368 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1845. 



this test that the people of our County became fully acquainted 

 with the vast extent of their own resources. 



We have now arrived at a period in our narrative when the 

 proceedings commenced which, after a protracted contest, re- 

 sulted in the removal of the seat of justice of the County from 

 Chester to a more central location, around which has grown up 

 the town of Media. The author took an active part in these 

 proceedings on the side favorable to removal, and on that ac- 

 count he would gladly have passed over the subject with the 

 mere notice of the time when the seat of justice was removed. 

 But it is a matter of too much local importance to be passed 

 by so slightly. An effort will therefore be made to narrate the 

 transactions connected with it free from any improper feeling 

 or bias. 



On the 22d of November, 1845, agreeably to public notice, 

 a meeting of citizens of the County was held at the Black 

 Horse tavern in Middletown, " to take into consideration the 

 propriety of removing the Seat of Justice to a more central po- 

 sition." After adopting a preamble and resolutions favorable 

 to a removal of the public buildings to a more central location, 

 the meeting recommended meetings to be held in each township 

 on the 5th of December following, " to elect two delegates in 

 each, to meet on the 6th of December at the Black Horse tavern ; 

 the delegates appointed to vote for the removal of the Seat of 

 Justice or otherwise ; also, to decide upon those [the sites] de- 

 signated by this meeting, which of them shall be adopted." The 

 following places were named " as suitable locations for the pub- 

 lic buildings : — County property in Providence ; Black Horse in 

 Middletown ; Chester ; Rose Tree in Upper Providence, and 

 Beaumont's Corner, Newtown." 



Between the time of holding this meeting and the election of 

 delegates, the November Court was held, at which the Grand 

 Jury recommended the erection of a new jail. This was the 

 second Grand Jury that had made the same recommendation, 

 and it now rested with the County Commissioners to proceed 

 with the work, a circumstance that rendered it important that 

 the question of the location of the new prison should be decided 

 as early as possible. 



In some of the townships no delegates were elected ; and 

 owing to the very icy state of the roads, many who were elected 

 did not attend the meeting appointed to be held on the 6th. 

 Twelve townships were, however, represented as follows : 



Birmingham — Dr. Elwood Harvey, J. D. Gilpin. 

 Chester— i. K. Zeilin, Y. S. Walter. 

 Upper Chichester — Robert R. Dutton. 



