USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 24
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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 Sam- uel 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 New- castle in February, for the purpose of running the circular line, preliminary to the adjustment of the other boundaries. This resulted in nothing but angry disputes brought about by unreasonable suggestions from the Maryland side in the controversy. The nature of these suggestions, and the manner of conduct- ing the controversy, will be better understood by consulting a correspondence between Benjamin 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 Proprietaries 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 September 19. 1734, news of the arrival of John Penn, the elder brother of Thomas, was brought to Philadelphia by express from Newcastle. Early on the next morning. his brother, Thomas Penn, with a number of gentlemen, proceeded to Chester to receive him, but he did not
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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 recommenda- tions, 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 impor- tation of negroes, or the buying of them after being imported ; against the fre- quent 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 recom- mendations 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 meet- ing on that subject, was to guard Friends against becoming the dupes of this magnificent swindle.
Chester Particular Meeting of Friends appears to be engaged in the erec- tion 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 tak- en from an assessment made in 1735 is 800-making the population, on an es- timate of six persons to one taxable, 4800, or an increase of 1800 inhabitants in 13 years. Owing to the wretched system of farming adopted by the early set- tlers, the lands at first placed under culture were exhausted, and many fami- lies 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 £160.
After an unusually successful administration of about ten years, Gover- nor Gordon died in the summer of 1736, leaving to his successor, James Lo- gan, who was then president of the Council, some unadjusted Indian troubles, and an almost endless series of Maryland border disputes. Logan administered the government 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
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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 chil- dren," was repeated and enjoined by both Chester and Concord Monthly Meet- ings. This advice was frequently repeated before any further steps were tak- en on the subject.
Bradford Monthly Meeting, to be composed of Caln and Bradford Meet- ings, was established in 1736 by authority of Chester Quarterly Meeting.
The crossing of the Brandwine creek, at Chadds' Ford, was frequently in- terrupted by high water and ice, and the settlements had become so numerous west of that stream that the establishment 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 ex- plains the establishment of this most necessary improvement :
"John Chadds, having petitioned the Court, setting forth that by the concurrence of the Justices and by order of the Commissioners 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; whereupon the Court taking the same into consideration, have adjudged the rates hereafter mentioned, may be demanded & taken by the said John Chadds or his assigns or successors in the said Ferry :
"For every horse and Rider, four pence; for every single person on foot three pence, if more, two pence each; for every ox, cow or heifer, four pence each; for every sheep, one penny; for every Hog, three half pence; for every Coach, waggon or Cart, one shilling six pence; for every empty waggon or Cart nine pence; for 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 Turks, succeeded in gaining the confidence and sympathy of the Yearly Meeting of Friends, and also a contribution of twenty pistoles. 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.
There was much violence used by persons residing in Maryland towards those residing near the supposed line, but claiming to belong to Pennsylvania. Though mostly confined to Lancaster county, it happened in 1738 that Elisha Gatchell, one of the justices of Chester county, was beaten and abused by riot- ers from Maryland, and subsequently carried by them into the Province and detained. A warrant was issued by Thomas Graeme, one of the justices of the Supreme Court, for their arrest. The disagreements between the people of the Provinces had now arrived 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. Fortunately the arrival of an order from the King and Council, on the subject of the boundary, made it
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the interest of each party to refrain from further hostile proceedings for the present.
George Thomas, a planter of Antigua, was appointed Governor 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 commission of the peace. The following persons were ap- pointed for Chester County : Richard Hayes, Henry Pearce, Henry Hayes, Elisha Gatchell, John Crosby, Caleb Cowpland, Abraham Emmit, James James, John Parry, Joseph Pennock, Samuel Holligsworth, Joseph Brientnal, Joseph Heins, William Pim, Joseph Bonsall, the chief Burgesses for the time being, and Joseph Parker.
The order of the King and Council, in respect to the Maryland boundary, proved to be only temporarily beneficial. Complaints on both sides were re- newed, and a revival of former outrages was apprehended. These were hap- pily averted by an agreement entered into, at this time, between the Proprie- taries of both Provinces.
The Friends at Darby found it necessary to enlarge their meeting-house, and accordingly "Nathan Gibson, Joseph Bonsall, Samul Bunting and John Davis are appointed undertakers, to look after the said inlargement and sett the work." This was an enlargement of the old house on the hill within the graveyard.
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 se- lected 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 outside of the staid Society of Friends.
Slight shocks of an earthquake had been experienced in 1726, and again in 1732. December 7th, 1738, a severe shock was felt, "accompanied by a re- . markable 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."
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 ac- count 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,
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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 sur- veyor on behalf of the former, and William Ramsey on behalf of the latter. On December 8th, a true meridian line was fixed in the city of Philadelphia, 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 surveying party was obliged to adjourn to the 5th of April fol- lowing. Commencing again in the Spring, on the 18th of April they had pro- gressed as far as the Widow Parnel's [ Pennell's] in Edgmont, 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, 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 recon- ciled. On April 23d both of the Pennsylvania 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 Gov- ernor 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 be- tween the two plans 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 commissioners sup- erficially, 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 April 25th the commissioners again wrote to his Honor, the Governor, dating their letter at William Webb's. They have now become extremely jeal- ous of the Maryland Commissioners, taking Colonel Gale, one of them, "to be under instructions, which they had for some time apprehended, to be inconsist- ent with a disposition to run a fair line with them," and accusing him of seek- ing some pretext for breaking with them, in order to run an er parte line. After much argument, the Maryland commissioners agreed to allow the addi-
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tion of twenty-five perches to the 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 Mary- land commissioners supposing they had yielded but little in making the com- promise, 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 inchi longer, and the four-pole chain two inches longer than the exact measure, to make up for in- equalities and irregularities. 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 gentle- men set up a claim for an allowance 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 aston- ished" to find themselves "no more than 20 perches more south, than the corn- er the Jersey commissioners had fixed for the end of the south line." Having commenced their measurement eighty perches south of the east and west line run by the Jersey commissioners, and having the fullest confidence in the ac- curacy of their work, they concluded that the Jersey commissioners 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 sick- ness 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 er parte by the Pennsylvania Commis- sioners.
In running the west line from Philadelphia, the commissioners note sev- eral 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 Providence ; the 4th at the widow Yarnalls in Edgemont. Here meeting with unusual attrac- tion, 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 in Westtown on the 20th; on Abraham Marshall's land in Bradford 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 anything to do with fixing the northeast corner of Maryland. The only object in running westward before measuring the 1514 miles south, was to avoid the large streams of water, and when they had reached John Newlin's old field, they
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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 Marl- borough township, and that of Hugh Steward in New Garden are mentioned. The point at which the 1514 miles ended was "20 perches from the road lead- ing to Charles Tenants meeting house in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle county."
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 con- fessed, 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 bal- ance 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 pay- ment of debts, but generally 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 prevailed about this period, but it found much less favor at that time than at a later time with those of the Society of Friends. Towards the close of 1739 Concord Monthly Meet- ing testified thus against the practice: "A concern having taken hold against this meeting to suppress pride, and it seems to appear some what in women in wearing of hoope petticoats 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 overseers and other solid friends do inspect in their members and where any appear, to be guilty, do deal with them and discour- age 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 Burdsall and his wife had "a little too inconsiderately 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 horsemen, and preached there to 7000 people. and again at Whiteclay Creek to 8000, of whom as many as 3000 were on horseback.
Thomas Penn returned to England this year: the constant and violent
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quarrels between the Assembly and the Governor, in which Proprietary inter- ests 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 exhibited a petty revenge, unworthy of his position, by leaving out the names of those justices who had opposed his administration. As an excuse for get- ting 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 ap- point a majority of justices in each county who "would not scruple to take, or at least administer an oath." If the charge against the Chester justices was true, his Excellency 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 ; but it requires a large share of chari- ty 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 1738, shortly after assuming the duties of his office, he left out of the new commission for Chester county, the following names : Richard Hayes, James James, John Parry, Samuel Hol- lingsworth, Joseph Brientall, and Joseph Heins, and included those of Wil- liam 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 Conestoga 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.
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 re- ceived 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." These standards were procured by Thomas Morgan, and cost the county £17 12S. IId.
The jail and court-house both appear to have been subjected to some ren- ovation about this time. An order was passed by the commissioners in favor of Nathan Worley "for fio, for planks for flooring the two dungeons east side of the prison and laying the floors &c. ; " and one in favor of Thomas Mor- gan "for £5 IIS. 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
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£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 commis- sioners, elected as they now are. In laying taxes they were assisted by six persons called assessors, who were chosen annually. The duties now per- formed by township assessors was then performed by the constables. The tax for this year was laid at the house of John Chadds in Birmingham; the 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.
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