LANCASTER COUNTT. 57 



Emigration, during this unhappy state of affairs, was 

 reiy Umited. Though the oppression abroad was very- 

 great, and a free asyhim held to all of every creed, tlie 

 influx of population had for a season stopped, and settle- 

 ments sparsely made. None seemed, even in the pro- 

 rince, to adventure an approach m settling nearer the 

 banks of the Susquehanna. Those who advanced 

 took forethought not to seat far from " mill and meeting 

 /wnse.'' A few quaker pioneers settled about the year 

 1707, in Kennet, Chester county. Among others were 

 Vincent Caldwell, Thomas Wickersham, Joel Bailey> 

 Thomas Hope, Guyan Miller..* 



Nothing of importance c-f a local character, within the 

 limits of Lancaster county, occurred during the first year 

 of Gookin's administration. The Indians had sent 

 several messages to him and council. He promised them 

 a visit, but was prevented by public business. Lest he 

 might forfeit their confidence, he instructed the sectretary 

 at a comicil, held at Philadelphia, Jime 8, 1709, forth- 

 with to despatch a messenger to the Conestogo and 

 other Indians, &c., with instructions in writing to excuse 

 him from coming, because the assembly was then in 

 session upon an important business, and as a credential, 

 he commanded the messenger to take a good belt of 

 "wampum with him, to inform them that if they designed 

 to pay a visit to the Five Nations, they ara now busily 



convenient to a politician — and by this distinction the poiat 

 was gained. 



All quit-rents were abolished, except in Manors, by the ninth 

 section of the Divesting Act, passed 27th November, 1779- — 

 Smith's Laws, Pa. II, 138. 



The quit-rents were not uniform ; they varied from one 

 shilling sterling per hundred acres, to six shillings per annum^ 

 and in other instances more. 



*Proud, I, 482. 



