276 



HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 



[1772. 



oz., of which Chester County produced 335 lbs., brought in by 

 the following named persons: 



Grace Beal 

 Mary Parker (Darby) 

 Mary Pearson (Darby) 

 Abigail Davis (Chester) 

 Sarah Fordham (Darby) 

 Ann Cochran (Darby) 

 Rachel Hayes (Darby) 

 James Millhouse 

 Ann Davis 

 Elizabeth Bonsall 

 Mary Davis 



It is probable that the white mulberry tree, (Morus alba,) was 

 introduced into this county at this time. It is now fully natu- 

 ralized, especially in the eastern part of the county, where there 

 are trees three feet in diameter. 



On account of the death of his father, which happened in 

 1771, Lieut. Governor John Penn returned to England, and 

 before the close of the year was succeeded by Richard Penn ; 

 James Hamilton, President of the Council, having acted as Go- 

 vernor in the meantime. 



The best men in the county did not, at this period, hesitate to 

 assume the duties of county offices. Thus we find Anthony 

 Wayne, who subsequently became one of the great generals of 

 the Revolution, and John Morton, one of the signers of the De- 

 claration of Independence, the former as an assessor, and the 

 latter as a Justice of the Peace, uniting with the County Commis- 

 sioners in letting out, by contract, the building of a county 

 bridge. It was the bridge over Little Crum Creek, on the road 

 between Darby and Chester. The bridge was let at X210; is a 

 stone arched bridge, and is still standing, an enduring monument 

 of the integrity of those concerned in its erection. 



At a subsequent meeting " the consideration of the rebuilding 

 the Flat for carrying persons over the Brandywine coming be- 

 fore the board, they agree that it should be done, with all con- 

 venient speed, and appoint John Webster & Thomas Taylor to 

 procure the same as soon as they can at the most reasonable 

 terms." This flat was used at Chadds' Ford. 



The excitement of the people produced by the illegal and tur- 

 bulent proceedings of the Connecticut claimants, was, at this 

 period, even greater than that produced by the arbitrary mea- 

 sures of the mother country. This controversy, though sus- 

 pended during the Revolution, was not ended till 1802, when it 

 was rightfully decided in favor of Pennsylvania. 



The several Monthly Meetings of the Society of Friends, of 



