144 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1683. 



" The jury find for the Plaint : and give him a cow and a calf, 

 the same to be delivered within 7 days or 4£ 19s. 2d. at the 

 choyce of the Plaint : or the value thereof in Porke, Beefe or 

 Corne in the 8th mo: next & 40s. damages & Costs of suit." 



It was "ordered by the Court that a tax for defraying the 

 public charges be raysed within this county; and in order to 

 the effecting the same with Justice and proportion, three of the 

 magistrates of the county are to meet weekly." 



" John Ward, for sundry Felons, committed to the custody of 

 the Sheriff, and made his escape with irons upon him." From 

 this it may be inferred, that as yet there was no building in 

 Chester that would rank as a jail. 



This Ward had robbed James Sandelandes and George Fore- 

 man, whom the Court ordered to receive back their goods. The 

 early judicial proceedings of the Province would indicate, that a 

 number of professional rogues had Smuggled themselves over in 

 some of the numerous immigrant vessels that were arriving about 

 this time, or else had made their way here from other Provinces. 



The following constables were selected at this Court : " For 

 Chichester liberty. Will"" Hewes ; Chester liberty, Thomas Co- 

 bourn ; Derby liberty, Thomas Worth ; Ammersland liberty, 

 Will" Cobb ; Concord liberty, Jn" Mendenhall." 



Besides the regular County Courts, there was established in 

 each County, another tribunal invested with the power of hear- 

 ing and determining matters in litigation. The persons com- 

 posing it were termed "Peace Makers," and were appointed by 

 the Courts. They possessed about the same power, and occupied 

 the same position as arbitrators of the present day, but they 

 were not appointed with refei'ence to any particular case, and 

 held periodical meetings. The Court orders them " to meet the 

 first fourth day in every month. "^ 



Among the cares that engrossed the attention of William 

 Penn, during his first visit to Pennsylvania, was the purchase of 

 lands from the Indians. The boundaries mentioned in the 

 numerous deeds to him from the Aborigines, are frequently un- 

 certain and overlap each other ; and while it cannot be doubted 

 that he was careful to secure titles from the "right owners," it 

 appears to have been his policy to liquidate any other claims 

 that might be set up, and to take deeds from the claimants, 

 rather than to engage in litigation with savages. 



One of these deeds, that gives us the Indian name of Chester 

 Creek, and embraces nearly the whole County east of that stream, 

 commences thus : 



1 The law authorizing the appointment of " Peace Mnkere," was passed at the 

 Second Session of the Assembly. 



