1688.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. Ifi7 



claimed the attention of Friends. A strong testimony against 

 the practice, was about this time received from the yearly meet- 

 ing. The aj)|)roval of this paper was attested by the signatures 

 of the principal male members of the Chester Monthly Meeting 

 to the number of seventy-six. This array of witnesses does not 

 only show the magnitude of the evil as it existed among them, 

 but it gives some idea of the extent to which the settlements had 

 progressed at this early period. Seventeen persons give their 

 approval of the same testimony on behalf of Chichester and 

 Concord Monthly Meeting. 



A portion of the minutes of Haverford Meeting, at about this 

 period, being lost, the date of the erection of the first meeting- 

 house at that place cannot be precisely ascertained. There are 

 however undoubted facts to show that it was erected in 1G88 or 

 1689. The first marriage solemnized at "Haverford Meeting 

 House,'' was that of Lewis David to Florence Jones, at a meet- 

 ing held 1st mo. (March) 20th, 1690. 



The Justices of the Court were in the practice of holding 

 what they termed "Petty Sessions," at other places than the 

 seat of justice. Thus in the proceedings of the regular sessions, 

 it is recorded that "Richard BuflSngton was called to the bar to 

 answer his contempt of an order of Petty Sessions, held on the 

 27"' of the 10"" month last at George Foremans' — Remitted, 

 paying his fees." George Foreman lived at Marcus Hook. 



It was ordered by the court, " that Upper and Nether Provi- 

 dence and Ridley, doe for this time repair the Bridge in the 

 King's road near Walter Fawsetts', upon Croome Creeke." 

 The King's road, running from Philadelphia to the lower 

 Counties, was located higher up than at present. It crossed 

 Ridley Creek near Shoemakerville, and Chester Creek above 

 Upland. It was laid out, (if laid out at all,) so as to head the 

 tide in the several creeks.^ Providence has heretofore constituted 

 but one township. 



On the 2nd of the 8th month, the Grand Jury report that 

 they " doe lay out a street and a landing upon the creek to the 

 corner soe far as over against the North West Corner of the 

 court house fifty foote in breadth and from thence up to the 

 said Chester towne for a street thirty foote in Breadthe." 



One of the presentments of the Grand Jury was 



of Concord " for travelling on the first day of the week, 



being the 21*' of the 8"" month in the year 1688, with a yoke 

 of oxen and a wayne, and a horse or mare before them." 



They likewise presented " the road between George Willards 

 fence and Jonathan Hayes for being not passable ; likewise the 

 miU way to Darby Creek, to be cut both in the township of 



' See map of early settlements. 



