The Colonial History to the War of the Revolution

tempt be Directed to y^e Sheriff to apprehend y^e Bodyes of John Lewis and John Jerman for their Contempt of not entering into their respective offices of Constables (viz.) John Lewis for Harfort, and John Jerman for Radnor, when thereunto required by this Court."

At the same session, David Laurence, who had been returned as a grand juror from Haverford, failed to attend, and for his neglect or refusal to appear was presented by the grand inquest. The court fined Laurence ten shillings. The jury also presented "the want of the inhabitants of the townships of Radnor and Hartfort, and the inhabitants adjacent, they not being brought in to join with us in the Levies and other public services of this county." The movement to compel the Welsh to submit to the constituted authority did not cease, for at the following (June) court the commission of William Howell, of Haverford, was read, and he afterwards assumed the office and subscribed "to the solemn declaration" required. William Jenkins, of Haverford, at the same court, served as a juror. Haverford had yielded, but the court deemed it wise that public proclimation, as was then customary with all laws, should be made respecting this decree, hence we find this entry in the old record of the county: That at court, on Wednesday of the first week in June, 1689, "the Division Lyne between this County and Philadelphia was read, dated ye 1st of y^e 2^d mo^th 1685." At the December court following, John Jerman was qualified as constable of Radnor, and thereafter the two townships made no further objection to act with and pay taxes to the authorities of Chester County. In 1688 the inhabitants of the province were greatly alarmed by reason of a rumor diligently circulated that two Indian women from New Jersey had informed an old Dutch resident near Chester that the aborigines had determined, on a designated Thursday, to attack and massacre all the white settlers on the Delaware. To add to the general consternation, about ten o'clock at night of the evening fixed upon by the savages to begin the attack a messenger "out of the woods" came hurriedly into Chester with the report that three families, residing about nine miles distant, had been murdered by the Indians. The people of the town gathered to consider the startling intelligence, and at midnight a Quaker, resident at Chester, accompanied by two young men, went to the place named, where they found the three houses empty, but no signs of murder. The dwellers therein, alarmed by the rumor, had fled to the homes of their parents, about a mile distant on Ridley Creek. The further particulars of this alarm are thus given by Proud:¹

"The master of one of these families being from home, had been informed five hundred Indians were actually collected at Naaman's Creek, in pursuit of their design to kill the English; and as he was hastening to his home, he thought he heard his boy crying out and saying, "What shall I do, my dame is killed." Upon which, instead of going home to know the certainty of the affair, he ran off to acquaint the government at Philadelphia, but being met by a person of more prudence than himself before he got to the city be was persuaded by him to return.

"The report, notwithstanding, soon arrived at the city, and was told with such alarming circumstances that a messenger was immediately dispatched to Marcus Hook, near the said Naaman's Creek, to enquire the truth of it. He quickly returned and confirmed the report but with this variation, that it was at Brandywine Creek, at an Indian town, where the five hundred Indians were assembled, and that they, having a lame king, had carried him away, with all their women and children. These circumstances rendered the affair still more alarming, and with many amounted to a certainty.

"The Council were, at that time, sitting at Philadelphia on other affairs, when one of them, a Friend, supposed to be Caleb Pusey,² who lived In Chester County, voluntarily offered himself to go to the place, provided they would name five others to accompany him, without weapons; which, being soon agreed on, they rode to the place; but, instead of meeting with five hundred warriors, they found the old king quietly lying with his lame foot along on the ground, and his head at ease on a kind of pillow, the women at work in the fields, and the children playing together.

"When they had entered the wigwam the king presently asked them very mildly, 'What they all came for?' They told him the report which the Indian women had raised, and asked him whether the Indians had anything against the English, he appeared much displeased at the report, and said, 'The woman ought to be burnt to death, and that they had nothing against the English,' adding, 'Tis true there is about fifteen pounds yet behind of our pay for the land which William Penn bought, but as you are still on it and improving it to your own use, we are not in haste for our pay; but when the English come to settle it we expect to be paid.' This the messengers thinking very reasonable, told him they would undoubtedly be paid for their land.

"One of the company further expressed himself to the Indian King, in the following manner: 'That the great God, who made the world, and all things therein, consequently made all mankind, both Indians and English; and as he made all, so his love was extended to all; which, was plainly shown, by his causing the rain and dews to fall on the ground of both Indians and English alike; that it might generally produce what the Indians, as well as what the English sewed or planted in it, for the sustenance of life; and also by his making the sun to shine equally on all, both Indians and English, to nourish them all, extending his love thus to all for they were naturally bound to love one another.'

"The King answered, 'What they had said was true; and as God has given you corn, I would advise you to get it in (it being harvest time); for we intend you no harm.' They parted amicably, and the messengers returning put an end to the people's fears."

The Revolution of 1688 in England was a serious obstacle to the rapid development of this province. William Penn was known to be a warm personal friend of the deposed king, from whose hand he had received many favors; hence, when the new monarchs were told that Penn was a Jesuit of St. Omers, a self-devoted slave to despotism, and even charged with conspiring for the restoration of James II., the royal ears hearkened attentively to the wildest rumors circulated by his enemies. Penn was twice examined before the Privy Council, and he was even held to bail for his appearance, but the Court of King's Bench discharged him, as no evidence was presented substantiating the charges lodged against him; there-