History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 116

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150

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In 1728, Thomas Clayton obtained the grace of the courts, which was extended to him during the year following. In 1730 the license was granted to Wil- liam Weldon, who had rented the premises. Aug. 27, 1734, Thomas Clayton again presented his peti- tion to the court, in which he says, that "having some years ago leased the house where he formerly Dwell at Chichester & kept a house of entertaint there to oue William Weldon, who ever since kept a pub- lick house and the terms of the said leace being near expired, your petitioner Inclined to return their again," but the justices were not so inclined at that session, yet, on Nov. 26, 1734, when Clayton again petitioned for the license, setting forth that "your Petitioner's father having kept a house of entertain- ment for several years in Chichester until his Decease and your Petitioner some time after his said ffather's Decease, until his affairs Called him abroad," etc., had followed the same occupation, the court yielded to his importunity, and annually thereafter his name appears on the list of approved liceuses, until 1756, when Hannah, his widow, kept the house, and re- mained there until 1770. In that year John Flower purchased the property and continued the business until 1787, when license was granted to him for the last time at "The Ship." Caleb Pierce followed the next year, when Sarah Flower, a maiden daughter of John Flower, took charge of the house in 1789. In 1803 she received license from the court of Delaware County, after which I fail to trace the license until 1808, when John Marshall had the house, and re- mained there until 1809, when Jonas Fairlamb fol- lowed him.

Benjamin Collam kept the Ship in 1810, and in 1811, Mary Goodwin was granted license there. In 1813, Thomas Noblet petitioned leave to keep a house of entertainment at the "noted old stand formerly kept by Mr. and Miss Flower, and lately by John Marshall, who has removed to another place in Mar- cus Hook," which was accorded him. The next year the house ceased to be an inn, and being then much dilapidated, it was taken by Rev. John Walker, who taught school therein for several years with success. The ancient hostelry subsequently was used as a store, and was such on the evening of May 16, 1872, when it was totally destroyed by fire. At the date mentioned Charles P. Bunting occupied it, and the accidental overturning of a vessel containing an inflammable

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

liquid, which took fire from a lamp in Mr. Bunting's hands, resulted in a few moments in enveloping the building in flames. Even the records of the school board, in Mr. Bunting's custody, were destroyed, and he narrowly escaped being burned to death. The loss was over twelve thousand dollars. The broken walls of the ancient structure as the fire left them are still to be seen at the southwest corner of Front and Broad Street, Marcus Hook.

On Front Street, " facing the lower pier," in the early part of this century, David Marshall, who had been a lieutenant in Wayne's regiment, kept the tavern known as the "sign of George Washington." In his petition for the year 1799, he states the place " has been a noted stand for the space of forty years. A great number of shipping lying for the space of three months and upwards opposite your petitioner's tavern, and his house is constantly crowded with per- sons from vessels." Over half a century before he filed this petition, John Kerlin, in 1748, had license for many years at this place, and after being kept as an inn by several parties, William Pierce seems to have become the landlord, until it was taken by Mar- shall, who continued to receive the court's approval until 1824, when it in turn ceased to be a public- house,

In 1771, Reece Peters obtained license for a house on Front Street, and in his petition states that it was the house formerly occupied by William Hughes. In 1787, John Taylor was granted license there, after which it ceased to be an inn until 1804, when Joseph Merrihew, in his petition for the old house of Reece Peters, urged the court as an inducement for their bounty that "if granted license, intends to keep ferry boats in order to transport horses, cattle, and heavy articles to New Jersey, as for want of such convey- ance the public very frequently suffer great inconvey- ance; there being no ferry on either side of the Dela- ware from New Castle to Gloucester Point." The court granted his application, but as he did not peti- tion at the next court, he doubtless found that the business was not remunerative. In 1814, Isaac Dut- ton, who had been refused license at the old Blue Ball, obtained the court's favor for this stand, which he dubbed the Fountain Inn, and under that title William Warden kept it in 1816, but the following year changed the name to the Eagle, and John Perrine, who succeeded him in 1818, added to the sign the word "Golden" Eagle. In 1821, Richard Barry followed as the landlord, but the next year he was denied license. In 1828, Margaret Marshall kept the house, and in 1830, James Marshall followed her, and continued as landlord of the Farmers and Me- chanics' Inn until 1841, when John Larkin, Jr., kept it for three years, after which time it disappeared finally from the list of public-houses in Lower Chi- chester.

At the cross-road, below where the Union Hotel stands, in former years was a tavern, the record of

which I cannot trace farther back than 1812, when it was kept by Thomas Noblet, who took with him the name he had formerly used at the Union Hotel, "the United States Arms," and gave it to this house. It subsequently was kept by Fanny Irving, and she was followed by Susan Dutton. Objection being made to the continuance of the license, she removed to Wil- mington, and the house ceased to be a public inn.

The Old Blue Ball Tavern .- Nathaniel Lampleu (Lamplugh), Oct. 10, 1727, stated to the court that he " had been at considerable charge in building a house for public house on King's Road to Newcastle" and asked license for the same, which was allowed, and annually continued to him until Aug. 31, 1731, when Samuel Gray presented his petition to court, alleging that he had " taken to farm ye House with the appur- tenances Commonly called & known by ye name of the Blew Ball Tavern, where a house of Entertain- ment hath been for some considerable time & now is kept." Gray remained at the noted inn, which was about a half-mile above the Delaware State line, until 1736, for on August 31st of that year Thomas Howell states that "having taken the house when Samuel Gray lately Dwell on the Great Road from Chester to New Castle, in the township of Chichester," he de- sired license, and it was granted to him annually thereafter until 1753, when he having died, the tavern was kept by his son until 1765, when Jonathan Pugh was the landlord. He was succeeded in 1765 by Wil- liam McCoy, who seems to have died, for the next year Rachel McCoy had licensed, and in 1767, who gave place to John McCoy, and the latter in 1770 to Archibald Dick, who in his petition states that he suc- ceeds McCoy in business, and that the building and farm are his property. Here Archibald Dick continued yearly to receive license until and including 1776, when, so far as the records show, his last application was in 1776, which was approved. Dick is said by Martin to have lived like a nabob at the Blue Ball, or rather as that author erroneously, I think, located his dwelling as being the large frame house standing at the southwest corner of the Chichester (Hook) Cross- roads, which at that period was an imposing struc- ture. He says that when Dick visited Philadelphia, he drove thither "in a barouch with four splendid horses, with his negro driver and servant," and that he was the owner of fine stock.1

May 4, 1772, Mr. Dick announced in the Pennsyl- vania Packet that he has purchased the " noted horse Dove, imported from England by Dr. Hamilton," and in the same paper, May 17, 1773, he advertises that he has "at Marcus Hook the horse Pennsylvania Farmer, without exception the greatest beauty in Ame- rica, under care of David Miller." During the Revo- lutionary war he was active in behalf of the colonies, and held in 1779 the office of assistant quartermaster- general, and in 1780 was assistant forage-master for

1 History of Chester, p. 395.

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LOWER CHICHESTER TOWNSHIP.

Chester County. He must have resided in Chester in 1779, for in the Pennsylvania Packet of July 1st of that year is published a letter from Archibald Dick, dated "Liberty Hall, Chester, June 28, 1779." He died March 9, 1782. His distinguished son, Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick, who was born near Marcus Hook, March 15, 1762, was one of the consulting physicians called in by Dr. Craik, the family physician, to visit Gen. Washington in his last illness. "When all hope of recovery from less extreme remedies had been abandoned, Dr. Dick proposed an operation which he ever afterwards thought might have proved effectual in saving the general's life, but it did not meet the approval of the family physician." 1 Archi- bald Dick was succeeded in business as host of the Blue Ball by Zebidee Hollingsworth, who remained there until 1783, in which year Dr. Dick sold his un- divided half-interest in his father's real estate, April 29, 1783, to Isaac Dutton, for nine hundred and eighty-five pounds. Thomas B. Dick made partition of the estate, and the Blue Ball was taken by Isaac Dutton, who continued there until his death in 1793, and from 1794 to 1808 the inn was kept by Elizabeth Dutton, his widow. In 1809, Benjamin Collum had the tavern, and also in 1810. The following year, and that of 1812, the court refused to license the Blue Ball. In 1814, Cornelius Pratt stated in his petition that he had purchased the property with the express view of occupying it as a tavern ; that the house and stables were the most commodious for an inn "of any on the road between Chester and the State line," having been constructed and prepared long since for such use ; that since the unfortunate obstruc- tion to the navigation of the Delaware and Chesa- peake, the road aforesaid has been so much used by travelers and wagoners as to have made it difficult sometimes to find convenient and uncrowded accom- modation, "your petitioner, suffering under an op- pressive restraint by the want of a license, and loosing that just and reasonable advantage of applying his property to end most profitable aud beneficial to his family." He seems, however, to have purchased it subject to the condition of obtaining the license. In 1817, William Worden petitioned, but the court re- jected the application, as also in the year 1818, when Susanna Dutton petitioned "to keep a public house at the old Blue Ball Tavern, about five miles below Chester," but was refused. The continued denial of license at last compelled a sale of the property, and John M. Smith, having purchased it in 1821, after considerable pressure being brought to influence the court, succeeded in obtaining the approval of the judges. In 1822, Ashbill Taylor became landlord, and continued there until 1828, when John Bowlen, Jr., succeeded him. In 1830 and 1831 James Mar- shall; 1832, John Bowlen, Jr .; in 1832, William Holston until 1834, when the Blue Ball was a tem-

perance house. In 1835, Priscilla Thompson was the landlady ; in 1837, James Plunket was mine host, and in 1838 he was succeeded by Sarah Bullock. From that date the old Blue Ball inn disappeared from the list of public-houses, even the ancient build- ing itself being demolished. In 1843, John Larkin, Jr., built in close proximity to the site of the noted tavern the large square house which he sold to John Cochran in 1850.

The site of the old Blue Ball subsequently became the property of Thomas W. Woodward, an extensive wholesale tobacco merchant of Philadelphia. On Feb. 19, 1873, while Mr. Woodward was conversing with his family, he suddenly expired, dying in the chair in which he was then seated.

The Union Hotel .- John Flower, who had kept tavern at another location in Lower Chichester front 1729 to 1734, and perhaps before the first date, in 1736, presented his petition, setting forth that " having lived long in this county, and now unable to labour for maintenance of wife and family, hath taken an House lately erected on the main Road from Chichester into the back parts of Chester county, where the same Crosses the Road leading from Phila- delphia to New Castle," and desired to keep a public- house thereat, but the court refused to grant him the license, although in the following year they gave him the privilege. He died in 1738, and that year his widow, Mary, was granted the right to continue the business, and that the court extended its indulgence to her the following year we learn from the remon- strance of residents of Lower Chichester, dated Aug. 29, 1739, against the petition of Elizabeth Bond for hotel license. The latter, on Aug. 30, 1738, the year previous, had presented a petition, in which she in- formed the court that she "is Left a widdo with a Considerable Charge of small Children, and having no way to maintain them but by my hard Labour," asks that she be permitted " to sell Beer and sider." Her application being indorsed by a number of the most substantial citizens, the justices acted favorably on her request. The following year, however, when she presented herself, with the statement that " having three small children to maintain, wishes to sell rum and other liquors, by small measure," a remonstrance was filed by the inhabitants of Lower Chichester, representing that "there are already four public- houses-Thomas Clayton, Mary Flower, William Weldon, and Thomas Howell-in the township," and that no necessity exists for another, whereupon her application was rejected.

In 1741, Humphrey Scarlet, who had married the widow Flower, was licensed at the crossroads until 1746, when he dying also, the widow again succeeded to the business in 1747, and in 1749, she having mar- ried her third husband, John Rain, became the land- lord. Rain was no exception to the rule, and he dying in 1756, Mary again became the landlady. In 1759, Richard Flower, her son by her first husband,

1 Thomas Maxwell Pott'e " History of Carter Family," p. 79.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

had license for the inn. He died in 1763, and his widow, Hannah, continued the business until 1768, when she married John Wall, who seems to have had license for a public-house in the township from 1759 to 1764. The following year, 1769, Wall was suc- ceeded by Joseph Gribhle, and the latter, in 1773, gave place to John Dunlap, who, in his petition, stated that the inn was then known as the "Ship Princess Amelia." In 1774, David Ford followed Dunlap, and in 1776 John Taylor became the land- lord, the title of the tavern having been changed to the King of Prussia. In 1778, Jacob Cobourn fol- lowed as mine host of the inn, after which date I lose record of it until 1791, when Henry Odenheimer had license for the tavern, including 1793. In 1795- 96, John Walker was the host, while in 1798-99, Henry C. Barker was the landlord. He was suc- ceeded, in 1800, by John Selah, at which time the inn was known as " the Sign of the Leopard."

In 1803, Charles Afflick became mine host of the Leopard, and was followed by Henry C. Barker, in 1804. For six years Jacob D. Barker was the landlord, to be succeeded, in 1810, by Edward Sal- liard, and he in turn, in 1811, by Thomas Noblett, who called the house "the United States Coat of Arms," and, in 1813, Jacob D. Barker again returned to the cross-road inn. The petition of Barker, in 1820, states the house is known as "The Union Inn." In 1824, George Hoskins followed Barker, and continued there until 1839, when John Harper, Jr., had the license. In 1841, William Appleby be- came the landlord, and remained there as such until 1850, when he having died, the license was continued to his widow, and she in turn was followed by her son, William Appleby, in 1861. The latter remained as landlord of the ancient hostelry until 1866, when Wil- liam Wilson had license until 1873,-the year of local option. In 1876 the house was again licensed to his widow, Hannah H. Wilson, and she continued an- nually to receive the court's approval until 1884, when the license was withheld from all houses in Lower Chichester.

At this road-side inn the great men of the last gener- ation have stopped, that their horses might be watered and themselves refreshed. William Trainer informs me that he can distinctly remember seeing John Quincy Adams riding along the road to and from Washington, with four horses to his coach, and with out-riders. The sturdy farmers of that day gazed with a kind of awe as " the leaders of the political parties" passed by with their followers without deigning, in many cases, to return the profound bows of the rustic freemen.

The Spread Eagle .- In 1782, William Burns ob- tained license for the tavern facing the upper pier, the name of the house being set forth as the "Tun and Punch Bowl," but in 1791 the name was changed to the Spread Eagle, which title it retains to this day. In 1815, Burns having died, the tavern was kept by

his widow, Hannah, but the following year Henry Houghton was the landlord, who was succeeded, in 1817, by John Marshall, and in 1819, Benjamin Fit- man succeeded the former. Ann Lane kept the tavern in 1820, and John Barton in 1821, who gave place to John Manderson in 1823. Margaret Marshall fol- lowed the former in 1827, and the next year William Mclaughlin, who had purchased the property, kept the tavern there. In 1842, Charles P. Morris was the landlord, and the next year Jesse M. Justice, who was followed by Lydia A. Justice. George C. Healey had the house in 1850, and in 1853, Charles P. Swing. Edward Chandler had license in 1855, and Humphrey P. Gibson in 1856. In 1850, Mary A. Gibson was the landlady of the Spread Eagle, and two years tbere- after William Wilson became the landlord. In 1864, Lewis Wolcott had license granted him, but the same year he transferred it to Robert K. Jacquett, and in 1868, John J. Thurlow secured the court's favor, but he soon afterwards transferred it to Henry Wilkins. After the local option law was repealed William H. Gibson had the hotel until 1878, when John H. Kerlin became the landlord, to give place, in 1880, to Caleb C. Perkins, who is the present host of the ancient public-house, to which license was refused by the . court in 1884.

The population of Lower Chichester was small in 1715, if we form our opinion from the following names returned by the assessors as the male taxables of that township : Philip Roman, Jonah Roman, Robert Roman, John Rawson, Richard Bezer, Philip Pedrick, Anthony Baldwin, William Flowers, Mordecai How- ell, John Royley, Richard Edwards, William Clayton, William Hewes, William Hewes, Jr., John Hopton, Richard Crosby, John Ross ; Freemen, John Flower, Thomas Clayton, and Thomas Howell. That the above list is far from complete is evident. The name of Lamplugh does not appear, and yet we know from the county records, other than the assessors' returns, that the family did reside then in that locality. In- deed, the records of the old borough and township, as with Chester, are sadly deficient, while the traditions are very inaccurate.

In 1799 the following names appear on the assess- ment-roll for the year :

Samuel Amor, Charles Affleck, William Burne, Sr. (ionkeeper), Wil- liam Burne, Jr. (waterman), Joho Burne (cordwainer), Jacob Burna, Henry C. Baker (innkeeper), Nathaniel Browo, Curtie Clayton, Joseph Clayton (pumpmaker), Richard Cockebott (carpenter), William Connell (shop-keeper), William Craneon (shipwright), Benjamin Cloud, Thonias Connarroe, Elizabeth Dutton (innkeeper), Zachariah Derrick (wheel- wright), William Fordeon, John Harding (tanner), William Howell (cordwaiver), David Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Melchior Looen (shop- keeper), David Marshall (shop-keeper and tavero-keeper), Joseph Mar- eball (shop-keeper), John Marshall (ionkeeper), Hester Mitchell, Joseph Merrihew, Hannah Moore, George Martin (tailor), Nicholas Newlin (physician), Samnel Rice (justice of the peace), John Prince, Sarah Per- kins, Richard Riley (judge), Joel Scott (pilot), Caleb Sayers (physician), Samuel Trimble (shipwright), Joseph Walker, Thomas Wallace (tailor), Thomas Wilson, Thomas Biggert (weaver), Nehemiah Broomall, Joseph Cobonrn, Jr. (cordwainer), George Derrick (wheelwright), John Ellis, Thomas Eanix (carpenter), Joho Goodwin (wheelwright), William Max-

RESIDENCE OF J. N. TRAINER, OFIAWARE CO . DA.

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LOWER CHICHESTER TOWNSHIP.

well (weever), James Marshall (weaver), John Richards (millwright), Heber Thomas (joiner), James Thomas, James Burns (carpenter), Benjamin Talley (cordwainer), Ellie Wright (carpeuter), Thomas York (merchant).

It will be noticed that the above list of taxables presents almost without exception the names of Eng- lish settlers, so rapidly did the latter race supplant their Swedish predecessors.

The time when the old market-house, removed in 1870, which stood in Broad Street, was erected in Marcus Hook I have been unable to ascertain, but as it was a counterpart of the similar building which stood in Market Square, Chester, I do not believe it antedates the middle of the last century, that in Ches- ter having been erected subsequent to 1744. I learn that about 1838 a town hall, or large room, was built on the top of the market-house, running the entire length of the building, and here public meetings, singing-schools, and the like were held. Nothing seems now to be known regarding the mill which stood on Front Street, almost at the extreme south- westerly limit of the borough, as shown in a plan of the town of Chichester, said to have been made by Isaac Taylor, the surveyor of Chester County, about 1701, which date I much question, since the plan shows a road in early times, called the road to Chester, ex- tending from New Street, obliquely, to the King's Highway, a short distance west of the bridge over Chichester Creek, and we know that short road was not laid out until 1704.

King's Highway and Chichester Creek Bridge. -The present Southern post-road was not laid out until June, 1704, as appears from the following report :

" By virtue of a law made at New Castle the 27th day of the 9th mo., 1700, Confirmed at Philadelphia the 5th day of the 10 mo., 1701, ordering and appointing the Justices of the County Court for this county to lay out a road from the King's Road that leads to New Castle and Maryland neer as may he to Ralph Fishboro the intended place for a bridge over Chester Creek. We the present Justicee did eccordingly this day view and lay out the said road hut in regard some of the inhabitants of the township of Chichester did declare that they would never cut nor clear the same. We order and appoint the inhabitants of the township of Chester with such othere ae are willing to assist them et their owa proper charge for the more effectual anewering the euid law and speedy accommodation of all travellers to cut and clear the road as we have now laid it out & make return to us of their eo doing the next Court of Quarter Sessions to be held at Chester, aforeseid. Given under our hande the 10th day of June in the year 1704.

" CALEB PUSEY,

"JONATHAN HAYES,

" JOHN GUEST,

" JASPER YEATES, " Justices.

" We the inhabitants of the Township of Chester in pursuance to the within order of Court Do certify to the Court thet according as the Jue- ticee was pleased to make the within mentioned road we have et our own charge cut and cleared the same requesting it may be recorded and confirmed according to law. Witnees our hande.

" Edward Danger.

Jamee Townee.

George Simson. Joseph Edge.

Robert Barber.

James Sandiland.

Charles Whitaker. John Hoskins.

Paul Sanders.

John Wade.

Samuel Tomlinson. William Picklee.

" Allowed in open court the 29 day of August, 1704, and ordered to he Entered on Record."

A bridge over Chichester Creek on this road was erected prior to 1708, for on Nov. 24, 1708, the jus- tices, commissioners, and assessors of Chester County, in open court, entered into an agreement for building or repairing the bridge at Chester Creek, and the record states,-

"It is further agreed that the said James Hendrickson shall build a bridge over Marcus Hook Creek in the Queen'e Road, where the old bridge now ie, and erect it ten feet broad and so long ae is sufficient and necessary for the same to extend, and to build it all of white oak tim- ber completely finished with and the said bridge to be finished at or before the 1st day of April next, in consideration the said James shall be paid £14.

"Further ordered that the causeway at the end of the bridge shall be repaired and made a sufficient road and it is also ordered that Philip Roman shall be Supervisor of the same to agree with workmao and see it completely finished."

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 116

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150