1814.] HISTORY UF DELAWAUE COUNTY. 351 



a better system uf fanning, that much of the land of this County 

 has been brouglit from an exhausted condition to its present 

 state of fertility and productiveness. 



The declaration of war by our government in 1812 against 

 Great Britain, created no greater alarm in our community than 

 -was common over the whole country. It was not till the sum- 

 mer of 1814 that apprehensions of immediate danger were 

 seriously entertained. The appearance of the British fleet in 

 the Chesapeake aroused the riiiladelphians to the adoption of 

 measures for the defence of their city. The approaches by 

 land were to be defended by a series of earthworks which were 

 hastily erected. The most distant of these defences from the 

 city was located in this County between Crum and Ridley 

 creeks, so as to command the Southern Post-road. 



The danger of Chester was still greater than rhiladc]j)hia, 

 and the means of defence much less, although an extensive 

 earthwork had been thrown up immediately l)elow Marcus Hook, 

 and mounted with cannon, so as to command the river. As a 

 measure of precaution the public Records of the County of 

 Delaware were kept packed up, ready for removal to a place of 

 greater security in the interior. 



In October, an encampment of several thousand militia was 

 established on the high grounds immediately back of Marcus 

 Hook. The men composing it were drafted from the south- 

 eastern part of Pennsylvania. Of these Delaware County fur- 

 nished two full companies of 100 men upon two separate drafts, 

 the second of which was regarded as illegal. The first company 

 was convened at the ''Three Tuns," now the Lamb tavern, in 

 Springfield, on the 14th of October, and marched to Chester 

 that day. Its officers were, Capt. William Morgan, 1st Lieut. 

 Aaron Johnson, 2d Lieut. Charles Carr, and Ensign, Samuel 

 Hayes. This company remained at Chester two weeks waiting 

 for their camp equipage, before repairing to the encampment at 

 Marcus Hook. During this time the men occupied meeting- 

 houses and other public buildings. 



The second company arrived at camp about two weeks later. 

 It was commanded by Capt. John Hall, Lieutanant 

 and Ensign Robert"^ Dunn. John L. Pearson of Ridley held 

 the office of Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment to which the 

 above two companies belonged. 



The danger of an invasion of the State by way of the Dela 

 ware or Chesapeake having passed away, the encampment was 

 broken up early in December. The two Delaware County com- 

 panies with others were marched to Darby, where, for two 

 weeks, they occupied the Methodist and Friends' meeting-houses, 

 the bark-house, school-house, &c., after which they were marched 

 to Philadelphia and discharged the day before Christmas. 



