124 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1681. 



of October. If the increased amount of law business, and the 

 character of a considerable portion of it resulted from the re- 

 moval of the Court, the Justices gained but little by the change. 

 Among the cases tried, were three for " Slaunder and defamation." 



For the due preserving "of y peace of o"" Souerayne Lord 

 y^ King," &c., the Court found it necessary to appoint a con- 

 stable " to officiate between the Schuylkill and Nieshambenies 

 kill." The Court also found it necessary to appoint two 

 "viewers of y^ Highwayes & roads & fences," who resided in the 

 same district. There was one jury trial at this Court, but the 

 names of the jurors are not given. The Court did allow "of 

 y® jury's verdict," and passed judgment accordingly. 



No other Court was held till March, 1681, when nothing of 

 importance was transacted. At the Court held in the following 

 June, "Justice Otto Ernest Coch acquaints the Court, that hee 

 has bought and paid of ye Indian proprietors a certaine swampy 

 or marshy Island called by ye Indians quistconk Lying att the 

 upper End of Tinnachkonk Island in ye river opposit andrews 

 Boones creek; and desires y° Co""*' approbation. The Cor' 

 hauing well informed themselves about y® p''mises, doe allow 

 thereof."^ 



There was also a jury of seven men empanneled at this Court, 

 viz. : James Sauderlins, Will: Boyles, John Boeyar, barmen 

 Ennis, Will: orian, andries petress and oele raesen. 



The Dutch clergyman at Wicaco, " Magisf Jacobus fabritius," 

 "not finding his dues regularly paid," upon application to the 

 Court, obtained an order, " that y" church wardens of the pe- 

 ticon'''^ church doe take care that Every one of those as haue signed 

 and promised towards his maintaynance, doe pay him y^ sumes 

 promised, upon payne of Execution ag'* y^ defective."^ This 

 Magister did well to make sure of his pay in time. The advent 

 of a new Government was at hand, in which such claims could 

 not be viewed with much favor. 



Roads and highways are frequently mentioned in the pro- 

 ceedings of the Upland and New Castle Courts, but it is not to 

 be supposed that these ways, at this early day, were used for 

 wheeled vehicles of any kind. The usual mode of travelling 

 was either by water or on horseback ; but the roads, such as 

 they were, required some repairs, and hence the appointment of 

 overseers. No taxes were laid, but those who refused to work 

 on the highways were subjected to a fine. This practice con- 

 tinued for many years under Penn's Government. The imposi- 

 tion of a fine of 25 gilders, for neglecting to work on the roads, 

 was among the last acts of the Upland Court under the Duke's 

 Government. 



1 Rec. Upland Court, 190. This island is llog Island of the present day. 

 » Rec. Upland Court, 191. 



