
married more than once, and that his
descendants were very numerous. In

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

451

religion he was a Baptist, and was
present when the first Baptist organi-
zation was effected in 1715. By his
will, made in January, 1748, shortly be-
fore his death, lie bequeathed " to
Owen Thomas, minister of the Anna-
baptists' Society held at John Bentley's
in Newlin," five pounds, and to the
Society, twenty pounds. Many of his
numerous descendants became Friends.

Bunting, Samuel, the first of the
family of that name who settled with-
in our limits, did not arrive till 1722,
when, being a Friend, he presented his
certificate to Darby Meeting. In 1727,
he married Martha the daughter of
Josiah Fearne. Samuel, though a
very pious man, was addicted to making
verses. He left a poetic account of
his voyage to America, from which we
learn that it was a very unpleasant one.
He was detained five weeks waiting for
the vessel, the Neptune, to proceed to
sea, was sixty-five days on the water,
and running out of provisions was
obliged to land at Hampton, in Virginia.
From that place the passengers walked
to Pennsylvania.

Bfshell, Joseph, with his wife
Sarah, and two daughters, Jane and
Abigail, emigrated from England in
1683, and settled in Bethel township
the next year. The family were
Quakers, but Jane, the daughter, inter-
married with Walter Martin, a man
who appears to have had a particular
dislike to the doctrines of that sect.
Abigail became the wife of Nicholas
Pyle of Concord, and maintained her
standing with Friends. Joseph Bushell
was one of the trustees to take the
conveyance of the ground upon which
Chichester meeting-house was erected.
He died in 1708. He, with Enoch
Flower, brought a joint certificate from
Brinkworte Monthly Meeting in Eng-
land, which was presented to the meet-
ing at Philadelphia.

Calvert, John, with Judith his wife
and family, emigrated from England,
and settled in Upper Providence town-
ship as early as 1685. Two of their
children — Daniel and Mary — were born
in Providence, but how many, besides
one named Joshua, were born in Eng-
land, is not known. They were
Quakers.

Caldwell, Vincent, came from Der-
byshire, England, about the year 1699,
and brought a certificate to Darby
Monthly Meeting, of which, for a time,
he was a member. Though a young
unmarried mau he was a preacher of
some note, and during his sojourn at
Darby, made a religious visit to Mary-
land with the approbation of the meet-
ing. In 1703 he was married to Betty
Pierce, daughter of George Pierce, of
Thornbury, and soon after settled in
.Marlborough, Chester County, where he
died in 1720, aged 45 years. He con-
tinued to be an approved minister till
his death. His wife did not marry
again, though she survived him thirty-
seven years, having removed to Wil-
mington a short time before her death,
which happened in 1757, in the seventy-
seventh year of her age. She lived an
exemplary life, attending strictly to her
religious duties, and towards its close
appeared in the ministry. She was a
native of Gloucestershire, England,
having immigrated with her father in
1683.

Campanius, John, or John Campa-
nius Holm, accompanied Governor
Printz as chaplain to the Swedish co-
lonists brought over by him in 1642,
and remained here until 1648. His
place of residence was doubtless at
Tinicum, at which place, on the 4th of
September, 1646, he consecrated a
Swedish church — the first house of
worship erected within the limits of
Pennsylvania. Campanius was born
at Stockholm in 1601, and having
passed through his school studies with
credit was, for a long time, employed
as the teacher of an orphans' seminary
in his native city. After his return to
Sweden he was made first preacher of
the admiralty, and became rector of an
important parish. He died in 1683,
aged eighty-two years. While he re-
mained here he made himself acquaint-
ed with the language of the Indian
tribes, and translated Luther's Cate-
chism into the idiom of the Delawares;
copies of which are still extant. The
work that bears his name was written
by his grandson, Thomas Campanius
Holm, partly from memoranda left by
his grandfather. The work is so little
reliable that, for the credit of all con-
cerned, it would have been well if it
never had been written.

452

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Carter, Edward, migrated from
Aston, in the parish of Bampton, Ox-
fordshire, England, and by trade was a
carpenter. In 1682 he purchased 250
acres of land while in England, which,
in 1684, was located in Aston town-
ship. He arrived here as early as the
Proprietary, and was a member of the
first jury empanneled for the county of
Chester. At first he resided in Chi-
chester but subsequently removed to
his land that had been located in Aston,
where he was living in 1691. He was
a member of the Society of Friends,
but was never very active as such and
probably left the Society.

Carter, Robert, only son and heir
of the above Edward. In 1688 he
married Lydia Wally, probably a niece
of Robert Wade, or of his wife. They
had a son John to whom the Aston
property was deeded in 1717. They
also had two daughters, Prudence and
Hannah. They were Friends ; and Ro-
bert was one of a committee appointed
by the Quarterly Meeting to fix the site
on which Providence Meeting-house
was afterwards erected.

Cartlidge, Edmund, came from
" Ridings, in the county of Darby," Eng-
land, and settled in Darby, now Upper
Darby township, in 1683, with his wife
Mary. As a member of the Society of
Friends, the records of Darby Meeting
show that he was faithful and atten-
tive, while as a citizen he was prompt
in the performance of his duty. He
was a purchaser in England of 250
acres. At the time of his death, be-
sides his mansion tract, he held land in
Plymouth township. His children were
John, Mary and Edmund. An elabo-
rately carved tombstone, represented
by a cut on page 385, was erected to his
memory in the Friends' burying ground
at Darby. When the Society deter-
mined to exclude gravestones, this one
was doubtless buried. It was found in
digging a grave some years since.

Chadsey or Chadds, Francis, as
early as 1684, lived in Chichester, as
the court records show that he was ap-
pointed constable for that township the
following year. How early he removed
to Birmingham and settled near the
well known ford on the Brandywine
that bears his name, is not certainly

known. He was a member of the So-
ciety of Friends, and in 1695 was mar-
ried to Grace Stanfield according to the
usages of that Society. Their children
were Elizabeth, John, Grace, Betty, one
other daughter, and son Francis. He
erected a "corn mill" on his property
in Birmingham, but its exact location
is not now known. In society he held
a high position, was in easy circum-
stances, and was frequently called upon
to transact public business. He served
two years in the Provincial Assembly.
He died in 1713 after having made his
son John his principal heir. His widow
not very long after his death married
Gaiwen Stephenson.

Chandler, Jacob, came from Eng-
land prior to 1685, and settled in Chi-
chester. He was a Friend, and the
Monthly Meetings of Chichester were
sometimes held at his place of resi-
dence, which he called " Jacob's Well."
Having united with the Keithites, he
was disowned by the Quakers. He was
alive in 1704.

Chandler, John, an early colonist
and landholder of Chichester, died in
1704, leaving no children. He does
not appear to have been a Quaker.

Churchman, John, came from Saffron
Waldron, Essex county, England, in
1682, in the seventeenth year of his
age. In 1696 he married Hannah,
daughter of Thomas Ceery of Aston,
and settled in Chester township. In
1704 he removed to Nottingham,
where he died in 1724, aged 57. Three
of his children — George, Dinah and
Susanna — were born in Chester town-
ship. He had a son, John, born at
Nottingham, who became a man of
some note as a surveyor. They were
all Friends.

Clayton, William, with his family,
arrived in the ship Kent from London,
in company with certain commission-
ers sent out by the proprietors of New
Jersey, to purchase lands from the In-
dians, &c. In 1678-9 (March) he pur-
chased the share of Hans Oelson, one
of the original grantees of Marcus
Hook, and settled at that place. As a
Quaker, he was an active and consis-
tent member, and likewise took a part
in political affairs. He was a member

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

453

of Governor Markham's Council, and
also of that of the Proprietary after his
arrival ; while, at the same time, he
served as one of the justices of the
Court of Upland countv, and subse-
quently for that of Chester County;
presiding at the first Court held in
Pennsylvania under the Proprietary
government. His daughter, Mary, was
married to John Beales in 1682, and
his son, William, to Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of John Bezer, the same year. The
declaration of intention of this couple
to marry in accordance with Friends'
discipline, is the earliest on record in
Pennsylvania; but some delay having
occurred, by reason of the absence of
the bride's parents, they were not the
earliest to marry in that way. His
daughter, Prudence, married Henry
Reynolds, not a member of Friends'
meeting. There is reason to believe
that the death of the elder William
occurred about the year 1691.

Clayton, William, Jr., soon after his
marriage as above, became the pur-
chaser and occupant of a tract of about
one hundred acres, embracing the site
of Maylandville, now included within
the City of Philadelphia, whereon a mill
had been erected. This mill was doubt-
less the same that the Upland Court,
in 1678, ordered to be built at "the
faal called Captn Hans moenses faals."
[See Upland Court Records, p. 115.]
While residing here, the newly married
couple became attached to Haverford
Meeting, in the records of which, be-
fore the close of 1686, the births of two
children — Elizabeth and William — are
registered. It is believed that this
family returned to the neighborhood of
Chichester, after the death of the elder
William Clayton.

Cliffe, Robert, came from Harby,
in the County of Leicester, in com-
pany with Samuel Levis and William
Garrett, and settled in Darby, (pro-
bably in the town,) in 1684. He died
in 1694 — ten years after his arrival.
He, with twenty-four others, had suf-
fered imprisonment in Leicester jail, for
refusing to be sworn, as early as 1660.

Cliffe, Benjamin, was probably the
son of the above named Robert, immi-
grated with him, and also resided in
the town of Darby. He appears to have

been a man willing to make himself
generally useful. In his younger days
he was employed in teaching a school
supported by the Society of Friends, of
which he was a member; and in later
years attended to many concerns of
the meeting and of the neighborhood
that fitted him. He also kept a shop
in Darby till the time of his decease,
in 1749. It is not known that he was
married, and he certainly left no chil-
dren. By industry and economy he
had acquired means that enabled him
to purchase " a plantation," which he
devised to Benjamin Lobb, his sister's
son.

Cloud, Jeremiah, was of age when
his father, William Cloud, immigrated
to Pennsylvania. In 1686 he was mar-
ried to Elizabeth Bailey. He resided
in Concord, but his son, Jeremiah, in
1710, removed within the limits of
Newark Meeting, where he married
Ann Bailey. The elder Jeremiah was
a member of the Society of Friends at
the time of his marriage.

Cloud, William, from " Seene," in
the County of Wilts, was one of the
very earliest of the colonists who ven-
tured as far " into the woods" as Con-
cord to make a settlement. He brought
his family with him, and it is probable
that some of his children were married
in England. He was an early member
of Chichester Friends Meeting, and was
a contributor towards the erection of
the first " Chichester Meeting-house."
So far as is known his children were
William, Jeremiah, Joseph and Robert.
He died in 1702.

Cock, Otto Ernest, was an early
Swedish inhabitant, and resided at dif-
ferent places within the limits of what
is now Delaware County, and at one
time in Kingsessing, below the Blue
Bell. In 1678 he resided at Tinicum, and
in 1696 at Marcus Hook. Being one of
the most intelligent of the Swedish
settlers, his name occurs in connection
with almost every public proceeding of
the time in which he lived. He was
a member of Governor Markham's
Council, before the arrival of William
Penn; was a Justice of the Upland Court ,
and was also one of the Justices com-
missioned by Governor Markham for
Upland County, and assisted in hold-

454

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

ing its courts until the arrival of
William Penn, and the erection of the
County of Chester as a separate judicial
district. He was also sometimes em-
ployed as an interpreter. The earliest
occurrence of his name, was as an arbi-
trator, by appointment of an early Up-
land Court, in 1673. He was alive in
1693.

Collet, Jeremiah, or Jeremy, was
settled in Chichester before the arrival
of William Penn. In 1685 he owned
and occupied a tract of land a little
north of Marcus Hook. In 1684 he
served the office of Sheriff for Chester
County. In religious profession he was
doubtless an Episcopalian, as he be-
queathed £50 for the " better support
of the minister officiating in the
Chapel" — now St. Martin"s Church at
Marcus Hook. He died about the year
1725.

Collier, Thomas, from Nottingham,
England; settled in Darby, now Upper
Darby township, in 1689, but had been
in the country some time previously,
as it appears by the records of Darby
Meeting that he was married to Hannah
Lownes in the early part of that year.
So far as is known, their only children
were Isaac and Hannah.

Coates, Moses, with his wife, emi-
grated from Carlow, in Ireland, and
settled in Haverford in 1717. His wife
was from Munster. They were both
Friends, but do not appear to have con-
tinued to reside at Haverford very long.

Coates, Thomas, from Sprixton, in
the County of Leicester, England, set-
tled in Darby in 1686. He removed to
Philadelphia, where he engaged in
mercantile business, and died in 1719.
He was in membership with Friends.

Cobb, William, a very early settler
at Amesland, where he served the office
of constable in 1683. He subsequently
became owner, or part owner, of the
Swedes' mill, near the Blue Bell, and
doubtless carried on the milling busi-
ness there. It was from him that the
creek which turned his mill received
its present name of Cobb's Creek.

Cobodrn, Thomas, with his wife
Elizabeth, came from Cashel, in the

kingdom of Ireland, accompanied by
their sons William and Joseph. They
arrived at Chester a short time before
the first visit of William Penn to his
Province, and settled on a large tract
of land in Chester township, which,
after the death of his wife in 1688, he
conveyed to his two sons. William was
married to Mary, daughter of Joseph
Baker, in 1686, and Joseph to Susanna
Churchman, in 1690. Thomas, by trade
was a carpenter, and in religious pro-
fession, both he, his wife, and his two
sons, were Quakers. The old man,
for some time after his arrival, took a
deep interest in the affairs of his meet-
ing. About the year 1687, he built a
mill — the second on Chester Creek —
which gave offence to' the proprietors
of the Chester mills.

Cook, Richard. An early settler in
Radnor township. He was a Friend,
and came from the parish of Llangunlo,
County of Radnor, Wales.

Cooper, James, with Hannah, his
wife, emigrated from Mayfield, County
of Stafford, England, and settled in the
town of Darby in 1684. He had re-
moved from Lancaster to Mayfield ten
years before. He was alive in 1701,
and was a Friend.

Coppock, Bartholomew, Sr. From
Cheshire, England, with his wife Mar-
garet and family, was among the early
immigrants. He settled in Springfield
in 1685, and two years afterwards pur-
chased land in Marple township, on
Darby Creek, of John Nickerson, on
which he subsequently resided till his
death in 1719, when he had attained
the age of seventy-three years. He
had a son Jonathan, who was deceased
at the time of his death, a son Bartho-
lomew, and four daughters, viz : Mar-
garet, Rebecca, Sarah and Martha.
They were all Friends.

Coppock, Bartholomew, Jr., pro-
bably a nephew of the foregoing, but
not much his junior in years, settled
near Springfield meeting-house, and
the meeting that subsequently became
Springfield Friends' Meeting was con-
stantly held at his house until a meet-
ing-house was erected". He probably
immigrated with his uncle; but his

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

455

business capacities were superior. He
was for many years a member of the
Provincial Council, and frequently re-
presented Chester County in the As-
sembly. His wife was Eleanor, the
sister of Daniel Williamson. His only
children were Mary, who was married
to Richard Woodward, Deborah, who
was married to William West, uncle of
the great painter, and Hannah, married
to Robert Williamson. Bartholomew
died in 1720, and his wife in 1727.

Cornelissen, Jan, was a settler at
Amesland as early as 1676. It was
for his demented son that the Upland
Court ordered a block-house to be
built. He probably was a Dutchman.

Crosby, Richard, came from London,
and arrived at Chester about as early
as the first visit of the Proprietary. He
had purchased land before he left Eng-
land, part of which he located in Mid-
dletown township. After residing for
some time at. or near Chester he re-
moved to the Middletown land, where
he was residing when he purchased
land in Ridley. He was not a Quaker,
and on that account much less is known
of him. He probably belonged to the
national church. He was a man of
some business qualifications, and ap-
peared to increase his estate.

The Crosbys are descendants of Sir
John Crosby of London, a member of
Parliament, alderman, and sheriff of
that city in 1471, who was knighted by
Edward IV, and who was one of the
wealthiest men of his day. The Eng-
lish branch of the family is nearly or
quite extinct. That of America is
numerous, and embraces many persons
of highly respectable standing.

Crosby, John, son of the above
Richard, was a man of ability, and ex-
hibited considerable energy in business
affairs. He was a Justice of the Court,
and one year represented Chester
County in the Provincial Assembly.
He resided in Ridley, and at the time
of his decease in 1750, was half owner
of a forge, which he devised to his son
Richard. This is doubtless the forge
mentioned by Peter Kalm, the Swedish
naturalist, and noticed in the general
narrative of this work.

Croxton, Randal, from Chormely.

County Palatine of Chester, England,
fixed his residence in Upper Provi-
dence. He was an early settler, but it
does not appear that he was one of the
earliest. He was married in 170 1 , " ac-
cording to the good order of Friends,''
to Sarah, daughter of William and Ann
Garrett of Darby (now Upper Darby).
Their children were John, Thomas,
Randal, Samuel, and Jonathan. He
was living in Upper Providence as late
as 1734.

Darlington, Abraham, the son of
Job and Mary Darlington of Darnhall,
a small township in Cheshire, England,
with his brother John, both very young,
emigrated to America in the early part
of last century. Their uncle, John
Neild, had previously emigrated and
settled in Aston township, and it is
supposed that it was upon his invita-
tion that the two young Darlingtons
came to this country. This gentleman
having recently married the widow of
John Dutton, a large landholder of
Aston, was in comfortable circum-
stances, and it may reasonably be sup-
posed that the two youths, for a time,
made their home with him. John,
however, soon removed to Maryland,
but Abraham continued to reside in
Aston, or possibly he may have re-
moved to Chester, and for a short time
carried on the business of a saddler in
that town, having served an appren-
ticeship to that trade before he left
England. In 1712 Abraham was mar-
ried to Deborah, the daughter of
Joseph Carter, who did not long sur-
vive her marriage, for in 1716 we find
him contracting a second marriage
with Elizabeth, the daughter of Tho-
mas and Elizabeth Hillborn of Bucks
County. He soon became a landowner
in Aston, and continued to reside there
till 1723, when he removed to Birming-
ham, where he had purchased a farm
on the Brandywine, beyond the limits
of Delaware County.

Though a Quaker by convincement,
he never became a very active member
in the business affairs of the Society.
In 1722 he was appointed one of three
" Appraisers for the County of Chester,"
whose duty it was to set a value on all
property taken in execution ; and in
1724, in pursuance of a then recent act
of Assembly, he received the appoint-
ment of " Searcher and Sealer of Leather.'1

456

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Besides the execution of these offices,
and the management of a large farm,
he devoted a considerable portion of
his time to the practice of the healing
art, in which tradition has given him
the reputation of considerable skill,
though he had received no regular
medical instruction. His death oc-
curred in 1776, at an advanced age.

It is not known that Abraham Darl-
ington had any child by his first wife.
By his second he had ten children, viz :
Mary, Deborah, Elizabeth, Abraham,
Thomas, John, Hannah, Rachel, Job
and Rebecca. In 1853, when a general
assembly of the " Clan Darlington'' was
held, the known descendants of the
immigrant Abraham numbered 1500.
This number, it is believed, includes
all who bear the name of Darlington
in this country.

Da vies, Mirick, an early Welsh set-
tler of Radnor, was in religion an Epis-
copalian. His name appears in the
earliest records of St/David's Church.
His son James, by his wife Mary, was
born in 1720. He at one time lived in
the Upper part of Haverford, near
Darby creek.

David, Lewis, from Llandewy, in the
county of Pembroke, Wales, was a
large purchaser of lands before leaving
his native country, a considerable por-
tion of which was located in Haverford,
by some of the earliest of the Welsh set-
tlers, who had become purchasers under
him before leaving their native country.
He did not emigrate till about the year
1690, when he settled in Haverford.
He died in 1708, leaving a son named
James Lewis and one or more children
in Wales. It does not appear that he
was the father of the next following. He
was a Friend, and according to Besse,
suffered considerable persecution in his
native country on account of his reli-
gion.

David, William, was one of the early
Welsh colonists who settled in Radnor.
He had land surveyed to him in that
township in 1685. In 1691, he was
was married to Gwenlin Philips, of the
same township, according to " the good
order" of the Society of Friends. They
had one son, William. He was at one
time owner of the mill now owned by
Tryon Lewis.

Dicks, or Dix, Peter, with his wife
Esther, emigrated from England to
Pennsylvania and settled in Birming-
ham about the year 1686. He was a
member of the Society of Friends, and
appears to have been in rather easy
circumstances. He died in 1704, leav-
ing seven children, viz. : Peter, Nathan,
Hannah, Elizabeth, Sarah, Esther and
Deborah. Hannah intermarried with
Jonathan, the son of Richard Thatcher;
Elizabeth with Richard Tranter, and
Sarah with Joseph Pyle. Peter, the
son, " was married by a priest," but
still retained his membership with
Friends, and in 1717 removed to Nether
Providence. The widow, Esther, in
1708 intermarried with Benjamin Men-
denhall, then a widower. The fact that
the younger Peter visited Cheshire,
England, "to settle some affairs," ren-
ders it very probable that the elder
Peter emigrated from that place.

Drewett, Morgan, (Mariner) with
his wife Cassandra, came from London,
and arrived at Burlington in 1677 in
the ship Kent, in company with the
West Jersey Commissioners, who were
sent out to purchase lands from the
natives, &c. Early in the next year he
purchased land in Marcus Hook, where
he resided till after the establishment
of Penn's government in 1681, and
perhaps a little later. He subsequently
purchased a large tract of land on the
river, just above " Boute Creek," which
had been established ns the boundary
between Chester and Newcastle Coun-
ties, where he resided in 1 684, and where
meetings were held at his house after
the establishment of the circular line
placed his property in Newcastle
County. He served as a juror at the
first Court held under the Proprietary
government. He was strict in the per-
formance of his duty as a member of
the religious Society of Friends until
his death, which occured in 1695, at
the age of 66 years. His children
were, Joseph, Benjamin, (born at sea,
1677,) Mary and Sarah.

Durborow, Hugh, was probably born
in Somersetshire, England, about the
year 1660. While young, he united
himself with the Quakers, and was per-
secuted for attending their meetings,
as was usual in England at that time.
He emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1684,

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

457

and after some time settled in Thorn-
bury township ; his certificate of mem-
bership with Friends being from Ilces-
ter. In 1686 he married Elizabeth,
the sister or niece of John Taylor, then
residing on Tinicum, and who had
probably immigrated with him. For
a time Hugh joined with the Kieth-
ites, but soon returned to the true
faith and became a minister of some
note. His wife Elizabeth was also an
approved minister in the Society.
About the year 1693, they removed to
Philadelphia, where he died in 1740,
aged about 80 yearSj Elizabeth died
in 1722, aged 62 years. Hugh was
imprisoned in England for attending a
Quaker meeting. Besse spells his name
Dulborow, They had eight children,
viz. : John, Daniel, Hannah, Elizabeth,
Isaac, Joseph, Mary and Jacob.

Dutton, John, with his wife Mary,
arrived here from England with the
Proprietary, when he made his first
visit, or shortly afterwards. They set-
tled in Aston. John did not live many
years in the enjoyment of his new
borne. Besides a daughter, Elizabeth,
who died about the time of their arri-
val, they had two sons ; John, who in-
termarried with Elizabeth Kinsman, and
Thomas, who intermarried with Lucy
Barnard. John and his wife were both
Friends, but after his death his widow
married John Nield, "who was not in
profession of the truth." John Dutton
probably came from Worcestershire.

Edwards, William, an early settler
of Middletown, with his son John and
other children emigrated, as is believed
by some of his descendants, from Gla-
morganshire in Wales. It is supposed
he was a widower at the time of his
arrival. Be that as it may, in 1688
he was married to Jane Atkinson, a
native of Yorkshire, according to the
usages of the Society of Friends, of
which they were both members. Wil-
liam Edwards died in 1716. The names
of his children are not all known. His
eldest son and heir, John, in 1699
married Mary Ingram of Burlington,
N. J., and occupied the original cabin
of his father after his decease. In
1717, a daughter, Sarah, by the second
wife, was married to Joseph Pratt.
From this marriage it is believed the
Pratt family descended. John Edwards

died in 1749 at a very advanced age,
leaving nine children, viz., John, Mary,
Elizabeth, Nathan, Hannah, Moses,
Phebe, Joseph and Amos. His wife
was living at the time of his decease.

Edwards, Joseph, son of Issachar and
Rebecca Edwards, was born in Middle-
town township, August 20th, 1796, and
continued to reside with his parents till
1810, when he was placed in the count-
ing-house of his uncle, Joel West, then
residing in Baltimore. In 1812, he re-
turned to his father, and the next year
he was apprenticed to the wheelwright
business. After learning his trade, he
at first established himself in Edgmont
township, and subsequently near the
Buck tavern in Marple. In 1825 he
removed to Camden, N. J., and com-
menced the distillation of turpentine
as a business. In 1831, he relinquish-
ed the turpentine business on account
of ill-health, when he again returned
to the homestead in Delaware County.
Here his health soon improved, when
he commenced business in Philadel-
phia, which he continued till the close
of 1834. In 1836, he purchased part
of the original Edwards' land in Mid-
dletown, on which he built a neat
dwelling. Here he resided till the
close of his life. A short time before
his death, which happened in July,
1858, he fractured one of his limbs.
Great debility ensued, which soon
after resulted in death. The mental
endowments of Joseph Edwards were
of no common order. He was possess-
ed of a memory unusually retentive,
and to use his own language, " with a
mind active to a degree which admit-
ted of no relaxation, assisted by a
very slender education." But he had
greatly increased his knowledge by
a course of general reading and
study, especially the study of history.
In 1844, he became a member of the
Delaware County Institute of Science,
and the next year was appointed to
make regular meteorological observa-
tions. A very condensed summary of
these observations will be found in an-
other place in this volume. Monthly
reports of his observations were made
to the Smithsonian Institution, and re-
ceived high commendations for their
accuracy. In 1855, he was appointed
by the Institute to write a History of
Delaware County, in which work he

458

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

was engaged up to near the time of his
death. Mr. Edwards sometimes in-
dulged his humor in writing poetry.
One of his pieces, written a short time
before his death, termed '' The Voyage of
Life," closes with the following lines :

" My voyage, with all its witchery,
Its joys, its hopes, its woes,
Has filled its line of destiny,
And verges to a close."

Ellis, Thomas, was one of the most
eminent of the Welsh settlers. He
came from Pembrokeshire, and arrived
here in 1683 with his second wife
Ellen and family, and settled on one
of two large tracts of land which he
purchased and located in Haverford.
His certificate, which is from the
monthly meeting of Redstone, speaks
of him as a man " of a tender spirit,
often broken before the Lord, with
the sense of the power of an endless
being upon him." It also informs us,
that " his testimony for the Lord, and
his Trueth bath been very weighty, to
the reaching of the consciences of
many," and that he had " an excellent
gift in opening deepe divine Misteryes."
His imprisonments " had been many
and difficult wth spoyling of goods on
truth's accompt." Having escaped
from a land of bitter persecution, his
feelings prompted him, immediately
after his arrival here, to compose " in
British language" the following " Song
of Rejoyceing," which " was turned into
English by his ffriend John Hum-
phrey:"

" Pennsylvania an habitation,
With certain, sure and clear foundation ;
Where the dawning of the day,
Expels the thick, dark night away.

Lord, give us here a place to feed,
And pass my life among thy seed,
That in our bounds, true love and peace,
From age to age may never cease.

Then shall the trees and fields increase,
Heaven and Earth proclaim thy peace,
That we and they — forever Lord,
Shew forth thy praise, with one accord."

Though a resident of Haverford,
Thomas Ellis spent much of his time
in Philadelphia, where he held public
trusts under the government. lie also
travelled in the ministry. At the time
of his death, which happened in 1688,
he held the office of Register General
of Pennsylvania, with David Lloyd as
his deputy. His wife died in 1692.

By his second wife he had but one

child, Rachel, who intermarried with
Robert Wharton, in 1701. By a former
marriage, he had one son, Ellis, and a
daughter, Eleanor, who intermarried
with David Lawrence. He was interred
at Friends' burying ground, Haverford.

Edge, John, with his wife Jane and
family, emigrated from St. Andrews,
Holborne, in the County of Middlesex,
England, and settled in Nether Provi-
dence about the year 1685. He was
an earnest member of the Society of
Friends, and the monthly meeting was
sometimes held at his house. His
children were, Mary, intermarried with
James Sharpless ; Abigail, with Edward
Woodward ; Jacob, with Sarah Jones
of Merion, and John, with Mary Smed-
ley of Westown. John Edge the elder,
died in 1711, aged sixty-five years.
He had been subjected to heavy fines
and imprisonment in his native country,
for refusing to act contrary to his con-
scientious scruples, and on one occa-
sion, was subjected to a public trial.

Ellis, Ellis, emigrated with his
father, Thomas Ellis, in 1683, from
Redstone in Pembrokeshire, Wales,
and settled on part of the large pur-
chase made by his father in Haverford
township. In 1685 he was married to
Lydia the daughter of Elizabeth Hum-
phrey, who had also emigrated in 1683,
but she with her family came from
Merionethshire. He was a Friend and
a good citizen. His children were,
Rachel, Thomas, Elizabeth, Bridget,
John, Joseph, Evan, William, Benja-
min and Rebecca. He died in 1706, his
wife surviving him.

Ellis, Humphrey, was one of the
earliest of the Welsh Friends who emi-
grated to Pennsylvania. He was mar-
ried to Gwen Rees early in 1684, their
declaration of intention, having been
made at the first (Haverford) Monthly
Meeting of which there is any record.
Gwen died early in 1686, leaving two
children, Thomas and Lydia, (twins.)
On the 19th of January, 1687, Hum-
phrey married Jane David of Haver-
ford, in which township he then resided.
By his second marriage his children
were Margaret, Jane, Rachel, Ellin,
Humphrey, Sublinus and Jeremiah.
His death occurred in 1741> — that of
his wife, in 1745.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

459

Evan, John ap, (John Evan,) from
Trererigg, Glamorganshire, Wales, emi-
grated with his family to Pennsylva-
nia, and settled in Radnor township in
]684. He was in membership with
Friends, and meetings were held at his
dwelling as early as 1686. David
Evans married his daughter Mary
Jones as his second wife. Another
John Evan from the parish of Nantmel
in Radnorshire, Wales, also settled in
Radnor township very early, and it is
difficult to distinguish between the
subsequent transactions of the two.

Evan, Thomas John, migrated from
the neighborhood of Dolobran, Mont-
gomeryshire, Wales, in 1683, and was
among the earliest of the Welsh Friends
who settled in Radnor township. In
1686 he married Loioery Johnes, of
Merion, by whom he had four children,
which, after a prevailing custom, were
named as follows, viz : John Thomas,
Rowland Thomas, Joseph Jones and
Elizabeth Jones. He was himself
frequently known as Thomas Jones.
He died in 1707.

Evan, David, the son of Evan, ap
William Powell, li with his wife Gainer
and their younger children," came to
America about the year 1684, and set-
tled in Radnor. They were from
Glamorganshire, South Wales. His
wife could not have lived long after
their arrival, as " David Evan, widower"
was married to " Mary Jones, Spinster,'"
in 1690. He died in 1710. His chil-
dren were, Caleb, Joshua, Evan, David
and Philip. They were all members
of the Society of Friends.

Evan, Philip, brother of the above
named, David Evan, came from the
same place and at the same time, but
was unmarried. He was married to
Sarah Thomas of Merion, at a Friend's
meeting, held at the house of Hugh
Roberts, in 1690.

Evans, John, was born in Radnor
township, Delaware County, on the
13th of the 2d month, 1790, and died
on the. 15th of April, 1862. He was
the son of David and Adah Evans. On
the side of bis father his ancestors
were thoroughly Welsh, while on that
of his mother they were partly so. His
mother died in 1800, and his father six

years later. His early education was
was limited, though he received rather
more than was usual at that time in
the neighborhood. Though there was
a mill on the patrimonial estate, he
preferred going to a larger establish-
ment to learn the business of milling,
which he had selected for an occupa-
tion in after life. After he had learned
the trade thoroughly he was employed
as manager of a large flour mill, then
(1812) recently erected on the Hudson
river, near the present city of Troy.
Here he remained three years much to
the satisfaction of his employers.

With the exception of the town of
Troy, then a mere hamlet, the country
surrounding the mill was nearly in a
state of nature, and, as is well known,
was highly romantic. Being almost
shut out from social intercourse, our
young miller, after having attended
closely to his business on week days,
spent much of his time on Sundays, in
rambling over the wild and romantic
country that surrounded his mill — in
traversing its streams, and in scaling
its precipices. It was in this state of
isolation from civilized society that the
habits and tastes of John Evans under-
went a change. It was in these soli-
tary rambles that he laid the foundation
of his character in after life. Here he
became a devoted lover of nature, ac-
quired the habits of close observation,
and fitted himself for the successful
study of the natural sciences.

After his return from Troy he re-
sumed the milling business at the
homestead mill, and in 1819 married
Ann, the daughter of Benjamin Brown
of Radnor, by whom he had six chil-
dren. He subsequently engaged in the
business of sawing lumber for the Phi-
ladelphia market, which he continued
till near the close of his life.

Up to about the year 1827 or '28,
though industrious in the acquisition
of knowledge, John Evans had not
shown a great preference for any parti-
cular branch of science. About this
time he received a visit from his kins-
man, Alan W. Corson, of Plymouth,
Montgomery county, who was on his
return home, with his daughter, from
Westown boarding-school. The visitors
remained over night, and had with
them a copy of Dr. Darlington's Flor-
ida Cestrica, then lately published, and
used in Westown school. This was the

460

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

first knowledge John Evans had of any
work descriptive of our local flora. He
had then some little practical acquaint-
ance with plants and their culture, but
it was the opportune visit of his relative,
Corson, and this early publication of Dr.
Darlington, that first opened the way for
him to enter upon the study of botany
systematically. From this time, until
the close of his earthly career the study
of that science and the cultivation
of plants, especially of hardy ones,
have been with him a primary occu-.
pation.

The tastes of his visiting kinsman
were congenial with his own. They
often visited each other, and frequently
made botanical excursions together.
What one had acquired was freely com-
municated to the other, till they both
became familiar with all the plants in
the neighborhood, with, perhaps, the
exception of some of the most incon-
spicuous. The culture of rare plants
around his dwelling commenced and
progressed with his study of botany.
Annual, or more frequent visits, were
at first paid to the old Bartram botanic
garden — then in the possession of
Colonel Carr — and to other gardens in
the vicinity of Philadelphia. The sup-
ply from this source was soon exhaust-
ed, when he turned his attention to
Europe, entered into a correspondence
with Sir William J. Hooker, Director
of the Gardens of Kew, near London,
and by forwarding to that learned bo-
tanist, annually, for many years, seeds
and specimens of American plants,
frequently obtained by long journeys
and much labor, he received in return,
new and often very rare plants from
various parts of the world, scarcely
obtainable from any other source by
purchase. During part of the period
occupied by this correspondence, Dr.
Hooker, the son of Sir William J.
Hooker, made a botanical tour to the
Himalaya mountains, in Asia. Seeds
from that almost unexplored region,
many of them produced by unnamed
plants, were forwarded to John Evans.
It will be remembered by his botanical
visitors at that time, the great amount
of labor and care bestowed by him in
the propagation of plants from these
seeds. Besides Professor Hooker, he,
for a time, had a correspondent in
Germany. He also had a number of
correspondents in different parts of the

United States, but most of his rare
American plants were collected by him-
self during his frequent botanical
tours. These tours were generally
made to mountainous regions.

The premises of John Evans afforded
no suitable grounds for an extensive
garden, specially designed for show and
ornament, and yet it is doubtful whe-
ther another spot of the same extent
can be found so well adapted to the
culture and growth of a great variety
of plants. There is a place on these
grounds for plants of every habit, and
every plant is found in the best place
for its propagation and growth. On
the densely wooded hillside, north of
the dwelling, we find magnificent Rho-
dodendrons, and other mountain shrub-
bery and herbaceous plants, natives of
the Himalayas, the Rocky Mountains,
the Adriondacks, the Catskills and the
Alleghanies, growing side by side, and
mingling their gaudy colors and rich
perfumes in deep-shaded seclusion,
moistened by the spray from the adja-
cent cascade of the mill-pond. Below,
upon a flat on the opposite side of the
creek, is an arenaceous alluvial deposit.
Here we find the well known " Sand
Garden " of the late proprietor, and
clustered within it almost countless
species from New Jersey, and many
strangers from similar soil in more re-
mote regions. The arid rocky hills are
covered with pines, and other Coniferce,
of the rarest species. The damp ravine
has its miniature cane-brake ; the arti-
ficial pond, its odoriferous Nymphcea,
and other aquatics. Every border is
crowded with its appropriate specimen
of rare and curious productions of the
vegetable kingdom, brought together
from remote parts of the earth Every
nook and corner has a fitting tenant,
whose right of occupancy no horticul-
turalist would dare to question. In his
planting, John Evans observed no order
but the order of nature. A large pro-
portion of the labor required for the
care and cultivation of this vast collec-
tion of plants, was performed by the
hands of their late owner. But time
and labor were economized in every
possible way consistent with proper
culture. The saic-dust from his mill,
was used extensively around the grow-
ing plants to smother out weeds. This
soon decayed into a rich vegetable
mould that promoted the growth of the

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

461

plant, and soon enabled it to take care
of itself.

The extent of the " Evans collection "
is not exactly known. Though urged,
■while in health, by more than one of
his friends, to make out a complete ca-
talogue of his plants, be postponed the
task till declining health rendered it an
impossibility. In the number of dis-
tinct species of trees and shrubbery,
this collection may, without doubt, be
set down as the largest in this country,
while in herbaceous plants it has very
few equals. To many of the rare trees
and shrubs, appropriate leaden labels
have been appended by their late
owner, but this is not the case with a
vast number of the herbaceous plants.

With John Bartram and Humphrey
Marshall, John Evans completes a trio
of self-taught American botanists, all
born within the limits of old Chester
county, and the first and last within
the bounds of the present county of
Delaware. They were men of like
tastes, and were alike in their indus-
trious and frugal habits. They were
all men of the strictest integrity and
highest moral worth, and especially
were they alike as devoted students of
the vegetable kingdom. Each reared
his own monument in the large collec-
tion of growing plants he left behind
him.

John Evans lived in an age when bo-
tanical knowledge was more readily
acquired, and rare specimens of plants
more easily collected than in the times
of his predecessors. Hence, the vastly
greater extent of his collection, while
it is so highly creditable to him, is no
disparagement to them. But his atten-
tion was not like theirs, confined to
plants alone. He had acquired a good
knowledge of Mineralogy, Geology and
Zoology. On the 27th day of Decem-
ber, 1834, John Evans became a mem-
ber of the Delaware County Institute,
and it is probable that the study of
these sciences commenced about that
period.

John Evans was eminently a think-
ing man. His opinions were fully
formed on every subject presented to
his mind, and no one who knew him,
however different his own sentiments
might be, could, for a moment, enter-
tain a doubt, that these opinions were
honestly entertained.

He was liberal, almost to a fault, in

the distribution of plants among such
of his friends, as he believed would
properly care for them. All who held
that relation to him, can be in no want
of numerous floral mementoes around
their dwellings, of this profuse libe-
rality.

More than a year past, exposure in
his garden, developed the consuming
disease, which ended his days on earth.
His sufferings were not great, a favor
for which he expressed his thankful-
ness. He fully understood the nature
of his malady and the certainty of the
result. For months he had predicted
that he would not live many days be-
yond the first of April ; and as the fatal
period approached, he more clearly felt
that his prediction would be realized.
He retained his senses unimpaired to
the last, and after having given specific
directions for the preservation of his
favorite trees and shrubbery against
damage from the horses of those who
might attend his funeral, he firmly met
his fate, and quietly passed from time
to eternity.

On the Sunday following his decease,
being the 7th of April, his remains
were interred in the family cemetery,
under evergreen trees planted by him-
self, and surrounded by choice shrub-
bery and flowers that had been culti-
vated with his own hands. Besides
his neighbors who flocked around his
grave, there were those present from a
distance, who had known him long and
well — who were familiar with his many
virtues. They were there to pay a last
homage to his sterling integrity and
great moral worth.

[The foregoing notice of John Evans
is chiefly extracted from a paper read
before the Delaware County Institute
of Science, by the author, May 3d,
1862.]

Evan, Stephen, yeoman, with his
wife, Elizabeth, and two children, John
and Phebe, came from the parish of
Llanbister, county of Radnor, Wales, in
1683, and settled in Radnor township,
in that or the following year. They
had several children born in this coun-
try; one named "Stephen Stephens,"
another ■' Evan Stephens" which naming
was in accordance with the custom of
many Welsh families at that time. He
was a Friend, and, at the time of his
emigration, had '-owned the truth for

462

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

twenty years." He was one of the very
earliest settlers of Radnor. His daugh-
ter, Sarah, born 5th mo. 25th, 1686,
was the first female child born of Eu-
ropean parents in that township. His
wife died in 1697. The time of his de-
cease is unknown, though he lived to an
advanced age.

Eyre, Robert, was born in England
January 30th, 1648, 0. S., the same
day upon which King Charles I. was
executed. He served his apprentice-
ship with William Rogers, a merchant
of Bristow, a town of some note at that
day, on the borders of Somerset and
Gloucestershire. Here he acquired a
ready use of the pen that fitted him for
the duties he was_ subsequently called
on to discharge. After the expiration
of his apprenticeship he, for some time,
followed the seas as a supercargo, but
eventually migrated to Pennsylvania,
where he married Ann, the daughter of
Francis Smith, a gentleman of educa-
tion and wealth, whose residence was
Devizes, in the county of Wilts, and
who was one of the original pur-
chasers of land in England. On the
authority of family tradition, Robert
Eyre first settled in Jersey. Part of the
land purchased by Francis Smith was
located in Bethel township, and was
conveyed at an early date to Robert
Eyre and his wife. This, doubtless,
caused Robert to change his place of
residence. In 1683 he was appointed
Clerk of the Courts of Chester County,
which office he held till 1690. His
children were Robert, Ann, Jane, Wil-
liam and Francis. Robert Eyre, the
elder, was not a Quaker, but some of
his descendants united themselves with
that society. The time of his death is
not exactly known, but he was alive in
1697. His son, William, who inter-
married with Mary, the daughter of
Lewis David, of Haverford, occupied
the patrimonial estate in Bethel in 1722.

Francis Smith, the father-in-law of
Robert Eyre, settled in Kennet, and, it
is said, named the township after the
place in which he was born.

Fairman, Thomas, with his wife
Elizabeth, was one of the earliest of
the Quaker settlers on the Delaware
He was a member of Governor Mark-
ham's Council, and was also a Justice
of Upland Court before the arrival of

William Penn. He lived at Shaeka-
maxon in 1681, when meetings were
held at his house. Thomas died in 1714,
and his wife in 1720.

Faucet, Walter, with his wife
Grace, arrived at Chester as early as
1684, and settled on the northeast side
of Ridley Creek, near where the main
road leading south then crossed that
stream, his land extending to Crum
Creek. He was a man of great indus-
try and energy of character, for while
he attended strictly to his religious
duties as a preacher and member of the
Society of Friends, he was equally dili-
gent in the service of the community
as a good citizen. In 1685 he was ap-
pointed one of the Peace Makers for
Chester County — then an office of con-
siderable responsibility, and also serv-
ed one year as a member of the
Assembly. For many years Chester
Monthly Meeting was held at his house,
notwithstanding it was kept as a house
of entertainment, or tavern, at least
during part of the time. His wife
Grace having died in 1686, he was
married to Rebecca Fearne, of Darby, in
1694. He died in 1704, leaving two
sons — John (who married Grace Crook)
and Nathan, by his first wife ; and
three daughters, Rebecca, Mary and
Sarah, by his second wife, to survive
him. Walter Faucet was one of the
signers of the testimony against George
Keith. In 1698 he paid a religious visit
to England.

Fearne, Elizabeth, (widow,) with
her son Joshua, and daughters Eliza-
beth, Sarah and Rebecca, emigrated
from " Darby," in the County of " Dar-
by," England, in 1682. They were all
Friends, and her husband, who is not
named in the certificate, had suffered
imprisonment in England on account
of his religion. She was a woman of
excellent character, but was not very
active in meeting affairs. In 1684 her
daughter Elizabeth was married to
John Kay, and her daughter Sarah to
Thomas Sharp, both of Newtown, N. J.
Her younger daughter, Rebecca, mar-
ried Walter Faucet, of Ridley, and after
his death, John Wood, of Darby.

Fearne. Joshua, who had resided in
Ashoner, Derbyshire, England, immi-
grated with his mother Elizabeth, and

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

463

sisters, Elizabeth and Sarah, and settled
in Darby township in 1682. His father,
in his day, had borne " a good testi-
mony against ye false prophets, by
suffering imprisonment for tythes," and
it ma}' be truthfully said, that the re-
maining members of the family, in
their new home, maintained with con-
sistency and propriety the doctrines
and practices for which he had been a
sufferer. Joshua Fearne was married to
Abigail Bats, of Newtown, in West
Jersey, in 1687, and died in 1693, leav-
ing two children, Joshua and Mary, to
survive him. He was a man of ability,
and during the short period his life
was spared, after his arrival in Penn-
sylvania, his time was much occupied
in public employments. He was Sheriff
of the County, Clerk and also Justice
of the Court, and upon two occasions
was elected a member of the Provincial
Assembly. He was one of those select-
ed to testify against George Keith.
Abigail died more than two years be-
fore her husband.

Fearne, Josiah, was a younger son
of the immigrant Elizabeth Fearne, but
he did not arrive in this country till
some years after the elder members of
the family. In 1700 he was married
to Sarah, the daughter of John Blun-
ston. Letitia Penn, the daughter of
the Proprietary, was present at the
marriage, and signed the certificate.
Their children were Elizabeth, Sarah,
Martha, Joseph, Mary, Rebecca and
Josiah. They were all strictly in unity
with Friends.

Few, Richard, came from Levington,
in the County of Wilts, England, and
settled in the Upper part of Chester
township before the first arrival of the
Proprietary in 1682. He was advanced
in years at the time of his arrival. In
religion he was a Friend, and by trade
a shoemaker. His son Isaac was mar-
ried to Hannah Stanfield, of Marple, in
1697. Richard Few died in 1688. He
was a purchaser of land in England in
conjunction with his son Richard, who
is not known to have migrated to this
country. Isaac removed to the neigh-
borhood of Kennet. His children were
Richard, Isaac, James, Elizabeth, Dan-
iel, Joseph, William, Francis and
Samuel.

Fishbourn, Ralph, a resident of Tal-
bot County, Maryland, was married ac-
cording to the usages of the Society of
Friends, to Elizabeth, daughter of John
Simcock, of Ridley, in 1692. After the
death of his father-in-law, in 1703,
Ralph removed to Chester, where he
appears to have entered into business
as an importing merchant. He died
in 1708, and Elizabeth the year follow-
ing, without children. He was a man
of considerable wealth for the time in
which he lived, for in his will he speaks
of having given his son William, by a
former wife, " two plantations and two
negroes valued at 400 pounds sterling."
This William was a citizen of Chester in
1722. Ralph Fishbourn was for some-
time one of the Justices of Chester
Court.

Flower, William, settled in or ad-
joining Marcus Hook as early as 1692,
and probably not much earlier. He
was then in membership with Friends,
and was that year married to Elizabeth
Morris, a member of Concord Meeting.
He died in 1717, leaving a widow
named Sarah, which shows'that he had
been married a second time. He had
a son Enoch, and a daughter Mary, who
intermarried with John Flower, to the
latter of whom he devised all his real
estate. Enoch Flower, the noted early
schoolmaster of Philadelphia, came from
a place in England called Brinkworte.
William and John were doubtless re-
latives of Enoch, and probably came
from the same neighborhood. John
Flower, who resided in Chichester till
the time of his decease in 1738, left six
children, viz., Richard, John, Thomas,
William, Mary and Margaret. The
Flower family of Delaware County, and
many others, are descendants from John
and Mary Flower.

Fox, Thomas, from Sulton, on the
Trent, County of Nottingham, England,
settled in Darby in 1684. Died in
1699, having devised his plantation in
Darby to his nephew, William Cook.
It is not certain that he was a Friend.

Fred, John, and family, emigrated
from the neighborhood of Carlow, Ire-
land, about the year 1712, and settled
in Birmingham, on the Brandywine.
They were in membership with Friends.
He had two sons, Benjamin and Nicho-

464

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

las. The former removed to New-
garden, but the latter, after having
married Ann, the daughter of Joseph
Need, of Darby, became a large pro-
perty holder, and resided on the Brandy-
wine, above Chadd's Ford.

Gabitas, William, one of the mill-
wrights of our early colonists, came
from East Markham in the County of
Nottingham, England, and settled in
or near the town of Darby in 1685.
He was accompanied by his wife Abi-
gail. Their children were Jeremiah,
Elizabeth, Rebecca, Deborah, and per-
haps others. They were Friends, and
William had experienced a small share
of persecution in his native country on
account of his religion. He removed
to Philadelphia where his wife and
son Jeremiah died in 1691.

Garrett, William, (webster,) with
his wife Ann and several children, came
from Leicestershire, England, in 1684,
in company with Samuel Levis, John
Smith, and Robert Cliffe, who brought
with them a joint certificate which
they presented to a meeting of Friends
held at " the Governor's house" in
Philadelphia the 4th of the 9th month
(November) 1684. Immediately before
leaving England, he, jointly with Sam-
uel Levis, had purchased 1000 acres of
land, and they were prepared to locate
it immediately on their arrival. Early
in 1685 William located his share in
Darby, now Upper Darby, where he
came to reside. Both William and his
wife were consistent members of the
Society of Friends, and were much
confided in by the meeting. Their
children were Mary, Samuel, Alice,
Sarah, Thomas, William and John;
all of whom were born in England ex-
cept the last, who died young. Mary
intermarried with Abel Noble, Samuel
with Jane, the daughter of Robert
Pennell of Middletown, Alice with Jo-
seph, a son of Robert Pennell, Sarah
with Randal Croxton of Providence,
Thomas with Rebecca Vernon of the
same township, and William with Mary
Smith of Darby. The elder William
Garrett was alive in 1703. Ann, the
wife of William Garrett, lived till 1722,
when she died, in Philadelphia.

Gibbons, John, and his wife Margery
were among the early Quaker emigrants

to Pennsylvania from England, and had
settled in Bethel as early as 1684.
They came from Warminster in the
County of Wilts. Owing to some
theological notions promulgated by
Margery, she was disowned by Friends,
and John appears to have lost his in-
terest in the society. They had two
sons, John who married Sarah Howard
of Philadelphia, and James who mar-
ried Ann, the daughter of George
Pearce of Thornbury. John died be-
fore his father, leaving two children,
John and Rebecca. James removed to
Westtown, and had three children,
Mary, James and Joseph. The elder
John Gibbons died in 1721.

Gibbons, Henry, came from " Pari-
vidge, Darbyshire, England," in 1682,
with his wife Hellen and family. He
was a Friend, and continued to reside
in or near Darby till the time of his
death in 1701. In his will he calls
himself " Henry Gibbons of Darby
Webster." He left three daughters
but no son. His wife died in 1715.
His daughter Anna intermarried with
Samuel Sellers in 1684. Henry Gib-
bons with forty others, had suffered
one month's imprisonment in England,
for no other offence than being present
at a meeting in which Elizabeth Deane
was making a prayer.

Gilpin, Joseph, the son of Thomas
and joan Gilpin of Warborough, Eng-
land, was born in 1664. He was mar-
ried to Hannah Glover in 1691, and
went to reside in Dorchester, but it
was not till about the year 1695 that
they emigrated to America. They set-
tled in Birmingham, their first dwell-
ing being a cave on the side of a hill,
the exact site of which can yet be
pointed out on the farm late the pro-
perty of John D. Gilpin, Esq., one mile
south of Dilworthstown. How long
this couple occupied their cave as a
dwelling is not known. They were
strict members of the Society of Friends,
and maintained a good standing both
in that society and in the community
at large. Their children were fifteen
in number, viz : Hannah, Samuel, Ra-
chel, Ruth, Lydia, Thomas, Ann, Jo-
seph, Sarah, George, Isaac, Moses,
Alice, Mary and Esther, the two elder
of whom were born in England. From
the low habitation of a cave, J >seph

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

465

Gilpin became possessed of a plentiful
estate. He was a useful man in his
neighborhood, and lived to see all his
children grown up to be men and
women, and all but two married, and
married to his mind. He died in 1740
at an advanced age The remote an-
cestry of the Gilpin family is given in
the " Lives of eminent Philadetyhians,"
p. 389.

Gleave, George, was an early settler
in Springfield. He was in member-
ship with Friends, and in 1687 married
Esther Powell, also a member. He
died before 1G90, leaving but one child,
a son, named John, who as early as
1707 intermarried with Elizabeth Mil-
ler, a circumstance that renders it pro-
bable that he was the son of a former
wife. John's children were George,
Esther, Rachel, Isaac and John. Es-
ther, the widow of George, was married
to Joseph Ware in 1691. The ford on
Crum Creek, at Lewis' mills, for nearly
a century was known as Gleave 's Ford.
This ford was on the " great road from
Marlborough to Philadelphia," and as
early as 1754 a bridge was erected over
the creek at that point by private con-
tributions, the subscription paper for
which is still preserved.

Goodsonn, John, " Chirurgeon to the
Society of Free Traders," came from
London, and arrived at Upland a short
time before the first visit of the Pro-
prietary. He was a Friend, and brought
a certificate from the monthly meeting
at the Peel in London. He resided for
a time at Upland, and subsequently re-
moved to Philadelphia, where he con-
tinued to reside. In 1694 he and
Samuel Carpenter were commissioned
by the Proprietary assistants to Lieu-
tenant-Governor Markham. He was a
man of ability, and was probably the
first practising physician in Pennsyl-
vania.

Graham, Henry Hale, emigrated
from England and settled in Chester
some time prior to the year 1755.
From this date through a long course
of years his name and his chirography,
which is very peculiar, constantly ap-
pear in the County records. For very
many years he held the offices of Regis-
ter, Recorder, Pothonotary, and also
Clerk of the serveral Courts for the

30

large County of Chester ; and what is
remarkable, he executed nearly all the
writing with his own hand, a fact that
shows his great industry. In the act
that established the County of Dela-
ware, passed in 1789, he was named
as one of the Justices of its Courts,
but it was decided that the appoint-
ment of justices by the Legislature was
void. He died the same year.

Gregory, William, settled early in
Bdgmont township, and in 1685 mar-
ried Rebecca, the daughter of John
Houlston, who resided in the neighbor-
hood. He lived in full membership
with the Society of Friends till his
death, which occurred about the year
1704. His children were John, Will-
iam, Elizabeth, Mary, Simon, Sarah
and Edmund.

Grist, John, had settled on the Del-
aware prior to the first visit of the
Proprietary. He was a Friend, and his
marriage with Ann Butt in 1682 is one
of the earliest marriages noticed in the
Records of Chester Monthly Meeting.
His residence, by the running of the
circular line, was included in New-
castle County.

Grubb, John, with his wife Frances,
was a resident of Upland as early as
1679, but does not appear to have been
settled there as early as 1677. In
1679, jointly with Richard Buffiugton,
he purchased three hundred acres of
land on the southwest side of Chester
Creek above Chester, and may have
resided there some time. His occupa-
tion was that of a tanner. His chil-
dren were Emanuel, John, Joseph,
Henry, Samuel, Nathaniel, Peter, Cha-
rity and Phebe, all of whom were
living at the time of his death in 1708.
His daughter Charity was married to
Richard Beeson prior to his death. He
does not appear to have been a Quaker,
and probably was an Episcopalian.
His age was about sixty years.

Grubb, Emanuel, eldest son of the
above John Grubb, was born near Up-
land in 1681. Much notoriety has
been attached to his name, by the cu-
rious in such matters, as the first born
child of English parents in Pennsyl-
vania. He is not, however, entitled to
this distinction, for the regular register

466

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

of births of Chester Monthly Meeting,
in the hand-writing of Thomas Chalk-
ley, shows that at least five children
of English parentage were born here
at an earlier date. Emanuel was a re-
markable man on account of the great
vigor of his constitution. He lived in
Brandywine Hundred, and died there
in 1767 in the eighty-sixth year of his
age, never having suffered from sick-
ness till within a few days of his death.
A few months before his death he rode
from his residence to Philadelphia and
back in a day, a distance of forty
miles. (See Pennsylvania Chronicle,
1767.) He was buried at St. Martin's
church, Marcus Hook, of which he had
been an active and influential member.

Hall, Thomas, was a purchaser of
land in England, when he resided at
Goataker, in the parish of Hillmortin,
Wiltshire. By trade he was a cord-
wainer. He located his land in Con-
cord, and was among the very earliest
settlers of that township. It is not
known that he was a Friend. A Sa-
muel Hall, who was in membership
with Friends, resided in Springfield as
early as 1692, was probably a son
of the subject of this notice. Samuel
died in 1737, while his wife Mary was
still living. His children were, John,
Elizabeth, George, Ann, Samuel and
Thomas.

Hallowell, John, migrated from
Hucknel, parish of Sutton, Nottingham-
shire, England, in 1683, and settled in
Darby, now Upper Darby. He was
probably married a short time before
leaving England. His wife, Mary, was
the daughter of Thomas Sharp They
were both Quakers upon their arrival
here, and continued in that faith while
they lived. Their children were, John,
Elizabeth, Hannah, Samuel, Benjamin,
and Jane Mary died in 1701-2, and
John in 1706. "The late Judge John
Hallowell, of Philadelphia, was a de-
scendant of the subject of this notice.

Hamms, Henry, was originally from
Middlesex County, England, where he
had learned the trade of a shoemaker
with Peter Beverly. He came to Penn-
sylvania by the way of Virginia, and
while unmarried lived in Springfield.
In 1688, he married Rebecca Fincher,
a member of Haverford meeting, re-

siding near the Schuylkill. He subse-
quently purchased land in Marple, and
resided on it at the time of his decease
in 1699, leaving his wife and one son,
Francis, to survive him.

Harding, John, with his wife Amy,
were among the early English Quaker
settlers of Chichester. He was present
at the first monthly meeting held there,
and was the largest contributor toward
building the first meeting-house in that
township. Monthly meetings were fre-
quently held at his house. He died in
1688, without issue, and in 1690 his
widow intermarried with Philip Roman.

Harris, Hugh, immigrated about the
year 1685, near the same time, and pos-
sibly in the same ship, with William
Brinton, whose daughter Elizabeth he
married early in 1686, and settled on
the north side of the tract of land lo-
cated by his father-in-law. In religious
profession he was a Quaker, and by
trade a weaver. He probably came
from the neighborhood of Birmingham,
in England. His death occurred in
1708. His children were, Evan, Hugh,
John, Jane, Lois and Olive.

Harrison, Francis, migrated from
London, and was a resident of Concord
as 1685, and probably earlier. He was
in membership with Friends at the
time of his arrival here, but about the
time of the Keithian troubles in the
Society, he seems to have separated
from it. In 1686, his name appears as
one of the Justices of the Court.

Harry, Daniel, came from " Mach-
anlloth," near Dolgelly, in Merioneth,
Wales, in 1687, and settled in Radnor
township. In 1691, he married Sybill,
the daughter of David Price, of the
same township.

Harvey, Job, came from Chesterfield,
England, in the year 1702, and inter-
married with Mary, daughter of John
Bethel, the owner of the Darby Mills.
Job settled at Darby, and shortly after
the death of his father-in-law, became
owner or part owner of the same mills.
They had one child, Josiah, but may
have had more. Job lived to a good
old age, and became an elder in the
Friends' meeting of whieh he was a
member. His wife, Mary, died in 1727.

iMb

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

467

Hastings, John, with his wife Eliza-
beth, arrived at Chester a short time
before the arrival of the Proprietary,
or in company with him, and settled in
Nether Providence. From the appoint-
ments assigned to him by the meeting,
it may be inferred that he was advanced
in years at the time of his arrival. Eli-
zabeth died in 1684, but he lived till
1698 ; and as his death is recorded at
Haverford, it may be inferred that he
had removed to that place.

Hastings, Joshua, arrived in Penn-
sylvania with his wife Elizabeth and
family, a short time previous to the ar-
rival of the Proprietary in 1682, and
settled in Nether Providence, probably
on the same tract of land marked on
Holmes' map John Hastings, whose son
he probably was. He was a member
of the first Grand Jury empanneled in
Pennsylvania of which there is any re-
cord, and which held its sittings at
Chester in Sept. 1682, a short time be-
fore the arrival of William Penn. He
was a member of Assembly in 1684, and
served other public trusts. As a mem-
ber of the Society of Friends he main-
tained a good standing. He removed
to Philadelphia, where he died in 1724,
his wife having died one year before.

Hastings, Henry, was a resident of
Upland long before the arrival of Wil-
liam Penn ; was a member of the first
jury that sat within the limits of Penn-
sylvania, (1677) of which any record
has been preserved, and was also a
member of the first jury under Pen'n's
government. It does not appear that
he was a Quaker. He held a large
tract of land in Chichester, and may
have occupied it in his latter years.

Hayes, Jonathan, with his wife,
Mary, was settled in Marple as early as
1684. He was much the largest land-
holder in that township ; was a man of
ability and influence, and appears to
have acted on his own judgment. He
was a Justice of the Court, and repre-
sented the County in the Provincial
Assembly. He had a daughter Mary,
a son Jonathan and perhaps other
children. Mary intermarried with Evan
Lewis, of Newtown, and Jonathan with
Jane Rees, of Merion. It is supposed
that he came to his death by the hands
of an assassin. See page 223.

Hayes, Richard, Sen., with his wife
Issatt and two sons, Richard and John,
emigrated from Ilmiston, Pembroke-
shire, Wales, to Pennsylvania in 1687,
and settled in Haverford. He was a
Friend, was advanced in years at the
time of his settlement, and died in
1697.

Hayes, Richard, Jr., son of the
above Richard, continued to reside
during his life on the same premises
that he and his father had settled upon
at the time of their arrival. In 1697,
he married Elizabeth, the daughter of
Henry Lewis, of Haverford, then de-
ceased. Having received a better edu-
cation than was usual among the early
immigrants, and being withal a man of
excellent business qualifications, he
was almost constantly kept in some
public employment. Still he found
time to give very constant attention to
his religious duties, and also to manage
his pecuniary affairs to great profit and
advantage. In company with David
Morris and Samuel Lewis, he, about
the year 1707, erected a mill on Darby
Creek, for a long time known as " Ha-
verford new Mill," (now Leedom's mill)
which he managed himself till the pe-
riod of his death in 1738. He was a
Justice of the Courts of Chester County;
served as a member of the Assembly
seven years, and was for a long time
one of the Commissioners of the Loan
Office. His children were, Joseph,
Mary, Hannah, Richard and Benjamin.
Joseph intermarried with Hannah, and
Richard with Sarah, daughters of Lewis
David, of Haverford ; Mary, with John,
son of John Jacobs, of Perkiomen ;
Hannah, with James Jones, of Block-
ley, and Benjamin, with Mary, daugh-
ter of Jonathan Jones, of Merion. The
annexed facsimile is taken from his
Ledger, kept by himself at the mill.

Hendrickson, Jacob. The first
appearance of this man on the Dela-
ware River, was as a soldier under the
direction of the noted Dutch Commis-
sary, Andries Hudde, in the year 1646.
He was doubtless present and partici-
pated in the squabbles between his
commander and Governor Printz,
when any work was to be done.
Having spied out the beauty and rich-
ness ot this land while in the perform-
ance of his duty as a soldier, he

468

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

adopted it as his permanent abode,
when his term of service expired. He
occupied a tract of land on the east
side of Crum Creek in what is now
Ridley township, which was surveyed
to him in 1678, when he was still alive.
As this same tract is marked with the
name of John Hendrickson on Holme's
map, it may be inferred that Jacob
had died between that date and 1682,
and that John may have been his son.
John died in 1721 at Ridley, leaving
three sons, Andrew, John and Israel.

Hendrickson, Albert, one of the
earliest Dutch settlers on the Delaware.
His place was about a mile west of
Chester Creek. He called his planta-
tion Lomoco, the patent for which was
from Governor Lovelace to Juns Jus-
tafson in 1673. He served as constable
of Upland Court in 1676-7, and was a
juror at the first court under Penn's
government. He died in 1715, having
first devised his homestead to his son
Tobias, and made Tobias and the cele-
brated Quaker preacher, John Salkeld,
his Executors. His other children
were, Albertus, James, Johannes, Eliza-
beth, Briget and Issabel. His name
is Holbert on Holme's map.

Hent, Rees, who was born in Llan-
dewy, Pembrokeshire, Wales, came
alone to this country in 1688, and fixed
on a place of residence in Newtown
township, which he prepared for the
reception of his wife and children.
Having made arrangements for the
accommodation of his family, he re-
returned to his native country and
brought them over in 1694. His
daughter Jane, after having success-
ively proposed her intentions of marri-
age with Thomas Martin and Robert
Wharton, and failed to make good her
engagements, was married to John
Smith of Elk River, Maryland, in 1709,
according to the usages of the Society
of Friends. It is not known that Rees
Hent had a son.

Helm, Israel, a native of Sweden,
was one of the early emigrants from
that country to the Delaware. In 1659
he resided at " Passayung," and was
employed there as Collector of the
Customs. In 1668 he with others ob-
tained from Governor Richard Nicolls,
a grant of land embracing nearly the

whole of Calken Hook, where he then
resided. He was a member of Captain
Carre's Council the same year. In
1774 he was commissioned as one of
the justices " for the river," and doubt-
less assisted in holding a court at
Upland, some years prior to that Up-
land Court of which the records have
been preserved, and of which he also
was a justice. In 1680, he conveyed
" his land and plantation att Upland"
to James Sandelandes, having, it is sup-
posed, been a resident for some time of
that place. During his residence on
the River, he made a visit to his native
country. He had acquired the title of
Captain, and as the Swedish Govern-
ment sent a considerable number of
soldiers to the Colony, it may reasona-
bly be supposed that he at first came
in a military capacity. Having learned
the language of the Indians, he was
frequently employed as an interpreter.
He was the father-in-law of Peter
Cock, and some of his descendants
bearing his name, still reside in the
County. He was still living in 1693.

Hewes, William, was a purchaser of
land from John Fenwick in England,
which was located on the Cohansey or
Alloway's Creek, in salem County, New
Jersey, and it may reasonably be sup-
posed that he came over with Fenwick
in 1675, and settled upon his land. Be
this as it may, in 1678-9, he became a
purchaser of land at or near Marcus
Hook from Roger Pedrick, and settled
at that place. His name appears as a
juror at the first court held under
Penn's Government. He was a Friend,
and one of the founders of Chichester
Meeting, but his name disappears from
the records about the year 1686.

Hibberd, Josiah, was settled in
Darby as early as 1692. In 1698 he
was married to Ann the daughter of
Richard Bonsall, before John Blunston
a Justice of the Peace, and a suitable
number of witnesses. The Justice
and also the parties were members of
the Society of Friends, but the father
of the bride having interposed objec-
tions to the marriage, it could not be
accomplished at the meeting in the
usual way. A record of this marriage
may be found at West Chester in Deed
Book, A. I. p. 223. The parties were
dealt with, but were not disowned by

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

469

the meeting; and what is singular, the
part taken by the Justice in the trans-
action was not noticed. Their chil-
dren were, John, Joseph, Josiah, Abra-
ham, Mary, Benjamin, Elizabeth and
Sarah.

Hill, William, whose wife was Mary
the daughter of John Hunter, was from
the north of England, and emigrated
prior to 1690. Their settlement was
in Middletown township, not far from
Lima. William died in 1753 or 1754.
His children were Peter, John, Chris-
tiana and others. The Hills were not
originally in membership with Friends,
but some of their descendants united
with that Society.

Holgh, Israel, a young Swedish
pastor,who visited the Swedish settle-
ments on the Delaware while under the
government of John Printz. He re-
mained about two years, when he re-
turned to his native country and became
a minister in West Gothland.

Holland, Thomas, came to Darby in
1683, bringing a certificate from the
Monthly Meeting at the " Brace house
in the County of Darby," dated " ye 8th
day of ye 12th mon. 1682," for himself
and wife Mary.

Holland, John, supposed to be a
son of the above Thomas, emigrated
from Hartshaw, in Lancashire, Eng-
land, in 1713. They were Friends, and
probably settled in Marple.

Holme, Thomas, the first Surveyor-
General under Penn's government, was
from Waterford, Ireland. Though call-
ed Captain Holme, he was a Quaker.
He was for some years a member of
the Executive Council, at the com-
mencement of the government. He
died at his residence in Dublin town-
ship, Philadelphia County, in 1695,
" aged full seventie years."

Hood, Thomas, came to this country
unmarried in 1682, and settled in
Darby township, west of the creek-
His former residence was Breason, in
the County of Derby, England, and
being a Friend, brought a certificate
from the meeting at the Breath-house.
In 1689 he married Sarah Blankley,

of New Jersey. He left five daughters
but no son. His wife died in 1702, and
he in 1*717.

Hood, John, Sr., with his wife, mi-
grated from Castledownington, Leices-
tershire, England, in 1686, and settled
in Darby, now Upper Darby township.
His son John, in 1694, married Abigail
Shut, and at the same time Thomas
Shut married his daughter Elizabeth.
The younger John also settled in Up-
per Darby; but he died in 1702, and
while his father was still living. They
were all Friends. The elder John
Hood was a member of the Provincial
Assembly in 1704.

Hollingsworth, Henrt, was the son
of Valentine Hollingsworth, an eminent
Quaker, who came from Cheshire about
the year 1682, and settled in Newcastle
County. His mother was Ann, the
daughter of Henry Cornish, High
Sheriff of London, who was unjustly
executed during the reign of James II.
Henry was a surveyor, and it has been
said that he assisted Thomas Holmes,
the Surveyor-General, in laying out
the plan of Philadelphia. If this be
the case, he must have immigrated be-
fore his father. He was in member-
ship with Friends, and appears to have
been married before he left England.
For some time he was deputy surveyor
for Chester County, and made a num-
ber of our original surveys. In 1695,
when he resided in Chester, and held
the office of Sheriff of Chester County,
he represented Newcastle County in
the Provincial Assembly ; his father
being a representative from Newcastle
County the same year. In 1700, and
for some time afterwards, he was clerk
of the courts of Chester County. He
appears to have been a man of con-
siderable energy, which he exercised
in furthering the improvements of the
County. He was the owner of lots
and built in Chester, and was part
owner, and probably the projector, of
the first mill built in Upper Providence,
(about 1695.) He resided in Chester
till 1701, and perhaps later, when he
removed to Maryland, and settled at
Elk, (now Elkton,) and received the
appointment of Surveyor for Cecil
County. He raised a large family of
sons, among whom was Zebulon, the
father of Levi Hollingsworth, an emi-

470

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

nent merchant of Philadelphia, who
died in 1824.

Hoskins, John, whose name in the
earliest records is spelled Ilodgskin,
with his wife Mary, came from Che-
shire, England, to reside in Chester as
early as 1684. He professed with the
Quakers, and brought a certificate satis-
factory to the Meeting, but he was not
a very strict member. In 1688 he pur-
chased a lot from John Sirncock, " con-
taining in breadth 16 yards fronting
on Chester Creek and running back
into Neals Lawsons lands and the lands
of Urin Keen on the North, and the
lands of Neals Lawson on the South,"
upon which he erected a dwelling, and
kept a house of entertainment. It does
not appear that he had children by his
first wife, but she dying, he married
Ruth Atkinson in 1698. The children
by this marriage were John, Stephen,
George, Joseph and Mary. He died in
17 16. John Hoskins was a member of
the first Assembly held in Philadelphia,
and was twice Sheriff of Chester
County.

Hoskins, Jane, whose maiden name
was Fenn, was a noted preacher in the
Society of Friends. She was born in
London in 1693, and in her sixteenth
year became the subject of a religious
impression that it was her duty to visit
Pennsylvania. She lost sight of this
impression for a time, but it returned
stronger than ever, and in her nine-
teenth year she yielded implicit obe-
dience. She accompanied a Welshman
named Robert Davis, who emigrated
with his family, and arrived in Phila-
delphia in 1712. Davis had paid her
passage, under a promise of repayment,
out of her first earnings in America.
Growing uneasy, he insisted that she
should bind herself as a servant four
years, which being contrary to her
agreement with him, she resisted ;
whereupon he had recourse to the law,
and caused her imprisonment. She
was relieved by four Friends of Ply-
mouth, who paid Davis, and employed
her to teach their children. This was
her first acquaintance with the Quakers.
In the beginning she attended their
meetings rather as a spy, but she soon
became convinced of the truth of their
doctrines, and of the propriety of their
practices, and after many weighty exer-

cises united with the Society, and soon
afterwards appeared in the ministry.
Some time after the expiration of her
term with the four Plymouth Friends
she removed to Haverford. One First
Day at Haverford Meeting, David Lloyd
and his wife, from Chester, came in,
and at once the impression came
strongly on Jane that " these were the
people with whom she must go and
settle." David and his wife had fixed
their eyes on the young woman, and
had come to the conclusion that " she
was or would be a preacher." They
"were tendered" towards her, " and it
was fixed in their minds to take her
under their care, and nurse her for the
Lord's service." She eventually, in
1719, became an inmate of David
Lloyd's house, and a member of his
family. She frequently spoke in meet-
ings, and made journeys "in the ser-
vice of truth," to the other provinces,
often accompanied by Elizabeth Levis,
afterwards Shipley. In 1727 she visi-
ted Great Britain and Ireland in the
same service. In 1738 she was married
to Joseph Hoskins, of Chester. Jane
Hoskins was a woman of undoubted
ability, and her peculiar temperament
eminently fitted her for the ministry.

Howell, William, emigrated from
Castle-bifft, Pembrokeshire, Wales, in
1682, and settled in Haverford town-
ship, probably at first near the meet-
ing-house. In 1684, he was one of a
committee to fix the site and lay off
the grave-yard attached to Haverford
Friends Meeting, of which he was an
active and influential member ; meet-
ings being frequently held at his house
before the meeting-house was built.
His wife Margaret, who had immi-
grated with him, died in 1685, and in
1688 he was again married to Mary
Thomas.

Hugh, Stephen, was one of the
earliest settlers in Springfield, (1683,)
but he died before the end of the year,
leaving a widow, Frances, who inter-
married with Thomas Norbury, and
one daughter, Martha, who intermar-
ried with Jonathan Taylor.

Hugh, David, came ever with the
early Welsh settlers of Merion, and for
a time lived in that township. In
1696 he married Martha, the daughter

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

471

of Ralph Lewis, and settled in Haver-
ford. He died in 1709, leaving; six
children, viz., David, Ruth, John, Mary,
Samuel and Caleb.

Humphrey, Elizabeth, emigrated
from Llanegrin, County of Merioneth,
in 1682, with her son Benjamin, and
two daughters, Anne and Gobitha, and
settled in Haverford. They were all
Friends, and she brought a certificate
with her, that recommends her " for an
honest faithful woman y* has been
serviceable in her place, and praise-
worthy in her conversation," and her
children " as tender plants, growing in
that which they do profess, even the
trjth and the grace of God." Gobitha
died in 1697; Lydia was married to
Ellis Ellis, of Haverford, and Anne to
Edward Robert.

Humphrey, Daniel, came from
Llanegrin, County of Merioneth, Wales,
in 1682, and settled in Haverford town-
ship. His mother, Elizabeth, with the
younger children, came the next year.
He had joined the Friends in his native
country, " and left such a testimony
behind him as is and was of good sa-
vour." In 1695 he was married to
Hannah, the daughter of Dr. Thomas
Wynn, of Merion. Their children were
Samuel, Thomas, Hannah, Benjamin,
Elizabeth, Mary, Joshua, Edward, Mar-
tha and Charles. He visited his na-
tive country, on business, in 1725.

Humphrey, Benjamin, came to Penn-
sylvania with his mother, Elizabeth
Humphrey, in 1683, (see Elizabeth,)
and settled in Haverford, but removed
to Merion. In 1694 he was married to
Mary Llewellyn, of Haverford. His
uncle, John Humphrey, of Merion, hav-
ing devised all his estate to him, he be-
came a permanent resident of Merion,
and died there in 1738, in the seventy-
sixth year of his age. He was strongly
attached to the principles of Friends,
and was remarkable for his hospitality.

Humphrey, Edward, son of Daniel
Humphrey, and Hannah his wife, was
born in Haverford township, in the
year 1710. He learned the fulling and
dyeing business, and carried on that
business as long as he lived, at the
place that is now known as " Kelly's
Upper Factory." Though fulling was

his business, he did not attend to it
personally ; for having acquired con-
siderable knowledge of medicine and
surgery, probably from his grandfather,
Dr. Wynn, and being remarkable for his
ingenuity, judgment and success, he ac-
quired a high reputation as a physician
and surgeon. His services were much
sought after, but were seldom remune-
rated, for he did not charge the poor
for attendance. What, however, re-
flected most the true dignity of his
character, " was his benevolence and
humanity to his suffering fellow-crea-
tures— ever delighting to relieve their
distresses, to soften the rigor of their
misfortunes, and to pour balm into their
bleeding wounds." He died unmarried,
January 1st, 1776, and was buried at
Haverford Friends' burying-ground,
having lived a consistent member of
that Society.

Humphrey, John, with his wife, Joan,
emigrated from Llwundu, in Merion-
ethshire, Wales, in 1683, and eventual-
ly settled in Merion, adjoining the Ha-
verford line. His certificate attests
that he had been a member of the So-
ciety of Friends twenty-three years ;
that he was faithful in times of great
suffering, and that his house "was a
free receptacle to Friends." He was
also " a minister of few words accord-
ing to his measure." Though a tho-
rough Welshman, he had, for the time
in which he lived, a good knowledge
of the English language, and withal
some taste for literature, as will appear
by his translation of " A. Song of Re-
joicing," composed by Thomas Ellis.
John Humphrey died in 1699, aged
sixty-six years, and his wife one year
earlier. They left no children. [See
under Thomas Ellis.']

Humphrey, Richard, from Llangu-
nin, Merionethshire, settled in Radnor
in 1683. He had professed "the truth"
many years before he left his native
country. He died, unmarried, in 1692,
and was buried at Haverford.

Humphrey, Joseph, lived in the town
of Darby as early as 1684, and was
that year married to Elizabeth Medford,
a widow, of the same town. He re-
moved to Philadelphia, and died in that
city in 1693. He was in membership
with Friends.

472

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Humphrey, Charles, the son of
Daniel and Hannah Humphrey, was
bcrn in Haverford about the year 1712,
and died in 1786. He was brought up
to the milling business", and being a
joint owner with his brother, Joshua,
of the Haverford mill, he carried on
that business extensively for many
years. He was a man of fine talents,
and at one time was very influential in
the county. In 1764 he was elected to
the Provincial Assembly, and was re-
elected to that office, annually, till
1775, when he was chosen a member
of Congress. In that body, though he
had contended, with all his energies,
against the oppressive measures of
Great Britain, he thought the time had
not come to sever our connection with
the mother country, and voted against
the Declaration of Independence. He
has been censured for this vote, but in
giving it, he represented the views of a
large majority of his constituents at the
time it was given. He retired to pri-
vate life, and though he took no part
in the great struggle for liberty, his
sympathies were on the side of his
country. He was a kind neighbor and
was serviceable in settling disputes in
his neighborhood. No one ever ques-
tioned his integrity "either in public or
private life.

Humphrey, Joshua, the son of
Joshua, and grandson of the immi-
grant Daniel Humphrey, was born in
Haverford township in the year 1751.
His mother was Sarah, the daughter of
Edward and Elinor William, of Block-
ley. His ancestors were thoroughly
Welsh, and all of them Quakers. With
only the advantages of such an early
education as the common schools of the
country afforded at that day, Joshua
was apprenticed at a tender age to a
ship-carpenter of Philadelphia. Before
the completion of his apprenticeship
his instructor died, but Mr. Humphrey
had made such good use of his oppor-
tunities in perfecting himself in his
trade, and at the same time by his good
conduct had secured the confidence of
the family so fully, that he was at once
placed at the head of the establish-
ment, and managed the whole business
for the widow during several years.

Being possessed of a comprehensive
and philosophical mind, he soon came
to be regarded as the first shipwright

in the country. So much was this the
case, that after the adoption of the
Constitution, and when it became ap-
parent that our government must be
possessed of a navy, Mr. Humphrey
was consulted, officially, and his views,
which had been communicated to the
Hon. Robert Morris, in a letter dated
January 6th, 1793, but more in detail
to Gen. Knox, then Secretary of War,
were, in the main, adopted. [Lives of
Eminent Philadelphians,p. 588.] The
leading ideas of Mr. Humphrey were :
" That as our navy must be for a con-
siderable time, inferior in the number
of its vessels, to the navies of Europe,
to compensate for this deficiency in
number, our ships should be formida-
ble from their character, and larger in
size and armament, and stronger in
construction than those of Europe of
the same class." He was the first
Naval Constructor of the United States,
and several of our first ships of war
were built under his immediate direc-
tion. The marked superiority of our
vessels in combats with those of Eng-
land, of the same class, during the War
of 1812, was mainly owing to the adop-
tion of Mr. Humphrey's suggestions.
He may justly be called The Father of
the American Navy.

The last thirty years of his life were
spent on a part of his patrimonial
estate in Haverford. Here he died in
1838, at the advanced age of eighty-
seven years, his mental faculties being
almost unimpaired to the last.

Hunt, James, arrived at Philadelphia,
from Kent, England, in 1684. During
the following year he purchased three
tracts of land in Kingsessing, from
Lasse Cock, and settled upon one of
them that bordered on Minquas Creek.
This tract had been occupied by the
Swedes ever since the arrival of Go-
vernor Printz, and no doubt our new
settler found improvements ready made
to his hand. He had been married in
England many years before he left that
country, and probably had lost his wife
some time before he emigrated. Be-
sides two daughters, Elizabeth and
Mary, who came with him, it is not
known that he had any other children.
Towards the close of the year 1686 he
was married "at ye house of John
Blunston " to Elizabeth, the daughter
of Richard Bonsall, of Darby. By this

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

473

second marriage he had two children,
Anne, born in 1688, and James, born
1691.

His daughter, Elizabeth, was married
to William Bartram in 1696. Their
first child was John Bartram, the bota-
nist. His daughter, Mary, was married
to Abraham Marshall in 1 703. Her
eighth child was Humphrey Marshall,
the botanist. Thus we have presented
the remarkable circumstance of two
sisters being the mothers of the two
earliest students of botany in the New
World.

His daughter, Anne, was married to
John Bluntston, Jr., of Darby, and his
son, James, to Sarah Wildman, of Falls
Meeting, Bucks County ; both in 1707.
James Hunt, and all his children, were
married in accordance with the discip-
line of Friends. He died in the spring
of 1717.

Hunter, John, was originally a resi-
dent of the north of England, was a
strong churchman, and probably by his
acts had made himself somewhat offen-
sive to the Catholics. Upon the acces-
sion of James II. to the throne, in order
to escape observation, he removed to
Rathdrum, in Wicklow County, Ire-
land, where he became an extensive
grazier. When William and Mary were
called to the throne of England, and
with their armies followed the fugitive
forces of James into Ireland, John
Hunter entered the Protestant army as
a trooper, and, with his friend, Antho-
ny Wayne, was present at the Battle of
Boyne. William Hill had married the
daughter of John Hunter, and, with his
wife, had emigrated to Pennsylvania,
and settled in Middletown township.
John, with his family, followed his son-
in-law to America and settled in New-
town township, then Chester County,
where he purchased a large tract of
laud, which he occupied during his life.
He brought over with him a holster and
pistol, (both in use at the Battle of
Boyne,) and also a wedding ring. The
two latter are still preserved among his
descendents. The ring bears this in-
scription, " Keep this in remembrance
of me, 1693." John Hunter died in
1732, aged about seventy years. Peter,
a son of John Hunter, served in the
wars between England and France, in
which the Colonies participated.

Ireland, Nicholas, came from Lax-
ton in the County of Nottingham
England and settled in Darby, now
Upper Darby in 1689, and was married
to Elizabeth Humphrey at Darby Meet-
ing in 1692. The name soon disappears
from all records of the County.

Jackson, Roger, an early settler in
the borough of Chester. He had ac-
quired considerable property previous
to his death, which occurred in 1715 ;
but having no relatives in this country,
he devised the whole of his estate to be
equally divided between such of his
relations in England, as should apply
within seven years.

Jackson, Dr. Paul, was distin-
guished for his talents, and was one of
the most highly educated men of his
day. When quite a young man, he
was appointed Professor of Greek and
Latin, in the College of Philadelphia,
now the University of Pennsylvania.
Finding his health impaired by confine-
ment and study, he left the College,
and joined the expedition of General
Forbes, got. up for the reduction of
Fort Du Quesne, as commander of a
company. In this expedition, his pru-
dence and bravery commended him to
the particular notice of the General.
By the active life of a soldier, his health
was improved ; but his fondness for
study returning with his renewed health,
he abandoned the militai-y profession,
and engaged in the study of physic.
Having by great application, and by the
attendance at what was then called
" the Royal Hospital," become well
versed both in the theory and practice
of medicine and surgery, he settled in
Chester, where he soon became a well-
established and successful physician.
After practicing his pi-ofession for some
years, and while holding the office of
Chief Burgess of the town, he died at
Chester, in the year 1767, at the early
age of thirty-eight years, and was buried
in St. Paul's Churchyard. There are
reasons for believing that this eminent
man was a native of Chester.

Jackson, Ephraim, emigrated from
England, and lived within the bounds
of Chester Monthly Meeting of Friends,
as early as 1687. In 1695, he was
married to Rachel, daughter of Nicholas
Newlin of Concord, and having pur-

474

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

chased land in Edgeniont, became a
resident of that township. Having re-
ceived a better education than was
usual in his day, he, for many years,
held the situation as clerk for Chester
Monthly Meeting of Friends, of which
he was an exemplary member. He
was also much employed in civil affairs,
especially where good penmanship was
needed, and in 1710 he represented
Chester County in the Provincial As-
sembly. His children were John,
Joseph, Nathaniel, Josiah, Samuel,
Ephraim, Mary and Rachel. His death
occurred in 1723, at the age of nearly
seventy-five years.

Jackson, John, an eminent minister
of the Society of Friends, was the son
of Halliday and Jane Jackson of Darby,
near which place he was born, on the
29th of September, 1809. His religious
training was as careful and guarded as
surrounding circumstances would per-
mit, and at a very early age, it became
evident that his inquiring mind was
exercised on the doctrines and practi-
ces of his forefathers. His natural
temperament was ardent and impetu-
ous, and he had much to contend with
in bringing himself under the teach-
ings of the "still small voice within :"
but this he accomplished at a very
early age. In 1835, his father was re-
moved by death, an event that produced
a strong impression on his mind, and
at his grave he appeared in supplica-
tion. At the age of twenty-five years,
he married Rachel T., the daughter of
Isaac Tyson of Baltimore. His wife
being possessed of a thorough educa-
tion, after proper retiectiou, they deter-
mined to establish a boarding school
for girls. In this determination, the
well known " Sharon Boarding School"
had its origin. He was a land surveyor,
and made himself useful in settling
disputed lines. In 1840, with the
approbation of his meeting, he paid a
religious visit to the West India Islands
in company with Thomas B. Longstreth
and George Truman. But theological
studies did not occupy the whole of his
attention. In 1834, he became a
member of the Delaware County Insti-
tute of Science, and from that time, the
study of Philosophy and the Natural
Sciences, engrossed a share of his time
and constituted his chief recreation.
His school was supplied with extensive

cabinets of minerals and fossils, and its
Astronomical observatory with the best
and most costly instruments. He de-
livered popular courses of lectures on
Philosophy, Chemistry, Geology and
Astronomy, which his natural fluency
of language rendered attractive. His
health, never robust, and doubtless im-
paired by overtaxing his mind, gradu-
ally became more and more feeble, till
the close of his earthly career, on the
14th of April, 1855. As a preacher of
the Gospel, he has had few superiors
in eloquence, and the strict upright-
ness of his character, was never ques-
tioned by any one who knew him.

James, James, was an early Welsh
settler in Radnor. He was married to
Jane Edward of the same township in
1692. He settled in the southwest part
of Radnor, but after a time removed to
Haverford, where he died in 1708. In
his will he names three children,
George, David and Sarah, and a son-
in-law, David Lewis.

James, Howell, was from Pontmoel,
in Monmouthshire, England. His cer-
tificate is dated, 5th mo. (July) 1684.
The meeting from which it emanated,
was held in a court in front of the
meeting-house, that had been locked
up more than a year. He settled in
Radnor, where his wife Gwenlin died
in 1686, and from the record, would
appear to be the first corpse buried in
the graveyard at Radnor Meeting. In
1690, he contracted a second marriage
with Maudlin Kinsey, a widow, and in
1698, made a visit to his native country.
He took a very active part in the meet-
ing affairs of the Society of Friends, in
which he was held in much esteem.

James, David, with his wife Margaret,
arrived in Pennsylvania in August,
1682. They were Friends, but having
neglected to bring the usual certificate
with them, one was forwarded the next
year, which names a daughter Mary,
and informs us that they came from
the parish of Llangeley or Llandegley
and Glascum, in Radnorshire, Wales,
and that " they owned the truth several
years." This certificate is signed by
John Jarman, David Meredith and other
early settlers of Radnor, and was pro-
bably brought over with them. Tra-
dition says, a son named Evan was

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

475

born in the passage over. A David
James, supposed to be the same person,
purchased a large tract on the eastern
border of the township of Radnor, upon
which he resided, and upon which his
descendants continued to reside till
within a recent period. This David
James, died in 1738 or 1*739, leaving
a wife named Jane, who was a second
or possibly a third wife. Besides Mary
and Evan, his children, so far as is
known, were Sarah, Rebecca, Isaac and
Thomas. Evan, to whom the mansion
property was devised, married Margaret
Jones of Tredyffrin. Dr. Thomas P.
James, and John F. James, Esq., of
Philadelphia, are descendants from
Evan.

Jansen, Carles, (Charles Johnson,)
was one of the original patentees of
Marcus Hook, from Governor Andros
in 1676, who, with his five associates
were then in possession of the place.
He was a resident of Marcus Hook in
1678, but how much longer is not
known. His name would indicate that
he was a Dutchman.

Jansen, Jan, as early as 1643, was
custom house officer at Fort Nassau,
on the Delaware, by appointment of
the Dutch authorities at New Amster-
dam. In a year or two afterwards he
held the office of Commissary under
the Dutch West India Company, and
"was accustomed to trade on the
South river of New Netherland, with
the Indians," under the name of Jan
Jansen von Ilpendam. His employments
on the Delaware made him acquainted
with the country, and induced him to
fix his residence here, but how early is
not known. In 1677 he resided on
Marcus Hook Creek, and that was the
place of his residence in 1685, at the
time of his decease. In his will he re-
quests to be buried at " Chester, alias
Upland." He left a wife, Ellen, to sur-
vive him. He was doubtless an Epis-
copalian.

Jarman, John, with his wife Margaret
and two children, Elizabeth and Sarah,
came from Llanidles, Montgomeryshire,
Wales, and settled in Radnor township
about the year 1684. He was a minis-
ter in the Society of Friends, and was
instrumental in the establishment of
Radnor Meeting. He constantly took

an active part in the proceedings of
the monthly meeting to which be be-
longed. He died in 1697, and in 1701
a testimony concerning him was read,
but the record of it is not to be found.
The name is frequently written " Jer-
man." Meetings were held at his house
in Wales, for permitting which a cow
was taken from him worth £2 10s.

Jarman or Ierman, John, Jr., son
of the above John Jarman, was born
in Radnor 9th mo. (November) 12th,
1684, and was the first male child
born of European parents in that
township. He was one of the earliest
American mathematicians. He died
in Radnor in 1769, aged nearly 85
years. In an obituary notice published
in the " Pennsylvania Chronicle," a
newspaper of that day, he is spoken of
as a " gentleman well known for his
astronomical calculations " It is said
that he published an almanac.

Jenkins, William, came from the
town of Tenby, in the county of Pem-
broke, Wales, about the year 1686,
and settled in Haverford township.
He was an active and influential mem-
ber of the Society of Friends, and had
suffered persecution in his native coun-
try. His name disappears from the
minutes of Haverford Meeting after
1697. In 1691 he was one of the Jus-
tices of the Court for Chester County,
and was a member of the Assembly
about the same time. He was an
original purchaser of 1000 acres of
land before leaving his native country.

Job, Andrew, was an early settler in
and near Chester, but was not among
the earliest. He was married to Eliza-
beth Vernon in 1692. Both as a mem-
ber of the Society of Friends and as a
citizen, he maintained a good stand-
ing. In 1697 he served the office of
Sheriff, and in 1702 he represented
Chester County in the Provincial As-
sembly. His children were Benjamin,
Jacob, Thomas, Mary, Enoch, Abraham,
Caleb, Joshua, Hannah and Patience.
Shortly after 1704, he removed to Not-
tingham, and became a permanent re-
sident there. He died in 1722.

Jurian, Hans, was a resident and
owner of land in Calken Hook as early
as 1677, and was still living there in

476

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

1693. It is believed that he was born
in this country. The name appears to
have been changed to Joranson.

Key, Moses, migrated from Middle-
with, in the county of Chester, Eng-
land, in 1700, and upon his first arri-
val here settled in Nether Providence.
Early in 1702 he married Elizabeth, the
daughter of John Yearsly of Thornbury,
and at that time, or a little before, had
fixed his residence in Concord. He
was a member of the Society of Friends,
and by trade a blacksmith. His chil-
dren were, Lettice, William, Mary, Eli-
zabeth, Moses, Hannah, John, Robert,
Rebecca and Ann.

King, Thomas, settled in Concord
as early as 1686. He was in member-
ship with Friends, and died in 1706,
leaving his wife Mary, but no children,
to survive him.

Kinsman, John, from Fifel, in the
county of Wilts, England, was settled
in Chichester as early as 1684, and
was married to Hannah, the daughter
of John Sim cock the same year. He
was an active member of Chichester
Friends' meeting, and the monthly
meeting was sometimes held at his
house. As a citizen, he held a respect-
able position in the community. His
children were, Elizabeth and Hannah,
the former of whom married John Dut-
ton, in 1704. He died about the year
1701.

Kirk, John, from All Freetown, in
the county of Derby, England, settled
in Darby, now Upper Darby township,
in 1687. He was married to Joan,
daughter of Peter Ellet, (now changed
to Elliot,) of Kingsessing, the nest year
after his arrival, at Darby meeting, of
which they were both members. A
family of eleven children was the result
'of this marriage, all of whom were
living at the time of his death in 1705.
He devised his mansion farm to his son
William, a part of which is still owned
by his descendants. To his other sons.
500 acres in Philadelphia County
(Montgomery) was given.

Lamplew, Nathaniel, was an early
Quaker settler on the Delaware below
Marcus Hook. In 1686, he married
Susanna, the daughter of John Beazer,

of Chichester, then deceased. At this
time he was a Friend, but his name dis-
appears from the records in 1688, and
as it is known he continued to reside
in the neighborhood, he probably dis-
continued his membership.

Laerson, Neels, (alias Friend) an
early Swedish inhabitant of Upland.
He owned 182 acres of land, embracing
what is now the central part of the
present town of Chester, most of which
subsequently became the property of
David Lloyd. The earliest Courts of
Upland County of which we have the
records, were held at his house, and
subsequently at the " House of defence,"
which was built on his land, where,
doubtless, the Courts under the Pro-
prietary government were for some time
held. He kept a kind of tavern, and
entertained the Justices of the Upland
Court, a service which he had also
performed for the Justices of an earlier
Court, the records of which are now
lost. There is evidence that he acted
as an arbitrator by appointment of this
Court as early as 1673. As early as
1668, in conjunction with Oele Raw-
son, he purchased land on the east side
of the river, which they had previously
bought of the Indians. This noted
Swede died in 1689, leaving a widow,
Anico, (Ann) and several sons, who
were afterwards known by the name
of Friend, or had that name as an alias.
The widow survived her husband till
about the year 1724, when she died at
the advanced age of 106 years. [See
file of O. C. papers, office of the Clerk of
Q. Sessions, West Chester.'] From this
circumstance it may be concluded that
Neels Laerson was a native of Sweden.

Langham, Robert, was an early re-
sident and owner of land in Chichester.
He died early in 1708, leaving a wife
and children. It does not appear that
he was a Friend.

Lawrence, David, with his wife Eli-
nor and two or three children, emi-
grated from Pencheston, Pembroke-
shire, South Wales, in company with
his father-in-law, Thomas Ellis, and
settled in Haverford township. He had
witnessed the sufferings and persecu-
tions of his father-in-law in his native
land, and had come here with a mind
and a will to maintain " the truth" in

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

477

its purity. To this his life was devoted,
and at his death he left a written testi-
mony to his children, admonishing
them to the same course of life that
" gave him rest and peace with God,''
copies of which are still preserved
among his descendants. His wife was
also a devout and exemplary member
of the Society of Friends. His children
were, Daniel, Henry, Thomas, Marga-
ret, Elinor and Rachel. Thomas inter-
married with Sarah, and Henry with
Ellen Williams, daughters of William
Edioard of Blockley, and Edward Wil-
liam, a son of William Edward, mar-
ried Elinor Lawrence. Magaret inter-
married with David Llewellyn. David
Lawrence died in 1699. His wife sur-
vived him many years.

Lee, or Lea, John, the son of John
Lea, glover, of Christian Malford, in the
county of Wilts, England, learned the
trade of a woolcomber. He became a
preacher among Friends, but at what
time is not known. In 1698, he mar-
ried Hannah Webb, a widow, of the
city of Gloucester, and in 1700 he mi-
grated to Pennsylvania, and after re-
maining about a year in Philadelphia,
settled in Concord township. His cer-
tificate was from Nay les worth Quar-
terly Meeting in Gloucester county. He
was held in high estimation as a minis-
ter, and frequently made religious visits
to distant places ; sometimes in com-
pany with Thomas Chalkley. The lat-
ter speaks of him as a " living, ser-
viceable minister of the gospel of
Christ." He died in 1726. So far as
is known, his children were, Isaac,
Hannah, John end Rachel.

Leiper, Thomas, by birth a Scotch-
man, at the age of nineteen immigrated
to Port Tobacco in Maryland, upon the
invitation of an elder brother, Dr. James
Leiper, who had settled at or near that
place. Here he was placed in the large
mercantile house of a Mr. Sample,
where he no doubt acquired the busi-
ness qualifications for which he was
afterwards noted. After he arrived at
age he accepted an invitation from
Gavin Hamilton to join him in the to-
bacco business in Philadelphia. After
some time the partnership was dis-
solved, and Mr. Leiper set up the busi-
ness for himself. The Revolution broke
out, and the leading house in Philadel-

phia in the snuff business being inter-
dicted, a fine opening was presented
for Mr. Leiper, and enabled him to make
his fortune. He warmly espoused the
cause of the Colonies at the commence-
ment of hostilities, and united himself
with the ''first city troop," and became
its orderly sergeant, treasurer and sec-
retary. When General Washington
was almost on the eve of disbanding
the army for want of supplies, he,
with Robert Morris, Blair McClanagan
and others, subscribed a large sum of
money to supply the deficiency. Tho-
mas Leiper was the warm friend of
Jefferson, and a firm adherent of the
Democratic party. His mills and his
quarries were in Delaware County, but
his residence was mostly in Philadel-
phia, where for many years he was
president of the Common Council. He
was a man of much public spirit and
energy of character, and exerted him-
self in promoting the improvement of
the State. He subscribed as much as
$100,000 in the stock of various turn-
pikes, canals, &c, from which he could
expect but little return. His wife was
Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of George
Gray, a lady of excellent character and
great worth. He died in the year 1825
in the eightieth year of his age.

Lester, Peter, settled in Springfield
township as early as 1684. In 1685
he married Mary Duncalf of Chester
Meeting, and in 1686 he served the
office of constable for the then newly
organized township of Springfield. The
family probably removed, as the name
disappears from the records of the
meetings within our limits.

Levis, Samuel, with his wife Eliza-
beth and one child, migrated from
Hanby, County of Leicester, England,
in 1684, and settled in Sprinfield town-
ship. Before leaving England, he in
conjunction with William Garrett, pur- .
chased 1000 acres of land, part of
which was located where he first set-
tled, and is still in the family name.
In less than two years after his arrival
in the country he represented the
County of Chester in the Provincial
Assembly, and was frequently elected
to the same office subsequently He
was also for some time a Justice of the
Court of Chester County. But notwith-
standing the frequency of his civil en-

478

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

gagements, he did not neglect his re-
ligious duties, being ever ready to do
bis share in promoting order and dis-
cipline in the Society of Friends, of
which he was a zealous member. His
children were Samuel, Mary, William,
Elizabeth, Christopher and Sarah. Sam-
uel intermarried with Hannah Stretch
of Philadelphia, and Mary with Joseph
Pennock, son of Christopher Pennock.
The latter marriage was accomplished
before two Justices of the Court in
1705, at the residence of the bride's
father, Joseph Pennock not being in
membership with Friends. William
removed to Kennet, and married Eliza-
beth Read of that neighborhood, and
became eminent as a preacher amongst
Friends ; and Sarah intermarried with
John, the son of George Maris, of
Springfield. For a further account of
Elizabeth see Elizabeth Shipley. Samuel
Levis the immigrant, died at an ad-
vanced age in the year 1728. See
William Garrett.

Lewis, Henry, with his wife Mar-
garet and family, came from the parish
of Narbeth, in the County of Pembroke,
Wales, and settled in Haverford town-
ship in 1682. By trade he was a car-
penter. As a member of the Society
of Friends, he was strict in the per-
formance of his religious duties, and
during the short period he lived, after
reaching his new home, he devoted
much of bis time to civil affairs and
acts of benevolence. Before the estab-
lishment of Haverford Meeting, in 1684,
he belonged to Philadelphia Monthly
Meeting, and was by that body ap-
pointed one of a committee " to visit
the poor and the sick, and admiuister
what they should judge convenient, at
the expense of the monthly meeting."
He held the office of " peacemaker" for
the County of Philadelphia, and was
foreman of the first grand jury for that
County, Haverford and Radnor at that
time being regarded as belonging to
Philadelphia. He died in 1688, leaving
his wife and three children, Henry,
Samuel and Elizabeth, all born in
Wales, to survive him. Henry inter-
married with Mary, the daughter of
Robert Taylor of Springfield, Elizabeth
with Richard Hayes of Haverford, but
it is hot known that Samuel married.
The second Henry became a man of
considerable note, was a member of the

Assembly in 17 15 and 1718, and was
employed in other public trusts. His
descendants are numerous, and many
of them have been remarkable for in-
tellectual superiority. The most noted
was the late Enoch Lewis, the mathe-
matician. The elder Henry Lewis had
been a pecuniary sufferer in his native
country on account of his religion.

Lewis, Ralph, with his wife Mary
and family, emigrated from the parish
of Ulan, in Glamorganshire, and came
over in company with John Bevan in
1683 or 1684, and settled in Haverford.
He was a member of the Society of
Friends by convincement, and the cer-
tificate brought with him attests the ex-
cellence of his character and the in-
nocency of his life. His children who
survived him were Mary, who inter-
married with James, and Lydia, who
intermarried with Joseph Sharpless,
both sons of the immigrant John
Sharpless, Abraham, who intermarried
with Mary, daughter of Anthony Mor-
gan, Thomas, who intermarried with
Jane, daughter of Rees Meridith of
Radnor, Sarah, who intermarried with
William, son of Richard Walters of
Merion, and Samuel intermarried with
Phebe, daughter of Josiah Taylor of
Marple. Ralph Lewis died about 1710,
and his wife six years earlier.

Lewis, John, came from Pembroke-
shire, Wales, and with his wife Eliza-
beth, and family, settled in Haverford
in 1683. As a member of the Society
of Friends he was active and influ-
ential. He died in 1704, leaving his
wife and one son and two daughters,
viz : John, Elizabeth and Margaret to
survive, him. Elizabeth intermarried
with John, the son of Daniel Reece of
Newtown, and John with Sarah Price of
Merion. The children of the latter mar-
riage were Elizabeth, Philip, Stephen
and Josiah. John Lewis had suffered
a share of the persecution that was
waged against the Quakers, before
leaving his native country.

Lewis, William, with his wife, Ann,
came from the parish of Ulan, in Gla-
morganshire, Wales, about the year
1686, and settled in the northeastern
part of Haverford township. He was
a brother of Ralph Lewis Their son,
David, was married to Ann Jones, of

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

479

Merion, in 1695. William Lewis re-
moved to Newtown, where he and his
wife died in the early part of 1708,
within a few days of each other. They
were both members of the religious
Society of Friends ; William being fre-
quently called upon in the administra-
tion of the affairs of his meeting. Be-
sides his son, David, who settled on the
mansion tract in Haverford, Wm. Lewis
had three sons, viz.: Lewis, Evan and
William, and one daughter, Seaborn.
Lewis married Mary Howell, of Bristol ;
Evan, Mary, the daughter of Jonathan
and Ann Hayes, of Marple, and Wil-
liam, Gwen Jones, of Gwynedd. Evan
died in 1735, and William, the younger,
in 1731. The daughter was born in
1686, at sea, and hence the name. All
the sons but David settled in Newtown.

Lewis, Ellis, was born in Wales
about the year 1680. His father dying
while he was quite young, his mother
married Owen Roberts. They all ap-
pear to have been Quakers, and about
the year 1698 made arrangements for
migrating to Pennsylvania. They had
proceeded so far as to forward their
goods, but severe sickness of the family
obliged them to remain. After being
restored to health they did not carry
out their original design, but removed
to Mount Molock, Ireland, where they
resided till 1708, when Ellis obtained a
certificate from the meeting at that
place and came to Pennsylvania. Be-
ing a Welshman he met with a kind re-
ception from the Welsh Friends of Ha-
verford. a number of whom were pro-
bably his relatives. The next year
(1709) he removed within the bounds
of Concord Meeting, and in 1713 was
married to Elizabeth, the daughter of
Nathaniel Newlin. In 1716 he removed
to Kennet, and, his wife dying in 1723,
he some time afterwards married Mary
Baldwin. In 1749 he removed to Wil-
mington and died the next year, aged
seventy years. He is said to have been
a man of good understanding, and was
frequently concerned in settling differ-
ences amongst his neighbors. The
Hon. Ellis Lewis, formerly Chief Jus-
tice of the Supreme Court of Pennsyl-
vania, is said to be descended from him.

Lewis, William, born in Edgmont
in 1751, was the grandson or great-
grandson of the immigrant Kalph

Lewis. He studied law in Philadelphia
with Nicholas Wain, who, at that time,
had an extensive practice. About the
time he was admitted to the bar, Ni-
cholas Wain gave up the practice of
the law from conscientious scruples,
and being selected by his preceptor to
close up his business with his clients,
young Lewis at once fell into a good
share of business, which his ability and
success at the bar soon greatly in-
creased. He was several times a mem-
ber of the Assembly, and was also a
member of the convention that formed
the constitution of 1790. It is said that
he was frequently consulted by govern-
ment officials during Washington's Ad-
ministration. He had a birthright with
the Quakers, and preserved his connec-
tion with that Society while he lived,
though his actions were not always en-
tirely Quakerish. He died in 1819, aged
sixty-eight years.

Lewis, Enoch, the son of Evan
Lewis and Jane, his second wife, whose
maiden name was Meredith, was born
in Radnor township, on the 29th of
January, 1776. His early training was
strictly in conformity with the princi-
ples and practices of the Society of
Friends, of which his father was a de-
voted member. At an early age he
exhibited a remarkable talent for ma-
thematics, and although his opportu-
nities for obtaining an education had
only been such as were afforded by the
common schools of the neighborhood,
at the age of fourteen years he had
acquired sufficient knowledge to be
employed, advantageously, as an as-
sistant teacher in one of those schools.
One year later he taught a country
school as principal ; the gravity of his
manners, and the acknowledged supe-
riority of his acquirements, enabling
him to command the respect of pupils
even older than himself. In 1793 he
repaired to Philadelphia for the pur-
pose of pursuing his mathematical
studies, but was obliged to occupy a
part of each day in teaching to procure
the means for his support. Towards
the close of the next year he became a
resident of the city, and in 1795 was
employed as surveyor in laying out
several town plots in the western part
of the State, in pursuance of an act of
Assembly. From 1696 to 1699 he had
charge of the mathematical department

480

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

of Friends' Academy in Philadelphia,
but returned to Radnor to reside early
in the latter year. On the 9th of the
5th month, 1799, he married Alice, the
daughter of Isaac and Hannah Jackson
of New Garden, Chester County, and,
in the following year, removed to
Westown Boarding-school, then re-
cently established by the Yearly Meet-
ing of Philadelphia, where he had
charge of the mathematical department
till 1808, when he established a private
boarding-school in New Garden. This
school, in which mathematics was a
primary study, was continued in suc-
cessful operation many years. About
the year 1819 he published an Arith-
metic. This was soon followed by a
work on Algebra, and one on Plane and
Spherical Trigonometry. For a time he
edited a periodical called the " African
Observer." He was author of the Life
of William Penn, contained in the
" Friends' Library ;" of a treatise " On
Oaths;" one " On Baptism;" a review
of Dr. Cox's " Quakerism not Chris-
tianity," and other pamphlets. In 1847
he engaged in the publication of the
" Friends' Review," which he continued
to edit till his death, July 14th, 1856.

Llewellyn, Morris, was born at
Castlebith, Pembrokeshire, South
Wales, in the year 1645, and his wife,
Ann, whose maiden name was Young,
was born two years later. They mi-
grated about the year 1686, to Penn-
sylvania, and settled in the northwest
part of Haverford township. Morris
had suffered persecution in his native
country by distraint for the paymeut of
tithes. They were exemplary members
of the Society of Friends, Morris being
frequently entrusted with responsible
appointments by the meeting. Their
children were David, Mary, Morris and
Griffith — all born in Wales, except the
last named. David intermarried in
1706 with Margaret Lawrence, of Ha-
verford, and, after her decease, with
Margaret Ellis, of Gwynedd, and Mor-
ris with Elizabeth Thomas of Merion.

Lock, Lawrence Charles, (Lauren-
tius Carolus Lokenius,) who officiated
many years on the Delaware River as
the clergyman of the Swedish congre-
gations, came over during the adminis-
tration of Governor Printz. He was,
doubtless, persecuted during the Dutch

ascendancy on the river, but it cannot
be truthfully said that he led such a
faultless life as became his sacred call-
ing. After the English obtained pos-
session of the river, his temporal af-
fairs rapidly improved. In 1675 he had
surveyed to him 350 acres of land
" where Olla Stille hath formerly
dwelt," and he also became the owner
of a large tract of land in, or very near
the town of Upland (Chester), where
he probably resided some time, parti-
cularly when he had charge of Chris-
tiana and Tinicum churches. It is said
that he died in 1688.

Longworthy, John, though not a
Welshman, fixed his place of abode at
a very early date, in the midst of the
Welsh Colonists of Radnor, and soon
became a large landholder there He
was, however, in membership with the
Quakers, and in 1683 was married to
Jane Cool of Chester Monthly Meeting.
Their children, so far as is known, were
John and Benjamin, the former of
whom, in 1711, intermarried with
Margaret the daughter of Rowland
Richard, and a year afterwards, the
elder John was married to a second
wife named Jane Englebert.

Lownes, Jane, an original purchaser
of land in England, came from Cheshire,
where she had suffered persecution in
the distraint of her goods in 1678, for
attending Friends' meeting at Newton
and Selsby. She was the widow of
Hugh Lownes, and was accompanied
to this country by three sons, James,
George and Joseph. James married
Susannah Richard, in 1692 and George,
Mary Bowers, a woman from New
England, in 1701. Jane, on her first
arrival, located her purchased land in
Springfield township, upon which a
cave was built that for some time ac-
commodated the family as a dwelling.
The site of this cave is marked by a
stone planted by her descendants in
1799, which bears the date of the
patent for the land (1685.) The meet-
ting records show the presence of Jane
Lownes here, in May, 1684, and she
probably had arrived a year earlier. It
was usual to occupy lands a long time
before they were patented.

Lloyd, David, a Welshman, and one
of the most eminent of the early set-

5*1

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

481

tiers of Pennsylvania, arrived at Phila-
delphia in 1686, and at first settled in
that city, where he married Grace
Growden a most estimable lady. By
profession he was a lawyer, and Wil-
liam Penn being well acquainted with
his abilities and legal attainments,
commissioned him the same year as
Attorney General of the Province.
He was greatly in advance of his age,
in his views of good government,
and particularly in a correct compre-
hension of the rights of the governed.
These he advocated with so much zeal
and ability, that he rarely failed in
carrying his point. In opposing what
were then called, " the proprietary
interests," but what often were nothing
more than proprietary pretensions, he
acquired the reputation, particularly
with those in interest with the govern-
ment, of being perverse and factious as
a politician, but time has served to
correct that judgment, for the instances
are few indeed, where the positions
assumed and the arguments advanced
by him, would not be fully sustained
and approved by the present age.
His integrity and abilities were never
questioned.

Besides the office of Attorney Gene-
ral, he was Deputy Register General
under his Welsh friend, Thomas Ellis ;
Deputy or Clerk of the Master of Rolls ;
was frequently a member of the As-
sembly, and speaker of that body. In
1*717 he received the appointment of
Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and con-
tinued to hold that office till his death.
As a Quaker, David Lloj'd was zealous
and consistent, frequent in his atten-
dance at the meetings of that Society,
and sometimes appearing in the minis-
try. The Welsh Friends, whose meet-
ings he sometimes visited, submitted
difficult questions arising in church
matters to his final determination. In
his family " he was exemplary ; treating
all about him with humanity, and
choosing rather to be loved than feared."

In 1691, he purchased a large tract
of land at Chester, embracing a con-
siderable portion of what is now the
improved part of the borough, but he
did not remove to that place till about
the year 1700. His only dwelling-house
at Chester, now known as "the Com-
modore Porter house" was built by
himself. He left no children, and few
relatives in this country. He died in

31

1731, aged seventy-five years. His
wife survived him twenty-nine years.
The remains of both repose in Friends'
burial ground at Chester.

Lucas, Robert, one of the Justices of
the Court of Upland County, under the
administration of Governor* Markham,
before the arrival of William Penn, set-
tled up the Delaware, in what is now
Bucks County. He probably arrived
with the settlers of Burlington, N. J.

Maddock, Mordecai, was the oldest
son of Henry Maddock of Loom Hall,
Cheshire, England. In 1681, Henry
and his brother-in-law James Kenerly,
purchased 1500 acres of land in Penn-
sylvania, and arrived here some time
before the Proprietary, in 1682. In
1683, part of this joint purchase, sup-
posed to be 800 acres, but really more
than 1100 acres, was located in Spring-
field adjoining Ridley, and James
established his residence upon it. In
a few years afterwards James died,
leaving his share of the joint purchase
to his nephew, the subject of this notice,
and shortly afterwards, his father
Henry, who returned to England, con-
veyed the other half to him. Mordecai
appears to have made a visit to Penn-
sylvania about the year 1687, and re-
mained here for some time, but returned
to England, and it was not till 1701,
that he returned with his family,
and fixed his permanent home on his
estate. He was in membership with
Friends.

Malin, Randal, with his wife Eliza-
beth, from Great Barrum in Cheshire,
England, arrived in 1682 or 1683, and
fixed their residence in Upper Provi-
dence. They were both active and in-
fluential members of the Society of
Friends, meetings being sometimes held
at their house. Elizabeth died in 1687,
leaving two sons, Isaac and Jacob.
Randal was married a second time in
1693, to Mary Conway, daughter of
Valentine Hollingsworth of Newcastle
County, by whom he had two daugh-
ters, Hannah and Rachel. His death
occurred about the year 1703. For
making a prayer in a meeting in his
native country, Randal Malin was fined
£20 5s, for which distress was made of
his household goods, corn and hay.
(Besse. i. 107.)

482

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Nixon, John, was settled in Ridley
as early as 1683, was a member of
Friends' Meeting, but took little or no
interest in the affairs of the Society.
But little is known in respect to him.

Maris, George, emigrated from the
parish of Inkborough in the County of
"Worcester, England, in 1683, with his
wife Alice and several children. On
his first arrival, he appears to have
tarried for a short time with the Friends
that had arrived the year before and
settled at Darby, but he soon located a
large tract of land in Springfield town-
ship, whereon be settled and named it
"The Home house." He was among
the most eminent of the public Friends
that came over with the first settlers,
and was so esteemed in his native
country, where meetings had been held
at his house, and where he had suffered
by fines and imprisonment. His certifi-
cate, which is recorded at Darby says,
" he hath adorned the Gospel of
Christ." He held many public trusts :
was a Justice of the Peace, one of the
Judges of the Court, and on several
occasions was chosen a member of tbe
Provincial Assembly. He was one of
those who signed the testimony against
the celebrated George Keith.

The descendants of this worthy patri-
arch are numerous ; those bearing his
name in this County, Chester County,
and in the City of Philadelphia, are
probably all descended from him. His
death occurred in 1703, at the age of
seventy-three years ; his wife having
died nearly four years earlier. His
children, so far as is known, were Eliza-
beth who intermarried with John Men-
denhall; George, with Jane Maddock;
Ann, with John Worrilow ; John, with
Susanna Lewis of Haverford, and Rich-
ard, with Elizabeth Hayes of Marple.

Markham, William, the cousin and
the first Lieutenant Governor of William
Penn, no doubt resided at Upland
(Chester,) from the time of his arrival
till the City of Philadelphia was laid
out, and suitable accommodations were
provided there. He was not a Quaker,
but seems to have been rather a military
man, as he is called captain, and some-
times colonel. He emigrated from
London, and it is said he was but
twenty-one years of age when he
arrived here. He continued to reside

in Pennsylvania till his death, which
happened in 1704, when he resided in
Front Street, Philadelphia. His will
shows that he was the owner of several
slaves, which, with the chief part of his
property, he bequeathed to his wife.
One of his slaves was an Indian boy,
named Ectus Frankson, born in 1700,
whom he manumitted at the age of
twenty-four, unless his wife by a special
deed, should direct him to be held in
servitude. He had no son, and only
speaks of one daughter.

Marshall, John, emigrated from
Elton, in Derbyshire, England, in 1687,
and probably at first settled in Block-
ley township, Philadelphia County,
but within the verge of Darby Friends'
meeting, of which he was an attentive
member. In 1688 he married Sarah
Smith, of Darby, their marriage being
the first that was solemnized at the
first meeting-house built at that place.
Their children were John, William and
Thomas. He died in 1729.

Marshall, Abraham, was born about
the year 1669, at Gratton, Derbyshire,
England, and emigrated to America in
the year 1700, fixing upon Darby, at
first, as his place of residence. Con-
vinced by the preaching of John Grat-
ton, at the early age of sixteen, and
" carefully abiding under the discipline
of the cross," he had, before leaving
England, a few words in the ministry,
which, in the language of his certificate,
" were received as from a babe in the
Truth." Late in the autumn of 1701,
with the approbation of Darby Monthly
Meeting, he united with Vincent Cald-
well in making a religious visit to
Maryland. In January, 1703, he was
married to Mary, the daughter of James
Hunt, of Kingsessing, and in 1707 re-
moved to the forks of the Brandywine,
where he purchased large tracts of
land among the Indians, and where his
son Humphrey, who afterwards became
noted as a botanist, was born ; he being
the eighth of nine children. His death
occurred in December, 1767, at the
advanced age of ninety-eight years ;
his wife surviving him less than two
years. She was born in Kent, Eng-
land ; came to this country with her
father a young child, about ■ the year
1684, and was eighty-seven years of
age at the time of her decease.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

483

Martin, Walter, was a resident of
Marcus Hook before the arrival of
William Perm, in 1682, and was the
owner of a large tract of land on Naa-
man's Creek, which had been pur-
chased in England. He appears to
have been a man of good standing, but
somewhat eccentric. It is not certain
that he was a member of any religious
denomination, but he appears to have
held in veneration certain church ordi-
nances and doctrines that were re-
garded by the Quakers as outward
' ceremonies, or that were wholly re-
pudiated by them. This will be seen
in his grant or free gift for a burying -
place, &".., mentioned elsewhere. But
still it does not appear that he had any
unkind feelings towards the Quakers,
for in 1684 he married Jane, the dau-
ghter of Joseph Bushell, who was a
Quaker, and by his will he entrusted the
administration of his estate to two
Quakers — Nicholas Pyle and Daniel
Williamson. He may have resided for
a time on his Naaman's Creek pur-
chase, but his general place of resi-
dence was Marcus Hook. He died in
1719, and was buried in the lot re-
served out of his "free gift" which
now constitutes St. Martin's church-
yard. Massive stones that have re-
cently been renovated, indicate the
exact resting-place of his remains, one
of which bears the following quaint
inscription :

" The just man lives in good men's love,
And when he dies, he's bless'd above."

Walter Martin emigrated from West-
minster, in the County of Middlesex,
England. At the time of his death it
does not appear that he had any male
descendant living.

Martin, John, was one of the early
settlers in Middletown. He brought an
approved certificate of membership
with Friends from England, and in
1696 was married, in accordance with
the usages of that Society, to Gwen
Morgan, of Concord Meeting. He died
in 1719. He came from Edgcott, in
the County of Berks, and was a pur-
chaser of five hundred acres of land be-
fore leaving England.

Massey, Thomas, migrated to this
country prior to 1687, and before he
was of age. He probably resided within
the bounds of Chester Monthly Meeting

from the time of his arrival In 1692
he married Phebe, the daughter of
Robert Taylor, of Springfield, and soon
afterwards purchased a large tract of
land in Marple, where he continued to
reside while he lived. He died in 1708,
in the forty-fifth year of his age, leaving
seven children, viz., Esther, Mordecai,
James, Hannah, Thomas, Phebe and
Mary. The brick house erected by
Thomas Massey is still standing in a
good state of preservation. His widow
intermarried with Bartholomew Co-
pock, Jr, then a widower, in 1710.
Mordecai remained on the mansion
tract, but Thomas and James settled
in Willistown.

Matson, Niels, or Neels, was an
early Swedish settler, who owned
and occupied a tract of land imme-
diately on the southwest side of Crum
Creek, extending to the Delaware, for
which Governor Lovelace issued him a
patent on the 10th of March, 1770. In
1773 he served as an arbitrator by ap-
pointment of the then Upland Court, in
a controversy about land in Kingses-
sing. It was Margaret, the wife of this
man, who figured as defendant in the
only trial for witchcraft that ever oc-
curred in Pennsylvania. From the tes-
timony in that trial, it may be inferred
that this persecuted couple had resided
in the country at least twenty years
prior to the date of the trial, (1683.)
In 1678, Neels Matson conveyed to
James Sandelands, two lots in Upland,
for which he had received a patent
from Governor Richard Nicolls in 1668.

McClellan, Joseph, the eldest of
eight children of James and Martha
McClellan, was born in Middletown
township, in 1747. In 1770 the family
removed to Sadsbury township, Chester
County. At the breaking out of the Re-
volution Joseph resolved to engage ac-
tively in the service of his country. It is
said that he was induced to take this
step, or at least confirmed in his resolu-
tion, by a sermon preached to the young
men of his neighborhood by the Rev. Mr.
Foster,at Octoraro Presbyterian Church,
on their duty to their country, in the
trying emergency that was then pre-
sented. As Joseph was nearly thirty
years of age, and a man of great firm-
ness, it may be presumed that he acted
on his own deliberate judgment. Im-

484

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

mediately upon entering the service, he
received the appointment of lieutenant
in Captain Abraham Marshall's com-
pany of musketeers, and shortly after-
wards, (15th of July, 1776,) was ap-
pointed captain in the room of Captain
Marshall, who resigned. This com-
pany belonged to Colonel Atlee's batta-
lion ; but Captain McClellan was soon
after transferred to the 9th regiment of
the Pennsylvania line, to serve during
the war, where he remained till a short
time before his resignation, in June,
1781, when he had been attached to
the second regiment.

Captain McClellan was generally
joined to the main body of the army,
and shared all its privations and hard-
ships— was at the battles of Long-
Island, Brandywine and Monmouth,
and on all occasions did his whole
duty, as the following extract from an
endorsement on his commission by
General Anthony Wayne fully testifies :

" It is a duty which I owe to justice
and merit to declare that the conduct of
Capt. McClellan upon every occasion,
has been that of a brave, active and
vigilant officer, which will ever recom-
mend him to the attention of his
country, and the esteem of his fellow-
citizens. Given at Camp this 13th of
June 1781.

" Anty Wayne B. G."

This endorsement was made at the
time of Captain McClellan's resignation
from the army, when there was no im-
perious necessity for remaining longer
in service, and when his presence at
home was greatly needed by reason of
the age and infirmity of his parents.
In 1786 he married Keziah, the daugh-
ter of Joseph Parke, Esq., and shortly
after removed upon a farm within the
present limits of West Chester. He
served the several offices of Commis-
sioner, Sheriff, and Lieutenant of Ches-
ter County, the latter with the rank of
colonel; he was the first President of
the Bank of Chester County, and at
the time of the whiskey insurrection,
raised a troop of horse for its sup-
pression. His death occurred in 1834,
at the age of eighty-seven years, and ten
years after he had had the felicity of
meeting his old commander, General
La Fayette, on the ground of the battle
of Brandywine.

Medlicot, Daniel, brought a certifi-
cate from the monthly meeting of Salop,
in Shropshire, and at first settled in
Philadelphia, where in the latter part
of the year 1684, he was married ac-
cording to the usages of Friends, to
Martha Sankey. Shortly after his mar-
riage he settled among the Welsh
Friends of Haverford, where he died in
1697, leaving but one child, Mary. His
wife also brought her certificate from
Salop meeting.

Mendenhall, Moses, was a brother
of John and Benjamin Mendenhall, and
doubtless came from the same place in
England. In 1686, he was a resident
of Concord, and purchased land from
his brother Benjamin. It does not ap-
pear that he was a Friend. He re-
turned to England where his descen-
dants now reside.

Mendenhall, Benjamin, came from
England in 1686, probably in company
with his brother John. They came
from a town of Suffolk called Milden-
hall, that being the original family
name. In 1689, he was married to
Ann, the daughter of Robert Pennell,
in Chichester Friends' meeting, of
which they were both members. Their
children were, Benjamin, Moses, Han-
nah, Samuel, Rebecca, Ann, Nathan
and Robert. By trade he was a wheel-
wright. He was a man held in good
esteem both in his religious society and
as a citizen. In 1714 he served as a
member of the Provincial Assembly,
and died in 1740 at an advanced age,
while his wife Ann was still living.
Their son Benjamin married Lydia, the
daughter of Owen Roberts, of Gwynedd,
and his son Robert, Phebe, the daugh-
ter of Isaac Taylor, of Thornbury.
Their daughter Hannah became the
wife of Thomas Marshall, and Ann, the
second wife of John Bartram, the bota-
nist.

Mendenhall, John, was a brother of
Benjamin and Moses Mendenhall, and
doubtless came from the same place in
England. (See notice of Benjamin.)
He was one of the earliest settlers in
Concord, and in 1685 was married to
Elizabeth, the daughter of George Ma-
ris, of Springfield township. He was
a Friend, and was active and influen-
tial in the Society. In 1697, he grant-

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

485

eel the ground occupied by Concord
Friends' meeting-house and grave-yard.
In 1708. his wife being deceased, he
contracted a second marriage with Hes-
ter Dix. He was one of the original
shareholders of the first Concord mill.
His children by his first wife were,
George, John and Aaron. It is not
known that he had any by his second
wife.

Meiudith, David, came from tlie pa-
rish of Llanbister, Radnorshire, Wales,
in 1683 or 1684, and settled in Radnor
township. His name appears on the
minutes of the monthly meeting earlier
than that of any other Radnor Friend.
He was accompanied to this country by
his wife Katharine and their five child-
ren—Richard, Mary, John, Meridith
and Sarah. Katharine died in 1688,
and in 1690 he was married to Mary
Jones, a widow, of Upper Providence, as
his second wife, by whom he probably
had no children. He had been a Friend
twenty years in his native land. The
time of his decease is not known ; but
from the circumstance of his name dis-
appearing from the minutes of his meet-
ing in 1695, it is supposed that it oc-
curred about that period. He had
suffered imprisonment in Wales on ac-
count of his religious principles.

Miles, Richard, was one of the
Welsh purchasers of land from Richard
Davies, in Wales, in 1682. He was a
resident of Radnorshire, and probably
emigrated shortly after his purchase,
and located his land in Radnor town-
ship, where he settled. He was a mem-
ber of the Society of Friends, and in
1688 intermarried with Sarah, the
daughter of his Welsh Quaker neigh-
bor, John Evan. He died in 1713,
leaving his wife Sarah and children —
Richard, James, Evan, John, Jane, Sa-
rah and Abigail to survive him.

Miles, Samuel, with his wife Marga-
ret, emigrated from Radnorshire, in
Wales, in 1683, and at first settled in
Philadelphia. As early as 1686, and
perhaps earlier, they had removed to
Radnor township. They were in mem-
bership with Friends, but their names
are not frequently connected with the
business affairs of the Society. Their
children were Tamar and Phebe. Sa-
muel died in 1708. Tamar intermarried

with Thomas, the son of William Tho-
mas, of Radnor, and Phebe with Evan,
the son of Owen Evans, of Gwynedd.

Miles, Griffith, an early Welsh
Quaker colonist of Radnor. After his
marriage with Bridget Edwards, of the
same township, in 1692, his name dis-
appears from the records.

Miller, Henry, with his wife Sarah
and several children, emigrated from
the parish of Dunster, Somerset county,
England, in 1714, and settled in Upper
Providence. He had previously lived
in the parish of) Bradnich, in the
county of Devon, where, in the year
1704, his son John was born. A
daughter, Dorothy, and a son, Henry,
were also born in the same par-
ish. His son George, father of the
late George Miller, was born in Upper
Providence in 1716. Henry Miller, by
trade, was a manufacturer, and after
his arrival here he had a small manu-
facturing establishment, at which he
made serges, camlets, &c. He also
kept a store for the sale of these and
other articles. He was strict in his re-
ligious duties as a member of the So-
ciety of Friends, and for some years was
the Clerk of Chester Monthly meeting.
In 1717, three^years after his arrival in
the country, he was a representative
from Chester County in the Provincial
Assembly. Henry died in 1730, and
his wife the next year.

Minshall, Thomas, with his wife
Margaret, came from Stoak, County
Palatine of Chester, England, and ar-
rived in 1682, having had the mis-
fortune to lose a daughter on the
passage. Thomas Minshall was one of
the original purchasers of land in Eng-
land, part of which he located in Nether
Providence, his dwelling being near
the meeting-house, which was erected
on land given by him for the purpose.
He was an active and influential mem-
ber of the Society of Friends, and it
was from the meetings held at his
house that Providence meeting had its
origin. Margaret died in 1727, in her
seventy-fifth year, leaving Thomas to
survive her. Their children, so far as
is known, besides the one above men-
tioned, were Isaac, who married Re-
becca, daughter of Dr. Griffith Owen
of Philadelphia, Jacob, who married

48(3

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Sarah, another daughter of Dr. Owen,
Rebecca and Moses.

Morgan, James, was probably a son
of John Morgan, who settled early in
Radnor, and was a large landholder.
In 1694 he was married to Elizabeth
Prythereth, the daughter of Evan Pry-
thereth, also of Radnor. They were
Friends, and doubtless both had emi-
grated from Wales while children.

Morgan, Anthony, emigrated from
Cardiff, in Glamorganshire, Wales, in
1689, accompanied by his wife Eliza-
beth and only child, Mary. They at
first, it is believed, settled for a time
on a small tract of land on the west
side of Cobb's Creek, some distance
above the Blue Bell, but in the year
1700 removed to a larger tract in what
is now Upper Darby. In 1707 his
daughter was married to Abraham, the
son of Ralph Lewis of the same town-
ship. Through life he remained in full
unity with the Society of Friends, but
was never active in the business trans-
actions of their meetings. He died at
an advanced age in 1732, and his wife
a little before him the same year.

Morgan, Owen, with his wife Jannie,
came from the parish of Machanlleth,
in Montgomeryshire, Wales, in 1684,
and settled in Haverford. He was a
man of limited means, and appears to
have owned no land in Haverford. He
was a Friend in good standing. After
the death of his wife, he, in 1694,
married Blanche, the widow of William
Sharpus, and removed to Newtown,
where he died in 1704. Blanche sur-
vived him till 1717, at which time she
appeared to be in easy circumstances.

Morris, David, was a very early
immigrant, and probably came from
Wales. He resided for a time in
Philadelphia, and was married to Mary
Phillipin 3d mo. 4th, 1685, according
to the usages of the Society of Friends.
of which they were both members.
This couple, about five years after their
marriage, removed to Marple town-
ship, and made a permanent settle-
ment. Besides attending strictly to his
religious duties, David exercised con-
siderable influence in civil affairs. He
was one of the projectors and owners
of " Haverford new mill," and for some

time had an interest in running it.
His children were David, Isaac, Jona-
than, Elizabeth and Mordecai. David
the elder died in 1720.

Morris, Dr. Jonathan, son of Jona-
than and Catharine Morris, and grand-
son of the immigrant David Morris,
was born in Marple township, Delaware
County, on the 17 th of the 3d month,
(May,) 1729. His mother was a
daughter of Richard Moore of Radnor.
Both parents were consistent members
of the Society of Friends, as all his
ancestors had been for two or three
generations. It may therefore be rea-
sonably concluded, that in his early
training he was carefully guarded
against any contamination from vice
or immorality. It is not known that his
preliminary school education, before
enteriug upon the study of medicine,
extended beyond what he acquired at
the schools in the neighborhood, but
his knowledge outside of his profession
was greatly enlarged, by embracing
opportunities that presented, while a
student, and subsequently.

About the year 1745, the subject of
our notice was placed in the office of
Dr. Thomas Bard of Philadelphia as a
medical student. Before the com-
pletion of his studies, Dr. Bard removed
to New York, to which place he was
accompanied by his student. There
his opportunity for study was improved,
particularly in acquiring a knowledge
of surgery, as his preceptor had been
placed in charge of the garrison hos-
pital.

After having completed his studies,
about the year 1751, Dr. Morris re-
turned to his native County, and com-
menced the practice of his profession
at Newtown Square. Here he became
acquainted with Benjamin West, the
painter, then quite a youth, and dis-
cerning the genius of the young artist,
purchased materials for him and aided
him in preparing his colors. West,
subsequently, but before leaving the
country, painted a likeness of Dr.
Morris, which, unfortunately, cannot
now be found. General Wayne and
Dr. Morris were " the first public
patrons of the great artist."

About the year 1756 Dr. Morris re-
moved from Newtown Square to East
Marlborough, and on the 15th of the
12th month of the following year, he

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

487

was married to Alice, the daughter of
Cadwalader Evans of Edgmont. Their
marriage was accomplished at the
meeting-house at Middletown, accord-
ing " to the good order' of the Society
of Friends, of which society they both
remained exemplary members during
their lives. This marriage resulted in
the mutual happiness of the parties
during a period of more than sixty
years.
' ( After his marriage, Dr. Morris re-
moved to Marple township, and settled
on the premises now owned and oc-
cupied by Walter W. Green, where he
resided till near the close of his life.
It was here that his superior qualifi-
cations as a physician, and particularly
as a surgeon, became generally known,
and secured for him as large a practice
as the sparsely populated country could
afford.

From the early period at which Dr.
Morris obtained his medical education,
it might be supposed that his know-
ledge was deficient, and that his prac-
tice would, in a great measure, be
empirical. This would be a serious
mistake, for although he commenced
his course of studies at the very dawn
of correct medical science, several of
the great lights of the profession had
lived before him, or were then in the
full tide of their successful careers,
and his position in Philadelphia and
New York, and his residence in the
vicinity of the latter city, enabled him
to avail himself of every new discovery.
The true circulation of the blood, dis-
covered by Harvey, was then well un-
derstood, while it may be presumed
that many of the discoveries of the two
Hunters in Anatomy were promulgated
during his student life, or shortly after-
wards.

He was a man of quick perception
and close observation, and of course
availed himself of the knowledge gained
by experience, but his leaning was
strong against empircism in any shape.
In fact he was the father of the regular
practice of medicine, within the limits
of this County.

Dr. Morris was a man of the greatest
humanity. The suffering poor were
cared for equally with the rich. When
the sound of cannon at the battle of
Brandy wine reached the neighborhood,
he at once repaired towards the scene
of conflict, and in the vicinity of Con-

cord meeting-house assisted the medical
staff in the care of the wounded.

Dr. Morris, in person, was under the
ordinary stature, and apparently of a
delicate frame, yet he enjoyed almost
uninterrupted health to extreme old
age. He possessed an unusual amount
of both physical and mental activity,
and but few men have evinced more
decision of character. Though a re-
ligious man, he had neither leisure nor
taste for theological discussions, but he
practiced in humility the Christian
virtues — Love to God and good-will to
men.

Towards the close of his life he re-
moved to Darby, where his wife died
in 1818, aged eighty-three years. After
her death he removed to the residence
of his son in London Grove, where he
died on the 7th of April, aged one
month less than ninety years.

Morton, John, whose name has been
immortalized by his vote for the De-
claration of Independence, was born in
Ridley, Delaware County, in the year
1725, on the farm now owned by
Charles Home. His father, whose
name was John, was a son of Morton
Mortonson, but probably not the first of
that name, and died before the birth of
his only child, the subject of this no-
tice. His mother was Mary, the
daughter of William and Gertrude
Archer, also of Ridley. In the will of
John Morton, provision is made for his
unborn child. John Sketchley, an
Englishman, married the widow of the
elder John Morton, but had no children
by her to survive him. She was still
living at the time of the decease of her
second husband in 1753.

In 1756 John Morton was elected a
member of the Provincial Assembly,
and was re-elected ten years consecu-
tively to that office, till 1767, when he
was elected Sheriff of Chester County
for three years. In 1765 he was one of
the representatives from Pennsylvania
in the first American Congress held at
New York. He was again sent to the
Assembly from Chester County in
1772, and continued in that office till
1775, when he presided over that body
as speaker. He also held the office of
Justice of the Peace, and was one of
the Justices of the Court many years.
He was again a representative from
Pennsylvania in Congress in 1774, and

488

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

was continued a member till the me-
morable meeting of that body in 1776.
The part he took in securing the inde-
pendence of the United States is fully
given in the body of this work. This
was the last session he attended, for he
died in April, 1777, aged fifty-three
years. His body was interred in the
grounds of St. Paul's Church, Chester,
and over it a neat monument has been
erected, upon which some of the facts
stated above are inscribed, and also the
following prophetic message, which
was sent from his death bed to such of
his friends as censured him for his
boldness in giving the casting vote in
favor of Independence: "Tell them
that they will live to see the hour when
they shall acknowledge it to have been
the most glorious service that I have
ever rendered to my country."

Mohtonson, Morton, was a native of
Sweden, but was not among the ear-
liest Swedish emigrants to the Dela-
ware River. His residence was in
Amosland, a little west of Muckinipat-
tus creek, where he resided as early as
1672. Morton Mortonson, Jr., it is
supposed, was his eldest son and im-
migrated with him. He had two other
sons, Andrew and John. Morton, jr.,
died in 1718. The elder Morton was
living in 1693.

Naylor, Robert, with his wife, Eliza-
beth, migrated from Manyash, County
of Derby, England, and settled in what
is now Upper Darby township, in 1683.
His dwelling was near Naylor' s Run, and
doubtless that stream derived its name
from him. He had been married but
a short time before leaving his native
country. Their children, so far as is
known, were only two — John and
Elizabeth. Both Robert and Elizabeth
were alive in 1707. They were both
Quakers at the time of their arrival
here.

Need, Joseph, from Arnold, in the
County of Nottingham, England, came
to America in 1686, and settled in Dar-
by, now Upper Darby township, west of
Darby Creek. He was a member of
the Society of Friends, but was not
very active in meeting affairs. In
1693 he was married to Rebecca Hinde,
by whom he had several children. His
daughter, Rebecca, married John David

(changed to Davis), in 1714, and his
daughter, Ann, Nicholas Fred, of Bir-
mingham, in 1720. Joseph Need died
in 1741.

Nielson, Anthony, an early Swedish
settler, who owned and occupied a
tract of land, extending from Cruni to
Ridley Creek, about a mile from the
river. His wife appears to have been
the daughter of Margaret Matson, the
only person ever tried for witchcraft in
Pennsylvania.

Newlin, Nicholas, a gentleman in
easy circumstances, with his wife and
family, emigrated from Moimtmclick, in
the County of Tyrone, Ireland, in 1683.
He had embraced the profession of
Quakerism some time before, and, it is
rather strongly intimated in his certi-
ficate, that his reason for removal was
" his fearfulness of suffering there for
the testimony of Jesus." Be that as it
may, his conduct here showed him to
be a man firm in the performance of
what he believed to be his duty under
all circumstances. He settled in Con-
cord and built a mill there in very early
times. For a time he served the county
as one of the Justices of the Court.
Meetings were held at his house as
early as 1687. His two sons, Nathaniel
and John, both unmarried, accompa-
nied their father to this country.

Newlin, Nathaniel, son of Nicholas
Newlin, emigrated from Ireland with
his father, and was of age at the time
of his arrival here. In 1685 he mar-
ried Mary Mendenhall, also an immi-
grant, and a sister of Benjamin and
John Mendenhall. He was a man of
good abilities, and exercised consider-
able influence, both in the meetings of
the Friends and in the community at
large. During seven years, at different
times, he was a representative from
Chester County in the Provincial As-
sembly, and was frequently employed
in other important trusts. He contin-
ued to reside in Concord as long as he
lived, and held a large amount of real
estate there as well as elsewhere. A
brick dwelling-house erected by him in
1699, upon the site of the present
dwelling of John Sharpless, was stand-
ing till within a few years past. His
children were Jemima, Elizabeth, Ni-

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

489

cholas, Nathaniel, John, Kezie and
Mary. He died in 1731.

Nield, John, migrated from Cheshire!
England, and settled in Aston town-
ship as early as 1686. It is not certainly
known that he was married at the time
of his arrival, but if so, his wife must
have died prior to 1695, for he was in
that year married to Mary the widow
of John Dutton. This lady being in
membership with Friends, and John
not being " in possession of the truth,"
she was brought into some trouble by
the marriage, but it does not appear
that she was " disowned." John was
living in Aston in 1722. See Abraham
Darlington.

Noble, Richard, emigrated to
America in 1675, with John Fenwick
the founder of Salem, in the ship Grif-
fith from London. In 1677, he was a
taxable in Upland district, and on the
15th of December, 1679, he was ap-
pointed Surveyor of Upland County,
by Sir Edmund Andros. At the first
Court held under the Provincial Govern-
ment, his name occurs as a juror.
Though a Quaker, he did not take an
active part in meeting affairs, nor did
his residence long continue within our
limits.

Norberrt, Thomas, one of the very
earliest settlers of Newtown, was mar-
ried to Frances Hugh, widow, early in
1685. She was doubtless the widow of
Stephen Hugh of Springfield, who died
in February, 1684. He was a Friend,
but was not so fortunate in business as
was usual with members of that Society.
Their children were Jacob, Deborah,
Thomas, John, Philip, Mary, Hannah
and Sarah.

Nossiter, Thomas, took up land and
settled in Ridley in 1678. Though not
a Quaker, he probably came to the
Delaware in one of the early emigrant
ships to West Jersey. He was a
juror at the second Court under the
Proprietary Government.

Obern, Henry. As early as 1684,
Administrators were appointed by the
Chester Court, to administer the es-
tate of William Obern, who had then
recently died intestate. It is believed

that the subject of this notice was a
son of William, and emigrated from
England with his father, being at that
time quite young. Henry resided in
Concord, was a member of Concord
Monthly Meeting of Friends, and in
1698, was married to Hannah Cook a
member of the same Meeting. He
appears to have been a man of energy
and influence, and in 1717 was a rep-
resentative from Chester County in the
Provincial Assembly. Their children
were Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, William,
Hannah, Susanna and Ann. He was
living in 1735.

Ogden, David, came to this country
in company with the Proprietary on
board of the ship " Welcome" in 1682.
He was in membership with Friends,
and brought with him to Philadelphia,
where he first settled, a certificate from
London, dated the 26th of the 11th mo.
1681-2, and signed by several Friends
of that city. In 1685, he obtained a
certificate from the Meeting at Phila-
delphia, in relation to his clearness
from marriage engagements, when it is
probable he removed within the limits
of Delaware County. Early in 1686,
he married Martha, the daughter of
John Houlston, at which time he re-
sided in Chester township, but it is
supposed he went to reside on a tract
of land in Middletown township shortly
afterwards, where he continued to re-
side till the time of his decease in 1705.
His children were Jonathan, Martha,
Sarah, Nehemiah, Samuel, John,
Aaron, Hannah and Stephen ; the last
born after the death of his father.

Orian, William, resided in or near
Marcus Hook as early as 1676, and
held the office of Constable. In 1680,
he had removed to Calken Hook, and
that year served as a juror under the old
Upland Court. His name is Swedish,
and as it suddenly disappears from all
records, may have suffered a corruption
that renders its indentity with any
existing Swedish name doubtful.

Ormes, Richard, there are strong
reasons for believing, came from Frods-
ham, in Cheshire, England, to Penn-
sylvania, and at first settled in the
embryo City of Philadelphia,, where he
followed the business of shoemaking.
In 1686, he married Mary Tydder, an

490

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

orphan girl who had emigrated from
Dolgelly, in Merionethshire, Wales,
and resided with her friends in Radnor.
Some time after their marriage, the
family removed to Radnor, where
Richard became an influential member
of the Society of Friends. He was s
recommended minister, and in 1701,
made a religious visit to Maryland.
Their children, so far as is known,
were Catharine, Mary and Elizabeth.
He again removed to Philadelphia, but
in 1728, when advanced in years, he
returned again to Radnor, where he pro-
bably ended his days He appears to
have undergone some suffering on ac-
count of religion in his native country.

Oxley, Willlam, arrived at Burling-
ton, N. J., in 1677, in company with
about seventy Jersey settlers, on board
of the ship Willing Mind, from London ;
was settled in Chester the next year ;
was a juror at the first Court under
Penn's Government, and served as
Supervisor of the Highways, " between
Upland Creek and Amersland," before
the first arrival of the Proprietary.

Smith, in his History of Pennsylvania,
says that a noted Quaker preacher of
Barbadoes, named John Oxley, who
died in Philadelphia in 1743, aged
forty, was born at Chester, and was
the first " raised from among the pos-
terity of the settlers of the provinces,
to bear a public testimony." He was
undoubtedly the son of William Oxley.
William died in membership with
Friends in 1717, and his wife Ann in
1723, both at Philadelphia.

Painter, George, was one of the
earliest settlers in Haverford township,
was a Friend, and took an active part
in meeting affairs. As early as the 9th
of the 8th mo. (October) 1684, he was
appointed by the meeting in conjunction
with William Howell, " to view and set
out a burial place at Haverford." The
place selected is the old part of the
present graveyard attached to Haver-
ford Meeting. He died in 1687, leaving
his wife Eleanor and two young chil-
dren, Daniel and Deborah to survive
him, the former being the first child
of European parentage, born in Haver-
ford. Eleanor and her son Daniel both
died in 1689.

Papegoya, John, brought a recom-

mendation from the Queen of Sweden
and her council, to Governor Printz, in
1643, and soon afterwards married his
energetic daughter, Armgard, at Tini-
cum. Upon the return of the Governor
in 1648, to his native country, Pape-
goya remained in charge of the Colony,
as Deputy Governor for about two
years. He subsequently returned to
Sweden, and is lost sight of, while his
wife continued here many years after-
wards.

Parke, Nathaniel, was one of the
early English Quaker settlers of Chi-
chester. In 1688, he married Elizabeth
Cook of Darby.

Parker, Richard, with his wife Jane
and two children, Jane and Richard,
settled in Darby township west of
Darby Creek, in 1684. They were
from Upper Bolton in the County of
Nottingham, England, but brought
their certificate from the Friends' Meet-
ing of Willowby, in the adjoining
County of Lincoln, of which they had
been members. His daughter Jane,
was the wife of William Smith, who
also settled in Darby, and his son
Richard, was married to Susanna Tuni-
cliffe of Chester Meeting, in 1696. The
elder Richard, died in 1728, and his
wife Jane, in 1695. A nephew, John
Parker, probably accompanied Richard
to this country, and also resided at
Darby. He was a carpenter by trade,
and accumulated a considerable estate.
He died in 1716, probably unmarried.

Pearce, George, " of the parish of
Winscom, in the County of Somerset,
(England,) and Ann Gainer of Thorn-
bury, in the County of Gloucester, were
married the 1st day of 12 mo. commonly
called February, 1679." George with
his wife and three young children,
emigrated from Bristol, the seaport
nearest his residence in 1684, and the
same year had a tract of 490 acres of
land surveyed to him in what is now
Thornbury township. Thornbury being
the name of a district of country from
which he obtained his wife, and a
desire on his part to keep up the old
associations most dear to him, proba-
bly suggested the name of the town-
ship. He arrived at Philadelphia prior
to the 4th of the 9th mo. 1684, upon
which day he presented two certifi-

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

491

cates to a Meeting of Friends held " att
the Governor's house." One of these
certificates was from " the monthly
Meeting at Ffrenshay, in the County
of Gloucest .r." The other was from
•'Thornbury Meeting." He may have
settled on his new purchase in 1685,
but his name first appears as an active
member of Chichester Friends' Meeting
in 1686 ; shortly after which, meetings
were sometimes held at his house.
Besides being strict in his attention to
his religious duties, he gave a share of
his time to civil affairs, and of his
means to the improvement of the coun-
try. He represented Chester County
in the Provincial Assembly in 1706,
and was one of a company who erected
"the Concord mill," the first mill
erected in his neighborhood. His chil-
dren were Betty, George, Joshua, Ann,
Margaret, Mary, Caleb, Gainer, Hannah
and John. Betty intermarried with
Vincent Caldwell ; Ann with John Gib-
bons ; Mary with Joseph, and Hannah
with Edward Brintou, both grandsons
of the elder, William Bririton ; Joshua
with Ann Mercer ; Caleb with Hannah
Cloud, and Gainer with Sarah Walter.
George Pearce was living in 1712.

Pearson, Thomas, frequently called
Thomas Person, with his wife Margery,
came from England with William Penn
when on his first visit to Pennsylvania.
If any reliance can be placed on tra-
dition, it was upon his suggestion that
the name of Upland was changed to
Chester. He settled in Marple town-
ship on the tract marked " Thomas
Perce" on Holme's map. His children
were Robert, Thomas, Lawrence, Enoch,
John, Alice, Sarah and Benjamin, all
born in this country. His daughter
Sarah, intermarried with John West,
and was the mother of the great painter
Benjamin West. His son Robert Pea? son,
intermarried with Catharine the daugh-
ter of James Thomas of Merion. Thomas
Pearson the elder was alive in 1706.
Besides Pearson, some of his descen-
dants took the name of Parsons, Person
and Pierson.

Pearson, Benjamin, with his wife Su-
sanna and family, emigrated from the
town of Rotherham in the West Riding
of Yorkshire, England, about the year
1712, and settled in Darby. His wife's
maiden name was Burbeck. They were

in membership with Friends at the
time of their arrival. Benjamin was a
very sedate man, strongly English in
his notions, and never became fully
reconciled to this country. He never
would admit that its products were
equal to those of England — turnips only
excepted. He died in 1763 aged 81
years, the death of his wife having oc-
curred eighteen years earlier. They
had been better educated than was
usual for immigrants in that day, but
Benjamin feeling so little interested in
the country never made an}- exertions
to acquire property in it. Their chil-
dren were Benjamin, Thomas and Isaac
born in England, and John, Joseph,
Samuel and Joshua, born in this coun-
try. Thomas, the second son, married
Hannah the daughter of Samuel, and
grand daughter of the immigrant John
Blunston, and settled in Darby. From
their oldest son John Pearson, who
married Anne Bevan all the Darby
Pearson families have descended.

Person, or Pearson, John, was an
early settler in Newtown township, and
was a brother to Thomas Person or
Pearson of Marple, and he also had a
brother Edward, probably Edward
Pierson of Darby. As Thomas and
Edward, both came from Cheshire, Eng-
land, it may be inferred that he also
migrated from the same place. He be-
queathed £10 towards building a meet-
ing-house at Newtown, and £6 towards
"paling in" a grave yard at Springfield.
He died in 1709, without children, and
probably unmarried.

Pedrick, Roger, was a purchaser of
land in England from John Fenwick,
and probably arrived at Salem, N. J.
with that adventurer in 1675, and
located his land on Old Man's Creek.
In November 1677, we find him a resi-
dent and taxable of Marcus Hook, and
the records of Chester Monthly Meeting
show, that his daughter Rebecca by his
wife of the same name was born at
Marcus -Hook, on the 14th of the 7th
month (September) 1678, the earliest
well authenticated birth within the
limits of Pennsylvania, where both
parents were natives of England, that
has come under the notice of the author.
Their son Thomas was born the 14th
of the 2nd month 1681. The subject
of this notice was empanneled on the

492

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

first jury under the Proprietary Gov-
ernment. He was a Friend and refused
to take an oath before Upland Court
in 1678, but he was not an active
member of that Society. He came
from the vicinity of London where he
had suffered persecution for attending
the meetings of the Quakers.

Pennick, John, was an early settler
in Bethel. His wife was Frances, the
sister of Edward Beazer. He was a
man in very moderate circumstances,
but lived in unity with Friends. In
1695 he purchased land in Bethel, ad-
joining the south line of Concord. His
children were Joshua, Edward, Ruth,
Lydia, Mary, Rachel, Sarah and Han-
nah.

Pennick, Edward and Christopher,
two brothers, and brothers of the above
John Pennick. They resided in Bethel;
and both died in 1732, leaving no chil-
dren. The three brothers probably
came from Cork, in Ireland, but when
they immigrated is not known.

Pennell, Robert, with his wife,
Hannah, and family, settled in Middle-
town as early as 1686. In 1687 he was
appointed constable for that township.
His wife died in 1711, aged seventy-one
years, while he was still living. Their
children, so far as is known, were
Hannah, who married John Sharp-
less of Ridley; Joseph, who married
Alice, daughter of William Garrett of
Darby ; Ann, who married Benjamin
Mendenhall of Concord, and William,
who married Mary, daughter of Thomas
and Mary Mercer of Thornbury. They
were all Friends in good standing.

Pennell, John, was in the country
as early as 1689 ; was probably then
quite a young man, and resided in the
neighborhood of Darby. In 1703 he
married Mary Morgan, of Dublin
Monthly Meeting, and settled in Con-
cord township. But little is known of
John, but Mary became eminent as a
minister among Friends. She was
born in Radnorshire, Wales, and was
educated in the Church of England,
but at the early age of thirteen years
was convinced of the truth of the doc-
trines of Quakerism. When sixteen,
she emigrated to Pennsylvania and
united herself with Friends, and in

1722 became a minister, and subse-
quently travelled much in the exercise
of her calling. She visited the New
England colonies, and on one occasion
Great Britain and Ireland.

Pennock, Joseph, was the son of
Christopher Pennock, who, on the au-
thority of tradition, was an officer in
the military service of William of
Orange, emigrated to Cornwall, Eng-
land, and subsequently married Marj ,
the daughter of George Collett of Clon-
mel, in the County of Tipperary, Ireland.
After residing there and in England for
some time, he, prior to the year 1685,
removed to Pennsylvania, but being in
the service of King William, was in the
battle of Boyne in 1690. By trade he
was a cardmaker. He died in Phila-
delphia in 1701. His children were
Nathaniel, who died young, and Joseph,
the subject of this notice, who was
born at or near Clonmel in 1677.
Joseph, in one of his passages to this
country, under a Letter of Marque, was
captured by a French ship of war and
carried to France, where he was re-
tained as a prisoner upwards of a year,
and suffered many hardships. In 1702
he settled in Philadelphia, and engaged
in the mercantile business. In 1705
he was a resident of Springfield town-
ship, (perhaps only temporarily so,)
and was that year married to Mary,
the daughter of Samuel Levis of that
township. Joseph was not in member-
ship with Friends, but Mary being the
daughter of one standing high in that
Society, the marriage was effected at
the residence of the bride's father, after
the manner of Friends, before two Jus-
tices of the Court, and a suitable num-
ber of witnesses. In 1714, Joseph,
with his family, removed to West Marl-
borough, Chester County, and settled
on a large tract of land. Here, in 1738,
he erected a large mansion, which he
called " Primitive Hall," and in which
he died in 1771. His wife died in 1748.
Their children were Elizabeth, Samuel,
William, Mary, Joseph, Nathaniel, Ann,
Sarah, Joseph, (2) Hannah, Levis and
Susanna.

Joseph Pennock was a man of ability,
public spirit and indomitable energy.
He represented the County of Chester
twelve years in the Provincial Assem-
bly, being first elected to that office in
1716. At first, his Marlborough resi-

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

493

dence was in a wilderness, the con-
stant resort of Indians. His doors were,
however, never fastened against these
children of the forest, and food was
always left for those who might choose
to enter his kitchen at night; and it
was no uncommon thing to find seve-
ral Indians stretched on the floor be-
fore the kitchen fire in the morning.
Such kinduess produced its natural
result; the Indians guarded his pro-
perty in every practicable way, and
when any of his cattle or horses would
stray, they were sure to return them.

Philip, Philip, was one of the early
Welsh Quaker settlers of Radnor. He
died in 1697 leaving two daughters,
Mary and Jane. Mary intermarried
with David Morris of Marple, and Jane
with Thomas Parry of Philadelphia
County. In 1701, his widow, Phebe,
intermarried with Richard Moore.

Pierson, Edward, from Ponnallfee,
in Cheshire, England, settled in Darby
township in 1687. By trade he was a
mason, and probably followed that
business. He was a member of the
Society of Friends, but was not so strict
a member as was usual in his day.
There are reasons for believing that lie
was a brother of Thomas Peai^on, who
accompanied William Penn, and who
was instrumental in changing the name
of Upland to Chester, though his name
is spelled differently. He had a son
Lawrence, and probably one named
Thomas and another Abel. It is said
he removed to Bucks County.

Powell, Rowland, first presents him-
sents himself to our notice at Haver-
ford, where he is a candidate for matri-
mony with Maud Richard, before the
Friends' Meeting of that place, in 1695.
They were both recently from Wales,
and having neglected to bring the usual
certificate with them, they were obliged
to call upon their friends who had
known them in their native country, to
testify to their " clearness," after which
the marriage was allowed to proceed.
He was a preacher, and probably had
visited the country before. His wife
died in 1708, and he probably removed.
Their children were Elizabeth, Gobitha,
Gemima, Dorothy, Rowland and Mary.

Powell, Evan ap William, with his

wife Gwen, and his sons David and
Philip Evans, came to America about
1684, and settled in Radnor. He was
from Glamorganshire in South Wales,
and was in membership with Friends.

Powell, Thomas, emigrated from the
"Lordship of Rudheith in the County
Palatine of Chester," England, and ar-
rived at Chester, then Upland, on the
14th of the 6th mo. (August) 1682, in
company with John Sharpless, and a
short time before the arrival of the
Proprietor. George Keith, who held
meetings in his house in 1703, says that
he and his wife had been Quakers, but
had joined the Church, " with divers
others of his neighbors." He died in
1714 at an advanced age. He had
three sons, John, Joseph and Thomas.
By his will he gave four adjoining lots
in Chester, " lying in James street, over
against the church," for the use of the
church. The new church of St James
was probably erected on these lots.
His- son Thomas, who emigrated with
his father, and died a very short time
before him, bequeathed £5 " towards
building a house for the minister of
Chester * * * * to be payd when they
build a house for the minister on those
lotts given for that purpose."

Powell, David, was one of the
Deputy Surveyors under Thomas
Holme. Being a Welshman, he was
generally employed in makiDg surveys
within the limits of the Welsh Tract.
He was an early immigrant, as his com-
mission bears date 8th mo. 1683. It is
not certainly known, whether he was
married or not at the time of his
arrival, but in 1707 he was married to
Mary Ilaverd a widow of Merion, at
which time he resided in Philadelphia.
He owned several tracts of land in
Radnor, and it is supposed that he re-
moved to that township, as in 1722 a
taxable of that name resided there. In
1727, "our ancient Friend, David
Powell," obtained a certificate to re-
move to Gwynedd, but it is not entirely
certain that the certificate was for him,
as there were others of the same name.

Price, David, with his wife Joan and
six children, came from Brecknockshire
in Wales, in 1690, and settled in Rad-
nor. He was a Friend, and meetings
were held at his nouse.

494

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Printz, Jeuffro Armgard, the
daughter of Governor Printz, accom-
panied her father to America, resided
with him on Tinicum Island, and there
became the wife of John Papegoya in
1644. Though sometimes called by the
name of her husband, she was best
known by her maiden name. All that
is known in respect to this energetic
lady, has been very fully detailed in
the narrative, and will not be repeated
here. She resided at "Printz-dorp"
up to nearly the time it was occupied
by Robert Wade, when she probably
returned to her native country. It is
not known that she had any children,
and this fact renders her long continued
solitar}r residence on the Delaware the
more remarkable.

Pritchet, Edward, from Almel, in
the County of Hereford, England,
" Glover," settled in Ridley township,
prior to 1684. He was in membership
with Friends, but took no great interest
in the affairs of the Society. In 1705,
his son Philip intermarried with Sarah,
daughter of William Smith of Darby,
and the same year. William the son of
John Smith of Darby, intermarried with
his daughter Elizabeth. He was living
in 1699.

Prythereth, or Protherah Evan,
migrated from Narbeth in Pembroke-
shire, Wales, where he had suffered as
a Quaker by fine and imprisonment.
He was one of the early Welsh settlers
of Radnor township. He had daugh-
ters, but no sons. The name soon dis-
appears from our record.

Pugh, Ellis, with his wife Sina,
came from Brithdu near Dolgelly,
Merionethshire, Wales, and at first set-
tled in Radnor in 1686, but it is uncer-
tain whether he ever owned any land
in that township. He was an emi-
nent Quaker preacher in " the ancient
British tongue," [Welsh.] In the
language of his certificate he was, " an
honest, innocent, self denying man yl
aims more at eternity than temporary
and worldly perishing things." In
1706-7, he paid a religious visit to his
native country. How long he resided
in Radnor is not known, but it is cer-
tain he had fixed his residence within
the verge of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting
many years before his death. He was

born in 1656, his father having died
before he was born, and his mother
three days afterwards. He died in
1718, aged sixty-two years, leaving
several children.

His death was preceded by a pro-
tracted illness, during which time he
wrote a work in Welsh entitled. " A
Salutation to the Britains, to call them
from the many things, to the one thing
needful &c," which was published in
that language by Haverford and Gwy-
nedd Meetings, after his death. This
work was subsequently published in
English, translated by Rowland Ellis,
and revised by David Lloyd.

Pugh, William, with his wife Cath-
arine and daughter Ann, came from
Tyddyn y garreg, in Wales, and settled
within the verge of Haverford Monthly
Meeting of which he was a member.
He died in 1708, and as he only names
collaterals in his will, it is supposed
his wife and daughter had died before
him.

Pusey, John, a resident of London,
and by occupation a dyer, located a
large tract of land in Middletown, but
I am not certain that he came to this
country. He was a relative of Caleb
Pusey, and it is probable that his
family migrated to this country and
settled in Marlborough.

Pusey, Caleb, with his wife, Ann,
and daughter of the same name, emi-
grated iu 1682. By trade he was a
lastmaker. Perhaps no one among the
early immigrants to Pennsylvania was
better qualified to contend with the
difficulties incident to the first settle-
ment of a new country than Caleb
Pusey. His place of residence within
the limits of this County was at " the
Chester Mills." In the establishment of
these mills, and in the conducting of
them many years afterwards, he was the
active partner and master spirit. It re-
quired more than ordinary energy to
contend with the repeated misfortunes
attendant on the first erection of this
early improvement. Mill after mill was
swept away by the flood, but the in-
domitable energy of Pusey was not
overcome, and at length his efforts were
crowned with success. But his whole
time was not occupied with his pri-
vate concerns. Much was devoted to

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

495

civil affairs and to his religious duties.
We find him " taking his turn" as a
township officer and serving as a juror;
in laying out roads and negotiating
with the Indians; in performing the
duties of sheriff' and acting as a justice
of the county court ; as a member of
the Provincial Assembly, and at length
of the Executive Council. To religious
matters he was equally attentive. His
name constantly appears in the minutes
of the Society of Friends among those
who were most active in settling dif-
ficulties and in promoting deeds of
benevolence. He frequently appeared
in the ministry, and sometimes employ-
ed his pen in the defence of the doc-
trines of his sect. His reply to one
Daniel Leeds was liberally subscribed
for by the meetings. He was a firm
man and of the strictest integrity, and
though an intimate friend of the cele-
brated George Keith, when that gen-
tleman chose to attack, what was re-
garded by Caleb Pusey as true Quaker
doctrine, he did not hesitate to sustain
the testimony that was pronounced
agaiust him. It was from Caleb Pusey,
that Smith, the early historian of Penn-
sylvania, obtained much of the material
from which his work was composed.

His daughter, Ann, died within a
few months after her arrival, but her
loss was supplied by another daughter,
born in 1686, who was also named
Ann. They had one other daughter,
Lydia, but no sons. He removed to
Marlborough, Chester County, where
he was again married. He died in
1726, at the house of his son-in-law,
Johu Smith, in the 76th year of his

Pyle, Robert, of Horton, in the
parish of Bishops Canning, Wiltshire,
England, malster, was married to Ann,
the daughter of William Globy, of Hil-
perton, in the same county, yeoman, the
16th of the 9th mo., (November,) 1681.
The exact time of the migration of this
young couple to America is not known,
but we find them settled in Bethel as
early as 1684. They were both in
membership with Friends, but Robert
was by no means a nominal member
Earlj- gatherings of the Chichester
Meeting were sometimes held at his
house, and in 1706 he was one of a
committee to establish a meeting at
Nottingham. In civil affairs also he

was frequently called upon to take a
part. He was a representative in the
Provincial Assembly several years, and
also served a long time as one of the
Justices of the County Court. His
children were Sarah, Robert, William,
John, Mary, Jacob, Joseph and Daniel.
He was alive in 1717 when his brother
Nicholas died.

Pyle, Nicholas, immigrated and
settled in Concord as early as 1686.
He was a brother of Robert Pyle who
settled in Bethel. In 1688 he married
Abigail, the daughter of Joseph Bush-
ell, by whom he had six children, viz.,
Mary, Edith, Nicholas, Samuel, James
and Joseph. He appears to have been
a man of good business qualifications
and accumulated a considerable pro-
perty before his death, which occurred
in 1717, while his wife was still living.
He was one of the owners and pro-
jectors of '• the Concord Mills," and
was otherwise useful as a pioneer in
developing the resources of the coun-
try. He represented Chester County
in the Provincial Assembly six years,
and served in many other civil em-
ployments. In religion he was earn-
estly devoted to the doctrines and
principles of Quakerism. His brother
Robert came from Bishops Canning in
Wiltshire, which was probably the
place of his nativity.

Radley, John, settled in that part of
Birmingham or Thornbury not included
in Delaware County, was a worsted
comber by trade, and as he left chil-
dren in England, it may be supposed
he was advanced in years at the time
of his emigration. He died in 1703,
the mansion property passing to his
son William. Radley's Bun has its
name from this famiiy. He appears to
have lived in Westown in 1693, as he
was appointed constable for that town-
ship that year.

Rutherow, or Rytherich, Reese,
from the parish of Llanwenog, County
of Gardigan, Wales, was a large land
holder in Haverford, and resided in
that township temporarily as early as
1686.

Rawson, Olle, or Wolley, (Oele
Raessen,) an early Finish or Swedish
settler on Naaman's Creek, and one of

496

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

the six grantees of Marcus Hook from
Sir Edmund Andros. As early as 1668,
in conjunction with Neals Laerson, he
purchased land on the Jersey side of
the Delaware, then under the govern-
ment of Philip Carteret, which they
had previously purchased from the
Indians. In 1697 he sold the mills
then erected near the mouth of Naa-
man's Creek to Jasper Yeates. In 1681
he served the office of supervisor "from
Marcus Creek to Naaman's Creek." In
1685 George Foreman made a convey-
ance of property in Chichester to him
and his wife Ebritta.

Rees, Harry, an early Welsh settler
of Radnor township, died about the
year 1705, leaving a widow, Elizabeth,
and three children, viz., David, Gwenli-
ana and Margaret. David was married
and lived in Newtown at the time of
his father's death. He died in 1706.
David appears to have been a Quaker,
but it is not certain in respect to his
father.

Revel, Thomas, with his wife, familv
and servants, arrived at Burlington, a
passenger on board of the Shield from
Hull, in December, 1678. He was ap-
pointed Clerk of the Court of Upland
County at the first establishment of
Penns government, and was continued
as Clerk after Chester County was
organized, though it is not certain that
he resided within the limits of that
County.

Reynolds, Henry, with his wife
Prudence resided at Marcus Hook as'
early as the 25th of the 5th mo. (July)
1680, when a daughter named Margaret
was born to them at that place. He
was on the first jury held under the
government of the Proprietary, and his
business about this time appears to
have been that of keeping a .public
house. He was at first a Quaker, but
probably left the Society.

Rees, Thomas, (carpenter,) was set-
tled in Haverford in 1687. When he
emigrated from Wales is not known.
In 1692, he was united in marriage with
Frances Price at Haverford Meeting,
they both being Friends. Their chil-
dren were, Samuel, Sarah, Mary, David
and Isaac.

Rees, Thomas, also settled in Haver-
ford, and in 1692 was married to
Rebecca William of that township.
They were Friends, and doubtless both
were Welsh immigrants. They had
one son, named Thomas.

Richards, Joseph, with his wife Jane
and family, was settled in Chichester
as early as 1685. He was a Friend and
took some interest in the business
transactions of the Society. His chil-
dren were, Nathaniel, Ann who inter-
married with Humphrey Scarlet, and
Susanna who intermarried with James
Lownes of Springfield. They doubt-
less all migrated from England. Joseph
Richards died in 1710. His son Na-
thaniel died in 1700 leaving four chil-
dren, viz. William, Nathaniel, Elizabeth
and Mary.

Richard, John, with his wife Susan,
from Dolgelly, Merionethshire, Wales,
immigrated in 1683 or 1684 and set-
tled in Haverford. They were Friends.
Their children (born in this country)
were Susanna, Richard, Jane and John.
He died in 1696.

Richard, John, from the County of
Pembroke, South Wales, settled in
Radnor in 1696. Was a member of the
Society of Friends, but took no active
part in meeting affairs.

Roads, Adam, " the sone of John and
Elizabeth Roads of Wingreayes, County
of Darby" England, immigrated to
Pennsylvania in 1684, and settled in
Darby (now Upper Darby) township.
He was from Codnor in Derbyshire.
In 1 69 1 he was married at Darby Meeting
to Katharine, the daughter of John
Blunston. He was a good citizen, and
attended diligently to his religious
duties. His children were, John, Han-
nah, Sarah, Elizabeth, Joseph and
Adam. Katharine died in 1733, and
Adam in 1744-5.

Roads, John, Jr., came from Whit-
low in Derbyshire. He was the son of
John and Elizabeth Roads, and settled
at Darby, where he resided several
years. He probably removed to White
Marsh.

Roads, John, the elder, father of the
above named John and Adam Roads,

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

497

immigrated to Pennsylvania sometime
after the arrival of his two elder sons,
accompanied by his youngest son
Joseph, and probably by another son
Jacob. He at first settled in Philadelphia,
but removed to Darby previous to his
death in 1701. It is supposed his wife
Elizabeth died before he left England.
He devised to his son Joseph land in
Marple and to his son John land in
White Marsh.

Roads, Joseph, the next year after
the death of his father the above named
John Roads, was married to Abigail
the daughter of Richard Bonsall of
Darby (now Upper Darby) in accord-
ance with the usages of the Society of
Friends. Their children were, John,
Mary, Elizabeth and Abigail. Joseph
settled in Marple on the land devised
to him by his father which is still
owned and occupied by his descendants.

Robert, Roger, migrated from
Hendremaur, Penllyn, Merionethshire,
Wales, about the year 1699, and set-
tled in Merion, where his wife Elizabeth
died the next year. In 1715, he inter-
married with Mary Roberts a widow, of
Radnor, and went to reside in that
township. He had become a Quaker
from convincement sometime before
removing to America, and took an
active part in meetings of business. He
was an overseer of Radnor Meeting at
the time of his death in 1720. One of
his sons took the name of Robert Rogers.

Rochford, Dennis, was from Eras-
torfey, County of Wexford, Ireland,
and arrived on board the ship Welcome
in company with the proprietary, with
his wife Mary, who was a daughter of
John Herriot who died on the passage.
Dennis lost two daughters at sea, —
Grace and Mary. He settled in Con-
cord township, where he had located
a large tract of land. In 1683, he
represented Chester County in the Pro-
vincial Assembly, but his name soon
disappears from our records.

Roman, Philip, came to reside in
Chichester as early as 1684. He doubt-
less emigrated from England, and ap-
pears to have been a widower at the
time of his arrival. In 1685, he married
Sarah, the widow of William Bezer,
and after her death, he was married a

32

third time in 1690, to Amy the widow
of John Hardin. He appears to have
been a man of ability, and exercised a
good degree of influence, both in the
Society of Friends of which he was a
member, and also in the community.
He was one of the Justices of the Court,
and one year represented the County
of Chester in the Provincial Assembly.
He had two sons by his first wife,
Robert and Philip, and one daughter,
who was married to Isaac Taylor the
Surveyor, in 1694.

Ross, Alexander, a member of the
Society of Friends, migrated from
Ireland, and settled within the bounds
of Chester Monthly Meeting, early in
the 18th century. In 1706, he married
Catharine Chambers of Chichester, and
in 1713 removed to Haverford, and in
1715, back again within the bounds of
Chester Meeting, and from thence with-
in the bounds of New Garden Meeting,
where it appears he remained till
about the year 1733, when he in com-
pany with several other Pennsylvania
Quakers, obtained a grant for 100,000
acres of land from the governor and
council of Virginia, on a stream in that
State called Opecan. To this place
Alexander removed with his associates
in the purchase, formed a settlement,
and established a meeting, which is
possibly still kept up His children
were Mary, Lydia. Rebecca, John,
George and Albeinah.

Routh, Lawrence, with his wife
Ann, emigrated from "ye Haws" in
Yorkshire, England ; at first landed in
Maryland, and for a short time so-
journed in Talbot County. He arrived
within our limits about the year 1688,
and settled in Chester township, and
called his place Weston. He was a
Friend, but little else is known of him
as he died in 1691. His children were
Thomas and Lawrence, born in Eng-
land ; Rachel born in Maryland, and
Francis born in Pennsylvania. In 1693,
his widow intermarried with Humphrey
Johnson of Chichester.

Salkeld, John, an eminent Quaker
preacher, the son of Thomas Salkeld of
Cumberland, England, visited this
country as a travelling Friend in 1700,
and immigrated with his wife Agnes
in 1711, and settled near Chester.

498

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Though a sincere man, he was naturally
witty and eccentric. Many anecdotes
are related of him, of which the
following is the most singular : — Being
in attendance at a meeting some dis-
tance from home, in the midst of pro-
found silence, he suddenly rapped his
cane on the floor, and immediately re-
peated these words: — "Resist the
Devil this once, and he will not trouble
thee again." In about a year after-
wards, he visited the same neigborhood,
when he was met by a man who told
him, that he was the person for whom
his singular sermon was intended —
that for some time previously to the
time of its delivery, he had been in a
low desponding state of mind, and had
that morning put a rope into his pocket
with the purpose of putting an end to
his life, but on his way to the spot
selected, it came to his mind to go to
meeting first, which he did, and there
having met with such a well-timed and
emphatic rebuke, his plans of self
destruction were wholly frustrated. He
thanked Salkeld for having saved his life.
Salkeld died in 1739, aged sixty-seven
years, and his wife in 1*749, aged seventy-
three years. Very much of the time of
John Salkeld was taken up in making
religious visits. Besides numerous
journeys of this kind on this continent
and to Barbadoes, he twice visited his
native country; in 1717, and again in
1725. His children were Joseph,
Thomas, William, David, Sarah, John
and Mary.

Sandelandes, James, wa9 doubtless
the earliest European inhabitant of
Upland, who was not a Swede or a
Dutchman ; and this possibly may be
true in respect to the whole State. He
has been represented as a native of
Scotland.* His acquaintance with the
Delaware River, was made in the
character of a soldier, in the service of
the Government of the Duke of York,
as may safely be inferred from the fol-
lowing record of his discharge.

-Corp-" Thomas Rosse, 1 f80^ ""f^
I April 27th,

James Sanderlyn, j g™*^

* Sandiland was a Scotch name in the neigh-
borhood of Aberdeen iu 1677, when one Robert
Sandiland, with George Keith and others were
imprisoned for being present at a Quaker Meet-
ng. — Besse, ii. 533.

Sec. States office, Albany iV". Y., (list
of Discharged Soldiers for 1669.) Book
Court of Assize, ii. 389.

As early as 1668, while still a soldier,
he obtained a patent for land in Upland,
and it may reasonably be supposed
that he settled there immediately after
his discharge. Here he soon formed
a matrimonial alliance with Ann, the
daughter of Urin Keen a Swede, and
one of the six original grantees of Up-
land ; if indeed that alliance had not
already been formed while he was doing
military service on the Delaware. Of
mature age, intelligent and experienced
in the river trade, he could hardly fail
of success in business, and when Gov-
ernor Markham came over in 1681 to
initiate the Provincial Government, he
found James Sandelandes one of the
best qualified residents to aid him in
conducting its affairs. He accordingly
appointed him one of his council, and
also made him a Justice of the Upland
Court, as it was continued under his
administration. His death occurred in
1692, at the age of fifty-six years. His
daughter Catharine was then married
to Jasper Yates, and another daughter
to George Foreman of Marcus Hook.
His other children were Jonas, Lydia,
Christian, Mary and James, most of
whom were then minors. The beauti-
fully engraved frontispiece of the " Up-
land Court Records," represents a tablet
erected to the memory of this pioneer
in the settlement of our Common-
wealth ; and also to that of his wife,
who survived him. The original,
somewhat mutilated, is now preserved
in St. Paul's Church at Chester, and
" is interesting from the excellence of
its execution, and as a specimen of
early art."

Saunders, Paul, was one of the
earliest immigrants who settled on the
west side of the Schuylkill opposite
Philadelphia. His marriage, which is
the first registered in the Haverford
Monthly Meeting Records, was accom-
plished, 6th mo. 24lh, 1684, at the
house of Thomas Duckett, which stood
a little above the Permanent bridge,
and at which Friend's Meetings were
then regularly held. Edith Hand, to
whom he was married, was the servant
girl of John Moon ; and before the mar-
riage was allowed to proceed, a meet-
ing committee was appointed to inquire

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

499

if John Moon had been satisfied for
the services of the young lady. Paul
soon acquired a high standing in public
estimation, as well as in that of the
Society, and his bride, by her prudence
and intelligence, proved herself worthy
of his choice. In 1690, he was a repre-
sentative from Philadelphia in the
Provincial Assembly, and was frequent-
ly charged with other important public
appointments. Edith died in 1698,
and in 1*701, Paul removed to Chester
where he carried on the tanning busi-
ness for some years, but previous to
his death, which happened in 1716, he
removed to Philadelphia. So far as is
known, he had but two children, Paul
and Mary-

Scothorn, Robert, settled in Darby
in 1684. He came from Oxton in the
County of Northumberland, England.
In 1692, he married Mary, the daughter
of Henry Gibbons, and having that
year purchased land in what is now
Upper Darby, made his permanent set-
lement there. By trade he was a shoe-
maker, and in religious profession, a
strict Friend. He died in 1708, leaving
his wife and two sons, Samuel and
Nathan to survive him.

Sellers, Samuel, emigrated fromBc-1-
per, iu the " County of Darby," England,
in 1682, and arriving the same year, set-
tled in Darby, now Upper Darby, on a
small tract of land, which is still in the
possession of his descendants. In 1684,
he was married to Anna the daughter
of Henry Gibbons, who probably came
over in the same ship. By trade he
was a weaver, and carried on that
business in connection with farming.
As a man, he was upright and just
in his dealings ; as a Friend, he was
attentive to his religious duties, and
submissive to the discipline of the
Society, even yielding his judgment to
that of the meeting in private affairs,
being " willing to give way," in the
matter of the marriage of a daughter,
to which he had interposed objections.
He lived to an advanced age, and de-
parted this life about the year 1732,
his wife surviving him. In his latter
years the Society indulged him with
holding meetings at his house during
the inclement season of the year.

Sellers, John, the youngest son of

Samuel Sellers and Jane his wife, and
grandson of Samuel Sellers, the immi-
grant, was born in Darby township, (now
Upper Darby) in 1728 at the place where
the elder Samuel had first settled. John
received but little if any more school
education than was usual in the days
of his boyhood, but he was regularly
instructed in the art of weaving, which
had been the occupation of both his
grandfather and father ; the latter
having acquired a high reputation in
the business as the inventor of a com-
plex machine for twisting worsted, and
as a coverlet and camlet weaver. John.
in early life displayed a more enter-
prising disposition than his father. By
application to books and study, he
acquired a knowledge of surveying,
which he began to practice early, and
soon became eminent as a land surveyor.
His mechanical ingenuity, which he
appears to have inherited from his
father, was eaily manifested by his
construction of Wire Rolling-screens,
and sieves for cleaning wheat, flax seed
&c, he being the first, as is believed,
who made these articles in America.
With the wire weaving business he
combined the manufacture of Dutch
grain-fans, but at the same time drop-
ped that of common weaving. He
improved his paternal and purchased
estates by the erection of mills, and it
is said of him, that during his life he
had erected six mill-dams, and dug
three miles of mill-race. He strongly
felt the necessity of a bridge over
the Schuylkill, and to further its erec-
tion, constructed a model of one long
before the erection of the permanent
bridge.

He frequently served as a member of
the Provincial Assembly, and before
the revolutionary war, was appointed
by the Governer and Council to run a
straight line from the middle ferry on
the Schuylkill to Lancaster, preparatory
to laying out the Strasburg road, and
by the same authority one of the com-
missioners to lay out that road. He
was also one of a commission to
examine and ascertain the practica-
bility of uniting the waters of the
Schuylkill and Susquehanna by a nav-
igable canal. In the revolution, his
feelings were strong against the mother
country; and having sawed timber for
military purposes, and signed paper
money emitted for carrying on the war,

500

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

he was dealt with and disowned as a
member by the Society of Friends ; in
his own opinion unjustly. He was
elected a member of the first assembly
after the revolution, but being opposed
to the principle of vesting the legislative
power in one house, he declined serving
in that body. He was a member of the
Convention that formed the Constitution
of Pennsylvania in 1789, and in the
following year he was elected to repre-
sent the County of Delaware in the
State Senate under that Constitution.
He was subsequently appointed an
Associate Justice of the County Court,
but declined serving. In 1786 he was
chosen a member of the American
Philosophical Society and took an
interest in its proceedings. His death
occurred in 1804 at the age of 75
years.

Sharpless, John, emigrated from
Hadderton, County of Chester, England,
and landed at Upland (now Chester)
on the 14th of the 6th month (August)
1682, more than two months before the
arrival of William Penn. He was ac-
companied by his wife, Jane, whose
maiden name was Moore, to whom he
had been married 20 years, and their
children, Phebe, John, Thomas, James,
Caleb, Jane and Joseph, the eldest
being 19 and the youngest 4 years of
age. Thomas died on the passage.
John Sharpless was one of the original
purchasers of land in England. He
bought 1000 acres, which was located
in three tracts (See map of first settlers,)
and settled on the Ridley tract, be-
tween Crum and Ridley Creeks, his first
dwelling being the shelter afforded by
the branches of a large fallen tree. In
six weeks a cabin was erected against
the perpendicular face of a large rock,
which served at once for a side of the
dwelling and the back of the chimney.
The rock still bears the date 1682.
This cabin was the family residence for
about 20 years, when their youngest
son Joseph having learned the carpen-
ter trade, built a dwelling house which
is still standing. The two daughters,
Jane and Phebe, and their father, the
elder John, all died in 1685 within two
weeks of each other, and the son Caleb
the next year, his death being occa-
sioned by the bite of a venomous snake.
Jane, the mother died in 1722 aged 84
years. John Sharpless the elder was

about 61 years of age at the time of
his death. He had suffered persecution
in England by distraint of his goods for
attending the meetings of the Friends
and for absenting himself from the
national worship. (Besse i. 105, 108.)
It does not appear that during the short
period his life was spared after his
arrival in this country, that he took
any active part in public affairs or in
those of his meeting. From John
Sharpless have descended all who bear
that name in this part of the country,
and many others.

Sharpless, John, Jr. oldest son of
the above named John was born in
England in 1666 and immigrated with
his parents. In 1692 he married Han-
nah the daughter of Robert Pennell of
Middletown, and continued to reside
with his mother in the primitive dwell-
ing erected against the rock. Their
children were, Caleb, Jane, Hannah,
John, Phebe, Rebecca, Margaret, Ann
and Daniel, all of whom it is believed
continued in membership with Friends.
Hannah, the wife of John Sharpless
Jr., died in 1721, while he survived her
till 1747, when he died at the age of
81 years.

Sharpless, James, the third son of
the elder John Sharpless, was born in
Cheshire, England, 5th of the 1st mo.
1671, and was only 11 years of age at
the time of his arrival here. In 1698
he was married to Mary the daughter
of John Edge, who did not survive her
marriage but three months. In 1700
he married Mary the daughter of Ralph
Lewis of .Haverford and settled in
Providence. His children by this mar-
riage were, Lydia, Mary, James, Rachel,
Thomas, David and Esther. Mary the
second wife of James Sharpless was
born in Glamorganshire, Wales, on the
10th of the 5th mo. 1674.

Sharpless, Joseph, the youngest son
of the colonist John, was a child at the
time of the immigration of his father.
In 1704 he married Lydia the daughter
of Ralph Lewis and sister of the second
wife of his brother James. They at
first settled in Nether Providence, but
sometime afterwards removed to Mid-
dletown. Joseph died in 1757 and
Lydia in 1763. Their children were,
Susanna, Joseph, Benjamin, Samuel,

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

501

Lydia, Nathan, Jane, Abraham, Jacob
and William.

Sharpus, William, emigrated from
Trererigg in Glamorganshire, Wales,
and settled in Haverford in 1683. He
died in November of the next year, and
was the first person buried in the
grave-yard belonging to Haverford
Meeting. His widow, Blanche, was
married to Owen Morgan. His daugh-
ter, Mary, was married to William
Bevan of Newtown in 1705.

Shipley, Elizabeth, daughter of the
colonist Samuel Levis, was born in
Springfield Township in 1690. In the
prime of youth she exhibited a serious
turn of mind, and in her twenty-fourth
year appeared as a minister among
Friends. In 1725, in company with
Jane Fenn, she paid a religious visit
to New England, Long Island and Bar-
badoes. In 1728 she was married to
William Shipley, a widower, who a few
years before had emigrated from " Lox-
ley and Uttoxeter" in Staffordshire,
England, and settled in Springfield.
Here they resided till 1736, when they
removed to the present site of Wil-
mington, where Elizabeth was instru
mental in establishing a meeting. In
1743 she made a religious visit to
England, Scotland and Ireland, and
later in life made similar visits to dis-
tant parts in her own country. Some
time before her death, which happened
in 1777, she removed to West Marl-
borough. She was aged eighty- seven at
the time of her decease, and had been a
preacher sixty-three years. She is said
to Lave been " lively and edifying in
her ministry," and in prayer '-awful
and weighty " William Shipley had
four children by his first wife, all of
whom immigrated with him.

Simcock, John. No early settler in
Pennsylvania possessed the confidence
of the Proprietary to a greater extent
than John Simcock. Arriving in the
Province about the same time with
Penn, he was immediately taken into
his Council, a position he occupied till
1690. Besides being a member of the
Free Society of Traders, he was on his
own account one of the largest pur-
chasers of Pennsylvania lands in Eng-
land. His place of residence was Ridley
in Cheshire. Upon his arrival he located

2,875 acres of his purchase east of
Ridley Creek, and immediately back of
a tier of Swedish plantations that occu-
pied the whole river front, in what
subsequently became the township of
Ridley— named no doubt from the place
whence he emigrated.

Besides being one of the Council, he
was a member of Assembly and some-
times speaker of that body; was a jus-
tice of the Court and frequently pre-
sided ; was a Commissioner to settle a
difficulty with Lord Baltimore, and
deputy president of the Free Society of
Traders. In England he had been a
severe sufferer on account of his devo-
tion to the principles and practices of
the Quakers. At one time he was im-
prisoned fifteen months, and at different
times his persecutors distrained from
him property to the amount of several
hundred pounds. The various secular
employments in which he was engaged
after his arrival in this country had no
effect in lessening his zeal in " the
cause of truth." He was here " a
nursing father in Israel, tender over the
seed of God, and wherever he saw it in
the least appearance, he was a cher-
isher of it without respect to persons ;
but he abhorred deceit and hypocrisy."
As a preacher in the Society, few in
his time had a better standing. In very
early times meetings were held at his
house, and though his time was much
occupied with business, his religious
duties were not neglected. He found
opportunities to pay religious visits to
the neighboring provinces of Maryland
and Virginia, and even to New England.
He was active in visiting George Keith
with a view of restoring him to the
true faith, but after all efforts had fail-
ed, he joined in the testimony against
him. He died on 7th of the 1st month,
(March,) 1703, aged 73 years, having
on the day before his death expressed
to those around him his firm confidence
in the faith that he had kept, and in
its sufficiency to secure a life eternal.

Simcock, John, Jr., son of the above,
arrived in Pennsylvania with his father.
He at one time held the office of Deputy
Recorder for Chester County by ap-
pointment of Thomas Story, but in the
latter part of his time became intem-
perate and did not prosper.

Simcock, Jacob, son of John the

502

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

elder, immigrated to this country with
him and settled in Ridley. Early in
the year 1685, he was married to Alice,
daughter of George Maris of the
"Home House" in Springfield town-
ship. He, also, like his father was a
public Friend; travelled as a minister,
and held public trusts. He was ap-
pointed Deputy Register General under
James Claypole in 1686, and probably
for a short time resided in Philadelphia.
He died about the year 1716. His wife
survived him ten years. Their chil-
dren were John, Jacob, Benjamin,
Hannah and Mary.

Simcock, George, one of the original
purchasers of land in England, lived in
Darby (now Upper Darby) township
in 1691, but when he immigrated, is
not known. He was from Ridley in
Cheshire, and may have been a brother
of the elder John Simcock, but it is
not certain that he was, or that he was
a member of the Society of Friends.

Smedley, George, migrated from
Derbyshire, England, in 1682 or 1683 in
company with several of the Friends
who settled at Darby, and for some
years after his arrival, he resided in
Philadelphia. In 1687, he was married
to Sarah Goodwin whose maiden name
was Kitchen, the widow of his intimate
friend, John Goodwin. The marriage
was accomplished " at the meeting-
house upon the front of the Delaware."
His wife had one child by her first
marriage, bnt it died in its minority.
Shortly after his marriage, George
Smedley removed to a tract of land he
had purchased from the Proprietary,
and which was surveyed to him in
1684, in the township of Middletown.
Here he erected his dwelling-house on
the west bank of Ridley Creek about
one mile northwest of the present
town of Media. The mansion farm is
still in possession of his descend-
ants. His wife Sarah died in 1709.
About the year 1721, after having
settled his son George on the man-
sion farm, he removed to Willis-
town, where he resided with his son
Thomas till his death in 1723. He had
five children: Thomas, who married
Sarah the daughter of Joseph Baker of
Edgmont, in 1710 ; Mary, who first in-
termarried with John Edge, Jr., and
afterwards with John Yarnall of Willis-

town ; George, (a minister among
Friends,) who married Jane Sharpless
in 1717, and after her death, Mary the
daughter of William Hammons ; Sarah,
who intermarried with John William-
son of Newtown, and Alice whose first
husband was John Allen of Newtown,
and the second, Edward Woodward of
Middletown.

George Smedley did not incline to
be active in public affairs, but was fre-
quently appointed to various services
by the meeting in which he uniformly
maintained a good standing. With the
exception of a German named Frede-
rick William Smedley who settled in
Brownsville about the time of the Revo-
lutionary war, and a few English
families who have recently settled in
Philadelphia, it is believed that all of
the name of Smedley in Pennsylvania,
have a common ancestor in the subject
of this notice.

Smith, John, emigrated from Harby,
County of Leicester, England, and set-
tled in Darby in 1684. He was born
in that County in 1645, and at the early
age of fourteen, became convinced of
the truth of the doctrine of the Society
of Friends, and sometime afterwards
appeared in the ministry. He lived in
high esteem among his neighbors, and
died in great peace of mind in 1714,
aged sixty-nine years. He left a son
William, and three daughters, Mary,
the wife of William Garrett : Sarah,
the wife of Samuel Sellers, Jr., and
Martha, the wife of Richard Parker.

Smith, Eleanor, wife of the above
named John, came to this country
with her husband. She was born at
Harborough, in Leicestershire, her
maiden name being Dolby. She was
convinced of religious truth as held by
Friends, at thirteen years of age, but
did not appear in the ministry till
towards the close of her life. An
affectionate epistle, addressed by her
to the Darby Monthly Meeting of women
Friends, during her last illness, and
the tender admonitions that she de-
livered to her family during the same
period, are a like evidence of intel-
lectual training and of the sincerity of
her faith. She died in 1708, aged fifty-
five years.

Smith, John, a clergyman of the

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

50'i

Presbyterian church, who resided in
this county about forty years ago, and
who, though a man of not more than
ordinary ability, effected much good by
his zeal and industry He was an
Irishman by birth, and it is said his
early religious education was under
the auspices of the Episcopal Church.
He was a great advocate for temperance,
and was instrumental in establishing a
Bible Society in Delaware County. It
was through his instrumentality that
funds were collected for building the
first erected Presbyterian Church in
Ridley, and the old Blue Church in
Aston. Though his sermons were
often tiresome from their length he
made many converts to the church,
and improved the morals of the people
of the neighborhoods in which he offici-
ated. His death was occasioned by
his horse treading on him as he fell in
leading him to water. He lived but a
few days after the accident.

Smith, Thomas, migrated from Crox-
ton, in the County of Leicester, England,
in 1684, with his wife Sarah and two
daughters, Ann and Dorothy, and settled
in Darby. They were all in membership
with Friends. Ann intermarried with
Robert Smith. Thomas died in 1705.

Smith, Robert, from Sawley, in the
County of Derby, England, settled in
Darby, now Upper Darby township, in
1691, and was married to Ann the
daughter of Thomas Smith of Darby,
in 1692. They continued to be mem-
bers of Friends' Meeting, until they re-
moved from the County in 1708,
previous to which they had seven chil-
dren, viz : Thomas, Richard, Sarah,
Robert, Elizabeth, Mary and William.

Spry, Thomas, was a lawyer, and
there are no records to show that any
of that-profession practiced earlier on
the Delaware River. The following is
the manner of his admission to the bar
of New Castle County : " Uppon the
Petition of Thomas Spry that he might
bee admitted to pleade some people's
Causes, etc :— The Worpp11 Court have
granted him liberty so long as the
Petitioner Behaves himselfe well and
Carrys himselfe answerable thereunto."
The next year an order was made by
the Justices that, ''the Cryer of the

Court is to have for every Attorney that
shall bee admitted & sworue in Court,
twelve gilders or halfe a bever." By
his early admission to the bar, Thomas
escaped this imposition in favor of the-
Cryer, but it was soon afterwards de-
termined "that pleading Attorneys
bee no Longer allowed to practize in
ye governm' but for ye depending
causes." Thomas was therefore obliged
to change his business, at least in part,
for very soon after the prohibition
against lawyers, we find him engaged
in the practice of the healing art ; still
he managed to be concerned in a few
cases at the bar, being substituted for
the plaintiff by the assignment of his
claim. He was not unfrequently a
party or a witness in Court, and on one
occasion we find him acting as a Juror
in Upland Court. But the practice of
Medicine became the most lucrative
part of his business, though he occa-
sionally was obliged to make use of the
law in the collection of his claims for
''Physiq." Thus in New Castle Court
in 1679, we have "Thomas Spry
prfering in Court a peticon and ace*
against the Estate of Walter Wharton,
deceased for Physiq administered unto
him the said Walter Wharton, the sume
of 262 gilders : desiering an order agst
ye sd Estate for sd sume— The sd Spry
haveing made oath to ye Justness
thereof. The Court doe grant him an
order ags' y<= sd Estate for ye sd sume
accordingly." He was also successful
in the prosecution of a claim against
" the Church Deacons or Poormasters
for 300 Gilders for curing Evert Bran-
ches Legge &c." In this case, how-
ever, he only received 100 gilders in
money, but it was ordered by the Court
" that ye sd Deakons shall deliver unto
sd Doctor Spry, ye Corne belonging to
ye Poore at present upon half Increase
with hans Schner after ye tyme shall
bee expired." Thus this early Doctor
of Law and of Medicine, harmonized
the two professions, to the manifest
benefit of his own pocket.

Stacket, Moens, a native of Sweden,
was the owner, and occupied a tract of
land in Calken Hook, as early as 1677,
and was alive in 1693. He was one of
the first supervisors of the highways
under the Government of William Penn,
and served in other public capacities
under his government, though rather

504

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

given to litigation previous to its es-
tablishment.

Staijfield, Francis, with his wife
Grace and family, were among the
earliest settlers of Marple township,
(1683.) They were Friends, and proba-
bly advanced in years at the time of their
arrival from England. Francis died in
1692, and his wife one year earlier.
James Stanfield. the son of Francis, in-
termarried with Mary Hutchinson of
Burlington, N. J., in 1689. His daugh-
ters were Mary, who intermarried with
William Huntly of Birmingham ; Eliza-
beth, with Thomas Hoops ; Grace, with
Francis Chadds, and Hannah, with
Isaac Few. Francis Stanfield repre-
sented Chester County in the Provincial
Assembly in 1685. One or more meet-
ings of Friends was held at his house
before a meeting was established at
Bartholomew Coppock's.

Steedman, Joseph, with his wife
Margaret, had migrated from England,
and settled in Springfield township as
early as 1684. They were Friends in
good standing. Joseph died in 1698,
but it does not appear that he left any
children. The next year his widow
married John Blunston of Darby.

Stille, Oloff or Oele, one of the
earliest of the Swedish Colonists " came
from the lordship of Penningby and
Nyanes, in the dutchy of Lodermania,
about 30 miles south of Stockholm,"
which at his birth was in possession of
the noble family of Bielke. He may
have accompanied the first Swedish
expedition to the Delaware, though
there is no certain evidence of his
presence on the River, till after the
arrival of Governor Printz. He brought
with him a passport or certificate of
character bearing date December 2,
1634. This would seem to indicate
that he had intended to join an expedi-
tion projected earlier than that which
arrived under Minuit. Still it is quite
probable that he came with Governor
Printz. In 1646, we find him employed
by that functionary in carrying an
official protest to Andreas Hudde,
against the encroachments of the Dutch
West India Company upon the rights
of the Swedes. From this period for
many years, he was one of the princi-
pal men of the Colony ; and even while

the Dutch held the ascendancy on the
river, in 1658, he was appointed one of
four Commissioners to administer jus-
tice among the inhabitants embraced
in the Upper Settlements. His planta-
tion within the limits of this County,
was at the mouth of Ridley Creek, and
on Lindstrom's map is marked " Stilles
land." By the Indians it was called
Techorassi, who styled Oloff, " the man
with the black beard." In 1661, he
became dissatisfied with the Dutch rule
on the river, and, with a few Finns
visited Maryland, for the purpose of
taking up land and emigrating there ;
but not finding his friends, settled on
the Sassafras River in a satisfactory
condition, he abandoned the project.
He may have parted with Stille 's land at
this time. At all events, that property
passed into the hands of Laurentius
Carolus, the Swedish clergyman, and
we next find Oloff a resident of Moya-
mensing — a taxable and purchaser of
land there. In 1673, he served by ap-
pointment of Upland Court as an arbi-
trator in determining a dispute about
land in Kingsessing. To the award of
the arbitrators, he signs his name
" Oluff Stilla," When his death occur-
red is not known, but he was certainly
alive in 1678, when he resided inMoya-
mensing, and made application to the
Court to take up Marsh lands near that
place. He was the ancestor of the
present Stille family.

Stille, John, son of the above
named Oloff, was born near Tinicum in
1646, and died on the 24th of April,
1722. His remains were interred in the
burying ground of the Wicaco Church,
where his tombstone still remains. He
was one of the original trustees of that
church, and the pastor in recording his
death adds : " He lived a godly life
in this world." It is not known, that
Oloff Stille had any other child.

Swaffer, William, arrived in the
country, and settled in Nether Provi-
dence about the year 1684. He was
unmarried, and like his brother James
Swaffer, and nearly every other im-
migrant at this period, he was in mem-
bership with Friends. There is reason
to believe that he migrated with his
brother from Cheshire, England. In
1694, he was married to Mary Cald-
well. Their children were, Rebecca,

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

>0*

Jacob, Joseph, Mary and Hannah.
William died in 1720.

Staffer James, emigrated from
Newton, Cheshire, England, as early
as 1684, and settled in Upper Provi-
dence. He was unmarried at the time
of his arrival, but in 1685 he married
Elizabeth, the daughter of John Houl-
ston, a neighboring colonist; the mar-
riage being accomplished according to
the usages of the Society of Friends, of
which he was a member. After hav-
ing resided for some time in Provi-
dence, he removed to Philadelphia,
and subsequently to Cain, in Chester
County, where he died in 1714. His
children, so far as is known, were
Elizabeth, Mary, James and William.
He was a brother of William Swaffer,
the colonist, who probably immigrated
with him.

Tanten, Hendrick, (sometimes
Thaden,) doubtless became a settler at
Amesland, under the Dutch Govern-
ment. His land " on which he re-
sided,'' was surveyed and confirmed to
him in 1675. He died in 1703, having
in his will, executed shortly before his
death, given directions for his burial,
"in the burial place at Chester alias
Upland." Hence it may be inferred
that he was a Dutch Episcopalian, and
not a Swede.

Taylor, Christopher, supposed to
have been born near Skipton, in York-
shire— officiated for a time as a Puritan
preacher until in 1652, he was con-
vinced of the truth of Quaker doctrine,
by George Fox. Soon after his con-
vincement, he became eminent as a
minister among Friends ; traveled much
as a preacher, and was subjected to a
full share of the persecution against
Quakers that was usual in that age of
bigotry ; was imprisoned several times,
and on one occasion, under much cruel
treatment, for the space of two years.
In the exercise of his profession, as
the teacher of a classical school, he
met with much opposition, and was
obliged to remove from place to place ;
his last school being at Edmonton, in
Middlesex. On leaving this school, in
1682, to emigrate to Pennsylvania, he
was succeeded by the noted George
Keith. Upon his arrival here he first
settled in Bucks County, which he re-

presented in the first Assembly at
Chester. He was likewise a member
of the first Provincial Council after the
arrival of Penn, and was continued in
that offiee till his death, in 1686. He
also held the office of Register-general
of the Province for some time, and was
one of the commissioners appointed by
William Penn to treat with the govern-
ment of West Jersey.

In July, 1684, he appears as one of
the Justices of Chester Court, when he
had probably established himself on
Tinicum Island, which was conveyed
to him shortly afterwards. He had a
son Israel, who was a surgeon, (chir-
urgeon,) and to whom, in 1685, he
granted 500 acres of land at Neshaminy
and 1000 acres elsewhere. In this
grant he speaks of himself as a school-
master, and of his residence as being
on " Tinicum, alias College Island."

" His literary qualifications were con-
siderable, and he frequently exercised
his pen in the cause of truth." He
was well acquainted with Latin, Greek
and Hebrew, and in 1679 published his
" Compendium Trium Linguarum" of
those languages. He was unquestion-
ably one of the best scholars who
arrived with the first settlers. Besides
his son Israel he had a son Joseph and
a daughter Mary, who, in 1690, mar-
ried John Buzby, of Philadelphia.
Israel succeeded his father on Tinicum,
and continued to own and occupy the
whole island till his death, in 1726.
He had eleven children, but devised
the island to his three sons, Christo-
pher, Benjamin and Israel.

Taylor, John. Soon after the settle-
ment of Christopher Taylor on Tinicum,
we find him concerned in leasing a
small piece of land on that island to
John Taylor, to be used as a garden
or nursery. After the death of Chris-
topher Taylor, the family of John Tay-
lor, with Hugh Durborow, removed to
Thornbury, and in 1687 presented a
joint certificate to Concord Monthly
Meeting, which was accepted. The
name of this John Taylor does not ap-
pear afterwards, and it is presumed
that he was deceased at the time the
certificate was presented to the meet-
ing. The family mentioned doubtless
consisted, at least in part, of his two
sons, Jacob and Isaac. Two certificates
from Wiltshire, England, were present-

506

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

ed to the Philadelphia Meeting of
Friends in 1G84, recommending a John
Taylor, but it is not certain that they
were presented by the subject of this
notice.

Taylor, Jacob, son of the above
named John, was a mathematician, and
in his younger days a practical sur-
veyor. He made astronomy a par-
ticular study, and during many years
published an Almanac, in which he
gave place to scraps of poetry com-
posed by himself. About the com-
mencement of the past century he was
appointed Surveyor- General of Penn-
sylvania, which office he held till the
time of his death, the exact period of
which is not known. He was alive,
but evidently very infirm, at the death
of his brother Isaac, in 1728. He never
married. He was in membership with
Friends.

Taylor, Isaac, son of the above John,
and brother of Jacob, was also a sur-
veyor, and likewise a " practitioner of
Physick." He was appointed Deputy
Surveyor for Chester County about the
year 1701, by his brother Jacob, and
continued to hold that office, and to
perform its arduous duties till the time
of his death, in 1728. He also prac-
ticed the healing art during this period.
In 1694 he married Martha, the daugh-
ter of Philip Roman, by whom he had
five children, viz., John, Philip, Jacob,
Ann and Mary. Isaac Taylor was em-
ployed on behalf of Pennsylvania in
running the circular line which sepa-
rates the State from Delaware, a ser-
vice for which he was well fitted by
his superior mathematical knowledge.
The question is presented — how did the
brothers, Jacob and Isaac Taylor, ob-
tain their mathematical knowledge ?
The answer to this query is readily
suggested in the fact that they resided
some years at Tinicum, where Chris-
topher Taylor, doubtless a relative,
taught a school specially for the instruc-
tion of youth in the higher branches
of knowledge, a task for which he was
eminently qualified. I am indebted to
Professor John F. Frazer, of the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania, who is a lineal
descendant of Isaac Taylor, for an op-
portunity to examine the Taylor papers.
Many of these papers are still in a
good state of preservation.

Taylor, John, the oldest son of
Isaac Taylor, was a prominent man.
He was born in 1695, and in 1718
was married to Mary Baker, a widow.
He was a physician and a surveyor,
and established iron works at or near
the site of Glen Mills, on Chester
Creek, which he conducted with ener-
gy till the time of his death, in 1756.
He served the office of Sheriff of Chester
County ten years, and represented the
County in the Provincial Assembly
several terms.

Taylor, Peter, with his brother
William, came from Sutton in Cheshire,
England, and arrived at Chester as
early as 1682. The brothers settled
on adjoining tracts of land near the
present site of Media. Peter being un-
married at the time of his arrival was
united in matrimony with Sarah, the
daughter of his neighbor, John Houl-
ston, in the early part of 1685, agree-
ably to the good order of the Society
of Friends, of which he was a consis-
tent member. As is usual in the set-
tlement of new countries, the immigra-
tion of young men to our favored land
at first greatly exceeded that of young
women, and such respectable spin-
sters as arrived, did not remain in
that condition very long. As evidence
of this, three daughters of John
Houlston passed meeting and were
probably married on the same day, 1st
mo. 2d., 1685, Sarah with Peter Tay-
lor, Elizabeth with James Swaffer and
Rebecca with William Gregory, while
a fourth daughter, Martha, was married
to David Ogden before the close of the
same year. The children of Peter and
Sarah Taylor were Peter, John, Sarah,
William and Samuel. He removed to
East Cain and died in 1720, probably
at the residence of his son, William.

/ Taylor, William, was a brother of
Peter Taylor, came from the same place
and settled on an adjoining tract of
land in Upper Providence, but he had
scarcely become established at his new
home in the wilderness, when he was,
on the 6th of the 1st mo., 16ir3, called
upon to pay the inevitable debt of
nature, his wife, Margaretta, having
died three days previously. He left
one son, Joseph, who died without
issue, and two daughters, Elizabeth
and Mary.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

507

Taylor, Robert, emigrated from
Little Leigh, County of Chester, Eng-
land, and was settled in Springfield
township as early as 1684. His wife,
Mary, there is reason to believe was a
sister to Justice Jonathan Hayes, who
settled about the same time in Marple.
Robert died in 1005, leaving his wife
and a number of children to survive
him. His widow married Joseph Selsby
in 1701. Of his children, Isaac inter-
married with Sarah Broad well, of Dub-
lin Meeting; Josiah with Elizabeth,
daughter of Robert Pennell ; Mary with
Henry Lewis, of Haverford ; Phebe
with Thomas Massey, of Marple, and
after his death, with Bartholomew
Coppock, of Marple ; Thomas with
Hannah , and Jonathan with Mar-
tha Hugh. He also had a son Jacob
and other children. During the short
time Robert Taylor was permitted to
enjoy his new home in America, he
gained the confidence and respect of
his fellow-citizens, and as a member of
the Society of Friends he was highly
esteemed. His widow died in 1728.

Taylor, Thomas, with his wife,
Frances, resided in Worthenby, in
Flintshire, and purchased land in
Pennsylvania, but whether Thomas
emigrated before his death, which
happened in 1682, is not certain. At
all events, early in 1684, his widow,
Frances, was here, and became the
wife of John Worrall. Thomas Taylor
had two sons, Thomas and Philip.
Philip married Ann, the daughter of
Thomas and Mary Conway, in 1705,
and settled in Thornbury. He died in
1732. His descendants are very nu-
merous.

Taylor, Isaac, was the eldest son of
Robert Taylor of Springfield, and
doubtless immigrated with his father.
In 1689, he was married to Sarah
Broadwell of Dublin Monthly Meeting,
Philadelphia County, according to the
usages of Friends. Their children
were Isaac, John, Joseph, Mary, Benja-
min, Sarah, Elizabeth and Josiah.

Test, John, emigrated from London,
and was a resident of Upland as early
as 1677. Here he engaged in the mer-
cantile business, but upon the establish-
ment of Penn's Government in 1681,
he was appointed Sheriff of Upland

County, which office he held till after
the arrival of the Proprietary, and the
division of Upland County into the three
Counties of Philadelphia, Chester and
Bucks. He now removed to the em-
bryo City of Brotherly Love, and be-
came the first Sheriff of the newly
organized County of Philadelphia.
After sometime he removed within our
limits again, and kept a tavern at
Darby ; at which place and in that oc-
cupation he died in 1718, leaving three
children, Thomas, John and Margaret.
It is not certain that John Test was a
Friend, but his wife Elizabeth, who
died in Philadelphia in 1689, was in
membership with that Society.

Thatcher, Richard, with his wife
and a family of several children, came
from England. They were Quakers at
the time of their arrival, which must
have been two or three years after the
first visit of Penn. His settlement was
in Thornbury, adjoining the land of
William Brinton the colonist, whose
only son William married his daughter
Jean. His son Jonathan intermarried
with Hannah Dix. There is reason to
believe that Richard Thatcher migrated
from Uffington in Berkshire, where he
had suffered persecution on account of
his religion. He died in 1722.

Thomas, William, with his wife, were
among the earliest settlers of Radnor,
but dying in 1689 without children, he
devised his estate to a nephew of the
same name, then residing in Wales, on
condition that he would come and re-
side in this country. The nephew Wil-
liam, who was a ma.ried man with a
family, complied with the condition
imposed by his uncle's will, and settled
where he had resided. They were all
members of the Society of Friends.
The eldest son Thomas, of the nephew
William, married Tamar the daughter
of Samuel Miles, and his son John,
married Mary daughter of Richard
Ormes. Both uncle and nephew had
suffered religious persecution in Wales.

Thomas, Peter, was an early settler
in Springtown, (Springfield.) In 1686,
he married Sarah Steadman of the same
place. They were Friends, and appear
to have removed to Willistown, where
he was still living in unity with that
Society in 1722.

508

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Thompson, George, came a passenger
on board of the ship Welcome, in com-
pany with the Proprietary, in 1682, and
at first settled on rented land in Concord
township, but subsequently became the
owner of land in that township. George
Thompson was not in membership with
Friends. In 1683, he was married to
Merriam Short, by the Swedish Priest,
" contrary to the laws of the province,"
for which offence all the parties to the
marriage were arraigned before the
Court.

Trego, Peter, was probably a resi-
dent in some other place in the country,
before he made a purchase of fifty acres
of land in 1708, in Middletown* for
"£14, or good merchantable wheat at
market price." His wife's name was
Judith, and he had a son Jacob, and a
son Peter. Jacob was born in 1687,
and in 1710, married Mary the daughter
of Edmund Cartledge of Darby, and
resided in Merion till 1717, when he
removed to Middletown, where he re-
sided at the time of his decease in
1720. He left three children, Hannah,
John and Rachel.

Tucker, Richard, migrated from
Warminster, County of Wilts, England,
in 1683, and settled in Darby township
west of the Creek. He was in mem-
bership with Friends.

Usher, Thomas, the first Sheriff of
Chester County, arrived at Chester at
or about the time of the first visit of
William Penn to the Province, and
probably resided at that place during
his official term, one year. Having
purchased land adjoining Chichester,
(Marcus Hook,) he removed to that
place, was commissioned a Justice of
the Peace, and assisted in holding the
County Courts, and also served a second
term as sheriff, and was a member of
the Provincial Assembly several years.
He was a member of the Society of
Friends, but did not take such an active
part in meeting affairs as was usual
in that day, for men of his standing.
He died about the year 1690.

Van Kulin, John, an early Dutch
settler in that part of Ridley known as
Amesland. His deposition was read
in the celebrated Pennsylvania Witch-
trial ; his neighborhood being the

scene of the occurrences which gave
rise to it. George Van Kulin, doubt-
less his son was residing in the same
neighborhood in 1722. His descen-
dants are numerous, but the name is
changed to Culin.

Van Leer, Dr. Bernhard, was the
son of John George, and Mary Von
Lbhr, who were the ancestors of the
Vanleer family in Pennsylvania, and
who with their family migrated to that
Province from Germany in 1697. The
subject of this notice was born at or
near Isenberg, in the Electorate of
Hesse, and was but eleven years of
age when he arrived in this country.
The family upon their arrival set-
tled in Marple townsliip ; at first on the
farm now owned by Felix Velotte, but
subsequently on that owned by the heirs
of Garrett Williamson. Bernhard or
Bernhardus, as he was then called, re-
mained a few years with his father
and then returned to Germany for the
purpose of studying medicine in his
native country. It is said that he was
accompanied by a neighboring youth,
named John Worrell, who had the
same object in view. Young Van Leer
remained in his native country seven
years, and not only studied medicine
but also the classics and French. Some
time after his return to this country,
and shortly after he commenced the
practice of his profession, he was united
in marriage with Mary Branson the
daughter of a wealthy merchant of
Philadelphia. The Doctor then resided
on the latter of the. above mentioned
farms, where he continued to reside
during the remainder of his long life.
After giving birth to five children, (two
of whom, Branson and Benjamin became
physicians,) his wife died. His second
wife was much younger than himself.
By her he had nine children, one of
whom was the late Bernard Van Leer.

The practice of Dr. Van Leer, was
chiefly conducted in his office. It is
said that in the diagnosis of disease he
relied very much upon the appearance
of some of the secretions that were
brought to him for inspection. His
remedies for the most part were from
the vegetable kingdom and generally
of the mildest kind.

Dr. Van Leer was a man of grea t
physical vigor. In his one hundreth year ,
he rode on horseback from Marple t o

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

509

his Chester valley farm, a distance of
thirty miles, in one day. In his one hun-
dred and second year, he was cruelly
mal-treated by burglars who entered
his house, because he refused to dis-
close his hidden treasure. He did not
fully recover from the injuries then re-
ceived. He died on the 26th of January,
1790, aged one hundred and four years.
The father of Dr. Van Leer died in
1 748, when he left a second wife named
Rebecca. For a more full notice of Dr.
Van Leer, written by Dr. Charles Mor-
ton, see" The Medical Reporter" No. vii.

Vernon, Thomas, from " Stanthorne,"
County Palatine, of Chester, England,
arrived a little before or with the Pro-
prietary, in 1682. He served as a juror
at the first Court held for the County
of Chester. He, with his brother, Ran-
dal Vernon, settled on adjoining tracts
of land in Nether Providence, and for
some time occupied but one dwelling,
at which the monthly meetings of the
Society of Friends in early times were
frequently held. He was an exemplary
member of the Society, and a good
citizen. Died, 1698. Thomas had not
entirely escaped religious persecution
in England.

Vernon, Randal, from " Sandyway,"
Cheshire, England, no doubt immi-
grated to the Province with his brothers,
Thomas and Robert, and located his
land in Nether Providence between the
tracts located by them. Besides being
an active and influential member of
the Society of Friends, he was fre-
quently entrusted with public business.
In 1687 he served as a member of the
Provincial Assembly. He died in 1725
at the advanced age of eighty-five
years, having survived his wife, Sarah,
six years.

Vernon, Robert, came from Sloaks,
in Cheshire, England. He was a mem-
ber of the Society of Friends, but did
not take such an active part in meet-
ing affairs as Thomas and Randal,
though the monthly meetings were
sometimes held at his house. The time
of his death is not known ; but he was
alive in 1710, and that year conveyed
his brick messuage and 330 acres of land,
where he resided, to his son Jacob.
His wife, Elinor, who came with him

from England and survived him, died
in 1720.

Vernon, Job, Captain in the Revolu-
tionary Army, was born in Lower Pro-
vidence, about the year 1750. He
entered the army at the commencement
of the Revolutionary war, and served
faithfully and without intermission
until its termination and the disband-
ing of the army. His name appears in
the lists, printed by order of Congress,
of officers who served to the end of the
war, and thereby acquired the right to
half-pay and bounty lands, and also as
one of the founders of the Society of
Cincinnati. He was commissioned
Ens'gn in Capt. Thomas Church's com-
pany of Col. Anthony Wayne's Penn-
sylvania Battalion, January 5th, 1776,
and was promoted to be Lieutenant in
Capt. Thomas Robinson's company of
the same battalion, October 1st, 1776.
In 1779 and 1780 he was paymaster of
the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment, which
was then commanded by Col. Francis
Johnston, and in which he also held
the commission of Captain This regi-
ment was attached to the Army of the
North, and seems to have participated
in all its services up to the storming of
Stony Point. Captain Vernon died in
Concord township about the year 1810.
From fragments of his accounts and
other documents in the possession of a
relative, he seems to have been an inti-
mate acquaintance and favorite of
General Wayne, and a very brave and
judicious officer.

Vernon, Frederick, Major in the Re-
volutionary Army, a cousin of the pre-
ceding officer, was also born in Lower
Providence ; but nothing of his per-
sonal history nor any account of his
military services is known to be pre-
served. His name appears on the lists
above referred to as one who served
faithfully to the end of the war, and he
was also one of the founders of the
Society of Cincinnati. He was Major
in the First Pennsylvania Regiment of
Infantry.

Wade, Robert, with his wife, Lydia,
were among the very earliest of the
English settlers that located them-
selves within our limits, as they were,
with scarcely a doubt, the first Quakers
who fixed their permanent abode with-

510

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

in the bounds of Pennsylvania. When
the celebrated preacher, William Ed-
mondson, visited Upland in 1675, he
found Robert Wade residing there, and
held a meeting at his house. It is
almost certain that Robert and his wife
came as passengers on the ship Griffith
from London, the same year and in
company with John Fenwick, the pio-
neer settler of West Jersey, as he had
purchased land from Fenwick in Eng-
land, and Samuel and Edward Wade
are known to have come out with him.
The residence of Robert Wade, known
as the Essex House, was on the west
side of Chester Creek and a little south
of the post road. It has been shown
elsewhere that it was upon the same
premises that had been granted to Mrs.
Pappegoya, the daughter of Governor
Printz, and shortly before occupied by
her under the name of Printzdorp. May
not the Essex House, the first Quaker
residence and the first Quaker meet-
ing-house in Pennsylvania, have been
the mansion of the daughter of its first
Governor? The conclusion is almost
irresistible.

As a Quaker, Robert Wade was very
attentive to meeting affairs for a time.
The earliest monthly meetings of which
there is any record were held at his
house ; but towards the close of his
life, though he retained his member-
ship, the records do not show his ac-
tive participation in meeting business.
He was a justice of the first Court for
Upland County under the proprietary
government, and was continued ;n that
capacity for Chester County several
years after it had been organized. He
was also a member of the Assembly
for several years at the commencement
of Penn's government, as he had been
of Governor Markham's Council before
the arrival of the Proprietary. He died
about the year 1698, his wife surviving
him till 1701. They died childless.

Weaver, Anthony, was an early set-
tler ou Chester Creek, at a place called
Northly. In 1686 being in want of a
wife, and it being rather difficult to find
one in his vicinity at that time who
was not a Quaker, he selected one of
that persuasion, Ann Richard, the
daughter of a near neighbor, with whom
he proceeded to the meeting and made
the usual preliminary proposal. The
meeting duly considered the matter,

and although Anthony " owned him-
self to be none of us," yet, being will-
ing to submit to the order of Friends,
they were allowed to proceed.

Wharton, Walter, was a man of
considerable note on the Delaware
river, under the government of the
Duke of York. In 1671 Governor Love-
lace conferred on him the appointment
of Surveyor General "on the west side
of the Delaware ;" an office for which
he had not been properly educated.
But, it may be supposed there were
none better in the settlement, for he was
again reinstated in his office after the
government passed a second time into
the hands of the English ; while at
the same time he held a commission
as one of the Justices of New Castle
County, in which County he seems to
have resided till about the year 1677,
when he became the tenant of a dwell-
ing-house in Upland, in consequence,
it may be supposed, of a prosecution
instituted against him at New Castle,
by certain clergymen and others, " for
marrying himselfe, or for being married
contrary to ye knowne lawes of Eng-
land, and also of the lawes of this Pro-
vince." The matter was regarded by
his brother justices of New Castle as
presenting too grave a question for
their determination, and consequently
they referred it to the Governor. Be-
fore the close of the following year
(1678), death relieved his persecutors,
the Court and his Excellency, from
further trouble in the premises. His
marriage may have beeu after the man-
ner of the Quakers. The Court at New-
castle allowed fifty gilders out of his es-
tate to pay the Dutch clergyman of that
place for preaching his funeral sermon !

Wharton, Robert, came from Cum-
berland County, Wales, in 1697, and
was unmarried. His certificate was
from Pardsday Monthly Meeting, which
commended him as " a man of sober
life," and one who had walked orderly
as became the blessed Truth. At first
he settled in Merion, but in 1701 he
married Rachel, the daughter of Thos.
Ellis, of Haverford, who was possessed
of a large landed estate, when he re-
moved to that township. Rachel died
a few years after their marriage; after
which, in 1707, he entered into a ma-
trimonial engagement with Jane Heut,

<•
^

I

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

511

and had proceeded so far as, in the
language of Friends, to " pass meeting"
with her. But some difference having
arisen between them, they came before
the meeting and mutually released each
other. This was the second time that
this lady had "passed meeting" and
recanted.

Williamson, Daniel, immigrated to
Pennsylvania at an early date, but was
not among the earliest colonists. He
was in membership with Friends, was
unmarried, and probably came from
Cheshire, England. In 1685 he mar-
ried Mary Smith at Chester Meeting,
and settled in Newtown township pro-
bably after his marriage. He was a
man of considerable influence, fre-
quently represented Chester County in
the Provincial Assembly, and, in 1727,
died while a member of that body. His
children were, Robert, Daniel, John,
Mary, Thomas, Joseph, Margaret and
Abigail. The site of his dwelling is
now that of the residence of Mrs. Lydia
Thomas. His son John was a noted
Quaker preacher.

William, Hugh, an early settler in
Radnor, intermarried with Susanna
Griffith in 1693, and continued to reside
in that township. Their children were
Elizabeth, Catharine, Job and Susanna.
They were Friends, and doubtless both
Welsh immigrants. He was the owner
in 1711 of the mill now owned by
Tryon Lewis, and it may have been
erected by him.

Willis, John, came from England,
and about the year 1700 settled in the
west end of Thornbury. He does not
appear to have been a Quaker, though
he intermarried with Esther, the young-
est daughter of William Brinton the
elder. He died in 1732, leaving a son
John and two daughters, Esther and
Ann — also a second wife, Mary.

Withers, Ralph, came from Bishop's
Canning, in Wiltshire, England, and
settled at Upland sometime before the
arrival of William Penn For a time
he held the office of Deputy Treasurer
of the Free Society of Traders, and
was afterwards one of the Justices of
Chester County, and sat as a Justice
with the, Proprietary, at the first Oourt
for that County, over which he presided.

He was also for a short period a mem-
ber of the Provincial Council. He had
been identified with the Quakers since
1657. In 1660 he suffered imprison-
ment on account of his religious prin-
ciples, and again in 1678, for having
married contrary to the directions of
the church liturgy. He was also one
of the ministering Friends who issued
the epistle from London Yearly Meet-
ing in 1675. He died in 1684.

Withers, Thomas, was a relative of
Ralph Withers, and probably migrated
from the same place (Wiltshire, Eng-
land.) He was in membership with
Friends, and in 1692 was married to
Elizabeth Collet, according to the
usages of that Society. He settled in
Chichester as early as 1684, and be-
came possessed of considerable lands
there and elsewhere. He devised his set-
tlement in Chichester to his eldest son
Ralph His death occurred in 1720. He
was the second sheirff of Chester County.

Wood, George, with his wife, Han-
nah, and children, came from Bonsall,
in the County of Derby, England, their
certificate being from " Matloch, Mony-
ash and Ashford" Monthly Meeting of
Friends. He was a man of considera-
ble property, but advanced in years at
the time of his arrival in 1682. Seve-
ral of his family died in a short time
after he came to the country, but he
lived till 1705.

Wood, John, son and heir of the
above George Wood, immigrated with
his father, and settled in Darby in
1682. In 1687 he married June, the
daughter of John and Barbara Bevan,
of Haverford, by whom he had the fol-
lowing children, viz ; Ann, George,
William, John, Barbara, Aubray and
Abraham. His wife, Jane, dying in
1703, he, in 1707, married Rebecca
Faucet, the widow of Walter Faucet,
(whose maiden name was Fearne) by
whom he had two children, Joseph
and Hannah. He died in the year
1728, at an advanced age. Through
life he manifested an interest in the
affairs of the Society of Friends, of
which he appears to' have been a faith-
ful member.

Webb, Elizabeth, was eminent as a
minister among Friends, and in 1697,

512

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

paid a religious visit to all the Ameri-
can Colonies where people of that de-
nomination had settled. Being pleased
with the country and its prospects, she,
with her husband, Richard Webb, emi-
grated from Gloucestershire, their for-
mer place of residence in England, in
1700 or 1701, and settled on the Bran-
dywine, in Birmingham township, just
beyond the line that now separates
Delaware from Chester County. She
was a lady of rare abilities, and by her
social intercourse exercised a beneficial
influence in her neighborhood. By
the death of her husband, in 1719, she
was left a widow many years, during
which time she managed a large farm
with prudence and judgment, and at
the same time travelled much in the
ministry both in this country and in
England. In 1721 she conveyed a lot
of ground to the trustees of Birming-
ham Friends' Meeting, in which her
remains were many years afterwards
interred.

West, William, was a brother of
Thomas, who settled in Concord, and
also of John, the father of the painter,
Benjamin, and doubtless, like them,
came from London. He at first settled
in Concord township, but had removed
to Springfield as early as 1709, when
he married Deborah, the daughter of
Bartholomew Coppock. In about a
year after his marriage, Bartholomew
Coppock, his father-in-law, conveyed
to him a farm in Springfield, upon
which he resided. He was in mem-
bership with Friends, and in 1720
died without children.

West, Thomas, emigrated from Lon-
don, and purchased a small quantity of
land in Concord township in 1712. It
has not been ascertained whether he
was married before or after his arrival.
He was in membership with Friends,
and by trade was a cooper. He was
brother of John, the father of Benja-
min West, the great painter. To him
and his wife Mary were born seven
children, viz : Thomas, William, Ra-
chel, Ellen, Mary, Elizabeth and Jo-
seph. He was living in 1736.

West, John, the father of Benjamin,
the painter, immigrated some time after
his brothers, Thomas and William. He
was not a Friend, as has been repre-

sented by Gait and others, during the
residence of his gifted son in America,
and when he became a member of that
Society it was near the close of his
life. As stated by Mr. Gait, he proba-
bly arrived in this country about the
year 1714, and that not long afterwards
he married Sarah, the daughter of
Thomas Pearson, but this marriage was
not accomplished according to the good or-
der of the Society of Friends. John West
probably followed the seas as an occu-
pation for some years. In 1722 he was
a resident of Upper Providence, and
owner of a small tract of land in that
township. In 1735 he resided in Ches-
ter, probably in the borough. A year
or two later we find John West a tax-
able in Springfield township, and then
it is to be presumed he occupied the
farm and dwelling at which his son
Benjamin was born; but he did not
own this property, and it has not been
ascertained that he ever owned land in
Chester County, except the small tract
in Upper Providence which he first oc-
cupied. In a few years after the birth
of his son, Benjamin, he removed to
Newtown township, and engaged in
keeping tavern at Newtown Square,
in which township he resided many
years, though it is not known how
long he continued in the same busi-
ness.

Notwithstanding all that has been
said by Gait, in his life of Benjamin
West, in respect to the strict Quaker-
ism of the parents of the great painter,
the records of the Society have been
searched in vain for any evidence to
connect his father with the Society of
Friends, till the year 1759. In that
year "John West, with the approba-
tion of Newtown Meeting," made appli-
cation to come under the care of Go-
shen Monthly Meeting of Friends. The
usual committee was appointed to
make inquiry in respect to the appli-
cant, who report to the next meeting,
" that they understand he is at present
indisposed in body." This was in the
second month, and it was not till the
ninth month that he was admitted into
membership with Friends. On the
11th of the 10th month, 1763, he ob-
tained a certificate of removal to Phi-
ladelphia Monthly Meeting, which he
did not produce to that meeting, but
" resided chiefly in Maryland or the
lower country" till 8th month 10th.

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*M

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

513

1764, when "he had lately embarked
for London." The Philadelphia certi-
tificate was at this time returned to
Goshen Meeting, and another requested
for him to London by his son William,
which was prepared by the meeting
and forwarded accordingly. It is not
known that he ever returned to this
country. His wife Sarah was born on
the 8th of the 2d month, 1697, in Mar-
pie township, and in membership with
Friends, which membership she pro-
bably retained during her life.

West, Benjamin, the celebrated
painter was born at Springfield, Chester,
now Delaware County, on the 28th of
September, 1738. He was the son of
John and Sarah West, and the youngest
of a family of ten children. Many
details are given by Mr. Gait his biog-
rapher, of the early performances of
Benjamin while quite a child, showing
the early development of his great
natural genius for painting. Some of
these are so improbable, and so many
of the assertions made by that author
are known to be inaccurate, that neither
will be repeated here. It is not doubted,
however that so great a genius as that
possessed by West was precocious in its
development. The only early paintings
of Benjamin West that the author has
been able to discover, are the likenesses
of two children now in the possession
of Mrs. Phebe WTorthington of West
Chester. They were the children of
John and Elizabeth Morris, the mater-
nal grand parents of Mrs. Worthing-
ton. These children were respectively
named, Jane and Robert Morris, and at
the time the paintings were executed,
the girl was five or six, and the boy
three or four years of age. Mrs. Worth-
ington, from information received from
her mother, has no doubt that these
paintings were made about the year
1752, or when Benjamin was about 14
years of age. They exhibit consider-
able proficiency in the art, and the
picture of the boy is in a good state of
preservation. Dr. Jonathan Morris set-
tled at Newtown Square in 1751, and
observing the genius of young West,
became his patron, and purchased
materials to enable him to exercise the
art for which nature had so peculiarly
fitted him. Some of these materials
were doubtless used in painting the
likenesses mentioned, though I am in-

33

formed by Mrs. Wortington, that the
father of the children procured the
canvas on which they were painted. Dr.
Morris subsequently employed the
young artist to paint a likeness of him-
self, which cannot now be found. Dr.
Morris and Anthony Wayne (after-
wards General Wayne) were the first
public patrons of Benjamin West. I
have it from good authority, that up to a
recent period, a manuscript school-book
was in existence, in which young West,
while at school at Newtown Square,
had made numerous pictures of various
animals &c, and there is a tradition
that these were made in the way of
compensation for assistance given him
in arithmetic, by another school boy
named Williamson, the owner of the
book ; the youthful artist not having
much taste for figures.

Of course everything detailed by Mr.
Gait in respect to the action of the
Society of Friends on the question of
permitting young West to cultivate
the faculties with which nature had
so liberally endowed him, is perfect
fiction. The records show no such
action by the Society, and the fact that
the artist was not a Friend would ex-
clude them as such from exercising any
care over him. Benjamin West's associa-
tion with Anthony Wayne led him into
military affairs, and while pursuing
his studies at Lancaster, he was made
Captain of a military company. His
brother Samuel was also a military
man, and yet no action was had by the
Society of Friends in respect to either
of them, though the practice of the
military art in the eyes of the followers
of George Fox, was a much more seri-
ous offence than that of the fine arts.

After pursuing his studies for some
time in Philadelphia and elsewhere,
Benjamin West in 1759 at the age of
21 years sailed for Italy, the fountain
head for the study of his profession,
and in 1762, he took up his permanent
residence in London. His subsequent
career as a painter is well known and
could not with propriety be noticed in
this volume. The following interesting
account of his marriage, extracted from
a letter written in 1858 by Joseph K.
Swift M. D. of Easton, Pa., to Horatio
G. Jones, Esq., Corresponding Secretary
of the Historical Society of Pennsylva-
nia, will close our notice of the great
painter.

514

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

"Miss Elizabeth Shewell became
acquainted with Benjamin West, after-
wards the celebrated artist, and they
fell in love with each other. West at
that time, although descended from a
good family, was poor and little known.
Stephen Shewell wished his sister to
marry another suitor, which she refused
to do, in consequence of her attachment
to West. The brother objected to West
on account of his poverty and obscurity,
and he was forbidden to come to the
house. Miss Shewell, however, con-
tinued to see him elsewhere, and they
became engaged to be married. West
then determined to go to Europe and
prosecute his studies and profession
there, and Miss Shewell promised him
that when he notified her of his ability
to maintain her and of his wish for her
to come to him, she would proceed to join
him in any part of Europe and marry
him. Her brother was informed of her
meetings with West, and of the engage-
ments she had entered into with him ; so
to prevent any further intercourse be-
tween them he confined her to her cham-
ber and kept her under lock and key
until after West's departure for Europe.
" West pursued his studies and pro-
fession for some time in various places
on the Continent, and finally settled at
London, where he soon met with suffi-
cient patronage to justify him in calling
on Miss Shewell to fulfill her promise.
He then made arrangements for her to
come to him in the same vessel that
conveyed his request to her, and also
that his father should accompany her
on the voyage. Upon the receipt of
his message, Miss Shewell prepared for
her departure, but her brother was
apprised of her intention, and again
confined her to her chamber. Her en-
gagement to West was well known in
Philadelphia, and her brother's tyran-
nical treatment of her excited great
indignation against him, and strong
sympathy for his sister. In this state
of things, the late Bishop White, who
was my guest on his last patriarchal
visit to Easton, told us that he, (then
about eighteen years of age,) and Dr.
Franklin, (about fifty-nine years of
age,) and Francis Hopkinson, (twenty-
nine years of age,) when the vessel was
ready to sail, procured a rope ladder,
went to the captain and engaged him to
set sail as soon as they brought a lady
on board ; took old Mr. West to the

ship, and went at midnight to Stephen
Shewell's house, attached the ladder to
a window in Miss Shewell's chamber,
and got her safely out and to the vessel,
which sailed a few minutes after she
entered it.

" I observed to the Bishop that few
persons who knew him now, would
believe that he had once turned knight-
errant, and liberated an imprisoned
damsel from confinement. He replied
that Miss Shewell's case was a hard
one, and all her friends were indignant
at the treatment she had received ; that
he had done right ; and he added, with
warmth, if it were to do over, he would
do it again, for it was evident that God
had intended they should come together,
and man had no right to keep them
asunder.

" Mr. West was in waiting for Miss
Shewell when she arrived in England,
and they were soon married, September
2d, 1*765. Neither of them ever re-
turned to this country. Stephen Shewell
never forgave his sister ; and although
she made many efforts to conciliate
him, he refused all communication with
her."

West, William, a son of John and
Sarah West, and an elder brother of$
the painter, Benjamin, was born in
Upper Providence township iu IV 24.
After receiving a rather better educa-
tion than was usual at that early period,
he learned the trade of an oak cooper.
He was not in membership with Friends
till 1752, when he was received by
Goshen Monthly Meeting, and the same
year removed to Philadelphia, where
he married, and it is said carried on
the coopering business many years.
After the death of his wife he removed
to Upper Darby, and engaged in the
farming business. This was about the
year 1765. The next year he married
Hannah Shaw, an English lady, then
residing in Philadelphia, and settled
permanently on his farm in Upper
Darby. Here he commenced a system
of farming that soon brought the ex-
hausted land that he had purchased,
into a high state of productiveness.
By the introduction of red clover, he
was enabled to increase his stock,
which during winter he carefully con-
fined to the barn-yard, which was kept
well strewed with leaves from the
woods, and with other vegetable matter.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

515

The irrigation of his meadow land was
not neglected, and he was soon en-
abled to sell hay to his neighboring
farmers, who had, at first, spoken
lightly of " the town man's farming."
His land was naturally of a good
quality, and the kind treatment it had
received, brought in an abundance of
green grass. His plan of farming was
now changed, and with plowing very
little, an extensive system of top dress-
ing was introduced by means of com-
post. He used lime, but to what ex-
tent is not known. He was, however,
among the first to introduce gypsum,
and was one of it warmest defenders
as a manure. His farm was thus
brought into the best possible condi-
tion for grazing, and that was his prin-
cipal business during the remainder of
his life. In the improvement of our
lands, William West was doubtless the
pioneer, and in his day he had no com-
petitor. It is impossible to say how
much the vastly increased productive-
ness of our county is owing to the ex-
ample set by him. Though so suc-
cessful in agriculture, his whole time
was not devoted to his farm. He was
frequently employed in public business
in the County, and served five years as
its representative in the Legislature.
He died on the 6th of December, 1808,
aged eighty-four years.

Wood, William, migrated from the
town and county of Nottingham, Eng-
land, and with his wife and family
settled in or near the town of Darby in
1683. He was a member of the Society
of Friends, and being a man of ability
and education, he was chosen a mem-
ber of the Provincial Council in less
than a year after his arrival. But his
services in that body were cut short
by his death, which occuired before
the close of the year 1685. It is be-
lieved that Joseph Wood was his son
and heir, and that John, who inter-
married with Mary Bartram, was a
younger son. Joseph removed to New
Castle.

Woodward, Richard, with his wife
Jane, was an early settler in Middle-
town, but the precise time of his immi-
gration is not known. They were
Quakers, and so far as has come to the
knowledge of the writer, their children
were Richard, Edward and William.

Richard, Jr., intermarried with Esther
Davis, of Concord, and subsequently
with Mary Britain, a daughter of Bar-
tholomew Coppock, and Edward with
Abigail, daughter of John and Jane
Edge. Richard the elder died in 1706,
aged seventy years.

Woodmanson, William, (or Wood-
mancy, as his name is sometimes
spelled,) with his wife Esther, came to
the settlements on the Delaware, in the
.ship Kent, from London, with the West
Jersey Commissioners, sent out to pur-
chase land from the natives, in the
year 1677. Before the close of that
year, his name appears in the records
of Upland Court as a resident and tax-
able of Upland district. He made his
settlement on the west side of Chester
Creek, above the present manufactur-
ing village of Upland, and called it
Harold. He was a vigilant member of
the Society of Friends ; and as early as
the 11th of 7th mo 1682, the Chester
Monthly Meeting decided to hold the
" middle meeting" at his house at Harold.
This meeting continued to be held
there for some time. William Wood-
manson was one of Governor Mark-
ham's Council before the arrival of Wil-
liam Penn and was a juror at the first
court held under Penn's government.
He removed from Chester to Phila-
delphia, where his wife died, and he
married a second wife, named Dorothy,
but it is not known that he left any
family. In England, William Wood-
manson resided in Bedfordshire, and
there suffered imprisonment for refus-
ing to take the oath of allegiance, &c.
His wife Dorothy died in 1702, and he
in 1706.

Worrell, or Worrall, Richard,
emigrated from Oare. Berkshire, Eng-
land, in 1682, and arrived at Philadel-
phia a short time before the Proprietary.
He served as a juror in the last Court
held for Upland County, but it does
not appear that he settled within the
bounds of Delaware County. He was
a Friend, and had suffered some perse-
cution on account of his religion as
early as 1670.

/

Wtorrall, John, was a Friend, and
came from the same place as the next
above. They both presented their cer-
tificates at the same time, and to the

516

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

same meeting in Philadelphia, and were
doubtless relatives. John removed to
Chester, or the neighborhood of that
place, where in the early part of 1684
he was married to Frances, the widow
of Thomas Taylor, after which he set-
tled in Middletown. In 1695 he was
a resident of Edgmont, where he con-
tinued to reside till the time of his de-
cease, in 1742, when he had attained
the age of eighty-four years. His wife
Frances died in 1712, and in 1714 he
married Sarah, the daughter of Thomas
Goodwin, of Edgmont. It is not known
that John Worrall had any child by
his first wife except a son named John,
who died young. By his second wife
he had seven children viz., Elizabeth,
Mary, John, Peter, Sarah, Thomas and
Mary.

It is supposed that the name Worrall
or Worrell was originally Ward, and
that those bearing it are descended
from a Sir Hubert de Warel, who lost
three sons at the battle of Hastings,
the town at which William the Con-
queror first landed.

Worrell, John, with his wife Mary,
and family, settled very early in Marple
township. It has been supposed that
he was a son of Richard Worrell, who
settled in Philadelphia, but this is un-
certain. His wife was a sister of Harry
Lewis, of Radnor. He died in 1716,
leaving six children, viz., John, Peter,
Joshua, Henry, Mary and Hannah. His
widow married John Bromfield, of
Wniteland.

Worrell, Thomas, a practitioner of
medicine, of considerable reputation
about the commencement of the present
century, was born in Upper Providence
township, in the year 1732. He was
the son of Dr. John Worrell, who
also practiced in this County, and who
accompanied the first Dr. Bernhard
Van Leer to Europe, for the purpose of
improvement in the study of medicine,
and was graduated in the same Institu-
tion. The elder Dr. Worrell died young,
having, as was believed, greatly im-
paired his health by experimenting
personally on the medical properties
of native plants, in which he appears
to have had great confidence, in com-
mon, it was said, with Dr. Van Leer.

The younger Dr. Worrell married
Lydia Vernon, of Lower Providence,

aunt of Major Frederick Vernon, and
Captain Job Vernon, of the Revo-
lutionary army, and sister of Gideon
Vernon, who took part with the British
and fled to the Provinces. Though
considerably engaged in practice, and
having an excellent local reputation, he
was but partially devoted to medicine,
and seems to have preferred farming as
a business. He was also very skilful
in making and repairing the finer and
more complicated descriptions of ma-
chinery, especially clocks. He had the
reputation of being greatly skilled in
the use of native herbs, and was popu-
larly supposed to have obtained im-
portant secrets in that respect from the
Indians, which was the case, also to
some extent with his father, and with
the two Drs. Van Leer.

Dr. Thomas Worrell died in 1818, at
an advanced age. He was a faithful
and consistent member of the Society
of Friends. His last descendants in this
County are the family of his grandson,
Mr. Thomas Cassin, who died in 1859.
Other descendants are settled near
Zanesville, Ohio.

Worrilow, Thomas, was settled in
Edgmont as early as 1690, and pos-
sibly earlier. He called his place
Brooznoll, which was probably the
name of the place in England from
which he emigrated. He was in mem-
bership with Friends. The time of his
death is not exactly known. His widow
died at Philadelphia in 1710.

Worrilow, John, a son of the above-
named Thomas, was settled in the
County as early as 1687. In 1690 he
was married to Ann, the daughter of
George Maris, of Springfield. As a
member of the Society of Friends, he
was more active than his father. His
place of residence was Edgmont.

Worth, Thomas, was from Oxton, in
the County of Nottingham, England.
He settled in Darby town immediately
upon his arrival in 1682, and subse-
quently higher up in the township.
He was a consistent and exemplary
member of the Society of Friends ; and
having acquired a better education than
was usual in that day, his services were
constantly in demand in the perform-
ance of such duties as required an ex-

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

517

pert and ready penman. He was mar-
ried in 1685 to Issabell Dauinson
[Davidson], who emigrated from the
County of Darby, and probably came
in the same ship with her husband,
bringing- with her a certificate of good
character, which was fully sustained in
after life. She died, in 1709, at the age
of fifty-four years. Thomas lived till
1731. In 1697 he represented Chester
County in the Provincial Assembly.
The descendants of this couple are nu-
merous and respectable ; those bearing
the name being mostly settled in Ches-
ter County, where he had purchased a
large tract of land. He was one of the
original purchasers of land in England.
His son Thomas removed to Bradford,
1739.

"Wright, John, was born in Lanca-
shire, England, about the year 1667, of
pious parents, who were among the ear-
liest to embrace the doctrines of George
Fox. He was educated for the medical
profession, but declined the practice of
it, and entered into trade, which he
pursued in his native country till the
year 1713, when, with his wife Pru-
dence and four children, he migrated
to Philadelphia, but before the close
of 1714 removed to Chester. His cer-
tificate was from the Monthly Meeting
of Hartshaw, Lancashire, and testifies
as well to the excellency of his charac-
ter as to his services in the ministry.
The people of Chester County were not
slow to discover the merits of this new
comer among them. He was appointed
a justice of their Court, and also chosen
a member of the Provincial Council.
About the year 1726 he removed to the
banks of the Susquehanna, at that time
almost a perfect wilderness. When
Lancaster County was organized in
1729, he was the presiding justice of
the first Court, and continued to hold
that ofiice till 1741. About this time,
among the arbitrary measures adopted
by Governor Thomas, was the enlist-
ment of servants into the military ser-
vice. Against this the honest Quaker
spoke so freely as to induce his Excel-
lency to determine upon his removal
from office. Wright, learning the in-
tention of the Governor, in his charge
to the Grand Jury, took occasion to
discuss the principles of government.
This document, remarkable for its
ability, closes in these words :

" And now to conclude, I take my
leave in the words of a judge of Israel:
'Here I am, witness against me; whom
have I defrauded ; whom have I op-
pressed; or of whose hands have I re-
ceived any bribe to blind my eyes
therewith ? and I will restore it.' " -He
died in 1751, aged eighty-four years,
highly esteemed as a member of the
community and as a preacher in the
Society of Friends.

/Yarnall, Peter, was the son of
Mordecai Yarnall, a worthy Quaker
preacher of Philadelphia. After re-
ceiving a moderately good school edu-
cation, he was placed out to learn a
trade; but, differing with his master,
at the age of eighteen years, he left
him, and enlisted in the military ser-
vice, from which, after some trouble,
his friends obtained his release. After
arriving at age, he commenced the
study of medicine; but upon the revolt
of the American Colonies in 1776, he
entered the American service, acting
generally as Surgeon's mate in various
divisions of the army and in several
hospitals. Towards the close of 1718
his health failed to such a degree that
he was dismissed from the service at
his own request. He again resumed
the study of medicine ; and in February,
1779, the College of Medicine of Phila-
delphia conferred on him the degree
of Doctor of Medicine. He immedi-
ately resumed his connection with the
military service, and sailed as Surgeon's
mate on board of the privateer ship De-
laware. He returned in the following
June, and attended strictly to the prac-
tice of the Pennsylvania Hospital. A
change now came over his religious
feelings, he again united himself with
the Quakers, and in 1780 appeared in
the ministry. About this time he re-
moved to Concord township, and esta-
blished himself in the practice of medi-
cine. In 1782 he married Hannah, the
daughter of Benjamin Sharpless, of
Middletown. He continued to reside
in Concord till 1791, when he removed
to Horsham, Montgomery County,where
his wife died in 1795. In 1797 he mar-
ried Hannah Thornton, of Byberry, but
died in 1798, aged forty-five years.
Peter Yarnall was a man of ability,
was skilful as a physician, and became
eminent as a minister o?f the gospel
among Friends.

518

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Yarnall, Philip. The name of
Philip Yarnall, a native of England, oc-
curs as a member of Darby Monthly
Meeting of Friends as early as 1684.
While he remained unmarried, he pro-
bably resided with his brother Francis,
on rented land, in Springfield town-
ship. In 1694, he married Dorothy
Baker, a daughter of Joseph Baker, of
Edgmont, when, it is supposed, he went
to Edgmont, to reside on land he pur-
chased soon after his arrival here. His
children were, John, Philip, Job, Sarah,
Benjamin, Thomas, Nathan, Samuel,
Rebecca and Mary. He died in 1734,
and his wife in 1743.

Yarnall, Francis, probably immi-
grated with his brother Philip in 1684,
and at first settled in Springfield town-
ship on rented land. He was for a
time a member of Darby Monthly
Meeting of Friends, but subsequently
belonged to that of Chester. In 1686
he married Hannah Baker, a daughter
as is believed of Joseph Baker, of Edg-
mont. In 1708 he resided in Chester
borough. He was a man of consider-
able influence in the community, and
in 1711 represented Chester County in
the Provincial Assembly. His children
were, Sarah, John, Peter, Moses, Fran-
cis, Joseph, Amos and Mordecai.

Yearsly, John, with his wife, son
John and four daughters, migrated from

Middlewith, County of , England,

in 1700, and settled in Thornbury
township. His son John intermarried
with Sarah Conway, and his daughter
Elizabeth with Moses Key, who ap-
pears to have immigrated with the fa-
mily. They were all in membership
with Friends. John died in 1708.

Yeates, Jasper, came from York-
shire, England, and settled within the
limits of Delaware State. He married
Catharine, daughter of James Sande-
landes, and afterwards resided for a
long time in Chester, and while re-
siding there sometimes represented
New Castle County in the Assembly.
After the separation of the lower coun-
ties, he was a representative and
speaker of their Assembly ; was a jus-
tice of the Provincial Court in 1709-10,
and at the time of his death, which
happened about the year 1720, he was
a member of Council. Though brought
up to the law, he appeared fond of
speculation and traffic. He was resid-
ing in Chester 1697, when he purchased
the mills and property at the mouth
of Naaman's Creek, and about that
time purchased lands in Chester, built
extensive granaries on the creek, and
established a large bakery. He was
not, however, fortunate in his specula-
tions. He was the grandfather of Jus-
tice Yeates of the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania.

Yzzard Michael, was a taxable in
the district of Upland as early as 1677,
and served the office of under sheriff
for Upland County for some time pre-
vious to 1679, as successor to Jurian
Hartsvelder, when he resided in Up-
land. His residence subsequently was
on the west side of Chester creek, in
the upper part of Chester township.
He served as a juror at the first court
under Penn's government. He was a
carpenter by trade, and removed to
Philadelphia prior to 1686. It is not
known that he was a Quaker.

AP PENDIX.

NOTE A.— Page 36.

DONATION TO GOV. JOHN PRINTZ OF TENEKO OR NEW GOTTEN-
BURG IN NEW SWEDEN, AS A PERPETUAL INHERITANCE FOR
HIM AND HIS LAWFUL HEIRS.

" Stockholm, Nov. 6. 1643.
" We Christina &c. Make known that as grace and particular favor, on account
of the long and excellent services, which the Lieutenant Colonel and Governor
of New Sweden our very dear and beloved John Printz has rendered to us and
to the Crown of Sweden and also on account of those which he is daily render-
ing to us in the government of the country, and which he is engaged to render
to us as long as he shall live ; we have given and granted, and by virtue of this
letter patent, do give and grant to him the said John Printz and his lawful heirs,
the place called Teneko or New Gottenburg, in New Sweden, to enjoy it, him
and his lawful heirs, as a perpetual possession. In regard to which accordingly
let them regulate themselves, who owe to us submission and obedience, and
whose desire and duty requires them to fulfil our will, especially those who may
in future, be appointed to replace him in said situation not giving to the said
John Printz or to his lawful heirs any obstacle or prejudice in any manner,
whether now or hereafter. In faith of which &c. Day and year above
" Peter Brake Gustavus Horn

a. oxenstierna charles fleming

G. Oxenstierna"

NOTE B.— Page 59.

DONATION TO CAPTAIN JOHN AMUND30N BESH, OF A TRACT OF
LAND IN- NEW SWEDEN.

"Stockholm, August 20th, 1653.
" We Christina &c, make known that by grace and favor, and in consideration
of the zeal and fidelity with which we have been served, ourselves and the crown
of Sweden, by our very faithful subject, the brave and courageous Capt. John
Amundson Besh, and further the crown of Sweden, with similar zeal and fidelity
so long as he shall live and his strength permit him ; we accord and grant, and
by these letters patent, have accorded and granted, to himself, his wife, and to
his heirs and their heirs, a tract of land situated in New Sweden extending to
Upland Kyll, together with all the dependencies and commodities thereto apper-
taining, whether upon the land or upon the water of whatever name ; without
excepting what has always belonged thereto, which ought to belong by right or
laws or legal decision ; to keep and possess the same forever as his own invio-
lable property. According to which, let all whom it may concern, regulate
themselves ; offering the said Besh, his wife and heirs neither obstacle or preju-
dice of any kind whatever, now or hereafter, — in faith of which &c. &c. Given
as above

" Christina

"N. Tungel."

520 APPENDIX. — NOTE C.

NOTE C— Pages 116, 117, 178.
Secretary of State's office, Albany, Abstract of Patents vol. ii. p. 54, June 18th, 1668.

To Israel Helme, Hendrick Jacobson, Ole Kock & Jan Minsterman, to con-
firm to them " a portion of land on West side of Delaware River within the mill
Kill upon the Hook commonly called Calcoone Hook, reaching from the said mill
Kill to that which is called by the Indians Mokornippates, including all the
lands between the said two Kills, as also the valley or meadow ground there-
unto belonging, containing by estimation as it lies along the river [creek] side
about an English mile, and there being also in the said Mill Kill, a certain little
Island, near unto and over against the said land known by the name of ' hay
Island,' as the said land was granted, Aug. 4th 1663 to Ericke Nichels, Moorty
Poulson, Andries Johnson & Henry Jacobson — the three former of whom after-
wards parted with their rights thereto."

Same Book, p. 57, August 4th, 1668.

To Jurian Kene, to confirm to him three lots of land in his possession, " lying
in Upland on the West side of Delaware river, bounded on the West by Upland
Kill or creek & on the East with the ministers land on the north with Villus
Lacies & on the South with Hans Jurieansen — as also a^piece of land formerly
called Smiths Point, lying on the North side of Upland, which in the whole
amounts to about acres of ground, together with a piece of meadow,

which runs from the Smith's point, South East to the river, being bounded on
the North East with Israel Helmes & on the South West side with Villus lattie."
[The blank is in the record.]

Same Book and page. August 6th, 1668.

To James Sandilands, to confirm to him, "two lots of land in Upland at
Delaware, upon the North side of the creek or Kill next and adjoining to Israel
Helmes & Jost Danielsens land & bounded with Villus Latie, containing in
breadth six and thirty yards, as laid out by the officers at Delaware."

Same Book and page, April 8th, 1669.

To Rev. Laurenty Caroly, minister to the Swedes, a piece of land at Delaware
held by him and " lying on the North East side of Upland Kill beginning from
the river side along by the Kill in breadth to the lot of Jan Daniells about 27
Rod, in length along the River side to a small Kill called Prissers Kill, about
three hundred Rod, being about equal breadth behind and before & amounting
in all to about two or three & thirty acres or about 16 morgen, more or less."
[The dimensions will make more than fifty acres.]

Same Book, p. 61. October 1st, 1669. Also, York Book, in the records at Dover,

p. 192.

To Andrew Carr, & Margaret his wife, formerly the wife of Joost De la Grange,
deceased, to confirm to them " a certain Island in Delaware river called by the
name of Matiniconck, containing by estimation three hundred acres more or
less, the said Island lying about 6 Dutch miles up the river from the town of
Newcastle, bounded on the Northwest with the Mill Kill, on the South by the river
& on the North East or North & by East with Bow kill." — [Mrs. Papegoya re-
gained possession of Tinicum against this title, but it was subsequently sustained
in a suit brought after the establishment of Penn's government.]

Recorder's Office, Dover, Del., "York Book." "Day of 167 "

"Edmund Andros, Esq., &c , Whereas there is a certaine tract of land called
Marreties Hooke, lying and being on the West side of Delaware River, the which
by virtue of a Warrant, hath been layd out for Charles Jansen, OUe Rawson, Olle

APPENDIX. — NOTE C. 521

Nielson, Hans Hoprnan, John Hendrickson and Hans Olleson. the said land being
bounded as followeth (vizt) beginning at a small point of highland within the
mouth of Naamans Creeke and from thence running North and by West one
hundred and twenty-three perches, bounded with the Creeke to a corner marked
white oak by the Creeke side at the mouth of a small branch, and from thence
East and by North (bounded with the sd branch and with a line of marked trees,
from the head of the branch to a corner markt Spanish oak, standing by a small
run) three hundred and eight perches, from thence North North East (along the
run) thirty two perches to a corner marked white oak standing at the side of Mari-
ties Creeke at the lower side of the mouth of the sd run, and from thence down the
several courses of the Creeke to the maine River side & from thence down along the
river side to the place of beginning at the mouth of Naamans Creeke containing
and layd out for one thousand acres of land as by return of the survey under the
Surveyor, doth and may appear. Now know ye &c." Quit-rent 10 bushels — .
[The date is left blank in'the patent, but the survey, which is recorded at Har-
risburg in an old book of surveys, page 18, is dated the 27th of July, 1675. It
is mentioned in the survey that the land " was formerly granted unto the said
persons in the time of the Dutch Government."]

Secretary of State's Office, Albany. Abstract of Patents, vol. ii. p. 63. October

1st, 1669.

To Peter Cock " to confirm to him a certain Island in the Delaware Paver now
in his occupation lying in a kill which runs into the Scholekill and by tides into
the main river containing by estimation twenty-five Morgen or fifty acres of im-
provable land besides broken land, which said broken land is bounded by the
main river on the East and by South by the Scholekill on the north and by East
and by Andries Rown's [Boon's] kill on the West * * as formerly granted by
Governor Stuy vesant to the said Peter Cock * *." [This is now known as Pro-
vince Island. ]

Same Book, p. 64. June 13th, 1670.

To James Sandilands, a grant to him " of a lot of land at Delaware * * *
lying in Upland, bounded on the South West by the kill, on the Northeast by
the land of Niels Lawson, on the East by Jurian Keen's land and North and by
West by the lands of Niels Matson, containing by estimation five acres of ground —
as also another piece of land bounded by the kill as above, North & West by the
land of Jurian Keene and on the South East ^y the land of Lawrence Lock."

Same Book, p. 65. June 13th, 1670.

To Neals Matson, a grant of " a piece of land in the Delaware bounded on the
South East with the river called Delaware River and on the North-east with the
creek * * called Crum kill or creek, on the South West with Claus Andries land
and riming into the woods directly North West containing by estimation one
hundred acres or fifty morgen."

From an old Book of Surveys, Surveyor General's Office, Harrisburg, p. 16.

"Surveyed: the 30th day of July 1675. John Johnston, James Justason &
Peter Hendrickson : Five hundred and fifty Acres of land, situate on the West-
ward side of Delaware River: adjoining to the said River side betwen two creeks,
the one called Marrityes Creek, dividing this from ye land of Marityes Hook and
the other called Harwicks Creek, which at the mouth thereof divideth this from
the land called Lemokey, vizt. Beginning at Marityes Creek at the southermost
corner of John Johnson's Cow house, by the side of the path which goeth
through ye swamp to ye lowermost landing of the sd Creek, and from thence
Running by the swamp or Creeple which lieth along by the River side N. E by
N. forty two perches, North Easterly 69 degrees North 13 perches, Northeasterly
79 Degrees (over a swamp) twenty two Perches, N. E. by E 20 perches, N. E.
66 Degrees, 90 perches ; N E. (over a swamp) 16 perches, E. N. E 46 perches,

522 APPENDIX. — NOTE C.

East 35 perches, E. N. E. 60 perches, to Harwicks Creek, then N. 20 perches,
and N. W. by N. 52 perches up to the sa creek ; and from the Creek N. W. by a
line of marked trees 25 perches to a corner marked Black oak standing nigh
unto ye head of a small swamp and from the sd oak running W. S. W. by a line
of marked trees 240 per. to a corner marked Maple standing in a branch of
Marityes Creek and from thence along ye sd branch South Easterly 6 degrees 50
perches to the creek and finally down the several courses of the sd Creek to the
main River side, Conteyneing the said quantity of land, besides the swamp and
sunken ground thereto adjoining. 300 A. part thereof being formerly granted
unto the srt John Johnson, James Justason & John Hendricksen, each 100 A. by
three patents (But not one concurring with the situation of the place) all bear-
ing date the 10th day of April, 1673 (since which time Peter Hendrickson is in-
vested in the right of the said John Hendrickson) and two hundred and fifty
acres, the other part thereof being new land."

Same Book, p. 32.
" Laid out for John Cornelis and Marton Marteson, [Morton Mortonson,] one
piece or parcel of land whereon they now dwell situate lying and being on ye
west side of Delaware River and on a Creek which cometh out of the said River
commonly known and called Amsland or Mill kill, beginning at a small stony
Run which divides this land from Henrick Johnson's and Bartoll Escoll's [land],
Running into the woods, N. W. and by W. 320 p. to corner marked Black oak
standing by a Creek Mockoronipatte, then along the several courses of the creek
to the mouth thereof 320 p. then along the Mill creek to the first place of begin-
ning 300 p. laid out for 728 acres more or less.

'' Per Ed. Cantwell."

Same Book, p. 31.

"October, 1675.

" Laid out for Henrick Johnson and Bartoll Esskells, two pieces or parcels of
land situated lying and being on the west side of Delaware on a Creek running
out of the said river commonly known and called Amsland or Mill creek ; the one
piece of land beginning at a corner of a fench which bounds and parts Henrich
Thaden's land from this land, running N. W. and by W. into the woods 320 p.
to a corner marked white oak, then N. E. and by E. 13U p. to a corner marked
Black oak, then S. S. E. 320 p. to a small stony run which parts John Cornelius
and Marton Marteson [Morton Mortonson] then S. W. and by W. to first place of
beginning 130J perches."

" The other piece or parcel of land, lying and being on the South side of Henrick
Thaden's land, beginning at a corner marked Spanish oak by a run called Stony
run — then running into the woods 320 perches to a corner marked Black oak,
dividing it from Thaden's land, then S. W. and by W. 300 perches to the Crooked
called Crum kille — then along the Crum kill the several courses of the crooked-
kill and swamp to a small Slasse coming out of Crum kill 500 perches, then N. E.
and by E. to the first place of beginning 136£ p. whole piece or parcel of land
being laid out for 154 A. more or less.

"Per Ed. Cantwell."

Same Book. p. 1 9.
"Surveyed the 10th of September 1675 for Henrick Coleman and Peter Putcon, 100
A. of land situate on the Westward side of Delaware River and on the N. W. side
of a Creek called Mill Creek over against Karraconk Hook, being bounded as fol-
loweth, vizt. beginning at a corner marked White oak standing nigh unto the creek
side, being a bounded tree betwixt this land and the land of Calcoon Hook, and
from thence running N. N. W. by a line of marked trees dividing this from the
said Calcoon Hook land 290 perches to a corner marked red oak and from yl oak,
E. N. E. by a line of marked trees 128 perches to a corner marked Black oak
standing on the side of a hill by a branch of the said Creek, called Mohorkoo-
tink, and from thence down ye said branch and creek to the first mentioned
corner oak."

APPENDIX. — NOTE C. 523

Same Book, p. 32.

"September 2, 1675.
lt Laid out for Henrick Thadens, one piece or parcel of land situate lying and
being on the West side of Delaware River & in a Creek commonly called Ams-
land or Mill creek, it being the land whereon .he dwelleth, and between two
pieces of land belonging to Henrick Johnson and Bartoll Esscolls, beginning at a
corner of a Fench which divides this land from the land of Amsland, running
into the woods North W. and by W. 320 perches to a corner marked white
oak, then S. W. and by W. 140 p. to a Black oak, then S. E. and by E. 320 p.
to a Spanish oak standing by the mouth of a Run called Stony run, then N. E.
& by E. 140 p. to the place of beginning. Laid out for 280 Acres more or less."

Same Book, p. 20.

" Surveyed the 20th day of September 1675 for Captain Hans Monson the
tract of land where he now dwells, Oronomink, situate on the westward side
of the Delaware River and on the west side of the Schuylekill, Being bounded as
followeth (vizt.) Beginning at a corner marked white oak standing at yc side of
ye sd Kill above ye mouth of a creek called the great Queen fall ; and from the sd
oak running N. W. by a line of marked trees 173 perches to a corner marked
white oak standing at the side of a small branch of the sd creek ; and from that
oak west by a line of marked trees 222 perches to a corner marked white oak
standing at the head of a branch of Karraconks Mill creek which branch is by
the Indians called Amisseecanminks and from ye said oak running down along
yc sd branch and maine run to another corner marked black oak standing at ye
south side of the sd run or Creek ye distance south westerly 4 degrees by aline of
marked trees 110 perches to a corner marked Black oak standing by a small
swamp and from thence E. S. E. by a line of Marked trees 346 perches to a
corner marked white oak standing on a small point nigh unto ye head of Ink-
horn's creek and from thence along Inkhorn's creek to ye Schuylekill and from
ye mouth of Inkhorn's creek along by y« side of the Schuylekill to ye first men-
tioned corner oak. Conteyning Eleven hundred acres of land— which was for-
merly granted unto the said Captn Monson for 100 A. more or less, by patent
bearing date ye 10* day of March," [year blank.]

[It was on this land the Upland Court directed a mill to be built. It embraces
Maylandville, Gray's Ferry, &c]

Surveyor- General's Office, Patent Book A. 1, p. 329.

^ Patent from Richd Nichols, "Principal Commissioner from his Mag«<^ in
New England * * * Governor-General under his Royall highness James
Duke of York and Albany and all his territories in America and Commander-in-
Chief of all the forces employed by his ma^ to Reduce the Dutch Nation and all
their usurped lands and Plantations under his Maties obedience," for the " piece
of land commonly called or known by the name of Passayunk, situated being
and being at Delaware by the side of the Schuylkill containing by estimacon one
thousand acres be it more or less, Bounded on the South by the main river, on
the west with the Sculkil on the North with the plantacon belonging to Peter
Rambo and upon the East by a parcel of land called Mobbeer Land, do give and
grant unto Robert Ashman, John Ashman, Thomas Jacob, Dunkin Williams,
flrancis V, alker, Thomas Hewelin, ffrederick Anderson, Joshua Jacob, and Thomas
Jacob, their heirs and assigns." (Quit-rent was fixed at 10 bushell of wheat
every year.)

" Given under my hand and seal at ffort James in New York on the Island of
Manhattans the ffirst day of January iu the nineteenth year of his Mai^s Reien
Annoq 3 Dim 1667. • fe

" Richard Nicolls."

" Memorandum before the signing and sealing of this patent, it is resolved
that the first planters viz M> Robert Ashman and his then Associates shall have

524 APPENDIX. — NOTE D.

and enjoy a larger proportion of allotment than others according to their stock
and ability to improve the said land, and in case the above mentioned parties
cannot agree in the division of such lands, Capt. John Carre, Ensign Edmund
Withins and Mr. William Tom shall put a period to any questions hereafter by
causing the lotts to be laid out and Registered, what every mans proportion
amounts unto.

" Richard Nicolls.
" Registered by order of the Govern1,
the day and year above written."

Secretary of State's Office, Albany, Book, " Delaware lands" p. 15.

" Surveyed the 27th of August 1675 for Mr Laurentius Carolis 350 acres of
land, South West side of Delaware being land where ollie Stille hath formerly
dwelt, bounded as followeth, viz. Begins at a corner marked poplar standing
nigh unto the old landing on Olie Stille's creek & from the said poplar running
along by the swamp side wth length along by the river N. E. 62° 144 p. N. E. 18
p., N. by E. 16 p. and N. E. by E. 62°, 98 p. to a corner marked maple standing
by the swamp side and dividing this from the lands of Niels Matson and from
the sd Maple N. W. by a line of marked trees dividing this from the land of ye sd
Niels 338 p. to a corner mkd red oak standing on the ridge between the aforesaid
creek & a creek called Crum Kill & from ye sd oak S. W. 46 p. by a line of Mkd
trees to a corner mkd Red oak standing by a small piece of Marsh at the side of Olle
Stille's creeke and from thence down the several courses of sd creek to the first
mentioned poplar containing the said Quantity

" Walte Wharton

Surveyor Gen."
" by order and appointment of Edmund Cantwell"

" day of A. D. 1676 Confirmed by E Andros

and quit Rent fixed at 3J bushells."

NOTE D— Pages 142, 143.

LIST OF MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY FROM CHESTER COUNTY DOWN TO
THE DIVISION OF THE COUNTY, AND FROM THAT PERIOD,
THOSE WHO REPRESENTED DELAWARE COUNTY.

1682. So far as is known, John Simcock, Thomas Brasey, Ralph Withers,

Thomas Usher.

1683. John Hoskins, Robert Wade, George Wood, John Blunston, Dennis Roch-

ford, Thomas Bracey, John Bezar, John Harding, Joseph Phipps.

1684. Joshua Hastings, Robert Wade, John Blunston, George Maris, Thomas

Usher, Henry Maddock.

1685. John Blunston, George Maris, John Harding, Thomas Usher, Francis

Stanfield, Joshua Fearne.

1686. Robert Wade, John Blunston, George Maris, Bartholomew Coppock,

Samuel Levis, Caleb Pusey.

1687. John Blunston, George Maris, Bartholomew Coppock, Caleb Pusey,

Edward Bezar, Randal Vernon.

1688. 'John Blunston, James Sandeland, George Maris, Robert Pile. Edward

Carter, Thomas Cobourn.

1689. James Sandeland, Samuel Levis, John Bartram, Robert Pile, Jonathan

Hayes.

1690. John Bristow, William Jenkin, Robert Pile, Joshua Fearne, George Maris,

Caleb Pusey.

1691. (Record wanting.)

1692. Philip Roman, George Maris, Bartholomew Coppock, Robert Pile, Caleb

Pusey, Thomas Withers.

1693. John Simcock, George Maris, David Lloyd.

APPENDIX. — NOTE D. 525

1694. David Lloyd (speaker,) Caleb Pusey, Samuel Levis.

1695. John Blunston, Bartholomew Coppock, William Jenkins, Robert Pile

Walter Faucet, Philip Roman.

1696. John Simcock, (speaker,) John Blunston, Caleb Pusey.

1697. John Blunston, (speaker,) Bartholomew Coppock, Thomas Worth, Jona-

than Hayes.

1698. Caleb Pusey, Samuel Levis, Nathaniel Newlin, Robert Carter.

1699. John Blunston, (speaker,) Robert Pile, John Worrilow, Robert Carter

1700. John Blunston, (speaker,) Robert Pile, Richard Ormes, John Hood, Sam-

uel Levis, Henry Lewis.

1701. Joseph Baker, Samuel Levis, Nathaniel Newlin, Nicholas Pile.

1702. John Blunston, Robert Pile, Nathaniel Newlin, Andrew Job.

1703. Nicholas Pile, John Bennet, Andrew Job, David Lewis, Nathaniel Newlin

Joseph Baker, Robert Carter, Joseph Wood.

1704. Nicholas Pile, John Bennet, Nicholas Fairlamb, Joseph Cobourn, John

Hood, Richard Hayes, Joseph Wood, Isaac Taylor.

1705. Nicholas Pile, John Bennet, John Hood, Joseph Wood, Isaac Taylor.

1706. Samuel Levis, Richard Hayes, Francis Chadds, Joseph Baker, Evan Lewi*

John Hood, George Pearce, William Garrett.

1707. Francis Chadds, William Smith, Samuel Levis, Richard Haves, John

Hood, William Garrett, John Bethel.

1708. Daniel Williamson, Samuel Levis, Richard Hayes, John Hood, Thomas

Pearson, William Bartram, Daniel Hoops.

1709. Samuel Levis, Johu Maris, John Hood, Henry Lewis, Daniel Williamson

Daniel Hoops, Richard Hayes, William Smith.

1710. Nicholas Pile, Joseph Baker, William Lewis, John Wood, Nathaniel

Newlin, Ephraim Jackson, Caleb Pusey, Isaac Taylor.

1711. Francis Yarnall, John Bezer, Caleb Pusey, Nicholas Pile, Nathaniel New-

lin, Joseph Baker, Nicholas Fairlamb, David Lllcwellyn

1712. Caleb Pusey, David Lloyd, William Davis, Nicholas Fairlamb, Joseph

Wood, George Harlan, Isaac Taylor, John Maris.

1713. David Lloyd, William Davis, Joseph Baker, Nathaniel Newlin, Nicholas

Fairlamb, Richard Hayes, William Brinton, John Blunston

1714. David Lloyd, Nathaniel Newlin, Nicholas Pile, Evan Lewis, John Miller

Benjamin Mendenhall, Samuel Garrett, Richard Maris. '

1715. David Lloyd, Samuel Garrett, Henry Lewis, Henry Hayes, William Pile

Edward Beazer, Philip Taylor, David Lewis.

1716. David Lloyd, John Blunston, Henry Hayes, Joseph Pennock, David Ham-

John Maris, John Worrell, Henry Oburn.

1717. David Lloyd, Nathaniel Newlin, Richard Hayes, Samuel Garrett, James

Gibbons, John Wood, George Maris, Henry Miller.

1718. David Lloyd, Richard Hayes, Nathaniel Newlin, John Wright, James

Gibbons, Henry Lewis, Henry Oburn.

1719. Isaac Taylor, Joseph Pennock, Moses Key, John Bezer, Nathaniel Newlin

John Maris, James Gibbons, Evan Lewis.

1720. Joseph Pennock, Samuel Levis, Israel Taylor, John Maris, Ralph Pile

Daniel Williamson, David Lewis.

1721. Samuel Levis, Jr., William Pile, Daniel Williamson, Isaac Taylor David

Lewis, Henry Oburn, Nathaniel Newlin, Israel Taylor.

1722. Samuel Levis, Jr., Joseph Pennock, David Lewis, William Pile, Daniel

YV llhamson, Israel Taylor, Nathaniel Newlin, Isaac Taylor

1723. Moses Key, Joseph Pennock, William Webb, Thomas Chandler, David

Lloyd (speaker,) John Crosby, Samuel Levis, Jr., Samuel Nutt
1*24. Moses Key, Joseph Pennock, William Pile, Thomas Chandler, Elisha
Gatchell, John Parry, John Crosby.

1725. Thomas Chandler, David Lloyd, (speaker,) William Webb, John Wright,

Samuel Holhngsworth, William Pusey, George Ascheton, William
Paschall.

1726. David Lloyd, (speaker.) Samuel Nutt, Samuel Hollingsworth, John

V\ right, Richard Hayes, Joseph Pennock, Thomas Chandler, William
Pusey.

526 APPENDIX. — NOTE D.

1727. John Parry, Samuel Hollingsworth, David Lloyd, Thomas Chandler,

John Carter, Daniel Williamson, Simon Meredith, William Webb.

1728. Thomas Chandler, David Lloyd, Samuel Hollingsworth, John Parry,

William Webb, Philip Taylor, John Carter, Henry Hayes.

1729. Caleb Cowpland, Richard Hayes, Joseph Brinton, Thomas Chandler,

Samuel Gilpin, James James, Joseph Pennock.

1730. Henry Pierce, John Taylor, Samuel Levis, John Parry, Thomas Chandler,

Samuel Gilpin, William Webb, Henry Hayes.

1731. Joseph Harvey, John Parry, Samuel Levis, Caleb Cowpland, John Tay-

lor, Joseph Brinton, Henry Pierce, Evan Lewis.

1732. Caleb Cowpland, Joseph Harvey, Joseph Brinton, Thomas Thomas, Wil-

liam Webb, Joseph Pennock, John Davis, William Hewes.

1733. Caleb Cowpland, Joseph Harvey, Joseph Pennock, Joseph Brinton, John

Davis, Thomas Thomas, John Owen, William Moore.

1734. Joseph Harvey, Joseph Brinton, Caleb Cowpland, John Evans, William

Webb, William Moore, John Owen, Joseph Pennock.

1735. Joseph Harvey, William Moore, Joseph Pennock, Caleb Cowpland, John

Evans, John Parry, Joseph Brinton. Thomas Cummings.

1736. Joseph Harvey, Thomas Cummings, John Evans, Caleb Cowpland, Wil-

liam Webb, William Moore, Thomas Chandler, John Parry.

1737. Thomas Chandler, John Harvey, John Evans, Thomas Cummings, William

Moore, James Gibbons, William Hughs, Richard Hayes.

1738. William Moore, James Gibbons, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Harvey, John

Owen, Thomas Tatnall, William Hughs, Jeremiah Starr.

1739. James Gibbons, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Harvey, William Hughs, Jere-

miah Starr, William Moore, Samuel Levis, John Owen.

1740. Thomas Chandler, Joseph Harvey, James Gibbons, William Hughs,

Samuel Levis, John Owen, Jeremiah Starr, Thomas Tatnall.

1741. Same as 1740.

1742. Same as 1740.

1743. Jeremiah Starr, James Gibbons, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Harvey,

Joseph Pennock, Samuel Levis, George Ashbridge, Jr., Francis Yarnall.

1744. George Ashbridge, Francis Yarnall, Joseph Pennock, Samuel Levis,

James Gibbons, Joseph Harvey, Thomas Cummings, Thomas Chandler.

1745. Joseph Pennock, Thomas Cummings, George Ashbridge, Francis Yarn-

all, Robert Lewis, Joseph Harvey, Samuel Levis, Thomas Chandler.

1746. Francis Yarnall, George Ashbridge, Robert Lewis, Thomas Worth,

Samuel Levis, Peter Dicks, Thomas Chandler, John Owen.

1747. Samuel Levis, Francis Yarnall, George Ashbridge, Thomas Worth, Peter

Dicks, John Owen, John Davis, Thomas Chandler.

1748. Thomas Worth, George Ashbridge, Francis Yarnall, John Davis, John

Owen, Joseph James, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Gibbons.

1749. Joseph Gibbons, George Ashbridge, Henry Hockley, Thomas Chandler,

Nathaniel Grubb, Nathaniel Pennock, Roger Hunt, Thomas Cummings.

1750. Same members as 1749.

1751. Joseph Gibbons, Thomas Cummings, George Ashbridge, Nathaniel

Grubb, Peter Dicks, Nathaniel Pennock, Henry Hockley, Thomas
Chandler.

1752. Joseph Gibbons, Thomas Cummings, Nathaniel Pennock, Peter Dicks,

George Ashbridge, Nathaniel Grubb, William Peters, Jacob Howell.

1753. Thomas Cummings, Nathaniel Pennock, George Ashbridge, Joseph Gib-

bons, Nathaniel Grubb, Peter Dicks, William Peters, Joseph Jones.

1754. Members of 1753 re-elected.

1755. Same members re-elected.

1756. Joseph Gibbons, Peter Dicks, John Morton, Roger Hunt, George Ash-

bridge, Hugh Trimble, Nathaniel Pennock, Nathaniel Grubb.

1757. Joseph Gibbons, George Ashbridge, John Morton, Roger Hunt, Isaac

Wayne, Nathaniel Grubb, Hugh Trimble, Joshua Ash.

1758. The members of 1757 re-elected.

1759. John Morton, George Ashbridge, Joshua Ash, Joseph Gibbons, Hugh

Trimble, Roger Hunt, Peter Dicks, Isaac Wayne.

APPENDIX. — NOTE D. 527

1760. George Ashbridge, John Morton, Roger Hunt, Joshua Ash, Joseph Gib-

bons, Nathaniel Pennock, Isaac Wayne, William Boyd.

1761. George Ashbridge, Joseph Gibbons, Nathaniel Pennock, Joshua Ash,

Isaac Pearson, John Morton, Isaac Wayne, Roger Hunt.

1762. George Ashbridge, Nathaniel Pennock, Joshua Ash, Isaac Pearson, John

Morton, Isaac Wayne, Joseph Gibbons, John Jacobs.

1763. George Ashbridge, Joshua Ash, Isaac Pearson, John Morton, Isaac

Wayne, Joseph Gibbons, John Jacobs.

1764. George Ashbridge, John Morton, Nathaniel Pennock, Joshua Ash, Isaac

Pearson, Charles Humphreys, John Jacobs, John Fairlamb.

1765. Same members re-elected.

1766. John Morton, George Ashbridge, Nathaniel Pennock, John Jacobs,

Charles Humphreys, Isaac Pearson, Joshua Ash, John Minshall.

1767. Isaac Pearson, Charles Humphreys, John Sellers, George Ashbridge,

John Minshall, Jonas Preston, John Jacobs, John Sellers, Nathaniel
Pennock.

1768. John Jacobs, Nathaniel Pennock, George Ashbridge, Charles Humphreys,

John Sellers, John Minshall, Isaac Pearson, John Crosby.

1769. George Ashbridge, Charles Humphreys, Isaac Pearson, John Sellers,

John Jacobs, John Minshall, John Crosby, John Morton.

1770. Same members re-elected.

1771. Same members re-elected.

1772. Charles Humphreys, Isaac Pearson, John Morton, John Jacobs, John

Minshall, James Hockley, George Ashbridge, Benjamin Bartholomew.

1773. Isaac Pearson, Benjamin Bartholomew, John Jacobs, Charles Humphreys,

John Morton, James Gibbons, John Minshall, Joseph Pennock.
17 74. Benjamin Bartholomew, John Jacobs, Charles Humphreys, John Morton,
James Gibbons, Joseph Pennock, Isaac Pearson, Anthony Wayne.

1775. Same members except Joseph Pyle, was elected in the place of Anthony

Wayne.

1776. John Jacobs, Caleb Davis, Joseph Gardiner, John Fulton, Samuel Cun-

ningham, John Sellers.

1777. Joseph Gardiner, John Fulton, Samuel Cunningham, John Culbertson,

Lewis Gronow, Stephen Cochran.

1778. John Fulton, Joseph Gardiner, Patrick Anderson, John Culbertson,

Stephen Cochran, John Flemming.

1779. David Thomas, Henry Hayes, John Fulton, James Boyd, Patrick Ander-

son, Joseph Parke, William Harris, Sketchley Morton.

1780. David Thomas, Henry Hayes, William Harris, Joseph Parke, James Boyd,

Patrick Anderson, John Culbertson, Evan Evans.

1781. Percifor Frazer, John Culbertson, Thomas Maffat, Evan Evans, John Han-

num, James Moore, Patrick Anderson, John Lindsay.

1782. Percifor Frazer, Thomas Strawbridge, David Thomas, Benjamin Brannan,

John Lindsay, Thomas Maffat, James Boyd, Evan Evans.

1783. David Thomas, Evan Evans, John Hannum, Joseph Parke, Richard Wil-

ling, Thomas Potts, Thomas Bull, Edward Jones.

1784. Richard Willing, Anthony Wayne, Edward Jones, Robert Ralston, James

Moore, Joseph Strawbridge, Percifor Frazer, Thomas Potts, Charles
Humphreys.

1785. Anthony Wayne, Robert Ralston, James Moore, Thomas Bull, John Han-

num, Robert Smith, Samuel Evans, Jonathan Morris.

1786. James Moore, Richard Willing, Robert Ralston, Samuel Evans, Richard

Thomas, Townsend Wheelen.

1787. Same members re-elected.

1788. Richard Thomas, James Moore, Mark Willcos, John McDowell, Caleb

James, Richard Downing, Jr.

528

APPENDIX. — NOTE D.

MEMBERS OF THE SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ELECTED IN
DELAWARE COUNTY.

1790. John Sellers, for four years.

1794. Nathaniel Newlin, for two years.

1796. " " for four years.

1800. John Pearson, for four years.

1804. William Pennell, for four years.

1808. Jonas Preston,

1812. John Newbold,

18 1G. Maskell Ewing,

1824. John Kerlin,

1828. " "

1832. George Smith,

1836. Henry Myers, elected for four years. "I

1839. John*T. Huddleson, three " J

1848. H. Jones Brooke,

1854. James J. Lewis,

1860 Jacob S. Serrill,

In a district with the City of
Philadelphia.

In a district with Chester County.

In a district with Chester and
Montgomery Counties.

In a district with Chester County.

MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY REPRESENTING THE
COUNTY OF DELAWARE FROM 1789 TO 1862.

MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

1790-91.

1791-92.

1792-93.

1793-94.

1794-95.

1795-96.

1796-97.

1797-98.

1798-99.

1799-1800

1800-01.

1801-02.

1802-03.

1803-04.

1804-05.

1805-06.

1806-07.

1807-08.

Hugh Lloyd,
Richard Riley.
Nathaniel Newlin,
Hugh Lloyd.
Joseph Gibbons,
Wm. West.
Nathaniel Newlin,
Wm. West.
Jonas Preston,
Wm. West.
Jonas Preston,
Wm. West.
Jonas Preston,
Wm. West.
Jonas Preston,
Moses Palmer.
Jonas Preston,
Moses Palmer.
. Jonas Preston,
Moses Palmer.
Moses Palmer,
Jonas Preston.
Benjamin H. Smith,
Jonas Preston.
Benjamin H. Smith,
Isaac G. Gilpin.
Wm. Pennell,
Benjamin H. Smith.
Wm. Pennell,
Wm. Trimble.
Wm. Trimble,
Wm. Pennock.
Wm. Pennock,
Wm. Trimble.
Wm. Pennock,
Wm. Trimble.

1808-09.
1809-10.
1810-11.

1811-12.

1812-13.

1813-14.

1814-15.

1815-16.

1816-17.

1817-18.

1818-19.

1819-20.

1820-21.

1821-22.

1822-23.
1823-24.
1824-25.
1825-26.
1826-27.
1827-28.
1828-29.
1829-30.

Thomas Smith,
Wm. Trimble.
Thomas Smith,
Wm. Pennock.
Wm. Pennock,
Thomas Smith.
Wm. Pennock.
Thomas Smith.
Wm. Cheyney,
John Thompson.
Wm. Cheyney.
John Thompson.
Samuel Edwards,
Wm. Cheyney.
Samuel Anderson,
Samuel Edwards.
Samuel Anderson,
Wm. Cheyney.
Samuel Anderson,
Wm. Cheyney.
Wm. Cheyney,
John Kerlin,
John Kerlin.
Thomas Robinson,
George G. Leiper,
Abner Lewis.
John Lewis,
Wm. Cheyney.
Samuel Anderson.
Abner Lewis.
Abner Lewis.
Samuel Anderson.
Joseph Engle,
Wm. Martin.
Edward Siter.
Samuel Anderson.

APPENDIX.

— NOTE D.

1830-31.

John Lindsay.

1847.

Sketchley Morton.

1831-32.

Samuel Anderson.

1848.

James J. Lewis.

1832-33.

Samuel Anderson.

1849.

James J. Lewis.

1833-34.

Samuel Anderson.

1850.

John M. Broomall.

1834-35.

Samuel Anderson.

1851.

John M. Broomall.

1835-36.

Wm. Mendenhall,

1852.

Jonathan P. Abraham

1836-37.

John Hinkson,

1853.

Jonathan P. Abraham

1837-38.

John Edwards.

1854.

Thomas H. Maddock.

1839.

John K. Zeilin.

1855.

Charles D. Manley.

1840.

Joshua P. Eyre.

1856.

Hiram Cleaver.

1841.

Joshua P. Eyre.

1857.

Thomas P. Powell.

1842.

H. Jones Brooke.

1858.

William D. Pennell.

1843.

H. Jones Brooke.

1859.

William D. Pennell.

1844.

John Larkin, Jr.

1860.

Cbalkley Harvey.

1845.

John Larkin, Jr.

1861.

William Gamble.

1846.

Sketchley Morton.

529

LIST OF THE SHERIFFS OF CHESTER COUNTY UNTIL THE COUNTY

WAS DIVIDED.

1681.

John Test.

1744.

John Owen.

1682.

Thomas Usher.

1747.

Benjamin Davis.

1683.

Thomas Withers.'

1750.

John Owen.

1684.

Jeremy Collett.

1752.

William Hay. —

1685.

Thomas Usher.

1753.

Isaac Pearson.

1687.

Joshua Fearne.

1756.

John Fairlamb.

1689.

George Foreman.

1759.

Benjamin Davis.

1691.

Caleb Pusey.

1762.

John Fairlamb.

1693.

Joseph Wood.

1765.

Philip Ford.

1697.

Andrew Job.

1767.

John Morton.

1700.

John Hoskins.

1770.

Jesse Maris.

1708.

John Simcock.

1773.

Henry Hayes.

1709.

John Hoskins.

1775.

Nathaniel Vernon.

1715.

Henry Worley.

1777.

Robert Smith.

1718.

Nicholas Fairlamb.

1779.

David Mackey.

1720.

John Taylor.

1781.

John Gardiner.

1731.

John Owen.

1783.

William Gibbons.

1733.

John Parry.

1785.

William Gibbons.

1742.

Benjamin Davis.

1787.

Ezekiel Leonard.

SHERIFFS OF DE

LAWARE COUNTY.

1789.

Nicholas Fairlamb.

1831.

William Baldwin died in office,

1792.

James Barnard.

and Charles Baldwin served

1795.

Abraham Dicks (two terms.)

till November, 1834.

1798.

John Odenheimer.

1834.

Samuel A. Price.

1801.

Matthias Kerlin, Jr.

1837.

Evans S. Way.

1804.

John Odenheimer.

1840.

John Larkin, Jr.

1807.

Richard P. Lloyd.

1843.

Samuel Hibberd.

1810.

Isaac Cochrane.

1846.

Robert R. Dutton.

1813.

Daniel Thompson.

1849.

Jonathan Esrey, died in office,

1816.

Robert Fairlamb.

and Henry F. Esrey served till

1819.

Samuel Anderson.

November, 1851.

1822.

Joseph Weaver.

1851.

Aaron James.

1825.

John Hinkson.

1854.

John M. Hall.

1828.

Jehu Broomhall.

1857.

Jonathan Vernon.

1860.

Norris L. Yarnall.

34

530 APPENDIX. — NOTE E.

NOTE E.— Page 205.

William Penn, True & Absolute Propr & Govern1" in Chiefe of the Province of
Pensilvania & Terri'es thereunto belonging:

To all to whom these p'sents shall come, Sendeth Greeting :

Whereas, the {freeholders & Inhabitants of the lower parts of the county of
Chester, on the river Delaware in the sd Province, through a laudable desire &
inclination of improving the sd parts, by setting more close together, & enlarge-
ing of commerce, have humbly besought mee that I would erect into a market
town a certain comodious place, well situated for that purpose, aforetime
comonly called Markets Hook, with the privilidges of a Fair & Weekly Market
to be held therein :

Know Ye, therefore, That I, favoring the just & reasonable request of the sd
ffreehoklers & inhabitants, by virtue of the powers by the King's Letters Patent,
to me & my heirs given & granted, have erected, & do, for me, my heirs & suc-
cessors, by the tenour of these p'sents, erect into a Market Town the sd place,
aforetime called Mahccs Hook, or such part thereof as is hereinafter described,
under the bounds & limits hereinafter menton'd . That is to say, all that tract or
space of ground lying & being situate on the river Delaware : Beginning at the
upper point of the land of Jonas Sandilands upon the river & extending along
the sd river to the lower point of the land of Nathaniel Lamplugh, about two
hundred & fifty perches, be it more or less : and from the river Dellaware extend-
ing backwards about one thousand feet, by lines at right angles with the river,
from the sd two points to the sixty foot road leading to Chester ; which town, as
above bounded, I will shall be called Chichester, as of late it hath vsually been
called, and I doe hereby grant unto the inhabitants of the sd town free ingress
and egress, by land & by water, to & from the sd town, through all parts of this
Province & Terr'ies: As also, to lay out all such streets, highways, lanes, alleys
& passages in the sd town, as to them shall seem meet & convenient to lay out
for the accomodation thereof; & more especially, that there shall be one street
called ffront street, leading from the upper to the lower part of the sd town: The
whole length of the sd town ; bounded to the north north-west, with a line
paralell to the river, at the distance therefrom that Wm Clayton's dwelling house
now stands, & in breadth fifty foot : Also, one other street called Broad street,
beginning at the sd ffront street, on the east north-east side of the sd House of
Wm Clayton, running in a direct line north north-west, one thousand fleet, or
thereabouts, to the sd sixty foot road leading to Chester, & in breadth the same
distance that now is between the sd Wm Clayton's House, & the house now of
Roger Jackson, for the length of two hundred and fourteen feet ; & at the extent
of the sd two hundred and fourteen feet there shall be a Publick Market Place,
in breadth one hundred and forty feet, & in length along the Broad street two
hundred and thirty feet; & from the sd Market place to the sixty foot road
aforesd, the sd Broad street shall be in breadth one hundred feet : Also, one other
street called New street, in breadth twenty-five foot, beginning at the sd ifront
street, at the distance of ffour hundred & twenty foot to the east north-east of
Broad street & running in a direct line north north-west, to the sa sixty foot
road : Also one lane, called Market Lane, in breadth thirty foot, beginning at
the sd New street, ffour hundred & fourteen feet from the ffront street & running
parralell to the sd front street, three hundred eighty-three feet into the Market
Place : Also, one other lane, called Discord Lane, in breadth thirty foot, begin-
ning at the south corner of the Market Place, & runing west south-west, paralell
to the sd Front street, to the outhermost bounds of the town ; which sd streets,
Market Place, & lanes, I do hereby grant & confirm for the sd publick vses for-
ever, together with all other such streets, squares, alleys or passages as now are
or hereafter shall be laid out as *aforesd, reserving always to all persons whatso-
ever all the right & inheritance which they now have or hereafter may have or
lawfully claim in or to any lands or lotts within the bounds or limits aforesd, the
publick streets, ways, lanes, alleys & Market Place only excepted. And I doe
further, for me, my heirs & successors, grant to the sd inhabitants and ffree-
holders, to have, hold & keep a free market in the sd Market Place, on the sixth

APPENDIX. — NOTE E. 531

day of every week, forever, with ffree leave & liberty, to & for the sd inhabitants
& all others who shall resort thither to buy & sell on the sd sixth day of every
week at the said place, all manner of provisions & other necessaries for life, with
the rights, privilidges & immunities whatsoever that to a free market, according
to the comon customs & vsages of England do belong: For the better regula-
tion of which Market, 1 do hereby constitute & appoint Walter Marten dark
thereof, to be succeeded, in case of death, removal from the sd place, or other
incapacity by such person & persons in the sd office forever, as two Justices of
the Peace of the county of Chester, dwelling in or nearest to the sd town, toge-
ther with six of the chiefe inhabitants thereof, to be chosen in the Market Place,
by the freeholders of the town & township of Chichester, shall appoint,
with full power to the sd Walter Marten & his success1', to be appointed as
aforesd, to discharge all the parts & duties of the sd office of Clark of the market,
as ffully & amply, to all intents & purposes, as any other Clark of the Market
within this Governm* may or can: And, for the greater incouragement of trade
to the sd town, by the resort of persons from remoter parts, I doe further
grant to the sd inhabitants, {freeholders & others, ffull power & liberty To Have,
Hold & Keep a PUBL1CK FAIR, to be held on the nine & twentieth day of Sep-
tember, & on ye two days ffollowing, in every year, for all lawful wares & mer-
chandizes in the sd Market Place, and for horse & cattle in the upper part of
Broad street, adjoyning the sd Market Place : Provided, That there shall be no
unlawful sports, plays, gaming, revelling, drunkenness or debauchery, nor any
other disorders, nor loose & idle practises tolerated in the sd ffair, in any part or
place thereof, or in the sd town, by reason of the sd fair, at any time whatsoever ;
nor any ale, wine, rume, or other strong liquors, sold in the sd fair, but in the
usual] dwelling houses of the sd town : And for the better regulation of the sd
fairs, and preservation of good orders therein, I doe hereby constitute & appoint
Walter Marten & Phillip Roman Wardens of the sd ffair, to be, in case of death,
removall from the sd place, or other incapacity, succeeded by such two persons
in the sd office, forever, as two Justices of the Peace of the county of Chester,
dwelling in or nearest to the sd town, with twelve of the chiefe freeholders of the
town & township of Chichester (to be chosen as aforesd) shall think fitt to ap-
point, and upon the decease, removall, or other incapacity of any of the sd War-
dens to act any further in their sd office, no fair shall be held in the sd town till
a successor or successrs to the sd Warden or Wardens be duly chosen, according
to the tenor of these p'sents, anything herein coutain'd to the contrary notwith-
standing : And, I doe hereby grant to the sd Wardens & to their successors to
to be elected as aforesd, full power forever to exercise within the sd fairs every,
year, during the time they shall be kept, all necessary jurisdiction & authority
for suppressing of vice, maintaining good order, & regulating all other things
whatsoever within the sd town, to the sd fairs immediately relating :

In Witness Whereof, I have caused these, my Letters to be made Patent:
Witness myself, at Philadelphia, the twelfth day of September, in the thirteenth
year of the reign of William the Third, over England, Scotland, Ffrance and
Ireland, King, &c ; & the one & twentieth of my Goverm' over this Province of
Pensilvania. Annoq d'm, 1701.

WM. Penn..
Recorded ye 17th, 7br, 1701.
By comand of the Propry

& Governr

James Logan, See?.

532 APPENDIX. — NOTE F.

NOTE P.— Pages 208, 211.

EXTRACTS FROM AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE INCORPORATED
SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN
PARTS, &C. ALSO FROM THE JOURNAL OF GEORGE KEITH.

" At the same time, [1704] the Society received a letter from the Vestry of
Chester in Pennsylvania, full of religious sentiment, ' that they did bless God
who had put into the Hearts of so many Charitable persons, to engage in the
great Work of promoting the salvation of such as were so widely removed from
all Convenience of Divine Worship, as they were, till the Christian Charity of the
Society, not only procured a Minister for them, but also supported him.1 This
truly was absolutely necessary, for though in some parts of that province, and
particularly in and about Philadelphia, Abundance of Souls were daily added
to the Church, yet the number of this Parish being small, and the charge of
building their church (not then quite finished,) together with the great scarcity of
money among them since the war with Spain, had quite disenabled them from
taking that Weight from the Society, which otherwise they would have willingly
done. They never before had grounds to hope the Gospel would be Propagated, in
those above all other Foreign Parts, till they found themselves the subjects of the
Society's care." The Society received also letters ******* from the •
Welsh people settled at Radnor, requesting the Corporation with great earnest-
ness to send them Missionaries, and expressing the greatest love and esteem for
the Doctrines and Discipline of the church of England." — p. 53.

" The people of Chester County showed very early zeal to have the Church of
England Worship settled among them. This county is so called because most
of the first Inhabitants of it came from Cheshire in England. Chester, the chief
town of the county is finely situated on the River Delaware, at that place three
miles over ; the Road for Shipping here is very Commodious and safe, and so
large that a Royal Navy might ride there. The People here were stirred up by
Mr. Evans' Preaching to engage in building a church. They erected a very good
Brick Fabrick, one of the neatest on the Continent, and completed it in July
1702, at the sole expence of private subscriptions of the Church Members; it
was opened on St. Paul's Day, and therefore called St. Pauls, and Mr. George
Keith preached the first Sermon in it. The Society appointed the Reverend Mr.
Nicholls Missionary in 1703, he acquainted the Society in 1704, that he found
the People very well inclined to the Church of England, and recommended them
earnestly to the Society's care, on account of their good Disposition, tho they
had not any fixed Minister till now. The people made a subscription of £60 a
year towards Mr. Nicholls' support, and became very regular and constant at
Divine Worship. Mr. Nicholls said he did not want a considerable Congregation
at his first arrival, notwithstanding his being seated in the midst of Quakers,
and ascribes this advantage to the industrious preaching, of the Society's itine-
rant missionaries, the Reverend Mr. Keith, and Mr. Talbot, who had prepared the
People very much by their labours.

" Mr. Jasper Yeates and Mr. James Sandelands, two worthy Gentlemen of this
place, deserved particular mention here; they were the principal promoters of the
building of this Church ; Mr. Thomas Powell gave also a valuable piece of ground
for the minister's garden, the Parishoners contributing the rest; and as soon as
the Outside was completed, the inside was beautified mostly at the Expence of
those who frequented it ; and adorned with decent Furniture, a handsome Pulpit
and Pewes. Mr. Nicholls continued here with good success in his Labours, till
about 1708, at which time he removed to Maryland. The Revend Mr. Ross
came from New Castle and officiated here upon the Peoples Desire. He was
very industrious in his Ministry and acceptable to the People. He moved the
Society to send some good Books here to prevent the Peoples continuing in un-
settled notions of Religion; and said he was much concerned to observe in his
Travels up and down the country that there were a variety of Books sent and
placed in almost every Quaker family, especially Barclay's Apology, to fortifie

APPENDIX. — NOTE F. 533

the People in their errors, and furnish them with arguments against the Truth ■
whereas in the houses of the Church People, few or no books were to be seen!
Upon which the Society has since sent Quantities of bibles, Common Prayers
and Doctrinal Tracts to be dispersed among the People. However the Society
did not continue Mr. Ross at Chester, tho he behaved himself entirely to their
satisfaction, but directed him to remove to New Castle, where he was first ap-
pointed ; and sent to Chester, the Reverend Mr. Humphreys their Missionary.-
He used great Diligence in the serving all parts of his cure, and gained the Love
and Esteem of his Parishoners. There were at that time but very few Missionaries
in that Province, and being obliged to divide themselves among 11 or 12 Con-
gregations, they had more than Employ sufficient. The Church at Chester con-
tinued in a flourishing condition during Mr. Humphrey's Residence. He used to
preach once a month at Chichester, a town of some note, where the people had
built a convenient Chapel, upon his persuasion and promise to attend them once
a month. It is distant four miles from Chester, and there is a Legacy left by
Mr. Jeremiah Collett to the Minister at Chester, to preach four times a year there.
This Chapel is very convenient for aged People Youth and Servants, (who can-
not go so far as Chester,) to come to hear Divine Service. Mr. Humphreys had
a_ congregation, generally, of about 150 people. He used also once a month, to
visit the small neighboring town of Concord, where he had a good number of
people for his Hearers ; who have since for the more decent performance of
Divine Service, a little Church built.

* *

*

" Oxford and Radnor, two Welsh settlements, were first visited by Mr. Evans
from Philadelphia; and the People having been Members of the Church of Eng-
land, when they were transplanted from Wales hither, were desirous of having
that form of worship fixed among them again. By his occasional Sermons, and
the visits of other Clergymen, the People of Oxford were encouraged to build a
neat and convenient Church. The Congregation consisted chiefly of the younger
People, and the whole town composed of about 20 families ; they not only built a
Church, but subscribed also 20£ a year to their minister, in money and country
produce. The people of Radnor also petitioned for a Minister ; and the Society
appointed the Reverend Mr. Club Missionary to Oxford and Radnor, two Towns
being about 20 miles distant from each other. He arrived there in 1714. The
inhabitants of both Towns received him with great kindness, as being well
known to them before; during his being Schoolmaster at Philadelphia; The
people of Radnor especially were very thankful to the Society, for having been
pleased to consider their Wants, and renewed their Promise of giving him their
best Assistance, and presently after his arrival, heartily engaged to build a hand-
some stone Church, which they have since performed. Mr. Club was very ear-
nest in all parts of his Ministerial Office, and very successful in his Labours, and
happy in engaging the love and Esteem of all his people. But the Cure of these
two Churches engaged him in great Fatigue, not only on account of the Distance
between the Places, but because of the Extremity of the Weather, whether hot
or cold. Mr. Club contracted so many indispositions by his Labours, as put an
end to his Life in 1715. The People were so sensible of the Difficulties he under-
went, that after his Death, the Church Wardens of the Parish wrote thus to the
Society : ' Mr. Club, our late Minister, was the first that undertook the Cure of
Oxford and Radnor, and he paid dear for it; for the great Fatigue of riding be-
tween the two Churches, in such dismal ways and Weather as we generally have
for four Months in the Winter, soon put a period to his life.'

"Both Towns wrote again to the Society, requesting another Missionary, the
Society wrote a Letter exhorting them to consider on some proper means among
themselves for making sufficient allowance for a minister to reside constantly
among them. In answer to this they assured the Society, 'they were heartily
disposed to do their best : but at present their circumstances would not do great
things. They were at present but poor Settlers, who had newly settled Land
backwards in the Wilderness, and had not yet so much as their own Habitations
free from Debts ; that indeed they had built Churches, inhopes of having Minis-
ters from the Society ; and had thereby so much incumbered themselves" that it

534 APPENDIX. — NOTE F.

would be some years, in all Probability, before they could clear that debt. The
Society were desirous this good Disposition of the People should not be disap-
pointed, and in 1718, appointed the Reverend Mr. Wayman their Missionary at
Oxford and Radnor. ************** The inhabitants of Ox-
ford purchased a House, Orchard and 63 acres of Land, for the use and Habita-
tion of the minister ; and the People of Radnor have obliged themselves to
contribute 40£, Proclamation money, of that Country, yearly, towards the sup-
port of a Minister to preach to them in Welsh, their Native Language; because
many of them do not understand English. ******"

The following memoranda were extracted from " The Journal of the travels
of the Reverend George Keith, A. M.* from New Hampshire to Caratuck on the
continent of North America."

" Sunday, January 24—1702 [1703. N. S.] I preached at Philadelphia on Mat-
thew, 5. 17, both in the forenoon and afternoon ; Mr. Evans, the Minister of Phi-
ladelphia, having that day been at Chester, in Pennsylvania, to accompany Mr.
Talbot who was to preach the first sermon in the church after it was built,
(p. 59.)

" Feb. 7. Sunday, I preached at Chester in Pennsylvania in the new Church,
on Mat. 16. 18.

" Feb. 9. Tuesday, I preached a second sermon on the same text at Coward
[Concord] in Pennsylvania, at the house of John Hanon [Hannum.]

" Feb 11. I preached a third Sermon on that text at the house of Thomas Powell
in Chester county , both these men, John Hanon [Hannum] and his wife and
Thomas Powell and his wife, had been Quakers, but have become members of
the Church, with divers others of their neighbours.

"Feb. 12. I had a dispute with Mr. Killingworth, an Anabaptist preacher at
the house of Thomas Powell before a great Auditory * * *. This dispute
was about the manner of baptism — ' whether infants of believers are proper sub-
jects of Baptism,' ordination, <fec.

"August 2, 1703. I came to Vpland, alias Chester, by Delaware river, Mr.
Talbot having gone before me to preach there August 1.

"August 3. I preached in the Church at Chester, a second Sermon on Titus
2 — 11, ]2, 13, 14, and had a considerable Auditory: We were kindly enter-
tained at the house of Jasper Yeates there." — (p. 73.)

"Sunday, April 9, 1704. I preached at Chester in Pennsylvania on John, 4.
24, being my last sermon there. — (p. 80.)

Keith's journal was published in London, 1706. He enumerates five Church
of England congregations in Pennsylvania and Delaware, " who are supplied
with Ministers and have convenient Churches." St. Paul's is the only one so
circumstanced in Chester county.

* Mr. Keith is the same person who was formerly a preacher in the Society of Friends, and
after having created a division in that society was disowned as a member. He returned to Eng-
land, became an Episcopalian, took orders in the Church, and now came back to America as a
missionary of the Society, for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts.

APPENDIX. — NOTE G.

535

NOTE G— P^ge 233.

LIST OF TAXABLES RESIDING IN THE SEVERAL TOWNSHIPS NOW
COMPOSING THE COUNTY OF DELAWARE IN THE YEAR 1722,
WITH THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THE REAL ESTATE HELD BY EACH
TAXABLE, AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF TAX ASSESSED IN EACH
TOWNSHIP.

HAVERFORD

RATE.

Lawrence Pearson,

. £40

Richard Hayes, Esq., .

Samuel Lewis, .

Henry Lewis,

John Havard, . . . .

Danl. Humphrey,

David Llewellyn,

£60

60

54

112

112

100

John Hitchkin,
Tho. Thomas,
Richard Iddings, .
John Meridith,
Jacob Jones,
John Griffith,

. 15
. 20
. 26
. 16
. ' .20
. 14

David Lewis, . . . .

100

Humphrey Ellis,

40

NON-RESIDENT

LAND.

John Parry, .

60

Ann Welsh,

. 30

Henry Lawrence,

52

Tax £12 17s

. 2d.

Thomas Lawrence,

52

Edwd. Jones, . . . .

35

RADNOR RATE.

John Thomas, .

24

David Harry,

. 54

Saml. Rees, . . . .

36

Richard Ormes, .

. 20

Rees Price's land in Eastown,

60

Wm. Thomas,

. 30

Thomas David, .

24

David Pugh,

. 20

Walter Lloyd, .

20

Sarah Abram,

. 24

Joseph Lewis, .

16

Hugh David,

. 8

Griffith Evan, .

15

Arthur Jones,

6

Danl. Rees,

28

John David,

. 34

John Thomas,

. 40

NON-RESIDENT LAND.

John Morgan, Jr.,

. 24

Owen Thomas,

15

Richard Richards,

. 24

David Jones,

. 20

FREEMEN.

Jenkin David,

. 36

Thomas Vaughan.

Thomas Thomas,

. 60

John David.

Tax £13 17s. 3d.

Owen Evans,
John Jerman,
David Powell and land

. 36
. 36
in Brandy-

wine,

. 36

NEWTOWN RATE.

Gabriel Davies, .

. 28

Daniel Williamson,

50

John Jones,

. 32

Evan Lewis, and land in Marple,

160

Howell Powell, .

. 14

Wm. Lewis,

100

David James,

. 24

Lewis Lewis, and land in Cain,

70

Thomas Lewis,

. 20

David Thomas, and land in Bran-

Caleb Evans,

. 36

dywine, ....

40

Joseph Williams,

. 16

James Price,

20

Hugh Wilson,

. 16

John Williamson,

50

John Morgan and land

in White-

Henry Lewis,

10

land,

. 54

Thomas Rees,

20

John Samuel,

. 10

Lewis Rees,

16

Edward George, .

. 32

Joshua Thompson,

20

Edwd. Jones,

. 24

John Fawks,

50

Evan Evans,

. 20

Morgan James,

20

David Evans,

. 16

Daniel WmSon, .

24

Evan Stephens, .

. 14

John Rees, .

28

David Thomas,

. 15

Rees Howell,

20

Joseph Jones,

. 34

536

APPENDIX. — NOTE G.

NON-RESIDENT LAND.

Richard Cook,

£12 10s.

Isaac Norris, ... 25 00s.

Joseph Wilcocks, . . 37 10s.
Tax £12. 18s. 9d.

SPRINGFIELD RATE.

Samuel Levis and land in Goshen, 148

Samuel Levis, Jr., . . .49

Richard Maris,

89

George Maris,
John Maris,

77
11

Geo. Maris, Jr., .

29

John Scholar,

30

Samuel Hall,

35

Thomas Kendal, .

38

John Gleave,

18

Isaac Taylor,
Thomas Taylor, .
Thomas Fell,

41
23
30

Richard Woodward,

15

Joseph Taylor,
John Hall, .

13

18

Joseph Yarnall, .
George Lawrence,
John Lea,

27
79
21

Samuel Britain, .

6

INMATES.

John Owen.

NON-RESIDENT LAND.

Thomas Griffiths, 500 acres.
Mordecai Mattock, 500 acres.

FREEMEN.

John Bunten.
Thos. Britain.
Thos. Clark.
Thomas Bird.

Tax £14 lis. lOd.

DARBY RATE.
John Blunston,
John Wood,

Thomas Worth and land,
David Thomas,
Wm. Irish, .
Samuel Bradshaw,
Benjamin Cliff,
Thomas Pulford, .
Abel Pearson,
John Bethel,
Job Harvey,
Obadiah Bonsall for Mills and

plantation,
Edmund Williams,
Richard Parker, and for lands late

of Wm. Smith,

53

84
70
45
17
43
27
27
19
21
64

129
37

97

John Bartram, .... £45
Lewis David, and land in Haver-
ford, ....
Enoch Bonsall,
Josiah Hibberd, .
Joseph Need and John Davis
Wm. Smith and for land in ye

London tract and Great Valley, 123
Edward Smith, . . . .23
Wm. Smith, Jr., .... 34
Daniel Hibberd, and for John Hal-

lowell's plantation, .
Abraham Lewis, and land in Hav

54

39

67

107

21

enuiu, ....

Thomas Philips, .

. 35

Adam Roads and for land, .

. 80

Thomas Lewis,

. 40

William Kirk,

. 33

Samuel Hood,

. 75

John Thomas,

. 27

John Marshall,

. 71

Samuel Sellers, .

. 51

Josiah Fern,

. 61

Thomas Paschall, house,

. 41

Thomas Bradshaw,

. 45

Anthony Morgan,

. 47

Roger Ball,

. 49

Jacob Bonsall,

. 49

John Lewis,

. 18

George Wood,

. 19

Michael Blunston,

. 59

William Wood,

. 37

Samuel Garrett, .

. 117

William Garrett,

. 73

Christopher Spray,

. 17

Isaac Collier,

. 16

Lewis Sponley,

. 11

Matthias Natsalias,

. 39

David Morton,

. 24

Andrew Urin, . - .

. 33

Hance Boon,

. 34

John Broom,

. 47

Wm. Broom,

. 30

Andrew Swanson,

. 11

Isaac Lea, ....

. 9

FREEMEN.

Richard Sirnam.

Joseph Kirk.

Saml. Buntin.

Miles Starn.

James Bartram.

Tax £34 1 Is. Gd.

RIDLEY RATE.

John Sharpless and land, . . 88
John Crosby, and lands in trust
and mills and lands in Middle-
town, . . . . .94

APPENDIX. — NOTE G.

537

Isaac Taylor and his land,

Joseph Harvey,

Andrew Morton,

Doct. Ben. Siincock and land

trust,
-John Tornkins,
John Ocher,
George Van Culin,
John Iden, .
Hance Tonton,
Andrew Tonton, .
Magdalen Hendrickson,
Andrew Mortenson,
Margaret Morton,
Catharine Henrickson,
Joseph Powell,
Enoch Enochson,
Amos Nicholas,
John Wain,
Larence Friend,
Henry Swift,
Thomas Dell,
Sarah Head,
John Morton,
Gabriel Friend,

NON-RESIDENT LAND.

Jonathan Hood, .

Hannah Carpenter,

Joseph Stidman, .

William Smith, John Wood and
John Dutton for the Land Com-
pany,

Henry Torton,

Jonathan Dickinson,

George Taylor.
Thomas Hows.
Joseph Williams.
Thomas Stidwell.

TENANTS.

James Dickens.
Matthias Morton.
Simon Battin.

Tax £15 8s. 6d.

MARPLE RATE
Bartholomew Coppock and land

in Marlborough,
Peter Worrall,
Joseph Powell,
John and George Van Leer,
Joseph Rhoads, .
John Broomfield and land,
Mordecai Massey,
Enoch Pearson, .
Robert Pearson, .

£117

Jonathan Haycock,

£16

59

Robert Taylor,

28

. 46

Richard Sheldon,

29

l

David Morris, . . * .

29

. 43

Mordecai Morris, .

25

. 39

John Worral,

20

. 39

David Jones,

10

. 42

James Trego,

11

. 19

Joshua Worral, .

19

. 21

Thomas Moor,

10

. 27

Isaac Lewis,

18

. 25

. 48

FREEMEN.

. 14

Peter Tomson.

. 36

John Pearson.

. 25

Tax £15 3s.

. 24

9
. 33

CHESTER RATE.

. 31

David Lloyd,

180

5

John Salkeld and land in Sads

. 41

bury, ....

. 40

. 40

John Wright,

. 35

. 18

Jacob Howell,

. 67

. 17

John Baldwin and land in Cain,

94

John Wade,

. 45

Jonas Sandelands,

. 43

. 130

David Roberts,

. 35

. 250

David Willson,

. 21

. 112

Jeremiah Carter, .

. 47

I

Richard Weaver, .

. 38

Mary Baldwin,

8

. 263

Humphrey Johnson,

. 12

. 100

John Scarlet,

. 33

. 14

Thomas Cobourn and Mills, his

share, ....

. 58

Edward Carter, .

. 24

Thomas Philips, .

. 15

John Weldon,

. 38

Jacob Roman,

. 50

John Morrison,

. 36

William Cobourn,

. 12

James Hinds,

. 14

Sarah Hood,

. 38

Isaac Norris and Chester Mills,

. 96

Samuel Gray, .

. 10

Michael Atkinson,

. 20

James Barber,

. 19

Ebenezer Jenkin, .

. 24

Joshua Coupland,

. 24

d

George Bush, poor.

. 54

Edward Danger, .

. 19

. 33

Wm. Taylor,

4

. 43

James Towson, .

2

. 38

Wm. Weldom,

. 24

. 52

John Rimington, .

. 35

. 83

Joseph Roynear, .

. 24

. 48

Joseph Townsend,

. 20

. 15

Thomas Coubourn,

. 26

. 49

Thomas Morgan, .

. 19

538

APPENDIX. — NOTE G.

Thomas Howard,

£9

John Baldwin, Jr., and land al

Middletown,

48

John Minhali;

9

Jonathan Ogden, .

30

Tobias Hendrickson, .

51

John Postlethwait,

20

Caleb Harison,

47

Thomas Logan, .

26

Wm. ffishborn,

37

John Yeats, ....

40

Samuel Bulkley, .

30

James Cregor,

39

George Simpson, .

25

Henry Munday, .

32

Evan Morgan,

47

Richard Marsdon,

20

Robert Barber,

35

Ruth Hoskins, and land in Pickerir

36

John Low, ....

20

Thomas Giffin,

15

John Kid, ....

15

Richard Evans, .

20

Richard Fowler, .

15

FREEMEN.

John Morgan.

Henry Baker.

Joseph Parker.

Thomas Cobourn.

Erasmus Cannut.

Tax £26 Os. bd.

THORNBURY RATE.

George Pearce, and his share in ye

mill, 50

Caleb Pearce, . . . .60
Isaac Taylor and land, . .80

Thomas Evason, . . . .30
Joseph Evason, . . . .24
Richard Woodward, . . .54
John Willis, .... 60

Jonathan Thatcher, . . .54
Henry Naile, . . . .70

Mary Davies, . . . .30
Jonn Yearsley, and land in Wes-

town, . . . . .60
Philip Taylor, . . . .60
Richard Evason, and land in Wes-

town, . . . . .58
Wm. Pyle, and land in Kennet, . 70
Joseph Branton, . . . .60

John Pyle, 60

John Moor and son, and land in

Nantmel, 30

Wm. Branton, Jr., . . .24
Jacob Vernon, . . . .60
Sarah Anderson and son, . .12
John Taylor, . . . .50
John Willis, Jr., . . . .30

FREEMEN.

George Bostock.
Walter Worrilow.

NON-RESIDENT LAND.

Richard Marsh and John Bullow, £187

Wm. Dostock, . . . .60

Matthews Andrews, . . .18

Tax £18 8s. Qd.

EDGMOND RATE.
(Obliterated) Worrall,
Ephraim Jackson,
Philip Yarnall,
Joseph Pennel,
Jonathan Hunter,
David Register,
Sam11 Llewis,
Th° WmSon,
Evan Howell,
Joseph Baker,
John Yarnal,
Philip Yarnal,
Nathan Evans, and land in Tre y

Dyfryn,* .
John Houlston,
Edward Tomson
Joseph Pratt,
Richard Pritchard
Henry Howard,
James Sill, .
Jacob Taylor,
Wm. Adams,
Joseph Bishop,
John Hampton,
Robert Long,
James Sill, .

NON-RESIDENT LAND.

Joseph Carter,
Wm. Griffith,

FREEMEN.

Josiah Arnold.
Edward Grissel.
Wm. Long.

Tax £15 2s. Qd.

CONCORD RATE

Nathaniel Newlin

Nicolas Pyle,

Benjamin Mendenhall and share

in a mill, .
Henry Obourn,
Henry Pearce,
Nic. Newlin,
John Hannam,
Joseph Nicklin,

* Valley Town.

200
70
100
100
72
36
40
20
27
40
36
34

25
35
24
24
26
36
20
20
10
10
10
20
24

30
15

300
80

80
85
63
60
56
43

APPENDIX. — NOTE G.

539

Ben. Mendinghall, Jr
George Lea,
Joseph Edwards,
Thomas Marshall
Peter Hatton,
Wm. Clark,
John Palmer,
John Palmer, Jr.,
Joseph Cloud,
Joseph Cloud, Jr
Matthias Kerl,
Peter Kerl, .
Gordon Walter,
John Newlin,
Nat. Newlin, Jr.,
Robert Chamberlin,
Robert Chamberlin, Jr
James Howerd,
Obediah Johnson
Jonathan Sell,
Henry Grest,
Thomas Broom,
Edward Milson,
Thomas Smith,
John Perkins,
Thomas West,
Ralph Pyle,
Wm. Farr, .
Ralph Evason,
Wm. Armet,
Thomas Downing
Thomas Hall,
Thomas Rositer,
Samuel Gilpin,
David Eacho,
Humphrey Parkin
Wm. Cook, .
Francis Pullin,
Thomas Cook,
Peter Poulson,
Joseph William,

FREEMEN.

Richard farr.
John Hall.
Zorobabel.
Richard Bowater.
John Edwards.
Robert Bennet.
Jeffrey Martin.
Henry Grubb.
Thomas White.

Tax £30 2s. Od.

UPPER AND LOWER PROVI-
DENCE.

£50
32
65
60
60
10
30
40
20
46
30
40
30
90
72
60
24
34
30
15
20
36
22
30
12
50
50
20
34
15
15
18
15
26
10
10
12
20
12
8
16

Randal Malyn,
John Edge, .
Henry Miller,
John Mendenhall,

15

50

100

10

Jacob Melyn,

Thomas Jones,

Peter Dix, .

John West, .

John Cam, .

Peter Taylor,

Randal Croxson, .

John Neal, .

Daniel Calvert,

Wm. Hannum,

Charles Lynn,

Alexander Henderson

Joshua Calvert, .

Thomas Powell, .

Sam. Bond, .

Thomas and Isaac Minshall

land in Goshen,
John Broomel,
James Sharpless, .
Jacob Vernon,
Joseph Vernon, .
John Powell,
Caleb Cowpland, .
Jacob Swaffbrd, .
Henry Hastings, .
John Vernon,
Thomas Vernon and land in

borough, .

, and

Marl-

£40
33
90
10
30
25
36
10
24
18
20
17
50
26

110

28
70
68
76
46
47
23
25
15

190

FREEMEN.

Wm. Russel.

Joseph Swafford.

Lawrence Cook.

Tax £16 8s

6c?.

ASTON RATE.

in Sadsbury,

. 100

Moses Key and Marlboi

•o, . . 90

John Dutton,

. 30

Thomas Dutton, .

. 55

John Powel,

. 90

John Carter,

. 60

John Neel,

. 100

Joseph Richards, .

. 36

John Hulforde, /4

' . 40

Thomas Barnard, .

. 42

Abraham Darlington,

. 40

Thomas Woodward,

. 20

James Widdows, .

. 25

Jos. Richards, Junr.,

. 27

Wm. Rattue,

. 0

John Chamberlin,

. 30

Moses Martin,

. 10

Isaac Wms. .

. 0

Robert Caldwell, .

. 20

Tobias Homsporker,

. 12

Rowland — Land,

. 37

John Hall — Land,

. 7

John Munyard, Land,

. 8

540

APPENDIX. — NOTE G.

FREEMEN.

John Weldon,

. £12

Wm. Dodd.

John Wily, .

. 20

Thomas Martin.

Alexander Easal, .

. 10

Richard Baxter.

Abel Cleaton,

. 18

Tax £12 6s.

6d.

Edward Smout, .
Edward Fell,

. 30

. 10

MIDDLETOWN

RATE.

Hugh Loe, .

. 16

Thomas Martin, .

eioo

John Bezar, .

. 100

Catharine Pairlamb,

30

Hance Mitchell, .

. 4

Edward Woodward an

d Land

Nathan Wood,

. 37

pogue,

80

Humphrey Scarlet,

. 45

Joseph Jarvis,

0

Daniel Brown,

. 26

Wm. Penuel,

140

Roger Shelley,

. 40

Elizabeth Cookson,

30

Jeremiah Collett,

. 70

John Edwards,

40

Ephraim Logue, .

. 35

George Smedley, Jr., .

53

Wm. Clayton,

. 45

Jacob Minshall, .

84

Frances Ruth,

. 36

Peter Trego,

0

Sam11 Cowen,

. 15

John Turner,

30

Henry Reynolds, .

. 82

Tho. Goodwin, Junr., .

20

Francis Reynolds,

. 40

Peter Hunter,

33

Ruth Chandler, .

. 20

Joseph Sharpless,

90

Matthew and Jos. Wood,

. 36

Edward Lawrence,

39

Edward Robinson,

. 40

Adam Battin,

35

Thomas Linvil,

. 30

Joseph Cobourn, Junr.,

and share

John Renols,

. 35

in ye mill, .

50

Edward Whitacar,

. 26

Wm Blan, .

20

NON-RESIDENT LAND.

Price Miller,

10

Jacob Usher,

. 50

Frederick England,

26

Daniel Cloud 200,

. 40

Michael Branson,

16

Tax £1? 17s.

Qd.

Sam. Baker,

20

John and Tho. Cheny,

15
10
10
10

BURMINGHAM ]

*ATE.

Jos. England,
John Hanby,
Edward Pilinton,

William Brainton and
Sadsbury,

Land in

. 110

John Chapman, .
Wm. Trego, .
John Newburry,
Peter Trego,

14
20
29
20

Nic. Fred, .

John Bennett and for

Marlborough, .
John Chads,
Joseph Gilpin,

. 100
Land in

. 110
. 90
. 60

NON-RESIDENT

LAND.

Jacob Wright,
Samuel Hollingsworth,

. 65
. 48

Thomas Barns,

15

Swithin Chandler,

. 40

Tax £14 3s.

Qd.

Thomas Chandler,
Joseph Robinson,
Robert Chalfant, .

. 35

. 40

LOWER AND UF^R

CHICHEJ

3TER

. 28

RATE.

John Weith,

. 20

Philip Roman,

. 80

Magness Simonson,

. 24

Wm. Hughes,

. 46

Daniel Davies,

. 40

Richard Bezar,

. 50

John Bockingham,

. 24

Wm. Cleaton,

. 60

John Bockingham, for t

tie estate

John Fowler,

6

of Edmd Plechen,

. 20

Joseph Bond,

. 30

John Chandler, Jr.,

. 10

John Rawson,

. 28

Thomas Darnel and foi

land in

Thomas Howell,

. 34

Cain,

. 24

Thomas Clayton,

. 24

Thomas Candrey,

. 24

John Royley,

. 10

Wm. Pyle, .

. 35

Philip Pedrick,

. 15

Robert Hannam, .

. 30

Robert Plumer,

. 20

John Bently,

. 10

John Cloud,

. 20

Mary Stephenson,

. 10

APPENDIX. — NOTE H.

541

John Chalfant,
John Day, .
James Houston, .
Abraham Widdows
Sam: Painter,
Providence Scot, .
Wm. Turner,
Thomas Gilpin, .
Robt. Green,
John House,
Timothy Warde,
Daniel Moore,
Zabulon Cantral,
Francis Pulin,
Grace Stephenson for 400 of land
in Marlboro, .

Andrew Hiden.
Wm. Deny.
Walter Deny.
Charles Turner.

£20
12
16
24
55
20
16
24
22
15
10
10
5
10

Thomas Thornbury.
Joseph Willis.

Tax £19 9s. 3d.

BETHEL RATE.

Robert Pyle and land in Marlbo-

rough.

£100

Joseph Pyle,

. 36

Edward Pinock, .

. 21

Benjamin Moulder,

. 15

Robert Booth,

. 40

John Hopman,

. 30

John Pugh, .

. 25

John Canaday,

. 24

John Grist, .

. 20

Wm. Ayres [Eyre],

. 50

Edward Dutton, .

. 49

Wm. Griffith,

. 30

Jacob Norbury, .

. 20

Edward Bezar,

. 60

Francis Farris,

. 25

Daniel Pyle,

. 50

Tax £7 0a. Od.

Note. Darby included Upper Darby, and Ridley included Tinicum in the
assessment.

NOTE H.— Page 204.
LOCATION OF THE EARLY COURT HOUSES.

The first Court of Upland County of which any record has been preserved, sat
at the house of Neeles Laerson, which no doubt was a tavern. Its precise loca-
tion is not known, but it doubtless occupied a position on the northern part of
the lot marked " 2." on the old draft of Chester in the possession of Thomas Darling-
ton, a facsimile of which fe given at page 138. The southern part of that
lot had been recently purchased by Laerson from Eusta Anderson. (See will of
" Neels Laarson," Register's office, Philadelphia, Book A. No. 62.) From the uni-
versal custom of the Swedes in building, it may also be concluded that the resi-
dence of Laerson was very near the creek, and consequently in the immediate
vicinity of the House of Defence.

The location of the House of Defence, marked A. on the annexed draft is
arrived at with great precision from the description contained in a deed for the
adjacent lot, from Lydia, the widow of Robert Wade, to Edward Danger, October
10th, 1699, (Deed Book, A. 270, West Chester.) The credit of having first ascer-
tained the location of this ancient Court House is due to Edward Armstrong, Esq.,
of Philadelphia. (See his note to the " Record of Upland Court" p. 202.) From
the description contained in the same deed, Mr. Armstrong ingeniously and with
some show of plausibility fixes the exact position occupied by the House of De-
fence, which he says, " stood on the east side of, and at an angle to, the present
Front Street, which was laid out after its erection, and the eastern line of which
street ran through the centre of the building, from its S. E. to its N. W. corner."
In my judgment, the evidence relied on by Mr. Armstrong does not warrant any
very positive conclusion, as to the position of the building.

A doubt has been suggested to me by a gentleman who has given some atten-
tion to this subject, whether the House of Defence was ever occupied as a Court
House. The records do not say positively that it was ; but in the absence of
evidence of the erection of any other building for that purpose, the following
facts will be sufficient to remove any reasonable doubt on the subject :

1st. At the session of the Upland Court for November, 1677, an order was

542 APPENDIX. — NOTE H.

made directing the fitting up and finishing the House of Defence at Upland " fitt
for the Court to sitt in against ye next Court."

2nd. At the March Court, 16*79, Neeles Laerson is " ordered to make or Leaue
a lane or street from Upland Creeke to ye House of Defence or Country House"
— the term Country House indicating that the building was dedicated to the uses
of the public, and, (traveling then being nearly altogether by water,) the neces-
sity of a lane from the water's edge to the building, shows that it was then being-
used by the people of the County.

3rd. The expenses of the sittings of the Courts are considerably reduced after
the order for fitting up the House of Defence ; and in making an order in respect
to a small levy that had been previously authorized by the Court, they speak
only of defraying "their charges of meat and lodgeing att their sitting." [Record
of Upland Court, p. 120.]

4th. An order issued by Governor Andros in October, 1678, in respect to
Quit-rents, is directed to be published " and sett up at the Court houses of Up-
land, New Castle and Whoorkill in the Delaware." (New Castle Records.)

5th. At a Monthly Meeting of Friends held " at Chester," the 11th of the seventh
month, 1682, (before the arrival of the Proprietary,) it was agreed to hold a meet-
ing every first day of the week " at the Court house at Chester."

This last fact is alike conclusive that there was then at Upland a building well
known as " the Court House" which could hardly be any other than the House of
Defence, as it is that the town had been called Chester before it authoratively re-
ceived that name from the Proprietary.

The second Court House was erected in 1684-5, and its location is established
by a deed from Robert Wade and wife to Henry Hollingsworth, executed in
October, 1695. This deed describes the lot as " directly opposite to the old
Court House fronting the said Chester street." The location of this Court house
is marked B on the draft. A jail was erected at the same time, but there is
reason to believe that it was built nearer the creek, and that the street was' laid
out between the two buildings. The same deed recites that the northern line
of the lot it describes, passes back from the street " along the south side of the
newly erected Court House." Henry Hollingsworth, who was a Friend, was
dealt with by the meeting the same year, •' for cutting the eves of the new
prison." Besides this fact there is evidence in abundance that there was a prison
as well as a Court House erected on the lot next north of the lot conveyed by
Robert Wade and wife to Henry Hollingsworth. A Court House and prison were
erected on that lot about the year 1694, the site of which is marked C on the
draft. They probably occupy nearly the site of the prison erected in 1684-5.

The deed last mentioned establishes another important fact. The lot conveyed
by it is described as having " a passage six foot broad on the south side" extend-
ing from the street to the creek. This passage, now built up, is marked a on the
plot. Its location, nearly opposite the House of Defence leaves little room to doubt
that this passage is the identical lane that Neeles Laerson was directed by the
Upland Court to leave open.

The next Court House, erected in 1724, still serves the purpose of a Town
Hall for the borough of Chester. In 1725, the lot with the Court House and
prison, marked C, was sold in pursuance of an Act of Assembly. In 1686, there
was an apparent sale made by the Court on behalf of the County of Chester to
Robert Wade, of the Court House and prison built in lb84-5, but this was pro-
bably a mere pledge of the property to secure money that had been advanced,
and was in the nature of a mortgage. James Sandelandes, at the same Court
offered a piece of land to the County, on which to erect a Court House and prison,
but this offer does not appear to have been accepted at that time, for the next
Court House marked C, was erected on land purchased from John Hoskins, and
in which it does not appear that James Sandelandes ever had any title.

The records of the Court show that John Simcock had purchased the Court
House marked B, in 1696. But this sale was made without authority of law.
An act of Assembly was obtained, giving the necessary authority, and a sale was
effected to the same purchaser on the 6th of the 3rd month, (May) 1702, but be-
fore the conveyance was completed, he died. In his will, proved April 24th,

APPENDIX. — NOTE I. 543

1703, he devised this property to his son-in-law, Ralph Fishborn, but it required
a second Act of Assembly to assure a perfect title to him.

FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THE ANNEXED DRAFT.

b. A passage six and a half feet wide mentioned in all the conveyances of lots

adjoining it.

D. The site of the first Friends' Meeting-house at Chester, that passed under the

name of "the old Assembly House." The lot purchased by the Friends in
1688 from Urin Keen, the father-in-law of James Sandelandes, was built on
by the Friends about the year 1693, and was sold by the Friends in 1736
to Russell.

c. A strip of ground bought of Jonas Sandelands by Friends in 1712 to enlarge

their lot. Sold to Russell in 1736.
e. Urin Keen's " lot or garden" mentioned in his conveyance to the Friends. It

extended to the dotted line.
/. The lot conveyed by Robert Wade and wife to Henry Hollingsworth in 1694.

Wade's title was from Neels Laerson in 1687.
g. This lot was also conveyed by Laerson to Robert Wade in 1687, and by his

widow, Lydia to, Joseph Cobourn in 1700.
h. This lot was conveyed by the widow and sons of Neels Laerson to David

Lloyd in 1691, and by him to Jasper Yeates in 1698. It was the site of the

noted Granaries and Bakery erected by Yeates. It is now occupied by the

Chester Mills.
/. This lot was conveyed by Neels Laerson to Robert Wade in 1687, and by

Lydia the widow of Robert Wade, to Danger as has been mentioned.

E. The dwelling of John Hoskins, subsequently of Henry Hale Graham. It is

now owned by John G. Dyer.

NOTE I.— Page 226.

FROM AN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT BOOK IN THE POSSESSION OF
ROBT. FRAME, ESQ., OF BIRMINGHAM, PAGE 2.

" Whereas, that formerly a congregation of believers, baptized upon profession
of their faith in the county of Chester in the Province of Pennsylvania about
the year 1692, among whom Thos. Martin administered Baptism, likewise Wm
Beekingham administered both Baptism and the Lord's Supper, until about the
year 1701, when several occasions occurred, that our congregational estate was
dissolved — that we could no longer bear up our Church polity: Being dispers4,
without the face of a church for many years. In the year 1715 upon the fre-
quent coming of our beloved brother, Abel Morgan among us, to preach upon
week days — Upon proposal for our associating together in church relation and
Estate, it was concluded to have consultation about it, and finding such as were
baptizd persons dispersed in the parts adjacent, very inclinable thereunto —
notice being given to all such as were concernd to meet at the house of John
Powell of Providence in the above said county, having got to our assistance,
Brother Morgan of Philada, Bro. James James, and bro : Jos Eaton, from the
Welsh-tract (New Castle, Del), we proceeded in the manner following: — It being
the 14th day of the month vulgarly called June 1715, the first part of the day
was spent in fasting and prayer, to implore the blessing and aid of God upon
our proceedings : Having our satisfaction in each other's grace, we further sig-
nified our resolution to join together, to carry on the worship of God and the
ordinances of the gospel, according to the holy scriptures ; — and to further the
edification of one another ; and to walk in the order of the gospel : Then we did
unanymously resign up our Souls to God, by a token of lifting up our hand to
be his people and servants ; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, and then to
one another by the will of God : declaring our uniting together in a church re-
lation to each other to be governed by the word of God, taking upon us the title

544

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

of a Baptized Church of Jesus Christ, holding and maintaining the same princi-
ples and practices, as the other Baptized Churches in the Provinces of Pennsyl-
vania and New Jersey in America ; whereupon we were owned as a Sister church
to the aforesaid churches, being of the same faith and Gospel order, by the
above named Brethern."

The names of the persons engaged in this congregational settlement was as
follows :

Elizabeth wife of John Powell

Margery Martin

Hannah wife of John Beekingham

Hannah Hunter

Mary Robinett

Mary Powell

Joan, wife of Jos. Powell"'

" Edmund Butcher
John Powell
Richard Buffington
John Beekingham
Joseph Powell
David Roberts

Jeremiah Collett he being Baptized
May 4th 1715

On the first page of the old book from which the above was copied, the entries
of Baptisms are commenced, of which the following are specimens :

1697

4mo 28

6m0 10th
Baptd
in Ridley
Creek

IQmo

Thomas Martin
baptized Thomas Powell
Evan Harry, John Palmer
Judith Calvert and
Alice Vestall

ijmo 27

Archd Dungworth

Thos Budd

Bapw

John Wills, John Powell,

Ridley

David Thomas, John Han-

num, Marjery Martin, Mar-

jery Hannum, Mary Palmer,

Elizabeth Powell

8mo 12

Ridley

John Beekingham

Creek

1698

Ann Compton

4mo 25

Bapd at Ridley C

6mo

Sam1 Miles Baptized in

9th

Ridley creek

8 mo

30th

Hannah Brunsden

at Thos Powells, Ridley C.
Wm Thomas

1699

3rd mo

27

gmo 26

27

^Ill«

1699

7 th

8mc

29th

2nd

1700

mo

9th

3rd lgth

6mc

25

H'»<

7 th

8mo 30

Baptd at Tho6 Powells
David Price
Elizabeth Price

in Crum Creek
Rich3 Buffington
Eliztb Price
Jane Philips

Edward Lane, C. Creek

Edward Edwards Bapd

C. Creek

James Plumley Bapd

Creek

Abram Pratt
Jane Pratt
Richard

Baptized
at Pinepac now
Lower Dublin
Phila. Co. Pa.

David Philips |Bapd in
Margaret Philips |C. creek

Elizabeth Pavien Bap. by
Wm. Beekingham at
Ridley

Mary Clark
Elizabeth Hall

Bap by
Wm. Davis
at Pinepack

Martha Deal|BaP bv Tno- Eu"y
Reece Price •■ « wm. Davis

NOTE J.— Page 313.

In pursuance of an Act of Assembly passed the 21st of September, 1782, the
Commissioners of every county of Pennsylvania that had been invaded by the
British, were directed to call on the Assessors, to procure and return accounts
and estimates of the damages that had been done by the enemy since the 18th of
April, 1775. A large proportion of the property taken was from non-comba-
tants, and of course was taken in violation of the usages of war among civilized
nations. The amount of this plunder was enormous, and the depredations com-
mitted were so general, that but few persons in comfortable circumstances
within the limits of this County escaped. The returns may be relied on for their

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

545

accuracy, as they are made under the oaths or affirmations of the sufferers : but
they do not embrace a full list of those who did suffer, nor the whole amount
taken, as a number of the Friends or Quakers refused to make any return. The
returns were carefully recorded, and may be seen in the Commissioner's office at
West Chester. A few individual returns will be given, in full or in part, to show
the inhumanity of the wretches concerned in these outrages, in stripping families
of every article of household goods they possessed, even such as could be of no
possible use to themselves. Following these will be an abstract of the losses
sustained in most of the townships now constituting the County of Delaware.

" An account of Damage, waste, spoil and destruction, which was done and com-
mitted by the army of the king of Great Britain under the immediate command
of General Howe, at the battle of Brandywine, from September 11th to the lQth,
1777, to the property real and personal belonging to George Brinton,* of
, the township of Birmingham, viz:

4h tons tons hay, @ £3 per ton,

200 bushels wheat, @ 7s. 6c?. per bushel,

35 " corn (maize,) 3s. 6c?. '

30 " rye, 5s.,

15 " buckwheat, 4s.

5 acres grass fit for scythe, @ 20s. per acre,
10 bushels barley, at 5s.

1 likely young mare,
3 horses (recd £24, by order of Sir Wm Erskine,)

2 bullocks, at £7 10s. each,
7 cows, at £6 each,

3 yearling heifers, at 40s. each,
2 spring calves, at 20s. each,
25 sheep, at 15s. each,

6 large swine, at 45s. each,
9 smaller do. at 20s. each, .

1 young mare, taken away and damaged,

2 falling axes, 10s. each,
1 broad axe, 7s. 6c?., and 1 augur, 4s.,

1 pair compasses, . . .•

2 chisels, 2s. 6c?.,

1 shovel, 8s., and 1 hand-saw, 15s.,
1 pair steelyards,

1 gun, 1 sword, and 1 pistol,

2 pairs sheep-shears, 3s. 9c?. each, .
1 hundred weight of cheese, 8c?. per lb.,

1 lb. blue linen yarn, . ■

7 handkerchiefs, 3s. each, .

2 lb. sugar, and 1 of coffee, 7s., 1 pr. flat-irons, 12s
1 new great coat,

7 coats, at £3 10s., and 10 waistcoat, 20s.,

8 pairs breeches, at 20s., and 3 hats, 20s.,
1 fur cap, 22s. 6c?., and 1 pair boots, 45s.,

1 pair spatterdashers,

2 feather beds, bolsters and pillows, £8 each,

9 coverlets of different sorts, 50s. each,
G pairs blankets, 40s., and 6 prs. sheets, 25s.,

£ s.

d.

13 10

0

75 0

0

6 2

6

7 10

0

3 0

0

5 0

0

2 10

0

30 0

0

36 0

0

15 0

0

42 0

0

6 0

0

2 0

0

18,15

0

13 10

0

9 0

0

5 0

0

1 0

0

11

6

5

0

5

0

1 3

0

1 10

0

3 5

0

7

6

3 6

8

5

0

1 1

0

19

0

4 0

0

34 10

0

11 0

0

3 7

6

1 0

0

16 0

0

22 10

0

19 10

0

Amount carried forward,

415 13 8

* George Brinton resided on a farm a short distance south of Dilworth's Town— the same
upon which the immigrant William Brinton settled, and in the house built by his son William
in 1704, who was the grandfather of George Brinton. The house is still standing and is a com-
fortable dwelling.

35

546

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

Amount brought forward,

4 pairs pillow-cases, 5s.,
3 chaff beds and bolsters, 16s.,
2 pairs bedsteads, 15s., and 5 bed-cords, @ 3s. 6c?.
2 cloth cloaks, £3, and 1 calico quilt, 40s ,
1 camlet petticoat, 30s., and 1 double gown, 20s ,
6 Linsey petticoats, £2 14s., and 6 gowns, £1 16s.,
22 shirts and shifts, coarse and fine, 10s. each,
8 aprons, at 2s. Gd. each,
6 yards striped linen, at 5s. 6c?. per yd.,

8 pairs striped trousers, at 5s.,
1 diaper table-clotb, 15s., and 5 comOQ do. "3s. each,
6 pairs stockings, 30s., and 2 prs. gloves, 10s.,
Child's clothes, of sundry sorts,
1 calico bag, 20s. and 2 pairs stays, £4,
6 pairs of shoes, at 7s. 6c?., and 1 heckle, 7s. 6c?.,

1 beaver hat, 45s., and 1 pewter pot, 7s. Gd.,

2 pewter dishes, 1 basin and tankard,

9 pewter plates, ....

3 tin pans, 1 coffee pot and funnel, .

1 looking-glass, 50s., 1 set china cups and saucrs, 15s.,

2 tea-pots, 2 cream jugs, 14s., 3 delft bowls and 3 plates, 23s. 6c?.
9 milk-pans, and sundry earthenware,
2 copper tea-kettles, and 1 ditto sauce-pan,
2 large iron pots, and 2 candle-sticks,

1 doz. knives and forks, and 1 ditto spoons,

2 cider tubs, 3 pails, and churn,

1 pewter bottle, 3 canisters, 8s., brass warming pan, 25s.,
1 soap-box, and double case of Razors,
12 bags and frying-pan, £6 10s. and a number of bottls, 10s. 6c?.,
6 bushels of dried apples, 45s., and 11 trenchers, 7s. 6d.
6 blind halters, 30s., and 1 sett of bells, £4,

5 pairs of hames, and 5 collars, at 9s.,

5 pairs chains, with back-bands, belly-bands and cruppers,
1 cart-saddle and breech-band,
1 iron square and post-axe, . .•

Damage done to desk, book-case and case of drawers,
1 Bible and a number of other books,

3 chairs destroyed and others damaged,
2821 rails at 10s. per hundred,
762 stakes, at 6s. " "
Damage done to the timber,

" Aggregate,

f s.

d.

415 13

8

1 0

0

2 8

0

2 7

6

5 0

0

2 10

0

4 10

0

11 0

0

1 0

0

1 13

0

2 0

0

1 10

0

2 0

0

4 0

0

5 0.

0

2 12

6

2 12

6

2 7

6

1 15

0

12

0

3 5

0

1 17

6

3 0

0

3 7

6

1 15

0

1 10

0

1 10

0

1 13

0

15

0

7 0

6

2 12

6

5 10

0

2 5

0

7 10

0

1 10

0

12

0

4 0

0

3 0

0

1 0

0

14 2

0

2 5

0

3 0

0

544 11

8

"November 19, 1782, Before me the Subscriber, &c, came George Brinton, who,
on his affirmation did declare and say that the above articles were from him
taken and destroyed — which articles are reasonably valued; which valuation
amounts to Five hundred & forty four pounds eleven shillings and eight pence ;
and further saith, he never received any part or value for any part or parcel
thereof, except as within mentioned, (viz. £24 for his Horses by order of Sir Wm
Erskine, Q. M. Gen1.)

" Signed George Brinton.

" Affirmed before me

" Isaac Taylor."

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

547

" An Estimate of Damages sustained by Geo. Pierce, Esq., [of Aston\ by the forces
of the king of Great Britain and their adherents under the immediate command
of General Earl Cormvallis,on the 13, 14 and 15 days of September, 1777, viz. :

" Drove from my house, farm, &c., which d

1 young mare, saddle and bridle,

2 draught horses,

1 waggon,

8 pair of chains,

4 collars 8 pr heims,
Harness for 8 horses,

2 ploughs burnt, irons taken away,
2 iron shovils, spades and wheelbaro,

1 grind stone, iron hangings

2 axes, 2 mattocks, maul and wedges,

9 beef cattle,

5 milch cows,

3 yearling calves,
41 sheep,

1 large hog, .

6 smaller do.,
Poultry not numbered,
200 doz. of wheat at 5s.,
11 doz. rye at As.,
140 doz. oats at 2s. 6c?.,
60 bushels of clean oats,
20 tun of hay at £5 "$

2 waggon load of flax burnt

1 cask flower,

A quantity of beef and backon,
5 acres of Indian corn destrd,

3 acres of buckwheat destroyed,
Apples of 2 orchards by computation,
1J doz. chairs burnt,

2 bedsteads, bottoms and beds bur

1 woman saddle,

Barr furniture, bowls, glasses, &c
Kitchen do. pots, pans, &c,

2 pr. steelyards,
Fire shovels and tongs,
600 pennel of fence burnt at 18o?. ^
Barn destroyed, repairing cost,
A wheel chain,

imaged me,

t or taken away,

pennel

£

s.

d.

150

0

0

35

0

0

40

0

0

20

0

0

4

10

0

2

10

0

3

10

0

5

0

0

1

10

0

1

10

0

2

0

0

63

0

0

30

0

0

6

0

0

41

0

0

3

0

0

9

0

0

3

0

0

50

0

0

23

0

0

17

10

0

7

10

0

100

0

0

9

0

0

1

10

0

6

0

0

10

0

0

4

10

0

10

0

0

4

10

0

20

0

0

4

0

0

6

0

0

13

0

0

1

10

0

2

0

0

45

0

0

15

0

0

1

5

0

" Chester ss.

771 0 0

"Proved November 27th, 1782, before me.

"Jno. Pearson.

" Taken by the British army under Howe, from the 12th to the 16th of September, 1777,

from Charles Porter of Birmingham township, ' a very poor man.'
1 good cow, . . . . . . . .700

1 new shirt, 12s. Qd. ; 6 doz. yarn, 2 doz. to the lb., . .17 6

8 7 6"

548

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

" An Account of property taken and destroyed the llth day of September (and there-
about) 1777, by the army of his Britanick Majesty, commanded by Sir William
Hoive, K. B., supporter of Tyrant/, Falsifier of his word, and Plunderer of pri-
vate property, to the Estate real and personal of Willm Harvey of Birmingham
township, viz. :

1 large bay mare 6 years old,

Received of the paymaster £16 in part.
1 bay horse 10 years old, ....

Received of Capt. Baker of 10th Regt., £9.
1 brown mare, 12 do.,

I soral do.
1 brown do.
1 bay horse,
1 brown mare,

do..
3 do.,
9 do.,
3 do.,

1 2 black hefers, beef cattle, s

upposed

do., 2 years old, each at £4,

1 peded cow, 1 red steer, an

to weigh 1400, at 35s.,

2 milch cows,

1 large 2 year old steer,

2 red heifer 2 do. old,
1 spotted do. and 1 branded
6 yearlin cattle,
22 head sheep at 12s.,

6 large hogs, w4 ab« 1200, at 4jfZ., .

7 store pigs, .....

1 pair wagon wheels almost new, .
Harness complete for 4 horses,
130 bushells of wheat, at 6s. fid, .
40 do. rye, at 4s. 6c?.,
30 do. barley, at 5s. 6d., .
Hay, supposed to be 16 ton, at £4 %!,
A quantity of flax carried to cover tents and destroyed,

2 good bed ticks, 2 bolsters and 4 pillows, .
2 coverlets, 8 blankets, 12 prs. sheets,
1 sett of calico curtains and appurtenances,

1 large gilt looking-glass, 1 do. smaller,

2 sets china tea cups and saucers, h doz. and 8 do. bowls, and

set of gilt china tea cups and saucers,
4 delf bowls, 6 queensware do., 5 tea pots,

1 copper coffee pott 35s., 1 queensware do. 7s. 6e?._

6 plates queensware, 6 do. stoneware, and 2 large delf dishes,

4 pint glasses, 4 wine do., 1 quart dec*r,

2 copper tea kettles, ....

2 large pewter dishes 27s., 5 large basons 50s.,

5 smaller pewter basons 37s. 6c?., 1 doz. of plates 4s.,
h doz. knives and forks, and 1 frying pan, .
1 large gridle, 1 large iron pott, 2 tubs and 2 pales,
1 silk bonnett 16s., 1 doz. caps, 9 handkrs, cambric and lawn, 124s
1 white silk handkrf, 1 muslin apron, 2 check do., .

1 calliminco quilt, 2 linsey petticots, and 12 pair stockings,
1 pr. calf skin shoes, 1 pair women's broad cloth do., new,
1 pr. new boots £3, 1 great coat, new, 90s., 1 blure bodied 40s.,

7 good jackets of different stuffs 17s. 3d., 13 pr. buckels 9s. Id.,
1 new beaver hatt and case 65s., 1 do. half wore 3s.,

1 large spice box broke to pieces, ....
A new saddle 9s., 1 good bridle 5s. 4c?.,

3 stocks of bees 45s., 1 fowling-piece broke to pieces 27s. 6d.,
Breaking of a cupboard and drawers destroyed out of the case,

Amount carried forward,

£
50

22 10 0

16

0

0

20

0

0

20

0

0

16

0

0

15

0

0

24

10

0

13

0

0

6

0

0

■ 4

0

0

8

0

0

18

0

0

13

4

0

22

10

0

5

5

0

7

0

0

10

0

0

41

0

0

9

0

0

8

5

0

64

0

0

3

0

0

8

0

0

47

10

0

12

0

0

6

5

0

7

16

0

2

0

0

2

2

6

1

5

0

1

5

0

3

0

0

3

17

0

3

17

6

1

0

0

2

2

6

7

0

0

2

12

6

6

0

0

1

4

0

9

10

0

11

10

0

4

15

0

2

10

0

4

15

0

3

12

6

1

0

0

573 1 6

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

549

Amount brought forward,
78 pennell of post and rail fence,
About 100 pennell worm fence,

Sub. cr.

Received in part as mentioned,

£ s. d.

573 1 6

9 15 0

5 0 0

587 16 6

25 0 0

562 16 6
" This acct. was affirmed to before

" Isaac Taylor."

u An Account of a Sacrillege committed in the Baptist Meeting-house in Tredyffrin, in
the County of Chester, in the State of Pennsylvania, by some of the British
Army under Gen1 Hoive, in their march from the head of Elk to Philadelphia,
the \8th, 19th or 20th days of September, when sd Meeting-house loas broke
open, and teas stole from thence the Sacramental Dishes! viz1.:

2 pewter dishes,

2 do. pints,

1 diaper table cloth,

1 Bible of the English language,

A change of Raiment for the adnmiistrati

2 linen shirts,
1 pair linen drawers,
The lock of the chest the goods were in,

The Saxton's tools for Burials, viz1. :
1 grubbing hoe 8s., 1 spade 7s. 6c?.,

They destroyed and burnt on the parsonage farm ! viz1. :
135 pennel of fence, equal to 810 rails at 4s. per hundred,

on of Baptism ! vizt.

0

15

0

0

8

0

0

12

0

0

15

0

0

16

0

0

10

0

0

5

0

0 15 6

1 12 4

" From Israel Gilpin, among other things,

1000 dollars in cash taken — exchange 3 to 1,

6 large table spoons, silver,

Set of silver buckles,

6 silver teaspoons, .

20 pairs new shoes, .

18 sheets,

Cash,

All kinds of female apparel, gowns of different kinds, flowered
dimity and calimico and petticoats, broad cloth cloaks, 10
lawn caps, men's weare, 6 prs. breeches, shirts, boots, &c."

6 8 10

3ted by

" James Davis Elder."

125 00 0

7 4 0

4 0 0

1 0 7

10 0 0

36 0 0

22 0 0

" Articles taken or destroyed by the British Army when under command of General
Earl Cornwallis, commanding a party of the British army at or about the time
they attacked the Fort of Billingsport, into which neighbourhood they had been
removed for safety, the property of John Morton, Esq., decd, of the township
of Ridley.

1 broad cloth coat, .
1 padusway jacket, .
1 black broad cloth coat and jacket,
1 suit brown do. with silver buttons,
1 jack coat and breeches, knit pattern,

With many other articles of clothing (male and female) and house
furniture. The whole amounting to £365 lis. Qd."

10 14

0

5 0

0

15 8

6

37 5

2

6 17

6

550

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

SUMMARY STATEMENTS OF THE DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY THE
INHABITANTS OF THE SEVERAL TOWNSHIPS NOW EMBRACED
IN DELAWARE COUNTY.

CHESTER TOWNSHIP.

From John Crosby, Sept. 13,
" the late David Cowpland,
" Benjamin Bartholomew, " stolen by the British army under

Gen. Howe,
" Alexander Mills, by Mr. Johnson, Comissary of the British

army commanded by Count Dunop and Col. Starlen, Dec

13, 1776, .
" Sarah Days, furniture destroyed by the British, when in

Philadelphia, 1777-8,
" Estate of James Mathers, by a party of Scotch and Hessians

when marching from Wilmington to Philadelphia, Oct

and Nov. .
" Edward Vernon, by a party of Scotch and Hessians, when

marching from Wilmington to Philadelphia, Oct. and Nov
" Sarah Thomas, robbery by Scotch and Hessians when march-
ing from Wilmington to Philadelphia, Oct. and Nov.
" Wm Evans, team pressed,
" George Spear, saddle,
" Wm. Kerlin, harness, .
" Thomas Logan, sundries,
" Elisha Price, cart,
" Henry Myers, cow,
" Thomas Pedrick, horse,
" James Beatty, sundries,
" John Odenheimer, 2 horses, .
" Raper Hoskins, sundries,
" Mary Withy, do.

•' Robert Ferguson,
" Capt. Stork's Estate, .
" Valentine Weaver's Estate,
il Mary Norris' Estate, .
" Martin Carter,
" John Powell, .
" Widow Deacon's Estate,
" John Hogan, .

" Joseph Neidy, by British under Cornwallis,
" Ann Davis do. do.

" Henry Hale Graham, do.

" Zedekiah H. Graham, do.

" Adam Grubb, do.

CHICHESTER.
From William Hoskins, by the British under Cornwallis, Sept. 13,

ASTON TOWNSHIP.

From James McClaskey, by the British under Cornwallis, Sept
13 and 14, .
" John Noblit, by the British under Cornwallis, Sept. 16,
" James Pennell, .....

" George Pierce, Esq., Sept. 13, 14 and 15,
" Samuel Witherow, .....
" Robert Rankin, Sept. 13 and 14, .

£ s. d.

1 17 6

72 0 0

43 0 0

1796 4 0

20 0 0

62 0 6

33 5 0

155 0
35 0

6
17 0

120 0

7 10

1 15

20 0

22 13 0

3 15 0

6 0 0

6 10 0

13 0 0

6 0 0

7 10 0
20 0
37 0
80 0

0
0
0
0
0
0 0

0
0

0

0

0

0 0

6

15 0 0

27 0 0

5 0 0

25 0 0

20 0 0

51 12 6

2742

12

6

, 87

17

6

t.

95

7

6

4

0

0

186

7

9

. 771

15

0

165

0

0

22

12

6

1245

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

551

BIRMINGHAM.

From William Dilworth, by the British army under Sir Wm. Howe,
(and damages,) while encamped, at Dilworthstown, after
the battle of Brandywine, Sept. 11 to 16,

" Charles Dilworth, " property taken, damage, waste, spoil and
destruction, done and committed by the army of the King
of Great Britain, and their adherents, under the imme-
diate command of Sir Wm. Howe,* Sept. 11 to 16,'

" Joseph Dilworth, ditto, ....

" Charles Porter, " a very poor man," ditto,

" William Chapman, ditto, ....

" John Martin, September 12 to 16,

" William Harvey, Jr., "taken and destroyed the 11th day of
Sept. (and there about) by the army of his Brittanic Ma-
jesty, commanded by Sir Wm. Howe, K.B. Supporter of
Tyranny, Falsifier of his word, and plunderer of private
property," .

" John Bennett, September 11 to 16,

" George Brinton, ditto,

" Rachel Hannings, ditto,

" Caleb Brinton,f ditto,

" Israel Gilpin, ditto,

" Thomas Hannum, Sept. 11, .

" John Henderson, Sept. 11 to 16,

" John Chamberlain, Sept. 13 to 16,

" Gideon Gilpin, Sept. 11,

" Jesse Graves, Sept. 11 to 16, .

" Thomas Davis, ditto,

" James Dilworth ditto,

" Charles McCrea, Sept. 11 to 17,

THORNBURY.

From George Brinton, Sept. 11 to 16,
" Sampson Davis, Sept. 11,
" William Arment, do.
" William Louden, do.
" Catharine Davis, do.
" Isaac Davis, do.

CONCORD.

From Alexander Vincent, Sept. 13,

" William Hannum,

" James Hatton,

" Amos Mendenhall,

" Alexander Lockhart, .

" Thomas M'Call,

" Samuel Mendenhall, .

" " Same person, Concord,"

" James Taylor (by Knyphausons party,)

" William Pierce, September, .

" William McCoy, Sept. 13,

" Patrick Gamble, Sept. 15, .

48

. 820 15

3

. 522 12

2i

8 7

6

16 3

3

. 242 4

6

562 16

6

401 ]

4

544 11

8

47 12

6

592 18

8

607 12

6

42 2

0

536 6

11

57 0

3

502 6

0

212 14

8

24 5

7

13 0

0

41 13

4

5844 6

72

517 11

5

115 18

8

42 0

0

19 12

0

34 3

6

58 12

6

787 18

1

90 17

6

329 10

0

6 0

0

10 0

0

183 0

0

3 7

6

4 0

0

61 14

0

34 10

0

75 15

0

16 0

6

146 15

0

961 9 6

* Among the items charged, is "the time of a Servant Lad, Patrick Kelly, about 14 months to
stay, went off with the army, £10.
t Including "two Books, Barclay's Apology, and Young Man's Best Companion."

552

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

MARPLE.

From William Burns, Si\, September 19, .

" Daniel Cameron, ......

" Joseph Burns, taken by the adherents of the King of Great
Britain, September and December,

NEWTOWN.

From Samuel Caley, by the Queen's Light Dragoons, Col. Harriot,

Sept. 19, .
" David Thomas, by the Light Horse, on their return from an

attack upon Capt. Lee, in East-town,
" William Faris, by the British army, under Cornwallis, on his

route through Haverford, ....

RIDLEY.

From John Morton's* estate, " taken and destroyed by a part of the
British army, under Cornwallis, at or about the time they
attacked the Fort of Billingsport, into which neighbor-
hood the articles were removed for safety. Certified by
Ann Morton, Execx." " Taken soon after the capture." .

" John Price, "taken by Lewiu Turner, master of an armed
boat from New York, in March, 1781,"

" Israel Longacre, " by some persons who said they belonged
to the shipping in the Delaware, then under the command
of Lord Howe. October or November," .

" John Vactor, taken by " a party of the enemy from the water
commander, not known, in the fall of 1777,

" Lewis Trimble, " by two British sergeants, under General
Howe." Oct. 25, .

" Robert Crozier, Deer. 25, .

EDGMONT TOWNSHIP.

From John Worrall, Sept. 15, ....

" Thomas Frame, . . . . . -

" Thomas Evans, ......

" Jonathan Hunter, ......

" Wm. Dunwoody, Sept. 17,

" William McFee, by J. Fitzpatrick (alias Fitz or Fitch), and

adherents of the King of Great Britain, .
" Mordecai Massey, ......

RADNOR.

From Daniel Evans, " by a detachment of the British army, under
Cornwallis, then ravaging the neighborhood. Deer. 11," .

" Sarah Davis, widow, " by the British army on their march
to Philadelphia," ......

" Owen Skelton, Sept. 19, .

Amount carried forward,

£ s. d.

36 0 0

51 16 6

129 5 5

217 1 11

31 0 0

27 3 3

28 0 0
86 3 3

{65 11 2

67 19 5

5 0

56 8 0

135

0

0

6

14

3

639

17

10

35

0

0

7

0

0

7

10

0

119

10

0

88

6

0

200

0

0

47

10

0

504 16 0

25 4 6

40
30

95 8 3

* John Morton was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, — representing Pennsylvania
(from Chester county) in the Congress of 1776.

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

553

Amount brought forward,
From John Jones, Sept. 19 and Deer. 11, .
" Michael Stadleinan's estate, .
" Sarah Miles, " then a minor,"
" Isaac Thomas,
" Lewis Lewis, Sept. 19,
" Wm. Jennings,
" John Pugh, .
" Mordecai Morgan, " by a party of British under Col. Har

court, Sept. 19," .....
" George White, "by a party of British under Col. Harcourl

Sept. 19," ....
" Aquila Evans, " by a party of British under Col. Harcourt

Sept. 19," ....
" Mark Evans, by Cornwallis, Dec. 11,
" David Phillips, by Col. Harcourt, Sept. 19
" Edward Lane, by General Howe,
" Adam Siter, by Col. Harcourt,
" Enos Miles, do.

" William Lee, do.

" Levi Lewis, do. .

" Sarah Kenny, by the British Army, when marching from

Valley Forge to Philadelphia, September,
" Frederick Bettle, Sept. 19, .
" David Cornog, by Howe, Sept.,
" Isaac Davis, by Cornwallis, Dec. 11, .
" Paul Sheridan, by Harcourt, Sept., .
" Griffith James, by Cornwallis, Dec. 11,
" Jonas Yocum, do. do.

" Samuel Pugh and Mord. Morgan, by Harcourt, Sept. 19,

HAVERFORD.*
From Martin Wise, by Cornwallis, .....
" Jacob Charles, by Cornwallis, Dec. 12,
" Samuel McClure, "by the British army under Cornwallis
and their adherents, when they made a sally out of Phi
ladelphia, December 11," .

Philip Moore,
Thomas Cornog,
Mordecai Morris,
Nicholas Pechin,f
Samuel Johnston,

do.
do.
do.
do.
do.

Dec. 10,
Dec. 12,
do.

Christian Peterman, Dec. 11 and 12,
Elizabeth Davis, widow, Dec. 11 and 12,
Griffith Davis, . . .

James Davis, .
Ann Davis, ....

Amount carried forward,

£ s.

d.

95 8

3

305 2

6

55 3

9

13 0

0

185 10

0

60 0

0

18 0

0

122 11

0

45 0

0

50 0

0

20 0

0

10 15

0

30 0

0

8 15

0

30 0

0

45 0

0

50 0

0

60 0

0

38 0

0

23 7

0

18 0

0

49 0

0

9 5

0

55 16

0

66 15

6

35 0

0

1499 9

0

35 13

0

135 10

0

13 4

6

41 17

6

344 0

3

27 3

6

285 6

6

67 11

0

95 17

9

166 9

9

34 19

0

25 5

0

26 10

0

1299

an estimate of losses sustained by
e all committed by a detachment of

* In the records of Haverford Monthly Meeting, there is
Friends not returned to the Assessors. The depredations wer, „

the British army, who made a sally from Philadelphia on the 10th, 11th and"l2thdays"of Decem-
ber, 1777. The following is a summary of the amounts taken, viz. :

£ s d
From Isaac Davis, ...... 2S4 10 2

Abraham Liddon, .....

Abraham Liddon and Isaac Bartram,

47 14 9

48 16 0

t At the foot of a long list of articles taken from him, Mr. Pechin added—" In a word a num-
ber of things too tedious to mention; as not even a spoon left to eat my victuals, nor a comb to
comb my hair; bonds, notes, and other accounts, writings, &c, &c."

554

APPENDIX. — NOTE J.

Amount carried forward,
From Elizabeth Davis, Jr., .

" James Lloyd, (Cornwallis' sally,)

" Elizabeth Lloyd, do.

" John Scott,

" William Batt,

" Jacob Humphreys,

" Philip Sheaff, by a detachment of Light Dragoons under the

command of Col. Harcourt, Sept. 19,
" John Lindsay, (Cornwallis,) Dec. 12,
" William Brooks, (Cornwallis,) Dec. 11,

DARBY.

From Joseph Rudolph, " by the British army while they lay in
Darby, foraging. December,"
Benjamin Brannan, do.
Jesse Bonsall,

John Sellers, by the Hessians,
Johathan Evans, (Cornwallis,) Deer.,

Evan Evans, do.

Nicholas McCurdy, do.

Samuel Lewis,

Samuel Leedom,

Andrew Boon, Jr.,

John Gruber, .

John Humphreys,

Isaac Kirk,

John Pollin, (Cornwallis,)

Henry Hayes, .

William Garrett,

Alexander Morrow,

Samuel Smith,

Benjamin Elliot,

Daniel Rice, .

Wm. Morrow,

Andrew Boon, December 25,

Joseph Boon, .

William Lewis, December 12

Andrew Urian,

Hans Boon, a helpless man,

do.
do.

to 13,

RECAPITULATION OF THE WHOLE COUNTY.

£ s. d.

1299 7 9

20 0 0

10 0 0

11 17 6
6 0 0
2 0 0
1 10 0

38 0 0

134 3 6

210 2 6

1733 1 3

Chester, taken
Chichester,

from 31 per
' 1
< 6
' 20
' 6
' 12
' 3

sons,

Birmingham,
Thornbury,
Concord,
Marple,

Newtown,

Ridley,

Edgmont,

Haverford,

Darby,

Radnor,

' 3

' 6

' 7

< 22

< 26
' 29

61 11 8

41 7 6

197 10 6

20 0 0

23 17 0
13 0 0
15 1 0

28 0 0

24 0 0
40 12 0
53 7 0

29 17 6
34 14 6
18 17 10

140 15 0

47 0 0

13 12 6

55 15 9

167 12 6

58 8 0

67 15 0

69 0 0

98 16 0

43 10 0

34 1 6

77 15 5

1475 18

2

2742

12

6

87

17

6

1245

2

9

5844

6

H

787

18

i

961

9

6

217

1

11

86

3

3

639

17

10

504

16

0

1733

1

3

1475

18

2

1499

9

0

17825 14 4*

APPENDIX. — NOTE K. 555

NOTE K.— Page 199.
" Conveyance, Swan Sivanson and others to David Lloyd."

"This Indenture made the Twenty Eighth day of December One Thousand Six
Hundred Ninety & Three & in the fifth year of the reign of Wm & Mary King &
Queen over England & Between Swan Swanson, Andrew Bankson, Lassy Cock,
Otto Earnest Cock, Casper Fish, Peter Rambo junr, Church Wardens of the
Sweeds Congregation att Wiccacoe of the one part And David Lloyd of the
County of Chester in the Province of Pennsilvania gent, of the other part Witt-
nesseth that y° sd Church Wardens for and in behalfe of themselves and their
successors in the said office & in the behalfe & by the consent of the said Con-
gregation att Wiccacoe as also in the behalfe and by the consent of the Sweeds
Congregation att Cranehook for and in Consideration of five shillings of Lawfull
Monie of Pennsilvania to them in hand paid by the said David Lloyd the receit
whereof they doe hereby acknowledge hath bargained & sold and by these prats
doth bargain & sell unto the sd David Lloyd the full and just proportion and
Quantitie of Seven acres of Land & meadow Scituate Lying and being in the
said County of Chester Together with the rents and profitts of the sd seven acres
of Land & Meadow be it more or Lesse, to have and to hold the sd seven acres
of Land & Meadow herein mentioned and Intended to be bargained & sold with
their & everie of their appurtenances unto the sd David Lloyd his heirs & assigns
from the day next before the day of the date hereof for during & unto the full
end & Term of one whole year from thence next ensuing & fully to be Compleated
& ended, yielding and paying therefore for and during the sd term unto ye sd
Church wardens & their sd successors in the sd office the rent of one Ear of In-
dian Corn only att or upon the Last day of the sd terme if the same be Lawfully
Demanded to the intent that by virtue of these prats & of the statute for Trans-
ferring uses Into possession the sd David Lloyd may be in the actuall possession
of all and singular the premises & be enabled to accept of a grant, Release, Con-
firmation & Conveyance thereof and of the reversions & Inheritance thereof & of
everie part thereof to him and his heirs In Wittness whereof the sd partees to
these prnts have to these prn't Indentures Interchangeably Sett their hands &
Sealls the day and year first above written. Sealed & Delivered in the Pre-
sence of: The Words (be it more or Less) Interlined in 15th line before Sealling
hereof; Swan M Swanson his mark . . . Seal Otto Earnest Cock . . . Seal Lasse
Cock . . . Seal Andrew Bankson . . . Seal Peter X Rambo his mark, Junior . . .
Seal Casper Fisck . . . Seall

" Recorded 30th of December 1693."

" Letter from Crane hook to Swan Sivanson."
" Loving friends Our most kind and loving Respect Remembered unto you, there
is word Sent to us & our congregation here below that belongeth to Cranehook
that is from you Loving friend above how that you would sell the Lot att Up-
land which formerly the paestor did Live upon which Lott part belongs to us
and part belongs to you & withall understand how that you would alsoe have
our Congregation's Consent for the selling of the aforesd Lott soe, wee, now in
in the behalf of our Congregation at Cranehook doe freely Consent thereunto,
for the Selling of the aforesd Lott provided & with that condition, that wee may
alsoe Receive the halfe part of money what the aforesaid Lott shall be sould for,
hoping that you will use your best and true advantage herein & so wee shall
remain your Loving friends. Written at Cranehook the Twelfth of Novbr 1693
The marke of Hendrick BE Everton, The mark of Andrew AA Anderson, Gisebert
GW Walleaven, Pavell g Mink, Charles Springer."
"Recorded 25th of xber 1693."

David Lloyd also exacted from the grantors a sort of indemnifying bond,
dated the 29th day of December, 1693, in which they "for themselves their said
successors in ye said office in behalf of ye sd Congregation and of their minister
or ministers prn't or to come and in their private capacities, also do covenant

556 APPENDIX. — NOTE M.

promise and grant for themselves and their heirs respectively yl they & everie of
them, ye sd seven acres of land & meadow & premises hereby granted, to him
the said David Lloyd & his heirs & successors forever, & agst their sa minister or
ministers prn't or to come & their successors and assigns & agst all other ye
Sweeds, Dutch, finns & others the old Residents & all other Inhabitants of the
sd Province of Pennsylvania & County of Newcastle, Jerseys, Maryland & other
parts of America & elcewhere, having or pretending to have society or church
fellowship with ye sd Sweedes Congregation & against all others claiming by
from or under ym or any of ym, or by * * * their or any of their heirs & their
successors * * * means privitie consent or procurement, as also against all
all other Incumbrances, seizures & forfeitures whatsoever shall & will warrant
& forever defend by these presents * * * * *."f

NOTE L.— Page 273.

" Chester County, ss. Att a Special Court held and kept at Chester, for the
County of Chester, in the Province of Pennsylvania, the 2d day of March, in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Before John
Hannum and John Morton, Esqs., two of his Majesty's Justices of the peace within
the county aforesaid, particularly commissionated according to the form and
effect of an act of General Assembly of the said Province, entitled " An act for
the tryal of Negroes," with the assistance of Jonas Preston, Elisha Price, David
Cowpland. John Salkeld, George Grantham and William Swaffer, six of the most
substantial freeholders of the neighbourhood, duly and legally summoned, re-
turned, sworn and affirmed, well and truly to give their assistance and judgment
on the tryal of all such negroe or negroes as shall be charged or accused before
them of committing any Murder, Manslaughter, Buggery, Burglary, Rapes, at-
tempts of rapes, or any other high or heinous offence committed, acted, or done

WITHIN THE SAID COUNTY.

The King
vs.
Negro Phebe, the
Slave of Joseph
Richardson.

Witnesses.

Thomas Barnard, . ™ ,

r,, • . , tv r Affirmed.

Christopher Dmgee,

Joseph Dutton,

Archibald Dick, sworn.

On an information exhibited by Benjamin
Chew, Esq., Attorney-General of our Lord
the King, for Feloniously and Burglarily
breaking and entering the mansion house of
Thomas Barnard, and stealing thereout divers
goods and chattels the property of the said
Thomas Barnard. The defendant being now
arraigned, pleads non cul et de hoc, &c.
Attorney-General, similiter, &c. And now,
on hearing the proofs in this case, it is con-
sidered and adjudged by this court that the
said defendant, Negro Phebe, is guilty of the Felony and Burglary aforesaid, in
manner and form, &c. ; and thereupon, it is further considered and adjudged by
this court, that the said defendant, Negro Phebe, be led to the prison from
whence she came, and from thence to the place of execution, and there be
hanged by the neck till she be dead."

NOTE M.— Page 395.

The following poetic tribute to the Grange, the most ancient and rurally beau-
tiful country seat in Delaware County, was composed by Dr. Charles Caldwell,
about the year 1798.

"GRANGE."

" Remote from walks where noise and revels reign,
And fierce ambition fires the phrensied brain,
Where jarring mortals clash in venal strife,
And thorn-clad cares embitter transient life,
Where woe-fraught Health declines her languid head,
And hearses black-rob'd bear the thronging dead ;

•f Surveyor Gen. Oflice, Harrisburg, "Record Book F., No. 6, p. 46, &c."

APPENDIX. — NOTE M. 557

Remote from Town with all its clamorous train

Its veteran vices, wiles and galling pain,

Grange lies — luxuriant in fair rural scenes,

Gay plumy groves, bright lawns, and velvet greens,

Proud forests humming to the hollow gale,

And craggy steeps dark frowning o'er the vale,

Alternate shadowy walks, and sunny hills,

Soft warbling choirs, and sweetly gurgling rills.

With such romantic form has Nature crown'd,

And rob'd in rural pride this hallow'd ground.

Hail to thy works of Art, delightful spot !
The splendid dome, the rich, prolific lot !
The gardens wafting wide their sweet perfume,
And soft-enchanting with their Eden-bloom,
Their sloping grades adorn 'd with fairest flowers,
Embroider'd walks, gay clumps and pansied bowers;
With arborets green, in scandent garlands twin'd,
Of woodbines fair and clasping jasmines join'd.
— There sportive Echo from her hollow cell
Shrill mimic numbers pours along the dell,
There moss-clad grotto's, founts and cool alcoves,
Invite soft graces and the whispering loves.
Pomona there in full profusion pours
Th' Autumnal bounties of her golden stores,
And jovial Bacchus, flush'd with youth and wine,
In teeming clusters clothes the' empurpled vine.

But chief my warm'd, my grateful muse would hail
Yon mazy walk which overlooks the vale,
Which skirts in graceful curves, the rural steep,
Where jasmines twine and sadden'd willows weep,
Where flowers adorn, where shrubs perfume the way
And nodding poplars check the blaze of day
With yonder plant ; of Lombardy the pride,
Which points its spiry plume, and drinks th effulgent tide.
0 ! would the Muses aid my sylvan song.
This walk should glide in deathless lays along !

Where, to the North, the steep romantic rears
His grove-capt crest, the growth of numerous years,
Deep at his base slow slides the lucid stream,
While from its bosom bounds the golden beam,
Beneath, the finny race in gambols play,
Keen sport in sinuous trains and dash the limpid spray.

Pleas'd as I pensive chant this sacred ground,
And from the groves and hills and rocks around,
In sportive mood, from her responsive tongue,
Sweet Echo pours th' expiring tones along,
You crescent-seat allures my steps aside,
To rest reclin'd, and view the checker'd tide,
Of such as wing" the air, or cleave the flood,
Range the wide plain, or haunt the vocal wood.

Light pois'd aloft, behold the stock-doves fair,
In frolic rounds, fiit thro' the midway air,
Now swift descending, now exultant rise,
Now sweep the glebe, now cleave the topmost skies.

In such lone haunts fair science loves to stray,
To scan the glories of the stellar way,
Revolve in prying thought the kenless deep,
Where nature's mystic sons in myriads sleep.
In mellow'd mood to court the tuneful Nine
To pour enwrapt o'er Darwin's matchless line,
Admire the labors of the bearded sage,
Or, thoughtful, trace the wild historic page,
Thro' chemic mazes search the trackless way,
And enter Nature's fane with Lavoisier.

Be varied blessings thine, sweet rural Grange !
Peace, Health and Plenty round thy borders range !
May earliest Zephyrs fan thy wreathy bowers,
Press on thy groves, and kiss thy opening flowers !
May summer suns avert their fiercer beam,
And play, innocuous, on thy glassy stream,
May golden Autumn spread her rich repast,
Nor mar thy pleasures with her sickening blast !
And winter from his ice-roof d cell prepare,
More rural treasures for the opening year !"

" Carlos.'

558

APPENDIX. — NOTE N.

NOTE N.— Page 441.
STATISTICS OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

AGRICULTURE.

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Nether Providence,
Upper Providence,
Media Borough,
Middletown, .
Aston, .
Edgmont,
Thornbury, .
Bethel, .

Lower Chichester,
Upper Chichester,
Springfield, .
Upper Darby,
Marple, .
Newtown,
Haverford,
Radnor,
Birmingham, .
Concord,

Chester Township,
Chester Borough,
Ridley, .
Darby Township,
Tinicum,
Darby Borough,

APPENDIX. — NOTE N.

559

AGRICULTURE CONTINUED.

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10,639
860
24,300
15,725
17,485
18,985
7,660

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560

APPENDIX. — NOTE N.

STATISTICS

Extracted from the Census returns of Delaivare County, for the year ending June 1st,
1860, exhibiting the quantity of Cotton, and Cotton and Woolen Goods and Paper
manufactured in the County during that year, the Value of the Goods manufac-
tured, and the Capital invested by the manufacturers.

Fabrics made wholly of cotton, .... 20,297,303 yards.

« " wholly of wool, or of cotton and wool, . . 10,906,342 "

Yarns of all kinds, ......

Paper of all kinds, ......

Value of the manufactured goods for the year ending June
1st, 1860, .......

Capital invested, .......

31,203,645

1,751,800 lbs.
1,582 tons.

$4,084,830
2,851,750

RELIGIOUS STATISTICS OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Extracted from the Census taken in 1860.

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NAMES OF THE DIFFERENT SECTS.

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Friends or Quakers,

16

5,280

$45,000

Methodist,

16

4,360

38,500

Baptist, .

7

2,225

23,470

Roman Catholic.

5

1,980

31,300

Protestant Episcopal,

7

2,325

48,500

Presbyterian,

7

2,630

35,000

New Jerusalem,

2

450

8,500

Bible Christian,

2

550

1,000

Universalist, .

1

300

4,000

African Methodist, .

4
67

525

2,200

20,625

$237,570

LIBRARIES OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

Friends Library of Springfield, 1000 volumes, Religious and Miscellaneous.

Chester Library Company, 2,000 volumes, Miscellaneous (Instituted 1767.)

William Penn Library Association, (Chester,) 400 volumes, Miscellaneous.

Protestant Episcopal Church Library, (Chester,) 600 volumes, Miscellaneous
and Religious.

Concord Library, 750 volumes, Miscellaneous.

Friends Library, Radnor, 500 volumes, Religious and Miscellaneous.

Villa Nova, 300 volumes, Religious and Miscellaneous.

Delaware County Institute of Science, 1,000 volumes, Scientific and Miscel-
laneous.

Union Library Company, 1,400 volumes, Miscellaneous.

Darby Library Company, 2,300 volumes, Miscellaneous.

Haverford College Library, 3,200 volumes, Literary, Scientific and Miscel-
laneous.

Haverford Loganian Library, 1,200 volumes, Literary, Scientific and Miscel-
laneous.

APPENDIX. — NOTE N. 561

In addition to the libraries contained in the foregoing list, which, for the most
part are used by the public to a greater or less extent, there are many private
libraries in the County. The works in several of these have been selected with
great care, and some of them contain from one to three thousand volumes.

Darby Library was established in 1743. The following interesting matter
connected with its establishment, omitted in the proper place, has been recently
supplied by a friend, and will be inserted here.

The original article of agreement was signed upon the 10th day of March, in
the year of our Lord 1743, by the following persons, viz.: Joseph Bonsall, John
Davis, James Hunt, John Sketchley, George Wood, Joshua Thomson, Samuel
Bunting, Nathan Gibson, Benjamin Lobb, Enoch Elliot, Jonathan Paschall, Abra-
ham Jonason, Isaac Pearson, John Hunt, Joseph Hunt, Abraham Marshall, John
Pearson, Richard Lloyd, David Gibson, Joseph Levis, Benjamin Hayes, Thomas
Pennel, Henry Lewis, Charles Crossley, John Lewis, Thomas Pearson, William
Home, Joseph Lee and Peter Elliot; and Joseph Bonsall was elected Secretary,
Nathan Gibson, Treasurer, and John Pearson, Librarian. It was also "Ordered,
that the Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian, transmit ye several sums of money
subscribed by this Company to Europe as soon as conveniently may, and pur-
chase therewith such books as is heretofore voted for, if the money be sufficient,
for y° use of the Library Company." An adjournment then took place to the
14th day of May, 1743, at the house of John Pearson, Librarian. At this meet-
ing no business appears to have been transacted, except to receive the resignation
of Joseph Hunt, and to elect David Lewellyn, Jr., a member in his stead; after
which the Company adjourned, to meet again at the same place upon the 8th
day of October in the same year. The next meeting seems to have been more
important, as " the Treasurer acquainted them that he, with ye advice and con-
sent of the Secretary and Librarian, had purchased a bill of exchange of Rebicca
Edgel, drawn on Larance Williams, of London, merchant, payable in thirty days
after sight to Peter Collinson, of London, gentleman;" and "the Secretary ac-
quainted the Company that, in pursuance of the aforesaid bill of exchange and
ye directions of this Company, he had wrote a letter to ye sd Peter Collinson, a
copy whereof he produced and read in the following words," viz.:

"Darby, ye 14th of 4th Month, 1743.
"Friend Peter Collinson:

"There is a small number of us in Darby, near Philad, who have formed our-
selves into a company, in order to purchase a small set of books for our use ;
with well-grounded expectations of our number increasing in a little time, and
being advised by our frd aud neighbour, John Bartram, to apply to thee to pur-
chase the sd books, and in confidence of thy good disposition and from ye
character he gives of thee to encourage such a decision, have thought fit there-
uponto send to and desire thee to do such an office of kindness for us ; but as
our number is but small, so is the sum of money, amounting only to fourteen
pounds, as pr bill of exchange, drawn by Rebicca Edgel on Larance Williams,
merchant, payable to thee in thirty days after sight thereof. We also send here-
with a catalogue of such books as our Company approved of, requesting thee
to be so good as to buy so many of them [taking them in order as they stand on
the list] as the money will extend to pay, reserving sufficient to satisfy thee for
thy trouble with the cost of Insurance here. And when the books are pur-
chased, please to ship them of pr the first opportunity for Philad., in such a manner
and with such directions as appears to thee most convenient, either for John
Bartram or the subscriber hereof. Be so good also as to get the books lettered
on ye back, if that can be done without much trouble or cost, or as many of
them as conveniently can be. We also desire thee to send the price of each book
purchased, that being necessary for us to know in pursuance of our agreement.
Thy answering our requests will much oblige us, who, with due respect, are thy
unfeigned friends. Signed in behalf of said Company,

"By Joseph Bonsall, Secretary."

In compliance with the requests so courteously conveyed in this friendly letter,

36

562 APPENDIX. — NOTE N.

Peter Collinson purchased and forwarded to the Secretary a case of books, a list
of which is annexed, viz.:

"The Gentleman Instructed; Puffendorf's Law of Nature and Nations ; The
Spectator, 8 vol. ; .The Turkish Spy, 8 vol. ; Tournefort's Voyages, 2 vol. ; Whit-
son's Theory; Addison's Travels; Barclay's Apology ; Locke on Education; Reli-
gion of Nature Delineated; Gorden Geography; Grammar; Sherlock on Death;
Whitson's Astr°. Principles; Mondrall's Travels; Dyches' Dictionary; Tull's
Husbandry ; Blackmoore on ye Creation ; Independent Whig, 3 vol. ; Wood's In-
stitute on ye Laws of England; Milton's Paradise Lost and Regained, 2 vol.;
Puffendorf's Hist, of Sweden; Rawligh's Hist, of ye World, 2 vol.; The Life of the
Duke of Marlborough, 2 vol."

When the books were received, the Secretary called a special meeting of the
Company to examine them; and thus began, nearly one hundred and twenty
years ago, this library, which has gradually and steadily increased to the present
time. It was the first in the colony outside of Philadelphia, and when we con-
sider the condition of the country at that early day — the scarcity of money — the
delay and difficulty in obtaining books from the other side of the Atlantic, it
must be admitted that this effort to establish a permanent institution for the
intellectual improvement of themselves and their posterity was in the highest
degree creditable to its founders.

They continued to receive their supply of books directly from London until
about the year 1760, when they were furnished for a considerable period by
David Hall, a bookseller in Philadelphia. In many cases the desired works could
not be found in the city, and were procured in England by him for the Company.

ADDENDA.

[On page 147, a promise was made to give a further account of the Chester
Mills, and the disasters which befel that early improvement. At the proper place
in the narrative, the fulfillment of this promise was inadvertently omitted. To
supply this omission, some extracts will be here inserted, from a conveyance
executed in 1705 by Samuel Carpenter to Caleb Pusey of his interest in the
property. This document contains the only correct account of these early erected
mills, that has come under the notice of the author.]

After reciting the verbal partnership and the number of shares held by each
partner as given on page 147, the record proceeds: "And it was further agreed
that the said Caleb Pusey should be agent and Manager of said joynt concern.
And the said Caleb Pusey, soon after the proprietary's first arrival in this Pro-
vince obtained two warrants from him for taking up land to set the said mills
upon, The one dated ********************* containing in
all Twenty acres, Upon or near which he the ssiid Caleb, with the advice of the
said Proprietary and such other of the said partners as then were in this Pro-
vince in the year of our Lord 1683, did at the joynt charge of all the said Part-
ners Erect a corn mill upon the said creek near his new dwelling house, which
mill with the dam belonging to it were soon carried away by the flood. And
the said Caleb Pusey afterwards, by the advice of the said Proprietary and other
partners that were here, did upon the said joynt account, build another corn
mill and sawmill upon part of the said twenty acres of land and made a dam
over said creek a little above where the first mill stood. But the flood carried
away that dam. Whereupon, the said partners consideiing the violence of the
said creek in times of land floods, found it most advisable to take the water out
of the creek about a mile above the said mills. And for that purpose the said
Caleb Pusey of one Thomas Brassey, a slip of land about four perches in breadth
adjoining upon the said creek did purchase containing about two acres, when
he digged and made a mill race or water course down to the said mills ; and
whereas the said Richard Townsend [one of the partners,] assigned or relin-
quished all his said four parts or shares of and in the said mills and premises,
unto the said Caleb Pusey. And whereas the charges of making said water
course and necessary repairs of said mills did far surmount the earnings and
profits thereof, so that the said partners became indebted to one Robert Turner
in sundry sums of money wch their said agent from time to time borrowed and
received of him upon their joynt account, but all the said Partners except the
said Proprietary and Caleb Pusey refusing or neglecting to pay their parts thereof,
he the said Robert sued them for the sume of £319 18s. lid. current money of
Pennsylvania in the County Court held for the said County of Chester the 14th
day of June, A. I). 1692, whereupon, he recovered the said debt with costs of
suit and afterwards took out a writ of execution directed to the then Coroner*
of the said County, commanding ********************* And
the said Coroner having exposed the premises to sale and finding no buyers,
afterwards to witt, the 13th day of September in the said year 1692, pursuant to
the laws of this Province, in such case made and provided, did Bargain Sell and

* Caleb Pusey was at this time Sheriff of Chester County.

564 ADDENDA.

deliver to the said Robert Turner, To hold to him his heirs and Assigns forever
All those twenty-two shares and proporcons of the said Corn and Saw-mills and
implements thereof, and twenty-two shares of the said twenty acres of land in
full satisfaction of said debt of 319£ 18S UD and of 11£ 10S 3D charges. The
The said Coroner having returned the said Caleb Pusey and Company the sum
of £46 13s *7^d being the overplus of what the twenty-two shares of the said
mills and premises amounted to according to the said appraisment, as by the
records * * *"

[Robert Turner conveyed his twenty-two shares of the property to Samuel
Carpenter in 1692, and the mills having been rebuilt in a substantial manner, on
Caleb Pusey's land, he executed a release of the proper proportions thereof to
Samuel Carpenter and William Penn. The deed from which the above extract
was taken, conveys the twenty-two shares of Samuel Carpenter to Caleb Pusey,
the consideration being £1000. Between 1692 and 1705, the ownership of the
mills was in Samuel Carpenter, William Penn and Caleb Pusey.]

[Accompanying Roggeveen's Dutch Map of New Netherland, a fac simile of a
part of which faces page 18, is a description of the country in French. The fol-
lowing is a translation of that description, so far as it relates to the Delaware
River and Bay.]

" The west Cape of the South river of New Netherland (or the New Low Coun-
tries) is called Cape Hinlope and the East — Cape May ; the name of which takes
its origin from Cornelius Jacob May, who was an experienced pilot on this coast
in the service of the West India Company, who raised a pillar to his memory in
the year 1623.

" of the South River.

" This River at the mouth near this Cape (May) is tolerably large and spacious
but interspersed with many shoals and sand banks such as to make the entrance near
Cape Hinloope, between the West Bank and the Bank of Brandywine, and when
thus made there is a great depth named the Hoere Kille. The entrance to this
river is very deep, the least is five fathoms till it begins to pass by the Island of
Hammen where it is not less than four fathoms, and at the corner, where is the
point of Collacke, there extends a sand bank across the river, where one finds it
five fathoms, and then it is found deeper after having passed the Island of Reden.
As soon as you pass this Island you also pass two little Ports or Castles, one of
which is named (that to the larboard) Fort Casimires, and that to the starboard
Fort Elsenbourg ; adjoining the Castle, one sees issue a creek or canal, called
Varcken's Kill, which is followed by another called Maratikus kill. The river
in tbis place as far as Christina is at least four fathoms deep. This country is
called Lapland, where the river is three fathoms deep which depth continues as
far as it is navigable to the country of the Sauno.

" Opposite to Matymecough, lie two little Isles, which are supported by a bank
of sand as far as Gottenburgh, then its course passes close to the Castle of
Nassau ; but if you would approach it near Gottenburgh about the Schuyl-kil,
I do not know how to give you better advice. The properties and approaches
are known well enough, when you enter the river, being the same as they are so
naturally portrayed on the map you see, with all its shoals and depths.

" There has fallen into my hands many maps describing this River, but I have
found them all vary — not one agreeing with another, but when I saw the demon-
stration of this figure, which so distinctly displays all its properties and ap-
proaches, I then proposed to myself to make you a participator, hoping it will
serve you as an easy and safe Pilot."

INDEX.

[The Biographical Notices being arranged in alphabetical order, this Index will
refer exclusively to the other parts of the work.]

A.

Affirmation Act, money paid for the
confirmation of the, by the Crown,
221, 235, 236; another, passed by
Parliament, 223.

Aharommuny, location of the island of
57.

Alarm, false, created by Governor
Evans, 214; caused by an un-
founded rumor of an Indian insur-
rection, 168.

Alrichs, Jacob, Director of New Am-
stel, 72 ; unpopularity and death
of, 76.

Ames or Amos Land, block-house to
confine a madman, to be erected
in, 116; early surveys of land in,
522, 523; notice of, 389.

Anderson, Capt. Patrick, letter to Dr.
Franklin from, 294.

Axdrieson, Peter, resists the order of
the Dutch to remove, 78.

Andros, Sir Edmund, appointed Go-
vernor, 100; visit to the Delaware,
101; special court held at New
Castle by, 102 ; letter to the Jus-
tices of Upland Court from, 105.

Arbitrators, earliest notice of, 107.

Armstrong, General, erroneous opi-
nion of, 305 ; position of, at the
Battle of Brandywine, 305.

Army, destitute condition of the Ame-
rican, 319; winter quarters of the,
at the Valley Forge, 328 ; occupa-
tion of Philadelphia by the British,
328 ; grain to be threshed for the
American, 329 ; damage and waste
committed by the British, 544 to
554.

Aschom, Charles, complaints against,
as Deputy Surveyor, 155.

Assault and Battery, trial for in Up-
land Court, 110.

Assembly, first meeting of the, 139;
proceedings of the, 140 ; where
the sittings of the, were held, 142 ;
second meeting of the, 146 ; list of
members of the, 524 ; resignation
of the Quaker members of the, 265 ;
disputes between the Governor and
the, 265; appointment of Deputies
to Congress by the, 280: list of
members of the, from Delaware
County, 528.

Assessment, general, of all the coun-
ties, 189 ; of historical interest,
190.

Assessors, appointment of, 201.

Associators, organization of military,
257 ; Regiment of, in Chester Coun-
ty, 25S ; object of the, misrepre-
sented, 284; Independence disa-
vowed by the, 284 ; quantity of
powder to be reported by the, 284
perfect organization of the, 287
cartridges delivered to the, 290
convention of the, 293.

Aston, notice of, 400.

Astrology, young men dealt with by
Friends for practicing, 192, 193.

Atlee, Colonel, battalion of, to be
quartered in Philadelphia, 291 ;
notice of his command, 292.

Attestation, form of, for Jurors pre-
scribed by Win, Penn, 143.

Attorneys, not allowed to plead, 110;
first appearance of on behalf of the
Crown, 160 ; compensation of the
King's, 254; general, 255.

Augusta Frigate, blowing up of the,
321.

B.

Baltimore, Lord, obtained his patent
for Maryland, 15 ; his conference
at Upland with Governor Markham.

566

INDEX.

129 , messengers sent to Upland
by, 136 ; principles adopted for set-
tlement of boundary agreed upon
with, 244.

Bank, of Delaware County established,
352.

Baptists, organization of seventh-day,
221 ; first regular organization of,
225, 543.

Barley, to be received for taxes, 113.

Barony, order of William Penn to lay
out the Welsh Tract as a, 164 ; the
validity of the grant of a, advocated
by Thomas Lloyd, 172 ; the idea of
a, yielded by the Welsh, 173.

Beavers, number of skins exported, 10;
decline of the Dutch trade in, 25 ;
used as currency, 89 ; standard
value of and export duty on, 89.

Beekman, William, appointed Vice-
Director on the Delaware, 74.

Besh, John Amundson, grant of land
to, 58, 519; commission of and
object of his appointment, 59, 61 ;
probable revocation of grant to, 83.

Bethel, road laid out to Chichester
from, 159 ; hamlet of, presented by
the Grand Jury, 179; derivation of
the name of, 382; notice of the
township of, 382.

Bevers Rheede, Fort, erected, 49 ; lo-
cation of, 50 ; Swedes build in
front of, 51.

Billingsport, fort erected at, 291 ; fort
at captured and abandoned, 317 ;
British ships at, 319.

Biography, of the early settlers and
eminent men of Delaware County,
422.

Birds, of Delaware County, catalogue
of, by John Cassin, 435.

Birmingham, settlements extended to,
158; Friends' Meeting established
at, 227 ; fair held at, 225 ; battle
at meeting-house, 311; notice of,
401.
Blackwell, John, appointed Lieuten-
ant-Governor, 169 ; reprimands his
council, 171; removal from office,
179.
Blanke, Juriaen, vessel of, ordered off

by the Swedes, 41.
Blankets, how to be procured for the

soldiers, 297, 298, 319.
Block, Adrian, his ship burned. 3 ; con-
structs a new vessel, 3.
Block Bouse, at Upland, 117; at Wi-
cacco, occupied as a church, 115 ;
to be built at Ameslandforalunatic^
116; on Tinicum mentioned, 146.

Blue Bell, capture of Americans at
the, 324.

Bogart, Jost De, position of, on the
Delaware, 26.

Bonsall, William, inhuman murder of,
355.

Books, pernicious, presented by the
Grand Jury, 193.

Boon's Dam, breastwork erected on,
322.

Boston, contribution for building a
Friends' meeting-house at, 218 ;
subscription for relief of suffering
people at 282.

Botany, catalogue of plants growing in
Delaware County, 417.

Boundary, the King's letter respecting
Maryland, 129; between Philadel-
phia and Chester Counties esta-
blished by the Council, 154; the
last named confirmed, 171 ; of the
Welsh tract, 165; temporary, be-
tween Chester and New Castle
Counties established, 187 ; the cir-
cular, run, 206 ; the circular con-
firmed, 222; disputes about the
circular, 236 ; order of the King
for the settlement of the Maryland.
247 ; agreement about the Mary-
land, 247.

Bowater, John, a meeting-house to be
erected for the meeting held at his
house, 202.

Bradford, organized as a township,
213 ; Friends' Monthly Meeting for,
■ established, 246.

Brandywine, road laid out to upper
settlements on the, 210; Baptist
Church of, established, 226, 543 ;
Indian claim to land on the, 237;
rates of fare established at Chadd's
Ford on the, 246 ; ferry on the, 254 ;
fishery regulated in the, 274 ; posi-
tion taken by Washington on the,
305 ; battle of, 306-313 ; retreat of
the American Army from the, 308 ;
incidents of the battle of, 311 ; Act
of Assembly for making a canal
along the, 346.
Brannan, Benjamin, instructs persons
in the art of making saltpetre, 288.
Breakwater, stone sent from Delaware
County to the, rejected, 359 ; report
on the quality of the stone sent to
the, 359.
Breastworks, thrown up on the Dela-
ware, 285.
Bridges, order of the court for the erec-
tion of a horse bridge, 159 ; Chester
presented for not erecting a foot

INDEX.

567

bridge, 161 ; repair of the, ordered
by the court, 168 ; to be a county
charge, 216; to be erected over
Crum and Ridley Creeks, 226.

Bridle Road, to be laid out from Mar-
cus Hook to Chester, 190.

British Army, march of the, to Ken-
net, 305 ; movements of the, at the
Battle of Brandy-wine, 307 ; en-
campment in Aston of the, 313;
depredations committed by the,
313, 545 ; enters Philadelphia, 316 ;
foraging party from the, 330.

British Fleet, enters the Delaware,
301 ; goes out to sea, 302 ; returns
to the Delaware, 317 ; passes up to
Philadelphia, 325.

Brooke, Capt. William, narrow escape
of, from capture by the British,
325.

Burd Asylum, notice of the, 386.

Burying Ground, site of the, at Tini-
cum, 44 ; Friends', established at
Chester, 148 ; Friends', established
at Haverford, Merion and Schuyl-
kill, 149 ; Friends', established at
Chichester, 158; purchase of San-
dy Bank, 179 ; early notice of one
at Chester, 211 ; grave-stones to be
removed from Friends', 215.

C.

Calcon Hook, taxable persons residing
in, 113; attached to Darby town-
ship, 161 ; notice of, 389.

Caln, Friends' Meeting settled at, 226 ;
meeting-house erected at, 238.

Calendar, Act for the correction of the,
261 ; action of the Yearly Meeting
of Friends on the new, 261. '

Cajipanius, Rev. John, accompanies
Gov. Printz to New Sweden, 30 ;
his account of the Swedish set-
tlers, 32 ; is visited by the Indians,
and translates Luther's Catechism
into their language, 44 ; conse-
crated a church at Tinicum, 44 ;
his religious instruction to the In-
dians, 45 ; his description of places
in New Sweden, 54 ; returns to his
native country, 54.

Cantwell, Edmund, appointed Sheriff
and Collector of quit-rents on the
Delaware, 96 ; appointed Surveyor,
101.

Carr, Sir Robert, a royal commissioner
in the expedition against the Dutch,
87 ; rapacious conduct aud cupid-
ity of, on the Delaware, 88 ; his
conduct disapproved, 89.

Cartlidge, John and Edmund, wrong-
fully accused of causing the death
of an Indian, 231.

Cartlidge, Edmund, Sen., tombstone
of, 385.

Carolus, Rev. Laurenwus, is successor
to Campanius as Swedish priest,
54; elopement of his wife, 80 ; is
divorced and married himself, 81 ;
persecution of, 81 ; suspected of
being implicated in the insurrec-
tion of the Long Finn, 92.

Casimir, Fort, erection of, protested
against by Gov. Printz, 57 ; the
erection of a Fort below, recom-
mended, 61 ; captured by the
Swedes, 61 ; name of, changed, 63 ;
recaptured by the Dutch, 66.

Cattle, introduction of, on the Dela-
ware, 17, 33 ; marks and brands of,
recorded, 151 ; great loss of, for
want of provender, 190; to be
driven from the Delaware on the
approach of the enemy, 295 ; per-
sons appointed to drive the, 300.

Cedar Swamp, ancient, on Tinicum
Island, 413.

Chadd's Ford, ferry established at, 246 ;'
ferry at, proves not to be remune-
rative, 255; flat rebuilt for, 276;
breastwork erected near, 308 ;
Gen. Knyphausen crosses at, 308.

Charity, large amount contributed by
the early Quakers for purposes of,
254.

Cha"rles II., King, grant from, to Wil-
liam Penn, 125; death of, 154.

Charleston, relief contributed by
Friends to sufferers by a great fire
at, 254.

Chester, meeting to be held in the
Court-house at, 137 ; name of Up-
land changed to, 139 ; first Assem-
bly meet at, 139 ; Indian name
of, 145, 381 ; burial place for
Friends established at, 148 ; meet-
ing-house for Friends proposed to
be built at, 166; street and land-
ing place laid out at, 167, 174;
first Friends' meeting-house erect-
ed at, 188; early trade of, 191 ;
mills erected, 146 ; street between
David Lloyd's ground and the
Green laid out in, 178 ; yellow
fever supposed to have prevailed
at, 200 ; landing of William Penn
at, 200 ; privilege confirmed of
holding fairs and markets at, 203 ;
petition for making the town of, a
free port, 221 ; draw-bridge re-

568

INDEX.

paired at, 255 : public pound at,
232 ; proposition to remove the
seat of government to, 239 ; a se-
cond Friends' meeting-bouse erect-
ed at, 245 ; troops quartered at,
289 ; land force stationed at, 290;
militia to encamp near, 297; coun-
ty records removed from, 300 ; no
shelter at for more troops, 302 :
more troops ordered to, 303 ; Gen.
Armstrong commands tbe militia
at, 303 ; Gen. Washington retreats
to, 309 ; British in possession of,
313 ; Cornwallis marches to, 324 ;
derivation of the name of, 377;
notice of, 377 ; ancient buildings
at, 378 ; town-hall of, 379 ; news-
papers published at, 379, 380. See
Court and Court-houses.

Chester County, established, 139 ; first
court held for, 143; first appoint-
ment of Justices for, 143 ; seal
adopted for, 146 ; boundary be-
tween Philadelphia and, 154 ; mis-
take in running boundary line of,
155; members of Council from,
155 . Haverford and Radnor refuse
to recognize the authorities of, 158;
ground purchased for the use of,
204 ; Treasurer of, serves gratis,
254; whips bought and repaired
for the service of, 205 ; wagons
furnished to the army by, 268, 298,
303 ; delegates to Congress from,
292 ; delegates to the State Con-
vention, 293 ; all the stockings' and
blankets in, to be bought for the
soldiers, 295 ; account to be taken
of provisions in, 301 ; division of,
344 : remarks on division of, 346.

Chester Creek, petition for a bridge
over, at Chester rejected by Coun-
cil, 196; petition for a road from
the King's road to the ferry over,
200 ; act passed authorizing a
bridge over, at Chester, 212; In-
dian name of, 381 : description of,
403.

Chevaux-de-frize, placed in the De-
laware, 285 ; more to be sunk, 287 ;
additional tiers to be sunk at Bil-
lingsport, 292 ; a portion of the,
removed by the enemy, 319.

Cheyney, Thomas, conveys correct in-
telligence to Washington at the
Battle of Brandywine, 307.

Chichester, name of Marcus Hook
changed to, 136 ; Friends' Meeting
held at, 137 ; Monthly Meeting es-
tablished at, 149; bounds of ex-

tended, 158 ; Friends' graveyard
established and Meeting erected
in township of, 158 ; fairs to be
held at, 203.

Christina, Fort, erected, 22 ; W. I.
Company advised of the erection
of, 23 ; town laid out adjoining,
63; besieged and captured by the
Dutch, 66 : Gov. Rysingh refuses
the restoration of, 67 ; name of
changed, 72.

Christina, Queen, abdicates the throne
of Sweden, 65.

Church, at Christina, 34 ; at Tinicum,
44 ; at Wicacco, 15, 102 ; land of
the, taken in by Neels Laerson, 120;
at Tinicum damaged by the Dutch,
66 ; at Tinicum and Wicacco, or-
dered by the court to be repaired,
122 ; of St. Paul erected, 208, 532 ;
St. Martins, 207 ; lands of the
Swedes at Chester, 199, 211, 555 :
first mission of the Catholic, 241.

Churches, early organized, 202, 226,
398, 532, 543 ; receive aid from a
lottery, 272.

Circular Line, the running of the, 206 ;
confirmed by the Assembly, 222 ;
confirmatory act rejected by the
King and Council, 229; renewed
controversy about the, 236 ; angry
disputes about the, 244.

City Colony, of Amsterdam establish-
ed, 72; territorial limits enlarged,
77, 80, 84.

Clerk, of Upland Court, 107 ; of Ches-
ter Court, 131, 146; of the crown
employed, 254.

Clifton, 387 ; Clifton Hall, 387, 393.

Climate, important tables exhibiting
that of Delaware County, 440.

Clock-weights, leaden, taken for mili-
tary purposes, 291.

Cobb's Creek, Indian name of, 38 ; ori-
gin of the modern name, 203.

Cobourn, Thomas, erects a mill above
Chester mills, 162; disregards the
the mandate of the Commissioners
of Property, 162.

Coin, counterfeiting of, a common of-
fence, 182 ; punishment for expo-
sing bad, 201 ; kinds of, in use,
235 ; value of, fixed by law, 251.

Coleman, Henry, charged with sedi-
tion, 92.

Collectors of tax, early appointment
of, 151.

Colve, Anthony, appointed Governor
General, 99.

Commassungh, or Finland described, 55.

INDEX.

569

Commissioners, to lay out a city, arri-
val of, 132 ; to examine Upland as
a site for a city, 133.

Concord, township of, organized, 144;
complaint of Friends against the
Indians, 155 ; first Friends' meet-
ing held at, 158; Friends' meeting
house erected at, 195 ; meeting-
house of, used as a military hospi-
tal, 313 ; notice of, 382 ; St. John's
Church in, 383.

CONCORDVILLE, 384.

Conestogo, road to, partly confirmed,
231 ; survey of road, 233.

Congress, representatives from Chester
County in 280, 292 ; first meeting
of, 280; second meeting of, 285;
appropriation by, for the defence
of the Delaware, 291.

Constables, early appointments of, 110,
144; reports of, 156; first to at-
tend court, 217 ; the Welsh, refuse
to appear at the Chester Court, 173.

Constitution, new, adopted, 200.

Continental money, great depreciation
of 332, 333, 336, 339.

Correspondence, revolutionary com-
mittee of, 280, 281.

Corsen, Arent, his alleged purchase
at the Schuylkill, 17.

Council, members and acts of Gov.
Markham's, 129, 133; sittings of
Markham's, where held, 50 ; newly
elected members of, 200 ; of state
established, 206.

Counties, three established by William
Penn, 139 : an act of union with
the three lower, 141 ; separation
from the province of the three
lower, 182; relative progress made
in the several, in improvement,
189; legislative separation with
the three lower, 209.

Country, custom of the, 186.

Court, messenger asked for, 72 ; of assi-
zes, how composed, 90 ; established
by Gov. Lovelace, 90; special, held
at New Castle, 102; of Upland, levies
a tax, 112, 119; Justices of Upland,
commissioned, 105 ; earlier than
Upland, held, 107 ; character and
jurisdiction of Upland, 105, 125,
128 ; names and residences of the
Justices of Upland, 123; mutila-
tion of the record of Upland, 127 ;
first under the administration of
Gov. Markham, 131; larceny trial
in, 135; first held for Chester
County, 143 ; Gov. Penn presides
at, 143; the monthly, 157; pun-

ishment inflicted by the, 157 ; sen-
tence for abuse of the, 157; of
equity, held at Chester, 160 ; leg-
islation by the, 183 ; singular
reports made to the, 184; levy
ordered by the, 184; Provincial,
held at Chester, 197, 199, 214;
sentences of the, 212.

Court-house, House of defence fitted
up for a, 114; Friends' meetings
appointed to be held in the, 137 ;
order of the court in respect to the,
156; apparent sale of the, 156;
sale of the old, to John Sim-
cock, 194 ; deed acknowledged for
the, 196; to be repaired, 200; an-
other sale of, authorized, 204; old
one to be pulled down, 212; ne-
cessity of a new one presented,
206 ; old one repaired, 207 ; title
of the, confirmed to Ralph Fish-
bourn, 214; the last erected at
Chester, 234 ; public records to be
removed to the, 234 ; act for the
removal of the, 336 ; a second re-
moval act, 340 ; walls of a new
one erected at the Turk's Head,
341 ; threatened demolition of the
new, by the anti-removalists, 341 ;
another removal act passed, 342 ;
remarks on early erected court-
houses, 541.

Crane Hook, church erected at, 90.

Creeks, Minquas, early named, 40 ;
Christina, named by Minuit, 21.

Crime, higher offences, where tried, 152 ;
new modes of punishment for, in-
troduced, 173; iucrease in the
higher grades of, 179, improper
punishment of, 186.

Criminals, sent to New Sweden, 37, 58.

Cruise, John, an impostor who came
among Friends, 243.

Currency, sewant (wampum) used as
a, 53 ; beavers continued to be
used as a, 89 ; remarks on the,
10S ; see " Paper money."

D

Darby, early settlement of, 147 ; ear-
liest Friends' meeting at, 148 ; first
meeting-house built at, 166; Cal-
con Hook united with the town-
ship of, 161 ; mill erected at, 191 ;
town of, secured against damage
by fire, 203 ; stocks built at, 242 ;
militia rendezvous at, 304 ; Ame-
rican army march through, 310,
324 ; notice of, 384 ; spelling of

570

INDEX.

the name justified, 384 ; early
town meetings of, 188,384; town-
ship of, divided, 385 ; library, 561.

Darby Creek, guard boats to lay in,
293 ; fort near the mouth of, 299 ;
fort at, to be garrisoned, 304.

Debtor, an insolvent, asks that his
creditors may accept his servitude,
237.

Deeds, acknowledgment of, in open
court, 146.

Delaware, bay discovered by Hudson,
2 ; never seen by Lord Delaware,
2 ; visited by Capt. Argall, 3 ;
names applied to the, 3 ; Capt.
Mey visits and names the capes of
the, 4; reported exploration of the,
by Capt. Hendrickson, in the
yacht Restless, 4 ; first appear-
ance of European females on the,
9 ; patroonships to be established
on the, 11 ; first colony planted on
the, 12; disaster to the first colo-
nists, 14; whales in the, 15, 16;
Swedish expedition to the, 20 ;
first permanent settlement on the,
21 ; military survey of the lands
bordering the, 299 ; Roggeveen's
description of the, 564.

Delaware County, act for the estab-
lishment of, 344; old public build-
ings purchased for the use of, 344;
first election in, 346; courts of,
organized, 346 ; poor-house of, es-
tablished, 350 ; preparation to re-
move the records of, 351 ; Bank of,
incorporated, 352 ; Institute of
Science, established, 35V ; statis-
tics of, 441, 458, 461.

De Vries, sends the first colony to the
Delaware, 12; goes on a whaling
voyage and meets with whales, 13 ;
the fate of the colony at Swanen-
dael fully revealed to him, 13, 14 ;
his visit to Fort Nassau, 15 ; voy-
age of, to Virginia, 16; visit of,
to Gov. Printz, 36.-

Dial, public, at Chester, 192.

Divorce, early, asked for on the ground
of constant strife between the par-
ties, 79.

Domestic animals, early introduction
of, on the Delaware, 33, 34, 80;
cattle and horses to be marked, 151.

Drought, very severe, 359.

Drunkenness, becomes a growing evil,
162.

Duke of York, grant to the, by his
brother, 87 ; his grant to William
Penn, 130; proclaimed king, 154.

Duke's Laws, promulgation of the, 90 ;
re-established by proclamation,
100 ; to be in force on the Delaware,
100.

Duckett, Thomas, Friends' meetings
held at his house, 149.

Dunop, Count, repulse and death of,
at Red Bank, 320.

Dutch, claim of early discovery by the,
3 ; protest against the Swedish
settlement on the Delaware, 22;
jealousy of the, 38 ; land purchased
from the Indians by the, 42 ; set
up their national emblem on the
west side of the river, 42 ; nego-
tiate with the Indians on the Dela-
ware, 50; interview of the, with
Gov. Printz, 51 ; limits proposed
between the Swedes and the, 55
conquest of the Swedes by the, 67
cruelty of the, to the Swedes, 67
government established on the De-
laware, 69 ; they surrender to the
English, 88 ; reconquest by the,
99 ; establishment of courts on the
Delaware by the, 99.

E.

Earthquakes, early notices of, 248, 263,
270.

East Town, organized as a township,
204.

Edgmont, notice of, 400.

Edmundson, William, early religious
visit to Upland by, 104.

Education, first notice of, in Pennsyl-
vania, 121.

Election, early return for Chester
County of an, 153; by means of
white and black beans, 172 ; vote
to be by ballot at the, 180 ; liberal
party defeated at the, 219; places
of holding the, 347.

Elsinborg, Fort, erected by the Swedes,
31 ; abandoned, 58.

English, early settlement on the Dela-
ware attempted by the, 19 ; colony
at Salem, 27; begin a settlement
on the Schuylkill, 28 ; removal of
the Salem colony effected, 29;
complaints against the Dutch by
the, 44 ; conquest of the Dutch by
the, 99 ; government restored to
the, 100.

Episcopalians, early organization of
the, 202 ; church erected at Mar-
cus Hook and Chester by the, 207,
208 ; earliest notice of a burial
ground owned by the, 211.

Equity, court of, held, 161.

INDEX.

571

Evans, John, appointment of, as Go-
vernor, 210; his character, 214;
false alarm created by, 214; un-
popularity and recall of, 21(3.

Essex House, early Quaker meeting
held at the, 104; by whom erected,
104.

Eyre, Robert, appointment of, as clerk
of the court, 146.

F.

Fabritius, Rev. Jacobus, pass to the
Delaware granted to the, 94 ; in-
stalled as the first minister at Wi-
cacco, 115 ; order of the court for
the collection of his clues, 124.

Fairs, Friends appoint a committee to
have oversight of the youth who
attend, 222. See Chester and Chi-
chester.

Fayette, Marquis de la, wounded at
the battle of Brandywine, 309, 313 ;
headquarters of, 311.

Felons, instructions to Gov. Gordon,
against laying duties on, 241.

Females, European, first visit the De-
laware, 9 ; first settlement of, on
the Delaware, 33.

Fence viewers, earliest appointment
of, 1 60.

Ferry, over the Schuylkill supported
by Friends, 189, 195; one over the
Schuylkill, a monopoly, 189 ; a
road laid out to Chester Creek at
the, 200.

Finland, Indian name and location of,
55 ; plundered by the Dutch, 65 ;
extent of, 381.

Finney, Walter, instructs persons in
the art of making saltpetre, 288.

Firelocks, number of, to be furnished
by Chester County, 285 ; to be
sent to Chester, 290.

Fire-ships, used in defence of the De-
laware, 321.

Fitz Patrick, James, exploits of, 326;
capture of, 327 ; conviction and
execution of, 328.

Fleet, Provincial, list of vessels com-
prising the, 289 ; prevents British
vessels from ascending the Dela-
ware, 290 ; loss on board of the,
324.

Foot-way, laid out from Chester to
Chichester Creek, 179.

Forbes, General, reprimands a Dutch
printer, 268.

Forests, appearance of, in early times,
258.

Forge, early erected, 254 ; mentioned
by Peter Kalm, 258.

Fort, Nassau erected, 7 ; location of,
Nassau, 8 ; Christina erected, 21;
Gottinburg and Elsinborg, erected,
31 Manayunk or Schuylkill, erect-
ed, 38 ; Bever's Rheede, erected,
49 ; Swedes build in front of Be-
ver's Rheede, 51 ; Manayunk de-
scribed, 54 , account of Korsholm,
54 ; Casimir, erected, 57 ; Casimir
captured by the Swedes, and name
changed, 61, 63; capitulation of
Trinity, 66 ; Mifflin strengthened,
291, 299.

Fox, George, religious visit of, 98.

Freemen sold into servitude, 186.

Free Society op Traders, incorpora-
tion of the, 137.

French neutrals, provision for the
distribution and support of, 267.

Freshets, remarkable, 348, 355, 359 —
367.

Friends or Quakers, first to settle in
Pennsylvania, 104; first meeting
of, 103 ; first meeting of record,
134; order a meeting to be held in
the court-house at Chester, 137;
character of the early immigrant,
148 ; permit those not in member-
ship to marry in their meetings,
175; support a ferry over the
Schuylkill, 189, 195; large am-
ounts appropriated for charitable
purposes by, 195; preparative
meetings established by, 198 ;
public exposure of delinquents,
225: first disownment among, for
insolvency, 232 ; appropriate mo-
ney to secure the royal assent to
the affirmation act, 236 ; action of
the, in respect to slavery, 239 ; con-
duct of, in respect to the French
invasion, 262 ; disownments for
taking up arms, 296 ; division of
the Society of, 357. See Meeting-
house, Burying-ground and Quakers.

Funerals, large provision at, discou-
raged by Friends, 240.

G.

Geology, of Delaware County, 403.

Geomancy, the practice of, disallowed
by Friends, 192 ; presentment of,
by tbe Grand Jury, 193 ; fine im-
posed by the court for practicing,
194.

Germantown, battle of, 317.

572

INDEX.

Gilder, value of the, 108 ; long retain-
ed as currency, 136.
Gilead, officers appointed for, 161.
Goats, introduction of, on the Dela-
ware, 33.
Gookin, Charles, appointed Governor,
217; meets the Indians at Cones-
togo, 219.
Gordon, Patrick, appointed Governor,

237 ; death of, 245.
Goshen, settlement of, 205 ; Friends'
meeting established at, 205, 208,
210; early settlers of, relieved by
the Welsh Friends of Haverford
monthly meeting, 205 ; road to be
laid out to, 210; organized as a
township, 213 ; Friends of, to erect
a meeting-house, 216; road laid
out, 230 ; monthly meeting of
Friends established, 232.

Gospel, extracts from the history of
the Society for Propagating the,
532.

Gottenburg, New, fort at Tinicum,
built, 31 ; destroyed by the Dutch,
68.

Grand Jury, first in Pennsylvania, 136 ;
early roads laid out by the, 146,
159, 163 ; official term of the, 161 ;
puritanical vigilance and imparti-
ality of the, 161 ; character of the,
168, 185, 186; watchfulness of
the, over the interests of the coun-
ty, 173 ; the foreman of the, pre-
sented, 181 ; manner of present-
ments made by the, 185; three
members of the, refuse to serve,
201 ; term of office abridged, 214;
presents the practice of Geomancy,
&c, 193 ; certain books presented
by the, 193; presents the neces-
sity of stocks and whipping-post,
211 ; presents the old court-house
as a nuisance, 212.

Grange, notice of the, 393 ; poem on
the, 557.

Grants, abstracts from the most an-
cient, 520.

Grave-stones, removal of, ordered by
Friends, 215.

Grave-yard. See Burying-ground.

Gray's Ferry, bridge at, destroyed,
321.

Great Battery, erection of the, 257.

Green, purpose and location of the,
178; boundary and location of the,
178 ; street laid out along the, 178 ;
purchased by David Lloyd, 555 ;
confirmation of title of, 199; no
burial ground on the, 211.

Guardian, first appointment of a, 108.

Gun-boats, construction of, 285.

Gwynedd, Friends' meeting of, estab-
lished, 208 ; monthly meeting of,
organized, 222.

Gypsum, introduction of, as a manure.
350.

H.

Half-Moon, Hudson sails on a voyage

of discovery in the yacht, 1 .
Hamlet of Bethel, road laid out to,

163.
Harold, Friends' meeting to be held at,

137.
Hanson, Mattheys, as a magistrate,
meets Governor Stuyvesant at Tin-
icum, 73.

Haverford, earliest settlements in,
148 ; first religious meeting held
at, 148 ; monthly meeting of, 149 ;
Friends' graveyard established at,
149 ; complaint of Friends of,
against the Indians, 155; Friends
of, contribute toward building Cen-
tre Square meeting-house, 158;
first meeting-house erected at,
167 ; people of, refuse to be in-
cluded in Chester County, 171 ;
freemen of, vote with those of
Philadelphia, 172 ; jurisdiction of
Chester County acknowledged by,
180; mill erected, 201; anecdote
of William Penn going to the
meeting of, 201 ; road laid out,
194; College established, 358; no-
tice of, 393.

Hayes, Jonathan, acts as a justice of
the court, 196; supposed murder
of. 223.

Hazelwood, Commodore, galleys com-
manded by, silence a battery, 318 ;
battle of, on the Delaware, 321.

Health of early colonists, 34.

Helm, Israel, testimony of, in favor of
a Swedish purchase of lands from
the Indians, 24 ; is a trader at Pas-
sayunk, 79 ; appointed superinten-
dent of the fur trade, 85 ; visits
Sweden, 85 ; is appointed Coun-
sellor, 90 ; asks compensation as
Indian interpreter, 108.

Hendrickson, Capt. Cornelis, left in
command of the yacht Restless, 4 ;
report of his discoveries on the
Delaware, 5.

Hessians, two executed, 314.

History, Sewell's, subscribed for, 236.

INDEX.

573

Hochhanmer, Henry & Co., grant of
land to, 26 ; colony established by,
26 ; object of the establishment of
their colony, 27, 33.

Hog Island, purchase of from the In-
dians, 124 ; Indian name of, 124 ;
to be overflowed on the approach
of the enemy, 292, 304 ; attached
to Chester County, 343.

Holker, Privateer, crew of enlisted at
Chester, 332.

Hollandare, Peter, succeeds Minuit
as Governor of New Sweden, 27.

Hollingsworth, Lydia, melancholy
fate of, 393.

Holme, Thomas, appointed Surveyor-
General, 133 ; arrival of, 133 ; let-
ter of, to the Indians, 170.

Holmes, George, attempts a settlement
on the Delaware, 19.

Hoops, the ridiculous fashion of wear-
ing, by women, condemned by the
Quakers, 251.

Horses, introduction of, on the Dela-
ware, 17 ; race on Sunday, 194.

Hoskins, John, trespass of, on the
county property, 178.

Hospitals, proposed location of mili-
tary, 296.

House of Correction, keeper of the,
appointed, 241.

House of Defence, to be fitted up for
the court, 114 ; location of the,
114, 541 ; lane or street to be left
to the, 122 ; was the first court-
house, 150 ; Governor Markham's
Council sat in the, 150.

Howe, General, intention of, to attack
Philadelphia by water, 297 ; a spy
sent by, to procure pilots, 297 ; en-
ters the Delaware, 301 ; army of,
lands on Elk river, 305 ; remarks
on his plan of the battle of Bran-
dywine, 309.

Howe, Lord, commands the British
fleet, 316.

Hudde, Andreas, report of, 32 — 38 ;
appointed commissary on the De-
laware, 40 ; quarrels with the
Swedes, 41 ; is directed to search
for minerals, 42 ; purchases land
from the Indians, 42 ; controversy
with the Swedes, 43 ; dines with
Governor Printz, 43 : appointed
Secretary and Surveyor on the De-
laware, 69 ; placed in command of
Fort Christina, 72.

Hudson, Capt. Hendrick, makes two
unsuccessful voyages, 1 ; discovery
of the Delaware Bay, 2.

Hung in Irons, a convict ordered to be,

232.
Hunter, Edward, the murder of, 353.
Hyder All armed vessel, captures the
General Monk, 338.

I.

Immigrants, arrival of, 21, 25, 30, 47,
62, 70, 103, 118, 132.

Improvement, a spirit of exhibited, 159 ;
relative, of the first organized coun-
ties, 189.

Independence, disavowed as an object
of the military Associators, 284.

Indian Corn, early introduction of, on
the Delaware, 34 ; to be received
for taxes, 113, 156.

Indians, murder of the first colonists
by the, 14; pretended purchase of
land from the, by the Dutch, 18 ;
Swede's purchase of land from the,
23, 24 ; Leni Lenape or Delawares,
35 ; five nations of, 35 ; Minquas,
35, 36 ; names of the local, 35 ;
the Dutch invited to occupy the
lands of the, 48 ; confirmation of
the alleged Dutch purchase of
lands from the, 50; convocation
of and treaty with the, at Tinicum,
63 ; massacre of the Dutch on the
Hudson by the, 68 ; Swedish ship
Mercury protected by the, 70 ; war
among the, 84 ; war apprehended
by the whites with the, 95 ; pur-
chase of land from, by William
Penn, 144, 155; testimony of
Friends against the sale of liquors
to, 166, 167, 227; land extending
two days' journey west, granted by
the, 169 ; letter of Thomas Holme
to the, 170; groundless apprehen-
sion of a great insurrection by the,
168 ; visited by an unarmed party,
169; great uneasiness shown by
the, 218; interview of the Go-
vernor with, and significant com-
plaints of the, 219 ; act to prevent
the importation of, as slaves, 221 ;
lands on the Brandywine claimed
by the, 236, 240 ; grant to the Oke-
hocking, 209 ; murder of, 238 ; war
with the Delaware, 265 ; premiums
offered for prisoners or scalps of
the, 265; murder of atLancaster,2 70;
troubles on account of the, 270;
dogs employed to hunt the, 271.

Institute, of science established, 357.

Interest, rate of, reduced, 234.

Intoxication, Friends' testimony against
234.

574

INDEX.

Iron Works, notice of early, 258, 259;

location of, 26,0.
Irons, a criminal hung in, 232.
Ivy Mills, establishment of first paper

mill at, 383 : Catholic mission to,

241.

Jail, levy ordered to build a, 150 ; want
of a, presented by the Grand Jury,
181 ; new, recommended, 368. See
Prison.

James II., proclaimed King, 154.

Jurors, number summoned, 226 ; ob-
jection to sitting as, 228.

Jury, first in Pennsylvania, 119; sin-
gular verdict of a, 144 ; of women,
174 ; indefinite report of a road by
a, 196. See Grand Jury.

K.

Kalm Peter, visit of to Pennsylvania,
258.

Karakung, 38; description of, 55.

Keith, George, caused discord in the
Society of Friends, 182; testimony
against, 182 ; adherents to the doc-
trines of, 198, 216; extracts from
Journal of, 534.

Keith, William, appointed Governor,
227.

Kellyville, notice of, 387.

Kennet, township of, organized, 213.

Kieft, Wilhelm, protests against a
Swedish colony, 22.

Kingsesse, seat of Justice removed to
the town of, 1 23.

Kinsessing, location of, 39, 40 ; descrip-
tion of, 54.

King's Road, location of the, 167, 215 ;
presented for not being cleared of
logs, 173 ; to be sixty feet wide
from Walter Faucet's fence to Dar-
by, If 9; relaid out, 215.

Kock, Peter, as a magistrate, meets
Gov. Stuyvesant at Tinicum, 73 ;
resists the order of the Dutch to
remove, 78 ; appointed Collector of
the Customs, 85.

L.

Labor, value of, 128, 260; kinds of,
260.

Laerson, Neels, court held at his house,
108; takes in church land, 120;
stops the way to the Fly, 121 ; or-
dered to leave a lane to the House
of Defence, 122.

Lancaster, couuty organized and laid
off, 239 ; road surveyed to, 253.
See Turnpike.

Lands, act for the resurvey of, 206 ;
grant of, to the Okehocking In-
dians, 209.

Laws, the Duke's, to be in force on the
Delaware, 100 ; newly enacted to
be read at the court, 199, 200.

Lead, in great requisition, 291 ; dis-
tributed to the provincial troops,
290.

Libraries, 560.

Licenses, to keep tavern, granted by
the Governor, 213; singular appli-
cations for, 242 ; a list of persons
recommended for, 266.

Lightning, a young lady struck by,
390.

Lime, introduction of as a manure, 350.

Limestone, road laid out to the, 186.

Liquors, prohibition of the sale of
asked for by the Indians, 91, 102 ;
license to distil required, 94 ; tes-
timony of Friends against the sale
of intoxicating, to the Indians, 166,
1G7.

Literature, earl}-, 230.

Lloyd, David, appears in court on be-
half of the Welsh, 180 ; notice of
the liberal and just views of, 217 ;
party of, defeated, 219 ; removes to
Chester, 220; revises a Welsh book,
231.

Lloyd, Thomas, appears before the Go-
vernor and Council on behalf of
the Welsh, 172 ; acts as Governor,
154.

Lock, Rev. Laurence Carolus. See
Carolus, Rev. Laurentius.

Logan, James, conduct of, 217.

Long Finn, insurrection of the, 92 ;
capture, conviction and sentence
of the, 92, 93.

Lotteries, actfor suppressing, repealed
' by the Crown, 271 ; Quaker testi-
mony against, 271.

Lottery, proprietaries, for the sale of
land, 240 ; for the benefit of certain
churches, 272.

Lunatic Asylum, a rude one ordered to
be built, 116.

Lying, a woman fined by the court for,
189.

M.

Maize. See Indian Corn.
Manayunk, location of Fort, 54.
Manhattan, purchase of the Island of,

INDEX.

575

from the Indians, 8 ; population
of, 10.

Manufactories, origin of in Delaware
County, 353 ; number and condi-
tion of in the year 1833, 356 ; best
sites for, 404 ; statistics of, 560.

Marcus Hook, grant of land to the six
original inhabitants of, 118, 521;
name changed to Chichester, 136;
petition for a market and fairs at,
199; incorporation of, 205, 530;
troops quartered at, 289 ; soldiers
at, innoculated for the small-pox,
294 ; rifle battalion marches from,
308; notice of, 381.

Markham. William, arrival of, 125; as-
sumes his office of Lieut. -Governor,
128; commission of, 129; council
of, 129; interview with Lord Bal-
timore, 129 ; appointment of Jus-
tices by, 131; presides at the
Upland Court, 132 ; appointed Go-
vernor of the three lower counties,
182 ; appointed Deputy Governor
of the Province, 192 ; held an In-
dian slave, 219.

Marlborough, organized as a town-
ship, 213.

Marple, notice of, 392.

Marriage, illegal, 81, 121, 143, 151;
Quaker plan of, adopted by others,
175; strictness of the court in re-
spect to, 197 ; by Friends, before
a Justice, 198 ; young Friends
greatly restricted in courtship and,
198.

Marriages, vain practices at, 248.

Martial Law, declared by Congress,
318.

Marsh Lands, how held, 121.

Martin, Walter, singular grant of land
by, 209.

Maryland, commissioners of, order the
Dutch to leave, 76; ambassadors
sent to the authorities of, 76; bor-
der troubles with, 232, 248 ; com-
missioners of meet to run the cir-
cular line, 243 ; order of King and
Council for settling the boundary
of, 247, 248 ; preliminary line run,
247, 248; difficulties made by the
commissioner of, 250.

Mason and Dixon's Line, final settle-
ment of, 273, 274.

Maxwell General, command of, at-
tacked, 303 ; his position at the
Battle of Brandywine, 307.

Meadows, companies of owners of, first
incorporated, 269 ; military works
erected on the, 319.

Measure, a standard of recommended
by the Grand Juiy, 173 ; Winches-
ter preferred, 173.

Media, town of named and laid out,
375 ; notice of, 388.

Meeting-house, Friends', of Chichester
erected, 158 ; first, of Haverford,
167; of Darby, 166; of Chester
and Radnor, 188 ; of Radnor, oc-
cupied with the military, 328 ; old,
of Chester, sold, 245.

Meetings, hour of commencement of
religious, in early times, 267.

Menonists, a peculiar colony of, 82.

Mercer, Fort, a garrison placed in,
317 ; battle at, 320; evacuation of,
324.

Mercury, arrival of the ship, in the
Delaware, 70.

Merlin Frigate, blown up, 321.

Mey, Capt. Cornelis Jacobson, visits
the Delaware Bay, 4 ; erects Fort
Nassau, 8,

Middletown, when organized as a town-
ship, 398 ; notice of, 398 ; present
by Dr. Watts to the Presbyterian
meeting of, 398.

Miles, Col. Samuel, commands on the
Delaware, 289 ; humane letter of,
294.

Militia, call for, 297, 298 ; to encamp
near Chester, 297 ; eighteen hun-
dred -forwarded, 303 ; call for five
thousand, to rendezvous at Darby,
304; in 1814, the draft of, and
volunteers from Delaware County
in service, 351, 352.

Mill Creek, names by which it was
formerly known. 1204

Mills, Swede's, 38, 55, 94, 120, 203;
HansMoenson's, 120; Chester, 147,
563 ; Thos. Cobourn's, 162 ; Haver-
ford, 167, 191 ; Crosby's, 221 ; Wil-
liam Davis', 218 ; Darby, 191 ; Con-
cord, 191 ; early rolling and slit-
ting mill, 259; order in respect to,
103 ; Capt. Hans Moenson's to be
built, 120.

Minerals, to be inquired for, 42 ; cata-
logue of the localities of, in Dela-
ware County, 414.

Minshall, Thomas, meeting-house to
be built on land donated by him,
202.

Minuit, Peter, appointed Director of
New Netherlaud, 8 ; arrival of, with
the first Swedish Colony, 20 ; pur-
chase of land from the Indians,
23 ; death of, 23.

Moenson, Hans, resists the Dutch order

576

INDEX.

to move, 78 ; mill to be built at his
falls, 120.

Moleswobth James, attempts to pro-
cure pilots for Lord Howe, 197;
arrest and execution of, 197.

Monmouth, Duke of, arrest of one sup-
posed to be concerned with the,
159.

Monthly Meeting, first minute of Ches-
ter, 134 ; Haverford regulates se-
cular affairs, 188, 195. See Friends
and Meeting-house.

Mcd Island, Fort on, erected, 269 ; ex-
penditure on account of, 277.

Mulberry, white, introduced, 276.

Municipal Districts, early established,
151, 161.

N.

Naaman, speech of the Indian Chief, at
Tinicum, 64.

Nassau, Fort, erected, 7 ; location of,
8; visited by De Vries, 15, 16;
English attack on, 19; razed, 57.

Necromancy, young men dealt with by
Friends for practicing, 192.

Negroes, proportion of, to the whites,
261 ; Friends deal with their mem-
bers for buying and selling, 272 ;
special tribunal for trying, 273,
556; education of, 347.

Negro Slaves, introduction of, 33 ; be-
come more general, 80 ; in great
■ demand, 85.

New Amstel, Fort Casimer to be called,
70.

New Amsterdam, surrender of, to the
English, #87.

New England, sufferers from Indian
depredations in, relieved -by the
Quakers, 195, 282.

New Gardrn, organized as a township,
213.

New Holm, location of, 51.

New Leyden, location of, 85.

New Netherland, privilege of trading
to, granted, 3 ; Directors of, 8, 17,
21.

Newspaper, first, published in Delaware
County, 354.

New Sweden, Governors op, 27, 30;
trade of, 37; arrival of Swedish
vessels at, 47 ; conquered by the
Dutch, 67 ; restoration of demand-
ed, 85.

New Town, Friends' Meeting established
at, 194; meeting-house erected at,
218, 220; notice of, 396.

Nicolls, Col. Richard, commands the

English expedition for the reduc-
tion of New Netherland, 87; acts
as Governor, 89.

Noble, Richard, appointed Surveyor of
Upland County, 123.

Northby, location of, 161 ; officers ap-
pointed for, 161.

Nottingham, Friends' meeting esta-
blished at, 215 ; meeting-house
erected at, 218.

Oath op Allegiance, those who refuse

to take the, disarmed, 301.
Offices, county, served by the best

men, 276.
Okehocking Indians, grant of land to,

209.
Optlandt, Fort, erection of, 13.
Orphan's Court, first held under that

name, 164; appraisement under

the, 174; manner of holding the,

181; duties of the, 182.
Osset, Gillis, as agent purchased land

from the Indians at Cape May, 12 ;

Commissary at Fort Optlandt, 13 ;

unjustly charged with killing an

Indian chief, 14.

P.

Papegoya, John, recommended to Gov.
Printz and marries his daughter,
37 ; acts as Governor, 58; returns
to Sweden, 63.

Papegoya, Mrs. Jeffru Armgard, con-
tinues to reside on the Delaware,
69 ; petitions Gov. Stuyvesant for
favors and protection, 71 ; taxes of,
79 ; sells the Island of Tinicum,
84; Printzdorp confirmed to, 91;
implicated in the Long Finn insur-
rection, 92 ; applies to Gov. Love-
lace for favors, 96 ; lawsuit for the
recovery of Tinicum, 97.

Paper Money, first issue of in Pennsyl-
vania, 234; not current in other
Provinces, 235 ; effects resulting
from the issue of, 251 ; amount of,
in circulation, 259 ; great depre-
ciation of, 332, 333, 336.

Paoli, massacre at, 316.

Passayonk [Passayuuk], Indians of,
invite the Dutch to occupy their
lands, 47 ; Fort Bevers Rheede
built by the Dutch at, 48 ; grant of,
to Swen Schute, 59; patented by
Gov.' Nichols, 523.

Patroonships, established on the Dela-
ware, 11.

INDEX.

577

Patents, Surveys and Grants, ab-
stracts from the more ancient, 520.
Paxton and Donegal, alarm caused by

insurgents from, 2*70.
Peace-Makers, appointment of, 144;
report of, 151 ; office held by, 157.
Pearson, Thomas, suggests a new name
for Upland, 139; his place of resi-
dence, 170.
Penn, Hannah, death of, 24'3.
Penn, John, Thomas, and Richard, be-
come joint proprietors, 243 ; arri-
val of Thomas, 243 ; arrival of
John, 244 ; return of Thomas, 252 ;
oharge against the Chester Court
by John, 256.
Penn, William, his grant from Charles
II., 125; his letter to the inhabi-
tants of Pennsylvania, 129; first
arrival of, 139 ; his visit to New
York, 139 ; purchase of laud from
the Indians, 144; presides at Ches-
ter Court, 143 ; resides for a time
at Chester, 146 ; presides at the
trial for witchcraft, 152 ; returns
to England, 154; deprived of his
government, 185 ; warrant of sur-
vey from, for the Welsh Tract, 164 ;
government restored to, 192 ; abuse
of, 199; second visit of, to Penn-
sylvania, 200; anecdote of, 201;
final return to England, 206 ; ne-
gotiates a sale of the Province,
221 ; illness of, 221 ; death of, 228.
Philadelphia, commission to lay out,
133 ; yellow fever at, 200 ; Chester
County contributes to the defence
of, 295 ; occupation and evacuation
of, by the British, 316, 331.
Pieterson Evert, observations of, 73.
Pillory, standing in, introduced as a

punishment, 174.
Pirates, alarm, caused by, 229
Plants, catalogue of the Delaware

County, 417.
Plowden or Ployden, ridiculous claim

of, 60.
Population, 77, 114, 128; rapid in-
crease of, 164; large proportion of
the, composed of Friends, 175 ; an
estimate of the, 233 ; large in-
crease of the, 242, 245, 286 ; pre-
sent, of Delaware County, 441.
Poor, Friends provide for the support

of their own, 148.
Poor-House, establishment of the De-
laware County, 350 ; removal of
the, 376.
Pork, to be received for taxes, 113.
Post-Boy, newspaper established, 379.

37

Potter, General, service of, 318 ; great
vigilance of, 322 ; letter from, 325.

Pound, public, at Chester, 232 ; at As-
ton, 232 ; at Birmingham, 402.

Powder, first mill erected, 290 ; other
mills to be built, 291 ; orders
drawn for, 296.

Preachers, very numerous amongst
Friends, 220.

Preparative Meetings, of Friends es-
tablished, 198; to some extent, to
be meetings of record, 264, 265.

Printzdorp, when the grant of was
probably made, 47 ; location of,
83 ; confirmation of, to Mrs. Pape-
goya, 91.

Printz Hall, site of, 31.

Printz John, instructions to, as Go-
vernor of New Sweden, 29 ; cha-
racter and qualifications of, 29, 30,
36; arrival of, 30; selects Tini-
cum as the seat of his government,
3 1 ; character of colonists brought
by, 32 ; salary, 36 ; Tinicum grant-
ed to, 36, 519; military force of,
40 ; controversies with the Dutch,
41, 43, 47; protest of, against
Hudde, 43 ; return of, to Sweden.
58.

Prison, to be erected, 150; order of
court in respect to the, 156; why
little used, 157 ; new one ordered
to be built, 181,184,204; new one
erected, 207 ; grated door for the,
216.

Prisoner, sold into servitude for jail
fees, 234; petition of a, to be sold
into servitude, 234.

Privateer, alarm caused by one in the
Delaware, 256 ; one exchanged
shots with New Castle, 257.

Provincial Convention, assembling of
the, 282 ; delegates from Chester
County to the, 282 ; to form a State
Constitution, 292.
Providence, name of, first appears, 146 ;
application for a road to Chester
from, 146; first religious meeting
held in, 148 ; particular notice of,
387.
Province, proposed sale of the, 221.
Province Island, Indians removed to,
for safety, 270 ; battle near, 318 ;
sold to redeem paper money, 338.
Public Improvements, in Delaware

County, 376.

Pugh Ellis, writes a Welsh book, 231.

Punishment, corporal, introduced, 157 ;

first sentence of imprisonment, 157;

new modes of, introduced, 173 ;

578

INDEX.

increased severity of, 179; cruelty
of, in some cases, 186; corporal,
becomes more common, 197.
Pusey Caleb, appointment of, as ma-
nager of Chester mills, 147 ; peti-
tions against the erection of Co-
bourn's mill, 161 : supposed to
have volunteered to meet the In-
dians, 168.

Q.

Quadrupeds of Delaware County, ca-
talogue of, 434.

Quakers, military supplies taken from
the, 319; position and conduct of
the, during the revolutionary war,
339 ; unjust suspicions against the,
340 ; schools established bj the,
349 ; action of, against the use of
intoxicating drinks, 349 ; excep-
tion to the sitting of, as jurors in
a murder trial, 238 ; disabilities of
the, removed, 229. See Friends,
Meetings, and Burying Grounds.

Quarterly Meeting, of Friends, first
held in Chester County, 148 ; pro-
test of the, against the Welsh
Friends being united with the Phi-
adelphia, 197.

Queen Anne, proclaimed, 209; death
of, 222.

Quit Rents, order of Gov. Andros in
respect to, 119; payment of, to be
rigorously exacted, 146 ; appeal of
Griffith Owen against the exaction
of, on the whole Welsh Tract, 177.

It.

Radnor, Friends' Meetings established
at, 158 ; people of, refuse to be an-
nexed to Chester County, 171;
people of, vote with the freemen
of Philadelphia, 172; first meeting
house erecied in, 188; present
meeting-house of Friends erected
in, 227; constable of, refuses to
serve, 173; jurisdiction of Ches-
ter County extended over, 173;
Friends' meeting-house occupied
by the militar}r, 328 ; proposition
to annex the township of. to Mont-
gomery County y 354; notice of,
395.

Railroad, first in the United States,
389.

Rain, great storm of, 213.

Rambo, Peter, meets Gov. Stuyvesant
at Tinicum, 73 ; is appointed Coun-
sellor, 90.

Records, of the county removed to a
place of safety, 300, 336 ; of the
county prepared for removal, 351.

Red Bank, battle of, 320.

Redemptioners, 348.

Removal, question of, in Delaware
County, first agitated, 354 ; ques-
tion of again agitated, 368.

Restless, yacht, built, 3.

Revel, Thomas, acts as clerk of the
court, 131.

Revolution, measures adopted prepara-
tory to the, 278 ; meetings in Ches-
ter County prior to the, 278, 279,
281 ; committee of correspondence
appointed, 280 ; manumission of
slaves recommended, 283 ; military
associations formed, 283.

Ridley, Friends' Meeting established at,
137 ; notice of, 388.

Roads, earliest provision in respect to,
102 ; to be made from neighbor
to neighbor, 120 ; appointment of
overseers of the, 124; supervisors
of the, 135, 157, 183; several of
the earliest, laid out, 146, 159, 167,
190 ; a bridle road from Marcus
Hook to Chester, 190; first appoint-
ment of six men to lay out, 199 ;
first assessment of damages on ac-
count of laying out, 217 ; width of,
fixed by the court, 207 ; toll-gates
authorized on the southern post
road, 349.

Roman Catholics, first misson of the,
241 ; enumeration of the, 267.

Rye, to be received for taxes, 113, 156.

Rysingh, John, appointed Governor of
New Sweden, 60 ; grant of land to,
61 ; arrives in New Sweden, 61 ;
captures Fort Casimir, 62 ; con-
ference of, with the Indians at
Tinicum, 63 ; writes home for a
wife, 65 ; refuses the restoration of
Fort Christina, 67.

Safety, Committee of, appointed, 285 ;
reorganized, 286 ; frequent meet-
ings of the 287 ; application of the,
for powder, 289 ; duties of the,
closed, 293.

Safety, Council of, pay for firelocks,
289 ; duties of the, 293 ; resolves
of the, 295 ; efforts of, relaxed, 302 ;
order of the, to procure blankets
for the Army, 319.

Salt, great scarcity and careful distri-
bution of, 295 ; price of, 295.

INDEX.

579

Saltpetre, a desideratum, 287 ; per-
sons instructed in the art of mak-
ing, 288.
Sandelande, James, promises land for

a court-house and prison, 160.
Sandy Bank, purchase of grave-j'ard
lot, 179; meeting-house proposed
to be built at, 202.
Schepel, measure of a, 1 13.
Schools, attention of the Society of
Friends turned to the subject of,
183 ; established by the Friends.
347, 349.
Schute, Lieutenant Swen, conveyance
of land to, 59; at the capture of
Fort Casimir. 62 ; surrenders Fort
Trinity, 66 ; meets Gov. Stuyves-
ant at Tinicum, 73,
Schuylkill, claim to the discovery of
the, 4; alleged purchase of lands
at, by the Dutch, 17; location of
Forts on the, 38, 39.
Seat op Justice, first act for the remo-
val of the, 336 ; second removal
act passed, 340 ; removal act re-
pealed, 341 ; court-house erected
at the Turk's Head, 341 ; destruc-
tion of the court-house threatened
by the anti-removalists, who march
from Chester, 343 ; a third removal
act passed, 343; removal of the,
effected, and sale of the old build-
ings, 343 ; removal of, in Delaware
County first agitated, 354; ques-
tion of removal again agitated,
369 ; act passed providing for a
vote by the people on the question
of, 371; result of the vote on
removal, 373; confirmatory act
passed, 375: decision of the Su-
preme Court on the constitution-
ally of the first removal act, 375.
Sellers, Nathan, makes a military

survey along the Delaware, 300.
Senate, list of members from Delaware

County, 528.
Sentences, of the court, 212 ; change in
the, 226; severity of, 230 ; for se-
ditious words, 262.
Servants, their rights protected and
ages determined by the court, 186,
193; time of service of the ab-
sconding, extended, 191.
Shackamaxon, Indian conference at, 109.
Sharon, boarding-school, 386.
Sheck Sidi, gains the confidence and

sympathy of Friends, 247.
Sheriffs, keep tavern, 227; election-
eering advertisement, 274; securitv
of, 275; list of, 529.

Sickness, on the Delaware, 34, 75 ; ge-
neral prevalence of, 258.
Silk, large production of, 275, 276.
Simcock, John, old court-house sold

to, 194.
Slander, of officials punished, 174.
Slavery, act for the gradual abolition

of, 334.
Slaves, first introduction of, 11, 33;
demand for, 85 ; act to prevent the
importation of Indian, 219; an act
to prevent the importation of Negro
and Indian, 221 ; law imposing a
prohibitory duty on, repealed by
the Crown, 269 ; price of, 261 ; ac-
tion of Friends in respect to, 223.
224, 241, 268, 273, 277, 296 ; regis-
try of, 335 ; registry of Indian, 335.
Small-pox, among the Indians, 80.
Snow-storm, in May, 349.
Speech, freedom of, restricted, 174.
Springfield, notice of, 390.
Squirrels, number of, and the amount

paid for their destruction, 259.
Stamp Act, passage of the, 272; repeal

of the, 273.
Statistics, of Delaware County, 558 ;
agricultural, 558, 559 ; religious
and literary, 560.
St. David's Church, 396, 532.
St. Martin's Church, when named,

382.
St. Paul's Church, Queen Anne's gift

to, 377.
Stille, Oloff, delivers a protest against
the action of the Dutch, 43 ; place
of, 55 ; meets Gov. Stuyvesaut at
Tinicum, 73 ; is suspected by
Beekman, whom he opposes, 79 ;
visits Maryland, 79.
Stocks, first mentioned as an imple-
ment of punishment, 181 ; neces-
sity for, at Chester presented, 211 •
set up at Marcus Hook and Darby
242.
Strasburg, road laid out to, and re-
viewed, 275, 277.
Streets laid out in Chester, 167, 174

178.
Strong House, location of the Swedes,

40.
Stuyvesant, Peter, succeeds Kieft as
Director General, or Governor, 45 ;
protest of, sent to Gov. Printz, 47 ;
advises planting colonies on the
Delaware, 55 ; negotiates with the
Indians on the Delaware, 56 ;
builds Fort Casimir, 57 ; recap-
tures Fort Casimir, 66 ; meets
Swedish officials at Tinicum, 73.

580

INDEX.

Substitutes, employment of military,
in the Revolution, 2"99.

Sunday, travelling on, presented by the
Grand Jury, 167 ; horse race on,
194 ; servile labor on, 216.

Surveys, grants and patents, abstracts
from ancient, 520.

Suspected persons, removed to the in-
terior, 301, 303.

Swanendael, patroonship of, 12 ; colo-
ny at, murdered, 14 ; re-transferred
to the West India Company, 19.

Swedish Colony, proposal of a, 10 ;
proposal revived, 17; arrival of
the first, 20 ; settlement of a, at
Christina, 21 ; about being aban-
doned, 23, 25 ; relieved, 26 ; esta-
blished at Tinicum, 31 ; character
of the, 33 ; conquest of the, 67 ;
administration of justice in the, 69.

Swedes, refusal of, to settle together,
72, 77 ; mill erected, 38 ; strong
house built, 40 ; first to purchase
the soil of Delaware County from
the Indians, 24, 56 ; sovereignty
of the, ended, 68 ; distrusted by
the Dutch, 69, 73, 75, 86 ; convey-
ance of their church land in Ches-
ter, 555.

T.

Tax, first levy of, 112; first levy for
Chester County, 144, 150; for the
destruction of wolves, 163; Pro-
vincial, laid, 201, 204 ; Friends re-
luctant to pay Provincial, 208 ;
amount of, 233, 245, 331, 333;
none levied, 269, 274; difficult to
collect, 330 ; collection resisted
and collector murdered, 334.

Taxables, list of, 113, 534; number of,
233, 245.

Taylor, Isaac, runs, the circular line,
205.

Test, John, conveys land in Upland,
117.

Thornbury, notice of, 401.

Time, regulation of, 143 ; old and new
style, 261.

Tinicum, residence of Gov. Printz, 31 ;
granted to Printz, 36 ; church at,
consecrated, 40 ; Indian treaty at,
63 ; plundered by the Dutch, 67 ;
visited by Gov. Stuyvesant, 73 ;
sold, 84 ; suit for and recovery of,
97 ; a second suit for, and recovery
of, 145 ; modern fort on, 299 ; mea-
dows put under water, 324 ; con-
stituted a township, 337 ; property
confiscated on, 338.

Titles, repudiation of, 143.

Tobacco, cultivated on the Delaware,

34 ; exported, 38.
Todmorden, 388.
Tombstones, removed by the Friends,

215 ; inscriptions on, 377, 385, 396,

397, 399.
Tom, William, appointed collector of

quit-rents, 92.
Topography of Delaware County, 403.
Tories, property of, confiscated, 330.
Torkillus, Rev. Reorus, 25, 34.
Townships, see names of; legislation

by, 188, 189.
Trade, early, of the Delaware, 37.
Traders, Free Society of, 137.
Treason, Commissioners of attainder,

330 ; number attainted of, 330.
Trenton, battle of, 296.
Trinity Fort, name of Casimir changed

to, 63 , capture of, 66.
Turk's Head, court-house built at the,

341.
Turnpike, incorporation and cost of

the Lancaster, 346.
Turnpikes and Plank Roads, recently

constructed, 376.

IT.

Upland, first appearance of the name
of. 49 ; Indian name and early de-
scription of, 54 ; plundered by the
Dutch, 67 ; earliest notice of a
court at, 96 ; first court of, 107;
conveyance of land in, 117; six
inhabitants of, 118 ; extent of the
county of, 111, 125, 136; first
court of, under Perm's govern-
ment, 131; name of, changed, 139.

Upland Court, establishment of the,
108 ; expenses of, 112 ; names and
residences of justices of, 123;
jurisdiction of, 125, 128 ; general
observations on, 126, 127; under
Markham's administration, 130.

Utie, Col., on behalf of Maryland, or-
ders the Dutch to leave, 76.

Uwchlan, Friends' meeting established
at, 220.

Valley Forge, encampment at, 328 ;

outpost encampment of, at Radnor,

328.
Verdict, strange, 144.
Villa Nova, 396
Village Green, British army encamp

near the site of, 313.

INDEX.

581

Votes, fifty or sixty given by the free-
men of Haverford and Radnor, de-
c-hired to be illegal, 172; given
viva voce and by black and white
beans, 172.

Volunteers, Delaware County Fenci-
bles and Mifflin Guards in service,
352.

w.

Wade, Lydia, William Penn lodges at
her house, 200.

Wade, Robert, arrival and settlement
of, 103; meetings held at his
house, 104, 134.

Wagons, military, to be sent from Ches-
ter County, 298.

Wampum, used as a currency, and value
of, 53, 108.

War, between England and France,
256 ; meetings in Chester County
preparatory to the Revolutionary,
278, 281 ; of 1812, part taken by
the people of Delaware County,
351.

Washington, General, force and posi-
tion of, at the battle of Brandy-
wine, 305 ; his letter to Congress
announcing his defeat, 309 ; head-
quaters of, at the battle of Brandy-
wine, 310; orders of, 329 ; unjustly
suspects the Quakers, 340.

Watts, Rev. Isaac, present to the Mid-
dletown Presbyterian Church, 398.

Wayne, Gen. Anthony, his position at
the battle of Brandywine, 307 ;
attack on, at Paoli, 310 ; stationed
at Mountjoy, 329.

Weights and Measures, standards of,
procured, and regulator of, ap-
pointed, 253.

Welsh, settlement of the, 147 ; desire
of the, to be included in one mu-
nicipality, 164; retain their lan-
guage and peculiarities, 181 ; set-
tlements of the, extended, 205. See
Haverford and Radnor.

Welsh Tract, origin of the, 164; au-
thorized to be laid out, and war-
rant of survey for the, 164; boun-

daries, 165 ; intended for a muni-
cipal district, 165; Thomas Lloyd
contends for making it a Barony,
or County Palatine, 172; quit-
rents demanded for the whole, 176 ;
Griffith Owen contends against
any violation of the conditions
contained in the grant by Penn,
177.

West House, 391.

West India Company, Dutch, incorpo-
rated, 5 ; established patroonships,
11 ; agree to supply colonists with
blacks, 11 ; Swedish, incorporated,
10.

West Town, township organized, 212.

Whales in the Delaware, 13, 15.

Wharton, Walter, appointed surveyor
on the Delaware, 115; marries,
himself, 121.

Wheat, received for taxes, 112, 156 ;
price of, 128.

Whigs, many captured, 330.

Whitfield, George, preaches to large
assemblies, 252.

Wicacco, church to be built at, 102.

William and Mary, proclaimed King
and Queen, 175 ; accession of, in-
jurious to the interests of Wm,
Penn, 176 ; death of William, 209.

Williams, Dunk, suit against, for teach-
ing his children to read, 121.

Willcox, Thomas, establishes a paper
mill, 383 ; first Catholic mission at
his dwelling, 241.

Winter, a severe one, 73.

Winter, John and Walter, kill three
Indians, their trial and execution,
238.

Witchcraft, trial for, 153.

Wolves, 108, 111, 116; number of, in-
crease, 121.

Year, the period of its commencement,
261.

Zetzcoven, Rev. Albelius, preaches
at Tinicum, 87.

ERRATA.

Page 43, line 5, for forbidded, read forbid.

113, the names from that of Peter Nealson to Arian Andries inclusive,
belong to the Tacony District.

208, line 15, for Bounty, read County.

209, line 15 and 32, for Ohekocking, read Okehocking.

" 408, line 8 from the bottom, for " up the river," read " up from the river "

421, for Carota, read Carota.
" 429, for botryoides, read botryoides. and for Rhynchospora , read Rhynchos-

pora.
" 466, for " as 1685," read " as early as 1685."

•• 499, line 2 from the bottom, for " 1696 and 1699," read " 1796 and 1799."
" 542, line 22, for " authoratively," read "authoritatively."

NOTES AND MEMORANDA.

[The following notes and memoranda were made by Dr. Smith
subsequent to the publication of his History of Delaware County
in 1862. They are now (1907) printed for distribution with the
copies of that work which then remained unbound.]

Page 27. For a more full account of the founding of New Sweden, see
Penna. Magazine, Vol. Ill, p. 269.

Page 43, line 39, for forbidde.d ', read forbid ' .

Page 114, line 13, perhaps "John hayles " should read "John Bayles,"
or Beal. See p. 445.

Page 134, line 9, for " the Chester " read " Che Chester." In the Bur-
lington monthly meeting records is the following minute : " At a monthly
meeting held at Upland in the house of Robert Wade, the 15th of 9th
month, 1681." See Mitchener's Retrospect of Early Quakerism, p. 36.

Page 137, line 17. It has been said that the monthly meeting records
were altered by Thos. Chalkley in copying them, and that the word
* Chester " was " Upland " in the original. Delaware County Republi-
can, Dec. 19, 1873.

Page 146, line 4, for "timbers" read " peticulers. "

Page 149. I do not find that any paper title was given for this burial
ground (at Haverford) until 1693. By Deed Poll dated 7 mo. 1, 1693,
William Howell granted to John Bevan et al., Trustees, a piece of land
containing in length 5 perches and breadth 4 perches, together with the
house thereon erected, together with another piece of land 602 feet
square. '' To hold to the use and behoof of the people of God called
in Scorne Quakers," &c. Original in possession of the meeting.

Page 204, line 21, for "October," read " December."

Page 204, line 28, after court house, add and prison.

Page 248. An earthquake in 1726, probably that referred to in the
text, is mentioned by Samuel Bownas in his Life and Travels, p. 239-245.

Page 272. For George Fox's observations on negro slavery, see his
Journal, Vol. II, p. 177, anno 1671.

Page 273, line, 6 from the bottom, for "Thomas Mason," read
" Charles Mason."

Page 309. There appears to have been a (Presbyterian) church in the
southwest part of Birmingham, the land for which was purchased of
Ralph Pyle in 1720. See a Historical Sketch of the Lower Brandywine
Church by George Edward Jones, 1876.

Page 402, last line, for "west," read "east."

In a letter from Thomas Darlington, dated Dec. 30, 1865, he says : " I
have discovered that the company mill must have been bnilt at a much
later date than was supposed, viz., between the years 1742 and 1746,
some fifteen years after the Pound was located, and tradition says did
not long do business enough to pay a miller to attend to it, and some-
times the farmers undertook to grind their own grist." The "Town
Pound" was on the south side of the Great Road that crossed the
Brandywine at Chads' Ford, the west side by the mill race, being only
forty feet square. The lease for the Pound was from John Chads to John
Wilson, Abraham Darlington and John Bennett. Dated 21st of January,
1731, and to continue for 999 years.

Page 410. Anthophyllite. Prof. Joseph Leidy visited the locality
shortly after the publication of this work, and agreed vvith.Mr. Trautwine
that the rock was anthophyllite.

Page 416. Add Ranunculus obtusiusculus Raf.

Page 417. The Papavers are scarcely naturalized. To the list of
CrucifervE add Camelina sativa L., naturalized on Tinicum. Raphcunts
Raphanislrum\^., Tinicum, and Nasturtium officinale, R. Br., 1864.

Page 418. Add Order Elatinace/e. Elatine Americana Arnott,
shore of Delaware below the Lazaretto, 1864. To the Caryophyllace.e
add Scleranthus annuus L.

Page 419. To the Leguminos.e add Medicago lupulina L., Tinicum
Wharf; Desmodium kevigatum DC. ; Vicia tetraspermum L., Ridley,
1865 ; Phaseolus diversifolius Pers.

Page 420. To the Rosacea add Spirrea tomentosa L. Tinicum,
Aubrey H. Smith, 1864 ; Persica vulgaris Mill ; for " Geum agrimonioides
Pursh,," read " Geum album Gmelin. To the Onagraceje add Epilo-
bium angustifolium L. To the Saxifrages add Tiarella cordifolia L.

Page 421. To the Umbellifers add Eryngium Virginianum Lam.,
shore of the Delaware on Tinicum above the Lazaretto. 1864 ; Aeihusa
Cynapium L. ; to the Araliace^E add Aralia quinquefolia Gray ; to the
Rubiace^e add Galium boreale L. ; to the Valerianace^E add Fedia
radiata Michx.

Page 422. To the Composite add Baccharis halimifolia L., on the
side of a quarry a short distance above the mouth of Little Crum Creek,
and also in Marple ; Aster longifolius Lam ; Aster tenuifolius L. ; Diplo-
pappus cornifolius Dark; Solidago odora Ait.; Coreopsis bidentoides
Nutt. ; Galinsoga parviflora Cav., collected by Dr. Jesse Young in
Chester, 1850 ; strike out "Artemisia caudata " and insert Artemisia
annua L.

Page 423. Add Centaurea Cyanus L., naturalized on Tinicum ; strike
out " Nabalus virgatus? DC " and insert N. Frazeri DC. ; add Mulgedi-
um Floridanum DC, Lobelia inflata L., Pyrola chlorantha, Sw., and
Pyrola secunda L.

Page 424. Add Trientalis Americana, Pursh., collected by Aubrey H.
Smith on the Lazaretto Road, Tinicum, the locality now (1865) destroyed ;
Pentstemon pubescens Soland ; Pentstemon Digitalis Nutt., discovered
by Aubrey H. Smith on Tinicum, 1878 ; Limosella aquatica L., collected
on Tinicum, 1864, by Aubrey H. Smith.

Page 425. Add Scutellaria serrata Andr. , Scutellaria parvula Michx.,
collected by Dr. Leidy in Newtown 1864, Leonurus Marrubiastrum L. ,
Ipoma'a hederacea Jacq., Physalis Philadelphica Lam., Gentiana ochro-
leuca Froel, Asclepias verticillata L., Acerates viridiflora Ell.

Page 426. Add Polygonum amphibium L., Tinicum, 1864.

Page 427. Add Salix cordata Muhl., Tinicum, 1865.

Page 428. Under Sparganium for " ramosum Hudson," read " eu-
rocarpum Engelm ; " add Peltandra Yirginica Raf. , Potamogeton crispus
L., Tinicum, 1866, Sagittaria pusilla Nutt., Tinicum, 1864, Tipularia
discolor Nutt. ; Liparis Loeselii Richard, Springfield Road, 1865 ;
Smilax tamnoides L., Tinicum, 1863, Smilax tamnifolia Michx., Tinicum,
1864.

Page 429. Strike out "Juncus paradoxus, E; Meyer," add Juncus
Canadensis J. Gay, Juncus dichotomus Ell., Eriocaulon septangulare
With., Tinicum, 1864, Cyperus phymatodes Muhl., Eleocharis Engel-
manni Steud., Tinicum, 1865, collected by Aubrey H. Smith, Eleocharis
tricostata Torr., Tinicum, 1866, Scirpus planifolius Muhl., Ithan Creek,
Eriphorum gracile Koch, Rhoads' Swamp, Marple, 1864, Fimbristylis
capillaris Gray, Scleria triglomerata Michx., Tinicum, 1864. Scleria retic-
ularis Michx., Tinicum, 1865, Scleria pauciflora Muhl., found on the
serpentine in Newtown, 1865, by Charles E. Smith.

Page 430. Strike out Carex subulata Michx., and Carex aquatilis
Wahl, and insert Carex riparia Curtis. Add

Carex trichocarpa^Muhl.

Carex folliculata L.

Carex torta Boot., Upper Providence, 1864.

Carex filiformis L., Rhoads Swamp, Marple, 1864.

Carex sparganioides Muhl.

Carex retrocurva Dew., Hey's dam.

Carex digitalis Willd , Upper Providence, 1865.

Carex retroflexa Muhl., 1867.

Carex Emmonsii Dew.

Carex glaucodea Tuck.

Carex conoidea Schk.

Carex monile Tuck., Tinicum, 1865.

Carex styloflexa Buck, Tinicum, 1866.

Carex Smithii, Porter.
To the Gramine.*: add Crypsis sclicenoides Lam., Haverford, 1867,
Agrostis alba L., Marple 1864 C. E. Smith, Stipa avenacea L. Dacty-
locteniumA£<ryptiacum Willd, Aristida purpurascens Poir, on serpentine,
1864, Glvceria elongata Trim, Tinicum, 1864, Aubrey H. Smith, Glyceria
pallida Trin., Tinicum. 1S65, Aubrey H. Smith, Eragrostis pilosa Beauv.,
Festuca tenella Willd., Bromus racetnosus L., Panicum verrucosum
Muhl.

Page 431. Add Andropogon scoparius Michx. on serpentine in New-
town, Sent , 1863, Charles E. Smith, Woodwardia Virginica Smith, Tin-
icum, 1865.

Page 434, line 20, after Chickaree, for "not common" read "com-
mon."

Page 442, under notice of Joseph Baker : Hannah and Dorothy were
not the daughters of Joseph and Mary Baker.

Page 444. line 5, in notice of William Bartram, for "March" read
"3d mo. (May)."

Page 446, fifth line from the bottom, for " Edward" read " John."

Page 449, last line, in notice of William Brinton, for "1799" read
" 1779."

Page 450, first line, in notice of James Brown, for "Hannah" read
" Honore."

Page 452, according to Gilbert Cope, John Chandler died in 1703.

Page 469, under notice of Henry Hollings worth, third line, for " Che-
shire " read " Ireland." His mother's name was Catharine.

Page 479, second line from the bottom, for "1696 to 1699" read
"1796 to 1799."

Page 486, third line, the name should read James, Morgan

Page 491, first column, twenty-fourth line, for " John Gibbons " read
"James Gibbons"; twenty-eighth line for "Hannah Cloud" read
" Mary Walter."

Page 495, under notice of Robert Pyle, fourth line, for " Globy " read
" Stovy " or " Stovey."

Page 515, second column, third line, strike out "and subsequently
with Mary Britain, a daughter of Bartholomew Coppock."

Page 517, under notice of John Wright, ninth line, for "Prudence,"
read " Patience."

Page 529, first column, eighth line, for "John Edwards," read "John
K. Zeilin."

Page 535, under Haverford Rate, for Rees Price's land, read " Rees
Price & land;" under Newtown Rate, for " Joshua Thompson," read
"Joshua Tomson ; " under Radnor Rate, after "John Jones, 32," insert
"Richard Miles . . . 32."

Page 536, under Springfield Rate, for "George Lawrence," read
" George Lowance " (i. e. Lownes) ; for "John Bunten," read " Wm.
Bunten," and after " Thos. Britain," insert "Wm. Biram ; " under
Darby Rate, for " Wm. Irish," read " Wm. Priest;" after "Andrew
Urin, insert "Swan Boon . . . 34."

Page 537, under Marple Rate, after " Mordecai Morris," insert " Jona-
than °Morris . . . 24;" under Chester Rate, for "Sarah Hood," read
" Sarah Head."

Page 538, under Chester Rate, for "Thomas Logan," read "James
Logan ;" for "John Low," read "Joshua Low ;" for "John Kid," read
"John Rice;" under Thornbury Rate, for "Sarah Anderson," read
"Sarah Arnold."

Page 539, under Upper and Lower Providence, for " Wm. Hannum,"
read " Wm. Haman."

Page 540, under Middletown Rate, after " Peter Hunter," insert
"Alexander Hunter . . . 33 ; " for " Price Miller," read " Brice Miller ; "
add "Tho. Robinson . . . 14;" under Burmingham Rate, for "John
Chandler," read "John Chalfont."

0212

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