396 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 



he sold to various purchasers. The whole, or nearly the whole 

 of this purchase was located in Radnor, though there is no evi- 

 dence that the grantor, Davies, ever visited this country. 



Madnor Friends' Meeting-house, built in 1718, is still standing. 

 It is a permanent building, in good repair, and with an addi- 

 tion, built in later years, at the east end, (originally for a school- 

 house,) is used for holding the monthly meetings of the Society 

 for several particular meetings. The first body interred in the 

 grave-yard attached to this meeting-house, was that of Gwenllian, 

 the wife of Howell James, 11th mo., 31st, 1686. 



About twenty years since, a Catholic educational institution 

 was established in Radnor, called Villa Nova. It was under 

 the charge of the " Hermits of St. Augustine," but is not at this 

 time in successful operation as a school. A large farm is con- 

 nected with the institution. 



The Methodist congregation that worships at the church on 

 the old Lancaster road, in the eastern part of the township, is 

 one of the oldest of that persuasion. There is also a Baptist 

 Church in this township, known as Radnor Hall, which was con- 

 stituted in 1841. 



NEWTOWN. 



Although this township was not included in the Welsh Tract, 

 it was originally, for the most part, settled by Welshmen. It 

 was laid out with what was called a " Townstead" in the centre, 

 and the first purchasers of land in the township were entitled to 

 a certain number of acres in the Townstead, or new village as it 

 was sometimes called. This ideal town doubtless suggested the 

 name of the township. A township similarly laid out in Bucks 

 County bears the same name. Newtown was not fully organ- 

 ized till 1686, though a collector of taxes was appointed early 

 in 1685. 



St. David's., or Radnor Church., noticed in another place, is 

 within the limits of Newtown township. With the exception of 

 Haverford meeting-house, it is the oldest place of worship in 

 Delaware County, having been erected in 1717, one year earlier 

 than the Friends' Meeting-house of Radnor. The building and 

 its surroundings bear the marks of antiquity. The stone stair- 

 way outside of the main building, leading to the gallery, is alto- 

 gether unique. 



The oldest tomb-stone noticed in the cemetery that surrounds 

 the Church, bears this inscription : 



" Here Lieth ye body of 

 Edward Hvghes, Entered 

 y*^ 16 day of December 

 1716 — aged 56 years 9 months."' 



1 This Edward Hughes, it is said, was Rector of tho Church as early as 1704. 



