1682.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 137 



The first order for filing an Administration account was made 

 at this Court. The Administrator was directed to appear at the 

 next or the following Court, " and bring into the Court the bills 

 of the Creditors or other satisfaction, signifying to the Court 

 the justness of each jjarticular debt, and also to produce his re- 

 ceipts for what he hath paid." 



This is the last Court held previous to the arrival of the Pro- 

 prietary. Quite a number of Friends had arrived here since 

 Markham came to the country. Among those who settled within 

 the territorial limits of Delaware County, were llichard Fewe, 

 John Kennerly, Thomas Cobourn, Jeremiah Coliett, Richard 

 Worrall, Henry Grubb, and John Simcock. 



Before introducing the Proprietary into this land of promise, 

 it may not be amiss to enlighten the reader in respect to the 

 progress made in religious affairs by the Friends who had pre- 

 ceded him. 



At a monthly meeting held at Chester the llth of the 7th mo. 

 (September) 1682, it was agreed " that a meeting shall be held 

 for the service and worship of God every first day of the week 

 at the Court house at Chester.'"^ It was also agreed, "that there 

 be three meetings in the week ; the Western part to meet at 

 Chichester the 5th day of the week ; the middle meeting at Ha- 

 rold at the house of William Woodmanson the 4th day of the 

 week, and the Eastern meeting at Ridley at John Simcocksthe 5th 

 day of the week until otherwise ordered." It was further ordered 

 that " the monthly meeting for business be held the 1'' Second 

 day of the week in every month at the house of Robert Wade." 



The world did not contain a more busy man than William 

 Penn, from the time the charter for Pennsylvania was granted 

 to him until he sailed for America. Besides the documents 

 issued by him, that have already been mentioned, he incorporated 

 a company with extraordinary powers and privileges, styled the 

 '■'•Free Society of Traders ;" he.published his " Frame of Govern- 

 ment for the province of Pennsylvania, together with certain 

 laws agreed upon in England by the Governor and divers free- 

 men of the aforesaid Province;" he obtained from the Duke of 

 York a release of any claims he might have to the province of 

 Pennsylvania ; and also two deeds of feoffment for the territory 

 now constituting the State of Delaware — one being for twelve 

 miles round New Castle, and the other for the balance of the 

 territory below ;- he wrote innumerable letters to his friends, and 



1 This Court-houDe was doubtless the " House of Defence." 



- AUhou^h the territory west of the Delaware had been governed by the Duke of 

 York, he at this time held no valid title to any part of it. King Charles II. made a 

 regular conveyance to him of the country comprised within tlie present territorial 

 limits of the State of Delaware, on the 22d of March, 1683; the deeds from the Duke 

 to Penn for the same country, were executed on the 24th of August, 1682. See Has. 

 Reg. i. -129-430 ; ii. 27. 



