History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 102

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162


USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 102


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220


The first associate judges in Chester County were Joseph Shippen, of Westtown; Walter Finney, of New London ; and James Moore, of West Noatmeal. They were appointed by Governor Mifflin, Aug. 17, 1791. Benjamin Jacobs, of West Whiteland, was appointed July 3, 1792, thus filling up the full number allowed to each county.


Judge Shippen owned and probably resided at first on the farin oow of Francis J. Darlington, in Westtown. He also owned and io 1794 was living on the farm now of George Rhoads, io the same towoship. He belonged to a prominent Philadelphia family, and did not remain in our county. He held the judgeship until Dec. 28, 1792, when he resigoed, and on Jan. 5, 1793, Samuel Evans was appointed first asso- ciate judge in his stead. Samuel Evans only held the office until June 29, 1793, when he resigned, having removed to Lancaster Connty. Ile was succeeded by James Boyd, of (now) Penn township, who was appointed hy Governor Mifflin on Nov. 1, 1793, to take rank according to the date of his commission. These four-Finney, Moore, Jacoba, and Boyd-were associates together until 1802, when Judge Moore died, and John Rulston, of Vincent, was appointed, April 7, 1802, by Governor Mckean in his stead. Oo the 31st of March, 1803, the commission of Judge Jacobs was vacated, and on the same day Governor Mckean filled the vacancy thus created by the appointment of John Davis, of Tredy ffrin.


Judge Jacobs was n well-educated man, had studied law, and was a practical surveyor and conveyancer. He was a son of John Jacobs, who was long a leading man in the county, and who was elected some fifteen years in succession (from 1762 to 1776) a member of Assembly, und was during one session Speaker of that body.


Judges Finney, Boyd, Ralston, and Davis were associates together until the death of Judge Finney, in September, 1820.


The Legislature in 1803 passed an act providing that when a va- cancy should thereafter happen in any county, by the death, resigna- tion, or removal from office of any associate judge, that the Governor should not supply the same until the number of ussocintes should be thereby reduce i to less than three, and that then he should commis- sion so many as would complete that number io each county and oo more. The object of the Inw wus to reduce the number of associates in each county to three. In 1806 an act wus passed reducing the number, in n similar manner, to two. Accordingly, on the death of Judge Finney, in 1820, no appointment wns made to fill the vacancy.


Judge Boyd died Aug. 10, 1821, thus reducing the number to two, Judges Ralston and Davis.


Judge Ralston died Sept. 1, 1825, in the eighty-first year of his age, and Cromwell Pearce, of East Whiteland, was appointed by Governor Shulze, by commission dated Sept. 5, 1825, to succeed him. Judge Davis died in 1827, and Governor Shulze appointed Jesse Sharp, of New Garden, in his place. His commission is dated Jan. 26, 1827.


It will be observed that Judge Finney occupied the bench twenty- nine years; Boyd, twenty-eight years; Ralston, twenty-three years; and Davis, twenty-four years. They all attained to a good old age, and during the latter years of their lives some of them were not able to render much service,


Judges Pearce and Sharp were associates together until the resigna- tion ot Judge Pearce, in 1839, on account of defective hearing, when Governor Porter appointed Thomas Jones, of East Whiteland, for the term of five years, uoder the provisions of the amended constitution of 1838.


Judge Sharp's term expired, under the provisions of the amended constitution, on Feb. 27, 1841, when he was reappointed by Goveroor Porter for the constitutional term of five years. On the expiration of this term, in February, 1846, he was reappointed for another term by Governor Shunk. He resigned in December, 1847, on account of the infirmities of increasing years, having occupied the bench a period of nearly twenty-one years.


Judge Sharp was a man of excellent character, and during the long period of his services was a general favorite with the members of the bar, and enjoyed the respect and confidence of the citizens of the coun y generally. At a meeting of the members of the bar, held Dec. 17, 1847, on the occasion of his resignation, the following paper was adopted :


" The members of the bar of Chester County having learned that the Hon. Jesse Sharp, for twenty years an associate judge of the courts of said county, has resigned his commission and is about to retire from the beoch, they deem it due, as well to him as to their feelings, to offer some testimonials of their regard for his services, and their sentiments of esteem for himself; therefore,


" Resolved, That during the long period of his public services Judge Sharp has performed his official duties with integrity and impartiality, and with a due regard to the public interests, while on all occasions he has manifested courtesy and kindness to the members of the bar.


" Resolved, That in parting with a long-tried, faithful, and meritorious officer they would do injustice to their feelings were they to withhold the expression of their gratitude for his services, regret at his retirement, and their kind wishes for his future health and happiness."


Oa the resignation of Judge Sharp, Nimrod Strickland, of West Chester, was appointed by Governor Shunk to succeed him, by com- mission dated Jan. 31, 1848.


Judge Jones' term of five years expired Feb. 19, 1844, when he was reappointed by Governor Porter. At the expiration of his second term, in February, 1849, he retired from the bench, and Governor Johoston appointed Samuel Shafer, of South Coventry, to succeed him.


Judges Strickland and Shafer occupied the bench until the expira- tion of their term of office, oo the lat of December, 1851, under the provisiona of the amendments to the constitution, making the office elective.


At the general election- in 1851 Samuel Shofer and Joseph Hodgson were elected for five years, commissioned by Governor Johnstoo, and took their seats on the first Moodny of December following. The opposing candidate to Joseph Hodgson was Judge Strickland. Judge Shafer received the united votes of both political parties, no candi- date being run in opposition to him,-un evidence of his extreme popularity both in his private and official cupacity, a compliment very rarely bestowed, and us deserved as it was generous. He held the office until his death, April 26, 1856, at the age of sixty-six years and one month.


Robert Parke, of Sadsbury towoship, Was commissioned by Gover- nor Pollock, May 9, 1856, for the remainder of the term for which Judge Shafor had been elected.


Judge Hodgson was a resident of Penn township, and n grandson of Judge Boyd, already noticed. At the expiration of his official term of five years he declined a re-election.


At the general election in 1856 Nimrod Strickland and William Wollerton were elected, and commissioned by Governor Pollock for the term of five years from the first Monday of December following, when the terms of Judges Hodgson and Parke expired. The oppo- sing cundidatea were Robert Parke and John P. Baily.


Judge Strickland was elected canal commissioner in October, 1857, and on assuming the duties of that office, in January, 1858, resigned the judgeship, when Goveroor Packer, by commission dated Jan. 21, 1858, appointed John P. Buily, Esq., of West Chester, a member of the bar, to fill the vacancy until the first Monday of December then next.


In October, 1858, Robert Parke was elected in opposition to Judge Baily, commissioned by Governor Packer, and took his seat again on the bench Dec. 6, 1858.


In October, 1861, John P. Baily was elected to succeed Judge Wol- Ierton, who declined a re-election, and commissioned by Governor Curtin for the term of five years from the first Monday of December.


47


370


HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


Andrew Buchanan ran in opposition to him. In 1866 he was re- elected over Cheyney Nields for another term of five years.


In 1863, Benjamin J. Passmore, of West Chester, formerly of East Nottingham, was elected to succeed Judge Parke, over Hibberd Evans, of Willistown, and commissioned by Governor Curtin for the term of five years from the first Monday in December; was re-elected in 1868 over Eber W. Sharp, of New Garden, and commissioned for another term of five years by Governor Geary, and elected for a third term in 1873, over Lewis Baker, of Londonderry, and commissioned by Governor Hartraoft. He died March 4, 1875, having served one year and three months of his third term.


In 1871, Jocl Ilawley, of Uwehlan, was elected to succeed Judge Baily, over John Ralston, of Honeybrook, and commissioned by Gov- ernor Geary, and held the office until the expiration of his term of five years, on Dee. 4, 1876.


On the death of Judge Passmore no successor was elected, the new constitution having abolished the office on the death, resignation, or expiration of term of any of the incumbents, and Judge Hawley was the only associate from the death of Judge Passmore until the expi- ration of his own term of office.


Judges Hodgson, Parke, Wollerton, and Ilawley are still living ..


In the early days of the judges they were always escorted from their lodgings to the court-house and back again, at each session of court, by two tipstaves, one going before and the other behind, carry- ing their insignia of office, the long pole ; the one in advance, if the passage was obstructed, calling, in a loud voice, " Clear the way for the Honorable Court!" This practice, derived from England, was abandoned in the early part of the present century as not suited to the genius of our people.


The following persons have been criers of the courts. The list probably embraces nearly all who have acted in that capacity since the courts have been held in West Chester :


1, John Taylor ; 2, Thomas Evana; 3, Cyrus Carpenter; 4, Job Wickersham; 5, George Callanan; 6, Gustavue Macartney; 7, Benjamin S. Batce; 8, George Ehrenzeller; 9, James Sweney.


For many years the tipstaves were detailed by the judges at each term of court from the constables of the county, taking them in ro- tation until all had served. Those selected were permitted to substi- tute persons acceptable to the court in their stead, if they did not wish to serve themselves. As a general rule, the constables whose duty it was to serve substituted persons residing in West Chester, who eagerly sought the position. Sometimes persons desirous of acting as substitutes would ascertain from the clerk of courts the names of constables whose turn it was to act, and meet them on the morning of court before they reached the town, for the purpose of securing appointments. About 1845 this system of selecting tipstaves was abolished, and since then they have been annually appointed by the court.


PROVINCIAL COURT.


Prior to 1790 the Court of Oyer and Terminer, for the trial of the higher crimes and appeal, was held by the justices of the Provincial or Supreme Court, who made a circuit of the counties at stated times. With few exceptions the records of this court have not been met with, but from the colonial records some information has been gleaned.


A sitting of this court was held at Chester, 8th mo. 3, 1698, before Joseph Growdon and Cornelius Empson, to hear an appeal in a suit between Thomas Thomas and Morgan James. Another session was held Oct. 2, 1705, before John Guest and Jasper Yeates, when the Governor's commission to John Guest, Joseph Growdon, Jasper Yentes, Samuel Finney, and William Trent, or any two of them, was read. David Lloyd, attorney for the defendant on that occasion, showed the justice's commission to be defective, and they could do nothing.


The following appear to have been the judges of this court :


May 20, 1684 .- Nicholas More, William Welch, * William Wood, Robert Turner, John Eckley.


Sept. 14, 1685 .- James Harrison, James Claypoole, Arthur Cook. These declined to serve, and the Council heard the appeale.


March 31, 1686 .- Arthur Cook, William Clark, John Cann.


Sept. 26, 1686 .- Arthur Cook, John Simcock, James Harrison.


April 2, 1687 .- Same recommissioned.


April 2, 1690 .- Arthur Cook, William Clark, Joseph Growdon.


Sept. 5, 1690 .- Arthur Cook, John Simcock, Joseph Growdon, Peter Alricha, Thomas Wyone.


* William Welch died before 7, 10, 1684, and William Clark was appointed in his room.


Nov. 21, 1690 .- John Simcock, William Clark, Arthur Cook, Griffith Jones, Ed- ward Bleke.


May 29, 1693 .- ANDREW ROBESON, C.J., Willien Selway, John Cann, Edward Blake.


Ang. 10, 1694 .- Anthony Morris (vice Cann, deceased).


Oct. 3, 1698 (in office) .- Joseph Growdon, Cornelius Empson.


April 18, 1699 .- Edward Shippen, Cornelius Empson, and William Biles held court at Chester.


Aug. 20, 1701 .- JOHN GUEST, William Clark, Joseph Growdon (declined), Ed- ward Shippen, Robert French (declined ?), Caleb Pusey, Thomas Masters. 1702 .- JOHN GUEST, William Clark, Edward Shippen, Thomas Masters, Samuel Finney.


1703 .- WILLIAM CLARK, Edward Shippen, Thomas Masters, Samuel Finney.


April 10, 1704 .- WILLIAM CLARK, John Guest, Jasper Yestes, Samuel Finney, William Trent.


1705 .- JOHN GUEST, Joseph Growdon, Jasper Yentes, Samuel Finney, William Trent.


April 17, 1706 .- ROGEA MOMPESSON, Joseph Growdon, Jasper Yeates, Samnel Finoey, Willianı Trent.


Nov. 20, 1707 .- JOSEPH GROWDON, C.J.


Dec. 2, 1707 .- Jasper Yeates.


April 8, 1708 .- Samuel Fioney.


March 16, 1711 .- JOSEPH GROWDON, Samuel Finney, Richard Hilt, Jonathan DickiosoD.


June 10, 1715,-JOSEPH GROWDON, William Trent, Jonathan Dickinson, George Roche.t


Feh. 15, 1717 .- DAVID LLOYD, Jasper Yentes, Richard Hill, William Trent. Sept. 23, 1717 .- DAVID LLOYD, Jasper Yeates, Richard Hill, Jonathan Dickinson. Feb. 15, 1718 .- DAVID LLOYD, Jasper Yeetea, Richard Hill, William Trent. June 2, 1722 .- DAVID LLOYD, Richard Hill, Robert Assheton.


Sept. 20, 1726 .- DAVID LLOYD, Richard Hill, Jeremiah Langhorne. April 9, 1731 .- ISAAC NORRIS, Jeremiah Langhorne, Dr. Thomas Graeme. Aug. 20, 1731 .- JAMES LOGAN, in place of Isaac Norris, declined. April 9, 1733 .- JAMES LOGAN, Jeremiah Langhorne, Thomas Graeme. Aug. 13, 1739 .- JEREMIAH LANOHOANE, Thomae Graeme, Tuomas Griffitte.


April 5, 1743 .- JOHN KINSEY, Thomas Graeme, William Till.


Sept. 20, 1750 .- WILLIAM ALLEN, Lawrence Growdon, Caleb Cowpland. April 8, 1758 .- WILLIAM ALLEN, Lawrence Growdon, Williem Coleman. April 8, 1760 .- Same recommissioned.


March 20, 1761 .- Sanie recommissioned.


March 21, 1764 .- Alexander Stedman, in stead of Lawrence Growdon.


Sept. 14, 1767 .- WILLIAM ALLEN, William Coleman, John Lawrence, Thomas Willing.


April 29, 1774 .- BENJAMIN CHEW, John Lawrence, Thomas Willing, John Morton.


July 28, 1777 .- THOMAS MCKEAN.


Aug. 17, 1777 .- William Augustus Atlee, Jobo Evans.


April 3, 1780 .- George Bryan.


Feb. 26, 1784 .- Jacob Rueh.


Jan. 31, 1791 .- Edward Shippen.


March 21, 1791 .- Jasper Yestes.


Dec. 18, 1799 .- EDWARD SHIPPEN.


Of the foregoing chief justices, Simcock and Lloyd were citizens and Mckean a native of this county. Among the puisne or associate judges, Simcock, Pusey, and Cowpland werc citizens and John Mor- ton and John Evans born in the county.


"CHESTER, May 31, 1750.


"SIR,-Please to pay to James Mather the sum of seven Pounds seventcen shillings and Five Pence in full of his Account of Expences of the Judges, the Attorney General, Clerk of the Crown and a servant, during the Court of Oyer & Terminer sod General Goal Delivery held at Chester the 28th 29th and 30th of this Instant.


"THO: GRAEME.


"To tbe Treasurer of


the County of Cheater."


May 26, 1752 .- A similar order was given by Will : Allen Lawr Growdon and Caleb Cowpland.


Nov. 29, 1752 .- The bill was for £6 78. 3d. At this term James Rice, alias Dillon, was tried for murder, and the bill of costs in his case amounted to £8 0s. 9d., including £1 16 .. , the attorney-general's fee. In Thomas Kelly's case the costs amounted to £6.


COMFORT BILLS PAID BY THE COUNTY FOR THE EN- TERTAINMENT OF COURTS AND OTHER PUBLIC FUNC- TIONARIES.


In 1745 the following bill was allowed and paid by the proper au- thorities :


For commissioners, assessors, justices, and grand jury :


£ s. d.


£ s. d.


Wine


0 28


Nimbo


0 28


Punch.


0 30


One bole broke.


.0 20


More wine.


0 54


- -


Punch ..


0 30


Total 0 18 8


t Roche being absent from the country, Robert Assheton was appointed in his stead, June 12, 1716.


371


CIVIL AND JUDICIAL LISTS.


. The following is a bill of "Justices Expenses at the Court of Oier and Terminer, November 1752":


£ s. d.


£ s. d.


Punch.


0 16


Punch


0 30


Sting ....


0 06


Punch


0


8 0


Three dinners.


0


4 6


Wine & bitters. 0


1 6


8 half peck of Date. 0


4 0


8 breakfasts


0 80


Bowll of punch.


0


1 6


Quart wine & hittsrs.


0


3 0


Bowll of punch.


0


Oats .......


0


06


Bowlt of punch


0


1 6


Punch.


0


3 0


Bowil of punch


0 16


8 half peck of pats.


0 4 0


Wine.


0


2 G


Supper's


0


6 0


Cordiall.


0 10


Punch.


0


1 6


To wing.


0 10


8 half peck pats. 0 40


0


03


Cordlull.


0 1 0


James Mather kept the leading tavern at Chester, the county-seat in 1755, and the following was his bill against the judges, eto. :


£ s. d.


To Quart Wine ..


0 30


To 3 breakfasts.


0 30


Bowle punch


0


30


Ye mens breakfast ..


0 1 6


First wine ...


0


1 6


Quart beer for ye men.


0 06


Bowle punch


0


1 6


Bowle punch.


0 30


Quart Wine ..


0


30


Bowle punch for yo men .. 0 1 6


Bowle punch.


0


6 dinners & clubs.


0 18 0


Bowle punch for three man ..


0


1 6


Ys mens dinuers, bowle


0


6 8


Tcs ..


0 50


6 quarts beer cider


0


3 0


Bowle punch for men


0 1 6


Bottle claret


0


4 0


Bowle punclı, 2 quarta beer & let Wina.


0 30


Bowle punch


0


1 6


6 euppere & clube.


1


5 0


Punch for Constables.


0 50


First Wine ...


0


1 6


T88


0


4 0


2 quarts cider


0


10


1 bottle claret.


0


4 0


1 Quart Wine.


0 30


1 Bowle punch


0


3 0


6 euppers & clube.


1


10


Ye mene suppers & bowle


punch.


0 60


"Pay to James Mather the sum of ten pounds two shillings and two pence for the entertainment of the Judge & Clerk of the Crown at a Court of Oyer & Terminer held at Chaster for the County of Chester the 25th day of August, after Inying the within account he- fore the Commissioners of the County for their Allowance.


"27th Angust 1755.


" WILL ALLEN


" LAWE GROWDON


" CALEB COWPLAND


"TO THE HIGH SHERIFF OF THE


COUNTY OF CHESTER."


ATTORNEYS-GENERAL FOR THE PROVINCE AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.


From the establishment of the colonial government, in 1683, to the year 1793, a period of one hundred and ten years, the criminal busi- ness of Chester County was conducted on the part of the prosecutions by the attorney-general in person. In the latter year the first deputy attorney-general was appointed, and from thence to the year 1850 the pleas of the Commonwealth were prosecuted hy deputiea appointed hy the attorneys-general, with the exception of a brief period, which will he noticed hereafter. In 1850 an act of Assembly was passed creating the office of district' attorney, and since then officers elected in pursuance of the provisions of this act have condnoted the prose- cutiona.


The attorneys-general of the province prior lo 1790 were commis- sioned as follows :


Oct. 25, 1683, John White; Jan. 16, 1685, Samusl Hersent (commission revoked); Nov. 17, 1685, John White (special) ; April 24, 1686, David Lloyd ; May 19, 1698, John Moors ; 1700, William Assheton ; 1701, Par. Parmyter; April 5, 1705, George Lowther; June 24, 1708, Thomas Clarke;# 1710, Robert Quarry; March 5, 1717, Henry Wilson; Sept. 24, 1717-24, Andrew Hamilton ; Sept. 26, 1726-38, Joseph Growdon, Jr. (died 1738) ; July 6, 1738-41, John Kineey; 1741-54, Tench Francie; 1754-69, Benjamin Cbaw ; Nov. 4, 1769-[1776], An- draw Allen ; July 28, 1777, Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant; Aug. 31, 1777, John Morria, pro tem .; Aug. 21, 1778, Joseph Reed; Nov. 23, 1780, William Bradford, Jr.


Andrew Hamilton, appointed in 1717, was one of the most extra- ordinary men who lived during the early provincial history of Penn- sylvania. He was probably the greatest lawyer of his time in this conotry, and a man of irrepressible energy and character. Besides


heing attorney-general, he hecame president of the Executive Coun- cil, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and filled several other stations with integrity and ability. "Bush Hill," where he resided, he received, with other lands, for his services to the Penn family. Hia son, James Hamilton, was repeatedly Governor of Pennaylvania between the years 1748 and 1771.


Joseph Growdon, Jr., attorney-general from 1726 to 1738, was also a ju Ige of the Supreme Court from 1705 to 1715, and chief justice from 1715 to 1718, and was a man of some legal and literary distinction. He involved himself in a conflict with the provincial government by publishing comments upon the character of William Penn. The Growdona came to the province at a very early date, ond for nearly a century seem to bavo heen connected in different ways with its courts and bar. William Rawle is said to have been a descendant.


John Kinsey, attorney-general from 1738 to 174], became chief justice in 1743, prior to which he had been in extensive practice. He was undoubtedly an educated lawyer, as well as a man of fine natural parts.


Tench Francis, attorney-general from 1741 to 1755, was one of the most eminent lawyers of the province. He was a relative of Sir Philip Francis, the reputed author of the celebrated " Letters of Ju- nius," and was the maternal grandfather of Chief Justice William Tilghman.


Benjamin Chew, the ninth attorney-general, received his profes- sional education at the Temple, in London. He waa attorney-general from 1755 to 1769, and was president judge of the Court of Common Plens of Philadelphia. In 1774 he was appointed chief justice of Pennsylvania, but, being opposed to the Revolution, he retired from the bench in 1776, the last chief justice of the crown. In 1790 he hecame president of the High Court of Errora and Appeals of Penn - sylvania, and continued in that relation until the abolition of that court, in 1806. He was for a long time at the head of his profession, and died in 1810, at the age of eighty-seven years.


Andrew Allen was the last attorney-general under the king. He bad also been a member of Congresa, and of the Committee of Safety. On the breaking out of the Revolution-to which he was opposed- he put himself under the protection of Gen. Howe, at Trenton. He was faithful to his master, and his estates were confisented by the new government, to whose sovereignty he refused to submit. He went to England, where he died in 1825, at the age of eighty-five years. He is said to have been a very accomplished man. He was a grandson of Andrew Hamilton, already noticed.


In 1777 the hills of indictment on file in the clerk's office are signed by " John Morris, Jr.," as attorney for the Common wealth.


From 1778 to 1793 the attorneys-general who signed the hills of indictment were Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, from 1778 to 1780; William Bradford, Jr., from 1780 to 1791 ; and Jared Ingersoll, from August, 1791, to February, 1793.


At May sessions, 1793, the first deputy attorney-general officiated in our courts. The following is a list of the deputies of the attorneys- general from the latter year to the year 1850, with the names of the attorneys-general by whom they were respectively appointed :


Robert Frazer, from May, 1793, to February, 1800; appointed by Jured Ingersoll.


John Sergeant, from May, 1800, to May, 1803; appointed by Joseph B. Mckean.


Thomas Sergeant, at August sessions, 1803; appointed by the same attorney-general.


William Hemphill, from November, 1803, to November, 1808; sp- pointed by the same attorney-general.


John Duer, Jr., from February, 1809, to April, 1816; appointed successively by Walter Frenklin, Richard Rush, and Jared Ingersoll. Robert Frazer, at July and November sessions, 1816 ; appointed hy Jared Ingersoll.


Isaac .D. Barnard, from January, 1817, to November, 1820; sp- pointed auccessively by Amos Ellmaker and Thomas Sergeant.


Issae Darlington, at January and April sessiona, 1821 ; appointed by Thomas Elder. While holding the office of deputy attorney-gen- ersl, Mr. Darlington was appointed president judge of the new judieisl district, composed of the counties of Chester and Delaware, and was succeeded by


William H. Dillingham, from July, 1821, to November, 1823; ap- pointed by Thomas Elder.


Thomas S. Bell, from January, 1824, to May, 1828; appointed by Frederick Smith.


* At a court of Quarter Sessions bald May 25, 1708, " Thomas Clark appeared In open court and was qualified attorney-general for the county of Chester, according to law."


1 6


Punch.


0 30


7 dinners


0 10 6


6 Suppers. 0 60


Liquor ..


0


Two nights hay for 8 horsce ... 0 16 0


Bitters ..


5 20


1 6


Quart punch


0 16


Bowie punch


0


1 G


11 Dinners ...


1


7 6


5 mens diuners ..


0


5 0


Ye mens euppers & bowle punch


0 56


4 breakfasts.


0 4 0


ye mene breakfasts


0


16


56 quarte oats & hay 0 15 0


10 22


£ s. d.


punch, quart beer .. ...


372


HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


Henry H. Van Amringe, from August, 1828, to August, 1829; ap- pointed by Amos Ellmaker.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.