History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 81

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

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" Now know you that in compliance with the recommendation & re- quest contained in the afsaid address from the General Assembly, and by virtue of the authority of came in such case given in and by the Con- stitution of this Commonwealth, I do hereby revoke and annul the afsaid Commission of Justice of the peace, & all and every the powers rights & duties incident thereto. Given under my haad Aud the Great seal of the State at Harrisburg, the thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixteen and of the Commonwealth the fortieth.

" By the Governor.

" Del. Co.

"Penn. SS. Before me, Jno. Caldwell, Esq., one of the Justices of the Peace in & for Del. Co., afsd, personally appeared Daniel Thomson, Esq., High Sheriff of said County, & on his solemn affirmation by me duly administered did declare & say that on the 6th inst. he delivered to the wife of Joseph Brinton, at the said Joseph's dwelling-house in said Cennty, a supersedeas, signed by his Excellency, Simon Sayder Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania & iesned under the great seal of the state, at Harrisburg, the thirtieth day of January, 1816, removing the said Joseph Brinton from the office of Jus- tice of the Peace for the second district in the Coty of Del., afed. And that on the same day and immediately after he, this affirmant, left the suid dwelling he met the sd Joseph Brinton and informed him of hie having left the said Supersedeas at his house,

" Aff. & Sub. Feb. 8, 1816,

" DAN'L THOMSON, Sheriff."

John Mattson

Dec. 13, 1823

Jospeh Howen.

Nov.

10, 1824

Joseph Trimble .. .April

21, 1827

Robert Frame ... .Jan.

15, 1829

Robert Hall .. Feb.

8,1831

William Mendeshall.

Dec.

6,1836

Robert Frame.

.April 14, 1840

John D. Gilpin

April 14, 1840

Robert Frame .. April 15, 1845

Robert Frame. .April

9,1850

Robert Frame.

April 10, 1855

Robert Frame.

.. April 10, 1860

Robert Frame

.April 28, 1865

Darwin Painter.

April 28, 1865

Joseph C. Turner.

.April 10, 1869

Franklin Worrelow

April 15, 1873

Miles Frame ..

March 15, 1876

P. Miles Frame.

April 9, 1881

Schools .- The first school-house in Birmingham township, in this county, was located on a lot con- veyed by John Burgess, April 30, 1806, to Jesse Green, Peter Hatton, James Smith, John Chandler, and John Hecklen, in trust, for " the use of a school, but for no other purpose whatever." In the deed Bur- gess reserved the timber growing on this lot. A stone school-house was built there by the contributions of the neighboring residents. It was located in the southeastern part of the township, and for many years was known as Mount Racket, the name being derived from the noise made by the children in play. Brinton Dick was the teacher here at one time. In 1825, Eli Harvey gave the use of an old bipped-roof house, which had been built before the Revolution by Chads, it is said, for school purposes, and, in addition to the house, furnished the firewood gratis. This building was used as a school until the public school system was adopted. About 1826, Joseph Russell lived at the Baptist Church, and taught school in a shed adjoining his dwelling. He also taught in the hipped-roof house already mentioned and in Chads' spring-house, then owned by Haddock, at the village, which was used before and after the school law went into effect. Milcena Gilpin taught a subscription school in the dwelling-house that stands near the old Butcher Mill, the property being then owned by her father, Isaac G. Gilpin. This was about the years 1828 to 1830. Near Dilworthtown, on Thomas Wil- liamson's property, was a frame school-house, the lot being an acre of ground, which Williamson sold for one dollar. This school was discontinued in 1841, when the directors purchased a tract containing sixty- one square perches from John D. Gilpin, and the old school building and lot thereon reverted to Gideon Williamson. The school law having been accepted, the following named school-houses were built by the school directors.

In addition to these places where "the young ideas were taught to shoot," there was an octagon building erected near Squire Robert Frame, known as the Frame School-House; another, near the prop- erty of Robert Bullock, and therefore known as the Bullock School. After the public-school system was adopted these old buildings ceased to be used or be- came the property of the township. On May 23, 1837, forty-four square perches of land was purchased from John Heyburn, on the highway leading from

" before me. JNO. CALDWELL."

" N. B. BOILEAU, Secy.

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BIRMINGHAM TOWNSHIP.

the Wilmington road to Smith's bridge. On Nov. 16, 1838, Robert Bullock sold to the directors eighty-one square perches, almost in the centre of the township. On Jan. 18, 1841, John D. Gilpin conveyed to the officials the school southwest of Dilworthtown. Isaac Smith, of New Castle County, Del., conveyed to the township, Oct. 11, 1849, fifty-six square perches of land, near Smith's bridge, at Beaver Mills, on which was subsequently erected a school-house. The latter building rendered the old Burgess School unneces- sary, and on Oct. 31, 1861, Chalkley Harvey, who was instructed by the court to sell that property, conveyed it to Samuel Painter for ninety-seven dol- lars, which sale was duly confirmed. The schools of Birmingham at this time are well regulated, and at- tended by a large number of scholars.

The following is a list of the school directors of Birmingham township:

1840, Zibs Dilworth, David Martin ; 1842, John D. Gilpin, Ziba Darling- too ; 1843, Emma Garrett, Milton Stamp; 1844, Augustus Coroog, George Hannum ; 1845, William Shields, Nathaniel Speakman; 1846, John D. Gilpio, John Heyburn ; 1847, George Hannum, John F. Engle ; 1848, Malachi Barton, Aaron James ; 1849, Lewie Smith, Thomas Brintoo ; 1850, Nathaniel Speakman, William H. Wilson; 1851, Daniel Farra, Ziba Dilworth ; 1852, Clarkann Way, Hiram Kipe; 1853, Gideon Williamson, Elwood Michener ; 1854, William H. Willson, William W. Twaddell; 1855, Jacob G. Kitte, Hiram Kipe, Clarkson Way ; 1856, Samuel Gamble, Gideon Williamson; 1857, Clarkson Way, Panl Jeffries ; 1858, John Esrey, Emmor Garrett; 1859, John D. Gilpin, Gideon Williamson ; 1860, John B. Heyburn, Lewis H. Bullock ; 1861, William W. Twaddell, David W. Eyre ; 1862, Joha B. Barney, William Russell; 1863, Robert Frame, Lewis Smith; 1864, Albin Baldwin, Sharpless Green ; 1865, Samuel Speak- man, Edmund R. Gilpen ; 1866, J. B. Heyburn, Lewis Smith ; 1867, Franklin Whirlnw, Charles B. Sprogall; 1868, Gideon Williamson, Lewis H. Bullock ; 1869, Fred. Brintoo, P. M. Frams; 1870, Emmor C. Jeffries, John Earey; 1871, Crosby Fairlamb, Jacob G. Kitts; 1872, Amoa W. House, Robert G. Smith ; 1873, T. Speak man, J. C. Toroer; 1874, Cresley Fairlamb, Alban Harvey ; 1875, Lewie H. Bullock, Caleb R. Watkins; 1876, J. C. Turner, Towosend Speakman; 1877, R. C. Fairlamb, Albso Harvey ; 1878, J. E. Heyburn, John Arment ; 1879, G. Rawlings, G. E. Heyburn ; 1880, Alban Harvey, R. C. Fair- lamb; 1881, P. Miles Frame, John Arment; 1882, George E. Hey- burn, Lewis Bullock ; 1883, Alban Harvey, R. C. Fairlamb; 1884, Dr. H. Hayward, P. Miles Frame.

Gen. Lafayette's Visit in 1825 .- The circum- stances respecting the visit of Gen. Lafayette and his son, George Washington Lafayette, to the battle-field at Brandywine on Tuesday, July 26, 1825, and his reception there by the committees of Delaware and Chester Counties, are thus admirably related in a recent volume : 1

" Early in the morning the general was waited upon at Messrs. Dupont, with whom he had lodged, by John W. Cuningham, Esq., one of the committee of arrangements, attended by Samson Babb and Wil- liam Williamson, two of the marshals of the day, by whom he was conducted to Chad's Ford. The gen- eral was accompanied by his son, M. La Vasseur, his secretary, M. Baudouis, a distinguished lawyer from Paris, the Messrs. Dupont, Messrs. Louis McLane and N. G. Williamson, committee from Wilmington, and Messrs. Joseph S. Lewis, Tilghman, and Biddle, com-

mittee of Councils from Philadelphia. They reached Chad's Ford about ten o'clock A.M., where the veteran was received by the committees of Chester and Dela- ware Counties, headed by their respective chairmen, Col. Joseph Mcclellan and Capt. William Anderson. At this place, also, Maj .- Gen. Isaac D. Barnard and his aids, Col. Leiper and Daniel Buckwalter, Esq., attended by Brig .- Gens. Evans and Stanley, and their aids, in full uniform, also the Chester County troop of cavalry, commanded by Lieut. Jones, and the Dela- ware County troop of cavalry, commanded by Capt. Vanleer, the whole under the command of Maj. Wilson, were in waiting to escort the general over the battle-ground. Jesse Sharp, Esq., chief marshal, with his aids, Thomas H. B. Jacobs and Jesse Conard, Esq., and assistant marshals Samson Babb, William Williamson, Joshua Hunt, Thomas H. Brinton, Joshua McMinn, Isaac Trimble, David Potts, Jr., Richard Walker, Jonathan Jones, Joseph P. McClellan, also attended to regulate the movements of the great con- course of citizens, in carriages, on horseback, and on foot, who had gathered at this point, eager to see and welcome the nation's guest.

"The general received the greetings of the people, and viewed the interesting heights around Chad's Ford, aud the field where the armies encamped the night before the battle, and pointed out the positions of Gen. Wayne and Maxwell's brigades. He in- quired if any one could point out where the bridge of rails was across the Brandywine, but no one was able to give the information. He then resumed his seat in his barouche, with his companion-in-arms, Col. McClellan, by his side, and the procession, which had been formed, advanced towards Painter's Cross- roads. About a mile from the ford the general stopped and alighted from his carriage to see Gideon Gilpin, a very aged man, confined to bed, at whose house he had made his headquarters before the battle. The sick man was gratified at the sight of the vet- eran, who pressed his hand cordially and wished him every blessing. The procession then proceeded by way of Painter's Cross-roads to Dilworthtown. After a brief halt it turned to the left, and proceeded to the main battle-ground. When they came in sight of the Birmingham meeting-house, Lafayette arose in his carriage and addressed himself in French to his son and companions, spoke animatedly for some time, pointing out to them the different positions of the armies. All the surroundings were familiar to him. He pointed out the spot, in a field of Jacob Bennett, a short distance east and south of where the road from the meeting-house comes in at right angles with the east-and-west road, as the place where he was wounded. He then proceeded to the meeting-house, where another concourse had assembled to greet him. After viewing the ground here he alighted, with his companions and friends, at the mansion of Samuel Jones, a short distance north of the meeting-house, to which he had been previously invited, and partook

1 Futhey and Cope's " History of Chester County," pp. 130, 131. 21

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of refreshments provided for the occasion. A large collection of balls and other relics of the memorable conflict, which had been found at different periods on the battle-ground, were exhibited, and excited much interest."

The Murder of Martin Hollis by Thomas Crop- per .- The peaceful, law-abiding people of Birming- ham, early in the year 1841, were shocked by the report that a murder had been committed in the neighborhood of Dilworthtown, and the mere fact that the parties to the tragedy were in humble sta- tion did not lessen the public horror at the act, for both the slayer and the slain were known to many of the residents of the township. The particulars of the murder and the vindication of the law, as I have learned them, are as follows :

Thomas Cropper, then in the employment of John Leonard, a miller in Pennsbury township, Chester Co., was a tall, active colored man of prepossessing appearance, who had received sufficient education to enable him to read and write with ease. In Bir- mingham township, on the property of Ziba Darling- ton near Dilworthtown, lived Martin Hollis, a colored man, and his wife Elizabeth, the latter a half-sister to Cropper, to whom she was much attached. Hollis and his wife did not dwell happily together, and they separated, a rumor prevailing that the affection exist- ing between Elizabeth and her half-brother exceeded the bounds of propriety. The husband's mind seemed to have been firmly settled in that opinion ; hence he was bitter in his denunciations of Cropper. On Sat- urday, Feh. 28, 1841, about midday, the two men met, when Cropper asked Hollis how Elizabeth was. The latter angrily exclaimed, " How dare you ask me anything about Elizabeth ? I'll let you know better." Cropper replied, "I think I have a right to ask for her." Still angry, Hollis passionately retorted, "I'll show you something pretty quick," dismounting from his horse as he spoke, and catching up a large stone from the highway in each hand, continued, " I'll split your brains out." Cropper had also armed himself with a heavy stone, which he held in his right hand, while Perry Hall, the father of Elizabeth Hollis and the putative father of Cropper, and John Leonard, who were present, attempted to prevent Hollis from getting within striking distance of Cropper. At length Hollis, becoming calmer, remounted his horse and rode away. In less than an hour after this chance meeting Crop- per went to the house of Perry Hall, where his sister lived, and spoke of the conduct of Hollis at the mill, quietly remarking, " He was trying to show himself." Dressing in his best suit, Cropper, taking his gun, left the house, stating he was going to a tailor's to be measured for a coat.

About a half-hour thereafter he and Martin Hollis were together at the house of William Wright, a col- ored man, where Elizabeth Hollis was then living, keeping house in rooms in the second story. The hus- band called his wife to come down, and then asked her

what articles she had there owned by Thomas Crop- per. She said nothing but an umbrella which laid on the tahle, and the husband told her to get it, which she did, and together the husband and wife went out at the door, shutting it behind them, to where Crop- per stood, his gun in his hand. "Thomas, take this umbrella," said Hollis, " go away, and never speak to her again, not even if you meet her on the road." Cropper replied, " Not after this time." The husband thereupon said something further, when the gun was discharged, and Hollis fell backwards against the house, dead, the hall having entered the back of his neck and passed out at his waist. Mary Wright, who was in the house at the time, ran to the door just as Elizabeth Hollis opened it and hurriedly ran in. Mrs. Wright slammed the door to and locked it. Cropper, rattling the latch and knocking several times against the door, finally called out, " Elizabeth, come down here, for you are the occasion of this, and I'll give you the next load !" The murderer moved a few steps from the house, stopped, and gazed intently, as if desirous of executing his threat. Then he walked from the scene of the tragedy in the direction of Wilmington. At a late hour that night Cropper returned to the house of Perry Hall, carrying with him the gun he had taken from there at noonday. He was scraping his feet at the door when Mrs. Hall opened it, and he said, pleasantly, "Well, mother." The latter, however, forbade him to enter the house, stating that he was a murderer, and the constable, accompanied by a number of men, had been there seeking him. Cropper thereupon asked if Hollis was dead. Receiving an answer in the affirm- ative, he expressed regrets for the act, and hastily walked away.

The authorities made every effort to discover the whereabouts of the culprit, who it was believed would endeavor to get to New York. On Friday, March 5th, the step-father of Cropper, who was em- ployed at the farm of Carver Worthington, near West Chester, was observed to help himself largely to provisions at meals, and after supper he was noticed taking some of the remaining food to the barn. This, with the fact that the old man had appeared to be unusually depressed, aroused suspicion that Cropper was lurking near by. Information was sent to West Chester, and Constable McCartney was instructed to search the barn, where it was believed the murderer was concealed. The officer and several other persons searched the building, and in the mow they gently thrust pitchforks into places where the fugitive might be hidden, and into the surface of the hay. At length one of the party found that his fork came in contact with an unyielding body, and thrusting against it, a voice said, "Don't stick me." The hay being thrown aside, Cropper was discovered. When ar- rested he denied that he was Cropper, stating that his name was John Carter; that he had only that evening come from New York, and was a total

323

BIRMINGHAM TOWNSHIP.

stranger in this section of the country. Despite his protests he was taken before Squire Flemming, who committed him to await the action of the authorities of Delaware County. It chanced that Mr. Irwin, the then superintendent of the Chester County jail, and who had formerly been sheriff, had frequently seen, and recognized the prisoner as Thomas Cropper. At a subsequent hearing the accused acknowledged that he was Cropper, but declared that he had shot Hollis purely in self-defense. His identity having been established, Thursday, March 29, 1841, Hon. John Larkin, then sheriff of Delaware County, brought Cropper to the jail at Chester, as well as Elizabeth Hollis, the latter being detained as a witness.

On Friday, May 28, 1841, the case was called for trial, Judge Thomas S. Bell presiding, the common- wealth being represented by Deputy Attorney-Gen- eral P. Frazer Smith, and the prisoner by Hon. Edward Darlington and Townsend Haines, Esq. The evi- dence was not voluminous ; the jury retired at seven o'clock in the evening, and at half-past ten returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. On Monday, June 1st, the sentence of the law was pro- nounced, the court-room being crowded, even the windows blocked up with men who could not gain ad- mission to the room.

After his sentence the prisoner seemed almost un- conscious of his uohappy situation, but, with appar- ent indifference to the manner of his death, made full preparations for his funeral, ordering his coffin and winding-sheet, and requested that as soon as they were made they should be deposited in his cell until required for use. His request was complied with, but when they were brought to the jail he shuddered at the sight, and desired that they might be taken away. As the day fixed for his execution drew near, he made several attempts to escape, and in doing so filed some of the bars in the chimney in his cell apart. His hair was crisp and abundant, and he had concealed a watch-spring file therein so adroitly that for a long time the authorities could not discover the tool with which he accomplished his work. The jail at Chester, old and decayed, was so insecure that to insure his detention it became absolutely necessary to place him in heavy irons, which were chained to the floor.

The Governor had ordered the sentence to be exe- cuted on Friday, Aug. 6, 1841, and as Cropper was much concerned as to the final disposition of his body after death, being extremely fearful that it would be given to the physicians for dissection, he requested that he should be hung not later than eleven o'clock, in order to allow time to carry the remains to the African burial-ground, at Kennett Square.

About ten o'clock on the day designated his mana- cles were removed and Cropper attired in a white robe; the procession was formed, and moved to the place of execution in the jail-yard. The condemned man ascended the scaffold with a firm step, and lis- tened attentively while the death warrant was read.

He was attended by two colored ministers, who prayed and sang with him. At the conclusion of the reli- gious exercises, Cropper desired a few minutes longer for prayer, followed by a short speech to those present. His feet were then bound with heavy cords, and when the trap was sprung the cords biuding his feet be- came loosened, and a moment after his arms also broke from their fastenings, and he threw up his hands and grasped at the rope above his head. Jere- miah Stevenson, one of Sheriff Larkin's deputies on that occasion, pinioned Cropper's arms again,-a mer- ciful act, for the half-hanged man clutched wildly with his hands at the rope by which he was sus- pended, and his suffering was rendered more intense because of that effort.

After the body had hung half an hour it was cut down, the physicians having pronounced life extinct, and the corpse was placed in the coffin he had ordered. Being a Mason, he requested that the insignia of the order should be placed thereon, which was done. The executed man ordered that the expenses of his funeral should be paid out of the means he had accumulated, and the remainder of his estate he bequeathed to Elizabeth Hollis.

Hotels in Birmingham .- Respecting the houses of entertainment in Birmingham, under license from the courts of Chester County, it is very difficult to designate those which at the present would be in their locations confined to that part of the township now included within the county of Delaware.

The first record of license there is to John Wyth, Birmingham (generally), was allowed June 20, 1715, and is confined to a brief note of the fact that it was so granted.

The first petition of record was presented to the court Aug. 28, 1722, by John Bentley, wherein he represents that "Having Taken a house In the Town- ship of Birmingham And Intending, with your Hon- ours permission to sett up an Ordinary for the Vend- ing of Beer and Syder for the Succor and Support of Travailers, his house being By the Great Road Lead- ing to Nottingham and Maryland, And he being like- wise very much Induced thereunto by severall of the neighbors Importunity," etc. He was recommended to the favorable consideration of the justices by Wil- liam Brinton, Joseph Brinton, Samuel Painter, Joseph Gilpin, John Chalfant, James Houstowne, Providence Scot, Pattrick Scott, John Bickingham, and Daniel Moore. What was done with his petition that year does not appear, but in 1723 he had license allowed him, as also in the year following. I conclude that it was approved, especially since in his application, dated Aug. 31, 1725, he declares that he has "kept a pub- lick House in the township of Birmingham for some years past." He seems to have lost his privilege, however, for Nov. 30, 1731, he states in his petition " that for some years past he had license to keep a house of entertainment in Birmingham, but through some misrepresentations had been obstructed in a con-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tinuance." His application was in that year in- dorsed by Thomas Chandler and thirty-eight other persons, and was approved.

Aug. 26, 1727, James Townsends, a resident of Birm- ingham, narrates in his petition his reasons for de- siring the court's kindly consideration in the following words : " Whereas your petitioner Lyeth under very great hard ships Liveing on ye great Road Side and very much oppressed by Travailers wich is too much for me to Bear, therefore your peticioner prays you will Grant me a License to keep a house of Enter- tainment, and your peticioner will in Bounden duty ever pray." His application seems to have melted the stern hearts of the justices, for the license was al- lowed, and seems to have been continued until 1731, for on the clerk's list of that year his name appeared among those whose petitions had been approved.

August court, 1732, Thomas Bullock's petition shows that " having obtained license at last November to sell beer & Sider now wishes to have full licence," which was awarded him. His name appears on the clerk's list of approved licenses for the year 1734, after which it is not found.

At the court held Feb. 26 (last Tuesday in Feb- ruary), 1733/4, Joseph Webb, living on the road from Concord to "Forks of Brandywine," applied for license, which was refused to him, while on Aug. 27, 1734, Robert Hannum states in his petition that he " hath taken to ffarm ye Plantation and apperti- nances in the township of Birmingham where Mary Stevens lately dwelt known by the name of the hoop and Tun Tavern." His application is recommended by Joseph Gilpin, Samuel Painter, William and Ed- ward Brinton, Calvin Cooper, John Chads, and nine- teen others. He was successful, and license was granted him, continuing from year to year until 1738, after which date his name is not on the clerk's list of licenses approved.

John Chads, Sept. 1, 1736, calls the attention of the conrt to the fact that he " has undertaken to keep a ferry and wishes to keep a public Inn on road from Phila. to Nottingham, in Birmingham." To which petition the court accedes and granted license to Chads. From year to year he is regularly recom- mended to the Governor for license. But something must have gone astray in his manner of conducting the business of innkeeping, as will be seen by his pe- tition, Aug. 31, 1742, which sets forth that "by the Favour of the Honorable Court had for this Consid- erable time past A Recommendation granted him an- nually in order to obtain Lycense to keep a publick House or House of Entertainment in Birmingham, aforesaid : And your Petitioner not being Conscious he hath Forfeited his right to the said Favour by any abuse thereof." This petition is indorsed "not allowed."

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 81

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