CHAPTER XXIX

ASTON TOWNSHIP

Dr. Smith states that “this township probably derived its name from Aston, a village of Berkshire, England. . . . In 1686, Edward Carter, then a resident in what is now Aston, was appointed constable for Northley.”* The opinions of all our local historians agree in that the name of Northley was applied to Aston previous to 1687 to designate that locality from other municipal districts in the county. Edward Carter doubtless gave the name to the township, as was customary in those early days, in remembrance of his old home beyond the sea, for he came from Aston, in the parish of Bampton, Oxfordshire, England, emigrating to the province in 1682.** He first located in Chichester, but subsequently removed to his tract of two hundred and fifty acres in Aston, and was appointed the first constable of that township, which assumed its present name the following year (1688), when John Neal (Nields) was appointed to the like office for the township of Aston, which is the first mention of that name in our record, and is properly accepted as the date at which the municipal district was established. Carter was a prominent man in the early days of the province, having served as member of the Assembly in 1688, as trustee of Chester Meeting the year previous, and Chichester and Concord Monthly Meeting was regularly held at his house until 1703, about which time he is believed to have died.*** Carter was not the first settler in Aston, for on Oct. 8, 1682, Charles Ashcom, the surveyor, returned five hundred acres of land laid out for John Dutton, on the west of Upland Creek, beginning at “Nathaniel Evans’ corner tree,” and so “unto the woods;” and tradition says that John Dutton settled on the land and built a house in the meadow, near the creek, but, being disturbed by floods, he removed a few rods farther back, and erected his dwelling on a large rock near a small rivulet. A portion of this rock may still be seen near the road from Rockdale to Village Green, the remainder having been removed for building purposes some years ago.”(4*) It is also stated that the family of John Dutton followed an Indian path when they moved from Chester to the back settlement.(5*)

Even before Dutton William Woodmansey took up a hundred acres at the southeastern end of the township, on Chester Creek – the present Bridgewater – in 1680, naming his home in the forest “Harold,” and there the society of Friends frequently held their meetings. He was one of Governor Markham’s Council, having been several years in the colony before the charter to Penn, coming a passenger in the ship “Kent” in 1677. Joseph Richards, who never lived in the township, in August, 1682, had surveyed to him three hundred acres in the southern part of the township, including the site of Village Green. After his death it was divided among his children, and on a portion of this tract of land, after it passed into the possession of the Barnard family, Gen. Isaac D. Barnard, the only Delaware countian who has been United States senator from Pennsylvania, was born in 1791. An intervening strip of land, between Richard’s tract and Chichester and Chester townships’ lines, containing one hundred and twenty-five acres, was surveyed to Anthony Weaver in February, 1681, and to this estate he gave the name Northley, by which Aston was first known. Dr. Smith relates that Anthony, being convinced that he wanted a wife, and as the women were generally Quakeresses, he whispered his convictions to Ann Richards, of Chichester, which resulted in the couple coming to meeting where the matter was discussed, and, although Anthony honestly “owned himself to be none of us,” the marriage was permitted to proceed.(6*) As usual in such cases, the wife’s religious predilections soon became those of her husband.

Among the early settlers of Aston was Thomas Mercer, who took up a hundred acres of land on Chester Creek, near Dutton’s mills, and Nathaniel Evans, in October, 1682, had surveyed to him a tract of three hundred acres, oddly shaped so as to have the largest part extend along the creek from Elwood Tyson’s land to within a short distance of the Presbyterian Ford, and yet stretching west across the entire township. Above the Dutton tract, John Neild, in 1682, had surveyed to him two hundred and fifty acres, which included the site of the present village of Rockdale, and following the creek to West Branch continued along the latter stream until at Llewellyn it intersected with an easterly line drawn at right angles, thence to Chester Creek. The Crozer estate is almost entirely included in this patent. In 1695, John Neild was married to the widow of John Dutton, the settler, and the latter, having married a man not in membership with Friends, found that her action occasioned considerable concern to the good people of that sect.

The upper end of the present township of Aston, a tract of one thousand acres, was surveyed to Thomas Brassey in 1684, which subsequently was divided previous to 1710 into smaller farms. A tract of one hundred and nineteen acres bordering on Concord township was surveyed to Thomas Martin, and at this day part of that land is still in the ownership of his descendant, Thomas Marlin. John Pennell also acquired over two hundred acres of the Brassey land, but the farm above the State road, where Mark Pennell now lives, was not a part of the original farm purchased by John Pennell in 1700. Among the original owners of land in Aston, above where the West Branch crosses the township, among the earliest purchasers was Gilbert Woolman, two hundred and fifty acres which property extended northwest from Llewellyn, including J.B. Rhodes, C.W. Mathues, Thomas Swaine, and the Lewis estate to the east of Logtown road; while William McCracken’s and Caleb Heyburn’s farms are located on the two hundred and fifty acres, which were surveyed to Mary Moore, May 10, 1684. J.W. Thatcher’s estate on Chester Creek above Pennellton Station is part of the twenty-one acres surveyed to Caleb Pusey in 1707-8.

The taxables in Aston in 1715 were as follows: Robert Carter, John Pennell, Moses Key, John Dutton, Thomas Dutton, Thomas Woodward, John Neild, James Widdows, William Rattew, Samuel Jones, Thomas Barnard, Abraham Darlington, John Hurford, Jonathan Monroe, Thomas Gale.

Freemen, Thomas Dunbabin, Isaac Williams, Joseph Darlington, Edward Richards, Samuel Stroud.

At a court held the third day of the first week Tenth month, 1688, the grand jury laid out the highway from Chichester to Aston, as follows:
     “Ffrom Delaware by James Browns along ye old Road Betwixt Jeremy Colletts and James Hulbert soe along ye same Road to a marked White Oake, thence along on ye West sid of a marked Poplar tree near ye Meeting House, from thence by a lyne of marked trees to ye West Corner of Joseph Richardson’s fence, from thence by a lyne of marked trees to a marked Black Oake standing by Astone Road.”

On the same day the grand jury laid out the road from Aston to Edgmont:
     “Beginning att a Spanish Oake about Edward Carter’s and soe along ye Cutt Road and down ye Vallie which Joseph Richardson had fenced in, from thence through John Beales Pasture along by William Woodmansees along ye old Road over Chester Creek’s soe along ye Old Road.”

Previous to this date the road from Aston to Chester had been granted by the grand jury, “The Inhabitance of ye Township of Aston Petioned for one Road way to ye Town of Chester, and another to ye town of Chichester.” It is, however, unnecessary to further quote the exact line as presented in the report of that body to courts, the foregoing being deemed sufficient to indicate the manner in which such returns were made.

The following is a list of the justices of the peace for Aston township:

The second day following the battle of Brandywine, Lord Cornwallis, “with the 2d Battalion Light Infantry and 2d of Grenadiers, marched at half past six in the morning, to join the body under Major General Grant and to move on towards Chester. . . . At 5 o’clock this afternoon the troops with Lord Cornwallis reached Ashtown, within 4 miles of Chester.”(7*) Here Gen. Cornwallis established his headquarters, the encampment extending from Mount Hope to the lower part of Village Green, where in an old brick house, still standing, that officer made his temporary residence. From here he dispatched parties in every direction to secure supplies for the British army, seizing for that purpose the flour in all the mills within reach of his troops. The soldiers who were sent out on these expeditions frequently despoiled the inhabitants of everything they could carry away, although the orders from Howe and Cornwallis expressly forbade such unlicensed plundering. On the night of Sunday, Sept. 14, 1777, three British soldiers – Dr. Smith says they were Hessians – crossed Chester Creek, above Dutton’s mill, to the dwelling of Jonathan Martin, now the property of George Dutton, and plundered the family of many things, among them some articles belonging to Mary Martin, a daughter, then eighteen, who indignantly reproved them for their unmanly conduct. One of the soldiers, in anger at her reprimand, slightly wounded Miss Martin with a bayonet. The men, still on plunder bent, proceeded about three-quarters of a mile in a southeasterly direction to the house of Mr. Coxe, in Chester township, near Sneath’s Corner, now the property of Robert McCall, where they stole a number of articles, among which was a silver watch. Mr. Coxe had a daughter about the same age as Miss Martin. The next morning the two girls went to the headquarters of Lord Cornwallis, where complaint was made personally to that officer or Gen. Howe, who, with an escort of dragoons, had that day visited Cornwallis’ extreme outpost, three-quarters of a mile west of Chester, in the neighborhood of the present Cartertown. Dr. Smith, who heard the incident related by Thomas Dutton and Joseph Mencil, stated that Gen. Howe “promised that if they could point out the men, they should be punished. The troops were at once formed into line, when the girls passed along and pointed out the robbers, after which they retired to some distance. The officers then put the troops through various evolutions, leaving the men in different positions. The same men were again pointed out by the girls as the guilty parties. The operation was again repeated with a like result. The men were then searched, when some of the stolen property was found upon them. They were tried by a court-martial and all convicted. Two of them were sentenced to be hung, and the third to perform the office of executioner. Upon whom the extreme penalty should be inflicted, the question was decided by casting lots. The two men were hung on the limb, of an apple-tree on the property owned by George L. Nield, in Aston, and what is remarkable, they were allowed to remain hanging after the army moved away.”(8*) The two men, we learn from Capt. Montressor’s journal, were executed on the 15th of September, and that one was a grenadier and the other a light infantryman.(9*) That night at eight o’clock Cornwallis moved his whole command toward the Lancaster road, and at eleven o’clock the next day Gen. Howe made a junction with the troop of the former, the commander-in-chief having marched with the bulk of the army from near Dilworthtown by the Turk’s Head (West Chester), Goshen meeting-house, and the hotel, the sign of the Boot.

Thomas Dutton, the centenarian, used to relate that on the evening of the 13th of September, when the British troops, under Cornwallis, encamped at Village Green, extending in a crescent form westwardly to Mount Hope, he was afraid the soldiers would kill his mother’s cows, which were then pasturing in close proximity to the troops, so, lad as he was, not ten years of age, he marched boldly to the camp and drove the cattle home. An officer noticed the boy’s action, and doubtless thinking that where those cows belonged good cheer could be had, ordered four soldiers to follow while he walked with young Dutton to his home. The latter, child-like, answered every question put to him by the officer, and when the house was reached the soldiers waited without to guard against the capture of their commander, who had entered the dwelling. The widow Dutton was much alarmed, but the officer assured her that the soldiers did not come to rob the people, but advised her as long as the troops lay in the neighborhood to bolt and bar every door and window, for the camp-followers, under a pretence of lighting a pipe, a drink of water, or other trifling matter, would strive to get access to the house and plunder it. The brave fellow who had lost one of his hands in Flanders paid for his meals, and the timely warning in all probability saved the widow from loss.(10*) This lad, born in Aston, Feb. 2, 1769, died Sept. 12, 1869, in the same township, his span of life having been extended to one hundred years, seven months, and eleven days. When twenty-one years of age, he having learned the tanning business, obtained permission from his grandfather to build a tan-yard on the former’s estate in Aston, and Thomas Dutton erected a dwelling partly of stone and partly of logs, and a tan-house, into the wall of which is built a stone bearing the initials T.D., and the date 1790. The young man, who had married, appears to have devoted himself to his trade, and not only did he establish a reputation in business, but his industrious habits so favorably impressed his grandfather that Richard Dutton conveyed “in consideration of the natural love and affection he bore” his grandson, the two acres on which the dwelling and tan-yard were located. Subsequently by his grandfather’s will he received a large tract of land surrounding these two acres. Here he continued until 1808, when he removed to New York State, but in 1817 resumed his trade as tanner at the old location, using a steam-engine at the work purchased of William Parrish, a manufacturer of Philadelphia, the first, it is said, ever set up in Delaware County. The good people of that day shook their head doubtingly at the ultimate success of his “new-fangled notions.” Here he continued until 1848, at which time, being nearly eighty years of age, he ceased to take an active part in business. He could distinctly remember hearing the cannon which were fired in Philadelphia in commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and was of sufficient age to vote for Washington at his second election, and excepting the first term of Monroe, had voted at every Presidential election, casting his ballot for the last time for Gen. Grant, in November, 1868.(11*)

On Feb. 2, 1869, when Thomas Dutton completed his century of life, his family connection and friends, amounting to nearly one thousand persons, assembled at his house in Aston, on which occasion interesting ceremonies appropriate to the unusual event were had. The venerable man lived until the following autumn, and only three instances are recorded in Delaware County of persons who lived to a more advanced age than that reached by Thomas Dutton.

In 1850, Nathan P. Dutton, his mother, Rachel (Pennell) Dutton, and Richard P. Slawter died in Aston, the cause of their death being exceedingly remarkable. On Saturday afternoon, August 8th of that year, a public sale of household goods was being held in a house near Village Green, when a storm accompanied by lightning occurred. The house where the vendue was in progress was struck, the fluid entering the peak of the roof, passing down between the weather-boarding and plastering until it reached the first story, “when it divided, one portion passing in at a hook driven in the wall, from which a looking-glass was suspended, and striking Nathan P. Dutton, who was standing under the glass, upon the top of the head, leaving but a slight mark. The fluid passed to his left arm above the elbow, thence down his body, burning the skin in its passage. He lived about five minutes, and was sensible of his approaching dissolution. The fluid passed from him to John McClay, who was standing near, struck him in the back, and ran down both his legs, burning the skin and clothes from his body, tearing his shoes to fragments, and leaving a small hole in the toe of one of them, as if perforated by a bullet. The other branch of the fluid struck Richard P. Slawter, who was standing outside of the house, and felled him to the ground. He was taken up, but expired in about fifteen minutes. Rachel Dutton, the mother of Nathan, was in an adjoining room, and, on being told of the fate of her son, she came out and immediately commenced to render every assistance in her power to restore him to animation. After laboring with great anxiety for nearly half an hour she gradually fainted away, and, continuing to lose respiration, she expired in about three-quarters of an hour after the death of her son.”(12*)

The foregoing is not the only freak of lightning worthy of record as having happened in Aston. On Monday evening, June 19, 1848, during a heavy storm, the dwelling of John Hall, in that township, was struck by lightning, and a lady sitting in the house was so severely stunned that she was unconscious for several hours.

As late as 1770, Dr. Smith tells us, a family of Indians had a wigwam on the Aston side of Chester Creek, on or in the vicinity of the present farm of George Drayton, but they did not remain there constantly. Their names were Andrew, Isaac, his son, and two women, sisters, Nanny and Betty, one of whom was the wife of Andrew. The latter died about the year 1780, and was buried in the graveyard of Middletown Friends’ meeting-house.(13*)

On the evening of Sept. 11, 1777, a number of the stragglers from the defeated American army, hungry, demoralized, and exhausted in their flight from the field at Brandywine, collected in the neighborhood of Logtown, where they passed the night, sleeping in the outbuildings and open fields. The next morning most of them rejoined their commands.

Several acres of land lying in the sharp angle formed by the union of the Marcus Hook and Concord roads at Village Green early in this century were the property of John Hoskins, and there occurred in the olden times an accident which is still recalled to the minds of many of the aged residents of the county. On Jan. 5, 1819, a six-year-old son of John and Mary Hoskins, in the absence of his parents, caught up an old firelock standing in the room back of a door, which had been charged about the preceding Christmas, and which the owner had several times attempted to discharge without success. The child pointed the gun at his sister, four years older than himself, saying, “I’m going to shoot,” pulling the trigger as he spoke. The gun, unfortunately, was discharged, and the shot lodged in the bowels of the girl, causing instant death.

In February, 1836, a strike occurred at Crozer’s West Branch Mills, occasioned by the discharge of William Shaw, one of the hands, and in May of the same year the operatives employed in the cotton-factories along Chester Creek struck for higher wages. In April, 1842, wages having been reduced, a general strike followed. Meetings were held, and on May 16, 1842, eight of the operatives were arrested on a charge of inciting the others to riot. On May 24th the trial began, and continued one week. It was alleged that the strikers caused Burt & Kerlin’s mill to stop work by shutting down the head-gate, and one Broadbent, an operator who would not join the strikers, was overtaken going to work and kicked, cuffed, dragged to creek, and ducked. It was alleged that a party, consisting of two or three hundred men, gathered at Rockdale, when a committee was appointed to go to John Garsed and John D. Pierce, at Pennsgrove Mills, and compel the hands to cease work there, and that a procession of about fifty men, of Rockdale, armed with clubs, canes, and a few with pistols, went to Kelly’s factory, in Upper Darby, to compel the operatives there to join in the strike. Mark Wild, Hiram McConnell, and Maj. Rowe were convicted of conspiracy. Wild and Rowe were fined twenty dollars each. McConnell was ordered to pay thirty-five dollars fine. The jury acquitted all the eight men indicted for riot, but ordered McConnell to pay the costs of prosecution.

A fatal accident occurred at Rockdale on Saturday, Dec. 17, 1859. A violent storm rendered the night unusually dark. Maris Waddle, of Middletown, was driving down the steep hill at James Brown’s (now Atwood B. Hoskins’) store, when his horses took fright, backed the wagon over the side of the road at that point, and the vehicle, in falling a distance of ten feet to the wall below, turned, crushing the driver beneath it. When the wagon was removed Waddle’s lifeless body was found lying under the broken vehicle.

The original township of Aston, which at the upper end conformed to the straight east and west line dividing that township, Concord, and Middletown from Thornbury, and Edgmont remained undisturbed until 1842, when, on July 20th of that year, the Assembly enacted a law changing the line of Aston, so that that part of the old township lying above Stony Bank School-house – a direct line drawn thence eastward from Concord township-line to Chester Creek – was annexed to Thornbury township.(14*) Again, in 1870, an effort was made by the citizens of the upper end of Aston to divide the present township, the difficulty growing out of the alleged disproportion of the number of schools and the unequal division of the taxes for road purposes. A petition was presented to the court, but at the election held, under order of court, October 18th of that year, the project was defeated at the polls.

Peters’ Grist- and Saw-Mills. – On Green Creek, a feeder of the West Branch of Chester Creek, near Concord township-line, the Peters’ grist- and saw-mills are located. The date when the tract on which the mills are erected was first taken up does not appear of record, but on June 10, 1703, one hundred acres were resurveyed to Isaac Taylor, to whom a patent for this land was issued Jan. 12, 1704. It subsequently became the property of William Peters, who, in 1750, erected the brick dwelling-house now standing, the date-stone in its walls bearing his initials, “W.P,” and the numerals of the year just stated.

Previous to 1790 a stone fulling-mill had been built, and between that date and 1799 a saw-mill had also been erected, for the assessment-roll, of Aston township, in the latter year, shows that at that time a fulling-mill and a saw-mill were then on the estate. This saw-mill, in several ancient documents, is called “a slitting-mill,” it being employed in slitting logs to be used in building ships. In 1826 the fulling-mill was in disuse and a grist-mill and saw-mill were in operation; in the former from six to ten thousand bushels of grain was ground, and in the latter about fifty thousand feet of lumber sawed per annum. On June 4, 1842, Samuel F. Peters, a grandson of William Peters, purchased the property, retaining title thereto until Feb. 8, 1872, when Samuel F. Peters sold it to Charles J. Johnson, who is now operating the mills as the “Forest Queen Mills.”

Tyson (now Llewellyn) Mills. – Previous to the Revolution, Robert Hall and Abraham Sharpless owned and operated a grist-mill on the West Branch of Chester Creek. The traces of the old race which fed those works and the remains of the ancient dam can be discerned to this day. The old race on the other side of the creek from the present mills evidently was in use for a mill, probably that of 1772, of which mention is made in the road-docket of a road as being laid out at that time from Daniel Sharpless’ smithshop (Logtown) to Hall & Sharpless’ mill. Hall subsequently acquired title to the entire property, and on April 5, 1798, he sold thirty-four acres, on which was then erected a stone house, a grist- and saw-mill, to Thomas Jones, and became a store-keeper in Aston, while Jones operated the mill, certainly unsuccessfully, for he became insolvent, and on July 20, 1800, John Odenheimer, sheriff of the county, conveyed twenty-eight and three-quarter acres of land, with the buildings, to Capt. John Richards. The latter retained title to the estate two years, when on Oct. 23, 1802, he sold the premises to James Tyson. The purchaser, then a young man of thirty-three, continued to operate the mills (having, in connection with the grist-, erected an oil-mill) for more than half a century until his death, March 15, 1858, aged eighty-six years. During the flood of 1843 much property was destroyed at these mills, the race and dam being almost obliterated. On March 25, 1864, Elwood Tyson, executor of his father’s estate, sold the premises, excepting three-quarters of an acre, to John B. and Samuel Rhodes, who changed the old mill into a cotton- and woolen-factory, and in 1868 erected the present main building, a structure one hundred and ten by fifty-seven feet, two stories in height. In 1872 an addition of one hundred and thirty-five feet was made to the mill, the whole, including the building put up in 1868, being enlarged by the erection of a third story, and in 1879 another addition of one hundred and twelve feet and three stories was built, making the whole length of the main mill three hundred and fifty-five feet, in which are nearly four hundred looms. The industry, as it developed, necessarily built up a village, which now contains about one hundred tenement houses. For the convenience of the operatives a store was established at Llewellyn in the summer of 1877, and in 1880 it was made a postal station, John B. Rhodes being appointed postmaster. In addition to these mills the firm are now running the Knowlton Mills under a lease, and have purchased the West Branch Mill’s, which they are also operating.

John B. Rhodes, the senior member of the firm, is the grandson of John Rhodes, who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in 1827, and settled in Aston township, where his death by drowning – together with that of two daughters – occurred during the great freshet of August, 1843. His son, William, followed him to America the year after, and also located in Aston township, where he was employed in a factory devoted to the manufacture of cotton fabrics. He married, prior to his emigration, Hannah Kay, and had children, – John B., William, Samuel, Thomas (deceased), Ann, and Susanna, all of whom were born in the United States. John B., the eldest, whose birth occurred Jan. 27, 1829, in Aston township, at the early age of six years entered a cotton-factory with a view to becoming proficient in that branch of industry. He was employed in the different departments of a weaving-mill, and ultimately acquired a practical knowledge of all branches of the business. His education was meanwhile gained at the sessions of a night-school (the public-school system not yet being introduced in this part of the State), and confined principally to the rudiments, habits of thought and observation having been of great service to him during his youth as in later life. He remained an employé of the factory until his majority was attained, and was then married by Bishop Alfred Lee, of Delaware, to Annie L., daughter of William Warren, of Middletown township, who was of English parentage. Their children are William K. (deceased), Charles B., Alfred L., John, Jr., Richard Somers, Ann L., and Jennie C. (deceased). On his marriage, Mr. Rhodes embarked in the business of store-keeping at Crozerville, Delaware Co., where he remained prosecuting a successful trade until 1864. He then purchased from Elwood Tyson, Esq., what is known as the Aston Mills property, and has since been engaged in the manufacture of doeskins, jeans, and dress-goods. His marked success prompted him, in 1866, to rent the Knowlton Mills, at Knowlton, in Middletown township, which are still controlled by him. To this already extensive manufacturing venture was added, in 1882, the purchase of the West Branch Mills, in Aston township, which are running to their full capacity. In the management of these extensive interests his energy and business tact have been exceptional, contributing essentially to the success of every enterprise in which he has engaged. From humble beginnings Mr. Rhodes has risen by inherent force and strong purpose to be an influential factor in the industries of the county. He is in politics a Democrat. He was a delegate to the St. Louis Convention which in 1876 nominated Tilden and Hendricks for the first offices in the gift of the people. He is a prominent Odd-Fellow, member of Benevolent Lodge, No. 40, of Aston, and has represented it in the Grand Councils for a number of years, his father having been in 1831 one of its charter members and organizers. He is a regular attendant upon the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church, though educated in the tenets of the Protestant Episcopal faith.

The Old Forge at Rockdale. The first mention of a forge at this place, so far as we have yet ascertained, occurs in a deed dated Nov. 16, 1785, whereby Abraham Pennell conveyed to his brother, Dell Pennell, a tract of ground “whereon is erected an iron forge.” That this forge was built subsequent to 1750 is evident from the return of John Owens, sheriff of Chester County, who, on the 24th of June in that year, made report to the Governor in relation to the iron-works in this county. In 1780 the forge was assessed to Dell Pennell, and doubtless operated by him until 1802, when it was conducted by William Speer and Joseph Churchman. The land whereon it stood was part of a large tract to which the father of Abraham and Dell Pennell for many years had title. The deed to Dell Pennell conveyed to him two hundred acres in Middletown and one hundred acres in Aston townships, “whereon is erected an iron forge, with the full and free liberty and privilege of raising the water of the forge dam within four inches of the top of the figures 1785, and an auger hole in a rock on the northwest side of the dam.” Dell Pennell, on May 21, 1802, conveyed to Nathan Sharpless the right to use the waters of Chester Creek for the use of Sharpless’ “grist-mill dam, where it now stands, and has long stood across the creek above our Forge dam.” On the same day Nathan Sharpless and Rachel, his wife, granted to Dell Pennell the “right of an abutment on our land where the old forge dam now stands and has long stood across Chester Creek, and to repair and rebuild from time to time, and at all times, said dam so as to raise the water therein as high as is expressed in the deed from Abraham Pennell and Hannah, his wife, to the said Dell Pennell,” which refers to the figures 1785 and the auger-hole in the rock. The day after these grants were made, May 22, 1802, Dell Pennell sold to George Chandler the iron-works and eight acres of land. The latter seems not to have operated the forge, but Abraham Sharpless and Francis Wisley conducted the business there, at least they did in 1807, and on July 21, 1808, when Chandler sold to Thomas Odiorne, a merchant of Malden, Middlesex Co., Mass., a relative of the Wilcox family, that certain messuage, iron-works, etc., and eight acres of ground. In 1809 the nail-mill was built. After the sale to Thomas Odiorne, Capt. Henry Moore, of Portsmouth, N.H., took charge of the works, and continued there until after the death of Thomas Odiorne, the elder, and in the settlement of the estate Thomas Odiorne, the younger, on Aug. 28, 1815, conveyed his interest in the property to George Odiorne, of Boston, for five thousand six hundred dollars, and the same day George Odiorne sold to his brother-in-law, Capt. Henry Moore, the latter had married Ann Odiorne, in consideration of fifteen thousand dollars, all his right in the real estate, consisting of eight acres fifteen perches, “with the messuages, iron- and nail-works, and other buildings thereon erected,” and the right of water and to build dams, together with his interest in twenty and three-fourth acres of land. To these mills Capt. Moore

gave the name “Old Sable Works.” In 1830, when William McCracken began work there, Capt. Moore’s establishments consisted of a nail-slitting and rolling-mill, as also a grist- and cotton-mill. The nail-mill was located on the island where the unoccupied stone mill now stands, and was in Middletown. The grist-mill was in Aston, adjoining the rolling- and slitting-mill, and had been built by Capt. Moore about 1827. The iron ore and coal used in smelting was hauled to the mills from Chester and Marcus Hook, to which places those articles were brought in shallops. Richard S. Smith, of Philadelphia, who acted as Moore’s agent for the sale of nails manufactured by him, had advanced large sums of money to Moore, and on May 23, 1832, the latter conveyed the estate to Smith to secure him for the advances, with the understanding that the property would be reconveyed on payment of the sums due. In 1833, Moore failed, and the estate passed absolutely to Smith. Capt. Moore, previous to 1826, had built on the site of the forge a stone cotton-mill, four stories and an attic in height. Lewis and John S. Phillips operated the cotton-weaving factory from the time it was erected until some years after the property was purchased by Smith. They gave place to Henry Burt and Kerlin, who operated it until the spring of 1843, when they became embarrassed and made an assignment. The grist-mill was in that year occupied by Henry Gorman. The mills lay idle nearly a year, when they were rented to Barnard McCready, who purchased them in 1845, and the following year he was an exhibitor at the National Fair, at Washington, and received special mention for the printed cotton goods he made. He erected a spinning-mill adjoining the old factory (now changed into dwelling-houses), and continued to conduct the business until his death, when he was succeeded by his son, Thomas, and his son-in-law, Robert Ewing. It was subsequently leased for ten years to John G. Steen & Samuel Riddle, and at the expiration of that term was purchased by Alexander Balfour, and operated by him for a short period, when it was sold to Samuel Riddle. The cotton-mill which stood on the site of the old forge was entirely consumed by fire on May 20, 1873. It was then operated by Whittaker & Lewis in the manufacture of cotton yarn.

The old forge-dam stood about twenty feet above the bridge at Glen Riddle, and was removed by Samuel Riddle in 1875. Two thousand feet above the forge-dam was that of the Sharpless Mill. The present dam at Rockdale was built in 1845.

The other works of Barnard McCready were located in Middletown, and their story will be told in the history of that township.

Thatcher’s Tilt-Mill.—-Previous to 1811 there was a tilt-mill situated on Chester Creek above Grubb’s Bridge, and near Wawa Station, the junction of the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad and the Baltimore Central Railroad, which was owned and operated by Joseph Thatcher. The land whereon it was located had been selected, doubtless, with an eye to its admirable water-power by Caleb Pusey, the noted miller of early colonial days. In 1812, Enos Thatcher had control of the works, and in 1815 the firm became Thomas & Enos Thatcher. The stimulating effect of the war with England caused an extension of the business, but with the return of peace it, as with all manufacturing industries, became precarious, hence it is with no astonishment we find it recorded in 1826 that the “tilt- and blade-mill,” owned and occupied by Thomas Thatcher, had not been “much used in times past.” Nevertheless, the last named, through good and bad times, retained the ownership of the mill until his death, in 1840. Indeed, at that time there was a stone tilt-mill, forty by forty-one feet, with four fires, two of which were blown by water-power, a new wheel having been built for that purpose, to which a lathe could be attached, as well as grindstones and polishing-wheels. Near by the mill was also a coachmaker’s shop, twenty-five by thirty-seven feet, and two stories in height. In 1841, Joseph and Isaac Thatcher were engaged in making at that mill “scycloidal” self-sharpening plows. In the flood of 1843 this tilt-mill, belonging to the heirs of Thomas Thatcher, was swept away by the water, nothing being found after the rushing current had subsided but the tilt-hammer and the grindstone. In 1852, John W. Thatcher carried on blacksmithing and coach-building near by for several years. The property is still in the ownership of the family, John Thatcher being the present proprietor.

Lenni Mills. Thomas Griffith, on Jan. 2, 1797, conveyed to John Lungren, paper manufacturer of Upper Providence, a tract of land containing one hundred and sixty-seven acres, on which was “a messuage and mill-seat.” This land was described as situated in Aston, along Chester Creek, adjoining lands of John Rattew, Levi Mattson, and other lands of Thomas Griffith. It was stipulated in the deed that Lungren was to have, the right to “use the water of a small run, which at present empties itself into the race belonging to the saw-mill formerly existing upon the premises,” which right was especially granted for “the mill in contemplation to be shortly erected by the said John Lungren for the manufacture of paper upon a part of the premises hereby intended to be granted.” The same day, Jan. 2, 1797, Jonathan Pennell, blacksmith, conveyed to John Lungren “all rights to adjoin or abut the dam which will belong to the mill called a Paper-Mill, intended shortly to be built by the said John Lungren.” The lands of Jonathan Pennell were on the opposite or east side of Chester Creek, in Middletown township. The paper-mill was erected in 1798, and was assessed in Aston township in 1799. The dam built at the time the mill was put up had become so decayed in 1815 that a new dam was constructed to take the place of the first. John Lungren continued to operate this mill until his death, about 1816, when the property descended to his sons, Charles and William Lungren. The latter rented the premises for several years, and in 1825 sold the estate to Peter Hill, who built a cotton-mill thereon thirty-five by fifty-five feet, three stories in height, and the same year conveyed the estate to William Martin and Joseph W. Smith. It was the new proprietor who gave to the locality the name it now bears, Lenni, for William Martin, who operated the factory, called it Lenni Mills. At that time the paper-mill – two vats – was operated by John B. Duckett, who manufactured weekly sixty reams of quarto-post paper and thirty-three reams of printing-paper. Martin indorsed heavily for a friend. The latter carried Martin with him in his bankruptcy, and on Aug. 25, 1827, the premises were sold by the sheriff, Mrs. Ann Sellers, the mother-in-law of Peter Hill, becoming the purchaser, as trustee of Hannah S. Hill, her daughter. David Lamotte & Sons thereupon rented the mill. It appears that a new factory was erected on the property, for on Dec. 30, 1845, a stone mill and drying-house at Lenni took fire, and was entirely consumed. The mill had been used as a store-house and machine-shop, and at the time of its destruction did not contain a large stock of goods. The following year, May, 1846, Lamotte exhibited “Ashland tickings,” made by him at the Lenni Mills, at the National Fair, Washington, D.C., which article received special mention. In 1850, Peter Hill died, and Lamotte removed from Lenni to Wilmington, Del., where he died, Sept. 20, 1877, aged ninety-six years. The mills were then rented to Gen. Robert Patterson, and the stone mansion-house erected by John Lungren was occupied by Robert L. Martin, Patterson’s agent. In 1873, Joseph Kenworthy became the superintendent of the Lenni Mills, and continued there until 1882, when they were closed. They are now idle. The road leading from Lenni Mills to Lenni is still called the Lungren road.

Crozerville Mills. The land on which the Crozerville mill now stands was owned in 1810 by John Rattew, having been in the possession of his ancestors for three generations. On December 24th of that year he entered into an article of agreement with Isaac Bottomley, a clothier of Concord, granting on certain conditions ten acres of land on Chester Creek, “touching both branches so as to take in a mill-seat.” On this tract Isaac Bottomley erected a woolen-mill, and on July 1, 1811, John and Thomas Bottomley, also clothiers of Concord, purchased from Isaac Bottomley an interest in the business and the agreement with Rattew. On Jan. 25, 1812, John Rattew conveyed the title of the property to Isaac, John, and Thomas Bottomley. During the second war with England the factory made considerable money for its owners, but with the return of peace the shrinkage in values embarrassed the Bottomley Brothers, and the difficulties were increased by the death of John and Thomas at different times. By various proceedings in court the title to the property was finally vested in the survivor, Isaac Bottomley. Innumerable troubles crossed his path until he could stem the tide no longer, and on April 2, 1824, Sheriff Joseph Weaver, Jr., sold the personal property in the factory. The machines thus disposed of consisted of “one carding machine, one spinning Billy of forty spindles, two spinning Jennys, one of eighty and the other of forty spindles, one Picker, three weaving Looms, with reeds and gears, and other articles not enumerated.” This factory was noted in its days, hence we publish the list of machinery contained therein that it may be seen how vast is the change sixty years has wrought in manufacturing in our county. On the 2d of April, 1826, Isaac Bottomley sold the real estate to John B. Duckett, which sale included the mill and fourteen acres of land. Duckett at the time he purchased the property was operating a small paper-mill on the Lenni estate (already mentioned), then owned by William Martin and Joseph W. Smith. Shortly after the purchase Duckett built a paper-mill, thirty by eighty-six feet, three stories in height, on this site, taking the power to drive the machinery from the West Branch. In 1837, he having failed, the mill property was transferred to the Bank of Delaware County, at which time there was on the estate, besides the mill, a mansion-house, nine tenements, and a store building. In 1838 that institution conveyed the property to John P. Crozer, who in the following year erected the present stone mill, fifty-three by one hundred and fifty-six feet, and three stories in height. Mr. Crozer operated this mill until his death, in 1866, when it was conducted by Samuel A. Crozer for one year, at the expiration of which time he associated Samuel C. Lewis in the business under the firm-name of Crozer & Lewis. In 1875, Mr. Lewis withdrew from the firm, and Crozer conducted it till 1881, when he rented the mill to his son-in-law, the present proprietor, William H.H. Robinson. The difference of the two periods in the development of our manufacturing interest is noticeable when we contrast the number of spindles used by Isaac Bottomley, one hundred and sixty, and find that the present mill today requires five thousand in the manufacture of cotton yarns exclusively.

West Branch Cotton Mills. Between 1790 and 1795, Aaron Mattson built a stone mill, on the west branch of Chester Creek, which he operated as a paper-mill until 1824, when, becoming involved, the premises were taken in execution, and on Dec. 6, 1824, was sold by the sheriff to John P. Crozer. The latter, in speaking of this estate, says, “I bought the little mill-seat with an old rickety building and over one hundred and eighty acres of land, for seven thousand three hundred and thirty dollars. My kind brother, J. Lewis, again aided me in raising the money. I mortgaged to Thomas Woodward for four thousand dollars and borrowed the balance as best I could, with J. Lewis’ security. This was in the autumn of 1824, and I was to have possession in the spring of 1825, at which time I removed.”(15*) Mr. Crozer changed the paper-mill into a cotton-factory, and in 1826 had there ten carding engines of twenty-four inches, thirteen hundred and thirty-eight spindles, on which he spun eleven hundred pounds of cotton-yarn per week. At that time there were dwelling houses on the estate for nine families. In the noted flood of 1843 the eastern end of the factory was carried away, with the size-house, water-wheel, many looms, and the dry-house, containing yarns and goods valued at several thousand dollars. In 1846, John P. Crozer exhibited ticking at the National Fair, Washington, and the goods received special mention. At West Branch, Mr. Crozer continued to reside until May, 1847, when, having completed his dwelling at Upland, he removed thither. The West Branch Mill, however, remained in the ownership of the Crozer family until 1882, when it was sold to John B. Rhodes, who now owns and operates it.

Pennellton (Bridgewater) Mills. In 1826 the site of these mills was known only as a mill-seat, and it was not until 1845 that Isaac Morgan built a stone cotton-factory forty by forty-five feet, and four stories in height, to which he gave the name “Pennellton,” in honor of Hannah Pennell, his wife. The first occupant of the Pennellton Mill was Edward Leigh, who carried on cotton-spinning and weaving therein from 1846 to 1850, when he was succeeded in the same business by Charles and Joseph Kenworthy, from 1851 to 1855. They in turn gave place to –Lewis, and he to John Campbell, of Philadelphia. The latter relinquished the mill to Patrick Kelley, who manufactured a grade of goods known as “Powhattan,”, which became noted in the market, and in a few years made him comparatively wealthy; so much so that, desiring to retire in December, 1863, he sold his entire interest in the business and machinery to Hugh Shaw and David Reese Esrey, who remained at the Pennellton Mills until the summer of 1866, when, having built Powhattan Mill, No. 1, in North Chester, the old factory on Chester Creek was purchased from Isaac Morgan by Joseph Willcox & Co., who changed it to a paper-mill, and gave it the present name, “Bridgewater.” In January, 1872, Samuel Haigh & Co., of Philadelphia, purchased the estate and changed it to a woolen-factory, and have operated it from that date. The mill contains five sets of sixty-inch cards, four sell-factory mules, three thousand one hundred and nine spindles, and other necessary machinery. The original mill has been enlarged by an addition to the western end. The mills are now known as the Gladstone Mills, but the locality is still called Bridgewater.

Schools. The history of schools in Aston is interesting, and can be traced in our annals certainly to the year 1777, for Thomas Dutton used to relate that the day of the battle of Brandywine he was then nine years of age – the pupils had assembled at the school as usual, but when the booming of the cannon at Chad’s Ford, but a few miles distant, was heard, the aged master, James Rigby, dismissed the scholars, saying, “Go home, children; I can’t keep school to-day” After the English troops had withdrawn from the neighborhood of Village Green, doubtless the school resumed its sessions; but of that fact we have no positive evidence. The presumption is, however, that at the beginning of this century no building especially designed for school purposes had been erected in that township. This fact seems to be established from the deed dated May 11, 1802, by which Samuel Hewes, of Aston, conveyed to William Pennell and Thomas Dutton, of the same township, “for the use of a school, a house thereon to be built,” a lot of land comprising an acre, which was part of a tract of fifty-nine acres which Thomas Goodwin had sold, Nov. 1, 1799, to Hewes. This lot was to be held “in trust and for the use of a school, a house to be built thereon for the use, benefit, and behoof of the subscribers towards building said house.” The names of such subscribers were annexed in a schedule to the original deed, – that part of it is not on record in the recorder’s office, which trust was to continue for the heirs and assigns of the parties therein named, and in case it should at any time be deemed proper to sell the lot and school-house, it was provided that the trustees for the time being could convey a fee-simple title to the purchaser, after such sale had been authorized by the majority vote of the subscriber, the purchase money to be divided in proportion to the amount contributed by each subscriber. The building thus erected was known as the octagon school-house, at Village Green, and therein, about 1820, James McMullen was the pedagogue. In 1836, after the Public School Act had gone into effect and the board of directors for Aston township was organized, the old school-house passed into the possession of the township, and on Sept. 30, 1836, a school was opened there, Nicholas F. Walter being employed as teacher in the lower room at a salary of twenty-five dollars per month, and Mrs. Moore was appointed teacher in the upper room.

At first the school law was not looked upon with favor by the residents of Aston, for at the election held at the Seven Stars in 1834, at which the question was submitted of raising a school fund, the vote stood forty-one against twelve in the affirmative. At a meeting of the school board, held on May 6, 1836, after the act of that year had become a law Richard S. Smith, who had been appointed a delegate to the convention, held at Chester, on the 2d of the same month, reported that a tax of seven thousand five hundred dollars had been levied in the county by the school directors, and a meeting of the people was ordered to be held in the several townships on the 17th of May, to make such township appropriations as would secure the State and county appropriation for school purposes. It was decided at this meeting of the board to add a sum of two-thirds of a county rate, which amounted to five hundred dollars, and on May 17th the question as to the sum was submitted to a popular vote, which resulted in the measure being adopted, fifty-eight votes for to nine against the measure.

On June 10, 1836, a proposition was made to secure the building known as Martin’s school-house, and the owners agreed to rent it at two dollars per month. The directors, on June 16th, consented to accept the offer, on condition that a list of the contributors should be furnished the board, so that the proportional share of the rent could be paid to each of the contributors. It was also determined that an effort should be made to obtain possession of the school-house then being erected by John P. Crozer at West Branch, as well as the house expected to be built at Rockdale, for the school term. The proposition looking to the occupancy of the Stony Bank school-house was accepted, and on Sept. 3, 1836, it was ordered by the board that John Sharpless should be asked to deliver the key of that building. This school-house was built on a lot containing two acres and four-tenths of a perch of land, which Thomas Pennell, on March 9, 1796, had conveyed for nine hundred and ninety-nine years, to Daniel Sharpless, of Middletown, Abraham Sharpless, Emmor Williamson, and Jacob Pyle, of Aston, on the payment of twenty pounds Pennsylvania money, and a “yearly rent of one American cent, if demanded,” the grantees promising to erect “a good & sufficient stone school-house of the dimensions and form as shall be agreed on by such persons as shall subscribe for that purpose.” It was opened for tuition by the directors of the public school on Oct. 31, 1836, for a period of six months. Previous thereto the directors finding the building was much out of repair, twenty dollars was appropriated to put it in condition for public use. The school board also by resolution agreed to accept the children of contributors of the old Village Green and Stony Bank schools, on the payment of two hundred and twenty-five dollars per quarter to the board of directors for the township.

Martin’s school-house was subsequently known as the Logtown school, and the latter name in 1880 was changed to Chester Heights school, its present title. A school being required at Rockdale, the board directed that a suitable building should be obtained there for that purpose, if possible, and Richard S. Smith, a director, offered to give the use of a house there rent free, “provided it is left in as good condition as the Board finds it.” This offer was accepted, and the dwelling standing back of the present “Mountain House” became the first public school at that point, L. White Williams being the first teacher. This building had been used as a school during Henry Moore’s ownership of the land. In 1853 the Aston public school, the present building, was erected at Rockdale; in 1880 the school-house at Llewellyn was built. Messrs. Haigh & Co., in the fall of the year 1875, offered to give an acre of ground at Bridgewater as the site for a school-house, but for some reason these gentlemen and the directors did not come to a definite understanding until June, 1879, when the offer was accepted, and a brick building erected on the ground thus donated.

The following is a list of the school directors of Aston township:

1840, Samuel A. Barton, John Garsed; 1842, Mark Pennell, Stephen Hall; 1843, Mahlon Monsell, George Thompson; 1844, James McMullen, Stephen Hall; 1845, John W. Thatcher, Thomas Martin; 1846, George Thompson, Edwin Hannum; 1847, Thomas Williamson, Andrew W. Mathues; 1848, Thomas Martin, John Dutton; 1849, Edward Hannum, James W. McCracken; 1850, Samuel R. Hall, Nicholas F. Walter; 1851, Samuel R. Hall, Thomas Martin; 1852, James McCracken, Edwin Hannum; 1853, Nicholas F. Walter, William Hannum; 1854, George Thompson, James Bleyler; 1855, George Thompson, Edwin Hannum; 1856, Elwood Tyson, William Burns; 1857, James W. McCracken, Phineas Dicson; 1858, Andrew W. Mathews, J. Hervey Barton; 1859, John B. Rhodes, Robert L. Martin; 1860, George Yarnall, Robert L. Martin; 1861, Edwin Hannum, James W. McCracken; 1862, William Brown, James Bleyler; 1863, Charles Hart, William Brown; 1864, William McCracken, Benjamin Crowther; 1865, Edwin Hannum, Thomas Swayne; 1866, Thomas Pancoast, Elwood Tyson; 1867, Thomas Pancoast, Lewis Martin; 1868, William G. Davidson, William F. Mathews; 1869, C.C.V. Crawford, William Carson; 1870, Judge Tyson, John Neal; 1871, John B. Rhodes, Samuel A. Crozer; 1872, Charles W. Mathues, James W. McCracken; 1873, C.C.V. Crawford, C.R. Heyburn; 1874, John D. Kiser, Samuel K. Crozer; 1875, S.A. Fields, C.W. Mathues; 1876, C.C.V. Crawford, Caleb R. Heyburn; 1877, Samuel A. Field, James W. McCracken; 1878, Samuel H. Hall, John B. Neal; 1879, S.M. Challenger, C.R. Heyburn; 1880, Elwood Tyson, Joseph N. Scott; 1881, Samuel Rhodes, Samuel K. Crozer; 1882, E.P. Hannum, Samuel Challenger; 1883, W.S.S. Gay, Robert Taylor; 1884, Caleb R. Heyburn, James C. McGraw.

The private schools in Aston, other than the old-time contribution schools, have not been numerous, but their story, so far as I have yet learned, is full of interest. During the second war with England, Joseph Neef, a Frenchman, who attempted to establish the system of study then employed at the noted Pestallozzi, in Switzerland, removed from Philadelphia to Village Green, where he remained for several years. David Glascoe Farragut, who, almost half a century afterwards, became the great naval hero of the nineteenth century, while residing at Commodore Porter’s home at Chester, became a pupil of Mr. Neef. The latter had as a tutor in his school Phiquepal D’Arusmont, a Frenchman, who subsequently became prominent because of his marriage to Fanny Wright, the strong-minded lecturer of half a century ago,  who drew upon herself public denunciation simply because her views and opinions were noticeably in advance of the age in which she lived. She was possessed of large means, and the marriage, on the part of D’Arusmont, was mercenary, and eventuated in a few years in a separation between the ill-mated couple. Previous to 1820, Joseph Neef closed his school at Village Green and removed therefrom.

About 1845, Rev. Benjamin S. Huntington, an Episcopal clergyman, established a seminary for young ladies at Aston Ridge, which soon acquired popularity, the scholars being drawn largely from the Southern States. The principal, however, was constantly enlarging the building until finally he became bankrupt.

An interesting incident occurred in June, 1851, when, in removing an old house adjoining the seminary building to make room for proposed improvements, a beam was found on which was distinctly marked the date, “February 26, 1704,” and in the cellar wall was discovered a leaden medal of unknown date, but evidently of great age. This house, which was built of hewed logs of yellow poplar, was erected by Thomas Dutton (born in England in 1679) at the date mentioned, and was located on part of the original Dutton tract of five hundred and ninety acres. On Jan. 14, 1859, Benjamin S. Huntington sold the estate to William Moronoy, and the latter conveyed it, on May 4th of the same year, to “The Philadelphia Theological Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo,” where, while the new seminary was building at Overbrooke, the educational work of this institution of learning was conducted, Rev. Jeremiah F. Shanahan, the present bishop of Harrisburg, occupying the presidential chair in the college while it remained in Aston. When the new building was completed in the summer of 1871, the estate near Village Green, comprising twenty-eight and a half acres, was offered for sale. On September 7th of that year the property was sold to “The Sisters of St. Francis” of Philadelphia. For a time the old seminary building was used for the novitiate of the community, but it soon became too small to meet the demands of the order, and by permission of Archbishop James F. Wood a new convent was erected, the corner-stone of which was laid May 29, 1873, Archbishop Wood officiating. On May 29, 1879, the corner-stone of the new chapel was laid, and on Oct. 4, 1881, the chapel of “Our Lady of Angels” was dedicated by the Very Rev. John White, of St. Peter’s Church, Philadelphia, he being authorized thereto by Archbishop Wood. The convent is under the supervision of Mother Mary Agnes, general superior, and here those wishing to join the community are received and trained for their future calling to minister at the bedside of the sick in hospitals or in private houses, or teaching children in parochial schools. There are upwards of two hundred and fifty sisters in the community, all of whom come every year to this novitiate to make their annual retreat. The present beautiful edifice, “The Convent of Our Lady of the Angels,” is a conspicuous object in the charming rural picture which strikes the eye as you approach it from any direction.

About 1857, J. Harvey Barton established a seminary at Aston Ridge in a large brick building still on the Rockdale road, near by the Baptist Church. It was an institute in which both sexes were received and educated, and deservedly ranked high, many of its pupils having risen in the battle of life to prominent positions. For several years Hon. James Barton, Jr., Stephen C. Hall, and other well-known citizens of the county were employed as instructors at the seminary. In 1866, J. Harvey Barton discontinued the school, since which time the building has been occupied as a dwelling.

Churches – Mount Hope Methodist Church. –  This sanctuary is situated on the Concord road, just above Village Green, on the noted “Aston Ridge,” and its story begins three-quarters of a century ago, in 1807, when the original building was erected on a lot of land given for that purpose by Aaron Mattson, a noted paper-manufacturer in the township in those early days, and within that quiet “God’s Acre” the body of the generous donor, at an advanced age, was laid to rest many years ago. The deed from Mattson to Powell Clayton, Edward Carter, Daniel Carter, Robert Johnson, John Little, George Sneath, and Peter Longacre recites that the lot shall be held “forever in trust, that they shall erect and build . . .thereon a house or place of worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America, only those preachers appointed by the General Conference, and none others, to preach and expound God’s holy word therein.” The church was of stone, in size thirty by forty feet, and, as was the case with all the early churches, particularly those built by the Methodist society, was plainly finished and furnished, wanting in almost all the accessories of comfort now deemed so essential to a place of worship. For years the church was dependent on the services of the circuit preacher, and when his duties called him to other places the local minister led the congregation in religious exercises. During its early struggles Rev. James Caughey, a noted revivalist from England, visited the United States, and during his journeyings preached in the remote Mount Hope Church, and for miles around the people gathered there to hear his sermon. The result of his preaching was a noticeable increase in the membership of Mount Hope, and the building soon became too small to accommodate the congregation. In 1838 an addition of twenty feet was made to the edifice, the building entirely remodeled, and six acres of ground purchased, in addition to that already comprised in the churchyard. In May, 1847, Rev. John Mills, who was then the pastor in charge, died, and was buried in the graveyard at Corner Ketch. Mr. Mills was by birth an Englishman, and had served fifteen years as a soldier in the British army, but being converted to the gospel teachings, had devoted the remainder of his life to the ministry of the Methodist Church.

Sept. 3, 1860, Mount Hope Methodist Church was incorporated, and in 1877 the commodious parsonage was erected near the sanctuary, the sum expended being partly the purchase-money received from the sale of the old parsonage lot at Marcus Hook to the Wilmington Circuit by Lewis Massay, which is more fully alluded to in the account of St. George’s Church, Lower Chichester.

In the churchyard at Mount Hope several generations of the old families of Aston are interred. Conspicuous among that number was George McCracken, who died only a few months before he had attained his hundredth year of life. George McCracken died on his estate on West Branch of Chester Creek in 1873. He was born in Ireland in 1773, and shortly after he came to this country (early in the century) settled in Aston, and continued to reside there until his death. Although his career was not marked with remarkable incidents outside of the usual happenings of rural life, he was a good citizen, who left an unblemished name to his numerous descendants. Four years before his death, on May 1, 1869, while a number of the family and friends had assembled at Mr. McCracken’s house to attend a funeral there, the upper floor or the porch, on which about thirty persons were standing at the time, gave way, and fortunately, although several persons were hurt, no serious injury was sustained by any one. In 1851 the church was part of Mount Hope Station, and in 1852 it became Village Green Circuit; from that date the pastors have been as follows: 1851, Rev. John B. Maddox; 1852-53, Rev. Ignatius T. Cooper, D.D.; 1854-55, Henry G. King; 1856-57, Henry Sutton; 1858, Ignatius T. Cooper, D.D.; 1859-60, Henry H. Bodine; 1861-62, Rev. James Flannery; 1863-64, Rev. James L. Houston; 1865-66, Rev. Henry Mauger; 1867-68, Rev. William C. Johnson; 1869-71, Rev. John A. Watson; 1872-74, Rev. Edward Townsend; 1875-77, Rev. William McGee; 1878-80, Benjamin T. Spring; 1881-83, George T. Hurlock; 1884, William Rink. In March, 1878, Mount Hope Church was set off as a special station.

Crozerville Methodist Episcopal Church, In the autumn of 1851 a number of the members of Mount Hope Circuit residing in the immediate neighborhood of Rockdale, believing that the cause of Methodism could be advanced by the erection of a church edifice at that place, gathered at the house of Rev. John B. Maddox, near Village Green, which meeting resulted in the organization of a board of trustees and the appointment of a building committee. The trustees were Norris L. Yarnall, Archibald McDowell, John Blackburn, Robert Moss, Robert McCartney, John Thompson, William McBride, Amos Cummings, and David Burnite, and the building committee, Dr. Barton, Rev. Henry G. King, and Archibal McDowell. The first meeting of the trustees was held in Parkmount school-house on Nov. 18, 1851, when, to aid the movement, John P. Crozer donated a lot of ground for the church building, and also subscribed generously to the building fund. In the spring of 1852, although the structure had not been erected, a petition was presented to the Philadelphia Conference urging that the Rockdale Church, as it was then known, should be separated from Mount Hope and constituted a regular station. The request was favorably considered and Rev. George W. McLaughlin appointed the first pastor. At that time services were held. in the Temperance Hall at Taylortown, now known as Lenni. The first Quarterly Conference was held on June 13th, and continued the following day, at which Rev. T.J. Thompson, presiding elder, was chairman. The church edifice in the mean while had been pushed forward, and was completed in the summer of 1852, the audience-room being formally dedicated on June 27th of that year, Rev. Dr. William Ryan, of Philadelphia, preaching the dedicatory sermon. On that day nearly seven hundred and fifty dollars was contributed. At the Quarterly Conference held Feb. 19, 1853, as a recognition of the generous favors extended to the society by Mr. Crozer, a resolution was adopted to change the name of the church from Rockdale to Crozerville, which order was made, and by that title the congregation was incorporated December, 1860. The basement of the church was completed in September, 1852. The attendance increased rapidly, and by degrees the indebtedness which had rested on the church was liquidated until, in 1866, it was absolutely freed from debt. Ten years subsequent to the last date the parsonage was erected and carriage-sheds built at the church, the cost of these improvements amounting to two thousand two hundred dollars. During twenty years’ service the original edifice became dilapidated, and in the summer of 1882 the congregation renovated and thoroughly renewed the structure, which was formally reopened Oct. 22, 1882, Dr. A.J. Kynitt preaching the sermon.

The following pastors have been in charge of the Crozerville Church since its founding: Revs. George N. McLaughlin, 1852; Dr. Ignatius T. Cooper, 1854; John O’Niel, 1856; Joseph Dare, 1858; Alfred G. Scott, 1860; John Frame, 1862; Francis W. Harvey, 1864; . Edward P. Aldred, 1865; Welmer Coffman, 1867; Stephen Townsend, 1869; Henry White, 1870; A.L. Welon, 1872; H.U. Tebring, 1874; Abel Howard, 1875; James C. Wood, 1877; T.W. McClary, 1879; Alex. M. Wiggins, 1881; Ravil Smith, 1882.

Chester Heights Camp-Meeting Association. In 1872 an association of Methodists purchased a farm in Aston, on the line of the Baltimore Central Railroad, and was incorporated under the title Chester Heights Camp-Meeting Association. The tract contains about one hundred and sixty-two acres, of which about sixty was woodland, which is inclosed with a close fence seven feet high, having gates located at convenient points for the admission of those attending the meetings. The improvements consist of a large excursion-house, seventy by one hundred and twenty feet; a portion of this building is two stories in height, which is used as lodging-rooms, while in the rear building is one story open at the sides, and can be used in rainy weather for holding religious services. In front are three or four hundred settees, capable of seating between three and four thousand persons, so arranged that all in attendance can have an uninterrupted view of the speakers. The grounds are supplied with water from a neighboring stream, which is forced to a reservoir by a steam pump. A number of handsome permanent frame dwellings have been built in the grove, which add greatly to the attractive appearance of the grounds. The hour of each meeting is announced by the ringing of a bell, which can be heard at considerable distance. By the provisions of the act incorporating the association the grove can be used only for purposes not in conflict with the discipline of the Methodist Church, and no excursion where dancing is permitted can be allowed access to the grounds. A post-office, known as Chester Heights, has been established by the United States at this station on the road, and during the continuance of the camp the mail distributed here is large. The association furnishes free railroad tickets to ministers to the Heights and lodging while there. The cost of lighting, water, police, and other regulations designed for the general comfort and safety of the guest is paid by the association. The location of the camp at this point has been advantageous to the neighborhood, and affords a market for many articles of produce raised by the farmers near by.

Crozer Chapel at West Branch. In 1836, John P. Crozer erected a stone school-house sixty feet in length by about forty feet in breadth, which, inasmuch as it was occasionally occupied for divine service, was generally known as the Chapel. The building was two stories in height, the second floor being used for school purposes and the lower room for a Sunday-school, and, whenever opportunity offered, preaching by any clergyman of a recognized religious sect was had therein, the chapel not being in any wise a denominational church. After the establishment of the free public school this building was used by the directors of Aston for many years for school purposes. It has now ceased to be so used, but, still standing, has been changed into dwelling-houses, and is now the property of John B. Rhodes.

“The Blue Church,” About 1818 the church which was known by this name was erected, almost entirely at the cost of James Lindsay, on the west side of the Logtown road, a short distance above where the highway leading from Lima intersects with the former road. On March 1, 1822, James Lindsay, of Aston, conveyed to William Glenn, James McMullen, Samuel Hunter, and their successors, trustees of the First Branch of the United Presbyterian Congregation of Aston, Providence, and Springfield, “for and in consideration of the love of God and promotion of Religion, and also in consideration of the sum of one dollar,” for the use of the congregation mentioned, “a small lot of land with a meeting-house built thereon.” Rev. John Smith, an Irishman, was the first and only pastor of Mount Gilead, for such he designated the church, having assumed the charge in 1819, and he will be recalled as the first advocate of the cause of temperance outside of the society of Friends in Delaware County; and until his death, on May 10, 1839, he never permitted an opportunity to pass unimproved to urge his views thereon. After his death, which resulted from his horse treading on him as he led the animal to water, the church languished. John P. Crozer records, under date of Monday, October 4, 1842, in his diary, “I was yesterday at the ‘Blue’ meeting-house. A stranger was there, sent by the Presbytery of Philadelphia to this and the Middletown meeting-house to make some attempt to infuse life into these decaying churches.” The attempt, however, so far as the Blue Church was concerned, was fruitless. It finally ceased to be used as a place of worship, until to-day the building has disappeared, and the ancient God’s acre, wherein the “forefathers of the hamlet sleep,” is indistinguishable from the field which surrounds it.

The Baptist Church at Village Green. Early in 1860 a Methodist Church was erected at Village Green, which was dedicated May 17th of that year, and was retained by that religious denomination until 1865, when dissension spread in the congregation, which resulted finally in the lot and building being sold by the sheriff, Richard S. Smith becoming the purchaser. For several years it was conducted as a Church of England mission; but finally, as the weight of years pressed heavily on Mr. Smith, who was its main support, it languished until 1871, when it was sold to Mrs. Sallie K. Crozer, and for ten years was conducted as a mission, under the direction of the Crozer Theological Seminary, the students in that institution supplying the pulpit. In 1881 it was made a separate church, and Rev. Miller Jones was called to the charge. At that time a parsonage was purchased and ground adjoining the church, on which sheds for the shelter of vehicles and horses were erected. The church is now in a flourishing condition.

The Baptist Chapel at Bridgewater. The brick chapel at Bridgewater was built in 1874 on a lot purchased from Samuel Haigh & Co. in that year. It is a missionary station under the control of the Upland Baptist Church, and its supplies are furnished from the students of Crozer Theological Seminary.

Calvary Episcopal Church. In 1833, Richard S. Smith, an active Episcopalian, who had recently removed from Philadelphia to Rockdale, established a Sunday-school in a vacant room in the upper story of his nail-mill at that place, his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Beach Smith, and his daughters teaching the scholars, while he discharged the duties of superintendent. The nearest Episcopal Church at that time was five miles distant, hence the residents in the neighborhood of Rockdale of that denomination were compelled to worship at Mount Hope Methodist Church or the Presbyterian Church at Middletown. The success attending the Sunday-school was so marked that it was reso1ved to form a congregation of Episcopalians at that locality, and to that end Bishop Onderdonk authorized Kingston Goddard, a student of divinity, to officiate at Rockdale as lay-reader. The field was so promising that, under the auspices of the Advancement Society, Rev. Marmaduke Hurst was detailed as missionary, the bishop designating the feeble congregation as Calvary Church and admitting the parish to representation in the Convention. The number of worshipers which gathered in the mill-room grew so rapidly that it was determined, if possible, to raise sufficient funds to erect a church edifice, and so untiring were the efforts of Mr. Smith and those associated with him in the movement, that, notwithstanding many rebuffs, at length the subscriptions obtained aggregated a sum to justify the outlay. On Aug. 18, 1836, Bishop Onderdonk laid the corner-stone. The building was hastened forward, the roof raised, the floor of the church laid, the basement designed for the Sunday-school plastered, and in the latter apartment, on Christmas-eve, 1836, the first services were held, Rev. Richard D. Hall, rector of St. Paul’s Church, Chester, officiating on that occasion. In October, 1838, Rev. Mr. Hurst tendered his resignation, and Rev. Alfred Lee was appointed rector at a small salary, it being understood that a dwelling should be provided for his family; but as no parsonage could be procured the rector was invited to make his home at Mr. Smith’s house, which he did, and he continued there while he was in charge of the parish. During his ministry the congregation raised means sufficient to finish the church and furnish it. The ability displayed by the rector in this remote rural church was such that it attracted general attention in Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, and when, in 1841, the Diocese of Delaware elected the first bishop of that State, Rev. Mr. Lee was the unanimous selection of that body. He thereupon resigned his charge at Rockdale to assume the exalted station to which he had been called. In 1845, Mr. Smith, who in that year sold his real estate at Rockdale, presented to the church an acre of ground adjoining the sanctuary, which tract he had reserved in the sale of his property. The present main stone structure, with its lofty spire, for many years was a conspicuous object outlined against the sky, but it was devoid of a clock. In 1859, John B. Rhodes and Thomas Blackburn, both young in years, and at that time employed in the mills in the neighborhood, resolved that Calvary Church steeple should be lacking in that respect no longer, but when they broached the subject they were ridiculed by the older persons in the congregation. They had, however, determined that a clock should be had, and as they were without means they resolved themselves to make the time-piece. Learning that the works of an old clock, which had been discarded by one of the churches in Philadelphia as worn out, could be purchased for a small sum, the young men bought it, and every spare moment they devoted to repair it, until they were satisfied that it was in thorough order, when it was placed in the steeple to the astonishment of the residents of the village. For several months the hands marked the time to a charm, and the bell proclaimed the passing hours with commendable exactness. One Sunday, just as the rector had announced his text, the clock began to strike, and it kept on striking until it had scored a hundred hours, and was hammering industriously away, as if determined to reach a thousand before it would cease its reckless announcements. John B. Rhodes, who was present, could bear it no longer, but hastening up to where the untruthful time-piece ticked and struck, he removed it from its exalted position, and although since then Calvary Church has had another and more trustworthy clock, the marvelous performance of the one I am relating still lingers in the recollections of the good people of that locality.

In 1868 the congregation determined, “as a thank-offering for the blessings of peace,” to enlarge and beautify the church, and to that end erected wings to the edifice, so that the structure was in the form of a cross, the two new transepts representing the arms, and the shorter limb being the new chancel addition. The new walls were of brick pebble-dashed, and the old walls were studded, lathed, and plastered, and finished in the natural color of the mortar. The first story is used as Sunday-school rooms. The ceiling of the church is of yellow pine oiled, with walnut ribs and mouldings. The windows are enameled glass, excepting that in the chancel, which is a stained-glass memorial window to the first wife of the late Robert L. Martin. On Feb. 14, 1869, worship was resumed in the church, Bishop Lee, of Delaware, officiating in the consecrating services. The cost of these improvements was about five thousand dollars. Since that time a lot of three acres was purchased at Rockdale by Bishop Potter, William Martin, and Richard S. Smith, and presented to the church for a parsonage, and thereon a handsome stone double house has been erected, at a cost of seven thousand dollars. The rectors of Calvary Church have been as follows:

Rev. Marmaduke Hirst, 1835-38; Rt. Rev. Alfred Lee, D.D., 1838-41; Rev. Benjamin S. Huntingdon, 1841-47; Rev. Charles W. Thomson, 1847-48; Rev. Charles Brick, D.D., 1848-53; Rev. John K. Murphy, 1853-68; Rev. William Ely, 1868-74; Rev. James Walker, 1874.

On Sunday, June 24, 1883, the semi-centennial anniversary of Calvary Church was observed, with appropriate ceremonies, the venerable Richard S. Smith making an historical address on that occasion. Since that time Mr. Smith has passed away, but on the inner walls of the church the congregation, with excellent taste, have erected a tablet to the memory of the man who founded, and in its infancy sustained, the struggling parish by his energy and means.

St. Thomas’ Church, Ivy Mills. The Catholic residents of Aston for many years attended worship in St. Mary’s Church, the noted chapel in the mansion of the Willcox family at Ivy Mills, in Concord township, but in time the congregation grew so numerous that it became necessary to erect a sanctuary at a more convenient location for those living in Rockdale and its neighborhood. Hence to that end a tract of land was purchased from Nicholas F. Walter on Aug. 26, 1852, the deed being made to the Rt. Rev. J.N. Newman, bishop of the diocese of Philadelphia, which lot was to be held in trust for the congregation of Ivy Mills. On Sunday, Aug. 29, 1852, the corner-stone of the church of “St. Thomas the Apostle” was laid, Rev. Mr. Sourin, of Philadelphia, conducting the ceremonies. The imposing church edifice was finished in 1856, and on Oct. 20, 1856, Rev. Charles Joseph Maugin was appointed the first pastor. In 1858 he was succeeded by Rev. Nicholas Walsh, and in the latter part of that year a frame parsonage was erected, at a cost of two thousand four hundred and forty-four dollars. In 1860, Rev. Thomas Kyle was in charge, and in 1862, Rev. Henry Wright. He was succeeded by Rev. John Wall in 1864, and in 1866, Rev. James J. McElroy became the pastor of St. Thomas’ Church. The latter, in 1868, gave place to Rev. James F. Kelley, and he in turn, in 1870, to Rev. John Cox. In 1872, Rev. Michael Lawlor was its pastor. On Tuesday night, Feb. 4, 1873, the parsonage was totally destroyed by fire, originating in a defective flue. The contents of the building were saved, and by the utmost exertions the church edifice, which stood in close proximity, was rescued from the flames, which threatened its destruction. The following October Rev. John J. Wood was in charge, and during his pastorate a substantial brick parsonage was erected. He was followed, in 1875, by Rev. Andrew J. Gallagher, and on Oct. 14, 1877, the present pastor, William F. Cook, was installed. The congregation now numbers about fourteen hundred persons, and a mission chapel is attached to this church, located near Elam.

Licensed Houses. The granting of licenses to any resident of Aston does not appear of record until 1762, but as early as August court, 1740, Thomas Vernon, of Aston, presented a petition for leave to keep a house of entertainment, alleging that there is no tavern on either road for twelve or fourteen miles where his house is located, or, as he expressed it, “seated on the Great road side Leading from severall parts of Bradford, Burmingham, Thornbury, West Town and Concord to Chester; allso on the road Leading from Chad’s foard to Philadelphia through Providence,” but he was unable to move by his representation the judicial mind in his favor. This description would seem to locate him in the northwestern end of the township.

As stated above, in 1762, James Johnston was licensed to keep a public-house, and I believe that it was located at Village Green. In 1764, William Pennell succeeded him in the business, and continued until 1770, when George Pierce in turn followed him. However, in 1765, James Cole had license, and in 1768, Abraham Aston was shown favor by the court, while Pennell held the license at this house. In 1776, George Pierce’s name appeared for the last time. In 1778, James Pennell had the privilege accorded him, and in 1780 Joshua Vaughan was licensed to keep the tavern known as the “Seven Stars,” and was so licensed until 1787. In the following year Peter Wade received the court’s approval, and James Pennell in 1789, when Chester County court ceased to distribute its indulgences in the township.

The “Seven Stars” was kept by Thomas Marshall in 1790, when the new county of Delaware was created, and he continued there until 1793, when Samuel Hewes was granted license, and yearly received the approval of the court until his death, in 1820, when the business was carried on by his widow, Sarah, until 1824. In that year Samuel F. Hughes became the proprietor, to be superseded in that capacity, in 1826, by Jemima Massey, who yearly thereafter, until 1834, was granted license for the old public-house, which, if I am rightly informed, was the headquarters of Lord Cornwallis when the British army was encamped for several days near Village Green in the fall of 1777. John Garrett, in 1835, became the host of the “Stars.” During the agitation of the ten-hour movement, in 1847, John Garrett took active part with the operatives in their organization, and so obnoxious did he make himself to the opponents of that measure that he deemed it unwise in that year to petition for license; hence J. Lewis Garrett made the application. John Garrett, however, held his position, and permitted the workingmen to assemble in his hall in public meetings without charge to them for the rooms. In the following year John Garrett petitioned again for the right to keep a public-house at the “Seven Stars,” as also in 1849, which was granted to him. In 1850, J. Lewis Garrett made the application, and annually thereafter (excepting in 1856, ‘57, ‘58, ‘59, and 1860, when John Garrett applied, and during 1873-74, the years of local option), his petition being favorably acted on. On March 20, 1862, while J. Lewis Garrett was standing in the bar of the hotel, a bullet, shattering a window-glass, struck him on the neck, under the right jaw, passed through the larynx, and lodged in the left side of the neck, just beneath the skin, inflicting a dangerous wound. Some boys were shooting at a mark in a field near by. This bullet, before it struck Mr. Garrett, had passed through a two-inch pine board and the side of a carriage. At the old tavern is a copy of the first edition of “Purdon’s Digest,” on the fly-leaf of which is engrossed, in the handwriting of James McMullen, an old school-teacher:

“The property of the inhabitants of the township of Aston. Not to be taken from the Seven Stars Tavern while the elections are held there.

“March 31, 1820.”

In 1862, James Schofield received license for an eating-house at Rockdale, and in 1864 full license for the “Mountain House.” Schofield dying in 1865, his widow, Hannah, made the application that year, which was favorably considered, to be the next rejected. In 1870, William Carson obtained license for the Mountain House, but failed in 1871 to receive the approval of the court. In 1875, Carson again was authorized to keep a public inn at the “Mountain House,” a privilege which annually thereafter has been extended to him.

Associations and Secret Societies. The People’s Literary Association, which was incorporated by the court of Delaware County, Aug. 25, 1870, had erected a commodious building, in the second story of which is a large hall used for entertainments, lectures, and public meetings. The ground on which the building is located, containing half an acre, was given by John P. Crozer, on May 24, 1860, under certain conditions, to the association. The corner-stone of the building was laid July 4, 1860, but nothing was done to complete the hall. The gift from Mr. Crozer was to become operative when three-fourths of the estimated cost of erecting a suitable edifice for the purposes contemplated in the charter of the association had been collected. The association, having failed at the time of the latter’s death to carry out this provision, this lot, under his will, was devised to Samuel A. Crozer for life, with remainder to his grandson, John P. Crozer, Jr. An application being made to court to have the executors of the will convey the land to the association, under the terms of the original gift, the Crozer family willingly acquiesced in the application, and on June 21, 1871, the court ordered the executors to “make a binding deed to the People’s Literary Association of Rockdale.” The organization is now in a flourishing condition. A provision in the charter declares,
     “Should the association at any time terminate its existence by giving up its charter, or in any other way that may be determined upon for that purpose, all the property of the association, in whatever form, must revert to the public school fund of the townships of Middletown and Aston, to be divided equally between them.”

In the fall of the year 1872 the members of the Rockdale Base-Ball Club formed the Rockdale Cornet Band, which was incorporated by the court of Delaware County, Feb. 26, 1874. The organization purchased a lot of ground in the village, on which, in the spring of 1882, was erected a handsome building, twenty-five by thirty-five. The band is under the leadership of George Blair, and the members are all residents of the immediate neighborhood.

There are several secret societies in Aston, the eldest in time being Benevolent Lodge, No. 40, Independent Order of Odd-Fellows. The lodge was chartered Sept. 2, 1831. On Ju1y 4, 1848, its hall, at Village Green, was dedicated. The procession of the order on that occasion, up to that time, was the largest ever had in the county, being nearly a mile in length, the officers of the Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment being present. The lodge has now one hundred and forty-two members. Noble Grand, James C. Megraw, and Samuel K. Crozer, Secretary.

The next society in age is the Rockdale Lodge, No. 50, American Protestant Association, which was organized Feb. 28, 1854, and has now forty-five members. Samuel Hopkins is the present Worshipful Master.

On Feb. 22, 1869, Energy Lodge, No. 9, Junior American Protestant Association, was chartered, and has sixty-five members. Smith Yarnall is Worshipful Master, and James A. Bates, Secretary.

July 22, 1869, Lenni Tribe, No. 86, Independent Order of Red Men, was chartered, and has now eighty-five members. William Frame is Sachem, and Charles R. Yarnall, Chief of Records.

Charles Dickens Lodge, No. 41, Sons of St. George, was chartered March 24, 1879. It has about fifty-five members. John Lee is the present President, and Samuel Harmer, Secretary.

* History of Delaware County, p. 400.

** Thomas Maxwell Potts’ “History of Carter Family,” p. 9.

*** Ib., p. 11.

(4*) Cope’s “Genealogy of the Dutton Family,” p. 32.

(5*) Ib., p. 37.

(6*) History of Delaware County, p. 510.

(7*) Journal of Capt. John Montressor, Penna. Mag. of History, vol. vi. p.39.

(8*) Smith’s “History of Delaware County,” p. 314.

(9*) Penna. Mag. of Hist., vol. vi. p. 38.

(10*) Genealogy of the Dutton Family, by Gilbert Cope, p. 51.

(11*) Ib., pp. 57, 58.

(12*) Delaware County Republican, Aug. 9, 1850.

(13*) Smith’s “History of Delaware County,” p. 400.

(14*) Bliss “Delaware County Digest,” p. 98.

(15*) Biographical Sketch of John P. Crozer, written by himself, p. 66.

Source:  Page(s) 290-305, History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, by Henry Graham Ashmead, Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. 1884

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