282 HISTOBT OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1775. 



Agreeably to one of the resolves of the first meeting of the 

 people of Chester County, subscriptions were circulated for the 

 relief of the suffering people of Boston. The Society of Friends, 

 acting in a meeting capacity, did not hesitate to contribute to 

 the same object. Chester Monthly Meeting contributed £10 " for 

 the relief of Necessitous inhabitants of Massachussetts Bay and 

 Provinces adjacent." Darby Meeting paid ,£33 14s. "for the 

 relief of the poor and distressed in New England," while Haver- 

 ford Meeting responded to the request of the meeting for suffer- 

 ings, " that Friends should contribute liberally for the relief 

 of friends or others (in the New England Government), who are 

 or may be reduced to indigent circumstances, in this time of 

 public calamity," and in a short time had the satisfaction to 

 receive " an affecting account of the state of the poor of these 

 Provinces, and of the distribution of the donations sent from 

 hence." 



In this connection it may be remarked, that the period under 

 consideration was one of great tribulation with the more staid 

 members of the Society of Friends. Their tenets imposed a 

 condition of perfect neutrality, and this was generally adhered 

 to; but many, and among them men in high repute for their 

 intelligence, took an active part in opposing the arbitrary mea- 

 sures of the mother country. The effect of allowing their mem- 

 bers to participate in the commotions of the times was foreseen, 

 and the most kindly caution was repeatedly administered by the 

 visitation of Committees. It will be seen hereafter that these 

 efforts were generally, though not wholly, unsuccessful. 



The proposed Provincial Convention assembled at Philadelphia 

 on the 23d of January, 1775, and continued its sessions until 

 the 28th. The following ten delegates from Chester County 

 appeared at the first meeting of the Convention: Anthony 

 Wayne, Esq., Hugh Lloyd, Richard Thomas, Francis Johnston, 

 Esq., Samuel Fairlamb, Lewis Davis, William Montgomery, 

 Joseph Musgrave, Joshua Evans, and Persifer Frazer. The ab- 

 sentees were Thomas Hockley and Thomas Taylor. 



The proceedings of the Convention were unanimous, and the 

 object of one of its first resolves was " to procure a law prohibit- 

 ing the future importation of slaves into the province." 



No record of a meeting of the Chester County Committee, on 

 the 9th of January, the day to which they adjourned, has been 

 found ; but they are again assembled on the 20th of March, pur- 

 suant "to adjournment d^Vidi public notice," showing that an inter- 

 vening meeting had been held. This meeting was held at the 

 house of Richard Cheyney in East Cain, when, on motion, it was 

 " ordered, that Mr. Hockley, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Gronow, Mr. 

 Lloyd, Mr. Frazer, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Taylor, be and they are 



