1780.] IlISToKY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 333 



the Treasury of this State. In the County of Chester, the taxes 

 of two and three months were assessed and eollected at one time. 

 The foUowing is the eopy of an assessment for two months, on 

 the townships which now compose Dehiware County, including 

 the whole of Birmingham and Thornhury: — 



C .y. 



Aston, ..... 



Bethel, 



Birmingham, .... 

 Chester, ..... 

 Chichester, Upper, . 



" Lower, . 



Concord, .... 



Darby, Upper, 

 " Lower, 

 Edgmont, .... 



Haver ford, .... 



iMarple 



Middletown, . . . . 



NewtOAvn, .... 



Providence, Upper, . 



" Lower, . 



Ridley, 



Radnor, . . , . . 



Springfield, .... 

 Thornbury, .... 



Aggregate tax for two months, ^74,003 6 

 In connection with one of the taxes levied this year, there was 

 a small money tax hiid on the several townships, to be paid in 

 coin. This. tax bears no regular proportion to the tax in con- 

 tinental paper laid upon the same townships, and no regularity is 

 observed in the amounts laid upon different townships. The 

 principle upon which it was laid is not understood. 



Many of the assessors and collectors apj)ointed refused to 

 enter upon the duties of their respective offices, notwithstanding 

 the fine usually imposed was £500. It frenueiuly l)ecame neces- 

 sary to distrain in the collection of these enorniuus taxes, and 

 where no goods could be found, the collectors did not hesitate to 

 cut and sell timber to the amount of the tax. The minutes of 

 the Commissioners record a case of oppression, by reason of too 

 much timber being cut by an unscrupulous collector. 



Though the amount of these taxes was vastly greater in ap- 

 pearance than in reality, still their collection oi)erated very 

 oppressively upon many, and in some cases led to a resistance 

 against their forcible collection. In one instance, in Chester 



