INTRODUCTION. 



The circumstances under which the author was induced 

 to engage in the preparation of the work now submitted 

 to the public, will be briefly explained. 



Many years since a resolution w^as adopted by the 

 Delaware County Institute of Science, havino; in view the 

 collection and preservation of manuscripts, printed docu- 

 ments, traditions, or any other matter or thing calculated 

 to illustrate the history of the County. A notice was 

 published in the County papers, requesting persons in pos- 

 session of the desired information, to place the documents 

 containing it in the possession of the Institute. This re- 

 quest was but very partially responded to, either by the 

 members of the Institution, or by others. Still there were 

 a few who took a deep interest in the subject. The}' 

 plainly saw that many facts calculated to illustrate our 

 early history had already passed into oblivion, because no 

 means had been adopted to collect and preserve them, and 

 that if this important subject should be longer neglected, 

 many more would soon be placed beyond our reach, by 

 the decease of a number of intelligent persons, still living, 

 who were familiar with the stirring times and local events 

 of our revolutionary struggle. 



Among those who took the deepest interest in the matter 

 was Joseph Edwards, Esq., an active and intelligent member 

 of the Institute. It was a subject in accordance with his 

 taste, and he freely devoted his time and his vigorous 

 intellect, in accomplishing the original object of the In- 

 stitution. His reading was from this time more particularly 

 directed to the various works that relate to the early set- 

 tlements on the Delaware. Making himself famiUar with 



