USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the territory included within its limits to the present time > Part 28
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An act was passed this year authorizing the emission of £30,000, in bills of credit, and also one laying a duty on negroes imported into the Province. This latter act was repealed by the home government. The evils of slavery were apparent to many of the inhabitants of the Province, especially the Quakers, and it may be supposed that the act in question was intended more as a restraint upon the importation of slaves than as a source of revenue.
It had been a long time since the Quakers first took the sub- ject of slavery under serious consideration, and although the action of their meetings had not resulted in anything of much practical utility, many individuals of the Society testified strongly against the practice of buying and selling of slaves. In 1729, Chester Monthly Meeting adopted the following minute, which was much better calculated to abolish the slave trade than the duty imposed by the legislature :-
" This Monthly Meeting directs its representatives to lay be- fore the Quarterly Meeting, that as they were by the discipline prevented from fetching or importing negro slaves from their own country, whether it is not reasonable we should not be restricted from buying them when imported, and if so the Quarterly Meet- ing to lay it before the Yearly Meeting for concurrence." The subsequent efficient action of the Society towards the abolition
spective oath and affirmacon, do say that the afd John Winter and Walter Winter are Guilty of ye murder afd and must be hanged by the necks until they and each of them be dead."
2 Hist. Lancaster Co. 240; Col. Rec. iii. 377.
240
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1730.
of slavery appears to have had its origin in this action of Ches- ter Monthly Meeting.
Matters of smaller moment also claimed the attention of the meetings about this time; as the practice of making large provi- sions at funerals, and the serving of those who attended them with wine and other liquors; the erection of tombstones, &c. Concord Meeting also bore its testimony against putting names and dates upon coffins, and decided, "that in future members should be dealt with for such idolatrous practice."
The subject of the Indian claim of one inile on each side of the Brandywine was formally brought to the notice of Governor Gordon, by a letter from Checochinican, a principal chief. This functionary bases the claim of the Indians upon "a wrighting for the creek of Brandywine, up to the head thereof, with all ye land a mile wide of ye creek on each side," which their brother, William Penn, was pleased to grant to them after they had sold their interest to him, but "which wrighting, by some accident was now lost." He acknowledges, however, that they had sold this land "up to a rock in ye said creek, it being in the line of the land of Abraham Marshall." Their complaint now is, that Nathaniel Newlin, a member of Assembly, who had purchased some of the land, but who had given them a writing in 1726, "that neither he nor his heirs would, in any way, disturb or mo- lest them in the free and peaceable enjoyment thereof," had, contrary to the same, sold his land, greatly to their disgust; that they had been forbid "so much as- to make use of timber grow- ing thereon, for ye convenience of building some cabins, & fur- ther that the town at the Head of the Brandywine is surveyed to one James Gibbons and many more, and now has an assurance of a conveyance of the same from the Com's of property, as he himself says by James Steel." In a postcript to his letter, the worthy chief says, that "James Logan promised to me, that James Gibbons, nor any body else, should never have a confir- mation, thereof, nor any other person within our claim." What order was taken upon this letter does not appear.1
A new commission of the peace was issued in 1730, to the following persons, viz .: Richard Hayes, Henry Pierce, Henry Hayes, Elisha Gatchell, John Crosby, Abraham Emmitt, junr., Mercer Brown, James James, John Perry, James Gibbons,. Joseph Pennock, Samuel Hollingsworth, Joseph Brinton, and Nicholas Pyle. The reason assigned for the new commission was, "that divers of those named in the last had declined to act," and that one George Asheton "had acted but too much."
It was ordered by the Court, with the consent of the Commis- sioners and Assessors of the' county, "that Nathan Worley he
1 Penna. Archives, i. 239.
241
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1731.]
master and Keeper of the House of Correction or Workhouse in the borough of Chester for the term of one year, if he behave himself well which sª time is to commence on the 25th day of March next, and that the Burgesses of said borough shall from time to time, give such directions therein as they may adjudge proper."
Haverford Monthly Meeting, after having appointed a com- mittee to aid the Valley Friends in fixing on a site for a meeting- house, at length leaves them at their liberty to build the said house " at the Grave Yard near Lewis Walker's Decd, which was left by the said Lewis by his last will for that purpose." A temporary meeting was, from time to time, authorized by Haver- ford Meeting, to be held at Richard Harrisson's School-house, but it does not appear that it ever grew into a regular meeting.
The Chester Monthly had not as yet received any response to their application to the quarterly meeting, and through it to the yearly meeting, on the propriety of purchasing imported slaves. In anticipation of any action by these meetings, this monthly meeting, towards the close of the year 1730, adopted a minute that cautioned Friends "against purchasing imported Negroes, it being disagreeable to the sense of the meeting, and that such as are likely to be found in the practice, be cautioned how they offend therein."
The act of the Provincial Legislature, imposing a duty on im- ported slaves and criminals, did not meet with much favor from the home government. Instructions were transmitted to Gover- nor Gordon against laying duties on either negroes or felons; the latter being in direct opposition to an act of Parliament "for the further preventing Robery, Burglary, and other felonies, and for the more effectual transportation of Felons."
The first mission from the Roman Catholic Church was estab- lished within the limits of Delaware County about the year 1730, or perhaps a little earlier. The mission was from an establish- ment of the Jesuit Society in Maryland, and was set up at the residence of Thomas Willcox, at Ivy Mills, in Concord township. The church services at the Ivy Mills Mission have been conducted in a private dwelling for a century and a quarter; at first in that of Thomas Willcox, by periodical visits of missionaries from Maryland ; next at the residence of his son, Mark Willcox, and subsequently in that of the late James M. Willcox, Esq., where it was continued till the erection of the neat Catholic Church in the immediate vicinity. At first the congregation was very small and it continued so for many years, but of late the number professing that faith has become very considerable, chiefly by foreign immigration.
Pennsylvania had been peculiarly prosperous under the ad- 16
242
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1732.
ministration of Governor Gordon, and at this time contained more white inhabitants than all Virginia, Maryland and both the Carolinas.1 Its exports were large, consisting of wheat, flour, beef, pork, leather, fish, lumber, staves, &c. From this county flour and meal were important items of export, and were sometimes shipped by the millers.
The wearing of a badge by criminals, indicating the crime for which they had been convicted, as the letter T for theft, ceases about this time to be inflicted as a punishment by our Court. Confinement in the stocks has very rarely formed any part of a sentence ; but still these implements of torture were maintained at Chester, Marcus Hook and Darby. At a town's meeting held in the latter township March 14th, 1732, it was agreed "that there shall be a pair of stocks built in some public place in Lower Darby, and the charges of the same shall be paid of the Town's stock now in the hands of Thomas Worth, one of the overseers of the poor."2 In the absence of facts on the subject, it may be presumed that the smaller kinds of misdemeanors were punished by means of the stocks, upon the authority of a justice of the peace, a chief burgess, or perhaps, in earlier times, upon that of a town meeting.
Licenses for keeping a tavern or an ordinary, were still granted by the Governor, upon the recommendation of the Court. Some of the reasons assigned by the petitioners for wishing to engage in the business, would appear rather singular at this time. Thus, Wm. Surnam, who has, "for divers years past lived in Middletown in good credit and esteem, near and convenient to the public road, who has for the greater part of his residence there followed the occupation of Malt making & the Brewing of Beer for a livelihood, but being greatly oppressed by travellers, and the constant visitation of his wonted acquain- tances, has been (as it were) forced to give continually gratis the fruits of his labor." The application was unsuccessful.
Griffith Evans, of Haverford, was located at a convenient stage, and had a dwelling-house suitable for travellers "on the great road yt leads from the Branches of the Brandywine & Goshen & several other parts," and withal was "an ancient man and his wife also well stricken in years & subject to lame- ness." Griffith kept the well-established stand known as the Old Frog in that day. It was located a short distance above Cooperstown, in Haverford.
1 This statement is on the authority of an anonymous writer of this year. It is ex- tracted by Anderson and quoted by Proud. Other authorities make the population of Virginia alone exeeed that of Pennsylvania. Perhaps the difficulty may be recon- ciled, by including or excluding the negro population. See Holmes' Ann. ii. 132. In a single year, (1729) 6208 immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania. Ib. 123.
2 Upper Darby Township Book.
243
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1733.]
Hannah Penn, the widow of the late Proprietary, and his son, Springett, having died, John, Thomas, and Richard, his three remaining sons, became joint Proprietaries of Pennsylvania. Thomas Penn came over to the Province for the first time in 1732, and arrived at Chester on the afternoon of the 11th of August. An express was immediately sent to Philadelphia, where the Assembly and Council were in session. The Secre- tary of the Council was forthwith dispatched to Chester, with the compliments and congratulations of the Governor and Board to the new joint Proprietary upon his safe arrival, and " to ac- quaint him, that to-morrow morning they would in person pay their respects to him." Accordingly, on the next day, the Go- vernor and all the members of Council who were able to travel, accompanied by a very large number of gentlemen, visited Chester, "waited on the Honorable Proprietary and paid him their compliments. After dinner, the Proprietary with his com - pany, now grown very numerous, sett out for Philadelphia, near to which place he was met by the Mayor, Recorder and Alder- men, with a great body of People. The Recorder, in the name of the Mayor and Commonalty of the City, made a congratula- tory speech, which the Proprietary answered, &c." On the 15th of the month, the Representatives sent in their " Humble ad- dress," which contains much less adulation than was betrayed by the part taken by the Governor, Council and municipal au- thorities of the city, in the affair.
An impostor appeared in 1732 among the meetings com- posing Haverford Monthly Meeting of Friends, and successfully passed himself off as a Quaker preacher. His name was John Cruise, and it was not until after he had left, which was "with- out making satisfaction," that his true character became known. A committee was promptly appointed to caution Friends else- where as to his character. They eventually received word that he had removed to North Carolina, to which place the committee were directed to write, "least he should impose upon friends."
Difficulties between the people of Maryland and those of this Province were of frequent occurrence, but the scene has been shifted from the border of Chester County to that of Lancaster. Two Quakers, John Wright and Samuel Blunston, both of whom had emigrated from this County and settled at or near Columbia, were the active local managers in these troubles on behalf of Pennsylvania, and they certainly performed their part with ability and energy.
Commissioners on the part of both Provinces, with Surveyors, met at Newcastle in February, for the purpose of running the circular line, preliminary to the adjustment of the other boun- daries. This resulted in nothing but angry disputes brough
244
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1735.
about by unreasonable suggestions from the Maryland side in the controversy.1 The nature of these suggestions, and the manner of conducting the controversy, will be better understood by con- sulting a correspondence between Benj. Eastburn, the Surveyor- General of Pennsylvania, and a Parson Jones, of Maryland, the original of which is on file in the Surveyor-General's office at Harrisburg.
An agreement having been entered into between the Proprie- taries and Lord Baltimore, as to the principles that should govern in the settlement of the boundaries between the two Provinces, and between Maryland and the Lower Counties, the Governor addressed a circular letter to the Justices of Chester and other border counties, enjoining them to observe certain directions therein laid down, with the view of preserving the peace until the lines could be actually run. It was a long time, however, before this took place.
Late at night on the 19th of September, 1734, news of the arrival of John Penn, the elder brother of Thomas, was brought to Phila- delphia by express from Newcastle. Early on the next morn- ing, his brother, Thomas Penn, with a number of gentlemen, proceeded to Chester to receive him, but he did not land there until late in the evening, and remained there all night. On the morning of the 21st the party proceeded towards Philadelphia, and were met at the Schuylkill by the Mayor, Recorder and Commonalty, as in the case of his brother Thomas. John did not remain long in the country, but returned the next year to adjust some dispute that Lord Baltimore had raised in respect to the interminable boundary question.
The Yearly Meeting of Friends, in 1735, adopted various re- commendations, among which may be enumerated : punctuality in the payment of debts to the Crown, and quit-rents to the Proprietors ; against being concerned in lotteries ; against large provisions at marriages and burials ; against the importation of negroes, or the buying of them after being imported; against the frequent use of drams, and the use of strong liquors in their families, and they also repeated their former advice in respect to grave-stones. These recommendations were generally adopted by the several meetings of this County, especially that in respect to negroes, which may indeed be regarded as the first effective blow inflicted on the slave trade.
It does not appear that up to this time lotteries had been in vogue in the Province. This year the Proprietaries proposed to sell by way of Lottery 100,000 acres of land, and it may have been that the admonition of the yearly meeting on that subject,
1 Col. Rec. iii. 497.
245
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1736.]
was to guard Friends against becoming the dupes of this magni- cent swindle.1
Chester Particular Meeting of Friends appears to be engaged in the erection of a new meeting-house. Permission was granted to that meeting to sell their old house, which was accordingly done.2
The number of taxables in the County in 1722 was 500. The number taken from an assessment made in 1735 is 800-making the population, on an estimate of six persons to one taxable, 4800, or an increase of 1800 inhabitants in 13 years. Owing to the wretched system of farming adopted by the early settlers, the lands at first placed under culture were exhausted, and many families removed further into the interior, and encountered the task of clearing new lands, rather than remain upon those that had been exhausted, either by their fathers or themselves.
The assessment or valuation in 1735 was no higher than in 1722. The tax was about one-third less, being at the rate of two pence in the pound; the poll tax on single freemen was 6s., while in 1722 it was 9s. Upper Chichester and Upper Darby appear as distinct municipalities in this assessment, though the latter was not then organized as a separate township for all purposes. The tax for the whole county was only £160.
After an unusually successful administration of about ten years, Governor Gordon died in the summer of 1736, leaving to his successor, James Logan, who was then President of the Coun- cil, some unadjusted Indian troubles, and an almost endless series of Maryland border disputes. Logan administered the govern- ment for about two years. In the absence of a Governor, there could be no legislation, and of course no laws were passed during the administration of James Logan.
The advice of the yearly meeting against the importation of negroes, and buying them after being imported, and the advice against "the frequent use of drams, or other strong liquors, in families, and particularly giving them to children," was repeated and enjoined by both Chester and Concord Monthly Meetings.
1 There is a printed scheme of this lottery among the unlabeled files in the office of the Surveyor-General at Harrisburg. The proposition was, " to sell by way of lottery 100,000 acres of land. and estimate the same at the settled price of £15 10s. current money of this Province for 100 acres, which amounts to the sum of £15,500, and that the same be purchased by the sale of 7750 tiekets at Forty Shillings each, [which ] like- wise amounts to £15,500."
The quit-rent on this land was to be reduced from 4s. 2d. sterling to ls. per 100 acres, but the usual reservation in respect to mines was to remain. There were 1293 prizes, and 6-157 blanks. The land was distributed thus among the prize tiekets, viz .: one of 3000 aeres ; 2 of 1500 each ; 10 of 1000; 20 of 500; 140 of 200; 150 of 100; 250 of 50, and 720 of 25 acres each. The first ticket drawn was entitled to 200 acres, and the last to 300 acres.
2 This was the building in which tradition has erroneously convened the first As- sembly of Pennsylvania.
246
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1737.
This advice was frequently repeated before any further steps were taken on the subject.
Bradford Monthly Meeting, to be composed of Caln and Bradford Meetings, was established in 1736 by authority of Chester Quarterly Meeting.
The crossing of the Brandywine Creek, at Chadds' Ford, was frequently interrupted by high water and ice, and the settlements had become so numerous west of that stream that the establish- ment of a ferry became necessary. The following paper, dated on the 30th of August, 1737, the original of which is on file in the office of the Clerk of Quarter Sessions, at West Chester, fully explains the establishment of this most necessary improve- ment :
"John Chadds, having petitioned the Court, setting forth that by the concurrence of the Justices and by order of the Commis- sioners and assessors, a fferry being erected over Brandywine creek, on the road leading from Philadelphia to Nottingham, & no rates for the same established, prays that such rates may be set for the same as to the Court may seem reasonable ; where- upon the Court taking the same into consideration, have ad- judged the rates hereafter mentioned, may be demanded & taken by the said John Chadds or his assigns or successors in the said Ferry :"
"Every horse and Rider, four pence.
Every single person on foot, three pence, if more, two pence each.
Every ox, cow or heifer, four pence each.
For
Every sheep, one penny.
Every Hog, three half pence.
Every Coach, waggon or Cart, one shilling and six pence.
Every empty waggon or Cart nine pence.
Every steed four pence.
To the aforesaid rates, the justices have subscribed their names.
RICHARD HAYES, JOHN CROSBY,
HENRY HAYES,
SAMUEL HOLLINGSWORTH,
JOHN PARRY, ABRAHAM EMMITT,
CALEB COUPLAND, ELISHA GATCHELL, JOSEPH BRINTON."
A person hailing from Beyruta, near Mount Lebanon, who called himself Sheck Sidi, claimed to be a Christian nobleman, and complained that he had suffered great persecution from the
247
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1738.]
Turks, succeeded in gaining the confidence and sympathy of the Yearly Meeting of Friends, and also a contribution of 20 pis- toles. He was recommended to the several meetings in our county as a proper object of charity ; but to what extent relief was granted does not appear. He was evidently viewed with some suspicion.1
There was much violence used by persons residing in Mary- land towards those residing near the supposed line, but claiming to belong to Pennsylvania. Though mostly confined to Lancas- ter County, it happened this year that Elisha Gatchell, one of the Justices of Chester County, was beaten and abused by rioters from Maryland, and subsequently carried by them into the Pro- vince and detained. A warrant was issued by Thomas Graeme, one of the Justices. of the Supreme Court, for their arrest.2 The disagreements between the people of the Provinces had now ar- rived at such a pitch, caused by arrests and other indignities offered on either side, that from simple breaches of the peace, open hostilities seemed to be on the eve of breaking out. For- tunately the arrival of an order from the King and Council, on the subject of the boundary, made it the interest of each party to refrain from further hostile proceedings for the present.3
George Thomas, a planter of Antigua, was appointed Gover- nor of the Province in 1737, but did not assume the duties of the office till August of the next year. As a consequence of the gubernatorial change, it became necessary to issue a new Com- mission of the Peace. The following persons were appointed for Chester County : Richard Hayes, Henry Pearce, Henry Hayes, Elisha Gatchell, John Crosby, Caleb Cowpland, Abraham Emmit, James James, John Parry, Joseph Pennock, Samuel Holligs- worth, Joseph Brientnal, Joseph Heins, William Pim, Joseph Bon- sall. the chief Burgesses for the time being, and Joseph Parker.
The order of the King and Council, in respect to the Mary- land boundary, proved to be only temporarily beneficial. Com- plaints on both sides were renewed, and a revival of former out- rages was apprehended. These were happily averted by an agreement entered into, at this time, between the Proprietaries of both Provinces.
The Friends at Darby found it necessary to enlarge their meeting-house, and accordingly "Nathan Gibson, Joseph Bon-
1 This individual is mentioned by Smith, in his History of New Jersey. He is ealled Sheck Scidit, and is represented as a native of Berytus, and a prince of Syria. He had met with great misfortunes and solicited charity. He received large contributions both in Europe and this country, especially in New York and Philadelphia. p. 423. The legislature of the Province expended £37 2s. 3d. in the entertainment of this person- age. Col. Rec. iv. 296.
2 Penna. Archives, i. 538; Col. Rec. iv. 229. The authorities of Maryland disa- vowed the arrest of Gatehell.
3 Gordon's Hist. Penna. 221.
248
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1738.
sall, Samul Bunting and John Davis are appointed undertakers, to look after the said inlargement and sett the work." This was an enlargement of the old house on the hill within the grave- yard.
Folly has her votaries in all ages, but the particular manner in which they make their oblations to the fantastic deity, is varied by time and circumstances. It may be inferred from a minute of Darby Meeting, that one of the modes selected at this particular period of our history, was "the vain practice of firing guns at marriages." As but a single instance of dealing for this grave offence is recorded, and the offender in that case made the required acknowledgment, it may be concluded, that, as a general rule, this vain practice prevailed among those out- side of the staid Society of Friends.
Slight shocks of an earthquake had been experienced in 1726, and again in 1732. On the 7th of December, 1738, a severe shock was felt, "accompanied by a remarkable rumbling noise; people waked in their beds, the doors flew open, bricks fell from the chimneys ; the consternation was serious, but happily no great damage ensued."1
The provisional agreement that had formerly been entered into between the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania and Maryland, in respect to the boundary, was directed by the King and Council to be enforced; and in compliance with this direction, and as a part thereof, it became necessary to run a temporary east and west line between the Provinces, fifteen miles and a quarter south of the latitude of the most southern part of Philadelphia, to the Susquehanna River, and west of that river fourteen and three- quarter miles south of the said latitude. The limited scope of this work will exclude any extended account of the survey of this line, or that upon nearly the same ground, but of much greater notoriety, known as Mason's and Dixon's, yet as the line of lati- tude of the most southern part of Philadelphia upon which it was based, passed through our county, it would not be proper to leave the matter wholly unnoticed.
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