' '''•, ' ■'r't »'/,. CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES ITHACA. N. Y. 14583 JOHN M. OLIN LIBRARY cornel, university Umary Hist ;torical sketch l»WW« 418 873 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924010418873 anit^J/^ jiuM'iE/j imrttLfFri 21V rife iJ:Jjfj,i, >:/,■, . ■7'V^,:'/^/k":;m. HISTORICAL SKETCH (oHESTER, ON DELAWARE, BY HENRY GRMIM ASHMEID, MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS, A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE WORK OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE OF THE PENN BI-CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION OF CHESTER; NAMES OF MEMBERS OF SAME AND OF SUB-COMMITTEES; LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS TO THE FUND; COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, CHESTER, FIRST DAY, loTH MONTH 22D, iSSa; BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, OCT. 23D, 1882; UNVEILING OF MEMORIAL STONE, NOV. 9TH, 1882, AND A LIST OF INDUSTRIES, BY WILLISJ^HILER JOHNSON. Published Undef^ the y\usPiCES of the Historisal Sojvimittee. v^ — *^- ^^-^i: CHESTER, PA. PRINTED AT THE REPUBLICAN STEAM PRINTING HOUSE 1883. mSTORIGAL GOMMITTEB. OLIVER TROTH, Chairman. WILLIAM SH/LER JOHNSON, Secretary, H. G. ASH MEAD, Chester. Henry Frysinger, John Spencer, Geo. W. Whitlock, Isaiah H. Mirkil^ Thomas Lees, Col. Frank M. Etting, Concord. R. M, Johnson, Lower Chichester. John B. Okie, " " Joseph Chadwick, Media. Adam C. Eckfeldt, North Chester. Ward R. Bliss, Upland. PREFACE- The Historical Committee of tiie Penn Bi-Ceiitennial Associa- tion of Ciiester, in the discharge of the duties confided to them, thought it but fitting that the people should have some enduring memorial of the celebration in our city of the Two Hundredth an- niversary of the landing of William Penn, the Pounder of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania — a memorial which could pass from father to son and keep alive, tc some extent at least, the interest which the event had aroused and the lessons it had taught. That memorial has taken the form of the present book. Be- ginning with small things it has grown to its present proportions — grown so that the Committee is actually giving to its subscribers a work of nearly double the size f.nd quadruple the value of that at first contemplated. In the hurry of preparation — for it must be borne in mind that all these materials have been gathered and put into their present form within three months, and by those actively engaged in the daily duties of life and business, and who also were deeply interested in the work of the Bi-Centennial Committee — it has been impos- sible to avoid some errors of construction and typography which would not have occurred had the book had, what it has been im- possible to give it, a thorough and careful revision. To John M. Broomall, Wm. H. Egle, L. L. D., Daniel B. Thomson, William Ward, William B. Broomall, David M. Johnson, John B. Hinkson, Henry B. Edwards, Bdjnund Pennell, George M. Booth and others, are due thanks for information given. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania and individual members have also kindly given assistance, and the Society has increased the obligation by IV Preface. permitting the use of the two original letters of William Penn, which appear in/ac simile in this book, one of which has been but lately recovered and not before published in this form. Smith's Atlas of Delaware County, Flavill's Map of Chester, with original deeds and surveys, have been the authorities for two of the maps while the third is almost a/ac simile copy of a rough draft belonging to William B. Broomall, Esq., dated about 1765. We are also indebted to the Evening News Publishing Company for the use of several plates kindly loaned by them. The Maps. THE MAPS. The first map represents the older or Historical part of the city of Chester. The heavy black lines are the boundaries of old grants and patents of the Swedish Gov- ernment and the Proprietary. The lighter black lines define the course of the old roads. The dotted lines show the present course of Chester creek and the water front and the streets of the modern city. The notable historic sj^ots are as follows: A — Landing place of William Penn on Front street, fifty feet east of the east line of Benn street. The spot is now marked by the Memorial Stone presented to the city by members of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Penn Club. 5— Old Well. Essex House. C — Site of Essex House. D — Site of Boar's Head Inn. £ — Site of theSandeland Double House, in which the First Assembly convened. Be- tween this and the old Prison stood the first Friends Meeting House, built 1693. J^—Site of Work House, 1724. G — Site of Prison, 1724. /^.— Site of David Lloyd's House, afterwards known as the Porter Mansion, built 1721. /^Site of Market House, Market Square. .AT— Site of old House of Defence. XXX — Jasper Yeates' Granary. BUILDINGS STILL STANDING. I — Prothonotary's Oflfice. II — Court House, 1724. Ill — Richard Barry's Tavern, 1735, now Columbia House. IV — Pennsylvania Arms, now Washington Hotel, built 1747. V — Hope Anchor Inn. David Cowpland. VI— Morgan (Dr. Terrill) House. VII — David Cowpland House, now Stacey House. VIII — James Sandeland's prior to 1700, now Lafayette House, IX — Cobourn (Flickwir) House. VI The Maps. X— Old Log House. XI — Blue Ball Inn. Francis Richardson. 1765. XII — Francis Richardson, 1760, now Steamboat Hotel. XIII — Thomas Barber's House. XIV — Logan House. Jasper Yeates. 1700. XV — Dick House. Robert Barber. 1700. XVI — David Lloyd's first House prior to 1703. XVII — Francis Richardson. 1765. XVIII — Ashbridge House. 1725. XIX — The Anderson Mansion. 1803. XX — Graham House. Built by John Hoskins, i688. Oldest house in Chester. XXI— Henry Hale Graham's OfiSce. XXI I -Old Prison. 1695. XXIII— Old Court House. 1685. XXIV —Pennsylvania Arms. 1720, now City Hotel. XXV— Jacob Hovrell's House. XXVI — Isaac Eyre's House. XXVII— Johnson Tavern. XXVIII — Jonas Sandelands. 1723. XXIX — Black Bear Inn. Early part of last century. XXXI — Friends' Meeting House. 1736. The second map is also historical, givmg the lines of old grants and patents and name of grantee, with dates; also oldnamesof streams and roads. The scale, how- ever, is so reduced as to cover the entire ground now occupied by the city of Chester and adjacent boroughs. The third map is almost Si/ac simile copy on a greatly reduced scale, of a rough draft in possession of W. B. Broomall, Esq., of Chester. It must date about 1765, jind historically is very interesting. '^ ff^-/^^ -^•yyv^ ^y^ StM I. Kf^"^-)9^ # ^ PENN'S LETTEF^FROM UPLAND. ERRATA. Page 8, line 23. Fort Gassimere is located near Wilmington— should be New Castle " 9, " 31, Hard- Knobbing Peter should be Hard-Kopping Peet. " 19, " 34, for Proud*s History of Penna., read Clarb son's Life of Penn. ■' 2?, " 37, for Old Mixon read Oldmixon. " 31, " 23, for Col. Custer, ofSdVa. Infantry, read Ool. Cropper, 9tliVa. Infantry. ' 38, " 26, for Nortbeasterly direction read Southeasterly. " 39, " 7 , for ten bushels read ten barrels. " 44, '* *.i5, for Abgadon Mills read Algodon Mills. " 45, . *' 36, for **to the coming of the first settlers of their names will be almost coeval wh'ch was of Penn himself," read "first settlers of their name which was almost coeval with that of Penn himself." " 48, ' 3, date 1665, read 1695. " 62, " 16, for date "1874" read 1724; also line 28, for ""William Beatty" read Frank Beatty. " 54, " 28, the date "1819" should be October, 1821. Dr. Egle, the Historian, in- informs me that William Wilson lived and died in the Hummels- town cave, in the Swatara mountains, Dauphin county, at the time mentioned above. " 70, for Zedemiah Wyatt read Zedekiah Wyatt. " 78, " 15, for "Charles Jackson," read Charles Thomson. " 83, " 13, 14, IS, for Anbury Bevan read Aubrey Bevan. " 86, " 16, for June 1, 1871, read June 1, 1870. •' 97, " 18, it is stated that Jane Mather, after the death of her first husband, Dr, Paul Jackson, the following year married Dr. David Jackson, and on page 193, line 12, it is said that Jane married the latter three years after her first husband's death. The latter statement is correct. Her first husband died in 1767, and her second mar- riage took place in 1770. " 100, " 27, for date "1686" read 1689. " 106, " 16, for Northeast of Second and Market streets, read Northeast corner of Second and Market streets. " 144, " 4, "the present building, as well as the house in which Mrs. Gray still resides," should read "the present building in which Mrs. Gray still resides." " 145, " 35, for in April, 1798, read. 1789, and in line 38, for "it was in this year," read "it was in the year 1798. " 181, " 12, for "Joseph Teates," read "Jasper Teates." " 198, " 29, for "1776" read 1876. " 212, " )6, for "composed of honorably discharged soldiers of the United States Army," read "composed of honorably discharged soldiers and saUors of the TTnited States Army and Navy during the War of the Eebellion." '• 221, " 3, for "free public institutions," read "free public instruction." HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CHESTER, i644--i682. THE City of Chester, located on the West bank of the Delaware river, is about four miles to the northward of the Delaware State ■ line, and about eighteen miles below Philadelphia, when measured by the river from Market street wharf in one city, to the wharf of the like name in the other ; while by the Philadelphia and Baltimore Post-road, from Front and Market streets, Philadelphia, where the Court House formerly stood, to the old Court House on Market street, in our city, the distance is fifteen miles. The stone, thus marked, is still to be seen against the foundation walls of the building, near the door at the foot of the staircase leading to the. Mayor's office. It is our boast that the first permanent colonization of Euro- peans in Pennsylvania was made in Delaware county, and certainly the first settlement, of which we have any authentic record, was at Tinicum Island, about four miles above the present City of Chester. The claim of Monroe county, that long before the arrival of Gover- nor Printz and the Swedes on the Delaware, the Dutch had made a permanent lodgement at Minisink, and had built a road extending from Esopus— founded, as we know, on the Hudson, in 1616 — to the Delaware, communicating with mines near the Blue Mountains, and with numerous Dutch settlements along the flats above the Kit- 2 Historical Sketch of Chester. tatinny, is not wanting in evidence to sustain the assertion. But, be that as it may, it is not germane to my purpose to discuss the early settlement on the Delaware, but shall limit myself to the City of Chester proper, and a few of the surrounding localities. The recent exhaustive historical researches into the records of the early colonists in this vicinity by Prof. Gregory B. Keen, furnishes us with much light on the early days of Upland, while it was a Swe- dish province, and I have freely drawn upon his labor. In 1644, the present site of Chester, East of the creek of that name, was a tobacco plantation, occupied by farm servants in the employment of the Swedish company. About that timerhany of the colonists began to seek grants of the broad acres on the main lands, and the ground between Eidley and Chester creeks was se- lected by Joran Keen, and to him the Swedish government granted a patent for a tract of land one and a half miles inland, following the right bank of Chester creek above its mouth, and reaching along the Delaware eastward as far as Ridley creek. The plot at its north-western limit at the present "Crozer Theological Semi- nary," was a half mile in breadth, and a diagonal line ran thence eastwardly to Ridley creek. Joran Keen, or Kyn, (as his name was written by the Swedes and also from his peculiar comples;ion, known as "snohuitt" or "snow white") was one of the earliest European residents upon the Delaware river within the boundaries of the present State of Pennsylvania, and for more than a quarter of a century, was the chief proprietor of lands at Upland, after- wards Chester. He was born in Sweden about 1620, and came to America, in company with Governor Printz, in the ship " Pama," which arrived at New Castle, February I5th, 1643, at " 2 o'clock in the afternoon," of that day. The new Governor removed to the more commanding port of Tutaeaenungh, or Tinicum, where he .built a fort, provided it with considerable armament, which he named Nya Gortheborg, and " also caused to be built a mansion house and other conveniences," which was called by the proprietor PrintzhofF." Here resided Joran Keen, a soldier whose duty was to attend daily upon the governor and travel with that dignitary wherever he might go, as one of his Excellency's body guard. As before stated, Keen receivied the grant of a royal tract of ground, and, it is believed, that when Colonel Printz left the colony to return Chester before the Arrival of Wra. Perm, 1644-1682. 3 to Sweden, Keen resigned his military position and gave his undi- vided attention to agriculture. The land on the West bank of Chester creek, extending along the river as far as Marcus Hook, Queen Christina, of Sweden, granted to Captain John Ammundson Besk, " his wife and heirs," by patent, dated August 20, 1653, in consideration of faithful ser- vices he had rendered to the State. Besk, who is believed to have been a man of large means, never entered into possession of this vast tract of ground, and it seems to have been held and claimed by Armigart Papegoya, the daughter of the first Swedish Gover- nor, Printz. In a letter from the Dutch Vice Director, Beekman,- under date of September 14, 1662, he writes : " I inquired into the situation of a certain lot of land on the Southwest side of Upland Kill, and was informed by the Swedish Commissaries and other an- cient inhabitants of said nation, that the aforesaid is called Printz's- village, which has always been in possession during 16 years of the Swedish Governor, John Printz, and his daughter who owns it." Many of the early Swedish settlers were not of a class to be de- sired as founders of a new empire, for the recent investigation of Professor Odhner, of the University of Lund, Sweden, among the archives of that nation, discloses the fact that quite a number of criminals and forest-destroying Finns were transported to the Delaware river settlements to rid the mother country of their pre- sence. The Finns just mentioned, had, m violation of the man- dates of the royal government, set fire to the forests in Varmland and Dal, that they might free the ground of trees to sow grain in the ashes, and for this act they were banished to the New World. Professor Odhner directly asserts that, in the Province of Skara- borg, a trooper, who was condemned to death for having broken into the monastery gardens at Varnhem, was permitted to make his selection between being hanged or embarking for New Sweden, and as late as 1653 a criminal, who had been convicted of killing an elk on the island D'Auland, was santenced to transportation hither. I have no doubt many of these felons safely landed, notwith- standing the assertion of Campanius that " when the European in- habitants (along the Delaware) perceived it, they would not suffer them to set foot on shore, but they were all obliged to return, so 4 Historical Sketch of Chester. that a great many of them perished on the voyage." Nor is it strictly correct, that conveying convicts here " v^as after this for- bidden under a penalty * * « lest Almighty God should let His vengeance fall on the ships and goods, and the virtuous people that were on board." There can be no question that the better class of Swedes made earnest efforts to prevent the importation of these obnoxious emigrants, but at the same time it should not be overlooked that the inhuman criminal code of every European na- tion, at that period, punished severely the encroachments of the people on the exclusive privileges of the vi^ealthy, as the governing class looked upon the dawning spirit of liberty among the masses to be, and hence many of" those who were transported, in our day would have been regarded as innocent of any real crime against morals or the State. Indeed, Lieutenant-Colonel Johan Printz, the first Governor of the colony, so far as the permanent settlement of Pennsylvainia was concerned, had himself been dismissed the ser- vice, because of his dishonorable capitulation of the fortress of Chemnitz during the war between Sweden and Germany. What- ever had been his conduct as a soldier in Europe, his administra- tion of affairs in this country was that of a wise and able executive. It is, doubtless, due to this criminal element among the early resi- dents of Upland — including at that time the whole settled part of Pennsylvania — that we find in that remote period of our history, in- temperance as a distinguishing infirmity, and, as I shall hereafter show, a vice in which the clergyman and the schoolmaster of that day indulged to a noticeable degree. The houses of the early Swedish settlers were built of logs, and the doors were so low that a person of ordinary stature was com- pelled to stoop in entering or leaving the buildings, while the apart- ments within had low ceilings, hardly over six feet in the clear, and the roughly hewed joists supporting the attic, wherein a child could hardly stand upright, were devoid of laths and plaster. The windows were small, mere frames set in the logs, and although the families who indulged in more costly luxuries than their neighbors had the openings glazed with isinglass, in general only a rough board slide shut out the cold on extreme winter days, and was usu- ally closed during the night. The chimneys with huge fire-places, were occasionally built of gray sandstone, in the corners of the Chester before the Arrival of Wm. Penn, 1644-1682. 5 rooms, but oftener the stacks were erected of turf on the outside of the bouses and in the middle of the gables. In many of the early dwellings, small rooms just large enough to spread a bed were partitioned off from the main lower apartments, and the floors were laid in stone, or, oftener, simply clay, which by constant use be- came very hard. The usual dress of the Swedish people on the Delaware, of those primitive days, was strongly but rudely fashioned of skins of ani- mals, and their heads were covered with caps of the same material, the hair clinging to the hide. Their shoes, very similar in forpn to the Indian moccasins, were made from the skins of animals slain in the chase. The women were also compelled to employ the same material in making their jackets and petticoats, and the beds were covered with deer, wolf and bear skins. Many of the heads of families had the apparel they had worn at home in Europe safely- packed away, which, on occasions of public festivals, were ceremo- niously brought fortlyand donned by the owner, to the admiration of the young people born in the colony. Unfortunately the Swedes, both men and women, were addicted to an over indulgence in in- toxicating liquors, and frequent mention is made of the trouble this propensity occasioned them in trivial suits and complaints be- fore the Courts of that day. Among the most prominent of the early Swedish settlers was Dominie Laurence Lock — his name appears in several ways on the old records — who comported himself with such freedom of behavior in his ministerial office that even, although nearly two centuries- have elapsed since his death, the scandal which his deeds occa- sioned has descended to the present time. He is stated by Mr. Clay, in his Annals — most excellent authority on all matters apper- taining to the Swedish Church on the Delaware — to have come to this country during the time of Governor Printz; that he had preached at Tinicum and Christiana, and was for many years « the only clergyman the Swedes had." In the year 1661, the Dominie's wife, yielding to the dulcet pleading and more youthful attraction of one Jacob Young — or as it was sometimes written, Jacob Jough — fled with the latter to the dwelling of Andries Hendricssen, a Finn, of notoriously bad character in Upland. The clergyman, when he discovered that his wife had eloped and had gone to Hen- 6 Historical Sketch of Chester. dricssen's house, fqllowed them thither, but too late to overtake the runaways. The Dominie, finding that the door to one of the rooms was closed, broke it open with an axe, and with the same imple- ment unlocked a trunk belonging to Jacob Young, which he found in the apartment The trunk contained very little of value belong- ing to his wife, save a few pairs of stockings, which the clergyman carried away with him, leaving an inventory of the articles he had taken. The keen sense of the magisterial dignity among the justi- ces was shocked by this attempt on the part of the Dominie to take the righting of his wrongs in his own hands, and the Dutch Vice Di- rector Beekman, as Sheriff, brought suit against the clergyman for having infringed on his oflSce. The case was tried at Altona (now New Castle, Del.) Vice Director Beekman was the Presiding Judge, with three others as associate justices. The unfortunate defendant was convicted of usurping the authority of the Court, and the manner in which the Presiding Judge managed to settle all of the male fu- gitive's outstanding accounts in the sentence was remarkable. Jacob Young, it seems, had been intrusted with two hundred gild- ers to buy corn for the Dutch Company, and he also owed a Mr. Dicker, and Judge Beekman, forty beaver skins, and, as he had fled with Lock's wife, the abandoned husband, for having broken open Young's trunk, was compelled to make good all the debts which the latter had left unpaid, and " besides, an award of forty guilders for having usurped the authority of the Court." The justices believed that the fugitives had fled to Maryland, and sent an express there in search of them. In that opinion the Court was correct, for, in 1698, this Jacob Young, who had settled in Cecil county, was appointed one of the Commissioners of Mary- land to treat with the Delaware Indians. The impetuous Dominie, believing that it was not good for man to live alone, in three weeks after his wife eloped, procured a divorce, and by his authority as minister, on Sunday married himself — persona,lly performing the ceremony — to a young girl of about seventeen summers. The di- vorce, seeming to be irregular, at his trial Andreas Hudde, as Sec- retary, informed him that his last marriage was illegal. The per- plexed clergyman petitioned the Governor for relief, but with what success I have failed to learn. In 1664, Rev. Abelius Zetscoven was called by the congregation, Chester before, the Arrival of Wm. Penn, 1644-1682. 7 who had become weary of Dominie Lock and desired a new minis- ter and schoolmaster, but the latter was loath to relinquish his charge The new clergyman preached at Tinicum Church on the last Monday of Pentecost, at the request of the Swedish Commis- sioners, but the opposition of the incumbent was so vehement that the Commissioners had to threaten Mr. Lock with a protest to the Government, before he would permit the candidate to occupy the pulpit. The Dominie was the owner of much land in Chester, and seems to have had an eye to turning a penny wherever he could, which inclination brought him before the Court in 1676, on a charge of selling liquor to the Indians, which was prohibited by law. Not only did he sell it, but as one of the annalists of those early times narrates, his " great infirmity seems to have been an over-fondness for intoxicating drinks. It may, however, be in- ferred that he became reformed in his later years, for in 1674, he purchased property formerly occupied by OUe Stille, at the mouth of Ridley creek, (now Eddystone,) and, we are informed by Cam- panius, that he died in the Lord, in 1 688." Three years before his death, in a case tried at a Court held January 11, 1685, the Reve- rend gentleman was, in the- testimony, accused of attempting to suborn a witness in respect to a b irgain and sale he had made of his house in Upland, to Justa Anderson. The jury found a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, with costs of suit and twenty pounds damages. Chester, in 1645-'46, was a place of such insignificance that An- dreas Hudde, an agent of the Dutch, who was sent by Governor Kieft, as a spy, to learn the condition and number of the Swedes on the Delaware river, as well as to ascertain the strength, armament and military force of the latter, makes no mention of it in his re- port to his superior officer. It is even doubtful, whether, at that time, Joran Keen had erected a house on his land, inasmuch as in the " Rulla," dated by Printz at "Kihrstina". (Christiana,) June 20, ] 644, the statement appears that Upland was a tobacco planta- tion, as already mentioned. Between the years 1646 and 1648, a considerable settlement must have been made at this point, for in Hudde's interview with the Passyunk Indians, in that year, they spoke of Upland, among other places, in the possession of the Swedes, and charge the latter with having stolen the land from 8 Historieal Sketch of Chester. them, while in Campanius' account of New Sweden, " Mecopo- nacka," or Upland, is mentioned in the year 1648, (the date of the elder Campanius' return to Sweden,) " as an unfortified place, but some houses were built there. It was situated between Fort Chris- tina, (near Wilmington) and New Gottenburg — Tinicum — but nearer the latter. There was a fort built there some time dfter its settlement, it is good even land along the river shore." Ebeling, in his History of Pennsylvania, says that about 1660 there were two Swedish and Finnish settlements in this vicinity, called Upland and Finland — the former afterwards received the name of Chester ; " none of these settlements, however, were of im- portance, not even excepting Upland, which was made the chief place of a judicial district by the Dutch in 1668." The Indian n^me of the site of the present City of Chester was Mecoponacka : the Swedish, Upland ; the Dutch, Oplandt ; and the English, Chester and Upland indifferently until the former entirely absorbed the latter in designating the borough, about the middle of the last century. The proper Indian name of Chester creek was Meechoppenackhan, according to Heckewelder, in his " Indian Names," which signified the large potato stream, " or the stream along which large potatoes grow." This was corrupted into Maco- panachan, Macopanackhan, and finally into Mecopanacha. The In- dian tribe which owned the land whereon Chester stands, according to John Hill Martin, was the Okehockings, and were subsequently removed by the order of William Penn, in 1702, to ''the tract in Chester county, formerly laid out to GrifFy Jones, but now vacant." Many of the Indians were soon reduced to menial servitude by the Euro])ean settlers, and previous to 1657 negro slaves had been, brought to the colony and used as laborers. In the year 1655, the Swedish power on the Delaware ceased, when, in September of that year, Peter Stuyvesant, the redoubtable Dutch Governor of New Amsterdam, appeared off Fort Cassimer — near the present Wilmington— with seven vessels carrying about six hundred soldiers, and compelled the fort to capitulate on the 11th of that month. The wonderful deeds of arms performed on that occasion are duly heralded in the philosophical history of the late Mr. Diedrich Knickerbocker, but, for our purpose, it is necessary merely to state that the whole Swedish provinces along the Dela- Chester before the Arrwal of Wm.. Pevn^ 1644-1682. 9 ware fell with that fortress, and Upland, among the others, passed into the ownership of the Dutch. The conquerors were the veriest wantons in their victory. They killed the cattle, goats, swine and poultry of the Swedish settlers, broke open their houses, and robbed, them of all they had that was valuable. Rysingh, the Swedish, Governor, in his letter to Stuyvesant, particularly mentions the plundering of Upland, as well as other hamlets further up the riv- er, and at Tinicum, he says, " they robbed Mr Papegoya's wife" (daughter of Governor Printz) " of all she had." It should be re- membered that the Swedes, before the arrival of Penn, always set- tled near the tide water, and their usual means of communication- and transportation was by boats. Indeed, it is recorded that they would come from New Castle to Tinicum in this way to attend di- vine service on Sundays, when the Dominie preached at the latter' church, and as they rarely traveled by land, no highways were ne- cessary from settlement to Settlement other than the Indian trails through the forests, which,, owing to the latter's habit of firing the woodlands every Fall, was free from under-brush. The Dutch found their conquest a costly one, and earnest were their efforts to govern the territory without bringing on a collision, between the conquered and the conquerors. To this end they or- dered that all the Swedes .should gather themselves together in vil- lages, at several designated points, one of which was Upland. The- Swedes, however, seemed to quietly neglect to obey this order, and rightly so, for it would have compelled them to have abandoned many of their homesteads and improvements absolutely. Al- though Stuyvesant believed that the Swedes, in their dislike of the Dutch, were anxious that England might acquire the Province,, and had for that reason issued the order alluded to, William Beek- man, the Lieutenant-Governor, did not attempt to compel compli- ance with this mandate of " Hard-Kopping Piet." The settlement of the territory was tardy, not more than seven- teen hundred Europeans, all told, are believed to have been on the Delaware river in the year 1659. The number of inhabitants at .this place could not have exceeded a hundred souls. Dr. Smith thinks that Upland was at this time the most considerable settle- ment in the Province, which afterwards became Pennsylvania, and that Hendrick Huygens, the Dutch Commissioner, four years later 10 Historical Sketch of Cheater. had taken up his residence here, because he reported to Vice Di- rector Beekman, in the year 1663, "a horrid deed " that was com- mitted at this place by a Finn, named Jan Hendrickson, against "the honest Juriaen Kuys Sneart, whom he had cruelly beaten." The letter <^f Huygens, in which he alludes to the violent assault upon *' the pious Juriaen Snewit," — Jurian Keen — snohuitt, (snow white) " a man who has never irritated a child even," by " a miscreant " of Upland, is dated at " Tinnackunk, 29th M'ch, 1663." The desperado, it seemed, had made an assault on Joran Keen, previous to the one mentioned, and had threatened his life ; but the good- hearted Swede had promised to overlook it, if he, Hendrickson, made no further trouble. He did, however, and the evidence on the trial shows that the Finn was a terror to the people of Upland. The judges banished Hendrickson from the jurisdiction of the ('ourt, and he seems to have removed to the vicinity of New Cas- tle, where he was afterwards connected with acts of violence and disorder. In September, 1664, Col. Richard Nicolls captured New Amster- dam, and, of course, the dependencies on the Delaware river passed into the ownership of the English without further resistance — an event which was welcomed by the Swedes and Finns with manifes- tations of pleasure. Near the close of the year 1 669, an attempt at "insurrection" was made by Marcus Jacobson, alias "John Binckton," &c., but popularly known to the people as the " Long Finn, or Swede," which name 'was given him because of his lofty stature. He was an adventurer who represented himself to be a son of the noted Swedish Greneral, Conneugsmark. It is the gene- ral opinion of historians that his intention was to bring about a general insurrection of the dissatisfied settlers against the authority of Great Britain, and the re-establishment of the Swedish power on the Delaware. His chief associate in this effort was Henry Coleman, a Finn, who was a wealthy man, as wealth was then re- garded, and Mrs. Pappegoya and the Eeverend Laurence Lock, both looked kindly on the enterprise. Captain Carre, having. in- formed Governor Lovelace, the theii English Governor, of the brewing rebellion, he was instructed to have the "Long Finn" and his associates arrest«d, which was done. The leader was put in Ghester before the arrival of Win. Penw, 1644-1682. 11 irons, while the others were bound over to answer the charge to be made against them when required to do so. Henry Coleman, however, fled to the Indians, with whom he had much influence, abandoning his property absolutely. What became of him after his flight is unknown. The "Long Finn" was tried at New Castle, December 6, 1669, and, as was to be expected, he was found guilty, but, by order of the Grovernor, the death penalty was not enforced, because "many would suffer if. the rigor of the law should be extended, and among them divers simple and ignorant people: it is thought fit and ordered that the said 'Long Finn' shall be publicly and severely whipped, and stigmatized or branded in the face with the letter 'R ;' with an inscription written in great letters and put upon his breast ; that he receive that punishment for attempted rebellion ; after which he be secured until he can be sent and sold to the Barbadoes or some other of the remoter plan- tations." On the 28tli of January, following, he was placed on board the ship "Fort Albany," to be transported and sold at the barbadoes, in accordance with his sentence, which had been an- nounced to the Commissioners to try the case, before the hearing by the Governor in New York. Coleman's property was forfeited to His Majesty, the King, while the others implicated in his at- tempted disturbances, were fined in the discretion of the Court. In 1671, the inhabitants along the Delaware were apprehensive that an Indian war was imminent, inasmuch as two whites had been murdered by the savages, and it was generally reported that the Indians were making preparations to massacre all the Europeans settled along the river. The authorities took active measures to prepare for the emergency. Every male that could bear arms be- tween the ages of sixteen and sixty, was instructed to be always provided "with a convenient proportion of powder and bullets," while sale of ammunition to the Indians was interdicted, and no corn or other provision was permitted to be exported. A meeting between the Indian Sachems and the whites was held at Upland, at the house of Peter Rambo — a prominent man of his time — in Octo- ber of that year, and the Indians agreed to bring the murderers to the whites within six days thereafter, that they might be punished for their crime. At any rate they agreed that they would deliver their bodies to the authorities dead or alive. One of the guilty T2 Historical Sketch of Chester. braves escaped fmin bis people and could not be delivered as promised, but the other was captured. It is reported that one of the two Indians who had taken him was a personal friend and was loath to kill his captive, but when the latter learned that the Sach- ems had determined he must die, he requested that their order should be immediatly obeyed. His body was taken- to Wiccaco and delivered to the whites who transported- it to New Castle, where it was hun<> in chains. The Sachems faittifully notified the tribes that any of their people who should murder a white person- would be similarly dealt with, and with that annunciation the war cloud drifted by March 21, 1675, .Armgard Fapegoya conveyed the estate known as Prirrtzdorp' — which included a large part of the now South ward — to Robert Wade. The latter person and his wife, Lydia, are said by Pr. Smith and Martin to have come over to this country in the ship "Griffin," with John Fenwick, in IGTSja-nd were the first mem- bersof the Society of Friends known to reside in Upland. The au^ thors cited are wrong in their first statenient as to the date of Wade's arrival here, having fallen into'that error by a mistaken deduction from the statement of William Edmundson, an- eminent minister of the Society of Friends, who in the year 1675 visited Upland,, and held a meeting at Wade's housev Both the authors cited state- that Mrs. Papegoya, in all probability built the Essex House, and that Wade purchased from- her, or some other person, the estate- with the improvements thereon. In this, however, they are mistaken,^ for Mrs. Papegoya lived at Tinicum until she returned to Sweden^ and was so desperately poor from inability to procure farm labor- ers, that the authorities were compelled to assist her with supplies of food. The subsequent fine imposed upon her for her complicity in the "Long Finn's" Rebellion rendered her means even more lim- ited than they were before, and it was impossible that she could have erected a building of the character of the famous Essex House. Martin states that the name of this Robert Wade appears in the list of the passengers in the "Grriffiii," which arrived in the Dela- ware, 23d of 9th month, (November,) 1675. This we know is in- correct for Wade was in this country long before the date given, while Lydia, his wife, was in England, for letters are extant from him, addressed to his wife, informing her of his purchase of land. Chester before the Arrival of Wm. Perm, 1644-1682. IS In the year 1673, the colony of New York and its dependencies on the Delaware was re-captured by the Dutch, but before six months had elapsed the red-crossed banner of St. George waved once more over the territory, never to be supplanted except by the standard of the United States of America, With the con- quest of New York and New Sweden, the charter of the Duke of York revivea, and the English authority was re-established in the provinces, with Edmund Andross, Esq., as Governor, under His Royal Highness, James, Duke of York and Albany, with Captain Carre as Commander on the Delaware. It was during the latter's term of office that the "Duke's Book of Lawes" was promulgated. Under this new order of affairs three judicial districts were estab- lished, one of which was at Upland. On March 4th, 1681, Charles H. signed the Great Charter which conveyed to William Penn the enormous tract of land now known as Pennsylvania, and from that period our early annals become more interesting, for from that time we may date the actual found- ing of this great Commonwealth. Almost immediately thereafter Penn sent his first cousin, William Markham, to the colony as his Deputy Governor. It is presumed that he came over in the shiji "John and Sarah," from London, commanded by Henry Smith, which was the first to arrive here after the grant was made to Penn, for previous to June 21, 1681, the new Governor had presented his commission from Penn to the authorities at New York, and had assumed the reins of government on the Delaware. On August 3, 1681, Governor Markham was at Upland, for he not only had appointed his Council, but on the date last mentioned the members took and subscribed to the oath of office. Governor Markham was intrusted by the King with a letter to Lord Baltimore, which stated that his commission authorized him to settle all disputes respecting the boundary of the territory granted to Penn with bis ireighbors,- and inasmuch as the King's letter required that the parties should meet to adjust these boundaries, Lord Baltimore came to Upland, where, during his interview with Markham, it was found by astro- nomical observation that this place was twelve miles south of the parallel of 40 degrees, which was the southern boundary of Penn- sylvania. This fact effectually put an end to the purposes of the meeting, and from it arose the long controversy between the Penns 14 Historical Sketch of Chester. and Lords Baltimore, which was only set at rest by the running of the celebrated "Mason and Dixon line." After Penn acquired ownership of the Province he brought the colony into such prominence that the influx of settlers became so great that during the year 1681 twenty-three English ships arrived in the Delaware, and as Upland was the most considerable place within the Province of Pennsylvania, most of them anchored here and disembarked their passengers. So large was the demand thus made upon the hamlet that the new comers were compelled, in many instances, to dig caves in the ground, near the river bank, wherein they took up their abode until they could construct perma- nent habitations. These caves were mere excavations, or cellars, in the. bank, and were about three feet in depth, while over these openings brush was placed so as to form an arched roof about six feet in the clear, which was covered with sods. In such a cave as this Emanuel Grubb was born, near Upland, in 1683. The suffer- ings of these settlers were great, for it should be remembered that most of them were "not people of low circumstances, but substan- tial livers," and in the work of constructing these rude habitations, women who had been used to all the refinements and comforts of English life at that day were compelled to take part, and aided their husbands and fathers therein, for hired labor was scarce and could hardly be had at any price. The winter of 1681 was extremely cold, and on the 11th of De- cember, when the ship "Bristol Factor," Rodger Drew, Command- er, came to Chester, the passengers, seeing the small cluster of; dwellings, landed near the Essex House, and, as the river was sol- . idly frozen over the night following the ship's arrival, the passen- gers were compelled to remain m Upland "all winter." On September 12, 1682, Deputy Governor Markham presided in person at the Court held on that date at Upland, and the first jGrrand Jury ever known m Pennsylvania was summoned to attend its ses- sion, while several other important incidents of judicial procedure are for the first time noted in our history in the records of that tribunal. Penn, who in the meanwhile had been extremely busy with many schemes looking to the advancement of his colonial possessions, at length determined to embark for Pennsylvania, and, on the 30th Chester before the Arrival of Wm. Perm, 1644-1682. 15 day of the sixth month, (August — for the Friends of those days computed the year as beginning on the first of March,) he sailed from Deal in the ship " Welcome," of three hundred tons burthen, Robert Greenaway, Commander, accompanied by about one hun- dred companions, mostly Friends, from Sussex, England. The voyage was lengthy, (small-pox having broken out on the vessel, of which disease thirty of the emigrants died on the passage), and on the 27th day of October, 1682, the " Welcome" stopped at New Castle, where Penn landed, and took possession of the three lower counties, with all the pomp and circumstance usual at that time, in the formal transfer of estates. It is known he stayed at New Castle all night, and the next day the vessel stood up the river and cast anchor off the mouth of Chester creek, opposite the house of Robert Wade, for, as is stated in the manuscript book of Evan Oliver, a passenger on the " Welcome," " We arrived at Uplan in pensilvania in America, ye 28th of ye 8 month, '82." CHESTER FROM THE ARRIVAL OF WM. PENN TO THE YEAR 1850. VEKY little is known of the general history of Chester, at the time of the arrival of Penn at this place, October 28, 1682, ■ and a plan of the settled part of the then town would disclose a mere cluster of dwellings near the mouth of Chester creek, and a few houses might have been discerned here and there peeping out from among the forest trees. Certain it is, that the settlement was very small, for in 1702, two decades after Penn's first visit to his colony, Holm tells us " Macoponaca, which is called Chester, was a bare place, without a Fort, but there were some stone houses built there " Doubtless as the sturdy group of emigrants — who gathered at the side of their tall, slender, but graceful, leader, then in his thirty-eighth year — gazed from the deck of the " Welcome " over to the little hamlet of which they had heard so much in " merry England" — three thousand miles away — their hearts sank for a moment when they contrasted the realization with the picture their fancy had drawn of the New World to which they had come. And yet at that time I>l ature had painted the forests in every variety of rainbow hue. The yellow leaves of the dog-wood, the deep orange of the oak, the maple with its red and golden foliage, the thousand shades which only an American Autumn can disclose, were present, while here and there could be seen among the trees the brilliantly fire-tinted sumach, and the wild crfeeping vines that entwined them- selves about the trunks of the towering oaks, gorgeous in their chromatic mass of tints, greeting the eyes of the emigrants, while the Delaware — a river the like of which they never before beheld, PENN COAT OP ARMS. Chester from the Arrival of Wm.. Penv io the year 1850. 17 spreading nearly three miles to the further shore, shimmered and glistened imder the afternoon sun of that October — really Novem- ber day. How they landed, where they were housed, or how entertained at that time, is not known ; we have simply the record that William Penn was received by Robert Wade, at the Essex House. Wade had been nearly ten years settled at Upland, and the fact that he was a member of the Society of Friends, and a personal acquaint- ance in England, was doubtless the reason that Penn accepted his hospitality temporarily, for the dwelling of Robert Wade was not at that time the most pretentious building in the hamlet, since we know that James Sandeland's " Double House" was more spa- cious; but he being a Churchman, was not drawn towards the Proprietary in the same manner as Wade I have heard the stite- ment made that when a part of the cargo was being discharged from the " Welcome " on that occasion, a large cask or bale fell upon the arm or leg of one of the crew, and injured it so seriously that it became necessary to amputate the limb. It is said that there was but one surgeon at tliat time in the colony at Upland. The operation of taking off the limb is , said to have been per- formed successfully under some trees near the present line of Front street, a short distance east of Essex street, now Concord avenue. The flow of blood was arrested by the application of boiling pitch to the stump of the limb. In doing this the doctor unfortunately dropped some of the pitch on his own clothes which ignited them, and he was burned so severely that he died shortly after, in great agony. This story has been told me several times by intelligent persons, descendants of the English settlers of that day, but I have been unable to find the slightest indication from my researches that the event ever took place as narrated. I be- lieve the story is confused with an incident connected with the second coming of Penn, in 1699, to which I will refer in the pro- gress of the narrative. Before the year 1682, the present City of Chester was called by its inhabitants Upland, and is referred to in all the records under that title. It received that designation because the greater part of the early Swedish settlers in this neighborhood came from Up- land, a province in Middle Sweden, on the Baltic Sea, and their 1 8 Historical Sketch of Chester. new home was thus named by reason of their love for the place of their birth, and because the natural appearance of the land here was strikingly similar to that of their fatherland. Dr. Smith, in referring to the landing of Penn, says : " He land- ed at Upland, but the place was to bear that familiar name no more forever. Without reflection, Penn determined that the name of the place should be changed. Turning round to his friend Pear- son, one of his own Society, who had accompanied him in the .ship '" Welcome," he said : ' Providence has brought us here safe. Thou hast been the companion of my perils. What wilt thou that I should call this place V Pearson said, ' Chester,' in remembrance of the city from whence he came. William Penn replied that it should be called Chester, and. that when he divided the land into .^counties, one of them should be called by the same name. Thus for a mere whim, the name of the oldest to\}fn; the name of the ■whole settled part of the Province ; the name that would have a place in the affections of a large majority of the inhabitants of the new Province was effaced to gratify the caprice or vanity of . a friend. All great men occasionally do little things." Although Dr. Smith cites Ciarkson's Life of Penn, and Hazard's Annals, in support of this statement, it will not bear investigation. We know that Penn issued his proclamation three weeks after his arrival at Chester, to the several Sheriffs of the counties of Ches- ter, Philadelphia and Bucks, as well as the tljree Lower Counties, •to hold an election for a General Assembly, to convene at " Upland." The original letter of Penn, now in the Historical Society of Penn- ■ sylvania, addressed to several gentlemen requesting them to meet him on the following "so-called Thursday, November 2, 1682," is dated "Upland, October 29, 1682," the day after his arrival, clear- ly indicates that he did not change the name of this city, in the dramatic manner tradition has stated. But more conclusive is the ifact that in the list of the passengers on the "Welcome," Thomas Pearson's name does not appear, although in Armstrong's list the name of Pearson is found, to which is added, "supposed to be Robert," a statement that may well be questioned. As this mythi- cal personage is represented to be an eminent member of the So- ciety of Friends, the records of meetings ought to disclose his Christian name, but it has never been found among the list of the Chester from the Arrival of Wm. Perm to the year 1850. 19 early settlers. Hence we have reason to believe that the first per-- son of the name of Pearson in this Province was Thomas, and we know that neitlier of the Thomas Pearsons — for there were two of that name — came here imtil the following year, 1683. Thesecond of that cognomen in a diary memorandum written by himself, also in the Historical Society's collection, clearly states when he came. To quote his own words, after setting forth his various adventures^ he says: — "On ye 25th day of July, in ye year 1 683, I set sail from Kingroad, in ye ' Comfort,' John Reed, Master, and arrived at Up- land in Pennsylvania ye 28th of September 1683," almost a yearafter Penn's arrival. In the report of the vestry of St. Paul's Church, Chester, to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in IToreign Parts, in the year 1704, occurs this sentence: "The people of Ches-- ter county shovi^ed very early zeal to have the Church of England worship settled amqng them. This county is so called because most of the inhabitants of it came from Cheshire, in England. Chester the chief town of the county is finely situated on the river Delaware." Bampfylde Moore Carew, the celebrated "King of the Mendi- cants," who, while escaping from banishment in Virginia, passed through Chester in 1739, in relating his adventures, records that he came "to Chester, so called because the people ^ho first settled there came for the most part from Cheshire. * * * ihe place is also called Upland." In fact the name of Chester, we know, was given to the county when Penn, shortly after his arrival, divided the settled parts of Pennsylvania into three divisions, in deference to the desire of the English settlers, the major part of whom had come from that locality in England, as stated in the extracts quoted; and the name of the shire town soon assumed that title, although its ancient name did not entirely disappear from familiar use until nearly three- quarters of a century had elapsed after William Penn's first visit to the Province. The Pearson story, for the first time, appeared in our Annals in Proud's History of Pennsylvania, a work which was not published until more than a century had elapsed after the incident is said to have occurred. On the 18th day of November, 1682, three weeks after bis ar^ rival, William Penn issued his writs to the Sheriffs of the three 20 Historical Sketch of Chester. • original counties of Pennsylvania, as well the three lower counties, requiring them in their respective bailiwicks, "to summon all free- holders to meet on the 20th instant and elect out of themselves, seven persons of most note for wisdom, sobriety and integrity to serve as their deputies and representatives in General assembly, to be held at Upland, in Pennsylvania, December 6 (4th?) next " In pursuance of this proclamation the Assembly met at Chester on the day designated, December 4, 1682, and organized by the elec- tion of Nicholas Moore, of Philadelphia county. President of the "Free Society of Traders," as Chairman of that body. The first two days of the session were consumed in hearing cases of contested election, the adoption of rules governing the meeting, passing the act of Union, which annexed' "the three lower counties," (those comprising the present State of Delaware) and providing for the naturalization of Ijie inhabitants thereof, as well as the Swedes, Finns and Dutch settlers in Pennsylvania. On the third day they received from William Penn the " Printed Laws, and the " Writ- ten Laws, or Constitutions." The " Printed Laws " were " the laws, agreed upon in England," which had been prepared by learned counsel there, at Penn's desire, and printed in that country, and the " Written Laws, or Constitutions," were the ninety bills pre- sented to the Assembly by the Proprietary, out of which the meet- ing passed the sixty-one chapters, of " the great body of the laws." A strange fact is that not one of those enactments, as adopted, is now in force in this Commonwealth. As soon as the statutes had been acted on. the members from the lower counties particularly, became anxious to return to their homes, and so intimated to the Assembly. The speaker considered this desire to adjourn as unbe- coming in the members, and bordering on an insult to the Governor. A committee of two of the deputies was appointed to wait upon Penn respecting it, and he consented " that the Assembly be ad- journed for twenty-one days, which was accordingly ordered by the Speaker." The body failed to meet again at the time designated by adjournment, and at the next regular Assembly in Philadelphia it is recorded that the Speaker " reproves several members for ne- glecting to convene at the time appointed when the House last ad- journed." A quarter of a century since an old structure stood on the west- Chester from the- Arrival of Wm. Penn to the year 1850. 21 ern side of Edgmont avenue, north of Second street, which was commonly termed " The Old Assembly House," because of the popular belief that it was in this building that the' first Assembly convened in Pennsylvania, December 4, 1682. Dr. George Smith, in his valuable History of Delaware County, conclusively establish- es the fact that this building was the first Meeting House of Friends in Chester, and was not erectel until 1693, hence the first Assem- bly, which held its session more than ten years before that date, could not have met in that structure. We know that on the 6th day of the 1st month, 1687, Joran Kyn, or Keen, made a deed con- veying a lot in Chester, adjoining his " lot or garding," to certain persons in trust " to use and behoof of the said Chester — the peo- ple of God called Quakers, and their successors forever," and on this lot, now included in William P. Eyre's ground, on Edgmont avenue, the ancient Meeting House was built. Dr. Smith thereupon argues that the Assembly must have met in the Court House, or as it was then known " The House of Defence," which stood on the eastern side of Edgmont avenue, above Second street, and so projected into the roadway, that when Edgmont ave- nue was regularly laid out as a street, it had to be removed. The Doctor rightly thinks, " It was the only public building in Upland, at the time, of which we have any knowledge." Martin, in his History of Chester, accepts the Doctor's conclusions as unquestion- ably accurate. Nevertheless, both of these able historians are in error in this. The thought escaped them that perhaps Penn saw- that the " House of Defence" was, too small for the purpose in- tended, and, therefore, a private dwelling was used for the meeting of the members. Mrs. Deborah Logan informs us in her notes to the " Penn and Logan Correspondence," that the Assembly con- •vened in the large, or, as then termed, " The Double House," by way of distinction, which James Sandilands, the elder, had erected for his own dwelling, which stood near the creek, and, subsequently, when the road to Philadelphia was laid out, near that highway. On an old plan of the Borough of Chester, made about 1765, now owned by William B. Broomall, Esq., of this city — a copy of which has been engraved for this work — the lot on which " The Double House " stood, is designated as beginning about two hundred feet southerly from the intersection of the present Edgmont avenue and 22 Hidorinal Sketch of Chester. Third street. The lot its3lf is about one Imia:lred and twenty feet 'front on the west side of Edgmont avenue. This House, which was spacious if not pretentious for those times — and would even now be regarded as an unusually large dwelling — had unfortunately been built with mortar mide of oyster shell lime, which proved ut- terly valueless. In a few years the building showed signs of decay, then became a ruin, and as such continued until the beginning of the preseut century, when its foundations were removed. In time its very existence was generally forgotten, so much so that, as is mentioned, some of our most accurate and painstaking historians were unacquainted with the fact that it had ever performed the im- portant part it did in our early Colonial annals. Penn, shortly after his arrival at Chester, sent for James Sandi- lands, the elder, to confer with him to the end that the capitol of the Province should be located at this point, for it was " talkt among the people " of that day " that it was Intent to have built a City (at Upland,) but that h^ and Sanderlin could not agree." The conclusion of this interview was that Penn had to look else- where for a site for the future metropolis of Pennsylvania. This error of the chief owner of land at Chester was disastrous in its results, and was discovered when too late to avoid its consequences, although an attempt was made to correct it, ii) a measure, on No- vember 19, 1700, when the petition of James Sandiland, the young- er, was presented to Governor William Penn — on his second visit to. the Colonies — and his Council, in session at New Castle, setting forth that the Royal Patent to the Proprietary gave him " absolute power to * * * erect and incorporate Towns, Hundreds and Counties and to incorporate Towns in Boroughs, & Boroughs into Cities & to make & counstitute Fairs & Markets herein, with all other covenient privileges & Immunities according to the merits of the Inhabitants & fitness of ye places. * # * And whereas ye Petitioner is possessed of a certain spot of land lying in sd Coimtie of Chester, verie fitt & naturally commodious for a Town k to that end lately caused ye sd spot of Land to he divided & Laid out into Lotts, Streets & Market place, a Draft & Model whereof (the gene- rallie desired & Leiked of by ye sd Inhabitants of sd Countie) is not- withstanding herewith presented & submitted to your honors for your approbation and consent " The same day, it was ordered, after €he^erfrom the Arrival of Wm. Penn to the year 1850. 23 the heirs of James Sandilands, the elder, had appeared before Oouncil, that " the Proprietary & Governor & Council having ap- proved of the within Petition & of the design thereof & Looking upon the place within proposed to be fitt for a Town did not onlie approve of ye within & annexed model, but also did erect & do hereby erect the said spot of Land so modelled & Laid, outt Into a Town provided the same do not encroach upon other men's Land "without their express consent under their Hands and Seals, and saving to the Proprietor & Governor & everie one their right." It is now -generally accepted as an historical fact that Philadelphia was not determined on as the site of Penn's city until he found that no arrangement could be made with Sandilands for lands for that purpose, at this place. The first street laid out by authority was ordered by the Grand Jury, 8th month 2, 1686, which body reports that they " doe lay out a street and a landing upon the creek to the corner lot far as over against the north west corner of the Court House fifty foote in breadth and from thence up the said Chester town for a street 30 foote in breadthe." This highway was at first called Chester street, then Front street, that runs along the creek, and now Edgmont street, or avenue. In 1689, the Grand Jury continued the street from the present Second street to low water mark on the Delaware river, and from the north-western corner of the then Court House, to low water mark on the creek. This latter short street seems to have been closed at a later date, perhaps before the year 1690, for David Lloyd had the Governor and Council, about that time, to lay out a street thirty-eight feet wide, on the line of the present Sec- ond street, from Chester creek to the plantation he had purchased from Neeles Laerson's heirs in 1689. The plot of the town appiroved by Penn, November 19, 1700, as shown by many ancient deeds, is almost exactly the plan of the old parts of this city as now laid out on the official map. Penn remained but a short time at the Essex House as the guest of Robert Wade, and after his return to Chester from New York — whither he had gone to « pay his duty " to the Duke of York, by a visit to the latter's representatives in that place — he lodged for the winter 'at the Boar's Head Inn, a noted public house at that 24 Historical Sketch of Chester. time, a description of which appears under its appropriate title else- where in this volume. Martin informs us on the authority of Mrs. Sarah Shoemaker, aged 92 years, who died near Chester in 1825, and who had heard her grandfather, James Lownes, often speak of the times of which I am now writing, that during the winters of 1682-'83, Upland presented a very animated appearance. It was the only place then in the Province known to English ship-owners, and consequently, as the destination of the vessels was this port, most of the emigrants landed here and several ships often rode at anchor at the same time off the hamlet. It is stated that the water at that time was deep near the western shore, and vessels could approach so closely to land that the trees would often brush their upper rigging. The name of Chester, the seat of justice for the new county of Chester, (for the whole territory heretofore termed Upland, had been divided by Penn into the three counties— Chester, Philadelphia and Bucks — which division is said to have been ordered by the Proprie- tary, November 25, 1682,) now appears to have been used in all oflScial documents and public records. Certain it is that at the Court, which convened here February 14, 1683, that name is em- ployed to designate the place where its session was held. Penn himself in several letters written from this town — for he did not re- move to Philadelphia until after March 10, 1683 — dated them sometimes Upland, but oftener Chester. Respecting the occur- rences of public interest during Penn's residence here, very little has been preserved, and the records are in a large degree devoted to matters pending before the Courts. It is stated that the Proprie- tary was present at Chester Creek Mills — now Upland — when the first dam was built, which in all probability was before the spring freshets of 1683, at which time the dam was swept away. Gabriel Thomas, in his History of Pennsylvania, written in 1698, In describing the condition of the Province at that time, presents an exhaustive list of the wild game and fruit which abounded near ■the settlements, and speaks in glowing terms of the plentiful har- vest which rewarded the. farmer for his toil. In 1683, fish were abundant, for it is recorded that the early fishermen could take six hundred fine fish at one draught. Richard Townsend states that, at Chester, in the year 1682, he and " Joshua Tittery made a net Chester from the Arrival of Wm. Penn to the year 1850, 25 and caught great quantities of fisli, which supplied ourselves and many others ; so that, notwithstanding it was thought near 3,000 persons came in the first year, we were so providentially provided for that we could buy a deer for about two shillings, and a large turkey for about one shilling." Quaint Gabriel Thomas, in striving to account for the fact that female wages were exorbitant at that period, remarks • " They (women) are not very numerous, which makes them stand upon high terms for their several services, in sempstering, washing, spinning, knitting, sewing, and in all the other parts of their employments. » * Moreover, they are usually marry'd before they are twenty years of age, and when once in thd.t noose, are for the most part a little uneasy, and make their husbands so too, till they procure them a maid servant to bear the burden of the work, as also in some measure to wait on them too " The dispute between Penn and LorJ Baltimore, respecting the boundary line of their colonies, had assumed such a form in a short period that it compelled the return of the former to England. To represent him in his absence he appointed Thomas Lloyd Presi- dent of Council, to vv'hom he delegated the executive authority in the Province, established a Provincial Court and a commission to sell and transfer the title of his lands to purchasers, and on Au- gust 12, 1684, sailed for Europe The history of Chester from this time until the return of William Penn, in 1700, is very meagre and what little is known between those years, will be noted under the article entitled Court Houses and Prisons, elsewhere in this volume, for it is simply in the records of Court, that any incident of public interest is found. In 1688, the inhabitants of the Province were greatly alarmed by reason of a rumor diligently circulated, that an Indian woman from New Jersey had informed an old Dutch resident near Chester, that the Aborigines had determined, on a designated day, to attack and massacre all the white settlers on the Delaware. To add to the general consternation about ten o'clock at night of the evening fixed upon by the savages to begin the attack, a messenger came hurriedly into Chester with the report that three families residing about nine miles distant, had been murdered by the Indians. The people of the town gathered to consider the startling intelligence, and at midnight a Quaker, resident here, accompanied by two youilg 26 Historical Sketch of Chester. « men, went to the place mentioned, and found that the parties there, iilarmed by this rumor, had abandoned their dwellings and fled to the homes of their parents at Ridley creek. The report had beei» also carried to PhiFadelphia — had reached, there while the Provin- cial Council was in session — and one of the members, from Chester county, volunteered to go to the Indian encampment on the Bran- dywine, provided five other persons would accompany him. They there learned that there was no truth in the rumor, and. were well received by the Indians, who assured them that they had no cause of complaint against the English. From the evidence in a contested election case in 1689, we learn that the ballot-box was in use here at that early day, for Griff Jones testified that " at Upland & all the Lower Countyes * * black and white beanes (were) put in a hatt, wch is a balloting in his sense & canot be denyed by the Charter when it is demanded." Chester at this time had considerable trade, and so great was the pressure upon it for entertaining travelers and strangers, that it is said almost every dwelling in the town was then a public house. In the fall of 1699, the yellow fever visited Philadelphia as a pestilence. Many of the inhabitants died of the disease, and the utmost alarm prevailed throughout the Province. Although we have no direct record that the malady made its appearance at Ches- ter, that such was the case may be inferentially concluded from the fact that the September Court adjourned without transacting any business, an incident without a parallel in our county's history. Later on, in November of that year, William Penn made his sec- ond visit to his Colony, although before leaving England he an- nounced that it was his intention to make it his permanent resi- dence. As the vessel sailed up the Delaware, the Proprietary caused it to be anchored off the town, and coming ashore he, for a second time, became an honored guest at the Essex House. Robert Wade, his friend, was dead, but Lydia, his widow, welcomed Penn, and here he met Thomas Story, who had recently returned from a religious journey to Virginia. The next morning, as is related by Clarkson, Penn was rowed across the creek in a boat to the eastern side, " and as he landed, some young men officiously, and contrary to express orders of some of the magistrates, fired two small sea pieces of cannon, and being ambitious to make three out of two, Chester from the. Arrival of Wm. Pew to the year 1850. 27 by firing one twice, one of them darting in a cartridge of powder before tlie piece was sponged, had his left arm shot to pieces ; upon ■which, a surgeon being sent for, an amputation took place." The young man, Bevan, thus injured, died the following April, and the expenses attending the nursing and ultimate burial of the wounded lad, were discharged by Penn. This, I believe, is the incident in which the traditionary account, before mentioned, of the injury to one of the crew of the " Welcome," arid the death of the sur- geon, had its origin, and that story is simply a fictitious outgrow th founded on the actual facts, just narrated. Penn was not destined to remain in his Coloiyf. William III. is believed to have regarded him in no friendly spirit, and when the Proprietary learned that the ministry, with tlie intention of con- verting the Provincial government into a Regal one, had introdued a bill to that effect in Parliament, the urgency of affairs compelled his prompt return to England. He sailed from Philadelphia, No- vember 1, 1701, never to return to the Commonwealth he had founded. Before his departure he established a Council of State, and appointed Andrew Hamilton as Deputy Governor. He had also, October 13, 1701, granted a charter to (Chester as a Borough, with the privilege of a market town, and declares, in defining the limits of the municipality, that it " shall ever hereafter be called Chester." Hon. Joseph J. Lewis, in his sketches of Chester county, states that an old woman at this place, many years after the events, re- lated that Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury, Governor of the Colony of New York from 1702 to 1708, visited Chester during the fall of the year first given, and that she remembers him because he was the Queen's cousin, and a Lord, and that he wore leather stockings. A more abandoned, infamous scoundrel than this same cousin of two Queen Regents of England, never cursed a people by his mis- rule. I merely allude to this visit of the Royal Governor, to de- monstrate that while our city in its earlier days has entertained dis- tinguished and noble men, its hospitality has also been extended to ' a rogue, in whom the gallows was cheated of its just due. Very little of interest attaches to the annals of this city for many years after this event. The Borough grew slowly, for in 1708 Old Mixon refers to it as containing " one hundred houses. " Bamp- 28 Historical Sketch of Chester. fylde Moore (iarew, in 1739, states that Chester " contains about a hundred houses, and a very good road for shipping." In 1754, Acrelius said " it had 120 houses," a statement which fully estab- lishes' the accuracy of Lewis Evan's assertion, in a letter written in 1 753, qi'oted by Martin, that " Chester, Bristol and Newtown have been long at a stand." Peter Kalm, the Swedish naturalist, in the fall of 1748, journeying from Wilmington to Philadelphia, mentions in his journal, " Chester, a little market town which lies on the Delaware. Tho houses stand dispersed. Most of them are built of stone, and two or three stories high, some are, however, made of wood." In 1713, the inhabitants of Chester county petitioned Governor Goodkin and Council " that ye Borough of the Town of Chester, in this Province may be made a free Port." The petition was referred to William Penn, who took no action in the matter ; the partial paralysis from which he suffered for several years before his death, had benumbed his faculties in a measure and sapped the energies that were once so elastic under adversities. His health gradually declined until July 30, 1718, at which date he died. At an early time in the Proprietary administration, a public pound was located on the lands of Robert Wade, and he was au- thorized to act as master. After his death it must have fallen into disuse. In 1722, an application was made to Court " for a Pound in said Chester ; whereupon the Court orders, that there be a Pound erected in the Market Place * » * 40 feet square well fenced with posts and railings, and a good rack in the middle of sd pound, and that Richd Marsden be keeper of the pound." In lat- ter years, as will be seen from an inspection of the old map of the Borough, in 1 765 the pound was located on the triangular lot made by the intersection of Market street and Edgmont avenue. On the afternoon of August 11, 1732, Thomas Penn, the son of the Proprietary, landed at Chester, and a messenger was dispatched to Philadelphia to apprise the Council, then in session, of his arri- val. The Secretary of that body immediately came to Chester, with the congratulations of the authorities, and " to acquaint him — Penn — that to-morrow they would in person pay their respects to him." The following day the Council, accompanied by a large number of gentlemen, visited the Borough, and " after dinner the Chester from the Arrival of Wm. Punn to the year 1850. 29 Proprietary with his company, now grown very numerous, sett out for Philadelphia." On September 19, of the following year, John Penn arrived at Chester, from England, and was here met and welcomed by his younger brother, Thomas, and a large number of gentlemen who had come from Philadelphia to greet the eldest son of the Founder. In 1739, the noted clergyman, G-eorge Whitfield, preached in Chester, and so great was his fame and the excitement throughout the Colony, -occasioned by his eloquence, that about seven thousand persons gathered here to listen to his sermon. It is said that a cavalcade of one hundred and fifty horsemen accompanied the no- ted divine hither. It was during this year that Bampfylde Moore Carew, heretofore mentioned, passed through Chester, and he re- lates how the people for many miles round flocked to the places where Whitfield was to preach. Carew came here on Sunday, " stayed all night, and the next morning he inquired of one Mrs. Turner, a Quakeress, who formerly lived at Embercomb. by Mine- head, in Somersetshire. Prom her he got a bill (money) and a re- commendation to some Quakers at Darby, about five miles further." At the time mentioned, this Mrs. Turner lived at the north-east corner of Third street and Concord avenue, in part of the house now owned by Mrs. Shaw. In 1739, when England declared war against Spain, an expedi- tion was proposed from the Colonies against the West Indies, and the Governor, in a proclamation calling for recruits, " to inlist in the Important Expedition now on Foot for attacking and plunder- ing the most valuable Part of the Spanish West Indies," notified the people of Chester and vicinity that those, who proposed to recruit, should call on James Mather in the Borough. The revolutionary period was rapidly approaching, and the peo- ple throughout the thirteen Colonies were aroused by the spirit of oppression which seemed to animate the English ministry in its dealings with the American Provinces. The First Continental Con- gress in Philadelphia, had, among other means to protect the liber- ties of the Colonies, resolved that committees should be chosen in every county, city and town, to observe the conduct of all people respecting the suspension of trade with the mother country, and it was responded to by Chester county, December 20, 1774, in the old 30 Historical Sketch of Chester. Court House in this city, when a committee was appointed consist- ing of sixty-nine of the most prominent men of the day; many of whom afterwards attained reputation in the State by their conduct during the struggle with Great Britain ; and one, the chairman, Anthony Wayne, achieved world-wide fame. The committee had frequent meetings thereafter at the public house of David Coup- land, still standing at the south-west corner of Fourth and Market streets. (An account of the building will be found elsewhere in this volume.) In December, 1776, it was proposed to institute hospitals for the . sick soldiers of the American army, at Darby, Chester, Marcus Hook, Wilmington and New Castle Tradition states that the old school house, torn down in 1874, and the house now owned and oc- cupied by Jonathan Pennell, on Edgmont avenue, were used for that purpose, and subsequently, as barracks for soldiers. During the year 1776 and part of '77, the signal and alarm Post, No. 8, was located at this place The war cloud, however, did not actually drift in this direction "until 1777, although during the preceding year, when the destina- tion of the English army which had evacuated Boston, was unknown, so large a body of soldiers was stationed at Chester and Marcus Hook that in both towns there were not sufficient houses to supply the troops with shelter, and hence, April 13th, 1776, the Commit- tee of Safety furnished " 100 good tents," for that purpose. In May of the same year the force in cantonment at this place num- bered nearly a thousand men, and one thousand pounds of gunpow- der, two thousand pounds of lead and twenty thousand musket car- tridges were ordered to be delivered to Col. Samuel Miles, com- manding the Associators of Chester county, while on the following day, the commissary was ordered by the Committee of Safety to " send down to Chester, for the use of the Provincial Troops under Col. Miles, sixty-five locks." On July 2, 1776, after it became evident that New York and not Philadelphia was the point menaced by the British Fleet and Army, Col. Miles was ordered to march his battalions to the latter city, and this town again was removed . from the hourly dread of battle in its neighborhood. In July, 1777, Chester again became the rendezvous of the raw levies from the county. While G-eneral Howe was at sea, and his Chester from the Arrival of Wm. Penn to the year 1850. 31 destination unknown, the alarm was intense among the people of the seaboard cities, and in this neighborhood it was not lessened when they comprehended that the Erfglish Commander, with a well disciplined and equipped army of eighteen thousand men had land- ed at the head of Elk river, and that Philadelphia was his objective point. In accordance with the request of Congress in the preced- ing April, a call had been made by Pennsylvania for 3,000 militia, and half of that number was encamped in Chester, which force General Armstrong had been assigned to command. On August 1, 1777, Washington passed through this place, southward, to check, if possible, the enemy's advance. September 11, 1777, that of the battle of Brandywine, was one of if not the most intensely anxious days Chester has ever known. The noise of the distant cannonading could be distinctly heard, like far away mutterings of thunder, and after the battle had been lost, the bearers of ill tidings traveled fast with their unwelcomed intelligence. Early in the afternoon, the first of the discomfited American forces began to straggle in, spreading all sorts of rumors regarding the results of the contest. When Lafayette, wounded in the foot, was brought hither, before he would permit his injuries to be dressed, he stationed a guard at Chester bridge to arrest the disorganized men and return them to their commands. Par into the night the retreating army kept marching into the town, and it is related that Col. Custer, of the Third Virginia Infantry, because of the darkness and to prevent his men being crowded off the approaches to the bridge, at the creek, fastened his handkerchief to a ramrod, and stood there holding it aloft as a signal, until hia command had filed by. At midnight, Washington addressed a letter to Congress, apprising that body of the loss of the battle. The missive is dated Chester, and tradition- ally in the Kerlin family, it is said, he wrote the letter at the Wash- ington House, on Market street. The disordered American army assembled back of the town, and the next day retreated to Philadel- phia. On September 15, Lord Cornwallis occupied Chester, and while here the residents of the Borough suffered severely from the depredations of the English soldiers. From thirty-one persons, nearly fifteen thousand dollars' worth of property was taken. Af- ter Philadelphia had been captured, General Howe landed a body of troops from New York here November 18. Lord Cornwallis, 32 Historical Sketch of Chester. with three thousand men, uniting with those already at this point, embarked on transports, and crossed the river to Billingsport. General Green, learning that his adversary outnumbered him, re- treated, abandoning the fort. In 1777, while the enemy had con- trol of Chester, it must have presented an animated appearance, for Major Olark, in a letter dated from Mrs. Withey's Tavern, No- vember 19, 1777, states that " eighty sail lie opposite this place, and eighty opposite Bridgeport." Joseph Bishop, an octogenarian, "who died many years since, stated that when a boy, he stood on the porch of the old Salkeld house, now the Perkins' mansion, in South ward, and watched the fleet practicing, and on several occasions, when receiving distinguished personages, the yard arms were man- ned and the vessels gaily dressed with many flags and streamers. It may have been that on one of these occasions, by mistake, a few- shots were fired into the town, one of which struck the Steamboat Hotel, another the Graham House, and a third the Eichardson House, north-east corner of Market and Second streets, although it is stated to have been an intentional act on the part of the Com- mander of the frigate " Augusta." During the winter of 1777, the " Vulture," the vessel iloted in our national annals as having carried Major Andre, when he ascended the Hudson to meet Arnold, laid oif Chester, and on her several prominent Whigs, of this neighborhood, were imprisoned. On April 8, 1782, the remarkable action between the Pennsylva- nia vessel of war, " Hyder Ali," commanded by Capt. Joshua Bar- ney, and the British ship, " General Monk," took place in Delaware Bay. Notwithstanding the latter outnumbered the former both in men and armament, she was compelled to strike her flag to the Continental vessel. The American commander brought his ship and prize, to Chester, where he left the " Hyder Ali," and in the " General Monk " sailed to Philadelphia. Capt. Jackson, the Eng- lish commander, who was seriously wounded, was brought to Ches- ter and placed in the family of a Quaker lady who nursed him un- til he entirely recovered from his wounds. At the close of the war, Chester, as all other localities, suffered greatly in the depreciation of the Continental currency, and many estates which had been in the families of their owners for half a Chester from the Arrival of Wm. Penn to the year 1850. 33 century were sold by the Sheriff, while business in the disturbed condition of affairs, was uncertain and precarious. The history of the removal of the seat of justice from Chester, is related in the article. Court Houses and Prisons, elsewhere in this volume, hence it requires no further notice here. In 1699, the yellow fever first appeared in Chester, and again in 1793, when the contagion was brought here by some boys who went in a boat to a vessel lying in the stream, on which there were seve- ral persons ill with the disease. In 1798, it again visited the Bo- rough. On that occasion, it is said, a woman who fled from Phila- delphia to escape the scourge there, died in this place, and as she had requested, previous to her death, that her body should be taken to the latter city for interment, the corpse, while being conveyed through the streets of this town, thus spread the seeds of disease. On Edgmont avenue, from Fourth street to the river, more than thirty persons died, and in the house adjoining Jonathan Pennell's residence, on Edgmont avenue, all the family, excepting a boy of five years, died from the malady. In 1 789, the new county of Delaware was erected, and with that exception, very little of public interest occurred in our annals until the year 1794, when the Whisky Insurrection broke out in Western Pennsylvania, at which time William G-rahamj in command of a company of cavalry from this neighborhood, responded to the call of President Washington In 1789, the latter passed through Ches- ter, in a coach-and-four with outriders, and received a congratula- tory address from the citizens of the town. The annals of our city are very meagre ' for the following half century, and for many years no new buildings were erected, while the po])ulation seemed to remain without any material increase. In October, 1814, an encampment of several thousand militia was es- tablished at Marcus Hook, and on the 14th of that month the com- pany of Capt. Morgan marched to Chester, where it remained for nearly two weeks awaiting the forwarding of camp equipage by the State authorities. The war, however, w,as nearly at its close, and these troops never took part in any engagement. In the same year the Bank of Delaware County was chartered. During the year 1836, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Balti- 34 Historical Sketch of Chester. more railroad was surveyed, and in 1838 was opened for public travel. On Aug. 5, 1843, occurred the " Lammas Flood," which wrought immense damage in Delaware county and in Chester Borough. The day had been rainy, but about half past five o'clock in the after- noon the water fell in torrents for the space of a half hour. The earth, water-soaked, turned off the rain into the feeders of the creeks, and the latter rose with unexampled rapidity. It is stated that a wave, several feet in height, moved down Chester creek like a wall, sweeping everything before it. The water rose here a foot a minute until it had reached a point twenty-three feet higher than the ordinary high water mark, and horses, wagons, animals and trees were hurled into the Delaware river. The railroad and the county bridge at Third street were both swept away. The loss of property along the stream in the Borough amounted to many thousands of dollars. In the fall of 1845, the agitation of the removal of the county seat from Chester to a more central location began, and the contest ended in favor of the removalists, by a decided popular vote at the election held in October, 1847, and in May, 1851, the Courts of Delaware county were for the last time held in the ancient Borough. C^^^ CHESTER FROM THE YEAR 1850 TO 1882. THE majority of the inhabitants of the venerable Borough be- lieved that the removal of the county seat to Media would be a fatal blow to the prosperity of the town, and that it would rapidly sink in population and as a business point. Few persons compre- hended that the hour for its advancement had come. The purchase by John P Crozer of the old Chester mill sit^ to the north-west of the Borough, the erection at that place of a cotton mill, and the lo- cation of James Campbell at Leiperville, to the northeast, where he built up a large business in manufacturing cotton goods, had di- rected the attention of a few thoughtful men to the possibilities and advantages of Chester as a manufacturing centre. To properly ap- preciate the position of the then Borough, in narrating the awaken- ing of the oldest town in Pennsylvania from the lethargy of a cen- tury and a half, it will be necessary to present a short sketch of the men who were to bring about this great change in our local history, as well as to introduce a brief description of Chester as it appeared thirty-two years ago. John Price Crozer was a Delaware countian by birth. His early life was passed on a farm, until he was twenty-seven years old, when he formed a partnership with George Gr. Leiper, and em- barked in business at the grist and saw mill on Kidley creek. Be- coming dissatisfied with that occupation, Mr. Crozer and John Lewis rented part of the grist mill from Judge Leiper, and ern- barked in cotton spinning. The new enterprise trembled often on the brink of disaster, but, ultimately, it began to return a profit, and when assured that he might venture to enlarge his business, he 36 Historical Sketch of Chester. purchased Mattson's paper mill and farm, on the west branch of Chester creek. Prom that hour his career was one of continued success, for so lucrative had his occupation become that, although in the freshet of 1843 his new factory, at Knowlton, was swept away, involving a loss of $50,000, yet within two years thereafter he pur- chased from John W. Ashmead the noted Chester Mills, together with some sixty odd acres of land, on which he began extensive im- provements. His subsequent career, how he attained great wealth, how he distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to public charities, educational and religious institutions, is well known to most of our citizens and need not be recapitulated here. James Campbell, of Stockport, England, came to this country a young man and sought employment in the factory of Mr. Phillips, at Rockdale. He subsequently was manager of the mills owned by James Howton, at Pennsgrove, now Grlen Riddle, until 1837, when the latter removed to Groveville, New Jersey, and the former de- clined to go to that point, although the position he held was ten- dered him at the new location. Thereupon Campbell started in business as a manufacturer in the machine shop of John Grarsed, at Pennsgrove, with only six looms — which had been made by his fa- ther-in-law, Mr. Garsed, for a party who became embarrassed and could not take them. From this small beginning his business in- creased until the opportunity was presented him to obtain the bark mill at Leiperville, to which building Hon. George G. Leiper erect- ed an additional story, to afford space for the machinery required in a cotton factory. At this locality Campbell was very success- ful and had accumulated considerable capital, when he removed to ■Chester, with the avowed object of developing the Borough into a manufacturing town. John Larkin, Jr., was born in Concord township, Delaware county, in 1804, where he worked at farming until he was twenty-three years of age, when he built a vessel and followed the water for seven years, during which time he sailed his own craft and worked hard at his calling. In 1840 he was elected Sheriff of Delaware county; in 1845-'46 he represented the district in the Legislature, and after the city of Chester was incorporated, he was elected its first Mayor in 1866 and again in 1869, and during the terni of six years in which he held the office he refused to accept any salary for his ser- Chester from the. year 1850 to 1882. 37 vices. He was one of the originators of the Chester Rural Ceme- tery, and the President of that Company since the death of Joshua P. Eyre. He is also Presi:lent of the Chester .Vlutuil Insurince Company, and of the First National Bank of this city. John M. Broomall is a native of this county, and in his busy life has* been teacher, lawyer. Legislator, Representative in Congress, Presi- dent Judge of the county, and a member of the Constitutional Con- vention of 1874. Mr. Broomall is a man of vast attainments in history, science, law and literature, in fact, no intellectual pur- suit in which he has engaged but evidences his mental powers and remarkable erudition. In 1840, the population of the Borough was seven hundred and forty persons of all ages and sexes. The town occupied, in a scat- tered manner, the space extending from the Philadelphia, Wil- mington and Baltimore railroad to the river, and from Welsh street to Chester creek. But a small part was built upon, and in the area given, most of the houses— many of them dilapidated — had been erected in the preceding century, and the place showed all the features of a finished town. The residence of Dr. William Gray, then but recently built, was an exception, as also that of Ma- jor William Anderson, and the mansion of Hon. Samuel Edwards, at the north end of Market street, and that of Joshua P., and Wil- liam Eyre, at the west end of Fifth, street, which were large, mod- ern and comfortable dwellings. A strange coincidence, however, was that each of the two latter houses stood directly in the way of an extension of the streets mentioned, showing that at the time they were built the popular belief was that Chester would never grow sufficiently to require the use of these thoroughfares, and, in fact, no streets at those points were ever laid down on any map, previous to the year 1860. Many of the inhabitants owned the houses they occupied, and there was singularly little desire either to buy or sell land. It was remarked that a property held for sale would not bring a fifth of its value, while a person wishing to buy would have to give ten prices for what he wanted, so loath were the owners to part with their real estate. The change which has since that time so developed the little fishing village, for Chester was scarcely more than that, first began to show itself about 1842. A few properties then changed owners at fair prices. What such 38 Historical Sketch of Chester. prices were may be gathered from the fact that about 1844 the liotel now owned by Henry Abbott, with the ground extending from Fifth street to Dr. Monroe's office^ and from Market street to the rear of the stables, was offered for $2700, and only an accident 'prevented the sale. The great difficulty in the way of Chester was> that it was surrounded by large farms held by persons in easy cir- cumstances, who would not sell a foot of ground at any price, and who looked upon those who proposed to build a city here as visionary men, who would run themselves in debt and ultimately fail. Time, however, brought these farms into the market. Death and debt have no respect for conservatism, and by degrees these agencies- worked in behalf of the change that was dawning. The first of these tracts of land that came into the hands- of the progressive spirits who were guiding the new order of things, was that of Wil- liam Kerlin, a fifty-acre plot, lying between the Post road and the river, on the west bank of Chester creek. On this tract the famous Essex House stood, and a few of the trees which grew on the river bank when Penn landed, were still standing, although much decayed, marking the spot where his feet first trod on the land of the great Commonwealth he founded. The Essex House stood on the site of the present brick dwelling at the north-west corner of Front and Penn streets. It was a story and a half in height, its south-east gable fronting the river, the rear or south-west side facing ('oncord avenue, and its front, with a com- modious porch, was to the creek. About one hundred and ten feet in a north-easterly direction from the porch, stood the trees under which Penn landed. This estate, then containing five hundred and sixty acres, had been granted by Richard Nichols, Governor General under the Duke of York, by patent, dated June 1, 1668, to "Justina Armguard alias vpo Papegay of Prinse Doope " daughter of Gover- nor Printz, in fee, and she, March 21, 1673, for eighty pounds ster- ling, sfild the estate to Robert Wade, who built the house where Penn was entertained in 1682. The Proprietary, by letters patent, June 5, 1684, confirmed this tract of land to Wade. On January 9, 1689, Wade made his will, in which he devised three hundred and sixty acres of the estate to Robert Wade and Lydia Wade, the children of his brother Thomas. His nephew, Robert, dying un- married and without issue, his interest vested in his sister Lydia, Chester from the year 1850 to 1882. 39 who had married Philip Eilhirz. The latter and his wife, June 1, 1702, conveyed the estate to John Wade, in fee, and he, with his wife Frances, August 24 and 25, 1733, transferred it to Joseph Parker, in fee, and the latter, July 5, 1736, leased the tract of fifty acres, afterwards the estate of William Kerlin, to John Wade, for the term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years, at a yearly rent of twelve pounds sterling, two barrels of cider and ten bushels of apples. Wade conveyed the lease to James Mather, who died Jan- uary 11, 1780, and his estate proving insolvent, his interest in the leasehold was s^^ld by Ezekiel Leonard, Sheriff, 5th mo., 27, 1789, to Eleazer Oswald, who in turn, the same day conveyed it to Wil- liam Kerlin, who by his will dated November 28, 1804, devised the leasehold to his son William. It was he who owned the estate in 1850. John M. Broomall, then residing in Upper Chichester, supposed that he had bought the farm in 1846, at one hundred and fifty dol- lars an acre, but the agent, Charles D. Manley, though authorized to sell at that price, was, to his great mortification, unable to get his principal to execute the deed, and the sale fell through. In the early part of 1849, Mr. Broomall, who had in the meanwhile re- moved to Chester, purchased the farm again of Mr. Kerlin himself after considerable negotiation, at two hundred dollars an acre. A time was fixed for executing the contract of sale, but before the day came, Mr. Kerlin again changed his mind. In December, fol- lowing, John Edward Clyde, who was quite anxious that a sale should be effected, meeting Mr. Kerlin on the street, agreed to purchase the farm, and insisted that the former should go at once to the oflSce of Mr. Broomall. The latter declined to enter into a negotiation except upon the condition that the deed should be forth- with executed and the sale consummated, if a price could be agreed upon. The condition was accepted, Hon. Edward Darlington was sent for as counsel for Mr. Kerlin, and in half an hour the deed was executed, the price paid being two hundred and fifty dollars an acre. During the negotiations in the early part of 1849, Mr. Broomall had offered to John P. Crozer and John Larkin, Jr., each an equal interest with himself in the farm he then believed he had purchased from Mr. Kerlin. Both of these gentlemen were natives of the county of Delaware, whose attention had been attracted to 40 Historical Sketch of Chester. Chester as the site of a future city if it could only get room to grow, and they had been looking at the Kerlin farm as a possible outlet. Before the actual purchase took place, Mr. Larkin had the opportunity of buying a large part of the farm belonging to John Cochran, to the north of the town, now forming a considerable portion of the North ward. He therefore declined to accept Mr. Brooniall's proposal, and the Kerlin farm was acquired by Mr. Cro- zer and .Mr. Broomall in equal shares, the latter taking upou him- self the management of it, with the advice and pecuniary aid of the former. On. January 5, 1850, John Larkin, Jr., purchased eighty-three acres of land, which had formerly been a race-course, from John Cochran. This tract had been included in the estate of David Lloyd, and the. greater part of it was embraced in the purchase. May 1, 1741, made by Joseph Hoskins from Grace Lloyd, and which he devised to his nephew, John Hoskins, of Burlington, New Jersey. The latter sol'd the property to his son, Raper Hoskins, March 22, 1791, and he dying, seized of the property, his widow, Eleanor, administered to the estate, and sold it, April 27, 1799, to Thomas Laycock. The latter dying, and his heirs making default in payment, the property was sold by John Odenheimer, Sheriff, October 26, 1806, to Anthony Morris, who in turn sold it to Major William Anderson, and the latter conveyed it to John Cochran, May 26, 1823, who, dying intestate, the estate was conveyed by the heirs to John Cochran, the younger, who sold it to John Larkin, Jr., at the time already stated. The entire tract was in one en- closure, the only improvement so far as buildings were concerned, was the small stone house, still standing, with its gable end to Edg- mont avenue, below Twelfth street, and a frame stable. The land, after it ceased to be a race-course, had been used as a grazing lot for cattle. Both tracts were laid out in streets and squares, and almost im- mediately signs of improvement began to manifest themselves in the present North and South wards. Many of the old residents looked on in amazement, and often the quiet remark went round, " These men will lose every dollar they have in this J)usiness." The enterprising men, however, paid little attention to these prog- nostications of misfortune. Dwelling houses were erected, streets Chester from the year 1850 lo 1882. 41 laid out and graded, and capital was invited to locate in this vi- cinity. Early in the year 1850, James Campbell, of Ridley, pur- chased the lot and bowling alley formerly belonging to the Dela- ware County Hotel, which lot was located on the north side of Fourth street where part of the Market House now stands This building he altered to receive looms, and in March, 1850, within three months of the purchase of the Kerlin and Cochran farms, for the first time the nois?. of the shuttle was heard in the Borough. When the public buildings were sold, Mr. Campbell bought the prison and workhouse, and at much expense he changed the ancient structure into a cotton mill, thus making the first permanent es- tablishment in which textile fabrics were woven within the bounds of the present city of Chester. In 1856, John P. Crozer conveyed his interest in the joint pro- perty to Mr. Broomall for the cost and legal interest thereon reserv- ing only the half-square of ground on Penn and Second streets, where the Baptist church now stands. This was Mr. Crozer's own proposition, and on being reminded that more than enough land had been sold to pay the entire costs, leaving four-fifths of it as clear profit, he replied that he had gone into the enterprise not to make money but to aid in the development of Chester, an^ he was quite content that the profits should go to Mr. Broomall who had done the chief part of the work ; that his assistance was no longer neces- sary, but that he would let his capital remain to be repaid by Mr. Broomall, with interest, at his own time and convenience. Of course this offer was gratefully accepted. Shortly after, when Mr. Broomall learned that the fee simple title to the Kerlin tract could be purchased for nine hundred and twenty dollars, from the execu- tors of the estate of Dr. Albanus C. Logan, the great-grandson of Joseph Parker, he availed himself of the offer, and on August '24, 1858, bought the rent and reversions in the leasehold he had ac- quired from William Kerlin nearly ten years before that date. In the present North ward, Mr. Larkin, in spite of great opposi- tion, carried out his designs fully. It is related that although he laid out the streets in that part of the town and dedicated them to the public, the Borough authorities refused to keep the highways in rfep.air, and at his own expense he maintained a force of men at work upon them. On one occasion when a member of the Town 42 Historical Sketch of Ghester. Council complained that the streets in the old part of the Borough were neglected, contrasting them with those of Larkintown, which were neat and well kept, and declaring that the public moneys should not all be expended in one locality, another member in- formed the speaker that Chester had never contributed a dollar for that purpose, and that Mr. Larkin had personally paid for all the highwajs made as well as maintaining them in repair. >lot only did he do this, but he constantly built houses, stores, foundries, shops and mills, in conformity with a rule he had adopted at the beginning of his enterprise, that every dollar he received from the sale of lands or buildings should be expended in further improve- ments ; and hence, for any person desiring to start in business, he would erect the required, structure, and lease it to him or them, with the privilege of purchasing the property at its cost price with- in ten years. Mr. Larkin has built over five hundred houses and places of business, several being large cotton mills. In 1881, he sold the last vacant building lot remaining out of the original eighty-three acres he had bought as an unimproved tract, thirty-one years before. More than thirty years Mr. Larkin spent industriously and earnestly in making the North ward what it is, and only during the last ten jfears did he receive much assistance, from the labor of others to the same end, in dotting it all over with dwellings and in- dustrial establishments. To return to the river front ; Mr. Broomall, in conjunction with William Ward, in 1862, purchased the farms of Edward Pennell, James Laws and John Jeffery, and in 1863, together with Mr. Ward and Messrs. Seyfert & McManus, of Reading, he purchased the farms of George Wilson, John J. Thurlow and William John- son, and in 1871, as a member of the Chester Improvement Com- pany, he bought the farms of William H. Morton and Isaac Eyre. He laid out and named the streets between the old Post road and the river, and between Chester creek and Trainer's Third street mills, and only two of the forty-one names have since been changed, Essex street and Salkeld street, the citizens refusing to take, but by a common movement, the former became Concord street, and the latter Broomall street. The first manufacturing establishment in Chester was the ma- chine shop and foundry of Kitts & Kerlin, and there, in 1837, was Chester from the year 1850 to 1882. 43 erected the first stationary steam engine, " and its advent," says Mr. Broomall, in a sketch of Chester, in 1872, "produced more sensation among the simple villagers than did the downfall of the French Monarchy." The next engine introduced was one built by this firm about 1840, and used by the late Judge Frederick J. Hinkson iu the old Brobson "tannery, on Edgmont avenue. The first manufactory of textile goods was that of James Campbell, in the old bowling alley before mentioned, in 1 850, shortly after en- larged by his purchase of the county property, a description of which will be found under the title Court Houses and Prisons, in Chester. The first business establishmant below Chester creek was the saw mill and lumber yard of Thomas M. Smith, who about 1851, purchased the square of ground between Penn and Concord streets, on the south side of Front street, for $900. Then followed the sash factory of Lewis Thatcher ; a small mill built by the late Alderman Joseph Entwisle, for bleaching cotton ; the dye works of John Gartside and Samuel Cliff, and Benjamin Gartside's mill, all in the South ward. In 1854, Dr Bonsai and Abraham Blakeley built what is now the Arasapha mills in North ward, and Samuel Montgomery erected the first mill put up by him, known afterwards as Lilley & Montgomery's, in South ward. John Larkin, Jr., built the Broad street mill for James Campbell, and Mr. Broomall erected for T. B Price the machine shop at Third and Franklin streets. South ward, which Samuel Eccles, Jr., chdnged into the Mohawk mills, now operated by Robert Hall & Son. The ship yards of Thomas Rea'ney and William Frick, since of John Roach & Sons, and other industrial establishments followed in rapid succession in all parts of the city until Chester has now upwards of thirty-five cotton and woolen mills, logwood works, the extensive machine shops of Robert Wetherill & Co. ; the Combination Iron and Steel Works : the Eureka Cast Steel Company; H. B. Black's Edge Tool Works; H. C. Eyre & Co., and James Massey's machine shops ; Morton, Black & Bro.'s planing mill; the sash factories of Miller Cox, Stroud & Co., and Henry M. Hinkson ; several carriage factories and many other industries which have given to this city a national repu- tation as a manufacturing centre. The entire river front in South ward is now occupied with flourishing business establishments ex- tending along and beyond the city limits for more than three miles. 44 Historical Sketch of Chester. The graduates of the Pennsylvania Military Academy have spread £1)6 reputation of Chester, as an educational point, in every State in the Union ; Grozer Theological Seminary stands second to no sliiiikr institution in the land in preparing young men for the min- istry, and Prof Gilbert's Academy is noted for thoroughness in intellectuil training. Few eastern towns have exhibited the enterprise and vitality which have characterized Chester since the energetic men I have mentioned aroused it from its inertness thirty odd years ago, and began to invade the slumbers of the venerable hamlet. In 1852, F. & A. Wiggin, of New York, purchased the remain- der of the Cochran estate in North ward, and laid it out in streets and offered the property for sale in lots. In 1862, Crosby P. Mor- ton — from whom Morton avenue takes its name — laid out the large tract of ground south of the old Queen's Road, in Middle ward, in streets and squares. He erected the Chester Dock' Mills, (now Lewis & Roop's) cut a dock and built the saw and planing mill at that point, since known as Morton, Black & Brother's, and erected, fifteen dwelling houses. His death was a public misfortune, inas- much as he proposed to make greater improvements had his health not entirely broken down. In 1864, Spencer Mcllvain laid out twenty-six acres of the old Caldwell farm in North ward, in streets, and in 1865, John Hinkson and Henry Mcllvain made extensive improvements on this tract of ground. They built the Continental cotton inills for John Green, the Abgadpn mills for Barton & Cot- ton, the Sunnyside mills for James Ledward, and about 'thirty dwel- ling houses. This enterprise was followed by John Cochran and John Barton, who purchtised part of the fiyre farm in South ward, and brought it into market. Mr. Cochran built many houses, as did also Lewis Ladomus and others in various parts of the town, and Gen. Edward F. Beale, within a few years, has sold many valu- able lots in the business part of the city, on easy terms, and sup- plied the money to those wishing to build thereon, which has greatly improved Edgmont avenue above the railroad, and has re- sulted in the erection of many imposing dwellings and roomy stores. In 1856, gas was introduced into Chester, and twelve years later water was distributed to the public by the Water Board from the basin on Concord Avenue. Previous to that, wells and pumps sup- Chester from the year 1850 to 1882. 45 plied the people, and the scarcety of that element in the Borough, frequently caused much inconvenient to the large manufactures. ' When Mr. Campbell first established his mill, he was compelled to draw all the water used in the mill from the creek. During the civil war, Chester's records is excelled by no town of a like size in the nation. She gave freely of her men and means for the preservation of the government. In the early days of the Re- bellion, when the news of the firing on Port Sumpter had just startled the loyal North into activity, the intelligence was one even- ing brought to Chester, that a low black schooner was coming up the river to destroy the town and burn the bridges on the railroad. The citizens turned out promptly, organized themselves into a mili- tary company for defense, and, that that body did not cover itself with heroic laurels is simply due to the fact, that the enemy learning of the preparations made to receive them, discreetly refused to as- cend the Delaware as far as this place. The Crum creek campaign, however, deserves a chapter in the unwritten history of that trying period in our country's story. Subsequently John P. Crozer ten- dered the buildings since known as the Crozer Theological Seminary as a hospital for wounded soldiers, and many maimed men, both in the North and South, to this day greet the name of this city with grateful recollections of the thousand kindnesses shown them by its residents, while they were inmates of the national- hospital here. By. Act of Assembly, February 13, 1866, the ancient Borough was incorporated into a city. Hon. John Larkin, Jr., was elected the first Mayor, serving two consecutive terms from 1866 to 1872^ and was succeeded by Dr. J. L. Porwood, who was honored in being the executive of the city during the National Centennial, holding the office for three terms, from 1872 to 1881. He in turn was fol- lowed by Hon. James Barton, Jr., the present incumbent, whose term will include the observances of the Bi-Centennial Landing of William Penn at Chester. A peculiar circumstance is that each of the persons who have been Mayors of this city, are representatives of old Delaware county families, and the ancestry of all of them can be traced backward in our county's annals to the coming of the * first settlers of their name which was almost coeval with that of Penn himself. COURT HOUSES AND PRISONS AT CHESTER. THE Swedish settlers at Upland must have had a crude but generally accepted system of judicial authority reposed in some person or persons, to preserve the public peace, at least, if no power to enforce right between parties in civil disputes was recognized. In the lapse of time we have lost all record or tradition even respect- ing the tribunal which administered even-handed justice according to the rude notions of those early times. The first mention we have of a Court being held at Upland is found in the " Records of Up- land Court" itself, from 1676 to 1681, edited and annotated by Edward Armstrong,- Esq. , and published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. From this valuable work the greater part of our present knowledge of the judicial proceedings of the early days of the Province is derived. At the session of Upland Court, November 14, 1676, an order was made providing that Neeles Laerson be paid " for his charges for keeping the Court last year," and that the former clerk, William Tom, " deliver to the present clerk, Eph. Herman, the records and other public books and writing belonging to the Court." This order ~was obeyed, but the documents were found to be in such confusion that Tom was order to properly arrange them before he transferred them to his successor. Tom, however, died in 1677, and the records, being still in his possession at the time, are now lost to posterity. * The inn of Laerson is believed to have been on Edgmont avenue, north of the present Second street. He was the owner of 181 acres of land in Chester, covering a large part of the present thickly built up portion of the city to which I am now referring. Neeles Laer- Court Houses and Prisons at Chester. 47 son was a quarelsome neighbor, as will be seen by an examination of the records. In 1678, James Sandilands, on behalf of the inhabit- ants of Upland, called the attention of the Court to the fact that Laerson had built a fence closing the old and usual way to the mea- dow, which obstruction the Court ordered the latter to remove. On the same day the church wardens complained that in taking posses- sion of two lots in Chester, which he had bought from Dominie Lasse Carolus, he had included some of the church or glebe lands. The Court ordered that he should be allowed that which he had bought, but, if it was found that he had taken more than was by right his, it should be annexed to the church lots. The first Court of which we have information was, as shown, held at Learson's inn, but the justice ordered November 13, 1677, that Captain Hans Jargin, who had been occupying the building as a bar- racks for his company, should " fit up " the House of Defence or Block House and furnish it "fitt for the Court to sitt in against ye next Court." Although there is no positive record showing that the House of Defence was used by the Court for its sessions, it is now generally conceded that the evidence fully established the fact that it was so occupied. This building, which was constructed of logs, stood on the east side of Edgmont avenue, about eighty-four feet from the present Second street ; was rectangular in shape, and was fourteen by fifteen feet in dimension. It was erected at an angle to Second street and extended into the roadway of Edgmont avenue. Neeles Learson, March 13, 1678, was ordered by the Court " to make or leave a lane or street from Upland creek to ye House of Defence or County House " between that time and the next Court, and in default to be fined a.t the discretion of the judges. As the early settlers traveled almost wholly by water, it was very essential that there should be free access from the creek to the public build- ings, and this means of communication the pugnacious Laerson seems to have interrupted until the strong arm of the law dealt sum- marily with him. How long the House of Defence was used as the public buildings of the county, I cannot say, but in 1703, after two other building in succession had been occupied by the Court, the Grand Jury presented the old Block House " as being a nuisance and dangerous of taking fire, and so would endanger the town." " The Court," so runs the old entry on the docket, " in deliberate 48 Historical Sketch of Chester. consideration, ordered the said house to be pulled down and that -Jasper Yeates, Chief Burgess of the Borough of Chester, shall see "the order performed." Previous to 1665, there seems to have been no place for the detention of prisoners in Chester for two years be- fore that date, " John Ward for sundry Felons, committed to the custody of the Sheriff, and made his escape with irons upon him." The third Court House, or the third building wherein Court was held, was built in 1684^'85. Dr. Smith, the late able historian of Delaware county says : '' A jail was erected at the same time, but. there is reason to believe that it was built near the creek, and that there was a street laid out between the two buildings." Henry Hollingsworth, who was a Friend, " for cutting the eaves of the new prison," was dealt with by meetiug the same year. This Court House, both Dr. Smith and John Hill Martin believe, was located on the east side of Edgmorft avenue ; and in the draft of the first settled part of Chester, in Smith's History, it is marked as being between the House of Defence and the Hoskin's house, kijown to us of the present generation as the Graham house. The student of our ancient anuals will find more confusion, in the authorities re- specting the sites of the several Court Houses, than in any other details of the early days of the Colony. This last building, after it was no longer used for county purposes, was ordered by the Court, at the March session, 1701, " to be set on sale the 6th day of the third month next, papers to be set up to give notice that it is to be sold at Vandew." Whether the sale was had, accortting to order, I do not know, but the property must have passed to Ealph Fishbourn, of Chester, gentleman, for in the latter part of the year 1705, the Legislature passed an act " to assure, grant and convey unto Balph Fishbourn one messuage, cottage house, or tenement, and lot of ground there- unto belonging, situated in Chester, in the county of Chester, for- merly known by the name of the ' Old Court House.' " The fourth Court House, so far as its foundation is concerned, is still standing on the west side of Edgmont avenue, nearly opposite the House of Defence, its precise location being two hundred and fifty-six feet six inches from the south-west corner of Edgmont avenue and Third street. It was built by John Hoskins, in 1695, and he conveyed the lot to the county the same year. The old O '4; a d ' 33 Court Houses and Prisons at Chester. 4^9 building, now owned by Jonathan Pennell, has a part of the wall of this Court House standing in the northern gable of the present structure, between the two end windows, and extending up nearly to the second story. The old part of the wall and that whieh was added after it ceased to be the county building, is still easily dis- cernible. The jail was in the cellar, and the iron rods which for- merly barred the prisoners' escape from confinement, while admit- ting fresh air to the cells, still remain in the weather-stained frames in the foundation walls. The Court room and Jury rooms were in the first and second stories. At the same Court, March 1701, at which the sale of the old Court House erected in 1684 was ordered, the prison being found inadequate to retain the culprits, J asper Yeates, Ralph Fishbourn, Joseph Cobourn and Andrew Jobe, were appointed supervisors to build a new prison on the grounds of James Sandilands, the youny- er, and were instructed that the erection should be twenty-five feet in length by eighteen feet in width in the clear. This structure, so far as the prison was concerned, was built, for the old draft of Chester, now owned by William B. Broomall, Esq., locates this building as south of the Court House built by Hoskins in 1695, and Sandilands, by his attorney, David Lloyd, in open Court, de- livered a deed for the land to the commissioners of the county. Within the walls of the old goal, languished, in 1718, Hugh Pugh and Lazarus Thomas, who were hung May 9, of that year for the murder of Jonathj,n Hays : and here, too, in 1722, were detained William Hill, Mary Woolvin, and James Battin, under sentence of death. The first two were reprieved for twelve months by Sir William Keith, Deputy Governor, but Battin was directed to be executed and hung in irons in the most public place. I have serious doubt whether the Court House alluded to in the n report of the Grand Jury of the 24th of February, 1701, was ever built. The Grand Inquest, on that occasion, called the attention of the Court to " the necessity of a Court Hous and prison hous," but stated also that " there is little money in the bank, and that many have not paid their moiety 4 rate of the last assessment, de- sire that such may be forced." They also recommended the speedy gathering of the county tax remaining unpaid, and requested the Justices to issue warrants therefor, and end their report with the 50 Historical Sketch of Chester. declaration that in their opinion " Law and Justice cannot have its perfect courc without such housis for their distribution as afore- said." We know that at the December Court, 1701, the Justices ordered repairs to be made " to the court and prison hous," and appointed Walter Martin, John Hoskins and Henry Worley to be supervisors and oversee the work, with power to provide materials, employ workmen, and to finish the repairs as speedily as possible. The supervisors were also instructed to provide a pair of stdcks and a whipping post. Whether the expense of the building of the new Court, as desired by the Grand Jury, in 1701-'2, was greater than the county could undertake, cannot now be determined, but there is no documentary evidence to show that such a structure was ever erected, and, I endorse the opinion of Dr. Smith and John Hill Martin, that the next Court House, in chronological order, was the old building on Market street, known to us of the present day as the City Hall. The fifth Court House, including the tavern of Neeles Laerson, in the number, was the massive stone structure still standing on the west side of Market street, which was built in 1724, the date stone being in the south wall, but covered with the dull brownish preparation which still defaces the ancient edifice, and hides the numerals from sight. The building has the pent roof projections over the first-story windows, as was the style of architecture of that day, and as originally constructed was surmounted with a small belfry rising from the centre of the. roof, in which formerly hung a bell, with the words " Chester, 1729," cast in the metal. The bay or semi-circular projection at the north side, in the rear of the Judges' bench, was added at a latter date. The jury rooms were in the second story of the building. Dr. Smith tell us that tradi- tion has handed down an incident •' as having happened during the building of the Court House, or some other public building in Ches- ter," which he relates as follows : " During the progress of the work a young lady was observed to pass and repass the building daily, dressed in very gay a,ttire. After the promenade had been continued for some time, one of the work- men, less mannerly than his associates, upon the appearance of the lady, called out : " In silk and scarlet walks many a harlot." Court Houses and Prisons at Chester. 51 The young lady, feeling indignant at the insult, promptly replied : " By. line and rule works many a fool," Unfortunately for the tradition connecting this incident with Chester, the same story is told respecting the erection of an edifice in York, England, which building antedates the discovery of America by the Grenoese mariner, and the anecdote is related of several localities in Great Britain years before we have Jinowledge that any European had settled at Upland. When the new Court House was finished an Act of Assembly was procured, " to enable the trustee to sell the old Court House and prison belonging to the borough and county of Chester," and in 1725, the building mentioned, the one built in 1695, and part of the , wall of wljich stands in the house now owned by Jonathan Pennell, on Edgmont avenue, was sold to Wm^ Preston, of Philadelphia, mariner, for £27. The presumption is that the old jail and workhouse, which stood at the north-west corner of Fourth and Market streets, were built in the same year as the Court House, but we knew that the old Prothonotary's office, which still stands, falling back from the pre- sent building line of Market street, and now owned by Jas. Hampson, was not erected in that year, for at " the private session " of the Court, held at the house of John Hannum, in Concord, December 15, 1724, Joseph Parker petitioned the Court, " setting forth ye great danger ye records of ye county lay in, as well as by casualities of fire, as other accidents;" the Court "allows ye petition to be reasonable, and orders ye clerk to present ye same before ye com- missioners and assessors of ye same county, in order that they may fit a room in ye new Court House for keeping ye said records in ; and when prepared order ye old clerk to transmit all ye said records to ye place so appropriated accordingly, and not to be removed with- out ye Court's direction." Indeed, I much doubt whether that building of Mr. Hampson antedates the Revolutionary war, and my reasons for that conclusion are these : Joseph Parker succeed- ed David Lloyd, as Prothonotary of the Courts, and at his death, in 1766, was succeeded by Henry Hale Graham, who retained that office until March 26, 1777, when Thomas Taylor was appointed to succeed Mr. Graham. Taylor never assumed the duties of the posi- tion, and Benjamin Jacobs was appointed April 4, of the same year. 52 Historical Sketch of Chesfer. On the 28th of July, the records of the county were still in Mr, Grrahatn's possession, for on that date, the Executive Council au- thorized Caleb Davis — Benjamin Jacobs not having qualified — whO' was appointed in Jacob's stead, to " enter the dwelling and out- houses of H. H. Graham, take possession of the books and papers, of the county, and remove them to a place of safety. " Joseph Parker had kept the records in an office alongside his dwelling house — the old Logan house on Second street — and Henry Hale Graham had after that deposited the records in his office, the one- story building on Edgmont avenue, north of Graham street, now belonging to the estate of Henry Abbott, deceased. It seems that in the growth of the business before the county Court, the rooms in the second story of the Court House were necessary for the use of the Grand and Petit juries, and hence the order of the Court of December ISj 1874, had to be disregarded. The Prothonotary's office, I am of opinion, must necessarily have been erected subse- quent to the battle of Brandywine, for it was the dread of the threatenad British attack on Philadslphia, which occasioned the alarm of Cpuncil as to the safety of the county records, and called forth the order to Caleb Davis. The old county prison and workhouse, as I said before, were built at about the same time as the Court House. The jail was two-stories high, built of square cut stone, and extended westwardly along Fourth street. In the front part of the building was. the SherifPs house. This was a structure two stories and an attic in height, presenting in the front to the street, the general style of the Court House. Back of the prison and extending along Fourth street was the workhouse, also of stone. (Mr. William Beatty has recently from memory prepared an excellent picture of the old prison and workhouse.) In 1.741, the Court House and Jail were repaired and painted, and a well dug in the Court House yard. The old pump, with a heavy iron handle, stood, within the memory of many of our older residents, a nuisance in winter, because of the drippings there- from forming ice and rendering its locality a dangerous one to pe- destrians. Many years ago the trunk was taften out and the well filled in. Part of the old brickwork of the well is under the front foundation of the store No. 404 Market street. During the year just mentioned, the commissioners paid Nathan Worley j610 for Court Houses and Prisons at Chester. 53' planks used in flooring the two dungeons on the east side of the prison, and Thomas Morgan was paid j65 lis. 6d. for 150 pounds of spikes used in laying the dungeon floors. In front of the goal and extending to the Court House doors was a double row of Lom- bardy poplars, which afforded a pleasant shady walk in the summer, and frequently during periods of political excitement, here the ora- tor of the day held forth and saved the nation by his noisy mouth- ings. The old trees at lengtfi grew so unsightly, many of their branches having died, that over half a century ago the poplars were cut down and a double row of lindens were planted to replace the ancient trees under whose towering branches our Revolutionary sires discussed the Boston Port Bill and other measures preceding the actual outbreak of hostilities between the Colonies and the mo- ther country, and within the venerable' structure proceedings were had to raise the quota of the Continental troops required from Chester county, as in after years similar meetings were held to pro- vide soldiers during the Rebellion. In ] 728, John and Walter Winter were convicted of the murder of an Indian woman, Quilee, ani they were executed July 3, of that year. At the bar of the old Court House, in 1752, Thomas Kelly was convicted of the murder of Eleanor Davis, and in less than a month thereafter paid the penalty of his crime. In 1760, John Lewis was convicted of the murder of his wife, Ann, and four years after Jane Ewing was convicted of infanticide. In 1764, Phebe, a slave of Joseph Richardson, was hung for robbery, and her master received j£55 from the Colonial treasury, her appraised value. In 1768, Thomas Vaughan and John Dowdle were convict- ed of the murder of Thomas Sharpe ; in 1770, Matthew McMahon was convicted of the murder of John McClester; in 1772, Pat- rick Kennedy, Thomas Fryer, Neal McCariher and James Dever were convicted of rape — the three last were reprieved during Lieut. Governor Richard Penn's pleasure — but Kennedy was executed : the same year Henry Phillips was convicted of the murder of Richard Kelley ; in 1775, James Willis was sentenced to death for the murder of David Culin, and the sentence was duly executed. In 1778, James Fitzpatrick, the noted outlaw of Chester county, was arraigned and plead guilty of larceny and burglary, and was executed on the 26th of September, 1778. While in the old jail, 54 Historical Sketch of Chester. Fitzpatrick attempted to escape and had almost succeeded, when the noise of falling stone attracted attention and he was discovered. The next day he was removed to Philadelphia for greater safety, and returned to Chester jail the night preceding his execution. At the December Oyer and Terminer of 1785, Elizabeth Wilson was convicted of the murder of her two natural sons, twins, and, while in the cell in the old jail, she made her confession at the solicita- tion of her brother, to Judge Atl^, Attorney General Bradford, Elder Fleeson, the rector of St. Paul's Church, Sheriff Gibbons and her counsel, on which the Executive Council was petitioned to grant her a reprieve for thirty days, in order that the real culprit might be brought to justice. Her sad story lingers in the tradi- tions of our county. Indeed, long years ago the residents of Ches- ter would frequently relate the occasional appearance of a spectral \yhite horse and rider, which on stormy nights could be seen and heard clattering along Fourth street at a headlong pace to the pris- on door, and that reached, the noise ceased and the apparition fad- ed into the darkness. Many of the superstitious people of that day believed that the phantom steed bore the unhappy William Wi'son, whose ride to Philadelphia, in January, 1786, to procure a respite for his sister, his return hither, owing to unavoidable de- lays, just a quarter of an hour after she had been executed, crushed out his love for human society. For the last half century no one has been bold enough to assert they had seen the mounted ghost, and many of those who, in former years made such declarations, seem to have entirely overlooked the fact that William, " The Her- mit of the Welsh Mountain," for such William Wilson became, did not die until 1819. In May, 1780, Joseph Bates, who was convicted of burglary, was sentenced to be hanged at the usual place of execution at Chestei', at 2 o'clock, P. M., on the 20th day of that month; and on the 26th of June of the same year, Robert Smith and John Smith were sentenced to be hung on Sa,turday, July 1st, at the same place where such executions usually took place. The locality where the extreme penalty of the law was enforced, I have been unable to as- certain, although we know the place where Elizabeth Wilson was hung. In January, 1786, Robert Wilson was in jail under sentence of death for burglary, but February 7, the Executive Council grant- Ck)urt Hnuses and Prison" at Cheater. 55 ed him a pardon on condition that " he transport himself beyond the seas, not to return to the United States." On June 5, 1786, John McDonough an:l Richird ShirtlifFe, who had been convicted of rape and were confined in the old jail under sentence of death, were ordered to be executed, but the Executive Couucil reprieved ShirtlifFe, instructing the Sheriff, however, that the fact should not be communicated to the condemned man until he had been taken under the gallows. At the close of the Revolution the residents of the upper part of Chester county began to protest against the distance they had to travel to reach the county seat, and Col. John Hannum, a brave Revolutionary officer, (during the war he was captured at his house in Goshen township, one night by the British light horse, and taken prisoner to Philadelphia,) who subsequently became a shrewd poli- tician, was the leading spirit in the movement, which assumed de- cided proportion, when the Legislature passed the act of March 20, 1780, authorizing William Clingan, Thomas Bull, John Kinkead, Roger Kink, John Sellers, John and Joseph Davis, or any four of them, to build a new Court House and Prison in the county of Chester, and. to sell the old Court House and Prison in the Borough of Chester. The commissioners thus appointed, being composed" largely of persons opposed to removal, failed to take any action, and a supplement to the act of 1780 was adopted March 22, 1784, authorizing John Hannum^ Isaac Taylor and John Jacobs, or any two of them, to carry the act into execution. The three gentle- men thus named were ardent removalists, and went promptly to work to carry the law into effect. By the wording of the supple- ment they were restricted from erecting the buildings at a greater distance than one mile and a half from the Turk's Head Tavern, in the township of Goshen. This location, it seems, was inserted in the bill through the influence of Col. Hannum, who, with an eye to his personal advantage, bielieved that it would bring his land within the site designated. In this, however, he made an error, for his premises proved to be more than two miles from the Turk's Head, The commissioners, notwithstanding Hannum's mistake, began the erection of a Court House and Prison adjacent, and connected by a jail yard. After the buildings had progressed until the walls were nearly completed, and while work was suspended because of 56 Historical Sketch of Chester. the cold winter, the people of old Chester succeeded, March 30, 1785, in having an act passed suspending the supplement under which the new structures were being erected. To make themselves sure in retaining the county seat in the an- cient Borough, a number of the anti-removalists gathered in Ches- ter under command of Major John Harper, then landlord of the City Hotel, in this city, and provided with arms, a ii eld-piece, a barrel of whisky and other necessary munitions of war, took up the line of march for the Turk's Head, intent on razing the walls of the proposed Court House and jail to the earth. In the meanwhile Col. Hannum, learning of the hostile designs of the Chester peo- ple, dispatched couriers in all directions, calling on the friends of removal to rally to the protection of the iialf-completed buildings, and Thomas Beaumont is said to have ridden all night from farm- house to farmhouse in Goshen and Bradford townships, summoning the clan. The forces under command of Major Harper were march- ing toward the Turk's Head, and at night had encamped at the General Green Tavern, a few miles east of West Chester, when Col. Hannum was first apprised of their approach. The latter col- lected his men within the building. The next morning the Chester people came in sight of the fortification, when Major Harper planted his artillery on an eminence known as Quaker Hill, commanding the Court House. The absurdity of the matter dawning on the minds of some of the persons in the ranks of Harper's men, they contrived to bring about a cessation of hostilities, and the whole affair ended •in a jollification, during which the cannon was repeatedly discharged in rejoicing over peace restored. The armistice was based on the agreement of the removalists that they would wait further opera- tions on the building until the Legislature should take action on the matter. Although the removalists desisted from work only un- til the anti-removalists were out of hearing, they were not long de- la,yed, for, at the next session, March 18, 1786, the following curi- ously entitled Act became a law : " An act to repeal an act entitled an act to suspend an act of the General Assembly of this Common- wealth, entitled an act to enable Wm. Clingan, etc.," and under the provision the buildings at the new county seat were finished. On the 25th ol September, 1786, a law was passed empowering Wil- liam Gibbon, the then Sheriff of Chester county, to remove the Court Houses and Prisons at Chester. 57 " prisoners from the old jail in the town of Chester, to the new jail in Goshen township, in the said county — and to indemnify him for 'the same." The old Court House and county buildings in Chester Avere sold on the 18th of March, 1788, to William Kerlin, for .£415. After the passage of the Act of September 26, 1789, creating the county of Delaware, Kerlin sold the property November 3, 1789, to the county for £693 3s. 8d., and Henry Hale Graham was appointed President Judge of the several Courts of Delaware county. Judge Graham, who was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1790, died January 23, of that year, in Philadelphia, while attend- ing a meeting of that body, hence he never presided over the Courts of the new county, the first session of which was held February 9, 1790. In 1817, John H. Craig was convicted of the murder of Edward Hunter, of Newtown. Squire Hunter and Isaac Cochran were wit- nesses to a will which was unsatisfactory to Craig. He believed that if the witnesses- were removed the will would become inope- rative, and so believing, he laid in wait to murder them. Hunter was shot in the evening as he was taking his horse to the stable. The murderer concealed himself at the foot of some rolling ground, and the figure of his victim was brought prominently into view by the brilliant sunset back of him. After he fired the fatal shot, Craig's presence of mind forsook him. He threw away his gun in the bushes near by and fled. The gun, found where he had cast it, led to his arrest and final conviction, In his confession Craig sta- ted that several times he had attempted to take the life of Coch- ran, but each time he raised his gun to shoot, the person walking with Cochran stepped to his side in such a way as to interpose him- self between the murderer and his proposed victim. Craig was executed near Munday's run, in the summer of 1817. In the fall of the year 1824, William Bonsall, of Upper Darby, who was ill at the time, was brutally murdered by three men. Michael Monroe, alias James Wellington, Washington Labbe and Abraham Boys, were arrested and tried at Chester for the crime. Hon. Edward Darlington, who is still living at Media, was prosecuting officer of the Commonwealth, and Wellington was defended by Benjamin Tilghman. The jury, which rendered its verdict on Sunday morn- 58 Hislorii-al, Sketch of Chester. ing, October 29, 1824, convicted Wellington of murder in the first degree, Washington Labbe of murder in the second degree, and acquitted Abraham Boys. Wellington was hanged Friday, Decem- ber 17, 1824, on Mrs. Bartholomew's common, on the Concord road, above the present water works. It is said that five years after Weilinyton's execution, a convict dying in Sing Sing prison, stated under oath, that he and two other men were the real murderers of Bonsall The sworn confession being presented to the proper au- thorities, Labbe, who had been sentenced to ten years' imprison- ment, was pardoned, but his long incarceration had so undermined his health, that he died shortly after his release. In 1824, when Joseph Weaver was Sheriff, a convict named Tom Low succeeded in making his escape from confinement. He had been in the jail yard, as was usual, at a certain time of the day, and, being forgotten, he managed to get possession of a spade, with which he burrowed under the yard wall, coming out about fif- teen feet from the Court House. He was never recaptured. On Tuesday, October 5, 1824, Gen. Lafayette was the guest of Chester. He was accompanied by Gov. Shulze and staif, Genei-al Cadwallader and staff, and many of the dignitaries of Philadelphia. The steamboat did not reach the landing until eleven o'clock at night, but a line of boys, each bearing a lighted candle, was formed extending, it is said, from the wharf to the Washington House. Most of the houses in the town were brilliantly lighted, and the windows decorated with transparencies and designs. At one o'clock in the morning the Generel and friends were " regaled with a sump- tuous entertainment " at the Court House, which had been pre- pared by the ladies of Chester. Lafayette remained in the ancient Borough during Wednesday when he reviewed the volunteers of Delaware and Chester counties, and on Thursday, at 7 o'clock in. the morning, he started in a coach and four for Wilmington, ac- companied by a suitable escort. In 1841, Thomas Cropper, a colored man, for the murder of Mar- tin HoUis, in Birmingham township, was hung in the jail yard. Hon. John Larkin, Jr., was Sherifi" at that time. Cropper, as the day fixed for his execution drew near, 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 Court Houses and Prisovs at Chester. 59 a watch spring file therein so adroitly that for a long time the au- thorities could not discover the tool with which he accomplished his work. This was the last case of capital punishment in Dela- ware county. During the forties the old prison was the scene of a practical joke perpetrated on Major Peck, a military magnate of the State, who had been ordered to Chester to review the militia here. The influence of Friends was such that public opinion was adverse to warlike education, and the visitation of the Major was regarded in no friendly spirit. I apprehend that Hon. John M. Broomall, then a young man, had more to do with the peculiar circumstances at- tending the military hero's visit than he cared to have known at the time it took place. However, several of the practical jokers, who then infested Chester, induced the Major to visit the prison on the pretext that within its ancient precincts were several relics of the long ago, worthy of inspection by a stranger visiting' Chester. The plan worked to a charm. After the party had gained admission to the jail and the door was locked behind them, the keys were con- cealed, and all that day until evening the military gentleman and two of the roysters of Chester stood looking through a grated win- dow in the second story, calling to the people below in the street, to procure their release. The keys could not be found until night had nearly come, but several times during the day the imprisoned men lowered strings to the crowd below and drew them up with pro- visions and other refreshments pendant thereto. After his release Major Peck had several other joKes played upon him before he shook the dust of Chester from his feet, never to revisit it. In 1845 began the agitation of the removal of the county seat to a more central location, and in November of that year a meeting was held at the Black Horse Hotel, in Middletown, to consider the topic. The Grand Jury at the November Court, as had been done by a former Grand Inquest, recommended the building of d new jail, and the removalists were anxious that no steps should be taken to- wards that end umtil the people had an opportunity to consider the mooted point, and hence they petitioned the Assembly to enact a law that the question should be submitted to a vote of the people. In .1847 the Legislature passed an act to that effect and after a bit- ter struggle, the election held October 12, 1847, resulted in a ma- 60 Historical Sketch of Chester. jority of 752 in favor of removal. The question of the constitu.- tionality of the law being raised, the Supreme Court in 1 849, sus- tains:! the statute, and Media was selected as the new county seat. Thus Chester, after being the seat of justice of Delavvare county for sixty- two years, was again shorn of its honors. Court was held in the old Court House for the last time by Judge Chapman, Presi- dent, and Leiper and Engle, Associate Judges, May 26, 1851. The session continued until Friday, May 30, 1851, when tlie Crier, for the last time in the ancient building proclaimed the Court adjourned sine die. The records were removed to Media in June 1851 On August 25, of the same year. Court was held at Media for the first time. During that session Robert E Hannum, Robert McCay, Jr., and Charles D. Manley, Esquires, were appointed Examiners on the application of Thomas J. Clayton, to be admitted as an at- torney of the several Courts of Delaware county. Twenty-three years later Mr. (Clayton was elected President Judge of the county, which position he now holds. After the change of the county seat was settled beyond cavil, the old buildings and grounds in this city were sold December 9, 1850, in three lots. The Court House and two lots were sold to the Bo- rough authorities for $2601, the Prothonotary's office and lot ad- joining it on the north, to James Hampson, for $1525, and the jail and lots adjoining to James Campbell, for $3520. Previous to the purchase, Mr. Campbell, who had been a success- ful manufacturer at Leiperville, saw the natural advantages of Chester, and had determined to locate here. In The Delaware County Republican of April 5, 1850, appeared the following local : ':' Pioneer Factory.— The new manufacturing establishgient projected in the Borough by Mr. James Campbell, of Ridley, was put in partial operation last week, and the puffing of the steam en- gine and the music of the shuttle are daily heard in our midst, causing us increased wondijr why a town, possessing so many and rare advantages as our own was not years ago converted into a great riianufacturing mart. Mr. 'Campbell is about to extend his buildings, and in a short time will have one hundred looms in ac- tive operation. The machinery used is handsomely finished and of a superior kind. We have examined a specimen of the goods made by it and predict that they will find a ready sale in whatever mar- ket they may be offered." In this article Mr. Walter alludes to the old bowling alley which Court Houses and Prisons at Chester. 61 stood ori the north side of Fourth street, where part of the Market House is now located. The Republican failed to record an incident which happened when the first loom was started in the Pioneer mill, by the late James Ledward, then in Campbell's employ. A number of citizens of Chester were present when the machinery first began to move, and as they saw it in motion, all present broke into a cheer, and afterward, they one and all sang " Hail Colum- bia." Many who were then employed in the first manufacture of textile goods in Chester, will recall this incident to memory. Af- ter Mr. Campbell purchased the jail and workhouse, he tore down the northern wall of the old structure and built out in that direc- tion, so that his mill, retaining the name " Pioneer Mills," extend- ed over to and included the prison yard walls. In the new addition he kept the Jacquard looms, and thereon were woven quilts and fabrics of a like character. The great difficulty he had to contend with was the scarcity of water, and to meet this want' he expended thousands of dollars in sinking wells in the yard. The new enter- prise, which had required a large outlay of means, was getting well established when the panic of 1856 came upon the country, spread- ing ruin in all directions and crushing down industrial establish- ments by the thousands. Mr. Campbell at that time became financially embarrassed, and in 1858 the " Pioneer Mills " passed into the ownership of the late General Eobert E. Patterson. The latter sold a lot on Market street to Amos Holt, who erected a brick building, now occupied by Rorer & Mingin, as well as the adjoming lot to the present own- er, John Gregg, who built a store for the ' book and stationery business. Holt's building was subsequently sold to William Pow- ell, and in succession it became the property of Wiss Willey, Charles Roberts, and at present is owned by Mr. Cook. The mill, after Campbell's failure, was occupied by James Stephens until about 1863, when Messrs. Roberts, Wilson & Willey carried on the manufacturing business therein. In 1865, Gen. Patterson sold the Market street front to James Chadwick, who in 1866 tore down the old building and erected Lincoln Hall. While taking down the tall flag pole which stood on the sidewalk at Fourth and Market streets, the halyards had been drawn through the block, and Charles Martine clambered up to make a rope fast so that the pole, lower 62 Historical Sketch of Chester. and topmast, might be pulled over into the street. After he had climbed a goodly distance, the pole which had rotted where it en- tered the ground, broke off level with the sidewalk and fell, fa- tally crushing Martine beneath it. The rear part of the old prison passed into the ownership of John Cochran, and on part of the lot the Market House now stands. Chadwick sold the property to Messrs. Gartside & Sons, and they in turn conveyed it to Chester Lodge, No. 236, F. A. M., who now own it. After the Borough authorities acquired the old (Jourt House they made many changes, provided a commodious hall in the second story for the use of the Council, which is to-day used by their suc- cessors, the Council of the City of Chester ; they also removed the old belfry and built a steeple in which was placed a four-dialed clock and a new bell. The old one, which had called together judges, lawyers, jurors and suitors for nearly a century and a quar- ter was removed to the ancient school house at Fifth and Welsh streets. HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN CHESTER. Tlw Boar 's Head Inn. THIS ancient hostelry stood in the line of the present Peno street, on an eminence, the footway approaching it having a slight ascent to the building. It was one story and a half high, with peaked roof, the gable end standing toward Third street, and from it, just below the eaves, projected the crane from which the old sign of a boar's head was suspended. The house was construct- ed of heavy frame timber, filled in with brick, and outside as well as inside the laths which were interlaced in a kind of basket pat- tern, were covered with plaster made of oyster shell lime and mud, while in place of hair, swamp grass was employed to hold the com- position together. ,The doors were peculiar in the manner in which they were hung, a peg or projection from the door above and below fitted into holes made in the frames, and on these they swung in- .stead of hinges. The windows, with the exception of the one in the kitchen were small ; the glasses, 4 by 3 in size, were set in lead. The sashes were not hung with weights, a comparatively modern improvement, and when it was desired that the lower sashes should be raised, they were supported by pieces of wood which fitted into the grooves in the frames, or a turn buckle placed half way up sus- tained the weight. The large window in the kitchen was made to slide one sash past the other. The roof was of split shingles, and 64 Historical Sketch of Chester. the kitchen floor was laid in flagging some of which were as large as 6 by 8 feet, and under these was a body of eighteen inches of sand on which they rested. In the kitchen on the side opening to the west was a large double door through which a cart load of wodd could be drawn if desired. The chimney was an enormous affair, nearly sixteen feet in width, and the wide-mouthed old fireplace was spacious enoiigh to hold entire cord wood sticks on great iron dogs, while on either side in the fireplace were benches, where, on excessively cold days the chilled inmates of the house could rest themselves, while enjoying the blazing fire on the hearth. The cel- lar, which was under the front part of the building, was a model, and its like would be difficult to find among even the^most impo- sing structures of this day. It was of dressed stone, the joints were true, every stone set square and as carefully laid as the ma- sonry of the City Hall. The workmen might well have been proud of this exhibition of their skill. The front room, which was used as a sleeping room, was spacious, as was also the sitting room back of it, but both these apartments, as well as the ones above, were without means of warmth in the winter. The well was noted for its clear, pure water, and often in the evening the residents of Chester, in the first half of the present century, who were com- pelled to use the mineral waters of the town, would walk over to the ancient well to enjoy a cheering draught from its refreshing depths. The old house was shaded by many varieties of fruit trees, such as cherries, apricots, pears and plums, and apples, of the ap- proved varieties of our early days, were abundant in the garden, where many flowers perfumed the air with their delightful odors. It was in this house that William Penn passed the winter of l'682-',63, and, doubtless, as he sat in the kitchen,, watching the flaming wood in the fireplace, he could not but contrast the dreari- ness of his then surroundings with the brilliant courts of the Grand Monarch of France and that of his unscrupulous and subservient tool, Charles II. of England, in which he had often been received. Notwithstanding, nowhere in his spoken or written words do we find that he gave utterance to his regrets at the change in his mode of living, from the elegant refinement of that day, (which in ours would have been rude and boisterous,) to the frequent want of even the very necessaries of life he was then undergoing. Historic Buildings in Chester. 65 * We do not know who it was who had the honor, as the then land- lord, to receive under his roof the founder of a great Common- wealth, but doubtless it was Jonathan Ogden, who in his will, da- ted August 17, 1727, and probated thirteen days thereafter, styles himself inn keeper. In the early deeds from Wade, his land is mentioned, and I presume that he acquired it previous to Penn's coming, although I have been unable to establish this fact from the record. He devised this property to his sons David and Joseph Odgen and Katharine, his daughter, share and share alike. The executors named, George Ashbridge and Jacob Howell, failed to carry out the testator's intention, inasiuch as he directed them to sell his real estate as soon as possible and divide the proceeds among his children mentioned. How Katharine's share became absorbed in those of her brothers I do not know, but the title remained in equal share in the two sons and their descendants until purchased by Isaac E. Engle, December 26, 1 826, from the children and grandchildren of David and Joseph Ogden. The descendants of the latter had all removed from this neighborhood, but the children of David Ogden, excepting his son David, who resided in W ilmington ; his daughters, Sarah Pyle, Ann Siddons, Mary Cotter, all lived in Chester, and during the greater part of her widowhood Polly Cotter, as she was familiarly called, resided in the old house She vacated it because of increasing age, and the house was rented to William Baggs, who lived there until he died. Mr. Baggs was at one time offered the whole property for several hundred dollars, but declined to purchase it, as he was not sure the investment would have been a good one, and, so far as he was concerned, it would not have been, for Chester did not awaken from its lethargy until several years after his death. James Baggs, the only son, removed to Philadelphia, and Katharine married Samuel Ulrich in 1828. The Squire, for such Samuel Ulrich afterwards became, and is remembered more particularly by that title, was a genial, jovial gen- tleman, who loved a pleasing joke but never played a practical one to the injury or inconvenience of his neighbors, a pattern of a ma- gistrate in that he never fanned the flame of dispute between suit- ors, but ever sought to settle the difficulty in such a way as to re- move all rancor from the minds of the parties. He abounded in recollections of the olden times of Chester, and related his remi- 66 Historical Sketah of Chester. •niscences of* the past with all intonation and emphasis necessary to give point and expression to his narrative. He died December 6, 1871. Jane Baggs married Jeremiah Stevenson, but died many years ago. " Jerry " Stevenson is one of our best known citizens. When Hon. John Larkin, Jr., wais Sheriff, he was one of his depu- ties during the execution of Thomas Cropper, in the jail yard, and after the trxp had been sprung and the prisoner's struggles unfast- ened the ropes that bound his armis, he it was who pinioned his arms again. A merciful act, for the half-hanged man clutched wildly with hiis hands at the rope by which he was suspended, and his suffering -was rendered more intense because of that effort. " Jerry " was a noted shot in his younger days. Mary Baggs became the wife of Hon. John Larkin, Jr., whose active, energetic life, memorable for its public usefulness, I have mentioned fully elsewhere After the family of Mr. Baggs moved away from the old dwel- ling it had several tenants, and at last a colored family, Warner Pryor's occupied it. On the morning of March 20, 1848, the Pryor family vacated it, and the same evening the old building was found in flames. The fire was supposed to be an incendiary one. "J erry" Stevenson who was employed to remove the ruins of the old dwel- ling, when, he came to take up the flagging in the kitchen, found deeply embeddedin the sand on which they rested, an old hatchet, peculiar in its shape, but of good steel, which had been dropped there by one of the workmen when the building was erected-^cer- tainly before the arrival of Penn. The old historic structure having disappeared, when Crozer and Broomall began the improvement of Chester, south of the bridge, in 1850, the present Penn street was laid out by order of Court, August 29^ 1850, and the well, so noted for its water, was in the course of the street. I am told that the old well, walled over, al- most in the middle of Penn street, exists to this day. Part of the site of the Boar's Head Inn having been taken by the public for a highway, the remaining premises belonging to the estate of Capt. Isaac E. Engle, who had died in 1844, while on a voyage to China, was conveyed December 21, 1863, by John C. Davis, trustee to sell the real estate, to Samuel Ulrich, for $1,363. On the lot thus pur- Historic Buildings in Chester. H7 chased the latter erected the Delaware House, an 1 the property is still 'in the ownership of his heirs. Tlie Old Eos kins [Qraliam) House. John Simcock, of Ridley, received a patent from the Duke of York for sixteen yards, fronting upon Chester creek and running back into the land of Neeles Laerson, bounded on the north by lands of Jurian Keen, and on the south by land of Neeles haerson. On the 5th day of 6th month, 1684, Simcock sold to John Hoskins, then spelled Hodgkins, the tract af land, and the latter in the year 1688, built the house now standing at the south-east corner of Edg- niont avenue and Graham street. The house thus erected was used by liim as an inn, and was a substantial structure, as is evidenced even in its present declina- tion by an inspection of the building. It is two stories in height, with attics ; the steps and porch which were located before the street line was definitely fixed, extend a goodly distance into the sidewalk. A hallway runs through the centre of the building ;. a wide, easily ascended staircase rises from the rear of the entry at the south side to the apartments above. The balustrade is fash- ioned of hard wood and is very uiassive, while the steps of ash, in many places, show marks of worms who have eaten deep grooves in the solid planking. The windows in the lower rooms are deeply re- cessed within the apartments and old-time seats constructed there- in. The heavy beams supporting the upper floors stand promi- nently out from the ceiling. In the rooms on the first and second floors on the north side of the house, the high old-fashioned wooden mantels over the large fireplaces are flanked by enormous closets, which are lighted by small windows in the outer walls — those in the southern end have been walled up — and in a closet in the room over the dining room to the north, when a friend and myself visited fiS Historical Sketch of Chester. the old house in September last, a bed was spread, just as nearly as two hundred years ago similar beds were made for the children of the early settlers of the Province, who stopped at the old hotel in 1688 — the year of the Great Revolution in England. The floors are laid in hard wood, and the flooring boards are wide, almost the entire width of the trees from which they were cut. The ceilings are lofty for the time when the building was erected, and the house is divided into numerous sleeping apartments intended to accom- modate many guests. The steep roof externally would indicate that the attics were so low that they would be uncomfortable to the inmates, whereas the contrary is the fact. The kitchen, which is built in an L on the north-eastern end of the house, is large, the fireplace comprising almost the entire eastern end — now enclosed as a closet — is of that ample size usual among our ancestors, that the benumbed wayfarers could seat themselves at either side of the chimney, on benches provided for that purpose, and enjoy the warmth of the roaring fire of huge logs, formerly the only way em- ployed to heat that part of the building. In the days of its an- cient grandeur there was a portico or veranda in the rear of the main building extending ten or twelve feet outward, which was en- closed with lattice work, where, in the summer time the hospitable table was spread. An old oven, long since torn down, was attached to the house on the north side of the kitchen, and a well of good water, now abandoned, was located in the rear and at some distance from the portico. John Hoskins and Mary, his wife, were natives of Cheshire, Eng- land, and came to this country in the year 1682. In Augpst, 1684, he purchased from John Simcock, the property whereon he after- wards built the house ; and he had purchased 9th month, 21, 1681, from Penn, before leaving England, two hundred and fifty acres of land, which was laid out to him in Middletown township, between the lands of Richard ( Crosby and David Ogden, 4th month, 27, 1684. He was a member of the General Assembly which sat March 12, 1683. His will dated 11th month, 2, 1694-5, and probated Au- gust 15, 1698, in Philadelphia, is signed John Hodgskins, but the renunciation of the Executors named therein, dated 12th of 6 mo. — '98, speak of him as John Hoskins. He left two children, John and Hannah, and his widow, who although aged, married in 1700, Historic Buildings in Chester. 69 George Woodier, of Chester. His daughter Hannah married in 1698, Charles Whitaker. His estate was a large one for those times, the appraisement amounting to .£450 12s. 2d., and the dif- ferent articles set forth therein, as contained in the various rooms of the house wherein he died, answer to the number in the present Graham House. His son, John Hoskins, married in 1698, Kuth Atkinson, and in 1700, when only 23 years of age, was elected Sheriif of the county, an ofiBce the duties of which he discharged so successfully that for fifteen years in succession, excepting during the year 1708, he was continued in that office To him the old homestead descended, and here he lived until his death, October 26, 1716. He was the father of four sons and one daughter, Mary, who married John Mather. One of the sons I suppose died before their mother, for in the will of Kuth Hoskins, dated July 3, 1739, she mentions only her sons Stephen and Joseph Hoskins — although John was still living, and I presume had taken the estate of 250 acres patented to his grand- father, in Middletown township — and devised to her son-in-law, Mather, a house and lot. Stephen Hoskins was born in Chester, 12 mo. 18, 1701-2, and Joseph was born in the same place, 4 mo., 30, 1705. Stephen Hoskins married in 1727, Sarah Warner, of Maryland, and moved into that Province, but returned to Chester, 1730, and was elected Coroner of Chester county. About 1743, he re- moved to Philadelphia, and it was to his son John, of Burlington, that Joseph Hoskins, of the Porter House, devised the real estate, of which he died seized. To Joseph Hoskins, respecting whom I have more fully alluded in the notice of the Porter House, the old homestead descended, and he, June 4, 1762, sold the property to Henry Hale Graham. ,/ Henry Hale Graham, the son of William Graham, and grandson of Richard Graham, of the manor of Blackhouse, in the county of Cumberland, England, and nephew of George Graham, the maker of the noted clock at Greenwich which regulates the time of the world, and the discoverer of the mercurial pendulum, by which the diflferences in the temperature of the seasons is overcome, was born in London, July 1, 1731, and came to the Colony when an infant. His father first settled at Darby, but before the year 1 740 removed 70 Historical Sketch of Chester. to Chester, where he died August 6, 1758. His mother, Eleanor, a daughter of Zedetniah Wyatt, of London, who it is said Ijy Mrs. Deborah Logan, in her manuscript notes to John F. Watson's " Visit to Chester, in 1 824," " was a woman of excellent sense, a gentlewoman born, and hald received the best education herself in England. 'She was like a parent to my mother (Mary Parker) and the other young persons of that time, at Chester, who enjoyed greater advantages than could be found in most other places." We know very little of the early life of Henry Hale Graham except that he was a hard student and one of the best penmen in the county, whose peculiar but clear and beautiful chirography the re- cords of Delaware and Chester counties even now attest. In 1761, he was appointed one of the Justices of the county of Chester. Again in 1775 to the same office and to the like position in 1789. He was appointed Kegister, Recorder, Prothonotary, and Clerk of the several Courts of Chester county, in 1766, on the oc- casion of the death ,of Joseph Parker, in whose office previous to that time he is believed to have been employed. In the report made to Governor Richard Penn on the condition of the Province, inl775, the compensation of the offices of' Register, Recorder, &c., then held by Mr. Graham, is given as .£120 per annum. Henry Hale Graham married Abigail, daughter of Thomas and Mary Pen- nell, July 1, 1760. In March, 1777, Thomas Taytor was appointed to succeed Mr. Graham in office, but he never 'assumed its duties, and in April of the same year, Benjamin Jacob was appointed to the same position, but he refusing to accept it, Caleb Davis was therefore appointed, arid on the 1 1th of June following was quali- fied for the place. On July 28, the records were still in the pos- session of Mr. Graham, for at that time Caleb Davis was instructed to " enter the dwelling and outhouses of H. H. Graham, take pos- session of the books and papers of the county and remove them to aplace of safety." In 1777, when the British frigate " Augusta " opened fire on the town, the family in the Graham House sought safety in the ceUar, and it is traditionally reported that one of the shots struck the building, doing considerable damage. When the English army marched through Chester, in 1 777, they destroyed much property, and Mr. Graham's loss from that cause amounted Historic Buildings in Chester.. 71 to over j£25. He seems to have taken no active part during the Revolutionary war. lu 1789, he was named. wi of Sevan's term became the landlord of the house. Bevan t" reupon purchased the ground on Market street, and built the ^Vashington House. Mary Hoskins, who had married John Mather, was a most admi- rable wife and mother. Her careful training of her daughters is evidenced by the fact that both of them became the wivds of dis- tinguished men, and are alluded to by writers of acknowledged po- sition on several occasions, for their personal excellence and woman- ly worth. Ruth Mather, to whom the property was devised by her grand- mother, married Charles Thomson, one of the most noted men in our national annals. He was a native of Ireland, and during all the difficulties with the mother country was an ardent Whig. He 78 Historical Sketch of Chester. was the first Secretary df the Continental Congress of 1774, and continued in that office during the long struggle of the Revolution. It was he who first read the Declaration of Independence to the people from the steps of the old hall wherein that document was signed. In recognition of the faithful discharge of his duties, he was chosen to bear to Washington the intelligence of the latter's nomination to the Presidency of the United States. Of him, John Adams, in his diary writes : " Charles Thomson is the Sam. Adams of Philadelphia, the life of the cause of liberty." He retired from public office and during his latter days translated the Septuagint, which was published in four volumes, in 1808. He died in Lower Merion, Montgomery county, in 1824, in his ninety-fifth year. Ruth Thomson died without children surviving her, and by the will of John Mather, May 28, 1768, he devised the premises to his daughter, Ruth, and his son-in-law, Charles Jackson ;. and in the event of the death of Ruth, without children, then to his grand- daughter, Mary Jackson. He mentions the tenancy of Valentine Weaver, and named his daughters, Jane Jackson and Ruth Thom- son, as his executors. Jane alone took out letters testamentary. Charles Thomson, after the death of Ruth, his wife, without child- ren, March 5, 1785, released to Mary Jackson all his right and title in the premises, and Mary Jackson, March 5, 1785, conveyed the estate to John Harper, who was then in occupancy of the hotel. Tradition tells us that so' extreme was his opposition to the pro- posed removal of the county seat to West Chester, that he collected and commanded the armed force which marched from Chester to demolish the partly-built Court House and Jail at the Turk's Head, during the summer of 1785. The author of " Lament over Ches- ter's Mother," refers to Major John Harper thus : Cries little Jack, the youngest son, Who just began to crawl — " If mamma lives, I soon shall run ; If not, I soon shall fall. " Oh ! may Jack Hannum quickly die — And die in grievous pain — Be sent into eternity That mamma may remain. Historic Buildings in Chester. 79 " May all his projects fall, likewise— That we may live again !" Then every one rolled up his eyes. And cried aloud, " Amen !" After the county seat was removed to West Chester, Major Ilar» per, believing that the sun of Chester's prosperity had set, never to rise again, emigrated to the new local capitol, and became the landlord of the Turk's Head Hotel there. That old tavern, which displayed the head of the Grand Turk on its sign, from which it took its name, continued to be a public house until 1854, when it was enlarged and used as a seminary for young ladies. At the present time it is used as a hotel as of yore Harper having made default in the payment of the mortgage on the property, suit was brought by the executor of Mary Jackson, deceased, and on August 1, 1788, Ezekiel Leonard, Sheriff, deeded the property to her executor, Dr. David Jackson, of Philadelphia. Who was the landlord of the old house at this time I have not learned, but Dr. Jackson and Susanna, his wife, conveyed the pro- perty by deed, dated January 14, 1793, to Matthias Kerlin, Jr., of Trenton, New Jersey. Matthias Kerlin, Jr., was the brother of William Kerlin, the owner and host of the Washington House, and subsequently re- turned to Delaware county to reside. He seems to have retired from business at the date of Jackson's deed to him, for he is desig- nated as " gentleman," meaning one living on the income from in- vestments. March 30, 1793, Matthias Kerlin, Jr., and Sarah, his wife, conveyed the property to William Pierce, of Lower Chiches- ter, gentleman. Pierce had married Mary, the then widow of John Dennis, by whom she had a daughter, Hannah Dennis, and in order to provide for her and to contribute to the education and maintain- ance of Hannah Dennis, etc., Pierce and his wife made a deed, August 13, 1793, in trust to Eliphaz Daizey and Matthias Kerl&i, Jr., for the purpose therein stated, but, by deed of revocation, da- ted December 16, 1797, the trusts were declared null and void. William Pierce died previously to March 1799, for his widow Mary executed a mortgage on the property at that time, and recites that in his will, dated August 9, 1798, he had devised the estate to her. Mary Pierce a third time entered into the marriage relation, for on 80 Historical Sketch of Chester. the 27th day of February, 1802, David Coats, of Philadelphia, and Mary, his wife — late Mary Pierce, she being the late widow and the sole devisee and executrix named in the last will of William Pierce — conveyed the premises to Abraham See, of Saint George's Hun- dred, Delaware, and he in turn, March 22, 1 803, sold the property to Edward Engle, who kept the hotel until he died — about 1810 — and his widow, Mary Engle, continued the business until the years 1832 or 1833, when she retired and leased the premises to John J. Thurlow. The ancient hostelry under Mrs. Bngle's supervision was the fashionable and popular hotel of the Borough. In 1824, when Gen. Lafayette was the guest of Chester, the First City Troop, of Philadelphia, was quartered at her house, then known as the Eagle Tavern ; for in a description of a journey from old Ireland to Chester, written in verse by Philip Sexton, who lived at Squire Eyre's, on Bdgmont avenue, during the early part of this century, he refered to this hotel thus : • " If you stand on the bridge And look to the east, You'll there see an eagle, As big as a beast. Call at this tavern. Without any dread ; You'll there get chicken, Good mutton and bread." Mrs. Engle was "the mother of the late Rear Admiral Frederick Engle, who died in 1866, and of Capt Isaac E. Engle, of the Mer- chant Service, who died in 1844. Her daughter Mary married the late Hon. Samuel Edwards, a member of the bar and representa- tive in Congress from this district, from 1819-21, and again from 1825-27, who died, leaving surviving him, his son, Henry B. Ed- wards, Esq., a member of the bar, and at this writing a leading citizen of Chester, and a daughter, Mary Engle Edwards, who in- termarried with Edward Fitzgerald Beale, at that time Lieutenant in the Navy, and noted for his celebrated ride across Mexico with dispatches from Commodore Stockton, during our war with that country, and subsequently prominent before the nation as Superin- tendent of Indian Affairs, and in exploring expeditions, construct- ing public highways, and in surveys for projected railroads. In Historic Buildings in Chester. 81 1860, he was appointed Surveyor General of California, ancl under General Grant's second administration he was United States Min- ister to Austria. Gen. Beale is one of the largest land owners in the world, his estate in California comprising two hundred thousand acres of land. Mary Engle's other daughter, Abby, married John Kerlin, Esq.,. a member of the Delaware county bar, and for many years Presi- dent of the Bank of Delaware County. Mrs. Kerlin now resides with her nephew, H. B. Edwards, Esq., in this city. Her son, Frederick E. Kerlin, died in California over twenty odd years ago, and Capt. Charles Kerlin, a well-known merchant captain, now re- tired from service, lives in New Jersey. Mrs. Eagle was succeeded in business by John J. Thurlow, about 1833, and I quote from Martin's History of Chester, the following graphic description of the old hotel in its palmiest days as a stop- ping place for one of the lines of stages that then passed through Chester for Baltimore, Washington and the South. He says : " How well I remember ' Thurlow's,' in the days of its busy greatness ; well I remember how, when I was a boy, I lingered near its hospitable doors to see the handsome horses of the Reeside, Stockton .t Stokes, Murdeck & Sharp, and Janvier's rival lines of stage coaches changed ; the smoking steeds detached by active host- lers, and the new relay of well-groomed horses substituted, and saw the ' Stage driver,' an important man in those days, with his great coat of many capes and long whip ; the well dressed travelers sauntering about talking and smoking after their meal, waiting for the stage. Oft 1 have peeped into the small, clean bar-room, in the centre of which stood a large coal stove (in winter) in a large sand box, that served as a huge spittoon. In one corner of the room stood a semi-circular bar, with its red railings reaching to the ceiling, into whose diminutive precincts the jolly landlady could scarcely get her buxom person, while her husbaiid with his velvet- een shooting coat, with its large buttons and its many pockets, ex- cited my intense admiration. At his heels there were always two or three handsome setter dogs, of the finest breed and well trained. Sometimes I got a glimpse of the south-west room. This was the parlor ; back of it was a room where travelers wrote their letters ; and back of the bar was a cozy little room, mine hostess' sanctum, into which only special friends were admitted. All these are now one large American bar-room. " In reading accounts of the old English inns of coaching days, my mind involuntarily reverts to ' Thurlow's,' for there on the walls were hanging the quaint old coaching and hunting prints imported 82 Historical Sketch of Chester. from England, and around the house was ' Boots,' and the ' Host- ler,' and the ' pretty waiting maid with rosy cheeks,' all from Old England. The horses are all hitched, the passengers are 'al' aboard,' the driver has taken his seat, (the guard is blowing his horn, having taken one inside,) is gathering up his many reins ; now he feels for his whip, flourishes it over his four-in-hand, making a graceful curve with its lash, taking care not tc touch his horses; but does it with a report like a rifle shot, the hostlers jump aside, and with a bound and a rush, the coach is off" for Washington, or Philadelphia, carrying perchance within it Clay, Webster or Cal- houn. And of a winter's evening when I have stolen out from home, I have passed the 'Tavern,' and seen seated around its cheerful fire the magnates of the town, telling stories of other days (as I now could tell their names.) And sometimes peeping through the green blinds, I have seen a quiet game of whist going on ; per- haps it was ' all fours,' or else a game of checkers or dominoes." Mr. Thurlow retired from business about 1840, and was succeed- ed by Maurice W. Deshong, who kept the house for a few years and was followed by Major Samuel A. Price, who continued the business until about 1853, when the late George Wilson became its host. After a few years Mr. Wilson retired, and was in turn suc- ceeded by Lewis A. Sweetwood. The death of Mrs. Mary Engle, in 1870, at the advanced age of 94 years, compelled a sale of the hotel and other property, by order of Orphans' Court, to settle her estate, and in that year William Ward, as trustee to make the sale, conveyed the hotel property to Jonathan Pennell, who in turn, the same year, sold the premises to Paul Klotz, the present owner, who has made important additions and improvements to the eastern end of the ancient building. Tlie Washington House. The title to the ancient hostelry on Market street, known for al- most a century to the denizens of Chester as the Washington Hotel, extends back to the Proprietary, for by patent dated May Historic Buildings in Chester.. 83 31, 1686, the comniissioaers of William Penn conveyed to James Sandelands, in fee, twenty acres of land in Chester, and on a part of this tract the hotel buildings were subsequently erected. This property descended to Jonas Sandelands, in the distribution of his father's estate, and was by him sold to John Wright, in 1720, on ground rent, for four shillings lawful money of America, payable on the twenty-fifth day of March of each and every year thereafter, forever. Wright, after holding the premises for seven years, con- veyed the land to William Pennell, who in turn sold it to James Trego The latter died seized of the property, and in 1 746 his son James — to whom it had been allotted in proceedings in partition, his mother Elizabeth joining in the deed — conveyed the property to Aubury Bevan. The plot of ground up to this date is believed to have been used as a pasture lot. In the following year Aubury Bevan erected the present hotel building and gave it the title " Pennsylvania Arms," as will be seen by an inspection of his will. He was an active and leading citizen of Chester, and the structure, considering the time when it was built, evidences fully the progres- sive spirit which controlled his efforts. Aubury Bevan died in 1761, and by will devised this property to hisdaughter Mary; she, together with her husband, William Forbes, by deed dated April 1, 1772, conveyed the estate to William Kerlin, a wealthy man, as wealth was then regarded, and a fervent Whig during the Eevolu- tionary struggle After the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British army, Ker- lin named his hostelry " The Washington House," a name it has been continually known by to this day. General Washington often in passing through Chester on his way to and from Mount Vernon to the seat of government in New York and Philadelphia, stopped at this hotel, and on those occasions a certain room, the best in the house, was assigned to his use. The ancient mahogaily chairs which stood in the room occupied by the first President, during these visits, are still preserved among the descendants of William Kerlin. He took an active part in the discussion from 1780 to 1786, as to the removal of the county seat to West Chester, and in a doggerel rhyme of that time, entitled " Lament over Chester's Mother," written by Joseph Hickman, an earnest removalist, Ker- lin is thus referred to : 84 Historical Sketch of Chester. •■ And then poor helpless Billy cries — ' Oh , how shall I be fed ? What shall I do if mamma dies? I cannot work for bread. These little hands have never wrough', Oh, how I am oppressed ! For I have never yet done aught, , But hang on mamma's breast,' " After the county seat had been finally removed from Chester, he labored energetically to bring about the formation of the present county of Delaware. Kerlin, having purchased the old Court House, Jail and public buildings in this city in 1786, for ,£415, after the division was made he sold them to Delaware county at a slight advance. He did not remain, however, mine host of the Washington House until his death, for by his will, proved April 29, 1805, he alluded — in his devise to his daughter, Sarah Piper — to " the tavern house " being at that time " in the tenure of Isaac Tucker." Major Joseph Piper, who held a position in the Philadelphia Custom House, under General Steele, the then collector, after the death of his father-in-law, resigned his office, removed to Chester and kept the Washington House, owned by his wife, until his death in 1827. By tradition. Piper is said to have been a Revolutionary soldier, but as he was only 50 years of age when he died, it is not a supposable case that he could have taken any part in that memo- rable war. It is related that Major Piper, being in Chester, saw Sarah Odenheimer — formerly Sarah Kerlin — a well-formed, bloom- ing widow, on horseback, and was so impressed with her appear- ance that he wooed, won and wed her for his wife. After his death his widow continued the business at the hotel for several years, but ultimately becoming weary of it she leased the' premises to Evan S. Way, who had formerly kept a tavern in Nether Providence. He was a conspicuous man in the military affairs of the county a half century ago ; an officer in the Delaware county troop, and kept the hotel until he was elected Sheriff, in 1837. The house was then rented to Major Samuel A. Price, who was an influential citizen of Chester, having formerly been in the hat business in the ancient Borough. He was a genial gentleman, who is yet remembered by many of our old residents; an earnest politician, and in 1834 was Historic JBuildivgs in Chr.'^tfi-. l-!.S elected Sheriff of the county. In early life he was noted for his manly beauty. An interesting item respecting the old hostelry during Major Price's occupancy, was related in TJw Delaware Coun- ty Advocate, several years ago. The article stated that General Harrison, in 1840", after he had received the Whig nomination for the Presidency, was returning from Washington, accompanied by a nurnber of gentlemen from New York, stopped for dinner at the Washington House, and while there received the congratulations of the citizens of Chester. After dinner had been served, the cloth was drawn, wine, as usual on such occasions, was placed on the table, and several toasts were drunk. It was observed that Harrison drank water, and being thereupon pressed to take wine, he rose and said : "Gentlemen, I hue refused twice to p;irtake of the wine cup, that should have been sufficient ; though you press the cup to my lips not a drop shall pass their portals. I male a resolve when I started in life that I would avoid strong drink, an 1 I hive never broken it. I am one of a class of seventeen young men who gradu- ated, and the other sixteen fill drunkard's graves, all through the habit of social wine drinking. I owe all my lieilth, happiness .ind prosperity to that resolution. Will you urge me now?" The circumstance and remarks made by Hirrison were related by one of the gentlemen present nearly forty years afterwards, hence the language used on that occasion may not be accurately re- ported, although the substance is doubtless correctly rendered. Sarah Piper, by her will, proved September 13, 1 841 , directed that " the tavern house and thereto belonging, be sold within one year after my decease." In compliance with that request, although there was a longer interval than one year, her executors sold, April 2, 1844, the premises to Henry L. Powell, who in turn, October 11, of the same year, conveyed it to Edward E. Plavill. Mr. Flavill conducted the hotel as a temperance house, and Samuel West, an earnest temperance advocate, employed Edward Hicks, a Quaker artist, to paint a swinging sign — one side presenting a delineation of Penn's Landing at Chester, and the other Penn's treaty C?) with the Indians, which he presented to the landlord. This old sign is still in good preservation and owned by the present proprietor of the Washington House, Henry Abbott. The business proving unre- munerative, Flavill sold the property to Thomas Clyde, January 1, 1849. Mr. Clyde had formerly kept an extensive country store at the 86 Historical Sketch of Chester. north-east corner of Market Square, the building now owned and occupied by John C Williams and the eating house of Mr. Dixon adjoining, having been erected by him for his dwelling and store. He was also lar The following year the new proprietor made extensive improve- ments, laid out the grove as an ice cream garden, built a pavilion, Historic Buikiivgs in Chester. 95 and among other attractions procured a live Iflack bear, which for several j'ears was one of the features of the premises, for among his other accomplishments, Bruin had learned to enjoy a '■ quiet snifter," and seemed to be perfectly happy when he could take a bottle of porter and let the liquid gurgle down his throat. In the fall of the year 1 856, the bear having grown cross, it was deter- mined to kill it, and Mortimer H. Bickley was assigned to shoot the animal, which he did. The tables of many Chester people, for several days thereafter, were garnished with bear meat in every Style in which the cooks could prepare it, Mr. Goff died in August, 1857, and on December 13, 1859, his administrator, Hon. John Larkin, Jr., sold the estate to his widow, Mary Ann Goff, who still owns it. John Goff, the present landlord, has recently had many improvements made to the ancient building, which still bears about it the evidence that it was erected by a wealthy man of the Colo- nial days, whose genial hospitality gave open-hearted welcome to his friends in the " Auld Lang Syne. " Tlie Lafayette House. The house at the southwest corner of Third street and Edgmont avenue, is one of the oldest buildings in our city, and in a deed from James Sandelands, the younger, September 10, 1700, to Stephen Jackson, the property is described as a house and lot, thus showing that the structure antedates that instrument. Stephen Jackson, on June 17, of the following year, transferred the property to John Worrilow, and he in turn, conveyed it, August 29, 1704, to Philip / Yarnall. The latter, after retaining title to the estate for 29 years, sold the dwelling and lot to John Mather, Septemlier 26, 1733, who at the time of his purchase was in occupation of the house and kept a tavern there. After the death of Ruth Hoskins, who in her will dated July 3, 1739, devised the present City Hotel to her grand- ■96 Historical Sketch of Chester. daughter Ruth, daughter (Df John Mather — the latter took posses- sion of the larger building directly opposite to that he had occupied, although he does not seem to have made use of the dwelling at that time as a hotel. He, however, did not part with the house he pur- chased from Yamall, but leased it to James Mather, perhaps his brother, since John Mather named his only son James, probably for the person mentioned. That James Mather kept the tavern here in 1746 we know, for he was one of the number of innkeepers who petitioned the Legislature for payment of certain claims, more fully referred to in the account of the Black Bear Inn, and in the Journal of William Black, who was the Notary of the Commissioners ap- pointed by Governor GoocJis of Virginia, to unite with those from the colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland, to treat with the Iro- quois, or six nations of Indians, in reference to the land west of the Allegheny mountains, in describing the journey of the Commission- ers from Virginia and Maryland to Philadelphia, under date of Saturday, May 25, 1744, he records: " Nine miles from Wilmington, and at the line dividing New Castle and Chester counties, were waiting the High Sheriff, Coro- ner and under Sheriff of Chester county, who conducted us to Ches- ter Town, six miles further, where we arrived a few minutes before nine at night, and put up at Mr. James Mathew, (Mather) the most considerable house in the town ; most of the company being very much fatigued with the day's ride being very warm, they inclin'd for beds soon after they alighted, and tho' for my part I was not very much tir'd, yet I agreed to hug the pillow with the rest." The next entry in his Journal, doubtless after refresing slumber, is headed " (>hester in Pennsylvania, Sunday, the 26," and he re- cords his doings in, and impression of, Chester, of that day, thus: " This morning, by the time the sun return'd to Enlighten My Bed Chamber, I got up with a Design to take a view of the town. It is not so large as Wilmington, neither are the Buildings so large in General, the Town stands on a Mouth of a Creek of the same name, running out the Delaware and has a very large wooden Bridge over it, in the middle of the Town, the Delaware is reckon'd three miles over at this place, and is a very good Road for Shipping; the Court House and Prison is two tolerable large Buildings of Stone, there are in the Town a Church dedicated to St. Paul, the Congregation are after the manner of the Church of England ; A Quaker Meeting and a Sweed's " (?)" Church ; about 10 of the Clock, forenoon, Comm'rs and us of their Leeve went to St. Paul's ; where we heard a Ser- mon Preach'd by the Reverend Mr. Backhouse, on the 16th Chapt. Historic Buildings in Chester. 97 of St. Luke, 30 & 31st Versas, from this some of us paid a Visit to the Friends' who were then in Meeting, but as it happened to be a Silent One, after we had sat about 15 niin., they Shook hands and we parted, from this Return'd to our Inn, where we had a very good Dinner, and about 4 in the Evening Set out for Philadelphia, Ac- companied by the Shffs, Coroner, and several G-entlemen of the Town, past thro' Darby a Town 7 miless from Chester, Standing on a creek or the same name and at a Stone Bridge about half a mile further, was met by the Sheriff, Coroner, and Sub-Sheriff of Phila- delphia County Here the Company from Chester took their leave of Us and return'd." James Mather afterwards purchased the ground where National Hall stands, with the building thereon, which William and Joshua P. Eyre tore down to make room for the present structure. Here he continued the occupation of an innkeeper. In his will. May 28, 1768, John Mather devised it to his daughter Jane. She first married Dr. Paul Jackson, who, dying in 1767, the following year she married Dr. David Jackson. The latter and his wife, February 27, 1 775, conveyed the property to James Sparks, a merchant of Philadelphia. There is no evidence to show that Dr. David Jackson ever resided there, and, as he was a physician in Philadelphia, the probabilities are that he never personally occu- pied the dwelling, and the same is true of Sparks, notwithstanding he owned it nine years. Who dwelt therein, I have failed to learn, but May 13, 1784, Sparks sold it to William Ker'in, who made it his residence, and dying seized of the estate, in his will, November 28, 1804, devised it to his wife Catharine, for life, with remainder to his son, John Kerlin. This son John owned the property at his death, and on July 5, 1817, his executors, William Kerlin and Jonathan Pennell, sold it to James Chadwiok, who, in turn, dying seized of the property, it descended to his only child, John Chad- wick, subject to the dower of his widow, Rebecca. John Chadwick, while owning the property, purchased two frame buildings at Mar- cus Hook, and placing them on scows, had them floated up to Ches- ter, where he erected them on the eastern end of his property on Third street. Both of these houses are now owned by the estate of Henry Abbott, Sr., deceased This was considered a marvellous feat in those days. John, however, January 15, 1829, conveyed his title to his mother, and, October 7, 1830, Rebecca Chadwick sold the estate to Charles Alexander Ladomus. The latter was French 98 Historical Sketch of Chester. by birth, and at the outbreak of the French Revolution of 1793, his mother, (being of an aristocratic family,) was compelled to flee in the night time to Germany with her children. Charles was at that time a lad of ten years. All the family remained in the land of re- fuge, and after the battle of Jena, October 14, 1805, Charles A. Ladomus was in Berlin when the defeated Prussian army fled through that city. When the French occupied it, he acted as an interpreter for Napoleon. He subsequently made a tour of Europe on foot, which, as he practiced his occupation as a watchmaker in the mean- time, consumed twelve years. About 1828, he came to the United States, married Catharine Schey, a widow, and settled in Chester, where he followed the business of a jeweler and watchmaker in the old building under consideration, until several years before his death, December 30, 1857, in his 76th year. By his will, Decem- ber 15, 1853, he devised his estate to his wife for life, and at her death to his three sons, Jacob, Lewis and Joseph, and to his grand- son Charles Burkheimer, the only child of his daughter Bosanna, in equal shares. The title to the property is still held by the sons, their mother's life estate having determined, April 10, 1874, at which time she died, aged 84 years. After Mr. Ladomus' death, the old building was occupied by James Chadwick, who did a large business therein. He accumulf.ted considerable means, but his purchase of the lots at Fourth and Market streets, and the erection of Lincoln Hall, in 1866, resulted in financial ruin. Chadwick was succeeded by B. Bauer, who kept a clothing store there until 1875, when the house was rented to Caleb P. Clayton, and after nearly a century had gone by, became once more a public house. Historic Buildings in Chester. 99 The Black Bear Inn. The hipped-roof house at the north-east corner of Third and Penn streets, was erected early in the last century, for in the will of John Salkeld, Sr., February 17, 1733-4, five years before his death, he devised the premises to his son Thomas, and designated it as " the house and lot wherein my son-in-law, Anthony Shaw, now dwells." How long Shaw lived there after the date mentioned I have not learned, but in 1746 it was kept as a public house by John Salkeld, the younger, for in that year he, among other inn- keepers, presented a petition to the Legislature, asking compensa- tion for the " diet of Capt Shannon's company of soldiers," quar- tered here during the early part of the French war.. At this time he was a tenant of his brother Thomas, for the latter, in his will June 21, 1749, after making specific devises of other lands, gave the residue of his estate to his brother John Salkeld. The latter, by his will, December 14, 1775, gave an eighth part of his estate, which was large, to his daughter Sarah. He died early in 1776. for his will was probated January 29, of the same year. In the distri- bution of her father's est ite, the Black Bear Inn became bar por- tion. Sarah Salkeld had married George Gill, an Englishman, several years before her father's death, for in the latter's will he leaves jGlO to his grandson, John Gill, and in all probability she was then landlady. George Gill was an outspoken Tory in the Revolutionary struggle, and so ardent was he in the defence of the English army and ministry, that after the battle of Brandywine, at the time the residents of Chester were smarting' under the outrages' perpetrated on them by the royal troops, he was compelled to leave this neighborhood when the enemy abandoned Philadelphia, and was proclaimed a traitor to the Colonies. When the British forces evacuated New York at the close of the war. Gill followed them to Halifax. Subsequently he returned to Chester, was arrested and thrown into prison, but was discharged therefrom by the Act of Assembly, which, under certain conditions, allowed free pardon to proclaimed traitors to the United Colonies. William Whitehead, iu the History of the Borough, published in his Directory of Ches- ter, in 1859, states from information furnished by Mrs. Rebecca 100 Historical Sketch of Chester. Brobson, then owning and residing in the dwelling, that " at the period in which the inn flourished, the people of Chester made their own malt, and a malt-house stood upon the same lot ; this was a brick building, and in a dilapidated condition fifty years," (73 years ago.) John Gill, the grandson mentioued in John Salkeld's (the younger) will, on October 26, 1809, conveyed the premises to Thomas B. Dick, and mentions in the deed that the estate descended to him as heir-at-law of his mother, Sarah Grill. Thomas Barnard Dick ■was an attorney, admitted to the Delaware County bar, February 9, 1790, but removed to Easton shortly after, where for several years he practiced law. He, however, returned to Chester, and was drowned in the Delaware, April 21, 1811. How the accident hap- pened is not known, since he was on the river alone in a row-boat, during a heavy snow storm. He was the father of Archibald T. Dick, a noted lawyer of this county, and in 1834 the Democratic candidate for Congress. During the war of 1812, the latter was a soldier, although he never took part in a battle, being with the con- tingent forces at Camp Du Pont. He built the Eyre mansion, on Edgmont avenue, now the club house of the Chester Republican League, and died August 13, 1837, in his 43d year. Hon. Frank- lin A. Dick, his son, born in Chester, at the present time is one of the foremost lawyers at the American bar. Phcebe Dick, the widow of Thomas B. Dick, to whom the latter devised the es- tate, conveyed the property to William Brobson, April 22, 18ol. The latter was for many years an active man in the Borough, car- rying on the business of tanning in the yard on Edgmont avenue, now the property of his grandsons, Henry and F. J. Hinkson, Jr. Mr. Brobson, by his will, devised the estate to his wife, Rebecca, who died in 1863, at an advanced age. By her will, February 26, 1861, she directed her real estate to be sold within one year after her death. George Sharpless and Frederick J. Hinkson, Sr., ex- ecutors, September 10, 1864, conveyed the property to Henry and Charles Hinkson, and they, October 7, 1 864, deeded it to Fred- erick J. Hinkson, Sr. Frederick J . Hinkson, Sr., was a native of Upper Providence, his grandparents being descended from Irish ancestry. In early ilfe he was a school teacher, continuing- that vocation until 1827, Historic Buildings in Chester. ItJl ■when he entered the Bank of Delaware County as a clerk, gradu- ating in time by merit to the position of (Sashier, and finally to the presidency of that institution. When the Bank was incorporated under the Act of Congress in 1864, he resigned the office. In 1857, he was elected one of the Associate Judges of Delaware county ; subsequently he was eledted a Jury Commissioner and Di- rector of the Poor. He was a candidate for the State Legislature in 1874, by a popular call, and so great was the vote cast for him that, although there were three tickets in the field (he being named as an Independent) he was only defeated by a trifling pleurality. He was a director in many business associations and companies, being the Treasurer of several In 1837 he married Hannah, daugh- ter of William Brobson. Judge Hinkson died September 10, 1879, and by his will devised the estate to his sons Henry and Frederick J. Hinkson, Jr., who now own it. TAe Hope's /Inclior Tavern dud tti.e St ace f House. The story of the old building at the south-west corner of Market and Fourth streets is an interesting one, and, although I have not been able to ascertain from whom David Coupland derived title, I have learned sufficient of the history of the premises to state that it is an ancient structure, built during the first half of the last century. It could not, of course, have been erected prior to 1700, for in that year the plan of the town was submitted by James San- delands, the younger, to William Penn and approved by the latter, and at that date the land was in the ownership of the heirs of Jas. Sandelands, the elder. It may be that the property came from Joshua Coupland, who, in his will, December 12, 1750, devised his real estate to his brothers Caleb and David Coupland, charged with a life annuity to his father, William Coupland, then a very aged 102 Historical Sketch of Chester. man. We know that in 1746 the building had been erected and was at that time kept as-a public house by David Coupland, for in that year he, with other innkeepers of Chester, petitioned the Leg' islature for payment of the " diet furnished to Captain Shannon's company," which troop was part of the forces enlisted during the old French War. David Coupland was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to the Colony with his parents m 1723, his brother Caleb having pre- ceded him nearly nine years. In 1730 he married Isabella Bell, and from that time seems to have taken an active part in the move- ments of the day. Although by birthright a Friend, we find that in 1758, when Brigadier General John Forbes commanded the Ex- pedition which resulted in the capture of Fort Du Quesne,( now Pittsburg,) David Coupland enlisted as a private in the company of Captain John Singleton, and during that campaign, he, with Ben- jamin Davis and John Hauby, (Hanley) agreed to pay Hugh Wil- son, of Lancaster county, =£5 as a bounty, for entering one wagon in the expedition, to be credited to the Borough of Chester. When the misunderstanding between the Colonies and England began, David Coupland immediately took sides with the former and was earnest in his efforts to sustiin tlie cause of the Whigs. At the assembling of the people of Chester county, in the old Court House, in this city, December 20, 1774, f elected President of the Bank of Delaware County, succeeding John Newbold. While here he was an ardent advocate of all meas- ures having for their object agricultural improvements. After his removal to Philadelphia he enjoyed a large and remunerative prac- tice, but notwithstanding his busy life be had time to take an ac- tive part in many benevolent objects. He was a constant visitor to that end at the Pennsylvania Hospital and Friends' Asylum, at Frankford. He was also a Director of the Pennsylvania Bank^ Schuylkill Navigation Company and other corporations. During his long professional career he had so frequently seen distress among the honest poorer classes, that when he died, Monday, April 4, 1836, he left by will four hundred thousand dollars " towards founding an institution for the relief of indigent married women of good character, distinct and unconnected with any hospital, where they may be received and provided with proper obstetric aid for their delivery, with suitable attendance and comforts during • Historic BuUdings in Vhegter. 131 iheir period of weakness and susceptibility, which ensues." Under this provision in his will waS established Preston's Retreat, in Philaddphia, one of the aoblest institutions of enlarged charity -within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Dr. Preston was buried in Friends! grave yard, on Edgmont avenue, in this city, but lis remains have been removed therefrom in recent years. William Sharpless, and Ann, his wife, March 12, 1806, conveyed the old house to Jonas Eyre, the nephew by marriage, of the grant- ors. His father, Isaac Eyre, having married Ann Preston, a sister •of Martha, William Sharpless' first wife. Jonas Eyre, married in 1761, but his wife died a few years afterwards, leaving two sons, and the widower married the second time, November 11, 1801, Su- sanna, daughter of Joshua and Maty Pusey. By the second wife he had two sons who grew to manhood, William and Joshua Pusey iyre. Jonas Eyre died March 21, 1836, and by his will. June 4, 1834, devised the real estate under consideration to the two named sons in equal shares. Joshua P. Eyre and his brother William, early in life, embarked an business in Chester, for many years keeping a general country -store, and at the same time were interested in freighting in the •" Jonas Preston," the Chester packet, owned by them. They ac- cumulated large means, and at one time were all-powerful in poli- tics in the county. Joshua P. Eyre, during the years 1840-'41, was a member of the Legislature ; he was a Director of the Dela- ware County Bank, and one of the Directors of the Delaware County Insurance Company, as was also his brother William. William Eyre married Anna Louisa, daughter of Dr. Job H. Terrill. She died leaving one son, Joshua P. Eyre, Jr. By his second wife, Rebecca Pusey, daughter of Caleb Churchman, he had three children, Caleb C, William P., and Rebecca Eyre, the latter now Mrs. William Wilson. William Eyre died many years before his brother, Joshua P., whose death occurred April 1, 1872. In the distribution of the estate, the old house became the property of Joshua P. Eyre, Jr., who lived in the ancestral home for many years, and now, although he has built a stately dwelling almost im- mediately in frout of the old house, he steadfastly refuses to raze the antiquated structure to the ground, but keeps it in repairs be- 132 Historical Sketch of Chester. cause of the many recollections and memories associated with the family homestead. !rAe Old Lloyd House, Second and Edgmont jivenue. Pavid Lloyd obtained title for the green, or the church land ly- ing between the creek and Welsh street, and south of Neeles Laer- son's tract of ground to the river Delaware, December 28, 1693, by deed from the church .wardens of the Swedish congregation, " at Wiccocoe," which act on his part is criticised severely by Rev. Mr. Ross, in his letter, June 21, 1714, to the Society for the Propaga- tion qf the Gospel in Foreign Parts • " Ye Glebe lands," he said, alluding to this tract, " was irreligiously sold by some Swedes un- der ye name of church wardens, to a powerful Quaker, who now plows and sows it, and disposes of it at his pleasure, but 'tis hoped his precarious title will be one day inquired into, and the Church restored to her rights again." This tract, which had been given to the Swedes' church by Airngardt " Pappegoya," could not be wrenched out of the strong grasp of David Lloyd, and notwith- standing the determined opposition of Jasper Yeates, he succeeded in having the land confirmed to him by the Proprietary Govern- ment - That the house at the south-east corner of Edgmont avenue and Second street was built by David Lloyd seems absolutely certain, since in his deed to William Pickles, May 4, 1703, it is specifically set out in the indenture that the house was at that time erected. Its appeaaance supports the statenient, for its architecture marks it as cotemporaneous with the Logan and Hoskins houses. Pickles died seized of the premises, and his executors, Jasper Yeates and Thomas Powell, March 26, 1709, sold the house to John Baldwin, and the latter, by will, April 2, 1731, devised the estate to his Historic Buildings in Chester. lS3 grandsons, John Baldwin and John Pierce. These devisees, Bald- win's wife, Anna, joining in the deed, April 4, 1758, conveyed the property to Jonas Preston, the father of Dr. Jonas Preston, which family I have mentioned fully in the account of the Thomas Barton House. After the old dwelling came into the possession of Jonas Preston, he built a wharf on the creek, part of the stone work now standing, and on the site of the present ice house by the creek • side, he erected a stone store house which stood until after the middle of this century, when it had degenerated into a place to keep swine. Jonas Preston died intestate, and March 16,1773, Martha, a daughter, who had married Thomas Sharpless, took this property at its appraised value in proceeding in partition of her fa- ther's estate, and four days after she sold the premises to John Wall, a merchant of Philadelphia, who had married Hannah Grubb, widow of Richard Flower, of Chichester. The purchaser never lived in the house, but after May 16, 1777, John Flower, (Wall's step-son) on his marriage to Elizabeth Beethom, at the Chester Meeting, resided in the old building It- is traditionally stated that Elizabeth Flower was so alarmed when the battle of Bran- dywine was fought — the noise of the distant cannonading could be heard in Chester- — that she was taken ill, and so serious were the effects of her fright that she lingered a long time on the eve of dissolution, and died in October of the following year This blow was so serious to her husband that it tinged his remaining years with a sadness that he could never shake off or overcome. Who occupied the house thereafter I have been unable to learn, but Feb-' ruary 20, 1 782, John Wall and wife sold the estate to William Sid- dons, subject to £& 4s. Od., the dower of the widow of Jonas Preston, and at her death jE103 6s 8d., the principal, to che lat- ter's heirs. William Siddons, during the latter part of the eighteenth cen- tury, was unfortunately charged with the murder of a peddler of jewelry, who was found with his throat cut near Munday's run, and the body robbed of all the money the dead man was supposed to have had about him at the time of the homicide. When the crime was perpetrated and Siddons was under suspicion, a rhymster of rude verse of that day, composed a ballad, beginning : , 134 Historical Sketch of Chester. "At Munday's Run, near Chester town, Old Siddons knocked the peddler down, And robbed him of his golden store And left him. weltering in his gore." Siddons was arrested, indicted and tried, but on the hearing of the case he was enabled to prove a complete and uncontradicted alibi, while the prosecution «vas predicated purely on circumstan- tial evidence which failed to connect the accused in any direct way with the commission of the crime. The fact that he was charged by some of his neighbors with a felony of such hideous character embittered his entire after life. William Siddons died June 22, 1820, and by his will he devised his estate for life to his wife, with remainder to his children. The old house after his death was oc- cupied by Hannah Pyewell, Samuel Pullen and other tenants until October 19, 1867, when William H. Lewis, Trustee, appointed by the Orphans' Court of Delaware county to make sale of the pro- perty, conveyed it to Lewis Ladopius. During the latter part of Mr. Ladomus' ownership of the house the premises were occupied as a restaurant by John Hanley, a well known citizen of Chester, ■from whom the Hanley Fire Company derived its name. " Jack " Hanley, who in the latter ten years of his life was totally blind, was in all probability a descendant from John of the same cogno- men, who was a prominent man and owner of large estates in Ches- ter, about the middle of the eighteenth century. The dwelling part of the ancient building is now occupied by Elwood Long as a residence, and Emma Hewitt has a grocery in the store room at the corner»of the streets. Lewis Ladomus conveyed the premises to Albert L. Bonnaffon, August 7, 1875, and he in turn sold the pro- perty to Jonathan Pennell, who now owns it. Misiwic Buildings in Chester. 135 TAe j^shbridge ffoase. The ancient dwelling standing on the east side of Edgmont ave» nue, between Second and Graham streets^ is partly built on the site of the House of Defense. The ground on which it stands was part of the estate of Jasper Yeates, who devised it to certain of his heirs, for July 13, 1728, George McOall ^nd Ann, his wife, (Jas^ per's eldest daughter) and John Yeates, by I'elease, granted this house and other lots to George Ashbridge. The latter was a Friend, who as early as 1688 emigrated, as a young man, to Penn"- sylvania and settled near Chester. Who it was built the house I fail to learn, but in all probability Geeofge McCall or John Yeates did, for the title to the ground was in these parties fully eight years after the death of Jasper Yeates, befofe they parted with the premises. Ashbridge, by his will) March 1, 1747 8, devised the estate to his second son, George, who seems to have been an adroit politician, for, elected to the General Assembly in 1743, he man- aged to maintain the confidence of Friends (he being one of the society) until 1773. How, for thirty consecutive years he contrived to avoid committing himself on many of the votes taken during the long French war, which appropriated men and money to carry on that straggle, is incomprehensible, but in the latter year the so" ciety " report they have taken an oppty with one of the represent' atives in Assembly and that he do not apprehend culpable," and yet Judge Futhey, in his History of Chester county states that " it is somewhat singular that his vote on some of the questions was not called up for condemnation by the society to which he be- longed." That he was active in the Assembly and must have been a man of more than the general average out of which representa* tives are made, is evidenced by the perusal of the Journal of Sam'- uel Foulke, (vol 5, Penna. Mag. of History, pp. 64, 65, 68 and 71.). The second George Ashbridge dying seized of the estate, the Or- phans' Court of Chester county, in proceedings in partition ad'- judged the premises to his eldest son, George Ashbridge, the third of that name in the chain of title, who sold it May 6, 1797, to Dorothy Smith and Zedekiah Wyatt Graham, sister and brother of 136 Historical Sketch of Chester. Henry Hale Graham, as joint tenants. Dorothy, who had married John Smith, of Lower Chichester, 12th mo., 4, 1783, was a widow at this time. Zedekiah Graham was a wealthy bachelor, and the brother and sister lived 'together in this house. Of the brother, Deborah Logan writes : " He was a man of such, integrity and worth that I have heard him characterized as an Israelite, indeed, in whom there was no guile." The affection between them was so marked that in his will he gave to her the income of his whole es- tate during life, while she devised to her brother one-third of her property absolutely. Zedekiah Graham died of yellow fever in 1798, and his sister, who nursed him in his illness was attacked by the scourge, and sent for her nephew, William Graham, who had abandoned his home and fled to the country to escape the pesti- lence. It is related that the latter sat on his horse in the street, while the nurse from the second story window informed him as to the disposition his aunt wished to make of her estate ; thus the will was written, attached to a string and drawn up to the chamber of the dying woman who refused to permit any of her kin to visit her and thereby encounter the risk of infection. By her will, Novem- ber 17, 1798, (the whole title to the house having vested in her by survivorship) she devised it to her nephew and four nieces in equal parts. Three ot the nieces and the nephew conveyed their interests to Catharine G., the fourth niece, and wife of Capt. Thomas Rob- inson, in October, 1812. Thomas Robinson was a captain in the merchants' service, but during the Tripolitan war a Lieutenant under Commodore Preble when that officer, in command of the American squadron bombard- ed Tripoli,. June 21, 1804. Robinson was in charge of one of the bombards — vessels carrying mortars — on that occasion ; the shrouds of his vessel were shot away, and her hull so shattered that it was with the utmost difficulty she could be kept above water. During "the war of 1812, he was a volunteer Lieutenant in the Navy, and' was On board the frigate " President " when the latter vessel was captured. As will be remembered. Commodore Decatur, in com- mand of the " President," went to sea from New York, January 14, 1815, and at daylight the following morning the American offi- cer discovered that the English squadron, comprising the seventy- gun ship " Majestic," the fifty-guns frigates " Endymion," " Po- Historic Buildings in Chester. 187 monae " and " Tenedos " were in chase of the vessel. By noon Decatur found that he was outsailing all of the enemy's ships ex- cept the '' Endymion," which vessel had steadily gained on him, until at five o'clock in the evening that frigate had obtained a po- sition on his starboard quarter, and opened a destructive fire on the sails and rigging of his vessel. Decatur was compelled to bear up and engage the enemy in the hope of disabling her before the remaining vessels could arrive to her assistance. A warm action of two hours and a half followed, which resulted in the British frigate dropping astern, her guns silenced and her masts gonu by the board. During the latter part of the battle with the " Endym- ion," Robinson had charge of the trumpet. It is stated that the first, fourth and fifth Lieutenants on the " President" were killed or wounded, and Decatur called for Lieutenant Gallagher to take the trumpet, but Robinson, " hearing the hail, came up from the gun deck," whereupon Decatur said : " Take the trumpet, sir," and Robinson took command of the deck The American frigate made sail and attempted to escape, but the English squadron had come within gunshot of the " President " while that vessel was engaged in the encounter with the " Kndymiou," and being crippled by the heavy fire she had sustained, Decatur was compelled to strike his flag to the British frigates "Tenedos" and "Pomonae." Captain Robinson, after his discharge as a prisoner of war — for the naval action was fought after the treaty of peace had been signed — returned to the merchant service, but the news of the loss of the American packet ship "Albion" on the coast of Ireland, April 21 , 1822, as well as the explosion of the steamboat " Essex " in New York harbor, under his own command, and the frightful loss of life on those occasions, so impressed Robinson with the re- sponsibility appertaining to the office of captain of a vessel that he refused ever again to take command of a ship. Catharine G. Robinson, his wife, died January 24, 1836, and by her will, February 27, 1834, devised the house to her daughter, Sarah P. Combs.X -/^Sarah P. (Robinson) CotXbs, in whom the property vested, lived in the old house for many years, and vacating it, she rented the dwelling to John Harris, a shipbuilder, and after several tenants had occupied it, the premises were leased to Mrs. Mary A. Wheat- 138 Historical Sketch of (Jh<\oter. on, mother of Chief of Police, Lewis D. W heaton, ^^"ho resided in the house for seventeen years, and vacated it only about a year ago, when the old building was rented as an- office by Messrs. Black & Worrell, for t'leir cocoa matting works. Sarah P. Combs died March 5, 1865, and the title to the old Ashbridge house vested in her children, who still own the premises. Lctmokin Hall. The original Salkeld House, built about 1708 by John Salkeld, Sr., as it now stands in the way of Norris street, between Third street and the P. W. & B. Railroad, must shortly be removed to make room for improvements on" that thoroughfare. During the last half century it was used as the tenant house on the Kenilworth estate after John W. Ashmead built the large mansion, in 1838 — since torn down — and also ' by Dr. William Young, who purchased the estate in 1.849. The Perkins', House, or as it was known to a past generation, " Lamokin Hall," was erected many years after- wards by John Salkeld, a son of the noted original emigrant of that name. John Bristow, to whom a large tract of land was granted by patent from the Proprietary, died seized of the estate, and his son John, an edge tool maker, February 25, 1702-3, conveyed to Henry Wooley, a goodly number of these acres. The latter in turn, Jan- uary 27, 1706-7, conveyed the premises to John Salkeld, a man of means and education, whose ready wit, and quickness in repartee, made him noted in his generation, and many of his telling rejoind- ers are recounted even to this day. Salkeld visited this country in 1700, before he settled pennaiiently here, and on the 9th of 7th month, 1705, he and his wife Agnes (Powley) sailed for Philadel- phia. In the following year he purchased the property mentioned and came to this vicinity to reside. He was an effective preacher. Historic Buildings in Chester. 139 and made many religious visits to neighboring meetings in Pennsyl- vania, New Jersey and Delaware, and several times to New Eng- land, Long Island, and on one occasion to Great Britain, and the West Indies. He, as I have already stated, was a natural humor- ist, and a few of the stories which have descended to our own time will repay narrating : One day Salkeld was wearing a new hat that had a button and loop, then quite fashionable, and be was remonstrated with by a Friend for adhering to the usages and customs of the world. .John tore off the offending part of his apparel, remarking : " If my friend's religion consists of a button and a loop I would not give a button and a loop for it." On another occasion, when at a meeting of Friends, the speaker vvho was addressing the audience being so tedious that many in the assembly were almost asleep, Salkeld sprang to his feet, exclaiming : " Fire ! fire !" Every one was awake immediately, and many put the query : "Where?" "In hell!" responded John, "to burn up the drowsy and unconverted." A.fter he returned from a religious journey to New Jersey, he said : " I have breakfasted with the La:lds, dined with the Lords, and slept with the Hoggs,"- the names of the families that entertained him. One time as he walked from his corn field, a Friend, by the name of Cloud passing by, said : " John, thee will have a goo.l crop of com." Salkeld afterwards relating the circumstance, stated that he heard a voice coming out of a Cloud, saying : " John, thee will have a good crop of corn." He rode at one time a horse with a blaze in its face, and a neighbor who thought to be merry with him, said: " John, thy horse looks pale in the face." "Yes, he does," he replied ; " and if thee had looked as long through a hal- ter as he has, thee would be pale in the fac,e too." He was at times forgetful, and on one occasion when visiting Friends in New Jersey, he took his daughter Agnes with him, ridingj as women then often did, on a pillion, strapped on the saddle behind her father. After the assembly dispersed he entirely forgot his daughter, and mounting his horse rode away leaving her at the meeting house. He was personally about medium size, but his wife, Agnes, was very tall and muscular, hence her descendants, who are all notice- ably tall, inherit this characteristic from her. John Salkeld died September 20, 1739, and by will devised the farm of one hundred 140 Hiistorinal Sketch of Chester. acres, on which his house stood, to his son, David Salkeld, and left the plot of oround whereon Lamokin Hall was subsequently built, to his wife, Agnes, and she, by will, 7th mo., 11 , 1748, devised the estate to John Salkeld, the younger. The latter, in 1731, had mar- ried Elizabeth Worrall, who became the mother pf thirteen child- ren. John Salkeld, the younger, by will, December 13, 1776, de- vised his real estate to his eight children, (the others had died in chilebood) in equal parts, his whole estate, however, being charged with his wife's support. In the distribution of the property the land, under consideration was allotted to his son Peter, who built the western end of Lamokin Hall. December 7, 1789, he sold the property to Jacob Peterson. The latter conveyed it to James Withey who made the addition to the eastern end of the old house about 1796. It will be seen that there is an error in my account of the Co- lumbia House, where I say that Mary Withey Iiad purchased this property. That statement was based on tradition. In the deed from Robert Pairlamb, Sheriff, April 12, 1819, to Charles Justice and William Graham, he states that the estate had been taken in execution as the property of James Withey. The purchasers interchanged deeds, dated February 27, 1821, by which Charles Justice acquired absolute title to the land south of the Post road, and Willianri Graham that north of the same high- way. The latter having trust money belonging to his sisters in his hands at the time of his death, Lamokin Hall was in the distribu- tion of his estate, transferred to his siste^ Henrietta, who had mar- ried Richard Flower. The latter was the owtier of the noted " Chester Mills," now Upland, and while there made several suc- cessful ventures in shipping flour to Europe. When the misunder- standing existed between France and the United States, previous to 1800, he, in connection with his brother John, his half brother Rfeece Wall, and his brother-in-law, Capt. John McKeever, loaded three vessels with flour and cleared them for Liverpool. All three of the ships were captured by French cruisers and condemned in French prize courts, although one of the vessels was within sixty miles of the Delaware bay when taken. During the war of 1812, the American troops were instruqted to impress all the flour at Chester mills for the army, but the Government paid full value- for Historic Buildings in Chester. 141 all that was taken. The loss Mr. Flower sustained by French spo- liation, however, so cramped him that he was never able again to carry on business largely, and, indeed, that incident seemed to crush out his desire to seek a foreign market tor his breadstuffs. He reached an advanced age, dying in 1843, in his eighty-fourth year. Mr. Flower was at one time County Commissioner He and his fellow commissioners were told that they were entitled to $1 a day as compensation, and that if they made a visit to one locality to look after public improvements, and the sf.me day another locality was visited on a similar errand, the commissioners were accustomed to charge two days' fees. Acting on the traditionary custom, the commissioners for that year managed to crowd five hundred and eighty days into the twelve months. John W. Ashmead, who had built the house on the farm adjoin- ing, after the death of his father-in-law, Mr. Flower, purchased the estate, June 3, 1844, from Hon. Edward Darlington, trustee to sell the property, for the purpose solely of adding a trifle over an acre to the lawn of his dwelling, so that his house should be located in the centre of the lawn. After thoroughly repairing Lamokin Hall, he sold it September 5, 1846, to Abram R. Perkins, for $6,000. The latter had been a successful merchant in Philadelphia, but his purchase of the property at that price, thirty-six years ago, was, perhaps, in the shaping of events one of the most fortunate transac- tions in his business career, for the premises in that period have so increased in valve that it alone has made his estate worth' thirty times what it originally cost him. 142 Historical Sketch of Chester. Jacob Howell House. The small stone building on the east side of Edgniont avenue, above Third street, which is jammed in between the northern end of the City Hotel, and an addition to the Howell House itself, made by Isaac Eyre, now used as a Chinese laundry, has had compara- ■tively few owners The land was patented by William Pean to Randle Vernon, March 4, 1681, and the latter conveyed the estate, the lot on the west and one on the east side of Edgmont avenue, to Jacob Howell, June 16, 1714. On the lot thus conveyed on the east side of tlie street, Howell built the stone structure and lived there until May 13, 1764, when he conveyed the estate to Isaac Eyre, who built the brick addition to the north of the dwelling. Justice Eyre for many years kept a general store in the old build- ing at the south-east corner of Third street and Edgmont avenue, at the time he was carrying on business at his tan yard across the street. In 1798, when the yellow fever was raging in Chester, a woman came' to Isaac Eyre, who was then Burgess, demanding that he should remove a person ill with the scourge from her house, and threatened, if he did not, she would bring the sick lad to the home of the Burgess. "If you do, I'll shoot you before you cross- my doorstep," said the latter. 'Squire Eyre was not afraid personally of the disease, for he had nursed several persons who were ill with it ; but he was determined, if he could prevent it, the fever should not. b5 introduced into his family, which was an unusually large one. He is said to have been more than equal to Horace Greeley in pen- manship particularly when he wrote hurriedly, for frequently, after the letters got cold, the 'Squire himself could not read his own chi- rography, as is sa.id to have happened with Rufus Choate and others distinguished for their eccentric handwriting. It is stated that on • one occasion when a case was being heard before Judge Cox, who was somewhat irascible during the trial of a suit, and the matter being an appeal from a judgment given by 'Squire Eyre, his docket was sent for. The counsel who desired to use it opened at the name of the case ; that he could make out, but the inscription on the Rosetta stone was not more difficult for him to decipher than were the characters in the words written within that docket. He Historic Buildings in Chester. 14S twisted it in all directions, but without avail ; not a word could he make out. The Judge at last nervously said : " Hand me the dock- et ; I never saw writing I could not read." The bulky volume was carried up to the bench, and His Honor dropped his glasses on the bridge of his nose and gazed earnestly on the page. The tasK was more than he had expected. His face grew scarlet, and the law- yers tittered, while it is said even the tipstaffs smiled audibly. "Send for 'Squire Eyre;" at last His Honor said, hotly. It was done, and the Justice presented himself in Court. " Is this your docket, 'Squire ?" said Judge Cox. " I suppose so, but I can tell if I can look at it," quickly answered the 'Squire. The Judge handed down the docket, and said-: " Be good enough to read us your entry in this case." "Certainly," replied the Justice, and he took out the large spectacles then recently invented, called temple glasses, which were exceeding fashionable, and looked carefully over the page. Several minutes elapsed, not a word escaped the 'Squire, and the symptoms of a general laugh began to manifest themselves throughout the audience. Then the 'Squire drew him- self up and said : " May it please the Court, the law requires me to keep a docket, and make an entry of cases heard before me, for the benefit of this Court and the public. I have done that, but 1 fail to learn that any law compels me to read that entry for any person ; that is the duty of the Court." And that docket entry never was read, at least not before the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware county. After the death of 'Squire Eyre, his daughters lived in the house until 1874, when it was sold to Stephen Cloud, who now owns it. The house on the opposite side of the way, where F. J. Hinkson, Jr., has his leather store, was built by 'Squire Eyre Th"e exact time I do not know, but March 25, 1826, William Neal, the school- master at the old school house, torn down in 1874, bought it from the heirs of Isaac Eyre, and March 23, 1833, he sold it to Job Rulon, who, in turn, March 23, 1870, conveyed the estate to Fred- erick J. Hinkson, who by will devised it to his sons, Henry and Frederick J. Hinkson, Jr. 144 Historical Sketch of Chester. The Gfra;y House. Although the substantial brick structure at the north-west cor- ner of Fifth and Market streets is not very ancient, it having been built not more than forty years ago, yet the old house, which for- merly occupied part of the site of the present building, as well as the house in which Mrs Dr. Gray still resides has connected with it much interesting history appertaining to the olden time and for- mer residents of Chester. The land on which it stands was part of the grant of twenty acres of land confirmed to James Sandelands, the elder, by patent May 31, 1686. James Sandehmds, it seems, sold the property to Roger Jackson, but died before he effectually conveyed the premises to Jackson The latter, in his will, dated January 13, 1711, devised this lot, whereon he had built a house, to his " loving friend, Jo- seph Baker, the elder, of Edgmont, * * and Thomas Powell, of Providence, * and their heirs my dwelling house and lots of land * * situate, lying and being in the said tovrn of Ches- ter, which James Sandelands in his life time sold but not effectually conveyed to me, in trust, to sell the estate for the payment of debts and divide the residue thereof equally amongst such or so many ■of' my relations in England as shall within seven years after my de- cease come over here." However, Jonas Sandelands and Mary, his wife, by deed, March 20, 1712, conveyed the premises, of which he was then in occupancy, to Roger Jackson, reserving a yearly rent of six shillings payable on the 25th day of March in each and every year forever. Thomas Powell died before Roger Jackson, and Jo- seph Baker took upon himself the duties of the trust, but he dying, left his son, John Baker, as executor of his estate, who, as such executor, October 4, 1717, conveyed a part of the estate of Roger Jackson to William Backinghara. The latter, August 14, 1721, conveyed the premises to John Price, who had before Roger Jack- son's death, purchased from him, May 26, 1715, a part of the land conveyed to him by Sandelands. On March 25, 1724, John Price purchased from John Baker the remaining part of the Jackson es- tate. Price died in 1726. By his will, February, 1726, he left to Historic BuUdings in Chester. 145 his wife, Catharine, one-half interest in his real property. The •widow married William Frehorn, who, by his will. May 2, 1736, left his estate to his wife, and she subsequently intermarried with John Hanley, who, with Catharine, his wife, by a deed, January 29, 1742-3, conveyed to Joseph Parker the interest of Catharine in the estate, and Joseph Parker, by deed dated February 9, of the same year, conveyed the half interest to John Hanley. Catharine Han- ley having died, the widower married a second time, and by his -will, May 12, 1769, he devised unto his wife, Eleanor, the lot bounded by Fifth street. Market street and Edgmont avenue, ex- cepting a part to the north end of the triangles belonging to Henry Hale Graham, and a lot which he had sold to Caleb Cobourn, during his lifetime. Eleanor Hanley subsequently married John Hogan, a kinsman of John Hanley, to whom the latter by his will had de- vised the brick house on Fifth street to the east of the Columbia House and now a part of that hotel. The interest of John Price, the heir of John Price, the elder, was absorbed into that of the Hogans, and a mortgage was given him February 10, 1772, cover- ing the property under consideration as well as the brick house on Fifth street. On .May 24, 1774, John Hogan and Eleanor, his wife, mortgaged both the properties mentioned to Hugh Mcllvain, for ^£50, and defaulting, in the payment, Nicholas Fairlamb, Sheriff, sold the lot on the north side of Fifth and Market streets, May, 9, 1791, to William Richardson Atlie. The latter married Marga- retta, the only daughter of Gen. Anthony Wayne, and having been appointed one of the Justices and Clerk of the Courts of Dela- ware county in 1789, came to this city in 1790, and resided in the old house. Atlie having built a stable and improved the property, on March 25, 1795, sold it to John Crosby, of Ridley, who, No- vember 23, of the same year, conveyed it to James Withey ; the latter in turn, December 15, 1796, sold it to Dr. William Martin. Dr. Martin, the grandfather of John Hill Martin, the author of the " History of Chester and its Vicinity," was a man of much pro- minence. He was a physician as well as a lawyer, a Justice of the Peace, and Chief Burgess of Chester, and in April, 1798, when Washington passed through Chester on his way to Philadelphia, Dr. Martin made the address of congratulation to the President on be- half of the town. It was in this year that the yellow fever visited . 146 Historical Sketch of Chester. Chester as a fearful scourge Dr. Martin, it is stated, was macb alarmed, and seemed to feel that he would die of the pestilence. It is said that he frequently rode to the windows of the houses where persons were sick with the fever, would learn the condition of the patient, and prescribe and furnish the medicine without en- tering the dwelling. In September of that year, however, a British vessel was lying off Chester with all hands down with the fever. Dr. Martin was sent for ; he attended, and as he had feared, he contracted the dis- ease frc ni which he died, September 28, 1798. His wife, Pjleanor Martin, administered, and by order of Court she sold the premises January 13, 1799, to John Flower, in trust, to the use of Hannah Wall, and at her death to her children, John Flower, Richard Flower, Jemima McKfeever and Reese Wall, and in the event of the death of Reese Wall, without issue and intestate, to his half-bro- thers and sister in equal parts. Reese Wall was drowned in the Delaware bay in the early part of the present century, and Hannah Wall died February 24, 1810. On February 24, 1824, Richard Flower, of Chester Mills, (now Upland) and wife, conveyed his one-third interest to his brother John, who, by his will, February 14, 1825. devised -his two-third interest in this property to William G. Flower, who was for many years afterwards the lessee of the Ch/sster Mills, and whose almost miraculous escape from drowning during the freshet of 1 843, is still remembered by the older resi- dents of this city. Jemima McKeever, grandmother of the late John Burrows Mc- Keever, and of Harriet B. McKeever, the authoress, of this city, conveyed her interest in the estate, June 10, 1826, to William Gr. Flower. During the latter's ownership of the house it was occu- pied by Archibald T. Dick, until he built the old Eyre mansion, now the Chester Republican League House. On April 15, 1834, William Gr. Flower sold the premises to Joseph M. Gr. Lescure. The latter in 1825 had purchased the material and printing estab- lishment of the Post Boy, from Eliphalet B. Worthington, changing the title of the paper to the Upland Union, or Delaware County, Kingsessing and Blodkley Advertiser, a folio sheet, five columns to a page, which paper he continued to publish in the Borough until 1838, when he sold it to Joseph Williams and Charles T. Coates. Historic Buildings in Chester. 147 The office of publication was in the frame building then standing on Fifth street, west of his dwelling, after he purchased the pro- perty on which Mrs. Gray's house now stands. The Upland Union was strongly Democratic in its leanings, and the late Y. S. Walter, in the Republican, always alluded to it as the " Upland Onion," while Lescure, in return, dubbed the Delaware County Republican, then published in Darby, as the " Darby Ram." Joseph M. G. Lescure and Catharine, his wife, August 15, 1836, sold the property to Dr. William Gray, whose widow still owns it. Shortly after Dn Gray acquired title to the premises, and while he was absent several months on a visit to recruit his health at the springs of Virginia, his wife caused the old building to be torn down and the present house to be erected in its stead. Peter Gamble was the builder. The doctor, on his return, was agreeably surprised to find that in his absence a new mansion, ample in its proportions and finished in a style of elegance for that day, had taken the place of the ancient stone dwelling which had formerly occupied a part of the site of the new structure. Dr. Vr'illiam Gray, a member of the well-known family of Gray, of Gray's Perry,, was for many years one of the most noted men of the county. In early life he had gone to his uncle, Thomas Steel, a miller in Darby, to learn that business, but finding the occupation uncongenial he abandoned it, and studied medicine under his rela- tion. Dr. Warfield, of Maryland. After he graduated, he married Martha Bonsall,' aiid settled in Chester, where for many years he had a large and lucrative practice as a physician. He died May 12, 1864. The doctor will be recalled to the recollection of the old residents of Chester as one whose visits, whether in the discharge of the duties of his profession or of those of social life, were al- ways received with pleasure by the household to whom they were made. 148 Historical Sketch of Chester. The Turner {Shaw) House. I thought until very recently that part of the old house standing at the north-east corner of Third street and Concord avenue, da- ted back over a hundred and fifty years, but 1 have learned from Mrs. Shaw that the old Turner House was torn down by James Shaw, in 1796, and the eastern portion of the ancient structure was erected by him at that time, while the western addition was built in*1827, when it was the estate of Jane (Sharpless) Shaw, who married a second time, in 1808, David Bevan. We know that John Salkeld, Sr., in his will, in 1733, devised the property to his son,. Thomas, and the latter, January 26, 1741, sold it to William Tur- ner, who is designated in the deed as "merchant'" Previous to this purchase. Turner occupied the dwelling thereon erected as Thomas Salkeld's tenant, for in 1739, Bampfylde Moore Carew mentions that in that ye^r he called on Mrs. Turner and obtained money from her, as stated elsewhere in this volume. The dwelling and ground in all probability was acquired by Edward Turner by descent, for in 1770, the premises were taken in execution by Jesse Maris, Sheriff, and sold as the property of Edward Turner, May 28, of that year, to Samuel Shaw. The purchaser was the first of his name in Chester county, having been born in Lincolnshire, in 1707, and previous to his leaving England was in the military service of bis King, for in a petition he presented to, the Justice of the Courts, March 26, 1764, asking to be relieved from the duties of Constable of Chester township, he set forth that fact, as well as that he has formerly dwelt in Philadelphia, where he was commis- sioned by the Governor as a Major and Captain of a company of soldiers, in which capacity he instructed not only his own command, but " did discipline several other companies as well, without any reward from the Government." At the time the office of Constable was appurtenant to the land^and each real estate owner had to dis- charge that duty in turn, as will be apparent from an examination of the old records at West Chester. In 1752, Samuel Shaw owned the noted Chester Mills, now Upland,, and erected a dam breast across the creek in that year, as appears from several affidavits in Historic BuHdirtgs in Chester. 149 possession of the Crozer family among many old papers and maps relating to the title of the mill site and lands appertaining thereto. Samuel Shaw died September 20, 1783, intestate, and the property at Concord roajl and Third street was awarded to his sou, John Shaw, by order of Ooiirt, in partition of his estate. John Shaw, November 10, 1786, conveyed the estate to James Shaw, his half-brother; John, the elder son, being a child of Samuel Shaw's first wife, Mary, and James a son of his second wife, Han- nah, daughter of Tristram Smith. It is related that when James Shaw married Jane Sharpless, daughter of. Thomas and Martha (Preston) Sharpless, October 23. 1796, the newly married couple occupied for a time the Black Bear Inn, (now the Hinkson property at Penn and Third streets) as a dwelling, while the old Turner House was being torn down to make room for the ftew structure James Shaw was a noted sportsman in his day, and on one occasion he shot in an afternoon seventy-eight ducks. He used a double- barrelled gun, and fired at the birds that sat on the water, and dis- charged the second barrel as they rose, with the result above stated. So remarkable was it then thought that the fact was noted on the stock of his gun, an account being cut in the wood. After his death this gun was given by his widow to William Graham. James Shaw died early in the present century, leaving a will by which he ap- pointed Ephraim Pearson and Jane Shaw, (his widow) executors of his estate with power to sell the realty. In exercise of that author^ ity the executors named, March 26, 1803, conveyed the premises to Wm. Graham, and he, May 2, the same year, transferred the estate to, Jane Shaw, the widow, previous to her marriage with David Be- van. Mrs (Shaw) Bevan, by her will, December 5, 1843, devised the estate to her son, Samuel Shaw. The latter married Mary Ann, daughter of John and Isabella Eyre, of Upper Chichester, who, surviving her husband twenty years, is yet hale and hearty and still resides in the old homestead, the property having been devised to her by her late husband, September 5, 1840, his will having been made nearly twenty-two years before his death, which occurred May 9, 1862. Samuel Shaw was a farmer, and appointed a Justice of the Peace, and although h§ was an old-fashioned gentleman, punctilious in the observance of all the ceremonies of social inter- course, he was always courteous to young and old alike, and is 150 Historical Sketch of Chester. gratefully remembered by several of our citizens — themselves now verging on to three-score and ten — for his consideration of the finer feelings of those who at that time were impulsive young men. Samuel and Mary Ann Shaw had two sons and a daughter. James, the eldest, was for many years a merchant in Chester, and is to-day a successful manufacturer at New Castle, Delaware, where he mar- ried Virginia, daughter of the late Major Joseph Carr. John Eyre Shaw, the second son, is a member of the Philadelphia bar, and, having devoted his attention to patent cases solely, has attained marked prominence in his profession, and a large and remunerative practice in the special line he has chosen. Emily Ann Shaw mar- ried William M. Burgin, of Philadelphia, and resides in that city. TAe James JBarhef Souse. "On the north side of Second street west of Market stands an old brick house, with pent roof extending over the window of the first story, which building has in recent years been used as a bottling establishment- and a restaurant. Its 'exact age I do not know, but the lot was conveyed by David Lloyd, James Lowns, and Susanna, his wife, to James Barber, November 27-28, 1712. This James Barber was, I presume, a brother of Robert Barber, the early set- tler of that name, who in 1690 married Hannah Ogden, and it may , have been that it was Robert, a son of this James, to whom Robert Barber, the settler, devised his estate. At all events James Barber built the house, and in the deed, September 13, 1732, to Thomas Oummings, it is designated as "the house where James Barber now dwells " The purchaser was a member of the soqiety of Friends, for in a declaration of trust. May 18, 1758, respecting a lot of ground on the east side of Edgmont avenue, south of Fourth street, which had been conveyed, August 26, 1757, to several per- sons by John Baldwin " with the intent that a school house shall Historic Buildings in Chester. 151 be erected and built upon the said lot in the said township of Chester," Thomas Cumraings is mentioned as one of the grantees, and is designated as " cordwainer." He had, however, previous to that date been a member of the Legislature, for in 1735, and sub- sequently? for ten terms he was one of the eight members returned from Chester county to the General Assembly. He died previous to August 22, 1766, for his will was probated at that time, whereby he devised all his estate to his wife, Alice. She survived her hus- band many years, and by will, June 2, 1785,. devised the estate to her nieces, Hannah Cummings and Elizabeth Pedrick, in equal shares, and they in turn, October 26, 1788, sold the house to Adam Grubb. The latter by will, March 9, 1790, devised the preiDises to Mary Grubb, his wife, with remainder to his cousins, John Grubb, Sr., and Isaac Grubb. The remainder men outlived the widow, for May 12, 1794, they sold the property to .Jonas Preston, and he conveyed it, January 17, 1806, to Jonas Eyre, while the latter, March 28, 1811, transferred it to Thomas B. Dick, from whom the property descended to his son, Archibald T. Dick. Almostall the owners of this old house have been fully referred to in previous sketches, and it is unnecessary to recapitulate what is there said of them, and as respecting the tenants of the dwelling, I have learned but little of interest. Previous and subsequently to 1824, George W, Hill, who was a clerk in the Bank of Delaware County, resided there, and was succeeded by Zedekiah W. Flower, who had married a daughter of Archibald T. Dick, and from 1831 to 1835 it was the parsonage of St. Paul's Church, being occupied as such by Dr. John Baker CFemson, while rector of that parish. He was followed by • George W. Piper, who, after his marriage resided in the pent roof house for several years. Archibald T. Dick having died in the meantime, his estate was sold by Samuel Hibberd, Sheriff, in pro- ceeding in partition, May 27, 1844, to Edward Darlington, trustee of Sarah B., wife of Major Price. After «he latter acquired . title. Rev. Anson B. Hard, while associate rector of St. Paul's, lived there and was succeeded in time by Major Price himself, , The property is still owned by the heirs of Samuel A., and Sarah B. Price, but the old house has drifted downward until, as with a goodly number of the historic buildings of Chester, it only awaits 152 Historical Sketch of Chester. the advancing march of trade to be removed to make room for manufacturing and business establishments. And the time is al- most at hand when that decree will become imperative. TAe Caldwell Jfansion. The handsome dwelling on the west side of Edgmont avenue, north of Twelfth street, since it was modernized by Col. Samuel A. Dyer, during his ownership of the property, is, nevertheless, an an- cient building. The ground upon which it stands is part of a tract of one hundred and twenty acres which was patented April 2, 1688, to Eusta Anderson. June 21, of the same year, Anderson conveyed it to Charles Pickering, who, it is said, came over with William Penn, and had, in his wandering in search of pi'ecious metal dis- covered silver ore near Pickering creek, a tributary of the Schuyl- kill. Col. Pickering, for such was the title he wfis known by, re ceived a patent to the lands in Chester county bordering on that stream. In 1683, he was tried for privately coining " Spanish bits and Boston money," and was sentenced to a fine of forty pounds "toward building a court house," and to redeem all the currency he had issued. He appeared in a criminal case in Chester in 1686, as attorney for the King, the first appearance of an attorney in be- half of the government in the Commonwealth. He was drowned , while on a voyage to Europe, subsequent to 1688, and by will he devised his real estate in Chester county, which was large, to six- teen of his friends. He had, however, October 1 3, of the year last mentioned, conveyed the property purchased from Anderson to ■David Lloyd, and he in turn sold twenty acres of it, subject to a yearly rent of one silver shilling, to John Hoskins, the elder, who dying seized of the estate, it passed by descent to his son, John Hoskins, the younger. The latter dying intestate, his widow, Ruth, and his son Stephen Hoskins, and his daughter Mary Hos- Historic Buildings in Chester, 153 kins, and her husband, John Mather, in 1733, released their inter- est in the premises to Joseph Hoskins, another son of John Hos- kins, the younger, and he in turn, April 9, 1741, conveyed the land to Stephen Cole. This Stephen Cole, at the time mentioned, was a resident of Chester. His house then stood about opposite H . B. Taylor's present store. Cole died in 1744, and by his will, Decem- ber 26, of the same year, he appointed his wife Martha, and his friends, Thomas Cunimings. and Rev. Richard Backhouse, execu- tors, with full powers of sale, and in exercise thereof the latter, April 17-18, 1746, conveyed the premises to John Caldwell, who shortly after he acquired possession of the estate built the mansion house, still standing. He was a native of Dublin, and is said to have been the son of an Irish nobleman. He came to this country early in the last century and seems to have acquired considerable property. He died subsequent to June 5, 1772, and in his will which bears that date, he devised his real estate to his two sons, two shares to the eldest, and the other share to the youngest. Af- ter the death of their father, John purchased the one-third interest of his brother George in the homestead. John, known to the last generation as 'Squire Caldwell, was a carpeuter and builder by trade, and was born and died in the old dwelling. He is said to have been a private in the Continental army during the Revolu- tionary war, and the musket he carried — one captured from the Hessians, at Trenton — is now owned by James Black. He is also said to have been a Lieutenant in the American service and fought against the Indians on the frontier who were waging war on the colonists in the interest of the crown. When the Royal forces were in possession of Philadelphia, and the English squadron lay off Chester, the 'Squire was much troubled with foraging parties from the fleet. John Caldwell stood it for a time, but every fresh visit from the enemy aroused his indignation until he could remain quiet no longer, and in a small boat he rowed out to the flag-ship, demanding an iriterview with the Admiral, Earl Richard Howe. He was kindly received, and in the conference he informed the English commander that his men had taken from him all his pork, provisions, milk and butter, until his family had been left in want of the necessaries of life. The Admiral listened attentively, said that he would prevent any more depredations on the 'Squire's property, 154 Historical Sketch. of Chester. and asked the latter to make out a bill for articles already taken, which was done, and the paymaster was ordered to discharge his claim immediately. John (^al Iwell returned to his home, the un- accustomed clinking of broad gold pieces in his pocket making his heart lighter and mitigating his angry feelings until he almost wished the foraging parties would visit his farm once more, that a like cure for his injuries could be again prescribed by the British officer. 'Squire Caldwell acquired considerable estate. He purchased and added to the homestead plot the triangular lot at the intersection of Edgmont and Providence avenues, which was known in early times as " Hangman's Lot," because public executions had there formerly taken place. Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Wilson were there hanged. The culprits were suspended from a wild cherry tree, on one of the lower branches which extended some distance almost at right angles to the trunk, and it is traditionally related in the Caldwell family, that on one occasion from the windows of the mansion across the street the inmates of the old dwelling saw pendant from that fatal branch a man who was executed for steal- ing a lady's workbox. which stood temporarily on the sill of an open window, so that he could filch it without difficulty. John Caldwell died November 24, 1834, intestate, and on February 2ii, 1835, Thomas Caldwell, his eldest son, elected to take the home- stead at the valuation placed on it in proceedings in partition. The latter was owner of the old house only for a brief season, for he died August 20, 1835, and the estate was held in common by his heirs, during which time it was occupied as tenants by Dr. Porter, Rev. Anson Hard, J ohn Burrows McKeever, and finally by John A. Caldwell, who lived there until the property was sold by Abra- ham Vanzant, Sheriff, May 22, 1864, to Henry B. Edwards, to set- tle the estate. Mr. Edwards for a short time resided in the old mansion, when he rented it to Capt. J ohn Morris, who was succeed- ed by Robert E. Hannum, Jr., then by Henrietta Gr. Ashmead, widow of John W. Ashmead, and in the spring of 1870 Samuel A. Dyer purchased the premises. He altered and modernized the an- cient dwelling so that it became one of the most attractive resi- dences at that time in the city. November 21, 1872, Col. Dyer conveyed the premises to A. L. Bonnaffon. During the latter's Historic Buildings in Chester. 155 ijwnership the house was occupied by James Stotesbury, and sub- sequently by the Rev, Thomas McCauley, who stil! resides there. The property was subsequently purchaspd by Anthony A. Hurst, and is now owned by Godfrey Keebler, of Philadelphia. TAe Cobourn [Flickwir] House. The ancient brick structure on the south side of Third street, adjoining the banking house of Samuel A. Dyer, was built by Ro- bert Cobourn before the middle of the last century. He was a hatter, and the store room to the west of the main building, now occupied by Col. W. C. Gray as an office, was erected by him as a hatter's shop. The second story, and attic rooms, however, over the store, were added- many years subsequent to the building of the dwelling proper. Robert Cobourn, by his will, January 1, 1778, devised the estate to his wife for life with remainder to his seven -children equally as tenants in common. He died before 1789, as did his widow, Elizabeth, previous to April 15, 1796, for in a deed of that date, whereby Robert, Israel and Mary Cobourn, children of Robert Cobourn, convey the premises to their elder brother, Aaron, the death of Elizabeth is mentioned, as also that of two of the other children, in their minority. Robert Fairlamb, Sheriff, seized the premises as Aaron Cobourn in foreclosure of a mortgage, and sold them April 17, 1818, to William Eyre. The latter did not immediately occupy the house, but leased it to Butler & Worth- ington, who in the fall of the year 1819, issued the first newspaper ever printed in Delaware county — TAe Fost Boy — and continued its publication until April 20, 1824, when Butler retired and Bliphalet B. Worthington issued the paper until he sold the establishment to Joseph M. G. Lescure. William Eyre, however, subsequently re- sided in the house until he retired from business, and then rented it to Breese Lyons, who carried on the tailoring business therein. 156 Historical Sketch 0/ Chester. Martha Covvgill afterwards occupied the premises for some time, and was succeeded by Lydia P]. Pinch, who purchased the dwelling August 30, 1843. Miss Finch came to reside in Chester in 1822, as governess of the children of Israel Haycock, who then resided at Lamokin Hall. In 1828, she established a school in the old Lo- gan House, but several years afterwards abandoning that occupa- tion she opened a dry goods aiid trimming store at the same place, and as a sign used a band-box suspended on a pole, which gave to the store the piraeof the " banl-box." Her taste in selecting goods was so noticeable that she soon acquired a large trade, and, as stated, purchased the Cobourn House in 1 843. It is related that Miss Finch was exceedingly fearful of thunder-storms. On one occasion Dr. Porter called to see her professionally^ and just as he was. about going, a clap of thunder rattled overhead. Miss Pinch, clinging to the doctor, said : " You can't go now, doctor • you mustn't go." The physician knowing her peculiarity, replied- " Good Heavens ! madam, I'm a doctor: not a lightning rod." She carried on business in the house until she sold the premises to Jere- miah W. Plickwir. After Miss Pinch retired, she purchased a dwelling on Fifth street, near Madison, where she resided until Oc- tober 9, 1871, when she sold that property to Simon Brandeis, who still owns it. Miss Pinch, after boarding for a time in (Chester, with a life long friend, removed to the house of Mrs. Taws, in Ger- raantown, where she died October 24, 1881. She was peculiarly reticent respecting her age, and previous to her death she destroyed all papers which in anywise touched thereon. ' She was, however, known to have been an octogenarian. Jeremiah W. Plickwir purchased the premises March 13, 1866. He married Jemima E. , daughter of Richard Flower, of Lamokin Hall. Mr. Plickwir was a druggist, and carried on that business in Philadelphia for many years. In 1839, he purchased "Fairview Farm," just beyond the western line of the old Borough of Chester, where he resided during the summer time, and for several years made farming his exclusive occupation, until 1861, when he sold the' estate to James Garland, removed to Chester, where he opened a drug store, and became Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, and was elected Alderman of the Middle Ward. He died October 27, 1866,_and by will. May 3, 1854, he devised his estate to his wife Historic Buildings in Chester. 157 absolutelj'. His widow resided in the old dwelling until 1877, when she rented it to John Kumford. The building is now used as oflSces. John B. Hinkson, Ksq., now occupies the lower floor of the original dwelling, and Col. W. C. Qray that which was formerly the store room. TAe Parker House. The building to the north and immediately adjoining the present residence of Jonathan Pennell, on the west side of Edgmont ave- nue, I presume, was the early residence of Joseph Parker, previous to his purchase of the Logan House ; at all events it was owned by him and descended to his daughter, Mary (Parker) Norris, who sold it April 10, 1773, to Henry Hale G-raham. The latter died seized of the property, and his only son, William Graham, who acquired the real estate belcnging to his father, conveyed it, May 20, 1800, to William Anderson, and the latter in turn sold it, March 26, 1801, to James Barnard, who had been Sheriff of Delaware county from 1792-'95, and a vestryman of St. Paul's Church in 1801-2-3. The latter is said to have occupied the house as a tenant long pre- vious to his purchase of the property. In this dwelling Isaac D. Barnard, the fourth generation in descent from Richard Barnard, the first settler of that name, was born in 1791. His father, James Barnard, died previous to November 19, 1807, for on that date let- ters of administration were granted to his widow, Susanna, the ex- ecutors named in his will failing to act. In his testament, James Barnard devised his estate to his wife for life, and the remainder to his children in unequal share, coupled with the condition that if Isaac D. Barnard did not assign to his brother and sister certain portions of the estate devised to him (Isaac) by his brother James D. Barnard, that in that event he should be debarred from receiv- ing anything under his (the father's) will. Isaac D. Barnard en- tered the law office of William Graham, and was admitted to the 158 Historical. Sketch of Chester. bar of Chester county in 1816. During the second war with Eng- land he was commissioned Captain of the Fourteenth United States Infantry, and tooli part in the battle at Fort George, where his sig- nal bravery and ability earned for him promotion to the rank of Major. He served faithfully in the campaign of the Northeastern border, and at the battle of Plattsburg, owing to the death and disability of his superior officers, the command of the corps de- volved on him. He also so distinguished himself at the battle of Lyon's creek, that he was honorably mentioned in the official re- ports of the Major and Brigadier Generals commanding. So gal- lant was his charge on that occasion that when the Marquis of Tweedsdale, who conmianded the One Hundredth British Regi- ment in that battle, after peace was proclaimeil came to Philadel- phia, and during that visit, we are told by Gilbert Cope — to whom I am indebted for much of the information respecting Barnard — the Marquis remarked to several persons : " I would be glad to make the acquaintance of the young gentleman, Barnard, who so gallantly drove me from my position at Lyon's creek." At the close of the war the Government desired Barnard to re- main in the army permanently, but he declined, and locating in West Chester he began the duties of his profession, where he soon attained a large practice, and within a year after his admission was appointed Deputy Attorney General for Chester county. In 1820, he was elected from the district comprising Chester and Delaware counties, State Senator, and in 1824, he was tendered the President Judgeship of Lancaster and Dauphin counties, which he declined. In 1 826, he was appointed by Governor Shulze, Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the same year was elected by the Legislature, Senator of the United States, a position he acceptably filled until 1831. He died February 18, 1834, and his will was probated the 24th of the same month. In it he gaye David Townsend, his ex- ecutor, power to sell, but the latter failed to carry out the instruc- tions of the testator, and February 3, 1881, Joseph W. Barnard, who had been appointed administrator, sold the estate to William J. Doflin, of Philadelphia. The latter had married Lucy Barnard, one of the heirs, and the same day the heirs and legatees of Isaac D. Barnard made a deed of confirmation to Doflin. He and Sid- ney P., his wife, April 8, 1881, conveyed the premises to Jonathan Historic Buildings in Chester. 159 Pennell. During the ownership of the old house by the Barnard family it was tenanted by Breese Lyons, and subsequently by Jo- seph Taylor, the Prothonotary and Clerk of the Courts of Delaware county, and later Surveyor of Chester, who, almost an octogenarian, is still a resident of our city. After Taylor vacated the premises they were occupied by Dr Joshua Owens, although during all this time Thomas, a brother of Isaac D. Barnard, lived in part of the house, as did more recently Mary D. Barnard. Tlie finder son [Potter] House. The title to this old dwelling is the same as that set forth in the account of the Porter (Lloyd) House, until the property passed into the ownership of Major' William Anderson, May 21, 1808. The dwelling, I. Engle Cochran, vSr., states, was erected by the Major between the date of his purchase and the sale of the estate. May 26, 1823, to John Cochran. The latter was the son of Alexander Cochran, who came to this county early in the present century and settled in Nether Providence, near the residence of his kinspeople, the Leiper family. John Cochran, the elder, was a farmer and drover, accumulating considerable means in his business and ac- quiring a large farm, part of which was the tract where this house was built. He died October 31, 1843, intestate, and in proceed- ings in partition, Isaac E. Cochran, and John Cochran, the younger,- acquired title to the homestead tract comprising over one hundred and thirteen acres. John Cochran, January 30, 1849, conveyed his interest in seventy acres of ground, including the mansion house, to his brother, Isaac Engle Cochran. The latter, after residing >in the dwelling for several years, March 27, 1852, conveyed the premi- ses to Frederick Wiggin and Augustus Wiggin, the price paid being $15,000, and the latter, in April of the same year, sold the mansion house and ten acres of ground to Right Rev, Alonzo Pot- 160 Historical Sketch of Chester. ter, and Sarah B., his wife. Alonzo Potter was born in Duchess county, New York, in 1 800, and after graduating at Union College came to Philadelphia, where he devoted himself to theological studies, until he was called in 1821 to the Professorship of Mathe- matics and Natural Philosophy at Union <"'ollege. This position he relinquished when at the age of twenty-five, he accepted . the rec- torship of St. Paul's Church, Boston. In 1835 he was again called to Union ('ollege to fill the professorship of Ecclesiastical History. In 1845 he was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, the third person holding that office from the formation of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, after the determination of the War of Independ- ence. Bishop Potter died July 4, 1865. A year previous to his death, February 6, 1864, Alonzo Potter and his three sons — his wife Sarah (Benedict) being dead — joined in a deed of the estate to Abram Blakeley, the present owner. Abram Blakeley was born in Dewsbury, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, in 1806. He attended at an early age the Free Episcopal School there until his fourteenth year, at which time ■he began weaving cotton sheeting in his father's house and was so employed for two years, when he went to Staleybridge, where he first learned to weave on a power loom. He continued there for several years, and when twenty-two came to the United States. He obtained employment at Bullock & Bancroft's factory, and in 1830 went to Pottsville, where he labored in the mines as a bunks- man — one who keeps account of the coal as it comes from the mines. In 1841 he moved to Rockdale, in this county, where he worked as a beamer in the mill of James Houghton, but in the fall of that year returned to the coal regions and resumed the duties of bunksman, and at the same time became " a hunter for black dirt," that is, one who examines land to ascertain if it exhibits any indi- cations of coal deposits. In 1833, he obtained employment with John P. Crozer, at West Branch, as a cloth taker, or inspector of cloth as it comes from the looms, and remained there for thirteen years, until in 1846, he, with Phineas Lownes, began manufacturing at Knowlton, the firm being Lownes & Blakeley. After struggling for seven years, they sold their business to Mr. Lewis, and in the spring of 1854, Mr. Blakeley, in connection with Dr. Bonsall, as special ■ partner, purchased the Arasapha Mill, erected by John IKstorin Buildings in Chesfler. 161 liarkin, Jr., and began manufacturing in Chester, the firm continu- ing in business until the death of Dr. Bonsall dissolved it. In 1866, Mr. Blakeley took his son, Benjamin W,, into partnership, and since that time William S. Blakeley, another of his sons, has been admitted into the firm. I mention the facts in Mr, Blakeley's life to show the opportu- nities wLich thirty years ago presented themselves to the indus- trious and energetic young man without means to push himself forward in his avocation, and because I believe that such success hereafter will be exceptional in this country, in the Eastern Atlantic States at least, as it has been in old England for nearly a century- TAe Ji£orgaii {Terr ill) House, The old building standing on the east side of Market street, the second structure south of Fourth street, now occupied by Maurice Beaver as a stove and tin store, was, I presume, built by Evan Morgan. The land was part ot the twenty acres patented May 31, 1686, to James Sandelands, the elder, and was conveyed by John Crosby and wife, January 20, 1723, to Thomas GrriflSng, subject to a yearly quit rent of one shilling. This John Crosby was a son of Richard, the first of that name who came to Pennsylvania after Penn acquired title to the Province. The former is stated by Mar- tin to have first settled in Philadelphia, and was one of the original purchasers of town lots there, but that he shortly afterwards re- moved to Chester, for in 1684 he was appointed a collector with two others, " to gather the assessments," made by the authorities to build the Court House and Prison. His son, John, to whom San- delands conveyed the ground on Market street, married in 1719, and seems to have disregarded the observances of Friends on such occasions, for in that year he made his acknowledgment to Chester Meeting, stating that he is " hearty sorry and desire the forgive- .162 Historical Sketch of Chester, ness of God and of my Brethern " He was a Justice of the Peace, and in 1723-4, represented the county in the Provincial Assembly. He died in the. fall of the year 1750. John Crosby sold the lot to Thomas GrifRug at the time already mentioned, and the latter, March 24-25, 1 725, conveyed the property to Evan Morgan, who built the dwelling house. Evan Morgan' died seized of the premi- ses and they descended, to his son, John Morgan, who in the deed, February 1*2, 1783, conveying the estate to Jemima (Linard) Dasey and her sister, Mary .Liijard, is designated as of Philadelphia., I am. told by an aged ^resident that, he thinks, subsequent to his fail- ure, Francis Richardson resided in the house. A fter it wai^ pur- chased by Jemima Dasey and her maiden sister, they kept f. dry goods and trimming store there and continued in the business while they remained the owners of the property. Several of the older people hereabout can recall Mary Linard, an elderly woman, lame, and hobbling along leaning on a cane. October 11, 1809, Dr. Job H. Terrill purchased the house and resided therein until his death, January. 20, 1844. The doctor was a man of fine conversational powers, possessing a ready vocabulary and was rapid in his utter- ances. He was a noted lover of horses, and always kept one of the best, if not the best in Chester. He would have his negro man, Ike, train his horses on Welsh street, and would stand and watch them speeding along from Edgmont road to the Porter House and back. He always rode in a sulkey, and in getting in one day his horse started, threw him against the vehicle and injured his thigh so severely that it brought on a disease which ultimately proved fatal. His premises were noticeable for the attractive ground to the north of the dwelling, where D. P. Paiste's store is now located. In the centre of the garden was an enormous box bush, and white violets grew thickly, mottling the grass. plot, while fruit trees, well trimmed and cared for, were scattered here and there. In front of the house, on the sidewalk, was an old well and pump, which stood there until within a quarter of a century. Dr. Terrill's daughter, Anna Louisa, became the first wife of William Eyre, Jr., and the mother of the present Joshua P. Eyre, while Emeline, to whom the old homesteaid descended, married John Odenheimer Deshong. The latter was the son of Peter and Mary (Odenheimer) Deshong, and for many years carried on general merchandising in a building Historic Buildings in Chester. 163 which formerly occupied the site of Mortimer H. Bickley's drug store, and subsequently a lumber yard on the north side of Fiftjh street, above Welsh. He was an enterprising business man and' acquired a large estate the largest ever accumulated by any resi- dent of* Chester. He was quick in his decision and prompt in ac- tion, two characteristics to which he was greatly indebted for his success He never sought political preferment, although solicited to permit his name to be used in connection with various-offices, but steadfastly refused all positions other than that of Director of The Delaware County National Bank, the djities'of which he discharged for many years previous to his death, which took place May 28, 1881. Mrs. Emeline Deshong now owns the old homestead. After the death of Dr. Terrill, the late Hon. Y. S. Walter, a sketch of whom appears in " Notes Kespecting Newspapers of Ches- ter," in this volume, occupied the house until the spring of 1845, when Dr. J. M. Allen leased it and altered the front part of the building into adrug store, where he soon secured a large and profit- able busine.ss. During the cholera season of 1845, the public were so alarmed that frequently he and his assistants could with diffi- culty wait pn the persons who came to purchase Burgundy pitch plasters, which, when worn on the stomach, was believed to be an absolute protection from the disease. In 1851, Dr. Allen pur- chased the property where Bickley's large building now stands, and continued there until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he was appointed Surgeon of the 54th Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and subsequently was Medical Director of the Department of Western Virginia, and Surgeon- in-Chief of staff; in which he served until late in the year 1 864,when his health broke down, and he was honorably discharged from the service, after having been in the hospital several months. He is now Alderman of the Middle Ward, an office he fills most creditably. Dr. Allen was followed by Thomas Broughton, who kept in the old Terrill House a confection- ery store until 1 852,when he sold the business to Denis Clark, who vacated the premises and was followed by Flood & PuUen, as a cigar store. The house is occupied at the present time by Maurice Beaver, as before stated. I&i Historical, Sketch of Chester. The Morris House. On the south side of Fifth street, the second house from ftie cor- ner, is the dwelling, now owned and occupied by Mrs. Josephine Lyons Garrett, which building was erected by her maternal grand- father, Jonathan Morris. The 'land was part of the twenty acres, patented to James Sandelands, May 31, 1686, and was subsequently the property of Rev. Richard Backhouse, rector of St. Paul's. Church, from 1 726 to 1 749, and afterwards that of Adam Grubb, who, dying seized of the estate, his executors,' John and Isaac Grubb, May 7, 1791, conveyed the premises to Elisha Price. The latter dying in 1798, of yellosv fever, the lots vested in pro- ceeding in partition of his estate in bis daughter, Abigail, who had intermarried with Aaron Musgrave, a Conveyancer, in Phila- delphia, and they, by deed, June 24, 1799, conveyed the 4)roperty to Jonathan Morris. The latter, who was a blacksmith, built the present house in 1 800, and erected on the south-west corner of Welsh and Fifth streets a forge, which stood there for many years. He died previous to February 14, 1814, for his will, dated January 17, of that year, was admitted to probate at the time first mentioned. By it he devised his house and lands to his six children, Hannah, Mary, Anna, Margaret, Samuel P., and Cadwallarler, with a life es- tate to his wife, Rebecca, in one-third of the estate. All the children excepting Samuel P. Morris, Anna, who married James Burns, and Margaret, who married Crossman Lyons, died young and without children. The survivors. May 24, 1825, released their interest in the estate to their mother and sister Margaret Morris. The latter married Crossman Lyons, as before stated. He was the son of Jedediah and Mary Gorman Lyons. The former was a native of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and a soldier in the Revolu- tion; one of the men who marched with Washington in his retreat through that Colony, shared his triumph at Trenton, and whose feet were frozen during the dreary winter's cantonment at Valley Forge. He used to relate that the sweetest morsel he ever tasted was a piece of beef roasted on the end of his ramrod by the camp fire, which he had cut from a steer captured and slaughtered by a Historic Buildings in Chester. 165 foraging party of American troops who had had nothing to eat for more than twenty- four hours. His wife it was who dressed the wound of General Lafayette, as heretofore stated. Grossman Lyons, his son, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his daughter, Mrs. Garrett, now owns a siver medal having on one side the head of Lafayette, and on the other that of Washington, which he won at a shooting match of militia in the second decade of this century. Lyons had broken his right arm, and it was at that time in .a sling ; some person present asked him laughingly if he was not going to shoot at the target. " Certainly I will," he replied, " if any one will load a musket for me." That being done he fired, using his left shoulder in place of his right, and fortunately the bullet from his gun struok the bull's eye directly in the centre, the best shot that day. The old homestead has been occupied as tenants, by Dr. William Gerhart, George Baker, when first married, Mrs. Keziah West, mo- ther of the late John G. Dyer, by her first marriage, and Thomas Clyde. He was followed by Mrs. Hawes, who had married first Captain Isaac Engle and afterwards Charles Hawes, and, as the lat- ter's widow, occupied the house. John Green and Col. Alexander Worrall lived in the dwelling, to be superseded by Mrs. Josephine Lyons Garrett, to whom the property descended from her parents^ jTAe TAoM&s Morgan Mouse. Midway of the block on the east side of Market street, between Third and Fourth streets, is the Thomas Morgan House, the front having been modernized as a store by John Brooks, the present occupant and owner. The title to the land, as with all other lots^ in that neighborhood, begins of record with the patent, May 31, 1686, to James Sandelands, the elder. The heirs of the latter con' veyed the premises to Thomas Morgan, who built the house and 166 Historical Sketch of Chester. died, In settling his estate tiie property was sold, August 18, 1756, by Jonathan Fairlamb, Sheriff, to William Eyre, of Bethel township, sou of Robert Eyre, the first settler of that name in thu Province. I have not learned who it was resided in the old house during the ownership of William Eyre, but he died seized of the premises, and by his will, August 7^ 1763, he devised the property to his son, John Eyre, and the latter conveyed it. May 1, 1779, to Isaac Eyre, who in turn, June 7, 1784, transferred it to Davis Bevan, who kept a general store therein. The latter was a positive man, but a worthy citizen and ardent patriot. ' The brilliant illu- mination of his window — a tree of victory planted therein, glitter- ing with spangles and shining with lighted candles — in honor of the signal defeat of the British at New Orleans, is still recalled to memory by our older residents. Davis Bevau, by his will, August 30, 1814, devised the estate to his daughter Isabella, for life, with remainder to Matthew L. Bevah. Isabella Bevan continued the business after her father's death, but previous to the sale of the premises, March 15, 1833, by Matthew L. Bevan, to Henry L. Pow- ell, the house was occupied by Samuel Lamplugh, and afterwards by Major Samuel A. Price, who had his hat factory in the building. When Henry L. Powell acquired possession he kept a boot and shoe store there, as did also John Lloyd, to whom he sold the property, April 3, 1844. Two years subsequently, March 31, 1846, Lloyd j:e-conveyed the premises to Henry L. Powell, who, on November 18, of the following year, transferred it to Joseph Entwisle, who carried on a bakery there until November 4, 1851, when he sold the property to John Brooks, and built a bleaching mill in the South Ward. John Brooks is now the leading business man who has continued in one occupation and in one locality for a greater number of years than any person at present in Chester, and has gathered during that period a large business and a competency. Historic Buildivgs in Chester. 167 TAe Bircliall House. The stone building at the north-west corner of Concord avenue and Third street is an ancient dwelling, the date of its erection, however, I am unable to give Many of our old residents can re- call it standing on an eminence surrounded with many large fruit trees. The side door, on Concord avenue, was divided so that the upper half could be opened while the lower part was closed, and the old roof was in many places covered with moss, which gave to It an exceedingly picturesque appearance The land on which it was located was part of the tract of ground conveyed to Robert Wade by Armgard Pappegoya, and by his heirs conveyed to John Wade, but to' whom it belonged immediately previous to 1767 I have failed to learn, since the records at West Chester, about that date, so far as the Sheriff's deed book is concerned, have been mis- laid or lost. From the recital in a latter deed we know that John Morton, Sheriff, August 21, 1767, sold the premises to William Henderson, who, in turn, conveyed it, .March 24, 1770, to Thomas Pedrick, a descendant of Rodger Pedrick,. the settler of that name, whose daughter, Rebecca, born at Marcus Hook, September 14, 1678, according to Dr. Smith, was the first child born to English parents in the Province of Pennsylvania. The latter was seized of the estate, at the time of his death, and under the power given in his will, his executors, James Shaw and William Graham, June 19, 1799, conveyed the property to John Birchall, who owned it at the time of his death, and his daughter, Elizabeth Birchall, September 29, 1820, sold her interest therein to her brother, James Birchall. The latter was a tailor by occupation, and during his latter days, retired from business. He resided in the old building until his- death, and by will, November 11, 1829, devised the residue of his est ite to his sister-in-law, Sarah Birchall, widow of Caleb Birchall, in consideration of the latter's attention and kindness to him. He also instructed his executors to sell the premises for the payment of his debts, but that seems to have been unnecessary, and the dvvelling house and garden passed to the devisee under the will. Sarah Birchall died seized of the premises, and in proceeding in partition of her estate, Samuel Hibberd, Trustee, appointed by the 168 Historical Sketch of Chester. Court to sell the property, conveyed it, September 11, 1845, to Frederick J. Hinkson, Sr., and several years subsequently Judge Hinkson conveyed it to Ann J. Button, wife of Aaron Larkin But- ton. The latter, now deceased, will be remembered for his activity in the Society of Friends, of whose property in this city, to the time of his death, he had entire care. January 25, 1865, Aaron L. Button and Ann J., his wife, sold the premises to Br. F. Ridg- ley Graham, who still owns it. TAe Francis Richardson House. The ground on which the dwelling on the east side of Edgmont avenue, the third house from the south-east corner of Second street and Edgmont avenue, is located, was part of the tract acquired by Bavid Lloyd, from the Church Warden of the Swedish congrega- tion at Wicaco, and by his will was devised to his wife, Grace. She in turn devised it to her nephew, Francis Richardson, hence the house cannot antedate 1760, the period of her death. Rich- ardson, as stated elsewhere, was ruined by his business speculations, and the premises were taken in execution and sold by Ezekiel Leonard, Sheriff, July 2, 1787, to William O'Neal, and he, Novem- ber 4, 1797, conveyed the property to Ephraim Pearson, who mar- ried Jane, a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Shaw. He it was who by indenture; May 6, 1816, in carrying out the Act of Assem- bly "making an appropriation for the erection of piers in the Belaware in the Borough of Chester," gave and ceded to the Com- monwealth " all that piece of ground known by the name of ' Rich- ardson's Lower Wharf,' lying on the river Belaware, between the mouth of Chester creek and Front street, continued and extending from high water mark to low water mark, * * * for the pur- pose of erecting and constructing wharves and piers, and for no other purpose." The State of Pennsylvania subsequently trans- Historic Buildings in Chester- 16^ ferred the piers, thus ceded to it by Ephraini Pefirson, known as the lower pier, and that ceded to it by Davis Bevan, June 20, 1816, known as the upper pier, to the Government of the TTnited States, who still own and keep them in repair. 'Squire Pearson had a family of eight sons, all of whom left Chester and settled in dis- tant cities, while his wife, who survived him many years, removed to Philadelphia, where she died in 1 862, in her eighty-eighth year, having outlived all her children. John E. Shaw, whc administered to the estate of Ephraim Pearson, November 23, 1863, sold the premises to Jonathan Pennell, who repaired and renovated the an- cient dwelling after it passed into his ownership. Tlie Groeltz House. The frame structure on the^east side of Edgmont avenue, south of Fourth street, is not an ancient building. In all probability it was built about seventy years ago. It was formerly a stable, at- tached to the house which was subsequently erected on the lands donated previous to 1704, by Thomas Powell to the Parish of St. Paul, for the gift is mentioned in Rev. Mr. Nichol's letter to the London Society " For the Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts," and in 1718, Rev. John Humphreys, under date, October 24, al- ludes to it as containing the foundation of a parsonage (the front on Third street) which the congregation started to build, " but were not able to accomplish in & it remains as it has been these 3 years, just about 4 feet above the ground as a reproach to them and an infamous mark of their Poverty." The parish did erect a building on the premises many years afterwards, certainly subse- quently to 1762, which they leased previous to 1830, to William Kelley, as well as the stable on Edgmont avenue, which latter pro- perty I am now considering. Kelley resided in the house on Third street, wherein he kept a restaurant, and in the stable he had a 170 Historical Sketch of Chesty. bottling establishment, the first business of that kind ever in Chester. The church wardens, however, were instructed to sell the premises on ground rent, and in compliance with that order George B. Lownes and Pierce Crosby, May 5, 1831, conveyed the premises to William McCaflPerty, subject to a ground rent of $97 yearly. The latter, March 25, 1839, sold the lot on Edgmont avenue, on which was the stable, to Ehrenreich Goeltz, subject to an annual rent of $19, payable to the wardens of St. Paul's Church. Goeltz changed the stable into a house, and on the rear of the lot erected a soap and chandlery factory, which business he carried on until his death; His widow married Henry Ott, and the latter, January 8, 1851, purchased from the wardens of St. Paul's, the church's in- terest in the ground rent of $19 reserved in the deed to Ehrenreich Goeltz. In the distribution of the latter'^ estate, the house and factory became the property of his son, George Goeltz, the present owner, who, February 3, 1863, purchased from Henry Ott and ex- tinguished the ground rent. A peculiar circumstance connected with this building is, that several years ago when alterations were being made in the cellar, in excavating, at the depth of three feet below the then bottom, a perfect rubal pavement, similar to those in the roadway of many of our streets, was found, respecting which no person had the slightest information as to the reason why it was there,-when it waS' laid, or by whom- C^^Q COUNTY BRIDGES AT CHESTER. THE first bridge erected over Chester creek where the King's road — the present Third street — crosses that stream, was a draw-bridge. In 1686, the Court ordered the building of a horse bridge over the creek, near Chester, as the King's road at that time did not pass through the Borougli, but to the north of the town. There is no evidence tt»at the order of the Court as respected tliat bridge, was ever carried into effect ; indeed, the contrary seems to be negatively established, for at the December Court, 1699, Ralph Fishbourne presented a petition " for a convenient road from the west side of Chester creek, where the ferry is kept for to lead to the now King's road." The Court thereupon appointed six viewers to lay out " the said roadway in the most convenient place they can for the convenience of the inhabitants." ' In 1700, the inconvenience arising from the round-about way became such an annoyance to the traveling public and the inhabit- ants of the Borough of Chester, that a determined and successful effort was made to change the route of the King's highway, so that it should pass through the town and nearer the river. To avoid in- terrupting the free navigation of the stream, it was determined that the creek be spanned by a draw-bridge. Accordingly, in that year, an Act of the Colonial Assembly was procured, which author- ized the erection of a bridge over the creek at Chester, and or- dered the Justices of the county Court "to. lay out a road from the King's Road that leads to New Castle and Maryland to the in- tended place for a bridge over Chd'ster creek." The Act required 172 Historiml SkHch of Chester. that the bridge should have a draw to it ; provided for the eiirploy- ■ ment of a man to attend to it, and specified what his duties were — to draw it up when necessary to let sloops and shallops pass to and from the mills situated on the creek, and also designated that a space of twenty feet should be left clear between the timbers or stoneword for "the conveniency" of rafts and logs passing to said mills. There is in our local annals little or no information respecting this bridge beyond that which can be gleaned from legislative en- actments. In the preamble to the Act of Assembly, approved August 14, 1725, which was intended to prevent the obstruction of the navigation of Chester creek, it is set forth that the draw-bridge which had been erected " is now gone to decay, and requires it to be rebuilt or repaired," and the act " direct the County Commis- sioners to repair the bridge within a period of twelve months." In the Act of September 3, 1778, it is stated that the draw-bridge which had been built in 1700, and repaired in 1725, " is decayed and ruined, and that public necessity, as well as the convenience of travelers on the highroad, requires that a good, safe bridge over Chester creek should always be maintained' and kept in repair ; that the draw or engine to raise and lower the same is of no public utility and is attended with extraordinary expense and inconveni- ence to the public. In view of these facts the Act declares " that the Commissioners and Assessors, with the concurrence of the ma- gistrates of the county of ( 'hester, shall, as soon as may be, cause a new bridge to be built at the place where the old bridge formerly stood, leaving at least twenty feet clear between the timber or stonework, and not less than eighteen feet in breadth, and eight feet headway at high water, for the easy passage for rafts, floats, shallops and other crafts, and the said bridge be made fast and close continued from one side of the creek to the other, without any draw or opening for a mast." The bridge erected in obedience to this Act was a wooden struct- ure, which was supported by heavy wrought iron chains passing over iron columns located on either abutment. Each link of the chain, Martin says, was about two feet in length, and at either side of the bridge was a large plank cut to resemble an arch. Over County Bridges at Chester. 173 each arcii was a sign, the body color white, and bearing the follow- ing notification in black letters; " Walk your horses and drive not more than fifteen head of cat- tle over this bridge, under a penalty of no less than $30." This structure was carried off its abutments by the water during the noted flood of August 5, 1843, and swppt by the torrent against Eyre's wharf, where it remained held fast by one of the chains, which did not part on the eastward side of the creek. Isaiah H. Mirkil and Jerry Stevenson, for more than two months ferried horses, cattle, wagons, carriages and pedestrians across the creek in a scow. The County Commissioners raised the old super-struct- ure to its former position in the fall of 1843, at a cost of $2150. One of the links or staples to which the chain was attached is still to be seen standing in the roadway at the north-east side of the present bridge, in front of the store now occupied by F. C. Torpey, in Ladomus' block. In 1850, Chester began rapid strides in material improvements and the old bridge being deemed insufficient to meet the public demand, early in 1853, John Edward Clyde prepared a petition for a new structure, and Isaiah H. Mirkil circulated the paper for sig- natures. The petition was met with a remonstrance by several citizens of the town, and so energetically was the matter pushed on each side that the good people of Chester were soon divided into new bridge and anti-new bridge advocates. It was a contest which in that day agitated the newly awakened Borough from centre to circumference. The struggle eventuated in the erection of the present iron structure in 1853. On the south-east end of the bridge, on the main stanchion, cast in the iron, is a shield, which informs the reader that the super-structure was built by F. Quickley, of W il- mington, Delaware, in the year above stated, and that the County Commissioners during whose term in office the work was completed, were A. Newlin, J. Barton and W. H. G-rubb. The bridge origi- nally was without sidewalks, which were added in 1868, to accom- modate the public who, up to that time, had been compelled to walk in the present roadway of the bridge, in passing from one Ward to another. In 1872, the County Commissioners made some repairs to the bridge — relayed the planking, which was worn and 1 74 Historical Sketch of Chester. decayed in many places, but so enormous is the demand now made on this bridge by the public, that no repairs can for any length of time keep it in good condition. The Seventh street bridge was finished December 27, 1870, and . is an iron super-structure. For some reason this brids e is not looked upon favorably by the public who have doubts as to the sta- ble character of the work. The Ninth street bridge is really due to the exertions of Messrs. William Simpson & Sons, of Eddystone, whose petition for such an improvement was presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions, July 11, 1879, confirmed by the Court February 20, 1880, and June 27, 1881, the bridge was inspected and accepted by the county.. December 14, 1880, a lengthy petition, signed by almost all the. manufacturers and owners of industrial works in the South and Middle Wards, was presented to Court asking for the appointment " of a Jury of View, for a bridge at Second street, which was done, and, almost a- year subsequently to that date, December 12, 1881, the Court of Quarter Sessions confirmed the action of the Jury of View, which previously had been approved of by two Grand Juries. The bridge is now being built in a substantial manner, and when completed will be an important factor in developing the river front of the city. The untiring perseverance of Isaiah H. Mirkil, after many years, finally procured a patient hearing for his scheme of improvement, and culminated in having a bridge located at this point. Q^^Z_ CHURCHES AT CHESTER- FRIENDS' MEETINC HOUSC. The first record of a religious meeting of the Society of Friendsj in the Province of Pennsylvania, is that held at the house of Ro- bert Wade, in Chester, in 1675, mentioned by William Edmund* son, an eminent minister of the Society, who was present on that occasion. Previous to the coming of Penn, at a monthly meeting held 11th of 7th month, (September) 1681, it was agreed "Yt a meeting shall be held for ye service and worship of God every First Day at ye Court House at Upland." In the statement of Richard Townsend (Proud's History of Pennsylvania, vol. 1, p. 220) after giving an account of his voyage in the " Welcome," he states : " Our first concern was to keep up and maintain our religious wor- ship, and in order thereunto we had several meetings, at the houses of the inhabitants, and one boarded meeting house was set up, where the city was to be, near Delaware." This "boarded " house in all probability, was located at Chester, inasmuch as Gordon (History of Pennsylvania, 59,) states that " the Quakers had thi'ee houses for public religious worship — shortly after the arrival of Penn — one at Chester, another at Shackamaxon, or Kensington, and another at the Falls of the Delaware." In this temporary build- ing, for it was hardly more than that, the Friends of that early day held their meetings for several years, until 1693, when their first permanent meeting house was completed, and it may be l^at the frame structure was located on the ground which Joran Keen sold to the Society, for the latter, the 6th of the first month, 1687, con" veyed to John Simcox, Thomas Brasey, John Bi'istow, Caleb Pusey, 176 Historical Sketch, of Chester. Randal Vernon, Thomas Vernon, Joshua Hastings, Mordecai Mad- dock, Thomas Martin, Richard Few, Walter Fauset and Edward Carter, in trlist, a lot on the west side of Edgmont avenue, south of Third street, sixty feet in front, and continuing that width be- tween parallel lines to the creek, " to the use and behoof of the said Chester — the people of God called Quakers, and their succes- sors forever." In the same year Chester Monthly Meeting agreed that "Bar- tholomew Coppock, James Kennedy, Randal Vernon and Caleb Pusey do agree and contract with such workmen or men, as they think fit, to build a meeting house at Chester 24 foot square and 10 foot high in the walls " Nothing seems to have come of this or- der, and early iu the year 1691, the quarterly meeting became ear- nest in its pi'rpose, and a committee from Providence, Middletown, Springfield and Chester Meetings was appointed to collect the ne- cessary funds, and at a subsequent meeting it was agreed " that John Brinton and Caleb Pusey do forthwith agree with and employ workmen in the building of chis meeting house at Chester, on the place that was formerly bought for that purpose ; the situation of which, as also the manner of building the same is left to their dis- cretion, and that this meeting do defray the charge of the same, so that it exceed not above one hundred pounds, and there be one convenient chimney, at the least, and that the said John Brinton and Caleb Pusey do give account of what they have done." This building however, dragged slowly along, for Dr. Smith says the first meeting house at Chester " appears to have been completed in 1693," a statement made from an examination of the ofiicial record. The place of worship which for forty-three years was used as such by the Society is incorrectly termed " the old Assembly House," confusing it with the building nearer toward Third street on the same side of Edgmont avenue, in which the Assembly actually did convene. William Penn, however, frequent- ly spoke in the old meeting house, which, it should be remembered, did not include the front part of the house as it can be recalled by many of the present residents of Chester. The part built in 1693 became the back building of the house alter it passed into the ownership of Edward Russell, in 1736, who added the two story front addition and changed it into a dwelling house. Churches at Chester. 177 In the year last mentioned the Society found it necessary to erect a larger building to accommodate its increasing membership,'^and April 18, 1736, Caleb Coupland conveyed the southern part of the lot on Market street south of Third street, on which the meeting house now stands, to Jacob Howell, Thomas Cuinniings, John Owen, Samuel Lightfoot, John Salkeld, Jr., and John Sharpless, and the latter the same day executed a declaration in trust setting forth that they held the land as trustees and for the use of the members of Chester Meeting. The land thus conveyed is certainly included within the patent, 1686, of one and a half acres to Thomas Brasey, yet it must have pissed back to the ownership of the Proprietary, for the brief of title shows that William Penn, August 20, 1 705, conveyed one acre and ninety-five perches to Caleb Pusey, who, December 20, of the following year, sold the premises to Henry Wounley, and June 24, 1714, the latter re-conveyed the premises to Caleb Pusey, and he, by lease and release, March 25-26, 1723, conveyed the property to John Wright. The latter, who had been educated as a physician in England, settled in Chester in 1714, in 1717 was appointed one of the Justices, and elected a member of the Assembly from Chester county in 1717-'18, 1725-'26, when he removed to the " backwood," as it was then called. When Lan- caster couifty was formed out of Chester county, in May, 1729, he was appointed the President Judge, and discharged thp duties of the office without fear or cringing to the executive power when his judicial independence had earned for the Judge the indignation of Governor Thomas. December 19, 1728, John Wright released the fee simple title to Caleb Coupland, he having acquired the lease- hold from Caleb Pusey, at a date I have not learned. As the So- ciety waxed stronger they required more land, the meeting house having been located toward the northern line of the lot, hence April 29, 1762, they purchased from Jesse Maris, who had acquired the property by descent from his father, George Maris, who in turn purchased it from Phebe Coppock and Henry Lewis, executors of Thomas Massey, March 25-26, 1739, subject to a yearly rent of ^£6 to the heirs of James Sandelands. The trustees, Jonas Preston, John Fairlamb, Caleb Hanison and James Barton, to whom it was conveyed by Jesse Maris, May 1,1762, executed a declaration of trust to Chest|r Meeting. ITS Historical Sketch of Chester. The discussion wbich bad prevailed in the Society of Friends du- ring the early part of this century respecting certain doctrinal points, culminated in an open rupture in 1827, when a division took place and those members sustaining Elias Hicks in his views re- tained their connection with Chester Meeting, while the orthodox branch severed th ir connection with the Chester body and erected the Sharpless Meeting House at Waterville. •• In 168ii, the Society of Friends' purchased and enclosed a suit- able lot, located on the west side of Bdgmont avenue,. above Sixth street, for a burial place, and on the 5th of the 9th month, 1683, John Hastings and Thomas Vernon were appointed to "fence the burial grounds as soon as. may." This ancient God's Acre was, af- ter almost a century had elapsed, walled about as we now see it, and to tha*, v.'nd Grace Lloyd, byher will, 6th of 4th month, 1760, directed her executors to "pay ,£10 toward walling in the front pai-t of the graveyard belonging to the people called Quakers in Chester with brick or stone." Joseph Hoskins, in his will, 31st of 12th month, 1769, bequeathed j£10 "for the use of enclosing or fencing the .burying ground belonging to the friends of Chester Meeting in such manner as their Preparative Meeting of Chester shall direct and appoint, which said sum of JEIO I order to be paid by iriy executor * * into the hands of John Eyre for the uses aforesaid," which proves that at the date of Joseph Hoskins' will the burial place had not been enclosed as it is now. Within its walls lie the bodies of most of the noted personages of the an- cient Borough. David Lloyd and Grace, his wife, Caleb'and David Ooupland, Henry Hale Graham, Davis Bevan, John Salkeld, John Mather and almost all the first settlers of the old family names of Chester sleep in that neglected plot, where the remains of hundreds of men who fled hither to escape persecution in Europe He forgot-, ten, because of the prohibition by the Society of stones to mark the graves of those who slumber within the burial grounds belong- inji to their meetings. Churches Ot Chester. 179 ST. PAUL'S CHURCH AND BURIAL GROUND. A tract of ground was donated to the Swedish Church by " Arm- gardt Pappegoya " for glebe or church land in Upland, early in the liistory of the settlement. The plot of land on the south side of Third street, east of Market Square, where the old burial ground now is and where the first St. Paul's Church building was erected, was, previous to that structure being placed there, a burying place for the dead of the Swedish colonists at Upland. This fact is es- tablished by the report of Mr. Ross, to the " Society for Propaga- ting the Gospel in Foreign Parts," in 1714, wherein he distinctly makes this declaration. He also states, they (the Swedes) " had likewise a Church endowed with a valuable Glebe not far from the place of burial, but of this building there remains no sign at this day." John Hill Martin thinks this reference is to the Blockhouse ■or House of Defence, which was torn down by order of Court in 1703, an opinion which is doubtless correct. Acrelius tells us that the Swedes held religious services usually in the forts and House of Defence. The fact is satisfactorily established that the Swedes were obliged to have sentinels regularly posted during public wor- ship to apprise the congregation within of any iattempted attack by the Indians, of which the early settlers seemed to be constantly apprehensive. Every student of our early annals is aware that nfter the cargo of the " Black Cat," which had been ladened with articles of merchandise for the Indians, became exhausted, and the Swedish settlers' capacity for making presents had ceased, the savages seriously considered in Council whether the Europeans should be exterminated or permitted to remain. An old Indian succeeded in preventing a breach between the two races by assur- ing the young braves that courageous and vigilent men, armed with swords and muskets, would be difficult to subdue. The clergymen were particularly obnoxious to the savages, because the latter be- lieved that during divine services the minister — he alone speaking and all the rest remaining silent — was exhorting the congregation against the Indians. Acrelius also tells us that a blockhouse an- swered the purpose very well (as a church.) The Indians were not always to be depended upon that they would not make an incursion, 18Q Historinal Sketch of Chester. fall upon the Christians, and capture t'leir whole flock. It was, therefore, necessary for them to have the religious houses as a place of defense for the body as well as the soul. The churches were so built that after a suitable elevation, like any other house, a projection was made some courses higher, out of which they could shoot ; so that if the heathen fell upon them> which could not be done without their coming up to the house, the Swedes could shoot down upon them continually, and the heathen who used only bows and arrows, could do them little or no injury. That the blockhouse at Wicaco was used as a church we have record, hence, in all probability the. like structure at Upland was employed for a similar purpose. In 1700, Rev. Mr. Evans was sent to Pennsylvania by the "So- ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," and lo- cated in Philadelphia. He is frequently mentioned in the History of the Society, as going to Cliester, Chichester, Cohcord and Rad- nor, each about twenty miles distant from Philadelphia, and while constant allusion is made to a church edifice existing in that city, no intimation is given of any such building in either of the other places designated. I am aware that in taking down the old St. Paul's Church building in July, 1850, after it had stood one hun- dred and forty-eight years, two bricks, burned exceedingly hard and considerably larger in size than those in use at the present day, closely cemented together and with the figures 1 642 cut upon them were found. These numerals must have been made upon them many years subsequent to that date, for in 1644 there was not a house standing in the present limits of Chester. Independently of that fact we have documentary record of the exact date of the building, so circumstantially set forth, that there is no room re- maining for doubt. In " An Account of the Building of St. Paul's Church, Chester," furnished to the " Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," Mr. Ross, the then Missionary of the Society, in his report June 25, 1714, says: "In the Swedish Dormitory— the old Swedish burial ground — James Sandelands, of Chester, (or as it was first galled. Upland,) Merchant, a man of good reputation in the country, was on account of affinity interred to keep up the memory of this founder of a growing family ; twas agreed amongst his relations that his grave, Churches at Chester. 181 as also that of his kindred and fa^lily^ who were or might be buried there should be distinguished & set apart from the rest of the burying ground by an enclosure or wall of stone. This design was no sooner formed & noised abroad, but it was happily suggested by a projecting fellow in Town, that, if it seemed good to Mr. Sande- lands' relations, the intended stone wall about the place of the in- terment might be with somewhat more charges carried up and formed into a small chapel or church. This new motion was well Liked by ye sd relr.tions and encouraged by everybody in the neigh- borhood that wished well to the church of England, but they who put life into this proposal & prosperously brought it to pass were Joseph Yeates^ merchant in Chester, and James Sandelands, son to the above named Mr. Sandelands, the latter of which two gentle- men, besides other gifts, gave some land to enlarge the church yard, but the former, to wit: Mr. Yeates, a zealous asserter of our constitution in church and State, must be allowed to have been the main promoter of the founding of St. Paul's upon Delaware." The report further alludes to other persons " Parishers who were chief helpers to carry on the work" — Jeremy Collett, John Han- num, Henry Pierce, Ralph Pile and Thomas Barnsly, but especially does he commend Thomas Powell for the gift of a valuable piece of land, '-for a minister's house, garden and other conveniences." He also applauds Hon. Colonel Francis Nicholson, of whom he says : " We may safely say no man parted more freely with his money to promote the interest of the Church, in these parts, nor contributed so universally towards ye erection of Christian synagogues in dif- ferent and distant plantations in America." The " small but compact fabric of brick," thus erected and said to be " one of the neatest on this Continent," was forty-nine feet in length by twenty-six feet in breadth, and was well and substan- tially finished inside. The main entrance which was wide and spa- cious, closed by double doors, was at the north side of the Church, and the access to the building was from Market street, through the yard. Queen Anne, whom Horace Walpole dubbed " the wet nurse of the church," presented to the parish a handsome pulpit, a commu- nion table " well rail'd in and set out with a rich cloth, and a neat chalice ;" the two former articles were located at the east end of the edifice. This chalice and salver, the Queen's gift, as well as a similar chalice, presented to the congregation by Sir Jeffrey Jef- fries, are still in possession of the Church Wardens, and employed 182 Historical Sketch of (Ihester. in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to this day, but the pulpit and communion table have long since been removed and their present whereabouts, if in existence, is entirely forgotten. The chalices and their salvers are of hammered and very pure silver, and the one presented by the Queen has engraved upon it the words, " Annae Reginae." The inside of the Church was divided into four parts by two aisles, one extending from the double doors and the other from the pulpit to the extreme western part of the Church. The roof was oak, and the rafters white oak, hewed with a broad axe. The chancel was spacious and paved with brick, as were also the aisles In the west end of the Church and directly opposite the pulpit, built into the wall, was the well-known slab of gray sand stone, six feet in length by three in breadth, now in the Sunday School room of the new Church edifice, erected to the memory of James San- delands, the elder. Along the borders of the old slab in large capital letters are the words : heris lies interred the eodie of James Sandelands, Merchant IN Upland, in Pensilvania, WHO departed this mortail life Aprils te 12, 1692, aged 56 tears, AND HIS wife, Ann Sandelands. -" Its face is divided into two parts, the upper bearing in cypher the initials J. S. and A. S., the arms of the Sandelands family — Argent, a band Azure, on the border dividing the upper from the lower part are the words, ' Vive Memor Lethi FPugit Hora.' The lower half contains many emblems of mortality, the tolling bell, the passing bell, the skull and cross bones, the. empty hour-glass, an- upright coffin bearing on its side the words 'Memento Mori,' * Tiriie Deum,' and in either corner crossed, a scepter and mattock,' and a mattock and spade." The tablet at the present writing is disintegrating, and in a few years more will, in all probability, crumble away. James Sandelands, the elder, was a Scotchman, and there is some reason to believe that his father was Captain Jacob Everson Sande- lyn — the name perhaps incorrectly spelled by the early annalists — who, as master of the ship " Scotch Dutchman," visited the Swed- Churches at Chester. 183 ish settlements on the Delaware i.n the year 1646, and sold to the Governor " duffel cloth and other goods " to the value of 2,500 guilders. His mother we know lived here in February 1683, for she is mentioned in the trial of Margaret Matson, of Ridley, for witchcraft before William Penn and the Provincial Council in that year. The first allusion to James Sandelands, is in the patent of August 6, 1665, "for two lots of land in Upland at Delaware, upon the North side of the creek or kill." On June 13, 1670, patents were granted to him for twO other lots similarly situated, adjoining the property of his father-in-law, Joran Keen. Sande- lands was a soldier, fo/ in 1669 his name occurs in the List of Dis- charged Soldiers, now in the office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, New York. In 1675, he was captain of a company of mi- litia, recruited from the territory within the jurisdiction of the Up- land Court. While in command of this company he was accused of " being the cause of the death of an Indyan," and pleading not guilty, was " cleared by proclamation." Subsequently he was found guilty of some misdemeanor which Prof, Gregory B. Keen thinks may have been the same charge revived, and " it was or- dered that he pay the sum of 300 guilders — the one-halfe to bee towards the building of the new Church at Weckakoe, and the other to the Sheriff" and was " put off from being Captain." In a deed in 1680, he is designated as " merchant," but there is no evidence to show what particular goods he dealt in, excepting a record that having purchased tobacco in Maryland, which was not de- livered according to agreement, "a Certayne great Boate or Siallop,'' belonging' to the delinquent consignor, was attached and "publicqly sould " The records of the early Courts show that' he frequently appeared as attorney for the suitors before that tribunal.. In 167t, he is mentioned as the only person on the Delaware river, from Upland, northwardly, who owned a slave, and is recorded as one of the " responsible housekeepers " at this place. He was appointed by Col. William Markham, one of the Deputy Governor's Council in 1681, and was constituted one of the Justices of the newly or- ganized Upland Court. When William Penn arrived in the " Wel- come," he visited Sandelands, as the latter then owned the largest part of the present Middle and North Wards of Chester, and it was " talkt among the people " of that day " that it was with In- 184 Historical Sketch, of Chester. tent to have built a City " at Upland, " but that he and Sanderlin could not agree." Hence it is due to his action that the metropo- lis of Pennsylvania was not located at this point. From 1688 to 1690, he was a member of the General Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania. He would seem to have been of a jovial tem- perament, which contrasted decidedly with the Quaker stillness and sobriety of his English neighbors. He was presented by the Grand Jury '' for keeping an ordinary att Chester without Lysence, as also for keeping disorders in his house upon the 1 st day of the week. The Court dispences with his Keeping the ordinary until the Provincial Council shall sit, & remit the other on his promising not to do so any more." However, at a meeting of the Council, "ye 18th of ye 3d mo., 1686, upon ye Petition of James Sander- ling, for a Lycence to Keep an Ordinary, it was granted him." The house thus licensed was the Double House, heretofore men- tioned. James Sandelands died April 12, 1692, aged fifty-six years. I am thus particular in giving the circumstances of the life of this early colonist, as far as known, because St. Paul's was a memorial church, erected to keep him in the recollection of the in- habitants of Chester, wherein he had passed a busy and enterpris- ing life. His wife, Ann, after a brief widowhood, married Peter Baynton, who subsequently abandoned her and returned to England, leaving her in such destitute circumstances that the Provincial Council, May 19, 1698, ordered her to appropriate the residue of his pro- perty in Chester for her support. He returned subsequently, and apparently was repentant for his misdeeds. Ann died, and Octo- ber 5, 1704, was buried by the side of her first husband, James Sandelands. As her name appears on the old tablet, in St. Paul's Church, it proves that the stone was not set up by the descendants of Sandelands until after tint date. The old church must have had a sun dial, perhaps over its main door, such as is still to be seen at the Court House of Somerset county, Maryland, lor in 1704 the wardens claim credit for " cash pd ye ferymen for Bringing Down ye Dyal, Is. 8d., ac of nayles for setting up ye Dyall, Is. 2d.j money spent and pd ye men for setting It up, 4s." In the early times a bell, to remind the congregation that the time for public worship was at hand, had to be rung, as I - 1 / 0>^— :> ^^ L r '. h— I II \\ . A \ \ 1 nil \ l\^ \ jiS\ M \J 'l\^ i( » \i 8ANDELAHDS TABLET IH ST. PAUL'S OHUBCH, CHESTEll. Churches at Chester. 185 very few persons in the Colony owned watches, and in the houses of the wealthy only the high eight-day clocks, imported from England, ticked the passing hours. Hence we find an entry in the warden's book, under date "25 xber, (Christmas) 1713, as follows : '• CufFy was paid 6s. 6d., and Dick, David Roberts' boy, one shilling for ringing the church bell." This bell, I believe, was a small one, such as the auctioneers now use, the sound of which on a clear, quiet day, could be heard at considerable distance. I am aware that there is a tradition that Queen Anne presented the church with a bell, but there is no evidence to show this, although, as is well known, the sovereign lady niade gifts to all the Episcopal churches in the Colonies, and the testimony of the church books tends to disprove the story of the Queen Anne bell. At a meeting of the vestry, March 30, 1741, twenty-three members of the congregation subscribed funds to " & for in consideration of purchasing a bell for said church," and at a meeting of the same body, April 15, 1745, a bell tower, or turret, to hang the bell was ordered " to be built of stone in the foundation from out to out, Twelve by Four- teen foot." The belfry, built according to these directions, was to the west of and entirely detached from the Church. The bell, which was made in England, and had cast on it the words « Roger Rice, Chester,. 1743," was paid for in advance in 1742, by a bill of exchange for j630, and, as the sum obtained by subscription amounted to only half that amount, John Mather donated the re- maining jei5. The stonework, twenty- five feet in height, was surmounted by a frame structure, in which the bell hung. The tower, including the wooden addition, was over fifty feet. The belfry was entered by a door on the south side. The . frame super-structure was square until it reached the plate on which the rafters rested, and the roof faced four ways receding to a point which was ornamented with a weather vane. In each side of the framework was a slatted win- dow, so that the sound of the bell would not be obstructed any more than necessary. Within the interior was a rough ladder, which the sexton had to climb when he tolled the bell, although for church services it was rung by a long rope, which descended to within a few feet of the ground floor. The foundation of the ancient structure was laid July, 1702, and 1?6 Historical Sketch ofiJhester. oti Sunday, January 24, 1703, (new style) St. Paul's day, the edifice was opened to public worship. Rev. John Talbot preaching the first sermon in the church. The general impression is that Rev. George Keith was the first clergyman to hold divine services in St. Paul's, but in that gentleman's '• Journal and Travels," published in Lon- don, 1706, occar» this passage: "Sunday, January 24, 1702," (1703 N. S.) "I preached at Philadelphia, on Matthew, V.; 17, both in the forenoon and afternoon, Mr. Evans, t!:ie minister, hav- ing that day been at Chester, in Pennsylvania, to accompany Mr. Talbot, who was to preach the first sermon in the church after it was built," Mr. Keith did preach here on February 7, and August 3, of that year, and records: " We were kindly entertained at the house of Jasper Yeats therej" and, on "Sunday, April 9, 1704, I preached at Chester, on John iv. 24, being my last sermon there." In 1704, Rev. Henry Nichols was appointed missionary to St. Paul's Parish, by the " Society for the Propagation of the Gospel," and reported that the people were well inclined to the Church of England, although they had previous to that time no "fixed min- ister till now," and that the congregation had made a subscription of ^60 a year toward the support of their rector. In 1718, Rev. John Humphrey, who was in charge of the parish, reported to the Society, that he could not get a house in Chester to live in and therefore had to buy a plantation of a thousand acres, about three miles distant. He was not altogether accep table to parishioners, and on April 5, 1717, they petitioned the Society to appoint another person, which was done, and Samuel Hesselins was substituted in his stead. Thirty-four years after Mr. Humphreys had complained of the absence of a parsonage, in 1752, the Rev. Thomas Thompson writes to the Society : " I found no Church wardens or vestry, no house for the minister to live in, nay, not a fit house to hire." Mr. Thomp- son, it seems, formed no better opinion of the people than the peo- ple did of the rector, for in " Rev. Dr. Perry's papers relating to the History of the Church in Pennsylvania, 1680 to 1778," Rev. Thomas Thompson is referred to as a man of bad character. The congregation, however, failed to provide for the Missionaries', as the rules of the Society required, and in 1762 a notice was given them, that if they did not procure better accommodations for their Churches at Chester- IBT clergyman and "raaiutain a glebe, a dwelling house, and their Church and burying grounds in decent order and repair," the So- ciety would withdraw its mission from them. To accomplish these ends the congregation issued a scheme in January of that year, to raise j6562 10s. Od., by a lottery. The advertisement, after set- ting forth these facts, states : " They," the congregation, " find themselves under the disagreeable necessity to apply to the publick by way of a Lottery, not doubting that it will meet with all suit- able encouragement from the well-disposed of every denomination, as it is intended for the Glory of God and consequently for the good of the Province." There were 1,733 prizes and 3,267 blanks, making 5,000 tickets in all. The drawing was to take place either ia Chester or Philadelphia, on March 1, 1762, and continue until all the tickets were drawn. The managers add this addenda to their advertisement : " N. B. — As the above sum will fall vastly short of completing everything as could be wished, it is hoped that if any are scrupu- lous as to the method of raising money, yet wish well to the Design, and are willing to promote the same, if such Persons will deliver their Liberality into the hands of Mr. Charles Thomson, Merchant, in Philadelphia, or to any of the Managers aforesaid, it will be gratefully acknowledged and carefully applied accordingly." There is little of interest connected with the Church for more than twenty years following the lottery. The brewing trouble with the Mother Country and the stormy days of the Eevolution seem to have so engrossed the attention of the people, that many things which must have occurred during that period and which should have been noted, have been omitted. This statement applies equally to the county records, and the student of our annals will be surprised to find how little can be gathered from an examination of them. In 1784, after peace was assured, an effort was made to form the various parishes in the Colonies into dioceses, and St. Paul's, of Chester, was one of the churches which joined in the Act of Asso- ciation, and sent Dr. William Currie and James Withey to repre- sent the parish in the preliminary meeting in Philadelphia, March 29, 17M, to bring about such form of church government, and at the meeting in Christ Church, in that city. May 24, 1785, when the Diocese of Pennsylvania was formed, the delegates from St. Paul's were John Crosby, Jr., and John Shaw. 188 Historical Sketch of Chester. In the summer of 1826, two strangers without means, died in the Borough, and, being no Potter's Field here, their bodies were buried on the western side of Welsh street, or Love Lane, as it was then called, below Third street, and jusf outside of St. Paul's church- yard. The bxnk then, as with country highways, was higher than the roadway, and the dead strangers were buried therein. The Philadelphia papers of that date contained _ several articles reflect- ing on the Borough authorities, for not providing a suitable place to deposit the bodies of these unfortunate men. For many years their graves could be pointed out and the superstitious colored peo- ple always passed the spot with rapid steps, the beating of their hearts much accelerated, and they looked backward frequently as they hurried by It is said that the lassies, as they neared the spot while walking with the gallants of that day, drew more close to the sides of their male companions, as if for shelter against some imagined horror. In time the co£Sns and bodies crumbled away, not a vestige of them being found when the sidewalk was cut down. In 1 8d5, the old Church proving too small for the accommoda- tion of the congregation, extensive repairs were made to the an- cient edifice. The old pews were increased in number, each of the large square ones were made into two small ones, the high backs lowered, the double doors walled up, a gallery built across the west- ei-n end, and under it the main entrance to the Church was made. The old pulpit with the sounding board was not removed, and the great oriel window to the east, in the rear of the clergyman's desk, .w^s not disturbed. These changes made it necessary to remove the old Sandelands tablet. It was placed in the wall on the out- side of the building, and during the spring, when the stonework was being whitewashed, it was repeatedly treated to a coat of that abominable compound by the sexton's wife^ who did all chores of that character about the Church. The ancient bell tower was torn down and a small belfry built in the roof, at the western end of the building. The bell, which with such difficulty had been procured from England more than a century before, had become damaged by long service, and it was determined to have it recast. G-eorge W. Piper and J. GifFord Johnson took the bell in a wagon to Philadel- phia, to Wiltbank's foundry, for that purpose. Before this bell was recast the foundry was destroyed by fire, and the heat was so Churches at Chester. 189 great that tons of metal were fused into a mass. Wiltbank, how- ever, furnished a bell, but it is mope than probable that not an ounce of the material in the old one cast by Eoger Rice entered into the composition of the one which hangs in the belfry of the present Church. No doubt but that the good people of that day believed they were doing a wise act in disturbing the antiquated appearance of th ancient structure and decking it out in modern toggery, just as their successors fifteen years afterwards were ac- tuated by the same idea when they razed the entire building to the ground, and that, too, without getting enough stones from the ruins to lay a third of the basement of the new edifice. Matters drifted on with the Parish until 1850, when the change in the cur- rent set in, and Chester, after slumbering a century and a half, started into activity. St. Paul's Church awakened with the rest, and began to make , provisions for the new order of things But the error of that day, and it was a serious one, consisted in de- stroying absolutely the old sanctuary. The new Church structure, which was erected on the north side of Third street, was built after a plan prepared by T. U. Walter, architect of Philadelphia, and the cost, it was believed, would not exceed five thousand dollars, although it ultimately cost nearly double that sum. The corner stone was laid July 25, 1 859. The building was in the Gothic style, and was approached by a flight of stone steps, one of which was the slab which had formerly covered the remains of Robert French, and to-day is one of the flagging in, the sidewalk to the Sunday School on the east side of the Church. Robert French was a native of Scotland, and was the second husband of James Sandelands' daughter Mary. He was a promi- nent man in his times in the Lower Counties, and was one of the three gentlemen to whom William Penn addressed his noted letter respecting the pirates, who were reported to have landed near New Castle, " full of gold," about the beginning of the year 1700, and whom he instructed French to discover and arres.t, if possible. He was a member of the Church of England, and one of the founders of Immanuel Church, at New Castle. He filled many important offices in the Colonial Government, and after a lengthened illness died in Philadelphia, September 7, 1713, and was interred in St. Paul's Church, in this city. His tombstone, which is the oldest 190 Historical Sketch of Chester. except that of James Sandelands, and Francis Brooks, to whom I' will refer hereafter, in St. Paul's, was an ordinary slab of syenite, six feet long and three and .a half feet wide, and the inscription, now almost obliterated, read : " Hobert French, obt. Sept. the 7th, 1713." His widow married in about a year after his death, for the third time, Kobert Gordon, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Lower Counties on the Delaware. David, the son of Robert and Mary (Sandelands) French, was a poet of no slight attainments, and his verses are spoken of with warm commendation by Duyckinck Brothers, in their " Cyclopedia of American Literature." "The smoothness and elegance of the. versification," they, say, « testify to the accomplished scholarship of the writer." He was Attorney General for the Lower Counties, and in 1728, was Prothonotary of the Courts of Delaware, an office he retained during life. He was also Speaker of the Assembly, and was appointed by the High Courts of Chancery in England, one of the Examiners in the case of Penn vs. Lord Baltimore. He died in August, 1742, and was buried in St. Paul's Church, on the 25th of the same month, " by the side of his father." The Pennsylva- nia Gazette, for August 26, 1742, states: " The Beginning of this Week died at New Castle, David French, Esq , late Speaker of the Assembly of that Government, et., a young Gentleman of uncommon Parts, Learning and Probiety, join'd with the most consummate Good Nature ; and therefore uni- versally beloved and regretted. The Corps was brought up to Ches- ter, and yesterday interred in the Church there, the Funeral being attended by many Gentlemen, his Friends, from this city." The place where the remains of the noted father and son lie in the graveyard is now unknown. In all probability they were in- terred in the chancel of the old Church building. The new building was opened Sunday, May 4, 1851, Rev. Mr, Balch, officiating. The constant growth of our busy city and the increase in the number of the worshippers soon began to tax the seating capacity of the new structure, and for several years after the close of the war it became evident that additional room must be provided to meet this want. In 1872, the demand was so im- perative that the congregation determined that the Church building must be remodeled, and steps were taken promptly to carry out that end. On Sunday, June 14, 1872, services were held in the Churches at Chester. 191 sanctuary for the last time previous to the changes being made, and for ten months the edifice was closed during the alterations. The south end of the Church was demolished, and a new addition, con- siderably increasing the seating capacity, a handsome Gothic front, which approaches closely to the sidewalk, and a towering steeple and belfry erected. On Sunday, April 13, 1873, the congregation renewed religious services in St. Paul's, and Rev. Henry Brown, the rector, preached a historical sermon. John Hill Martin, in his " History of Chester," gives the follow- ing list of ministers of St. Paul's, from 1702 to the present time: Rev. Evan Evans 1702 to 1704 " Henry Nichols, 1704 « 1708 " George Ross, 1708 « 1714 " John Humphreys, 1714 " 1726 " Samuel Hesselius, 1726 " 1728 " Richard Backhouse, - 1728 « 1749 " Thomas Thompson, 1751 « " Israel Acrelius, - 1756 « " George Craig, 1758 " 1781 " James Conner, 1788 « 1791 " Joseph Turner, 1791 « 1793 " Levi Heath, - 1796 " 1798 " Joshua Reece, 1803 " 1805 " William Pryce, 1815 « 1818 " Jacob Morgan Douglass, 1818 « 1822 " Rich'd Umstead Morgan, 1822 " 1831 " John Baker Clemson, D. D., 1831 « 1835 « Richard D. Hall, 1835 « 1837 " Mortimer Richmond Talbot, 1837 « 1841 " Greenberry W. Ridgely, 1842 « 1843 " Anson B. Hard, Associate Rector, 1844 « 1848 " Charles W. Quick, - - -' . 1849 « 1850 « Lewis P. W. Balch, D. D., 1850 " 1853 " Nicholas Sayre Harris, 1853 « 1855 " Daniel Kendig, 1855 " 1859 " M. Richmond Talbot, 1859 « 1861 " J. Pinckney Hammond, 1861 « 1863 " Henry Brown, ... - 1863 « Within the old churchyard are gathered many generations of our people, and therein mingles with the earth the ashes of the earliest proprietors of our city. I believe Joran Keen, the original Swed- ish settler of Chester, lies in that ancient God's Acre, and to that 192 Historical Sketch of Chester. fact I ascribe the inclination his descendants and connections mani- fested for many years to be interred in the present Saint Paul's burial ground. However, it is not my purpose to speculate on the unknown, but to refer briefly to the distinguished dead who lie therein. Ten years ago, after the addition to the front part of the Church was begun, Dr. Allen showed me, in a closet in the Sunday School, the noted tombstone which for many yearg attracted the attention of all strangers visiting the old church yard, because of its an- tiquity, the manner in which the sculptor had performed his work, and the singularity of the inscription. The stone was cracked and in bad condition. The inscription reads : — FOR THE MEMORY OF FRANCIS BROOKS, who died August the 19, 1704 Aged 50 years. In Barbarian bondage And cruel tyranny ■ For ten years together I served in Slavery After this Mercy brought me To my country fair And last I drowned was In River Delaware. John Hill Martin states that Francis Brooks was a negro. The inscription would seem to indicate that Brooks was a native of the American Colonies, and as his age at death precludes the idea of his birth in Upland, tBe chances are that he was a New England er, or Virginian. One of the most interesting monuments is that on which is cut the following inscription : Here lieth Paul Jackson, A. M. He was the first who received a Degree In the College of Philadelphia. A Man of virtue, worth and knowledge. Died 1767, aged 36 years. Dr. Paul Jackson was noted as one of the most accomplished Churches at Chester. 193 scholars of his day in the Colony. When quite a young man he was appointed to the professorship of the Greek and Latin Lan- guages in the College of Philadelphia, now the University of Penn- sylvania. His studious application impaired his health, and in 1758, when General Forbes led the expedition against Fort Du Quesne, he joined the army as a captain of one of the companies of Royal Americans. His active life as a soldier restoring him, he determined to study medicine. After he had received his degree he came to Chester, where he married Jane, daughter of John Mather, and practiced 'his profession with marked success. He ■was Chief Burgess of the Borough at the time of his death. His ■widow, in three yearsafter his decease, married Dr. David Jack- son, a brother of her first husband, and who, during the Revolu- tionary War, was Surgeon General of the Pennsylvania troops. Ona-'of the most noted graves in St. Paul's Ground — at least •within recent years, for, strange as it may appear, neither Trego in his "Geography and Historical Accounts of Pennsylvania," or Burrowes' " State Book of Pennsylvania," both published within the last forty years, make any mention of John Morton — is that of the signer of the" Declaration of Independence, whose remains lie beneath a plain shaft of marble, nine feet in height, its four sides forming precisely the four cardinal points. of the compass. The inscription on the west side of the monolith is as follows: Dedicated to the memory of John Morton, A memher of the First American Congress from the State of Penn- sylvania, Assembled in New York in 1765, and of the next Congress, assembled in Philadelphia in 1774. Born A. D., 1724— Died .April 1777. On the east side of the shaft is as follows : " In voting by States upon the question of the Independence of the American Colonies, there was a tie until the vote of Pennsyl- vania was given, two members of which voted in the affirmative, and two in the negative. The tie continued until the vote of the last member, John Morton, decided the promulgation of the Glo- rious Diploma of American Freedom." On the south side of the stone is cut the statement : "In 1775, while speaker of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, John Morton was elected a Member of Congress, and in the ever me- morable session of 1776, he attended that august body for the last 194 Hislwioal Sketch of Chester, time, establishing his name in the grateful remembrance of the Anierican People by signing the Declaration of Independence." On the north side of the shaft is inscribed the following sentence^ to which I desire particularly to direct the attention of the reader^ It is- '.' John Morton being censured by his friends- for his boldness in giving his casting vote for the Declaration of Independence, his- prophetic spirit dictated from his death bed the following message to them : ' Tell thein they shall live to see the hour when they shall acknowledge it to have been the most glorious service I ever rendered to ray country. " A little over nine months- after the Declaration was signed, John Morton died, his act in voting for the great Charter of American Freedom having hastened his end. It is well known that when the Declaration wis made it was accepted by more than two-thirds of the United Colonies as a mistake, and as for a time reverses seemed to wait upon the American arms, the feeling that a fatal error- had been made became general. Even the army did not receive the- news of the act with enthusiasm, for it will be recalled that when the Continental forces were at Port Washington and the news of the Declaration reached them, they were ordered to form in a square. ;VftJr pr lyar by Rev. Dr. Magaw, the document was read to the soldiers. When it was finished there was, for an instant, a death-like silence. Gen. Thomas Mifflin, who was a gifted speak- er, knowing there was no time for reflection, sprang on a cannon, and in a clear, full voice, exclaimed : " My lads, the Rubicon is crossed .' Let us give tliree cheers for the Declaration." The ef- fect was electrical. The men cheered enthusiastically, and although not a note of dissatisfaction was heard, still the correspondence and diaries of that period show how doubtful the measure was believed to be. Morton was in a Tieighborhood and among friends who de^ sired the war should cease, whose religious conviction was against strife, and hence he was met on all sides with the opinion that he had done a wrong to his country in his vote. The series of disas- ters which followed inimediately after the Declaration was pro- claimed, lent additional earnestness to the statement of these "friends" — as the monument designates them — and his sensitive nature could not bear up against their reproaches. John Morton's last year of life was an unhappy one, and although it gave him Churches at Chester. T.'95 immortality of fame, it added not to his joy, ibr he was harassed and annoyed by the reproaches of many of his constituents. His last words show how deeply their censure had impressed itself upon ihis mind. ST. LUKE'S P. E.4CHURCH. The Gothic edifice, located at the south-east corner of Third and Broomall streets, was built of granite, in 1866, the corner stone being laid February 1, of the same year, with appropriate ceremo- nies. Right Rev. William Bacon Stevens, Bishop of Pennsylva- nia, officiated, assisted by Rev. Henry Brown and other clergymen. The funds of the building committee having bei-ome exhausted be- fore the Church was completed, the congregation for a time wor- shipped in the edifice which was then without pews, settees being used in their places, and the unplastered walls presenting a rough and uninviting appearance. After Sunday, May 8, 1870, services were Iheld there in the morning and evening, Thomas R. List, a student at the Divinity School of Philadelphia, bdng employed as lay reader, which duties he discharged until June 19, 1873, whin he became rector of the parish. The Church now firmly established, was due largely to the efforts of John Burrows McKeever, Wm. Ward, Samuel Archbold, Samuel Eccles, Jr., Wm. H. Green, Wm. A. Todd, Major Joseph R. T. Coates, and their wives and other la- dies of St. Paul's Church, the South Ward, and South Chester. Edward A. Price and wife presented the parish with a handsome communion service — silver tankard, paten, chalices arid plates for alms, while F. Stanhope Hill and Mrs. Hannah Depue gave the pulpit Bible. On May 19, 1874, St. Luke's Church was admitted into the Diocesan Convention, Samuel Archbold and William Ward being the first lay deputies. In 1874, John Burrows McKeever, who was an ardent friend of the new parish, died, and through the efforts of Rev. Mr. List a memorial font was placed in the church in whose behalf he labored so zealously. In September, 1875, Rev. Mr. List, having received a call to a church in Philadelphia, re- 1 36 Historical Sketch of Chester. signed the' rectorship. In October of the same year, Rev. George Clifford Moore, the present rector, was called, and almest immedi- ately after his installation, he began the advocacy of the abolition of pew rents substituting therefor voluntary contributions — or en- velope system. In 1876, Charles Kenworthy bequeathed $350 to the parish, which sum was applied towards liquidating a mortgage debt, and the following year, Blizabeth Kerlin, by will, gave $150, which was used in a like manner, until in 1880, the entire debt was extiiiguiihid. The parish, at present, is in a flourishing condition. ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL. The imposing Catholic Church of St. Michael's is the second sanctuary erected on the site, the first having been razed in 1874 to make room for the present edifice. The church organization ex- tends backward in the history of our city forty years. In 1842 a number of Catholics, employed in this neighborhood— the nearest church bsing locited nine miles distant — determined to establish one of that denomination in the borough. Application was made to Et. Rev. Francis Patrick Kendrick, Bishop of Philadelphia, for permission to organize a congregation and erect a church in Ches- ter. In response to the request the Bishop assigned Rev. Philip Sheridan to the parish, and earnestly did he labor to accohiplish the end in view. July 12, 1842, a lot was purchased on Edgmont road and September 2.3, of the same year, the corner stone was laid by Bishop Kendrick. June 25, of the year following the church was dedicated to Almighty God under the patronage of St. Michael, the Archangel, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Moriarty preaching the dedicatory sermon. For many years the building was the most noticable in Chester, and so conspicuous was it that the gilde'd cross, surmount- ing the lofty spire, could be seen glittering many miles away, as the town was approached in any direction. For nearly seven years no regular pastor was assigned to the parish. Occasional visits were made by Fathers Sheridan, Lane, Souren, Walsh, Ama^t, and ■ Dr. O'Hara, until July 12, 1850, when Rev. Arthur P. Haviland, who Churches at Chester. 197 had been ordained a priest in Philadelphia, June 29, of the same year, was appointed to the charge of St. Michael's parish. So faith- fully did he labor, that in a short time the building became too small to accommodate the worshipers, and for many years the parish struggled under that difficulty In 1854, the parsonage adjoining the sanctuary was built and the same year Father Haviland was assigned an assistant. Rev Patrick McEnroe. On September 20, 1858, a bell, the present one, weigh- ing 1,000 pounds, was raised to its designated place in the tower, and for almost a quarter of a century its well-known tones have daily be n heard iu our thriving town. On the occasion of raising the bell to its allotted place a large concourse of people was pres- ent, and the services were conducted by the Eight Rev. Bishop Wood. In 1867, Father Haviland went to Europe, and during his absence the parish was in charge of his assistant. Rev. Edward McKee, Father McEnroe having been removed to Mauch Chunk. On the return of Father Haviland, Father McKee was assigned to Catasauqua, and Rev. Father Shankey became his assistant lor a brief period, to be followed in succession by Rev. Fathers William F. Cook, Thomas McGlynn, Hugh McGlynn, James Timmins and Patrick J . Mackin. Early in 1873, notwithstanding the parish had been divided and the Church of the Immaculate Heart erected in the South Ward, it became evident that the old edifice was insufficient to accommo- date the congregation, and it was resolved to erect a new sanctuary. Before the plans to this end could be fully matured, the financial disturbances in the fall of that year so paralyzed business that it was deemed inexpedient to begin the demolition of the old and the erection of the new edifice until the industrial dejection had, in a measure, abated. In the summer of the following year, permission was granted by the Eight Rev. Bishop Wood to demolish the old structure, and rear in its stead a larger and more attractive build- ing. To that end, on July 29, 1874, the pews were taken out of the Church, and the parochial school house, which had been erected in 1866, was prepared for use as a temporary chapel. August 11, following, the excavations for the foundation of the new edifice were made, and on the 31st of the same month the old building was leveled to the earth. The corner stone of the new Church was 198 Historical Sketch of Chester. laid Sunday, November 1, 1874, by the Right Rev. Bishop Wood. The new structure is 178 feet in length and the facade 42 feet. Its height from the pavement to ths eves is 68 feet, while from the centre of the facade rises a tower of 92 feet in height. The structure is built of Leiperville granite with polished granite trimmings and columns frpm Maine. Externally and internally the edifice is artistically and handsomely finished, while the altar and furniture is elaborate and beautiful, making as a whole the most imposing building in the county. Sunday, November 5, 188'2, the dhurch was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies by Right Rev. Bishop Shanahan, of Harrisbiirg. CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY. In the spring of 1873, the parish of St. Michael's having become so densely populated and the congregation attending the old sanc- tuary had grown so large, it was deemed expedient to institute a new Catholic Church in South Ward, and a conmiittee waited on Right Rev. Bishop Wood to that end. After several interviews with the committee the Bishop consented to the division and July 1873, he appointed Rev. John B. Kelley the pastor in charge of theparish, which was named the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Two days after his appointment Father Kelley was drowned while bathing at At- lantic City, and Rev. Thomas J. McGlynn was assigned to the pas- torate. .The parishioners immediately erected a frame chapel and the congregation was organized therein. Prompt steps were taken toward the building of a permanent Church edifice, and the follow- ing fall, September 23, 1874, the corner stone of the brick Gothic Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at the north-west cor- ner of Second and Norris streets, was laid by the Right Rev. Bishop Wood. The work went steadily onward, and the Church was dedi- cated the first Sunday of October, 1 876. The edifice is 64 feet on Second street, by 108 feet in depth on Norris street. The parson- age on the left of the sanctuary, and in the same order of archi- tecture, was erected in 1877. The parish is now building a three Churches at Ghesler. 199 story brick parochial school house which will conform in style ex- ternally to the Church edifice. Rev. Father McGlynn has been in charge of the parish ever since it was organized, and under his immediate supervision all the permanent improvements have been made. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. The Kerlin farm was purchased in 1850 by John M. Hroomall and the late John P. Crozer in equal shares, and after a large part of the real estate had been sold so as to repay the original outlay, Mr. Crozer, in 1856, conveyed his interest in all the land remain- ing to Mr. Broomall, reserving, however, the absolute title in the half square of ground on Penn and Second streets. Mr. Crozer stated at the time of the conveyance that he designed that locality as a site for a Baptist Church. This intention was doubtless due to the fact that previous to the autumn of 1854, occasional reli- gious exercises by Baptist clergymen had been held in Chester, but it was not until the fall of the year mentioned that any regularly stated services were had, when Rev. William Wilder, of the Up' land Baptist Church, established worship in the Court House, and it was continued under Mr. Wilder's supervision for four years. In the spring of 1858, Mr. Crozer donated the ground at the norths west corner of Second and Penn streets, seventy feet on the first and one hundred and twenty-seven on the latter, fer a Church. During the summer of the same year Benjamin Gartside, at, his personal cost, built a chapel 23 by 40 feet, which building, now stand- ing in the rear of the Church, was completed during the- month of August, and worship was held there every Sunday afternoon. Rev. Miller Jones, then stationed at Marcus Hook, and Rev. William Vrilder, conducted the services. In the spring of 1863, an effort was made to erect a building and to have the congregation recog* nized as a Church, but the public excitement consequent on the bat-* tie of Gettysburg postponed definite action until September 24, 1863, when the chapel, built by Mr, Grartside, was dedicated as the 200 Historical Sketch of Chester. First Baptist Church of Chester, and Rev. Levi Gr. Beck was, May 24, 1864, ordained its first pastor. The same year a sufficient sum was pledged to the building fund to justify the building of a sanctuary. The corner stone was laid July 2, 1864, and in the fall the edifice was so far advanced that the ltt,cture room could be used for religious services. The work on the Church was continued, and in the fall of the following year all had been completed, but as it had been decided that the main apartment should not be used until the debt of the building com- mittee, amounting in all to f 16,000, had been discharged, it re- quired several weeks to gather the fund. This was done, and De- cember 28, 1865, the Church was dedicated. Rev. J. Wheaton Smith, D. D., officiating on that occasion. After two years' pastor- ate. Rev. Mr. Beck was elected Secretary of the Baptist General Association of Pennsylvania, which office he accepted, and resigned his charge of the Church in April, 1866. For several months the congregation was without a regular minister, until November, 1866, when Rev. Andrew Fuller Shanafelt was called and assumed the duties of the pastorate in December of the same year. During his ministry, James Irving presented the lot on Second street, imme- diately adjoining the Church, for a parsonage, and Benjamin Grart- side erected the present building at his personal cost. In 1874, Mr. Shanafelt's health was so much impaired that he was granted a vacation to travel in Europe and the Holy Land. He returned in the fall apparently much improved, but his application to duty brought on a return of his physical weakness, causing his death March, 1875, The following July, Rev. Z. T. Dowen became the pastor and for two years remained in charge, when he resigned Au- gust, 1877, and returned to England. In November of the same year, Rev. A. Gr. Thomas, the present pastor, was called and began his ministerial work in the following December. Churches at Chester. 201 MADISON STREET M. E. CHURCH. The name "Chester" appears in the minutes of the Philadel- phia Conference in the list of appointments of preachers as early as the year 1783, when Revs. Robert Cann and John Milburn were assigned to that circuit. Tbey, in 1789, were succeeded by Revs. William Dougherty and James Campbell, and the latter, in turn, in 1790, were followed by Revs. Sylvester Hutchinson and John Cooper. Notwithstanding these appointments it is very doubtful whether, at those times, there were any' Methodists in the ancient Borough of Chester, the name being given to a circuit extending in territory from- the river Delaware nearly to the Susquehanna, and from Philadelphia county to the Maryland line. The first absolute knowledge we have of a meeting of that de- nomination is in 1818, when John Kelley and his wife, Esther, moved to this place. Mr. Kelley had been a local preacher in St. G-eorge's Church, Philadelphia, and shortly after locating in Chester held services in his own house, where he organized a class. The circuit preacher soon afterwards established a regular appointment for preaching, and on Sundays religious services were held in the Court House for many years. In that structure the noted Bishop Asbury, it is said, preached on several occasions. The denomina- tion grew, gradually, and several attempts were made to raise funds suificient to build a house to meet in, but all efforts failed to that end, until in 1830, sufficient means had been obtained to justify the congregation in erecting, not without considerable difficulty, a stone Church on Second street, at the corner of Bevan's Court, which building was greatly due to the energy and efforts of the late David Abbott, and was named in honor of the Bishop, " Asbury Chapel." The society was still largely dependent on the circuit minister, although more frequently the services were conducted en- tirely by the local preachers. The congregation attending the Church had grown so large in 1845 that Chester was made a station and Rev. Isaac R. Merrill was appointed pastor in that year. During his pastorate, in 1846, the congregation erected the sec- 202 Historical Sketch of Chester. o\y\ stone meeting house, on Fifth street, below Market, which, in 1 873 they sold to Tuscarora Tribe of Red Men, No. 29, who changed it into a hall. At the present time the old building has again been devoted to t'.ie purposes for which it was built, and is occupied by the congregation of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1847, Mr. Merrill was succeeded by Rev. Levi Storks,* who, in 1848, was tollowed by Rev. John Shields. In 1849, Rev. Newton Heston* was appointed, and continued until 1851. In 1850, the year when Chester began to develop rapidly, the Church had 302 members. Rev Samuel G. Hare* was appointed in 1851, and was followed the succeeding year by Rev John B. Maddux,* who con- tinued pastor until 1854, when Rev. Wm. MuUin was appointed in his stead, and in 1856 was followed by Rev. John W. Arthur.* Rev. Allen Johns* was appointed pastor in 1858 and the following year was succeeded by Rev. John Ruth.* During'the latter's pas- torate, in 1860, the membership had grown to 322. Rev, William Urie' was assigned to the charge of the Church in 1861, and was succeeded in 1863, by Kev James E. Meredith, who, after he ceased to be its pastor became a clergyman of the Episcopal Church and at the present time is located in Texas, as rector of a parish of that denomination. ' Mr. Meredith was followed in 1866 by Rev. Henry E. Gilroy, and in 1869, Rev. James Cunningham was appointed to succeed him. The old meeting house on' Fifth street was now un- able to accommodate the number of worshippers, and it was deter- mined to erect a new edifice. To that end a lot on the north-east corner of Seventh and Madison streets was purchased, and- the cor- ner stone of the new Church building laid on Wednesday, July 17, 1872, Rev. Henry Brown, rector of St. Paul's, and Rev. A. W. Sproull, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, assisting Rev. James Cunningham in the ceremonial and religious services on that occasion. The new Church, which was built of green serpentine stone, with granite trimmings and corner blocks and finished very tastefully and at much expense, was dedicated May 3, 1874. Du- ring the greater part of the time the building of the edifice was going onRev. John B. Maddux* was the minister, having succeed- ed Mr. Cunningham in the fall of 1872. In 1875, Rev. Jos. Welsh was appointed pastor, and was succeeded in 1878 by Rev. William ■^Deceased. Churches at Chester. 203 C. Robinson. In 1881, Rev. William J. Paxson, the present pas- tor, was appointed. The Church is in a most flourisbing condition, its membership in 1880 being 626, and it has largely increased in that respect since that time. TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. In 1865, the membership and congregation of the Fifth Street Methodist Church had so increased that it was deemed proper by the Quarterly Conference to effect a Church organization in South Ward, and to that end thirty members held regular religious wor- ship in the Crozer Academy, on Second street, west of Franklin. In the summer of the same year, the congregation b^an the build- ing at the corner of Third and Parker streets, known as Trinity Church, Rev. Mr. Twiggs, now of Wilmington Conference, being then pastor in charge. The edifice had been roofed in, when, in October, 1865, a terrific north-east storm utterly demolished the building, heaping it into the cellar a mass of ruins. There the debris remained until 1866, when the congregation, under the di- rection of Rev. Wm McCombs, as pastor, erected a frame chapel on the ground to the west, now used by D. fl. Burns, as a marble yard, and the same year built what is now the Sunday SchooL The main structure during the same year was re-commenced and pushed forward until it was roofed in. ' The debt of the congrega- tion amounted to $20,000. In the fall of the year the chapel was completed and dedicated, on which occasion a sum of $5,000 was raised, and to that amount the debt was extinguished. In the spring of 1867, Rev. Isaac Mast was appointed, and continued in charge for two years, during which period $5,000 additional of the debt was paid off, the floors of the main Church laid, and the mem- bership largely increased. In 1869, Rev. George W. F. Graff be- came the pastor, and continued in that relationship three years. During his ministry the Church proper was completed and dedicat- ed by Bishop Simpson. It had cost $6,000 additional, but of that sum $5,000 was- subscribed on dedication day. The congregation 204 Historical Sketch, of Chester. during that period built what is now known as the South Chester M. E. Church, then styled the mission chapel. Independent of the sums mentioned, the congregation raised $10,000, and applied it towards liquidating the indebtedness of the Church. In the spring of 1872, Rev. Samuel Fancoast was assigned to the pastorate, and during his term of three years the entire debt was discharged. In 1875 Rev. Samuel W. Kurts was appointed and was followed in 1878 by Kev. John F. Crouch, during whose pastorate many im- portant improvements were made to the Church. In 1880 Rev. Noble Frame was assigned to the Church, and in the spring of 1 882, Rev. Thomas Kelly, the present pastor, was appointed. UNION A. M. E. CHURCH. Early in this century Robert Morris, a slave in the lower part of Delaware, was told by his master, with whom he was a favorite, that his property was about to be levied on by the Sheriff, to make his escape to Chester, and, if possible, get some one to buy him. The latter fled and Charles Lloyd, of the Blue Bell Tavern, Kingses- sing, purchased him from his master for $300 conditioned that when he attained thirty yeirs he was to be free. Morris, who was a re- ligious man, after he was free came to Chester, where he oTganized this Church. At first only four persons could be found to attend meetings, which were held in a house occupied by a man named Williams, on Third street, west of- Concord avenue, but by degrees the movement spread until about 1831, when sufficient means were collected to purchase from Matthew L. Bevan, a lot on Welsh street, and to build a frame Church. The following year Rev. Sam- uel Smith was appointed local preacher and continued in charge un- til 1837. His pastorate, however, was financially unsuccessful in- asmuch as the expenses of the organization created a burdensome debt, so that Robert Morris once more came to Chester to its as- sistance and Rev. Benjamin Jefferson was assigned as its pastor, in which capacity he continued until 1 874. The latter strove energet- ically to liquidate the incumbrance and succeeded^ in clearing the Churches at Chester. 205 Church of debt. He was followed in 1875 by Eev. Lorenzo D. Blackston, and the following year Kev. Henry Mode was appointed pastor. Again in 1877, Rev. Benjamin Jefferson was assigned to the charge of the Church and continued until 1880. It was during his second pastorate that the edifice was rebuilt as it is to-day, al- though many yeai's before a stone building had taken the place of the original frame structure. From 1880 to 1881, Kev. Lewis J. Jones was in charge. In the latter year Rev. Francis H. Norton, the present pastor was appointed. Fifteen or twenty years ago a mission Church was organized in Media, under the supervision of Union Church and is now a flourish- ing boJy, while the membership of the parent Church has largely increased. ASBURY A. M. E. CHURCH, This religious body was organized by Rev. Stephen Smith, of Philadelphia, October 26, 1845. The same year the congregation purchased the Church property on Second street, east of Market, for $700, at which location they have continued to worship for nearly forty years. At first, as with all Methodist Churches in this city, the body was supplied at times by circuit preachers, but gene- rally the services were conducted by local clergymen. In 1849^ Rev. Henry Davis was appointed the first regular pastor and was succeeded in 1850 by Rev. H. G. Young, who in turn was followed in 1853 by Rev. J. G. Bulah. In May, 1854, Rev. James Holland was assigned to the Church and was succeeded in 1 856 by Rev. Adam Driver, who was followed in 1858 by Rev. J. G. Bulah. In 1860, Rsv. J. G. Carrish was appointed, and in 1861, Rev. G. W, Johnson became pastor. The next year Rev. W. D. N. Schureman was assigned to the Church, and in 1863, Rev. Jeremiah Young was appointed pastor, and during his ministry the Church ws'.s rebuilt. He was followed in 1869 by Rev. G. Boyer,and in 1871 Rev. G. T. Waters became pastor. He was followed in 1874 by Rev. L. C. Chambers, and in 1877, Rev. T. Gould succeeded him. In 1879, 206 Historical Sketch of Chester. Rev. J. S. Thompson was assigned to the Church and in 1881, the present pastor, Rev. C. C. Felts, was appointed, and during his ministry the congregation puVchased a parsonage on Madison street, above Sixth. The Church has also sent out its mission body in the William Murphy Church, on Engle street, below Second, in Soiith Chester. That ( ihurch was named by Hon John M. Broomall, in commemoration of the active religious life work of Rev. William -Murphy, of this city, and the organization is in a flourishing con- dition. Its pastors since it was instituted are as follows : Revs G. W Warter, Jacob P Divis, Henderson Davis, John W. Davis and -John W. Norris. ' FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The Presbyi.erian residents of Chester, previous to 1850, often attended divine services at Leiper's Church, .in Ridley, but more frequently the Episcopal or Methodist Churches, both of which de- nominations had "a local habitation and a name" in the ancient Borough. In the fall of the year stated, the late Rev. James W. Dale, every Sunday afternoon, conducted divine services in the Court House, according to the Presbyterian formula, and continued to preach therein for more than a year. In 1851, I. E. Cochran, Sr., gave the lot, part of the land taken by him in partition of his' father's, (John Cochran, the elder,) estate, at the south-east corner of Fourth and Welsh streets, on which to build a Presbyterian Church, and he, together with the late Joseph H. Hinkson, contributed largely of their means towards the erection of the present edifice. Rev. Mr. Dale, who had also labored indomitably in its behalf, dedi- cated the Church, and in 1853 organized a congregation with seven- teen communicants. Mrs. Henrietta Mifflin Clyde, who died September 28, 1874, aged eighty-two years, was the last survivor. Robert Benedict was ordained as the first ruling elder. In the sanctuary since it was renovated, enlarged and adorned about eight years ago, the handsome stained glass memorial windows then placed in the church, in most cases bear the names of persons who Churches at Chester. 207 were anions its original founders. After it was organized, for two years Rev. J. 0. Stedman supplied the pulpit every Sunday. ' He was followed by Rev. George Vnn Wyck until 1856, when Rev. Alexander W. SprouU was called and installed as the first regula. pastor there. In 1873, the present pastor. Rev. Philip H. Movvry was cillerl, ini instillel December 11, of that year. CHESTER CITY PRESBYTERfAN CHURCH. The influx of population, west of the Thir 1 street bridge was par- ticularly noticeable after the establishment of Reaney's ship yard just previous to the breaking out of the Rebellion, and efforts were made by several gentlemen to organize a Sunday School for religious in- struction of the many children in that neighborhood. To that end a school was begun December 14, 1862, in the Academy building, now the Second street Grammar School, with John L. Entwisle,^ Superintendent; Joseph Hinkson, Assistant; and Abram R Perkins, Treasurer. The school thus founded grew speedily, and those in- strumental in its beginning soon determined to establish the Ches- ter City Presbyterian Church, to be located in the South Ward. The great difiiculty was in obtaining a suitable building, which im- pediment was overcome by the gift of a lot at the southeast corner of Third and Ulrich streets, by Reaney, So n & Archbold, upon which Thomas Reaney, who was warmly interested in the undertak- ing, built the present edifice at his personal cost. The Church was begun in the summer of 1865 and completed the following year. The furnishing and upholstering of the sanctuary was principally done at the joint expense of Mr. Perkins and Mr. Reaney. While the congregation was worshipping in the lecture room, the Church proper being unfin ished, an application was made to the Presbytery of Philadelphia for organization, and on February 15, 1866, the con- gregation elected John X. Miller and Peter G. Rambo, elders, who were thereupon ordained in those offices by a committee. appointed by Presbytery. February 25, 1866, the congregation called Rev. Martin P. Jones as pastor at a salary of $1000, and the committee 208 Historical Sketch of Chester. was empowered, at their discretion, to advance the sum to $1200 a year. He accepted the call and wasordained April 12, 1866. He remained in charge of the Church until January 1 , 1 869, he having tendered his resignation several months before. The Church was without a minister from that date until June 22 of the same jear, when jlev. Augustus T. Dobson, who had been called the 25th of the previous March, at a salary of $1500, was installed. The sub- sequent failure of the firm of Reaney, Son & Archbold crippled the Church greatly, but the earnest efforts of the congregation, in con- junction with the pastor, relieved it from its em harassment. John Henry Askin contributed $500, and Abram R. Perkins, $150. The congregation notified the pastor that, under the circumstances, his salary must be reduced to f 1 000 a year, and at that sum it con- tinued until he resigned in October, 1881. Rev. Thomas J. Aikin, the present pastor, was called December 6, 1881, and installed April 12, 1882. THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. This memorial church — it was built to commemorate the reunion of the old and new school Churches — is located at the southwest cor- ner of Twelfth and Upland streets. The lot was purchased in 1871, and the building was erected as a Mission Sunday School by the E'irst Presbyterian Church, but when the division in that congrega- tion took place, those who withdrew accepted the Sunday School building in unfinished condition, determining to constitute therein a Third Presbyterian Church, which was fully consummated October 16, 1872, with forty-two persons enrolled as members. The con- gregation, after it was organized worshiped in the chapel until July of the following year, when the western end of the building was re- moved and twenty-five additional feet added to its length. The lot and building had cost nearly $15,000. After the organization of the Church, Rev. Dr. Edwin W. Bower, of Lincoln University, offi- ciated as temporary minister until February 13, 1873, when Rev. Charles F. Thomas was unanimously elected to the pastorate. He ChvreJies at Xyster. :20J was mstalled ■ April 1-6, 1873, at a salary of fl^OO, which -wais sub- sequently increased by the congregation to $1800, but his health failin g he resigned February 20, 1878, Rev. Dr. Bower was called April 3, 1878, but he declined and the congregation. May 31th, of the same jear, called Eev. Thomas McCauley, the priesent pastor, at the same salary received by Mr. Thomas. Mr. McCauley accept- ed Oi!tob£r 1, and wjas installed the IQthjof ,the^ame jnnnth. C^^Q 210 Historicnl Sketch of Chester. MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS, PREVIOUS to the Revolution the Associators, a body of troops was riised in Ohsstar county, in 1748, to resist the depredations of French and Spanish privateers, which seems to have preserved its organization until the War of Independence, but it is hardly poss- ible at this late day to designate accurately the men from Chester who were members of the several companies. During the Whisky Insurrection, a troop of horsemen from Chester, commanded by William Grih im, joins 1 the forces under Governor Lee, of "Virginia, who was ordered by Washington to suppress that outbreak. In the war of 1812, the Delaware County Fencibles, commanded by Cap- tain James Serrill, and the Mifflin Guards, Captain Samuel Ander- son, volunteered for the war, but being sent, with other troops, in- to cantonment at Camp Dupont, to defend the Delaware from Ad- miral Cockburn and General Ross' threatened attack in the summer of 1814, they did not take active part in any engagement. The Delaware County Troop was organized during that war with Dr. Joseph Wilson, Captain, which continued under Captain Pearson Smith, Captain John Hinkson, and subsequently Captain Samuel M. Leiper, until 1836, when it was disbanded. The Delaware County Blues was raised during.'the war of 1812, and was encamp- ed at Marcus Hook under the command of Captain George Haw- kins, and afterwards by Captain George Litzenberg. ' It preserved its organization until 18.36, when it was disbanded. The Penn- sylvania Artillerists was organized about 1819 or 1820. Its first Captain was John James Richards, whose widow — an Anderson — died recently in the old family mansion on Fifth street. He held the office until his death, in 1822, when he was succeeded in com- Military Organizati-one. 211 mand by Joseph Weaver, Jr., then Williain Martin, Samuel A. Price, and finally John K. Zeilin. It was disbanded just previous to the Mexican War, in 1844 or '45. A Rifle Company was organized about 1822, with Henry Myers, Captain, and con- tinued until 1827, when it disbanded. From its fratMtients a new company — The Harmony Rangers — was formed, Caivtiin Jesse L. Green, commanding, who was succeeded by Captain Simon Leany. It was disbanded in 1842. In the late Civil War the record of the city of Chester and county of Delaware is most honorable. Of the troops that responded to the call of the Government I append the following resume: — April 29, 1861, the Union Blues, com- manded by Captain Henry B. Edwards, were mustered into the 9th Pennsylvania. Company K, of the 26th Pennsylvania, was re- cruited in this county and commanded by Captain William L. Grubb. The Delaware County Fusileers, Captain Simon Litzen- berg, became Company B, of the 124th Pennsylvania. Company E, 119th Regiment, was recruited and commanded by Captain Wil- liam C. Gray. The "Archy Dick Guards," Captain Wm. Cooper Talley, became Company F, 13th Pennsylvania Regiment, while Gideon's Band, Captain Norris L. Yarnall, became Company D, and the Delaware County Volunteers, Captain James Barton, Jr., became Company H, of .the same Regiment. The Slifer Phalanx, Captain Samuel A. Dyer, became Company F, of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserves or 13th of the line. In July, 1861, Captain W. L. Laws recruited a cavalry company which was mustered into service as Company I, 60th Regiment, 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry, William K. Grant being substituted as Captain. Besides these organizations there were emergency companies that responded previous to the battles of An- tietam and Gettysburg. "Chester Guards," Company K, 10th Pennsylvania Militia, Captain William R. Thatcher: Company B, 16th Regiment, "The Mechanic Rifles of Chester," Captain Jona- than Kershaw; "Delaware County Guard," Company D, 16th Penn- sylvania Militia, Captain John H. Barton; Company F, 16th Penn- sylvania Militia, Captain Joseph Wilcox; "Darby Rangers," Com- pany H, 16th Pennsylvania Militia, Captain John C. Andrews; Company A, 37th Pennsylvania Militia, Captain William Frick; Company A, 197th Pennsylvania Volunteers, or hundred-days' men, 212 Historical Sketch of Chester. Captain James Barton, Jr.; "Upland Volunteers," Captain George K. Crozer; Company C, Captain John M. Broomall;^ Company G, Captain Alfred Bunting,' Company H, Captain J. C. Andrews> Company I, Captain C. D. M. Broomhall, were all part of the 29tb Emergency Volunteer Regiment, and Company A, Captain William Prick; Company P, Captain Henry Huddleson, composed those numbers in the 37th Eegiment of ninety-days' militia, and were all recruited in Delaware County, and the ■ major part of them in the City of Chester. Among the ofBcers from this county who attained the command of regiments by promotion, were Brevet Brigadier General William Cooper Talley, Brevet Brigadier Gen- eral Charles L. Leiper, Colonel Samuel A. Dyer, Lieutenant Colonel William C. Gray, and Lieutenant Colonel Sinion Litzenberg. Jan. 29, 1867, Post "W ikle, No. 25, Grand Army of the Republic, composed of honorably discharged soldiers of the United States Army, wasorganized at Chester, and among its members are persons who are entitled to wear the stars of a Brigadier General and the gold and silver eagles of Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel, with many others who attained lesser grades in the military services of the country. The- Chester City Safeguards was the name of a colored company of militia,- organized in 1870, and commanded in succession by An- drew Johnson, Isaac B. Colwell, and Isaac Emory, until the com- pany, in the fall of 1872, was disbanded. September 12. 1872, Company A of the Gartside Rifle Battalion was organized with Captain Daniel Brown commanding. Captain Brown subsequently was appointed Major, and George F. Springer was elected Captain of Company A in his stead. Company B or- ganized March 19, 1873, Captain David S. Gwynn commanding, but he resigned, and the company elected William A. Todd as Cap- tain. The organization finally disbanded. In July, 1875, the Mor- ton Rifles, so called in honor o'f John Morton, the Signer of the Declaration of Independence, was organized with James Barton, Jr., as Captain, and in August, 1875, was mustered into the 11th Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania. Captain Barton was subsequently promoted aid to General Dobson, and Charles A. Story, Jr., was elected to the captaincy. Subsequently Captain Story resigned and John M. Householder was chosen to succeed Military Organizations. 213 him. During the riots of July, 1877, the company was ordered to Pittsburg, where it did good service, but was the next year mus- tered out. The Hartranft Rifles were organized January, 1876, by Captain Perry M. Washabaugh, and April 20, 1876, were mustered into service as Company B, 11th Regiment, and subsequently, af- ter the appointment of Captain Washabaugh to the staif of th6 Brigadier General connnanding the division, he was succeeded by Robert H. Wood, and followed by William H Williams. This compiny was also called into active duty during the Pittsburg riots, and was finally mustered out of service. Company A, llth Regiment, National Guards of Pennsylvania, was mustered into service Mnrch .30, 1881, with B, P. Morley, Cap- tain; Frank G. Sweeney, First ] ieutenant: and John J. Hare, Se- cond Lieutenant. The company soon showed such efficiency in drill, that when the State authorities consolidated the military force of the Commonwealth, that, although the youngest company in the State, by general order No. 11, July 8, 1881, the title of the company was changed to B, 6th Regiment, First Brigade, National Guards of Pennsylvania. In the summer of the same year a scheme was broached by Lieutenant Colonel Washabaugh towards erecting an armory, and to that end a charter was obtained, stock was taken by several prominent citizen, a lot, 60 feet in front by 120 feet in depth, was purchased, and an armory, after a design by P. A. Welsh, was built. The structure begun August 4, 1881, cost- ing, including land, about $15,000, is too recent to require fuller description here. Sufficient it is to say that the home of one of the best, if not the best drilled company in the service of the State, is an ornament and credit to our city. The building, located on the south side of Filth street, east of Crosby street, was opened on Tuesday, December 7, 1881, with a fair which lasted ten days and yielded several thousand dollars towards the liquidation of the debt of the armory company. The roll of Company B at the present time is as follows: Captain, Frank G. Sweeney; First Lieutenant, Edward D. Sparks; Second Lieutenant, James A. Campbell. Sergeants — First, William C. Gray; Second, George C. de Lan- noy; Third, J. Engle Baker; Fourth, T. Edward Clyde; Fifth, J. Frank Fairlamb. 214 Historical Sketch 'of Chester, Corporals — First, Horace P. Larkin; Second, D. Edwin Irving; Third, John A. Ladomus; Fourth, Harwell A. Cloud; Fifth, James Alexander Cochran; Sixth, William J Morgan; Seventh, Charles B. Ross; Eighth, S. Ulrich Ward. Privates — Milton M. Allen, James H. Birtwell, Theodore Blake- ley, W. Irving Babcock, Frank L. Brown, Alfred E. Hinkson, Lewis L. Hinkson, Carleton Y. James, Samuel A. Price, W. N. Sparks, Harry E. Wilson, David M. Unangst, S. Warren Barnes, William S. Broughton, Charles B. Carling, William H. Derbyshire, William J. Dickson, George C. Johnson, Henry T. Johnson, Ed- ward B. Kirkman, Matthew F. Ross, Anson Rawnsley, Garrett 6. Slawter, George C. Worrall, John M. B. Ward, Dean J. Deakyne, Frank B. Eddy, Ulysses S. Grant, Emil 0. Haas, George B. Min- nick, Robinson McCurdy, Henry S. Mcllvain, William H. Schure- man, George B. Smedley, Horace F. Temple, Robert P. Wilson, William H. Lodge, Edward A. Price, Arthur G. Rose. Newspapers of Chester. 215 NOTES RBSPFXTING NEWSPAPERS OF CHESTER. PERHAPS there is not a town of like population in this Com» monwealth which can show as many newspapers born and died therein, as will be found in the annals of Chester. The earliest publication was the Post Boy. It was a weekly folio, 154 by 94 inch's in size, and an inspectionof its columns show how little atten- tion was at that time given to passing events in the immediate neigh- borhood. It was published by Butler & Worthington, November 19, 1817, and so continued until the latter part of the year 1824, when Butler sold his interest to Eliphalet B. Worthington, who continued its issue until 1826, when he transferred it to Joseph M. C. Lescure, who, after his purchase, changed the title to the Up- land Union, and increased the size of the paper. Mr. Lescure con- tinued its publication under the last name until 1838, with indif- ferent success, when he sold it to Joseph Williams and Charles T. (loates. The newspaper enterprise, however, proving unremunera- tive, its proprietor sold it to Alexander Nesbit, and he in turn dis- posed of it to Alexander MacKeever, who continued its publication until 1852, when he discontinued it. His son, Samuel A. Mac- Keever, was atterwards connected with the press of the city of New York, and in 1874 published, in connection with James B. Mix, "The New York Tombs," a highly colored, and in several in- stances inaccurate, story of that celebrated prison and the noted criminals who had been confined therein. During the exciting Presidential campaign of 1828, when so many aspirants were struggling for the executive honorsj William 2 16 Historical, Sketch of Chester. Kussell began the publication of The Weekly Visitoi-, and Strange N. Palmer was employed to edit it in the interest of the opponents of the Democratic party, to which political organization the Upland Union gave earnest support The owner and editor of the new organ disagreed in their views, which difficulty terminated by a sale of the establishment to thirty gentlemen, warm advocates of John Quincy Adams, Palmer being still retained to edit the paper. The fact being noised abroad, the Upland Union dubbed its opponent ''The Son of Many Fathers," and predicted its early demise. In that prognostication it was right, for at the close of the campaign it was sold to Thomas Eastman, who continued it, and it languished until 1832, when it died. The printing office was purchased by Young Singleton Walter in the following year, who removed the material to Darby, where, on August 31, 1833, he issued the first number of THE DELAWARE COUNTY REPUBLICAN. Under Harrison's administration Mr. Walter was appointed Cus- tom House officer at Marcus Hook, and continued in that position under Tyler until the latter's course became so obnoxious to the Vt'higs that Mr. Walter resigned. In November, 1841, he remov- ed his printing office to Chester, where he continued the publica- tion of the Republican until his death, May 22, 1882. During the fifty years he was its editor it grew in size until it became almost four times as large as when first issued. Mr. Walter was Post- . master under Lincoln's first administration, member of the As- -sembly for two terms, from 1877 to 1879, and was a member of Council, both Borough and city, and during the years 1874 and 1875 was President of the latter body. September 1, 1882, The Delaware County Republican was sold to Ward R. Bliss, under whose management the oldest paper in the county gives signs of increased enterprise and enlarged activity. DELAWARE COUNTY DEMOCRAT. In 1835, Caleb Pierce established a weekly newspaper under the above title in advocacy of Mr. Muhlenberg's candidacy as Governor, Newspapers of Chester. 21 7 but it was short lived. In October, 1856, John G. Michelon began the publication of a weekly called the Upland Union and Delaware County Democi'al, and its life was also but a span. October 5, 1867, the Delaware County Democrat was established by D. U. Overholt, whose interest was shortly afterwards purchased by Dr. J. L. PoBwood, who continued the publication of the paper until the fall of 1871, when he sold it to Colonel William Cooper Talley. Early in 1876 John B McCay purchased it, but shortly afterwards sold it to William Orr, who at the time was publishing the Demo- cratic Pilot, a paper which had been started in 1872, and had died and been resurrected several times The papers were merged into one, and were sold by the Sheriff, on an execution against Orr, to Dr. Forwood, in 1878, who in turn sold it to William A. Gwynne. The latter, in Aiigust, 1879, disposed of his interest to Henry Fry- singer, who issued the first paper under his editorial change, Sep- tember 4, 1879. At the time Mr. Frysinger purchased the Demo- crat it had less than 250 bonajlde subscribers and only a nominal advertising patronage. It was purchased for the estimated value 0:f the printing materials belonging to the office, the good will be- ing considered valueless. The energy, enterprise and talent which Mr. BVysinger devoted to his paper has made it a remunerative and valuable property, and its circulation has very largely increased. Being the only Democratic newspaper in the county, the field for extending its circulation is yet both broad and inviting. DELAWAEE COUNTY ADVOCATE. John Spencer and Dr. William Taylor, on October 27, 1866, issued TJie Chester Advertiser, a weekly advertising publication, which was continued for more than a year, when it was suspended. John Spencer subsequently, July 16, 1868, began the publi- cation of The Chester Advocate, at first a gratuitous sheet, the ad- vertisements it contained paying fJ3r its circulation. The paper was so well conducted and its reading matter so well selected, that it soon made a permanent lodgment in public regard, and from time to time it was enlarged, a subscription of fifty cents and after- wards a dollar a year being charged, until it is now a folio sheet, 218 Historical, Sketch of Chester. I- 31 by 45 inches in size. It has won its way to popularity by its intrinsic merit, and has become one of the best weekly newspaper properties in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. CHESTER EVENING NEWS. Saturday, June 1, 1872, the first number of the Evening Newn was issued by F. Stanhope Hill, as editor and proprietor. It was a folio sheet, 18 by 25. The title of the paper was changed June 17th, of the same year, to Chester Evening News. The first month •of its publication the venture was regarded by the inhabitants of the city in no kindly spirit, and many were the prognostications of ul- timate failure, but by degrees it won its way in public favor. Mr. Hill, however, October 1, 1872, sold his interest to William A. Todd, and the latter continued its publication until his death, Au- gust 18, 1879, when it was purchased by William H. Bowen, Oliver Troth and Charles D. Williamson. During Mr. Todd's ownership the circulation had so increased that he was compelled to twice en- large the presses to meet the growing popular demand. The new owners assumed the conduct of the paper September 29th, of the same year, and immediately after enlarged it by an addition of two inches to the columns. Mr. Williamson did not take an active part in editing the paper until nearly a year subsequent to its purchase] and in less than twelve months after he began work in the office as city editor, he died, and his interest was purchased by the surviv- ing partners. November 4, 1880, the News was again enlarged by an addition of another column to each page, and to meet the steadi- ly increasing circulation its proprietors have twice been compelled to add new presses of enlarged capacity and speed. •CHESTER DAILY TIMES. Major John Hodgson, who had established the Jeffersoniqm, in West Chester, having sold that paper to the present proprietor, came to Chester in the Summer of 1876, and in September of that year issued the first number of the Chester Daily Times — the second Ncinspoprr.t of Chpster. 219 daily afternoon paper published in Chester. Mr. Hodgson con- tinued as its editor until his failinc; health compelled him to sell it, and March 7, 1877, J. Craig, Jr., who had been on the edicorial staff since its first issue, purchased the paper. He managed it quite successfully, displaying considerable ability and enterprise in its conduct. On October 20th, of the same year, Mr. Craig sold the Times to John Spencer, the proprietor of The Delaware County Advocate. The new owner enlnrged the paper from five to six col- umns and otherwise improved it. He continue-l its publication un- til April ]ft, 1882, when he sold it to "The Times Publishing Com- pany," its present owner. The latter had purchased The Delaware County Giizetie, which, under the title of TM Delaware County Pa- per, had been established, in 1876, by Col. William C. Gray, and subsequently passed into the ownership of John McFeeters; then Major T). R. B. Nevin, who changed its name to the Gazette, and finally of A. Donath. The Times, under its new proprietors, has increased its circulation largely, is enterprising and fearless in the expression of its views and opinions on topics of public interest. THE WEEKLY EEPOETEE is an octavo publication, advertising legal notices, and reporting in full the opinions of the Courts of Delaware County, and was es- tablished March 31, 1881, by Ward R. Bliss, Esq. Mr. Bliss has continued The Weekly Reporter with marked ability and the pages of the work, when bound, will be an essential addition to the library of every lawyer in the county, and useful as well in that of every attorney in the State. THE CHE8TEB BUSINESS MIEROB. In 1882, The Chester Business Mirror, a monthly advertising pa- per, was published by Edward Prysinger, and is now well es- tablished. 220 Historical Sketch of Chester. In 1843, Edward E. Flavill and Mr. Jackson published Thk Chariot, an advocate of the cause of temperance, but it was short- ly after discontinued^ Semi occasionally, in 1848, a small folio, The Owl, was issued in Chester and circulated at night It was very personal in its articles, and although many of its jibes and hits are pointless now, at the time of its publication it caused much excitement in the ancient Borough. In May, 1850, S. E. Cohen began the publication of the Ohes,- TER Herald, issuing it monthly, subsequently changing it to a weekly sheet, and finally discontinued it. In 1857, The Evenino Star, a literary paper, made its appear-- ance under the auspices of the Washington Literary Society, but as with many similar publications, interest in it abated and it was abandoned. In 1869, H. Y. Arnold and Wilmer W. James began the publica-^ tion of a weekly advertising sheet. The Independent. Mr. Arnold soon after withdrew and it was continued by Messrs. James & Shields until 1874, when it was discontinued. The Delawa,re County Mall was established November 27, 1872, by Joseph T. DeSilver & Co. November 27, 1876, it was sold to the proprietors of the Delaware County Paper, and merged into the latter publication. The Public Press was issued May 3,i 1876, by Thomas Higgins and Robert Simpson, but its publication was suspended during the same year. Educational InsHMions. 221 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF CHESTER. IT IS impossible in our space to give any extended notice of the Pjiblic Schools of Chester. The first movement in the direc- tion •of free public institutions we notice about the niiddie of the last Century, when a lot ou the east side of Edgmont Avenue, south of Fourth street, was conveyed to certain persons to erect thereon a free school for Friends' children, which was never done. In 1769, Joseph Hoskins gave a lot of ground, at the southeast corner of Fifth and Welsh streets, for a free school, aud contributed large- ly of his means, in 1770, toward the building itself. This was the starting point of our present system of free public instruction, and it was a most praiseworthy act in the present Board of School Di- rectors of this city that in the year 1882, when putting up a new building, at Fifth and Welsh streets, for the use of the Superinten- dent, with school-rooms on the second floor, they recognized the noble act of Joseph Hoskins, who, almost forgotten, had slumbered for more than a century in Friends' Graveyard, by designating the new structure, " Joseph Hoskins School." The registration of scholars in the Public Schools of Chester, at the date of this publication, is .2,239, and the number of school houses are as follows. North Ward — Eleventh and Madison streets, I; Morton Avenue, 2. Middle Ward — Fifth and Welsh streets, 3. South Ward — Second street, 1; Franklin street, 1; Patterson street, 1; Howell street, 1. Total, 10. The corps of teachei^ are ex- cellent, the examination of applicants for position as instructors is -very thorough, and the general average of education imparted to 222 Historical Sketch of Chester. the pupil will compare favorably with that of any city in the coun- try. The prad nates of the Thcster High School are as carefully taught as in most Academies in the land — the Universities excepted — and tlie system of opening the hiphcr branches of education to both the sexes has resukci most advantageously. The present faculty of the High School is: — Principal, Emma J. Hahn; Assistant Jennie Mcl>aren and Frederica B. Gladwin. The whole system and working of the I'ublic Schools of our city is under the intelli- gent care and supervision of Prof. Charles P. Poster, who is advo- cating constantly needed improvements to enlarge the usefulness of our public schools, thus yearly adding to the opportunities of the rising generation to become scholarly at little or no personal ex- pense to themselves or families. THE PENNSYLVANIA MILITARY ACADEMY. By Act of Assembly, April 8, 1862, the Pennsylvania Military Academy was incorporated as a university under the title "Chester t.'ounty Military Academy," and was located at West Chester, with Col. Theodore Hyatt, as its President, where it soon became noted as an institution of learning. Founded during the Rebellion it made a special feature of military instruction,' and to the forces of the United States, in the Civil War, it contributed many officers from its roll of students. When Lee's array invaded the State, the battery of the A cademy, manned by cadets of the institution and citizens of West Chester was in service for two months and was commended by the authorities After the close of the war, the Crozer Normal School, which had been used by the government as a hospital, was vacated by the United States, and as the accommo- dations were superior to those of the building occupied by the in- stitution at Westchester, Col. Hyatt leased the premises and moved here in December, 1 865. The Pennsylvania .M ilitary Academy at its new location grew rapidly in public favor and so largely did the num- ber of students become that it was necessary to erect a building especially calculated for the accommodation of the cadets. In 1867 Educational IhslUutions. 223 the institution conferred its first degrees on its graduates, and in September, 1868, the building having been completed in the mean- while, the Academy occupied its new quarters, to the northeast of the city, a land mark, presenting a prominent appearance when viewed from the north or east in approaching Chester, and especial- ly from the Delaware ^iver. In its new building the Academy, in September, 1868, accommodated 150 cadets and officers. On the afternoon of February 16, 1882, the main edifice was entirely destroyed by fire, the origin of which is unknown, although the flames were first discovered in the laboratory, then located in the upper story. All attempts to arrest the confligra- tion proved fruitless, but amid the utmost excitement of the popu- lace the military discipline of the cadets showed conspicuously. As soon as it was recognized that every effort to subdue the flames was useless, the latter promptly and without confusion, rendered most efficient aid in removing personal property from the burning building, and after it was taken out, guarded it in a heavy rain fall, until the police authorities relieved them from that duty. The good services of the cadets, on that occasion, kept the way clear for the firemeii, to whom no praise is too flattering, and permitted them to do, as they did, most efficient work. After the destruc- tion of the Academy, in twenty days subsequently the term was re- sumed temporarily at Ridley Park. The stockholders, as soon as the losses were adjusted by the Insurance Companies, began the erec- tion of a new building. The main structure is 270 feet long, 50 feet in depth, four stories in height, surmounted with a dome which towers many feet above all, presenting a view therefrom unequalled in the county. The building, which was completed ready for oc- cupancy, September 13, 1882, is divided by fire walls, and is be- lieved to be as nearly fireproof as it is possible to render it, while in a sanitary point, as well as in respect to the accommodation to secure the comfort and convenience of its inmates, the new Acade- my structure is most admirably planned. A laboratory, at some distance from the main edifice, is an ornate and well arranged build- ing, sufficiently removed to render it improbable that any fire which might occur therein could seriously endanger the Military Acade- my proper. The present Academic staff is composed as follows: Col. Theodore Hyatt, President and Professor of Greek; Capt. 224 Wstoriml Sketch of Chester. Charles E. Hyatt, Vice President, Professor of Rhetoric and Elo- cution; Capt. R. Kelso (.)arter, Professor of Mathematics and Civil Engineering; Lieut. William P. Duvail, U. S. A., Professor of Military Science and Mathematics; Lieut. Emile L. Feffer, Pro- fessor of French, German, Spanish, Latin and Greek; Capt. Ben- jamin F. Morely, Professor of Chemistry, Physics and Tactics; Ed- mund Morris Kyde, Professor of Latin, Greek and English Litera- ture; John R. Sweney, Professor of Music; C. S. Fahnestock, Pro- fessor of Penmanship, Drawing and English Branches; William B. Ulrich, M. D., Lecturer on Hygienics; Frederick E Powell, Pro- fessor of Mathematics and English Branches; Edgar P. Hershey, Instructor of English Branches. CHESTER ACADEMY. This institution of 'learninir, locate! at the southwest corner of Broad and Potter streets, was founded, in 1S62, by Charles W. Deans, who had just previous to that date beert Superintendent of the Public Schools of Delaware county. It was then known as the Chester Academy and Normal School. In 1865, Professor George Gilbert,' then of Philadelphia, purchased Mr. Deans' interest in the Academy, including the school furniture, and at once reorganized the institution,, enlarged the accommodations, thoroughly revised and advanced the course of study, and employed additional teachers. The reputation of the Academy steadily advanced, and in 1871, six years after he became Principal of the institution, Prof. Gilbert purchased both the school buildin<; and the residence to the east. The aim of the school, is to afford facilities for students preparing for college, teaching or for general business, to acquire practical education and to direct them in the course of study necessary to successfully qualify them for the occupations in life which they may select. The present faculty of the Academy comprises George Gilbert, Principal, Instructor in Latin, Greek and the Higher Mathematics; M. Louisa Clancy, Music, French and Literature; Mrs. T. M., Gilbert, Writing, Drawing and History; S. Alice Lees, I ■*. ••juinZi '■ ^, KXi Xj 1 ■ Educational InsUtUtions. 225 Primary Department; Addie'H. Pyle and Sallie E. Beale, English Branches. The pupilage is about one hundred. CROZER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. Just beyond the incorporated limits of the city of Chester, to the northwest, is located the institution of learning which was es- tablished by the Crozer family, of Upland, in 1 868, as a memorial of their father the late John P. Crozer. In 1857, Mr. Crozer had begun the erection of the present main building, at a cost of $45,000, with the intention of locating there a normal school, and in Sep- tember of the following year it was formally opened as an academy of the higher grades of intellectual training, and as such was con- tinued for several years. The war storm having burst with fury on the country, early in June, 1862, Mr. Oozer tendered, without charge, to the United States, the building as a hospital, conditioned only that it should be returned to him after it was no longer required, in as good con- dition as when he placeil it at the disposal of the government. The- offer was accepted, the necessary changes in the building made, and on June 18, 1862, Dr. George K. Wood, formerly an Assistant Surgeon in the Regular Army, was appointed Surgeon-in-Charge of the hospital. As soon as it was ascertained that a hospital would be established there, on the date last mentioned, a number of ladies organized a society known as "The Soldiers' Relief Association," of which Mrs. Samuel A. Crozer was First Directress; Mrs. Abby Kerlin, Assistant Directress; Mrs. Samuel Arthur, Secretary; Mrs. J. Lewis Crozer, Assistant Secretary; Mrs. John P. Crozer, Treasu- rer, with a Directress in every township in the county. For some time the sick, disabled and dying soldiers in this hospital were sup- plied with all the delicacies and luxuries so necessary to tempt the appetite and assuage the anguish of the inmates of that house of bodily suflFering. One patient was admitted July 17, 1862, and on the 29th of the same month the steamer "State of Maine" arrived here with two hundred and twenty-three sick and wounded Union 226 Historical Sketch of Chester. soldiers on board, who had been captured in the Seven Days' Fight before llichmond, and had just been exchanged. The building con- tained nearly a thousand beds, but so great was the demand made upgn the hospital that thirteen hundred persons, including patients, surgeons, attendants and guards, were gathered within its walls. Until the 14th of July, 1863, the hospital was used almost exclusi- vely for wounded Union soldiers, but after the Battle of Gettys- burg, the Confederate wounded, left on the field by Gen. Lee, in his retreat, were so many that the Government was compelled to designate a certain hospital &r the reception of the Rebels, and the one at Chester was selected for that purpose. In July, 1862, Kev. John Pinckney Hammond, a brother of Sur- geon General Hammond, and at the time rector of St. Paul's Church, Chester, was appointed Chaplain of the hospital. A most unfortunate selection which was accepted with disapprobation by almost all the then residents of Chester, where he was extremely unpopular with his parishoners and the public generally, and ulti- mately caused much diflSculty in the working of the auxiliary bodies connected with the hospital. In addition to this, July 14, 1862, Dr. J. L. Le Conte, the noted entomogloist, was appointed to suc- ceed Dr. Wood, and if any thing, a more disastrous selection than Mr. Hammond's, but combined with the latter, was prodigal of evil. The most absurd rules were adopted and enforced respecting vis- itations to the Hospital, which largely obstructed the unselfish and earnest work of the ladies of "The Soldiers Eelief Association," while returning nothing in exchange for the hindrance offered. Petitions for the removal of these obnoxious officers were presented to the appointing power, and at last they were removed in the fall of 1862, but not until Hon. John M. Brooniall, the then member of Congress, had repetedly demanded such action. Dr. Eben Smith ■succeeded Dr. Le Conte. After the Hospital was set apart for the reception of Confede- rate wounded, a picket fence, twelve feet in height was built sur- rounding the grounds, and guards were stationed to prevent the escape of convalesent prisoners of war. Notwithstanding the vigi- lance of the authorities, one dark stormy night in August, 1863, Captain Edward Shay, of the 16th Mississippi Regiment, and Lieu- tenant Davis, of Gen. Trimble's Staff, evaded the guard and escaped. Educational Institutions. 227 The Hospital furnished accommodation for more than six thousand wounded soldiers, and many men to-day, North and South, remem- ber with grateful hearts the kindness they received while inmates of the Hospital at Chester. While located here Dr. Blwood Harvey was Assistant Surgeon from July, 1 862, to September of the same year; Dr. F. Ridgely Graham from October, 1862, to June, 1863, and Dr J. L. Forwood from July 21, 1863. Dr. Charles J. Morton was also Assistant Surgeon. At the conclusion of the war, in 186.'i, the building was returned to its owner, and in December of the same year. Col. Theodore Hyatt leased the property until the summer vacation of 1868. John P. Crozer, having died March 11, 1866, as soon as the Pennsylvania Military Academy had vacated the building, the Crozer family, as a memorial of their father, as before stated, determined to set it apart as a Theological Seminary, (Baptist.) The Seminary has, beside the land and buildings, an Endowment Fund of $250,900, so judiciously invested that the interest there- from meets fully the ordinary expenses of the Institution. There is also a lecture fund of $10,000, the interest of which is applied to defraying the cost of lectures on subjects not directly appertain- ing to the educational course. The Crozer family recently gave $50,000 to endow a professorship, as a memorial of their mother, the late Mrs. Sallie K. Crozer. Connected with the Seminary is "Pearl Hall," founded by William Bucknell, in memory of his late wife, Margaret, daughter of John P. Crozer, and the name it bears — Pearl — is the signification of Margaret in the Latin tongue. Mr. Bucknell's gift, including the sum expended in the structure and books, amounted to $50,000. The building, a Greek cross, is of serpentine stone; the floor of the main appartment laid in tiles, and is admirably arranged for the purposes of the library, which compri- ses about ten thousand volumes, a large number being works of re- ference, but in the collection are many early printed and scarce books. In a few instances the only known copies of several theo- logical treatises extant are to be found in this library. The Seminary building is of brick stuccoed, two hundred feet in length, forty in width and three stories in height, with basement. Prom the rear of the building is an addition, forty feet wide and fifty feet in length, at right angles to the main structure. The 228 Historical Sketch of Chester. present faculty consist of Rev. Henry G. Weston, D. D., President and Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Duties; Rev. George R. Bliss, D. D., LL. D., Professor of Biblical Interpretation; Rev. John C. Long, D. D., Professor of Church History; Rev. Elias H. Johnson, D. D., Professor of Christian Theology; Rev. James M. StiiBer, D. D., Professor of New Testament Exegesis, and Rev. Barnard C. Taylor, A. M., Assistant Professor of Biblical In- terpretation. 'The Pusey House- 229 THE PUSEY HOUSE AT UPLAND. THE OLDEST BUILDING STANDING IN THE COMMON- WEALTH. THE oldest building standing intact in the State of Pennsylvania is the Pusey bouse, at Upland, which is preserved by the Crozer family as a sacred relic connecting the olden times of the province with the active progressive present. The structure, which is on the north side of the mill race, to the west of the road leading to the bridge spanning Chester creek, faces to the south and is about thirty feet in length, fifteen feet in breadth, and one story in height, crowned with a hipped roof, which gives to it the appear- ance of being a story and a half building. The walls, which are noticeable in their thickness, are ot stone and brick, while the floor is of broad'^soHd oak planking. The brick part of the old •wall was evidently put there to take the place of stones which be- came loose and fell out of position, a fact strongly supported by an inspection of the inner side, which shows no bricks at all. The bricks in the eastern gable were placed there, it is said, after Ches- ter Mills had become the property of Samuel Shaw , when he re- paired the structure. The idea which prevails among many of our people that bricks in old dwellings in this Borough were of Eng- lish make, is entirely erroneous, for not two years after Penn's first coming, in a lease made by Robert Wade, of the Essex House, to Robert Goforth, dated March 12, 1684, part of the property leased is described as abutting on the old brick kiln, near Chester creek. In 1879, J. C. & W. G. Price, while having clay dug on the lot at the northeast corner of Concord Avenue and Sixth street, uncover- 230 Historical Sketch of Chester. ed the bottom of au old kilu, respecting which the oldest resident could give no information. The lease mentioned, however, effec- tually designates the locality where the ancient remains of former days was unearthed as the site of the old brick yard. The house has two doors and two windows in the front, while a dormer window is in the roof, and the roof itself has been several times renewed. A dwarfed doorway gives admission to the room, with low ceilings and the heavy beams supporting the floor above, still disclosing the- marks of the broad axe which, two centuries ago, hewed the felled timber into form, and to the left of the room is a step-ladder, enclosed in a rude gangway, giving access to the apartments overhead. There is the old wide-mouthed fire-place (now enclosed), before whose hearth — whereon the ruddy flames flared and flickered two centuries ago — the founder of a great Com- monwealth and bis trusty friend and agent, Pusey, sat discussing the prospects of their business enterprise, or laying plans for the future welfare of the colony. If it be correct that Caleb Pusey made the noted visit to the Indian town in 1688 (see page 25}, when the Province was startled from its propriety by the rumor that the aborigines were about to begin hostilities and massacre the whites, then, indeed, it is true, that "Caleb Pusey, going out unarmed into the forest to meet a threatened attack of the sav- ages, is a more heroic figure than blustering Miles Standish, gurt with the sword he fought with in Flanders." To the left of the fire-place, within easy reach, still remains the deep square hole in the wall which the early settlers frequently made in their dwel- lings, as a sort of tobacco pouch, so that the consolation which comes with smoke should be always close at hand and accessible to their guests and to themselves. It is hardly necessary, at this day, to correct the impression con- veyed by Richard Townsend, in "Proud's History," or the direct statement of Stephen Day in his "Historical Collections of Penn- sylvania," that Eichard Townsend "erected the dwelling for the accommodation of his family whilfe he was tending the first mill erected in the Province." The first mill was not erected on Ches- ter creek, but, nevertheless, it may not be inappropriate to tell the story of the old Chester Mills, and, so far as I can, correct the er- roneous impression which has gone abroad as to the Pusey house. Ihe Pusey House. 231 Previous to the departure of William Penn from England, in 1682, he entered into a verbal co-partnership with Philip Ford, John Bellars, Daniel Worley, Daniel Quare, John Barker, Richard Townsend, John Bickley, Thomas Burberry and Caleb Pusey, all at that time in England, and it was agreed among them to erect one or more water mills, to the cost of which they were to contri- bute in proportionate shares, for the agreement among themselves partook of the nature of a stock company, and each party received the interest in the venture in proportion to the amount contributed. Caleb Pusey was appointed agent and manager of the "said joint concern." The land on which the house stands was never owned by Townsend, but was patented to Caleb Pusey, 4th mo. 7th, 1684. The tract on which the mill was erected was patented to Pusey, "for the use of the mill," 2d mo. 5th, 1690. Many of the partners in the enterprise never came to the Province. The mill itself, ready framed, was brought over in the "Welcome," and Penn, we are told by Hon. Joseph J. Lewis, m his sketches ot Chester coun- ty, was present when the first dam was made. It is documentary evidence, in an old deed, dated December 19, 1705, now owned by the Crozer family, that in 1683, Caleb Pusey, "with the advice of the sd Proprietary and such others of the said partners as there were in the Province," erected a "corn mill on Chester creek, near his new dwelling house," which mill, with the dam belonging to it, were soon carried away by the flood. Caleb Pusey afterwards, by advice of Penn and "ye other partner that was here," (doubt- less Richard Townsend) erected a little above where the first mill stood, another grist and saw mill upon part of the twenty acres patented for the use of the mill at the cost of the firm. The se- cond dam was in turn swept away by- flood, and he erected a third dam at the distance of a mile beyond where the others were located, and constructed a race to convey the water to the mill. The expenses attending these constant repairs were so great that the outlay far exceeded the earnings of the mill, and Pusey bor- rowed money from time to time from Robert Turner to pay for the improvements. The partners refusing, with the exception of Penn and Pusey — Richard Townsend had sold his interest to Pusey se- veral years before — to pay their proportions of the costs, suit was brought by Turner for .£390, 8s, 7d half-penny. Judgment was 232 Historical Sketch of Chester. entered in his favor, June 14, 1692, and the Coroner, Jacob Sim- cock — Pusey was at the time Sheriff of the county and interested in the case— was required to sell the estate in payment of the judgment. The property was a'sessed at ^£550. It was offered at Sheriff's sale, but found no buyers, and on September 13, 1692, the Coroner sold the interest of the delinquent parties to Robert Tur- ner at the appraisement, and the latter sold his interest to Samuel Carpenter, who, for thirteen years, until December 19, 1705, was a partner with Penn and Pusey, in the milling business. Doubtless- when repairs were made to the mill, in 1699, the rude iron vane bearing the initials- W. P., (William Penn,) S. C., (Samuel Carpen- ter,) C. P., (Caleb Pusey,) and the date, 1699, was placed on the building. When Richard Flower owned the property, the old vane surmounted the dwelling house of the owner, but on gusty nights turning in the wind it squeaked and groaned so noisily that it was taken down. In 1870, Reese W. Flower presented it to the His- torical Society of Pennsylvania, and it now points the wind on that building, although so added to and gilded that those who remem- ber it as it was in Upland would hardly recognize it now. In 1705, Carpenter sold his interest to Pusey, and the property subsequently had several owners, while the interest of Penn seems to have become a charge on the land, which was recognized until the War uf the Revolution extinguished the title of the "Chief Lords of the Fee " About 1745, the old mill having been almost destroyed by an accidental fire, a new stone mill was built by Jo- seph Pennell, the then owner of the property and the grandfather of John P. Crozer, who was a builder, worked on the structure, which stood, I think, until 1858, when it in turn was destroyed by an accidental fire. The dam breast was built in 1752, by Samuel Shaw while he was owner orthe property. Too much credit cannot be accorded to the Crozer family for the care they have taken in preserving this old relic — the Pusey house — from the ravages of time. Many years ago the building was used as a school house by Mrs. Warren Dixon, but at the present time it is inhabited by a colored family, rent free, on condition that they shall protect the premises from the vandalism of relic hunters. WILLIAM PE^ [From Portrait in N CELEBRATION OF THE --^BI-CENTENARY2- OF TSS LANDING OF WILLIAM PENN, AT UPLAND, (NOW CHESTER,) OCTOBER 28, 1682. Preliminary Work of the General Committee. 235 PRELIMINARY WORK OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE. THE idea of celebrating the Bi-Centennial Anniversary of the landing of William Penn, the Founder of this Commonwealth, had been for some time a subject of interest to its citizens, but it was not until the early spring of 1 882, that it took definite shape. The actual time of the landing is somewhat in doubt. We know that the "good ship, Welcome, Kobert Greenaway, Master," which brought Penn and his associates to this country, sighted the Capes of the Delaware, about the 24th of October, 1682. We know that Penn landed at New Castle on the 27th, and that he was there on the morning of the 28th and in Upland — now Chester — on the 29th. Whether he arrived here on theevenin'g of the 28th, or the morning of the 29th is uncertain, the bala,nce of evidence being slightly in favor of the latter. That he was here on the 29th of October, S., we are certain, for the letters, /ac similes of which are given in this volume, were dated here on that day. The 29th of October,* 0. S., 1682, may, therefore, be fairly accepted as the actual an- niversary of his landing at Upland, in the absence of more conclu- sive evidence, and the 8th of November, N. S., 1882, in fact com- pleted the two hundredth year since the landing and should have been the day selected for the Celebration here. As will be seen, however, Chester had no voice in this matter, the date being fixed by the State Bi-Centennial Association. On April 4, 1882, C. W. Alexander, Secretary of the State Bi-Centennial Association, visited our city and' conferred with Mayor James Barton, Jr., and a few citizens, and on June 12, *In this opinion of Mr. Johnson's, Mr. Ashmead does not concur. 236 Historical Sketch of Chester. 1882, a formal call was issued by a 'Committee, consisting of James Earton, Jr., Mayor; H. B. Black, President of ('oiincil; D. M. John- son, Frank S. Baker, Isaiah H. Mirkil and Richard Miller, for a meeting of citizens to consider the part which Chester should take in the proposed celebration. The call was as follows: To the citizens of Ck-ester and vicinity ; The Bi-Centennial Associntion of Pennsylvania have fixed upon the week commen- cing October 22, 1882, for the general celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Commonwealth by William Penn, and have outlined a programme of exercises as follows : Sunday, October 22. introductory religious services appropriate to the event throughout the State ; Monday, October 23, tormal opening of the ceremonies of the week and celebration at Chester ; October 24, 25., 26, and 27, are set apart for pro- cessions, trades' displays, musical festivals, parades, &c., in the city of Philadelphia. The Executive Committee of the said Associaton are looking to the people of Ches- ter and vicinity to arrange and perfect plans for the suitable observance of the 23rd, to which the said committee will lend its co-operation. The undersigned were constituted a committee by the Council of Chester to take this subject into consideration, and they, after deliberation, deem it most important first that a public meeting of citizens should be called for the purpose of devising the best means of carrying out the designs of the State Committee, so far as they relate to the celebration in this city. We, therefore, invite you to assemble for that purpose in the City Hall, on the isth inst., at 7.30, P. M. The following gentlemen have been invited and are expected to be present : Hon. John M. Broomall, Hon. Wm. Ward, Hon. Washington Townsend, Hon Thomas J. Clayton, Hon. J. Smith Futhey, Robert E. Monaghan, Esq., Samuel A. Crozer, John Roach, Samuel Riddle, John B. Rhodes, Esq., Ex-Mayor Larkin, Ex-Mayor Forwood, Dr. Elwood Harvey and A. Lewis Smith, Esq. C. W. Alexander, Secre- tary, Alexander P. Colesbury, Manager, and Thomas M. Thompson, of the Bi-Ccn- tennial Committee of Philadelphia, will be present. JAMES BARTON, JR., Mayor. H.~B. BLACK, President of Council. D. M. JOHNSON, FRANK S. BAKER, ISAIAH H. MIRKIL, RICHARD MILLER, Chester, Jane $th, 1882. Committee, - On the evening of the 1.5th about a hundred of the prominent citizens of the place met at the City Hall, and on motion of H. B. Black, Mayor Bafton was chosen Chairman, Messrs. J. L. Forwood, M. D., H. B. Black, R. P. Mercer, M. D., and William Appleby, Vice-Presidents, and J. Craig, Jr., William Shaler Johnson and Edmund Jones, Esq., Secretaries. Preliminary Work of the Geveral Committfc. 237 Speeches were then made by Alexander P. Colesbury, General Manager; Clifford P. McCalla, Corresponding Secretary and Thomas M. Thompson, Manager of the Civic Display, all of the State As- sociation and by Ex-Mayor J. L. Porwood and others, and letters of regret from C. W. Alexander, of Philadelphia ; John B. Koach, of Chester, and Hon. Washington Townsend and R. E. Monaghan, of West Chester, were read. The following resolutions were then offered by D. M. Johnson, Esq., and unanimously adopted : "Resolved, That this meeting deem it advisable that the two hundredth anniver- sary of the landing of William Penn in Chester, should be observed and celebrated with appropriate ceremonies, and that the proposed celebration shall take place on the 23d of October next. "Resolved, That a Committee of persons be appointed by the Chairman of this meeting which Committee shall have full power to collect and disburse funds, and make all necessary arrangements for a becoming and general celebration of said anni- versary, and that said Committee shall have power to add to its members, if found necessary." The number of the Comfnittee was left to the Mayor's discretion, and he was made Chairman for the purpose of calling the Commit- tee together for organization. On the 19th of June, the Mayor appointed the following gentle- men to serve on the General Committee under the above resolution: Henry B. Black, Henry Palmer, Isaiah H. Mirkil. Ex-Mayor John Larkin, Jr., David M. Johnson, Ex-Mayor J. L Forwood, Richard Miller, J. Newton Shanafelt. Frank S. Baker, William P. Ladomus, William B. Broomall. Prof. Charles F. Foster. John C. Price, Samuel H. Seeds, Daniel Robinson, William Appleby. J. Craig, Jr., Dr. Robert P. Mercer. William Shaler Johnson, Edmund Jones. Lewis D. Wheaton. Charles Creamer, Col. Simon Litzenberg. G. P. Dennis, Edward W. DeSilver. Orlando Harvey, Edward Johnson, John Sanville, William McCallum, John Wilde, William H. Martin, John A. Wallace, John Spencer, 238 Historical Sketch of Chester. Oliver Troth, Henry Frysinger, John B Roach, Amos Gartside, Henry Graham Ashmead, Robert Wetherill, Hon. Robert Chadwick, . Benjamin F. Baker, Henry Abbott, William I. Leiper, Benjamin W. Blakeley, William. H. Eves-, Col. Perjy M. Washabaugb, William J. Oglesby, John Fountain, James Buckley, William S. Sykes, Col. David F. Houston, Gasoway O. Yarnall, James Fields, William Worrell, W. Lane Verlinden, Thomas J. Osborne, George W. Beatty, Humphrey Y. Ash, Ephraim J. Ridgway. J. Howard Lewis, Chalkley Harvey, Edgar C. Lyons Thomas Y- Cooper, Joseph Chadwick, George W. Whitlock, Charles Roberts, John Lilley, Joseph Deering, Henry B. Taylor, Frank W. Thomas, John J. Ledward, Robert Howarth, Oliver C. McClure, Col. William C. Gray, J. William Lewis,' J'ohn O. Deshong. Lieut. Edward D; Sparksv Captain Charles E. Hyatt. Thomas J. Ross. Prof. John R. Sweney. Joel Hollingsworth, Edward S. McKeever, Stephen L. Armour, Mordecat Lewis. William E. Trainer, Benjamin F. Miller, D. Reese Esrey. Col. Samuel A. Dyer, John P. Crozer, Ward R. Bliss, George E, Darlington, Horace R. Manley, John B. Rhodes, Clarence Larkin, John H. Kerlin, • Henry Riddle, William Burnley. At the same time a call was issued for a meeting of this Commit- tee for the purpose of organization, and for such other business as might come before them, on Thursday evening, June 22. The Com- mittee met on that evening, in City Hall. On motion of Orlando Har- vey, Mayor Barton was unanimously elected Chairman and the fol- lowing officers chosen: Vice Chairman; George E. Darlington; Re- cording Secretary, J. Craig, Jr.; Corresponding Secretary, H. Gr. Preliminary Work of the General Committee. '239 Ashmead ; Treasurer, H. B. Black. At this meeting it was de- cided that fifteen members should constitute a quorum. A motion to appoint a Committee to take into consideration the best methods for raising funds and to name the necessary Sub-Committees for carrying out the details of the work subject to the consideration of the General Committee, was carried ; and on motion of Dr. R. P. Mercer, the permanent officers of the General Committee were in- structed to natne a Committee of five to carry out the above resolu- tion. The gentlemen named were Ex-Mayor Porwood, D. M. John- son, Col. W. C. Gray, F. S. Baker and Edward S. McKeever, and the Committee adjourned to meet on Tuesday evening, June 29th. At the meeting June 29th, these gentlemen made an exhaustive report. In it they gave an outline of the exercises proposed for the celebration and a list of Sub-Committees. As these Sub-Com- mittees were somewhat changed, and in many cases members add- ed, the list of those composing them is omitted here, and will be found at the close of this article. The persons first named on the several Sub-Committees vfere authorized to call them together, but their permanent organization was left to themselves. From this time the work of preparation for the important event, went steadily on, the Sub-Committees working in unison with and under control of the General Committee, the latter holding meet- ings once a week. The general feeling manifested became stronger as the object and scope of the celebration became known, and to the gentlemen forming the sub-divisions of the General Committee, as well as to the officers of that Committee, and to those citizens who aided with their means, the City of Chester is indebted for the success of the celebration. The newspapers, with commendable liberality, opened iheir columns to the advertisements of the several Committees with- out charge, and the civic societies and organizations were prompt in their response to the invitation to participate. The work of the General Committee closed, so far as preparation for the event was concerned, Thursday evening, October 19th, but that of the Sub- Committees ended only with the day. The meetings of the General and Sub-Committees, after the event were simply formal, and the business transacted was but the closing act of a well managed and well executed memorial drama. 240 Historical Sketch of Chester. Below is given a list of the officers of the General Committee and the officers and members of the Sub-Conmiittees. As these, with the honorary members, make up the General Committee, a list of the latter would be superfluous: OFFICERS OF GENEKAL COMMITTEE. Hon. James Barton, Jr., Chairman; George E. Darlington, Vice Chairman; J. Craig, Jr., Recording Secretary; H. G. Ashmead, Corresponding Secretary; H. B. Black, Treasurer; Col. W. C.Gray, Chief Marshal. SUB-COMMITTEES — FINANCE. R. P. Mercer, M. D., Chairman, Chester. J. Craig, Jr., Secretary, Chester. Rich- ard Miller, Treasurer, Chester. Aston, Samuel Rhodes. Birmingham, Richard Baldwin. Bethel. ^.'EXi.waaA Larkin. Concord, YWitooA Hannum. Chester.V^W- liam W. Eves, John J. I.edward WiUiam H. Martin, Henry Abbott, B. F. Baker, Isaiah H. Mirkil, John A, Wallace, 0. C. McClure. South Chester, G. O.Y3xna&, William J. McDowell; Chester Townskif, George W. Beatty; North Chester, C. S. Esrey. Darby, W. LaneVerlenden, Edgmont, G. Leiper Green. Haverford, J. B. Leedoni. Lower Providence, 'WWWa.m Osborne. Lower Chichester, John H.^Ker- lin. Newtown, William Rhodes. Marple, J. Hunter Moore. Media, Horace R. Manley. il/zV/!»«, William Burnley. ./?a-rson Kirk „ 6 00 Benjamin Eirk 2 00 Tryon Lewis 6 00 A. Montgomery 10 00 T. H. Morris 5 00 F. W. Morris 5 00 W. W. Montgomery 5 00 H. Pleasants, Jr 5 00 Philip P. Place 10 00 Charles Pugh. 100 Peter Pechin 200 James Bawle 15 00 Theodore D. Rand 5 00 W. H. Bamsey 6 00 T. F. Bamsey 200 John S acker 6 00 W. G. Thomas 20 00 J. K. Valentine 10 00 W. W. Whi'ing 6 00 Total— Badnor S250 00 CONCORD. M. Buckley 25 S. E. Buckley. 50 B. Hannum \W K. M. Harvey 100 John Hart 50 W. B. Hannum 25 Anna Hannum 25 S. A, MoOall 50 N. T. Scott 2 00 J. E. Soot' 1 00 Jesse Scott 50 W. P. Tarnall 1 00 Total— Concord 88 75 ASTON. A. C. Bngland $100 Sharpless & Jenkins 3 00 J. B. Khodes 600 Ellwood Tyson 300 Samuel Bhodes 10 50 C. B. Rhodes- 2 00 Total— Aston S2500 Hugh Ray 60 LOWER CniCHESTEE. C. LarMn S5 00 D. Trainer & Son Total-Lower Chichester™ SIO 00 5 00 MEDIA. J. vI.Broomall.Jr $10 00 B.N.Lehman „ 100 Cash...„ 1400 Total— Media $25 00 NEWTOWN. Jesse Brooks $3 00 William Bhodes Total— Newtown _ $8 00 5 00 MARPLE. Total— Marple $25 00 RIDLEY. Total— Ridley $40 00 UPLAND. S. A. Grozer $60 00 J. P. Crozer 60 00 Total— Upland $100 00 Preliminary Work of the General Committee. 245 ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Pennsylvania BailToad Company ...S600 00 Prof. C. F. Foster ffhlla., WU. & Bait. Railroad Co.... 260 00 fiddystone Manuf^.cturing Co 50 00 WlU'iani Simpson Sl Son 60 00 John Roach Sc Son _ 100 00 Totil S2,669 76 Appropriated by city of Chester.... 400 00 82,969 73 The Philadelphia ahd Reading Railroad Company kindly dis- continued the runnine of their freight trains on the Front Street Branch on the day of the Celebration, and planked over their bridge over Chester creek, at Front street, for the accommodation of the people who desired to cross at that point, a courtesy which was thoroughly appreciated. Donations as follows were received by the Committee and thank- fully acknowledged. These may be regarded also as subscriptions for the general purpose- — Evening News, advertising $72 01 School Board, music stand 916 00 Times and Gazette, Advocate, Democrat, Republican, ftecord, American, Total 62 46 _ 29 32 .. 26 80 .. 26 00 ,.. 16 60 . 16 00 Headley & Mahon, reduction «. 6 13 Col. W. C. Gray, badges 3 60 Volkhart Bros - 70 Total $261 41 246 ' Historical Sketch of Chester. FRIENDS AND THE BI-CENTENNIAL [K6J!triktsd,by Sarah B, Flitcraft,} First day, lOthmo., 2M, 1882. AT the close of a meeting for worship of the Religious Society of Friends, on First day, 10th mo. 1st, 1882, at their Meeting House, on Market Street, Chester; Pennsylvania, they conferred together in reference to holding a Bi-Centennial in commemoration of the landing of William Penn at this place. After a full express- ion and interchange of sentiment all agreed it would be proper and appropriate for Friends to have such an occasion, wherein they could hold forth to the community, the" virtues and practical life of this distinguished man, who founded the Colony of Pennsylvania up- on a just and equitable basis, and conducted it on the principles of Peace as long as he and his friends had the management and con- trol of the government. Thetimeandplaceagreedupon was 10th mo. 22d, at 2.30, P. M., in their Meeting House, on Market street, being the First day prior to the State Bi-Centennial. The following com- mittee was appointed to make arrangements for the proposed meet- ing : Sarah B. Flitcraft, Thomas J. Houston, Elias H. West, Rachel P. Leys, Arabella M. Miller, Sallie R. Milner, Arabella Hinkson, Allen Flitcraft, Isaac T. Lewis, Kate D. West, Jennie S. Lamborn' George M. Booth, Alfred Lamborn, Susanna S. Houston and Arthur H. Middleton. Long before the appointed time the Meeting House was filled to overflowing, hundreds being unable to gain admission. The exer- cises were interestmg throughout and were conducted in a plain un- ostentatious way. JOHN M. BROOMALL, of Media, Pa., opened the meeting with a brief address, in which he eulogized W^illiam Penn as a sound practi- cal statesman and a representative Friend, He spoke of the event Friends and the Bi-Centennia{. 247 we commemorate as one of the highest interest, being the only in- stance in which the principles of Christianity, as taught in the Ser- mon on the Mount, were ever applied to the founding of a State or Nation. Those principles were then put forth upon their trial as rules of human conduct. If they failed, Christianity is a failure; but they did not fail A State was founded among a barbarous people, in which the sword was expressly and openly repudiated, and kindness, forbearance and love, made the corner-stones of the structure in its stead. For seventy years, and as long as those principles were acted upon,the State enjoyed profound peace, without armies, forts or arsenals. It is to the credit of both races, that for forty years no blood on either side was shed by the hand of the other, and it is to the credit of the ruder race that the first violation of the sanctity of life across the line of the races, was committed by a white man. Penn's colony without the sword enjoyed a tran- quility far beyond that of any other colony with it. In the face of this success of the first and only experiment, it will not do to call Christianity a failure in the founding of a State. In fact the law of kindness has succeeded wherever it has been tried; the inebriate, the lunatic, the imbecile, the waifs and strays of humanity, all yield to its power. It is well known that vengeance and cruelty are failures in the suppression of crime; courts and prisons are schools for criminals and will remain so until we learn to treat the criminal as a brother and minister to his "mind diseased," in the spirit of kindness. Society is largely responsible for his condition, and it owes itself, as well as him, the duty of taking care of him for his good and its safety. He spoke of war in strong and earnest language. It is the sub- mission of the cause of quarrel to the arbitrary will of the stronger party. There is no legal limit to the power of the conqueror ; by the laws of war, prisoners may be enslaved and sold, or killed and eaten at the pleasure of the victor, and no law of war is violated. The business of war is to burn, to ravage, to destroy, to kill ; and the fact that the customs of modern belligerents are less bad than this, is proof that the world is outgrowing some of its wickedness, and is approaching, though still a great way off, the standard set up by the Divine Master. He spoke of national arbitrament as a means of 248 , Historical Sketch of Chester. avoiding war, and gave instances of its adoption and success. In- dividual disputes were once settled by the sword: now nearly all of them are settled by submission to the judgment of disinterested men. If nations would practice the rule they enforce on their subjects and citizens, would set the example instead of prescribing the laAv they refuse to obey themselves, armies would soon be classed among the things that were, the sword would "be beaten into a ploughshare and the spear into a pruning hook." The following letter and poem from John G-. Whittier were then read by ELLA HOOD, of West Chester: Oak Knoll, Danvers, Mass., lotk mo.. 7th, 1882. To Sarah B. Flitcraft, Chester, Pa. My Dear Friend—li is well that Friends should commemorate the landing of the Founder of Pennsylvania, and the great apostle of their faith, on the pleasant shores of Chester two centuries ago. The event so picturesque in its surroundings and cir- cumstances, so important in its results and influence, is a subject worthy of the poet's pen or the painter's pencil, I should be glad if it were possible for me to put into fit- ting metrical form the thoughts and emotions which it awakens. But the burden of years begins to rest heavily upon me and 1 shrink from the effort of handling sueh a theme. In spite of the endeavor of a historian more regardful of the display of his rhetoric and sarcasm than of historical accuracy and justice, the memory of William Penn is secure in its grand outlines. He stands, and will forever stand, with the sages, statesmen and philanthropists, of whom the world of their day was not worthy. He lived and thought centuries in advance of his contemporaries; and, slowly but surely, the generations since have been approaching the moral and political standard which he set up on the shores of the Delaware. Looking over some old papers recently, I found some verses written by me when a boy of sixteen —nearly sixty years ago. Of course the circumstances under which. they were penned, alone entitle them to notice, but I venture to send them, as the- only response to thy request which I can make. I am truly thy friend. JOHN G. Whittier. WILIilAM P£9?N. The tyrant on his gilded throne, The warrior in his hlood-wet rolls of fame. But with the wise, the good, the great, The world shall place thy sainted name! SARAH L. OBERHOLTZER, of Cambria, Pa., then read the following original poem: A BI-CEKTEimilAI. POEM. The broad and placid Delaware glides on its outward way To meet the vessels that anon come sailing up the Bay. Two hundred years ago, the same, its silvery ripples met The good ship "Welcome" and the Friends whose footsteps halo yet Their landing place. The Autumn wood, though nearer then and dense. Waved with its banners, bright as now, salute of deference. Calm Nature's pulse beats ever on the same measure true; 'Tis only we who come and go, meet, love and bid adieu. Favored are we, whose ancestors paused here with William Penn, To see the soft October light fall on the place as when They from the vessel reached the shore and thanlted the living Lord That He unto the friends of peace such haven did accord. 1 see them now, through fancy's mist, upon the river's breast Lower their sails, and near the land with relief manifest. The mute thanksgiving of their souls I seem almost to feel As land is reached and on the sward they press possession's seal. It was then Chester, christened fair, assumed her English name At Penn's desire, when Pearson said he from that city came; And peace, transplanted, grew apace; philanthropy bloomed free; Unfolding and expanding fast within the Colony. The Friends in Pennsylvania, had right of thought and speech.' No poison bars their spirits tried, but conscience wrought for each. They founded homes with altars wide wherein the inward light Burned as love's incense, and illumed privation's darkest night; They founded temples plain of prayer, where words were sometimes given To lead the pilgrims meeting there closer to Christ and Heaven; They blessed the state which blessed again the stranger in its turn; They pushed the forest from the shore and bade the corn sojourn. Early, 'neath Shackamaxon's elm of shadows soft and brown Good WiUiam Penn the fragrant piece of ohve branch laid down. The Indian Chiefs inhaled its breath and each with smiling face. Acknowledged friendship's covenant for the Algonquin race. The treaty, perfect in fts bonds and wise in every clause. Was more effectually kept than any modem laws. The Algonquins loved William Penn and all his Colony; Their better natures he unlocked with his great kindness key. For love is best and peace is safe, whate'er we wish to gain, And balm is better cure for ill, forevermore than pain. 250 Historical Sketch of Chester. His " Golden Rule " they understood, through intellectual night. And kept the friendly promises close as a sacred right, Penn planned the city of his love, a " country towne and greene," Where the glad Schuylkill waters with the Delaware's convene. He left the garden plots, the squares, which rest our eyes to-day As we walk down the pavements red of Philadelphia. Dear City I she, with pageantry and pardonable pride. Now celebrates her Patron's care through a vast human tide. The plain, the wise, the Christian man would scarcely know his own If he could see his fair green towns their limits long outgrown; His broad 'Sylvania''s forests wide hemmed in by well tilled fields To playtime patches, which no game from the late sportsman shields; His land abloom with villages; his rivers glad and rills Low voiced, their merriment all gone to quench the thirst of mills; His people sown, as by the wind^about the broad domain. Not always marked by cut of coat yet of religion plain; His mountains broken in their height, tunneled for ore or trade; And, far beneath the surface line, the thud of miners' spade. The coal, the iron, the oil and more, earth's jewels hidden then. Are bumisbed now and beautiful with light and warmth to men. Could the great Founder of our State, whose memory we revere. Have foreseen these developments the day he landed here? His thanks to kindly Providence, that sailing perils o'er, He and his fellow pilgrims were safe upon the shore. Had been e'en greater than they were, albeit they were great, For in the Union Arch I ween there is no richer State. And we, whose fathers came with Penn, take voice for them to-day. Feeling their thoughts within us live though they have passed away; That thanks we give and prayers we breathe are supplement to their 's. Although two hundred years have slept safe in their silent lairs. The years must sleep as Winters come, and so it seems with men, We lose them in the snows of time to meet in Heaven again. Our gratitude for blessings great we thread on passing air Dear Lord of hosts ! dear Lord of love, our thanks are every where ! We feel Thy watchfulness and care. Thy mercy when we err. Thy omnipresence, the rewards Thou doth administer. Our ancestors were safe with Thee upon the ocean wide Before the steamships plowed the main or wrestled with the tide. Our love for Thee, our pride in them, we blend together here And thank 'Thee we were spared to see this Bi-Centennial year. O 1 may our State grow worthier still of vast and full increase, 'Till, all wrong thrown aside, she wears the rose ot righteous peace ! SAMUEL J. LEVICK, of Philadelphia, then addressed the audi- ence as follows: Friends and Citizens of Chester: It is very meet that here in this Meeting House of the Religious Society of Friends, should be commemorated the ceremonies attend- ant upon the arrival of William Penn and his friends in North Ame- rica, for it is reasonable to suppose that here they first met, pub- licly, together to worship Almighty God and reverently to acknowl- edge thanks to Him, for their safe arrival in the "Land of Promise" Friends and the Bi-Centennial. 251 and tl