Concord Township.

When the scheme for a Centennial Exhibition was projected Mr. Willcox was among the first to earnestly advocate that it should be international, and to do all in his power to advance it. He was appointed a member of the first Board of Finance created by act of Congress, and at a later day was requested by the Centennial Commission to act as one of the Judges of the Exhibition, of whom there were one hundred American and one hundred foreign selected. At the first meeting of the committees he was chosen President of Group XIII., and after six months' active duty in that capacity he wrote, by request, a critical compendium of the entire work of his committee for publication. His services were recognized in a letter of thanks, with a special medal, by the Commission. In 1852 he married Mary Keating, of Philadelphia, daughter of Jerome Keating, who, in partnership with John J. Borie, was one of the early manufacturers of Manayunk; and granddaughter of John Keating, a distinguished officer of the French army in the last century, who, for having captured the island of St. Eustache from the British, was decorated by Louis XVI., and made Chevalier of the Order of Saint Louis. Of this marriage there are five children living, of whom two are married, one residing at Colorado Springs and the other in Philadelphia. His present wife is Katharine, daughter of the late Abraham W. Sharples, of Thornbury township, and granddaughter, on her mother's side, of Right Rev. Henry U. Onderdonk, formerly the Episcopalian Bishop of Philadelphia. Of this marriage there are two children, both living. The family have lived in Spruce Street, Philadelphia, for many years, but still retain possession of a farm in Thornbury, near Cheyney's Station.

Since his retirement from regular business in 1880, Mr. Willcox has been in the habit of spending the winter months in Florida. He early foresaw the phenomenal development of South Florida, little known six years ago, but now rapidly distancing the northern part; and made extensive purchases of property in Orange County and on Indian River that are now very valuable. With the care of these and his material interests at home, the responsibilities of directorship in some large corporations, the continued pursuit of scientific study, and the labor upon his works in hand, he indulges in little leisure; and, to judge from the past and present, is not likely to find the pleasures of idleness as long as he lives.

Licensed Houses. - The first record that appears of license being granted in Concord is at the August court, 1722, when the petition of Mathias Karle (Kerlin) was presented, asking that he be permitted to keep a public-house in that township, and to sell rum and other liquors therein, which application was approved by the justices. At the same court John Hannum desired the privilege of keeping a house of entertainment to sell "Beer and Sider," which was also granted. Kerlin's name annually thereafter, to and including the year 1726, appears of record, after which it is omitted from the clerk's list, as is also that of Hannum from the list of 1731. Hannum's house, I learn from the application of his son, John Hannum, in 1747, was on the road from Chester to Nottingham, - the Concord road, - and the latter's name appears annually thereafter up to 1760. In 1761, Robert Hall succeeded Hannum, and in 1771, John Palmer followed Hall in business, and continued there until 1776. In 1782, Frederick Steen seems to have kept this house, then called the "Buck," and the following year John Gest succeeded him. Robert Burnett obtained license for 1784, and William Hannum from 1785 to 1787, when William Lockart took his place until 1788, at which date the inn disappears as a public-house.

To return to Kerlin's inn. On Nov. 24, 1730, Matthias Kerlin presented his petition, in which he states that he "had license for several years and no complaint made, but on account of other affairs had declined making application for a considerable time, now wishes to renew," which application was granted.

Michael Atkinson, Aug. 31, 1731, presented his petition, wherein he sets forth that for some time past "he had a recommendation to keep a public-house in West Town, and being desirous to remove into Concord, found a suitable place, but hearing that Matthias Kyrlin had an inclination to get into that business, he went to him and received a denial of the report." Atkinson then agreed with the landlord for a term of years at eight pounds per annum, and obtained license to remove into Concord. "The license now being expired," he wished it renewed. It appears that, notwithstanding Kerlin's declaration that be did not propose to apply for license, he did present his application to the court, which was supplemented by the following petition emanating from the "Inhabitants of Concord," bearing date Aug. 31, 1731, "That whereas our Township have been through some misfortune in some measure oppressed by so many publick houses allowed in our town, & by some this last year without our knowledge or good liking. Let us have but one of that Calling, and if you think fit to grant recommendation to Mathias Kyrlen we shall, &c.," be pleased if the court act on these suggestions. The remonstrance was signed by Benjamin Mendenhall, Thomas Downing, and nine others.

The foregoing remonstrance is indorsed "Allowed," while the petition of Atkinson is marked "Not Allowed." Kerlin's name appears regularly on the clerk's list from that date to 1738, when I lose sight of him until 1745, when he regularly is allowed to entertain the public until Feb. 26, 1750, when his petition states that he has kept tavern twenty-eight years; that his family is small, as his children are provided for, but he is unable to work at his trade of shoemaking. As an additional reason why he should be allowed license, he urges that he and his wife are descendants of the "first adventurers who came into this province when money would not purchase