CHAPTER XXVII

CIVIL LISTS

PROTHONOTARY, CLERKS OF COURT, RECORDER OF DEEDS, AND REGISTER OF WILLS

Thomas Revell, Sept. 13, 1681, to Aug. 22, 1683; Robert Eyre, Oct. 17, 1683, to December, 1689; Joshua Fearne, September, 1690, to April 18, 1693; John Childe, June 13, 1693, to March, 1690-1700; Henry Hollingsworth, June 11, 1700, to Feb. 22, 1708-9; John Simcock, May 24, 1709, to 1716; Joseph Parker, 1724 to 1766; Henry Hale Graham, 1766 to 1777.; Benjamin Jacob, March 22, 1777, to April 4, 1777; Caleb Davis, July 1, 1777.

REGISTER OF WILLS.

John Simcock, 1714 to May, 1716; Joseph Parker, Aug. 14, 1716, to Jan. 12, 1759; Henry Hale Graham, March 5, 1757, to Feb. 13, 1777; Thomas Taylor, March 25, 1777; John Breaton, April 6, 1782; Persifor Frazer, April 8, 1786.

RECORDER OF DEEDS.

John Bristow, in office March 10, 1688; Joshua Fearne, March 25, 1691; Robert Eyre, March 26, 1693; John Childe, Jan. 3, 1695; Henry Hollingsworth, Dec. 10, 1700; Peter Evans, April 17, 1706; John Simcock, Jan. 28, 1707; after which date three offices, prothonotary, recorder, and register, were held by one person.

Delaware County was erected in 1789, since which time the following persons have filled the office of prothonotary, recorder of deeds, register of wills, and clerks of court: William Richardson Atlee, Sept. 28, 1789; Davis Bevan, April 6, 1796; James Barnard, May 11, 1800; Thomas Brinton Dick, Feb. 22, 1806; Joseph Eagle, May 24, 1809; Benjamin Pearson, March 11, 1818; Thomas Robinson, March 8, 1821; Henry Myers, Jan. 17, 1S24; John K. Zeilen, Dec. 20, 1832; John Hinkson, Aug. 28, 1834; John Richards, Jan. 9, 1836; Samuel Weaver, Jr., Dec. 7, 1838; James Houston, Nov. 12, 1841; Joseph Taylor, Nov. 22, 1844; James Sill, Jr., Nov. 11, 1847; Nicholas F. Walter, Nov. 25, 1853; Nicholas F. Walter, Nov. 21, 1853; Thomas Forsythe, Nov. 25, 1859; Benjamin F. Baker (unexpired term of Forsythe), Nov. 12, 1862; George Esrey, Nov. 26, 1862; Orson Flagg Bullard, Nov. 23, 1865; Isaac Johnson, Dec. 29, 1874.

Mr. Johnson filled the office of prothonotary until January, 1884, when Morris P. Hannum, the present incumbent, was qualified.

By act of Assembly, Feb. 19, 1860, the office of prothonotary and that of recorder of deeds was directed to be filled by different persons.

RECORDER OF DEEDS.

Frederick Fairlamb, Nov. 26, 1862; Frederick B. Cutler, Nov. 21, 1871; Canby S. Smith (unexpired term of Cutler), May 24, 1873; Charles P. Walter, Jan. 18, 1875; Edward Blame, Dec. 20, 1880.

Edward Blaine is the present incumbent, having been re-elected November, 1883.

By act of March 20, 1873, the office of register of wills and clerk of Orphans’ Court was made a separate office. Thomas Lees, the first register under this act, commissioned Dec. 13, 1874, is the present incumbent, he having been elected four terms in succession, the last time in November, 1883.

Coroner – The first reference we find to the office of coroner is at a court held 6th day of Fifth month, 1684, when the sheriff and clerk of court complained that court fees had not been paid them; execution was issued to collect the amount claimed, and on the 8th day of Seventh month, 1684, “James Kenela, Coroner,” made the return to the writs. To show the manner of making the return of inquest in the early days, and “Ay, marry, is’t crowner’s-quest law,” I append two of these returns:
     “The 5th of 5th mo 1699, We whose names are here subscribed being summoned & attested by the Coroner to View the Corpes of Ann Cruett do find by the best evidence that can find by two witness & several others big in place that nothing did procure her death but the heat of the weather and it been please God to visit her sudden death. As witness our names:

“Edgemond the 6 of the 5 mont 1699. We whose names are under written summoned and attested by the coroner to view the body of Sarah Baker having made strict enquiry & also have what evidence could be found attested to what they know & we find no other but that it pleased Almighty God to visit her with death by the force of thunder and to this we all unanimously agreed. Subscribe with our names the day and year above written:

The following list embraces the persons who have been commissioned coroners of Chester County until the erection of the county of Delaware, in 1789, and from that date those who have held the office in the latter county:

James Kennerly, in, office 1684; Jacob Simcock, 1696: Henry Hollingsworth, 1707; Henry Worley, 1710; Jonas Sandelands, Oct. 3, 1717-20; Robert Barber, Oct. 4, 1721; John Mendenhall, Oct. 4, 1726-27; Robert Parke, Oct. 3, 1728; Abraham Darlington, Oct. 4, 1729; John Wharton, Oct. 3, 1730-31; Anthony Shaw, Oct. 3, 1732-33; John Wharton, Oct. 4, 1734-36; Stephen Hoskias, Oct. 4, 1737; Aubrey Bevan, Oct. 4, 1738-42; Thomas Morgan, Oct. 4, 1743-45; Isaac Lea, Oct. 4, 1746-50; Joshua Thomson, Oct. 3, 1751; John Kerlin, Oct. 4, 1752; Joshua Thomson, Oct. 3, 1753-60; Philip Ford (vice Thomson, deceased), May 22, 1761-62; Davis Bevan, Oct. 4, 1763-64; Abel Janney, Oct. 4, 1765; John Trapnall (vice Janney, resigned), May 27, 1766; Joseph Gibbons, Jr., Oct. 4, 1768-70; John Crosby, Jr., Oct. 5, 1771-72; John Bryan, Oct. 4, 1773-75; Harvey Lewis, Oct. 2, 1775; David Denny, Nov. 24, 1778; Allen Cunningham, Oct. 19, 1780; Benjamin Rue, Oct. 12, 1782; John Harper, Oct. 20, 1783; Isaac Thomas, Oct. 4, 1785; John Harper, Oct. 3, 1786; John Underwood, Oct. 15, 1787.

After Erection of County of Delaware.

Jonathan Vernon, Oct. 16, 1780; Caleb Bennett, Oct. 21, 1791; William Price, Jan. 25, 1793; John Odenheimer, Jr., Oct. 17, 1795; James Birchall, Oct. 12, 1798, Oct. 21, 1801, Oct. 16, 1804, Oct. 23, 1807, Oct. 26, 1810, Nov. 8, 1816, Dec. 6, 1819, Dec. 4, 1822; Abraham Kerlin, Nov. 13, 1829; Daniel Thomson, Nov. 2, 1830; Joel Lane, Oct. 25, 1833, Dec. 22, 1836; John Lloyd, Dec. 4, 1839; Moses Reed, April 14, 1840; John Lloyd, Dec. 3, 1842; Stephen Horne, Dec. 1, 1845; Seth C. Thomas, Dec. 23, 1848, Dec. 1, 1851; Reuben H. Smith, Nov. 6, 1854; Isaac Johnson,* Nov. 28, 1857; William A. Minshall,** April 24, 1858; Samuel Long, Sr., Dec. 7, 1858; Washington B. Levis, Nov. 27, 1861, Jan. 9, 1865; George H. Rigby,*** Nov. 23, 1865; Dec. 8, 1868; William Anderson Minshall, Dec. 29, 1871, Jan. 19, 1875; Horace W. Fairlamb, Dec. 18, 1877; Abram J. Quimby, Dec. 20, 1880; Horace W. Fairlamb, Dec. 27, 1883.

Sheriffs – Under the Dutch authority on the Delaware an officer, entitled a schout, performed duties such as are now required from the sheriffs, but the jurisdiction was more varied, and had legislative as well as executive powers reposed in that officer. Under the Duke of York, on May 17, 1672, Governor Lovelace and Council decided. that “the office of Schout to be converted into a Sheriff for the Corporation and River, and that he be annually Chosen.” The electors in that early day named two persons for the office, and from those two the Governor made his selection, a system which was adopted by Penn in the “Charter of Privileges,” granted in 1701, and prevailed under the State Constitutions of 1776 and 1790. Until the Constitution of 1838 gave the people the right, by their votes, to elect one person to the office, the absurd provisions of the Constitution of 1776 prevailed, which was to elect two persons from whom the Governor made his selection, and to whom he issued the commission.

The following list of persons who have filled the office of sheriff is believed to be as accurate as it is now possible to make it:

Capt. Edmund Cantwell, 1676-81; John Test, September, 1681-82; Thomas Usher, November, 1682-83; Thomas Withers, December, 1683-84; Jeremy Collett, January, 1684-85; Thomas Usher, June, 1686, to April, 1687; Joshua Fearne, June, 1687, to June, 1689; George Foreman, August, 1689, to March, 1691-92; Caleb Pusey, June, 1692, to April, 1693; Joseph Wood, April 28, 1693-97; Andrew Job, December, 1697-1701; John Hoskins, June, 1701-8; John Simcock, 1708; John Hoskins, 1709; Henry Worley, 1715; Nicholas Fairlamb, Oct. 3, 1717-19; John Crosby, Oct. 4, 1720; John Taylor, Oct. 4, 1721-28; John Owen, Oct. 4, 1729-31; John Parry, Oct. 3, 1732-34; John Owen, Oct. 3, 1735-37; John Parry, Oct. 4, 1738-39; Benjamin Davis, Oct. 3, 1740-42; John Owen, Oct. 4, 1743-45; Benjamin Davis, Oct. 4, 1746-48; John Owen, Oct. 8, 1749-51; Isaac Pearson, Oct. 4, 1752-54; John Fairlamb, Oct. 4, 1755-58 ; Benjamin

Davis, Oct. 4, 1759-61; John Fairlamb, Oct. 4, 1762-63; Philip Ford, Oct. 4, 1764-66; John Morton (vice Ford, deceased), Oct. 28, 1766-68; Jesse Mans, Oct. 5, 1769-71 ; Henry Hayes, Oct. 5, 1772-73; Nathaniel Vernon, Oct. 5, 1774-75; Robert Smith, March 29, 1777; Charles Dilworth, Oct. 17, 1778; Robert Smith, Nov. 21, 1778; David Mackey, Oct. 16, 1779; John Gardner, Oct. 19, 1780; William Gibbons, Birmingham, Oct. 20, 1783; Ezekiel Leonard, West Bradford, Oct. 13, 1786.

Since Erection Of Delaware County.

Nicholas Fairlamb, Oct. 16, 1789; same, Oct. 21, 1790; James Barnard, Oct. 18, 1792; Abraham Dicks, Nov. 12, 1795, date of commission for second term; ,John Odenheimer, Oct. 12, 1798; Matthias Kenlin, Jr., Oct. 21, 1801; John Odenheimer, Oct. 16, 1804; Richard P. Floyd, Oct. 23, 1807; Isaac Cochran, Oct. 25, 1810; Daniel Thomson, Oct. 19, 1813; Robert Fairlamb, Oct. 16, 1816; Samuel Anderson, Oct. 23, 1819; Joseph Weaver, Jr., Oct. 21, 1822; John Hinkson, Oct. 17, 1825; Jehu Broomhall, Oct. 22, 1828; William Baldwin,(4*) Oct. 28, 1831; Charles Baldwin, March 5, 1831; Samuel A. Price, Oct. 22, 1834; Evans S. Way, Oct. 25, 1837; John Larkin, Jr., Oct. 27, 1840; Samuel Hibberd, Oct. 27, 1843; Robert B. Dutton, Nov. 18, 1846; Jonathan Esrey,(5*) Oct. 22, 1849; Henry T. Esrey, May 20,1851; Aaron James, Nov. 17, 1851; John M. Hall, Nov. 2, 1854; Jonathan Vernon, Nov. 10, 1857; Morris L. Yarnall, Nov. 15, 1860; Abraham Vanzant, Nov. 16, 1863; Caleb Hoopes, April 11, 1866; Evan C. Bantleson, Nov. 23, 1869: Charles W. Matthew, Dec. 29, 1875; John J. Rowland, Dec. 21, 1878; William Armstrong, Dec. 22, 1881.

County Commissioners – The office of county commissioner, we are told by Judge Futhey, was created not long prior to 1820, the duties discharged by them being first performed by the justices and grand jury conjointly, and afterwards by the grand jury and assessors. The first commissioners of the county were elected to serve one year, and the board at that time comprising four members, is inferred from a petition presented from Chester County to the Assembly at the session of 1721-22, asking “that three commissioners may be elected yearly.” Petitions of like tenor being presented from other counties, on May 12, 1722, the act to that effect was passed, excepting that it provided that one commissioner should be elected annually, thus extending the period of service of the commissioners to three years.

The following is a list of commissioners since 1721, and the date of their appointment or election:

1721, David Lloyd, Nathaniel Newlin, Henry Miller (in office); 1722, Robert Pyle; 1723, Nathaniel Newlin; 1724, Samuel Hollingsworth; 1725, Robert Pyle; 1726, Isaac Taylor; 1727, William Webb; 1728, Henry Miller, Evans Lewis, elected by commissioners and assessors in August, vice Isaac Taylor, deceased; 1729, Samuel Nutt; 1730, Evan Lewis; 1731, Jacob Howell; 1732, Samuel Lewis; 1733, George Aston; 1734, John Davis; 1735, Richard Jones; 1736, Samuel Lightfoot; 1737, John Parry, Jr.; 1738, William Jeffries; 1739, John Davis; 1740, John Parry, Jr.; 1741, John Yarnall; 1742, John Davis; 1743, Jacob Howell; 1744, Joseph Mendenhall; 1745, John Davis; 1746, Thomas Pennell; 1747, Joshua Thompson; 1748, Isaac Davis; 1749, Thomas Pennell; 1750, Edward Brinton, Samuel Bunting, vice Thomas Pennell, deceased; 1751, William Lewis; 1752, John Fairlamb; 1753, Robert Miller; 1754, Thomas Pearson; 1755, Joseph Ashbridge; 1756, Joseph Davis; 1757, Joseph James; 1758, John Hannum; 1759, Jonas Preston; 1760, Joseph Pennock; 1761, John Griffith; 1762, Lewis Davis; 1763, John Price; 1764, Benjamin Bartholomew; 1765, Richard Baker; 1766, John Davis; 1767, Robert Pennell; 1768, John Webster; 1769, John Evans; 1770, Jesse Bonsall; 1771, Robert Mendenhall; 1772, John Fleming; 1773, Thomas Levis; 1774, Thomas Taylor; 1775, William Evans; 1776, Sketchley Morton; 1777, David Cloyd; 1778, Andrew Boyd; 1779, Benjamin Brannan; 1780, John Bartholomew; 1781, Joseph Strawbridge; 1782, Caleb James; 1783, John Davis; 1784, Joseph McClellan; 1785, Caleb James; 1786, Caleb North; 1787, John Worth; 1788, Joseph Gibbons.

After the erection of Delaware County, in 1789, at the general election in that year the following commissioners were elected and served:

1790, Edward Hunter, Gideon Gilpin, James Barnard; in 1791, John Jones was elected in place of Hunter, and Gilpin, Barnard, and Jones served for that and the year 1792, when all record is lost until 1797, when David Platt and Richard Lloyd were commissioners; in 1798, Isaac G. Gilpin was elected; 1799, Thomas Bishop; 1800, Thomas Vernon; 1801, Jonas Eyre; 1802, John Hunter, Josiah Lewis; 1803, John Odenheimer died, and Pierce Corsly was appointed to fill vacancy; 1804, Pierce Coraly; 1805, Joseph Gibbons, and Josiah Lewis having died or resigned, Nehemiah Baker was appointed to fill vacancy, and was also elected that year; 1807, Joseph Engle; 1808, William Mendenhall; 1809, George B. Lownes; 1810, Thomas Bishop; 1811, Preston Eyre: 1812, Thomas Hemphill; 1813, Marie Worrell; 1814, John Brooke; 1815, Robert Fairlamb; 1816, John Willcox, William Levis, Jr. ;4 1817, Joseph Davis; 1818, Wilham Hill; 1819, John Lindsay, Jr.; 1820, Joseph Henderson; 1821, George Green; 1822, Joseph Engle; 1823, Edward Hunter; 1824, William Johnson; 1825, James Sill; 1826, Samuel H. Eves; 1827, James Maddock; 1828, Joseph Bishop; 1829, Oliver Levis; 1830, Evan Evans; 1831, David Siter; 1832, David Trainer, John Aitkins; 1835, James Serrill; 1836, James S. Peters; 1837, Isaac Fawkes; 1838, Spencer McIlvain; 1839, Edward Lewis, Jr; 1840, Davis Beaumont; 1841, Thomas Williamson; 1842, Thomas Steele, Jr.; 1843, Isaac Yarnall; 1844, George Harvey; 1845, David Worrell; 1846, Samuel Palmer; 1847, Edmund Pennell; 1848, Mark Bartleson; 1849, Caleb J. Hoopes; 1850, John D. Gilpin; 1851, Annseley Newlin; 1852, James Barton; 1853, William H. Grubb; 1854, Robert Plumstead; 1855, Thomas Pratt; 1856, Percipher Baker; 1857, Samuel Leedom; 1858, James Clowd; 1859, Elwood Tyson; 1860, Vanlear Eachus; 1861, Thomas Reece; 1862, Nathaniel Pratt; 1863, Joseph Lewis; 1864, Daniel James; 1865, George Drayton; 1866, William D.H. Serrill; 1867, Charles Johnson; 1868, T. Baker Jones; 1869, Jacob M. Campbell; 1870, William Russell; 1871, John B. Heyburn; 1872, John B. Holland; 1873, James McDade; 1874, Elias Baker.

The same commissioners remained in office until the first Monday of January, 1876.

Before the expiration of the period of service of the old hoard of commissioners, before the provisions of the Constitution of 1874 went into effect respecting that office, James McDade, one of the commissioners, absconded. When the county statement was published, the people stood aghast at the exhibit made, and on March 17, 1876,
     “The grand jury reported that the commissioners for the year 1875 have exceeded their authority in borrowing money on promissory notes, which sums amounted to $206,227.57, and the discounts to $3043.90, while tax-collectors were permitted to remain in arrears on collections, with discounts allowed to them to the amount of $40,952.18.

“In the opinion of the grand jury this is highly improper, and should be fully Investigated, and measures taken to collect said tax. That by the said report (that of the county treasurer) it appears that the expenditures for repairing bridges and for new bridges has cost the county for the same year the sum of $58,375.66. That in the financial condition of the county the grand jury deems this an extravagant expenditure that the commissioners were not warranted in making, and that they have reason to believe that irregularities have occurred in awarding contracts for the same, which should be investigated. That by the same report, printing and stationery for the same year has cost the county $3095.58; this is in addition to the amount paid by the commissioners, but not allowed by the auditors. This appears to the grand jury to be an extravagant expenditure for that purpose. By the same report there has been paid D. Corson for the storage of the turn-table from the Front Street bridge, $115. With such continued expenditures, this turn-table will prove a serious burden, and the grand jury recommend its early disposal.

“The grand jury also report that bonds of the company which have been paid or exchanged have not been properly cancelled, merely an erasure of the commissioners’ names, and that some of these partially-cancelled bonds have in some manner disappeared from the commissioners’ office, and have been wrongfully used, and that the coupons on those bonds have been presented and paid out of the county treasury since the cancellation of the bonds. The grand jury consider that these matters should be more fully and thoroughly investigated, and urge upon this department of the public trust a more careful and economical administration. The treasurer further reports that for 1875 there has been paid out of the treasury for road damages the sum of $4608, and the grand jury deem it proper to say that it is questionable whether such expenditure is warranted in the condition of the county finances, as perhaps many of the roads laid out must benefit, with the number already improved, but few of the citizens.”

This action of the grand jury directed public attention directly to the gross mismanagement of public affairs, but as it subsequently proved the greater part of the objectionable transactions were done by the absconding commissioner, without the knowledge of his fellow-member of the board, the authorities were powerless to punish the offender.

Under the Constitution of 1874 the following commissioners were elected for the period of three years, the term of service beginning in the year set opposite to their names: 1876, Owen W. Yarnall, Abram C. Lukens, Edward H. Engle; 1879, Owen W. Yarnall, Abram C. Lukens, Jesse Brooke.

In that year Jesse Brooke, the regular Democratic candidate, was elected over Edward H. Engle, Independent Democrat, by two votes, and proceedings were instituted to test the validity of Brooke’s election by the friends of Engle. The matter was referred to an examiner, but pending the hearing the contest was abandoned.

1882, Owen W. Yarnall, Benjamin F. Pretty, Jesse Brooke.

County Treasurer – In the early time the office of county treasurer appears to have been a gift at the disposal of the commissioners and assessors, and it must have been remunerative other than the salary or commissions attached to the office, for John Taylor, in 1741, offers to perform the duties of the office “without bringing any charge against the county,” and the same year two other patriots, Joseph Brinton and Joshua Thomas, also offered to serve the public gratis. Brinton, who was the incumbent, succeeded in retaining the position. In 1790, when the board of assessors ceased to be, the commissioners adopted the plan of appointing the outgoing commissioner county treasurer, or, as it was then called, the commissioner’s treasurer, and continued generally to observe that rule until 1838, when under the Constitution of 1837, the office was made elective.

The following is the list of county treasurers of the old county of Chester:

1695, Jeremiah Collett; 1697-1702, Walter Martin; 1704, Caleb Pusey; 1706-9, Walter Martin; 1720-23, Henry Pierce; 1724-26, Philip Taylor; 1740-46, Joseph Brinton; 1756-60, Robert Miller; 1761-64, Humphrey Marshall; 1765, Jesse Mans, Jr.; 1766-69, Lewis Davis; 1770-76, James Gibbons; 1770-72, Richard Thomas; 1775, Philip Taylor; 1775-77, John Brinton; 1778, Thomas Levis; 1779, William Evans; 1780, Persifor Frazer (March 22d); 1781, David Cloyd; 1785, Andrew Boyd and David Cloyd; 1786-87, William Evans; 1788, Andrew Boyd.

TREASURERS OF THE COUNTY OF DELAWARE.

1790, Edward Richards; 1799, Seth Thomas; 1806, Joshua Lewis; 1809, John Thompson; 1812, Robert Fairlamb; 1815, John Thompson 1822, Robert Fairlamb; 1825, John Russell; 1827, Homer Eachus 1830, William Eyre; 1833, Oborn Levis; 1835, Samuel T. Walker; 1838, William Eyre; 1839, Davis Beaumont; 1840, William Eyre; 1840, William Eyre, Jr. (unexpired term of William Eyre); 1841, John Miller; 1844, Richard F. Worrell; 1846, Benjamin F. Johnson; 1848, Marshall Eachus; 1850, Edmund Taylor; 1852, Samuel Dutton; 1854, Joseph H. Hinkson; 1856, Jackson Lyons; 1858, Charles R. Williamson; 1860, Charles Johnson; 1862, David R. Ralston; 1864, William Hinkson; 1866, William H. Eves; 1868, William F. Mathews; 1870, John J. Hoopes; 1872, John D. Howard; 1874, Alvin Baldwin; 1876, Henry B. Taylor; 1879, William P. Yarnall; 1882, Stephen Clowd, Jr.

Directors of the Poor – The early settlers were not unmindful of their duty in providing for the sick, infirm, and destitute, who could not care for themselves. At a court held on the sixth day of Eleventh month, 1684, it was
     “Ordered that ye Inhabitance of Concord, Bethel and Chichester meet on the 3rd day of the next weeke att Henry Renolds to conferre together how to Provide a maintainance for Miriam Thomson and her child.”

The court, on March 25th of each year, appointed for the several townships two persons, who were to act as overseers of the poor in the township where they resided, and such persons were usually selected from the wealthiest men in the locality. The court records are filled with cases respecting the settlement of paupers, hence to avoid much of that contention the act of May 31, 1718, was passed, to define the law governing residence of those persons needing relief from the public. This act required that all persons who should be receiving public assistance, including the wives and children of such pauper, if residing with him, “Shall upon the Shoulder of the right Sleeve of the upper Garment of every such Person in an open and visible manner, wear such a Badge or Mark as is hereinafter mentioned and expressed, That is to say, a large Roman (P) together with the first Letter of the Name of the County, City or Place whereof such Person is an Inhabitant, cut either in red or blue Cloth, as the Overseers of the Poor it shall be directed or appointed.”

The failure of “any such poor person” to comply with this provision rendered him or her liable to be taken before a justice of the peace, when, in the discretion of the magistrate, the public allowance could “be abridged, suspended, or withdrawn,” or the offender committed to the House of Correction, “there to be whipped and kept at hard Labour for any Number of Days not exceeding Twenty-one, as to the said Justices should seem meet.”

On Feb. 13, 1804, the act of Assembly was approved providing for the election in Delaware County, at the following general election, of three reputable citizens to be directors of the poor, who were instructed to meet, and by lot to divide themselves into three classes, “the place of the first to be vacated at the expiration of the first year, of the second at the expiration of the second year, and of the third at the expiration of the third year; so that those who may be chosen, after the first election, may serve for three years; and one-third be chosen annually,”(9*) which manner of electing the directors and the period of service remained in use until changed by the second section of Article xiv. of the Constitution of 1874.

In the report of the committee of the Legislature on the operation of the poor law, made Jan. 29, 1825, the statement from Delaware County was, “The establishment of a house of employment in this county has increased the number, or from some other cause, there is more than when maintained in the different townships; but we have no hesitation in saying that the effect has been such as to make their situation more comfortable, the morals and health better preserved.”

In 1855 the directors of the poor, having been authorized by the act of May 8, 1854, to sell the old county-house and farm at Media, sold the estate in the fall of that year for a sum over fifty thousand dollars, and purchased the farm of Abraham Pennell, one of the directors, containing about one hundred and one acres, for sixteen thousand dollars, and contracted with John Eves & Co., of Nether Providence, to erect the building for twenty thousand three hundred dollars. The proceedings of the board aroused considerable feeling in the county, and a public meeting was held on the 29th of December, 1855, “to investigate the action of the Directors of the Poor in changing the location of the public property;” and an adjourned meeting was held on Jan. 18, 1856, when a bitter debate was had, after which the whole matter drifted by, and in a short time had ceased to attract any further public attention.

The following is the list of directors of the poor, giving the year when each director became a member of the board:

1805, William Anderson, Jonathan Heacock, John Smith (resigned and John Thomson appointed); 1806, Thomas Pennell, Philip Moore; 1807, John McIlvain; 1808, Benjamin W. Oakford; 1809, David Pratt; 1810, George W. Oakford (died in office, John McIlvain appointed), William Peters, Jr., John Worrall; 1811, Thomas Garrett; 1812, George Miller; 1813, Francis Wesley; 1814, John Powell; 1815, George B. Lownes; 1816, Joseph Hoskins; 1817, William Trimble; 1818, William Mendenhall (in place of William Trimble), Enos Sharpless; 1819, Samuel Garrett; 1820, Jesse Darlington; 1821, Joseph James; 1822, James Craig; 1823, Enos Williamson; 1824, Micajah Speakman; 185, Isaac Yarnall (in place of Speakman, resigned), John Larkin; 1826, Oborn Levis; 1827, Joseph Henderson; 1828, Thomas Dutton; 1829, Isaiah Fawk; 1830, John Kerns; 1831, John Hinkson; 1832, David Lyons; 1833, Robert N. Gamble; 1834, James Ogden; 1835, Edward Lewis; 1836, Samuel Hale; 1837, Jesse Walter; 1838, George Martin; 1839, Capt. James Serrill; 1840, James Barton; 1841, Moses D. Palmer; 1842, George Lewis; 1843, Caleb J. Hoopes; 1844, Moses D. Palmer (he resigned and George F. Gilpins appointed); 1845, James J. Lewis; 1846, Marshall Painter; 1847, John Clayton; 1848, Joel Evans; 1849, John Miller; 1850, Thomas Williamson; 1851, J. Edward Garrett; 1852, Abraham Pennell; 1853, William Trainer; 1854, Joseph B. Leedom; 1855. Jacob Byers; 1856, Samuel A. Barton; 1857, Francis Leedom; 1858, Samuel Johnson; 1859, E.B. Loveland; 1860, William H. Grubb; 1861, Judge Tyson; 1862, Samuel B. Leedom; 1863, Peter W. Green; 1864, Joseph Powell; 1865, Baldwin Howard; 1866, Fredrick J. Hinkson; 1867-68, Powell, Howard, and Hinkson; 1869-71, Powell, Howard, and William Trainer; 1872, James Shelley Tyson, Joel Sharpless; 1873, Edgar T. Miller; 1874, Jesse Hibberd; 1875, Chalkley Harvey; 1876-77-79-80, Chalkley Harvey, Jesse Hibberd, John H. Kerlin; 1880-81, Chalkley Harvey, John H. Kerlin, Milton Edwards; 1882, Chalkley Harvey, Milton Edwards, Henry L. Donaldson; 1883, Henry L. Donaldson, John B. McCay, Jr., Joseph Leedom.

County Auditors – During all the period while Delaware County was a part of Chester County the accounts of the public officers were audited by the court, which was found to be injurious, inasmuch as they were often given hurried examination, the justices growing weary of the dry column of figures submitted to their inspection and approval. The evil became so noticeable that the Legislature sought to rectify it, hence we find that on
     “August 11, 1791 The Court appoints John Talbot, Mark Wilcox and William Pennock, as auditors to settle &c., the accounts of the Treasurer and Commissioners of the County, in conformity to the act of Assembly of March 30, 1791. Read three times in Court.”

Subsequent appointments by the court were as follows:

1792, John Pearson, Abraham Pennell, and Richard Flower; 1793, Benjamin Brannon, Thomas Newlin, Abraham Sharpless; 1795, Samuel Price, Esq., John Horn, and Caleb Pierce; 1796, John Crosby, Esq., Elisha Price, Esq., and William Martin; 1797, John Crosby, Esq., Wilham Martin, Esq., Thomas Newlin, Esq.; Nov. 26, 1798, “The Court nominate John Crosby Esq. and Thomas Newlin, Esq. be continued and adds Richard Flower in the room of William Martin, the other Auditor, deceased;” 1799, Edward Hunter, Esq., William Trimble, and Nicholas Newlin; 1800, Abraham Pennell, Joseph Shallcross, John Talbot; 1801-2, Nathaniel Newlin, Esq., Joseph Pennell, Jacob Gibbons; 1803, Benjamin W. Oakford, Moses Palmer, Pierce Crosby; 1804, William Anderson, Thomas Smith, Frederick Fairlamb; 1805, Abraham Sharpless, Richard P. Lloyd, John Thomson; 1806, Moses Palmer, Benjamin W. Oakford, Dr. Jonas Preston; 1807, Dr. Jonas Preston, Moses Palmer, Pierce Crosby; 1808, William Pennock, Moses Palmer, Pierce Crosby; 1809, Moses Palmer, Edward Hunter, Maskill Ewing; 1819, Moses Palmer.

In 1821 the office became elective.

1823, William Bishop, Enoch Abraham, Samuel Hewes; 1824, Cyrus Mendenhall; 1825, Joseph Gibbons; 1826, Enos Sharpless; 1827, Henry Moore; 1828, Abner Lewis; 1829, Daniel Abraham; 1830, Benjamin Serrill; 1831, John D. White; 1832, James McMullin; 1833, Alexander McKeever; 1834, Joseph Gibson, William S. Flower (in room of James McMullin); 1835, William Eyre; 1836, H. Jones Brooks; 1837, Caleb J. Hoopes; 1838, Casper W. Sharpless; 1839, George Smedley; 1840, Joel Evans; 1841, William J. Wilcox; 1842, Minshall Painter; 1843, Jesse Brooke, Jr.; 1844, Robert E. Hannum; 1845, Jonathan Miller; 1846, John Sellers, Jr.; 1847, Frederick Fairlamb; 1848, Jacob Parry; 1849, Handle Bishop; 1850, William Eyre; 1851, Lewis Miller; 1852, Handle Bishop, William Eyre, Lewis Miller; 1853, William Ogden; 1854, Abraham P. Morgan; 1855, Walter Y. Hoopes; 1866, J. Lewis Garrett; 1857, William P. Pennell; 1858, -? -?; 1859-60, Robert E. Hannum, John D. White, Jacob Smedley; 1861, James H. Ogden; 1862, J.H. Omensetter; 1863, James Clowd; 1864, Walter Y. Hoopes; 1865, Samuel Dutton; 1866, Joseph Walter; 1867, same auditor; 1868, I. Hunter Moore; 1869, Curtis Cheyney; 1870, George Broomall ; 1871, Eber Lewis, Jr.; 1872, Daniel James; 1873, Charles P. Walter; 1874, Pearson Pike; 1875, Charles H. Cheyney; 1876 (under Constitution of 1874), William J. Smith, Jared Darlington, Jacob Boon; 1879, Jared Darlington, Thomas Coulter, Joseph Pratt; 1882, Jared Darlington, William S. Sykes, J. Lewis Garrett.

Members of Congress – In 1789 the members of Congress from Pennsylvania were elected on a general ticket, which ran throughout the commonwealth. The Apportionment Act of 1791 first gave Congressional districts, and by it Philadelphia and Delaware County became the First District, and was entitled to one member. In that year Thomas Fitzsimmons, of Philadelphia, was elected, and served until 1793. In the mean time, dissatisfaction had been created because of the manner in which the State had been districted, and the law was repealed, and again, in 1793, the members from our State were elected on a general ticket. In 1795 an Apportionment Act was passed which met general approval, and John Richards, of Philadelphia, represented our people, and in 1797 and 1801, Richard Thomas, of the same place, was the member of the House of Representatives from this district. In 1801, Joseph Hemphill, from Delaware County, was Congressman.

By the Apportionment Act of 1802 the city and county of Philadelphia and the county of Delaware became tile First Congressional District, and was entitled to three representatives, of which number Delaware County furnished: Jacob Richards, 1803-9; William Anderson, 1809-15.

The Apportionment Act of 1812 constituted the same territory as the First District, with four representatives. As will be noticed, Maj. Anderson was continued for one term under this act: Thomas Smith, 1815-17; William Anderson, 1817-19; Samuel Edwards, 1819-27.

By the Apportionment Act of 1822, Chester, Delaware, and Lancaster Counties were made the Fourth Congressional District, entitled to three members, and twice under its provision Mr. Edwards was our representative: Dr. Samuel Anderson, 1827-29; George Grey Leiper, 1829-31.

In 1830, during the Anti-Masonic excitement, seven candidates were named by the opposing factions and presented to the people. Three Delaware County gentlemen were nominated – Archibald J. Dick, Edward Darlington, and John Edwards – and all of them defeated. The district during the years 1831 to 1833 was represented by Joshua Evans and David Potts, Jr., of Chester, and William Heister, of Lancaster County. By the Apportionment Act of 1832 the same territory comprised the Fourth Congressional District, and was entitled to the same number of members: Edward Darlington, 1833-39; John Edwards, 1839-43.

By the act of 1843, Delaware and Montgomery Counties comprised the Fifth, Congressional District, and was entitled to one member: Francis James, of Montgomery, 1843-45; Jacob S. Yost, 1845-47; John Friedley, 1848-51.

In 1848 Montgomery County conceded the representative to Delaware County, and John K. Zeilin was nominated by the convention in the latter county. The Democrats had nominated Samuel M. Leiper, whose election over Zeilin was not doubted; hence a convention of the Whigs was called at the Black Horse, and Zeilin was requested and unwillingly compelled to resign the nomination in favor of Friedley: John McNair, Montgomery, 1851-53.

The Apportionment Act of 1852 made Delaware and Chester Counties the Sixth Congressional District, with one member: William Everhart, Chester County, 1853-55; John Hickman, Chester County, 1855-63.

The apportionment of 1862 made the same territory the Seventh District: J.M. Broomall, Delaware County, 1863-69; W. Townsend, Chester County, 1869-77.

The act of 1873 made the same counties the Sixth District: William Ward, Delaware County, 1877-84; J.B. Everhart, Chester County, 1883.

The dates given herein are the times of service, and not the dates of election.

MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM CHESTER COUNTY.

1682 – John Simcock, Thomas Brasey, Ralph Withers, Thomas Usher.

1683 – John Hoskins, Robert Wade, George Wood, John Blunsten, Dennis Rockford, Thomas Bracy, John Bezar, John Harding, Joseph Phipps.

1684 – Joshua Hastings, Robert Wade, John Blunsten, George Mans, Thomas Usher, Henry Maddock.

1685 – John Blunsten, George Maria, John Harding, Thomas Usher, Francis Stanfield, Joshua Fearne.

1686 – Robert Wade, John Blunsten, George Maria, Bartholomew Coppock, Caleb Pusey, Samuel Levis.

1687 – John Blunsten, George Maria, Bartholomew Coppock, Caleb Pusey, Edward Bezar, Randal Vernon.

1688 – John Blunsten, James Sandelands, George Mans, Robert Pile, Edward Carter, Thomas Cobourn.

1689 – James Sandelands, Samuel Levis, John Bartram, Robert Pile, Jonathan Hayes.

1690 – John Briston, William Jenkins, Robert Pile, Joshua Fearne, George Mans, Caleb Pusey.

1691 – Record wanting.

1692 – Philip Roman, George Mans, Bartholomew Coppock, Robert Pile, Caleb Pusey, Thomas Withers.

1693 – John Simcock, George Mans, David Lloyd.

1694 – David Lloyd (Speaker), Caleb Pusey, Samuel Levis.

1695 – John Blunsten, Bartholomew Coppock, William Jenkins, Robert Pile, Walter Fawcet, Philip Roman.

1696 – John Simcock (Speaker). John Blunsten, Caleb Pusey.

1697 – John Blunsten (Speaker), Bartholomew Coppock, Thomas Worth, Jonathan Hayes.

1698 – Caleb Pusey, Samuel Levis, Nathaniel Newlin, Robert Carter.

1699 – John Blunsten (Speaker), Robert Pile, John Worrilow, Robert Carter.

1700 – John Blunsten (Speaker), Robert Pile, Richard Ormes, John Hood, Samuel Levis, Henry Levis.

1701 – Joseph Baker, Samuel Levis, Nathaniel Newlin, Nicholas Pile.

1702 – John Blunsten, Robert Pile, Nathaniel Newlin, Andrew Job.

1703 – Nicholas Pile; John Bennet, Andrew Job, David Lewis, Nathaniel Newlin, Joseph Baker, Robert Carter, Joseph Wood.

1704 – Nicholas Pile, John Bennet, Nicholas Fairlamb, Joseph Cobourn, John Hood, Richard Hayes, Joseph Wood, Isaac Taylor.

1705 – Nicholas Pile, John Bennet, John Hood, Joseph Wood, Isaac Taylor.

1706 – Samuel Levis, Richard Hayes, Francis Chadds, Joseph Baker, Evan Lewis, John Hood, George Pearce, William Garrett.

1707 – Francis Chadds, William Smith, Samuel Levis, Richard Hayes, John Hood, William Garrett, John Bethel.

1708 – Daniel Williamson, Samuel Levis, Richard Hayes, John Hood, Thomas Pearson, William Bartram, Daniel Hoops.

1709 – Samuel Levis, John Maria, John Hood, Henry Lewis, Daniel Williamson, Daniel Hoops, Richard Hayes, William Smith.

1710 – Nicholas Pile, Joseph Baker, William Lewis, John Wood, Nathaniel Newlin, Ephraim Jackson, Caleb Pusey, Isaac Taylor.

1711 – Francis Yarnall, John Bezer, Caleb Pusey, Nicholas Pile, Nathaniel Newlin, Joseph Baker, Nicholas Fairlamb, David Llewellyn.

1712 – Caleb Pusey, David Lloyd, William Davis, Nicholas Fairlamb, Joseph Wood, George Harlan, Isaac Taylor, John Maris.

1713 – David Lloyd, William Davis, Joseph Baker, Nathaniel Newlin, Nicholas Fairlamb, Richard Hayes, William Brinton, John Blunston.

1714 – David Lloyd, Nathaniel Newlin, Nicholas Pile, Evan Lewis, John Miller, Benjamin Mendenhall, Samuel Garrett, Richard Maria.

1715 – David Lloyd, Henry Hayes, Samuel Garrett, Henry Lewis, William Pile, Edward Beazer, Philip Taylor, David Lewis.

1716 – David Lloyd, John Blunston; Henry Hayes, Joseph Pennock, David Harry, John Maria, John Worrell, Henry Oburn.

1717 – David Lloyd, Nathaniel Newlin, Richard Hayes, Samuel Garrett, James Gibbons, John Wood, George Maris, Henry Miller.

1718 – David Lloyd, Richard Hayes, Nathaniel Newlin, John Wright, James Gibbons, Henry Lewis, Henry Oburn.

1719 – Isaac Taylor, Joseph Pennock, Moses Key, John Bezer, Nathaniel Newlin, John Maria, James Gibbons, Evan Lewis.

1720 – Joseph Pennock, Samuel Levis, Israel Taylor, John Maria, Ralph Pile, Daniel Williamson, David Lewis.

1721 – Samuel Levis, Jr., William Pile, Daniel Williamson, Isaac Taylor, David Lewis, Henry Oburn, Nathaniel Newlin, Israel Taylor.

1722 – Samuel Levis, Jr., Joseph Pennock, David Levis, William Pile, Daniel Williamson, Israel Taylor, Nathaniel Newlin, Isaac Taylor.

1723 – Moses Key, Joseph Pennock, William Webb, Thomas Chandler, David Lloyd (Speaker), John Crosby, Samuel Lewis, Jr., Samuel Nutt.

1724 – Moses Key, Joseph Pennock, William Pile, Thomas Chandler, Elisha Gatchell, John Parry, John Crosby.

1725 – Thomas Chandler, David Lloyd (Speaker), William Webb, John Wright, Samuel Hollingsworth, William Pusey, George Ascheton, William Paschall.

1726 – David Lloyd (Speaker), Samuel Nutt, Samuel Hollingsworth, John Wright, Richard Hayes, Joseph Pennock, Thomas Chandler, William Pusey.

1727 – John Parry, Samuel Hollingsworth, David Lloyd, Thomas Chandler, John Carter, Daniel Williamson, Simon Meredith, William Webb.

1728 – Thomas Chandler, David Lloyd, Samuel Hollingsworth, John Parry, William Webb, Philip Taylor, John Carter, Henry Hayes.

1729 – Caleb Cowpland, Richard Hayes, Joseph Brinton, Thomas Chandler, Samuel Gilpin, James James, Joseph Pennock.

1730 – Henry Pierce, John Taylor, Samuel Levis, John Parry, Thomas Chandler, Samuel Gilpin, William Webb, Henry Hayes.

1731 – Joseph Harvey, John Parry, Samuel Levis, Caleb Cowpland, John Taylor, Joseph Brinton, Henry Pierce, Evan Lewis.

1732 – Coleb Cowpland, Joseph Harvey, Joseph Brinton, Thomas Thomas, William Webb, Joseph Pennock, John Davis, William Hewes.

1733 – Caleb Cowpland, Joseph Harvey, Joseph Pennock, Joseph Brinton, John Davis, Thomas Thomas, John Owen, William Moore.

1734 – Joseph Harvey, Joseph Brinton, Caleb Cowpland, John Evans, William Webb, William Moore, John Owen, Joseph Pennock.

1735 – Joseph Harvey, William Moore, Joseph Pennock, Caleb Cowpland, John Evans, John Parry, Joseph Brinton, Thomas Cummings.

1736 – Joseph Harvey, Thomas Cummings, John Evans, Caleb Cowpland, William Webb, William Moore, Thomas Chandler, John Parry.

1737 – Thomas Chandler, John Harvey, John Evans, Thomas Cummings, William Moore, James Gibbons, William Hughs, Richard Hayes.

1738 – William Moore, James Gibbons, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Harvey, John Owen, Thomas Tatnall, William Hughs, Jeremiah Starr.

1739 – James Gibbons, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Harvey, William Hughs, Jeremiah Starr, William Moore, Samuel Levis, John Owen.

1740 – Thomas Chandler, Joseph Harvey, James Gibbons, William Hughs, Samuel Levis, John Owen, Jeremiah Starr, Thomas Tatnall.

1741 – Same as 1740.

1742.- Same as 1740.

1743.- Jeremiah Starr, James Gibbons, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Harvey, Joseph Pennock, Samuel Levis, George Ashbridge, Jr., Francis Yarnall.

1744 – George Ashbridge, Francis Yarnall, Joseph Pennock, Samuel Levis, James Gibbons, Joseph Harvey, Thomas Cummings, Thomas Chandler.

1745 – Joseph Pennock, Thomas Cummings, George Ashbridge, Francis Yarnall, Robert Lewis, Joseph Harvey, Samuel Levis, Thomas Chandler.

1746 – Francis Yarnall, George Ashbridge, Robert Lewis, Thomas Worth, Samuel Levis, Peter Dicks, Thomas Chandler, John Owen.

1747 – Samuel Levis, Francis Yarnall, George Ashbridge, Thomas Worth, Peter Dicks, John Owen, John Davis, Thomas Chandler.

1748 – Thomas Worth, George Ashbridge, Francis Yarnall, John Davis, John Owen, Joseph James, Thomas Chandler, Joseph Gibbons.

1749 – Joseph Gibbons, George Ashbridge, Henry Hockley, Thomas Chandler, Nathaniel Grubb, Nathaniel Pennock, Roger Hunt, Thomas Cummings.

1750 – Same members as 1749.

1751 – Joseph Gibbons, Thomas Cummings, George Ashbridge, Nathaniel Grubb, Peter Dicks, Nathaniel Pennock, Henry Hockley, Thomas Chandler.

1752 – Joseph Gibbons, Thomas Cummings, Nathaniel Grubb, William Peters, Jacob Howell.

1753 – Thomas Cummings, Nathaniel Pennock, George Ashbridge, Joseph Gibbens, Nathaniel Grubb, Peter Dicks, William Peters, Joseph Jones.

1754 – Members of 1753 re-elected.

1755 – Same members re-elected.

1756 – Joseph Gibbons, Peter Dicks, John Molten, Roger Hunt, George Ashbridge, Hugh Trimble, Nathaniel Pennock, Nathaniel Grubb.

1757 – Joseph Gibbons, George Ashbridge, John Morton, Roger Hunt, Isaac Wayne, Nathaniel Grubb, Hugh Trimble, Joshua Ash.

1758 – The members of 1757 re-elected.

1759 – John Morton, George Ashbridge, Joshua Ash, Joseph Gibbons, Hugh Trimble, Roger Hunt, Peter Dicks, Isaac Wayne.

1760 – George Ashbridge, John Morton, Roger Hunt, Joshua Ash, Joseph Gibbons, Nathaniel Pennock, Isaac Wayne, William Boyd.

1761 – George Ashbridge, Joseph Gibbons, Nathaniel Pennock, Joshua Ash, Isaac Pearson, John Morton, Isaac Wayne, Roger Hunt.

1762 – George Ashbridge, Nathaniel Pennock, Joshua Ash, Isaac Pearson, John Morton, Isaac Wayne, Joseph Gibbons, John Jacobs.

1763 – George Ashbridge, Joshua Ash, Isaac Pearson, John Morton, Isaac Wayne, Joseph Gibbons, John Jacobs.

1764 – George Ashbridge, John Morton, Nathaniel Pennock, Joshua Ash, Isaac Pearson, Charles Humphreys, John Jacobs, John Fairlamb.

1765 – Same members re-elected.

1766 – John Morton, George Ashbridge, Nathaniel Pennock, John Jacobs, Charles Humphreys, Isaac Pearson, Joshua Ash, John Marshall.

1767 – Isaac Pearson, Charles Humphreys, John Sellers, George Ashbridge, John Minshall, Jonas Preston, John Jacobs, John Sellers, Nathaniel Pennock.

1768 – John Jacobs, Nathaniel Pennock, George Ashbridge, Charles Humphreys, John Sellers, John Minshall, Isaac Pearson, John Crosby.

1769 – George Ashbridge, Charles Humphreys, Isaac Pearson, John Sellers, John Jacobs, John Minshall, John Crosby, John Morton.

1770 – Same members re-elected.

1771 – Same members re-elected.

1772 – Charles Humphreys, Isaac Pearson, John Morton, John Jacobs, John Minshall, James Hockley, George Ashbridge, Benjamin Bartholomew.

1773 – Isaac Pearson, Benjamin Bartholomew, John Jacobs, Charles Humphreys, John Morton, James Gibbons, John Minshall, Joseph Pennock.

1774 – Benjamin Bartholomew, John Jacobs, Charles Humphreys, John Morton, James Gibbons, Joseph Pennock, Isaac Pearson, Anthony Wayne.

1775 – Same members, except Joseph Pyle was elected in the place of Anthony Wayne.

1776 – John Jacobs, Caleb Davis, Joseph Gardiner, John Fulton, Samuel

Cunningham, John Sellers.

1777 – Joseph Gardiner, John Fulton, Samuel Cunningham, John Culbertson, Stephen Cochran, Lewis Gronow.

1778 – John Fulton, Joseph Gardiner, Patrick Anderson, John Culbertson, Stephen Cochran, John Fleming.

1779 – David Thomas, Henry Hayes, John Fulton, James Boyd, Patrick Anderson, Joseph Parke, William Harris, Sketchley Morton.

1780 – David Thomas, Henry Hayes, William Harris, Joseph Parke, James Boyd, Patrick Anderson, John Culbertson, Evan Evans.

1781 – Persifor Fraser, John Culbertson, Thomas Maffat, Evan Evans, John Hannum, James Moore, Patrick Anderson, John Lindsay.

1782 – Persifor Frazer, Thomas Strawbridge, David Thomas, Benjamin Brannan, John Lindsay, Thomas Maffat, James Boyd, Evan Evans.

1783 – David Thomas, Evan Evans, John Hannum, Joseph Parke, Richard Willing, Thomas Potts, Thomas Bull, Edward Jones.

1784 – Richard Willing, Anthony Wayne, Edward Jones, Robert Ralston, James Moore, Joseph Strawbridge, Persifor Fraser, Thomas Potts, Charles Humphreys.

1785 – Anthony Wayne, Robert Ralston, James Moore, Thomas Bull, John Hannum, Robert Smith, Samuel Evans, Jonathan Morris.

1786 – James Moore, Richard Willing, Robert Ralston, Samuel Evans, Richard Thomas, Townsend Wheelen.

1787 – Same members re-elected.

1788 – Richard Thomas, James Moore, Mark Willcox, John McDowell, Caleb James, Richard Downing, Jr.

MEMBERS OF THE SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FROM DELAWARE COUNTY.

In a District with Philadelphia (for four years).

1790 – John Sellers.

1794-99 – Nathaniel Newlin.

1800 – John Pearson.

1804 – William Pennell.

In a District with Chester County (for four years).

1808 – Jonas Preston.

1812 – John Newbold.

1816 – Maskell Ewing.

1824-28 – John Kerlin.

1832 – Dr. George Smith.

in a District with Chester and Montgomery Counties.

1836 – Henry Myers (for four years).

1839 – John T. Huddleson (for three years).

In a District with Chester County (for three years).

1848 – H. Jonas Brooke.

1854 – James J. Lewis.

1860 – Jacob S. Serrill.

From Chester and Delaware Counties.

1865 – Dr. Wilmer Worthington (from Chester County).

1869 – H. Jonas Brooke.

1873 – William B. Waddell (from Chester County).

1874-84 – Thomas V. Cooper.

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM DELAWARE COUNTY.

1790-91 – Hugh Lloyd, Richard Riley.

1791-92 – Nathaniel Newlin, Hugh Lloyd.

1792-93 – Joseph Gibbons, William West.

1793-94 – Nathaniel Newlin, William West.

1794-97 – Jonas Preston, William West.

1797-1801 – Jonas Preston, Moses Palmer.

1801-2 – Benjamin H. Smith, Jonas Preston.

1802-3 – Benjamin H. Smith, Isaac G. Gilpin.

1803-4 – William Pennell, Benjamin H. Smith.

1804-8 – William Pennell, William Trimble.

1808-9 – Thomas Smith, William Trimble.

1809-12 – Thomas Smith, William Pennock.

1812-14 – William Cheyney, John Thompson.

1814-15 – Samuel Edwards, William Cheyney.

1815-16 – Samuel Anderson, Samuel Edwards.

1816-18 – Samuel Anderson, William Cheyney.

1818-19 – William Cheyney, John Kerlin.

1819-20 – John Kerlin, Thomas Robinson.

1820-21 – George G. Leiper, Abner Lewis.

1821-22 – John Lewis, William Cheyney.

1822-23 – Samuel Anderson.

1823-25 – Abner Lewis.

1825-26 – Samuel Anderson.

1826-27 – Joseph Engle.

1827-28 – William Martin.

1828-29 – Edward Siter.

1829-30 – Samuel Anderson.

1830-31 – John Lindsay.

1831-35.- Samuel Anderson.

1835-36 – William Mendenhall.

1836-37 – John Hinkson.

1837-39 – John K. Zeilin.

1840-42 – Joshua P. Eyre.

1842-44 – H. Jonas Brooke.

1844-46 – John Larkin, Jr.

1846-48 – Sketchley Morton.

1848-50 – James J. Lewis.

1850-52 – John M. Broomall.

1852-54 – Jonathan P. Abraham.

1854 – Thomas H. Maddock.

1855 – Charles D. Manley.

1856 – Hiram Cleaver.

1857 – Thomas D. Powell.

1858-59 – William D. Pennell.

1860 – Chalkley Harvey.

1861-62 – William Gamble.

1863 – Chalkley Harvey.

1864 – Edward A. Price.

1865-66 – Elwood Tyson.

1867 – John H. Barton.

1868-69 – Augustus B. Leedom.

1870 – Thomas V. Cooper.

1871 – Tryon Lewis.

1872 – Thomas V. Cooper.

1873 – Orson Flagg Bullard.

1874-76 – William Cooper Talley.

1875-76 – William Worrall.

1877-78 – O.F. Bullard.

1877-80 – Y.S. Walter.

1879-81 – Nathan Garrett (elected to fill Bullard’s unexpired term).(10*)

1881-84 – Robert Chadwick.

1882-84 – William G. Powell.

* Died in office.

** For Johnson’s’ unexpired term; George Rosevelt, who had been elected, refusing to serve.

*** For unexpired term of W.B. Levis.

(4*) Sheriff Baldwin died Feb. 14, 1834. His son was appointed to fill vacancy.

(5*) Sheriff Esrey dying in office, his son was appointed to fill the vacancy.

(6*) On his resigning, on April 29, 1862, the county minutes show; “Upon the resignation of Jonas Eyre, one of the commissioners of the county of Delaware, the following person was appointed by the court and commissioners, viz., John Odenheimer, Esq., to serve in place of said Jonas Eyre.”

(7*) On Oct. 21, 1816, “the court and John Willcox and William Levis, Jr., remaining commissioners, being assembled together, do appoint Richard Flower county commissioner until the next general election, in place of Robert Fairlamb, who has been elected and commissioned sheriff of the said county, and has declined serving in the office of commissioner.”

(8*) “Feb. 25, 1847, the petition of Samuel Palmer and Edmund Pennell was presented, showing that a vacancy had occurred in the board of Commissioners of Delaware County by the death of David Worrell. Whereupon the court, together with the two remaining commissioners of said county, have appointed Thomas Steele, Jr., of the township of Marple, in said county, a commissioner to fill said vacancy until the next general election.”

(9*) Bliss’ “Delaware County Digest,” p. 48.

(10*) Nathan Garrett died in office, and Isaac P. Garrett elected to fill unexpired term.

Source:  Page(s) 267-274, History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, by Henry Graham Ashmead, Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. 1884

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