1698.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 197 



against persons who failed to comply with the legal enactments 

 on the subject of marriage. In one case, the Grand Jury pre- 

 sented the parties and all the witnesses, and in another case one 

 Matthew llisley was sentenced to receive thirteen lashes lor at- 

 temptituj to marry persons contrary to law, although it was 

 proven on the trial that it was a joke practiced on him — the 

 parties being both men. 



Corporal punishment is becoming more common. A man was 

 sentenced to receive thirty lashes on his bare back, well laid on, 

 for the larceny of one bushel of wheat. 



A Grand Jury, of which George Pearce was foreman, made a 

 presentment against a law that took the business of levying taxes 

 out of their hands and placed it in the hands of six Assessors. 

 They desired "that the six Assessors might be laid aside, and 

 tliat the Graiul Jury, which are the body of the county, may 

 have the order of such things as formerly." 



A Provincial Court is occasionally held at Chester. At one 

 held in October, 1698, before which there was but one case, John 

 Moore appeared as counsel for the '■'■Appellant^'' and David 

 Lloyd for the ^"^ Appellee." 



In the appraisement of 700 acres of land, situated in Provi- 

 dence, taken in execution by the Sheriff, it will be seen how little 

 land had improved in price, independently of the improvements. 

 The land was valued at £80 ; " One house, barn, orchard nursery 

 and Garding at .£160 ;" and the wheat in the ground at £18. 



Haverford Monthly Meeting now appears to be disposed to 

 get rid of the municipal concerns with which it has heretofore 

 been burdened. To accomplish this object, it was concluded by 

 the meeting " that there be a towns meeting held at Haverford 

 to regulate matters and decide controversies, the first third day 

 of the third month, for the townships belonging to this monethly 

 meeting, & then to appoint meetings <& adjourn the same as they 

 think convenient." The minutes of these town meetings have 

 not been discovered. 



The monthly meeting has been constantly held at Haverford 

 since the erection of the meeting-house at that place. Now it is 

 agreed to let the monthly meeting alternate among the several 

 meetings composing it, viz : Merion, Haverford and Radnor. It 

 still retained the name of " Haverford Monthly Meeting." 



The Friends of the Quarterly Meeting of Chester County 

 became dissatisfied " that some Welsh Friends live within their 

 county, and yet join with friends of y"" county of Philadelphia in 

 their monthly and Quarterly meetings." John Bevan, William 

 Howell, Row. Ellis and Rees Thomas were appointed by the 

 Haverford meeting " to remind them of the conclusion made 

 betwixt them & the Welsh friends, that their meetings should 



