History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 52

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 52

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).

"The inhabitants adjacent, belonging to New Garden :"

John Evans, Jenkin John, Wm Gallashy, Daniol Magill, Abraham Emett, Aaron Price, Josiah Emett, Robert Beser, Tho. Caldwel, Wm Emett, Abraham Emett, Jor, John Beteye, Hugh Weret, David Wms, Tho. Price, David Evans, Daniell Mackconnell, John Tomson, Thomas Hughes, Joshns Johnston,

Under the head of non-resident land, Fagg's Manor of 5000 acres was included, with other lands to the westward of Londongrove.

In 1724 the number of taxables was reduced to twenty- five, being restricted to the township proper.

TAXABLES IN 1753.

Wm Miller, mill, Jane Jenkins, Jacob Howel, Jas. Miller, Jun, Saml. Miller, . Mathew McConnel, Robt. Halliday, Wm Miller, Blind, William Rowen, Jos. Fred, Thos. Hutton, Jos. Dixon, Wm Rows, Frans Hobson, Isaac Clendenen, Stephen Mcfarson, Jans Miller, James Miller, Jas. Cerson, John Sharp, John Hacket, John Hurford, John Miller, Nath1 Scarlot, Wu Richards, Nath1 Ring, John Martin, Nath1 Richards, Isaac Richards, Margret Carpenter, Isaac Miller, John. Dixon, Jacob John, Con. Ryan, Addam Smith, John Starr, Jas. Wilson, Wm Graham, Jas. Leech, Barny Feagon, Wm Jackson, John Wilson, Thos. Harvey, Robert Boyce, Benja Hutton, Edwd Mulligan, Hance Cominger, Wm Griffith, John Ross, Thos Coffee, Nehemiah Hutton, Jas. Milhous, Abram Stroud, Robt. Walker, Sam1 Gamble, Jas. Ellis.

Freemen .- Richard McGlsughlin, Hugh Leech, Wm Wilkinson, Timothy Mahanee.

LAND-OWNERS, 1774.

Isaac Allen, Benjamin Allen, Stephen Anderson, Thomas Barrett, George Chandler, William Dixon, Henry Dixon, John Elliott, Enoch Gregg, Hanoah Hurford, Samuel Hurford, Joseph Hurford, Thomas Hutton, Benjamin Hutton, Joseph Hutton, James Hall, Charles Hall, David Hoopes, Joseph Hobson, Thomas Hsnaway, John Hacket, Jonathan Johnston, Isaac Jackson, Sr., Isaac Jackson, Jr., William Knight, Jacob Lindley, William Miller, James Miller, Samuel Miller, John Miller, Jesse Miller, Joseph Miller, Samuel Moore, Matthew McConnell, Andrew MeIntire, John Milhous, James Milhous, Mat. thew Ogletree, Thomas Parker, James Pile, Joshua Proctor, Samuel Riddle, William Rows, James Rowen, Moses Rowen, Isaac Richards, Nathaniel Richards, Nathaniel Scarlet, John Scarlet, George Sharp, Benjamin Sharp, John Taylor, Ambrose Taylor, Samuel Sharp.

NEWLIN TOWNSHIP.

William Penn, on the 22d and 23d of March, 1681, by deed of lease and release, granted to Nicholas Moore, James Claypoole, Philip Ford, William Sharloe, Edward Pierce, John Simcock, Thomas Bracey, Thomas Barker, and Ed- ward Brooks, in trust for the Free Society of Traders in Pennsylvania, 20,000 acres of land, and lots in Philadel- phia.

On the 20th of 7th month (September), 1688, by vir- tue of a warrant from the commissioners of property, dated the 1st of 4th month (June), 1688, there was sur- veyed and laid out unto Benjamin Chambers, president of

the said Free Society of Traders, for the use of said soci- ety, 7100 acres of land in Chester County,-part of the said 20,000 acres,-beginning at a corner post of Benjamin Chambers' land ; thence south 800 perches to a corner post of Bland's land; thence W. N. W. 1710 perches to a cor- ner post, N. N. E., by a line of trees, 730 perches ; thence E. S. E., by a line of trees, 1403 perches to the place of beginning. Returned, according to the aforesaid survey and bounds, into the proprietary's secretary's office the 23d of the 8th montli, 1688.

On the 10th of June, 1724, the Free Society of Traders, by its trustees, Charles Read, Job Goodsonn, Evan Owen, George Fitzwater, and Joseph Pidgeon, conveyed the above- mentioned tract of 7100 acres to Nathaniel Newlin, in con- sideration of £800, current money of Pennsylvania. Thus Nathaniel Newlin became the owner of the tract which afterwards constituted the township bearing his name.

The tract was resurveyed in October, 1724, and was found to contain 7700 acres instead of 7100 acres. The lines were by this resurvey of the following lengths: the east line of 835 perches, the south line 1759 perches, the west line 771 perches, and the north line 1440 perches. On the east it was bounded hy lands of Abraham Marshall and Mordecai Cloud,-portions of which are still in the hands of their descendants,-on the south by Marlborough township, north by Bradford township, and west by vacant lands.

Nathaniel Newlin, after the purchase of this tract, en- tered into negotiations for the sale of portions of it, and granted warrants, of which the following is an example :

" Upon an agreement made with William Dean, of the county of Chester, yeoman, for a certain parcel of land, lying in ye southeast . corner of ye tract of land in ye said county, called the Society tract, for which he agrees to pay to my uss tho sum of thirty pounds for one hundred acres, and so proportionably for ye odd measure, on or heforo the 25th day of March next, and the yearly quit rent of ons shilling sterling per hundred, and so proportionably for a lesser quantity :

" These are to authorize and require thee to survey to the said Wil- liam Dean, the said parcel of land by regular courses, and make return thereof to me in order to a further confirmation. Which survey, in case the said William Dean fulfil the above agreement shall be valid, otherwise the same is to be void, as if it had never been made, or this warrant evor granted. Given under my hand and seal, the 30th day of October, 1724.

" NATHA : NEWLIN.

"To JOHN TAYLOR, Surveyor."

The following is an account of the portions of this tract sold by Nathaniel Newlin, the prices at which they were sold, and the names of the purchasers :

George Harlan, 169 acres for £50 148. ; Stephen Harlan, 20} acres for £20 108 .; Joseph English, 200 acres for £30; Mordecai Cloud, 326 acres for £97 168 .; Abraham Marshall, 120 acres for £36; Jocl Baily, 228 acres for £68 88 .; William Dean, 124 acres for £37 48 .; George Lashly, 75 acres for £22 108. ; and Ralph Thompson 75 acres for £19 198. 9d., a total of 1337 acres for £383. In addition to the moneys paid for the lands, the conveyances contained a reservation of & quit- rent of ons English shilling per 100 acres, " or the value thereof in coyn current here," payable ycarly to Nathaniel Newlin, his heirs or assigns.

Nathaniel Newlin died in 1729, intestate, leaving thrce sons-Nicholas, Nathaniel, and John-and three daughters, -Jemima, the wife of Richard Eavenson, Kezia, the wife of William Baily, and Mary, the wife of Richard Clayton, -and also -four grandchildren, the children of his daughter Elizabeth, who had married Ellis Lewis and was deceased,

190

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA;

viz., Robert Mary, Nathaniel, and Ellis .. He owned at the time of his death the following lands : a messuage and tract of 500 acres in Concord, one other messuage and 33 acres in Concord, a messuage and 62 acres in Birmingham, a tract of 460 acres in Marlborough, a tract of 250 acres in Londongrove, and the remainder of the tract on the west branch of Brandywine, containing about 6338 acres.

After his death partition was made of some of the lands of which he had thus died seized among his descendants, in manner following :

To Nicholas Newlin the messuage and tract of 500 acres in Concord.

To John Newlin the messuage and 62 acres in Birmingham, and also 946 acres of the tract on Brandywine (in two parcels).

To Nathaniel Newlin (in two parcels) 1620 acres of the tract on Brandywine.

To Jemima, wife of Richard Eaveoson, 913 acres (in two parcels) of the tract on Brandywine.

To Kezia, wife of William Bailey, 375 acres in Marlborough, and also 851 acres (in two parcels) of the tract on Brandywine.

To Mary, wife of Richard. Clayton, the other messuage and 33 acres in Concord, with 895 acres (in two parcels) of the tract on Brandywine.

To the children of Elizabeth Lewis 1133 acres (io three parcels) of the tract on Brandywine.

line of Abraham Marshall's land. The consideration given was £100. Of this sum, £73 was then paid, and the remainder at a subsequent date, when a deed was executed. This rock in the line of Abraham Marshall's land was also in the line of the Society tract purchased by Nathaniel Newlin.

The Indians had a town or village a short distance west of this line, on the north side of the Brandywine, on the tract purchased by Newlin, and on that portion of it now owned and occupied by Lewis Marshall. It was on this spot that Indian Hannah, the last of her race in Chester County, dwelt for many years.

Nathaniel Newlin, soon after this purchase, commenced disposing of portions of his lands. Within six months he had issued warrants for some nine parcels, generally vary- ing in size from 150 to 300 acres, some of which were located on the creek.

A difficulty at once arose with the Indians. Their rights had only been extinguished to the rock in the western line of Abraham Marshall's lands, and they claimed that they were still the owners of one mile wide on cach side of the

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NEWLIN TOWNSHIP AS DIVIDED APRIL, 1730.

In the formation of Pocopson township, over 300 acres were taken from the southeast corner of Newlin and in- cluded in the new township. The portion thus included cubraced the above-mentioned tract, originally conveyed to William Dean, and portions of the tracts of Mordecai Cloud and of the children of Ellis Lewis.

The name of this township is almost universally pro- nounced in this county as if written New Lin. This is erroneous. It should be pronounced with the accent on the first syllable,-New'lin. The incorrect pronunciation, however, is so fixed in the minds of the people that it will most likely continue to be used.

After William Penn had purchased from the Indians all the land in Chester County, he reconveyed to them a mile in width on cach side of the Brandywine, from its mouth up the west branch to its head,-at least they afterwards claimed that he did,-but the writing was accidentally de- stroyed. In 1706 the commissioners of property, at the request of the inhabitants on Brandywine, purchased from the Indians their claim to these lands, from the mouth of the creek up to a certain rock in the west branch, in the

creek, from that rock up to its source, and that Newlin had no right to sell any of their lands, or to interfere with their rights in any way. No attention seems to have been given by Newlin, or the purchasers from him, to these claims.

At the next session of the Provincial Assembly, held at Philadelphia in the summer of 1725, the Indian chief Checochinican and others complained of the encroachments on their lands and obstructions in the creek by dams, and were heard by the Assembly. The account of this inter- view and the proceedings thereon, in the minutes of the Assembly, is so interesting we will give it in the language of the minutes themselves :

" 13th of 6 mo., 1725. The Petition of divers inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, setting forth that the Proprietary having par- chased of the Natives all the lands within certain bounds; and that the proprietary did afterwards release back to some of the said Natives a certain tract of land upon Brandywine, which said land is lately taken up and settled, to the great disturbance of said Natives, and praying that this House would take the same into their consideration ; was read and ordered to be considered this afternoon.

"Then the House was given to understand that the Heads of the said Indian complainants desiro to attend the House in person, to set;

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" BROOK HAVEN" RESIDENCE OF JOHN D. NELSON PENN, CHESTER CO. PA .

RESIDENCE OF DR. ROBERT L. MCCLELLAN, COCHRANVILLE.

" WOODLAND." RESIDENCE OF JAMES BARNARD, WEST MARLBOROUGH.

R. L. Stopies Ling

191

TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGHS, ETC.

forth their nggrievnnoes. Ordered, that they wait on the House at three o'olock this afternoon with their Interpreters.

"3 P. M., the House met :

" The Indians ordered to attend this afternoon, waited at the door desiring to be heard. Then chairs being placed for them, they were onlled in, and the Speaker, on behalf of the House, said : 'The Huuse hos had information that you have been with the Governor and Com- missioners alrendy. Have you received satisfaction ?'

" Indians (by interpreter.)-' We have not.'

" Speaker .- ' What is it then, that you have to offer to the House ?'

" Indians .- ' When William Penn came to this country, he settled a perpetual friendship with us, and after we sold him our country, he reconveyed back a certain tract of land upon Brandywine, for a mile on each side of said oreek, which writing wns, by the burning of a cabin, destroyed; but we all remember very well the contents thereof : That Wm. Peun promised that we should not be molested whilst one Indian lived, grew old and blind, and died-so nnother, to the third generation ; that is the way of expressing it-from generation to generation ; and now it is not half the age of an old man since, and we are molested, and our lands surveyed out and settled before we can reap our corn off; and to our great injury, Brandywine creek is so obstructed with dams, that the fish cannot come up to our habitations. We desire you to take notice that we are a poor people, and want the benefit of the fish, for when we are out hunting, our children with their bows and arrows used to get fish for their sustenance, therefore, we desire that these dams be removed, that the fish inny have their natural course.'

" Speaker .- ' Ilow did you understand that writing to be? That you should enjoy that Innd forever ?'

" Indians .- ' Not only we, but all the Indians understood it to be theire as long as the water ran down that creek.'

" Speaker .- ' Have you anything more to say ?'

" Indians .- ' No, but if you hear us not, we shall be obliged to come again next spring.'

" Speaker .- ' The House is inclined to do you all the favor which lies in their power.'

" Indians .- ' We hope we are all friends, and desire to continue so, as long as we draw breath.'

"Then the Indians withdrew, and after some debate it was ordered that Francis Rawle, John Kearsley, and Jobn Swift, go to James Lo- gan, ene of the Commiseioners of Property, and inform him of the sub- stance of the said petition, and matter complained of by the Indians; who being returned report that the said commissioner shows a very hearty inclination to accommodate the affair with the Indians, and although their right does not appear so clear yet they are possessed of anch strong notions of it, that their is no divesting them of it; and, therefore, he is ready to do what he can to quiet their com- plaints, by grunting the person who possesses the said lands, other lands in the stend thereof.

" Ordered, That Francis Rawle and Jobn Kearsley draw up an ad- drees to the Governor, on behalf of the Indians. Adjourned.

" 6th month 14th, 1725. The House met, etc.

"Then the members appointed yesterday in the afternoon, to draw up no address to the Governor, on behalf of the Indians, brought in the same, which was read and agreed to. Ordered, That the same be transcribed, and then the house adjourned to two P.M.

"Two o'clock P.M. The House mnet, etc.

"The address to the Goveroor on behalf of the Indians, according to order, being transcribed, is as follows, viz. : 'The Address of the Representatives of the said Province, in General Assembly met : May it please the Governor, As next to Divine Providence, the peace, happiness, and quietness which this Province first enjoyed, was owing to the wise conduct of the Hon. William Penn, our Proprie- tary and Governor, by procuring a good friendship hetwixt him and the native Indians nt his first arrival here, so by diligent care in cul- tivating and preserving the like friendship, the grent happiness of peace has been hitherto enjoyed amongst us, when divers of the neighboring colonies have been obnoxious to the insulte of the bar- barous Indians, to the great damage of their countries ; and as the Governor's care and indefatigable pains upon all occasions, has been very conspicious to that good end, this House do address themselves on an unhappy dissatisfaction some Indians are under (who have always lived very peacenble with the inhabitants of this province), from an opinion that they are likely to be dispossessed of some lands they had long lived on. and enjoyed on the river Brandywine, as also

for being deprived of the benefit of fishing ou the said river; all which they have by personal complaint Inid before this House, And the House having taken into serious consideration the fatal consequence it may be to the peace of this Province, represented the same to Jnmes Logan, one of the Commissionera of Property, who has given the House amplo satisfaction of his intentions to accommodate the differ- ence with the said Indians. And we are fully satisfied (were it not for u purchase made of some part of those Innde by Nathaniel Newlin, and his too wilful resolution to hold and settle the same), this part of this difference relating to the pretended encronchments on their Innds would he immediately silenced. And notwithstanding this obstacle, we have reason to believe that Nathaniel Newlin will, in n very short time, become sensible, that it will be as much to his own private in- terest us of the Province in general, to be more condescending in this affair.

" But, whereas, there are dams or wares which do obstruct the pas- sing up of fish to the place where the said Indinns are settled, with- out the verge of this Government, this House doth humbly request the Governor, that he will be pleased to exert his authority, in such manner as he shall think proper, for quieting and satisfying the said Indians, and preserving the ancient friendship between them and the inhabitants of this Province; and herein we also have that confidence as to hope that the Government of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, will su far think it conducive to their peace and quiet, that they will not fail to do what is necessary on their part, for the full settling and composing this dissatisfaction.

"'Signed by order of the House, "'WILLIAM BILES,

"'August 14th, 1725. Speaker.'

" Ordered, That Thomas Chandler nnd Elishn Getchell present the same to the Governor; who return and report that they had delivered the said address according to order, and that the Governor perused the same, and said he was entirely of the opinion of the House, and that he and his Council would use their utmost endeavors to satisfy these Indians, and that he was going down to New Castle, where he would order the persons concerned to move those dams complained of, which if they did not do, he would give orders to the King's attorney to prosecute them, and oblige them thereto, by due process of law."

No further proceedings were had at that session of the Assembly in relation to the complaints of the Indians.

The claims of the Indians were not adjusted to their satisfaction, and at the next session of the Assembly, in the spring of 1726, they again sought an interview and renewed their complaints, when the following proceedings took place :

"3d month 31st, 1726, the IIouse met, etc.

" The Indians ( who claim certain rights on Brandywine Creek ) came to wait upon the House, and by a member sent in a paper they re- ceived from James Logan, and likewise a message that they were not satisfied therewith, and therefore made further application to this House for redress, which paper being read, the Ilouse went into a de- bate thercon, and after some time referred the further consideration thereof till to-morrow, and then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.

" 4th month Ist, 1726, 9 A.M., the House met, etc.

" The House proceeded further on the consideration of the affair relative to the Indians.

"Ordered, That Evan Owen go to the commissionere of property and desire some of them to attend, in order to inform the House what progress hath been made with Nathaniel Newlin towards an accom- mountion ; who returned and reported that he spoke with James Lo- gan, one of the commissioners of property, according to order, and that he was ready to attend the House in order to acquaint them what had been done in that affair; who, being called in, produced an Indian deed, dated 1685, sigoed by thirteen Indian kings, which conveys all the lands from Duck Creek tu Upland Creek, alias Chester Creek, and as far back as a man could ride on horseback in two days; and says he finds no footsteps of any reconveyance, neither in the land-office nor upon record, but that in 1705 the Indians laid claim to all the lands from the mouth of Brandywine up the West Branch to the head, in breadth a mile on each sido of that branch ; and afterwards the commissioners of property purchased of the Indians all tho Inads from

192

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the mouth of Brandywine up to a certain rock hy Abraham Mar- shall'a land for the sum of one hundred pounds, seventy-three pounds and eight shillings of which was then paid to their chiefs, and the remainder they paid yesterday, and the chiefs of the Indians signed a release, but said they wanted some instrument given to them that they might know what was theirs and be secure in it. But the com- missioners told them it was not at this time in their power to make them any grant of the said lands, but that they should not be dis- turbed in their quiet possession thereof, neither by Nathaniel Newlin nor by any other person. That the commissioners had told Nathaniel Newlio that it was in vain for him to pretend to that land, let the dis- appointment he what it would, so long as the Indians laid claim to the same, and would continue upon it; that after the Indians came up last year, and made the complaint, and a reconveyance was generally reported to have been given to the Indians, he went down to Chester and took certificates of all those who were reported to have seen and known of such a writing; which certificates being produced, and read in the House, none of which did amount to any certainty what that writing did contain ; but since the Indiana had an imperfect idea of it, and a strong resolution to hold it, the commissioners used such means as they thought most likely to satisfy them, and continue them in the quiet possession of their claims, and for that end said they had agreed and accommodated the matter with Nathaniel Newlin, as far as was in their power to do at present; and then withdrew.

"Then the House, after some debate, was of opinion that Nathaniel Newlin be sent for, to give some further assurance than what is done by the paper delivered yesterday that he will not molest the said Indians in their elnimos.

"Ordered, That John Wright send a letter that the House require his attendance to-morrow morning, and then the House adjourned till 3 P.M.

"3 P.M. The House met, etc. John Wright reported that he had sent a letter to Nathaniel Newlin, according to the order of the House. Adjourned till to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.

"4th month 2d. The House met, etc. Adjourned till 3 P.M.

"3 P.M. The House met. Nathaniel Newlin not attending ac- cording to the expectation of the House, after some debate, a motion was made and the question put, that if Nathaniel Newlin come not to town this evening he be sent for by the sergeant-at-arms, and that an order be forthwith issued under the Speaker's hand, and the ser- geant he dispatched therewith this evening. Carried in the affirmative. Adjourned till 9 A.M.

"4 mo. 3d, 9 A.M. The Ilouse met. The Sergeant-at-Arms re- ports that Nathaniel Newlin came to town last evening, and will at- tend the House this morning.

"The House being informed that Nathaniel Newlin attended, he was called in, and said that he expected the value, and not the quan- tity only of land, in lieu of that the Indians claimed of his; and that he was to meet the Commissioners of Property this afternoon, and then doubted not but they should settle that affair to the satisfaction of the House, and withdrew, and then the House adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon.

"3 P.M. The House met, etc., Nathaniel Newlin attended, and being called in, delivered on the table a paper subscribed with bia hand, which being read, duth declare and promise that neither he nor his heirs will, by any means, disturb or molest the Iodians in their possessions or claims. Then, after some debate thereon, it was

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 52

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

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