1738.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 247 



Turks, succeeded in jj.aining the confidence and sympathy of the 

 Yearly Meeting of Frien<ls, and also a contribution of 20 pis- 

 toles. He was recommended to the several meetings in our 

 county as a proper object of charity ; but to what extent relief 

 was granted does not appear. He was evidently viewed with 

 some suspicion.' 



There was nmch violence used by persons residing in Mary- 

 land towards those residing near the supposed line, but claiming 

 to belong to Pennsylvania. Though mostly confined to Lancas- 

 ter County, it happened this year that Elisha Gatchell, one of 

 the Justices of Chester County, was beaten and abused by rioters 

 from Maryland, and subsequently carried by them into the Pro- 

 vince and detained. A warrant was issued by Thomas Graeme, 

 one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, for their arrest.^ The 

 disagreements between the people of the Provinces had now ar- 

 rived at such a pitch, caused by arrests and other indignities 

 offered on either side, that from simple breaches of the peace, 

 open hostilities seemed to be on the eve of breaking out. For- 

 tunately the arrival of an order from the King and Council, on 

 the subject of the boundary, made it the interest of each party 

 to refrain from further hostile proceedings for the present.^ 



George Thomas, a planter of. Antigua, was appointed Gover- 

 nor of the Province in 1737, but did not assume the duties of 

 the ofiice till August of the next year. As a consequence of the 

 gubernatorial change, it became necessary to issue a new Com- 

 mission of the Peace. The following persons were appointed for 

 Chester County: Richard Hayes, Henry Pearce, Henry Hayes, 

 Elisha Gatchell, John Crosby, Caleb Cowpland, Abraham Emmit, 

 James James, John Parry, Joseph Pennock, Samuel Holligs- 

 worth, Joseph Brientnal, Joseph Heins, William Pirn, Joseph Bon- 

 sall, the chief Burgesses for the time being, and Joseph Parker. 



The order of the King and Council, in respect to the Mary- 

 land boundary, proved to be only temporarily beneficial. Com- 

 plaints on both sides were renewed, and a revival of former out- 

 rages was apprehended. These were happily averted by an 

 agreement entered into, at this time, between the Proprietaries 

 of both Provinces. 



The Friends at Darby found it necessary to enlarge their 

 meeting-house, and accordingly " Nathan Gibson, Joseph Bon- 



1 This individual is mentioned by Smith, in his History of New Jersey. He is called 

 Sheck Scidit. and is represented as a native of Berytus, and a prince ol Syria. He had 

 met with great misfortunes and solicited charity. He received larpe contributions both 

 in Europe and this country, especially in New York and Philadelphia, p. 423. The 

 legislature of the Province expended £37 2s. 3d. in the entertainment of this person- 

 age. Col. Rec. iv. 296. 



2 Penna. Archives, i. 538: Col. Rec. iv. 229. The authorities of Maryland disa- 

 vowed the arrest of ttatchell. 



3 Gordon's Hist. Penna. 221. 



