USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the territory included within its limits to the present time > Part 30
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258
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1748.
at their own expense. Chester County furnished a regiment of Associators, for which the following gentlemen were commis- sioned as officers: Colonel, Andrew McDowell; Lieut .- Colonel, John Frew; Major, John Miller, and Captains, Job Ruston, William Bell, Joseph Wilson, Henry Glassford, William Boyd, William Reed, William Porter and William Clinton.1
Fortunately these preparations for defence were not needed. Preliminaries for restoring a general peace were signed at Aix la Chapelle on the 19th of April, and proclaimed here in August.
The year 1748 was one of great sickness, not only in the city of Philadelphia, but throughout the Province.
James Hamilton, a son of Andrew Hamilton, received the ap- pointment of Lieutenant-Governor, and assumed the duties of the office in November.
In the autumn of this year, Peter Kalm, the Swedish natural- ist, arrived at Philadelphia, and after remaining a short time in that city, passed through our county on a visit to Wilmington. On his return to Philadelphia he spent some time at Chichester, "a borough on the Delaware, where travellers pass the river in a ferry." He adds, "they build here every year a number of small ships for sale, and from an iron work which lies higher up in the country, they carry Iron bars to this place and ship them." The environs of Chichester, he says, "contain many gardens, which are full of apple trees sinking under the weight of innumerable apples." About noon our traveller reached Chester, " a little Market town which lies on the Delaware. The houses stand dispersed. Most of them are built of stone, and two or three stories high; some are, however, made of wood, in the town is a church and a market place."
" About two English miles behind Chester," our author re- marks, "I passed an iron forge, which was to the right hand by the road side. It belonged to two brothers, as I was told. The ore, however, is not dug here, but thirty or forty miles hence, where it is first melted in an oven, and then carried to this place. The bellows were made of leather, and both they and the ham- mers, and even the hearth, but small in proportion to ours. All the machines were worked by water." The location of this forge2 must have been on Crum Creek, just below where it is crossed by the post road, while that mentioned in connection with Chi- chester was probably located on Chester Creek, at or near Glen Mills, and was owned and carried on by John Taylor.
Up to this period the forests preserved the same open appear- ance and freedom from underwood which they presented at the
1 For a full list of officers, scc Col. Rec. v. 210, 246.
2 This forge is supposed to be the one before mentioned as belonging to Peter Dicks, but Peter Dicks resided in Nether Providence, which leaves the matter in doubt.
259
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1750.]
time of the first arrival of Europeans. This was originally caused by the annual burnings of the Indians, and now unwisely continued by the whites, though the practice was restricted by legislative enactment. In describing the country through which he passed, our learned traveler (Kalm) remarks that the greater part of it is "covered with several kinds of decidious trees; for I scarcely saw a single tree of the fir kind, if I except a few red cedars. The forest was high but open below, so that it left a free prospect to the eye, and no underwood obstructed the passage between the trees. It would have been easy in some places to have gone under the branches with a carriage for a quarter of a mile, the trees standing at great distances from each other, and the ground being very level."1
Agrecably to a report made by a committee of the Assembly in 1749, the whole amount of paper money in circulation at that time in the Province was £85,000.
Among the troubles to which our goodly ancestors were, about this period, subjected, was the depredation committed by the le- gions of squirrels with which the forests swarmed. To mitigate the evil, an act was passed authorizing the payment of 3d. per head for the destruction of these voracious animals. This pre- mium was sufficient to induce a large number of persons to en- gage in squirrel shooting as a regular business, and the conse- quence was, that the amount paid in the whole Province this year for squirrel scalps was £8000, showing that 640,000 of these creatures had been killed.2
This large amount rendered bankrupt nearly every County Treasury in the Province, and made it necessary to reduce the bounty one half, by another Act of Assembly.
In pursuance of an Act of Parliament, having for its object the restriction of the manufacture of iron in the British American Colonies, Governor Hamilton issued his proclamation,3 requiring the Sheriff's of the several counties to make a return to him, of " every Mill or Engine for slitting and rolling of Iron, every plating forge to work with a tilt hammer, and every Furnace for making Steel which were erected within their several and re- spective counties," on the 24th day of June, 1750. In pur- suance of this proclamation, John Owen, the Sheriff of Chester County, certifies " that there is but one Mill or Engine for slit- ting and rolling iron within the county aforesaid, which is situate in Thornbury Township, and was erected in the year one thou-
1 Kalm's Travels into N. America. i. 155-167.
2 The number of squirels killed in Chester County, in the year 1749, was 159,779, as returned to the Commissioner, the pay for which, at 3d. per head, amounted to the sum of £1918 188. 1d. The same year 402 foxes, and 588 crows were killed in the county, upon which bounty was claimed.
3 Col. Rec. v. 459.
260
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY: [1750.
sand seven hundred and forty six, by John Taylor the present Proprietor thereof, who, with his servants and workmen, has ever since until the 24th day of June last, used and occupied the same." The Sheriff also certifies, "that there is not any plating forge to work with a tilt hammer, nor any furnace for making Steel," within the County of Chester.1
As has been mentioned, the iron works of John Taylor occu- pied nearly the present site of the Glenn Mills of the Messrs. Willcox ; but it is a little remarkable that the iron works within two English miles of Chester, mentioned by Peter Kalm, in his journey from that place to Philadelphia, should have so suddenly gone into disuse. The existence of such works, in 1748, at the point mentioned, cannot be doubted, for the Swedish naturalist was too accurate an observer to have been mistaken in a matter of this kind.
Labor in Pennsylvania was, at this period, of three kinds : free hired labor, bought servants for a term of years, and slaves for life. The wages of the first class for a year, with food and lodging, in the country, was about £16 for a man, and from £8 to £10 for females. The second class consisted of such persons as annually came from different countries of Europe to settle. Real or supposed oppression brought many of them here, but most of them were very poor, and came to better their fortunes. Being without means to pay their passage, which was not more than from six to eight pounds sterling for each, they, by agree- ment with the captain of the ship in which they arrived, were sold for a term of years to pay this small amount.
The usual term of service was four years, and the price ad- vanced for that term, appears at this period to have been about £14, which would leave a surplus for the redemptioner, unless it was used in the payment of charges by the government. Children were frequently sold for a longer period to pay the passage-money of their parents. At the expiration of their terms of service, each was supplied with a new suit of clothes, as is now, and was then, the case with apprentices. Some of these foreigners who were possessed of sufficient means to pay their passage, preferred being sold, as the period of service afforded them time to learn our language and the ways of the country, and at the end of that period, the funds they brought with them were invested in the purchase of a permanent home.
This kind of labor being the cheapest, and within the means of a majority of the settlers, it appears to have been substituted for that of the African slave, and at this period had nearly put an end to the importation of slaves into the Province. It was, however, more used further in the interior than within the limits
1 Penna. Archives, ii. 57.
261
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1751.]
of our county, the earliest settlers having been more liberally supplied with negroes.
The third kind of labor was that of the negro slave. The price of negro men at this time was from £40 even to £100 in rare instances. The few who were now imported, were brought from the West Indies, as it was found that in transporting negroes from Africa directly to the more northern Provinces, their health suffered more than when gradually acclimated, by being taken first to the West Indies, and from thence further north. Even at this period the Quakers and others had manumitted a consider- able number of their slaves. The law that made it obligatory on the master to provide for the maintenance of the slave during life, was an obstacle to emancipation, as it was found that manu- mitted negroes became indolent, and in their old age were liable to become chargeable.1
The proportion of negroes to the white population within the limits of our county was much greater at this period than at present. The precise proportion is not known, but in the city of Philadelphia, in 1751, the blacks exceeded one-third of the whole population.2
In the computation of time throughout Great Britain and its dependencies, up to the 31st of December, 1751, what was known as "old style," continued to be used. The change to our pre- sent mode of computation was effected by an Act of Parliament, entitled, " An Act for regulating the commencement of the year, and for correcting the Calendar now in use." The numerical designation of the months adopted by the Society of Friends, which made March the First Month, was legalized by an Act passed by the Provincial Assembly in the ninth year of the reign of Queen Anne. .
Action by the Yearly Meeting of London was immediately had on the subject, which was adopted by that of Philadelphia ; and as this action explains the whole subject, including the numerical designation of the months used by the Society of Friends, it will be given entire, as found in the records of Chester Monthly Meeting :
" Agreed that as by the late Act of Parliament for regulating the commencement of the year, that it is ordered that the first day of the Eleventh month next, shall be deemed the first day of the year 1752, and that the month called January shall be successively called the first month of the year, and not the month called March as heretofore hath been our method of computing.
1 See Kalm's Travels, i. 387-395, where the subject of labor in Pennsylvania at this period is more fully discussed.
2 The population of Philadelphia was estimated at about 11,000 whites, and 6000 blacks. Holme's Ann. ii. 187.
262
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1753.
" That from and after the time above mentioned, the Eleventh month, called January, shall thenceforth be deemed and reckon- ed the First month in the year, be so styled in all the records and writings of Friends, instead of computing from the month called March according to our present practice, and Friends are recommended to go on with the names of the following months numerically, according to our practice from the beginning, so that the months may be called and written as follows :- That January be called and written the first month, and February called and written the second month, and so on. All other me- thods of computing and calling of the months unavoidably leads into contradiction.
" And whereas, for the more regular computation of time, the same act directs that in the month now called September, which will be in the year 1752, after the second day of the said month, eleven numerical days shall be omitted, and that which would have been the third day, shall be reckoned and esteemed the 14th day of the said month, and that which otherwise would have been the fourth day of the said month, must be deemed the 15th, and so on. It appears likewise necessary, Friends should conform themselves to this direction and omit the nominal days accord- ingly."
From the commencement of this work the author has con- formed his dates to the new style so far as to make the year com- mence with the first of January, but no allowance has been made for the eleven days that are to be omitted under the present mode of computation.
Standing in the Pillory was rarely resorted to as a mode of punishment by the Justices of Chester County. At the Febru- ary term of this year, one Owen Oberlacker, alias John Brad- ley, upon being convicted of "speaking seditious words," was sentenced to stand in the Pillory one hour, with the words, " I stand here for speaking seditious words against the best of Kings, wrote in large hand, to be affixed to his back." In ad- dition to this punishment, twenty-one lashes upon his bare back were to be inflicted the same day.
It was in 1753 that the French invaded Western Pennsylva- nia, in pursuance of their grand scheme to secure the possession of the valley of the Mississippi. Though in a time of profound peace, the news of this hostile movement filled the country with consternation and alarm, for it was well known that a war would be inevitable. To our Quaker population, though generally out of harm's way, the news of this invasion was especially unwel- come. From experience they had learned that there were those among their young men who would go out to the battle, and should they return, it was rarely to enter that fold from which they had strayed.
263
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1755.]
Still the Society of Friends pursued the even tenor of their way, regardless of the storm that was gathering around them. Their meetings, their religious missions to distant places, their visitation of families, and their formal marriages were continued. The Friends of Chester Monthly Meeting even selected this period as the time " to build the old end" of the Providence meet- ing-house, "with stone, and to make other necessary repairs." This "old end," now to be supplied with a stone structure, was probably the first erected meeting-house at the place indicated.
In accordance with notice given to the Proprietaries, in 1753, Governor Hamilton resigned his office the following October. He was succeeded by Robert Hunter Morris, of New Jersey.
The events occurring in America in 1754, induced both the English and French governments to send troops to aid in the defence of their American possessions. Those from England were sent by way of Virginia, but did not arrive until the spring of 1755. In conjunction with a considerable number of colonial troops, they were placed under the unfortunate General Brad- dock, and constitsted the expedition defeated by the French and Indians near Fort Du Quense. The prudent conduct displayed by Washington on this occasion may be regarded as the com- mencement of the glorious career of this great man.
On the morning of the 18th November, 1755, a severe shock of an earthquake was felt throughout this region of country.1 It lasted about two minutes. It was felt along the coast for a dis- tance of 800 miles, being most severe in the vicinity of Boston.
The disputes between Governor Morris and the Assembly, in which the Quakers still had a majority, were constant, and un- fortunately were not conducted with that spirit of moderation and forbearance that should have prevailed in a period of so much difficulty and danger. The Assembly could not vote mo- ney specifically for carrying on the war, and in providing means "for the king's use," they desired to issue an additional amount of paper money. This was opposed by the Governor under Pro- prietary instructions. Another difficulty arose in providing for the assessment of a heavy land tax. The Assembly included the Proprietary lands in the assessment, and the Governor so far forgot himself as to accuse that body with having included these lands for the purpose of defeating the bill ; especially did he censure Dr. Franklin, whom he regarded as the author of this measure.2 Notwithstanding the alarming condition of the coun- try, there were those who endeavored to stir up sedition. For
1 Smith's Hist. N. J. 436.
2 Col. Rec. vi. 600. Dr. Franklin, in speaking of Gov. Morris, says: " His admin- istration was a continual battle, in which he labored hard to blacken the Assembly, who wiped off his coloring as fast as he laid it on, and placed it in return thick upon his own face."
264
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1756.
that offence, one John Costello was this year convicted by the Court at Chester and sentenced to stand in the pillory one hour, on two successive days, wearing the insignia of his crime, as in the case of Owen Overlacker.
No act could be passed by the Assembly to compel persons to take up arms in defence of the Province, or to organize the mi- litia for that purpose, but the Quakers threw no obstacle in the way of those whose scruples did not prevent them from perform- ing military duty, and even went so far as to enact a law " for the better ordering and regulating such as are willing and desi- rous to be united for military purposes within this Province." The appropriations for " the king's use" were, indeed, by no means niggardly. An act granting £60,000 was passed this year, and one for £30,000 in the year following. Such acts continued to be passed, from time to time, while the Quakers still maintained their ascendancy in the Assembly.
Of those who joined the military service from this County, I have seen no record, except that of those who happened to be- long to the Society of Friends; they were dealt with and disowned. Of these Radnor Meeting furnished the largest number-no less than eight young men in full membership with that particular meeting left their homes and went into active military service in 1756.
Previous to this time there appears to have been a difference of opinion in the Society of Friends upon the subject of Pre- parative Meetings being meetings of Record. The representa- tives from Haverford Monthly Meeting to the quarterly meeting brought back a proposal, " that Preparative meetings should be meetings of Record." After being considered for some time, the question was referred to a future meeting, which adopted the following as a part of a more extended minute :
" The proposal of having the Preparative meetings, meetings of record, has been under our consideration and is left so; there being some different sentiments thereon; We agreeing, (and some are in the practice,) that it would be convenient to keep records of the affairs belonging to each particular meeting, such as repairing of Meeting houses, &c."
At the following monthly meeting, which was held at Merion on the 14th of May, the representatives who had attended the quarterly meeting brought the following minute from that meeting, which appears to have settled the question :
"After consideration of the reports from the several meetings, respecting the principle of establishing preparative meetings, this meeting agrees that it will be of advantage to have such meetings. And each monthly meeting is therefore desired to appoint them where they are not already settled; and it is
265
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1756.]
agreed they have power to keep a record of such things as come before them, as they may think necessary."
The Delaware Indians had been so far seduced by the French, as to engage in committing the most barbarous atroci- ties against the frontier inhabitants of Pennsylvania. The Six Nations still remained friendly, and it was hoped that through the instrumentality of this powerful combination of savages. the Delawares could be brought to terms of peace. The Quakers used every effort to bring about this result, but the Governor unwisely made a formal declaration of war against the Dela- wares; and not to be behind the savages themselves in cruelty and atrocity, a proclamation was issued offering a premium for prisoners or scalps taken from their Indian enemy.
A reconciliation was, however, soon brought about, through the instrumentality of Sir William Johnson, the Six Nations, the Quakers, and a few of the Delawares who remained faithful.
Although England and France had been engaged in hos- tilities in their American possessions for about two years, yet until May of the present year no formal declaration of war had been made between the two Governments.
As Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, Robert Hunter Morris was succeeded by William Denny, towards the close of August.
The British ministry, in discussing some matters connected with the defence of the Province, had intimated an opinion adverse to Quakers acting as members of Assembly. A number of this Society was, nevertheless, elected,1 but four of them immediately sent in their resignations. Two of these, Peter Dix and Nathaniel Pennock, were from Chester County. This appears to have placed those having no conscientious scruples on the subject of taking up arms, in a majority in the Assembly, but still the want of harmonious action between that body and the Governor, was not diminished. The future angry disputes between the parties, conclusively demonstrate that Quakerism was but a small item in the serious obstacles to harmonious legislation. The representatives of the people, without distinction of sect or party, knew their rights, and determinedly asserted and maintained them against all doubt- ful claims of prerogative, either by the Crown, the Proprietaries, or the Executive. The doctrines that eventually led to a sepa- ration between the Colonies and the Mother Country, had their origin in these and similar disputes.
So captious had the Governor become, that it seemed almost
1 The Germans are accused of voting for Friends as members, seeking in their religious scruples "a protection against taxes and military labors."-Gordon's Hist. Penna. 339.
266
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1757.
impossible for the Assembly to shape a Militia or Money bill to suit the views of his Excellency. At length that body resolved that it appeared to them "that the Governor is determined to withhold that protection from the people of this province, which a proper Militia bill might afford them, unless we will present him with such a bill as will enable certain designing men to subvert the Constitution and deprive the inhabitants of every liberty they think worth enjoying.
In the matter of an application for the removal from office of one William Moore, a Justice of the Peace, and Judge of the Court of Chester County, questions affecting the respective prerogatives of the Assembly and the Governor were discussed at great length and with considerable ability.1
The following is a list of persons recommended to the Governor by the Court for license as tavern keepers for 1757, within the townships now composing the County of Delaware :
Chester, Aubrey Bevan,
66 James Mather,
66 David Cowpland,
66 John Hanly,
Middletown, Joseph Talbot, Newtown, John West,
Concord, John Hannum,
Birmingham, Wm. Jones,
Chester, tp., Wm. Miller, Henry Hayes,
Chichester town, Hannah Clayton, Mary Kain,
66 John Kerlin,
Chichester tp., James Stroud,
Darby town, Hannah Wood,
William Donaldson,
66 John Rudolph,
Darby tp., Barbara MeCullough, Haverford, Anna Miller.
Ridley, Mordecai Thompson, 66 Edwd. fits Rudolph,
Radnor, Aubrey Harry,
Thomas Tucker,
Richard Barry, Springfield, Mordecai Taylor.
The foregoing appears to be a full list of the retailers of ardent spirits for the townships now embraced in Delaware County, though several of the townships appear to have been without a licensed house.
By the Treaty of Utrecht, the French inhabitants of Nova Scotia were to remove with their effects in one year ; but choos- ing to become British subjects, (except in the matter of taking up arms against their own countrymen, ) rather than to part with their property, they had determined to remain. Their presence being now regarded as dangerous to the people of Nova Scotia, the Government determined to disperse them among the other Colonies, where their presence would be less objectionable. A large body of these Frenchmen (known as French neutrals), with their families, were sent to Philadelphia, where for a time
1 In the excitement produced by this angry discussion, both parties were led into the adoption of arbitrary and unjustifiable measures-the Assembly into the im- prisonment of Moore for contempt in disregarding the summons and for abuse of a former Assembly, and the Governor into a farcical trial and flattering acquittal of him, after he had been fairly condemned by the Assembly. See Col. Rec. vol. vii.
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