The county lies entirely within the primitive formation, with the exception of the alluvial tract along the Delaware; the prevailing rocks being granite, gneiss, and feldspar, in every variety of decomposition. Some of these deposits of gneiss, on the creeks near the Delaware, furnish valuable quarries of stone. The surface is gently undulating, and near the northwestern boundary becomes hilly. The soil is not naturally fertile, but with the aid of lime, manure, industry, and the extensive market of Philadelphia, it is made very productive. The broad alluvial meadows along the Delaware, and some of the creeks, furnish rich pasturage for immense numbers of fat cattle. The farmers devote their attention principally to dairy farming, and the rearing of cattle.
The principal streams, besides the Delaware, are Cobb's cr., the eastern boundary, Darby, Crum, Ridley, Chester, and Hook crs. The Brandywine flows along the western boundary. Falling as these creeks do from the upland country to tide-water, they furnish a great abundance of water-power, most of which is usefully employed in a great variety of manufactures; among which are 21 cotton factories, 9 woollen factories, 3 dyeing and print-works, 11 paper factories, 1 furnace, rolling and nail mills, edge-tool manufactories, powder-mills, fulling, flouring, sawing, and oil mills. The decomposed feldspar of this county and Chester co. has been formerly much used in the manufacture of fine porcelain, by Mr. Tucker of Philadelphia; but it is believed the manufacture has been abandoned, in consequence of foreign competition. Copper has been found, it is said, on Chester cr., and there are indications of the two shafts once sunk in searching for it; but the mine is now unimproved.

The population is generally composed of the descendants of the early Swedish, English, and Welsh settlers—a majority of whom, it is estimated, are connected with the society of Friends; and there are also many churches of other denominations, especially of the ancient Welsh Episcopalians, and of the Swedes, who have now adopted the ritual of the Episcopal church. There are many excellent private seminaries in the county, among which that of Mr. Gummerie, in Haverford township, is celebrated. There is an extensive lazaretto and commodious hospital in Tinicum township, on the Delaware, for the accommodation of sick passengers and seamen bound to Philadelphia. The county also has a well managed poorhouse, connected with a farm.

The Philadelphia and Baltimore railroad passes through Chester. Several important turnpikes also pass through the county, towards Baltimore, Chadsford, Westchester, Lancaster, &c.

Long before William Penn came to this country, indeed before he was born, the Swedes had already settled in " Upland," now Delaware co. They first landed near Cape Henlopen, in 1638, and soon after built a town and fort, which they called Christina, on the north side of Minquaas cr., (now Christina cr.,) not far above its mouth. (See Outline History, pp. 10, 11.) In 1643, Gov. John Printz, with the Rev. John Campanius as chaplain of the colony, arrived from Stockholm, in the ship Fame, accompanied by two other ships of war, the Swan and the Charitas. He selected for his residence the broad alluvial island at the mouth of Darby cr., called Tinicum island, the same upon which the lazaretto now stands. It is separated from the main land only by the two branches of Darby cr., and should not be confounded, by those who seek it on the map, with the long, narrow, sandy island in the middle of the Delaware, now designated as Tinicum island on the state map. Here Gov. Printz erected a strong fort of hemlock logs, and a splendid palace for himself, called Printz Hall, surrounded with a fine orchard and pleasure grounds. Near him, on the same island, were clustered the dwellings and plantations of the more respectable colonists; a commodious church, of wood, was consecrated by Rev. Mr. Campanius, on the 4th Sept. 1646; and a burying-ground was laid out, in which, as Campanius is careful to inform us, "the first corpse that was buried was Andrew Hanson's daughter Catherine, and she was buried on the 28th Oct., which was Simon and Jude's day." The city of Gov. Printz thus founded was called New Gottenburg, and for some years it enjoyed the dignity of being the metropolis of New Sweden.

By the instructions of Queen Christina to Gov. Printz, he was enjoined to administer justice according to Swedish laws; to preserve, as far as practicable, the manners and customs of Sweden ; to promote diligently all profitable branches of industry, such as the culture of grain, of tobacco, of the vine, and the mulberry for silk; the raising of cattle; to search for precious metals; diligently to cultivate a traffic with the Indians, and especially to be careful to undersell the English and Dutch. With respect to the Dutch, he was to conciliate their good-will, but to deny their right to any of the land on the west side of the river; and if all friendly negotiations proved fruitless, he was to repel force by force. With the Virginians he was to cultivate a friendly intercourse and exchange of good offices; but the English who had settled on Ferken's cr., (Salem,) were to be persuaded to remove, or else to be brought under her majesty's jurisdiction. With the Indians he was to confirm the former purchases of land, and treaties of peace; and as far as practicable to win them over to embrace Christianity, and adopt the manners and customs of civilized life. But—

" Before all, the governor must labor and watch that he renders in all things to Almighty God the true worship which is his due, the glory, the praise, and the homage which belong to him, and take good measures that the divine service is performed according to the true confession of Augsburg, the council of Upsal, and the ceremonies of the Swedish church, having care that all men, and especially the youth, be well instructed in all the parts of Christianity, and that a good ecclesiastical discipline be observed and maintained. With respect to the Dutch colony which resides and is established in the country of her majesty and of the crown, the governor must not disturb what has been ordained in the aforesaid grant of her majesty with regard to the exercise of the reformed religion."

Under these wholesome instructions the Swedish colony prospered abundantly until more powerful nations became jealous of their success.

Campanius represents the Indians as having been frequent visitors at his house. In his conversations with them, he generally succeeded in making them understand the great leading truths and doctrines of the gospel. He was so much encouraged by their docility that he learned their language, and translated the catechism into it.

Small hamlets were settled at various places along the shore and further inland, but still at convenient distances from the forts. James N. Barker, Esq., in his oration on the 24th Oct. 1827, before the Penn Society, says:—

The town of Christina Harbor, and Christina Fort, were the first places erected by the Swedes, and in the year of their arrival, 1638. They stood at a place called by the natives Hopohaccan, on the north of the stream Minquaas, sometimes called Suspecough, and not far from its mouth. The stream also received the name of Christina, which it still retains, and a village of some antiquity, further up the creek, is yet called Christina. But the fort and the primitive town of Christina Harbor have disappeared: happily, however, for the antiquary, an accurate draught of both, by the engineer Lindstrom, is preserved in the Nya Swerige of Campanius, who furnishes besides a minute account of its capture in 1655 by the Dutch under Stuyvesant, after a siege of fourteen days, and which completed the subjugation of the country. The Swedish traveller Kalm, who visited this spot in 1748, had presented to him by the reverend Mr. Tranberg, minister of the Swedish church at Wilmington, an old Swedish silver coin of Christina, found among axes, shovels, and other things, at the depth of about three feet underground, by some workmen, who in the preceding summer were throwing up a redoubt to protect the place from an expected attack by the French and Spaniards. The new fortification, as Mr. Tranberg informed Kalm, was on the same spot which the old one had occupied; Kalm adds that it is nearly three miles from that point, by the course of the stream, to its mouth.

According to Campanius, New Gothenborg was totally “destroyed." It is gratifying, however, to learn from William Penn himself, that on his arrival, the Swedes had a church, perhaps the ancient edifice, yet standing at Tinicum.

Nya Wasa and Gripsholm are laid down on some of the old maps as fortified places. Ebeling supposes they were on the Schuylkill, but Du Simitiere places them on the Delaware, between Nya Gothenborg and the Schuylkill. Campanius, however, assigns them a station between the Schuylkill and a stream north of Tinicum, Gripsholm near the Delaware, and Nya Wasa some distance up the Schuylkill, probably about the point a little below Bartram's Botanic Garden. It is difficult to fix the latter with any certainty, for but a single stream above Tinicum is laid down on the maps, called by Lindstrom, the only one who gives it a name, Tenna Kongz Kilen. Nya Wasa may therefore have been situated even below the present Cobb's creek.

The place at which the Dutch erected Fort Kasimer, says Campanius, was called (by the Indians, it is presumed) Sand Hocken, and was on the south, as Christina fort was on the north of the Minquaas or Mingoes creek, called by the Swedes Christina. It was in 1651, that the Dutch were suffered by the Swedish governor Printz, who contented himself with timidly protesting against the measure, to possess themselves of this key to New Sweden. In 1654, the successor of Printz, governor Risingh, obtained possession of the fort, either by treachery or by storm, for the historians disagree on this point, when it received the new title of " The Fort of the Holy Trinity," and was placed under the command of Sven Schute, lord of Passaiung. In the following year it was the first place of strength obliged to yield to the conqueror Stuyvesant, and was afterwards called Fort Nieu Amstel. The account by Campanius of these transactions is interesting, and his book contains besides an engraved view of the fort itself under its Swedish title of Trefalldigheets Forte.

Andreas Hudde, an agent of the Dutch, who had charge of Fort Nassau, in 1645—46, was sent by Gov. Kieft to spy out the land where the" Swedes had settled. While he remained at Fort Nassau, (on the Jersey shore near the mouth of Timber cr.,) a fierce diplomatic war was carried on between himself and Gov. Printz, the details of which are given in his official report. In his description of the country, he says,—

" Somewhat further on the same side (above Christina) about two (Dutch) miles there are some plantations which are continued nearly a mile; but four houses only are built, and these at considerable distance one from the other. The furthest of these is not far from Tinnekonk, which is an island, and is towards the river-side secured by creeks and underwood; there the governor, John Printz, keeps his residence. This is a pretty strong fort, constructed by laying very heavy hemlock logs (grtenen) the one on the other; but this fort with all its buildings was burnt down on the 5th December, 1655. Further on, at the same side, till you come to the Schuylkill, being about two miles, there is not a single plantation, neither at Tinnekonk, because near the river nothing is to be met but underwood and valley lands.

“In regard to this Schuylkill, these are lands purchased and possessed by the company. He employed the company's carpenter, and constructed there a fort, on a very convenient spot, on an island near the borders of the kill, which is from the southwest side secured by another creek, and from the S. S. E. and S. sides with underwood and valley lands. It lays about the distance of a gunshot in the kill. On the south side of this kill, on the same island, beautiful corn is raised. This fort cannot in any manner whatever obtain any control en the river, but it has the command over the whole creek, while this kill or creek is the only remaining avenue for trade with the Minquaas, and without this trade the river is of little value.

"At a little distance from this fort was a creek to the furthest distant wood, which place is named Kingsessing by the savages, which was before a certain and invariable resort for trade with the Minquaas, but which is now opposed by the Swedes having there built a strong house. About half a mile further in the woods, Governor Printz constructed a mill on a kill which rant in the sea not far to the south of Matinnekonk, and on this kill a strong building just by in the path which leads to the Minquaas; and this place is called by the savages Kakankonk. So that no access to the Minquaas is left open; and he too [Printz] controls nearly all the trade of the savages on the river, as the greatest part of them go a hunting in that neighborhood, which they are not able to do without passing by his residence. In regard to his force, it consists at utmost of eighty or ninety men, freemen as well as servants, with whom he must garrison all his strong places."—N. York Hilt. Soc. Collections, New Series, vol. I.

Thomas Campanius Holm, grandson of Rev. Mr. Campanius, who published his work on New Sweden, derived principally from his grandfather's papers, in 1702, has the following description of the same places described by Hudde.

Mocoponaca, which is called Chester, was a bare place, without a fort, but there was some houses built there. It was good even land there by the sea shore, situated between Christina fort and New Gottenburg, though nearer the latter, and there was also a fort built there some time after.

Passaiung was the commander Swen Skute's donation, and under that was Korsholm fort situated. But after Governor John Printz went to Swede land, it was quitted by the Swedes, and afterwards burnt and ruined by the Indians.

Manaijung, that is, Skoolkill fort, this was a handsome little fort built of logs, with sand and stones filled up betwixt the logs, and pallisadoes cut very sharp towards the top; it laid four miles from Christina; east it was mounted with great guns, as well as the other forts. The forts are all situated by the water-side.

Chinsessing [Kingsessing] was called the New fort. This was no fort, but good strong log-houses, built of good strong hard hickory, two stories high, which was a fort good and strong enough to secure themselves from the Indians. For what signifieth a fort when the people therein boast of the strength of the place, and do not crave for God's assistance? And there lived five freemen, who plough, sow, plant, and manure the land, and they lived very well there, for the governor had settled them there. Karraung stream or water-mill: by this place is a strong stream, and hath extraordinary conveniences to build mills there, and the government caused a mill to be built there.

In return for Gov. Printz's valuable services, Queen Christina, in 1643, was pleased to grant him the island of Tinicum, with its town of New Gottenburg, as a possession to be enjoyed by him and his heirs forever. Printz, after a residence often years, returned to Sweden in 1652, leaving his son-in-law, Pappegoia, in temporary charge of the colony. Printz had become unpopular by a too rigid exercise of authority. During the administration of his successor, John Claudius Rising, a treaty was held with the neighboring Indian chiefs. The following account of it is given in the quaint language of some ancient translator of Campanius Holm's work, as published in the N. Y. Hist. Collections.*

* A more complete and modern English translation, by Mr. Duponceau, has since been published in the collections of the Penn Hist. Society.

The 17th June, 1654, was gathered together at Prince Hall at Tennacum, ten of the sachemans of the Indian chiefs, and there at that time was spoken to them in the behalf of the great Queen of Sweed land for to renew the old league of friendship that was betwixt them, and that the Sweeds had bought and purchased the land of them. They complained that the Sweeds they should have brought in with them much evil, because so many of them since are dead and expired. Then there was given unto them considerable presents and parted amongst them. When they had received the presents they went out, and had a conference amongst them a pretty while, and came in again, and then spoke one of the chiefs, by name Noaman, rebuked the rest, and that they had spoken evil of the Sweeds and done them harm, and that they should do so no more, for they were good people. Look, said he, pointing upon the presents, what they have brought us, and they desire our friendship, and then he stroked himself three times down his arm, which was an especial token of friendship. Afterwards he thanked for the presents they had received, which he did in all their behalfs, and said that there should hereafter be observed and kept a more strict friendship amongst them than there hath been hitherto. That as they had been in Governoeur Printz his time, one body and one heart, (beating and knocking upon his breast,) they should henceforward be as one head. For a token waving with both his hands, and made as if he would rye a strong knott; and then he made this comparison, that as the callibash is of growth round without any crack, also they from henceforth hereafter as one body without any separation, and if they heard or understood that anyone would do them or any of theirs any harm, we should give them timely notice thereof, and likewise if they heard any mischief plotting against the Christians, they would give them notice thereof if it was at midnight. And then answer was made unto them, that that would be a true and lasting friendship, if everyone would consent to it. And upon the said sayings they made a general shout, and consented to it. Then the great guns were fired, which pleased them exceedingly well, saying, Pu-hu-hu! mo ki-rick pickon; that is, hear! now believe ! the great guns are fired. And then they were treated with wine and brandy. Then stood up another of the Indians and spoke, and admonished all in general that they should keep the league and friendship with the Christians that was made, and in no manner of way violate the same, and do them no manner of injury, not to their hogs or their cattle, and if anyone should be found guilty thereof, they should be severely punished, others to an example ; they advised that we should settle some Sweeds upon Passaiunck, where then there lived a power of Indians, for to observe if they did any mischief, they should be punished. Moreover that all the land that the Sweeds had bought and purchased should be confirmed, the copies of the agreements were then punctually read unto them. But the originals were at Stockholm, and when their names [were read] that bad signed, they seemed when they heard it rejoiced, but when any one's name was read that was dead, they hung their heads down and seemed to be sorrowful. And then there was set upon the floor in the great hall two great kettles, and a great many other vessels with sappan, that is, mush, made of Indian com or Indian wheat, as groweth there in abundance. But the sachemans they sate by themselves, but the common sort of Indians they fed heartily, and were satisfied. The above mentioned treaty and friendship that then was made betwixt the Sweeds and the Indians, hath been ever since kept and observed, and that the Sweeds have not been by them molested.

Stuyvesant, the Dutch governor of New Amsterdam, conquered New Sweden, in 1655. (See Outline History, p. 11.) The Dutch settled but slowly in New Sweden after the conquest, generally preferring trade, with a residence in towns, to agricultural employments. Acrelius, an accurate Swedish historian, a part of whose work, translated by the Rev. Dr. Collin, of Wicaco, has been published by the N. Y. Hist. Soc, says :

"Stuyvesant had a deep, fixed jealousy that the Swedes had a dislike to the Dutch and attachment to the English. Though all the Swedish families were only 130, according to the list given in by the schout, they made a majority of the inhabitants, and were therefore formidable. He therefore positively ordered that all the Swedes should collect into small towns; and proposed Passaiung as the most proper, being a pleasant and fruitful territory." But Beckman, the lieutenant-governor, could not persuade, and did not like to compel them to do it. This was in 1659-60.

"The wife of Pappegoia, and daughter of Gov. Printz, lived still in Tenakongh, [Tinicum.] With all the advantages of that seat, she was so poor from want of laborers that the Dutch government granted her a small aid, which was for some time an ox and some hogs, both fattened, and sufficient grain for bread yearly. Finally she returned to Sweden."

West Jersey began to be settled as early as the year 1676. The colonists, generally Quakers from Wales, sailing up the Delaware, naturally became acquainted with the hospitable and thrifty Swedes, who often served as their interpreters with the aborigines,—and Quaker families gradually took up their abode on the west side of the river, at Upland, at Shackamaxon, and opposite Burlington and the Falls. This was previous to the purchase of the province by Wm. Penn. Smith says:—" The first monthly meeting of Friends at Chester, to be found on record, was held the 10th day of the 11th month, 1681, at the house of Robert Wade. It consisted of the Friends of Chichester and Upland, or Chester. These Friends had meetings for worship at each other's houses so long before as the year 1675, in which year Robert Wade and divers others came over." In 1681 two ships arrived in the Delaware from London, and one from Bristol. One of them, the Bristol Factor, Roger Dunn, commander, arrived at Upland on the 11th December. The passengers, says Proud, went ashore at Robert Wade's landing near the lower side of Chester creek; and the river having frozen up that night, the passengers remained all winter. Markham, the nephew and confidential agent, and afterwards lieutenant-governor, came over in one of these ships. The earlier colonists chose the sea-shore, and the more inland townships of the county were not settled until after the arrival of Wm. Penn in 1682. Haverford, Radnor, and Darby were settled in that year. Friends continued to come in from Wales and England. Newtown, Goshen, and Uwchland were settled, and other townships were gradually filled up. The Swedes and the Indians received the worthy and peaceable Friends with great kindness and hospitality; assisted them to build mills, and meeting-houses, and dwellings; furnished provisions for them until their new crops could be gathered; and the three races, or five rather, for the Dutch were here also, and the Germans began to come in, dwelt harmoniously together for many years.

The southern boundary separating this county from the state of Delaware is the periphery of a circle drawn at a radius of 12 miles. This singular line had its origin in a deed of feoffment obtained by Wm. Penn from the Duke of York, Aug. 24, 1784, of "all that the town of New Castle, otherwise called Delaware, and all that tract of land lying within the compass or circle of 12 miles about the same." At the same time he purchased the land on the bay, “beginning 12 miles south from the town of New Castle," down to Cape Henlopen. These tracts formed afterwards the “Three Lower Counties." It is well known that a long dispute existed between Lord Baltimore, the proprietary of Maryland, and the Penns, concerning the southern boundary of Pennsylvania. By the charter, Wm. Penn's grant was to be bounded on the north by " the beginning of the three-and-fortieth degree of northern latitude," and on the south by a circle drawn at twelve miles distance northward and westward unto the beginning of the fortieth degree of northern latitude, and then by a straight line westward, &c. Lord Baltimore insisted that the whole fortieth degree of north latitude was included in his charter, which was prior in point of time. Penn insisted that Lord Baltimore was precluded by a recital in his charter that the land was uncultivated, and possessed by barbarians, whereas it was not so, but possessed by Dutch and Swedes, and therefore the king was deceived in his grant. This dispute was finally settled by mutual agreement in 1732, that the line dividing the three lower counties from Maryland, running up the middle of the peninsula, should make a " tangent to the western part of the circle of New Castle town"—and that circle was described in the agreement as follows: " That there shall be the said circle mentioned in the charter for Pennsylvania, and deed of feoffment of New Castle, (or so much thereof as is requisite.) drawn and marked out at the twelve miles distance from the town of New Castle, which twelve miles shall be twelve English statute miles." The other line dividing Maryland from Pennsylvania, was to be a due west line, " to run across the Susquehanna River, and to be fifteen miles due south, or below the most southern part of the city of Philadelphia."

Notwithstanding this plain agreement, the commissioners under it for running the line on the part of Lord Baltimore in 1733, set up the ridiculous pretension that the “twelve miles distant from the town of New Castle" referred to the periphery only of the circle, of which the radius would reach only about two miles from New Castle, instead of twelve. The survey was therefore adjourned; and another long series of lawsuits and controversies ensued, which were not quieted until 4th July, 1760, when a final agreement was made between the parties. Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, two eminent mathematicians and astronomers, were employed in 1767 and '68, to run the line and erect stone pillars at conspicuous points. Thus originated the famous “Mason and Dixon's line."

During the revolution, on the night after the battle of Brandywine, the American army retreated to Chester, and thence the next day to Philadelphia. The British army went up along the northwest boundary of the county towards the Schuylkill, and afterwards entered Philadelphia. While they occupied this city in the winter of 1777-78, Delaware co. was often overrun by small scouting parties of the Americans sent out to destroy, forage, or to cut off supplies from the enemy, and to annoy the British shipping in the Delaware.

Soon after the peace with Great Britain in 1783, the subject of removing the county seat caused considerable excitement throughout the county. The result was, that in 1789 Chester county was divided. (See Chester county, page 219.)

An event that has recently occurred, even while this volume is in the hands of the printer, will long be remembered in Delaware County. On Saturday afternoon, 5th Aug. 1843, an overwhelming torrent of rain, accompanied with wind in some places equal to a tornado, burst upon the region around Philadelphia. Its effects were particularly destructive on all the streams of Delaware County. The following extracts are gleaned from the Philadelphia papers:

“The rain fell as if in a mass; runlets became creeks, and creeks were swollen into rivers. About six o'clock it was found that Chester cr. was rapidly rising. So instantaneous was the swell of water, that the next moment left no feeling but the instinct of self-preservation. The stream rose, it is said by some, six feet in five minutes; others aver that it rose six feet in one minute. The water poured down as if a wave of the sea had been swept onward by an earthquake. In about two hours it had risen 23 feet. The neighboring creeks were swollen in the same proportion. Fortunately this took place before dark, or the scene would have been even more terrible than it was. In Chester the buildings most frail were swept away, and from others females were borne through the rushing waters, half dead with affright.

"Houses, dams, bridges, boats, an immense mass of lumber, furniture, mill-wheels, etc. shot by on the current. The railroad bridge was lifted from its foundations and flung down the stream. The next to fall was the suspension bridge. It is believed that not less than 20 persons have been drowned. At one place on Chester cr., an entire family, that of Mr. Rhoads, consisting of himself, wife, and two children, found it impossible, so instantaneous was the rise and rush of the torrent, to escape the house, and all perished.

“The factories of Mr. Crozer, Mr. Riddle, and Mr. Dickson and others have been swept away. Most, if not all the mills on Darby cr. have been carried away. Beatty's iron works on Crum run, (three miles below Darby,) are said to have been entirely destroyed. The manufactured goods and a portion of the machinery of Kent's factory on Darby cr. were swept out. Palmer's paper-mill on Darby cr. was greatly injured. Hood's new bridge in Radnor township is carried away. Kelly's bridge on Darby is injured. The large three-piered stone bridge across Darby cr. is one mass of ruins; only a portion of the abutments are standing. It gave way piece by piece, between eight and nine o'clock. The water at this spot, usually a mere runlet, rose 30 feet The house of Mrs. Margaret Nowlan, who was in it with her four children, wag swept away from a little below Kelly's factory, (two or three miles below Darby.) They were all drowned, and their bodies have been all recovered.

" A mile and a half below Upper Providence a mill was carried away with a man and four children in it; also his house, with the rest of his family in it. All were drowned, save one little girl, who clung to a tree. Another was swept off with an aged man in it.

" There is scarcely a dam across a creek in the county that is not carried off or much injured; and at least 50 bridges have been swept off, occasioning a loss to the county of nearly $100,000; and the individual loss cannot now be estimated.

" On a curve of Ridley cr., immediately adjoining Grove's cotton factory, now in the occupancy of Samuel Bancroft, Esq., is a stone building about 70 feet long, formerly used as a paper mill, but until Saturday inhabited by three families, the middle portion being occupied by a family named Hardgraves. Swelled by the heavy fall of rain, the creek on Saturday leaped over its banks and rushed in a direct line forward, sweeping out entirely the centre part of the building, and carrying with it Mr. Hardgraves and four of his children, who were sitting upon a bed, and leaving on only one side a small piece of the floor about a foot wide, where Mrs. Hardgraves and her infant child barely found a footing—while directly opposite to her, on the other side of the rushing torrent, wore a man and four children clustered upon a small piece of the floor, which had not been carried away from its fastenings. In this pitiable position they remained for some time, seemingly beyond the reach of aid, until a gallant fellow named Holt—who lived in one of the outer portions of the building, and who had fled in safety when the danger became evident— tied the two ends of a rope around his body, and made his way across to his part of the house, where, cutting a hole through the dividing wall, he brought the man and his four children into a more secure position. With considerable difficulty Holt then contrived to get a ladder across to where the unfortunate Mrs. Hardgraves and her child stood, and succeeded in bringing them across in safety. The rope with which he had crossed the swollen stream had been fastened by him on his landing, and by means of it, he succeeded, with the aid of the people on the opposite shore, in passing every one of the rescued sufferers in safety across—himself going last.

“Of a nature equally worthy of praise was the act of a brave man named Abner Wool, who at the imminent risk of his life, rescued from death Mr. William Flowers. Mr. Flowers was, it appears, driving some of his cows in the vicinity of his mill on Chester creek, when the flood overtook and carried him away. A small tree to which he clung stopped his course for a short time, but being uprooted by the strength of the current, he was again carried off; and the roof of a house having been seen to pass over him, it was supposed that he had perished; but shortly afterwards he was observed to be clinging to a buttonwood tree, which still stood up against the flood. Immediately Abner Wool procured a rope, ventured into the troubled waters, and succeeded in reaching Mr. Flowers, who was very much exhausted. Fastening the rope around him in such a manner as still to retain a hold upon it himself, he made a signal to the people, and Mr. F. was drawn in safety to the shore—he following afterwards in the same manner. A devoted mulatto woman seeing Mr. Flowers' danger, attempted to rescue him, but was herself swept away and engulfed by a sudden dash of the flood."

Chester is the most ancient town and county seat in Pennsylvania. It is situated at the mouth of Chester cr., 13 miles S. W. from Philadelphia. It has an antiquated, venerable appearance, and still retains the quiet and orderly character which has distinguished it for more than 100 years. It contains a substantial courthouse of stone, erected in 1724, a jail of nearly equal antiquity, an ancient Swedish church, (St. Paul's,) a Quaker meeting-house, a new Catholic church, the Delaware County Bank, an Athenaeum, and about 160 dwellings. The railroad from Philadelphia to Wilmington and Baltimore passes through the place. Population in 1830, 848; in 1840, about 1,000.* The annexed view, in the central part of the village, was taken from Mr. Howes' tavern. On the right is seen the courthouse and public offices, with the jail, and Mr. Irwin's hotel and the market-house in the distance. Mr. S. A. Price's hotel is seen on the left.

* In pursuance of an absurd practice, under the census of 1840, the population of villages not incorporated has not been separately stated.

Several particulars relating to the early history of Chester have been narrated above in the history of the county. While the Dutch, subsequent to the first English conquest, held a short sway over New Sweden, in 1673. They divided the western shore into three counties or judicial districts. The most northern was called Oplandt, or Upland, its capital being at the village of Upland, now Chester. This division was continued under the subsequent administration of the English governor, Andross. The magistrates for Upland under Andross were Peter Cock, Peter Rambo, Israel Holme, Laes Andriesson Woole, Swaine Otto, Ernest Cock. At that day James Sanderland, a wealthy Swede, was the principal owner of the property on the side of the creek where the town is; and Robert Wade, a distinguished Quaker, had his “Essex House" on the other side, and owned the land for some distance back into the country. Mr. Sanderland died in 1692, aged 56. A splendid monument in the old Swedish church, of which he was probably one of the founders, commemorates his virtues.

The most important event that has occurred in Chester was the first landing of William Penn within the province, early in November, 1682. He had previously landed below at Newcastle, on the 27th October, where he was affectionately welcomed by the colonists " of all peoples, tongues, and nations." Mr. Duponceau has eloquently described the first landing at Newcastle in one of his discourses.

See you yon gallant ship, sailing with propitious gales up the river Delaware? Her decks are covered with passengers, enjoying the mild temperature of our climate, and the serenity of our autumnal sky. They view with astonishment the novel scenery which strikes their sight; immense forests on each side, half despoiled of their red and yellow leaves, with which the ground a profusely strewed. No noise is heard around them, save that of the deer rustling through the trees, as she flies from the Indian who pursues her with his bow and arrow. Now and then a strange yell strikes the ear from a distance, which the echoes of the woods reverberate, and forms a strong contrast to the awful stillness of the scene. Observe the plainness of the dress of those venerable pilgrims, and see them lift their eyes with silent gratitude to heaven. They are a chosen band of Friends, who have left the British shores to establish here in peace their philanthropic commonwealth; their ship is called the Welcome, Greenaway commands her, and William Penn is among them.

Now they land at Newcastle, amid the acclamations of the diversified population which inhabit these shores. The English, the Welsh, the Dutch, the Germans, the Swedes, all crowd to hail the great man whom they had been expecting for one long year, and whose fame had already preceded him to these distant regions. The historian will not omit to describe this pleasing scene, and it will be more than once the favorite subject of the painter's pencil. He will choose the instant when William Penn has just landed with his principal followers, while the others are still on board the vessel, or in boats, making for the shore. There you see him supported by his friend Pearson From his manly port, and the resolution which his countenance displays, you would take him to be a warrior, if the mild philanthropy which beams from his eyes did not reveal his profession still more than the simplicity of his garb. He who stands before him in British regimentals, and whom he shakes affectionately by the hand, is his relation Markham, whom he had sent in the preceding year to explore the land and prepare the way for the new settlers. Those on the right, a numerous band, are your honored ancestors, some of whom accompany him on the voyage, and others had arrived before, and are now assembled here to greet him. There stands Pemberton, Moore, Yardley, Wain, Lloyd, Pusey, Chapman, Wood, Hollingsworth, Rhoades, Hall, Gibbons, Bonsall, Sellers; Claypoole, whose ancestor, not many years before, ruled the destinies of the British empire West, one of whose descendants will charm the world by his magic pencil, and for whose name and fame rival nations will, in after ages, contend; and many other worthies whom it would be too long to enumerate. On the left is a number of Swedes, whom their national dress, light hair, and northern countenances, sufficiently designate; there you see the brothers Swanson,+ who own the ground on which the city of Philadelphia is soon to stand, and whose name one of our streets will perpetuate. With them are Stille, Bankson,! Kempe, Rambo, Peterson, and several others, whose names still live in their descendants. Their leader is Lacy Cock,# whose merit entitles him to a seat in the first council of the new commonwealth. Observe how he extends his hands; promising, in the name of his countrymen, to love, serve, and obey their reverend proprietor, and declaring that this is the best day they ever saw. The Dutch are disseminated through the town, which was built by them, as you may easily perceive by the sharp-pointed roofs of their houses. They smoke their pipes in silence, and, after their manner, partake of the general joy.

* The Claypoole family are lineally descended from the protector, Oliver Cromwell,
+Their original name was Swenson.
# Lars or Lawrence Cock, corrupted into Lacy Cock.

But see, close to that half-ruined fort, this motley group of Indians, whose anxiety manifests itself on their countenances, and who view the new-comers with looks in which suspicion seems as yet to predominate. They are the Lenni Lenape, whose history and manners are already familiar to you. At their head is Tamanend** the great and the good, who is said never to have had his equal for virtue and goodness, and whose memory is still held in veneration by the savage nations. His eye is steadily fixed on William Penn! His great mind has already discovered in him a congenial soul; alone among his tribe, he shows by his looks that noble confidence which will not be deceived. He it is who, under that elm-tree, which many of us have seen in its vigor, but which, alas ! has not long since been destroyed by the violence of the winter storm, will sign that famous treaty which the genius of the west has immortalized, and which a great writer of another nation## has, with more wit than truth, described as the only one which was never sworn to and never broken. Nor was it violated while William Penn lived, nor while the ascendancy of his great mind was vet operating among us. Afterwards, indeed!—but I will not anticipate the painful duty of the historian.

** The same whom we call St. Tammany. For his character, see Heckewelder's History of the Indian Nations, chap. xi. In 1692, we find him by the name of King Taminent, a party t€ a deed of release of a tract of land lying between Neshaminy and Poquessing, on the river Delaware, and extending backwards to the utmost bounds of the province. This land he, with others had previously sold to Wm. Penn. In 1697, he, by the name of the great Sachem Taminent with his brother and sons, signed another deed for lands between Pemmopeck and Neshamin creeks. See Smith's Laws of Pennsylvania, vol. ii. pp. 111, 112. See Bucks co., p. 162.

At Upland, Penn and his party of Friends were hospitably entertained by Robert Wade. On his first arrival here, turning round to his friend Pearson, one of his own society who had accompanied him in the ship Welcome, he said, Providence has brought us here safely. Thou hast been the companion of my toils; what wilt thou that I should call this place ? Pearson replied, “Chester, in remembrance of the city from whence I came." At this place, on the 4th December, Penn called an assembly. Proud in his history says:—

It consisted of equal numbers of members for the province, and the three lower counties, called the Territories; that is, for both of them, so many of the freemen as thought proper to appear, according to the 16th article of the frame of government.

This assembly chose Nicholas Moore, who was president of the free society of traders, for their chairman or speaker, and received as ample satisfaction from the proprietary as the inhabitants of Newcastle had done, for which they returned him their grateful acknowledgments. The Swedes, for themselves, deputed Lacy Cock to acquaint him, “That they would love, serve, and obey him with all they had;" declaring, "that it was the best day they ever saw."

At this assembly an act of union was passed, annexing the three lower counties to the province, in legislation, on the 7th day of December, 1682; likewise an act of settlement in reference to the frame of government, which, with some alterations, was thereby declared to be accepted and confirmed.

The Dutch, Swedes, and other foreigners, were then naturalized. All the laws agreed on in England, with some small alterations, were passed in form.

The meeting continued only three days; and notwithstanding the great variety of dispositions, rawness, and inexperience of this assembly in affairs of this kind, yet a very remarkable candor and harmony prevailed among them.

The acts passed at this time were 61, and were entitled, "The great law; or the body of laws of the province of Pennsylvania and the territories thereunto belonging." It is remarkable that all these laws are now repealed, or have become obsolete. Among some other curious subjects, was a law against drinking healths, and another providing that the laws should be printed and taught in schools. By these laws every man was allowed to be his own lawyer. The brick house in which the assembly sat is still standing. Annexed is a view of it: the assembly house being only that part built of brick, nearest the creek, and now devoted to the humble purposes of a cooper's shop. The stone house attached to it, fronting on the street, though very ancient, is of later date. The windows and doors of the brick part have been altered to suit its modern tenants, the traces only of the ancient openings being perceptible. In the distance, on the shore of the Delaware, is seen the now solitary pine which marks the landing-place of Wm. Penn. John F. Watson, Esq., speaks of three remaining some fifteen years since. Not far from the shore, and immediately in the rear of the pines, was situated Robert Wade's house. “It had its southeast gable-end," says Mr. Watson," fronting to the river Delaware, and its southwest front upon Essex-street." The porch looked out upon Chester cr. " The oaken chair in which Wm. Penn sat in that assembly is said to be now (1827) in possession of the aged and respectable widow of Col. Frazer."

Great anticipations were indulged by the early settlers here that Chester would become a place of considerable importance as a seaport; and Wm. Penn, before he came out himself, instructed his agents to examine the site carefully with a view of founding there his metropolis; but the preference, for good reasons, was given to Philadelphia. Oldmixon, in 1708, speaks of Chester as containing above 100 houses: he also says—

This place is called Uplands, and has a church called St. Paul's, with a numerous congregation of orthodox professors, whose minister is Mr. Henry Nicholls; his income £50 per year, paid by the society. They are about erecting a school here, dependent on the minister. There'* another little town at the mouth of a creek, called Chichester, which consists of about 100 houses. Below that is a great creek, which we may be sure belonged to the Dutch, by the name given to it, Brandywine. Between Brandywine and Christina is an iron-mill. What advantage it has been to the proprietors, we know not.

The following extracts are from the first edition of Mr. Watson's Annals of Philadelphia:—

In the churchyard of St. Paul's is a headstone of some peculiarity, " in memory of Francis Brooks, who died August 19, 1704," and inscribed thus:

" In barbarian bondage and cruel tyranny
Fourteen years together I served in slavery.
After this, mercy brought me to my country fair;
At last I drowned was in river Delaware."

In the same ground stands a marble, commemorative of the first A. M. of Pennsylvania, to wit:—" 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 38 years." I might add respecting him, that he was the ancestor of the present Dr. Samuel Jackson of Philadelphia, had been a surgeon in the Braddock expedition, was a brother-in-law of the honorable Charles Thomson, and one of the best classical scholars of his time.

At Ridly creek mills is a curious relic—an engraving upon a rock of " I. S., 1683," which marks the spot against which John Sharpless, the original settler there, erected his temporary hut, immediately after his arrival in that year.

The Yates' house, now Logan's, built about the year 1700, was made remarkable in the year 1740-1, (the season of the “cold winter,") for having been visited in the night by a large black bear, which came into the yard and quarrelled with the dog. It was killed the next day near the town.

In an original petition of the inhabitants of Chester of the year 1700, now among the Logan collection, they pray, that “Whereas Chester is daily improving, and in time may be a good place, that the Queen's road may be laid out as direct as possible from Darby to the bridge on Chester creek." This paper was signed by ninety inhabitants, all writing good hands. Vide the original in my MS. Annals, in the City Library.

Jasper Yates, who married Sanderland's daughter, erected, about the year 1700, the present great granary there, having the upper chambers for grain, and the basement story for an extensive biscuit bakery. For some time it had an extensive business, by having much of the grain from the fruitful fields of Lancaster and Chester counties ; but the business has been long since discontinued.

At this late day it is grateful to look back with “recollected tenderness on the state of society once possessing Chester. My friend Mrs. Logan, who once lived there, thus expressed it to me, saying, she had pleasure in her older years of contemplating its society as pictured to her by her honored mother, a native of the place. Most of the inhabitants, being descendants of the English, spoke with the broad dialect of the North. They were a simple-hearted, affectionate people, always appearing such in the visits she made with her mother to the place. Little distinction of rank was known, but all were honest and kind, and all entitled to and received the friendly attentions and kindness of their neighbors in cases of sickness or distress. Scandal and detraction, usual village pests, were to them unknown. Their principles and feelings were too good and simple, and the state of the whole was at least “a silver age."

August 10th, 1767, was the year of the death of "the first-born" child in the province of English parents, born in 1681, one year before John Key, in a cave by the side of the Delaware river. This venerable man of 86 died at Brandywine Hundred, Emanuel Grubb by name. He was active and vigorous to the last, and actually rode to Philadelphia and back on horseback, equal to 40 miles, only a few months before his death. His habits were temperate, never drinking any ardent spirits.

Richard Buffington (son of Richard) was the " the first-born Englishman in Pennsylvania,''  having been born in what was afterwards called "the province," in the year 1769. The facts in his case were peculiarly commemorated in the parish of Chester on the 30th of May, 1739; on that day the father, Richard, having attained his 85th year, had a great assemblage of his proper descendants, to the number of 115 persons, convened in his own house, consisting of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—the first-born being then present in his sixtieth year.

In December, 1739, Mr. Whitefield left the city, and was accompanied to Chester by about 150 horsemen, and preached there to about 7,000 people. At White-clay creek he preached to 8,000. of whom as many as 3,000 were on horseback. Many complimentary effusions to him appear in the gazettes.

In 1756, the first line of stage vessels and wagons was set up from Philadelphia to Baltimore, via Christiana and Frenchtown, on Elk river, to go once a week from Philadelphia.

About a mile and a half northwest from Chester, on the left bank of Chester cr., and a short distance above the mill of Richard Flowers, there still exists an humble cottage, built principally of brick, of which the annexed is a correct sketch. This is the original dwelling erected by Richard Townsend, for the accommodation of his family while he was tend ing the first mill erected in the province. The mill stood some forty rods above the cottage. The original mill is all gone, but the rocks around bear traces of its existence, and the log platform still remains under water at the place where the original ford was, on the road to Philadelphia. The partners in this mill were William Penn, Caleb Pusey, and Samuel Carpenter, and their initials are inserted in the curious antiquated iron vane which was once erected on the roof of the mill, and is still engaged in its 144th year of duty on the top of Mr. Flowers' house. In this cottage, no doubt, Penn, Pusey, and Carpenter have often met to count their gains, and to devise plans for the future good of the province. The hipped roof of the cottage was added by Samuel Shaw, who, before the revolution, erected the second mill near this place. Mr. Richard Flowers, the present or recent proprietor of the mills here, now occupied by his son, is himself a venerable and well-preserved relic of the olden time. So robust is the constitution that he has brought down from those early days, that, in the winter of 1841-2, although accidentally knocked off into the mill-race by an ox-team, and entangled some time under the bridge up to his neck in the water, he was able to ride home the next day, and suffered from the accident no permanent injury. He was between 80 and 90 years of age.

The following extracts are from Richard Townsend's “testimony" in Proud's History of Pennsylvania.

In the year 1682, several ships being provided, I found a concern on my mind to embark with them with my wife and child; and about the latter end of the sixth month, having settled my affairs in London, where I dwelt, I went on board the ship Welcome, Robert Greenaway commander, in company with my worthy friend William Penn, whose good conversation was very advantageous to all the company. His singular care was manifested in contributing to the necessities of many who were sick of the small-pox, then on board; out of which company about thirty died. After a prosperous passage of about two months, having had in that time many good meetings on board, we arrived here.

At our arrival we found it a wilderness; the chief inhabitants were Indians and some Swedes, who received us in a friendly manner; and though there was a great number of us, the good hand of Providence was seen in a particular manner, in that provisions were found for us by the Swedes and Indians, at very reasonable rates, as well as brought from divers other parts, that were inhabited before.

Our first concern was to keep up and maintain our religious worship; and, in order thereunto, we had several meetings in the houses of the inhabitants; and one boarded meeting-house was set up, where the city was to be, near Delaware ; and, as we had nothing but love and good-will in our hearts, one to another, we had very comfortable meetings from time to time; and after our meeting was over, we assisted each other in building little houses for our shelter.

After some time I set up a mill on Chester creek, which I brought ready framed from London, which served for grinding of corn, and sawing of boards, and was of great use to us. Besides, I, with Joshua Tittery, made a net, and caught great quantities of fish, which supplied ourselves and many others; so that, notwithstanding it was thought near three thousand 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, and Indian corn for about two shillings and sixpence per bushel.

And, as our worthy proprietor treated the Indians with extraordinary humanity, they became very civil and loving to us, and brought in abundance of venison. As in other countries the Indians were exasperated by hard treatment, which hath been the foundation of much bloodshed, »o the contrary treatment here hath produced their love and affection.

Darby is a pleasant village on the creek of that name, about seven miles southwest from Philadelphia. It contains a Friends' meeting-house, and some sixty houses, with mills, stores, &c. There are several delightful country seats near the village. Concerning the early settlement of Friends in and near this place, Smith the historian says:

Meetings for worship were first settled in Darby in the year 1682, and a meeting-house soon after built; their monthly meeting was settled in 1684, till which time they were joined to Chester monthly meeting. The names of some of the first settlers belonging to Darby meeting were, John Blunston, Michael Blunston, George Wood, Joshua Fearn, Henry Gibbons, Samuel Sellers, Richard Bonsall, Edmund Cartlidge, Thomas Hood, John Bartram, Robert Nayler, and Adam Rhoads, who all came from Derbyshire in England; Thomas Worth, Samuel Bradshaw, John Hollowell, William Wood, Thomas Bradshaw, Robert Scothorn, and Richard Parker, who all came from Nottinghamshire; John Hood, William Garrett, Robert Cliffe, William Smith, John Smith, and Thomas Smith, who came from Leicestershire.

A short distance from Darby, near the road to Philadelphia, in a lonely but pleasant situation, is the ancient Swedes' church of Kingsessing. The first settlement of Swedes here is noticed above, on page 294. The present church was erected about the year 1763, while the Rev. Charles Magnus Wrangel was pastor. “He was," says Mr. Clay in his Swedish Annals, "one of the most popular preachers the Swedes ever had among them, and was usually obliged, on account of the crowds who attended his ministry, to preach in the open air. He returned to Sweden in 1769, and was made a bishop, and died in 1786."

There was an appearance of locusts in 1715, of which Mr. Sandel has given the following account:—" In May, 1715, a multitude of locusts came out of the ground everywhere, even on the solid roads. They were wholly covered with a shell, and it seemed very wonderful that they could with this penetrate the hard earth. Having come out of the earth, they crept out of the shells; flew away, sat down on the trees, and made a peculiar noise until evening. Being spread over the country in such numbers, the noise they made was so loud that the cow-bells could scarcely be heard in the woods. They pierced the bark on the branches of trees, and deposited their eggs in the opening. Many apprehended that the trees would wither in consequence of this, bat no symptom of it was observed next year. Hogs and poultry fed on them. Even the Indians did eat them, especially when they first came, boiling them a little. This made it probable that they were of the same kind with those eaten by John the Baptist. They did not continue long, but died in the month of June. The same year was very fruitful. A bushel of wheat cost two shillings or two shillings and three pence; a bushel of corn twenty-two pence; of rye twenty pence. A barrel of cider cost six shillings.—Clay's Swedish Annals.
The piety and simple manners of the early Swedish settlers, and the loyalty which they felt for their fatherland, are beautifully set forth in the following letter. Their confidence was well repaid by the kind care of the Swedish government in sending them ministers and books many years after its jurisdiction had ceased over the colony.

"Honored, loving, and much respected friend, John Thelin, his majesty's loyal subject, and postmaster at Gottenburg.

“Your unexpected and welcome letter, dated Gottenburg, 16th Nov. 1692, came to hand the 23d of May, 1693, and made us heartily rejoice that it hath pleased Almighty God, through that young man Andrew Printz, to make known our condition to our friends in Sweden. We rejoice that his majesty doth still bear unto us a tender and a Christian care. Therefore do we heartily desire, since it hath pleased his majesty graciously to regard our wants, that there may be sent unto us two Swedish ministers, who are well learned in the Holy Scriptures, and who may be able to defend them and us against all false opposers, so that we may preserve our true Lutheran faith, which, if called to suffer for our faith, we are ready to seal with our blood. We also request that those ministers may be men of good moral lives and characters, so that they may instruct our youth by their example, and lead them into a virtuous and pious way of life.

" Further, it is our humble desire that you would be pleased to send us three books of sermons, twelve bibles, forty-two psalm-books, one hundred tracts, with two hundred catechisms, and as many primers, for which, when received, we promise punctual payment at such place as you may think fit to order. We do promise also a proper maintenance to the ministers that may be sent ns; and when this our letter is gone, it is our intention to buy a piece of land, that shall belong to the church, and upon which the ministers may live.

“As to what concerns our situation in this country, we are for the most part husbandmen. We plough and sow, and till the ground; and as to our meat and drink, we live according to the old Swedish custom. This country is very rich and fruitful, and here grow all sorts of grain in great plenty, so that we are richly supplied with meat and drink; and we send out yearly to our neighbors on this continent and the neighboring islands, bread, grain, flour, and oil. We have here also all sorts of beasts, fowls, and fishes. Our wives and daughters employ themselves in spinning wool and flax, and many of them in weaving; so that we have great reason to thank the Almighty for his manifold mercies and benefits. God grant that we may also have good shepherds to feed us with his holy word and sacraments. We live also in peace and friendship with one another; and the Indians have not molested us for many years.

“Further, since this country has ceased to be under the government of Sweden, we are bound to acknowledge and declare, for the sake of truth, that we have been well and kindly treated, as well by the Dutch, as by his majesty the King of England, our gracious sovereign : on the other hand, we, the Swedes, have been and still are true and faithful to him in words and in deeds. We have always had over us good and gracious magistrates; and we live with one another in peace and quietness. So that we desire, as soon as this our letter comes to hand, that a speedy attention may be paid to our request; for we believe that God has certainly his hand in this Christian work, and pray that he may bring it to a happy termination."

With this letter was sent “An accurate list of all the men, women, and children now found living in New Sweden, at present Pennsylvania, on the river Delaware."* Among those bom in Sweden, Peter Rambo, and Andrew Bonde (now Boon) had been in the country fifty-four yean. —Clay's Swedish Annals.

* This list may be found in Clay's Swedish Annals.

Delaware co., like Chester and Bucks, contains no large towns, but the inhabitants are scattered in little pleasant hamlets, at the cross-roads, and at the mill-seats along the creeks. The county was originally settled by townships. At Radnor, an ancient Welsh Episcopal church was erected of logs, which is mentioned by Oldmixon in 1708, as being surrounded by about fifty families. They had at that time no settled pastor. The present venerable church, of which the annexed is a view, was erected in 1717. It is situated in a secluded spot, shaded with cedars and other forest trees, about 11-2 miles S. from the Spread Eagle tavern on the Lancaster road, exactly in the corner of Newtown, Radnor, and Easttown townships. Mr. Corrie, who officiated here, was sent over from England about the year 1770 ; but after the declaration of independence he was prohibited from using the prayer in the liturgy in behalf of King George and resigned. He was succeeded by Rev. Slater Clay, (Swedish,) he by Mr. Brinckly, (I think,) and he by the present Mr. Peck, who resides near the Valley church. The Corrie family still continued to reside in the vicinity, and many of their gravestones are seen in the yard. General Anthony Wayne's monument is seen on the right of the view. The residence of the Wayne family is about four miles west from the church.

Springfield Township. Concerning the early settlement of Friends in this vicinity, Smith, the historian, says:—

In 1696, the monthly meeting of Chester, then held at the house of Thomas Vernon, agreed that a meeting should be settled every first and fourth days of the week at John Bowater's; another at Thomas Minshal's every first and fifth days ; and another at Bartholomew Coppock's every first and fourth days. These meetings were called by the names of the persons where they were kept, and are now the respective large meetings of Springfield, Providence, and Middletown.

In Springfield township, about five miles north of Chester, and half a mile south of what was once Gibbons' tavern, on the Chadsford road, stands the birthplace of Benjamin West, the eminent painter.

He was born in the lower room at the S. W. corner of the house, and performed his early exploits in painting in the garret above that room. The S. W. corner, as seen in the view, is on the right hand towards the spectator. The house, built of stone, is still in good preservation, and is occupied by tenants who cultivate the farm. The house was evidently once surrounded with a projecting shed or pent-eaves between the lower and upper stories, like that still seen on the courthouse at Chester. This was a common appendage to all the more costly houses at that day.

Benjamin West was the youngest of a family of ten children of John West, who married Sarah Pearson. He was born on the 10th Oct. 1738. His ancestors were Quakers, and emigrated to this country with William Penn at the time of his second visit Many of the family are still residing in Delaware co. Benjamin was reared in the faith and profession of his ancestors—a profession from which he never swerved when his genius commanded the flattery of courts, and honor from kings and princes. It is recorded of him, by Gait, that at the age of seven he made i drawing, in red and black ink, of an infant niece, of whose cradle he had the charge, and whose tweet smile in her sleep excited his imitative powers, though he had never seen a picture or engraving. With this precocious sign of inherent talent the boy's mother was charmed, and her admiration and encouragement confirmed his taste. At school, even before he had learned to write, pen and ink became his cherished favorites; and birds, flowers, and animals adorned his juvenile portfolio. His father, it is said, being admonished by some of the elders of the society of Friends, did all he could to repress his son's ardent propensity, and sought to direct his attention to more useful pursuits. But it was in vain. It is a tradition of the family that the father, having sent Benjamin out to plough, missed him from his work, and found him under a cokeberry-bush, where he had sketched the portraits of a whole family so strikingly that they were instantly recognised.

At length an epoch occurred in his professional progress. A party of Indians taught him to prepare red and yellow colors, such as they used in decorating their persons; from his mother he obtained some indigo, which completed all the elementary colors of his pallet; while the tail of the family cat furnished him with hair for his pencils. At the age of sixteen he obtained the consent of his parents to pursue painting, as a profession, in Philadelphia. Several of his landscapes executed on panels, over mantel-pieces, are preserved at the Hospital in Philadelphia, where his great picture of Christ Healing the Sick is still exhibited. The sign of the Bull's Head tavern, which long hung in Strawberry-alley, was one of these early productions. It was a few years since purchased and carried to England. Its colors were remarkably fresh and well preserved.

After practising his art successfully in this country until 1759, he embarked for Italy, where he spent about four years in the study of the works of the great masters. On seeing the celebrated statue of the Apollo Belvidere at Rome, he is said to have exclaimed, “How like an Indian warrior!" One day at Rome, while his master had stepped out a moment, West slyly painted a fly on the work on which his master was engaged. The master came in, resumed his work, and made several attempts to scare away the fly. At last he exclaimed, "Ah! it is that American."

Mr. West reached London in 1763, where he settled, and ultimately attained the summit of his fame. He was married in 1765, to a lady of Philadelphia, Miss Shewell, who, having been previously engaged to him, came out to meet him in London. Among the earliest of his productions in London was the subject of Agrippina landing at Brundusium with the ashes of Germanicus. This painting originated from a conversation which took place at the table of Drummond, Archbishop of York, where our artist was a guest: it stamped the fame of Mr. West with the king, George III., who became not only his munificent patron, but his tried and intimate friend.

When, after the battle of Brandywine, several ministers of the court sought to misrepresent West to the king as a whig, or what was worse, a rebel, the king led him into conversation, at a levee, concerning the recent news of the battle. West openly but firmly set forth the wrongs his native country had suffered, and defended their course as far as his Quaker principles would allow. The king, in presence of his ministers, complimented him on his love of his native land, and told him he had raised himself in his esteem by the manly course he had taken.

Our limits will not admit of following Mr. West through his famous professional career. Honors and distinctions were heaped upon him, not only in England, but by eminent foreign bodies and princes. The honor of knighthood offered him by King George, through the duke of Gloucester, was respectfully declined. The Quaker continued true to his principles.

Mr. West died as calmly, as placidly as he had lived, on the 10th March, 1820, at the good old age of 81. His remains repose in St. Paul's cathedral.