1727.] 



HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 237 



in prison, "for relief from his imprisonment; and y' liis creditors 

 may accept his servitude as j" hiw directs, having no other way 

 to satisfy the same." The Court directs that he shall serve his 

 creditors four years; the persons accepting his servitude to pay 

 the costs. But if the creditors do not accept of his servitude in 

 the space of thirty days, then the prisoner is to be sold for 

 four years. There was also a convict ordered to be sold for four 

 years, for the payment of his fine, fees and expenses. 



The government of the Province, in 1726, passed out of the 

 hands of Governor Keith. His successor was Patrick Gordon, 

 among whose earliest acts was the recommendation of the culture 

 of silk, which he also urged in a letter to the Lords Commis- 

 sioners of Trade. 



The Commission of the Peace for Chester County, under the 

 new administration, was filled up with the following names: John 

 Wright, Richard Hayes, Henry Pearce, Nathaniel Newlin, John 

 Wood, Henry Hayes, Isaac Taylor, Elisha Gatchell, Samuel 

 Nutt, John Crosby, Abraham Emmett, Jun., Tho. Ried, George 

 Assheton, Tobias Hendricks, Andrew Cornish, Mercer Brown, 

 and Evan Lewis. 



The Indians living on, or near a branch of the Brandywine, 

 complained to the Governor and Council that their fishing was 

 hindered by the erection of a mill and dam on that Creek, in 

 New Castle County. It appears there was a law in the Lower 

 Counties requiring this dam to be left open in the fishing season, 

 which had not been complied with. 



AVhile the poor Indian was thus seeking redress from the provin- 

 cial authorities for injuries inflicted upon his fishing interest, these 

 authorities were imploring the home government for relief from 

 impositions imposed upon theirs. The shad fisheries of the Dela- 

 ware were largely productive beyond the home consumption, but 

 an injudicious duty imposed by Parliament on salt, almost ex- 

 eluded salted shad from commerce. New England had obtained 

 an exemption from this duty, and the application of Pennsyl- 

 vania for the same was entrusted to a 5lr. Perry of London. 

 This gentleman was at length successful ; and so highly did the 

 provincial authorities esteem his services, that they rewarded 

 them with a donation of 150 guineas.' 



News of the death of the King having been received, his Royal 

 Highness the Prince of Wales was, on the 31st of August, pro- 

 claimed King, by order of the Governor and Council. As a 

 matter of course all Commissions were renewed. James James 

 was added to the list of Justices for Chester County. 



An addition to Providence meeting-house having been erected 

 last year, a proposition was now made for furnishing the build- 

 ing with a gallery " to accommodate large gatherings." 

 1 Gordon's Hist. Peana. 205. 



