1692.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 183 



ber.' This docunient was sifrned by George Maris, Joshua 

 Fearne, John Simcock, Jolin Blunston and Walter Fawcet, min- 

 isters of the Society residing in Chester county. Previous to 

 the time of issuing this testimony, no notice appears in the 

 minutes of any of the Monthly Meetings of Chester County on 

 the subject of the controver.s3\ 



Friends now begin to give their attention to the subject of 

 schools. At a monthly meeting, held at Darby the 7th of the 

 7th mo. (September), it was agreed, "that Benjamin Clift is to 

 teach scoole, Beging* y^ 12"" of y' 7*'' mo : and to continue one 

 whole yeare, except 2 weckes." The annual salary of this worthy 

 teacher, as appears by an agreement for employing him another 

 year, was but <£12. He probably boarded with his employers. 



Up to this time the supervisors of the highways were appointed 

 by the Court, when the Justices ordered, " that every respective 

 township within this county, for the future, from time to time, 

 shall within themselves appoint supervisors and fence viewers, 

 and make returns of the same to the County Court from time to 

 time." Our Justices did not hesitate to legislate a little, occa- 

 sionally, in these early times. 



It was not uncommon for the Court to notice abusive words 

 spoken against any of its members. This practice was in accord- 

 ance with the spirit of the times, but was evidently unattended 

 by any beneficial results. A case, such as the following, could 

 hardly be allowed to pass unnoticed at the present time : 



" J M was called to the bar to answer a present- 

 ment of the Grand Jury, for abusing John Bristow and John Sim- 

 cock, two of the King and Queen's Justices of the peace, in call- 

 ing them a pack of Rogues, and the Jury was called & the said 



M did then, in open Court, aflSrm that the said partys was 



two of the greatest rogues that ever came to America. Where- 

 upon the Court gave judgment that he pay a fine of five pounds 



& Costs of suit, &c. The said M was also fined 5s. for 



swearing." 



From the following proceedings, in respect to laying out a road 

 in Chester, it may be inferred that a public Dial was set up in 

 that town. 



Upon petition of James Lownes, and others, the Grand Jury 

 was authorized " to lay out a road to the Dyall post straitway to 

 the road for the convenience of both town^nd country." This 

 road was laid out and returned as follows : 



" Beginning at the Dyall post and so running south 22 de- 

 grees West to low water mark ; then beginning again at the 

 Dyall post aforesaid thence running North 22 degrees East up 

 the King's road, which said road or street is to contain thirty 



» Proud's Hist. Penna. i. 365-36Su 



