USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 26
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This was opposed by the Governor under Proprietary instructions. Another difficulty arose in providing for the assessment of a heavy land tax. The As- sembly 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. Notwithstanding the alarming con- dition of the country, there were those who endeavored to stir up sedition. For that offence, one John Costello was this year convicted by the Court at Ches- ter 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 militia for that purpose, but the Quakers threw no obstacle in the way of those whose scruples did not prevent them from performing military duty, and even went so far as to enact a law "for the better ordering and regulating such as are willing and desirous 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 main- tained 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 belong 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 Preparative Meetings being mect- ings of record. The representatives 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 be- longing to each particular meeting, such as repairing of Meeting houses. &c."
At the following monthly meeting, which was held at Merion on May 14. the representatives who had attended the quarterly meeting brought the follow- ing 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 there- fore desired to appoint them where they are not already settled: and it is
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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 en- gage in committing the most barbarous atrocities against the frontier inhabit- ants of Pennsylvania. The Six Nations still remained friendly, and it was hoped that through the instrumentality of this powerful combination of sav- ages, 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 for- mal declaration of war against the Delawares ; and not to be behind the savages themselves in cruelty and atrocity, a proclamation was issued offering a pre- mium 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 re- mained faithful.
Although England and France had been engaged in hostilities 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 suc- ceeded by William Denny, towards the close of August.
The British ministry, in discussing some matters connected with the de- fence of the Province, had intimated an opinion adverse to Quakers acting as members of Assembly. A number of this Society was, nevertheless, elected, 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 de- terminedly asserted and maintained them against all doubtful claims of pre- rogative, either by the Crown, the Proprietaries, or the Executive. The doc- trines that eventually led to a separation 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 impossible for the Assembly to shape a militia or money bill to suit the views of his Ex- cellency. 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 Con- stitution and deprive the inhabitants of every liberty they think worth enjoy- ing."
In the matter of an application for the removal from office of one Wil- liam Moore, a justice of the peace and judge of the court of Chester county.
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questions affecting the respective prerogatives of the Assembly and the Gov- ernor were discussed at great length and with considerable ability.
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 com- posing the county of Delaware: Chester-Aubrey Bevan, James Mather, David Coupland, John Hanly. Chester township-Wm. Miller. Chichester town-Hannah Clayton, Mary Kain, John Kerlin. Chichester township- James Stroud. Darby town-Hannah Wood, William Donaldson, John Ru- dolph. Darby township-Barbara Mccullough. Haverford-Anna Miller. Middletown-Joseph Talbot. Newtown-John West. Concord-John Han- num. Birmingham-Wm. Jones, Henry Hayes. Ridley-Mordecai Thomp- son, Edwd. fits Rudolph. Radnor-Aubrey Harry, Thomas Tucker, Richard Barry. Springfield-Mordecai Taylor.
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 town- ships 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 choosing 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 pres- ence being now regarded as dangerous to the people of Nova Scotia, the gov- ernment 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 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 foi 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 com- fort 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 Frenchmen, by their misconduct, subjected themselves to the suspicion of having evil designs against the government. Six were arrested and impris- oned 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
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sometimes at one o'clock, p. m. The time of commencing 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 prep- arations 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 conse- quence, fourteen Highlanders, 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." Sower repaired to the place indicated, and being subjected to an examination by General Forbes and the Governor, who 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, General Forbes was probably on his western expedition, which resulted in the recap- ture of Fort Duquesne.
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 whipping, 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 atten- tion 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 acknowledg- ment is not disowned. In reply to the query on the subject, Haverford Meet- ing 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
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the necessary duty of instruction and information in this important affair, is too much neglected by some of our members."
The death of King George II. occurred October 25th, of this year ; but his grandson and successor, George III., was not proclaimed in Pennsylvania till January 21st, following. 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 Davis, Edward Brinton ; Chief Burgess of Chester, Alexander Johnson, John Morton. John Culbertson, William Cling- ham. William Parker, Timothy Kirk, John Hannum, John Price, Roger Hunt, John Fairlamb, George Currie, Henry Hale Graham.
The county tax about this period was levied at the rate of 2d 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 ; un- der 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 ob- tained, is not now well understood. It must have been by means of a private understanding.
War with Spain was declared January 4th. 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 Governor forthwith convened the Assembly, and the members being sensible of the weakness of the Province, the House immediately 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 Schuylkill. The fortifi- cation, 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 Mifflin, 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 re- strain 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."
Pitt resigned his position as head of the British ministry, and was suc- ceeded by the Earl of Egremont-a most unfortunate change for colonial inde- pendence. . \ treaty of peace between England and France was concluded towards the close of this year. but was not proclaimed in Philadelphia till Jan-
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uary 26th, 1763. Peace with Spain soon followed, leaving our ancestors none but Indian enemies to contend with.
John Penn arrived at Philadelphia on Sunday, October 13th, having been appointed to supersede James Hamilton, as lieutenant governor. The day of his arrival is distinguished "by the occurrence of a severe shock of an earth- quake, accompanied with a loud roaring noise, which greatly alarmed, not only the inhabitants of Philadelphia, but of the surrounding country. Most relig- ious congregations were assembled for worship at the time, and much confu- sion, but little injury happened from their efforts to escape from the buildings, which they feared would fall upon them."
The interior inhabitants of Pennsylvania had suffered so severely from the Indians during the war, and their feelings against the whole race had be- come so much excited, that they were unable or unwilling to draw any distinc- tion between those who had been hostile to the English and those who had acted as their allies. The latter were suspected of communicating intelligence to the former. Under this unjust suspicion, a number of armed men front Paxton and Donegal townships in Lancaster county, inhumanly murdered six Indians of Conestoga Village, and subsequently fourteen of the same tribe who had been placed in the workhouse of Lancaster for safety. Emboldened and hardened by their successful butchery, these excited but deluded men, threat- ened to proceed to Philadelphia and destroy the Moravian Indians, 140 in num- ber, who, upon the news of the Lancaster outrages, repaired to that city for safety. To render them more secure, the Governor had removed them to Province Island at the mouth of the Schuylkill. Becoming alarmed, however, at the reported fury of their enemies, 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 protec- tion of Sir William Johnson, who had charge of military affairs in the colon- ies ; but Governor Colden of New York declined to admit them into that Prov- ince, and they returned back to Pennsylvania under an escort of two military companies. The return of these Indians again arouse the fury of their ene- mies, 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 formidable array of soldiers went out to meet the insurgents. Finding 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 griev- ances to the government, they all returned peaceably to their homes. Perhaps the older settlements of the Province were never thrown into a greater state of alarm than that produced by these insurgents. 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 lieu- tenant-governor, just before the Indians were murdered at Lancaster. When the insurgents approached Philadelphia, his Excellency became so much alarmed
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that he fled for safety to the dwelling of Dr. Franklin. The people of the border settlements had suffered severely from the barbarous cruelty of the sav- ages, and can be excused for entertaining feelings of revenge, but they can find no justification 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. Truly the gov- ernment 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 purpose of raising means to build churches, endow schools, build bridges, &c., &c., but the legis- lature, seeing the evils that resulted from them, passed an act for their sup- pression. 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 Meet- ing we find them this year dealing with a member "for being concerned in lot- teries." But it was in vain that the Quakers warred against the evils resulting from lotteries. Other sects, and particularly the Episcopalians, appeared not to have become awakened to those evils, for in a single year (1765) eight Episcopal churches, one Presbyterian and one Lutheran church, received aid from this authorized system of gambling. Of the Episcopal churches. three were of this county, viz : St. Paul's at Chester, St. John's in Concord township. and St. Martin's at Marcus Hook.
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 Philadel- phia, but the opposition to the law was so great that it could not be enforced. The excitement produced throughout the British colonies was unparalleled, and the discussions that resulted, it is known, led to the Revolution.
The Indian troubles ceased with a general treaty of peace entered into in 1765 with Sir William Johnson ; but it was through the instrumentality of Colonel Boquet that the Indians were humbled 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, Rd. 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 com- mon article of traffic the negro had become, 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
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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 in- consistency 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 ap- pointment. They believe that if Friends can be continued to advise and treat with those that do not see clearly the necessity of doing to others as they would have others do unto them, it may be profitable." Notwithstanding this appar- ent 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 con- clusively that the rights of the two races were not generally regarded as, equally sacred.
All the meetings had committees to inquire into the treatment 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 March 18, 1766, the news of which event, when it reached America, caused unbounded demonstrations of joy. Though the Quakers generally would not have violently resisted the execution of the law, they shared with others the joy produced by the tidings of its re- peal. The French and Indian wars had been happily terminated, and the con- troversy 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 har- binger of a protracted peace, our local meetings with renewed vigor set about purging the Society from a variety of evil practices, which for some time had claimed its serious consideration. Next to dealing in and holding slaves, in- temperance and the sale of intoxicating drinks, and being concerned in lotter- ies, 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 July 4th, 1760. 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 Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, "two mathematicians or surveyors," to complete the work. These gentlemen arrived in Philadelphia on November 15, 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
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