USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the territory included within its limits to the present time > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
Three particular meetings were united to form what became,
1 A Committee was appointed in 1683, by the Chester Monthly Meeting, to invite the Friends of Darby Meeting to unite with them in their Monthly Meeting. This they appear to have done so far as to contribute to the funds of that meeting on one oeea- sion. Some of the earliest Haverford Friends, for a time, were attached to the Phila- delphia Monthly Meeting.
149
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1684.7
and was for a long time known, as " Haverford Monthly Meet- ing." These meetings at first were "The Schuylkill," Merion and Haverford; the monthly meeting being held alternately in private houses at each of those places. The first monthly meeting was held at the house of Thomas Duckett, which was located on the west bank of the Schuylkill, a short distance above the present site of Market street bridge.
Suitable burial-places for the dead, unfortunately, were among the earliest necessities of the first English settlers. Ac- cordingly, it is recorded, that "att our monethly meeting held at John Beevan's house at Haverford, the 9th of the 8th moneth [October] 1684, it was ordered as followeth :
" This meeting having taken to their consideration the ne- cessity of a burying-place, it was ordered that Thomas Ducket and Barnaby Willcocks for Schoolkill, Hugh Robert and Robert David for Merion, George Painter and William Howell for Haverford, should view and set out convenient places for that purpose, respectively, for the meeting they belong to as afore- said."
At the next monthly meeting, reports were made that burying- places had been laid out respectively for Haverford and Merion. The sites thus selected, with some enlargements, constitute the burial-grounds attached to these meetings at the present day. There was more difficulty in having the ground laid out at the Schuylkill; but it was eventually effected, and its site is still marked by a few dilapidated grave-stones,1 that may be seen on either side of the street that passes under the Pennsylvania Railroad, west of the Schuylkill, which was laid out through it.
This monthly meeting was attached to the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting at its commencement, and continues so attached to this day.
Chichester Meeting was established as a monthly meeting in 1684, the first monthly meeting being held at Chichester on the 17th of the 1st month, (March). At their fourth meeting, a liberal subscription was made to enable a poor man to build a house.
Christopher .Taylor having removed from Bucks County to the island of Tinicum, his age, ability, and learning, at once secured him the position of Presiding Justice of the Chester Court. The names of William Wood and John Harding also appear for the first time as Justices at the Court held in July, 1684.
This Court, "considering the necessity of defraying the
1 The Schuylkill Meeting was not continued very long; the burial-place in time became a public grave-yard, and passed out of the hands of the Society of Friends.
150
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1684.
charge of the Court-house1 and prison att Chester by a public levie, it was ordered that, according to law in that case pro- vided, every man possessed of lands should pay towards the levie after the rate of one shilling for every 100 acres within this county ; and every freeman should pay sixpence, being above sixteen years of age and not exceeding sixty ; and every artificer not exceeding the aforesaid age of sixty, and above sixteen, 1s. 6d., by the pole, and every servant three- pence; and also non-residents, having land in this County, and not occupying the same, shall pay for every hundred acres after the rate of one shilling sixpence per hundred."
This is the earliest notice of a Court-house contained in the Chester Court records. In what building did the Court sit, from the arrival of Governor Markham up to this time? Is it not most reasonable to conclude that it was in the " House of De- fence," or " Country House," spoken of in the Upland Court Records ? This building had been finished and fitted up, " fitt for the Court to sitt in," only about seven years previously, and although the Records of the Court are silent in respect to the building in which its sittings were held, the minutes of the monthly meeting show conclusively, that up to September, 1682, they had been held in an edifice that was well known as "the Court House at Chester." This being the case, is not the con- clusion almost irresistible, that up to the period of the erection " of the Court house and prison," for defraying the expenses of which a levy is now being made, that the Court, as well as the " First day" meetings of the Friends, was held in the House of Defence ? And in the absence of every other kind of evidence but tradition, is it not most reasonable to conclude that the first Assembly also sat in the same building ? Additional facts will be presented in their regular order that will corroborate these conclusions.2
The appointments by the Courts of collectors "to gather the assessments" made for the erection of a Court-house and prison, and other appointments made during this year, give a good idea of the progress that had then been made in the settle- ment of the county, and show the municipal districts into
1 The location of the " House of Defence," as correctly made out by Edward Arm- strong, Esq., has been given. The evidence is conclusive that the Court-honse now about being erected, was located on the same side of Filbert street, and a little north of the House of Defence.
2 It may also be reasonably concluded, that Governor Markham and his Council held their sittings in the " House of Defence." The carliest mention of any building in Upland under the appellation of a Court-house, that has come under the notice of the Author, is contained in the Records of New Castle County. It will be found in an order from Governor Andros, in respect to taking up lands and quit-rents, dated October 25th, 1678, and is in these words :
"This order to bee forthwith published and sett up at the Court houses of Upland, New Castle and Whoorkill in the Delaware."-Liber A. 320.
151
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1684.]
which it had been divided. As collectors, Thomas Worth and Joshua Fearne were appointed for Darby ; Mons. Stacket and William Cobb, "for Amoseland & Calcoone Hook ;" Thomas Usher and Jeremy Collet for Chichester ; Richard Crosby and Andrew Nelson for Providence ; James Kenerly and Randolph Vernon for "Ridley and in the woods ;" Richard Crosby and Edward Carter for Chester; Jonathan Hayes and James Stan- field for Marple ; John Minall and Thomas King for Concord and Bethel.
For Supervisors of the Highways, the following appointments were made; "from Naaman's Creeke to Marcus Hook, alias Chichester, Walter Martin; from Chichester Creeke to Chester Creeke, John Childe ; from Chester Creeke to Croome Creeke, Robert Taylor." John Hendrickson was appointed for Amose- land and Calcoone Hook, Michael Blunston for Darby, and for Marple, Thomas Person [Pearson ].
So numerous had the live stock become that were allowed to range the woods promiscuously, that it became necessary for each farmer to have a particular mark and brand, and the law required that a record of these marks should be made. A goodly number of such records is found in the minutes of the Court, and is continued through many years. The following are given as specimens of such records made this year :
" George Maris' Cattle marks, a slit in the tip of the near year :- his Brand Mark G. M."
" The ear mark of John Blunston of Darby, a crop in the near ear and a hole in the far ear :- his Brand Mark I. B."
At the Court held in December, 1684, "Joseph Cookson was presented by Robert Wade for taking a wife contrary to the good and wholesome laws of this Province." He was ordered " to finde security in tenne pounds," but appears not to have been troubled any further about the matter.
The first report of "the Peace Makers" was made to the Court this year, though from its date, the case had been acted on nearly a year previously. It differs but little from an award by arbitrators, except that one half of the amount awarded was to be paid "in good and merchantable wheate and rye att the common market price on this river."
The acknowledgment of deeds, as has been mentioned, was now made in open Court, and the practice was continued until the number acknowledged at a single Court became a large item of business. The following is a specimen from the minutes of the September Court of this year :
" Arnoldus Delagrange past over a deed in open Court unto Christopher Taylor for the Island commonly known by the
152
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1684.
name of Mattinnaconk, bearing date the 2d day of the 12th month, 1684."
At the same time,
"Christopher Taylor, President, did, in open Court, deliver over a penal bond of performance for four hundred pounds at or upon the 1st day of November, 1685."
Persons charged with the higher grades of crime were not tried by the County Courts. The imaginary crime of Witch- craft was in those days placed among the most heinous; and hence it was that the celebrated Pennsylvania witch trial took place before Governor Penn and his Council, sitting as a Supe- rior Court at Philadelphia. The parties, who, in that case, were the victims of this most stupid of all superstitions, resided near the mouth of Crum Creek, were in good circumstances, and for aught that is known to the contrary, were quite as respectable as their accusers.
The following is the record of the trial copied from the pub- lished minutes of the Council, "held at Philadelphia ye 27th of the 12th month, 1683." [February, 1684. ]1
"Margaret Matson's Indictmt was read, and she pleads not Guilty, and will be tryed by the Country."
"Lasse Cock attested Interpriter between the Propor and the Prisoner at the Barr."
"The Petty Jury Impanneled; their names are as followed :- Jno. Hasting, foreman, Albertus Hendrickson, Robt. Piles, Robt. Wade, Nath. Evans, Edwd. Carter, Wm. Hewes, Jer : Collet, Jno. Kinsman, Jno. Gibbons, Walter Martin, Edwd. Bezar."2
" Henry Drystreet, attested, saith he was tould 20 years ago, that the Prisoner at the Barr was a Witch, and that several cows were bewitcht by her; also that James Saunderling's mother tould him that she bewitcht her cow, but afterwards said it was a mistake, and that her cow should doe well againe, for it was not her cow but another Persons that should dye."
" Charles Ashcom, attested, saith that Anthony's Wife being asked why she sould her cattle; was because her mother had Bewitcht them, having taken the Witchcraft of Hendrick's Cattle, and put it on their oxen ; she myght keep but noe other Cattle, and also that one night the Daughter of ye Prisoner called him up hastely, and when he came she sayed there was a great Light but just before, and an old woman with a knife in her hand at ye Bedd's feet, and therefore she cryed out and desired Jno. Symcock to take away his Calves, or Else she would send them to Hell."
1 Col. Rec. i. 93-95.
2 The jurors were all residents within the district now included in Delaware County.
153
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1684.]
"James Claypool attested interpritor betwixt the Propr and the Prisoner."
" The affidavid of Jno. Vanculin read, Charles Ashcom being a witness to it."
" Annakey Coolin, attested, saith her husband tooke the Heart of a Calf that Dyed, as they thought, by Witchtcraft, and Boyld it, whereupon the Prisoner at ye Barr came in and asked them what they were doing; they said boyling of flesh ; she said they had better they had Boyled the Bones, with several other unseemly Expressions."
" Margaret Mattson saith that she values not Drystreet's evi- dence ; but if Sanderlin's mother had come, she would have an- swered her; also denyeth Charles Ashcoms attestation at her soul, and saith, where is my daughter ; let her come and say so."
"Annakey Cooling's attestation about the Gees, saying she was never out of her Conoo, and also that she never said any such things concerning the calve's heart.
"Jno. Cock attested, sayth he knows nothing of the matter."
" Tho: Baldings attestation was read, and Tho: Bracy attested, saith it is a true copy."
" The prisoner denyeth all things, and saith that ye Witnesses speake only by hear say."
" After weh ye Gov" gave the Jury their Charge concerning ye Prisoner at ye Barr."
" The Jury went forth, and upon their Returne Brought her in Guilty of haveing the Comon fame of a Witch, but not Guilty in manner and forme as she Shee Stands Indicted."
" Neels Matson and Antho. Neelson1 enters into Recognizance of fifty pounds a piece for the good behaviour of Margaret Mat- son for six months."
It is to be regretted that the charge given by the Governor has not been preserved, as it may fairly be presumed that it was upon his suggestions that the jury based their very righteous, but rather ridiculous verdict.
The following is a copy of the return made by the Sheriff of the election held by him for Chester County in 1684, with the omission of the recital of his warrant, &c. :
"I have accordingly made my Summons of the freeholders who hath made Choise of those persons following for the service aforesa by which I thus make my return
for the provencial Concel
william wade [Wood] in ye room of Ralph withers william Claiton for one year
for Assembly John Blunston georg maries Joshua Hasting, Robert wade Henry matukes Thomas usher
1 Neels Matson was the husband and Anthony Neelson the son-in-law of the de- fendant. See Biographical Sketches in this volume.
1
154
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1685.
"I Heare Declare that they was Lafully Chosen and may freely Appear to make up an Assembly according to Charter in witness whereunto I sett my hand and seale the 10th 3mo 1684. " TH. WITHERS."
Having established a Provincial Court, a Commission for the sale and transfer of lands, and having also conferred the Execu- tive power of the Province upon the Council, with Thomas Lloyd as its President, Governor Penn sailed for England, on the 12th of the 6th month (August) 1684, very much to the regret of many of the inhabitants, and arrived in England early in Octo- ber. His difficulty with Lord Baltimore was the cause of his early return to his native country.
On the 6th of February following (1685), King Charles the Second died, and was succeeded by his brother James, the Duke of York and Albany, who, on the same day, was proclaimed King under the title of James II. This information was com- municated by William Penn in a letter to Thomas Lloyd, who on the 11th of May laid the same before the Council. On the day following a formal proclamation was published by that body.
As yet, the boundary line between Chester and Philadelphia Counties had not been permanently established. This matter was accomplished by the following Resolution of the Council, adopted on the 1st of May, 1685, in pursuance of certain verbal directions left by the Proprietary.
" Whereas, the Governor in presence of John Symcock and Wm Wood, was pleased to say & Grant That ye bounds of the Countys of Chester & Philadelphia should be as followed, viz :
" That the bounds should begin at the Mill Creek and slopeing to ye Welsh Township, and thence to Schoolekill, &c. in obedi- ence thereto and confirmation thereof.
" The Councill having seriously Weyed & Considered the same, have & doe hereby Agree and order that ye bounds betwixt the said Countys shall be thus ; That is to say :
" The County of Chester to begin at ye Mouth or Entrance of Bough Creek, upon Delaware River, being the Upper end of Tenecum Island, and soe up that Creek, deviding the said Island from ye Land of Andros Boone & company ; from thence along the several courses thereof to a Large Creeke Called Mill Creek ; from thence up the several courses of the said creek to a W: S: W: Line, which Line devided the Liberty Lands of Philadelphia from Severall Tracts of Land belonging to the Welsh & other Inhabitance ; and from thence E: N: E: by a line of Marked Trees, 120 perches more or less ; from thence N: N: W: by the harford [Haverford] Township 1000 perches more or less : from thence E: N: E: by ye Land belonging to Jno: Humphreis 110
155
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1685.]
perches more or less ; from thence N: N: W: by ye Land of Jno: Ekley, 880 perches more or less ; from Thence Continuing the ye said Course to the Scoolkill River, wch sd Scoolkill River afterwards to be the natural bounds."1
This line continues to be the Eastern boundary of Delaware County to the North line of Haverford. The resolution of the Council makes the next course run easterly instead of westerly, and is probably a mistake, as Radnor township never extended further easterly than it now does.
In consequence of Christopher Taylor removing from Bucks County to Tinieum, there were four members of the Council from Chester County, viz : Christopher Taylor, John Simcock, Wil- liam Wood and Nicholas Newlin.
Charles Ashcom had held the office of Deputy Surveyor for Chester County under the Surveyor-General, Thomas Holme, but the complaints against him were so numerous, and a misun- derstanding having arisen between him and Holme, the Council were obliged to issue an order prohibiting him from surveying any more lands in Chester County.
At a meeting of the Council, held on the 22d of the 7th month (September), 1685, information was received from Capt. Lasse Cock that the Indians were willing to dispose of their lands between Upland and Appoquinomy. Thomas Holme, John Simcock, and the Secretary (William Markham), or any two of them, were accordingly deputed to make the purchase. The result was a deed2 from about a dozen Indian Kings and Sachemakers, with unpronounceable names, executed on the 2d of October, for " all the lands from Quing Quingus, called Duck creek, unto Upland called Chester creek, all along by the west side of the Delaware river and So betweene the Said Creeks Backwards as far as a man can ride in two days with a horse." The consideration did not vary much from what was usual in such cases, except that it included 40 Tomahawks. This grant, with the one that has already been noticed, extinguished the Indian title to the whole of Delaware County.
Notwithstanding these sales of their lands, the Indians had no idea of yielding up the possession before they were re- quired for actual occupation and culture by the whites. They roamed through the forest as freely as ever, and were, some- times, rather troublesome to the border settlers. This year " the Complaint of ye friends, Inhabitants of Concord and Hertford [Haverford] against the Indians, for ye Rapine and Destructions of their Hoggs," was laid before the Council. Other inhabitants of the Welsh Tract, besides those of Haver-
1 Col. Rec. i. 126.
2 Penna. Archives, i. 95.
156
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1685.
ford, joined in the Complaint ; but what action was taken by the Council to abate the evil, further than to send for " ye respective Indian Kings, with all speed," to appear before them, is not known.
In the proceedings of the Chester Court for this year, several orders are made in respect to the New Court House and prison. The collectors of the levy for their erection are to "be consi- dered, for their time and paines, twelve pence in the pound ;" Joseph Humphrey and Thomas Norberry are appointed collectors of the levy for Newtown, which now makes its first appearance as a township; Darby township is to pay Lassie Dalbo, or his assigns, "seven pounds two shillings & six pence out of the assessment for the court house & prison, if they see they can soe doe with safety ;" and William Dalbo, " so much as he can make appear to be due for his work done on the Court House and prison," out of the levies raised for that purpose in said township. Nor was the building to be exclusively occupied for judicial purposes and the incarceration of criminals. Its loca- tion, convenient to Chester Creek, gave it commercial advan- tages that were not overlooked in its construction. Hence it was ordered by the Court, "that all people that shall make use of the Court house for Sellerage of any Goods, shall for every Tonne pay after the rate of three shillings four pence a Tonne, for any time not exceeding a week ; and for what time it shall continue afterwards, halfe soe much."1
There was another levy ordered this year, partly, no doubt, on account of the New Court-house and prison. This assess- ment imposed a tax of 2s. 6d. per 100 acres on lands belonging to residents, and 3s. on that of non-residents; on free male inhabitants, from 16 years of age to 60, a poll tax of 2s. 6d., and upon servants 1s. 3d. The collectors were authorized to receive this tax in good merchantable Indian Corn at the rate of 2s. 8d. per bushel, Wheat at 4s. 6d., and Rye at 3s. 6d. Before the collection was made these prices were raised to 5s. per bushel for wheat, 4s. for rye, and 3s. for corn.
A practice had now become general for constables, and some- times for supervisors, at the expiration of their official terms, to come into Court, report "all was well," and receive their dis- charge. The following is given as a specimen of the usual minute made in such cases :
" Samuel Bradshaw, Constable for the last year for Darby, made his returne, 'all was well,' whereupon Edmund Cartelidge was elected to serve and attested for the ensuing year."
1 This court-house and prison was the first building specially erected in Chester for the administration of justice. It was doubtless built of logs, and not very well adapted to the purposes for which it was erected.
157
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1685.]
Jeremy Collett held the office of Sheriff this year. Robert Eyre was continued as Clerk. The office of "peace makers" was held by Caleb Pusey, Randall Vernon and Walter Faucit. Their sittings had become such a regular business that it was known as "the monthly Court."
Heretofore the usual punishment inflicted by the Court for criminal offences, had been the imposition of a fine; imprison- ment was out of the question, for want of a jail. This desidera- tum being now supplied, a reasonable hope might have been en- tertained that our Quaker Justices would have been satisfied with the incarceration of the violators of the law. But impri- sonment was an expensive mode of punishment that the early settlers, most of whom were in straitened circumstances, could not have borne. Hence the law of necessity prevailed over the pleadings of humanity ; and we find our County Court, for the first time, resorting to Corporal punishment, just as they had been provided with the means of carrying into effect the more mild and humane sentence of imprisonment. The first sentence, directing the infliction of Corporal punishment, was passed by the February Court of this year, and what is remarkable, the place of its execution was not at the seat of justice.1 With the omission of the name, the following is the sentence pronounced : 66 -- , being convicted of stealing money out of the house of William Browne, was ordered twelve stripes on his bear backe, well laide on att the Common Whipping post at Chichester,1 the 4th Instant, between the 10th and 11th hours in the morning."
In the next ease both modes of punishment are resorted to, being the first sentence of imprisonment :
, being lawfully convicted for abusing and menacing the magistracy of this county, was ordered twenty-one lashes att the publick whipping post on his beare backe, well laid on, and 14 days imprisonment at hard labour in the house of Correction."
This sentence very clearly illustrates the ideas prevalent at this time, of the necessity that existed for maintaining the inde- pendence and dignity of the judiciary. Evidence of this feeling pervades the Court records, from those of the Upland Court, for more than half a century. At the same time another person " was fined, for his contempt of the Court, 40s., in not appear- ing when lawfully summoned, and for abusing the officers of the Court."
1 It appears probable that means were provided in several places within the county for the infliction of corporal punishment, authorized to be inflicted by a magistrate. As late as 1732 a pair of stocks were authorized to be built in Lower Darby. (See Upper Darby Township Book.)
158
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1686.
At the October Court, of this year, it was "ordered that the township of Chichester extend its bounds as formerly laid out by Charles Ashcom, untill further order."
A sufficient number of Welsh Friends had now made settle- ments in Radnor to establish an independent meeting for wor- ship in that township, the name of David Meridith, being the first that appears in the Haverford Records as belonging to that particular meeting. The early meetings of Radnor were held at the houses of John Jerman and John Evans; the first mar- riage in Radnor being solemnized at the dwelling of the latter on the 2d of the 3d month, (May, ) 1686, between Richard Ormes, of Philadelphia, and Mary Tyder, of Radnor. Notwithstanding the line had been run between Philadelphia and Chester Counties, leaving Haverford and Radnor in the latter, the Welsh settlers of those townships had no idea of being separated from their Welsh friends of Merion, and still insisted on being included within the limits of Philadelphia County. Being attached to the Quarterly Meeting of Philadelphia, the Haverford Monthly Meeting contributed towards the erection of the Centre Square meeting-house, now being erected. The amounts subscribed by the several meetings will indicate the extent of the settlements at this time in the vicinity of each :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.