156 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1685. 



ford, joined in the Complaint ; but what action was taken by the 

 Council to abate the evil, further than to send for " y^ respective 

 Indian Kings, with all speed," to appear before them, is not 

 known. 



In the proceedings of the Chester Court for this year, several 

 orders are made in respect to the New Court House and prison. 

 The collectors of the levy for their erection are to " be consi- 

 dered, for their time and paines, twelve pence in the pound;" 

 Joseph Humphrey and Thomas Norberry are appointed collectors 

 of the levy for Newtown, which now makes its first appearance 

 as a township ; Darby township is to pay Lassie Dalbo, or his 

 assigns, "seven pounds two shillings & six pence out of the 

 assessment for the court house & prison, if they see they can 

 soe doe with safety;" and William Dalbo, " so much as he can 

 make appear to be due for his work done on the Court House 

 and prison," out of the levies raised for that purpose in said 

 to^vnship. Nor was the building to be exclusively occupied for 

 judicial purposes and the incarceration of criminals. Its loca- 

 tion, convenient to Chester Creek, gave it commercial advan- 

 tages that Avere not overlooked in its construction. Hence it 

 was ordered by the Court, " that all people that shall make use 

 of the Court house for Sellerage of any Goods, shall for every 

 Tonne pay after the rate of three shillings four pence a Tonne, 

 for any time not exceeding a week ; and for what time it shall 

 continue afterwards, halfe soe much."' 



There was another levy ordered this year, partly, no doubt, 

 on account of the New Court-house and prison. This assess- 

 ment imposed a tax of 2s, 6d. per 100 acres on lands belonging 

 to residents, and 3s. on that of non-residents ; on free male 

 inhabitants, from 16 years of age to 60, a poll tax of 2s. 6d., 

 and upon servants Is. 3d. The collectors were authorized to 

 receive this tax in good merchantable Indian Corn at the rate of 

 2s. 8d. per bushel. Wheat at 4s. 6d., and Rye at 3s. 6d. Before 

 the collection was made these prices were raised to 5s. per bushel 

 for wheat, 4s. for rye, and 3s. for corn. 



A practice had now become general for constables, and some- 

 times for supervisors, at the expiration of their oflScial terms, to 

 come into Court, report " a7Z was well,'' and receive their dis- 

 charge. The following is given as a specimen of the usual 

 minute made in such cases : 



" Samuel Bradshaw, Constable for the last year for Darby, 

 made his returne, ' all was tvell,' whereupon Edmund Cartelidge 

 was elected to serve and attested for the ensuing year." 



1 This court-house and prison was the first building specially erected in Chester for 

 the administration of justice. It was doubtless built of logs, and not very well 

 adapted to the purposes for which it was erected. 



