USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 120
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In 1724, Thomas Perrin, of Conestogoe, petitioned, in- dorsed by John Hendricks, John Roberts, Thomas Wilkins, Martin Mirlin, Daniel Gorman, and was licensed.
In next year (1725) a large number of the inhabitants of Donnegall petitioned for a license for Jonah Davenport, and on its grant George Stuart became his bondsman.
In the year 1724, Joseph Cloud, of Caln, was licensed, with George Aston and John Taylor as his bondsmen, and
432
HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
in 1725 was relicensed, with Joseph Jervis and Daniel Cookson on his bond.
In 1726, John Burt was again licensed, with James Mitchell, of Donnegall, as his bondsman.
PEDDLERS FROM 1730 TO 1773.
These peddlers were also termed " hawkers," " venders," and " petty chapmen," the latter seeming to be the techni- cal or legal word for designating them. The following is a probably incomplete list of the same from 1730 to 1773:
1730, Archibald McGee, William Young, Alexander Richardson, Terrance O'Neall, George Mason, Charles Coaner; 1731, Charles Conner; 1732, Alexander Richison, John Lockarty, Charles Conner, Terrance O'Neall; 1733, Joseph Burgoin ; 1737, William Young, Alexander Richison, George Mason ; 1738, James Ross, William Black; 1742, Charles MeMichel, John Swanner, Daniel Stewart ; 1743, Charles MeMichal, John Swanner, Robert Anderson, James Adams, John McClure; 1744, Samuel Cross, Charles MeMichel, Robert Anderson ; 1745, Samuel Cross, Charles MeMichel, Alexander Richison ; 1746, Henry Hetberington, Charles MeMichel, Samuel Cross ; 1747, Samuel Cross; 1748, Samuel Cross, Charles McMichel, Robert Anderson; 1749, Henry Hetherington, Neal MeLangblia, Patrick Whinnery, George Connell, Charles MeMichel ; 1750, Patrick Whinaery, James Hunter, Charles McMichel, Samuel Mealey ; 1751, Matthew Dualap, Charles MeMichel, James MeMordis; 1752, Sam- uel Patterson, Charles McMichel; 1753, Richard Hall, Charles Me- Michel; 1754, Thomas Clark, John Millisoa, Francis McBride, John Shaw, Charles MeMichel, Samuel Patterson ; 1755, John Prince; 1756, John Jobnson ; 1758, Charles Rodia; 1759, William Little, Samuel Patterson ; 1766, Joha MeCarty, Niebolas Fain; 1772, Jacob Sleer; 1773, David Brooks.
In their petitions to the court, some assigned as reasons for desiring to travel as peddlers their advanced years of age, lost use of a hand or arm, and other physical infirmities preventing them from hard manual labor. Others set forth that they had just arrived from abroad with large stocks of merchandise to sell for the advantage of the people. John Johnson, of Kennet, in his petition, said he had an ailment in his breast that deprived him from labor, and Patrick Whinnery alleged that he had been a weaver, but, having broken a thigh, had " fallen into a consumption." Many of these peddlers became forehanded, and finally settled down as thrifty farmers or merchants.
SILVER PLATE IN 1777.
The following is a list of silver plate in Chester County in 1777, as returned that year by the assessors for taxa- tion :
Westtown Township .- Benjamin Hickman, six spoons; James Black, six tea and one large spoon ; Thomas Taylor, five spoons.
Birmingham Township .- Caleb Brinton, five tea spoons; Charles Dilworth, one tes spoon ; Joseph Dilworth, six spoons; Gideon Gil- pin, six tea spoons.
Sadsbury Township .- Andrew Boyd, six spoons.
Oxford Township .- Hugh McCollough, 52 lbs. of plats; Job Rus- ton, one can, one porringer, seven spoons, one pair tea tongs.
East Caln Township .- John Carmichael, five spoons.
Uwehlan Township .- Charles Reed, one table and six tea spoons; Denais Whelan, one tankard and six table spoons ; Edward Owen, two table and five tea spoons; Israel Whelan, one cream jug, six table and six tea spoons; John Scott, six tea spoons; Col. Robert Smith, six tea spoons.
Kennet Township .- Joseph Shippen, 32 ounces.
Charlestown Township .- Patrick Anderson, one ounce; William
Bodley, three ounces; William Dewees, Jr., eight ounces; William Fussell, ons ounce; William Graham, two ounces; Benjamin Long- streth, sight ounces; Ephraim Jones, one ounee; William Moore, sighteen onnees ; George MeElheany, one ounce; Alexander McCalla, one onnce; Anthony Pritchard, one, ounce; Benjamin Thomas, one ounce.
New London Township .- Moses Cox, two ounces ; Allen Cunning- ham, two ounces ; Joseph Furry, two ounces; Alexander Johnston, eight ounces; David Mackey, two ounces; John McDowell, eight ounces ; William Shearer, two ounces; William Shields, two ounces; Robert Wilkin, two ounces. .
Londonderry Township .- Francis Blair, one tankard ; John Finney, one cup, two candle sticks, six table and six tea spoons.
East Whiteland Township .- John Adams, one dozen tea spoons ; Benjamin Bartholomew, thres table and six tea spoons ; John Bartholo- mew, one eream jng, nine tes and six table spoons ; David Cloyd, one pair tea tongs, cream jug, seven table and fourteen tes spoons; Thomas Harris, six taa spoons; Josiah Hibbard, six tea spoons; Richard Jacobs, one pair tea tongs and six tea spoons; Jobn Kerlin, cream jug, one pair tea tongs, one pint can, five table and six tea spoons; Joseph Lewis, six tea spoons ; Joseph Malin, cream jug and six tea spoons : Peter Mather, ssvon table and seven taa spoons ; Robert Powell, four tea spoons; James Robinson, six tea spoons; Richard Richardson, one pair tongs, six tes and six table spoons; Jahn Templeton, six tea spoons; Robert Todd, six tes spoons ; George Graham, six tea spoons; Richard Malio, Jr., six tea spoons; Harvey Simms, one tea spoon.
Easttown Township .- Gen. Anthony Wayne, one cream jug, six tea and six table spoons; Martha Davis, three tca spoons; Benjamin Jenkins, six tea spoons; William Hunter, Jr., six tea spoons; John Butler, four tea spoons; Whitehead Weatherby, six tea spoons.
Goshen Township .- Francis Trumble, four spoons.
Treydyffrin Township .- Richard Brinton, five spoons ; Rev. Wil- liam Curris, ons tea pot, one sugar dish, one pair tes tongs, ons soup dish, three table and six tea spoons; Dr. John Davis, six tes spoons; David Davis (Valley) six tea spoons; David Havard, six tea spoons; Mary Howell, six tea spoons; John Rowland, six tea spoons; Joseph Mitchell, six tea spoons; Thomas Walters, cream jug and six tea spoons.
West Caln Township .- Samuel Denasy, four pieces ; Mary Way, five pieces.
East Nantmeal Township .- Braason Vanleer, one quart cup.
Pikeland Township .- Joseph Berkinbaugh, one coffee pot, six tes and six table spoons; David Ford, six tes spoons.
West Fallowfield Township .- John Ball, sixteen ounces.
RIDING VEHICLES.
In an assessment made February, 1786, for the purpose of raising money to pay the United States and State debts, the following riding carriages were returned within our present county limits with the valuation annexed :
East Bradford .- Jobn Hannum, chair, £10. West Bradford .- Humphry Marshall, chair, £24.
East Caln .- Widow Carmichael, chair, £15; Hunt Downing, Jr., chair, £25; Richard Dowaing, Jr., chair, £15; John Edge, chair, £25; Wm. Trimble, ebair, £25.
Goshen .- Joshua Ashbridge (four-wheeled), £40; Jos. Garrett (four-wheeled), £40; Geo. Hoopes, chair, £5; Enos Thomas, chair, £15; Jobn Warner, chaise, £12.
Londongrove .- Joshua Pusey, carriage, £3; Joseph Preston, family carriage, £3.
West Nantmeal .- Baron Debillion," phaeton.
Thornbury .- John & Joseph Brinton, chair, £15; Wm. Williamson, chair, £30.
Westtown .- Joseph Hoopes, chair, £30.
East Whiteland .- Richard Jacobs, phaston, £25; Casper Fahne- stock, caravan, £20; John Templeton, chair, £14.
West Whiteland .- John Jones, chair.
The tax laid upon this species of property was one and one-half pence on the pound.
* Properly Baron de Beslen Bertholf.
433
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
On the 18th of June, 1776, a provincial conference con- vened at Carpenters' Hall, in Philadelphia, in pursuance of a resolution of Congress, recommending a change in the form of State governments, and a suppression of all au- thority under the King of Great Britain. The members from Chester County, deputed by the county committee, were Col. Richard Thomas, Maj. William Evans, Col. Thomas Hockley, Maj. Caleb Davis, Elisha Price, Samuel Fairlamb, Col. William Montgomery, Col. Hugh Lloyd, Richard Riley, Col. Evan Evans, Col. Lewis Gronow, Maj. Sketchley Morton, and Thomas Levis.
Col. Thomas Mckean, a son of Chester County, then rep- rosenting Philadelphia, was chosen president of the body. This conference, June 24, 1776, unanimously declared their willingness to concur in a vote of the Congress declaring the united colonies free and independent States. This was ten days before the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress. A convention was also called for the purpose of framing a constitution and forming a new govern- ment in the province, on the authority of the people alone.
The convention thus called met at Philadephia, July 15, 1776, and adopted the first constitution of the State or Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It provided that the legislative power should be vested in a single House of Rep- resentatives, and the executive power in a President and Council, the representatives and members of Council to be elected by the votes of the people, and the President to be chosen annually by the joint ballots of the Assembly and council, the delegates to Congress to be elected annually by the Assembly. It also provided that there should be chosen by the voters every seven years a council of censors, to be composed of two persons from each county, for the purpose of seeing that the constitution was preserved invio- late, and for the performance of other prescribed duties. The members of this convention from Chester County were Benjamin Bartholomew, John Jacobs, Thomas Straw- bridge, Robert Smith, Samuel Cunningham, John Hart, John Mackey, and John Fleming. The convention was presided over by Dr. Benjamin Franklin.
Nov. 13, 1783, a council of censors, chosen in pursuance of the provisions of this constitution, convened at the Statc-House in Philadelphia, and continued in session from time to time until Sept. 25, 1784. This was the only council of censors ever held. The members of this body from Chester County were Anthony Wayne and John Evans. The latter died during its sittings, and James Moore was elected in his room, and took his seat Dec. 30, 1783.
The constitution of 1776 not proving very acceptable to the people, a convention was called to frame a new consti- tution, which met in Philadelphia on Nov. 24, 1789, and formed what is known as the constitution of 1790, providing, among other changes, that the executive power should be vested in a Governor, elected by the people, and the legis- lative power in a Senate and House of Representatives.
This constitution went into operation Sept. 2, 1790, and a procession, composed of officials and citizens, paraded, under the direction of the convention, on the occasion of its proclamation. Neither this constitution nor that of
1776 was submitted to a vote of the people. Thomas Mifflin was president of the convention, and was afterwards elected the first Governor of the State under its provisions.
Chester County was represented in this convention by Wil- liam Gibbons, Thomas Bull, Thomas Ross, and James Boyd.
At the general election in 1825 a vote was taken, by authority of an act of Assembly, on the question of calling a convention to amend thic constitution of 1790, which re- sulted in a majority against the proposed convention.
April 14, 1835, an act of Assembly was passed authoriz- ing a vote to be taken at the next general election on the question of the expediency of a revision of the constitu- tion. The vote being in favor of such revision, an act was passed March 29, 1836, calling a convention, to consist of a number equal to that of the members composing the Senate and House of Representatives, and to be elected Nov. 4, 1836 .*
The convention thus called met May 2, 1837, and finally adjourned Feb. 22, 1838, a portion of their sessions being held at Harrisburg and a portion in Philadelphia. The result of their labors was submitted to a vote of the people at the general election held in October, 1838, and the amended constitution, being ratified, went into operation on Jan. 1, 1839.+
The delegates in this convention from Chester County werc Thomas S. Bell, senatorial, and William Darlington, Morgan J. Thomas, Matthias Pennypacker, and John Chandler, representatives.
It was presided over by Hon. John Sergeant, of Phila- delphia.
June 2, 1871, an act of Assembly was passed submit- ting to a vote of the people at the October election the question of calling another convention to revise the consti- tution. The vote being in the affirmative, an act was passed April 11, 1872, providing for the calling of such conven- tion ; the members to be elected at the October election then next, by what is known in common parlance as the cumulative system.
The delegates met in convention in the hall of the House of Representatives at Harrisburg, Nov. 12, 1872, and or- ganized by the election of Hon. William M. Meredith, of Philadelphia, as president. The convention continued in session at Harrisburg until Nov. 27, 1872, and then ad- journed to meet again in Philadelphia on Jan. 7, 1873, when it re assembled.
The members representing this senatorial district were William Darlington and Joseph Hemphill, of Chester County, and John M. Broomall, of Delaware County. There were also in the convention four other sons of Ches- ter County, viz. : Joseph Baily, of Perry County ; Wayne Mac Veagh, of Dauphin County ; Dr. Levi Rooke, of Union County ; and Joel B. McCamant, from Schuylkill County. Abrahamı D. Harlan, of Coatesville, was one of the assist- ant clerks.
This was the fourth convention called to frame or amend the constitution of the State.
* The vote of Chester County in 1835 was 2546 for a convention, and 3308 against.
¡ Chester County voted for the amendments, 3879 ; against, 5085.
55 .
434
HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
TAXABLES, 1730 TO 1780.
TOWNSHIPS.
1730.
1740.
1750.
1760.
1770.
1780.
Aston
25
38
43
61
77
73
Bothel.
20
19
22
32
37
33
1820-1830.
5459
12.2
1.830-1840
6505
12.7
1840-1850.
8923
15.5
1850-1860
8140
12.2
1860-1870.
3227
4.3
1870-1880
5497
6.5
The following table exhibits the population of the town- ships and boroughs of Chester County according to the United States census of 1860-1880 :
1860.
1870.
1880.
Atglen borough
......
347
Birmingham ...
550
450
503
East Bradford
1175
1033
1054
West Bradford
1734
1538
1615
East Brandywine.
1039
1011
1012
West Brandywine.
828
933
858
Charlestown
964
907
902
Coatesville borough.
2025
2767
Caln.
1018
996
863
East Caln.
233
539
West Calo
1290
1308
1275
North Coventry ..
1058
1251
1465
South Coventry
650
651
569
East Coventry
1401
1320
1259
Downingtown borough ..
761
1077
1480
Elk.
1027
839
831
Easttowo
728
737
845
Franklin
974
922
966
West Fallow field
1273
1159
1048
East Fallowfeld
1440
1290
1461
West Goshen.
1067
953
1133
East Goshen.
844
696
724
Highland
1094
957
896
Iloneybrook
1988
1958
1568
Hopewell borough.
278
268
216
Kennet
1905
1308
1247
London Britain.
659
660
620
Londonderry
711
714
727
Londongrove ..
1642
1804
2148
New London
943
912
89L
East Marlborough.
1476
1401
1337
West Marlborough.
1175
1185
1146
New Garden
1540
1750
1942
Newlin
791
778
779
East Nottingham.
1361
1400
1360
West Nottingbum
829
880
864
146 East Nantincal
968
920
937
West Nantineal, 1032
1082
1028
Lower Oxford
1421
1500
1429
Upper Oxford ..
1105
1086
1096
Oxford borough.
482
1152
1502
Penn
725
692
739
Pennsbury.
847
774
795
Pocopson
617
573
564
Parkesburg borough
4886
5292
6681
East Pikeland
793
826
804
West Pikeland
905
1202
1005
Sadsbury
2589
2403
749
Schuylkill.
1439
1596
1416
Spring City borough
...
...
693
Tredyffrin ....
1938
1897
1975
Thornbury.
253
235
262
Uweblan.
810
794
698
Upper Uweblan.
836
783
848
Valley.
2125
1165
1187
East Vincent.
1681
1961
1252
West Vincent.
1407
1298
1238
Warwick
1410
1266
1267
Wallace.
758
748
711
West Chester borough ..
4757
5630
7046
Westtown
659
819
843
Willistown
1521
1552
1620
East Whiteland
1187
1223
1273
West Whiteland.
1214
1177
1345
The population of the principal villages in 1880 was as follows :
Charlestown
50
· Rockville.
215
Lawrenceville
152
Avondale ..
323
Hustonvillo ..
130
West Grove
278
Kimberton
82
Toughkenamon ... 241
1
67
41
85
93
118
137
Chester.
69
86
95
131
188
135
Upper Chichester.
31
26
32
50
46
63
Lower Chichester.
32
40
71
99
98
100
Concord
68
76
91
94
102
121
East Caln.
57
78
115
158
170
210
West Caln.
32
74
93
129
141
145
Charlestown
45
57
70
130
167
175
Coventry.
34
68
90
112
107
192
Upper Darby.
83
1 44
56
78
106
115
43
47
51
62
61
66
Easttown
21
25
39
51
61
78
East Fallowfield
31
99
83
105
103
108
Goshen
38
55
82
109
158
150
Haverford
32
38
43
67
75
79
Kennet ..
103
128
149
150
155
139
Londongrove
55
78
65
89
103
124
London Britain
42
55
61
70
61
47
Marple
33
43
57
73
87
88
Middletown.
49
54
65
84
81
103
East Marlborough
50
54
79
100
110
141
West Marlborough.
32
34
59
74
83
100
New Garden
33
42
59
81
75
98
Newtown.
35
52
48
61
73
78
Newlin
50
42
48
65
76
Enst Nantmoal
83
105
133
113
177
West Nantmeal.
29
123
142
177
179
243
Oxford
193
Pennsbury
100
Upper Providence
27
33
43
46
57
56
Lower Providence.
17
21
34
52
48
49
Pikeland
64
121
132
136
Ridley.
41
55
64
83
124
106
Radoor
46
56
66
94
106
130
Springfield
28
35
45
57
69
62
Sadsbury.
55
62
99
102
103
101
Tredyffrin.
38
49
64
127
159
134
30
38
54
79
84
122
Tinieum
48
65
90
109
119
162
39
80
113
169
152
201
Willistown.
44
65
77
99
112
149
East Whiteland
38
49
65
124
1 59
65
New London
86
87
113
126
120
Enst Nottingham
93
146
162
186
204
148
West Nottingham.
81
151
182
211
172
73
Totals
1976
2964
3858
5092
5567
6255
THE POPULATION OF CHESTER COUNTY.
The following shows the population of Chester County by each of the past ten censuses, also the numbers of white and colored persons :
Year.
Total.
White.
Colored.
1790
27,937
27,249
688
1800.
32,093
30,902
1191
1810.
39,596
37,775
1821
1820.
44,451
41,710
2741
1830.
50,910
47,911
2999
1840.
57,515
53,372
4143
1850.
66,438
61,215
5223
1860.
74,578
68,671
5907
1870.
77,805
71,569
6233
1880.
83,302
Below we add the increase in number during each dec- ade and the growth per cent. It will be seen that the smallest increase was that of the ten years from 1860 to 1870, -- the period of the war,-while the greatest, by far, was that between 1800 and 1810. A remarkable feature is the very even growth maintained for half a century, the
percentages from 1810 to 1860 varying only from 12.2 to 15.5.
Decade.
Increase. 4156
14.8
1800-1810.
7503
23.3
1810-1820.
4955
12.5
Birmingham
64
66
68
77
93
105
East Bradford.
[ 57
83
104
117
129
West Bradford,
£ 64
56
84
96
113
Lower Darby
Edgmont ..
49
71
82
86
West Fallowfield ..
Londonderry .
161
148
113
107
108
Westtown
12
23
27
40
50
57
1 66
83
West Whiteland
Kennet Square (borough)
897
1021
Honeybrook borough
......
281
Thornbury.
47
Uwehlan
Vincent ..
127
136
Inc. per Cent.
1790-1800.
West Sadsbury.
......
1112
817
Phoenixville borough
435
GEOLOGY OF CHESTER COUNTY.
Madison
164
Hamorton 159
Jennerville
87
Chatham
123
Sadsburyville.
212
Landenberg. 353
Valley Forge.
184
Cedarville.
184
Pughtown. 80
Pottstown Landing
214
Russellville
98
Pomeroy
77
Phoenixville .- North Ward 2515
South Ward ... 4166
Cochranville.
122
110
Total.
6681
Springfield .. 214
114
Nottingham
62 Lionville.
114
Gallagherville.
107
Romansville
64
Ercildoun
126
Steclovillo.
79
Modina.
126
Fremont
59
Berwyn
158
Walkers', or Whiteland.
112
Total
7046
NATURAL HISTORY, TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, ETC.
GEOLOGY OF CHESTER COUNTY .*
IN describing the geological formation of Chester County we shall in part adopt the language of Prof. Rogers in his description of the course, extent, character, and dip of the several strata within the county, as given in the survey of the State of Pennsylvania.
Chester County, geologically considered, is situated " in the Atlantic slope district," which embraces "all that part of the State lying between the tide-waters of the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers and the southeast base of the range of hills known as the South Mountain." " All of Chester County lying south of the Great Valley, embracing more than half of its area, is formed of rocks which belong to the primary stratified group. These consist chiefly of gneiss, with a small belt of mica and tale slate lying in con- tact with the auroral limestone of the Great Valley, and bounding the southern gneiss on the north and west.
" The first belt of gneiss enters Chester County on the east from the adjoining county of Delaware, and from New Castle Co., Del., on the southcast and south ; gradually expanding in a northeast and southwest direction, it em- braces the whole of the townships of Willistown, East and West Goshen, East and West Bradford, when it reaches the Brandywine." " After crossing the crcek the belt rapidly widens," and occupies all of the townships of Penns- bury, Pocopson, Newlin, East and West Marlborough, Keu- net, New Garden, Penn, and Londongrove. Bounding the northern and western extremities of the gneiss, and immediately in contact with the southern margin of the primitive or auroral limestone of the Great Valley, is the talc and mica slate range. The tale slate lies next the limestone, and is elevated into a high ridge, usually known as the South Valley Hill. "This formation passes so gradually into the mica slate, which lies on its southern border, as to render it impossible, except in particular in- stances, to delineate them separately." "The mica and. talc slates enter Chester County at its northeast extremity, from the adjoining county of Montgomery, by a narrow
zone about a mile in width, and passing across the county in a northeast and southwest direction, gradually widening as it proceeds,"' it occupies the southern margin of the townships of East and West Whiteland and East Caln, the northern parts of Easttown, Willistown, East and West Goshen, East and West Bradford, Highland, and East and West Fallowfield, where it rapidly expands, and passes west into the southern part of Lancaster County. In the town- ship of West Fallowfield the belts of tale and mica slate are suddenly deflected to the south, and after embracing nearly the western half of the townships of Upper and Lower Oxford and East and West Nottingham, it passes out of the southwestern border of the county, into Cecil Co., Md. The mica and talc slate formations of Chester County are about two thousand feet thick, and in their mineralogical features they correspond with the gold-bear- ing talc slates of Virginia and North Carolina, with which they are continuous. These strata are evidently sedimen- tous, and were probably deposited at the bottom of a great estuary, during the earliest period of geological history. " The townships of London Britain, Franklin, New Lon- don, and the greater part of East and West Nottingham, Upper and Lower Oxford, and Londonderry, are occupied by gneiss and mica slates, interspersed with occasional belts of hornblende and stratified sienitic rock." "Extending in nearly a direct line from Willistown township, in the northeast, to the southern extremity of West Nottingham township, in the south western part of the county, numerous serpentine ridges and spurs of variable shape and extent occur," some of which inclose chromate of iron, silicate of magnesia, corundum, feldspar, and asbestos, besides other varieties of minerals common to this formation. The ease with which serpentine is wrought has within a few years greatly increased the demand for this material for building purposes, and the numerous stately architectural buildings now witnessed attest the favor in which Chester County serpentine is held for public and private edifices. Numer- ous beds of primitive or auroral limestone occur through- out the southern gneiss-belt. These have escaped the general denudations that swept the eastern part of the State,
* By W. D. Hartman, M.D.
The population by the same census (1880) of Phoenix- ville and West Chester boroughs by wards was :
West Chester .- North Ward 1343
South Ward. 1849
East Ward 1732
West Ward
2122
Marshallton
278
Ilarveyville
78
Coventryville Howellville.
436
HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
in consequence of lying in the folds or synclinal troughs of the primitive or gneiss formation. Igneous agency has destroyed all traces of fossils within these beds, and if we except some in the neighborhood of Doe Run, which after incineration exhibit the Oolitic structure, no traces of ani- mal or vegetable existence are to be found in them. In the numerous outcrops of the igneous and unstratified veins of granite, serpentine, greenstone, limestone, and trap rocks which have been injected through the southern gneiss-belt, many elegant cystalline minerals are found, which for many years has placed Chester County in the front rank of mineral localities, from which the mineralogist has often drawn his richest and most beautiful treasures. " The gen- eral direction of the gneiss, together with those of the mica and talc slate formations of the southern part of Chester County, is northeast and southwest. The dip of the rocks, together with those of the included beds of lime and ser- pentine, is southeast at a steep angle.
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