USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 23
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The wide-spread reputation of Penn's government, for freedom and reli- gious toleration, had attracted settlers from different countries, and of differ- ent religious beliefs. A large proportion of these settled in the district now embraced in Lancaster county, while very many of the earliest settlers in Ches- ter 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 by the leg- islature 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. An act was also passed in 1723, to re- duce the rate of interest of money from eight to six per cent., which has con- tinued 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 Shrewsbury (N. J.) Meeting-house, "for the accommodation of the Quarterly Meeting."
As a punishment for crimes, standing in the pillory has become more fre-
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quent than formerly. At the November term of the Chester court in 1723 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 comfortable quarters for male- factors 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 courthouse up to the time of the removal of the seat of justice to Media, was erected in 1724. The small addi- tion 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, be- longing to the borough and county of Chester." 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 Philadelphia, mariner, for £27. The follow- ing 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 wt may be of greater security whereupon ye Court upon mature 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 ye new Court house for keeping ye sª Records in, & when prepared order ye sª Clerk to transmit all of ye said Records to ye place so appropriated accordingly, and not to be removed without ye Court's direction." It would be difficulty now to see how any additional security against casualities 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 let- ter from Elizabeth Webb, a very intelligent public Friend of Birmingham, while on a religious visit to Long Island, Rhode Island, &c., furnishes this in- formation. 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 £6. an ounce, but the pistole goes for fi. 8s. od. and a moidore at £2. 4s. and a half pistole for I4s."
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A bill was passed this year prescribing the forms of declaration of fidelity, affirmation, &c., entirely adapted to the conscientious 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 vy the Council and Assembly usually had the force of laws until they were re- pealed by the home government, but this one was not to become a law until it had received the approbation 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 residing about the Brandywine. They represent that after the sale of their lands to William 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 ish." Though distrusting the 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.
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 con- firmation. 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.
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 designed 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 contributions 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."
roth mo. 9th. "Edwd Williams produced a receipt signed by Richd 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 subscribed this year £5 Ios. Jd. towards building Horsham meeting-house. and fio 105. 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 contrib- uted £10 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 five hundred copies. Fourteen of these copies were taken by.
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Merion and Radnor meetings. The subscription for this work had been com- menced in 1723.
An application was made to the court, by an insolvent debtor in prison, "for relief from his imprisonment ; yt 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 Gov- ernor 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 Commissioners of Trade.
The commission of the peace for Chester county, under the new adminis- tration, 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 sea- son, which had not been complied with.
While the poor Indian was thus seeking redress from the provincial au- thorities 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 Delaware were largely productive beyond the home consumption, but an injudicious duty imposed by Parliament on salt, al- most excluded salted shad from commerce. New England had obtained an exemption from this duty, and the application of Pennsylvania for the same was entrusted to a Mr. Perry of London. This gentleman was at length suc- cessful; and so highly did the provincial authorities esteem his services, that they rewarded them with a donation of 150 guineas.
News of the death of the King having been received, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was, on the 3Ist of August, proclaimed King, by order of the Governor and Council. As a matter of course all commissions were re- newed. 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 building with a gallery "to ac- commodate large gatherings."
It is probable the first meeting-house in Caln was erected in 1727, as that meeting had selected ground for said purpose, "upon the farther side of the
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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 re- mote settlements, which were attended with the most serious and melancholy consequences. AA small band of foreign Indians called Twetchtweys appeared in the neighborhood of "the Iron works at Mahanatawny," armed with guns, pistols, and swords, committing depredations and alarming the inhabitants. As the alarm spread. the danger became magnified, and the stories of Indian murders gained credence. Under apprehensions 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, Richª 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 com- pany of those that committed it." It seems strange that the law could be so strictly construed as to convert a misfortune in a crime. The two Winters were executed ; but the facts that have come down to us would warrant the be- lief, that in committing the homicide they acted upon the belief that the Indians were actually engaged in war against the whites.
On account of "several indecencies having been used towards the mem- bers of Assembly attending the service of the country in Philadelphia, by rude and disorderly persons," a proposition was made to change the place of meet- ing, and Chester was designated as the most suitable place. The Governor suggested a continuance of the sittings of the Assembly for some time at Phil- adelphia, 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 secur- ing the members from any further indignities, and prevented Chester from be- ing 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 Lan- caster 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.
An act was passed this year authorizing the emission of £30,000, in bills
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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 Quak- ers, 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 subject 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 bet- ter calculated to abolish the slave trade than the duty imposed by the legisla- ture : "This Monthly Meeting directs its representatives to lay before the Quarterly Meeting, that as they were by the discipline prevented from fetch- ing or importing negro slaves from their own country, whether it is not rea- sonable we should not be restricted from buying them when imported, and if so the Quarterly Meeting to lay it before the Yearly Meeting for concur- rence." The subsequent efficient action of the Society towards the abolition of slavery appears to have had its origin in this action of Chester Monthly Meet- ing.
Matters of smaller moment also claimed the attention of the meetings about this time ; as the practice of making large provisions 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 Brandy- wine was formally brought to the notice of Governor Gordon, by a letter from Checochinican, 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 acknowl- edges, 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 molest them in the free and peaceable en- joyment thereof," had, contrary to the same, sold his land, greatly to their dis- gust ; that they had been forbid "so much as to make use of timber growing thereon, for ye convenience of building some cabins, & further 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 Com's of property, as he himself says by James Steel." In a postscript to his letter, the worthy chief says, that "James Logan promised to me, that James Gibbons, . nor any body else, should never have a confirmation, thereof, nor any other
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person within our claim." What order was taken upon this letter does not appear.
A new commission of the peace was issued in 1730, to the following per- sons, viz. : Richard Hayes, Henry Pierce, Henry Hayes, Elisha 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 commissioners and assessors of the county, "that Nathan Worley be 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 committee 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 decª, which was left by the said Lewis by his last will for that purpose." A temporary meeting was, from time to time, authorized by Haverford 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 ap- plication 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 ne- groes, 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 imported slaves and criminals, did not meet with much favor from the home government. In- structions were transmitted to Governor 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 established within the limits of Delaware county about the year 1730, or perhaps a little earlier. The mission was from an establishment of the Jesuit Society in Maryland, and was set up at the residence of Thomas Willcox, at Ivy Mills, in Concord town- ship. 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 Will- cox, 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. Will- cox, 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 con-
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tinued so for many years, but of late the number professing that faith has be- come very considerable, chiefly by foreign immigration.
Pennsylvania had been peculiarly prosperous under the administration of Governor Gordon, and at this time contained more white inhabitants than all Virginia, Maryland and both the Carolinas. Its exports were large, consist- ing 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 inflict- ed 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 main- tained at Chester, Marcus Hook and Darby. At a town 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." 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 per- haps, 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 as- signed by the petitioners for wishing to engage in the business, would appear rather singular at this time. Thus, William 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 & the Brewing of Beer for a livelihood, but be- ing greatly oppressed by travellers, and the constant visitation of his wonted acquaintances, 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 yt 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.
Hannah Penn, widow of the late Proprietary, and his son, Springett, hav- ing 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 August 1Ith. An express was immediately sent to Philadelphia, where the Assembly and Council were in session. The Secretary of the Council was forthwith dis- patched to Chester, with the compliments and congratulations of the Governor and board to the new joint Proprietary upon his safe arrival, and "to acquaint him, that to-morrow morning they would in person pay their respects to him."
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Accordingly, on the next day, the Governor 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 compli- ments. After dinner, the Proprietary with his company, now grown very numerous, sett out for Philadelphia, near to which place he was met by the mayor, recorder and aldermen, with a great body of people. The recorder, in the name of the mayor and commonalty of the City, made a congratulatory speech, which the Proprietary answered. &c." On the 15th of the month, the representatives sent in their "Humble address," which contains much less adulation than was betrayed by the part taken by the Governor, Council, and municipal authorities of the city, in the affair.
An impostor appeared in 1732 among the meetings composing 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 "without making satisfaction," that his true character became known. A committee was promptly appointed to caution Friends elsewhere 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."
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