142 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1683. 



not, however, allow a question of such vital importance to pass 

 by without being "argued." 



"The great law, or the body of laws," embracing many sec- 

 tions or separate laws, was passed by the first assembly, besides 

 the act of Union and Naturalization and the act of Settlement. 



All the acts except the last had been prepared and well con- 

 sidered, before being presented to the legislature. This act be- 

 came necessary on account of the people of the several counties 

 refusing to elect 72 members of council, and to assemble in mass 

 to constitute the first Assembly, as had been provided for by 

 Penn in his Frame of Government, and in accordance with the 

 writs that had been issued to the Sheriffs of the several counties. 

 This act fixed the number of the Council at three from each 

 county, and the Assembly at double that number. It also pro- 

 vides for other matters connected with future legislation. It 

 was no doubt prepared at Chester on the occasion, and this fact 

 explains why the Proprietary was not ready for the Assembly 

 when they met.^ 



On what was considered the most reliable tradition, it has 

 been universally believed that this Assembly held its sittings in 

 an old building which till recently stood on the west side of Fil- 

 bert street, near the margin of Chester creek, and which was 

 familiarly known as " the old Assembly house." It will be 

 shown in another place that this building was erected several 

 years subsequently to the sitting of the Assembly. It is most 

 probable that the first Assembly sat in the "House of defence," 

 as it was then the only public building erected in Upland of 

 which we have any account. 



Every material particular in respect to the first Assembly has 

 been given, because its sittings were held within the territorial 

 limits of what was then Chester^ but is now Delaware county. 

 The next Assembly under a new election was held at Philadel- 

 phia on the 12th of March following, where it continued to sit, 

 with occasional meetings at Newcastle, while the union with the 

 Lower Counties lasted. A list of the members of the Legislature 

 elected each year for Chester county till Delaware county was 

 organized, and subsequently those of Delaware county, will be 

 found in the Appendix, Note D. 



The last Court for the County of Upland, embracing all the 

 settled parts of Pennsylvania, was held on the 12th of Septem- 

 ber, 1682. The first Court for Chester county met at Chester on 

 the 14th of February following, but from some cause adjourned 

 till the 27th of that month without transacting any business At 

 this Court there is a marked change in the aspect of things. 



' For this act see Laws of Penna. foL Appendix 4. (1762.) 



