1743.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 255 



Tbc ferry established on the Brandy wine at Chadds' Ford not 

 provinii; to be remunerative, except when connected with the 

 business of tavern-keeping, John Chadds therefore " presented 

 a petition, (signed by himself and a considerable number of in- 

 habitants of Chester County,) to the Commissioners and asses- 

 sors, setting forth that pursuant to an agreement made with 

 their predecessors in the year 1737, he ))uilt a boat and suitable 

 appurtenances for the conveying of people and carriages over 

 Brandywine creek, with the money that he borrowed of the 

 county for that purpose, the sum of which was 30 pounds, and 

 it being evident as y" petitioner conceives, that the profits of the 

 said ferry, will not without some consideration, compensate for 

 the charge thereof, and that the Honorable Justices, hath at 

 last August Court, thought proper to deprive him the s'^ John 

 Chadds from keeping a house of entertainment, near the s'^ ferry, 

 which he had done heretofore : They therefore request that the 

 said John Chads may be acquitted & discharged from the pay- 

 ment of the sum of money above mentioned, and also from the 

 care and management of a'^ boat and appurtenances, and some 

 other person appointed to act therein in his stead." The peti- 

 tion does not appear to have been granted, for in two years 

 thereafter John Chadds had paid the £30, with the interest re- 

 mitted, and is again reinstated in his business of tavern-keeping. 



The fairs authorized by law were not suflBcient to satisfy the 

 desires of the public in this respect. Charles Connor and five 

 others were this year bound over for holding a fair at Birming- 

 ham, but it does not appear that any further proceedings were 

 had in the matter. 



How customary it was at this period for criminals to receive 

 corporal punishment by whipping, as a part or the whole penalty 

 for their wrong-doings, may be inferred from the two following 

 minutes taken from the Commissioners' books : 



''Allowed John Wharton an order on the Treasurer for four 

 shillings for making a new tvhip, and mending an old one for 

 the use of the County." 



"Allowed Isaac Lea an order on the Treasurer, for the sum of 

 8 shillings, being for two new whips, and mending an old one; 

 for the County's service." 



Benjamin Hayes, of Haverford, who had served the Com- 

 missioners as Clerk for many years, "'presented a petition de- 

 siring to be discharged from his office.'' John Wharton was 

 appointed in his place. 



Tench Francis was allowed £5 for his services as Attorney- 

 General in Chester County. 



Application was made to the Commissioners for a bridge over 

 Chester Creek, "with a draw or sliding bridge for convenience 



