Bethel Township.

against ye Highway lately laid out from Concord and Bethell to ye River for that between Walter Martens and Jeremy Colletts the way is not soe good and Passable as the former Road. Ordered that the former way be there Continued."

John Gibbons, who settled on the tract of one hundred and fifty acres in Bethel, lysing south of the boundary line of Concord Township, in 1683, was the founder of one of the largest and most respectable families of the old county of Chester. He was a man of superior education to that of most of his neighbors, and as his wife had had similiar advantages in England, the couple were regarded as leaders of thought in this section of Chester County. He was one of the jury on the trial of Margaret Mattson for witchcraft, already mentioned, and the family tradition asserts that he it was who framed the compromise verdict which prevented a disagreement of the jury, and secured her from the ordeal of a second trial. Notwithstanding the high repute in which John and Margery Gibbons were held by the early settlers, the adherence which they gave to George Keith's religious teaching caused them to be disowned by Friends. In 1700 the Bethel homestead was conveyed to John Gibbons by his parents. The latter was equally as outspoken in his views as his parents, and as his mother was in nowise chary in giving expression to her convictions, her son was often compelled to advocate and defend her opinions. In 1702 he was disowned for accepting his mother's views, as well as at the close of meeting standing up and declaring that John Lea was no gospel minister. Among his other transgressions which induced the society to disown him was because he "declined to take off his hat in time of prayer." The stubborn offender died in 1706, his mother subsequent to that year; and John Gibbons, the elder, lived on the Bethel plantation until his death, about 1721.

At the house of Robert Pyle, hereinbefore mentioned, the Friends of Concord, Bethel, Chichester, and Birmingham frequently held their Monthly Meeting, and it was there, on the 12th of the First month (March), 1688, that the first movement in the county by the society of Friends designed to prevent the sale of liquors to the Indians was made. Chester Meeting does not appear to have acted as promptly, for it was not until "ye 2d of ye 5 month (July), 1688," at the meeting held at the house of Walter Faucits, that a similar entry is found on its minutes. The record of the proceedings of this meeting at Pyle's dwelling, so far as it relates to the sale of strong drink to the Indians, is interesting, and as the testimony was signed by those Friends who were present, the names of many of the settlers in the southwestern section of Delaware County were attached thereto. It read:

"From our Yearly Meeting held at Philadelphia the 7th of the 7th month, 1687, it is being recommended to us by the Quarterly Meeting of Philadelphia, the great evil and bad effect that hath appeared by selling Indians Rum and other strong Liquors, and a paper being by them presented, which was read amongst us, relating thereto, which upon due consideration was approved of, and in concurrence therewith we give forth this Following Testimony, being deeply sensible and heartly grieved with a business of this nature, which is too frequently up and down amongst us, Especially in that as some go under the profession of Truth, whom it was expected should have been better examples, whom we fear are not wholly clear of it, and therefore we give forth this as our Testimony. As our sense that the practice of selling Rum and other strong liquors to the Indians directly or indirectly, or exchanging rum or other strong liquors for any goods or merchandise with them, considering the abuse they make of it, is a thing contrary to the Lord and a great grief and burden to his people, and a great reflection and dishonor to the truth, so far as any professing it are concerned; and for the more effective preventing of this evil practice we advise as aforesaid that our testimony may be entered in every monthly meeting book, and every Friend belonging to their monthly meeting to subscribe the same. "Signed in the behalf of the meeting "Anthony Morris" "Wee the members of this monthly meeting having united with the above Testimony do subscribe our names to it as followeth: "William Clayton, Sr. Thomas King "Nicholas Newlin George Pierce "John Kingsman William Brinton "Edward Bezer John Harding "Hugh Durburrow Robert Pyle "James Brown Jacob Chandler "Nathaniel Lamplugh William Cloud, Sr., "Joseph Bushall Philip Roman." "John Bennett

The list of taxables of Bethel township for 1693 shows that the following persons had settled there or, in the case of two persons on the list, owned real estate on which they did not reside:

	£.	s.	d.
John Gibbons	0	8	4
Ralph Pile	0	8	4
John Bushell	0	6	0
Nicholas Pile	0	4	2
Edward Beazer	0	8	4
Robert Eyre	0	4	2
Thomas Garrett	0	2	6
Edward Beazer for John Howard	0	6	0
Robert Eyre for Thomas Copper	0	6	0
	2	13	10

In the next quarter of a century the number of settlers had doubled, for the taxables of Bethel in 1715 are thus given: Robert Pyle, John Grist, Robert Booth, Edward Beazer, John Cannady, Benjamin Moulder, Joseph Pyle, John Hickman, Edward Dutton, Edward Pennock, William Griffith, John Hopton, John Gibbons, Thomas Durnell.

In 1759, when Gen. John Forbes made demand on Chester and the other counties in the province for teams to be used in transporting the baggage of the army about to march under his command to the site of Fort Du Quesne, Edward Whitaker paid "a bounty" of ten pounds "in behalf of the township" of Bethel, John Cooper was credited with a wagon entered in the service, and John Wilson with the cartage of oats and flour from Carlisle to London.¹

A short distance below the Concord line, on part of the old Gibbons tract, is the estate of Albin Baldwin, deceased (at one time county treasurer). The old house still standing on this property, on the right side of the Bethel and Chichester road, is one of the earliest brick buildings in that section of the county. As is usual, tradition tells us the bricks were imported